Work Session Notes - April 15, 2024

Ah-ah, it was good living with you Ah-ah, it was good

Short, but exciting agenda this week as we look at Downtown properties and the IH-635 reconstruction project.. As always, my comments will be in bold italics. Please share this Substack with a friend or leave a comment if you find it valuable or interesting.

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Before you dive into the agenda, be sure to checkout the City of Garland’s multi-family inspection scores which are now available on the City’s website. I’m proud to have led this initiative to assist citizens in choosing an apartment home in Garland.

Per the Code Compliance website:

Each year multifamily properties are inspected by City of Garland Code Compliance Officers. The exterior of every building and a percentage of interiors are inspected at this time, in an effort to identify any housing standards issues that could affect the health and safety of the residents. Those scores plus any additional violations that occurred as a result of complaint inspections are totaled up and are represented on the published score card. Violations fall into 3 categories: Life-safety, Critical, and Non-critical. 

You can view the webpage with scores here: https://www.garlandtx.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3291

and find an interactive map here: https://maps.garlandtx.gov/.../webappviewer/index.html...

(A view of the interactive map viewer showing apartments around District 7.)

Now, on to the agenda…

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PUBLIC COMMENTS ON WORK SESSION ITEMS

CONSIDER THE CONSENT AGENDA

VERBAL BRIEFINGS
Council may ask for discussion, further information, or give direction to staff on an item posted as a verbal briefing.

 1. Consider and Discuss Several City-Owned Properties in the Downtown Historic Sub-district

Staff will update Council on the proposed redevelopment of several City-owned properties in the Downtown Historic Sub-district.

The City of Garland, through the Garland Foundation for Development, has purchased several properties around downtown. The idea was to hold the properties in trust until a suitable development partner can be found. See the listings and map below for a timeline of holdings:

415 W. Avenue A - Held since 2021 (The DCAD history only goes back to this date.)

116 S. Sixth Street - Held since 2021 (The DCAD history only goes back to this date.)

713 Austin Street - Still held by the Garland Womens Activity Building Inc., but controlled by the City of Garland

316 N. Glenbrook Avenue - Purchased 2022

703 W. Avenue A - Purchased 2023

717 W. Avenue A - Purchased 2023

519 W. State Street - Purchased 2024

(Downtown properties controlled by the City of Garland highlighted in red.)

While properties are held by the Foundation and are not developed to their full potential, they do not generate the maximum amount of property tax or sales tax to support the City’s operations. This item will provide a plan to solicit proposals for the redevelopment of these properties.

The one I would like to see off our books the quickest is 519 W. State Street. This property, located on the Downtown Square, was held by the Jones Family and remained undeveloped for years. Through their obstinance through the years, they would only deal with former city manager Bryan Bradford, and finally last year, Garland was able to purchase the property—a move I opposed—for just under $2 million. You can read my thoughts on the purchase in my October 19, 2023 post here:

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I believe these properties should be turned over to private hands for development as soon as we are able to find a good partner. Notice that I use the word “good” as we may wait forever in search of the “perfect” partner, and definitions of perfect vary widely.

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2. Update on IH 635 East Project

Ceason Clemons, PE Dallas District Engineer will provide the Council with a status update on the IH635 East reconstruction project.  

Ceason Clemons, TxDOT’s Dallas District Engineer will return to provide an update on the IH-635 construction progress. She last provided an update in November of 2023 on regional TxDOT projects, and I am glad to see that she is back again so soon. Hopefully she comes bearing good news that the construction schedule has been updated to a shorter timeline for completion.

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ANNOUNCE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
A Council member, with a second by another member or the Mayor alone, may ask that an item be placed on a future agenda of the City Council or of a committee of the City Council. No substantive discussion of that item will take place at this time.

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EXECUTIVE SESSION
Council will adjourn into executive session pursuant to Sections:

The City Council will adjourn into executive session pursuant to Sections 551.087, 551.086, 551.089, and 551.071 of the Texas Government Code to deliberate or discuss:

1.    Potential and contemplated claims or litigation related to contractor performance and obligations under city construction contract and consultation with the City Attorney regarding attorney/client matters concerning privileged and unprivileged client information related to an ongoing investigation into potential claims and litigation (551.071). 

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ADJOURN

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One other item I want to draw your attention to is Item 2 on the Development Services Committee agenda. I asked the committee to take a look at zoning surrounding drone delivery bases. In its February 26, 2024 meeting, the City of Plano’s City Council amended its zoning code to allow for drone delivery bases. I strive to be proactive and hope the committee will agree to recommend an ordinance supporting this new zoning provision as we plan for the economy of the future. 

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I don’t know who Ezra is, but these guys are definitely better than them. Here’s the 90s alt-rock band Better than Ezra with their hit “Good.”