Richardson staff recommends $223.4 million bond program focused on streets, drainage and parks

Don Magner, Richardson’s city manager, presented a recommended $223,400,000 bond program to the City Council at its final meeting of the year, saying the package prioritizes streets, drainage and parks while keeping a no-tax-rate-increase approach to bond sales. “The recommendation I have for you tonight is, is again about a $223,400,000 recommendation,” Magner told the council.

The proposal would fund a large slate of transportation and mobility work, including $9.5 million for traffic-signal rebuilds and $1.3 million for two new signals, replacement of school-zone flashers and completion of identified ADA upgrades. Streets and alleys are the largest line item, with about $114,000,000 proposed for collector and residential street repairs, 15 alley segments and $25,000,000 for concrete replacement intended to accelerate backlog work.

Magner described $11,500,000 for phased Lewis Branch drainage work (phases 1 and 2) and $1,500,000 for gabion-wall/erosion fixes to address recent high-profile erosion sites. Parks and recreation items include $11,500,000 tied to Cottonwood Pool removal and associated improvements (with a spray ground estimated at $2,700,000), a $2,300,000 Canyon Creek Pool renovation and $5,600,000 for Breckenridge complex upgrades including restroom and parking work and the loop-trail/pedestrian-bridge components of the Breckenridge strategic plan.

Magner said the program includes $2,400,000 for design of Fire Station 7 and authorization to eventually issue $23,500,000 for its construction; however, he added staff does not plan to sell that debt until “year 6” of the program unless the city’s financing rhythm allows an earlier sale. He also proposed using portions of FY25 year-end savings—$2,000,000 for a service-center fuel-island project and $2,000,000 for high-priority HVAC and facility work—and reallocating $500,000 in solid-waste savings for a dumpster-relocation site-prep project to free bond capacity.

Councilmembers generally welcomed the focus on streets and drainage. Councilmember Justice said the package “balances well” the feedback council provided and praised the drainage emphasis. Councilmember Corcoran relayed parks-commission concerns that Canyon Creek Pool should be preserved rather than converted to a spray ground and noted timing disagreements about Breckenridge items.

Staff told the council it will confirm final proposition language with bond counsel and that the council must call the charter/bond election by Feb. 9 to place propositions on the May 2 ballot. No bond sale dates were finalized at the meeting.

Next steps: staff will refine proposition text with bond counsel, present any follow-up briefings if needed in January, and prepare for the council to call the election by the statutory deadline.