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Minutes March 24, 1998 CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 24, 1998 After determining that a quorum was present and convening in an open meeting, the City Council convened in a Special Called meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 1998 at 11:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. PRESENT: Mayor Miller; Mayor Pro Tem Brock; Council Members Beasley, Cochran, Young and Durrance. ABSENT: Council Member Kristoferson 1. The Council received and opened bids regarding the City of Denton’s Utility System Revenue Bonds, Series 1998. David Medanich, First Southwest Company, stated that the Council had received a letter summarizing the ratings on the utility bonds and the general obligation bonds. The general obligation bonds had an existing rating of A1. That rating would be upgraded from stable to positive with the next step to an AA rating. The utility system revenue bonds were currently at an A1 stable rating and an A1+ rating. That rating was maintained which was still a good rating based on the current condition of the electric regulation business. He stated that four bids were received regarding the utility system revenue bonds. The bids received and the interest rates were: Payne Webber – 4.947374, First Southwest Company, Inc. – 4.96108, Dean Whitter – 4.9380, and William R. Hough – 4.9549. Medanich stated that he would check the bids and return to Council with the winning bid. 2. The Council considered adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance, sale, and delivery of City of Denton Utility System Revenue Bonds, Series 1998, and approving and authorizing instruments and procedures relating thereto; and providing an effective date. David Medanich, First Southwest Company, stated that the bids had been checked for accuracy and that the bid of Dean Whitter was the low bid. The following ordinance was considered: NO. 98-084 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE, SALE, AND DELIVERY OF CITY OF DENTON UTILITY SYSTEM REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 1998, AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING INSTRUMENTS AND PROCEDURES RELATING THERETO; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Durance motioned, Beasley seconded to adopt the ordinance. On roll vote, Beasley “aye”, Cochran “aye”, Durrance “aye”, Young “aye”, Brock “aye”, and Mayor Miller “aye”. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m. After determining that a quorum was present and convening in an open meeting, the City Council convened in a closed meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 1998 at 5:15 p.m. in the Work Session Room at City Hall. PRESENT: Mayor Miller; Mayor Pro Tem Brock; Council Members Beasley, Kristoferson City of Denton City Council Minutes March 24, 1998 Page 2 Cochran, Young and Durrance. ABSENT: None 1. The Council considered the following in Closed Meeting: A. Conference with Employees – Under TEX. GOV’T. CODE Sec. 551.075. The Council received information from employees during a staff conference or briefing, but did not deliberate during the conference. The Council convened into a Work Session on Tuesday, March 24, 1998 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Work Session Room at City Hall. PRESENT: Mayor Miller; Mayor Pro Tem Brock; Council Members Beasley, Kristoferson, Cochran, Young and Durrance. ABSENT: None 1. The Council received a report from the Denton Black Chamber of Commerce regarding a request to amend their 1997-98 Hotel Occupancy Tax Budget, held a discussion, and gave staff direction. John Baines, Denton Black Chamber of Commerce, stated that the Denton Black Chamber of Commerce was working on bringing in events that all would enjoy and which would assist with the hotel/motel tax. In the fall of last year, they had slated to have a jazz festival but because of scheduling difficulties and the incomplete band shell at Fred Moore Park, the event was delayed. The Chamber was asking to have two presentations in this year. In February a gospel music festival was held. Later this year they wanted to hold a rhythm and blues festival, possibly on the Labor Day weekend. The Chamber was asking for an amendment to their budget to allow them to spend two years worth of funds in one year. Consensus of Council was to proceed with the amendment and to prepare the necessary resolution to approve such. 2. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding the adoption of a new master plan for Civic Center Park. The Parks and Recreation Board had recommended approval of the proposed Master Plan. Ed Hodney, Director of Parks and Recreation, stated that the 1996-97 budget allocated money for a master plan for Civic Center Park. There were a number of improvements envisioned for the Park through the CIP but no master plan to follow. A consultant was hired in 1997 to perform the master plan proposal. An advisory committee was formed with members of the community and area groups to work on the proposed ideas. Public meetings were held to help determine which of the alternatives to work with. Boone Powell, Ford, Powell and Carson , made a slide presentation of the proposed master plan for City of Denton City Council Minutes March 24, 1998 Page 3 the Civic Center Park. Key points to the plan included (1) creation of a vision for the park that would reflect Denton’s historic character and set standards for the future more urban city that was emerging, (2) provide spaces for large and small gatherings, (3) clarify park entrances and make a strong entrance to the Park and (4) develop the drainage-way into a positive amenity. Funding for the plan included $6 million but that would depend on when the project was started. The first need to fund was the dam and lake that would benefit the project. Following that, they would proceed with the outlying areas of the park. Council Member Beasley felt that this was a great project and would like to see it adopted as soon as possible. Council Member Cochran stated that the value of this type of plan was that it would provide direction to follow over a number of years. Consensus of the Council was to proceed with adoption of the plan. 3. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding the draft landscape ordinance. Dave Hill, Director of Planning and Development, stated that following the last public hearing on March 3rd, staff was requested by the Council to respond to a letter submitted by Trammell Crow and to look at site plans from other metroplex cities. Suggested revisions included (1) development in the Airport, Central Business District and Fry Street area should be exempted from the landscape ordinance at this point in time. (2) Additional trees were designated as street trees. (3) Alternative shrub spacing may be used with approval of the Review Committee when it could be shown that the selected shrub met the same requirements. (4) Landscaping in yards would comply with the ordinance. Staff had received a fax from Trammell Crow regarding the full impact of development regulations. Council Member Beasley suggested decreasing the number of trees from 20 to 15 trees per acre rather than 20 trees per acre. The 20% open space would still be required but the number of trees per acre would be reduced to 15 trees per acre. Council Member Cochran agreed with the 20-15 reduction. He also suggested treating existing trees differently than lots that had no trees in regards to tree credits. If a lot had no trees, the developer would have an added expense for planting those trees. He suggested keeping the 20-20 regulation for existing trees and have a two tier requirement. Not everyone liked trees and if a developer installed the trees, the homeowner would have no decision on where to place the trees nor the type of trees. The homeowner might like to have a say on where the trees would be located. Exempt residences from the requirement of 15 new trees per acre but if existing trees were present, they should stay there. That way natural vegetation would not be lost. Council Member Kristoferson stated that it was her understanding that if a developer had 1000 trees and met the ordinance requirements, he would have met the requirements for all the lots in the development. Not all lots would have trees because he had already met the requirements. If there was a lot without trees and the homeowner owned that lot and asked to have house built, there would be no requirement for trees. It would be at the owner’s prerogative to plant trees. In the situation of an infill lot where a builder might build a spec house, he would have to meet the requirements. City of Denton City Council Minutes March 24, 1998 Page 4 Hill stated that planting of those trees could wait for the owner’s approval. There would be an escrow fund to be able to plant the trees at a later date according to the owner’s desire. Another way to demonstrate compliance would be to put the burden back on the homeowner. Mayor Pro Tem Brock felt that 15 trees per acre would meet the requirements. She agreed with Council Member Beasley in changing that percentage. The three proposed exempt areas would be more re-development rather than development. Council Member Kristoferson felt that this was a positive method to deal with air quality in the City. She would prefer uniform standards throughout the city. Hill stated that staff was working on incentives to put parking in the back of developments. Council Member Cochran stated that even though there may be true redevelopment in the areas of the Central Business District, Fry Street and the Airport, those assets there now should be kept. Council Member Beasley wanted to make sure that University Drive was not included in the exempt area. She suggested that the cut off be on College Street. Council discussed the merits of the proposed ordinance. Consensus of the Council was to change to the formula to 20-15, incorporate the four suggestions on the information sheet but exclude University Drive in the exempt area. 4. The Council received a report and held a discussion regarding growth forecasts and projections. Dave Hill, Director of Planning and Development, stated that RUST AND HLK had preformed a growth forecast and projection of growth. They would be presenting the results of that forecast to Council. Al Petrasek, RUST, reviewed the materials presented in the agenda back-up regarding the growth forecasts and projections of growth. Council discussed the forecasts and projections of growth. Consensus was that those studies would assist with future planning issues. 5. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding the Denton Plan Draft Policy Documents. Dave Hill, Director for Planning and Development, stated that final consideration by Council on this th item would be April 7. The agenda back-up information contained the same copy of the policies discussed during the public hearing with notes added per Council Member Cochran. He summarized comments from the public hearings for review. Mayor Miller suggested that some type of index and not a fixed figure be used when referring to affordable housing. City of Denton City Council Minutes March 24, 1998 Page 5 Hill stated that a definition of “affordable” would be used instead of a dollar amount. Council Member Beasley suggested taking out specific examples of incentives in the economic diversification section as they could change over time. Mayor Pro Tem Brock stated that #1 and #2 both dealt with local business ownership and questioned if they were redundant. Hill stated that the second part of growth management directly addressed local business ownership. Council Member Cochran proposed some basic wording changes in the draft document as noted in the agenda back-up materials. Council discussed the draft documents and made suggested changes for the Planning Department to incorporate into a revised document. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:55 p.m. ____________________________ JACK MILLER, MAYOR CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS _________________________ JENNIFER WALTERS CITY SECRETARY CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS