2018-02-05 Committee on the Environment Minutes
City of Denton
City Hall
MINUTES
215 E. McKinney Street
COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Denton, Texas
www.cityofdenton.com
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Monday, February 5, 2018 1:30pm City Council Work Session Room
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,
February 5, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Work Session Room at City Hall, 215 E. McKinney Street,
Denton, Texas
Council Members: Chair Council Member Keely Briggs, Council Member Dalton Gregory,
Council Member John Ryan
Also Attending:Mario Canizares ACM; Kenneth Banks, General Manager Water Utilities; Katherine
Barnett, Sustainability and Customer Initiatives Manager; Sarah Luxton, Sustainability Coordinator;
Jonathan Gregory, Conservation Program Coordinator; Stuart Birdseye, Marketing & Outreach Coord;
Kim Mankin, Administrative Supervisor
REGULAR MEETING
A.COE18-005 Consider approval of the Committee on the Environment of the Denton City Council
Meeting minutes of January 8, 2018.
Approved as circulated.
B.COE18-006 Provide the Committee on the Environment an update regarding the study underway by
Denton Municipal Electric’s Distribution Engineering department LED analysis project.
Jerry Fielder gave the presentation. The LED lights are up in the DME campus. In June 2016 this
committee approved the study. A timeline was provided.
Actions for this study included the following.
-Operations personnel comments.
-Layout eliminates or minimized overlap of fixture light patterns.
-Research recycling opportunities for old fixtures.
-Preliminary discussion with COD Traffic Engineer on development of new lighting standards based on
road and pedestrian usage.
Briggs asked about the City standards for lighting and how some neighborhoods seem darker. Fielder
answered the lights are every 300 ft. Some areas that would be sufficient, like Western Blvd. Some areas
would not be sufficient, like Razor Ranch. Staff will come back with new standards as the study moves
along.
Fielder showed a listing of the vendors and brands to be used. There are 24 units in the study there was
one that failed, 25 total units.
Gregory asked about the vendor list, do we know anything about them. Fielder answered they are a
combination of new and established vendors.
Fielder showed a map of where the lights are located. This is a controlled study that is 14 hours a day at
the DME campus.
Power usages was shown on a graphs and tables of the different watts, all the information was explained.
Gregory asked if we are looking in terms of type of light, how they are designed and how the lights shine
on the ground. Fielder answered yes, staff goes out with light meters and tests the lights and measures as
well. We are planning on leaving the poles where they are and if a higher voltage lamp needs to be used
that is the route they will take.
Briggs asked if we can just switch the light fixtures on the current poles. Fielder agreed.
Ryan asked if the bulb length would be a part of the study. Fielder answered it would be.
Staff is using a web based software for the controls. The lights have a GPS and timer in the top and sends
microwaves to the system. This system can tell all the lights to come on and off. There is a map with all
the lights on it. There are many options that staff can use. Two great features are notifications of when
lights are staying on all day or when they are burned out. There are other systems similar to this that are
available. In the coming months there will be an RFP sent out to review the other systems. Briggs asked
how we currently know when bulbs are burned out, Fielder answered word of mouth.
The City of Denton currently has 7,420 street lights from DME, there are 349 that are TxDOT. Fielder
explained the estimated energy cost savings, estimated power savings, estimated kWh savings and the
Carbon Dioxide Equivalent.
Fielder talked about the environmental comparisons from a greenhouse gas emissions standpoint.
Vendor evaluation (WIP) includes:
-Product installation ease, Meets DME current standards for street lighting
-Product quality
-Product durability
-Energy use
-Products deviation from specifications
-Vendor references
-Use of contractor to assist/verify information and results
Briggs asked all the lights were switched out where would the money come from. Fielder answered he is
unsure, not currently in the budget. Canizares answered staff could provide information to City Council
give them the options.
Ryan asked what is the price range of the fixtures that are being tested. Fielder answered they are roughly
$200 per fixture plus about $100 for the photo electric control. Estimated cost for installation is not
included in this costs.
Briggs remembered there were some cities that are already going through this change out. Fielder will get
a list.
C.COE18-008 Receive report and hold a discussion regarding Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center.
Katherine Barnett gave the presentation.
Objective includes providing a brief update on Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center. Areas involved are
education, partnerships, trails, construction and future plans.
The list of classes was shown.
Quick facts include:
-2017 DISD - 50 field trips, 4,789 students
-2017 CC Education - 17 classes, 531 attendees
-2018 CC Education (to date) - 3 classes, 128 attendees
-Honey Run
-Run Registrants 894 as of 2/5/18
-Beekeeping class is full at 200 registrants
-Social media reach data was shown on a spreadsheet
Gregory asked about the drop off between people that register and people that show.
Barnett answered the past weekend on the foodscaping class there were 150 registered and alittle over 50
showed. The classes are free. Unsure if the weather played a role in this. Staff is talking if there should
be a refundable deposit or a small fee. There are many options being talked about.
DISD field trip pictures were shown.
Partners – Master Naturalist
Elm Fork Chapter Master Naturalists will be handling the following.
-Class project
-Denton ISD
-Trails
-Greenhouse
-Other projects (survey, bluebird boxes and more)
Barnett showed the Master Naturalist survey results. Included questions such as the top reasons to visit
and top likes about Clear Creek.
Improvements desired:
-Bathrooms
-More and improved Parking
-More Trail marking
-More Trails
-Notice of closed trails
The dam has been repaired. Gregory asked if Corp helped or we did it on our own. Barnett answered we
did it on our own.
Challenges include:
-Rodents
-Hogs
-Vandalism
-Cows
-Freezing temperature
Davis Trail Update
-Davis parking lot is complete
-Restroom is in process for order - goal April installation
-Wellhouse and storage will be constructed on Davis
-Nature Explore contractor elements will be installed at same time
Next steps Include:
-Add garden shed at main site
-Classes are so large need additional storage outside of main building
-Davis trailhead trail maintenance
Fun information includes a release of a Great Horned Owl.
Briggs asked if there are hives at Clear Creek for the bee keeping classes. Barnett there is not. Native
bees and honey bees do not get along.
Briggs asked if there is a Master Plan for Clear Creek. Barnett answered there is on the website and will
send a copy.
Briggs asked if we can host weddings. Barnett answered the Ultimate Plan to have pavilion for this type
of function.
D.COE18-007 ACM Update:
1. Education and Outreach
2. Matrix
CONCLUDING ITEMS
Under Section 551.042 of the Texas Open Meetings Act, respond to inquiries from the Public
Utilities Board 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
Gregory - Clear Creek Master Plan Update
Briggs – Update on green ribbon program which is the trees that will be planted on University.
Adjournment: 2:27pm
Approved: March 19, 2018