June 22, 2025 – Volume 8 Number 25

HIGHLIGHTS:

* City Council met Tuesday; Battery storage facility was denied again.

* EDC meets this Tuesday.

 

SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, June 24: EDC (Economic Development Corporation) Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, June 26: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Friday, June 27: City offices and library are closed for training.

Friday, July 4: Independence Day.

Tuesday, July 8: KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, July 8: Parks Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 15: 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, June 17, for their regular monthly meeting. The packet for the meeting can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3567/files/agenda/10181 . The agenda included four presentations, election business, a public hearing and action, a budget workshop, reports and announcements, four consent agenda items, an item for individual consideration, and an executive session. The meeting can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ySfvDzeaQ0 . Mayor Horton was not present at the start, arriving at 6:22 p.m. Mayor Pro-tem Michels ran the meeting during his absence.

There were two speakers. The first spoke about changing the start time of the council meetings.

(16:46) The four presentations were:

A. Recognition of the 2025 Municipal Clerks Office Achievement of Excellence Award to the City of Kennedale City Secretary's Office.

B. Presentation of donations to the City of Kennedale Public Library by Atmos Energy for the Summer Reading Program in the amount of $2,500, and to the Makerspace in the amount of $10,000.

C. Presentation of a donation to the City of Kennedale Fire Department by Atmos Energy in the amount of $2,000.

D. Presentation of a status update by Freese and Nichols for the Interceptor Sewer Line Project and Little School Rd. Extension Project. About 27:15 the Freese and Nichols presentation began. Sewer line: They are looking to amend the project by adding 5,000 linear feet [from Third Street to the racetrack] and increase the cost up to $14.7 million [from $10 million] on the sewer line project. Construction is expected to start in April 2026 and end a year later. The Bridge: They are looking to narrow the roadway and other adjustments [thinner pavement and base] to help lower the cost of the bridge. It has a $30 million construction estimate and starting date summer 2026 and with the project ending in 2027. No mention of how much of a grade will occur [especially on the Kennedale Parkway side].

(40:52) Election business included certification of the June 7 runoff results, canvassing the results, administering the oath to Mr. Michels, and then the council voting for a mayor pro-tem. The information starts on .pdf page 12 of the above agenda link. They approved the results. They also approved the associated ordinance. The oath was administered. They appointed Mr. Michels as mayor pro-tem.

(47:13) The public hearing and potential action was for the proposed battery storage facility at 509 S. New Hope Road. The information starts on .pdf page 22 of the above link for the packet. There were two speakers, both in support. There was one written message in opposition read for the record. A long discussion and questions followed. At about 1:51:42 they went into executive session to discuss with the attorney. They reconvened about 2:08:15 [unfortunately the mic at the podium turned off and things stated there were not heard] A motion to approve, died for lack of a second. A motion to deny was approved, 3-2, with Kobeck and Nevarez in opposition.

(2:24:59) They discussed the budget. The city manager has supplied numbers for covering the cost of health insurance for retirees with 25 years of service until age 65 (numbers). [This is going to be a very tough budget year; this offers so little in return for the cost...] There was not a lot of discussion. I will address this subject in more detail in next week's issue.

(2:31:18) The reports and announcements included the financial reports (financials). It was announced that Danielle Clarke was returning as the Human Resources Manager.

(2:41:04) The four consent agenda items are:

1. May 20, 2025, City Council Regular Meeting Minutes (minutes).

2. June 2, 2025, City Council Special Called Budget Workshop Minutes (minutes).

3. City of Kennedale - Resolution No. 636: A resolution of the City Council adopting an amended City of Kennedale Investment Policy (staff report , policy).

4. Accepted Resignation from Mr. Theodore Krum from the Board of Adjustment Place 1.

Item 3 was pulled for separate consideration. Items 1, 2, and 4 were passed, 5-0. Item 3 was discussed, then approved, 5-0.

(2:45:00) The individual consideration item is to discuss and take action to add stop signs to Pennsylvania Avenue at the intersection of Saratoga Lane (staff recommendation). It was approved, 5-0.

(2:53:57) In the executive session they were to discuss:

1. City Manager Evaluation

2. City Secretary Appointment

3. Board of Adjustment Appointments

4. Planning and Zoning Appointments

The return from executive session is recorded on Part II tape at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MHL0E8WVyA . They approved the recommendation of the city manager for the city secretary appointment, 5-0.

 

Last Week

The city council met on Tuesday evening for a long evening.

There was a UDC (Unified Development Code) workshop/townhall this past Monday, June 16. It can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDxvEja7qDc .

(7:11) Start of meeting.

[Commentary: The UDC updates draft includes changing minimum lot sizes to a calculation of the minimum length times the minimum width. I believe this is significantly changing the UDC, not just "neutrally" changing it. It makes perfect sense to me that the minimum lot size being different than the calculation of minimum length times minimum width. For example, the draft is changing R-3 minimum lot size from the existing 8750 sq. ft. to 7000 sq. ft. (100 X 70). If a developer wants to think of the minimum lot being 100 X 87.5, fine, but the current system is giving him the flexibility to have 70-foot or 75-foot lots with deeper depths. The current system has a 25% higher square footage (8750/7000) required than the proposed draft. I would consider that a significant change.]

 

This Week

This week the Economic Development Corporation will meet on Tuesday for their regular monthly meeting. The agenda can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3590/files/agenda/10187 .

On Thursday there might be a P&Z meeting. The agenda would need to be posted by Monday evening.

 

Public Hearings

On ???, the Building Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on BBA25-01 to consider action on a city-initiated request for demolition of a single-family dwelling, previously deemed sub-standard by the Building Board of Appeals, located at 6713 Lindale Rd.

 

EDC

The next EDC (Economic Development Corporation) Board meeting will be this Tuesday, June 24. The agenda can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3590/files/agenda/10187 . The agenda includes a budget workshop for FY2026 and three individual consideration items.

The budget workshop (document).

The regular financial reporting (financials).

A discussion of the CP2 Consultant update (report).

An update on the TownCenter (no additional information available)

An EDC grant application for JDB Towing (1208 E. Kennedale Parkway) for 50% of $25,000. [starting on .pdf page 20 https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3590/files/agenda/10189#page=20 ] - takes a while to load...

 

P&Z

The next P&Z meeting should be on Thursday, June 26.

 

Other News....

Infrastructure Improvements

Actual, real pavement improvements are starting on Swiney Hiett Road on Monday, June 23. This is the section from Joplin Road to Sublett-Collett Road.

 

North Road water line improvements have started.

 

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 0.6725000

9. Burleson 0.6627000

10. Grand Prairie 0.6600000

 

Senior Tax Freeze

Back in June of 2023 the city council approved a senior tax freeze. The three-page ordinance can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3288/files/attachment/11739 . This would be applicable for the city portion of property taxes where properties have a homestead, and the owner is 65 or older. The KISD, the county, and Tarrant County College also have senior tax freezes.

Apparently, this did not happen for City of Kennedale residents. So, what happened or did not happen? The city manager [poorly] addressed the issue at the November 2024 council meeting. [The “official” stance of the city manager and city attorney is that the tax freeze is happening, as planned.]

The city administration has done a MAJOR INJUSTICE to Kennedale seniors by a) writing an ordinance incorrectly and/or b) failing to explain how the ordinance was to start back in June 2023. For example, Fate, Texas, in Rockwall County, implemented a senior tax freeze (with the ordinance written correctly) in August 2023, two months after Kennedale, and their seniors saw a freeze on their October 2024 statements. The major difference between the two ordinances is the Kennedale ordinance states effective January 1, 2024, while the Fate ordinance states effective immediately.

The November 2024 city council meeting can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFR_rKkFyg8&t=3116s . The discussion of the item begins at about 47:36.

Some quotes:

48:16 Mr. Hull: “Currently, the ordinance is written where it takes effect in 2024.” [Meaning IF the city attorney wrote the ordinance correctly it would have helped seniors with their October 2024 statements, but since he didn't, it won't.]

48:46 Mr. Hull: “The ordinance does not read for 2023 that was not even the intent...” [Not true. He wants you to go back to the June 2023 city council meeting but let us instead go back to the April 2023 Work Session on the subject. (See timeline below for April's council meeting information.) Mr. Hull states, “So ultimately, the tax [freeze] would not affect us until the 2025.” [2025 IS THE OCTOBER 2024 TAX STATEMENTS. These are the statements that DID see an increase, but back in April 2023, based on the city manager's own words, the tax freeze should have affected.]

49:15 Mr. Hull: “Even then [June 2023] it was indicated and confirmed the tax freeze takes place in 2024.” [Here's the problem. In basic English the expectations of “2024” meant the October 2024 Statements. There is no prerequisite for council members to be a lawyer, or in this case, a specialized tax lawyer. The expectation is the city attorney and/or the city manager would explain to the council members any fine points of the law that would make a difference on any subject. At NO point in April 2023 or June 2023, was anything stated to council members of the significance of a January 1, 2024 start date.]

49:36 Mr. Hull: “So with everything that is being said with reference to when we filed it, when we didn't file it, if we did, if we didn't is minute.” [NOT TRUE. If it had been filed in a timely fashion TAD could have pointed out the required changes to make it match Mr. Hull's April 2023 statement. When TAD did finally get it in November 2024, they made suggested changes on another part of the ordinance that needed modification. The city DID modify that other part of the ordinance and passed the modification a month later at the December 2024 meeting.]

50:05 Mr. Hull: “We have looked at the possibility, even as someone made a comment, about doing a reimbursement. Unfortunately, we cannot do that on the legal side. So even if the intent was to be in 2023, we can't do that by law.” [It is true the law does not allow a reimbursement for this reason. However, since they even looked into it, it pretty much tells you the intent was 2023, even though their official stance is significantly different.]

51:19 City Attorney: “If I could Mayor, just add one thing, it's not just the ordinance, Mr. City Manager, it's state law that governs. So, 2024 would have been the earliest the council could have done it anyway under state law. And it is state law that governs in this instance. So, the ordinance adopted by the council was the earliest the freeze could be adopted.” [2024 is the earliest the current poorly written ordinance could be adopted, however, like Fate, Texas, in the State of Texas, where their ordinance was written two months later than Kennedale's ordinance, they were able to write an ordinance that said effective immediately (instead of January 1, 2024) and their seniors got their benefit on their October 2024 statements.]

 

Timeline.

April 2023 the city council discusses the item as a work session item. [That meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndf8BqnPjBw . The discussion on this item starts about 1:40:27. ]

1:44:59 Mr. Hull: “So ultimately, the tax [freeze] would not affect us until the 2025.” [2025 IS THE OCTOBER 2024 TAX STATEMENTS. These are the statements that DID see an increase, but back in April 2023, based on the city manager's own words, the tax freeze should have affected.]

minutes: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3017/files/agenda/8873

staff report: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3017/files/report/11354

 

June 2023 the city council approves the ordinance, 5-0. The June 20, 2023, meeting can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTm2LdTa_YI&t=9815s . The discussion on this item starts about 2:43:35. At no point did anyone mention a delay in the implementation or that the effective January 1, 2024, meant there would be a delay in the implementation from the expectations of the April meeting. There were no statements/comments about this being different than the April 2023 meeting.

2:44:11 Finance Director Horton “[The tax freeze] does seem consistent with neighboring communities, having a tax freeze for senior citizens. Budget impact is minimal. I don't necessarily see a downside from a financial perspective. We will need to make up a little bit of funding, but from a personal standpoint, not a financial standpoint, I do feel the little bit of hardship we might have to face as a city versus the goodwill it will bring for the senior citizens, the correct would be to go with the freeze.”. [Yet the people that CLAIM to have “understood” the implementation delay, caring so little about the seniors, said or asked nothing regarding making a change to aid the seniors sooner. In my opinion, that certainly implies they DO NOT CARE about the seniors.]

2:45:05 Council Member Horton: “Is it my understanding that this won't take effect until 2024?”

2:45:11 Mayor Joplin: “January 1.” [then a comment by Mr. Nevarez]

2:45:42 Mayor Joplin: “And it does say on the last page that the ordinance will be in full force effective January 1, 2024.” [If you are one of the people, as the CLAIM is, who knows this is only loading the cap data, would this not have been a good time to speak up and explain the difference between “full force” and what they claim the law is? [and they claim the ordinance was clearly written...]]

minutes: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3019/files/agenda/9175

staff report (with NO mention of January 1, 2024 significance; NO mention of timeline being any different than discussed in April): https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3019/files/report/11786

 

Questions

1. So why did the status change from April 2023 and the city manager stated it would affect 2025 to the implementation being delayed? Why was nothing stated about this change before the vote at the June 2023 meeting informing the council (and the public) of the change?

2. Why did the city administration not produce an ordinance to match what was discussed at the April 2023 meeting, and did not tell them they were voting on something different?

3. Why was the effective date of January 1, 2024, used instead of “effective immediately”?

4. Why was the importance of the January 1 date not explained?

5. At the June meeting, after the finance director spoke about the minimal impact, why did not one of the people who “understood” the delayed implementation not ask or comment to implement earlier to help the seniors? Are these people so uncaring about Kennedale seniors?

6. At the June meeting, after the use of “full force” where the majority of the city council and the public thought what they were getting was as it was stated by the city manager in April 2023, why did not one of these who “understood” the delayed implementation not clearly point out that 2024 was only going to be a cap loading year?

7. What is so important and being concealed, that people appear to be willing to fall on this sword for it?

 

HELPFUL WEBSITES and CONTACTS

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Senior Tax Freeze Missing

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

 

Texas Open Meetings Act Violations???

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

 

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Latest Kennedale Observer newsletter:

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

 

City Council Grades:

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

 

Old Texas Raceway property project:

http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/whats_new.html

 

The City of Kennedale website: www.cityofkennedale.com

Mayor and City Council Emails:

Mayor – Brad Horton BHorton@cityofkennedale.com

Place-1 David Glover DGlover@cityofkennedale.com

Place-2 Thelma Kobeck TKobeck@cityofkennedale.com

Place-3 Kenneth Michels KMichels@cityofkennedale.com

Place-4 Chris Gary CGary1@cityofkennedale.com

Place-5 Jeff Nevarez JNevarez@cityofkennedale.com

 

Recordings of City Council meetings can be viewed at:

[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4a2pjrnxZ5XrbsXcoLOP4Q?view_as=subscriber].

 

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