The vote on the proposed bond program is expected to be held in May, but City Council has months left to approve a package for voters to give the final say on. The bond’s 15-member task force, which is designed to review and recommend projects to the city manager and City Council for the bond, received its first list of recommendations from five citizen subcommittees in late September.
The details
The task force subcommittees provided recommendations based on the five key areas included in the bond:
- Critical facilities
- Economic development, housing and homeless solutions
- Flood protection and storm drainage
- Parks and trails
- Streets and transportation
For economic development, housing and homeless solutions, the subcommittee recommended an allocation of about $275 million with $80 million for homeownership development, $40 million for affordable housing preservation and $29 million for permanent supportive housing.
The subcommittee for parks and trails recommended an allocation of nearly $400 million. The funding would be used for a variety of projects, such as Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, building and renovating playgrounds and recreation centers, and acquiring new land.
For streets and transportation, the subcommittee recommended about $675 million from the bond program. The committee requested about $30 million specifically for District 9, which includes Lakewood and part of Lake Highlands, and about $10.9 million for District 10, which includes most of Lake Highlands.
About $200 million was recommended for flood protection and storm drainage projects. The subcommittee requested $38.8 million for erosion control throughout the city, $91.7 million for upgrading and replacing existing storm drainage lines, and $69.5 million to prevent flooding and relieve properties that habitually flood.
In case you missed it
Dallas Park and Recreation Department officials are recommending the city allocate nearly $400 million for their department’s use. The funding would allow the department to develop and maintain parks and trails, acquire new land, build new aquatic centers, collaborate with other city departments, and more.
Dallas Animal Services staff want $114 million to build a new, larger facility. The facility, which could be double the size of the current animal shelter, would include more kennel space, play and flex areas, and parking, which would help support higher adoption rates from the shelter, staff said.
The Dallas Housing Coalition, a new group advocating for affordable housing, is asking the city to designate $200 million for affordable housing purposes. It recommends the funding be used for building and preserving affordable housing across the city.
What’s next
The community bond task force and its subcommittees will continue to refine their recommendations based partly on community feedback solicited throughout the last several months. Residents can attend the task force and subcommittee meetings scheduled through mid-November.
The task force is scheduled to deliver a final report and list of recommendations to City Council in December. City Council could choose whether to send the bond package to voters in January.
If voters approve the bond package, work on the projects would be completed over five years, according to the bond office’s website.
