Minutes February 27, 2001CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
February 27, 2001
The Council convened into a Work Session on Tuesday, February 27, 2001 at 6:00 p.m. in the
Council Work Session Room in City Hall.
PRESENT: Mayor Brock; Council Members Burroughs, Cochran, Durrance, and Kristoferson
ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Beasley; Council Member Young
1. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and provided staff direction regarding
the issuance of a curbside recycling collection bid.
Howard Martin, Assistant City Manager for Utilities, stated that Council had directed staff to
expedite the issuance of a curbside collection bid to provide Denton's residential customers with
curbside recycling. Staff developed a thirteen member community Recycling Committee to help
with the bid development program implementation. He reviewed the details of the recycling bid
proposal as noted in the agenda materials. Staff recommended that the bid as presented be
forwarded and issued.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the bid process.
Council Member Young joined the meeting.
2. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding a
request for permit and impact fee waivers submitted by the Denton Housing Authority.
Dave Hill, Assistant City Manager for Development Services, stated that the Denton Housing
Authority was in the process of rezoning and platting 1207 and 1213 Wilson Street to construct
their own offices and those of several non-profit agencies. The DHA was requesting that the
application fees associated with the proposed development be waived. Staff felt that the Council
had the discretion to waive permit and inspection fees, as had been done in the past for different
governmental projects. Staff recommended approval of the DHA permit and inspection and fee
waiver request, after review by the Legal Department and the enactment of regulations to assure
that the waiver is legally valid. Approval of the impact fee was a matter that had been referred to
the Legal Department to determine if there was any legal authority for waiving impact fees under
these circumstances and to draw up authorizing regulations if they determined that such a waiver
was legally valid.
Consensus of the Council was to not waive the impact fees, permit fees and building fee.
3. The Council received a report and held a discussion regarding an interlocal agreement
between the City of Denton, SPAN, and the University of North Texas to provide for passenger
carrier service for students, staff and faculty on the LINK.
Jon Fortune, Assistant City Manager for Public Safety and Public Transportation, stated that
UNT had approached the City about the possibility of an agreement to allow LINT students, staff
and faculty to show a valid ID card to ride the LINK. This would be a pre-arranged amount over
a three-year period based on estimated ridership. Two route changes were proposed. A stop
would be made directly in front of the student union and to eliminate a stop at Eagle and Avenue
D and move it to Avenue C. Staff was recommending approval of the interlocal agreement for
the program.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the agreement.
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4. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding the
City of Denton Small Area Plan Annual Report.
Dedra Ragland, Small Area Planning Manager, stated that the resolution that created the small
area planning program required the submittal of an annual report. She reviewed the
accomplishments of the year 2000 as noted in the agenda materials. Staffwas recommending the
continuation of the Small Area Planning Program.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the small area plan work.
5. The Council received a report, held a discussion and gave staff direction regarding
Teasley Corridor Community Activities Centers.
Dave Hill, Assistant City Manager for Development Services, stated that in January, Council
heard a request to amend The Denton Plan to allow for a proposed development of a commercial
center at the southeast comer of Teasley Lane and Hickory Creek Road. Council voted to deny
the request to amend the Plan from a neighborhood center designation to a community mixed-use
center. At that meeting, the issue of the proper location of neighborhood-oriented retail centers
was raised as a future work session item. An analysis of the traffic implications of having
additional community activity centers within the Teasley Lane corridor was done. The
recommendation from staff was that it was not clear-cut on where to place the centers. The most
troubling section on Teasley, after build-out to six lanes, was from Hobson down to Robinson.
One center designation while the road was two lanes was suggested and perhaps two centers
after the six-lane build-ont.
Consensus of the Council was to provide a vertical oval for development for the center and to
keep the number of centers at one while Teasley Lane remained two lanes. Staff would continue
to work on the concept and Council would discuss it during their Development Code discussions.
6. The Council received a report, held a discussion and gave staff direction regarding an
ordinance amending chapter 24, entitled "Solid Waste", of the Code of Ordinances of the City of
Denton, by amending section 24-2 entitled "Definitions", amending section 24-42 entitled
"Charges for residential service", adding section 24-43 entitled "Automated Collection",
providing a penalty in the amount of $2,000 for violations thereof; providing for a savings
clause, providing for a severability clause; and providing an effective date.
Howard Martin, Director of Utilities, stated that the 2001 budget provided for fimding for the
expansion of residential solid waste collection service by beginning a pilot program consisting of
containerized collections utilizing fully automated collection vehicles. The proposed ordinance
would establish regulations governing the use of automated carts for solid waste collections.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the ordinance.
7. The Council received a report and held a discussion on the differences between the
market design of the California deregulated electric market and the Texas deregulated electric
market.
Sharon Mays, Director of Electric Utilities, presented an update regarding details leading to the
problems experienced by the California retail and wholesale electric markets.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
February 27, 2001
Page 3
8. The Council received a report and held a discussion regarding proposed developments
along Loop 288 near Brinker Road. (SI-01-004)
Larry Reichhart, Assistant Director of Planning and Development, stated that staff had been
meeting with potential developers regarding property on Loop 288 between Spencer Road and
the Rails to Trails corridor. Two separate development proposals had been identified totaling
approximately 83 acres. Between the two developments, over 750,000 square feet of retail and
restaurant development was envisioned. He reviewed the specific details of the proposals as
noted in the agenda materials.
9. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding the
City of Denton website (www.cityofdenton.com).
Alex Pettit, Director of Technology Services, provided an update on the recent changes in the
City's website. Details were included in the agenda materials.
Mike Jez, City Manager, reviewed the goals of the website that included transaction and service
availability, theme that included standardization vs. individuality and ease of navigation. Staff
was looking for direction on whether these were the goals seen by Council and how to continue
with these goals. If Council did not like the direction staff was taking, it was suggested that a
task force be developed to determine how to meet the goals and rePort back to Council in 90
days on its recommendations.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with option 2 to appoint a citizen task force comprised
of users and experts from the community to advise the staff committee.
10. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding an
involuntary annexation of property located north of the intersection of US Highway 380 and
Masch Branch Road.
Dave Hill, Assistant City Manager for Development Services, presented the details regarding the
involuntary annexation of the property as indicated in the agenda materials. Additional property
was needed to be annexed as the original proposal was less than 1000 feet.
Consensus of Council was to proceed with the eastern option and continue to gather more
information regarding the affected property owners.
11. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction on potential
funding strategies for proposed Airport improvement projects.
Jon Fortune, Assistant City Manager for Public Services and Public Transportation, stated that
staff had identified three capital projects at the Airport that if funded would significantly improve
the level of service that the Airport could provide. He detailed those three projects and indicated
that staff felt that Spring 2001 would be an opportune time to approach the Congressional
delegation in Washington, D. C. to request federal discretionary funding of the proposed
projects. Staffwas recommending that Council consider aresolution atthe next regular meeting
that would demonstrate commitment by the local government for these proposed improvements.
The resolution would also indicate additional support by the community for continued
development of the Airport.
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Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the resolution.
Following the completion of the Work Session, the City Council convened in a Closed Meeting
to consider the specific items listed below.
1. Closed Meeting
A. Consultation with Attorney - Under TEX. GOV'T. CODE Section 551.071
(1)
Received a briefing from the City's attorneys, and considered, discussed,
and deliberated on whether or not to intervene as a party in TNRCC
Docket No. 2000-1412-AIR (Martin Marietta Materials of Texas, Inc.);
where to discuss these matters in public would conflict with the duty of
the City's attorneys under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional
Conduct of the State Bar of Texas.
B. Personnel Matters - Under TEX. GOV'T. CODE Section 551.074
(1)
Held a discussion and deliberated regarding the appointment of an interim
City Manager/City Manager.
The Council convened into a Special Called Session on Tuesday, February 27, 2001 in the Work
Session Room at City Hall.
The Council considered adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas
authorizing the City Attorney to intervene on behalf of the City as a party in TNRCC
Docket No. 2000~1412-AIR (Martin Marietta Materials of Texas, Inc.); and providing an
effective date.
No action was taken on this item.
2. The following official action on Closed Meeting Item(s) under Sections 551.071-551.086
of the Texas Open Meetings Act was taken:
Young motioned, Cochran seconded to appoint Howard Martin, Assistant City Manager for
Utilities as Interim City Manager with a 10% increase in salary effective March 31, 2001. On
roll vote, Burroughs "aye", Cochran "aye", Durrance "aye", Kristoferson"aye", Young "aye", and
Mayor Brock "aye". Motion carded unanimously.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:30 p.m.
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
EULINE BROCK, MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS