Dallas City Council Meeting - June 3, 2026

The Dallas City Council met on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, from 9:27 a.m. to 7:59 p.m., with a lunch recess from approximately 11:30 a.m. to 1:17 p.m. The meeting included public comments, a detailed briefing on FIFA World Cup 2026 preparations, and a comprehensive briefing on the costs and phasing options for repairing City Hall. No binding votes were taken on the repair options; the council heard expert testimony and will consider next steps.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Carol Bell Walton expressed support for the Valley View development but criticized the city council for losing the Dallas Stars and the lack of transparency, and opposed bypassing required RFPs. She also voiced concerns about the environmental impact of debris trucks on pavement and air quality.
• Sana Saeed (President, Farmers Market Stakeholders Association) decried the departures of the Mavericks, Stars, Neiman Marcus, Fox 4, and AT&T under this council's watch. She urged the council to connect downtown to Southern Dallas for economic opportunity and to act quickly to save the Mavericks downtown.
• John Wiley Price (Dallas County Commissioner) provided historical context on downtown growth, stating that the West End grew from $1 billion to $5 billion in value over 25 years, and compared downtown Dallas (1.4 sq mi, 15,000-16,000 residents) to Fort Worth (0.8 sq mi, 3,000-5,000) and San Diego (5 sq mi, 35,000-40,000). He argued the council has done well in fostering downtown growth.
• Joanna Hampton urged the council to focus on critical repairs at City Hall rather than a luxury renovation, and called for a downtown planning effort that includes Southern Dallas, leveraging the I-30 reconfiguration and Valley View/Redbird TIFF.
• Kenny Brown (Kinesha) supported Lala Johnson and Tina Fest, requesting the city designate July 3rd as Tina Turner Day and provide production support for a free event, citing Tina Turner's historic reinvention in Dallas.
• Sidney Walker expressed anger that the Mavericks are leaving downtown and demanded that the 20% of the HOT tax voted in November 2022 (up to $325 million) be directed to Fair Park as promised, not diverted. He warned against selling City Hall to fund Fair Park.
• Sam Williams (District 9) supported preserving City Hall, arguing that a lease line item would strain the budget, and urged investment in surrounding vacant lots rather than bailing out development interests.
• Jim Anderson (former city planner, 26 years) urged the council to focus on critical repairs (water infiltration, generators, roof) rather than upgrades, and stated that civic architecture should symbolize democratic transparency.
• Stephanie Drinka (Executive Director, Dallas Asian American Historical Society) spoke about architect I.M. Pei's vision for City Hall as a 'people's city hall' and urged the council to preserve it.
• Miriam Sharma (mother, nurse, community safety advocate) invited recognition of Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 5, 2026, noting that firearm injuries are the leading cause of death for children and teens in Texas and that 58% of gun deaths are suicides.
• Emir Pepik complained about inadequate police response to his stolen vehicle (3 months ago) and accused the city of protecting criminals and human trafficking.
• Jedidiah Ulrich opposed selling City Hall, arguing it is an anchor for the city and should not be turned into an amusement park, and opposed sports franchises leaching from the city.
• Sean Buckley (downtown resident, equity partner at a law firm) urged the council to take action to prevent downtown collapse, citing the loss of the Mavericks and Stars as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to relocate City Hall to a modern tower.
• Ariana Smith (downtown resident) expressed disappointment that promised businesses never opened and many have closed, and asked the council to create a revitalization plan for downtown now that the Mavs and Stars are leaving.
• Ifani Umeiji (entrepreneur, downtown resident) expressed disappointment that the Mavericks are leaving downtown, calling it a missed opportunity to drive economic growth and connect downtown to Southern Dallas.
• Brenda Gurumorthy (high school math teacher, co-chair DSA) argued that City Hall should be preserved for its historic value and as a site for First Amendment rights, and that surface parking lots and the I-30 gash offer redevelopment opportunities without tearing down City Hall.
• Mohammed Abdullah (Imam, oldest mosque in North Texas) criticized the lack of transparency and the city's approach to homelessness, calling for unity and a bigger vision beyond politics.
• Ronnie Mestis (West Dallas resident) urged reconsideration of plans to leave City Hall, warned about unintended consequences from redevelopment, and noted a lack of transparency.
• Alexander Stein (Alex Stein) criticized the mayor personally, blaming him for losing the Stars and Mavericks, and accused him of poor judgment.
• Cookie Pedon empathized with call center staff working conditions (citing her experience after a 1994 American Airlines crash) and noted the austere conditions in the City Hall call center.
• Cynthia Michaels (speaking for herself and Heritage Oak Cliff) thanked the six council members who paused the City Hall move process, questioned why repair costs doubled compared to earlier quotes, and noted that Zayetta Rosario's independent repair estimate was under $100 million over 10 years, contrasting with the $600 million phase 2 report. She also noted six major companies leaving downtown in the last 8 months.

Discussion Items

FIFA World Cup 2026 Briefing

• City Manager Kimberly Tolbert opened the briefing, noting it covers the city's ongoing planning and coordination for the World Cup, which involves multiple city departments and regional partners.
• Rosa Fleming (Director, Convention and Event Services) recognized staff contributions and introduced the team.
• Monica Paul (Sports Commission/Visit Dallas) provided an overview:
  • Match schedule: June 14 to July 14 (9 matches, including a semifinal). Ticket sales are strong; international ticket purchasers range from 45% to 56% for group stage matches.
  • Transportation: TRE from Victory Station to Centerport, then free shuttle buses to AT&T Stadium. DART will provide backup direct buses.
  • Fan Festival at Fair Park: June 11 – July 19 (34 of 39 days), free but requires ticket registration; capacity 35,000 at one time. Three concerts with $26 tickets.
  • Hotel and air travel data: Hotel bookings in Dallas city limits pacing 24% ahead for June, 56% for July. Short-term rentals up 40% (June), 28% (July). International flight bookings into DFW and Love Field up 78% over last year.
  • International Broadcast Center (IBC) at convention center: already 2,000 broadcasters present, total expected 2,000-3,000.
  • Legacy: Four mini-pitches in underserved Dallas areas; North Texas Business Connect program registered over 2,300 businesses (683 in Dallas).
• Travis Houston (Deputy Director, Emergency Management) outlined the regional public safety organization, including four standing objectives: protect life, sustain situational awareness, preserve continuity of city services, enable rapid consequence management.
• Assistant Chief Paco (Dallas Fire Rescue) described enhanced heat safety protocols, CBRN detection capabilities, proactive venue inspections since July 2025, and strengthened mass casualty response.
• Arnold (Department of Aviation) reported that Dallas Love Field expects sustained FIFA-related aviation pressure with three high-risk windows. Dallas Executive Airport will serve as overflow.
• Charlie Salazar (Deputy Director, Transportation and Public Works): Since April 2026, the 'Dallas Ready' program closed nearly 1,700 service requests, including 395 code compliance cleanings, 87 encampment cleanings, 71 graffiti removals, 23 pothole repairs, and 22 traffic sign repairs. Enhanced pavement, sidewalks, traffic signals, and wayfinding.
• Jacqueline Justice (Assistant Director, Special Events) listed planned fan and pedestrian activations: Croatia parade (June 16), Japan event at Harwood Park (June 24), Open Streets on Main Street (June 20, 27, July 4, 11), America's Block Party (July 4), and nightly light shows on the UNT Law Building (July 4-24).
• Councilmember questions focused on wayfinding, volunteer hospitality, public safety staffing levels, and inclusivity for residents who cannot afford tickets. City staff confirmed that all relevant costs are being tracked for state reimbursement.

City Hall Repair Program Briefing

• City Manager Tolbert introduced the second phase of the process directed by council on March 4, 2026 (Resolution 26-0499), which required a repair and replacement program prioritizing critical needs with at least two phased repair options over 10 years.
• Gresham Smith (Jen Murphy, Chris Kuhn, Dustin Yates, Tanyan Farley) presented two scenarios:
  • Scenario A (construction efficiency): 3 phases over ~6.4 years, prioritizing highest-risk items (generators, roof, expansion joints). Peak swing space needed: 193,000 sq ft. Planning-level estimate: $531.6 million (corrective repairs with code triggers).
  • Scenario B (operational flexibility): 5 phases over ~10 years, smaller disruptions. Peak swing space: 132,000 sq ft. Estimate: $556.8 million.
  • Both estimates include 4.5% annual escalation from 2029, ADA/TAS upgrades, fire and life safety upgrades (sprinklers, smoke evacuation, stair pressurization), asbestos abatement, and triggered items. Excluded: modernization, furniture, technology.
  • Risk-based prioritization framework placed emergency generators, roofing, expansion joints, and water intrusion as highest priority.
• WM2 Co. (Will Mundinger, Don Powell, Mike Percell) presented an independent peer review with different methodology but similar conclusions:
  • 10-year plan: $610.8 million
  • 5-year compressed plan (same scope): $591.2 million
  • Key cost driver: electrical system replacement (Federal Pacific panels, switchgear, generators) at $120 million (vs. others at ~$60 million). They argued the entire system must be replaced, not repaired.
  • Life safety deficiencies: No automatic sprinklers on floors 2-7, no smoke evacuation in the atrium, and no stairwell pressurization (stairs act as chimneys in a fire).
• CBRE (Peter Jansen) provided total occupancy cost estimates over 20 years, including corrective repairs, modernization ($213 million), temporary leasing, financing (5% cost of capital), and operating expenses. Total under any scenario ranges from $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion.
• Council discussion was extensive and divided. Key points:
  • Councilmember Mendelson argued the March resolution specified 'repairs,' not 'renovation,' and questioned costs triggered by code upgrades. She sought a minimal repair-only estimate, but consultants explained that code compliance (51% threshold) is mandated by the 2022 Dallas Existing Building Code for high-rise buildings.
  • Councilmember Gracie noted that all estimates have increased from staff's $152-345 million to over $600 million, and questioned whether the council should accept that the building requires major investment. He stated the numbers are not faulty but reflect reality.
  • Councilmember West emphasized that code compliance is mandatory—the city cannot exempt itself—and asked about financing mechanisms (bond vs. cash). City Manager Tolbert stated no financial plan is ready yet.
  • Councilmember Ridley focused on phasing and cost breakdowns, questioning whether certain items (e.g., facade sealing, roof) might be overestimated. He noted WM2's own admission that some numbers need further validation.
  • Councilmember Roth urged proceeding with a phased repair plan, arguing the numbers are reliable for planning and the council can manage costs.
  • Councilmember Stewart emphasized that the numbers are reliable and the council must make a tough decision.
  • Councilmember Johnson (Maxie) stated the numbers are truthful and the council must stop 'kicking the can.' He noted the water leakage problem dates back to 1976.
  • Councilmember Blair asked about stair pressurization and life safety; experts confirmed that current stairwells are not safe for firefighters.
  • Councilmember Blackman noted that either staying or leaving will have a budget impact.
  • Councilmember Cadena asked about demolition costs (not yet estimated) and urged caution without full information.
  • Councilmember Ricendez thanked the team and said the numbers should be accepted as a basis for decision.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken on the City Hall repair options. The briefing was informational only.
• The council will continue to consider the data and expects future briefings on financing, side-by-side comparison with leasing/new building options, and additional work on demolition costs and historic preservation implications.
• The city manager noted that current budget capacity cannot cover these costs, and any path forward will require either new revenue cuts or debt issuance.
• The meeting recessed into closed session at 5:33 p.m. to discuss legal and real estate matters (agenda items 3, 4, 5), and reconvened at 7:59 p.m. to adjourn without further action.