City Council Preview – June 3, 2014
This will be our first regular meeting since the last election which gave us 3 new council members: Mayor Chris Watts, Place 6 At-Large Council Member Greg Johnson, and District 2 Council Member John Ryan. We’ll begin with a Work Session at 2pm followed by a 6:30pm Regular Session, both held at City Hall at 215 E. McKinney Street.
For a full agenda with backup material click here. Here’s what I think might interest you…
MORE CITIZEN EDUCATION AND INVOLVEMENT IN BUDGET PLANNING
Though not specifically on this agenda, because we are entering into our annual budget season, I want everyone to know about some new tools aimed at educating and involving our citizenry in a more meaningful way into our budget discussions. As Chair of the Council Committee on Citizen Engagement, citizen involvement in the budget process has been on our radar for a while. As a result, the city’s budget team has put together a website with an intro video, links to pertinent documents, a place for budget documents as they enter into the conversation, and a way for you to submit a proposal for consideration in this year’s budget talks. It’s part of our committee’s plans to make government more open, accessible, and transparent. Here’s the latest budget video:
CREATION OF TIRZ FOR HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT
The city has been in talks with UNT and a private developer for a plan that includes a hotel and convention center on the site of the old Radisson Hotel on the UNT campus, just near Apogee Stadium. In December of last year, the city council approved the Master Developer Agreement for the project. That entered us into a feasibility period where all sides are analyzing cost specifics to make sure the project works. A Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) is being contemplated for the area where the project will occur on approximately 13 acres. The TIRZ is a way that local governments can publicly finance infrastructure projects within a specific area. Because the area is now on UNT’s campus, is has no value on the tax roles. This project could change that significantly and a TIRZ would allow the city to recoup taxes resulting from the project from a variety of entities, should they choose to participate: the city, Denton ISD, and the county. For more on this, please consult this presentation.
BOND COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NOVEMBER 2014 BOND ELECTION
We anticipate going to the voters in the November 2014 election with a series of bond proposals totaling nearly $100 million dollars. After months of dedicated, hard work, the committee has unanimously approved a recommendation for council. We will be hearing about those recommendations, giving direction, and likely planning a future council vote to put this on the ballot. To see the recommendations, check out this presentation.
BIKE SHARE COMING TO DENTON?
Denton will be one step closer to seeing it’s own Bike Share program after Tuesday’s meeting. On our agenda is a resolution showing our support for a bike share program and seeking grant opportunities through the Regional Transportation Council. It is anticipated that any share program will be collaborative with UNT, TWU, Downtown Denton, and DCTA. Here’s a bit about bike share programs in general to get you in the know:
FRACK FREE DENTON PETITION PRESENTED TO COUNCIL
Organizers of a petition seeking to ban fracking in the city limits of Denton have turned in the required number of signatures and those signatures have been verified by the City Secretary. As outlined in the City Charter, the petition will now be presented as a certified petition to the city council. We then are required to set up a public hearing to consider the ordinance and the council must act one way or another. We can vote for the ordinance or we can vote against it. A successful vote against the ordinance will trigger a city-wide vote on the issue on the November 2014 ballot. There will likely be little discussion on the topic during this meeting, but I expect significant discussion as eventually hold the public hearing on this important topic. Here’s a link to the Frack Free Denton petition so you can see precisely what is being advocated by this group.
THREE ZONING CASES ON THE AGENDA
I’m trying to utilize Google Maps to make it easier for anyone to see the precise locations of the zoning cases before the council and find out more information. Click on any of the projects on the map below for more information. And let me know how this feature could be more useful for you in the future…
As always, if you have any comments or questions, please let me know at kevin.roden@cityofdenton.com or 940-206-5239.