December 17, 2018 Newsletter

Council People Still Fighting the Term Limit Vote

A suit was filed by downtown establishment leader, Robert Johnson, trying to throw out the election, claiming the vote to establish term limits was invalid.

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/arlington/article223103050.html

Arlington City Council Update

The Arlington City Council met this past Tuesday, December 11. The next scheduled city council meeting is January 8.

Committee Meetings

The first committee meeting, which was early, 8am, saw half of their agenda not acted on because the presenter was not there. So the UTA legislative agenda will be pushed again. The parks naming of facilities was discussed.

The second committee discussed the plans for the 2018 audit. All was positive on the proposed procedure.

The third committee was in executive session.

Probably Another, But …

Well, now, after the fact, I found the meeting that occurred between the last committee meeting and the afternoon session last Tuesday. It was a Arlington Housing Finance Corporation meeting. It had two agenda items.

The first, “A resolution approving a certain Memorandum of Understanding; authorizing and directing the execution of the same; and containing other provisions relating to the subject.“ [this is transparency???]

The second was for a bond issuance, “A resolution concerning the issuance of bonds to finance a project for the benefit of TX Patriots Pointe 2019, Ltd. and related matters.“ [again, transparency??, no amount, no information???]

Patriots Pointe is the 184 apartments to be developed at Mayfield and New York. The council approved a resolution of “no objection” on October 30, so the developer is getting 4% funding from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).

So it would appear the developer is also getting funding from the city and the selling of bonds of the Arlington Housing Finance Corporation.

Afternoon Session

The afternoon session began in executive session. Mayor Williams and Council Member Moise were NOT present.

The mayor did decide to show up for the start of the open session. They listened to the status of the new ballpark. They have already spent $274 million of the city's funding.

Next up was the short-term rentals (STR) discussion. Several members of the city council seems unwilling to budge from the stance that it will be a very expensive process to get a “legal” STR.

Evening Meeting

Council Member Moise was not present for the evening meeting.

The consent agenda saw a modification to item 8.27 that was not explained. That was the $1.5 million transfer to the AISD regarding the building of the Natatorium.

The second reading of the cell tower was delayed by Council Member Capehart. The rest of the consent agenda was approved, 8-0.

The public hearing for three more drilling permits at the White Drill Site (1899 Turner Way) was approved, 8-0. There was one speaker in opposition.

The special resolution for the PBR (professional bull riders) event was approved.

Citizen Participation saw 11 speakers.

The first was publicizing his “Party for the Poor”. The second speaker spoke against the VIA contract/subsidy that was competing against Lyft and Uber. He then touched on the STR subject. The remaining nine speakers spoke on the STR subject.

Press Box

Interlochen Lights

The Interlochen lights runs from Friday, December 14 thru Christmas, Monday, December 25, 7:00-11:00pm.