July 22, 2024 Newsletter
July 22, 2024 – Volume 18 Number 30
Highlights:
* The numbers are in. AISD Trustee Larry Mike spent over $40,000 to get his seat with less than 50% of the vote in a three-way race.
* P&Z approved three zoning cases 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:
Thursday, August 1: City Council and P&Z joint session, 101 W. Abram Street, 3rd Floor, 3:00pm.
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.)
Wednesday, August 7: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm.)
Tuesday, August 13: City Council afternoon (budget) meeting, 101 W. Abram Street.
From THE LOCKER ROOM
Arlington City Council Update
The city council is next scheduled to meet on Tuesday, August 6.
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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, the city council 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.
On Wednesday, August 7, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-7 on 25.5 acres in southeast Arlington. They wish for a planned development based on RS-5 (small lot single-family houses) at 7204 Mitchell Parkway and 7300 Grindstone Court. If approved, this will go to the city council on September 3.
On Wednesday, August 7, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-14 on 0.7984 acres at 107 W. Randol Mill Road. They wish for a planned development for office commercial plus a kennel. If approved, this will go to the city council on August 27.
On Wednesday, August 7, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-16 on 0.462 acres at 500/600 S. Davis Drive. They wish for a planned development for limited office uses including day care. If approved, this will go to the city council on August 27.
P&Z Commission
P&Z met this past Wednesday, July 17. There were three public hearings to be heard. The meeting may be viewed at https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/player/clip/4883?view_id=10&redirect=true .
(1:30) The first public hearing was for case PD23-39 where they wished 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). They wish to build 14 cottages and 8 duplexes. There are six deviations and five staff considerations. Eight of the units are for displaced families. It was approved, 8-1.
(43:22) The second public hearing was for case PD23-26 where they wished to revise the current PD to RS-5 (residential single-family-5) on 5.499 acres in the 500 block of Veritas Way (staff report). There are three deviations and five staff considerations. Trees dominated the conversation. There were three speakers opposed. It was eventually approved with 4-inch trees, 9-0.
(1:46:50) The final public hearing was for case SUP24-7, a special use permit for a banquet hall at 333 S. Bowen Road (staff report). There are eight staff considerations. A lot of talk about alcohol use/consumption. It was approved, 9-0.
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 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, and yet test scores are not even close], and the question becomes when is the real problem going to be fixed?
The Rest of the Story – Larry Mike
On May 20 we ran:
How do you think he will do on budget issues? His campaign through April 24 (ten days prior to the election) had spent $29,255.93. Contributions totaled $11,091 for a position that pays $0.00.
The July 15 finance reports have now been filed. Larry Mike's buying of his AISD seat cost
$40,726.50. He had total contributions of $11,751 (some from himself) and loans of $26,336.45.
It certainly seems approving a budget with a negative balance was not a problem.
Press Box
Arlington Patrolman's Association
The Arlington Municipal Patrolman's Association (AMPA) is complaining. The Kailey Broussard story in the Arlington Report/Fort Worth Report: https://fortworthreport.org/2024/07/17/arlington-patrolmans-group-uses-all-star-week-crowds-to-send-message-in-entertainment-district-2 .
[My comments: when they first asked for the crime district, they basically wanted the city council to put it on the ballot, which they could not do; the city is already at the maximum – remember the lies that were told to add the EDC sales tax. The article mentions the 22 positions in February. Note how the salary discussion states “starting” salary. If I were to guess, many of the starting salaries are close and Arlington is probably not that far away from being very higher on starting salary scale. The city manager is aiming pay at 105% of average meaning many of the [all] salaries are very high.]
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 people 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
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