Arlington City Council Regular Meeting – September 9, 2025
Arlington City Council Regular Meeting – September 9, 2025
The Arlington City Council met in regular session on September 9, 2025, at 6:33 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber. The meeting included public hearings on four public improvement districts, adoption of the FY 2026 operating budget and tax levy, several ordinance amendments, and tabled items. Councilmembers Jim Ross (Mayor), M. Galante, N. Hunter, A. Piel, R. Boxall, L. Pham, and B. Odom-Wesley were present; R. Gonzalez and B. Hogg attended virtually.
Public Hearings & Testimony
- Larry McFarland (Arlington, 76016) spoke in opposition on the FY 2026 operating budget, the tax levy, the ratification of the tax increase, and the Fielder Square Redevelopment tabled item. He argued the budget increase was twice the rate of inflation, criticized the property tax rate increase as a 9.6% hike (citing city documents), and opposed the $33 million purchase of multifamily property. He also raised concerns during Citizen Participation about a pending public information request and a grassroots tax resistance movement.
- Two individuals registered in support of the Downtown Business Improvement District renewal (Item 4.3), but did not speak.
Public Improvement District Renewals (Items 4.1–4.3)
- Arlington Tourism PID (4.1): Staff presented the FY 2026 assessment roll for the 10-year district, covering 51 hotel properties. No objections. Approved 9-0 on first reading.
- Lamar Boulevard PID (4.2): Interim Parks Director presented the updated service and assessment plan for maintenance along Lamar Boulevard. No objections. Approved 9-0 on first reading.
- Downtown Business Improvement District (4.3): Economic Development Manager presented the 10-year renewal, noting 62% approval from property owners. No opposition speakers. Approved 9-0 on first reading.
FY 2026 Budget and Tax Items (Items 4.4, 4.5, 5.1)
- Adoption of FY 2026 Operating Budget (4.4): Budget Manager Devon Waters presented the budget, revised from the August 5 proposal with general fund revenue increased by $146,012, general fund expenditures decreased by $98,813, and street maintenance fund increased by $245,000. Public hearing held. Approved on first reading with 8 ayes (Mayor, Galante, Gonzalez, Hunter, Boxall, Pham, Hogg, Odom-Wesley) and 1 nay (Piel).
- Levying Taxes for FY2026 (4.5): Waters presented a tax rate of $0.26298 per $100 valuation, comprising $0.4446 for general fund M&O. The rate exceeds the no-new-revenue rate, requiring 60% council approval. Councilmember Odom-Wesley motioned to adopt the rate, calling it an effective 4.8% increase. Approved on first reading with 7 ayes (Mayor, Galante, Gonzalez, Hunter, Boxall, Pham, Odom-Wesley) and 2 nays (Piel, Hogg). Second reading scheduled for September 16.
- Ratification of Tax Increase (5.1): Required by state law for any property tax increase above prior year. Approved on first reading with the same 7-2 vote as the tax levy.
Other First Reading Ordinances (Items 5.2, 5.3)
- Water and Wastewater Rates Adjustment (5.2): Alex Whiteway presented a rate adjustment effective October 1, 2025. No public comment. Approved 9-0.
- School Crossing Guard Program Court Cost Adjustment (5.3): Jake Medrano presented an amendment to increase the fine amount for the program. No public comment. Approved 9-0.
Final Reading Ordinances (Items 5.4, 5.5)
- Temporary Suspension of Anti-Discrimination Chapter (5.4): Assistant City Attorney Elisabeth Kaylor presented the ordinance to comply with federal grant requirements, with revisions to come later. Final reading passed 7-2 (Hunter and Odom-Wesley in opposition). Ordinance No. 25-068.
- Unity Council Amendment (5.5): City Manager Trey Yelverton presented amendments to align with council priorities and legal mandates. Final reading passed 9-0. Ordinance No. 25-069.
Tabled Items (Items 6.1, 6.2)
- Fielder Square Redevelopment (6.1): Resolution to authorize purchase of 408 North Fielder Road for $33 million remained tabled. Larry McFarland spoke in opposition, questioning the city’s approach to multifamily property issues. No council action.
- Professional Services Contract for Relocation Assistance (6.2): Contract with CVR Associates, Inc., up to $492,320, remained tabled pending FY 2026 budget approval.
Key Outcomes
- First reading approved for FY 2026 operating budget (8-1), tax levy (7-2), tax ratification (7-2), water/wastewater rates (9-0), and school crossing guard court cost (9-0).
- Final reading approved for anti-discrimination suspension (7-2) and Unity Council amendment (9-0).
- All three public improvement district renewals (Tourism, Lamar, Downtown) approved on first reading (9-0 each).
- Tabled items (Fielder Square and relocation consulting) remain pending for future consideration.
- Second reading and final adoption of the budget and tax ordinances scheduled for September 16, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Hey, how are you? Thank you for being in here. Well, good evening, everybody. Go ahead and call the Arlington City Council session to order. Welcome to everybody. I'm gonna invite Reverend Charles Powell from the Mount Olive Baptist Church to please come forward for an invocation. Please stand if you're able. We thank you for these civil servants who work so hard, Fatherland is so dedicated to our wonderful city. Father, we thank you so much. And we ask you richest blessings of all of our lives, our entire lives. In Jesus' name, amen. Please join up for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flags of America. I pledge the reasons to be Texas. One and individual. Please be seated. You think as many times we do it and I want to get tongue tied. Okay. Ms. Garcia, speaker guidelines in general decorum, please. 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 seen language, who engages in any other actions that disturb or are calculated to disturb the meeting or who become 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 count 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, or 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 and supporter 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, Mayor. Thank you. We're gonna move on down to item number 4.1, Ms. Kerry Parker Barry. Good evening, Mayor and Council, Carrie Parker Barry, Director of Commission and Event Services. I'm here before you for the first reading of an ordinance, accepting and approving an updated service and assessment plan and accepting and adopting the FY 2026 assessment role for the Arlington Tourism Public Improvement District of the City of Arlington. Leveling the assessments of the assessed parcels, appearing on said role, and providing for and requiring the payment of the assessment and related matters. This is year 10 of the tenure PID. The total number of hotel properties subject to the ATP assessment is now 51. I will entertain any questions if you ma'am. Miss Garcia, do we have any speakers on this item? We do not, Mayor. Thank you. Thank you. I'm going to close the public hearing. I have a motion from Councilmember Boxell. Can I have a second, please?
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