Week in Review, Nov. 14, 2025

Nov. 14, 2025

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

Renovated Animal Shelter Opens
The newly renovated Richardson Animal Shelter officially opened this week. Thanks to the voter-approved 2021 Bond Program, the Shelter, located at 1330 Columbia Dr., now features a brand-new main entrance, updated façade, expanded staff offices, a refreshed staff break area, additional storage rooms and updated staff and public restrooms. Visitors will also notice a vibrant new addition outdoors near the front entrance of the Shelter, a colorful 10-foot mosaic sculpture entitled, "The Town Musicians of Richardson," created by Texas artist Gigi Griffin Miller as part of the City's Public Art Master Plan.

Renovations began in February 2024 and Shelter administrative operations and parking temporarily moved to an adjacent building; all adoptions and donations are now being processed at the updated facility.

Shelter Website: https://www.cor.net/AnimalShelter

Parks, Drainage Projects Reviewed for Possible 2026 Bond Election
Parks and Engineering staff presented candidate projects for a possible 2026 bond election at Monday's City Council meeting.

Parks projects presented were identified through the 2023 Parks Master Plan and the 2025 Aquatics Master Plan, and include:

Priority drainage projects include:

Council has until February to decide on calling a bond election for voters to consider in May 2026.

Council Presentation: Parks, Drainage

City Council Adopts Updated Rules of Order and Procedure
The City Council passed a resolution at Monday's City Council meeting adopting new City Council Rules of Order and Procedure, after reviewing proposed language updates discussed at their Oct. 20 work session.

The rules, first adopted in early 2024 and developed based on state law, the City Charter and common practices, are guidelines that govern how City Council meetings and public hearings are conducted. They also clarify Council members' participation in community activities and on Council committees.

Updates to the rules included

Updating the rules are part of the City Council's 2025-27 Goal tactics.

Document: City Council Rules of Order and Procedure

City's "Cease the Grease" Begins Next Tuesday
The city has setup a drop off location for people to dispose of leftover holiday cooking oil and grease. Proper disposal of cooking waste helps protect residential and regional wastewater systems and prevents costly plumbing backups.

The collection site will be open Nov. 18-Dec. 5 at the Municipal Service Center, 1260 Columbia Dr.

Details:
What: "Cease the Grease" Collection #1
Where: Municipal Service Center, 1260 Columbia Dr., (In parking lot adjacent to southernmost entrance at Glenville Dr.)
Cost: Free
When: Nov. 18-Dec. 5, Open 24 hours
How: Bring cooled oil and grease in rigid plastic container with screw-top lid and place in marked collection bin.

A second Cease the Grease collection period will be available Dec. 19-Jan. 5.

Website: Fats, Oil & Grease (FOG)

Richardson Citizen Police Academy Applications Now Open
Applications for the 2026 Richardson Citizen Police Academy (CPA) are now open, a 45-hour academic course designed to give Richardson residents a working knowledge of the Richardson Police Department. Classes are designed to be interactive and fun with an emphasis on team building. During this time, students will participate in a mock SWAT raid, test their skills on the Department's driving course and have the opportunity to fire police weapons.

The goal of the CPA is to strengthen the partnership that has been forged between the police and the community which it serves.

Website: CPA webpage

Application: Online form

No City Council Meeting Next Two Mondays
Due to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no City Council work session or meeting Nov. 17 or Nov. 24. The City Council will next meet Monday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.

Schedule: Council Meetings and Agendas

PGBT Ramp Closure Expected at US 75 Tonight through Monday Morning
Weather permitting, the westbound President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT)-to-southbound US 75 direct connector ramp will be closed from 10 p.m. tonight (Friday, Nov. 14) through 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 17 as the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) conducts routine maintenance.

Traffic will be detoured to the northbound US 75 exit ramp, merging onto the US 75 frontage road, continuing to the 15th Street exit, making a U-turn at 15th Street and following the signs to enter southbound US 75.

For more information, visit https://www.NTTA.org.

Street Rehabilitation Work to Begin Next Week on Floyd Road; Detour Planned
Surface replacement on Floyd Road between Belt Line Road and the US 75 Frontage Road is scheduled to begin Thursday, Nov. 20, part of the City's Arterial and Collector Street Rehabilitation Program. The work will take place Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. and will start along the southbound lanes from Floyd Road to Scottsdale Drive, continuing in phases south toward the Frontage Road and then work back north toward Belt Line, with additional lane closures, as needed. While this initial phase of work is underway, southbound Floyd will be closed at Belt Line, and drivers will need to detour using South Weatherred Drive or South Lindale Lane.

Digital signs were placed along the construction path this week to notify drivers and the neighborhood about the upcoming lane closures, detour routes and changing traffic conditions.

The full project is expected to last 6-8 weeks, depending on weather.

The Arterial and Collector Street Rehabilitation Program is an ongoing initiative to repair, upgrade and extend the life of major roadways throughout the community.

Lane Closures Expected on Southbound Coit, North and South of Belt Line
In various phases, the right, left and center lanes of southbound Coit Road between La Cosa Drive and Dumont Drive may be closed to traffic alternately from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. as concrete replacement/rehabilitation takes place. Turn lanes may be closed as needed. Note: There will be two lane closures from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; after 3:30 p.m. there will be at least two lanes open to through traffic until the next morning. One lane could remain closed overnight. Seek an alternate route if possible.

The work is expected to wrap up by early December, weather permitting.

https://www.cor.net/projects

Richardson Gobble Hobble is Next Saturday; Signups Still Open
Galatyn Park Urban Center, 2351 Performance Dr.
Cost: $44 1-Mile Fun Run and $54 for the 5K, plus fees. (Note: cost increases day of race) Registration Link
Saturday, Nov. 22
7 a.m.-10:30 a.m. (Fun Run starts at 8 a.m.; 5K begins at 8:30 a.m.)

Support the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas at Richardson and celebrate the 20th year of the Gobble Hobble. The course is flat and features beautiful views of Spring Creek Nature Area.

Event website: https://www.gobblehobble.com

PM Pints Next Thursday Evening
The IQ®HQ, 1302 E. Collins Blvd.
Admission: Free
Thursday, Nov. 20
5-7 p.m.

This free, quarterly, evening event series is designed to foster networking while providing insights and advice from local small business owners and subject matter experts. Thursday's event will feature a discussion with Dr. Walter Voit, president and CEO of IvyBee, Inc. and founder of Pedegree Studios, who will share how his work at UT Dallas helped shape a culture where bold ideas turn into thriving businesses. Voit will talk about how university resources like the Venture Development Center and Blackstone LaunchPad supported his journey from lab research to successful startups and talk about lessons from collaboration, and what drives North Texas's growing innovation ecosystem.

Beverages and hors d'oeuvres will be provided; attendees are encouraged to register in advance.

Event Registration: Online Form

"Blind Date with a Book" Workshop Tomorrow Morning
Millwood Creek Room
Admission: Free (RSVP required; call 972-744-4376 to register)
Saturday, Nov. 15
10:30 a.m.-noon

Planning a book gift for a fellow reader? Make it a full experience with a unique wrapper, teasers about the story, tea, a bookmark, stickers and more! Bring your book, and we'll provide the rest! For adults and teens.

Author Laura Evans Discusses Art Crime Tomorrow Afternoon
City Hall Council Chamber, 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd. Ste. 525 (entrance at SW corner of Plano Road/Greenville Avenue intersection)
Admission: Free
Saturday, Nov. 15
1 p.m.

Join author Laura Evans at this Library-sponsored event as she discusses her book, "The Atlas of Art Crime: Thefts, Vandalism and Forgeries," about the modern history of art crime around the world. The book features images of masterpieces from around the world, the criminals who defiled them, the heroes who investigated the crimes and recovered the works, and, in many cases, snapshots from the crime itself. For adults and teens.

https://www.cor.net/Library

At the Eisemann Center:

• Snow Queen Ballet This Weekend

  Bank of America Theatre
  Tickets: $25-$35 (tickets)
  Nov. 15-16
  Saturday at 7 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m.

  More than 50 performers from Plano-based Studio3Dance present a holiday ballet for all ages.

• "Winter's Night: Music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra"
  Multimedia Tribute Show Sunday
  Hill Performance Hall
  Tickets: $66-$91 (tickets)
  Sunday, Nov. 16
  3 p.m.

  Experience the magic of the holidays like never before with this spellbinding tribute to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Step into a world of mesmerizing lights, jaw-dropping visuals, epic symphonic soundscapes and electrifying music featuring classic Christmas carols and powerful rock anthems.

At UT Dallas:

• Wind, Strings, Brass Concerts Saturday, Monday
  UT Dallas Wind Ensemble, String Orchestra and University Orchestra
  University Theatre, 800 W. Campbell Rd.
  Admission: Free
  Saturday, Nov. 15
  2:30 p.m. Wind Ensemble (event link), 4 p.m. Orchestras (event link)

  Brass Ensemble Recital
  Jonsson Performance Hall, 800 W. Campbell Rd.
  Admission: Free
  Monday, Nov. 17
  6 p.m.
  Website: Event Information

• Tuesday: Virtual Conversation with Simon Wiesenthal's Granddaughter
  Online (registration required: registration link)
  Cost: Free
  Tuesday, Nov. 18
  11 a.m.

  A virtual conversation with Dr. Racheli Kreisberg, granddaughter of the renowned Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal, as she discusses her grandfather's legacy and her work on the Simon Wiesenthal Genealogical Geolocation Initiative (SWIGGI)- a digital platform dedicated to tracing Holocaust-era family histories and preserving the memory of victims and survivors through innovative mapping technologies. Event Information

• Dramatic Play: "Chimera: A Posthuman Reckoning" Thursday
  University Theatre, 800 W. Campbell Rd.
  Admission: Free
  Thursday, Nov. 20
  7:30 p.m.

  Performed by Acting III students, this one-act tragicomedy explores the fate of humanity in an era defined by drought-induced wildfires and accelerating technological change. The play confronts the urgent realities of environmental instability as artificial intelligence evolves beyond human control.

  At its core is a cyborg firefighter, a hauntingly human figure navigating the remnants of a burning world, tasked with rescuing humanity from expulsion from Earth. Event Information

Chamber Music International: "Classic Piano Trios" Tomorrow Night
St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church, 1220 W. Belt Line Rd.
Tickets: $45 adults, $40 seniors, $15 students
Saturday, Nov. 15
7:30 p.m.

Enjoy the phenomenal trio of Cho-Liang Lin on violin; Clive Greensmith on cello and Jon Kimura Parker on piano performing powerful works of Brahms and Tchaikovsky.

Website: https://www.chambermusicinternational.org

Recycling Spotlight: Don't "Bag Within the Bag"
Celebrate America Recycles Day tomorrow, Nov. 15, by learning more about recycling and keeping up with what materials are accepted by Richardson. Staff at Republic Services, Richardson's recycler, say that one simple thing people can do to be better recyclers is to not put bagged/bundled recycling materials within Richardson's blue bags-i.e. a "bag within a bag," or placing recyclables into plastic or paper bags before placing into the blue bag. This practice slows down the recycling process, not to mention that plastic bags can get tangled in recycling machinery.

Instead, placing each item in the blue bag individually allows Republic to sort recyclables faster and more efficiently, keeping costs down and ensuring that as many items as possible become quality materials that can be turned into new products.

How to Recycle: Video

Nature Walk in Spring Creek Nature Area Tomorrow
Meets at the NW corner of Spring Creek Nature Area (at the stone archway near the Renner Road/Routh Creek Parkway intersection)
Cost: $5 (Must register in advance; registration link)
Saturday, Nov. 15
9-10 a.m.

Join the Richardson Urban Naturalist program on this relaxing nature walk through Spring Creek Nature Area. The park contains over 100 acres of hardwood riparian forest adjacent to Spring Creek, one of the major creeks in Richardson. We will walk along the paths through the woods of the nature area while noting some of the native trees and wildlife.

Led by a Texas Master Naturalist, this walk is a great opportunity to learn about the natural environment we have right here in Richardson. If a parent or guardian is registered, children under 18 are free. Children 12+ can attend without a parent but must be registered.

Crisis Intervention Program Manager ($75,488 - $102,378 Salary)
The Police Department is looking for an individual to coordinate mental health programs by providing outreach, education, and services to people who are in crisis and/or have known mental health diagnosis. Must possess one of the following licenses: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licenses Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate (LPC-Associate), or Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). Work requires professional level of knowledge of a discipline equivalent to that which is acquired in a Master's degree-level of study in a human services field (sociology, psychology, etc), or public health. Valid Texas Class C Driver license.

Custodian ($43,680 - $47,698 Salary)
The Eisemann Center is looking for an individual who can clean and perform event setups and breakdowns. Perform minor maintenance tasks in building. Night and weekend work required. Perform other related work as required.

Water System Technician PT ($21.00/hr to $23.35/hr)
Water Production is looking for an individual that can observe activities of contractors involved with installation and maintenance of telecommunications equipment at City water utility sites. Inspect construction, repair, and maintenance of the water distribution and wastewater collection system. Operate fire hydrants and water valves; record their location with a GPS unit; maintain records of these functions electronically.

For additional open positions, visit https://www.cor.net/MakeaDifference.

Pet of the Week
Meet Sasha, a 5-year-old Great Dane with a heart as grand as her breed suggests. Known for her sweet and mellow nature, Sasha enjoys peaceful days and gentle walks. Ideal for a calm household, she thrives in a setting where she can be the only pet, ensuring she gets all the love and attention she deserves. Sasha's serene presence makes her a perfect companion for someone looking for a loyal and loving friend. Adopt Sasha and discover the joy of a gentle giant who promises to fill your home with love and tranquility.

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.