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.
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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.
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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.
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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