April 13, 2026 Newsletter
April 13, 2026 – Volume 20 Number 15
Highlights:
* City Council approves form-based zoning.
* I-20 & Kelly Elliott zoning case (SB840 controversy) withdrawn.
* Wednesday, P&Z to consider changing commercial to 170 townhomes at Debbie Lane and Glenn Day Drive.
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, April 15: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at 4:00pm.)
Thursday, April 16: District 1 Town Hall, Texas Rangers Golf Club, 701 Brown Trail, 6:00pm.
Monday, April 20: Start of Early Voting for Municipal and ISD May 2 Election, 8:00am-5:00pm.
Tuesday, April 21: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister online by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Thursday, April 23: Arlington Housing Finance Corporation online meeting for issuing $55,000,000 bonds regarding 240 apartments at 2104 Mayfield Road, phoning (877)853-5247 and using access number 802-469-2463, 1:30pm.
Thursday, April 23: 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, April 28: City Council Spring Retreat.
Tuesday, April 28: End of Early Voting for Municipal and ISD May 2 Election, 7:00am-7:00pm.
Saturday, May 2: Municipal and ISD Elections, 7:00am-7:00pm.
Tuesday, May 5: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister online by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
From THE LOCKER ROOM
Arlington City Council Update
The Arlington City Council met for a full slate of meetings this past Tuesday, April 7. They approved form-based zoning. The controversial potential SB840 zoning case was withdrawn.
Committee Meetings
The Community and Neighborhood Development Committee met to discuss the federal grants Plan Year PY2026 Action Plan and funding overview (presentation).
The Transportation and Municipal Infrastructure Committee met to discuss a Handi-tran update report (presentation).
Afternoon Meeting
The afternoon meeting may be viewed at https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=9&clip_id=5414 . All council members were present.
They started with an executive session agenda that included:
Legal discussion regarding sign regulations.
Discussion of the settlement with AISD for the sidewalk improvement project at 1221 E. Division Street. [Commentary: This sidewalk project is getting ridiculous... If they don't want to allow for the sidewalks, let them walk in the mud...]
Discussion of real properties purchases and values in Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) #5 [Entertainment District].
Council appointees’ performance reviews (I believe this is the large time consuming portion).
Offers of incentives for business prospects.
When they reconvened the open portion of the agenda included one work session item, three informal staff reports, and outside committee reports.
(4:30:30) Work Session Item: Council Priority – Enhanced Mobility was the work session item (presentation). It was opened to the council for questions about 4:40:40.
(4:43:41) The three informal staff reports were:
Professional Services Contract for 401(k)/457 plans (staff report).
Commercial motor vehicle parking facilities (staff report).
Door-to-door selling (staff report).
(5:05:31) Committee meetings.
(5:13:02) Evening agenda items.
(5:18:22) External committees.
(5:27:57) Future agenda items.
Evening Meeting
The agenda for the evening meeting included 22 consent agenda items, one ordinance, six public hearings, and resolution of a land sale. All council members were present. The meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=9&clip_id=5415 .
(3:20) Start of meeting. Audio did not start until about 5:07. There was one proclamation. Boards and appointments were approved, 9-0. The one executive session item (1221 E. Division Street agreement) was approved, 9-0. Minutes were approved, 9-0.
(13:12) The consent agenda saw no speakers on any subject. It was approved, 9-0.
Consent agenda item 8.8 is where the city grosses $100,000 in a sponsorship deal, but then turns around and pays 36% commission to the consultant firm (staff report).
(15:58) The ordinance was to modify the smoking ordinance (staff report). They wish to include vaping as part of the ordinance. There were two speakers in support. It was approved, 9-0.
(21:07) Public hearing #1 was to update the Unified Development Code (UDC) to allow for a form-based code zone (staff report). It was approved, 9-0.
(48:39) Public hearing #2 was for establishing an extremely large form-based code zoning area including much of downtown (staff report). It was approved, 9-0. James Hartley of KERA News and the Arlington Report has an article on form-based code downtown at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/04/08/arlingtons-plan-to-reimagine-downtown-moves-forward-with-unanimous-council-vote/ .
(52:08) Public hearing #3 was for ZA25-6 at the northwest corner of Kelly-Elliott and Interstate 20 (staff report). They wish to change residential zoning to straight neighborhood commercial (NC). The problem is it would then be eligible to become multi-family (MF) with NO council or P&Z approval thanks to SB840 approved by the state last year. Chris Moss of the Arlington Report also has an article on this case at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/04/01/proposed-zoning-changes-in-arlington-lead-to-debate-surrounding-new-state-laws-apartments-and-blanket-zoning/ . It was withdrawn. There were two speakers.
(56:49) Public hearing #4 was for PD20-22R1 at 109 W. Rogers Street (staff report). They wish to add short-term rentals as a permitted use, currently prohibited by the PD's restrictions. It was approved, 7-2, with Hunter and Piel in opposition.
(1:04:13) Public hearing #5 was for ZA26-2 at 2401 W. Green Oaks Boulevard (staff report). They wish to change the existing planned development veterinary zoning to neighborhood commercial (NC). It was approved, 9-0.
(1:07:21) Public hearing #6 was for SUP08-2R1 at 8380 Glenn Day Drive (staff report). They wish to establish a drilling zone. There were 11 speakers in opposition. It was approved, 8-1, with Hunter in opposition.
(1:45:11) The city will be selling the property it recently purchased at the southwest corner of Lamar and Collins to the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and returning the $19,000,000-plus commissions to the water account it used for the purchase (staff report). It was approved, 9-0.
(1:46:24) Citizen participation. The first speaker spoke on homelessness (part IV). The second and third speakers spoke for a resolution to free oneself from the federal government. The fourth speaker spoke on electrical outages at her house.
Council Leftovers
RECOMMENDATIONS
Let me ask you a quick question. If a politician does not answer your questions while asking for your vote, what do you think the odds will be of getting answers after they are in office?
MAYOR
I was greatly disappointed in our choices for mayor. I cannot understand Hunter Crow when he speaks. I cannot make that selection. We know what we have in Jim Ross (Arlington Spectator grade of a very low F) and it is very bad. I strongly considered business owner Shaun Mallory and thought about delaying my selection [of the top two favorites] until the runoff, if needed, but then circled back to making a decision now. The stuff you read on social media (Charlie Parker, Joe Bruner) is in my opinion very accurate. Steve Cavender/Jeff Williams is actually worse than Ross. Taxpayers Funds at Risk (http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_83.html), is in my opinion far more likely “stuff” during a Jeff Williams/puppet era.
As painful as it is for me to write, the least awful choice for Mayor is JIM ROSS.
DISTRICT 3
I actually liked both of the choices here, Kelly Burke and Nikkie Hunter. Hunter is the incumbent and has an Arlington Spectator grade of a high D, the highest on the city council. Then she stopped answering the questions [these are softballs].
The recommendation for District 3 is KELLY BURKE.
DISTRICT 4
The incumbent, Andrew Piel, has termed out, YEAH. We get to replace his Arlington Spectator grade of F with someone new. The apartment-loving, wasteful establishment wants Tom Ware. The far left wants Rojo Meixueiro. Easily the best choice for the people is Lisa Ventura.
My STRONG RECOMMENDATION for District 4 is LISA VENTURA.
DISTRICT 5
The incumbent is Rebecca Boxall. She has an Arlington Spectator grade of a low D. The challenger, Brittney Garcia-Dumas is the far left's choice.
The recommendation for District 5 is REBECCA BOXALL.
DISTRICT 8
The incumbent, Barbara Odom-Wesley, has termed out, YEAH. We get to replace her Arlington Spectator grade of F with someone new. Much like the mayoral race, there is not anything here to like. The far left likes Shelton. Fowler, the wasteful establishment choice, has always wanted to raise taxes.
My District 8 least awful choice is COREY HARRIS.
