Dec. 12, 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

Santa’s Village Open through Dec. 21
Richardson’s Santa’s Village opened for the 2025 holiday season last Saturday at Huffhines Park (1500 Apollo Rd.) and continues for two more weekends. The annual free event includes time-treasured “dwellings” 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. 12-14 and Dec. 19-21 
Time: 6-9 p.m.  

In addition, the village will be open for stroll-through enjoyment Dec. 8–10 and Dec. 15–18 from 9 a.m.–9 p.m. (dwellings will be closed, but the twinkling lights will be on). 

Website: www.cor.net/SantasVillage  

Event weather hotline: 972-744-4301  

 

RPD’s “Vacation House Watch” Program Available Year-Round 
If you’re heading out of town for the holidays, consider signing up for the Richardson Police Department’s free Vacation House Watch program, which can provide added peace of mind while you’re away. Trained Volunteers in Police Service will check exterior doors and windows, look for packages or flyers that may be piling up, and note anything out of place. House checks are performed as time permits and may be requested for up to four weeks at a time.  

Sign up online; see link below.   

Other steps you can take to help protect your home while you’re away: 

Note that House Watch complements, but does not replace, a home alarm system.   

Website: www.cor.net/HouseWatch 

 

Fire Department Toy and Food Drive Ends Monday 
There are just a few days left to bring toys and food for the Richardson Fire Department’s Toy and Food Drive. The annual collection ends Monday, Dec. 15 and benefits the neighbors served by Network of Community Ministries. Collection bins are set up inside at 11 municipal facilities (locations listed below).  

New toys and teen gifts and unexpired canned/boxed food items are welcome (please, no wheeled toys such as bicycles, scooters, wagons, skates or tricycles).  

Toys/gifts for babies and pre-teens are especially needed.  

Bin locations: 

Drop off your items during regular business hours of the facility where the collection bin is located. 

 

Facilities Needs Considered for Possible 2026 Bond Program 
City staff provided an update on City facilities at Monday’s City Council meeting, including a timeline of past construction/renovations, the status of current bond program projects and recommendations for $45.17M in facilities projects for inclusion in a possible 2026 bond election. 

Priority candidate facilities projects identified, totaling $36.4M, include: 

Other candidate projects, totaling $8.77M, include various needed renovations (such as HVAC and roofing improvements) for the Service Center, Municipal Court, Detention Center, Gymnastics Center and Tennis Center. 

The City Council has until February to decide on calling a bond election for voters to consider in May 2026. 

Monday’s Presentation: Video  

 

Rotary Club Honors City Employees 
Cheryl Bushell and Richard Boedecker were named the 2025 Supervisor of the Year and 2025 Employee of the Year, respectively, by the Richardson Rotary Club earlier this week. The awards, given by the Club since 1992, are designed to recognize City employees who made significant contributions during the past year.   

From left, City Manager Don Magner, Cheryl Bushell, Richard Boedecker, Rotary President Abbie Kauffman

 

Employed by the City for more than 32 years, Bushell began her career as an Animal Services Officer, later transitioning to Community Services—first serving as a supervisor and now as a Code Enforcement Manager. She currently oversees the City’s multi-family and commercial inspection programs, leading a team that conducts annual inspections, responds to complaints and assists tenants.   

Boedeker began his career with the City in 1991 as a Preventative Maintenance Attendant in Fleet Services. Two years later he was promoted to his current position of Driver/Loader for Public Services’ Solid Waste Division. 

Asphalt Overlay Work Starting on Waterview Drive Next Week 
Road work on Waterview Drive between Belt Line Road and Arapaho Road is scheduled to begin next week, weather permitting. The work is part of the City’s 2024 Asphalt Overlay Project.  

The work along Waterview includes asphalt milling, concrete pavement repair, asphalt overlay, pavement markings, sidewalk repair and barrier free ramp improvements. It is expected to be complete by summer 2026, depending on the weather.  

Signs will be installed along the construction path to notify drivers and the neighborhood about any lane closures and changing traffic conditions.  

More information: contact Project Engineer Moses Ogolla at 972-744-4287 or moses.ogolla@cor.gov.  

 

Lane Closures Expected South of Greenville/Belt Line Intersection 
The right lanes of northbound and southbound Greenville Avenue, between Polk Street and Phillips Street in The CORE District, may be closed to traffic from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. as fiber optic work takes place along Greenville Avenue and Kaufman Street. In addition, eastbound Kaufman Street between McKinney Street and Greenville Avenue may be closed during the same hours and detoured to eastbound Polk Street. The work is expected to be finished by late December, weather permitting.  

Richardson Projects: www.cor.net/projects. 

 

CityLine Merry Market features Hot Cocoa Crawl, Live Music Tonight, Tomorrow
CityLine Plaza, 1150 State St.
Cost: Free to explore market; Hot Cocoa Crawl tickets are 
$19.32 for “non-boozy” hot cocoa and $30.87 for “boozy” hot cocoa (tickets)
Dec. 12-13
Friday 6-10 p.m. and Saturday Noon-8 p.m. (Hot Cocoa Crawl is 6-10 p.m. Friday and noon-4 p.m. Saturday)  

The annual CityLine Merry Market is back for two days this year, with double the holiday cheer. Shop from more than 70 local makers and vendors offering handmade and vintage treasures, unique gifts and more while listening to live music. Saturday’s festivities include free crafts for kids of all ages; both days feature the Hot Cocoa Crawl, a ticketed activity that provides you with a 3 ounce keepsake mug with which you can sample seven different kinds of hot cocoa from seven different CityLine restaurants.  

Website: www.citylinedfw.com   

 

DART to Holiday Events on Holiday-Themed Trains and Buses 
Two holiday-themed DART trains and three decorated buses, each wrapped in lights and seasonal designs, are traveling throughout DART’s 700-square-mile service area this holiday season, spreading joy and adding something “extra” if you’re heading to a holiday event. DART offers a live holiday train and bus tracker at www.dart.org/holidays as well as a holiday train schedule.  

Final holiday rides take place Dec. 30-Jan. 1.  

 

Mobile Apps Step-by-Step Tomorrow Morning
Millwood Creek Room
Admission: Free (Registration required. Call 972-744-4355 to register)
Saturday, Dec. 13
10:30 a.m.-Noon  

Learn how to install and use mobile apps.  

Library staff will cover the following:  

What to bring: a fully charged smartphone or tablet. 

 

Teen Program: DIY Fidget Toys Tomorrow Afternoon 
Storytime Room
Admission: Free
Saturday, Dec. 13
3-4 p.m.  

Teens are invited to learn how to craft three unique fidget toys that are perfect for stress relief, focus, or just for fun. Get creative and de-stress!  

For a full list of library events, visit www.cor.net/calendar. 

www.cor.net/Library

 

At the Eisemann Center:

• “Clara’s Dream & Holiday Revue” This Weekend 
  Bank of America Theatre
  Tickets: $43 (tickets)
  Dec. 13-14
  Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.  

  Contemporary Ballet Dallas (CBD) presents “Clara’s Dream” (a.k.a. the best parts of the Nutcracker!) and “Holiday Revue” (performances in tap, jazz, hip hop and contemporary set to holiday songs) featuring CBD's Youth Ballet Company, Youth Commercial Company, Youth Concert Company, Youth Tap Ensemble, guests and students. 

• US Air Force Band of the West presents Free Holiday Concert Monday
  Hill Performance Hall
  Tickets: Free (free tickets) 
  Monday, Dec. 15
  7 p.m.  

  The highly trained professional musicians of the USAF Band of the West, who have dedicated themselves to serving their country through music, will honor, inspire and connect with the audience in this concert entitled, “Holiday in Blue!” Sponsored in memory of Retired Lt. Col. Dr. Irwin Frankel, USAF. 

At UT Dallas:

• Three Exhibits Open Tonight at SP/N Gallery with Free Public Reception
  SP/N Gallery, 3020 Stewart Rd.
  Admission: Free (and free adjacent parking)
  Dec. 12-20
  Reception: Friday, Dec. 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  Regular gallery hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Thursdays-Fridays 1-6 p.m.
  
  Take in three free exhibits tonight at UT Dallas’ SP/N Gallery, with complimentary refreshments and free adjacent parking, or drop by over the next two weeks to enjoy them for free on your own timetable:
  
  
  • “Graceful Hands” Explores Video, Dance, Photography
    

    Documents the Shamzeh style of Persian dance, by student Shahrzad Hamzeh.

  • “Echo of Mind” Exhibit features Multi-Sensory Experiences
    An immersive exhibition by Baotran Vo that explores how memory evolves through emotion, presence, and interactive light. The show features six suspended fluorescent oil painting puzzle-sculptures, a touch-based interactive installation, and a virtual reality experience.  

  • Graduating Students Fall Exhibition
    

    Features the Capstone projects of eight students of UT Dallas’ Bass School of Arts, Humanities and Technology. 

    More information: Bass Events Calendar   

 

Contemporary Chorale’s “Christmas with the Chorale” Tomorrow Afternoon, Evening
Spring Valley United Methodist Church, 7700 Spring Valley Rd.
Tickets: $25 (tickets)
Saturday, Dec. 13
2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  

The Contemporary Chorale presents an unforgettable afternoon and evening filled with timeless holiday favorites and inspirational songs that will warm your heart, featuring special guest artist Rachel Jones.  

Event link: click here

 

Chamber Music International Concert Tomorrow Night
St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church, 1220 Belt Line Rd.
Tickets: $40-$45 (tickets)
Saturday, Dec. 13
7:30 p.m.  

“Tchaikovsky & More!” features a string trio comprised of Philip Setzer on violin, Atar Arad on viola and Yeesun Kim Kitchen on cello performing Arad’s piece, “From Here to There;” Joyce Yang on piano performing Tchaikovsky, and concludes with all featured artists performing the incomparable Schumann Piano Quartet. 

 

Holiday Tree and Box Recycling 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. 19) and continue through Jan. 30.  

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). 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 24/7 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.  

 

December Gardening Tasks 
The Dallas County Master Gardener Association, Inc. (DCMGA), a division of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, has released its Garden Task List for December, which includes pruning, protecting, watering, mulching and yes, even planting.  

The DCMGA’s to-dos for this month include:  

Complete task list: www.dallascountymastergardeners.org  

 

Construction Inspector II ($53,329 to $83,058) 
The Engineering-Capital Projects Department is looking for an individual who can assist in inspecting construction of street/alley paving, water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, parking lot and sidewalk projects, assist in administration of Urban Storm Water Program and Sidewalk Replacement Program, perform technical and informational inventories and surveys, line and grade surveys, design work, and general administrative work and perform other related work as required. 

Graduate Engineer ($70,034 to $98,539) 
The Transportation and Mobility Department is looking for an individual eager to learn and excel in a local government environment. The ideal candidate will bring technical expertise along with courteous and effective communication skills—both verbal and written—for working with employees, citizens, contractors, and officials. Under the direction of the Transportation and Mobility Engineer (PE) or designee, this position will plan, organize, coordinate, and execute engineering analyses, design work, specification preparation, and the implementation of traffic and transportation projects. Additional related duties may be assigned as required. 

Gymnastics Instructor PT ($17.82/hr to $27.30/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
Mason is a sweet and friendly adult lab mix who has captured the hearts of everyone at the shelter. At about 2 years old, Mason is full of love and enthusiasm, always eager to greet visitors with a wagging tail and gentle nuzzle. His friendly demeanor makes him a fantastic companion for walks and cozy evenings at home. Mason is an ideal candidate for anyone looking to add a loyal and loving member to their family. He is currently in a foster home and available for meet and greets by appointment. 

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

City Council Links

Council Members
Meeting Agendas and Documents
Videos

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To read previous Week in Reviews,

visit www.cor.net/WIR.