No decision was made whether to initiate a six-phase, three-year economic plan to revitalize DeKalb at a special Wednesday meeting of the DeKalb City Council and the city’s Economic Development Commission.

DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow said the city council would vote on the program at their regular Monday, Dec. 12 meeting.

“This program shows our devotion and commitment to quality,” said DeKalb City Manager Mark Stevens. Stevens said nothing in the 17-page plan “substantially deviates from the months of public hearings” where the commission received local input.

The goals were drafted over a two-and-one-half year period by Stevens and DeKalb Special Projects Coordinator Linda Boyer, who provided a goal statement, major objectives and itemized lists for each program.

The plan, if passed, will begin a plan improving quality of life, planning and infrastructure, housing, commercial and retail development, industrial development and labor.

Boyer said she did not know the cost of implementing every part of the plan, though she said she expects the plan to pass.

Stevens said Wednesday the city will either have to allocate more resources or cut back other services. Second Ward Alderman Michael Welch said, “It’s not a question if we can afford to do this, it’s can we afford not to do this.”

Many people voiced concern that DeKalb usually narrowly misses attracting businesses to the city, but others said the city is expanding. Fifth Ward Alderman Bessie Chronopolous said although many econmonic developments are being made in DeKalb, the public does not see them.

Other ideas discussed included rezoning areas of downtown DeKalb to create second and third story apartments in vacated buildings as well as undertaking revisions for creating lower-cost housing. Moderately priced housing will bring more labor to DeKalb, 3rd Ward Alderman Bill Hanna said.