Good evening:
Dallas feels more anxious than usual.
Anxious about the future of Downtown and Fair Park.
Anxious about how best to address public safety and homelessness.
Anxious about the future homes of the Mavericks, the Stars, AT&T — even City Hall itself.
Maybe I read too much of Dallas Morning News columnist Robert Wilonsky, who in recent days lamented a City crackdown on popular bars for the sin of charging a cover to pay bands for live performances. He followed that with a “dispiriting” piece about his fears for Downtown.
Where some see despair, others see opportunity.
Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has been engaged on all fronts, working to retain sports teams and corporate anchors, build her police force and a new police academy, and continue a years-long decline in homelessness.
But it is a lot to handle all at once — made more challenging by a City Council that often seems less than unified on the proper path forward.
All the uncertainty comes as we inch toward the start of the 2027 mayoral campaign season. We got a preview of who may be waiting in the wings when The News recently wrote about (quickly dispelled) rumors that Mayor Eric Johnson could be eyeing an early exit.
Regardless of what happens in the coming months, the next mayor’s race will likely be defined by these same heavy questions — about where the city is headed, and how to calm its growing anxieties.
A note to readers: Meetings of Interest is an independent newsletter curated and authored by Scott Goldstein and sponsored by Downtown Dallas, Inc. (DDI). The content, perspectives, or commentary presented herein reflect the views of the author alone and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of DDI or any other organization, institution, or individual, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Any affiliations are for identification purposes only and do not imply endorsement.
📖 Table of Contents
📰 Highlights From Last Week’s Meetings of Interest
Facing up to $345 million or more in needed repairs to Dallas City Hall, several council members appear open to moving to a new Downtown location. Most agree a more detailed cost-benefit analysis is needed before they decide what’s next. Read more from The Dallas Morning News.
A North Dallas homeowner tells The News he’s being treated unfairly by City Code officers who have cracked down on his flashy Halloween and Christmas displays. His and other “extraordinary neighborhood events” — as City Hall likes to call them — have prompted multiple briefings to City Council about potential City Code updates to address excessive traffic, noise, and lighting displays.
Dallas City Council members on Wednesday, Oct. 22, voted to:
Approve Item 3 authorizing the purchase of a $3.9 million Airbus H125 helicopter for the Dallas Police Department. DPD’s helicopter unit operates 20 hours per day and responds to nearly 4,000 calls every year.
Approve Item 16, a funding agreement with the Dallas Arts District Foundation and a $1.3 million construction services contract for a long-planned project to improve safety at the intersections at Pearl and Flora streets and Pearl Street and Ross Avenue in Downtown’s Arts District.
Approve Item 22, a $14.2 million boost in an existing street resurfacing contract to cover street maintenance and construction needed to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Approve Item 24 to allocate an additional $5.4 million to an existing contract with Downtown-based HKS Architects, Inc. for “additional programming, architectural and engineering design, and construction and administration services” for the planned Dallas Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center at the University of North Texas at Dallas. Read more about the increased scope.
Approve Item 25 for the issuance and sale of $252 million in general obligation bonds approved by voters in the 2024 Bond Program.
Approve Item 40, a DDI-supported $103 million incentive agreement for a Bank of America Plaza redo being led by developers Mike Ablon and Mike Hoque. Their planned $409 million project would transform Downtown’s tallest tower into a mixed-use building with an estimated 280 new hotel rooms, hotel amenity space, a new parking garage, and an elevated pedestrian walkway from said garage to the building. Learn more from WFAA.
Approve Item 42 authorizing an annual $8.7 million payment to Dallas County for the City to continue sending prisoners to the Lew Sterrett Criminal Justice Center. This item was previously delayed for further discussion at a City Council committee, which happened earlier this month. The committee members want additional performance measures built into future jail contracts.
Approve Item 48, a “no thank you” to Oncor’s proposed electricity rate increase, which would translate to about a $95 increase for the year for an average residential bill using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity. This memo explains more on the process and why Dallas and other cities are fighting the proposed increase.
Close Public Hearing 5 and approve an expansion of the Downtown Connection Sub-District of the Downtown Connection Tax Increment Financing District. The district boundary change was required for the previously noted (Item 40) funding plan for the Bank of America Plaza redevelopment project.
Presented by Downtown Dallas, Inc.
More Dallas police officers are patrolling Downtown Dallas than ever before. Crime and quality of life infractions are down, enforcement is up, homeless encampments are closed, and our response system is stronger than ever. Safe in the City is a public-private partnership that is delivering results… Right Here. Right Now. Learn more at safedowntowndallas.com.
📝 Memos of Interest
Regional public safety agencies will be responding to simulations of major emergency incidents over the next three days, including tomorrow at the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) UNT Dallas Station. The exercises are being done in preparation for major events, including next summer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup. Read more.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) responds by memo to City Council members’ questions about operations and leadership, one year after the nonprofit was accused of unfair labor practices. City Council members last year denied an annual funding allocation amid the allegations, but will soon consider restoring funding for the current fiscal year. DBDT’s response includes updates on a board shakeup and CEO succession plan. Longtime Executive Director Zenetta Drew announced her planned retirement last month.
Here’s the complete City Manager memo packet for Friday, October 24, 2025.
🔢 Number of Interest
$115,881,690
The total budgeted cost for 53 approved City of Dallas Information Technology projects in the pipeline for 26 different departments. Read more in this memo.
🤝 Meetings of Interest: October 27 - 31, 2025
Tuesday, October 28
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Committee-of-the-Whole, 12 p.m., DART Conference Room C - 1st Floor, DART HQ, 1401 Pacific Ave., Dallas, TX 75202
Board members are being asked to approve a six-month extension of a DART partnership with Parkland Health. The DART Cares program teams licensed social workers with DART police officers to connect people experiencing homelessness and mental health conditions with services. The agency is planning to issue a Request for Proposals to make the program permanent. Read more. This item is expected to be voted on at the evening board meeting.
DART Board of Directors, 6 p.m., Board Room, DART HQ, 1401 Pacific Ave., Dallas, TX 75202
Trinity Railway Express (TRE) train cars will be getting upgrades ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, if approved by board members. Read more about the proposed improvements for seat cushions and speakers.
Board members will also vote on a new slate of officers. Vice Chair Randall Bryant is expected to be voted in as the new chair for a two-year term. He would replace outgoing Chair Gary A. Slagel.
🗣️ Quote of Interest
In 10 years, downtown will be a different place with a new Dallas College, a new convention center and, hopefully, pro sports teams. Downtown is worth investing in.
Did I miss anything? Do you have any questions? Just want to talk about meetings and memos and other fun stuff? Hit me up.
Were you forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here.
Have a great week.
Best,
Scott Goldstein
Publisher
Meetings of Interest
