ANNUAL CITIZEN UPDATE

moving forwardDENTON

City Manager George Campbell’s MessageThanks to past sacrifices and prudent planning, Denton continues to

operate in positive fiscal health in the midst of a difficult economy. With the end in mind, we are continually striving to work more efficiently and in ways that positively impact our community.

We have experienced growth in economic development throughout the City, a widening of transportation and mobility options, and a strengthening of our environmental programs, resulting in a more positive environmental impact. Thanks to the A-train, we have seen tremendous development in our historic downtown area as more restaurants and venues open up to serve Denton’s citizens and visitors alike. Arts and festivals such as 35 Denton, Arts & Jazz Fest, and Thin Line Film Fest are flourishing, enriching our lives and bringing more visitors each year to our dynamic City. Important road improvements and a focus on

environmentally friendly transportation options such as mass transit and developing a bike-friendly City are moving forward at a rapid pace. Our sustainability program is emerging as a leader in the field and making the statement that we are on the fast track to a sustainable Denton. Our efforts also demonstrate that embracing sustainable practices allows us to be fiscally responsible while protecting our environment and creating a better quality of life for our citizens.

Through the enhancement of our outreach programs, such as our social media venues and www.engagedenton.com, we welcome your input and encourage you to learn more about City programs and services available to you. With special thanks to our residents, the City Council, and all of our talented employees, I am proud to present this update. Together, we are moving forward!

MEMBERS OF THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL Left to right: James King, Kevin Roden, Dalton Gregory, Mayor Pro Tem Pete Kamp, Mayor Mark Burroughs, Jim Englebrecht, and Chris Watts.

The Denton City Council is made up of citizens elected by you, the voting

public. They take their commitment to you very seriously and work diligently to make Denton an even greater place to call home. The Council welcomes your suggestions and comments.

To find a map of Denton's voting districts and get more information about your City Council member, visit www.cityofdenton.com, select the Government tab, and click on City Council.

Mayor Mark Burroughs (940) 349-7717 or Mark.Burroughs@cityofdenton.com

Kevin Roden (District 1)(940) 206-5239 or Kevin.Roden@cityofdenton.com

Dalton Gregory (District 2)(940) 565-9331 or Dalton.Gregory@cityofdenton.com

Jim Englebrecht (District 3)(940) 206-5167 or Jim.Englebrecht@cityofdenton.com

Chris Watts (District 4)(940) 391-4422 or Chris.Watts@cityofdenton.com

Mayor Pro Tem Pete Kamp (At large Place 5)(940) 390-9137 or Pete.Kamp@cityofdenton.com

James King (At large Place 6) (940) 390-3698 or James.King@cityofdenton.com

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MOVING FORWARDFOR OUR CITIZENS

In December 2010, the City completed a detailed inventory and condition rating of its 680-mile street network to help obtain an Overall Condition Index (OCI) rating for City streets. The OCI is a rating used to evaluate the condition and quality of the ride on a

street, which helps determine whether street maintenance, repair, or reconstruction is needed. Today, the City’s current overall average OCI rating is 60; Denton’s overall rating falls in the middle when compared to OCI ratings nationwide.

The City realizes the important need for street maintenance and repair. The City was funding these activities at $2.8 million a year but increased that to $3.5 million in the current budget. A new Street Improvement Fund has also been created. Later this year, the City plans to propose a $20 million voter-approved General Obligation (GO) Bond Program solely for street reconstruction; these bonds will be sold over five years ($4 million per year). The proposed budget increase to the street maintenance fund and the planned GO Bond Program will help reduce any decline in the City’s OCI rating. This spring, the City Council plans to appoint a 14- to 21-member bond advisory committee. The committee will meet between April and August to help decide which road projects will be included in the program.

Also, the City is making plans to sell $9 million in certificates of obligation in 2013-14 to pay for the City’s share of the Bonnie Brae Street and Mayhill Road widening projects. The City is excited to move forward on these projects, which will facilitate increased mobility and help residents and visitors enjoy Denton as a viable place to work, live, and explore.

Chris Watts (District 4)(940) 391-4422 or Chris.Watts@cityofdenton.com

Mayor Pro Tem Pete Kamp (At large Place 5)(940) 390-9137 or Pete.Kamp@cityofdenton.com

James King (At large Place 6) (940) 390-3698 or James.King@cityofdenton.com

ENHANCING MOBILITY

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The Bicycle Linkage Component of the Mobility Plan (Bike Plan) was evaluated by the City Council and Denton residents at a public meeting in February. At the meeting, a plan update was given, public input was sought, and the Council formally adopted the Bike Plan.

Engineering staff assembled a focus group to evaluate options of connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists throughout Denton. This group identified a number of potential origins, destinations, and routes within the City. The focus group is comprised of various residents and stakeholder groups, including representatives from: Denton County Transportation Authority, Texas Department of Transportation, Denton Parks and Recreation, Denton Municipal Electric, Denton Police Department, University of North Texas, Denton ISD, Bike Denton, Querencia Community Bike Shop, and Innovative Transportation Solutions. Members of the group represented a wide-range of bicycle-user types from occasional users and casual riders to commuters and experienced long-distance recreational riders. The group has provided valuable feedback, recommendations, and insight for the Bike Plan update.

The update identifies different types of users, suggests a range of facilities (on-street and off-street), contains defined goals, recommends education and enforcement components, and incorporates public input. The City appreciates the added sustainability value that comes from improving its Bike Plan, which will further enhance the livability and mobility of Denton as it moves forward. For more information, visit www.cityofdenton.com/index.aspx?page=1492.

In addition to providing a variety of recreational opportunities and spaces, the City’s Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) puts Denton on the map by offering programs and services that are not only exceptional but impossible to find

anywhere else in the nearby area. Among others, the list features an international group exercise program, a one-of-a-kind rental facility, and an emerging accessibility service.

Located in South Denton, Denia Recreation Center has utilized its gymnasium and indoor rock climbing wall for party rentals, but PARD took it one step further by adding a 3D black-light mural for a truly unique experience. The custom artwork was painted with special black-light paint and 3D imagery to achieve a result that is visible to the naked eye, but the effect is enhanced with standard 3D glasses. The mural now lights up the gymnasium, so guests may rock climb and play basketball, dodgeball, and volleyball—as they never have before.

Used across 80 countries, Les Mills™ is an internationally recognized group exercise program that features invigorating choreography and chart-topping music. North Lakes Recreation Center, located in north Denton, introduced this ground-breaking program to the area in 2007 and is one of the few gyms in the Metroplex to offer Les Mills BodyPump, BodyFlow, and BodyCombat.

Located across from the center, North Lakes Park is a hotspot for recreational enthusiasts, including walkers who are visually impaired. PARD is working to improve the accessibility in the park by adding features such as tactile bricks (see photo above) in the trail to alert the visually impaired of approaching obstructions and amenities.

MOVING FORWARDUNIQUE AND ACCESSIBLE PARKS

You can’t miss it—development is occurring everywhere in Denton, creating new jobs, increasing our tax base, and providing a new dimension to our city. “Now that the news of Denton’s growth is spreading, we’re seeing an increased interest

from Metroplex developers who had not considered Denton in the past,” said Linda Ratliff, Director of Economic Development. The projects listed below are examples of the wide array of recently completed and upcoming developments Denton citizens can look forward to visiting.

• Rayzor Ranch Marketplace completed more than 370,000 square-feet of retail and commercial space. Sam’s and Wal-Mart anchor the Market Place with 137,381 and 189,929 square-feet, respectively. The new 30,000-square-foot strip center is home to 15 retail and restaurant tenants. Another 30,000 square-feet of space adjacent to the center, which it mirrors, is currently under construction. The stores planned for the new center include: Villa Grande Mexican Restaurant, AT&T Store, HCA Urgent Care, TMC, Sports Clips, and Mooyah’s Burgers. Another big box anchor, Kohl’s, will begin construction in 2012. A Starbucks is also planned on the northeast corner of the development.

• Unicorn Lake, a mixed-use development, continues to experience growth. Foundation Management held the official grand opening of its 45,000-square-foot headquarters and training facility in September 2011. Two new restaurants, Chuy’s and Bella Pizza and Pasta, also opened in 2011.

• Fortune 50 Target Corporation began construction of its 365,853-square-foot frozen and refrigerated food distribution center in April 2011. This $100 million project received a 65 percent tax abatement for five years from the City to help offset costs to improve Airport and Corbin roads. This facility will service more than 230 stores in eight states with frozen and perishable food products.

• Golden Triangle Mall was purchased by the Herring Group and the Weitzman Group in 2011. The two major retail companies will be making major renovations to the mall to include: the addition of restaurants and stores; improving the building façade; creating a food court; and improving the parking lot and landscaping. A Chapter 380 grant was awarded as an incentive for the renovations to the 1980 mall. The joint venture will invest a minimum of $45 million in the development by October 2014 to qualify for the incentive. Work has begun, and a grand re-opening is expected in 2012.

• Peerless Manufacturing selected Denton to expand and consolidate some of its Texas operations. The company designs, engineers, and manufactures highly specialized filtration, industrial silencers, heat exchangers, and air-pollution reduction systems for energy industry customers involved in gas and oil production, processing, and power generating. They plan to build an 80,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. Peerless received a 40 percent tax abatement from the City of Denton for the new facility.

MOVING FORWARDBUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

With new technologies changing the way libraries provide services, the Denton Public Library (DPL) continues to implement innovative new ways to meet the information needs of the citizens of Denton.

“The way people access information and media is different than it was even five years ago,” said Eva Poole, Director of Libraries. “We have made an effort to anticipate these changes, and the result is that the library is more convenient to use than ever.”

Here are a few examples of how library service in Denton is moving forward:• With the rise in popularity of Nooks, Kindles, and other eReaders, the library has

expanded its collection of downloadable eBooks. Library staff provides extensive assistance and training about how to access library material using eReaders.

• Readers can now take the library everywhere they go with DPL Mobile, the library’s new app for mobile devices. Search the catalog, download eBooks and audio, renew items, place holds, check upcoming events, and more—all from a mobile phone. DPL Mobile is available for Android, Apple, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Palm, Symbian, and J2ME. For information about how to download DPL Mobile, visit www.dentonlibrary.com.

• In 2012, the library is undertaking a major technology upgrade involving RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). By utilizing this technology, the library will be able to make returned items available to customers much faster. Books will literally be checked in the moment they are placed in a book drop. In addition, this system will allow library staff to monitor and manage library materials more efficiently.

MOVING FORWARD OUR INNOVATIVE LIBRARY

Library Larry’s Big Day is a children’s program written, produced, and marketed by the City of Denton. Visit the City’s YouTube page to watch new episodes and reruns of the show. This popular children’s program is a favorite with school children and judges. The show has won three awards in the past two years: 2010—First place in a statewide programming contest by Texas Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors in the special audiences category; 2011—The Margaret Irby Nichols Award from the North Texas Library Partners; and 2011—Branding Iron PR Award in the Speechwriting category from the Texas Library Association. Watch out Oscars, here comes Larry, Emmy Lou, and everyone’s favorite, Mr. Chompers!

Library Larry — A Hometown Winner

There is a saying that hard work pays off. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of City of Denton employees, the City has received more than 50 awards during the past few years. “The competition for awards in the category

for large cities is tough,” stated George Campbell, City Manager. “I’m very proud of the caliber of employee we have working for the citizens of Denton.” Take a minute to read the highlights below and then visit our website for the rest of the story.• In 2011, Economic Development won the Best Promotional Event for

35 Denton by the Texas Downtown Association. This award recognizes excellence in creation and execution of downtown or commercial district promotional events, including festivals.

• The Clear Creek Natural Guard, an outdoor preservation program for high-risk teens, was awarded the TRAPS Region 2 Excellence in Programming Award for a recreation/aquatic program in November 2011. Through a partnership with City of Denton Sustainability and Special Projects, the City of Denton Parks and Recreation Department provided monthly outdoor experiences for high-functioning youth from the Denton County Juvenile Probation Program by using a $500 Wal-Mart community grant.

• The Finance Department received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, given by the Government Finance Officers Association. The City of Denton has received this award for 25 consecutive years.

• In June 2011, the City of Denton received the Celebrating Leadership in Development Excellence (CLIDE) award from the North Central Texas Council of Governments for the Downtown Implementation Plan (DTIP).

• Denton Drug Disposal Day (D4) has earned regional, state, and national awards. The Recycling Division won the regional "Outstanding Special Event" award for the D4 program from the Greater Dallas Fort Worth Recycling Alliance in June and was also awarded at the state level by the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling in October. Additionally, D4 won a national award in the “Public/Private Partnerships” category from North American Hazardous Materials Management Association in September.

• Denton Municipal Electric (DME) received the 2011 Public Power Wind Award from the U.S. Department of Energy and the American Public Power Association (APPA). The award was presented at APPA’s national conference in Washington, D.C. The award recognized Denton’s entrance into the wind-power market in 2009, as wind now powers 40 percent of our community.

• Denton was one of five cities to receive an Outstanding Achievement Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors as one of the most livable cities in America with a population of 100,000 or more.

• In May 2011, at the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting, the City of Denton was recognized as one of five finalists in the Best Tasting City Water in America contest.

MOVING FORWARDACCOLADES AND AWARDS

Good customer service starts with being accessible to our citizens. Whether you would like to email us or give

us a call, we are here to help you with your requests. The deaf and hearing impaired may contact the City

by phone by calling the Texas Relay Service (TDD) at (800) 735-2989 to connect to our main line at (940) 349-8200. Below is a list of the main lines for frequently called City departments. Save this list, so you can have these important phone numbers readily available when you need them. A knowledgeable and friendly staff member will be happy to help you with your questions.

Animal Services ....................................................... (940) 349-7594 Building Inspections .............................................. (940) 349-8360Cable Television ...................................................... (940) 349-7272City Switchboard .................................................... (940) 349-8200Code Enforcement ................................................. (940) 349-8743Environmental Services & Sustainability ....... (940) 349-8202Fire Administration ................................................ (940) 349-8840Keep Denton Beautiful ......................................... (940) 349-8737Library......................................................................... (940) 349-8752 Municipal Court ...................................................... (940) 349-8331Non-Emergency Police ......................................... (940) 349-8181Parks and Recreation ............................................. (940) 349-7275Planning ..................................................................... (940) 349-8541Solid Waste ............................................................... (940) 349-8700Senior Center ........................................................... (940) 349-8720Street Lights ............................................................. (940) 349-7000 Street Maintenance ............................................... (940) 349-7160Utility Customer Service ......................................(940) 349-8700 Utility Line Location................................................ (800) DIGTESSUtility 24-hour Service .......................................... (940) 349-7000 Water Quality ........................................................... (940) 349-7501

CONTACTS

MOVING FORWARDWE'RE HERE TO HELP

Better decisions make better communities. This was evident when the City of Denton hit the ground running with Sustainability Planning and Projects in 2011. In 2010, grant funds became available through the Department of Energy, Energy

Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program for Energy-Efficiency Projects. These funds allowed the City to identify and substantially complete several energy- and cost-saving projects in 2011. The funds allowed Denton Municipal Electric to expand the capability of its energy-audit program, and additional methane collection wells were added at the City of Denton Landfill (bringing generation capacity up to 1.6 megawatts, enough to power 1,600 homes annually). A lighting-retrofit program was completed across municipal facilities, resulting in an annual savings of approximately $125,000. A vital component of the grant funding is the development of a sustainability plan for the City of Denton and a full-time Sustainability Coordinator position.

The Sustainability Plan process included community meetings and a citizen survey, as well as a community partners committee and internal stakeholders. The plan that has been created is a living document that incorporates comments and ideas received through this process. The plan is designed to identify focus areas, goals, strategies, and actions that can be tracked and reported to the community in a user-friendly format. The plan allows for flexibility to incorporate additional ideas and opportunities as they become available. Community input will always be an important component of the plan and will be solicited through various media on an annual basis as the plan evolves. Sustainability education is one goal of the plan, which is being accomplished by using the City website, Facebook, and a monthly Sustainability Education Series.

MOVING FORWARDSUSTAINABLE DENTON

The Sustainability Plan – Simply Sustainable: A Strategic Plan for Denton’s Future was reviewed and adopted by City Council in early 2012. You can follow City of Denton Sustainability on Facebook and check out its website at www.sustainabledenton.com. For additional information, call Katherine Barnett at (940) 349-8202, or send an email to Katherine.Barnett@cityofdenton.com.

Sustainable 101 Series The Sustainable 101 series was started, in part, because citizens expressed a need for the community to learn more about sustainability and what role each of us can play moving forward. This series, which is free to the public, centers on the goal of providing tips and tools on sustainable topics, which can be takenhome and implemented with ease. Upcomingworkshops include: Going Native on April 19 and Tips for Denton Public Transit: A How-to Guideon May 10. The above workshops start at 6:30 p.m.and are held at the Denton Civic Center CommunityRoom. Contact Victoria Caster at (940) 349-8152for more information, or visit the Sustainable Dentonwebsite at www.sustainabledenton.com.

The City of Denton continually strives to keep the public informed about its services, programs, events, and news.

Information is communicated in a variety of ways: the website, utility bill stuffers, newsletters, fliers, brochures, direct-mail pieces, calendars, reports, print ads, and more. In an effort to move forward, social media has recently flourished as part of the City’s communication toolbox. This innovative avenue for information sharing has allowed citizens to be informed in a more effective, efficient way. Because social media directly impacts certain demographics more than others, this new tool allows the City to push messages to a more targeted audience. This ensures that through the mix of communication tools used, everyone has the opportunity to stay up-to-date—however they choose.

For many people, social media has become second nature. Checking your Facebook page or Tweeting about the latest trend has replaced phone calls and face-to-face conversations. Social media outlets provide instant gratification; you can see what you’ve missed, make comments, pass on information to family and friends, and become more educated, informed, and engaged—all with the click of a mouse (or phone, or tablet, or … you get the idea). In the last two years, the social media world has grown exponentially, and the City of Denton is increasingly part of the action.

Currently, the City has nine Facebook pages, six Twitter accounts, and one YouTube channel. As of February, the City has more than 11,000 total followers. If you haven’t signed up to connect to the City of Denton via social media, do it today!

Sign Up for eNewsHave you signed up for eNews? eNews allows the City to quickly disperse information, and citizens can set preferences for the types of notifications they would like to receive. From Dyno Dirt sales to Emergency Management notifications, get the information you want delivered right to your email inbox. To sign up for eNews, visit www.cityofdenton.com/eNews.

City Website Goes MobileHave you checked out the City of Denton website on your smartphone? Last year, the City added mobile website capabilities. This means your smartphone can seamlessly access the website, including key components such as City Highlights, News, Events, and PDF documents.

MOVING FORWARDDIGITAL OUTREACH

STAY CONNECTED

The City of Denton is pleased to announce the selection of

Wallace, Roberts, and Todd LLC, as the consultant to prepare an update to the City’s comprehensive plan (the Denton Plan). Since 1999, the Denton Plan has guided land-use decision-making through the policies and strategies designed to achieve the desired community growth and development. The Denton Plan is a document that communicates the community’s vision and goals by establishing a course of action that is outlined in each of the comprehensive plan elements: public involvement, land, design, environment, community development, infrastructure, and implementation.

Since the initial adoption of the Denton Plan, the City has experienced significant growth and development within the City limits. Although many of the issues identified in the current plan are still pertinent to the City’s goals, some aspects of the plan have not adequately kept pace with the growth and other changes seen since its implementation. As such, certain aspects of the plan have resulted in unintended consequences, which must be addressed.

The unique characteristics of the City, the economic downturn, and many of the initiatives currently underway create challenges and opportunities for comprehensive planning, and make this an ideal time to update the Denton Plan. The timing of this project will allow for the update of still-relevant sections of the Denton Plan, with ongoing Mobility Plan updates, the Sustainability Plan, Neighborhood Plans, and other initiatives to achieve an effective, innovative comprehensive plan. The process will involve the review and incorporation of concepts from other City documents, as well as original work based on stakeholder input and primary research, which identifies the anticipated needs of the City.

The Denton Plan update will involve extensive outreach and will include a project website, social media feeds, and more traditional neighborhood meetings. The City is excited to move forward with this plan, and members of the community are encouraged to participate.

EngageDenton.comDo you have a practical and

creative idea that could help transform Denton into a better place to live, work, and play? We think so, and the City of Denton is listening. In January, the City launched www.EngageDenton.com, an interactive virtual “town hall” website dedicated to soliciting ideas and feedback from residents about a broad variety of interesting and engaging community issues. Since the end of February, more than 500 people have shared their ideas on various topics.

Check it out—citizens are currently talking about the City’s sustainability lecture series, the Denton Plan, and much more! If you don’t see a topic you currently want to discuss, check back. Topics will change an average of every four to six weeks. Join the discussion at www.EngageDenton.com.

STAY CONNECTED

MOVING FORWARDCOMMUNITY VISION

About the City of Denton Annual Citizen UpdateIf you have questions or comments concerning this update or would like to request a copy, please call Kiersten Dieterle, Public Communications Manager, at (940) 349-8171. For more information about other City of Denton programs and services, visit www.cityofdenton.com.

Para obtener una copia en espanol del reporte anual de la Ciudad de Denton, llame al (940) 349-8200 o venga por la oficina de informacion en la municipalidad, 215 E. McKinney.

ProducedbythePublicCommunicationsOffice,3/12•215E.McKinneySt.|Denton,TX76201(940)349-8200|TDD(800)735-2989•www.cityofdenton.com

DENTON Demographics

Demographics are compiled from U.S. Census data. Population numbers are projections are based upon City of Denton staff estimates.

• The 2011 population for the City of Denton is 114,517.• The City of Denton currently encompasses a landmass of 94.9 square miles.

120,000

115,000

110,000

100,000

90,000

80,000

70,000

Denton’s population projections

Caucasian62%

Hispanic(of any race)

21%

African American10%

Other7%

2011 2012 2013 2014

114,

517

115,

662

117,

397

119,

158

Denton Airport has had dynamic growth in public infrastructure and private investment over the past decade. Improvements achieved with assistance from TxDOT Aviation and the FAA include: 9,000 feet of new taxiway; air traffic control tower; new terminal building; and a recently completed 1,000-foot runway extension. These projects were funded through federal and state grants with approximately $3.9 million in local participation. Service improvements have helped attract tens of millions of dollars of private aviation business and personal investment to Denton Airport and provide a vital general aviation service, which contributes to the local, regional, and national economy.

AirportCity of Denton departmentsprovide day-to-day services that

are essential to the function, effectiveness, and efficiency of

City operations. These departments work to improve City's services,

programs, events, and more and to serve as a resource as Denton

continues to move forward.

Denton Municipal Electric (DME) was recognized in 2011 as a national leader in sustainability, reliability, and community service. By providing 40 percent wind power to every customer, DME earned the Public Power Wind Award from the Department of Energy. DME also earned the Community Service Award as well as a Reliable Public Power designation from the American Public Power Association. These awards confirm the value of public power for Denton. It was also an eventful weather year, as Denton endured a cold February 2011 and then a record-setting summer. In spite of these significant weather events, DME continued to decrease the number of outages and improve reliability. Visit www.dmepower.com for more information.

Denton Municipal Electric

A new feature has been added to the CodeRED emergency notification system. CodeRED currently allows citizens to register online at www.cityofdenton.com to receive emergency notifications about severe weather or other active emergency situations. Now, there is an app for that! Designed to keep you informed and aware, the CodeRED Mobile Alert App plots your location on a map and notifies you of any alerts issued in that region. With the new app, subscribers will receive notifications from the area they are registered in plus alerts issued by other CodeRED communities they are traveling within. The app is available through iTunes for free, and an Android version will be released soon.

Fire

Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center obtained non-profit 501c3 status in 2011. This is a great opportunity for Clear Creek to begin fundraising through grants and fundraising opportunities such as trail runs and family fun days. In the near future, we will be developing a friends of Clear Creek club to assist in these endeavors. It looks like 2012 is going to be a great year for Clear Creek. See you on the trails. To learn more about Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center, please visit www.cityofdenton.com/clearcreek.

Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center

With close to 1.5 million items checked out from the Denton Public Library in the last year, the library continues to introduce innovative new services to the citizens of Denton. Among those introduced last year was Book-a-Librarian, an appointment service for one-on-one assistance with a librarian, computer workstations for the visually impaired, and an expansion of its eBook collection. Services to children remain an important part of the library’s mission. In the past year, more than 20,000 children attended story times or other children’s presentations at Denton libraries, and more than 3,600 participants were involved in the library’s Summer Reading Club.

Library

Keep Denton Beautiful (KDB) has continued to engage volunteers from across the community through service projects, garden workdays, and litter cleanups. KDB kicked off the year with a new logo. Also in the spring, volunteers collected staggering amounts of trash and recycling at the Great American Cleanup, and the annual Redbud Festival had record attendance. KDB’s tree programs were hugely successful; more than 3,000 trees were distributed via the annual community Tree Giveaway, Children's Arbor Day, and various tree-planting events. KDB has worked hard to be a resource to other individuals or groups who are making a difference in Denton. Five Denton educators were awarded $2,500 as a part of the Environmental Education Grant Program. Additionally, KDB received a Think Green Waste Management grant that has been used to purchase solar-powered trash and recycling receptacles that will be placed in the Fry Street neighborhood. Learn more at www.kdb.org.

Keep Denton Beautiful (KDB)

In 2011, the City’s Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) and Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) completed the reconstruction of Denton’s eight-mile Rail Trail. Using park-development funds, PARD also constructed a new neighborhood park at Preserve at Pecan Creek, completed a new trail through Wheeler Ridge Park, and began reconstruction of Owsley Park. Last year, “play” was at an all-time high at Water Works Park and in PARD fun runs, as well as online—with more than 75,000 users taking advantage of the interactive PLAY! Guide. For more information, visit www.dentonparks.com.

Parks and Recreation

For the Denton Police Department (DPD), 2011 brought some “new” and “old” to the station. The year started off with the purchase of a Mobile Surveillance Tower. The tower was purchased to assist in protecting critical infrastructure throughout Denton. DPD also used the social media outlet, Twitter, to “Tweet” all 911 calls during an eight-hour shift. This gave citizens insight into the type of calls that officers work on a daily basis. DPD also welcomed back a familiar face, Chief Lee Howell. Chief Howell was hired as the new chief of the Denton Police Department. Chief Howell worked for DPD for 24 years before leaving to work for the Denton County Sheriff’s Department during the last seven years. Welcome home, Chief!

Police

The Solid Waste Department showed leadership and innovation in many of its programs. The City of Denton Landfill received a gold medal in the Environmental-Solid Waste category of the 2011 Texas Council of Engineering Companies Engineering Excellence Awards for the landfill’s enhanced leachate recirculation system. Denton Drug Disposal Day (D4) earned regional, state, and national awards. The Recycling Division won the regional “Outstanding Special Event” award from the Greater Dallas Fort Worth Recycling Alliance and was also awarded at the state level by the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling. Additionally, D4 won a national award in the “Public/Private Partnerships” category from North American Hazardous Materials Management Association. The Department’s 2011 Pharmaceutical take-back events collected 1,674 pounds of medicine and had 551 participants!

Solid Waste

Every day, our system treats about 20 million gallons of water from Lake Lewisville and Lake Ray Roberts to meet strict quality standards and delivers it to the City. Work is proceeding on several big improvements to our water infrastructure. The Lake Lewisville Water Treatment Plant, built in 1957, is being renovated and will include advanced ozone technology to produce the best possible water. The new Roselawn Drive storage tank, and an accompanying large water main, will provide extra fire protection and serve the City as it grows. Denton participates in regional and statewide water-planning efforts to ensure we will have reliable water supplies well into the future, and we constantly look for ways to be more efficient with the water we use.

Water

Pecan Creek is in the process of upgrading its Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System. This advanced system will allow real-time management and improvement of system processes and connect analytical data for regulatory compliance. The Watershed Protection Division continues to receive the Clean Water Act 319 Grant for the Lake Lewisville Watershed. This grant began in 2009 and promotes and maintains the water quality in the Hickory Creek Watershed. The Industrial Pretreatment Program was identified in 2011 as a “high-performing” program by Texas Commission of Environmental Quality. This designation qualified the program for a reduced auditing frequency, allowing staff to focus on the protection of water quality and human health. Watershed Protection’s Stream Team program is flourishing and citizen participation is up.

Wastewater