Richardson City Council Meeting March 24th, 2025
OPENING & CPC/ZBA APPOINTMENTS
All councilmembers are present as well as City Manager Don Magner and City Secretary Aimee Nemer. Councilman Barrios will arrive a bit later as he is attending to a family medical emergency.
Councilman Corcoran reads Proverbs 27:17 and leads a prayer asking for guidance to learn from each other. He also leads the pledges of allegiance.
Minutes of the previous meeting are approved unanimously.
City Manager Don Magner acknowledges one comment submitted regarding a bid award in tonight’s consent agenda. Two speakers are present for the visitors forum. The first is Alexander Scott. Alexander speaks in support of consent agenda item #4, which is a $3M award to McMahon Contracting for the reconstruction of Jonsson Blvd and Tatum St. Alexander especially supports the bicycle improvements that are part of this project. Terry Smith is the second speaker. He has spoken at a previous Council meeting to raise concerns about someone throwing rocks at his house at night and RPD’s response to the situation. Tonight, he shares an update. He states that he has shared videos with RPD that show four individuals behind his property at night. He also states that he has roof damage indicative of rocks being thrown on his roof. He asks when RPD will properly address this situation. Mayor Dubey asks CM Magner if he can reply to Mr. Smith’s remarks. Mayor Dubey replies that Mr. Smith has never sent him this video.
The next item is a proclamation to gymnast Ashlee Sullivan. Mayor Dubey states that Ashlee is traveling to Germany to represent Richardson in a competition. Mayor Dubey then reads a proclamation recognizing her national achievements and declaring March 25th, 2025 as Ashlee Sullivan Day.
The next item is considering appointments to the CPC and Zoning Board of Adjustments. Jeremy Thomason and Joe Quirk are appointed to the CPC. Sebrena Bohnsack is also appointed but the board she is appointed to isn’t stated in the motion. (I’m assuming she is being appointed to the Zoning Board of Adjustments since March 18th was announced as her last meeting on the CPC.) Sec. Nemer administers oaths of office to those present.
TREE PLANTINGS
The first presentation of the evening is on tree planting programs and projects. Asst. Parks Director Shohn Rodgers presents. Asst. Director Rodgers highlights the Richardson Replants effort in which the city has given over 500 trees to residents at various events. The city plans to give away 500 more trees at future events. One Earth One Chance and the Richardson Rotary Club have helped sponsor this effort. Asst. Director Rodgers also highlights efforts in which the city has planted 42 trees on city property last fall. Six parks are planned for tree plantings this spring as well as along Main Street.
Asst. Director Rodgers also provides an update on the Renner Rd. median plantings. 36 Possumhaw Hollys, 22 Desert Willows, and 14 Vitex trees have begun to be planted in the median as of March 17th. 50 Hardwood trees including Bur Oaks, Cedar Elms, and Bald Cypress are planned for the surrounding area as well. For Main Street, the city is planning to replant the same species of tree that they planted before, Mexican Sycamores, to match the look they are going for. 15 Autumn Blaze Maple trees will be part of the second phase of plantings later this month. The city is also planning proper fertilization and moisture sensors to help keep these trees alive.
Regarding the new city hall campus, Asst. Dir. Rodgers shares that 234 new trees will be planted since some trees are being removed as part of the construction process. Several methods are also being explored to preserve existing trees and ensure the longevity of new trees.
Finally, Asst. Dir. Rodgers provides an update on the Tree City USA application. As of March 10th, the city has been approved for this designation. Councilman Corcoran asks if there are any plans to plant Ash trees considering the recent issues with the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle killing these trees. Asst. Dir. Rodgers answers that they will not be planting any Ash trees. Richardson doesn’t have very many Ash trees today. There has not been any impact on the Ash trees that are in Richardson as of now. Councilman Corcoran also asks how the Main Street trees will be protected from storm damage. Asst. Dir. Rodgers answers that any tree is going to be damaged in tornadic winds. The May storm was something that damaged trees across the city. They are also ensuring they are planting the healthiest trees possible.
