Resident Update Aug Sept 212021
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
RESIDENT UPDATECITY OF DENTON
IN THIS ISSUE
• Meet Denton’s First Pet Mayor
• Library Updates Forge Makerspace
• Provide Feedback on the City Budget
• What’s New at Denton PD?
• All About Roundabouts
• and more! www.cityofdenton.com
Pet Mayor Elvis
Denton City Council ....................................................2
From the Mayor ............................................................2
Get to Know Elvis, the City’s First Pet Mayor ..........3
Library Updates Forge Makerspace ..........................3
City Seeking Feedback for FY 2021-22 Budget .....4
Volunteer for Stream Clean .......................................4
City Resources to Help ..............................................5
What’s New at Denton Police Department? ..........6
All About Roundabouts ...............................................7
Join Us for National Night Out 2021 .......................7
Denton Community Job Fair .....................................7
Connect With Us to Stay Updated............................8
IN THIS ISSUE FROM THE MAYOR GERARD HUDSPETH
DENTON CITY COUNCIL
Gerard Hudspeth, Mayor
Gerard.Hudspeth@cityofdenton.com
Vicki Byrd, District 1
Vicki.Byrd@cityofdenton.com
Brian Beck, District 2
Brian.Beck@cityofdenton.com
Jesse Davis, District 3
Jesse.Davis@cityofdenton.com
Alison Maguire, District 4
Alison.Maguire@cityofdenton.com
Deb Armintor, At Large Place 5
Deb.Armintor@cityofdenton.com
Paul Meltzer, Mayor Pro Tem,
At Large Place 6
Paul.Meltzer@cityofdenton.com
Not sure who your Council Member is?
Visit www.cityofdenton.com/council, click on
“Find Your Council Member” in the menu bar,
and enter your physical address.
City of Denton offices will be closed
on Monday, Sept. 6 in observance
of the Labor Day holiday.
Fall is coming around the corner and in this
college town we know what that means—a bit
more traffic, busier restaurants, and maybe a little
more noise from that house down the street on a
Friday night. It’s easy to lament the start of school
and the oncoming masses of students, faculty, and staff
from our institutions of higher learning: TWU, UNT, and NCTC. This may be
especially true, given the remote nature of the previous academic year.
It may also be just as easy to forget the central role these institutions play in
our community. Quite simply, we aren’t us without them. It’s true though!
These 100 year old institutions that call Denton home are a cornerstone of
our history—our histories are intertwined.
• They bring in NEW PEOPLE with NEW IDEAS;
• Contribute to our UNIQUE COMMUNITY LANDSCAPE; and
• Add to our CULTURE, boost our LOCAL ECONOMY,
and bring NATIONAL NOTORIETY to Lil’D.
These institutions are a guiding light in innovation and leadership.
They are training the next generation of business and community leaders,
and contributing to organizations that drive our state and nation forward.
While many students will go far and achieve great things, many will choose
to keep their remarkable accomplishments local—contributing to the fabric
of our city as residents, business leaders, and community leaders.
Finally, we can’t deny the benefits that our three institutions provide us as
residents. Top tier athletics, beautiful open space and architecture, and
amenities that don’t exist just for the enjoyment of the students. This fall,
I want to encourage you to get out and explore our campuses starting
with a list of my personal favorites!
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Backyard Benefits Checklist:
Have lunch at the new UNT Union
Visit TWU’s Texas Woman’s Hall of Fame
See the stars at the UNT Sky Theater Planetarium
Take in a One O’Clock Lab Band show
Support one of our many hometown teams
Visit TWU’s Redbud Trail, Botanical Garden, & Butterfly Garden
Check out NCTC’s new Exchange campus in downtown Denton
Our universities, the faculty, and the students
are as Denton as they come. 2020 wasn’t the
same without them, so join me in welcoming
them back for the 2021-22 school year!U N
TT W UN C T C
3
GET TO KNOW ELVIS, THE CITY’S FIRST PET MAYOR
Playful, curious, adventurous,
adorable—it’s hard to choose which
word best describes Elvis, the City’s
first-ever Pet Mayor.
After winning the popular vote in
the inaugural Pet Mayor contest on
the City’s new engagement website,
www.discussdenton.com, Elvis, a
6-year-old AKC Standard Poodle,
was elected to represent the Denton
community as the 2021-22 City of
Denton Pet Mayor.
Whether he’s making an appearance
at local events, riding on a float in a
parade through town, or just being
friendly on a walk with his owners,
Angie and Ernie Stripling, in downtown
Elvis is a registered member of
Therapy Dogs International.
Elvis has lived in Denton his
entire life with his parents
Ernie and Angie.
He is well traveled and has
friends from coast to coast.
Elvis’ popularity has grown over
the years, much like his size.
As a dog of many talents, Elvis
is extremely photogenic and has
his own social media accounts
on Facebook and Instagram.
Elvis knows basic obedience
commands and tricks.
Denton, Elvis is a champion at bringing
the community together.
What is Elvis up to next?
You never know! Our Pet Mayor Elvis
is full of surprises and has so much to
offer our community, so we will be
watching right along with you!
Whether he’s showing up to visit
students at local schools and
organizations, or comforting adults
and children as a trained therapy dog,
Elvis’ fun and friendly personality is the
ultimate expression of the City’s values
and character.
Get to know Pet Mayor Elvis better
and stay updated on his journey at
www.discussdenton.com/petmayor
and follow him on Instagram and
Facebook.
Pet Mayor Elvis encourages you to find
your furry companion and new best
friend at the City of Denton Animal
Shelter today! To learn more and see
a current list of adoptable pets, visit
www.dentonanimalshelter.com.
PET MAYOR ELVISFUN FACTS
LIBRARY UPDATES FORGE MAKERSPACE AT NORTH BRANCH
Whether you want to get crafty or want
to indulge in tech, the expanded Forge
Makerspace at North Branch Library
has more equipment now than ever
to help you create, solder, laser cut,
code, and more! The Forge recently
stocked up on new machinery,
including a laminator, laser engravers,
a desktop CNC machine, new
3D printers, a 3D scanner, and more!
If you’re new to using these types of
machines, the library hosts classes to
help you learn how to safely use the
equipment. Attend the library’s
monthly 3D Printer Orientation class
to learn how to find 3D project
templates, modify project files, or
design your own project. The library
will also teach you how to use the
Glowforge Laser Engraver, which
allows you to cut, engrave, or score
proofgrade wood or acrylic sheets
to create gifts, home decor, jewelry,
awards, keepsakes, and tools. To see
a list of all the equipment at the Forge
and more information on how to use
it, visit bit.ly/DPLForge. For a list of
upcoming classes at the Forge, visit
bit.ly/DentonLibraryEvents.
*New makerspace furniture and
equipment is made possible by a grant
from the U.S. Institute of Museum
and Library Services (Texas State
Library and Archives Commission,
Grant #LS-246193-OLS-20).
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The City’s fiscal year begins annually on the
first day of October. In preparation for each
new year, the City’s Finance Department
works with all other City departments to
develop their anticipated budgets over
the next twelve months. That process has
officially started for development of the
FY 2021-22 budget.
Beginning in June, departments presented
their preliminary budgets to the City
Council and Public Utilities Board. Each
of these presentations sets the framework
for the City Manager’s proposed budget,
which is presented to Council during a
budget workshop on Aug. 2. Developing
a city budget is a collaborative process
involving input from community members,
City staff, and City Council, with the goal
of delivering exceptional services and
achieving the City’s key priorities and
strategic initiatives. To view the budget
presentations, visit the Preliminary
FY 21-22 Budget page of our website at
www.cityofdenton.com/proposedbudget.
For this budget year, the City has launched
a pilot program for residents to get a
glimpse into how our budget process
works. This program is a budget simulation
tool called Balancing Act, where residents
can pick which supplemental items should
be funded out of the City’s General Fund.
Supplemental items include additional
staff for departments such as Police,
Community Services, Library, and much
more. Using Balancing Act, you can
build your budget by selecting which
supplemental items you’d like to fund
and then submit your proposed budget
to our Finance Department for review.
To build your own City budget, visit
www.cityofdenton.com/proposedbudget.
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CITY SEEKING FEEDBACK FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021-22 BUDGET
Community members may also submit
online comments to the City at
www.cityofdenton.com/proposedbudget.
Submissions received from this site will be
reviewed by City staff and communicated
to City Council as part of the budgeting
process. Over the next couple of
months, staff will also be promoting the
online comment option to encourage
participation from the community.
Residents are encouraged to watch and
participate in the City’s budget meetings
as we work to adopt the 2022 tax rate and
FY 2021-22 operating and capital budget.
FY 2021-22
BUDGET CALENDAR
MONDAY, AUG. 2
Budget workshop with City Council.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 14
Public hearing regarding the
proposed tax rate and budget.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 21
Budget and tax rate adoption.
FRIDAY, OCT. 1
FY 2021-22 officially begins.
Each fall, hundreds of volunteers come together to improve the
environmental health of our community during the Stream Clean, City of
Denton’s annual waterway cleanup. Join fellow Dentonites on Saturday,
Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon to help us keep our waterways clean.
With the help of
volunteers, thousands
of pounds of litter are
removed from our local
watershed, which could
otherwise travel along
our local waterways and
contaminate essential
bodies of water, such
as Lake Lewisville.
Each piece of litter removed helps improve the
environment and the water we drink.
Before the litter cleanup, head over to the Denton Civic Center plaza
(321 E. McKinney St.) for a Volunteer Appreciation Party with a free
breakfast at 8 a.m.! Enjoy music and a warm-up led by fitness staff from
Denton Parks & Recreation. Day-of registration will also be available during
the party from 8 to 9 a.m.
Volunteers of all ages and experience levels are welcome to participate.
To register, visit www.bitly.com/denton-volunteer by Thursday, Oct. 7.
Registration is open to both individuals and groups. Participants receive
free litter cleanup supplies and a free event T-shirt (while supplies last).
For questions or to register over the phone, call (940) 349-8737.
Stream Clean is sponsored by the City of Denton Parks and Recreation
Department, Keep Denton Beautiful, Water Utilities Department, Watershed
Protection, Environmental Services, Sustainability, and the Solid Waste and
Recycling Department.
VOLUNTEER FOR STREAM CLEAN
AND HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE
APPS
City resources to helpyou hit the trails.
TRAILS The benefits of walking, hiking, &
biking are well-documented and
it comes as no surprise that trails
are the #1 requested recreation
resource for passive, moderate,
and intense recreation/exercise.
HAPPY
It’s No Surprise That
Trails Make Us Happy!
Explore Denton Parks using the all
NEW ESRI StoryMap, or simply access
one of the many PDF trail maps at
www.dentonparks.com.
Already there? Just visit Denton Parks
at www.AllTrails.com to access pre-
developed routes, maps, trail photos,
reviews, and MUCH more. It's mobile
and SUPER easy to use!
& MOREMAPS
For the full map and more trail resources,
visit us online at www.dentonparks.com.
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WHAT’S NEW AT THE DENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT?
To better meet the needs of everyone
in our growing community, the
Denton Police Department continues
to make critical enhancements in how
we serve you. While not an exhaustive
list, a few recent changes and how
they impact our community are
highlighted below:
Launch of Co-Responder Mental
Health Program – The Mental Health
Division, led by a civilian program
manager and a sergeant, is composed
of the Homeless Outreach Team and
the Crisis Intervention Response Team
(CIRT). These teams aim to serve
our most vulnerable community
members with compassion and
steadfastness by connecting those
in a serious mental health crisis or
experiencing homelessness with help.
This unit also strives to reduce
arrests of people suffering from
mental illness while increasing the
likelihood they will receive
mental health services. CIRT
is a co-responder program
that partners each
officer with a clinician,
who respond together in
plain clothing. Since May,
CIRT has been responding
to calls and conducting
follow-ups with positive
feedback from those they serve.
Proactive Enforcement Efforts –
Denton PD continues to listen to
and address areas of concern from
residents, including violent crime and
intoxicated drivers. As mentioned in
the last edition of Resident Update, a
proactive gun violence initiative has
led to the seizure of numerous guns
that were used during criminal
offenses or were illegally possessed
or carried. Violent offenses where
a gun was displayed, used, or
discharged continue to be thoroughly
investigated and will not be tolerated
in our community.
Additionally, Denton PD is committed
to discouraging individuals from
driving while intoxicated (DWI)
through strategic prevention,
enforcement, and prosecution. This
would not be possible without the
help of community members, as
nearly half of DWI arrests in Denton
occur after someone calls 911. Denton
PD greatly appreciates the public’s
assistance in addressing this issue and
keeping our roads safe.
Temporary Headquarters – As part
of the voter-approved 2019 bond
program, Denton PD has temporarily
moved within City Hall East (601 E.
Hickory St.) to Suite F. The Utilities
Customer Service lobby is currently
shared with Police while PD facilities
are renovated. Visit this shared lobby
to speak with an officer, request a
police report, and more.
The Police Department’s drug disposal
bin has also moved to the Customer
Service lobby. If you have expired or
unused medications at home, help
prevent misuse by disposing of
medications in the bin from 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Accreditation Process – The
Police Department is currently
seeking accreditation through the
Texas Police Chiefs Association
(TPCA) “Best Practices” Agency
Recognition Program. To become
accredited, Denton PD must comply
with all 170 best practices identified by
TPCA for law enforcement agencies.
These best practices assist agencies
like Denton PD in the efficient
and effective delivery of service,
the reduction of risk, and the
protection of individuals’ rights. It is
expected that Denton PD will achieve
accreditation later this year.
Chief of Police Advisory Board –
In the summer of 2020, the Denton
City Council created an ad hoc
use-of-force committee of community
members to review Denton PD’s
response-to-resistance policies and
engage in dialogue. The committee
held 10 meetings and concluded its
work with a recommendation to
create an advisory board to the
Chief of Police.
The advisory board, which is
composed of 11 voting members
and five ex-officio members, began
meeting in June. The advisory board’s
purpose is to provide feedback, advice,
and recommendations to the Police
Chief in various areas, including policy,
training, and community engagement.
The work of improving our service
to the community is never done. In
addition to these updates, the
department’s priorities this year
include enhancing outreach,
conducting training on topics like
fair and impartial policing and active
bystandership, and strategically
responding to family violence and
other critical issues.
To learn more about your local police
department, follow Denton PD on
their social media channels and visit
www.dentonpolice.com.
The Mental Health Division, as well as Chief Frank Dixon and two patrol officers trained in crisis intervention,
recently held a NAMIWalks event on the Square in support of mental health awareness.
Denton PD remains committed
to making Denton a safe,
sustainable, and livable city
for everyone, by keeping
victims safe and holding
offenders accountable.
Tuesday, Sept. 1410 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Denton Civic Center321 E. McKinney St.
Registration Not Required.
To learn more, visit
www.dentonjobfair.com
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ALL ABOUT ROUNDABOUTS
The City of Denton has installed roundabouts to
improve safety and traffic congestion at certain
intersections over the years. Currently, there are
five roundabouts installed throughout Denton.
Roundabouts have proven to make intersections
safer and more efficient. However, for some drivers,
cyclists, and pedestrians, navigating roundabouts can be a challenge,
often times because they are not familiar with their basic functionality.
Modern roundabouts keep traffic flowing and improve safety by slowing
traffic through an intersection. Reduced speed means drivers are able
to bypass other vehicles easily and if accidents do occur, they often are
not as severe as those in intersections. Traffic continues to move through
roundabouts resulting in reduced driving delays, fuel savings, and less
pollution. They also have the unique ability to allow drivers to reverse
their direction in a safe manner.
To help you safely travel through a roundabout,
here are few pedestrian and driver reminders:
SINGLE LANE ROUNDABOUTS
Slow Down and Look: Reduce your speed and look to your left before
entering the roundabout. Remember that traffic already traveling in the
roundabout has the right of way. Be sure to look for pedestrians who may
be in or are approaching the crosswalk, because pedestrians always have
the right of way.
Maintain a Low, Steady Speed: Keep a low, steady speed as you continue
to drive through the roundabout. As you approach your desired exit, use
your turn signal to let other drivers know your intention. You don’t need
to slow down further or come to a stop to exit a roundabout. The only
exceptions are when pedestrians are in the crosswalk or if an emergency
vehicle is approaching. If an emergency vehicle is approaching, exit the
roundabout and pull over immediately.
MULTI-LANE ROUNDABOUTS
Yield to Both Lanes of Traffic: Unlike single lane roundabouts, drivers
need to yield to two lanes of traffic in a multi-lane roundabout. If you plan
to turn right, stay in the farthest right lane and wait for approaching cars
to pass before entering the roundabout.
Choose Your Lane: Multi-lane roundabouts often have at least three
possible exits. If you want to turn left or make a U-turn, stay in the left
lane. If you are planning to make a right turn, stay in the right lane. You
can continue to go straight from either lane.
Stay in Your Lane: Even though these types of roundabouts have multiple
lanes, you are still not allowed to pass other drivers who may be moving
slower or are unfamiliar with roundabout rules. Additionally, use extreme
caution when driving next to semi-trucks and other oversized vehicles as
they have a large turning radius. Stay a bit behind large vehicles traveling
in the lane next to you to avoid getting side-swiped.
Visit www.cityofdenton.com/roundabout for additional information.
THE CITY OF DENTON PRESENTS
HOST A NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
NEIGHBORHOOD PARTY
Tuesday, Oct. 5 • 6 to 9 p.m.
BRING YOUR NEIGHBORS TOGETHER & INVITE PUBLIC SAFETY STAFF
REGISTER BY SEPT. 24 • WWW.CITYOFDENTON.COM/NNO
National Night Out is an annual community-building event that gives you
the chance to get to know your neighbors and meet the Denton Police
ATTEND THE KICKOFF PARTY
PUBLIC SAFETY FAIR • COMMUNITY COOKOUT • FAMILY FUN
MEET YOUR DENTON NEIGHBORS & CITY STAFF
(Free hot dogs & drinks while supplies last!)
DENTON CIVIC CENTER • 321 E. MCKINNEY ST.
2021
Thursday, Sept. 23 • 5 to 8 p.m.
CONNECT WITH US TO STAY UPDATED!
A publication of the City of Denton • 07/21 • ADA/EOE/ADEA • TDD (800) 735-2989 • www.cityofdenton.com
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