August 6, 2007 Minutes
CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
August 6, 2007
After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council convened in a Special Called
Work Session on Monday, August 6, 2007 at 11:30 a.m. in the Council Work Session Room.
PRESENT: Mayor McNeill; Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Mulroy; Council Members Heggins,
Montgomery, Thomson, and Watts.
ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Kamp
1.Discussion with the Community Development staff regarding but not limited to
department functions, programs, and major accomplishments.
Barbara Ross, Community Development Administrator, introduced the members of her staff.
Luisa Rodriguez-Garcia stated that she worked with the home buyer’s assistance program, the
action plan for HUD and the activities that were planned for the action plan.
Rachel Ingram stated that she worked with the human service agencies, in particular the Human
Services Advisory Committee and the Denton County Agencies Homeless Coalition.
Gordon Meredith was a residential instruction specialist dealing with the housing programs, code
specifications and the minor repair program.
Alma Espino indicated that she was a program specialist working with the home improvement
program, demolitions and minor repairs to make sure programs met the qualifications.
Nita Ferguson indicated she worked on the newsletter, accounts payable, collections for loans,
and the minor repair applications.
Nancy Baker indicated that she was the housing programs manager.
Ross stated that the national objectives for the Community Development Block Grant Program
included benefiting low and moderate-income persons; aiding in the prevention or elimination of
slum and blight, and that it was meeting urgent community needs. Eligible activities included
real property acquisition, public facilities and improvements, demolition, public (social) services,
housing rehabilitation, removal of architectural barriers, economic development and home
ownership assistance.
The Home Investment Partnership Program was started in 1992. Eligible activities included
acquisition (including first-time homebuyer programs), new construction, reconstruction,
rehabilitation, tenant-based rental assistance, and operating expenses for community housing
development organizations.
Council discussed the need for assistance in Denton over the need in other cities. Ross stated
that Denton received more funding as it appeared to have older housing stock and more low-
moderate income people than other communities in the area.
Council asked about the accessibility of the programs for the public. Ross stated that they
produced a monthly newsletter and were out in community quite a bit. There was a lot of word
City of Denton City Council Minutes
August 6, 2007
Page 2
of mouth about the programs and they were going to increase marketing efforts to help use the
funds.
Council stated that the city’s committees were the backbone of the program. Ross replied yes
that they helped make the decisions on how to the spend funds.
Ross continued that other grant programs and funding included an emergency shelter grant,
supportive housing program, Section 108 loan guarantee program, Denton County Housing
Finance Corporation, the Federal Home Loan Bank, economic development incentives and
neighborhood incentive programs. She also noted human services activities and organizations
funded.
2.The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding the
2007-08 Budget and the Capital Improvement Program.
Jon Fortune, Assistant City Manager, stated that the appraised value had finalized at 11.9%
instead of 11%. That additional amount provided two options for Council to consider. The
additional growth would generate $108,000 in debt service fund for additional drainage projects.
If the proposed tax rate increase were reduced to 3.82 cents instead of the proposed 4 cents, the
Council would still be able to complete $6 million of drainage projects and would allow the
implementation of some programs sooner on the general fund side.
Council discussed whether or not to reduce the tax rate or to keep the proposed tax rate and use
the additional funds for additional drainage projects. They reviewed a map of proposed drainage
projects. It was felt that there were drainage problems all over the city and the proposed projects
showed a good representation of the City. It was also noted that the current funded projects
would be using the drainage fee money.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with Option #2 as it took advantage of existing funds
and showed responsibility for use of additional funding. A request was made to look that the
Mack/Paisley area for inclusion on the list of projects.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:35 p.m.
________________________________
PERRY R. MCNEILL
MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
_________________________________
JENNIFER WALTERS
CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS