Minutes August 24, 1999CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
August 24, 1999
Work Session of the City of Denton City Council on Tuesday, August 24, 1999 at 6:00 p.m. in
the Council Work Session Room in City Hall.
PRESENT: Mayor Miller; Mayor Pro Tem Beasley; Council Members Burroughs, Cochran,
Durrance, Kristoferson and Young.
ABSENT: None
1. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding the
Draft Comprehensive Plan Comments Summary and the draft School chapter.
Dave Hill, Assistant City Manager for Development, stated that there had been some minor
revisions to the “School” chapter. He presented a new draft of that chapter for review. The
public meetings regarding the draft Comprehensive Plan were completed and he reviewed the
main comments noted at those meetings. Both positive and negative comments were noted in the
agenda materials.
Council Member Cochran felt that during the workshop meeting there was too much information
to gather in too short a time. There was not adequate time to discuss some of the larger issues.
He also felt that there were many comments regarding the lack of a chapter on “adequate public
facilities”.
Council Member Kristoferson stated that she would find it difficult to adopt a plan that was still
not accepted by the citizens.
Mayor Pro Tem Beasley asked about the time schedule in conjunction with the Development
Code rewrite. She felt continued public input was essential. She felt there was some condensing
work needed in the chapters so as not to be too wordy.
Council Member Young did not feel enough citizens participated in the process to determine a
consensus of opinions regarding the proposed document.
Mayor Miller pointed out that the meetings were well publicized throughout the community and
that the meetings were held in the evenings and on the weekends in order to allow for maximum
participation.
Consensus of the Council was to follow the proposed time schedule unless there were major
changes desired to be made to the document after the Planning and Zoning Commission public
hearings and the Council public hearing.
2. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding the
planning efforts for:
a. The Downtown University Core District
b. The Southeast Denton Area
Dedra Ragland, Small Area Planning Manager, stated that Council had passed a resolution
authorizing a Small Area Planning Program for the City. She presented a draft scope of work for
a Downtown/University Core District Plan and the Southeast Denton Area. A timeline for both
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August 24, 1999
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projects was presented for Council review. The details of the plans and the timelines were
included in the agenda materials.
Council Member Kristoferson suggested including an area for the Denia Park area. Perhaps the
areas could be staggered so as to include several areas at the same time. The two neighborhood
areas could be done at the same time staggered from the Downtown/University area.
City Manager Jez suggested adding the Denia area as another area to consider and then rework
the schedule to include staff time for an additional project. A list of small area plans could be
prioritized by the Council.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the Southeast Denton Small Area and
Downtown/University plans. At same time staff would project a time frame on how quickly it
would be possible to include a Denia project and identify other areas appropriate for small area
plans.
3. The Council received a report and held a discussion concerning the status of activities
related to bulky items.
Charlie Watkins, Director of Solid Waste, stated that last year the Council adopted an
amendment to the Solid Waste Ordinance relating to bulky items, unauthorized use of waste
containers, adequacy of service and contamination of recycling sites. Staff determined that the
portion of the ordinance relating to bulky items was not as effective as had been desired. A
meeting was held at which all commercial customers were invited. A committee was formed to
address the issue. Committee recommendations were presented at three additional public
meetings to receive feedback from customers. Recommendations from the Committee were
included in the agenda materials.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the recommendations.
4. The Council received a report and held a discussion on the Lake Ray Roberts Water
Treatment Plant cost update and 10-mgd versus 20-mgd plant construction.
Howard Martin, Assistant City Manager for Utilities, stated that the original plan to construct a
10 mgd plant needed to be changed and suggested a 20 mgd plant be constructed. This was
based on population forecasts and computed water demand data. The Public Utilities Board
agreed that the 20 mdg plant would be more productive than the 10 mgd plant.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed as presented.
5. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding the
1999-2000 operating budget and the 2000-2004 Capital Improvement Program.
Jon Fortune, Director of Management and Budget, presented answers to previous Council
questions concerning the budget.
Council discussed and commented on the answers to the questions presented.
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August 24, 1999
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6. New Business
The following items of New Business were suggested by Council for future agendas:
A. Council Member Cochran requested a discussion regarding the closing of Avenue
C until the completion of the renovations in the area.
B. Council Member Young requested a cost analysis for Scott/Reed Street.
C. Mayor Pro Tem Beasley asked for information regarding the egret problem.
City Manager Jez stated that the Animal Control Supervisor had contacted a federal expert for
information to immediately address the problems in the area. Staff would be working toward
sreceiving federal permits to clean up the area once the birds had left.
Following the completion of the Work Session, the Council convened into a Special Called
Meeting to consider the following:
1. The Council considered making appointments to the Code Committee, which is an ad hoc
committee to be assembled for the purposes of participating in the City of Denton Development
Code Rewrite process.
Mayor Miller stated that nominations were needed from Council Member Young.
Council Member Young nominated Raymond Redmon and Dale Irwin.
2. The Council considered nominations/appointments to the City’s Boards and
Commissions.
Council Member Young nominated Carl Williams to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Burroughs motioned, Beasley seconded to suspend the Council’s rules and vote on the
nomination at this meeting. On roll vote, Beasley “aye”, Burroughs “aye”, Cochran “aye”,
Durrance “nay”, Kristoferson “aye”, Young “aye”, and Mayor Miller “aye”. Motion carried with a
6-1 vote.
On roll vote for the nomination of Carl Williams, Beasley “aye”, Burroughs “aye”, Cochran “aye”,
Durrance “nay”, Kristoferson “aye”, Young “aye”, and Mayor Miller “aye”. Motion carried with a
6-1 vote.
3. The Council considered adoption of an ordinance authorizing the City Manager to enter
into separate professional services agreements with Diversified Utility Consultants, Inc. to
perform audits and franchise reviews of TXU Electric and Gas and CoServ Gas Company;
authorizing the expenditure of funds therefor.
City Attorney Prouty stated that these were two separate company audits. First would be an
examination of TXU’s current franchise and past year gas franchise and the franchise fee
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August 24, 1999
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calculations. The second part of the agreement would review Coserv Gas Company’s proposed
tariff and revenue requirement.
The following ordinance was considered:
NO. 99-279
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO
SEPARATE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENTS WITH DIVERSIFIED
UTILITY CONSULTANTS, INC. TO PERFORM AUDITS AND FRANCHISE
REVIEWS OF TXU ELECTRIC AND GAS AND COSERV GAS COMPANY;
AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS THEREFOR.
Beasley motioned, Young seconded to adopt the ordinance. On roll vote, Beasley “aye”,
Burroughs “aye”, Cochran “aye”, Durrance “aye”, Kristoferson “aye”, Young “aye”, and Mayor
Miller “aye”. Motion carried unanimously.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
________________________________
JACK MILLER, MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
_________________________
JENNIFER WALTERS
CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS