Sunday, September 8, 2024

Good evening:

A neglected City-owned Downtown building set to be auctioned within weeks also happens to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places, according to this memo sent Friday to City Council members.

That fact apparently was not known by City Council members or staff during months of discussion about what to do with a building that had become a magnet for vandals and squatters. Amid disagreement over whether to demolish the building before auctioning it off, the City Council voted last month to auction the property in two tiers, with the building and without it.

Preservation Dallas last week notified the mayor and City Council via letter of the organization’s concerns that the decision to auction the building “was made without knowing that this important structure is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and is situated inside the 2008 expansion of the Downtown Dallas National Register Historic District.”

The building dates to 1947 and originally housed the American Optical Company regional laboratory and offices, according to National Register documents (see page 23).

The listing of the former family homeless shelter at South St. Paul and Marilla streets (pictured via Google street view below) means it is “part of the official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation,” according to the National Register website. The listing does not put any restrictions on what the City or a new owner can do with the property unless it is involved in a project that receives Federal assistance.

But Preservation Dallas President Ron Siebler, notes in his letter that “there are significant economic incentives for a new owner to preserve the building and do a qualified rehabilitation… this includes potential federal and state tax credits for a combined total of up to 45% of the cost of qualified expenses.”

Siebler adds that the building’s status likely represents a higher potential sale price for the City. The auction is tentatively scheduled for October 2.

Read on for more on:

• Another major contract to advance the Downtown Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center redevelopment.

• A pilot program to offer bonuses to Dallas police officers who successfully recruit new hires.

• Why the City could be forced to change some of the proposed Charter amendments on the November ballot.

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⚡ Highlights From Last Week’s Meetings of Interest:

— City Council members continued debate on what photo to use on the cover of a brochure to advertise the city manager job opening. They appear to agree that the City should not use a photo of Houston. Progress!

— The City’s updated land-use plan, ForwardDallas 2.0, is headed to City Council for a vote on September 25, The Dallas Morning News reports. The plan advanced from a City Council committee with more than a dozen amendments proposed by Council member Paul E. Ridley, whose district includes parts of Downtown. His changes “are largely geared toward ensuring ForwardDallas explicitly states it will protect existing neighborhoods,” The News reports.

— Wednesday’s City Council budget amendment discussion shed light on the fact  the City is budgeted to pay over $500,000 to lease access to underground Downtown tunnels while earning under $50,000 in revenue, KERA News and The Dallas Morning News report. Council member Chad West’s amendment to keep the funds in reserve won majority support and will be incorporated into the final budget to be voted on later this month. There was some concern the amendment could threaten a revenue source for the Thanks-Giving Square Foundation and at least one other Downtown nonprofit, but it was unclear if that is the case.

Thanks to DDI's Nikia Summerlin, Urban Planning Manager, for monitoring hours of meetings every week and contributing to these summaries.Questions? Nikia can be reached at [email protected].

📝 Memos of Interest:

— The proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1 includes Dallas police referral bonuses up to $5,000 for sworn referring officers, as outlined in this memo from Interim City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert. The pilot program is also on the agenda for discussion at tomorrow’s Public Safety Committee meeting.

— In addition to Council member Chad West’s budget amendment noted above, City Council members gave preliminary approval for two other amendments, detailed in this memo. If formally approved later this month, one of them would take Skillman Southwestern Library off the chopping block, The Dallas Morning News reports.

— Speaking of the budget, this memo and the above chart outlines all the fee and rate increases City Council will vote on as part of the budget approval process on September 18. The hikes are expected to generate an estimated $58 million in new revenue in the next fiscal year.

— Check out all the latest City Hall memos here and here.

Meetings of Interest: September 9 - 13, 2024

Watch City of Dallas Meetings Live

Monday, September 9

City Council Workforce, Education, and Equity Committee, 9 a.m., Council Chambers, 6th Floor, Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St.

— This doozy of a graphic on why we need to close disparities is part of an update briefing on the scope and action items of this committee.

— The City is canceling plans to award a $200,000 service contract with Bellcam Group for in-home garden kits “to provide residents with a recurring supply of fresh grown produce,” according to a memo to committee members. The proposed 18-month deal was to be funded with federal pandemic relief money, but it got a cool reception from City Council members last month.

North Central Texas Council of Governments Transportation Public Meeting, 12 p.m., 616 Six Flags Drive, Arlington, TX, 76011; Watch Live Here

— This input meeting will include a presentation on the latest plans for high-speed rail through Dallas to Houston and Fort Worth.

City Council Public Safety Committee, 1 p.m., Council Chambers, 6th Floor, Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St.

— Average violent crime incidents are down more than 19% since the launch of Police Chief Eddie Garcia’s violent crime reduction plan in May 2021, as noted in the above graph from this three-year evaluation.

— The latest Dallas Police Public Safety Dashboard includes a ton of interesting data, including the above year-over-year crime comparison.

— The committee may also discuss a pilot program offering bonuses up to $5,000 for police officers who refer successful recruits to the police department.  

Tuesday, September 10

City Council Ad Hoc Committee on Administrative Affairs, 10 a.m., Council Chambers, 6th Floor, Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St.

— This committee will consider a proposal from five Dallas City Council members to make it easier to spend taxpayer dollars to travel to Washington, D.C., and Austin “to speak on legislative matters,” according to this memo to Mayor Eric L. Johnson. They propose eliminating current requirements including prior approval from the mayor, the city manager, or the chair of the Legislative Ad Hoc Committee for such travel.

The proposal is being led by Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Adam Bazaldua, with Council members Jaynie Schultz, Zarin D. Gracey, Paula Blackmon, and Omar Narvaez also signing on.

— Committee members are also expected to continue editing a brochure advertising the city manager job opening.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit Committee-of-the-Whole, 2 p.m., DART Conference Room C - 1st Floor, 1401 Pacific Ave., Dallas; Watch Live Here

— This meeting includes discussion of the proposed fiscal 2024-25 budget and updated 20-year financial plan. Read more.

— The Board will also be briefed on an Ernst & Young report on DART operating, capital, and debt service costs by service area city. The report, which has not been posted publicly, is expected to include a recommended methodology to allocate costs in the future. The report comes as some service area cities are pushing to reduce their sales tax contributions to DART, even while they advocate for improved and enhanced services.

Wednesday, September 11

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

— Item 4 is $22.4 million funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for a DDI-backed plan to deck over Interstate 30 at Lamar Street. According to the resolution, “the deck cap is intended to reconnect communities that were separated years ago by the construction of the original freeway, including the Dallas Downtown Historic District, the Dallas Farmers Market, the Cedars Area, Dallas Heritage Park, and several other residential and commercial areas in South and Southern Dallas.” Read more.

— Item 23 is a $19.6 million funding agreement for construction of another DDI-backed deck cap over Interstate 30 near Old City Park from East Ervay Street to Harwood Street. The feds are throwing in another $31 million on this one.

— Item 49 is another closed session deliberation on “the purchase, exchange, lease, or value” of what was supposed to be the City’s permitting building at 7800 N. Stemmons Freeway. It abruptly closed earlier this year after it was found to be operating without proper permits.

— Item 50 is more closed-door discussion on a Dallas Police and Fire Pension System lawsuit against the City, which was filed despite the fact that the Dallas mayor appoints the majority of the pension board members. Also to be discussed is a lawsuit against the City related to six City Charter amendments.

— Items 55 and 56 are placeholders in case the Texas Supreme Court orders the City to change any of six proposed Charter amendments that are tied to the lawsuit mentioned above. Three controversial amendments drafted by a group calling itself “Dallas Hero” would: 1.) allow residents to sue the City to force compliance with the Charter and state and local laws; 2.) evaluate the city manager’s performance and adjust his/her salary or terminate him/her based on annual resident survey results; 3.) require the City to use a specified percentage of new revenues to fund the Dallas Police and Fire Pension, hire 1,000 more officers, and pay police more.

The lawsuit by a Hero supporter seeks to remove three competing amendments the City Council added to the November ballot. Those City-backed amendments would clarify that the City maintains key powers over budgeting, salaries, and the hiring and firing of the city manager, and that the City will not waive governmental immunity.

— Item 57 is for adoption of the proposed Dallas Police and Fire Pension System Funding Soundness Restoration Plan to help address the fund’s $3 billion shortfall. The plan is due to the State Pension Review Board by November 1. Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins summarized it in a Dallas Morning News opinion piece last month.

— Item 59 is a $141 million contract with Perkins+Will for architectural and engineering design services for a key component of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center redevelopment.

— Item 61 would reject all proposals for three components of the convention center redevelopment tied to transportation, the Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station, and future land development. The same item would grant a $3.8 million contract to Metropolitan Infrastructure, PLLC, for project management services and owner’s representation for renovation and reconstruction of Pioneer Plaza and Cemetery.

Thursday, September 12

Dallas Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors, 9 a.m., Downtown Dallas, Inc. (DDI), 1401 Elm Street, Suite 500

— The nonprofit charged with spurring business development in Dallas will vote on appointing AT&T Performing Arts Center Chief Advocacy Officer Chris Heinbaugh and former Ambassador Jeanne Phillips to its 15-member board, subject to City Council approval. Also on the agenda is the EDC’s 2025 budget and several other matters.

Regional Transportation Council, 1 p.m., Transportation Council Room, North Central Texas Council of Governments, 616 Six Flags Dr., Arlington, TX, 76011; Watch Live Here

— This agenda includes discussion of 2025 state legislative priorities, as well as a workshop on Transit 2.0, an ongoing study on the future of regional transportation. The report explores potential new funding mechanisms for transit and recommends supporting DART’s voter-approved 1% sales tax “until an alternative, dedicated, and equivalent or greater than equivalent revenue source can be identified.”

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

Were you forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here.Have a great week.

Best,Scott Goldstein

Communications & Government Relations Consultant

Downtown Dallas, Inc.

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