Jan. 26, 2024

This 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 municipal events. If you would like to sign up to receive this in a weekly e-mail click here.

Throughout the year, the City Council or City Plan Commission will hold meetings on topics of significant interest to local neighborhoods or the community in general. Links to view all City Council or City Plan Commission meeting documents that may have topics of interest to you can be found here:

City Council | City Plan Commission

Richardson’s “State of the City” Address is Wednesday 
The public is invited to join the Mayor and City Council for the annual State of the City Address, Wednesday, Jan. 31 beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Eisemann Center’s Bank of America Theatre. The Address will focus on the past year’s highlights, plus a look at future plans. A reception will follow in the Leftwich Grand Foyer.  

Admission and parking for the event are free. The Address will be available to watch live online and on-demand at www.cor.net/stateofthecity.  

Event Address: 2351 Performance Dr., Richardson, Texas 75082 
Website: www.cor.net/stateofthecity 

CORE District’s Alamo Drafthouse to Undergo Renovations 
The City of Richardson is collaborating with Alamo Drafthouse to revitalize and enhance its Heights Neighborhood location in Richardson’s CORE District. Renovation work will launch later this year and will encompass many areas, including audiovisual equipment, seating arrangements and overall theater ambiance. The renovations also include a long-term extension to the lease terms for Alamo to continue its presence at the Heights Shopping Center location.  

The location holds historic community significance as it is the site of Richardson’s first shopping center, constructed in the 1950s following the expansion of US 75 into the Richardson city limits. In 2012, Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse announced expansion into the North Texas market, selecting Richardson Heights as its first location. Since then, Richardson Heights has experienced new life with popular restaurants, shopping and entertainment. 

City Helps Support Network’s New Mental Health, Wellness Services 
Network of Community Ministries announced this week the addition of mental health and wellness services to their current programming. Made possible through funding by both the City of Richardson and the Ruth Ann Marmion Charitable Fund, the initiative aims to bridge the gap in mental health care accessibility by offering compassionate and evidence-based services at no cost to individuals who need them.   

Key components of the program include: 

Website: https://thenetwork.org/get-help/#MentalHealth  

Library’s Updated Strategic Plan Includes Outreach Van 
Library staff presented information at Monday’s City Council meeting regarding the Library’s updated Strategic Plan. Implementing the 2024-2029 plan is part of the City Council’s 2023-24 Goals/Strategies/Tactics as well as necessary to meet Texas public library accreditation requirements.  

A survey and numerous focus group interviews were conducted over the past two years with area children and adults to gauge community desires/priorities for the Library; more than 30 action items are part of the new plan as a result, including:  

Staff reported that the Library has received grant funding for the Outreach Van program from two organizations, Friends of the Library ($30,000) and Richardson Rotary ($5,000) and that the van is currently at the City’s Fleet Department being upfitted with shelving, storage and safety features. Anticipated start time for the program is sometime in April.  

Watch: January 22, 2024 City Council Presentation 

Mobile Food Vendor Permits Change from City to County Oversight 
Mobile Food Units (MFUs) operating in the Dallas County portion of Richardson will now get their permits from the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department, as per a new state law. The City Council was updated on the change at their meeting last Monday. The law only affects the Dallas and Tarrant counties.  

The change will have a fiscal impact to the City of less than $2,000 in lost annual revenue. Historically, Richardson’s Health Department has issued approximately 10-15 total mobile vending permits each year.  

Though Dallas County is now responsible for conducting health and safety inspections in connection with the permitting process, Richardson will continue to perform ongoing health and safety inspections of all MFUs, both routinely and at temporary events. In addition, the change does not exempt an MFU from adhering to Richardson’s local laws and regulations including zoning, parking, police and fire permits and other relevant ordinances.  

Watch: January 22, 2024 City Council Presentation 

Clean Park “Passports” Now Available 
The “Clean Park Patrol” Passport program recently launched for grades 1 and up, part of the City’s new Clean Parks initiative. The free passports, available at Heights and Huffhines Recreation Centers as well as the Gymnastics Center, include a map showing all Richardson parks and recreation facilities, fun in-book activities, and challenges to do at any park, like “Pick up as many pieces of trash as your age.” Once the challenges have been completed, children can turn in the back page of the passport at Heights or Huffhines Recreation Center for a free prize pack that include a drawstring bag, water bottle, sticker, coloring book, and other fun items.   

Richardson’s Clean Parks program was established earlier this year to reduce litter in parks and is funded in part by a grant from the Richardson Rotary Club.  

Website: Clean Parks | Richardson, TX (cor.net) 

 
City Photo Contest Closes Sunday   
Even if you’re not a professional photographer, there’s a place for you in the City’s annual photo contest. Begun as a community photography class at Huffhines Recreation Center in the early ‘80s, it’s an opportunity for any photographer, both resident and nonresident, to show off their best photos. This year’s contest closes in a few days, on Sunday, Jan. 28.  

Photos can measure a minimum of 48 square inches, maximum 16” x 20”. (For a list of subject categories, click here). Photos must be submitted mounted on 16” x 20” foam core board, as well as submitted by email in JPEG form.   

Printed entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Jan. 28 at Huffhines Recreation Center, 200 N. Plano Rd.  

Winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony Feb. 22 at the Eisemann Center, with the winning photos displayed at Huffhines Recreation Center Feb. 3-20.  

Entry form/more information: www.cor.net/photocontest  

Property Tax Payments Due Jan. 31 
Property taxes owed to the City of Richardson are due Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, and should be paid to either the Collin County or Dallas County Tax Office, depending on where the property is located. The City of Richardson contracts with Collin and Dallas counties for the collection of property taxes. 

