Item 1a: Deny Oncor Rate Increase Request Oncor Electric Delivery Company (“Oncor”) filed an application on or about June 27, 2008 with cities retaining original jurisdiction seeking to increase system-wide transmission and distribution rates by $275 million. The requested rate increases, if approved, would increase residential rates 17.6%, commercial rates 9.1%, and streetlights 5.8%. Approximately 15% of Garland receives electric service from Oncor and would be affected by the rate increases. The City would be directly affected due to increased electric cost for streetlights and government facilities serviced by Oncor. Council is requested to consider an ordinance to deny Oncor’s request to increase rates. This item is scheduled for formal consideration at the November 3, 2008 Regular Meeting.
Item 2a: Foreign Trade Zone Fossil, Inc., a watch and accessories distributor, currently has two distribution facilities located in a foreign trade zone in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The company requires additional distribution space and has decided to lease an approximately 154,000 square feet portion of a building at 3901 West Miller Road, Garland. Fossil is in the process of preparing a temporary minor boundary modification application to expand the Fossil zone to temporarily include the leased area for the term of the lease, which is 64 months. The application will be formally submitted by the Grantee of Foreign Trade Zone 39, the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board, to the Foreign Trade Zones Board in the Department of Commerce. As part of the process, Fossil has requested a letter of support from the City of Garland.
Item 2b: Ordinance Related to Reasonable Accommodation from the Garland Zoning Ordinance The Office of the City Attorney will brief Council on a proposed ordinance to provide a formal mechanism for an applicant to request reasonable accommodation from the City of Garland from the requirements of the zoning ordinance as necessary to accommodate a person with disabilities as required by the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Item 2c: Conservation Standards within the 190 Overlay District The Development Services Committee is recommending that the Council discuss forming a citizen committee to explore the feasibility and advisability of establishing LEED energy conservation standards in the S.H. 190 corridor.
Item 3: Proposed Amendment of the City’s Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Regarding Wind Energy Systems At the October 21, 2008 Regular Meeting, Council considered an ordinance that would provide a definition and regulations for Wind Energy Systems. At the conclusion of the discussion, this item was postponed until the November 18, 2008 Regular Meeting with direction to staff that the item also be placed on the next Work Session agenda for further discussion.
4. Discuss Appointments to Boards and Commissions 5. Consider the Consent Agenda 6. Announce Future Agenda Items 7. Adjourn
Prayer, Pledge, and Proclamations
Prayer, Pledge, and Proclamations
Consent Agenda: All items under this section are recommended for approval by a single motion of Council, without discussion. Council has been briefed on these items at a previous work session and approval of the consent agenda authorizes the City Manager to implement each item. The Mayor will announce the agenda and provide an opportunity for members of the audience and the City Council to request that an item be removed and considered separately.
4. Consider an ordinance changing a street name within the City of Garland. At the October 20, 2008 Work Session, Council discussed a proposal to change the name of the portion of Marketplace Drive between LaPrada Drive and Intervale Drive to Broadmoor Drive.
6. Consider an ordinance authorizing the issuance of commercial paper notes in an aggregate principal at any one time outstanding not to exceed $50,000,000 and resolving other matters incident and related thereto. The City’s commercial paper (CP) program is no longer functional due to recent credit tightening in the economy, a rating downgrade of the CO liquidity provider, DEPFA Bank, and bankruptcy of the CP dealer, Bear Stearns. Council is requested to consider reauthorizing the CP program with a new liquidity provider/dealer, Bank of America, to supplement the general obligation bonds approved by voters in 1991, 1997, and 2004 as a very beneficial and significant low-cost funding mechanism for the Capital Improvement Program. This item was considered by Council at the October 20, 2008 Work Session.
8. Hold a public hearing and consider a resolution adopting and approving amendments to the 2008 Annual Action Plan of the 2005-2010 Consolidated Plan; providing for the implementation of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program and approving the use of the funds. At the October 20, 2008 Work Session, Council was briefed on funds that will be available to the City through the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program. It was indicated that one of the necessary steps to complete the application process is an amendment to Garland’s Consolidated Plan. 9. Consider appointments to Boards and Commissions. Board members are selected for two-year terms by the City Council in August. Terms are usually staggered whereby at least half of the membership has board experience. Board members are appointed based on qualifications.
10. Citizen comments. Persons wishing to address issues not on the agenda may have three minutes to address Council at this time. Council is prohibited from discussing any item not posted according to the Texas Opens Meetings Act. 11. Adjourn.
Item 3a (Continued after recess)
3. Regular Items: a. Proposed Amendment of the City’s Montgomery Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Regarding Wind Energy Systems At the October 21, 2008 Regular Meeting, Council considered an ordinance that would provide a definition and regulations for Wind Energy Systems. At the conclusion of the discussion, this item was postponed until the November 18, 2008 Regular Meeting with direction to staff that the item also be placed on the next Work Session agenda for further discussion.
Nov 03, 2008 City Council
Item 1a: Deny Oncor Rate Increase Request Oncor Electric Delivery Company (“Oncor”) filed an application on or about June 27, 2008 with cities retaining original jurisdiction seeking to increase system-wide transmission and distribution rates by $275 million. The requested rate increases, if approved, would increase residential rates 17.6%, commercial rates 9.1%, and streetlights 5.8%. Approximately 15% of Garland receives electric service from Oncor and would be affected by the rate increases. The City would be directly affected due to increased electric cost for streetlights and government facilities serviced by Oncor. Council is requested to consider an ordinance to deny Oncor’s request to increase rates. This item is scheduled for formal consideration at the November 3, 2008 Regular Meeting.
Item 2a: Foreign Trade Zone Fossil, Inc., a watch and accessories distributor, currently has two distribution facilities located in a foreign trade zone in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The company requires additional distribution space and has decided to lease an approximately 154,000 square feet portion of a building at 3901 West Miller Road, Garland. Fossil is in the process of preparing a temporary minor boundary modification application to expand the Fossil zone to temporarily include the leased area for the term of the lease, which is 64 months. The application will be formally submitted by the Grantee of Foreign Trade Zone 39, the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board, to the Foreign Trade Zones Board in the Department of Commerce. As part of the process, Fossil has requested a letter of support from the City of Garland.
Item 2b: Ordinance Related to Reasonable Accommodation from the Garland Zoning Ordinance The Office of the City Attorney will brief Council on a proposed ordinance to provide a formal mechanism for an applicant to request reasonable accommodation from the City of Garland from the requirements of the zoning ordinance as necessary to accommodate a person with disabilities as required by the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Item 2c: Conservation Standards within the 190 Overlay District The Development Services Committee is recommending that the Council discuss forming a citizen committee to explore the feasibility and advisability of establishing LEED energy conservation standards in the S.H. 190 corridor.
Item 3: Proposed Amendment of the City’s Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Regarding Wind Energy Systems At the October 21, 2008 Regular Meeting, Council considered an ordinance that would provide a definition and regulations for Wind Energy Systems. At the conclusion of the discussion, this item was postponed until the November 18, 2008 Regular Meeting with direction to staff that the item also be placed on the next Work Session agenda for further discussion.
4. Discuss Appointments to Boards and Commissions 5. Consider the Consent Agenda 6. Announce Future Agenda Items 7. Adjourn
Prayer, Pledge, and Proclamations
Prayer, Pledge, and Proclamations
Consent Agenda: All items under this section are recommended for approval by a single motion of Council, without discussion. Council has been briefed on these items at a previous work session and approval of the consent agenda authorizes the City Manager to implement each item. The Mayor will announce the agenda and provide an opportunity for members of the audience and the City Council to request that an item be removed and considered separately.
4. Consider an ordinance changing a street name within the City of Garland. At the October 20, 2008 Work Session, Council discussed a proposal to change the name of the portion of Marketplace Drive between LaPrada Drive and Intervale Drive to Broadmoor Drive.
6. Consider an ordinance authorizing the issuance of commercial paper notes in an aggregate principal at any one time outstanding not to exceed $50,000,000 and resolving other matters incident and related thereto. The City’s commercial paper (CP) program is no longer functional due to recent credit tightening in the economy, a rating downgrade of the CO liquidity provider, DEPFA Bank, and bankruptcy of the CP dealer, Bear Stearns. Council is requested to consider reauthorizing the CP program with a new liquidity provider/dealer, Bank of America, to supplement the general obligation bonds approved by voters in 1991, 1997, and 2004 as a very beneficial and significant low-cost funding mechanism for the Capital Improvement Program. This item was considered by Council at the October 20, 2008 Work Session.
8. Hold a public hearing and consider a resolution adopting and approving amendments to the 2008 Annual Action Plan of the 2005-2010 Consolidated Plan; providing for the implementation of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program and approving the use of the funds. At the October 20, 2008 Work Session, Council was briefed on funds that will be available to the City through the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program. It was indicated that one of the necessary steps to complete the application process is an amendment to Garland’s Consolidated Plan. 9. Consider appointments to Boards and Commissions. Board members are selected for two-year terms by the City Council in August. Terms are usually staggered whereby at least half of the membership has board experience. Board members are appointed based on qualifications.
10. Citizen comments. Persons wishing to address issues not on the agenda may have three minutes to address Council at this time. Council is prohibited from discussing any item not posted according to the Texas Opens Meetings Act. 11. Adjourn.
Item 3a (Continued after recess)
3. Regular Items: a. Proposed Amendment of the City’s Montgomery Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Regarding Wind Energy Systems At the October 21, 2008 Regular Meeting, Council considered an ordinance that would provide a definition and regulations for Wind Energy Systems. At the conclusion of the discussion, this item was postponed until the November 18, 2008 Regular Meeting with direction to staff that the item also be placed on the next Work Session agenda for further discussion.