The Friday Staff Report to City Council is a weekly communication between staff and Council. Denton Public Library won the 2022 Achievement of Library Excellence Award. The City Manager’s Office updated the 24 strategic initiatives. Denton Parks and Recreation is holding a job fair on March 18. Upcoming events include garden workdays, an all-day Spring Break Camp, a Shamrock Treasure Hunt, bird songs learning, a felted soap workshop, an Easter Eggstravaganza, and the Kids Rock program.
General Information
The City Manager’s Office has provided an update on the 24 strategic initiatives identified as Council priorities. You can review progress on the public-facing dashboard.
The Denton Public Library received the 2022 Achievement of Library Excellence Award from the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association. The award recognizes excellence in ten categories, including services to underserved populations, innovative marketing, collaborative efforts with community organizations, and support for digital inclusion and literacy.
In addition to meeting the criteria for the Achievement of Library Excellence Award, Denton Public Library demonstrated excellence through its many programs and services, including Adult StoryTimes at Denton State School, Bring a Blanket Storytime, Spanish language StoryTime programs, the Forge Makerspace, Librarian Chuck Voellinger’s History Moments video series, and new language learning Discovery Kits. Out of 542 public libraries in Texas, only 73 received the award in 2022.
The Denton Fire Department created a Year in Review for 2022 that highlights accomplishments, workload analysis, and division summaries on the Story Map platform.
Hickory Creek Road will be closed to thru traffic from River Pass Drive to FM 1830/Country Club Road on March 13, for safety reasons during the construction of the Hickory Creek Road Phase 3 capital project.
Denton Parks and Recreation will be hosting a job fair on March 18 for various positions with flexible work schedules and pay to start at $15 an hour.
The Community Shelter at Loop 288 is providing emergency shelter to an average of 13 people per night. Approximately 70% of the individuals in the transitional housing program are employed and work readiness classes are offered weekly. ODB is hiring to increase staff for the Ready to Work Program, which will go in front of the Public Utilities Board and City Council in March.
Council Member Requests
The Mayor suggests creating a digital folder to store Council meeting-related documents, which will include clarifying responses to Council questions on agenda items. Questions and responses related to agenda items will be available online.
The Mayor Pro Tern inquired about notifications of projects not included on the CIP Map, which is a map that shows upcoming infrastructure maintenance or road closures. The CIP Map is a resource that notifies the community of construction projects starting in the next 365 days. The Aileen Street area near Carlton will be part of the 2019 Bond program but is not currently shown on the CIP Map because the project design has not started.
Council Member Byrd requested information after residents experienced power surges; staff confirmed the failure of an underground transmission line and responding crews were able to complete repairs within the hour.
Upcoming Community Events and Meetings
Garden Workdays at Denia Wildflower Garden – Join Keep Denton Beautiful for monthly garden workdays at the Denia Wildflower Garden, located in front of Denia Recreation Center (1001 Parvin St.). Get ready to dig in the dirt and learn proper garden maintenance techniques with our garden experts. Tasks vary but frequently involve weeding, cutting back plants, and picking up plant debris and litter. The volunteer opportunity is free to attend but does require registration through the park’s event calendar page. Upcoming workdays are scheduled for March 11, April 15, and May 6.
All-Day Spring Break Camp – Coinciding with DISD’s Spring Break, Parks and Recreation will offer an all-day Spring Break Camp from March 13 through March 17 at MLK Jr. Recreation Center, Denia Recreation Center, and Denton Civic Center. Each day of the camp is jam-packed with physical activity, creativity, and play involving several fun, enriching activities and field trips. Kids must be dropped off at 9 a.m. each day and need to pack drinks, snacks, and a lunch. The fee is $33 per child, per day. The camp is broken up into two age groups: ages five to ten, and ages eleven to fifteen. Parents and guardians can register their children through the link on the event details page at dentonparks.com.
Shamrock Treasure Hunt in the Park – From March 13 to March 17, Parks staff will be hiding pots of gold in a different park each day. Clues on our social media will guide residents on where to look for these pots of gold. If a resident is lucky enough to find one, they can take it to the Denton Civic Center for a prize basket!
Teen Outdoor Adventure Camp – This spring break, let your teen explore like never before with Teen Outdoor Adventure Camp! Parks and Recreation offers unique camp experiences with our excursions. No experience is required, only a desire to have fun and be outdoors each day. Outdoor Adventure Camp runs from March 13 to March 17. Drop-off is at 9 a.m. each day and pick-up is at 4 p.m. Teens will need to bring a sack lunch and water bottle. Additionally, sunscreen, insect repellent, and weather-appropriate clothing should be worn, including closed-toed shoes. The camp is open to ages 11 to 17. The cost for the entire week is $150.
Bird Songs at Clear Creek Nature – Join us at Clear Creak Natural Heritage Center on March 15 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. to learn more about birding with all your senses! When you first learn to bird, it is usually by sight, but using that sense alone, you can only see what’s in front of you. When you learn to bird by ear, you can appreciate the presence of birds all around you. This talk will introduce you to the world of bird sounds and teach you how to recognize and remember bird songs and calls.
Macrame Workshop – (ages 18+) on Tuesday, March 21 at 2:00 p.m. at the South Branch Library. Join local artisan Mary Cresson and learn two basic knots used in macrame work. You will leave with a new skill and two keychains.
Through the Lens – (ages 5-11) on Thursday, March 23 at 4:00 p.m. at the South Branch Library. Learn about photographer Dorothea Lange, who captured images of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression and make Depression-era toys. More information and registration.
Great American Cleanup – The 35th Annual Great American Cleanup (GAC) is a citywide litter cleanup in Denton on Saturday, Mar. 25 starting at 9 am. After the cleanups, there will be a Volunteer Appreciation Party from 11 am-1 pm with free lunch from In-N-Out Burger and other treats, educational activity booths, bounce houses & more. Prizes will be awarded to the largest group of volunteers that collect the most bags and find the oddest item during their cleanup efforts. The goal is to engage 1,500 participants; currently, 121 volunteers are registered but more are needed by Mar 15 at 5 pm via the registration page open to individuals or groups of all ages & experience levels who receive free supplies & t-shirts (while supplies last).
Northeast Denton Area Plan Public Engagement Events – Two public engagement events have been scheduled for the Northeast Denton Area Plan. The first event is a Community Visioning Open House to obtain input and feedback from the community.
- Thursday, March 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, March 25 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Hodge Elementary School Cafeteria- 3900 Grant Parkway
The second event is an invitation-only Strategic Foresight Workshop. Participants will review trends impacting the area, develop future scenarios, and identify a list of common themes.
- Saturday, April 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Development Service Center – 401 N. Elm Street
For more information about the Northeast Denton Area Plan, visit www.discussdenton.com/areaplans.
Felted Soap Workshop – (ages 18+) on Wednesday, March 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the South Branch Library. Have “good clean fun” by creating felted soap! We will cover a bar of soap with colorful wool which gently exfoliates, eliminates the need for a loofah or washcloth, and makes soap easier to hang on to.
Easter Eggstravaganza – Denton Parks and Recreation will host its annual Easter Eggstravaganza and Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 8 from 9 a.m. – noon. The family-friendly event will feature bounce houses, food trucks, arts and crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, a petting zoo, free photos with the Easter Bunny, and over 40,000 eggs! his free event is hosted at the Denton Civic Center and Quakertown Park, 321 E. McKinney St. For more info visit www.cityofdenton.com/easter.
Kids Rock: The Return – Kids Rock has returned, and young Denton residents are having a blast! Each month, kids enjoy a night out while parents enjoy the night off. The program runs from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Experienced staff plan each month around a unique theme, then create play stations that include games and activities, mini-sports tournaments, unique inflatable fun, ping-pong, video games on a large screen, and a DJ with dance contests! Two slices of pizza and a drink are included for attendees. Staff also sell additional concessions and glow products. Preregistration is required and can be completed online. The cost is $25 per child, with a $5 late fee if registering the day of, after 5 p.m., with an upcoming program on April 21.
Upcoming Street Closures
| Street/Intersection | From | To | Closure Start Date | Closure End Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cordaro Ct | Mira Vista Dr | End of cul-de-sac | 03/ 20/ 23 | 04/07/ 23 | Mill& overlay curb and sidewalk |
| Riesling Dr | Rhone Dr | Merlot Dr | 03/20/23 | 04/28/23 | Concrete Panel and Sidewalk Repair |