January Update 2020

Candidate Filing Deadline

December 9, 2019 was the filing deadline for state and federal candidates seeking elected office in 2020. The primary election will be held on March 3, 2020. The general election will be on November 3, 2020.

At the federal level, five incumbent members of Congress in the AAGD service area will have primary opponents (Senator John Cornyn, Congressman Michael Burgess, Congressman Lance Gooden, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Congressman Marc Veasey).

At the state level, three incumbent state representatives in the AAGD service area will have primary opponents (Representative Dan Flynn, Representative Jared Patterson, Representative Michelle Beckley).

Mesquite Apartment Gate Policy

In November 2018, officials with the Mesquite Fire Department reached out to AAGD regarding potential changes to their apartment gate policy. Since that time, AAGD staff has worked with Mesquite fire officials and an AAGD member gate company to develop a policy that provides flexibility and a reduced cost for our members. As a result of our negotiations with the city, AAGD was able to increase the phase in period to four years instead of two, reduce the number of gates that will be impacted by the ordinance, and change the requirement for more expensive gate systems.

On November 21, 2019, the new apartment gate policy was adopted for all apartment communities in Mesquite with gates systems across fire lanes. The policy takes effect on January 1, 2020. All gate systems will need to be updated to the new requirements no later than January 1, 2024. AAGD staff will continue to work with the city and our Mesquite members and will provide updates as we get closer to the phase over date.

City of Dallas Parking Reduction

On November 21st, AAGD staff testified at the Dallas City Plan Commission (CPC) hearing on the proposed amendment to the city’s minimum parking requirements. The proposal would amend Chapter 51A of the Dallas City Code to allow for the reduction of one parking space to accommodate recycling containers in multifamily properties.

AAGD staff was successful in stopping the approval of the amendment at the hearing, where it was remanded back to the Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee for further discussion. In the meantime, AAGD staff is working closely with city staff to push for flexibility in the amendment to allow for multiple parking spaces to be used for recycling containers.

AAGD staff will present to the commission at the January ZOAC meeting.