June 4, 2007 Minutes
CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
June 4, 2007
After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council of the City of Denton, Texas
convened in a Special Called Work Session on Monday, June 4, 2007 at 11:30 a.m. in the
Council Work Session Room.
PRESENT: Mayor McNeill; Mayor Pro Tem Kamp; Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Mulroy; Council
Members Heggins, Montgomery, and Watts.
ABSENT: Council Member Thomson
1. The Council received an update from staff on water and wastewater impact fees.
Jim Coulter, Director of Water/Wastewater, reviewed the background information regarding the
implementation of the impact fees and the authorization per Chapter 395 of the Local
Government Code. The fees were first implemented in September 1998, updated in 2003 and
were scheduled for another update in 2008.
The purpose of the fee was to provide infrastructure funding for new growth, funding for capital
construction costs, funding for costs identified in the 10 year capital improvements plans, and
were applicable to developments placing new demands on the City's water/wastewater system.
Phase II (2003-2013) was a 10 year planning period with $166 million for water and $73 million
for wastewater. Coulter reviewed approved plats and existing lines and future type challenges
with undeveloped properties in the Cole property, Petrus property and Robson property.
Council discussion-
s The Robson community paid for a water line and the city paid for the oversizing of that line.
How was the City going to recover the prorata for that oversizing? Coulter indicated that
currently there was no mechanism to collect for that oversizing. Anew developer in that
area would not have any cost sharing for that line if he tied into the new oversized line.
Council encouraged staff to look at a mechanism to recover the oversizing for lines.
• A geographical differential was needed for various areas of the city so as to equalize the fee.
Coulter continued with a discussion of new meter installation. He reviewed the fund balance
history for the water and wastewater impact fee balance.
Council discussed the information presented in the agenda backup materials for clarification of
contents. Meter sizes might not be a good system for the basis for an amount of fee charge. A
change to per bedroom for multifamily projects might be better. Staff worked with developers
for proper sizing and/or meter strength. Categories would be reviewed in 2008 with a review of
t e current or mance.
Council discussed back testing to determine if the amount of fee was appropriate and if too low,
recapture the costs. Coulter stated that if improperly charged, the fee would be adjusted.
However, there was no mechanism for back testing and providing a refund for overpayment.
Council discussed the single meters for large apartment complexes and the need to encourage
large apartment complexes to have single meters in order to conserve water. It was felt that
City of Denton City Council Minutes
June 4, 2007
Page 2
residents might be more energy efficient they had to pay for the bill rather than having the
complex pay the bill.
Council requested a memo with a city comparison chart with clarification of values. Council
questioned if the CIP was based on projected growth and commercial installations. Coulter
replied correct. He also indicated that staff was currently discussing zone impact fees with the
Public Utilities Board.
Brian Lockley, Interim Director of Planning and Development, reviewed development fees
assessed in conjunction with impact fees and compared development review fees. He showed all
the various development fees and indicated that fees varied city by city. Platting and zoning
functions with fees charged by nearby cities were also reviewed.
Council requested feedback in memo form for the recaptured cost recovery amount from fees.
Lockley reviewed the Freese and Nichols development review fees. The contract review period
was coming up and staff could review whether or not to continue to contract with Freese and
Nichols. Currently the contract did not include master planned communities. He would like to
see a provision in a new agreement for additional services based on the type of project and to
look at adding a provision for master planned communities so developers would know how much
the engineering review fees would be.
2. The Council held a discussion regarding appointment of a nominating committee for
Council committees.
Mayor McNeill indicated that in prior years, the Mayor appointed a nominating committee to
present a slate of members for each council committee. He appointed Council Member
Thomson and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Mulroy to the committee. The Committee would review
current assignments and members should let the Committee know if changes were requested.
Council Member Montgomery suggested a joint membership on the Lake Ray Roberts Planning
and Zoning Commission so a new member had background information before he left the
Counci .
Mayor McNeill indicated that the Committee would report back to Council at the end of June/
early July for appointments.
With no further business, the meeting was adj ourned at 1:10 p.m.
PERRY R. MCNEILL
MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
JENNIFER WALTERS
CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS