First, just to be absolutely clear, it's not Garland. It's Saratoga Springs, New York. Officials, for safety concerns, have banned riding bicycles to school.
 
I've posted often about making neighborhoods more walkable and have posted on having bike routes. The modern suburb with its cul-de-sacs and arterial streets have divided cities so that the only way to access one area from another is by car. A number of studies have shown that obesity is greater in suburbs, especially those that are not walkable.
 
Tons of material exists about the need to return the human to the streets, either by walking or biking. In many cases with the way suburbs are designed, you just can't safely walk or bike. Now, if you even try to, a least one city has made the attempt illegal.
 
The Times Union reports that a 12-year-old and his mother are regularly breaking the law riding bikes four miles to middle school. Fortunately, it seems what is written isn't necessarily in stone and the policy is to be reconsidered.
 

From timesunion.com: School district could backpedal on policy By DENNIS YUSKO, Staff writer First published in print: Tuesday, September 29, 2009   SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Seventh-grader Adam Marino is getting a firsthand lesson in civil disobedience.   The 12-year-old and his mother, Janette Kaddo Marino, are defying Saratoga Springs school policy by biking to Maple Avenue Middle School on Route 9. The Jackson Street residents pedal more than four miles together each way to the middle school on nice days despite being told not to by school officials and police.   "I guess you can say that we continue to do what we feel is our right," Kaddo Marino said recently. "We feel strongly we have a right to get to school by a mode of transportation we deem appropriate."   Their methods may be unconventional, but the Marinos are part of a growing number of Americans challenging the sedentary habits of today's youths and what they view as overanxious "helicopter" parenting. As fewer children walk and bike to school nationwide, parents have started groups like the "Walking School Bus," which promotes physical activity and fitness in youth by having them walk to school with adults.   Read more: www.timesunion.com

Student Adam Marino, left, 12, rides his bike home from school Thursday afternoon Sept. 24, 2009, accompanied by his mother, Janette Kaddo Marino. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)

 
A good friend talks about "free range" kids, like he was as a child, and like I was as a matter of fact. He in the high desert of California and I in semi-arid West Texas; we had free reign to wander far and wide. I know for my friends and me, the mom's used a zone defense: if you were in their zone, they had full power to enforce mom law, even if it meant paddling half a dozen kids for some infraction. When the other mom's eventually heard about it, they'd say, "Thank you!" Then you had to hope your dad didn't find out or you'd get another "dose."
 
It was a much healthier life style (even the corporal punishment contributed to a healthier lifestyle and a stronger community, I hate to admit, still remembering).
 
Jane Jacobs, in The Death and Life of Great American Cities (© 1961), discussed the uses of sidewalks in the first three chapters: safety, contact, and assimilating children. "When people say that a city, or part of it, is dangerous or is a jungle what they mean primarily is that they do not feel safe on the sidewalks.... The first thing to understand is that the public peace — the sidewalk and street peace — of cities is not kept primarily by the police, necessary as police are. It is kept primarily by an intricate, almost unconscious, network of voluntary controls and standards among the people themselves, and enforced by the people themselves."
 
"Whenever and wherever societies have flourished and prospered rather than stagnated and decayed, creative and workable cities have been at the core of the phenomenon.... Decaying cities, declining economies, and mounting social troubles travel together. The combination is not coincidental."
 
We have to do a lot to reverse some of the declines that have come from the way we (as a city and as a country) have developed our suburbs. If we make it illegal to ride a bike to school, it may be too late.
 

This years-old detour will yield to the new Eastern Extension of SH-190 in the coming months, finally assuming the route that has been long anticipated. The Crist Rd bridge in the background was constructed years ago at ground level and the new tollway will be built at a lower grade by excavating below the bridge.

From NTTA President George Bush Turnpike Eastern Extension Update:
 

President George Bush Turnpike Eastern Extension Click graphic for large version

The Eastern Extension is a portion of the outer loop around Dallas and its suburbs that connects Interstate Highway (IH) 30 to the existing President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT). It is part of the Loop 9/State Highway 190 corridor first envisioned in the 1960s. Construction on the approximately 9.9-mile corridor began in October 2008. The project is expected to open to traffic in fourth quarter 2011.
 
Milestones

• A $160 million toll equity grant from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to the NTTA was approved for right of way (ROW) and other costs on August 23, 2007.
• A three-party agreement among the NTTA, TxDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) was executed in November 2007. In addition, a TxDOT/NTTA two-party agreement was executed, allowing eminent domain proceedings for critical ROW acquisition to begin; property acquisitions are ongoing.
• TxDOT approved a revised schematic on March 7, 2008.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Section 404 permit was approved April 25, 2008.
• The City of Dallas (Dallas Water Utilities, or DWU) agreement for the Lake Ray Hubbard bridge was approved by the Dallas City Council and NTTA Board of Directors in May 2008.
• A rail-crossing agreement with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) was approved by the DART Board and NTTA Board, also in May 2008.
• FHWA approved the Final Environmental Impact Statement Reevaluation on July 1, 2008.
• A groundbreaking for the first construction contract, Section 30, from north of the future Merritt Road to south of Main Street in Rowlett, took place August 21, 2008. Construction began on October 13, 2008.
• All five sections of the extension were officially under construction by mid-March 2009.

Corridor Updates

• The Texas Historical Commission has given the go-ahead for construction to begin in the Rowlett Creek area of Section 28, where an archeological dig was completed last spring. The Section 28 contractor continued excavating, hauling material off site, installing the storm drain system, and drilling shafts for the retaining walls and the Rowlett Creek bridges. The contractor also installed the storm drain across Old Miles Road.
• NTTA received approval of the USACE Section 404 Individual Permit Amendment that was required because of design improvements. This approval will allow work to proceed in Section 28 on the maintenance access road within the Rowlett Creek floodplain as well as construction of a new channel for a portion of Rowlett Creek.
• In Section 29, crews began drilling shafts for columns to support the Miles Road bridge and retaining walls. Crews completed restoration of the mass grading area east of Merritt Road with topsoil and temporary seeding. Earthwork continued southeast of Merritt Road. In addition, workers began installing moisture-treated subgrade on the service road between Miles and Merritt roads.
• In Section 30, the contractor continued work on the future Merritt/Liberty Grove connector, a new culvert and the placement of various retaining walls and water lines throughout the job.
• The Section 31 contractor worked to install underground utilities and began earthwork from the southern project limit proceeding north. Crews also began the moisture-treated subgrade work near the southern project limit and installation of the retaining walls at the south end of the project near Miller Road to Lake Ray Hubbard.
• Section 32 is being constructed by TxDOT.

Next Steps

• Continue construction on all sections

Corridor Details

• Project limits: Extends the PGBT from SH 78 to IH 30
• Project length: Approximately 9.9 miles
• Anticipated project cost: Approximately $1 billion
• Anticipated NTTA cost: Approximately $623 million
• Anticipated opening date (all sections): Fourth quarter 2011

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 
Today the DMN says "Cities tackle requests from residents for wind, solar options." Anyone reading the story would think it's a bureaucratic nightmare to put up solar panels or a wind turbine (and in most parts of the Metroplex, it is). Even though Flower Mound, Southlake, Allen, and even our close neighbor Sachse are mentioned, there is no cite of Garland where we spent two years writing and approving a wind turbine ordinance — that received special recognition from the Environmental Protection Agency! Waxahachie, which does approve them with a special use permit, much like Garland, gets a mention but their ordinance seems more restrictive than does ours.
 
Below I mention that we often don't receive very much news coverage. The hard part of that is to watch some innovative program started in Garland by our hard working city employees that goes unmentioned while other cities get big write-ups for imitating us.
 
The most recent was blinking yellow left-turn signals. We've had them in Garland for over a year but our sister city to the west installs a couple and it's big news. No one calls to ask, "What kind of experience can they expect with that program?"
 
Our city clinic for employees saves the taxpayer a lot of money that would otherwise be spent on insurance premiums. It has been copied by Grand Prairie, Dallas, and others. Both of those clinics received mention in the paper and both copied our pioneering efforts. (That link also mentions another program in Garland that preceded Dallas by years but they made the paper.)
 
Our police and fire departments have a long history of specialized teams that lend their expertise and skills to other cities. The recent arrest of the young man trying to explode a car bomb in downtown Dallas was the result a joint task force that featured Garland participation. I've recently mentioned the leading role of Garland's Air Unit. Our swift water rescue team is often requested. It was a Garland robot that helped diffuse a Richardson situation where an armed man was threatening police.
 
Some of that phenomenon is our fault. In the late-60's when we said we didn't want exits of I-635, the world must have thought we wanted to be left alone or something. Also, through periods when there has been minimal local news coverage, the good word just doesn't spread far. More recently, we just haven't done much to let other people know what we are doing.
 
As I've advocated more than once recently, we have to do a better job of marketing our city. We have a lot of good news and there are people wanting to hear it.
 
We're changing that silence, so get ready world! The city is in the process of seeking responses from companies that would assist us in our marketing message and efforts.
 

-30-

 

 
UPDATE: Comments closed to block spam hits.
 

A number of references have been made in the Dallas Morning News recently about our animal shelter. I've captured and preserved the major ones here.
 
It's true that our animal shelter is challenged for a number of reasons. It is smaller than that of several other cities our size. That fact leads to some other less pleasant situations. An animal brought to our shelter does not have an indefinite stay. It is found or adopted … or it is put-down. Everyone would love to see every animal have a home. Everyone would love to see owners be responsible for their pets. We would like to see animals be spayed or neutered so litters of unwanted animals would not be dumped on the streets, running feral, until they are delivered to the shelter. Many are too sick or have behaviors that make them unadoptable.
 
It is also true that our animal shelter employees agonize when an animal has to be euthanized, contrary to the unbelievably insensitive claims some have made. It is also true that the two methods of euthanasia used by the shelter are fully recognized as humane by the American Veterinary Medical Association. It also appears that there have been a few occasions over the years when an animal was euthanized either too soon after arrival or not by the recommended method for their particular condition.
 
At the same time, the Dallas Morning News has progressed from a straight-forward story giving the facts to now offering opinions that have no basis in fact. Hence yesterday's editorial claim that "At Garland shelter, an animal's life is nasty, brutish and short." When I've visited the shelter, it has not been "nasty." Cages are cleaned regularly; they're spacious. (See the DMN's own photo!) All animals are treated well. Citizens roam the facilities looking for adoptees or lost pets, registering animals, getting shots, using other services. The public eye is constantly present.

Graphic credit: Exhibit 5A

 
But not the eyes of the DMN editorial board sitting in their ivory towers. It is unfortunate that any animal must be euthanized but the DMN extrapolates the questionable death of a very few over a number years to the generalization of like conditions for all. They boil the whole process down to cost savings yet for the stories offered, there is no indication that any DMN reporter actually visited the shelter. Their photographer did visit. We have that record. And nothing in those photos show anything to substantiate their accusations.
 
It's funny but I recently received a call from American Express to let me know that someone might be trying to make an inappropriate charge. They wanted to let me know that the Dallas Morning News was attempting to process a charge of over $300, was I being robbed? Yes, that is the cost of an annual subscription so I can do the daily Sudoku and have the editors tell me they won't take time to visit our shelter before spouting conjecture. I'm still debating an answer to Amex as to whether I'm being robbed.
 
Newspapers across the country are suffering declining readership. Americans that read the newspapers still don't have an appreciation for the journalistic integrity that used to be a beacon to the world. Other countries had state-controlled news or blatant tabloid journalism not much different than the Enquirer and others. (The Enquirer is now scooping the standard media that refuses to consider if a presidential and vice presidential candidate might be having an illicit affair.) Residents in those countries knew to take their "news" skeptically. We're just now learning that lesson.
 
The Dallas Morning News, like those other newspapers, keeps shrinking and has seen its circulation drop and drop, which causes advertisers to find better value for their tight marketing budgets. There are some in the organization that I know would like to see the paper return to those days of journalistic integrity. Yet obviously there are those that think being a tabloid, saying whatever it takes to get attention and maybe one more day of sales, is the better business model.
 
There are a lot more factors affecting newspapers today than just journalistic integrity. The internet and the ways people get their news is shifting. If papers would stand on journalistic integrity, I can't guarantee that they won't continue to slide because of those other factors. But I have no doubt that without integrity, they will slide faster. There are too many newspapers proving it.
 
The New York Times, sliding deeper into the red by hundreds of millions, refused to cover the voter fraud, embezzlement, and questionable financing occurring at ACORN. When other news channels were showing visual proof of the corruption in the organization, they were quite. When Congress and governmental agencies were cutting ties to ACORN, they were quite. Finally, yesterday, the paper roughly acknowledged its slackness (even in its shortcomings, still enlightening reading). I say "roughly" because their defense is that they weren't covering the news, that they didn't know anything about ACORN, and that it wasn't due to any bias. (Translate that to plain English and it reads even worse.) Internal emails unquestionably reveal the bias.
 
Newspapers across the country have been closing (Rocky Mountain News, Denver; Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle; and many smaller ones).
 
Even though we are the tenth largest city in the state, we have long had minimal news coverage locally. Our good deeds have gone unreported. We had a respite with the all-too-short revival of the Garland News and I've personally celebrated the return of Ray Leszcynski to local news. With Karel Holloway on school news and their DMN Garland Blog, we're doing better right now. I'm thankful for the news coverage that we do get and I think Ray and Karel are doing an excellent job.
 
