The City shall have all of the powers granted or made available to municipal corporations or to cities by the Constitution of Texas, and by Title 28, Revised Civil Statutes of Texas of 1925, with all amendments thereto, and as said title may be hereafter amended and recodified, together with all the implied powers necessary to carry into execution all the powers granted. The City may acquire property within or without its corporate limits for any municipal purpose in fee simple or any lesser interest or estate by purchase, gift, devise, lease or condemnation and may hold, manage and control such property as its interest may require; and, except as prohibited by the Constitution of this State or the statutes of Texas or restricted by this Charter, the City shall have and may exercise all municipal powers, functions, rights, privileges and immunities of every name and nature whatsoever. The enumeration of particular powers by this Charter shall not be deemed to be exclusive, and, in addition to the powers enumerated herein or implied thereby or appropriate to the exercise of such powers, it is declared that the City shall have and may exercise all powers which, under the Constitution of this State and general laws of Texas, it would be competent for this Charter specifically to enumerate.
The City of Garland shall have the power to acquire by condemnation or purchase either private or public property located inside or outside of the corporate limits for the extension, improvement and enlargement of its water system, water supply reservoirs, standpipes, watersheds, dams; the laying, building, maintenance and construction of water mains and the laying, erection, establishment or maintenance of any necessary appurtenances or facilities which will furnish to the inhabitants of the City an abundant supply of wholesome water; for sewerage plants and systems; right-of-way for water and sewer lines; parks, playgrounds, hospitals, fire stations, police stations, airports and landing fields; incinerators or other garbage disposal plants; electric generating facilities and right-of-way for lines in connection therewith; gas plants and right-of-way for gas lines in connection therewith; extension, improvement, or enlargement of electric transmission or distribution facilities; streets, boulevards and alleys or other public ways; City jails; prison farms; City Halls and other municipal buildings; or any right-of-way needed in connection with any property used for any purpose hereinabove named; for the straightening or improving of the channel of any stream, branch or drain and for any other municipal or public purpose though not enumerated herein even though the property may be outside of the corporate limits. The procedure to be followed in any condemnation proceeding hereunder and authorized herein shall be in accordance with the provisions of the state law with reference to eminent domain.
(Ordinance 6991, prop. B, adopted 5/15/18)
It is the expressed intention that this Charter shall confer upon the City of Garland and the Council all of the powers of local self-government conferred upon Home Rule Cities by the Constitution of Texas and the statutes of this state.
There shall be a court for the trial of misdemeanor offenses known as the Municipal Court of the City of Garland, with such powers and duties as are given and prescribed by the laws of the State of Texas.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Charter, the City shall have and retain sovereign and governmental immunity to the fullest extent provided or allowed by law.
(Ordinance 5807 adopted 2/17/04)