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Council adopts rules change to add vacancy-filling procedure and emergency clause (Resolution 3546)
Summary
The City Council approved Resolution 3546 to amend the Council Rules of Procedure, adding electronic-device rules, a public-comment clarification and a formal procedure to fill council vacancies including an emergency option; vote was 8–0.
The Dallas City Council unanimously adopted Resolution 3546 on April 7 to amend the council’s Rules of Procedure. The changes add (1) a new section addressing electronic-device use during council meetings, (2) a clarification to public-comment rules requiring only that speakers state whether they live within Dallas city limits, and (3) a new procedure (Section 13) for filling a council vacancy.
City Recorder and staff explained the vacancy procedure includes recruitment, application and selection steps. Councilors requested an additional subsection to allow an alternative emergency process. The added subsection reads: “Notwithstanding the process above, in the event of an emergency as declared by the council, an alternate process may be used by the incumbent members of the council to fill a council vacancy or vacancies.” Council members approved inserting that emergency clause by a voice vote and then approved the resolution as amended in an 8–0 roll call.
Mayor Richard Slack told the council the rules change will be incorporated into city practice and that the council will follow the new process in filling the vacancy created by the resignation received April 3, 2025.
