Frisco

Frisco, Texas is in Northern Texas. Within almost 70 square miles, the population of Frisco is 268,771. The town has experienced a steady increase in population since 2000 when the outdoor mall opened at the town center. The City of Frisco received a perfect score for the Utility and Cable Line visual tenet. The score was ultimately achieved through strong ordinance language that prioritizes protecting the future of Frisco. The city has an Engineering Standards Guide that is provided to the parties involved in a new construction project. The guide can be found at:

https://www.friscotexas.gov/DocumentCenter/View/19609/Engineering-Standards-August-2020_Final-V2?bidId=

The Engineering Standards guide helps the city to inform developers about standards including utility and cable line expectations. This has prevented the submission of non-conforming construction plans to the city. The guide includes requirements that are specific to many of the visual tenets promoted by the SCCP. Part 3, “Execution” pertains to the Utility and Cable Line visual tenet. Providing clear and comprehensive information to the community has been instrumental in Frisco’s efforts to maintain visual standards. The city conducts construction inspections to ensure the plans align with the city’s standards.

Image 35. The City of Frisco Engineering Standards Guide. Source: The City of Frisco.

The city also holds a City Hall 101 class twice a year, since 2010. The class is free to residents over 18. There are 13 classes total that occur on Monday nights. Each week has a theme, for example, parks and recreation. The parks department will send guest speakers to the class to share details about their job and current initiatives in the city. Other guests include the mayor, first responders, and the police department. The class is intended to “give citizens a behind-the-scenes look at how city hall and other municipal facilities operate.”44 This class attracts a variety of residents. All new city employees get paid to take the class as part of their training. This helps to create connectivity through city departments. The material used for the class is presented in a way that is easy for residents to understand. This is just one of the public outreach efforts Frisco uses to ensure the public is informed and involved in the governance and development processes. More information about City Hall 101 can be found at the city’s website:

https://www.friscotexas.gov/670/City-Hall-101

44 https://www.friscotexas.gov/670/City-Hall-101