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Minutes October 11, 2005 CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES October 11, 2005 After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council convened in a Closed Session on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Work Session Room at City Hall. PRESENT: Mayor Brock; Mayor Pro Tem McNeill; Council Members Heggins, Kamp, Montgomery, Mulroy, and Thomson. ABSENT: None 1. The Council considered the following in Closed Meeting: A. Consultation with Attorney ? Under Texas Government Code Section 551.071. 1. Received a report from the City?s attorneys, held a discussion and gave staff direction regarding legal issues associated with annexation of real property in the City?s northern ETJ, under annexation case no. A05-0002, along with other legal issues related to the annexation, including zoning, land use and subdivision controls, annexation plans, development agreements, annexation agreements, service plans, utility service, and legal issues implicated by alternative proposals advanced by individuals owning property within the proposed annexation area. The City Council reserves the right to convene into closed session to consult with its attorneys under Texas Government Code Section 551.071 regarding any legal issues related to this matter where a public discussion would conflict with the duty of the City?s attorneys to the City Council under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas or would jeopardize the City?s legal position in any administrative proceedings or potential litigation. nd Following the completion of the Closed Session, the City Council convened in a 2 Tuesday Session. 1. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction on the Compensation Study RFSP. Carla Romine, Director of Human Resources, stated that the adopted budget included funding for a compensation study. Phase I of the study would include utilities, solid waste, police and fire. Phase II would include the remainder of the positions in the organization. Council discussion- What would the study tell the Council that wasn?t already known? Romine replied that it depended on how the Council structured the study. What would the City get for the $100,000? ? Romine replied that the study would cover police and fire with Utilities having money set aside for their portion. The study would include salary surveys, job descriptions, pay structures, job titles, and reporting structures. Some of the information for the study could be gotten from other cities, as it was open records. City of Denton City Council Minutes October 11, 2005 Page 2 Rather than do a request for proposal, it might be helpful to have an hour work session and presentation of the public arena compensation for a good understanding of public compensation and then consider a request for proposal. TMPA just paid for a study and some of that information might be useful. Access to information that also incorporated benefits. Consensus of the Council was to have an educational informational session on the process before proceeding with a request for proposal. 2. The Council received a report, held a discussion and gave staff direction regarding proposed ordinance revisions related to Code Enforcement and property appearance. This item was not considered. 3. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding Recruiting and Hiring Policies in the Fire Department. Ross Chadwick, Fire Chief, presented information on the past and current recruiting and hiring policies in Denton. From 1995-1996 only certified individuals were eligible to test with 142 candidates testing and 18 individuals hired. In 1997 the policy was changed to allow non- certified candidates to test. In February of this year, 224 candidates tested with one person hired. Chadwick reviewed the locations where recruitment was done and where the test was given. In 2001 a Diversity Task Force was appointed to help focus local recruitment effort, determine the best way to reach the local minority community and look at civilian positions. 2003 had an appointment of a new Diversity Task Force with proposals to invite outside consultants to determine a youth emphasis, determine best way to reach the minority community, focus on 18- 36 year olds, and a local focus on recruitment. Over the last 10 tests, only 3.2% were African American. Council discussed whether there was a cultural perception that the Fire Department did not want minorities. Chief Chadwick stated felt that there was not a desire on the part of minorities to be a firefighter and that an African-American did not want to be the ?first? in the Department. Chief Chadwick stated that recommendations included (1) test and hire certified firefighters and/or paramedics from the 12/17/05 fire recruit test with a one-year list. That would result in a reduced cost due to less training required, would fill vacancies immediately, provide longer evaluation time of new firefighters, would reward motivated candidates who have put themselves through an academy and reduce overtime costs. Disadvantages of this proposal were that the minority community would perceive that the City was changing the rules that really only benefited the majority, provided less candidates for the test and would be hiring ?used? firefighters. (2) Redevelop and implement a comprehensive explorer/cadet program with an emphasis on youth. (3) Advance the funding of the Fire Captain?s position identified in the five- year financial forecast as Assistant Training Officer that would be a civil service position. (4) Fund a new civilian non-civil service position as Fire Training/Recruitment Manager that would be responsible for managing an explorer/cadet program with the purpose of attracting young minorities to develop into certified firefighters. (5) Assemble a recruiting task force for response City of Denton City Council Minutes October 11, 2005 Page 3 to the Gulf Coast area to recruit and meet with minority firefighters, especially African American firefighters. (6) Conduct an off-site civil service fire recruit test in the Houston area in th conjunction with the Denton test on December 17. (7) Complete the marketing plan as proposed by the Diversity Task Force. (8) Present the City Council?s direction to a town hall meeting in November 2005. Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the recommendations as presented. Special Called Regular Meeting of the City of Denton City Council on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Council and members of the audience recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the U. S. and Texas flags. 2. PUBLIC HEARING A. The Council held the second of two public hearings to consider the involuntary annexation and service plan for approximately 5,800 acres. The property to be annexed was generally located in the northeastern area of the City of Denton?s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). (North Denton Annexation, A05-0002) Kelly Carpenter, Director of Planning and Development Services, stated that the annexation area included 5,800 acres. An informational neighborhood meeting was held the previous evening to share information with the residents of the proposed annexation area. A public hearing will be held the next evening at the Planning and Zoning Commission. An amended service plan was available to any interested person. The Mayor opened the public hearing. The following individuals spoke during the public hearing: J. Moore, Green Valley Circle, Aubrey, 76227 - opposed to annexation. Jeff Noe, 7569 FM 428, Denton, 76208 - opposed to annexation. Matt Miller, Hughes and Luce, opposed to annexation and requested inclusion in City?s three-year annexation plan. Comment cards were received from: Carolyn Vaughn, 3200 Elm Bottom Circle, Denton, 76227 - opposed to annexation Imogene Evans, 4400 Hartlee Field Road, Denton, 76208 - opposed to annexation Sharon Riddle, 5525 Woodland Hills, Denton, 76208 - opposed to annexation Lisa and Robert Jenkins, 3419 Sauls Road, Aubrey, 76227 - opposed to annexation The Mayor closed the public hearing. No action was required by Council at this time. City of Denton City Council Minutes October 11, 2005 Page 4 3. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION A. The Council considered approval of a resolution of the City Council of the City of Denton, Texas authorizing the City Council to provide for and hold a public meeting regarding the ?Notice of Application and Preliminary Decision? of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality pertaining to TCEQ Permit No. 50163; providing for an effective date. Kenneth Banks, Environmental Division, stated that this request was related to a permit renewal application requested by Safety Kleen. This request was related to the notice of application and preliminary decision created as a draft permit by TCEQ. TCEQ would hold a public hearing at the request of the City Council. The following resolution was considered: NO. R2005-038 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE CITY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE FOR AND HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING REGARDING THE ?NOTICE OF APPLICATION AND PRELIMINARY DECISION? OF THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PERTAINING TO TCEQ PERMIT NO. 50163; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Mulroy motioned, Kamp seconded to approve the resolution. On roll vote, Heggins ?aye?, Kamp ?aye?, McNeill ?aye?, Montgomery ?aye?, Mulroy ?aye?, Thomson ?aye? and Mayor Brock ?aye?. Motion carried unanimously. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m. ____________________________ EULINE BROCK MAYOR CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS _____________________________ JENNIFER WALTERS CITY SECRETARY CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS