Dec. 13, 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

Santa’s Village Open Through Dec. 22 
Richardson’s Santa’s Village opened for the 2024 holiday season on Sunday at Huffhines Park, 1500 Apollo Rd., and continues for two more weekends. The annual free event now includes most of the Village’s time-treasured dwellings that the community grew to love at the Civic Center site over the years, along with interactive activities in each; free photos with Santa; live entertainment; concessions for sale and free parking.   

Santa’s Village
Location: Huffhines Park, 1500 Apollo Rd. 
Admission: Free
Dates: Friday-Sunday Dec. 13-15 and Dec. 20-22
Time: 6-9 p.m.  

The village is also open to stroll through and enjoy Dec. 16-19 from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (dwellings are closed but the twinkling lights will be on).   

Website: www.cor.net/santasvillage  

Event weather hotline: 972-744-4301 (press 4 at the prompt)  

Fire Department Delivers Toys, Food to Network 
The Richardson Fire Department (RFD) delivered a truckload of items including several pallets of toys and 40 pounds of food to Network of Community Ministries this week, the culmination of RFD’s annual Toy and Food Drive that began Nov. 18. The donations will be used by Network to help make the holiday season (and the months beyond) brighter for families in need.  

Though the drive’s collection bins are no longer available at City buildings, further donations can be made directly to Network of Community Ministries at 1500 International Pkwy., or online at www.thenetwork.org.  

Video: https://vimeo.com/1038731122 
Website: www.thenetwork.org  

Aquatics Master Plan Final Draft Presented to City Council 
City staff and consultants presented the final draft report of the Aquatics Master Plan at Monday’s City Council meeting. The plan, which provides long-term strategies for Richardson’s aquatic services and facilities, has been in development since April of this year and is a continuation of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan approved in February 2023. Monday’s briefing included data from the second Aquatics Master Plan public survey as well as feedback from the final two public engagement meetings, which took place in November.  

After receiving Council feedback Monday, the planning team gathered feedback from the Parks and Recreation Commission Tuesday and will make any necessary adjustments before Council adoption of the plan, which is scheduled for Jan. 13.  

Monday’s presentation/more information: Click here 

City Council 2025 Meeting Calendar Approved 
The City Council approved its 2025 Meeting Calendar at Monday’s City Council meeting after discussing the calendar at the Dec. 2 meeting. Each December, the Council is asked to consider and approve a meeting schedule for the upcoming year to help plan for important breaks, holidays, etc., while helping guarantee that attendance at meetings will be adequate to conduct official business and deliberations.   

City Council meetings are scheduled beginning at 6 p.m. every Monday, with work sessions included at least once per month, typically scheduled on the first and third Monday. Meetings are generally not held on the fifth Monday of a month, recognized City holidays, the Monday of a holiday week and the Monday of RISD/PISD spring breaks.   

The 2025 Calendar features 40 meetings, including a two-day Budget Workshop in August.  

City Council 2025 Meeting Calendar: Click here 

Sign Up with RPD’s Video Crime Watch 
If you plan to purchase a home or business video surveillance system this holiday season, consider registering your system with the Richardson Police Department’s (RPD) Video Crime Watch Program. Since 2013, the program has enabled participants, which now number more than 700, to share with the police department that their property has security cameras. Following an incident, RPD may contact enrolled participants willing to share footage that may help solve a crime. Residents and businesses take part by signing up online.  

Note that the program does not access cameras—it can’t pull video, images or audio. No user credentials are collected, and no direct access is given to law enforcement. Instead, the database serves as a list of residents who might be of service and willing to share footage as needed. If a crime is committed, police may use the database to determine if any participating residents or businesses were nearby and might have caught evidence on their systems.  

See below under Environmental for information about another City program that helps fight crime, the City’s Holiday Box Recycling Program.  

Website: www.cor.net/videocrimewatch  

Website: www.cor.net/boxandtreerecycling 

Library Debuts “R.O.V.E.R.” Mobile Library Van 
Visitors to the Adaptive Day at Santa’s Village this week got to have a first look at the Richardson Public Library’s first-ever mobile outreach van, named, “R.O.V.E.R.” (Richardson Outreach Van: Exploration Read-Y). The van will help the Library share information about Library services and resources with the Richardson community, engaging with residents where they live, work and play.  

Library staff plan to drive it to student events and parent/teacher nights at area Richardson schools; literacy events; City festivals; senior living facilities; activities/programs sponsored by our Library partners; and other community events.   

Financial support for the van was provided by Friends of the Richardson Library ($30,000) and the Richardson Rotary ($5,000). 

Six-Week Glenville Road Closure Scheduled 
Glenville Drive is set to close between Collins Boulevard and Commerce Road starting next week. The closure, expected to last for six weeks, is part of a project to reconstruct the segment of road between Arapaho and Campbell Roads. The temporary closure will maximize site safety with related utility relocations. Project engineers are working with area businesses to help minimize disruptions. Detour routes will be clearly marked to help drivers navigate around the closure. Commuters are encouraged to plan extra travel time or explore alternative routes during this period. The project is on track for completion by this spring.    

24/7 Lane Closure Expected on Northbound Greenville Avenue Near Pittman Street 
The right lane of northbound Greenville Avenue between Maple Street and Pittman Street may be closed to traffic at all times for the temporary placement of dumpsters needed for property debris removal being conducted by the Community Services Department. The work is expected to be complete by late December. 

Utility Pole Replacement to Close Lane on Westbound Belt Line near Bowser 
The right lane of westbound Belt Line Road between Frances Way and extended 160 feet west of Bowser Road may be closed to traffic in three different stages from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. as utility pole/equipment removal and replacement takes place at three locations. The work is expected to wrap up by late February.   

Website: www.cor.net/Projects

 Sign Up for Next Saturday’s “Breakfast with Santa;” Deadline is Tuesday 

Huffhines Recreation Center, 200 N. Plano Rd., Meadows Room
Cost: $10 per person (registration link: click here)
Saturday, Dec. 21
9:30-11:30 a.m. 

Come create a holiday memory! Children ages 2-10 are invited to share breakfast with Santa Claus and make a craft. A parent or guardian must be present during the entire event. Limited seating. Please pre-register by Tuesday, Dec. 17. 

Dallas College Richland Campus Hosts Community Pantry Next Friday 
Dallas College Richland Campus, 12800 Abrams Rd., El Paso Hall, Room E030
Cost: Free
Friday, Dec. 20
9 a.m.-5 p.m.  

Dallas College’s food pantries, which are open at select campuses most days only to students, are open to the public on select Fridays, when anyone can stop by and pick up needed groceries, free of charge. Supplies range from snacks and meals to diapers. Community members may also shop the Pantry’s clothing closet on Fridays, taking home up to five free clothing items per month.  

More information: Click here

Beginner 3D Printing Tomorrow 
Millwood Creek Room, 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Suite 500
Admission: Free (registration required; for adults with valid RPL card only)
Saturday, Dec. 14
10:30 a.m.-noon  

An introduction to 3D printing using Tinkercad software. This is a hands-on class where participants will learn to:  

Event Link: Click Here 

Registration/more information: 972-744-4355 

Nite! Nite! Bedtime Stories Monday 
Youth Services Storytime Room, 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Suite 500
Admission: Free
Monday, Dec. 16
7-7:30 p.m.  

Children ages 3-7 are invited to wind down with songs, books, flannels and other bedtime activities. Wear your favorite comfy pajamas and bring a stuffed animal along!    

Event Link: Click Here

At the Eisemann Center:

• “The Nutcracker” Tonight thru Sunday
  Hill Performance Hall
  Tickets: $35-$75 (tickets)
  Dec. 13-15
  Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with 2 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday
  
  Dallas Repertoire Ballet presents its 32nd annual production of “The Nutcracker.” Follow the classic story of Clara, along with her precious toy nutcracker, as they journey through a magical and wondrous dream world, filled with brave battling soldiers, wistful snowflakes, and candy-like delights. 
  
  
• “Clara’s Dream” and Holiday Revue Saturday and Sunday 
  Bank of America Theatre
  Tickets: $15-$40 (tickets)
  Dec. 14-15
  7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday
  
  Contemporary Ballet Dallas presents “Clara’s Dream,” featuring the best parts of “The Nutcracker,” and a Holiday Revue featuring Contemporary's Youth Ballet Company, Youth Hip Hop Company, Youth Tap Ensemble, guests and other students performing tap, jazz, hip hop and contemporary dance.   
  
  
• “Keyboard Conversations^®: A Few of Your Favorite Things” Monday 
  Bank of America Theatre
  Tickets: $42-$50 (tickets)
  Monday, Dec. 16
  7:30 p.m.
  
  Concert pianist Jeffrey Siegel blends commentary with performance in this popular “Eisemann Center Presents” series. Monday’s program is entitled, “A Few of Your Favorite Things,” and features well-loved masterpieces of Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Gershwin and Chopin. 
  
  
• Diamond Horseshoe Productions Presents: “Christmas with the Rat Pack” Tuesday
  Hill Performance Hall
  Tickets: $45-$60 (tickets)
  Tuesday, Dec. 17
  7:30 p.m.
  
  Swing into the season with this magical recreation of a 1960’s Las Vegas Christmas at The Sands. Starring the acclaimed Brian Duprey as Frank Sinatra, Joe Scalissi as Dean Martin and Kenny Jones as Sammy Davis Jr., together they dazzle audiences singing all the great hits including, “My Way,” “Mr. Bojangles,” “New York New York,” “That’s Amore,” “Fly Me To The Moon” and seasonal classics such as “Let It Snow,” “Jingle Bells,” and “White Christmas.” The show also features a “surprise” appearance by Jami Duprey as Marilyn Monroe. 

At UT Dallas:

• Free Virtual E-Conference on Holocaust Studies this Weekend 
  Online 
  Cost: Free
  Dec. 14-15
  9 a.m.- 6 p.m. each day  

  This multidisciplinary conference will bring together scholars, educators and creators from all over the world to explore the complex and multifaceted relationships between technology, Holocaust memory and human rights. Presented jointly by the Global Center for Religious Research and UT Dallas’ Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies.  

  Event link: Click here 

 

Richardson Community Chorale Concert Tonight 
First United Methodist Church Richardson, 503 N. Central Expwy.
Admission: Free
Friday, Dec. 13
7 p.m.  

The Richardson Community Chorale, funded in part by a grant from the Richardson Cultural Arts Commission, presents “Home for the Holidays.”  

Website: www.rcchorale.org  

 

DART Student Art Contest Underway 
The annual Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Student Art Contest has begun accepting entries from North Texas students in grades K-12. The theme of this year’s contest is “Fantastic Journeys Start on DART,” encouraging students to explore the idea of travel, adventure and the possibilities that come with using public transportation. Winning artwork will be featured on DART rail stations, buses and inside trains, as well as at the Dallas Museum of Art, Love Field Airport and on DART’s website. Prizes will be awarded to first place winners, runners-up and honorable mentions in three different grade-level categories. 

Deadline for submission is Feb. 13 

Website: www.dart.org/artcontest

 

 

Holiday Box Recycling, “Tree-cycling” Begins Next Friday   
Turn your Christmas tree into mulch and compost and keep large gift boxes out of the trash (and out of sight of would-be thieves) through the City’s Tree Cycling and Holiday Box Recycling programs. Both programs begin next Friday (Dec. 20) and continue through Feb. 7.   

Trees may be dropped off 24/7 at the Municipal Service Center, 1260 Columbia Dr., or set out at the curb and picked up as part of the City’s weekly Brush and Bulky Item Collection (BABIC), to be turned into mulch and compost. Trees must be natural (not artificial), unflocked and all decorations, nails etc. must be removed. The mulch and compost are created thanks to a regional partnership between Richardson, Plano, Allen, McKinney, Frisco and Texas Pure; it is used in landscaping by the cities and offered to the public for purchase. Residents of the five member cities receive a discount.   

Boxes (flattened) may be dropped off at the following locations:   

Website: www.cor.net/boxandtreerecycling  
Contact: 972-744-4111 for BABIC pick-up; be sure to request that the tree be collected for composting.  

“Grease Was the Word” in Annual City Collection 
The Health Department announced this week that this year’s “Cease the Grease” event, held Nov.18 -Dec. 5, generated almost 180 gallons of used cooking oil and solid grease. The annual event helps divert leftover Thanksgiving cooking oil and grease from being poured down kitchen drains, which can create buildup in sewer pipes and cause unwanted wastewater backup.   

The oil generated from the collected leftover oil and grease is recycled into biofuels (such as biodiesel and biogas) by Texas-based American BioSource.  

Until next year’s collection, here’s how to prevent damage to your plumbing year-round:   

DON’T  

DO  

Website: www.defendyourdrains.com   

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) 
The Community Services Department 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.   

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
Buster is an 8-year-old sweet old man with a heart of gold. Currently undergoing treatment for heartworm, he recently had an eye enucleated due to an infection but continues to shine with his loving personality. Great with other dogs, Buster is a gentle soul looking for a cozy home where he can share his affection. 

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

City Council Links