June 2, 2025 Newsletter

Home ============ Teachers' Salaries ============ Citizens Defending Freedom vs. AISD Lawsuit ============== Taxpayers' Funds at Risk ============ Open Letter to AISD Taxpayers ============ June 16, 2025 Newsletter ============= Arlington City CouncilGrades ============= AISD Board Grades ================ June 9, 2025 Newsletter =========== June 2, 2025 Newsletter ============ May 26, 2025 Newsletter ============ May 19, 2025 Newsletter ============ ================ Jim Ross, Mayor ============= Mauricio Galante, District1 ============= Raul Gonzalez, District2 ============= Nikkie Hunter, District3 ============= Andrew Piel, District4 ============= Rebecca Boxall, District5 ============= Long Pham, District6 ============= Bowie Hogg, District7 ============== Barbara Odom-Wesley, District8 ============= Sarah McMurrough, AISDPlace1 ============= Melody Fowler, AISDPlace2 ============= Larry Mike, AISDPlace3 ============= David Wilbanks, AISDPlace4 ========== Justin Chapa, AISDPlace5 ============= Brooklyn Richardson, AISDPlace6 ============= Leanne Haynes, AISDPlace7 ============= Fact Sheet - November 8, 2022 Election ============ ++++++++++++ ============= Kennedale Observer Homepage =========== Kennedale Senior Tax Freeze ============== Kennedale City CouncilGrades ========== Texas Open Meetings Act Violations??? ============== The Bridge ============== Kennedale Observer - Latest Newsletter ============ Prior to That Newsletter ================ Brad Horton, Kennedale Mayor ============ David Glover, Kennedale Place 1 ============= Thelma Kobeck, Kennedale Place 2 =========== Ken Michels, Kennedale Place 3 ==============P3 Chris Gary, Kennedale Place 4 =========== Jeff Nevarez, Kennedale Place 5 ============ Kennedale City Council Compare ========== 1083 Bowman Springs Road Kennedale ============ What to Know About the Texas Raceway Project ================ Kennedale EDC MMA contract information ==============

June 2, 2025 – Volume 19 Number 22

Highlights:

* Council approves Tarrant County redistricting resolution.

* AISD School Board meets Thursday.

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

Open Letter to AISD Taxpayers

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

Wednesday, June 4: P&Z meeting, City Hall, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at 3:15pm)

Thursday, June 5: 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, June 10: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)

Saturday, June 14: Flag Day.

Sunday, June 15: Fathers Day.

Tuesday, June 17: 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, June 24: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)

From THE LOCKER ROOM

Arlington City Council Update

The city council met this past Tuesday, May 27. All council members were present. They approved the mayor's resolution against the Tarrant County redistricting. They will meet again on Tuesday, June 10.

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Committee Meetings

The Economic Development Committee met. The first half of the meeting was in open session where they received an update on the Economic Development Corporation Welcome Center. The second half of the meeting was in executive session where they discussed offers of incentives for business prospects.

The quasi committee, the Arlington Housing Finance Corporation, met to address an agenda that included a legislative update on accessory dwelling units [appears to be heading towards approval] and an introduction of proposed partnership for a development located at 2502 Burney Oaks Lane.

Afternoon Meeting

The afternoon meeting can be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/player/clip/5132?view_id=9&redirect=true . All council members were present.

(5:34) Start of meeting. They went into executive session to discuss:

1. Legal issues relative to redistricting.

2. Legal Discussion Regarding Construction Manager-at-Risk Contract for the ACTIV.

3. Offers of Incentives to Business Prospects.

(1:47:21) Reconvene in open session. The open portion of the agenda included four work session items, three informal staff reports, external agencies' reports, and a legislative update.

The four work session items:

(1:47:30) 1. 2025 Capital Budget Development (presentation). At about 1:52:30 the city manager discussed issues regarding the police storage evidence storage item (estimates indicate this was underfunded; that will be slowing down repayment to the Arlington Tomorrow Fund to fund). At about 2:11:50 they opened it to council questions and comments. There were none.

(2:12:00) 2. Arlington Cemetery ordinance (presentation). She started with a history of the cemetery. There are approximately 1100 plots that would be available for sale. The ordinance would be a new chapter in the code of ordinances. About 2:25:18 they opened it to council questions and comments.

(2:27:07) 3. Form-based code pilot project (presentation). About 2:35:18 they started addressing the different focus areas. About 2:51:35 it was opened to council for questions and comments.

(2:58:24) 4. Council priority - building unity (presentation). About 3:11:17 it was opened to council for questions and comments.

(3:20:35) The three informal staff reports:

1. Administrative Chapter Updates (staff report). Basically, staff will update the administrative chapter of the Code of Ordinances to match the charter changes approved by the voters on May 3. The first reading will be June 10.

2. Adjustments to Planning & Development Services’ Fee Schedule (staff report , fee table). [Commentary: Basically, whenever they do one of their deals it usually comes with waived permit fees. So, everyone else that does not get a “deal” has to pay a little more to make up the difference.]

3. Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan and Sidewalk Master Plan Update (staff report).

(3:22:23) Committee Reports.

(3:30:12) Council's external committee reports. About 3:37:18 Dr. Odom-Wesley discussed a meeting where the AISD representative described the AISD student population as 26% African American, 48% Hispanic, 16% white. There are 80 different languages spoken, with 33% taking English as a second language.

(3:41:20) Legislative update (update , table). The Housing Finance Corporation bill to stop (and reclaim) out-of-jurisdiction properties appears to be passing through for approval.

(3:48:27) Evening agenda items.

