Aug. 30, 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 Enters Partnership to Attract India-Based Businesses 
This week, the City of Richardson joined forces with international business accelerator Startup Runway in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Richardson Innovation Quarter (The IQ^®) Headquarters. The event marked the launch of a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening international economic ties with India, the world’s fifth largest economy. Through this collaboration, the initiative seeks to attract Indian companies seeking to expand their operations into North America. 

The partnership includes several key elements designed to support Startup Runway’s mission of promoting the growth of India-based and other international businesses, including:  

The partnership directly aligns with The IQ^®HQ’s mission of facilitating collaboration and networking between Richardson’s innovation, entrepreneur and startup communities.  

Website: www.RichardsonEconomicDevelopment.com 

Culture in The CORE, Light Up Lockwood to Combine Nov. 2 
The annual Culture in The CORE and Light Up Lockwood events will take place this year as a combined celebration on Saturday, Nov. 2. Culture in The CORE will start things off from 2:30-6:30 p.m. at Main Street Plaza, 105 S. Interurban St., followed by Light Up Lockwood a few blocks away at 500 Lockwood Dr. from 7-9 p.m.  

Culture in The CORE brings together Richardson’s diverse communities to have fun and experience the music, dance, foods and arts of different cultures. Light Up Lockwood features a laser light show projected onto a nearby water tower and highlights popular Lockwood Neighborhood vendors.  

Parking and admission are free.  

The CORE District is composed of the Chinatown, Downtown, Heights, Interurban, and Lockwood neighborhoods.  

Information: www.cor.net/Home/Components/News/News/7777/73 

Website: www.RichardsonCOREDistrict.com

Labor Day City Trash/Recycling Schedule Changes 
Due to the Labor Day holiday, there will be NO solid waste collection, Brush and Bulky Item Collection (BABIC) or recycling service provided Monday, Sept. 2. There will be NO make-up days for trash collection or BABIC. The table below shows the make-up days for recycling service. 

Website: www.cor.net/servicedelays

Labor Day City Facility Closures

Website: www.cor.net/HolidaySchedule  

Website: www.cor.net/ServiceDelays

No City Council Meeting Monday 
The City Council will not meet Monday, Sept. 2, due to the Labor Day holiday. The Council will next meet Monday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. at Temporary City Hall, 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Ste. 525. 

Website: www.cor.net/CityCouncil

Updates Recommended for City Code of Ethics Ordinance 
Six amendments for the City’s Code of Ethics were reviewed at Monday night’s City Council meeting. Richardson’s Code of Ethics Ordinance, first adopted in 2010, is reviewed every two years and applies to the City Council and all City Boards and Commissions (a.k.a. “city officers”). It covers ethics violations such as financial conflicts of interest, as well as the reporting procedure and consequences for such violations.  
   
The amendments will be considered for adoption at the Council’s Sept. 23 meeting. 
 
Monday’s presentation: Click here 
Website: www.cor.net/government/city-council/code-of-ethics 

Last Weekend of Swim Season at Heights Family Aquatic Center   
The Heights Family Aquatic Center will be open for the next three days, weather permitting, and then close the City’s summer swim season at 8 p.m. Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2.  

Hours of operation are Saturday-Monday, Aug. 31-Sept. 2, from noon-8 p.m. (Note: All other City pools have already closed for the season.) 

Heights Family Aquatic Center is located at 709 W. Arapaho Rd., adjacent to Heights Recreation Center. 

Admission fees/more information: Click here  

DART Releases Labor Day Schedule  

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) will operate a modified schedule Monday, Sept. 2, for the Labor Day holiday.  

DART administrative offices, DARTmart, Customer Care Center, Lost and Found, and the Paratransit Scheduling Center will be closed on Labor Day.   

More information: www.dart.org 

Apollo Park Now Open 
Richardson’s newest park is open and ready for use for a variety of sports and activities. Named Apollo Park for its location at the southwest corner of Apollo Road and Plano Road, the 26-acre property features multiuse fields with an adjacent, lighted parking lot. It was funded in part by the 2021 Bond Program.  

Future phases of the park’s development could include a playground and picnic area as well as a hike and bike trail surrounding the perimeter of the property.  

Richardson Today in Mailboxes This Weekend 
The September 2024 print edition of Richardson Today is expected to hit mailboxes this weekend. In it, you’ll learn more about the Solid Waste Master Plan Survey (through a QR code), where you can give input on the City’s trash and recycling services. In addition, the issue includes a full page all about the Richardson Reads One Book selection, “Symphony of Secrets,” complete with book discussion questions, author information and RROB event/ticket details.  

Richardson Today is mailed to every residence in the city. Ask your local mail carrier if you do not receive your copy and you live within the boundaries of Richardson.   

Keep up with Richardson Today stories as they happen, including video, at www.RichardsonToday.com. A digital version of the print edition of Richardson Today may also be accessed there.  

Lane Closures Expected on Arapaho as Utility Work Takes Place West of US 75
In two phases, various lanes of westbound and eastbound Arapaho Road between US 75 and Custer Road may be closed to traffic alternately from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. as installation work takes place for a new water line at the library building. Beginning at 3:30 p.m. each day there will be at least two lanes open to through traffic for each direction of Arapaho. The work is expected to wrap up by mid-September. 

Fiber Optic Work to Temporarily Close Right Lanes on Belt Line East of Coit
The right lanes of eastbound and westbound Belt Line Road between Coit Road and Waterview Drive 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 completed by late December. 

www.cor.net/Projects

Register for Network Golf Outing Sept. 13 
Sherrill Park Golf Course, 2001 E. Lookout Dr.
$125 per player/$500 foursome
Friday, Sept. 13
1 p.m. shotgun start   

Network of Community Ministries will host its 27th Annual Golf Outing fundraiser, including an afterparty and awards.   

Registration/more information: thenetwork.org/golf-outing/  

CityLine Begins Fall Outdoor Music Series Next Weekend 
CityLine Plaza, 1160 State St.
Admission: Free (parking is also free)
Fridays and Saturdays, Sept. 6-Oct. 26
6-9 p.m.  

Live music is back at CityLine every Friday and Saturday night in September and October. Enjoy a variety of genres on the one-acre plaza including Americana, Latin, rock, country, blues, soul, pop and jazz. Tables and chairs are provided, and lawn chairs, blankets, picnics and dogs are welcome. For a complete schedule of performers, visit the CityLine website.  

Website: www.citylinedfw.com 

Jazz Trio with Doc Gibbs Tomorrow 
City Council Chamber, 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Ste. 525
Admission: Free
Saturday, Aug. 31
1-2 p.m.  

Enjoy an afternoon jazz performance with master entertainer Doc Gibbs and his Trio, as they perform a variety of classic jazz tunes and stylings, both vocals and instrumentals. This event is being sponsored by the Library and Richardson Reads One Book in conjunction with the 2024 book selection, “Symphony of Secrets.”  

All ages welcome. Registration is not required. 

DIY Puzzles with “Puzzles of Color” Sept. 3 
Library Storytime Room
Admission: Free (registration is required; call 972-744-4376 to register)
Tuesday, Sept. 3
7-8 p.m.  

Adults and kids ages 4 and up are invited to join local puzzle store Puzzles of Color for a unique create-your-own-puzzle activity. Create art and then make it into a puzzle to take home! 

www.cor.net/Library

At the Eisemann Center:

• Free Reception at “Love Rollercoaster” Interactive Art/Music Exhibit Sept. 6 
  Green Mezzanine Gallery, 2351 Performance Dr.
  Admission: Free
  Friday, Sept. 6 
  6-8 p.m. (regular Gallery hours are noon-5 p.m. M-F and during all public events)
  
  Meet artist C.J. Miller and enjoy Miller’s exhibit, “Love Rollercoaster,” on display through Oct. 27. Each painting is paired with the song the artist was listening to during its creation; bring earbuds and your phone to access the curated Spotify playlist. Light bites provided. More information: Click here 

At UT Dallas:

• Artist Talk and Dallas Street Choir Concert Thursday 
  Arts & Technology Building (ATC), 1.1 Corridor, 800 W. Campbell Rd.  
  Admission: Free
  Thursday, Sept. 5
  6 p.m.
  
  Hear from Jonathan Palant, UT Dallas Associate Dean of the Arts and Director of Choirs, SMU professor of advertising Willie Baronet, and Canada-based artist Leah den Bok, who have been presenting the UT Dallas art exhibit “Humanizing the Homeless,” which aims to raise awareness of homelessness. Enjoy a live performance by the Dallas Street Choir, a musical group founded by Dr. Palant to support those affected by homelessness.
  
  
• Performative Lecture Next Friday: “The Spatial Dynamics of Black Joy” 
  ATC Lobby (Edith O’Donnell Arts & Technology Building), 800 W. Campbell Rd.
  Admission: Free
  Friday, Sept. 6
  5:30 p.m.
  
  Join cultural critic Dr. Beatriz Balanta for a performative lecture that invites participants to consider the aesthetic and sensorial arrangements that must be put into place to build spaces that nourish Black life and creativity. Balanta is the founder and executive director of BlackGround, a cultural production agency located in Cali, Columbia that promotes art, culture and scholarship from and about the African Diaspora. 

“Nobody’s Perfect” Opens Tonight at Richardson Theatre Centre 
518 W. Arapaho Rd., Ste. 113
Tickets: $22-$24 (Click here)
Aug. 30-Sept. 15
Thursdays, 7:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays 2 p.m.  

In this 1997 romantic comedy by Simon Williams, aspiring writer Leonard (a statistician and father whose wife walked out on him) enters a “female authors only” writing competition under a pseudonym—and wins first prize! Laughs ensue as he has to keep up the guise of being a woman while falling hopelessly in love with Harriet, the feminist publisher, and cope with his teenage daughter and elderly father. Expect sharp one-liners and numerous comic encounters for a feel-good evening of entertainment.  

www.richardsontheatrecentre.net  

Time to Make a Plan for Unexpected Weather: It’s National Preparedness Month 
September is National Preparedness Month, and while preparedness is an ongoing effort, it’s an excellent time to encourage readiness and make plans for what to do in case of weather disasters and other emergencies. Richardson’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) provides information on tornadoes, floods, power outages, and other emergencies, including how individuals and families can be more prepared by following these four steps:  

Website: www.cor.net/EM 

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. 

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 6 months.  

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

www.cor.net/jobs

Pet of the Week
Say hello to Thunder, our lovable 3-year-old Rottweiler! This gentle giant is seeking an experienced owner who can match his energy. Thunder would thrive in a home without kids under 10 and is would be suited for experienced pet owners. If you’re ready to welcome a playful and loyal companion into your life, come meet Thunder today! 

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

City Council Links