April 25, 2017 Minutes
CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
April 25, 2017
After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council convened in a Work Session on
Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. in the Council Work Session Room at City Hall.
PRESENT: Council Member Wazny, Council Member Briggs, Council Hawkins, Council
Member Gregory, Council Member Bagheri, and Mayor Watts.
ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Roden.
1. Work Session Reports
A. ID 17-414 Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding the Water
Works Park wave pool project schedule and associated admission fees.
Emerson Vorel, Director of Parks and Recreation, presented an update on the construction of the
wave pool and concession stand. He reviewed the history of the project and approval from the
voters in the CIP Bond election of 2014. The estimated opening day for the wave pool and
concessions stand was July 1st subject to weather delays. Staff was recommending adjusting the
admission pricing until the wave pool was opened using the 2015-16 daily admissions prices. In
terms of the preseason prices, the 2015-16 prices would be used. Refunds would be issued
according to the type of season pass that was already purchased.
Council discussed how the refunds would be made.
Vorel continued with a fiscal update and forecast due to the delay in opening. The DISD would
not be impacted by the deficit as staff was recommending the City absorb the deficit due to the
delayed opening of the wave pool only.
Council discussed the anticipated completion date with the contractor in terms of weather delays
and any associated penalties; reduced revenue due to fewer sales and people attending the park;
and notification to DISD regarding the delayed opening.
Vorel noted that future CIP projects would be managed by Facilities Management which better
aligned the coordination of all projects across the City and allowed the Parks and Recreation staff
to focus on core competencies.
Consensus of the Council was to move forward with staff's recommendations.
B. ID 17-415 Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding current
notification practices and requirements for public hearings and public meetings.
Alison Ream, Assistant Director of Administration, presented information on zoning related public
hearing notifications in the Development Services Department. The practices included the Texas
Local Government Code requirements and the current city of Denton practices. Recommendations
for improvement of notifications of zoning projects were reviewed.
Council discussed making the notifications easy to find on the website; consider adding FAQs on
projects on the website; and differences in the legal notices now than prior publications.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
April 25, 2017
Page 2
Ream continued with city-wide notification standards in terms of standard tactics and optional
tools.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the staff's recommendation except for requiring the
applicant to mail out the notices. The City should be responsible for sending out the notices and
charge the applicant for the actual cost. Staff should continue with both certified mail and regular
mailing for notices.
C. ID 17-531 Receive a report, hold a discussion and give staff direction establishing an
anonymous reporting mechanism as that relates to the duties of the City Auditor.
Craig Hametner, City Auditor, stated that the objective of the report was to establish an anonymous
reporting mechanism as it related to fraud abuse. He noted alternatives to the reporting mechanism.
Methods of reports were presented such as the web, fax, email, and a toll free number. A
comparison study was done for informal bids with several different companies with various
services. Key points of the anonymous system were noted.
Council discussed the number of fraud reports received per year for a city Denton's size; who
would be responsible for the management of any complaints; number of complaints that revealed
actual fraud; whether the results of the fraud investigation were public information; and whether
certain parts of the investigation information would be subject to withholding. Council also
discussed costs versus results; and in-house sourcing versus outside sourcing.
Consensus of the Council was to implement a reporting system for fraud, waste or abuse. The
program would be outsourced with a recommendation from the City Auditor to use Lighthouse.
2.
Concluding Items
A. Under Section 551.042 of the Texas Open Meetings Act, respond to inquiries from
the City Council or the public with specific factual information or recitation of policy,
or accept a proposal to place the matter on the agenda for an upcoming
meeting AND Under Section 551.0415 of the Texas Open Meetings Act, provide
reports about items of community interest regarding which no action will be taken, to
include: expressions of thanks, congratulations, or condolence; information regarding
holiday schedules; an honorary or salutary recognition of a public official, public
employee, or other citizen; a reminder about an upcoming event organized or
sponsored by the governing body; information regarding a social, ceremonial, or
community event organized or sponsored by an entity other than the governing body
that was attended or is scheduled to be attended by a member of the governing body
or an official or employee of the municipality; or an announcement involving an
imminent threat to the public health and safety of people in the municipality that has
arisen after the posting of the agenda.
Council Member Wazny requested a discussion regarding a finish early clause for construction
projects and finish late clause to set policy in that area. Include Purchasing, Legal and the Internal
Auditor in the discussion.
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April 25, 2017
Page 3
Council Member Briggs requested an update on options for solar installations in the city limits.
Council Member Bagheri requested a Work Session item on jake braking in the city limits.
Council Member Bagheri requested an update on her suggestion to have data collected on Election
Day on where people would like to vote.
Mayor Watts requested an Informal Staff report update of the splash park.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned 3:35 p.m.
___________________________________
CHRIS WATTS
MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
___________________________________
JENNIFER WALTERS
CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS