Resident Update Oct Nov 2020We know it can be hard to keep track of all the news
and updates in response to the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic. With a number of local and state orders
currently in effect, we wanted to highlight some of
the key elements of these orders, especially those
that most affect the people of our community.
The Denton City Council recently voted to extend
the Declaration of Local Disaster for Public Health
Emergency first executed on March 13. The Council
also adopted a new Tenth Order of Council that
supersedes all previous orders related to the
pandemic. Both the declaration and the order will
remain in effect until Thursday, Dec. 31.
Though not addressed in the Council’s new order,
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has a number of
statewide orders in place that also provide guidance
and mandates for the Denton community.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
• In accordance with Governor Abbott’s order,
GA-29, everyone should take caution when
in public by practicing social distancing and
staying at least six feet apart from those
outside your household.
• GA-30 requires limited occupancy for
certain businesses, and outdoor gatherings
are currently limited to no more than 10 people.
Occupancy limits vary depending on business
type. Visit open.texas.gov for details.
• GA-29 also states that all persons age 10 years
and older must wear face coverings when in
public where social distancing is not possible.
See the order and exemptions at open.texas.gov.
• All commercial and nonprofit entities in the
city of Denton are required to develop and
maintain a health and safety policy that
incorporates the face covering and social
distancing requirements ordered by the state.
Safety policies must be posted in clear view of
employees and members of the public.
Concerns that a business is not following occupancy
requirements by state order or does not have signage
posted as required by local order, or about general
health and safety, may be reported through the
City’s Engage Denton mobile app. Engage Denton
is available for download from the App Store or
Google Play Store. To file a report online, visit
www.engagedenton.com.
To learn more about the City’s response to the
COVID-19 pandemic, including local orders,
visit www.cityofdenton.com/coronavirus. For
more information about Gov. Abbott’s state orders,
visit gov.texas.gov/coronavirus.
PANDEMIC-RELATED STATE AND LOCAL ORDERS
CURRENTLY IN EFFECT: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
www.cityofdenton.com
RESIDENT UPDATECITY OF DENTON
2020
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER
PRACTICE
SOCIAL DISTANCING
OCCUPANCY
LIMITS AREIN PLACE
HEALTH & SAFETY
POLICIES REQUIREDFOR BUSINESSES
WEAR FACE
COVERINGSIN PUBLIC
With the Nov. 3 Council election just around the
corner, and my time as your Mayor coming to an
end, I am continuously reminded of all that we
have accomplished together throughout the twelve
years that I have been a member of the Denton City
Council. Thank you for the honor and privilege of serving as your Mayor for the
past six and a half years, especially during these historic and unprecedented
times. From increasing local economic opportunities to improving services to
those experiencing homelessness, none of it could be accomplished without
the compassionate spirit, strong heart, and steel determination of you, the citizens
of this great city.
I never could have imagined that, in my final months as Mayor, a global pandemic
would hit our community like it has. COVID-19 has forced us all to pause and
work together to discover new ways of doing most everything. From the very
beginning, the Council and City staff have worked tirelessly to create new policies,
processes, and procedures that would ensure continuation of critical City services,
and minimize the impact on the local economy is as much as possible. We never
expected that we would be fighting this battle today, but I am proud of the swift
actions the City has taken, and I know that our local government will continue to
fight along with us, our families, and our businesses, as we all work to bring this
vibrant community through some of our most trying times.
As you’ll see in this newsletter, the City is already hard at work making plans
for the future as we enter into the 2020-21 fiscal year. In spite of the financial
challenges we have faced, we are proud to be able to provide you with no tax
rate increases, no rate increases for wastewater and electric services, and rate
decreases for water, solid waste, and recycling services.
When the time comes for me to pass the baton to your next Mayor, I can proudly
move on to new adventures knowing that this diverse, hard-working, unique, and
original community stands on a firm foundation
for success—one that we have all built together.
FROM THE MAYORState & Local Orders: What You Need to Know .......1
From the Mayor ...............................................................2
Virtual Public Meetings...................................................2
Denton City Council .......................................................2
Five Things to Add to Your Fall To-Do List .................3
City Adopts FY2020-21 Budget ....................................4
FY2020-21 Budget Overview........................................5
General and Special Elections Set for Nov. 3 ............6
City Celebrates DME with Public Power Week .........7
The DOs and DON’Ts For Outside Animals ...............7
Opt In to the City’s Yard Waste Program ...................7
IN THIS ISSUE
DENTON CITY COUNCIL
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
To protect the health and safety of the
Denton community; City Council, board, and
commission members; and City staff, all public
meetings have moved to a remote format
until further notice. All meetings will use the
new Rules of Procedure that were adopted
during the March 31 Council meeting.
Scheduled public meetings are streamed
online at www.cityofdenton.com/dtv, made
available on-demand, and can be viewed live on
the City’s DTV cable channel (Frontier FiOS on
channel 38, Charter Spectrum on channel 194,
and Grande on channel 12). Due to the remote
format of the meetings, no in-person attendance
at Denton City Hall will be permitted.
Certain meetings will accommodate and receive
public input on eligible agenda items. Citizens
are able to participate using a number of
virtual public comment options, including
an online Virtual White Card and by phone.
For additional information and a current
list of upcoming public meetings, visit
www.cityofdenton.com/publicmeetings.
VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETINGS
HOLIDAY CLOSINGS
City of Denton offices will be closed on
Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday, Nov. 27 in
observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
3
1
2
Maintain your drain.
During the holidays, nothing
is better than a home-cooked
meal. However, these meals
can have an adverse effect on
your pipes if you dispose of excess fats,
oils, or grease (FOG) down the drain.
FOGs harden and cling to the walls in
your household pipes or city sewer
lines, which can reduce water flow
and cause a sewage backup into
your home or neighborhood. Visit
www.maintainyourdrain.com
for helpful tips on how you
can better maintain your drain
and to learn more.
3
Turn your pumpkins into Dyno Dirt.
When you’re ready to dispose of your fall pumpkins,
place them at the curb to be picked up with your yard
trimmings. The pumpkins will be mixed with your leaves,
tree branches, and grass, and composted into Dyno Dirt
products by the City’s Beneficial Reuse Division. If you’ve
opted in to the Yard Waste program, you can
place your pumpkins in your brown cart or
in a kraft bag. If you aren’t opted in to yard
waste service, you can place your
pumpkins with your brush and schedule
a pickup by calling the automated
self-service line at (940) 349-8740. To
learn more about our Dyno Dirt products,
visit www.cityofdenton.com/dyno.
5
Prepare your fire safety plan.
October is Fire Prevention Month. Help ensure that
your home and family have a plan and are ready
for the unexpected. Fire Prevention Month is the
perfect time to talk with your family about
fire safety. Make it a family activity by testing
alarms, changing the batteries, learning how
to use a fire extinguisher, and
planning your escape route.
For safety tips and more,
follow the Denton Fire
Department on Facebook
at www.facebook.com/dentonfire.
4
FIVE THINGS TO ADD TO YOUR FALL TO-DO LIST
Celebrate Texas Arbor Day.
Join Keep Denton Beautiful
and the City of Denton Parks
and Recreation department on
Saturday, Nov. 6 for a day-long
celebration of nature. They will host
virtual tree planting activities, including
a tree-themed StoryTime.
Register for the event and learn more
at www.kdb.org.
Visit your local Library.
In October, the Denton Public
Library plans to reopen
the doors to the North Branch
and South Branch libraries.
After taking
precautions
to keep our
community safe
from COVID-19,
these libraries
will be reopening
at 50-percent
capacity. This reopening
will allow for walk-in service
and non-scheduled use of
the Library’s computers.
To learn more about the
Library’s reopening plan, visit
library.cityofdenton.com.
M A IN T A IN Y O U R D R A I N .COM
4
CITY OF DENTON ADOPTS FY2020-21 BUDGET
After months of deliberation and public input through online and over-the-phone comments from residents,
the Denton City Council has adopted a budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year, which began Oct. 1. This annual
budget reflects Council priorities, which include public safety, infrastructure improvements, a continued
investment in countywide homelessness strategic initiatives, and a new 311 system for a more efficient
response to citizen requests.
The FY20-21 adopted budget includes no rate increase from the current tax rate of $0.5905 per $100 of
valuation, which still allows the City to maintain a tax rate lower than the no-new-revenue tax rate, which
is the tax rate that results in the same amount of revenue from existing properties as the prior year. The
budget also includes rate decreases for Water and Solid Waste & Recycling services and continues the
trend of no increases to utility rates over the past four years. There are no rate changes for Wastewater
and Electric services.
Take a look at the graphs below for a brief overview of where your local government’s funds come from
and where they are spent. For a quick overview of the newly adopted FY2020-21 budget, see page 5.
Adopted Tax Rate — The adopted FY20-21 budget includes a tax rate equal to the current tax rate of $0.5905.
Of the adopted tax rate, $0.380364 will be applied to fund operations and maintenance in the General Fund
and $0.210090 will be applied to fund tax-supported debt.
Utility Rates — Setting the rates for Electric, Water, Wastewater, and Solid Waste & Recycling services is an
important component of the City’s annual budget process. Utility rates are set so that sufficient revenues
are generated to support operations, maintenance, and improvements for each of the City’s utility funds.
To view the FY2020-21 residential utility rates, visit www.cityofdenton.com/utilityrates.
To learn more about the FY2020-21 budget and tax information, visit www.cityofdenton.com/budget.
General Fund
Expenditures
by Function
A. Police 29.2%
B. Fire 25.8%
C. Public Safety
Communications 3.1%
D. Animal Services 1.8%
E. Parks & Recreation 9.7%
F. Planning/Community Dev./
Inspections 5.7%
G. Libraries 4.9%
H. Legal/
City Manager’s Office 4.2%
I. Finance/Internal Audit/HR 5%
J. Other 4%
K. Traffic/Transportation/
Street Lighting 2.4%
L. 380 Agreement 1.8%
M. Municipal Court/Judge 1.4%
N. Economic Development 0.8%
A. Ad Valorem Taxes 38%
B. Sales Taxes 30%
C. Franchise Fees 4%
D. Fees, Permits,
Use of Reserves 14%
E. ROI 7%
F. Cost of Service 7%
General Fund
Revenue
A
B
C
D
E
F
CITY OF DENTON GENERAL FUND
REVENUE & EXPENDITURES
A
BCD
E
F
G
H
I
J K L MN
5Produced by the City of Denton • ADA/EOE/ADEA • TDD (800) 735-2989 • www.cityofdenton.com
SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS
•New 311 system for efficient response to citizen requests ($1.3 million)
•Six new Sworn Police Officer positions ($811,598)
•Three new Firefighter positions for Station #8 ($273,263)
•2019 Bond Election funds issued for Street Improvements ($12.4 million)
•Bond funds issued for Public Safety Facilities 2019 Bond Election ($42.9 million)
The FY 2020-21
budget includes
RATE DECREASES
for water and solid waste &
recycling services, and
NO INCREASES for wastewater
and electric services.
TAX RATE
$0.5905 for every $100
of property value.
TAX RATE HISTORY
$0.6898 $0.6898 $0.6898 $0.6898 $0.6898 $0.6833
$0.6379
$0.6205
$0.5905
$0.54
$0.56
$0.58
$0.60
$0.62
$0.64
$0.66
$0.68
$0.70
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020Total Tax RateFiscal Year
Total Tax Rate Per $100 of Valuation
$0.5905
2021
Proposed
Budget
NO TAX RATE
INCREASE
UTILITY RATE HISTORY
FY 17-18 FY 18-19 FY 19-20* FY 20-21
Electric (1,200 kWH/month) $129.26 $124.80 $124.80 $124.80
Water (9,200 gallons/month) $54.18 $54.18 $54.18 $53.10
Wastewater (5,400 gallons/month)** $33.12 $31.52 $31.52 $31.52
Solid Waste - Standard Cart* $24.51 $24.51 $21.51 $20.51
Total $243.50 $235.01 $232.01 $229.93
*FY 17-18 and FY19-20 reflect mid-year rate decreases
**FY 18-19 reflects a 5% rate decrease and min volume decrease from 6,000 to 5,400
Proposed
Budget
FY 2020-21 BUDGET
For additional information, visit www.cityofdenton.com/budget.
6
GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS SET FOR NOV. 3
As previously stated in the August/September issue of Resident Update, the Saturday, May 2, 2020, General
and Special elections were postponed to Tuesday, Nov. 3, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose
of the elections is to elect candidates to City Council Districts 1 and 2 (known as single-member districts), with
only qualified voters residing in that district being eligible to vote, and elect candidates to City Council Places
5, 6, and 7/Mayor (known as at-large seats), wherein any qualified voter in the city may vote for one candidate
in each of those places.
WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES IN THE GENERAL ELECTION?
The following are the candidates on the ballot for the General Election on Nov. 3, in ballot order:
Place 5 (At Large) Place 6 (At Large) Place 7 (Mayor, At Large)
Deb Armintor Jim Mann Keely Briggs
Rick Baria Paul Meltzer Gerard Hudspeth
Liam York Michael Mitchell
WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES IN THE SPECIAL ELECTION?
The following are the candidates on the ballot for the Special Election on Nov. 3, in ballot order:
District 1 (Single Member) District 2 (Single Member)
Birdia Johnson Ronnie Anderson
George Michael Ferrie Jr. Daniel Clanton
Connie Baker
Kady Irene Finley
Jon Hohman
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 Nov. 3 elections is Monday, Oct. 5.
WHAT DISTRICT AM I IN?
To find your voting district, visit www.cityofdenton.com/vote, click “Which District Am I In,” and enter your
physical address. If you have any problems locating your information, contact the Denton County Elections
Administration at (940) 349-3200.
WHAT IS MY VOTER REGISTRATION NUMBER?
To find your Voter Registration Number, visit the Denton County Elections Administration website at
www.votedenton.com and click “Voter Lookup.” Having your Voter Registration Number readily available
when going to vote is extremely helpful when inquiring where you will vote or getting a determination
on the status of your voter registration. You can also find the number on your Voter Registration Card.
If you have any problems locating your information, contact the Denton County Elections Administration
at (940) 349-3200.
WHERE AND WHEN DO I VOTE EARLY FOR THE ELECTION?
During early voting—from Tuesday, Oct. 13 to Friday, Oct. 30—registered voters can vote at any polling
location in Denton County. Visit www.cityofdenton.com/vote for early voting times and location information.
WHERE AND WHEN DO I VOTE ON ELECTION DAY, NOV. 3?
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.cityofdenton.com/vote.
¿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.
7
CITY CELEBRATES COMMUNITY-OWNED DENTON MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC WITH PUBLIC POWER WEEK
From Oct. 4 to 10, the City of Denton will join more than
2,000 other community-owned utility systems in the
United States to celebrate Public Power Week. Each year,
the first week of October is designated as a time to help
residents understand how you can better engage with, benefit
from, and recognize community-owned electric utilities like
Denton Municipal Electric (DME) for their contributions to the
city of Denton.
For more than 115 years, the City of Denton has placed a high
value on community-owned services like DME. The not-for-
profit electric utility company provides:
• Denton residents and ratepayers with a direct say in utility
operations and policies;
• Homes, businesses, schools, social services, and local
government agencies with reliable, efficient, and
sustainable electricity;
• Consumer protections and sound business practices
designed to ensure the best possible service at
not-for-profit rates;
• Education on energy efficiency, environmental protection,
and safety awareness;
• Stewardship of the community’s electric and information
infrastructure;
• Incentives for energy efficiency and economic
development; and
• A helping hand to communities who have experienced
natural disasters.
FALL IS HERE! OPT IN TO THE
CITY’S YARD WASTE PROGRAM
Now that the fall season is upon us, the leaves will begin
to fall from your trees and limbs will need trimming. The
City’s Solid Waste & Recycling Department offers a Yard
Waste Program where, when you opt in and pay the
one-time $20 cart fee, you will receive a large brown
bin that is collected weekly along with your green trash
bin and blue recycling bin. You can also place yard waste
in paper kraft bags, which can be purchased at lawn and
garden stores.
Additionally, when you join the Program, you can set
up to four cubic yards of tree limbs on your curb for
pick-up. If you have more than four cubic feet, a special
pick-up can be quickly arranged for your next trash day.
To register, call our automated line at (940) 349-8740.
When you call, be sure you know your City of Denton
utility account number or the last four digits of the ID on
file for the account. To learn more about the program,
visit www.cityofdenton.com/yardwaste.
CITY OF DENTONANIMAL SHELTER
The DOs and
DON’Ts for
Outside Animals
STAY UPDATED
www.cityofdenton.com/stayupdated
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@cityofdentontx
A publication of the City of Denton • 07/20 • ADA/EOE/ADEA • TDD (800) 735-2989 • www.cityofdenton.com
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