Minutes August 08, 2000CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
August 8, 2000
Work Session of the City of Denton City Council on Tuesday, August 8, 2000 at 6:00 p.m. in the
Council Work Session Room in City Hall.
PRESENT:Mayor Brock; Mayor Pro Tem Beasley; Council Members Burroughs, Durrance,
Kristoferson and Young.
ABSENT:Council Member Cochran
1.The Council was to receive a presentation from Diversified Utility Consultants, Inc.
regarding electric utility rate design.
This item was not considered.
2.The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding Denton
Central Appraisal District’s 2000-2001 Budget.
Joe Forsythe, Denton Central Appraisal District, reviewed the District’s budget as noted in the
agenda materials. The Texas Property Tax Code required taxing jurisdictions to approve or
disapprove their Appraisal District budget within 30 days after its adoption by the Board of
Directors. Staff recommended accepting the 2001 proposed Denton Central Appraisal District’s
budget.
Consensus of the Council was to place the item on an upcoming agenda for approval.
3.The Council received a report and held a discussion concerning the future drainage project in
the Stroud Street area.
Jim Coulter, Assistant Director of Wastewater Utilities, stated that an engineering study had been
done regarding the Pecan Creek Watershed that provided the basis for the PEC-4 channel
improvements from Bell Avenue to Woodrow Lane. A finished floor survey would be
completed to determine the extent of the needed channel improvements. No formal action was
required by Council at this time. Staff would continue to meet with the neighborhood to discuss
the issues as information became available. A suggestion was to hold an additional meeting after
the finished floor survey was completed.
Consensus of the Council was to continue looking at all options and continue meeting with the
neighbors.
4.The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding a
current contract with Greater Denton Arts Council (GDAC).
Susan Croff, Utilities Services Manager, stated that the Greater Denton Arts Council had
requested that the City revise and update the schedule authorizing the City to reimburse GDAC
for the utilities used by the Campus Theatre. Under the current agreement, the City reimbursed
GDAC for utilities used within reimbursement limits provided by the agreement. In addition, the
GDAC was requesting that the City reimburse them for $10,691.42. That amount represented
the difference between the actual expenditure by the GDAC and the amount reimbursed by the
City for fiscal years ending 1997, 1998, and 1999.
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August 8, 2000
Page 2
Council Member Cochran joined the meeting.
Consensus of the Council was to revise Schedule A, revise the ordinance allowing for a three
year review of Schedule A, conduct an energy audit of the facility and gather more information
regarding the request for reimbursement of the previous payments.
5.The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding
potential annexation actions for the Ryan Road area.
Doug Powell, Director of Planning and Development, stated that the City had received two
inquires to voluntarily annex property in the Ryan Road area. The DISD had submitted a
voluntary annexation petition for the elementary school site on Ryan Road. One issue dealing
with the school site was the fact that the right-of-way was prescriptive meaning that the adjacent
property owner actually owned the land to the center of the road. An alternative was to do a
broad based annexation strategy that would provide for a unified responsibility for the
maintenance of Ryan Road. Other options to consider were an involuntary strip annexation that
would annex 1,000 feet or a voluntary strip annexation that the Ryan family would have to
volunteer to dedicate to the City all the way to the school site. Staff was recommending a
broader annexation strategy to eliminate fragmented road maintenance responsibilities to provide
safe and efficient access to the school. As development interest continued in the area, other
properties might be platted before annexation could be initiated if a case-by-case strategy was
used.
Consensus of the Council was to continue looking at the options available and return with an
update for the Council.
6.The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding
potential annexation actions for the I-35W/U.S. 377 area.
Doug Powell, Director of Planning and Development, stated that Charles Jowell had discussed
with staff a proposal to develop a 30 acre parcel that was currently undeveloped. To date, no
formal application had been filed. Because a plat could be filed that would vest lot sizes, the
matter was being brought to Council’s attention. Staff understood that Mr. Jowell intended to
develop a single-family project with minimum lot sizes of approximately 7,500 square feet.
Staff was recommending that a broader annexation strategy should be started. Council should
start the process of annexation to protect the city’s interest in the development area.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the annexation of this particular parcel and work
on a policy development for future annexation strategies of this type.
7.The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding
design options and painting alternatives for the 1MG elevated storage tank for the upper pressure
plane.
Tim Fisher, Assistant Director of Water Utilities, presented design options and painting
alternatives for the new water storage tank as noted in the agenda materials.
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August 8, 2000
Page 3
Consensus of the Council was to pursue the design of the composite tank with the City logo.
8.The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding the
construction of streetscape improvements around the Courthouse Square.
Ed Hodney, Director of Parks and Recreation, presented design proposals for streetscape
improvements around the Courthouse Square and along Hickory Street to Bell Avenue. He
noted the objectives as detailed in the agenda materials.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the project.
9.The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding the
Denton Entrance Monument project.
Ed Hodney, Director of Parks and Recreation, stated that the 1996-1999 CIP included $250,000
for the design and construction of entrance monuments at five locations along the SH 380 and
Interstate 35. The project was designed and advertised for bid in 1998 but only one bid was
received exceeding the project by nearly 300%. The decision was made to redesign and re-bid
the project. Bids had been received on a redesigned project and staff was reviewing the bids at
this time with a recommendation due to Council in late August. Staff would like Council’s
consent to proceed with the project. Current funding would only allow one monument to be built
at this time. Other monuments would require additional public and/or private resources. If
Council decided to not proceed with the project, funds would be reallocated to other efforts such
as new directional and site signage for city facilities and major destinations in Denton.
Consensus of Council was to proceed with the project with a change in the color of the star.
10.The Council received a report, held a discussion, and made a recommendation for
proposed median modifications on Colorado Boulevard in front of Target near the Loop 288
intersection.
Jerry Clark, Director of Engineering and Transportation, stated that Target had requested a
modification in the traffic flow in the area since they had enlarged their store. Traffic in the area
had steadily gotten worse and it was difficult to get into the store. The proposal was for enclosed
right turns that would enhance the movement of traffic. Target offered to pay for materials,
amounting to nearly $40,000. The Street Department was prepared to handle project
administration and construction, providing for all removals, grading, backfill, and installation
with a value of almost $40,000. Patterned concrete would be installed in the new medians.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the proposal.
11.The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding a
paperless agenda.
Jennifer Walters, City Secretary, presented an overview of the process and asked Council for a
decision on whether or not to proceed with a paperless agenda. If the Council decided to
proceed, a system would be designed to make an efficient paperless agenda for Council use. A
consensus of the Council was needed to proceed with a paperless agenda for the Council.
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August 8, 2000
Page 4
Consensus of the Council was to not proceed with a paperless agenda but to begin e-mailing
routine memos and reports.
12.The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding
citywide planning activities.
Dave Hill, Assistant City Manager for Development Services, stated that in 1997 Council
identified several planning objectives such as the sign ordinance amendments, a park dedication
ordinance, landscape ordinance amendments, establishment of impact fees, and development of
the Denton Plan. All of the assigned projects had been completed or would be incorporated in
the Development Code Rewrite project. A draft planning activities timetable was developed to
enable Council discussion and direction regarding future planning activities. Those future
activities would include a facilities master plan, open space master plan, annexation plan, and
roadway capacity analysis.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the finalization of the timetable.
Following the completion of the Work Session, the Council convened into a Special Called Session.
1.The Council considered nominations/appointments to the City’s Boards and
Commissions.
Jennifer Walters, City Secretary, reviewed the current vacancies at noted in the agenda materials.
Beasley motioned, Burroughs seconded to suspend the rules and vote on the nominations at this
meeting. On roll vote, Beasley “aye”, Burroughs “aye”, Cochran “aye”, Durrance “aye”,
Kristoferson “aye”, Young “aye”, and Mayor Brock “aye”. Motion carried unanimously.
Beasley motioned, Durrance seconded to approve the nominations made at this meeting. On roll
vote, Beasley “aye”, Burroughs “aye”, Cochran “aye”, Durrance “aye”, Kristoferson “aye”, Young
“aye”, and Mayor Brock “aye”. Motion carried unanimously.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:10 p.m.
_______________________
EULINE BROCK, MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
___________________
JENNIFER WALTERS
CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS