A once-in-a-decade chance to reshape Dallas government

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It’s a once-in-a-decade opportunity for Dallas residents.

Until tomorrow (Friday), Jan. 19 at 5 p.m., anyone can submit a proposed amendment to the Dallas city charter and potentially change the way our city is governed. Whatever suggestions the Charter Review Commission approves over the next several months will be brought before voters in the November election.

What is a city charter? We published this civic explainer to answer all your questions, and this quote from Jake Anderson in the City’s office of government affairs sums it up:

The charter is about “where the power is located, who has the ability to make those policies and to dictate the day-to-day operations.”

This opportunity to propose amendments, give feedback on the proposals and vote on the changes is a way to express your voice and exercise your power.

A few key things to note:

1. You don’t have to be a legal expert to propose a charter amendment. Anderson says residents can simply submit a general idea about how they think the city should be run. It’s an 8-question form, and the hardest question is naming the section of the charter you’re suggesting should change. (Hint: Pull up the charter and use command-F to search for related words.)
   
2. You can use the amendments already suggested as inspiration. The City is publishing proposals on its website, and the 67 suggestions as of Jan. 5 include everything from city council term lengths and limits, to how much power the mayor and city manager should have, to how the public should be notified of zoning changes, to what election candidates and officials should do with their leftover campaign finances. (It’s riveting. We highly suggest at least a skim.)
   
3. Thirty people will decide which amendments are put on the November ballot. Fifteen of those people are our elected city council members; the other 15 are their appointees to the Charter Review Commission. South Dallas’ commissioner is Stuart Campbell of Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center, appointed by District 7 Councilman Adam Bazaldua. Like what you see in the proposed amendments? Don’t like it? Let them know by emailing or signing up to speak at a charter review hearing.