Kennedale Observer - Latest Newsletter

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August 16, 2026 –Volume 9 Number 33

HIGHLIGHTS:

* The city council will meet Tuesday; Set to approve the budget, tax rate, new board appointments, and $5 million in bonds.

* Low-income townhomes public hearing for P&Z not heard last Monday; they will hold a special P&Z meeting to hear the case on September 3.

SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, August 18: City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 25: EDC Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, August 27: ?P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 3: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 5: Bring It Clean Up, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Proof of citizenship required.

Monday, September 7: Labor Day.

Tuesday, September 8: KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 8: Parks Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, September 10: Board of Adjustments meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, September 11: 9/11 Ceremony, 9:00 a.m.

Tuesday, September 15: City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

KNOW WHAT YOUR CITY IS UP TO...

Your City Council

The city council will meet this Tuesday, August 18 for their regular monthly meeting. That agenda packet can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3671/files/agenda/10825 .

The agenda includes a work session, presentations, public comment, two public hearings, a regular session, and an executive session.

The only work session item is board appointments (which is also an item in executive session). The current board members and status of current renewal positions (report).

Presentations include Brinson Benefits Presentation (no presentation available at the time of this writing), library card signup proclamation (document), and a senior center month proclamation (document).

The two public hearings are on the budget and the tax rate ($0.696190).

The regular session includes:

* reports and announcements (financials)

* consent agenda (July 27 minutes , August 4 minutes , ordinance for the Atmos Steering Committee agreement (information starts on .pdf page 39 of the above packet link).

* nine items for individual consideration.

The nine items for individual consideration.

1. Roll call vote on the FY2027 budget (information starts on .pdf page 59 of the above packet link).

2. Ratification of the FY2027 property tax rate (staff report).

3. Roll call vote on Ordinance 804, for the FY2027 tax rate of $0.696190 (information starts on .pdf page 209 of the above packet link).

4. Ordinance 805, the Issuance and Sale delivery of $5 million in bonds (information starts on .pdf page 215 of the above packet link).

5. Discuss and approve the various employee benefit insurance plans (staff report).

6. Review of Investment Report (information starts on .pdf page 259 of the above packet link).

7. PZ26-04, updating the sign ordinance portion of the Unified Development Code (UDC) (information starts on .pdf page 279 of the above packet link).

8. PZ26-14, replat of 439 Mansfield Cardinal Road (information starts on .pdf page 287 of the above packet link).

9. Approve the $1,011,800 contract for rehabilitation of the T-3 water tower, 500 Gail Drive (staff report , contract).

The executive session includes board appointments and a potential land deal.

Leftovers:

We have taken the .pdf Investigation Report and converted it to text (far from 100% perfect) and tried to make improvements at: http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_13.html .

Previous Analysis:

Results: The evidence does NOT confirm…

See the November 9, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Witch Hunt?

See the November 16, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Jeff Nevarez interview – Our Part I

See the November 16, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Jeff Nevarez interview – Our Part II

See the November 23, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Was the Investigation Hi-jacked by the City Attorney and City Manager?

See the November 30, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Pay to Play Scandal

See the December 7, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Wandell Investigation Files

See the December 14, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Lack of Accountability/Afraid to Speak

See the December 21, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Griffith vs. Hull – “The Threat”

See the January 4, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Chamber Vote

See the January 11, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Hiring Austin Degenhart

See the January 18, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

City Manager has Favorites?

See the January 25, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Our Commentary

See the February 1, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

“No Shame” Griffith

See the February 15, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Last Week

Keep Kennedale Beautiful (KKB) met on Tuesday (agenda). It can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tv5rZghaoo . The Parks Board also met on Tuesday (agenda). That meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2zR4p7bRIs .

The Board of Appeals (BOA) held a public hearing on Thursday. The meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zanfYec-OFA . The start of the meeting is at 5:43. They continued the public hearing until the next meeting (September 10).

This Week

The city council is scheduled for its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday.

Public Hearings

On Tuesday, August 18, the city council will hold a public hearing on PZ26-04, amending the sign ordinance.

On Tuesday, August 18, the city council will hold a public hearing on the budget (https://classifieds.mcclatchy.com/marketplace/fortworth/advert/-Notices_237575).

On Tuesday, August 18, the city council will hold a public hearing on the tax rate (https://classifieds.mcclatchy.com/marketplace/fortworth/advert/-Notices_237576).

On Thursday, September 3, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ26-13, a planned development for townhomes along 509 Corry A Edwards to 506 North Road.

On September 10, the Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on BOA26-03 regarding a special exemption at 404 E. Kennedale Parkway. (continued)

On ???, the city council will hold a public hearing on PZ26-13, a planned development for townhomes along 509 Corry A Edwards to 506 North Road.

EDC

The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Board is scheduled to meet Tuesday, August 25.

P&Z

P&Z did NOT meet for a special meeting Monday, August 10 because they did NOT have a quorum. The agenda packet for the meeting can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3916/files/agenda/10796 . The non-meeting may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITtiVQllqmU .

The first public hearing was to be for PD26-13, the low-income townhomes at 509 Corry A Edwards and a portion of 506 North Road. The information for this case starts on .pdf page 13 of the above agenda packet link. They wish to develop 59 townhome units (varying between 1074-1352 sq. ft.). [density 11.8 units/acre]

One staff report “observation” is, “The proposal indicates a moderate level of density with a design far more compatible to a traditional small-town area than would be true for a more conventional/modern apartment complex.” [LOL, these are townhomes, they are supposed to have less density than an apartment complex. The fact is the 11.8 units/acre density exceeds Kennedale's Unified Development Code (UDC) standard of 8. The hard sell is on...]

They will now hold a special P&Z meeting to hear the case on Thursday, September 3.

Other News....

Zoning Low-income Townhomes

A public hearing for low-income townhomes (PZ26-13) was scheduled to be on P&Z's special meeting agenda for Monday, August 10 and the city council meeting for Tuesday, August 18. However, the meeting was not held (no quorum). Staff has now scheduled a special P&Z meeting for Thursday, September 3 to hold the public hearing.

TAD Rates

Tarrant Appraisal District has published the tax rates (October 2025) for the county. Kennedale has now dropped to the eighth highest municipality. [https://www.tad.org/content/rates/2025TaxRates.pdf ].

Top eleven of 41 (everyone else is < 0.65)

1. Everman 1.0260800

2. Sansom Park 0.8457840

3. Blue Mound 0.8138000

4. River Oaks 0.7439910

5. Burleson 0.7218000

6. White Settlement 0.7147780

7. Forest Hill 0.7004660

8. Kennedale 0.6961900

9. Pelican Bay 0.6762930

10. Fort Worth 0.6700000

11. Grand Prairie 0.6600000