June 30, 2025 Newsletter

Home ============ Teachers' Salaries ============ Citizens Defending Freedom vs. AISD Lawsuit ============== Taxpayers' Funds at Risk ============ Open Letter to AISD Taxpayers ============ June 30, 2025 Newsletter ============= Arlington City CouncilGrades ============= AISD Board Grades ================ June 23, 2025 Newsletter ============ June 16, 2025 Newsletter ============ June 9, 2025 Newsletter =========== June 2, 2025 Newsletter ============ ================ Jim Ross, Mayor ============= Mauricio Galante, District1 ============= Raul Gonzalez, District2 ============= Nikkie Hunter, District3 ============= Andrew Piel, District4 ============= Rebecca Boxall, District5 ============= Long Pham, District6 ============= Bowie Hogg, District7 ============== Barbara Odom-Wesley, District8 ============= Sarah McMurrough, AISDPlace1 ============= Melody Fowler, AISDPlace2 ============= Larry Mike, AISDPlace3 ============= David Wilbanks, AISDPlace4 ========== Justin Chapa, AISDPlace5 ============= Brooklyn Richardson, AISDPlace6 ============= Leanne Haynes, AISDPlace7 ============= Fact Sheet - November 8, 2022 Election ============ ++++++++++++ ============= Kennedale Observer Homepage =========== Kennedale Senior Tax Freeze ============== Kennedale City CouncilGrades ========== Texas Open Meetings Act Violations??? ============== The Bridge ============== Kennedale Observer - Latest Newsletter ============ Prior to That Newsletter ================ Brad Horton, Kennedale Mayor ============ David Glover, Kennedale Place 1 ============= Thelma Kobeck, Kennedale Place 2 =========== Ken Michels, Kennedale Place 3 ==============P3 Chris Gary, Kennedale Place 4 =========== Jeff Nevarez, Kennedale Place 5 ============ Kennedale City Council Compare ========== 1083 Bowman Springs Road Kennedale ============ What to Know About the Texas Raceway Project ================ Kennedale EDC MMA contract information ==============

June 30, 2025 – Volume 19 Number 26

Highlights:

* AISD passes 3% pay increase for those not covered by state teacher increase; 23% total for past six years.

* Best Guess: City Manager seems to be hinting at another one penny increase in tax rate.

* City Council and School Board plan to take the month of July off.

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:

Friday, July 4: Independence Day.

Wednesday, July 16: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm.

Tuesday, August 5: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)

Wednesday, August 6: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm.

Thursday, August 14: Budget Town Hall meeting, South Police Station.

Thursday, August 21: Budget Town Hall meeting, City Council Chambers, 101 W. Abram Street.

From THE LOCKER ROOM

Arlington City Council Update

The city council met this past Tuesday, June 24. All council members were present. They typically take the month of July off and the next meeting scheduled is August 5, where the city manager will present his budget.

# # # # # # # # # # # #

Committee Meetings

The Finance and Audit Committee met to discussion the library facilities overview (presentation).

The Community and Neighborhood Development Committee met to discuss the 2025 Historic Preservation Fund (presentation). The committee voted to fund the requests at the full amount.

The quasi-committee Arlington Housing Finance Corporation met at noon (agenda). [They approved both resolutions.]

Afternoon Meeting

The afternoon meeting can be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/player/clip/5172?view_id=9&redirect=true .

(5:38) Start of meeting. They began and went into executive session to discuss:

Legal Discussion Regarding SB840;

Discussion Regarding the Option to Purchase 501 N. East Street;

Discussion regarding a proposed Grant of Rights for the use of city property interests in connection with a private development on W. Green Oaks Boulevard;

Discussion regarding the sale or lease of property at 1901 Lakewood Drive; and

Offers of Incentives to Business Prospects.

(1:53:05) The open portion of the afternoon meeting began with the first of the two work session items, a FY26 budget planning update (presentation). The city manager appears to be pushing $6.4 million on taxpayers (tax rate and exemptions). About 2:32:24 it is opened to the council for questions/comments. The mayor left for a while during the discussion.

James Hartley of the Arlington Report has a story at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/06/25/arlington-considers-raising-property-taxes-as-last-resort-to-close-final-part-of-25m-budget-gap-2 .

(3:00:25) The second work session item was an update from the state legislative session (presentation). About 3:12:58 it is opened to the council for questions/comments.

(3:15:08) Four informal staff reports:

1. Attracting Creative, Film and Media Productions to Arlington (staff report);

2. Downtown Pedestrian Safety (staff report);

3. Multi-Family Annual Property Inspection (API) Program Scoring System (staff report); and

4. Capital Improvements Program Advisory Committee (CIPAC) January 2025 Semi-Annual Report (staff report , executive summary , actual report).

(3:30:51) Committee meetings.

(3:34:42) There were 60 appointments to boards and committees (appointments). Evening agenda items discussed.

(3:41:48) Council's external committee reports.

(3:47:43) Discussion on the display of restaurants' health inspection certificates. It would require displaying their sanitation grade. It would be a future staff report.

(3:53:48) No future agenda items were discussed.

Evening Meeting

The agenda evening meeting included appointments, minutes, 65 consent agenda items, and seven public hearings (the two related to Anthem-the redevelopment of Lincoln Square will be continued until August 26). The meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/player/clip/5173?view_id=9&redirect=true . All council members were present.

(3:00) Start of meeting.

(27:32) Appointments and minutes. Many appointments. They were approved with two 9-0 votes.

(30:28) Consent agenda (65 items). No speakers. No items discussed. It passed, 9-0.

Consent agenda item 7.28 was for $2,186,354 for a construction contract for the [Airport] Fixed-Base Operator Building Remodel with C1S Group, Inc. (staff report).

Consent agenda item 7.56 named Council Member Odom-Wesley as mayor pro tempore and Council Member Gonzalez as deputy mayor pro tempore (resolution).

Consent agenda item 7.62 was a modification to the ground lease agreement with the Arlington Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to add the additional space for a new hanger (staff report).

(36:38) Public hearing #1 was to determine that no changes to the land use assumptions, capital improvements plan or impact fees were needed for the 2025 update of the impact fee program (staff report). No speakers. It was approved, 9-0.

(40:45) Public hearing #2 was to allow Oncor the rights to 6.190 acres in Bob Cluck Linear Park for an electric substation (staff report). No speakers. It was approved, 9-0.

(42:30) Public hearings #3 and #4 had to do with Anthem, the redevelopment of Lincoln Square and its alternate sign plan. These two public hearings were not heard at this meeting but will be heard on August 26. A motion to continue passed, 9-0.

(43:04) Public hearing #5 was for a Planned Development (PD) for Community Commercial (CC) uses plus Motor Vehicle Sales at 4300 New York Avenue, 1601 East Bardin Road, and 1700 E. Interstate Highway 20 (staff report). It was approved, 9-0.

(49:15) Public hearing #6 was for a Specific Use Permit SUP25-2 for a Secondary Living Unit at 319 Matlock Meadow Drive, zoned Residential Single-Family 7.2 (RS-7.2) (staff report). It was approved, 8-1, with Hogg in opposition.

(51:30) Public hearing #7 was for the development plan DP25-01 for a multi-family development on property zoned Residential Multi-Family 22 (RMF-22) with a maximum density of 16 units per acre. First reading of an ordinance adopting Development Plan DP25-01 on certain property known as 2601 W. Randol Mill Road zoned Residential Multi-Family 22 (RMF-22) (staff report). There were seven speakers in opposition. It passed, 6-3, with Hunter, Piel, and Hogg in opposition.

(1:41:03) Citizen participation. There were eight speakers who signed up. The first actual speaker was the Arlington Municipal Patrolmen's Association president. He was opposed to some of the benefits cuts at the June 10 budget discussion. The second speaker was the president of the Arlington Police Association and continued the letter started by the previous speaker. The letter had also been signed by several first responders' associations. The third speaker addressed issues with lack of more intense maintenance of Randol Mill Park.

# # # # # # # # # # # #

Economic Development Corporation (EDC)

The EDC Board met on Tuesday, June 17. They held the public hearing on Phase II [of three] of the espace project deal costing the EDC $65,000,000 [added to the $50,000,000 for Phase I]. They did not take action on the item at this meeting. According to staff they will probably take action on the item during the summer.

The packet for the meeting can be found at: https://arlingtontxedc.com/assets/main/agendas/june-17,-2025.pdf .

We do not know the next meeting date. Our best guess is July 17.

Upcoming Public Hearings

On Wednesday, July 16, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD25-9 at 1401 S. Watson Road. They wish for a planned development on the 6.112 acres for RMF-22 (apartments). It is currently zoned commercial. If approved this will go to the city council on August 5.

On Wednesday, July 16, P&Z will hold a public hearing on SUP09-20R1 at 3031 E. Arkansas Lane. They wish to amend the gas drilling specific use permit. If approved this will go to the city council on August 5.

On Wednesday, July 16, P&Z will hold a public hearing on SUP25-5 at 2306 Park Run Drive. They wish for a specific use permit to allow a secondary living unit. If approved this will go to the city council on August 26.

On Wednesday, July 16, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-28 at 5920 Matlock Road. They wish for a planned development on the 3.165 acres for RM-12 (usually townhomes) and office. It is currently zoned all office commercial. If approved this will go to the city council on August 5.

On Tuesday, August 5, the city council will hold a public hearing to issue $12,000,000 in certificates of obligation (CO).

On Tuesday, August 26, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-40 for a planned development for a portion of Lincoln Square.

On Tuesday, August 26, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-40-ASP for an alternate sign plan for Lincoln Square.

P&Z Commission

P&Z met on Wednesday, June 18. There were three zoning case public hearings on the agenda. The full agenda can be found at: https://www.arlingtontx.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/planning-and-development-services/documents/planning-and-zoning/june-18-2025-regular-session-agenda.pdf . The meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/player/clip/5163?view_id=10&redirect=true .

(3:48) The first public hearing was for SUP25-4 (1645 New York Avenue) - application for approval of a Specific Use Permit (SUP) for a Banquet Hall in a suite 17,246-square-feet in size, zoned Community Commercial (CC) (staff report). It was approved, 7-0.

(20:40) The second public hearing was for ZA25-3 (1225 California Lane) - Application for approval of a change in zoning from Landmark Preservation Overlay-Planned Development (LPO-PD) for Light Industrial (LI) Uses to Office Commercial (OC) (staff report). This was continued until the July 16 meeting, 7-0.

(1:01:43) The third public hearing was for SUP25-1-2712 W Division St- Application for a Specific Use Permit (SUP) for Auto Repair Garage, Major on 0.399 acres zoned Light Industrial (LI) (staff report). It was approved, 7-0.

The next P&Z meeting should be Wednesday, July 16.

AISD School Board

The AISD School Board met this past Thursday, June 26. Their agenda included a public hearing on the proposed tax rate. The agenda can be found at: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/2978?meeting=695224 .

The meeting was expected to open and go into executive session for:

A. Personnel; and

B. Consult Attorney Regarding Potential and Pending Litigation.

The open portion of the meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn-hyLxqAJQ . Board members Richardson and Fowler attended virtually.

(0:01) Opening.

(4:40) Appointments were approved, 7-0.

Kiesha Edwards - Principal Ellis Elementary

Delisse Hardy – Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction

(10:42) Open forum for agenda items saw one speaker pushing for additional pay for AVID instructors.

Three Action Items.

(14:46) A. Consider 2025-2026 Compensation Plan Adjustments. Staff is recommending a 3% raise to all employees (other than the state raise for teachers), a grade increase for attendance clerks, $1000 stipend increase for athletic trainers, and $33/month increase in healthcare coverage. It was opened to the board for questions and comments at 18:35. It was approved, 7-0. There was NO mention about how much this approval affects the $13 million deficit.

(51:14) B. Consider Approval of 2025-2026 Appointments to the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) - Committee Member Recommendations. It was approved, 7-0.

(54:16) C. Consider Approval of 2025-2026 Appointments to the Financial Futures Committee (FFC) - Committee Member Recommendations. It was approved, 7-0.

(56:05) Consent agenda. Nothing was pulled or discussed. It was approved, 7-0.

(56:45) There were no speakers for open forum for non -agenda items.

(56:55) End of meeting reports.

Ms. McMurrough presented the Board Brief at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuzcfO6R_jc . [The Board Brief was about pay increases from the state and not about the June 26 meeting.]

Last week we reported how the board approved the FY2025-2026 Budget. There was very little openly discussed. As it turns out expenditures are some $70 million more than the $615 million in revenue, however, the $13 million deficit comes about because there is a $57 million transfer in.

Ben Sawyers of WFAA [Channel 8] has a report about the raises included at: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/education/schools/two-north-texas-school-districts-announce-teacher-pay-raises-final-budgets/287-310b0186-a866-4a48-8c99-eb35db059177 .

Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an AISD budget story: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/06/25/arlington-isds-expected-13m-budget-deficit-likely-wont-stick-trustees-say-heres-why .

The AISD post of the raises: https://www.aisd.net/district/departments/human-resources/compensation-benefits-and-risk-management/board-approves-staff-raises/ .

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 $0.812800

2. Birdville ISD $0.786900

2. Fort Worth ISD $0.786900

2. Godley ISD $0.786900

2. Mansfield ISD $0.786900

Of Tarrant County's 21 ISDs - Lowest Tax Rates [The rest are above $1.1300]

1. Grapevine-Colleyville ISD $0.923300

2. Carroll ISD $0.961700

3. HEB ISD $0.968900

4. Fort Worth ISD $1.062400

5. Keller ISD $1.085200