From the Jan. 27th “Friday Staff Reports to City Council”

The Friday Staff Report to City Council is a weekly communication between staff and Council. Updates to early-voting locations for the upcoming May 6th election. Storm Uri left a lasting impression on our city – approximately 150 trees are dead and beyond recovery. The City of Denton has been allocated $458,334 from opioid settlements. Good news for hopeless romantics– there will be plenty of Valentine’s events throughout the town and upcoming road closures.

General Information

The City Council will vote on polling locations for the May 6 election at their February meeting. The Wesley Center was removed as an early-voting location site option, but the Denia and North Lakes Recreation Centers will be added. No changes were made to the election day polling locations.

At the Mobility Committee meeting, ITS gave an overview of a report on several major regional Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) projects.

The City’s Urban Forester identified approximately 150 trees within various parks, medians, and rights-of-way that are at least 50% dead and beyond recovery. The majority of the trees in the City died as a result of winter storm Uri in 2021, but they will be replaced by the Parks and Recreation Department.

Keep Denton Beautiful conducts an annual Community Appearance Index to assess litter rates on roadways throughout the city. Denton has a litter ranking of 1.6, with 1 being the least littered and 4 being extremely littered.

The city staff has released several videos this month to raise awareness and inform the community. All videos air on DTV, are shared via social media channels and are available on the City’s YouTube channel.

Council Member Requests

The City of Denton has been allocated $458,334 from opioid settlements with major pharmaceutical distributors. The city will receive $25,000 per year for the next 18 years to help fund public safety initiatives related to opioids. The City of Denton will receive a lump sum payment of $104,000 from Johnson & Johnson. The City has not received any of the settlement funding yet, but they expect to receive an update on payments by the end of January.

The Mayor inquired about partnering with Texas Woman’s University for their annual “Boo at the U” event. The Parks & Recreation staff met with TWU to discuss their participation in the 2023 event. Staff will share information with the council once finalized plans are in place.

The Mayor inquired about the “no parking” signs located near the old Denton High School campus and was told that they belong to the City and will be removed once no longer necessary.

The mayor has asked for a status update on the review of the city’s noise ordinance; however, it is expected that the review will not be complete before summer.

Mayor Hudspeth inquired about the Summer Youth Job Program, which provides meaningful job experiences for local high school students and recent graduates. A program that provides job skills training, career development resources, mentorship opportunities, and fulfilling work experience will start recruiting participants in Feb. 2023.

The City is considering taking over the highway litter maintenance contract from TxDOT.

The mayor expressed safety concerns about the Our Daily Bread facility and suggested using the S.W.E.A.T team to build a fence around it. Staff is meeting with Facilities and Our Daily Bread to discuss options for perimeter fencing.

The mayor inquired about the pet policy at the Our Daily Bread shelter, which allows guests to bring their dog or cat into the shelter.

The mayor asked for an update on shopping carts and trash cans seen at the Our Daily Bread facility. ODB has a policy specifying that if shopping carts are brought onto the property they will be returned to the retailer.

The mayor inquired about concerns about speeding on Hollyhill Lane and staff is collecting data to determine the conditions.

A council member has contacted staff regarding a crosswalk and crossing signs at the Parkside Drive crossing over Windsor Drive to North Lakes Park. There is currently a pedestrian ramp on the north side of Windsor at Parkside Drive, but there are no receiving ramps on the south side. The Parks and Recreation Department is planning a project to add a sidewalk and receiving ramp on the south side of Windsor at Parkside Drive.

Council Member Davis contacted staff requesting a map that cross-referenced the City’s future roadway plans with the current Overall Conditions Index (OCI) map. 177 lane miles of roadway will require reconstruction in the future.

Upcoming Community Events and Meetings

Outdoor Skills Workshop – Denia Recreation Center is hosting two skills sessions on Feb. 4 – one on setting up a tent safely and securely, and the other on orienteering. Registration is available online.

My Little Valentine Family Dance – The My Little Valentine Family Dance will be on Feb. 10 from 6-8 PM at the Denton Civic Center. The dance will include a live DJ, a photo op station, light refreshments, themed crafts, and a complimentary candy bar.

Adapted Rec Sweetheart Ball – The Sweetheart Ball is a dance event for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. This year, the Sweetheart Ball Dance will take place on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Civic Center. An optional catered dinner will begin before the dance at 5 p.m. at the same location. Tickets for the dinner and dance are $25, and tickets for the dance only are $15. Advanced ticket purchase is required. For more information and a link to register, visit the Parks & Recreation Catalog and keyword search “sweetheart ball”.

Kids Rock: The Return – Kids Rock is a program that allows kids to have fun while parents get the night off. The program runs 7 – 11 p.m. and includes games, activities, mini-sports tournaments, inflatable fun, ping-pong, and video games on a large screen. The cost is $25 per child, with a $5 late fee if registering the day of after 5 p.m., with upcoming program dates of Feb. 17, March 2, and Apr. 21.

Sustainable Saturday – On Feb. 11, join Sustainable Denton and the Parks and Recreation Department to learn about conservation and sustainable practices. Sustainable Saturday events are free but do require registration through Civic Rec.

ALH Valentine’s Dinner and Dance – The American Legion Hall (ALH) Senior Center is hosting a Valentine’s Day Dinner and Dance for active adults 50+ years old who are invited to attend a fun event with music, games, dinner, and a photo booth. The event costs $10 per person, and registration is available on the online event page.

Pal-entine’s Day at the Denton Senior Center – The Denton Senior Center is hosting Pal-entine’s Day to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Participants will be treated to a light lunch and holiday treats while playing games and socializing. The event is $10 per person and includes music, dancing, and food! Registration is available online.

Mardi Gras – Fat Tuesday– The Denton Senior Center will be hosting a Fat Tuesday potluck and live music event on Feb. 21. The event costs $5 per person with registration available online.

Black History Month Program – On Feb. 24, the American Legion Hall Senior Center will celebrate Black History Month with games and presentations. The event is free to attend.

Upcoming Street Closures