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August 7, 2006 Minutes CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 7, 2006 After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council convened in a Special Called Work Session on Monday, August 7,2006 at 11 :30 a.m. in the Council Work Session Room. PRESENT: Mayor McNeill; Mayor Pro Tern Kamp; Deputy Mayor Pro Tern Mulroy; Council Members Heggins, Montgomery, and Thomson. ABSENT: Council Member McElroy The Council convened the Special Called Open Meeting. 1. The Council considered approval of a resolution regarding clarification and amendment of an Escrow Agreement between the City of Denton and Flow Health Care Foundation dated February 16, 1993; and providing an effective date. City Attorney Snyder stated that an escrow agreement between the City of Denton and Flow Health Care Foundation was ambiguous as to how to calculate the value of the escrowed note. Staff was recommending that Council approve the resolution clarifying the escrow at a minimum of $2 million. The original purpose of the escrow was to protect any contingent liability of prior patients. The following resolution was considered: NO. R2006-029 A RESOLUTION REGARDING CLARIFICATION AND AMENDMENT OF AN ESCROW AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF DENTON AND FLOW HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION DATED FEBRUARY 16,1993; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Kamp motioned, Mulroy seconded to approve the resolution. On roll vote, Heggins "aye", Kamp "aye", Montgomery "aye", Mulroy "aye", Thomson "aye" and Mayor McNeill "aye". Motion carried unanimously. The Council returned to the regular agenda order. 1. The Council received a report, held a discussion and gave staff direction regarding the state and federal legislative priorities of the City of Denton, including but not limited to state initiatives that impact city finances, regional transportation, utility issues and possible Texas Municipal League resolutions for consideration at their annual conference in October, 2006. John Cabrales, Public Information Officer, presented information regarding the City's state legislative priorities and reviewed the previously approved federal legislative priorities. Any city priorities for TML had to be submitted by September 11, 2006. Staff was recommending two issues be forwarded to TML. One regarding beneficial reuse and another regarding special districts in a city's ETJ. The hiring of a lobbyist in Austin was another issue to consider. City of Denton City Council Minutes August 7, 2006 Page 2 Council Discussion - . How was the selection of the two issues made? Cabrales stated that many issues identified by staff were already on TML' s list and others TML was not interested in supporting. . If a lobbyist were hired would staff still travel to Austin on issues? Cabrales replied that would be a decision of the Council and Manager. The lobbyist would help with the scheduling of meetings with legislators. . Mayor McNeill indicated that he would be serving on a task force dealing with utilities and that he would testify on those particular issues when requested. . It was vital to have some type of presence in Austin from the City . Council requested information on the pros and cons of a lobbyist including cost comparisons. An update on the issues presented was also requested. The update should note whether the issue had been through a council committee such as the Mobility Committee. Consensus of the Council was that the Mayor would be able to go to Austin and present the city stance on issues. Cabrales stated that since 1997 the city had participated with other Denton County cities in presenting legislative priorities to state legislators at a Denton County Legislative Luncheon. A date had not yet been selected but Highland Village was requesting to host the luncheon this year. Consensus of the Council was to participate in the luncheon hosted by Highland Village. Cabrales stated that the Mayor and Interim City Manager had asked about the possibility of hosting an "educational" type workshop for the state elected officials prior to the beginning of the next session to give them background information on Denton's key legislative issues. Three to four key issues would be discussed with the officials. Consensus of the Council was to proceed with workshop sometime in November. The Council Agenda Committee would collect the proposed issues from the Council and would develop an agenda for the meeting. That agenda would be presented to the entire council for agreement on the issues. Staff would start getting some preliminary dates and preliminary subjects and the Agenda Committee would finalize. It was suggested that the date for the workshop would be after the November election. The Agenda Committee would review if other cities should be invited, as there should not be a duplication of members from the first luncheon. Those cities should be ones that would be in favor of the issues Denton was interested in. Consensus of the Council was to prepare the TML resolutions for beneficial reuse and special districts in the ETJ for the next meeting. City of Denton City Council Minutes August 7, 2006 Page 3 2. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction related to Neighborhood Services. Janet Fitzgerald, Director of Parks and Recreation, presented the background information on the neighborhood services division. She stated that staff was looking at the long range vision of the division. Neighborhood services background - the neighborhood empowerment program was established in 2001 and provided matching funds for projects for neighborhoods. The program was managed through Economic Development. A neighborhood registry was put together at this time. In 2003 the city put together a focus group initiated with neighborhood representatives. City goals were to work with self-sustaining and responsible neighborhood organizations, proactive 2-way communication and partnership that achieved a high quality of life. The Denton Neighborhood Alliance was formed in 2003. A list of goals and requests were presented from the Alliance to the City. The results were that the city provided a single point of contact in the Economic Development Department, a website was developed and a resource directory. NEP grant funding was declined but available. The Denton Neighborhood Alliance today was an informational resource to neighborhoods through a website and a mailing list, was a repository for collective experiences of neighborhoods, and hosted the televised, non-partisan annual candidate forum. Current Structure - Fitzgerald reviewed the organizational chart of the division and presented information on what other cities in the area were doing regarding neighborhood services. Neighborhood Services future direction - Fitzgerald presented potential core functions and strategic areas. Neighborhood service potential core functions included providing structure and framework for neighborhoods, organizing and forming associations, identifying and resolving neighborhood issues, serving as a liaison between neighborhoods and city government, educating and encouraging interaction of neighborhoods with the City. Potential strategic areas included neighborhood relations, neighborhood vitality and community relations. Neighborhood relations involved organizing and bringing a neighborhood group together, neighborhood vitality involved improving the physical conditions of a neighborhood and community relations involved recognizing the economic impact of a neighborhood's health on the entire community. An example of neighborhood services cooperation in the Bent Creek Estates area was presented. The area was working with Code Enforcement, Police on safety issues and Keep Denton Beautiful on landscaping issues. The neighbors were learning code enforcement regulations so that they didn't always have to call Code Enforcement but rather contact homeowners to get compliance with the code. Council Member Montgomery stated that he received many calls regarding crime, graffiti, and zoning changes. He felt the middle neighborhoods were gradually beginning to decay. The city needed to get with those neighborhoods before that happened. Council Member Thomson felt that it might be beneficial to have a no cost rental inspection program and graffiti abatement program. These types of programs should be at no cost to the homeowners. City of Denton City Council Minutes August 7, 2006 Page 4 Council Member Heggins stated that southeast Denton had two neighborhood associations. Both of these associations had the same concerns but the problem was widening, as the two groups were not together on how to handle the concerns. Mayor Pro Tern Kamp stated that the Richardson program they had viewed emphasized training on how involved neighborhood groups became in key issues. Training may be the key for the groups in southeast Denton. Council Member Montgomery stated that the City needed to take an obvious problem and handle it as quickly as possible. Mayor McNeill suggested that city employees out in the field make reports to Code Enforcement as they did their jobs. The city had limited resources to enforce complaints so the issues to be attacked must be prioritized. Deputy Mayor Pro Tern Mulroy suggested adopting an educational manual for neighborhoods. Consensus of the Council was to continue with program as presented. Staff would keep the Council abreast of what going on in the division with a six month follow-up and a year follow- up. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1 :08 p.m. PERRY R. MCNEILL MAYOR CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS JENNIFER W AL TERS CITY SECRETARY CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS