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Minutes May 24, 1988CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES May 24, 1968 The Council convened into the Work Session at 5:30 p.m. in the Civil Defense Room. PRESENT: Mayor Stephens; Council Members Alexander, Ayer, Boyd, Gorton and McAdams. ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Hopkins 1. The Council considered adoption of an ordinance authorizing the Director of Utilities to execute contracts with electric utility customers to reduce electrical power demand and authorizing credits on utility bills for customers who execute such contracts. The following ordinance was considered: NO. 86-091 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS WITH ELECTRIC UTILITY CUSTOMERS TO REDUCE ELECTRICAL POWER DEMAND; AUTHORIZING CREDITS ON UTILITY B1LLS FOR CUSTOMERS WHO EXECUTE SUCH CONTRACTS; AND PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Bob Nelson, Executive Director of Utilities, stated that the purpose of the ordinance was to reduce the City's peak demand which would hold down the City's wholesale purchase costs. McAdams motion, Ayer second to adopt the ordinance. On roll call vote, McAdams "aye," Alexander "aye, "Gorton "aye," Ayer "aye," Boyd "aye," and Mayor Stephens "aye." Motion carried unanimously. 2. The Council held a discussion regarding the proposed Landscaping and Tree Preservation ordinance. Frank Robbins, Executive Director of Planning, presented a slide presentation detailing the provisions of the ordinance. The ordinance contained two major components. The first component protected trees. It prohibited clear-cutting and required a permit to cut trees. A protected tree was 10" in diameter and 12" above the ground. The tree preservation ordinance and landscaping ordinance had been combined in order to protect trees in an area of future development and incorporate those trees into the development later. The second component of the ordinance was the landscape ordinance. The ordinance would require landscaping between the street and buildings, between the street and parking lots and within parking lots. 91 City of Denton City Council Minutes May 24, 1988 Page 2 Robbins reviewed the standards for landscaping, the requirements for tree planting/tree preservation, standards for parking lot landscaping and standards for screening parking lots. Staff was suggesting an effective date of 3-6 months after passage in order to adequately educated the community regarding the specifics in the ordinance. Bill Holt, Director of Economic Development-Chamber of Commerce, expressed some concerns regarding property zoned industrial. He felt that perhaps that type of property would be better suited if it had different specifications from property zoned commercial or retail. He asked Council to allow him to work out different considerations for industrial versus commercial or retail zoning, make comparisons with other communities and present those considerations at the next regular Council meeting. After discussion, it was felt that the Chamber should work with some members of Planning and Zoning and some members of the Beautification Committee to draft the issues Holt was discussing. Bill Claiborne, Chairman - Planning and Zoning Commission, stated that he felt this ordinance defined commuhity standards. It improved the quality of life in Denton and created a balance between cost for developers and benefits for citizens. Jeanne Morrison, Chairman Beautification Committee, stated that the Committee was ready to work with staff members on whatever changes were necessary for the ordinance. Virgil Strange, Denton Home/Apartment Builders Association, expressed some concern regarding a single standard for various uses. He stated that there were items in the ordinance that the builders did not agree with but that they could live with. 3. The Council held a discussion regarding an ordinance amending Articles 4.01 through and including Article 4.06 of Chapter IV of Article III of Appendix A (Denton Development Code) of the Code of Ordinances to provide for new and amended regulations and requirements for streets, driveways, parking lots, and sidewalks; repealing Articles 4.17 and 4.18 of Appendix A. Cecile Carson, Urban Planner, addressed questions from the Council noted at the last work session. (1) Cutting sidewalks already in place for utilities - current regulations require sewer lines to extend to the property line and water lines end City of Denton City Council Minutes May 24, 1988 Page 5 at the property line. In order to place sewer lines, a sleeve would have to be installed or bore under the sidewalk to make the connection. Thus once the sidewalk was in place, it would not be necessary to cut it in order to accommodate utility lines. (2) Sidewalk exemptions along State/Federal Highways - staff recommended changing the wording of the ordinance in order to grant a sidewalk exemption in those cases where perimeter street paving exemptions were granted. (3) Use of alternate materials in parking lots suggestions for alternatives for paving materials would be included and required to meet the same