Good evening, everybody, welcome to the Arlington City Council meeting on February tenth, twenty twenty-six.

I'm gonna ask Father Joseph Francis with Saint Alban's Church to please come forward and lead us in an invocation.

If you can, please stand for the invocation.

Bless our nation and especially the city of Arlington, with honorable industry, sound learning and pure conduct.

And do with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy name we entrust the authority of government, especially our mayor, and the members of this city council, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth.

In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail, all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

One nation under God with Liberty and Justice.

One state, under God, one and individual.

Thank you.

You may be seated.

Mr.

Buskin, uh 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 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 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 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 appointment to boards or commissions this evening?

No, sir.

No appointments this evening.

Thank you.

Consideration of minutes, please.

Thank you, Mayor.

Minutes for consideration this evening or the afternoon and evening meetings from January 27th, 2026.

Thank you, sir.

Consider uh council members, do y'all?

Do you all have any corrections or additions?

Seeing none, Mr.

Buskin.

Any speakers on this item?

No, sir, no speakers on this item.

I have a motion and a second.

I have a motion from Councilmember Odom Wesley.

A second from Council Member Pham.

Please cast your vote.

The motion passes.

Mr.

Buskin, consideration of consent agenda, please.

Thank you, Mayor.

The consent agenda this evening contains 13 minute orders, four ordinances, and eleven resolutions.

The minute orders seek to authorize one renewal of annual requirements contract for printing services.

Two, annual sole source contract for team sideline software.

Three and four, annual requirements, contracts for irrigation, relocation, grass replacement and tree removal.

And for the sole source purchase of water meters for the Arlington Water Utilities Department.

Five and six, purchase of a replacement sewer cleaner and of boring equipment for the Arlington Water Utilities Department.

Seven, three-year engineering services contract for water and sanitary sewer system planning support 2025.

Eight, construction contract for the Marquis Circle Drainage Improvements.

Nine, negotiate and execute a construction contract for the Traffic Management Center for the Public Works Department.

10.

2026 Roadway Reclamation Program.

Eleven rescind rescind and reaward construction contract for four new dynamic message signs in the entertainment district.

Twelve, reject all bids for the construction contract for John Kubala water treatment plant recycle pump electrical improvements.

The ordinances seek to authorize 14 zoning case PD 24-28, 5920 Matlock Road.

15, zoning case PD 25-19, 2504 South Cooper Street.

16 ordinance ordering a May 2nd, 2026 general election.

17 ordinance ordering a May 2nd, 2026 special election for reauthorization of the street maintenance sales tax.

The resolution seek to authorize 18 interlocal agreement with the Arlington Independent School District on juvenile processing cameras.

19 authorize the design build project delivery method for the replacement of heating ventilation and air conditioning at 501 West Sanford Street.

20 authorization to apply for the fiscal year 2027 body warrant camera grant program.

21 Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System Vehicle Grant Agreement, Arlington Fire Department.

22 and 23, U.S.

Department of Transportation, Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development Build Grant Program Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Projects and Planning.

24 First Amendment to the Arlington Baptist University Chapter 380 Agreement.

25 Arlington Housing Finance Corporation Acquisition Funding Agreement.

26 Execute an all cash contract of sale with Shantry Road Investments LLC 1220 West Division Street.

27 professional services contract for relocation assistance consulting services.

28 Arlington Entertainment Area Management District Board Appointments.

Thank you, Mayor.

This concludes the consent agenda for this evening.

Thank you, sir.

Councilmember Galante, did you want to address an item?

Yes, sir.

Item 728.

Okay.

Want to pull off for discussion.

We're gonna pull item 7.28 from the consent agenda.

And I'm gonna ask Mr.

Buskin, do we have any speakers on the remaining items?

No, sir.

We do not.

Thank you.

I have a motion from Councilmember Hogg.

A second from Councilmember Gonzalez, please cast your vote.

And the motion passes.

Item number 7.28, Mr.

Galante.

Um I want you in uh to motion for continuance for the next session so we can go over uh uh the criteria of appointing uh the board members.

Thank you, sir.

Mr.

Galante has made a motion for continuance.

I have a second from Council Member Gonzalez.

Please cast your vote.

And the motion passes item 7.28 will be continued until the next council session.

We'll move on down to items number item number 10.1, Miss Thoppel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Item 10.1 SUP or specific use permit case, SUP 25-09.

It's a request for a specific use permit to allow a secondary living unit on a property that is over 10,000 square foot in size.

Uh zoned residential single family 7.2, so RS 7.2, and addressed as 1012 Gay Lane, generally located south of West Randall Mill Road and west of North Davis Drive.

The proposed secondary living unit is 360 square feet in size and is proposed to be built at Cementitia's fiber board.

The subject property is not within the short-term rental zone and is not eligible for a short-term rental permit.

There are two letters of opposition included in the packet.

The applicant Chris Travino will be presenting the case for us this evening.

Hello, thank you for having us.

My name is Chris Turino.

I'm uh civil engineer and owner of CT4 construction.

I'm representing uh Martin Franco here in regards to 1012 Gay Lane.

Um we're requesting a specific use permit for a detached secondary living unit behind the primary home.

Uh it's zoning is RS 7.2, which is the reasoning for the for the SUP.

And here's a vicinity map just showing it's just south of uh West Rental Mill and west of North Davis Drive.

Uh the proposed design meets all applicable requirements.

We've we've uh gone through with staff and made sure that it all it meets all uh setbacks, high requirements, lot coverage, and any any any other criteria.

So here's uh a quick site plan just showing the vicinity of the proposed dwelling unit uh just behind the primary residence.

The purpose of this is really just for Martin uh to bring his elderly parents closer to home so we can keep a you know keep an eye on them.

Uh it's family use only.

He's got he's even said that he's got two younger kids that as they get older, it'll give them a space to grow into and have a place of their own.

Um there's no intention of of renting it out or or having any commercial use for it, so we don't expect any traffic or parking issues, and it maintains uh neighborhood appearance, and I'll show you that here in a slide coming up.

Here's uh floor plan just to show.

You know, it's real simple.

It's a 360 square foot single story unit, uh bedroom, bathroom, living room, and then a small kitchenette.

See, and here's just a 3D uh visual of what it's gonna look like.

Again, it's it's you know matches the neighborhood character, very modest, and it's some more subordinate to the primary residence.

It just gives you a a better view of uh what it's gonna look like.

Uh so we were request uh respectfully request approval of this for Gay Lane.

Again, it supports family needs, meets requirements, and consistent with the neighborhood.

We appreciate your time.

Thank you, sir.

Mr.

Buskin, any other speakers on this item?

Yes, sir.

We do have one additional speaker in support on this item, Martin Franco.

Sir, you uh yes, I just want to reiterate that this is for personal use of my parents.

You know, they're getting a little older um with the way the economy is, they they can't really make ends meet.

So I figured this would be the best option for them.

And we do have two younger kids, and that way they could be close to their grandparents and uh God forbid, you know, they they pass away sooner than expected, then the kids would you know take uh the oldest one, obviously take uh ownership or habitat the unit.

So we have an immediate plan in in place for uh the immediate future there.

Thank you for taking care of your parents like this.

I appreciate that.

Okay, no any other speakers, Mr.

Buskin.

No, sir, no additional speakers.

We did have three non-speakers in support.

Thank you, sir.

I'm gonna close the public hearing.

I have a motion from Councilmember Boxell, a second from Councilmember Galante.

Please cast your vote.

The motion passes.

Congratulations, sir.

You all have a good night.

10 point two, Ms.

Thhoppel.

I understand staff has requested a continuance till March the 10th.

Is that correct?

That's correct.

Thank you.

Can I get a motion and a second on a continuance for 10 point two, please?

I have a motion from Councilmember Pham.

A second from Councilmember Gonzalez, please cast your vote.

And the motion passes 10.3, Ms.

Thhoppel.

Thank you, Mayor.

Item 10.3 is specific use permit case SUP 25-8.

Uh is a request for a specific use permit to allow a secondary living unit on a property that is 37,000 square feet in size, zoned residential, single family 7.2, RS 7.2, and addressed as 3409 Shorewood Court, generally located north of Shorewood Drive and west of Perkins Road.

This lot exceeds the minimum lot size of RS20 zoning district, in which secondary living units are permitted by right.

The proposed secondary living unit is 910 square feet in size and proposed to be built of Cementitious Fiber Board.

It will be set back 70 feet from the rear property line and 40 feet from the street side property line.

The subject property is not within the short-term rental zone and is not eligible for a STR permit.

There are three letters of support included in the packet.

This evening we have Ryan Houston who will be presenting the case for us.

Thank you, ma'am.

Mr.

Houston.

Ryan Houston.

I still have the homeowner with me as well, Miranda Lamb.

Yeah.

Hi, good evening.

I actually signed up as a speaker, so I'm not sure what happened to my card.

We're not going to worry about it.

You can go ahead and talk if you want to.

Perfect.

I'm glad you can see me over this podium.

Pretty simple what we're trying to do.

My dad is retired.

He would like to be closer to the grandkids.

It just allows us a way to pull finances, have him nearby.

Long-term plan for the unit is for my brother.

You can see in the photo, he has developmental delays.

Currently lives with my mom.

So down the road, he will need to be with my husband and I.

Did you just come up as a support system or do you want to say anything?

Well, I was technically the applicant.

I wasn't signed up to speak, but I'm here to answer any questions.

I think she handled it just fine.

She's way better.

Mr.

Buskin, before we get carried away, are there anybody else that wanna talk on this side?

No, sir.

No additional speakers.

Okay.

All right, very good.

Well, we're gonna go ahead and close your public hearing.

I have a motion from Councilmember Boxell on his second from Councilmember Odom Wesley.

Please cast your vote.

Ma'am, can I tell you y'all make my night when you come out here and you take care of family the way you and that other gentleman did?

God bless you for doing that.

Congratulations.

The motion passed, you get your ADU.

Thank you.

Have a great night, thank you.

Eleven point one, Elizabeth Kahler.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

Before you tonight is the first reading of an ordinance that rescinds the temporary suspension of the city's anti-discrimination chapter of the code of ordinances, and also amends the chapter.

The proposed amendments revise the verbiage of the chapter to align with unlawful discrimination in employment practices and public accommodations under federal and state law.

The proposed amendments also streamline the city's administration of the chapter and provide an opportunity for the city's administrator to connect individuals who believe they have experienced unlawful discrimination with re resources to offer assistance.

Additionally, due to the evolving nature of federal grant requirement requirements and court orders pertaining to state preemption, the proposed ordinance provides for suspension of any provision of the chapter that is determined to be in conflict or preempted.

Happy to answer any questions.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Mr.

Buskin, do we have any speakers on tonight's 11.1?

Yes, sir.

We have one speaker in support and 13 speakers in opposition.

Okay.

First speaker, please.

Our first speaker is in support is Melanie Campbell Carter.

Ms.

Carter.

Good evening.

I'm actually speaking in opposition.

That's true.

You can I live in the for or against whatever you prefer.

Mr.

Buskin, let me just say this.

I'm gonna uh give each speaker two minutes.

Okay.

I just noticed that the clock started on that.

So I live and vote in Arlington.

I am speaking tonight as as a member of the Tarrant County League of Women Voters, which is a nonpartisan organization.

We unapologetically support diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in action.

We the people means all the people.

Constitutional rights and human rights must be afforded to and protected for all persons.

The League, as does the City of Arlington, proclaims support for the rights of every individual to work, to enjoy facilities in places of public accommodation, and to obtain housing.

We consider the proposed revision of the anti-discrimination chapter to be an abdication of support for Arlington's residents.

Your staff report states that Arlington is, quote, dedicated to ensuring all residents are free from all forms of discrimination, unquote, but omits measures to investigate or enforce violations, relying on state and federal agencies to carry out justice.

This is not acceptable.

Local enforcement provides protections to marginalized groups, such as the LGBTQ plus community in areas where state or federal law may be silent.

Local ordinances provide a faster mechanism for addressing complaints, allowing for remedies without relying solely on slow state or federal agencies.

Local ordinances announce that a city is welcoming and safe, which helps attract economic development and talented diverse residents.

Finally, a city can tailor its ordinance to address specific local or systemic issues such as housing discrimination based on past history.

We urge you to reconsider the vote on this ordinance and to establish full local protections against discrimination for all residents of Arlington.

Sincerely, Janet Mattern, president of the League of Women Voters of Tarrant County.

Thank you, ma'am.

Next speaker, Mr.

Buster.

Our next speaker is Keegan Dees.

After Keegan Dees is Nathan Smith.

Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

My name is Keegan Dees, and like I've said before, I'm a board and raised Arlington resident.

As a transgender man myself, this new ordinance is honestly, it's incredibly insulting.

Why the need for change?

Fort Worth hasn't changed theirs.

Maybe that's because they learned from their past.

So I guess they learned from their mistakes.

And are we gonna say Fort Worth is better than Arlington?

I mean I didn't think so, but I guess so.

Um you also want me to trust the state and federal government when they have made a career by depicting me as a horrible monster and a criminal, which some of y'all participate in too.

I'd also like to clear up portable excuses that were made, like it jeopardizes y'all from helping the homeless.

You already don't do that.

Um I'm sorry.

Um I don't know why we spend millions on pointless light boards uh if we can't take care of human beings.

Um I don't know why we harass truckers from where they can park for a quick buck instead of finding a solution so maybe they can have more time with their families and just vote.

No, it's insulting and be better human beings, please.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Nathan Smith.

After Nathan Smith is Chris Hoffman, hello, I'm Nathan Smith from Mansfield, but I grew up in Arlington.

Arlington is a tourist destination, and just like every tourist destination, Arlington engages in a lot of promotional marketing.

So I have a request for this council, which plays a role in the marketing of this city.

If you truly believe that this ordinance is the right choice, that it reflects some kind of pragmatic, responsible compromise, stand boldly by that choice.

How?

My request is simple.

If this passes, ensure that the following proviso is included on every tourist-facing website, ad and brochure that this city is associated with.

Thanks, sir.

Our next speaker is Chris Hoffman.

After Chris Hoffman is Mark Clasby.

Good evening, Honorable Mayor, members of the city council.

My name is Chris Hoffman.

I currently reside in Louisville, Texas.

But in my 55 years in this in the Metroplex, I have spent a lot of time in this great city.

I've I've worked in this city, I have uh studied in this city, I've worshipped in the city, I've played and I've volunteered my time with volunteer organizations in this city.

I am here just as those other people were earlier, talking about family.

My family that is related to me by blood and also the family around me that I choose to have as my family because I support them and I love them all.

I call your attention to the words up there.

We get to see them all the time from this point of view, but it says Arlington is the American dream city.

In order for this city to truly be the American dream city, it must support the dreams of all of its people, the health and safety of all of its people in a true and meaningful way.

Now I will say I'm a religious person, I'm a theology student, I am a chaplain in a volunteer youth organization, and I'm currently the director of music at Embrace United Church of Christ in Hearst.

I believe, and you don't have to believe this, but this is what I believe is that all people are created in God's image.

If you protect some people while allowing others to feel marginalized, then you are violating what I know to be God as found in my holy scriptures.

If Arlington truly wishes to be the American dream city, then it needs to treat everyone in its borders as equals.

If Arlington wishes to be the American dream city, it needs to provide protection, active protection from aggressors for every person equally.

And thank you for your time.

Our next speaker is Mark Clasby.

After Mark Clasby is Jennifer Davis, good evening, Mayor Ross, Council members.

My name is Mark Clasby.

I'm an Arlington resident.

I've lived in Arlington or Pantiago since about 2017.

You may have heard this week that the only thing more powerful than hate is love.

That message of love is why my Savior gave his life for everyone.

His ask was simple.

Love your neighbor as thyself.

He said that if we hurt anyone, then we hurt him, and if we love anyone, then we love him.

So today my ask is simple.

I'm here to ask you to go back to the drawing board.

Come up with something stronger so that we can have enforceable true protections for those that we love and care about, and to show the world that Arlington is a safe space for everyone where we protect and embrace love and we extinguish hate.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you, Jeff.

Our next speaker is Jennifer Davis.

After Jennifer Davis is DJ Johanneson.

Good evening, Council members and Mayor Ross.

Thank you for uh giving us the opportunity to speak tonight.

Um my name is Jennifer Davis, and I'm an Arlington resident of Arlington since 2017.

Uh I have two boys brought up through the schools here, Martin High School.

I could not be prouder of this city and our experience, particularly in the fine arts uh area of the high school here in Arlington.

Um I have loved experiencing the diversity of this city, seeing all types of people represented and how everyone is treated here.

I'm an assistant minister at a church that welcomes people who are LGBTQ.

I work primarily with youth there who are so thankful to find a church where they can be their true selves and feel protected and safe.

I know many youth in the city who are gay or trans and I love them dearly.

Their protection is of the utmost importance to me.

And unfortunately, we know there is such misguided hatred directed in this group's uh direction, and without your protection, they are left vulnerable.

As much as we'd like to think we can rely on the goodwill of all of our residents in the city to act based on what is recommended to them or what is educated to them.

We are smart enough to know that we cannot count on everyone to act appropriately unless they are required to do so by law.

So without your legal backing, these loved ones will not be protected.

And that is why I am urging you to vote no, because why would we not want to protect them?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is DJ Johanneson.

After DJ Johanneson is Melissa Brown.

Mr.

Mayor, members of the council, my name is DJ Johanneson, and I am the CEO of the Help Center for LGBT Health.

I'm here today in opposition.

Despite its name, this ordinance isn't about anti-discrimination.

It removes Arlington's local civil rights protections and replaces them with education and referrals.

The ordinance itself says that the city's role is to educate residents about their federal rights.

That's not enforcement.

That's not protection.

That's a written admission that this city is stepping away.

Under this ordinance, if somebody experiences discrimination in Arlington, the city will not investigate.

It will not advocate, it will not take sides, it will not enforce anything.

The city will listen and they will pass you off to someone else if they can.

But I had my city standing up for me saying this is wrong.

Under this ordinance, I do not.

So if it happens to me, what do you do?

Just say, oh well.

Similarly, if an African American family experiences the exact same treatment, the only thing this allows them to do is refer them to somebody else.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you so much.

Councilmember Boxer.

Thank you.

Mr.

Johansson, I have some questions for you, please, if you wouldn't mind.

Yep.

Can you explain to me in your two scenarios how the previous ordinance had enforcement that you actionable things that the city could do?

Absolutely.

So in the in the under the previous ordinance, if I receive if I experienced discrimination, I could come to the administration, explain to them that I had experienced the discrimination.

If it looked like there was actually a discrimination complaint, and it wasn't just I was mad, then the city manager or their designee would reach out to the place that did the discrimination, tell them that a complaint had been filed, and allow them to provide any additional information back.

At that point, the city manager or their designee would take the victim and the perpetrator and they would try to get to resolution.

If the perpetrator said, I don't care what you're doing, I'm not participating.

The mayor can issue an administrative subpoena compelling them to participate.

If they then say, I don't care, Mayor, I'm not showing up, fine dandy, then the city manager or their designee writes a written report that is given to me that says I had a valid, I had a discrimination complaint, it was valid, the perpetrator refused to participate in any way, shape, or form, or that the they would not do conciliation, or if they participated, we said, okay, yeah, we reached conciliation.

Regardless of what that outcome is, it is provided in a written report to me.

At that point, I can decide if there's conciliation, you've now just changed behavior on behalf of that perpetrator, because one of the things required under the statute is education.

They are required to do an education piece.

If they don't participate, I have something in writing that then I can go with, and if I wanted to do civil, if I wanted to do something at the federal government, I could do that.

Now, for a gay man, I don't have any protections for public accommodation.

If it happened to an African American family, they have protection, so they could go to the federal government, and now they have a letter from the City of Arlington that says we looked at it, we investigated it, it is valid, and the person refused to participate, and that can be used by the federal government in their actions to perpetuate to go back.

If you're as a gay man and I give this piece of paper, and it says yes, you were discriminated against, but this person refused to do anything.

What I have is a piece of paper from my city that says I matter.

Okay.

So if you did have that piece of paper and you went to the Federal Government under the scenario that you gave to me as a gay man going into restaurant, let's say even a woman, I'm under that also.

Sure.

You would you would have to file if let's say that we're let's talk African American, because gay men can't do it, right?

Right.

Well, that's the point I'm trying to make.

So as a gay man or as a woman or anything that has sexual orientation or sex, gender, any of that, it's not protected under Title II.

So at that point, you have no recourse.

I believe with all due respect that you're not seeing the importance and validity of having my city say you matter to us, and what was done to you is wrong.

And unfortunately, we can't do anything at the Federal Government, but we want you to know that we stand with you.

All right.

So we can still do that under our resolution.

Absolutely.

Absolutely, you cannot.

Under this resolution, it says the administrator will not investigate will not take sides and will not do anything.

So you can't do the same thing.

Okay, but we're talking about if you have any recourse, and you do not, neither do I and under public accommodation.

I do have no recourse.

Okay.

So let's talk about African Americans.

They do because they're protected class entitled to.

But I'm talking about, I'm talking about people who do not have a protected class.

But let's talk about what this ordinance does to the African Americans who do have protection.

The African Americans who do have protection under this proposed ordinance, they would come to the city, say, I have been discriminated against, and the city would say, here's the phone number to the Federal Government.

Right.

They would not investigate, they would not take sides.

They would not talk to the violator and say what you did was wrong.

All of that goes missing.

So there is valid things that are missing from this.

And you may not, we may disagree about whether or not having your city stand with you and say you're important to this community and you matter and what was done to you is wrong.

That matters to some of us because it's all we got.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um I I do disagree because I don't think that that constitutes enforcement.

I don't think it constitutes protection, so those two words don't apply.

All right, so let me ask a question.

So you so this is about Joe Hannison, you don't get to ask the question.

So the pulpit.

My point is is that no protections were taken away because the original ordinance did not have any enforcement.

Do you agree with that?

No, I do not.

Not at all.

There, so you think there were enforcement?

Absolutely 100%.

Well, then we disagree.

I think there were no enforcement in the original ordinance.

So the talking to the Mr.

Johannes, violator was sir.

Please hold on, you're asking another question.

You're answering council member.

And I would like to ask the city attorney to address some of the legal claims that were just made.

Let me be before we get into the city attorney doing this, I'd like to ask a question.

Sure.

You know me pretty well.

I know you very well.

And a lot of the folks out here know where my heart is when it comes to supporting all parts of our community.

Absolutely.

We previously went to reinstate our anti-discrimination ordinance after it was suspended.

Did we not?

Yes.

That effort failed.

Correct.

Your desire, if I'm hearing you right, is to do what we've already failed at doing in reinstating the anti-discrimination ordinance.

No, sir.

That's not accurate.

You don't want us to reinstate it the way it was?

What I'm saying is what is being do you want us to reinstate the anti-discrimination ordinance the way it was?

That is not on the agenda today.

What I want this is.

Mr.

Johanneson, I don't want to play words with you.

I'm not playing with this mayor.

Is that what your desire is?

Is your desire for us to reinstate the ant the original anti-discrimination ordinance the way it was?

Yes or no?

You and I both know there's not five votes to do that.

Exactly.

So would we be better suited then to continuously lose a losing battle over and over again, allowing our anti-discrimination ordinance to remain indefinitely suspended?

Or do we get to an area of compromise?

I'd rather think we're definitely suspended than permanently taken away.

Okay.

So addressing the anti-discrimination ordinance in no way, shape, or form you feel is better than doing what we're proposing tonight.

100%.

Yeah, thank you, sir.

Because you will close the door on any passage for the next decade of this year.

Mr.

Buskin, next speaker, please.

Our next speaker is Melissa Brown.

After Melissa Brown is Whitney Rodrigue.

Come on up.

We're gonna be a whole lot easier on you, I promise.

Oh, I can do that to DJ because I I know him.

All right.

It's cool.

So Melissa Brown, I have lived in Arlington off and on since 1990.

Left to Berlin, came back, Orlando came back.

And Arlington is a promising city, but it has it doesn't have teeth.

It doesn't try, it doesn't push.

It could be a great city.

Like we have so much amazing stuff, and I understand that we're in a difficult position.

