May 17, 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

2024 Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival Begins Tonight
The City’s Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival takes place this weekend, May 17-19, at Galatyn Park Urban Center, with a packed schedule beginning tonight at 6 p.m. Live music on six stages, a children’s area, an art guitar auction, strolling performances, and talent competitions are all included in the price of daily admission, as well as access to food vendors and the WF! Marketplace.  

Ticket Information:  

Website: www.wildflowerfestival.com

Parking/Transportation Info for Wildflower! Festival  
The Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival is a favorite among DFW-area concertgoers and one of its features that receives high praise is parking—it’s plentiful, close by and FREE, with many spaces covered. More than 8,000 spaces are available within the immediate area surrounding Galatyn Park Urban Center, including three parking garages and five parking lots. New this year is dedicated bicycle parking, near the Cupcake Vineyards Gateway off Glenville Drive. 

The BlueCross BlueShield Garage off Lookout Drive is the largest WF! parking facility; see below for the complete parking map.  

In addition, DART buses and light rail stop right at the festival grounds, with Galatyn Station just steps away from the Texans Credit Union Gateway. 

Website: www.wildflowerfestival.com 
Website: www.dart.org  

Wildflower! Art Contest Winners Announced   
The winners of the 2024 Wildflower! Student Art Contest have been announced. The contest was open to all students in kindergarten-6th grade, with 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and Honorable Mention winners chosen. The first-place winners are: 

For a complete list of winners, click here or check out the upcoming June edition of Richardson Today. All winning art will be displayed in the Eisemann Center (first floor) during the Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival May 17-19.  

Demolition Begins at Site of Former City Hall 
City and community leaders gathered last Saturday for a ceremonial wall demolition at Richardson City Hall. The 85,727-square-foot building, built in the late 1970s and opened in 1980, was damaged by fire in 2022, and voters approved a new City Hall and City Hall campus in a 2023 bond election.  

Construction on the new City Hall, which is planned to be located closer to Arapaho Road and east of the fountain plaza, is expected to begin later this year, with an expected completion sometime in early 2027. 

Video: https://vimeo.com/945383896  

Police Week Memorial Held   
In conjunction with National Police Week, which began May 12, the Richardson Police Department held a memorial service Wednesday morning at police headquarters honoring police officers killed in the line of duty in 2023 from across Texas. The ceremony included a 21-gun salute and Taps performed by the Richardson Police Honor Guard.  

National Police Week was established by Congress in 1962, observed each May during the week that includes May 15, National Peace Officers Memorial Day.  

Public Art Plans Unveiled for Fire Station 5, Animal Shelter   
Public art concepts chosen to be part of the renovations at Fire Station 5 and the Animal Shelter were unveiled at Monday’s City Council meeting. The art finalists were determined by each facility’s art selection committee after a nationwide Call for Artists was issued in late 2023.  

Artwork incorporated into a decorative screening fence was desired for Fire Station 5, and the proposal from Richardson-based artist Tony Schraufnagel was chosen out of 28 applications. It depicts firefighting symbols through three metal layers. 

A whimsical mosaic sculpture inspired by a Brothers Grimm fairy tale illustration has been selected as the entryway art for the Animal Shelter, proposed by Austin-based artist GiGi Miller. The design incorporates a dog, cat, parrot and iguana and was chosen from 50 applications. 

The art is expected to be installed at each facility in early 2025. Public art is included in the construction or renovation of any municipal building in Richardson as per the City’s Public Art Master Plan approved in 2015. 

Monday’s presentation/artist renderings: Click here 

Traffic Signal Box Art Contest Winners Announced   
The five winners of the City’s third annual Traffic Signal Box Art Contest, co-sponsored by the Richardson Rotary Club, were recognized at Monday’s City Council meeting. The winners each received $200 and a certificate, and their artwork will be turned into vinyl wraps that will be installed later this month on traffic signal boxes at key Richardson intersections. It can also be viewed online and in the June issue of Richardson Today. The theme for this year’s contest was “Technology & Education.” 

Winning artists are as follows: 

Intersections receiving the new art are as follows, located near schools and technology hubs in keeping with the theme: 

Winners were chosen by a selection committee comprised of members of the Cultural Arts Commission and Richardson Rotary Club. The contest has been a unique way to further the City’s commitment to public art and beautify city streetscapes while reaching a broad range of local talent. 

Monday’s presentation: Click here 
Website/images of winning artwork: www.cor.net/boxartcontest 

First Citywide Bike Rodeo Held 
The City of Richardson teamed up with Bike DFW to host the first Citywide Bike Rodeo last weekend at Huffhines Park. There were opportunities for kids to learn about bicycle safety and test their skills on an obstacle course, plus free shaved ice treats. Parents got the chance to learn about recent and upcoming improvements for bike safety in Richardson and about recently installed bike lanes and trails.  

Video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1601223497087705 

Second Quarter Financial Report Given to City Council
The City’s second quarter (January-March) financial report was presented to the City Council Monday by City Budget Office staff. Revenues and expenditures across most of the City’s five major operating funds (General, Water and Sewer, Solid Waste Services, Golf, and Hotel/Motel Tax) are performing within budget parameters for fiscal year 2023-24.    

Though the General Fund’s overall revenues at the quarter’s end were at 66.13 percent of the original amount budgeted/expected (comprised primarily of property taxes, sales taxes and franchise fees), and expenditures at 46.16 percent, staff noted that Sales and Other Business Tax collections ended the quarter $1.01 million below the current budget target (with April and May remittances added, $1.84 million below). This is due primarily to reduced office occupancy in the City and a corresponding reduction in leases for commercial office equipment and furniture as the market adjusts to post-pandemic work trends. Staff will continue to track revenues and expenditures and make strategic operational changes as needed to keep the budget on track. 

Monday’s presentation: Click here 

Lane Closure Expected on Plano Road Near Buckingham 
The right lane of northbound Plano Road extended 300 feet north and south of the intersection with Buckingham Road may be closed to traffic from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. as existing utility poles are removed and new poles are installed, due to road widening and new turn lanes installed at the intersection. The work is expected to be completed by late August. 

Utility Study/Repair Work to Close Eastbound Lane of Campbell Road Near US 75 
The right lane of eastbound Campbell Road between Gateway Boulevard and US 75 may be closed to traffic from 9 a,m.-3:30 p.m. for an Atmos Gas assessment and any needed repair work. The work should be complete by mid-November. 

www.cor.net/projects

Guided Boardwalk Tour at JBS Wetland Center Tomorrow Morning 
655 Martin Ln., Combine
Cost: Free with gate admission of $5 ($4 seniors 60+; free for ages 12 and under)
Saturday, May 18
10-11:30 a.m. 

Head southeast about 40 minutes from Richardson to explore the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center, located in the middle of the North Texas Municipal Water District’s (NTMWD) 2,000-acre East Fork Wetland Project. The project provides a unique, natural process that helps purify Richardson’s water supply (and that of other NTMWD member cities) while at the same time creating wildlife habitat and enhancing the environment.  

Walk the Center’s boardwalks with a guided tour every third Saturday of each month and learn about this ecosystem’s flora and fauna and its fascinating history. Dress for the weather and bring water. 

No reservations required. (Groups of 10 or more, contact the center at 972-474-9100.) 

Website: www.wetlandcenter.com 

Still Spots Available in Huffhines Mini Summer Camps 
Huffhines Recreation Center
Cost: $98
Weekly June 10-Aug. 2 (no camps week of June 30)
1-5 p.m. 

Get out of the Texas heat with this fun, afternoon, indoor summer camp for ages 6-10. Sign up for one week or several. 

A variety of other subject-specific mini camps are also still open for a variety of age levels; subjects include cooking, art, STEAM challenges, Legos, sports, magic and even a mini camp all about Texas weather. 

Registration: www.cor.net/parksonline ; search for Mini Camps 

Library Lunchtime Lecture at Senior Center Next Thursday: “Valley Forge” 
Richardson Senior Center Multipurpose Room, 820 W. Arapaho Rd.
Admission: Free
Thursday, May 23
Noon-1 p.m. 

Richard Cudlipp will dispel myths as he presents a look at Valley Forge, which played a key role in creating a revolutionary army capable of standing up and facing the British army (best in the world at that time). For seniors ages 50+. Attendees are welcome to bring lunch to enjoy during the presentation. 

