Minutes January 14, 2003CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL M1NUTES
January 14, 2003
After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council convened in a Planning Session
on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 at 4:30 p.m. in the City Council Work Session Room.
PRESENT:
Mayor Brock; Mayor Pro Tern Burroughs; Council Members Montgomery,
Phillips, and Redmon.
ABSENT: Council Members Fulton and McNeill.
1. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding
Education and economic development in the City of Denton.
Linda Ratliff, Director of Economic Development, presented information on education's impact
on economic development in general, as well as specific information on the various schools and
universities in the area.
Council Member McNeill arrived at the meeting.
Rick Woolfolk, DISD Board President, reviewed information regarding numbers of
economically disadvantaged students in the District that had an effect on the tax value per
student ratio. He reviewed the provisions of the mentoring program at the DISD for
disadvantaged children.
Council discussed with Woolfolk attendance zones for the schools, property taxes, academic
reputations of school districts relative to economic development, and coalition of public
information officers of all area schools to help promote the schools.
Richard Rafes, University of North Texas, reviewed the economic impact of the University in the
City, growth of the student population, challenges facing the University, and mass transit.
Ratliff continued with a presentation of a "college town" definition.
Judith Bean, Texas Woman's University, stated that TWU was eager to work with the City in
any area, including target growth, developing associated resources, and sharing ideas with all
entities in the city.
Council discussed with Bean marketing strategies, legislative priorities important to TWU, and
funding scenarios.
Council discussed outcomes they would like to see relative to education and economic
development. Those outcomes included:
Partner services and projects with the schools and universities
Avoid duplication of services
Be proactive to take advantage of services/projects the universities could offer in
partnership with the City
Inventory programs that the universities were doing in the community to use as a
marketing tool
Get the message to the business community about the value of the universities
City of Denton City Council Minutes
January 14, 2003
Page 2
Work with developers/realtors to build housing to strengthen economic
development
Partner with educational institutions to deal with important legislative issues
Establish a business park in Denton
Increase extension of heath care services through universities and hospitals
Market Denton as a medical destination
Expand the marketing of the music business in Denton
Ask university departments what businesses would best benefit them
Off limit issues in terms of education included:
Returning to the idea that universities were a burden
Having communication among the universities and city
Adding tax-exempt projects in the City
Having the University in competition with developers in the city in terms of
multi-family housing
Council Member Redmon left the meeting.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
EUL1NEBROCK
MAYOR
CITY OFDENTON, TEXAS
JENNIFER WALTERS
CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS