July 25, 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

Cottonwood, Glenville Pools Close for the Season this Sunday 
Time for one last splash at the Cottonwood and Glenville pools, as they close for the summer at 8 p.m. this Sunday, July 27 (swim lessons and swim team practices will continue through Aug. 1).  

City of Richardson pools traditionally close on a staggered schedule. The Terrace and Canyon Creek pools will close Sunday, Aug. 10; after Aug. 10, Heights Family Aquatic Center will be open only on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays plus Labor Day) and will close after Labor Day, Sept. 1.  

Pool hours/more information, visit www.cor.net/pools 

Council Goals Workshop Tomorrow 
The Richardson City Council will convene into its biennial goals workshop tomorrow, Saturday, July 26 at 9 a.m., beginning the process of creating its 2025-27 goals. The meeting is open to the public and will be held in the City Council Chamber at City Hall, 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd. Suite 525. The goals set the tone for all business conducted by the City over the next two years.   

Public Comment Cards can be found at www.cor.net/PublicCommentForm; cards must be submitted online or in person by 5 p.m. today, July 25, before the meeting begins in order to be included in the public record. The meeting will be streamed live on the City's website at www.cor.net/CITV and available to view there on-demand.  

Current 2023-25 Statement of Goals: Click here  

City Budget Planning “Deep Dives” Continue 
“Deep Dive” presentations continued at Monday’s City Council work session meeting as the Council prepares for its August Budget Workshop. These annual overviews given by City department leadership provide the Council with detailed information about current programs, infrastructure and maintenance tasks, along with trends, proposed projects/initiatives and budget requests.   

Monday’s presentations included a look at Streets and Alleys Maintenance Strategies, the Transportation and Mobility Work Plan; Drainage Utility Program Strategies; and the Information Technology Work Plan.   

The City Council’s FY 2025-26 Budget Workshop is scheduled for Aug. 4-5. The public is welcome to attend the workshop and provide input; the workshop will also be available to watch live online at the City’s website and later via on-demand video.  

Streets and Alleys presentation: click here 

Transportation and Mobility presentation: click here 

Information Technology presentation: click here 

Drainage Utility presentation: click here 

Richardson CARES Applications Close Next Friday 
Get to know Richardson like never before through the annual Citizens Academy and Resource Education Series (Richardson CARES). The free, eight-week series is offered to adults ages 18 and up and provides participants the opportunity to meet City staff and learn about the day-to-day operations of Richardson’s municipal government up-close.   

There’s one more week to apply for 2025 Richardson CARES; the application period runs through Friday, Aug. 1. Note that classes will meet Sept. 4-Oct. 23, every Thursday from 5:30-9 p.m., with a reception and graduation ceremony Oct. 27.     

Website/Application: www.cor.net/RichardsonCARES   

Video: click here 

Arts Organization Grant Applications Due Thursday 
The application period for area arts organizations to apply for an arts grant from the City of Richardson comes to a close Thursday, July 31. The City is offering the financial assistance for the coming fiscal year for the cost associated with a full season of projects, performances or events within a 12-month period. Funding assistance is limited to no more than 50 percent of an applicant’s season expenses (more guidelines/qualifications for applicants can be found here).   

Richardson has been providing arts grants to local organizations since 1984, funded by the Hotel-Motel Tax Fund and recommended by the Cultural Arts Commission. The grants are a key component of the City’s Cultural Arts Master Plan. For 2024-25, a total of $375,000 was awarded by the City Council to 22 arts organizations.   

Applications are due by 5 p.m. Thursday, July 31.   

Application: Click here  
More information: Click here  
Questions? Contact Kayla Johnson, City of Richardson Placemaking Manager, Kayla.johnson@cor.gov or at 972-744-4213  

School Zone Flasher Testing Next Week 
In preparation for the start of RISD and PISD classes, Traffic Operations will test school zone signals next week on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 29 and 30, to ensure all flashers are working. The testing not only helps the City know if repairs are needed, but also helps drivers acclimate to slowing down in school zones.  

The testing will take place at the following times, coinciding with signs outside schools*: 

*Plano ISD school timeframes may vary  

The first day of school is Aug. 12 for both PISD and RISD.  

Local NBA Draft Pick Honored at City Council Meeting 
Local news media were on hand as Richardson native and first-round 2025 NBA draft pick Liam McNeeley was honored at Monday’s City Council meeting by the Richardson City Council. McNeeley, who now plays for the Charlotte Hornets, began his basketball journey at the Richardson YMCA and later played for RISD’s JJ Pearce High School before ultimately finishing his high school career at Montverde Academy in Florida. McNeeley was a leading scorer during his freshman year at the University of Connecticut before declaring for the draft earlier this year.  

At Monday’s meeting, the mayor read a proclamation commending McNeeley for his remarkable achievements in reaching the NBA, and his “inspiring journey from Richardson to the national stage.”  

Full presentation: click here 

New Restaurant Opens in The CORE District 
A new family-owned restaurant is now open in The CORE District’s Lockwood neighborhood—Las Lomas Mexican Cuisine at 520 Lockwood Dr. The restaurant offers authentic Mexican dining and drink options, including signature tacos, regional specialties, desserts, handcrafted cocktails and mocktails.   

Las Lomas is the newest addition to the Lockwood Neighborhood, which has been transformed in recent years from a once overlooked retail center into a vibrant social hotspot offering a variety of dining options, coffee shops, modern co-working spaces, a brewery and Richardson's first and only distillery.  

Since 2016, the City has advanced numerous projects to support the neighborhoods of The CORE District, which has helped attract new businesses, innovative service concepts, and major development activity, reflecting growing interest and momentum across the area.   

www.richardsoncoredistrict.com  

Richardson Today in Mailboxes Next Week 
The August 2025 print edition of Richardson Today is expected to hit mailboxes by the end of next week. Inside you’ll find information about how you can help local back-to-school supply drives, how to properly maintain creeks (if one flows through your property), and a full page focused on the 2025 Richardson Reads One Book selection, “Wild Chocolate,” including a list of book discussion questions and a chocolate truffle recipe from the recent truffle rolling workshop sponsored by the Richardson Public Library. 

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.  

Fiber Optic Work to Affect Lanes on Campbell Road East of US 75 
The right lane of eastbound Campbell Road between Firman Drive and Glenville Drive, and the right lanes of eastbound and westbound Campbell Road extended 300 feet east and west of Greenville Avenue may be closed to traffic from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. as fiber optic work takes place. The work between Firman and Glenville is expected to wrap up by late November, and the work near the Greenville intersection is expected to be complete by late December. 

Lane Closure Expected on Renner Road near Owens Boulevard for Atmos Work 
The right lane of eastbound Renner Road between Foxboro Drive and Owens Boulevard may be closed to traffic from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. as a gas leak is investigated and repaired by Atmos. The work is expected to be complete by late October. 

www.cor.net/Projects

Several Recreation Center Mini Camps Still Available Next Two Weeks 
With school starting next month, kids can soak up what’s left of summer with several “mini” camps still available at the City’s recreation facilities over the next two weeks. Costs and age of attendees vary by camp; the camps are held for 3-4 hours, either mornings or afternoons and last 4-5 days depending on the camp.  

As of today, there are still several spaces available in the following:  

Huffhines Recreation Center, 200 N. Plano Rd. 

Heights Recreation Center, 711 W. Arapaho Rd. 

More information and registration: Click here 

Turkish Cooking Class Tomorrow Evening 
Dialogue Institute Dallas, 1416 E. Collins Blvd.
Tickets: $25 per person (tickets) 
Saturday, July 26
5-7 p.m.  

Join the Dialogue Institute for a fun cooking class where you will learn to make (and eat!) Iskender Kebab, Piyaz Salad with beans and Noah's Pudding dessert. Tea and coffee are served as well, and this month, there’s a pudding decorating contest with a prize for the winner. 

“Tommy Terrific’s Wacky Magic of Art” Show Tomorrow 
Inside the Library, just outside the Administration Office
Cost: Free; no registration required
Saturday, July 26
2-3 p.m.  

Go on an artistic, magical journey with Tommy Terrific and his Magical Guidebook! Brush up on different mediums and styles of art in an interactive exploration of the "Magic of Art". For all ages; toddlers must be accompanied by an adult. 

“Game On: Board Games in the Library” Tomorrow 
Spring Creek Room
Cost: Free; no registration required
Saturday, July 26
3-5 p.m.  

Adults are invited to adventure to the beyond with a librarian-led game time! Lots of options will be available for solo or group play such as “Settlers of Catan,” “Pandemic,” “Sagrada” and more. 

Ways to Assist Trees During High Temperatures 
Though trees seem to be able to withstand many extreme weather conditions, hot summers are very hard on trees. Did you know that urban trees are even more affected by the heat than those in rural areas? Roads, sidewalks, driveways and buildings reflect sunlight onto trees, and they must cool themselves to stay alive. 

Here are some ways to help trees stay cool during high temperatures, from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension:   

Note that a heat wave is not the time to fertilize—wait until the following spring to fertilize again. Also be careful about using pesticides—horticultural oils and some insecticidal soaps, for example, can cause death if used when it is hot outside. 

Maintaining healthy trees, especially during a hot period, is important not just for the tree’s health but for the valuable air pollution removal, oxygen and shade they provide, affecting our own health—and air conditioning bills!  

More information, including signs of heat stress in trees: click here 

Animal Services Kennel Attendant ($41,600 - $48,773 Salary) 
Animal Services is looking for an individual who can provide care for the Shelter animals including feeding, watering, exercising grooming and cleaning cages of all types.   

Planner II ($71,836 to $109,176 Salary) 
Development Services is looking for an individual who can perform research, analysis, technical services and production of professional reports. Also, be able to do presentations to the City Plan Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment, City Council and the general public. 

Gymnastics Coach PT ($17.82/hr to $36.77/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 Cleo, a delightful 3-year-old Husky/German Shepherd mix known for her sweet and goofy nature. Cleo loves to play and has a charming way of bringing smiles to everyone around her. She's intelligent and eager to please, making her a joy to train. Cleo thrives on interaction and would make a fantastic companion for someone who enjoys active, fun-filled days. Adopt Cleo and discover the endless joy and unconditional love she will bring to your life. 

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

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