SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (KMTR) -- In her State of the City address Wednesday evening, Mayor Christine Lundberg said the city had several accomplishments in 2012, but this year - as is the case with most cities - Springfield faces more challenges.
Lundberg cited accomplishments in 2012 such as getting rid of bars on Main Street downtown areas; she'd like to see more businesses popping up in that area.
In the past, the mayor said some people did not even want to go downtown, “. . . and now what I hear is, ‘I can't believe how different downtown is, there are great shops, there are restaurants, there are things to do all the time, the shops are all cleaned up. It's a great place! You can feel safe downtown.' Everybody is singing the accolades of downtown.”
Lundberg also praised the continuing fire department merger between Eugene and Springfield. She said the new arrangement will reduce response times and ensure the closest fire truck will always go to emergencies.
The mayor praised Springfield’s voters for passing the public safety levy in November to keep the Springfield jail operating. She said it’s one reason crime has dropped thirty percent since 2008. Burglaries alone are down more than fifty percent and car thefts are down 74 percent.
Looking forward, Mayor Lundberg said the city has put in a three-year plan for developing the Glenwood area, a two-year plan to hold two citywide clean-ups each year and a one-year goal to increase community outreach.
Lundberg said the key word for 2013 is “inspired”.
