Dallas City Council Meeting – October 28, 2026

The Dallas City Council met on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 9:02 a.m. in Council Chambers at Dallas City Hall, with Mayor Eric L. Johnson presiding. The meeting included special recognitions, public comments, a 46-item consent agenda, pulled consent items, individual consideration items, zoning cases, public hearings, and appointments. The meeting recessed into executive session at 11:45 a.m. for the city auditor and inspector general appointments and reconvened at 1:30 p.m., adjourning at 2:28 p.m. A roll call during Item 25 recorded Mayor Johnson as absent, though he presided at the start and end of the meeting.

Special Recognitions

• Councilmember Gay Denell Willis recognized Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Color the World Orange Day for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS); Miller Kerr, founder of Burning Hope, shared her personal CRPS journey.
• Councilmember Paula Blackman recognized October as Archives Month and honored John Slight and the City archives team.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda (Items 2–47) was approved with the exception of pulled items 19, 20, 25, and 26. Corrections/clarifications were noted for Items 4, 5, and 30 (Item 30 clarified that the aggregate principal amount is not to exceed $312 million).
• Approved consent items included grants for sexual assault evidence testing ($1,250,670), peace officer mental health ($80,992.36), diesel emissions reduction ($3,076,296 total including local match), veterans programs ($273,000), Klyde Warren Park Phase 2 interlocal amendment, airport projects, multiple Vision Zero traffic signal projects, several bond ordinances, procurement agreements, and three lawsuit settlements.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kathy McCann (District 13 resident) opposed the scale of the Preston Royal development, citing traffic congestion and light pollution; she asked council to restrict height and unit count.
• William Hopkins raised concerns about lead in Oak Cliff water and alleged the city mishandled the West Dallas lead settlement.
• DeVera Dawkins requested council mediation regarding noise from Rodeo Code business operations.
• Valerie Eton demanded an end to all city cooperation with ICE, no DPD immigration enforcement, and removal of Flock cameras.
• Edwin Ingram, Chelsea Novak, Emily Garcia, and later Kayla Monsor spoke about The Museum School of East Dallas, describing a two-and-a-half-week displacement and approximately $50,000 in fire-watch costs; they asked the city to allow third-party fire watch at $35/hour and reimburse the school.
• Richard Brown (District 13 resident) said the Preston Royal rezoning request "fails" compatibility, scale, and traffic tests; he asked council to reject it and require a better plan.
• Stephen McFadden and Magid Keloff, representatives for a vehicle storage business at C.F. Hawn Freeway, asked council to approve a zoning path to keep the site operating, citing no opposition from neighbors and highway separation from residences.
• West Mockingbird (representing property owner) spoke on Z10, explaining the PD amendment would fix a CO issue for AutoNation and CarStar Redbird.
• Brynn Stotz, applicant representative for Z11, described a proposed welding school and additional conditions agreed with Councilmember Blair.
• Edward Broadway, Dr. Dinah Marks, Dr. Barbara Bookman, and Reverend Roger Russell supported the ceremonial street topper "Dr. Curtis W. Wallace" on Roseland Avenue.
• Linthicum Darden, Rain Wolfe, and Alice Maxwell demanded the city ban ICE flights from Dallas Love Field, end ICE collaboration, and stop DPD immigration enforcement.
• LaCoria London criticized DPD/SWAT response to a 20-year-old's suicide on a bridge, called for an elected police chief, and urged a no vote on the upcoming bond.

Discussion Items

• Item 25 (DPD Law Enforcement Training Center sponsorship toolkit and donations): After extended debate, council divided the question. A motion to defer the toolkit to November 10, 2026, with a November 4 briefing failed 5–9 (one absent). Council then adopted the sponsorship toolkit with an amendment (moved by Councilmember Willis) allowing naming/sponsorship agreements for a duration of up to 20 years following substantial completion. Council then accepted the QuikTrip Corporation and W.W. Caruth Foundation funds (up to $17.5 million) via Communities Foundation of Texas and established appropriations.
• Item 26 (CMAR Supplemental Agreement No. 2 with Swinerton Builders): Approved a GMP 2 of $158,616,112 (including $3,840,944 contingency) for the DPD LETC at UNT Dallas, increasing the total CMAR contract price from $29,007,276 to $49,007,276, with only $20 million currently appropriated. Councilmember Blackman voted no.
• Item 19 (Dallas Streetcar O&M): Council approved $2,807,875.34 in FY2027 operating and maintenance disbursement to DART. Councilmembers West and Moreno supported it; Councilmember Mendelson called the subsidy "a terrible deal," citing ridership below 500/day and a $17 per ride each way subsidy; Councilmembers Roth and Ridley noted the need to explore alternative funding. Staff said an O&M study is due in Q1 2027 and a recurring federal subsidy may reduce future costs.
• Item 20 (Dallas Streetcar connection to McKinney Avenue Transit Authority): Approved a professional engineering services contract with AECOM for $1,096,786.68.
• Items 49 and 50 (State and Federal Legislative Programs): Deferred until after full council briefings.
• Item 51 (McKinney Ave/Cole Ave Two-way Conversion): Approved a $3,552,041 professional services contract with Halff Associates, releasing remaining encumbered funds from the terminated Kimley-Horn contract.
• Item 54 (Service pins donation): Approved acceptance of $10,000 anonymous donation for employee service pins; several council members expressed gratitude and noted the budget had cut this funding.

Zoning Cases and Public Hearings

• Zoning consent (Z1–Z3, Z5–Z7): Approved, with changes including removing coin-operated amusement prohibition on Z2, allowing agricultural uses by right on Z3, and removing height/density/parking requirements on Z5.
• Z4 (2704 Elm Street live music venue): Approved with a three-year SUP and eligibility for a two-year automatic renewal.
• Z8 (C.F. Hawn Freeway commercial service district): Denied on a motion by Councilmember Blair.
• Z9 (Seaton Drive and Humphrey Drive duplex): Denied without prejudice.
• Z10 (4201 West Camp Wisdom Road): Approved as recommended by CPC, with an added change allowing agricultural uses by right.
• Z11 (10600 C.F. Hawn Freeway welding school): Approved subject to conditions requiring 4-inch caliber trees every 60 feet along northern/eastern property lines and secure monthly scrap-metal pickup.
• PH1: Approved ceremonial street name "Dr. Curtis W. Wallace" as a street topper on Roseland Avenue.
• PH2 (North Harwood Street name change to "Exchange Place"): Held under advisement until December 9, 2026.

Appointments

• Item 56: Council appointed John Proven as City Auditor for a two-year term, with an annual base salary of $220,000, effective January 4, 2027.
• Item 57: Council appointed Baron Eliason as Inspector General for a two-year term, with an annual base salary of $191,200 (transcribed as "1912"), effective October 28, 2026. Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Maxie Johnson opposed, calling the process a "dog and pony show" because only the interim inspector general met all qualifications.

Key Outcomes

• Approved consent agenda items 2–18, 21–24, and 27–47, with corrections noted.
• Adopted the DPD LETC sponsorship toolkit with an "up to 20 years" duration and accepted $17.5 million in donations.
• Approved Item 26 CMAR increase for the DPD LETC project.
• Approved streetcar O&M funding and AECOM planning contract.
• Deferred state and federal legislative programs.
• Approved the McKinney/Cole two-way conversion design contract.
• Approved zoning actions as listed above.
• Appointed John Proven as City Auditor and Baron Eliason as Inspector General.
• No appointments were made for boards and commissions (Item 48).