Week in Review, March 6, 2026

March 6, 2026

This is the latest edition of Week In Review - a series of weekly messages from the Mayor and City Council to help Richardson residents and businesses keep up to date on municipal events. If you would like to sign up to receive this in a weekly e-mail click here.

Throughout the year, the City Council or City Plan Commission will hold meetings on topics of significant interest to local neighborhoods or the community in general. Links to view all City Council or City Plan Commission meeting documents that may have topics of interest to you can be found here:

City Council | City Plan Commission

Featured Artist Announced for Spring Cottonwood Art Festival
Acclaimed visual artist Julia Gilmore has been selected as the Featured Artist for the Spring Cottonwood Art Festival taking place May 2-3 at Cottonwood Park. Chosen from 200 artists who will be participating in the spring festival's juried art show, Gilmore uses richly layered oil paint to transform familiar, often nostalgic objects into bold, iconic imagery.

As Featured Artist, her artwork will be showcased throughout the festival, including on the official 2026 commemorative poster and exclusive merchandise available in the Courtyard boutique. Gilmore will also be onsite throughout the weekend to engage with attendees.

The semi-annual Cottonwood Art Festival has been held in Richardson's Cottonwood Park since 1969. In addition to the juried art show, the festival includes live musical performances on two stages, numerous food and beverage options and children's art stations.

Website: https://www.cottonwoodartfestival.com

Council Reviews Short-Term Rental Ordinance and Proposed Updates
At Monday's City Council work session, Council members received a briefing from City staff and legal counsel on Richardson's short-term rental (STR) ordinance, which took effect in 2023. The update included information on public safety activity related to STRs and a set of proposed amendments intended to clarify and strengthen the ordinance.

The current ordinance requires STR owners to register with the City, pay an annual registration fee, designate a local responsible party, and provide certain information to guests. It also establishes procedures for fines and possible revocation of STR registrations for violations.

Staff presented proposed amendments to the ordinance, including changes to the process for revoking STR registration permits by establishing clear and specific criteria for when and why a registration certificate may be revoked. Following Council feedback, the proposed amendments are expected to be placed on an upcoming agenda for consideration and adoption.

Monday's presentation: Video

Police Department Presents Annual Review
The Richardson Police Department's presented its 2025 Annual Review at Monday's City Council meeting, providing an overview of department operations, staffing and recruitment efforts, community engagement activities, new programs, and crime trends over the past year.

The report showed significant decreases in crime across the city, with total violent and property crimes down 23.5 percent compared to 2024. Notable reductions included a 55.9 percent drop in auto theft and a 56.3 percent decrease in robberies involving individuals. Overall crime in Richardson has declined by more than 50 percent since 2021, continuing a multi-year downward trend. The most commonly reported offense remained burglary of a motor vehicle, with 57 percent of cases involving unlocked vehicles.

The department is also expanding programs focused on community support and crisis response. RPD is preparing to launch a new Crisis Intervention Program to assist individuals experiencing a crisis or living with mental health conditions. Additional initiatives include a Handle with Care program in partnership with local schools to support children exposed to trauma, as well as continued collaboration through the Crisis Intervention Team with Methodist Richardson Medical Center and the Homeless Engagement Liaison Program.

Monday's presentation: Video

Fire Department Continues Earning Lifeline EMS Recognition
For the 10th consecutive year, the American Heart Association (AHA) has recognized the Richardson Fire Department as a Gold-level recipient of the 2025 Mission: Lifeline® EMS Recognition Award. The department also earned placement on both the Target: Heart Attack Honor Roll and the Target: Stroke Honor Roll for the second consecutive year.

The Mission: Lifeline program recognizes emergency medical service agencies that demonstrate excellence in improving care for patients experiencing severe heart attacks and strokes. By following proven guidelines and protocols, Richardson EMS has shown a strong commitment to rapid response, effective treatment, and improved outcomes for patients experiencing a severe heart attack known as STEMI (ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction).

To receive the recognition, agencies must meet strict performance measures that help reduce the time between a patient's first contact with EMS and hospital treatment, including procedures such as primary percutaneous coronary intervention or thrombolytic therapy.

City Council Honors UT Dallas Chess Team, MBA Team for Championship Wins
The Richardson City Council recognized two outstanding University of Texas at Dallas teams at Monday's City Council work session.

