City Council Preview – October 14, 2014
The City Council meets on Tuesday, October 14 at 1:30pm for 2nd Tuesday Work Session on a variety of topics. Click here to see the full agenda and read on for my thoughts:
INNOVATION DISTRICT and TECH-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Council will hear a presentation and discuss the possibility of creating an Innovation District to focus on innovative and tech-based entrepreneurs and companies. The council approved $220,000 in this year’s budget to begin looking at some of these things. Here’s a great primer on the Rise of Innovation Districts around the nation from the Brookings Institute.
DISCUSSION ON COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE
Did you know that citizens are allowed only 3 minutes to speak on any given topic? Did you know that in order for citizens to comment on a topic on the Consent Agenda, they have to turn in a card and do it at the beginning of the afternoon worksession, and other such things? We’ll be discussing possible changes to the ways in which citizens engage with the city council during our meetings.
UPDATE ON HICKORY STREET PROJECT
We’ve been seeing a bunch of infrastructure work downtown on E. Hickory Street over the last several months. It will all culminate in a great Hickory Street corridor project between the train station and downtown Denton. No doubt, the downtown area continues to be thriving, but some of the businesses near the construction area have been concerned with accessibility and perception of customers. We’ll be discussing the timing of the project, what is being done to accommodate these businesses, and possible changes to the schedule.
DISCUSSION ON THE CONVENTION CENTER
We have two agenda topics devoted to this topic at today’s meeting: one during executive session. As we move closer to the date where we are contemplating the selling of bonds, the council will continue to discuss this issue on a near-weekly basis.
If you have any comments or questions on any of this, please contact me at 940-206-5239 or kevin.roden@cityofdenton.com.