Garland council adopts 2025 Capital Improvement Program, adds Gatewood drainage project

Garland City Council on Feb. 4 unanimously adopted the 2025 Capital Improvement Program, increasing the municipal facilities appropriation by $250,000 to account for a State Energy Conservation Office grant and adding the Gatewood drainage improvement project to the city's five-year CIP plan, Mayor Pro Tem Moore said.

The move directs staff to include the specified appropriation and the Gatewood drainage project in the city's capital planning. "I move to approve the 2025 capital improvement program as presented by the city manager and reviewed by city council with the following changes, increase to municipal facilities and miscellaneous tax support CIP 2025 appropriation by 250,000 for the state energy conservation office grant in the existing facility improvements program and the addition of the Gatewood drainage improvement CIP project to the CIP 5 year plan," Mayor Pro Tem Moore said during the motion.

The ordinance was approved unanimously after a second from Councilmember Dutton. The council had reviewed the CIP at a prior work session before final consideration.

Why it matters: The CIP sets project priorities and appropriations that guide capital spending for roads, drainage, facilities and other infrastructure. Adding Gatewood drainage to the five-year plan signals council-level prioritization of that drainage work and the $250,000 appropriation ties municipal funding to an identified State Energy Conservation Office grant.

The council approved a package of routine items on the consent agenda earlier in the meeting, including multiple design and procurement contracts and a project-specific agreement amendment with Dallas County for a Rowlett Road cycle track. The consent agenda was approved by motion of Mayor Pro Tem Moore, seconded by Councilmember Bass, and passed unanimously.

The meeting also handled election and bond items: the council called the city's general election for May 3, 2025, and approved updated bond proposition language for the May 3 bond election after staff proposed a change to allow flexibility for economic-development grants under Proposition B. Staff member Matt described the change as "added to provide adequate flexibility for city council to make economic development grants to businesses."

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: approved unanimously (included minutes, several bids, a second amendment to a Dallas County project agreement, optional redemption of tax notes, and zoning-related instructions to staff). Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Moore; second by Councilmember Bass; outcome: approved unanimously.

- 2025 Capital Improvement Program: motion to approve with amendments (increase municipal facilities appropriation by $250,000 for a State Energy Conservation Office grant; add Gatewood drainage improvement to CIP 5-year plan). Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Moore; second by Councilmember Dutton; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Calling the 2025 general election for May 3, 2025: motion by Mayor Pro Tem Moore; second by Councilmember Dutton; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Bond proposition language and calling of the bond election: staff presented a slight change to Proposition B to permit grants associated with commercial, industrial, retail, residential, mixed-use development and neighborhood revitalization projects; motion by Mayor Pro Tem Moore; second by Councilmember Bass; outcome: approved unanimously.

No public speakers addressed the CIP item during the associated hearing. The council closed the public hearing on the proposed bond program after receiving no public comment.

The council meeting concluded with a single public comment from a resident offering volunteer services; no votes or directives resulted from that comment.