The Dallas City Council met with the city attorney this week to talk about legal issues surrounding the results of this month's election.
Voters in Dallas approved measures removing criminal penalties for people with up to four ounces of marijuana, taking away the city's immunity from lawsuits and requiring 50% of new revenue to be added to the police and fire pension funds and the hiring of 900 additional police officers.
The city council heard from speakers who say they hope the results send a message.
"I was encouraged [Propositions] S and U passed overwhelmingly because of the support of voters who are finally cluing in to what is happening in the City of Dallas," one woman said.
Others said they worried closed sessions with the city attorney showed the Dallas City Council would try to circumvent the measures.
"I recently read an article written by a council member suggesting we couldn't afford to staff our police force without cutting funds from libraries and parks first," another woman said. "Certainly, there are plenty of other areas to reduce spending."
The Dallas City Council did vote 8-2 to repeal a measure passed in 1988 setting a goal of three police officers for every thousand residents. Members who voted in favor said the change only removes outdated language.
"This council has been adamantly focused on public safety. We heard our voters loud and clear and we’re going to get to work and do everything in our power to be in compliance and the things we need to do," Councilman Omar Narvaez said.
But during public comment, Pete Marocco, who led the group trying to pass three propositions, described the vote as an "impulsive response."
"The only thing that's going to come out of this is strictly a revenge motive that's going to create a huge mess for the Community Police Oversight Board and Dallas Police Department," he said. "There is no reason for the city council to be considering repealing this when, in fact, the only thing it's going to do is create more litigation and more problems within the police department."
Voters passed Proposition S, which allows residents to sue the City of Dallas if it does not follow local ordinances or charter amendments, 55-45 percent. Proposition T would have tied the city manager's performance to an annual survey of residents and failed 55-45 percent. Proposition U dedicates 50% of new revenue each year to the police and fire pension funds and requires the city to keep a police force of at least 4,000 officers, which means the city would need to add 900 additional officers. That measure passed 50.5% to 49.5%.
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