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Minutes April 13, 2004CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES April 13, 2004 After determining that a quorum was presem, the City Council convened in a Planning Session on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. in the City Council Work Session Room. PRESENT: Mayor Brock; Mayor Pro Tem Burroughs; Council Members Kamp, McNeill, Montgomery, Redmon and Thomson. ABSENT: None 1. The Council received a report, held a discussion and gave staff direction regarding creating a vibrant cultural life in Denton. Linda Ratliff, Director of Economic Development, presented a report on creating a vibrant cultural life in Denton. She began with a definition on vibrant and noted other areas that could be considered vibrato. Vibrato pros included an enrichmem of quality of life for citizens, attracted creative people who tended to work in creative, high-paying industries, generated activity 18-24 hours and stimulated tourism trade. Vibrato cons included an increase in crime, parking problems and traffic congestion and complaints by residents. Ratliff listed vibrant opportunities that included a fashion museum; performing arts space; conference center/meeting space; downtown hotel; downtown residential development; entertainment district that encouraged arts/entertainment related businesses to locate in the district and develop artist live/work space; create a TIF/PID/BID/MMD for funding for infrastructure or management of the district; public/private partnerships; and a downtown master plan that included "vibrant" opportunities in the implementation of the Downtown Master Plan. Herbert Holl, Greater Denton Arts Council, spoke on cultural facilities in Denton. Those facilities included the performing centers at the two universities, the Campus Theatre, the Center for Visual Arts, and area churches with performing cemers. He listed art galleries and visual arts venues. Together all of these facilities provided year-round events for Denton. Opportunities in Denton included an almost unlimited pool of local talent, proximity to DFW institutions for partnership opportunities, a growing population of people who wanted to stay in Denton for emertainmem, changing demographics, resources of educational community, and a prevailing attitude that vibrant cultural life was necessary to the community. Challenges included the reality of box office economics, the cost of land/construction, competing needs of a growing city, and the nurturing of community wide support. Council discussion: · The need for a high quality recording studio could be an economic developmem opportunity for DeNon · Denton had a high degree of talent in many areas that provided for a multitude of entertainment opportunities Kim Phillips, Manager-Convention and Visitors Bureau, stated that Denton had a unique identity over area cities in the metroplex. The Square and the Denton County Courthouse were marketing icons for DeNon. Challenges for the meeting industry included a lack of a facility for group business; cemral/permanem location that was easily accessible for unique collections such as the gown collection at TWU; lack of transportation within the community; consistent entertainment throughout the year such as upscale nightlife or more family entertainment activities. City of DeNon City Council Minutes April 13, 2004 Page 2 Council discussion: · Impact on workforce in DeNon from new conference/hotel facility in Grapevine Jason Tiner, Denton Sports Commission-Convention and Visitors Bureau, presented statistics regarding the economic impact of sports in Denton. He indicated that sports tourism involved events that brought sports teams, individuals, or fans to the community to stay overnight or for an extended time of the day. He listed several events that resulted in a large financial impact to the City such as the USA Track and Field Junior Nationals, the SunBelt Outdoor Track and Field Championships and the ASA Girls' 12 and under Class A Softball Toumamem. He estimated the economic impact of sports venues in Denton for 2004 at $1.9 million. He noted the cooperation among the various entities to assist participants in these events when they were in Denton. Council discussion: · Effect of new high school football stadium on sports venues in DeNon · Consider an ice hockey arena for DeNon Scott Wilkinson, Campus Theatre, presented information on productions held at the Campus Theatre including participants in the productions, patrons and the arts groups involved with the Theatre. There was a crisis situation for performing arts groups in Denton as there was no place to rehearse and nowhere to expand in terms adding other groups to a production schedule. Council discussion: · Commitmem from citizens for support for another Campus Theatre type project · Revitalization of other areas near the Square area for performing arts Eric Hill, owner of Hanna's and Hailey's, responded to Council's questions on how to help revitalize the downtown area. He encouraged the development of more residences above the businesses in the downtown area. Council discussion: · Regulations for residemial developmem near and around the Square · Commuter rail in the future will positively affect the downtown area · Infill incemives includes all areas of the city including the dowmown area Consensus of Council was to have staff continue investigating means for developing a vibrant cultural life in the dowmown area and bring options for Council to consider. 2. Suggestions for Agenda Committee on future agenda items and/or placement of items for upcoming agendas. City of Demon City Council Minutes April 13, 2004 Page 3 Council Member Kamp requested information on panhandling in the dowmown area. She also noted that the next Council clean up for the Council Adopt-A-Spot would be May 8 at 10:00 a.m. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m. EULINE BROCK MAYOR CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS JENNIFER WALTERS CITY SECRETARY CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS