December 1, 2025 Newsletter
December 1, 2025 – Volume 19 Number 48
Highlights:
* December is here. Shopping, Interlochen, etc. Christmas is 3.5 weeks away.
* P&Z to meet Wednesday for three zoning case public hearings, including three townhomes, a liquor store, and 252 apartments.
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, December 3: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at 3:00pm.)
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.)
Saturday, December 13: The “official” beginning of 50th Annual Interlochen Holiday Lights, 6:00pm – 10:00pm. Enter Westwood Drive at Randol Mill Road.
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.)
Thursday, December 25: Christmas.
From THE LOCKER ROOM
Arlington City Council Update
The next scheduled city council meeting is Tuesday, December 9.
Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
Next EDC meeting, no idea?
Upcoming Public Hearings
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 Wednesday, December 17, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-28, 5920 S. Matlock Road on 3.165 acres. They wish to change from office commercial (OC) to a PD-RMF-12 (usually townhomes). If approved by P&Z it will go to council on January 27.
On Wednesday, December 17, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD25-19, 2504 S. Cooper Street on 1.177 acres. They wish to change from community commercial (CC) to a PD-CC plus auto repair, major. If approved by P&Z it will go to council on January 27.
On Wednesday, December 17, P&Z will hold a public hearing on SUP25-8, 3409 Shorewood Court on 3.165 acres. They wish to obtain a Specific Use Permit on the RF-7.2 property. If approved by P&Z it will go to council on January 27.
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 will meet this Wednesday, December 3. There are three zoning case public hearings.
Public hearing #1 is for PD24-7, 301 E Randol Mill Road. The applicant is proposing to subdivide the 0.233 acres into three lots for townhomes. There are seven deviations. (staff report).
Public hearing #2 is for PD25-14, 1112 N. Collins Street. The applicant is proposing a planned development for community commercial (CC) plus package liquor store on 0.901 acres. (staff report).
Public hearing #3 is for PD25-16, 6001 & 6004 U.S. Highway 287. The applicant is proposing a planned development of 252 apartments (RMF-22) on the 14.65 acres. There are six deviations. (staff report).
AISD School Board
The AISD School Board is scheduled to meet on Thursday, December 11.
# # # # # # # # # # # #
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/ .
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 $0.802200
2. Birdville ISD $0.786900
2. Fort Worth ISD $0.786900
2. Lewisville ISD $0.786900
2. 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
50th Annual Interlochen Holiday Lights
The “official” beginning of the 50th Annual Interlochen begins Saturday, December 13 and runs through December 25, from 6:00pm – 10:00pm. You may enter the displays from Randol Mill Road at Westwood Drive. CBS News: https://share.google/nlHuHg2vtJUnlt73x .
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
To be added to/deleted from our mailing list please e-mail your request to: ArlSpectator@yahoo.com