March 04, 2019 MinutesCITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
March 4, 2019
After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council convened in a Work Session on
Monday, March 4, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. in the Sherman Conference Room at the Linda McNatt
Animal Care & Adoption Center, 3717 N. Elm Street, Denton, Texas.
PRESENT: Council Member Gerard Hudspeth, Council Member Keely Briggs, Council Member
Don Duff, Mayor Pro Tem John Ryan, Council Member Deb Armintor, Council
Member Paul Meltzer, and Mayor Chris Watts.
ABSENT: None,
WORK SESSION
1. Work Session Reports
A. 19-447 Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding an overview
and options for Fire Department recruiting and hiring.
Brad LaHart, Assistant Fire Chief, presented the item. He stated that the Fire Department hiring
practices were regulated by the Texas Local Government Code 143, City of Denton rules and
regulations of the Civil Service Commission, and the Fire Department Meet and Confer. He
reviewed the basic hiring process, hiring requirements, and hiring differences between the Fire
Department and the Police Department. He stated that they recruited through advertising, at local
schools, at special events, fire academies, and paramedic schools. He reviewed the variety of
traditional and non-traditional forms of advertising and marketing they used to increase the
candidate pool.
Kenneth Hedges, Fire Chief, reviewed exam demographics and stated that minority percentages
had increased in the past five years. He stated that staff recommended continuation of recruiting
while further examining additional recruiting strategies through the "Homegrown" program.
B. ID 19-445 Receive a report, hold a discussion, and provide staff direction regarding City
Council priorities for upcoming work session report topics.
Bryan Langley, Deputy City Manager, presented the item. He stated that staff distributed a survey
to City Council on February 19 that included topics from previous strategy sessions that had not
yet been scheduled for a work session along with all policy -related Informal Staff Reports that
were distributed from November 9 - February 15 where a work session was not currently
scheduled. The top six topics included Hickory Street bicycle lanes; traffic and roadway projects
technology; use of utility billing information for development public hearing notification; sobering
centers; economic development corridor/small area reinvestment grant program; and zero energy
homes. The Red Light Camera Pilot Update was also added to the top.
Council discussion included having some of the Council Committees look at some of the topics,
topics that fell under current ordinances, better scheduling of agendas and items on the agendas so
there wasn't a two or three hour break in-between.
C. ID 19-408 Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding the Animal
Services operation and operational review.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
March 4, 2019
Page 2
Tiffany Thomson, Director of Customer Service, presented the item. She stated that the Animal
Services Department had transitioned from the Police Department to the Customer Service
Division. This was done to focus Police resources on core public safety functions, while
continuing to support a strong customer -focused service delivery model at the Animal Shelter.
Since the transition, management has worked diligently to evaluate the operations of the Animal
Services Department. The evaluation included assessing the organizational structure, staffing
levels, and pay; external and internal communications; customer service, phone call volumes, and
responsiveness; operating supplies; and volunteer and rescue group support.
Staff hired a professional animal shelter consultant to come in and conduct an objective assessment
of the operation, which included a review of the shelter facility, shelter operations, animal care,
fundraising and volunteers, communications and public relations, governance, and vehicles and
equipment.
Critical findings and action taken included services had been secured to develop the Employee
Handbook and Standard Operating Procedures specific to Animal Sheltering and the process and
training for proper cleaning and sanitation of all animal housing areas. A formal volunteer program
was being developed. Staffing issues had been addressed for the Customer Service
Representatives and management has been in discussions with RSVP about ensuring contract
compliance and addressing improvement areas. The management and customer service approach
in the operation had significantly changed to ensure effective leadership, accountability, involved
management and that a service mentality was delivered.
Council discussion included service animals, integrating the animal care and adoption facility with
the dog park, program with domestic violence shelters and holding an animal, and volunteer
training.
D. ID 19-465 Conduct a walking tour of the Linda McNatt Animal Care and Adoption Center,
located at 3717 N. Elm Street.
Members of the Council and City staff participated in a tour of the animal care and adoption center.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:23 p.m.
C1111 S WATTS
MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
JANE, RICHARDSON
ASSISTANT CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS