Aug. 9, 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 Council Budget Workshop Held; Video Available to View Online 
On-demand video of the City Council’s two-day budget workshop held this week is now available to view online. The budget workshop is held annually and is a time for the City Council to provide feedback to the City Manager on funding priorities as the upcoming fiscal year City budget is prepared.  

The FY 2024-25 budget is scheduled to be presented to the Council on Aug. 19 with public hearings scheduled for Sept. 9 (tax rate) and Sept. 16 (budget) prior to budget adoption. The new budget goes into effect Oct. 1. 

Budget workshop video: Click here (Day 1 and 2) 

Website: www.cor.net/budget   

Community Feedback on Bicycling Sought by Bike League 
The League of American Bicyclists is holding its annual Bicycle Friendly Community Public Survey to gauge a national census of Americans' experiences and perceptions of riding a bike in different communities across the U.S., including Richardson. Results from the survey will help the League as it determines a future ranking for Richardson’s “bike-friendly” status. Richardson was rated as a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community by the League in 2015 and has retained that rating since. City staff recently submitted a renewal application to the League with the goal of achieving the Silver-level designation. 

The survey is open until Oct. 15 and should take about 3-5 minutes to complete, with most questions optional.  

English Survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/bfc_2024  

Spanish Survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/RichardsonTX_BFC24esp 

Website: www.cor.net/BikeFriendly  

Canyon Creek and Terrace Pools Close Sunday 
The Canyon Creek and Terrace neighborhood pools will end their summer season this weekend, closing Sunday, Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. (Terrace will be the site of Dog Splash Day on Aug. 18, see Events below for details.)  

Swimming will still be available at the Heights Family Aquatic Center (709 W. Arapaho Rd.) on the following days and times:  

Heights Family Aquatic Center Remaining 2024 Schedule:  

Website: www.cor.net/pools  

City’s Corporate Challenge Kicks Off Today 
The annual Richardson Corporate Challenge, a 10-week, Olympic-style competition coordinated by the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, kicks off tonight, Aug. 9, at Huffhines Park at 5:30 p.m. If you’re traveling near there around that time, expect an increase in traffic—employees, spouses and retirees from 41 local companies will participate in the Challenge, and many show up for the kick-off event. 

The 2024 Corporate Challenge is sponsored by State Farm and features 22 events ranging from athletic sports such as basketball and pickleball to non-athletic contests such as dominoes and Texas Hold ’Em. It raises funds for Special Olympics Texas, more than $3.26 million since the first Corporate Challenge in 1998.  

More information: www.cor.net/cc 

School Supplies Sales Tax Holiday Starts Today 
The annual back-to-school Tax-Free Holiday began today (Friday, Aug. 9) and runs through Sunday, Aug. 11. The event exempts most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks (priced under $100) from sales and use taxes. The holiday applies to items purchased from a Texas store or from an online or catalog seller doing business in Texas. Some exclusions apply.  

Website: www.TexasTaxHoliday.org  

“Clear the Shelters” Begins Tomorrow 
From Aug. 10-Sept. 10, Richardson will participate in “Clear the Shelters.” Now in its 10th year, this nationwide campaign that began in North Texas helps connect pets with families by offering waived or reduced adoption fees. During Clear the Shelters, the Richardson Animal Shelter will waive adoption fees (which range from $15-$35 depending on age and type of animal).  

Note that a $5 registration fee for Richardson residents will still apply, and that new owners will still be required to have pets spayed/neutered and vaccinated for rabies if it has not been done so already. A valid Texas driver’s license or ID is required and new owners must be age 18 or older.  

Those who are not ready to adopt are encouraged to consider fostering a dog by providing a safe and calm place until they find their forever home.  

The Richardson Animal Shelter is currently located at 551 N. Plano Rd., adjacent to the main shelter facility while construction is taking place.  

www.cor.net/AnimalShelter   

www.CleartheShelters.com   

New Location Chosen for Fall Electronics Recycling/Paper Shredding Event 
The location for the Richardson Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (RCPAAA) annual electronics recycling and document shredding event will have a new home this fall. The RCPAAA has announced that the event, scheduled for Oct. 19, will be held in the parking lot of The Heights Church, 201 W. Renner Rd. 

The event had been held for several years in the parking lot of the former Richardson Square Mall, southeast of the intersection of Plano and Belt Line roads. The property recently changed ownership and a new location had to be sought in order to hold the long-running event.  

Website: www.rcpaaa.org  

Deadline Approaches for Huffhines Harvest Fest Vendor Applications 
If you’d like to take part in the upcoming Huffhines Harvest Fest as an artist/seller/vendor, there is one week left to apply for a spot, as applications close next Friday, Aug. 16. The selection process begins Aug. 19 and each artist/vendor will be evaluated and selected by a Festival Management Selection Committee, with notification of selection status made Aug. 28.   

The application fee is $25 and booths cost $200, with additional fees for corner booths and electricity. An additional number of artists/vendors will be retained for a waiting list of alternates.  

Formerly known as Huffhines Art Trails, Huffhines Harvest Fest is a two-day outdoor arts and crafts festival held at Huffhines Park and celebrating its 49th anniversary this fall, Oct. 19-20.  Special features this year include Pawtoberfest on Saturday and The Children’s Entrepreneur Market on Sunday. (Note that vendor applications for Pawtoberfest are due Sept. 13 and priced differently; booths are sold out for the Children’s market.) 

Website: www.huffhinesharvestfest.com  

Huffhines Harvest Fest application link: Apply | Huffhines Harvest Fest 

Pawtoberfest Application Link: 2024 Pawtoberfest Vendor/Exhibitor/Sponsor Application (cor.gov) 

Lane Closures May Cause Delays on Eastbound Arapaho Near Floyd 
The left lane of westbound and the left and center lanes of eastbound Arapaho Road between Floyd Road and Woodland Way may be closed to traffic from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. as water utility work takes place. Note that after 3:30 p.m. each day at least two of the closed lanes will open to through traffic for each direction of Arapaho Road, with only one lane possibly closed to traffic overnight. The work is expected to wrap up by mid-August. 

Right Lane Closure Expected on Eastbound Campbell 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 sidewalk repair needed as a result of gas line repair. The work is expected to be complete by mid-August. 

www.cor.net/Projects

CityLine Summer Night Market Tonight 
CityLine Plaza, 1160 State St. 
Admission: Free, including free parking 
Friday, Aug. 9 
6-10 p.m.  

Enjoy more than 45 booths at this “Boho Market,” featuring handmade and vintage goods from local makers and vendors, plus live music from John Herbert. Pet-friendly.  

Website: www.citylinedfw.com  

“Dog Splash Day” Date Correction 
Terrace Pool, 300 N. Lois Lane
Admission: $5 per dog; $2 per human; all tickets will be sold at the door
Sunday, Aug. 18
11 a.m.-4 p.m.  

Mark your calendars for the annual Dog Splash Day benefiting the Richardson Animal Shelter, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 18. (Note that an incorrect date for the event was published in the August edition of Richardson Today.) The event is organized by Furry Friends of Richardson, a nonprofit that supports the Richardson Animal Shelter.  

Website: www.furryfriendsofrichardson.org  

3D Printing for Beginners Tomorrow Morning 
Millwood Creek Room, 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Suite 500
Cost: free, but registration is required—call 972-744-4355 to register
Saturday, Aug. 10 (event listing)
10:30 a.m.-noon  

Learn 3D Printing with Tinkercad, a free online software program. This hands-on class will help participants:  

For adults only; must have a valid Richardson Public Library card to participate.  

In beTWEEN Book Club Meets Wednesday Evening 
Youth Services Storytime Room, 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Suite 500
Cost: Free but registration is required; call 972-744-4358 to register or visit the YS help desk
Wednesday, Aug. 14 (event listing)
7-7:45 p.m.  

“Tweens” ages 9-12 get to select, read and talk about the best kids’ books, then take a deeper dive with games, book trailers and more!   

www.cor.net/Library

Eisemann Center Undergoing Annual Summer Refresh 
The Eisemann Center is in the midst of its annual refresh. Every summer for 2-3 weeks, venue rental is put on hold as the entire Eisemann Center staff deep clean, tighten up, repair and refresh the building and its contents.   

Upcoming performances include:  

Tickets to all Eisemann Center events are available at the Eisemann Center Ticket Office.  

www.eisemanncenter.com 

Time to Prune Rose Bushes and other August Gardening To-Dos 
The Dallas County Master Gardener Association, sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, has published its August Garden Tasks List. The monthly lists help experienced gardeners and those new to gardening stay on track for “what to do when.”   

Some of the tasks listed for August include:   

Help desk/free gardening advice: Send questions to dallasmg@ag.tamu.edu  
Website: www.dallascountymastergardeners.org  

Energy-Saving/Cooling Ideas from NCTCOG 
If you’re turning down the air conditioner as August heats up and bracing yourself for your next energy bill, the North Central Texas Council of Governments offers the following suggestions to lessen utility costs and stay cool while being energy efficient: 

Website: Click here 

www.cor.net/EPI

Admin Secretary I – Building Inspection ($40,872 - $65,028 Salary) 
Building Inspection is looking for an individual who can perform advanced secretarial, organization, research and clerical work requiring a specialized knowledge of departmental operations, policies and procedures. Notary Public certification required or obtained within three months.   

Combination Inspector – Plumbing ($61,716 - $83,580 Salary) 
Building Inspection is looking for an individual to inspect buildings, construction sites and construction components for compliance with Building, Electrical, Plumbing or Mechanical codes and laws by making routine field inspections throughout the construction period. Master or Journeyman Plumbing license required.   

Gymnastics Instructor PT ($17.82/hr to $26.50/hr) 
The Parks and Recreation Department is looking for individuals who enjoy working with people in groups of various sizes and have a passion for teaching. 

www.cor.net/jobs

Pet of the Week
Meet Roy, a charming 6-year-old pitbull who's ready to steal your heart. His playful antics are sure to bring laughter to your home, and his friendly nature is sure to win over everyone he meets. Roy thrives when he's the only dog in the house, so he'd love to be your one and only. His endearing personality is irresistible, and he's eager to find his forever home.  

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

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