December 22, 2025 Newsletter
December 22, 2025 - Volume 19 Number 51
Highlights:
* Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. The next edition of the Arlington Spectator will be January 5.
* Mayor Ross promises the return of more discussion on the Anti-discrimination ordinance.
* City council approves $1,000,000 for lopsided 380-agreement.
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:
Thursday, December 25: Merry Christmas.
Thursday, January 1: Happy New Year.
Tuesday, January 6: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Thursday, January 8: 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.)
Wednesday, January 14: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm.)
Monday, January 19: MLK Holiday.
Thursday, January 22: 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, January 27: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Wednesday, January 28: 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 this past Tuesday, December 16.
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Committee Meeting
The Community and Neighborhood Development Committee met to discuss the multi-family inspections program (presentation).
Afternoon Meetings
The afternoon meeting started and went into executive session. The executive session portion of the agenda included:
- Discussion of Leonor Artega, et al. v. City of Arlington lawsuit,
- 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 Acquisition of Street Right-of-Way and Temporary Construction Easements Related to the Entertainment District Sidewalk Phase 3, Project No PWST24016, and
- Offers of Incentives to Business Prospects.
The afternoon meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=9&clip_id=5309 . Dr. Odom-Wesley was not present.
(1:48) Start of meeting and executive session.
Open session. There were two work session items.
(1:30:14) 1. an update on the 2026 World Cup (presentation1, presentation2). About 1:44:51 is the start of the second presentation (economic impact). The council had no questions.
(1:57:53) 2. council priority – strengthening our neighborhoods (presentation). About 2:02:07 it was opened up to the council for questions. [At some point Dr. Odom-Wesley arrived and was present for questions.]
(2:03:33) The one informal staff report was a Handitran update (report).
(2:07:14) Committee meeting.
(2:08:38) The appointments were to TIRZ boards (list).
(2:08:46) External committees.
(2:25:37) Evening agenda items and future agenda items. Multi-family recycling and potentially illegal parking may be revisited in the future.
Evening Meeting
The agenda for the evening meeting contained appointments, one executive session item, one set of minutes, 23 consent agenda items, one public hearing, and another lopsided 380-agreement. The agenda can be found at: https://www.arlingtontx.gov/files/4079c86b-02cb-4f6d-a6d7-7476977e5179/2025%E2%80%9412%E2%80%9416-Evening.pdf . All council members were present. The meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=9&clip_id=5310 .
(3:25) Start of meeting.
(12:21) Appointments (list). Executive session item was for Phase 3 of sidewalks in the entertainment district. Minutes were for a specially called December 2 executive session meeting (minutes). Each item was approved with separate 9-0 votes.
(15:04) Consent agenda. Consent agenda item 8.8 was $3,283,415 for Rangers' Parking Lot H, for the purpose of bus parking for the 2026 World Cup (staff report). No items were pulled for separate consideration or discussed. It was approved, 9-0.
(17:57) The public hearing was for Zoning Case PD25-10 (7819 and 7827 South Cooper Street) for a plan development (PD) for RS-5 small-lot single family homes on 9.622 acres (staff report). There are seven deviations. This was approved, 9-0.
(36:00) The 380 agreement (staff report) has the city providing IHS Real Estate Holdings with $1,000,000 to assist in the purchase of lands in the area of 701 & 715 Ryan Plaza Drive, 700 West Lamar Boulevard, and 1610 North Collins Street. This was approved, 9-0.
(36:50) Citizen participation. One of the candidates for HD94 spoke about rolling back SB40. The next five speakers spoke on the dam in Prestonwood West.
* * * * * * *
Council Leftovers
The City of Arlington proposes to use approximately $3,850,000 in federal HOME-ARP funds toward 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. Following demolition, the city intends to construct a newly built 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 total project investment is estimated at $24,000,000, combining federal, state, local, and private resources. 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. This project directly supports the City's strategic goals to reduce homelessness and enhance community well-being.] There are too many executive session discussions going on and I have NOT been able to get many of the details... This would mean at minimum that $3.8 million of CDBG-HOME federal funds will be used on this rather than on something else. HOME funds, generally speaking, give discounts to residents in need, paying portions of their rents.
Commentary: Diapers Needed
The leadership of the LGBTQ community has stated that they are canceling Arlington Pride events. Diapers are needed, and maybe a little ointment for that rash.
Actually, what needs to be investigated is how poor of an investment it was having the Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB) investing so much of our taxpayer-based funds in sponsoring the first “Pride” event.
Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
We do not know when the next EDC Board meeting will be.
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Upcoming Public Hearings
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 .
On Tuesday, January 6, the city council 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 to RM-12 (usually townhomes).
On Tuesday, January 27, the city council 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).
On Tuesday, January 27, the city council 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
On Tuesday, January 27, the city council 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.
???, 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.
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P&Z Commission
P&Z met this past Wednesday, December 17. There were three zoning case public hearings on the agenda.
(2:38) Public hearing #1 was for PD24-28 (5920 Matlock Road) and townhomes on the 3.165 acres (staff report). They wish to build 24 townhomes. It was approved, 5-2.
(28:30) Public hearing #2 was for Zoning Case PD25-19 (2504 S. Cooper St.) to have a planned development to allow for major auto repair (staff report). It was approved, 7-0.
(1:10:07) Public hearing #3 was for Zoning Case SUP25-8 (3409 Shorewood Ct.) to allow for a secondary living unit (staff report). It was approved, 7-0.
AISD School Board
The AISD School Board met this past Thursday, December 11 for a regular meeting. The agenda can be found at https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/2978?meeting=717227 .
That agenda started with a workshop on student enrollment trends. The workshop can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbgw1istKEY . Then there was an executive session with two main items, personnel and legal discussions of potential and pending litigation. The regular board meeting may be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqG9IR-UB44 .
(44:58) Start of meeting. All board members were present.
(1:04:41) Appointments (2) were approved, 7-0.
Alexis Palacios – Chief Internal Auditor
Kyle Berger – Chief Technology Officer
(1:21:43) There were no speakers for open forum on agenda items.
They started committee and staff reports.
(1:21:54) Capital Needs Steering Committee Report. About 1:32:33 it was opened to the board for comments/questions.
(1:35:12) Academic Calendar Committee Report. About 1:46:30 it was opened to the board for comments/questions.
(2:00:38) Student Survey Results Report. They have generated a Student Experience and Well Being Index. Students averaged 2.8 out of 4.0. About 2:09:4033 it was opened to the board for comments/questions.
(2:11:05) Consent Agenda. Nothing was pulled or discussed. It was approved, 7-0.
(2:11:36) There were no speakers on open forum for non-agenda items.
(2:11:45) End-of-meeting reports.
The Ms. McMurrough Board Brief of the meeting may be found at: https://www.aisd.net/district-news/watch-board-brief-from-december-school-board-meeting/ .
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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
- 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.] 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
50th Annual Interlochen Holiday Lights
The “official” beginning of the 50th Annual Interlochen has started and continues 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 . Arlington Police information: Enjoy 50th Year of Interlochen Lights in Arlington from Dec. 13-25 | City of Arlington, TX .
Texas Christkindl Market
Texas Christkindl Market continues through Tuesday, December 23, 11:00am – 8:00pm. The event is at 1650 E. Randol Mill Road.
Running for Election – May 2026
Mayor Ross, 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].
Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article of those who have announced on planning to run for city council and school board at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/12/03/heres-who-has-announced-for-arlington-city-school-elections/ .
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