In the past year, the City of Colleyville saw its first gas drilling site, implemented water restrictions and upgraded its residential recycling program. In the future, residents can look forward to new developments and the possibility of repairs to the city's existing infrastructure.

Those are among the subjects Colleyville City Manager Jennifer Fadden discussed during last week's State of the City address outlining the top issues of 2011 and also the city's plans for the future.

The city handled residents' top concern by updating its solicitation ordinance, Fadden said. The updated solicitation requires solicitors to register with the city, undergo mandatory background checks and abide by curfews.

The city also updated its building design standards and urban drilling ordinances last year.

Titan Operating is readying to begin fracking operations on gas wells at the city's first drill site at 7504 Pleasant Run Road. The natural gas company recently informed the city it plans to comply with all city regulations, Fadden said.

"Colleyville has one of the toughest ordinances governing urban drilling in North Texas," she said. "We have only one site in our city, but through independent oversight and inspection, we have ensured that the stipulations in that ordinance are enforced. As activity on the site resumes, we will continue to require full compliance with our ordinance."

Water conservation was another top issue for the city and region in the past year. Fadden said city staff plans to present findings and recommendations to the City Council after studying the results from other cities that use a tiered water rate.

"While we have received rain, lake and reservoir levels still remain below 75 percent--and we must continue to conserve to store up water for the summer months, when the effects of the drought are most noticeable," she said.

A tiered system would encourage conservation. And as residents continue to conserve water, an updated recycling program is urging residents to recycle more.

In November 2011, the city transitioned from 18-gallon recycling bins to 65-gallon recycling carts.

"The citizen response was overwhelming," Fadden said. "In the first few months, residents recycled an average of 71 tons more per month than the same time period in 2010. In the next few weeks, the city will launch a new 'Cart Smart' video campaign aimed at recycling education to further grow this valuable program."

As part of a road rehabilitation program, Cheek Sparger Road, Pleasant Run Road and John McCain Road were among the streets that got a makeover last year.

The city is looking to replace even more infrastructure this year, including public streets, buildings and pavilions in parks.

"In the next year, we'll begin to assess and evaluate the condition of that infrastructure and plan for its long-term management, repair and replacement," Fadden said.

Workers will start construction on a new roundabout at Pleasant Run and John McCain roads this spring with anticipated completion in early 2013. A roundabout is also being planned for the intersection of Jack and Cheek Sparger roads, but construction for that one is not anticipated until this fall.

But that is not all that Colleyville residents have to look foward to in 2012.

The city will welcome pub-themed restaurant The Londoner this spring. A new 7-Eleven is planned for Cheek Sparger Road at Colleyville Boulevard, and a new Wal-Mart is planned for the intersection of Glade Road and Colleyville Boulevard.

"The city has worked with both companies on their building designs to ensure that they set a standard for development and redevelopment in Colleyville's commercial sector," Fadden said. "We anticipate that 7-Eleven will open in the spring, while Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market should open in early 2013."

The city is also looking beyond its borders. In 2010, Colleyville partnered with Southlake and Keller to regionalize its operations for jail services and emergency dispatch as a way to reduce costs and redundancy. The city is now looking at new options for regionalization efforts with the two cities, Fadden said, though she said it was too early to announce those plans publicly.

"This spring, we hope to take a proposal to the City Council for their consideration," she said. "And we hope to come back to you with an announcement about those efforts in the not-so-distant future."