This is not the Dallas skyline

Dallas, we have a problem.

Last month, People Newspapers reported that Dallas’ Special Administrative Committee met with representatives from the Baker Tilly Advisory Firm to discuss preparing a brochure that would introduce potential candidates for the new city manager to the Dallas market and outline the city’s expectations for the new hire.

Recruiting firm Baker Tilly was responsible for, among other things, creating a robust national candidate search engine and presenting a personalized brochure that potential employees could delve into to get a feel for Dallas. In May, the Dallas City Council agreed to pay Baker Tilly $134,000 for strategic marketing materials aimed at attracting highly qualified people to the city’s highest-paying jobs.

On Tuesday, Sept. 3, a Baker Tilly representative responded to a flurry of questions from residents and government officials when it was discovered that the pricey brochure depicted the wrong city. Instead of the iconic Dallas skyline, the brochure depicted the Houston skyline.

“The two most recognizable, iconic features of the Dallas skyline are the Reunion Tower and the Pegasus Building, and they need to be in the picture,” said Councilman Paul Ridley.

“I didn’t know it was Houston, but it’s a little disturbing,” Mendelsohn said when he learned the wrong city was on the cover of the project. “I wish they (Baker Tilly) would work exceptionally on our project.”

Baker Tilly representatives told the committee they would send a new version of the brochure by Wednesday, giving the committee time to review it before publishing it to candidates.

Mayor pro tempore Tennell Atkin has indicated that the city council’s goal is to hire a new city manager by the end of the year. Hopefully, consulting firm Baker Tilly can quickly pivot to offer a more accurate picture of the city for potential candidates to examine.