Columnist Steve Blow wrote an article for Sunday's Dallas Morning News that looked at Garland's animal euthanasia issue that made the news several times over the last few months. His column was very similar to my first post on the subject: euthanasia is the sad result when pet owners are irresponsible. Unlike his "investigative reporter" colleague, he witnessed a carbon monoxide euthanasia and concluded that we are "switching from one approved method of euthanasia to another approved method of euthanasia."
 
The city's pending switch was first detailed in a memo to the Council and city manager by Richard Briley, Managing Director of Health & Code Compliance, on Sept 30. Glancing at the comments appended to the online version of the story (as linked above), there is a persistent assertion that our Animal Shelter had some how been operating improperly. Mr Blow's colleague had claimed that there there were a number of illegal violations, which she never in fact investigated. She did contact the shelter with a list of supposed violations but did not wait for a response before publishing her claims. As Mr Briley's memo states, only one incident from her list appears to have been a violation, and that one by an employee that had been terminated for other reasons. In separate conversations with Mr Briley, I learned that most of the supposed violations were for incidents where no age was entered for the animal because the officer couldn't tell. The animal may have been four-years-old or eight years, as an example. The reporter and her source inferred that no age entered meant "really young" or something equivalent.
 
Sadly, for the many inches of newsprint and several television stories, the focus has been on what method that unclaimed, unadopted animals were killed. Mr Blow estimates that as many as 100,000 animals are euthanized in North Texas each year. For all the postulating and pontificating that we have seen previously (and documented on this blog), over population will continue, the same number will continue to die because nothing was done to report on the behavior that was the source of the problem. So much more could have been accomplished educating the public to have their pets spayed or neutered and to have encouraged more adoptions.
 
With respect, Mr Blow has finally made the correct observations and stated the greater good for North Texas pets.
 

From the Dallas Morning News:

Euthanasia uproar in Garland obscured real issue of animal overpopulation

09:39 AM CST on Sunday, December 27, 2009
By Steve Blow
 
What a lousy victory.
 

Starting Friday, lethal injection will replace carbon-monoxide gas as the city's primary method of euthanasia. Photo: KYE R. LEE/DMN

Yes, a passionate group succeeded in forcing Garland to change its animal-euthanasia policy. A new death chamber is taking shape at the Garland Animal Shelter.
 
Starting Friday, lethal injection will replace carbon- monoxide gas as the primary method of animal euthanasia at the Garland Animal Shelter.
 
But what a lousy victory. Because either way, almost 6,000 dogs and cats, puppies and kittens will still end up dead and in the city's garbage dump this year.
 
Forgive me if I don't break out the champagne to toast this triumph.
 
During the extensive news coverage of the euthanasia controversy, I kept wishing that just a smidgen of that attention could be focused on the real problem – the extreme overpopulation of dogs and cats in our area.
 
In fact, the only news I heard related to that real problem was bad news – a program to provide free spaying and neutering in low-income areas is flat broke and turning away pet owners.
 
That's the story that should have been in headlines, not this Pyrrhic victory of switching from one approved method of euthanasia to another approved method of euthanasia.
 
That's right. Contrary to misimpressions you may have gotten, Garland has always been using a euthanasia method fully endorsed and approved as humane by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
 
In fact, as I talked to Garland city officials about this situation, they seemed eager for me to actually witness the gas-euthanasia process. And so I did.
 
Mention of carbon-monoxide euthanasia creates images of a crude hose-and-tailpipe contraption. In fact, the city uses a commercially built system – a stainless-steel box about five feet on each side, attached to industrial-type bottles of CO.
 
Animals are placed in separate cages (up to four at a time) and rolled into the box. I watched as a single animal – a 55-pound pit bull – was rolled in.
 
A glass door makes the whole process highly visible. And it doesn't take long.
 
The dog sat docilely, looking back at me looking at him. The gas quietly hissed. And in about a minute, the dog suddenly wobbled, his eyes lost focus and he toppled over.
 
It was sad, quick work. And I wished that this dog's lousy owner could have been forced to watch.
 
The pit was picked up running loose. Animal Services Manager Diana Oats said he wore a harness and was well-fed. But no one appeared at the shelter to claim him.
 
No surprise there. She said such owners often prefer to get another puppy rather than claim an animal from the shelter.
 
And, of course, the dog wasn't neutered. A fresh litter of unwanted puppies may be on the way right now.
 
It's nice that there are people vigilant about humane euthanasia.
 
And rescue groups do a wonderful job of saving some animals and getting them into good homes.
 
But let's not delude ourselves. For all their effort, the underlying problem gets no better at all.
 
Almost 6,000 animals will die in Garland. And that's just the start. About 30,000 will be put down in Dallas. Some say the total for North Texas could be as high as 100,000 a year.
 
We've got to find a way to wake up irresponsible pet owners. Sentencing them to a day of death-chamber duty might be a start.
 
And we've got to be as passionate about stopping the flood of unwanted dogs and cats as we are about plucking a lucky few from the river.
 
Garland begins a new policy on Friday, but it's no victory.
 

I know there is a cost element in this decision to not "overly decorate" the new Eastern Extension that starts at Firewheel Town Center. However, I've been thinking for a while that some of the "embellishments" along our newer highways were over done. I like the articulation and the embedded Texas stars but I haven't warmed to the colored columns at Central and LBJ, even though I've tried. I have also been struck by the constant maintenance that will be required. Even now, when something wears out or starts to look bad, it is so noticeable. I'm not for "noticeable" when people are driving near me because I want them to be aware of my presence to the safest level possible.
 
I have noticed that the concrete work has been underway along the Extension for several weeks and I've not inspected it closely but this new policy might work well. There is a lot to be said for simpler.
 

NTTA News Release:

Eastern Extension Features Natural Concrete

Retaining walls and bridge columns, caps, beams and decking are going up all along the President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT) Eastern Extension, giving residents in eastern Dallas County an idea of how the roadway will look when it opens in late 2011.
 
The goal of the NTTA and its contractors, however, is for these features to blend in so well they are hardly noticeable.
 
In 2003, the NTTA established System-Wide Design Guidelines, which require concrete elements to be consistent in appearance and to have minimal embellishments in order to blend in with the surroundings and reduce the need for maintenance, among other benefits.
 
Concrete features constructed before creation of these guidelines tend not to be uniform in appearance, so they have to be painted, or coated, and require periodic sandblasting and resurfacing. This process not only can be costly, but it can disburse volatile organic compounds into the air and cause traffic interruptions during the restoration. Also, before the work is done, the coated surfaces can peel and become unsightly.
 
The Eastern Extension, from Firewheel Town Center in Garland south to the north shore of Lake Ray Hubbard in Rowlett, is the first NTTA project that will be constructed entirely under the guideline's concrete requirements, referred to as the “850 specification” or “850 spec.”
 
The intent of the 850 spec is to ensure that the roadway’s concrete elements – whether precast or cast in place – are high quality enough to be attractive in their natural state.
 
To do that, the 850 spec was included in the Eastern Extension’s construction contracts, making the contractors aware that they won’t get paid if the appearance doesn’t meet expectations. Retaining wall panel mockups have been built to serve as examples, and products that are the wrong color, have pockmarks or have other undesirable components are rejected. In addition, visual quality inspectors are on hand at the plant where precast retaining wall panels are being made, and a team regularly visits the construction site to monitor the cast-in-place elements.
 
The System-Wide Design Guidelines are an example of the NTTA's commitment to the community it serves through strong visual guidelines that fuel growth and development.
 
The Eastern Extension will add 9.9 miles to the PGBT, traverse Lake Ray Hubbard via a bridge under construction by the Texas Department of Transportation and then connect with Interstate Highway 30.
 

Please note that garbage, recycling, and brush collection will continue but Friday collections will be on Saturday!
 

City of Garland Press Release:

City Government Holiday Schedule

City of Garland offices, libraries, recreation centers and Utility Customer Service offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, December 24 and 25, and Friday, January 1.
 
Regular collection of garbage, recycling, and brush is scheduled for Thursday, December 24 and Thursday, December 31. No collections will occur on Friday, December 25 or Friday, January 1. Friday collection routes will be picked up on Saturday, December 26 and Saturday, January 2.
 
For more details as well as Recycling Center, Transfer Station and Landfill hours, visit the City of Garland website at www.GarlandTX.gov.
 

We have plenty of good neighbors in District 1. There are probably one or two very near you. Won't you let Mayor Jones know who you think he should recognize?
 

City of Garland Press Release:

Mayor’s Good Neighbor Award: Accepting Nominations

Mayor Ronald Jones’ office is accepting nominations for the next Mayor’s Good Neighbor Award.
 
The award is given quarterly to residents or property owners in Garland that have demonstrated significant improvements or upgrades to their property that will provide a positive physical impact to their neighborhood. The award will be granted based on project innovation, potential for replication, mitigation of unsightly conditions, collaboration or partnership, volunteer contributions, and increased property value.
 
Residents and property owners are encouraged to nominate their neighbors for this award. Nomination packets are available on the City’s website, www.GarlandTx.gov, or at the Mayor’s Office, City Hall, 200 N. Fifth Street in Downtown Garland. Call 972-205-2400 for more information. The deadline for 4th Quarter 2009 nominations is January 31, 2010.
 
The winner will be announced at the February 16, 2010 Regular Meeting of the Garland City Council.
 

More information on the recent TMPA and member cities' lawsuit settlement was published in an article in Saturday's Metro section of the Dallas Morning News. In a previous post, I took a look at the Garland individuals most involved in the settlement.
 

From the Dallas Morning News:

Garland residents avoid electric rate increase

12:00 AM CST on Saturday, December 19, 2009
By RAY LESZCYNSKI / The Dallas Morning News
rleszcynski@dallasnews.com
 
The member cities of the Texas Municipal Power Agency were bogged down in debt, feuding, litigation and an uncertain future.
 
Twenty lawsuits over the course of a dozen years had sidetracked the cities – Bryan, Denton, Garland and Greenville – from their calling to provide consistent, stable rates to customers. And when the attention was refocused this week, the city that owns 47 percent of the agency and its debt celebrated.
 
Ray Schwertner, director of Garland Power & Light, called a settlement agreement among the partners a great deal Wednesday night as Garland became the last city to accept the terms. Garland ratepayers will avoid a spike of about 2 cents per kilowatt-hour between fiscal 2010 and 2012, and as a result, the residential rate will stay at 11.13 cents per kilowatt-hour.
 
"We're not incurring new debt. We're taking it upon the city to take that debt and restructure that debt so that it's beneficial to us and our ratepayers," Schwertner said. "That ability to restructure this creates about $135 million of rate savings between now and 2018."
 
Garland will extend debt that was to be paid by 2018 to fit the projected life cycle of the agency's Gibbons Creek coal plant in Grimes County, which in the most recent study, was to 2035. Cities are no longer tied to each other's debt and can get lower interest rates than could the power agency.
 
Each city maintains an equal share of the TMPA voting powers. That board is led by former Garland City Council member Tom Jefferies, who has been involved in the city's complex utility dealings for more than 20 years.
 
The settling of the litigation also takes future attorney fees out of the picture. But because Garland was represented by City Attorney Brad Neighbor and assistant Michael Betz, the city had kept those fees somewhat in check.
 
"It was certainly a great team effort," Jefferies said, crediting Schwertner and the city attorneys. "It was one of those things we were optimistic that we were going to get, but never quite sure."
 
Among the disputes, Bryan had argued that because it is closer to the Grimes County plant, it should pay a lower transmission cost than the other member cities. The agreement instead continues to provide for a bundled contract in which the cost of delivering electricity for all cities is included in the price charged to the each member until 2018.
 
Another point agreed upon was to share the costs of refurbishing a scrubber device to control emissions at the Gibbons Creek plant.
 

 
Just 18 months ago when natural gas rates were high, GP&L rates were the lowest in the region because we had the benefit of power from the TMPA coal-powered generation plant at Gibbons Creek. Since then, gas has dropped to lows not seen for many years, which made our coal-generated power less competitive, and—even though rates have not changed—GP&L rates became among the highest in the region. Fortunately, the GP&L rate has more recently been somewhat more competitive. However, looking long-range there was no little possible relief in sight because TMPA rates were expected to rise significantly to cover the higher payments that come with short-term debt as necessitated by the short life of the power sales agreement that expires in 2018.
 
Much of the reason behind the plethora of lawsuits that have arisen over the last dozen years have stemmed from that shrinking window for debt repayment and the more business-like case of not front-loading debt payments but extending it over a more prudent period beyond 2018.
 
As referenced in the story above, the settlement agreement allows all parties to continue by the terms of the current power sales agreement, which also serves to keep the TMPA rates we pay down because TMPA is not forced to encumber additional short-term debt. The cities can each handle their share of additional debt in whatever manner is to the best interest of their ratepayers.
 
