Week in Review, Oct. 2, 2026

Oct. 2, 2026

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

Weather Delays Saturday Opening of Cottonwood Art Festival
The City of Richardson is delaying Saturday's opening of the Fall 2026 Cottonwood Art Festival until noon due to weather-related impacts at Cottonwood Park. The festival was originally scheduled to open at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Festival setup began Monday and has been significantly impacted by repeated rainfall throughout the week. Approximately three inches of rain fell Thursday, leaving the festival grounds saturated and delaying preparation of artist areas, music stages, food vendor spaces and children's art areas.

Weather conditions also delayed artist load-in by approximately half a day. The delayed Saturday opening will provide additional time for artists, vendors and festival crews to complete preparations before welcoming visitors.

Anyone planning to attend this weekend should prepare for soggy ground conditions and the possibility of additional precipitation. Weather-appropriate footwear and clothing are encouraged.

Cottonwood Art Festival is a rain-or-shine event; however, operations may be temporarily paused if lightning or other dangerous conditions develop. Richardson High School serves as the festival's designated severe-weather shelter if an evacuation becomes necessary.

Festival Details

• Location: Cottonwood Park, 1321 W. Belt Line Rd.
• Admission: Free
• Dates/Times:
  • Saturday, Oct. 3, noon-7 p.m.
  • Sunday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Parking: Free parking available across from the festival at the Richardson High School football stadium (1250 W. Belt Line Rd.) and St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church (1220 W. Belt Line Rd.) Shuttle service runs throughout the weekend.

Visit the Cottonwood Art Festival website

Daniel Burdette Sworn In as New Place 3 Councilmember
Daniel Burdette was sworn in Monday night as the new Place 3 City Council Member. The vacancy was created when Council Member Dan Barrios announced in July that he was resigning from the City Council to run for another office. Burdette will serve the remainder of Barrios' term, which expires in May 2027.

Burdette works in the health care industry and has been a Richardson resident for 25 years. He previously served on the Parks and Recreation Commission and is a graduate of Leadership Richardson, Richardson CARES, the Citizens Fire Academy, and the Citizens Police Academy. He also has volunteered at the Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival since 2011, including as a past chairman of the Wildflower! Executive Steering Committee and as a Budding Talent Producer.

Burdette was chosen after a process that included a 17-day application period and two rounds of interviews, which were conducted in open session at City Council meetings. Thirteen people applied for the position.

National Night Out Celebration is Tuesday
Richardson will join cities and towns across Texas in observance of National Night Out (NNO) Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 6-8 p.m. The annual event is designed to promote police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to help in crime prevention and to enhance quality of life, through block parties, cookouts, picnics and other activities. Participants are asked to bring canned food items for the annual "Can-Do" Food Drive that benefits Network of Community Ministries.

Learn more about National Night Out

Arts Grants Awarded to 22 Local Nonprofits
At its Monday meeting, the Richardson City Council approved $375,000 in grants for 22 area cultural and arts-related nonprofit organizations on recommendations from the City's Cultural Arts Commission. Funded through the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund, the grants will support operating expenses and regular programming for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The recipients represent a wide range of artistic disciplines, including choral and orchestral music, theater, ballet, literature and visual arts.

Selection criteria for the grants include an organization's focus on Richardson, overall community impact, and efforts to advance the City's Cultural Arts Master Plan.

Art Grant Recipients include:

Learn more about arts in Richardson

Deadline to Submit 3D Print Jobs at the Library is Monday
The deadline to submit 3D print jobs to be printed on the Library's 3D printer is Monday, Oct. 5. The Richardson Library closes on Sunday, Oct. 11 to move to its newly renovated facility at 421 W. Arapaho Rd. and the 3D printer will not be available until the Library reopens.

Important upcoming dates include:

Due dates for materials checked out before the closure will be extended until the Library reopens. The book drop will not be available during the move.

Most in-person programs and services including holds pickup, donations and 3D printing will be paused. Monthly book clubs and the Halloween Spookilicious program will continue as scheduled at City Hall.

Digital resources, including e-books, audiobooks, reference databases and language-learning tools, will remain available through the myRPL Digital Library. Library customers are encouraged to make sure their cards are current before the closure.

Library staff will remain available by phone during normal operating hours and by e-mail at [email protected].

Learn more about the Library renovations

Nomination Deadline Extended to Oct. 25 for Community Revitalization Awards
Nominations for the 2026 Community Revitalization Awards will now be accepted through Sunday, Oct. 25. The original deadline was this Sunday. The awards recognize residential and commercial property owners who have enhanced the community through significant property improvements.

Eligible projects include:

Anyone may submit a nomination, including the property owner.

The Richardson City Council created the awards in 1994. Since then, more than 350 properties have been recognized.

Learn more or submit a Community Revitalization Award nomination

Property Tax Statements to Be Mailed in October
This month, the Dallas County and Collin County tax offices will mail property tax statements to Richardson residents, based on values set by the county appraisal districts as of Jan. 1, 2026. The City of Richardson contracts with both counties for the collection of property taxes, and property owners will receive a statement from the county in which their property is located.

Payment Information

Collin County residents may pay City, Collin County and Plano Independent School District taxes at the:

Dallas County residents may pay City and Dallas County taxes at the:

Dallas County residents may pay Richardson Independent School District taxes at:

All property tax payments must be postmarked no later than Jan. 31, 2027.

Voter Registration Deadline is Oct. 5 to Vote in November Elections
Voter registration applications must be postmarked by Monday, Oct. 5, or delivered in person to your county registrar's office by the end of business hours that day in order to participate in the Nov. 3 election.

A postage-paid voter registration application is available for printing online and at the front desk of the Richardson Public Library. Registration may also be completed at your local county registrar's office, provided the deadline is met.

Learn more about voting in Texas

Peanut Butter Drive Concludes, Final Tally Will be Available Next Week
Peanut butter donated at City facilities last month was collected this week and delivered to Network of Community Ministries. The donations were part of the North Texas Food Bank's (NTFB) annual Peanut Butter Drive held every September.

Thanks to everyone who contributed during the drive, including Girl Scout Troop 5832, who dropped off 70 jars of peanut butter this week at City Hall.

Peanut butter is perpetually on food bank lists of most-needed foods, since it's nutritious, kid-friendly and high in protein. Local donations may be taken directly to Network of Community Ministries, which operates a Mobile Food Pantry and other food programs and is a recipient of the drive.

City staff will be following up with Network next week to get a final tally of how many pounds of peanut butter were donated at city facilities.

Lane Closure on West Shore Drive North of Arapaho Road
The northbound lane of West Shore Drive between Arapaho Road and Melrose Drive may be closed to traffic and detoured to northbound Floyd Road and/or northbound Waterview Drive, to Melrose Drive, back to West Shore Drive, at all times as a new waterline is installed. The waterline work is expected to wrap up in late November, weather permitting.

Light Installation Leads to Lane Closure on Greenville Avenue at Glenville Drive
The right lane of eastbound Greenville Avenue just east and west of Glenville Drive may be closed to traffic from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. so crews can remove and replace a damaged light pole. The work is expected to wrap up in late October, weather permitting.

To see what is coming up in Richardson, subscribe to our free weekly Things to Do newsletters. The newsletter comes out each Wednesday and will help you plan your weekend and find things to do locally.

Sign Up: Link

Locations to Avoid When Planting Trees
October is a great time to plant trees and other ornamental landscaping, but homeowners should avoid planting trees in certain locations to prevent potential problems and ensure the health and safety of their properties.

[graphic from October Richardson Today]

Here are a few places to avoid:

See Texas A&M Forest Service's Free Tree Planting Guide

Save the Date: RCPAAA Electronics Recycling/Document Shredding is Oct. 17
The Richardson Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association's (RCPAAA) fall electronics recycling and document shredding event is taking place at the Heights Church on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Over the last 10 events, the RCPAAA has collected:

All types of electronics are accepted with the exception of old tube-style TVs and bulky CRT computer monitors. Note that "paper shredding" means shredding sensitive documents; non-sensitive paper such as magazines and newspapers, belong in the City's weekly recycling pickup. (Also note that if you shred your own paper at home, the shreds belong in the trash, NOT recycling blue bags.)

RCPAAA supports the Richardson Police Department (RPD) by enhancing awareness and appreciation of the department within the community, publicizing its services and accomplishments and developing partnerships. The money raised from the recycling/shredding event is used to sponsor year-round initiatives in support of the department. These include things like providing meals and snacks during the holiday season and other activities designed to support the well-being of RPD officers and staff.

www.cor.net/EPI

Accounts Payable Representative ($43,680 - $60,861 Salary)
The Accounting Department is looking for an individual that can process accounts payable transactions, miscellaneous filing, and perform general accounting functions. Effectively coordinate with other departments for approval of payables and to resolve accounts payable issues. Perform clerical and data entry using personal computer and the City's document management system. Perform other related work as required.

Heavy Equipment Operator ($49,877 - $68,502 Salary)
The Public Services Department has multiple job openings for Heavy Equipment Operator for individuals with experience operating heavy motorized equipment. Depending on department, a Class A or Class B Texas Commercial Driver's License will be required or obtained within 6 months.

Gymnastics Instructor PT ($17.82/hr to $27.30/hr)
The Parks and Recreation Department is looking for individuals with who enjoy working with people in groups of various sizes and has a passion for teaching.

www.cor.net/Jobs

Pet of the Week
Meet Rouge, a 10-month-old Boxer mix with a heart full of joy and a tail that never stops wagging! This young pup is the epitome of sweetness and goofiness. Rouge loves to play and is always ready for a game of fetch or a fun training session. His playful antics are sure to bring laughter and happiness to any home. If you're looking for a loyal companion who will keep you active and entertained, Rouge is your perfect match.

For information about animals available for adoption, visit the Animal Shelter's web page here.

City Council Links

Council MembersMeeting Agendas and Documents
Videos

To read previous Week in Reviews,

visit www.cor.net/WIR.