From the March 14th, “Friday Staff Reports to City Council” Government

The Friday Staff Report to City Council provides weekly updates between staff and Council. This week’s report highlights Tilly, a high-energy shelter dog in need of an active home, and city leaders’ participation in the NLC Congressional Conference, where they discussed federal funding and infrastructure challenges. Denton was also recognized as a “Transparency Trailblazer” for earning all six Transparency Stars and received Tree Line USA recognition for utility tree maintenance. Additionally, updates include public art funding allocations, neighborhood concerns about road conditions, street lighting, and traffic safety improvements, as well as details on the city’s Tree Rebate Program, which encourages residents to plant native trees.

General Information

Mayor’s Pet Spotlight – Tilly – Tilly is a lively one-year-old mixed breed who has been at the shelter since January 2, 2025. She is large and energetic, making her a great match for active individuals or families who enjoy outdoor activities. Tilly is leash trained, loves car rides, and is crate trained. She is food motivated, making her easy to manage, though she has a tendency to jump on people and be dominant over other dogs. An ideal home for Tilly would be one where she is the center of attention or with a family experienced in handling such behaviors.

National League of Cities (NLC) Congressional Conference – City leaders attended the NLC Congressional Conference in Washington, DC, where they met with Texas U.S. Senators Cornyn and Cruz, as well as Representatives Ronny Jackson, Brandon Gill, and Beth Van Duyne. Discussions focused on Community Development Block Grants and the HOME program, which support low-income residents, along with addressing the electric distribution transformer backlog.

Transparency Trailblazer Recognition – The City of Denton earned the Open Government and Compliance Star within six months of its introduction as part of the Texas Comptroller’s Transparency Star Program. As of March 13, 2025, Denton is one of only eleven entities in Texas to receive all six stars. The city will be recognized as a “Transparency Trailblazer” on March 18, 2025, in Austin, marking ten years of the program. Award recipients and their transparency details can be found on the Texas Comptroller’s website.

DME Recognized as a Tree Line USA Utility – Denton Municipal Electric (DME) has been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a 2025 Tree Line USA Utility. Properly maintained trees enhance service reliability by reducing decay, structural weaknesses, and the likelihood of downed power lines during storms.

Council Member Requests

Public Art – The City of Denton funds public art through Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) revenue and bond projects. In the current fiscal year, $100,000 in HOT funds has been allocated to the Greater Denton Arts Council. Additionally, the 2023 Bond Program includes $2,716,000 for public art installations at City facilities.

Neighborhood Meeting Feedback – At the March 7 meeting of the Ector Street Neighborhood Association, residents raised concerns about roadway conditions, street lighting, and traffic control. Staff identified necessary repairs on Ector Street, with patching planned over the next few months and a micro seal scheduled for Fall 2025. The Home Zone furniture store is planned for the southeast corner of University Drive and Ector Street. Street lighting on Cordell Street requires further community engagement before implementation. While speed bumps are not permitted under city policy, a speed study and safety audit will be conducted to explore other traffic-calming measures, with findings expected by Summer 2025.

Tree Rebate Program – The Denton Tree Rebate Program, part of the Denton Tree Initiative, encourages utility customers to plant qualifying native or adaptive trees within city limits. Residents can receive up to $250 in rebates for purchasing up to five trees of five- or 15-gallon size or two 30-gallon trees between October 1 and May 1. More details are available through the city’s tree rebate program resources.

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