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From the March 15th, “Friday Staff Reports to City Council” Government

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From the January 3rd, “Friday Staff Reports to City Council” Government

The Friday Staff Report to City Council provides weekly...
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The Friday Staff Report to City Council highlights significant activities and concerns in the city. It covers the complete allocation of funds for the GreenSense Incentive Program due to high demand for E-Bike and EV rebates, public engagement initiatives for the development of an inclusive playground, proposed amendments to improve mobility along East Windsor Drive, and the temporary closure of parking for a utility project. It also reports on the success of the FindHelp Denton County digital resource, which has attracted significant user interest. Council Member inquiries addressed issues such as the high volume of EMS calls to the Denton Community Shelter, enforcement of traffic regulations at a problematic intersection, winter accessibility of park restrooms, improvement of lighting in the Downtown Square, and the efficiency of landfill operations. These updates reflect the council’s ongoing efforts to address community needs and infrastructure improvements.

General Information

GreenSense Incentive Program Update – The FY 23-24 Budget allocated $1 million to the GreenSense Incentive Program, which has seen strong interest, particularly in Electric Bicycles (E-Bike) and Electric Vehicles (EV) rebates. All funds for E-Bike rebates have been used with 52 rebates totaling $40,091, while 38 EV rebates have used 76% of their funds, amounting to $57,000. The program may reallocate surplus funds to accommodate new applications if certain categories use up their allocated budgets.

Inclusive Playground Public Input – Denton has initiated public engagement for the Librada ‘Lily’ Cantu Inclusive Playground, encouraging feedback through an online survey and a virtual public meeting scheduled for March 28 at 6:30 P.M. This initiative, part of the 2023 Bond Program, aims to gather resident insights for the playground’s development.

East Windsor Drive Mobility Plan Amendment – An amendment to the 2022 Mobility Plan is proposed to extend East Windsor Drive for better multi-modal mobility and to alleviate traffic near Hodge Elementary. Community feedback is sought through virtual and in-person meetings on March 26 and March 28, respectively.

W Hickory Street Parking Closure – From March 20, Denton Municipal Electric will close street parking on the 2500 block of West Hickory Street for the Hickory GIS Project, with prior notifications sent to residents and towing enforced for parked vehicles on the start date.

FindHelp Denton County Progress Report – Since its launch in November 2023, the FindHelp Denton County digital resource directory has attracted over 4,200 users, primarily searching for housing, food, and health services. The first quarterly report outlines the usage stats for the initial four months.

Council Member Requests

Emergency Services at Denton Community Shelter – Council Member Watts inquired about Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provided to the Denton Community Shelter, leading to a report of 580 EMS calls from January 2023 to February 2024. This information underlines the significant demand for emergency services at the shelter.

Intersection Safety Measures – Concerns raised by Mayor Hudspeth and Council Member Holland about stop sign violations at the intersection of Como Lake Rd and Wind River Ln led to a review by city departments. The issue was identified as behavioral, prompting increased police monitoring under the High Visibility Enforcement initiative to address the problem.

Parks Bathrooms Availability – Council Member Meltzer relayed concerns about park restroom availability during winter months. The city closes most restrooms from November 15 to March 15, with exceptions for North Lakes softball fields and South Lakes Park restrooms. Carl Young Park restrooms are only open alongside the splash pad’s operational hours.

Downtown Square Lighting Enhancement – Mayor Hudspeth requested a review of lighting on the east side of the Downtown Square. The review confirmed all lighting met standards but identified the east side as dimmer due to minimal building illumination. The brightness of East side lamps has been increased from 60% to 70% to improve visibility.

Landfill Entry and Exit Process – Mayor Hudspeth sought clarification on the entry and exit procedures at the Denton Landfill. The landfill accommodates an average of 650 customers daily, with 40% being frequent users who use self-service scales. For others, a staff-operated ID-based system ensures efficient processing and accurate charges.

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