Plano City Council Meeting: Financial Updates, Naming, RFQ Approval, and C4 Transit Report – December 16, 2025

The Plano City Council convened on December 16, 2025, with all members present except Mayor Pro Tem Maria II. The meeting included a proclamation for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign, quarterly financial and investment reports, approval of a consent agenda, naming of a tennis court after Ken Sumrow, approval of an architectural services RFQ for a public safety campus, and a detailed report from the Collin County Connects (C4) Committee on transit alternatives, followed by extensive public testimony.

Consent Calendar

• The Council approved the consent agenda (7‑0), encompassing routine and non‑controversial items.

Public Comments & Testimony

Early Public Comments:

• Lestia Nelson and Alvin Nelson spoke about the case of their daughter Saniah Reese, a nonverbal disabled student who was assaulted within PISD. They criticized the Plano Police Department for a nearly one‑year delay in forwarding the case to prosecutors and alleged disparities based on race and disability. They called for accountability and transparency from the city.
• Brett Cooper questioned the Council’s push to call a DART withdrawal election, linking it to a potential Dallas Stars arena at Willow Bend Mall. He warned that a withdrawal would harm paratransit riders and that replacing DART would require either cuts to other services or a property tax increase.
• A subsequent speaker delivered a personal attack against council members and was cut off after exceeding time limits.

Testimony on the C4 Committee Report and DART Withdrawal (27 speakers, 1 minute each):

• Many speakers criticized the C4 process as rushed and lacking transparency, with an insufficient basis for ranking vendors (Amber Chaffin, Joshua McNair, Cori Reineker, Nathan Adam, Jeff Samoshima, Jeremy Matthews).
• Several speakers highlighted risks to vulnerable riders – seniors, people with disabilities, and low‑income residents – and argued that a microtransit replacement could not match DART’s regional connectivity (Warren Pena, Catherine Walsh, Alex Flores, Peyton Bryant, Ian Graham).
• Others expressed strong support for remaining in DART, citing its role in enabling access to jobs, healthcare, and DFW Airport (Austin Meek, Robert Morrison, Shaolan Zhu, Sue Deep Singh).
• A minority of speakers, such as David Leith, argued that only a small fraction of residents rely on DART and that the city deserves a vote on withdrawal.
• Several C4 committee members (Red Cooper, William Pierce Cravens, Nathan Adam, Cori Reineker) stated that they did not rank any vendor because they lacked sufficient information to make a recommendation; some noted that committee staff had prevented them from voting on a broader recommendation.

Quarterly Financial Report

Finance Director Denise presented the first‑quarter financial results. General fund revenues were $133.1 million (105.8% of the reestimated budget) and expenditures were $357.9 million (98.5% of budget). The water and sewer fund had $228.7 million in revenues (96.5% of budget) and $204.7 million in expenses (102.7% of budget). Year‑over‑year increases included $10.6 million in property tax revenue, $13.4 million in sales tax revenue, and $4.2 million in licenses and permits. Staff credited a hiring freeze and cost‑cutting measures for containing expenses. The regional unemployment rate was 4.3% in August (below metro, state, and national averages). The median home sale price in Plano was $510,000. Hotel occupancy tax revenue increased by $146,000 over the prior fiscal year.

Quarterly Investment Report

Treasurer Mark Whitaker provided the investment update as of September 30. The City’s portfolio yield was 3.68%, above the benchmark two‑year Treasury yield of 3.57%. The portfolio earned $6.2 million in interest during the quarter. The Federal Reserve cut rates by 25 basis points in September and made additional cuts in October and December. The portfolio remains liquid: 51% in the zero‑to‑one‑year maturity range. The portfolio’s book value continues to increase year over year. Staff confirmed that all vendors under consideration for the C4 process could operate within the $4 million budget the Council has set aside for a potential alternative transit system.

Consideration to Name the Ken Sumrow Center Court

The Parks and Recreation naming committee recommended naming the center court at the High Point Tennis Center after Ken Sumrow, who served as the tennis pro and manager for 47 years since the facility opened in 1977. Councilmember Horn praised his contributions, including to pickleball. The Council approved the naming unanimously (7‑0).

Approval of RFQ for Public Safety Campus – DLR Group Inc.

The Council approved RFQ 2025‑450‑B for architectural services for the new police headquarters and Fire Station 14 (the public safety campus authorized by the May 2025 bond referenda). DLR Group Inc. will serve as the architect; the fee is $14,496,503 (approximately 10% of the total project). The design phase is scheduled for 12 months, with construction oversight continuing thereafter. Councilmember Horn expressed confidence in DLR Group based on prior experience. The motion passed 7‑0.

Collin County Connects Committee Report

Mayor Phil Dyer, chair of the C4 committee, and Andrew Fortune, Director of Policy and Government Relations, presented the committee’s work. The 14‑member citizen committee met four times on a compressed timeline, with the charge to: assume a May 2026 withdrawal election, identify and prioritize desired transit services, and rank potential vendors. Three pre‑vetted vendors (Via, Rideco, and Spare) presented. Of the 14 members, 7 submitted vendor rankings; among those, Spare and Via scored highest. The remaining 7 members (plus both alternates) declined to rank, instead submitting individual written observations (included in the Council’s packet). Several members expressed frustration with the limited scope, lack of cost and procurement details, and the exclusion of a DART‑retention option from the committee’s objectives. Staff emphasized that pricing information remains confidential until the competitive bidding stage and that all three vendors have indicated they can meet the $4 million budget. The committee’s feedback will also be shared with DART for potential service improvements. Staff’s proposed timeline calls for a vendor recommendation to the Council by January 26, 2026, with a possible six‑month pilot contract beginning around April 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved (7‑0).
• Ken Sumrow Center Court Naming: Approved (7‑0).
• Architectural Services for Public Safety Campus (DLR Group): Approved (7‑0).
• C4 Committee Report: Received and filed; no action taken. The Council will continue to discuss transit and DART withdrawal in January 2026.
• Future Action: Staff to continue vendor procurement and return with a recommendation by January 26, 2026. The Council also plans to use the C4 input in ongoing negotiations with DART.