The City of Richardson is rightly regarded as having some of the best, most diverse, dining options in north Texas ("Eat & Drink"). Feeling a bit like "Opposite Man," I thought I'd offer a list of the ten worst places to eat in Richardson this month. It's based on the City of Richardson's Health Department Restaurant Scores for last month. That is, each month would feature a different list.
Richardson City Council meetings have never been a shining example of parliamentary procedure. Under Mayor Bob Dubey, things have only gotten worse. I've long thought that someone well-versed in Robert's Rules of Order would be able to bend the Council to his will through skillful use of these arcane rules of parliamentary procedure. The July 15, 2024, meeting was a case in point. But was it happening by cunning or more likely, merely by accident? Let's go to the transcript.
"City council overrode a decision by plan commission in vote to supersize residential portion of massive mixed-use development." That's how TheRealDeal summarized the Richardson City Council's unanimous vote to allow a boost of 1,175 apartments at CityLine, for a total of 5,100. The City Plan Commission had previously denied the request 5-2, with one commissioner citing the desire to see "more creative retail or entertainment uses." City Manager Don Magner put his finger on the scale by saying the proposal "creates a path forward that's based in market reality," with the market reality being that right now, money is available for wood-frame apartments, so that's what we ought to build, tying up that land for the next fifty years. That's how developers think. That's not how City Councils should think.
During two meetings in which the Richardson City Council reviewed progress on building a new City Hall, the question of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification came up twice, both times in questions asked by Councilmember Curtis Dorian.
In February, 2024, this is what I reported:
Councilmember Curtis Dorian asked if the City is going to pursue LEED certification. Dorian didn't ask for it, only whether the City plans to apply. The answer was, "LEED certification is not something we have decided to pursue up to this point" followed by fast talk about "LEED-light" and bypassing LEED to "focus our efforts on things that are going to provide the best return on investment."Source: The Wheel.
I now believe that what I quoted as "LEED-light," might have been "LEED-like". Tomayto, tomahto, but I strive for accuracy. I've since learned that "LEED-Lite" is an industry term used by organizations to pick and choose which parts of LEED to pursue.
Councilmember Dorian raised the question again on June 17, when the City Council again reviewed progress on City Hall. Again, Dorian asked if LEED certification has been discussed. Again he was blown off, this time by three people, Assistant City Manager Charles Goff, Anne Stimmel from Architexas, and City Manager Don Magner.
Charles Goff: "We typically haven't explored LEED certification. A lot of the things that would have gotten new LEED certification previously are just now in that 2021 Energy Conservation Code. So we'd have to be even more kind of bleeding edge to pursue LEED certification. So that's not something that we've talked about pursuing this project."
Let's fact check some of the assertions there. According to the City's own website, "In 2007, the Richardson City Council provided direction on all new City buildings being built to LEED certifiable criteria [emphasis added]. LEED is a program that certifies buildings on environmental aspects ranging from construction, waste disposal, energy efficiency, land use, and many other aspects of the design and building trade. In 2009, Richardson's Fire Station #2 and the new Huffhines Recreation Center were completed. Both facilities were certified LEED Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council in 2010."
I'm surprised that Goff, who oversees Development Services, Engineering and Capital Projects for the City, doesn't know of the Council's 2007 directive. I'm even more surprised that City Manager Don Magner apparently doesn't know it either, as he didn't correct Goff. He was around in 2007 when the City Council provided the direction. And if they both know it, and know that the directive is no longer followed, why don't they update the City's website?
Anne Stimmel (Architexas): "It does take a lot of additional paperwork, and there is an added cost to proceeding with that. And there are definitely a longer list of items that we would have to make sure we're addressing." Well, then, let's not do something if it includes paperwork, especially if it's "a longer list of items." In any case, it isn't Architexas's call. It's the City of Richardson's.
Don Magner: "Historically, we say we're LEED-like...We incorporate all the elements that have the greatest return. But to the point of the additional laundry list of things that you do and the hoops that you have to jump through, there are a lot of things that you're asked to do that don't have a great benefit and don't have a lot of return. And those are the things that we try to not bother ourselves with. Because they don't have that benefit. And so, again, you know, for the better part now, probably 15 years, we've tried to say we want to be LEED-like and all the things that really matter and that are consequential, but not so much spending time doing things that won't have that big of a payback, plus there's a lengthy application process."
So for probably fifteen years, Richardson has blown off getting LEED certification. Good to know. That's enough time to have updated the City's website. I don't recall the City Council revoking their direction. Exactly when and how did that happen? No one ever updated the website, leaving the public under the impression that the City is still committed to the full list of requirements for construction of sustainable buildings.
I turned to the City Council's Statement of Goals. The word "environment" appears five times. The contexts are "business-friendly environment," "equitable environment," "regulatory environment," "regulatory environment" (again), and last, but least, "Discuss environmental initiatives." That was a tactic suggested by Councilmember Dan Barrios. Tactics are the lowest level in the hierarchy: Vision, Goals, Strategies, and Tactics. Midway through this Council's term, if they've "discussed environmental initiatives" even once, to say nothing about taking any environmental initiatives, I've missed it. LEED certification would fall into the category. We now know they aren't taking that initiative. Based on Magner's dismissal of Curtis Dorian's question about considering it, you can't even say they are discussing the initiative. But at least Dorian asked about it. No other Councilmember said a word. Councilmember Dan Barrios gets a pass for being absent. He's the one responsible for getting even that weak-tea tactic in the Council's Goals statement. It's not too late for him to issue a statement in defense of LEED certification.
In February, I concluded this topic this way:
It'll be hard to brag about the City of Richardson's commitment to good environmental practices if we build a new City Hall that doesn't conform to the world's most widely used standard for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green building design. Dorian was so close to fixing a big problem if he had insisted on something I know he cares about (why else would he ask about it) only to meekly surrender by responding to this disappointing answer with just, "Anyway, thank you." He won't live up to his potential until he learns to wield the power he now has.Source: The Wheel.
Apparently, that still applies. Next time, tell Magner to quit saying the City's building practices are "LEED-like." There's no such certification as "LEED-like." You're either LEED certified or you're not. The City of Richardson is not. If Dorian or anyone else gets blown off with "We don't do it that way," they should ask why? And if the answer to that is, "There are a lot of things that you're asked to do that don't have a great benefit," they should ask for a detailed list of those things, along with a cost/benefit analysis that includes not just the immediate direct cost to the City of doing something, but the indirect cost to society of "not bothering" to do it.
If the other Councilmembers care about sustainable development, they might want to speak up and support Councilmember Dorian. Aside to Councilmember Joe Corcoran: praising the "dramatic dash of dark green" in the interior while ignoring Dorian's call for making the whole building green is a missed opportunity.
This is not the first time the City has demonstrated that respecting the natural environment is not a priority of them. There was that taking of parkland for a water infrastructure project ("When is Park Not a Park"). There was the cutting down of dozens of mature trees on a Richardson street to lay a pipeline ("Texas Chain Saw Massacre: Promising Change"). And now there's the admission that the City can't be "bothered" with a "laundry list" of requirements to achieve LEED certification for a new City Hall, our civic temple that some speak of lasting more than a hundred years. The next time the City brags about being a green city, take it with a large grain of salt. They might only be talking about the interior color scheme for the new City Hall.
After I posted my review of the City of Richardson's proposed new City Hall, I expected to receive critical responses in return along the lines of, "OK, Mr. Critic, what's your alternative?" Usually, I duck such questions, but this time, I'm going to offer an answer, one that I expect will be surprising. My alternative is a building right here in Richardson. It isn't built yet, but it will be. After the jump, what I'd like to see instead.
The Richardson City Council reviewed plans for a new City Hall during its June 17, 2024, meeting. This was the second time renderings of the new building were reviewed, the first time being February 5, 2024. Then, I said, "My guess is the City Hall will look fortress-like from Fountain Plaza, but the rest of the views are more than acceptable to me." I also reported that the architecture team said, "The materials to be used on the exterior walls are not yet decided. 'We're intentionally trying to be very nebulous or non committal about what the exterior materials will be at this moment.'" Well, we now have a better understanding of the view and the materials. I'm sorry to say my overall grade for the plan has gotten worse.
Richardson City Councilmember Dan Barrios is attending a conference. He reports on Facebook, "My first fascinating breakout for the day! It was a packed room and the most popular one yet!"
On June 3, 2024, the Richardson City Council held a public hearing on a proposed ordinance specifying a mininum number of spaces for bicycle parking in new developments. This was approved unanimously by City Council.
On June 3, 2024, the Richardson City Council held a public hearing on a request for a new development in Restaurant Park on US 75 of a brew pub and food truck business with live outdoor music. Oh, and a 45 ft. Ferris Wheel. This was unanimously approved by City Council.
Wednesday, I reported on the Richardson City Council's review of the 2023-2024 Second Quarter Financial Report ("Council Recap: The Case of the Missing Sales Tax"). I included the comments from most of the City Council. Thursday, I reported on what the Mayor said (or didn't say) ("Council Recap: Where was the Mayor?"). Today, there's one more person to hear from whose comments deserve scrutiny — City Manager Don Magner.
Yesterday, I reported on the Richardson City Council's review of the 2023-2024 Second Quarter Financial Report ("Council Recap: The Case of the Missing Sales Tax"). I included what most of the City Council said. Privately, someone asked, "Where was the Mayor during this discussion?" The literal answer is that he was right there with the rest of the City Council. The more interesting question, "What was he thinking?" is one I can't answer.
On May 13, 2024, the Richardson City Council held a worksession in which they reviewed the 2023-2024 Second Quarter Financial Report. "It's going to hurt." That's how Richardson Budget Officer Bob Clymire described the impact of a significant sales tax decline. What was the City Council's reaction to this bad news? Therein lies a tale of institutional memory loss. Or self-gaslighting. Say something often enough and you start to believe it inherently. We'll get to that. Bear with me.
On May 20, 2024, the Richardson City Council reviewed and discussed renewing Richardson's status as a Bicycle Friendly Community and attaining a silver-level bike-friendly designation. A year ago, the City Council set a goal to gain the silver designation. Everyone remains on board with that goal. City staff also briefed the City Council on the City's progress on adopting a Complete Streets Policy. "Complete Streets" mean a "comprehensive multimodal transportation system that facilitates safe, accessible, comfortable, and convenient mobility for all people and travel modes." There's a consensus on that as a goal for Richardson as well.
That said, I'm worried about some of the things that individual Councilmembers said.
On May 20, 2024, the Richardson City Council reviewed and discussed the Envision Richardson Comprehensive Plan update and upcoming Community Summit 3. That was the agenda item anyway. In fact any details of the Comp Plan were missing and the plans for the community summit took up all the time.
Recently, I wrote about "Density versus Sprawl". I was referring to the choice the City of Richardson faces in updating its Comprehensive Plan. In another post, "The Road to Zero Degradation", I identified increased density as part of the solution to the eternal challenge of finding enough money to fix potholes. I said, "Mayor Pro Tem Arefin gets it, saying in a recent City Council meeting, 'We have to have revenue from new sources to get our infrastructure fixes.'"
On April 22, 2024, the Richardson City Council considered a request by a private school to move into an existing church building on Abrams Rd. near Walnut St. The school is Coram Deo Academy, a classical, Christian, K-12 school with three campuses. It wants to relocate its Dallas campus on Alpha Rd to Richardson. Because of zoning regulations, a special permit is needed.
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| Martin Luther King Blvd, Dallas. Source: Google. |
The City of Dallas has bond proposals on its ballot in the May 4, 2024, election. Proposition A will ask voters to approve "$521 million in bond money to repair streets, alleys, sidewalks, bridges and other transportation-related infrastructure over five years." That sounds like a lot. It isn't. It's not even enough to keep up. The Dallas Morning News has the details.
If the population of north Texas continues to grow, where we will house all the new people? There are only two options: either greater density or more sprawl. Lately, Jim Schutze has been writing on Facebook against so-called "gentle densification" efforts in Dallas. His arguments seem, to me, to lack logical rigor. It's not that he's not smart. He is. It might just be the nature of social media. Anyway, let's examine one of his responses to my own comment in which I suggested that sprawl is worse than density from a cost viewpoint. I said, "Sprawl creates the need for additional future maintenance. Density uses existing infrastructure."
Early voting for the 2024 local elections in Texas is underway. Election Day is May 4, 2024. On the ballot for Richardson voters (at least on my ballot) will be two races. Use Vote411.org to see your personalized ballot. Read on to learn how to vote.
You may remember Stefani Carter. The former Texas state representative for parts of Richardson, swept into office in the 2010 tea party wave. The ambitious politician who attempted to climb to statewide office (Texas Railroad Commission) in 2014 only to discover that the moneyed interests had other candidates in mind. Who then scrambled back to her legislative race in north Texas but lost her seat when even GOP voters abandoned her in the primary for Linda Koop. The last time we checked in on her was in 2020. What has Stefani Carter been up to since?