weigh tests for parking construction. (4) Multiple permit process for driveway/parking lot permits - no separate permit would be required if all needed information was submitted in any other permit required. Double permitting would not be required. Council held a lengthy discussion regarding driveway access on collector streets. Concerns centered on rear access versus front access, shared access versus single access. Changing classifications of streets to add a sub-collector classification was also discussed. It was suggested that staff continue working on three alternatives to access on collector streets including the suggestions by Assistant City Attorney Joe Morris, the addition of a sub-collector classification to the street classification and rear access versus front access. 4. The Council held a discussion regarding the proposed time schedule of the Denton Development Plan. Harry Persuad, Urban Planner, stated the the neighborhood meetings had been very successful. A public hearing on the Plan was being proposed. Before that public hearing, a work session would be planned for the Council regarding the Plan. Item 10 was considered. 10. The Council met in Executive Session to discuss legal matters, real estate, personnel and board appointments. No official action was taken. Item 6 was considered. 6. The Council held a discussion regarding the median design on Teasley Lane. Rick Svehla, Deputy City Manager, stated that the State Highway Department was giving the City the option on the median design for Teasley Lane. He presented several options to the Council with the main plans being a continuous left turn lane versus a raised median. Staff was recommending a raised median as a safer alternative to a continuous left turn lane. 93 9¸4 City of Denton City Council Minutes May 24, 1988 Page 4 Svehla reviewed problem areas connected with the raised median with no cuts versus a raised median with one mid-block cut with a turn in both directions. Staff would work with residents and businesses in the regarding the raised median and report back to Council later meeting. The Council returned to the regular agenda order. 5. The Council held solicitation ordinance. area at a a discussion regarding the proposed Debra Drayovitch, City Attorney, reviewed the provisions of the ordinance with Council. She stated that the formal ordinance would be placed on the June 7th agenda for Council approval. 7. The Council held a discussion regarding the collection of delinquent taxes. John McGrane, Executive Director of Finance, stated that the current contract with Heard, Goggan, Blair and Williams would expire June 30, 1988. Council had the option to send out for proposals or renew the contract for one year. Staff 'was recommending a renewal of the contract for next year and send out for proposals for the following year. A formal recommendation would come before Council to renew the current contract at the next Council meeting. 8. The Council held a discussion regarding the timing of a Utility Revenue Bond sale. John McGrane, Executive Director of Finance, stated that interest rates were rising and the sooner the bonds could be sold, the better it would be for the City. He stated that staff was recommending beginning the process for the bond sale at the June 7th Council meeting. 9. The Council held a discussion feasibility study of the TWU pool. regarding the Lloyd Harrell, City Manager, reviewed the back-up materials presented to the Council especially the letter from Bob Benfield, TWU, detailing the costs for revitalization of the old gym. He stated that it appeared that TWU was not interested in any type of joint venture with the City in this area and that demolition of the gym had already begun. City of Denton City Council Minutes May 24, 1988 Page 5 10. The Council reconvened into Executive Session discuss the following items: to Legal Matters -- Under Sec. 2(e), Art. 6252-17 V.A.T .S. Held a discussion on Maverick vs. Cit7 of Denton. Be Held a discussion on Robertson and Perez claims· Real Estate -- Under Sec. 2(f), Art. 6252-17 V.A.T.S. Personnel/Board Appointments -- Under Sec. 2(g), Art 6252-17 V.A.T.S. Considered appointments to the Low/Moderate Income Housing Task Force. Considered appointments to the Solid Waste Blue Ribbon Committee. The Council reconvened into open session and took the following action: A. Gorton motion, Alexander second to approve the following members to the Blue Robbon Task Force for Solid Waste. Motion carried unanimously. Ivan Glasscock, Larry Luce, Todd Kerr, Matt Gohlke, Richard Edyvean, Ralph Morrison, George Gilkeson, Jim Stone, Ray Stephens. B. Ayer motion, McAdams second to approve the following members to the Low/Moderate Income Housing Task Force. Motion carried unanimously. Mariella Cornell, Isabell Miller, Deborah Darley, Phil Shea, Lucy Campbell, Reginald Logan, Harry Down, Paul Ephraim. Formal resolutions would be presented at the June 7, 1988 Council meeting for adoption. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:54 J]~fNIIZE~r ~A]~TERS, CITY SECRETARY C~I~Y--ITOF DENTON, TEXAS CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS 2924C 95