June 23, 2025 Newsletter

Home ============ Teachers' Salaries ============ Citizens Defending Freedom vs. AISD Lawsuit ============== Taxpayers' Funds at Risk ============ Open Letter to AISD Taxpayers ============ June 30, 2025 Newsletter ============= Arlington City CouncilGrades ============= AISD Board Grades ================ June 23, 2025 Newsletter ============ June 16, 2025 Newsletter ============ June 9, 2025 Newsletter =========== June 2, 2025 Newsletter ============ ================ Jim Ross, Mayor ============= Mauricio Galante, District1 ============= Raul Gonzalez, District2 ============= Nikkie Hunter, District3 ============= Andrew Piel, District4 ============= Rebecca Boxall, District5 ============= Long Pham, District6 ============= Bowie Hogg, District7 ============== Barbara Odom-Wesley, District8 ============= Sarah McMurrough, AISDPlace1 ============= Melody Fowler, AISDPlace2 ============= Larry Mike, AISDPlace3 ============= David Wilbanks, AISDPlace4 ========== Justin Chapa, AISDPlace5 ============= Brooklyn Richardson, AISDPlace6 ============= Leanne Haynes, AISDPlace7 ============= Fact Sheet - November 8, 2022 Election ============ ++++++++++++ ============= Kennedale Observer Homepage =========== Kennedale Senior Tax Freeze ============== Kennedale City CouncilGrades ========== Texas Open Meetings Act Violations??? ============== The Bridge ============== Kennedale Observer - Latest Newsletter ============ Prior to That Newsletter ================ Brad Horton, Kennedale Mayor ============ David Glover, Kennedale Place 1 ============= Thelma Kobeck, Kennedale Place 2 =========== Ken Michels, Kennedale Place 3 ==============P3 Chris Gary, Kennedale Place 4 =========== Jeff Nevarez, Kennedale Place 5 ============ Kennedale City Council Compare ========== 1083 Bowman Springs Road Kennedale ============ What to Know About the Texas Raceway Project ================ Kennedale EDC MMA contract information ==============

June 23, 2025 – Volume 19 Number 25

Highlights:

* Best Guess: EDC did not vote on the spending of $65,000,000 on Phase II of the espace project.

* AISD passes proposed budget and tax rate.

* City Council meets Tuesday; More budget talk and legislative update on the agenda.

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

Open Letter to AISD Taxpayers

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_11.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, June 24: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)

Friday, July 4: Independence Day.

Wednesday, July 16: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm.

Tuesday, August 5: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)

Wednesday, August 6: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm.

From THE LOCKER ROOM

Arlington City Council Update

The city council will meet this Tuesday, June 24. The first of two committee meetings is at 10:30am. The afternoon session begins at 12:45pm and goes into executive session. The open portion of the afternoon meeting will start no sooner than 3:00pm. The evening meeting is at 6:30pm.

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Committee Meetings

The Finance and Audit Committee will meet at 10:30am for about 45 minutes to discussion the library facilities overview (presentation). [Based on the budget discussion two weeks ago, a cost saving measure might be to close one of the libraries. The evening agenda has a contract for some work to be done at the Ron Wright/Lake Arlington Library.]

The Community and Neighborhood Development Committee will meet at 11:30am for about 15 minutes to discuss the 2025 Historic Preservation Fund (presentation).

The quasi-committee Arlington Housing Finance Corporation will meet at noon (agenda). [They are expected to approve two resolutions, of which I have no idea of the significance, so I have cut and pasted:

a. A resolution authorizing the filing of an application for reservation with the Texas Bond Review Board with respect to qualified mortgage bonds or mortgage credit certificates; and containing other provisions relating to the subject; and

b. A resolution approving delegation of bond issuance authority and assignment of private activity bond authority to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs; authorizing the execution and delivery of an assignment agreement; and containing other provisions relating to the subject.]

Afternoon Meeting

The afternoon meeting begins at 12:45pm and goes into executive session to discuss:

Legal Discussion Regarding SB840;

Discussion Regarding the Option to Purchase 501 N. East Street;

Discussion regarding a proposed Grant of Rights for the use of city property interests in connection with a private development on W. Green Oaks Boulevard;

Discussion regarding the sale or lease of property at 1901 Lakewood Drive; and

Offers of Incentives to Business Prospects.

The open portion of the afternoon meeting will begin no sooner than 3:00pm. That portion of the agenda includes two work session items, four informal staff reports, appointments to boards and committees (appointments), council's external committee reports, and some sort of discussion on the display of restaurants' health inspection certificates (???-no presentation available).

