Monday, June 5, 2023

Dear

:

Good morning. A busy week of meetings at Dallas City Hall should more than make up for last week's relative quiet.

Among the items to be discussed this week:

• How $90 million in Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) excess sales tax revenues could be allocated in Dallas.

• Police and Fire 2024 Bond Program priorities totaling nearly $730 million.

• How police use drones to combat random gunfire.

• The consultant being recommended to receive a $2 million contract to help update the City's Development Code.

• The City of Dallas talent attraction marketing strategy (concept pictured below).

Read on for all that and much more.

 City of Dallas

📝 First, a City Hall memo of interest:

• How should the City Council spend an estimated $90 million in Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) excess sales tax revenues? Of particular interest to Downtown, City staff recommends using some of the money for:

  • Ongoing streetcar maintenance and studies to optimize operations ($3M).

  • Bike lane upgrades ($2.2M).

  • Sidewalk master plan ($10M).

  • Parking operations study and smart parking pilot projects ($750,000).

  • Check out all the weekly City Manager Memos here.

Monday, June 5

🏫 City Council Workforce, Education, and Equity Committee, 9 a.m., Council Chambers, Dallas City Hall

• Take a look at the draft strategy to attract and retain more and better talent to work for City of Dallas.

• The City is also working on a much-needed Strategic Engagement and Outreach Plan. Read more.

🗿 Landmark Commission, Briefing at 9 a.m., Public Hearing at 1 p.m., 6ES City Council Briefing Room, Dallas City Hall

• No items of specific interest to DDI.

🚨 City Council Public Safety Committee, 1 p.m., Council Chambers, Dallas City Hall

• A review of the police and fire capital bond program needs inventory, which totals $727 million and includes:

  • A new $150 million police academy at the University of North Texas Dallas campus in southern Dallas.

  • Over $66 million for a new Dallas Police Central Patrol, Traffic and Tactical Building. The current facility is located in Deep Ellum.

  • More than $32 million for a new police patrol station, the location for which is unclear.

  • More than $200,000 in major maintenance for the two Downtown fire stations.

• The committee will get an update behind closed doors on the May Ransomware attack on City Hall. The Dallas Morning News reports the recovery is "more than 90% complete."

• An update on Dallas Police strategies to combat random gunfire includes mention of drones, license plate readers, and shot detection systems.

Tuesday, June 6

🏫 City Council Environment and Sustainability Committee, 9 a.m., Council Chambers, Dallas City Hall

• Learn all about the City's "Solar Switch" group buying program for solar installations.

• A summary of legislation related to environment and sustainability proposed during the 88th State Legislative session that ended last month.

• An update on the committee's progress on Mayor Eric L. Johnson's priorities, including development code updates, bulk-and-brush trash pickup reforms, and implementation of the Comprehensive Environmental and Climate Action Plan (CECAP).

• Recommendations for 2024 Bond Program specifications from the City's Environmental Commission.

💹 City Council Economic Development Committee, 1 p.m., Council Chambers, Dallas City Hall

• Chicago-based urban planning firm Camiros, Ltd., is the recommended lead consultant to "develop a modern, updated and user-friendly development code that is streamlined, consistent, clear, and aligned with all City plans and policies." The City Council will vote on a $2 million contract with camiros later this month.

• On a related note, the City's Development Code currently includes a two-year waiting period between a final decision of either approval or denial of a zoning change or specific use permit (SUP) and any subsequent application for a zoning change or SUP on that same property. City staff is recommending a Development Code change to eliminate approvals from that waiting period. Read more.

• The City Council will soon be asked to approve changes to a loan agreement tied to development of the Lorenzo Hotel just south of Downtown. Read more.

• City Hall is celebrating recent Dallas Business Journal 2022 Best Real Estate Deal recognition of several projects, including the Goldman Sachs development just north of Downtown and the JW Marriott Dallas Arts District. Read more.

JW Marriott Dallas Arts District

Wednesday, June 7

🏛 City Council Briefing, 9 a.m. Council Chambers, Dallas City Hall

• The short-term rentals saga continues with a briefing on zoning, enforcement, data analysis, and certificates of occupancy.

• More information on the proposed allocation of DART excess sales tax revenues mentioned in the memo above. City Council will be asked to approve an agreement for most of the funds on June 14.

• A discussion on changes to the City's Code of Ethics. Proposed amendments include creating a criminal offense (Class C misdemeanor) for unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. City Council is expected to vote on the changes on June 14.

Thursday, June 8

🏞 Dallas Park and Recreation Board, 9 a.m., 6FN Conference Room, Dallas City Hall

• This special called meeting is a 2024 Bond Program workshop on priority projects. Briefing materials are not yet available.

🚇 Regional Transportation Council, 1 p.m., North Central Texas Council of Governments, 616 Six Flags Dr., Arlington

• This agenda includes a federal and state legislative update.

Downtown Dallas Quote of the Week

Dallas Morning News Architecture Critic Mark Lamster on the Hyatt Regency and Reunion Tower:

"The Hyatt exemplifies one Dallas characteristic above all others: audacity. In its very conception, the project verged on the alchemical: Take some 53 acres of junk land caught between railroad tracks, highways and access roads and turn that swampy parcel into a destination drawing more than a million visitors a year."

Read the full story

Did we miss anything? Do you have any questions?

Let me know

.

Thanks and stay cool this week in Downtown Dallas.

Best,

Scott GoldsteinChief of External Affairs& Government RelationsDowntown Dallas, Inc.

Share