2022 Annual Report

2022 Annual Report

2022Mayor & CityCouncil

City Council’s Message

Greetings to our community. As we reflect on the previous year, we have much to celebrate and new opportunities to explore.

In 2022, Richland Hills unveiled a new brand identity bridging our past to our future. The new brand captures what we love most about our community—its neighborly, small-town feel—while also communicating that Richland Hills is a place where we move our community forward, not a city content to stay in the past.

The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country. Richland Hills’ proximity to downtown Fort Worth, DFW Airport and several major freeway systems is an ideal location for new residents and businesses. City Council will be focused on preparing Richland Hills for new growth and development opportunities by investing in public infrastructure, enhancing City services and building up our local economy. We want to make sure everyone who lives and works in our community has the chance to thrive and prosper. This annual report highlights the progress we have made in several key areas over the past year. One of our top priorities in 2022 was to enhance communication and engagement with our residents. We accomplished this through expanding our community emergency alert system (Everbridge); launching a new, user-friendly website; increasing our social media presence and hosting our inaugural State of the City meeting.

City leadership continued to invest in infrastructure improvements with the reconstruction of Rufe Snow Drive and Magnolia Park Drive (Mimosa Park to Scruggs Park). Including these two streets, Richland Hills has now completed ten (10) street reconstruction projects since establishing the dedicated, sales-tax based Street Improvements Fund. We also continued efforts to enhance City facilities with the renovation of the Animal Services Center and park system improvements. Finally, several City departments received awards and recognition for service excellence in their respective areas. You can read more about these distinguished accomplishments on page 16 of this report. Richland Hills is on the path to great success, and we are excited for the future of our community.

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1: D o uglas Knowlton Councilme mber Place2: Travis Ma

Mayor

Pro T e m: CurtisBergthold

Mayor Edward Lopez

Administration

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Everbridge Local Alerts

Everbridge local alerts replaced Nixle as the City’s emergency notification system in November 2022. Everbridge is used to send time-sensitive, local emergency alerts and community notices. The Everbridge platform allows more alert customization options than the previous provider; residents can now add their address to receive notifications that impact them directly and opt-in to receive notifications about community events. Sign up to receive local alerts at

bit.ly/RHEverbridge

richlandhills.com

New City Branding & Website

In November 2022, the City launched its new website and new City branding. The new City logo and color scheme help showcase a fresh new look for Richland Hills, a place where we take action to move our community forward.

The new City website replaced the previous, outdated site. The new website platform, CivicPlus, provides better options for page customization and makes it easier to organize information in a more user-friendly fashion. In addition to easier website navigation, the City now has an online news feature, visible on the website home page, so residents can stay up-to-date on current information without ever having to leave the site. News stories, new meeting agendas, job postings and more can also be sent directly to residents’ inboxes by subscribing to eNotifications at richlandhills.com/notifyme.

Electronic Record Repository

One of the most impactful and important functions of the City Secretary is the creation and preservation of the City’s records. In 2022, the City Secretary initiated an online repository for City of Richland Hills records that can be easily searched by anyone. The online portal allows users to search the past 72 years worth of City minutes, ordinances and resolutions. The electronic record repository is available on the City’s website at

richlandhills.com/cityrecords

State of the City

The City held its inaugural State of the City meeting on November 15. During the meeting, City Council gave a presentation about local economic conditions, safety & security, infrastructure, community services, the Fiscal Year 2023 budget and projects, completed and future capital improvement projects, economic development highlights, the Citizen Survey, community notification tools, and the new City branding and website. A recording of the State of the City is available on the City’s website at

richlandhills.com/stateofthecity

250 open records requests processed

56 public meetings

959

Code Violations issued

19 total citations issued

2,881 total household Bulk Pickup participants

Building Board of Appeals Cases

Code Compliance brought three properties before the Building Board of Appeals due to substandard building conditions. Repair orders and a time frame were given by the board for each property, and one property was brought into compliance in October 2022. The two remaining cases continue to work toward compliance.

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ServicesDevelopment

Certificates of Occupancy

80 rental properties received their Rental Certificate of Occupancy, which is required prior to leasing living space. Richland Hills also welcomed 53 new businesses to the City over the course of the year.

Economic Development

Construction for the Baker Landing Townhome Development, which began in July 2022, continues this year. The 69unit townhome development is located at the southwest corner of Baker Blvd. and Ash Park Dr.

The preliminary engineering approval process is still underway for Richland Crossing, a 52-unit townhome development located at the northwest corner of Popplewell Dr. and Baker Blvd. This development was presented to the Planning & Zoning Committee and City Council in summer 2022, and developers plan to start construction summer 2023.

Richland Hills’ first public, outdoor marketplace, City Market, received a Specific Use Permit and temporary Certificate of Occupancy (CO) in fall 2022. The marketplace offers a variety of goods from local, small businesses and is located at 7206 Latham Dr.

Richland Hills Walmart Neighborhood Market finished a complete interior store remodel and held a grand reopening ceremony in March 2022.

AnimalServices

Two Animal adoptions up 34%

dedicated Animal Control Officers

Cat Room

Animal Shelter Improvements

In 2022, the City started major improvements to the Animal Services Center. These improvements include:

• Exterior stucco and mortar repair work and painting touch-ups

• Added dog runs and an enclosed storage area

• Full interior remodel including lobby, bathroom and lighting improvements

• Addition of lobby sound-absorbing boards and new lobby service desk

• Viewing window into cat adoption room

• New dog adoption area with ornamental fencing and turf

Further renovations are planned for 2023, including parking lot expansion, drainage improvements and an enclosed dumpster.

City licenses issued 99

172 free tax returns $25,000 in total tax savings

35,785 library materials checked out 11,438 library visitors

5,623 library users

MetroShare Expansion

The Richland Hills Public Library is a founding member of MetroShare, a community of local libraries that share materials, databases and catalogs. Four additional public libraries joined MetroShare in 2022, expanding the list of participating libraries to:

• Burleson Public Library

• Benbrook Public Library

• Decatur Public Library

• Forest Hill Public Library

• Haltom City Public Library

• Haslet Public Library

• Keller Public Library

• Richland Hills Public Library

• Roanoke Public Library

• Saginaw Public Library

• Watauga Public Library

In addition to participation expansion, MetroShare also launched a new app! The app, “MetroShare Libraries” is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. View the Richland Hills Public Library catalog at librarycatalog.richlandhills.com.

PublicLibrary

RenaDr .|817-616-3760

New Library Programs & Amenities

The Library added several new programs and activities in 2022. Senior Social Time provides local seniors with the opportunity to meet community members and make new connections over coffee and games. City officials also occasionally attend as special guests to share information about City services with our senior community.

Arts n’ Crafts is a new family program for all ages. The Library provides materials and instructions for the project of the day, and attendees add their own personal flair to the final product.

The Library Richland Hills Tea Tasters and an indoor garden also joined the Library’s roster of amenities. Both features are available at the Library at any time. Library patrons can stop by to try the tea of the month or grab some fresh herbs from the Gardyn as it fits their schedule.

Crisis Support Unit

The Crisis Support Unit program was implemented in 2022 in partnership with the Haltom City and Watauga Police Departments. The program provides assistance to individuals in our community experiencing mental health crises. Each Police Department’s Crisis Support Unit consists of a Master’s level mental health professional and Texas Commission on Law Enforcement certified mental health peace officers. Through the Crisis Support Unit, 74 mental health referrals were initiated by the Richland Hills Police Department in 2022. The Unit followed up with 40 individuals in-person and 40 individuals over the phone.

Flock Cameras

The Richland Hills Police Department received a grant from the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority to partially fund the purchase and installation of the Flock camera system. The Flock camera system’s automatic license plate recognition camera and vehicle fingerprint technology can be used to get actionable, accurate evidence that increases case clearance rates on crimes committed within the community. Cameras were installed at main ingress and egress areas of the City.

2022 Major Incident Types

Disaster Training Exercise

Citizen’s Fire Academy

The Richland Hills Fire Department’s Citizen’s Fire Academy Class #5 graduated six students in Spring 2022. The Citizen’s Fire Academy (CFA) is an annual program to teach residents about fire operations through educational lectures and handson training.

Learn more about CFA at richlandhills.com/CFA

In June 2022, Richland Hills partnered with Dallas Area Rapid Transit and Trinity Railway Express to participate in a full-scale disaster exercise involving a collision between a train and a vehicle.

The training exercise provided the Richland Hills Fire Department with valuable experience and allowed the City to test its Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Results from the training exercise will be used to refine and enhance EOC operations in any future emergency.

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Link Memberships & Programs

In 2022, memberships at The Link reached the highest level since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside growth in memberships, The Link has seen an increase in rentals and athletic program participation. Over the course of the school year and summer, The Link worked with over 90 different local families for after-school care, holiday camps and summer camp. Overall, childcare programs created over $200,000 of revenue for Fiscal Year 2021-22, which equates to a 49.6% increase compared to the previous fiscal year.

Senior programming continued to see high levels of participation, with more than 80% of all Senior Trips sold out. Senior Lunch Bunch, open for free to Link members and non-members alike, had 82 monthly senior attendees.

The Link had its second consecutive recordsetting year financially. Link staff were able to generate $573,149.09 in revenue, which was $56,349.09 higher than budgeted.

New Link Website

The Link launched their new website alongside the City in November 2022. The goal of the Link’s new website was to better organize content and make it easier for website visitors to find the information they are looking for.

thelinkrec.com

Far

Richland YouthAssociation Baske t

Easter Celebration

Veterans Day Ceremony

TrickyTreatTrail & Haunted Stacks

ChristmasTree Lighting

Park Improvements

The Richland Hills City Council approved the purchase of restroom and pavilion buildings at both Kate Baker Park and Creek Trail Park in spring 2022. The restrooms and pavilions are part of an overall parks improvement program, which includes expanded parking at Kate Baker Park and new food truck stations at Creek Trail Park. Amenities such as benches, picnic tables, trash cans, pet waste posts and bicycle racks will also be added to all five Richland Hills parks. Construction is expected to begin in 2023.

Special Events

2022 was the first year since 2019 to host all special events in-person. The City of Richland Hills saw more than 4,500 individuals in attendance across seven City events. In addition to support from residents, City events received $4,750 in sponsorships, $18,390 in donations and more than 275 hours from volunteers.

The City offers these events through the support of our sponsors and community partners. As a result of these collaborative efforts, the community can enjoy free admission and complimentary attractions, crafts and more. Learn more about partnership opportunities at thelinkrec.com/partnerships.

PublicWorks

241 potholes filled/repaired

36,450 feet of sewer line cleaned

Completed Street, Water & Sewer Projects

The City completed the following street, water and/or sewer projects in 2022:

• Rosebud Drive (from Pine Park Drive to Cecil Drive): Replacement of sewer lines, water lines, service lines, valves, curb, gutter and drainage. Reconstruction of pavement/roadbed.

• Chaffin Drive (from Dover Lane to Richland Road): Replacement of curb and gutter. Reconstruction of pavement.

• Rufe Snow Drive (from Baker Boulevard to Park Place Drive): Replacement of water main. Reconstruction of pavement.

• Magnolia Park (from Mimosa Drive to Scruggs Park Drive): Underground drainage and street reconstruction.

• Dover Lane (from Scruggs Drive to Vance Road): Engineering design only for drainage, utilities and pavement.

Street maintenance is made possible through the City’s Street Improvement fund, which collects revenue through a 3/8 cent sales tax. Ten street projects have been completed in the last three years through this fund, which was reauthorized by Richland Hills voters in May 2022.

100 feet of sewer line replaced

3,000 feet of water line replaced

14,610 pounds collected at the Household Hazardous Waste Event

Rufe Snow

Where Your Tax Dollars Go by Taxing Entity per $100 of valuation in Fiscal Year 2022

Tarrant County ($0.229000)

Birdville ISD ($1.338000)

Fiscal Year 2022

General Fund

Revenues

Total Revenues: $9,262,185

• Sales tax revenue increased 16%

• Property tax revenue increased 2%

Fiscal Year 2022

General Fund

Expenditures

Total Expenditures: $8,143,215

Tarrant County College ($0.130170)

Hospital District ($0.224429)

City of Richland Hills ($0.558551)

Sales Tax ($4,571,298)

Property Taxes ($2,803,083)

Fire ($2,485,489)

Police ($1,909,798)

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Finance

Liquor Taxes ($2,784)

Franchise Fees ($549,332)

Fines and Forfeitures ($298,258)

Licenses and Permits ($177,429)

Charges for Services ($296,852)

Miscellaneous Revenues ($184,955)

Streets ($344,485)

Library ($387,951)

Parks & Recreation ($281,150)

Parks Grounds ($163,819)

Community Development ($415,999)

Animal Services ($199,189)

Legislative ($129,661)

Shared Services ($610,849)

Transfers ($362,691)

Court ($275,460)

Administration ($576,674)

Awards&

Recognition

Achievement of Excellence in Libraries

The Library received the 2022 Achievement of Library Excellence Award from the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association. The Richland Hills Public Library received this award for demonstrating distinction with its many programs and services, including the Summer Reading Program, Birdville Reads, Richland Hills Literacy Club and AARP Tax Services. Only 73 Texas public libraries, out of 542, received this distinction.

Excellence in Financial Reporting

The City of Richland Hills has once again received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting for its annual audit. The report, which is judged by an impartial panel, meets the high standards of the program including demonstration of a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate the City’s financial story. The City takes great pride in once again receiving this award, which is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.

Fire Department Accreditation

The Richland Hills Fire Department has been a Class 2 ISO rated agency since 2021. ISO (Insurance Services Office) ratings are determined based on an evaluation of a City’s fire suppression system, which includes emergency communications, the fire department and the water supply. A Class 2 rating is the second-best rating a community can receive.

Police Department Accreditation

The Richland Hills Police Department has been a Texas Police Chiefs Association Best Practices Accreditation Agency since 2019. The recognition program requires agencies to prove their compliance with 170 best practices in law enforcement to independent assessors. Compliance with these best practices reduces risk and associated costs, improves management and overall operations, and improves protection of citizens and officer safety.

Superior Water System

The City of Richland Hills has a Superior Water System Accreditation from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. To be recognized as a Superior Water System, the water system must have adequate oversight and safe and reliable water. The water system is required to have gone 24 months without microbiological violations to be awarded and maintain the Superior Water System status.

Department

Leadership

Mayor’s Hotline

Mayor Edward Lopez 817-616-3813

City Manager

Candice Edmondson 817-616-3800

City Secretary

Lindsay Rawlinson 817-616-3810

Public Works & Capital Projects

Kip Dernovich 817-616-3771

After-Hours Emergencies 817-281-1000

Development Services

Logan Thatcher 817-616-3745

Public Safety

Police Chief Kimberly Sylvester 817-616-3780 (Administration)

Fire Chief Russell Shelley

817-616-3755 (Administration)

Non-Emergency/Dispatch 817-281-1000

Animal Services

817-616-3769

Parks & Recreation The Link

Jason Brown 817-616-3738

Library Services

Chantele Hancock 817-616-3760

Finance

817-616-3800

Municipal Court

817-616-3825

richlandhills.com/directory

Creek Trail Park

3925 Airline Drive

This 4.7 acre park includes a pavilion with lights, playground equipment, picnic tables, park benches, and nearly a half mile of trails.

Rosebud Park

2751 Rosebud Lane

This 5.61 acre park includes playground equipment, basketball courts, a 1/3 mile concrete walking/jogging trail, picnic areas and an outdoor pavilion with a light.

The Link Plaza

6750 Baker Boulevard

Located just outside The Link, the Plaza has a playground, pavilion, open space and a public water feature. The water feature is chemically controlled like a pool to keep its users safe. The water feature is open 8 am to 8 pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Windmill Park

6936 Park Place Drive

This .25 acre pocket park includes a bench swing, park benches and lights.

Kate Baker Park

3555 Vance Road

This 1.79 acre park includes playground equipment, BBQ pits, tables, benches and walkways. New playground equipment was added in 2016.

Hike & Bike Trail

North-south Oncor easement from Glenview Drive to SH121 frontage road

This 1.22-mile trail was completed in July 2021. The trail is 12 feet wide to allow pedestrians and bicyclists alike to comfortably utilize the space.