Plano City Council Regular Meeting - June 8, 2026

The Plano City Council convened on Monday, June 8, 2026, for a regular session that featured extensive public testimony and unanimous approval of several major items related to downtown property acquisition and the comprehensive redevelopment of the Willow Bend site. Key actions included the creation of a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ), an economic development incentive agreement, authorization of a non-binding Letter of Intent with the Dallas Stars for a new sports and entertainment district, and a resolution setting the stage for a voter referendum on venue-specific taxes. All votes on the dais passed eight to zero.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent calendar 8-0, with Item E pulled for individual discussion.
• Item E – Land Acquisition: The council considered a $2,550,000 expenditure to purchase property at 1410 and 1412 14th Street from Domo Joint Ventures. Curtis Crandall, a dentist who has practiced at the location for 36 years, a 44-year Plano resident, and a 30% owner of Domo Joint Ventures, requested a postponement. He stated the item was not routine or non-controversial, cited ongoing legal issues among partners and questions regarding the authority to sell, and questioned the property valuation. Despite his objections, a motion to approve the item passed 8-0.

Proclamations and Ceremonial Items

• Juneteenth Proclamation: Mayor John Muns proclaimed Friday, June 19, 2026, as Juneteenth Day in Plano. The proclamation honored the contributions of the historic Douglas community and its founders, Andy Drake and Moe Stimson.

Public Comments & Testimony

The council heard extensive public comment across multiple agenda items. Speakers are grouped by the item they addressed.

Public Hearing – TIRZ Number 6

• Sean McKenna (Central Plano resident) opposed the TIRZ, arguing it exclusively benefits a specific large corporation and will shift infrastructure investment away from Central Plano, creating a budget crisis in non-TIRZ areas.
• Drew Nickerson (Founder of TrainWatch, West Plano area resident) highlighted an infrastructure gap regarding 12 at-grade railroad crossings near the Willow Bend site, citing 18 previous incidents. He urged the city to use machine-verified data to secure federal grants for grade separations.
• Renee Elgersma (Cliff View resident, 17 years in Plano) expressed concern about the project's fit for West Plano's suburban character. She requested independent traffic studies, transparency on taxpayer exposure, and assurance the project would not diminish the quality of life. She argued the burden of proof lies with the developers and the city.
• Jennifer Groysman (West Plano resident) argued the TIRZ boundary (800-900 acres) was too large, stating the area was already overdeveloped, not underdeveloped. She noted existing high property values ($1.6 billion) and sales tax ($7 million) and urged the council to vote no.
• Joseph Lanners (25-year resident, HOA board member) conditionally supported the redevelopment but called for comprehensive traffic studies, preservation of mature trees, increased policing with AI-enhanced cameras, and safety measures to protect surrounding neighborhoods.
• Gary Carey (Willow Bend resident, former P&Z commissioner) opposed the arena concept, citing risks of professional sports teams relocating, increased crime (citing up to 10% rise in a 1-kilometer area), and the draining of tax dollars shortly after a recent property tax increase. He stated he did not see the benefit to Plano.

Individual Consideration – Economic Development Incentive & Non-Binding LOI

• Stephen Levin (Managing Partner, Centennial) appeared in support of the incentive agreement, offering to answer questions.
• Jennifer Groysman opposed the incentive, criticizing the $15 million package for displacing the community theater, the lack of an energy study for an ice rink, and the waiving of fees and taxes. She urged a vote no.
• Jody Venturoni (Willow Bend resident) strongly opposed the LOI. She stated the deal represented a significant public subsidy for a privately owned team, cited academic research showing publicly funded arenas fail to deliver on fiscal promises, and noted property values near such venues tend to fall. She demanded an independent economic analysis.
• Jeff Pascal (Glen Meadows neighborhood representative) spoke for approximately 324 homes (Glen Meadows, Villas of Glen Meadows, Wyndham Hill), the neighborhoods closest to the mall. He acknowledged city staff outreach but voiced major concerns about event-night gridlock, cut-through traffic, crime, light pollution, and property values. The community's primary request was for their neighborhood to be gated as a mitigation measure.
• Sean McKenna opposed the LOI, arguing the letter of intent grants the Dallas Stars all operating revenue from the city-owned arena while the city receives no rent, and includes an option for the team to demand major renovations after 15 years, increasing the total cost.
• Jennifer Groysman detailed her opposition to the LOI, stating the lease heavily favors the Stars (keeping all revenue) while leaving the city responsible for major capital expenses. She cited a lack of concrete details on transit and called for the city to vote no.
• Jennifer Jopling (30-year Plano resident, near the mall) simply stated her opposition to the development, saying, "We don't want it."

