Minutes June 15, 2004ACITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL M1NUTES
June 15, 2004
After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council convened in a Work Session on
Tuesday, June 15, 2004 at 11:30 a.m. in the Council Work Session Room.
PRESENT:
Mayor Brock; Mayor Pro Tern McNeill; Council Members Kamp, Montgomery,
Mulroy, Redmon and Thomson.
ABSENT: None
1. The Council received a report, held a discussion and gave staff direction regarding an
update on the aquatic center and natatorium operations.
Janet Simpson, Director of Parks and Recreation, presented information regarding the operation
of the aquatic center and natatorium. An interlocal agreement passed in May 2002 made the City
the managing partner of the project. The water works park was open for the general public and
the natatorium was used by the DISD with open public uses available during non-DISD use. She
indicated that the City would retain all income and revenue and was responsible for all
maintenance and operational costs. The City would report profit or loss to the DISD with net
profit held in reserve for routine capital maintenance and net losses split 50/50 between the City
and the DISD. It was always anticipated that the natatorium would not be a profit maker while
the water park would be. In 2003 the water park showed a profit while the natatorium did not for
a loss of $273,000. Areas that exceeded the business plan projections included admission
attendance, programming attendance, gift shop revenue, vendor commissions and locker rentals.
Areas that did not meet the business plan projections included rentals attendance and revenue,
admission revenue, concession revenue, programming revenue including DISD activities, and
corporate sponsorships. She reviewed the statistics for the 2004 season projections. The 2004
season projections indicated that the water park would again show a profit but not the
natatorium. There was a projected net loss of $630,000. Management issues stated that the
water works park was projected to remain profitable, the natatorium deficit was projected to
continue to exceed the water works park profits, and the program should continue to provide
facility and programs that met the community needs. Options to reduce the funding deficit
included contracting the program out to the private sector, renegotiate the interlocal agreement
with the DISD, or continue the current agreement with DISD with a financial impact to both
agencies. Staff recommendation was to continue with the current agreement with the DISD. It
was felt that there needed to be future capital investments to the water park in order keep the
market fresh and bring new attractions to the park for continue gains in admissions. Suggested
changes in operation so as to help close the gap included refined marketing efforts, group rates
for schools, churches and businesses, special event nights in the natatorium, expanded classes
and camps, a price increase with natatorium admission included in that price, expanded evening
hours at a discount, allow coolers and an expanded concession menu.
Council discussion included:
· Was there a problem with scheduling public use of the natatorium due to the use by the
DISD?
· What corporate sponsorships were anticipated before the natatorium was opened?
· Consider the possibility of selling advertising at the natatorium/water works park-be
careful not to change the nature of the facility with outside advertising.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
June 15, 2004
Page 2
· While the program may take a while to develop, need to think about more aggressive
marketing.
· Future years may show a profit for both programs.
· Not all of the revenue avenues had been explored-consider hiring a consultant to help
with the marketing of the facilities.
· Need to make sure on the same page with the DISD relative to the continued funding of
the project.
· Do a comparison of the admission prices with area water parks.
· Add an attraction for adults, especially for those who do not like to go down the slides.
· Make the facility comfortable for adults who attend with their children.
· Include this topic for a future agenda with the DISD joint meeting.
· Lay the groundwork for future investments now.
2. The Council held a discussion and determined membership to Council Committees.
Mayor Brock indicated that the background information on the committees and current
membership were included in the agenda backup materials.
Council discussed the committees and made recommendations for membership.
Consensus of the Council was to have Mark Burroughs continue as the City's representative to
the subcommittees of the Regional Transportation Council he was currently serving.
3. The Council held a discussion and gave staff direction regarding Council Rules of
Procedure, including but not limited to the recording of excused absences.
City Attorney Prouty stated that all of the amendments made to this ordinance were periodically
consolidated and this ordinance would consolidate a number of recent amendments. Also
included in the consolidation was a section on the ethics rules and a method to record and define
excused absences. Council rules would include a definition of excused absences as adopted by
the Boards and Commissions.
Council discussion included:
· The recording of absences would provide an accountability measure for members not
present at a meeting.
· A suggestion to record and note absences but not note whether excused or not.
· The philosophy that voters would hold the members accountable for absences.
· A suggestion to announce before a meeting who was absent and why and not deal with
excused absences.
· Use this proposal as a reporting mechanism during the start of the meeting.
· Inform staff of absences ahead of the meeting.
· It might not be good, for security purposes, to announce that a member was out of town.
· Be more aware of schedules when calling special meetings or luncheon meetings.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
June 15, 2004
Page 3
Consensus of the Council was to announce before the start of the meeting which member was
absent. Council members would notify the Council Assistant when attending official functions
so that events would be represented.
4. The Council held a discussion and gave staff direction regarding the Council annual
retreat.
Mayor Brock indicated that the date for retreat would be July 22-23 at the Lantana Lodge. It was
felt that topics to be discussed at the meeting should be council issues of interest.
After discussion on the nature of the discussion topics, consensus of the Council was to submit to
the City Secretary, three discussion topics per member for the Agenda Committee to consider.
Those lists should be turned in within the next two weeks.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:40 p.m.
EUL1NEBROCK
MAYOR
CITY OFDENTON, TEXAS
JENNIFER WALTERS
CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS