Richardson City Council/CPC Joint Work Session February 5th, 2024
OPENING
All councilmembers are present as well as City Manager Don Magner and City Secretary Aimee Nemer. Eight of the nine city plan commissioners are also present. The lone absentee is Commissioner Nate Roberts.
Usually, these meetings start with public comments. Tonight, they will be heard after the comprehensive plan presentation. The purpose of tonight’s joint session is to present and discuss the update to the Comprehensive Plan. Mark Bowers of Kimley-Horn and Monica Heid of Prologue Planning are once again providing the briefing. City Manager Don Magner starts by stating that the goals of tonight’s session are to review the results of Community Summit #2 and accept feedback from councilmembers and commissioners related to the Vision & Goals Statements and the Future Land Use Plan.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMUNITY SUMMIT PARTICIPATION
Mark Bowers begins the presentation. After tonight’s session, the consultants will begin to draft plans and implementation strategies. A third round of community feedback will take place in June/July 2024. The second round of feedback took place in October/November of 2023. Yard signs, rack cards, and newsletters were used to encourage community members to participate. Outreach efforts also included seven churches, one kollel, and one masjid, as well as the Dallas Chinese Community Center, Richardson Interfaith Alliance, Network of Community Ministries, RISD Council of PTAs, and the Richardson YMCA. One hundred people attended the two open houses in October. 600 responses to the online survey were recorded. The Ambassadors program had nineteen people signed up to be ambassadors. They were able to facilitate six discussions with thirty community members in total. Mark states that they are investigating methods to increase the effectiveness of this program.
VISION STATEMENT
Monica Heid takes over to present the Vision Statement. Monica recalls that the first preliminary Vision Statement included eleven words from the word cloud. For this second round of community feedback, at least 60% of participants agreed with six of the seven phrases in the preliminary Vision Statement. Three phrases got 80%+ agreement. No phrase received less than 53% agreement. ‘Decision-making is collaborative and innovative,’ received the lowest amount of agreement. Time for feedback.
The CPC answers first. Chairman Marsh acknowledges that it is difficult to take all the words from the word cloud and craft a meaningful Vision Statement. He suggests that the words collected from the word cloud exercise may not have been intended as words to include in the Vision Statement. He also expresses confusion about the context of the word ‘sustainable’ in the proposed statement. He thinks that the phrases that received less than 60% agreement should be improved for clarity. Vice-Chair Southard wants more clarification on the word ‘small-town-feel.’ He suggests a “neighborhood word” instead. Commissioner Costantino says that the word ‘sustainability’ seems forced in its current context. He suggests that participants may have intended environmental sustainability, but the current statement applies the word to fiscal responsibility. No other commissioners answer.
Council’s turn. Councilwoman Justice disagrees with the commissioners’ comments on sustainability. She states that we should be fiscally responsible by not selling debt we cannot afford and not building buildings we cannot keep up. She does suggest improving the phrase with the lowest agreement percentage.
Mayor Pro Tem Shamsul also asks for clarification on the purpose of the Vision Statement. Monica answers that the statement reflects the Richardson that people would like to see in 25 years. Mayor Pro Tem Shamsul says the statement reflects Richardson today and it should advance us further. He suggests making the whole city walkable as a 25-year goal. Mark suggests that, since most participants agreed with the statement, it means that they like what Richardson is today and want to improve things without changing too much. Mayor Pro Tem Shamsul suggests adding a phrase to the statement indicating that this is Richardson today and we would like to improve every day. On sustainability, he acknowledges that it is important to responsibly manage natural resources such as water. He states that we deliver one million gallons of water per day to certain businesses to produce certain things. He briefly acknowledges that this might hurt the natural resource but states that, for national security, they will do whatever it takes. He finishes by saying that there should be focus on improving water use and recycling as much as possible.
Councilman Barrios likes the current context of the word ‘sustainability.’ He struggles with supporting ‘small-town-feel.’ He sees that as backward-looking. Councilman Hutchenrider disagrees. He thinks participants intended to keep the neighborly and friendly atmosphere. He thinks people value the fact that they can interact with a human instead of being pointed to a website. He states that ‘small-town-feel’ does not imply a desire to return to the fifties. He then states that the feeling is that of “Americana.” Councilman Barrios still feels it is too backward-looking.
Councilman Hutchenrider also disagrees with calling decision-making collaborative. He is fine with calling decision-making innovative. He wants it to be clear that, though decisions are made with input and collaboration, the decisions themselves are not collaborative. He states that they consider the input the community gives, but the ultimate decision is theirs. He then says, edited for clarity, “We’re always going to have naysayers. A lot of time we hear from people who either have a significant thought in this or they want to make input into it or they’re ones we hear all the time from on social media. The average person who lives down my block, I can guarantee you, I’ve talked to them, they don’t know we’re doing this tonight. They haven’t looked at this. They never will look at it. They entrust us to keep our city safe, to keep it engaged and connected. They’re reasonably happy. So, we have to balance it out.” He’s noting that most people simply do not care to keep up with city council meetings. He clarifies that he is not implying that one is right or wrong. He supports the rest of the statement as presented.
Councilman Dorian just wants to echo Councilman Hutchenrider. Councilwoman Justice agrees that the intent of ‘small-town-feel’ is neighborhood integrity. City Manager Don Magner suggests ‘strong neighborhoods and a neighborly feel.’ Councilman Corcoran gives a thumbs-up to that suggestion. Mayor Dubey suggests that what everybody is expressing is really captured by ‘The Richardson Way,’ though he doesn’t think that term has a firm definition. (I recall Mayor Voelker describing it as, “Planning for future generations, planning our work, and working our plan.”) Commissioner Purdy offers feedback now. He was hoping the statement would include stronger language on education and technology. He also wants a benchmarking goal statement such as “making UTD the MIT of Texas.” He also wants to see a target product included in the statement. Using Florida and their oranges as an example, he asks what we want Richardson to be known for. No response from anyone. Mayor Dubey asks to move on to the next topic.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Monica presents the Guiding Principles. These are divided into ten categories. There are fifty-nine in total. About five hundred respondents gave feedback on all fifty-nine principles. The only three principles that had less than 80% agreement are:
‘Promote Richardson’s identity at entry points, along major corridors, and at key views in the city’
‘Allow development with higher densities and a mix of uses near rail stations and at key locations along major multi-modal transportation corridors’
and ‘Address supply, demand, affordability, and workforce recruitment and retention challenges by encouraging additional housing types appropriate to Richardson.’
Based on the feedback from department heads, some of the principles have been edited. The full updated list of Guiding Principles can be found beginning on slide 61 of the handouts.
Once again, The CPC gives their feedback first. Chairman Marsh wants to see the principles ranked from most to least important. Councilman Corcoran asks where ‘walkable’ is. Monica answers that they will add it. He also asks for clarification on housing types that are appropriate to Richardson. Monica answers that it will be clarified as the land use plan gets developed. City Manager Don Magner suggests that the Public Facility Corporation approach may be well suited for Richardson. This works by a developer agreeing to build a mixed-income development, offering a portion of units as more affordable. The Public Facility Corporation technically owns the land and leases it to the development. This provides a property tax exemption to the developer in exchange for the low-income housing offering. That conversation should take place in April.
Councilwoman Justice agrees with the edits and that ‘walkability’ should be included. Councilman Barrios wants to see references to specific education and healthcare partners broadened to be inclusive of all community partners.
PLACE TYPES & LAND USE
Mark presents the Place Types section next. This is an approach that defines areas by a mix of uses instead of creating an area of just residential or just commercial zoning. Mark presents three residential place types and two retail place types. Mark also defines place types for employment and quality of life. These definitions are on slide 66 of the handouts. Mark then presents maps applying the Place Types approach to current existing areas. Check out slide 68 to see what your place type is. Mark asks Council if they agree with this approach and if they agree with the accuracy of the existing place-type map.
Chairman Marsh agrees with both. So does Vice-Chair Southard. Councilman Barrios asks about the reasoning behind the Spring Valley/Coit place type. Mark answers that it is Neighborhood Mixed-Use due to the direction from the West Spring Valley Corridor plan, even though that’s not what exists there today. Councilman Corcoran asks for clarification on secondary uses. Mark answers that they need to look more into how to apply secondary uses and missing middle housing now that they have analyzed the feedback from the second community summit. With that clarification, Councilman Corcoran agrees with the approach and accuracy. Councilwoman Justice also agrees. Mayor Dubey asks how this place-type approach makes Richardson more business-friendly. City Manager Don Magner answers that it will be clearer to developers what type of developments they are looking for in an area. Mark states that the Future Land Use Plan will take this Land Use Scenario and recommend locations for missing middle housing, secondary land uses, and a vision for each of the five Reinvestment Areas.
The entire plan is available at EnvisionRichardson.com. Council will be briefed again on April 8th before the third round of community feedback in June and July. With that, the joint session is adjourned.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
With the CPC now dismissed, Council reconvenes into their regular work session.
Now, public comments. Before we hear from the public, Mayor Dubey offers a statement. He states that everyone on Council has met privately outside of their own work and city schedules to meet with citizens on the topic of a ceasefire resolution on the War in Gaza and that the Council is honored to do that. He states that they have heard everything that is being requested and the city has already issued a statement. He says that what the public is requesting and what the city has done are very similar. He states that Council believes in humanity and does not believe it is okay to kill. They want the War in Gaza to stop. He reiterates that they appreciate those who are engaging, and they are honored to listen. He then states that Richardson knows their Council whom they elected. He points out that ten of the twelve speakers signed up are from outside the City of Richardson.
City Manager Don Magner acknowledges three written comments regarding a ceasefire resolution and one written comment regarding the comprehensive plan and municipal campus. The first speaker asks Council to adopt a ceasefire resolution on the War in Gaza. So does the second speaker. He clarifies that at least four of the speakers are from Richardson. In total, twelve speakers call for a ceasefire resolution to be passed. City Manager Don Magner reminds everyone that Council is prohibited from interacting with the speakers’ comments in any way since this is a work session and the topic is not on the agenda. Someone from the audience speaks up but I cannot make out what was said. Don offers to meet with them after the meeting.
CITY HALL UPDATE
There are two discussion items on the agenda. The first is an update on the new city hall. Engineering & Capital Projects Director Jim Dulac presents. The new city hall should be ready in 2027. Community feedback on the new city hall and municipal campus also took place in October 2023. Sixty people attended the two open house events. Five of the six Guiding Principles received at least 84% agreement from participants. The principle with the lowest agreement, 60%, regarded pursuing investment opportunities along Arapaho. Other feedback included preserving trees, more open space, removing the drive between the plaza and green, and environmental considerations. They are still considering the best route for traffic calming within the campus. Speed pillows and bollards are options. Both entrances will remain on Belle Grove. The wildflower field at the northeast corner will be preserved. Open space will also be preserved in the eastern parking lot to serve as an electioneering area.
Participants chose ‘not important’ more than any other single option when asked about specific elements and the relationship between the physical appearance of city hall and the library. For sustainability, solar panels and a water harvesting system received the most support. Solar water heating is something else they may explore. Jim presents the latest preliminary sketches for the new city hall building. Not much is set in stone yet. Most customer-facing departments will have offices on the first floor so citizens can access them conveniently. The Council Chamber will have a seating capacity of 170. Raked seating will be used to help with visibility. The estimated square footage is 4,000 sq. ft. more than originally planned and the building design is also more complex and expensive. Jim says they could potentially use an extra $6M for the project which will come from funds intended to improve the temporary city hall facility and the fire insurance settlement, the latter of which we do not know the total amount of.
Councilman Barrios asks about the increase of soft construction costs. Jim says that consultant costs have risen. Councilman Dorian asks about solar panels. Jim answers that they are currently pricing sustainably sourced options. Councilwoman Justice expresses concern about costs escalating. City Manager Don Magner responds by stating that the budget escalation helps include the public's requested features. If they want to stick with the $85M budget, they can move forward without the more expensive options. Don also states that grant funding may be able to be used. Councilman Corcoran echoes the concerns about costs escalating. He also advocates for using sustainability measures that cut costs in the long run. Mayor Pro Tem Shamsul and Councilman Hutchenrider add to that by asking for a return-on-investment presentation for solar panels and other sustainability options. Councilman Dorian asks about LEED certification. Jim answers that they are not pursuing it. Mayor Pro Tem Shamsul asks that any building decisions be made with future generations and their respective budgets in mind. He also suggests making the building more resistant to destruction.
LIBRARY UPDATE & CLOSING
The final discussion item is an update on the library renovation. Jim Dulac continues the presentation. This project is further along and should be ready to begin construction as early as March. The library should be ready to open in 2026. Jim provides a refresher on the project to date. Balfour Beatty, the Construction Manager at Risk, has submitted a guaranteed maximum price of $31.4M. Council likes the plan and will vote on approving this price at a future meeting.
Council discusses the State of the City Address, recent Eisemann Center performances, and the upcoming Lunar New Year celebration. The meeting finally adjourns after 4 ½ hours.