If TMPA rates were to rise as appeared necessary, the rates for GP&L customers would have similarly been forced to rise. The agreement removes that upward pressure. Garland and GP&L can more successfully handle the additional debt through longer debt terms, lower interest rates, and access to the Rate Mitigation Fund that was established for debt relief and rate protection than would have been the case under the restrictions in place before the settlement.
 
Under the new agreement, there is no pressure to raise rates for many years. The opportunities to lower rates may be limited but at least there is some prospect now.
 
UPDATE: A couple paragraphs above, I reference the rates we the citizens and city, as owners of GP&L, pay to TMPA. I live in the 15% of the city not served by GP&L. I do not have access to GP&L and usually get to pay a higher rate to some outside utility. Those of us on the fence between being owners of GP&L but not directly paying the debt sometimes sit in a confusing position.
 

Ray Schwertner, GP&L Director, recommends approval of compromise TMPA agreement.

As described in the press release below, the Council met in a special meeting last night to consider approval of a global compromise agreement. It was unanimously approved by all Council members present. I was the only one not there because I couldn't get back across the Metroplex by the 6 pm starting time, but I would have voted the same. I have since viewed the replay and invite everyone to watch electric utility director Ray Schwertner's presentation explaining the basics of the agreement (Item 1).
 
The agreement itself is relatively simple but it ends years of complex litigation and dysfunction. Even getting to the point of being able to agree was a complex process, involving many meetings and many people.
 
I was disappointed that I was caught in traffic and couldn't be at the meeting because I would like to have expressed my appreciation to all those that helped secure this agreement, including many that were not mentioned by name last night or in today's press release, many at GP&L. However, three individuals did more than anyone else.
 
Doing the most to secure this $200 million benefit for Garland residents and ratepayers was Ray Schwertner. While there were congratulations and self-congratulations extended all around, the one that did the most was mentioned least. Council members past and present, other city employees, consultants, and lawyers have for years failed to make any progress resolving these suits and addressing the operating issues that exposed ratepayers to higher electric costs.
 
As you can witness at the link above, Mr Schwertner was effluent in his recognition of others but dwelled not at all on his own extensive role. He is a gentleman with great class. As assistant city attorney Mike Betz, one of the other two most-important persons in this accomplishment, told me—I'm paraphrasing—Mr Schwertner skillfully guided the parties toward the issues that should have been their primary interest and away from the red herrings and petty personality squabbles that had stalled previous efforts. He stressed making sound business decisions, which I absolutely couldn't agree more. Very few will be able to look between the lines of the public record and witness the real story of how all this was accomplished.
 
The other person that filled the trio was Tom Jefferies, past Council member and the current chairman of the Texas Municipal Power Agency board, serving as one of Garland's two representatives. Mr Jefferies was critical to negotiations because he constantly stayed above the emotions that were often rampant, he represented the fifth essential element of the agreement, TMPA, and, I'm told, he was often the shepherd that kept the players moving in the right direction.
 
Mr Betz has been immersed in the hurricane of litigation for some time, probably understanding the intricacies of the cases better than anyone else involved. He has constantly kept Garland in a favorable position throughout his involvement. When others were about to crack under the strains, Mike always looked like the marathoner ready for another 26 miles. The fact that Garland was represented by Mr Betz and Brad Neighbor, our city attorney, has saved Garland hundreds of thousands of dollars that the other cities were losing, especially Bryan because they were paying, in addition to their own attorney's office, outside counsel and a portion of TMPA's legal costs.
 
Even my singling this individuals out for praise falls short of the tremendous contributions each has given on behalf of the city. They each did much more than I can recount.
 
I presume there is an aire of jubilation in all the TMPA member cities now that the agreement has been ratified in each city. There are major and minor players on behalf of each city that deserve credit for their roles. I want to be sure that the three from Garland that were most instrumental receive a degree of the recognition they are due. I fully recognize that many others also played major roles and many gave tremendous time to the effort. One more individual that I would like to mention is city manager Bill Dollar. Mr Schwertner gave Bill credit for authorizing him to negotiate on behalf of Garland and that is extremely important. Mr Dollar could have any number of times been afraid to take the big steps that were necessary to reach a compromise, he could have resisted authorizing his staff to negotiate, and he could have hampered progress by inserting his ego but he did none of those. He did what a good leader does: he supported his team and gave them permission to win.
 
Like in the Wizard of Oz, those were the real wizards behind the curtain, Dorothy.
 

Garland Power and Light News Release:

Garland City Council Approves TMPA Settlement Agreement

At a special session, the Garland City Council unanimously approved a global compromise settlement agreement with the Texas Municipal Power Agency (TMPA) and member cities that will ensure steady electric rates for Garland Power & Light customers until 2018.
 
This settlement agreement resolves at least 12 years and 20 pieces of litigation involving the Texas Municipal Power Agency and its member cities which include the cities of Garland, Bryan, Denton and Greenville. With the Garland Council’s approval, the agreement has been approved by all member cities and the TMPA Board and is in effect until September 1, 2018.
 
"This is a great day for Garland," said Electric Utility Director Ray Schwertner. "We will avoid projected rate increases and have stable rates for our customers for many years to come."
 
This was accomplished by restructuring the debt to extend it to fit with the projected life cycle of TMPA’s Gibbon’s Creek coal power plant, which provides power to the member cities. The agreement also provides for a bundled contract in which the cost of delivering electricity is included in the price of the energy charged to the member cities until 2018.
 
Another result of the agreement will be cleaner air. A scrubber, a device designed to control emissions, will be refurbished and put back into service at the Gibbons Creek plant. "In a good faith effort to stay ahead of any regulations and to help protect the environment, the cities have agreed to fund the scrubber upgrade," said Schwertner.
 
Recognition to the TMPA Board and the member cities for their efforts in arriving at this landmark agreement was extended at the Council meeting. Former Garland Mayor James Ratliff and former Garland Council Member Tom Jefferies, who represent the City of the Garland on the Board, were cited for their perseverance in working with fellow board members to end the litigation and come to this agreement. The Garland City Council and staff were also praised for their diligent efforts, with special recognition for Mayor Pro Tem Laura Perkins Cox, City Attorney Brad Neighbor, Senior Assistant City Attorney Mike Betz, and Electric Utility Director Ray Schwertner.
 
"I congratulate everyone involved with this accomplishment, and I know we all look forward to working together in a new spirit of harmony," said Schwertner.

From the Dallas Morning News

In Season: Four Seasons European-style market at Firewheel

12:00 AM CST on Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Kim Pierce
 
If you're still looking for Christmas gifts, check out the Four Seasons European-style market Saturday at Firewheel Town Center in Garland.

