Because Monday, Sept. 3 was a holiday, the Garland City Council held its work session and regular meeting Sept. 4.
Home improvement incentive plan
The council’s Development Services Committee, which includes Council Members David Gibbons, Robert Vera and Jerry Nickerson, has been working on a plan for a home improvement incentive plan. The purpose of the program is to encourage homeowners to make improvements to the exterior of their homes. The goals are to prevent blight, improve property values, inspire other homeowners to make improvements and increase competitive edge of the city’s neighborhoods.
The objective is to improve the visual appeal of existing housing stock. The plan would cover improvements beginning at a minimum of $2,000 on homes that are at least 30 years old with a DCAD value at $175,000 or less. The program would include rental properties and a materials upgrade bonus would be available.
Using the first year to test the program, funding would be a modest amount. If after re-evaluation in one year, the program is deemed successful, the funding amount could be increased.
Bond referendum update
A representative from bond consultants Kimley-Horn and city staff provided an update on the potential bond referendum. Community feedback has been collected through several methods and about 30 comments have been received. Suggestions from community members will continue to be collected until Sept. 30. Information will then be gathered by consultants, organized and packaged for council.
City staff’s list of needed bond items is due Sept. 19. Evaluation and cost projections are due Oct. 7.
Council will select Bond Study Committee members Sept. 1-17 and appoint members Sept. 18.
The committee will be made up of 19 members which will include two from each council district and three appointed by the mayor. More than 30 individuals have expressed interest in serving.
Funding categories will be streets/transportation, drainage, parks and recreation, municipal facilities (police evidence building, animal shelter, libraries, etc.), city-wide redevelopment tools (economic development, neighborhood vitality, commercial corridors and retail centers).
Façade improvement program update
Downtown Tax Increment Financing funds will be used to pay for a commercial façade program for downtown Garland buildings. The program will serve as a pilot to ascertain whether a similar program could be implemented citywide.
Skate park funding
In 2004, voters approved a bond package that included $500,000 for a skate park. It will be built at Central Park. Other projects at Central Park will include a new playground, Granger Recreation Center renovation and repaving in some areas. The playground was also part of the 2004 bond program. City staff asked council for direction on whether the allotted amount of $500,000 for the skate park should be increased to more than $1 million.
District 2 Council Member Deborah Morris said that citizens voted for $500,000 in 2004 and that inflation would bring that amount to $667,000 in 2018. She added that staying with what the voters approved, with an increase for inflation, would be appropriate.
According to District 4 Council Member Jim Bookout, his constituents do not want funds spent for a skate park. However, since it was approved by voters in 2004, it should be built but scaled back.
The facility will be open-air, built of concrete and be ½ to 1 acre in size with basic amenities including restrooms, shade, water and parking.
GISD requests amendment to planned development, detail plan approval
A representative from Huckabee, architects of the Garland ISD natatorium, requested a planned development change and approval of their detail plan for the natatorium. The property is located at 2585 Firewheel Parkway.
Council members were unable to obtain satisfactory answers to questions regarding bus parking, fencing around the facility to prevent foot traffic through nearby residents’ yards and potential traffic problems.
The item was postponed.