STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Fiscally Sound
AGENDA DATE: September 17, 2025
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): N/A
DEPARTMENT: Budget and Management Services
EXECUTIVE: Jack Ireland
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SUBJECT
Title
An ordinance amending Sections 2-142, 2-143, 2-152.4, 2-175, 2-176, and 2-177 of Chapter 2, “Administration”; amending Sections 13-7, 13-9, 13-10, and 13-11 of Chapter 13, “Courts, Fines, and Imprisonments”; amending Sections 20A-24 and 20A-31 of Chapter 20A, “Fair Housing and Mixed Income Housing”; amending Section 51-4.217 of Chapter 51, “Dallas Development Code: Ordinance No. 10962, as amended”; amending Sections 51A-4.217, 51A-4.908, 51A-4.909, 51A-4.1002, and 51A-4.110 of Chapter 51A, “Dallas Development Code: Ordinance No. 19455, as amended”; (1) changing the name of the Department of Housing and Community Development to the Department of Housing and Community Empowerment; (2) changing the name of the Department of Dallas Municipal Court to the Department of Municipal Court and Detention Services; (3) transferring the Office of the City Marshal to the Department of Municipal Court and Detention Services; (4) providing a penalty not to exceed $2,000; (5) providing a saving clause; (6) providing a severability clause; and (7) providing an effective date. - Financing: No cost consideration to the City
Body
BACKGROUND
The FY 2025-26 proposed budget, consolidates divisions in the Office of Management Services known as Homeless Solutions, Equity & Inclusion, Community Care & Empowerment; and the housing services division of Housing & Community Development into the Housing and Community Empowerment Department. This reorganization creates a centralized structure that reduces confusion for both residents and developers who previously had to navigate multiple agencies.
Under the new framework, housing services for individuals and neighborhoods will remain within Housing and Community Empowerment Department, while services geared toward economic growth and development have been shifted to Economic Development. This clearer division of responsibilities is intended to improve efficiency, ensure more responsive budgeting, and strengthen accountability. City Council members have also emphasized that the new structure should support clearer updates and more effective tracking of progress.
The City of Dallas has realigned the Dallas Municipal Court and the Dallas Marshal’s Office under a new department, Municipal Court & Detention Services, to strengthen cohesion, efficiency, accountability, and public safety. This unified structure restores a model the Court and Marshals historically shared, creating more effective coordination. Under this transition, the Marshals will play a central role in maintaining courthouse and courtroom security, engaging with the public to enhance safety, enforcing municipal ordinances, administering misdemeanor Class C jail arraignments, and serving and executing court orders and warrants. The change represents a return to integrated operations, ensuring stronger justice administration and safety for Dallas residents and all city facilities, while reaffirming the City’s commitment to building a safer Dallas for everyone.
Certain functions within the division of Environmental Quality & Sustainability in the Office of Management Services have been reassigned to other departments to improve service delivery. The Water Conservation function has been transferred back to Dallas Water Utilities. The Stormwater Inspection and Enforcement function has been transferred to Stormwater Drainage Management. The Zero Waste function has been transferred to Sanitation Services. These changes restore a previous model.
The Community Courts function in the City Attorney’s office will be realigned to improve service delivery. The Social Services and Casework functions of the Community Courts will be transferred from the City Attorney’s Office to the Judiciary, allowing case management and support services to be more effectively integrated into the judicial system. In addition, the Community Service functions of Community Courts will be transferred from the City Attorney’s Office to Municipal Courts & Detention Services. This realignment will consolidate community service administration within the courts and ensure more consistent oversight and delivery.
The following functions will be transferred to other departments to enhance delivery service:
- Transfer a portion of the Office of Special Events and Nighttime Events within Convention and Event Services to the Office of Arts& Culture
- Transfer the Planning and Zoning Program from the Planning and Development General fund to the Planning and Development Enterprise fund (Building Inspection Fund)
- Transfer all maintenance support functions for all recreation centers from Facilities and Real Estate Management to Park and Recreation
- Transfer the Homeless Street Outreach Program in the Office of Homeless Solutions to the Dallas Street Response Program in the Office of Emergency Management & Crisis Response
- Transfer the Homeless Inclement Weather Shelter Program from the Office of Homeless Solution to the Office of Emergency Management & Crisis Response.
- Transfer Real Estate and Land bank functions from Housing & Community to Facilities and Real Estate Management
- Transfer the Animal Remains Collection program from Dallas Animal Services to Sanitation Services
The following functions will be eliminated from departments:
- Eliminate the Thanksgiving Square Pedestrian Concourse and Bullington Truck Terminal function from the Facilities and Real Estate Management department
- Eliminate the Homeless Action Response Tarm (HART) program from Municipal Court and the Dallas Marshals Office only (HART program remains in other departments)
- Discontinue the Short-Term Rental program from Code Compliance.
- Eliminate the Ethics Service within the City Manager's Office. This function resides fully within Human Resources.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
The City Council was briefed on the City Manager’s Proposed Budget on August 12, 2025.
On September 3, 2025, the City Council discussed budget amendments and passed a budget ordinance on the first reading by Resolution No. 25-1426.
FISCAL INFORMATION
No cost consideration to the City.