Guests enjoyed an overview of the achievements attained in Irving this past year while learning about what is in store for the city in 2010. Mayor Gears addressed many topics, among them:
Awards and Recognition for Irving
City and chamber staff have been busy earning numerous achievements. These include:
Finalist for the “Dallas Business Journal’s” Real Estate Deal of the Year for the Convention Center
Best Performing Arts Center in Texas for the Irving Arts Center
Best Overall Government Programming in the state for Irving Community Television Network
City/County Cooperation Award for the Irving Health Center
Achievement Award for the city from the Quality Texas Foundation
Chamber’s 5-Star Accreditation (first in the state to earn this prestigious designation)
Public Safety
Violent crime in Irving is down 31 percent over the past five years.
Overall crime rate has decreased for the past five consecutive years for a total crime rate decrease of 20 percent.
Biweekly strategy development meetings, strategically placed Sky Watch trailers, and several public safety programs such as Citizens on Patrol have contributed to these significant decreases.
Received recognition for having the highest cardiac survival rate in the state and second highest nationwide.
Presented 800 safety education programs to nearly 20,000 residents.
Reduced the number of emergency calls by 2.5 percent through prevention education.
Economic Development
The chamber-managed Irving Economic Development Partnership handled 26 new economic development projects, which yielded more than 3,100 new jobs and approximately 780 retained jobs in the community. These projects also yielded millions of dollars in positive economic impact for the city and school districts in the form of sales tax, property tax and utilities. Some of the high-profile companies that relocated and expanded in Irving include: Omega Environmental Technologies, Forward Air, ESPN Radio, Hostess Brands, GKN Aerostructures and HMS.
The reclamation of an acre of Lake Carolyn and the construction of a new lake wall to prepare the Water Street site for development will be completed in June. Gables representatives have indicated the company's intent to begin Phase 1 construction by the end of the year. The Phase 1 project will include Phase I for Water Street – 320 apartment units (located in two buildings) and 140,000 square feet of retail (located in three buildings).
The Convention Center is being built on time and within budget. General Manager Thom Connors is in place, and has begun building his staff. This month, there is a 12-month window for booking tradeshow events. Interest is high, with approximately 12 pending/tentative proposals and more than 20 are out on the streets.
The Economy
Both Texas and the Metroplex are faring better than the nation with unemployment 3 percent below national rates and residential real estate unaffected by the housing bubble.
Irving’s diversified economy, which is not reliant on one major employer or business sector for employment or city revenue, is home to four Fortune 500 world headquarters.
Residential property values are up slightly.
The city's financial status remains strong with a structurally balanced budget for three consecutive years and a double AAA bond rating reaffirmed.
Sales tax declines have been less than projected; however, due to operational efficiencies and reducing vacant positions, the city is operating with a balanced budget.
Hotel occupancy taxes saw a sharp decline due to the national recession. Driven by business travelers, this is expected to recover as the recession eases.
Decline in revenues have been offset by cost savings and efficiencies – no layoffs or furloughs for city employees and no reduction in city services.
Transportation and Infrastructure
The current project cost for the Diamond Interchange (State Highways 184 and 114, and Loop 12) is approximately $224 million, with a current estimated completion date of September 2012.
Sound wall designs for State Highway 183 are completed. Used to buffer road noise for residential properties that back up to the roadway corridor, the walls will be 10 feet tall with designs for the ornamentation and aesthetics consistent with the city's new mustang logo. Sound wall construction is expected to begin this spring, with completion in the fall.
Texas Stadium, redevelopment in Heritage Crossing, construction of the West Irving Aquatic Center, and the impact of Super Bowl XLV in Irving and in the North Texas region also were key topics of the Mayor’s presentation. He highlighted accomplishments relating to city parks such as Veterans Memorial Park and the Cottonwood Creek Park Miracle League Field, an accessible playground and field, and spoke of achievements in workforce development with North Lake College and the Chamber’s Business Resource Center at the new North Lake South Campus.
