January 16, 2007 Minutes
PLANNING SESSION AGENDA
CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL
January 16, 2007
Denton Civic Center
After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council convened in a Special Called
Meeting on Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. in the Civic Center Conference Room at the
Denton Civic Center.
PRESENT: Mayor McNeill; Mayor Pro Tem Kamp; Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Mulroy; Council
Members Heggins, McElroy, and Thomson.
ABSENT: Council Member Montgomery
1. The Council considered adoption of an ordinance of the City Council of the City of
Denton, Texas, authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement for professional services
with the Waters Consulting Group, Inc. relating to employee recruitment services; authorizing
the expenditure therefore; and providing an effective date.
City Manager Campbell stated that this was a contract with the Water Consulting Group, Inc. to
perform searches for several director positions that were currently vacant. It would be difficult
for the Human Resources Department to handle the number of key positions currently vacant in
the City. He recommended Council approve the ordinance to hire the consulting group.
Council Member Thomson asked about the Internal Auditor position.
Campbell replied that the Council Appointee Performance Review Committee recommended that
the search be done in-house with a statewide search.
The following ordinance was considered:
NO. 2007-011
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS,
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT FOR
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WITH THE WATERS CONSULTING GROUP, INC.
RELATING TO EMPLOYEE RECRUITMENT SERVICES; AUTHORIZING THE
EXPENDITURE THEREFORE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Kamp motioned, Mulroy seconded to adopt the ordinance. On roll vote, Heggins “aye”, Kamp “aye”,
McElroy “aye”, Mulroy “aye”, Thomson “aye” and Mayor McNeill “aye”. Motion carried unanimously.
Following the completion of the Special Called Meeting, the City Council convened in a
Planning Session.
The Council received an update, discussed and gave direction concerning the long and short term
goals and objectives of the city, including without limitation, goals and objectives related to city
services, finances, budget, planning, zoning and development, operations, environment,
transportation, intergovernmental relations, boards, commissions and committees, and meetings.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
January 16, 2007
Page 2
City Manager Campbell presented a matrix of goals and objectives from the October 2, 2006
retreat with an update on the items. He asked if Council had any specific items they wanted to
discuss.
Mayor McNeill asked why the item dealing with the feasibility of outsourcing the tax collection
process would take until July to complete.
Jon Fortune, Assistant City Manager, stated that the City was working with the Denton County
Tax Office for coordination of the time period.
Mayor McNeill suggested that it be done before the tax bills were sent out to the residents and
suggested moving up the time frame, if possible.
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Mulroy asked about Item #5 – pavement failure and Item #14 - gas well
revenues. Concerning the gas well revenues, he suggested staff work sooner than later on the
items such as litigation, elevated specifications, street specification, expedite the road program
and bring Council a menu of choices for use of the gas well revenue. Concerning pavement
failure, he felt that road improvements should be #1 with staff targeting deteriorating roads to get
them up to satisfactory levels.
Council Member McElroy agreed with Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Mulroy regarding the street
maintenance issues. He felt the construction criteria should be patterned so as to lessen future
chances of litigation.
Council Member Heggins asked about Item #11–growth of the Farmer’s Market. She noted that no
action had been done at this time and questioned what action should be done in order to get
started.
Mayor Pro Tem Kamp stated that she would like to know who was in charge so that questions
could be directed to that person.
Mayor McNeill asked about Item #3–growth management strategy. Was that on hold due to a
Supreme Court case?
City Manager Campbell stated it was a combination of things - the current workload in the
Planning Department, the need for outside counsel and the litigation in process. He would
advise that it be placed on hold until all of these issues were resolved.
Mayor McNeill asked about the current dollar amount for gas well revenues.
Assistant City Manager Fortune stated that there was approximately $2 million in airport funds
and $½ million for non-airport funds. In terms of the Airport funds, a determination was needed
for the use of the funds, submit a plan to the FAA for reimbursement expenses and then bring the
money back into the fund.
City Attorney Snyder suggested Council discuss whether or not to use gas well revenue money
for litigation cases or for auditing of the revenues.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
January 16, 2007
Page 3
After discussion, consensus of the Council was to use gas well revenues for the second part of
the audit and use for litigation if necessary
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Mulroy asked about Item #17–impact fee program. He requested staff
bring back a matrix of what $10,000 would provide and what was the right amount for the
community.
Council Member Thomson stated that the second part of Item #17 dealt with funding for
affordable housing projects. Many of the Habitat for Humanity homes were under the required
square footage with larger lots so they didn’t qualify for the reduced impact fees. The square
footage on lots needed to be increased.
Mayor Pro Tem Kamp asked about Item #21–graffiti. Some of the downtown people were willing
to volunteer and wondered if any other city had that situation.
Assistant City Manager Martin Howard stated he would check.
Mayor Pro Tem Kamp suggested considering artists painting the transformer boxes to reduce
graffiti.
Mayor McNeill asked about how the new bike patrols were doing around the Square.
Fortune stated that they were already having a direct impact on the area with the increased
patrols.
Council Member Thomson asked about Item #28-financial reporting of the Water Park and
Natatorium. He questioned how that would impact the general fund.
Fortune replied that the Natatorium was operating in the deficit.
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Mulroy stated that the reason for a separate line item was to have the
information available for the school district. The water park was not loosing money, only the
natatorium. General government was subsidizing the natatorium.
Council discussed the accounting procedures for the natatorium and other city pools and how it
was reported in the budget.
City Manager Campbell stated that staff would discuss the change in reporting procedures as part
of the upcoming budget process.
Mayor McNeill mentioned Item #16–paperless government system. He especially felt the
Planning and Zoning Commission should move in that direction.
Assistant City Manager Martin indicated that there was not a great deal of support with the
Public Utilities Board for a paperless agenda and would explore the possibilities for the Planning
and Zoning Commission.
Mayor McNeill suggested exploring the idea of a secure website that was accessible only by the
Council to download the agenda.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
January 16, 2007
Page 4
Staff left the meeting and Council continued to discuss the matrix items.
Item #1-organizational efficiency study – consensus was that this item was on hold until the City
Manager presented his recommendations.
Item #2–amendments to the Comprehensive Plan - consensus was that the plan needed to be
modified and progress was on track.
Item #3–Growth Management Strategy - consensus was to move in this direction but litigation
was holding up the process. Proceed after the litigation was settled.
Council Member Thomson stated that he wanted to be proactive rather than reactive and that a
strategy for growth was needed.
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Mulroy stated that there needed to be a trip switch for annexations. In
the past, the City had extended utilities and provided roadways with no consideration of
annexation of the area.
Council Member Thomson also suggested looking at annexing the Clear Creek Heritage Facility.
Mayor McNeill felt that the Clear Creek project was an immediate need. There might also be
other holes in the existing city limits that staff needed to evaluate, especially the area west of the
new warehouses. If that area were an involuntary annexation, a three-year annexation plan was
needed for all of the area.
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Item #4–revenue policies for downtown projects - consensus was to set March 1 as a tentative
date for finalization of the Downtown Incentive Policy.
Item #5-construction and inspection criteria for new streets - consensus was that staff was
proceeding with the item but that it was imperative to have appropriate inspection procedures.
Council discussed the pros and cons of concrete versus asphalt streets and parking lots. It was
questioned why concrete parking lots were done in the parks and that perhaps more impervious
materials needed to be used in the parks.
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Mulroy indicated that Council was still waiting for a comparison matrix
of concrete versus asphalt to be completed. The matrix was to compare among other things
concrete versus asphalt for longevity.
Item #9-public information requests – Mayor McNeill asked if the process now in place was
working.
City Secretary Walters replied yes it was appeared to be working very smoothly.
Item #6-public art master plan - Mayor Pro Tem Kamp stated that the Public Art Committee
would like to have a consultant to assist with the development of a master plan. Consensus was
that the request would be considered during the budget process.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
January 16, 2007
Page 5
Mayor Pro Tem Kamp provided an update on Item #12-non-profit animal shelter operation. She
stated that there had been a board meeting identifying fundraising and a building committee.
Donations had already been received for a new shelter. The Committee had decided to try and
raise the needed donations themselves without using bonds to build a facility. The Committee
had already met with the City Manager to identify an in-kind donation from the City or the
County for land. The Mayor was organizing the County Commissioners for a possible agenda
item.
Mayor McNeill stated that he wanted a citizen committee formed to discuss all animal issues
before they came to council.
Consensus of the Council was to continue with the present board until the non-profit facility was
completed.
Mayor Pro Tem Kamp mentioned Item #13–designation of a Martin Luther King Blvd. It was felt
that it would be best to wait until Loop 288 was completed and then decide which portion to
designate. The exact type and wording for signage also still needed to be determined.
The Council convened at 10:01 a.m. in a Closed Meeting in Meeting Room #1 at the Denton
Civic Center to discuss the following:
A. Personnel Matters – Under Section 551.074 of the Texas Government Code.
1. Deliberate the duties of the City Manager.
No official action was taken on the Closed Meeting item.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.
________________________________
PERRY R. MCNEILL
MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
________________________________
JENNIFER WALTERS
CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS