Week in Review, Jan. 2, 2026

Jan. 2, 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

Recycling Reminder
Due to the New Year's Holiday, Thursday recycling service was postponed and is being picked up today, Friday, Jan. 2. Friday recycling service is also on a holiday schedule and will be picked up tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 3.

Website: https://www.cor.net/recycling

First of Two Scheduled Hearings Monday for Possible Bond Election
The City Council is holding two public hearings this month so residents can have an opportunity to speak about projects for a potential 2026 bond election. The first will be held at the Jan. 5 City Council meeting which begins at 6 p.m.; the second will be held Jan. 12.

At its Dec. 15 meeting, the City Council was presented projects to include in a $223.4M bond program, with 59.4 percent funding street projects, 16.1 percent funding public buildings and the rest dedicated to parks, sidewalks and drainage projects. The Council has until Feb. 9 to decide on whether to call an election. If called, Election Day will be May 2.

Hearing Details:
Dates: Jan. 5 and Jan. 12
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Richardson City Hall, 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Suite 525

Watch video of past Council meetings or view meetings live at https://www.cor.net/CITV.

Audio Recordings of Board and Commission Meetings to be Posted Online
Starting this month, audio recordings of board and commission meetings that are not currently recorded on video will be available online. This enhancement supports the 2025-27 City Council Goals to manage City resources effectively, efficiently, and transparently while expanding access to City services.

By providing additional ways to follow meeting discussions, the City is making it easier for residents to stay informed about the advisory boards and commissions that review issues and make recommendations to the City Council.

Recordings will be posted on the City's website alongside meeting agendas and approved minutes and will generally be available within one business day following each meeting.

Audio recordings link: https://www.cor.net/CITV

Reserve Tickets for Annual State of the City Address
Reservations for the annual State of the City Address are now available through the Eisemann Center's ticket portal. Reserved seating is a new feature this year and will help with planning as attendance and seating needs for the event have continued to grow.

The State of the City Address provides the community with a comprehensive update on recent accomplishments and an outlook on the City's plans for the future. Reservations are free and will be treated as general admission, with overflow seating available near the main venue.

Details:
State of the City Address
Eisemann Center, 2351 Performance Dr.
Bank of America Theatre
Admission: Free ticket (ticket link)
Wednesday, Jan. 28
6:30 p.m.

Website: https://www.cor.net/SOTC

Discounted 3-Day Wildflower! Tickets Now on Sale
Weekend ticket packages for the 2026 Wildflower! The Arts & Music Festival, scheduled for May 15-17, went on sale today (Jan. 2). General admission three-day passes are available starting at $35 through Feb. 9 and include one ticket for each day of the festival, general admission access at all stages, and unlimited re-entry throughout the weekend.

Festivalgoers looking to upgrade their experience can purchase a single-person, three-day Weekend VIP pass for $225. VIP passes include:

Children 12 and younger are admitted free with the purchase of any general admission ticket.

Ticket link: https://wildflowerfestival.com/tickets/

Wildflower! Survey Open; Respondents Have Chance to Win VIP Weekend Pass for Four
A survey asking about the Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival experience opened today to gather information to help plan future events. The approximately four-minute questionnaire asks participants about main performance venues, site experiences, and other festival attractions.

Survey respondents may remain anonymous or choose to provide contact information to be entered into a drawing for a 2026 Wildflower! VIP Weekend Package for four, valued at $900.

Survey link: https://www.cor.net/WFSurvey

Rec Centers Offering Discount on Memberships This Month
Richardson recreation centers are ringing in 2026 with 25 percent off all annual recreation memberships purchased during the month of January. The discount brings the cost of an annual individual adult membership for Richardson residents down to $52.50/year and family memberships to $112.50/year, a savings of $17.50 and $37.50 respectively.

Membership comes with access to both recreation centers, which include cardio fitness areas, weight rooms, full-sized gyms including regulation-sized basketball courts, game rooms, free Wi-Fi, saunas, and locker rooms.

Additionally, Senior Center-only memberships are available with the discount - a Senior Center membership includes a fitness room, billiards and game area.

Memberships are available for purchase inside each facility and online.

Website: https://www.cor.net/ParksOnline

Holiday Tree, Box Recycling Programs Now Open
Turn your Christmas tree into mulch and compost and keep large gift boxes out of the trash (and out of sight of would-be thieves) through the City's Tree Cycling and Holiday Box Recycling programs. Both programs began Dec. 19 and continue through Jan. 30.

Trees may be dropped off 24/7 at the Municipal Service Center, 1260 Columbia Dr., or set out at the curb and picked up as part of the City's weekly Brush and Bulky Item Collection (BABIC), to be turned into mulch and compost. Trees must be natural (not artificial), unflocked and all decorations, nails etc. must be removed. The mulch and compost are created thanks to a regional partnership between Richardson, Plano, Allen, McKinney, Frisco and Texas Pure; it is used in landscaping by the cities and offered to the public for purchase. Residents of the five member cities receive a discount.

Boxes (flattened ONLY) may be dropped off at the following locations:

Website: https://www.cor.net/BoxRecycling

Richardson Streetlights Gradually Phasing to LED
Motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists in Richardson may notice a brighter, clearer path lately on certain streets, as Oncor has begun replacing some of Richardson's longtime streetlights with modern LED fixtures.

The older high-pressure sodium (HPS) lights, known for their amber glow, are no longer being manufactured as utility providers nationwide opt for LED lighting. LED streetlights provide clearer visibility, better color recognition and more focused illumination while using less energy and requiring less maintenance.

Any HPS lights in Richardson that are still working will remain in place until they reach the end of their service life, allowing for a gradual, cost-effective transition.

Residents can report issues with streetlights to Oncor at https://www.oncorstreetlight.com.

City's Annual Student Art, Essay Contests Open
Two annual student contests sponsored by the Richardson City Council began accepting entries Jan. 1: the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest and the "Black History Month: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion" Art Contest. The prompt for the essay contest is "The Ripple Effect of Kindness and Justice" and the prompt for the art contest is "Unsung Heroes."

Each contest is open to students (eligible grades vary by contest) who live in Richardson or attend school within the city. The essay contest ends Jan. 31 and the art contest ends Feb. 28. Rules and deadlines for each may be found online. Winners in each age category receive $200 and will be recognized at a future City Council meeting.

The contests are done in partnership with Richardson ISD, Plano ISD and UT Dallas.

Website: https://www.cor.net/ArtandEssayContest

Main Street Reconstruction Nearing Final Phase as Utility Relocation Begins
The final portion of work on the Main Street Reconstruction Project will continue next week after a roughly three-month delay caused by delays in utility relocation.

Earlier this week, Oncor advised the City it will begin moving overhead power lines underground starting next week, with work expected to be complete by early February. Once this milestone is reached, the City will begin the next stage of construction, including paving, sidewalks, and landscaping, with overall project completion expected in March 2026, weather permitting.

The Main Street Reconstruction Project, part of the City's ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure and enhance downtown connectivity, includes extensive improvements to pavement, utilities, pedestrian access, landscaping, and streetscape features between Greenville Avenue and Abrams Road. Highlights of the final project elements include a new dedicated turn lane onto Abrams Road to improve safety and access, upgraded water, sewer and storm drainage systems, barrier-free ramps at intersections, new trees and landscaping, and upgraded street lighting consistent with enhancements west of Greenville Avenue.

The project has involved phased construction to maintain access for businesses and motorists while crews work to modernize this corridor. City staff continue to coordinate with contractors and property owners to minimize disruptions and support local commerce during construction.

Website: https://www.cor.net/MainStreet

Street Repair Work to Impact Waterview Drive between Belt Line and Arapaho
In two phases, first the bike lanes of northbound and southbound Waterview Drive between Belt Line Road and Arapaho Road and next the inside lanes (travel lanes) of northbound and southbound Waterview Drive in the same area, may be closed to traffic daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. as concrete replacement takes place. Beginning at 5 p.m. each day the road will be open to traffic except at the locations with freshly poured concrete or removed pavement. Note that the entire length of Waterview between Belt Line and Arapaho will not be closed at once, the road will be closed in various stages. The work is expected to be complete by early March, weather permitting.

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

Altrusa Scholarship Applications Open Today
Altrusa International of Richardson began accepting applications for its 2026 scholarship program today (Friday, Jan. 2). The program is open to high school seniors planning to attend universities/colleges, community colleges or vocational training programs in the United States. Applicants must reside in the City of Richardson or attend an RISD school, and recipients will be selected based on scholastic achievement, financial need, community volunteerism, extracurricular activities and a short essay. Scholarships must be used for the next school year and will be sent directly to the school.

Applications are available at https://www.AltrusaRichardson.com and are due Feb. 13 at 4 p.m.

Last year, Altrusa Richardson awarded $22,000 in educational scholarships to RISD seniors.

Website: https://www.AltrusaRichardson.com

City's Annual Photo Contest Begins Next Friday Morning
The City's annual photo contest opens next Friday, Jan. 9, with entries accepted through Sunday, Jan. 25. Sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department, the contest is open to both residents and nonresidents, and is divided into three competition groups (Student, Amateur Adult and Proficient Adult). Costs are $5 per entry for students and $10 per entry for amateur and proficient adults.

The 2025 Best of Show, Best of Division Winners, and Judges Exhibit will be on display at Huffhines Recreation Center Jan. 10-30. This year's winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony Feb. 26 at the Eisemann Center, with the winning photos displayed at Huffhines Recreation Center Jan. 31-Feb. 24.

Website: https://www.cor.net/PhotoContest

Adult Winter Reading Challenge Kick-Off Event Tomorrow
2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Ste. 500
Cost: Free
Saturday, Jan. 3
2-4:30 p.m.

Adults-start the year by accepting the Library's Challenge! Sign up beginning Jan. 3 on Beanstack, then read 1,200 minutes (just 20 per day) by Feb. 28 to win a gift bag and other prizes while supplies last. At the kickoff, you'll learn about upcoming programs in the Library and explore all the ways you can use your library card. Enjoy snacks, a snowman decorating craft and colorable bookmarks. Open to adults ages 18 and up.

The drawing will be held after the Challenge ends on Feb. 28.

More information: 972-744-4355

"Wednesdays @ 11: Building Buddies" Next Wednesday
Youth Services Storytime Room
Admission: Free
Wednesday, Jan. 7
11-11:45 a.m.

Children ages 2-5 build social and motor skills through play. Explore a variety of building toys each month, including Duplo bricks, Magna-Tiles, Kaleido Gears, and more! (To avoid mix-ups, please do not bring personal building toys).

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

https://www.cor.net/Library

At the Eisemann Center:

"Anything Goes" Continues through Sunday at Repertory Company Theatre
770 N. Coit Rd. #2405
Tickets: $20-$37 (tickets)
Jan. 2-4
7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday

With a deck full of Cole Porter's greatest hits-including "You're the Top," "I Get a Kick Out of You," "Friendship" and the showstopping title number-this Broadway classic is a crowd-pleasing voyage for the whole family.

"Cease the Grease" Continues through Monday
Help our water system stay clog-free (and save yourself hundreds of dollars in plumbing bills) by avoiding pouring leftover holiday cooking oil and grease down the drain. Instead, bring it to the City's temporary cooking oil/grease drop-off site through Monday, Jan. 5 at the Municipal Service Center.

Where: Municipal Service Center, 1260 Columbia Dr., (In parking lot adjacent to southernmost entrance at Glenville Drive)
Cost: Free
When: Through Jan. 5; open 24 hours
How: Bring cooled oil and grease in rigid plastic container with screw-top lid and place in marked collection bin.

The City partners with Texas-based American BioSource to collect the oil/grease, which is recycled into biofuels such as biodiesel and biogas.

Website: click here

Water Your Landscape and Other Things to Do Before a Freeze
Unpredictable temperatures in a typical North Texas winter may be confounding to new residents and anyone struggling to keep a landscape looking good-but free advice from local horticulture experts is just a click away. Here are a few ways Texans can reduce damage to their homes and landscapes when the temperatures are expected to drop to freezing or below, from recent Texas A&M AgriLife Extension online articles:

Website: click here

Facilities Maintenance Specialist ($49,502.96 to $73,499.92 Salary)
Facilities is looking for an individual who can perform skilled maintenance, repairs and installations on building facilities, and perform preventive maintenance on HVAC, electrical, electronic, plumbing, pumping and motor control systems. Texas Driver's License, Class C, required.

Crew Chief ($57,541 - $80,347 Salary)
The Public Services Department is looking for an individual with experience in construction and/or maintenance of water distribution and waste collection systems. A Texas Commercial Driver's License, Class A is required.

Recreation Customer Services Representative ($21.00/hr to $24.62/hr)
The Parks and Recreation Department is looking for an individual who can assist in supervising Recreation Center instructors, programs and activities, and work evenings and/or weekends as needed. Completion of ninth grade required.

https://www.cor.net/Jobs

Pet of the Week
Mason is a sweet and friendly adult lab mix who has captured the hearts of everyone at the shelter. At about 2 years old, Mason is full of love and enthusiasm, always eager to greet visitors with a wagging tail and gentle nuzzle. His friendly demeanor makes him a fantastic companion for walks and cozy evenings at home. Mason is an ideal candidate for anyone looking to add a loyal and loving member to their family. He is currently in a foster home and available for meet and greets by appointment.

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.