Arlington City Council Regular Meeting – February 25, 2025
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Arlington City Council Regular Meeting – February 25, 2025
The Arlington City Council convened a regular meeting on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the City Hall Council Chamber. The meeting included a consent agenda with numerous routine contracts and approvals, public hearings on zoning cases and gas well permits, and extensive public testimony. The council approved all consent agenda items unanimously (9-0), continued two zoning cases to later dates, and approved a resolution authorizing ten new gas well permits for the Maverick Drill Site despite strong public opposition.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes from the February 4, 2025, afternoon and evening meetings.
- Authorized annual requirements contracts for irrigation repairs and system expansion (total $180,000) with three vendors.
- Approved an annual requirements contract for mowing of code violation properties with GreenList Services, LLC ($102,525).
- Renewed annual contracts for monthly grounds mowing and maintenance of city-owned properties (total $173,204.51), fire hydrants ($527,525), and the purchase and delivery of hydrofluorosilicic acid ($89,280), flocculent polymer ($177,800), caustic soda ($1,132,535), anhydrous ammonia and chemicals for Arlington and Kennedale ($358,173), and large diameter water main inspection ($1,150,170).
- Authorized purchase of traffic control products ($166,132), thirteen vehicles for various departments ($1,003,413.40), and a replacement vehicle for the Police Department K9 Unit ($88,339.60).
- Executed a sole source contract for Flock Safety software and maintenance subscription ($61,500, retroactive to January 1, 2025).
- Approved annual contract for TeamSideline software ($8,500 plus transaction fees).
- Modified the consultant services contract for River Legacy Park Trail Replacement Phase II (additional $296,550).
- Approved engineering services contract for Bowen Sanitary Sewer ($326,844).
- Passed ordinances on final reading: Unified Development Code amendment on tree preservation and mitigation (Ordinance No. 25-014); zoning changes for 8007 South Cooper Street (Ordinance No. 25-015), 901 West Abram Street (Ordinance No. 25-016), 6601 and 6881 Silo Road/Troponin Sports/Soccer Complex (Ordinance No. 25-017), 2007 Northwest Green Oaks Boulevard (Ordinance No. 25-018); Specific Use Permit SUP24-8 for gas well drilling at Maverick Drill Site (Ordinance No. 25-019); and the Boarding Home Facility Chapter (Ordinance No. 25-020).
- Approved resolutions authorizing fee adjustments related to boarding home facilities and tree replacement fees; interlocal agreements with Tarrant County Public Health and for ballistic evidence sharing; competitive sealed proposal method for FBO Building Remodel; TxDOT Transportation Alternatives Set-aside Grant application for sidewalk crossings at Center Street and Mesquite Street; Office of the Governor FY2026 Juvenile Justice & Truancy Prevention Grant applications; continued participation in the Atmos Cities Steering Committee and Oncor Cities Steering Committee; condemnation settlement for Turner Warnell Road drainage easements; a resolution of support for The Watson affordable housing tax credit application; cash contracts of sale for properties on Altman Drive; and the Sheraton Redevelopment Project First Amendment.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Tree Preservation and Mitigation (Item 7.17): One speaker (Sheri Capehart, resident) appeared in support of the ordinance. Eleven additional individuals registered in support, and one registered in opposition.
- Specific Use Permit SUP24-8 / Maverick Drill Site (Item 7.22): Leslie Garvis (representing TotalEnergies) spoke in support, stating the team was available to answer questions. Nineteen speakers registered in opposition, including residents and representatives of organizations. Corey Kelley and Ingrid Kelley voiced concerns about a daycare (Mother's Heart Learning Center) with 50 children within 1,000 feet of the site. Rita Beving (Public Citizen) urged denial, citing health impacts and noting that other Texas cities have setbacks of 1,000–2,000 feet. Samuel Hallerman (Sunrise Movement) criticized the council's power under state law. Mary Cato questioned the council's prior votes. Jane Collins (Justice Network of Tarrant County) highlighted teacher symptoms from chemicals. Ranjana Bhandari noted that only property owners receive notices, and the neighborhood is 96% people of color, with 14% children under five. Jonathan Prentice shared a personal story of familial leukemia linked to benzene. Chioma Ugwonali accused the council of indifference to low-income, Black, and Brown communities. Stratton Rushing pointed to childhood asthma and pollution. Others, including Mariah Vincent and Wanda Vincent (Mother's Heart Learning Center), cited dirt, dust, noise, and health issues. Katheryn Rogers, Bianca Folgar, Francisco Fiallo (physician on miscarriage/leukemia risks), Nathan Gilbert, Madeleine West, Edward Macleod, Spencer Dickinson (Sierra Club), Franya Wilhelm, Jacob Omboga (11-year-old with asthma), Tammy Carson, Jeremy Omboga, Dirk Steve (12-year-old), Kim Feil, and Cynthia Fincher (psychologist on neurotoxic chemicals) all opposed.
- Gas Well Permits (Item 10.3): The public hearing opened at 7:39 PM and closed at 8:20 PM. Leslie Garvis presented for TotalEnergies. Fourteen speakers opposed, repeating health and environmental concerns. Tanya Christopher (grandmother of daycare children) cited personal cancer and family deaths. Chioma Ugwonali questioned council sincerity. Ranjana Bhandari noted technology allows drilling from miles away. Jane Collins referenced renter disadvantages. Kim Feil mentioned a UTA drill site fire and TCEQ response. Floyd Ostrom (retired pediatrician) submitted a 600-page compendium on fracking harms, noting fracking is banned in France. Alyson Kennedy (Socialist Workers Party candidate) spoke in solidarity. Six individuals registered in support (non-speaking).
Discussion Items
- Zoning Case PD24-9 (108 Hosack Street) – Continued: Councilmember Galante moved to continue the first reading to March 25, 2025, at staff recommendation to review revised plans. Motion passed 9-0.
- Zoning Case PD24-30 (7708 South Cooper Street – Wanda Way Cottages) – Continued: Councilmember Gonzalez moved to continue the first reading to March 4, 2025, at staff recommendation. Motion passed 9-0.
- Gas Well Permits (Item 10.3): Mayor Ross read a statement on the council's legal limitations under Texas House Bill 40, emphasizing the council's oath to obey the law. Councilmember Gonzalez responded to public comments: he would ask staff to hold future community meetings in Spanish, Vietnamese, and English, and at the March 5th meeting, request an informal staff report on increasing setbacks for gas wells. He also noted he reads and replies to all emails.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (9-0) as presented.
- Zoning Case PD24-9 (108 Hosack Street): Continued to March 25, 2025, by a vote of 9-0.
- Zoning Case PD24-30 (7708 South Cooper Street): Continued to March 4, 2025, by a vote of 9-0.
- Gas Well Permits (Maverick Drill Site): Resolution No. 25-045 authorizing ten new gas well permits was approved by a vote of 9-0. The permits were issued pursuant to the Gas Drilling and Production Chapter and Specific Use Permit SUP24-8. The decision drew verbal outcry from some audience members after the vote.
- Councilmember Gonzalez announced plans to request a staff report on increasing setbacks for gas wells at the March 5, 2025 meeting, and to improve multilingual outreach for future public meetings.
- Meeting adjourned at 8:22 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everybody. Welcome to the Arlington City Council. I appreciate everybody coming out here tonight. I'm gonna invite a Mr. Doug Widgard from the Grace Lutheran Church to please come forward and lead us in an invocation. If y'all could please stand for us. Father, we thank you for the leaders you've appointed, and we thank you for this excellent city in which we live and dwell and make our presence known. Grant all gathered here tonight. Wisdom and discernment and vision for this city. Not for their glory, and not even for the glory of those who live here, but for your glory, the God who died, that we might have life, that your presence and peace and your shalom might dwell among us. Amen. Buskin, can you give me the speaker guidelines, 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 in 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 to 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 agendas, 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. I'm going to skip all the way down to item number 11 on citizen participation. We have one individual signed up for that tonight, I believe. Uh can you handle citizen participation, please? Yes, sir. Citizen participation gives the public an opportunity to make comments or address concerns regarding matters related to city business or affairs that are in the scope of the authority of the city council and which are not posted on the evening agenda. However, please understand that the mayor and council are not permitted by law to respond to, discuss, or address the comment at this time, as these items are not included on the posted council agenda for this evening. The mayor and council may only ask clarifying questions and or direct staff to take appropriate action. Speakers who have pre-registered will be given two minutes to make their comments, except that if 26 or more speakers have pre-registered, each speaker will be given one minute to make their comments. Our speaker this evening for citizen participation is Tera Cooper. Ms. Cooper Good evening. I'm here for the Zeta Delta Sigma chapter of Sigma Gamma Row here in Arlington, Texas. Um Mayor Ross, Council members. Uh I stand before you. I'm Thera Cooper, the president of the Zeta Delta Sigma chapter, Sigma Gamma Row Sabority Incorporated, serving Arlington, Texas since 1982. Our undergraduate chapter, which we advise uh at the UTA, has been serving that campus since 1993. Um with me today are also members of our Philo affiliate. These are a group of dynamic women uh that serve alongside of us in the Arlington community. We also have youth affiliates, our Rower Club and Rosebud Club, uh, which nurture the future leaders uh in this community. Sigma Gamma Rose Royal Incorporated is commitment to service is expressed in our so slogan greater service and greater progress. It is Zeta Delta Sigma's uh mission to advance those principles in Arlington. To that end, we are committed to protecting voting rights and expanding voter registration.
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