Richardson City Council Meeting November 13th, 2023
OPENING
All councilmembers are present as well as City Manager Don Magner and City Secretary Aimee Nemer.
Councilman Dorian leads a prayer and the pledges.
Minutes of previous meetings are approved unanimously.
No public speakers are present.
The first item is recognition of the Marvels of MAS (Muslim American Society) Robotics Team. This organization focuses on increasing STEM education for Muslim youth through robotics education and competitions. The team provides a demonstration of their robot which includes using a belt system to extend the height of the robot and a demonstration of the drivetrain mechanism. The robot’s autonomous functionality is also highlighted. Council then presents a proclamation and takes a picture with the team.
BIKE LANE IMPROVEMENTS & BPAC CREATION
The first discussion item is an update on the Active Transportation Plan, renewing the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly Designation, and formalizing the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Mobility & Special Projects Manager Daniel Herrig begins the presentation. Richardson attained the Bronze-Level Bicycle Friendly Designation in 2015. Daniel explains that there are no published criteria to enhance the designation, but the application process evaluates Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Evaluation & Planning, and Equity & Accessibility. The city will seek to attain the Silver-Level designation in June 2024 after which a community feedback survey will be available to residents to assist the League in their evaluation. The decision will be announced in December 2024. Some new policies are recommended to achieve this goal. These include establishing a Complete Streets policy which is a plan for the city’s roads that also includes cyclists and pedestrians. Also recommended is updating the city’s bicycle parking regulations by zoning ordinance. The city will also look at adding approx. nine miles to the existing Active Transportation Network. Three miles will be part of the Cotton Belt Regional Trail project and will use approx. $50M in grant funding. Approx. a mile and a half will be added to the Central Trail. A mile of bicycle lanes on both Custer Rd. and Glenville Dr. will also be added in 2024. Bike signals are also planned for the Greenville & Arapaho and Glenville & Collins intersections. This includes adding a traffic signal specifically for cyclists at these intersections. Green-painted lanes at places where vehicles are likely to cross over a bicycle lane are also proposed for Custer, Greenville, and Glenville. Lane marking maintenance and separation enhancement are also planned. The city is also partnering with local schools to encourage students to bike to school and establish a Safe Routes to School Plan.
The current BPAC (Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee) operates as a sub-committee of the Parks & Rec Commission. Formalizing this committee as its own commission could help attain the Silver-Level designation. Currently, the sub-committee has neither bylaws nor a formal appointment process. It is recommended that Council appoint seven members to the formal commission which would consist of five resident members, a representative from law enforcement, and a transportation expert. Consistent with other commissions, it is also recommended that commissioners serve two-year terms with a limit of four consecutive terms. The chairperson and vice-chairperson would be decided by Council. If approved by Council, the commission would be created by ordinance in December with their first meeting taking place next April.
Councilman Barrios asks about plans for additional mileage in Southwest Richardson. Daniel states that there are additional considerations due to the width of roads in that area and parking considerations. Daniel explains that they can introduce more traffic calming measures to increase the safety of any potential cyclists before establishing a ‘bike route’ as opposed to adding bike lanes. Mayor Pro Tem Shamsul encourages even more improved safety measures for bicycle lanes beyond just painted markings. Councilman Hutchenrider asks what is being done to address club rides on roads outside of the Active Transportation Network and their interactions with vehicle traffic. Daniel answers that a formalized BPAC could help address this. Councilman Hutchenrider notes that these cyclists don’t typically use the Active Transportation Network and clarifies that he wants to see the needs of these clubs included in the newly formalized BPAC. Councilman Dorian asks how many miles of additional network are planned for the future. Daniel answers that the Active Transportation Plan includes roughly 50 miles of additional network. Councilman Barrios asks for more education for the general public on interacting with cyclists on roadways.
BRECKINRIDGE PARK DISC GOLF COURSE & CONTINUED ZONING CASE
The next presentation is on plans for a new disc golf course. Parks & Recreation Director Yvonne Falgout presents. The 18-basket course is planned for Breckinridge Park. The course is designed by Professional Disc Golfer Eric McCabe. The course is expected to soft open later this month with an official opening in January. The course and pavilions will be available to residents for half-day rentals on a limited basis for $250. Instructional programming is also planned to attract new users to the course.
The next item is supposed to be a public hearing on ZF 23-12; however, the applicant is not present due to uncontrollable circumstances. Council unanimously agrees to continue the item to the Dec. 11th meeting. No public speakers were present to comment on the item this evening.
CONSENT AGENDA
Next is the consent agenda. Councilman Barrios requests Item B.6. be removed from the consent agenda to allow discussion. This item pertains to the naming of Twin Rivers Park and the Bob & Lynn Townsend Bridge. The remainder of the consent agenda is unanimously approved. It includes: two ordinances codifying the approvals of ZF 23-10 & ZF 23-11, an ordinance officially creating the Community Inclusion & Engagement Commission, a resolution updating the Plat Submittal Requirements list in accordance with HB 3699, a resolution approving an Advanced Funding Agreement involving $1.3M to be 98% reimbursed by federal funds for intersection improvements at Campbell and University Pkwy, a resolution adopting a videoconference policy for Council, a resolution authorizing a 3-yr funding agreement with DART for Galatyn Park shuttle services to be 50% reimbursed up to $76K by DART, a resolution establishing the rental fee for the Breckinridge Park Disc Golf Course, and two resolutions naming the new Interurban Common and Apollo Park. It also includes bid awards: ECHO AFC Transportation gets the bid for the aforementioned Galatyn Park shuttle service with an estimated annual cost of $120K, GT Distributors gets the $146K bid for police vehicle equipment, $240K to East Texas Mack Sales for a solid waste truck, $76K to Insight Public Sector Inc. for cybersecurity software, a $50K annual requirements contract to Solitude Lake Management for pond maintenance, and $5M to Tegrity Contractors Inc. for the creation of Interurban Common on DART-licensed property.
Councilman Barrios asks again for a discussion on a process or policy for naming park features. Councilman Corcoran agrees that an established process would be appropriate. Councilman Hutchenrider voices his continued disagreement with a policy outlining eligibility requirements. He clarifies that he is fine with establishing a structured process. Mayor Pro Tem Shamsul agrees with establishing a process. Councilman Dorian also supports a process being established. City Manager Don Magner will work up a recommended process to be presented at a future meeting. Council unanimously approves the naming of Twin Rivers Park and the Bob & Lynn Townsend Bridge.
CLOSING & CITY HALL FIRE INSURANCE SETTLEMENT
Council discusses recent and upcoming Eisemann Center performances, the Canyon Creek HOA meeting, the Richardson Woman’s Club Trivia Night, a Library Board meeting, and a Veterans Day parade.
Council then convenes into executive session to discuss a settlement of the city hall fire insurance claim and to discuss the purchase of property in the Greenville/Main St. area.
Council reconvenes after an hour to unanimously authorize the city manager to execute a settlement agreement for the city hall fire insurance claim. Details of the settlement are not discussed. (I have a records request pending and will provide an update once I have answers.)
Meeting adjourned.