AGENDA

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
City of Garland
Work Session Room, City Hall
William E. Dollar Municipal Building
200 North Fifth Street
Garland, Texas 
February 4, 2019
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.

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 Briefings:  
 
a.   Sale of Property - 802 East Walnut

Council is requested to approve the sale of 802 East Walnut Street to Mr. Liang and provide an executed deed without warranty.  Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the February 5, 2019 Regular Meeting. 
 
b.   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. 
 
3. Verbal Briefings:  
 
a.   Discuss and consider scope, siting, and funding options for the Central Park Playground

At the October 1, 2018 Work Session, staff was directed to provide Council with development options for the proposed playground at Central Park.  Kimley-Horn Consulting Engineers will present conceptual illustrations and associated cost projections to facilitate a discussion among Council Members. Items for consideration will be the scope of the proposed amenities and related infrastructure, siting options within the park and estimated funding levels associated with three proposed levels of improvements. 
 
b.   Consider adopting a Temporary Utility Assistance Program for Federal Employees affected by the Government Shutdown

At the request of Council Member Robert John Smith and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Scott LeMay, Council is requested to consider a utility billing and collection program that would temporarily suspend City of Garland utility account fees, penalties and disconnects.  The proposed program would be available to affected federal employees with active City of Garland utility accounts.  Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the February 5, 2019 Regular Meeting. 
 
c.   Street Department Construction Program Update

The Director of the Street Department will provide an update to the City Council on the status of the Street Department's infrastructure construction program. 
 
d.   Public Safety Committee Report: Share-Bikes & Motorized Scooters

Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Scott LeMay, Chairman of the Public Safety Committee (PSC), and Chief Mitch Bates, Staff Liaison to the Committee, will provide a committee report and discussion regarding a draft ordinance related to two items assigned to the PSC Committee:
  • review of bike-share issues
  • review of potential regulation of motorized scooters

As a result of the committee discussion, a single ordinance was developed (in draft form) to resolve concerns regarding both items.  These items were returned to the PSC Committee after a prior discussion at the Council Work Session on October 15, 2018.
 
e.   Public Safety Committee Report: Parking Restrictions in Residential Neighborhoods

Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Scott LeMay, Chairman of the Public Safety Committee (PSC), and Chief Mitch Bates, Staff Liaison to the Committee, will provide a committee report and discussion regarding a draft ordinance related to the following item assigned to the PSC Committee:
  • Parking restrictions in residential neighborhoods

As a result of the committee discussion, a revision of the current city ordinance was developed (in draft form) to resolve concerns discussed by the committee members.  This item was returned to the PSC Committee after a prior discussion at the Council Work Session on October 15, 2018.
 
f.   Intervention Strategies for Celebratory Gunfire and Fireworks

The Police Department will update City Council on intervention strategies for celebratory gunfire and fireworks for New Year's Eve 2018, July Fourth and New Year's Eve 2019.
 
g.   2019 Proposed Bond Discussion 

Staff will provide information regarding:
  • Final decisions and funding amounts from the January 24 Special Work Session
  • Proposed Propositions and formatting related to formal consideration at the February 5 Regular Session
  • Bond Election Timeline and distribution of Public Information
  • Discussion of Council involvement from this point by the City Attorney
  • Other information related to the Bond Program
 
4. Discuss Appointments to Boards and Commissions  
 
  Mayor Pro Tem Rich Aubin
  • Jason Lain - Board of Adjustment 
 
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. Adjourn