LEWISTON — Hard planning, detailing city development priorities and specifically along the Androscoggin River, arose as one of the top priorities for city councilors Sunday.

Councilors agreed that within two years they wanted to review and update all of the city’s existing plans — especially those concerning transportation and economic development.

Next they’d need to write and adopt a development plan for the riverfront area, from the Island Point area south to Little Canada. Finally, they need to make sure those plans match the city’s budget.

“If we can tie those decisions to actual dollars, you’ll be surprised how quickly we can start finishing off some of these items,” Deputy City Administrator Phil Nadeau told councilors.

Councilors met around tables in the conference room in the Androscoggin Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Lisbon Street office all day Sunday, working to build their identity as a team and plot their priorities through 2012.

The team-building effort was beginning to pay off. Mayor Larry Gilbert said he was pleased that the new council — two members reelected in November and five new members — seemed to be cohesive.

“I get the sense now that people are working together more, trying to do the right thing,” Gilbert said.

Councilors spent the morning setting ground rules for the day, discussing their past and planning their legacy — the things they want people to remember about them.

Then they began discussing the things they want to accomplish, settling on 24 broad goals.

By their lunch break, they had  narrowed those items down to 17 and voted on them.

Planning, economic development and promoting a community-oriented government arose as their top concerns.

“The problem we have is we are going to continue to have to make decisions, but we don’t have the plans now,” Councilor Mark Cayer said. “We are deciding in a vacuum. So the faster we can get these plans done, the better off we’ll be.”

City Administrator Ed Barrett suggested staff could start by reviewing and updating existing plans. New plans focusing on transportation planning and riverfront development would be the top priorities, and he suggested the city hire a consultant to manage the process.

Planning would also help the city promote economic development. Councilor Renee Bernier argued for having a central listing of requirements for businesses — including zoning review, fire department requirements, city licenses and other approvals.

“I hear it from people that really want to start a small business,” Bernier said. “It’s too difficult. They don’t realize how much they have to go through. It can be very hard, and expensive.”

Councilors put a community-oriented government as their third priority. That involves encouraging neighborhoods to build an identity and promoting communication between residents and the city.

“You have to do it with meetings,” Councilor John Butler said. “You have to go out and and meet with them.”

Bernier said the city did have ward meetings at one time.

“It wasn’t a pleasant experience,” she said. “It just brought out one or two people for a bitch session, asking for things that couldn’t always be done.”

Councilors named budget concerns and economic pressures their fourth priority. Bernier predicted hard decisions and long meetings in the coming months as councilors try to cut the budget. Gilbert agreed and suggested getting realistic budget information to citizens.

“They need to know how much the services they want will really cost,” Gilbert said. “They expect a lot. They expect all of the services — the spring cleanup and the Christmas tree collection — but don’t raise my taxes. But that can’t happen this year.”

[email protected]