The first work session item is a FY26 budget planning update (currently no presentation, but probably will have one posted on Tuesday)

The second work session item is an update from the state legislative session (presentation).

Four informal staff reports:

1. Attracting Creative, Film and Media Productions to Arlington (staff report);

2. Downtown Pedestrian Safety (staff report);

3. Multi-Family Annual Property Inspection (API) Program Scoring System (staff report); and

4. Capital Improvements Program Advisory Committee (CIPAC) January 2025 Semi-Annual Report (staff report , executive summary , actual report).

Evening Meeting

The agenda for the 6:30pm evening meeting includes appointments, minutes, 65 consent agenda items, and seven public hearings (the two related to Anthem-the redevelopment of Lincoln Square will be continued until August 26).

Consent agenda item 7.28 is for $2,186,354 for a construction contract for the [Airport] Fixed-Base Operator Building Remodel with C1S Group, Inc. (staff report).

Consent agenda item 7.56 names Council Member Odom-Wesley as mayor pro tempore and Council Member Gonzalez as deputy mayor pro tempore (resolution).

Consent agenda item 7.62 is a modification to the ground lease agreement with the Arlington Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to add the additional space for a new hanger (staff report). Not on the agenda is anything to do with the $65,000,000 deal with espace and the EDC, leading me to believe the EDC did not have an approval vote last Tuesday.

Public hearing #1 is to determine that no changes to the land use assumptions, capital improvements plan or impact fees are needed for the 2025 update of the impact fee program (staff report).

Public hearing #2 is to allow Oncor the rights to 6.190 acres in Bob Cluck Linear Park for an electric substation (staff report).

Public hearing #3 and #4 have to do with Anthem-the redevelopment of Lincoln Square and its alternate sign plan. These two public hearings will not be heard this evening, but on August 26.

Public hearing #5 is for a Planned Development (PD) for Community Commercial (CC) uses plus Motor Vehicle Sales at 4300 New York Avenue, 1601 East Bardin Road, and 1700 E. Interstate 20 Highway (staff report).

Public hearing #6 is for a Specific Use Permit SUP25-2 for a Secondary Living Unit at 319 Matlock Meadow Drive, zoned Residential Single-Family 7.2 (RS-7.2) (staff report).

Public hearing #7 is for the development plan DP25-01 for a multi-family development on property zoned Residential Multi-Family 22 (RMF-22) with a maximum density of 16 units per acre. First reading of an ordinance adopting Development Plan DP25-01 on certain property known as 2601 W. Randol Mill Road zoned Residential Multi-Family 22 (RMF-22) (staff report).

# # # # # # # # # # # #

Economic Development Corporation (EDC)

The EDC Board met this past Tuesday, June 17. The giant issue was to approve Phase II [of three] of the espace project deal costing the EDC $65,000,000 [added to the $50,000,000 for Phase I] [in addition to city funding]. [Last month it looked like they were getting ready to set up for the selling of bonds. This would seem to be why. My best guess is the next meeting will be about bonds.] This $65,000,000 did NOT appear on this week's city council agenda leading me to believe it was NOT voted upon by the EDC.

The packet for the meeting can be found at: https://arlingtontxedc.com/assets/main/agendas/june-17,-2025.pdf .

The agenda included:

Open session:

A. Downtown BID (presentation) [Look for potential funds to be spent on this in the near future.]; and

B. e-space $65,000,000 Phase II public hearing (staff report) [I could not find the details of the “deal” for Phase II, other than saying it was accelerating and combining the first two phases]. This $65,000,000 did NOT appear on this week's city council agenda leading me to believe it was NOT voted upon by the EDC.

Action items:

A. Airport lease agreement with the city (staff report). This appears to be adding 1.78 acres to the agreement for a hangar. [I believe since federal funds were used to buy the portions of the airport, the city must make ground lease deals such as this rather than selling/giving/exchanging it with the EDC.] This was approved.

B. Contract amendment #1 to the construction manager-at-risk contract (staff report). This appears to be moving the cost of the airport apron and bridge from the manager-at-risk contract to some future contract agreement with another company.

Upcoming Public Hearings

On Tuesday, June 24, the city council will hold a public hearing on updates to the impact fee program. They are not planning any updates.

On Tuesday, June 24, the city council will hold a public hearing to allow Oncor to put an electrical substation on a portion of Dr. Robert Cluck Linear Park.

