Richardson officials recommend $223.4 million bond program focused on streets, drainage and parks

City Manager Don Magner presented the Richardson City Council with a recommended $223.4 million bond program on Dec. 8 that concentrates funding on streets and alleys, drainage, sidewalks, parks and public buildings while aiming to limit ongoing operating costs.

Magner told the council the proposal is the product of several weeks of department deep dives and conservative debt modeling that assumes flat property tax values in FY27-28 and only modest growth thereafter. He said much of the city's near-term capacity comes from paying existing debt sooner and that the package follows guiding principles to align with prior master plans and minimize new operating expenses.

The recommended package includes roughly $114 million for street and alley projects and $25 million for deeper concrete replacement to accelerate repairs beyond typical annual PAYGO levels. The transportation and mobility proposition includes $9.5 million for traffic-signal rebuilds plus two new signal locations (Renner & Sharp; BeltLine & Weatherhead) totaling about $1.3 million, upgrades to school-zone flashers and completion of identified ADA improvements, and targeted active-transportation work such as Owens Trail and crossing upgrades.

Magner proposed increasing the sidewalk-gap program from $4.5 million to $6 million and highlighted an $11.5 million multi-phase Lehi Branch channel drainage project (phase 1 and 2), with an additional $1.5 million recommended for gabion walls and erosion control to address specific high-priority sites.

Parks and aquatics funding in the recommendation includes removal of the Cottonwood Pool and construction of a $2.7 million spray ground, a $2.3 million Canyon Creek Pool renovation, and $5.6 million for restroom and parking work at the Breckenridge complex. Magner recommended funding playground rebuilds across the community and advancing elements of the Breckenridge strategic improvement plan (loop trail, pedestrian bridge) at a proposed $5 million allocation.

On public buildings and emergency facilities, the presentation detailed an apparatus building north of Fire Station 5 ($8 million), a $2.1 million renovation and small addition to Fire Station 6, and $2.4 million for design of Fire Station 7. The bond would authorize $23.5 million for Fire Station 7 construction but staff said the city does not plan to sell that debt until the sixth year of the program (FY32) unless the council chooses to treat it as year 1 of a subsequent program.

Magner also proposed using FY25 year-end savings for near-term projects: $2 million for a service-center fuel-island project, an additional $2 million for prioritized HVAC and facility work, and $500,000 from solid-waste fund savings to relocate dumpster staging—moves intended to reduce the amount required from the bond for certain apparatus work.

Council members broadly praised the balance of the package while airing specific concerns. Councilwoman Justice asked for clarity on the Fire Station 7 timing; Magner reiterated that authorization is requested now while sale of debt is planned for the sixth year unless otherwise directed. Council Member Corcoran relayed Parks Commission input urging keeping Canyon Creek Pool operational rather than converting it, noting tough trade-offs between Breckenridge improvements and citywide field needs. Several council members emphasized prioritizing streets, alleys and drainage as core infrastructure needs.

The council approved the consent agenda, which included a repair-and-maintenance agreement for the Gallatin Fountain that staff said avoids adding a full replacement to the bond program.

Next steps: staff will continue refinement of propositions, consult bond counsel to confirm ballot language and call the election by the statutory deadline (Feb. 9) to place propositions before voters ahead of the May election cycle.