Arlington City Council Regular Meeting - November 12, 2024
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Arlington City Council Regular Meeting - November 12, 2024
The Arlington City Council convened on November 12, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber. Councilmember Piel was absent. After an invocation and pledges, the council recognized winners of the annual Value of Water poster contest for grades pre-K through 4. The council then approved routine items, conducted a public hearing on a reinvestment zone for Texas Trust Credit Union, approved a comprehensive plan update contract, and heard citizen comments.
Consent Calendar
- Appointments to Boards and Commissions (Resolution No. 24-307): Appointed 18 members to the International Corridor Implementation Steering Committee. Motion by Councilmember Hogg, seconded by Gonzalez, carried 8-0.
- Executive Session Items (6.1 and 6.2): Council untabled Item 6.1 (previously tabled) via motion by Gonzalez/Galante, then approved both resolutions authorizing fee simple acquisition of 467 sq ft (633 West Division St) and 634 sq ft (806 East Division St) for the Division Street TxDOT Sidewalk Project. Motion by Odom-Wesley/Pham, carried 8-0.
- Minutes (7.1): Approved minutes from October 22, 2024 (afternoon and evening) and November 1, 2024 (special meeting). Motion by Hogg/Odom-Wesley, carried 8-0.
- Consent Agenda (8.1–8.23): Approved all 23 items in a single motion (Boxall/Hunter, 8-0). Items include: annual requirements contracts for Fire Department uniforms ($543,778), Water Utilities crew uniforms ($144,117), pump maintenance ($400,000), lab supplies renewal ($60,000), janitorial services renewal ($948,520), SaaS LeanIX software support ($127,956); purchases of bunker gear ($137,770), accessible pedestrian signals ($205,050), NoTraffic detection systems ($600,000), battery backup units ($165,000), three John Deere backhoes and one track loader ($681,613), two trailers ($69,992), five crew trucks and one Tahoe SUV ($293,061); engineering contract for AWIA risk assessment ($195,000), architectural consulting for Woodland West Pool master plan ($915,000), professional services for stormwater GIS technical support ($250,000), renovation and repair for IH-30 bridges ($1,373,302.25); final reading of zoning change at 805 Mansfield Webb Road to Neighborhood Commercial; resolutions for Alliance for Children additional funding ($15,219, total $64,673), FY2025 tax roll approval, street name change (Ragland Road to Glenn Day Drive), interlocal agreement for regional stormwater management program participation ($13,000), and reprogramming of PY22 HOME Investment Partnerships funds for Wynn Terrace Cottage Community.
Public Hearings
- Reinvestment Zone Number Fifty – Texas Trust Credit Union (Item 11.1): Following a public hearing that opened and closed at 6:47 p.m. with no speakers, the council voted 8-0 to approve first reading of an ordinance designating Reinvestment Zone Number Fifty to facilitate a tax abatement for the expansion and relocation of the Texas Trust Credit Union Headquarters to 1521 N Cooper Street. Motion by Gonzalez, seconded by Pham.
Discussion Items
- Comprehensive Plan Update Consulting Services (Item 12.1): Previously tabled, the council untabled (motion by Gonzalez/Hunter, 8-0) and approved (motion by Hunter/Pham, 8-0) a minute order authorizing a $640,000 contract with MIG, Inc., of Berkeley, California, for consulting services for the comprehensive plan update. Funds are subject to FY2026 budget approval.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Patrick Kelly: Resident expressed concern about overgrowth and tree loss at the Rendon Park Nature Preserve, requesting city action on mowing and cleanup. Cited volunteer limitations due to insurance and urged collaboration.
- Mary Owens: Resident urged the council to provide a warehouse facility for homeless individuals, criticizing insufficient shelter capacity and harsh police treatment of homeless persons.
- Vanessa Strength: Resident reported negative experiences with Arlington police, including alleged abuse, barriers to reporting sexual assault, and discrimination against mentally disabled individuals. Requested fair treatment and awareness.
- (Jose Concepcion Perez was preregistered but did not speak when called.)
Key Outcomes
- All votes were unanimous with 8 ayes and 0 nays.
- The meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Right, right. Well, good evening, everybody. Welcome to the Arlington City Council meeting. We're gonna go ahead and get this show on the road. We'll call the City Council to order. I'm gonna ask Pastor Roy Daniels from the Arlington Church of God and Christ. Please come forward and lead us in an invocation. Hello, Pastor. Please stand. Heavenly Father, we come before you today with grateful hearts, seeking your guidance and wisdom as we gather to discuss the needs of our community. We ask for clarity in our decisions and unity in our purpose. May our discussions be filled with respect and understanding, and may we listen to one another, recognizing the value of the diverse perspective. Grant us the courage to make the choices that promote the well-being of all of our citizens. Help us to work in unity for the betterment of our city, prioritizing compassion, integrity, and service. We ask that you let your light shine on our efforts, guiding us toward a prosperous and harmonious future. And we thank you in Jesus' name. Amen. Please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the Texas. One state under God. Thank you. You may be seated. So Arlington Water Utilities held its annual water mini poster contest September 3rd through October 9th. Arlington students in grades pre-K through fourth grade were asked to submit artwork showing how water is used and describe how the role of water plays in our lives. The contest is a collaboration of Arlington Water Utilities, Arlington Public Library, River Legacy Nature Center, and Tarrant Regional Water District. Each winner receives a prize pack with contributions from those organizations. This year, Arlington's Parks and Recreations Department also provided swim passes for next summer to winners and replenish an Arlington-based nonprofit is providing t-shirts and water bottles to them. Our winners and their families are here with us tonight, so as we call your names, please come up. So yep, go ahead. Troy drew himself drinking water and swimming. He said, drinking water, it makes me stronger. Oh, wait. We got to come up one more time. We got grandma here, right? Grandma. She drew a reindeer drinking water and a little girl and boy using water. And she said, if you do not drink water, you will die. Water is important. It helps plants grow and keeps animals healthy. Our third grade winner is Jameson Terry from St. Maria Garetti Catholic School. Jameson drew a water bottle, a water balloon fight and said, without water, there would be no fish, no water in our body, so we'd die. No cruises, no water slides, water balloon fights, you can't wash your hands, take showers, no gas, you can't water your plants or slip and slides. Fourth grade is Kavish Gowali from Butler Elementary. He drew water's many uses and said, water is important in my life because if we didn't have water, we wouldn't have our basic needs. And Vivian was actually our first grade winner last year. So she is she really loves water. She drew herself and other creatures that need water to survive and said, if we didn't have water, we wouldn't have trees. If we didn't have trees, we wouldn't have air. If we didn't have air, we couldn't survive.
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