July 15, 2024 Newsletter
July 15, 2024 – Volume 18 Number 29
Highlights:
* The city prepares for the All-Star Game.
* P&Z has three public hearings on Wednesday.
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:
Tuesday, July 16: MLB All-Star Game.
Wednesday, July 17: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm.)
Thursday, August 1: 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, August 6: 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 is next scheduled to meet on Tuesday, August 6.
# # # # # # # # # # # #
Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
We do not know when the next EDC Board meeting will be.
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.
Upcoming Public Hearings
On Wednesday, July 17, P&Z will hold a public hearing on Zoning Case PD23-39, 1117/ 1219/1221 Dan Gould. They wish for approval of a change in zoning from Residential Estate (RE) to Planned Development (PD) for Residential Medium-Density-12 (RM-12) for a Cottage Community with a development plan, on approximately 1.966 acres. If this passes, it will go to the city council on August 27.
On Wednesday, July 17, P&Z will hold a public hearing on Zoning Case PD23-26, 500 block of Veritas Way and 2200 block of Veritas Way. They wish for approval of a revision to the previously approved Development Plan for Residential Single-Family-5 (PD-RS-5) uses, on approximately 5.499 acres. If this passes, it will go to the city council on August 27.
On Wednesday, July 17, P&Z will hold a public hearing on Zoning Case SUP24-7, 333 South Bowen Road. They wish for approval of a Special Use Permit for a banquet hall. If this passes, it will go to the city council on August 27.
On Tuesday, August 6, the city council will hold a public hearing on zoning case SUP22-3R1, 2118 East Abrams Street. They wish for approval of a revision to Specific Use Permit SUP22-3R1 for Used Vehicle Sales, on approximately 1.63 acres, currently zoned General Commercial (GC), to amend restrictions on assignability and transferability or other conditions.
On Tuesday, August 6, P&Z will hold a public hearing on Zoning Case SUP24-6, 1700 West Park Row Drive. They wish for approval of a Special Use Permit for a tattoo parlor.
On Tuesday, August 6, the city council will hold a public hearing for PD24-11, at 4400 S. Collins Street, for construction of an upscale hotel.
P&Z Commission
P&Z will meet on this Wednesday, July 17. There are three public hearings to be heard.
The first public hearing is for case PD23-39 where they wish to change RE (residential estate) to RM-12 (residential medium-density) for a cottage community on 1.966 acres at 1117/1219/1221 Dan Gould (staff report). There are six deviations and five staff considerations.
The second public hearing is for case PD23-26 where they wish to revise the current PD to RS-5 (residential single-family-5) on 5.499 acres in the 500 block of Veritas Way (bad link). There are three deviations and five staff considerations.
The final public hearing is for case SUP24-7, a special use permit for a banquet hall at 333 S. Bowen Road (staff report). There are eight staff considerations.
AISD School Board
The school board is scheduled to meet again on Thursday, August 1.
The AISD has hired a Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Jennifer Collins. The AISD story: https://www.aisd.net/district-news/dr-jennifer-collins/ .
TEA Accountability Data:
2022 Accountability
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 $0.824900
2. Fort Worth ISD $0.790400
3. Mansfield ISD $0.789200
3. Birdville ISD $0.789200
3. Everman ISD $0.789200
Of Tarrant County's 21 ISDs - Lowest Tax Rates
1. HEB ISD $0.921100
2. Burleson ISD $0.924700
3. Carroll ISD $1.002500
4. Azle ISD $1.025000
5. Fort Worth ISD $1.062400
6. Keller ISD $1.087500
7. Northwest ISD $1.090200
8. Everman ISD $1.094146
9. Arlington ISD $1.115600
10. Lewisville ISD $1.130100
AISD Under Performs 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, and yet test scores are not even close], and the question becomes, when is the real problem going to be fixed?
Press Box
100 Years of Parks
Lance Murray story on Arlington Parks as it appears in the Arlington Report/Fort Worth Report: https://fortworthreport.org/2024/07/08/arlington-celebrates-centennial-of-its-first-city-park .
High-speed Rail
Eric E. Garcia article in the Fort Worth Report claims some question if it should include Arlington: https://fortworthreport.org/2024/07/11/garcia-hs-rail-update/ .
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:
Opinion Arlington
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
To be added to/deleted from our mailing list please e-mail: ArlSpectator@yahoo.com