Richardson City Council Work Session May 13th, 2024
OPENING
All councilmembers are present as well as City Manager Don Magner and City Secretary Aimee Nemer.
No public speakers are present.
Winners of this year’s Traffic Signal Box Art Contest are first recognized. The theme for this contest’s fourth year is Technology & Education. Winning artists are awarded $100 each from the City of Richardson and the Richardson Rotary Club. Five locations were chosen this year, most of them near schools. The winners are announced, and Council presents their certificates.
FIRE STATION/ANIMAL SHELTER ART PROJECTS
Next is an update on the public art selection process for the animal shelter and Fire Station #5. Meridith McKinley with Via Partnership presents. The finalists have submitted their concepts which have now been reviewed by the Cultural Arts Commission. The selection panel is recommending the Fire Station #5 project be awarded to Richardson resident Tony Schraufnagel. His concept includes a Richardson logo with images of firefighters in action on a background of what looks like safety orange mesh. This will go along the exterior facing fence line. This is a $75K project. (I am…well, I encourage you to check it out and see what you think! And please let the city know what you think of it. $75K isn’t chump change, and it’s important that public art is enjoyed by the public. Slide 24 of the handouts is where you’ll find this proposed concept.) This project also includes a steel sign with the number 5 on it made from repurposed steel from the current fire station’s fencing. Meridith presents the other two finalists’ designs as well.
For the animal shelter project, the budget is $49K. Three finalists have also submitted their concepts for this project. Gigi Miller of Austin, TX is recommended by the selection panel. Her proposed concept is based on a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, “Town Musicians of Bremen”. This is a tale of four domestic animals abandoned by their owners. They go on a journey to find a new home and that journey, like life, takes some unexpected turns. Her piece is called Town Musicians of Richardson (Singing for our Supper). This piece will feature four types of adoptable animals including a dog, cat, bird, and lizard. Gigi hopes to make this a collaborative process by having a mosaic tile-making party with volunteers from the animal shelter.
Both of these are planned for installation by next Spring. Art concepts for the library and city hall projects will be presented in July.
2ND QUARTER FINANCE REPORT
Finally, Budget Officer Bob Clymire presents the 2nd Quarter Financial Report. General fund revenues are on pace with last year. Sales tax collected during the 2nd quarter totaled roughly $1M less than projected. Including the first two months of this 3rd quarter, sales tax is $1.8M less than projected. The largest contributors seem to be fewer office equipment rentals and sales, claims processing, and software development sales. General Fund expenditures are tracking as projected. Bob states that General Fund revenues are projected to finish roughly $500K below budget. They are monitoring this and prepared to make up on the expenditure side if necessary.
Water & Sewer Fund revenues are above projections due to increased water use. Water & Sewer Fund expenditures are tracking as projected. Solid Waste Fund revenues and expenditures are also tracking as projected. Golf Fund revenues are outperforming both this year’s projections and last year’s actuals. Golf Fund expenditures are tracking as projected. Hotel/Motel Tax Fund revenues are performing as expected. Bob notes a slight decline in Eisemann Center revenues. Hotel/Motel Tax Fund expenditures are tracking as projected.
Councilman Corcoran asks if a budget surplus in the Water & Sewer Fund could potentially make up for a projected General Fund revenue shortfall. Bob explains that revenues in the Water & Sewer Fund have historically remained in the fund to support water and sewer projects. Any surplus has been used to pay off debt quicker. City Manager Don Magner clarifies that any revenue shortfall will be made up for on the expenditure side. They do not project ending the year in a deficit. Mayor Pro Tem Shamsul asks if the lower sales tax revenue is a result of inflation cooling down. Bob answers that, no, it is a result of less business activity. Don adds that the city has not seen any prices come down.
CLOSING
Council discusses the JJ Pearce HS Senior Parade, the coming season of Eisemann Center performances, a litter cleanup group called Richardson Pickup and Pints, the demolition of city hall, and the passing of Dr. Marilyn Rice. Dr. Rice taught at Richardson ISD for over 40 years. She was the first woman appointed to Richardson’s Zoning Board and she was the founding president of the Richardson Heights HOA.
The meeting then convenes into executive session to discuss economic development negotiations in the Renner/Custer area. The footage stops here.