March 10, 2025 Newsletter
March 10, 2025 – Volume 19 Number 10
Highlights:
* City council approved more town homes, 7-2.
* P&Z passed Anthem (old Lincoln Square) changes.
* AISD to meet Thursday.
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
AISD Board grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_1.html
Citizens Defending Freedom vs. AISD
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_14.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:
Thursday, March 13: 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.)
Monday, March 17: St. Patrick's Day.
Wednesday, March 19: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm.
Tuesday, March 25: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Wednesday, April 2: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm.
Thursday, April 3: 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.)
Thursday, April 3 – Saturday, April 5: Shakespeare Live, Levitt Pavilion.
Saturday, April 5: City Shred and Electronic Recycle Day, southeast corner of Mitchell Street and S. Cooper Street, 8:00am – noon.
Tuesday, April 8: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
From THE LOCKER ROOM
Correction: The last couple of weeks I reported an item on the February 25 city council agenda as considering for going out to bid for the fixed-base operator at the airport. What was considered/approved was the fixed-base operator building remodel. Thank you, Mr. Hogg, for the correct information.
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Arlington City Council Update
The city council met this past week, Tuesday, March 4. They approved more town homes in southeast Arlington. Their next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 25.
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Committee Meetings
The Transportation and Municipal Infrastructure Committee met to discuss the use of median barriers for panhandling solutions (presentation).
The Community and Neighborhood Development Committee did NOT meet (presentation). CANCELED.
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Afternoon Meetings
The afternoon meeting opened and went into executive session. All council members were present. The meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/player/clip/5063?view_id=9&redirect=true .
(3:52) Start of meeting. The executive session agenda included: 1) legal discussion of the executive orders at the state and federal levels, and 2) offers of incentives to business prospects.
The three work session items were (they took them out of order):
(2:13:10) 2. Lincoln Square Redevelopment project (no presentation available). They are [drastically] changing their original plan. They were unable to gain a luxury or upper-upscale hotel. It was opened to council members for discussion about 2:29:26. Mrs. Boxall uses the “B-word”, boondoggle [referring to the “potential”].
(2:55:12) 1. 2024 Arlington Water Utilities year-end report (presentation). It was opened to council members for discussion about 3:16:21.
(3:19:38) 3. Support youth and families (presentation). It was opened to council members for discussion about 3:24:25.
(3:26:40) The two informal staff reports are:
1. Landmark Preservation Commission annual report (report).
2. Arlington Express transportation pilot service (staff report). This is $1.4 million addition to the ride-share program (with $1.1 million coming from NCTCOG – North Central Texas Council of Government) for some direct routes to/from the TRE station during rush hour. [Somehow, they are claiming a large budget deficit for next year, yet they seem to find, in one of their many pockets, yet another almost $300,000 for this project. How about raising the fares for additional services instead of raiding taxpayers' funds?]
(3:34:35) Committee meetings.
(3:39:32) Other agencies reporting.
(3:42:30) Legislative update (update). It was opened to council members for discussion about 3:49:30.
(3:52:50) Evening agenda items. No appointments. They discussed the wrecker ordinance update. There were potentially some issues with the Downtown Farmers Market.
(4:12:28) Future agenda items. Mr. Gonzalez asked for a staff report on increasing the setback for gas wells.
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Evening Meeting
The agenda for the evening meeting included 12 consent agenda items, six public hearings and a wrecker ordinance update. All council members were present. The meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/player/clip/5064?view_id=9&redirect=true .
(3:30) Start of meeting.
(11:18) There were no appointments. Minutes were approved, 9-0.
(11:56) Consent agenda. Item 7.3 was pulled for separate consideration. The rest of the consent agenda was approved, 9-0. There were two speakers on item 7.3. Consent agenda item 7.3 is for the farmers market license agreement (staff report). It also was approved, 9-0.
The City's story on the Farmers' Market by Downtown Arlington Communications can be found at: https://www.arlingtontx.gov/news/my_arlington_t_x/news_stories/downtown_arlington_farmers_market .
(17:32) The first public hearing was for PD24-30, the Preserve at Wanda Way, 7708 S. Cooper Street (staff report). Rich neighborhood neighbors were concerned this would be hurting them. The developer has agreed to large homes on these smaller [than many adjacent neighborhoods] lots. The development has been renamed, taking out “cottages” and the “small” feeling. Developers [in general] have argued this will probably become multi-family if they can’t build the homes they want to build. This was scheduled for the February 25 meeting but was continued to this council meeting. They plan to build 29 single-family homes. There were four speakers in opposition. The PD was approved, 7-2, with Hunter and Piel in opposition.
(37:49) The second public hearing was for PD24-39 at 1501 Mansfield Webb Road (staff report). This takes commercially zoned land, pretty much surrounded by RS7.2 or larger and puts 46 town homes there. I have no idea why it is addressed as 1501 Mansfield Webb Road, as the entrance/exit points would be off South Collins. As is usually the case with town homes, parking looks to be an issue. Other deviations exist. There were two speakers in opposition. The PD was approved, 7-2, with Hunter and Piel in opposition.
(54:29) The third public hearing was for PD24-35 at 5510 Matlock Road (staff report). This is to allow a 125-foot cell tower. There was no opposition. It was approved, 9-0.
(57:01) The fourth public hearing was for ZA24-10 at 2015 Lloyd Drive (staff report). They wish to change the zoning from RE to RS-5 to build a single-family home on the approximate 0.16-acre property. There was no opposition. It was approved, 9-0.
(1:00:15) The fifth public hearing was for PD24-24 at 712 E. Randol Mill Road and 701 Slaughter Street (staff report). They wish to break some of their larger units into an efficiency and a smaller unit at the existing multi-family site. There was no opposition. It was approved, 9-0.
(1:09:57) The sixth public hearing was for PD24-34 at 1918/1922 S. Cooper Street (staff report). This is for an electricity substation. There was no opposition. It was approved, 9-0.
(1:16:10) The final ordinance was to amend the wrecker ordinance (staff report). This is to allow police service assistants (PSA) to be able to call for the removal of illegally parked vehicles. There were two speakers in opposition. It was approved, 8-1, with Hunter in opposition.
(1:32:31) Citizen participation. There was one speaker.
Election information
The city election has NO candidates, only propositions. There are five bond propositions and seven charter amendments.
Early voting will be Tuesday, April 22 – Tuesday, April 29. Election Day is Saturday, May 3.
The Arlington's Office of Communications stories on the 2025 Bond Election and Charter Amendments by Susan Schrock: (bond) https://www.arlingtontx.gov/news/my_arlington_t_x/news_stories/2025_bond_election
(charter amendments) https://www.arlingtontx.gov/news/my_arlington_t_x/news_stories/2025_charter_election .
Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
We do not know the date of the next EDC Board meeting.
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Upcoming Public Hearings
On Wednesday, March 19, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-25 for 1700 E. Bardin Road. They wish for a planned development or RM12 (usually town homes) on 6.29 acres. If approved this will go to the city council on April 22.
On Tuesday, March 25, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD21-9 on 0.743 acres at 108 Hosack Street. They wish for a planned development RM-12. It is currently zoned RM-12 and MF-22.
On Tuesday, March 25, the city council will hold a public hearing on Z06-40R2/B06-40R2 to expand the Glorypark planned development to include the National Medal of Honor Museum.
On Tuesday, April 8, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-40 for a planned development for a portion of Lincoln Square.
On Tuesday, April 8, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-40-ASP for an alternate sign plan for Lincoln Square.
On Tuesday, April 8, the city council will hold a public hearing on SUP24-10 for a telecommunications tower greater than 100 feet at 2350 Southwest Green Oaks Boulevard.
On Tuesday, April 8, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD25-1 for a planned development for light industrial at 7505 US 287 Business Highway.
???, the city council will hold a public hearing on SUP24-9 on 0.521 acres at 3007 E. Abram Street for a special use permit for a communications tower.
???, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD18-13R1 at 101 S. Center Street. They wish to remove the live-work units’ requirement.
P&Z Commission
P&Z met this past Wednesday, March 5, for five zoning case public hearings. The full agenda can be found at: https://www.arlingtontx.gov/common/pages/GetFile.ashx?key=ji08AU3T . The meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/player/clip/5068?view_id=10&redirect=true .
(3:40) Public hearing #1 was for zoning case PD24-40, Anthem, the old Lincoln Square redevelopment (staff report). They want to undo their zoning approval from last year (PD23-18). The applicant starts speaking at about 16:45. The one opposition speaker is about 26:57, basically making a past-statue-of-limitations attack of Dr. Nunez. About 32:36 were the commissioners' comments/questions. It was approved, 6-2-1.
(48:09) Public hearing #2 was for zoning case PD24-40ASP (alternate sign plan) (staff report). This is associated with the previous item. There were no public speakers. It was approved, 5-3-1.
(1:08:31) Public hearing #3 was for zoning case Z06-40R2/B06-40R2, to include the National Medal of Honor Museum in the Glorypark boundaries (staff report). There were no public speakers. It was approved, 9-0.
(1:13:32) Public hearing #4 was for zoning case SUP24-10 at 2300 Southwest Green Oaks Boulevard (staff report). They are requesting a specific use permit for a telecommunications tower. There were no public speakers. It was approved, 9-0.
(1:26:52) Public hearing #5 was for zoning case PD25-1 at 7505 US Business Highway 287 (staff report). They wish to change the property with a new building on 0.893 acres from a planned development for a nursery to light industrial. There were no public speakers. It was approved, 8-1.
