LEADERSHIP
Chris has filled a strong leadership role in the following achievements, most of which were initiated he was first sworn-in as mayor in 2014:
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
• Relocation and completion of the Denton Convention Center and Embassy Suites at Rayzor Ranch via an agreement in which taxpayers are not obligated for any debt on the building or land.
• Creation of permanent seats on the City of Denton Economic Development Partnership Board for representatives from the Black Chamber of Commerce and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
• Improvements in the City of Denton Development Review and Permitting Process to eliminate the City’s anti-business reputation.
CITY GOVERNMENT
• Hiring of a new city manager, city attorney and internal auditor.
• Reduction in the property tax rate with concurrent increase in city services to citizens.
• Improvements in the budget process to increase participation by the public and City Council.
• Increased funding for street repair & maintenance, now approx. $12 million annually.
• Significantly improved mobility at Loop 288 & I-35, Brinker Rd. and Mayhill Rd. (in progress)
• Background: Loop 288 and Mayhill Rd. improvements were slated for Phase II of the I-35E widening. The exact Phase II time-frame is unknown, but could be 20 years in the future. These improvements, plus a new Brinker Rd. bridge over I-35E, are now slated for completion in Spring 2019.
• Enhanced lighting and repair/replacement of sidewalks on the Square to promote safer pedestrian passage
NEIGHBORHOODS
• A public/public-private partnership between the City of Denton, Denton County Emergency Services District and Robson Ranch Communities Inc. for a new fire station. This station will decrease response times at Robson Ranch and serve future developments slated for the southwest part of the city.
Background: The new fire station will reduce response time to Robson from 11 minutes to 6 minutes. Response time affects Robson’s Insurance Services Organization (ISO) rating, which influences the price of property insurance. Today, the ISO rating is 10, the highest possible, which means Robson residents pay much more than other Denton residents for their property insurance.
When the fire station is completed, Robson’s ISO rating will be the same as the rest of the city. Robson homeowners’ property insurance rates then will drop accordingly.
The Denton County Emergency Services District (DCESD) was formed in 2006 by voters in Argyle, Bartonville, Corral City, Copper Canyon and Northlake. Today, the Argyle Volunteer Fire Department also belongs to DCESD.
• Support for City funding of the new football field in Fred Moore Park, including a new scoreboard and additional bleachers. The field was dedicated on Martin Luther King Day in 2017.
• A new traffic light at Cindy Lane at SH 380 to provide Ranch Estates controlled access to the highway. Because the light is on a state highway, the project required the support of County Commissioner Andy Eads and negotiations with TX-DOT.
COMMUNITY
• Establishment of the Denton Together Coalition
• Creation of The Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness, now expanded into the Denton County Homelessness Leadership Team*.
• Support of a public-private partnership to expand available emergency shelter space via reuse of a city building (Monsignor King Outreach Center)
• Successful efforts by the City of Denton, City of Lewisville and Denton County to restore $400,000 to non-profits providing social services when their $600,000 federal Emergency Services Grant was not renewed.
*In addition, Denton County Homelessness Leadership Team, which Chris chairs, worked to resubmit the federal Emergency Services grant. The team was successful in securing a $1.2 million, two-year grant.
• Expansion of affordable housing. Also, in partnership with Denton Housing Authority, secured the City’s first Veterans Administration Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers for homeless veterans.
PRESERVATION
• City Hall West Restoration (in progress)
• Initiation of recommendations for design standards to protect buildings in the National Register District (downtown Square) and, potentially, the surrounding area.
• Funding and installation of wrought-iron fencing to protect Oakwood Cemetery, which carries a state landmark, and IOOF Cemetery.