December 05, 2016 Minutes
CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
December 5, 2016
After determining that a quorum was present, the City of Denton City Council and the Denton
Independent School District Board of Trustees convened in a Joint Meeting on Monday,
December 5, 2016 at the Denton ISD Central Offices, 1307 N. Locust Street, Denton, Texas.
PRESENT: Council Member Hawkins, Council Member Briggs, Council Member Wazny,
Council Member Gregory, Mayor Pro Tem Roden, Council Member Bagheri, and
Mayor Watts.
ABSENT: None.
A. Mayor Watts called the meeting to order at 11:51 a.m.
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B. ID 16-1487 Receive a briefing regarding the 85 Texas Legislative priorities of both the
Denton Independent School District and the City of Denton and hold a discussion with Fred
Hill of Solutions for Local Control.
Fred Hill with Solutions for Local Control reviewed his qualifications and committee
assignments. He stated that during the legislative sessions they would be looking for good public
policy and giving local government the ability to control what happened in their city. School
finance was a critical issue as well as property taxes for school districts. Hill did not anticipate a
lot of money going into school finance. He stated that there would probably be cities across the
state raising property tax to 3.99%. This would have a negative impact on local government and
would be devastating to economic development. The burden was being shifted by the State
legislature because the State did not want to pick up any slack. He advised the Council and
Trustees to be sure their State representatives knew their priorities.
Lindsey Baker, Intergovernmental Relations/Public Information Officer, stated that the City’s
legislative priorities included preserving local budgeting authority and revenue sources,
preserving local control of land use planning and zoning, and preserving community ownership
and operation of Denton Municipal Electric.
Jaime Wilson, Superintendent for DISD, stated that the DISD’s legislative priorities included
enhancing local control for local elected trustees to their local communities; advocating for
adequate funding mechanisms for Texas Public schools; advocating for efficiency and
transparency at the state and local level; and communicating the importance of local
accountability.
C. ID 16-1516 Receive a report and hold a discussion regarding the removal of FM 426,
McKinney Street, as a roadway on the Texas Department of Transportation System and
receive a status report on alternative transportation options provided through a partnership
with Denton County Transportation Authority, Denton Independent School District and the
City of Denton.
John Davis, Director of Engineering, stated that earlier in the year he had presented a timeline for
the McKinney Street project. The City had received the funding agreement from the State and
would be taking it to the City Council in December or January for approval; then it would go to
City of Denton City Council Minutes
December 5, 2016
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TxDOT for approval. He estimated the project would begin February 1, 2017. The total length
of the project with right-of-way and easement purchases would be four to four-and-a-half years.
Davis stated that the funding anticipated from TxDOT would cover the primary project – Loop
288 to Ryan High School and a little beyond including a portion of W. Loop 288.
Mark Nelson, Director of Transportation, stated the City of Denton, Denton County
Transportation Authority (DCTA) and the Denton Independent School District (DISD) had
entered into a program offering reduced fare rides for students who lived inside the two-mile
DISD no bussing zone, generally along the Loop 288 and McKinney Street corridor. Passes
were provided to approximately 12-15 students each month who might want to try out the
program to see if it fit their needs.
D. ID 16-1570 Receive a report and hold a discussion regarding the role of adult education and
literacy and Community Development.
Dr. David Gerabagi, Director of the Adult Education & Literacy Program with the Denton ISD,
briefed the City Council and Board of Trustees on the WIOA – Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act – that President Obama signed in July 2014. The Act was designed to increase
access to and opportunities for employment, education, training, and support services. The Act
explicitly recognized the need to coordinate services in order to create a full system of education
and training for adults with barriers to education and employment.
The DISD AEL program provided adult learners with opportunities to acquire and improve the
essential skills necessary to be self-sufficient and to be contributing citizens, productive
employees and effective family members.
Denton’s program had 31 morning and evening classes in 11 locations and served 714 students
with 43,000 total hours. Over 50% of the individuals served ranged in age from 25 to 44 years
old; 72% were female and 28% were male with 68% Hispanic, 15% White, 9% Asian, and 5%
African American.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:41 p.m.
____________________________________
CHRIS WATTS
MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
____________________________________
JANE RICHARDSON
ASSISTANT CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS