Dallas staff preview omnibus code cleanup, say package will remove outdated and preempted rules

City staff told the Dallas Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee on May 19 that a planned omnibus ordinance will amend, repeal or clarify more than 30 chapters of the municipal code to remove outdated, duplicative or legally preempted provisions.

The briefing, led by Liz City Opereira, assistant city manager, and Luis Loya of the city manager’s office, described a “100-day sprint” goal from the city manager to sweep legacy rules and align the code with current state and federal law. “The code spans decades of ordinances, some outdated, some unenforceable,” Opereira said. “Some state laws and federal laws have changed, preempting our local regulations in several areas.”

City staff said the omnibus ordinance will target provisions that are duplicative, preempted, outdated or unenforceable and will preserve core city authority while clarifying duties and enforcement. “It’s a single ordinance updating, repealing, or clarifying sections across 30 plus chapters,” Loya said. He cited examples staff propose to remove in whole or part: Chapter 13A (Dallas transit system rules predating DART), Chapter 39 (railroad regulations now federally…