Garland, Texas – The Garland City Council held a work session last night where discussions centered on two significant topics: the DART Overview and an Update on Alcoholic Beverage Zone Legislation.
During the session, Ariel Traub, Managing Director of Legislative and Public Affairs, provided an overview of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system, which operates a 93-mile light rail network and a significant bus service throughout the region. Traub highlighted the importance of DART to Garland and other member cities, but conveyed that the City’s opinion was DART did not do a sufficient job at communicating the resolution in advance of the passage by the DART board in March.
The options included holding DART accountable for its full catalogue of services, signing a resolution that would redistribute 5% of DART funding to wealthier communities, or supporting legislation in Austin that could potentially cut DART funding by 25%. The resolution by the DART board was passed in March to appease cities like Plano, which were pushing back against the voter-approved sales tax rate. However, with recent challenges, including Plano’s unsuccessful legislative efforts, the Regional Transportation Council’s support for the resolution may no longer be viable.
City Councilmember Ed Moore voiced concerns about the implications of these changes, stating, “Garland not only supports DART; we support it 150%. Our people have to have it. They need it.” He emphasized the need for the council to consider holding a special meeting dedicated to DART to further discuss the impact of the recent decisions on Garland’s public transit services.
The second major discussion point focused on the Update on Alcoholic Beverage Zone Legislation, where council members deliberated the potential for local option elections allowing the sale of mixed beverages in restaurants and stores without the current requirement of 51% of receipts coming from food sales. The council discussed various options, including pursuing a resolution to initiate a local election or hiring a consultant to help gather necessary signatures for a petition.
Members expressed varied perspectives on the implications of such changes. Some council members expressed concern about the increased availability of liquor stores impacting community safety and aesthetics. Others advocated for the potential economic benefits, noting the opportunity to capture some of those tax dollars that are being spent in neighboring cities.
The council acknowledged the complex landscape surrounding these legislative efforts and agreed to further explore options with city staff, who presented multiple approaches to address the issue. T
Agenda Summary for the July 7, 2025, Work Session:
- Public Comments on Work Session Items
- Agreement with Valley Creek/State Highway 190 Partners, L.P.
- Amendment to Chapter 50, Article II – Rates and Fees
- 2025 Code of Ordinances “Clean-up” Amendments
- Consider Approving “Clean-up” Amendments to Certain Provisions of the Garland Development Code
- Consider a Resolution suspending Oncor Electric’s requested rate change
- DART Overview
- Update on Alcoholic Beverage Zone Legislation
- Mayor Appointments to Council Committees and Outside Boards
- Garland Youth Council Appointments
- Executive Session on financial incentives for business prospects
The council is expected to continue deliberating these topics in future work sessions, as they seek to reach a consensus on a path forward for Garland’s public transit and alcoholic beverage regulations.
