September 1, 2025 Newsletter

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:

Monday, September 1: Labor Day Holiday

Tuesday, September 2: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 3:00 pm, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)

Wednesday, September 3: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at 4:00pm.)

Thursday, September 4: 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.) Agenda includes a public hearing on the tax rate.

Saturday, September 6: Electronic Recycle/Paper Shred Event, southeast corner of Mitchell Street and Cooper Street, 8am-2pm.

Tuesday, September 9: City Budget/Tax Rate Public Hearings City Council meeting.

Tuesday, September 16: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)

Wednesday, September 17: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm.)

Thursday, September 18: 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.)

Tuesday, September 30: Mayor's Town Hall meeting, Boles Junior High School, 3900 S.W. Green Oaks Blvd.

From THE LOCKER ROOM

Arlington City Council Update

The city council met this past Tuesday, August 26, for a full slate of meetings. They were not able to approve the Fielder Square redevelopment deal but did approve the $2,500,000 for Shady Valley Country Club.

They will meet this Tuesday, September 2 for afternoon and evening meetings.

Committee Meetings – Last Week

The Community and Neighborhood Development Community Committee met to discuss multi-family inspections (presentation).

The Economic and Development Committee met in executive session.

Afternoon Meeting – Last Week

The afternoon meeting started about 40 minutes late. Council members Galante and Piel were not present at the beginning of the afternoon session. The meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=9&clip_id=5226 .

They reconvened for the open portion of the meeting. Council members Piel and Odom-Wesley were not present at that time.

The work session items included:

(1:38:30) 1. Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Audit Plan (presentation , plan). About 1:40:30 it was opened up to questions/comments from the council. Council members Piel and Odom-Wesley were now present.

(1:44:30) 2. West Airport Development/E-Space Update (presentation). About 1:59:54 it was opened up to questions/comments from the council.

(2:02:03) 3. Fielder Square Redevelopment (presentation). About 2:12:35 it was opened up to questions/comments from the council.

(2:19:15) 4. Choctaw Stadium Update (attachment). About 2:24:20 it was opened up to questions/comments from the council.

(2:27:24) The one informal staff report, the CIPAC semi-annual report (staff report , executive summary , report).

(2:32:12) Committee meetings.

(2:38:03) Board appointments (list).

(2:38:12) External committees.

(2:41:38) Legislative update (staff report , table). About 2:43:00 it was opened up to questions/comments from the council.

(2:52:57) FY2026 Budget (presentation).

(3:44:58) Evening and future agenda items. The Shady Valley Golf Club 380-agreement was discussed.

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Evening Meeting – Last week

The agenda for the evening meeting included appointments, executive session items (3 items, all about the Division Street sidewalks, one of which is a condemnation), minutes, 30 consent agenda items, five public hearings, three ordinances, and four resolutions. The meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=9&clip_id=5227 .

(2:13) Start of meeting. Presentation of water utilities award.

(13:57) Appointments (list), executive session items, and minutes were approved with four, 9-0 votes. There were two speakers in support of the condemnation case.

(19:31) The thirty consent agenda items were approved, 9-0, with nothing pulled and no discussion of any of the items.

The five public hearings include:

(23:29) 1. The first public hearing was for The Knox on Watson, PD25-9 at 1401 N. Watson Road (staff report). They propose 82 units to be spread within three buildings. There are four deviations from standards. There were no public speakers. The motion, including a difficult/controversial second emergency exit, was approved, 7-2, with Piel and Hogg opposed.

(37:12) 2. The second public hearing was for a specific use permit for SUP25-05 for a secondary living unit at 2306 Park Run Drive (staff report).

(45:49) 3. & 4. The third and fourth public hearings were regarding Anthem (the old Lincoln Square redevelopment) and its Alternate Sign Plan (ASP). The developer was wanting to back down from the density proposed in the original PD (PD24-40 , PD24-40ASP). There was one speaker in opposition. Both items passed, 8-0, with Council Member Odom-Wesley absent.

(1:14:17) 5. The last public hearing was for a gas well permit GW25-001 at 3031 E. Arkansas Lane (staff report). This was approved, 9-0.

(1:15:50) The three ordinances included:

1. Acceptance of the Atmos settlement for price increase (staff report). Approved, 9-0.

2. Updates to the Streets and Sidewalks code for a temporary traffic permit (staff report). This will generate a small amount of revenue to offset costs. Approved, 9-0.

3. Updates to the Health and Sanitation code (staff report). This will require food providers to display their latest inspection score. Approved, 9-0.

The four resolutions include:

(1:19:32) 1. Fee Adjustment Authorization related to Health Services in the Planning and Development Department’s Fee Schedule (staff report , fee schedule). Approved, 9-0.

(1:20:17) 2. 380-agreement with Shady Valley Golf Club (staff report). So, they are going to make $8 million worth of improvements, and we the taxpayers will be paying over 30% ($2.5 million), just so they can call it Arlington Country Club [not Shady Valley] and give Arlington-based nonprofits a 15% discount on charity and golf tournaments. There were six speakers in support and one in opposition. It was approved, 6-3, with Gonzalez, Hunter, and Odom-Wesley opposed.

(1:57:06) 3. West Airport Development/E-space update (staff report). This was basically completing the paperwork for Phase II of this three-phase deal. This was approved, 9-0.

(2:06:27) 4. Fielder Square redevelopment (staff report). They want to use $36,765,560 from the Arlington Tomorrow Fund for an overpriced land banking deal. The staff report also speaks of relocation and demolition expenses but made no mention of where those funds are coming from [remembering that they are raising the tax rate three cents this year]. The first three portions were removed. The fourth portion was tabled. These were approved with two 9-0 votes.

(2:09:26) Citizen participation. Mr. Piel left [I guess he did not feel he needed to listen to citizens.] There were three speakers. The first person spoke on “shrinking” rights. The next two spoke on the homeless.

Afternoon Meeting – Coming Week

The afternoon meeting will begin at 2:15pm and go into executive session. The executive session agenda only includes offers of incentives for business prospects.

The open portion of the afternoon meeting will start no sooner than 3:00pm. The agenda for the open portion of the afternoon meeting includes two work session items (a 2026 World Cup update and a street maintenance discussion), external committee reports, a legislative update, and a FY2026 discussion. There were no presentations available at the time of this writing.

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Evening Meeting – Coming Week

The agenda for the 6:30pm evening meeting includes 26 consent agenda items, one public hearing, and two ordinances.

Consent agenda item 6.18 is $492,320 for a professional services contract for relocation assistance consulting services (staff report). [This agenda was posted prior to last week's meeting where the Fielder Apartments redevelopment projects was NOT approved – thank goodness meaning this item should be deemed not needed, pulled, and not passed. This would represent a half million dollars that is not needed (?and would have been coming from the financially stressed general fund?).]

Consent agenda item 6.25 is a modification of the interlocal agreement with UTA regarding the RAPID project (staff report). The original agreement was through May of 2025. This would continue the agreement through August 2026.

The public hearing is for green building performance standards added to multi-family and mixed-use developments (staff report).

The two ordinances are updating the city's Code 1) to realign the priority of building unity and champion great neighborhoods to re-purpose the unity council (staff report), and 2) suspend the anti-discrimination chapter (staff report).

Economic Development Corporation (EDC)

We do not know the date of the EDC Board meeting. [Best guess: September 23.]

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Upcoming Public Hearings

On Tuesday, September 2, the city council will hold a public hearing on adding green building performance standards for multi-family and mixed-use developments.

On Wednesday, September 3, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD25-12 at 700-odd Dugan Street/302 Weeks Avenue/ 700 South Street. They wish to update/change their planned development on the 1.605 acres. If approved this will go to the city council on October 14.

On Wednesday, September 3, P&Z will hold a public hearing on zoning case ZA25-3 at 1225 California Lane. They are requesting to change from Landmark Preservation Overlay-Planned Development (LPO-PD) for Light Industrial (LI) to Office Commercial (OC). If approved this will go to the city council on October 14.

On Thursday, September 4, The AISD will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget (already passed) and tax rate.

On Tuesday, September 9, the city council will hold a public hearing on the assessment plan for the Lamar Boulevard PID (public improvement district).

On Tuesday, September 9, the city council will hold a public hearing on the assessment plan for the Downtown PID (public improvement district).

On Tuesday, September 9, the city council will hold a public hearing on the updated service and assessment plan for the Tourism PID (public improvement district).

On Tuesday, September 16, the city council will hold a public hearing on the budget and the tax rate.

On Tuesday, September 16, the city council will hold a public hearing on reclaiming potentially abandoned plots at Arlington Cemetery.

On Tuesday, September 16, the city council will hold a public hearing on SUP25-3 at 4560 Waxwing Drive. They wish for a Specific Use Permit (SUP) for an Upscale Hotel, with a Development Plan on 2.033 acres zoned Airport Overlay (APO)-Community Commercial (CC).

