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Minutes January 12, 1993187 CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES January 12, 1993 The Council convened into the Planning Session at 1:30 p.m. in the Civil Defense Room. PRESENT: Mayor Castleberry; Council Members Brock, Perry, Smith and Miller. ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Hopkins and Council Member Chew. The Council received departmental activities for the next six months and gave staff direction. 1. Frank Robbins, Executive Director for Planning, presented the following items as major activities for the next six months: A. Regulations 1. Rewrite of the Zoning Ordinance which would include a more friendly format, a MXD with bufferyards and three new residential districts. Those'districts would include single family estate with a 1 acre minimum site, a single family 3.5 mixed residential use and a manufactured housing district. Additional areas to be considered during the rewrite of the zoning ordinance included a heavy environmental impact district, a reorganized Board of Adjustment article with a non-conforming amortization section, antennae standards, design guidelines for all site plans, and updated parking standards. 2. Subdivision Process Re-write which might remove the Council from having to deal with replats. 3. Historic Landmark and District Certificate of Appropriateness Process which would streamline the process. 4. Airport Area Zoning which would relate to Airport development issues. 5. New construction codes would include new Uniform Building Code, new Uniform Fire Code and National Electric Code and the Plumbing and Electrical Codes. 6. Signs B. Long Range Planning 1. Annexation plan - review the provisions of ETJ issues. 2. Bike and Pedestrian Access Plan - community appeared to be in favor of proceeding with such a project. Mayor Pro Ten Hopkins joined the meeting. C. Housing 1. $1 million HOME grant - the City. still had not received word if it had received the requested funding. 188 City of Denton City Council Minutes January 12, 1993 Page 2 2. Rayzor/Southern Hotel - the County had extended the time frame for finalizing this deal until March. 3. Form a community based non-profit commission - the Low and Moderate Income Housing Task Force had been working on this project and should be completed within the next six months. 4. Home ownership financial assistance - more interest was being felt in this area. D. CDBG Allocation 1. The allocation had increased from $675,000 to $1.052 million which was a large increase for the City to use. City Manager Harrell stated that Council might need to give thought as to how much it wanted to be involved in the allocation process of the funds. Traditionally, the Block Grant Committee made the decisions and then Council ~atified those decisions. That might have been appropriate when the amount was smaller. The Council might want to get more involved with a larger amount of dollars involved. Council Member Brock stated that she assumed that the federal requirements were involved in having that Committee have so much final say in the allocation of the funds. City Manager Harrell stated that general federal guidelines had to be followed but the block grant money was money which had a policy decision on how to allocate those funds. Mayor Castleberry suggested holding a workshop item regarding this issue. E. Entranceways 1. Welcome to Denton Sign - should be installed within the next six months. 2. University Drive Tree planting by TXDOT - the trees would be planted within the next month. 3. Teasley cost sharing with TXDOT - an agreement should be to Council in the near future. 4. Dallas Drive landscaping - should continue within the next six months. F. Ail American City application 1. Staff had started the process of making application for the award. 189 City of Denton City Council Minutes January 12, 1993 Page 3 G. Others 1. Argyle-Bartonville City limit agreements - involved land located in Denton's ETJ regarding boundaries. 2. Updated development fees- this had not been done since 1981. 3. "Forrestridge-Hobson" zoning case - both parties had not met yet regarding this issue. 4. ETJ variances - the Council would continue to see these variances. 5. PD downzonings - the Council would continue to see changes in these types of zoning cases. 6. Love Truck Stop annexation - owner of the Truck Stop would like to expand the location. Part of the property was in the Denton city limits and part was outside the Denton city limits. 7. City wide cleanup - preliminary date was set for April for the City-wide cleanup. Betty McKean, Executive Director for Municipal Services and Economic Development, stated that Bruce Hennington, Facilities Manager, and Tom Klinck, Director of Human Services, would be addressing some critical issues for the Council. Bruce Hennington, Facilities Manager, reviewed with Council the Master Space Plan for the City buildings and the proposed renovations and relocations. Council Member Brock asked if all of the money was available for these renovations. Hennington replied that all of the money for Phase I was available. Phase I would impact City Hall West, City Hall and Denton Municipal Complex. The City Annex would no longer be leased. The Denton Municipal Complex would affect the Law Enforcement Court Complex, Human Resources, Information Services and included Cooke County and Morrison Milling. City Hall West would involve Engineering Administration, Engineering, Planning and Development, Code Enforcement, Building Inspections, Utility Development, Community Development and Main Street. Fire Administration and Training would remain at the Central Fire Station. Phase I did not involve the Service Center. City Hall would have the Word Processing Center moved upstairs and provide additional area for Council. City Manager Harrell asked for the tentative budget for City Hall. Hennington replied that it would cost approximately $150-200,000. 190 City of Denton City Council Minutes January 12, 1993 Page 4 Council Member Perry asked if the Cooke County/Morrison Milling lease would remain at the same square footage. Hennington replied that it would not increase without Council approval. Morrison could decrease space if the City needed more space. City Manager Harrell stated that originally Fire Administration and Training was to have moved into City Hall West. As the architect worked through the process, it was determined that it would be more cost effective to keep those departments in the Central Fire Station as the move to City Hall West would require use of jail space. It would be very costly to renovate that area. Hennington stated that city Hall West had three levels and that the first floor had two levels which would be very expensive to renovate. The jail level was also difficult to renovate. He presented a time chart for the renovation project. He stated that they would not build or renovate the buildings while the area was occupied. For example, the Police Department would be moved out before beginning the renovation of City Hall West. He presented detailed drawings of how the renovations would occur in the Denton Municipal Complex. Council Member Perry asked how the prisoners would be taken from the jail to the court room. Hennington replied that they would be taken down one corridor to the Court Room which was always in the Police Department. The corridor would be a secured corridor and the prisoners would not be able to escape from the Police Department. He continued with the plans for City Hall West and City Hall. City Manager Harrell asked for the dollar amount for City Hall West. Hennington replied that it would cost approximately $200,000 for City Hall West. City Manager Harrell stated that staff was asking Council for approval to proceed with the construction drawings to get ready to go to bid. Consensus of the Council was to proceed as presented. Council Member Miller asked about the location of the law enforcement building relative to the train tracks. 191 City of Denton City Council Minutes January 12, 1993 Page 5 City Manager Harrell stated that Chief Jez felt that the police vehicles would be at locations all over the City and that it would be very rare when all of the cars would be at one location. McKean stated that Tom Klinck, Director of Human Resources, would present an update on the pay for performance system. Ton Klinck, Director of Human Resources, reviewed the background information which eventually resulted in the Mercer pay plan. Included in that information was the two phased approach which was implemented during 1992. In last budget discussions, Phase II was implemented. Funding was provided for positive recognition for satisfactory employees and exemplary contributors. Dedication and care was being given to fairly identify and recognize exemplary contributors. Klinck reviewed the performance rating incentives. It was recognized that the economy might not support a full-funded comprehensive and expanded pay for performance program in 1993-94 and suggested that staff and Council examine alternatives for refining the performance evaluations and pay incentives that would enhance team, crew and work group recognition. McKean stated that they would be working with managers and supervisors to make this program work well. There was a certain degree of narrowness with the 1/2% increase between categories. Modifications would probably be presented to the Council regarding the matrix. John McGrane, Executive Director for Finance, stated the five items he wanted to discuss with Council which would affect the City during the next six months included the (1) capital improvements program and associated issues, (2) upcoming operations and maintenance budget especially the tax revenues, (3) other revenue sources such as alternative sales tax opportunities, (4) grants and recouping associated costs, and (5) risk management program and actuarial study. The Capital Improvements Program had a 1986 bond election for general government programs which was a five year program. It was sold as a no tax increase program and would be accomplished by a decrease in the annual debt service payments, a growth in the annual assessed valuation, and interest for selling those funds. Two of those three items were not fulfilled. The Federal government took away the City's ability to earn interest on the funds. Anything earned over what was paid had to be rebated to the Federal government. Also the City's assessed valuation dropped. Because of those two factors, the program was spread out over seven years. The City still had authority for some projects but not for street and drainage projects. McGrane highlighted projects in the last program. The last general obligation issue was in 1989 with the major project scheduled for a recreation 192 City of Denton City Council Minutes January 12, 1993 Page 6 center which was not built. The interest on those funds would be used for the swimming pool renovations. There were no more street/drainage projects and the city would have to go to the voters to do another general obligation issue. There was a large need for projects but the City had no authority to issue money for those projects. There were two key elements associated with the CIP. One was that the City was looking at a bond election and the second was that when the bonds were issued, there probably would have to be a tax increase in order to pay for them. Council Member Miller asked if the last issue was done without a tax increase. McGrane replied that not all of the projects had been completed but so far there had not been a need to increase taxes for those projects. McGrane presented an overhead detailing an Appraisal Roll Comparison. The decrease in value affected the capital improvement side was well as the operational side of the budget. Once the property values started to decrease, the effective rate would go up. He detailed the effective vs. adopted tax rate. Areas where the lost revenue could be made up included other revenue sources, increases in sales tax, and growth through an economic development program. McGrane presented an overhead chart indicating the sales tax projection for fiscal 1992-93. City Manager Harrell stated that for the City to be able to say that for three years the tax rate was at or below the effective tax rate, was very commendable. McGrane stated that two key issues for consideration included the impact of not going to the effective rate and the need for looking at some other sources of income into the general fund. Other revenue sources might include additional sales tax. Currently the City was at a 1% rate which meant the City added 1% over the State rate. The City could use those funds for whatever it wanted. The State had allowed four other areas to be considered. An election would be needed to allow the City to implement an additional tax up to 2%. Sec. 4A, the economic development area, allowed legislation, after an election, to increase by one/eighth of a percent increments to a maximum of one half percent to offset ad valorem taxes. If that were done, it could only be used for land, infrastructure or building acquisition. Ten percent of the amount collected could be used for promotional efforts. If the election were held and approved, the City would have to set up a development corporation which was a 5 member board appointed by Council. This would be for a capital improvements budget rather than the operational budget. 193 City of Denton city Council Minutes January 12, 1993 Page 7 Mayor Pro Tem Hopkins asked if the Council would have input on how the funds were used or would that just be a function of the development board. McGrane replied that the Board would have control over the use of the funds but the members were appointed by the City Council. Currently the City qualified for Sec. 4-A but did not quality for Section 4-B as the requirement was to have a county population over 750,000 which Denton County did not have. Current legislation only allowed the funds to be used for a specific project and not for operation and maintenance with possible legislation to change the requirements in the upcoming session. Another option was a reduction in the ad valorem tax rate although currently Denton did not meet the qualification for total population. The City would have to project an amount it would receive in an increase of sales tax which reduced the effective tax rate by that amount. This would be added to the budget. In the first two years after passage the funds could be used to offset any shortfalls in budget. The third year the funds could be used for any item. In the fourth year any excess would have to be used to pay back debt service. Currently the City competed with other jurisdictions for taxes. Under this program, the city would only compete with the State. An additional option was to establish special districts such as a health district or an emergency service district. In another area, a recommendation had been made from the auditors to take a closer look at how the City's grants were administered. The City's risk management fund would be in need of an actuarial study in the near future. Bob Nelson, Executive Director for Utilities, stated that in a similar line of alternatives for revenue was the creation of a storm water utility. The Council tabled this item in 1992. Current regulations applied only to cities over 100,000 population with smaller city regulations to come later. The Storm Water Department was under funded and all storm water capital projects had been taken out of the CIP. This could be a new source of revenue. City Manager Harrell stated that this item would be brought back to Council as a study session for Council review. Nelson presented the following major Council issues for the next six months: A. Contract to sell Dower and energy to Texas A&M - A&M wanted to build a new power plant and furnish a new system to the campus. They were interested in the TMPA cities and College Station's proposals. The four TMPA cities along with College Station would 194 City of Denton City Council Minutes January 12, 1993 Page 8 sell power, energy and steam at market price to the Texas A&M campus through the year 2012. The revenues could reduce Denton rates by 1-2%. Black and Veatch had been hired to do an economic evaluation study regarding the proposal. A&M would select a provider by March. B. Approval of TMPA declared project of Texas A&M - The TMPA Board had not decided whether to go with the project. The cities would have approximately 90 days to decide whether to join the project. If the City did not join and had made a proposal to A&M, Denton could fund its share of the project. If Denton did not join the project at all, Denton could be released from TMPA's full requirements and the terms of TMPA contract. That would free Denton to seek other wholesale power suppliers in the future. C. Challenge of TMPA rate methodology - A consultant had completed a study of the TMPA rate methodology and did find some inequities. The City was presently working with an Austin attorney to review the TMPA contract and determine the validity of a legal challenge. Staff understood that TMPA was considering hiring a rate consultant. Denton could do some load reduction this year by substantially increasing the payment it was willing to give to its larger customers who would want to voluntarily join in a load reduction program. If Denton was willing to commit approximately $1 million to pay customers to reduce loads for the summer of 1993, the 1994 TMPA costs could be lowered by $2 million provided TMPA did not change methodology in October 1993. The $2 million would come from Garland and Bryan customers. D. Electric System Power Supply Study - a contract would soon be ready with Resource Management International (RMI) to study such issues as burning natural gas at the power plant more efficiently if a gas turbine boiler system were installed and possibly fit the boiler where it could burn solid waste. The estimated cost was $100,000 and would include external purchases other than TMPA. This would consider a combining-cycle unit at the Denton plant and could lower energy costs by $1.5 million. The study would consider waste to energy with combined-cycle unit in order to burn trash and would con~ider cooperation with TWU in a cogeneration plant, if feasible. Ee Solid Waste Program with the following major considerations: 2. 3. 4. Preliminary Master Plan Contract to ~mploy a landfall ~ngin~ur Purchase land for landfill expansion Complete detailed long range master plan for the community which would include developing plans for MSW 195 City of Denton City Council Minutes January 12, 1993 Page 9 composting, reducing yard waste, central versus curbside recycling program, refuse derived fuel facility and waste to energy facility. F. Establish Denton's position regarding involvement in regional solid waste issues. Many believed a governmental or regional entity was the best to own a landfill. Carrollton had indicated an interest in sharing planning information and the UTRWD had indicated an interest to work with Denton in a plan. G. Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction - construction would be completed around October or November of 1993. Associated issues would deal with sludge management, residual management, land purchases, toxic emissions control, municipal water pollution prevention program (EPA), and storm water management of biosolids disposal sites. H. Work with UTRWD on a regional wastewater plan I. Toxic Reduction Evaluation (TRE) - the City's wastewater effluent exhibited toxicity during the summer months. The EPA required completion of a toxicity reduction evaluation in 36 months. UNT and staff had developed TRE project activities. The EPA required multiple characterization to verify the source of toxicity. The first characterization identified diazinon as the toxicity. CIBA-GEIGY, a manufacturer of diazinon indicated an interest in the project. A pilot scale wetland system (1/2 acre) would be evaluated as possible control strategy for the diazinon. The study would investigate toxic and nutrient removal efficiencies of wetland. The annual cost was estimated at $35,000 per year and there was a total of $50,000 budgeted for TRE in FY 93. CIBA-GEIGY had verbally indicated that they would fund the project. J. Site for water tower in southwest Denton - the preliminary site suitability study would be completed by November 1993. The City Council would review the site study in December 1993. The City Council could then appointed a citizen task force for a final site selection and for the aesthetic design. K. Reconsider Impact fees - Council might want to reconsider impact fees. The State law now considered pro rata fees on City installed lines as impact fees so the City could not charge pro rata unless an impact fee was adopted. The Council could consider adopting a fee just for pro rata fees. L. Development of the Greenbelt Corridor - the next opportunity to introduce revised language would be in the Resource Development Act of 1994. OMB was indicating the position of "up front" funding 196 City of Denton City Council Minutes January 12, 1993 Page 10 of the nonfederal project share. Denton's position had been no deal under an up-front arrangement. M. Wildlife refuge development - the basic concept had been favorably received by the Corps of Engineers and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Rick Svehla, Deputy City Manager, stated that Mike Jez, Chief of Police, John Cook, Fire Chief, and Jerry Clark, City Engineer, would be presenting activities for the next six months in their departments. Mike Jez, Chief of Police stated that one of the primary activities of his department would be the move into the new facility which was on track for planning. The other pressing issue for the next six months would be a computer system which would be a combined public safety system for the fire and police departments. This was in the CIP for the 1993-94 budget year. The current system could not continue to manage data or derive any analytical value from the information. He felt there was a need to try and expedite the funding of the system as the 1993-94 CIP had no funding. Late in 1989 the Police Department staff had put together a "Red Book" which was the planning document regarding the expansion of the COPS program. A review of that program indicated that it was about 97% complete. The next major project would be the development of a plan to continue from this point forward with that program. John Cook, Fire Chief, agreed with Chief Jez regarding the computer system. There was a critical need for a new computer to connect the two departments. Mayor Pro Hopkins asked for a total dollar amount for a new computer system. Cook replied that a full system would cost approximately $1.5 million which would include terminals in the police vehicles and approximately $.5 million for computer system only. Lewisville and Carrollton had their systems in place. Construction was moving very well on Station ~ and it might be ready nQar th~ middl~ of February. Recruiting efforts continued in the affirmative action area. Council Member Miller asked if the CIP was the only way to fund the computer system. This was an issue which was important to the safety and welfare of the community. City Manager Harrell replied that realistically that was the : ~ process to follow or the Council could issue certificates of ~ 197 city of Denton City Council Minutes January 12, 1993 Page 11 obligation which would have the same effect. Either of those options would be available. Council Member Miller stated that this situation was impacting the City's ability to provide services to the community for police and fire. City Manager Harrell stated that that was the reason it was placed on the CIP because it was a very early project in the next, as of yet, unfunded CIP. Council Member Miller stated that it might be an early project but the time would be lengthy as it went through the whole CIP process. He asked if the money had to be up front if the system were leased. City Manager Harrell replied it was less expensive to have the City issue the certificates of obligation and then lease it back to the City. Jerry Clark, City Engineer, presented two items for Council (1) CIP and (2) an update on the repaving projects. All of street projects from the 1986 bond issue had been completed except for the major highways which were on hold by the Highway Department. In the future bond issues, except for years 3-4, there were not many street projects. Staff would like to receive input on whether it would be possible to go for a bond issue this summer or at the latest in December for new projects. Important projects included Collin Street, Fort Worth Drive, extend Payne to I35, Hickory Creek Road, Good Samaritan drainage, Bradshaw and Phoenix Apartments for drainage work. Mayor Pro Tem Hopkins asked if the drainage work at the Phoenix Apartments would be eligible for Block Grant money. City Manager Harrell replied yes. Deputy city Manager Svehla stated that there had been a large increase in block grant money which would allow for including some of these projects. Clark continued with an update on repaving projects. There was approximately $300,000 for overlay and $200,000 for repaving. The four year list was coordinated with the Utility Department to do the lines before repaying the streets. There was a street manaHement study which rated each street within the City. His department was trying to work on the top ten streets and get them taken care of. 198 City of Denton City Council Minutes January 12, 1993 Page 12 City Manager Harrell reviewed three points regarding the CIP. (1) the adopted CIP was a really limited CIP put together with the assumption of a no tax CIP. A future debate would be on how expansive to make the next CIP. (2) The City did all the design work in-house. If the City ran out of CIP projects, a situation might arise where the City would have to let employees go and then possibly rehire when the CIP started again. Consensus of Council was to begin preliminary plans with regard to forming a committee for a CIP. Council Member Miller stated that computers were not in the last CIP and questioned if enough attention had been given to the computer issue. He questioned if it belonged in a CIP program or in another area. This was a serious problem which perhaps needed to be looked at as a separate issue. Council Member Brock asked if everything in the computer system was a capital investment. In 5 years the computer needs might have changed. She suggested putting computers into an ongoing funding category. City Manager Harrell stated that that situation would be easy for Council to orchestrate. The Council could raise taxes a few cents and dedicate those funds to computer operations. Traditionally, the only flexibility the City had was to fund that type of item through the CIP. council Member Miller stated that he saw computers as a separate issue from traditional infrastructure kinds of items. This issue was separate from other kinds of items on a CIP. City Manager Harrell stated that staff could prepare a report regarding police, fire and library and the effect on the tax rate. That could begin before the budget process. Once Council decided that that was what woul~ be done, it took on a concurrent implication to the budget discussions. Council Member Miller mtated that he.wam in favor of moving ahead with the study. Council Member Smith asked if part of the system could be done first and then add on later. Cook replied that the system gould he phased in over a number of years. 199 City of Denton City Council Minutes January 12, 1993 Page 13 Consensus of Council was to proceed with a report regarding the issue. Deputy City Manager Svehla informed Council that the overlay of airport had been completed and they were in the process of obtaining the land necessary for the extension of the runway. City Manager Harrell reminded Council of the TML Region 8 meeting which was scheduled for January 22, 1993. He also informed Council that the bids for the swimming pool renovations had come in within budget. Review of City Council Goals for 1992-93 City Manager Harrell stated that at a prior retreat session, the Council began brainstorming regarding issues important to the City. These issues had been grouped and Council began prioritizing them. Due to time constraints at the retreat, this process was not completed. Those goals had been updated for Council consideration. Fiscal Issues 1. Budget - the budget process had been completed and the format and process from past years had been followed with major issues discussed early. The only input he had received regarding the budget for next year was to have available the prior year and the current year budget for Laylor recipients. Next year there would be a similar format. 2. Impact Fees - these fees applied not only to utilities but also to transportation. All of the fees including the storm water utility issue hinged on the policy debate to move away from the property tax if possible. 3. Examination of user fees - a number of cities in California had gone into the study of user fees and had a consultant look at all services of a city. Those services were categorized whether they should be broad based financed with property tax or pass those costs on to the users of the system. Many california cities had now relied more on user fees as opposed to property taxes. This would need to be a policy decision by the Council for staff to proceed in direction. 4. State in-lieu-of tax payments - this was a long range goal which needed ground work done for this issue. 2OO City of Denton City Council Minutes January 12, 1993 Page 14 Mayor Castleberry felt that the Council needed to think in terms of sales tax possibilities and other possibilities for the next budget. He suggested a work session regarding the issue. Council Member Brock asked for information on how much a user fee study would cost. City Manager Harrell stated that it might help in selling the program to the community if that type of study were done to determine those costs and that kind of analysis. Mayor Pro Tem Hopkins felt that with this kind of a setting with analysis of the issue, the Council would be able to come up with pros and cons of the issue. Council Member Perry felt it would be a good idea to study the issue and get as much information as possible before starting such a program. Council Member Smith felt that such a study would have a bearing on what would be done in regard to a bond election. Mayor Castleberry felt that it would also be a good selling point for a CIP package. Interqovernmental Relations 1. Local, state and national organizations - the City continued to work with the DISD, the Highway Department and others on mutual projects. 2. Legislative action for authority for half cent sales tax - Representative Ben Campbell had been receptive to sponsoring legislation to allow Denton to have the authority to levy a half cent sales tax to relieve property taxes. 3. Lobbyist for the Legislature - no lobbyist for the upcoming Texas Legislative Session was budgeted. A further set back was that the city was going to u~e a member of Utility ~taff in that capacity but that employee had taken another job. The City would be dependent on TML for lobbying in the legislature. 4. Court of Record - it was felt that this legislation did not have much of a chance unless a lobbyist were hired. 5. Civil Service Reform - Deputy City Manager Svehla and Chief Cook were working with other civil service cities for reforms during this legislative session. 201 city of Denton City Council Minutes January 12, 1993 Page 15 6. Chamber of Commerce & City working relationship - it was felt that the economic development partnership with the Chamber was working well. Economic Development Activities 1. Economic Development- Harrell mentioned some of the successes in that area such as the utility development lines, the relocation of PACCAR, and the utility fund increase to the city and Chamber economic development project. 2. Airport development - the overlay project was completed and the master plan would be ready in the spring. The condemnation work was in process for extension of the runway. 3. Trucking regulations - this item continued to be worked on. 4. Perception of City - "Difficult to Do Business With"- several efforts had been initiated to make it easier for citizens/customers to work with the City. A focus group was held in August with business people to receive comments and suggestions regarding working with the City. Quarterly meetings were being held with developers and a questionnaire was given to customers regarding service with the City. Council Member Perry stated that he recently attended a meeting where the City staff was complimented highly and felt that that perception was going away. City Manager Harrell continued that the city had changed some of its business hours and the Mayor had worked with current industries. Rules and Regulations 1. Sign ordinance - this item had been discussed by Council and was well in the process. 2. Public participation for Council meetings - the Council had amended its procedures in this area to allow for greater citizen participation. Future Issues 1. 21st Century - staff was working on that project and was getting examples of communities which had already done such a project. 202 City of Denton city Council Minutes January 12, 1993 Page 16 Infrastructure 1. Highway 2499 and other highway projects - this was the first year of a new process to determine highway projects based on the federal guidelines. 2. Upgrade of streets - Council had converted some bond money to allow more streets to be upgraded this past year. 3. Develop a plan for sidewalk repair - $100,000 of Block Grant money had been designated for sidewalk repair in addition to bond funds. Policies 1. Affirmative Action- Harrell indicated steps which the City was taking. 2. ADA - bonds were sold to allow work at City Hall and other facilities to address access for the handicapped. 3. Total Quality Management - Internally - orientation was completed and a task force formed to continue to look at this area. Public Safety 1. Public Safety issues - the COPS program continued to be expanded into Denton neighborhoods. The Police and Fire departments continued to research computer aided dispatching systems which would enhance dispatching capabilities. 2. Disposition of Central Fire Station - once the fire station was relocated, a discussion would be needed to decide what to do with the building. Part of the building would still be the administrative offices and part would be available for other uses. Utility Issues 1. UTRWD - an update had been provided by Bob Nelson. 2. TMPA concerns - Nelson had indicated concerns in his briefing. 3. Storm water utility - that issue had been discussed by Council and a decision made to place the issue on an upcoming work session. 4. Water Power site and design - Nelson had discussed this area with Council. 203 City of Denton City Council Minutes January 12, 1993 Page 17 5. Recycling and landfill waste disposal - these items were tied to the master solid waste plan. Other Issues 1. Substandard buildings - 165 structures had been identified as substandard and there were being monitored. 2. New Parks Director - this item had been completed. 3. Texas Special Olympics - this project was underway. 4. Housing - continue effort for low cost housing - the Council had received a prior report from Barbara Ross on this item. 4. Donation of old Southern Hotel to the Housing Authority - this project was still being work on. 5. Space - Moore building - Council had received a briefing from Facility Management. 6. Fry Street Fair - Council had dealt with that issue. 7. Fairgrounds issue - the Fair and staff were working with the neighborhood group on issues of concern. 8. Public relations efforts - progress was being made in that area although there still were some gaps as a result of funding problems. A public relations position was needed but would have to wait until the dollars could be allocated. 9. Own working relationships - this was a Council item. Council recessed for dinner. JE~ I FE~'~WALTERS CIT~ S ECR%ETARY CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS ACCOOOD9 SOB CAST ,E.E Y, CITY OF DENTON, TEY~AS 204 CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES January 12, 1993 The City Council reconvened into the Planning Session after a dinner break. City Manager Harrell led the City Council in a brainstorming exercise. Harrell explained that as policy makers, the City Council must spend a lot of its time determining specific issues and not directly discussing policy. The exercise was designed to help the City Council focus on policy. Each City Council Member answered the question, what should the Denton Public Library services be like in ten years. The answers articulated by individual City Council Members were as follows: WHAT SHOULD LIBRARY BE LIKE IN 10 YEARS? Bookmobile Other Branch Libraries, Especially northeast Retain Emily Library - Core Centralized, Fully Staffed, Automated, Incredible Adequately Housed - Not Fancy 1 Or 2 Fully Staffed - Not More Checkout - Most Important More Newspapers, Periodicals Not Pie In The Sky Read, User Friendly Access, Interactive - To Citizens - To Schools Be Comfortable To Read Coordinated With Schools Easy Reference Videos In Accord With Texas Library Association Standards In Accord With American Library Association Standards Safe, Friendly - Especially For Children Programs For Children - Expand Acquire More Books - More $ Everyone's Library - Accessibility Literacy Automated - State Of The Art - Some High Tech Services Personal Contacts - User Friendly Adequate Parking A Lot of Coordination With 2 Univer~itie~ Staff - Well-Trained - Proper Credentials Provide Wide Range Of Services - Including Most Advanced Use For School Projects - At Home Building - Contemporary Well Located The City Council discussed that not all aspects of each person's vision were the same nor necessarily agreed upon by all City Council Members. However, this brainstorming exercise allowed each 205 person to think about what the library services would ideally be in ten years. The City Council received a report and held a discussion regarding Denton Public Library services strategic planning issues. The full report presented by Eva Poole, Manager of Library Services, was included in the agenda backup materials. The City Council discussed various aspects of the Library report. The amount of funding from Denton County continued to be insufficient to meet the demand caused by County resident use. The City Council consensus was to get an audience with the County Judge and discuss this issue. A task force might dialogue with the County Judge and then report the results to the full City Council. The City Manager was directed to contact the County Judge. At the next City Council meeting, the Council would choose the group to meet with the Judge. City Manager Harrell led the City Council in developing a mission statement for the Library. After much discussion, the City Council modified the City's mission statement. The following mission statement for the Library was agreed upon: To be a leader among public library systems in developing outstanding services and materials through citizen involvement, innovation, and efficient use of resources. The City Council directed the staff to send the results of the City Council's brainstorming exercise regarding a vision for the Library in ten years along with the mission statement to the Library Board. The Library Board was charged with the task of determining the best way to achieve the mission of the Library and bring the ideas back to the City Council for discussion. The City Council discussed the fiscal impact on the tax rate in terms of operating and maintenance costs of the branch library option. It was determined that if the bonds were sold in March, the impact would be approximately one cent of additional taxes necessary to generate the revenue in fiscal year 1994-95. There would also be a slight increase in taxes to produce the revenue needed to fund a portion of the cost in fiscal year 1993-94. The Mayor took a voice vote to determine the consensus of the Council. The City Council voted unanimously (6-0) for the branch library proposal, giving the staff direction to sell $600,000 of bonds in March to be used for a 10,000 square foot branch library. The Friends of the Library would be given until May 31 to raise the additional funds necessary to build a 15,000 square foot facility. The City Council received a report and held a discussion regarding Emergency Medical Services and strategic planning issues associated with such service. Fire Chief John Cook presented a detailed report regarding the history of emergency medical services in Denton County and the costs of such services. The report was 206 included in the City Council's backup materials. The Council also discussed the inequity of the distribution of costs for emergency medical services between citizens in Denton and County and small city residents within Denton County. There was much concern expressed that based on per capita costs and usage, Denton citizens' costs were higher than the rates collected by contracts with Denton County and with small cities in Denton County. Denton taxpayers were paying more than Denton County citizens because the contract amounts were not covering the actual cost of service. Under the current system, a City resident was paying the City share plus the County share in terms of tax dollars. This equated to a City resident paying four to five times as much as a rural or small city resident of Denton County. There was great concern expressed by the City Council that Denton taxpayers were subsidizing the cost of emergency medical services to residents outside the city limits. The City Council discussed the safety issues regarding any reduction of service to areas of the County if the County decided to eliminate this non-mandated county service. The City Council directed staff to examine ambulance fees and determine the true costs of providing the service. Staff was also directed to begin to dialogue with small cities that Denton had contracts with regarding raising their fees for emergency medical services. The Council further directed the City Manager to contact the County Judge and determine a time for a small delegation from the City to meet with him regarding County funding of emergency medical services. The City Council adjourned at 9:00 p.m. CATHERINE E. TUCK DEPUTY CITY SECRETARY CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS BOB CASTLEBERRY, MAYOR c TY oF DENTon, .XAs/ /