Well, good evening, everybody.

Welcome to the Arlington City Council.

We're not gonna belabor the start of this thing.

I'm gonna invite Dr.

Charles Coos from Park Springs Bible Church to come forward and lead us in an invocation.

If you're able, please stand up.

Father, we are grateful for this great city that you have given us the joy of being in its leaders and its citizens.

We pray that this evening you would be amongst us, granting us wisdom beyond our knowledge, hope in the midst of uncertainty, and Lord, that you would allow us to continue to be a city that dreams for the future of all the life that is here.

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

One state, under God, one and indivisible.

Thank you, you may be seated.

All right, Venera Ashley, come on up, you're the first contestants on the prizes, right?

We got a couple of proclamations this evening here, whereas the City of Arlington recognizes the compassion, dedication, and tireless efforts of our Arlington Animal Services who provide daily care and attention to homeless and abandoned pets, often going above and beyond by fostering animals in emergency situations, and whereas AAS serves as a vital community resource, equipping residents with the tools and education needed to build a responsible pet community while rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals to give them a second chance at a wonderful life.

And whereas the City of Arlington encourages the community to adopt Don't Shop, recognize that while adoption saves lives and reduces pet overpopulation, it also curbs the demand that fuels breeding operations.

And whereas pets adopted from AAS receive core vacuum vaccinations, microchipping, heartworm and combo testing, and spay and neuter services, y'all do all of that?

Holy cow.

Newter service, ensuring a healthy, responsible and cost effective start to pet owner ownership.

And whereas AAS provides year-round opportunities for residents to make a difference beyond adoption through volunteering, donating, fostering, networking, networking animals and participating in outreach and education events.

And whereas AAS is currently experiencing overcrowding, making adoption efforts more crucial, as adopting even one animal directly saves a life and opens a kennel for another in need, creating what is known as the rescue effect.

And whereas high intake rates of unwanted and abandoned animals continue to strain shelter resources, making adoptions and support essential to maintaining humane care standards and preventing youth in Asia for capacity.

And whereas by choosing adoption, Arlington residents provide love, compassion, and a second chance to deserving animals.

Now, therefore, I, Jim Ross, mayor of the city of Arlington, do hereby proclaim November third through ninth, twenty twenty-five, as Animal Shelter Appreciation Week.

Thank y'all.

One of y'all say something up here first, then we'll take a picture.

We're so thankful for the support.

We're so thankful for the support that the City of Arlington, uh, City Council as well as the management, the departments, and our community gives us each and every day.

We couldn't do this without the support of our community, and we think are so thankful for you all.

Congratulations, ladies and milia and meg, were you.

Oh no, this is the American Indian heritage and not Amelia.

Handy wrote this.

I can't even read it.

Meg Anderson.

And whereas the Village Creek and Rush Creek areas of present day West Arlington were once home to as many as 25,000 indigenous people.

And whereas the Caddo Nation, known for their agricultural practices and complex societal structure, were the earliest residents of what is now Arlington arriving in the area over 7,000 years ago.

And whereas members of the Comanche tribe, known for their whole horse culture, resided in the Arlington area.

As did the Tanakawa and Wichita, y'all are going to really challenge me with this.

And Wichita and all of them contributed to our area's rich history.

And whereas their customs and traditions are respected and celebrated as part of a rich legacy throughout North Texas.

And whereas Native American Awareness Week began in seven 1976, and recognition was expanded by Congress and approved by President George Bush in August of 1990, designating the month of November as National American Indian Heritage Month.

Now, therefore, I, Jim Ross, Mayor of the City of Arlington, encourage our community to participate in the cultural, educational, and historical activities planned around this celebration, and do hereby proclaim November 2025 as American Indian Heritage Month.

Thank y'all ladies.

Thank you, Mayor Ross, for um helping us celebrate uh Native American Heritage Month.

Uh speaking of the cultural events, I know there are several things that the Arlington Public Library is going to be doing this month, and even UTA has got some activities going on.

And we, our DAR chapter, uh has a display in the foyer of the uh Southeast branch of the public library.

So got a few things going on.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

We'll get this out of the way and take a picture.

Thank you.

Okay, Mr.

Buskin, let's get down to business.

Uh 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 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 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 speech 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, we do not.

Actually, I I have an appointment to a board today.

It is the birthday board that I'd like to appoint Councilmember Rebecca Boxel to.

So if y'all could give me a helping hand here saying happy birthday.

And we won't even need a motion or a second for that one there, okay?

By unanimous consent.

So happy birthday, Ms.

Boxell.

No council member fam, we are not going to allow you to sing.

Okay.

Um consideration of minutes, Mr.

Buskin.

Thank you, Mayor.

Minutes for consideration this evening or the afternoon and evening meetings from October 14th, 2025, and October 21st, 2025.

Thank you.

Council, do y'all have any additions or corrections?

Seeing none, can I have a motion from Councilmember Gonzalez and a second from Council Member Pham.

Please cast your vote.

And the motion passes, Mr.

Buskin.

A consideration of consent agenda, please.

Thank you, Mayor.

The consent agenda this evening contains nine minute orders, three ordinances, and 15 resolutions.

The minute orders seek to authorize one annual requirements contracts for water repair parts for Arlington water utilities, two engineering services contract for construction management and observation services for sanitary sewer lift stations, three two-year contract for work zone management software, four and five purchase of two replacement vehicles for the fire department and of a replacement excavator for the public works department.

Six five-year contract for subscription of Salesforce Software for Permitting Licensing and Inspection.

Seven sole source contract for Blitz software subscription.

Eight modification of the consulting contract for Amanda Software Replacement Services.

The ordinances seek to authorize 10 zoning case ZA25-03125 California Lane.

11 zoning case PD 25-12 Balfour Lofts 12 zoning case PD 15-05R15301 West Pioneer Parkway Circuit Systems Company Incorporated.

The resolution seek to authorize 13 retroactive agreement for traffic analytics software.

14 resolution amendment for the North Central Texas Council of Government's Work Zone Data Exchange Grant.

15 second amendment to lease with boys and girls clubs of Greater Tarrant County 2011 Wind Terrace.

16 A through E, all cash contracts of sale for the acquisition of fee simple property rights on real property located at 1310 and 1402 Center Street and 1203, 1205, 1207, 1211, 1213, 1219, 1425, 1503, and 1505 Altman Drive in support of the Center Street Gateway Project.

17 approval to execute annual Texas Department of Transportation Grant Agreement.

18 Cade Cunningham Community Court at Cravens Park Honorary Naming.

19 Downtown Arlington Farmers Market License Agreement Amendment.

20 event permits, FIFA World Cup, 21A through C, Lowe's Arlington Hotel and Convention Center.

Thank you, Mayor.

This concludes the consent agenda for this evening.

Thank you, sir.

Do we have any speakers on any of the items that appear on the consent agenda?

No, sir, we do not.

Thank you.

I have a motion from Councilmember Boxell and a second from Council Member Odom Wesley.

Please cast your vote.

And the motion passes.

We'll move on down to the public hearings.

10.1 Ms.

Thoppel.

Thank you, Mayor.

I am 10.1 zoning case Z03-56 slash P03-56R1.

Is a request for a revision to the approved development plan for Walmart Supercenter at 915 East Randall Mill Road.

Zoned as a planned development for community commercial uses in the entertainment district overlay.

The applicant is requesting a revision to the approved development plan for the installation of a solar panel area on the roof of the structure in the shape of their logo.

This evening we have Ivan Haime from Walmart Real Estate Business Trust presenting the case for us.

Come on up, sir.

Good to see you again.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Gen C and uh good evening, members of the council.

Uh Councilman Galante, good to see you again.

And um thank you to everybody for the opportunity to speak to you today.

My name is Ivan Jaime.

I'm the director of government affairs for Walmart.

I'm based in San Antonio, uh, and I cover two states, Texas and New Mexico from a state and local government affairs perspective.

Uh I'd like to introduce you to a couple of folks that are here in case uh specific questions come up and also they just wanted to come meet you.

Uh Adrian Frazier, who is our store manager at this facility.

Um Chris Georgiades, uh, who is our project manager on this project.

He's with Madison Engineering and Infrastructure.

And uh also Matt Butler with uh Boyle and Lowry, who's our uh land use counsel on this project.

So uh hopefully we have everybody we would need in case there's any questions.

Our presentation is gonna be very brief.

Uh we consider this to be a great uh project that um doesn't require a ton of explaining, and I'll show you a few images and then we'll be glad to answer any questions.

Uh this is gonna be at uh our store 5416, which is located at 915 East Randall Mill Road, uh very close to ATT Stadium in district number one.

Uh we employ about 400 associates at this store.

It is a very busy store.

Our general average at Supercenters is closer to the 300 through to 320 uh associates.

Uh so you can see by the um additional number of associates at this store, it's because it's a very high uh heavily trafficked, heavily shopped uh store um in in our fleet.

Uh this store in particular, uh in the company as a whole is a proud sponsor of the North Texas food bank.

In fact, this year we won the Retailer of the Year uh award um as a sponsor of the food bank.

Uh we're proud sponsors, one of the first few sponsors of the National Medal of Honor Museum here in Arlington.

And we also support the Arlington Veterans Parade along with Blue Sienna and other things that we do to give back to the community.

Uh we are a major economic driver and must stop for all ATT stadium and nearby uh events.

And the reason why I mentioned that is we're very conscious of the role of this facility and everything that Arlington is doing, which is a world-class city with the World Cup coming here and multiple world-class events.

Um I hope you'll agree that last time you were at the store, we try to keep it to an impeccable uh status.

We try to keep it clean, fresh, new, um, looking new because we know that it has a lot of eyes on it.

Now, the question for us here, one of was we have a rooftop that is obviously visible as prime real estate, uh and we have nothing up there uh right now.

So that's where I'll tell you about this uh project that we have come up with.

And of course, we've already so we we've already been looking at both the part the the uh rooftop at this facility being uh prime real estate, and then also we've been looking at how to be more efficient at our stores to be able to keep our prices low, especially during this time of inflationary pressure on on prices of groceries and all goods.

Um and so this is a project that we came up with, which we think accomplishes two things.

Um it is clean and renewable power, it's going to provide some uh juice and some boost to our store without us having to uh stress the grid.

It'll provide some savings that we intend to pass back along toward our profitability uh so that we can hire more and more workers and also uh keep prices as slow as we can.

Uh it would reduce carbon emissions, as you all know.

Uh we would have these uh this this facility uh with the lights facing down so that there's no additional light pollution.

Um and we could we we like to think that it's innovative, creative, and clean.

Uh the panels are gonna be flush so they will not be visible from the ground.

It will be silent, so there will be no noise or anything to speak of for uh adjacent community.

And we are uh compliant and intend to comply with all applicable regulations, codes, uh, and anything else um that we need to comply with.

And with that, I'll leave it at that um slide, and we'd be happy to answer any questions that you might have.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, Mr.

Buskin.

We have any other speakers on this item.

No, sir, no additional speakers.

We did have two non-speakers in support.

Thanks, sir.

Councilmember Vellante.

Um, thank you for coming out and uh bringing your your friends and associates.

Thank you for uh uh thinking uh in over in innovative ways of saving energy and uh making the that store uh uh a good store in uh in his uh uh an icon store, a conic store right in front of the cowboy stadium.

And yeah, I know you came all the way from San Antonio for one minute presentation, and then you can come back to the to the road back again home.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman.

Councilmember Gonzalez.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you.

Uh thank you for you know bringing this to us.

Uh I'm glad to hear that you're trying to make that store the best it could be.

Uh I know it's we would appreciate if you would look at the one on South Cooper.

Yes, sir.

Because it's really, really bad.

And they need trees, they need painting.

And I thought this is the perfect time to talk to somebody about it because I get that complaint all the time.

So anything you can do, so we sure can, sir, and I will pass that along.

I would second policy statement.

Yes, councilman.

I and and I will uh what I'll commit to do on my end, number one, besides passing that along to our operations team.

Um we have all of our stores in a cycle of remodels.

Uh so I will find out when our next cycle is of remodel and see if we can expedite that remodel, and I'll commit to provide that to Gen C to report back to the council.

And what well on that one, it's opened up as a hypermart, as you know, so it was really something different, but it's really never changed.

So anything you can do, we would appreciate it.

Yes, sir, absolutely.

Thank you.

Okay, I'm gonna close the public hearing.

I have a motion from Count Well, Councilmember Odin Wesley.

Do you have something to add?

I just have a question.

Uh I think this is a great idea, and thank you for doing it here in Arlington.

I'm just wondering is this the beginning of what you're going to do with all your stores?

Are you expecting to provide solar panels in the shape of the spark for everybody?

Thank you, Councilman.

I don't know that it's what we're going to do at every store, but it is something that we're looking to do.

So this is the first one we're doing in Texas.

We've done some in California and in and in other areas where a regulations permit.

We haven't done them in the shape of a of a of a spark.

That was an idea, like I said, where we had been looking at Cowboy Stadium.

We're always in meetings with city uh individuals and with the chamber uh talking about what we can do when the World Cup comes in.

Um we're always adjusting things we're doing, and we're like, how can we better use this store?

So this is the first one.

I wouldn't expect the proliferation of them looking like this, but you can definitely expect to see at every one of our stores more innovativeness when it comes to energy use because of where energy prices are, the inflationary prices.

Uh we're hearing from our customers every day that prices are going up and up and up, and we are trying to take our mission very seriously to look at new ways to keep our costs down so we can pass those costs on to the customers.

Thank you, Councilman.

Okay.

Uh we'll close the public hearing.

I have a motion from Councilmember Galante, a second from Councilmember Boxel, please cast your vote.

Councilmember Gonzalez, your vote, please.

Yes, sir.

That was so wrong.

It's doing his job.

We're all just right, we're all just doing our job.

Thank you very much, Council.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Gentile.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Mr.

Buskin, citizen participation, please.

Thank you, Mayor.

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.

Mayor, we had five individuals registered for citizen participation this evening.

Our first speaker is Mary Elaine Benton.

Ms.

Benton.

Ms.

Benton.

Next speaker, Mr.

Buskin.

Our next speaker is John McKnight.

Mr.

McKnight.

Mr.

McKnight.

Next speaker, please.

Our next speaker is Evie Dyson.

Ms.

Dyson.

Ms.

Dyson, next speaker, please.

Our next speaker is Derek Carter.

Mr.

Carter.

Mr.

Carter.

We're batting a thousand, aren't we?

Next speaker, please.

Our next speaker is Tim Layton.

Mr.

Leighton.

Now you just ruined our record.

Okay, time's up.

Well, I'm I was supposed to speak with Derek, and he said he wouldn't get here until 7.

So you all are doing good speed today.

My name is Tim Leiten.

As you already know, Derek was going to be here, but he didn't again make it.

We both live in Central Arlington and serve on the board of Hannah, the Heart of Arlington Neighborhood Association.

Of all the issues we deal with, two of the most important involve affordable housing and Johnson Creek.

Although developers who built our subdivisions tended to view our lush water feature as merely a glorified drainage ditch, we've come to see Johnson Creek as not only an ecological gem right in the middle of the Metroplex, but also an opportunity for preserving our quality of life.

Recently we met with a project team from UTA that is studying the creek, and those experts agree that Johnson Creek not only poses threats to property and life, but also promise for people who are willing to make sure flooding, erosion, and other problems associated with stormwater runoff are properly addressed.

This includes not only figuring out how to protect our affordable homes, but also reducing risks.

Many apartment dwellers along the creek currently don't even know exist.

The city has a buyout program for those of us who own property that's being washed away by the cities in action, but none of those uh uh impact our existing homes because uh they've never been flooded.

We think our neighborhoods are worth holding on to, both for ourselves today and for future generations who will need places to live and raise their families.

We also want apartment residents along the creek freed from landlords who rent units too close to known floodways.

We'd like the city to embrace creative options for ecological and economic sustainability along our part of this historic waterway.

Does this include extending some sort of park or trail system into our neighborhoods?

Might new erosion prevention techniques exist that we haven't yet considered.

What about retention and detention ponds?

We know some vast some past plans, excuse me, have not been widely embraced.

But times have changed, and so have our demographics.

Thank you, sir.

Appreciate you.

Council, do y'all have any announcements?

Yes, Councilmember Hunter.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I want to let everyone know that there will be a couple of food drives here in the city of Arlington.

The first one will be this weekend at Mission Arlington from 9 a.m.

to 11.

We will be taking can um any type of non-perishable items.

Uh the second one will be in my district in Southeast Arlington at St.

Andrew's Church the following weekend from 9 a.m.

to 11 a.m.

Thank you.

Councilmember Boxel.

Thank you.

I'd like to announce that uh Thursday night we have a UTA master plan town hall at the downtown library.

And speaking of Johnson Creek, thank you, thank you, Mr.

Leighton, and there is a display up that deals with that subject and some creative ideas that students have proposed to deal with flooding and other issues along Johnson Creek.

So it's up right now in the in the lobby.

Go over there and take a look at it or and be sure to come Thursday night to the town hall.

Thanks.

I have one announcement next week on November 11th at 5 p.m.

We will have the Texas Veterans Day Parade in the entertainment district, uh starting and ending uh near the National Medal of Honor Museum.

It is a beautiful sunset parade followed by an incredible drone show over the lake immediately thereafter.

It's free for all to come out and attend.

And um we have uh Toys for Tots um collecting toys along the parade route, so you're welcome to bring out some toys to donate for Christmas needs.

Any other announcements from council, Mr.

Buskin announcements, please?

Thank you, Mayor.

I'd like to remind our residents, Arlington City Council evening meetings are rebroadcast on Sundays at 6 p.m.

and on Wednesday and Saturday mornings at 6 30 a.m.

The council's afternoon work sessions are rebroadcast on Sundays at 1 p.m., Wednesdays at 1 30 p.m.

and on Saturdays at 6 p.m.

You can also watch the meetings online anytime at www.arlington tx.gov.

Thank you.

Thank you all for coming out here tonight.

City council's meeting is adjourned.

Dancing, so it's funny because every time they come get a Michelala, everyone's always like, we came for the show, and of course a Michelada, but they're like, we they're always like telling me it's so worth it getting a show of food and a drink at once because they come fully loaded with the shrimp and stuff.

Patinos Micheladas began 10 years ago.

A family-run business that started at flea markets and later open a restaurant.

It was called a Los Angeles Mexican restaurant.

Um it was going really good, so they enjoyed it.

Everything was going well.

Then COVID hit.

Like many small businesses, they faced difficult times when COVID hit and had to close their doors.

But the patinos were ready to give up on their dream.

There was one year, it was actually two years ago.

They gave us a call and they're like, hey, we're gonna be doing uh Vivatehas event outside the Texas Stadium or the Texas Ranger Stadium.

Well, they saw the Micheladas and they asked us, hey, like would you guys like to be given the opportunity to come inside the stadium?

So we um we looked into it and then we ended up accepting the offer to join the stadium.

Now Patinos Micheladas has no one but two stands in the stadium.

Serving up to 400 Micheladas a day.

Their menu has grown too, with the males and ceviche becoming fun favorites.

Whenever they started asking for a different type of food, um that's whenever we decided to add that to our menu, and it's been it's been really good.

But the real star of the show?

Probably.