This month on Council, we have been busy reviewing, debating and approving the 2020 Capital Improvements Projects (CIP) budget. The CIP is a list of planned capital projects that include the construction of infrastructure improvements such as roadways, water and wastewater mains, and drainage projects that typically span multiple years and cost more than $50,000.

This year’s $340.8 million CIP budget is different than the city’s operating budget in that appropriated funding does not expire at the end of each fiscal year, but rather carries over from year to year until the project is completed. The CIP is divided into different categories depending on whether the line items are tax-supported projects, utility projects or internal service projects. 

Some of the highlights from this year’s CIP include funding to start many of the projects approved in the 2019 bond election. Projects range across the board from parks to roads to libraries and public safety. Examples include design services for improvements at Rick Oden Park, Hollabaugh Recreation Center, the Garland Senior Activity Center; Holford Road widening from President George Bush Turnpike to Arapaho Road, traffic bottleneck improvements, and railroad crossing improvements.

Also on Council we approved our Parks Master Plan which will serve as a guide to improving and investing in parks facilities and programs for years to come. We also received an update on the ongoing Trails Master Plan study which is scheduled to be completed this summer. See the city webpage garlandtx.gov for more information on both these items.

The final item I wish to mention is the special election on May 2. Candidates for Districts 1, 2, 4, and 5 are on the ballot, and we are also asking voters to approve a portion of Hollabaugh Park to be used for the construction of the new Walnut Creek Branch Library. The construction of a new library was approved last May during the 2019 bond election, and we believe there will be some great synergies from having the recreation center and library located next to each other. With all that is going on in the city, it surely is an exciting time to be in Garland. 

I appreciate all of your support. Please contact me if you have any questions, compliments or concerns. I can be reached at 469-560-6099 or at council7@garlandtx.gov.