[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6594976,"mediaKeyId","3045205-57cb0418b896ceb08c6d6efe2bb5b184","parentId",3045205,"title","Candidates back transparency for council‑developer meetings; several oppose one‑on‑one private meetings","audioSeconds",285,"startMs",4525000,"endMs",4810000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3045205-57cb0418b896ceb08c6d6efe2bb5b184&start=4525&end=4810","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3045205-57cb0418b896ceb08c6d6efe2bb5b184/thumbnail_4525000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6594976/Denton-City/Denton-County/Texas/Candidates-back-transparency-for-councildeveloper-meetings-several-oppose-oneonone-private-meetings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6594976-ceca5dac3a586ffa76278ccbc1788cbd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448422&Signature=CDHolK4UvuC7l9a8vst0k4mJZ2CH~WKks9KnW1Ur9CCEBDk2V2R9zQ-~Bkpo5JGbYe8Pykkq1~B1HEpF52mz7ZOeWBXw0XxUHA~KBcRSrirm3UpOyw-DZ3LDq313L4og~anJKqeZXgyd3ahjRfBCxrkv37CkjzcpgmGy4FgSpkrcc88D70rh0NQmZt5f7uVzqGin7OJjqb14I2QUjsbjiSxjQatpHEF-G6qXbOudV1ixs2EOnunm5KOS2kb1vaG5FnQPC4lIFRR8UfZzafgl8RRFVoeU03oq9tFoPoTE8OuKLbb5Z3W5~-rDGEh6aFbjY~ei1~KncZ0toxLpg3iEBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Denton","date","2025-04-17T00:00:00Z","article","Candidates at the League of Women Voters forum broadly supported transparency around elected officials’ contacts with developers and opposed one‑on‑one meetings on matters likely to come before council.

Margie Ellis said she does not find one‑on‑one meetings appropriate for sitting council members and recommended that discussions be held in public forums or recorded work sessions: “No. I don't believe having meetings 1 on 1 with the developers as a sitting council member is appropriate… That's what public meetings are for.”

Nick Stevens said one‑on‑one meetings are “completely inappropriate” and argued for stricter requirements on disclosing developer contacts, noting past council debates about requiring disclosure of such meetings. He tied the issue to campaign finance and public trust: “You shouldn't be going to their Christmas parties… You look at some of these campaign finance reports… they're receiving tens of thousands of dollars from developers and then meeting with them… and then in a few weeks, voting on one of their projects.”

Other candidates said private mediation or convening stakeholders outside a public hearing might be appropriate for crafting solutions, but that the substance should be disclosed publicly. Karen DeVinny and Susie Rumor emphasized that the community builds more trust when deliberations happen in open, recorded settings.

Why it matters: transparency rules around elected‑official meetings with developers affect public trust, perceived conflicts of interest and fairness in land‑use decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Denton - The League of Women Voters Candidate Forum - Apr 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the forum candidates largely agreed that councilmembers should avoid one‑on‑one meetings with developers on matters that subsequently come before council and that discussions about development should happen in public meetings to maintain trust.","taxTitle","Denton City, Denton County, Texas","taxId",2787,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6594980,"Candidates express support for no‑kill principles for Denton animal shelter while noting operational limits",352,2198000,2550000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3045205-57cb0418b896ceb08c6d6efe2bb5b184&start=2198&end=2550","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3045205-57cb0418b896ceb08c6d6efe2bb5b184/thumbnail_2198000.jpg","/articles/6594980/Denton-City/Denton-County/Texas/Candidates-express-support-for-nokill-principles-for-Denton-animal-shelter-while-noting-operational-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6594980-36396344fd5f3a3b45d72770fea49c2a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448422&Signature=TO5dM-rgWcVUY9NWmzTLq9sJWBRNLFnLzJp2-dDBrtfyTyiSctjSZTYxvzQDlNNJ0YlnwpdhfJ3DPaQfYYOysOd-J63Hp4e4zLexRA3ZaYgszkbQ8n3YrJPV9DX04u0sh0YCZM2PcplEIv8fgeuqVAi5eq8tAG4VJ0aLaUBP2l~SDGINxT0osNRjNBAwLWGa~z2SMXkbnjr2Dpfvt504dvigHYPYN7wFicj~H5Ht3mRNhzOms~PWRKyNax~jDl0yafpVKLZZ3bjFcpJyr~P7TEFXtbBI2H3f5oefs2Ft9aDMmmJYQlLNXT5JnBbsPg-ScPxiIAhd2qJDTzPk5gsKWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Candidates at the Denton forum voiced support for no‑kill shelter goals while acknowledging operational and ethical complexities.

Dr. Brian Beck, the incumbent councilor, said an absolute no‑kill policy carries challenges and that a pragmatic target likely lies in the low‑to‑mid 90s for live‑release rate. He emphasized rebuilding transfer networks with regional rescues: “One of the things that has been challenging for our local shelter is they've let that existing network structure degrade so that we need to rebuild a lot of trust between rescues and shelters in the region so that we can network the animals out and increase our live release rate.”

Several other candidates said they favored the concept of no‑kill but wanted flexibility in specific cases. Susie Rumor said procedures should be reviewed to ensure animals are given a chance and that euthanasia decisions have clear sign‑offs. “If we are putting an animal down, what are the procedures for that? Who has to sign off? To make sure that the animal is being given a chance,” she said.

Nick Stevens argued for an ordinance making the shelter no‑kill and described a bottom‑up approach leaning on experts and advocates: “No. We're not gonna kill animals in Denton, and yes, it should be a no kill shelter… I'd pass an ordinance to do that, to make it no kill… This is gonna come from a team effort.”

Karen DeVinny and Margie Ellis said the city can pursue partnerships with other shelters and rescues and noted Denton may receive disproportionate intake compared with similar towns. DeVinny said the case of a dog named Gunner and a subsequent audit underscored system strains and the need to distribute responsibility regionally.

Why it matters: animal welfare and shelter policy engage the public and influence shelter budgets, inter‑agency relationships and volunteer/rescue workloads.

What the forum did not produce: a detailed operational plan or budget to achieve no‑kill status; candidates urged audits, strengthened rescue partnerships and staff protocols before adopting uncompromising targets.","Forum candidates largely supported moving toward a no‑kill shelter but emphasized practical constraints such as aggressive animals, regional intake pressures and a need for rescue partnerships.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6594986,"Downtown parking, ambassadors program and a proposed PID drawn into forum debate",0,4851000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3045205-57cb0418b896ceb08c6d6efe2bb5b184&start=4851&end=4851","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3045205-57cb0418b896ceb08c6d6efe2bb5b184/thumbnail_4851000.jpg","/articles/6594986/Denton-City/Denton-County/Texas/Downtown-parking-ambassadors-program-and-a-proposed-PID-drawn-into-forum-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6594986-36f0fdbec0d2e254d96a48b17765caa9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448422&Signature=mqPfw9zDHAFNXYhe8PBa2vciO96HfqnMtgONx8mgGP84ky4PwzP2voTRah-siWyz8FTDHtahXQxjiZL95ET7EuPCsK4-K8f5QxOmH2OBO~U0NTDxHgB0eqlImhySkHxRqXCFjJobE7N4gjoixYr7V1D30NMpv8AcjtMB-1Vmm6B~tmbcs0tq8gna5y1PCuJ8CG~gbuv6Pf9uq3gZ6~arN9xZV~GUKWJn4L9t4IGuFE28PlBOW~Cj-qWAeYU7Xmk-fnkJNIurAbhKck~HATq02DDLe0Pjt-3DFbHbju3anknLHlUeH63fAyHVZ3jYWNlqnLgJAM5rkgBYBKtMNPOc8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Denton League of Women Voters forum candidates addressed downtown parking loss after a private lot changed ownership and debated whether to fund the ambassadors/cleaning pilot with a public improvement district (PID).

Multiple candidates said parking studies indicate available spaces but that proximity and perceived availability drive public concern. Karen DeVinny recalled a Friday‑night downtown study that showed roughly 30% of spaces available at peak hours and suggested the problem may be distribution rather than total capacity: “There may not be a parking problem per se,” she said, while acknowledging mobility needs for people with limited walking ability.

Nick Stevens called for practical measures such as shuttles from remote lots to evening events, citing examples of theaters that use remote parking with frequent buses: “Perhaps one of the solutions is… making sure that we have buses going back and forth every few minutes.” Dr. Brian Beck, vice chair of the Mobility Committee, recommended city use of modern parking software and license‑plate based enforcement to direct drivers and regulate long‑term squatting of prime downtown spots.

On the ambassadors program, which deploys staff to clean, assist and maintain downtown, staff proposed a PID — a property tax assessment inside a defined area — to pay for the service. Candidates were mixed about a PID. Nick Stevens said he opposed adding a property tax assessment to downtown businesses and questioned program effectiveness: “I'm not in favor… because this was a conversation that came up a few weeks ago at a work session, and it revolved around the red vest program in the downtown… It didn't work.” Several other candidates described positive interactions with ambassadors and said they would consult with downtown business owners about funding options.

Why it matters: downtown parking and cleanliness affect small businesses, visitors and neighborhood residents; funding choices for services such as ambassadors can shift costs between property owners and the general fund.

What remains unresolved: candidates recommended surveying affected businesses, exploring shuttle or software solutions and deciding whether downtown businesses or the city general fund should pay for ambassador services.","Candidates discussed downtown parking shortages after a property sale removed private spaces, the city’s ambassador/cleaning pilot and a staff proposal for a public improvement district (PID) to fund ambassadors.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6594990,"Candidates call for regional approach after audit flags gaps in Denton shelter services; support for wind‑chill/heat‑index rules",2502,3565000,6067000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3045205-57cb0418b896ceb08c6d6efe2bb5b184&start=3565&end=6067","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3045205-57cb0418b896ceb08c6d6efe2bb5b184/thumbnail_3565000.jpg","/articles/6594990/Denton-City/Denton-County/Texas/Candidates-call-for-regional-approach-after-audit-flags-gaps-in-Denton-shelter-services-support-for-windchillheatindex-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6594990-cc4a4c4842afeb2d97bc8ffadb43c68a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448422&Signature=akqPX9R-hXFJ-XFMsqrZ0AFUm20ONCgTKNtr75rPAcx4EQAUIJWJXcBFtAbHFJ85B7ENflU0qEQSJ6HPiTwDeJNyvdEX0H5PWEc1ZXB21yQMtynC3D06hdH2CKL8jHXeoDQBNk97sq2YE789eCQtUCEP3xyRmvcmQP7h5sg41VoX1SZT1PgKwzEuaHavRAIXfuxlb3zM9vVlBqXuK~1uvzT7H0JKRtc9~opE54~CiKjAdAbZMa2EigDXwSRE~CleH4WOohsWdP-tBKgIs6eB5YfkvrFgijHDHf20bUsgITxm5Ur8EUAWcD681kVmXJSRr9UP01WfpE3MY7ItOqSPdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Candidates at the Denton League of Women Voters forum discussed the city’s homelessness response after a recent audit and recommended regional coordination, more supportive services and clearer operational rules for warming and cooling centers.

Several candidates said the city is shouldering more demand than nearby municipalities and questioned whether a regional funding approach is needed. Margie Ellis said she was not aware of payments from other cities and suggested county coordination: “To me it would make more sense to maybe think of it as a regional problem with a regional solution. And maybe go to the county for funding.”

Nick Stevens, who described conversations with residents at a shelter town hall, called for a task force that includes unhoused individuals, advocates, professionals and staff to create tangible solutions. “Let's get to the root of the issue,” he said, asking for a focused, time‑limited effort to develop recommendations.

Dr. Brian Beck, the incumbent councilor, pointed to an existing Denton County homeless leadership team made up of nonprofits, shelter staff and other stakeholders and said the city should use that framework while following audit findings. “That is the starting place. That already exists, and that should be the framework that we use in order to jump start, where the components that we need to add to the shelter,” Beck said.

Several candidates supported using wind‑chill and heat‑index measurements — rather than raw temperature alone — to trigger opening city warming or cooling centers. “We have pickleball courts now… we were using wind chill to decide whether or not pickleball's open, but we're not using wind chill when someone's freezing to death. That doesn't make much sense to me,” Stevens said. Mayor‑stage candidates and others expressed support: “Yes. Absolutely. It just makes sense,” Margie Ellis added.

Candidates identified deficits noted in the audit, including supportive services and affordable housing connection, and suggested the city better coordinate regionally and involve people with lived experience when designing programs.

Why it matters: Candidates said increasing homelessness and gaps in supportive services require both operational fixes (clear rules for shelter activation based on weather indices) and strategic change (regional funding or coordination, and improved supportive housing pathways).","Forum candidates reacted to a recent audit of the Denton shelter, urging regional coordination, more supportive services and use of wind‑chill and heat‑index metrics to open warming or cooling centers.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6594995,"Denton candidates debate housing, zoning and short‑term rental rules as state preemption looms",341,845000,1186000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3045205-57cb0418b896ceb08c6d6efe2bb5b184&start=845&end=1186","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3045205-57cb0418b896ceb08c6d6efe2bb5b184/thumbnail_845000.jpg","/articles/6594995/Denton-City/Denton-County/Texas/Denton-candidates-debate-housing-zoning-and-shortterm-rental-rules-as-state-preemption-looms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6594995-fbcdf79f1a89a55ab1648a0967ae365b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448422&Signature=klZ6ZzmXbvDmm6keWov-GqzNEcFsLd-QdzTfhjWz7QvvrpAou6cWqJrHvH1sTkZ1MeMz0TWDHc0YcVVx1hUzx2ZQMrgiWbIdf57AftaOGqbE7uqZCEQvYpayNt71vN5C66iYMcVKFABG7zXgdAIhJurVMRDKcFSzHHS2lBlub65mXb7-5EbE83aB3rmbTlY0etERjXKYoKEVc3SAL98UPs~wFlivn9NtW-nuvOpIiUEWGN2L5J8jeEb1nNaWyB1~7rxvArbT09N-hJD44MOJYFbZUITS~vK3sHE~YKI11Hh3T5mx9XCAixpU~s~V77kfsyK-04op7RjKkQ07KtYAdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a League of Women Voters forum in Denton City, municipal candidates debated how to manage the city’s fast growth, including short‑term rental (STR) regulation, multifamily development and what to do if the Texas Legislature acts to limit local zoning authority.

The candidates opened by addressing short‑term rentals. Susie Rumor, who said she serves on Denton’s Mobility Committee and Vision Zero Task Force, said she favored caps and enforcement: “I like the fact that the recent rules about short term rentals had a cap on the number that could be allowed in Denton. Now how to enforce that? I don't know.” Rumor noted a recent cap and the city’s requirement that owners register and pay hotel taxes, and said enforcement remains a challenge.

Karen DeVinny, who described long experience in neighborhood advocacy, said she supported limits where STRs harm neighbors and noted differing local effects: “On the other hand, a friend of mine who lives in Southridge has one across the street from him and it's used basically for construction workers who are getting up and starting their diesel trucks at 4 in the morning, and they're very noisy.”

Dr. Brian Beck, the current District 2 city councilor and chair of a development code review committee, described the policy work that produced the city’s compromise rules: “One of the things I'm really proud of is that I was able to work one of those compromises that set up reasonable middle ground so that we have some economic development, all the positives, established, the rules for permitting and parking that you've heard about already.” He said registration, permitting and fines give the city enforcement tools that were not previously available.

Nick Stevens, a candidate and chair of the Health and Building Standards Commission, urged better enforcement of existing rules: “We've had different types of rules over the years in Denton on enforcement of short term rentals, and we haven't done a very good job of enforcing these things… I'm hopeful that things are gonna be enforced now.”

On multifamily growth, candidates described a large recent increase in apartments and differing views on managing infrastructure and density. Margie Ellis, who cited more than eight years on the Planning and Zoning Commission, pointed to a city housing report she requested and summarized its findings: since 2020 Denton has seen a 96% increase in multifamily units versus a 44% increase in single‑family units. She said the city needs updated analyses of who occupies rentals (students vs. nonstudents) to match housing supply to demand.

DeVinny and others recommended a broader housing mix—townhomes, duplexes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs)—and emphasized infill and centralized infrastructure to avoid sprawl. “We want to be careful to expand our portfolio of housing types into town homes, into condos, into duplexes… but get it on centralized infrastructure so that we're not building sprawl on the edge of town,” Beck said.

Candidates also addressed a reported state legislative threat to local zoning. Several speakers referred to “a bill” they said would remove or limit cities’ zoning authority. Karen DeVinny said city responses historically have included joining lawsuits with other municipalities; others urged coordinated lobbying and regional advocacy. As one candidate put it, correcting the transcript wording, “If the state legislature passes a bill taking away cities' ability to zone, I think in most examples in the past there have been cities banding together to sue, and I would hope that Denton could join with that.”

Why it matters: candidates framed zoning, STR limits and housing type mix as intertwined issues affecting neighborhood character, infrastructure costs and housing affordability. The forum discussion reflected ongoing local debate about how to balance neighborhood preservation, affordability, and enforcement capacity.

What the forum did not resolve: none of the candidates proposed a single, detailed enforcement plan; several said additional staff capacity or software investments would be needed. Exact statutory references to any pending state bill were not specified during the forum.

Looking ahead: candidates emphasized next steps including better enforcement of existing STR registration, revisiting housing need analyses, and regional or legal responses should the Legislature act to preempt local zoning.","Candidates at a League of Women Voters forum discussed short‑term rental regulation, multifamily growth, single‑family zoning and a threatened state bill that candidates said would limit municipal zoning authority.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Candidates back transparency for council‑developer meetings; several oppose one‑on‑one private meetings

Candidates express support for no‑kill principles for Denton animal shelter while noting operational limits

Downtown parking, ambassadors program and a proposed PID drawn into forum debate

Candidates call for regional approach after audit flags gaps in Denton shelter services; support for wind‑chill/heat‑index rules

Denton candidates debate housing, zoning and short‑term rental rules as state preemption looms