Now, I'd like to thank the editorial writers and staff in Dallas to do theirs! I'm not wishing for the DMN to follow the exits of its sister businesses across the country. I'd like to counsel them that journalistic integrity won't guarantee them that the hard financial times will stop but it would keep them in business longer. While I'm focused on one item that resonates locally, the reason for this post actually extends to several recent observations at the news organization that generate concern. If newspapers are to go the way of the dinosaurs, wouldn't you want to exit with integrity?
 
ACORN is now reeling because it did not have internal controls and a corporate atmosphere that disdained corruption and unlawfulness. At the top, the Morning News appears to suffer from the same lack of journalistic standards. I do hope they prove otherwise over time.
 
On behalf of the everyone in the city, I invite the Dallas Morning News to actually visit our animal shelter and to become informed on the issues they claim to be reporting. There is a whole lot more to this story than they've reported, and some that would have a Times-like ombudsman doing some house cleaning. There are some very juicy parts that are not only true but would sell newspapers. If they want the whole story, they'll have to do some work and get out from behind that desk. No need to call ahead; we'll hear the slow footfalls.
 

Hopeful word is being spread that the recession has bottomed. Too often that comes from self-serving politicians, especially those that claim the "stimulus" saved us. Frankly, to the latter, I can't see how anyone with a straight face can make any such claim. Even now, most of the stimulus has not been spent. Most of that spent wasn't toward the creation of jobs, no matter the Keynesian claims. And there's not much to brag about if you spend millions to create a job. It takes many, many, many jobs to pay the taxes for that one job. You take money from thousands to create one job and that will stimulate the economy? Loan sharks are more humane.
 
As unemployment continues to climb, there are those that wish to celebrate that the increase is slowing. Of course, it's slowing! As there is less of a pool to be unemployed, it will slow. There are recession-proof jobs, especially government jobs, that limits how many unemployed we would see in any recession. A slowing to claims can give some optimistic hope but it's not "the recession is over." Contrary to all the claims, we aren't anywhere near as bad off as the Great Depression. This recession is much more akin to the one that followed Jimmy Carter.
 
Jobs will be the true measure of when the recession has turned. As the Chairman of Office Depot, Steve Odland, said last weekend:
 

 
What we've seen is that this sector — the small business customers — have been hurt disproportionately in this downturn, because housing is a traditional source of liquidity for these people. They start their businesses with a second mortgage. They fund them with home equity lines of credit.
 
And as that credit has dried up, these businesses have not been able to recover. So we went off a shelf last year, and I feel like we're rocking around down here at a bottom, but we're not seeing a meaningful recovery at this point, and I'm worried that we're not going to until the liquidity returns to the small businesses. ***
 
Well, you know, the stimulus money has not gone to small businesses. This is an unusual recession in that it's been banking-led and housing-led. And so as these sources of cash have dried up for small businesses, they haven't been replaced by stimulus money or any other money.
 
The issue here is that every modern recession is led out by the small businesses as they create jobs. So all net job creation happens in small business. In this case, we're not going to see a job rebound until we see these small businesses get more access to liquidity. [Emphasis added.]
 

 
All of this has to be of mind when we consider the next few years of our local budgets. The housing and commercial markets have seen strong decline in value, where the city draws much of it operating budget through property taxes. Our Budget and Research Dept has rightly projected the current decline over a five-year (or longer) period, using models of previous recessions. Once values have reached bottom and we start the decline out of the hole, we will have three years or more before we are back to ground level.
 
We cannot be overly optimistic and throw away caution. One Dallas Council member argued the same thing last year when they were adopting their budget. She advised lack of caution would lead to mid-year corrections and a harder budget this year. She was proven correct. They had to to make the mid-year correction, had to cut hundreds of jobs this year, and had a $45-plus million deficit to cover. We did take a hard line last year, made it through the year much as expected, and were prepared for another hard year going into this last budget. We've taken much the same view for next year.
 
We don't yet have those small business-created jobs and word comes that recovery in the commercial sector could still be some ways off:
 

From Shopping Centers Today, a publication of the International Council of Shopping Centers:
 
Property values must trough before recovery can begin, conference told.
 
The commercial real estate markets will not rebound until buyers and sellers agree on prices. In the meantime, vast amounts of debt and equity will continue to sit on the sidelines, executives said Thursday at the ICSC Capital Markets Conference, in New York City. ***
 
Once banks and other lenders have accepted the losses on these mortgages, they can reset rents and other costs associated with the property and force neighboring shopping centers to do the same in order to avoid losing tenants, Walsh said. “This process will eventually make market rents go down,” he said. “It will be the beginning of the process of setting a new clearing level.” Prices will not reach their trough until 2011 or 2012, predicted Timothy Zietara, a senior director and manager at New York City–based ING Clarion Capital.
 

 
It would be great to declare the recession over and to throw caution to the wind. But it's not over and we will have a long climb out of this hole when it is. When someone says it's over, do you want to believe a politician or your own eyes?
 

As posts on this blog will show over and over, I have been concerned with the amount of debt that we are carrying. The tax payment that we send to the city each year is used to pay debt at a higher percentage than any city around us (2008 figures). Even with a high tax rate, we have less left for running the city, for funding the Operations and Maintenance budget. Currently, forty-five percent of your tax payment is set aside for making debt payments.
 

80% of our tax dollars go toward debt service and public safety

 
Balancing the budget is an annual challenge but the last two years have been harder than most. A shortfall in revenues last year resulted in service cuts that were already thin in many respects, taken from that 20% that doesn't go to debt service and public safety. Jobs positions were left open or simply removed from the books. This year was worse, mostly because of property value declines. As the chart above shows, there is not a lot of room to trim the budget and, consequently, a pay reduction for all employees was necessary. As a number of employees mentioned during the budget period this year, they see the amount of debt squeezing their side of the pie.
 

Approximately two-thirds of the tax dollar that goes to the General Fund is used for public safety, 38% for everything else

 
In 2004, citizens approved $200,000,000 projects for:

• Streets (56.7%),
• Drainage/Flooding (14%),
• Parks (10.8%),
• Libraries (4.7%),
• Public Safety (6.5%),
• Municipal Facilities (5.6%), and
• Economic Development (1.7%).

Good or bad, many of those projects have been delayed so the whole amount has not been borrowed and spent. The cost of construction had been rising so delaying the projects meant higher costs later. Now construction costs are down dramatically, generally 20% or so on large projects yet we're not taking advantage of the lower prices. Frankly, we can't afford to without pushing that 45% even higher.
 
As I mentioned earlier: "We also have to change many of the ways we do business. We have to focus on the things that will grow the city. We can't waste resources for non-essential programs or for things that can be postponed. We have to market the city. Employees and Council members must ask ourselves at each decision point: will this grow the city?"

City of Garland Health Department
Public Health Notice

September 24, 2009

 
On September 24, 2009 the Garland Health Department (GHD) received report of a laboratory confirmed human case of West Nile Virus (WNV). The patient resided in the 4000 block of Amherst Drive. This is the first confirmed human case that has been reported in Garland in 2009.
 
