April 12, 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

City Maintains Highest Credit Rating for 15th Consecutive Year 
For the 15th year in a row, both Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s credit rating agencies have reaffirmed Richardson’s “Triple A” status, the highest possible rating available for credit worthiness. Richardson has held AAA status from Standard & Poor’s for 17 years, and this is the 15th year the City has received an Aaa rating from Moody’s. 

The ratings help Richardson continue to receive the lowest interest rates possible as investments are made and bonds are sold. This year, the City plans to sell approximately $67.5 million in General Obligation Bonds, including funding for street improvements, municipal public buildings, parks, sidewalks and drainage projects. Plans also call to issue approximately $21 million in Certificates of Obligation to help fund water and sewer projects, equipment, and renovations to the Library.  

To attain “Triple A” status, the City must meet stringent fiscal performance and control standards across multiple factors, including financial stability, capacity to fulfill debt obligations and economic conditions.   

The City of Richardson sells bonds on an annual basis to fund large public projects, like roads, water mains, fire trucks, and other infrastructure and equipment purchases. The bond sales allow the City to address immediate needs and manage financial resources in a way that balances current obligations with future benefits.  

Press Release: Richardson Maintains Highest Credit Rating From S&P and Moody’s for 15th Consecutive Year | News | Richardson, TX (cor.net) 

Residents Can Purchase Richardson’s “Triple A” Rated Municipal Bonds
On Monday, April 22, Richardson residents will have the opportunity to purchase City of Richardson municipal bonds that will be sold on the open market to raise approximately $88 million as issuance of General Obligation and Certificate of Obligation bonds. The bonds will be sold in $5,000 increments and will raise money for city facilities, infrastructure improvements, and to replace equipment. 

Municipal bonds pay interest to bond holders, which is exempt from federal income taxes. Those interested in purchasing Richardson bonds must do so through a brokerage firm. 

Earlier this week, the City announced receiving “Triple A” bond ratings status from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s (see article above), which will enable the City to sell the bonds at lower interest rates, due to the City’s financial strength. 

Richardson Bond Purchase Information: Bonds Available to Residents | News | Richardson, TX (cor.net)  

Eclipse Dazzles in Richardson with No Traffic or Safety Issues
Thanks to good weather and changing cloud cover, the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse was visible from Richardson and enjoyed by many, with no traffic or public safety concerns connected with the eclipse reported by Richardson Police, Fire and EMS.  

Richardson was in the eclipse’s path of totality, which stretched from Texas to Maine. Viewing gatherings were held throughout the city, including in the CORE District, at CityLine, at UT Dallas and at City parks; some businesses and restaurants offered “eclipse specials.”  

The next total solar eclipse in the lower 48 states happens in August 2044; a total lunar eclipse will be visible in Texas next March.  

Learn about donating leftover eclipse glasses to a good cause in the Environmental section below.  

Video: Eclipse In Richardson 

 
City Council Briefed on “Envision Richardson” Community Feedback 
Project consultants gave a presentation at Monday’s City Council meeting regarding feedback received last fall during Community Summit 2 as part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan Update, a.k.a. Envision Richardson. Envision Richardson will provide clear goals, objectives and policies for development and redevelopment in Richardson for the next 20-25 years.  

Monday’s presentation focused on Richardson’s 10 “PlaceTypes” (i.e. Neighborhood Residential, Community Commercial, etc.) and highlighted the community’s top preferences for secondary land use and “missing middle” housing that could be allowed within the 10 PlaceTypes. Missing middle housing includes fourplexes, bungalow courts and other small-to-mid-size structures that have been “missing” in many communities through zoning since the mid-1940s.   

Also discussed was the community’s vision for five economic reinvestment areas (West Campbell Road, West Arapaho Road, Belt Line/Plano, West Spring Valley and Belt Line/Bowser).  

After receiving feedback from the Council, the consultant team will make any revisions needed and seek additional feedback at next week’s Neighborhood Leadership Workshop and via Community Summit 3, taking place June 7-July 7.  

Monday’s presentation: Click here 

Summary of all community feedback received to date: www.EnvisionRichardson.com  

 
Traffic Box Art Contest Deadline Approaches 
Submissions are being accepted through Thursday, April 25 for the City’s third annual Traffic Signal Box Art Contest. “Technology and Education” is the theme for this year’s event, co-sponsored by the Richardson Rotary Club.  

The contest is open to individual artists of all ages. A selection committee will review submissions and select contest finalists. The five winners will be determined according to three main criteria – creativity, adherence to the theme and artistic merit. In addition to their artwork being showcased at Richardson intersections, artists with winning entries will receive $200, a certificate, and have their work published in Richardson Today and other municipal communication channels.  

All completed applications and artwork submissions for the 2024 contest are due by 5 p.m. Thursday, April 25.  

Website: www.cor.net/BoxArt  

April 15 is Tax Day; Where to Find Free Last-Minute Tax Prep Help
Tax Day is this Monday, April 15, and the Internal Revenue Service will have special Saturday hours at the Dallas Taxpayer Assistance Center, 1100 Commerce St., Dallas, to help area taxpayers with in-person tax prep questions.   

The center will be open Saturday, April 13 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., with no appointment required. Come prepared; there’s a checklist of needed documents at the website listed below.  

The IRS encourages everyone to first check www.IRS.gov for information such as the Interactive Tax Assistant tool to answer their questions or resolve their tax concern to avoid traveling to the office.  

Note that the Richardson Public Library has several tax forms available in the wooden bookcase on display as you enter the Library; click here for a list.  

More information: IRS face-to-face Saturday help | Internal Revenue Service 

More Lane Closures Expected on Custer Parkway North of Renner Road 
The left lanes of northbound and southbound Custer Parkway between the Bush Turnpike and Renner Road may be closed to traffic from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. as underground boring takes place to repair wiring and fix street light outages. The work is expected to be complete by mid-July. 

www.cor.net/projects

Boho Outdoor Market Tonight at CityLine 
CityLine Plaza, 1160 State St. 
Admission: Free, including free parking 
Friday, April 12 
6-10 p.m.  

Enjoy more than 45 booths at the “Boho Market,” featuring handmade and vintage goods from local makers and vendors, plus live music.  

Website: www.citylinedfw.com

 
“Breakfast and Coffee Community Update” Re: DART Silver Line Monday 
Richardson IQ^®HQ, 1302 E. Collins Blvd.
Admission: Free (Please RSVP here)
Monday, April 15
9-10:30 a.m.  

The DART Silver Line design-build contract manager, Archer Western Herzog, is hosting a free breakfast at the Richardson IQ^®HQ to update the community on current and upcoming construction activities associated with the Silver Line. 

Poetry Reading Sunday 
City Hall Council Chamber
2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Suite 525
Admission: Free
Sunday, April 14
1-3 p.m.  

Enjoy listening to readings from the Richardson Poetry Group in this Library-sponsored program. Adults and teens are welcome. 

Register Now for NASA Astro Camp Next Saturday 
City Hall Council Chamber
2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Suite 525
Admission: Free (registration required; call 972-744-4358 or visit the Youth Services Help Desk to register)
Saturday, April 20
2-4:30 p.m.  

Children in grades 4-8 visit eight STEM activity stations to experiment with optics, build a James Webb telescope model, design a spacecraft skin for space debris protection and more in this Library-sponsored program. 

At the Eisemann Center:

• VM & Friends: Together We Sing   
  Hill Performance Hall
  Tickets: $22-$72 (tickets)
  April 13-14
  2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday
  
  Vocal Majority, the renowned Dallas-area men’s chorus comprised of more than 100 members, presents its annual spring show, including collaborations and guest appearances by some of the group’s very talented friends.
  
  
• 123 Andrés Tomorrow 
  Bank of America Theatre
  Tickets: $17-$27 (tickets)
  Saturday, April 13
  2 p.m.
  
  The catchy songs and lively performances of this Grammy-winning music duo (a.k.a. Andrés and Christina) get the whole audience dancing, singing and learning. The high-energy show celebrates the Latinx experience and incorporates Spanish, English and ASL languages. 
  
  
• Cyrille Aimée with Texins Jazz Band Sunday
  Bank of America Theatre
  Tickets: $14-$36 (tickets)
  Sunday, April 14
  7 p.m.
  
  A chance to see the 18-piece, Dallas-based Texins Jazz Band accompanied by international star Cyrille Aimée, who has performed at every major jazz festival in the world, winning the Montreux Jazz Festival's Vocal Competition and the Sarah Vaughn International Jazz Vocal Competition. The Plano East High School Jazz Band will open the show.
  
  
• Keyboard Conversations^® Monday
  Bank of America Theatre
  Tickets: $42-$50 (tickets)
  Monday, April 15
  7:30 p.m.
  
  Jeffrey Siegel presents his final Keyboard Conversations^® concert of the 2023-24 season, bringing his signature style that blends commentary and history with piano performance. Entitled, “Three Great Romantics,” the performance will feature beloved masterpieces of Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Grieg. A post-concert Meet and Greet with Siegel will take place in the Leftwich Grand Foyer; all audience members are invited to attend at no additional cost. 

At UT Dallas:

• UTD Theatre’s “BLINK” Opens Thursday 
  University Theatre
  Admission: Free
  April 18-27
  Thursdays-Saturdays 8 p.m.
  
  A multimedia performance that explores and attempts to give form, feeling and some objectivity to social media’s positives and negatives, written and directed by UT Dallas Theatre Program Director Thomas Riccio and Assistant Professor of Visual and Performing Arts Laura Hyunjhee Kim. 
  
  More information: UTD Theatre's BLINK - Comet Calendar (utdallas.edu)
  
  
• Free Public Film Screening Thursday: “Let Us Die” 
  Jonsson Performance Hall
  Admission: Free; pre-registration is requested here 
  Thursday, April 18
  7-9 p.m.
  
  Join Dr. Hanno Berger as he leads a discussion following the screening of the 2022 documentary film, “Let Us Die,” which delves into the suicide epidemic in Russian-controlled Germany after WWII and was produced by local WFAA-TV reporter Jason Whitely and former WFAA photojournalist Taylor Lumsden. More information: Click here 

How to Keep Eclipse Glasses Out of the Landfill 
Got leftover solar eclipse glasses? There’s a charitable organization that can put them to good use – Astronomers Without Borders has been sending solar glasses for annular and total solar eclipses around the world since 2008, getting them to people who may not otherwise have a safe way to view a solar eclipse directly (there are two per year), including locales in South America, Asia and Africa. 

Collection centers, to where you can mail the glasses and/or take in person and where the glasses are checked for safety and authenticity, are located around the U.S. and Canada. In Texas, mail (in a padded envelope) to:    

• City of Lago Vista
  P.O. Box 4727
  Lago Vista, TX  78645 

Lenses need to be free of punctures, scratches and bends, and the frames, whether plastic or cardboard, need to be in good shape. 

More information: Click here 

Time to Start Gathering Items for April 20 Trash Bash 
The City’s annual Trash Bash takes place Saturday, April 20 and will continue the tradition of collecting household items in addition to trash and recyclables.  

The following items will be collected via “drive-thru” outside First United Methodist Church, 503 N. Central Expressway, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.: 

For Network of Community Ministries 

For Lions Club’s Recycle for Sight program 

By the Richardson Health Department 

The following items will be collected via drive-thru at Richardson Square Mall parking lot, 501 S. Plano Rd., from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: 

Benefits Richardson Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association 
While this is a free event, donations are appreciated. All funds raised go to support the Richardson Police Department.  

More information: www.cor.net/trashbash 

Project Engineer ($88,164 - $127,272 Salary) 
The Engineering and Capital Projects Department is looking for an individual who can manage the design and construction of a wide variety of public works and municipal projects and prepare and review engineering construction documents and cost estimates for public works projects. Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering required from a university with an engineering program accredited by the Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology. 

Public Safety Officer ($43,056 - $64,008 Salary) 
The Police Department is looking for an individual who can perform non-emergency public contact functions within the Richardson Police Department. High School diploma required; GED acceptable if augmented with 60 college credit hours. Texas Driver’s License without restriction (except “A”) required. Must be a US citizen. Must be 18 years of age. 

Day Camp Director ($12.25/hr - $17.34/hr) 
Parks and Recreation is looking for individuals with experience working with children. CPR and First-Aid Certification required or must obtain during job orientation. 

www.cor.net/jobs

Pet of the Week
Meet Buccee, a charming 5-year-old Doberman mix with a heart full of love and a head full of smarts. His energy is infectious, making every day an adventure. He's not just your average dog, Buccee is a fetch master. Give him a ball and he'll retrieve it faster than you can say “good boy!.” His sweet nature is sure to melt hearts, and his intelligence makes him a quick learner. Buccee is looking for a forever home where he can share his love, energy and fetching skills. Adopting Buccee means gaining a loyal companion who will bring joy and fun into your life. 

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

City Council Links