April 19, 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

Trash Bash Canceled Due to Weather Forecast 
Due to the possibility of severe weather on Saturday, April 20, all activities related to Trash Bash have been canceled. This includes the Richardson Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association’s electronics recycling and document shredding event at Richardson Square Mall, which will not be rescheduled. The RCPAAA does plan on having another collection event in the fall, but no date or location has been set.   

The used cooking oil and grease collection that was scheduled to take place at First United Methodist Church Richardson will be rescheduled to a future date, but none of the other events taking place at the church will be rescheduled.   

Groups planning to do litter cleanups that have already picked up collection materials such as trash bags, gloves and litter tongs may do their cleanups in the future and report the results to the Health Department. Groups that have not yet picked up their collection materials may arrange to do so by contacting the Health Department at 972-744-4080 or trashbash@cor.gov.  

Class 1 ISO Rating Reaffirmed 
For the third consecutive time since 2014, the Insurance Services Office (ISO) has given the City of Richardson a Class 1 ISO rating, an endorsement of the City’s commitment to protect property from fire damage, thus saving property owners money through lower insurance rates.  

The ISO rating measures the quality and effectiveness of fire protection in a community. Insurance companies recognize the measure as a signal of a city’s commitment to fire safety across the entire city government.  

With this classification, the Richardson Fire Department is listed among an elite group of 99 departments in Texas and just more than 500 in the United States to receive a Class 1 rating.   

Press Release: City of Richardson Earns ISO Class 1 Rating | News 

Music Lineup Set for May Cottonwood Art Festival 
The City’s upcoming Cottonwood Art Festival, May 4-5 at Cottonwood Park, will feature more than 15 musical acts on two stages in addition to the festival’s noted art show, food and beverage purveyors, and children’s art activities.  

Acts on the Imagery Courtyard Main Stage include:  

The acoustic stage will present several young artists in partnership with the Texas Music Project, a statewide nonprofit founded in 2003 that supports music education in schools and music therapy for hospitalized children and children of fallen soldiers.  

The live entertainment begins at 10 a.m. each day as the festival opens and continues throughout the day.  

Complete Schedule: www.cottonwoodartfestival.com 

Bike Racks New Addition for Cottonwood/Wildflower 
The Cottonwood Arts Festival and Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival will be bike friendly this May as designated bicycle parking and bicycle racks are being added outside select gates, to accommodate attendees who’d like to bike to the festival.   

At the Cottonwood Art Festival, bicycle parking and racks will be located at the main festival entrance off of Beltline Rd. At Wildflower!, bicyclists will find the bike parking area/racks outside the Cupcake Vineyards Gateway off Glenville Drive.   

The City Council has made becoming a more bicycle friendly city a priority over the past several years, with several miles of bike lanes added each year. Richardson has been designated as a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community twice by the League of American Bicyclists since 2015 and the Council hopes to achieve Silver status in the near future. 

Wildflower! Student Art Contest Entries Due Thursday   
Entries are being accepted for the Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival’s 2024 Student Art Contest through next Thursday, April 25. Open to all students in grades K-6 who live in Richardson or attend an RISD school, the contest features the winning artwork in the Eisemann Center throughout the festival weekend, May 17-19. This year’s theme is “Take a Walk in the Park.” Winners in all age categories will receive a ribbon and two tickets to the festival. 

To enter, use markers, crayons or paint to create artwork on a piece of 12” square posterboard available at the following locations (as well as through RISD art teachers): 

More information: Click here 

Spring Neighborhood Leadership Workshop Features “Envision Richardson” 
The City’s 2024 Spring Neighborhood Leadership Workshop was held earlier this week at the Senior Center. The biannual workshop, managed by the Community Services Division, provides networking opportunities for neighborhood and homeowner association (HOA) leaders and the chance to stay up to date on important projects and initiatives happening in the community.  

At Tuesday’s event, more than 100 people heard from City staff and consultants about the progress of “Envision Richardson,” the City’s Comprehensive Plan Update, how Richardson could grow in the future, and provided feedback about the potential for “missing middle” housing in Richardson via a visual preference survey and group discussion. In addition, they had the chance to interact with staff from major City departments at an Exhibitor’s Row. 

Developing and maintaining relationships with the associations is essential to the goals of the City Council by ensuring Richardson explores initiatives to attract, engage and retain residents. 

Website: Homeowner Associations | Richardson, TX (cor.net)

Traffic Signal Box Art Submissions Due Thursday; Winning Artists Receive $200 Prize 
Computer-created art 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  

Bois d’Arc Lake Now Open for Recreational Use 
Bois d’Arc Lake is now open for recreational use after spring rains brought the lake level up to near full. The lake is owned by the North Texas Municipal Water District, Richardson’s water supplier. It has been providing water to the NTMWD since March 2023 but was not opened for recreation until earlier this week.  

Visitors to Bois d’Arc Lake can enjoy boating, fishing, hunting, picnicking and other activities around the lake. There are three public access areas with boat launch ramps, day-use picnic areas and restrooms. The lake is located outside of Bonham in Fannin County, about 75 miles northeast of Richardson. 

Video: https://youtu.be/4z-mfwRv6uY?si=ssWM_EqOZ0CDp4DN 
More information: www.boisdarclake.org/ 

Median Work to Cause Lane Closures at Arapaho/Custer Intersection 
The left lanes of eastbound and westbound Arapaho Road at Custer Road may be closed at all times to traffic as median work takes place on the west side of the intersection. Note that the left thru lane of eastbound Arapaho west of Custer may be closed from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. while the left turn lane of eastbound Arapaho onto northbound Custer may be kept closed overnight. The work is expected to be complete by late April. 

Lane Closure Expected at Plano Road/PGBT Intersection 
The right turn lane of northbound Plano Road onto the eastbound Bush Turnpike Frontage Road may be closed to traffic from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. as fiber optic work takes place. The work is expected to be complete by late July. 

www.cor.net/projects

Wildflower! Battle of the Bands Qualifying Round Tomorrow in The CORE District 
Happy Hippie Brewing Company, 500 Lockwood Dr.
Admission: Free
Saturday, April 20
7-10 p.m.  

Come support the rockstars of tomorrow as young bands battle it out to be selected to perform in the finals at the upcoming Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival. Each band will perform a 15-minute set that must include one original song and one cover song of a professional band performing in this year’s 2024 Wildflower! festival. At the judges’ and producer’s discretion, two bands will be selected outright for the finals and an additional 2-3 bands will be selected to compete in an online People’s Choice contest for the third finalist slot.  

The finals will be held Sunday, May 19 at 11:45 a.m. on the festival’s Methodist Richardson Medical Center Stage.  

Website: https://wildflowerfestival.com/battle-of-the-bands/  

RWC Garden Festival is Near; Lunch Registration Ends Thursday 
Richardson Woman’s Club, 2005 N. Cliffe Dr.
Tickets: $25. A boxed lunch (available at 11:15 a.m.) is $15 extra (lunch must be purchased by April 25)
Saturday, May 4
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. 

The day includes coffee and sweets at 8:30 a.m. followed by a variety of seminars with Master Gardeners and garden experts, and the opportunity to shop for plants, baked goods and gifts. Tours of local residential gardens begin at 11 a.m.; maps will be available upon check-in.  

Complete schedule and ticket information: www.rwctx.org 

Microsoft Excel Intermediate this Sunday 
Millwood Creek Room
Cost: Free (registration and valid RPL card required, call 972-744-4355 to register)
Sunday, April 21
3-5 p.m.  

Participants will learn to:  

Prerequisite: Microsoft Excel Beginner or equivalent experience  

Computing 101 with Windows 10 
Millwood Creek Room
Cost: Free (registration and valid RPL card required; call 972-744-4355 to register)
Friday, April 26
3:30-5:30 p.m.   

This is a class for absolute beginners to gain fundamental computing skills.  

Learn about:   

For adults only. 

At the Eisemann Center:

• Chamberlain Ballet: “A Tapestry of Dance” This Weekend 
  Bank of America Theatre
  Tickets: $30-$55 (tickets)
  April 20-21
  Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
  
  Chamberlain Ballet’s Spring Show features guest artists Tyler Angle, from New York City Ballet, and Hee Seo, from American Ballet Theatre, and guest company Bruce Wood Dance. In addition, there will be three world premieres by Sebastian Garcia, Walker Martin and former Paul Taylor dancer Francisco Graciano.
  
  
• RSO Season Finale Saturday Night 
  Hill Performance Hall
  Tickets: $18-$75 (tickets)
  Saturday, April 20
  7:30 p.m.
  
  The Richardson Symphony Orchestra’s 2023-24 season concludes with Anna Geniushene, 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Silver Medalist, performing Rachmaninoff ’s last work for piano and orchestra, “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43.” Also included in the program is Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98.
  
  
• The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain Wednesday Night 
  Hill Performance Hall
  Tickets: $47-$57 (tickets)
  Wednesday, April 24
  7:30 p.m.
  
  Somewhere between sincerity and insanity; punk rock sensibilities and restrained British humor, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain has endured a 37-year career that has taken them across the globe from Carnegie Hall to the North Pole to China, Japan, Australia and now the Eisemann Center.  

At UT Dallas:

• “Small Talk” Multimedia Installation at SP/N Gallery 
  3020 Stewart Rd.
  Admission: Free
  Through Friday, April 26
  Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday-Friday 1-6 p.m. with free “meet the artists/curators” reception 4/26 from 6-8 p.m..
  
  “Small Talk” is a multimedia performance installation project by students enrolled in VPAS 6391 Creativity Visual Arts Workshop: Post-Studio Arts that transforms the SP/N Gallery into an artistic apparatus performing a series of creative chain reactions. Inspired by the mechanisms of a Rube Goldberg Machine (an elaborate device and system that perpetuates motion, often in unintended, unexpected and nonsequential ways), the installation will morph throughout the exhibition in collaboration with UTD graduate students.
  
  More information: Small Talk - Comet Calendar (utdallas.edu)
  
  
• Vocal Showcase Thursday 
  Jonsson Performance Hall 
  Admission: Free
  Thursday, April 25
  6 p.m.
  
  The Applied Voice Students of Nili Riemer Bueckert present their spring vocal showcase. Repertoire will include German Lieder and Spanish Canción, as well as traditional light operetta selections.
  
  Website: Bass Showcase: Voice - Comet Calendar (utdallas.edu)
  
  
• A Cappella Concert Next Friday 
  Jonsson Performance Hall
  Admission: Free
  Friday, April 26
  7 p.m.
  
  Novis A Cappella presents its spring concert, “Novis Breaks Up,” a night of joy, rage, and revenge, featuring heartbroken hits from Adele, Joji, Olivia Rodrigo, The Weeknd, Paramore, Gloria Gaynor and more. Crying allowed; cheering encouraged!
  
  Website: Novis Breaks Up - Comet Calendar (utdallas.edu) 

Family Improv at The Core Theatre: “Occupations” Tomorrow Night 
518 W. Arapaho Rd., Ste. 115
Tickets: $5 kids, $10 adults (tickets)
Saturday, April 20
7:30 p.m. 

Come see the fun of wacky and ridiculous jobs and situations that YOU can help create! The Family Improv troupe performs a high-energy, original, fun and family-friendly show where everything is made up on the spot, using the audience’s suggestions throughout the evening.   

Website: www.thecoretheatre.org  

Richardson Community Chorale Concert Next Friday Night 
First United Methodist Church Richardson 
Admission: Free 
Friday, April 26 
7 p.m.   

This family-friendly event entitled, “The Elements,” will feature songs about air, fire, earth, and water, including the premiere of a new work by local composer Debra Scroggins.  

Website: www.rcchorale.org  

What to Do with Shredded Paper 
Did you know that most recycling centers, like the one that serves Richardson, do not accept home-shredded paper? This is because the tiny fragments can clog machinery and are hard, if not impossible, to separate by hand from other recyclables.    

If you have your own paper shredder, be sure to place the shredded remains in trash bags and not with recyclables, as they will “contaminate” a recycling bag so that nothing in the bag gets recycled. Home-shredded paper that’s plain, non-glossy, and free of a lot of ink may also be used as a “brown” part of composting.   

Note that community shredding events usually involve a shredding company that bales the shreds before they’re sent to a recycling facility, which accepts the bales as they arrive ready for sale, to be made into other products.  

Website: www.cor.net/recycling  

Ways to Safely Dispose of Lithium-ion Batteries 
Keeping Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries out of the trash not only helps the environment, as the batteries can leak toxic chemicals, but it prevents fires. Though small, the batteries (found in cellphones, laptops, e-bikes, toys, cars and more) store a large amount of energy, and can overheat, catch fire and even explode. 

If you have a Li-ion battery that’s no longer in use, the Richardson Fire Department suggests taking it to the Dallas County Home Chemical Collection Center, 11234 Plano Rd., in Dallas (click here for hours).  

More information: Lithium-ion Battery Safety | Richardson Today 

SR Combination Inspector ($68,220 - $89,556 Salary) 
Community Services is looking for an individual with experience in building inspection and enforcement who will inspect buildings, construction sites and construction components for compliance with Building, Electrical, Plumbing or Mechanical codes and perform other related work as required.   

Surface Finisher ($43,056 - $59,712 Salary) 
The Public Services Department is looking for an individual with experience in pavement and structural construction. A Texas Commercial Driver’s License, Class A, will be required.   

Lifeguard ($14.00/hr - $15.00/hr) 
This position is for summer 2024. Must be at least 15 years of age with current certification in Lifeguard Training (YMCA or American Red Cross, CPR and First Aid.) 

www.cor.net/jobs

Pet of the Week
Meet Draco, a 1-year-old Black Mouth Cur mix canine that carries an abundance of energy and friendliness. He's known for his playful demeanor, always ready for a game of fetch or a fun romp around the park. Draco's sociability extends to his fellow canines as well; he's fantastic with other dogs, making him a wonderful companion for households with existing pets. Draco is more than just a Shelter pet, he's a companion ready to bring laughter, love and a sense of camaraderie to his forever home. 

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

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