Council Meeting Preview – October 14, 2011
It’s a relatively short agenda tonight – we’ll start at 4:30pm for a Work Session followed by the 6:30pm Regular Session. Here are some items of interest…
I35 EXPANSION
We’ll return to a discussion we began a month ago regarding the TxDOT Aesthetic Study in preparation for the upcoming I35 expansion. The study suggestion locations for over/underpass enhancement projects, including the possibility of artwork. The council requested and received additional time in order to consult with officials from UNT and the upcoming Rayzor Ranch development site to determine if partnerships could be formed to consider enhancing the I35 intersections at North Texas Blvd. and 380 respectively.
NEW POLICE CHIEF
The selection of Warren Lee Howell as the new Police Chief for the city is up for council approval tonight. There has been much interest in the selection process ever since former chief Roy Minter announced his resignation last year. The Denton Police Officer’s Association and many others urged the city manager to choose a candidate from within and save the money associated with a national search. A national search was conducted nonetheless. Howell was the only local candidate on the list of finalists – he previously worked for the city force before joining up with the county. The announcement of Howell as the sole finalist was a welcome decision by many.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
There are a couple of public hearings for zoning changes in a predominantly industrial part of town. The area is in a newly annexed part of the city on Corbin Road. Come on out if you have concerns relating to this site.
HOMELESS DILEMMA
We are scheduled to hear a citizen report from a gentleman who finds himself stuck between two different ethical obligations. On the one hand, he is hoping to do his part to help with the growing homeless population in Denton. He owns several rent houses and has designated one of them as a place to house homeless, yet working men who need some help getting back on their feet – he charges them a mere $40 a week in order to have a place to stay. But he is finding this attempt at a good deed puts him sideways with our zoning and code regulations – only four unrelated people are allowed to stay in a place of dwelling, yet this man is allowing up to 10 individuals to stay at his rental house. His obligation to the poor is intersecting with his obligation to the integrity of his neighborhood. I look forward to his presentation and to a future conversation with city staff and council on how to address such an issue. At some point, it is in the city’s best interest to encourage such private acts of charity. How to do so and maintain the integrity of our city code and protect our neighborhoods is a worthwhile conversation.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at kevin.roden@cityofdenton.com or 940-206-5239.