Garland holds public hearing on 2025 bond program; bond study chair urges support, resident warns park could be affected

The Garland City Council opened a public hearing on the city’s proposed 2025 bond program on Jan. 21, with Mayor Pro Tem Ed Moore presiding.

Joe Thomas, who identified himself as chair of the bond study committee, told the council he supports the package and thanked city staff for responsive work during the committee’s review. “I appreciate that you have, by and large, accepted our recommendations,” Thomas said, adding the committee narrowed proposals to items that can only be paid for with bond proceeds. He said the 2025 bond “is not gonna be as [large] as the last bond” and urged residents to vote for it. Thomas also said he is forming a political action committee to advocate for the bond and provided an email address in the meeting record: joethomasjr@gmail.com.

Lindsay Fiegelman, who said she also served on the bond study committee, expressed a specific concern about Wind Surf Bay Park as part of the Harbor Point plan. “I think to lose a public access waterfront like that would be a really awful thing for us,” Fiegelman said, asking the council to ensure public access is preserved during Harbor Point development.

No other members of the public spoke on the bond program at the Jan. 21 hearing. The council closed the hearing and noted the item will be discussed again at a Feb. 3 work session and at a Feb. 4 regular meeting, where another public hearing and formal adoption of the 2025 capital improvements program and bond fund are scheduled. No vote on the bond program was taken at the Jan. 21 meeting.

The hearing was the main public-facing discussion of the evening; council members did not debate the bond package on the record at the Jan. 21 meeting.

Planned next steps noted by the council include additional public hearings and formal adoption of the bond and capital improvements program at future meetings.