GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THIS MEETING OF THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL.
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TODAY IS IS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD, 2024.IT IS 2 P.M.. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, SO I'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
THE FIRST THING ON THE AGENDA IS IS TO HAVE SPEAKERS.
[1. Citizen Comments on Consent Agenda Items]
AND OUR FIRST WE HAVE WE DO HAVE ONE CARD.SO MR. CHARLES LEE, IF YOU CAN COME TO THE PODIUM, GIVE YOUR NAME.
GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
FOR I LIVE ON ELM STREET, AND I JUST WANT TO PUT IN I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I OBJECT TO ONE OF THE CONSENT ITEMS FOR THE NOMINATIONS LIST.
THIS IS GOING TO BE REAL SHORT OF CLYDE OR WOLF.
ARROW BITING IF I'M NOT PRONOUNCING IT RIGHT.
IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL AGAINST THEM.
I'M JUST SAYING IT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOMINATED BY MCGEE AND METZLER.
AND I. AND IF I WAS THE VOTER, I WOULD VOTE NO.
OTHER THAN THAT, I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO SAY.
AND YOU HAVE A NICE AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
THAT TAKES US TO IF THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONSENT ARE NOT QUESTIONS PER SE, BUT ANY ANY ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?
[2. Requests for clarification of agenda items listed on this agenda for public hearing and individual consideration.]
REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION.THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. REQUEST FOR REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT THREE.
THANK YOU. YEAH, I SAW THE RESPONSE IN ADVANCE, BUT I CAN'T SAY I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND IT.
I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE.
WHY? WHY WAS IT A GOOD IDEA BEFORE? AND NOW IT'S A BAD IDEA? DANG IT. GOOD AFTERNOON, RANDY KLING, TREASURY MANAGER.
SOMETIMES IT'S JUST A FRESH SET OF EYES TO THE PROCESS.
BUT WE DO MEET WITH OUR INVESTMENT AND DEBT COMMITTEE QUARTERLY, THE DEBT COMMITTEE ANNUALLY.
AND WE DO HAVE MORE THAN THE COMMITTEE ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS.
AND SO WE HAVE OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CHANGES IN THE INDUSTRY.
AND DURING THOSE TIMES, YOU KNOW, WE JUST MARK NOTES FOR THE YEAR.
AND THIS YEAR IT CAME UP AS THE COMPTROLLER POSITION.
THAT COMPTROLLER AND THE STAFF IS OUR STAFF ACCOUNTANTS.
THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO LEND THEIR PERSPECTIVE, IF YOU WILL, ON MAKING POLICY DECISIONS, AS WELL AS WHAT WE ACTUALLY INVEST IN AND HOW WE DO THAT.
AND SO WE JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A CLEAR CUT FOR THE POSITION THAT TODAY, AS IT SITS TODAY, TO SEGREGATE THEMSELVES FROM THE ACTUAL ACTIVITY OF INVESTING IN THE PORTFOLIO AND BEING A PART OF THAT DECISION MAKING SO THAT THEY WILL STAND ALONE, BE THE ONLY GROUP IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT THAT WILL ACTUALLY POST THOSE THINGS TO JADE AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS IN THE SYSTEM.
THE CONTROLLER WORKS ON EXACTLY THOSE THINGS THAT THE COMMITTEE GOVERNS.
THAT'S WHY I'M LOOKING AT YOU A LITTLE BIT BLANKLY, LIKE, SO WHY DOES THAT MEAN YOU WOULD NOT WANT THEM? IS IT A CHECK AND BALANCE KIND OF THING BECAUSE IT'S AN AUDIT FUNCTION? THAT IS CORRECT. THE TREASURY OFFICE IS THE MAIN COMPONENT THAT HANDLES THE ACTUAL DAY TO DAY INVESTING, BUT ALL OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED AND BE, YOU KNOW, READILY AVAILABLE IF THEY'RE NEEDED FOR SOME REASON, TO ACT IN CAPACITY OF THE TREASURY OFFICE CANNOT.
AND SO TAKE THEM OUT OF THAT CAPACITY.
SO THERE'S JUST A CLEAR SEGREGATION.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YES, SIR.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION? SEEING NONE THAT TAKES US TO OUR FIRST WORK SESSION AND THAT IS THREE A WHICH IS ID 242357.
[A. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding the Charter Review Committee recommendations. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 1 hour]]
RECEIVE REPORT WHOLE DISCUSSION.GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL CHRISTY FOGLE, CHIEF OF STAFF.
TODAY I'LL BE PRESENTING THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
IF YOU WANT TO RAISE YOUR HAND.
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.COUNCIL PROVIDED ADDITIONAL DIRECTION ON THE PROCESS, AND THEN FEBRUARY THROUGH MAY WE HAD FIVE WORK SESSIONS WHERE COUNCIL REVIEWED THE MAJOR SECTIONS OF THE CHARTER AND PROVIDED DIRECTION ON WHAT WOULD BECOME THE COMMITTEE CHARGES.
COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION ON THE BALLOT.
WE HAVE A PLACEHOLDER AT OUR NEXT WORK SESSION ON DECEMBER 17TH.
YOUR DIRECTION WILL INFORM THE BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT WILL BE ON AN ORDINANCE CALLING THE ELECTION AT THE JANUARY 14TH COUNCIL MEETING, AND THE COUNCIL RULES AND PROCEDURES REQUIRE CHARTER AMENDMENTS TO BE ADOPTED BY A TWO THIRDS VOTE OF THE COUNCIL.
SO TODAY, WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR A CONSENSUS OF FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH EACH ITEM.
THE COMMITTEE HELD EIGHT MEETINGS BETWEEN JULY AND NOVEMBER AND REVIEWED EACH CHARGE PUT FORWARD BY THE COUNCIL WITH A STAFF PRESENTATION, COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION VOTE.
THE RESOLUTION ENACTING AND CHARGING THE COMMITTEE WITH ITS WORK REQUIRED ALL RECOMMENDATIONS BE APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF THE WHOLE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS EIGHT MEMBERS, AND THE LAST COMMITTEE CHARGE ENABLED THE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW ADDITIONAL ITEMS NOT INCLUDED IN THESE CHARGES.
SO WITH THAT, WE'LL RUN THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE FIRST THREE CHARGES, A, B AND C, WERE EFFECTIVELY CHARTER PERFECTING CHARGES, RESOLVING CONFLICTS WITH STATE LAW, RESOLVING VAGUE OR UNCLEAR LANGUAGE, AND REPLACING GENDERED LANGUAGE WITH NON-GENDERED LANGUAGE.
YOU CAN FIND A SUMMARY OF THESE CHANGES IN EXHIBIT TWO OF YOUR BACKUP.
THE PROPOSED BALLOT LANGUAGE COMBINES CHARGES A AND B TO READ.
SHALL THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO REPLACE ALL INSTANCES OF GENDERED LANGUAGE WITH NON-GENDERED LANGUAGE? THE COMMITTEE VOTED TO COMBINE CHARGES D AND F TO RECOMMEND MODIFYING THE COUNCIL MAKEUP FROM THE CURRENT MAKEUP TO EIGHT SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS AND AN AT LARGE MAYOR.
THE COMMITTEE VOTE HERE IS NOTED AT THE END OF THIS FIRST PARAGRAPH 8 TO 4.
IF COUNCIL MOVES FORWARD WITH THIS ITEM, THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BALLOT READ SHALL THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO CONVERT THIS COUNCIL FROM FOUR SINGLE MEMBER GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRICTS TO AT-LARGE DISTRICTS AND AN AT LARGE MAYOR TO EIGHT SINGLE MEMBER GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRICTS AND THE MAYOR ELECTED AT LARGE? STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WHEN WE PUBLISH AN ESTIMATE THAT WHEN WE PUBLISH THESE BALLOT MEASURES, WE PUBLISH AN ANTICIPATED FINANCIAL ESTIMATE TO THE CITY.
YOU CAN SEE THE DETAILS OF THIS ESTIMATE IN EXHIBIT THREE OF YOUR BACKUP MATERIALS.
THE TRUE COST OF THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW, BUT THE ESTIMATE IS SPLIT BY TWO BY IMPLEMENTATION AND ANNUAL COSTS, AND INCLUDES ESTIMATED COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ADDING TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS TO COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO DRAW NEW MAPS.
CHARGE E INCREASE THE COUNCIL TERM FROM TWO TO TO 3 OR 4 YEARS.
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CHARGE G MODIFY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL STIPEND.THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS MODIFYING THE STIPEND PROVISION TO PROVIDE FOR AN ANNUAL INCREASE BASED ON THE ANNUAL COST OF LIVING INCREASE GIVEN TO CITY EMPLOYEES WITH A STIPEND CAP OF NO MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S CONSUMER PRICE INDEX OR CPI.
FOR EXAMPLE, THIS YEAR'S COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES WAS 3%, WHILE CPI HAS RANGED FROM 2% TO 9% IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. ON EXHIBIT THREE, YOU CAN SEE THE ESTIMATED STIPEND INCREASES THROUGH 2030 BASED ON THIS YEAR'S 3% INCREASE.
CHARGE H REQUIRE A STATEMENT LESS THAN 200 WORDS ON THE GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL FOR RECALL PETITIONS.
CHARGE. I INCREASE THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE TERM TO FOUR YEARS.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS ADDING THIS PROVISION TO THE CHARTER AND INCREASING THE JUDGES TERM FROM 2 TO 4 YEARS, AND THERE SHOULD BE NO SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL IMPACT FOR THIS ITEM.
CHARGE J MODIFY THE ETHICS ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS NOT LISTED IN THE CHARGES.
THESE COMMITTEES INCLUDE THE BOARD OF ETHICS, CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, HEALTH AND BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION, HISTORIC LANDMARK, COMMISSION, P AND Z AND ZBA. THE FINANCIAL IMPACT ESTIMATES INCLUDED INCLUDES THE ADDITIONAL TIME REQUIRED BY THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE TO IMPLEMENT A NEW RESIDENCY VERIFICATION PROCESS AND MAINTAIN THAT VERIFICATION PROCESS AS NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED EACH YEAR.
SO WITH THAT, WE ARE SEEKING DIRECTION ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE WILL. AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE MAYOR TO LEAD THE DISCUSSION.
I JUST NEED TO HEAR FROM THOSE THAT ARE AGAINST THE CHARTER PERFECTING CHANGES.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD NOT SUPPORT THAT MOVING FORWARD? AND THAT IS ON SLIDE SIX FOR YOUR REFERENCE.
SO THAT'S ITEM I, THAT'S SLIDE 11.
ANYONE AGAINST THE JUDGE'S TERM.
THE A, B, AND C RESOLVE CONFLICTS WITH STATE LAW.
RESOLVE VAGUE AND UNCLEAR LANGUAGE AND GENDER NEUTRAL LANGUAGE.
THAT'S WHAT WE WE WE AGREED TO DO THAT.
AND WE'RE GOING FROM A, B C TO I.
THANK YOU. YES. AND THAT'S PAGE 11.
AND THAT WOULD BE INCREASE THE JUDGE'S TERM.
OKAY. NEXT IN LINE IS ONE YEAR RESIDENCY FOR THOSE QUASI JUDICIAL BOARDS.
AND THAT'S K IS THE ITEM AT THE TOP THERE.
BUT THE IDENTIFIER AT THE TOP ANYONE AGAINST THAT MODIFICATION.
YES, I AM AGAINST THAT MODIFICATION.
AS IT STANDS ANYONE THAT MOVES INTO THE CITY AND CLAIM THAT THEY ARE AND CAN PROVE THAT THEY'RE A RESIDENT OF THE CITY, AND IF THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE ON THE CHARGE FOR ONE OF THESE COMMITTEES, I REALLY DON'T SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW LONG THEY SHOULD BE IN THE CITY.
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PEOPLE ARE TRANSIENT THESE DAYS.SO I WOULD SEE WHERE WE WOULD WANT TO, YOU KNOW, ALLOW THEM TO GET INVOLVED WHEN THEY MOVE IN RATHER THAN WAITING AN ENTIRE YEAR.
OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT THREE.
ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR? I THINK THIS IS ONLY REASONABLE, I THINK.
I THINK FOR A PERSON TO BE IN A, IN A, IN A POLICY SETTING MODE NEEDS TO BE NEEDS TO BE IN TOWN FOR A LITTLE WHILE TO KNOW WHAT THE TOWN LOOKS LIKE. I THINK IT'S LAUGHABLE THAT THAT WE WOULD APPOINT SOMEBODY TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION, AND PEOPLE WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARK WAS, HAD THEY NOT BEEN HERE AT LEAST A YEAR, I THINK.
I THINK THAT'S ONLY REASONABLE.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO? YEAH, I JUST CONCUR WITH VICKY OR COUNCILOR, BIRD AND COUNCILOR MELTZER.
I THINK EXPERTISE COMES IN MANY FORMS. YOU COULD YOU COULD HAVE LIVED IN FLOWER MOUND AND MOVED HERE AND BE COMPLETELY CONVERSANT WITH EVERYTHING.
TO ADDRESS COUNCILOR HOLLAND'S POINT AND WISHING TO SERVE.
AND I THINK WISHING TO SERVE IS IS THE THE MORE CRITICAL COMPONENT.
IT'S UP TO COUNCIL TO TO SET THE STANDARDS.
ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. THEN THAT TAKES US TO.
THAT TAKES US TO LET'S JUST GO BACK TO THE TOP, THEN.
MAYOR. POINT OF ORDER. STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER.
THANK YOU, COUNCILPERSON CHESTER.
SO WE'LL BE REVISITING THIS TOPIC THEN, BEFORE A VOTE IS TAKEN.
OR WAS THAT DIRECTION? I'M JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR.
YOU NEED FIVE TO SUPPORT IT AND WITH ONE NOT SUPPORTING THE BETTER SAID EITHER WAY, RIGHT? THERE'S NOT THERE'S NOT DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT ITEM BECAUSE OF THE NEED FOR FIVE.
THAT TAKES US TO THIS IS THE REST.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE THE WE'LL HAVE THE CONVERSATION.
THAT'S THAT IS D AND F THAT IS ON THE SEVENTH SLIDE AND JUST I'LL RECOGNIZE WHOEVER WANTS TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM.
YEAH, I'LL SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
ALTHOUGH THAT I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS CHARGE, I'LL PUT THAT OUT THERE FIRST.
I AM THINKING THAT THIS IS SOMETHING I COULD SUPPORT, BUT I DO NOT THINK THAT THE TIME FOR US TO SUPPORT THIS IS NOW.
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON OUR FUTURE.
WE'RE JUST AT THE BEGINNING STAGES OF REALLY GETTING YOU KNOW, THINGS GOING ON HERE.
THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
AND THERE IS A, YOU KNOW, A BIG INTEREST IN, IN DENTON.
THAT WILL BE A GREAT TIME TO REEVALUATE HERE.
WHEN IS THE NEXT CENSUS? IN 2030.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS, BUT I DO I DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S A GOOD THING.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT THREE.
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IF WE EVER HOPE TO HAVE COUNCIL BE SOMETHING THAT MORE PEOPLE FROM REGULAR WALKS OF LIFE CAN PARTICIPATE IN.I THINK IT'S GOT TO BECOME POSSIBLE, THAT YOU COULD REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO MEET THE PEOPLE WHO WILL VOTE IN YOUR DISTRICT, AND THAT THE COST OF REACHING THE PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT SHOULDN'T BE SO HIGH THAT YOU HAVE TO BE TAKING, YOU KNOW, LARGE CONTRIBUTIONS.
AND SO SO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT IS ATTAINABLE AND MORE ABOUT PEOPLE AND LESS ABOUT MONEY, I THINK THIS IS A THIS IS A GREAT STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.
SO I JUST ASK YOU TO WEIGH THAT.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT TWO.
YEAH. OUR PROJECTIONS ARE 250,000 BY 2050 OR SOMETHING CLOSE TO THAT.
AND IT TO TO FOLLOW ON FROM MAYOR PRO TEM MS POINT.
THE, THE DILUTION OF THAT OF REPRESENTATION GETS LARGER AND LARGER.
AND WE SEE THE ANCILLARY EFFECTS THAT HE ALLUDED TO A SECOND AGO.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, TO KEEP THOSE THAT THAT GROWTH IN PERSPECTIVE, THAT THOSE GROWTH CURVES AREN'T CHANGING, THOSE GROWTH CURVES AT AT WORST ARE GOING TO ACCELERATE. AND SO HAVING HAVING THE ABILITY TO INTERACT WITH AND HAVE MORE REPRESENTATION FOR THE CITY TO HAVE MORE NEIGHBORHOOD AGREEMENT, I THINK ONLY BECOMES A LARGER STRESS, NOT NOT LESS.
SO I ASK PEOPLE TO CONSIDER THAT THAT LEVEL OF REPRESENTATION, HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN YOU REPRESENT? AND I REALIZING THAT THE MAYOR DOES REPRESENT THE ENTIRE CITY.
AND THAT'S SORT OF THE NATURE OF THE FRAMEWORK.
I THINK THE REST OF THE COUNSELORS.
YOU KNOW, HAVING THEIR SEGMENT THAT THEY THEY CLEARLY REPRESENT IS IS IMPROVES THAT AND, AND DECREASES DILUTION OF VOTES.
SO I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT THAT BEFORE THEY MAKE UP THEIR, THEIR MIND.
ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT FOUR.
CURRENTLY. CURRENTLY, VOTERS IN DENTON CAN CAST FOUR VOTES FOR CITY COUNCIL.
AND I'M GOING TO SAY THAT AGAIN.
CURRENTLY, A VOTER CAN CAST FOUR VOTES FOR A SEVEN MEMBER CITY COUNCIL UNDER THIS.
UNDER THIS PLAN, IT'S GOING TO TAKE HALF OF THAT AWAY.
IT'S GOING TO LIMIT IT, LIMIT IT TO TWO.
IN FACT, I SEE THAT AS ABSOLUTELY GOING BACKWARDS.
AND AS FAR AS DIVERSITY, LOOK AT US.
WE'VE GOT RETIRED PEOPLE, WE'VE GOT PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE, WE'VE GOT EDUCATORS, GOT A TRUCK DRIVER.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE DIVERSE WE COULD BE.
AND INSTEAD OF GIVING YOU FOUR VOTES, THE NOTION IS TO GIVE YOU TWO.
I DON'T SEE HOW ANYBODY CAN GET ON BOARD WITH THAT.
ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE? COUNCILMEMBER, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
THIS IS NOWHERE NEAR WHAT MY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS HAD TO DEAL WITH.
JIM AND JANE CROW CAN'T MAKE THAT COMPARISON AT ALL.
I'M ON BOARD WITH THIS BECAUSE IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO HAVE MORE DIRECT ACCESS TO THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.
THIS ALLOWS FOR BETTER REPRESENTATION.
I WOULD BE A HYPOCRITE SITTING AT THIS TABLE WHO PITCHED LOCAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM IF I DID NOT ALSO SUPPORT THIS, BECAUSE THIS IS A WAY TO NEGATE THE MONEY.
THIS IS A WAY THAT SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER WILL NOT NEED HUGE CHECKS IN ORDER TO RUN FOR OFFICE.
A SINGLE MOM. THIS MAKES IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE LIKE THAT TO RUN FOR COUNCIL.
IT NEGATES THE MONEY. SO YES, I'M ABSOLUTELY YES ON THIS.
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SORT OF A MOTION PERHAPS TO PRESENT AFTER YOU'RE DONE WITH THIS ITEM.WELL, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT BEEN. I MEAN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SO YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU NEED TO SAY.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ADDING SOMETHING NEW AT THIS AT THIS LATE HOUR.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
NO ONE'S HAD IT. NO ONE'S HEARD OF IT.
NO ONE'S. SO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
APPRECIATE THAT. NO ONE SAID ANYTHING ABOUT ANYTHING NEW.
THAT'S WHY NO ONE'S HEARD OF IT. SO PERHAPS YOU WANT TO FINISH THIS UP AND THEN COME BACK TO ME.
IT'S NOT PERTAINING TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR DEFERENCE.
ANYONE ELSE ON THIS REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT SIX? COUNCILPERSON JESTER.
I WATCHED MOST ALL OF THE MEETINGS AND READ THE MATERIAL, READ SOME OF THE, THE MODEL CODE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES INPUT. TO THINK REALLY LONG AND HARD ABOUT WHAT MAKES UP THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE.
AND I'M PROUD THAT THE CITY OF DENTON HAS ELECTED SELECTED THOSE.
WE DO HAVE A DIVERSE GROUP, WHETHER IT'S RACE, RELIGION, GENDER, WE HAVE DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES.
BUT WHAT I LIKE IS THE AT LARGE IS THAT THAT HAVE RUN WE DID HAVE MINORITY RACES REPRESENTED IN EACH OF THOSE ELECTIONS, AND TWO OF THE THREE ELECTED IN AN AT LARGE ELECTION WERE INDEED A RACIAL MINORITY.
MY CONCERN ALSO IS THAT, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY THE AT LARGE SEATS ARE INCENTIVIZED TO LISTEN TO A BROAD GROUP OF PEOPLE VERSUS, SAY, SOMEONE IN A FEW NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND MY CONCERN IS THAT IF WE LOSE THAT, THEN IT WILL BE A FIGHT FOR WHO GETS A CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, THE SEWAGE PLANT OR SOMETHING THAT NOT EVERYONE LIKES, THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE.
WE ARE ALSO GROWING SO DRAMATICALLY THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT THE DIVERSIFICATION THAT HAS BEEN ARGUED FOR IS NECESSARILY TENABLE WITH REDISTRICTING.
NOT EVERYONE LIVES IN THE SAME PLACE.
NOT EVERY DIFFERENT KIND OF DIVERSE GROUP LIVES IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD.
ADDITIONALLY, THE MODEL CHARTER AND THE WISDOM IN THE BACKUP MATERIAL FOR THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE SAYS THAT YOU KNOW, BE CAREFUL OF TOO LARGE OF A GROUP BECAUSE THEY TEND TO BE MORE INEFFECTIVE, AND THAT WHILE THEY DO NOT RECOMMEND AN ALL AT LARGE COUNCIL, THAT THIS MIX OF WHAT WE HAVE IS THE IDEAL AT THIS TIME, IT'S ALSO COMPARABLE TO A LOT OF THE CITIES OF OUR SIZE AND OUR AREA. AND I ALSO AGREE WITH COUNCIL PERSON BURDEN THAT I DON'T THINK THE TIMING IS RIGHT TO CONSIDER THIS WITH THE CHANGES THAT WERE ALREADY GRAPPLING WITH THIS WILL COST MONEY.
WE JUST RAISED TAXES, WHICH DISPLEASED A LOT OF OUR CITIZENS.
AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WITH OTHER WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AS A COUNCIL, THAT THIS COULD BE DISTRACTING FROM THE OTHER LARGER ISSUES THAT WE ARE FACING THAT ARE EXPECTED OF US AS OUR BREAD AND BUTTER OF BEING ON COUNCIL.
IS THAT WHAT KIND OF A COUNTY WOULD THERE BE WITH A MICRO DISTRICT? UNFORTUNATELY, SOME SOME PEOPLE VOTE AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T.
AND SO THEY'RE THE ONLY PEOPLE BEING LISTENED TO IN THAT DISTRICT.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE DEALING WITH THAT RIGHT NOW.
I IT IT'S IT TAKES TIME AND MONEY AWAY FROM OTHER ISSUES THAT I BELIEVE ARE MORE IMPORTANT.
AND SO THIS IS ANOTHER CONCERN THAT I HAVE.
AND AGAIN, THE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY FROM MICRO DISTRICTS, ENCOURAGE FACTIONS AND ALLIANCES INSTEAD OF BROAD CONSENSUS, MORE LIKE A BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHICH IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
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DONE. THE VOTE WILL COUNT LESS.AND I MADE SOME NOTES, SO FORGIVE ME.
I HAVE SOME OTHER POINTS, BUT I THINK I'VE TAKEN ENOUGH TIME AT THIS TIME.
BUT THAT'S KIND OF A BROAD SENSE OF WHY I THINK THAT THE MAKEUP WE HAVE NOW IS SUCCESSFUL AND IS A GOOD MIX OF THOSE THAT ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO EVERYONE.
IF ONE PERSON ISN'T BEING LISTENED TO BECAUSE THEIR DISTRICT PERSON DOESN'T AGREE WITH THEM, THEY DO HAVE OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO AND THAT ARE CHARGED WITH LISTENING TO THEM.
SO I THINK WHAT WE HAVE IS, IS WORKING FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS TYPE OF MAKEUP, AND I JUST CAN'T SEE SPENDING TIME AND MONEY. AT THIS TIME TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING AND PUT SOMETHING FORWARD THAT, IN MY OPINION, TAKES US STEPS BACK FROM THE BEST MAKEUP THAT WE CAN HAVE AS A COUNCIL.
AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
ANYONE ELSE ON THIS ITEM? REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT TWO.
AND I MEAN, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THOSE WERE FOR FOR LARGE BODIES, YOU KNOW, SORT OF 20 AND 30 AND MORE.
THE THE MIX OF 5 TO 9 IS IS DEEMED THE BEST.
AND SORT OF THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE PROPOSING IN THIS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, DILUTION OF VOTES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAVING MORE AND CLOSER TO THE VOTERS SINGLE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS ALLOWS AND IT'S TALKED ABOUT IN THE MODEL CODE IS IT PREVENTS WHEN YOU HAVE PLURALITY NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND I'LL USE MY OWN AS AN EXAMPLE.
IDIOTS. HILL MAY NOT HAVE THE THE BEST BE THE BEST JUDGE OF WHAT SHOULD GO ON IN THE SOUTH PART OF DENTON, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHERE THEY ARE AND VICE VERSA.
SO YOU YOU GET THAT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE.
NOW, I WILL SAY, THOUGH, AND THE MAYOR IS A HUGE PROPONENT OF, OF THIS, AND I APPRECIATE HIM FOR SAYING IT IS ALL SEVEN OF US OR NINE OF US, AS THE CASE MAY BE REPRESENT EVERYONE IN DENTON.
WE REPRESENT DECISIONS FOR EVERYONE IN DENTON.
SO IT BECOMES THAT THAT DILUTION OF THE INTERACTION WITH YOUR POTENTIAL VOTER AND THAT RESPONSIBILITY BECOMES GERMANE, BECAUSE THAT WAY YOU HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP AND IT'S NEEDED TO TO KEEP THAT RELATIONSHIP AND HELP YOU MAKE DECISIONS ACROSS EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE.
SO I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE GIVE THIS A THINK BEFORE THEY MAKE UP THEIR MIND.
THAT TAKES US TO THE NEXT, WHICH IS.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE.
THANK YOU. MAYOR. KRISTIE, CAN YOU GO BACK TO YOUR SECOND SLIDE, PLEASE? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNED ME IN DOING AND DOING RESEARCH FOR THIS, HAVING NOT SAT IN THE SEAT FOR A CHARTER.
REASON. REASONS BEING BECAUSE GIVEN THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS COUNCIL, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO GET FIVE PEOPLE TO AGREE ON SOME OF THE MORE HOT BUTTON ITEMS. LET'S KEEP IN MIND THAT WE ARE NOT THE DECISION MAKERS, THAT THE PEOPLE DECISION MAKERS.
SO ALL WE'RE DOING IS DECIDING THAT THIS SHOULD GO BEFORE THE CITIZENS.
SIMPLE MAJORITY IS MOST OFTEN THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS.
I MEAN, WE ELECT JUDGES WITH A SIMPLE MAJORITY.
SUSPENDING THE RULES HAS PRECEDENT HERE.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO MADE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
SO I BELIEVE THIS IS RIGHT IN LINE WITH WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
[00:35:01]
SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT MAKING A SIMPLE MAJORITY DECISION ABOUT WHAT WE DECIDE GOES ON THE BALLOT FOR THE VOTERS IN MAY.AT THIS AT THIS STAGE THAT'S OUT OF ORDER.
JUST FROM THIS SLIDE, THE ORDINANCE HAS TO BE AN ACTIONABLE ITEM.
THAT'S NOT WHERE WE'RE AT AT THIS STAGE.
SO, MR. MAYOR, WHEN WOULD THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO MAKE THIS MOTION WOULD BE? WOULD THIS BE IN THE NIGHT MEETING.
WHEN THE ORDINANCE IS ON THE FLOOR.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE APPROPRIATE MOTIONS AND AND THE PUBLIC MEETING FOR AN ACTUAL VOTE.
OKAY. THAT TAKES US TO COUNCIL TERMS. IT'S ITEM E, IT'S ON PAGE EIGHT.
I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.
COUNCIL TERMS. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO.
YEAH. NO REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT ONE.
THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT I'M MOST LIKELY GOING TO DISAGREE WITH.
I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK THAT WE WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF HAVING TWO, THREE YEAR TERMS. AND I THINK THAT THIS IS IF WE'RE THINKING THAT WAY, IT'S GOING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES REGARDING FINANCING BECAUSE IT IS A PRESSURE TO LOOK FOR FUNDING FOR ANYBODY WHO'S EVER RUN FOR OFFICE.
IT IS A VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TASK LOOKING FOR FUNDING.
THERE ARE SO MANY HANDS YOU HAVE TO SHAKE, SO MANY PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE TO MEET.
REGARDLESS IF YOU WANT TO OR NOT.
HONESTLY SPEAKING AND RESPECTFULLY SPEAKING ON THAT, BUT HAVING THE ABILITY TO JUST GO OUT THERE TWICE INSTEAD OF THREE TIMES IS WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO ANYONE.
ALSO BEING ON THE COUNCIL AND I'LL JUST SIMPLY USE.
YOU JUST REALLY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO GAIN YOUR BEARINGS AT SOME POINT AND START FINDING YOUR VOICE AND BEING MORE VOCAL AND HAVING ESTABLISHING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE AROUND IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO GIVING PEOPLE THAT GET ON THE COUNCIL AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW UP A LITTLE BIT YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF JUST THE ABILITY TO GET YOUR FEET GOING AND I KNOW I'M JUST SPEAKING FOR ME.
I DON'T KNOW HOW. ELSE ANYBODY WOULD APPROACH THAT.
BUT IF I WERE TO HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN.
AND THAT WOULD BE SO ANNOYING TO HAVE TO.
BUT I KNOW I'VE GOT TO DO IT AGAIN IF I CHOOSE TO DO IT AGAIN.
BUT IN ANY CASE, YEAH, I LIKE THE PUBLIC TO, TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY LOOK ON.
THAT AND MAYBE THIS MIGHT GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO WANT TO TRY THIS AT SOME POINT.
SO I'LL JUST LEAVE THAT THERE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THAT.
OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK ON THE COUNCIL TERM DISCUSSION REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE FOUR AND THEN TWO. I TO I TO DISAGREE.
I AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER BERT.
I THINK LONGER TERMS FAVOR BETTER GOVERNANCE.
AND AGAIN, YOU MIGHT HEAR ME SAY THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES.
I'D BE A HYPOCRITE IF I DID NOT SUPPORT THIS, GIVEN THAT I PITCHED LOCAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM IN AN EFFORT TO NEGATE SOME OF THE MONEY, THE MASSES OF MONEY THAT ARE COMING INTO LOCAL COUNCIL RACES.
INSTEAD OF THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDING A NO.
[00:40:08]
YES. YOU'RE SUPPORTIVE OF OF NOT I MEAN I'M, I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.NOW I'M GOING TO SAY THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS NOT INCREASING THE TWO YEAR COUNCIL TERM.
AND WE REALLY NEEDED TO TO EITHER 3 OR 4 YEAR TERM.
I AM NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT.
I WOULD PREFER THE ANOTHER TYPE OF TERM TWO THREE YEAR TERMS. THAT IS WHAT I AM HOPING THAT WE CAN GET TO.
SORRY TO CONFUSE YOU. YEAH, I'M THERE TOO.
I'M FOR LONGER TERMS, NOT KEEPING THE SAME.
MAYOR, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE OF THE POLICY THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY.
I THINK THIS IS A FIRST OF ALL, IT'S WORKED VERY, VERY WELL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
IT IT ALLOWS A COUNCIL MEMBER TO RUN.
YOU SAY, GOSH, I'VE DONE MY TWO YEARS, I THINK I'D LIKE TO GET OUT.
CONVERSELY, IT ALSO GIVES THE VOTERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THIS, THIS PERSON ISN'T DOING ISN'T REPRESENTING US QUITE THE WAY WE HAD HAD IT EXPECTED IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND IT GIVES IT GIVES THE VOTERS A WAY OUT.
I THINK IT WORKS, WORKS WELL ON BOTH, ON BOTH ENDS.
AND I THINK THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN WORKING SO WELL FOR SO LONG IS, IS DEMONSTRATION OF THAT.
SO SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DON'T KNOW WHERE I COME DOWN ON THIS AS FAR AS THE VERBIAGE.
I'M IN FAVOR OF, OF KEEPING THE TWO YEAR COUNCIL TERM 232 YEAR COUNCIL TERMS. GOT IT. THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE IN DISTRICT TWO.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CAN I CAN I ASK HOW YOU WANT TO HANDLE THE THE DIRECTION GOING FORWARD ON SOME OF THESE ITEMS SINCE SOME OF THE ITEMS ARE AGAINST THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE, LIKE IN THIS ONE.
THIS WAS THE THE COMMITTEE VOTED RECOMMENDED AGAINST THE LANGUAGE.
SO A YES OR DIRECTION FOR WOULD BE TO THE CHANGE AND DIRECTION.
HOW DO YOU WANT US TO SPECIFY OUR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION.
OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU TO COUNT HEADS.
SURE. SO FOR SOME OF THE REASONS THAT COUNCILOR BYRD MENTIONED AND STAFF HAS MENTIONED THIS MANY TIMES THERE IS A, A KIND OF LEARNING CURVE AND A KIND OF CHURN TO THE COMMUNITY THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NECESSARILY HEALTHY IN TERMS OF OF MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS.
AND SO I AM FOR THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE, NOT FOR THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT THREE.
I KNOW WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST.
YEAH, I KNOW I'M NOT OPENING THAT DOOR.
IT'S GOING TO BE HARD ENOUGH FOR US TO GET THROUGH THIS AS IS.
I'M NOT OPENING THAT DOOR BECAUSE THAT.
WHERE DOES THAT END? RIGHT. BECAUSE I HAVE I HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS MYSELF AS WELL.
SO WE'LL LET THE THE MEETINGS ARE RECORDED.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE BEFORE I GO BACK AROUND? OH, NO, I HADN'T GONE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT SIX.
THANK YOU, COUNCILPERSON JESTER.
THANK YOU. WELL, I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE INPUT.
AND THERE ARE DEFINITELY SOME THINGS I HADN'T THOUGHT OF.
[00:45:01]
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.AND I ABSOLUTELY RESPECT EVERYONE'S OPINION.
MY OPINION IS I THINK THE TWO YEAR TERM DOES WORK BEST.
BUT IT IS A BIG COMMITMENT AND IT'S TIME AWAY FROM YOUR PROFESSION.
IT'S TIME AWAY FROM YOUR JOB AND WORKING WITH YOUR EMPLOYER AS WELL AS YOUR FAMILY.
AND SO I THINK THAT WE WOULD BE LIMITING WHO WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO RUN AND PARTICIPATE BY INCREASING THE TERM POTENTIALLY YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW AND I COULD BE MISTAKEN, BUT I THINK THE MAJORITY OF COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE RETIRED, AND THERE'S PROBABLY A REASON FOR THAT.
AND SO WHAT MY FEAR IS, IS THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO LIMIT THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN BECAUSE OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, IF THEY KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A LARGER CHUNK OF TIME.
SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I AND OTHER AND OTHER REASONS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER PUT FORWARD I, I AGREE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMITTEE.
THAT TAKES US TO OUR LAST ITEM, WHICH IS STIPENDS.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO.
I'M. THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO HAVE A A CPI TRACKING INCREASE FROM THE STIPEND.
I, I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE LANGUAGE ALREADY IN THERE.
WE'VE JUST NEVER AVAILED OURSELVES OF THAT.
IT IS JUST THAT COUNCIL CAN, BY ORDINANCE, INCREASE THEIR STIPEND UP TO 3% PER YEAR.
CORRECT. SO THIS THIS RECOMMENDATION IS A AS A AS A BALLOT MEASURE WOULD HAVE WHAT EFFECT IT WOULD ANNUAL IT WOULD OUGHT TO MAKE IT AUTOMATICALLY ANNUAL.
NOW YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO DO THIS BY ORDINANCE.
COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO INITIATE THAT PROCESS AND BRING IT FORWARD.
AND IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS SINCE THE STIPEND WAS PUT INTO PLACE IN 2017, THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE.
THIS WOULD MAKE IT AN AUTOMATIC ANNUAL INCREASE THAT IS EQUAL TO WHATEVER CITY EMPLOYEES GET AS THEIR COST OF LIVING, AND THEN THE CPI WOULD BE THE CAP.
THEN THEN THEN THEN I'M I'M FOR THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION.
ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE? REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR.
IT IS AN ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ON THIS BODY.
IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT, THAT ANYBODY WAS DOING THIS FOR THE MONEY.
THAT'S JUST THAT'S JUST NOT WHY ONE IS CALLED TO DO THIS.
3% OF WHAT WE'RE GETTING, WHAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GETTING NOW IS $22.50.
IT'S IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO BE ANY MONEY.
THAT'S THAT IS NOT THE REASON THAT I SERVE.
AND I CERTAINLY HOPE IT'S NOT THE REASON THAT OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SERVING.
IT'S, IT'S IT'S FOR LOVE OF CITY AND AND WANTING TO GET INVOLVED.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT THREE? I APPRECIATE THE COMMITTEE SORT OF WANTING TO THROW A BONE, AS IT WERE, BUT I'M INCLINED TO AGREE WITH WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLAND.
IT IT COST OF LIVING INCREASE.
MAKES SENSE IF THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE A LIVING.
I, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY MAKES A LIVING BY SERVING ON COUNCIL.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF IT WERE A MEASURE THAT WAS REALLY GOING TO CHANGE THE GAME TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE A BREAK FROM A DIFFERENT KIND OF JOB SO THAT THEY COULD SERVE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S A MORE SIGNIFICANT THING TO ASK OF THE VOTERS.
AND I, YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW THEY DISCUSSED THAT THEY CHOSE NOT TO GO AFTER THAT.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND ASK FOR $22, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S NOT ABOUT MAKING A LIVING.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE? WELL I AM GOING TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND ASK FOR THEM TO AGREE WITH THIS.
[00:50:02]
BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY DOES ALLOW THE OPPORTUNITY TO YOU KNOW, GAIN MORE PARTICIPATION. I DON'T BELIEVE ANYBODY IN HERE IS, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO LIVE OFF THIS LITTLE $692 A MONTH, BUT IT CERTAINLY DOES HELP PUT GAS IN YOUR CAR.WHEN YOU ARE MEETING CONSTITUENTS.
THEY'RE ASKING YOU TO COME TO THEIR HOMES.
MEET THEM HERE DOWN BY THE LAKE.
AND WHEN THEY WANT YOU TO COME, THAT IS WHAT YOU DO.
YOU GO AND MEET WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND SO THAT IS THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, I USE MY MONEY FOR IS TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN MEET MY CONSTITUENTS WHEN THEY CALL ON ME, AND TO GO OUT OF TOWN IN THOSE KINDS OF BASIC THINGS LIKE THAT.
I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR YOU KNOW, FOR SOME SUPPORT LIKE THAT.
WHY NOT JUST START THE STANDARD? AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF WE'RE INTO 2030, 2050, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A STANDARD.
AND SO THAT SHOULDN'T BE TOO MUCH, TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS AS THEY ARE RELYING ON US TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THEM. THANK YOU.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT FIVE.
WITH RESPECT TO THE STIPEND, THIS IS NOT AT ALL A HILL THAT I'M GOING TO DIE ON.
WHILE I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER BYRD, I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S PROBABLY APPROPRIATE FOR US TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND ASK FOR MORE MONEY AT A TIME WHEN WE JUST HAD A NATIONAL ELECTION, AND THEY TOLD US THAT THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRICE OF LIVING.
NOW, ALTHOUGH WE KNOW THEY LIED, WE KNOW THAT THE ECONOMY IS NOT REALLY WHAT PEOPLE THINK IT IS.
SO THIS PROBABLY ISN'T RIGHT FOR FOR THIS BODY TO DO RIGHT NOW.
I WOULD ASK YOU THE QUESTION, WHO'S BEEN WORKING FOR? IF WE'RE BEING HONEST, CITY COUNCIL IS A REVOLVING DOOR OF RICH FOLKS, RETIRED FOLKS, REAL ESTATE FOLKS, LAWYERS, HOUSEWIVES AND HOUSE HUSBANDS.
THAT'S WHO'S SETTING THESE SEATS TRADITIONALLY.
AND THAT MIGHT MAKE SOME OF US UNCOMFORTABLE TO HEAR THAT.
BUT IF WE'RE BEING HONEST WITH OURSELVES, IT'S THE TRUTH.
THERE'S NOT TOO MANY REGULAR WORKING PEOPLE WHO CAN RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL AND MAKE WHAT WE MAKE.
I MYSELF AM IN A FORTUNATE POSITION THAT I'VE BEEN WITH MY BOSS FOR A VERY LONG TIME, EVEN WHEN I WAS STILL IN SCHOOL, AND HE UNDERSTANDS MY POSITION. SO MY JOB HAS MADE ALLOWANCES FOR ME, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF MOST PEOPLE HAVE JOBS THAT WOULD MAKE ALLOWANCES FOR THEM TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY IN THIS PARTICULAR WAY.
SO WHILE AGAIN, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER BYRD, WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY, AT SOME POINT CONSIDER RAISING THE COUNCIL STIPEND SO THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO DO THIS WORK ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS.
I'M OKAY NOT SENDING THIS TO THE VOTERS BECAUSE EVERYTHING COSTS MORE MONEY.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NONE. OKAY, THEN TO RECAP, LET ME GET THERE.
GOING FORWARD TO THE VOTE ON IN JANUARY.
WE'LL CALL THE ELECTION BY ORDINANCE IN JANUARY.
THE ELECTION ITSELF WILL BE HELD IN MAY.
OKAY. THE FOR THAT THAT TO CALL THE ELECTION IN JANUARY CHARTER.
IT'S ONE PERFECTING THE CHARTER CHANGES THAT'S A B C THEN THE OTHER THING IS THE JUDGE ITEM I AND BY MY NOTES THAT'S EVERYTHING.
WE DID NOT VISIT H OR J H OR J SURE DIDN'T.
[00:55:03]
THE COMMITTEE DOES NOT RECOMMEND REQUIRING THE STATEMENT.AND J IS THE ETHICS ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS, WHICH IS ALSO NO RECOMMENDATION.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO.
THE ITEM H, I THINK WATCHING THE DISCUSSION LOOKING AT THE BACK AND FORTH THAT THE MEETINGS ON THIS ITEM AND THEN YOU KNOW IN, IN COMMUNICATION WITH SOME OF THE MEMBERS MYSELF INDIVIDUALLY WITH THEM, THEY WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS WAS A 200 WORDS, YOU KNOW, WORDSMITHING SOME OF THEM STATED THAT THEY VOTED AGAINST THIS BECAUSE THEY WANTED MORE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES.
I THINK THEY GOT TIED UP IN, IN THE, THE RECOMMENDATION, AND I'LL FOLLOW THAT ON WITH THAT SINCE WE SUBMITTED THESE CHARGES TO GO FORWARD TO COMMITTEE, WE'VE HAD TWO RECALL PETITIONS OCCUR IN THIS TOWN.
I'D LIKE TO TO PROMOTE THE IDEA THAT WE ADD GROUNDS TO THIS AT THIS MEETING FOR TO TO VOTE ON NEXT MEETING, TO GIVE DIRECTION, TO ADD GROUNDS OF, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE, YOU KNOW, MISCONDUCT, MALFEASANCE, CRIMINALITY OR MEDICAL INCOMPETENCE.
IF YOU IF YOU DON'T HAVE GROUNDS, THEN YOU WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE KINDS OF FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS OR FRIVOLOUS RECALL EFFORTS THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING. SO I'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
I'M RECOMMENDING THAT THE WORD, THE WORDING FOR A BALLOT LANGUAGE IS, IS SHALL THIS CITY BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE THE RATIONALE FOR RECALL TO INCLUDE GROUNDS FOR RECALL, FOR MISCONDUCT, MALFEASANCE, CRIMINALITY, MEDICAL INCOMPETENCE.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT THREE.
I FULLY SUPPORT AND AS A POTENTIAL WAY TO ADMINISTER THAT, BECAUSE THEN YOU COULD SAY, WELL, WHO DECIDES WHETHER GROUNDS HAVE BEEN MET? I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THAT THAT BE A CHARGE OF THE BOARD OF ETHICS TO JUST DETERMINE WHETHER A PETITION HAS MET ONE OF THE STATED GROUNDS, AND THEN IT CAN GO TO THE PUBLIC, AND THE PUBLIC CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT.
I'M JUST MAKING SURE I GOT THE NOTES RIGHT.
WELL, THEY DECIDE ALL KINDS OF THINGS RELATED TO US AND THEY ALSO HAVE RECUSALS.
I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR.
I'M HAPPY WITH THE SYSTEM THE WAY IT IS.
AND I THINK THAT THIS SPEAKS WELL TO TO YOUR TERMS. I THINK THIS GOES BACK TO THAT VERY, VERY THING.
I THINK THE SYSTEM WORKS WELL.
AND THE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHANGE IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE IT.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLAND IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ON THIS ISSUE.
THIS SPEAKS WELL FOR TWO YEAR TERMS. SO SINCE THIS SPEAKS WELL FOR TWO YEAR TERMS, I GUESS WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE RECALLS FOR CAUSE BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY IN THESE SEATS FOR TWO YEARS, AND THERE'S ANOTHER ELECTION IN DENTON EVERY YEAR.
AND IT SAID COUNCIL MEMBERS UP FOR REELECTION EVERY TWO YEARS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSISTENCY ON THAT.
TAKES US TO ITEM J, WHICH IS MODIFY ETHICS ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS.
I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.
OKAY, THEN BY MY RECORDS THAT MOVES FORWARD.
ITEM ONE, WHICH IS A, B, C AND J, WHICH IS I MEAN I, I, WHICH IS A JUDGE'S TERM.
TAKES US TO OUR SECOND WORK SESSION, WHICH IS ID 242038.
[B. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding Audit Project 028 - Warehouse Inventory Management: Follow-Up Review. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 15 minutes]]
RECEIVE, REPORT, HOLD DISCUSSION AND GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING THE AUDIT PROJECT.[01:00:03]
028 WAREHOUSE INVENTORY MANAGEMENT.HERE TO PRESENT THIS FINDING OUR FINDINGS FROM THIS FOLLOW UP REVIEW.
THIS REVIEW WAS BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSES ORIGINALLY COMPILED IN THE AUDIT OF WAREHOUSE INVENTORY MANAGEMENT, WHICH WAS ISSUED ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN AUGUST OF 2022.
THE AUDIT OF WAREHOUSE INVENTORY MANAGEMENT EVALUATED THE CONTROLS AND PROCESSES IMPLEMENTED BY THE CITY TO ENSURE WAREHOUSE INVENTORY IS ADEQUATELY MANAGED, INCLUDING EFFECTIVE ASSET SAFEGUARDS AND INVENTORY ORDERING, DISTRIBUTION, AND DISPOSAL PROCESS PROCESSES.
FOR THIS AUDIT, FOLLOW UP REVIEW FOUND IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE WAREHOUSE AND WAREHOUSES INVENTORY MANAGEMENT PROCESSES, INCLUDING RECEIVING AND STOCKING INVENTORY, PROCESSING INVENTORY ORDERS, AND MANAGING AUCTIONED INVENTORY.
SO TO BEGIN, THE CITY HAS CREATED A CENTRALIZED WAREHOUSE THAT PROMOTES EFFICIENCY THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION BY CENTRALIZING THE ORDERING, RECEIVING, AND STORAGE PROCESSES FOR MOST ITEMS FREQUENTLY NEEDED BY DEPARTMENTS WHEN CARRYING OUT THEIR FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING THINGS LIKE AIR FILTERS, GLOVES, NUTS AND BOLTS, PIPES, AND MORE.
TO BE EFFECTIVE, THE WAREHOUSE MUST ENSURE THAT IT HAS THE ITEMS ITS CUSTOMERS NEED WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED, AND IT IS CRITICAL THAT INVENTORY ORDERS BE ADEQUATELY DOCUMENTED TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY IS RECEIVING THE GOODS IT ACTUALLY ORDERED FOR THE CONTRACTED PRICE.
ORGANIZATIONS TYPICALLY ESTABLISH A WHAT'S CALLED A PICKING PROCESS, WHEREBY CUSTOMERS PLACE ORDERS AND WAREHOUSE STAFF COLLECT THE ITEMS FROM THE WAREHOUSE TO PREPARE THEM FOR PICKUP. FURTHER, SOMETIMES CUSTOMERS MUST RETURN UNUSED ITEMS, AND THE CUSTOMER ORDERING AND RETURNS PROCESS IS ULTIMATELY USED TO ALLOCATE THE CITY'S COSTS ACROSS DEPARTMENTS BASED ON ACTUAL USAGE, SO IT'S CRITICAL THAT DOCUMENTATION IS COMPLETE AND ACCURATE SO THESE COSTS CAN BE APPROPRIATELY TRACKED.
BASED ON THE ORIGINAL AUDIT, WE FOUND THAT DOCUMENTATION OF INVENTORY ORDERS, CUSTOMER ORDERS AND CUSTOMER RETURNS COULD BE IMPROVED AS RECORDS SUCH AS VENDOR RECEIPTS, QUANTITY VERIFICATIONS, AND CUSTOMER SIGNATURES WERE OCCASIONALLY MISSING.
SINCE THE ORIGINAL AUDIT, THE WAREHOUSE DIVISION HAS IMPLEMENTED AN UPDATED STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES TO HELP BETTER ESTABLISH DOCUMENTATION EXPECTATIONS FOR THESE PROCESSES BASED ON ADDITIONAL REVIEWS AS PART OF THE FOLLOW UP REVIEW.
HOWEVER, SIMILAR LEVELS OF RETURN DOCUMENTATION WERE MISSING.
ADDITIONALLY, A SURVEY OF WAREHOUSE CUSTOMERS CONDUCTED DURING THE ORIGINAL AUDIT FOUND THAT WHILE THE WAREHOUSE GENERALLY PROVIDED EFFECTIVE SERVICE, CUSTOMERS INDICATED IT WAS OCCASIONALLY DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT ITEMS WERE IN STOCK IF THEY WERE TRYING TO ORDER IN PERSON.
AS IN-PERSON CATALOGS WERE PRINTED ON PAPER AND SEPARATED BY DEPARTMENT.
IN ADDITION, WAREHOUSE STAFF STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP THESE CATALOGS UPDATED, AND THEY FELT HAVING TO PRINT THE CATALOGS DIDN'T ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S SUSTAINABILITY GOALS. SINCE THEN, THE CITY HAS UNDERGONE A NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR A NEW ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING SOFTWARE SYSTEM.
WAREHOUSE INVENTORY MANAGEMENT WAS EVALUATED AS PART OF THIS NEEDS ASSESSMENT, AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CITY'S INVENTORY MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING SYSTEMS ARE EXPECTED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NEW ERP SOFTWARE, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTATION IN 2027, WHICH WILL IMPROVE THESE PROCESSES FURTHER.
IN PARTICULAR, PHYSICAL SECURITY MEASURES SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED.
ACCESS TO INVENTORY SHOULD BE RESTRICTED AND INVENTORY LEVELS SHOULD BE PERIODICALLY VERIFIED.
FURTHER, THE WAREHOUSE IS WORKING WITH THE FACILITIES DIVISION TO REPLACE PHYSICAL KEYS WITH ELECTRONIC BADGE READERS, WHICH SHOULD HELP TO REDUCE THE RISK THAT LOST KEYS MAY BE USED INAPPROPRIATELY.
[01:05:05]
BEEN COUNTED DURING THAT TWO YEAR PERIOD.AND CYCLE COUNT RESULTS WERE DOCUMENTED EFFECTIVELY.
FINALLY, DURING THE ORIGINAL AUDIT, THE CITY'S SURPLUS ITEM DISPOSAL PROCESS HAD RECENTLY BEEN CENTRALIZED WITH THE WAREHOUSE DIVISION, THOUGH IT SHOULD BE NOTED, OF COURSE, THAT ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT THEY FOLLOW THE CITY'S DISPOSAL PROCESS POLICIES.
