Resident Update March-April 2020It’s time for every Denton resident to step up and
be counted.
Every 10 years, the United States Constitution
mandates that the total population of the country be
counted in a census. Beginning April 1 (Census Day),
the U.S. Census will be available for all persons living
in the United States to complete—acknowledging
their presence within their respective state,
tribe, or city.
An accurate and complete Census
count provides enormous benefits to
Denton residents. First, it determines
how seats in the U.S. Congress,
Texas Legislature, and even local
governments are distributed fairly.
For instance, after the 2010 Census,
Texas gained
four seats in the
U.S. House of
Representatives
due to the rise in
Texas’ population.
The Census also
ensures that Denton
will receive its fair share of more than $675 billion
in annual federal dollars to fund everything from
infrastructure to critical social services. Each person
counted is estimated to equal more than $1,500 in
federal funding. Census numbers are also immensely
valuable as the City of Denton and local businesses
plan for future growth. The list of benefits goes on
from there.
The 2020 Census is the most accessible it has ever
been, as there is a new way to participate in the
Census. In addition to being counted by phone,
through the mail, or in-person, you can
now complete your census form online
after receiving your code in the mail.
It has never been easier or more
` convenient to be counted.
While the U.S. Census Bureau strives to
count every person, it relies on local
grassroots efforts, such as Denton’s
Complete Count Committee, to ensure
traditionally undercounted populations,
such as students or renters, do not slip through
the cracks. How can you help the effort?
1. Complete your Census form.
2. Remind friends & family to complete the Census.
3. Spread awareness by sharing Census information.
For additional information about the 2020 Census,
visit www.2020census.gov or the Denton Complete
Count Committee at www.dentoncounts2020.com.
2020 CENSUS OPENS APRIL 1; WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE
www.cityofdenton.com
RESIDENT UPDATECITY OF DENTON
2020
MARCH | APRIL
As you read the cover of this edition of
the Resident Update, I hope you take a
moment to reflect on how truly
momentous the 2020 Census is. Our
nation has counted every person within
its boundaries only 23 times in its history.
Though each of us only gets to experience the census a
handful of times in our life, it is one of the most direct ways
we can make a lasting impact on our community.
The Census is a count, but it isn’t just a count. The Census
enables us as a country and as a city to know who we are. It
represents our progress and illustrates, more than anything else,
that Denton is special—that we are a place people want to be.
It is an occasion where each person, each individual truly makes
a difference. In a world where much is lost in the margins, the
Census proves that each person matters. Each person counted
in Denton means that much more federal funding for critical
services and ensures our community has the fair share of
governmental representation owed to us. Each person not
counted is an opportunity lost. A loss that cannot be undone
for another 10 years.
As we move closer to April 1, our Census Day, please remember
the value you bring to the city of Denton and what your
participation in the Census means to your community, your
neighbors, and to yourself. Remember the responsibility you
have—one that no one can do for you. Above all, remember
to stand up and be counted!
FROM THE MAYOR2020 Census Opens April 1 ...........................................1
From the Mayor ...............................................................2
Upcoming Public Meetings ...........................................2
Denton City Council .......................................................2
Get Involved in Your Local Government ....................3
Get Paid to PLAY! ............................................................4
Foster Parents Needed for Shelter Kittens .................4
City to Hold Council Election on May 2 .....................5
2020 Denton Mobility Plan Ready for Review ..........5
Understanding the Electric Utility Network ...............6
Stay Weather-Aware This Spring ..................................6
Featured Events ...............................................................7
IN THIS ISSUE
DENTON CITY COUNCIL
These and other public meetings are broadcast
live on DTV and at www.cityofdenton.com/dtv.
For a current list of meetings and agendas,
visit www.cityofdenton.com/public-meetings.
IN THIS ISSUE
2
Chris Watts, Mayor | Chris.Watts@cityofdenton.com
Gerard Hudspeth, District 1 | Gerard.Hudspeth@cityofdenton.com
Keely G. Briggs, District 2 | Keely.Briggs@cityofdenton.com
Jesse Davis, District 3 | Jesse.Davis@cityofdenton.com
John Ryan, District 4 | John.Ryan@cityofdenton.com
Deb Armintor, At Large Place 5 | Deb.Armintor@cityofdenton.com
Paul Meltzer, At Large Place 6 | Paul.Meltzer@cityofdenton.com
Not sure who your Council Member is?
Visit www.cityofdenton.com, click on the magnifying glass in the
top right corner, and type “Find My Council Member” in the search bar.
DENTON CITY COUNCIL
Monday, March 2 - Council Luncheon
Tuesday, March 3 - Work Session & Regular Meeting
Tuesday, March 17 - Work Session & Regular Meeting
Tuesday, March 24 - Work Session
Monday, April 6 - Council Luncheon
Tuesday, April 7 - Work Session & Regular Meeting
Tuesday, April 14 - Work Session
Tuesday, April 21 - Work Session & Regular Meeting
Tuesday, April 28 - Work Session
PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD
Mondays, March 9 & 23
Mondays, April 13 & 27
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
Wednesday, March 4 - Work Session & Regular Meeting
Wednesday, March 18 - Work Session & Regular Meeting
Wednesday, April 8 - Work Session & Regular Meeting
Wednesday, April 22- Work Session & Regular Meeting
UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS
The City of Denton offers many ways for residents of all ages to participate in municipal government activities.
Students in middle and high school can leave a mark on their community through Teen Council, while teens
seeking impactful employment can apply for a position in the Mayor’s Summer Youth Jobs Program. Boards,
commissions, and committees are also looking for members to serve Denton.
TEEN COUNCIL
The Denton Teen Council has 26 students from Denton Independent School District in grades 8 through 12.
While on the Council, teens learn about leadership, volunteering, and working as a team. They serve on Teen
Council for an entire school year and apply to be on the Council in September. This year, the Council raised
money at the Denton Holiday Lighting Festival and has plans to volunteer with Keep Denton Beautiful.
Their capstone project is the Battle of the Bands on
Saturday, March 28, which showcases local bands and soloists.
This event was first created three years ago to provide local
teens with a creative event that fostered engagement.
Celebrity judges and local dignitaries help decide who wins,
and the winner gets the honor of performing at Keep Denton
Beautiful’s annual Redbud Festival on Saturday, April 4.
To learn more about the third annual Battle of the Bands,
and Teen Council, visit www.dentonparks.com.
MAYOR’S SUMMER YOUTH JOBS PROGRAM
Applications open on Monday, March 9 for the Mayor’s Summer Youth Jobs Program,
which strives to provide meaningful job experiences for local high school students
and recent high school graduates of Denton. Students must be 16 years of age by
the start of the program on Monday, June 8.
Through the program, participants will have access to on-the-job training, career
development resources, mentorships, and fulfilling work experiences that will create
opportunities for personal and professional advancement.
In varying City departments, program participants are provided with eight weeks
(June 8 – July 31) of paid job experience in areas such as Animal Services, Finance,
Parks and Recreation, Human Resources, Library, and Fire, among others.
To learn more about the program and to apply, visit www.cityofdenton.com/msyjp.
Applications are due by Friday, April 17.
BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES
Residents interested in making a difference in their community are encouraged to apply to serve on
one of the City’s boards, commissions, or committees.
Citizen involvement is an imperative part of the local government process. Members help shape Denton’s
future by offering unique viewpoints for the City Council to consider on a variety of issues and services.
Information about the various boards, commissions, and committees can be found on the City’s website
at www.cityofdenton.com/boards. If you are interested in a rewarding experience that will make a positive
impact on your community, complete an application at www.cityofdenton.com/boards. Applications
can be submitted at any time. If you have any questions, the City Secretary’s Office can be reached at
City.Secretary@cityofdenton.com.
3
GET INVOLVED IN YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
At the City of Denton, it takes nearly 300 part-time, seasonal employees
to operate all the Parks and Recreation summer activities. That’s lifeguards,
swim instructors, concession staff, birthday party hosts, camp counselors,
and even athletic leaders who are needed to run our summer events and
programs.
These jobs offer flexibility for all schedules and foster a fun work
environment that all ages can enjoy. Few other jobs allow the workers
watch movies, like a camp counselor, or work out in the lazy river, like
an aerobics instructor.
Sara Farris, Recreation Care Supervisor, loves when she can rehire former employees. “It’s so great when our
employees want to come back,” she said. “They can continue their relationship with the kids and bring more
experience to the job.”
These summer jobs are vital to the Denton community. They keep the entire Parks and Rec operation
running smoothly so the department can deliver its mission: to unite and grow lives by preserving parks
and encouraging play.
To learn more about these summer job opportunities and to apply, visit www.dentonjobs.com.
4
GET PAID TO PLAY!
JULIANA started as a camp
counselor in 2015 and returned
as a camp supervisor the
following year. Juliana has
continued working for the City
every summer while pursuing
her Master’s degree and enjoys
getting to see the kids grow up.
Do you care about animals, want to help them, and have a little extra love to share? If so, consider
becoming an animal foster parent for homeless kittens. Early spring marks the beginning of “kitten season,”
where a significant increase of kittens that are too young for adoption fill the City’s Linda McNatt Animal Care
and Adoption Center. To care for these kittens, the City relies on the assistance of foster parents to provide a
temporary home and the care a kitten deserves.
Being a kitten foster parent has many benefits. Kitten fosters allow the City’s Animal
Services Department the opportunity to provide assistance to more animals
throughout the community, and the option for the foster parent to determine if a
kitten is right for their lifestyle and home without the commitment of having a
permanent pet.
If you are interested in becoming an animal foster parent, the Animal Services
Department will be hosting informational and training sessions throughout the months
of March and April. The sessions are designed to help potential animal foster parents learn
about their options, what fostering involves, health and safety basics, and how to become a foster parent.
To sign up and learn more, visit www.cityofdenton.com/animalfoster or the City’s Animal Services
Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cityofdentonanimalshelter.
FOSTER PARENTS NEEDED FOR SHELTER KITTENS
2020 DENTON MOBILITY PLAN READY FOR REVIEW
Over the last several months, the City has been working
on the 2020 Denton Mobility Plan, a multimodal study
and strategy to address citywide transportation, including
vehicles, transit, bicycles, and pedestrians, for years to come.
Initial data collection for the plan began in June 2019,
which involved a review of existing plans and documents,
gathering of stakeholder and community input, and an
analysis of current mobility facilities such as roadways and
sidewalks. After months of development and refinement,
the plan has now reached the final drafting phase and is
ready for an additional public review.
Denton residents are encouraged to attend one of
several public meetings over the next month to review
a final draft of this comprehensive transportation plan. 5
CITY TO HOLD COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON MAY 2
Saturday, May 2, is Election Day for City Council candidates in the General and Special Elections. For
candidates in Districts 1 and 2 (known as single-member districts), only qualified voters residing in that
district are eligible to vote. As Places 5, 6, and 7 (Mayor) are at-large seats, any qualified voter in the city
may vote for one candidate in each of those places.
WHAT CITY COUNCIL SEATS ARE UP FOR ELECTION?
The following are the City Council seats up for election. A complete
list of candidates can be found at www.cityofdenton.com/vote.
General Election Special Election
Place 5 (At Large) District 1 (Single Member)
Place 6 (At Large) District 2 (Single Member)
Place 7 - Mayor (At Large)
HOW DO I REGISTER TO VOTE?
You will need to register through the Denton County Elections Administration. To learn more, visit
www.votedenton.com. The last day to register to vote in the May 2 elections is Thursday, April 2.
WHAT DISTRICT AM I IN?
To find your voting district, visit www.cityofdenton.com/vote, click “Locate My Voter District,” and enter
your physical address and date of birth. If you have any problems locating your information, contact the
Denton County Elections Administration at (940) 349-3200.
WHERE DO I VOTE EARLY FOR THE ELECTION?
During early voting, registered voters can vote at any polling location in Denton County. You can find early
voting location information at www.votedenton.com.
WHERE DO I VOTE ON ELECTION DAY?
Election Day polling locations are assigned based on City Council District and County Precinct. You can find
your voting precinct information and polling locations at www.votedenton.com.
¿DONDE PUEDO ENCONTRAR INFORMACION DE ELECCION EN ESPAÑOL?
Para obtener información sobre las elecciones en español, visite a www.votedenton.com y haga clic
en “Español” en la pancarta que se encuentra arriba de la página o llame a la Oficina de la Secretaria de
la Ciudad al (940) 349-8309.
Friday, March 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Denton Civic Center, 321 E. McKinney St.
Tuesday, March 24 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Evers Park Elementary School,
3300 Evers Pkwy.
Thursday, March 26 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Argyle United Methodist Church,
9033 Fort Worth Dr., Argyle
Monday, March 30 from 6 to 8 p.m.
South Branch Library, 3228 Teasley Ln.
Tuesday, March 31 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Patterson-Appleton Arts Center,
400 E. Hickory St.
Thursday, April 2 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Sprockets Bicycle Shop, 231 W. Hickory St.MOBILITY PLAN PUBLIC MEETINGS
6
UNDERSTANDING THE ELECTRIC UTILITY NETWORK
Oftentimes, we take for granted the fact that our lights
will come on when we flip the switch. For most people,
how electricity travels through the electrical grid is not
something that we often think about, especially since it can
be a bit complex and difficult to understand. The following
is a summary from Denton Municipal Electric (DME)
explaining the basics of how your electricity gets to you
when and where you need it.
• The City of Denton obtains its electricity from generation
sources like wind, solar, natural gas, and methane gas.
Once the electricity is generated, it is pushed onto the
transmission system.
• DME wholly or jointly owns the transmission lines within
the city of Denton that are used to move high-voltage
(138kV) power from generation sources to substations.
• At this point, substation transformers provide a high
voltage step-down process from 138kV to 13.2kV before
electricity leaves the substation through distribution lines.
This process is essential because it allows electricity to
be safely delivered to homes and businesses through
lower-voltage distribution lines. There are currently
17 substations within the city of Denton.
• Similar to transmission lines, distribution lines carry
the step-down voltage (13.2kV) power from substations
into distribution transformers.
• Like substation transformers, distribution transformers
reduce the voltage again to 120/240 V as required by
homes, businesses, and schools within neighborhoods.
A service wire is then installed to deliver electricity to a
meter.
• After a service wire is installed, meters are needed to
measure the electricity that flows in and out of facilities.
Metering data allows DME to measure and forecast the
electric needs of its customers.
GENERATION SOURCES
TRANSMISSION
LINES
SUBSTATION TRANSFORMER
DISTRIBUTION
LINES
DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMER TO METER
STAY WEATHER-AWARE THIS SPRING
While April showers bring May flowers, the ups and downs of springtime weather can also lead to tornadoes
and other hazardous conditions. Denton residents are encouraged to stay weather-aware and educate
themselves about where and how to access the latest local weather warnings and conditions.
The City of Denton recently increased its total number of outdoor warning sirens to 22. A full list of siren
locations can be viewed on the Emergency Management webpage at www.dentonfire.com. In addition
to warning sirens, residents should have multiple ways to receive weather warnings, including downloading
weather apps, setting up a weather-warning radio, and staying tuned to local media for updates. Denton
residents can also sign up for emergency notifications through CodeRED, a geographical-based system
that uses street addresses to target specific areas. CodeRED also offers weather warnings. To register for
notifications, visit www.cityofdenton.com/codered.TRANSMISSIONGENERATIONDISTRIBUTION
7APRIL 11HONEY RUN 6: 5K, 10K, & 1-MILE WALK
Saturday, April 11 from 8 to 11 a.m.
Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center
3310 Collins Rd.
Rescheduled from February, you can visit
www.sustainabledenton.com to register for
this popular annual event where you’re invited
to run with your honey or fly solo on the trails!
This special event also features a honey tasting
and beekeeping workshop. For all ages. APRIL 4DENTON REDBUD FESTIVAL
Saturday, April 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Denton Civic Center, 321 E. McKinney St.
Celebrate Arbor Day with Keep Denton Beautiful!
There will be tree and plant sales, vendors, special
activities to kick off Earth Month, live music,
workshops, a tree-themed StoryTime, festival
foods, and the ever-popular TRASHion Fashion
Runway Show. For additional information about
the festival, visit www.kdb.org. MARCH 25TEDDY BEAR PARADE
Wednesday, March 25 at 11 a.m.
Emily Fowler Central Library, 502 Oakland St.
It’s time for the Teddy Bear
Parade! Bring your teddy
bear for a bear-y fun
StoryTime. Then, join the
parade around the library
and the park (weather
permitting). For ages 1-5. MARCH 21GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP
Saturday, March 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Keep Denton Beautiful’s 32nd Annual Great
American Cleanup will begin at 9 a.m. with
volunteers cleaning various assigned locations
throughout the city. A volunteer appreciation
party will be held at the Denton Civic Center
and Quakertown Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
To register, visit www.kdb.org by March 10.
FEATURED EVENTS
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