City Manager Don Magner presented bond project recommendations to City Council at its Dec. 15 meeting.
The overview
Over the past two months, city staff presented candidate projects for the potential $200 million bond that would go on the ballot in May.
Magner consolidated the candidate projects into a $223.4 million proposal for the bond program. However, $23.5 million of that total is for only the authorization of the payment to construct Fire Station No. 7 and will not actually be paid until after this bond program, ensuring that the bond remains within the $200 million capacity.
Breaking it down
Magner recommended $17.6 million for the following transportation and mobility projects:
- Rebuild traffic signals at 15 intersections
- New traffic signals at Renner Road, Sharp Line and Belt Line Road and Weatherred Drive
- Replace all school zone flashers, add speed feedback signs and complete Americans with Disabilities Act compliance upgrades
Magner designated $114.6 million for the following street and alley projects:
- Collectors: Waterview Drive (Arapaho Road to Campbell Road) and Melrose Drive (Wisteria Way to Provincetown Lane)
- Neighborhood collectors: Mimosa Drive (Melrose to Arapaho) and South Weatherred Drive (Downing Drive to Belt Line)
- Commercial: Presidential Drive (the roundabout to 1220 Presidential)
- Residential: 11 streets
- Alleys: 15 segments
- Concrete replacement on 16 streets and one neighborhood
Magner recommended $16.5 million for the following sidewalk projects:
- Two commercial sidewalk zones
- Two residential sidewalk zones
- Addressing sidewalk gaps
Magner recommended $16.5 million for the following drainage projects:
- Flood prevention: Lois Branch Channel improvements
- Erosion control at various locations
Magner designated $36 million for the following facilities projects:
- Fire apparatus building
- Fire Station No. 6 addition
- Fire Station No. 7 design
- Authorization for Fire Station No. 7 construction
Magner recommended $22.2 million for the following parks projects:
- Aquatics: Cottonwood Pool removal and addition of sprayground; Canyon Creek Pool renovation; Breckinridge Complex B sprayground, restroom and parking lot
- Playgrounds: 10 playground renovations
- Park development: Breckinridge Park loop trail and pedestrian bridge
“I think this really addresses some important needs, the drainage in particular,” council member Jennifer Justice said.
Council member Joe Corcoran said that feedback from the Parks and Recreation Commission suggested that they would prefer that the bond include upgrades at Apollo Park, which would include the addition of soccer fields, rather than the projects at Breckinridge Park.
Mayor Amir Omar commended the focus infrastructure in the bond proposal.
“Seeing this level of focus on especially streets and alleys will really help us move the needle, and the additional element we added of concrete repairs will also make a big difference,” Omar said.
Another thing
Magner presented several strategies to access funding for remaining projects that didn’t make it into the bond proposal, such as federal infrastructure programs, Dallas/Collin County grants and special maintenance reserve initiatives.
He presented plans for $4 million from year-end savings in Richardson’s fiscal year 2024-25 general fund to pay for projects at the service center and replacing HVACs at several centers across the city. He also proposed that special project initiative funding could provide $1.6 million for building envelope renovations at multiple city buildings and $1.5 million for cell renovation at the detention center.
What’s next
Council will continue to refine the bond program at the Jan. 5 meeting if necessary. They must call the bond election by Feb. 9, and after that the city will focus on public education on the bond until the May 2 election.