Item 4 – Venue Project Resolution

• Camille Hall (West Plano resident) supported the resolution to allow a public vote but voiced severe concerns about traffic logistics, calculating that current DART bus capacity would be entirely insufficient to serve an arena crowd.
• Karen DeBroe (HOA president, Stonelake Estates) expressed concerns about traffic, noise, and proximity to residences. She urged the council to listen to residents and implement protections.
• Jennifer Groysman opposed the overall financing structure, arguing the $700 million bond and increased taxes on hotels and rental cars will harm tourism and residents, while the Stars contribute only $300 million. She stated studies consistently show such deals are a financial loss for cities.

Item 5 – Vehicle Detection System

• Sean McKenna supported the system if it detects cyclists; otherwise, he requested spending on dedicated cycling infrastructure.
• Joseph Lanners supported the investment in AI-based traffic technology.

Discussion Items

Item 1 – TIRZ Number 6 Peter Brass (Director of Special Projects) presented the TIRZ, covering approximately 900 commercial acres along the Dallas North Tollway. The 41-year zone does not impact current property tax rates but will capture growth revenue for street and corridor infrastructure improvements. Mayor Muns noted the project is a method to revitalize the mall area and can be financed without raising burdens on citizens. The council unanimously adopted the ordinance.

Item 2 – Economic Development Incentive Michael Talley (Director of Economic Development) detailed the incentive for Centennial Waterfall Willow Bend LLC. The package includes $10 million in demolition assistance, $5 million for a new visitor center (minimum 6,500 sq ft, rent-free for 10 years), and a waiver of building and planning fees. The agreement is contingent on a major league sports team anchoring the $3 billion redevelopment. Councilmember LeBon confirmed the cost of the visitor center is a "wash" with existing plans. Mayor Pro Tim confirmed the agreement dissolves if the arena does not move forward.

Item 3 – Non-Binding Letter of Intent (Dallas Stars) Doug McDonald (Deputy City Manager) presented the LOI as a "day one" step to begin formal negotiations and feasibility studies. Key terms include a city contribution of up to $700 million for a $1 billion arena, funded by TIRZ 6 and venue taxes. The city would own the arena and lease it to the Dallas Sports and Entertainment LP for an initial 30-year term. Next steps include public open houses (July 8 and 14), hiring a transportation consultant, and developing a community benefits agreement. Councilmember Kerr expressed support, arguing that rejecting the LOI would allow the same traffic and development problems to occur in a neighboring city without Plano having any control. Councilmember Levine confirmed the city has conducted enough preliminary analysis to believe the deal is sound, but independent studies will continue.

Item 4 – Venue Tax Resolution Doug McDonald and bond counsel explained the resolution is required by state law (Chapter 334) to designate a venue project and submit it to the Texas Comptroller. If approved by the Comptroller, the council can later call a voter referendum (projected for November 2026). The election would allow citizens to authorize venue-specific taxes (e.g., hotel, rental car, parking, admission) paid primarily by visitors and ticket holders.

Item 5 – Vehicle Detection System Upgrade Caleb Thornhill (Director of Engineering) presented a turnkey $8.5 million contract with Albatross Construction LLC to replace aging detection systems at all 278 city signalized intersections with AI-capable cameras. Mayor Pro Tim asked if the system detects cyclists. Mr. Thornhill confirmed the new system will detect cyclists and pedestrians.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda Approved 8-0: Including the $2.55 million land purchase at 14th Street (Item E) despite public objection.
• TIRZ Number 6 Adopted 8-0: Officially creating the financial zone for the Willow Bend and Tollway corridor.
• Centennial Incentive Agreement Approved 8-0: Committing $15 million and fee waivers to facilitate the mall redevelopment.
• Non-Binding LOI with Dallas Stars Approved 8-0: Authorizing the city manager to execute the LOI and begin formal negotiations. Public open houses scheduled for July.
• Venue Project Resolution Approved 8-0: Submitting the project to the Texas Comptroller, paving the way for a voter referendum in November 2026.
• Vehicle Detection System Contract Approved 8-0: Authorizing the $8.5 million citywide signal upgrade with cyclist/pedestrian detection.