A Dallas City Council committee recommended that the city manager move emergency operations out of Dallas City Hall and to a new government center “as quickly as possible”, and to pursue options for redeveloping the current City Hall site. The unanimous recommendation came after a seven-hour hearing of the city council’s finance committee, which included extensive questioning of the Dallas Economic Development Corporation and its report detailing a nearly $1 billion price tag to fix City Hall. The committee recommendation next moves to the full Dallas City Council for consideration. District 4 council member Maxie Johnson said the consideration before the city council is not about attachment to a building. “This is about fiscal responsibility, operational efficiency and long-term stewardship of taxpayers’ dollars,” Johnson said. “I am obligated to follow data, not emotions.” Council member Gay Donnell Willis says no matter what decision is made on whether to keep city government at the current city hall building or to find a new location, City Hall will not give up its public space. “We will always have a plaza that is open and welcoming,” Willis said. “It is where people express their rights, it is where we have food trucks and festivities. These things won’t go away, they’ll probably be better, whether it’s here or somewhere else.” The committee, which has 7 members, drew out the entire city council on Monday, except for Mayor Eric Johnson. District 7 council member Adam Bazaldua said even with the recent report detailing a myriad of issues with the 48-year-old, seven-story building, it doesn’t provide enough specificity to help the council make an informed policy decision. “Selling City Hall will not improve response times, it will not fill the potholes any faster, it will not make our neighborhoods any safer,” Bazaldua said. “We were elected to improve lives, not move buildings.” The city council’s economic development committee will take up the city hall report next Monday, which will include a public hearing portion allowing for comments. The full city council will be briefed on the city hall repair cost report on March 4. ...read more read less