State of the City: Pope says growth driving city progress

Mayor Dan Pope in the annual State of the City Address said there are lots of words that can describe Lubbock: prosperous, dynamic and strong are just a few.

But his favorite to use is simply, “great,” he said.

Another is “growing,” and that was the focus of Pope’s first State of the City speech since taking office in May, given to a banquet hall full of more than 500 citizens Tuesday at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. The city’s population grows somewhere between 1 and 2 percent each year. Since 2010, he said, it’s grown over 9 percent, from just over 229,000 to about 250,000 in the most recent census estimate in 2015.

This of course impacts the private sector, which Pope said is clearly reflected in the 34 percent increase Lubbock saw in residential construction permits issued last year. Retail sales are also experiencing upticks, as are tourism dollars and commercial permits.

To city leaders, Pope said, these trends show a need to plan for the future.

“Our focus as a growing municipality must be to balance two priorities: wisely planning for the future, while at the very same time taking care of what we have,” Pope said. “We’ve got to do both.”

Growth has led the city to undertake numerous public works projects in areas like streets, sewage, water drainage and recreation. Pope discussed a few of these projects in detail during his address, as well as projects he foresees in the future.

Lubbock received a $35 million interest-free loan from the Texas Water Development Board for a drainage project near Maxey Park, which will alleviate flooding in that neighborhood and the neighborhoods to the east where the runoff flows. The $82 million Northwest Water Reclamation Plant being built just north of U.S. 84 and Slide Road will treat up to 6 million gallons of sewage a day, and will treat water to a level of cleanliness to allow the city to consider a wastewater reuse system in the future.

And just within the past few months, the city celebrated the opening of the new Fire Station No. 1 to service downtown and the surrounding areas, and the completion of the East Erskine Street Paving Project from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Loop 289. Pope also said the runway repaving done at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, the construction on 34th Street and the $9 million being spent on upgrades to the Civic Center were triggered by the city’s growth.

Vital projects needing continued attention going forward are water and electricity, and Pope said the city’s water source remains in great shape with its two lakes and two main groundwater sources going forward. Still, Lubbock is testing water in an aquifer located below the Ogallala Aquifer, and hired an engineering team to evaluate and identify potential water reuse strategies.

“I wouldn’t trade our position on water with any city in the country that’s in an arid or semi-arid location,” he said. “That’s something we need to talk about. We’re in an enviable position when it comes to water. Our water investments will pay off, and our water is still affordable.”

The City Council and Lubbock Power &Light are still working on the proposed connection with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas grid for electricity beginning in 2019.

The 35th annual State of the City Address was hosted by the Lubbock Apartment Association. Proceeds for the event will go to the Lubbock Fire and Police Departments Benevolence funds, a beneficiary chosen by the mayor.

Business leaders, city employees and administrators at Texas Tech made up the majority of attendees. Pope recognized new City Manager Jarrett Atkinson, city employees and his colleagues on the City Council.

“Here’s what you can expect from us: to make decisions that are long term in nature and make good common sense,” he said on behalf of the council. “To concentrate on making sure the city is providing those basic services that you’d expect, and doing it well. And we should also be a group that you can be proud of. We need to be available, thoughtful, accountable and civil. Hold us to that.”

U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington was also present for Pope’s speech and said afterward that Lubbockites should be encouraged by the mayor’s positive message.

As the district’s representative in the federal government, the Lubbock Republican said it’s his role to make sure the local government and its citizens can thrive, which he believes comes through more local control. He said if the federal government focuses on its limited tasks outlined in the Constitution like national security and interstate commerce — and does them well —then cities like Lubbock will thrive.

“I believe that the best form of government is that which is closest to the people it’s governing,” Arrington said. “Tax reform, regulatory reform, repealing (the Affordable Care Act); those are all getting the federal government in some measures out of our lives and businesses. I believe the federal government clearly has a job, but it’s a limited role.”

Arrington, who was sworn in earlier this month after winning the November election, said there are policies he hopes to push for the benefit of the Lubbock, such as improvements to the farm bill and the region’s transportation network.

Pope said a big focus for him and the rest of the council has been on community development, which is why they created the community engagement task force to be more engaged and approachable. One of the big focuses to come out of those meetings is the need for police substations, which Pope said the council is in favor of and working toward.

Although the council didn’t approve any capital improvement projects for parks this budget cycle, Pope said he believes the city has a role in improving the quality of life in the city, and it’s something he hopes to address in the future. This, as well as the city’s commitment to downtown, is how Pope said the city becomes attractive to people of all ages ranging from millennials to retirees.

The mayor ended his speech the same way he ends every council meeting, saying it’s always a great day to be in Lubbock, Texas.