After taking some time off before the holidays, your City Council is back in session with a long work session agenda. The bond discussion will be very worth your time as it will influence the future of Garland for the next 20+ years. Also, the Corridors and Gateways Revitalization Program hopes to change the face of Garland for visitors and residents alike.
I encourage you to send any feedback on any of the items discussed to council7@garlandtx.gov. As always, my comments are in bold italics.
WRITTEN BRIEFINGS
1. Agreement for Real Property Transfer Between Glen Lee Arvilla and Angelica Arvilla and The City of Garland for Tracts Generally Located at 2001 and 2002 Harvest Run
Council is requested to consider the approval of a Real Property Transfer and Development Agreement between Glen Lee Arvilla and Angelica Arvilla and the City of Garland for the exchange of an approximately 0.012-acre tract. Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the January 7, 2025 Regular Meeting.
This is an interesting item where the city will trade a small section of land (0.033 acres or 1,427 Sq. Ft.) to the homeowners in return for another section of land (0.012 acres or 525 Sq. Ft.) from the homeowners. The homeowners at 2001 Harvest Run have built improvements over their property line onto city land and wish to correct this by acquiring property from the city.
You may think the trade is unfair, as the city is giving up almost three times the amount of land to the homeowner, but the city-owned land is at the upstream edge of a creek and is not otherwise developable. Also, the swapped property area will be now added back to the tax rolls.
(Area in red the city is giving to the homeowners.)
(Area in blue the city is receiving from the homeowners.)
2. First Amendment to the Project Specific Agreement with Dallas County for Bottleneck Intersection Improvements
Consider a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into and execute a First Amendment to the Project Specific Agreement (PSA) with Dallas County for the construction of five (5) additional intersections as part of the Bottleneck Intersection Improvements project. Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the January 21, 2025 Regular Meeting.
This item is a collaboration between Dallas County and the City of Garland in which Garland will receive additional funding for the construction of improvements at five intersections identified in the 2019 Bottleneck Improvements Program. Originally the Dallas County and the City would each contribute $3.04 million for the improvements at four intersections (Apollo/Spring Creek at Garland Avenue, Buckingham Road at Plano Road, Forest Lane at Jupiter Road, and Broadway Boulevard at IH-30).
This agreement updates the agreement in which each will provide $6.08 million and add five intersections (Arapaho Road at Shiloh Road, Belt Line Road at Shiloh Road, Garland Avenue at Belt Line Road, Buckingham Road at Shiloh Road, and First Street at Miller Road). It is always good to receive money from our surrounding government partners which make our bond dollars go even farther.
VERBAL BRIEFINGS
Council may ask for discussion, further information, or give direction to staff on an item posted as a verbal briefing.
3. Garland VA Medical Center Update
City Council will receive an update regarding the Garland VA Medical Center from Blanca Corchado, Facility Planner of the VA North Texas Health Care System.
Blanca Corchado, who has 17 years of experience working for the Department of Veteran Affairs, will give the council an update on treatment programs which are currently offered and which are planned for the future at the Garland VA hospital.
Currently the VA hospital operates eight PACTs (Patient Aligned Care Teams) & Women’s Health Providers, Physical Medicine and Rehab, and Dermatology. In early spring 2025, a mental health clinic, prosthetics group, expanded physical therapy and occupational therapy practice, and radiology lab will be added.
Within the next 12 months, the VA hopes to add hospice care, dentistry, hematology-oncology care, CT imaging services, rotating specialty clinics. An occupational health unit and vaccine clinic will be added as well. In the future, the VA hopes to add an outpatient and inpatient pharmacy, expand the existing laboratory, increase radiology capabilities, and renovate the main kitchen.
(Future Garland Medical District rendering - Courtesy of City of Garland)
I am excited to see that the VA is investing more into its Garland location. This helps to build a critical mass of healthcare services at this location which will only help the city in its efforts to attract a private hospital. I encourage you to view our Medical District Plan which was adopted in 2021.
We continue to make progress towards that goal as TIF #3, which includes the Medial District, was expanded at the end of 2023 to include additional areas in both south and north Garland. This allows development in those areas to funnel funds for pedestrian and street improvements in the Medical District through increases in property tax revenue. In October of 2024, we applied for an EPA grant to fund additional brownfield cleanup efforts of the future hospital property. See my post about the grant here.
4. 2025 Proposed Bond Program
Staff will present additional information regarding the 2025 Bond Program for Council Discussion.
Now that the bond study committee has finished its work, staff will present on the propositions which will be debated upon by council and sent to the voters in May of this year. Initially, the Bond Study committee proposed five propositions shown below.
In consultation with our bond counsel, it is recommended to combine propositions A and D into one item. I see the wisdom in this as Gateways and Corridors are generally located along roadways.
The four proposed propositions are shown below:
Proposition A
Proposition A is for street construction and corridor revitalization seeks to raise the citywide Overall Condition Index of streets to 77 from its current score of 70.
Overall Change in OCI over Five Years = +7
Projected Five-Year OCI = 77
The corridor portion of the proposition will be addressed in the next agenda item.
Proposition B
The second proposition seeks to achieve three goals: assemble land for development, revitalize underutilized areas, and enhance neighborhood vitality.
With Garland approximately 95% built out with few remaining large parcels for development, the only way to build a large development is to assemble smaller parcels and replat them into one large tract of land. to assemble land for future development with $25 million in funding. The city council would be responsible for approving land transactions and the money will be targeted towards four specific catalyst areas as shown below:
Although these catalyst areas will be targeted, I’m sure the bond language will be written broadly enough such that the council can use the money in any area of the city as opportunities arise.
To encourage developers to build in our catalyst areas, which include the Medical District, Harbor Point and South Garland, Proposition B will authorize $33 million for this purpose. Other revitalization and neighborhood vitality efforts will be allocated $17 million.
Proposition C is strictly designated for improvements to the Granville Art Center. The $25 million proposed for this effort will update outdated mechanical systems (HVAC); reconfigure the Brownlee Auditorium and Small theater to add ADA access; redesign the lobby, box office and concession area; and update the exterior front elevation. I encourage you to watch this portion of the Work Session as my District 7 Cultural Arts Commission appointee Chip Van Pelt makes a presentation on the economic impact of cultural arts on the City of Garland.
Per Americans for the Arts, a nonprofit organization whose primary focus is advancing the arts in the United States, the direct economic impact of the arts in Garland is over $18 million annually.
See a snip of the report below, or view the entire report here.
(Economic impact of Spending by Arts and Culture Organizations & Their Audiences)
The early proposed exterior and interior renderings of the Granville Center improvements by Gensler Architects are spectacular:
(Proposed exterior elevation)
(Proposed Interior elevations)
Finally, Proposition D will focus on parks and recreation improvements around the Harbor Point area. Public waterfront access will be improved and trail amenities will be added. For the trail, think a boardwalk that wraps around Harbor Point all along the water’s edge.
In total, the proposed bond package totals a round $360 million dollars. It is important to remember that 64% of the pond is purely for street improvements. The remaining approximately one-third will be used to transform the economic future of Garland. All of this will be accomplished with no tax rate increase to property owners.
I encourage you to watch the presentation and provide me with your feedback as we debate the merits of the proposals.
5. Preview and Presentation of the 2025 Proposed Capital Improvement Program
The City Manager will present the 2025 Proposed Capital Improvement Program to the City Council, followed by a presentation from Matt Watson and Allyson Steadman about the 2025 Proposed Capital Improvement Program.
The proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) will be presented to City Council for the first time during this presentation. The CIP process is where the city council authorizes large expenditures on buildings or equipment which typically has a long life span (5+ years). Examples include $1.5 million fire apparatuses, street improvement projects, or new public buildings. On Saturday, January 11, the City Council will meet in a special Saturday session to discuss the upcoming CIP program.
This year, councilmembers have the opportunity to request presentations or written updates on specific projects they wish to have staff provide updates for. I have requested updates on the Holford Recreation and Aquatics Center, Callejo Road construction, and Holford Road construction south of PGBT. Last year’s CIP budget was $568.2 million, so I am expecting this year’s to come in above $600 million.
6. Corridors and Gateways Revitalization Program Update
Staff and TBG design professionals will brief Council on the progress of the Corridors and Gateways Revitalization Program.
With the anticipated funding from the 2025 Bond Program for corridor improvements, it is important that we have a plan going forward to address the appearance of gateways into Garland. With Garland landlocked by surrounding cities, it is important that we identify ourselves when you transition from Richardson or Mesquite or Dallas into Garland.
The consultant TBG, a landscape architectural firm, was retained to develop a Corridors and Gateways Plan for the city. The vision was six fold:
To establish a unified brand identity
Attract external investment and curiosity
Promote curiosity and exploration
Balance innovation with historical respect
Implement the improvements with an emphasis on design
Promote sustainable practices
With the Plan, TGB developed a standard beautification plan for corridors, medians, and signage within the city. They identified 24 gateway locations or entrances to the city where regional beacons, landmarks or other gateway identifying features could be added to let motorists know they have entered the City of Garland.
They even developed a custom font for use in signage and identifying branding throughout the city. I like how the curvature of the “G” mirrors the curvature of the “D” at the end of Garland. To me the font has both a retro yet futuristic feel to it.
Conceptual designs for entryway features were also provided. A sample of the proposed entry features are provided below:
I am fully supportive of this initiative. I remember in college when I would travel from Houston to my then girlfriend’s parent’s house in Richardson. You knew you had arrived when you saw the script “R” for Richardson. That design hasn’t changed in 25 years, yet remains an identifying feature of the city.
The Garland rebrand gives us an opportunity to set us apart from other cities with it’s own vibe. Or as the study puts it:
"The Garland Vibe" embodies a colorful, creative, and eclectic vision that transforms Garland's corridors into vibrant spaces through the use of circles, arches, and curvy lines, symbolizing openness, creative expression, and a break from formality. This vision reflects the city’s maker culture and evolution, blending the old and new in unexpected ways to showcase a community that honors its history while embracing a diverse, artistic present. Always in motion, the Gears of Change represent Garland's ever-turning adaptability to meet the needs of its community and future. This concept fosters a strong sense of belonging and community identity, turning Garland into a vibrant and multi-faceted destination—it becomes a place where people feel welcome and can discover their own unique vibe or opportunity. The city logo is featured prominently, symbolizing Garland’s hardworking, authentic nature and creative spirit, reinforcing the idea that Garland is a city where you can shape your future and thrive.
7. Process for Appointing TIF Chairs
City staff will discuss the current process of electing chairs on the TIF boards and provide the City Council with an update on the process moving forward. Unless directed otherwise by Council, the TIF Chair appointments will take place at the January 21, 2025 Regular Meeting.
TIF chairmen are required to be appointed on a one year term starting on January 1 of each year per Section 311.009 of the Texas State Tax Code. Council will discuss this item and debate how to make the appointment process align with state guidelines.
8. Transportation Infrastructure & Mobility Committee Report
Councilmember Chris Ott, Chair of the Transportation Infrastructure & Mobility Committee, and staff will deliver a report from the committee.
In the TIMs committee, we discussed implementing a credit system of stormwater fees based upon the implementation of stormwater treatment best practices. I requested that the committee look at this item based upon the systems that cities such as Plano and Frisco have implemented. Unfortunately, the staff time required to evaluate applications and inspect the proposed facilities would outweigh the value of the credits.
Still, businesses and citizens are encouraged to implement best practices such as rain barrels, rain gardens and vegetative swales to treat stormwater before it enters into our public stormwater system.
9. Audit Committee Meeting Report
Councilmember Ed Moore, Chair of the Internal Audit Committee, and Jed Johnson, City Auditor, will provide a committee report on the following items: Parking Enforcement Program Audit, Purchase Card Program Audit, and Contract Procurement Audit - Management Follow-up Briefing.
CONSIDER APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
Terms are usually staggered whereby at least half of the membership has previous experience. Members are appointed based on qualifications.
10. Councilmember Kris Beard
Joseph Mavero - Parks and Recreation Board
ANNOUNCE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
A Councilmember, 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.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
11. Deliberate or discuss:
The City Council will adjourn into executive session pursuant to sections 551.071, 551.074, 551.0785, and 551.087 of the Texas Government Code to deliberate and discuss the following:
1. The employment, leave, pay, and duties of a public employee (Kasey King) pursuant to Texas Local Government Code §143.073(b) (551.074), including the consideration of information in the medical records of such employee (551.0785) and attorney/client communication related to same (551.071).
2. A potential offer by the City of financial and other incentives to a business prospect and the receipt of commercial or financial information that the City has received from that same business prospect, which the City seeks to have locate within the City, and with which the City is conducting economic development negotiations (551.087); and attorney/client communications related to the same (551.071).
ADJOURN
This week, I am playing a cut from “Sacramento's greatest classic country band” The Golden Cadillacs. This song is called the “VA Hospital Blues.”
And why not one more song since we were discussing gateways? The next one is called “The Gateway” by Rob Riccardo.
MOVING GARLAND AHEAD