The UT Dallas Comet Chess Team received a proclamation for winning the inaugural National Collegiate Women's Chess Championship. The Comets finished 4.5 points ahead of second place and claimed three of the top four individual finishes.

The UT Dallas MBA Team from the Naveen Jindal School of Management was also presented a proclamation for winning first place at the 2025 MBA Case Competition World Cup Finals. The team competed against 237 universities from around the globe - including Yale, Carnegie Mellon, HEC Paris, UNC-Chapel Hill and the University of Cambridge - advancing to the final five before securing the championship title.

Monday's presentations:

Chess Team (Video)

MBA Team (Video)

Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday
Daylight Saving Time officially begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 8, so don't forget to "spring forward" and set your clocks ahead an hour.

Additionally, the Richardson Fire Department encourages everyone to check the batteries in their smoke detectors and, if needed, replace them with longer-lasting lithium-ion batteries that should last for the life of the smoke detector and do not need to be replaced every six months. The US Fire Administration recommends that smoke detectors be replaced every 10 years.

Multiple Lane Closures Expected at Campbell/Jupiter Intersection
The right lane of eastbound Campbell Road extended 320 feet east and west of Jupiter Road, and the right lanes of northbound and southbound Jupiter Road at Campbell Road between Portsmouth Drive and Meredith Lane, may be closed to traffic from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. as pole/streetlight work takes place by Oncor. Seven poles and streetlights are being relocated in connection with the upcoming Jupiter/Campbell project. The work is expected to wrap up by late June.

Fiber Optic Work to Close Lane South of Campbell/Plano Road Intersection
The right lane of southbound Plano Road between Campbell Road and Digital Drive may be closed to traffic from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. as fiber optic work takes place along Plano Road. The work is expected to be completed by late August.

Richardson Projects: https://www.cor.net/projects.

Free Fitness, Yoga Classes This Weekend
Huffhines Recreation Center, 200 N. Plano Rd.
Admission: Free, no registration needed
March 7-8
Noon

Join Damon for "Foundations of Fitness" on Saturday, and learn Hatha Yoga from Pavitra on Sunday in these free classes being offered in conjunction with the Healthier Texas Community Challenge, a free fitness and health challenge taking place through March 29. Earn points for yourself and your community while getting fit; register and learn more through the link below. (Participation in the Healthier Texas Community Challenge is not required to enjoy the free classes.)

Website: Healthier Texas Community Challenge

Amazon Hosts "Prime Air" Drone Delivery Open House Tuesday
Amazon will host an Open House next Tuesday morning at the Richardson IQ®HQ to provide information about its "Prime Air" drone delivery service and answer questions. The service began in Richardson last December, and operates out of Amazon's fulfillment center at 3051 Research Dr. It enables customers who live within a seven-to-eight-mile radius of the center to receive packages (weighing up to five pounds) within an hour of ordering.

Details:
"Prime Air" Drone Delivery Open House
Tuesday, March 10
9-10:30 a.m.
Richardson IQ®HQ, 1302 E. Collins Blvd.
Bring questions or concerns; Amazon staff will be present.

Tomorrow Afternoon: "The Physics of Aerodynamics" for Kids
City Council Chamber, 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Ste. 525
Admission: Free
Saturday, March 7
2:30-3:30 p.m.

At this Library-sponsored program, representatives from the Frontiers of Flight Museum will help kids learn about the four forces of flight, then help them apply their newly gained knowledge by building, testing and refitting their own aircraft designs. For ages 8-12.

"Story Stroll" Monday
Cottonwood Park, 1301 W. Belt Line Rd.
Cost: Free
Monday, March 9
3-3:30 p.m.

Grab your strollers and stretch your legs! Join Library staff for a storytime at the park pavilion, then enjoy a walk through the park as we connect to nature with movement, rhymes, and fun. Open to all ages (storytime intended for ages 3 and under). Children must be attended by at least one adult. Subject to cancellation due to inclement weather.

For a full list of library events, visit https://www.cor.net/calendar.

https://www.cor.net/Library

At the Eisemann Center:

At UT Dallas:

"Curtains" Opens Next Friday at RCT
770 N. Coit Rd.
Tickets: $37 adults, $20 youth (tickets)
March 13-22
7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; Sundays at 2 p.m.

Get ready for a night of suspense, laughter and toe-tapping tunes as Repertory Company Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning murder mystery musical, "Curtains." Set in the 1950s, "Curtains" takes audiences backstage to the drama and intrigue of the theater world. When a murder occurs during the opening night of a Broadway-bound musical, Detective Frank Cioffi is called in to investigate. As cast and crew become suspects, Cioffi unravels a web of egos, rivalries and secrets to uncover the truth.

Spring Monarch Migration Has Begun
The annual monarch butterfly migration from Mexico to the northern U.S. and Canada has begun, with sightings already reported in Texas. Luckily for fans of the beautiful orange and black pollinators, Richardson is in the pathway. The City has been a Mayor's Monarch Pledge city since 2015 (a program of the National Wildlife Federation) and has established dedicated butterfly gardens in four parks-Berkner, Prairie Creek, Durham and Yale-and includes plants that attract and feed butterflies in park and landscape projects wherever feasible.

Because of the critical role monarchs play in our ecosystem and their declining numbers over the past 15 years, people are encouraged to incorporate butterfly-friendly plants in their own landscapes and community gardens, and to log any sightings at https://www.journeynorth.org and/or https://www.monarchwatch.org/calendar. Scientists rely on the help of "citizen scientists" to understand the monarch's conservation needs.

Monarchs are the only known butterfly to make a two-way migration; they're expected to make their way back through Richardson in the fall.

https://www.cor.net/richardsonplants

https://www.cor.net/EPI

Be Spring Storm Aware; Several Alerts Available
This week marked the annual Severe Weather Awareness Week, an opportunity for the Richardson Office of Emergency Management and National Weather Service to increase awareness of and response to severe weather hazards in advance of spring and summer storm season. As a reminder, using multiple warning methods is the best way to receive alerts during any emergency.

Methods for the Richardson area include:

In addition, you can purchase a NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio to receive 24/7 warnings directly from the National Weather Service.

More information: https://www.cor.net/EM

911 Dispatcher ($54,223 - $75,309 Salary)
The Police Department is looking for an individual that can operate various telecommunications equipment, dispatch and deploy public safety units, notify other support services and, provide pre-arrival emergency medical instructions. High school diploma or G.E.D. certificate required. CPR certification and Emergency Medical Dispatch certification (through IAED), TCOLE Basic Telecommunicator Proficiency Certificate and TX Telecommunicator License required, or must be obtained within one year of hire. Texas Driver's License, Class C, required.

Driver/Loader, SWS Recycling ($44,214 - $61,513 Salary)
The Public Services Department is looking for individuals who can drive and operate residential refuse and or recycling collection equipment. Work in a small crew to collect, load, transport, and dispose of refuse, garbage, recycling, and brush. Applicable Texas Commercial Learner's Permit is required within 1 month of hire. Texas Commercial Driver's License, Class B, is required within 6 months of hire.

Lifeguard PT ($14.00/hr - $15.00/hr)
The Parks and Recreation Department is looking for an individual who is a minimum of 16 years of age. Must have ability to make quick and effective decisions. Must have good verbal and written language skills; ability to cope effectively with large crowds and high noise levels. Must be able to perform skill tests administered by the Parks and Recreation Department, including a rescue test, basic swim strokes (breaststroke, crawl stroke, sidestroke, and elementary backstroke), and must demonstrate effective CPR knowledge. Must be able to implement cash-handling policies. Must hold current American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification, CPRPR certification, and First Aid certification. American Red Cross Waterpark Lifeguard Certification preferred.

https://www.cor.net/Jobs

Pet of the Week
Meet Scotty, a 3-year-old bulldog mix with a heart full of joy. This friendly guy loves to play and has a knack for making everyone laugh with his goofy antics. Energetic and always up for an adventure, Scotty is the perfect companion for active families or anyone who enjoys a good chuckle. His spirited personality lights up the room, making every day brighter. If you're looking for a loyal friend who brings laughter and liveliness to your life, Scotty is your ideal match.

For information about animals available for adoption, visit the Animal Shelter's web page here.

City Council Links

Council Members
Meeting Agendas and Documents
Videos

To read previous Week in Reviews,

visit https://www.cor.net/WIR.