Meetings of Interest
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Meetings of Interest 19: May 19, 2024

Meetings of Interest 19: May 19, 2024

Meetings of Interest: Don't Call It A Contract 🚨

May 19, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 13 minutes

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Good evening:

Police Chief Eddie García renewed his vows with Dallas last week.

Widely seen as one of the best police chiefs in the country, García was reportedly being eyed by both Houston and Austin for the open chief positions in those cities.

The celebratory City Hall press release announcing the news did not use the word “contract,” which officials say is not allowed under the city’s charter (more on that from D Magazine here).

It did outline the sweet terms of the “agreement” to keep the chief here through at least mid-2027, including a $10,000 retention bonus every six months beginning this November. If García is fired “for convenience” by the city manager in the next three years, he will get a year’s salary.

This is a big win for Interim City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, who has been in the role for just a few weeks. So big that she likened García to being the returning quarterback for the NFL’s “Dallas Team.”

“We certainly didn’t want to lose him to free agency,” Tolbert said.

Just don’t call it a contract. He’s been here for years.

And now he’s staying for at least a few more.

Read on for more on:

How the City Council is chopping away at seven months of work by the Charter Review Commission.
Another Dallas assistant city manager who appears to be headed out the door for a top job with another city.
Who City Hall is tapping for help with the new permitting building that was shuttered because it did not have the proper permits to operate.

⚡ Highlights From Last Week's Meetings of Interest:

💲City officials will spend much of the summer figuring out how to close a $38 million funding gap in the next fiscal year budget (see above chart). City Council members were briefed on Wednesday on the budget outlook and process, which will include asking every City department to identify potential cuts, The Dallas Morning News reports. The proposed budget will be presented to City Council on Aug. 13. A final vote is expected on Sept. 18.

📜 The Charter Review Commission spent seven months deliberating potential changes to the City’s foundational document. On Wednesday, it took City Council members less than three hours to toss six of nine “operational amendments” recommended by the volunteer commission. Among the Charter changes cut in non-binding straw votes were ones intended to make the City’s police oversight director and inspector general more independent by having them report to the City Council and a push to broaden the City’s notification process to include digital media outlets and non-English communications. The City Council will continue to deliberate in the coming weeks and voters will have the final say on changes in November.

🚄 The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) presented updates on the proposed Dallas-to-Fort Worth high-speed rail project at a public meeting last Monday, highlighting the need for an overseeing agency and funding, which may come from a public-private partnership. The project is currently undergoing an environmental review expected to conclude in early 2025. Concerns include potential impacts on major downtown developments and the need for coordination with existing transit systems. Planners emphasize that the high-speed rail would enhance transit options and attract investments, crucial as the region's population is projected to grow significantly.

🚨 Members of the City Council Public Safety Committee signed off on a

plan to use facial recognition technology to assist with criminal investigations. Police officials say they have mechanisms in place to ensure the system is not misused. Read more from The Dallas Morning News.

🏞️ Downtown Dallas, Inc. (DDI), and the Downtown Dallas Parks Conservancy joined City parks staff to brief the Park Board on early insights and recommendations from an in-depth collaboration to assess the needs for long-term maintenance and operations of Downtown parks.

Thanks to DDI's Nikia Summerlin, Urban Planning Manager, for monitoring hours of meetings every week and contributing to the above summaries.Questions? Nikia can be reached at summerlin@downtowndallas.com.

📝 Memos of Interest:

— The five-year bond implementation plan will prioritize projects based in part on funding sources, design status, equity, and more, according to this memo.

— Oak Cliff Council member Chad West writes in this memo that he has ongoing concerns about a proposal to erect digital advertising kiosks on Dallas sidewalks. “Without the ability to restrict certain locations, I will not be able to support this proposal,” West writes. DDI looks forward to a new public engagement process on this proposal under the leadership of Interim City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert.

— The City is wisely enlisting the Economic Development Corporation (EDC), under the direction of new CEO Linda McMahon, for help with the permitting building at 7800 N. Stemmons Freeway that was shuttered because it wasn’t properly permitted, among other issues. Read more on what the EDC will be expected to do for a fee not to exceed $100,000.

— Meanwhile, this memo includes a detailed breakdown of the nearly $23 million in public money invested in the Stemmons building to date and another $11 million in planned future funding.

— Here’s an update on the transition to the new DallasGo online payment platform for water and other City bills.

— Mayor Eric L. Johnson is seeking an opinion from City Attorney Tammy Palomino on whether former City Manager T.C. Broadnax should be paid more than $400,000 in severance, according to this memo from the mayor. Read more from KERA News.— Check out all the latest City Hall memos here and here.

Meetings of Interest: May 20 - 24

Watch City of Dallas Meetings Live

Monday, May 20

🎭 City Council Quality of Life, Arts, and Culture Committee, 9 a.m., Council Chambers, 6th Floor, Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St.

— This agenda includes budget briefings from the library and code departments.

🚊 Special Called City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, 12 p.m., Council Chambers, 6th Floor, Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St.

— Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Board members Carmen Garcia and Rodney Schlosser will be interviewed before a City Council vote on Wednesday on whether to appoint them to another two-year term.

🚌 City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, 1 p.m., Council Chambers, 6th Floor, Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St.

— Budget briefings are scheduled from Dallas Water Utilities, Equipment & Fleet Management, Building Services, and Public Works.

Tuesday, May 21

City Council Government Performance and Financial Management Committee, 1 p.m., Council Briefing Room, 6th Floor, Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St.

— The committee will again discuss potential sale or development of some City-owned properties, including a few located in Downtown. Read more.

— Budget updates are scheduled from the Office of the City Auditor, Information & Technology Services, Data Analytics & Business Intelligence, the City Controller’s Office, and Civil Service.

Desoto City Council, City Council Chambers, 6 p.m., Jim Baugh Government Center, DeSoto City Hall, 211 E. Pleasant Run Road, DeSoto

— Dallas Assistant City Manager Majed Al-Ghafry is set to be hired as Desoto city manager, according to the above Desoto City Council agenda item. Al-Ghafry would be the second Dallas assistant city manager to be hired away for a top post at another city in recent weeks. Robert Perez was hired recently as the city manager in Topeka, Kansas.

Wednesday, May 22

🎥 Dallas City Council, 9 a.m., Council Chambers, 6th Floor, Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St.

— Item 23 is a resolution for adoption of the City’s first On-Street Parking and Curb Management Policy. As I wrote last week, DDI is a big supporter of the plan, which includes variable meter pricing, prioritization of protected bike lanes, and potential for Parking Benefit Districts to redirect parking revenues back into areas where it is generated.

— Item 24 would make various changes to the City Code tied to the On-Street Parking and Curb Management Policy.

— Items 28 and 29, to be considered collectively, would designate the City of Dallas as a “media production development zone,” unlocking potential state tax breaks for renovations of South Side Studios in southern Dallas. Read more from The Dallas Morning News.

— Item 48 is the DART board appointments noted above. Current members Carmen Garcia and Rodney Schlosser are likely to be reappointed.

💸 City of Dallas Economic Development Corporation (EDC), 3 p.m., Room 6DN, Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St.; Watch Live Here

— This agenda includes a vote on the previously mentioned agreement for the EDC to help guide the future of the permitting building at 7800 N. Stemmons Freeway that was shut down because of a lack of proper permitting.

Friday, May 24

🏘️ City Council Housing and Homelessness Solutions Committee, 9 a.m.

—Agenda and other meeting details are not yet posted.

Next week’s newsletter will come up on Monday evening so you can enjoy most of the Memorial Day weekend without hearing from me.

Did we miss anything? Do you have any questions? Just want to talk about meetings? Let me know.