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August 24, 2025 – Volume 8 Number 34

HIGHLIGHTS:

* City council meets Wednesday for budget and tax rate public hearings. They are set to approve the budget and Fort Worth Landfill zoning.

* The city council met this past Tuesday and approve a city manager spending increase to $50,000 (not $100,000 as some wanted) without city council approval.

SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, August 26: EDC (Economic Development Corporation) Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, August 27: Special Budget City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 28: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 30: End of Summer Extraganze, Sonora Park, 10:00 a.m. - noon.

Monday, September 1: Labor Day holiday.

Tuesday, September 9: KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 9: Parks Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, September 16: City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

…..

Senior Tax Freeze

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_10.html

Texas Open Meetings Act Violations???

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_9.html

The Bridge:

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_12.html

City Council Grades:

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_26.html

Kennedale Observer website:

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/index_3.html

Latest Kennedale Observer newsletter:

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_44.html

KNOW WHAT YOUR CITY IS UP TO...

Your City Council

The city council met this past Tuesday, August 19, for their regular monthly meeting. The packet for the meeting may be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3642/files/agenda/10260 . The meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExN8xkx7r_o . They will meet again this Wednesday, August 27.

(14:24) Start of meeting. There were no speakers for public comment.

(17:34) The information for the public hearing about the zoning case of the Fort Worth Landfill can be viewed starting on .pdf page 4 of the above packet link. Council Members Kobeck and to a smaller degree Michels asked several questions regarding road conditions/issues. Council Member Glover asked about the funds they pay for Dick Price Road upkeep. The vote for approval will be at this Wednesday's (August 27) meeting. Mr. Nevarez wants to make Dick Price a higher priority in future plans and place the item on the consent agenda (rather than an item for individual consideration) on Wednesday.

(1:03:03) The presentation was from the benefits consultant regarding insurance. The recommendation was to change health insurance from Blue Cross Blue Shield to United Health Care for a slightly reduced rate (-2.67%) instead of a large increase (15.9%). The Blue Cross Blue Shield dental plan will increase 3%. and is recommended.

(1:07:16) The regular session included:

Reports and Announcements

- the fire chief gave an update on the fire station remodeling and the status of the brush truck (presentation). They hope to be able to move in to the new fire station by next summer.

- the public works director gave an update on public works (no presentation available).

- the finance director gave the financial report (July numbers). The city manager asked about funding (putting back in) the police cruiser in the FY26 budget to which the finance director was heartily in favor.

(1:35:35) Consent Agenda (4 items)

- approving July 15 minutes (minutes)

- approving August 5 minutes (minutes)

- approving the Atmos settlement (starting on .pdf page 83 of the packet link above)

- accepting Chris Gary’s resignation (resignation)

The last two items of the consent agenda were pulled for separate consideration. The first two items, the two sets of minutes, were approved, 4-0. Mr. Glover discussed the third item, the Atmos settlement, stating how the citizens need to realize all utilities are going up. The last item, Mr. Gary’s resignation, was questioned by Ms. Kobeck whether it was necessary as recent resignations were not approved by the sitting councils. The item was approved, 3-0-1, with Kobeck abstaining.

Individual Consideration (2 items)

(1:41:30) - discuss and approve the proposed insurance benefits package (staff report). The consultant's recommendation from earlier in the evening was approved, 4-0.

(1:43:09) - raise the spending limit of the city manager up to $100,000 [from the current $25,000] (starting on .pdf page 113 of the packet link above). This was tabled at last month's meeting when an agenda item attempted to raise it to $50,000. This item generated a lot of debate. A motion to increase the spending limit to only $50,000 was approved with the mayor breaking the tie, 3-2, with Michels and Nevarez in opposition.

* * * * *

The city council has a special budget meeting planned for Wednesday, August 27, at 5:30 p.m. The packet can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3657/files/agenda/10286 . The agenda includes public comment, public hearings on the budget and tax rate, one consent agenda item, and four individual items for separate consideration.

The consent agenda has one item, the approving of the Fort Worth Landfill zoning request for South Dick Price Road (information starts on .pdf page 6 of the above link for the packet). The public hearing for this item was at the August 19 meeting.

The four items for individual consideration:

1. Adopting the FY2026 Budget by a roll call vote (information starts on .pdf page 62 of the above link for the packet).

2. Ratification of the property tax increase (staff report)

3. Levying the municipal ad valorem tax by a roll call vote (information starts on .pdf page 70 of the above link for the packet).

4. Police cruiser purchase and quote (information starts on .pdf page 70 of the above link for the packet).

Budget Commentary: This just blows my mind. The city manager puts out a budget, but while presenting the budget decides, well maybe the fund balance decrease might be a little more than he is comfortable with [very true, I called the budget irresponsible when I saw that fund balance deficit.]. They discuss what might be cut, not even mentioning the biggest increase of the budget (3% employee salary increase). They decided to cut the police cruiser and about 0.4-cents of the tax rate reduction. Then at the August 19 meeting, he asks the finance director during the financial reports if they can add the cruiser back in. So the only thing cut because of the large deficit is the taxpayer relief budgeted at $37K and still leaving the deficit at over $700K.

Now the fund “balance” has grown, so it is not bad to use some of it to balance the budget, preferably one-time items. It is a bad idea to take it down to as near the "best practices" goal of 25% (91 days) as they have. [I believe it was projected to go to about 96 days in the original budget.] If the city manager averages two-plus vacant positions through the whole year, that would be about 1/4 million and if they used the fund balance for another 1/4 million, that would be about right, which is to the degree that the city manager was shooting for in his budget discussion of August 5.

But here we are about to have the budget approved and the only thing cut was a portion of the taxpayer relief.

Still in the budget is the retiree medical, which again is about to boost the OPEB in the annual audit. Still in the budget is the large increase to the water bills, which have NOT been mentioned at all. Those increases are needed in order to pay for the coming sewer improvements that are drastically needed.

Here is the really scary part if you are a Kennedale taxpayer. Approximately 70% of the fund balance deficit is the current 3% employee pay increase. So next year's budget is already starting $500,000 in the red with the raises the employees are already being paid (with no mention of what they want/deserve in addition to that).

Your city council and administration is about to approve this. Let your opinion be known by Wednesday.

* * * * *

Leftovers:

At the August 5 meeting the city council went into executive session then approved an amended city manager employment agreement. I did receive my public information request (PIR) this week with the new agreement. It appears to have extended the terms of the agreement out another couple of years through September 30, 2030, added a potential move-to-the-city reimbursement of up to $7,000, and raised his salary from $170,000 to $180,000.

The “Investigation”

At the July meeting, there was an update on the “investigation”.

[Commentary: Even while trying to be transparent this administration fails. My initial questions would include:

Why was there NOT a vote in open session approving the selected law firm?

How much is this investigation costing?

What items are being investigated?

Are they going to help write a needed ordinance/definition/charter wording?

What is the scope of this contract?

These issues were discussed on May 1^st. Why do we not know the answers? Other than knowing there is an ongoing investigation...

I did do a public information request for the contract. I did receive a copy of the contract signed by the city manager. So, if the contract stays under $25,000, he can execute the contract without the council's approval [However, on May 1, 2025, the city council approved a motion to “task the city attorney with finding us a law firm who could investigate this”, not with having the city manager approve a contract to do this. Any contracts approved by the city council are to be approved in open session.] The contract includes a bunch of different rates for different types of employees. Depending on how much work they do, they could hit the $25,000 level in the second month. The scope of work is defined as what is asked for in writing with no clue of what they have already agreed upon. I did put in a request for the invoices on August 18 but was told there were none.]

Last Week

The only meeting last week was the regular monthly meeting of the city council on Tuesday, August 19.

This Week

This week the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is scheduled to meet this Tuesday, August 26 for their regular monthly meeting.

The city council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, August 27 for a special meeting. They will probably approve the budget, and the Fort Worth Landfill zoning.

P&Z is scheduled to meet on Thursday, August 28, for their regular monthly meeting.

Public Hearings

On Wednesday, August 27, the city council will hold a public hearing for the proposed FY2026 budget and tax rate.

On Thursday, August 28, P&Z will hold a public hearing for PZ25-11. This is for a replat at 625 Grapevine Trail.

On Thursday, August 28, P&Z will hold a public hearing for PZ25-12. This is for a replat at 220 Spring Branch.

On Thursday, August 28, P&Z will hold a public hearing for PZ25-13. This is to change the zoning at 600 W. Kennedale Parkway from Urban Village “UV” to Commercial “C2”.

EDC

The EDC (Economic Development Corporation) Board will meet this Tuesday, August 26. The agenda can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3592/files/agenda/10270 . No packet was available at the time of this writing.

The agenda includes two work session items and three regular session reports.

1. CP2 Consultant report.

2. Town Center Development discussion with Craig Hughes

3. EDC financial reports.

The work session items include:

1. FY2026 Budget work session.

2. Consider land purchase of 811 W. Kennedale Parkway.

The three regular session reports include:

P&Z

The next P&Z meeting will be this Thursday, August 28. The agenda packet can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3655/files/agenda/10284 .

The consent agenda has last month's minutes (minutes) and a site plan for 317 S. New Hope Road (site plan) [There are going to be fifteen 10,000 sq. ft. buildings constructed to support commercial flex opportunities].

The first two public hearings are replats:

1. PZ25-11 at 625 Grapevine Trail starting at .pdf page 10 of the above packet link. The owner wishes to plot the land into six pieces, each piece having an existing building.

2. PZ25-12 at 220 Spring Branch Lane starting at .pdf page 30 of the above packet link. It appears the owner wishes to divide into three lots each just under 0.3 acres.

The third public hearing is to rezone 600 W. Kennedale Parkway from Urban Village (UV) to Commercial (C2) starting at .pdf page 40 of the above packet. The included site plan is for a series of multiple businesses within small buildings.

Other News....

November 4 Voting

There will be fewer voting locations for the November 4 election this year. Original plans were for 24 early voting locations and 214 election day locations. Thanks to the efforts of our precinct commission, Alisa Simmons, Kennedale's Dover Fellowship Hall was added as an early voting location. Final count: 33 early voting locations and 214 election day locations.

Articles by:

Kim Roberts of The Texas News can be read at: https://thetexan.news/elections/2025/tarrant-county-adopts-smaller-list-of-early-voting-and-election-day-polling-locations/article_412f84c7-c238-4b39-9506-4c7f673eb3f5.html?vgo_ee=hVa5PdigIbQ%2Ft0%2FxMzZ0bvgsod90ZMk0LsmvyTEaCZFhtTBMvsJt%3AZyNpQ4b%2Fi1mRyw1poQeXKJcxPTxYIwDv .

Pedro Malkomes and Taylor Sansom of UTA's Shorthorn can be read at: https://www.theshorthorn.com/news/city/tarrant-county-commissioners-court-cuts-over-100-voting-sites-for-november-election/article_ee8590e2-29c2-45da-ade5-e9d2c1de2867.html

Drew Shaw of the Fort Worth Report can be read at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/08/19/tarrant-county-commissioners-cut-100-plus-polling-sites-reduce-early-voting-locations/ .

KISD A-F Accountability Scores

In an article by Chris Moss of the Arlington Report/Fort Worth Report he reports on the A-F Accountability scores for the past two years, just released August 15. His report is for the KISD, AISD, and MISD and can be found at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/08/15/heres-how-arlington-area-schools-fared-in-texas-a-f-ratings/ .

Library Closed

The physical library is closed through September 15 for shelving and furniture installation. The electronic library and Arlington and Mansfield libraries are available options.

TAD Rates

Tarrant Appraisal District has published the tax rates (October 2024) for the county. Kennedale is now the fifth highest municipality. [https://www.tad.org/content/rates/2024TaxRates.pdf ].

Top ten of 41 (everyone else is < 0.65)

1. Everman 1.0260800

2. Sansom Park 0.7796050

3. Forest Hill 0.7240940

4. Blue Mound 0.7220330

5. Kennedale 0.7061900

6. White Settlement 0.6798160

7. River Oaks 0.6758270

8. Fort Worth 0.672500

9. Burleson 0.6627000

10. Grand Prairie 0.6600000

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