Mr Briggs said submissions were at least triple the number received for the previous 10-Year Plan and the most ever for any 10-Year Plan.
Deputy Mayor Martin Gallagher said the 10-Year Plan was far from a done deal.
"A lot of the votes on the draft budget were close and were basically seven to six, or with the mayor's casting vote, so to me the LTP is all up for grabs," Mr Gallagher said.
"Once the submissions have been heard it could go either way."
There is also one more councillor now with Ryan Hamilton was also elected to fill a vacancy after the draft 10-Year Plan was signed off.
Councillor Paula Southgate said at Tuesday's briefing that it was crucial that councillors now listen to each submitter that has put their name down.
"We have to make sure we do cover off everything. We can't gloss over things just because no one has raised their hands to talk to it," Cr Southgate said. "If a submitter has submitted on it, then it must be considered."
"A long-term plan for a city is a massive piece of work," Mr Briggs said.
"In December last year, after months of briefings and literally thousands of pages of detailed information, our council put together its vision for the future of Hamilton and the budgets to support that vision."
"This is about balancing community facilities, transport improvements, managing growth and ensuring we have a sustainable financial base," Mr Briggs said.
"Nothing is set in stone. Our council has some big decisions to make around the future of the city and the feedback we receive will ensure the community's views are well represented when the next stage of the process starts."
Through the consultation period more than 30 community sessions were held around the city to encourage submissions.
A summary of the draft plan and supporting data was available online and from Hamilton City Libraries. All ratepayers were sent a personalised letter detailing the effect of the plan's proposals on their property's rates.
"It's a complex and detailed plan, and it's created plenty of debate and discussion in our city. I'd like to thank all submitters for their time and effort to give their views," Mr Briggs said.
Submissions will be reviewed next month and Council will hear from people who want to make a verbal submission. By early June the Council will deliberate on the draft Plan, before it is finalised and audited. The final plan will be adopted in late June and take effect from July 1.
