May 31, 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

Mayor Signs Disaster Declaration; Disaster Recovery Center Opens 
Richardson Mayor Bob Dubey signed a declaration of a Local State of Disaster on Wednesday, May 29, due to damage sustained from a region-wide storm system that caused widespread destruction in Richardson and North Texas early Tuesday morning, May 28. With the declaration in place, a Disaster Recovery Center/local Multi-Agency Resource Center has been activated and debris removal specialists have been hired to begin citywide removal of debris on Monday. The Disaster Recovery Center is part of a disaster recovery partnership with Network of Community Ministries approved by the City Council in 2017.   

Services offered at the Disaster Recovery Center, located at Network’s headquarters (1500 International Pkwy. Ste. 300), include basic necessities such as food and clothing and connecting residents with financial or volunteer assistance to help with recovery, as well as insurance assistance in submitting claims. Assistance from volunteer groups offering help to clear debris can also be applied for at the center.   

Hours/more information: Click here 

Citywide Debris Removal Begins Monday for Vegetative Damage
Contractors hired by Richardson to monitor and manage the removal of storm-related debris from public property and public rights-of-way (ROW) will begin citywide removal of debris on Monday, June 3, 2024. City contractors will not pick up normal household trash or recycling. Residents are also asked NOT to place storm debris in compostable paper bags due to the mulching process of storm-related debris material.

Clean storm-related vegetative debris should be placed separately from construction/demolition debris and other materials such as appliances. 

TO HELP WITH THE PROCESS:

• PLEASE DO, place storm-related vegetative debris on the street Right-Of-Way (ROW), not by the alley (see graphic).

• PLEASE DO, keep all vehicles at least 20 feet away from storm-related vegetative debris piles between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. to allow for passage of oversized trailers to remove material,

• PLEASE DO, place debris just behind the curb, outside of travel lanes, away from drainage ditches, and away from obstacles such as mailboxes, fire hydrants and water/gas meters,

• PLEASE DO, keep storm-related vegetative debris separate from household garbage.

PLEASE ALSO:

• DO NOT, have paid contractors place construction debris, or other items, in public ROW;

• DO NOT, place storm-related vegetative debris in alleys,

• DO NOT, comingle household garbage with storm-related vegetative debris.

What is Storm-Related Vegetative Debris?
Storm-Related Vegetative debris is dead or decaying plant material left behind from wind-damaged trees/plants and does not include regular yard waste. Storm-related vegetative debris can include things like:

• Branches
• Twigs
• Stumps
• Trees
• Shrubs
• Etc.

Storm Aftermath; Debris Cleanup Update 
Collection of storm-related vegetative debris from the May 28 weather event is expected to take 4 to 6 weeks. Everyone is asked to please be patient with the community cleanup process and to know response and recovery crews are working to restore the community to its pre-storm state as quickly as possible. Phase 1 has been in process this week (ensuring roads are passable and cutting debris blocking hospitals and critical facilities).

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect:  

 Phase I: Clearing a Path:

• Our top priority is ensuring all roads are passable.
• City crews are cutting debris blocking streets, hospitals, and critical facilities.
• Downed trees and vegetation will be moved to the curb for later removal.
• Help Us! Report blocked streets and alleys by calling 24/7 at 972-744-4111 or emailing AskRichardsonPublicServices@cor.gov. We've already received over 300 calls, and crews are working hard to clear them as quickly and safely as possible.

Phase II: Curb-to-Curb Cleanup (Throughout the Weekend) 

Phase III: Neighborhood Debris Removal (Starting June 3) 

Report blocked streets or alleys 24/7: 972-744-4111.  AskRichardsonPublicServices@cor.gov  

Video: Click here 

Where to Place Debris for Collection 
City crews will begin curb-to-curb debris collection in neighborhoods this weekend, so it’s important to know what they will and won’t pick up, and how to separate items: 

1. Household Garbage: Bagged trash, discarded food, packaging, and papers. All garbage should be placed in the alley, or at your normal collection point.

2. Storm-Related Vegetative Debris: Trees, branches, logs.

3. White Goods/Appliances/Electronics: Refrigerators, dryers, washers, freezers, AC units, stoves, water heaters and dishwashers, TVs, computers, radios, stereos, gaming systems (Xbox/Playstations), telephones.

4. C & D: Construction debris, building materials, drywall, lumber, carpet, furniture, mattresses, plumbing materials.

Note that crews will not pick up any plastic bagged items left out front.  

Normal Brush and Bulky Item Collection (BABIC) is suspended as the storm debris is being collected and will resume at a later date.  

Website: Severe Weather | Richardson, TX (cor.net) 

Power Outage Update 
Richardson is still experiencing outages after Tuesday morning’s storm. As of Friday afternoon, 10% of customers are without power.  

Oncor has teams from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina and Virginia assisting to restore power to affected customers in the DFW area.   

The energy delivery company is expecting power restoration to be substantially complete by tonight (Friday evening), weather permitting. Customers in harder hit areas can expect to have power Saturday.  

To report a power outage or check the status: Text OUT to 66267, use the MyOncor app, click “Report an Outage” on the map, or call 888-313-4747 

If you see a downed power line, please stay away, keep pets and others away and call 911 immediately. 

Oncor Service Line Damage 
Many residents have been asking about who handles repairs after storm damage affects their power lines. This information is especially important for those who lost power due to a fallen tree or debris disconnecting the service line between their home and the power pole in the alley. 

According to Oncor's website: 
Homeowner's Responsibility: Any tree or debris that lands on a service line is the homeowner’s responsibility to clear. If there is concern that the line is still energized, the property owner needs to call Oncor to check. Once Oncor ensures the line is safe, the property owner can have the tree or debris removed. Oncor will then return to replace the service line. 

Oncor's Responsibility: Oncor is responsible for repairing power poles, service lines, transformers and electric meters. 

Homeowners need to address repairs to weatherheads, electrical wiring and meter bases. These repairs require a licensed, bonded and insured electrician, as well as an inspection before power can be restored. 

Permit fees for all storm-related repairs will be waived by the City. 

Website: ONCOR After the Storm – What You Need to Know 

Disposing of Spoiled Food 
Residents who need to dispose of spoiled food due to lost power from the recent storms can do so at the North Texas Municipal Water District’s Lookout Drive Transfer Station, 1601 E. Lookout Dr., in Richardson.  

Residents will need to show a City-issued utility bill that reflects solid waste services to drop off food waste. The facility is open Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 

Cooling/Charging Centers Still Open 
If your household is still without power, several City facilities have been designated as cooling/charging centers and are available to help you stay cool and charge your devices: 

Generator Safety Reminder: 
If you're using a generator for temporary power, remember to operate it outside only in a well-ventilated area. Never run a generator indoors or in an enclosed space like a garage as carbon monoxide poisoning can occur. 

Response Teams Ask for Reports and Patience
Emergency crews are working diligently to assess and repair storm damage and ask for your patience as cleanup may take several weeks due to the severity of the storm. In addition, residents are asked to help out by reporting the following: 

The information is crucial for assessing the full extent of the damage in Richardson and the surrounding area. 

Website: Severe Weather | Richardson, TX (cor.net) 

Storm Impacts Opening Day for Two Pools; Others Open Tomorrow 
The Terrace and Canyon Creek pools will delay opening until Monday, June 3 due to losing power after the May 28 storm. Now that power is restored, crews are assessing the chemical levels and pool equipment.  

Two neighborhood pools, Cottonwood and Glenville, as well as the Heights Family Aquatic Center, will open June 1 as scheduled. Hours vary by pool. 

Pool Schedule/Fees: www.cor.net/aquatics  

Swim Camps: Swim Camp Guide

Summer Reading Kickoff Tomorrow Afternoon 
2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Ste. 500
Cost: Free
Saturday, June 1
2-4 p.m.  

All ages are invited to come celebrate the beginning of summer reading and the Library’s Summer Reading Program, “Adventure Begins at Your Library”, with divisions for children, teens and adults. Stop by to register, learn about upcoming programs, and explore all the ways you can adventure with your RPL library card. Enjoy snacks, free books and a collaborative craft.  

Wild Things Zoofari Tomorrow   
City Council Chamber, 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Ste. 525 (park near door closest to Plano Road/Greenville Avenue intersection)
Admission: Free
Saturday, June 1
2-3 p.m.  

Take a walk on the wild side and meet real wild animals up close! Learn about their natural habitats, eating habits and more. For all ages; children ages 3 and under must be accompanied by an adult throughout the program. 

At the Eisemann Center:

Free Reception, Art Exhibit Next Friday 
Green Mezzanine Gallery
Admission: Free; no RSVP required
Friday, June 7
6-8 p.m.  

The community is invited to meet artist Sarah Gomez and view the latest exhibit in the Green Gallery, Gomez’ “Pink Blanket.” The exhibit explores the profound grief experienced when one leaves the comfort of a familiar place once called home, now having to build a new life surrounded by objects carrying the memory of all that was left behind. 

Light refreshments will be served. The exhibit continues through June 30 and is open during the Eisemann Center’s regular hours, Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and during all public events.

“An Evening with Lee Asher” Next Friday 
Hill Performance Hall
Tickets: $40-$50 (tickets)
Friday, June 7
8 p.m.

Noted animal rescuer Lee Asher takes the audiences on a roller coaster of emotions as he recounts his struggles, failures and ultimate triumphs in building one of the largest animal sanctuaries in the United States. Asher's talk is a testament to the transformative power of pain and the importance of turning resentment into gratitude.  

Community Theater

Family Improv at The Core Theatre Tomorrow Night 
518 W. Arapaho, Ste. 115
Tickets: $5 kids, $10 adults (tickets)
Friday, June 1
7:30 p.m.

The Core Theatre’s improv troupe will get the audience involved with all things “Pet Movies” in this edition of Family Improv. Time to have fun with pets from the big screen, from Lassie, Toto and Beethoven to Garfield, Puss in Boots and Hello Kitty. What would it look like if Nemo encountered Free Willy or Stitch met Babe the pig? Or, create a new movie pet never promoted before! 

www.thecoretheatre.org  

Proper Tree Cutting Can Help Save Injured Trees
If you’re planning to get outside this weekend (between weather events) and assess/cut injured trees, consider the following, from the experts in Richardson’s Parks and Recreation department:  

Three-cut tree trimming method video: Click here 

Spring Storms May Bring Injured Wildlife 
The abundance of baby animals and birds that come with spring, along with spring storms, means a higher incidence of finding injured wildlife and birds in our backyards. DFW Wildlife Coalition, one of the area organizations that has partnered with the Richardson Animal Shelter in rescue efforts, has several guidelines on its website if you find a displaced or injured bird, mammal, or reptile and you need help assessing the situation.  

The Richardson Animal Shelter accepts many different types of animals, including injured wildlife. (The most common animals handled include squirrels, opossums, raccoons and small birds.) If the Shelter is unable to help, they will transport the animal to a more fully equipped wildlife rehabilitation center.  

DFW Wildlife: www.dfwwildlife.org  

North Texas Wildlife Center: https://ntxwildlife.org/  

Richardson Animal Shelter: www.cor.net/animalshelter  

www.cor.net/EPI

Public Safety Officer ($43,056 - $64,008 Salary) 
The Police Department is looking for an individual who can perform nonemergency 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.   

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.    

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 Priya, a friendly 4-year-old pitbull mix with a heart full of love. Her sweetness is infectious, and her friendly nature makes her a joy to be around. Despite being heartworm positive, Priya doesn't let it affect her spirit. She's still as playful and lively as ever, spreading happiness wherever she goes. Adopt Priya and bring home not just a pet, but a loyal friend who will fill your life with joy and warmth. 

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

City Council Links