AISD School Board
School Board Meeting
The AISD School Board met this past Tuesday, March 4, for a specially called meeting. They had a workshop on team building and will have an executive session available for legal discussion of duties of public officers (agenda). Mr. Mike attended virtually (driving). The meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyhnAPPw3vg .
They will meet again for a regular meeting again on this Thursday, March 13. The agenda should be posted on Monday.
AISD Approved Student: Teacher Ratio
After the last regular meeting of the AISD Board, I reported how the board approved student: teacher ratios. That included an increase at the junior high level, which according to this very good article by the Arlington Report's Drew Shaw, ( https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/04/arlington-isd-cuts-27-junior-high-teaching-positions-through-attrition-increases-class-sizes ) led to the cutting of 27 positions. Mr. Shaw's articles show the statistics that justify the reduction.
Lawsuit Moves Forward
On Thursday, January 30, Federal Judge Reed O'Connor, threw out five parts, but allowed the other four items to move forward on the lawsuit against the Arlington Independent School District. Drew Shaw of the Arlington Report/Fort Worth Report has the article at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/01/31/federal-judge-allows-lawsuit-against-arlington-isd-to-move-forward-dismisses-parts/ .
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Filings for May 3 Election
Voters will get to vote for AISD Places 4 (Wilbanks) and 5 (Chapa). Early voting will be Tuesday, April 22 – Tuesday, April 29. Election Day is Saturday, May 3.
Ballot order:
Place 4 – Wilbanks (i), April Williams Moore.
Place 5 – Chapa (i).
Question 2: Which locker rooms/restrooms, etc., should transgender students be using? Should there be a District policy? Why or why not?
Place 4
Did not respond.
April Williams Moore
Schools play a critical role in fostering environments that are affirming for all students. By adopting thoughtful policies the district can ensure the comfort and safety of the entire student body. Ultimately, the goal should be to create a supportive space for all students, where each individual feels respected and valued.
Currently, AISD utilizes a Case-by-Case approach that allows each campus to be flexible, working directly with transgender students and their families to find solutions that respect their needs.
An alternative solution is the provision of gender-neutral restroom access to student. These spaces can offer privacy and comfort for all students, whether you're menstruation, tummy feeling sick, or want to have gender neutral options.
Place 5
Chapa (i)
Did not respond.
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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, creating ISD inflation.]
Other News
March 5, 2025
On Wednesday, March 5 was the grand opening of the pay what you like restaurant at 200 N. Cooper St. Your tax dollars are at work there.
The Arlington Report post-launch article by Drew Shaw can be found at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/03/a-place-of-hope-growth-taste-project-celebrates-launch-of-arlington-restaurant .
March 25, 2025
On Tuesday, March 25, the National Medal of Honor Museum is scheduled to open. Millions of your taxpayer-owned dollars are at work. Many events scheduled, starting Saturday, March 22. The City's Office of Communications article can be found at: https://www.arlingtontx.gov/news/my_arlington_t_x/news_stories/national_medal_of_honor_museum_event_march_22 .
City Shred and Electronic Recycle Day
On Saturday, April 5, the city will host a shred and electronic recycling day at the southeast corner of Mitchell Street and S. Cooper Street. The City's Office of Communications article: https://www.arlingtontx.gov/news/my_arlington_t_x/news_stories/shred_day_2025 .
More LGBTQ [unfortunately]
The [woke] Arlington Museum of Art is looking for local artwork by the LGBTQ+ community for its June's Pride exhibit. The Arlington Report's David Moreno's article: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/01/arlington-museum-of-art-seeks-artists-for-its-first-pride-exhibition-in-june/ . They have received taxpayer owned funds in the past.
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
AISD Board grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_1.html
City of Arlington website: www.arlingtontx.gov
e-mails of mayor and council:
.................... first.last@arlingtontx.gov
mayor = jim.ross
district 1 (north) = mauricio.galante
district 2 (sw) = raul.gonzalez
district 3 (se) = nikkie.hunter
district 4 (west) = andrew.piel
district 5 (central/east) = rebecca.boxall
district 6 (all) = long.pham
district 7 (all) = bowie.hogg
district 8 (all) = barbara.odom-wesley
AISD website ....................... www.aisd.net
McMurrough............ - sarahforaisd@gmail.com
Fowler ................... - fowler.aisd@gmail.com
Mike .................. - larrymike.aisd@gmail.com
Wilbanks .......... - david@wilbanksforaisd.com
Chapa ...................... - chapa.aisd@gmail.com
Richardson ... - brooklyn.richardson.aisd@gmail.com
Haynes ................... - haynes.aisd@gmail.com
TEA Accountability Data:
ARC Political Watch Committee Reports
includes coverage of Mansfield ISD and national, state, county, & city
Texas Legislative Online:
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx
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