The fallout from last week’s special-called City Council meeting on the fate of Dallas City Hall appears poised to intensify as questions about transparency continue following recent media reports on city communications related to potential relocation sites.
As previously reported by CandysDirt.com, the often-tense marathon meeting resulted in a resolution directing City Manager Kimberly Tolbert to explore — rather than pursue — City Hall relocation options and model alternative expense scenarios for the repair of 1500 Marilla St.
Questions About Site Tours
One aspect we didn’t explore extensively in our previous reporting was the concern raised by some council members opposed to relocating City Hall that discussions about alternative sites may have occurred outside the view of the full council. That issue resurfaced this week after internal emails discussed plans to invite a few council members to tour potential relocation sites.
During last Wednesday’s late-night meeting, Bazaldua asked city consultant Peter Jansen, executive vice president and southwest regional manager for the commercial real estate firm CBRE, whether council members had been taken on tours of potential relocation sites.
Jansen declined to answer the question, saying it was his opinion that revealing information such as the number of site visits could compromise the city’s future negotiating position if the city ultimately moves from 1500 Marilla St…