Agenda

AGENDA

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
City of Garland

REMOTE MEETING

Monday, February 1, 2021
6:00 p.m.

DEFINITIONS:

Written Briefing: Items that generally do not require a presentation or discussion by the staff or Council. On these items the staff is seeking direction from the Council or providing information in a written format.

Verbal Briefing: These items do not require written background information or are an update on items previously discussed by the Council.

NOTICE: Due to the COVID-19 emergency, and pursuant to Section 551.125 of the Texas Government Code and the executive orders of Governor Greg Abbott suspending provisions of the Texas Government Code and other applicable laws of the State regarding normal open meetings, the City Council will hold this meeting by internet/telephonic remote means.

The meeting will be broadcast by webinar or telephone at the following URL:

https://garlandtx.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_b_4vQREqQPmXCBZPJ1Tgbw

Registration for the online meeting is required. The meeting will be recorded and will be available for viewing the next day at www.garlandtx.gov.

For those without internet access to the meeting, a dial-in option is available. The numbers are:

346-248-7799
470-250-9358
470-381-2552

The Meeting ID is: 979 6563 0898

For participants (online and by phone) who wish to speak, a public comments period is provided as the first item on the agenda. If you desire to address the City Council on a matter that is posted on this agenda, please be prepared to do so at the beginning of the meeting. After the City Council has begun its discussion of the agenda, you will not be recognized to speak. The public comments portion of the meeting is provided for citizen comments. You are invited to offer a comment or make a statement on any item on the agenda. However, please bear in mind that offering comments should not be done in the form of posing questions. Generally, due to legal restrictions, the City Council is not able to answer questions during the public comments portion of the agenda. Your comments must relate to an item on this agenda - non-germane comments are not in order.

If an Executive Session is included as part of the agenda for this meeting, the Executive Session will be conducted by teleconference between and among the members of the City Council and relevant City staff. Public access to that call is prohibited by State law.

COUNCIL HOUSE RULES

1. Decisions based on issues, goals and vision.	9. Follow goals, principles and action agenda.
2. Do not take things personal.	10. Decide, vote and move on.
3. Project a positive attitude.	11. Avoid ambushes - Council or staff.
4. Focus on issues, not on the person.	12. Talk to staff before meetings.
5. Be prepared to discuss issues.	13. Vote our convictions, but be willing to compromise "What is best for Garland."
6. Maintain decorum.	14. Follow Roberts Rules of Order consistently.
7. Keep your sense of humor.	15. Agree to disagree.
8. Honor and respect each other; accept each other as individuals.	16. Be open and honest.

NOTICE: The City Council may recess from the open session and convene in a closed executive session if the discussion of any of the listed agenda items concerns one or more of the following matters:

(1) Pending/contemplated litigation, settlement offer(s), and matters concerning privileged and unprivileged client information deemed confidential by Rule 1.05 of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. Sec. 551.071, Tex. Gov't Code.

(2) The purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property, if the deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the position of the City in negotiations with a third person. Sec. 551.072, Tex. Gov't Code.

(3) A contract for a prospective gift or donation to the City, if the deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the position of the City in negotiations with a third person. Sec. 551.073, Tex. Gov't Code.

(4) Personnel matters involving the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public officer or employee or to hear a complaint against an officer or employee. Sec. 551.074, Tex. Gov't Code.

(5) The deployment, or specific occasions for implementation of security personnel or devices. Sec. 551.076, Tex. Gov't Code.

(6) Discussions or deliberations regarding commercial or financial information that the City has received from a business prospect that the City seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the City and with which the City is conducting economic development negotiations; or to deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect of the sort described in this provision. Sec. 551.087, Tex. Gov't Code.

(7) Discussions, deliberations, votes, or other final action on matters related to the City’s competitive activity, including information that would, if disclosed, give advantage to competitors or prospective competitors and is reasonably related to one or more of the following categories of information:

generation unit specific and portfolio fixed and variable costs, including forecasts of those costs, capital improvement plans for generation units, and generation unit operating characteristics and outage scheduling;
bidding and pricing information for purchased power, generation and fuel, and Electric Reliability Council of Texas bids, prices, offers, and related services and strategies;
effective fuel and purchased power agreements and fuel transportation arrangements and contracts;
risk management information, contracts, and strategies, including fuel hedging and storage;
plans, studies, proposals, and analyses for system improvements, additions, or sales, other than transmission and distribution system improvements inside the service area for which the public power utility is the sole certificated retail provider; and
customer billing, contract, and usage information, electric power pricing information, system load characteristics, and electric power marketing analyses and strategies. Sec. 551.086; Tex. Gov't Code; Sec. 552.133, Tex. Gov’t Code]


1.		Public Comments on Work Session Items Persons who desire to address the City Council on any item on the Work Session agenda are allowed three minutes to speak. Speakers are taken only at the beginning of the meeting, other than invited testimony. Speakers are grouped by Work Session item and will be taken in the order of the Work Session agenda. Speakers must submit to the City Secretary a completed speaker’s card before the beginning of the meeting. Speaker cards will not be accepted after the Mayor calls the meeting to order. Speaker cards are available in the lobby, at the visitor’s side of the Work Session Room, and from members of staff. Speakers are limited to addressing items on the Work Session agenda – any item relating to a Regular Session agenda item should be addressed at the Regular Session and any item not on an agenda may be addressed during the open microphone at the end of the Regular Session.

2.		Consider the Consent Agenda A member of the City Council may ask for discussion or further information on an item posted as a consent agenda item on the next Regular Meeting of the City Council. The Council Member may also ask that an item on the posted consent agenda be pulled from the consent agenda and considered for a vote separate from consent agenda items on the regular agenda. All discussions or deliberations on this portion of the work session agenda are limited to posted agenda items and may not include a new or unposted subject matter.

3.		Written Briefings:

	a.	Consider an ordinance ordering a general election for the City of Garland to be held on May 1, 2021 for the purpose of electing a Mayor and one Council Member each to respectively represent Districts 3,6, 7, 8 and a Special Election for electing a Council Member to the unexpired term of District 1, providing for a run-off election if needed; and providing for other matters relating to the conduct of the election. Council is requested to approve an ordinance ordering and providing notice of a General Election and Special Election for the City of Garland to be held on the 1st day of May 2021. This item is scheduled for formal consideration at the February 2, 2021 Regular Meeting.

	b.	Wholesale Wastewater Contract - City of Sachse In addition to treating its own wastewater, the City of Garland provides treatment services for the Cities of Rowlett and Sachse, and for portions of the cities of Sunnyvale, Dallas and Richardson. Since 1994, the City has partnered with the City of Sachse to provide wastewater treatment services. The City of Sachse has requested a renewal to continue these services. This new contract renewal supersedes the existing Wastewater Treatment Contract dated June 8, 1994, and will provide treatment services for 20 years from the effective date. The attached map shows the current metering locations and a future third connection point to the City’s system. Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the February 16, 2021 Regular Meeting.

	c.	Resolution Ratifying Contract Amendment and Settlement Agreement with North Texas Municipal Water District Council is requested to approve a resolution ratifying the approval and the execution of a settlement agreement and a first amendment to the North Texas Municipal Water District Regional Water Supply Facilities Amendatory Contract. This item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the February 2, 2021 Regular Meeting.

	d.	Optional Redemption of Tax Notes Council is requested to approve a resolution to redeem the Tax Notes, Series 2020 as contemplated. This item is scheduled for formal consideration at the February 2, 2021 Regular Meeting.

	e.	Resolution Authorizing TexPool Participation and Designating Amegy Bank as Authorized Representatives of The Texas Water Development Board Escrow Accounts Council is requested to approve a Texpool Investment Pools Participation Agreement and a Resolution Authorizing Amegy Bank to Participate in the TexPool Investment Pools and designating authorized representatives. This item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the February 2, 2021 Regular Meeting.

	f.	Investment Portfolio Summary Staff presents the Portfolio Summary report to Council each quarter. The report is in compliance with the requirements of the Public Funds Investment Act. Management of the City's portfolios is conducted in accordance with the City Council Financial Policy, Statement of Investment Strategy and Investment Policy.

4.		Verbal Briefings:

	a.	COVID-19 Response Update and Further Actions Staff will provide an update to Council and ask for Council direction, if needed, on various matters related to COVID-19 and actions being taken by the City.

	b.	Review and Discussion of 2021 Capital Improvement Program The City Council will continue its review and discussion of the 2021 Capital Improvement Program.

	c.	Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs 9% Tax Credit Applications and Resolution of Support Presentations Council is requested to consider resolutions of support, no-opposition, or denial following developer presentations by applicants for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs 2021 Competitive 9% Low-Income Housing Competitive Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC).

5.		Announce Future Agenda Items A member of the City Council, 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 a committee of the City Council. No substantive discussion of that item will take place at this time.

6.		Council will move into Executive Session

		EXECUTIVE SESSION AGENDA NOTICE: The City Council may recess from the open session and convene in a closed executive session if the discussion of any of the listed agenda items concerns one or more of the following matters:



		The City Council will adjourn into Executive Session pursuant to Section 551.072 of the Texas Government Code to deliberate or discuss the purchase, exchange, or lease of several tracts of real property for roadway improvements located in the vicinity of the intersection of Brand Road and Naaman School Road; the vicinity of the intersection of Broadway Blvd. and Interstate Highway 30; the vicinity of the Intersection of West Buckingham Road and North Plano Road; in the vicinity of the intersection of Jupiter Road and Forest Lane; and in the vicinity of various other intersections within the City.

		The City Council will adjourn into executive session under Sec. 551.087, TEX. GOV'T CODE regarding commercial or financial information that the City has received from a business prospect that the City seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the City and with which the City is conducting economic development negotiations or to deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect relating to: A commercial project located generally southeast of the intersection of West Kingsley Road and South Jupiter Road A commercial project located generally northwest of the intersection of State Highway 66 and East Centerville Road

		The City Council will adjourn into executive session pursuant to Sections 551.087 and 551.072 of the Texas Government Code to discuss (1) economic development matters related to the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect through the sale of a certain tract of real property located within the City; and (2) to discuss the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property relating to property located in the vicinity of South Garland Road and East Miller Road.

7.		Adjourn

GARLAND
POLICY REPORT


City Council Work Session Agenda		Work Session Item 3.e.
Meeting Date:	02/01/2021
Item Title:	Resolution Authorizing TexPool Participation and Designating Amegy Bank as Authorized Representatives of TWDB Escrow Accounts
Submitted By:	Matt Watson, Finance Director
Strategic Focus Areas:	Sound Governance and Finances

ISSUE
Consider a resolution authorizing Zions Bancorporation, National Association, Amegy Bank Division (Amegy Bank) to participate in TexPool Investment Pools and designating Authorized Representatives of Amegy Bank to perform and inquire on two Texpool escrow accounts established by the City of Garland to earn interest on Texas Water Development bond proceeds and grant proceeds associated with the multi-year Radio Read Water Meter Retrofit project approved in the 2020 CIP.
OPTIONS
Approve a Texpool Investment Pools Participation Agreement and a Resolution Authorizing Amegy Bank to Participate in the TexPool Investment Pools and designating authorized representatives. Do not approve a Texpool Investment Pools Participation Agreement and a Resolution Authorizing Amegy Bank to Participate in the TexPool Investment Pools and designating authorized representatives.
RECOMMENDATION
This item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the February 2, 2021 Regular Meeting.
BACKGROUND
At the May 21, 2019 Regular Meeting, Council approved the issuance of $6,670,000 of Water and Sewer System Revenue Bonds, Series 2019 to be purchased by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) at a below market interest rate. In addition, Council considered the execution of a Principal Forgiveness Agreement with the TWDB for $975,037. The purpose of this transaction is to receive financial assistance from the TWDB totaling $7,645,037 to fund the multi-year Radio Read Water Meter Retrofit project approved in the 2020 CIP. As Part of these agreements with TWDB, the proceeds must be deposited with an escrow agent and held by the escrow agent until written authorization from TWDB is made to release these funds to the City. This process is done to ensure that the proceeds of these funds are used for authorized projects and purposes. The Escrow Agent designated by ordinance is Amegy Bank, who acts as paying agent and escrow agent for all of the City of Garlands Debt issuance needs. City staff wishes to create an escrow account with Texpool to allow for these funds held by Amegy bank to earn interest in accordance with the Public Funds Investment Act. TexPool is a state-wide investment pool available to Texas cities and other public entities that provides security, liquidity and efficiency for the management of public funds. TexPool is operated by the Comptroller of Public Accounts and administered by Federated Investors. The City utilized TexPool to meet and manage its daily liquidity needs and would like to utilize Texpool to manage the proceeds received by TWDB. Texpool requires Council approval in order to establish authorized representatives from Amegy Bank to make changes to escrow accounts established with them. Amegy Bank will only have access to the escrow accounts established per the agreements with TWDB and will not have access or inquiry rights to any other City of Garland accounts.
CONSIDERATION
For security purposes, TexPool requires the governing body approve a resolution to list authorized representatives on all escrow accounts established with them. This request is in compliance with the Public Funds Investment Act and the City Council Investment Policy.