Minutes September 11, 2001399
CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
September 11, 2001
After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council convened in a Work Session on
Tuesday, September 11, 2001 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Work Session Room in City Hall.
PRESENT: Mayor Brock; Mayor Pro Tern Beasley; Council Members Burroughs, McNeill,
Phillips and Redmon.
ABSENT: Council Member Fulton
1. The Council received a briefing and demonstration from staff regarding the Tax
Department and Municipal Court's recently implemented Internet and telephone inquiry and
payment system.
Diana Ortiz, Director of Fiscal Operations, stated that the City's website now included an
enhancement for the Tax Department and Municipal Court. The enhancement allowed the public
access to information and the ability to make payments for property taxes and/or other citations.
The information included detailed information for individual tax accounts or citations. The
automated processing of payments streamlined operations, saved staff time and provided
customers a convenient way of making payments. A demonstration of both systems was
provided for Council.
2. The Council discussed the City of Denton's Legislative Priorities and direct staffto prepare
resolutions for the Texas Mumc~pal League s Annual Conference in Houston on November 29 ,
2001.
Dottie Palumbo, Assistant City Attorney, stated that staff had several legislative issues for Council
to consider and possibly pass on to the Texas Municipal League at the November Annual
Conference. Those issues were detailed in the agenda back-up materials.
Council requested adding the issue of higher education authorities issuing tax-exempt bonds to buy
educational facilities or dormitories within or outside the city that created the corporation to the list.
The educational or dormitory facilities built by an authority were exempt from ad valorem property
taxes.
Palumbo stated that Council might want to delay action until the next legislative session on the issue
of suburban transit authorities and the issue of allowing municipal utilities to provide additional
services at the request of citizens or developers.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with staff direction with the inclusion of the higher
education authority issue.
3. The Council received a report and held a discussion on reporting procedures for Boards and
Commissions.
Pam Rambo-Estill, Assistant to the Council, presented information to the Council about procedures
from other cities regarding the presentation of reports from boards and commissions to Council.
Staff recommended that the Council discuss adoption of a procedure, determine a set number of
times per year to receive the reports, dates of the year, and content for written reports from Council
appointed boards and commissions.
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"September 11, 2001
Page 2
Council Member McNeill stated that his intent for the item was a process for Council committees to
report to Council, not necessarily the standing boards and commissions. He suggested a process be
established that would allow him to report back to Council on the activities of the TMPA Board and
other Council committees.
Consensus of Council was to develop a procedure for Council committees to report to the entire
Council on various activities of the committee.
4. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding the
City of Denton Watershed Protection Program.
Kevin Thuesen, Watershed Manager, presented an overview of the Watershed Protection Program.
The program was established in January 2001 and was a part of a 5-year plan to reduce overall
pollutant loadings in Pecan, Cooper, and Hickory Creek watersheds. The Program outlined the
activities and roles that it would perform and would assist in improving problem areas around the
City. Providing opportunities for citizens to take ownership of the program by providing
participation opportunities were also encouraged by the Program.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the program.
5. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding
regional transportation project comments to be submitted to the Texas Department of
Transportation and the North Central Texas Council of Governments.
Dave Hill, Assistant City Manager for Development, stated that the process of transportation
planning and programming in North Texas required significant coordination and communication
efforts. Several federal, state, regional and county agencies made resource decisions that
affected Denton, including land use and development decisions and development decisions made
by private developers. He reviewed a series of project comments for Council review to facilitate
consistent communications and coordination efforts with other agencies.
Consensus of the Council was to adopt the comments for use with other agencies.
6. The Council received a report, held a discussion and gave staff direction regarding the
competitive bid process.
Anna Mosqueda, Director of Management and Budget, presented an overview of the
procurement methods that included competitive sealed bids, competitive sealed proposal and
request for proposal-professional services.
Tom Shaw, Purchasing Agent, reviewed the recommendations as noted in the agenda materials.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the staffrecommendation.
7. New Business
The following items of New Business were suggested by Council Members for future agendas:
City of Denton City Council Minutes
September 11, 2001
Page 3
Council Member Redmon requested that the Council revisit the number of
members on the Human Services Advisory Committee and the Community
Development Advisory Committee.
Council Member McNeill indicated that he had additional information for the
Code of Campaign Ethics resolution council would be considering in the near
future.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
EULINE BROCK, MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS