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- Meetings of Interest: Sunday, October 29, 2023
Meetings of Interest: Sunday, October 29, 2023
Meetings of Interest: "Strong work" π²

Sunday, October 29, 2023
Good evening:
In just over a month, the Dallas City Council will take exclusive control of planning for an estimated $1.1 billion bond program.




First, 90 volunteers on the Community Bond Task Force (CBTF) and five subcommittees are finalizing recommendations that will serve as a starting point for the City Council. The above breakdown is how the CBTF--on which I represent District 10 (northeast Dallas)--voted to divide the money last week.
Each of the listed categories has a 15-member subcommittee that will recommend more specifically how to spend those dollars. The CBTF will meet again on Saturday, November 4, to review those line item proposals and finalize the spending plan. The plan will be briefed to the City Council on December 6.
This process, which began in May, has included dozens of public input meetings, plus surveys, and many emails from constituents and advocacy groups.
The Dallas Morning News
that the CBTF and subcommittees have "done strong work on ensuring that the city gets value for its dollar."
DDI is advocating for its own
, as approved by its Board of Directors earlier this year.
The City Council will ultimately decide how to allocate the dollars and whether to hold an election in May or November of next year for voter approval of each proposition. The past three bond elections were held on November ballots, including in 2017 when voters approved all 10 propositions.
β Highlights From Last Week's Meetings:
-- The Dallas City Council:
Delayed to December 13 a vote on a plan to create a registration process, including fees, for unattended drop boxes like those used for clothing donations. The program dictates where the boxes can be placed and how often they must be monitored, among other things.
Approved designating 86 trees at six locations as historic trees that can only be removed with City Council approval or due to a critically dangerous public safety issue. Most of the trees are located in Downtown at Dealey Plaza and Pioneer Plaza Park. Read more.
Sent back to the Government Performance and Financial Management Committee the Fiscal 2024 audit plan.
-- Charter Review Commissioner David de la Fuente presented a proposal to move City of Dallas elections from May to November. He noted that Houston votes in November and has significantly higher turnout than Dallas. The proposal for odd-numbered years ensures that the City's nonpartisan races do not mix on the same ballot with partisan races.
π Memos of Interest:
-- The City's 311 app and online portal are getting a makeover. The "Our Dallas" app will become the "Dallas 311" app and both the app and portal will have Spanish translation, a redesign, and improved map functionality,
. The changes are expected by next month.
-- Check out all the latest City Hall memos
and
.
Meetings of Interest
It is a relatively light week at City Hall, with no committee meetings scheduled and just two briefings on the Wednesday City Council agenda.
Tuesday, October 31
π
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Board of Directors, 6 p.m., Board Room, 1401 Pacific Ave., Dallas
-- Watch the Halloween meeting live
.
Wednesday, November 1
π
Dallas City Council Briefing, 9 a.m., Council Chambers, 6th Floor, Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St.

-- City Council adoption of the Dallas Bike Plan (referenced above) has been delayed to early 2024,
. In September, City leaders said
.
-- The Dallas Love Field Voluntary Noise Program to minimize noise during certain overnight hours has not been reviewed and reauthorized by City Council since 1986. Staff is seeking direction on potential updates,
.
Thursday, November 2
β
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Board, 8:30 a.m., Board Room, DFW Airport HQ Building, 2400 Aviation Drive, DFW Airport
-- The mayors of Dallas and Fort Worth sit on this board. Review the meeting agenda in detail
.
πΊ
City Plan Commission, 9 a.m. briefing, 12:30 p.m. public hearing, Council Chambers, 6th Floor, Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St.
π
Dallas Park and Recreation Board, 10 a.m., 6FN Conference Room, Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St.
Saturday, November 4
π³
Community Bond Task Force (CBTF), 8 a.m., Council Briefing Room, 6ES, Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St.
-- The CBTF will look to finalize recommended line items in the $1.1 billion bond program. The recommendations are to be briefed to City Council on December 6.
Quote of the Week
D Magazine's Matt Goodman on legendary artist Robert Irwin, whose Portal Park Slice sculpture is part of Downtown's Carpenter Park. Irwin died last week at 95.
"We have an incredible piece of public art in our downtown, made by an artist who wanted us to really look at where we are. Thatβs something to celebrate, and to remember."
Did we miss anything? Do you have any questions? Just want to talk about meetings?
.
Were you forwarded this newsletter?
.
Have a great week.

Best,
Scott GoldsteinChief of External Affairs& Government Relations
Downtown Dallas, Inc.

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