The Greenville City Council’s set of 10 goals for the year act as a reasonably thorough listing of the community’s key concerns. Developed by members at their annual retreat on Jan. 29, the list provides a thoughtful framework to staff and citizens of the areas expected to receive the council’s focus in the coming months.

While the development of these goals serves as an important exercise for the city, this council will be judged on how effectively it achieves those targets and by the actions taken in those areas. Given the size and scope of the issues facing this growing community, Greenville needs to see members make tangible progress on issues like crime, economic development and transportation.

The City Council gathered late last month for its annual retreat as gathering storm clouds readied to deliver snow and ice across the region. Even as the weather forced members to squeeze discussion into a single day, the council developed a set of 10 goals to use as a blueprint for the year.

They are thoughtful objectives for the city’s government to target and set forth a modest overview of the council’s function. As expected, crime and public safety top the list, with economic development, transportation, neighborhood preservation and encouragement of citizen participation. Those are all worthy of the council’s attention in the coming months.

However, these goals are also familiar, mirroring many of the issues the city has faced in recent years. Reducing crime and bolstering public safety is a constant objective of the council and has often been among the annual goals. Ditto for the development of economic opportunity and the improvement of transportation efficiency in a community choked by growth.

So while the articulation of goals is important — both to provide a blueprint for the council and to keep the public aware of what local government intends to tackle — it is critical that members make measurable and lasting progress on them in the coming months. Citizens need to see fewer robberies and aggravated assaults. The unemployed need new jobs, and long-awaited transportation projects should be ushered along.

The City Council has done well to focus on issues that matter for residents, but this is a time for progress and citizens will be watching to see how well members meet that expectation.