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Work Session Room at City Hall
Monday, March 4, 2024
6 p.m.

William E. Dollar Municipal Building
200 N. Fifth St.
Garland, Texas

CITY OF GARLAND
WORK SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL

The Garland City Council extends to all visitors a sincere welcome. We value your interest in our community and your participation in the meetings of this governing body. Visit GarlandTX.gov/Council for a full list of meeting dates.

The Work Session Room at Garland City Hall is wheelchair accessible, and ADA parking is available on the street as well as in the public parking garage. Persons with disabilities who may need auxiliary aids or services must contact the City Secretary's Office at 972-205-2404 at least two working days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Braille is not available.

NOTICE: Pursuant to Section 551.127 of the Texas Government Code, one or more members of the City Council may attend this meeting by internet/video remote means. A quorum of the City Council, as well as the presiding officer, will be physically present at the above identified location. Members of the public that desire to make a public comment must attend the meeting in person.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON WORK SESSION ITEMS
Members of the audience may address the City Council on any Work Session item at the beginning of the meeting. Speakers are allowed three minutes each, grouped by agenda item and called in the order of the agenda. Anyone wishing to speak must fill out a speaker card (located at the entrance to the Council Chambers and on the visitor's side of the Work Session Room) and give it to the City Secretary before the Mayor calls the meeting to order. Speakers are limited to addressing items on the Work Session agenda only. Items on a Regular Meeting agenda should be addressed at the respective Regular Meeting. Items not currently on an agenda may be addressed during the citizen comments portion of any Regular Meeting.

CONSIDER THE CONSENT AGENDA
Council may ask for discussion or further information on any item posted in the consent agenda of the next Regular Meeting. Council may also ask that an item on the consent agenda be pulled and considered for a vote separate from the consent agenda at the next Regular Meeting. All discussions or deliberations are limited to posted agenda items and may not include new or unposted subject matter.

WRITTEN BRIEFINGS
Council may ask for discussion, further information, or give direction to staff on an item posted as a written briefing.

Garland Housing Finance Grant Agreement

Council is requested to allow the City Manager to execute the Grant Agreement with the Garland Housing Finance Corporation for $540,000. The funding from the Grant will continue in supporting the GHFC Home Repair Program, aimed at assisting low-income homeowners. This initiative will cover essential repairs, offering up to $35,000 to address exterior maintenance repairs, interior health and safety improvements, as well as plumbing and electrical fixes, and address certain code enforcement violations.

Ordinance Update for Public and Semipublic Swimming Pools

Council is requested to consider adopting updates to Chapter 22, Article VI of Garland City Ordinances, entitled Public and Semipublic Swimming Pools, for the purposes of becoming current and consistent with the State in regard to pool safety at public and semipublic pools and spas. It is also requested that Garland adopts the State's Public Interactive Water Feature rules, as there are currently no regulations in the Garland ordinance pertaining to splash pads or spray parks.

Consideration of Fire Staffing Realignment

Council is asked to consider approving a revision to the 23-24 Civil Service Classifications & Compensation Ordinance to reflect realignment of one (1) Firefighter vacancy which will be utilized to create an additional Battalion Chief/Fire Marshal.

Notice of Intent to Issue Certificates of Obligation

The Issuance of Certificates of Obligation will be used to fund a portion of the Council Approved 2024 Capital Improvement Program.

Pavement Condition Index Survey for the Garland Street Network

Council is requested to approve the award of a contract to Roadway Asset Services, LLC in the amount of $288,280 to provide Pavement Condition Index services. The vendor will assess the condition of all city streets and alleys in accordance with recognized industry standards and provide data that will assist city staff with enhancing its programming methodologies for street improvement projects.

VERBAL BRIEFINGS
Council may ask for discussion, further information, or give direction to staff on an item posted as a verbal briefing.

USDA Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grant Report

Staff is presenting Council with a verbal report regarding a multi-year grant with the National Arbor Day Foundation. Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at a future regular meeting.

Captioning, Translations and Related Services for Council Meetings

Staff will discuss potential options for providing captioning, translations and other related services at City Council meetings.

ANNOUNCE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
A Council member, 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 of a committee of the City Council. No substantive discussion of that item will take place at this time.

