Hey there! I just finished tuning into the Denton City Council meeting from March 2, 2021, and I wanted to share my take on what went down. Since we're still navigating COVID-19 protocols, I had to "attend" from home via the video stream— the agenda noted that in-person attendance wasn't allowed, so the Council Work Session Room was likely quiet, but Mayor Hudspeth, Mayor Pro Tem Davis, and all the council members were beaming in via video/teleconference. It's a unique vibe watching city government happen through screens, but we got a lot of important updates.
The day kicked off with the Work Session at 2:00 PM. We dove straight into a COVID-19 response update. Dr. Richardson from Public Health gave us the numbers: about 12,000 active cases and 13 new deaths, but there's good news—the hospital inpatient rate dropped to 12.6%, which is below that critical 15% threshold. The vaccination efforts are ramping up, with the Texas Motor Speedway hub pushing out over 7,000 doses a day. There was a lot of discussion about Governor Abbott's Executive Order GA-34, which is set to lift most restrictions and the mask mandate on March 10. Council directed staff to look into the legal implications and recommend policies for city facilities. It felt like a mix of hope and caution; libraries are staying in Phase 2 for now, but Parks & Rec is planning to reopen outdoor programs in March and pools by May 1.
Then we moved to the February 2021 Inclement Weather Event review—the big freeze. This part really hit home. Department heads walked us through how they handled the crisis. IT kept core systems stable but had issues with a radio tower generator; Solid Waste ran a double-week collection to clear the backlog; and Customer Service staff logged hundreds of hours helping with water main breaks. My favorite moment? Animal Services shared that they rescued 13 animals, boiled 60 gallons of water, and even fed the local ducks! The council emphasized the need for backup generators across the board, and staff promised comprehensive after-action reports. We also touched on a request to audit the city's response to the power shortage, which makes total sense as we look to improve for next time.
The Work Session wrapped with a deep dive into Capital Improvement Projects. There was a lot of talk about bond statuses and project highlights. Some projects are green, but others are yellow or red, like the Bonnie Brae phases and Hickory Creek Road, which are dealing with funding and coordination delays. I noted that archaeological findings on an interceptor route are causing some redesign work—talk about a plot twist for infrastructure!
After a quick Closed Meeting regarding litigation with ERCOT (which we couldn't hear, obviously), we reconvened for the Regular Meeting at 6:30 PM.
The mood lightened a bit with Proclamations and Recognitions. It was great to see Ryan High School honored for winning the 5A Division I State Championship in football! We also had special recognition for former Mayor Chris Watts and outgoing City Manager Todd Hileman for their service and leadership.
During the Consent Agenda, Councilmember Meltzer pulled Item F for a separate discussion. This was the ordinance permitting leak adjustments to water bills for pipe bursts during the winter weather emergency. It passed 7-0, which is a huge relief for residents dealing with burst pipes. The rest of the consent agenda, including contracts for landfill services and equipment, sailed through without objection.
Under Individual Consideration, we approved a professional services agreement with MRE Consulting for the electric department's energy trading software. We also saw a heartwarming vote to approve an interlocal agreement letting the Denton ISD use city warehouse space for storing materials from damaged schools; that passed 6-0 with Mayor Pro Tem Davis recusing himself. The council also consented to the creation of the Stonehill Ranch MUD, passing 7-0.
The Public Hearings were all postponed to the March 16 meeting. This included the wastewater discharge ordinance amendment, the Rayzor Ranch overlay district amendment, and a zoning change for a planned development on Loop 288. It looks like staff and council wanted a bit more time to review those items.
As we wrapped up in the Concluding Items, Councilmember Meltzer gave a nice shoutout to the staff for their response to the recent snow event, which felt like a perfect note to end on. The meeting adjourned at 7:48 PM.
Wrap-up: It was a long meeting, but it felt productive. We're learning from the winter storm, making progress on vaccines, honoring our community heroes, and keeping infrastructure projects moving, even with the bumps in the road. No council meeting next week due to spring break, so we'll catch up again on March 16. Stay safe, everyone!