CandysDirt.com Picks Top Stories From Dallas City Hall in 2023
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Oh, what a year. The past 12 months brought changes in leadership, increased cybersecurity, disputes over the city budget and property tax rate, and the emergence of neighbors who showed strength and hope the way Dallasites do.
Here are the top stories out of Dallas City Hall for 2023, in no particular order.
Dallas City Council Says No to Neighborhood Short-Term Rentals
A years-long struggle between neighbors and short-term rental operators finally came to a head in June when the Dallas City Council, in a 12-3 vote, opted to prohibit STRs in residential neighborhoods.
The Dallas Short Term Rental Alliance sued the city and later won an injunction that would prohibit the city from enforcing codes against illegal STRs while the matter is tied up in court.
Dallas officials have said they are determining whether to appeal the judge’s ruling.
Top Housing, Planning Officials Resign From Leadership Positions
Director of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization David Noguera, Planning and Urban Design Director Julia Ryan, and Assistant Housing Director Kyle Hines left the city in 2023.
The departures came in the midst of a development code overhaul, an update of the ForwardDallas comprehensive land use plan, the implementation of Dallas Housing Policy 2033, and the impetus of numerous Public Facility Corporation projects.
Hines was the original point person for the PFC board when it was formed. He left Dallas in mid-2023 to become the first housing trust fund manager for Oakland County, Mich. Albert Gonzalez is now the staff liaison for PFC projects.
Noguera left in September for a job with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Miami. Cynthia Rogers-Ellickson is serving as interim director.
In a brief farewell speech at City Hall, Noguera pleaded with city staff to “continue to support the housing needs of those who call Dallas home.”
Ryan also departed in September to become a transportation planner in the private sector in Arkansas. Andrea Gilles is serving as interim director.
Hackers Shut Down Dallas Central Appraisal District, Compromise City Servers
First, the hackers got to the Dallas Central Appraisal District, shutting down operations for more than two months as the deadline for tax bills loomed. After initially remaining tight-lipped about the hack, DCAD ultimately revealed it paid $170,000 to Royal Ransomware.
Although the hack occurred in late 2022, the effects lingered well into 2023.
Then on a May morning during a Dallas City Council meeting, the livestream went dark. City websites couldn’t be accessed. For several days, residents couldn’t make a non-emergency police call or even pull a permit for a garage sale.
The same Royal hackers accessed the personal data of more than 30,000 Dallas residents and employees.
While Chief Information Officer Bill Zielinski touted the city’s swift response, Dallas also paid a pretty penny to protect against future attacks, securing almost $10 million for cybersecurity in the 2024 budget.
Elm Thicket/Northpark Still Reeling From Year-Old Zoning Battle
Residents of Elm Thicket/Northpark fought City Hall over zoning changes in 2022 and got what they wanted, but the neighborhood hasn’t fully healed.
Due to grandfathering, some large structures are still being built next to smaller legacy homes. Real estate investors call daily trying to push people out of their homes, offering a fraction of what the homes are worth.
The neighbors in Elm Thicket/Northpark are feisty, and many of them live near their relatives. They’re not going anywhere.
And while they’re not thrilled about developers like Lou Olerio — who they say is gentrifying their neighborhood — setting up shop, they’ve proven they won’t run from a fight.
Streets, Parks, And Housing Dollars Debated in 2024 Bond Package
There’s no doubt the 2024 bond will still be closely followed in real time as we head into the new year.
Dallas City Council members tapped a 90-person task force to make recommendations on how to allocate $1.1 billion in bond funds that will go before voters in 2024.
Mayor Eric Johnson missed a December meeting, and City Manager T.C. Broadnax recommended that the council use staff recommendations — which allocated less for parks and more for streets than the task force suggested — as a baseline when preparing the ballot.
Mayor Johnson swiftly addressed that matter and said the task force’s recommendations would instead be considered as a starting point. It remains to be seen what the final ballot will look like, but council members say all the projects they considered are worthy.
Lakewood Conservation District Expansion Still Isn’t Done
Lakewood neighbors organized more than a year ago to expand the conservation district that would have protected historic homes like the one at 7226 Lakewood Blvd.
The plan drew opposition from some Tokalon Drive residents who said the expanded conservation district infringes on their property rights. A draft ordinance still hasn’t reached the finish line.
To make matters worse, a historic Clifford D. Hutsell-designed home that would have been protected was instead demolished Nov. 15.
Summer Loveland, who organized the effort to expand the conservation district, said she expects a draft ordinance in January.
Mayor Johnson Pleads For Lower Tax Rate
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson gave a heartfelt speech in a September City Council meeting begging fellow elected officials to provide some property tax relief.
While the council ultimately adopted a massive $4.6 billion budget and a lowered tax rate of 73.57 cents per $100 assessed valuation, the vote wasn’t unanimous, as Johnson and others have expressed concern that Dallas is becoming an unaffordable place to live.
City Attorney Retires Amid Poker Room Debacle
Dallas City Attorney Chris Caso retired in February amidst a dustup over poker rooms.
Caso advised the council in 2019 to issue certificates of occupancy for gambling facilities and later reversed his decision, suggesting that state law was misinterpreted and COs were issued illegally.
Lawsuits were filed and the city spent more than half a million dollars on attorneys’ fees in an attempt to settle the disputes.
Tammy Palomino served in the interim and was hired as city attorney earlier this year.
Love Field Neighbors Fight For Their Right to a Good Night’s Sleep
While the tale of the noisy Love Field runways is still developing, it might one day be a success story of how neighbors worked with the city-owned airport to reach compromises and quiet an issue that’s been a nuisance for far too long.
Some say the residents who live near Love Field chose to move near an airport. Fair enough, but the residents have a point: pilots aren’t complying with a Voluntary Noise Program suggesting no flights should take off or arrive from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
A Citizens Action Committee began working alongside the city’s Aviation Department and has presented more than a dozen recommendations to the Environmental Advisory Commission and City Council. The Federal Aviation Administration regulates matters that are out of the control of local governing bodies, but it appears some change could be coming.
