November 4, 2024 Newsletter
November 4, 2024 – Volume 18 Number 45
Highlights:
* Early voting has ended – Election Day is Tuesday.
* The city council meet last Friday for a special sessions meeting.
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:
Tuesday, November 5: National Election Day.
Tuesday, November 7: 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, November 11: Veterans Day.
Tuesday, November 12: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Wednesday, November 13: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm.)
Tuesday, November 19: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Thursday, November 21: 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.)
Thursday, November 28: Thanksgiving.
From THE LOCKER ROOM
Arlington City Council Update
The city council met this past Friday, November 1, for a priority setting session. This meeting was not saved to nor broadcasted on the internet. The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, November 12.
The agenda for this special meeting had a financial update, core service issues, resource materials, and governance documents listed as the main broad topics.
The financial update was a FY2026 preview (presentation). They are looking at a $15.5 million funding gap for FY2026.
There were four core service issues discussed.
1 Comprehensive plan update (presentation).
2. Stormwater program update (presentation).
3. Connect Arlington [transportation] report implementation status (presentation).
4. Clean Arlington update (presentation). There is a map of homeless encampment activity on .pdf page 12 of the presentation.
There were three resource materials.
1. Economic trends (presentation).
2. Socioeconomic dashboard update (no presentation available).
3. City benchmark comparisons (no presentation available).
There were three governance documents.
1. Council mission, vision, and priorities (presentation).
2. Evidence of success (presentation).
3. Council policy agenda (presentation).
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In last week’s newsletter we reported that the comprehensive plan consultant, “Consent agenda item 8.26 needed more work on the contract and was pulled from the consent agenda.” During the afternoon session [ https://www.arlingtontx.gov/cms/one.aspx?pageId=15052707 ] about 3:54:55, the city attorney states that the item/contract needed more work and asked that the council table the item.
Well for some reason, the Arlington Report/Fort Worth Report felt there was more to that story. The James Hartley story for the Arlington Report/Fort Worth Report: https://fortworthreport.org/2024/10/28/arlington-delays-hiring-consultant-focused-on-ecology-walkability-for-citys-comprehensive-plan-2/ .
State of the City
The mayor gave his state of the city address last Thursday. The city's coverage by Susan Schrock: https://www.arlingtontx.gov/news/my_arlington_t_x/news_stories/state_of_the_city_2024_recap . The James Hartley story for the Arlington Report/Fort Worth Report: https://fortworthreport.org/2024/10/30/from-flying-taxis-to-major-redevelopments-arlington-mayor-shares-his-vision-for-citys-future-2/ .
Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
We do not know when the next EDC board meeting will be. They do want to have a public hearing on another “deal”, so we believe they will have a November meeting.
Arlington’s EDC is easily the largest sales tax supported EDC in the state. This gives spending addicted politicians greater than $20 million annually with which to fund their buddies.
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Upcoming Public Hearings
On Tuesday, November 12, the city council will hold a public hearing for TIRZ #50 (Tax Incremental Reinvestment Zone). [The public notice gives a bunch of legal descriptions, but I believe this is for the property at 1521 N. Cooper Street.]
On Wednesday, November 13, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD16-3R1 on 1.806 acres at 1211 W. Harris Road. They wish to add “flex” to the current PD options. If P&Z approves, it will go to the city council on December 10.
On Wednesday, November 13, 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 P&Z approves it, this will go to the city council on December 10.
On Wednesday, November 13, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-10 on 9.792 acres at 300 East Stephens Street. They wish for a planned development of RMF-22 [more apartments]. If P&Z approves, it will go to the city council on December 10.
On Wednesday, November 13, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-21 on 1.210 acres at 1531/1537 W. Randol Mill Road. They wish to add a plan development with neighborhood commercial “NC”. If P&Z approves, it will go to the city council on December 17.
On Wednesday, November 13, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-23 on 74.399 acres at 8213-8339 Business Highway US-287. They wish for a planned development for office commercial for a cemetery, crematory, and funeral chapel. If P&Z approves, it will go to the city council on November 19.
On Wednesday, November 13, 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. If P&Z approves, it will go to the city council on December 17.
On Tuesday, November 19, the city council will consider a tax abatement for Texas Trust Credit Union, 1521 N. Cooper Street. There is no information on the size of the tax abatement.
On Wednesday, December 4, P&Z 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 PD23-37 on 5.390 acres at 1600 E. Pioneer Parkway. They wish for a planned development for mixed use with 48 apartments.
???, the Economic Development Corporation Board will have 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, November 13. Tentatively they have six public hearings scheduled.
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AISD School Board
The AISD School Board is scheduled to meet Thursday, November 7. The agenda has been posted at: https://www.aisd.net/wp-content/files/2024.11.07-Regular-Meeting-Agenda.pdf . That agenda includes a 5:00pm governance workshop, an executive session, four recognitions, four committee and staff reports, an action item, consent agenda, and a Level IV grievance hearing – student appeal.
The executive session includes the following discussion points:
1. Personnel, including new hires, retirements, resignations, leaves of absence, dismissals, terminations, non-renewals, non-extensions, and evaluation,
2. Consult attorney regarding potential and pending litigation,
3. Personally Identifiable Information of Student Discipline Issue, and
4. Duties of Public Officers
a. Board Self Reflection
The four recognitions listed:
A. Student Performance by Region 5 Middle School Honor Orchestra,
B. Student of the Month,
C. Community Partner Award of Appreciation, and
D. Risk Management Award
The four committee and staff reports listed:
A. Governance Committee Report,
B. Behavior Support Report,
C. 2019 Bond Update Report, and
D. 2023-2024 Parent Survey Report
The action item is a possible vote on TAD Board membership. The AISD has 406 of the 5,000 total votes. There are 14 people running, but a list of those individuals was NOT provided.
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
AISD Underperforms on STAAR
The Arlington Report story as reported by The Fort Worth Report written by Dang Le: https://fortworthreport.org/2024/06/21/arlington-isd-still-lags-behind-in-staar-heres-a-breakdown-of-results .
Mr. Le states that, “No grade or subject saw over 45% of students meet grade level.” Couple that with the fact that the AISD has the highest paid teachers [for several years now, and yet test scores are not even close], and the question becomes when is the real problem going to be fixed?
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The Spectator: www.ArlSpectator.mysite.com
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We can be found on Facebook at ArlSpectator.
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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