• One of the most original stocking stuffers is from Sharla's Sweets: Sharla Perry calls it her peanut-butter pyramid, a single confection boxed inside a colorful pyramid that she makes; it's $3. The Garland confectioner also sells two- and four-piece boxes of her handmade truffles ($3 and $5 respectively), and bags of saltine almond toffee ($8). • For the committed foodie, there are jams, relishes, pickles and more from Robert's Relish Barn, made by Robert Byler in Maypearl. His most popular item is pickled beets, and apple butter is a close second. All come in 16-ounce jars that are $6 apiece or three for $15.   • Dread Head Chef Michael Weinstein has put together a gift crate (he made the crates himself) that contains his sweet and chocolate-dusted corn chips and 16-ounce jars of his sweet salsas: strawberry-mango and pineapple-banana- macadamia nut. It's $20.   At Four Seasons, you also can expect tempting cookies and baked goods, local honey and other foodstuffs. In addition, find handcrafted jewelry, gifts made with locally grown lavender from Purple Ranch Lavender Farm, special dog treats from two dog-biscuit bakers and eco-friendly gifts for babies at Green Baby Diaper Service. If you arrive hungry, Brisket Heaven makes excellent tacos.   411: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Firewheel Town Center, 245 Cedar Sage Road (George Bush Turnpike at U.S. 78), Garland. www.fourseasonsmarkets.com. In the event of inclement weather, the market will move inside the building north of the fountain.   Look for similar local-food finds at the Dallas Farmers Market and McKinney market on Saturday too; details below.

Stuff stockings with peanut-butter pyramids from Sharla's Sweets, available at the Four Seasons Market at Firewheel Town Center. Photos by BEN TORRES/Special Contributor

 
The Four Seasons Market has been realizing outstanding success with many positive reports from shoppers and other merchants at Firewheel Town Center since its opening. A note in D-Magazine indicates the market may be moving indoors for the season.
 

NOTICE OF A SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF GARLAND, TEXAS
CHAPTER 551, TEX. GOV'T CODE
Council Chambers
City Hall
200 N. Fifth St., Garland, Texas

NOTICE is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Garland, Texas will hold a special meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 to deliberate the following:
 

Consider the adoption of a resolution authorizing the execution of a global compromise settlement agreement regarding certain litigation, administrative proceedings, and other disputes among and between the City of Bryan, Texas, the City of Denton, Texas, the City of Garland, Texas, the City of Greenville, Texas and the Texas Municipal Power Agency.

 

Most Garland resident's know that we own 47% of the Texas Municipal Power Agency, along with Bryan, Denton, and Greenville. It is the source of most of our power but we also own other generating facilities. For our power needs beyond those resources, we buy on the open power market.
 
The partnership has worked well for its member cities but there have been conflicts, especially with Bryan, which has sued us, the other member cities, and TMPA several times. At each decision point, the courts have almost always ruled against Bryan. We haven't lost on any points but we haven't been able to close all points either.
 
Representatives from the cities have been meeting to explore if there was common ground that would enable a settlement of the pending law suits and other issues related to the operation of TMPA. Progress has been reported but any settlement must receive approval from all the member cities, which means approval by the city councils in each of the cities.
 
The Council will receive an update tonight in a special meeting. I have no idea how the meeting tonight will go but it is encouraging that there has been some progress after so many years of just the opposite.
 
I expect the meeting will be broadcast and can be viewed live on CGTV (Cable channels 14 or 44, Time Warner and Verizon FIOS, respectively), during replays also on the cable stations, streaming at the city's website, or from the broadcast archives also at the city's website. Using older technology, anyone interested could also attend the meeting at City Hall!
 

Reported crime incidents dropped in November, making it the second-lowest month since November last year. However, neighborhoods, which see less crime than the retail and commercial areas, were harder hit.
 
Thefts were lower than last month, always the highest-incident category, but still very near the twelve-month average (60.3). However, two-thirds of those incidents were for shoplifting, which means someone was apprehended.
 
Quite often commercial areas see other types of theft besides shoplifting. This month was similar but more thefts were in neighborhood areas than we usually see. The incident may be something stolen for a garage, carport, back of vehicle, or an incident other than burglary. On the counter side, residential burglaries were actually down lower than any point for more than a year.
 
There was a rise in the number of non-residential burglaries but all were confined to three properties. The apartments at Campbell and SH-190 accounted for 75% of those crimes. Incidents at District 1 apartments are rare so for one complex to be hit several times, almost all reported on the same day, is very unusual and very unfortunate for the residents there.
 
Violent crime was limited to only one incident, a business robbery.
 
On a related note, the Dallas Morning News yesterday reported that the Dallas Police Dept was not properly reporting crimes as set by the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. In Garland, Police Chief Mitch Bates has reviewed our reporting methods with the Council several times and has always indicated that we make every attempt to follow the FBI guidelines precisely. We did discover last year that we were not accurately reporting our numbers to the FBI but the mistake was caused by a software bug. That was corrected soon after it was discovered. We had accurate data but it wasn't being reported accurately. The data used for this monthly report comes directly from the officers' data, not through the FBI UCR numbers.
 
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.
 

Last Tuesday the Council renewed the city's contract with the Garland Chamber of Commerce to provide economic development assistance. Fifteen years ago the Garland Economic Development Partnership was created between the city, the Chamber, and the school district. I know of no other city that has a similar partnership and I'm often asked about it when talking to officials from other cities.
 
In 1994, the city was funding it's own economic development efforts to the tune of $800,000. Member cities of DART, like Garland, don't have the same ability to levy a sales tax within their boundaries to finance economic development as do other cities. DART cities pay to DART the collections of a one-percent sales tax. Non-member cities can assess that same rate but use it for economic development. That ability has been a watershed for cities like Mesquite, Allen, McKinney, and Frisco. Those cities that levy the tax for economic development must also use it for economic development.
 
For Garland and other DART cities that cannot levy a similar tax, we must use other sources to fund any economic development activities. For us, money for economic development comes much harder and is much more precious. Whatever we spend, we can only get it by taxing the citizens. If we had continued to fund our own efforts, it is estimated that we would spend over $1.2 million this year, using 3% as an inflation factor. The new contract has a base amount of $465,397, a savings of over $700,000 this year.
 
When he was elected in 1994, Mayor Jamie Ratliff did not see a reciprocal result for what we were spending for economic development and what we were getting. He sought another method that could be more efficient and effective. He envisioned today's Partnership and proceeded to organize it. In the fifteen years since, it is estimated that the Partnership has added $1.5 billion to the tax base and been responsible for creating or keeping over 16,000 jobs in Garland.
 
The new contract approved has several modifications. Many of those are the result of citizen comments and the efforts of Mayor Ron Jones and the city staff. Details from the meeting and the new contract are covered in an article in the today's Metro section of the Dallas Morning News:
 

From the Dallas Morning News:

Garland renews deal after Chamber of Commerce makes audits public

12:00 AM CST on Sunday, December 13, 2009
By RAY LESZCYNSKI / The Dallas Morning News
rleszcynski@dallasnews.com / The Dallas Morning News
Karel Holloway contributed to this report.
 
After releasing years-old audits at the final hour, the Garland Chamber of Commerce secured enough confidence to extend its 15-year economic development partnership with the city this week.
 
Garland residents and the City Council have taken it upon themselves to better track the chamber's public funds. The city's stake has increased from $250,000, when the partnership was established in 1994, to more than $465,000 last year. The Garland school district contributes $50,000 annually.
 
But when residents wanted a look at where the money was going, the chamber stated that its financial information was private.
 
Former mayoral candidate Mike Rose obtained a favorable ruling from the Texas attorney general's office to make the records public. At Tuesday's council meeting, he got an apology from Paul Mayer, the chamber's longtime chief executive officer.
 
"I'm learning the intricacies of working with a partnership with a public entity," Mayer told the council. "If it's your intent that we share that information as public information, that's exactly what we'll do."
 
Mayor Ron Jones emphasized that point, stating that under the new 10-year contract, annual audit information must be given out upon request as public information. The chamber will also present an annual plan to the council, starting in late January or early February.
 
"Everything we do is open as far as I'm concerned," Mayer said Friday. "The work plan is really going to give the council what they're looking for."
 
Questions asked
 
Rose credited former mayoral candidate Dino Quintanilla as being the first to ask the state for access to the annual audits, an effort dating to mid-2008. Former council member Jean McNeal has also been outspoken about the availability of the audits on her Web site.
 
"I thought it was important to put them on record that you're dealing with taxpayer money, you must account for it," Rose said.
 
For the last two years, the city's Audit Committee has stepped up its reviews, checking out the monthly statements provided by the chamber. The city auditor, the council members on the committee and Rose himself agree that everything appears to be on the up-and-up.
 
"As the city auditor said, all 10 of the audits he looked at are all quote-unquote clean," said council member Rick Williams, who chairs the audit committee. "There has never been even a hint of a scandal. The only reason we looked at the monthlies is that it was in the original contract."
 
The city was spending $800,000 on its own economic development team when it entered the agreement. Through the partnership, the city's investment in economic development is far less than Irving, Plano and Richardson – cities Garland sees as its competitors.
 
On Tuesday, Chamber Chairman Mark King pointed to $1.5 billion in tax base additions, 16,650 jobs created and more than 60 companies landed as results of the partnership.
 
"Those represent the intended consequences of the partnership," King said. "I think we can all agree that based on what we wanted to do from the start, the benefits of working together are clearly there."
 
Unanimous approval
 
Nobody seems to be debating that fact. The council approved continuing the relationship by a unanimous vote.
 
Still, the information was not immediately released to Rose. The state ruled Nov. 2 that the annual audits should be released to him within 10 days.
 
Records for 2005-09 were in his hands within a week, but those from 2000-04 were not turned over until Monday – the day before the contract was to be renewed.
 
Staff writer Karel Holloway contributed to this report.
 

 
I keep a running list of items I intend to cover in posts. Information on the Partnership and the new contract was one but I haven't had time to write a comprehensive post. Good things come to those who wait. Ray Leszcynski has done much of my work for me as he so often does. Writing this blog and its effectiveness is very much a direct relationship to how well others write. I am very thankful to be able to draw on the work of people like Ray and so many others.
 

City of Garland Press Release:

Garland Launches Scofflaw Pilot Program

Dallas County has launched a new collection tool that impacts those who have failed to pay fines owed to a city or county. The City of Garland is the pilot city for this new program. The county implemented this collection tool for county fines and fees in February 2009 and has been pleased with its success.
 
Texas law allows counties and cities to block vehicle registration for those who owe fines for traffic tickets and other citations. Dallas County is coordinating implementation of this program and selected Garland to be its first participating city. Garland was chosen because its Municipal Court is a court of record with a proven history of successfully implementing new and innovative programs.
 
The program will apply to all traffic violations and red light camera violations. Any fine that is more than 60 days past due will be flagged and forwarded to Dallas County. When the vehicle owner attempts to renew registration for that vehicle with the Dallas County Tax office, registration will be blocked until the owner pays the outstanding fines, and obtains a release form from the City of Garland.
 
The purpose behind this program is to create compliance with the laws that help create a safe, attractive environment for all our citizens. For more information about the Dallas County Scofflaw program, call the Dallas County Tax Office Customer Care Center at 214-653-7811 or visit www.dallascounty.org.
 

City of Garland Press Release:

 

Recycling Message Rolls Through Garland

Just as winter weather blanketed Garland, the Environmental Waste Services Department rolled out its new winter recycling message, “Keep Winter a Wonderland—Recycle” by installing striking and highly visible message panels on the sides of its collection vehicles that roll through the city daily collecting residential waste.
 
"We want our recycling message to be clear, concise and visually appealing," said Glenna Brown, Waste Minimization Coordinator. "Our new truck panels are a reminder that recycling every day is important and is one way everyone can help save our natural resources. We want the rolling billboards to enhance our recycling efforts and energize our residents about recycling."
 
A team of EWS employees suggested the idea of installing truck panels on the sides of its collection vehicles in order to drive up the recycling rate in a cost effective way. They developed a panel design for each season of the year, and the department will change the panels throughout the year to keep the recycling message fresh and focused.
 

 
As typified in this new marketing program, our city employees continually contribute to the betterment of our community, and most often do so with less than many surrounding cities. My hat is off to the EWS employees for an excellent marketing program for an excellent cause.

 
UPDATE: Comments closed to block spam hits.
 

City of Garland Press Release:

Pancakes with Santa

	When:	Saturday, December 12, 2009
		7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
	Where:	Central Fire Station
		1019 Austin Street
		Garland, Texas
	Cost:	$5 per person

 
Santa will make a quick visit to a Garland’s Central Fire Station on Saturday, December 12 as the Kiwanis Club of Garland and the Citizens Firefighters Club of Garland host their 15th annual Pancakes with Santa event. Tickets are $5 per person and are available at the door. The price includes all the pancakes you can eat, along with sausage, milk or coffee and one complimentary photo with Santa per child.
 
Proceeds from this event go toward scholarships and other community needs. For more information contact Jeff Tokar with the Garland Fire Department at 972-781-7111.
 

 
Even if you over-fill on pancakes on Dec 12, you should have plenty of room by Jan 6 for more:
 

5th Annual
Troop 57 Pancake Supper
January 6, 2010
5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
First United Methodist Church
Schreiber Hall
801 W. Ave B
Garland, TX 75040
 
All you can Eat Pancakes
 
Other items:
Sausage, Coffee, Milk, and Orange Juice
 
Adults $6.00
Child $3.50
Family $15.00

 

Tickets will be available at the door or from any Scout from Troop 57! If you want to get tickets early and want a Scout to contact you, drop me an e-mail and I'll have someone contact you.
 

 
Pass the syrup, please!
 

 

Shantrelle Osborne, 21, was struck by a hit and run driver in the 3300-block of Naaman School Rd Thursday night. She lay injured near the road until a passing driver noticed a purse in the roadway and stopped to investigate. The driver heard Shantelle's moans and called 9-1-1 about 10 pm.   Shantrelle had received severe injuries and was transported to Baylor Hospital in Dallas in critical condition. She died the next afternoon.   Investigators believe she was walking west and was struck by an east-bound vehicle. Although there was some evidence at the scene, investigators do not currently know the make or model of the vehicle.   Garland Police are asking that anyone with information about the incident, the driver, or the vehicle to call Garland Crime Stoppers. Information can be given anonymously. A cash reward is also being offered for information that leads to the an arrest. Call (972) 272-8477.

Area close to scene of hit and run

 

Shantrelle Osborne

Purse on roadway

Scene on Naaman School Rd by day

 
I do hope there is someone that can help solve this horrible crime. If you have any information, please call Crime Stoppers.
 

If you missed the following DMN story, you may have seen the GREAT Homes cover story in the latest Garland City Press . Through the program, Garland is seeking to simultaneously tackle several challenges: foreclosures, neighborhood decline, need for greater energy efficiency, and affordable housing.
 
Council received an update on the program recently from Becky King, director of organization development, and Martin Glenn, assistant city manager. That presentation can be viewed online (Item 2b) at the city's streaming video site. For those interested in the program, I strongly encourage you to watch the presentation.
 

GREAT Homes program is directed toward the "middle market."

The program originally sprang from the availability of federal grants and a spike in foreclosures. The vacated properties were often growing nuisances, suffering from poor maintenance and crime, which impacted surrounding owners and devalued their property. GREAT Homes is designed to increase the city's long-term competitiveness by addressing aging housing stock, energy conservation needs, enhancing catalyst areas, and protecting prior city investments in neighborhoods. The program will help stabilize neighborhoods and promote re-investment by homeowners and developers.
 
The program uses several criteria to determine which and where houses will be purchased and rehabilitated. The object is to maximize impact and success by targeting the "middle market."
 
The program was initially set toward four neighborhoods but the drop in available foreclosed homes as noted in the DMN article has broadened the focus some. The plan is to refurbish 40 to 50 homes. Criteria includes homes near the median price in the area, at least 20 years old, and would have a high visual impact. One desired change would be to add central heating and air conditioning and other efficiency upgrades for purchased homes that are without.
 
The District 1 neighborhood identified for initial participation in the program is the greater Carriagehouse area.
 
Although not outlined, program funds could be used to remove a nuisance and "land bank" the property. One possibility once the property is city owned is to use the lot for a community garden, another program started this last summer that allows the use of city-owned property for gardens maintained by a neighborhood. (Community gardens will be the subject of a future post.)
 
For more information, contact Scott Bollinger at 972-205-3868 or sbolling@ci.garland.tx.us.
 

From the Dallas Morning News:

Garland encouraged by foreclosure program

12:00 AM CST on Thursday, December 3, 2009
By RAY LESZCYNSKI / The Dallas Morning News
rleszcynski@dallasnews.com
 
Garland has a $3.3 million program to buy, renew and help secure ownership of foreclosed houses in eight targeted neighborhoods in its GREAT Homes Program.
 
Revitalizing homes revitalizes neighborhoods, as a foreclosure devalues every house within one-eighth of a mile by $5,000, according to the Center for Housing Policy.
 
But state and federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program grants in the program are restrictive, and city officials have learned the bank foreclosure market to be less dreary than you might think.
 
"What has happened since the beginning of the year is that banks have been encouraged to slow the foreclosure process down," said Becky King, city director of organizational development, the person most closely connected to the program.
 
Until the last couple months, fewer foreclosures were hitting the market as banks worked to keep owners in their mortgages. And when they do hit the market, private investors seeing a profit in the foreclosure game are often outbidding the city.
 
To this point, the city has acquired three homes and has rejected five other prospects mostly because of funding restrictions.
 
Council member Larry Jeffus sees the slow pace as good news.
 
"I'm encouraged by the fact that the houses are being picked up and not being left vacant, whether it's an investor or the city coming in," he said. "The fact that we're being outbid simply means that private money is beating out government money, and I don't see that as a problem."
 
Offers on six other homes are pending, and the city team, including two real estate agents, is active every day, Assistant City Manager Martin Glenn told the City Council.
 
"We're attempting to utilize the funds that are available because there is a timeline here," Glenn said.
 
The state money has to be earmarked by April, Glenn said, and federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program grants by December 2010.
 
Two of the city's three buys are 47-year-old homes valued at about $100,000 in the Walnut neighborhood. Council member Barbara Chick pointed also to ground broken on a recreation center there and renovated business sites to show the home renovation within a larger scope of neighborhood redevelopment.
 
"I would think the updates and renovations that are going on would make this area more attractive to those that want an affordable home," she said. "For tract homes, these are really well built."
 
GREAT stands for green, revitalized, energy-efficient, affordable and tailored for ownership. Another $561,000 in grants is available to owner-occupants of single-family homes connected to energy-efficiency upgrades.
 
"We looked at various things from predicted foreclosure activity in a neighborhood to the price," King said. "We wanted to make sure the homes are homes that will be options for the targeted buyers with the financing."
 
Potential buyers must be approved for creditworthiness, and their household income must not exceed 120 percent of Dallas-Fort Worth area median income.
 
The city plans to have the first of the renovated homes ready for sale in April. At its open houses, the city will invite neighbors to demonstrate how similar tract homes in the areas can be renovated.
 

The Dallas Morning News Metro Section carries an update on changes at the animal shelter. Shelter staff have been making changes for some time and some of those have been as a result of attention raised by individuals opposed to the city's use of carbon monoxide euthanasia.
 
The American Veterinary Medical Association and the Humane Society of the United States recognize two forms of euthanasia as humane: sodium pentobarbital injection and carbon monoxide inhalation. Both groups recognize the latter method conditionally because of past abuses, the greater chance of mistakes, and its use being limited to animals without respiratory difficulties. The Garland shelter uses both methods and operates strictly within the recommended and legal conditions.
 
One line from the article has been oft repeated by the News but I know of no evidence to support the claim originally made by DMN Problem Solver Katie Fairbank: "[A] Dallas Morning News investigation revealed that young, sick or elderly cats and dogs had been gassed in violation of state law." She delivered a list of claims to shelter staff but never sought their answers, proceeding to publication right away. Had she checked, she would have learned that department staff members were only able to find one instance of improper euthanasia, which was documented in a memo to Council and the city manager: "After reviewing the records from 2007 provided by the media, there does appear to be one instance of an animal younger than four months of age that was euthanized by respiration of carbon monoxide. It was euthanized by a Shelter Attendant who is no longer employed by the City of Garland."
 
I commented earlier that I understood that the shelter would transition to injection-only euthanasia very early next year based on comments by others in authority. I misunderstood and the policy is as documented in the memo linked above and as covered in the article below.
 
In negotiations, both parties seek to reach a resolution upon which both can agree. To successfully reach an agreement, both sides usually have to move toward common ground. If either or both parties refuse or cannot reach that common ground a stalemate results. These issues surrounding the animal shelter seem to have settled to where there is insufficient common ground. The shelter uses euthanasia because there is not enough room or resources to hold all animals indefinitely or until they are adopted. The same is true for all shelters, especially now. The major organizations that set the standards agree that the two methods used are humane. Protesters, some local and others not, claim that one of the methods is inhumane and needs to be abandoned.
 
I don't see any common ground so I expect the stalemate to continue for the foreseeable future.
 

From the Dallas Morning News:

Shift to lethal injections for animals on target

12:00 AM CST on Sunday, December 6, 2009
By RAY LESZCYNSKI / The Dallas Morning News
rleszcynski@dallasnews.com
 
Garland Animal Services officials say they're on target to meet a goal of shifting the euthanization of 3,000 animals from gas to lethal injection next year.
 
But the gas chamber will still be the final destination for about 1,000 animals at the Garland animal shelter.
 
In an Oct. 1 memorandum, city health director Richard Briley said that by 2010, only vicious dogs, feral cats, wild animals or other animals that present a significant danger to shelter staff would be gassed. Two days later, Mayor Ron Jones said he envisioned "in the near future to be euthanizing by injection only."
 
To date, there is no directive to further limit a process that is legal but has nonetheless brought controversy upon the city.
 
Jason Chessher, the city's environmental health administrator, predicts that carbon monoxide gas will be used on fewer than 20 percent of the animals euthanized at the shelter beginning Jan. 1. The decision will be made on an individual basis, rather than by breed.
 
"The driving factor there is whether staff can handle that animal," said Chessher, who oversees the shelter.
 
From the start, that plan has not satisfied those who oppose the gassing of animals.
 
Council meetings have been picketed outside City Hall and met with spoken and written criticism of euthanasia policy inside council chambers. Scrutiny on the shelter increased dramatically in September, after a Dallas Morning News investigation revealed that young, sick or elderly cats and dogs had been gassed in violation of state law.
 
Jones said in September that method of euthanasia was the lone unsettled issue between the city and the opponents. But clearly, a deeper rift now exists – evidenced by the forming of the group Garland Citizens for the Reform of the Animal Shelter.
 
"Frankly, we don't trust the shelter staff to make the right decisions," said Dr. John Pippin, a Dallas cardiologist and group spokesman.
 
Garland is by far the largest Texas city that still uses a gas chamber. The method is state-approved and, the city believes, no less humane than lethal injection.
 
"I will not allow anything inhumane to be done in my watch," Briley said. "We do not in any way feel the use of carbon monoxide is inhumane."
 
The city has seen a 50 percent spike in the number of dogs it takes in since 2002. Most of the change is an influx of breeds that by city ordinance can only be released back to the owner, like pit bulls.
 
Chessher said in the months since converting to injection-only, two Richardson shelter staffers had been hospitalized because of animal attacks during the euthanasia process and that Garland staff would not be subjected to similar hazards.
 
Briley said that a transition period was needed to renovate the euthanasia area because two-thirds of the condemned animals are presently gassed. Lighting, plumbing, flooring and cages were updated, he said, to meet state standards. The city's bid process also factored into the timetable.
 
"It would have been a lot easier on us if we would have said 'we'll start tomorrow,' " Briley said.
 
The expanded Animal Services Advisory Committee met Nov. 20 and elected former Garland Health Director and 35-year health professional Pat Fowler as its chairman.
 
Fowler points to Garland's 1960s animal facility as the "oldest shelter anywhere." He envisions Garland following the lead of Irving, which is building a $7 million shelter, and other cities that have either built or renovated recently, including Dallas, Plano and Richardson.
 
"They've really made a commitment to the animals and animal owners," Fowler said. "I think the time has come for Garland to make a commitment for a new shelter."
 
Chessher agrees: "It's a dog pound. We need a shelter."
 
Council members say the city will not consider another bond project until at least 2013. Opponents say that's too long to wait for reforms, in euthanasia and elsewhere.
 
Garland resident Michelle Ferrer testified at a recent city council meeting that the return rate of the 438 animals the center released to rescue groups is zero, but that staff does not work with volunteer and rescue groups as actively as do other cities.
 
Lee Lutz of Garland testified before council that the city has yet to follow up on an ASPCA offer of free training in safe animal handling, compassion fatigue, stress management and networking.
 
"The things that need to be done could be done with the shelter where it is now and how it is now with some policy adjustments," Pippin said.
 
Briley said a new shelter would present more areas for open viewing and adoptions and more opportunities for volunteers. But it wouldn't be a cure-all.
 
"Our largest issue in Garland is irresponsible pet ownership. We can never keep up with that," Briley said.
 
Fowler said his committee's role is to advise the council and to make sure Animal Services is operating within state law. He sees the euthanasia and adoption policies as being within the committee's advisory scope, perhaps as early as its Jan. 15 meeting.
 