EXECUTIVE SESSION
Council will adjourn into executive session pursuant to the following sections of the Texas Government Code, Sections:

The City Council will adjourn into executive session pursuant to Sections 551.072, 551.074, 551.087m and 551.071 of the Texas Government Code to deliberate or discuss the following:

The purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property located in the vicinity of Hopkins and W Ave D (551.072), personnel matters related to the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of public employees (551.074), and attorney/client matters concerning privileged and unprivileged client information related to the same (551.071).
Economic development matters related to commercial or financial information that the City has received from one or more business prospects that the City seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in the vicinities of (i) South Garland Avenue and I-635, and (ii) President George Bush Turnpike and Holford Road, with which the City is conducting economic development negotiations (551.087), including possible purchases of real property (551.072), and attorney/client matters concerning privileged and unprivileged client information related to the same (551.071).

ADJOURN
All Work Sessions of the Garland City Council are broadcast live on CGTV, Time Warner Cable Channel 16 and Frontier FIOS TV 44. Meetings are rebroadcast at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesdays - Sundays. Live streaming and on-demand videos of the meetings are also available online at GarlandTX.tv. Copies of the meetings can be purchased through the City Secretary's Office (audio CDs are $1 each and DVDs are $3 each).

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:

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.
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.
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.
Personnel matters involving the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissalof a public officer or employee or to hear a complaint against an officer or employee. Sec. 551.074, Tex. Gov't Code.
The deployment, or specific occasions for implementation of security personnel or devices. Sec. 551.076,Tex. Gov't Code.
Discussions or deliberations regarding commercial or financial information that the City has received from a business prospect that the City seeks to have to 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.
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]

Image of Strategic Plan Summary FOR COUNCIL AGENDA ( Regular Meeting Cover Sheet)

Each year, the City Council reviews and updates its goals for the Garland community and City operations. City management uses these goals to guide operational priorities, decision-making and resource allocation.

GARLAND
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT

City Council Work Session

Work Session Item 1.

Meeting Date:

03/04/2024

Grant Disbursement Agreement - Garland Housing Finance Corporation

Submitted By:

Mona Woodard, Neighborhood Services Administrator

Strategic Focus Area:

Vibrant Neighborhoods and Commercial Centers

Issue/Summary

Council is requested to consider accepting a $540,000 grant from the Garland Housing Finance Corporation (GHFC) to continue the Garland Partnership Program with the City of Garland and authorize the City Manager to sign and execute a disbursement agreement for deployment of these funds.

Background

The City of Garland has partnered with Garland Housing Finance Corporation for the previous 3 years to offer homeowner assistance to low-income Garland residents. The purpose of the 2024 grant is to provide funding and support for emergency home repairs, substantial home repairs and qualified exterior repairs. Fifteen percent of the total grant is allocated to cover salary and administrative expenses. The GHFC Garland Partnership Program augments the City of Garland's existing Home Repair Program, which is funded annually by HUD for home repairs.

The GHFC grant programs are administered by the Community Development Department, with support from the Office of Neighborhood Vitality and Code Compliance departments. In 2023, the GHFC offered $400,000 through a Garland Partnership Program grant to the CIty of Garland. To date, 100% of these funds have been spent or committed to projects.

Consideration / Recommendation

Unless otherwise directed by the Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the March 19, 2024, Regular Meeting. Staff recommends acceptance of the 2024 Garland Partnership grant funds to enable the continuation of the Program.

Attachments

GHFC 2024 Grant Agreement

GARLAND
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT

City Council Work Session

Work Session Item 2.

Meeting Date:

03/04/2024

Pool Ordinance Update

Submitted By:

Mandy Pippen, Director

Strategic Focus Area:

Safe Community

Issue/Summary

Council is requested to consider adopting updates to Chapter 22, Article VI of Garland City Ordinances, entitled Public and Semipublic Swimming Pools, for the purposes of becoming current and consistent with the State in regard to pool safety at public and semipublic pools and spas. It is also requested that Garland adopts the State's Public Interactive Water Feature rules, as there are currently no regulations in the Garland ordinance pertaining to splash pads or spray parks.

Background

Chapter 22, Article VI of Garland City Ordinance, entitled Public and Semipublic Swimming Pools, has not had a major update since 2007. The Texas Department of State Health Services has updated their rules for Public Swimming Pools and Spas multiple times, most recently in January 2023. Adopting these rules by reference, with amendments, as well as the state's rules on Public Interactive Water Features (splash pads) (Texas Administrative Code Title 25, Chapter 265, Subchapters L and M), will bring Garland up to date with pool safety regulations.

Consideration / Recommendation

Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the March 19, 2024 Regular Meeting.

Attachments

Current GCO-Chapter 22, Article VI

Pool Spa and PIWF Code Ord

Pool Spa and PIWF Code Ord_Redline

25 TAC Chapter 265 Subchapter L

25 TAC Chapter 265 Subchapter M

2021 ISPSC

GARLAND
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT

City Council Work Session

Work Session Item 3.

Meeting Date:

03/04/2024

Fire Staffing Realignment

Submitted By:

Kristen Smith, Managing Director

Strategic Focus Area:

Safe Community

Issue/Summary

To better align the current staffing needs of the department, City Council is asked to consider the reduction of one (1) budgeted Firefighter vacancy, which will be utilized to create a leadership role focused on fire prevention. The newly created position, classified as a Battalion Chief, will also serve as the city's Fire Marshal.

Similar to other sworn positions, the Battalion Chief role will be filled through competitive examination per Civil Service guidelines.

Background

Each year, sworn Firefighter and Police Officer positions are adopted via ordinance during the annual budget process. For FY 23-24, City Council authorized 285 Fire service positions, comprised of existing employees and projected hires.

Classification

Number of Positions
Effective 10-01-2023

Firefighter

149

Driver

Lieutenant

Captain

Battalion Chief

Assistant Chief

Fire Chief

Total

285

Staffing
The requested realignment will not impact projected staffing or service levels.

Cost
The following represents annualized funding based on the 2024 starting rate for a Firefighter and Battalion Chief. Although the annualized amounts show a deficit, vacancies and attrition are expected to offset a portion of the implementation cost.

Annualized Cost

Fire Recruit

$72,650

Fire Battalion Chief

$136,120

($63,470)

Consideration / Recommendation

At this time, City Council is asked to consider and approve the revised 23-24 Civil Service Classifications & Compensation Ordinance, reflecting this change.

An item for formal consideration will be included on the March 5, 2024 Regular Session agenda.

Attachments

FY 23-24 Civil Service Ordinance_Mar 2024 Revision

GARLAND
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT

City Council Work Session

Work Session Item 4.

Meeting Date:

03/04/2024

Notice of Intent to Issue Certificates of Obligation

Submitted By:

Matt Watson, Chief Financial Officer

Strategic Focus Area:

Sound Governance and Finances
Future-Focused City Organization

Issue/Summary

On February 6, 2024 Council adopted the 2024 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which contemplates a Certificate of Obligation (CO) bond sale in the amount of approximately $37.8 million to fund a portion of the CIP. Council is asked to consider approving a notice of intent resolution at the March 4, 2024 Regular Meeting to provide legal authorization for the certificates. Approval of the notice of intent resolution will not obligate the City to issue debt and the total amount of issuance in the notice will match the CO funding requirements of the Council Adopted 2024 CIP.

Background

The City Manager formally submitted the proposed CIP to Council on January 8, 2024 and staff made copies of the proposed CIP available for public inspection and review the next day in libraries and the City Secretary's Office. The City Council held a Special Budget Work Session on January 20, 2024, to review the proposed program. In addition, a Public Hearing on the Proposed CIP was held on January 23, 2024. The 2024 Capital Improvement Program was adopted by Council on February 6, 2024 and requires the issuance of Certificates of Obligation. The CO's will fund approximately $37.8 million in projects.

In compliance with City Council's Financial Policy, Certificates of Obligation debt is issued so the debt maturities are aligned with the useful lives of the capital improvements being funded. CO principal maturities range from 5 years to 20 years. CO's require approval by Council and publication of a notice of intention for issuance.

Consideration / Recommendation

Since neither cash nor voter authorized bonds are available to fund a portion of the 2024 CIP, staff requests the issuance of Certificates of Obligation.

Attachments

Notice of Intent

GARLAND
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT

City Council Work Session

Work Session Item 5.

Meeting Date:

03/04/2024

Pavement Condition Index Survey for the Garland Street Network

Submitted By:

Tony Irvin, Streets Director

Strategic Focus Area:

Well-Maintained City Infrastructure
Vibrant Neighborhoods and Commercial Centers

Issue/Summary

The city's street and alley network is comprised of over 1,000 centerline miles, corresponding to nearly 2,700 lane miles. The Street Department is responsible for maintaining these critically important assets. Reliable and relevant pavement condition data is a crucially important input staff uses for making decisions on how to prioritize resources to sustain and improve the city's street and alley assets. Condition data is typically collected using the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) method -- a nationally recognized approach to assessing, inventorying, and scoring pavement condition. Generally, PCI is considered a measure to quantify the health (or condition) of the city's streets.

Background

Historically, Street Department staff has performed visual surveys of city streets and alleys and assigned condition scores. Though the visual survey method is a method used by some public works agencies to provide a data baseline for pavement management planning, staff is proposing to contract with a vendor to expand the condition assessment approach, while conforming to recognized industry standards for performing such assessments. Staff recommends awarding a contract to Roadway Asset Services, LLC. This vendor has performed PCI services for municipalities in the Dallas/Fort Worth region, across Texas, and the United States.

The vendor's condition assessment methodology will follow the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard for assessing asphalt and concrete pavement conditions. This method is based on a physical survey of each street and alley using specialized equipment, with a special emphasis on surveying pavement distresses. The type, severity and quantity of these distresses is noted and a PCI score is then assigned on a scale of 0 - 100 (100 being the best possible score). This scoring data is important because it is used to determine the most effective rehabilitation and maintenance strategy for a specific street and will also assist staff with developing a multi-year plan for pavement management that maximizes financial resources. PCI is considered a planning tool, not a design tool.

Consideration / Recommendation

Staff recommends City Council consider approving the award of a contract to Roadway Asset Services, LLC in the amount of $288,280 to provide Pavement Condition Index services for the city's street and alley network. Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be placed on the March 5, 2024 regular meeting for Council consideration.

GARLAND
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT

City Council Work Session

Work Session Item 6.

Meeting Date:

03/04/2024

USDA Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grant Report

Submitted By:

Matthew Grubisich, Parks Director

Strategic Focus Area:

Growing Economic Base
Well-Maintained City Infrastructure
Vibrant Neighborhoods and Commercial Centers
Reliable, Cost Efficient Utility Services
Sound Governance and Finances
Future-Focused City Organization

Issue/Summary

Council is requested to consider accepting a sub-grant from the National Arbor Day Foundation, through the USDA Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grant, to implement a community-centric initiative designed to significantly expand tree planting efforts aimed at planting 10,000 trees over the next five years, focusing primarily on neighborhoods, parks, and medians with low tree canopy cover.

Background

Last Spring, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Urban and Community Forestry Program. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, the Urban and Community Forestry Program received $1.5 billion to support urban tree planting, urban forest planning and management, and related activities, particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Forest Service selected 385 grant proposals from entities working to increase equitable access to trees and nature, and the benefits they provide for cooling city streets, improving air quality, and promoting food security, public health, and safety. The City of Garland was one of those selected. Staff will be presenting additional information about the grant, and the project.

Consideration / Recommendation

Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manger or designee to execute the agreement between the National Arbor Day Foundation and the City of Garland, which defines the terms and conditions for the National Arbor Day Foundation and the City of Garland , and to transfer local contributions to perform the scope of work defined in the agreement.

GARLAND
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT

City Council Work Session

Work Session Item 7.

Meeting Date:

03/04/2024

Captioning, Translations and Related Services for Council Meetings

Submitted By:

Tiffany Veno, Managing Director

Strategic Focus Area:

Customer-Focused City Services
Future-Focused City Organization

Issue/Summary

Staff will discuss potential options for providing captioning, translations and other related services at City Council meetings.

Background

At the Jan. 22 Work Session, Council asked Staff to examine possible meeting accommodations for community members who speak Spanish or Vietnamese or are hard of hearing. This briefing includes options for Council consideration.

Consideration / Recommendation

Council is asked to give direction regarding options presented.