October 28, 2024 Newsletter
October 28, 2024 – Volume 18 Number 44
Highlights:
* Early voting continues.
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:
Monday, October 28: Early Voting Continues, 7:00am – 7:00pm.
Thursday, October 31: Halloween.
Friday, November 1: End of Early Voting.
Sunday, November 3: End of Day Light Savings Time, fall back an hour (extra hour), 2:00 a.m.
Tuesday, November 5: National Election Day.
Tuesday, November 7: 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, November 11: Veterans Day.
Tuesday, November 12: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Wednesday, November 13: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm.)
Tuesday, November 19: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Thursday, November 21: 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, November 28: Thanksgiving.
From THE LOCKER ROOM
Arlington City Council Update
The city council met this past Tuesday, October 22. They had a full slate of meetings. Council member Odom-Wesley appeared to be absent at the start.
Committee Meetings
The Municipal Policy Committee met to discuss tree mitigation and preservation (45 minutes, presentation), potential charter amendments (30 minutes, presentation), and unfinished structures (30 minutes, presentation). The city has a new long-range planner director (John Chapman). The committee thought the charter-related subject of more pay for council members was worthy of further discussion.
The Finance and Audit Committee met to discuss the electricity contract renewal (no presentation available).
The quasi-committee, the Arlington Housing Finance Corporation met to consider a resolution to sell bonds to finance the project for the benefit of Campbell Place, LP and related matters (agenda). They plan to provide 145 units of reduced cost senior housing. The resolution was approved.
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Afternoon Meeting
The afternoon meeting started with all council members present except Odom-Wesley. The agenda can be found at: https://www.arlingtontx.gov/common/pages/GetFile.ashx?key=rkQ5AWi6 . The meeting can be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/player/clip/4970?view_id=9&redirect=true .
(4:48) After the start of the meeting they went into executive session. That portion of the agenda included the use of eminent domain for the item on the evening agenda, three real property issues (1. lease of property at 1901 Lakewood Drive, 2. leasing of city-owned property at 1200 Ballpark Way, and 3. discuss the potential purchase of property relative to a traffic management center), and the always expensive offers of incentives to business prospects.
Back in open session, there were two work session items. Council Member Odom-Wesley was now present.
(2:06:15) 1. There was an update on the airport/fix based operator (presentation). Questions by council members started about 2:19:40.
(2:24:24) 2. There was an overview of the Safe Streets Arlington plan (presentation). Questions by council members started about 2:53:09.
(3:09:52) Committee meetings.
(3:23:08) Appointments and evening agenda meetings. There were two appointments on the agenda. Consent agenda item 8.26 needed more work on the contract and was pulled from the consent agenda.
(3:35:52) Future agenda items. They wish to discuss council pay increases to be part of the charter amendments.
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Evening Meeting
The agenda for the evening meeting included 39 consent agenda items, one zoning case public hearing, and two 380 agreement resolutions and can be found at: https://arlingtontx.gov/common/pages/GetFile.ashx?key=s0Q5AXW6 . All council members were present. The meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/player/clip/4971?view_id=9&redirect=true .
(4:37) Start of meeting.
(19:10) Two appointments, an executive session item for eminent domain, and minutes were approved with three 9-0 votes.
(21:49) Consent agenda items. Item 8.26 was pulled for separate consideration. This was for a professional services contract for a consultant for the comprehensive plan. The rest of the consent agenda was approved, 9-0. Item 8.26 was tabled by a 9-0 vote.
Consent agenda item #31 was a 380 agreement with Friends of Levitt Pavilion (staff report). Evidently a portion of their required fund raising for the Levitt Pavilion was a loan, which they are now having trouble repaying. The city is “hoping” to be paid back.
Consent agenda item #39 is a settlement agreement with a vendor for $251,174.51 (staff report).
