Outlines progress and commits to new direction for Rowlett
Rowlett, Texas – July 2026 – Mayor Jeff Winget delivered the City of Rowlett’s 2026 State of the City address on July 7 during the City Council meeting. In the address, Mayor Winget acknowledged that 2025 presented real challenges for the organization and community and outlined the steps city leadership are taking to change direction.
“Rowlett, we heard you. We made difficult decisions. We changed course where change was needed. And today, Rowlett is moving in a new direction. This address is about showing you the evidence of that not just saying it,” said Mayor Winget.
The 13-minute address highlights measurable progress in city staffing and public safety. The Rowlett Police Department reached 97 percent sworn staffing with 23 new officers onboarded during the reporting period and zero detention vacancies. Motor vehicle theft declined 41 percent compared to the five-year average, officer response times to Priority 2 and 3 calls improved 14 to 17 percent year over year, and residents gave the Rowlett Police Department a satisfaction rating of 4.55 out of 5. Citywide, the average time to fill open positions dropped from up to 120 days to 83 days today following the addition of a dedicated recruiter.
On infrastructure, Mayor Winget highlighted the June 25 ribbon cutting and opening of Miller Road, the operational launch of Fire Station No. 5 at Sapphire Bay, and the installation of 284 solar streetlights along State Highway 66, Dalrock Road, and Rowlett Road — a project that set a Guinness World Record. Additional milestones included a comprehensive odor abatement program launched in January 2026 with improvements to 15 lift stations, flooding mitigation projects underway across the city, and traffic signal replacements ahead of schedule.
Economic development highlights included Phase 1 leasing completion at the Lakeview Business District, a master-planned advanced manufacturing and business park with the potential to support thousands of jobs over time, and a construction permit issued for a new Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott bringing approximately 200 hotel rooms to Rowlett. The Mayor also cited a new agreement allowing the City to use DART’s downtown lot for public parking and two significant joint grant programs currently in progress.
City events in 2025 drew more than 121,000 attendees, a 32 percent increase over the prior year, with downtown businesses reporting sales increases of 30 to 300 percent during event programming. Rowlett was ranked No. 83 nationally and No. 26 in Texas by U.S. News and World Report for Best Places to Live.
Mayor Winget also announced completion of the city’s first community-wide survey in over 15 years, in which 754 Rowlett residents participated. Full results will be shared publicly in the coming weeks, along with details on community forums where residents can engage directly on the findings.
The address outlined three priorities for the period ahead: a community-led engagement process for the Municipal Complex, a new Strategic Plan — the city’s first since 2018 — built on survey results and community input, and planning for Rowlett’s 75th Anniversary on September 4, 2027.
“What has changed is not just the projects we completed or the positions we filled. What has changed is the relationship between this government and the people it serves. We are listening. We are following through. And we are asking Rowlett to stay in this with us,” Mayor Winget said.
The full address is available at www.RowlettTX.gov, on the City of Rowlett’s YouTube channel, and on RTN16. A written transcript is available on the City’s website.
For more information, visit www.RowlettTX.gov or contact the Department of Communications & Community Engagement at Media@RowlettTX.gov.
ABOUT THE CITY OF ROWLETT
Rowlett is a vibrant community of more than 70,000 residents located along the eastern shores of Lake Ray Hubbard, just 20 miles from downtown Dallas. Incorporated in 1952, Rowlett is home to award-winning public safety services, a nationally accredited parks and recreation program, and a growing commercial and residential base. The City is committed to transparent governance, exceptional service, and meaningful engagement with every resident. For more information, visit www.RowlettTX.gov.
Submitted by Malcolm Hornsby | Director of Communications & Community Engagement
