June 15, 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.

Plan for Small Neighborhood Park Presented to City Council
By spring 2013, a new park will open in the heart of the Richardson Heights neighborhood, providing residents walkable access to a park.

The 2010 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan identified the need for park space in the Heights area as part of a goal to provide close park access to all neighborhoods, and funding was provided in the 2010 Bond Program. Planning has moved quickly, and the City purchased property on Weatherred Drive between Scottsdale Drive and Downing Drive in November 2011.

Input for the park’s design was provided at community meetings, and a plan recommended by the Park and Recreation Commission was presented to the City Council on Monday.

Plans include a pavilion, a playground, an open play lawn, a butterfly garden and an eight-foot sidewalk around the park. The design will complement the neighborhood’s midcentury modern aesthetic.

Construction is expected to begin this fall. 

Click the link below to watch the City Council presentation: 
http://richardsontx.swagit.com/e/06112012-554/#3

City Council Reviews District Boundary Realignment Recommendations
The City Council reviewed Council District boundary realignment recommendations at its meeting Monday, ahead of a public hearing scheduled for Monday, June 25.

Federal regulations require that the population distribution among City Council districts be approximately equal and that district boundaries be nondiscriminatory. The City Charter requires that the City Council appoint a 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.

On Jan. 30, the City Council appointed the City Plan Commission to serve as the Council District Boundary Commission. Over the course of seven meetings, including two public hearings, the Commission reviewed nine different options. Two options have been forwarded for City Council consideration.

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

Click the link below for detailed redistricting information: 
http://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=1565  

Click the links below to watch Monday’s City Council briefing: 
http://richardsontx.swagit.com/e/06112012-554/#4 
http://richardsontx.swagit.com/e/06112012-554/#12 

Arts Leaders Discuss Cultural Arts Master Plan
Members of Richardson's cultural arts community began the final phase of developing the City's Cultural Arts Master Plan on Thursday with a discussion of long-term goals and objectives for arts in the community.

The master plan, which will be a guide to encourage the development of the arts community in Richardson, is being created by the Richardson Arts Commission and consultant Lord Cultural Resources Planning and Management. The third phase of planning follows a needs assessment and community outreach on initial findings and recommendations.

Priorities that have been identified are:

• Applying Richardson's focus on innovation to the cultural arts
• Creating cultural clusters in the City
• Fully utilizing the potential impact of the Arts Commission
• Cultivating a new generation of cultural arts participants
• Planning an effective cultural tourism strategy
• Raising awareness of Citywide cultural arts offerings

A final Cultural Arts Master Plan is expected to be presented to the City Council this summer.

The goal of the Richardson Arts Commission is to help create a vibrant and viable arts community in which diverse, high quality arts opportunities are available to Richardson residents and visitors. The City Council and the Arts Commission have a long history of supporting arts in the community, including distributing about $300,000 in grants each year to arts groups. 
 

 

Electronics Recycling Event Scheduled for Saturday
The City and AMD will host an electronics recycling collection event 9 a.m.-noon Saturday at AMD’s warehouse, located at 1201 Exchange Dr.

Acceptable items include computers and computer peripherals, telephones, mobile phones, printers, copiers, fax machines, monitors, hard drives, VCRs and DVD players. A $5 fee will be charged for hard drive destruction, and televisions and computer monitors will cost $0.50 per pound. Fees are cash only, and no checks will be accepted.

Hazardous waste, ferrous metals, wood, paper, non-computer plastic, refrigerators or other appliances, furniture and liquids cannot be accepted.
 

For further information, please contact Ryan Delzell at 972-744-4404 or e-mail ryan.delzell@cor.gov.

Methodist Richardson Medical Center’s “Wellness for Women” Event Features Fashion, Fun and Skin-Saving Tips
Methodist Richardson Medical Center will present “Wellness for Women Kick-Off Event: Summer Fashion Show and Skin Safety” 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 19. The event will focus on how to give summer a healthy, stylish start.

The free event will take place at the Methodist Richardson Medical Center – Bush/Renner campus, 2821 E. President George Bush Turnpike, in the second floor conference room of the Physician Pavilion.

Attendees will be treated to a fashion show highlighting the top five summer essentials, including swimwear, by Dillard’s at Collin Creek Mall. Dr. Cameron Coury, an independently practicing dermatologist on the medical staff at Methodist Richardson, will provide advice on how to best protect skin during sunny summer months. Refreshments will be provided, and attendees will have the chance to win a free one-month membership to Curves in Richardson.

To register for the event or for more information, please visit http://www.methodisthealthsystem.org/events or call 972-4-DR-LINE (972-437-5463).

Dadfest 5K Event to Take Place Saturday at Galatyn Park
A 5K run and event at Galatyn Park will celebrate Father’s Day, promote men’s health and raise money for the Urology Research & Education Foundation, a Dallas-based nonprofit organization.

On-site registration for the Dadfest 5K will take place 6:30-8 a.m. and is $30. The 5K run will begin at 8:15 a.m.

The event will be emceed by Channel 11 meteorologist Larry Mowry and will include a Dad and Child Look-Alike Contest, free health assessment risk screenings as well as fun activities for children and families.

Click the link below for more information: 
http://www.dadfest.com

Texas AgriLife Center Will Host Rain Barrel Workshop
The Texas AgriLife Research & Extension Center will host a rain barrel workshop 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday at 17360 Coit Rd. in Dallas.

Each person in attendance will assemble a 55-gallon rain barrel to use at their homes. The cost is $50, which covers the cost of the rain barrel and other materials.

Click the link below to register for the workshop: 
http://dallas.tamu.edu/courses/june-19,-2012-saving-from-a-rainy-day-making-a-rain-barrel/

City to Host Composting Seminar on June 23
The Richardson Public Services Department will host a composting seminar on Saturday, June 23. Participants will learn the basics of backyard composting plus advanced tips and techniques from Mary Tynes, a nationally known expert on backyard composting and site editor of www.mastercomposter.com.  

The seminar will take place 10 a.m.-noon at the Richardson Service Center, 1260 Columbia Dr. It is free to the public, but space is limited. Please contact Ryan Delzell at 972-744-4404 to make reservations.

Richardson Animal Shelter Pet of the Week
Meet the Richardson Animal Shelter’s Pet of the Week on the Shelter’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RichardsonAnimalShelter. You’ll see details about the adoptable animal and find out how you can take the pet to your own home. The Shelter Facebook page also has photos of other animals available for adoption and information about upcoming events at the Shelter.

Heidi--Pet of the Week 

 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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