Mayor Barbara Bass Outlines Tyler Vision
Staff Photo By Tom Turner
STATE OF THE CITY: New Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass gives the State of City address three hours after taking the oath of office at the Rose Garden Center in Tyler on Wednesday.
By CINDY MALLETTE
Staff Writer
Barbara Bass gave her first speech as Tyler’s mayor exactly three hours after stepping into the position.
Staff Writer
Barbara Bass gave her first speech as Tyler’s mayor exactly three hours after stepping into the position.
Ms. Bass addressed the Tyler Chamber of Commerce Wednesday afternoon at its annual State of the City luncheon. Wednesday morning, she took the oath of office and became Tyler’s new mayor at a special meeting of the Tyler City Council.
Outgoing Mayor Joey Seeber administered the oath as his final official act. The swearing-in ceremony was the only item on the meeting agenda Wednesday.
“We have one thing on the agenda today, and that’s to open a new chapter in the city’s future,” Seeber said after calling the meeting to order.
Ms. Bass took the oath using a family Bible, which her husband, Billy Bass, held throughout the ceremony.
“It’s quite a testimony, Barbara, to the support you have,” Seeber said about the number of people crowding the Council chambers. “This is an exciting day for you and an exciting day for the city. I couldn’t be more pleased."
Ms. Bass was the keynote speaker at the Chamber's luncheon later in the afternoon. "I’m very excited about the future of our community,” Ms. Bass said. “We have the best-run city in our state, in my opinion.”
Ms. Bass was the keynote speaker at the Chamber's luncheon later in the afternoon. "I’m very excited about the future of our community,” Ms. Bass said. “We have the best-run city in our state, in my opinion.”
At the meeting, she addressed the city’s progress through the past year and gave her vision for Tyler’s future.
Her vision, she said, involves staying committed to the Half-Cent Sales Tax and its use in paying for infrastructure projects. She said she’s committed to the pay-as-you-go system of funding those projects, and she will continue to make the goals of the Tyler Blueprint and Tyler 21 a priority.
Staff Photo By Jaime R. Carrero
Barbara Bass (right) is sworn in as new mayor of Tyler by outgoing Mayor Joey Seeber (left) during a ceremony on Wednesday at City Hall.
In addition, Ms. Bass said she would like to see a greater partnership between the City Council and Tyler Economic Development Council.
“I want to ensure a strong relationship with the Economic Development Council so we can bring strong, quality jobs to our community,” she said.
Ms. Bass gave an overview of the city’s accomplishments since 2007. Within the past year, the city has paid off its general obligation debt, maintained a low property tax rate, begun construction on two new fire stations, opened a new Neighborhood Services building, implemented a Code Red emergency system that alerts residents, by phone, of an impending emergency, and built seven houses through its Neighborhood Services programs. Ten more houses are under construction now, Ms. Bass said.
“Tyler has continued to be a wonderful place to live and have a family,” she said.
Ms. Bass listed several honors the city received in the past year, including recognition from the Federal Aviation Administration, which named Tyler Pounds Regional Airport its Airport of the Year in Texas for 2007. Keep Tyler Beautiful also garnered a Governor’s Community Achievement Award for the city, which includes $130,000 for a landscaping project along a state right-of-way.
“This is a wonderful time in the city of Tyler and there’s excitement in the air. But, we’re even more excited about where we’re going,” Ms. Bass said.
She wrapped up her speech by going over the progress of the Tyler 21 plan, which involved 18 months of work and more than 1,000 community volunteers to develop. Since the plan passed in November 2007, she said the city has already made headway in several of the stated goals.
“Almost weekly, some part of the plan has been accomplished,” she said.
In the past six months, the council has adopted a Unified Development Code; initiated a Downtown Business, Arts and Culture District with the purchase of the Liberty Theater; begun developing a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone; placed the first plaque for the Half Mile of History program; developed an Adaptive Control System to regulate traffic along South Broadway Avenue; installed flashing yellow arrows at several busy intersections along Loop 323; and introduced a Proactive Code Enforcement program.
These accomplishments address some the major goals of the plan, she said, including traffic problems and a revitalized downtown.
“I am excited about the future of Tyler and I’m humbled to be your mayor,” Ms. Bass said.
“I need your help to keep the momentum we’ve created, and I need your help to see Tyler 21 continue moving forward.”
This article was last updated on Thursday, May 21, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. CST
This article was last updated on Thursday, May 21, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. CST
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