City Hall

City Hall Roundup: Charter Review Commission Submits 35 Amendments That Could Mean Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems

By April Towery / May 12, 2024 /

Dallas voters could decide this November whether to double council member salaries to $125,000 per year, require that the Community Police Oversight director and Inspector General be appointed by the City Council, and delete the provision prohibiting the City Council from “interfering” with appointees and subordinates of the city manager. In all, the council is…

Kentucky-Based Urban Planner Emily Liu Joins Dallas Senior Staff as Director of Planning And Urban Design

By April Towery / May 8, 2024 /

Just in time for the update of the City’s controversial comprehensive land use plan, Dallas has a new director of planning and urban design. Emily Liu, who most recently served as director of Louisville, Ky.’s Metro Planning and Design Services, will start her new job May 20, city officials announced Tuesday.  Andrea Gilles, who has…

More Details Emerge About Lack of Code Compliance at City-Owned Stemmons Freeway Building

By April Towery / May 7, 2024 /

Last week’s meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on General Investigating and Ethics proved that District 12 Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn is not suffering fools. That somebody messed up by allowing employees to work for four months in a building that didn’t have permits and wasn’t up to code is an accusation she takes seriously.  As…

Housing and Urban Development Budget Review Prompts Debate Over Childcare, Community Courts 

By April Towery / May 7, 2024 /

A plan to distribute $31 million annually over five years to Dallas-based U.S. Housing and Urban Development grant programs is slated for adoption in June and implementation in October — but Dallas City Council members don’t agree on how to distribute the funds.  The Dallas City Council reviewed the plan in February and revisited it…

Planning Director Says ForwardDallas Land Use Plan Won’t Be Ready For Council Review Until Fall

By April Towery / May 6, 2024 /

In a new development that is surprising to no one, city officials said Thursday that the ForwardDallas comprehensive land use plan won’t go to City Council for approval until after the panel returns from a July recess.  City Plan Commissioners determined last week that they want to hold a day-long public workshop beginning at 9…