July 5, 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

Debris Estimate Revised; Estimates Show One Month Left Until Completion
The estimate of the total amount of vegetative debris generated in Richardson after the May 28 severe weather event was revised upward this week by 50,000 cubic yards, to a total of 250,000 cubic yards. This latest estimate is expected to be the last revision, with the second round of debris collection expected to begin in two to three weeks.   

If collection goes according to plan, it is believed regular Brush and Bulky Item Collection (BABIC) services could return to normal in early August. As of today (July 5), 189,438 cubic yards (~75%) of vegetative debris has been collected. 

This is the third estimate created by contracted debris monitoring and hauling services, who began citywide removal of material on June 3. The first estimate was created less than a week after the storm passed. A second revision was made two weeks later and was based on the appearance of new piles of debris in areas already collected, along with additional debris that appeared on streets waiting for collection.  

Estimates are based on visual inspections, total number of homes impacted, and type of vegetative debris left out for collection.   

More information: www.cor.net/severeweather

City Council Commits to 2024-25 Reforestation Initiative 
Mayor Bob Dubey announced at Richardson’s Family 4th celebration that the City Council is supporting reforestation efforts in Richardson and has tasked City management to develop a plan to “Replant Richardson,” as the Council develops the 2024-25 City Budget.   

The City Council’s goal is to adopt a plan that includes a path to restoring the trees lost at Richardson parks and parkways and promotes the regrowth of the tree canopy in neighborhoods across the city.  

FEMA Assistance Deadline Extended; 3rd Disaster Recovery Center Opened 
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced this week that the deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) (for homeowners and renters affected by the April and May storms who reside in Dallas County and Collin County) has been extended to Aug. 15. The previous FEMA IA deadline was July 16.   

In addition, a new FEMA Disaster Recovery Center was recently opened in Mesquite, allowing more opportunities for everyone affected by the storm and power outages to apply for financial assistance.

The Individual Assistance program helps with expenses not covered by insurance. Costs that may qualify include temporary housing, emergency home repairs, and serious needs including water, food, personal hygiene items, or fuel for transportation. 

Applications for assistance may be completed online or through FEMA’s mobile app. 

Website: www.disasterassistance.gov 
FEMA help line: 800-621-3362 (6 a.m.-10 p.m.) 

Demolition of City Hall Underway 
Construction crews have begun demolishing Richardson City Hall, located at 411 W. Arapaho Rd. The 85,727-square-foot, 44-year-old building was damaged by fire in August 2022 after an electrical failure. A new City Hall will be rebuilt with funds from the voter-approved 2023 City Hall Bond Program. 

City staff members/departments displaced by the fire now operate out of a temporary City Hall and annex located at 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd. Construction of the new City Hall is planned to begin later this year, with move-in expected in spring 2027. 

More information: Click here 

Associa Announces HQ Move to Richardson 
Associa, a leading, tech-driven community association and property management firm, is moving its corporate headquarters from Dallas to Richardson, expanding its footprint within the city and signifying a significant investment and job creation opportunity for the local business community.  

The new acquisition involves a two-building office complex at the southwest corner of East Lookout Drive and North Plano Road, totaling more than 260,000 square feet. To aid the project and to demonstrate its commitment to fostering local economic growth, the City has prepared a support package, including building modernization grants and fee waivers.  

Over three years, Associa will invest $55.5 million to support the relocation, consolidation of 500 existing employees, and creation of 250 new jobs within Richardson.   

Associa’s relocation is just one of several upcoming economic development projects for the City, including inaugural Research Award Match Program (RAMP) funding, new and continued growth in the semiconductor manufacturing industry, and the redevelopment of a prominent shopping center. 

Eisemann Marks 10 Years of Hosting Iconic Miss Texas Coronation 
Last Saturday’s crowning of Annette Addo-Yobo as the new Miss Texas marked the 10th year for the iconic scholarship competition to be held at the Eisemann Center and the second year for the finals to be broadcast live on WFAA-Channel 8 TV.  

The annual event, which also includes the Miss Texas’ Teen competition, is held over the course of a week and not only brings contestants from across the state and hundreds of spectators to Richardson, but is a catalyst for many local competitions within the Miss Texas system to hold their events at the Eisemann Center throughout the year.  

Miss Texas Annette Addo-Yobo is the first immigrant-born and Ghanaian woman to win the Miss Texas competition. She competed as Miss Southlake and is a 2020 graduate of UT Dallas.  

Richardson’s partnership with the competition, which also includes the Renaissance Hotel, began in 2014 and is scheduled to continue through at least 2026.  

Mosquito Tests Find First Positive West Nile Results for 2024; Spraying Completed 
The Health Department’s mosquito traps located in Sherrill Park and near Richardson ISD’s Professional Development Center returned mosquitoes this week that tested positive for carrying West Nile virus, the City’s first positive test results of 2024. The Department conducted ground spraying in that area Tuesday and Wednesday nights. No human cases of West Nile virus in Richardson have been reported.  

The City tests mosquito samples from traps throughout Richardson on a weekly basis from April-October. Residents are advised to follow The Four D’s of Protection against mosquito-borne illness to reduce mosquito populations and protect against bites:  

Website: www.cor.net/mosquito  

July is National PARD Month; Beat the Heat with Evening Hours at Richardson Parks 
In honor of National Park and Recreation Month in July and in light of recent high temperatures, Richardson Parks and Recreation staff want to remind the public that all of the City’s parks are open in the evenings until 10:30 p.m., with several offering lighted amenities such as the following:   

*For the tennis courts, players turn on the lights; they turn off automatically at 10:30 p.m.  

Additionally, the Heights and Huffhines Recreation Centers and Senior Center are great places to get out of the heat, work out and learn new things. And don’t forget, all City pools are open until 8 p.m. on weekends, with some open until 8 p.m. on select nights Monday-Friday.   

More information: www.cor.net/parks  

Video: https://youtu.be/sblAMfDF7U4?si=Zz6BK2ZV4MSPaPUS 

Envision Richardson Survey Online through July 7
If you missed the recent community open houses for the City’s Envision Richardson Comprehensive Plan Update, you can still offer your opinions through an online survey available through this Sunday, July 7. The closing of the survey marks the end of Community Summit 3. Feedback is needed on multiple components of the draft plan, including Land Use, Neighborhoods & Housing, Mobility & Transportation, Natural Environment, and Reinvestment Areas. Note that this is a different survey from previous surveys conducted last year. 

The feedback will be used in establishing direction for the final draft, which will be presented to the public and City Council in the fall. 

The City’s Comprehensive Plan is updated every 10-15 years and is designed to provide clear goals, objectives and policies for future development and redevelopment in Richardson for the next 20-25 years.  

Website: www.envisionrichardson.com  

Survey: Click here 

Water Improvement Project Update 
Work is progressing on the 825 Pressure Zone Improvements Project, a joint venture between the City and the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) to help improve water capacity. This week, 178 miles of cable were wrapped around the ground storage tank under construction at the Northside Pump Station near Point North Park, pulling together multiple concrete panels and “shotcrete” in a process that causes the exterior to become one continuous surface.   

Other parts of the project include a new pump station at the Northside site (which will pump 15 million gallons per day); two water lines that connect to Renner Road (one funded by NTMWD extends eastward to Custer Road; another, funded by the City, extends eastward to Alma Road and north to the Bush Turnpike); a new NTMWD metering station; and a 10-foot-wide trail along Alma Road. Richardson Parks and Recreation crews have been busy the past few weeks planting trees along Renner Road, replacing trees lost during water line construction.  

The COR water line is now complete and the ground storage tank is expected to be completed in the fall; most other parts of the project are expected to be complete by spring 2025. 

www.cor.net/Projects

The IQ^_® Brew Next Thursday 
Richardson IQ^®HQ, 1302 E. Collins Blvd.
Admission: Free
Thursday, July 11
8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.  

Learn how to harness mental energy at the latest installment of The IQ^® Brew, a free, public series that features coffee, networking and informative presentations. Thursday’s presentation is entitled, “Cognitive Capital: The healthy and harmful ways we manage our greatest asset,” and will be given by UT Dallas’ Center for Brain Health’s CEO Stephen White and its Director of Programs and Head of Clinical Services Jennifer Zientz.  

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cognitive-capital-the-healthy-harmful-ways-we-manage-our-greatest-asset-tickets-928471391927

Richardson Chamber Hosts Nonprofit Fair Next Friday 
West Coast University, 2323 N. Central Expwy.
Admission: Free; no registration required to attend
Friday, July 12
10 a.m.-1 p.m.  

Local nonprofits will showcase their impactful work and present opportunities for donors, sponsorships and volunteering. Connect with multiple organizations, learn about their missions and make a difference in the community!  

More information: Click here

T(h)inker Thursdays: Indian Elephants July 11 
Richardson IQ^® HQ, 1302 E. Collins Blvd.
Admission: Free; registration required, stop by Youth Services to register or call 972-744-4358
Thursday, July 11
2-3 p.m.  

In this Library-sponsored event, kids ages 8-11 will learn how elephants are a significant part of Indian culture and art, then make their own Indian-inspired artwork using block printing techniques. 

www.cor.net/Library

At the Eisemann Center:

• “Late Nite Catechism” Opens Month-Long Run Tonight
  Bank of America Theatre
  Tickets: $30-$50 (tickets)
  July 5-28
  Thursdays 7:30 p.m.; Fridays-Saturdays 8 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 2 p.m.
  
  The irrepressible Sister is back, teaching an adult catechism class to a roomful of “students” (the audience). Over the course of the play, Sister goes from being a benevolent instructor, rewarding the “students” for correct answers with glow-in-the-dark rosaries and other nifty prizes, to being an authoritative drill sergeant.
  
  
• First Friday Art Reception Tonight to Celebrate the Extension of Sarah Gomez’s “Pink Blanket” Exhibit 
  Green Mezzanine Gallery 
  Admission: Free; no RSVP required 
  Friday, July 5 
  6-8 p.m.   
  
  The community is invited to meet artist Sarah Gomez and view the latest exhibit in the 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 July 28 and is open during the Eisemann Center’s regular hours, Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and during all public events.   
  
  
• “7 Bridges: The Ultimate EAGLES Experience” Tomorrow Night 
  Hill Performance Hall
  Tickets: $55-$90 (tickets)
  Saturday, July 6
  7:30 p.m.
  
  A tribute to the music of the Eagles, using no backing tracks or harmonizers. The show faithfully re-creates the experience of an Eagles concert from the band’s most prolific period. Each show features one hit single after another with some Joe Walsh surprises sprinkled into the mix.
  
  
• Chicago Tribute Authority Texas Next Friday Night 
  Hill Performance Hall
  Tickets: $55-$90 (tickets)
  Friday, July 12
  7:30 p.m.
  
  Offering a blend of timeless and classic songs, this show will take you back to the “Beginnings” and the “Old Days” of the band, Chicago.  

Local Theater:

“One Slight Hitch” Opens Next Friday at Richardson Theatre Centre 
518 W. Arapaho Rd., Ste. 113
Tickets: $22-$24
July 12-28
Thursdays 7:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays 8 p.m.; Sundays 2 p.m. 

It’s Courtney's wedding day, and her mom, Delia, is making sure that everything is perfect. The groom is perfect, the dress is perfect, and the decorations (assuming they arrive) will be perfect. Then, like in any good farce, the doorbell rings and all heck breaks loose. So much for perfect! 

Website: www.richardsontheatrecentre.net  

Master Gardeners Release July Gardening To-Do List 
The Dallas County Master Gardener Association, Inc. (DCMGA), a division of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, has released its Garden Task List for July. In addition to watering advice (pay attention to the water needs of lawns, ornamental plants and vegetables, being attentive particularly to new plants with undeveloped root systems and to outdoor potted plants, which can dry out quickly) the DCMGA’s list of tasks includes:   

More July garden tasks: www.dallascountymastergardeners.org  

NCTCOG Offers Clean Air Ideas for Summer Road Trips 
While the thrill of hitting the open road is undeniable, it’s important to consider the impact our travels have on air quality. Here are some ways to help you maintain good air quality on the road this summer from the North Central Texas Council of Government’s (NCTCOG) Air North Texas division:  

More information: Click here  

www.cor.net/EPI

Crew Chief ($54,504 - $76,104 Salary) 
The Public Services Department is looking for an individual with experience in construction and/or maintenance of water distribution and waste collection systems. A Texas Commercial Driver’s License, Class A is required. 

Detention Officer ($42,252 to $65,796 Salary) 
The Police Department is looking for individuals who can performs all duties necessary for the successful operation of the Detention Division. Valid Texas Driver's License, Class C or above, 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 Ray-Ray, a charming 3-year-old American Bully mix resident of our shelter. His personality is a delightful blend of sweetness and playfulness that instantly brightens up the room. Ray-Ray's energetic spirit is contagious, and he's always ready for a game of fetch or a romp in the park. Despite his lively nature, Ray-Ray has a gentle side that shines when he's around children. His ability to get along with kids makes him a wonderful addition to any family. Adopt Ray-Ray and make him a part of your family today. 

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

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