Sunday, July 30, 2023

Good evening, .

Former Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle, who died earlier this month, left an indelible mark on the city he served. Public servants should honor his memory by striving to be more like him.

I first met then-Dallas Police Chief Kunkle when I was a cub police reporter at

The Dallas Morning News

in 2006. He taught me and countless others what it truly means to be a public servant.

The retired chief's death from Lewy body dementia on July 14 was not unexpected. That awful disease destroyed his brain and his body over the past four years. When I got word that he had passed, I felt inspired to share a little about what he meant to me -- and how we all should remember him.

As I wrote for

The New

s earlier this month, the chief "was the gold standard of what a big (or small) city police chief — and what every public servant — should strive to be. He did not just throw around words like honesty, transparency, accountability. He lived them."

I hope you will take the time to

read my piece

. All of those in public service would be wise to be more like Chief Kunkle.

📝 Memos to the Dallas City Council:

• Dallas property values increased by nearly $19 billion in 2023 as compared to last year. Of that, $3.7 billion is from new construction and the rest is from increased value from reappraisals. Read more.

• All commercial and residential building permits delayed by the ransomware attack have now been processed, according to city officials. Staff used overtime, including a weekend schedule, and additional staffing from other departments to get caught up. Read more.

• Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax this week will release his proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts on October 1. Dallas City Council members will then spend the next two months making amendments before approving a budget by late September. You, the public, have many chances to weigh in on the budget, including at more than two dozen town hall meetings to be held all over the city in August. Read more.

Meetings of Interest

The Dallas City Council typically returns to action in August. But Mayor Eric L. Johnson has yet to announce committee assignments and this Wednesday's scheduled City Council briefing meeting was

canceled

.

So, there is not much City Council action to watch this week.

However, as noted above, City Manager T.C. Broadnax is expected to unveil his fiscal 2023-24 budget proposal later this week. I'll have much more on that in next week's newsletter.

Here's a sampling of what else is going on at City Hall this week.

Monday, July 31

💳 Community Bond Task Force, 6 p.m., Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St., Council Briefing Chambers, 6ES

• The agenda is expected to include discussion of the process for the task force and five subcommittees to form recommendations on the $1 billion 2024 bond program.

Tuesday, August 1

💹 City of Dallas Economic Development Corporation (CDEDC) Board of Directors, 9 a.m., Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St., Room 6DN

• The 15-member nonprofit board will consider a contract up to $120,000 with Alpha Business Images for marketing, branding, and public relations services.

• An update on the organization's search for a permanent CEO is also on the agenda.

Thursday, August 3

🗺 City Plan Commission, 9 a.m. Briefing; 12:30 p.m. Public Hearing, Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St., Council Chambers, 6th Floor

🏞

Dallas Park and Recreation Board, 10 a.m., Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St., Room 6FN

• This meeting includes a 2024 bond program workshop. The Park Board (on which I serve) will discuss recommendations for a potential $350 million parks bond proposition.

Quote of the Week

Patrick Todd, Managing Partner of Todd Interests, on Downtown's East Quarter neighborhood restaurant scene, as reported by The Dallas Morning News.

“You’d be hard pressed to have a lineup of chefs and restaurants that have the kind of energy these have. These are energetic, lively places where you’ll have fun and an incredible meal.”

  Read more 

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

Let me know

.

Tell your friends to sign up for this and other DDI newsletters

here

.

Enjoy your week.

Best,

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

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