Lewiston Mayor Larry Gilbert and Auburn Mayor John Jenkins want their cities to move into the future together.

They will propose appointing a 15-person downtown master plan committee for the two communities when the city councils meet Tuesday.

“It makes sense, especially at this time,” Gilbert said Tuesday. “We’re just mere steps across the river from each other, and what one does affects the other. We need to start planning that.”

Members from both city councils are expected to meet Tuesday in Auburn Hall, and Jenkins said the two mayors will present the idea to them then.

Gilbert said he’ll ask both councils to vote on a resolution supporting the master plan spanning both cities.

According to a prepared statement, each mayor will name five residents to the master plan committee. Local community groups will name the remaining five spots.

Participating groups could include the Lewiston Development Corp., the Auburn Business Development Corp., the chamber of commerce, L/A Arts and L-A Trails.

“That’s just what we’re proposing at this time,” Gilbert said. “We’re open to other suggestions.”

Gilbert said he expects the group to create a guide to future development, planning, zoning and growth decisions.

“Lewiston has had a downtown master plan since 1999, but it’s just about at the end of its useful life,” Gilbert said. “We need something that takes the real community into account. That includes both downtowns, now.”