Sunday, April 30, 2023

Dear

:

Welcome to the first edition of Downtown Dallas Inc.'s (DDI), newest email newsletter, which we're calling "Meetings of Interest." I'm Scott Goldstein, DDI's chief of external affairs and government relations. The purpose of this newsletter is to give you a preview of some of the most important public policy matters for Downtown Dallas on government agendas each week. We'll also do our best to update you in following weeks on the major outcomes of the meetings we track.

"Why am I so lucky to be on this email list," you ask? Because at some point in the past year or two, you signed up to receive emails from DDI related to "policy, politics, & planning." (You can update your preferences at any time via the link at the very bottom of this email, though I do hope you'll stick with us).

For those of us who work at DDI, the 65-year-old nonprofit advocacy group, this newsletter is not new. Every week for as long as anyone around the office can remember, we've been sending around a weekly "Meetings of Interest" memo. We just decided it was time to share it with a wider audience -- and to spice it up with some emojis and GIFs.

So, here's what the DDI team is watching this week ...

  City of Dallas

First, a "City Manager Memo" of interest to us

• City staff will begin scheduling community meetings in May to gather resident input for the 2024 Capital Bond Program, which is expected to total $1 billion. More info will be shared here as soon as we have it.

• Check out all the weekly City Manager Memos here.

Monday, May 1

Economic Development Committee

, 1 p.m., Council Chambers

• An update on residential and commercial building permit turnaround time and hiring in the Development Services department.

• A heads up memo that the City Council will soon be asked to approve agreements for the SoGood Cedars and the NewPark Municipal Management Districts (MMDs) to avoid automatic expiration. Hoque Global says the MMDs are key for their developments to move forward. DDI is proud to support Hoque Global's transformative plans. 

• Congratulations to all the Dallas winners of D CEO's Commercial Real Estate Awards this year. Downtown's Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center and Trammell Crow Center are among the honorees noted in this committee memo.

Tuesday, May 2

City of Dallas Economic Development Corporation

, 9 a.m., Dallas City Hall, Room 5ES

• The nonprofit's search for its first CEO is among agenda items. The public may tune in here. Learn more about the Economic Development Corporation here.

Wednesday, May 3

City Council Briefing

, 9 a.m., Council Chambers

• The City Council will be briefed on the ongoing Forward Dallas Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update. Read the briefing here. DDI President & CEO Jennifer Scripps serves on the committee updating the plan.

Thursday, May 4

Park & Recreation Board

, 10 a.m., Dallas Zoo

• The Board will vote on whether to authorize a $300,000 one-year extension of its contract with Dallas Heritage Society to run Old City Park in the Cedars, south of Downtown. Full disclosure: I serve on the Park Board as the Lake Highlands and northeast Dallas (District 10) representative.

Ad Hoc Committee On General Investigating & Ethics

, 2 p.m., Council Briefing Room

• The committee will take public comment on and discuss potential changes to the City's ethics code. Changes could impact organizations including DDI that run Public Improvement Districts. Our team will be there to weigh in on the proposal.

Check out all City of Dallas public meetings agendas

here

.

Downtown Dallas Quote of the Week

Dallas City Council member Chad West on DDI's strategic 360 Plan, during a recent DDI briefing to a City Council committee:

"This is an example of a plan that was created with a lot of input from nonprofits, private sector and the city, and we use it as a model when talking about all of our other plans because it's a successful plan that has survived... while the rest are festering in the basement getting dust right now. And the reason that's done is because we have an organization like DDI that shepherds this and keeps this going."

Remember to vote this week in your local elections, including city council and school board races. Early voting ends Tuesday. Election Day is Saturday.

Did we miss anything? Do you have any questions?

Let me know

.

Thanks and have a great week in Downtown Dallas!

Best,

Scott Goldstein

Chief of External Affairs & Government Relations

Downtown Dallas, Inc.