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Minutes October 20, 2004CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES October 20, 2004 Joint Meeting of the City of Denton City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday, October 20, 2004 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. PRESENT: Mayor Brock; Mayor Pro Tem McNeill; Council Members Kamp, Montgomery, Mulroy, Redmon and Thomson. ABSENT: None PLANNING AND ZONING PRESENT: Commissioners Watkins, Strange, Roy and Thibodaux. PLANNING AND ZONING ABSENT: Commissioners Noble, Powell and Holt. 1. A public hearing was held concerning the 2005 Capital Improvement Program as recommended by the Citizens Capital Improvement Advisory Committee. Mark Burroughs, Chair-CIP Committee, reviewed the charge of the committee that included obtaining citizen input, determining capital improvement needs and making a recommendation for a February 2005 bond election. A consensus of the committee had reached a proposed package. He reviewed the process the committee used to reach the proposed bond package. Outreach groups were formed to receive information on perceived needs from neighborhoods, the City Council, the Planning and Zoning Commission, the two universities, the DISD, the County Commissioners, and the Chamber of Commerce. Focus groups were then formed based on the information gathered from the outreach groups. The focus groups were community development, parks and recreation, and transportation. After considering all of the information, the committee voted to recommend the proposed package. Three proposals were presented. Tier 1 had a price of $28 million. Tier 2 projects were projects just below the $28 million and Tier2A were urgent projects but not included in Tier 1. Randy Robinson, Vice-Chair CIP Committee, stated there never was enough money to do all of the things that needed to be done. He hoped that the package presented by the committee would be viewed favorably by the public. Roni Beasley, Chair-Parks and Recreation Subcommittee, stated that the subcommittee unanimously recommended all of the Tier 1 parks and recreation projects. She reviewed those projects and noted reasons for the selection of the projects. She urged Council and the Commission to include the 2A parks projects in the proposal. Projects in Tier 2B were also important and should be considered. Polly Diebel, Chair-Community Development Subcommittee, reviewed the process the subcommittee used to evaluate the projects presented to the subcommittee. Three projects were unanimously recommended for Tier 1. She reviewed those projects and noted reasons for the selection of the projects. Council/Commission discussion included: Clarification of the senior center expansion. A suggestion to include the South Branch Library expansion in Tier 1. A description of suggested improvements to Walnut and Pecan Streets. City of Denton City Council Minutes October 20, 2004 Page 2 The assumption that the strain on the South Branch Library would be lifted when Emily Fowler was reopened. Discussion of relocating the Senior Center as opposed to renovation/expansion of current facility. Efficiency of the expenditure of funds made sense to renovate Senior Center as opposed to a new facility in a better location. County versus city residents using the Senior Center. Rick Woolfolk, Chair-Transportation Subcommittee, reviewed the process the subcommittee used to evaluate the projects presented to the subcommittee. Safety, public utilization, economic development value, cost sharing, project timing, and political feasibility were criteria used for selection of projects. He suggested consideration of Tier 2A and Tier 2B projects and to offer all three tiers to the voters for a 2.5 to 3 cent property tax increase. Council/Commission discussion included: Clarification of arterial streets on the list. List a recommendation for projects that could be identified later rather than a listing of specific projects now. Economic development priorities included Western Blvd., the Airport, and improvements to the bridge on Highway 377. Land acquisition for two locations on a multimodal station. The need to have flexibility among the projects in order to leverage the most project out of the available dollars. Burroughs stated that the amount of tax increase in order to do all of the proposed projects was - 3% cents. Projects left off the lists that had merit but that the committee had not received enough information included the day labor site, animal shelter renovation and the aquatic center completion. Council/Commission discussion included: The tax rate for the total amount of projects estimated at $44 million was a potential of 3½ cent increase in increments over 5 years. It might not be necessary to raise taxes each year depending on the projects to be initiated each year. Some proposed projects might never come about. The bond election granted permission for the City to do the projects but did not guarantee the projects. The bond election would authorize the Council to issue bonds but would not require the council to issue the bonds. Phillip Young, 127 Hollyhill Lane, Denton, 76205, member of the Parks and Recreation Subcommittee, stated that the subcommittee had discussions regarding the raising of taxes. The subcommittee found that it would probably be impossible to not raise taxes, as there were so many projects to consider and such a great growth rate. It was felt that citizens would be willing to spend more money now to avoid falling behind in services. City of Denton City Council Minutes October 20, 2004 Page 3 Pat Langa, 3211 Montecito, Denton, 76205, spoke in support of the expansion of the South Branch Library. She also suggested installing sidewalks around the CVS Pharmacy to the Library and to include sidewalks in all future developments. Kay Daniel, 2622 Crockett Drive, Corinth, 76210, spoke in support of animal shelter funding. Jean Greenlaw, 2600 Sheraton Road, Denton, 76207, spoke in support of the expansion of the South Branch Library. Marc Moffitt, 1323 Norman Street, Denton, 76201, spoke in support of transportation needs, specifically intersection signalization; FM 1830 improvements; and improvements to residential streets. He felt these projects should be moved up from lower tiers. Marilyn Wells, 2201 Emerson Lane, Denton, 76209, spoke in support of animal shelter funding. Mayor Brock indicated that Comment Cards were received from: Pat Goble, 3901 Grant Parkway, Denton, 76208 - recommended full package. Gus Seligmann, 916 Ridgecrest, Denton, 76205 - in support of the full package T.L. Freshour, 1800 Concord, Denton, 76205 - support of the expansion of the Senior Center. Jan Thompson, 1407 Noble Way, Flower Mound, 75022 - support of funding for Clear Creek Nature Center. Theresa and John Gromadzki, 2700 Hollow Ridge Drive, Denton, 76210 - support of funding for South Branch Library expansion. Marie Mitchell, 104 Shahan Drive, Shady Shores, 76208 - in support of Library expansion. Turner Kobler, 148 Cobblestone, Denton, 76207 - in support of South Branch Library expansion. Ken and Sandra Ferstl, 1505 Victoria, Denton, 76209 - support of expansion of South Branch Library. Judy Deck, 621 Magnolia, Denton, 76201 - support of expansion of South Branch Library. Martha Len Nelson, 2603 Brookfield, Denton, 76209 - support for extended package. The Mayor closed the public heating. Following the completion of the public heating the Council adjourned its meeting and the Planning and Zoning Commission continued its meeting. 2. The Planning and Zoning Commission considered a recommendation to the City Council concerning the 2005 Capital Improvement Program as recommended by the Citizens Capital Improvement Advisory Committee. Vice-Chair Strange suggested considering continuing this item until the next meeting of the Commission as only four members were present. Kelly Carpenter, Director of Planning and Development, stated that there were limited options for postponing consideration of the item. The next regular meeting of the Commission would be on October 27 and the consideration of the issue could be continued to that date. There would nd still be time to make a recommendation to the Council for the Council s November 2 meeting. City of Denton City Council Minutes October 20, 2004 Page 4 Vice-Chair Strange stated that if consideration were delayed, there would not be another public hearing. The Commission would only deliberate on the comments received that this meeting. Commissioner Roy felt that the full Commission should consider the recommendation. Commissioner Roy motioned to continue the item to the October 27th meeting. Motion died for lack of a second. Commissioner Roy stated that he agreed with the proposed projects and expressed a possible consideration for the animal shelter improvements. Vice-Chair Strange stated that this was a city department staffed by city employees and perhaps an internal audit should be done before inclusion in the bond package. Commissioner Roy stated that there would be no opportunity beyond tonight to include a proposal for the animal shelter in the bond package. Commissioner Watkins stated that the problem at the animal shelter seemed to be an operational problem rather than a facility problem. He felt that the Committee had made a recommendation and he would like to see all of the tiers recommended to the City Council. Watkins motioned, Thibodeaux seconded to recommend Council consider all of the proposed tiers (1, 2A and 2B) for the bond package. Vice-Chair Strange stated that he would have reprioritized some of the proposed projects based on the overall situation in Denton and the growth occurring in Denton. He felt that transportation was the real issue with economic development the second issue. He felt that a great deal of money was being proposed to beautify the backside of the Square and questioned if that would be money well spent. He questioned if that would be a Tier 1 project. In regards to the Senior Center, he felt that a small amount of people were being served compared to the general population with a large amount of money being considered. Parks might not be favored over transportation. On roll vote of the motion to recommend Tiers 1, 2A and 2B, Watkins "aye", Strange "aye", Roy "aye", and Thibodaux "aye". Motion carried unanimously. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:58 p.m. EULINE BROCK MAYOR CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS JENNIFER WALTERS CITY SECRETARY CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS VIRGIL STRANGE VICE-CHAIR PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS