May 16, 2025

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

New Mayor, Council Sworn In 
The results of the May 3 general election for Mayor and City Council have been canvassed and are now official. The official results are as follows:  

City Council Place 1 
Curtis Dorian*—8,031   

City Council Place 2 
Jennifer Justice*—8,159   

City Council Place 3 
Dan Barrios*—8,285  

City Council Place 4 
Joe Corcoran*—8,038   

City Council Place 5 
Ken Hutchenrider*—8,204   

City Council Place 6 
Arefin Shamsul*—7,053 
Lisa Marie Kupfer—4,265   

Mayor (Place 7) 
Amir Omar*—6,696 
Bob Dubey—5,112 
Alan North—489  

* denotes winner  

Approximately 16.9% of Richardson’s 72,964 eligible voters cast their vote in this election. The canvassing of the election results took place Monday evening during the City Council’s regular weekly meeting, which was relocated to the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts and Corporate Presentations to accommodate a larger audience for the swearing-in ceremony.  

Richardson City Council meetings are available to view online and on-demand at the City’s website at www.cor.net/CITV. 

2025 Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival Kicks Off Tonight 
The City’s annual Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival takes place this weekend, May 16-18, at Galatyn Park Urban Center, with a packed schedule beginning tonight at 6 p.m. Live music on six stages, a children’s area, an art guitar auction, strolling performers and talent competitions are all included in the price of daily admission, as well as access to food vendors and the WF! Marketplace.   

Ticket Information:   

Website: www.wildflowerfestival.com 

Pack and Prepare for Wildflower! Festivities 
With intermittent rain in the forecast for this weekend, people heading to the Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival are advised to plan for the weather. The show will go on if there’s no lightning, no Tornado Warnings/destructive winds or destructive hail in the area, and if the rain is not heavy.  

Community Events staff recommend bringing a rain poncho and a ground cover such as a blanket in case outdoor audience areas get muddy. Each person attending is allowed to bring a portable/collapsible chair or a blanket/sheet/towel. While any severe weather notifications will be relayed at festival stages, Emergency Operations staff recommend signing up for Emergency Alert System (EAS) notifications to receive weather notifications at all your summer outdoor events—the system allows users to receive Wireless Emergency Alert messages via their phones.  

When not raining, it could be sunny and very hot this weekend, especially at some stage areas with limited shade, so also pack a hat, sunscreen and water—each person is allowed to bring in one factory-sealed bottle of water.  

Complete list of allowed items: Click here 

EAS notification link: Click here 

Parking/Transportation Info for Wildflower! Festival 
The Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival is a favorite among DFW-area concertgoers and one of its features that receives high praise is parking—it’s plentiful, close by and FREE, with many spaces covered. More than 8,000 spaces are available within the immediate area surrounding Galatyn Park Urban Center, including three parking garages and five parking lots. In addition, there is dedicated bicycle parking near the Cupcake Vineyards Gateway off Glenville Drive (bring your own lock). 

The BlueCross BlueShield Garage off Lookout Drive is the largest WF! parking facility; see below for the complete parking map.   

In addition, DART buses and light rail stop right at the festival grounds, with Galatyn Station just steps away from the Texans Credit Union Gateway. 

Wildflower! Art Contest Winners Announced 

The winners of the 2025 Wildflower! Student Art Contest have been announced. The contest was open to all students in kindergarten-6th grade, with 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and Honorable Mention winners chosen. The first-place winners are:  

For a complete list of winners, click here or check out the upcoming June edition of Richardson Today. All winning art will be displayed in the Eisemann Center (first floor) during the Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival May 16-18.   

“Eisemann Center Presents” Tickets Now On Sale to General Public
Individual show tickets for the 2025-26 “Eisemann Center Presents” season went on sale to the general public today (Friday, May 16), with the first performance scheduled for Oct. 9. The season continues the Eisemann Center’s focus on providing diverse and eclectic shows and performances, and includes:   

Complete list/schedule of shows: Eisemann-Center-Presents 

Police Week Memorial Held 
The Richardson Police Department held a memorial service Thursday morning at police headquarters honoring Texas peace officers killed in the line of duty in 2024, in conjunction with National Peace Officers Memorial Day. The ceremony included a 21-gun salute, remarks by Richardson Police Chief Gary Tittle and Richardson Mayor Amir Omar, and Taps performed by the Richardson Police Honor Guard.   

National Peace Officers Memorial Day falls on May 15 each year and is part of National Police Week which was established by Congress in 1962.  

UT Dallas Commencement Tonight Features Drone Show
The University of Texas at Dallas kicked off its Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremonies with a doctoral hooding ceremony this afternoon, with many more graduation events and ceremonies scheduled to take place through next Wednesday, May 21. A campus-wide commencement at the UT Dallas Roundabout starts at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Friday, May 16), with a “Cosmic Light Show” featuring dozens of drones in the sky taking place at the conclusion.    

As many as 6,600 students are expected to participate in UT Dallas’ Spring 2025 graduation ceremonies.   

More information: https://registrar.utdallas.edu/graduation/commencement-schedule/  

RISD Graduations Next Week 
The Classes of 2025 from each of the four Richardson ISD high schools will graduate next week, at ceremonies scheduled for Thursday, May 22-Saturday, May 24. The ceremonies will take place at Eagle-Mustang Stadium behind Richardson High School, 1250 W. Belt Line Rd., at 8 p.m. each night, with one graduation scheduled for 8 a.m. Saturday morning. Drivers can expect increased traffic near the stadium and in nearby neighborhoods during these times.   

More information: https://web.risd.org/home/graduation/   

Daytime Traffic Delays Possible on Southbound Greenville Near Main 
The right lane of southbound Greenville Avenue between Main Street and Polk Street may be closed to traffic from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., and westbound Polk Street between Greenville Avenue and McKinney Street may be narrowed to traffic during the same time, as fiber optic work takes place. The work is expected to be complete by late June. 

West Shore Drive to Narrow Temporarily Between Arapaho and Campbell Roads 
West Shore Drive may be narrowed to one lane at four locations between Arapaho Road and Campbell Road from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. as soil sampling for Richardson utilities takes place with a drill rig. Flaggers will be present for the alternate movement of traffic. Areas include: 

In addition, the right turn lane of northbound West Shore Drive onto eastbound Campbell Road may be closed to traffic from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The work is expected to be complete by late May.   

www.cor.net/projects

Free Saturday Morning Yoga at Huffhines Park 
Huffhines Park, 200 N. Plano Rd., outdoors near Huffhines Recreation Center
Cost: Free, no registration necessary
Every Saturday, weather permitting 
9 a.m. 

All ages are invited to gather under the trees near the bridge outside Huffhines Recreation Center each Saturday morning for yoga led by Renate Racher. Practice wellness and get fit! Bring a mat, props (if desired) and water. Parking is available free at the recreation center and at the park. 

Third Saturday Guided Boardwalk Tour at Wetland Center Tomorrow Morning 
John Bunker Sands Wetland Center, 655 Martin Ln., Seagoville
Free with admission (admission is $5, $4 for seniors 60+ and free for children 12 and under; parking is also free)
Saturday, May 17
9-10:30 a.m. 

Head southeast about 40 minutes from Richardson to explore the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center, located in the middle of the North Texas Municipal Water District’s (NTMWD) 2,000-acre East Fork Wetland Project. The project provides a unique, natural process that helps purify Richardson’s water supply (and that of other NTMWD member cities) while at the same time creating a wildlife habitat and enhancing the environment. Walk the Center’s boardwalks with a guided tour every third Saturday of each month and learn about this special ecosystem’s flora and fauna and the fascinating history of the property.   

Wear a hat, close-toed shoes, bring some insect repellent and a water bottle. 

No reservations required. (Groups of eight or more, contact the center at 972-474-9100.) 

Website: www.wetlandcenter.com   

Teen Program: Pop Tab Bracelets Tomorrow
Storytime Room
Cost: Free
Saturday, May 17
3-4 p.m. 

Turn soda can pull tabs into cool, eco-friendly bracelets! Craft your own unique fashion accessory while helping the environment. For ages 13-18 only. 

Make a DIY Cricut Travel Bag Next Friday Morning 
Spring Creek Room
Cost: Free (registration required; call 972-744-4395 to register)
Friday, May 23
10:30 a.m.-noon 

Embellish and customize your designs, then apply them to your own travel bag with a Cricut Heat Press. For adults and teens.  

At the Eisemann Center:

If you’re headed to the Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival this weekend, May 16-18, be sure not to miss all the happenings inside the Eisemann Center where there will be art, music…and air conditioning! 

Here’s what’s taking place there during the festival: 

Forrest and Virginia Green Mezzanine Gallery (upper level of lobby) 
Richardson Civic Art Society’s 59th Annual Juried Art Exhibition 

Leftwich Grand Foyer (front section of lobby)

• Art Guitar Auction, featuring 27 guitars/stringed instruments transformed by art and creativity. Some of the guitars have been autographed by performers at last year’s festival, including The Struts and Saint Motel (more information: click here) 
  
  
• “The Seven Muses” public art “light painting” permanent installation 
  
  
• Winners exhibit, Wildflower! Student Art Contest (see story in News above for more information)  

Hill Performance Hall (main level) 

• Evil Woman—The American ELO featuring RSO, Friday-Sunday, various times each day 
  
  
• “The Beat Goes On” Community CPR Training, Saturday, 1-2 p.m.  

Bank of America Theatre (main level) 

• Singer Songwriter stage featuring Max Stalling, Goldpine, Marcia Ball and more (showtimes and performances vary by day)

More information: www.wildflowerfestival.com   

Free Sprinkler Evaluations Still Available 
There are still several spots left this month to get a free sprinkler evaluation! The City of Richardson is partnering with the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) to offer this pilot program that offers free residential sprinkler system evaluations to Richardson residents as part of conservation efforts to protect our future water supply. The free evaluation report generated will provide suggested irrigation system repairs (if needed); suggested controller settings; and estimated weekly gallons of water saved if you implement all listed recommendations (the inspector will not make repairs to your system; you may hire a licensed irrigator for any repairs needed).   

The program began in April and 42 evaluations have already been completed—a potential weekly savings of 118,000 gallons of water if all recommended adjustments and repairs are made. Participants must be utility account holders with residential systems that have one controller and no more than 12 zones.  

More information: Click here 

Paint Cans: Not Welcome in Recycling 
Updating your home with a fresh coat of paint? Doing some spring cleaning in your garage and getting rid of old paint cans? Keep in mind that paint cans, whether closed, open, filled with dried up paint or fresh, cannot be recycled by Richardson’s recycler and when included in Richardson’s recycling blue bags, can contaminate an entire truckload, sending that load to the landfill.  

The Richardson Health Department offers several suggestions on how to safely dispose of paint at home; click here to access the information. In addition, all Richardson residents (whether they live in Dallas County or Collin County) may take paint cans to the Dallas County Home Chemical Collection Center at 11234 Plano Road in Dallas (just south of Forest Lane) during business hours for easy drive-up drop-off. 

Dallas County Home Chemical Collection Center website: Click here

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 ($48,661 – $66,830 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 six 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
Meet Harley, a charming chihuahua-lab mix. This sweet, friendly and playful lady is 2 years old and full of life. Harley's personality is as delightful as they come. She's a social butterfly who loves to be around people. She's always up for a game of fetch or a leisurely stroll around the park. Her boundless energy is infectious and she's sure to bring a smile to your face with her playful antics. Harley's not just about fun and games, though. She's also a great listener and will always be there to offer a comforting presence. Adopt Harley and let her bring a ray of sunshine into your life. 

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

City Council Links