Richardson City Council Work Session December 4th, 2023
OPENING & PUBLIC COMMENTS
All councilmembers are present as well as City Manager Don Magner and City Secretary Aimee Nemer.
City Manager Don Magner introduces newly appointed Asst. City Manager Dannette Garcia. More information regarding this appointment is available on the city’s website here: www.cor.net/government/city-manager-s-office/dannette-garcia .
As always, we start with public comments. The public gallery is full. Extra seating appears to be provided and every seat observable on the recording appears to be taken. City Manager Don Magner acknowledges three public comment cards before calling speakers. The first comment discusses voting signage at the former city hall location. The next two comments ask Council to support a ceasefire resolution on the War in Gaza.
The first speaker steps to the podium. Unfortunately, the microphone experiences severe feedback and makes it difficult to understand the speaker’s initial comments. He asks Council to support a ceasefire to allow for humanitarian aid. He also asks Council to take measures to address the rise in Islamophobia. The second speaker also asks that a ceasefire resolution be placed on the agenda for a vote. The third speaker also asks for Council to support a ceasefire resolution. The fourth speaker states that his sister and her friend have been heckled for wearing hijab. He states that a ceasefire resolution could ease tensions and reduce Islamophobia and antisemitism. He also states that a ceasefire resolution would assure UTD students that Richardson does not support genocide. The fifth speaker reminds the city of the mutual benefit of Richardson being so welcoming of the Muslim community and the long-lasting partnership with the city and its residents. She also asks that Council demand a ceasefire. I encourage you to listen to her comments especially, which begin at 25 minutes and 45 seconds.
The sixth speaker also asks for Council to support a ceasefire resolution. The seventh speaker also asks for Council to support a permanent ceasefire resolution. The eighth speaker was fired from her hospital chaplain position for sharing her views online about the War in Gaza. She states that she does not feel supported by her representatives. She also asks for Council to place equality on all innocent lives and support a ceasefire resolution. The ninth speaker also encourages Council to support a ceasefire resolution. The tenth speaker also asks Council to support a ceasefire resolution. The 11th speaker provides a background on the history of conflict in Palestine and also asks for Council to support a ceasefire resolution. The 12th speaker speaks of the local toll on the mental health of the Richardson Palestinian community, having to constantly worry about friends and family losing their lives in Gaza. She also asks that Council support a ceasefire resolution. The 13th speaker speaks of innocent children being bombed in Gaza. He also asks Council to support a ceasefire resolution. The 14th speaker immediately asks for Council to support a ceasefire resolution. She is a local mental healthcare provider that offers free services to the community. The 15th speaker is a student senator at UTD. He also asks Council to call for a ceasefire. The 16th speaker also asks Council to support a permanent ceasefire. The 17th speaker also asks Council to pass a ceasefire resolution. The 18th speaker speaks of the removal of a local principal after protecting students’ right to free speech. He also asks Council to support a ceasefire resolution. The 19th speaker also asks for Council to pass a ceasefire resolution. The 20th speaker is a local business owner and longtime Richardson resident. He asks that Council do the right thing and pass a ceasefire resolution. After over an hour and a half of testimony, the mayor calls for a brief recess before proceeding.
On Thursday morning, the city posted this statement to the city website: www.cor.net/Home/Components/News/News/7388/73?backlist=%2F&fbclid=IwAR1oPDwuRyaXvAwpnp91kFvShSMpO-OHxgUSKCjJFucf5i7mVQ2z7Vwwiso
(JN: Though some of the comments were initially difficult to understand due to low volume, it appears that sometime between Tuesday and Thursday, the city may have boosted the audio on the recording in order for the speakers to be heard. If this is the case, I appreciate the city’s efforts to ensure these citizens are heard. I also appreciate the city respectfully allowing these citizens to conclude their remarks in full. I hope future meeting prep includes at least testing microphones before and asking speakers to pause if microphone issues need to be addressed.
The public spoke for just over 90 of the 172 minutes this meeting took. That’s over half the meeting. I’ll have to review my summaries for the year but 20 speakers and three written comments for a total of 90+ minutes may be the year’s record. Please watch and listen to their comments. Regardless of how you feel about the War in Gaza, please remember that not everyone has the privilege of not being directly affected by the War in Gaza. What does it have to do with Richardson? Listen to your neighbors and you will understand.)
WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL
The first discussion item is recognition of awards won by Community Events staff for the Cottonwood and Wildflower festivals. Parks & Recreation Director Yvonne Falgout presents. Council thanks staff and takes a picture to commemorate the awards.
