Making a Decision

It is important to understand how a candidate approaches any issue. The next important issue may not be on anyone’s radar screen yet. That is what happened in 2009, about four months into my first term on the Council. Range Resources applied for a special use permit (SUP) to drill a gas well across the street from McKenna Park, a residential neighborhood, and near a hospital. In deciding how to vote, I gather as much information as possible. I try to listen to all sides and consider all points of view. It is also important to understand just what authority the city has in addressing issues. Cost implications and impact on the budget must be considered. We have to realize that the City’s financial resources are limited and that there are more needs and unrealized hopes than our budget can cover. Often Council Members have to make a choice between competing interests or conflicting agendas. In the end I try to vote for what I believe is best of Denton. I’m looking for what produces the greatest good for the most people. But I am also mindful that we must respect the rights of all – especially those who have been too often pushed aside.

Vision for our Future

Denton is my hometown. My wife and I moved back home in 1982 because it is the place we wanted to raise our daughters. It has great people, wonderful hometown business, and the best Courthouse and downtown anywhere. We love the atmosphere of a college town, and the talent that comes with the infusion of faculty and students. We have a great history but also an exciting and promising future. I believe that we are on the right path as we work to make Denton more livable, respectful of neighborhood integrity, and open to responsible business and industry. As we grow we need to tap into many fresh new ideas. We need to borrow great ideas from other cities. We need to listen to our citizens and work together. We get to define the future that we want.

Dealing with Growth

Denton is one of the top 25 fastest growing cities in the United States (by percentage) for the last 10 years. We must set policies that promote smart growth. We are guided by the Denton Plan which is our comprehensive plan developed with the input of hundreds of Denton residents. New development must pay for itself through appropriate and predictable fees. We need to encourage infill development in our central core. Urban sprawl is more expensive and puts more strain on infrastructure. Infrastructure (roads, water lines, and a reliable electrical power grid) is essential to accommodate more people and more development.

Economic Development is important to the city and our school district. We must continue to work to attract new business and industry to diversify our tax base. Because Denton is a county seat and home to two state universities, over 30% of the property in the city is tax exempt. That puts extra pressure on property taxes for homeowners and local businesses. We have good programs to retain existing business and attract new business and industry. Our incentive programs must be directly tied to the performance of the development in order to protect the taxpayers. On average, the City gets $3.50 in new revenue in return for every $1 granted in tax rebates.

We need to continue our current efforts to attract new business and industry as well has work to retain what we now have. But we also need to do more to support small business start-ups and foster and develop the creative economy.

Property Maintenance Codes

Property Maintenance Codes are designed to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of our citizens. Compliance with our property maintenance codes helps preserve and enhance property vales, support the City’s economic development objectives, and enhance the overall quality of life for Denton residents. A panel representing business, apartment owners, and neighborhood groups has reviewed our ordinances to make sure that our rules are reasonable. It is time to reactivate that group to review our progress and offer appropriate changes. Of course rules should be enforced fairly.

Transparency and Citizen Engagement

We have done a great deal to make our city government more accessible to the citizens. We have redesigned the City Council agenda to make it easier and more convenient to address the Council and address items on the consent agenda. It is easier than ever to watch a meeting either live or a recording. Engage Denton gives residents opportunities to speak out on issues and offer new ideas. Our comprehensive planning process is dependent upon the input of residents. Budget transparency is essential and Denton has been recognized at the state a national level for making those records accessible. While we have done well, we must always find ways to encourage more citizen engagement.

Sustainability

Sustainability means that we need to operate our city in a way that meets today’s needs while also allowing us to meet the needs of tomorrow. Sustainability is certainly about clean air, clean water, tree preservation, and soil conservation. But sustainability is also about making prudent financial decisions that do not put undue burdens on future generations. Denton has adopted a sustainability plan that has received national recognition. It is a plan that is reviewed regularly in order to measure progress. I am committed to making decisions that are good for today and for tomorrow.

Convention Center

In my last election I said that I supported the concept of a city owned convention center. I went on to say that I would vote in favor of it IF the plan was right – meaning that it would not place a burden on tax payers. I voted in favor of the agreement because the cost of the convention center will not come from local tax payers. The convention center is a self-sustaining operation. It will be funded using some of the Hotel Occupancy Tax (paid by those staying in Denton hotels and motels), rental payments from the O’Rielly group, and some of the property taxes generated by the hotel next to the convention center. A convention center will increase economic activity in Denton by attracting new events and bringing events back to town that have moved out due to inadequate venues. Both of our universities host a number of conferences outside of Denton because there are not sufficient accommodations. A new convention center has been a goal for Denton since our 1994-95 Vision Denton plan.

Gas Well Drilling

This has certainly been one of the most contentious and frustrating issues during my 4 ½ years on the City Council. I believe that we need to do all we can to protect our citizens and their property. In the last four years we have passed two major revisions to our rules that provide more protection. We increased the setback from 500 feet to 1,000 feet and then to 1,200 feet. We have added a gas well inspection division. We have made improvements to our rules about light and sound nuisances. Unfortunately, the industry has ignored some of our rules and the City staff has not always done a good job regarding enforcement and responding to complaints. Adding to the frustration, the City lost a lawsuit for a temporary restraining order to stop one drilling site. And the District Attorney would not prosecute a case where City staff discovered water being discharged into the Lake Lewisville watershed.

However in this discussion it is essential to understand and acknowledge that a municipal government has limited authority. The City’s power regarding gas well drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is limited and in some cases preempted by state and federal law. If we pass laws that prevent mineral owners from getting their gas, we may be charged with a “regulatory taking” and have to pay the owners for the estimated value of the gas that is underground.

Council members have been accused of fearing lawsuits. I don’t fear legal challenges if I think that there is a reasonable chance of winning. But spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees to fight unwinnable battles is not in the City’s best interest.

Bicyclists and Pedestrians

For over 25 years our comprehensive plans have called for making it easier for folks to bike or walk around Denton. It is only in the last four years that Council has funded real plan to make Denton more walkable and bike friendly. Some residents must rely on walking or a bike for getting around. Others would like to walk or bike more frequently for health or recreation. Streets are the single biggest investment made by our city. Our roadways should be available for every resident and should be designed so people have a choice to walk, bike, or drive.

Changing My Mind

It does not happen often but there have been a few times when I have changed my position on an issue. This has happened when I have learned new facts, heard a new perspective, or after hearing a more compelling or persuasive argument.