May 11, 2012
Here is the latest edition of Week In Review - a series of weekly messages from the Mayor and City Council to help Richardson residents and businesses keep up to date on events at City Hall. A list of links for stories in this edition is available at the bottom of the page.

Proposed Water and Sewer Rate Increase Would Be First in Three Years
The Richardson City Council on Monday will consider a water and sewer rate increase that will ensure financial stability while also keeping residential utility bills below the average of those in comparison cities. It is the first rate increase in Richardson for more than three years.

Since rates last increased, the wholesale water cost to the City has increased 38 percent, and sewer treatment cost has increased 10 percent.

Rates based on consumption would increase by 9 percent, while the base charge for both water and sewer would increase $1 per month. That equates to a total monthly increase of $6.50 per month for the average residential customer.

While the North Texas Municipal Water District and the City of Richardson remain under Stage 3 once per week water restrictions, a move to Stage 2 twice a week watering may be implemented as early as June 1, 2012. The analysis supporting the proposed rate increases includes a return to twice a week watering. 

Click the link below to watch the City Council discussion:
http://richardsontx.swagit.com/e/05072012-589/5/

*Cities served by the North Texas Municipal Water District

(The average water/sewer bill for all of Richardson’s comparison cities is $913 and will go up to $919, which keeps Richardson customers well below regional averages.)

City Council to Decide on Heights Recreation, Aquatics and Gymnastics Center Projects
The City Council on Monday will consider final approval to move forward with construction on the new Heights Recreation Center & Family Aquatics Center and the new Richardson Gymnastics Center.

Pending City Council approval of a guaranteed maximum price for the project, a groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 at the Gymnastics Center site, 300 E. Arapaho Rd., followed by a groundbreaking at 5 p.m. at the Heights Recreation Center & Family Aquatics Center, 701 W. Arapaho Rd.

The Gymnastics Center is expected to open January 2013, while the Recreation and Aquatics Centers are expected to open in May 2013. Voters approved the projects as part of the 2010 Bond Program.

Rendering of Heights Recreation Center

Rendering of Gymnastics Center

Click the link below to watch Monday’s City Council discussion:
http://richardsontx.swagit.com/e/05072012-589/#6

Two-year Anniversary of 2010 Bond Program was May 8
Tuesday marked the two-year anniversary of passage of the 2010 Bond Program. Voters approved $66 million of projects that includes street improvements, parks and recreation facilities, municipal public buildings, and neighborhood vitality.

To date, $33 million in projects is complete, under construction or in bidding. An additional $23 million of projects is under design. The City is on track to follow an aggressive implementation schedule set by the City Council, which calls for all projects to be initiated within three years.

10th Anniversary Eisemann Center Presents Season Announced
At Monday’s City Council meeting, the 2012-2013 Eisemann Center Presents lineup was announced, including special performances and exhibits related to the Eisemann Center’s 10th Anniversary celebration.

Special performances include the return of “An Evening With Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin,” which had its debut at the Eisemann Center’s opening in 2002. Since then, the Broadway stars have performed the show across the country, including a limited engagement on Broadway. The show is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15.

Tickets for the performance are $55-$85 and will go on sale May 18. They will be available online at www.eisemanncenter.com or by calling the Eisemann Center Ticket Office at 972-744-4650. The Ticket Office is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and one hour before performances.

Other season highlights include Ed Asner starring as FDR on Oct. 13, The Oak Ridge Boys on Oct. 27, and Monty Python’s Spamalot on March 20-21, 2013. The season also includes the ViewPoint Bank Theatre Comedy Series, the Family Theatre Series, the Keyboard Conversations® series with Jeffrey Siegel, and many more music and theatre performances.
 

Click the links below to watch the Eisemann Center presentation to the City Council:
http://richardsontx.swagit.com/e/05072012-589/#7
http://richardsontx.swagit.com/e/05072012-589/#8

Second Council District Boundary Commission Public Hearing May 15
The Council District Boundary Commission will continue its consideration of options for the realignment of Richardson’s City Council district boundaries with a second public hearing at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 15.

The Commission began its deliberations on three options at a public hearing April 24, which allowed commissioners to receive public input on the proposals. A City web page is available to review the potential options in advance of the public hearing.