Also, as part of the city election will be the vote for whether or not to continue with the 1/4-cent sales tax for road repairs.
# # # # # # # # # # # #
The City of Arlington proposes a total project investment of an estimated $24,000,000, combining federal, state, local, and private resources for the acquisition and demolition of an existing two-story, 81,205-square-foot dilapidated motel structure at 1220 W. Division Street built in 1965 and comprised of 72 rooms. So far, they have determined they will use approximately $3,850,000 in federal HOME-ARP funds. Part of the city/local funds included is $2.85 million of Arlington Housing Finance Corporation funds. Anyone's guess on the specifics of the rest of the funding?
Following demolition, the city intends to construct a new permanent supportive housing community consisting of a minimum of 70 units. The new development will provide safe, service-enriched housing for chronically homeless individuals, veterans and their families, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations. The primary objective is to expand the supply of affordable, supportive housing and promote long-term housing stability for residents experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
So has anyone divided that out? $24,000,000 / 70 units = $342,857/unit [cost of a house???].
Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
We do not know the date of the next EDC meeting.
Upcoming Public Hearings
On Wednesday, April 15, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD25-17, at 2002 Wynn Terrace. They wish for a planned development for RM-12 zoning for a cottage community on 2.035 acres. If this is approved, it would go to the city council on May 5.
On Wednesday, April 15, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD25-21, at 1013 N. Mesquite Street. They wish to change from RS-7.2 to a planned development for RM-12 (usually townhomes) on 0.924 acres. If this is approved, it would go to the city council on May 5.
On Wednesday, April 15, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD25-22, at 1120 Debbie Lane. They wish to change community commercial (CC) to a planned development for RM-12 (usually townhomes) zoning on 29.850 acres. If this is approved, it would go to the city council on May 5.
On Thursday, April 23, the Arlington Housing Finance Corporation will be holding a public hearing for the issuance of bonds, not to exceed $55,000,000 regarding 240 apartment units at 2401 Mayfield Road.
On Tuesday, May 5, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD21-28R1, at 800 Debbie Lane. They wish to revise the development plan.
On Wednesday, May 13, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD25-8, at 2100 S.E. Green Oaks Boulevard. They wish to change the CC (community commercial) to a planned development plus a car wash.
# # # # # # # # # # # #
P&Z Commission
P&Z will meet again this Wednesday, April 15. There appear to be three zoning cases. The agenda can be found at: https://granicus_production_attachments.s3.amazonaws.com/arlingtontx/5c5a71cc415542cf7356639131d751210.html .
The first public hearing is for PD14-17 at 2002 Wynn Terrace on 2.035 acres (staff report). They wish for a planned development for a cottage community of 13 homes.
The second public hearing is for PD25-21 at 1013 N. Mesquite Street on 0.924 (staff report). They wish for a planned development for ten townhomes.
The third public hearing is for PD25-22 at 1120 Debbie Lane/8380 Glenn Day Drive on 29.850 acres (staff report). They wish to change community commercial to a planned development of two commercial plots and 170 townhomes.
AISD School Board
The AISD School Board met this past Thursday, April 9. All board members were present. The agenda for the meeting may be found at: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/2978?meeting=733574 . They hoped to reconvene in open session at 7:30pm.
They started with a workshop on Strategic Plan Development (presentation). They then went into executive session where they discussed:
Personnel.
Potential and pending lawsuits.
Termination of a probationary contract.
The meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3DWJ3k3GAU .
The open session of the agenda includes recognitions, open forum for agenda items, five committee and staff reports, three action items, the consent agenda, open forum for non-agenda items, and the end-of-meeting reports.
(26:57) Open forum on agenda items. There were no speakers.
The five committee and staff reports were:
(skipped) Governance committee report.
(skipped) Finance and academics committee report.
(27:13) Bond update (presentation). About 32:48 it was opened to the board for questions.
(34:26) Teacher Retirement System Active Care follow-up report (presentation). It would take about $12.5 million to be comparable to private sector rates. About 59:43 it was opened to the board for questions.
(1:16:41) Key progress measures: Campuses in need of improvement (presentation). About 1:37:30 it was opened to the board for questions.
The three action items were:
(1:49:49) exemption from SB546 (seat belt requirement for school buses) (presentation). The cost would be about $4 million to get 100% three-point compliant. About 1:54:11 it was opened to the board for questions. It was approved, 7-0.
(1:55:42) Blanton Elementary transportation plan (presentation). About 2:00:06 it was opened to the board for questions. They selected a hybrid option, approving 7-0.
(2:09:48) consideration of termination of the contract discussed in executive session. It was approved, 7-0.
(2:10:43) Consent agenda. Nothing was discussed or withdrawn. It was approved, 7-0.
(2:11:11) Open forum for non-agenda items. There were four speakers registered. All four spoke of the disappointment of high school level continuation of the fine arts upper level of learning.
(2:28:39) End-of-meeting reports.
The workshop may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9WXJy7RDcw .
The Board Brief by Mrs. Richardson may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PshZfZVqwY8&pp=ugUEEgJlbg%3D%3D .
May 2, 2026 AISD Election
RECOMMENDATIONS
AISD – PLACE 6
This race is between challenger Jan Tyler and incumbent Brooklyn Richardson. Tyler is a former Arlington teacher. Richardson still fails to accept that the AISD has the highest ISD M&O for Tarrant County, no matter what TAD says.
My STRONG RECOMMENDATION for AISD-Place 6 is JAN TYLER.
AISD – PLACE 7
This race is between incumbent Leanne Haynes and challenger Linton Davis. Three years ago, Davis supported Haynes.
The recommendation for AISD – Place 7 is LINTON DAVIS.
AISD Bond Election
https://www.aisd.net/bond-2026/
[Commentary: I have a great deal of difficulty accepting this bond. AISD has a decreasing student population from 63,000+ to maybe under 50,000 this coming school year. Other districts, in an effort to save money, have closed schools, which makes very logical sense. AISD will be closing its first school (Blanton Elementary) at the end of this school year.
The board went out of its way to add a second (unnamed/unplanned?) elementary school replacement [South Davis Elementary was the first and named school replacement], basically saying, here, raise the tax rate, give us the money and we will decide.
The board claims to make fact-based decisions; however, they seem to be failing. Where are the fact-based decisions on saving the taxpayers’ dollars and being efficient with taxpayers’ funds? Why have they not come up with plans to being more efficient with taxpayers’ funds rather than just raising the tax rate, giving them money, and having no specific plans on a second school replacement.
I say vote NO at least to Proposition A of the AISD Bond package.]
A Chris Moss article in the Arlington Report explores the possibility of the AISD joining the pay-for-performance teacher program offered by the state. That article can be found at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/01/07/arlington-isd-considers-texas-pay-for-performance-teacher-program/ .
AISD saw a jump in their accountability scores because of their challenge of some of the STAAR testing results. Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/12/09/arlington-isd-sees-2025-academic-accountability-bump-after-staar-appeal/ . Also an AISD article may be found at: https://www.aisd.net/district-news/updated-district-and-campus-accountability-ratings/ .
The AISD enrollment is expected to fall below 50,000 students at some point, maybe as early as the 2026-2027 school year. Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has a story at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/12/03/arlington-isds-enrollment-projected-to-drop-below-50000-next-year/ .
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.] An article by Jacob Sanchez in the Fort Worth Report confirms that the Arlington ISD pays the highest salaries in Tarrant County [ https://fortworthreport.org/2025/12/17/teachers-in-this-tarrant-county-school-district-earn-the-highest-salaries/ ].
OTHER NEWS
FIFA cancels blocks of room reservations
FIFA has canceled blocks of room reservations. An article by Dylan Duke of KERA News can be found at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/04/03/fifa-cancels-hotel-reservation-blocks-in-dallas-arlington-ahead-of-world-cup/ .
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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