December 30, 2024 Newsletter
December 30, 2024 – Volume 18 Number 53
Highlights:
* Happy New Year.
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:
Wednesday, January 1: Happy New Year.
Tuesday, January 7: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Wednesday, January 8: P&Z meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm.
Thursday, January 16: 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.)
Monday, January 20: MLK Holiday.
Wednesday, January 22: P&Z meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm.
Tuesday, January 28: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
From THE LOCKER ROOM
Arlington City Council Update
The city council did not meet last week. Their next meeting is Tuesday, January 7.
Correction: In last week's coverage of the December 17 evening meeting Mr. Gonzalez pulled the consent agenda item dealing with “diversity” of the Comprehensive Plan Committee. The spelling of his name was not not correct.
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Commentary
At the December 17 afternoon meeting we saw a major flaw of our city council. That meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/player/clip/5005?view_id=9&redirect=true .
At about 1:36:58 we hear Council Member Piel rip into the TAD chief appraiser speaking for about three minutes on how the council is now facing a $21 million deficit based on an expectation of a 5% increase in values. About 1:43:30 the mayor throws in his two cents.
As a taxpayer I know we have seen extremely large increases in values that started about six years ago. Those increases resulted in 10% city tax increases for taxpayers for years in a row. With the difference between “market value” and “appraised value” on homestead properties I am sure the city will still be seeing some increase in ad valorem taxes because of catching up on the difference of the values.
However, with all those increases, at some point you have to believe the “bubble” would eventually break. All those tax increases were far above the inflation rate (and the cost of doing business for the city). Though the city eventually started lowering the tax rate “somewhat” it was nowhere near the amount of the spending increases over inflation that were occurring in the city budget.
That led to an election of a TAD Board that eventually said enough is enough and decided to give the taxpayers some relief.
The problem is still that they claim a $21 million deficit coming because of banking on at least a 5% increase (which they are still getting to some extent) which is far above the inflation rate. The real problem is they are still increasing spending above the inflation rate.
The ironic part of Mr. Piel's argument of blaming it on the TAD Board is that the city and the other tax entities are the ones that vote in the majority of TAD Board members. The city council has no one to blame but themselves.
At budget time, you can often hear the city manager claim every dollar is not equal. All dollars cannot be spent on anything. This is true; however, by choice the AT&T stadium rent paid to the city has been put in the CVB funds, which then have very limited spending options (including paying to sponsor a gay pride event a couple of years ago).
Suggestion #1 for the $21 million deficit: put the AT&T rent income in the general fund.
Other: The city should be commended for what it does do well [by no means is this meant to be equal time].
In my opinion, it has been my experience that the city is significantly
more open/transparent when compared to other municipalities and school districts. I am very glad about that.
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Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
We do not know the date and location of the next board meeting.
Deal Fell Through???
The online October 11 Star-Telegram had a public notice for a public hearing to be held at the October 15 meeting. That evening (October 11) when the agenda was posted there was no public hearing. The November 19 and December 11 meetings had NO public hearings. Did the deal fall through? This was for a performance agreement with Parkway Lamar Partners regarding improvements for the Whole Foods Market for $310,000. Is Whole Foods Market leaving? Or was it too easy and now they are seeking a bigger deal?
Upcoming Public Hearings
On Tuesday, January 7, the city council will hold a public hearing to consider the proposed capital improvements of the 2025 Citizen Bond Committee.
On Tuesday, January 7, 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 7, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD23-37 on 5.390 acres at 1600 E. Pioneer Parkway. They wish for a planned development for mixed use with 48 apartments.
On Tuesday, January 7, 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.
On Tuesday, January 7, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-29 on 1.629 acres at 2809 N.W. Green Oaks Boulevard. They wish for a planned development for community commercial with a car wash.
On Wednesday, January 8, P&Z will hold a public hearing on SUP24-9 on 0.521 acres at 3007 E. Abram Street. They wish for a communication tower.
On Wednesday, January 8, 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-7.2). If approved this will go to the city council on February 25.
On Wednesday, January 8, P&Z 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. If approved this will go to the city council on February 4.
On Wednesday, January 8, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-24 on 3.003 acres at 700 E. Randol Mill Road. They wish for a change in zoning from Residential Multi-Family-22 (RMF-22) to Planned Development (PD) for Residential Multi-Family-22 (RMF-22) uses. If approved this will go to the city council on February 4.
On Wednesday, January 8, P&Z 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. If approved this will go to the city council on February 4.
On Wednesday, January 8, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-26 at 6601 Silo Road. They wish for a change in zoning from Neighborhood Commercial (NC) and Community Commercial (CC) to Planned Development (PD) for Neighborhood Commercial (NC) plus Recreation/outdoor, uses with a development plan, on approximately 10.64 acres. If approved this will go to the city council on February 4.
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 PD24-17 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, 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, January 28, 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, 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.
???, the Economic Development Corporation Board will hold a public hearing for $310,000 for a performance agreement with Parkway Lamar Partners regarding improvements for the Whole Foods Market.
???, 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 will next meet on Wednesday, January 8.
AISD School Board
The AISD School Board is planning to meet on Thursday, January 16.
