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July 18 - Agenda Questions & Responses July 18 - Agenda Questions & Responses smartsheet Date Received Submitted By ok JIM ■a jAgenda item 'Question/Co Response 07/17/23 Mayor Pro Tern Beck Consent H. 23-1367 I'm requesting this be pulled from CONSENT for an individual vote. 2 07/17/23 Mayor Pro Tem Beck Consent V. 23-1334 How many security incidents have occurred in the program since the inception Staff will work with its partner agencies to gather the information and provide a response in a future Friday report. in 2020? 07/15/23 Council Member Meltzer Work Session A. 23-1233 Why was funding for additional green space acquisition to meet the ten-minute Parks and Recreation did not present"Land Acquisition"as a topic for funding consideration to the Bond Committee because it was not a project recommended by City walk goal not presented to the committee as it was in 2019? Council on January 24. With all the needs across the entire organization exceeding the funding availability,the overall list was reduced to highest priorities. 3 Once constructed,trails do count towards the 10-Minute Walk goal.Therefore,as we develop trails across the city the population with the mile designated trail area would contribute to the overall goal. The Parks and Recreation 10-Minute Walk score was recently elevated from 50%to 58%.This is a substantial increase and takes the city above the national average.For more information:parkserve.org 07/15/23 Council Member Meltzer Work Session B. 23-270 (Customer Service)What's driving the huge increase in call volume since 2019? The increase in call volume since 2019 appears to be universally affecting utility sector call centers. The utility sector as a whole experienced a 61%call volume growth. What are the feedback loops to the relevant departments so they can address There is no clear cause of the increase,but for Customer Service both economic hardship and active account growth are known contributing factors. the call drivers? Are these controllable or uncontrollable drivers?Are the supplementals enough to achieve the wait time goal?If not,how do we plan to Just as the utility customer service sector experienced unprecedented call growth after 2019,it also experienced a complete shift in call composition with significant decreases achieve the goal? in calls for general inquiries and orders,but sharp increases in the need for technical-type assistance and more assistance needs. While most of the increased call volume is uncontrollable. Customer Service and our utility partners communicate actively in real-time and regularly meet regarding operations. Customer Service also routinely introduces self-service tools for customer use. Actionable call drivers are addressed through these channels as they arise. The goal is to answer 75%of callers in less than one minute and the requested supplemental staffing is to attain 65%once positions are hired,trained,and able to work with minimal assistance. This process takes between 6-10 months for most representatives. Forecasting includes call center consolidation. The existing call volumes are known but are anticipated to decrease with the implementation of Customer Relationship Management(CRM)software which allows self-service for most activities. So,a slightly lower performance target was used in calculations to prevent the possibility of overstaffing. Customer Service will monitor the actual performance,volumes,and self-service usage after the launch of CRM and adjust staffing accordingly. 07/15/23 Council Member Meltzer Work Session B. 23-270 (Environmental Services)This group already has my questions on Wildlife The Denton 2040 Comp Plan was adopted by the City Council on March 22,2022. "Identify and map wildlife corridors throughout the City"was identified under Sections Corridors which I have requested to have addressed in this session. 5.6.10&10(Action 127). The timeframe for Action 127 was short-term(actions should be addressed within three(3)years of the Plan adoption. Current status: Staff provided written updates to City Council in the form of Informal Staff Reports(ISR). ISR 2022-038,dated June 17,2022,outlined a two-prong approach of generating a greenspace map by the end of 2022 and then established a working group to refine the greenspace map into a wildlife corridor map by mid-2023. ISR 2022- 077,dated December 22,2022,provided the greenspace map and reminding of the working group process with proposed wildlife corridor map in mid-2023. Staff are currently working with the working group to refine the map. Next steps: Staff will continue to meet with the working group to complete the review and refinement of the greenspace map.The final step will be to finalize the wildlife corridor map. Estimated time to completion: Staff expect to be complete by August/September 2023. 07/15/23 Council Member Meltzer Work Session B. 23-270 (Wastewater)What would the operational or other implications be of spreading The proposed rate increase is being driven by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's(TCEQ)75/90 rule in relation to water treatment plans.The 75/90 rule is the the proposed rate increase over three years? correlation between the plant's consistent operating capacity and the design and construction of a capacity increase and is implemented to ensure that operators do not allow the plant to reach full operating capacity before considering an upgrade which could cause negative environmental impacts and result in fines from TCEQ.When a plant reaches 75%of the rated treatment capacity the operator is required to begin design on an expansion or upgrade,and when the plant reaches 90%capacity construction must be underway to upgrade or expand plant operations.The Pecan Creek Water Reclamation Plant(PCWRP)has reached the 75%milestone in 2021 and 2022.It is expected to exceed the 75%milestone in 2023 as well.This increase in flow is due to recent growth throughout the city. Water Utilities has no other option than to begin 6 design and construction of additional treatment capacity based off the TCEQ rule. The proposed rate increases have been programed out over the next 5 years to accommodate the mandated improvements to the PCWRP along with a condensed list of other utility maintenance and improvements required to maintain reliable service delivery to the community and avoid regulatory violations.If the proposed rate increases were to be curtailed further,Water Utilities would still be required to improve the PCWRP,but the delay in funding would postpone implementation which could lead to penalties levied by TCEQ and service disruptions caused by differed maintenance on the overall system.This may further lead to a negative impact on the development community and stagnate Denton's growth due to inability to serve future planned expansions. 