IN PARTICULAR, THERE WERE SEVERAL METHODS THE DEPARTMENT MAY USE TO DISPOSE OF PROPERTY OR EQUIPMENT THEY NO LONGER USE, INCLUDING TRANSFERRING THE ITEM TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT, DONATING THE ITEM TO A NONPROFIT, AUCTIONING AN ITEM, OR DESTROYING IT.
IN ADDITION, WE FOUND THAT FEW ITEMS HAD GONE THROUGH THE WAREHOUSES DONATION PROCESS.
NEXT, DURING THE ORIGINAL AUDIT, ITEMS VALUED LESS THAN $100.
I'M SORRY. DURING THE ORIGINAL ITEM AUDIT, SORRY ITEMS VALUED LESS THAN $100 AND NOT CONSIDERED TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER COULD BE DESTROYED, BUT WERE REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED TO THE WAREHOUSE THROUGH A DATABASE FORM.
THE CITY'S BOOKS CAN BE APPROPRIATELY UPDATED, LIKELY INCREASING EFFICIENCY AS WELL.
WE FOUND THAT A STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR AUCTIONS HAD NOT BEEN ADOPTED, AND THAT THERE WERE OCCASIONALLY ISSUES WITH DOCUMENTATION, SUCH AS MISSING EVIDENCE OF THE BUYER'S IDENTIFICATION AND SIGNATURE UPON PICKUP.
SINCE THEN, THE WAREHOUSE DIVISION HAS IMPLEMENTED A STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.
HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE A PROCESS FOR RECONCILING AUCTION PROCEEDS.
IT'S STILL DOCUMENTATION OF AUCTION PICKUPS HAVE GENERALLY IMPROVED.
I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL HAVE.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO.
THANK YOU. SO IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WAS A LOT OF AGREEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ALMOST EVERYTHING.
SOME SOME LIGHT LACK OF OF OF ABILITY TO FIND SOME DOCUMENTATION FOR, FOR CERTAIN THINGS.
IS IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME FROM THE BACKUP.
AND THIS IS WHY I'M ASKING YOU.
WHAT BEST PRACTICE IS IN TERMS OF STRINGENCY IS IS BEST PRACTICE A 0% ERROR RATE? I ASSUME GENERALLY FOR FINANCIAL MATTERS, YES.
MOSTLY. YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY INACCURACIES IN FINANCIAL ISSUES, BUT.
OR IS THERE A BEST PRACTICE STANDARD? AND DOES IT VARY BETWEEN THINGS SUCH THAT MAYBE 100% ATTAINMENT IS TOO INFLEXIBLE? DO YOU SEE THAT? WHERE I'M GOING WITH MY QUESTION? YEAH, I THINK SO. SO IN GENERAL IN FINANCIAL MATTERS, WE TALK ABOUT MATERIALITY.
AND YOU KNOW, LIKE WITH THE CITY HAS A BUDGET OF 1.8 BILLION, I BELIEVE.
YOU KNOW, A $25 PURCHASE IS NOT NECESSARILY MATERIAL TO THAT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE TO THAT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CITY AS A WHOLE, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT CERTAIN.
SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW OUR EXTERNAL AUDITORS JUDGE THINGS, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
MAYBE I'M GOING A LITTLE TOO FAR, BUT SO WITHIN INTERNAL AUDIT, WE CAN TAKE THAT BROAD SCOPE AND NARROW IT DOWN TO LOOK AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT MATERIALITY THRESHOLDS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S HELPFUL.
YEAH. SO THEN I WOULD SAY OBVIOUSLY, YES, YOU WOULD WANT 0%.
[01:10:02]
BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS FEASIBLE.SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE HUMAN, RIGHT? SO THERE'S POTENTIALLY ERRORS.
I THINK WHEN WE DO, WE USE STATISTICAL SAMPLES.
AND SO GENERALLY IF WE'RE WITHIN UNDER THAT LIKE KIND OF VARIANCE, WE CONSIDER THAT TO BE OKAY.
IF THAT MAKES SENSE. SO IF OUR VARIANCE IS 5% OR 10% AND WE'RE UNDER THAT OR WE'VE IMPROVED WITH WITHIN THAT AMOUNT AND WE CONSIDER THAT TO BE NOT MATERIALLY SIGNIFICANT.
DOES THAT HELP? NO, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND THE REASON I ASKED THE QUESTION IS THIS WAS A FOLLOW UP AND YOU WERE PROPOSING A FOLLOW UP IN THE FUTURE, POSSIBLY POSSIBLY A FOLLOW UP IN THE FUTURE, I GUESS, FOR THE ONES IN PROGRESS.
CORRECT. SO AT WHAT POINT IF YOU IF YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE OCCASIONAL HUMAN ERROR WHERE I, I FAILED TO GET MOST OF IT, WASN'T THAT ANYTHING WAS DONE NECESSARILY WRONG.
IT'S JUST WE COULDN'T TRACK 100% OF EVERYTHING.
AND SOME OF THAT WAS JUST, WELL, DID WE HAVE A LINE ITEM IN THE BOOK FOR IT? NOT THAT WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY SPEND THE MONEY IN THE WAYS THAT IT WAS SUGGESTED.
HOW DO WE KNOW WHEN WE'VE WE'VE HIT A STABLE THRESHOLD.
SO GENERALLY WHEN WE DO A FOLLOW UP, IF WE HAVE IF MOST THINGS I WOULD SAY LIKE A SUBSTANTIVE, SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE AUDIT'S RECOMMENDATIONS ARE IMPLEMENTED.
AND THOSE GO OUT IN A FRIDAY REPORT.
SO WE DON'T I DON'T COME HERE AND TELL YOU ABOUT THEM BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY WE'VE DETERMINED MOST OF THE RISK THAT OCCURRED THAT WE IDENTIFIED IN THE AUDIT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. BUT WE WANTED TO CHECK THOSE COUPLE OTHER THINGS.
AND SO WE DO THAT AN INFORMAL REVIEW, IF LIKE ONLY A FEW OF THE AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED, WE'LL DO A SECOND FORMAL, A SECOND FORMAL REVIEW WHERE I COME BACK AND SAY, HEY, WE WE DID THIS PREVIOUSLY, BUT HERE'S THE UPDATE AGAIN.
AND AT THAT. AND SO AND DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS, I MIGHT GET DIRECTION FROM YOU ALL AT THAT POINT OF LIKE, WE DON'T THINK THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED OR AND SO WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE PROJECT AND COME BACK AND DO A DIFFERENT REVIEW.
OR WE MIGHT SAY WE THINK ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IT JUST IT'S KIND OF DEPENDENT.
BUT USUALLY IF EVERYTHING IS IMPLEMENTED OR THE RISK IS MITIGATED OR WE THINK AT THIS POINT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY COMPLETELY MITIGATED, BUT WE KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. WE MIGHT CLOSE THE PROJECT AND THEN COME, WHICH DOESN'T MEAN WE WON'T COME BACK TO THAT DIVISION AT SOME POINT, BUT JUST THAT THAT PROJECT IS OVER.
DOES THAT HELP AT ALL? NO, NO, IT IS HELPFUL.
IT PUTS INTO CONTEXT AND I APPRECIATE THE EDUCATION.
IT HELPS ME UNDERSTAND SORT OF WHERE WE ARE.
I'M GOOD WITH WITH THE AUDITOR'S ANSWERS.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
TAKES US TO ITEM C ID 242359 RECEIVE REPORT WHOLE DISCUSSION AND GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING
[C. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding the Denton Chamber of Commerce’s fair chance hiring pilot program. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 30 minutes]]
THE DENTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FAIR CHANCE HIRING PILOT PROGRAM.GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CHRISTY FOGLE, CHIEF OF STAFF.
AS A REFRESHER, THIS ITEM FIRST CAME BEFORE COUNCIL AS A TWO MINUTE PITCH IN JUNE OF 2023.
LATER THAT SAME MONTH, COUNCIL POSTPONED CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE PENDING A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PERIOD FROM OCTOBER TO DECEMBER 2023, AND THEN IN JANUARY OF 2024, THE ORDINANCE WAS POSTPONED FOR 120 DAYS TO ALLOW THE DENTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO DEVELOP AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL.
THE ORDINANCE WAS CONSIDERED BY COUNCIL, BUT IT DID NOT PASS.
THE GOAL OF THESE WORKSHOPS BEING RECRUITING FOR BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORK OPPORTUNITY TAX CREDIT OR FIDELITY BONDING PROGRAMS THAT ARE OFFERED BY THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS.
PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES WOULD RECEIVE REPORT SUPPORT AND RESOURCES PROVIDED BY THE CHAMBER TO APPLY FOR THESE PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROPOSAL INCLUDED A RESOURCE SHARING COMPONENT ON THEIR WEBSITE AND MARKING FAIR CHANCE HIRING FRIENDLY BUSINESSES ON THEIR CHAMBER BUSINESS LIST.
SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE INQUIRED.
[01:15:03]
AN UPDATE FROM THE CHAMBER ON THE PROPOSED PROGRAM, AND TO ADDRESS THOSE INQUIRIES AND PROVIDE AN UPDATE.THE CHAMBER REPORTED THAT IN AUGUST OF 2024, THE CHAMBER AND THE CITY INITIATED THE TRANSITION OF THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU FROM THE CHAMBER TO THE CITY, AND THIS TRANSITION HAS TEMPORARILY IMPACTED THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THE FAIR CHANCE HIRING PROGRAM DURING THIS PERIOD, THE CHAMBER HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY INQUIRIES FROM BUSINESSES REGARDING THE PROGRAM, AND THE CHAMBER PLANS TO LAUNCH THE PROGRAM IN EARLY 2025.
SO TODAY, WE'RE SEEKING DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL ON HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED.
OPTION TWO WOULD REQUIRE A NEW TWO MINUTE PITCH TO BE MADE BEFORE MOVING FORWARD.
AND ERIN, WITH THE DENTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS HERE IN THE GALLERY AS WELL.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE MAYOR.
OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF DISCUSSION.
AS THEY POINTED OUT, LOOKING FOR NEXT STEPS IS THE CONCLUSION OF YOUR OR THE DIRECTION WE NEED.
SO QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT THREE.
I MEAN, DO THEY NEED AN EXTENSION IN ORDER TO DO IT, OR WHETHER WE.
NO MATTER HOW WHAT, NO MATTER WHAT DIRECTION WE GIVE, CAN'T THEY EITHER DO IT OR NOT? WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF OF THE DEADLINE? THEY CAN.
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THOSE.
OKAY, THEY COULD DO IT EITHER WAY.
BUT THIS WOULD STATE THAT THEY COULD DO IT.
IS THAT THE GIST? CORRECT. OKAY.
TWO WE CAN'T GIVE THAT DIRECTION HERE.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT SIX.
I CAN CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND HAVING.
IT'S BEEN YEARS, BUT BEING INVOLVED IN THE CHAMBER.
HAVING TO FIGURE OUT WHO STAYS, WHO GOES.
SO I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE TIME SENSITIVE PRIORITY.
THEREFORE, I'D BE IN FAVOR OF OPTION ONE AND JUST GIVING THEM MORE TIME TO COMPLETE ALL OF THE EXTRA STEPS THAT THEY NOW HAVE THAT THEY WEREN'T ANTICIPATING AT THE TIME THEY MADE ENTERED INTO THE OBLIGATION TO HAVE THESE DONE BY A CERTAIN DATE UNLESS.
MISS. CARTER HAS ANY OTHER INPUT AS FAR AS THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED ANYMORE.
AM STILL ON BOARD WITH EXTENDING THE DEADLINE.
ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR.
I APPRECIATE THE CITY, THE THE CHAMBER.
I APPRECIATE THE CITY. TO APPRECIATE THE THE CHAMBER'S WORK ON THIS PROJECT.
AND I THINK THEY'VE THEY'VE CERTAINLY SHOWN DUE DILIGENCE ON THIS.
BUT AS I SAY THINGS, THINGS POPPED UP.
I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE THAT, THAT RELATIONSHIP AND EXTEND THE DEADLINE.
SO I'M IN FAVOR OF OPTION ONE.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE. DISTRICT FIVE.
TO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THIS IS WHAT WE DISCUSSED, YOU KNOW, IN THE SPRING.
THIS IS I THINK THE ANALOGY YOU USED WAS STICKING CARROT.
IF YOU DON'T DO THIS, I'LL DO THIS, BUT THAT THIS DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
YEAH, OBVIOUSLY I'M FOR OPTION TWO, SO.
FINE. IF WE NEED ANOTHER PITCH, I'LL PITCH IT AGAIN IN THE NEXT MEETING.
BUT LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
[01:20:06]
AND THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD WAIT ME OUT SO THEY COULD KEEP DELAYING AND DELAYING AND DELAYING UNTIL I'M NOT HERE FOR A RECALL.IF WE NEED A PITCH FOR THE NEXT MEETING, I'LL MAKE THE PITCH TO THE NEXT MEETING.
I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL SUPPORT US SO WE CAN GET THIS DONE.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS TOO LONG.
WE'VE BEEN GOING ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND THE DELAY TACTICS.
IT'S KIND OF BEEN, YOU KNOW, TIRED.
ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT SIX.
I JUST ONCE AGAIN, HAVING DEALT WITH THE CHAMBER STAFF AND BOARD, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE INVOLVED IN ANY GAME PLAYING.
AND I BELIEVE THEY WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CITY.
I'M NOT GOING TO SPECULATE AS TO ANYTHING ELSE UNLESS PROVEN OTHERWISE.
AND SO YEAH, I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO.
BUT UNTIL THEN, I'LL TAKE YOU AT YOUR WORD.
THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT ONE.
I YOU KNOW, THIS IS KIND OF A HARD ONE FOR ME BECAUSE I, YOU KNOW, WENT FULL STEAM AHEAD WITH THE FAIR CHANCE HOUSING ORDINANCE AND WAS PATIENT WITH, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE TO ASK TO, YOU KNOW, GRANT THE ADDITIONAL 121 DAYS.
AND I WAS A BIT DISAPPOINTED IN THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT IS WHAT IT IS ON THAT.
BUT AND THEN WE CAME BACK IN AND ASKED THEM TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT WITH SOME ADDITIONAL TIME.
AND I THINK JUST IN THE MIDST OF THEM GRABBING FOOTHOLD AS TO WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO, THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT HAD JUST KIND OF GOTTEN IN THE WAY OF HOW THEY WERE MAKING DECISIONS AND GOING, YOU KNOW, AND DOING WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO IN THEIR IN THEIR WORKSPACE.
AND SO I WHOLEHEARTEDLY RESPECT IT AND RESPECT ALL OF THAT.
WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE? I THINK THAT THEY'RE STILL STILL GRABBING THEIR FOOTING AS TO HOW THEY WANT TO OR NEED TO, YOU KNOW, DICTATE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THEIR OFFICE.
I REALLY WANT TO SAY OPTION TWO, BUT I'M REALLY THINKING THAT OPTION ONE, I THINK WE JUST NEED TO GIVE THEM A BIT MORE TIME, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT AND I'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THEM THUS FAR.
I BELIEVE THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS SINCERE WITH WANTING TO DO HER JOB. IT'S A VERY PUBLIC JOB, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO PUT ANYTHING ON HER THAT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
SO I CAN'T MAKE ANY KIND OF DIRECT STATEMENTS AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN HER HEAD IN THOSE TERMS. BUT I KNOW THAT SHE KNOWS THAT WE WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
WE KEEP SAYING THAT WE ARE A UNIQUE CITY, AND WE WANT TO HONOR THE ACCEPTANCE AND THE HELP TO EVERYONE. WE DO IT FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE.
WE DO IT FOR WHAT? WHOEVER NEEDS IT.
AND THIS CERTAIN GROUP, THE CERTAIN GROUP CERTAINLY DOES HONOR NEED TO HAVE THAT RESPECT AS WELL.
SO I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE US SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE, BUT I CERTAINLY DO WANT TO OFFER EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CHAMBER TO COME TO US WITH SOMETHING, AND I'LL JUST LEAVE IT THERE.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT TWO.
THEY CAN BOTH BE IN EXISTENCE AT THE SAME TIME.
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT, OKAY, THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES, BUT THEY'RE REALLY NOT.
AND AND Y'ALL RECALL THE JOKE ABOUT ORTHOGONALITY THAT I'VE TAKEN ENDLESS HEAT ABOUT SINCE THEN.
BUT THESE ARE UNRELATED THINGS.
[01:25:01]
AND SO GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME PRESSURES AND THAT THEY THEY NEED TO WORK ON THEIR PROGRAM AND THEIR TIME. SURE.THAT WORK IN YOUR PROGRAM IN YOUR TIME.
BUT BUT IN THE MEANTIME, SINCE THERE HAS BEEN NO ACTIVITY SINCE THE INITIATION OF THE CONCEPT IN 2022, AND THE FIRST EXTENSION OR THE FIRST DISCUSSION OF IT IN COUNCIL IN 23, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE FAR AND AWAY HAVE GIVEN ENOUGH TIME TO SEE IF A FUNCTIONAL PROGRAMMATIC ALTERNATIVE, WHICH I AGAIN, I STRESS IS NOT AN ALTERNATIVE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE MUTUALLY COMPATIBLE ACTIVITIES.
ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT THREE.
THANK YOU. I WAS ALSO GOING TO POINT OUT THEY'RE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
I'VE BEEN IN THE BOTH AND CAMP FROM WHEN WE FIRST TOOK THIS UP.
I FOUND THE PRESENTATION FROM THE CHAMBER VERY PERSUASIVE.
AND IT DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY COUNCIL ACTION FOR THEM TO TO DO THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, I, YOU KNOW, SAY KEEP GOING.
IT DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY ACTION.
AND I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING AND I EXPECT SUPPORTING COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE'S PITCH.
THAT'S MY REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT ONE.
BECK. DOCTOR BECK FOR HELPING ME TO SOLIDIFY WHAT I WAS THINKING.
ANYWAY, SO I AM GOING TO CHANGE MY MIND AND GO WITH OPTION TWO.
YOU CAN FOLLOW UP WITH WHATEVER WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE TO THE, YOU KNOW, THE STATEMENTS MADE.
SO WITH THAT YOU HAVE YOUR I HAVE.
SO I HAVE TWO FOR OPTION ONE AND THEN THREE FOR OPTION TWO.
ASK QUESTION REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE.
IF WE'RE GOING WITH OPTION TWO, DOES THIS STILL NEED A PITCH? YES. THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID AT THE BEGINNING.
YES. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE CONSIDERING AT A FUTURE MEETING WITHOUT A PITCH? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? SHE.
THE PROCESS IS YOU REPITCH IT IF YOU DON'T WANT.
IF YOU DON'T REPITCH IT, THEN NO, THERE'S NO ACTION.
THOSE TWO ARE THOSE TWO GO TOGETHER PER STAFF.
SO IF I DON'T PITCH, THERE'S NO OPTION TWO.
CORRECT. OKAY. IT'S A COMPONENT OF OPTION TWO.
YES. YEAH. YOU CAN'T GET THERE OTHERWISE.
[D. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction on pending City Council requests for: 1) Installation of rooftop and wall gardens and solar panels with batteries on City buildings. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 30 minutes]]
RECEIVED. REPORT. WHOLE DISCUSSION.GIVE STAFF DIRECTION ON PENDING CITY COUNCIL REQUEST.
OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
CARLOTTA COWAN, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER HERE TO INTRODUCE THE CITY COUNCIL.
PENDING REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.
ALSO KNOWN AS THE TWO MINUTE PITCH.
AND STAFF WILL RESPOND WHERE THERE IS CONSENSUS.
IT'S INSTALLATION OF ROOFTOP AND WALL GARDENS AND SOLAR PANELS WITH BATTERIES ON CITY BUILDINGS.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER BECK.
YEAH. READY? OKAY, SO I HOPE EVERYBODY READ.
I TRY TO MAKE COMPLETE PITCHES.
[01:30:01]
YOU CAN TECHNICALLY SAY THEM IN TWO MINUTES.BUT I WILL SUMMARIZE TO SAY THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON IS HOW TO GET TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN, IN A, IN A CLIMATE SENSITIVE WAY. SO AS WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY IN THIS COMMUNITY AND AT THE SAME TIME AS OPERATIONAL COST EFFICIENCY YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE AND A CHEAP AND LOW HANGING FRUIT THAT ACTUALLY IS LIKE ACTION ITEM 3.3 FROM OUR CAP, OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN IS ITEMS THAT ARE LIKE ROOFTOP GARDENS THAT PROMOTE COOLING AT MINIMAL COSTS.
AND AND ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAD PRIOR DISCUSSIONS IN THIS BODY ABOUT RESILIENCY WITH SOLAR PANELS, WITH BATTERIES SO THAT WE CAN DOUBLE DIP WITH A EFFICIENTLY ALIGNED UTILITY BILLS THAT THAT REDUCE OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR TAXPAYERS, FOR UTILITIES, FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, FOR, FOR SEWER UPGRADES, FOR FOR SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE.
ALL OF THESE WILL ADDRESS THOSE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES.
IT ALIGNS, LIKE I SAID, WITH ACTION ITEM 3.3 IN OUR CAP.
IT HAS THE BENEFIT OF DUAL TAXPAYER COST REDUCTION AND RESILIENCE IMPROVEMENTS.
SO I'M ASKING FOR AN ISR TO ANALYZE THE FEASIBILITY AND THE COSTS OF PUTTING THESE ON NEW CONSTRUCTION AND AND WHERE APPROPRIATE, WHERE THE CONSTRUCTION WOULD SUPPORT IT.
OLD CONSTRUCTION THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY.
ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT THREE.
ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE OF DISTRICT FOUR.
HAVING HAD A LITTLE BIT OF EXPERIENCE WITH THAT.
I JUST I JUST THINK WE'RE GOING TO THE.
IF THE BUILDING WASN'T DESIGNED FOR THAT, I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
AND AS FAR AS THE SOLAR PANELS, I THINK THAT SENDS A BIZARRE MESSAGE SINCE WE JUST CHANGED OUR OUR OF PRICING INCENTIVE WITH WITH SOLAR PANELS.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? REPRESENTATIVE FIFE, I'M AGREEING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLAND ALL DAY TODAY.
I AGREE THIS SENDS A TERRIBLE MESSAGE.
GIVEN THAT WE JUST TOOK AWAY THE INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE IN THE CITY TO HAVE SOLAR PANELS.
I'M GLAD THAT I DIDN'T VOTE THAT WAY.
YEAH, WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY DO IT.
WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY DO THIS. WE KNOW THAT THIS WORKS WELL IN OTHER CITIES.
NOT ONLY DO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE ISR, I LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY SENDING THIS TO SVAC OR THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE, WHICH THE THREE OF US ARE A PART OF, SO WE CAN REALLY DIVE INTO THE DETAILS AND SEE IF THIS IS RIGHT FOR THE CITY OF DENTON.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. REPRESENTATIVE WARREN.
[4. Closed Meeting:]
INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ITEM A ID 242430.DELIBERATIONS REGARDING REAL PROPERTY UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.072 WILL SET THE ROOM.
GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS MEETING OF THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL.
[AFTER DETERMINING THAT A QUORUM IS PRESENT, THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL, 215 E. MCKINNEY STREET, DENTON, TEXAS AT WHICH THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED:]
TODAY IS DECEMBER, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD.WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, SO I'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
THE FIRST THING ON OUR AGENDA IS PLEDGES TO THE UNITED STATES AND TEXAS FLAG.
PLEASE STAND WITH ME IF YOU'RE ABLE.
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS.
[01:35:02]
ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.ALRIGHT. AND THEN WE HAVE PROCLAMATIONS.
[2. PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS]
WE'LL START WITH PROCLAMATION TO SENATOR DREW SPRINGER, IF YOU'RE.I'LL MEET YOU DOWN AT THE PODIUM, AND ANYONE WITH HIM IS MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME DOWN AS WELL.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
AND JUST THE FLOOR IS YOURS TO SHARE.
WHATEVER YOU WANT. WE RECOGNIZE HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN IN SERVICE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A GREAT PARTNERSHIP.
AND REALLY, DENTON HAS ALWAYS HELD A SPECIAL SPOT IN MY HEART.
I THINK WE'VE LEARNED HERE HOW TO REACH ACROSS AISLES.
WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE THINGS WE DISAGREE. WE DO IT WITH RESPECT AND DEBATE.
THE WAY IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED TO DO.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S I WAS TELLING A FEW OTHER OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHILE I MAY BE LEAVING OFFICIAL ELECTED OFFICE, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS I'M STILL WORKING, AS YOU AND I DISCUSSED LAST WEEK, TO TRY TO GET DONE FOR THE CITY OF DENTON, TO MAKE IT BETTER, TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, TO LEAVE A BETTER MARK FOR FOR THOSE THAT FOLLOW BEHIND US.
AND THAT'S ALWAYS THE PATH I'VE ALWAYS CHOSEN, YOU AND THE COUNCIL.
AND EVERYBODY HAS ALWAYS BEEN SUCH A BIG SUPPORT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATIVE SESSION COMING UP STARTING IN JANUARY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AGAIN.
HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT DENTON.
YOU KNOW, IS RECOGNIZED, GETS WHAT IT NEEDS TO GET DONE TO CONTINUE TO DO THE GREAT THINGS.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A IT'S A GROWING PLACE AND A FANTASTIC PLACE.
YEAH. NO. APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES.
OBVIOUSLY, WE JUST SAW YOU EACH OTHER RECENTLY AT I'VE IN THE SENATE.
THAT WAS SOME RACIST LANGUAGE THAT WAS LINGERING FROM WHEN IT WAS DEEDED TO THE CITY.
WELL, THE SENATE CLEARED THE WAY FOR US TO GO BACK AND AND EDIT THAT LANGUAGE.
AND SENATOR SPRINGER WAS A BIG PART OF HELPING US NAVIGATE THAT PROCESS.
IT WAS BRAND NEW, SO IT NEEDED A LOT OF HELP GETTING THROUGH THAT AND UNDERSTANDING HOW THAT WORKS.
GREETINGS. WHEREAS STATE SENATOR DREW SPRINGER HAS SERVED THE THE PEOPLE OF THE 30TH DISTRICT OF TEXAS WITH DISTINCTION, BRINGING STRONG LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION AND DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES FACING OUR STATE AND THE TEXAS SENATE.
AND WHEREAS SENATOR SPRINGER, A COMMITTED PUBLIC SERVANT AND ADVOCATE FOR RURAL TEXAS, HAS TIRELESSLY CHAMPIONED POLICIES THAT SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, AND THE PRESERVATION OF OUR STATE'S AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE.