P&Z Commission

P&Z will meet this Wednesday, September 3. The agenda can be found at: https://www.arlingtontx.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/planning-and-development-services/documents/planning-amp-development-boards-amp-commissions/planning-and-zoning-commission/posted-agenda/pz-regular-session-agenda-9-3-2025.pdf . The agenda includes two public hearings.

The first public hearing for the Balfour Lots, PD25-12, southeast of the Tarrant County Sub-courthouse (staff report). They wish to build a three-story building with 99 units at a density of approximately 62 units/acre. There are 13 deviations listed.

The second public hearing is for ZA25-3 at 1225 California Lane (staff report). They desire office commercial without the Landmark Preservation Overlay designation.

AISD School Board

The next meeting will be Thursday, September 4. The agenda can be viewed at: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/2978?meeting=702304 .

They open at 5:00pm and go into executive session to discuss personnel and potential and pending legislation.

They hope to reconvene into open session at 6:30pm. The open portion of the agenda includes recognitions, open forum for agenda items, appointments, three committee and staff reports, public hearing, one action item, consent agenda, open forum for non-agenda items, and end of meeting reports.

There are two assistant principal appointments to be made, one for Bowie High School and the other for Gunn Junior High.

The three committee and staff reports are:

1. Governance committee report.

2. 2019 Bond update (presentation not available at the time of this writing).

3. Priority update on Human Resources recruitment and staffing report (presentation not available at the time of this writing).

The public hearing and the action item have to do with the tax rate.

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The release of the new accountability numbers for 2024 and 2025 became public on Friday, August 15. In an article by Chris Moss of the Arlington Report/Fort Worth Report he reports on the A-F Accountability scores for the past two years. His report is for the AISD, MISD, and KISD and can be found at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/08/15/heres-how-arlington-area-schools-fared-in-texas-a-f-ratings/ . The AISD article on the new numbers: https://www.aisd.net/district-news/accountability-update-arlington-isd-doubles-a-rated-campuses-and-reduces-f-ratings/ .

The AISD post about the teacher raises: https://www.aisd.net/district/departments/human-resources/compensation-benefits-and-risk-management/board-approves-staff-raises/ .

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

Teacher Salaries

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html [Arlington ISD easily pays the highest salaries, thus creating ISD inflation.]

AISD Declining Enrollment

Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/05/28/arlington-isds-enrollment-could-shrink-by-2032-heres-whats-driving-the-decline .

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Other News

November 4 Voting

There will be fewer voting locations for the November 4 election this year. Original plans were for 24 early voting locations and 214 election day locations. Thanks to the efforts of our precinct commissioner, Alisa Simmons, Arlington's Bob Duncan Center and the Tarrant County Southeast Campus were added as early voting locations. Final count: 33 early voting locations and 214 election day locations.

Articles by:

Kim Roberts of The Texas News can be read at: https://thetexan.news/elections/2025/tarrant-county-adopts-smaller-list-of-early-voting-and-election-day-polling-locations/article_412f84c7-c238-4b39-9506-4c7f673eb3f5.html?vgo_ee=hVa5PdigIbQ%2Ft0%2FxMzZ0bvgsod90ZMk0LsmvyTEaCZFhtTBMvsJt%3AZyNpQ4b%2Fi1mRyw1poQeXKJcxPTxYIwDv .

Pedro Malkomes and Taylor Sansom of UTA's Shorthorn can be read at: https://www.theshorthorn.com/news/city/tarrant-county-commissioners-court-cuts-over-100-voting-sites-for-november-election/article_ee8590e2-29c2-45da-ade5-e9d2c1de2867.html

Drew Shaw of the Fort Worth Report can be read at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/08/19/tarrant-county-commissioners-cut-100-plus-polling-sites-reduce-early-voting-locations/ .

Trash Holiday

Labor Day (September 1) is a trash holiday, so EVERYONE's trash collection this week is delayed one day.

Electronic Recycle/Paper Shred Event

The city is holding an electronic recycle/paper shred event at the southeast corner of Mitchell Street and Cooper Street on Saturday, September 6, 8:00am – 2:00pm. Proof of residency is required. https://fortworthreport.org/2025/08/18/city-of-arlington-to-host-free-paper-shredding-electronics-recycling-event/

Arlington Debt

I found this on the Internet. The guy definitely seems to update his numbers, but you can get a perspective. An article by Romeo of the ArlingtonNetwork.com: https://arlingtonnetwork.com/arlington-debt-report-2025/ .

HELPFUL CONTACTS

The Spectator: www.ArlSpectator.mysite.com

to be added/deleted to/from the mailing list e-mail: ArlSpectator@yahoo.com

We can be found on Facebook at ArlSpectator.

Open Letter to AISD Taxpayers

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_11.html

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