PROVO - Mayor Lewis Billings painted a rosy picture for his third term this week by cataloging accomplishments and rolling out ambitious plans for the city's near future.

Economic development, starting with the $7 million performing arts center at the site of the former Provo Library, was the focus of the city's forecast, Billings said.

"There continues to be a great new time of opportunity in downtown Provo," Billings said during a State of the City address, just minutes after taking his third oath of office.

Billings said construction on the center began before a Dec. 31 legislative deadline that the city had to meet to tap $2.2 million in tax-increment bonds for funding.

"That building has been one righteous challenge to get under way," he said.

Redevelopment of the city block just north of the City Center, where mixed commercial and residential projects are planned along Center Street, is hoped to follow the arts center to anchor the west end of the downtown district.

Billings also mentioned the possibility of Provo gaining a downtown convention center. A lengthy feasibility study for a facility near the intersection of Freedom Boulevard and 100 North was presented to city officials in November.

Other announcements included the phased-in opening this month of the city's traffic-control center and plans to implement, by July 2007, a Provo Justice Court.

"As we stand here today, crime is low," Billings said. "Crime is lower than it was four years ago."

Four new firetrucks and five new ambulances will roll out this year to aid in public-safety efforts.

Billings remains optimistic about the potential for the Mountain Vista Business Center, formerly known as Ironton, even though one anchor - Hal Wing and his Little Giant Ladder business - no longer will relocate there.

Lucrative financial incentives persuaded Wing to leave Springville for the Provo business site last summer, but exploding business growth has forced him to find another location with an already-finished building.

However, several businesses, including Novatek, a drilling-equipment manufacturer, already have opened at Mountain Vista, whose officials are looking for a new anchor. Those officials are in negotiations for the spot with three manufacturing companies, a company spokesman said.

As for the city's $40 million fiber-optic network, iProvo, Billings said there are now nearly 5,000 subscribers. City officials want to sign up 10,000 once the infrastructure is done in July.

"It's been a very tough project," he said. "We're within budget, and we're within the timeline."

Highlights of accomplishments cited by Billings for the past year included the approval by voters of a road bond, the city's successful U.S. Census Bureau challenge that boosted Provo's population from 99,264 to 111,718 and preserved its first-class-city status, and record circulation numbers - 1.5 million materials this year - at Provo's library.

thollingshead@sltrib.com

Provo projects on the radar

l Performing arts center. Under construction; expected to open in early 2007.

l Redevelopment of block north of City Center. Appraisal expected; developer partners on board by summer.

l Building a downtown convention center. Feasibility study done; looking for investors.

l Traffic-control center. Operation to be phased in during January.

l Provo Justice Court. To be completed by mid-2007.

l iProvo network. To be completed by July.