Collin County residents 
Tax payments for City of Richardson, Plano ISD, and Collin County should be paid directly to the Collin County Tax Office: 

If you live in Collin County and have questions about your property taxes, please contact propertytax@collincountytx.gov or call their customer care center at 972-547-5020.  

Dallas County residents 
Tax payments for City of Richardson and Dallas County should be paid directly to the Dallas County Tax Office: 

If you live in Dallas County and have questions about your property taxes, please contact propertytax@dallascounty.org or call their customer care center at 214-653-7811.  

Richardson Independent School District (RISD) taxes are billed by RISD and payments should be paid directly to the RISD Tax Office: 

If you have questions about your RISD property taxes, please contact their customer care center at 469-593-0500. 

Lane Closures Next Week in IQ for Utility Work 
The bike and center lanes of westbound Collins Boulevard between Prospect Drive and Glenville Drive may be closed to traffic at all times beginning next Monday, Jan. 29 as excavation work takes place for a waterline under Collins. The work is scheduled to wrap up by Friday, Feb. 2, weather permitting. 

Burst Pipe/Sewer Rehabilitation in CORE District Causes Temporary Detour 
Texas Street between East Kaufman Street and East Phillips Street may be closed to traffic at all times and detoured to Greenville Avenue. due to rehabilitation work being done on the nearby sewer main. The work is expected to be complete by early February. 

www.cor.net/projects

Free ITT Community Challenge Event Tomorrow: Dance Fitness   
Huffhines Recreation Center, 200 N. Plano Rd. 
Cost: Free 
Saturday, Jan. 27
Noon 

Enjoy this free dance fitness class being offered in conjunction with the It’s Time Texas (ITT) Community Challenge. The ITT Community Challenge is an annual eight-week statewide health competition, this year ending March 3. To participate in the Challenge, download the “ITT Community Challenge” smartphone app and select Richardson to add to our community points!   

You do not need to be in the Challenge to take part in this free event.   

Website: www.ittcommunitychallenge.org  

City Hosts Free Pet Vaccine Clinic Tomorrow 
Huffhines Park, 1500 Apollo Rd. (behind Fire Station 4)
Cost: Free for Distemper Parvo vaccines for dogs and Feline Distemper vaccines for cats; other pet vaccines, flea and heartworm prevention available at low prices
Saturday, Jan. 27
8-11 a.m.  

The Richardson Animal Shelter and Spay Neuter Network are hosting this free/low-cost vaccine clinic. Vaccines available while supplies last. Dogs must be on a leash and cats must be in carriers; no exceptions. 

“It’s Duplo Day!” Monday 
Youth Services Storytime Room
Admission: Free
Monday, Jan. 29
11:15 a.m.-Noon  

Children ages 2-5 have the opportunity to work on their cognitive and fine motor skills through play and guided activity stations, all using Duplo bricks. Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Event Listing 

Learn All About MS Excel Formulas Next Friday 
Millwood Creek Room
Cost: Free (registration and valid RPL card required—call 972-744-4355 to register)
Friday, Feb. 2
3:30-5 p.m. 

This class for adults teaches how to use formulas in Excel spreadsheets to save time and effort.
Event Listing

At the Eisemann Center:

• Judy Collins with the RSO Tomorrow Night
  Hill Performance Hall
  Tickets: $67-$87 (ticket information)
  Saturday, Jan. 27
  8 p.m.
  
  Legendary ‘60s singer-songwriter Judy Collins performs songs from her 1967 album, “Wildflowers,” along with other songs from her vast career, accompanied by the Richardson Symphony Orchestra. There are only a few seats left for this performance.  
  
  
• Jang Minho Tuesday Night 
  Hill Performance Hall
  Tickets: $65-$300 (VIP tickets, $350) (ticket information)
  Tuesday, Jan. 30
  7 p.m.
  
  The South Korean singer makes a stop at the Eisemann Center as part of his North American tour. VIP tickets include a photo opportunity with the artist.
  
  
• “Pandora’s Cluster: Sensing Deep Space” Continues
  Bank of America Hall 
  Tickets: Free (ticket information)
  Through Feb. 4
  Enter and exit anytime 1-7 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. Sundays 
  
  Get an up close and personal look at Pandora’s Cluster, a galactic collision of several galaxy clusters located approximately 4 billion light-years away, through this multisensory installation that uses images captured via the James Webb Space Telescope along with a soundtrack created by audiovisual artist and composer Ben Heim. The installation is the collaborative work of a team of artists, scientists and technicians coordinated by Houston nonprofit SciArt Exchange, including staff and students from UT Dallas’ Physics Department and the UT Dallas Bass School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology’s ArtSciLab. Additional support provided by the Richardson Cultural Arts Commission and the City of Richardson.  

Local Theater:

•  “Murder on the Orient Express” Opens Next Friday at RTC 
  Richardson Theatre Centre, 518 W. Arapaho Rd., Suite 113
  Tickets: $22-$24 (ticket information)
  Feb. 2-18
  Thursdays 7:30 p.m.; Fridays-Saturdays 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday matinees 2 p.m.
  
  One of Agatha Christie’s greatest novels springs to life in this new stage adaptation. Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. By morning, an American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed eight times and with his door locked from the inside. The eccentric collection of passengers become suspects and the world-famous detective Hercule Poirot must identify the murderer before he or she decides to strike again!
  
  Website: www.richardsontheatrecentre.net  

www.cor.net/EPI

Pet of the Week
Meet Brooke, our outgoing 4-year-old Staffordshire mix! She's been with us since December and loves going on walks. Bring your dog for a meet and greet if you're interested in adopting! Let's find Brooke her forever home. 

For information about animals available for adoption, visit the Animal Shelter’s web page here.

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