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March 1, 2010 MinutesCITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 1, 2010 After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council toured two of three North Texas Transit Oriented Developments (TOD's) on Monday, March 1, 2010, departing from the City Hall parking lot, at 9:45 a.m., at which the City Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction at each respective site. PRESENT: Mayor Burroughs, Mayor Pro Tem Kamp, Council Member Engelbrecht, Council Member Gregory, Council Member Mulroy, and Council Member Watts. The City Council visited the following locations: 1) South Irving Station, 201 Rock Island Rd., Irving, TX 75060; 2) Downtown Plano Station, 1001 E. 16th St., Plano, TX 75086; 3) Future Downtown Denton Transit Center, 604 E. Hickory, Denton, TX 76201 Staff in attendance: George Campbell, City Manager; Anita Burgess, City Attorney; Howard Martin, Assistant City Manager; Fred Greene, Assistant City Manager; Mark Nelson, Director of Transportation; Ron Menguita, City Planner; Julie Glover, Main Street Manager; John Cabrales, Public Information/Intergovernmental Relations Officer; Lindsey Baker, Assistant to the City Manager; Rick Leisner, Consultant with Jacobs. Mayor Burroughs convened the meeting in Irving, TX at 10:35 a.m. Mark Nelson, Director of Transportation, discussed the Irving Downtown Station as it relates to the rail platform and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, the types of rail cars used in Irving compared to what Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) has purchased, Irving's use of a clock tower, and plaza landscaping which directs pedestrians to the downtown area. The purpose of the TOD tour with Council in Irving was to demonstrate how the Irving downtown development relates to the transit station and to compare the development energy in the Irving TOD to the Plano TOD and what Denton envisions through the Downtown Implementation Program (DIP) process. The Mayor closed the meeting at 10:45a.m. and departed the Irving Downtown Station for the Plano Downtown Station. The Mayor re-convened the meeting at the Plano Downtown Station at 11:30 a.m. Phyllis Jarrell, Director of Planning for the City of Plano, greeted the Mayor and City Council next to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) rail platform at the Plano Downtown Station. Jarrell provided a description and overview of the Downtown Plano Station, including the design of the station, prevalent artwork, and parking. Nelson pointed out design elements and characteristics that are unique to DART. Nelson also discussed the platform loading process in Plano compared to that in Irving and how it relates to the Denton vision. City of Denton City Council Minutes March 1, 2010 Page 2 Council and staff proceeded to the Plano Centre banquet facility and received a presentation by Jarrell. She discussed the Plano Downtown TOD, scale of redevelopment, history of the area, public/private partnerships, incentives provided for redevelopment opportunities, placement of shared dumpster facility, and existing bike lanes. Council Members engaged in brief discussion regarding the need of flexibility in ordinances regarding infill and redevelopment and past successes of downtown development. Council Members Engelbrecht and Gregory requested information on economic development in downtown Denton and a brief overview of past successes in area. Due to inclement weather, a tour of the Downtown Transit Center at 604 E. Hickory in Denton was cancelled. The Mayor closed the meeting at 12:45 p.m. MARK A. BURROUGHS MAYOR CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS JENNIFER WALTERS CITY SECRETARY CITYOF DENTON, TEXAS