Public commenters praise Black History displays, urge food-bank grant support; resident criticizes sewer rates; pool group donates

Several residents spoke during the Feb. 3 Dallas City Council public-comment period with topics ranging from a proposed food-bank facility to sewer-rate equity and support for the city—s aquatic center.

Liana Dieters, who identified herself as a Dallas resident of 25 years, thanked the council for applying for a federal grant to help the Dallas Food Bank locate and build a facility she described as "much needed to serve some of the most vulnerable people in our community." Dieters also thanked the city and library staff for Black History Month signage, saying those displays reinforce the city—s stated strategic values.

Robert Greenway, who gave his address during comments, criticized the city—s sewer-rate structure. He argued the city currently has two sewer-rate classes and said they should be consolidated into a single usage-based rate, contending the two-rate approach has disparate impacts on single residents and older households. At one point Greenway said, "You have 2 rates for the sewer. There should be 1. Otherwise, you're charging people."

Anne Hurd spoke on behalf of the Friends of the Dallas Aquatic Center. Hurd said the group has raised $178,648 since 2019 for pool repairs and operating support and presented a $5,000 donation at the meeting. She described lifeguards— rescues and thanked staff and volunteers, and said the group will continue supporting the pool.

The mayor and city staff listened during public comment but no formal council action on these public-comment topics was recorded at the meeting.