Arlington City Council Regular Meeting - February 4, 2025
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Arlington City Council Regular Meeting - February 4, 2025
The Arlington City Council convened in regular session on February 4, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the City Hall Council Chamber. All nine council members were present. The meeting included approval of consent items, six public hearings on zoning and code amendments, first readings of ordinances, a bond election ordinance, and citizen participation.
Consent Calendar
- Unanimously approved (9-0) 18 consent items, including:
- Renewal of a $195,840 annual contract for jail food and drinks with Sunbeam Foods.
- Grant-funded purchase of an armored personnel carrier for the Police Department Tactical Unit for $340,530.
- Professional services contracts for Fire Department special event training ($105,000) and resiliency management training ($102,500).
- Sole source contract modification for Fire Department software ($31,149).
- Ordinance ordering a May 3, 2025 special election for charter amendments (Ordinance No. 25-007).
- Final readings of zoning changes for Calendar Road, East Stephens Street, South Bowen Road, West Division Street/North Bowen Road, and East Rogers Street (Ordinances No. 25-008 through 25-012).
- Resolutions authorizing grant applications for transportation, victim assistance, forensic sciences, and violence against women programs, including a PROTECT grant for Webb Ferrell Road Bridge (up to $20,000,000) and Johnson Creek storm drain improvements (up to $10,000,000).
- Ground lease with Child Care Associates and FY2025 Neighborhood Matching Grant Awards (Resolutions No. 25-021 through 25-029).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Malaika DS (Arlington resident) spoke in support of item 7.15 (Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Grant), emphasizing the need for integrity in police investigations and crime reporting.
- Sheri Capehart (resident) spoke in support of the Unified Development Code (UDC) tree preservation amendment (item 10.1), thanking the city and urging protection of the Cross Timbers forest.
- Laura Capik (resident) supported item 10.1, noting the importance of preserving Arlington's tree canopy and the remaining Cross Timbers stands.
- Matthew Smith (Fort Worth resident) opposed the Wanda Way Cottages development (item 10.6), citing incomplete application, drainage concerns, lot size deviations, and potential incompatibility with the neighborhood.
- Bill Daneke (Seclusion Ridge resident) opposed item 10.6, expressing concerns about property value impacts and the potential for similar developments to encroach on his community.
- During Citizen Participation, Justin Wilson advocated for a homeless camp/day shelter; Caroline Martinez urged more support for homeless individuals; Carl Thrash complained about road construction, property line issues, and alleged over-taxation; Krista Johnson alleged mismanagement of the Section 8 housing program.
Discussion Items
- 10.1 Unified Development Code Amendment: Tree Preservation and Mitigation – Planning Manager John Chapman presented proposed changes to update tree preservation credits, increase penalties for removal of protected trees, and offer development incentives. Key revisions included a new heritage tree category (Cross Timbers oaks >40 caliper inches) with doubled penalty points, and new incentives for multifamily (10% preservation minimum) and non-residential uses. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended additional cross timbers protection. Council unanimously approved first reading (9-0).
- 10.2 Zoning Case PD24-17 (2007 NW Green Oaks Blvd) – Request to rezone for an 80-foot telecommunication tower for Verizon. Alan Sciually (Broadest Towers) presented, noting the tower meets setback requirements and received neighborhood support. Unanimously approved first reading (9-0).
- 10.3 Zoning Case ZA24-9 (8007 S Cooper St) – Rezone quarter-acre from Residential Estate to Community Commercial to allow a parking lot for an adjacent chiropractor office. Charles Crook presented. Unanimously approved first reading (9-0).
- 10.4 Zoning Case PD24-5 (901 W Abram St) – Rezone to Downtown Neighborhood Overlay-Planned Development for eight townhome-style rental units. Mike Molge (Kimley-Horn) presented revised architecture after a previous denial. Unanimously approved first reading (9-0).
- 10.5 Zoning Case PD24-26 (6601 & 6881 Silo Road – Troponin Sports Soccer Complex) – Rezone to Planned Development for a sports complex with indoor/outdoor fields, retail, and a restaurant. Nikki Moore (MMA Land Development) presented the three-phase project. Council discussed noise, traffic, and light mitigation. Unanimously approved first reading (9-0).
- 10.6 Zoning Case PD24-30 (7708 S Cooper St – Wanda Way Cottages) – Proposed 29 single-family detached homes on 5.2 acres with lot sizes down to 3,850 sq ft and a minimum living area of 1,500 sq ft (revised). Extensive discussion on deviations (lot width, setbacks, garage prominence), drainage, retaining walls, and compatibility. The applicant requested changes to the revised ordinance. Councilmember Galante moved to continue (delay) the item to obtain more detailed plans. The motion passed 7-2, with Mayor Ross and Councilmember Piel dissenting.
- 11.1 Ordinance: May 3, 2025 Bond Election – Deputy City Manager Lemuel Randolph presented a first and final reading of an ordinance calling a $200.8 million bond election with five propositions: streets ($136.995 million), public safety ($48.93 million), parks ($9.345 million), downtown administrative facilities ($3.105 million), and library facilities ($2.245 million). Unanimously approved (9-0).
- 11.2 Ordinance: Boarding Home Facility Chapter – Deputy City Manager Jennifer Wichmann presented first reading of a new chapter to regulate boarding homes for elderly/disabled persons, with fines up to $2,000 per violation. Unanimously approved first reading (9-0).
- 12.1 Resolution: Equinox Hotel Performance Agreement – Lyndsay Mitchell (Office of Strategic Initiatives) presented a resolution for a performance agreement with Equinox Hotel Arlington, LP, providing $3.25 million in city assistance over three years to support a $9 million renovation converting the hotel to a Marriott Tribute property. Unanimously approved (9-0).
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved 9-0, including all minute orders, ordinances, and resolutions.
- Tree Preservation UDC Amendment: Approved first reading 9-0; second reading scheduled for February 25 or March 4, 2025.
- Bond Election Ordinance: Approved first and final reading 9-0, setting the election for May 3, 2025.
- Boarding Home Facility Ordinance: Approved first reading 9-0.
- Equinox Hotel Performance Agreement: Approved 9-0.
- Wanda Way Cottages (PD24-30): Continued to a future council meeting (motion passed 7-2) to allow the applicant to provide more detailed plans, including floor plans and elevations.
- All other zoning cases (PD24-17, ZA24-9, PD24-5, PD24-26) approved first reading 9-0.
- Meeting adjourned at 8:14 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Well, good evening, everybody. Welcome to the Arlington City Council session. I'm sorry, y'all can't find anything more fun to do tonight but to come see City Council, but we're going to try to make it as entertaining as we can for you. Thank you, Mayor. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for this evening, and as this meeting comes to order, we we pause because we have much to be grateful for. So do you tell us to seek the seek the peace of our city and the prosperity of our city? And we pray for that, guys. We pray for peace for your protection of this city and of its people, God, for the continued unity of the city and of its people. God, that even when there's disagreements, you have made the city one with the neighbors love each other, and we thank you for that. God, we pray for your provision here. We pray for the leaders in this room. God, we pray that they would be wise as you count wisdom. God, that they would love who you love and value what you value. God, we thank you for all the ways you have shown that to be true here. So Lord, we we are grateful to you, and we pray that everything that happens is meeting you guide it, and that what can happens in the city pleases you, cares for the people you care about and honors you. We pray all these things in Christ's name. Amen. Please join us with the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, individual with liberty and justice for all. Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to the Texas. One state under God, one and indivisible. Thank you all. Please be seated. Mr. Buskin, speaker guidelines and general decorum, please. Thank you, Mayor. We ask that the citizens and other visitors in attendance assist in preserving the order and decorum of this meeting and to provide for attendance at and participation in the meeting without fear of intimidation, threats, or hostility. Any person making personal, profane, hostile, slanderous, or threatening remarks who uses vulgar or obscene language, who engages in any other actions that disturb or are calculated to disturb the meeting or who becomes disruptive while addressing the mayor and the city council or while attending the city council meeting may be removed from the council chambers. All speakers shall address the city council and not the audience or city staff and shall not call out individually named members of city staff or the public. For speakers tonight, when your name is called, please come in the microphone at the podium and state your name and city of residence for the record. Speakers may not use music, videos, other forms of media signs, or props. During public hearings for zoning cases, the applicant will be asked to speak first and will be given five minutes to make a presentation. Speakers in support or opposition of the item will be given three minutes each to make their statements. The applicant will then be given three minutes for any rebuttal. For all other items on the agenda, speakers will be given three minutes to speak. If multiple speakers plan to provide the same or similar comments, those speakers may, if they so desire, designate one or more individuals to provide public comment on behalf of the group. A bell will signal the end of each speaker's time. In consideration of other speakers, please conclude your comments promptly when you hear the bell. We ask that you address your comments to the mayor and council. Thank you, Mr. Buskin. Do we have any appointments to boards or commissions? No, sir. No appointments this evening. Thank you. Can consideration of minutes, please. Thank you, Mayor.
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