2019-08-05 Committee on the Environment Minutes
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City of Denton
City Hall
MINUTES
215 E. McKinney Street
COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Denton, Texas
www.cityofdenton.com
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Monday, August 5, 2019 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, August
5, 2019 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, and Council Member Paul Meltzer Council
Member Jesse Davis
Also Attending: Mario Canizares, ACM; Kenneth Banks, General Manager Utilities; Katherine
Barnett,Sustainability and Customer Initiatives Manager; Deborah Viera, Assistant Director of
Environmental Services; Vanessa Ellison, Recycling Education Coord; Sarah Luxton, Sustainability
Coord; James Douglas, Conservation Program Coord; Christi Upton, Environmental Compliance Coord;
Kim Mankin, Administration Manager
REGULAR MEETING
A. COE19-022 - Consider approval of the minutes of May 6, 2019.
Approved as circulated
B. COE19-025 Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding the
Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) Criteria Manual.
Deborah Viera introduced the item and stated that Christi Upton would be completing the presentation.
Upton started the presentation with the introduction then moved on to the Subchapter 17 Overview. The
purpose of this regulation was explained by the following.
-Manage and protect Environmentally Sensitive Areas within the City.
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community character and which provide irreplaceable plant and wildlife habitat;
-Establish a development framework for the City that is respective of private property rights, while
encouraging them to be used responsibly for the benefit of the entire community;
-Preserve and enha
natural and built environment are consistent with the community vision and values embodied in The
Denton Plan.
-Establish regulations that conform to the requirements of the state and federal government regarding air
quality, water quality, and environmental protection.
The goal is to provide instruction on the implementation of policies set forth in Subchapter 17.
The outline of the Criteria Manual was displayed on a table with residents and property owners on one
side and the other developers and consultants.
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The benefits offered by the ESA section was defined. The goal is to help residents and property owners
Protection requirements for the Four Distinct ESA Section
with goals and objectives were talked about.
The goal is to describe the process for
identifying and confirming the presence of ESAs on private property. There is a section regarding
developing on property with ESAs. The goals is to provide instruction and guidance to developers or
consultants on developing property with ESAs in a manner that is in compliance with the regulations.
Once they identify the ESA, an alternative plan was shown. The goal is to provide instruction and
guidance to developers or consultants on creating and implementing a successful Alternative ESA Plan
(AESA).
The ESA maintenance section was then discussed. The goal is to help residents and property owners
understand the benefits of periodic maintenance in ESAs and offer suggested guidance on how to
maintain the ecologically services offered by ESAs.
There were questions by the committee members.
Jesse Davis asked what the difference in this document and the last one for the developers to have.
After the questions were addressed, the use of pesticides in ESA was talked about. Regulatory framework
Texas Agriculture Code § 76.101 Coordination (d)(1) Except as otherwise provided by this
subsection, no city, town, county, or other political subdivision of this state shall adopt any ordinance,
rule, or regulation regarding pesticide sale or use.
Meltzer asked when this was adopted by the Tex Ag Code.
Roadmap to adoption was shown on a timeline.
enactment of new Denton Development Code.
Staff will seek input from the development
community. The input will be gathered and responses prepared. There will be a P&Z public hearing and
City Council public hearing.
Future considerations include a field assessment SOP (standard operating procedures) and the property
There was some discussion.
C. COE19-024 - ACM Update:
1. Update - Sustainability Advisory Committee
2. Update - Clear Creek
3. Update - Dallas Comprehensive Environmental and Climate Action Plan
4. Update - Sustainability, Recycling, and Learn 2 Conserve events
5. Update - Zero Energy Homes
6. 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
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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
Jesse Davis staff recommendations on commercial recycling
Meltzer - successful examples of what other municipals do for recycling
Briggs - Green business plan and keep promoting
Clear Creek Master Plan update
Thanks to parks for getting the Styrofoam removed from other places
Adjournment: 2:40 pm
Approved: 9/9/19
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Keely Briggs, Chair Kim Mankin