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April 06, 2020 Minutes CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES April 6,2020 After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council of the City of Denton, Texas convened in an Emergency Special Meeting on Monday,April 6,2020,at 3:09 p.m.in the Council Work Session Room at City Hall, 215 E.McKinney Street, Denton, Texas. PRESENT: Mayor Chris Watts, Mayor Pro Tern Gerard Hudspeth and Council Members Keely Briggs, Jesse Davis, John Ryan,Deb Armintor,and Paul Meltzer ABSENT: None Also present were City Manager Todd Hileman and City Attorney Aaron Leal Note: Mayor Chris Watts,Mayor Pro Tem Gerard Hudspeth,and Council Members Keely Briggs, Jesse Davis, John Ryan, Deb Armintor and Paul Meltzer participated in closed meeting, work session, and special called meeting via teleconference under the provisions allowed by the Texas Government Code Section 551.127. The posted agenda noted the registration process for public participation at this virtual meeting. While citizen commentary received via the online registration process is not read, each member of the City Council received each registration as it was submitted. WORK SESSION 1. Work Session Reports A. ID 20-811 Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding an update on the City of Denton's COVID-19 response. The item was presented and discussion followed. Following partial discussion, City Council to consider funding amounts/limits to the United Way of Denton County Barriers Fund,utility assistance funding,and increase to the COVID- 19 emergency responses and essential functions not already budgeted under Individual Consideration Item LA (ID 20-812)to be considered during the Special Called Emergency Meeting set to follow this work session. Staff to research options available to provide assistance to small business and continue with updating online information/resources available to the public. The Work Session was recessed for a short break at 4:58 p.m. and reconvened at 5:09 p.m. The presentation and discussion continued. The Work Session ended at 5:20 p.m. City of Denton City Council Minutes April 6,2020 Page 2 SPECIAL EMERGENCY MEETING After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council of the City of Denton, Texas convened in a Special Emergency Meeting on Monday, April 6, 2020, at 5:20 p.m. in the Work Session Room at City Hall,215 E.McKinney Street, Denton,Texas. PRESENT: Mayor Chris Watts, Mayor Pro Tern Gerard Hudspeth and Council Members Keely Briggs, Jesse Davis,John Ryan, Deb Armintor,and Paul Meltzer ABSENT: None Also present were City Manager Todd Hileman and City Attorney Aaron Leal Note: Mayor Chris Watts,Mayor Pro Tem Gerard Hudspeth,and Council Members Keely Briggs, Jesse Davis, John Ryan, Deb Armintor and Paul Meltzer participated in closed meeting, work session, and special called meeting via teleconference under the provisions allowed by the Texas Government Code Section 551.127. The posted agenda noted the registration process for public participation at this virtual meeting. While citizen commentary received via the online registration process is not read, each member of the City Council received each registration as it was submitted. 2. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION A. ID 20-812 Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, a Texas home-rule municipal corporation,superseding and replacing the Order of Council of the City Of Denton issued March 20, 2020 approved by Ordinance 20-740; confirming and authorizing the expenditure of funds;providing a repealer clause; and providing an effective date. ASSIGNED ORDINANCE NO.20-812 The item was presented and corresponded with Work Session Item 1.1 (ID 20-811)presented and discussed earlier in the day. Citizen comments received are noted in Exhibit A. All members of the City Council received the comments as submitted and had the opportunity to review all submissions prior to the start of the meeting and consider such comments when voting on the item. Mayor Watts announced the summary of public commentary/registrations. See Exhibit A for details. • 11 online comments: 8 in Support and 3 in Opposition • 3 call-ins: 3 in