Historic Mayoral Oath

Historic Mayoral Oath.  We were anticipating Richardson’s first mayoral election for months.  Why wasn’t the judge more prepared??  Was it really a surprise to him that Ms. Maczka was elected mayor?? or was there another message here??
 

Near-Term Action Items before the Mayorial Election

Richardson Texas City Council Near-Term Action Items
A. Communication

• Evaluate providing handouts and background material for City Council Meetings online prior to or at the time a presentation is made.
• Evaluate use of social media to communicate important information regarding community updates, events and activities.

B. Community Vitality and Neighborhood Integrity

• Evaluate the home improvement incentive program and options to provide an incentive for investments lower than $20,000.
• Evaluate funding strategies, timing and implementation planning for the following:

• Parks
• Streets and Alleys
• Sidewalks

• Evaluate programs to address neighborhood decline issues to stabilize the overall health of the neighborhood.
• Review and evaluate the rental registration program and develop fee alternatives and strategies to increase compliance.
• Evaluate developing a first-time homebuyer program to encourage ownership and residential reinvestment.
• Evaluate the establishment of a community wide day of caring where Richardson organizations and individuals come together to serve those in need.
• Develop outreach efforts with neighborhood associations to solicit residents to become involved with Boards and Commissions and other City/Community volunteer opportunities.
• Evaluate creating a co-op for neighborhood associations to provide improved economies for items such as insurance and maintenance services.
• Complete an analysis of the condition of screening walls in the City and develop a rating system to assist with future Capital Improvement efforts.
• Evaluate the implementation of “town hall” meetings specific to the various departments within the City.

C. Economic Development

• Evaluate strategies to fund redevelopment efforts in the community.
• Evaluate the development of an incentive program for retail reinvestment.
• Review and identify ways to leverage and/or expand STAR Tech.
• Evaluate developing a cluster attraction economic development program
• Evaluate options for creating an international committee.

D. Education

• Consider establishing an education round table with a wide-variety of institutions within Richardson.

E. Environmental Management

• Expand recycling to commercial businesses and multi-family communities.
• Evaluate the creation of an award program, similar to the community revitalization awards, for environmental reinvestment in both residential and commercial properties.
• Create and maintain an ongoing list that would identify and promote residential and corporate incentives for environmental and ecological projects.
• Evaluate increased communication strategies to inform property owners about their responsibility to maintain alleys, creeks, parkways and medians.
• Review and evaluate energy efficiency studies and plans for future implementation strategies.
• Evaluate implementing a program that would allow residents to recycle grass clippings and other lawn care waste.

F. Fiscal Responsibility

• Evaluate the city’s procurement process and review options for providing reasonable preferences to Richardson based businesses on a scheduled basis.
• Evaluate a multi-city recreation facility in BreckenridgePark.
• Evaluate vendor contract provisions using appropriate risk management techniques.
• Evaluate strategies to expand paperless process initiatives.
• Evaluate strategies for improving city billing systems to achieve efficiencies. Develop a bond evaluation appraisal which reviews future projects, communication strategies, implementation processes and timing.

G. Governance

• Evaluate video broadcasting boards and commission meetings similar to the City Council Meetings.
• Create a City Council legislative sub-committee.
• Evaluate technology enhancements in the City Council Chambers for communication media outreach.
• Evaluate the Work Session and City Council Meeting formats to improve efficiencies.
• Utilize work sessions to discuss items of broad community interest specific to the following:

• Golf
• EisemannCenter
• TIF Zone
• Zero Based Budgeting
• Election v. Selection of Mayor – Review in time for May 2012 ballot consideration
• City Charter review

• Develop a schedule in which each Commission has an opportunity to meet with the City Council in a Council Work Session.

H. Health Care Facilities and Community Wellness

• Encourage and promote athletic and fitness events within the city.
• Develop and promote health and fitness initiatives for the Richardson community.

I. Land Use and Development

• Evaluate enhancing the check cashing ordinance by reviewing the ordinance adopted by the City of Dallas.
• Evaluate creating an ordinance pertaining to the placement of Hookah lounges.
• Evaluate strategies tore-purpose underutilized retail areas.
• Evaluate the creation of a development plan for the 400 block ofWest Arapaho.
• Initiate the new study area in the Downtown/Main Street area followed by the U.S. 75 corridor.
• Implement the West Spring Valley reinvestment plan and consider public-private partnerships for redevelopment.
• Evaluate appropriate opportunities for public-private partnerships for future development, city services/amenities and parks.
• Evaluate the development of a dog park.
• Evaluate the development of a skate park.
• Evaluate property use options south of future GymnasticsCenter.
• Periodically review the current Comprehensive Land Use Plan including the Master Thoroughfare Plan.
• Identify gaps of sidewalk continuity and evaluate possible improvement plan.

J. Marketing

• Evaluate the promotion and marketing of local events within the community that are not city related or sponsored.
• Evaluate developing a branding and marketing plan.
• Evaluate the creation of a Young Professionals Focus Group.

K. Public Services

• Evaluate City Hall/Civic Center facility and operation improvements to enhance the customer/resident experience.
• Evaluate enhancing art grant funding to include leveraging the EisemannCenter.

L. Transportation and Mobility

• Evaluate the expansion of the City’s bike lane system and enhancing pavement markings and signage.
• Advocate for Richardson access points for the HOY lanes on Central Expressway.
• Advocate for acceleration of development of Cotton Belt rail line.

Richardson Texas New Mayor

Our new mayor was sworn in as a council person today.  And the judge almost forgot to swear her in.  Not really sure what is going on in our city.

It's All About You - note from Amir Omar

All About You!

My service to our City as your Councilman these past four years have always been about one thing - You!

The decisions made, the countless hours worked, the questions asked - were always about you. With every issue, I always ask myself, "What would our residents ask and what would they want?" This election and fighting for your right to vote was only about you and giving you the ultimate voice. You have proven to all what I learned from speaking with you - you want to have your voice heard!

Early voting has traditionally been 50% of the turnout with the other half of our residents voting on Election Day. Yet after 9 days of early voting we have already broken the record for overall turnout with more than 8,300 ballots cast! That is something we should all be proud of.

This Saturday, May 11^th, is all about you. If you have already voted, we could use your help getting others out to vote for us on Saturday. We can use last minute callers or those willing to greet voters at their home precinct. If you haven't voted, it's time to make sure your voice is heard!

Let’s win this campaign together!

Help us by signing up to volunteer here

Donate $1 today to help us with last minute costsYour voting location saturday


You are invited!

We would love to have you join us as we watch the election results come in Saturday evening! Arrive around 6:30 and be there as we watch this historic election unfold.

Our Volunteer & Supporter Appreciation Watch Party will be at Dean's Restaurant starting at 6:30 P.M. Dean's is located on 75 south of Beltline - 100 S Central Expressway. It will be family friendly and the food will be delicious!
I am thankful for your support and cannot think of better company to join us as we see history happen!

Omar for Richardson
http://www.amiromar.com/



Tweets from @texasmayor/maryoral-election

Final Campaign Finance Report - Richardson Texas

The final campaign finance report is due Friday May 3rd, 2013.  I'd be curious to see what all the candidates have spent and received, especially the candidates that are running unopposed. 

Water Rationing in Richardson Texas

We need a top to bottom review of our local government, not only for government efficiencies, but for violations of civil liberties.  When city management believes it is illegal to water your yard other than designated days, just blows my mind.  Stealing is illegal, robbery is illegal, killing is illegal, watering the yard when you’re not supposed to is illegal??

 

If watering your lawn on days not designated is illegal, what is paying for water not used during rationing??  We buy $100 worth of water and we use $100 worth.  Now, we buy $100 worth of water, we ration, we save 25% of the water we bought but we pay $100 dollars.

 

 

If our city management was a little more mindful while they are spending our money, maybe we wouldn’t have to worry with our city turning into an “Inner City”.  Before investors relocate to a city they look into the city management.  If the city is giving away millions of our tax money are they going to have enough to go around??  Is there going to be an adjustment when folks realize what city management is doing?? Is the city going to fall apart when they file for bankruptcy??  Why would a company invest in Richardson Texas?? 

At least Amir Omar is looking at ways to save our city, make more sensible decisions, find sensible savings.  Amir Omar will be the most sensible Mayor.

 

Amir Omar on Diversity in Richardson Texas

Amir Omar's answer here is a great portrait of character.

Cease the Discussion

If it wasn’t for the grassroots efforts and left to the city council, we wouldn’t be discussing the mayoral elections on May 11^th, 2013.  If more people were paying attention, our city council wouldn’t be running unopposed.

 

Donate to Amir Omar For Mayor

Donate to Amir for Mayor of Richardson Texas

 

Amir Omar and Laura Maczka Debate

This was the real mayoral debate.  Laura Maczka and Amir Omar debate allowing the folks in Richardson Texas the opportunity to vote for their Mayor.

All of these clips were from the city council work session January 30th, 2012.

Amir Omar On Election rather than Selection

This plea was made right before the city council of Richardson voted to cease the discussion of selection over election. 

 

See, Richardson Texas had this archaic way of picking their mayor, where, behind closed doors the 7 council members would pick one amongst themselves, a council member, to be mayor.  This was so that the powers that be (behind the curtain) would be able to pick the person that would be the face of Richardson.  If you look at the history of Richardson and go around the city, you can pretty much tell who was a mayor by the number of buildings they have named after themselves.

 

Any way… Amir Omar was the only one on this council to vote for changing the city charter and allow the citizens a vote for our mayor.  It took a lot of character to stand his ground…. Voted down 6 to 1…. Maybe that’s why he won ‘One Man Dallas’…. Whatever you try to label him…. He is all American and his character is all that should matter to folks.

 

 

Dallas Mayoral Elections

Scott Dunn - Richardson Texas City Council Member

Cease The Discussion

Cease The Discussion about the Richardson Mayor

It's Not That Simple

Laura Maczka on allowing the citizens of Richardson Texas to Elect their mayor.

Will they be Educated Enough

Laura Maczka was voted in because the citizens thought that her position was the mayor position and only because it was Mayor Slagel's old position.

The citizens of Richardson need to wake up.  They do not need to be educated.  We have the government we have because there are only 5% of the people voting.  If a candidate receives 51% of 5%, is that a legitimate win??  The charter should require the election has a 30% or more turn out or it needs to be done over with more media coverage.