“Pet Care and Safety 101” with Animal Shelter Staff Next Saturday 
City Council Chamber, 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Ste. 525
Admission: Free
Saturday, May 25
1-2 p.m. 

The Library is sponsoring a Richardson Animal Shelter lecture on how to care for your pet safely during summer and what to do if your pet is ill or injured. Assemble your own emergency pet health care kit while supplies last. For adults and teens.  

RCT to Host Summer Theater Camps 
770 N. Coit Rd., #2405
Cost: $250-$520 depending on camp 

• July 8-12 One-week camp for ages 7-11 (Broadway Bound), 9 a.m.-noon 
• July 15-Aug. 3 Three-week camp for ages 12-18 (Beauty & the Beast Jr.),  10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 
• July 22-27 One-week camp for ages 8-11 (Beauty and the Beast Jr.)  10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 

Registration is still open for several theater camps for ages 7-18. Tuition includes instruction, materials and costumes. There are no required tickets to buy and no hidden fees. Enroll online or call 972-690-5029. 

Website: www.rcttheatre.com  

Gardening Tasks for May 
The Dallas County Master Gardener Association, Inc., a division of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, has released its May Gardening Task List, featuring several to-dos (and one “don’t do”) that gardeners should be taking note of this month. Among the group’s recommendations:

• Plant ground covers and hot weather annuals
• Continue to plant warm season turf grasses; continue regular mowing of warm season turf grasses every 5-7 days
• Mow Bermuda grass (maintained at 1 ¼-1 1/2 inches), and St. Augustine (maintained at 2 1/2 inches in full sun to 3-3 1/2 inches in moderate shade)
• Prune spring blooming shrubs after they finish flowering
• Don’t prune live oaks and red oaks until after June 30
• Snip off the dried foliage of early spring bulbs such as daffodils
• Mulch planting beds to conserve moisture, deter weeds, and keep soil cool
• Be attentive to the water needs of new plantings

Website: www.dallascountymastergardeners.org  

Tarantulas: Beneficial, Not Dangerous 
Did you know that there are 15 types of tarantulas found around Texas, and that none of them are venomous to humans? In case you spot one (they’re on the move right now, looking for mates and food), they may look ferocious, but they are considered “gentle giants” and a beneficial eater of insects, other spiders, snakes and more. Staff with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension recommend to just admire the fuzzy arthropods and leave them be, although be aware that they can bite and that they usually give warnings to “stay away,” including rearing up on their hind legs to appear bigger, kicking hairs off their abdomen and/or showing their fangs.  

In case of an in-home encounter, AgriLife staff recommend covering the tarantula with a glass and sliding paper underneath to move it. Note they are not jumpers. 

Though the likelihood of an encounter is higher in some parts of the state like Central and Southwest Texas, they are found all over. Mating season lasts through August. 

More information: Click here 

www.cor.net/EPI

Heavy Equipment Operator ($47,244 – $64,884 Salary) 
The Public Services Department has multiple job openings for Heavy Equipment Operator for individuals with experience operating heavy motorized equipment. Depending on department, a Class A or Class B Texas Commercial Drivers License will be required or obtained within six months.  

IT Network Specialist II ($80,451 - $124,475 Salary) 
The Information Technology Department is looking for an individual who can perform network systems work involving the implementation, maintenance and monitoring of local area networks, wide area networks, Internet or Intranet systems, and network segments. Texas driver license required. 

Swim Instructor/Coach ($15.50/hr - $17.50/hr) 
Must hold current certifications in CPR and First Aid. Must present evidence of experience and background/references. Must be able to demonstrate required ability. 

www.cor.net/jobs

Pet of the Week
Meet Calvin, a sweet and friendly 4-year-old German Shepherd who radiates positivity and joy. Calvin is an absolute delight to be around, spreading love and cheer wherever he goes. His heartworm positive status doesn't slow him down one bit, as he is always ready for a game of fetch or a leisurely walk. Calvin's affectionate nature and unwavering optimism are truly inspiring. Calvin deserves a loving home where he can continue to shine and spread happiness. 

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

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