June 13, 2017 Minutes
CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
June 13, 2017
After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council convened in a Work Session on
Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. in the Council Work Session Room at City Hall.
PRESENT: Council Member Hudspeth, Council Member Briggs, Council Member Wazny,
Council Member Ryan, Council Member Gregory, and Mayor Watts.
ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Bagheri
Mayor Watts noted that when public hearings were scheduled for second Tuesday meetings,
Council typically went right into open session after the completion of the Work Session. However,
in the case of the public hearings at this meeting, they were publicized to be held at 6:30. He
questioned if the Council wanted to not consider the public hearings at this meeting or stay late
and hold the public hearings at 6:30 p.m.
Council Member Briggs questioned if not considering them at this meeting would affect the timing
of the projects.
Ron Menguita, Long Range Planning Administrator, stated correct.
Council Member Wazny felt that staff could do better coordinating notices according to the
Council calendar.
Menguita noted that there was no action on the public hearings at this meeting; it was just for
public comments.
Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the public hearings at 6:30 p.m.
1. Work Session Reports
A. ID 17-677 Receive a report; hold a discussion, and receive departmental presentations in
preparation for the FY 2017-18 Proposed Budget, Capital Improvement Program, and Five
Year Financial Forecast.
Police Department- Chief Lee Howell presented information on the police department’s budget in
terms of FTEs by function area; staffing needs, length of time from start of hire to release to duty;
accomplishments and goals; and performance measures.
Council Member Bagheri arrived at the meeting.
Howell continued with cost containment strategies; budget highlights and responded to questions
Council had raised last week.
Council discussed the training requirements of new recruits and categories of officers along with
budget implications.
Animal Services – Chief Lee Howell presented the Animal Services budget in terms of FTEs in
the department, goals and accomplishments, and budget highlights.
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Council discussed the vet services in the budget and whether the animal shelter should be a cash
free facility.
Fire – Chief Robin Paulsgrove presented the information on the Fire Department budget. Those
areas included FTEs by functional area; accomplishments; goals; performance measures; focus on
response time; process improvements; returns on investment; and budget highlights.
Council discussed response time, funding for Medic 4, and the goals for recruitment of new
firefighters.
Community Improvement Services - Laura Behrens, Fire Marshal, presented information on the
CIS budget. Information included FTEs, goals and accomplishments; performance measures; cost
containment strategies; process improvements; and expenditure budget highlights.
Council discussed the costs of mailing notices to citizens and the process of notifying citizens for
violations.
Environmental Services - Ken Banks, General Manager of Utilities, presented the Environmental
Services budget information. The information included FTEs, goals and accomplishments,
performance measures; cost containment strategies; and process improvements.
Council discussed continuing with current performance as well as adding the proposed measures;
follow-up with the energy audits to determine effectiveness; grease/grit traps inspection reports;
reports on vehicle emissions; and LED lighting system in terms of environmental concerns.
Municipal Court - Chuck Springer, Director of Finance, presented the budget information
including organizational chart, major accomplishments; goals; performance measures; cost
containment strategies; process improvements; and budget highlights.
Municipal Judge's Office - Robin Ramsay presented accomplishments and goals; performance
measures; cost containment strategies; process improvements and budget highlights.
B. ID 17-720 Receive a report, hold a discussion and give staff direction regarding Denton
Municipal Court policies and procedures related to indigent defendants.
Robin Ramsay, Municipal Court Judge, presented information concerning Municipal Court
policies and procedures related to indigent defendants. Internal and external pressures dealing with
indigent defendants were presented as well as legislation passed this year. The traditional court
process along with solutions to the processes currently being used were noted. He asked for
Council concurrence with these procedures.
Council discussed what was involved with community service and how defendants considered
community service; and effects of reducing warrants on the Police Department.
Consensus of the Council was that this was an innovative approach and would offset the cost of
incarnation.
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C. ID 17-704 Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding formation,
responsibilities, composition, and member terms of the Economic Development Partnership
Board.
Caroline Booth, Director of Economic Development, presented information regarding formation,
responsibilities, and composition of the Economic Development Partnership Board. She reviewed
the role of the Board and the background of the development of the Board. The current composition
of the Board was noted along with the terms of service. The nominating process for board members
was reviewed.
Council Member Briggs recommended a change in the terms of service regarding former council
members serving on the Board.
Mayor Pro Tem Bagheri felt there was a conflict with the Board recommending the Chamber
budget when there were Chamber members on the Board. She suggested possibly reducing the
number of Chamber members.
Council Member Wazny stated that this was an unusual setup with this Board as former council
members were able to remain on the Board after their terms on Council ended. She felt there
should be current council members serving on this Board.
Council Member Hudspeth questioned why TWU and UNT were on the Board and not the DISD.
Mayor Watts stated that the rational was that the universities brought in economic benefits to the
community.
Council Member Gregory stated it was an attempt to get the biggest employers on the Board in
terms of economic development. He suggested bringing back language that a member no longer
in the position when first appointed would relinquish that position.
Council Member Ryan suggested allowing the presidents of universities to appoint someone else
in their place if needed.
Booth replied that the ordinance currently had that provision.
Council Member Ryan agreed with the proposal that a member should not serve as a Council
nominee if no longer on Council.
Council discussed various scenarios for the Board including a 6 year term limit (total service), a 6
year term limit with a lapse in service and then serve again; not applying the term limits to the
university presidents, not putting the function of the Economic Development Office of the
Chamber budget as a role of the Board, residency requirements of the members, before adding
DISD as a voting member discuss it with them and consider a member of School Board as a voting
representative.
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Consensus of the Council was to have 6 year increment terms and to remove the function of
reviewing the City’s and Chamber’s Economic Development department budgets from the duties
of the Board.
D. ID 17-789 Receive a report, hold a discussion and provide direction regarding the procedure
to assess the need and make minor updates to the Mobility Plan and associated Roadway
Component Map.
Chad Allen, Interim City Engineer, presented information on the Mobility Plan including the
roadway component of the map and the use at the local level and regional level. He detailed the
roadway component map general characteristics. Minor updates may be needed from time to time
on the map and a mechanism to do so was needed. He reviewed information on the current process
for major updates and recommendations for minor update procedures.
Council discussed whether a minor change needed to go to the Planning and Zoning Commission
instead of just coming to Council for the change. It was noted that the ordinance required the
change to come to both entities.
Consensus of the Council was to move forward with both processes.
Mayor Watts questioned if the Closed Meeting item would be necessary.
Interim City Attorney Leal stated that the City had an option for first right of refusal for property.
Staff was needing direction on whether or not to proceed with the option to purchase or decline it.
Mayor Watts questioned what triggered the action.
Interim City Attorney Leal stated that the event was another offer for the property. The City
needed to decide whether to match the offer or decline the offer and let the sale go through with
the original offer.
Council Member Wazny left the meeting.
Following the completion of the Work Session, the City Council convened in a Closed Meeting at
5:52 p.m. to consider the specific item listed below under the Closed Meeting section of this agenda
1. Closed Meeting:
A. ID 17-774 Deliberations regarding Real Property - Under Texas Government Code,
Section 551.072; and Consultation with Attorneys - Under Texas Government Code,
Section 551.071.
Discuss, deliberate and receive information from staff and provide staff with direction
pertaining to the potential purchase of certain 18.969 acre tract out of the David
Hough Survey, Abstract No. 646, in Denton County, Texas, and generally located in
the 2600 block of South Mayhill Road, Denton, Texas. Consultation with the City’s
attorneys regarding legal issues associated with the potential acquisition or release of
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real property interests in the tract described above where a public discussion of these
legal matters would conflict with the duty of the City’s attorneys to the City of Denton
and the Denton City Council under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional
Conduct of the State Bar of Texas, or would jeopardize the City’s legal position in
any administrative proceeding or potential litigation. (Option to acquire 18.969 acre
Donnelly remainder tract - Ordinance 1997-276 & Ordinance 1997-292)
Following the completion of the Closed Meeting, the City Council convened in a Special Called
Meeting at 6:30 p.m. to consider the following items:
1. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. A17-0001a Hold the first of two public hearings for a voluntary annexation of
approximately 118.041 acres of land, generally located north of McKinney Street and
west of Trinity Road by the City of Denton, Texas.
The Mayor opened the public hearing.
Ron Menguita, Long Range Planning Administrator, reviewed the request for the voluntary
annexation, proposed development of the property, and the annexation schedule.
Council Member Gregory asked if Council was to take any action at this meeting.
Interim City Attorney Leal stated that there was no action, just public comments, at this time.
No one spoke during the public hearing.
The Mayor closed the public hearing.
No action was needed at this time.
B. A17-0004a Hold the first of two public hearings for an involuntary annexation of
approximately 6.71 acres of land, generally located north of Brush Creek Road and
east of Fort Worth Drive by the City of Denton, Texas.
The Mayor opened the public hearing.
Ron Menguita, Long Range Planning Administrator, presented the request and the location of
property, along with annexation schedule.
Kathy Duncan-Symula questioned the development of the property.
The Mayor closed public hearing
No action was needed at this time.
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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 Briggs requested an update on the sidewalks in the Downtown.
Council Member Briggs requested an update on red light camera contract.
Council Member Hudspeth requested information on the process to name the football field in Fred
Moore Park.
Council Member Hudspeth requested information on whether certain benefits could be given to
board/commission members and Council such as passes to the waterpark.
Council Member Hudspeth requested information on installing parking meters in the Downtown
area.
Council Member Hudspeth requested an update on the installation of the mobile device restriction
signs.
Council Member Hudspeth suggested a Council field trip to other downtown areas to get a feel for
regional competition and how to enhance the Downtown.
B. Possible Continuation of Closed Meeting topics, above posted.
There was no continuation of the Closed Meeting.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m.
______________________________ ______________________________
CHRIS WATTS JENNIFER WALTERS
MAYOR CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS