Work Session Notes - November 17, 2024
And then with a little luck we might just get stuck, Let's get a little mud on the tires
A longer agenda tonight with several council committee updates, a gang activity update from the police department, and a GPS (Garland’s Pathway to Success — clever huh?) update from the City Manager. As usual, my comments are in bold italics.
WORK SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON WORK SESSION ITEMS
CONSIDER THE CONSENT AGENDA
WRITTEN BRIEFINGS
Brand Road Widening - Right-of-Way and Easement Acquisition from Real Property Owned By Garland ISD
Council is requested to consider the approval of a purchase agreement negotiated with Garland ISD in the amount of $409,196.55 for the acquisition of right-of-way and easement interests from real property located at 1350 East Brand Road, and authorization of the City Manager to execute such documents necessary to complete the transaction. Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the November 19, 2024 Regular Meeting.
As part of our 2024 Capital Improvement Program, Brand Road is scheduled to be reconstructed with curbs and gutters with a targeted completion date of 2026. To facilitate the road widening, we must purchase a strip of property along Brand Road from GISD along the northeast side of the street and a slope and electrical easement.
The property was assessed a valuation of $3.59 per square foot with payments for ROW dedication worth 100% of the land value, slope easements worth 65% of the land value and electrical easements worth 75% of the land value.
(Proposed alignment for Brand Road. Notice the roundabout intersection with River Oaks Road.)
VERBAL BRIEFINGS
Council may ask for discussion, further information, or give direction to staff on an item posted as a verbal briefing.
2. AT&T Utility Infrastructure Conditions Update
Matthew Foster, AT&T representative, will present information and answer questions concerning AT&T’s infrastructure conditions. This item was requested by Councilmember Williams and seconded by Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Lucht at the May 20, 2024 Work Session.
From the presentation in the agenda packet, it appears that this item will cover more than just the condition of AT&T’s infrastructure. The packet contains information on GP&L and Oncor’s process for inspecting wooden power poles.
GP&L inspects 2,100 to 2,500 poles a year covering its entire service area in a 10-year cycle. Poles are inspected for cracks or leaning, and the pole hardware is examined as well. Photos are taken and kept in GP&L records. When corrections are needed, GP&L Engineering places a work order and remedial measures are taken as necessary.
One interesting piece of information is that Oncor will not replace poles simply for aesthetic reasons. If a pole is leaning, according to Oncor, it still may be safe and remain in service.
3. Garland Chamber of Commerce 2024 Year-End Report and 2025 Action Plan
The Garland Chamber of Commerce will be presenting the 2024 Year-End report and the 2025 Action Plan to the City Council. Unless otherwise directed by Council, this agreement will renew automatically on January 9, 2025.
The City of Garland contracts with the Chamber of Commerce to direct three aspects of economic development services: business retention, small business development and workforce development. As part of that contract, the Chamber must report back to the Council with how well they have performed in each of those areas and against their yearly goals and metrics.
Council has the option to renew the Chamber’s contract for 2025 at $572,240 – an increase of $27,670 over the previous year. For 2025, the Chamber has additional business retention, workforce development, and small business development initiatives planned through visits to targeted businesses, educational roundtables and workshops, and partnerships with Dallas College and GISD.
4. 2025 Bond Study Committee Report
City Council will receive an update from staff and the Bond Study Committee Chair regarding discussions and progress of the 2025 Bond Study Committee.
The Bond Study Committee is beginning to round up its work as we move closer to the December final reporting date. I look forward to hearing the latest update from Chairman Joe Thomas.
5. Texas Downtown (TXD) Annual Conference Report
Per Article II, Division 1, Section 6(E) of the City Council policies, Mayor LeMay and Councilmember Kris Beard will report back to the City Council on the Texas Downtown (TXD) Annual Conference.
The Texas Downtown Annual Conference was held in Abilene October 28 - 30. Sessions included those with names as:
Roadmap to a Successful Downtown Redevelopment Strategy: The Downtown Abilene Story
The Key To Retail Success – Return on Emotion, ROE
Downtown 101 & Roadmaps – Creating an implementable framework for revitalization
Culture Catalyst: Unveiling the Power of Public Art & Cultural Districts
Bringing Life to Dead Buildings: And Alot of Economic Development
The keynote address was named “Pink Goldfish - Defy Normal and Exploit Imperfection” and the closing keynote was named “Hometown Revival through Murals.”
I’m curious to find out how many cookies the Mayor had during the first day’s Cookies & Milk Networking Break.
7. Crime Statistics-Gang Activity
Staff will provide a verbal briefing on crime statistics related to gang activity. This item was requested by Councilmember Dutton and seconded by Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Lucht at the October 7, 2024 Work Session.
I am looking forward to this update from our Police Chief regarding gang activity in Garland. The Police Department has a dedicated gang unit of officers focused on accessing and suppressing gang activity in Garland. To be identified as a gang member, person must meet at least two of the following criteria:
Self-Admission: admits to being part of a criminal street gang
Reliable Identification: identified as a gang member from a reliable source
Corroborated Identification: identified as a gang member from unreliable source but supported by further evidence
Gang Association: frequents gang areas, uses gang symbols, tattoos, etc.
Arrest with Known Gang Members: arrested alongside other gang members
Gang-Related Markings: has gang symbols, uses hand signs, gang related imagery, etc.
Visiting Gang Members in Custody: visits known gang members (not a family member) in jail or prison
Use of Technology: uses technology such as the internet to recruit new gang members.
Once identified, the designation remains for five years for adults or two years for minors.
In Garland, Gang members were identified as suspects or offenders in approximately 4.9% of Violent Crime over the past five years.
8. Update on Special Events Planned for 2025 and Funding Allocation
Staff will provide a Special Events and funding allocation update. This item was requested by Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Lucht and seconded by Councilmember Dutton at the October 7, 2024 Work Session.
Garland hosts several city-sponsored special events throughout the year including the Music Made Hear Concert Series, Garland Fall Fest/Guzzler 0.5k Run, Dia De Los Muertos, Christmas on the Square, and many others. Garland does a great job hosting many events throughout the year, and we constantly evaluate whether the events are worth the expense to plan and host the next year.
9. GPS: Garland's Pathway to Success
Using the new Mission and Vision established by the City Council, and building on the existing 10 Strategic Focus Areas, the City's leadership team has been building Garland's Pathway to Success (GPS). GPS is a strategic plan that seeks to align the work of Team Garland with the direction of the City Council. City Manager, Jud Rex, will provide City Council with a preliminary look at the GPS and discuss next steps.
For every item presented to Council for discussion or approval, it is categorized as to whether it contributes to one of our 10 Strategic Focus Areas. I’m interested for City Manager Jud Rex to layout his plans to align what the city staff does as compared to our council direction.
For reference, our 10 Strategic Focus Areas are:
Safe Community
Well-Maintained City Infrastructure
Reliable, Cost-Efficient Utility Services
Sound Governance and Finances
Vibrant Neighborhood and Commercial Centers
Customer-Focused City Services
Growing Garland’s Economic Base
Future-Focused City Organization
Enhanced Quality of Life through Amenities, Arts and Events
Commercially Thriving Downtown
10. Environmental & Community Advisory Board Report
Staff will provide a presentation on the City's initiatives to address illegal tire dumping within Garland city limits. This item was requested by Councilmember Dutton and seconded by Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Lucht at the July 15, 2024 Work Session.
Illegal tire dumping has been trending up over the past several years. Staff will explain their plans to combat this scourge and opportunities for citizens to drop off tires for free at city sponsored disposal events.
11. Community Services Committee Report
Councilmember Jeff Bass, Chair of the Community Services Committee, will provide a committee report on the following items: Home Improvement Incentive Program Rebate policy, homeless camp remediation on private property, and single-family rental property sanitation rates, fees and processes.
The Community Services Committee has been hard at work and will be reporting on three separate items. I am advocating for changing the Home Improvement Incentive Program Rebate policy such that people who have previously taken advantage of the program are not eligible again. The purpose of the policy was to spread the improvements throughout the city rather than be monopolized by a few of applicants.
12. Administrative Services Committee Report
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Margaret Lucht, Chair of the Administrative Services Committee, and staff will provide a committee report on the following items: Annual Review of City Council Policies, which was staff-initiated, and on posting the voting history on the city’s website, which was requested by Councilmember Hedrick and seconded by Councilmember Dutton at the July 15, 2024 Work Session.
One other open government initiative I have been advocating for is placing voting history of council members on our City’s website. IT Department Director Mike Betz has a novel solution of using AI to analyze past meeting minutes to pull the voting history dating back several years. This is something the City of Dallas does, and I believe Garland should do as well. Please keep your council members accountable for the decisions they make using your tax dollars.
ANNOUNCE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
EXECUTIVE SESSION
13. Deliberate or discuss:
The City Council will adjourn into executive session pursuant to sections 551.071 and 551.072 of the Texas Government Code to deliberate and discuss the following:
1. The purchase of real property generally located near the intersection of S. Garland Avenue and S. Shiloh Road (551.072) and consultation with its attorney regarding contemplated eminent domain litigation and attorney/client matters concerning privileged and unprivileged client information related to the same (551.071).
ADJOURN
Talking about tires today made me think of Brad Paisley’s big 2003 hit “Mud on the Tires.” Enjoy!