Work Session Notes - November 4, 2024
And I'm sorry when I say that straight to this very day it was the wrong way.
We have a day with a Work Session and a Regular Meeting today due to the national election tomorrow. Please go out and do your civic duty tomorrow if you haven’t already done so.
Today’s Work Session includes the introduction of two new Directors on the development side, more discussion of street repair funding, and a discussion of the 2050 Comprehensive Plan.
Please send me your thoughts and, as always, my comments are in bold italics.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON WORK SESSION ITEMS
CONSIDER THE CONSENT AGENDA
WRITTEN BRIEFINGS
Council may ask for discussion, further information, or give direction to staff on an item posted as a written briefing.
Amendment to Authorized ARPA Reimbursable Positions
Staff is presenting Council with a written update regarding the eligible positions being reimbursed by Federal Coronavirus Relief and Recovery Funds (ARPA) according to Federal guidance. An Ordinance will be prepared to update the eligible positions being reimbursed by ARPA. Unless directed otherwise, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the November 19, 2024 Regular Meeting.
This is a reshuffling of positions that is funded by the ARPA funds that were received during the COVID-19 pandemic. No additional expenses to the City’s operating budget is incurred as a result of this action.
VERBAL BRIEFINGS
Council may ask for discussion, further information, or give direction to staff on an item posted as a verbal briefing.
Introduction of New Directors
Council will be introduced to Al Raymond, Managing Director of Development and Nabila Nur, Director of Planning and Development.
I am excited to meet the new Managing Director of Development Al Raymond at tomorrow’s Work Session. Al comes from Corpus Christi where he has worked for the past five years as the Director of Development Services. My brother Justin Hedrick–who serves on the Planning Commission in Corpus–has worked directly with Al and highly recommends him.
(Al Raymond courtesy the City of Garland)
I got the chance to briefly meet our other appointee Nabila Nur after a council committee meeting last week. Nabila has both public and private experience working for Freese and Nichols on long-range planning projects in the private sector and for the Town of Argyle, City of Dallas and City of Arlington in the public sector.
(Nabila Nur courtesy the City of Garland)
These two positions will be extremely important as we finalize and begin to implement our Comprehensive Plan that will take Garland into 2050 and beyond. I look forward to working closely with both of them.
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.
Bond Study Committee Chairman Joe Thomas returns to provide the latest update as the committee has begun its discussions to narrow down which projects will be presented to Council. I hope to get some insight to their deliberations with his latest update.
Garland Forward 2050 Comprehensive Plan - Discussion and Feedback from City Councilmembers
On Tuesday, October 15, 2024 a community presentation was made by the consultant Verdunity that outlined the ideas of fiscal health and community wealth within the comprehensive plan process. A video recording of the meeting and the presentation was made available to the public. The consultant and staff would like to obtain feedback from the City Councilmembers regarding the concepts and ideas discussed at the meeting to solidify a path to move forward.
On October 15, the consultants creating the new Comprehensive Plan made a presentation at The Atrium to discuss the next phase of the comprehensive plan. The discussion largely centered around how can Garland successfully plan for the future such that the cost of providing services and maintaining infrastructure can be sustainable into the future. I look forward to the discussion today and welcome any comments you may have a well so that I may share them with Verdunity.
Street Improvement Funding
City Council will receive a briefing on street improvement funding as a follow-up to the information presented at the October 21, 2024 Work Session.
Continuing on our discussion from the last Work Session, staff will bring some additional information specifically how the proposed street improvement program will be funded through the issuance of bonds. The plan will require an additional issuance of $81.6M in bonds beyond what was already planned to be issued.
Our City has the capacity to issue $868 million in debt over a five year period to support various initiatives. However, just because we have the capacity to do so, it does not mean we should. I question how this large of debt issuance will affect the City’s bond ratings, which means more of your tax dollars going to higher interest rates to service the debt rather than towards projects which help the city.
The current bond study committee chairman Joe Thomas indicated at our last work session that the committee was deciding on roughly $500 million worth of projects to present to the council that would then go to the voters. If we wish to send to the voters more than the $150 million in economic development projects that are projected to be part of the future bond program, we will have to eliminate future spending from either street work or future capital improvement plans.
I’m very interested to hear your thoughts on this as it is my obligation as one of your councilmembers to be the most fiscally prudent I can with your valuable tax dollars.
Transportation Infrastructure and Mobility Committee Report
City Council will receive staff recommendations on evaluating wrong-way signs on Avenue B and Avenue D. At the October 8, 2024 Work Session, Councilmember Dutton requested that the Transportation Infrastructure and Mobility Committee have staff evaluate and provide these recommendations. This was seconded by Councilmember Lucht.
Councilwoman Dutton requested the committee look at adding additional street signs along Avenues B and D where they are one way streets. She had witnessed several motorists traveling the wrong way and wanted to prevent future accidents by placing more “Wrong Way” signage.
Staff agreed with the request and is working now to manufacture and install the new signs.
City Council Discussion on Modifying the Annual Appointee Review Process
City Council will discuss the possibility of using a third-party facilitator to assist with the Annual Review Process of council-appointed officials.
Historically the Human Resources Department head has provided salary data and review questions for the four positions the City Council has authority to appoint. This may create a conflict of interest as the HR director is a direct report of the City Manager whom the Council appoints.
I am all for eliminating potential conflicts of interest by using a third-party facilitator to assist in the annual review process of the four council appointed positions—City Manager, City Auditor, City Attorney and Municipal Judge(s).
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.
ADJOURN
The wrong way signage gave me the perfect opportunity to play Long Beach’s favorite ska/punk/reggae band that was taken too soon from us—Sublime. Here’s “Wrong Way.”
All the best for today's work Session. Please bring back the homestead increase for the seniors. Thanks Dylan Hedrick. Appreciate your good work for the community.