Well, that’s a wrap for Dallas City Council meetings this year, with the official holiday recess underway. That’s not to say there aren’t some board and commission meetings tentatively scheduled for next week, but developments on big ticket items and policy questions will probably be few and far between until next year.
Nevertheless, here are some City Hall highlights from this past week.
Dallas To Deploy AI-Cameras on Garbage Trucks
On Wednesday, Dallas City Council signed off on an estimated $2.5 million three-year contract for a program to affix AI-powered cameras onto brush and bulky trash collection trucks.
The idea is the city can use the data captured by the cameras to increase efficiency at the Sanitation Department and Code Compliance Department, combat illegal dumping, and improve overall cleanliness. Deployment of the new cameras will start by next spring.
Staff hope to get a better idea of how often and when residents utilize brush and bulk pickup services so they can optimize routes and save on unnecessary mileage. They’ll also be able to get a sense of where to devote code enforcement resources.
“This innovative technology delivers responsive solutions that all our residents deserve to keep our neighborhoods clean and safe. It is a smart-city approach to an everyday challenge,” said City Manager Kimberly Tolbert.
Concerns about privacy were raised by Council Member Chad West (District 1) at the committee level. He questioned staff about who would have access to the images and how they would be stored. City Hall staff responded to the questions in a memo covering the program’s technical capabilities, legal obligations, and footage access.
In an effort to maximize privacy, the AI-cameras will blur faces and license plates and will only be capturing data from the curb line that’s visible from the public right-of-way.
New CRE Exterior Improvement Grant Fund Launches for District 7
Small businesses located in District 7 have a new grant program to draw from to make exterior improvements following a vote by the Dallas City Council to authorize nearly $800,000 in discretionary bond funding.
Eligible projects include permanent façade upgrades, hardscape and streetscape improvements, ADA improvements, public art installations, and building envelope or energy-efficiency enhancements. Routine maintenance and repairs are not eligible.
Adam Bazaldua
“With the investment of District 7 discretionary bond funds, we’re helping small businesses upgrade their exterior spaces, create more inviting storefronts, and contribute to a more vibrant and attractive business community in Southern and Far East Dallas,” said Council Member Adam Bazaldua (District 7).
“This initiative is a meaningful investment in both our small business community and the overall look and feel of our neighborhoods. I look forward to seeing the success of this program and implementing it on a large city scale,” he added.
Grants are capped at $50,000 per project, with reimbursement rates ranging from 80% for projects under $25,000 to 50% for projects exceeding $50,000. Applications will be available through the city’s Office of Economic Development website starting Dec. 15, 2025, and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.
City Hall Spotlights Progress on Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Redevelopment
We’re getting into the end-of-year retrospective season, and City Hall got in the spirit of it with a year-end review of the progress made on the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Master Plan.
Key milestones in 2025 included acquiring land for the “West of Lamar” expansion, finishing the schematic design, advancing the design for Dallas Memorial Auditorium (future home of the Dallas Wings), finalizing the temporary relocation of The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, and securing a $1 billion construction draw from Dallas City Council.
FIFA World Cup 2026 coordination was a big focus this year, with preparations unfolding ahead of the convention center’s central role in tournament operations. Exhibition Halls A, B, and C are going to serve as the International Broadcast Center. As many as 5,000 journalists and media personnel will be setting up shop in the building between January and August.
Officials also reported on future demand for the expanded convention center. Apparently, some 68 conventions totaling more than 1.17 million room nights and $1.75 billion in economic impact are already on the books for after 2029, the year the project is expected to be completed. Almost $3 billion more in events await to be finalized.
“The City of Dallas and its team remain committed to delivering a world-class, forward-looking convention center for our residents, clients and visitors,” said Rosa Fleming, director of Convention and Event Services. “Creating a once-in-a-generation facility that will shape and positively impact our city for decades to come requires thoughtful planning and intentional care.”
HUD Consolidated Plan Budget Development Underway
Officials at City Hall’s Office of Community Development are working to solicit input from the public on the next consolidated plan budget for Department of Housing & Urban Development funds.
Dallas’ HUD Consolidated Plan sets how the city budgets and spends federal housing and community development funds. Initiatives have included homelessness services, neighborhood improvement, and related programs within HUD spending eligibility rules.
Six in-person and virtual meetings are scheduled for January. Check out the flyer below for details.