We include here an open letter to AISD parents from David Jarvis. It can also be found on our website at: http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_11.html .
Open letter to Arlington ISD Taxpayers 12-12-24
David Jarvis
I am a retired attorney who investigated and prosecuted criminal fraud schemes for over 34 years with the United States Attorney Offices in both Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. The first step in any investigation was to ask questions to discover the true facts - since I first had to find the truth before I could determine what (if any) wrongdoing had occurred. In the summer of 2022, I used the same approach (first seek the true facts) in my interactions with AISD administrators and the Arlington Board of Trustees (the Board).
The Texas Family Code, Section 151.001(a)(1) states that a parent of a child has “both the right and duty to direct the moral and religious training of the child.” Section 151.003 further states “…a state agency may not …. take any other action that violates the fundamental right and duty of a parent to direct the upbringing of the parent’s child.”
Both the Bible, state law and common sense support the belief that the parents alone (not AISD) have the responsibility for the moral and religious training of their children. The main reason I filed my first AISD written grievance in Nov 2022 was to find out to what extent AISD teachers were providing any form of moral guidance to AISD students - in violation of the above-referenced Texas law. To determine what (if any) moral guidance AISD was providing to students, I asked AISD what guidance (if any) AISD provided to teachers on how teachers should answer the following questions from a student: 1) I am transgender. I’ m a boy, but I think I’m really a girl. What should I do? 2) I am transgender. I’ m a girl, but I think I’m really a boy. What should I do? 3) I think I am same sex attracted. What should I do? 4) I am a biological male, but I since I identify as a girl, I want to use the girl’s restroom – is that okay? or 5) Does AISD policy require teachers to notify parents about any of the above conversations between AISD teachers and students?
When these questions finally reached a Level 4 Board hearing on 6-8-23 – the Board closed the Board hearing to the public and forced all parents and taxpayers to leave the room. I told the Board that I objected to this unlawful closure as a violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act. When the Board falsely claimed that my grievance involved “personnel matters” and thus required a closed meeting – I pointed out that these issues involved the conduct (not identity) of AISD employees. To show my good faith - I also agreed not to identify any AISD employees by my name during any open hearing. The Board overruled my objection and closed the hearing to the public. After the closed hearing was conducted, the Board unanimously denied all four of my consolidated grievances.
Based on this unlawful closure of the 6-8-23 Board hearing, a lawsuit was filed in Texas state court on 1-19-24 by co-plaintiffs Citizens Defending Freedom and David Jarvis. A lawsuit was needed to hold the Board fully accountable for their unlawful closure of the 6-8-23 Board hearing and is still pending (now in federal court) despite my efforts to resolve the matter through settlement.
On 4-11-24, AISD Superintendent Matt Smith unlawfully dismissed four additional grievances I filed. These dismissed grievances related to my efforts to seek information regarding various issues, including – (1) what training and instruction AISD provides to teachers and students about abortion, race relations, same sex attraction, gender identity or transgender issues? (2) does AISD inform parents that AISD provides such training to students? (3) does AISD inform parents that Texas state law gives parents the “fundamental right to direct the moral and religious training of their children”? and (4) does AISD believe they have any obligation or responsibility to provide moral training or instruction to AISD students? Rather than provide this information, AISD has continued to hide the truth from taxpayers and parents – and resisted my ability to obtain answers to these questions.
On 4-19-24, AISD administrator Scott Kahl dismissed two additional pending Jarvis grievances. One of these two grievances asked AISD to provide information about the scope and conduct of AISD student counseling services provided to students related abortion, racial equity, same sex attraction and gender identity generally. The AISD Public Complaint Policy does not allow AISD to dismiss any complaint (grievance) that was timely filed. All six of my dismissed grievances were timely filed.
The Texas Education Code, Section 11.1511(b)(13) states: “The board shall: by rule, adopt a process through which district personnel, students or the parents or guardians of students, and members of the public may obtain a hearing from the district administrators and the board regarding a complaint.” The Board’s dismissal of these six grievances denied my right under state law to obtain a Board hearing on each of these six grievances (many involved the same sensitive moral issues). Such unlawful dismissals were used to shield the Board from political accountability to voters at the next Board election for their wrongful denial of valid grievances.
On 9-13-24, Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint of the same lawsuit was filed to include additional claims against AISD based on their retaliatory and unlawful actions. That case is set for trial on 9-15-25.
For the past 2 + years, the Board has consistently refused to be transparent – knowing that transparency leads to truth, and truth leads to future accountability to voters. My goal is to inform religious and community leaders that AISD has repeatedly resisted providing the truth to parents and voters and has engaged in a pattern of lawless conduct (as detailed above). I am available to speak with parents/taxpayers and community groups to answer any of your questions. I urge people with integrity and conviction to step up and run for a position on the Board. 2-14-25 is the filing deadline for the 5-3-25 school board election. Why should we trust present Board members with our vote on May 3 – when they have a history of refusing to trust parents and taxpayers with the truth?
David Jarvis
(817) 991-7153
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.]
Press Box
Other News
HELPFUL CONTACTS
The Spectator: www.ArlSpectator.mysite.com
to be added/deleted to/from the mailing list e-mail: ArlSpectator@yahoo.com
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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