May 25, 2012
Here 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 events at City Hall. A list of links for stories in this edition is available at the bottom of the page.

Richardson Eases Restrictions, Allows Twice Weekly Watering Beginning June 1 
Richardson residents and businesses will be able to irrigate twice per week beginning Friday, June 1, as the City moves from Stage 3 to Stage 2 water conservation measures.

Days that residents and businesses are allowed to use sprinklers or irrigations systems are based upon the last digit of the property’s address. All use of sprinklers or irrigation systems is prohibited from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or during any periods of any precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, etc.).

The new watering schedule for homes and businesses is:
 • Tuesdays and Saturdays: Addresses ending in 0,2,4,6,8 (Even) 
 •  Wednesdays and Sundays: Addresses with a last digit of 1,3,5,7,9 (Odd)

The use of soaker hoses and drip irrigation is allowed at any time any day of the week for up to two hours per day. 

Click the link below for the full press release on the Stage 2 conservation measures:
http://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=73&recordid=250&returnURL=%2findex.aspx

Wildflower! Festival Attracts Nearly 70,000 Visitors
Wildflower! Richardson’s Arts and Music Festival again proved to be one of the most popular community events in the Metroplex, drawing nearly 70,000 visitors over three days last weekend.

With headliners that included Joe Walsh, Lou Gramm, Nelly and Dashboard Confessional, the 20th Wildflower! Festival provided a variety of music and entertainment.

In addition, the WildRide! WildRun! Against Cancer on Saturday had a record number of participants, with approximately 2,450 cyclists and runners. Net proceeds from the event benefit the Methodist Richardson Cancer Center.

City Facilities will be Closed for Memorial Day Holiday
The Richardson City Hall/Civic Center complex, the Library, Municipal Court and Animal Shelter will be closed Monday, May 28, in observance of Memorial Day. All offices will reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 29.

Heights and Huffhines Recreation Centers and the Senior Center will be open normal hours on Monday. Huffhines Tennis Center will be open but will close at 7 p.m. Call the Police Department at 972-744-4800 for emergencies when the Animal Shelter is closed.

Holiday Sanitation Schedule, Recycle Make Up Days
Due to the Memorial Day holiday, there will be no solid waste pick up or special pick up Monday, May 28. There will be make-up days for recycling pick up. If your normal recycle day is Monday, items will be picked up Tuesday, May 29. If your normal recycle day is Tuesday, items will be picked up Wednesday, May 30.

Glenville and Canyon Creek Pools to be Open Over Memorial Day Weekend
The Glenville and Canyon Creek Pools will be open to the public 1-8 p.m. this Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The Canyon Creek Pool is located at 600 Aspenwood Dr., and the Glenville Pool is located at 500 S. Glenville Dr. Admission is $2 for residents and $4 for non-residents.

All Richardson pools will open for the summer season on Splash Day, scheduled for Saturday, June 2. That day, admission will be free 1-8 p.m.

The Arapaho Pool will be closed this year for construction of the new Heights Recreation Center and Family Aquatics Center.

Memorial Day Observance at Restland Memorial Park
The 72nd annual Memorial Day observations will be held at Restland Memorial Park, Greenville Avenue and Restland Road, beginning at 1 p.m., Monday, May 28. Members of the Richardson Police Department’s Honor Guard, a Richardson Police vehicle and firefighters with an engine and ambulance from Richardson’s Fire Station #1 will take part in the event.

Part of the day's activities will also include vehicle and equipment displays and a fly-over by the 301st Tactical Fighter Wing of the U.S. Air Force. There will also be live music, and former television news personality Scott Murray will serve as master of ceremonies.

The Greater Dallas Veterans Council is co-sponsoring the event. It will also include a photo exhibit by 1st Sgt. Tad Browning of the Texas Army National Guard.

DART to Operate Reduced Schedule Over Holiday Weekend
In observance of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) will operate on the following schedule:

• Bus and light rail services will follow a Sunday schedule.
• The Trinity Railway Express commuter rail will not operate.
• DART Paratransit services for customers with disabilities will operate on a Saturday schedule.
The Paratransit Scheduling Center will be closed on Memorial Day. Customers may call Tuesday, May 29, to book trips for Wednesday, May 30. X-Press Booking and next-day weekend voicemail booking is also available.

Richardson to Host Japanese Visitors as Part of Major International Event in August 2012
Richardson has been selected as one of the 15 North Texas host cities for individual homestays for the 2012 Japan-America Grassroots Summit. The Summit is an annual gathering of Japanese and American citizens that aims to strengthen the peaceful relationships between the two countries by fostering friendships at the grassroots level.

The Summit, held alternately in Japan and the United States, honors one of the first friendships between a Japanese and an American, a unique bond that started in 1841 and continues through their descendants to the present day.

Mayor Bob Townsend and other Richardson officials will participate in the welcoming ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 30 at 2:30 p.m. at City Hall. The event is open to the public.

The organizers of the 22nd Grassroots Summit are the Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth (JASDFW) and the John Manjiro Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange (CIE) in Japan and the United States.

Richardson High School senior Marlene Campos, left, Richardson Chamber of Commerce International Business Development Vice President Michael D. Skelton, center, and Mayor Bob Townsend, right, met earlier this week and visited about Japanese culture.

Council Member Selected as “One Man Dallas”
Place 7 City Council Member Amir Omar was recently named 2012 One Man Dallas. He was one of 21 individuals selected from among hundreds of applicants from the Metroplex.

As part of the program, Omar recently held a charity event to create a “Tribute Grove” consisting of 30 trees at the Methodist Richardson Cancer Center. Omar’s work with “Tree the Town” was also identified as another contributing factor to his selection, due to his ability to get youth involved in the program.

One Man Dallas aims to spotlight men in the region who can provide inspiration for more men to get involved in volunteerism in their communities. It encourages participation through volunteer work that focuses on charitable organizations and engagement in projects that make communities a better place to live and work.

Former Richardson City Manager Bob Hughey passes away
Bob Hughey, Richardson City Manager from 1974 to 1995, passed away May 19, 2012, at the age of 75.

Hughey graduated from Texas Tech in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in government. Prior to his employment with the City of Richardson, Hughey was employed with the cities of Lubbock and Wichita Falls and the City/County of Los Alamos, NM. He began his career with the City of Richardson in 1971, when he was named the City’s first Assistant City Manager. On Jan. 1, 1974 he was assigned the City’s top job of City Manager and served for more than 20 years until his retirement March 31, 1995.

During his tenure with the City of Richardson, Hughey demonstrated an unwavering commitment to strong, representative local government and was a tireless supporter of partnerships among community representatives and North Texas cities. He was a supporter of the University of Texas at Dallas, which began offering four-year degree programs, graduate degrees and achieved an enrollment of 10,000 during his time as City Manager. He was also an early backer of the North Texas Municipal Water District, the entity responsible for providing water and wastewater treatment as well as solid waste service to Richardson and many other North Texas communities. His reputation for promoting regional cooperation earned him the North Central Texas Council of Governments' William J. Pitstick Concept of Regionalism Award in 1995. He was considered particularly adept at working with elected officials and was fond of saying that one of his best skills was the ability to surround himself with talented people.

Public service was a true calling for Bob Hughey, and during his long career, he was devoted to the people in the communities where he worked and to the profession of public administration. He was president of the North Texas City Management Association in 1978, and served on the board of directors of the Texas City Management Association, board of directors of the Texas Municipal Retirement Association, North Texas Municipal Water District and International City Managers Association at various times throughout his career.

Tickets Available for “An Evening With Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin”
The show that marked the opening of the Eisemann Center in 2002 will return to the stage as part of the performing arts venue’s 10th anniversary celebration.

Since “An Evening With Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin” premiered at the Eisemann Center, the Broadway stars have performed the show across the country, including a limited engagement on Broadway.

“An Evening With Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin” is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15. Tickets are $55-$85 and went on sale May 18. They are available online at www.eisemanncenter.com or by calling the Eisemann Center Ticket Office at 972-744-4650. The Ticket Office is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and one hour before performances.

Primary Election Day is May 29
The Republican and Democratic Party primary election will take place Tuesday, May 29, for county, state and federal offices.

Voting will take place 7 a.m.-7 p.m. The Richardson Civic Center will not be an Election Day voting location.

For more information, contact the Dallas County Elections Department at 214-637-7937, the Collin County Elections Department at 972-547-1990, or the Richardson City Secretary at 972-744-4290.

Click the links below for more information about the May 29 primary: 
http://dalcoelections.org/  
http://www.co.collin.tx.us/elections/  

Richardson Animal Shelter Pet of the Week
Meet the Richardson Animal Shelter’s Pet of the Week on the Shelter’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RichardsonAnimalShelter. You’ll see details about the adoptable animal and find out how you can take the pet to your own home. The Shelter Facebook page also has photos of other animals available for adoption and information about upcoming events at the Shelter.

Percy--Pet of the Week 

 Related Links
City Council videos: http://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=752
City Council agenda: http://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=1006
City Council meeting documents: http://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=1329

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