On Jan. 30, the City Council appointed the City Plan Commission to serve as the Council District Boundary Commission. Since then, members have met biweekly to decide on district boundary criteria and to review options for new boundaries.

The City Charter requires the election of seven City Council members, four elected to “places” that correspond to geographic districts and three elected at-large. The Charter also requires that the City Council appoint a Redistricting Commission every 10 years (after the U.S. Census is complete) to review the district boundaries and ensure population equality. Current district boundaries must be realigned because population growth in some areas of the City has led to an imbalance in the population distribution among districts.

New district boundaries must be approved by the City Council by ordinance no later than July 30, 2012.

Click the link below for information on the City Council district boundaries:
http://cor.net/index.aspx?page=1565

Public Hearing May 14 for Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
A public hearing before the City Council on zoning for a seven-screen movie theater in the Richardson Heights Shopping Center at Belt Line Road and Central Expressway is set for Monday.

The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is a movie grill type of theater that serves dinner to patrons while they watch movies. The theater could be a potential catalyst for the shopping center, which was built in the late 1950s and early 1960s and has been a focus of revitalization efforts by the City and property owners. The Alamo Drafthouse would be a state-of-the-art theater with 100 percent digital projection, showing first-run movies.

The City Council work session will begin at 6 p.m. in the Richardson Room at the Civic Center, 411 W. Arapaho Rd. The regular session will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber.

Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month Proclamation
Mayor Bob Townsend and the City Council presented a proclamation on Monday, recognizing May 2012 as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. The month, which is recognized nationally, is dedicated to celebrating and paying tribute to the contributions generations of Asians and Pacific Islanders have made to American history, society and culture.

Richardson Taiwanese Day Celebration Held
Local residents, City staff, the Mayor’s Office of International Business and the Richardson Chamber of Commerce celebrated Taiwanese American Heritage Week on Wednesday at the Civic Center.

A free performance sponsored by the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of DFW was presented by the Da-Guan Dance Theatre and the Department of Dance at the National Taiwan University of Arts.

Mayor Bob Townsend presented "Honorary Citizens for the Day" certificates to the performers and their managers. Also in attendance was Wei-Zan Wang, Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston.

Huffhines Recreation Center Gymnasium will be Closed Next Week
The dance area and gymnasium at Huffhines Recreation Center will be closed May 16-21 so the floors can be refinished. The closure will not affect other parts of the recreation center, including workout areas and meeting rooms.

The Huffhines gymnasium and dance floor is scheduled to reopen Tuesday, May 22.

National Police Week Memorial Service is Monday
The Richardson Police Department’s Honor Guard will commemorate National Police Week with a Memorial Service on Monday. The ceremony is open to the public. National Police Week is May 13-19.

The service will take place 8:30 a.m. at the circle drives near the flagpoles between the Main Police Station and the 9-1-1 Center, 140 N. Greenville Ave.

Early Voting for Texas Primary Election begins May 14
Early voting for the May 29 Democratic and Republican primary elections will take place May 14-25.

Dallas County residents may vote early at any of several locations, including the Richardson Civic Center, 411 W. Arapaho Rd. Collin County residents may vote early at one of several locations as well.

All early voting locations in Dallas and Collin counties will be open:
May 14-18: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
May 19: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
May 20: 1-6 p.m.
May 21-25: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

For more information, contact the Dallas County Elections Department at 214-637-7937, the Collin County Elections Department at 972-547-1990, or the Richardson City Secretary at 972-744-4290.

The Richardson Civic Center will not be an Election Day voting location.

Click the links below for more information about the May 29 primary:
http://dalcoelections.org/
http://www.co.collin.tx.us/elections/

National Bike to Work Day is May 18
BikeDFW and Bike Friendly Richardson are partnering with DART to have a bike commuter appreciation and support station 7-9 a.m. Friday, May 18, at Arapaho Center Station.

The Commuter Energizer Station will include free coffee, water and food, commuting information and free bike tune-ups.

May 18 is National Bike to Work Day, which encourages commuters to ride their bikes or walk to work as a healthy, safe alternative to driving that can also reduce air pollution.

Click the link below for information about the National Bike to Work Day in Richardson:
http://bikefriendlyrichardson.org/

Related Links
City Council videos: http://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=752
City Council agenda: http://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=1006
City Council meeting documents: http://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=1329

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