FLINT, MI -- Emergency manager Darnell Earley says progress has been made in the year since he was appointed to help fix the city's finances, but Flint remains in "an ongoing financial emergency."

"Significant work has been accomplished to stabilize the financial situation of the city of Flint," Earley wrote in an Oct. 8 letter to state Treasurer Kevin Clinton. "The whole organization has been restructured to reflect a smaller, leaner government operation."

"I acknowledge that substantial progress has been made, however, the city is still experiencing an ongoing financial emergency. Resolution of the financial emergency will not be complete without providing a basic framework for, and implementation of, an objective model for the organization to follow."

Part of what Earley sees as the framework was expected to be presented to the City Council Monday, Oct. 13.

Earley said the city's finance director will propose two draft ordinances for council committees -- one to spell out the process for developing and updating a strategic plan and another for the development and adoption of biennial budgets and three-year financial forecasts.

Financial Director Jerry Ambrose in an Oct. 10 letter asked the council to approve both ordinances "to establish the new strategic planning and budgetary processes."

Earlier this year, the council adopted a strategic plan for the city, which included a vision, mission and goals for the next five years.

The strategic plan covers areas such as governance and administration, police, fire and public works and lists key objectives for various goals as well as whether the city has started, completed or is in progress of achieving each of the goals.