Council member Paula Blackmon, one of two council officials to accuse her colleagues of violating the Texas Open Meetings Act, asked Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot to investigate a Sept. 23 meeting where city officials received proposals to move The Bridge, a homeless service provider out of downtown Dallas to a facility at the Dallas Executive Airport.
Whether Creuzot will look into the case remains to be seen.
“Our office does not comment on matters that may or may not be under investigation,” Claire Crouch, a spokesperson for the DA’s office said.
Blackmon and council member Adam Bazaldua said four of the seven members of the Housing and Homelessness Solutions Committee — council members Cara Mendelsohn, Lorie Blair, Jesse Moreno and Zarin Gracey —created a quorum to conduct public business, and required public notification.
“The public has every right to expect decisions to be made openly, where they can take part in the policymaking process, and not behind closed doors on the fifth floor, especially on an issue as critical as homelessness,” Blackmon and Bazaldua said in a news release last week.
Political Points
In a video shared with The Dallas Morning News, Blackmon and Bazaldua are seen walking toward council member Mendelsohn’s office.
“We heard there was a quorum of the housing committee talking about housing right now,” Bazaldua said in the video after he knocked on the door.
“I don’t think there is,” Mendelsohn said.
“There’s not?” Bazaldua said.
“No,” Mendelsohn said.
“Four of seven?” Bazaldua responded.
Mendelsohn, who chairs the housing group, said in the video she didn’t realize that everyone invited was part of the committee.
Language in the Texas Open Meetings Act handbook indicates that a committee may not be covered by the open meetings law if it is not making final decisions that are often “rubber-stamped” by the City Council.
Bill Aleshire, an Austin-based open government expert, told The News that it is possible that the law may not be applicable to the committee if it is merely making recommendations and not approving policy.
The housing committee is tasked with exploring ways to reduce regulatory barriers to housing development, developing policies to address persistent housing and homelessness challenges, according to a memo as released by Mayor Eric Johnson, laying down committee assignments and policy priorities.
The recommendations often go to full the City Council for approval.
Last week, Mendelsohn told reporters that no deliberation, vote or agreement had taken place. “Councilmembers meet with third parties all the time,” Mendelsohn said.
“Mendelsohn must be confused about what constitutes a meeting,” he said. Citing state law, Aleshire said pitches from third parties with a group of council members present, if it involves city business, still means they’re receiving information from someone.
When reached earlier this week, Mendelsohn cited Aleshire’s opinion in The News’ story to say there were no violations. However, Aleshire, pushed back.
“I did not say that,” he said Tuesday, adding that it is still yet to be determined if the housing committee is merely advisory or decision-making in nature, and that would need more evidence.
Council member Zarin Gracey said he did not support moving The Bridge from downtown to his district. Documents given to him showed a plan to replace the downtown provider with a model that resembles San Antonio’s Haven for Hope, a plan that was supported by Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound.
The Bridge is located in downtown’s southern half, which is in the midst of a redevelopment plan anchored by a refurbished Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. Parking lots behind City Hall could also see new housing and businesses after the City Council handed a $96 million incentive package to developer Mike Hoque.
It is unclear if the housing committee will discuss the Dallas Executive Airport in the future. Mendelsohn did not directly questions related to it.
One of hotelier Monty Bennett’s associates, Mark Nunneley, who has spoken of homelessness downtown to council members as a public speaker, was also attending last week’s meeting with the council members. For Gracey, however, the tussle between council members boiled down to politics that did not take into considerations the will and needs of residents in southern Dallas.