07/15/23 Council Member Meltzer Work Session B. 23-270 (Electric)Wouldn't home solar battery walls essentially shift use of solar to Yes,proper use and sizing of battery storage can help.However,some customers may put little energy into their battery storage during peak times and consume most of their times when it's not available through our contracts? What percent of solar generation.Recall that DME has both solar and wind contracts that generally produce energy at different times in order to provide some diversification in our generation installs we've given rebates for have included battery walls?Have we given the portfolio. Sustainability Committee any evaluation of the relative value of continuing the 7 rebate but only targeting systems with battery walls,including rebates for adding About 4%of solar installs that have received rebates have some type of battery storage but not necessarily a"battery wall." battery walls to existing systems? No,the Sustainability Framework Advisory Committee has not yet had a discussion about incentivizing battery storage.If City Council approves staffs recommendation to discontinue rebates for rooftop solar,that$500,000 will be combined with the$500,000 already budgeted for energy efficiency programs and a work plan to allocate that$1 million to better reduce carbon emissions will then be discussed with the Committee for recommendation to the City Council.Staff previously presented that other energy efficiency programs have been much more successful in reducing carbon emissions than rooftop solar installations. $ 07/15/23 Council Member Meltzer Work Session B. 23-270 (Solid Waste)Isn't commercial/multi family recycling a strategic initiative? It is included as part of Initiative 1,bullet 1,"Implement Comprehensive Diversion Ordinance." 07/15/23 Council Member Meltzer Work Session C. 23-651 Explain"deter prohibited behaviors"please. What behaviors?Deter how? Prohibited behaviors'refers to activities such as graffiti and littering.The Ambassadors'focus on Hospitality and Cleaning will provide a regular presence downtown to deter 9 What would constitute overreach?How will we ensure overreach doesn't occur? these behaviors on a daily basis,and ensure any issues are quickly abated. Ambassadors will not have any enforcement authority,but they can also observe and report unwanted criminal activity to Denton PD.Ambassadors will receive extensive training in communication and mediation,and when and how best to partner with DPD in the event of an emergency. 10 07/15/23 Council Member Meltzer Work Session 23-218 For my two-minute pitch,would it be easy to find how many miles of PEC creek Pecan Creek is 13.33 miles long and has 14.6 miles of major tributaries for a total of 27.93 miles. there are? 11 07/15/23 Council Member Meltzer Item for Individual A. 23-1165 Is it too late to consider changing the word"frivolous"to the phrase"not Per Legal,the suggested change to the amendment ordinance as presented is not possible for tomorrow based on the agenda item posting.Council may provide direction to Consideration sustained"throughout the ordinance? the Board of Ethics to consider this change by consensus during the discussion of this item. 07/15/23 Council Member Meltzer Item for Individual A. 23-1165 What is the purported public benefit of forcing a council member to vote where The City does not have a code that forces a Council Member to vote if they have a Conflict of Interest. Consideration there's a conflict of interest if he or she realizes there's a conflict less than 24 hours before the vote? Specifically,the City Council's Rules of Procedure(City Code of Ordinance Sec.2-29)state that a Council member may abstain from a vote if they lack information,if the 12 matter involves consideration of their own conduct,or if their personal interests are involved in accordance with Local Government Code Ch.171.Further,a Council Member is required to recuse themself from deliberation on a Pending Matter and abstain from a related vote if they have a Conflict of Interest as defined by the Ethics Ordinance.Per the Rules of Procedure,a Council Member abstaining due to personal interest(i.e.,due to a Conflict of Interest)must recuse from deliberation by announcing it when the matter is initially called for consideration.This means a Council Member may decide to abstain from a vote due to a Conflict of Interest up until deliberation on the matter has begun. 07/15/23 Council Member Meltzer Item for Individual D. 23-1166 What was the nature of the dissenting opinion on PUB? The one dissenting opinion had concerns about the Construction Manager at Risk(CMAR)delivery method,specifically the transparency of the process.The CMAR delivery Consideration method is the most transparent delivery process the City of Denton currently uses. This method is considered"open book"financially and allow the City of Denton to have access and actively participate in the bidding packages as the project cycle progress.After the PUB meeting,staff met with the dissenting member and discussed the CMAR process and offered to present additional education information on the pros and cons of all delivery methods the Captial Projects delivery team currently utilize. Exported on July 18,2023 9:25:18 AM CDT Page 1 of 1