About a dozen residents attended the first posted public meeting of the Animal Services Advisory Committee. State law requires the board to meet three times a year, but Ferrer told the council more needs to be done.
 
"Quarterly for one hour is not a resource for us to address all these animal issues," she said.
 

This site has been blasted by a spam generator for a couple days, which is why it was down most of yesterday and may be down a few more times over the near future. Hopefully not.   The spammer is being partially blocked, enough to defeat his message but enough is left to just post random-worded messages. It's an irritant mostly in that it takes valuable time to deal with it at a time of year none of us have extra time.   I hope you'll shoulder through any ups and downs and keep visiting. Thanks for your readership!   UPDATE: Allowing comments is the attraction for spammers, even posts that are months or years old. Very few people are ever likely to discover a valid new comment that is that old. There is no real service to readers to leave posts open for extended periods. Anyone whose sole purpose is to leave me a note can do so by e-mail much more effectively.   It will be my practice in the future to leave comments open only for a relatively brief period. Once a post rolls off the opening page (currently set to 10 posts), chances are that comments will be disabled soon after that. Depending on the topic and whether a post has been hit by spammers, it could be sooner.   I encourage anyone wishing to comment on a post to do so early. I simply don't have time to always be monitoring comments and I would be mortified if a totally inappropriate comment was left in place for an extended time (read: something we wouldn't want our children to see). I appreciate everyone's understanding.

This huge ice sculpture was in the middle of Sixth St and took most of the evening to complete. iPhone photo by Kevin Dunham.

 
It was a wonderful evening tonight at Christmas on the Square in Downtown Garland. The temperature was crisp and wonderful. Let's just say the ice sculpture shown above and the snow slides were hardly melting.
 
A number of choirs performed, there were sleigh rides, vendors with foods and wearables, and, maybe best of all, pictures with Santa.
 
I enjoyed seeing so many people I know and meeting quite a few more. Most of the restaurants were open, including the Corner Pocket, Paw Paws, the Generator, and Dos Banderas.
 
If you were there, I hope you were able to bring a toy to donate to MotorCops for Kids!
 
If you weren't there, I hope to see you next year.
 

City of Garland Press Release:

Garland Health Department Hosts H1N1 Vaccination Clinic

The City of Garland Health Department will host a vaccination clinic to administer the H1N1 vaccine. These vaccines are available to anyone, regardless of risk group status.
 

When:	Monday, December 7
	1:30-5:30 p.m.
Where:	GISD Special Events Center
	4999 Naaman Forest Blvd
	Garland, Texas 75040

 
All vaccines are administered free of charge. The intent of the clinic is to provide the H1N1 vaccine for those without medical insurance, under-insured (insurance does not cover vaccine or has a high deductible) or whose health care provider does not have the H1N1 vaccine or does not plan on offering this vaccine.
For more information, please call 972-205-3370.
 

Garland Launches Prescription Drug Discount Card Program

The City of Garland has launched a program to help provide residents with some relief from the high cost of prescription drugs. The city is making free prescription drug discount cards available to city residents through a program sponsored by the National League of Cities (NLC). The discount cards offer city residents an average savings of 20 percent off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs.
 
The discount cards may be used by all residents of the City of Garland and has no restrictions based on the resident’s age, income level, or existing health coverage. The NLC card can be used when purchasing prescription drugs at approximately 30 pharmacies around the city, as well as at more than 59,000 participating retail pharmacies across the country.
 
"In the current economic climate, where many people are watching what they spend, the City of Garland is happy to partner with the National League of Cities to make this prescription discount card available for our residents," said City Manager Bill Dollar. "Whether or not an individual has prescription coverage, this program can make it easier for our residents to afford the drugs they need to deal with a short-term illness or stay healthy by managing a chronic condition."
 
Cards are available in select areas throughout the city, including recreational facilities, libraries, the City Secretary’s office, Public Health facilities, GP&L Customer Service office, and the City’s Human Resources Department at no cost to city residents. City residents can call toll-free 1-888-620-1749 or visit www.caremark.com/nlc for assistance with the program.
 
“Not only does the NLC prescription discount card help residents save money on their medications, it is easy to use,” said Dollar. “City of Garland residents only have to show their card when purchasing medication at one of the many participating pharmacies. No enrollment or membership fee is required and city residents and their family members can use the card any time their prescriptions are not covered by insurance.”
 
The discount card program is administered by CVS Caremark. For more information, contact Brenda Vega, 972-205-2836.
 
About The National League of Cities
 
The National League of Cities (NLC) is the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership, and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans. To learn more about NLC, go to www.nlc.org.
 

 
There is no cost to taxpayers for this program except some expense for printing. It is otherwise fully funded through CVS Caremark and industry participants. An introduction to the program was presented to the Council at a recent work session (Item 2).
 

UPDATE: Comments closed to block spam hits.
 

City of Garland News Release:

Christmas on the Square – December 3, 2009

Santa’s elves are getting ready for a busy night in Downtown Garland. Garland’s annual Christmas on the Square celebration is scheduled for Thursday, December 3, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. This year’s event features the traditional tree lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. complete with a spectacular fireworks and light display.
 
Santa Claus will be on hand to hear Christmas wishes from the children of Garland immediately following the tree lighting ceremony. Children may also have the opportunity to have their picture taken with Santa and receive a free commemorative photo button and candy cane.
 
You can also get into the spirit of giving by bringing a new, unwrapped toy to the MotorCops for Kids booth on Main Street at Sixth Street. The booth is sponsored by the Garland Police Department in partnership with Harley Davidson of Dallas, who will distribute them to several local charitable organizations to give to children in need. Harley will also have motorcycles on display, including one for family photo opportunities.
 
Choirs and bands from Garland Independent School District schools and area churches will perform throughout the event both on the Downtown Square stage and throughout the event, which includes areas immediately surrounding the Downtown Square and City Hall.
 
In addition to holiday music and lights, patrons will enjoy shopping for unique holiday gifts offered at the numerous arts and crafts booths in our Christmas Bazaar. And what would a holiday festival be without delicious treats? Enjoy hot chocolate, popcorn, caramel apples, and many more festive foods. Downtown Garland restaurants will also be open, offering delectable dishes for festival patrons.
 
Christmas on the Square offers free family activities including horse drawn carriage rides through Garland Power & Light’s Avenue of Lights and two snow sledding hills. Yes, there will be real snow on the streets of Downtown Garland! Other children’s activities include writing letters to Santa; making Christmas ornaments and puppets; face painting and faux tattoos; and balloon makers.
 
For additional information, visit www.ChristmasontheSquare.com or call 972-205-2633.