Councilman Barrios arrived while Asst. Dir. Rodgers was presenting. He shares that everyone is safe regarding his family medical emergency. He asks if the peach trees are fruit-bearing. Asst. Dir. Rodgers confirms that they are fruit-bearing.
BUDGET PREP - NETWORK OF COMMUNITY MINISTRIES
The next presentation is on the Network of Community Ministries. Network CEO Abbie Kaufman presents. CEO Kaufman shares a video telling the story of one of their clients. Network served over 29,000 clients in FY24. This is roughly a 6% decrease compared to the prior fiscal year. Each user on average is receiving more services than in prior years. Increasing program needs include food distribution, income support, mental health services, vocational support, support for seniors, and family programs. Network received $10.7M of support in FY24 and spent $9.7M on program services. Roughly $850K was spent on management and fundraising. Network has net assets of $7.6M. CEO Kaufman shares that federal program pauses have impacted their rental assistance program. They are also looking at improvements to their food market facility.
Councilman Corcoran asks what the data that shows a decrease in individuals served but an increase in services provided indicates. CEO Kaufman answers that clients are receiving services for longer and programs need capacity improvements.
Councilman Barrios asks who they consider to be stakeholders. CEO Kaufman answers that stakeholders include organizations that provide financial support, in-kind support, serve as referral resources, or provide volunteer hours. They have roughly 60 stakeholders. These stakeholders vote on boardmembers and executive committee members.
Councilwoman Justice asks if they are looking at offering any additional services. CEO Kaufman answers that they are looking at shoring up their current extensive services rather than adding any new services at this time. They may be looking at adding a geriatric case manager in the future.
FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT
The final presentation of the evening is the Richardson Fire Department’s Annual Report. Fire Chief Curtis Poovey presents. Chief Poovey reports that the department is 99% staffed with only one vacant position. 50% of personnel have 10 years or less of service. 26% have at least 20 years of service. The department hired 17 applicants this year. Over 4,600 calls regarding fire were taken this year, the most calls for at least the past decade. Chief Poovey announces that the UTD Emergency Medical Response Team, which consists mostly of volunteers, has received the Collegiate EMS Organization of the Year Award from the National Collegiate EMS Foundation. Chief Poovey also reports that the Citizens Fire Academy Alumni Association was able to donate a laser gas detector, investigation equipment, and scholarships for firefighters’ children. Physical fitness initiatives have continued to be successful. Mental health initiatives have also been successful. Every member of the fire department checks in at least once annually with a mental health counselor, which has been a major benefit to personnel.
Fire Station #5 renovations should be completed later this year. Chief Poovey also shares a number of future initiatives that were presented at the Fire Services Assessment presentation. Councilman Barrios thanks the Fire Chiefs for their response to his family medical emergency. He also asks about the plans for responding to lithium battery fires. Chief Poovey answers that the best practice nationally has been determined to be to let it burn out. Fire blankets can be used to help isolate fires from damaging surroundings.
The consent agenda is approved unanimously. It includes 12 bid awards: a $268K annual requirements contract to Chief Landscaping for screen wall repairs, $1.1M to Garret Shields Infrastructure, LLC for sidewalk replacements, $1.7M to Aushill Construction, LLC E. Nantucket Dr. improvements, $3M to McMahon Contracting for Jonsson Blvd. and Tatum St. improvements, $436K to Dell Marketing LP for computers, a $160K annual requirements contract to Entech Sales and Services for security systems, an allowance of $103K for the police department to buy ammunition from the public marketplace, $184K to Advanced Security Technologies for vehicle barriers, $542K to Insight Public Sector for routers and equipment, $1.4M to Netsync Network Solutions for Cisco licensing and breach protection, $70K to Faster Asset Solutions for a fleet management information system, and $1.7M to Siddons-Martin Emergency Group for an aerial fire apparatus.
Council discusses a recent Eisemann Center performance, a Parks Commission budget meeting, an Iftar at the Islamic Association of North Texas, and a Transparency Award that the city has received from the state comptroller. Council then convenes into executive session to deliberate regarding appointments for the CPC and to deliberate financial information regarding three projects named Project Nova, Project Journey, and Project Connect. The footage ends there.