Agenda Information Sheet
DEPARTMENT: Development Services/Economic Development Division
CM/ ACM: Jon Fortune
Date: August 23, 2016
SUBJECT
Title
Consider adoption of an ordinance approving an amendment to Ordinance No. 2015-074, relating to the Economic Development Partnership Board (“the Board”) to add to the membership of the Board and to revise Sec. 2-251 C-1; repealing all conflicting ordinances and portions thereof; and providing an effective date.
Body
BACKGROUND
An act of the 27th Legislature in 1901 founded the Girls Industrial College as a public institution that would become Texas Woman's University in 1957. The school had then and has now a dual mission: to provide a liberal education and to prepare young women “for the practical industries of the age” with a specialized education. Men have been admitted to TWU since 1972.
Today, with an enrollment of approximately 15,000 students, Texas Woman’s University is the nation’s largest university primarily for women. It has an annual operating budget that exceeds $256 million and has an annual economic impact in the North Texas region of more than $721 million.
TWU offers degree programs in the liberal arts, nursing, health sciences, the sciences, business and education. Its campuses in Denton, Dallas and Houston are joined by an e-learning campus offering innovative online degree programs in business, education and general studies. TWU serves the citizens of Texas in many ways, including:
• Graduating more new health care professionals than any other university in Texas
• Easing the teacher shortage by placing highly qualified professionals in the classroom
• Conducting research that impacts the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity, osteoporosis, stroke and diabetes.
Carine M. Feyten became the eleventh president and second chancellor of TWU in July 2014. Dr. Feyten already has had a significant impact on the university during her tenure, including developing relationships with the business community in Denton and beyond. In order to further develop those relationships and to facilitate the continued contributions of TWU to Denton’s economy and economic development efforts, the City of Denton proposes the addition of a seat on the Economic Development Partnership Board for a TWU representative. This seat would be filled by Dr. Feyten or her designee, and would be added under the same terms as the seat filled by the University of North Texas’ president or his/her designee.
This change in the EDP Board’s composition requires the Board’ recommendation of the additional seat to the City Council and then the Council’s adoption of an ordinance amending the current Board structure.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (Council, Boards, Commissions)
August 16, 2016 - A work session on the EDP Board’s composition and terms of service was presented to Council.
July 13, 2016 - The Economic Development Partnership Board unanimously recommended the addition of the TWU seat.
STRATEGIC PLAN RELATIONSHIP
The City of Denton’s Strategic Plan is an action-oriented road map that will help the City achieve its vision. The foundation for the plan is the five long-term Key Focus Areas (KFA): Organizational Excellence; Public Infrastructure; Economic Development; Safe, Livable, and Family-Friendly Community; and Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship. While individual items may support multiple KFAs, this specific City Council agenda item contributes most directly to the following KFA and goal:
Related Key Focus Area: Economic Development
Related Goal: 3.1 Develop targeted policies and incentives to achieve desired economic growth
EXHIBITS
Exhibit 1 - Draft amendment to Ordinance
Respectfully submitted:
Aimee Bissett
Director of Development Services
Prepared by:
Caroline Booth
Assistant Director for Economic Development