Bridge Arch Installed on Silver Line Bridge; Second Arch Coming in July 
Passengers on the DART Silver Line and motorists on US 75 through Richardson are noticing a major change this week as the southside arch on the Silver Line bridge over US 75 is now in place, after crews worked many hours on its installation last weekend. The steel arch is about 400 feet long and stands 80 feet above the roadway at its highest point; a matching northside arch is expected to be installed July 16-19.  

The two arches will eventually feature accent lighting in the City’s signature white and blue colors, serving as a visual gateway to the City. 

Heights Family Aquatic Center’s “The Yard” Now Open for Rental
Heights Family Aquatic Center’s many new updates include a new rental space called “The Yard,” and it’s now open for public use. The Yard features shaded, artificial turf as well as three large picnic tables, a cornhole set and gated access directly to the pool area.  

Details: 

To reserve, click here. 

“Operation Bloomtown” Deadline is Monday 
Residents, homeowner associations, organizations and businesses can help “paint the landscape with wildflowers” near their homes, buildings and offices by participating in the City’s annual “Operation Bloomtown” program. Simply identify a median, park or other public area that could use some color and the Parks and Recreation Department will order the seeds and do the planting in the fall, charging only the wholesale cost for both the seeds and labor. Cost is approximately $100 per 1/10 acre, which equals more than 4,300 square feet. Deadline for submitting an application for the program is Monday, June 15; click here to download the application.  

More information: Website 

City Recognized for Partnership in Belt + Main Development 
Staff from Catalyst Urban Development were on hand at Monday’s City Council meeting to present the City with the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) 2026 Innovation in Development Practice Award, which was received by Catalyst in April for the Belt + Main Development. The presentation recognized the City’s partnership in bringing the mixed-used development to life in The CORE District and its commitment to reinvest in and reinvigorate this historic area of Richardson.  

Opened in spring 2025, Belt + Main is the first major mixed-use residential and retail development in The CORE District—part of Richardson’s original retail destination, which includes five distinct neighborhoods: Chinatown, Downtown, Heights, Interurban and Lockwood, all home to local dining, retail and community events.   

ULI recognition is especially significant as it reflects industry-leading standards in design, innovation and long-term community impact, evaluated by experts in real estate and urban development.   

Monday’s presentation: Video 

Mosquito Tests Find Positive West Nile Results; Spraying Completed 
The Richardson Health Department conducted ground spraying this week in one area of the city (see map below) to help prevent the spread of West Nile virus, after a trap located within the spraying location returned mosquitoes that tested positive for carrying the disease. This is the first time Richardson has sprayed for mosquitoes this year.  

The test pool monitoring and ground spraying are part of a comprehensive plan followed by the Health Department to control the mosquito population—other activities include:   

Mosquito-borne viruses such as West Nile and Zika can cause illness and sometimes even death—individuals can protect themselves from mosquito bites by following the “Four Ds of Protection:”  

More information: www.cor.net/mosquito 

City Council Adopts Updated Rules of Order and Procedure 
After several weeks of discussion and refinements, amendments to the City Council Rules of Order and Procedure were adopted by the Council at its Monday meeting. The updates include new policies concerning flag displays, ceremonial recognitions, naming City assets and Days of Recognition.  

Complete Rules of Order and Procedure: Document 

Municipal Court to Temporarily Close June 19 for Staff Training 
Richardson Municipal Court will temporarily close on Friday, June 19, from noon-5 p.m. for staff training. Anyone planning to conduct in-person court business during that time is encouraged to plan accordingly. 

City’s Retail Water and Sewer Rate Structure Reviewed 
The City is reviewing its water and sewer rate structure as part of FY 2026-27 budget preparations, and evaluation results were presented at Monday’s City Council meeting.  

Consultant staff provided statistics on current rates, volume/type of customers, consumption and a rate comparison with other member cities of the Noth Texas Municipal Water District and outlined three different scenarios for proposed rate plans.  

The City Council will continue its review at the June 22 meeting. City staff will incorporate Council feedback into the development of the proposed FY 2026-2027 Water and Sewer Operating Budget; the City Council holds its annual Budget Workshop Aug. 3-4.  

Monday’s presentation: Video 

Richardson City Council Member Jennifer Justice Elected President of NCTCOG Executive Board 
Richardson City Council Member Jennifer Justice was elected today to serve as president of the North Central Texas Council of Governments' Executive Board. NCTCOG’s Executive Board includes representatives from cities, counties and other public entities across the region. As president of the Executive Board, Justice will help lead regional collaboration among North Texas local governments as they work together to address shared opportunities and challenges. 

The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is a voluntary association of local governments established in 1966 to assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit and coordinating for sound regional development. The organization serves a 16-county region centered on Dallas and Fort Worth and works on issues including transportation, emergency preparedness, infrastructure, workforce development and other regional priorities. 

Gary Slagel Reappointed to DART Board 
The Richardson City Council has voted to reappoint former Richardson Mayor Gary Slagel to the Board of Directors for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Slagel has served on the DART board since 2011. His board position, appointed every two years, now represents Richardson, University Park, and Addison. Slagel is the current Past Chair of the DART Board of Directors, having served as Chair from 2023-25. 

Slagel was present at Monday’s City Council Meeting and was recognized for his 15 years of board service. 

City of Richardson Among Regional Cooperation Award Recipients

The City of Richardson was among a regional group recognized today with the Regional Cooperation Award from the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) for work tied to a major regional water rate issue involving the North Texas Municipal Water District and its member cities and customer cities.

Established in 1996, the Regional Cooperation Award recognizes two or more local governments that work together across jurisdictional boundaries to solve shared problems through coordination, partnership and efficient use of resources. The City was recognized for its role in helping advance regional discussions related to NTMWD’s Customer Premium methodology. The work involved coordination among NTMWD, its member cities and customer cities to address how the premium paid by customer cities is applied within the regional water system rate structure. The effort represented a significant example of local governments working together on a long-term issue affecting water service costs, rate fairness and future planning across North Texas.

Richardson City Secretary Aimee Nemer Receives Linda Keithley Award for Women in Public Management 
Richardson City Secretary Aimee Nemer has received the 2026 Linda Keithley Award for Women in Public Management from the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) during today’s general assembly meeting. Nemer serves as Richardson’s City Secretary, where she oversees official records, elections, public information processes and City Council support functions. Her work plays a key role in helping ensure transparency, accountability and effective local government operations.   

Established in 1986, the Linda Keithley Award for Women in Public Management recognizes women in public service whose work reflects professionalism, integrity and a strong commitment to their communities, and is named in honor of Linda Keithley, whose 17-year tenure at NCTCOG set a lasting example of leadership and service in public management.

Eisemann Center:

At UT Dallas:

• “Throughlines” Photography Exhibit Now Open at Nebula Gallery   
  McDermott Library, 800 W. Campbell Rd. (Nebula Gallery, Special Collections, 3rd floor)
  Admission: Free
  Mondays-Fridays through Aug. 28
  8 a.m.-5 p.m.
  
  “Throughlines” is a selection of photographs from UT Dallas’ Comer Collection of Photography paired with artist’s books, student work from Dr. Diane Durant’s ARTS 4308: Image/Text—Artist’s Books course. Durant challenged students to create artist books or zines inspired solely by the title of a photograph from the collection, without ever seeing the image itself. 

• Chigger season in Texas lasts from late spring to early fall 

• Chiggers are essentially invisible to the naked human eye 

• Overgrown environments, like a field or a weedy garden, are ideal habitats for chiggers, as are “transition areas” like the edge of a trail and other low growing areas next to taller vegetation. Moist areas near ponds, creeks, etc. can be hot spots, too. 

• Chiggers wait on foliage and cling to clothing of passing hosts before moving to feast on skin cells. They seek out skin near tight clothing areas (such as waistbands or socks) and moist spots like armpits and behind knees.  

• Wear long pants and tuck them into socks (avoid wearing sandals that expose bare feet) 

• Use repellents such as DEET, sulfur powder or plant-based oils (especially helpful if you’re wearing shorts or a loose shirt or dress, and can’t “tuck in”) 

• Treat clothing with permethrin — do not apply directly to skin.  

• Remove clothing immediately. 

• Shower as soon as possible. 

• Scrub with soapy water and a washcloth— this can remove chiggers and reduce the number of bites