ENSURING THE VOICES OF HIS CONSTITUENTS IN THE CITY OF DENTON AND BEYOND WERE HEARD.
AND WHEREAS HIS TENURE IN THE TEXAS SENATE HAS BEEN MARKED BY SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS, INCLUDING EFFORTS TO REDUCE TAXES, PROTECT INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES, AND PROMOTE JOB CREATION, ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN LASTING, HAVE A LASTING POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS SENATOR SPRINGER'S COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO ABILITY TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE HAS EARNED HIM THE RESPECT OF HIS COLLEAGUES AND THE GRATITUDE OF CITIZENS HE HAS SERVED, MAKING A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF MANY.
AND WHEREAS, AFTER A DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE, SENATOR SPRINGER HAS ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT, LEAVING BEHIND A LEGACY OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AND A RECORD OF UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE GUIDED HIS WORK IN THE TEXAS SENATE.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JERROD HUDSPETH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND HONOR STATE SENATOR DREW SPRINGER FOR HIS EXEMPLARY SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF DENTON, AND EXTEND A HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS ON HIS WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT.
[01:40:08]
WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND FULFILLMENT IN HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.CAN WE GIVE HIM A HAND? OUTSTANDING. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES, SIR.
YEAH. THANK ALL OF YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO AND YOUR SACRIFICES.
IT DOES NOT GO WITHOUT SAYING THAT WE ALL SACRIFICE.
YOU COULD BE DOING OTHER THINGS.
AND ENGAGED CITIZENRY MAKES THIS COUNTRY, THE STATE AND THIS CITY STRONGER.
AND THEN WE HAVE SALVATION ARMY.
TELL US IT'S A BUSY TIME OF YEAR FOR US.
SO TELL US ALL THE WAYS WE CAN HELP, WHERE WE CAN GO TO SIGN UP AND HELP, AND.
YEAH, WHAT WE CAN DO. WHAT'S THAT SONG ABOUT THE TRAFFIC BEING HORRIFIC? THAT'S WHAT I WAS A LITTLE BIT.
SO WHEN YOU SEE US OUT AT THE DIFFERENT STORES IN FRONT WITH THE KETTLE PROGRAM BELL RINGING, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BE GENEROUS OR EVEN SIGN UP TO DO THAT YOURSELF@REGISTERING.COM, WHERE YOU CAN SELECT A LOCATION, TIME AND DATE TO DO THAT.
WE ALSO DO A ANGEL TREE PROGRAM DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.
MY WIFE IS BUSY WORKING WITH VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF TO GATHER TOGETHER ALL OF THOSE TOYS AND CLOTHES FOR THE CHILDREN THAT ARE PART OF OUR PROGRAM TO BE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE THAT. BUT THEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, OF COURSE, I THINK MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT DOWN THE STREET AT OUR SHELTER IS 24 OVER SEVEN SHELTER THAT WE OPERATE WHERE WE CAN HOUSE 42 PEOPLE, INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE ELEMENTS, WORK WITH THEM TO HAVE A SUSTAINING LIFE, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.
AND THEN ALSO A DAILY MEAL SERVICE AND A HOT MEAL.
WE HAVE OUR FOOD PANTRY AS WELL AS WELL AS OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES.
AND SO WE'RE SEEKING TO HELP PEOPLE TO TO LIVE A LIFE THAT IS ABUNDANT AND FULL.
AND WE WANT TO SHARE THAT THEY ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD AND THAT THEY ARE LOVED.
AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN HELPING US DO THAT.
AND WHICH WEBSITE? IT'S IT'S REGISTERED TO RING.COM.
THERE WE GO. REGISTERED TO RING.COM.
AND SO I HAVE A PROCLAMATION AND IT READS TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME.
THESE MEN AND WOMEN HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES COMPLETELY TO THE SERVICE, TO THE SERVICE, AND WHEREAS OVER 600 PEOPLE IN DENTON VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME, TALENTS, AND RESOURCES WITH THE SALVATION ARMY TO ASSIST WORK NEEDED TO MEET HUMAN NEEDS WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION.
AND WHEREAS THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR FREE OF CHARGE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE, WHO ARE SERVED THE ONLY WAY THIS IS POSSIBLE IS THROUGH FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND LOCAL CITIZENS WHO GIVE THROUGH VARIOUS CHANNELS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THE SALVATION ARMY'S ANNUAL RED KETTLE CAMPAIGN, THIS YEAR'S.
THIS YEAR, OUR THEME FOR THE RED KETTLE CAMPAIGN IS LOVE AND BEYOND.
AND WHEREAS TO REACH THE RED KETTLE GOAL OF $100,000 FOR THIS YEAR'S HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN, THE SALVATION ARMY IS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS TO FILL MORE THAN 1003 HOUR SHIFTS AS BELL RINGERS.
THE AVERAGE VOLUNTEER BELL RINGER BRINGS IN OVER $50 AN HOUR FOR THE CAUSE.
[01:45:06]
CAMPAIGN IN THE CITY OF DENTON, AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO REGISTER AND REGISTER TO RING.COM AND PICK A DAY AND A TIME AND LOCATION TO VOLUNTEER AS A BELL RINGER FOR THE SALVATION ARMY BETWEEN NOW AND CHRISTMAS.THANK YOU. IF WE CAN GIVE HIM A HAND.
DID YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE A VIRTUAL KETTLE NOW? IT'S ONLINE, SO YOU CAN ALSO HAVE YOUR OWN VIRTUAL RED KETTLE.
YOU SET THAT UP, YOU INVITE FOLKS TO GIVE TO THAT AS WELL.
SO YOU CAN DO THAT IN PAJAMAS.
THAT'S AWESOME. THANK YOU. GREAT REMINDER.
THANK YOU. AND I HAVE AN EXTRA ONE FOR YOU HERE AS WELL.
IF IF YOU ARE HERE WITH THE NEW PI SIGMA CHAPTER OF SIGMA GAMMA RHO.
Y'ALL, RIGHT? OH, MAN, I WAS I WASN'T SURE IF I WAS PRACTICING, RIGHT, BUT I PRACTICED, YOU KNOW.
ALL RIGHT. OKAY, SO WHO'S WHO'S GOING TO TELL US WHO? PERFECT. HELLO.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNAE CHAPTER OF NU PI SIGMA.
JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SIGMA GAMMA RHO.
WE WERE FOUNDED NOVEMBER 12TH, 1922 AT BUTLER UNIVERSITY IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.
AND EVERYONE IN HERE IS CONNECTED TO A WOMAN IN SOME WAY.
EXACTLY. AND SO THAT IS OUR MISSION.
WE ARE A SERVICE ORGANIZATION.
IF YOU SEE US AROUND, YOU KNOW, JUST SAY HI.
BUT WE ARE HOPING TO ALSO HAVE OUR YOUTH SYMPOSIUM HERE IN DENTON, TEXAS IN MARCH.
AND SO THAT IS OPEN TO ALL YOUTH.
BUT HOPEFULLY YOU WILL ALL SEE THOSE FLIERS AND INFORMATION GOING OUT SOON.
EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE IT.
YEAH. I GOT TO GET ME ONE OF THOSE GOLD JACKETS.
I DON'T WANT TO EARN IT, I JUST.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I MEAN, THERE'S JUST THOSE EXTRA HANDS REALLY HELP.
SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THAT SERVICE.
GREETINGS. WHEREAS MEMBERS OF THE NU PI SIGMA CHAPTER OF SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC.
ARE CELEBRATING THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHARTERING OF NU PI SIGMA IN DENTON, TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC.
WAS FOUNDED ON NOVEMBER 12TH, 1922, AT BUTLER UNIVERSITY IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, BY SEVEN YOUNG EDUCATORS DEDICATED TO ITS MISSION OF ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE, CIVIL AND SOCIAL ACTION.
AND WHEREAS, ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2022, 12 WOMEN LED THE CHARGE TO CHARTER THE NU PHI SIGMA CHAPTER OF SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC.
TO SERVE DENTON, TEXAS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS THE NU PI SIGMA CHAPTER MEMBERS HAVE SERVED DENTON COUNTY THROUGH THE SORORITY'S ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS IMPACTING DENTON ISD STUDENTS, WOMEN, FAMILY, AND LOCAL NONPROFITS WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS MEMBERS OF THE NU PI SIGMA CHAPTER OF SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GERALD HUDSPETH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE NU PI SIGMA SIGMA SECOND ANNIVERSARY AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO CONGRATULATE THEIR COMMUNITY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IF WE CAN GIVE THEM A HAND.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
[01:50:02]
YEAH. PLEASURE. THANK YOU.OKAY. YEAH. IF YOU'RE HERE FOR DENTON 360.
JESSE, YOU YOU SPEAKING FOR THE.
PLEASE. IT'S ALL OUR ALL OUR FUTURE CITY MANAGERS.
I'M AN ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER.
AND WE HOST A GROUP OF RESIDENTS OVER A COURSE OF NINE WEEKS TO HELP PEOPLE LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY, THE INCREDIBLE COMPLEXITY OF RUNNING A CITY, THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE FACING DENTON AND THESE 11 RESIDENTS HAVE STUCK WITH US THE ENTIRE TIME.
WE'RE SO THANKFUL THEY'VE LEARNED A TON, AND WE'RE HERE TODAY TO PROCLAIM THEM AS GRADUATES.
SO WHY DON'T WE START DOWN HERE AND JUST GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ANYTHING THAT YOU THAT RESONATED WITH YOU, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SHARE? JUST COME ON DOWN. MY NAME IS LARRY BELL, AND I LIKED HOW NORMALLY WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT HOW A CITY RUNS, THEY LOOK AT IT IN ONE DIMENSION, WHAT THEY SEE AT THE END OF THE DAY, OR WHEN THEY SEE A POLICE CAR OR A FIRE GUY ON THE STREET.
BUT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES, TO SEE HOW SOME OF IT'S PAID FOR, TO SEE THE DEDICATION OF THE THE EMPLOYEES AND THE FRUSTRATIONS TO IT WAS A REAL EYE OPENING EXPERIENCE FOR ME, AND I THINK THAT THE CITY TOOK A REAL STEP IN PUTTING THAT OUT THERE FOR US TO SEE AND LET US ENJOY IT, AND I THANK THEM FOR IT.
IT GROWS ON YOU. DEBORAH BELL, THE OTHER HALF.
WE CAME FROM A CITY THAT WE WERE VOLUNTEERS AT FOR 14 YEARS, AND WHEN WE MOVED HERE IN JULY, WE WANTED TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS CITY AND LEARN ABOUT IT. AND THIS THREE 60 WAS A WONDERFUL IDEA AND IF ANYBODY HAS NEVER DONE IT, YOU NEED TO DO IT.
YOU LEARN A LOT ABOUT THE CITY.
I ENJOYED EVERY PART OF IT, REALLY.
I THINK THE THING THAT I TOOK AWAY MOSTLY FROM THIS PROGRAM WAS REALLY THE DEDICATION, YOU SEE, FROM ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE MET THAT GAVE THEIR PRESENTATIONS.
ALL THOSE PEOPLE WERE ENTHUSIASTIC.
IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE IT WAS A REAL PAIN TO GIVE THEIR PRESENTATION TO US.
THEY REALLY ENGAGED, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT AND THAT'S WHAT I TOOK AWAY FROM IT.
I'M BEING A NEW RESIDENT HERE IN DENTON.
JUST WANTED TO GET TO LEARN HOW THE CITY WORKED.
LEARN ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND AS JOHN WAS SAYING, IT WAS JUST AMAZING THE AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES HERE THAT JUST OPENED UP THEIR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND JUST GAVE US, YOU KNOW HOW IT WORKS, WHY IT WORKS, WHY IT'S DONE THIS WAY AND, YOU KNOW, HELP SPREAD THE INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT KNOW HOW THE CITY WORKS TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, JUST EDUCATE PEOPLE SO THEY KNOW HOW AND WHY DENTON IS HERE.
HI. MY NAME IS LAURA HERNANDEZ.
I AM OBVIOUSLY A RESIDENT OF DENTON, BUT I'VE LIVED IN DENTON SINCE I STARTED AT UNT.
BUT IT'S REALLY INTERESTING JUST BECAUSE WHEN I GRADUATED, I WORK AT UNT NOW.
AND SO I THINK THAT WHENEVER YOU WORK AND YOU LIVE IN THE SAME TOWN, YOU REALLY SHOULD KNOW HOW THAT TOWN RUNS, RIGHT? AND I FEEL LIKE OUR CITY DOES A VERY GOOD JOB AT EFFICIENTLY RUNNING YOU KNOW, ALL OF WOODEN, YOU KNOW, OFFERS AND AND DOES.
WE ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE POLICE FIRE, TRASH, WATER, ELECTRIC, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ACTUALLY GOES ON BEHIND THOSE SCENES. WE JUST TAKE EVERYTHING FOR GRANTED.
AND IT ALSO SHOWED US SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT WE HAD NO IDEA ABOUT AND HOW THEY ALSO OPERATE, SUCH AS PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, THE LIBRARY, PARKS AND RECREATION AND SEVERAL OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
[01:55:06]
YOU NEED. ANSWERS. THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM.IT DOESN'T TAKE A LOT OF TIME.
WE HAD FUN EVERY MEETING AND IT WAS A VERY EYE OPENING EXPERIENCE.
AND I REALLY THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
AND I DO APPRECIATE JESSE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SET EVERYTHING UP FOR US, TAKING CARE OF US.
AND I APPRECIATE THE CITY EVEN OFFERING THIS PROGRAM TO EVERYONE.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JANE PEPPIN.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT IN THREE 60 REALLY OPENED MY EYES ABOUT HOW THIS CITY IS RUN, AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT PROBABLY THE BEST THING THAT I LEARNED WAS HOW HARD OUR CITY WORKERS WORK.
EVERYBODY THAT WE MET WAS ENTHUSIASTIC, WAS HAPPY TO BE THERE, WAS INFORMATIVE ABOUT THEIR JOBS AND HOW THEIR JOBS MADE OUR LIVES EASIER.
IF YOU EVER WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THIS CITY, THAT'S THE PLACE TO GO.
AND MY FAVORITE PART OF THE WHOLE THING WAS PICKING ON JESSE KENT THE WHOLE TIME.
EVERYBODY LIKES THAT. MY NAME.
ALONG WITH BEING A RESIDENT, I ALSO WORK HERE IN DENTON.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF US, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO GET MORE INVOLVED WITH THE CITY AND OFFER, YOU KNOW, OUR TIME BECAUSE EVERYBODY IN THE CITY JUST OPENED THEIR ARMS UP AND, YOU KNOW, GAVE THEIR TIME TO US VERY WILLINGLY.
I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HOW THE CITY OPERATES.
AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF GREAT CITY EMPLOYEES THAT WORK HERE, VERY DEDICATED, VERY PROFICIENT.
AND THIS DENTON 360 IS REALLY SOMETHING SPECIAL, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T TRIED IT, I RECOMMEND IT.
THE ONLY THING I KNEW ABOUT CITY GOVERNMENT WAS FROM THE SHOW PARKS AND REC.
AND I CAN SAY THAT THIS PLACE IS A LOT MORE WELL OILED THAN THEY SHOW ON THAT SHOW.
SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE DENTON COUNTY APP, YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY DOWNLOAD IT.
EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND SO JUST TO PUT PUT THAT IN CONTEXT, I THINK WE WERE AT JUST OVER 1900 EMPLOYEES.
OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR IS $2.3 BILLION.
AND WE COVER EVERYTHING BUT FOR NATURAL GAS.
SO REALLY, REALLY UNIQUE EXPERIENCES.
SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR FOR GETTING TO KNOW THE CITY BETTER.
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH THE PROGRAM IS PRETTY FANTASTIC.
SO YEAH, IF YOU'VE NOT SIGNED UP JESSE HOW DO HOW DO PEOPLE.
WE'LL BE PUTTING OUT INFORMATION TO APPLY IN NEXT SUMMER FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S COHORT.
OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND WHEREAS THE DENTON THREE 60 PROGRAM WAS CREATED BY BRINGING CIVICALLY MINDED RESIDENTS TOGETHER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CITY, AND WHEREAS, THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE NINE WEEK PROGRAM HAVE DEMONSTRATED A REMARKABLE COMMITMENT TO PARTICIPATING IN THE CITY OF DENTON.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GERALD HUDSPETH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY COMMEND THEIR DEDICATION TO THE CITY OF DENTON AND PROCLAIM THEM GRADUATES OF THE DENTON 360 PROGRAM.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE.
YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
YEAH. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU.
DO YOU WANT TO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[02:00:02]
OKAY. IF WE COULD PLAY THE VIDEO FOR.[3. PRESENTATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC]
THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED RULES OF PROCEDURE, INCLUDING A CODE OF CONDUCT THAT APPLIES TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS.THESE RULES WERE ENACTED TO PROMOTE AN ORDERLY PROCESS AND TO PRESERVE DECORUM.
A BELL WILL RING WHEN TIME HAS EXPIRED.
IF THE REMARKS ARE NOT CONCLUDED BY THAT TIME, THE SPEAKER WILL BE ASKED TO STOP SPEAKING.
SPEAKERS SHOULD NOT APPROACH THE DAIS.
THE COUNCIL MAY INITIATE DISCUSSION OR ASK QUESTIONS FOR NONSCHEDULED OPEN MIC REPORTS.
THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT PROHIBITS DISCUSSION OR DECISION BY THE COUNCIL ON NONSCHEDULED ITEMS. AS A RESULT, THE COUNCIL MAY ONLY PROCEED AS FOLLOWS ON NONSCHEDULED ITEMS PROPOSED TO PLACE THE ITEM ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
MAKE A STATEMENT OF FACTUAL POLICY OR A RECITATION OF EXISTING POLICY.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM MAKING ABUSIVE, PERSONAL, IMPERTINENT, PROFANE, OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS.
ANYONE WHO VIOLATES THE COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE MAY BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM THE CHAMBER.
COPIES OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE CITY SECRETARY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FIRST SPEAKER IS LINDA YATES.
IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO SPEAK INTO THIS.
AND THANK YOU. MY NAME IS LINDA YATES.
I AM A BOARD CERTIFIED FAMILY PHYSICIAN PRACTICING MEDICINE IN SIX YEARS.
I AM HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU A LANDMARK FEDERAL COURT DECISION FROM SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
THIS COURT RULING ADDRESSES THE THE HEALTH OF EVERY CITIZEN OF DENTON.
THE COURT FOUND THAT FLUORIDE POSES AN UNREASONABLE RISK OF HARM TO CHILDREN'S DEVELOPING BRAINS AT THE LEVELS THAT ARE CURRENTLY CONSIDERED, QUOTE, OPTIMAL BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, WHICH IS THE LEVEL OF FLUORIDATION OF DENTON WATER.
VEGETABLES WATERED WITH FLUORIDATED WATER ALSO CONTAIN FLUORIDE.
APPROXIMATELY 30% OF LEADING PHARMACEUTICALS CONTAIN FLUORIDE.
TEFLON PANS CONTAMINATE THE FOOD COOKED IN THEM WITH FLUORIDE.
FLUORIDE IS A TOXIC WASTE PRODUCT OF THE PESTICIDE ALUMINUM AND NUCLEAR INDUSTRIES.
THIS TOXIC PRODUCT HAS BEEN DRIPPED INTO OUR PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY FOR DECADES.
THE INSTITUTIONS THAT THOUGHT THEY KNEW WHAT WAS BEST FOR EVERYONE'S DENTAL HEALTH HAVE INSTEAD DUMBED DOWN ENTIRE GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE, HARMING THEIR IQ AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT.
TO PROTECT ITSELF, THE BODY SEQUESTERS THESE COMPOUNDS IN THE BONE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE BONE IS DAMAGED BY THIS.
FLUORIDE INCREASES THE RISK OF DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS, OSTEOPOROSIS, AND BONE FRAGILITY FRACTURES.
IT ALSO IS ASSOCIATED WITH OSTEOSARCOMA, A BONE CANCER SEEN IN YOUNG PEOPLE.
AS WE AGE, WE BEGIN TO BREAK BONE DOWN AND THESE COMPONENTS ARE AGAIN RELEASED INTO OUR SYSTEMS. THESE COMPOUNDS ARE DAMAGING TO THE AGING BRAIN, CAUSING DEGENERATIVE NEUROLOGIC DISEASES LIKE DEMENTIA AND PARKINSONISM.
I HAVE HAD A SOFT TISSUE MINERAL ANALYSIS DONE WHICH REVEALED HIGH LEVELS OF FLUORIDE.
I ALSO HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF ALUMINUM AND MERCURY.
FLUORIDE IS KNOWN TO INCREASE THE TOXICITY OF THESE ELEMENTS.
I HAVE JUST LISTED MANY CONDITIONS THAT ARE UBIQUITOUS IN OUR POPULATION.
[02:05:02]
WHILE FLUORIDE MAY NOT BE THE GREATEST ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THREAT, IT IS ONE OF THE EASIEST TO END.IT IS AS EASY AS TURNING OFF A SPIGOT IN THE PUBLIC WATERWORKS.
FLORIDA SURGEON GENERAL JOSEPH LOPARDO STATED ON NOVEMBER 22ND OF THIS YEAR THAT ADDING FLUORIDE TO WATER INCREASES THE INCIDENCE OF NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISEASE IN CHILDREN AND REDUCES THEIR IQ.
HE SAYS WE CAN STRENGTHEN TEETH WITHOUT CONSUMING THIS NEUROTOXIN.
DON'T WAIT FOR PRONOUNCEMENTS FROM THE EPA OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH WILL SURELY BE COMING TO MAKE THIS IMPORTANT DECISION, PLEASE SHOW THE CITIZENS OF DENTON THAT YOU WANT TO SUPPORT A HEALTHY POPULATION AND ACT ON THIS TODAY.
OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS COURTNEY GILCHRIST.
OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAELA ROGERS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD EVENING.
I'M MICHAELA ROGERS, A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER FOR DENTON ISD.
I HAVE LIVED HERE IN DENTON SINCE 2017.
I COME TO YOU NOT ONLY AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER WHO DEEPLY CARES ABOUT OUR YOUTH, BUT ALSO AS SOMEONE WHO SEES THE GROWING BODY OF RESEARCH ON FLUORIDE'S RISKS, PARTICULARLY AS IT AFFECTS ITS EFFECTS ON THE DEVELOPING BRAIN.
FOR WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT AND EVEN THOSE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN SHOULD BE OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY.
AS AN EDUCATOR AND AS AN EDUCATOR IN THE TRENCHES, SEEING THE IMPACT OF FLUORIDE ON OUR CHILDREN AND AS A FUTURE MOTHER, I BEG THAT THE CITY WORKS TO EXPLORE SAFER, MORE TARGETED WAYS TO HAVE CLEAN DRINKING WATER WITHOUT RISKING THE NEUROLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF OUR CHILDREN AND ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT TAKES US TO OUR NEXT SPEAKER, WHICH IS CHARLES LEE.
YEP. YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME.
YEAH. GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, ON EVERYTHING THAT THIS IS IN THE SPIRIT OF UNITY.
I WANT TO UNIFY AND PROTECT THIS NATION.
BUT PLEASE, JUST GIVE ME ONE THING WE CAN UNIFY BEHIND.
NOW, THE REASON I COME HERE TONIGHT IS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ELECTION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.
AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THE SIGNATURE ISSUE IS IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
AND I'M COMING HERE TO DEMAND THE VOTE ON THE 287 G PROGRAM AND E-VERIFY.
AND FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW.
287 IS THAT'S WHEN YOU COULD CERTIFY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH ICE AND HOMELAND SECURITY SO THEY CAN ENFORCE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW ON THE LOCAL LEVEL. AND I DEMAND THAT E-VERIFY BE IMPLEMENTED IN THIS CITY FOR FOR EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS, BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHO THESE CONTRACTORS ARE AND WHO THESE EMPLOYEES ARE.
THEY CAN BE THEY CAN BE ILLEGAL ALIENS FROM FROM MARS, FOR ALL THEY KNOW.
THEY DON'T KNOW. THEY DON'T VERIFY ANY OF THAT STUFF.
AND I DEMAND THAT THAT PROGRAM IS IMPLEMENTED.
BUT I ALREADY KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO PASS.
WE GOT TOO MANY LIBERAL DEMOCRATS UP HERE THAT THAT HAVE THE LIBERAL PERSUASION OF THE DENTON OF MAYOR THE MAYOR OF DENVER THAT WANTS TO SET UP A DEMOCRAT CONFEDERACY AND THINK THEY'RE GOING TO OBSTRUCT FEDERAL LAW, AND THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO CALL OUT POLICE TO PROTECT ILLEGAL ALIENS IN THEIR HOME, IN THEIR CITY, AND THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO PASS OUT ALL KINDS OF TAXPAYER FUNDS FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS.
WHILE THE AVERAGE HARD WORKING AMERICAN CITIZEN CAN BARELY AFFORD TO PAY THEIR RENT AND THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS AND THEIR TAXES, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN DO POSSIBLE TO PROTECT THESE ILLEGAL ALIENS BECAUSE THEY GOT TO BECAUSE THEY GOT TO PROTECT, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT TO PROTECT THE THE CHEAP LABOR, JUST LIKE IT WAS BACK IN THE 1860S.
[02:10:06]
IT'S A WHOLE IT'S A WHOLE SCAM.AND THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO THE SMOKE AND MIRRORS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO I DEMAND A VOTE ON 287 G BECAUSE I WANT AN UP AND DOWN VOTE.
AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT EVERYBODY IS ON THE RECORD ON THIS ISSUE.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW ME, I'M OUT IN THE PUBLIC BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO RUN ON THE ISSUE.
I WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE EVERYBODY STANDS.
AND I DEMAND A VOTE ON E2 87 G AND E-VERIFY.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
AND EVERYBODY, HAVE A NICE NIGHT.
AND THE LAST SPEAKER IS JOHN GILCHRIST.
WELL, LET ME SEE. MAYBE I MISSED.
YOU'RE RIGHT. I HAD TO TURN THE PAGE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS TODD MCCRACKEN.
MY NAME IS DOCTOR TODD MCCRACKEN.
I'M A GENERAL PRACTICE DENTIST HERE IN DENTON, TEXAS.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FLUORIDE IN THE WATER.
I GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO.
I'VE BEEN IN PRACTICE IN DENTON FOR 16 YEARS.
SO 16 YEARS I SPENT OUT IN THE COUNTRY OUT CLOSE TO TEXARKANA AREA.
SO I'VE SEEN A LOT OF OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND THE IMPACT OF FLUORIDE ON THOSE COMMUNITIES.
SO I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS DO, BECAUSE I'VE KIND OF BEEN IN THAT SEAT BEFORE, AND A LOT OF TIMES THE THE POSITION, YOU GET A LOT OF CRITICISM AND NEVER HEAR THE, THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THINGS.
AND I WANT TO COMMEND YOU GUYS FOR, FOR TAKING THE TIME TO, TO DO WHAT YOU DO.
I GOT A BA IN BIOCHEMISTRY FROM ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY.
I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH THERE.
I DID RESEARCH IN DENTAL SCHOOL FUNDED BY THE NIH, AND I'M PAST PRESIDENT OF THE DALLAS AND TEXAS ACADEMY OF LASER AND HIGH TECH DENTISTRY.
AND YOU CAN DOWNLOAD ALL THE ARTICLES THAT YOU WANT THAT ARE VERY GOOD PEER REVIEWED ARTICLES.
SO THREE QUESTIONS I WANT TO LEAVE WITH YOU.
NUMBER ONE, IS IT SAFE? I THINK WE'VE ALREADY HEARD SOME OF THAT TONIGHT ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUES.
AND NUMBER THREE IS IT NECESSARY.
ON THE FIRST IS IT SAFE PUBLISHED EFFECTS OF FLUORIDE INCLUDE THE FACT THAT IT'S A NEUROTOXIN.
SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT ISSUES WITH DEMENTIA CAUSED BY FLUORIDE.
ALSO, IT CAUSES ACNE AND OTHER DERMATOLOGICAL CONDITIONS.
ARTERIAL CALCIFICATION, ATHEROSCLEROSIS, BONE WEAKENING, RISK FACTORS OF RISK OF FRACTURES, CANCER OF BONE AND OSTEOSARCOMA, CARDIAC FAILURE, CARDIAC INSUFFICIENCY, COGNITIVE DEFICITS.
AND I'M SEEING THAT ALREADY WITH MY OWN PARENTS.
DENTAL FLUOROSIS WHICH IS BIG IN OUR PROFESSION.
DIABETES, EARLY PUBERTY IN GIRLS, OSTEOARTHRITIS, SKELETAL FLUOROSIS TMJ DISORDERS AND THYROID DYSFUNCTION. THIS IS WHAT DENTAL FLUOROSIS LOOKS LIKE.
AND THIS IS WHAT WE SEE IN THE OFFICE QUITE OFTEN.
WHAT HAPPENS IS IT IS IT BENEFICIAL? THIS IS ACTUALLY A CHART THAT SHOWS THE COMPARISON BETWEEN COMMUNITIES THAT ACTUALLY USE FLUORIDE, OR HAVE FLUORIDE IN THE WATER AND COMMUNITIES THAT DO NOT.
AND YOU NOTICE THAT THERE'S NO IMPACT THERE WHATSOEVER WITH FLUORIDE.
HYDROXYAPATITE PRODUCTS ARE BIOCOMPATIBLE AND BIOACTIVE AND DURABLE.
[02:15:04]
IT'S USED IN IMPLANTOLOGY AND USED WIDELY IN PERIODONTOLOGY AND ORAL SURGERY.IF FLUORIDE IS PRESENT, IT REPLACES THE TOOTH NATURAL HYDROXYAPATITE.
SO THESE PRODUCTS CAN BE IN YOUR TOOTHPASTE.
WE USE THEM QUITE FREQUENTLY IN MY PRACTICE.
IT'S A BIOLOGIC PRACTICE SO WE FIND OTHER ALTERNATIVES INSTEAD OF FLUORIDE.
SO IS FLUORIDE ADDED TO THE WATER SUPPLY NECESSARY BASED ON THE RISK AND BENEFITS? I'D HAVE TO SAY IT'S NO.
BUT DO WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION TO ADD TO THE AGENDA THERE IN THAT ONE FOLDER PRESENTATION? EMAIL IS COUNCILMAN OKAY.
BUT YEAH ON THE AGENDA. RIGHT.
AM I WRONG ABOUT WHAT WE CAN PUT IT.
AFTER THE FACT WE CAN PUT IT IN THAT WAY.
SO IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU'RE WELCOME TO CALL ME.
I'LL PROVIDE YOU WITH ANY INFORMATION YOU'D LIKE.
THANK YOU. AND SHE'LL EMAIL OUT EMAIL US THE PRESENTATION.
SO WE'LL GET THE REST OF IT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY THAT WAY.
OKAY. THAT TAKES US TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[4. CONSENT AGENDA]
NOTHING WAS PULLED. I'LL TAKE A MOTION.REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO.
I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS POSTED.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR.
OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.
I'M SORRY. THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO.
TAKES US TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
[A. Hold a public hearing and consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas, regarding a change in zoning district and use classification from a General Office (GO) district to a Highway Corridor (HC) district on approximately .358 acres of land generally located on the west side of I35E approximately 1,500 feet north of Schuyler Street in the City of Denton, Denton County, Texas; adopting an amendment to the City’s official zoning map; providing for a penalty in the maximum amount of $2,000.00 for violations thereof; providing a severability clause and an effective date. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted [4-1] to recommend approval of the request. Motion for approval by Chair Ellis and second by Commissioner Pruett. (Z24-0013a, I-35 RV Supercenter, Ashley Ekstedt)]
OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING IS ITEM 5AZ240013A.HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, REGARDING A CHANGE IN THE ZONING DISTRICT AND USE CLASSIFICATIONS FROM A GENERAL OFFICE DISTRICT TO A HIGHWAY CORRIDOR DISTRICT OF APPROXIMATELY 0.358 ACRES OF LAND, GENERALLY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF I-35 EAST, APPROXIMATELY 1500 FEET NORTH OF SCHULER STREET IN THE CITY OF DENTON, DENTON COUNTY, TEXAS.
THIS REQUEST IS A REZONING FROM GENERAL OFFICE DISTRICT TO HIGHWAY CORRIDOR DISTRICT ON THE PROPERTY THAT YOU CAN SEE OUTLINED IN YELLOW ON THE AERIAL, OR IN BLACK ON THE ZONING MAPS. THE SUBJECT SITE IS UNDER ONE HALF A HALF ACRE IN SIZE PRIMARILY UNDEVELOPED.
HOWEVER, THE THE REASON FOR THE ZONING COMING BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS TO ADDRESS SOME NONCONFORMITIES THAT EXIST AS A RESULT OF THE BUILDING THAT YOU SEE JUST SOUTH OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY HERE ON THE AERIAL THAT DOES CROSS OVER THE PROPERTY LINE BY APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT, MAKING THAT BUILDING NONCONFORMING AND UNABLE TO BE PERMITTED.
THIS FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORY ACKNOWLEDGES THE NEED FOR SUPPORTIVE COMMERCIAL USES, AND GIVEN THE LOCATION OF THIS PROPERTY ALONG I-35, IT DOES MAKE SENSE FOR THIS REZONING TO HIGHWAY CORRIDOR IN THIS LOCATION WITH THAT FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION.
GIVING. IT'S JUST BRINGING THE SMALL SITE INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE REST OF THE RV SALES FACILITY.
NOTIFICATION WAS SENT OUT THROUGH ALL OUR NORMAL CHANNELS.
WE'VE RECEIVED NO RESPONSES IN OPPOSITION OR IN FAVOR AT THIS TIME.
AND I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I DON'T HAVE ANY CARDS, BUT YOU CAN SPEAK AND THEN FILL OUT A CARD AFTER THE FACT.
QUESTIONS FOR STAFF REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT THREE.
THANK YOU. HOW DOES THE BUILDING GET BUILT WITHOUT PERMITS? AND WHAT DO WE ORDINARILY DO WHEN, IF? WELL, DOES THAT ORDINARILY HAPPEN? AND IF SO, WHAT DO WE ORDINARILY DO? SURE. SO IDEALLY IT DOES NOT HAPPEN IN THIS CASE.
THE BUILDINGS WERE BUILT OVER A PERIOD OF A COUPLE OF YEARS.
AS SOON AS ONE OF THEIR CONTRACTORS DID APPLY FOR A PERMIT, AND WE BECAME AWARE OF THE ISSUE, WE STARTED WORKING WITH THEM TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT THEY COULD COME INTO COMPLIANCE. ULTIMATELY, IN THIS CASE, THAT RESULTED IN THEM HAVING TO BUY THIS SMALL TRACT OF LAND FROM THEIR NEIGHBORS SO THAT THEY COULD REZONE IT AND THEN REPLANT THE PROPERTY AND BRING THE WHOLE SITE INTO CONFORMANCE.
[02:20:02]
AND THEY'VE PROVED THAT ONCE THEY GET THROUGH THESE STEPS, IT CAN BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OF OUR CODES.REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR.
THE BILL AND I WANT TO WANT TO ADD TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER MENTIONED IS THIS IS THE LARGE WHITE ROOFED BUILDING THAT'S JUST SOUTH OF THE OF THE BLACK RECTANGLE.
YES, SIR. IF YOU CAN SEE THE CURSOR JUST HERE ON THE AERIAL.
THANK YOU. HOW BIG IS THAT BUILDING? ROUGHLY. SEE IF I HAVE THAT INFORMATION HANDY.
3000FT². I WOULD SAY THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD ROUGH ESTIMATE.
I DO NOT BELIEVE I HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, THOUGH.
OKAY. AND IT'S IT'S A BRICK AND MORTAR BUILDING.
I MEAN, IT'S A IT'S IT'S INTENDED TO BE A PERMANENT BUILDING.
YES, SIR. IT IS INTENDED TO BE PERMANENT.
I BELIEVE IT'S PRIMARILY METAL STRUCTURE.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE.
THIS IS PRETTY. PRETTY STANDARD.
THIS SEEMS LIKE A BIT OF A LAYUP.
WHY DO WE HAVE ONE DISSENTING VOICE ON PNC? EXPLICIT REASON WAS NOT STATED.
THERE WERE QUESTIONS DURING THE HEARING REGARDING WHETHER THERE WERE ANY PENALTIES APPLIED DUE TO THE NON-CONFORMITY AND CREATED BY THE BUILDING BEING BUILT WITHOUT A PERMIT, SO IT MAY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THAT, BUT ANY EXPLICIT REASON WAS NOT STATED FOR THAT DISSENTING VOTE.
OKAY. THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO.
THANK YOU. I'LL TAKE RIGHT OFF FROM THERE.
WHAT IS THE STANDARD PRACTICE WHEN WE'VE NOT DONE PROPER PERMITTING? I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO BE ACCOMMODATING TO SOME DEGREE.
BUT WHAT IS OUR STANDARD PRACTICE WHEN THEY WHEN WE'VE HAD TO GO TO EXTRA STEPS BECAUSE PEOPLE DIDN'T FOLLOW THE PERMIT PROCESS? SURE. SO THERE ARE FEES THAT CAN BE IMPOSED FOR WORK WITHOUT A PERMIT.
THOSE ARE APPLIED IN INSTANCES WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE WORK IS CAUGHT DURING THAT CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
AND WE WE CAN GO THROUGH OUR NORMAL CHANNELS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND INSTANCES SUCH AS THIS WHERE IT'S RETROACTIVE.
WE WENT OUT ON SITE, DETERMINED THAT THE BEST PATH FORWARD WOULD BE FOR THEM TO HIRE THEIR OWN THIRD PARTY INSPECTOR THAT IS CERTIFIED TO TO COME IN AND INSPECT THE WORK AND VERIFY THAT IT IS STRUCTURALLY ENGINEERED AND SOUND AND WOULD MEET BUILDING CODES SINCE WE OUR STAFF DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
SO WE DO OUR BEST TO ENSURE THAT THE BUILDING IS SAFE, COMPLIES WITH CODES, AND TRY TO FIND A PATH FORWARD SO THAT THE STRUCTURE ULTIMATELY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE SITE, BUT IN SOME INSTANCES, THAT HAS OCCURRED.
SO IT WOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE SITE IF IT DIDN'T MEET CODE.
BUT WHAT WHAT'S THE PENALTY FOR MEETING CODE AND NOT YOU SAID FEES.
WE DO HAVE A I BELIEVE IT'S A RELATIVELY SMALL FINE THAT CAN BE IMPOSED FOR WORK WITHOUT A PERMIT ON A DAILY BASIS, BUT WE WE'RE MORE SO IN THE THE OPERATION OF TRYING TO GET THEM INTO COMPLIANCE AND ENSURING IT IS A SAFE STRUCTURE RATHER THAN PENALIZING, YOU KNOW.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT SIX.
FOR FOR EVERYONE ELSE WATCHING YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE AGENDA IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT THERE ARE 11 DIFFERENT EXHIBITS THAT ARE PROVIDED, INCLUDING STAFF ANALYSIS, THE NOTIFICATION RAMPS, MAPS FUTURE LAND USE MAP, EXISTING ZONING MAP, PROPOSED ZONING MAP, SUMMARY OF THE CONVERSATION AT PLANNING AND ZONING.
AND I JUST WANT TO AGAIN, THANK YOU AND THANK THE STAFF FOR BEING SO COMPLETE.
AND SO I CAN FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THE DECISIONS I MAKE UP HERE, BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH THE PACKET, JUST SO VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE BREADTH OF INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDE TO US, AND JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW MUCH IT WAS APPRECIATED.
SO WE CAN SHORT CIRCUIT THE TIME HERE TODAY.
ANYONE CARE TO SPEAK? YOU CAN DO SO.
SEEING NO SUDDEN MOVEMENTS, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I MADE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? COUNCILPERSON JESTER SECONDS.
THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.
[B. Hold a public hearing and consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas, regarding a request to rezone approximately 10.51 acres of land from Residential 6 (R-6) District to Public Facilities (PF) District generally located on the south side of Mills Road, approximately 1,900 feet east of North Mayhill Road, in the City of Denton, Denton County, Texas; adopting an amendment to the City’s official zoning map; providing for a penalty in the maximum amount of $2,000.00 for violations thereof; providing a severability clause and an effective date. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted (4-0) to recommend approval of the request. Motion for approval by Commissioner Villareal and second by Commissioner Padron. (Z24-0011a, DISD Transportation Facility, Julie Wyatt)]
HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS REGARDING REQUESTS TO REZONE APPROXIMATELY 10.51 ACRES OF LAND FROM RESIDENTIAL SIX DISTRICT TO PUBLIC FACILITIES DISTRICT.AND I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL, I'M JULIE WYATT.
I'M A PRINCIPAL PLANNER AND I AM PRESENTING Z24 11 A D I S D TRANSPORTATION FACILITY.
[02:25:07]
THE REQUEST BEFORE YOU IS TO REZONE APPROXIMATELY TEN ACRES FROM R6 DISTRICT TO DISTRICT.IT IS OUTLINED THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS OUTLINED IN BLUE ON YOUR SCREEN.
THE PURPOSE OF THE REQUEST IS TWOFOLD, REALLY.
FIRST IS IT'S THE CITY'S COMMON PRACTICE THAT ANY PROPERTY OWNED BY A GOVERNMENT.
SO THAT WOULD BE SCHOOL CITY COUNTY IS ZONED FW DISTRICT.
SO THIS PROPERTY IS OWNED BY DENTON ISD.
SO REZONING IT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH OUR STANDARD PRACTICE.
ADDITIONALLY, THE REQUEST IS TO FACILITATE THE RELOCATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION FACILITY THAT'S LOCATED JUST WEST OF THE RYAN HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS, OUTLINED ON YOUR SCREEN IN YELLOW.
THE DISTRICT HAS PLANS TO ADD ADDITIONAL FACILITIES TO THE RYAN HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS.
SO THE PROPOSAL WOULD ALLOW THEM TO RELOCATE THAT TRANSPORTATION FACILITY TO THE AREA IN BLUE, ALLOWING TO THEM TO THEN EXPAND RYAN HIGH SCHOOL IN THE AREA IN YELLOW. AND JUST IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR, THE TRANSPORTATION FACILITY IS WHERE THEY KEEP THE BUSSES FOR FOR THE SCHOOL.
THAT USE IS CLASSIFIED AS A COMMUNITY SERVICE USE.
IT'S ACTUALLY PERMITTED UNDER THE CURRENT ZONING.
SO THEY COULD DEVELOP UNDER THAT USE UNDER THE CURRENT ZONING.
THE REQUEST IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
IT'S IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE.
IT'S ALSO CONSISTENT WITH OUR HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD GOALS, IN THAT IT ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE LIVABILITY OF DENSE NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH THE PROVISION OF THOSE ADEQUATE COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
WE DON'T ANTICIPATE IMPACTS TO THE SURROUNDING AREA.
THE DEVELOPMENT THAT THAT NEW TRANSPORTATION FACILITY WOULD HAVE TO MEET ALL OF OUR CURRENT STANDARDS, THINGS LIKE STREET TREES AND SCREENING AND BUFFERS AND AND LANDSCAPING.
SO IT WOULD BE DEVELOPED IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE SEE IN COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
ON PUBLIC OUTREACH WAS SENT OUT.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
QUESTIONS FOR STAFF REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO.
AND SO FOR DEVELOPING A PARCEL.
SURE. LET, LET LET'S LET'S REZONE.
WHY AREN'T WE DOING A STAFF INITIATED ZONING ON THE OLD BUS BARN THAT'S ALSO OWNED BY A GOVERNMENT AGENT? WHY WHY WHY DO WE IF WE HAD OUR SIX OR SOMETHING, WHATEVER IT WAS FOR THE CURRENT BUS BARN AND WE'RE PUTTING THE THE NEW PROPERTY, WHICH IS ALSO R6, BUT WE'RE REZONING IT SO THE BUS BARN CAN MOVE 100 YARDS AWAY.
WHY AREN'T WE RETROACTIVELY REZONING THEIR CURRENT PROPERTY AS WELL? THE CURRENT PROPERTY DOES HAVE ZONING.
THE. YES, THE YELLOW HAS ZONING.
THERE WAS A MAP THAT SHOWED IT DID NOT.
NO, I BELIEVE IT DOES, BUT I CAN I CAN VERIFY THAT.
AND THERE. YEAH, THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CLEAN THAT UP.
IF THERE IS A IF THERE IF IT IS MISSING.
OKAY. WELL THEN I GUESS I MADE A MISTAKE.
SO THAT'S THAT WAS MY QUESTION.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT SIX.
COUNCILPERSON JESTER, I JUST MOVED TO APPROVE AS PROPOSED.
WANT TO BE A GOOD PARTNER TO THE DENTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I THINK I DID CHECK, AND I THINK THAT.
YES. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE MATERIALS SO THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS.
OKAY. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
IF ANYONE CARES TO SPEAK. YOU CAN COME DOWN AND JUST FILL OUT A CARD AFTERWARDS.
[02:30:06]
OKAY. YES.YOU KNOW, IN ITS NATURAL STATE OF NATURE.
AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO PUT SOMETHING ELSE THERE FOR TRANSPORTATION.
BUT THEN I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE AWARE THAT THE THINGS IN THE WHOLE DYNAMICS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO CHANGE IN THIS STATE BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO PASS SCHOOL CHOICE, AND THAT WILL PUT DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.
SO YOU'RE JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT DESTROYING JUST RAW LAND AND TRY TO EXPAND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT MAY BE IN, LIKE I SAY, MAYBE ABOUT FIVE YEARS. THAT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
SO I DON'T THINK THIS IS REALLY THOUGHT OUT TOO WELL.
ANYONE ELSE CARE TO SPEAK? IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING. YOU CAN COME DOWN AND SPEAK IF YOU'D LIKE.
SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.
TAKES US TO ITEM C, WHICH IS PDA 240002A.
[C. Hold a public hearing and consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas, repealing zoning ordinance (Z20-0001b) for 3.185 acres of land zoned Mixed-Use Neighborhood with overlay conditions; and adopting a new zoning designation of Planned Development-Mixed-Use Neighborhood (PD-MN) District for 3.185 acres generally located east of I-35N, approximately 1,078 feet south of Windsor Drive, in the City of Denton, Denton County, Texas; adopting an amendment to the City’s official zoning map; providing for a penalty in the maximum amount of $2,000.00 for violations thereof; providing a severability clause and an effective date. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted [3-1] to recommend approval of the request. Motion for approval by Commissioner Villareal and second by Commissioner Pruett. (PDA24-0002a, Elite Hospitality Pickleball and Restaurant, Angie Manglaris) Body]
HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS.200001B FOR 3.185 ACRES OF LAND, ZONED MIXED USE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH OVERLAY CONDITIONS AND ADOPTING A NEW ZONING DESIGNATION OF PLANNED DEVELOPMENT MIXED USE NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT FOR 3.185 ACRES.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ANGIE MANGAS, DEVELOPMENT REVIEW MANAGER, HERE TODAY TO PRESENT PDA 24 0002 ELITE HOSPITALITY, PICKLEBALL AND RESTAURANT. THIS IS AN APPROXIMATELY 3.1 ACRE TRACT OF LAND LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 1000FT SOUTH OF WEST WINDSOR DRIVE AND IMMEDIATELY EAST OF I-35 NORTH. THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY UNDEVELOPED.
IT DOES CONTAIN A FEW MATURE TREES SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE SITE.
ZONING IN THE VICINITY IS VARIED.
TO THE NORTHEAST. EAST AND SOUTH.
THERE IS RESIDENTIAL ZONING OF R6 AND R3.
TO THE WEST OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS I 35 NORTH AND THEN FURTHER WEST OF THAT IS HIGHWAY CORRIDOR.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS TO AMEND AN EXISTING OVERLAY PD.
BACK IN 2020, A REZONING REQUEST FROM R2 TO PN CAME FORWARD.
AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING.
THE APPLICANT SHOWED A SITE PLAN AND PROPOSED SEVERAL CONDITIONS TO BE INCLUDED WITH THE ZONING.
THOSE INCLUDED PROHIBITING SEVERAL LAND USES, ESTABLISHING SITE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS THAT RESTRICTED BUILDINGS ADJACENT TO RESIDENTIAL TO BE MEDICAL AND PROFESSIONAL OFFICES ONLY, PARKING ORIENTATION REQUIREMENTS, AND RESTRICTING ACCESS FROM COLONIAL DRIVE, WHICH IS TO THE SOUTH, TO EMERGENCY ONLY.
THE CONDITIONS WERE PROPOSED WITH A GARDEN STYLE OFFICE DEVELOPMENT IN MIND.
SO THE PROPOSAL IS REALLY TO TO ADDRESS TWO THINGS.
THAT IS TO REMOVE PROBLEMATIC LANGUAGE IN THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE THAT IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE FOR A SINGLE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS INCORPORATE NEW LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS CONCERNS THAT WERE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS IN NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AS IT RELATES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SITE FOR INDOOR RECREATION, SPECIFICALLY ADDING HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS, ENHANCED BUFFERING, INCREASED SETBACK REQUIREMENTS AND BUILDING DESIGN STANDARDS.
STAFF DID REVIEW THIS PROPOSAL FOR BOTH GENERAL CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL, AS WELL AS THAT FOR A PD, AND IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL AS IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE DENTON 2040 PLAN AND IS PROVIDING A HIGHER LEVEL OF DESIGN QUALITY THAN WHAT WOULD BE PROVIDED IF IT WERE TO DEVELOP AS STRAIGHT MEN.
SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS SITE.
THE FUTURE LAND USE DOES DEPICT THIS AREA AS LOW RESIDENTIAL, WHICH IS PREDOMINANTLY FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS WITH LOT SIZES THAT VARY FROM ONE ACRE OR MORE, UP TO FIVE UNITS PER ACRE.
[02:35:07]
DEVELOP AS LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL IN THIS AREA, AND IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE IDEA THAT USES SUPPORTING RESIDENTIAL AREAS MAY BE APPROPRIATE IN THE LOW RESIDENTIAL CATEGORY.FURTHERMORE, GIVEN ITS PROXIMITY TO I-35 AND MANY OF THE HOTELS WITHIN THE CITY, THIS DOES INCREASE DENTON'S TOURISM AND ECONOMIC POTENTIAL GOALS AS OUTLINED IN THE FISCAL AND ECONOMIC VITALITY SECTION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THE OVERLAY CONDITIONS DO PROPOSE SEVERAL DESIGN STANDARDS THAT PROVIDE A HIGHER LEVEL OF DESIGN QUALITY, INCLUDING LIMITING THE BUILDING TO SIX FEET BY RIGHT IN THE ZONING DISTRICT, A BUILDING COULD BE 41FT IN HEIGHT OR UP TO 65FT WITH AN SUP WHEN ADJACENT TO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A 15 FOOT WIDE LANDSCAPE BUFFER ALONG THE NORTH AND SOUTH PROPERTY LINES, AND A 20 FOOT WIDE LANDSCAPE BUFFER ALONG THE EASTERN PROPERTY LINE, WHERE IT BACKS UP TO EXISTING RESIDENTIAL HOMES.
IN ADDITION, THERE'S A PROPOSED 35 FOOT REAR YARD SETBACK, WHEREAS THE NW ZONING DISTRICT TYPICALLY HAS A ZERO FOOT REQUIREMENT FOR NW ZONING. ADDITIONALLY, SHOULD THE SITE DEVELOP AS AN INDOOR RECREATIONAL FACILITY, SEVERAL DESIGN STANDARDS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED, INCLUDING A BUTTERFLY ROOF ELEMENT AND ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS ALONG THE WESTERN FACADE, WHERE IT FACES 35 TO BREAK UP THAT THAT SIDE OF THE BUILDING.
PUBLIC OUTREACH WAS CONDUCTED.
NOTICES WERE MAILED THROUGH ALL OF OUR NORMAL CHANNELS.
WE DID RECEIVE THREE RESPONSES BACK OF THE 200 FOOT LETTERS THAT WERE SENT.
TWO OF THOSE DIDN'T NECESSARILY INDICATE IN FAVOR NOR OPPOSE, THOUGH THEY DID HAVE SOME COMMENTARY.
AND THEN ONE WAS IN OPPOSITION.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
3 TO 1. AND STAFF IS ALSO RECOMMENDING APPROVAL.
AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MAY HAVE.
WE DO HAVE THE APPLICANT THAT WANTS TO SPEAK, BUT ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF BEFORE THAT SHE COMES.
THE APPLICANT COMES UP REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO.
I MEAN, I'M ASSUMING THAT THESE ARE PICKLEBALL COURTS, SO THEY'RE OUTDOOR PICKLEBALL COURTS? NO, THEY'RE ENTIRELY INDOOR.
EVERYTHING IN THE IN THE WHITE FOOTPRINT IS INDOOR.
AND ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IN THE BACKUP THAT WAS PROVIDED FOR US WAS CONCERNS ABOUT THE THE DRAINAGE WITH THE PERMEABLE SURFACE AREAS. AND STAFF RESPONDED, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE THE DRAINAGE ASSESSMENT AT THIS TIME, DO WE? DO WE HAVE THAT DRAINAGE ASSESSMENT YET? SO WE DID CHECK ON THE THE STORMWATER MASTER PLAN UPDATE AND WHERE THAT IS IN THE IN THE PROCESS.
AND WHILE THAT IS MORE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE PUBLIC ASSETS AND WON'T NECESSARILY FIX SITUATIONAL RESIDENTIAL FLOODING ISSUES, STAFF DID MEET WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO SPOKE AT THE MEETING AND EXPRESSED FLOODING CONCERNS, AS WELL AS VISITED ON SITE THERE.
AND I HAVE A SLIDE ACTUALLY, THAT IF I CAN UNHIDE IT REAL QUICK.
THEY CANNOT INCREASE THE FLOW OF WATER ONTO AN ADJACENT PROPERTY MORE THAN WHAT IS THERE TODAY.
WE DID SPEAK WITH THOSE RESIDENTS WHO HAD CONCERNS AND WILL BE PAYING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THIS PROJECT, SHOULD IT BE APPROVED, MOVING FORWARD TO MAKE SURE NONE OF THOSE ISSUES ARE BEING EXACERBATED.
AND SO THAT'S THAT'S WHERE WE ARE ON THAT.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ANGIE. OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? OKAY THEN THE APPLICANT HAS TEN MINUTES.
YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME, PLEASE.
I WON'T TAKE THAT AMOUNT OF TIME.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AMY BISSET, 97, LAND, 109 NORTH ELM HERE IN DENTON.
AND I WILL BE QUICK AND BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR TIME.
[02:40:01]
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONCERNS THAT WE DID HEAR AND WALK THROUGH WHAT WE'VE DONE TO ADDRESS THEM TO OUR THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.AS AS ANGIE SAID, THIS IS CURRENTLY ZONED AS A AS A PD OVERLAY TODAY.
IT WAS REZONED IN 2020 AT THAT TIME.
AND, AND AS, AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE WANTED TO BE CAREFUL AND MINDFUL THAT WE ENGAGE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AGAIN AND HEARD THOSE CONCERNS AND DID WHAT WE COULD TO ADDRESS THEM.
AND THERE WERE SEVERAL RESTRICTIONS THAT WERE ADOPTED IN 2020.
AND WHILE THERE WAS NOT A CONCEPT PLAN THAT WAS LOCKED, THAT LOCKED IN WITH THAT ZONING, AND THERE WAS A CONCEPT PLAN THAT WAS PRESENTED, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW.
AND THE SO WHAT WE DID IS WE TOOK THIS CONCEPT PLAN AND MY CLIENT WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY TODAY, WE TRIED TO APPROXIMATE THOSE CONDITIONS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN OUR INITIAL NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS WITH WITH THE, WITH THE RESIDENTS.
AND SO WE ORIENTED THE SITE VERY SIMILARLY.
WE HONORED AS MANY OF THE CONDITIONS AS WE COULD, AND WE HAD TWO NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS IN MARCH.
AND WE THEN REDREW THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT AND CAME BACK AND HAD TWO MEETINGS IN JUNE AND GOT ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK, CAME BACK AND HAD TWO ADDITIONAL MEETINGS IN SEPTEMBER, AND WE HAD 5 TO 10 ATTENDEES AT EACH MEETING.
SO WE MOVED TO THAT AND THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOCATION OF PARKING.
THEY NO LONGER PREFERRED THAT THE PARKING BE BETWEEN THE BUILDING AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT NOISE FROM OUTDOOR PICKLEBALL COURTS.
OUR INITIAL CONCEPT DID HAVE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR COURTS.
WE REMOVED THE OUTDOOR COURTS TO ACCOMMODATE THEIR CONCERNS.
THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF NEIGHBORS COMING INTO THE THE CUSTOMERS COMING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH A SIDEWALK EASEMENT THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE TWO PROPERTIES.
AND SO WE HAVE PROPOSED A CONDITION TO FENCE OUR DEVELOPMENT SUCH THAT NEIGHBORS COULD NOT, OR THE CLIENTS COULD NOT GO BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN AND GO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT A RESTAURANT USE.
THAT IS ONE THAT WE HAVE NOT CHANGED.
WE DO STILL PROPOSE A RESTAURANT INDOORS AS A PART OF THE FACILITY.
HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT A RESTAURANT IS PERMITTED TODAY.
THAT IS NOT A RESTRICTION THAT'S BEING REMOVED.
AND THEN THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT VERY SIGNIFICANT EXISTING DRAINAGE PROBLEMS. I CAN STAND HERE AND TELL YOU THAT THAT IS NOT IMAGINED.
SO WE DID THIS IS THE NEWER CONCEPT PLAN.
SO WE DID RELOCATE THE DUMPSTER AND, AND THE PARKING AND REMOVE THE OUTDOOR COURTS AND DID EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD WITH THE SITE, WITH THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE SITE TO ACCOMMODATE THEIR CONCERNS.
I ANGIE PULLED UP A SIMILAR SLIDE, BUT I HAVE PULLED UP THE CONTOURS THAT EXIST TODAY HERE, AND IT DOES SHOW ABOUT 12FT OF FALL FROM THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF OUR SITE TO THE SOUTHWEST CORNER.
AND SO OUR SITE WILL FALL THIS DIRECTION.
AND IF WE IF WE HAVE TO DETAIN ON SITE, IT WILL BE IN THE IN THE FAR SOUTHWEST CORNER.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE SCREEN OUR DUMPSTER LOCATION IS AS FAR FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS POSSIBLE.
WE'RE PROPOSING A FENCE OR MASONRY WALL WHERE THERE IS NONE TODAY ALONG THE PROPERTY LINE.
WE'RE PROPOSING ENHANCED LANDSCAPE BUFFERS AND SETBACKS AND EMERGENCY ACCESS ONLY OFF OF COLONIAL DRIVE, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE THE MAIN CONCERNS OF OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
HERE ARE A FEW RENDERINGS JUST TO SHARE WHAT IS WHAT WHAT THE PROJECT WILL CONCEPTUALLY LOOK LIKE.
BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT.
SEEING NONE. I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T I AM
[02:45:04]
CURIOUS, I GUESS THIS IS A STAFF QUESTION BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T TOUCH ON IT IN YOUR PRESENTATION.SO THE EMERGENCY ACCESS ON COLONIAL.
I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING STREETS THAT DON'T CONNECT.
STEP ME THROUGH THAT. SURE, I UNDERSTAND THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S PERSPECTIVE.
GOT IT. BUT THEY ARE JUST SOUTH.
THEY ARE JUST NORTH OF THE LARGEST COMMERCIAL AREA IN THE CITY OF DENTON.
SO LET'S BE REASONABLE, RIGHT? LIKE IT'S THE TRAFFIC THAT THIS IS GOING TO GENERATE.
I'M PALES IN COMPARISON TO SAM'S HOME DEPOT.
EVERYTHING ELSE TO THE RIGHT OF THAT.
YOU KNOW, IT JUST HELPED ME UNDERSTAND.
SURE. SO THE RESTRICTED ACCESS TO.
THE RESTRICTED ACCESS FROM COLONIAL DRIVE, WHICH DOES COME OFF OF THUNDERBIRD AND GO NORTH, WERE PART OF THOSE ORIGINAL PLANNED DEVELOPMENT CONDITIONS. IN THEIR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE APPLICANT, I BELIEVE, FOUND THAT INDIVIDUALS WERE WANTING TO RETAIN SOME OF THOSE CONDITIONS. STAFF DID NOT NECESSARILY HAVE ANY ANY CONCERNS WITH RESTRICTING THAT TO TWO MS GIVEN ITS PROXIMITY TO 35. AND THAT THAT THAT FREEWAY WILL BE ABLE TO BRING TRAFFIC IN AND OUT OF THAT DEVELOPMENT.
AND MOVES CARS MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN A LOCAL STREET LIKE COLONIAL DRIVE WOULD.
SO THERE WASN'T THERE WASN'T A DESIRE TO TO REALLY REMOVE SOME OF THOSE EXISTING CONDITIONS, AS THEY WEREN'T NECESSARILY SEEN AS PROBLEMATIC GIVEN SOME OF THE OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE REGION THAT CAN SERVE THE SITE.
GOT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, IF YOU CARE TO SPEAK.
YOU CAN PLEASE, BY ALL MEANS, COME DOWN.
YOU CAN MAKE YOUR COMMENTS AND THEN FILL OUT A CARD AFTER THE FACT.
THERE WERE MULTIPLE MULTIPLE CONCESSIONS TO TRY TO MAKE IT WORK AS PERFECTLY AS POSSIBLE.
SO IT GOES ALONG WITH OUR PLAN.
YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS THE DRAINAGE IS BEING ISSUED, I THINK THIS IS GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT THREE.
I ALSO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE DEGREE OF DIALOG, AND PARTICULARLY THE APPLICANTS, YOU KNOW, RAISING THE ISSUES THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ISN'T HERE TO RAISE TODAY, WHICH I THINK IS VERY TRANSPARENT.
AND I HEAR THIS PICKLEBALL THING IS CATCHING ON.
OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO.
THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT, BUT I DO HAVE THE SAME DRAINAGE ISSUES.
WE'VE RUN INTO A LOT OF THESE DRAINAGE ISSUES WHERE THE STANDARD IS NEVER TO.
WHAT'S THE RIGHT TERM OF ART? DISAPPROVE. NEVER, NEVER TO TO MAKE DRAINAGE WORSE, BUT THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS ADHERE TO THAT AS WELL AS WE SHOULD.
SO I'M ASKING STAFF TO TO REALLY AND THE DEVELOPER TO REALLY PLEASE PUT A SPECIAL ATTENTION ON THAT.
I KNOW THE CITY NEEDS TO BE FLEXIBLE.
AS TIMES CHANGE, AS DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS CHANGE, AS WE ROLL WITH PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT, I WILL POINT OUT THAT THAT IS NOT WHAT WE PLANNED FOR THIS REGION.
AND THAT WAS RELAYED IN THE BACKUP AND THE PRESENTATION MATERIALS.
IT'S A LITTLE CONCERNING TO ME.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS SUCH AN INTENSE USE THAT I CAN'T GET ON BOARD, BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT WE TOLD THE, THE, THE FOLKS IN THE AREA THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO. SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL TO BE BE CAREFUL WHEN WE CHANGE THE PLANS WHOLESALE LIKE THIS.
WE DIDN'T GET TO THREE. BUT BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S TIME.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
[02:50:09]
PASSES SEVEN ZERO TAKES US TO ITEM D, PD 240003.[D. Hold a public hearing and consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas, regarding a change in the zoning district and use classification from Residential 1 (R1) and Rural Residential (RR) Districts to a Planned Development with a base of zoning of Residential 4 (PD-R4) District on approximately15.44 acres of land generally located northeast of the intersection of US 377 and Brush Creek Road, in the City of Denton, Denton County, Texas; adopting an amendment to the City’s official zoning map; providing for a penalty in the maximum amount of $2,000.00 for violations thereof; providing a severability clause and an effective date. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted [3-1] to recommend approval of the request. Motion for approval by Commissioner Pruett and second by Chair Ellis. (PD24-0003a, The Reserves at Brush Creek, Angie Manglaris)]
A HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS REGARDING A CHANGE IN THE ZONING DISTRICT IN CLASSIFICATION FROM RESIDENTIAL ONE AND RURAL RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT WITH A BASE ZONING OF RESIDENTIAL FOR DISTRICT ON APPROXIMATELY 15.44 ACRES OF LAND.GENERALLY LOCATED NORTHEAST OF INTERSECTION.
AND I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE 15.44 ACRE TRACT OF LAND IS SITUATED NORTHEAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF U.S.
377 AND BRUSH CREEK ROAD, BOTH OF WHICH ARE DESIGNATED AS PRIMARY ARTERIALS.
IT IS PART OF A LARGER 18 ACRE TRACT.
THE HARD CORNER IS NOT PART OF THIS REQUEST.
IT IS SURROUNDED BY PD TO THE WEST, WHICH IS SAGEBRUSH.
TO THE EAST IS THE CITY OF DENTON'S ETJ.
IT IS DEVELOPED WITH SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS REQUEST.
AN INITIAL ZONING REQUEST DID COME IN FOR THIS CASE, FOR THIS PROPERTY IN 2023.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID CONSIDER IT.
IT WAS A REQUEST TO REZONE APPROXIMATELY THE 15 ACRES TO R-6.
AT THAT TIME, THE HARD CORNER WAS CONTEMPLATED TO GO TO SC.
THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT NEIGHBORHOOD OPPOSITION, AS THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT THE DENSITY IN THE REGION AND THE TRAFFIC, AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED DENIAL AND SUGGESTED THE APPLICANT COME BACK AS A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT.
SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
THIS IS A 42 LOT SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
IT IS PROPOSED TO BE A GATED COMMUNITY WITH PRIVATELY OWNED AND MAINTAINED STREETS.
IT DOES HAVE A BASE ZONING OF R4.
THE LOTS ARE SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN WHAT'S REQUIRED BY THE DDC AT 60 BY 120 VERSUS 50 BY 80.
IT DOES INTRODUCE THE DEFINITION FOR A LOT WITH TYPE B, WHICH APPLIES TO LOTS SUCH AS THIS ONE THAT FRONT ON A KNUCKLE IN THESE CASES, THE WIDTH IS MEASURED AT THE FRONT YARD SETBACK RATHER THAN ALONG THE RIGHT OF WAY.
THE PROPOSED PD IN THIS LOCATION IS APPROPRIATE IN SCALE ALONG THE US 377 CORRIDOR.
FURTHER TO THE WEST IS THE SAGEBRUSH PLAIN DEVELOPMENT.
IT DOES HAVE A ZONING OR BASE ZONING OF R6, AND AS YOU MOVE EAST YOU GET INTO THAT LARGER LOT, LOWER DENSITY DENSE, I'M SORRY, LOWER DENSITY, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LANDSCAPE PLAN.
THE SOUTHWESTERN PROPERTY LINE WERE ADJACENT TO THE REMAINDER.
TRACK WILL HAVE A 15 FOOT WIDE LANDSCAPE BUFFER.
THOSE TREES ARE PLACED IN HOA LOTS.
THIS WAS REVIEWED AGAINST OUR CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.
BOTH OUR GENERAL CRITERIA AND THAT OF A PD.
IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
FUTURE LAND USE PLAN DOES DESIGNATE THIS PREDOMINANTLY AS NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE, WHERE THE PREDOMINANT USE IS RESIDENTIAL, BUT DOES ENVISION THAT LOCAL SERVING, RETAIL AND SERVICE USES MAY BE APPROPRIATE.
THIS DOES SERVE AS A TRANSITIONAL AREA.
[02:55:06]
WE ALREADY TOUCHED ON SOME OF THIS, SO I WON'T COVER IT IN DETAIL, BUT THEY ARE PROVIDING ENHANCED LANDSCAPE BUFFERING THAN WHAT'S REQUIRED SLIGHTLY LARGER R4 LOTS THAN WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED IF IT WERE TO DEVELOP BY STRAIGHT ZONING, AND ARE NOT INTRODUCING ANY NEW USES THAT WOULD BE INCOMPATIBLE TO ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA.WE DID CONDUCT PUBLIC OUTREACH.
NOBODY WITHIN 200FT DID RESPOND.
HOWEVER, WE DID RECEIVE SEVERAL EMAILS WHICH WERE INCLUDED IN YOUR BACKUP.
THE APPLICANT HAS HELD THREE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS SINCE THEIR INITIAL ZONING CASE IN JUNE 23RD, AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL 3 TO 1 OF THIS REQUEST, AND STAFF IS ALSO RECOMMENDING APPROVAL.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MAY HAVE.
THE APPLICANT IS ALSO HERE WITH A PRESENTATION.
OKAY. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR.
THANK YOU. WHAT? WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT LITTLE THAT LITTLE BUMP THE THE LITERAL CORNER OF 377 IN BRUSH CREEK.
THE REMAINDER TRACK. THE APPLICANT CAN SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO IT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS TO BE RESERVED FOR A MORE APPROPRIATE TIME WHERE COMMERCIAL MIGHT BE CONSIDERED.
SO AT THIS TIME, IT'S NOT PART OF THIS PLANNED DEVELOPMENT REQUEST.
OKAY. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT.
THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO.
THANK YOU. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT.
GIVEN THE LOW DENSITY TO THE NORTH, THE LOW DENSITY TO THE EAST, THE LOW DENSITY TO THE SOUTH.
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE THINK THIS IS TRANSITIONAL.
SO CAN YOU HELP GUIDE ME THROUGH THAT? SURE. LOOKING AT IT, MOVING FROM WEST OF 377, WHERE WE HAVE THE SAGE BROOK DEVELOPMENT WITH THE PD R-6 AND MOVING EAST.
IT DOES. IT DOES TRANSITION FROM THE BASE ZONING OF OUR SIX TO OUR FOUR TO OUR LARGER LOTS.
BUT ALSO IT'S DESIGNATED ALONG US 377, GIVEN ITS PRIMARY PRIMARY ARTERIAL STATUS AND ITS FUTURE DESIGNATION OF OF NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE. IT DOES SERVE AS THAT TRANSITIONAL BUFFER FROM THE HIGHWAY AND THE HIGHER INTENSITY USES YOU WOULD EXPECT TO SEE AND MOVING TOWARD THE EAST WHERE THE ETJ IS SITUATED. AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS A SORT OF A SEMI LEGACY.
WHEN DID THIS USED TO BE WNMU? BACK IN THE DAY, AND NOW IT'S, IT'S IN BUT OR CORRECT ME AT THE CURRENT ZONING, BUT OUR FOR TRANSITIONAL PURPOSES, DON'T WE GENERALLY WANT TO SUPPORT RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL ALONG THESE HIGHWAYS TO, TO BE THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR THE, FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING IT RATHER THAN MORE NEIGHBORHOODS? SURE. AND YES, ALONG HIGHWAY CORRIDORS.
YOU DO EXPECT TO SEE MORE COMMERCIAL USES.
THE FUTURE LAND USE HAS KIND OF TWO CATEGORIES OF THOSE GENERAL MIXED MIXED USE ONES.
THIS ONE IS NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE, WHERE IT DOES ENVISION THAT NEIGHBORHOODS BE THE PREDOMINANT USE, AND RETAIL AND SERVICE USES ARE THE SUPPORTING USES IN THESE CASES, WHICH THIS ONE WOULD WOULD FIT IN.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE COMPETING AS YOU MOVE CLOSER TO THE ETJ, THERE IS SOME SOME RURAL AREAS.
OKAY. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT ANGIE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? OKAY. IF THE APPLICANT HAS A PRESENTATION YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM AT 2061 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET, LEWISVILLE, TEXAS.
BUT THERE WAS A HISTORY ON THIS BEFORE THEN.
THE, THE, THE CURRENT PROPERTY OWNER HAS ATTEMPTED TO BRING THIS IN FRONT OF PNC 2 TO 3 MORE TIMES.
I'M SORRY, IS IT TWO? YEP. THERE WE GO.
THANK YOU. BUT THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS TRIED TO COME IN WITH MULTIFAMILY TRIED TO COME WITH HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, AND OBVIOUSLY WE HAD SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS WHERE THERE WAS A LOT OF OPPOSITION TO THAT.
NOBODY REALLY WANTED REALLY DENSE HOUSING OR ANY KIND OF MULTIFAMILY HERE.
[03:00:01]
SO WHEN I WAS BROUGHT ON TO TO PARTNER WITH THE CURRENT LANDOWNER ON THIS, WE HAD MANY, MANY, MANY NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS.AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO TO INCLUDE THE NEIGHBORS IN THE DESIGN PROCESS AND NOT JUST BRING THEM AFTER THE FACT, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE WE HEAR WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE AND TRY TO AT LEAST COMPROMISE WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM EVERYTHING THAT THEY WANT, BUT AT LEAST TRY TO GET GET IT TO A POINT WHERE THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH WITH THE PLAN.
SO A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORS ON THE SPECIFICALLY ON THE EAST SIDE WANTED.
WHEN WE BROUGHT IT THE LAST TIME IN FRONT OF PNC, IT WAS 40 FOOT WIDE LOTS.
THEY WANTED LOWER DENSITY, SO WE UPPED IT TO 50 FOOT WIDE LOTS.
AND THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT IS THAT WAS STILL NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
IF WE GO ANY LARGER THAN THAT, IT'S JUST NOT A FEASIBLE PROJECT.
SO WE CAN SO WE WE MADE SURE WE CAME BACK WITH THAT.
ONE OF THE OTHER COMMENTS THAT WE GOT FROM PNC AND THE COMMISSIONERS WAS THE STRAIGHT R6 ZONING ALLOWED FOR TOWNHOMES AND FOURPLEXES, AND THEY WANTED TO REMOVE THE ABILITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GO DO THAT AFTER THE FACT.
SO THEY SUGGESTED WE COME BACK WITH A PD WHERE EVERYTHING IS SET UP.
YOU HAVE TO GO WITH EXACTLY THE LAND PLAN THAT THAT'S PRESENTED.
ONE OF THE OTHER COMMENTS WE GOT WAS PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT THEIR HOME VALUES TO BE IMPACTED BY HOUSING THAT MIGHT COME IN AT 40 FOOT WIDE LOTS, WHICH IS NOT WHERE THEY WANT IT TO BE AT. WE CONVERTED THIS TO A LUXURY GATED COMMUNITY TO TRY TO ELEVATE THE HOME PRICES IN THERE, AND NOT REALLY AFFECT ANYBODY'S SURROUNDING.
THEY WANTED US TO IDENTIFY A BUILDER BEFORE WE WE WENT TO THIS PD PROCESS.
A LOT IN THE, IN THE DFW AREA.
WE'RE NOT UNDER CONTRACT WITH THEM YET, BUT WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING WITH THEM.
AND THEY WERE A PART OF THE PD PROCESS BUILDING THIS OUT.
YOU KNOW, AND THE FINAL THING IS WE WANTED TO CONVERT THIS ALSO TO A GATED COMMUNITY TO TO REMOVE ANY KIND OF MAINTENANCE BURDENS ON THE CITY SO THAT THE HOA WILL MAINTAIN ALL THE STREETS AND ALL THE HOA LOTS WITHIN WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT.
LOOK, AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN DEVELOPING WITHIN DFW FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS OR SO, AND I PUT MY STAMP OF APPROVAL ON EVERYTHING, NOT JUST FOR A PROJECT WHERE WE GET TO BUILD IT AND LEAVE, BUT MY COMPANY NAME AND MY LEGACY IS ATTACHED TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY PROJECTS.
MY REPUTATION MATTERS WAY MORE TO ME THAN THE BOTTOM LINE ON ANY DEAL.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE ALL HERE TO, YOU KNOW, I'M HERE TO RUN A BUSINESS AND WE'RE OBVIOUSLY WANTING TO MAKE MONEY, BUT MAKING SURE THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO WE WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND, IN MY OPINION, WITH WITH ALL THE UPGRADES THAT WE'VE PUT ON HERE, SPECIFICALLY THE MASONRY SCREENING WALL THAT WE PUT ALL THE WAY ALONG THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE PROPERTY TO TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SUFFICIENT BUFFER BETWEEN US AND THE NEIGHBORS.
YOU SAW THE LANDSCAPE PLAN THAT ANGIE PULLED UP IN HER PRESENTATION.
EVERYWHERE ON THIS PROPERTY. I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO LOOK JUST DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, LOOKING AT IT.
IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE A MASSIVE GREEN SPACE WITH A POND AND A BEAUTIFUL GATE.
I KNOW ONE QUESTION WAS THE CORNER AND WHAT WE INTEND TO DO WITH IT.
WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE AT THIS POINT.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A PLAN FOR THE CORNER.
I'M GUESSING IT'S GOING TO BE SOME SORT OF RETAIL COMMERCIAL TO SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING IT, BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT WILL GO THROUGH A SEPARATE ZONING CASE WHERE WE'LL COME UP WITH AN ACTUAL PLAN, AN ACTUAL FACILITY, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN COME AND PROVIDE YOU WITH MORE INFORMATION ON.
WE'RE JUST WE'RE JUST NOT THERE YET ON ON THAT PORTION OF IT.
BUT I'LL REMAIN UP HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN ANSWER.
THANK YOU. QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT OR STAFF.
SEEING NONE. I DO HAVE ONE CARD THAT'S IN OPPOSITION BUT DOESN'T WISH TO SPEAK.
I HAVE ANOTHER CARD THAT DOES WISH TO SPEAK.
YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME.
WHAT IS IT SAYS ON HERE? FOUR MINUTES.
YEP. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
[03:05:08]
CREEK. I BELIEVE THE CLOSEST HOME TO THE ACTUAL NEIGHBORHOOD.WHEN I BOUGHT THIS HOME IN 2017 I WAS TRYING TO GET INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE RURAL AREA.
I HAD BEEN IN SUBURBAN FLOWER MOUND FOR 25 YEARS, AND SO I FOUND A LITTLE PATCH JUST OVER AN ACRE WITH A LITTLE RANCH STYLE HOUSE.
NOT ONLY THE HOUSE, BUT THE LOCATION, THE RURAL FEEL.
AND THEN THAT PROPERTY, THE 14, 16 ACRES, WHATEVER IT IS, WAS THERE WITH A HOME THAT WAS BEING OCCUPIED AT THE TIME, AND THERE WAS CATTLE AND HORSES AND THAT THING.
AND SO WE SETTLED IN AND STARTED FEEDING THE HORSES AND THE COWS.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF CONCERNS, I GUESS, REALLY ON THE MATTER.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRAFFIC OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
THE TRAFFIC BETWEEN 377 AND 1830 HAS REALLY INCREASED.
I GUESS EVERYBODY FIGURED OUT IT'S A NICE CUT THROUGH.
MY CONCERN IS THAT PUTTING IN 42 HOMES IS GOING TO INCREASE THE TRAFFIC.
IT'S GOING TO START BOTTLENECKING ON BRUSH CREEK WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO GET ON TO 377.
EVEN JUST TONIGHT TRYING TO COME HERE.
