Arlington City Council Special Meeting – March 4, 2025
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Arlington City Council Special Meeting – March 4, 2025
The Arlington City Council held a special meeting on March 4, 2025, beginning with a closed executive session at 12:30 PM under Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code to discuss legal issues related to executive orders and economic development incentives. The open session convened at 2:40 PM and included a work session, discussion of several city initiatives, committee reports, and a legislative update. The meeting adjourned at 4:42 PM. No formal votes were taken; all items were for discussion and direction.
Work Session
Arlington Water Utilities 2024 Year-End Report
- Director Alex Whiteway presented the annual report. Key statistics: total budget of $207 million (personnel $22M, operations $155M, capital outlay $1.4M, interfund transfers $28M); 10,323 public fire hydrants maintained; 1,469 miles of water main and 1,260 miles of sewer main; 23,988 water valves; 11,613 AMI meters installed (7,200 remaining); 5.28 sewer overflows per 100 miles (EPA target: 8). Water loss is approximately 9–9.5%, with a goal of 6%. The city’s Pierce Birch Water Treatment Plant received $112 million in upgrades, including three 2,500 kW generators enabling 100% capacity during outages. A low-interest loan from the Texas Water Development Board (0.18% vs. market 2.7%) will save $21 million over its life. No lead service lines were found among 114,000 inspected; 189 galvanized lines flagged for potential lead require verification or replacement by 2037. Conservation programs include 1,149 free irrigation evaluations, 177 showerhead replacements, 13 school partnerships with 778 fifth graders, and minor plumbing repairs for 23 residents. A new water leak detection dog named Splash (from Animal Control) is in training. Councilmember Odom-Wesley praised the utility’s award-winning water. City Manager Yelverton noted the importance of proactive leak detection.
Lincoln Square Redevelopment Update
- Terry Montesi, CEO of Trademark Properties, presented an update on the Anthem project (formerly Lincoln Square). The original plan included multifamily and a hotel, but market conditions (multifamily rents 50 cents lower than needed, lack of luxury hotel interest) forced a revised plan. The new plan removes multifamily and hotel from Phase I, replacing them with a two-story retailer (LOI in progress) and retaining one existing building with a new facade. The project still includes 130,000 sq ft more retail than the current site (net new density), a 870-space parking garage, a two-story office/retail building, and a central public green space. The total financial gap for the original plan was approximately $40 million. City Manager Yelverton noted that zoning and incentive agreements will allow council to control quality and density. Council members expressed concerns about reduced height and the loss of the original vision, but acknowledged the market realities. Councilmember Boxall questioned guarantees on the garage and public space; Montesi confirmed the garage is required for the anchor tenant and the zoning requires public space. Councilmember Odom-Wesley asked about the timeline: closing expected around year-end 2025, with demolition in 2026 and occupancy in the fourth quarter of 2026. Councilmember Hunter appreciated the upgraded landscaping. The Mayor expressed confidence in the developer’s persistence.
Council Priority – Support Youth and Families
- Deputy City Manager Jennifer Wichmann updated on two business plan items: coordinating with United Way to improve 211 outreach in Arlington (on track) and the Family Self-Sufficiency program through Arlington Housing Authority (helps housing-assistance recipients save for education or homeownership). Upcoming: the Active Adult Center opens with a soft opening March 17 and grand opening March 26 (pool delayed 6–10 weeks). Highlights: Meadowbrook inclusive playground opened in November; after-school water safety program in East Arlington; 15,000 new library cards issued (youth breakdown to be provided); Arlington Urban Design Center projects including Arlington Life Shelter interiors and a neighborhood arboretum; 17 AISD students recruited by Arlington Police Department (up from 15). Councilmember Gonzalez asked about the animal essay contest; staff will follow up with Mansfield ISD. Councilmember Odom-Wesley requested examples of Urban Design Center projects.
Discussion of Issues Session Items
4.1 2024 Landmark Preservation Commission Annual Report
- Planning Manager Jacob Browning presented the report. The Texas Historical Commission maintains the city’s Certified Local Government status. The Historical Resources Survey from 2007 is outdated and needs updating; budget constraints are a challenge. Councilmember Galante inquired about the survey status. No action taken.
4.2 Arlington Express Transportation Pilot Service
- Ann Foss, Planning and Programming Manager, presented the Arlington Express pilot. Service will use white vans (same branding as on-demand fleet) for dynamic express trips to CenterPort TRE station. Soft launch March 31, public mid-April. Funding: $1.2 million from North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) for three years, with a city match of $281,000. Fares are $3 per trip. Vans operate 6–8 AM and 3–7 PM but can be deployed for on-demand service during off-peak hours. Success metrics include ridership, on-time performance, and improved efficiency of the broader on-demand system. Fare adjustments would require a public hearing. Councilmember Hogg asked about measuring success and fare flexibility. Councilmember Odom-Wesley asked about van utilization during midday; Foss confirmed they are integrated into the on-demand fleet.
4.3 Transportation and Municipal Infrastructure Committee – Median Barriers for Panhandling Solutions
- Councilmember Gonzalez reported. The committee reviewed pilot median barrier designs for two intersections: Randall Mill Road & Green Oaks Boulevard (rounded median with sloped sides) and Matlock Road & Sublet Road (raised planter bed with cemented rocks). Goals: improve pedestrian safety and deter panhandling without harming aesthetics. Staff will finalize design selections and prepare construction documents, then return to the committee before coming to council. Councilmember Hogg expressed concern about the rounded median’s effectiveness and preferred aesthetics for that area. Councilmember Gonzalez noted the committee leaned toward aesthetics-focused solutions and will revisit.
4.6 City Council External Committee and Training Reports
- A. Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition Board – Mayor Ross reported on the Feb. 26 meeting: discussion of transportation investment study deficiencies in the Fort Worth district; upcoming events (member meeting March 12, Transportation Summit June 12); elected Commissioner Matt Krause as Secretary-Treasurer.
- B. North Texas Commission Board – Councilmember Gonzalez attended as proxy. The meeting covered DFW region’s rapid growth (8.5 million people, fourth-largest region in U.S.), adopted priorities for the 119th Congress, ratified new directors, and received a legislative update for the 89th Texas session.
- C. Texas Municipal League Board – Mayor Ross attended; the legislative update was combined with the city’s Legislative Update (Item 4.7).
4.7 Legislative Update
- Intergovernmental Relations Manager Natalie Raulston and Legislative Affairs Director Jay Warren provided an update. 5,600 bills have been filed with 10 days remaining. Key state bills: SB 15 (filed that day) would prohibit cities over 300,000 from requiring lots larger than 1,400 sq ft on greenfield sites and impose other restrictions on small lots; HB 2480 on ADUs; HB 2225 on public hearing notice for land use assumptions; property tax bills (HB 8, HB 9, SB 4); DEI prohibition bills; school choice bills (SB 2, HB 3); bond election supermajority proposals; immigration enforcement bills; civil service mandates for police and fire in cities over 25,000; open government bill extending posting to three business days; and a city-proposed bill (HB 1893) to clarify that license plates need not be redacted in law enforcement recordings. Federal update: government funding deadline March 14, possibility of a continuing resolution. Fixed formula grants for housing, transit, CDBG, and homeland security were detailed.
4.8 Evening Agenda Items
- Tow Truck Ordinance Amendments – Police Chief Al Jones explained five proposed changes: (1) allow licensed tow companies to tow vehicles without prior police approval for consent tows; (2) change dispatch protocol so citizens can call their own licensed wrecker without notifying police dispatch (if not a hazard); (3) remove requirement for wrecker companies to notify dispatch for non-accident tows; (4) update wheel strap requirements; (5) remove city registration requirement for wreckers (only 12% currently registered). Officers will give residents a reasonable time (20–30 minutes) to call their own tow if the vehicle is not a hazard. Councilmembers Pham and Galante raised consumer protection concerns about unregistered companies potentially overcharging. The chief noted residents can still use the city’s contracted tow company (Beard’s) with a fixed fee schedule. The item will be on the evening agenda.
- Farmers Market Conflict – Deputy City Manager Jennifer Wichmann reported that two downtown markets (Steve Moya’s arts fair on Front Street and the downtown farmers market) may overlap. Staff are working with all parties to find a compromise. No action taken.
4.10 Future Agenda Items
- Councilmember Gonzalez requested a future staff report on gas well setbacks and air quality monitoring.
- Councilmember Odom-Wesley requested a report on how other cities handle gas well permit approval processes. The Mayor noted that Arlington’s geographic density differs from other cities and staff will provide context.
Key Outcomes
- No votes were taken; all items were discussion-only.
- Lincoln Square Anthem project will proceed to zoning hearings at the Planning and Zoning Commission, followed by a potential incentive agreement for council consideration.
- The Arlington Express pilot is scheduled to launch March 31 (soft) and mid-April (public).
- The Median Barriers pilot designs will be finalized by staff and return to the Transportation Committee.
- The tow truck ordinance changes will be considered on the evening agenda.
- Future agenda items on gas well regulations will be prepared by staff.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, we're gonna go in call the afternoon session of the city council meeting to order to be government code for five one point zero seven one two or two sessions. Okay, we're going to go ahead and call the afternoon session back to order. We're going to move on down to the work session. I want to take a few things out of order here just a little bit. So, and then all the bids went out to make sure we got some good owners that could come in and meet the vision of what we had as a city at Lincoln Square. Given the situation of where we were at and where Lincoln Square was. It's uh as the mayor said, we've been working together with uh the city manager and Lindsay, Molly, all the folks at the city to try to deliver the very best project we can. Um at what is the old Lincoln Square now, Anthem. So we're gonna give you a little update. Let's make sure I know how to do this. All right. So uh as the mayor said, we were brought in because we are a placemaking-centric mixed-use uh developer operator. We're 20 minutes from here. We have uh mutual friends, and this is our home market, and and after meeting with the mayor and city manager and and staff, they they thought we would be a good partner to carry uh Lincoln Square forward, and we're glad to be here. These are some of our Texas projects that you see on the screen. Um when we kick this off, we always we have a uh an adage at trademark is we're we're learners, not knowers. Um, a lot of developers come in and they they will tell you all they know and they'll tell you what they're gonna do for you. And we try to start by listening, and we had a lot of community engagement. We talked to the council staff, um, we did a consumer engagement survey, we talked to lots of business owners, we met with the UTA president, all kinds of other institutions. Um obviously talked to our tenants, talked to a lot of area brokers of retail and office and hotel and hotel developers. And we got a lot of information. We heard they wanted more green space, they wanted an updated look and experience, they wanted fun activity, social events, they wanted better elevated stores and restaurants, obviously, in a family-friendly environment, and they wanted a mix of uses, and that's still the plan. And all of that is what what we do every day, anyway. We really don't do anything that doesn't include that. Um, it's just not it's not what we do. And in those uh early meetings with city staff, uh, a lot of you folks came to our work session, our design workshop, and we were told, as the mayor mentioned in his opening remarks to dream big, push density, go for it. We want we want this to be special, and we'll we'll do everything we can to incentivize that. So we work together along those uh lines. And we came up together that first few weeks with a vision, and it hasn't changed at all. It's to transform the old Lincoln Square shopping center into a vibrant open-air mixed-use gathering place for the community and a modern gateway to North Arlington. It's it was uh in no uncertain terms told to us how important this site is. It's kind of the front door to the Arlington Entertainment District. And our goal is to make Anthem our the new name for Lincoln Square, a high quality, walkable, amenitized, high design retail and mixed-use project. And that's still the plan, even though the plans have changed a little. So this is a side-by-side of the plan that um we were we uh originally the original plan that we worked on with the city that was shooting big as far as density. Uh you'll see on the left, and on the right is the is the new plan. What's changed? And you'll see the diagram is is very, very similar. The the walkable town center piece is very, very similar as you'll see on the right side of the main entrance that that uh dead ends into studio movie grill. The difference is the apartments on the plan left, which is the original plan, the approved development plan. There was multi-family in that sort of top left corner, which is from I-30 to studio movie grill. Um, and that that was the that was the big uh difference in the plans. And today we have a two-story um uh retailer that's very serious. We're trading LOIs with a two-story retailer to go in that spot. Both plans had a big structured parking garage in that location, and and it parks uh it marks the walkable town center with the public green that's still in the plan that is very similar to what was there, really hadn't changed hardly at all there. Um, you'll see the other difference is we are keeping one of the Lincoln Square buildings. Um it's this gray one. Let's see if this clicker works. No, I could just walk over this right here. We're gonna keep that building because one of the unique things about Lincoln Square buying it at this point, a bunch of the tenants have long-term leases and they have control areas.
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