Minutes July 22, 1997CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL M1NUTES
July 22, 1997
After determining that a quorum was present and convening in an open meeting, the City Council
convened in a closed meeting on Tuesday, July 22, 1997 at 5:15 p.m. in the Police Department
Conference Room of the Denton Municipal Complex.
PRESENT:
Mayor Miller; Mayor Pro Tem Brock; Council Members Beasley, Durrance,
Kristoferson, and Young
AB SENT: Council Member Cochran
1. Closed Meeting:
A. Consultation with Attorney -- Under TEX. GOV'T CODE Sec. 551.071
Discussed with City's attorneys and considered mediation, settlement, and
litigation strategy in litigation styled Richard and Marilyn Flrent×el,
Individually and on FlehalfofPamela Flrent×el v City of'Denton, Ed Green
and Denton Plaza ~qhopping Center, cause no. 95-40188-362 in the 362nd
Judicial District Court, Denton County, Texas, and alleging damages for
personal injury due to Plaintiff Pamela Brentzel's fall into a drainage ditch.
Discussed with City's attorneys and considered mediation, settlement, and
litigation strategy in litigation styled Joel Darnell Patton and Nelda .lean
Patton v City of' Parkq, City of' Denton, and City of' Cor~qicana, cause no.
3:96v66, filed in the U. S. District Court, Eastern District, Paris Division,
and alleging civil rights violations.
Conference with Employees -- Under TEX. GOV'T CODE Sec. 551.075. The
Council received information from employees or questioned employees during a
staff conference or briefing, but did not deliberate during the conference.
The Council convened into a Work Session on Tuesday, July 22, 1997 at 6:00 p.m. in the Central
Jury Room of the Denton Municipal Complex, 601 E. Hickory, Denton, Texas
PRESENT:
Mayor Miller; Mayor Pro Tem Brock; Council Members Beasley, Durrance,
Kristoferson, and Young
AB SENT: Council Member Cochran
1. The Council held a discussion regarding recommendations from the Oversight Committee
and gave staff direction.
Rick Svehla, Deputy City Manager, stated that the Oversight Committee met on July 7th to
discuss five action items. The first item dealt with drainage. Spencer Road had a culvert that was
failing and needed repair. It was suggested to the Committee to replace the current culvert with a
larger culvert with walls to help with erosion in the area. The Committee suggested using
$15,000 that was saved on a culvert project on State School Road. The City did some of the
work on that project and it was recommended to use that money for the Spencer Road project.
The money saved on the State School Road project would be used to buy the pipe for the Spencer
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July 22, 1997
Page 2
Road project and to do the engineering work. The Committee also recommended doing a
reimbursement resolution for future bond money to pay back operations in order to install the
pipe. The first recommendation from the Committee was to use $15,000 from the State School
Road project and to use operating funds from Solid Waste to be reimbursed later with bonds.
Two projects were recommended from the miscellaneous street area projects. The first project
was a group of signals from the Air Quality Congestion Mitigation Project. Matching funds
would be used with TxDot money. Council had previously approved contracts with TxDot
subject to the funding requirements. The Oversight Committee previously recommended keeping
money in a separate fund for this type of project. The first three projects recommended for
funding would be a right turn lane at I35 and Highway 380; the turn lanes on Highway 380 at
Bonnie Brae, Malone, Fulton and Carroll; and the extension of the Texas U-turn at Fort Worth
Drive. Those three projects would cost approximately $11,245. The fourth project would be
acceleration/deceleration lanes at Kings Row and Loop 288. TxDot's original estimates were
too low and they requested more funding of approximately $45,500 for the project. Two other
intersections recently completed were under the estimate for the project that resulted in a savings
of $60,000. Money would be available for those projects. The Committee was recommending all
four projects with adequate funding and approximately $19,400 to put back into the fund. The
Committee's recommendation was to rearrange some money that was saved over the last several
years. The second miscellaneous project was a recommendation for completion of Panhandle
from Fulton to Carroll; Fulton from Broadway to University; and Linden from Fulton going west
for a number of blocks. Not all of those streets would be paved immediately as the miscellaneous
money was also used for possible economic development needs. The project would start with
Panhandle. The fourth major project dealt with sidewalks. There was an extensive ranking
system for the needs of sidewalks with a major criteria being pedestrian traffic in an area. The last
proposed project dealt with the Rancho del Lago development that was an agricultural
subdivision with large lots. Previously it was felt that a six lane divided facility was needed.
When the development was downzoned, that type of street was no longer needed with only a
two-lane road now required. The Committee felt that the facility should be enlarged or at least
have the capability to be enlarged. It suggested setting aside miscellaneous street money to help
purchase additional right-of-way for future development of two additional lanes for an ultimate
four lane facility. The Oversight Committee unanimously recommended all of the proposed
projects.
Council Member Young stated that sidewalks on East Hickory to Wood Street and Wood Street
to Sycamore needed to be placed on the list.
Svehla stated that they would be placed on the list to be reviewed by the Oversight Committee.
Council Member Beasley proposed to follow the recommendations of the Oversight Committee.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the recommendations.
2. The Council received a report, held a discussion and gave staff direction regarding the
Upper Trinity Regional Water District Southwest (I35W) Service Zone Study.
Council Member Beasley stated that she had been asked to serve on this committee in November.
The Committee was planning for future water and wastewater for parts of the County that only
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July 22, 1997
Page 3
had well water or septic systems. The Upper Trinity Regional Water District was progressing in
ways to bring water and wastewater services to those areas.
Bob Nelson, Executive Director for Utilities, stated that last fall several communities and water
districts contacted the UTRWD regarding water and wastewater services in the area. In an effort
to have a coordinated plan for service in the area, the Upper Trinity invited a task force to be
formed with representatives from various communities and water districts.
Tom Snyder, UTRWD, stated that the task force did a wonderful job in providing input into the
process. This provided a planning document that would be ready when needed.
Dick Hulholt, Brown and Root, stated that the corridor of interest went from Highway 377 and
Hobson Lane. He reviewed the major landholders in the corridor of interest as noted in the back-
up materials. The most significant influence was from Fort Worth with growth industries in the
area. He noted where the existing water and wastewater facilities were located. Suggested
options for wastewater service included utilizing existing facilities, constructing an additional
regional facility for water reclamation and locating and acquiring a permanent site.
Mayor Pro Tem Brock stated that the UTRWD was a provider of wholesale services. She asked
what would happen if there were areas which were not municipalities which wanted services.
Would the UTRWD ever be providing retail water.
Snyder stated that by law the UTRWD could not provide retail services. It could only provide
wholesale services.
Mayor Miller asked what needed to be done to go to the next phase of the study.
Snyder stated that if sufficient interest existed from retail providers, a revolving fund would be
available for a feasibility study.
Council Member Young asked about the purpose of the item on the agenda.
Nelson stated that the purpose was to let the Council know that planning was taking place along
that corridor. Denton might not choose to be party to a development project in that area. There
might be an opportunity along some areas such as Crawford Road to participate in a project.
Council Member Young asked about the life expectancy of a wastewater treatment plant.
Nelson stated that the design work for an expansion of the wastewater plant would be started in
about 18 months and the expansion would be needed in a year or two. The water plant would be
sufficient until the year 2003-2005.
Mayor Miller stated that he supported the idea of a feasibility study.
Council Member Kristoferson asked about the cost.
Nelson stated that there would be some participation costs but he was not sure of the amount at
this point in time. If there were enough interest from area water districts and communities, the
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July 22, 1997
Page 4
Upper Trinity would use their revolving fund. If a project were determined to be feasible, then
the various communities or water districts would sign on asking to be included in that project.
Council Member Beasley stated that the potential was there but was not sure it was the right time
to proceed with the feasibility study.
Mayor Miller stated that as a general rule economic development did not leap frog. It would be
beneficial to Denton, as development moved up towards Denton, to have infrastructure needs
already met. This would be good for long range planning.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the feasibility study.
Following the completion of the Work Session, the Council convened into a Special Called
Meeting to consider the following:
1. The Council considered nominations/appointments to the City's Boards and Commissions.
Mayor Miller stated that there was one nomination to consider. Jerri Locke had been nominated
to the Human Services Committee by Council Member Cochran.
On roll vote, Beasley "aye", Kristoferson "aye", Cochran "aye", Durrance "aye", Young "aye",
Brock "aye", and Mayor Miller "aye". Motion carried unanimously.
Council Member Durrance nominated Russell Elleven to the Historic Landmark Commission.
2. The Council considered approval of a resolution supporting the incorporation of a
Streamline Transportation Efficiency Program for the 21st century (Step 21) into the
reauthorization of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991.
Rick Svehla, Deputy City Manger, stated that this resolution was patterned after the TxDot
request. The new resolution incorporated the language from the NCTCOG Regional
Transportation Committee. Staff was suggesting that Council approve the new resolution as it
incorporated both the NCTCOG ideas and the TxDot language.
Mayor Pro Tem Brock stated that she had received much information regarding various options
from Congress. STEP 21 was not the most desirable option as it bypassed regional planning
groups and gave authority to states. This resolution would ask that the principles of STEP 21 be
incorporated into the renewal of ISTEA.
Mayor Miller stated that some states were receiving more funding than they sent to Washington.
STEP 21 was designed to correct that. TxDot was not addressing the other issues of ISTEA
issues that included the authority of local agencies. This resolution supported the principles in
STEP 21 as they dealt with donor issues. He felt that the resolution would supply both needs.
The following resolution was considered:
NO. R97-030
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING PRINCIPLES EMBODIED IN THE
STREAMLINED TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR THE
21sT CENTURY AND THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
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July 22, 1997
Page 5
RESOLUTION ON ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
Beasley motioned, Brock seconded to approve the resolution. On roll vote, Beasley "aye",
Kristoferson "aye", Durrance "aye", Young "aye", Brock "aye", and Mayor Miller "aye". Motion
carried unanimously.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
JACK MILLER, MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
JENNIFER WALTERS
CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS