Richardson, TX

The City of Richardson’s annual State of the City Address has been presented in a way unlike any had been presented before. The address is typically presented live before an audience at the Eisemann Center. But this year, because of the ongoing threat of COVID-19 and the need to take safety precautions, Richardson Mayor Paul Voelker and City Council Members recorded the annual message.

State of the City
Video Segments

Fiscal Process

Infrastructure Progress

Focus on Core Services

2019 Tornado Recover Progress

Community Partners

What is the IQ?

Upcoming Infrastructure Projects

“Our amenities, access to education, sustainable neighborhoods, dependable transportation and strong local economy makes us one of the most sought-after places to live in the DFW Metroplex,” Mayor Voelker said “Which is why I can stand before you and feel proud to report, the state of this city is strong!”

The theme of this year’s State of the City was “The Richardson Way,” and during the 45-minute video, the Mayor and Council Members talked about the highlights and accomplishments in the past year and what the goals are for the upcoming year.

“An example of the Richardson Way was our ability to innovate when needed in order to continue vital services,” Mayor Voelker said. “At no other time in our history has that need been put more to the test than now, with the spread of the Coronavirus. We had other challenges last year, with hurricane evacuations and our own tornado recovery. But none compare to the economic and social impacts created by the spread of COVID-19, and that is why we have found new methods to be able to connect with our community.”

Mayor Voelker stressed in his address that the COVID-19 crisis heavily influenced the development of this year’s budget. The approved 2020-21 fiscal budget included a decrease of almost $1.6 million, with cuts made in every department to prepare for long-term economic impacts. Resources were focused on maintaining core essential services, continuing work on infrastructure projects and protecting the City’s financial position.

The Mayor also spoke of other community challenges, including the expansion of digital outreach on neighborhood projects, and work on crisis events that included tornado recovery in south Richardson, evacuations from last year’s hurricanes and community response to the killing of George Floyd.

Mayor Voelker explained the he and the City Council met with Police Chief Jim Spivey to talk about community concerns.

“It was evident to us that our police department values equality and inclusion as a guiding principle as it continues its long history of community policing,” Mayor Voelker said. “We also discussed the proper use of force policies and the department’s commitment to continuous improvement.”

Some improvements the department has made include changes to its Academy Advisory Board, and the creation of a Mental Health Crisis Team. These modifications enhance community oversight and help officers better respond to incidents.

“We are committed to the principles of justice, peace, kindness and understanding,” he said. “We also hold dear the position that the City of Richardson municipal government is here to serve everyone, no matter who they are, because that is the Richardson way.”

Noted as one of the biggest projects underway in the community right now, Mayor Voelker highlighted the development of the Richardson Innovation Quarter, or Richardson IQ^®. It is a 1,200-acre urban hub with over 19,000 workers and more than 1,000 businesses.

“Several big name companies call this area home,” he said. “We are very excited about our potential to make the Richardson IQ^® a well-known hub of innovation and collaboration, the likes of which could be world-renowned. To leverage this potential, we have eased zoning restrictions and made investments in improvements such as bike lanes, green spaces and trails. We are putting the pieces in place to create a live, work and invent environment.”

More information about the Richardson IQ^® can be found at www.RichardsonIQ.com.

As part of his concluding remarks, Mayor Voelker mentioned the joint agreement signed with other North Texas Municipal Water District cities last October.

“The agreement settles more than five years of negotiations to amend the contract that sets how much cities pay for water,” he said. “Amending the contract required unanimous support across all 13 member cities and concessions were made with our partner cities to gradually implement the new contract. Though it will take time, I am happy to say that by 2033 water rates for us, and all our partner cities, will be based on a method so we pay for only the water that we use.”

Looking to the future, Mayor Voelker highlighted Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s Silver Line Project. He noted that quarter-mile-long rail segments have been delivered for Richardson’s portion of the 26-mile commuter rail line that will include new stations at CityLine and UT Dallas and a new overpass for the trains to cross US 75.