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It\u2019s been a week of big numbers and big questions at Dallas City Hall, some of which had to do with public safety. And, of course, there are the billions of dollars at stake tied to the Mavericks\u2019 relocation plans.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a bit on some of the headlines coming out of City Hall:<\/p>\n
Dallas Police Training Center Costs Climb<\/p>\n
Plans for Dallas\u2019 new police training facility have once again grown in cost.<\/p>\n
The city council is set to vote Oct. 22 on a proposal to increase its architectural services contract with HKS by $5.36 million, bringing the total to $15.39 million. The additional funds would cover design and construction administration for two new facilities at the Dallas Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center on the University of North Texas at Dallas campus, according to a Friday memo<\/a>.<\/p>\n The LETC is part of a broader, two-part project intended to replace the city\u2019s aging police academy. In June, city staff told council members that the overall price tag had swelled to about $275 million<\/a>, nearly double the $140 million estimate voters approved in the 2024 bond election.<\/p>\n Roughly $185 million of that total is earmarked for the 20-acre training center at UNT Dallas, while another $90 million would fund a 60-acre public safety site featuring vehicle-pursuit tracks and a shooting range.<\/p>\n The city has secured $96.5 million from existing allocations, $25 million from the state, and $21.5 million in private commitments\u2014leaving an estimated $124 million shortfall.<\/p>\n Mayor Johnson Doesn\u2019t Like Seeing Money Left on the Table<\/p>\n Mayor Eric Johnson is calling on two city council committees to consider opting into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement program that would reimburse the city for officer compensation and operational costs in exchange for activating them to perform certain ICE duties.<\/p>\n Johnson made the request on Friday following a Community Police Oversight Board meeting in which Police Chief Daniel Comeaux said he declined a $25 million partnership with ICE.<\/p>\n \u201cAs the elected body charged with setting City policy and overseeing its budget, the City Council should be briefed on all the relevant information that went into Chief Comeaux\u2019s decision in a public meeting and with an opportunity for input from residents,\u201d Johnson wrote in a memo to the chairs of the Public Safety and Government Efficiency Committees.<\/p>\n He went on to point out how the federal funds could be used to hire additional officers, claiming the program could serve as a \u201cforce multiplier\u201d that would result in \u201cadditional resources to reduce violent crime at lower cost to taxpayers.\u201d<\/p>\n Johnson asked the committees to hold a joint meeting with ICE representatives and Chief Comeaux to evaluate the offer and determine whether participation would improve efficiency and public safety before bringing a recommendation to the full council.<\/p>\n As previously reported by CandysDirt.com<\/a>, builders have been wary of President Donald Trump\u2019s efforts to deport all undocumented immigrants. Some studies have detailed how undocumented immigrants are overrepresented in construction (1-2 million people), accounting for as much as 25% or more of certain occupations and 10-19% of the sector\u2019s entire workforce.<\/p>\n Where Oh Where Will the Mavericks Go?<\/p>\n As everyone is well-aware by now, the Dallas Mavericks are on the hunt for a site for a new arena. The team hopes to have a decision made by early next year, with their current lease at American Airlines ending in 2031. Since 2026 is pretty much just around the corner, media reports have been abuzz with speculation over potential locations in and outside of the Big D.<\/p>\n The Mavericks said they need 30-50 acres of land, leaving a limited number of sites that fit the bill. Dallas officials have indicated they\u2019d prefer to keep the franchise somewhere downtown. The franchise could have two options there, according to reports by The Dallas Morning News.<\/p>\n Opportunity exists in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center redevelopment. Nearly 30 acres should be freed up from the demolition of older portions of the convention center between Young and Canton Streets. The potential for a new entertainment district<\/a> adjacent to the convention center might prove enticing.<\/p>\n The fate of Dallas City Hall could also factor into how things play out. Officials will soon weigh the enormous cost of fixing the historic landmark against possibly offloading it<\/a> and finding new digs elsewhere. Proximity to public transit and plenty of redevelopment in the works around the area naturally puts 1500 Marilla St. in the mix.<\/p>\n While downtown might be ideal for officials, there\u2019s a North Dallas location that could prove workable. The former Valley View Center site has been sitting unused for years now<\/a>. There are 110 acres there in the International District. It boasts major highway access and vacant land potential, though past redevelopment plans have stalled.<\/p>\n \u201cIt checks all the boxes,\u201d Partners senior vice president of research Steve Triolet recently told DMN. \u201cIt\u2019s as perfect as you can get. It\u2019s just is that where they want to go?\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Eric-Johnson.png\")
Mayor Eric Johnson<\/p>\n