* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:59] CITY OF RICHARDSON RICHARDSON, THE CITY OF RICHARDSON, BREAKING GROUND IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. RICHARDSON HAS A REPUTATION IN THE METROPLEX AS BEING A DESTINATION FOR GOOD NEIGHBORHOODS, HIGH TECH BUSINESSES, AND ACCESS TO EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION AND SERVICE. OUR VALUE PROPOSITION IS THAT WE OFFER AN ENVIRONMENT THAT PROVIDES A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE WITH SIGNATURE PROGRAMS THAT WORK TOGETHER TO PRODUCE A DYNAMIC COMMUNITY. AMONG OUR SIGNATURE SERVICES ARE THE EISMAN CENTER SHE PARK GOLF COURSE, AND THE WILDFLOWER AND COTTONWOOD FESTIVALS. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF OUR AMENITIES THAT WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE OUR SENSE OF PLACE AND THE VALUE WE HOLD FOR ARTS AND CULTURE. OUR SENSE OF COMMUNITY IS SUPPORTED BY THE VALUE WE BRING THROUGH OUR CITY SERVICES. RICHARDSON HOLDS MANY DESIGNATIONS LIKE IS OH ONE BIKE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY AND SCENIC CITY, WHICH ARE JUST A FEW OF THE TITLES THAT RECOGNIZE THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF ALL OUR MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES WHO WORK AS A TEAM EVERY DAY TO MAKE RICHARDSON A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY. OUR RICHARDSON TEAM ALSO HAS A STRONG SENSE OF SERVICE WITH ABILITIES THAT HELP OUR COMMUNITY EXCEL IN MANY WAYS. THIS INCLUDES OUR AAA BOND RATING AND DESIGNATION FROM THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE AS THE OFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CAPITAL OF NORTH TEXAS. AND RICHARDSON IS ALSO KNOWN FOR ITS SENSE OF GIVING THAT THE CITY SUPPORTS THROUGH OUR PHILANTHROPIC INITIATIVES. THIS YEAR, THEY HAVE LED TO LARGE DONATIONS THAT HAVE GONE TOWARDS NEW AMENITIES THAT WILL HELP PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AND EXPAND OUR RECREATION OFFERINGS. OUR BUSINESS SENSE IS ALSO ACUTE AS WE INITIATE THE PROGRAMS, PROJECTS AND SERVICES NEEDED TODAY TO KEEP US VIABLE FOR THE FUTURE. THIS IS WHY YOU SEE CONTINUOUS INVESTMENT AND REINVESTMENT IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHERE WE WORK TO LEVERAGE RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE. RICHARDSON OFFERS POINTS OF DIFFERENTIATION THAT MAKES US A PLACE OF CHOICE. IN THE DFW METROPLEX, OUR VALUE PROPOSITION IS THAT WE ARE A CLEAN, SAFE, VIBRANT, AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. A PLACE WHERE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS ENJOY A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE, A PLACE WE'RE ALL PROUD TO CALL HOME HOME. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO RICHARDSON MAYOR PAUL VEER. WELL, GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. IT'S AN INCREDIBLE PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU AND TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR ANNUAL STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS. THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO HIGHLIGHT THE SERVICES TO YOU AND IT IS HEARTWARMING TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE TAKING NOTICE. A FEW MOMENTS AGO YOU SAW FROM A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO IS THANKING US FOR ONE OF OUR LOCAL PARKS. THE QUOTE CAME FROM A FORM OF AN EMAIL LAST SEPTEMBER. WE DON'T OFTEN GET HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TAKING NOTICE OF LOCAL PARKS, AND I THINK IT'S RARE TO SEE ONE WRITE AN EMAIL TO EXPRESS HIS GRATITUDE TO A CITY. WE ARE HAPPY OUR WORK IS GETTING NOTICED BECAUSE OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THIS A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY. WE ARE VERY AWARE THAT WE ARE IN COMPETITION WITH THE REGION, NATION, [00:05:01] AND IN SOME CASES EVEN THE WORLD. SO WE STRIVE TO BE THE LOCATION OF CHOICE FOR THOSE LOOKING TO PLANT NEW SEEDS FOR CREATING A HOME OR BUILDING A BUSINESS. THAT IS WHY WE FOCUS ON OUR VALUE PROPOSITION. OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE POINTS OF DIFFERENTIATION TO KEEP US ON TOP CHOICE FOR THE METROPLEX. AND TONIGHT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE WHY WE ARE ONE OF THE BEST BUYS FOR YOUR INVESTMENT. OF COURSE, WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE, SO I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO BRIEFLY, UH, RECOGNIZE MANY OF THE OFFICIALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WE HAVE WITH US TO, UH, ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE TONIGHT. IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WON'T MENTION ALL THE INDIVIDUALS BY NAME, THOUGH I WILL HAVE TO MENTION A FEW. YOU'LL ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT TO HEAR FROM SEVERAL OF THEM IN OUR PRESENTATION. IN THE VIDEO YOU WERE INTRODUCED TO MY FELLOW CITY, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. THESE ARE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS WHO PUT IN A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AND EFFORT TO LEAD THIS COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THEM TO STAND NOW TO BE RECOGNIZED. OF COURSE, WE'RE NOT THE FIRST ONES HERE, SO I'D LIKE TO ASK ALL MEMBERS OF PAST CITY COUNCILS IN ATTENDANCE TO PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. EVERY CITY HAS A TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE CITY. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK CITY MANAGER DAN JOHNSON AND THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. AMONG RICHARDSON'S MOST IMPORTANT COMMUNITY ASSETS IS ACCESS TO EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENTS, TEACHERS, PROFESSORS, AND OTHER DIGNITARIES WITH THE RICHARDSON AND PLANO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, RICHLAND COLLEGE, COLLIN COLLEGE, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS. PLEASE STAND SO WE CAN SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR YOUR WORK. THANKS TO THE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE FORGED WITH METHODIST HEALTH SYSTEM AND THEIR NETWORK OF PROVIDERS, RICHARDSON HAS GROWN TO BECOME A REGIONAL DESTINATION FOR MEDICAL SERVICES. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK KEN HUTCHIN RIDER AND HIS TEAM TO PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED. WE ARE ALSO CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS TO SOLVE CHALLENGES AND TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES. SEVERAL OF THESE REPRESENTATIVES ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT. THEY INCLUDE BILL SPROUL AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM FROM THE RICHARDSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICIALS FROM THE DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT AND THE NORTH TEXAS MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT, MEMBERS OF THE DALLAS COUNTY AND COLLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURTS, AND OUR LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES WHO REPRESENT US IN AUSTIN AND WASHINGTON. DC IF YOU ARE HERE WITH ONE OF THOSE OFFICES, PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. YOU KNOW, RICHARDSON IS A MAJOR EMPLOYMENT CENTER. THIS INCLUDES TOP INDUSTRY LEADERS FROM OUR MANY SMALL BUSINESSES TO FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES COMBINED. THEY MAKE UP MORE THAN 6,800 EMPLOYERS. WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IN RICHARDSON. I KNOW WE HAVE SENT INVITATIONS TO MANY OF THEM. IF YOU ARE HERE REPRESENTING YOUR PLACE OF WORK, PLEASE STAND. WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND SHOW YOU OUR APPRECIATION. IN 2014, THE MISS TEXAS SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT CAME TO RICHARDSON. MISS TEXAS IS AN ICON AND WE ARE HONORED TO BE THE HOST CITY FOR THIS ANNUAL HISTORIC EVENT. IT'S BEEN HELD SINCE 1937. LAST YEAR. THE CONTRACT WAS EXTENDED TO KEEP THE COMPETITION HERE AT THE EISMAN CENTER THROUGH 2020. MS. TEXAS, MADISON FULLER AND MS. TEXAS OUTSTANDING TEEN AT ELY FORESTER ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THEM TO PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED. AND LAST, UH, BUT CERTAINLY NEVER LEAST, [00:10:01] I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SPOUSES OF ALL OF THOSE WHO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND SACRIFICE AND GIVING UP THEIR FAMILY TIME TO HELP US MAKE RICHARDSON SUCCESSFUL. I ESPECIALLY HAVE MY WIFE CHRIS, TO THANK FOR HER UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT. EVERYONE, PLEASE HELP ME SHOW OUR GRATITUDE FOR THE SUPPORTIVE SPOUSES IN THIS COMMUNITY. A FEW MOMENTS AGO I SPOKE ABOUT RICHARDSON'S VALUE PROPOSITION. THIS IS OUR PROMISE OF WHAT WE AS A CITY GOVERNMENT DELIVER TO YOU AND HOW WE DO IT MORE ECONOMICALLY WITH GREATER CONSIDERATION FOR LEVERAGING RESOURCES AND WITH A FOCUS ON SERVICE. IT IS THE DIFFERENCE YOU HEAR IN THE WAY THAT WE ANSWER THE PHONE, THE SPEED AT WHICH WE RESPOND TO YOUR NEEDS, AND THE PLANNING WE DO TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE. OUR SUCCESS IS THE RESULT OF A HISTORY OF GOOD PLANNING AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, CITY COUNCILS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS TO CHART THE COURSE FOR THE FUTURE. OVER THE DECADES THIS PLANNING PROCESS HAS DELIVERED THE CREATION OF THE TELECOM CORRIDOR, CREATED OUR STRONG COMMERCIAL OFFICE DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPED OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WITH AMENITIES THAT MAKE US A PLACE WE'D LOVE TO CALL HOME. WE HAVE ALSO DELIVERED PARTNERSHIPS THAT HAVE LED TO SIGNATURE PROJECTS LIKE FOSSIL'S NEW HEADQUARTERS, THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD HEADQUARTERS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF CITY LINE, HOME OF STATE FARM AND RAYTHEON'S CORPORATE CAMPUSES. THIS PAST YEAR, OUR TELECOM CORRIDOR WAS RANKED AS ONE OF THE HOTTEST OFFICE MARKETS IN NORTH TEXAS. AND ANOTHER BIG PROJECT IS ON THE WAY. LAST MONTH, THE DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT BOARD GAVE UNANIMOUS APPROVAL TO BUILD THE COTTON BELT COMMUTER RAIL LINE. WE ARE WOO, WE ARE OVERJOYED TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO SAY THIS MORE THAN $1 BILLION PROJECT IS GOING TO BE A REALITY. THIS WAS A GREAT CHRISTMAS ANNOUNCEMENT FOR US LAST MONTH, AND IT WILL BE AGAIN IF IT OPENS AS EXPECTED IN DECEMBER OF 2022. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THE COTTON BELT LINE IS A 26 MILE COMMUTER RAIL CORRIDOR FROM PLANO THROUGH RICHARDSON AND ONTO DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. IT WILL FURTHER CONNECT WITH FORT WORTH TEXT RAIL LINE, PROVIDING A DIRECT CONNECTION FROM CITY LINE TO DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH AND BEYOND. THIS ADDS TO THE DIRECT CONNECTION CITYLINE ALREADY HAS WITH DOWNTOWN DALLAS. BEHIND ME IS A COMPUTER RENDERING OF THE PROJECT AS IT STARTS WITH A NEW DART STATION, OUR FIFTH TO BE BUILT AT THE NORTHERN PART OF THE UT DALLAS CAMPUS. IT WILL RUN THROUGH THE NORTHERN PART OF OUR CITY AND WITH A HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL RUNNING ALONGSIDE AND CONNECTING WITH THE REGIONAL TRAIL SYSTEM, WE WILL BE, UH, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH DART TO BUILD AN ENHANCED BRIDGE FEATURE OVER US 75 AND ACCOMMODATIONS ARE BEING MADE FOR TRACK IMPROVEMENTS NEAR OUR RESIDENTIAL AREAS. IT WILL ALSO HAVE A STOP AT CITY LINE WHERE A SECOND ADJACENT PLATFORM WILL BE BUILT. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING. DART PURCHASED THE TRACK IN 1990 AS PART OF A LONG-TERM RAIL PLAN ADOPTED IN 1983 AND REGULAR PASSENGER SERVICE HAS NOT RUN ON THIS LINE FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS. NOW IT'S COMING BACK AND IS GOING TO MEAN SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS HERE IN RICHARDSON. IT WILL ALSO BRING FURTHER REACHING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO THE OTHER NORTH TEXAS CITIES THAT WILL HOST OR HAVE DEVELOPMENTS NEAR THE FUTURE DART STATIONS. LAST YEAR DURING THIS EVENT, WE RECOGNIZED FORMER MAYOR AND OUR CURRENT DART BOARD REPRESENTATIVE GARY SLAGEL FOR HIS WORK ON THIS PROJECT. I WOULD LIKE TO REAC ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND MY FELLOW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PAST CITY COUNCILS WHO HAVE ALL MAINTAINED THE CHARGE ON KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY FOCUSED TO SUPPORT THE COTTON BELT AND DART. THIS RELATIONSHIP HAS BROUGHT LASTING BENEFITS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDES ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON TRANSIT SERVICE EVERY DAY FROM THE STUDENTS WHO RIDE A BUS TO CLASS AT UT DALLAS, TO THE WORKERS WHO SAVE MONEY BECAUSE THEY DON'T NEED A CAR TO DRIVE TO WORK AT CITYLINE DART HAS MET BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE THAT WE MAY NEVER FULLY APPRECIATE AND [00:15:01] WE ARE EXCITED FOR THIS NEW COMMUTER RAIL LINE ANCHORED HERE IN RICHARDSON. THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY AMENITIES WE HAVE THAT MAKES PEOPLE PROUD TO LIVE, WORK, INVEST, AND ENGAGE IN THIS COMMUNITY ARE CLEAR, EASY TO UNDERSTAND PROCESSES AND POLICIES MAKE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE AND GROW HERE, OUR STAKEHOLDERS CHOOSE RICHARDSON BECAUSE WE ARE AMONG THE BEST PLACE IN THE REGION TO LOCATE, CONTRIBUTE, AND PARTICIPATE. BECAUSE WE EFFECTIVELY MANAGE OUR CITY RESOURCES WHILE MAINTAINING ENHANCING SERVICES, WE OFFER THE BEST VALUE PROPOSITION IN THE METROPLEX. THAT IS WHY THE STATE OF THIS CITY IS STRONG. OF COURSE, THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT IS MORE OF A DAILY ROUTINE THAN THE EXCITEMENT OF BIG PROJECTS, AND THAT'S WHERE OUR VALUE PROPOSITION IS EXPERIENCED THE MOST. IT IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH OUR LONG RANGE OUTLOOK AND PLANNING. HERE'S MAYOR PRO TEM MARK SOLOMON TO BRING MORE INSIGHT INTO HOW THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED. PART OF OUR VALUE PROPOSITION IS THE FOCUS WE PLACE ON OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE ENJOY SAFE ENVIRONMENTS WITH STREETS, ALLEYS, AND SIDEWALKS THAT ARE WELL MAINTAINED, PARKS IN CLOSE WALKING DISTANCE TO ENJOY AND ARTS AND CULTURAL AMENITIES THAT ENRICH OUR LIVES. HERE'S A LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED LATELY AND HOW PEOPLE ARE TAKING NOTICE. MAINLY THE COMMUNITY. WE LOVE ALL THE PARKS IN RICHARDSON, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO GO AND LOOK AT AND ATTEND THE DIFFERENT FESTIVALS LIKE THE COTTONWOOD ARTS FESTIVAL. IT'S A FUN PLACE TO LIVE 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PLACES TO GO AND HAVE FUN WITH YOUR CHILDREN. I, I THINK YOU, YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. YOU, YOU HAVE THE UPKEEP OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THINGS THAT, THAT ARE NEW AND DIFFERENT THAT YOU CAN EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE CITY. IF YOU HIT THE STREETS AND SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE OF RICHARDSON, THEY'LL TELL YOU THIS IS A COMMUNITY OF CHOICE. AND THIS PAST YEAR WE'VE WORKED HARD TO ADD THE ATTRIBUTES THAT EVERYONE LOVES. FIRST AND FOREMOST IS INFRASTRUCTURE. ONE OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S PRIMARY AREAS OF FOCUS. DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE CITY CONSTRUCTED 49 MILES OF ROADS, 35 MILES OF SIDEWALKS AND NEARLY 10 MILES OF ALLEYS. THOSE NUMBERS INCLUDE THE SEVEN MILES OF ROADS, 1.7 MILES OF ALLEYS AND SIX MILES OF SIDEWALKS REPAIRED OR REPLACED. LAST YEAR, NEW PARKS AND RECREATION AMENITIES WERE ALSO ON THE LIST WITH THE ADDITION OF FOX CREEK PARK PERIMETER TRAIL AT THE SPRING CREEK NATURE AREA AND FOUR AND A HALF MILES OF NEW BIKE LANES CITYWIDE MORE THAN 90 MILES OF NEW PAVEMENT. MARKINGS WERE ALSO ADDED ACROSS THE CITY AND EVEN A NEW PIECE OF PUBLIC ART WAS COMMEMORATED WITH THE RIBBON CUTTING IN OCTOBER FOR MICRO MACRO MOJO AT EAST SIDE IT IS PART OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S INCREASED EMPHASIS ON MAKING SURE AREA INFRASTRUCTURE IS MAINTAINED AND MEETING COMMUNITY NEEDS. WE WERE IN GARLAND AND WE MOVED TO RICHARDSON BECAUSE I COULD NOT RUN VERY EASILY ON THE SIDEWALK IN GARLAND WHERE WE LIVED, THERE WERE ALL CRACKS AND DIVOTS AND I PUSHED MY BABY IN MY STROLLER AND I COULDN'T DO THAT. SO OVER HERE IT'S SO NICE, THERE'S, IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES, YOU CAN CALL A NUMBER AND THEY'RE EAGER TO FIX IT. UM, BUT I JUST, I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH ALL OF THE PLACES THAT I CAN RUN. SO NOW THEY'RE FIXING THE ROADS AND THEY LOOK A LOT BETTER NOW. THEY'RE DOING QUITE A BIT OF WORK ON THE ROADS AND RICH, EVEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY REPAIR CURVES AND EVERYTHING, SO THEY'RE DOING PRETTY GOOD. YOU CAN SEE THE INVESTMENT THAT IS BEING MADE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. I THINK THEY HAVE A VERY, UH, PROGRESSIVE APPROACH, PROACTIVE APPROACH, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE STAYING AHEAD OF THE CURVE, WHICH IS ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE. OF COURSE, PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE OF OUR CORE SERVICES AND TREMENDOUS INVESTMENTS CONTINUE TO BE MADE TO ENSURE WE MAINTAIN OUR REPUTATION FOR SAFETY. THAT'S WHY WE WERE PROUD THIS PAST YEAR TO RECEIVE THE INSURANCE SERVICE OFFICES RECERTIFICATION AS AN ISO ONE RATED COMMUNITY. THIS REFLECTS OUR OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS FOR FIRE PROTECTION, MAKING US ONE OF ONLY 305 CITIES IN THE NATION AND 52 COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS. SO RATED FIRST AWARDED TO THE CITY IN 2014. IO ONE IS THE HIGHEST RATED POSSIBLE AND ALLOWS RICHARDSON PROPERTY OWNERS TO PAY THE BEST POSSIBLE RATES FOR THEIR FIRE INSURANCE. AND RICHARDSON POLICE BALANCE THE EQUATION FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY IN ADDITION TO THE DAILY WORK OF PATROLLING STREETS. LAST YEAR THE DEPARTMENT EARNED RECOGNIZED STATUS IN THE TEXAS POLICE CHIEF'S ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION'S BEST PRACTICES PROGRAM. LAUNCHED A NEW COMMUNITY DOG WALKER WATCH CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM AND FORMALIZED [00:20:01] A NEW INTELLIGENCE UNIT TO EXPAND ON REAL-TIME INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO FIGHT CRIME. THE NEW PUBLIC SAFETY CAMPUS THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION WILL ALSO PROVIDE BOTH POLICE AND FIRE SERVICES, NEW FACILITIES WITH IMPROVED WORK AREAS AND ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR FUTURE GROWTH ALONG WITH SECURITY AND OPERATIONAL ENHANCEMENTS. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN WALK OUTSIDE AND TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOU CAN PLAY WITH ALL THE KIDS ON THE STREET. YOU CAN PLAY IN YOUR FRONT YARD WITH YOUR KIDS AND FEEL SAFE. UM, WE JUST, WE HAVE NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW, RICHARDSON PD DOES A GOOD JOB. UM, WE GOT GOOD CRIME PREVENTION. UM, I FEEL SAFE WITH MY KIDS. THAT'S THE BIGGEST, I FEEL IT'S A PRETTY SAFE PLACE, YOU KNOW, WELL PATROLLED AND UM, AND YOU KNOW, YEAH, AND YOU THINK SO TOO. WELL THAT'S GOOD. VERY GOOD. THE CITY ALSO WORKS HARD TO MAKE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND INFORMATION AND CONNECT AND TO PROVIDE SIGNATURE PROGRAMS THAT HELP MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS GREAT. HOMES KEY TO THESE EFFORTS ARE THE CONTINUOUS OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS TO REACH PEOPLE. THE CITY COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE STAFF MEET ONCE A MONTH WITH NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE CITY TO PROVIDE AND GATHER INFORMATION ON NEEDS. THESE GROUPS ARE ALSO CULTIVATED THROUGH NUMEROUS EVENTS LIKE THE SEMI-ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO GIVE PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED AND ENGAGE. THE RICHARDSON CITIZENS ACADEMY AND RESOURCE EDUCATION SERIES OR CARES WAS ALSO LAUNCHED LAST SEPTEMBER TO GIVE PEOPLE DIRECT ACCESS TO CITY LEADERS AND UP CLOSE INTERACTION WITH CITY SERVICES THROUGH A SIX WEEK MUNICIPAL TRAINING COURSE. NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENTS ARE ALSO BEING MADE THROUGH SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN PARK AND REVITALIZATION PROGRAMS. LAST YEAR ALONE, HOMEOWNERS COMPLETED 143 HOME IMPROVEMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM PROJECTS ADDING MORE THAN $20 MILLION IN NEIGHBORHOOD REINVESTMENT. PROGRESS ALSO CONTINUES ON THE 2015 BOND PROGRAM. AS DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION START THIS YEAR FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF STATION THREE IN CANYON CREEK AND FOR RENOVATIONS PLANNED FOR THE SENIOR CENTER. ALSO NEW. THIS FISCAL YEAR, HALF A CENT OF PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS IS NOW DEDICATED TO PARK MAINTENANCE. THIS BOLSTERS ENHANCEMENTS BEING MADE TO OUR PARK AND TRAIL OFFERINGS THAT BUILD ON OUR REPUTATION FOR AWARD-WINNING RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES. AND THE LIBRARY ALSO HAD A BANNER YEAR WITH 1.3 MILLION ITEMS CIRCULATED THIS YEAR, WHICH AVERAGES 390 ITEMS CHECKED OUT PER HOUR. IT ALL COMES TOGETHER TO MAKE RICHARDSON FEEL LIKE A CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITY IN A LARGE URBAN SETTING. IT'S GREAT 'CAUSE IT'S GOT A CITY FEEL, BUT IT'S ALSO VERY NEIGHBORHOODY. IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. I MEAN, I LIKE IT. , GOOD PLACE TO CALL HOME. IT IS A GOOD PLACE TO CALL HOME. OOH, I TELL THEM THAT. THERE AIN'T NO PLACE LIKE IT. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A SMALL, HOMEY COMMUNITY, RICHARDSON IS WHERE IT'S AT. IT'S JUST BEEN A WONDERFUL PLACE TO TO CALL HOME. YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT, UH, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY THOUGH UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE DAILY REMINDERS ABOUT THE DANGERS INVOLVED IN THAT LINE OF WORK LAST YEAR. THAT REALITY WAS BROUGHT, UH, EVEN CLOSER TO HOME WHEN WE LOST OFFICER DAVID SARD IN THE LINE OF DUTY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE HERE THIS SENSE OF SOLIDARITY THAT WAS SHOWN IN THIS COMMUNITY AS WE CAME TOGETHER TO COMFORT, GRIEVE, AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN THE TIME OF NEED. I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF HOW WE MET THIS CALL TOGETHER. MANY OF YOU OFFERED WHATEVER YOU COULD TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT. YOU MADE FOOD, YOU DROPPED OFF FLOWERS, AND TO THIS DAY YOU CAN STILL SEE BLUE RIBBONS TIED TO TREES AND POLES. EVERY ONE OF THOSE ACTS CREATED MOMENTS OF INSPIRATION FOR EVERY CITY AND EMPLOYEE AND ON THEIR BEHALF. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT THEN AND YOUR CONTINUED OUTREACH AND ENCOURAGEMENT. NOW MANY OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL ARE IN THE AUDIENCE WITH US THIS EVENING, ALONG WITH POLICE CHIEF JIMMY SPIVEY AND POLICE, UH, AND FIRE CHIEF CURTIS VY. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT TO PLEASE STAND SO THAT WE CAN SHOW YOU OUR GRATITUDE AND SUPPORT FOR THE WORK YOU DO TO PROTECT RICHARDSON. YOU KNOW, WE ARE FORTUNATE IN RICHARDSON TO HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT. IT NOT ONLY HELPS US DEFINE OUR CITY, BUT IT HELPS US TO MAINTAIN A PRODUCTIVE ATMOSPHERE. HERE'S COUNCIL MEMBER BOB DEWEY TO TELL US MORE. RICHARDSON [00:25:01] HAS MATURED INTO ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE EMPLOYMENT CENTERS IN THE METROPLEX. WE BENEFIT FROM OUR LEGACY SERVING AS HOME TO THE TELECOM CORRIDOR AREA, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CONCENTRATIONS OF HIGH TECH AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CENTERS IN NORTH AMERICA. THROUGHOUT ITS NEAR 70 YEAR HISTORY, IT HAS SERVED AS A LOCATION FOR INNOVATION, BRINGING WITH IT VITAL FIBER OPTIC AND OTHER COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURES NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE WORK BEING DONE HERE. THAT COMBINED WITH OUR ABILITY TO WORK AT THE SPEED OF BUSINESS HAS MADE US A HIGHLY SOUGHT LOCATION FOR PEOPLE LOOKING TO LOCATE IN THE METROPLEX. FORTUNATELY, RICHARDSON IS ABUNDANT IN THE ACCESS TO TALENT. WE WIN THAT BATTLE TIME AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME TREMENDOUS SUCCESS IN RICHARDSON AND I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE SUCCESS THAT WE'VE HAD THERE, IT REALLY CENTERS AROUND VISIONARY LEADERSHIP. THE GUESTS AND THE CITIZENS THAT LIVE HERE ARE GREAT FOR LOCAL BUSINESS AND THEY'VE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS FOR US FOR BILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS TO THE LOCAL THEATER BUSINESS OWNERS AND OPERATORS. AGREE, RICHARDSON IS A GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS AND WITH LEASING TOTAL SURPASSING MORE THAN 1 MILLION SQUARE FEET LAST YEAR, OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO SERVE AS ONE OF THE LEADERS FOR BUSINESS GROWTH IN THE REGION. OUR SUCCESS AND REPUTATION BEGINS WITH OUR CUSTOMER FOCUSED STAFF. WHETHER YOU ARE A RESIDENT OR FORTUNE 500 COMPANY, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE CLEAR, SIMPLE, TO UNDERSTAND PROCESSES AND POLICIES THAT MAKE IT EASY TO INTERACT WITH THE CITY. THIS CREATES A RESPONSIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT WORKS AT THE SPEED OF BUSINESS WELL OVER HERE. IT'S SO NICE, THERE'S, IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES, YOU CAN CALL A NUMBER AND THEY'RE EAGER TO FIX IT. THEY'RE ALWAYS WILLING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT AN ISSUE AND, AND LISTEN, WHICH IS REALLY NICE 'CAUSE WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER CITIES. YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THE CITY OF RICHARDSON IS TRULY A PARTNERSHIP. UH, IT'S NOT US VERSUS THEM. IT'S REALLY HOW CAN WE JOIN THE TEAM AND REALLY CREATE THE BEST EXPERIENCE THAT WE CAN FOR THE CORPORATE CLIENTS THAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE. RICHARDSON IS THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT THAT IT'S EASY TO WORK WITH. YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET TO THE DECISION MAKER REALLY QUICK. UH, THE CITY'S KIND OF GOT THAT CULTURE THAT WE ARE, WE WORK AT THE SPEED OF BUSINESS AND THEY DELIVER ON THAT TIME. AND AGAIN, MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION IS ANOTHER ELEMENT OF OUR SUCCESS. THROUGH DECADES OF PLANNING OUR WORK AND WORKING OUR PLAN, RICHARDSON NOW BOASTS FOUR DART PASSENGER RAIL STATIONS, WHICH WILL SOON BE FIVE. WHEN THE COTTON BELT RAIL LINE IS COMPLETED IN LATE 2022, IT WILL BE COMBINED WITH DART'S CURRENT BUS SERVICE AND THE CITY'S TRAILS THAT INTERCONNECT WITH THE REGIONAL HIKE AND BIKE NETWORK. THIS BOLSTERS RICHARDSON'S MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION NETWORK THAT SERVES TO ATTRACT QUALITY EMPLOYERS AND PROJECTS. WE HAVE A GREAT HIGHWAY NETWORK, GREAT LIGHT RAIL NETWORK, UH, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE HAVE SUCH A LARGE LABOR DRAW INTO RICHARDSON. MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF CITYLINE. THE MOBILITY THAT TAKES THEM DOWNTOWN TAKES 'EM TO MAVS GAMES AND ULTIMATELY WITH THE COTTON BELT LINE, WILL ULTIMATELY TAKE THEM DIRECTLY TO THE AIRPORT, UH, TIE THEM INTO UTD, WHICH IS ANOTHER GREAT CONSTITUENCY THAT WE HAVE HERE AND A GREAT SUCCESS STORY FOR RICHARDSON ALSO WORKING IN OUR FAVOR IS OUR ROLE SERVING AS THE HOME TO THE TELECOM CORRIDOR AREA, WHICH SERVES AS THE GREATEST CONCENTRATION OF HIGH TECH TELECOMMUNICATION WORKERS BETWEEN CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK. THERE ARE ALSO MORE THAN 60 FOREIGN OWNED COMPANIES OPERATING HERE, GIVING RICHARDSON THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF FOREIGN OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE METROPLEX. OUR DIVERSITY IN BUSINESS HAS ALSO EARNED US THE TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURES DESIGNATION AS THE OFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CAPITAL OF NORTH TEXAS. THESE ATTRIBUTES GIVE RICHARDSON A STRONG RECIPE FOR REGIONAL SUCCESS. THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF RICHARDSON WERE WONDERFUL. I MEAN THE DENSITY IS INCREDIBLE, THE INCOMES, THE, UH, THE POPULATION. IT'S JUST BEEN A GREAT MIX AND THAT PERFECT MIX FOR US. CLEARLY EVERY ONE OF OUR CLIENTS, THEIR TOP OBJECTIVE IS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE BEST EMPLOYEES. AND CERTAINLY RICHARDSON HAS THE EMPLOYEE BASE IN THE SURROUNDING AREA IN ORDER FOR THEM TO ATTRACT THOSE, THOSE FOLKS. TALENT, TALENT, TALENT, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE WAR FOR JOBS AND GREAT TALENT AND YOU KNOW WHERE YOU CAN FIND IT. AND FORTUNATELY, RICHARDSON IS ABUNDANT IN THE ACCESS TO TALENT WITH A FOCUS ON ATTRACTING QUALITY PROJECTS. THE MOST RECENT MUNICIPAL BUDGET NOW DEDICATES EIGHT TENTHS OF A CENT FROM THE PROPERTY TAX RATE TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FIRST ESTABLISHED IN 2014. THIS FUND IS USED TO BUILD RESOURCES TO ATTRACT CATALYST PROJECTS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE REDEVELOPMENT AND CREATE QUALITY EMPLOYMENT CENTERS. EXAMPLES OF THESE PROJECTS ARE RESTAURANT PARK AND THE ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS OBVIOUSLY ALWAYS A FACTOR. I MEAN, THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET, YOU KNOW, [00:30:01] PRIVATE AND PUBLIC AND KIND OF MERGE GAPS IN PERFORMANCE. AND THAT'S WHAT THE CITY ALLOWED US TO DO IS WE HAD A GAP IN A PROFORMA BETWEEN US AND OUR DEVELOPER AND THEY HELPED US KIND OF FILL THAT GAP AND THAT'S HOW WE ENDED HERE ECONOMICALLY. THE GROWTH OF ALAMO AND OTHER BUSINESSES IN RICHARDSON HAS GENERATED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE TODAY 60% OF THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX BASE COMES FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THIS IS A POWERFUL PERCENTAGE THAT PROVIDES THE RESOURCES TO CREATE ABOVE AVERAGE SERVICES THAT LEVERAGE OUR LOCATION AS A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE AND DO BUSINESS. I THINK RICHARDSON, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY, UH, A, A CUSTOM CORPORATE HOME BUILDER, I THINK IS, IS UNSTOPPABLE. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GOT A FANTASTIC LOCATION. I THINK IF RICHARDSON KEEPS DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING, WHICH IS MAKING IT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND ALSO MAKING IT A GOOD PLACE TO DO BUSINESS, THE SKY'S THE LIMIT. IN A BIGGER PICTURE, I THINK THE RI RICHARDSON IS IN GENERAL HAS, YOU KNOW, ATTRACTED THE TYPE OF BUSINESSES THAT THAT CONTINUE TO HELP DEVELOP THE AREA. AND SO I, I THINK THAT IF NOTHING ELSE IS VALIDATION THAT UH, THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE TO BE. ONE OF OUR KEYS TO SUCCESS IS WORKING WITH LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS TO STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY. USUALLY THESE ARE UNSUNG HEROES WHO DONATE THEIR ABILITIES, BUT LAST YEAR ONE OF THEM RECEIVED INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION LAST OCTOBER. CHARLIE CHIN, CEO OF DFW TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED RECEIVED THE CITIZENS LEADERSHIP AWARD FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. CHARLIE HAS BEEN A STEADFAST MEMBER AND IS A PAST CHAIR OF THE RICHARDSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. IN 2010, HE HELPED TO ESTABLISH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. THE OFFICE WORKS TO RECRUIT FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT AND DEVELOP INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. CHARLIE IS HERE WITH US THIS EVENING. CHARLIE, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU FOR THIS TREMENDOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT. PARTNERSHIPS LIKE WE HAVE WITH CHARLIE ARE NECESSARY 'CAUSE WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING ON OUR OWN. THAT'S WHY WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SUPPORT THEIR VOLUNTEER AND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES. COUNCIL MEMBERS SCOTT DUNN WILL HELP EXPLAIN MORE. WHILE THE CITY GOVERNMENT IS THERE TO PROVIDE FOR CORE MUNICIPAL SERVICES, WE ALSO WORK TO MAKE CONNECTIONS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO CONTRIBUTE. THERE ARE ALSO TIMES WHEN PEOPLE NEED MORE OF A HELPING HAND RATHER THAN ACCESS TO SERVICE. THAT IS WHY WE ACTIVELY SUPPORT COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS BY PROMOTING VOLUNTEER SERVICE CONNECTIONS AND BY HELPING LOCAL CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS TO BRIDGE THE GAP FOR SOCIAL NEEDS. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF RICHARDSON, I BELIEVE IS PROBABLY OUR MOST VALUABLE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE. I MEAN, EVERYBODY COMES TOGETHER. WE'RE COMMUNITY AND IT GIVES US OWNERSHIP OF WHAT WE DO. I JUST SEE US AS WORKING TOGETHER, UH, TO MAKE RICHARDSON A BETTER, STRONGER COMMUNITY. AMONG THE MANY THINGS THAT STRENGTHEN RICHARDSON ARE THE ACTS OF KINDNESS THAT OCCUR EVERY DAY FROM HELPING A NEIGHBOR PAINT A HOUSE TO VOLUNTEERING WITH ONE OF THE MANY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY. RICHARDSON RESIDENTS CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. THAT'S WHY THE CITY PROVIDES STRATEGIC SUPPORT FOR AGENCIES THAT HELP RICHARDSON. THIS SUPPORT IS FOCUSED IN KEY AREAS SUCH AS ASSISTANCE FOR THE ELDERLY, SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO ARE DISABLED AND MAKING VALUABLE CONNECTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE FINANCIALLY DISTRESSED. RICHARDSON PARTNERS WITH LOCAL AGENCIES TO PROVIDE FOR THESE MUCH NEEDED EXTENDED SERVICES THAT MAKES THE COMMUNITY WHOLE AND WE'RE ABLE TO COME IN AND HELP WITH JUST THOSE NEEDS THAT ARE HAPPENING. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CITIES ARE NORMALLY PREPARED TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. YOU KNOW, THEY, YOU DON'T HAVE A FOOD PANTRY AT CITY HALL, BUT IF THERE'S SOMEONE IN NEED OF FOOD, WE HAVE A HOMELESS PERSON OR WE JUST HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S, WHO'S DOWN ON THEIR LUCK, THEY CAN SEND THEM OVER TO NETWORK AND, AND WE CAN HELP TAKE CARE OF THAT. WELL, THE PARTNERSHIP WITH HASSER AND RICHARDSON IS DYNAMIC. IT'S VERY CLOSE. THEY WANT TO PARTNER WITH US. THEY DON'T WANT TO GUIDE US AND TELL US WHAT TO DO. THEY WANT TO BE THERE AS A RESOURCE SO THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO GO AND FULFILL OUR SOCIAL MISSIONS. AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK TOGETHER, NOT ONLY BECAUSE AS PARTNERS WE CAN DO MORE, BUT IT ALSO IS A WAY OF, OF SHARING UM, WHAT WE DO WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. WE LEARN WHAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING AND I THINK IT JUST MAKES FOR GOOD COMMUNITY WORK. RICHARDSON ALSO PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND OTHER ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL AGENCIES. ONE VITAL WAY IS THROUGH PROMOTING VOLUNTEERISM. IN 2013, THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED APRIL AS THE OFFICIAL MONTH OF VOLUNTEERISM COINCIDING WITH ANNUAL PROJECTS LIKE TRASH BASH AND OTHER ACTIVITIES HELD THROUGHOUT [00:35:01] THE MONTH AND COORDINATED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THROUGH THE CITY'S VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THE ANIMAL SHELTER EISMAN CENTER AND OTHER FACILITIES ALSO BENEFIT FROM COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER WORK AND EVENTS LIKE WILDFLOWERS, GUITAR AUCTION AND LAST MONTH'S CHRISTMAS PARADE SERVE AS ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE SUPPORT. BUT THE TRASH BASH. WE PROBABLY HAVE A HUNDRED KIDS AND ADULTS THAT COME TOGETHER AND WHEN THERE ARE DIFFERENT EVENTS IN THE CITY, THEY COLLECT THINGS FOR US IN SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMMING SUCH AS THE THE CHRISTMAS PARADE. UM, THEY COLLECT TOYS FOR US. THERE'S FOOD DRIVES THAT THEY WILL DO AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF YEAR AND THOSE ARE ALL GREAT TO SUPPORT OUR SERVICES WHEN POSSIBLE CITY WORKERS EVEN TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN HELPING THE ANNUAL CORPORATE CHALLENGE IS ONE EXAMPLE WHERE A CORPORATE RECREATION PROGRAM SERVES A DUAL ROLE FOR SUPPORTING SPECIAL OLYMPICS. LAST YEAR A RECORD $313,000 WAS RAISED AND DURING THE PAST 21 YEARS OF THE GAMES, PARTNERS OF THE CHALLENGE HAVE DONATED MORE THAN TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN DONATIONS. THIS SUCCESS LED TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS, RECOGNIZING THE CITY OF RICHARDSON LAST YEAR AS AN OFFICIAL PARTNER AND CO-SPONSOR MAKING THE CITY ONE OF ONLY SEVEN SUCH RECOGNIZED PARTNERS IN THE STATE. OTHER PROGRAMS RUN BY CITY STAFF ALSO GO TO HELP UNITED WAY, THE COUNSELING PLACE WOMEN'S CLUB AND MANY OTHER GROUPS AND CITY WORKERS EVEN HIT THE STREETS THEMSELVES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. LAST MONTH, THE CITY'S COMMUNITY SERVICES GROUP STARTED A NEW WINTER PROGRAM CODE NAMED HOLIDAY REINFORCEMENT WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HELPING DISTRESSED HOMEOWNERS CLEAN THEIR PROPERTIES TO MEET COMMUNITY STANDARDS. BUT THE HEADLINE EVENT FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THIS YEAR WAS THE RICHARDSON EAST ROTARY CLUB'S DRIVE TO RAISE MONEY FOR INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND AMENITIES AT THE NEWLY PLANNED PLAYGROUND AT COTTONWOOD PARK, PART OF THE 2015 BOND PROGRAM, THE PROJECT WILL NOW SERVE KIDS WITH A VARIETY OF PHYSICAL ABILITIES, THANKS TO NEARLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS DONATED FOR INCLUSIVE IMPROVEMENTS. WHAT WE CAN'T WAIT FOR IS ACTUALLY SEEING IT IN USE AND THE LITTLE BODIES AND THE, AND BIG BODIES, UH, FAMILIES ALL COMING TOGETHER AND SHARING, UH, FUN, SAFE, INCLUSIVE PLAY. AND WHAT, WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN THAT? I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH OUR COMMON HUMANITY. UH, WE ALL, UM, NEED FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER, UH, WE ALL NEED SOME LEVEL OF FLOURISHING. THAT'S, THAT'S THE DESIRE. IT'S JUST ADDS TOO. I MEAN YOU CAN, LIKE YOU SAID, ONE ORGANIZATION OR ONE GROUP CAN'T DO EVERYTHING. IT MAKES US PROUD TO BE A PART OF A PLACE LIKE THIS. ONE OF THE DANGERS OF HIGHLIGHTING COMMUNITY PARTNERS IS THAT IT'S UH, HARD TO MENTION EVERY GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL THAT IS WORKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE KNOW THERE ARE MANY OF YOU OUT THERE THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO HIGHLIGHT TONIGHT AND WE ASK FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE ACHIEVEMENT THIS PAST YEAR TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND. YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT THE RICHARDSON EAST ROTARY CLUB HAS DONE TREMENDOUS WORK IN BRINGING ITS VISION TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY ON PROJECTS LIKE THIS TO A REALITY DURING THAT TIME, IT ALSO HAD HELP FROM SOME BIG HEARTED SUPPORTERS WHO GENERATED MORE THAN A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN DONATIONS. I KNOW MANY OF YOU DONATED TO THIS CAUSE AND WE APPRECIATE THOSE WHO JOINED US EARLIER THIS MONTH TO CELEBRATE THE OFFICIAL NAMING AND START OF CONSTRUCTION FOR THE ANNE EISMAN INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND, WE ARE ALSO HONORED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO NAME THE PARK AFTER ANNE AND THANKFUL FOR THE EMANS FAMILY'S CONTRIBUTION. THAT WAS A LARGE PART OF THE TOTAL FUNDRAISING GOAL AND MADE IT POSSIBLE TO EXPAND ON THE PARK'S AMENITIES AS WELL. THE RICHARDSON COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO BE EVER THANKFUL FOR THEIR SUPPORT. ANN AND CHUCK EISMAN ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT. ANN AND CHUCK PLEASE STAND SO THAT WE CAN SHOW OUR GRATITUDE FOR YOUR CONTINUED CONTRIBUTIONS TO RICHARDSON AND THANKS YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU HAVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE LIKE THE EMANS. THAT'S WHY WE ALSO HAVE A FOCUS ON IDENTIFYING PHILANTHROPIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. HERE'S COUNCIL MEMBER MABEL SIMPSON TO EXPLAIN MORE. WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL WENT THROUGH OUR BIANNUAL GOAL SETTING PROCESS, WE IDENTIFIED THE NEED TO INCREASE PRIVATE PARTICIPATION AND CONTRIBUTIONS AS A KEY STRATEGY. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT EXPANDS OUR REACH TO NOT JUST INDIVIDUALS BUT ALSO [00:40:01] TO ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES PROVIDING EASILY ACCESSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO TAKE PART IN RICHARDSON, WE ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT WE NOW HAVE A CITYWIDE STRATEGY TO CULTIVATE PHILANTHROPIC GIVING AND SPONSORSHIPS AND IT IS CREATING SOME NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCES. EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING THAT THEY LOVE OR THAT THEY'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, I LOVE DOING THIS. WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING IN THE PARKS, THE ANIMALS, THE LIBRARY, SOMETHING THEY SAY, I LOVE THIS AND I WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO LOVE THIS. IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL GOOD. I MEAN I CAN GIVE YOU ALL SORTS OF ESOTERIC REASONS, BUT I FEEL GOOD IF I'M HELPING SOMEBODY ELSE. GIVING IS PART OF OUR, IN SORT OF OUR DNA. WE WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND IT'S NOT ABOUT MAKING MONEY AND IT'S NOT ABOUT JUST RUNNING THE BUSINESS. IT'S ABOUT HOW CAN WE INFLUENCE THE LIVES OF OTHERS AND TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO US. I WAS LOOKING UP QUOTES THE OTHER DAY AND GANDHI SAID, THE BEST WAY TO FIND YOURSELF IS LOSE YOURSELF IN SERVICE TO OTHER PEOPLE. AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I DO. I COME DOWN AND I SEE THESE LITTLE KIDS WALKING FROM PAGE TO PAGE AND THEY HAVE THIS LOOK LIKE I'M READING A BOOK. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SEE HAPPEN. AND ALSO I HEAR FROM ADULTS WHO CALL ME AND SAY, DARCE, I REALLY LOVE THE FACT THAT I CAN TAKE MY KIDS AND MY GRANDKIDS DOWN AND WE CAN WALK AROUND TOGETHER AND ENJOY THE STORY AND THEY COME EVERY MONTH. THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WANTED TO SEE AND IT'S HAPPENED. THE BOOKS FOR BABIES, OH WE'RE SO PROUD OF THAT. THEY GIVE A PACKET TO NEW MOTHERS AT THE HOSPITAL. IT INCLUDES A BOOK, IT INCLUDES A CUTE LITTLE ONESIE ABOUT BEING A READER. SO WE'RE TRYING TO START THESE CHILDREN OFF FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND HOPEFULLY THAT'LL JUST CONTINUE. SO YEAH, IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM. ONCE WE BECAME AWARE OF THE CORPORATE CHALLENGE, IT JUST SEEMED LIKE A NATURAL FIT FOR US. SO WHEN WE SAW ALL OF THE CAMARADERIE AND THE ENGAGEMENT BY THE ASSOCIATES IN THE FIRST CORPORATE CHALLENGE, WE KNEW THAT WE WERE HOOKED AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE REALLY WANTED TO DO. AND SO WE THOUGHT IT'D JUST BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO UM, BECOME MORE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY IN RICHARDSON. YOU KNOW, I'M VERY BLESSED THAT I HAVE THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS, BUT I THINK ANYBODY CAN OFFER THEIR TIME OR THEIR TALENTS. PEOPLE TODAY ESPECIALLY TEND TO THINK THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GIVE, BUT REALLY IT'S AN HOUR HERE, AN HOUR THERE AND THEY WILL REAP BENEFITS BEYOND ANYTHING THEY COULD THINK OF. IT'S NOT SO MUCH JUST A GIVING, BUT THE GIFT GIVES BACK TO US AS WELL BECAUSE IT MAKES US FEEL AS IF WE'RE, THERE'S A MISSION AND A PURPOSE FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING AND IT'S JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO AS WELL TO TO GIVE BACK. WE ARE FORTUNATE IN THIS CITY THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE, YOU KNOW, A NICE JOB, A NICE LIFE. SO SHARE IT'S THAT SIMPLE. AND IN 2018 THROUGH SPONSORSHIPS AND DONATIONS, WE RECEIVED MORE THAN $1.3 MILLION AND I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE ANOTHER SIX FIGURE DONATION WE RECEIVED LAST YEAR. SINCE ITS ARRIVAL IN 2013, STATE FARM HAS SOUGHT TO MAKE CLOSE PARTNERSHIPS IN RICHARDSON. TWO OF THOSE NATURAL PARTNERS ARE OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS. THEY WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT PROTECT PEOPLE AND PROPERTY AND OF COURSE REDUCE INSURANCE CLAIMS. LAST OCTOBER STATE FARM GAVE THE CITY $100,000 GRANT TO HELP FUND NEW EQUIPMENT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WILL ALLOW FOR MORE EFFICIENT DATA COLLECTION WHILE OFFICERS ARE ON PATROL. THAT COMBINED WITH OTHER DONATIONS BROUGHT STATE FARMS TOTAL CORPORATE GIVING TO THIS COMMUNITY TO MORE THAN $140,000 LAST YEAR. TONIGHT WE HAVE UH, DAVID GUDA AND SEVERAL OTHER MEMBERS OF UH, STATE FARM HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU STAND SO WE CAN SHOW THANKS TO STATE FARM FOR BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR. MUCH OF WHAT YOU'VE HEARD THIS EVENING IS OUR REFLECTION ON THE PROGRAMS, PROJECTS AND SERVICES THAT WE OFFER AND HOW THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO US BUT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW OTHERS. ALSO TAKING NOTE, HERE'S COUNCIL MEMBER MARMA DAMES FRY TO EXPLAIN MORE. AS YOU'VE SEEN, WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY. IT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MANY PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE BROUGHT YOU TONIGHT, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY MORE ATTRIBUTES THAT ALL ADDS TO OUR VALUE PROPOSITION. THAT'S WHAT MAKES US ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE. BUT DON'T TAKE OUR WORD FOR [00:45:01] IT. HERE'S A LOOK AT SOME OF OUR THIRD PARTY RANKINGS THIS PAST YEAR. WE ALL ENJOY THE BETTER THINGS IN LIFE, FAMILY, FOOD, FUN, AND FORTUNATELY THAT'S PART OF WHAT RICHARDSON IS KNOWN FOR. AND HERE'S A LOOK AT A FEW TITLES WE'VE WON THIS PAST YEAR THAT LETS YOU KNOW WHY OUR FAVORITE COMES FROM CBS NEWS. WHOSE WEBSITE RANKED RICHARDSON AMONG THE 25 BEST CITIES TO LIVE ITS ALGORITHMS WERE BASED ON DATA FROM THE US CENSUS BUREAU, FBI, BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS AND OTHER SOURCES THAT CONSIDERED CRIME STATS, PUBLIC SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AREA, COST OF LIVING, JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND LOCAL AMENITIES. WHEN ALL OF THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER, RICHARDSON CAME OUT 16TH IN THE NATION. THE STATS WERE PROCESSED BY NICHE.COM, WHICH ALSO GAVE RICHARDSON AREA SCHOOLS AN A PLUS GRADE PLACING CAMPUSES 10TH BEST IN TEXAS OUT OF MORE THAN A THOUSAND SCHOOL DISTRICTS. ACCORDING TO CNBC, WE ARE ALSO IN THE TOP 10 FOR US CITIES WITH THE HAPPIEST WORKERS, EXPERTS IN ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR PSYCHOLOGY AND COMPUTER SCIENCE LOOKED AT A SERIES OF KEY FACTORS AND FOUND RICHARDSON WORKERS FOURTH HAPPIEST IN THE NATION BEHIND BOULDER, COLORADO, DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AND MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, WHICH GOES TO SHOW YOU DON'T NEED MOUNTAINS OR A GREAT LAKE IN TOWN TO HAVE SOME HAPPY WORKERS. EVEN SO HAVING LOTS OF HIGH TECH JOBS DOES HELP AND RICHARDSON HAS A LOT OF THEM, WHICH IS WHY RICHARDSON MADE IT TO ANOTHER US TOP 10 LIST THIS ONE FOR STEM WORKERS. EDITORS@LIVABILITY.COM LOOKED AT THE SHARE OF TOTAL JOBS, MEDIAN INCOME AND OTHER FACTORS AND DETERMINED RICHARDSON RANKED NINTH BEST IN THE US FOR PEOPLE SPECIALIZING IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH. MAYBE THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALSO KNOWN AS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO CHOOSE IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO MOVE, MOVE BUDDHA USED DATA FROM ITS MOVING COST CALCULATOR TO DETERMINE THE 25 BEST CITIES TO RELOCATE FOR POPULATIONS BETWEEN 100,000 AND 200,000. RICHARDSON RANKED SEVENTH ON ITS LIST, THE ONLY CITY IN TEXAS TO FINISH IN THE TOP 10. SO WHAT MAKES US SUCH A SOUGHT AFTER LOCATION? THIS IS WHERE WE LEARNED IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT LIKE OUR FREE FOUNTAIN AT GALLATIN PLAZA JUST OUTSIDE THE EISMAN CENTER, IT MADE GUIDELINES BEST DUB LIST FOR FREE SPLASH PADS IN THE DFW METROPLEX, CALLING IT A KID MAGNET THAT WILL SOAK YOU QUICKLY. AMENITIES LIKE THAT ARE ALSO WHY WE'RE RECOGNIZED AS SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME. WHEN CONSUMER RESEARCH GROUP VALUE PENGUIN DID ITS CALCULATIONS, IT RANKED RICHARDSON 23RD IN THE NATION OF BEST CITIES FOR YOUNG FAMILIES. OF COURSE NICHE SAYS WE'RE BETTER THAN THAT FOR ITS BEST PLACES TO RAISE A FAMILY LIST. RICHARDSON BROKE THE TOP 10 SAYING OUR FAMILY WAY IS THE NINTH BEST IN THE NATION. AND NICHE POINTS OUT THAT IF YOU COME HERE TO RAISE A FAMILY, THEN YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO STAY BECAUSE ACCORDING TO ITS LATEST FINDINGS, RICHARDSON IS ALSO THE FOURTH BEST CITY IN THE US TO RETIRE. THANKS TO COST OF LIVING NEARBY HEALTH AND WELLNESS AMENITIES AND EVEN OUR ACCESS TO NIGHTLIFE. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE ARE AMONG THOSE WITH THE LOWEST AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD CARBON FOOTPRINT MAKING US ONE OF ONLY FIVE CITIES IN TEXAS TO BE NAMED ON INSURIFY GREENEST CITIES AWARD. OF COURSE, EVERY YEAR THERE'S ALWAYS THAT ONE LIST THAT YOU WONDER ABOUT. LAST YEAR IT WAS OUR ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE RATING THAT HAD US SCRATCHING OUR HEADS. THIS YEAR IS A TAD BIT MORE BORING BECAUSE WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE GOING FOR US TO ENJOY, IT APPEARS RICHARDSON IS ALSO ONE OF THE GREATEST PLACES IN THE NATION FOR HAVING A MEETING. YES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE RAIDERS AT REWARD EXPERTS SAY THAT AMONG MID-SIZE CITIES FOR BUSINESS MEETINGS, RICHARDSON IS THIRD BEST IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL UNITED STATES. IT CREDITS OUR GREAT BUSINESS ATMOSPHERE TELECOM CORRIDOR AND MORE THAN 5,000 BUSINESSES, WHICH INCLUDE MANY OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST TELECOMMUNICATION AND NETWORKING COMPANIES, WHICH JUST GOES TO SHOW THERE APPEARS TO BE A RANKING FOR ANYTHING AND WE ARE PROUD TO CONTINUE TO SHARE OURS WITH YOU, TO MAKE YOU PROUD TO CALL RICHARDSON HOME. YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED IN THE LAST VIDEO THAT A LOT OF OUR RECOGNITION COMES FROM THE RELATIONSHIPS WE'VE CREATED WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL AND HEALTHCARE PARTNERS. HERE'S COUNCIL MEMBER STEVE MITCHELL WITH MORE, WE WOULD NOT BE A COMPLETE FULL SERVICE COMMUNITY WITHOUT OUR INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS. THESE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT FILL THE EDUCATIONAL AND HEALTH NEEDS THAT MAKE RICHARDSON A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO RAISE A FAMILY, BUILD A CAREER, AND EVEN STAY TO RETIRE. THAT'S WHY WE TAKE A DELIBERATE APPROACH TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM AND TO FIND EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE CAN TO ADD TO OUR [00:50:01] COMBINED VALUE PROPOSITION. THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY, RICHARDSON HAS I THINK AN EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY TO BRING, UH, KEY PLAYERS TOGETHER. IT REALLY IS VERY UNIQUE FOR THE PARTNERSHIP OF TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS TOGETHER, EVEN MADE STRONGER BY THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY. WE HAVE A VERY CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OF RICHARDSON, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. IT'S BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP AND UH, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF IT AND AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY SETS US APART FROM A LOT OF UNIVERSITIES THAT'S VERY UNIQUE. OTHER CITIES DO NOT HAVE THAT AND IT JUST SHOWS THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT THAT OUR CITY HAS TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. ANY REALTOR WILL TELL YOU IT'S ALL ABOUT LOCATION, BUT IN RICHARDSON LOCATION IS JUST ONE VIRTUE THAT HELPS OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS AND HEALTH FACILITIES THRIVE. THE NEXT STEP IS CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE FOR COLLABORATION. THAT'S WHERE CITY LEADERS COME IN TO LEVERAGE RESOURCES AND PROMOTE BONDS TO BUILD ON OUR INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS IN HEALTH AND EDUCATION, TO CREATE EXPERIENCES NOT COMMON IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. NEW EXAMPLES THIS PAST YEAR INCLUDE RISS D'S MAYOR'S SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM DESIGNED TO GIVE LOCAL STUDENTS ON-THE-JOB EXPERIENCES IN LOCAL INDUSTRIES. METHODIST RICHARDSON MEDICAL CENTER ALSO CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE HEALTH OCCUPATION STUDENTS OF AMERICA PROGRAM, GIVING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND RICHLAND COLLEGE AND UTD ALSO PARTNER WITH SUMMER CAMPS AND DUAL CREDIT PROGRAMS SO LOCAL STUDENTS CAN EARN COLLEGE CREDITS WHILE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL. WE PARTNER WITH RICHLAND, WE PARTNER WITH UTD, WE PARTNER WITH SO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORING, UM, HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT TOGETHER WE ARE WORKING TO CREATE A FUTURE FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE HAVE ALWAYS WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES. WE CERTAINLY, UH, WORK VERY WELL WITH, UH, THE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS. UM, AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND I THINK OUR KIDS ARE GETTING REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES AND PREPARATION THAT MAYBE OTHER COMMUNITIES DO NOT ENJOY TO THAT EXTENT, IN LINE WITH ONE OF A KIND, EDUCATION IS EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE, BOTH RISD AND PISD CAMPUSES RANKED WITHIN THE TOP 10 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS ALSO RANKS AS THE FASTEST GROWING UNIVERSITY IN TEXAS AND IS THE FOURTH FASTEST GROWING IN THE NATION OR THE 90% OF UT DALLAS STUDENTS GRADUATE WITH DEGREES IN STEM RELATED FIELDS PLUS MANAGEMENT AND TWO THIRDS ON AVERAGE STAY IN THE REGION. IT IS A NATURAL PROGRESSION FOR STUDENTS WHO TAKE PART IN STEM PROGRAMS OFFERED IN LOCAL SCHOOLS SUCH AS AT PISD, WHERE STUDENTS ARE RECRUITED BY UNIVERSITIES FOR THEIR ROBOTIC SKILLS. RICHLAND COLLEGE, WHERE STUDENTS ARE TRAINED FOR LOCAL TECH-BASED EMPLOYMENT. AND AT RISD WHERE A NEW GRANT FROM TEXAS INSTRUMENTS IS PROVIDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR A STEM FOR ALL PROGRAM, EXTENDING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO THE EARLIEST LEVELS OF EDUCATION, A HUGE SHOW OF THEIR BELIEF AND NOT ONLY OUR STUDENTS, BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN RICHARDSON ISD CAME WHEN THEY AWARDED US THEIR $4.6 MILLION STEM FOR ALL NER HIGH SCHOOL FEEDER PATTERN GRANT. AND WHAT THAT ALLOWED US TO DO WAS TO PARTNER WITH OUR UNIVERSITIES AND THE WORKFORCE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING IN A STEM-FOCUSED CURRICULUM, NOT ONLY IN HIGH SCHOOL BUT IN JUNIOR HIGH AND ELEMENTARY AS WELL IN MEDICINE THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH METHODIST RICHARDSON IS ALSO ONE OF THE NATION'S LEADERS FOR HEART ATTACK TREATMENT. STREAMLINED IN PERFORMANCE-FOCUSED IMPROVEMENTS TO GET HEART ATTACK VICTIMS TO CRITICAL LIFESAVING SERVICES HAS EARNED OUR COMMUNITY. THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION'S LIFELINE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE GOLD AWARD. THIS DISTINCTION RECOGNIZES SUCCESS AND COMMITMENT TO MEASURES USED FOR THE TREATMENT AND TRANSPORTATION OF PEOPLE WHO SUFFER A SEVERE HEART ATTACK KNOWN AS A ST ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION OR STEMI TO REACH GOLD STATUS. THE A HA REQUIRES FIRST RESPONDERS TO GET VICTIMS FROM FIRST CONTACT INTO CATHETERIZATION SURGERY IN LESS THAN 90 MINUTES, AT LEAST 75% OF THE TIME, RICHARDSON EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL FAR EXCEED THAT STANDARD. BY WORKING WITH METHODIST RICHARDSON MEDICAL CENTER AND OTHER AREA HOSPITALS, RICHARDSON EMS HAS BEEN ABLE TO MAKE SUCH TRANSPORTS AND TREATMENT POSSIBLE IN AS LITTLE AS 43 MINUTES. WHEN THE CITY OF RICHARDSON'S EMS ARRIVES ON THE SCENE, THEY CAN ACTIVATE OUR CATH LAB, THEY ACTIVATE OUR EMERGENCY ROOM, THEY HAVE CARTE BLANCHE TO DO THAT SO THAT WE ARE READY THE MINUTE THE PERSON COMES IN, WE START DEFINITIVE CARE ON THAT PATIENT. IT IS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS THAT SUCH RESPONSIVE AND EXPANSIVE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE AND THAT IS PART OF THE RICHARDSON WAY. OUR VALUE PROPOSITION IS THAT WE SEEK OUT THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THESE UNCOMMON BONDS WHICH WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THE BEST COMMUNITY POSSIBLE. UT DALLAS AND THE CITY OF RICHARDSON HAVE [00:55:01] A GREAT TOWN GOWN RELATIONSHIP. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING AT SOME WONDERFUL UNIVERSITIES. I'VE NEVER SEEN BETTER. WE'RE NOT STAYING IN OUR SILOS ANYMORE. WE'RE NOT STAYING IN THE ISD SILO, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SILO AND THEN THE UNIVERSITY SILO. BUT WE ARE WORKING ACROSS ALL OF THOSE ENTITIES TOGETHER. WE DON'T SEE OURSELVES AS COMPETITORS. WE'VE CONNECTED AND ARE WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE BEST OF BOTH DISTRICTS. WE WANT TO PROVIDE THE TYPE OF CITY THAT FAMILIES WILL WANT TO COME AND LIVE IN AND HAVE THEIR CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL AT AND FOR BUSINESSES TO WANT TO RELOCATE TOO, UH, SO THAT WE HAVE A PROSPEROUS, UH, COMMUNITY WHERE FAMILIES CAN LIVE, WORK AND PLAY. YOU JUST HEARD RICHARDSON'S ISD SUPERINTENDENT JEANNIE STONE MENTION THE STEM FOR ALL PROGRAM. THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A TYPE OF UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE HERE. THANKS TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY, GEORGE TANG WITH EDUCATE TEXAS. ANDY SMITH WITH THE TI FOUNDATION AND THE RICHARDSON SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT JEANNIE STONE ARE ALL HERE WITH US TONIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ALL OF THEM TO RISE SO WE CAN SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY THEY'RE HELPING TO BRING OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE CLOSE TO THE END OF OUR PRESENTATION, BUT THERE ARE A FEW TOPICS I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS BEFORE WE CONCLUDE. I WILL BEGIN WITH THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND CONTINUED DEBATE ON PROPERTY TAXES AND LOCAL CONTROL CONTROL GRANTED TO CITIES THROUGH OUR TEXAS CONSTITUTION. WE HAVE ALL NOTICED TAX BILLS OR RENTS GOING UP AS OUR AREA HAS GROWN AND THE VALUES OF OUR PROPERTIES HAVE RISEN. OF COURSE, PROPERTY OWNERS LOVE THIS BECAUSE IT MEANS ADDED VALUE TO THEIR INVESTMENTS EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE DAY A YEAR WHEN THE PROPERTY TAXES ARE DUE. WHILE ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF SPENDING AND WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM, THERE'S A BALANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE FOUND. WE FEEL STATE LEGISLATORS OFTEN POINT FINGERS AT CITIES WHEN THE MAJOR CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE LIES WITH THE STATE BUDGETING PROCESS TO START. JUST LIKE CITIES ACROSS THE STATE, WE MAKE UP A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF YOUR TAX BILL. THE BIGGEST IMPACT IS THE STATE'S DECLINING SUPPORT FOR EDUCATIONAL FUNDING. IF FUNDING HAD BEEN KEPT CONSTANT FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS, WE MAY NOT HAVE AS SERIOUS AN ISSUE TO FACE PUBLIC EDUCATION. FUNDING IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE AS OUTLINED IN OUR CONSTITUTION. SOME WILL TELL YOU THE STATE IS SPENDING MORE ON EDUCATION. THIS IS TRUE, BUT WHAT THEY FAIL TO TELL YOU IS THE STATE IS SPENDING HASN'T KEPT UP WITH THE POPULATION GROWTH OR INFLATION. TODAY, TEXAS IS SPENDING LESS PER STUDENT THAN IT HAS IN THE PAST AND LESS WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER STATES IN THE NATION. SOME OF THE BILLS WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM LEGISLATORS THIS YEAR WILL INTEND TO CREATE A ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION. BUT IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU'VE SEEN HERE TONIGHT, THEN WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US IN OPPOSING ANY LEGISLATION ON MUNICIPAL TAX CAPS. RICHARDSON IS OUR HOME AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS ON FUNDING LOCAL SERVICES. I URGE YOU, PLEASE WRITE YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS AND TELL THEM THAT YOU BELIEVE IN OUR HOME AND OUR DECISIONS ON A HAPPIER NOTE. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE AND LONG-TERM PLANS UNDERWAY FOR THE UH AREA AT THIS POINT KNOWN AS THE COLLINS ARAPAHOE INNOVATION DISTRICT. THIS 1200 ACRE ZONE WAS ONCE THE CENTER OF THE TELECOM CORRIDOR. TODAY THIS AREA CONTINUES TO SERVE AS AN EMPLOYMENT BASE FOR TECHNOLOGY AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSES. BUT DESPITE ITS HEIGHT, OCCUPANCY AND THE AREA SHOWING ITS AGE AND LOSS FOCUS, A NEW VISION FOR THIS AREA IS NOW UNDERWAY THROUGH A COLLABORATION EFFORT WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DART. AND BY LEVERAGING RESOURCES FROM UT DALLAS AND RICHLAND AND COLLIN COLLEGES, WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE THIS AREA A TRUE INNOVATION DISTRICT, A PLACE WHERE NEW CLUSTERS OF ENTREPRENEURS AND STARTUPS CAN THRIVE. [01:00:01] YOU MAY RECALL WE SAW ONE SUCH BUSINESS LOCATE HERE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR JAPANESE GLOBAL TECH LEADER LANDTECH OPENED AN R AND D OFFICE IN THE DISTRICT. WE FEEL WE CAN SUCCESSFULLY ATTRACT MORE SUCH OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE OF OUR ACCESS TO THE TECHNICAL TALENT BEING DEVELOPED IN AND AROUND OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHILE YOU CAN'T SEE IT, THIS AREA IS ALSO WIRED WITH TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF OPTICAL BANDWIDTH. IT IS ALSO A PRIME LOCATION FOR ADVANCED 5G WIRELESS SERVICES. MY GOAL FOR THIS AREA IS TO TURN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROCESS UPSIDE DOWN. WE HOPE TO FARM AND HARVEST LOCAL SUCCESS STORIES THAT WILL NOT ONLY START HERE BUT GROW AND STAY HERE. OUR CITY COUNCIL AND OUR PARTNERS ARE WORKING TODAY TO MAKE THIS BECOME A REALITY. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES, WE HAVE A TRUE LOCAL PAPER BACK IN TOWN. THE RICHARDSON EDITION OF THE COMMUNITY IMPACT BEGAN DISTRIBUTION LAST OCTOBER. IN FACT, OLIVIA LUKE MEYER, OUR LOCAL EDITOR, IS HERE TONIGHT COVERING THIS EVENT. WE SEE HER ALMOST EVERY MONDAY NIGHT AT OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. LOCAL NEWS IS AN IMPORTANT SERVICE AND WE ARE PLEASED. COMMUNITY IMPACT IS HERE IN OUR CITY. FINALLY, I'M EXCITED TO REPORT IMPROVEMENTS ARE UNDERWAY TO REVITALIZE AND REBUILD OUR DOWNTOWN. IN RECENT YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE REINVESTING IN THIS AREA. THE CITY IS ALSO INVESTING IN THIS AREA WITH MORE THAN $80 MILLION IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY CAMPUS. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO SCHEDULED TO START THIS SPRING TO REBUILD MAIN STREET FROM US 75 PAST GREENVILLE. OUR WORK WILL REDEFINE THE ROAD WITH LANDSCAPE MEDIANS AND ENHANCEMENTS FOR PUBLIC ART AND MONUMENTS. ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING POSSIBILITIES IS THE TOWN CENTRAL PROJECT. THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED ZONING FOR THIS CATALYST DEVELOPMENT LAST OCTOBER. THE MORE THAN 14 ACRE PROJECT IS PROPOSED TO INCLUDE MIXED USE BUILDINGS ALONG MAIN STREET WITH PUBLIC PARKING AND TOWN HOMES. IF ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ALLOW. WE HOPE TO SEE THIS PROJECT BREAK GROUND LATER THIS YEAR. ONCE COMPLETED, IT WILL ENCOURAGE OTHER REDEVELOPMENT ALONG OUR MAIN STREET. THIS WILL COMPLETE OTHER, WILL COMPLEMENT OTHER CATALYST PROJECTS. WE HAVE INITIATED LIKE THE ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE AT THE HEIGHTS SHOPPING CENTER AND RESTAURANT PARK THAT REPLACED THE CONTINENTAL INN. I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE YOU NOW WITH THIS FINAL THOUGHT. IT'S A POEM. IT WAS NOT WRITTEN BY ME , BUT BY ONE OF RICHARDSON'S LONGEST LIVING RESIDENCE, GLORIA BLACK. SHE HAS LIVED HERE FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY. AND A FEW YEARS AGO SHE READ HER POEM IN FRONT OF THE CITY STAFF WHO WERE SERVING FOOD AT OUR ANNUAL SENIOR CENTER THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON. SHE WROTE THIS TO SHOW HER APPRECIATION FOR THE CITY WORKERS AND OUR COMMUNITY. HERE SHE IS FOR YOU IN HER OWN WORDS. THANK GOD FOR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR CIVIC SERVANTS LABORS FOR INSTILLING FRIENDSHIPS OF ALL ITS NEIGHBORS. THANKS FOR THOSE WHO SEE THAT NOBODY DIES IN THE HEAT AND AGENCIES TO SEE NOBODY LIVES ON THE STREET. FOR THOSE WHO MAKE OUR WINTER HOUSES WARM AND MEN IN BLUE WHO KEEP US ALL FROM HARM AND FIREFIGHTERS, SAVING HOMES, ABLAZE AND WATER WORKERS OF POLLUTING ALL OUR DAYS. THANKS FOR NUMBER CRUNCHERS TENDING FISCAL SOLVENCY AND CITY PLANNERS SHAPING OUR FUTURE AS IT NEEDS TO BE. AND JUST CONTEMPLATE THE EXTENT OF OUR VATION. IF THERE WERE NO DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION. THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PETS AND THOSE GROUPS WHO PROVIDE REAL SAFETY NETS. THANKS FOR THE SENIOR CENTERS AND CIVIC CENTERS AND PARKS AND BIKE PATHS AND WILD FLOWERS AND PARADES FOR ALL OUR LARKS. THANKS FOR LIBRARIES AND MUSIC AND ART AND ART FISTS AND PLAYS THAT ARE FOUND AND COMMERCE ENCOURAGED AND GOOD FOOD SHOPS ALL ROUND. THANKS FOR GOOD ROADS THAT GO FROM HERE TO THERE, EVEN IF THEY SEEM TO BE IN CONSTANT REPAIR. THANK YOU FOR HOUSING AND [01:05:01] YARDS FOR RELAXING. BE THERE EVER SO HUMBLE. THEY'RE STILL WORTHY OF TAXING. NO MATTER HOW MANY LANDS AND SANDS OUR HANDS COULD COMB, WE ARE EVER SO GRATEFUL THAT RICHARDSON, TEXAS IS OUR HOME. UNFORTUNATELY, GLORIA COULD NOT JOIN US THIS EVENING, BUT WE SO MUCH APPRECIATE HER SENTIMENTS ABOUT RICHARDSON. I'M ASKED ON OCCASION WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF RICHARDSON. I EXPLAIN HOW HONORED I AM TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THIS COMMUNITY AND ITS NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESSES. HOW PROUD I AM OF OUR ABILITY TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND HOW WELL WE WORK WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL AND HEALTHCARE PARTNERS. AND HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO BE PART OF ONE OF THE BEST, BRIGHTEST, AND MOST GIVING COMMUNITIES IN THE WORLD. YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS AS SEEN HERE TONIGHT, AND WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. OUR MOST IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP IS WITH YOU. YOU HELP MAKE THIS A CLEAN, SAFE, VIBRANT, AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. A PLACE WHERE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ENJOY A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE. A PLACE WHERE ALL PROUD TO CALL HOME. THANK YOU AND PLEASE JOIN US IN THE LOBBY FOR OUR RECEPTION. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.