PHOTO GALLERY: Richardson City Council tours City Hall, public library to scope out potential bond projects

Staff in Richardson is beginning to delve deeper into possible renovation projects that could be included in a potential 2021 bond, City Manager Dan Johnson said.

City Council toured the public library and City Hall on Oct. 12. The event kicked off a slew of scheduled facility tours that will look at needs within the city, Johnson said.

“Think about the needs of library patrons in the community, in terms of the building, and then considerations with our COVID-19 protocols, as well as enhancing security,” Assistant City Manager Shanna Sims-Bradish told council members during the tour.

The library has several issues that need to be addressed, including sealant and caulking issues around the perimeter of the building, said Shawn Poe, the city's capital projects director of engineering. The facility also lacks adequate electrical outlets and storage space to accommodate patrons and groups who use the library regularly, according to library staff.

City Hall is overly cramped and is not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act in several areas of the buildings, Poe added.

Council members are expected to tour several more city facilities over the coming months.

At the close of the tour, Mayor Paul Voelker said he looked forward to exploring new ways to enhance various city departments.

“I think my takeaway was we have some good bones, but it may be time to put a little meat on those bones,” he said.