Dallas City Council members have met in the same building for 48 years, but their time in the aging edifice might be drawing to a close amid a push to relocate City Hall.

Why it matters: Dallas City Hall, designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei, symbolizes the city's efforts to change its public image from the "City of Hate" after President John F. Kennedy's 1963 assassination to a city of growth and promise.

• Now, after decades of neglect, Dallas officials can't come to a consensus on whether to stay at City Hall or move out.

Friction point: Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson says the building "doesn't meet the needs of a modern big-city government — or, really, of any modern workplace."

• Repairs could run as high as $1 billion, per a recent estimate, but some City Council members are skeptical of that figure and want to dig deeper into the costs before making a decision.
• "What has bothered me most is the lack of appreciation for what we have and our inability to be honest about the why," Council Member Paula Blackmon wrote on Facebook yesterday.

The intrigue: The Dallas Morning News reviewed almost 5,000 pages of emails between city officials and consultants and found that some council members privately toured potential new City Hall sites earlier this year.

• The emails also highlight the nonprofit Dallas Economic Development Corp.'s growing influence on city affairs, from coordinating consultants to curt exchanges with City Manager Kim Tolbert, per the DMN.

The other side: Johnson and Tolbert didn't reply to Axios' requests for comment.

Between the lines: The Dallas Mavericks plan to move out of the American Airlines Center, leading some to wonder if the team will make a play for the 15-acre City Hall site if the city moves out.

• The downtown site is a "very viable option," though the Mavericks want a 50-acre entertainment district with an arena, hotel and practice facility, CEO Rick Welts told the DMN's "Intersections" podcast.
• "We haven't even been able to talk to the city about what that deal would look like," Welts said.

Fort Worth's approach

Spring break still has a few days left, and many of our parent friends are running out of things to do with their kids.

Why it matters: Leaving town isn't an option for everyone during school breaks.

• If you're taking a staycation instead, here's how to make the most of it…

🧪 Lean into learning. North Texas has dozens of museums, preserves and libraries that welcome visitors from other cities.

• Plano also has the Interurban Railway Museum, which is open 11am-6pm Saturday for the Texas Forever Fest.
• Also in Plano: the Interurban Railway Museum, which regularly hosts story times and shares how trains changed the city's trajectory.

🏏 Watch the pros. We're fortunate to have professional cricket, hockey, volleyball, baseball, football, women's and men's soccer and men's and women's basketball as a big sports town.

• And, you don't have to spend big bucks to watch them. For instance, tickets for some Dallas Trinity FC and Dallas Pulse games start at around $25.

🔎 Hit the town. Get to know an unfamiliar North Texas city or neighborhood by researching its history and exploring its gems in person.

• Dallas' State Thomas district, Grapevine's Main Street, McKinney's historic downtown and Frisco's Rail District are all great options.

⛺ Be a happy camper. If you have nieces and nephews, consider giving their parents a break.

• One of our former colleagues used to host her siblings' children in Dallas every year and called it camp. This page has ideas for camp-like activities.

💸 The Texas DMV says scammers are targeting Texans with texts about bogus unpaid traffic tickets. (FOX4)

⚖️ A court-appointed manager will take over foster care services in nine North Texas counties after a private contractor in the role was accused of mismanagement. (KERA)

👜 Nordstrom says it will close its Galleria Dallas location in May. (WFAA)

🎨 Read the fine print. Attend a live reading by Dallas Poet Laureate Mag Gabbert, try dream mapping and learn about printmaking at the Dallas Contemporary's Dallas Art Book Fair.

• Noon-5pm Saturday and Sunday at 161 Glass St. in Dallas. Free.

🧺 Pack a picnic. Take the family to Klyde Warren Park for an outdoor screening of "Zootopia 2." The park will have food trucks during the movie.

• 6-8pm Saturday at the Ginsburg Family East Lawn. Free.

🚘 Start your engine. Come for the Volkswagen car meet and stay for the 200 classic cars and 3,000 toys on display in Fort Worth. Pets are allowed, as long as they are leashed.

• 9am-noon Saturday at the DFW Car & Toy Museum. Free.

🏅 Be a Barbie girl. The Barbie Truck Sports Club Tour is rolling into Willow Bend this weekend to show off the doll's athletic era. Themed merch will be available.

• 10am-7pm Saturday at the lawn near The District.