AGENDA

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
City of Garland

REMOTE MEETING

Monday, May 17, 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_QV4mhzvVSXKcw8H1Gn9O-A

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: 967 2060 9585


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.   TxDOT Click it or Ticket Grant May 2021

Council is requested to accept TxDOT's Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Click it or Ticket grant funding.  This item is scheduled for formal consideration at the May 18, 2021 Regular Meeting. 
 
b.   COVID-19 Immunization Grant

Council is requested to authorize the City Manager or his designee to execute a contract agreement with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to improve access to COVID-19 vaccines across Garland, Rowlett and Sachse.  This item is scheduled for formal consideration at the May 18, 2021 Regular Meeting. 
 
c.   Wholesale Wastewater Contract - City of Rowlett

Since 1991, the City has collaborated with the City of Rowlett to provide wastewater treatment services. The City of Rowlett has requested a renewal to continue these services. This new contract supersedes the existing Wastewater Treatment Contract dated June 8, 1994 and will provide treatment services for 20 years from the effective date.  Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the June 8, 2021 Regular Meeting.
 
d.   Sale of Property - 1130 Meandering Way

Council is requested to approve the sale of 1130 Meandering Way to the Garland Housing Finance Corporation and provide an executed deed without warranty.  Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the June 8, 2021 Regular Meeting.
 
e.   Sale of Property - 504 Clark Street

Council is requested to approve the sale of 504 Clark Street to Allegiantstar Solutions, LLC and provide an executed deed without warrantly.  Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the June 8, 2021 Regular Meeting. 
 
f.   2020-21 Budget Amendment No. 5

Council is requested to approve Budget Amendment No. 5 as proposed in order to appropriate $32,000 in the Heliport Fund for a flight path redevelopment study for the Garland Heliport.  This item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the May 18, 2021 Regular Meeting.  
 
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.  Included in the discussion will be proposed dates and procedures for returning to in-person meetings for Council as well as Boards and Commissions. 
 
b.   Garland Cultural Arts Master Plan Presentation

Ben Martin and Lynn Osgood with Civic Arts will present Council with a draft of the Garland Cultural Arts Master Plan. 
 
c.   Special Events Update

Staff will provide an overview of the Special Events scheduled between June - December 2021.
 
d.   Legislative Update

Council Member Robert John Smith, Chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee, will provide Council will a legislative update.  
 
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 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:
  1. A commercial project located generally southeast of the intersection of South Jupiter Road and West Miller Road
  2. A commercial project located generally northeast of the intersection of West Kingsley Road and South Jupiter Road  
 
 
The City Council will adjourn into executive session pursuant to Sections 551.071 and 551.087 of the Texas Government Code regarding attorney-client communications and economic development matters relating to the Garland Public Facilities Corporation and a revised project plan to develop a 300 unit housing facility at Saturn Road and Marketplace Drive in Garland, Texas.  
 
7. Adjourn