On Tuesday, June 24, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD25-3 at 4300 New York Avenue, 1700 E. Interstate Highway 20, and 1601 E. Bardin Road. They wish for a planned development on the 13.327 acres for auto sales, new. It is currently zoned for PD-LI, a planned development for light industrial.

On Tuesday, June 24, P&Z will hold a public hearing on SUP25-2 at 319 Matlock Meadow Drive. They wish for a secondary living unit.

On Tuesday, June 24, the city council will hold a public hearing on DP25-1 at 2601 W. Randol Mill Road. They wish for a development plan on the 23.28 acres zoned RMF-22 (22 unit/acre maximum).

On Wednesday, July 16, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-28 at 5920 Matlock Road. They wish for a planned development on the 3.165 acres for RM-12 (usually townhomes) and office. It is currently zoned all office commercial.

On Tuesday, August 5, the city council will hold a public hearing to issue $12,000,000 in certificates of obligation (CO).

On Tuesday, August 26, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-40 for a planned development for a portion of Lincoln Square.

On Tuesday, August 26, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-40-ASP for an alternate sign plan for Lincoln Square.

P&Z Commission

P&Z met this past Wednesday, June 18. There were three zoning case public hearings on the agenda. The full agenda can be found at: https://www.arlingtontx.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/planning-and-development-services/documents/planning-and-zoning/june-18-2025-regular-session-agenda.pdf . The city has not posted the recording of the meeting online yet, so I will need to report on it next week.

AISD School Board

The AISD School Board will meet this Tuesday, June 17. Their agenda includes a public hearing on the proposed tax rate. The agenda can be found at: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/2978?meeting=689516 .

The meeting is expected to open and go into executive session for:

A. Personnel;

B. Consult Attorney Regarding Potential and Pending Litigation;

C. TEA District Vulnerability Audit; and

D. Discuss the purchase of real property.

The open portion of the meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXNB6hRkSBk . All board members were present.

(0:01) Opening and recognitions.

(9:30) Open forum for agenda items had no speakers.

(9:50) Appointments were approved, 7-0.

Jynine Caldwell - Assistant Principal Larson Elementary

Estefania Gomez - Assistant Principal Thornton Elementary

(15:20) Open forum for non-agenda items had one speaker. The former TAD board candidate spoke on TAD issues.

Four Committee and staff reports.

(19:17) Citizen Bond and Oversight Committee report. About 49:03 it was opened to board members for comments/questions.

(1:04:26) 2019 Bond update. A lot on the future Cravens and Wilemon Stadium improvements. About 1:23:09 it was opened to board members for comments/questions.

(1:30:43) Curriculum Management Audit Report. This was a report on the first of the two-phase audit. Organizational chart and job description improvements are needed. System-wide goals need to be recognized in curriculum planning, guidance, and management. The professional learning plan should focus on curriculum. About 1:48:48 it was opened to board members for comments/questions.

(2:02:44) Legislative Impact on Educator Compensation Report. About 2:08:12 it was opened to board members for comments/questions.

(2:29:52) Public hearing on 2025-2026 Budget and Tax Rate and also the first action item (approval of the budget). They are projecting a tax rate of $1.0910 (estimating what compression will be). They are projecting $615 million in revenues (compared to $601 million in the current year). They are projecting a $13 million deficit. There were no public speakers at the public hearing. At about 2:46:42 they started the discussion of adopting the budget. The budget and tax rate were approved, 7-0.

(3:04:07) Final two of three action items:

Sale of Property at 2424 Hedgeapple Drive.

Purchase of Property at 1323 W. Pioneer Parkway.

These were approved with two 7-0 votes.

(3:05:41) Consent agenda. Items O and Q were removed. The rest of the consent agenda was approved, 7-0. There was no more discussion on item O, as staff wanted more time to work on the Arlington ISD Local Policy Review Session Additions/Revisions/Deletions. Item Q was considered separately because Mr. Chapa's spouse works for the company and he wished to abstain on the Child Care Management Services contract. It was approved, 6-0-1.

(3:07:40) End of meeting reports.

Mr. Mike presented the Board Brief at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ja4kEt-EfM .

[Commentary: Unfortunately, the school district does NOT even try to be transparent. NONE of the items on the agenda are clickable where you could find out more information. Back several months ago [the old system, February saw a change in systems] they at least put a packet out there which allowed the public to see some details on some of the items.]

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