Next is an update on Wildflower Festival ticketing and pricing. Community Events Supt. Dianna Lawrence presents. The plaza stage is planned to return for the 2024 festival. Ticket sales will begin Jan. 1st with a new tiered pricing structure that will increase closer to the festival date. Discounted tickets for Richardson residents will also be available online this year. 3-day tickets will be $40 until Jan. 31st, $50 from February to March 17th, $65 from March 18th to April 30th, and $75 thereafter. Residential tickets will be available online beginning in February for $15. In-person residential tickets will now be $18. The chair policy is also changing due to safety concerns. Collapsible chairs and blankets will only be allowed on Sunday in the areas not directly in front of the Amphitheater Stage. The 2024 Wildflower Festival will take place May 17th – 19th and the lineup will be announced on Feb. 16th.
INVESTMENT POLICY & CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE
The next discussion item is on the city’s Investment Policy. Asst. Finance Director Todd Gastorf presents. Todd provides a background of the legal requirements of the Investment Policy. The city’s investment advisor is Hilltop Securities. The city uses Hilltop’s approved list of 27 broker/dealers. The city also participates in three Local Government Investment Pools: TexPool, TexSTAR, and Texas Range. The city also invests in Money Market Mutual Funds using Federated Hermes.
The next presentation is an update on the Sherrill Park Course #2 renovations, animal shelter improvements, and the Fire Station #5 project. Engineering & Capital Projects Director Jim Dulac presents. Originally approved for the 2021 Bond Program, then enhanced last year, the scope of the animal shelter project is once again being evaluated for potential changes. The purpose of the project is to improve the entrance and lobby areas. Now, it is recommended that temporary trailers be used in order for the shelter to remain open while work is completed. New fire sprinkler and alarm systems are also recommended as well as a staff breakroom finish upgrade. These recommendations add roughly $400K to the project cost. This brings the total from the originally estimated $2.5M up to $4.4M. Councilman Hutchenrider asks about the projected timeline for the project. Jim answers 9-12 months.
The Fire Station #5 project was also originally approved in the 2021 Bond Program. Like the animal shelter project, the fire station project was also enhanced last year and now has some additional recommended enhancements. New HVAC and irrigation systems are recommended for an additional $150K. With these recommendations, the cost would increase from the original $3M to $4.8M. Jim states this would put the project about $70K over budget. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2025. Councilman Hutchenrider asks if the irrigation enhancement would include landscaping improvements. Jim answers that irrigation is needed to support the declining state of the turf.
(JN: Fire stations use water for lifesaving reasons, but going over budget to water the failing grass? I thought we were going in a different direction to conserve water and utilize drought-resistant plants. If we’re going to have a plan, it’s important to work that plan. We’re building a bioswale on the same property. Why waste the gains watering grass that probably doesn’t belong in the first place?)
Councilman Barrios asks about the high cost of the lawn sprinkler system. Jim answers that it is a larger-capacity commercial landscape irrigation system. City Manager Don Magner states that they are planning to move to the larger capacity irrigation systems citywide. (JN: I’m curious about the difference in water usage that comes with these systems versus adopting a citywide policy of water conservation and drought-resistant native landscaping instead of grass.) A timely Councilman Barrios asks about the potential of adopting a native planting and water conservation strategy. City Manager Don Magner answers that when the city uses new plants, those have shifted mostly to native drought-resistant plants, and irrigation is needed to keep the soil from shifting drives and sidewalks.
(JN: That doesn’t completely answer the question. The point of a comprehensive water conservation program includes water retention strategies involving native plants with deep roots to fortify the structure of the soil. Water conservation isn’t one of those things we can piecemeal over a couple of decades. We only have 13, well, now 12 years until the North Texas Municipal Water District won’t be able to meet capacity needs. We need to prioritize this now. We need greywater systems, rainwater collection systems, and eco-friendly water fixtures. How much would that cost? That’s what Councilman Barrios asked.)
Now the Sherrill Park Golf Course renovation. This project includes improving some erosion issues on Course #2 as well as a new pumphouse and new restroom. Landscape Unlimited will be completing the project. The estimated cost of the project is exactly $9M, to be paid for entirely with certificates of obligation debt. The project is still expected to be completed at the end of 2024. Council asks no questions on this item.
CLOSING
The final item is a presentation on the 2024 Council Meeting Calendar. 40 meetings are planned with Council continuing to meet most Mondays except for holidays and fifth Mondays.
Council discusses a Richardson Symphony concert, the city’s Holiday Parade, the opening of Santa’s Village, the Senior Center Thanksgiving Luncheon, the Richardson Woman’s Club Candlelight Walk, an Education Committee meeting, HOA meetings, and Council convenes into executive session to discuss personnel matters and appointments to boards and commissions. The footage stops here.
The next meeting will be Dec. 11th at 6 pm.
Link to meeting schedule: www.cor.net/government/boards-commissions-meetings/city-council/city-council
Link to video footage: richardsontx.new.swagit.com/videos/283353