Garland, TX – The agenda for the upcoming City of Garland Work Session scheduled for February 2, 2026, has been posted, and resident comments are already pouring in regarding verbal briefings on items 5 through 7. This work session follows a marathon of Council meetings on January 20, 2026, where public comments lasted for hours, primarily focused on MD Health Pathways (an article on that will be coming soon, but feel free to watch online in the meantime).
Beginning with Item 5, the agenda features the Garland Fire Department and RightSite for Non-Emergency Patients. RightSite is a telehealth service that operates in conjunction with 9-1-1 calls. When paramedics arrive on the scene, patients may have the option to be seen on-site via telehealth or to be taken to the hospital. The goal is to help reduce the amount of time ambulances spend transporting patients to hospitals outside of Garland.
Next, Item 6 discusses a potential partnership with Parkland Hospital to launch a telehealth pod at the South Garland library branch. These pods, which are starting to roll out regionally, will facilitate scheduled telehealth visits and same-day appointments with Parkland physicians and advanced practice providers.
Finally, Item 7 considers an ordinance to order a Special Home-Rule Election, which would place the MD Health Pathways agreement on the ballot for May 2, 2026. This comes after months of free community access to Tap Telehealth, during which there has been growing pushback regarding the program’s automatic opt-in feature.
Here is the full agenda:
Written Briefings
1. GP&L Transmission Engineering Office Building Lease
Council is requested to consider a GP&L Transmission Engineering Office Building Lease Agreement. Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the February 17, 2026 Regular Meeting.
2. Calling the 2026 General Election for May 2, 2026
Council is requested to consider an ordinance ordering a General Election for the City of Garland to be held on May 2, 2026 for the purpose of electing Councilmembers to respectively represent Districts 1, 2, 4, and 5, providing for a run-off election if needed, and providing for other matters relating to the conduct of the election. Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the February 3, 2026 Regular Meeting.
Verbal Briefings
3. Introduction of Sarah Washburn, Police Legal Advisor
Council will be introduced to Sarah Washburn, the City’s new Police Legal Advisor.
4. Introduction of Lilly Clarke, Managing Director
Council will be introduced to Lilly Clarke, the City’s new Managing Director of Human Resources.
5. Garland Fire Department and RightSite for Non-emergency Patients
Council is requested to consider approval for Garland Fire Department and Garland Police Department Dispatch to contract with RightSite to assist non-emergency patients and improve ambulance availability. Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the February 17, 2026, Regular Meeting.
6. Agreement with the City of Garland and Parkland ILA Update
Council is requested to consider approving the Interlocal Agreement between the City of Garland and Parkland Hospital to launch the Parkland Telehealth Pod pilot program at the South Garland Library. Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the February 17, 2026 Regular Meeting.
7. Consider an Ordinance Ordering a Special Home-Rule Election
Council is requested to consider an ordinance ordering and providing notice of a special home-rule election to be held on May 2, 2026, for the purpose of submitting to the qualified voters a nonbinding proposition regarding the provision of telehealth services by a fee within the City utility bill. Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the February 3, 2026 Regular Meeting.
8. Discussion & Final Direction on the 2026 Proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
Council will continue the discussion and provide final direction to Staff on the 2026 Proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP). If changes have been proposed to the CIP by City Council during the discussions in January, Staff will provide an overview of any/all proposed changes received to date.
9. Travel Expenses Related to Mayor Pro Tem Lucht’s Attendance at the 2026 Texas Police Chiefs Association
Summit Council will discuss whether to approve, by consensus, travel expenses related to Mayor Pro Tem Lucht’s Attendance at the 2026 Texas Police Chiefs Association Summit.
Executive Session
10. Discuss or deliberate commercial or financial information that the City has received from one or more business prospects that the City seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in the downtown district of the City, and with which the City is conducting economic development negotiations (551.087); including the potential sale, exchange, or value of real property in the vicinity of W. Avenue A and S. 6th Street (551.072); and attorney/client communications related to the same (551.071).