(3:50:07) Future agenda items. Council Member Boxall would like to look at alternative rating systems for multi-family.

Evening Meeting

All council members were present. The evening meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/player/clip/5133?view_id=9&redirect=true .

(1:26) Start of meeting.

(17:41) Minutes were approved, 9-0.

(18:17) Consent agenda saw nothing pulled for separate consideration and nothing discussed. It was approved, 9-0.

Consent agenda item 6.36 is regarding the pool deck at the ACTIV (staff report). Evidently, there is some type of issue affecting the drainage that needs correcting, costing $643,586. This will start the contract changes necessary to begin addressing that. Since this was a GMP (guarantee maximum price?) project the city may not be on the hook for the full price. The amount is being negotiated.

Four public hearings:

(22:15) Public hearings #1 and #2 were for PD24-40 and PD24-40-ASP which is Anthem, the old Lincoln Square redevelopment and the associate alternate sign plan (ASP). These two public hearings will be continued until June 10.

(22:23) Public hearing #3 was for zoning case PD25-2 at 721 Green Oaks Boulevard (staff report). They wished to allow for a liquor store in the shopping center. Lance Murray of the Arlington Report has a story on this item when it passed P&Z at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/05/13/proposal-to-build-new-liquor-store-in-south-arlington-gets-ok-from-zoning-commissioners . There were no public speakers. It failed, 1-8, with Ross in support.

(35:15) Public hearing #4 was for zoning case PD24-36 at 901 E. Debbie Lane (staff report). They wish to build a self-storage facility at that location. There were no public speakers. It was approved, 8-1, with Boxall opposed.

(42:13) The three ordinances, each passed in separate votes. The first, 8-1, with Boxall opposed. The other two with 9-0 votes.

1. Right-of-way abandonment of portion of Bob Duncan Drive (staff report).

2. Parks and Recreation Chapter amendment (staff report).

3. Transportation Chapter amendment (staff report).

(47:48) The resolution is regarding Tarrant County's redistricting of the county commissioners precincts (staff report , resolution). “A resolution approving the submission of public comments to Tarrant County urging heightened civic engagement and more thorough analysis regarding the proposed maps for the Redistricting of Tarrant County Commissioner Precincts.” There were three speakers in support. It was approved, 8-1, with Hogg in opposition.

(1:05:47) Citizen participation had three people signed up, but none were present to speak.

# # # # # # # # # # # #

Economic Development Corporation (EDC)

We do not know the date of the next meeting. Best guess: June 17.

Upcoming Public Hearings

On Tuesday, June 10, the city council will hold a public hearing on [the renewal(?)/creation of the Downtown BID (Business Improvement District). Non-homestead properties (except the railroad?) within the defined area, pay an extra fee (rather than tax) based on property value to pay for area improvements/services for approximately $7,163,972 for the full ten years as defined by the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation.

On Tuesday, June 10, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-3 at 201/205 Slaughter Street. They wish for a planned development for cottage community on the 1.27 acres.

On Tuesday, June 10, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-25 at 1700 E. Bardin Road. They wish for a planned development for RM12 (usually town homes) on 6.29 acres.

On Tuesday, June 10, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD25-5 at 901 E. Arkansas Lane. They wish for a planned development allowing an auto service center.

On Tuesday, June 10, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-40 for a planned development for a portion of Lincoln Square.

On Tuesday, June 10, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-40-ASP for an alternate sign plan for Lincoln Square.

On Wednesday, June 18, P&Z will hold a public hearing on zoning case SUP25-1 at 2712 W. Division Street. They are requesting a Specific Use Permit (SUP) for Auto Repair Garage, Major, on approximately 0.399 acres. If approved this would go to the city council on August 5.

On Wednesday, June 18, P&Z will hold a public hearing on zoning case SUP25-4 at 1645 New York Avenue. They are requesting a Specific Use Permit (SUP) for a banquet hall in a suite 17,246 square feet in size, zoned Community Commercial (CC). If approved this would go to the city council on August 5.

On Wednesday, June 18, 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 would go to the city council on August 5.

On Tuesday, June 24, the city council will hold a public hearing on DP25-1 at 2601 W. Randol Mill Road. They wish for a development plan on the 23.28 acres zoned RMF-22 (22 unit/acre maximum).

On Tuesday, June 24, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD25-3 at 4300 New York Avenue, 1700 E. Interstate Highway 20, and 1601 E. Bardin Road. They wish for a planned development on the 13.327 acres for auto sales, new. It is currently zoned for PD-LI, a planned development for light industrial.

On Tuesday, June 24, P&Z will hold a public hearing on SUP25-2 at 319 Matlock Meadow Drive. They wish for a secondary living unit.

On Wednesday, July 16, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-28 at 5920 Matlock Road. They wish for a planned development on the 3.165 acres for RM-12 (usually townhomes) and office. It is currently zoned all office commercial.

P&Z Commission

The P&Z commission will meet this Wednesday, June 3. There are NO public hearings on the regular agenda, found at: https://www.arlingtontx.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/planning-and-development-services/documents/planning-and-zoning/june-4-2025-regular-session-agenda.pdf .

AISD School Board

Their next regular board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 5. The agenda should be posted on Monday.

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.]

Other News

Fire Department Happy

The Arlington Professional Fire fighters put out a social media post with their pleasure that SB1 appears to be funding $2.5 million for each of the next two years “to conduct research on firefighter cancer and other firefighter diseases, study existing research, develop mitigation polices, and aggregate information from previous studies”.

HELPFUL CONTACTS

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