From the Feb. 3rd “Friday Staff Reports to City Council”

The Friday Staff Report to City Council is a weekly communication between staff and Council. A petition was received to recall Place 3 Council Member Jesse Davis. Parks and Recreation Department will be receiving grants to improve Bowling Green Park. “Slow Down, Kids at Play” signage is a possibility for trash, recycling, and yard carts. The city has lots of Valentine’s Day events for all ages, along with upcoming road closures.

General Information

On January 20, 2023, a petition was received to recall Place 3 Council Member Jesse Davis. The City Secretary then certified the petition was sufficient within seven days and on Wednesday, January 25 the certification was issued. Council Member Davis had seven days after receiving the notification to resign his seat but did not do so, so the certification of the petition will be presented to City Council at their February 7th meeting. They will consider an ordinance ordering a Special Election regarding the recall for May 6th and it will take place on the Uniform Election Date.

This week’s mailing of letters to commercial customers regarding Chapter 24/CDO Revisions and the Townhall at the Denton Civic Center has been delayed due to inclement weather. The CDO Public Outreach Plan has been revised, with dates changed accordingly.

The Parks and Recreation Department will be receiving a grant of $598,532 to improve Bowling Green Park.

Council Member Requests

The mayor inquired about the cost of adding “Slow Down, Kids at Play” language on both sides of future trash, recycling, and yard waste carts; staff estimated the expense would be approximately $10,000 each year in ongoing costs.

The Police department is working on a proposal with the Fire and Parks & Recreation departments to test and evaluate E-Bikes for city staff.

The Linda McNatt Animal Care and Adoption Center is currently at full capacity for dogs, so people wanting to surrender their dog are put on a waitlist. The animal shelter is currently at capacity and has a waitlist of 94 dogs. Denton Animal Services is increasing resources and partnerships to help animal shelters with capacity challenges.

Council Member Davis inquired about the removal of trees at Highland Park Road and Parvin Street. Staff inspected the site and confirmed that the tree removals were permitted per the approved tree preservation plans submitted with a commercial building permit.

Council Member Davis inquired about the necessary steps to hold a bike parade. Staff recommends filling out an application to allow the Special Event Committee to provide feedback.

Council Member Davis requested an update on the start date for Riney Road construction, which is a two-part project. The Bonnie Brae Phase 6 project includes the construction of a new elementary school, and one parcel is still left to acquire. The project is planned to be bid in Q1 of the calendar year 2023. A portion of the roadway will be widened to provide uniformity along the entire stretch of Riney Road. The project will take 4-6 months for the design and 6-12 months for construction.

A water leak was found on a service line connection to the 16-inch line installed as part of the North-South Watermain Phase 3 project. The contractor has fixed a leak and is uncovering the subgrade on Tuesday. Repairs to the subgrade and pavement are expected to be complete by the end of March, weather permitting.

Upcoming Community Events and Meetings

Valentine Yard Card Deliveries – You can schedule a “yard card” delivery to send love to friends, neighbors, or that special someone the week leading up to Valentine’s Day. You can add a Nothing Bundt Cake or balloon bouquet to your order for an additional fee. This service is only available to City of Denton residents. To register, visit the online Denton Parks and Recreation Catalog.

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.

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.

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”.

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.

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.

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.

Black History Month Celebration – The Martin L. King, Jr. Recreation Center will celebrate Black History Month on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 10 a.m. to noon. Patrick Powers, a teacher with DISD, will be the keynote speaker.

Upcoming Street Closures