January 27, 2025 Newsletter
January 27, 2025 – Volume 19 Number 4
Highlights:
* City council meets Tuesday; six zoning public hearings, and approve UFL (United Football League) deal.
* EDC met Tuesday; lowered sales tax revenue expectations, approved their portion of $1.5 million/year to UFL, and paying the National Medal of Honor Museum $1,000,000.
Open Letter to AISD Taxpayers
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_11.html
Teachers' Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html
Taxpayers' Funds at Risk:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_83.html
City Council grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_39.html
AISD Board grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_1.html
Citizens Defending Freedom vs. AISD
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_14.html
Arlington is a city where citizens are relegated to being spectators, rather than players on the field. The SPECTATOR helps citizens know what is happening on the field. Only a few of the in-house team members are allowed to play ball in Arlington. The SPECTATOR helps citizens understand the game.
GAME SCHEDULE:
Monday, January 27: Filing to run for school boards continue. Filing runs through Friday, February 14.
Tuesday, January 28: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 10:15am, 2:00pm, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Tuesday, February 4: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Wednesday, February 5: P&Z meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm.
Thursday, February 6: AISD Board meeting, AISD Administration Building, 690 E. Lamar Boulevard, 6:30pm. (You must be signed up online by 3:00pm if you wish to speak.)
Friday, February 14: Filing to be on the ballot ends, 5:00 p.m.
Friday, February 14: Valentines Day.
Monday, February 17: Presidents Day holiday.
From THE LOCKER ROOM
Arlington City Council Update
The city council did not meet last week. Their next meeting is this Tuesday, January 28. The first of two committee meetings is at 10:45am. The afternoon meeting begins at 12:45pm and goes into executive session. The open portion of the afternoon meeting will begin no sooner than 2:00pm. The evening meeting is at 6:30pm.
Committee Meetings
The Community and Neighborhood Development Committee will meet at 10:45 for about 45 minutes. They are to discuss two topics: reviewing of housing tax credit applications (30 minutes) and Neighborhood Matching Grant Program Summary (15 minutes).
There only appears to be one applicant for the tax credits, The Watson, 1401 S. Watson Road (presentation says District 1, but it looks like District 5 to me). The Watson is comprised of 82 units in three, three-story buildings that would need to be rezoned and does NOT meet the current comprehensive plan [but that won't stop this apartment-loving city council] (presentation).
At the January 7 committee meeting they reviewed the five matching grants applicants. They accepted three, rejected one, and wanted more information (to be provided at this meeting). Assuming satisfactory results on the fourth project, they will now give away $61,815 in grants for programs that cost $78,574 [78.7% of the projects funded by taxpayer supplied money] (presentation).
The Economic Development Committee will meet at 11:15am spending approximately 15 minutes in open session discussing a SCORE LiftFund update (presentation), then going into executive session to discuss offers of incentives to business prospects.
The quasi-committee Arlington Housing Finance Corporation will meet at 9:30am (agenda). A portion of their agenda includes transit of bond/general counsel, out of jurisdiction activity, and project updates.
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Afternoon Meeting
The afternoon meeting begins at 12:45 pm. They will go into executive session to discuss leasing the property at 701 Brown Boulevard, the lease of city property at 1200 Ballpark Way, and offers of incentives to business prospects.
The agenda for the open portion of the afternoon meeting (starting no sooner than 2:00pm) contains three work session items, three informal staff reports, and a legislative update.
The first work session item is a FY2026 budget update (no presentation available at the time of this writing).
The second work session item is a 2024 multi-family housing profile (presentation). [The statistics did not seem to prove anything to me except that there are far too many apartments.]
The third work session item is FY2024 MWBE report (presentation).
The three informal staff reports:
1. Pedicab and NEV-for-hire programs (staff report , attachment)
2. Panhandling mitigation update (staff report).
3. Out of Jurisdiction activity by Arlington Housing Finance Corporation (staff report). Recently a HFC from Pecos has closed a deal in Arlington causing the city to lose out on tax revenue.
A legislative update (staff report).
Evening Meeting
The evening meeting begins at 6:30pm. The agenda includes 23 consent agenda items, nine zoning case public hearings (the first three of the nine have requested continuances to February dates), and two special ordinances.
Consent agenda item 7.22 is to finalize the UFL (United Football League) deal, paying them $1.5 million/year for three years for keep this as their operations base for three years (staff report).
[Commentary: Again, I do not understand, and ask, if we are to believe our leaders telling us that Arlington is such a great place to do business, why are we paying the escort service millions to have them come to our party?
For example, straight from the staff report on the UFL agreement, “It is anticipated that the UFL's presence in the City of Arlington will result in taxable sales over the next three seasons of $14,294,290.” The general fund gets 1% of that, so $142,943. So, we are giving away $1.5 million/year, so the general fund gets $142,943. Note: this does not even address the potential double counting (part of that $14.3 million being used to justify other lopsided deals already made).]
The applicants of public hearings #1 (PD24-17, 2007 NW Green Oaks Boulevard) and #2 (PD24-30, 7708 S. Cooper Street) have asked for a continuance until February 4.
The applicant of public hearing #3 (PD24-9, 108 Hosack Street) has asked for a continuance until February 25.
Public hearing #4 is for ZA24-8 on 6.26 acres at 7005 Calendar Road. They wish to change the current residential estate (RE) zoning to residential single-family 7.2 (RS-7.2) (staff report).
Public hearing #5 is for SUP24-8 on 5.406 acres at 2020 S. Watson Road. They wish for a special use permit for gas well drilling (staff report).
Public hearing #6 is for PD24-10 on 9.792 acres at 300 E. Stephens Street for a planned development for apartments (staff report). It was denied by P&Z, but the apartment-loving council voted to give them a public hearing anyway. There are nine deviations.
Public hearing #7 is for PD24-31 on 0.940 acres at 347 N. Bowen Road for a planned development for light industrial including automotive repair (major) (staff report).
Public hearing #8 is for Zoning Case PD24-33 (525 South Bowen Road). They wish for a four-town home development (staff report). There are six deviations.
Public hearing #9 is for Zoning Case PD24-19 (410 East Rogers Street). They wish for a 18-unit town home development (staff report). There are ten deviations.
The first special ordinance is for the selling of water and waste water revenue bonds for $16,585,000 (staff report).
The second special ordinance is required for calling the May 3 special election (no districts on the ballot, only a bond election and a charter election) (staff report).
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Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
The EDC met last Tuesday, January 21. The agenda includes their regular monthly reporting, two presentations, four action items, an executive session, and a director's update. The agenda packet can be found at: https://arlingtontxedc.com/assets/main/agendas/january-21,-2025.pdf .
The presentations were on FDI (foreign direct investment) strategy [pdf page 20 of the above agenda link] and Market Strategy for FY2025 [.pdf page 30 of above agenda link].
The first action item [.pdf page 39 of the above agenda link] was to amend the current budget. They are lowering sales tax revenue projections, raising interest revenue estimates, dropping an employee position, raising the budgeted advertising amount, and making fund balance adjustments.
The second action item [.pdf page 45 of the above agenda link] was to spend $117,500 over the two fiscal years with the Dallas Business Journal.
The third action item [.pdf page 63 of the above agenda link] was to agree with the UFL (United Football League) to be headquartered in Arlington for the next three seasons at $1.5 million/season ($675,000/year being EDC funds).
The fourth action item [.pdf page 76 of the above agenda link] was to engage in an opening day sponsorship agreement with the Nation Medal of Honor Museum for $1,000,000.
The executive session includes offers of incentives to business prospects and deliberations of real property.
We guess/assume all the action items passed.
Upcoming Public Hearings
On Tuesday, January 28, the city council will hold a public hearing on ZA24-8 on 6.26 acres at 7005 Calendar Road. They wish to change the current residential estate (RE) zoning to residential single-family 7.2 (RS-7.2).
On Tuesday, January 28, the city council will hold a public hearing on SUP24-8 on 5.406 acres at 2020 S. Watson Road. They wish for a special use permit for gas well drilling.
On Tuesday, January 28, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-10 on 9.792 acres at 300 E. Stephens Street for a planned development for apartments.
On Tuesday, January 28, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-31 on 0.940 acres at 347 N. Bowen Road for a planned development for light industrial including automotive repair (major).
On Tuesday, January 28, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-33 on 0.322 acres at 525 S. Bowen Road for a planned development for residential medium-density (RM-12). Since this is a PD, it suggests that they do not meet all the standards; the lots are probably smaller than allowed by RM-12.
On Tuesday, January 28, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-19 on 1.802 acres at 401 E. Rogers Street for a planned development for residential medium density (RM-12, usually town homes).
On Tuesday, February 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-17 on 1.832 acres at 2007 N.W. Green Oaks Boulevard for a planned development for community commercial (CC) including a wireless communications tower.
On Tuesday, February 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-30 on 5.195 acres at 7708 Cooper Street for a planned development for residential single-family 5 (RS-5). Since this is a PD, it suggests that they do not meet all the standards; the lots are probably smaller than allowed by RS-5.
On Tuesday, February 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on updates to the UDC (Unified Development Code) for tree preservation and mitigation.
On Tuesday, February 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on SUP24-9 on 0.521 acres at 3007 E. Abram Street for a special use permit for a communications tower.
On Tuesday, February 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-5 on 0.459 acres at 901 W. Abram Street. They wish for a planned development of higher density RMF-22. The previous PD has expired.
On Tuesday, February 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-26 at 6601 Silo Road. They wish to change zoning from Neighborhood Commercial and Community Commercial to Planned Development (PD) for Neighborhood Commercial (NC) plus Recreation/outdoor, uses with a development plan, on approximately 10.64 acres.
On Tuesday, February 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on ZA24-9 on 0.237 acres at 8007 S. Cooper Street. They wish for a change in zoning from Residential Estate (RE) to Community Commercial (CC) uses.
On Wednesday, February 5, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-24 on 6.437 acres at 700 E. Randol Mill Road. They wish for a change in zoningto Planned Development (PD) for Residential Multi-Family-22 (RMF-22) uses. If approved this will go to the city council on March 4.
On Wednesday, February 5, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-34 on 3.436 acres at 1918 & 1922 S. Cooper Street. They wish for a change in zoning from Residential Single-Family 7.2 (RS7-2) to Planned Development (PD) for Light Industrial uses. If approved this will go to the city council on March 4.
On Wednesday, February 5, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-35 on 0.0459 acres at 5510 Matlock Road. They wish for a change in zoning from Residential Single-Family 7.2 (RS7-2) to Residential Single-Family 7.2 (RS7-2) plus a cell tower. If approved this will go to the city council on March 4.
On Wednesday, February 5, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-39 on 5.338 acres at 1501 Mansfield Webb Road. They wish for a change in zoning from Commercial to Planned Development (PD) for Residential Multi-Density-12 (RM-12) townhomes. If approved this will go to the city council on March 4.
On Wednesday, February 5, P&Z will hold a public hearing on ZA24-10 on 0.172 acres at 2015 Loyd Drive. They wish for Residential Single-family (RS-5). If approved this will go to the city council on March 4.
On Tuesday, February 25, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD21-9 on 0.743 acres at 108 Hosack Street. They wish for a planned development RM-12. It is currently zoned RM-12 and MF-22.
???, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-23 for community commercial with a package liquor store (2574 sq. ft.) at 2425 N.E. Green Oaks Boulevard.
P&Z Commission
P&Z met this past Wednesday, January 22. The only public hearing was for updates to the UDC (Unified Development Code) for tree preservation and mitigation (staff report). The meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/player/clip/5029?view_id=10&redirect=true . There were two speakers in support. It passed, with several additional suggestions, 9-0.
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AISD School Board
The AISD School Board met this past Wednesday, January 22, for a special workshop meeting. The workshop was on strategic planning. The next regular meeting is Thursday, February 6. The workshop may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5Gnf4oN3Lo .
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Filings for May 3 Election
Voters will get to vote for AISD Places 4 (Wilbanks) and 5 (Chapa). Early voting will start on Tuesday, April 22. Election Day is Saturday, May 3.
Filings started Wednesday, January 15. The current list of candidates includes:
Place 4 – Wilbanks (i).
Place 5 – Chapa (i).
Drew Shaw of the Arlington Report/Fort Worth Report has a story at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/01/15/these-seats-on-arlington-area-school-boards-are-slated-for-the-may-3-ballot/ .
Commentary: The AISD has come up with a deficit budget for at least seven years in a row. Now for each of those years (prior to this year), they have ended with a surplus, mainly because of unexpended salaries [They always have open positions they are not paying salaries, and these positions add up to millions year after year.]
School Funding
One of the items of the AISD legislative agenda is a modification in state funding from “attendance” to “enrollment”. Valorie Munoz of the Texas Scorecard has an article as to how this will cost more at: https://texasscorecard.com/state/experts-warn-enrollment-based-school-funding-would-be-wasted-on-ghost-students/ .
There is an article by Drew Shaw of the Arlington Report/Fort Worth Report from last month at: https://fortworthreport.org/2024/12/18/arlington-isd-tries-to-shrink-budget-deficit-stay-on-track-with-spending/ . He has compiled some numbers in that report; some of those numbers are not concerning, but others are very concerning.
When he reports that some percentages of expenditures have been made while some smaller amounts of revenue have been received, that does NOT concern me. That is normal because a great portion of their property tax revenue comes in December and January, which is the middle of their fiscal year. They have a large fund balance to cover that.
However, when it is reported that only half of the projected vacancies are there, I see that as a reason for concern.
Regarding this past budget, it was total foolishness to pass a budget with a 4% salary increase after already being on top of the salary scales the previous year. They just enjoy creating ISD inflation.
Student Discipline
Drew Shaw of the Arlington Report/Fort Worth Report has a story about teachers and parents wanting changes to the AISD discipline policy with numerous statistics: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/01/01/arlington-isd-parents-teachers-call-for-student-discipline-policy-reform-heres-why/ .
TEA Accountability Data:
In 2020, the AISD was tied for the highest M&O rate of all the school districts in Tarrant County. Since then, there has been NO tie. The AISD HAS the highest M&O rate in Tarrant County. [school district tax rates]
Top 5 of Tarrant County's 21 ISDs M&O Rates
1. Arlington ISD $0.812800
2. Birdville ISD $0.786900
2. Fort Worth ISD $0.786900
2. Godley ISD $0.786900
2. Mansfield ISD $0.786900
Of Tarrant County's 21 ISDs - Lowest Tax Rates [The rest are above $1.1300]
1. Grapevine-Colleyville ISD $0.923300
2. Carroll ISD $0.961700
3. HEB ISD $0.968900
4. Fort Worth ISD $1.062400
5. Keller ISD $1.085200
6. Azle ISD $1.097900
7. Arlington ISD $1.103500
8. Lewisville $1.117800
9. Northwest ISD $1.117900
Teacher Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html [Arlington ISD easily pays the highest salaries, creating ISD inflation.]
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Press Box
Other News
Property Taxes are Due
Pay your property taxes by January 31 to avoid penalty and interest. A press release in the Fort Worth Report: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/01/13/avoid-penalties-pay-your-taxes-before-february-1-2025/ .
Arlington Aces LGBTQ Score
Arlington aces the LGBTQ Equality Index score with a 100 [using taxpayers' dollars to help sponsor a Gay Pride event pays off]. Arlington was one of four Texas cities to get that score. [You are very limited to the number of The Texan articles before a paywall kicks in.] The article by Seth Morehead of The Texan: https://thetexan.news/issues/social-issues-life-family/arlington-austin-dallas-san-antonio-score-perfect-100-on-lgbt-municipal-equality-index/article_63fb8b04-cf96-11ef-93c3-8fc8b379a246.html?vgo_ee=bdtRnk6FWu%2FovoYPvjPdJ5OP82KGzvBGJiciOUvIxxrUB%2FP6xCtM%3Aik%2BSS9%2FVmxmx9PUUq8rpeSQG4%2BMfCfaQ .
HELPFUL CONTACTS
The Spectator: www.ArlSpectator.mysite.com
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We can be found on Facebook at ArlSpectator.
Open Letter to AISD Taxpayers
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_11.html
Teachers' Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html
Taxpayers' Funds at Risk:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_83.html
City Council grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_39.html
AISD Board grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_1.html
City of Arlington website: www.arlingtontx.gov
e-mails of mayor and council:
.................... first.last@arlingtontx.gov
mayor = jim.ross
district 1 (north) = mauricio.galante
district 2 (sw) = raul.gonzalez
district 3 (se) = nikkie.hunter
district 4 (west) = andrew.piel
district 5 (central/east) = rebecca.boxall
district 6 (all) = long.pham
district 7 (all) = bowie.hogg
district 8 (all) = barbara.odom-wesley
AISD website ....................... www.aisd.net
McMurrough............ - sarahforaisd@gmail.com
Fowler ................... - fowler.aisd@gmail.com
Mike .................. - larrymike.aisd@gmail.com
Wilbanks .......... - david@wilbanksforaisd.com
Chapa ...................... - chapa.aisd@gmail.com
Richardson ... - brooklyn.richardson.aisd@gmail.com
Haynes ................... - haynes.aisd@gmail.com
TEA Accountability Data:
ARC Political Watch Committee Reports
includes coverage of Mansfield ISD and national, state, county, & city
Texas Legislative Online:
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx
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