February 2017
State of the City of Richardson
The annual State of the City address was held February 1, 2017 in the Bank of America Theatre at the Eisemann Center. The Mayor reviewed the City’s recent period of economic expansion and regional innovation. He noted that Richardson is performing better today than it ever has in its history. Congratulations to Mayor Voelker for a well done presentation which delivered the great news about the Renaissance of Richardson. Thank you to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager and the entire City team!
A video of the presentation is available at: http://www.cor.net/stateofthecity
Richard
son Named a Top Five “Best Place to Buy a Forever Home”
Richardson ranked #5 on the 2017 list of “Best Places to Buy a Forever Home” according to an announcement by GoodCall.com, data analyst and personal finance website. A total of 509 cities across the U.S. were evaluated based on six criteria including affordability, home values, population, educational values, unemployment and crime rates. This recognition comes a few months after Richardson being named the nation’s Third Best City to Live In by 24/7 Wall Street, an online news outlet focused on financial news and opinions. Now, everyone knows about the great place we call home.
New Fire Chief
Curtis Poovey was appointed to serve as the next Fire Chief of the Richardson Fire Department. Poovey previously served as an Assistant Chief in the department and has been a member of the Richardson Fire Department for nearly 24 years. Welcome, Chief Poovey.
Fourth in USA for City Technology Use
In an annual survey conducted by the Center for Digital Government, a research and advisory institute for government information technology practices, Richardson was ranked fourth in the nation for its size category in its use of digital technology in government. Richardson has been at the forefront of digital city government since installing its first PC in 1987. T his was followed by a ground-breaking website in 1993, which was one of the first of its kind in the U.S.
Planned Development NE 75/Beltline(Main)
A proposed mixed-use development at the northeast corner of Central Expressway and Main Street was recently approved by the City Council. The 14.5-acre development will include residential, commercial and restaurant space. Of note is that this is the first significant private sector development in the downtown area since the adoption of the Main Street/Central Expressway Form Based Code last year.
The development will include a mixed-use portion including retail and multi-family units and a parking garage. More information on the plans for the Main Steet corridor are at: www.cor.net/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=15148
National Night 
Out Ranked 10th
The City of Richardson has placed 10th in the nation among its peers in the National Night Out award rankings published by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) and was one of only three Texas communities with a population between 100,000 to 300,000 to make the top ten. Richardson had over 180 block parties and collected almost 6,500 pounds of canned food for the Network of Community Ministries.
Recycling Resumes
Starting Dec. 28, 2016, Richardson residents were asked to place trash and recycling out at their normal collection point for service. A fire at the Republic Services Plano recycling center closed that facility. Republic has established a revised recycling site and normal recycling has started again
Water Rate Action Taken
Mayors of Garland, Mesquite, Plano and Richardson are asking the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to conduct a review of their water rates with the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD). The claim is that rates set by the NTMWD under the six-decade-old water supply contract are discriminatory, inconsistent with water conservation and not in the public interest. The four cities have paid a total of $178 million for water they did not use. The cities’ rates were set prior to the recent drought years and the successful adoption of water conservation strategies. It is unlikely the cities will ever again use the minimums that were set by their greatest annual usage.
Public Sculptures Announced at CityLine
Representatives of CityLine announced the development has installed five outdoor sculptures created by nationally and world-renowned artists.
- Over the Moon was created out of aluminum tubing, Plexiglas and resin, with a 7½-foot-tall longhorn steer sitting atop a crescent moon.
- Endless is a bronze and resin depiction of an endless column of books.
- One of a Kind is a bright green ceramic rabbit.
- Retexo is a bronze form suspended in a reflecting pool.
- Whirlwind is a clay and bronze piece depicting two happy, frolicking children.
Fox Creek Park Announced
A new 13-acre park on the east side of the CityLine development will open in the late summer or early fall of 2017.
Free Childhood Immunizations
The Junior League of Richardson and Methodist Richardson Medical Center have immunized 50,000 children at the Richardson Immunization Clinic, Located at 820 W. Arapaho Rd. The clinic is sponsored by the City of Richardson Health Department. The Clinic provides free childhood immunizations to children. To be eligible for this free clinic, one must be a Richardson resident or an RISD student, be 18 years old or younger, not have private health insurance that covers immunizations and not be enrolled in CHIP. Appointments are required and may be scheduled by calling 972-744-4076.
