2019-112 Council Committee AppointmentsDate: May 31, 2019 Report No. 2019-112
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Provide an overview of the City Council Committee assignment process.
BACKGROUND:
City Council Committees consider and may make project or policy-related recommendations to
the City Council on items referred to the Committee by the Mayor, City Council, or the City
Manager. Section 2-29 of the City of Denton Code of Ordinances addresses City Council Rules of
Procedure, including the establishment of City Council committees. The Rules of Procedure
states, “The council may, by resolution and as the need arises, authorize the appointment
of council committees. Any committee so created shall cease to exist when abolished by resolution
of the council.”
Resolutions establishing City Council Committees provide that (1) members serve at the pleasure
of the City Council until successors are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council,
(2) the presiding officer of the Committee shall be chosen annually by the Committee, and (3)
members of the Committee must be current elected City Council members of the City of Denton.
Historically, however, the Mayor has allowed each Council Member to select the committees they
wish to join.
Committee assignments are reviewed annually by the City Council to allow the opportunity to
make necessary adjustments and to account for changes to City Council composition resulting
from elections. Attachment 1 provides a brief description of each type of committee, and
Attachment 2 provides the listing of current member assignments.
Staff will further describe the City Council appointment process at the June 18 Work Session with
a goal of formally adopting proposed appointments at the June 25 City Council meeting. If you
know which specific City Council Committees you wish to be assigned, please send that list to
City Secretary, Rosa Rios (Rosa.Rios@cityofdenton.com) by June 12 for inclusion in the June 18
Work Session presentation materials.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Council Committee Descriptions
Attachment 2 – Current Council Committee Assignments
STAFF CONTACT:
Rachel Wood, Chief of Staff
(940) 349-7718
Rachel.Wood@cityofdenton.com
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES
AGENDA COMMITTEE
The Agenda Committee is composed of the Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tem, and the City Manager.
The Agenda Committee reviews the City Manager’s proposed City Council agendas as to form and
agenda content.
AUDIT/FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Audit/Finance Committee is composed of three Council Members. The City Manager, or his
designee, is an ex-officio member. The duties and purpose of the Committee shall be to assist the
Council in fulfilling its organizational oversight responsibilities relating to the audit function, the
investment function and any other financial related activities as delegated by the City Council.
COMMITTEE ON CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT
The Committee on Citizen Engagement is composed of three Council Members. The City
Manager, or his designee, will provide guidance and assistance to the Committee. The duties and
purpose of the Committee shall be to provide advice to the Council and/or staff regarding the timely
distribution of accurate and complete information to Denton citizens and devise methods of
engaging Denton citizens in the various processes of city government.
COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
The Committee on the Environment is composed of three Council Members. The duties of the
Committee shall be to review, discuss, deliberate, and consider environmental issues and resources
and make recommendations to the Council. The Committee will also deliberate and make
recommendations regarding any other matter delegated to the Committee by the Council.
COUNCIL AIRPORT COMMITTEE
The Council Airport Committee is composed of three City Council members. The City Manager, or
his designee, will provide guidance and assistance as needed. The duties and purpose of the
Committee shall be to review, consider and make recommendations to the City Council on: the
Airport Business Plan and Airport Master Plan; any airport infrastructure improvement or other
major project impacting the airport; the acquisition, review, and consideration of grant funding for
the airport; contracts and leases of airport property, including recommending appropriate terms to
the City Council; long term financial planning and budgetary issues affecting the airport, and issues
raised as a result of interface between citizens, airport tenants, or other interested parties.
COUNCIL APPOINTEE PERFORMANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE
The Council Appointee Performance Review Committee is composed of three Council Members,
with the Director of Human Resources as an ex-officio member. The duties and purpose of the
Committee shall be to assist the City Council in performance review of the City Council appointees
and to insure that the appointee’s job descriptions are accurate and properly reflect current job duties
in order to make recommendations to the Council to assist the Council in evaluating the job
performance of the council appointees. Additionally, the Committee will make recommendations
regarding employment agreements, including renewals, of council appointee positions.
HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AND SPONSORSHIP COMMITTEE
The Hotel Occupancy Tax and Sponsorship Committee is composed of three Council Members.
The duties and purpose of the Committee shall be to monitor allocation and use of both the hotel
occupancy tax and sponsorship funds, ensuring HOT funds are being used to directly enhance
and promote tourism and the hotel/ convention industry, ensuring the sponsorship funds are
being used to further a charitable cause, economic or community growth and serve a public
purpose in the best interest of the general welfare of the City of Denton, and recommend
organizations to receive funding to the City Council.
MOBILITY COMMITTEE
The Mobility Committee is composed of three Council Members. The duties and purpose of the
Committee shall be to review, consider and make recommendations to the City Council regarding
any changes to the Mobility Plan, local transportation policy, and any items concerning regional
transportation policies and activities.
