Minutes February 15, 2002CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
February 15, 2002
After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council convened in a Planning Session
of the City of Denton City Council on Friday, February 15, 2002 at 8:30 a.m. in the Council
Work Session Room in City Hall.
PRESENT:
Mayor Brock; Mayor Pro Tern Beasley, Council Members Fulton, McNeill,
Phillips, Redmon
ABSENT: Council Member Burroughs
1. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding a
multi-year financial forecast, municipal operations funding, budget process, and capital items.
Mike Conduff, City Manager, led the Council in some teambuilding techniques.
Kathy DuBose, Assistant City Manager of Fiscal and Municipal Services, stated that the City had
to show sales tax in the months the consumer paid it. She stated that the actual sales tax for
September 2001 was received in November 2001 so the budget had been reallocated based on
the actual sales tax figures.
DuBose stated that the Council had raised questions regarding growth at the meeting Tuesday
night. She provided the Council with a chart showing the growth in water meter installations
over the last ten years. The Council also received a growth comparison for the last ten years,
which showed the changes in population, service area, and positions within the City of Denton.
The overall increase in employees was 203 people over twelve years with 60% being public
safety employees.
DuBose passed out a listing of new programs implemented from 1990-2002. She provided
information regarding the impact of the last one-cent tax increase from the 2000 bond election.
DuBose stated that one thing the bond rating companies looked at was that ongoing revenues
supported ongoing expenditures.
Mayor Pro Tem Beasley asked for actual population figures.
Dave Hill, Assistant City Manager of Development Services, stated that in 1990 the population
was 66,270 and the estimate for 2002 was 87,227.
Council Member McNeill asked for the actual number of employees in 1990 and current.
DuBose stated there were 468 General Fund employees in 1990 and currently 691 General Fund
employees.
DuBose stated that the largest department was the Police Department and presented Performance
Measurements for the Police Department based on ICMA standards.
DuBose stated that the second largest department was the Fire Department and presented
Standards based on ICMA standards.
Council Member McNeill requested salary information for the Fire Department.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
February 15, 2002
Page 2
DuBose stated that the third largest department was Streets/Engineering and presented standards
for that department.
The Council asked whether it was feasible to use brick pavers versus asphalt. Jim Coulter,
Director of Water/Wastewater Utilities, stated that the maintenance costs for pavers would be
astronomical compared to asphalt.
DuBose presented standards for the next major department, which was the Parks Department.
Council Member McNeill asked if the City made any money from the athletic fields.
Ed Hodney, Director of Parks and Recreation, stated that for youth facilities, they collected a
nominal fee per child for the season. The nonresident fee was a little more. Adults paid for
facilities each time they were used.
DuBose presented standards for the next largest department, which was the Library.
Mike Conduff, City Manager, asked the Council if there was only one thing that they could make
sure was in next years budget what would that be?
Mayor Pro Tem Beasley stated that she would like to see some amount of increase in
compensation in years 1 and 2 for employees.
Council Member Fulton stated that if money were tight she would like to see them start from the
bottom up in compensating employees.
Council Member Fulton stated she would like to see more money for streets.
Mayor Brock stated economic development strategies were important.
Council Member Redmon stated the management study was important.
Council Member Phillips stated that the Public Safety employees should be compensated and
adequate training opportunities provided.
Mayor Pro Tem Beasley stated that she would also like to see the City continue with the CIP
projects.
Conduff asked the Council if there were any revenue sources that the Council would not
consider.
Mayor Brock stated there was no need for staff to look at a 4A sales tax for economic
development.
Council Member McNeill stated he did not want to see any ad valorem increases. [On the Edge
of the Table]
Council Member Fulton stated that hopefully the City would continue to grow so that would not
be an issue.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
February 15, 2002
Page 3
Conduff stated that the total tax levy was $.54815 per hundred dollar valuation and $.31948
percent went to support the General Fund and $.2287 percent went to pay off debt.
Conduff asked if there was anything the Council would be willing to give up [Off the Table].
Mayor Pro Tem Beasley stated that she did not want to see city services cut.
Council Member McNeill suggested working smarter?
Conduff stated that if the City continued to grow at the current pace and the Council wanted to
maintain the status quo, they might want to look at new sources of revenue or eliminating some
services that the City currently provided.
Conduff asked what alternative sources of revenue they would be willing to consider.
Mayor Pro Tem Beasley suggested a 4B sales tax.
Council Member Fulton suggested a street sales tax at lA cent for four years would generate $2.7
million.
Mayor Brock suggested a crime district sales tax.
Conduff asked of the alternative sources were there any that the Council wanted to start
discussing.
Mayor Pro Tem Beasley stated they could not commit to anything until they knew what the
Denton County Transportation Authority was going to do.
Jon Fortune, Assistant City Manager of Public Safety & Transportation Operations, stated the
Council should know by June what the DCTA was going to do.
Conduff wanted to know if the Council wanted staff to provide them with any information that
would help them make that decision.
Mayor Brock stated it would be good to have whatever information was available to help them
make an informed decision.
The consensus of the Council was that staff should provide the Council information regarding
alternative revenue sources.
2. New Business
The Council did not suggest any items for future agendas.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m.
JANE RICHARDSON
ASST.CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
EUL1NE BROCK, MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS