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July 26, 2026 – Volume 9 Number 30

HIGHLIGHTS:

* City Council to meet this Monday, July 27. [also will meet Tuesday, August 4]

* Low-income townhomes public hearing for P&Z now scheduled for Monday, August 10.

* Low-income apartments coming to the KISD.

SCHEDULE:

Monday, July 27: City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 28: EDC Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 4: City Council Special meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Monday, August 10: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 11: KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 11: Parks Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

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.

KNOW WHAT YOUR CITY IS UP TO...

Your City Council

The July monthly city council meeting has been rescheduled to this Monday, July 27. The agenda can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3915/files/agenda/10740 .

The 5:30 p.m. agenda lists a budget workshop (budget letter , budget draft) before the 6:30 p.m. roll call. The proposed budget suggests the general fund will see a decrease in property tax revenue of approximately $133,000, while an increase in total revenue of approximately $425,000. There was no mention of the property tax rate.

After the 6:30 p.m. roll call there is public comment, a presentation section (Turnkey Developmet Group), a regular session, and an executive session (board appointments).

The regular session includes reports and announcements (financials), consent agenda, and items for individual consideration.

There are six consent agenda items.

1. June 15 minutes

2. June 16 minutes

3. June 24 minutes

4. replat at 5400 High Ridge Road (staff report)

5. replat at 600 W Kennedale Parkway (staff report)

6. replat at 616 W Kennedale Parkway (staff report)

There are five items for individual consideration:

1. Keep Kennedale Beautiful (KKB) wishes to rename the butterfly garden to the Wilda Turner Butterfly Garden (staff report)

2. Hazard Mitigation Action Plan (staff report)

3. Department of Justice Grant application (staff report)

4. Fellowship Academy School Resource Officer contract (revised contract)

5. Rehabilitation of Water Storage Tank, 500 Gail Drive (staff report)

[Commentary: Missing from Monday's agenda is any discussion of the bonds being issued in August. The lack of discussion means the council is moving forward on everything being 20-year bonds, including the ladder fire truck. There appears to be no interest in saving the taxpayers’ interest. The SAMCO document given to the city council had shown that cutting the ladder fire truck to 15-years would save taxpayers over $200,000 in interest and would have NOT raised the I&S (debt service) rate past the current projected high of $0.2131 (it would have been one additional year at that projected rate).]

# # # # # # # # # # #

Leftovers:

The “Investigation” was listed on the executive session agenda for the October 21, 2025 meeting. Council Member Kobeck came out of executive session and made the motion to waive the attorney-client privilege and release the investigation report to the public. That motion was approved, 4-0.

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

P&Z did NOT meet last Thursday (agenda). They did NOT have a quorum. The non-meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVVGux9WIds . The meeting has been rescheduled for Monday, August 10.

This Week

This week the city council meets on Monday. The EDC meets on Tuesday.

Public Hearings

On Tuesday, August 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on PZ26-04, amending the sign ordinance.

On Tuesday, August 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on PZ26-10, amending Article 3 of the Unified Development Code (UDC). This appears to modify many of the standards for townhomes.

On Monday, August 10, 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 Tuesday, August 18, 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.

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

On ???, the city council will hold a public hearing on PZ26-09, amending Article 29 of the Unified Development Code (UDC). This appears to modify the P&Z, regarding number of members, requirements for quorum, and whatever else.

EDC

The next Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Board meeting will be this Tuesday, July 28. The agenda packet can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3781/files/agenda/10739 .

The agenda includes reports and announcements, consent agenda, and items for individual consideration.

Reports and announcements include 1) Pavick and Associates marketing and strategic plan, 2) finacials, and 3) an update on the Town Center development.

There are five items for individual consideration.

1. Grant application – Goldwaite – 705 W. Kennedale Parkway (starts on page 17 of the packet link above).

2. EDC property acquisition policy (updated version)

3. Nearly Famous Burgers & Wings (no information given)

4. YMCA update

5. Soda and snack machine (screen shot)

P&Z

P&Z did NOT have a quorum and therefore did NOT meet this past Thursday, July 23 (agenda). The non-meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVVGux9WIds . Staff quickly public noticed a replacement meeting for Monday, August 10. [These low-income townhomes are important.]

Other News....

Zoning Low-income Townhomes

A public hearing for low-income townhomes (PZ26-13) is scheduled to be on P&Z's special meeting agenda for Monday, August 10 and the city council meeting for Tuesday, August 18. The addresses according to the public notice are 509 Corry A Edwards and 506 North Road [I believe the properties running along the north of Daleview Drive residences then out to North Road.]

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

Commentary Updates

Low-income housing questions: No one offered any positive notes supporting the idea of low-income housing being beneficial, yet the city council will most likely approve it on August 18. [My opinion: Any appearance or perception to hurt the KISD will hurt the city property values. The only benefits are short-term and have a net negative effect overall.]

Community Garden update: Open records requests produced NOTHING of an approved location move. The EDC agenda has NO mention of the community garden. The council person that said he would answer questions has not posted any answers. [Three strikes and you're out[?] at the old ball game...]

KISD Low-Income Apartments

On June 23 the Arlington City Council reconsidered and now has approved low-income apartments along U.S. Highway 287 (approximate address 6700 and others). There should be a second reading of the ordinance on August 4. These apartments will be in the KISD. Lance Murray of the Arlington Report has an article after the item passed P&Z at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/05/22/affordable-housing-pre-k-development-clears-arlington-zoning-hurdle/ .

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Latest Kennedale Observer newsletter:

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The “Investigation” Report

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_13.html

Senior Tax Freeze Missing

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_10.html

Hammack Creek Apartments Disaster