2023-019 Downtown Ambassador Program March 3, 2023 Report No. 2023-019
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Downtown Denton Ambassador Program Pilot
BACKGROUND:
In July 2022, Mayor Hudspeth made a two-minute pitch and received support for staff resources
to be spent developing policies and programs to address referrals to services for people
experiencing homelessness,panhandling, and behaviors in the downtown area.
In January 2023, Council Member Davis made a two-minute pitch request and received support
for a work session to get an update on homelessness efforts after opening the new shelter, with a
focus on safety and the downtown area.
Current Environment
Denton's population has grown 26% in ten (10) years, and Denton added 7,085 jobs between Q1
2021 and Q3 2022. Denton PD reported a 26% increase in the top ten (10) calls for service
downtown from 2021 to 2022.
City departments have been coordinating with downtown businesses in recent months to discuss
Denton's downtown district needs. Business owners provided information on their top priorities
including 1)parking, 2) safety and 3) cleanup & codes to improve the environment for businesses
and visitors alike.
City departments have responded as follows:
■ Installed three streetlights in downtown
■ Repaired six nonfunctioning lights
■ Improved education to give businesses the best and most direct contact to solve most
common issues
The City is also conducting various planning efforts pertaining to the downtown area, as outlined
below.
■ PARD is working with the Downtown Main Street Association to identify locations for
future art
■ PARD has replaced all tall grasses to improve visibility and will assess the need for
additional planters.
■ Economic Development and Development Services are conducting a parking study.
■ Development Services staff are working on a Downton Master Plan (Est. completion
December 2023)
Community Services, Denton Police Department, Parks and Recreation, and Economic
Development have collaborated to develop a multipronged response to Quality of Life in the
downtown area. These efforts align with City Council's Key Focus Area to Strengthen
March 3, 2023 Report No. 2023-019
Community and Quality of Life. The goal is to identify solutions for a cleaner, safer, happier
Downtown Denton. The responses will be presented to City Council over three Work Sessions,
outlined below.
• February 2023 — Council Work Session: Homeless Response Solutions & Transitional
Housing COMPLETE
• March 2023 —Council Work Session: Downtown Ambassador Program
• April 2023 —Council Work Session: Aggressive Panhandling
DISCUSSION:
Downtown Ambassador Program
Downtown Ambassador Programs are increasingly common responses to quality of life needs of
local downtown districts. Staff researched programs across the country (Table 1) and determined
that these programs offer some combination of the following services: Hospitality Services,
Directions, Safety Escorts, Cleaning and Maintenance Services, Outreach and Referrals to Social
Services. `Ambassadors' address issues in public areas, not on private property. While law
enforcement remains the first call in emergencies, Ambassador Programs often provide an added
layer of public safety support for communities.
Table 1: Example Downtown Ambassador Programs
Location Services Provided Funding Program Oversight
Source
■Hospitality Services Public Downtown Fort
Fort Worth, TX Directions; Safety Escorts Improvement Worth Inc. manages
■Homelessness Outreach District(PID) the PID; Contracts
•Referrals to Social Services with 3rd party
■Hospitality Property-Based
Santa Monica, CA ' Safety Assessment Downtown Santa
■Quality of Life District(PBAD Monica,Inc.
•Maintenance )
■Clean Team Downtown Downtown Dallas,
Dallas, TX ■Public Safety(Security) Improvement Inc.
•Homeless Outreach District(DID)
■Hospitality Business Downtown Reno
■ Social Outreach Partnership;
Reno,NV ■ Safety Improvement Contracts with 3rd
■Cleaning District(BID) party
Staff are recommending Council fund a Downtown Ambassador Program in Denton to promote
economic vitality and support public safety downtown. Ambassadors will provide hospitality and
safety services as outlined in Table 2. Cleaning and maintenance services may also be
incorporated, which would increase the number of staff required. Staff identified a need for
enhanced cleaning and maintenance services in the downtown area, and inclusion of these services
in the Downtown Ambassador Program would improve responsiveness and reduce demands on
PARD and CIS.
March 3, 2023 Report No. 2023-019
Table 2: Downtown Ambassador Services
Directions, Motorist Assists, Safety&Umbrella Escorts,
Hospitality Services Business Contacts, Coordination with Parks Downtown
Maintenance
Referrals to Social Services & Collaboration with
Safety Services Outreach, Discourage Illegal Behavior, Regular
Communication with Law Enforcement
Additional option could include Cleaning Services:
Cleaning Services Cleaning, Power Washing, Trash Removal, Graffiti
Removal, Beautification& Landscaping
Based on research, staff are recommending the City pursue contracting services with a third-party
vendor with experience implementing and managing these programs. Under the direction of City
staff, the vendor will oversee daily operations including staffing. These vendors have database
tools to measure program outcomes that can directly inform community impact and funding needs
over time. Two options for partial or full implementation are included below (Table 3). If Council
directs staff to proceed, and RFP will be initiated to obtain definitive cost requirements.
Table 3: Denton Downtown Ambassador Pro ram Pilot Implementation Options
Partial Implementation Full Implementation
• 6 Positions: 5 Ambassadors & 1 • 10 Positions: 9 Ambassadors & 1
Supervisor Supervisor
• Safety&Hospitality Team • Safety&Hospitality Team
• 7am to 12am • 7am to 12am
• Thursday through Sunday • 7 days/week
As proposed, the program pilot would be fully funded through the City's General fund for the
initial one (1) to two (2) years. Based on how similar programs are funded in other communities,
staff s recommendation is for Council to consider the establishment of a Public Improvement
District(PID)to support the cost of the program over time. Establishment of a PID would institute
a special assessment, from which funding may be utilized for community improvements.
Outcome data for the first one (1)to two(2)years of the program will inform the most appropriate
long-term needs, costs and boundaries for a downtown PID. Pending direction from Council,
Economic Development will provide a presentation to Council regarding the requirements for
establishing a PID.
Table 4 identifies potential PID assessment rates based on geographic proximity to downtown. For
example, a ten-cent($0.10) assessment rate for the smallest boundary(0.125 mile) could result in
an estimated $123,014 annually to support the program.
March 3, 2023 Report No. 2023-019
Table 4: Potential Public Improvement District Assessment Rates
PID
Assessment* .125 Mile .25 Mile .375 Mile .5 Mile
(per $100 of
valuation
$0.10 $123,014 $240,376 $360,135 $555,924
$0.20 $246,028 $480,752 $720,270 $1,111,858
$0.30 $369,041 $721,129 $1,080,405 $1,667,771
$0.40 $492,055 $961,505 $1,440,540 $2,223,695
CONCLUSION:
Staff will provide a presentation to Council March 7 (ID 22-2415), recommending the
implementation of a Denton Downtown Ambassador Program Pilot. Staff will seek Council
direction regarding the below.
• Submit a supplemental request in the upcoming budget process to implement a Downtown
Ambassador Program in FY23/24.
o With or without Cleaning &Maintenance Services
Pending Council direction, staff will submit relevant supplemental requests in the upcoming
budget process.
STAFF CONTACT:
Courtney Douangdara, Community Services
courtney.douan dg arakcityofdenton.com; (940) 349-7235
REQUESTOR: (List Council Member Name/Board, Commission or Committee/Staff Initiated)
Mayor Gerard Hudspeth, Council Member Davis
PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS:
Community Services, Police Department, Parks and Recreation Department, Economic
Development
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT: (Estimated amount of cumulative staff time to
complete the report and associated analysis)
80 hours