HAMILTON — During a conversation over coffee Saturday morning, City Manager Joshua Smith told a group of residents the work will never be completed in making Hamilton the place for people to work, live and play.

“You’re never done,” he said. “You’re always working toward continuous improvement.”

Smith told the 16 residents at the Riverbank Cafe that the city needs to continue “to identify and develop the tools to get things done.”

During his informal presentation, Smith updated residents on the city’s finances through the newly published Popular Annual Financial Report and he shared a draft revision to the city’s strategic plan. Smith also gave updates on various projects, such as the East High Corridor, South Hamilton Crossing and the CORE fund program.

Focusing on the key concepts of people working, living and playing in Hamilton, the draft revision of the plan for 2012 to 2017 zeros in on a number of quantifiable goals and metrics to give residents and city officials a way to measure progress. The draft revision also focuses on the city’s efforts in building a positive image, connecting people and developing a sense of place.

Vice Mayor Carla Fiehrer said the draft revision is less cumbersome than the original strategic plan that City Council and the administration used to gather their thoughts and ideas.

She said Smith is completing the draft revision and that council should be reviewing it in the next few weeks.

Some residents expressed concerns about the city’s Building Department and some perceptions that the city isn’t doing enough to help small businesses get started or steering new businesses to certain parts of the city.

Smith said the city is not steering any West Side business interests to other parts of the city. He also said it was “troubling” for him to hear that property owners or business people may be having problems with city offices.