2019-03-07 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, March 7, 2019 11:00am 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, March
7, 2019 at 10:59 a.m. in the Council Work Session Room at City Hall, 215 E. McKinney Street, Denton,
Texas
Council Members: Chair Council Member Keely Briggs, and Council Member Paul Meltzer
Absent: Council Member John Ryan
Also Attending: Mario Canizares, ACM; Todd Estes, Director of Capital Projects; Katherine
Barnett, Sustainability & Customer Initiatives Manager; Sarah Luxton, Sustainability Coordinator; James
Douglas, Conservation Program Coordinator; Kim Mankin, Administration Manager
Guest were introduced from Texas WUniversity of
REGULAR MEETING
A. COE19-008 - Consider approval of the Committee on the Environment of the Denton City Council
Meeting minutes of February 4, 2019.
Approved as circulated.
B. COE19-009 - Receive an update and hold a discussion on the launch and future plans for the
Sustainable Denton Green Business Program.
James Douglas gave the presentation regarding Green Business Program Pilot.
Background:
The Green Business Program has moved passed the development stages and into a pilot. A GBP
website was launched and several businesses will be contacted to participate in the early stages of the
program.
Objective:
The Green Business Program is designed to encourage the adoption of Sustainability Plan Goals
within the commercial and industrial sectors, including engagement and best practices.
Focus Areas:
-Water
-Energy
-Transportation
-Resources
-Health
-Community
Key Points:
-Provide the Committee on the Environment with details regarding the launch of the Green Business
Program.
-Seek input on future activities of the program.
Member Prospects:
-Over 25 prospects have been identified in 9 different categories
-Each will be contacted with application materials and an invitation to join the program
Council Member Briggs asked if we will focus on small businesses. Douglas answered we will, for
example tracking your energy usage can used by large or small businesses.
Application Process:
-Sustainability Benchmarking
-Signing the Green Pledge
-Community Engagement
-Sustainability Score Received
-Marketing Material Received
-Sustainability Roadmap Received
Briggs asked if we would provide a window sticker for the businesses that are involved. Douglas
answered upon request they would receive one.
Future Plans:
-Offer one class before the end of the year for those that applied to the program
-Create a Facebook page for networking
-Develop events to encourage participation and community engagement
Questions:
Council Member Meltzer asked that will be received? Also, on the
window sticker, it would be good to give in advance and not have to request.
Douglas answered the main benefit will be to be in the program versus not being in the program.
There are four different levels in terms of the score.
Meltzer then asked how they would get noticed for being in the program. Douglas answered with the
marketing material they can put it on what they choose, and the website as well.
Meltzer suggested recognitions they can achieve and the levels associated so they can see the benefits.
Briggs asked if there are plans to present this to the Chamber of Commerce. Douglas answered it
Briggs thinks that would be a good idea.
Briggs would also like some kind of incentive to receive a certain amount off of the recycling bill if
you hit a certain target, for example.
Meltzer added it would be great to encourage business to adopt the program and have targets.
Briggs stated not only for the Chamber but we have our own Economic Development Department, if
they have the image for this program it could attract more people to our city.
Canizares we will coordinate with Caroline booth and her team to get them fully oriented to this
program and how they can help get the word out to move forward.
Briggs stated there are many avenues to spread this ultimately it is better for our city, the more
businesses that participate.
Douglas will track the number of employees and businesses as well.
Meltzer stated Denton Main Street Association would be another great ally.
Briggs asked where the fliers be placed. Douglas answered currently on the website only but will
look at placing them in and around the square and partnering with the Chamber. Briggs suggested
placing in the libraries as well.
C. COE19-010 - ACM Update:
Each item was reported on separately with short impromptu presentations.
1. Update Greenhouse Gas Contribution Analyses
James Douglas gave the update on this item. He started with the explanation of the
Briggs asked about the decreases and increases and asked if there is any help to
bring it back down. Douglas answered the contribution analyses can be run for any
years. The one in question is vehicle miles traveled. The reason is the
transportation information is gathered from NCTCOG and they only put out the
transportation data approximately every three to five years.
what do you do? Douglas answered he believes that we can get more tools to help
understand the information and why the numbers are the way they are.
Canizares added if there are areas that this committee would like more information,
staff can look into it and bring the information back.
Briggs stated for her as the sustainability plan is completed and as the key focus
areas are brought back as work plan, things that can be done. An example would
be plant trees along the highway, walk to class by students or other things to bring
the numbers down again. Canizares added there is a lot of construction going on,
with a lot of traffic and lack of mobility because of that construction. We will
continue to work through those things and being partners with DCTA certainly
helps.
Canizares asked if these are the key items being looked at, Douglas answered they
were the more influential based on the analyses. Barnett added that the city has a
long history of greenhouse gas and many data sets that the comparisons can be
made and see were the largest increases are over time. That data driven decision
making will help focus education and policies in the future.
Meltzer stated adding a matrix of what is big and what is impactful would be
useful.
Briggs asked if the Greenhouse Gas inventory is on the webpage. Douglas
answered it is.
2. Update Recycling Education
Katherine Barnett gave this update in the absence of Vanessa Ellison. Staff is
working on a new postcard to incorporate the information about recyclable items.
All colors of glass food and beverage containers are recyclable, they need to be
relatively clean.
Meltzer just wanted to mention if you leave water in the spaghetti jar and walk
away you can pour it out clean.
Barnett went on to say the lids need to be removed from the glass containers.
Briggs stated the lids are not recyclable in most cases, Barnett agreed because of
the coating.
Barnett stated they are working on a community tour of Pratt, also a new item will
Barnett added egg cartons that are Styrofoam are not recyclable, the pressed paper
ones and the plastic ones are.
Shredded paper can be placed in the recycle cart loose. Whole paper is better for
Pratt.
Cardboard boxes do not have to be broken down.
The contamination rate needs to be brought down.
Frisco is the only place to drop off Styrofoam to be recycled. Barnett is identifying
the options now.
Barnett offered help for anyone that wants information to recycle including
apartment complexes.
3. Update Sustainability Events
Sarah Luxton talked about the events. March should be the best month so far.
A new event that is coming up is the seed swap.
Fix a leak week is coming up spreading information about water conservation.
Great American Cleanup is also a great way to connect with the public and is
coming up soon.
4. Information on changing Drainage Channel in Quakertown Park
Todd Estes gave the presentation and talked about this item.
Estes showed the area talked about on a map; near TWU to McKinney Street and
Oakland to Bell. The channel in its current state has been there over 25 years. It is
designed to handle a lot of flood water. The flood map for the downtown area was
shown. The water flow is 5,000 cubic feet per second for a 100 year storm event.
Estes showed on a map how the water flows and exits.
Briggs asked the life span of a concrete channel. Estes answered there are many
variables that would contribute to the life span. It would depend on the original
design. In a parks setting today staff would recommend something more like an
armoring of the channel lining what would allow plants to grow through the lining
itself.
To remove this channel and then replace to get the same capacity for flood water in
the area, many things would have to happen. There is currently a study ongoing to
look at this. To remove the concrete channel the cost would be about $100,000.
To replace with another liner, the total project would be close to $500,000.
Meltzer asked what it would look like. Estes answered there are multiple options.
One that would not make the channel too wide and take up park area would be a
plastic mesh. This mesh is woven with a coconut fiber. It can be done, the
installation costs will vary and the maintenance costs will go up for sure.
Briggs asked if a natural channel liner would protect the water shed better than the
concrete one. Estes answered it can.
Estes also added that staff is doing the drainage improvements for Locust and Elm
and looking at the entire length of Pecan Creek and where the flooding concerns
are. There was discussion regarding the different kinds of drainage channels.
5. Matrix
Item 1 was covered
Item 2 and 5 Ethan Cox Solid Waste
Item 3 Air Quality Monitors Talking to Kenneth Banks
Item 4 Sustainability Committee Reinstitute a former committee to look over
some items.
CONCLUDING ITEMS
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
Briggs Presentation on the outcome of the pest management program, Parks is working on this.
Briggs - Dallas passed a Climate Action Plan (Barnett is aware of this), would like a staff write-up on
what this actually is and their plans.
There was a question and answer session from the members of the public.
Adjournment: 12:26 pm
Approved on April 1, 2019