February 12, 2008 Minutes
CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
February 12, 2008
After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council of the City of Denton, Texas
convened in a Special Called Session on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. in the Council
Work Session Room.
PRESENT: Mayor McNeill; Mayor Pro Tem Kamp; Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Mulroy; Council
Members Heggins, Montgomery, Thomson, and Watts.
ABSENT: None
1.The Council considered adoption of an ordinance ordering a special election to be held in
the City of Denton, Texas on May 10, 2008, to fill a vacancy in Place 2 for the unexpired term
ending in May, 2009, and if a runoff election is required, on June 14, 2008, for the purpose of
electing a councilmember to Place 2 of the City Council of the City of Denton, Texas;
designating a voting place; appointing election officials; providing for early voting; providing for
bilingual notice of the special election; ordering that an electronic voting system be used;
providing an open meetings clause; and providing an effective date.
Jennifer Walters, City Secretary, stated that this ordinance would formally call the special
election to fill the unexpired term of Mayor Pro Tem Kamp in District Two. Mayor Pro Tem
Kamp had filed for the at-large seat in Place 5.
The following ordinance was considered:
NO. 2008-031
AN ORDINANCE ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY
OF DENTON, TEXAS ON MAY 10, 2008, TO FILL A VACANCY IN PLACE 2 FOR
THE UNEXPIRED TERM ENDING IN MAY, 2009, AND IF A RUNOFF ELECTION
IS REQUIRED, ON JUNE 14, 2008, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A
COUNCILMEMBER TO PLACE 2 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DENTON, TEXAS; DESIGNATING A VOTING PLACE; APPOINTING ELECTION
OFFICIALS; PROVIDING FOR EARLY VOTING; PROVIDING FOR BILINGUAL
NOTICE OF THE SPECIAL ELECTION; ORDERING THAT AN ELECTRONIC
VOTING SYSTEM BE USED; PROVIDING AN OPEN MEETINGS CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mulroy motioned, Thomson seconded to adopt the ordinance. On roll vote, Heggins “aye”,
Kamp “aye”, Montgomery “aye”, Mulroy “aye”, Thomson “aye”, Watts “aye”, and Mayor
McNeill “aye”. Motion carried unanimously.
2.The Council held a discussion and gave staff direction with the Police Department staff
regarding but not limited to an update on the Public Safety Training Facility, department
functions, programs, and major accomplishments. The Council reserved the right to go in to
closed session to discuss and receive legal advice from the City Attorney regarding legal issues
related thereto under Texas Government Code Section 551.071.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
February 12, 2008
Page 2
Chief Minter stated that his staff would be reviewing technology project, community oriented
policing, crime awareness and reduction evaluation, and department improvements.
Captain Paul Abbott reviewed the property room improvements after an audit in June of 2004
identified concerns with physical security and property and personnel procedures. He stated that
surveillance cameras and an alarm system for intrusion and motion detection had been installed.
A commercial safe had been purchased for cash and jewelry and a FOB access and key control
system had also been installed. Procedures and personnel changes included procedures for cash
deposits, disposed and found property, disposal of narcotics and paraphernalia, revision of
evidence and property room general orders, extensive research on bar coding and quarterly audits
by the Bureau Commander and OPS. Personnel changes included the creation of a supervisor
position, an additional full time employee for the property room and annual drug screens for
technicians.
Captain Scott Langford reviewed patrol staffing and deployment, new police districts; field
based reporting and red light camera fund expenditures. Currently there were 69 officers
assigned to patrol with 9 sergeants. They operated on four 12-hour shifts with staggered start
times for the shifts. The average staffing was 15 officers. He reviewed the police districts and
the proposed expenditures for red light camera funds.
Captain Joannie Housewright reviewed the plans for the building expansion. Space would be
better utilized so that current operations that were not in the main police building would be
moved and grouped better.
Chief Minter reviewed the technology projects which included field based reporting, property
room barcoding, Eticketing, Coplogic, Crime Web and Omega Dashboard. The Community
Oriented Policing and CARE projects were discussed as well as new reporting procedures.
Department goals included reducing crime, operating efficiently and effectively and to create and
maintain partnerships.
Council and Chief Minter discussed the fire arms training facility in terms of outdoor versus
indoor and range comparisons.
Discussion included:
Would 10 lanes in a closed facility provide the training needed? Minter replied yes if the
current range remained open. There was a difference between being able to move around in
an open range as opposed to remaining stationary in a closed range with only the target
moving.
The best choice was to somehow have an outdoor range.
Noise was the primary issue associated with an outdoor range as opposed to stray bullets.
With the unknown of the surrounding area, it might be better to have an indoor range.
The issue was the training of the officers.
Consensus of the Council was to schedule a work session to discuss the options and give staff
direction at that time.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
February 12, 2008
Page 3
_____________________________
PERRY R. MCNEILL
MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
______________________________
JENNIFER WALTERS
CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS