Springfield is changing to stay the same, working to address the challenges and opportunities of a growing community, while also striving to maintain its hometown feel, Mayor Christine Lundberg declared during her annual State of the City address on Thursday.

"The future is exciting for Springfield," Lundberg told the large standing-room-only audience with the seven city councilors seated behind her. "We are all part of who we have been and who we will be. We will change and in changing we will still be the same great city we call home."

The address is a chance every year for the mayor to discuss the municipal government's accomplishments during the prior year and its priorities for the new one.

She noted several businesses that have expanded or continue to grow in Springfield, including the Franz bakery, Umpqua Dairy and the Swanson Group mill rebuilt after the catastrophic 2014 fire. Hotel developers Al and Tina Patel have announced plans to build a third hotel in Glenwood.

PacificSource, a local health insurer, has announced it will purchase the sprawling Symantec complex. Earlier this week, e-commerce company Wayfair announced it will be a tenant in the building, opening a call center and hiring 600 people.

Downtown, more than 20 restaurants and businesses opened last year, the mayor said.

The city is exploring the feasibility of an indoor track in Glenwood and a regional conference center in the Gateway area. It also continues to examine whether to build a new library, with a series of open houses slated to begin later this month.

"We need to change our library to meet the needs of the future and still provide for our traditional library service," the mayor said.

Later this year, the city will start construction after voters passed a $10 million street repair bond. It also will continue to make investments to encourage residents to bike and walk more.

Lundberg said the city is looking for ways to increase housing affordability. It is working with St. Vincent de Paul to find property to develop a new mobile home park and is supporting new legislation to make "new parks a much easier, affordable reality," she said.

Change also is afoot for the city government itself. City Manager Gino Grimaldi is retiring in July and city councilors are deep in discussions about finding his successor. The city also will launch a new website next week.

Lundberg handed out several awards during the address. IEQ Technology and PacificSource Health Plans received the small and large business awards, respectively. The Springfield Chamber of Commerce received the mayor's special recognition award.

Sid Leiken, the former Springfield mayor and county commissioner, received the Spirit of Springfield award for his many years of public service and longtime advocacy for Lane County's second-largest city.