AND IT WAS DARK AND I PULLED UP TO 377 AND THERE WAS FOUR CARS DEEP OFF OF BRUSH CREEK TRYING TO GET ON TO 377 AND JUST A SEA OF CARS, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, COMING DOWN.
377. SO JUST TRYING TO GET OUT THERE BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LIGHT THERE.
IT'S JUST IT'S IT'S GOING TO BOTTLENECK.
THAT'S THAT'S A BIG CONCERN OF MINE.
THE OTHER THING IS ABOUT THE LAST TEN DAYS, UNTIL JUST YESTERDAY, THEY WERE THE CITY WAS DOING SOME WORK ON THAT STREET ON BRUSH CREEK, AND THEY STOPPED, OR THEY BLOCKED A PORTION OF BRUSH CREEK.
BUT AS SOON AS THE THE BARRICADES WERE REMOVED YESTERDAY, IT WAS JUST LIKE BACK TO JUST CRAZINESS.
I'M LIKE, WHAT IS GOING TO GO THERE? I DON'T WANT A GAS STATION THAT I CAN WALK TO AND GET MY CHIPS AND COKE.
I MEAN, THAT SOUNDS CONVENIENT, BUT I'M NOT REALLY UP FOR THAT.
SEEMS, I DON'T KNOW, KIND OF SILLY.
WHAT IS SIX FOOT? IT'S JUST LIKE ANOTHER FOOT TALLER THAN ME.
I JUST FEEL LIKE I DON'T WANT 42 HOMES ON TOP OF ME.
THE BUILDER THAT OMAR PROPOSED THAT SPOKE THE OTHER NIGHT ON NOVEMBER 13TH WAS FROM TOLL BROTHERS, AND HE GOT UP AND SPOKE AND SHARED WHAT THEIR PLANS WERE.
THEY RAISE THE GROUND SO THAT THOSE HOMES SIT A LITTLE HIGHER.
I'M NOT AN ENGINEER OR ANYTHING OR A DEVELOPER BY ANY MEANS, BUT I KNOW MY TIME IS UP.
THE MAP TO THE SOUTH OF YOU IS AN ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SIMILAR, PROBABLY SMALLER LOTS THAN WHAT'S GOING NEXT TO YOU THERE.
SO EVERYTHING AROUND YOU THAT'S DEVELOPABLE HAS DEVELOPED SOMETHING SMALLER THAN WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED HERE? SURE. HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THAT? HOW DO HOW WOULD YOU WANT ME? BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK UP, RIGHT? SO I'M JUST I'M BEING TRANSPARENT AND SAYING AS I LOOK AROUND AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND, THANK YOU.
BECAUSE YOU WOULD NOT HAVE OTHERWISE.
SO YOUR THOUGHTS SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION IS HOW DO I FEEL ABOUT THE OTHER DEVELOPMENTS GOING ON AROUND US? YEAH. HOW DO I SAY, HOW DO I SAY NO TO THE LAST ONE TO DEVELOP?
[03:10:02]
RIGHT. THE OTHER TWO HAVE DEVELOPED INTO MUCH SMALLER ALL AROUND YOU, TO THE ALL AROUND, TO THE TO THE WEST AND TO THE SOUTH.YEAH. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
WELL, IT'S NOT ON MY STREET, I GUESS IS MY FIRST JUSTIFICATION.
IT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 377, WHICH I TYPICALLY DON'T REALLY GO WEST THAT WAY, RIGHT? WELL. AND NOT I'M TRACKING WITH YOU ON THE ONE ON THE WEST, BUT THE ONE TO YOUR SOUTH IS.
SO ALL THOSE, ALL THOSE THAT ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD EXITS OUT TO 377.
YES. LET'S SAY HALF OF THEM ARE TURNING RIGHT.
THAT MEANS BRUSH CREEK HAS THE WEIGHT.
YES. SOME PERIOD OF TIME FOR THAT FLOW.
TRUE. SO IT'S SO HEARING THAT YOUR ISSUE IT'S NOT THE PROPOSED HOUSES, IT'S THE HOUSES TO THE SOUTH THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY ON 377 THAT THAT PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD.
YES. THEY ONLY CAN GET IN AND OUT OF 377, THEY DON'T HAVE THE BRUSH CREEK OPTION.
AND I HAVE BEEN IN THERE EVEN RECENTLY.
AND IT WAS CRAZY TRYING TO GET IN AND OUT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ONE MORE QUESTION.
I DO BELIEVE REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE.
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE SPEAKER OR.
NO. I JUST WANT TO SAY WE'VE WE'VE GONE THROUGH SEVERAL OF THESE DURING MY TIME ON COUNCIL.
I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE JUST HONEST AND SAY YOU JUST DON'T WANT IT ON YOUR STREET.
THAT'S OKAY. YOU GET TO HAVE THAT RIGHT.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HONEST WITH US.
AND SOMEONE TOLD ME NOT TO TALK ABOUT MY CHICKENS AND I DON'T WANT MY CHICKENS DISTURBED.
AND SPEAKING OF AUTHENTICITY AND BEING OPEN.
ONE OTHER CONCERN I HAVE IS THAT WHEN THIS DEVELOPER STARTED BRINGING THE PROPOSALS TO THE PNC, THE LETTER, THE FIRST LETTER THAT CAME, I'VE JUST BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE CREDIBILITY OR THE I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE RIGHT WORD AT THE MOMENT. THE FIRST LETTER THAT CAME TO US IN THE MAIL WAS IN MARCH OF 23, AND THE DEVELOPER'S NAME WAS RED ROCK COMMUNITIES.
THAT WAS THE BUSINESS NAME RED ROCK COMMUNITIES.
THEN IN JULY OF 23, THE SAME DEVELOPERS CAME IN UNDER MAGGIE AND SONS.
IT WAS A DIFFERENT BUSINESS NAME.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS A VERY UNUSUAL TO CHANGE YOUR BUSINESS NAME WITHIN LESS THAN A YEAR.
AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE SENT IN MAY OF 24.
STILL MAGGIE AND SON, BUT NOW HE'S REPRESENTED BY A DIFFERENT COMPANY NAME.
AND I'M JUST ACTUALLY JUST CONFUSED.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE NAME CHANGED SO MUCH.
OKAY. AND COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR THE SPEAKER OR NO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON THERE.
YOU PAID WHATEVER IT IS THAT THAT COST.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BUILD THERE? IF IT WAS MY LAND.
I HONESTLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE A CHURCH THERE.
PERSONALLY, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THERE.
THAT'S A I WASN'T EXPECTING THAT ANSWER.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT NO, ACTUALLY, I OMAR AND I, I WAS AT THE ONLY MEETING.
I THINK THAT WAS LAST FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT SHOWED UP, AND HE ASKED ME THE SAME QUESTION, AND I SAID, HOW ABOUT A CHURCH? AMEN. WHAT BRAND? I'M NOT GOING THERE. OKAY.
THANK YOU. ANY. YOU DONE? YES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANKS, MAYOR.
LUXURY. WHAT DOES LUXURY MEAN? TYPICALLY IN OUR SPACE.
ANY HOME THAT IS ABOVE THE 650 TO $700,000 MARK, FINISHED PRICE POINT, SALES PRICE POINT JUMPS INTO OUR LUXURY KIND OF BRACKETS. IT'S AN ARBITRARY NUMBER THAT EVERY BUILDER SLASH DEVELOPER HAS A DIFFERENT DEFINITION OF IT.
THAT'S OUR DEFINITION OF IT BASED ON BASED OFF OF OUR PORTFOLIO AND KIND OF THE WORK THAT WE DO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT.
AND THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT I'M GOING TO CLOSE IT AFTER IF NO ONE ELSE COMES UP.
BUT SO THE NEXT SPEAKER IS OMAR.
YEAH. THAT'S ME. I THOUGHT I HAD TO FILL ONE OUT.
[03:15:02]
SURE. GO, GO. GO AHEAD.THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENT NAMES ON THE LETTERS THAT WENT OUT.
FIRST OF ALL, THOSE LETTERS ALL WENT OUT TO RESIDENTS IN THE ETJ, NOT RESIDENTS IN THE CITY.
WE WERE NOT OBLIGATED TO SEND ANY LETTERS OUT TO ANYBODY THAT ON THE EAST SIDE OF US.
BUT THAT COMPANY STILL EXISTS AND MAGGIE AND SONS IS THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
SO THE LETTERS, NOBODY'S CHANGED.
IT'S THE SAME BUSINESSES, IT'S THE SAME.
EVERYTHING IS JUST THE SIGNATURE LINE THAT WE PUT ON THE ON THERE.
IT'S STILL THE SAME EVERYTHING. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS CLEAR.
OKAY. AND THEN THE LAST CARD IS DOESN'T WISH TO SPEAK BUT IS IN OPPOSITION.
SO THAT'S ALL THE CARDS I HAVE.
I'LL TAKE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.
COME ON DOWN. IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.
I'M THE DAD OF MAGGIE AND SON.
AND I MY MY SON AND I BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY IN 2013 AND THERE WAS A GAS WELL ON IT. AND WE ARE VERY REPUTABLE, HONEST, ETHICAL PEOPLE.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO PULL ANYTHING OVER ANYBODY'S EYES.
WE INITIALLY MET MY SON AND I WERE UP HERE SEVERAL TIMES.
THIS WAS LIKE 2013, 14, 15 VISITING, AND WE WERE EVEN THINKING ABOUT COMMERCIAL BECAUSE WE PAID A BUNCH OF MONEY FOR THAT LAND AND WE WERE TOLD, NO, NO ENCHILADA MANY, MANY TIMES.
AND SO THAT'S I'M NOT A BUILDER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT ON STUFF LIKE THIS.
SO WE ASKED THIS GENTLEMAN HERE TO REPRESENT US BECAUSE WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING CLASSY.
AND AND WE REALLY WANTED AND AS WE KNOW, THE, THE ON BRUSH CREEK ROAD IS GOING TO BE.
IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE A FOUR LANE ROAD.
SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF TRAFFIC.
AND 377 IS GOING TO BE WIDENED FROM ALL INDICATIONS.
BUT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO PULL ANYTHING OVER ANYONE'S EYES.
AND ANYHOW SO THIS TOLL BROTHERS LIKE THE GENTLEMAN SAID HERE THEY PUT FIRST CLASS CLUB CLUB FIRST CLASS HOUSING IN.
AND SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
AND SOMEONE WILL GIVE YOU A BLUE CARD TO FILL OUT ANY OTHER.
ANYONE ELSE CARE TO SPEAK BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY, THEN I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF.
ANGIE, CAN YOU PULL UP GOOGLE MAPS FOR ME, PLEASE? AND THANK YOU. AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN ADDRESS.
YES. I THINK MAYBE IT MAY SHOW UP AS ARGYLE.
YOU ZOOM INTO THE STORAGE BUILDINGS.
HOW HOW MUCH? HOW MUCH SPACE WOULD YOU GUESS IS BETWEEN THAT, THE BACK OF THAT STORAGE BUILDING AND THE LOT LINE FOR THOSE HOUSES? WELL, LET'S SEE, THIS IS 100FT.
ARE YOU TALKING THIS LOT LINE? NO. THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT.
GUESSING IF THAT THE SCALE IS DOWN HERE.
IT'S SHOWING THIS IS 100FT OKAY.
JUST TRULY HEARING THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT'S BEING DEVELOPED.
IF THEY IF THIS IF THIS VERSION OF THE HOMES DON'T WORK OUT RIGHT.
AND IT'S NOT IF OR I'M NOT I'M NOT MAKING SUGGESTIONS.
I'M JUST PROCESSING THROUGH THE INFORMATION.
AND IF I WERE TO LIVE IN THIS AREA, JUST UNDERSTANDING THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S CONCERNS, MY CONCERN WOULD BE THAT AT SOME POINT YOU GET TO WHERE IT'S JUST I'M DONE WITH IT.
I'M GOING TO SELL IT AND LET SOMEONE ELSE DEVELOP SOMETHING THAT'S EXACTLY TO THE NORTH.
[03:20:08]
THEY HAVE GIANT METAL BUILDINGS IN THE BACKYARD WITH NO FENCE.THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A BETTER OPTION.
AND SO I WANT TO I HEAR THE NEIGHBORS CONCERNS, AND I WANT TO TRY TO BEST ADDRESS THOSE.
AND I THINK THE PROJECT PUT BEFORE US DOES SOME OF THAT.
BUT I THINK IT DOES CHECK A LOT OF THE BOXES.
AND I JUST WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT IN HOW I, HOW I'M THINKING.
BUT WE'LL SEE HOW THE REST OF THE CONVERSATION DEVELOPS.
BUT THAT I JUST WANTED TO SHOW THAT'S THAT'S MY CONCERN BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ONLY THAT PROPERTY.
THEN TO THE NORTH THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.
AND SO AT SOME POINT, YOU, THOSE, THOSE PEOPLE THAT OPERATE THOSE INDUSTRIES OR THOSE PEOPLE LOOKING AT THE LANDS AND SEEING WHAT'S GOING TO DEVELOP, AND THEY SEE PRECIOUS FEW PEOPLE WILLING TO SIT THROUGH THIS PROCESS THAT LONG, THAT MANY YEARS AND THAT MUCH MONEY AND THAT MANY REDESIGNS.
SO ONLY THING I WILL SAY IF I ONE QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT AND LET ME GET OUT OF THE WAY.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING? SIX FOOT FENCE.
IT'S A IT'S A SIX FOOT MASONRY SCREENING WALL.
SO IT'S LIKE A, IT'S AN ACTUAL BRICK BRICK WALL, BUT IT'S SIX FOOT.
IT'S SIX FOOT HIGH. YEAH, IT'S PRETTY STANDARD.
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD YOU GO TO, YOU DO.
SO SIX FOOT IS A PRETTY STANDARD DEAL.
BUT JUST IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE USUALLY WHEN WE DO THAT, WE DON'T PUT A LANDSCAPE BUFFER, BECAUSE WHAT'S THE POINT OF PUTTING TREES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE IF NOBODY CAN SEE THEM? BUT WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL HOA LOT THAT HAS TO HAVE CERTAIN NUMBER OF TREES PLANTED IN IT THAT ARE EVERGREEN TREES THAT KIND OF GO ABOVE THE FENCE AS WELL TO PROVIDE KIND OF A GREEN RIGHT WALL.
WE'VE GOT TREES LIKE IT'S IN AN HOA LOT AND IT'S IN THE IT'S IN THE PD.
HOW MANY, HOW FAR ARE THEY SPACED APART? DO YOU KNOW ANGIE OR I GOT I GOT THE ENGINEER.
SO IF THE LOTS ARE 60FT WIDE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERY 15 TO 30FT.
IF YOU SEE THE LANDSCAPE PLAN ON JUST.
IT'S MORE TREES THAN ROADS AND LOTS.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THAT'S HELPFUL.
AND I'M SORRY, ANGIE, I DO HAVE ONE MORE THING.
WHEN I LOOKED AT THE ZONING ON THE TO THE SOUTH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS SOUTH OF BRUSH CREEK.
IT'S IT'S ON THE MAP IT SAYS R2.
IS IT BECAUSE THEY WRAP AROUND ALL THAT PROPERTY THAT ABUTS FORT WORTH DRIVE OR 377? IS THAT WHY THEY CAN CLASSIFY IT AS R2? I DO NOT KNOW THE FULL HISTORY OF THAT SITE.
IT IS POSSIBLE IT HAD A ZONING UNDER THE 20 THE PREVIOUS DDC.
AND WHEN WE MADE THE TRANSITION, R2 WAS THE CLOSEST ZONING DISTRICT TO TO TRANSITION AT TWO.
I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT LOT SIZES ON THOSE, BUT I COULD, I COULD LOOK.
OKAY. YEAH. IF WHILE OTHERS ARE TALKING.
BUT YEAH, THAT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT R2.
JUST MY GUESS, RIGHT? BUT BUT I'D BE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW THAT.
LET ME SEE IF I CAN. REAL QUICK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE, SIR.
I'M SORRY. YOU CAN'T, BUT WE SPENT $100,000.
OKAY, WELL, THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE GET TO THAT.
APPRECIATE IT. REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT FIVE.
I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS FOR STAFF OR THE DEVELOPER OR THE APPLICANT.
I'M LOOKING LOOKED IN THE BACKUP.
I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN TERMS OF AMENITIES.
IS THAT PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY 42 HOMES? I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, I SEE THE LITTLE POND.
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME WALKING TYPE TRAILS AROUND IT.
TALK TO ME ABOUT AMENITIES. YEAH.
IN A 42 LOT COMMUNITY, THERE'S REALLY NOT ENOUGH SPACE.
A LOT OF THEM IN HOUSTON WHERE THEY'RE DRY PONDS.
THIS IS A FULL POND WATER WITH A FOUNTAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
FAIR ENOUGH. REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT COUNCIL PERSON
[03:25:03]
YOU KNOW I DID COMMUNICATE WITH MEMBERS OF PNC AND DO APPRECIATE IN THIS INSTANCE AS WELL THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS.AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, MULTIPLE MEETINGS AND CONCESSIONS MADE.
I CERTAINLY HEAR THE OPPOSITION RATIONALE AND UNDERSTAND THAT.
HOWEVER FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, THERE HAS BEEN A VERY PRESSING NEED IN DENTON FOR A DIVERSITY OF HOUSING FOR OUR WORKFORCE AND SPECIFICALLY LUXURY HOUSING TO ATTRACT CERTAIN TYPES OF BUSINESSES THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A FUNCTIONING AND WELL BALANCED COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE TRAFFIC IN THIS AREA.
YOU KNOW, I CAN APPRECIATE THAT.
IT'S BEEN TOUGH TO DEVELOP THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY BECAUSE IT'S TOUGH TO FIND THE RIGHT FIT.
I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS THE PERFECT FIT.
HOWEVER, WHAT I SEE IS IT FILLS A NEED THAT IS VERY EXPLICIT AND HAS BEEN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS THAT THAT DENTON HAS.
AND SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M MOVING THAT WE APPROVE.
IS THERE A SECOND? REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR.
YEAH. I'LL SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
DISCUSSION. WERE YOU ABLE TO FIND.
YEAH, PLEASE. SO KIND OF THE HIGH LEVEL SUMMARY IS, IS THIS ZONING ON THE PROPERTY TO THE SOUTH DOES PREDATE THE 2019 DDC.
SO IT WAS UNDER THE 20 THE 2002 DDC SEE WHERE IT WAS LOOKED AT AS AN OVERALL DENSITY.
AND IN THOSE CALCULATIONS, OPEN SPACE DID COUNT.
SO IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME OF THOSE LOTS ARE GOING TO BE SMALLER THAN WHAT THE TYPICAL ART.
I'M SORRY. YEAH. R2 WOULD REQUIRE IF IT WERE TO DEVELOP TODAY UNDER THE 2019 DDC.
WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT? I MEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE R4.
THEY RANGED FROM 90FT TO 110, WHICH WOULD BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN AN R2 AND AN R4.
IT'S GOING TO VARY, AS YOU SAID, WHEN THEY WRAP AROUND THE STREETS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE THAT.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE WOULD WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO AN EIGHT FOOT FENCE VERSUS A SIX FOOT FENCE? WE WE COULD LOOK AT IT JUST IN.
ALL THESE THINGS KEEP ON KIND OF RAISING THE PRICE OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
AT SOME POINT IT'S JUST NOT FEASIBLE.
THEY GO UP WAY HIGHER THAN THE FENCE WILL.
SO IT'LL ULTIMATELY LOOK LIKE AN EIGHT FOOT A NINE FOOT FENCE.
WAS THAT CONCERN BROUGHT UP IN ANY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS? I'M SORRY. SORRY. GO AHEAD.
BUT YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. GO AHEAD.
WAS THAT CONCERN AT ALL ABOUT THE HEIGHT OF THE FENCE BROUGHT UP AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS? IT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING.
SOME ONE ONE RESIDENT PARTICULARLY ASKED FOR AN EIGHT FOOT FENCE.
WE TRIED TO KIND OF RUN THE NUMBERS ON IT.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING YOU ACTUALLY TRIED TO WORK ON? I DID, I DID, YEAH, IT CAME UP.
WE LOOKED AT IT. WE JUST THE NUMBERS WOULDN'T WOULDN'T WORK ON IT.
THANKS FOR YOUR WORK. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO.
YEAH. THIS ISN'T A QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT.
YEAH, I, I MY MY CONCERNS REMAIN.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS THIS IS TRANSITIONAL.
I THINK WE'RE WE'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE REGION AND THE PLAN THAT WE HAD BEFORE.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST THE BUILDER OR THEIR THEIR THEIR PLAN FOR LUXURY HOMES, PER SE.
I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT THING AT THIS LOCATION.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
PASSES FIVE TWO TAKES US TO ITEM E, ID 242389.
[E. Hold a public hearing and consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas, Amending Ordinance No. 2010-316 concerning Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number One, City of Denton, Texas, established pursuant to Chapter 311 of the Texas Tax Code, by expanding the boundaries and extending the term of Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone Number One, City of Denton, Texas; and providing an effective date.]
HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2010316 CONCERNING TAX INCREMENT[03:30:05]
REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER ONE, CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 311 OF THE TEXAS TAX CODE.AND I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
GOOD EVENING. MAYOR AND COUNCIL BRITTANY SOTELO, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU THIS EVENING.
I'M HERE TO PRESENT TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER ONE, BOUNDARY AND TERM AMENDMENT.
AS A REMINDER, THIS WAS PRESENTED TO YOU ON NOVEMBER 19TH DURING WORK SESSION.
SO THIS WILL BE A BRIEF SUMMARY.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BACKGROUND.
IT WAS FIRST CREATED ON DECEMBER 10TH, 2010 AND 2019.
STAFF ENDED UP CONTRACTING WITH DAVID PETTIT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP AND NATALIE MOORE.
WE CONTINUED OUR CONTRACT WITH THE CONSULTANT AND NATALIE MOORE WITH DAVID PETTIT.
ECONOMIC. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
IN MAY OF 2023, THE AMENDMENT WAS PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL.
SINCE THE CREATION OF THE TRS AND WE'RE CURRENTLY IN YEARS 11 THROUGH 20 AT 90%, THE CURRENT BOUNDARY HAS APPROXIMATELY OVER 226 ACRES, AND THE BASE VALUE WHEN IT WAS CREATED WAS AT $79.4 MILLION.
WHEN THE ORIGINAL PHP WAS CREATED, THE CONSULTANT PUT THE FUNDING CATEGORIES INTO FOUR DIFFERENT CATEGORIES PARKING, COMPLETE STREETS, SUPPORT FOR DOWNTOWN PROJECTS, UTILITY AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS FOR A TOTAL OF $24.8 MILLION.
THE TRS CERTIFIED TAX VALUES IN TOTAL HAS INCREASED OVER $182 MILLION DURING WORK SESSION.
I WANTED TO CORRECT THAT AND THERE WAS A LITTLE TYPO DURING WORK SESSION, BUT IT IS 182 MILLION.
THOSE ARE THE FUNDS THAT WERE ACTUALLY ADDED TO THE TRS ACCOUNT.
WE'VE ACCRUED OVER $6.6 MILLION.
THE CURRENT BALANCE IS AT $4.4 MILLION AND THE LIFETIME EXPENDITURES IS $2.2 MILLION.
SO WHY ARE WE REQUESTING TO PROPOSE NEW BOUNDARIES AND A TERM? THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN IDENTIFIED THE IMPORTANCE OF DENTON'S DOWNTOWN CHARACTER AND IDENTITY.
CATALYST PROJECTS WERE IDENTIFIED BEYOND THE CURRENT BOUNDARY, AND EXPANDING THE BOUNDARY CAN INCREASE DEDICATED FUNDING TO MAKE STRATEGIC PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE DOWNTOWN PLAN, AND NEW BOUNDARIES WOULD ALLOW FOR MORE INVESTMENT IN THE GREATER DOWNTOWN AREA.
SO ON THE CHART TO THE RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE, I'M SORRY, THE TABLE.
THE SOLID LINE IS OUR CURRENT BOUNDARIES, AND THE DOTTED LINE IS THE PROPOSED BOUNDARY EXPANSION.
SO THEY INCLUDED CARROLL STREET GOING NORTH FROM UNIVERSITY ALL THE WAY TO UNIVERSITY, JUST INCLUDING THE RIGHT OF WAYS NORTH ON ELM AND LOCUST, INCLUDING THE COMMERCIAL AREAS, INCLUDING THE JUICY PIG QUAKERTOWN PARK, TO INCLUDE SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MASTER PLAN THAT WANTED TO ACTIVATE THE PARK, SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT WERE PROPOSED AND IN SOUTHERN, SOUTHERN, DOWNTOWN.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WOULD INCLUDE.
TODAY, YOU ARE CONSIDERING APPROVAL OF EXPANDING THE BOUNDARIES TO INCLUDE TURN ONE A.
IF APPROVED, NEW BOUNDARIES WOULD HAVE A 2024 BASE.
WOULD IT BE EXTENDED TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2040, WITH THE FINAL YEARS TAX INCREMENT TO BE COLLECTED BY SEPTEMBER 2041, AND THE PRELIMINARY AMENDED PROJECT AND FINANCING PLAN WOULD INCLUDE UPDATES TO BOUNDARIES, REVENUE PROJECTIONS AND PROJECT COST.
[03:35:05]
MULTIFAMILY, RETAIL AND A POTENTIAL HOTEL.SINCE WE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT WOULD PARTICIPATE, WE WOULD COLLECT $50.2 MILLION.
AND THE AMENDED PROJECT AND FINANCING PLAN ALSO HAS UPDATED PROPOSED PROJECT COSTS.
ANY INCREASE WOULD REQUIRE A SEPARATE AMENDMENT TO THE PROJECT AND FINANCING PLAN.
SAVINGS FROM ONE ITEM MAY BE APPLIED TO TO A COST INCREASE IN ANOTHER LINE ITEM.
SO FOR INFRASTRUCTURE COST, WE MAY NOT NEED INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT WOULD BE SUPPLEMENTARY TO MAYBE ANOTHER DEPARTMENT IF THEY WERE WORKING ON THE SAME ITEM, BUT IN 2039 WE MAY NEED INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE INDIVIDUAL TOURIST PROJECT COSTS WILL BE EVALUATED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, CONSISTENT WITH CHAPTER 311, AND BROUGHT TOURS TO THE TOURIST BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
SO OUR NEXT STEPS, IF APPROVED TODAY, WE WOULD APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CREATION ORDINANCE.
ANY QUESTIONS? GREAT. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR.
I KNOW YOU COVERED THIS IN REAL, REAL GENERAL TERMS. IS IT CAROL BOULEVARD TO BELLE AVENUE, EAST TO WEST.
LET'S SEE, WHERE'S MY MAP? YEAH, IT'S CAROL TO PRAIRIE, I BELIEVE.
OH, GOODNESS, WHERE AM I? I COULDN'T READ IT EITHER.
LET ME SEE IF I HAVE ANOTHER MAP WITH THE ADDRESSES.
DOES IT GO? IS IT EAGLE TO THE SOUTH? NO, A LITTLE FURTHER SOUTH.
BEG PARDON? IT'S A LITTLE FURTHER SOUTH.
YOU SEE THE CEMETERY RIGHT THERE? OKAY. THAT'S EAGLE.
AND DOES IT EXTEND AS FAR AS THE UNIVERSITY TO THE NORTH ON CAROL ONLY? NO, IT DOES NOT.
TO UNIVERSITY? YES, TO UNIVERSITY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT THREE.
IT'S NOT REALLY A QUESTION, BUT JUST A COMMENT, YOU KNOW, TO TO STAFF.
FOR ME TO BE A GOOD STEWARD AND FOR US TO BE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
MIKE. I WOULD I'M GOING TO BE CONSISTENT WITH MY COMMENTS PUBLICLY AND WORK SESSION AND PRIVATELY WITH YOU THAT TO ME, THE PROCESS IS WE SAID WE HAVE A, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A DOWNTOWN DESIGN PLAN.
WE DID THAT AND NOW WE CAN ADDRESS THE ITEMS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THAT.
AND THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR, RIGHT? YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE.
THE ITEMS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THAT AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO RAISE THE MONEY FOR THOSE.
AND THERE'S SOME CONNECTION, THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE PROJECT IDEAS, THEY WOULD LOVE TO GET ACCESS TO A $25 MILLION, UNSPECIFIED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT LINE ITEM THAT HAPPENED TO BE OUTSIDE THE TERS.
THAT'S NOT THE DRIVER TO ME, SO I WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THIS.
I LIKE YOUR ENERGY. LIKE EVERYTHING ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.
EXCEPT I DON'T LIKE THE LACK OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE.
THAT GIVES THE PUBLIC A FEELING THAT THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE PLAN WE APPROVED AND THE FUNDING PROCESS THAT WE'RE NOW COMING UP WITH. SO I MAY WELL PASS TODAY ANYWAY, BUT IF IT DOESN'T, I'D LOVE TO SUPPORT IT WITH THAT EXPLICIT CONNECTION FOR THE PUBLIC FOR SURE.
AND WE WOULD LOVE TO IDENTIFY A FEW PROJECTS.
[03:40:01]
WE HAVE SOME IN MIND, BUT IT'S HARD RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE NEED VENTURE FUNDING, WE NEED THE RIGHT DEVELOPERS, AND WE ALSO HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE ECONOMY AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE. BUT THERE ARE REALLY BIG CATALYST PROJECTS RECOMMENDED IN THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN.IT IS INCLUDED AS AN EXHIBIT IN THE ON THE AGENDA.
OKAY. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO.
THANK YOU. I BROUGHT THIS UP IN TOURS, AND WE DISCUSSED IT AT ONE OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
BUT WHAT? I GUESS IF I CAN REPHRASE WHAT I HEARD.
COUNCILOR MELTZER. MELTZER SAY, THEN THAT I SAW THE THE THE BAG OF PROJECTS FROM THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN, AND THOSE ARE ALL FINE. WE APPROVED THOSE THOSE CONCEPTUAL THINGS.
AND I SEE THAT THE BOUNDARY MAP.
BUT THE WHY DO WE NEED WHICH ELEMENTS OF THE BAG OF PROJECTS ARE MATCHING, WHICH ELEMENTS OF WHY THE BOUNDARY MAP NEEDS TO GO? NOT TO THE TERM OF LIKE I WANT PARTICULAR BUSINESS XYZ TO COME TO TOWN AT THAT LOCATION, BUT I WANT THIS TYPE OF PROJECT AT THAT LOCATION.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE THE CONNECTIVITY PIECE.
IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT, OR AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I'M, I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH.
SO I, WE HAVE THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S PARTICULAR URGENCY AT THIS TIME TO PROVE THAT BOUNDARY CHANGE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT CONNECTIVE MAP OF WHICH KINDS OF PROJECTS GO TO WHICH BOUNDARY AREAS AND WHY, AND WHAT IS IT UP AND DOWN, CARROLL, THAT WE WANT TO SEE PUT IN, AND WHY THAT SORT OF ALIGNMENT THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT I, I MEAN, I'LL, I'LL HEAR WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS TO SAY, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN SUPPORT IT AS AN URGENT MATTER FOR TONIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER POTENTIALS TO VOTE IN THE FUTURE.
AND I REALLY DO NEED TO SEE THAT THROUGH LINE OF HOW DOES THE PLAN GET EXECUTED WITH THE CHANGES.
NORTH OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WHERE WE OFFICE THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY INCLUDED IN INTERZONE BOUNDARIES.
AND SO IF WE'RE WANTING TO REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT IN DOWNTOWN, THEN WE HAVE TO EXPAND THE BOUNDARIES TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE COVERING THE GREATER DOWNTOWN AREA, BECAUSE WE DO GET REQUESTS OCCASIONALLY OF FOLKS THAT ARE WANTING INCENTIVES, BUT THEY'RE NOT IN THE CURRENT TERS BOUNDARY.
AND SO WE'RE VERY LIMITED IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE INCENTIVES.
AND SO WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE FILLING THOSE VACANCIES, BUT GIVING OPTIONS TO SOME OF THOSE COMPANIES THAT WANT TO COME TO DOWNTOWN DENTON, BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT WANT TO LOCATE IN THE TOUR'S CENTRAL AREA.
THE CURRENT EXISTING BOUNDARIES, THEY MAY WANT TO GO IN THE GREATER AREA.
OKAY. AND I'M GOING TO MOVE APPROVAL ON THAT.
I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT SIX.
COUNCILPERSON JESTER. THANK YOU.
I CERTAINLY HEAR THE CONCERNS AND THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY VALID.
SO THIS, IN MY OPINION, IS A CREATIVE WAY TO TRY TO FUND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT WE WANT TO HAVE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA THAT I THINK WE'RE ALL ON BOARD FOR. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
THEY WILL COME THROUGH PUBLIC BOARD, THE TOURIST BOARD.
THEY WILL IT WILL COME THROUGH COUNCIL TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT IT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS.
IF IT'S IN LINE WITH THE MASTER PLAN AND STILL MAKES SENSE FISCALLY.
SO WITH THAT, I THINK WE'VE GOT ACCOUNTABILITY BUILT IN TO THE PROCESS.
MY CONCERN IS STARTING TO COLLECT THOSE FUNDS NOW SO THAT WE CAN REALLY HAVE AN IMPACT.
[03:45:04]
SO THIS IS JUST ONE MECHANISM.AND SO THAT THAT IS WHY I HAVE SECONDED AND WHY I'M VOTING IN FAVOR TONIGHT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
ALL RIGHT. SO I WAS GOING TO SAY A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COUNCILPERSON GESTURE DID.
AND THAT WILL BE AHEAD OF A SECOND PUBLIC MEETING THAT'S GOING TO BE SCHEDULED COMING FORWARD.
SO YOU'LL BE GETTING MORE INFORMATION COMING HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO IT IS OPEN IF ANYONE CARES TO SPEAK.
SEEING NO SUDDEN MOVEMENTS, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AGAIN, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? IS THIS NEW REPRESENTATIVE? DISTRICT FIVE. GO RIGHT AHEAD.
I HEARD THE CONCERNS FROM MAYOR PRO TEM AND FROM FROM DOCTOR BECK.
I'M NOT PERSUADED THAT THOSE CONCERNS MERIT WAITING TO DO THIS.
I GUESS I'D LOVE TO HEAR EITHER OF YOU ALL TALK ABOUT WHY WE SHOULDN'T DO THIS NOW.
YEAH, IF THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION, THAT'S FINE.
OTHERWISE, WE'RE GOING TO VOTE.
OKAY. WELL, REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT THREE.
THE REASON I THINK IT SHOULD BE IDEALLY BE BEING DONE NOW, BUT WITH TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE FULL PLAN, I GET THAT THERE'S BACKSTOPS AND THERE'S PROBABLY NO, YOU KNOW, VAST, YOU KNOW, HORRIBLE THING.
BUT IT'S NOT BEING DONE RIGHT IN MY OPINION.
AND AND IT COULD BE SO THAT'S WHY REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT TWO.
YEAH, I ALSO THINK I SAID BUT I WILL SAY THAT I'M LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW, A BETTER MAP FOR HOW WE'RE RELATING THE TYPES OF PROJECTS. AGAIN, NOT NOT A SPECIFIC BUSINESS, BUT THE TYPES OF PROJECTS AND, AND HOW THEY RELATE TO THE BOUNDARY CHANGES.
AND I DIDN'T GET THOSE IN THE MEETINGS.
AND SO THAT'S THAT'S WHERE I AM NOW.
SO IT'S IT'S NOT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO WAIT YEARS IF, IF THE VOTE IS TO NOT DO IT TONIGHT, IT IS THAT IT IS. YOU COULD BRING THIS BACK SHORTLY WITH THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WOULD SATISFY.
MAYOR PRO TEM AND I. BUT WE'LL SEE HOW THE VOTE GOES.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.
PASSES FIVE TWO TAKES US TO OUR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION PORTION OF OUR AGENDA.
[A. Consider adoption of an ordinance approving an economic development agreement under Chapter 380 of the local government code to promote economic development and to stimulate business activity and economic growth of the City of Denton between the City of Denton and Enginetech North America Corporation, regarding the expansion of operations and increase in the number of jobs in the City of Denton; authorizing the expenditure of funds therefor; and providing an effective date. The Economic Development Partnership Board recommends approval (9-0).]
SO ITEM SIX A ID 242259.CONSIDER ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE APPROVING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT UNDER CHAPTER 380 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TO STIMULATE BUSINESS ACTIVITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE CITY OF DENTON BETWEEN THE CITY OF DENTON AND INNOTEK NORTH AMERICA CORPORATE CORPORATION REGARDING THE EXPANSION OF OPERATIONS AND INCREASE IN NUMBER OF JOBS IN THE CITY OF DENTON.
HELLO AGAIN BRITTANY SOTELO, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
I'M HERE TO PRESENT ENGINE TECH, NORTH AMERICA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE APPLICATION.
SO THE OBJECTIVE OF TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS TO PROVE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE NOT TO EXCEED $339,545 WITH ENGINE TECH NORTH AMERICA CORPORATION COMPRISED OF AN AD VALOREM TAX REBATE OF 50% FOR FIVE YEARS.
THE HEADQUARTER LOCATION GRANT FOR 50,000, AND A JOBS RESIDENCE SPACE GRANT OF $210,000.
ON NOVEMBER 13TH, 2024, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP BOARD APPROVED THIS PROJECT.
THE COMPANY IS AN INTERNATIONAL COMPANY BASED IN INDIA WITH 500 PLUS EMPLOYEES.
THEY ARE AN ADVANCED INJECTION MOLDING MANUFACTURER.
THEY ENGINEER DESIGN AND PATENT AUTOMOTIVE MODULES AND THEY ARE IATF 16949 CERTIFIED.
AND SO THEIR TECHNOLOGY IS HIGHLY NICHED.
AND THEY HAVE A GLOBAL CUSTOMER BASE.
[03:50:01]
THEY ARE EXPERIENCING RAPID GROWTH DUE TO THEIR PACCAR PARTNERSHIP AND EXPANSION TO THE US, SO THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED DENTON AS THEIR NEW NORTH AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS SERVING CANADA, THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO.THIS EXPANSION WILL CREATE 133 NEW JOBS OVER FIVE YEARS.
PACCAR IS OUR LARGEST GLOBAL CUSTOMER.
QUALITY AWARD FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS BY PACCAR.
THAT IS A VERY PRESTIGIOUS AWARD OUT HERE BY PACCAR.
THIS IS A SLIDE OF MANY OF THEIR CURRENT CUSTOMERS.
AND SO THEY HAVE ACE, CHEVROLET, DAIMLER, FIAT, VOLVO AND CATERPILLAR.
THE TIMELINE OF THE PROJECT IS THEY FIRST MET PACCAR IN 2016 AT A MUMBAI CONFERENCE.
IN 2018, THEY BECAME A PACCAR VENDOR AND IN 2023 THEY BEGAN SCOUTING LOCATIONS IN TEXAS.
AND IN JULY, IN AUGUST, THEY SUBMITTED THEIR INCENTIVE APPLICATION TO OUR STAFF.
AND IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, WE BEGAN NEGOTIATING INCENTIVES AND FINALIZE A LEASE.
AND THEY DID NOT SUBMIT BUILDING PERMITS.
BUT THEY ARE THEY WERE WORKING TOWARDS THAT AT THE MOMENT AND IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, AND THEIR PLAN IS TO START PRODUCTION IN JANUARY OF 2025. THEY WILL BE LEASING A BUILDING NUMBER TWO AT 2025 NORTH BRANCH MARSH BRANCH ROAD, SUITE 125.
ON THEIR INCENTIVE APPLICATION, THEY WILL CREATE $5.9 MILLION IN TOTAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
SO THIS IS A OVERVIEW OF THEIR INCENTIVE THAT WE WOULD PROVIDE WITH THE $50,000 HEADQUARTERS GRANT.
50% ABATEMENT FOR FIVE YEARS AND A JOB BASED GRANT FOR A TOTAL OF $339,545.
THE CITY, OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD, WOULD COLLECT 238,000 OVER.
THAT'S JUST FOR BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY.
THEIR JOBS AND PAYROLL DETAIL.
THEY WILL HIRE ENGINEERS, DESIGN ENGINEERS, TOOLING MANAGERS, LEAN SIX SIGMA ENGINEERS, LOGISTICS MANAGER, MACHINE OPERATORS FOR A TOTAL OF 133 NEW POSITIONS OVER FIVE YEARS, AND WE ARE PROVIDING A JOB BASED GRANT THAT WILL FOR 102 JOBS.
SO FROM 65,000 AND UP, THEY WILL RECEIVE, LET'S SEE, FOUR ELIGIBLE JOBS FOR $2,000 TOTAL IN TOTAL WILL BE $210,000. SORRY, I'M TRYING TO KEEP THIS QUICK.
BUT WE'RE ALSO PROVIDING A GRANT FOR DENTON RESIDENTS, AND THAT'S FOR 32 JOBS.
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT THE CITY IS ESTIMATED TO COLLECT 115,000 OVER TEN YEARS.
THE COUNTY WILL COLLECT $76,000, SCHOOL DISTRICT $184,000, AND THE TRANSIT DISTRICT WOULD RECEIVE $555,000, FOR A TOTAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF $5.9 MILLION.
SO THE RATE OF RETURN IS 13.6% AND PAYBACK PERIOD IS 6.9 YEARS.
THIS PROJECT MEETS SEVERAL OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUS AREAS FOR THE CITY OF DENTON.
IT MEETS KEY FOCUS AREA NUMBER TWO, FOSTER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND AFFORDABILITY.
AND UNDER OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN, IT MEETS GOAL NUMBER TWO FOSTER GROWTH.
AND GOAL NUMBER THREE STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY INCLUSION.
THIS PROJECT OFFERS SEVERAL BENEFITS.
THOSE ARE EXACTLY THE TYPE OF COMPANIES THAT WE WANT TO SUPPORT.
AT YEAR FIVE, IF THEY DO CREATE 133 JOBS THEY WILL BE A TOP 20 EMPLOYER IN DENTON.
THEY WILL BE PART OF THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN.
AS YOU'VE SEEN ON THEIR LOCAL CUSTOMERS, THEY WILL ONLY CONTINUE GROWING.
THEY WILL DIVERSIFY THE MANUFACTURING JOBS.
THEY ALSO HAVE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES.
TWO OF THE MACHINES THAT THEY'RE PURCHASING ARE ALL ELECTRIC, AND THEY WILL NOT USE AS MUCH ELECTRICITY, ALTHOUGH THEY WILL USE MORE ELECTRICITY COMPARED TO RESIDENTIAL USERS.
[03:55:07]
BUT DUE TO TIMING AND THEIR CONTRACT WITH PACCAR, THEY WERE NOT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO.SO THEY HAD TO LEASE A FACILITY, BUT THEY DO PLAN TO BUILD IN THE FUTURE.
AND OF COURSE, THEY'RE CREATING KNOWLEDGE BASED JOBS AND THEY'RE GROWING THE TALENT PIPELINE.
SO WE ARE WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL ON A CHAPTER 380 GRANT, AND WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO APPROVE AND CONSIDER AND ADOPT AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT UNDER CHAPTER 380 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TO STIMULATE BUSINESS ACTIVITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE CITY OF DENTON BETWEEN THE CITY OF DENTON AND ENGINE TECH.
APPROVAL. IS THERE A SECOND? REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FIVE.
SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS.
IT IS GREAT. I MEAN, TO HAVE THEM HEADQUARTERED HERE IS GREAT.
I'M BIASED, BUT ALSO THEIR SUPPORT AND THEIR KIND OF CONTINUITY WITH PACKARD MEANS A LOT.
OBVIOUSLY THAT'S THAT'S A KEY COMPONENT AND A GREAT CORPORATE CITIZEN HERE.
HOPEFULLY FOR THEM AS AS THEY BEGIN TO GET SETTLED IN.
AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT AREA.
RIGHT? I THINK THAT AREAS THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE LEASING IN IS ONLY GOING TO GROW.
THANK YOU. AND I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE CEO OF THE COMPANY, AKSHAY.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM, HE'S HERE TO ANSWER.
YEAH. YOU CAN COME ON DOWN AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF, PLEASE.
IF I WOULD'VE KNOWN YOU WERE HERE, I WOULD HAVE.
I WOULD HAVE BUMPED YOU UP. I WOULD HAVE CALLED US ABOUT TEN MINUTES EARLIER.
I WOULD HAVE SAVED YOU TEN MINUTES.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M AKSHAY SARDESAI, CEO OF ENGINE TECH NORTH AMERICA.
WE HAVE RECENTLY WON AN AWARD BUSINESS NOMINATION FROM PACKARD TO SUPPLY COOLING SYSTEMS FOR ALL THEIR TRUCKS ACROSS DIESEL ENGINES, BATTERY ELECTRIC VESSEL AS WELL AS FUEL CELL ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
ALL THIS HAPPENED PRETTY QUICK.
WE GOT THE BUSINESS NOMINATION IN JULY AND WE HAVE TO KICK OFF IN JANUARY.
SO WE HAD AN OPTION OF SUPPLYING PARTS ALL THE WAY FROM INDIA AS WELL.
BUT WE SAID LET'S BEGIN FROM THE US FROM DAY ONE.
BRITNEY'S HELPED US QUITE A LOT.
THE ENTIRE EDC HAS HELPED US QUITE A LOT, SO WE'RE EXCITED.
A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'RE LEARNING AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO PUT THE RIGHT STEP FORWARD.
GREAT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WE'RE GRATEFUL.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? LET'S VOTE ON THE SCREEN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT TAKES US TO OUR LAST ITEM BEFORE CONCLUDING ITEMS. AND THAT'S SIX B ID 242183.
[B. Consider approval of a resolution of the City of Denton exercising its rights and casting votes for membership to the board of directors of the Denton Central Appraisal District; and providing an effective date.]
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF DENTON EXERCISING ITS RIGHTS AND CASTING VOTES FOR MEMBERS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE DENTON CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
IT'S SO LATE. I'M VICE THE PENTAGON AIDE OF FINANCE.
AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT DENTON CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS VOTE.
AND THESE FIVE MEMBERS WILL START THEIR TERM JANUARY 1ST, 2025.
AND ON THIS, THIS THIS SLIDE, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024, A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE, THE CITY OF DENTON, NOMINATED VICKY BIRD, CHARLES STANFORD AND DAVID TYREE.
BUT DAVID TYREE HAS OPTED NOT TO GET REELECTED THIS TERM.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT THREE.
STILL STANDING. VICKY BAIRD AND CHARLES STAFFORD.
OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR?
[04:00:04]
MAYOR. I'LL SECOND.WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND DISCUSSION.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT ONE.
MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY WITHDRAW.
WITHDRAW MY NAME FROM THIS LISTING HERE.
I'LL GO BACK TO YOU. REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT THREE.
YES. I'LL AMEND MY MOTION OR CHANGE MY MOTION TO CAST OUR VOTES IN A BLOCK FOR CHARLES STAFFORD.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. OR IF I CAN MAKE MY SCREEN COME UP.
YOU'RE GOING TO SECOND AS WELL.
YES, SIR. OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION.
OKAY. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT SIX, COUNCIL MEMBER CHESTER.
HOWEVER, I DID DO THE DUE DILIGENCE.
I THINK THERE WERE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN.
THERE WERE ABOUT SEVEN THAT ACTUALLY SUBMITTED BIOGRAPHY FORMS THAT HAD BEEN REQUESTED OF THEM.
AND SOME ALSO PROVIDED NARRATIVES.
AND I JUST WANTED TO PUT OUT THERE THAT POTENTIALLY IN THE FUTURE WE COULD HAVE A SUBSET OF COUNCIL MAYBE REVIEW THOSE AND PUT FORWARD WHAT THEY THINK WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY.
AGAIN, I'M ALL FOR CHARLES STAFFORD AND THE JOB HE'S DONE FOR US, WHICH WE APPRECIATE.
AND YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT NO ISSUE THERE, BUT JUST A POINT OF DISCUSSION THAT MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WE LOOK AT MORE GLOBALLY, THOSE THAT HAVE MAYBE SERVED AS CHAIR AND WE THINK IS GOOD FOR THE STABILITY AND HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE, ETC.
JUST SO THAT WE'RE TAKING A LITTLE MORE TIME TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAKING GOOD DECISIONS.
OKAY. YEAH. AND I'LL SAY I'M I'M GOING TO BE VOTING NO IN FULL TRANSPARENCY.
I JUST CAN'T GET COMFORTABLE WITH A SITTING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER THAT BENEFITS FROM THE DECISIONS NOT DIRECTLY, BUT BENEFITS FROM THE RATE SETTING.
ET CETERA. ET CETERA. SO IT'S JUST TOO CLOSE OF A CONNECTION FOR ME.
NOTHING. I MEAN, I'VE KNOWN CHARLES MY ENTIRE LIFE.
WE LIVED AROUND THE CORNER FROM HIM.
GREAT GUY. I JUST IT'S JUST TOO CLOSE FOR ME AND I.
AND JUST AS I GO SPEAK TO VOTERS, I'VE HEARD THAT CONCERN AND WANT TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT.
RARELY, AS I SAID, DO I GET TO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO HERE.
AND I THINK IT'S A FAIR QUESTION.
I WOULD RATHER PUT THE VOTES BEHIND SOMEONE ELSE.
UNDERSTANDING HE'LL LIKELY GET SUPPORT FROM DENTON ISD AND SOME OTHER FOLKS.
SO TRYING TO BE SENSITIVE TO TIME MANAGEMENT AT THE SAME TIME.
SO THAT'S BUT I WANTED TO BE CLEAR AS TO WHY I CAN'T GET COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR.
MAYOR, I APPRECIATE THAT DISCUSSION.
I THINK THAT'S I THINK THAT'S A THAT THAT HAS CHANGED MY VOTE.
I SIMPLY HAD NOT CONSIDERED THAT THAT PERSPECTIVE.
YES, SIR. REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO.
IF COUNCILOR HOLLAND IS PULLING HIS SECOND, I WILL ADD MY SECOND.
AND I DON'T THINK IT DOESN'T MATTER.
THERE'S NO RULES ON HOW YOU VOTE.
ANYTHING ELSE? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
TWO TAKES US TO CONCLUDING ITEMS.
[7. CONCLUDING ITEMS]
ANY CONCLUDING ITEMS? REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT FOUR.MR. MAYOR, I WANT TO SAY HELLO TO A FRIEND THAT I DON'T KNOW.
SHE'S NINE YEARS OLD, AND SHE'S GOING TO HAVE SURGERY ON MONDAY TO STRAIGHTEN HER BACK.
SHE'S IN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA.
I DON'T KNOW HER, BUT I'M THINKING ABOUT HER.
[04:05:02]
YES, WE ARE ALL WISH HER WELL AND THAT THE DOCTORS WILL HAVE THE WISDOM THEY NEED.REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT TWO.
THANK YOU. WE HAVE A BUNCH OF EVENTS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
WELL, WE'VE BEEN HAVING HOLIDAY SEASON SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER, WHICH I'VE LOVED.
LOVED THE EXTENDED STAY, BUT THE I, WE HAVE THE LIGHTING COMING UP, BUT I WILL I WILL POINT ONE OUT THAT I THAT THAT I TRY TO DO EVERY YEAR.
THAT STARTS THURSDAY, FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.
I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO COME OUT.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT SIX.
COUNCILPERSON JESTER, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE DID KNOW ABOUT THE HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING.
INSTEAD OF FRIDAY, IT'S ON SATURDAY THIS YEAR, AND THAT BEGINS AT 3:00 AROUND THE SQUARE.
IT'S ALWAYS A REALLY GREAT TIME.
THE WEATHER, I THINK, IS GOING TO BE GOOD.
AND SECONDLY, THERE'S ALSO THE DENTON BACH SOCIETY HAS THEIR CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS JOY.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE ON UNIVERSITY DRIVE AT THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WHERE I WENT TO PRESCHOOL.
ANYONE ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE? JUST CONGRATS ALL THE WAY AROUND TO UNT, TO ALL THE SPORTING ACCOLADES, ESPECIALLY UNT.
BUT THEY GOT TO THAT THAT FINAL SIX ELUSIVE WIN.
TWU BASKETBALL WE WERE ABLE TO GO COUNCIL MEMBER JESTER AND I WERE THERE TO GET THEIR SEASON STARTED AND AND THEY'RE OFF TO A GREAT START AND DOING AMAZING THINGS IN THEIR VOLLEYBALL TEAM AS WELL.
SO JUST BOTH UNIVERSITIES HAVE HAD A GREAT IMPACT REPRESENTING US.
WELL, GREAT, GREAT MARKETING, GREAT EXPOSURE FOR THE CITY OF DENTON.
WITH THAT AT 905 WILL CONCLUDE TONIGHT'S MEETING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.