From the Oct. 14th “Friday Staff Reports to City Council”

The Friday Staff Report to City Council is a weekly communication between staff and Council. List of polling locations available. Denton is asking the community to help decide how to prioritize federal funds. Upcoming events Fall Twilight Series, Halloween Harvest, S’mores, and Stories, Movie in the Park: Hocus Pocus, and others. Upcoming road closures for construction.

General Information

The City of Denton has released a list of polling locations for the upcoming election.

Denton Animal Services partnered with Traffic Operations to paint wayfinding paw prints at the Linda McNatt Animal Care and Adoption Center.

On October 1, 2017, the Parks and Recreation Department in Denton hosted a celebration of National Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day.

Denton Public Library’s South Branch Library and Denton Parks and Recreation hosted an outdoor preschool story time at South Lakes Park, which included fishing-themed stories and songs.

The City of Denton is asking the community to help decide how to prioritize federal funds for community development, housing and public services. Complete the online survey at this link by December 2, 2022. A virtual feedback session will be held Thursday, October 27, at 6 p.m. to allow citizens to provide input on funding priorities. Register for the funding priority feedback session online.

Council Member Requests

Council Member Byrd requested staff to evaluate resident concerns about the quality and application of the microseal treatment applied to Bayberry Street. The city is doing inspections of the roadways and has instructed Viking Construction to do more inspections and propose repairs. Viking Construction will be performing inspections and repairs on Bayberry Street at no additional cost to the City of Denton. Staff is assessing all aspects of the 2022 microseal program to identify potential issues and improvements so that they can better select roadways for preventative maintenance in the future.

Council Member McGee inquired about the National League of Cities’ Healthy Hometown Prescription Drug Discount program, which partners with CVS Caremark pharmacies. The discount card, enrollment, and membership are free; however, the cost to administer this program is unclear.

A street failure is being repaired at the intersection of Churchill Drive and Nottingham Drive.

Council Member Davis requested staff investigate a resident concern regarding construction traffic around Newton Rayzor Elementary School. A new truck route is being implemented along Crescent Street to Fulton Drive for trucks associated with the former Denton High School reconstruction project.

Upcoming Community Events and Meetings

Fall Twilight Tunes Series – The Fall Twilight Tunes Series will continue through October 27 and will now take place at Wolff’s Park (108 Industrial Street).

Día De Los Muertos Celebration – The Parks and Recreation Department will host a Día De Los Muertos Celebration on October 15, which will feature a keynote speaker, various vendors, resources, and raffles.

Halloween Harvest, S’mores, and Stories – Denia Recreation Center will host a free community event on Saturday, October 15 that includes a costume contest, pumpkin carving contest, and best-decorated vehicle contest.

Fall into Gardening – A free Landscape Class will be held on October 20 to help people control plants in their lawn and landscape. RSVP online.

Energy Efficiency Tips and Tricks – Save money and learn how to save energy by joining us on October 22 at 10 a.m. RSVP online.

Community Tree Giveaway – Residents can add their name to a waiting list for trees not picked up by registered participants. KDB is seeking volunteers to help with their Tree Giveaway program.

Denton Animal Services Trunk or Treat – Denton Animal Services will be hosting a Trunk or Treat event on Thursday, October 20th from 6 pm-8 pm for all the Community to enjoy. View Flyer.

Denton Nonprofit Collaborative – The Denton Nonprofit Collaborative will meet to discuss opportunities to increase the capacity of nonprofits. Please pre-register online by Wednesday, October 19.

Howl-O-Ween Carnival & Haunted House – On October 22, the Martin Luther King Jr. Rec Center will host a carnival with games, face painting, bounce houses, and a costume contest. Come back from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. to relive classic horror movies at our haunted house; guaranteed to have you screaming with fun! Entry is $5 per person.

Denton County Homeless Veterans Stand Down – The Denton County Veterans Coalition is hosting a stand-down event for veterans experiencing homelessness on October 27. View Flyer.

Movie in the Park: Hocus Pocus – There will be a free Movie in the Park on October 28th where people can watch the Sanderson sisters come alive again. There is a costume contest at 6:30 p.m. with categories for spookiest, most creative, and best group or duo costumes.

Recycling 101 – Join sustainability on November 15 for Recycling 101 to learn about what is and is not accepted in recycling. RSVP online to join Recycling 101 at 6 p.m. at Emily Fowler Library.

Wreaths Across America – Denton Parks and Recreation will host a National Wreaths Across America Day on December 17th. Wreaths Across America is a mission to remember, honor and teach the public about America’s veterans. To sponsor a wreath for the Wreaths Across America campaign, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/TX1167 by November 28th. PARD is also seeking volunteers to place wreaths on veteran headstones, organizations to serve as sponsors to solicit wreath donations, and individuals to donate wreaths. Oakwood Cemetery, which is owned and operated by the City of Denton, has 253 veteran graves.

Parents’ Night Out – Beginning January 2022, Parks and Recreation’s Recreational Care division will be bringing back Kid’s Rock, a monthly event where kids ages 5 to 11 can enjoy a night out while their parents enjoy the night off. The Denia Recreation Center will be hosting a Teen Night for ages 11 through 17, with a DJ and dance contests, as well as pizza and drinks.

Upcoming Street Closures