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.
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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
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/TY S RETARY
~ITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
CITY ~F DENTON, TEXAS
3080C