Richardson City Council Work Session November 6th, 2023
OPENING
All councilmembers are present as well as City Manager Don Magner and City Secretary Aimee Nemer.
No public speakers are present.
The first item is recognition of Municipal Courts Week. Court Administrator Kim Kierce presents. She explains that the municipal court handles Class C misdemeanors and city ordinance violations. Council expresses their appreciation for the municipal court staff.
2023-25 COUNCIL TACTICS
The first discussion item is a presentation of recommended tactics based on input from the Sep. 16th Council Goals Session. All 19 of the Council’s requested tactics are included in the list of recommendations as well as 61 other tactics for a total of 80 tactics. City Manager Don Magner states that these recommended tactics are a result of Council input as well as boards and commissions, residents, and business partners. He also acknowledges that some of the tactics are continuous across multiple Council terms. Don presents the recommended tactics and explains future planning needs related to these tactics. Tactics planned for this Winter include:
Exploring a new diversity & inclusion board
Exploring codification of processes for board appointments and training
Exploring a virtual Council attendance policy
Discussing a pothole repair policy
Renewing the Bicycle-Friendly designation
Activating a disc golf course
Tactics that stand out to me include:
As part of the Comprehensive Plan Update, exploring zoning changes to diversify housing options
Water Master Plan & Solid Waste Services Master Plan
Evaluating construction and design standards to maximize value and extend infrastructure life cycle
Preparing for the 2025 Charter Review (We should all be preparing for this now.)
Reviewing the Code of Ethics
Developing an interactive map so residents can track the status of code violations
Discussing environmental initiatives and reducing litter
Developing construction standards that protect existing trees and attaining Tree City certification
I encourage you to review the list yourself at this link: www.cor.net/government/city-council/council-goals . Don confirms that the 2025 Charter Review Committee will be appointed by this Council next Fall. Don also notes that the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee will probably need to be formalized in order to attain the League of American Bicyclists’ Silver-Level Bike Friendly Designation. Council expresses their gratitude to Don for listening to the tactics they proposed and including them in this list of recommendations.
NEW COMMISSION
The next item is an update on the plans to promote public engagement, specifically the creation of a new commission. Communications Director Greg Sowell presents. Greg presents the proposed role of this new commission: “The commission, which shall be representative of our diverse community, shall act in an advisory capacity to the City Council in matters pertaining to advancing harmony in the community, encouraging inclusion and participation by all stakeholders, and furthering the City’s engagement and outreach on issues such as diversity, inclusion, engagement, and accessibility.”
Six proposed goals are also presented.
Work to advance unity, understanding and collaboration with ever changing diverse stakeholders.
Promote inclusion and participation of all stakeholders in our diverse community.
Assist all stakeholders in gaining a working knowledge of the City government and the community.
As directed by the City Council, review plans, programs, projects, and services.
Support the City’s efforts in soliciting feedback from all stakeholders of our diverse community.
Assist with developing a diverse group of engaged leaders who are representative of the community.
Based on the first discussion, it is recommended that the commission consist of nine members with a chairperson and a vice-chairperson. It is also recommended that commissioners serve two-year terms with a term limit of four consecutive terms. Commissioners would need to be qualified voters, a resident of Texas for at least one year, a resident of Richardson for the six months preceding appointment, not hold any elected office, and not have any outstanding debts to the city. Several options for what to call the commission are also presented.
Councilwoman Justice supports calling it a Unity Council like the City of Arlington. Mayor Pro Tem Shamsul wants multicultural or diversity in the name of the commission. Councilman Barrios asks for the wording of the fourth goal to be adjusted to “in agreement with Council” instead of “as directed by Council” to empower commissioners to have their own considerations brought to the table. He also asks to consider adding some of the former mayor’s Blue Ribbon Committee’s purpose and work to this commission. He also suggests some potential names that he got using an AI program. Based on the options presented by Greg, he suggests naming it the Community Inclusion Engagement & Accessibility Commission. Councilman Corcoran likes Accessibility & Diversity Commission. Councilman Hutchenrider likes Community Inclusion & Engagement Commission. Councilman Dorian also likes Community Inclusion & Engagement Commission.
An ordinance will be created this month to codify the new commission. Applications for commissioners will be open in January. The first meeting of this new commission is scheduled to take place in April.
2021 BOND PROGRAM PARKS
The final item is an update on the 2021 Bond Program Parks projects. Asst. Parks Director Shohn Rodgers presents. The first project presented is the Apollo Road Property. This property is located at the corner of Apollo Rd. and N Plano Rd, across the street from Huffhines Park. This park will have athletic and multi-use fields with a playground and a parking lot. The park, proposed to be named Apollo Park, is anticipated to open in Spring of 2024.
The second project is the Glenville Drive Property. This property is located on the east side of S Glenville Dr. at Windsong Tr. The Twin Rivers Creek runs through the center of the property. This park will have a walking trail, a pavilion, and a wildflower meadow. A bridge will also be built across the creek. This park, proposed to be called Twin Rivers Park, is scheduled to be open in Fall of 2024.
The third project is the Interurban Property. This park will be an urban park located on DART property near the intersection of Main St. and Interurban St. This park is proposed to be named Interurban Common. The construction schedule is not yet finalized. City Manager Don Magner explains that, due to the confusion around the control of Point North Park, the city will no longer name a property a park unless the city owns the property. Thus, the proposed name of Interurban Common.
Shohn also presents an update on playground renovations. Berkner Park and Terrace Park have each recently had renovations completed. Renovations at Breckinridge Park are scheduled to be completed this month. Next year, renovations are scheduled for Woods Park and Woodland Park.
Mayor Pro Tem Shamsul asks for benches, shade, and trees to be included in these park plans. Mayor Dubey asks about naming features within the parks after people. He asks Council’s opinion on naming the Twin Rivers Park bridge after former Mayor Bob Townsend and his wife Lynn. He also asks about naming something after former Mayor Pro Tem Mark Solomon.
Councilman Dorian supports naming the bridge after Bob & Lynn Townsend. Councilwoman Justice states that she did not come to this meeting prepared with names as she didn’t know this question would be posed. She asks that staff come back with some suggestions for all of Richardson’s parks so they can discuss the item on its own. She does support naming park features after people who have served the city. Councilman Hutchenrider supports naming the bridge after the Townsends. He also agrees with naming something after Mark Solomon, ideally in District 2 such as Breckinridge Park. Councilman Barrios agrees with Councilwoman Justice. He agrees with naming features after people but thinks there should be a specific policy outlining the process for transparency’s sake. Councilman Hutchenrider disagrees and wants the current Council to retain control of naming features after people without establishing an official policy. Councilman Dorian states that he wants to see an opportunity for additional names to be suggested as well. Councilman Hutchenrider again disagrees. Councilwoman Justice clarifies that she wants to see a list of recommendations for places with features that can be named. Mayor Pro Tem Shamsul supports naming the bridge after the Townsends and also wants to see a list of other features that can be named in a future agenda item. Councilman Corcoran reminds Council that the Parks Commission had a very similar conversation and supported naming something after the Townsends. Councilman Barrios clarifies that he is not opposed to any of the names mentioned so far. He also clarifies that he wants to see a suggested official policy for naming features in parks.
City Manager Don Magner states that the resolution adopting the new park names could include naming the bridge after the Townsends. He can also bring a list of recommended locations with features that could be named after people at a future meeting. Responsive to Councilman Barrios’ request for an official policy, Don also states that his office could develop and apply a methodology in the recommendations they give. Mayor Dubey supports Don’s suggestions and states that Council should retain control of assigning names to features without an official policy being developed. Councilman Hutchenrider agrees. Councilman Dorian also agrees. Mayor Pro Tem Shamsul thinks the current process for suggesting names works fine and doesn’t see the need for a new policy to be created. Council agrees to include naming the bridge after the Townsends in the same resolution that adopts the suggested new park names. Councilman Barrios again states that he wants to see an official policy be created before agreeing to name anything after anyone. Mayor Pro Tem Shamsul asks if any policy exists at all. Staff confirms no policy exists. Councilman Barrios again asks for a policy. Councilman Hutchenrider again disagrees. Councilwoman Justice suggests that the conversation is becoming circular, and they should let the city manager prepare an item on a future agenda responsive to what Council has expressed.
CLOSING & OFFICER WALKER LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT
Council discusses this weekend’s Eisemann Center performances, a recent tour of the DART system, the Eisemann Center Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, the Culture in the Core event, and recent neighborhood association meetings. Councilman Corcoran provides an update from the Audit Committee. He states that the material weaknesses found in the last audit are being rectified. A Governance Document was also discussed that Council will vote on at a future meeting.
Council then convenes into executive session to consider settling the lawsuit brought by former Officer Kayla Walker.
Council reconvenes after executive session to unanimously approve a $616,000 settlement in the Officer Walker lawsuit, and the meeting adjourns. $50,000 of city funds will go towards the settlement. The city issued an official statement regarding the settlement that can be found here: www.cor.net/Home/Components/News/News/7340/73?backlist=%2F&fbclid=IwAR3atEb6MqB_CQBeJYjEabSmOoWjQFAidGg4aDOp0wpZBxRR6A4_d1MgclM