23-2330ORDINANCE NO. 23-2330
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF DENTON AND
TEXAS WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY, A HIGHER EDUCATION AGENCY OF THE STATE OF
TEXAS, PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,500,000.00 FOR
THE BEZOS ACADEMY PRESCHOOL PROJECT.
WHEREAS, the 2022 United Way of Denton County Community Needs Assessment has
documented that the availability of affordable childcare within Denton County does not meet the
existing needs within the community, with only 18 percent of all children in low-income
categories enrolled in childcare; and
WHEREAS, state and nonprofit resources further document the need for affordable
childcare in the Denton community, noting that as of September 2020, an average of only 8.1
children of childcare centers in Denton County were subsidized and that Denton County
Childcare capacity dropped by 24.5 percent from March 2020 to September 2021; and
WHEREAS, Bezos Academy provides full-day, year-round Montessori-style preschool
services at no cost to income-eligible children between the ages of 3 and 5 years and partners
with a community sponsor in areas where there exists a preschool gap for low-income families;
and
WHEREAS, Bezos Academy funds and operates the preschool with fully trained and
licensed staff members, requiring that a host organization provides a suitable facility for the
preschool; and
WHEREAS, Texas Woman’s University has entered into an agreement with Bezos
Academy to provide a facility for a preschool within the City of Denton for an initial term often
( 10) years with a capacity of eighty (80) students; and
WHEREAS, the City of Denton seeks to increase the availability of no-cost preschool
services within the city; and
WHEREAS, on February 7, 2023, the City Council of the City of Denton gave direction
to enter into an agreement with Texas Woman’s University to provide financial support for the
Bezos Academy project in the amount of $1,500,000.00 to increase the student capacity by forty
(40) additional seats; NOW THEREFORE
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. The findings and recitations contained in the preamble of this ordinance are
incorporated herein by reference and are made a part of this ordinance.
SECTION 2. The City Manager, or their designee, is hereby authorized to execute the
Interlocal Cooperative Purchasing Agreement with Texas Woman’s University, a copy of which
is attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein (the “Agreement”).
SECTION 3. The City Manager, or their designee, is authorized to expend funds
pursuant to the Agreement.
SECTION 4. The City Council of the City of Denton hereby expressly delegates the
authority to take any actions that may be required or permitted to be performed by the City of
Denton under this ordinance to the City Manager of the City of Denton, or their designee.
SECTION 5. This ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its passage and
approval.
TIle motion to approve this ordinance was made by Br ,b._ B,c h and
seconded by S,, u. J ,- e b>+ MGa&, . This ordir;ned by
the following vote [I - a
Aye
J
L/
,/
a
a
Nay Abstain Absent
Mayor Gerard Hudspeth:
Vicki Byrd, District 1 :
Brian Beck, District 2:
Paul Meltzer. District 3 :
Joe Holland. District 4:
Brandon Chase McGee, At Large Place 5 :
Chris Watts, At Large Place 6:/
' 2023 .PASSED AND APPROVED this the S*"day of DeceMber
ATTEST:
JESUS SALAZAR, INTERIM CITY SECRETARY
b\\\\t 111111/
BY
D AS TO LEGAL FORM
BY and Groups,
ceIIa Lunn
MACK RE[NWAND, CITY ATTORNEY
Digitally signed by Marcella Lunn
DN: dc=com, dc=cityofdenton,
dc=codad, ou=Department Users
email=Marcella.Lunn@cityofdento
n.corn
Date: 2023.11.29 12:16:05 -06'00'