Hours before his office released the City of Dallas’ $3.8 billion 2019-20 proposed budget, City Manager T.C. Broadnax participated in a wide-ranging conversation with our members on August 8 as part of our PAC and Public Policy Committee’s TREC Talks series.
LEARN MORE: City of Dallas 2019-20 Proposed Budget
Broadnax, whose career in local government has spanned more than 25 years, said he feels as optimistic as ever about the city’s direction and thanked TREC and its members for support on a number of key building issues facing City Hall.
Here are three things we learned during his TREC Talks chat:
A New Dawn at City Hall
The recent municipal elections resulted in new Mayor Eric Johnson and six freshman City Council members. Broadnax said he was excited to work alongside the city’s new leaders in hopes they remain focused and united, rather than splitting into the competing factions that complicated the work of past councils. With new faces at City Hall, Broadnax said he anticipates a much more cordial council and improved working relationships.
CHODO Support an Ongoing Issue
Community Housing Development Organizations (CHODOs) help create publicly subsidized housing options for neighborhoods in need. Due to stringent federal regulations, Dallas has a limited number of CHODOs, further complicating the city’s affordable housing needs. Though Broadnax said the city’s first-ever Comprehensive Housing Policy addresses this issue, he noted the policy is a “living document” in need of constant adjustment and oversight.
A Long-Term Plan to Prioritize forwardDallas!
Since its adoption in 2006, the forwardDallas! initiative has sought to identify long-term citywide planning and development initiatives to ensure Dallas has neighborhoods with character, safe parks, bustling transit centers, a thriving urban downtown area, and excellent employment opportunities. Broadnax said ongoing maintenance of that plan, which has been amended several times in its brief history, is the best way to leave a positive lasting mark on the city, so that developers and investors may understand how areas of Dallas are expected to evolve over time and can plan for functional growth patterns.
Three Things We Learned During Our TREC Talk With Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax
