April 25, 2021
This Week's News
May 1 Local Elections Information
The City of Garland will hold a General Election for two-year terms for Mayor and Districts 3, 6, 7, and 8 and a Special Election for the final year of an unfinished term in District 1 on May 1, 2021.

Early voting ends Tuesday, April 27. Early voting locations in Garland include the Dallas College Garland Campus, 675 W. Walnut St., and the South Garland Branch Library, 3845 Broadway Blvd.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, May 1. Garland residents may vote at any polling place in Dallas County. Learn more.
Apply Now for Boards and Commissions
Do you want to make a difference in your City? The City will accept applications for its boards and commissions from Monday, May 31, through Thursday, July 1.

City Council is currently accepting applications for the North Texas Municipal Water District Board Appointment through May 3. The term starts June 1 and runs through May 31, 2023. To qualify for the position, an applicant must reside in Garland. Applications should include a letter of interest and a resume.

Application forms can be found on the City Secretary's page at GarlandTX.gov. They can be submitted to René Dowl, City Secretary, by email to RDowl@GarlandTX.gov or by mail to City Hall, 200 N. Fifth St., Garland 75040.
COVID-19 Vaccine Updates
Anyone age 18 or older can get the COVID vaccine without an appointment at our Public Health Clinic, 206 Carver Drive. Clinic hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays (except when GHD is conducting a mass vaccination event).

Anyone who is medically unable to come to the clinic or a mass vaccination event may contact the Garland Health Department at 972-205-3900 to make alternative arrangements.

Those who are due for their second Moderna dose will receive a notification when their appointment is scheduled.

Updates will be posted to GarlandTX.gov/COVIDVaccine and to the City’s Twitter and Facebook pages as they become available.
Updated COVID-19 Recovery Resources
The City of Garland and other community partners are facilitating access to various recovery programs for residents who have been impacted by COVID-19.

FEMA is providing financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020, for death related to the coronavirus.

Rental assistance is available through Catholic Charities of Dallas. You can check your eligibility and apply for this assistance online or contact a case manager for assistance by calling 214-257-0674. One-on-one meetings can be scheduled, as needed, between noon and 4 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday at Garland's Central Library, 625 Austin St.

Assistance is available for a variety of additional services. Visit our Recovery Resources page at GarlandTX.gov to find out more.
Ribbon-Cutting Celebrates New Trail at Winters Park
With the recent unveiling of 1.67 miles of new paved paths, a $7 million bond commitment and a new master plan, Garland is “all-in” on trails.

A new 12-foot wide concrete trail in Winters Park and the Spring Creek Greenbelt is the result of a partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and the Texas Department of Transportation. The federally funded trail features a 225-foot bridge.

Access points to the new and existing paved trailways in and around Winters Park include the parking lot at the Spring Creek Forest Preserve, 1770 Holford Road; Halff Park, 4695 Ranger Drive; the Winters Park Playground, 1419 Spring Creek Drive.

Photos of cyclists on new trail bridge
City Issuing Tickets for Neighborhood Parking Violations
Neighborhood parking problems are the most frequent source of resident complaints to the City.

The City Marshal's Office issues tickets for parking violations. You can pay your tickets online.

The City will NOT email notices of violation or contact you by phone. All violation notices will be sent by regular mail and posted on the vehicle.

Examples of violations and other FAQs are available at GarlandTX.gov/parking.
Final Made Fresh & Local Concert Thursday, April 29
Our fresh and local concert experience is back by popular demand and headed straight into your living room!
 
Grab some popcorn, drinks and your best friends to get a front-row seat to the final performance in our Made Fresh & Local virtual concert series.
 
At 7 p.m. this Thursday, April 29, join The Bodarks for a porch-stompin', fiddle-sawin', bass-spankin' hootenanny! 
 
Get more details at GarlandParks.com.
BioBlitz at Spring Creek Forest Preserve
The Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest jumps into spring Saturday, May 1, and Sunday, May 2, with scheduled nature walks and a BioBlitz at the Spring Creek Forest Preserve, 1770 and 1787 Holford Road.
 
Using the iNaturalist app, BioBlitzers will help identify organisms that are essential to the local ecosystem and also invasive species that present potential harm.
 
Participants will take photos and then identify their finds using the iNaturalist app. The goal is to identify as many plant, insect and animal species as possible.
 
The local event is part of the City Nature Challenge, which drew 244 regional participants from six continents in 2020. Learn more and find the full schedule of nature walks at SpringCreekForest.org.
Housing Program Waitlist Applications Open June 9
The Garland Housing Agency (GHA) will begin accepting applications for the Housing Choice Voucher Program at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 9.

Applications for rental housing assistance will be accepted online at waitlistcheck.com/TX982. For in-person application assistance, visit the GHA offices from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, at 210 Carver Drive, 201B, Building 3 in Garland.

Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday, June 11, or until 5,000 applications are received, whichever comes first.

For more information, visit the Garland Housing Agency website or call 972-205-3393.
Temporary Disaster Exemption Available Following Winter Storm
The Dallas Central Appraisal District, in accordance with state law, is offering a temporary disaster exemption following this winter’s devastating storm.

This exemption only applies to damage to buildings or structures, not land value. Property owners must apply for the exemption by May 28, 2021. To apply for the exemption, go to dallascad.org/forms.aspx. The form is called Exemption Application for Temporary Disaster (11.35). Learn more.

The application deadline for individual assistance from FEMA has been extended to May 20, 2021. Visit our Winter Storm Recovery Resources page for more resources and additional information on how to submit assistance applications.
COVID-19 Updates
The Garland Health Department has received reports of 282 active cases out of 27,704 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Garland residents since the beginning of the pandemic, as well as 428 deaths. The City will update its posted case numbers each afternoon.

Events and Announcements
Plan Commission
April 26
The Garland Plan Commission meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m.  

Boards & Commissions Meetings
All upcoming Boards & Commissions meetings can be found on the Public Meetings calendar at GarlandTX.gov.

Due to COVID-19 public gathering restrictions, the meetings will be virtual. You can watch the meetings online. The virtual meeting link will be included in the individual meeting agenda. You may participate by telephone. Dial-in numbers will be posted with the virtual meeting information.

View agendas at GarlandTX.gov and be sure to click the "subscribe" button to receive notifications when meeting agendas are posted.

April Is #NationalFairHousingMonth!
The City of Garland Office of Fair Housing & Human Rights protects you from discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of housing based on color, race, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability or because your family has children under the age of 18 living at home. To learn more about your rights or if you have questions, call us at 972-205-3300.

DARTzoom Meeting
May 24
Dallas Area Rapid Transit is redesigning its bus network. New routes, more hours of service and greater coverage are included in a five-year bus service plan to be implemented in January 2022. A series of 15 meetings, DARTzoom: A New Bus Network, is in motion to collect public input. Each meeting targets a specific coverage area. The Garland meeting will be at noon Monday, May 24. To hear the meeting, call 469-676-0717 and enter phone conference ID 995 449 184#. View the full list of meetings (PDF). Visit DARTzoom.org to read the draft bus network report, participate in a survey and find other information about the five-year bus service plan.
Public & Media Relations
P.O. Box 469002 | Garland, Texas 75046