EXTERNAL COUNCIL COMMITTEES
COMMUNITY JUSTICE COUNCIL
The Community Justice Council is established according to Chapter 76 of the Texas Government
Code. That Chapter indicates that a Justice Council has to be established as a prerequisite to
establishing a community corrections facility. The Community Justice Council provides continuing
policy guidance and direction for the development of criminal justice plans and community
correction facilities and programs and conditions of community supervision. Among the members
of the Justice Council is a council member of the most populous municipality in the County that the
facility will serve.
CONVENTION AND VISITOR BUREAU ADVISORY BOARD
The Denton Convention & Visitor Bureau was initiated in 1976 by the Denton Chamber of
Commerce to promote events and attractions, provide hospitality education, and ensure a positive
experience to Denton visitors. It operates via an agreement between the City of Denton and the
Denton Chamber of Commerce. The Advisory Board makes recommendations to the Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors.
DALLAS REGIONAL MOBILITY COALITION
The Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition is a transportation advocacy group made up of cities,
counties and transportation agencies in a five-county region (Dallas, Denton, Collin, Rockwall
and Ellis) with a primary mission to advance critical mobility projects through advocacy efforts
with state and federal elected officials and regional transportation agencies.
The DRMC is governed by a 27-member board of directors representing cities, counties and
transportation agencies in the greater Dallas area. It consists of seven members, one each from the
cities of Carrollton, Garland, Grand Prairie, Irving, Mesquite, Plano and Richardson being either the
Mayor or another elected official designated by the City Council; four members, designated by the
Mayor of Dallas, being either two or three elected officials from the City of Dallas and one or two
community leaders who are non-elected officials; four members, one each from Collin, Dallas,
Denton, and Ellis County, being either the County Judge or another elected official designated by
the County Judge; elected officials from those cities not represented in either of the first two
categories; one community leader (non-elected official) appointed by the Dallas County Judge; four
ex-officio members being the Texas Department of Transportation District 18 District Engineer, the
Executive Director of the Texas Turnpike Authority, the Executive Director of the Dallas Area
Rapid Transit Authority, the Staff Director of the Regional Transportation Council; and one
business leader (non-elected official) appointed annually by the Legislative Coalition of the Dallas
Area Chambers of Commerce. Based on Denton’s population, one Executive Committee seat is
available to be filled by the Mayor or another elected official. Currently, the Mayor has asked a
Council Member to serve as the City’s designee to the Coalition.
LAKE RAY ROBERTS PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
The Lake Ray Roberts Planning & Zoning Commission hears requests for zoning changes,
special use permits, recreational park permits, sign permits, planned development applications
and variances.
The Commission is made up of eight (8) members: three (3) must be residents of the affected
precincts who own land in the county and are appointed by the County Judge, one resident of
each Commissioner Precinct that is affected and appointed by that Commissioner, or if only one
precinct is affected the Commissioner shall appoint two, and the Mayor or his designee of each
city of which the city limits or Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) includes any part of the Lake
Ray Roberts Land Use District.
NORTH TEXAS COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP
The North Texas Commission is a public-private partnership of businesses, cities, counties,
chambers of commerce, economic development entities and higher education institutions dedicated
to advancing the vibrancy of the North Texas region. The North Texas Commission provides the
resources to carry out programs that benefit the entire region and to address regional problems and
opportunities. The City’s membership in the Commission provides for two members representing
the City of Denton – currently the City Manager and Mayor.
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL
The North Central Texas Council of Governments has served as the Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO) for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. The Regional Transportation
Council is the independent transportation policy body of the Metropolitan Planning
Organization. The RTC consists of 44 members which include local elected or appointed
officials from the metropolitan area and representatives from each of the area's transportation
providers. The RTC oversees the metropolitan transportation planning process. The City of
Denton has one representative on the RTC and an alternate member to serve in the absence of the
primary member.
TEXAS MUNICIPAL POWER AGENCY
The Power Sales agreement dated September 1, 1976 designated two representatives from the City
of Denton to serve on the Board of Directors. Two representatives are approved by the City
Council who may, but need not necessarily be, members of the City Council and the Public Utilities
Board. The Board of Directors assists in establishing policies, setting regulations, and overseeing
the administration and management of the agency as well as approving and auditing the budget.
OTHER COUNCIL COMMITTEES AND BOARDS
DEVELOPMENT CODE REVIEW COMMITTEE (AD HOC)
The Development Code Review Committee is composed of three City Council members plus three
Planning and Zoning Commissioners who participate as non-voting ex-officio members. The duties
and purpose of the Committee shall be to review all proposed revisions to the Denton Development
Code and make recommendation to the City Council regarding the proposed revisions.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP BOARD
The Economic Development Partnership Board consists of twelve members: (1) two members
from City Council at the time of their appointment, (2) two members from the Denton Chamber
of Commerce Board of Directors at the time of their appointment who reside or work in the City,
(3) two members who will be, or must be currently employed by a top 20 City of Denton ad
valorem or sales tax payer and who reside or work in the City, (4) the President of UNT or
his/her designee who does not have a city residency requirement; (5) the Chancellor and
President of TWU or his/her designee who does not have a city residency requirement; (6) a
member with knowledge or experience in general aviation-related matters with no financial
interest at the Denton Enterprise Airport and who resides or works in the City, (7) a citizen of
Denton with specific knowledge, skills and abilities to assist in the functions of the Economic
Development Partnership Board; (8) a member nominated by the Denton Black Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors who resides or works in the City; (9) a member nominated by the
Denton Hispanic Chamber of commerce who resides or works in the City. The City Manager, or
his designee, the President of the Chamber, and the Superintendent of the Denton Independent
School District, will serve as ex-officio members of the Board.
The Board provides economic development policy guidance and makes recommendations to the
City Council and Chamber of Commerce; reviews, considers and makes recommendations to the
City Council regarding marketing and branding for the Denton Enterprise Airport; reviews,
considers and makes recommendations to the City Council regarding Denton Enterprise Airport
incentive policies as assigned by the City Council or requested by the City Manager; and acts as
a recommending body to the City Council for specific airport economic development incentives
as assigned by the City Council or requested by the City Manager and permitted by City and
State law.
DOWNTOWN DENTON TAX INCREMENT FINANCING REINVESTMENT ZONE
BOARD
The Downtown Denton Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone Board is composed of
seven members: two City Council members, two are either property owners of property located
within the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone or residents whose primary residence is located
within the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, two are either business owners of businesses
located within the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone or members of the Denton Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors, and one a qualified voter of the City of Denton.
The Board makes recommendations to the City Council concerning the administration of the
Zone; prepares and adopts a project plan and Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone
financing plan for the Zone and submits the plans to the City Council for approval; prepares,
implements and monitors such project and financing plans for the Tax Increment Financing
Reinvestment Zone as the City Council considers advisable including the submission of an
annual report on the status of the Zone.
TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER TWO BOARD
The Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number Two Board consists of fourteen members:
twelve members of the Economic Development Partnership Board, one member appointed by the
governing body of Denton County, and one member appointed by the “developer”, Rayzor
Investments, LLP.
The Board makes recommendations to the City Council concerning the administration of the
Zone; prepare and adopt a project plan and Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone financing plan for
the Zone and submit the plans to the City Council for approval; prepare, implement and monitor
such project plan and financing plan for the Zone as the Council considers advisable, including
the submission of an annual report on the status of the Zone.
COUNCIL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS 2019-2020 COMMITTEE MEMBERS STAFF LIAISON Agenda Committee Watts Hudspeth Staff Liaison–Todd Hileman Agenda–Rosa Rios Audit/Finance Committee Ryan Watts Meltzer Staff Liaison–Tony Puente Agenda–Theresa Jaworski Committee on Citizen Engagement Armintor Hudspeth Briggs Staff Liaison–Sarah Kuechler Agenda–Sarah Kuechler Committee on the Environment Briggs Ryan Meltzer Staff Liaison–Katherine Barnett Agenda–Kim Mankin Council Airport Committee Vacant (Duff) Ryan Watts Staff Liaison–Scott Gray Agenda–Leanne Hood Council Appointee Performance Review Committee Ryan Watts Vacant Staff Liaison–Carla Romine Agenda–Carla Romine Hotel Occupancy Tax and Sponsorship Committee Hudspeth Watts Armintor Staff Liaison–Randee Klingele Agenda–Randee Klingele Mobility Committee Briggs Ryan Meltzer Staff Liaison–Pritam Deshmukh Agenda–Becky Owens EXTERNAL MEMBERS Community Justice Council Briggs Convention and Visitor Bureau Advisory Board Ryan Hudspeth Armintor Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition Briggs
Lake Ray Roberts P&Z Commission Briggs North Texas Commission Watts Regional Transportation Council Ryan Briggs (Alternate) Texas Municipal Power Agency Watts Cheek (PUB member) AD HOC MEMBERS STAFF LIAISON Development Code Review Committee Briggs Watts Ryan Staff Liaison–Scott McDonald Agenda–Monica Salcedo BOARD/COMMITTEE MEMBERS STAFF LIAISON Economic Development Partnership Board Briggs Hudspeth Staff Liaison–Jessica Rogers Agenda–Michelle Coughlin Downtown Denton TIF Reinvestment Zone No. 1 Board Meltzer Hudspeth Staff Liaison–Julie Glover Agenda–Michelle Coughlin Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 2 Board Briggs Hudspeth Staff Liaison–Erica Sullivan Agenda–Michelle Coughlin Revised May 30, 2019