Support and 0 in Opposition City of Denton City Council Minutes April 6,2020 Page 3 With no other callers in the queue and the public comment period closed, the meeting was recessed for a short break at 6:33 p.m. and reconvened at 6:48 p.m. Discussion continued. Council Member Davis moved to adopt the item to include/change the proposed item as noted on the redraft provided via email at 6:49 p.m.which detailed changes requested during the Work Session held earlier in the day as follows: • Additional $50,000 to utility assistance funds; • Release balance to Barriers Fund for UWDC; • Additional $50,000 added to COVID-19 assistance fund; • Additional $200,000 to expenditures to City Manager for use in addressing emergency responses and essential functions; and • Allow renters to make late payments if their benefits have been delayed. Motion seconded by Council Member Ryan. Following discussion, Council Member Meltzer moved a friendly amendment to include, within the Order, a request to Governor Abbott to schedule a Special Legislative Session to address special needs resulting from COVID-19. Following discussion, the friendly amendment was withdrawn as City Council consensus was for staff to present a resolution to this effect under an.Emergency Meeting the next day (April 7 h)to be held prior to the start of the scheduled Regular Meeting. Mayor Watts called the vote on Council Member Davis' motion to amend the item as noted earlier and seconded by Council Member Ryan. Motion carried. AYES (6): Mayor Watts, Mayor Pro Tem Hudspeth, and Council Members Briggs, Davis, Ryan, and Meltzer NAYS (1): Council Member Armintor Staff to obtain additional data on total funds spent to date on utility assistance and how many have been assisted as well as send out a press release on rental assistance resources. City of Denton City Council Minutes April 6,2020 Page 4 With no other business,the meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m. CHRIS WATTS ROSA RIOS MAYOR CITY SECRETARY CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS MINUTES APPROVED ON: � (� April 6,2020 City Council Emergency Meeting-EXHIBIT A Speaker Commentaries/Registrations Online,Email,Phone Nara lass Address Address Line 2 City Ajtenda Item I Position Method Comments Nmani Aouv 1301 iannm Nt _ Damon ID�11.8I I F,o ,:,i Comment 34,11 n.,,,1— Keren IIaack 1626 Nightingale Ln. Denton ID 20-812 Telephone Rewdast;d cads warn 11 Mdlson;wants Comcd to stop quarantine lit Ibe.Td W April and Ia everyone harm u,work;family mcnal—arc.now out vi.,.ak:s<zaul dsslimeng rs w.xki. :rehmk ai lha sam he M p carde went ere w-,k Andrew Bennett 1713 Carlson St. Denton ID 20-812 Telephone Works with Aid Network Denton;had two jobs and makingjust enough to pay rent/buy groceries;now only onejob and forced n choose what he will pay;fortunate to have a job but sstuwo is precarious for him and others;need at minimum a suspension of all utility charges and extension for eviction through May and$1 Million funding assistance at minimum. Lauren Bomlignon 2118 Service St No.6 Denton ID 20-812 Telephone Llnrnlployment process takes tune to approve;anzms need sassstennc now and lurgc.mount Of mclmnsbeing lam is ticlulus trout now;City should pm de St Million m rrnt and utR10 auisdanit,set ri•off COVI]3=19 is unknown Arw6av Ilrarit Uxll lhsstie.liill Da ms, ID 2l}812 For OmOne I am FOR,nam—s enea utuv urnsan x aid lase in Demam. At a minimum the Ordinance should have an unsn ualic N—hon date ne longai than 15 Jays fnan paavmg forcing the.council to nxsrell�evaluate the siluanon and-n nd ill Lhasolve the Tyler D.L.Cerda 1100 Ector St. ordinance cos needed.Ultimately the stay at home order is a violation of my l rights.The overreaction to this virus is creating more harm than good to the city,count,slat.,end Damon ID 2"12 Against 0.1mic It alu,uld ba Ic0 av unli—anls waE nix iwunmrnl a,vnu,an.safe aisual slisma,n rawk�s.. N.M.Provided Ihr land, 1010 N Lnavat st Demon IU 20-812 for Online Coamenl Net 1lmvid dl George Ferric 2932 Stockton St. Denton ID 20-812 Telephone Ilp.t bn-.ou c did out krsrnv this rrxaing was heppanse�g',rrot aa,ugh prepamtrun[ma:to nllcw pu1,c opal;upset Lily umoracs to let non-prolits ham the t—,]M[..assist;ary secludes hotline established for those faun eviction need hotline for those.#in ie,rourora ask, for Sl million in rental fundin F-1. Forhus 220 E.Sherman Dr. Demon IU 20-812 For Online Comment Nat 17a.•id d Kristen Feet 1713 Carhoa 5t- Denton ID 20-812 Telephone Wa as a teacher and has fielded many requ for sental assistance;should not be on them:Denton County has funding resources to assist;City should assist said not be wumed about n suet;utilnv assistance also needed. Kelsey Fryman 701 Ft.Worth Dr. Denton ID 20-812 Telephone Need more assistance for people;imperative during crisis that"people"be assisted;furloughed right now and can't assist;people's livelihood more important than police building issues. Joe Hargis 2210 Westwood Dr. Denton ID 20-812 Telephone LPM uO1*due to COVID-19 andxrlW rl income;uiihrcnanlJurvlgsgoumlo,x m be charged will ttnaae larvrie debt that someone is going w ber st—ible fo,need to start thinking about ski re of terana ssirUma sysrrsas shnulJ he fsai&d ra—apessillod. Olivia Her a ide.-Fria! 2422 Lon oiI-St Denton ID 20-812 For Online Draw John— 5128 Mountain View lk. Ar.%102 Krim ID 2(1-812 For 0.1— ]amifer Lone 1526 Willowwood S[. Damon ID 20-812 Telephone Ooe of 8 ndsas.dlmg;tenwus anal laodhords to nut bendiC mend ti0-dry mormuitmi to allow people m 8a.finances in dare;uzuctul need ex,iax to not have people move amend that eviction brio me non-essentiullnosi-uarkmic ascetm s,.ablic isan oastwxak asssi le cannot attend. Morgan Larson 2210 Westwood Denton ID 20-812 Telephone Teacher and coach;marl to have et lees[$1 Million in assistance as current finding is inadequate;resource information is not covering everyone equally within the County,gaps are being II by ono-SOl3u vnncaau:uhv Heals[ue I'midi moamr melion,nll crane around and mil-usis cannot Tully und,x.,iund ur net. Sun Marotta 1812 Beam Vissa 1h Dent. 11)211-8I2 For trnline ComunoLL Net Provided Dewey Marshall 1700 W illoarvi St. Denton ID 20-812 Telephone Works for North Texas Housing Center;asking Council for$1 million for re dal/homeless/utility assistance;assistance is slow while eviction is fast,landlord can refuse to accept late ntiu.P mans Emily NieUl S00 Cnmowlo 1k, Mario iD 20-S 12 'fed hone Need to amend the M -ml-home order far u cue le more nuq:,at two-wxk intervals as people me not takin it aenwnly Claudio Salinas 1607 W Oak St. The golf ,zes w,th proper precautions should be reopened.They serve as a great outdoors activity that people can do individually and therefore not be around other people.It is the Dean. ID 20.812 For Online aim.r fora tam orhikm and ahmdd dterefo m hu ullowea. Ray Seller 211 Bryan St. Denton ID 20-812 Telephone Lost qs um"evpr%mn orders need to be udkssnoad;C ily needs better marketing and$75,t100 is to sough;over 25,000 people sin in a crisis in Denton at this time,do who can be dome to assist the cilism. Nick Strides 1606 E.McKinney SC Unit 602 Denton ID 20-812 Telephone Should dedicate funds to lhmgx Iliad ue rose usgz,mant than mcca in a police facility;with the number of people applying for unemphagssram and Iandloids ready to evsa once the[kdcr Manna,City rears to allocate$1 Million for rental and utibl assistance. Russell Sum 3321 Musting W. Damon ff7 20.812 A aa" Online I hr]ievr'xc cm mainlsrn sonol d6¢amm� and use eau Ivsds m,iatixrmne wlaxter nr m%we feel OK 1 n,ri to beswtsidc rdcan home. Apt 312013 11 fe:l we ssced to hh the Any at hung:coda uilh safely measures in plea and uliew bsannessa.to he back in epcnl ion along wdh 1'ulkouang pmpa sootui dr.l incing gndelmc aril Elect. Swan 3321 Mustang Dr. utilizing appropriate sanilmng techniques.I ear concerned that if we continue to impose say at home orders and fail m allow husini—brick in operation then we will crush our already Denton ID 20-812 A ana Online weakened monumr here in Denton Co. Ren Thyg.sen 411 Panhandle Unit D Denton ID M-5l2 Telephone Urges—ity be hdpcd especially the most vulnerable;thanked Council for what's been done so far but still not enough;also lost her income and applied for urn lmmentlmntinnal;has received aid Council has talked akzmi.Piiblic m ml laarg,silenced. NOTE:Comments for those citizens addressing the City Council me an abbreviated summary.