[{"_1":2,"_96":-5,"_97":-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",[32,75,86],{"_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",6493023,"mediaKeyId","5776467-0c9ce339756c48f6324aaaed27ce6ca2","parentId",5776467,"title","Denton council divided over proposal to recognize 'bridal month'; members seek language edits and more council consensus","audioSeconds",1509,"startMs",949000,"endMs",2458000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5776467-0c9ce339756c48f6324aaaed27ce6ca2&start=949&end=2458","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5776467-0c9ce339756c48f6324aaaed27ce6ca2/thumbnail_949000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6493023/Denton-City/Denton-County/Texas/Denton-council-divided-over-proposal-to-recognize-bridal-month-members-seek-language-edits-and-more-council-consensus","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6493023-23e6ee10613d08274d706292d5ca0158/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164091&Signature=AwnN5BFctl0LwCoXt6BFB4ipWLzHZLqKnJdufblzTbvkt3XNKFOCbHqhy55nH7eyhDP7jXRyjLzCWTs74jOJ-1-wwlZnyWhwQbydtaHUQTDIR5sA-U9E25tnP~OKOwAJ6kG-qXf9~lsDWogHg78tWK2AE2BtWdBNoZ8IOM~6SInzDhlbJzOOkRS~6TEg4dS-T7XwO4x5OcdbMg5plD~6hIDcPYYV44DFh5dxYRWyihNQqQFJ3WbQfx3cCQkFZRKPBJpnUUjJWZHsSff92TneX9sXPJhsJhlME93SNQ~2AC2X-gixcb8VZ~A9ccbpF70XkD0Am3cdoquS~kOV8m7Lyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Denton","date","2025-09-16T00:00:00Z","article","City staff and councilmembers discussed a proposed resolution to declare June as “bridal month” in Denton during a Sept. 16 work session. The item drew detailed debate over language and whether the city should issue month‑long recognitions.

Christie Fogel, chief of staff, told the council the proposal originated as a two‑minute council member pitch and that a consensus of four councilmembers is required to place it on a future agenda. Several councilmembers said they supported recognizing LGBTQIA+ residents but wanted revised language that would be less likely to be interpreted as antagonistic toward other governmental partners.

Councilmember Jester (District 6) proposed simplifying the acronym to “LGBTQ+” (rather than enumerating many specific identities) and removing a whereas clause that characterized ongoing public behavior in Texas as threatening to transgender residents, saying that clause could be interpreted as antagonistic toward legislators and partners. Jester also suggested using non‑gendered language in places where the city charter previously replaced gendered references with neutral ones.

The mayor said he opposed placing the resolution on the agenda, saying the city generally does not adopt proclamations recognizing specific identity groups and that doing so is divisive. Councilmembers from Districts 2, 5 and others spoke in support of a recognition and urged the council to workshop the language.

City staff said the drafted resolution provided by the proposing councilmember did not include a retroactive date and that, as drafted, the resolution would be perpetual unless changed. Staff said there was one request this year for a 'bridal proclamation' (2025) and that the last time the city issued a similar proclamation was 2022.

Council consensus: Following discussion, staff was directed to circulate revised language that trims the enumerated acronym to “LGBTQ+,” removes the stated “ongoing behavior” whereas clause and omits references the councilmember suggested changing. Staff will return the revised language for consideration; a consensus of four councilmembers would be required to place a resolution on a future council agenda.

Ending: No resolution was adopted Sept. 16. Councilmembers who supported a revised text asked staff to prepare updated language for distribution to council ahead of a future consent or individual consideration item.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Denton - City Council on 2025-09-16 2:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Councilmembers debated whether to place a resolution recognizing June as 'bridal month' on a future agenda; supporters argued it promotes inclusivity for LGBTQIA+ residents while opponents said proclamations can be divisive. Staff will revise language and return the item for consideration.","taxTitle","Denton City, Denton County, Texas","taxId",2787,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6493030,"Denton City Council adopts FY2025‑26 budget, tax rate and a package of zoning, franchise and fee measures",0,8165000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5776467-0c9ce339756c48f6324aaaed27ce6ca2&start=8165&end=8165","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5776467-0c9ce339756c48f6324aaaed27ce6ca2/thumbnail_8165000.jpg","/articles/6493030/Denton-City/Denton-County/Texas/Denton-City-Council-adopts-FY202526-budget-tax-rate-and-a-package-of-zoning-franchise-and-fee-measures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6493030-b5c73ab762d5303ddcfff129aa94a795/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164091&Signature=nsWcbmHCj4CRQqvo7wvkhT7lK7U0wQJ4hSiPvWjYBo04nASwBAz1oCfbVoyDdrLo5Hc3L5050xGyncS~euON6UkyN-XwyAIRNtX6EL1U3lWZEge~XmgWyVZL9s0mqIpONQvKbZ8OiKbPHFD5922Ql0tEn7hY4GMY57RYpCzftrHI7Hf0j2IBt2ghcOdIfoWRPdQ3GZ~8uImsgX03d26bMVIEEdnxU0e5X9wrKCpB-yEzc8Pv1LclmCotuCeJtwFxYLshf9LMSRzEDR3nu8EwCEUKQcjyguSriwN0izhKuhhLsc4EQYC-3TRN6JsThTYnMpmDzpxBr5RJVoX2dfDHNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Denton City Council on Sept. 16 adopted the city’s fiscal year 2025‑26 budget, set a combined property tax rate of 0.59542 per $100 valuation, and approved a set of zoning, franchise and fee ordinances in actions recorded during the regular evening meeting.

Budget and taxes
- Council adopted the FY2025‑26 budget and capital improvement program covering Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2026 and related measures. The council approved the budget appropriation and ratified the budget in separate votes.
- Council adopted a combined property tax rate of 0.59542 (maintenance & operations 0.33478; debt service 0.26064). Staff said the average residential tax bill would increase about $78 per year and the average utility bill would increase about $73 based on proposed utility rate changes.

Utility rates and fees
- The council approved the manager’s proposed utility rate changes: a 3% increase in water rates and an 11% increase in wastewater rates for fiscal 2026; no base rate change for electric or solid waste was adopted. Council also approved updates to solid waste, police, fire, library, parks and training‑center fee schedules.

Land use, special permits and mobility
- Planning and zoning actions approved: a mobility plan amendment reclassifying portions of Eagle Drive, Avenue A and Wilshire Street from secondary arterials to collectors near the UNT campus (approved 7–0).
- Council rezoned roughly 68 acres in the I‑35/Loop 288/Highway 77 triangle to a Planned Development General Office (PD‑GO) with overlay design standards for landscaping, screening and loading (approved 7–0).
- Council approved a 1‑year extension to a specific use permit (SUP) that allows the Olivo Apartments multifamily project to remain valid until Oct. 24, 2026; the extension passed 4–3. Staff said civil engineering plan review is underway but the applicant is not yet substantially under construction.

Franchise and other items
- Council began the three‑reading process to grant a nonexclusive natural gas franchise to Universal Natural Gas LLC (first reading/ordinance introduction on Sept. 16); the assigned franchise territory covers parts of Hunter Ranch and Legends Ranch and the ordinance requires a 5% payment of gross receipts to the city and an obligation by the company to extend service to a future park.

Administrative votes
- Council approved a package of fee schedule updates across multiple departments, including library, police training range, fire department and parks and recreation.

Ending: Most measures passed unanimously; the SUP extension vote was 4–3 and the Universal Gas franchise requires additional readings and the company must file an acceptance letter within 60 days. Several items approved tonight (budget, rate changes, fee schedules) will have operational consequences for FY2026 service delivery and billing.

Votes at a glance: see actions array for formal motion text, movers, seconds and vote tallies.","On Sept. 16 the City Council approved the FY2025‑26 budget, a property tax rate of 0.59542, mobility and zoning changes, utility rate updates and multiple fee schedule updates; several other items require future steps or multiple readings.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":78,"_43":89,"_45":89,"_47":90,"_49":91,"_51":92,"_53":93,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":94,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":95,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6493034,"Denton officials say water master plan needs $1.12 billion in investment after growth shifted to city edge",4203000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5776467-0c9ce339756c48f6324aaaed27ce6ca2&start=4203&end=4203","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5776467-0c9ce339756c48f6324aaaed27ce6ca2/thumbnail_4203000.jpg","/articles/6493034/Denton-City/Denton-County/Texas/Denton-officials-say-water-master-plan-needs-112-billion-in-investment-after-growth-shifted-to-city-edge","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6493034-346c5af256b07c151be80f3e1aa8549d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164091&Signature=D0OhGLMU~WFKWwlIVypIpkmtINdNVYBtm-gBaPJvlOXEOCVJoZ4g7whWAb~Dq9ZAObpCaVXB9CAuJrdrDWbUtG8YUqsG4eq8Co5~mTGyKBPOXOBHKvjHIaBto3nW2xiY~NdRDTb6hu2wPeyfdS931~m~PNfAX4mDUYSMUjPKcC5l6DEBsmbFuifJCUkSE0toq48AIQFHvq7Ljrxbc~3zfGaNqmB035I1HbANhYK2BDhwrDfLZ0Uoh9L~ISC7MXPGTa4WeYtXaWQ87UVhsd7FvFLg6wfrYPi5O88Gg2hj5RVnNgDP-1goBCxspt5xMmkY8IIQQpkgMLEb0WmMgbL3bQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Denton City water officials told the City Council on Sept. 16 that growth patterns since the city’s 2018 water master plan have shifted from infill toward the perimeter and that change — combined with inflation and higher labor costs — increases projected capital needs for the next 25 years to roughly $1.12 billion.

Stephen Gay, water utilities and street operations general manager, said the 2018 plan projected higher growth in the city core and lower growth at the edge; the opposite trend is occurring now, particularly south of U.S. 380 and west of I‑35 and around new developments to the south. That has raised demand for treatment and conveyance facilities where infrastructure is limited, Gay said.

City staff said the 2018 master plan identified $248 million in capital investments across the planning window. The draft update the city presented to council increases that estimate to $1,120,000,000. Gay said material costs have more than doubled since 2018 and labor costs have risen sharply, with COVID‑era supply and labor effects also contributing. He said the update reflects new observations of demand and a revised distribution of where growth is occurring.

The presentation compared observed population growth to the 2018 projections in three service areas: Service Area 1A (65% below projections), Service Area 1B (185% above projections) and Service Area 2 (14% above projections), and it showed the most intense near‑term capital needs concentrated in areas with little existing water infrastructure.

Gay described master plans as living documents and said the water master plan informs the city’s impact fee studies and five‑, ten‑ and 25‑year capital improvement planning. He told council staff expects to present the update to the Public Utilities Board on Sept. 29 and return the plan to City Council for adoption on Sept. 30.

Council members asked about tools the city could use to influence development patterns rather than only reacting more frequently. A representative from District 2 urged staff to present options — incentives, impact fees or other levers — that could help steer development to leverage existing infrastructure. Gay said the city has tightened coordination with Development Services to track emerging development patterns and plans to revisit master plans more frequently.

Gay and staff also described the data sources used to forecast growth, including meter data, planned developments, the comprehensive plan, and population projections from the North Central Texas Council of Governments. The presentation noted the city’s Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) defines areas the city must serve.

Next steps listed by staff were a Public Utilities Board briefing Sept. 29 and seeking council adoption Sept. 30. No formal council vote was taken during the Sept. 16 work session; staff sought direction and shared the adoption timeline.

Ending: The update shifts the focus of near‑term investment to areas the city is already seeing develop fastest. City staff framed the draft plan as a tool to update impact fees and capital planning in light of observed growth and rising construction costs.","City staff told the council an update to the 2018 Water Master Plan shifts needed treatment and conveyance investments to the city perimeter, raising the 25‑year capital estimate from $248 million to $1.12 billion and prompting a faster adoption schedule.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Denton council divided over proposal to recognize 'bridal month'; members seek language edits and more council consensus

Denton City Council adopts FY2025‑26 budget, tax rate and a package of zoning, franchise and fee measures

Denton officials say water master plan needs $1.12 billion in investment after growth shifted to city edge