City of Dallas, City Secretary's Office

City Secretary
Rosa A. Rios

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Question Topics:

City Council Meetings
City History
Elections
Boards
Ethics
Other

Questions about City Council Meetings:

When are City Council meetings held?

Information about when City Council meetings are held is included in the City Council Rules of Procedures, available here.

How do I sign up to speak at the next Council meeting?

A person wishing to address the City Council must first register with the City Secretary and provide the following information: name, residence address, daytime telephone number, the subject matter to be presented, and whether the subject is on the current City Council meeting agenda. A person may register either in person or by telephone. The earliest a person may register for an upcoming City Council meeting is the beginning of the next regular business day following the previous City Council meeting. The deadline for registering to address the council is 9:00 a.m. of the day of the meeting. See also these revisions to City Secretary procedures for registering to speak.

Are there any guidelines or rules that I must follow if I want to speak at the next Council meeting?

Yes, these rules are included in the City Council approved Rules of Procedures. See also these revisions to City Secretary procedures for registering to speak.

Do I have to be a resident of the City of Dallas to speak at a City Council meeting?

No, you do not have to be a resident of the City of Dallas to speak at a City Council meeting; however, preference is given to residents. More information about this is available in the City Council Rules of Procedures.

Who is responsible for preparing the agenda for City Council meetings?

The City Manager is responsible for preparing the agenda for City Council meetings.

When and where is a City Council meeting agenda posted?

In accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, city council meeting agenda is posted at a minimum of 72 hours prior to the start of the meeting, or in accordance with other provisions of the Act. The agenda is posted on the City's official bulletin board, outside city hall on the Canton Street side of the building, near the southwest corner. Photocopies can be picked up free in the City Secretary's Office in Room 5D South.

How can I obtain a paper copy of the agenda before the city council meeting?

Please review the above question regarding the posting of the agenda. Once an agenda is posted, a copy is available from the City Secretary's Office at (214) 670-3738, the information desk in the lobby of City Hall, or from the Council Agenda Coordinator at (214) 670-3685.

It is the City's normal practice to make the agenda of the regular voting meetings, which are usually the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, available on Monday, nine days before the meeting. There may be an addendum or change in the agenda up until the 72 hour posting deadline. This web site will usually make the agenda available for view on the Monday following posting.

How can I obtain a copy of the minutes of a City Council meeting?

Minutes of meetings since 1995 are available on the City Secretary's home page or available in hard copy or CD from the city secretary's office. Minutes of the most recent meeting generally are available 14 days after the meeting date, when they are approved by city council.

What are the charges for copies of minutes or other records of Council meetings?

The City Secretary's office provides copies according to state regulations on charges, including $0.10 per page, up to 50 pages; and $1.00 per CD; mailing charges, if applicable.

How do I obtain a copy of a City Council meeting audio tape recording, annotated agenda, resolution, ordinance, contract or other approved items of the City Council?

Hard copies are available from the City Secretary. Requests should be directed to (214) 670-3738. Records that are older than five years may be stored off-site and generally are available two business days after the request. Questions about charges or availability of CD audio recordings may be directed to (214) 670-3738.

How soon after the Council meeting is a resolution, ordinance, or other item available?

Approved items generally are available the Friday after the meeting. The web version of the agenda, with annotation of approvals, are updated the following week.

How can I find out about Council members' votes on agenda items?

The minutes of a Council meeting include the votes on each agenda item for that meeting. The minutes for the most recent meeting generally are available once approved by City Council. This approval is scheduled for the second meeting following the meeting date for the minutes. This may be as few as 14 days after the meeting, or longer if the minutes are not approved as scheduled, or if there are holidays or recesses. To learn the results of Council actions, check the updated version of the agenda on this web site which cso/includes annotations as to which items were approved, not approved, or deferred. This annotated agenda is displayed on the web a few days following the meeting. Minutes since 2005 are available from the City Secretary's web site.

Questions related to the history of the City of Dallas:

Where can I obtain information or research records related the history of the City of Dallas?

You may contact the City Archivist at (214) 670-5270 with questions related to the history of the City of Dallas. Go to our Archives page for a list of Guides to the Archives.

How many mayors have served the City of Dallas?

The The Honorable Mayor Mike Rawlings is the 59th mayor of the City.

How can I find out when a certain council member or mayor was elected?

We provide here a list of Mayors, City Managers, City Secretaries, City Attorneys and City Auditors. A great deal more information is online, and a set of Guides to the Archives are now online. You may contact the City Archivist at (214) 670-5270 for more information.

Questions about City elections:

How often are elections held?

General elections are held every two years. Special elections are held when necessary. More information about city elections is available under the Elections program. You may also wish to read about candidate requirements.

How many votes did my City Council member receive in the last election? Are precinct maps and/or precinct voting information available?

Phone Elections Manager Sonia Jones at (214) 670-5657 for information about district maps, votes cast or precinct information.

Are city council members required to file financial reports with the City?

Officeholders must file Financial Involvement Statements with the City Secretary. These statements are public records and are available for review in the City Secretary's office.

How can I obtain election return information for each City Council candidate, including the percentage of the votes received?

This information is available in the election canvass report and is available in the City Secretary's Office. Questions about the report or requests for copies may be directed to Elections Manager Sonia Jones at (214) 670-5657.

Where can I obtain information about absentee and/or regular voting locations for city elections?

You may contact Elections Manager Sonia Jones at (214) 670-5657. Additional information is provided concerning voting locations and early voting times prior to each election.

How do I get more information about elections?

You may contact Elections Manager Sonia Jones at (214) 670-5657.

Questions about City Council appointed boards and commissions:

How many city council appointed boards and commissions exist and how can I find out what they are?

There are 56 city council appointed boards and commissions, listed here.

Who is appointed to what board and by which council member?

You may call the Boards & Commissions Division of the City Secretary's Office at (214) 670-3067 to obtain information on specific board members or to obtain a list of all board members. This information can also be found on the city secretary's home page.

What are the qualification requirements for City Council appointed board and commission members?

The qualifications are established in Chapter 8-1.4., the Dallas City Code. A copy of the code is available in the City Secretary's Office or at the Dallas Public Library. Requests for copies of the qualifications may be directed the City Secretary's Office at (214) 670-3738.

How do I get more information on boards and commissions?

You may contact the Boards & Commissions Division of the City Secretary's Office at (214) 670-3067.

Questions about the City Code of Ethics:

Disclaimer: No statement on this page replaces or interprets City code. Users may not rely on these FAQ answers as complete, detailed descriptions or interpretations of law or City code. The user must rely on the actual text of the City code, and may request an opinion from the City Attorney.

How do I contact the Ethics Advisory Board?

Your primary contact should usually be the staff coordinator, Sandra DuBose, in the City Secretary's Office, at (214) 670-3741. The public address information for all EAC members is available here.

How do I travel to City Hall to attend a meeting?

Detailed driving directions to City Hall are found on the City Secretary's web site here. These provide directions from main arteries, and includes three maps of city hall's location in the southern Central Business District.

Who must file an Annual Financial Disclosure Statement?

City Councilmembers and candidates, certain City employees, and members of certain specific boards and commissions on this list must file an Annual Financial Disclosure Statement.