The Friday Staff Report to City Council provides weekly updates between staff and Council. It includes a discussion about a supermajority request to expedite support for state legislation restricting pet store sales of dogs or cats, limiting sources to shelters or rescue organizations. The upcoming City Council election for various positions, including Mayor, is scheduled for May 4, 2024, with detailed election timelines and candidate resources available online. DTV has produced several informative videos for December, such as the Design Downtown Visioning Workshop and Police HQ Renovation Ribbon Cutting. The Denton Enterprise Airport recorded its busiest year in 2023, becoming the 5th busiest in Texas. The city has renewed its Transparency Star in Economic Development, showcasing its commitment to financial transparency. PACCAR, Inc. was selected for the Texas Enterprise Project Designation, planning significant investment in the Denton facility. Concerns raised by Council Members include road safety at Hobson Lane and Country Club, winterizing parks’ drinking fountains, and implementing recycling bins in multi-family communities, with plans for full recycling implementation by the end of 2024.
General Information
Pending Council Requests Work Session Topics – The Jan. 9 Council Work Session will discuss a request for a supermajority to expedite a resolution supporting state legislation akin to H.B. 870 and S.B. 1989. This legislation aims to restrict pet stores from selling dogs or cats unless sourced from animal control, shelters, or rescue organizations.
City Council Candidate Resources – The City Council election for Places 5, 6, and 7, including Mayor, is scheduled for May 4, 2024. Candidate packets and election timelines are available at the city’s website. The nomination period begins on Jan. 17, 2024, and ends on Feb. 16, 2024, with Early Voting from April 22-30, 2024.
DTV Video Highlights for December – DTV produced several videos in December to raise awareness and inform the community. Highlights include the Design Downtown Visioning Workshop, a feature on Recycled Books in Denton, and the Police HQ Renovation Ribbon Cutting. These videos are available on DTV, social media, and the City’s YouTube channel.
Denton Airport Records Busiest Year Ever – Denton Enterprise Airport had a record-breaking year in 2023 with 212,200 aircraft operations, making it the 5th busiest airport in Texas and among the top 60 in the U.S. This achievement underscores the airport’s role as a key economic driver for the community.
Transparency Star for Economic Development Renewed – The City of Denton has renewed its Transparency Star in Economic Development, awarded by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. This recognition highlights Denton’s commitment to transparently providing financial data online. Denton has achieved all five stars in the program, a distinction shared with only a limited number of entities.
PACCAR/Peterbilt Selected for Texas Enterprise Project Designation – PACCAR, Inc., was selected for the Texas Enterprise Project Designation following a nomination by the City of Denton. The company plans to invest $38.8 million in its Denton facility over five years, including expanding the chassis main line and upgrading HVAC systems in administrative offices, aligning with future Battery Electric Vehicle Assembly needs. This project is expected to stimulate job creation and capital investment in the region.
Council Member Requests
Road Safety at Hobson Lane and Country Club – Concerns about road safety and turn lane confusion at the intersections of Country Club Road with Hobson Lane and Fort Worth Drive were raised by Council Member Holland. A Road Safety Audit (RSA) included site surveys, traffic control reviews, and turn movement observations. The audit suggests relocating confusing signage and introducing an exclusive right turn lane with a “porkchop” design at the north end of Country Club Road to reduce violations. However, as Country Club Road and Fort Worth Drive are maintained by TxDOT, the City of Denton cannot implement these changes and will refer the findings to TxDOT.
Winterizing Parks Drinking Fountains – Council Members Holland and Watts inquired about non-operational park water fountains. Parks and Recreation staff annually winterize outdoor fountains and restrooms from December through February to prevent freeze damage. The duration of the shutdown period may vary based on weather conditions.
Recycling Bin at Multi-Family Communities – A resident raised concerns to Council Member Byrd regarding the absence of recycling bins in multi-family communities. In response to the City’s Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Strategy, Chapter 24 of the City’s Code of Ordinances was updated to require Commercial/Multi-Family entities to recycle or divert materials. Outreach began in October 2023, and full implementation of recycling in multi-family buildings is anticipated by the end of 2024. Options for these customers include contracting with the City of Denton or a third party for recycling services, or self-hauling recyclable materials and reporting quarterly.
Upcoming Community Events
Now located at Events.
Upcoming Street Closures
Street/Intersection | From | To | Closure Start Date | Closure End Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brook Lake (5900) | @ Trailside Dr | At Intersection | 01/22/24 | 02/16/24 | ADA Sidewalk Repair |
Seven Oaks Ln | Swan Park Dr | Harvest Moon Trl | 01/15/24 | 02/23/24 | Concrete Sidewalk Repair |
Wind River Ln | Union Lake Blvd | Como Lake Rd | 01/15/24 | 02/02/24 | Concrete Sidewalk Repair |