Mendelsohn Pledges to Support City Manager, Cites Concerns Over ‘Missed Management Opportunities’
Share News:
No one was surprised this week when the Dallas City Council hired Kimberly Bizor Tolbert as the city manager. She’s already been on the job as interim for 11 months and has an impressive decades-long career in Dallas under her belt. She was widely supported by city staff and local business leaders.
But there were a few red flags. There’s her $450,000 salary, making her one of the highest-paid city managers in Texas, and the $900,000 severance package Tolbert negotiated with a search committee led by Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins and Lake Highlands Councilmember Kathy Stewart.
Also raising eyebrows is the fact that Tolbert and just two other finalists — one from Fort Worth and one from Sacramento, Calif. — were the only options given to the council by executive search firm Baker Tilly. And finally, several “missed management opportunities” were highlighted in a candid speech from the horseshoe by Far North Dallas Councilmember Cara Mendelsohn.
Cara Mendelsohn’s Reasons for Voting Against the City Manager
Mendelsohn began her remarks on Wednesday by noting that the decision to select the city manager “is one of the most consequential choices we’ll make for Dallas’ future.”
“There’s enormous pressure from inside City Hall and external forces waging an inappropriate campaign,” she said. “My vote will be grounded in the hope that I have for Dallas’ future, a future that demands a new direction and a fresh perspective in our leadership. We need a City Hall that prioritizes the things that matter most: public safety, homelessness, street repair, and the significant economic challenges we face.
Our next city manager must not only address these pressing issues but also bring transparency and accountability to the table.”
Mendelsohn noted that the “true cost of deferred maintenance on city assets is not budgeted to restore and maintain buildings and infrastructure.” She spoke of a convention center less than 50 years old that was allowed to deteriorate to the point of needing demolition.
“We need management that ensures this doesn’t happen again,” Mendelsohn said. “I wonder why a building was purchased for Development Services that remains vacant. I question why it takes so much longer to issue permits in Dallas than in other cities, why our police staffing is so low, our response to homeless encampments ineffective, 40% of our traffic signals are older than me, that our road, alley, and sidewalk conditions are extremely poor throughout the city.”
Departments are in need of significant reform, modernization, and efficiency, the council member added.
“I consider why small projects like digital kiosks and city branding are prioritized over our city’s most urgent needs,” she said. “Suburbs around Dallas are thriving. They’re attracting residents and businesses with responsive, efficient, lower-cost government, safer neighborhoods, predictable land use, and superior roads and infrastructure.”
So why is CandysDirt.com giving Cara Mendelsohn so much ink?
Well, she made some points that our readers care about, like “key development opportunities that are languishing across our community, each with the enormous potential to be spectacular” including Fair Park, University Hills, Hensley Field, and Valley View Mall.
“The next city manager must embrace a new direction, bringing accountability to City Hall, a culture of ethical behavior and decisions, and ensure that we prioritize the issues that matter the most to our residents,” Mendelsohn said.
She closed by saying she knew her “nay” vote wouldn’t sway the majority. Only Mendelsohn and District 14 Councilmember Paul RIdley voted against Tolbert’s contract. However, Mendelsohn said she would back the new manager.
“I know my vote will be in the minority but I must share my perspective and concerns,” she said. “With that, I congratulate Ms. Tolbert and pledge to support her because it’s urgent that our city manager and our city succeed.”
Ridley’s Vote Against the City Manager Contract
Councilman Ridley’s comments were brief but it appeared he was voting against the contract and the “golden parachute” severance package rather than Tolbert the individual.
“I can’t in good conscience hold my thoughts and my concerns about the contract that the council has negotiated with the city manager, specifically the provision of a golden parachute of up to two years’ pay or $900,000 in the event of her termination,” Ridley said.
The council member, who represents portions of downtown, Uptown, and Oak Lawn, referenced an outcry after former City Manager T.C. Broadnax’s departure in February 2024. Broadnax took with him more than $400,000 or one year’s salary, when he departed.
“I cannot justify a $900,000 potential payout in the event of termination for any person who would be a candidate for this office,” Ridley said.
7 Comments
Leave a Comment
The severance agreement cannot be defended. There’s no performance incentive. Get ready for two years of the same “leadership” our great city has had. Missed opportunity by our Council.
KP, I agree! Dallas makes the same mistakes over and over and over. A 900k severance package, are you kidding me??? It a shame that the city doesn’t have 14 council members like Mendelsohn and Ridley!
How much is the city spending on DEI?
I’m with Cara Mendelsohn, Dallas is in need of new direction in leadership for all the exact reasons she listed in her rebuttal and Kim’s severance is exorbitant. We moved to Plano due to the homelessness and the overall decaying we were seeing in Dallas.
Thank you for articles that cut to the chase. I don’t understand how such gross overpayment and benefits can happen?
FYI. The President of the United States of America salary: $400,000. Her salary of $450,000 is completely ludicrous!!!! There needs to be a concerted outcry about this! The good people of Dallas need to speak out. Spread the word.
The dysfunction in city hall is on city council. As a group, they lack vision and have been unable to set priorities about the city we want Dallas to be. Currently we have no unifying voices, and that really hurts us.