Mayor Johnson: Making Dallas more vibrant and more fun
The following was adapted from my email newsletter. To sign up, visit MayorofDallas.org.
Dallas should always endeavor to be a city where entrepreneurs and small businesses can thrive.
And this city — already a great place to live, work, and play — should also strive to be even more vibrant and more fun.
Those are major reasons why I asked the Quality of Life, Arts, and Culture Committee last year to prioritize easing regulations on mobile food operators in Dallas.
Dallas is a great food city. But for far too long, the city government’s regulations and fees on food trucks and trailers were overly restrictive and burdensome, limiting operations and pricing out potential operators. The effect of that posture has been clear: you really only see food trucks in public on a regular basis in Dallas around Klyde Warren Park.
If you spend some time in other cities that are known for their food culture — including Austin, where street food is far more common — it is obvious that Dallas has been missing out.
That is going to change. Last week, the Dallas City Council voted unanimously on a new ordinance that eases the restrictions and will make mobile food service easier, more plentiful, and more equitable — without sacrificing food safety. In addition, the city will run pilot programs at Kiest Park and Pacific Plaza that will encourage even more food truck service.
Quality of Life, Arts, and Culture Committee Chairman Adam Bazaldua helped guide the new ordinance to fruition, and the committee members worked hard to ensure the new city regulations made sense for everyone.
The changes should be noticeable in the months ahead. As D Magazine’s dining critic recently said, “this law has effectively legalized street food. Truly historic.”
Bon Appetit, Dallas!
Historic investments
The Dallas City Council also took another major step forward last week with a 14–1 vote to move ahead with a process that would boost Fair Park and revitalize the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center and its surrounding area. (At my request, Ambassador Hutchison herself came to speak on the item).
The vote allowed the city government to proceed with creating a new revenue stream for Fair Park and the convention center.
And the vote marked another win for a top priority in my agenda this year.
Here are a few important things to know about the City Council’s decision:
- Your taxes won’t go up. The funds would come from a 2% increase in the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT), which applies to hotel rooms and rental cars. In essence, this is a tax on visitors in the city. It’s the same way the city paid for the American Airlines Center (go Mavs and Stars!), which was paid off more than 15 years early.
- The money can’t be used to pay for public safety. It can’t be used for streets or infrastructure or tax relief or anything of the sort either. State law allows the use of this money only for certain purposes that help drive tourism. Hence Fair Park and the convention center.
- Fair Park will get 20% of the revenue. And the City Council is rightly insisting that Fair Park receives the full 20%, which is the maximum allowed by state law. That figures to be in the $200-$300 million range of funds for the crown jewel of South Dallas. That’s huge. Fair Park has been historically neglected for years. This new money would pay to renovate and repair the Music Hall, the Band Shell, the Cotton Bowl, the Automobile Building, and Centennial Hall.
- Revitalizing the convention center could spur development downtown and into southern Dallas. Developable land in a relatively dormant section of downtown would be opened up through a revitalized convention center that stretches into the Cedars. And Fair Park’s renaissance would mean a stronger southern Dallas. That means a growing tax base, which would reduce the tax burden on folks like you for critical services such as public safety.
- This means jobs. Tens of thousands of jobs would be created by these projects. That means economic growth for the city in the years to come.
- You would get the final say. The Dallas City Council’s vote on the item allows for another vote down the road that will put the HOT increase on the ballot. So, this issue would be in your hands in the November election, assuming the City Council proceeds.
In other words, there are plenty of reasons why the item passed nearly unanimously.
The Dallas City Council must continue to be prudent about this process and about how this money ultimately will be spent, but this is an opportunity to make historic investments in two tremendous assets for the city.
Growing international relationships
During the official visit to Mexico in late March, I invited Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia to come to Dallas.
Less than a month later, the governor visited Dallas City Hall to address the Dallas City Council and to speak to the media about how the city could grow its economic relationship with the state.
This budding relationship will pay dividends for Dallas economically and culturally. Both sides are now at work on agreements to boost bilateral commerce.
To symbolize the importance of this relationship and to show that the door to Dallas is always open to international trade and tourism, I presented Governor Garcia with a Key to the City.
This was another example of how Dallas continues to grow its international stature. Visits such as Governor Garcia’s are important to building a stronger city in the years to come.
Entrepreneurs in training
Finally, to circle back a bit to entrepreneurs in the food-and-beverage space, check out William and George’s foray into the lemonade business:
Love these boys!
It is imperative to continue working together to ensure that all the children of this city grow up in a Dallas that fosters and rewards their hard work and entrepreneurial spirit.
That’s all for today. Take care of yourselves and have a great week!
