2017-09-11 Committee on the Environment Minutes MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
September 11, 2017
After determining that a quorum of the Committee on the Environment of the Denton City
Council was present, the Committee on the Environment thereafter convened into an Open
Meeting on Monday, September 11, 2017 at 12:16 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room 215
E. McKinney, Denton, Texas.
Present: Council Member Keely Briggs and Council Member Dalton Gregory
Also Present: Mario Canizares, ACM; Kenneth Banks, General Manager Water Utilities;
Katherine Barnett, Sustainability and Special Projects; Ethan Cox, Director Solid
Waste; Deborah Viera, Assistant Director Environmental Services; Lauren
Barker, KDB Program Manager, Kim Mankin, Administrative Supervisor; Annie
Bunger, Administrative Assistant IV
REGULAR MEETING:
A. COE17-031 - Consider approval of the Committee on the Environment meeting minutes of
August 14, 2017.
Approved as circulated
B. COE17-036 -Receive a report and hold a discussion regarding Denton Development Code
Subchapter 17 Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs).
Deborah Viera made the presentation regarding policy changes. Viera added language in
`Undeveloped Floodplain' in the code to reflect the Mobility Plan. Staff will also make the same
change to `Riparian Buffer and Water Related Habitat'. This will make the code the same
throughout.
Gregory states that the Mobility Plan is to move traffic as efficiently as possible. If a developer
comes in to build new streets they will have to accomplish more since the code points toward the
Mobility Plan streets. Briggs added this was discussed at the last meeting and the consensus was
that adding the language `identified on the Mobility Plan' would be beneficial.
Staff is moving forward with public input and is scheduled to be part of the next town hall
meeting for the DDC rewrite.
Briggs stated if the roadway is identified in the Mobility Plan, they are currently required to go
through P&Z and Council. This change will bypass that, Viera agreed.
C.COE17-038—Receive a presentation and hold a discussion regarding solid waste and
recycling policy for the City of Denton.
Lauren Barker made this presentation. This is a follow up discussion regarding the policies for
recycling and solid waste.
Barker talked about previous discussions and action that include:
- informal staff report on May 19, 2017 -Proposed Strategies for Increasing Multi-Family
Recycling
-Discussion at Committee on the Environment March 6,2017-Increasing Commercial and Multi-
Family Recycling
-Approval at Planning and Zoning August 8, 2012 -Amendment to Section 35.13 of the Denton
Development Code regarding Solid Waste Enclosure Design Standards
Staff has heard from Council regarding increasing diversion from the landfill. Increasing multi-
family and commercial recycling participation and increasing accessibility to recycle.
Today staff s goals for discussion include policy review.
Solid Waste current policy documents include the Denton Code of Ordinances, Denton
Development Code and Site Design Criteria Manual for Municipal refuse and recyclables. Each
policy was reviewed and discussed.
Gregory asked about the ordinance that identifies the City as the exclusive provider for solid waste
but not recycling. Staff will get with legal to see the laws. Kenneth Banks added if the City owns
and operates a municipal solid waste operation they are entitled by state law to be the exclusive
provider for solid waste component. With recycling being a competitive business the state has
chosen to not allow the City to be the exclusive provider for that recycling component.
There was a clarification that this only applies to commercial,residential recycling is exclusive by
our solid waste department.
Multifamily was discussed. Currently it is handled as commercial, they can have their own
recycling or not have it at all. Gregory added he believed the Denton Development code needs to
require multifamily to have recycling enclosures with containers in them. Is there a legal reason
why we can't do that? Ethan Cox added that they have talked with the consultant that is working
on the DDC. There are also some requirements that are being revised for the technical document
that covers the enclosures. Staff feels like there needs to be some allowances in the DDC for
recycling. This meeting is to get thoughts, direction and look at options.
Gregory's suggestion would be this committee direct staff to come back with requirements for
recycling containers in all new multi-family construction. As an alternate maybe the carts could
be used. Briggs is on board with the multi-family recycling. She has heard the large container
area is needed for parking, maybe the smaller carts could be an option.
Briggs also suggested incentives for established multi-family complexes.
Barker then spoke about the Site Design Criteria Manual. Gregory asked if there needs to be
guidelines for residential development. Cox added that he believes the intent of this manual is to
give specific design standards. Deborah Viera also added that if you have a development that has
a meeting center it could fall under the residential code, but there are many questions. Cox stated
that is multifamily is reclassified to residential design standards would be needed.
Barker added that staff has been making a list of what is in the codes and what is currently taking
place to reconcile.
There was some discussion regarding recycling and the carts. New decals are needed on the
recycling containers as well.
Briggs would like to see the `reducing and reusing education' continue for the schools. She would
like businesses that do reuse to have some sort of accolades.
Briggs asked about recycling that is contaminated with things that are not recyclable. Cox
answered that is a problem. Enforcement is not in place but it may have to be reviewed and
addressed in the future.
Cox in talking about goals, asked what is important to this committee. Briggs added for her it is
for environmental and sustainability. Gregory stated that reducing the waste stream by 40 percent
is a significant impact on how fast the cells will fill at the landfill. Also if you can reclaim materials
that have use rather than discard them then you also have a better sustainable impact.
A citizen inquired about zero waste. Barker stated that Austin has a zero waste policy. Previous
staff had looked into this, we will look into their findings.
Jonathan Gregory added that the Stars Community Platform that we are currently participating in
has a credit area of zero waste goal, and staff is working toward that.
Briggs asked about businesses that compost, staff will get more information. Barker stated that
the City does composting for Wal-Mart, Sam's and Morrison Milling.
D. COE17-037-ACM Update:
1. National Renewable Energy Lab
2. Matrix
CONCLUDING ITEMS
A. Under Section 551.042 of the Texas Open Meetings Act, respond to inquiries from the
Committee on the Environment 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.
Future Meeting at Heritage Center.
Briggs —No idling ordinance city wide (Jackson, Wyoming)
The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 1:20 p.m.
Approved on November 11, 2017