Arlington City Council Special Meeting – August 6, 2024

The Arlington City Council convened in a special session on August 6, 2024, at 1:26 p.m. in the Council Briefing Room (101 W. Abram Street, 3rd Floor) after a notice posted on August 2, 2024. The meeting began with an executive session (1:26–2:36 p.m.) covering property acquisitions for the Division Street TxDOT Sidewalk Project and economic development incentives. The open session resumed at 2:42 p.m. and included a detailed FY2025 budget presentation, a comprehensive plan element for housing, and several committee reports. The meeting adjourned at 5:25 p.m. (An evening session followed at 6:30 p.m., but the agenda for that session was not included in the provided materials.)

Discussion Items

FY2025 Budget (3.1)

• City Manager Trey Yelverton presented the proposed $722 million operating budget, highlighting a proposed one-cent property tax rate increase from 58.98 to 59.98 cents per $100 valuation (the rate from two years ago). This would generate an estimated $4.1 million in new revenue. The no-new-revenue rate is 57.56 cents; the voter-approval rate is 62.10 cents.
• The budget includes a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for all employees and an additional 2% for police sworn personnel (total $6.7 million). It also funds 22 position eliminations (21 vacant, one filled with a reassignment), $5.8 million in departmental reductions, and a $500,000 “Clean Team” initiative for corridor beautification.
• Key revenue drivers: property tax (45% of general fund), sales tax (projected at $97.2 million, up from $92 million), and a $10 million decline in traffic citation revenues since 2013. Councilmember Piel questioned the cost-effectiveness of the municipal court given the drop in citations.
• Water, stormwater, and garbage rates would increase by about $13/month for the average residential customer. Water rates remain among the lowest in the region.
• The city’s 20% homestead exemption (since 1988) and senior tax freeze (since 2006) collectively exempt $138 million in market value. The one-cent adjustment would bring the rate to the midpoint between the no-new-revenue and voter-approval rates.
• Councilmember Odom-Wesley requested a deeper dive on the impact of eliminated positions. Councilmember Gonzalez requested a “one-pager” showing what would be cut if taxes were not increased.

Comprehensive Plan Element: HUD 5-Year Consolidated Plan/Housing Needs Assessment (3.2)

• Grants Manager Nikky Lewis presented the city’s plan to develop a housing needs assessment and update the five-year consolidated plan for HUD funds (CDBG, HOME, ESG – approximately $5 million annually).
• A consultant will conduct a community survey, focus groups, and data analysis, with a final report expected by October 2024. The consolidated plan is due to HUD by May 15, 2025.

The assessment will evaluate housing supply and demand across all income levels, not just affordable housing.

Mowing Schedules and Guidelines for TxDOT Roadways (4.1)

• Parks and Recreation Director James Orloski clarified that TxDOT provides three mowing cycles per year on state highways. Arlington supplements this with its own mowing (self-performed) but does not receive reimbursement, unlike some cities (e.g., Grand Prairie). Council discussed pursuing legislative changes in the upcoming session to improve the arrangement.

International Corridor Implementation Steering Committee (4.2)

• Planning Principal Cynthia Cruz provided an update on the steering committee’s work; no questions were raised by council.

2025 Neighborhood Matching Grant Program Call for Projects (4.3)

• The program opens August 6, 2024, with $150,000 available; grants range from $10,000 to $25,000. Applications are due November 24, 2024. The city will offer coaching sessions to help neighborhoods form associations and apply.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Update (4.4)

• No discussion.

Municipal Policy – Tree Preservation and Mitigation (4.5)

• Councilmember Odom-Wesley, chair of the Municipal Policy Committee, reported on proposed changes to the tree preservation ordinance:
  • Increase the unauthorized tree removal penalty from $200 to $600 per caliper inch (or more), with developers’ support.
  • Add a purpose statement for the ordinance.
  • Adjust the point system for preserving trees to avoid loopholes (e.g., saving a single cluster to meet the 35% requirement while removing most trees).
  • Propose a 10–25% preservation standard for commercial, multifamily, and mixed-use developments (currently none).
  • Allow developers to redeem points through deviations from UDC standards (e.g., parking, setbacks) rather than only replanting.
  • Define “heritage trees” (100+ years old, large caliper) that should never be removed.
• Staff will research comparable cities’ practices and return to the committee.

Community and Neighborhood Development – 2025 Neighborhood Matching Grant Program Overview (4.6)

• Councilmember Boxall, chair, reported that the program opens August 6, 2024, with six information sessions. The city will provide social media flyers to council members.

Economic Development – 2024 SCORE Cohort Selection (4.7)

• Councilmember Piel, chair, reported that all items were discussed in executive session and no further action was taken in open session.

Appointments to Boards and Commissions (4.8)

• Council discussed the appointment of Melody Morris to the Library Board (appointed by Councilmember Pham). Mayor Ross opposed the appointment, citing Morris’s prior public calls for the library director’s termination. Councilmember Pham argued that Morris had apologized and should be given a chance. Several councilmembers expressed support for Morris (Boxall, Hogg, Gonzalez) while others (Odom-Wesley, Piel) opposed. The appointment was left for the evening session, and no vote was taken in the afternoon session.
• Two other appointments were noted: Elizabeth “Betsy” UD to the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau and Sandra Smith (Place 5) to the Library Board.

Future Agenda Items (4.11)

• Councilmember Gonzalez requested a future agenda item on Sister Cities.

Key Outcomes

• The FY2025 budget discussion will continue; a public hearing on the proposed tax rate is scheduled for the next council meeting (August 13, 2024). Council must set the proposed tax rate by that date.
• Staff will prepare additional analyses requested by council (impact of position cuts, options for a no-tax-increase budget, municipal court efficiency, etc.).
• The tree preservation ordinance revisions will be brought back to the Municipal Policy Committee after staff research.
• The Neighborhood Matching Grant Program opened; staff will share promotional materials.
• The Library Board appointment of Melody Morris was not resolved in the afternoon session; the evening session (not covered in these materials) may have taken a vote.