Two Dallas City Council members have dropped a lawsuit over City Hall.<\/p>\n
Council Members Paula Blackmon and Adam Bazaldua filed for a temporary restraining order last month to stop movement on a City Hall vote.<\/p>\n
Dallas County Judge Eric Moye granted the temporary restraining order<\/a>. He said in his decision that there was evidence harm was “imminent” to the council members and the public if the court did not grant the TRO.<\/p>\n While the city removed agenda items from the special meeting that involved redevelopment work on the property, it still included an item related to approving a repair strategy. The City Council ultimately approved a motion to stop a repair strategy, in a divisive 9-6 vote.<\/p>\n Blackmon and Bazaldua alleged in court documents that Tolbert and City Secretary Bilierae Johnson violated the TRO by allowing the motion to be voted on.<\/p>\n However, attorneys for Tolbert and City Secretary Johnson have said in court documents that council direction to “explore options for the disposition of the City Hall site” was approved in March<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the time, Tolbert told the council that it was not the finish line \u2014 it allowed city staff to gather more information.<\/p>\n Now, city staff are expected to bring back leasing options for a new city hall by Aug. 26.<\/p>\n Tolbert was also given the green light to start the due diligence work<\/a> for no more than four property locations in the Central Business District. The $2 million budgeted for this work will come out of the General Fund Contingency Reserve Fund.<\/p>\n She is expected to bring back information related to agreement options in August. None of the preacquisition agreements will bind the city to anything.<\/p>\n Got a tip? Email Megan Cardona at\u00a0mcardona@kera.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n