052920 Press Release - City of Denton to Open Select Facilities June 1 cOF FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DENTON Ryan Adams • (940) 349-8565 • Ryan.Adams@cityofdenton.com
City of Denton to Open Select Facilities June 1
DENTON, TX, May 29, 2020—As part of a phased reopening strategy, the City of Denton
announced today that City Hall (215 E. McKinney St.) and City Hall East(601 E. Hickory St.)
will open to the public with certain restrictions for in-person business beginning Monday, June 1.
City facilities were closed to the public on March 18 as a precautionary measure to reduce the
risk of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in the Denton community.
As facilities begin to reopen, the City is implementing safety measures across its facilities for the
well-being of community members and staff.
• All City facilities are being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis.
• City employees will be required to participate in daily health checks and wear masks
when conducting in-person business, both internally and with members of the public.
• Though masks are recommended but not required for public visitors, social distancing
will be mandatory. Members of the public who visit City facilities will be required to
maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between themselves and others at all times.
Though certain facilities will open for in-person business June 1, the following facilities will
remain temporarily closed to the public:
• Service Center (901 Texas St.) will remain closed until further notice.
• Linda McNatt Animal Care and Adoption Center (3717 N. Elm St.) is open by
appointment only. Additional information can be found below.
• All Library branches are closed, except for certain services listed below.
• All Parks and Recreation facilities are closed, except for those listed below.
Remote options will continue for City services where possible. See details below for current
information by service area and facility. Residents may still access online services at
www.cityofdenton.com and submit service requests at www.engagedenton.com.
Animal Services
To adopt an animal from the Linda McNatt Animal Care &Adoption Center, customers can
schedule an appointment 24 hours in advance by contacting Animal Services at (940) 349-7594.
View all adoptable pets at www.cityofdenton.com/animalservices.
For assistance with stray animals and animal emergencies, residents may call (940) 349-7594
during business hours, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For animal emergencies
after hours, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., call the police non-emergency line at (940) 349-8181.
Customer Service
Utilities customers will have the ability to speak with a Customer Service representative or pay
their bill in-person at City Hall East(601 E. Hickory St.) when walk-in service resumes June 1.
OUR CORE VALUES
Integrity•Fiscal Responsibility• Transparency• Outstanding Customer Service
ADA/EOE/ADEA www.cityofdenton.com TDD(800)735-2989
Customers will continue to have the ability to pay their utility bill by phone, by mail, by drop
box, and online at www.cityofdenton.com/paymybill. To speak with a Customer Service
representative over the phone, customers should call (940) 349-8700.
Municipal Court
In-person courtroom proceedings have been suspended until further notice. All non jury court
proceedings will resume June 8 using a virtual courtroom format. Defendants will be contacted
by Municipal Court staff with instructions and additional information prior to their court date.
Residents will have the ability to speak with a Municipal Court Clerk or make payments in-
person at City Hall East(601 E. Hickory St.)when walk-in service resumes June 1. In an effort
to maintain social distancing and the health and safety of community members and staff, an
electronic queuing system will be implemented beginning June 1. Rather than standing in line,
residents will register via a kiosk near the Police Department/Municipal Court entrance of City
Hall East, select the service for which they are needing assistance, and receive text alerts when
they may reenter the building to speak with Court staff.
To speak with a Court Clerk over the phone, call (940) 349-8331. Payments can also be made
online and by mail. For forms,payment options, and additional information about the Municipal
Court, visit www.cityofdenton.com/court.
Development Services
Development Services recently relocated to City Hall (215 E. McKinney St.) and will be open
for in-person services by appointment when City Hall reopens June 1. All development
application types are currently being accepted electronically. For additional information, call
(940) 349-8541 or visit www.cityofdenton.com/development.
Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation is opening its facilities in phases. Currently, all tennis courts, outdoor
basketball courts, trails, pavilions,benches, tables, and fishing piers are open to the public. North
Lakes Driving Range is open with modified hours and regulations to maintain social distancing.
The disc golf course at North Lakes Park and the batting cages in Evers Park are open. Dog
parks,playgrounds, volleyball courts, and hockey rinks will open June 1. Athletic fields and field
rentals are scheduled to open June 5. Park restrooms are scheduled to open June 15. North Lakes
Rec Center is scheduled to open June 22.
The Denton Civic Center, Denton Senior Center, MLK Jr. Rec Center, Denia Rec Center, and
Denton Natatorium will remain closed until further notice. Water Works Park and Civic Center
Pool will remain closed until summer 2021.
For additional updates and information, visit www.dentonparks.com or call (940) 349-7525.
Library
In addition to using the Library's multitude of digital resources, Denton residents and library
cardholders can check out physical items such as books or DVDs using the library's contactless
curbside pick-up service that was launched in May. Curbside pick-up is currently available by
2
appointment Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all three library branches, and on
Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at North Branch Library. For additional information, call the
Library at(940) 349-8752 or visit www.dentonlibr4a.com.
Beginning June 1, residents may request an appointment to use a Library computer or connect to
the Library's wireless network with their personal devices. Appointments will officially begin on
Tuesday, June 2. A limited number of daily appointments will be available at all library locations
Monday through Friday mornings (9:45 or 10 a.m.) and afternoons (2 or 2:15 p.m.), and at North
Branch on Saturday mornings (9:45 or 10 a.m.). Appointments may be scheduled for up to 2
hours in length and are complete when computer/internet/printing is no longer being used or the
2-hour appointment time has ended, whichever comes first. To schedule an appointment, call
(940) 349-8752 and select option 2 when prompted.
Patrons may also request an virtual appointment with a Library staff member for one-on-one
assistance or instruction. Thirty-minute audio and video appointments via Microsoft Teams will
be available. Using the Microsoft Teams service, residents and Library staff members can share
their computer screens for tutorials and how-to help. To book an appointment, visit
bit.ly/DPLB ookaLibrarian.
For patrons unable to return items, the Library's fine-free policy will protect them from any
potential penalties. For more information about how the Library will serve patrons, including
curbside pick-up instructions and library locations, visit www.dentonlibr4a.com.
Solid Waste & Recycling
The City of Denton Landfill will continue to be open to customers during its normal business
hours. Currently, only credit and debit cards are being accepted. For additional information,
including operating hours, visit www.cityofdenton.com/landfill.
The City of Denton's Home Chemical Collection Center and Reuse Store will remain closed to
drop-off customers. Home chemicals and appliances may still be collected by calling (940) 349-
8700 to schedule a curbside collection. Visit www.cityofdenton.com/hee for a list of acceptable
items and how to prepare them for collection.
The City will continue to release updates relating to facility and services openings at
www.cityofdenton.com/coronavirus and the City's social media channels.
Contact: Ryan Adams, (940) 349-8565,Ryan.Adams@cityofdenton.com
Visit www.cityofdenton.com for more news and to stay updated.
3