Town Hall Meetings Yield Results
During the past year, the City of Irving hosted four Town Hall meetings where Irving residents expressed their desire to focus on several key initiatives.
Based on resident input, the City Council and staff have identified eight key focus areas: public safety, code enforcement, non-compliant apartments, corridor enhancements, capital improvement projects, communications/customer service, neighborhood improvements and economic development initiatives.
To focus on these priorities, the city has dedicated new staff to address police, fire, non-compliant apartments and code enforcement. The new staff includes the addition of six police officers for a new beat, expanded ambulance service, a police crime analyst, a police recruitment officer, as well as adjustments to the police and fire pay structure to maintain market competitiveness.
A gateway and corridor program will enhance Irving’s visual image by creating regional entry gateways into the city along highways and major thoroughfares, with $2 million designated for Irving Boulevard improvements from projected gas lease revenues. Details about these projects, as well as about the city’s efforts to address non-compliant apartments, can be found on Page 4.
Additional programs are being developed to boost communications and enhance customer-service efforts. These plans include a monthly resident newsletter, more timely content on the city Web site and expanded TV programming on Irving Community Television Network (ICTN).
With the recently adopted budget, capital improvement bond funding increased from $20 million in 2006 to $32.7 million. This will pay for projects such as a new animal shelter, library renovations and a new Fire Station No. 4. An additional $11.7 million in revenue bonds will finance water and sewer system projects. More details about these projects are on Page 16.
The city continuously looks for ways to minimize costs through operational efficiencies. Overall, the city has realized more than $3 million in savings due to new procedures, personnel reductions, consolidation efforts and other management initiatives.
For more information on the new fiscal year budget, visit www.cityofirving.org. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation from the Sept. 25 Town Hall meeting also is available on the Web site home page. ICTN airs Town Hall meetings on a regular basis, and a DVD copy also can be requested. For air times, visit www.ictn.tv or call (972) 721-2468.