(27:11) The zoning case public hearing was for ZA24-7 to change the current RE (residential estate) on 3.864 acres at 805 Mansfield Webb Road. They wish for NC (Neighborhood Commercial) zoning (staff report). [Lance Murray wrote a story on this item after P&Z's approval for the Arlington Report/Fort Worth Report: https://fortworthreport.org/2024/09/24/arlington-commissioners-approve-plans-for-retail-shopping-center-at-former-mosque-site/ .] There were no citizen speakers. It was approved, 9-0.
(34:55) The first 380 agreement resolution was with Arlington Baptist University (staff report). The city is to give away $40,000 to defray the cost of a building demolition and improvements to a water well to have them build a $700,000 123-space parking lot. There were no citizen speakers. It was approved, 9-0.
(36:41) The second 380 agreement resolution was with Debbie at 360, LLC (staff report). The city is providing a one-time grant of $350,000 to assure the agreed upon deceleration lanes get built. [The claim is there are major drainage and utility issues with the property.] There were no citizen speakers. It was approved, 9-0.
(37:52) Citizen participation. There were three speakers. The first speaker spoke about an upcoming event. The second and third speaker spoke for the homeless.
Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
We do not know when the next EDC board meeting will be. They do want to have a public hearing on another “deal”, so November 5 is a possibility.
Arlington’s EDC is easily the largest sales tax supported EDC in the state. This gives spending addicted politicians greater than $20 million annually with which to fund their buddies.
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Upcoming Public Hearings
On Wednesday, November 13, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD16-3R1 on 1.806 acres at 1211 W. Harris Road. They wish to add “flex” to the current PD options. If P&Z approves it will go to the city council on December 10.
On Wednesday, November 13, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-5 on 0.459 acres at 901 W. Abram Street. They wish for a planned development of higher density RMF-22. The previous PD has expired. If P&Z approves it, this will go to the city council on December 10.
On Wednesday, November 13, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-10 on 9.792 acres at 300 East Stephens Street. They wish for a planned development of RMF-22 [more apartments]. If P&Z approves, it will go to the city council on December 10.
On Wednesday, November 13, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-21 on 1.210 acres at 1531/1537 W. Randol Mill Road. They wish to add a plan development with neighborhood commercial “NC”. If P&Z approves, it will go to the city council on December 17.
On Wednesday, November 13, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-23 on 74.399 acres at 8213-8339 Business Highway US-287. They wish for a planned development for office commercial for a cemetery, crematory, and funeral chapel. If P&Z approves, it will go to the city council on November 19.
On Wednesday, November 13, P&Z will hold a public hearing on SUP24-9 on 0.521 acres at 3007 E. Abram Street. They wish for a communication tower. If P&Z approves, it will go to the city council on December 17.
On Tuesday, November 19, the city council will consider a tax abatement for Texas Trust Credit Union, 1521 N. Cooper Street. There is no information on the size of the tax abatement.
On Wednesday, December 4, P&Z 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.
???, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD23-37 on 5.390 acres at 1600 E. Pioneer Parkway. They wish for a planned development for mixed use with 48 apartments.
???, the Economic Development Corporation Board will have a public hearing for $310,000 for a performance agreement with Parkway Lamar Partners regarding improvements for the Whole Foods Market.
???, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-23 for community commercial with a package liquor store (2574 sq. ft.) at 2425 N.E. Green Oaks Boulevard.
P&Z Commission
P&Z will next meet on Wednesday, November 13.
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AISD School Board
The AISD School Board is scheduled to meet Thursday, November 7.
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
AISD Underperforms on STAAR
The Arlington Report story as reported by The Fort Worth Report written by Dang Le: https://fortworthreport.org/2024/06/21/arlington-isd-still-lags-behind-in-staar-heres-a-breakdown-of-results .
Mr. Le states that, “No grade or subject saw over 45% of students meet grade level.” Couple that with the fact that the AISD has the highest paid teachers [for several years now, and yet test scores are not even close], and the question becomes when is the real problem going to be fixed?
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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.
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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