The GHD will spray the area surrounding the patient’s address tonight, weather permitting.
 
To protect yourself from exposure to WNV, try to stay indoors during the evening and early morning hours, the times when mosquitoes are most active. While outdoors, wear light-colored, long-sleeve clothing, and use an insect repellent containing DEET, according to its label directions.
 
The GHD asks all citizens to eliminate any standing water on their property, such as birdbaths (clean them twice per week), pet water dishes, clogged rain gutters, tire piles, and buckets. Containers that can hold an inch or two of water can breed mosquitoes. Report any standing water that you are not able to eliminate yourself to the GHD. Also report any dead blue jays or crows found in your neighborhood. These dead birds are good signs of virus activity early in the season and indicate where mosquito control efforts need to be concentrated. If you have questions or would like to report dead birds or standing water, please call the Garland Health Department’s mosquito control hotline at (972) 205-3720. Further questions on WNV should be directed to the City of Garland’s website, www.ci.garland.tx.us, or 972-205-3460.
 

 
With the recent rains, there have been a lot more mosquitoes. The mosquito that carries the West Nile Virus is not the same as the large floodwater mosquito that is common after large rains. For more on the mosquito associated with the West Nile Virus, read this earlier post. While there, follow the link to the Dallas Morning News article, "You're a Movable Feast ...," for additional, good information.
 

City of Garland Press Release:

Healthy Living Expo 2009: Health and Environment Come Together

Learn how to improve your personal health and the health of the environment all in one event: Healthy Living Expo 2009 – “Healthy You, Healthy Earth: Rx for a Better World.”

 
The City of Garland, Garland ISD, Baylor Medical Center at Garland and the Garland Chamber of Commerce will join forces on Saturday, September 26, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the GISD Special Events Center, to look at how caring for both ourselves and the earth creates a healthy lifestyle, and has a positive impact on the world around us. The Expo will offer exhibitor booths, free services, demonstrations and entertainment, all focused on helping citizens make positive changes to their daily lives.
 
“Healthy You” will provide health screenings and immunizations, plus information on prevention services, stress reduction methods, fitness activities, and much more. Five hundred free cholesterol screenings will be available, on a first come first served basis, beginning at 10 a.m. Seasonal flu shots will be administered by the Garland Health Department from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. only. The cost of flu shots for children 6 months to 18 years old will be $10; 19 years and older $20. Medicaid and Medicare Part B participants should bring current paperwork. A limited supply of the pneumococcal vaccine is available for $40. This vaccine is usually given to adults 65 years and older and is covered by Medicare Part B or those individuals younger than 65 with chronic health conditions. A limited supply of the tetanus booster, Tdap, for adolescents and adults 11 years and older will be available. The cost is $10 for children age 11-18 and $20 for adults 19-64 years old.
 
Learn about “Healthy Earth” topics, such as recycling, conservation, energy efficiency, gardening and alternative fuels. The first 1,000 attendees will receive a microfiber, reusable shopping bag containing a variety of goodies and information (one per family, please). Radio Disney will rock the Expo with music, prizes and “eco-friendly” competitions for kids and parents.
 
Showerhead Exchange – The City of Garland Water Utilities Department will have1,000 low-flow showerheads available. Bring your old showerhead to exchange, along with a City of Garland utility bill and identification verifying that you are the utility subscriber. (Limit one showerhead per household, please.) The City will make sure the old devices are disposed of in an environmentally-appropriate way!
 
Electronic Recycling by the Environmental Co-op – You can drive up and drop off a wide range of electronic equipment such as computers, telephones, circuit boards, dvd/cd players, copiers, printers, video equipment from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until their trucks are full. A fee is associated with properly disposing of these items: $5 per computer monitor and $10 - $30 per television, based on screen size.. You can also drop off microwaves, air conditioners, batteries, and small household appliances, as well as eyeglasses that will be donated to the Lions Club.
 
The Expo will also feature a document shredding service for outdated or sensitive records, provided by Greenstar Northamerica, LLC. The shred truck will be onsite from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until the truck is full.
 
For more information, visit www.GarlandGoesGreen.org or www.GarlandChamber.com.
 

City of Garland Health Department
Public Health Notice

September 23, 2009

 
On September 23, 2009, the Garland Health Department (GHD) received notification of a laboratory confirmed case of rabies in a bat captured near the 800 block of Curtis, on September 13, 2009. No reports of human exposure to the bat have been received. This is the first laboratory confirmed case of rabies in an animal in Garland in 2009.
 
The rabies virus is relatively rare in North America and is occasionally found in wild or domesticated animals including, but not limited to dogs, coyotes, skunks, foxes, raccoons, and bats. Infection of humans can occur if virus-laden saliva from a rabid animal is introduced through a bite, scratch, or mucus membrane (such as the nose). Without treatment, infection is almost invariably fatal.
 
To reduce the community's risk to rabies, citizens should regularly vaccinate their pets and should report any pet or wild animal exhibiting erratic or abnormal behavior to Garland Animal Services. Citizens can contact the Garland Health Department at 972-205-3460 if they have questions, or need to report a potential exposure to the rabid bat.
 

 
Curtis Dr is in east Garland.
 

Looking for a refuse truck or golf clubs? How about a 2004 Ford F750 bucket truck or Kicker speakers? That's just some of the items that will be available at the city's upcoming auction.

City of Garland Press Release:

City of Garland Hosts General Auction

The City of Garland will host its General Auction on Saturday, October 3, 2009. Items available include fleet vehicles and equipment, as well as police confiscated and surplus property. Some of the confiscated and surplus items include costume jewelry, video game systems, football jerseys and sweatshirts, new clothing with price tags still attached, bicycles, air conditioning units and much more.
 
Confiscated and surplus property will be auctioned at 1720 Commerce Street. The vehicles and equipment auction will be conducted at 1725 Gasoline Alley. The gates open at 8 a.m., and the sale starts at 9:30 a.m. All sales are “as is – where is” with no warranty. Payment can be made with cash or checks with a bank letter of guaranty.
 
For more information visit Auctioneer Joe Pippin’s website at www.joepippinauctioneers.com or www.GarlandPurchasing.com.
 

Community Multicultural Commission Seeks Artists, Performers to Showcase Garland’s Diversity

The City of Garland welcomes the return of the Mosaic Multicultural Festival of Art, Dance and Music. The City of Garland’s Community Multicultural Commission will stage this event on Saturday, October 3, 2009 from noon to 5 p.m. in the Plaza Theatre, 520 W. State Street, in historic Downtown Garland.

Click to Hear Festive Radio Announcement

 
Mosaic chairperson Martha Melaku is seeking music and dance groups to perform during the Mosaic Multicultural Festival. Anyone who is interested should contact her at 214-228-0199 or martha@lawyer.com. "The Mosaic is a wonderful opportunity to foster a greater understanding and cooperation among all ethnic groups," says Ms. Melaku. "We are eager to hear from potential participants who will help celebrate Garland’s diversity."
 
In past years, the event has featured performing artists, representing various cultures such as Asian, Hawaiian, Nigerian, Mexican, American Appalachian Mountain Folk Dance, African American, Indian, Italian and Panamanian, as well as displays of artwork, clothing and much more.
 
The event is free and open to the public.
 

No crime is the best news, of course, but the second best is catching criminals. The total numbers for August are up but most categories were slightly down. There was a fairly large jump (percentage-wise) in Thefts. Many of those were for shoplifting, which means someone was caught.
 
Many of the thefts reported were not shoplifting and a number of those were in our neighborhoods. Our Neighborhood Police Officers would advise you to keep your garage and outside doors closed and locked and your cars outside locked. I couldn't support them more or agree more. Be neighborly: watch your neighbor's property too and call 9-1-1 if you see suspicious activities, exactly the things you'd want your neighbor to do for you.
 
If you want to review the areas that have reported incidents over the last month, download the complete report here for address-by-address information that includes your neighborhood.
 

 
[PS You might notice the graphics are a little sharper. We're using a different method to present the same data that is a bit faster to produce and more accurate. The data presented shouldn't be more accurate but the many lines of hand-coding used before was more likely to include an unnoticed typo.]
 

We can do no more to honor our service men and women today than to never forget those missing from yesterday.
 

Photo Credit: Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC)

From USA.gov September 18, 2009 National POW/MIA Recognition Day The United States does everything it can to account for prisoners of war (POW) and missing in action (MIA) servicemembers that have served in the United States military. More than 88,000 servicemembers, from World War II to the Iraq War, remain missing. Two organizations are responsible to help account for those that have not returned to their families: The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) is a task force whose mission is to account for all U.S. POW and MIA servicemembers from all past wars. Their specialists conduct field investigations and analyze wartime records and archives in support of their mission. They recover and identify remains of missing servicemembers. The Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) provides centralized management of POW/MIA personnel affairs. It is responsible for the oversight of policies on U.S. servicemembers who are isolated, captured, detained or otherwise missing in a hostile environment. They help JPAC investigate and organize recovery missions. They also act as a contact point with POW/MIA families. National POW/MIA Recognition Day (September 18 in 2009) honors the commitments and the sacrifices made by prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action. It is one of the six days (the others are Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day) specified by law on which the black POW/MIA flag shall be flown over federal facilities and cemeteries, post offices and military installations.

You probably already know about it and plan to be there but this is going to be great! If you haven't been Downtown in a couple months to see all the changes underway, now you can and be entertained the whole time.
 

WILD WEST COWBOY ROUNDUP
Historic Downtown Garland
6th & Main
Saturday Sept. 19th

Since the Council chose to not broadcast citizen comments that come at the end of the meeting, and since I wasn't at the last meeting because of the flu-bug that is making the rounds (not H1N1, regular flu is showing up very early this year), I apparently missed a number of speakers that wanted to challenge one of the euthanasia methods at our animal shelter. Today the Dallas Morning News reports that seven people spoke during citizen comments.
 
Broadly speaking, the real problem is an old one: people not being responsible for their pets and allowing litters of unwanted newborn animals. Even with all the public service announcements to have animals spayed or neutered and with such local requirements prior to adoption, an immense problem of lost or abandoned pets persists. One way or another, virtually all those uncared for or unwanted animals are taken to the local animal shelter.

Animal services officer Rick Johnson cleans a cage at the Abe Tuggle Animal Shelter and Adoption Center in Garland. Photo by KYE R. LEE/DMN

 
Once they arrive some have the chance of being found or adopted. The reality is that far more are not. Eventually time runs out and those animals are euthanized.
 
The Garland animal shelter charges $80 for vaccinations and sterilizations, which is absolutely necessary to not compound the problem. However, that cost may be a barrier that reduces the number of adoptions. Today's DMN Garland Blog mentions the Garland Animal Sponsorship Program that attempts to overcome that challenge. Donations are used to pay the costs of vaccinating and sterilizing so more animals can be adopted. Our animal services department also works with adoption groups and PetHarbor to boost the rates of adoption.
 
Those animals that are not adopted face euthanasia by lethal injection or carbon monoxide. It is the latter method that essentially comprised the DMN story today. The gulf of disagreement between the sides that feel the method is humane and those that disagree is extremely wide. The breadth of the split may come down to the breadth of ways the technique is implemented. Opponents point to videos to support their case while proponents similarly point to videos. The amount of carbon monoxide exposure, the type of exposure, and the presence or absence of other elements such as hot fumes and other gases probably explains much of the gulf.
 
The American Veterinary Medical Association says (pg. 9): "... euthanasia has been accomplished by use of 3 methods for generating CO: (1) chemical interaction of sodium formate and sulfuric acid, (2) exhaust fumes from idling gasoline internal combustion engines, and (3) commercially compressed CO in cylinders. The first 2 techniques are associated with problems such as production of other gases, achieving inadequate concentrations of carbon monoxide, inadequate cooling of the gas, and maintenance of equipment. Therefore, the only acceptable source is compressed CO in cylinders." [Emphasis added.] Only the latter, compressed carbon monoxide (CO), is used at the Garland shelter. All recommendations from the AVMA are followed. Dr Robert J Neunzig, DVM, wrote for Compendium, a magazine for veterinarians, his observations on the technique.
 
Those on both sides of this issue will surely agree that we humans need to be more conscious of our actions toward our pets — and their reproductive capacity — and to not be the reason that an innocent animal pays with its life for our lack of responsibility.
 
[UPDATE Sept 9: Katie Fairbank's readers ask if something can be done to stop use of carbon monoxide]

[UPDATE Sept 16: WFAA says group calls euthanasia method inhumane]

[UPDATE Sept 19: DMN charges shelter illegally killed animals]

[UPDATE Sept 22: WFAA says mayor to probe allegations]

[UPDATE Oct 2: Fairbanks announces city to transition away from carbon monoxide]

[UPDATE Oct 3: Expanded news on transition away from carbon monoxide]

[UPDATE Oct 7: Garland council votes to restrict carbon monoxide] [See rebuttal here.]

[UPDATE Oct 20: Richard removes carbon monoxide chamber and protesters to appear at Garland council meeting]

[UPDATE Nov 10: Kittens no longer at shelter]

[UPDATE Dec 6: Euthanasia change on target]

[UPDATE Dec 27: Columnist witnesses carbon monoxide euthanasia]

An article in last week's Dallas Morning News reported that the City of Richardson had installed blinking-yellow left-turn signals at some intersections. Drivers were interviewed that described their confusion with the new signals.
 
Blinking yellow is old news to many Garland drivers.
 
When we see a left-turn signal in most cities, it is green and signifies that the driver has a protected left turn. If it turns yellow, it means slow down and stop, the light is about to change to red. (Or to some people: hit the gas before it turns red … and pray.)
 
The blinking-yellow arrow really means: a left turn is allowed but yield the right of way and be careful!
 
Garland drivers that happen to drive through those parts of Richardson with the new signals won't be among those confused. That's because we've had such signals at several locations for quite some time. The intersection that I first noticed them was Walnut and Shiloh in west Garland.
 
Robert Wunderlich, director of transportation, mentioned the installations as they were occurring. He said that they had watched the intersections and drivers were able to quickly adapt to the new signals. The use actually seems to be intuitive for newer drivers but seasoned drivers have a little longer adjustment period. Make that an "unadjustment" period.
 

 
The Texas Dept of Transportation recently released a report on the 100 Most Congested Roadway Segments in Texas. It was certainly not a surprise to see parts of Central Expressway, LBJ Freeway, and Stemmons Freeway on the list.
 
It was a surprise to see Forest Ln in practically the heart of Garland on the list.
 
The report is informative in a number of areas. It reports on the delay drivers experience during heavy congestion compared to when the road is free flowing. For example, Central Expressway inside I-635 can take 63% longer to travel the same distance when drive times are compared between peak and off-peak, among the worst sections in the state. Looking toward 2028 it only gets worse. That same stretch is expected to take three times longer, or 300%. TxDOT also notes what improvements it plans.
 
Forest Ln from Garland Ave in Downtown Garland west to I-635 and on to the North Dallas Tollway ranks number 79 on the list. The delay, estimated to be 31% longer during peak, amounts to 56,246 extra hours per mile spent each year riding the brake more than using the gas pedal. As to improvements? None listed.
 
Most of the roadways reported are freeways or tollways, some type of controlled-access highway. There are a few regular streets like Forest in other communities though: West Parker in Plano, Marsh through North Dallas, Collins in Arlington, and Hulen in Fort Worth.
 
The good news for north Garland residents is only the section of SH-190 (PGBT) between Coit and I-35 is on the list, at number 32. We already knew that Central would be on any list. In fact, three separate sections of US-75 are listed in the top 20 most congested roadway segments.
 

Seeing Red, White, and Blue: Robyn and Douglas Athas tootling along in the Garland Jaycees' Labor Day Parade.
Photo credit: Linda Jaresh

 
Monday was the Garland Jaycees' 64th Annual Labor Day Parade. Boy Scout Troop 57 led the parade this year with a flag honor guard, a large float, and a canoe. A fire engine from Station 1 separated the Scouts from the first of the politicians. It took State Representative Joe Driver, US Representative Sam Johnson, Mayor Ron Jones, and the Council members about thirty minutes to traverse the entire parade route. Incredibly, the whole parade was a little under two hours by the time all the participants had found their way to Central Park. I shouldn't point this out but it is easy to go the whole parade route and then make your way back to the end and do it all over again. I didn't notice anyone doing that but I'm just saying … the parade is that big.
 
The photo above by Linda Jaresh must be just one of hundreds that she seems to have taken during the parade. To recapture the spirit of the event and to see some of what you missed, her photos have been posted to her site, Around Garland. My appreciation to Linda for her hard work and to the all the Jaycees that have kept this historic event going all these years in Garland.
 

UPDATE: Comments closed to block spam hits.
 

The North Texas Turnpike Authority and Rowlett High School have used technology to bring to listeners oral reports on the progress of the Eastern Extension of SH-190. Work on the extension is very obvious near Firewheel Town Center and continues in a loop through Sachse, Rowlett, and south Garland to I-30. The first podcast can be heard here but follow the links in the press release below to hear monthly updates.
 

NTTA Using Podcasts to Offer PGBT EE Construction Updates

Plano, TX – Motorists can now keep up with progress on the President George Bush Turnpike Eastern Extension (PGBT EE) through podcasts containing information about the roadway’s construction activities and traffic impacts.
 
The project is part of a joint effort between the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) and Rowlett High School (RHS).
 
For the monthly podcast, NTTA staff writes informational scripts and records the audio. RHS students and their advisers then edit and post the podcast online.
 
“We are pleased that we were given the opportunity to work with Rowlett High School to provide information about this critical mobility project,” said Rick Herrington, NTTA deputy executive director. “These podcasts provide an additional tool for communicating with motorists about this project.”
 
The first podcast is online and addresses a traffic detour on Kirby Road in front of the high school. To access it, go to the RHS Web site, click on “media gallery,” then “announcements,” then “Turnpike Tidbits.”
 
The 9.9-mile PGBT EE is part of the Loop 9/State Highway 190 corridor that first was envisioned in the 1960s. It will lengthen the PGBT southeast from State Highway (SH) 78, over Lake Ray Hubbard, to Interstate Highway (IH) 30. Construction on the extension began in October 2008; it is expected to open to traffic in late 2011.
 

Source: North Texas Turnpike Authority online

 
Several weeks ago, I passed along the announcement that tolls would be increasing. I even offered some "well educated" thoughts on the matter:

 
It's perhaps ironic that the rate increase is being justified because of a traffic decrease. Economics 101 teaches that increasing the cost of travel will lead to even less traffic (less demand), exasperating the problem. Granted, there are a number of factors that can affect the elasticity of that formula and I don't have that information. If the decrease in traffic is solely due to the economy, the remaining users might be willing to absorb the increase rather than choose cheaper but slower and more congested routes. If drivers do find acceptable alternative routes, getting them back even with an improving economy will be a challenge. There is a traffic study due that will be based on the higher rates; it will be interesting to see if it contemplates these basic economic principles.
 

 
If the demand is "inelastic," so strong that price is not a significant factor, then the increased tolls would not have much effect on tollway traffic counts.
 
It's too early to say definitively but I learned at today's Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition meeting that traffic counts have changed little from pre-increase to now. While there are small variances, nothing shows that traffic has decreased overall.
 
It may be that drivers just simply aren't aware that they are paying more. Automatic collections could mask or delay driver awareness. It may start to sink in when they see bills that are suddenly higher.
 
However, it looks more likely that drivers didn't see the increase as enough to effect their driving preferences. That means a couple things: (1) traffic levels will remain the same but toll collections will increase, and (2) the tollway authority could raise rates higher without damage to traffic counts. The latter is kinda scary.
 
I do know that my use hasn't dropped an iota.
 

As noted below, about seven of every eight American cities have weaker budgets this year.
 

From Shopping Centers Today Newswire:
 
Sales tax revenue is more vital than ever to fiscally strapped municipalities, according to the National League of Cities. The organization reports that 88 percent of U.S. cities say they are fiscally weaker this year than last year. On average, city governments face budget gaps of 2.9 percent this year, on expectations of average sales tax declines of 3.8 percent and income tax shortfalls of 1.3 percent. Fallen property values, meanwhile, are hitting too. Cities will be in even worse shape next year, the league says in its report, which draws on data from the finance chiefs of 379 American cities with populations of 10,000 or more.
 
[More]
 

 
Texas cities rely more on property taxes than sales taxes but many do strongly benefit from sales taxes. Garland has traditionally not been particularly sales-tax dependent because we didn't have significant sales tax revenue. That has changed some over the last few years since approval of beer and wine sales, the opening of the Firewheel Town Center, and Bass Pro. Now lower sales are felt more:
 

Garland Sales Tax Revenue Percentage Change by Month from Prior Year

 
The story is similar across the Metroplex but we are doing a little worse (third chart) than several of those cities, which wasn't true in other recent recessions.
 

 
Typically, there is a lag of at least 18 months before cities begin to feel the effects of economic conditions, specialists say. “Cities face the burden of confronting the effects of the downturn for years after any recession ends,” said Michael A. Pagano, dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois, a co-author of the report.
 

 
That latter quote from the same article is particularly appropriate. When you are in a hole and things level out, you're still in a hole. If things get better, you can work your way out of the hole but it takes time. Typically, according to research by Bryan Bradford, Garland's director of budget and research, that's a three-year process, judging by recent recessions. However, Bryan isn't as "optimistic" this time. He sees a five-year climb out of the hole once things turn around.
 
We haven't necessarily seen the bottom of this recession yet. Today's employment news has worsened; unemployment is the highest in 26 years. We probably aren't at the bottom. When we are, the climb out will be slow and lengthy.
 
It is important to understand that we have challenges, that we have been facing those challenges, and that we'll have to keep our belts cinched for awhile.
 
Like in the story of the Grasshopper and the Ant, "It is best to prepare for the days of necessity." We are in a challenging position but we have prepared pretty well, better than many other cities.
 

City of Garland Health Department
Public Health Notice

On September 3, 2009, the Garland Health Department (GHD) received notification of the death of a Garland resident resulting from the H1N1 influenza virus. The resident was a 37-year-old male with a history of an underlying medical condition. He died on August 29, 2009. This represents the first confirmed death in Garland resulting from the H1N1 flu strain.
 
The GHD continues to coordinate surveillance and planning efforts with other local agencies and jurisdictions. Residents should take the following steps to help reduce the spread of the H1N1 virus.

• Practice good personal hygiene including frequent hand washing and the use of hand sanitizer.
• Cover coughs or sneezes.
• Isolate yourself as much as reasonably possible if you are sick. Sick individuals should not attend work, school, or other public events until fever subsides for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever reducing medications).
• Report flu like illness to your medical practitioner.
• Avoid others who appear sick.
• Obtain a seasonal flu shot as soon as possible and monitor local news media for information on the availability of H1N1 vaccine.

The GHD anticipates the arrival of the first doses of H1N1 vaccine to occur in mid to late October. High priority groups such as the immunocompromised and health care workers will receive the first doses and vaccinations will be available to the general public as soon as supplies allow.
 

City of Garland Press Release:

Healthy Living Expo 2009: Health and Environment Come Together

Learn how to improve your personal health and the health of the environment all in one event: Healthy Living Expo 2009 – “Healthy You, Healthy Earth: Rx for a Better World.”

 
The City of Garland, Garland ISD, Baylor Medical Center at Garland and the Garland Chamber of Commerce will join forces on Saturday, September 26, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the GISD Special Events Center, to look at how caring for both ourselves and the earth creates a healthy lifestyle, and has a positive impact on the world around us. The Expo will offer exhibitor booths, free services, demonstrations and entertainment, all focused on helping citizens make positive changes to their daily lives.
 
“Healthy You” will provide health screenings and immunizations, plus information on prevention services, stress reduction methods, fitness activities, and much more. Five hundred free cholesterol screenings will be available, on a first come first served basis, beginning at 10 a.m. Seasonal flu shots will be administered by the Garland Health Department from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. only. The cost of flu shots for children 6 months to 18 years old will be $10; 19 years and older $20. Medicaid and Medicare Part B participants should bring current paperwork. A limited supply of the pneumococcal vaccine is available for $40. This vaccine is usually given to adults 65 years and older and is covered by Medicare Part B or those individuals younger than 65 with chronic health conditions. A limited supply of the tetanus booster, Tdap, for adolescents and adults 11 years and older will be available. The cost is $10 for children age 11-18 and $20 for adults 19-64 years old.
 
Learn about “Healthy Earth” topics, such as recycling, conservation, energy efficiency, gardening and alternative fuels. The first 1,000 attendees will receive a microfiber, reusable shopping bag containing a variety of goodies and information (one per family, please). Radio Disney will rock the Expo with music, prizes and “eco-friendly” competitions for kids and parents.
 
Showerhead Exchange – The City of Garland Water Utilities Department will have1,000 low-flow showerheads available. Bring your old showerhead to exchange, along with a City of Garland utility bill and identification verifying that you are the utility subscriber. (Limit one showerhead per household, please.) The City will make sure the old devices are disposed of in an environmentally-appropriate way!
 
Electronic Recycling by the Environmental Co-op – You can drive up and drop off a wide range of electronic equipment such as computers, telephones, circuit boards, dvd/cd players, copiers, printers, video equipment from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until their trucks are full. A fee is associated with properly disposing of these items: $5 per computer monitor and $10 - $30 per television, based on screen size.. You can also drop off microwaves, air conditioners, batteries, and small household appliances, as well as eyeglasses that will be donated to the Lions Club.
 
The Expo will also feature a document shredding service for outdated or sensitive records, provided by Greenstar Northamerica, LLC. The shred truck will be onsite from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until the truck is full.
 
For more information, visit www.GarlandGoesGreen.org or www.GarlandChamber.com.
 

The Dallas Morning News gives a recap of last night's Council meeting and some of the build-up in an article today. It does a nice job of expanding the information in my post earlier today.
 

From the Dallas Morning News:

Garland City Council OKs budget that cuts workers' pay 1.15%

07:07 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 2, 2009
By RAY LESZCYNSKI / The Dallas Morning News
rleszcynski@dallasnews.com
 
These are hard times, and city employees are all in this together. That's been the battle cry throughout the 2009-10 Garland budget process, but the City Council applied the phrase literally Tuesday night.
 
City Manager Bill Dollar proposed a budget that required all city employees to give up 1.15 percent of their pay, their step raises and their bilingual pay.

Garland budget at a glance   • 2009-2010 operating budget: $560.7 million, including publicly owned utility, Garland Power & Light   • 1.15 percent pay reduction for all city employees   • No funds allocated for the Star Spangled Fourth   • The city's tax rate will increase 0.7 percent, from 69.96 cents to 70.46 cents per $100 valuation. The city says the increase would be $4.60 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home and $6.90 for the owner of a $150,000 home, after accounting for the homestead exemption; the Dallas Central Appraisal District lists the average home value in Garland at $120,537.

 
A plan to give employees compensation time was separated from the proposal before the City Council approved the cuts Tuesday.
 
The 229-member Garland Fire Fighters Association has been outspoken on the cuts, saying it was taking up the issues of the city's entire 2,031-member workforce.
 
But the tables were turned Monday night in the final budget work session.
 
The paid time off all city employees were to receive in exchange for their pay cut was pulled off the table, and the onus to restore it was placed squarely on the fire department.
 
"The last few weeks, you've heard a lot of testimony on the fact that if we go forward with the extra three days off as a result of the 1.15 percent reduction, there is a belief by a number of the fire department that we will be unsafe," Dollar said.
 
"And I in no way want council to vote on safe vs. unsafe. That is not what this budget is about."
 
If the fire department can figure out how to sustain its staffing levels within the next 30 days, all city employees will receive the days off as originally proposed, Dollar said.
 
"It'll either be up or down," he said. "If it will be an issue, we will not do the three days."
 
All other tenets of the originally proposed budget went through without change, including a half-cent increase in the tax rate for debt service.
 
On Monday, the council came within a single vote of preserving the bilingual pay for 41 police and fire employees. About 150 employees currently receive the benefit.
 
"I can't see giving it to two groups and taking it away from everybody else," said council member Preston Edwards who, thanks to his seat at the end of the table, cast the deciding vote.
 
A more resounding defeat was given to the notion of rebudgeting the city's Star Spangled Fourth celebration, even though the proposal to spend $40,000 was a far cry from the $101,703 that was deemed available or the $240,000 the city had spent in past years.
 
"I cannot in good conscience cut anybody's salary and then go out and spend money in this manner," council member Barbara Chick said.
 
The festival could come up at a later date and several council members still seem open to the idea, particularly if private funding or sponsorships became available.
 
Representatives of Firewheel Town Center spoke during the budget process and expressed an interest in hosting the event again.
 
And Mayor Pro Tem Laura Cox pointed to the potential of the community-driven party hosted last July 4 on the downtown square.
 

Sam Johnson to kick-off Congressional Youth Advisory Council

Students have until 9-22 to apply

 
This week in Frisco, U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist.-Texas) will officially kick-off the Third District Congressional Youth Advisory Council and invite students to apply for the 2009-2010 school year. The CYAC will be open to students enrolled in public, private and home schools. High school and senior high school students who reside in the Third District have until September 22nd to apply.
 
“The last election showed what I have known and seen for several years now - young people want to speak out and make a difference. The Congressional Youth Advisory Council encourages young people to get more involved in local government and engaged on national issues and current events,” said Johnson.
 
Johnson created the CYAC in 2004. The Council’s goal is two-fold. First, the group will provide Johnson with greater student perspective and insight on issues that directly affect them in their every day lives. Second, Council activities will help educate students on government policies relevant to young people. Students will learn about the development of public policy and explore the role of citizens, lawmakers, experts, and institutions and their impact on the world’s most successful democracy.
 
Students must apply for the CYAC and may only serve on CYAC two of four years between grades 9 – 12 to ensure as many students may participate as possible. For the application to be considered students must submit the completed application form, a letter of parental permission, a current photo for identification purposes only, a short personal essay and two letters of recommendation.
 
Once selected, the members of the Council will meet approximately twice each school semester in the Third District. The Council will be composed of high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors selected based on leadership ability, academic performance, extra curricular activities and community service.
 
“As I have seen over the years, it is my hope that the Council will benefit our young people and those of us working in their best interests,” continued Johnson. Anyone interested in applying can access a CYAC application form in the student section on Johnson’s website www.samjohnson.house.gov. The form must be submitted to Johnson’s office by September 22nd.
 
McCall Avery
Communications Director
Congressman Sam Johnson (TX03)
Click here to sign up for Sam Johnson's e-newsletter.
 

 
All of District 1 is in the Third Congressional District so all high school students in District 1 are eligible. For other areas of Garland, if you or someone you know is interested, follow this link to a map of the district to check eligibility.
 

The conundrum buried in the title to this post bears bad news and good. Last night the Council adopted the budget and we did so unanimously. As with any budget, there will be some controversy because some will be asked to pay or bear more and they're not going to like it. Taxpayers are being asked to support a higher tax rate and city employees are facing a pay cut. Bad news for everyone.
 
The tax rate increase, a half cent, takes the overall city tax rate to 70.46¢ per $100 valuation. The half cent will go only toward retiring debt. The Operations and Maintenance budget, which is used to operate the city, actually shrinks some and the associated tax rate is unchanged.
 

Historical property tax rates (in cents)

 
The city has been operated with the same tax rate for the last four years. Debt resulting primarily from projects approved by voters in the 2004 bond package has been the sole reason for a rising tax rate.
 
I have voted against every O&M budget since being elected to office. I have pressed to find savings and asked for innovation. My opinions on high taxes and their effect on growth and investment are oft stated in many previous posts. Without growth and investment, we can't get from under the umbrella of high taxes and debt and move ahead as a city. Expectantly, there has been resistance every year ("But there's nothing left to cut!"). Yet the following year, cuts have been found and tax increases have been curtailed to a degree.
 
This year I voted to pass the budget. As mentioned, operations did not receive more money. The CIP, presented to Council earlier in the year and adopted, was drastically scaled back from previous CIP budgets. The CIP is funded with debt. A few additional projects could have been cut to avoid any tax increase but there wasn't much. A new recreation center for west Garland was probably one of the bigger items. However, I strongly support that rec center for an extensive number of reasons, all which I think will help, to a degree, bring prosperity to that side of town. I don't argue that the center alone will do that but it is a significant part of a greater effort that will strongly benefit by the presence of the rec center. I had hoped to avoid the half-cent increase through reduced construction costs that all sectors are seeing.
 
If your property appraisal next year remains the same, as ours did this year, your total city taxes for the year would rise $4.60 per $100,000. For seniors, the rise would be $2.05.
 

Annual impact of ½-cent tax rate increase

 
Ah, that conundrum: how can there be a tax rate increase but a tax decrease? Overall property values in the city dropped 3.5% this year. On average, taxpayers will actually pay less city taxes next year — households would see an $18.09 drop per $100,000 and seniors would do even better at $20.64. That's an average. My family won't see a decrease and many others won't but, on average, we will.
 
And the conundrum within the conundrum: Will declining property values be used to justify increased tax rates if the amount of taxes is not increasing? The simple answer is inevitably yes. And maybe that is acceptable to residents if they understand how they are directly impacted and to what degree.
 
What happens when property values start to rise again? Will politicians have the fortitude to reduce the tax rate or will they take advantage of more money being available?
 
Oh, man, there's another conundrum!
 

 
UPDATE: Comments closed to block spam hits.