Workshop begins in 4 minutes... this is probably going to not be as exciting as the Apple iPhone liveblogs from earlier in the day...

DCTA is here with Mr. Emery (Board of Directors) and Mr. Cline (President).  They're here to discuss the progress of the light rail program as well as public meetings, fares, and other transportation.

Hebron Station is 40% complete, Old Town Station is 55% complete, Lewisville Lake-Highland Village is re-routing Eagle Park Dr.  We should see some serious building in Old Town shortly.

Utility and right of ways are handled as are permits (assuming tonight's request passes).  They're also pinning down the Quiet Zone Implementation for less noise and whistles.  Fare structure coordination with DART as you go into the Dallas system as well as connecting the DCTA bus system into the rail. 

The system will use TRE style cars for 18 months until we get our new low emissions diesel trains.  These are much quieter and we should receive our first one in August 2011 with the last in Summer 2012.  The DCTA is making sure the A-train cars are crash compliant will be the first 'alternatively compliant' car in the US.  The analogy is that trains are like pickups while the new rail cars are like unibody cars.  Gorena asks about a picture of a crash and wonders about if the people who got hit were thrown.  Mr. Cline states that he doesn't know the details of the european wreck that's photographed as an example of crashworthiness.

DCTA is working on a 'New Member Policy' for cities that would like to become members of the DCTA to create fair funding.  The lake cities have asked to be part of DCTA recently and they'd have to pay their fair share since they chose not to participate in the original funding of the system.  This would also include contract busses and long and short term projects.  DCTA has implemented a 90 operating budget in the bank at all times and needs to keep this in mind as well as making sure initial investors aren't impacted. 

DCTA is reviewing their service plan between now and April to create a new 5 year plan and a 2035 plan. 

Annual Bus service has been steadily increasing since 2005 (up 65% overall).  Lewisville is also increasing by a significant amount in 2010. 

There is a review of the new maintenance facility here in Lewisville going on now and it looks nice but won't have much brick veneer.

Review of the 13 new bus shelters in Lewisville and a new vanpool service with VPSI for 8-15 passengers with similar travel patterns.  50% is paid by DCTA and 50% by the riders.  Great service and they're specifically looking at a vanpool to Alliance. 

June 14 in Highland Village, June 21 Denton City Hall, June 24 Lewisville Municipal Annex all at 6:30pm will be the dates of public reviews of bus faires and rail fares.  Rail would be $3 one way ($5 if you also use the green line) and $6 all day if approved.  Public comment is encouraged at these events.  There are reduced fares for students and seniors.  Senior fares are $0.60 one way.  I'm really glad to see this kind of pricing for our seniors.  30 day passes for the region would be $120 with reduced rates for seniors and students.

The Metro 2035 plan would look to get rail across to alliance and over to Frisco.  Service and delivery dates are being addressed by Mr. Emery.  Denton permitting has slowed down the rail completion dates.  It looks like between April and June of 2011 will be the completion of the Denton leg of the program.  It will most likely mean that Lewisville will be delayed until that same time, eliminating the phased opening of the light rail.  Short answer:  the rail won't open until they can get the ridership from med park and Denton.  It doesn't make sense to only have part of the rail operational and spend the money without the bulk of your ridership able to access it.  Good stewardship of our tax dollars but a bummer for those looking forward to riding this Winter.  Durham mentions that there have been good comments about rail construction and how clean and efficent it has been. 

Review of agenda-  Items 1-7 no comment.  Gorena would like item 8 pulled for some publicity during the council meeting (this is the $25,000 grant for the arts center piano).  Item 9 no comment.  Item 10 Mr. King states that he had a question from Gorena about the vague language and Mr. King states that this is typical for homeland security.

Item 11 Gorena asks Tierney about the parking lot final payment and if Tierney needs to abstain.  Nieman says no.  Item 12 Mayor Ueckert will abstain.  King mentions some issues about maintenance on the Hebron 121 mixed use but that there's a cash escrow for keeping the palm trees and pavers being requested.

Item 13 is the DCTA maintenance facility with several variances being asked for, including the brick veneer variance.  Since this facility opens to 121 it falls under the brick use ordinance (main thoroughfares).  Since the building can't really be seen from 121 this is a reasonable request according to staff. 

Item 14-16 no comment.  Item 17 Ueckert asks to split the appointment process up between the council members and assigns them to pairs of councilmen.  At the next scheduled council meeting they'll make recommendations for appointments to the boards.

And we are breaking til the meeting.

We're back, and now the council is breaking to elect the new Mayor Pro Tem and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem.  Lets see if my predictions of Durham and Tierney are correct... Thornhill nominates Durham for Mayor Pro Tem and Tierney for Deputy.  Moved, Seconded, Approved Unanimously  (MSAU).

Public Hearing for the DCTA Zone Change for their new maintenance facility.  No comments. MSAU.

Public Hearing on Zone Change for enlarged auto auction facility for the Van Tuyl group.  No comments. MSAU.

Visitor Citizens Forum:  Kelly Reeves(sp) with the OTBA (Old Town Business Association) announces the 7pm Glow in the Dark Golf Tournament this Friday.  Contact OTBA or Tierney's Restaurant to attend.  Hole in one prizes- New Mustang, $10,000 credit at Beasley's.

Consent Agenda, MSAU except items 8 and 11.

Item 8 $25,000 grant for pianos for the arts center, the minutes say one upright piano but speaking with the new Arts Center director this is for 2 pianos and arts programming.  MSAU.

Item 11 final payment for the new Kealey Parking Lot (behind Tierney's).  MSAU.  This came in $2,000 under budget.

Item 12 (Ueckert steps out due to his business with the Huffines')  Variance for the Hebron 121 Station development.  This has escrow accounts for maintenance of brick pavers and palm trees as well as a payment bond instead of cash set aside for the project.  MSAU.

Item 13 (Ueckert returns) 7 Variances for the new maintenance facility for DCTA (Denton County Transportation Authority) on 121 and Bennett.  These are listed in the preview article on this website posted on Sunday the 6th.  Thornhill asks about the berm with a tree screen wall instead of a brick screening wall.  He wants to know about maintenance and replacement costs.  Staff mentions that it would be enforced through existing code enforcement to penalize if it isn't maintained like any other screening wall.  MSAU.

Item 14 Fire Prevention Ordinance Amendments.  MSAU.

Item 15 Nomination to Denco Area 911 District Board of Managers.  Mr. Harlan Jefferson (currently serving) is reappointed.  MSAU.

Item 16  Appointment of General Growth Properties Representative (The Mall).  Change to Mr. Connell(sp) from Ms. Lowry(sp).  MSAU.

Item 17  Discussion of Appointments to Various City Boards/Commissions/Committees.  Covered in workshop to spread out the work.  CDBG and Animal Services Tierney/Gorena, Durham/Thornhill: P&Z, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Watts/Ueckert: Library, Park, Old Town Design Review.  MSAU.

Reports:  Battle of the Badge report- Lewisville Fire Department came in second behind the Flower Mound Fire Department.  Lake is four inches down with the hot weather.  Durham reminds everyone that school is still in session til Thursday and the pools are packed. 

And that's all for tonight!  Thank you for reading.