November 17, 2025 Newsletter
November 17, 2025 – Volume 19 Number 46
Highlights:
* City Council to meet Tuesday to rescind anti-DEI ordinance from September and reinstate anti-discrimination policies.
* Council also set to approve $3.8 million 380-agreement for the southwest corner of Division Street and Collins Street.
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:
Monday, November 17: Comprehensive Plan Workshop, Northeast Library, 1905 Brown Boulevard, 3:00pm – 7:00pm.
Tuesday, November 18: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 11:15am, 3:00pm, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Wednesday, November 19: Comprehensive Plan Workshop, Southeast Library, 3311 S.W. Green Oaks Boulevard, 3:00pm – 7:00pm.
Thursday, November 27: Thanksgiving.
Friday, November 28: City offices closed.
Wednesday, December 3: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm.)
Tuesday, December 9: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Thursday, December 11: 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, December 16: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Wednesday, December 17: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm.)
From THE LOCKER ROOM
Arlington City Council Update
The city council met last Thursday, November 13 for a special meeting (not stored on the internet) at the E-sports Stadium.
The city council will meet this Tuesday, November 18. The first of two committee meetings is at 11:15am. The afternoon meeting begins at 1:15pm and goes into executive session. The open portion of the afternoon meeting will be at 3:00pm. The evening meeting is at 6:30pm.
Last Thursday’s Special Meeting
They opened and went into executive session to discuss an economic development deal (hold onto your wallets).
They had a series of five financial updates:
- Grants Office Update (history , update).
- AI implementation (no presentation available).
- FY26 Capital Budget Planning (presentation).
- Competitive Services Options (presentation).
- Local Government Corporation Update (presentation).
They received an update on homelessness (no presentation available).
The Business Plan Discussion had four pieces:
- Innovation Summary Report (report).
- Business Plan (scorecard , project list).
- Policy Agenda (presentation).
- Evidence of success (presentation).
Upcoming Committee Meetings
The Finance and Audit committee is to meet at 11:15 am and spend about 30 minutes on the audit kickoff (presentation).
The Municipal Policy committee will meet at noon and expect to spend an hour discussing Honorary Naming (presentation).
Afternoon Meeting
The afternoon meeting starts at 1:15pm and goes into executive session. The executive session agenda includes:
- Discussion Regarding the Purchase of Property Described as Lot 4-A-1, Forum 303 Addition, an Addition to the City of Arlington, Tarrant County, Texas.
- Discussion Regarding the Possible Sale, Exchange, Lease, or Value of Real Property located at 1707 and 1708 New York Avenue.
- All Cash Contract of Sale – Constellation Handley Power LLC – 6201 Lake Arlington Drive, Arlington Texas.
- All Cash Contract of Sale with Arlington Cattle & Pecan Company, Inc. and The Estate of Cecil Frederick Turner, Deceased – 3901 West Mayfield Road.
- Offers of Incentives to Business Prospects.
The open portion of the afternoon meeting will start no sooner than 3:00pm. That portion of the agenda has three work session items, one informal staff report, the external committees report, and evening and future agenda items.
The three work session items:
- The annual report on safe streets (presentation).
- FY26 Capital Budget (presentation).
- TAD Board discussion (presentation).
The informal staff report is regarding the Anthem (developer of the old Lincoln Square project) Public Improvement District (PID) (staff report).
Evening Meeting
The evening meeting agenda has 35 consent agenda items, a public hearing, a vote on the anti-discrimination ordinance, and a proposed 380-agreement.
Consent agenda item 35 is for approving bonds to be sold for the Viridian District (staff report). [I read that the Viridian voters turned it down, so I am not sure what is going on here.]
The public hearing is for the Tourism Public Improvement District (PID) (staff report). This extends the current PID for another 12 years (the first approval was in September 2016 for ten years).
The anti-discrimination ordinance (staff report) is to rescind Ordinance No. 25-068 and reinstate the "Anti-Discrimination" Chapter. [Ordinance No. 25-068 (September 2025) suspended the enforcement of the Anti-Discrimination Chapter of code].
The proposed 380-agreement (staff report) is for the southwest corner of Division Street and Collins Street for a mixed-use project that includes a hotel, food hall, retail and restaurants, multifamily housing, and structured parking (the “Project”). Two remaining tracts are needed to complete site control for the Project.
The $3,800,000 grant is for the purchase of those two remaining properties and is to be paid back [as in a loan] during construction. The plan calls for construction to begin within 60 months (5 years).
Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
The EDC board met this past Tuesday, November 11. The agenda can be found at: https://arlingtontxedc.com/assets/main/agendas/11-11-25-agenda.pdf .
Their one action item was for contract amendment #3 to the construction manager-at-risk contract for E-space increasing the cost to $102,157,385 from $88,764,372 (staff report). It was approved.
Upcoming Public Hearings
On Tuesday, November 18, the city council will hold a public hearing for the creation of an Arlington Tourism Public Improvement District (PID). This PID is expected to generate $62,751,690 over its 12-year life.
On Wednesday, December 3, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-27, 301 E Randol Mill Road. They wish to change the 0.233 acres from single family residential RM-12 (usually townhomes). If approved, it will go to city council on January 6.
On Wednesday, December 3, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD25-14, 1112 N. Collins Street. They wish to change the current CC (community commercial) to a PD-CC uses plus a package liquor store. If approved, it will go to city council on January 6.
On Wednesday, December 3, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD25-16, 6001/6004 U.S. Highway 287 & 6016 Myers Road. They wish to change the current CC (community commercial)/NC (neighborhood commercial), and MF-22 (multi-family to a PD-MF-22 uses on 14.65 acres. If approved, it will go to city council on January 6.
On Tuesday, December 9, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD25-10, 7819/7827 South Cooper Street. They wish to change the 9.622 acres from light industrial and flex hybrid to a planned development for RS-5 (small lot single family).
On Tuesday, December 9, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD25-15, 1119, Dan Gould. They wish to change the 0.654 acres from residential estate (RE) to a planned development for RM-12 (usually townhomes).
On Tuesday, January 6, the city council will hold a public hearing for fare adjustments for Handitran and On-Demand public rideshare services. They wish to increase Handitran fees from $2 to $3 per person per trip. They wish to increase On-Demand fees from $3-$5 to $3-$8 per person per trip, based on distance traveled. Details at: www.arlingtontx.gov/handitran and www.arlingtontx.gov/ondemand .
P&Z Commission
P&Z met this past Wednesday, November 12. There were three zoning case public hearings on the agenda. The meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=10&clip_id=5285 .
(7:01) Public hearing #1 was for PD25-10 (7819 and 7827 S Cooper Street). They wish to change their current planned development for flex hybrid and light industrial to a planned development for residential RS-5 (small lot homes) on the 9.622 acres (staff report). They wish for 54 homes on lots of 3,100-4,000 square feet. There were ten deviations from UDC standards. It was approved, 8-0-1.
(1:00:23) Public hearing #2 was for PD25-15 - 1119 Dan Gould Drive. They wish to change residential estate to a planned development of RM-12 (townhomes) on 0.654 acres (staff report). They wish to build 8 units (4 duplex-style buildings). There was one deviation. It was approved, 8-1.
(1:32:55) Public hearing #3 was for SUP25-6 - 1917 W Sanford Lane (staff report). They wish for a Specific Use Permit (SUP) for a secondary living unit on a property zoned Residential Single-Family-7.2 (RS-7.2). A continuance was approved, 8-1.
AISD School Board
The AISD School Board will meet this Thursday, November 20. The agenda should be posted on Monday.
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The AISD will NOT be posting the ten commandments for now. An article by Chris Moss of the Arlington Report: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/11/05/arlington-isd-agrees-not-to-post-ten-commandments-amid-lawsuit/ .
The AISD Board and Superintendent have established written goals, including student improvement on the STAAR testing. The Chris Moss article in the Arlington Report: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/10/01/arlington-isd-school-board-sets-goals-and-expectations-for-new-school-year/ .
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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
- Arlington ISD $0.802200
- Birdville ISD $0.786900
- Fort Worth ISD $0.786900
- Lewisville ISD $0.786900
- Mansfield ISD $0.786900
Teacher Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html [Arlington ISD easily pays the highest salaries, thus creating ISD inflation.]
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Other News
Running for Reelection – May 2026
Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article telling us of Mayor Ross’ announcement of running for reelection. That article is at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/10/22/arlington-mayor-jim-ross-announces-reelection-bid/ .
Ms. Hunter (District 3) and Ms. Boxall (District 5) have also announced they are running for reelection.
Andrew Piel (District 4) and Barbara Odom-Wesley (District 8) have term-limited out and are NOT eligible to run for a city council district [They are eligible to run for mayor].
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.
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 .......... - dwilban.aisd@gmail.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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