AGENDA

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
City of Garland
Work Session Room, City Hall
William E. Dollar Municipal Building
200 North Fifth Street
Garland, Texas 
January 16, 2018
5:30 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.

Regular Item: These items generally require discussion between the Council and staff, boards, commissions, or consultants. These items are often accompanied by a formal presentation followed by discussion.












 

[Public comment will not be accepted during Work Session
unless Council determines otherwise.]

 

 


 

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. 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.   
 
 
2. Written Briefing:  
 
a.   South Garland Avenue Catalyst Area Plan Project Timeline

Council is requested to review the proposed draft project timeline for the South Garland Avenue Catalyst Area Plan. A Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking professional services has been released. Selection of a consultant will be brought forward for Council approval following the closing of the RFP.  Unless otherwise directed by Council, staff will proceed with the proposed timeline.
 
b.   Retirement Stability Benefit (RSB) for Civil Service Employees

City Council is requested to approve this request at the January 16 Regular Meeting. It is projected that on the February 16, 2018, paycheck, Civil Service employee contributions will be deducted and deposited into the 457(b) RSB plan, as well as the City contribution for eligible participants. 
 
3. Verbal Briefings:  
 
a.   Preview of 2018 Proposed CIP

Staff will provide an overview of the 2018 Proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which will be formally presented by the City Manager at the January 16, 2018, Regular City Council Meeting.
 
b.   Transportation Update

The Transportation Director will provide an update on the strategic transportation plan initiatives.
 
c.   Resolution of support for LBJ East

Council is requested to consider a Resolution for support for the LBJ East project.  This item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the January 16, 2018 Regular Meeting.  
 
d.   Resolutions for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs 2018 Competitive Housing Tax Credit Grant Program

Council is requested to consider the applications from each developer. Council may approve a resolution in support of, a resolution of no-opposition or take no action on the applications. Each applicant will be allowed ten minutes per project presentation.
 
e.   Charter Discussion

Council will discuss the recommendations of the citizens Charter Review Committee. Council is asked to provide direction to staff on recommendations it is prepared to approve.  Council will also discuss the future timeline for adoption.  
 
4. 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.
 
 
5. Adjourn