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Minutes April 25, 1989486 CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 25, 1989 The Council convened into the Special Called meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the Civil Defense Room. PRESENT: Mayor Stephens; Mayor Pro Tem Hopkins; Council Members Alexander, Ayer, Boyd, Gorton and McAdams. ABSENT: None 1. The Council considered approval of a resolution authorizing the submission of an application to the Texas Criminal Justice Division requesting funding for a Drug Abuse Resistance Education Officer. Rick Svehla, Deputy City Manager, stated that this item and the next were Criminal Justice Division grants. The grants would allow for another officer for the D.A.R.E. program and another officer in the juvenile division to investigate child abuse cases. The grants were phased in after 5 years and the City would be responsible for the full cost after the end of the grant program. It was possible for the City to not renew the grant after each year if it so desired. The following resolution was considered: NO. R89-032 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION REQUESTING FUNDING FOR A DRUG ABUSE RESISTANCE EDUCATION OFFICER; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Alexander motioned, Ayer seconded to approve the resolution. On roll vote, McAdams "aye," Alexander "aye," Hopkins "aye," Gorton "aye," Ayer "aye," Boyd "aye," and Mayor Stephens "aye." Motion carried unanimously. 2. The Council considered approval of a resolution authorizing the submission of an applicatio~ to the Texas Criminal Justice Division requesting funding for a special law enforcement unit to investigate child abuse violations. The following resolution was considered: NO. R89-033 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION REQUESTING FUNDING FOR A SPECIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIT TO INVESTIGATE CHILD ABUSE VIOLATIONS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. City of Denton City Council Minutes April 25, 1989 Page 2 Gorton motioned, Boyd seconded to approve the resolution. On roll vote, McAdams "aye," Alexander "aye," Hopkins "aye," Gorton "aye," Ayer "aye," Boyd "aye," and Mayor Stephens "aye." Motion carried unanimously. 3. The Council considered letters of credit for public improvements. This item was not discussed. 4. The Council held a discussion regarding the proposed Corps of Engineers' Greenbelt project. Bob Nelson, Executive Director for Utilities, presented the general background of the project. When completed, the project would contain 10 primitive campsites, hiking trails, and horse trails. The concept of a green belt would save money because the State would pay 25% of the capital costs and then take over the maintenance. The Federal government would pay 37.5% with Denton and Dallas each paying 37.5%. The cost benefits were better with the green belt than with traditional development. 5. The Council considered a prbposed modification for Carroll and Pearl Streets. intersection Lloyd Harrell, City Manager, stated that approximately two years ago, staff had discussed this intersection with Council. There were a large number of accidents at the intersection and staff had made recommendations for modifications to the intersection at that time. Council was not ready to change the intersection at that time and decided to wait until the signal changes on Carroll had been completed. Last month, a request had been received by a Council Member to again review the intersection. Rick Svehla, Deputy City Manager, stated that the progression of the signals had not significantly altered the number of accidents at the intersection. The biggest movement was from south Carroll to east Pearl. The alignment of Pearl was difficult to negotiate and the intersection ranked fifth with the number of accidents this year. Staff was suggesting that the intersection be modified so as to not allow a left turn onto Carroll from Pearl and not allow at straight across movement. The only movement available would be a right turn onto Carroll. Council Member McAdams stated that the Council needed to look at the traffic in general. The whole picture needed to be looked at and not just spot areas. She wanted to see a traffic study done for the whole city. 487 488 City of Denton City Council Minutes April 25, 1989 Page 3 After a discussion regarding traffic policies in the City, the consensus of the Council was to proceed with staff recommendations and to also look at the possibility of a traffic study in the upcoming budget. 6. The Council discussed a proposed ordinance dealing with skateboards used in City drainage ditches. Roger Nelson, Administrative Assistant, stated that calls had been received from residents of the Wilson School area regarding children using skateboards in the drainage ditch at all hours of the day and night. A proposed ordinance change would add skateboards to the ordinance and the skateboards would not be allow on city streets and easements. Mayor Stephens asked the Attorney for an opinion regarding City liability for injury occurred during skateboarding in the drainage ditches. Joe Morris, Assistant City Attorney, stated that there would be no liability on the City's part. It was an open public facility. Mayor Pro Tem Hopkins asked why the skateboards had to be prohibited entirely. She had received a number of calls asking where could the children use the skateboards if not in the street or the drainage ditches as the City had such a limited number of sidewalks. She was against the ordinance unless a public hearing was held to receive citizen input. After discussion, Mayor Stephens questioned Council if they wished to pursue the matter further or to monitor the situation and see what types of problems might arise. Consensus of the Council was not to pursue the matter further with Council Member Gorton requesting addressing the use of the streets as opposed to the drainage ditches or perhaps a dusk to dawn situation. Mayor Stephens stated that staff would continue to monitor the situation and look ahead to the possibility of creating a committee in the future with parent involvement to study the problem. 7. New Business The following items of new business were suggested by Council Members: A. Council Member Boyd requested more funding for the COPS program in the next budget. City of Denton City Council Minutes April 25, 1989 Page 4 Council Member Boyd left the meeting. 8. The Council then convened into Executive Session to discuss legal matters, real estate, and personnel/board appointments (considered appointments to the Main Street Advisory Board). No official action was taken. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m. 489 j/~NiFE~,WALTER~ ..... /TY S RETARY ~ITY OF DENTON, TEXAS CITY ~F DENTON, TEXAS 3080C