We can't say that it's FIFA in Arlington.

It's not the Dallas Cowboys, it's the Arlington Cowboys, but you know.

Um, so this is something we can do great at.

Arlington has a perfect score with um last I checked the HRC for human rights organization, which is great.

I don't think Fort Worth does.

And um, so I keep on time.

Um people said, why do we need protections for certain groups?

In 1998, Matthew Shepard was just a nice kid, who cares if he's nice or not?

He was a kid, just out, is at a bar, um, just chilling, not hurting anybody, who's pulled out, tied to a fence, beaten, tortured, and left to die on the fence.

This was a young kid.

Um, I don't know, he's 20 or something.

Um that's horrible.

That's why we need protections for certain groups, because certain groups are targeted.

And when my little brother came out to me in, I don't know, 1998 or 2000 or something, I told him, and like times are changed.

I'm old, I'm like, this is crazy.

Like I was afraid for him.

I said, stay in the closet, like don't like people will hurt you.

And instead, he created um co-created the Gay and Straight Alliance at Martin.

So now they've taken away.

So, anyways, running out of time.

This is why these things are important.

Um people say when will it be enough?

When you ma'am.

Our next speaker is Whitney Rodriguez, hi, my name is Whitney Roderick.

I wrote a speech, but I think everyone said everything else.

Um I want to address some of the questions that were asked.

And part of what is really upsetting is that if it does nothing beyond this, why not show that you care?

Why not show that you protect?

Are the people who live among us, the people who live among my children?

It's very, very sad because the thing that I was just reflecting on when DJ was talking was this.

You asked, well, it can't basically it can't go anywhere from here, but it can do something here.

And I think that idea of the showing our community that you matter and that all of you up here are here to protect the community is important.

That's your job.

That's your role.

And I think why can't we come to a resolution tonight?

Well, there is a reason because we're still going to keep showing up until we as citizens feel like everybody in our community is welcome, feels invited, and most importantly, feels protected by the city council that was elected by us to protect them.

We will continue to be here.

We will continue to be here, and you all won't.

So please think about the people who elected you.

Pause, invite the community in, hold community sessions, listen to us.

Don't continue to go to the back room and bring solutions to us because this keeps happening.

You bring us a solution, we fill the room, we come and talk.

Bring us in before a solution is proposed.

Invite us in.

After Kay Chris Leib is Eason Bart Bertone.

Hold on one second, ma'am.

Councilmember Galante, do you have something?

Want to ask the last speaker?

Whitney, do you mind?

I reach out to almost every single group.

Stakeholder on this matter.

By email, by phone, by social media.

Since the last vote, no one invited me.

No one invited me to go and speak with them.

And I will do it gladly.

And I have members that spoke here today.

During the work session in the afternoon.

And talk to all the council members out there and did not talk to me.

Please do not assume that we don't want to talk to you guys.

And be civil about it.

It will be my honor to hear everybody.

But I want to be hard too.

Am I allowed to respond?

Thank you.

I would say, and when I see your social media and I see the hateful things that you do, it's very hard for me to want to invite you into a space with people that you're attacking on social media.

So that is a very hard space when I see the hateful things that you post on your Instagram.

You show me the hate things that I post.

I will I will gladly email you tomorrow.

I'll walk away.

I have a life, I have a business and family to take care.

What I post is my beliefs.

I never attacked anybody.

You go ahead, please.

And I'll quit.

I will do that tomorrow.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Listen, folks, let's be respectful.

We don't have to agree with each other, but the comments from the gallery cannot be tolerated.

I don't want to run this place like other people do.

I want you to be able to express yourself openly.

But I'd love to be able to hear the speakers.

So if you clap, by all means clap.

But speakers speak after they get done clapping, so I can hear what's saying.

But please don't be yelling out comments like I just heard here in the gallery.

Let's be respectful.

We don't have to agree.

I don't have to agree with counsel up here.

And I don't agree with all of counsel all of the time.

I do have to be respectful and dignified and show love to each other.

And I ask that y'all do the same, please.

Next speaker, Mr.

Buskin.

Our next speaker is Kay Chris Lieb.

After Kay Chris Lieb is Eason Bertone.

Greetings.

My name is Kay Chris Lieb.

It's an unusual name.

Um it's a German name.

Uh it's Christ followed by Lieb.

The word Lieb means love, so the literal transl translation is Christ love.

I used to be very involved in uh Arlington city politics.

In fact, uh I remember when our city manager was a get out of college.

But um, I haven't been involved for about 20 years because I've been home caring for my children.

They're both on the autism spectrum.

In spite of being high functioning, they sometimes act differently.

This caused some people to think they were weird, different, or wrong.

But the truth is they were just different.

They had difficult childhoods because people teased, bullied, and excluded them.

In many cases, they came right out and would say to my children's faces they weren't welcome.

So I spent a lot of years loving them, holding them, and telling them they deserve to be loved and appreciated for who they are.

I think we can all agree the way my kids have been treated is wrong.

Because of this, I have a special place in my heart for people who are generally outcast by society.

People who are wrongly shunned for being different.

When I heard that what my city council was doing to the LGBTQ community, I was appalled.

The LGBTQ community deserves the full representation of the city council.

They deserve to be given all the rights that you and I have.

Please restore the original anti-discrimination ordinance and vote no on this evening's proposal.

I'm a student of history, and I know for a fact that when any group of people marginalizes another group of people, history never looks fondly on them.

So please consider my name when deciding how to handle this issue.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Eason Bertone.

After Eason Bertone is Clayton Waters.

Appeal to moderation or argumentum ad temperantium refers to the flawed belief that the answer to any issue tends to lie not on either side, but rather in the middle.

This ordinance is a compromise and an implicit assertion that rights can be taken away as long as it's only some rights rather than all.

A slap in the face to the LGBT population of Arlington, which is 4% of the total population, or over 16,000 people.

Under this ordinance, the city will listen to complaints of discrimination and do nothing.

Institutions that engage in this discrimination, maintaining their tax exempt status and getting off scot-free while the burden is put on us to learn whatever rights we have left, rather than enforcing the anti-discrimination laws that we previously had.

I urge you to vote no before we backslide again, again and again until 16,000 are eventually left with no choice but to leave their own for their own safety, as that's where this path leads.

I yield my time.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Clayton Waters.

After Clayton Waters is Brittany Garcia Dumas.

Mayor Ross and Council members, my name is Clayton Waters, and I'm an Arlington District 2 resident, a father of two sons, and a community advocate who believes deeply in accountability, dignity, and making sure every voice in our city matters.

The ordinance before you is being called an anti-discrimination ordinance, but names matter less than outcomes.

And the outcome of this proposed revision is clear.

It does not stop discrimination.

It stops the city from responding to it.

The ordinance removes all of Arlington's local civil rights protections and replaces them with education and referrals, as we've heard from previous speakers tonight.

No investigations, no enforcement, no accountability.

That's not protection, that's abdication of our responsibility.

Calling this a compromise is disingenuous.

You open Pandora's box, and now you want to throw the box away.

The original justification for suspending the anti-discrimination ordinance was the claim that it posed a legal risk to the city.

Well, that premise has been debunked.

There is no legal barrier preventing the original ordinance from being reinstated in full.

Activist council members are using this situation to bring culture wars to the center stage of our city, and it's unacceptable.

So the question before us is simple, and one that myself, my kids, and my neighbors deserve an answer to.

If the original ordinance was lawful, effective, and enforceable, why are we not restoring it?

The only people standing in the way are on this dais.

Arlington has always said we value fairness, opportunity, and inclusion, but values only matter when they are backed by action.

Arlington deserves better than symbolic language and hollow protections.

We deserve real enforceable safeguards that reflect our values and protect every worker, every visitor, and every resident.

I urge you to reject this ordinance and restore meaningful local civil rights protections for all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Brittany Garcia Dumas.

After Brittany Garcia Dumas, Sarah Hisson.

Hello, Mayor and Council.

Brittany Garcia Dumas, lifelong resident, born and raised here in Arlington, resident of District 5.

So the original ADO that we had listened to the people and acted on their behalf.

And then late last year we had an ADO that I would say is even stronger.

It listened to the people, acted on their behalf, and said, if we're doing anything that is federally illegal, we won't be doing that anymore.

We had that opportunity, and you voted that down.

This new ADO that is here is playing hot potato with the quality of life of the people of Arlington.

This new ADO that you have put forth before us says the federal government's got it.

I don't believe that any of you believe that.

When was the last time somebody from the federal government asked one of our teachers how they were what they cared about?

Because I've done that in the last 24 hours.

This new ADO that you have brought before us is an abdication of duty.

That is not what leaders do.

That is not what we do here in Arlington.

The people are not asking for much.

Our next speaker is Sarah Hisson.

Good evening.

Um I'm Sarah Hisson.

I have lived in Arlington for 44 years, go 1981.

Um, one of the things I wanted to add to the teeth that this might put.

Um, I can tell you this if DJ Johanneson was discriminated against by a restaurant in Arlington, we would rally the troops, and a lot of people would not be going there.

And what I know speaks to business is patrons who spend money.

Same thing for you, council councilman Boxel.

If we found out someone was discriminating against you for being female, I sure as heck wouldn't go there, right?

As a female, but there is that element of it.

Um I'm speaking as a local therapist who gets the absolute pleasure of serving vulnerable populations.

Um something I've noticed is that some new narratives are being given for why.

Um are concluding that the Arlington Antidiscrimination Ordinance is now unnecessary.

Some seem to believe that it's only for queer persons and excludes them and theirs, which is not true.

Some seem to believe that the Trump administration, if the Trump administration punishes Arlington, the money withheld will not allow us to serve underserved populations.

Neither of these narratives are narratives are accurate, and both are coming from some in leadership on this council.

So here's my ask.

Just be honest about the motivations behind your vote.

Stop painting your queer constituents as wanting anything more than to be treated like human beings worthy of inclusion in your fight against discrimination and stop using underserved populations to falsely justify actions against our queer population.

We cannot misuse one vulnerable population to justify harm to another.

Thank you.

Mayor, that concludes the individuals that we had registered to speak on 11.1.

We also had one non-speaker in support and 17 non-speakers in opposition.

Thank you, Mr.

Buskin.

Council, any other comments.

Councilmember Boxel.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Okay.

In the original ADO passed in 2021, the one that's currently suspended, because there were people here that made some misstatements.

The one that is currently suspended, there were no enforcement mechanisms in that ordinance.

Let me repeat that.

There were none.

There were no enforcement mechanisms in that original ADO.

All right.

I I mean I can just keep repeating that over and over, but there's been a lot of misinformation out there on this topic.

And I think one of the speakers asked us ask us to speak plainly, and I am speaking plainly.

Words matter.

There was no enforcement in the original ordinance.

We can go back to that original uh ordinance if you wish.

There still won't be enforcement there.

We can have the new revised ordinance.

There's still no enforcement there.

So what you're asking for is something entirely different that we haven't even been, it hasn't even been discussed, which I I guess is adding enforcement.

But that's not what we were originally discussing.

We were discussing only whether to reinstate the original ordinance or not.

That was the discussion.

So tonight here we are.

We're sitting here, we've been told that you don't even want the original one, which for months that was the and even tonight, people want to go back to the original one.

That's fine.

I'm fine with that.

But just be clear, there were no enforcements in the original ordinance.

None.

And so we cannot take away something that didn't exist in the first place.

It never existed.

So we can just by logic, we cannot remove something that never existed.

Now, that said, we want to put together a lot of us want to put together a resolution, and we are doing that tonight.

Nobody here on this deal wants anyone to be discriminated against.

And I know that there was a lot, there were claims made about us that you can't possibly know, but you do it anyway.

You make claims about what we want and what we what we don't believe in.

Nobody wants discrimination.

What we're talking about here is legal enforcement, and there was no enforcement.

And there won't be if we go back to the original ordinance either.

That's all I have to say.

Thank you, Councilmember Box.

So Councilmember Gonzalez.

Yes, thank you, Mayor.

Um, I want to thank everybody that's come and spoken to us for for the years, including MISD.

Uh, the hardest part for me is to think that people think they know me.

And when they say that, you know, when when the mayor said, you know me, I care about everybody, and everybody said yes.

And so I guess some of you think that we don't care about everybody, which is so false.

And I know I'm not gonna change your mind and everything else because that's what's wrong with this world today.

We forget how to disagree.

It's either for me or against me.

And that's such a shame, and I don't mean to be harping on that, but this is very, very hard for me.

I've been doing this for 16 years on public service, and this issue has been around since I was on the school board when I was president, and so I'm very familiar with this.

And one thing that I've always said, and everybody that you know does not believe it is gonna just roll their eyes.

But is there anywhere where it says fat people can't be discriminated?

Where am I protected?

Bald people, where am I gonna be protected?

And you look at it like that's not the same.

Hell of it's not.

If I walk into a room with a tall guy like the mayor walks in, and we're both going for a job, he has a better chance of getting it.

It's just the way it is, and I do not discriminate against anybody.

See, and I saw G DJ Rowling say it again.

DJ, you can always come to me and talk to me, you never have.

So I'm just telling you never have come to me.

And people assume things, and that is so sad to me.

You know, I'm here for everybody, and I wish you would really understand, and you can see my social media, it's not about being negative, it's about everybody working together, making things better.

We're all different.

God put us on this earth, and everybody that's nodding their head, including you, you're wrong, and you don't know me, and you're being discriminatory.

You're wrong.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

We've already talked about this.

One more outburst, and you're gonna be removed from the gallery.

That's fine.

Don't point at me then.

I apologize.

Okay.

Thank you.

Sir, sir, you're gonna have to go ahead and step out now.

That's fine.

Folks, I want to respect everybody's First Amendment right to speak their mind, to speak their mind and do it in an orderly fashion.

But we're gonna be respectful.

And I'm sorry, I didn't expect that to happen.

I did not, that's the last thing I wanted to happen, believe me, it made it not my stomach even in a bigger knot.

So I know you don't believe, but I just have to say it.

So thank you.

God bless y'all.

Councilmember Odom Wesley.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, good evening, and thank you to everyone who has come and shared your passions with us, and um, it really touches my heart.

You've heard me repeatedly state here on this dais that I have zero tolerance for discrimination against any group for any reason.

I was instrumental in uh orchestrating the very first anti-discrimination ordinance that passed in 2021.

I voted against suspending it back in September.

I've repeatedly voted against diluting it.

I voted against eliminating it, and I still feel that way.

However, I have seen, and you all saw the 5-4 vote.

We don't have enough votes to reinstate the original ordinance.

We don't have enough votes to pass the ordinance that was presented previously, and I feel like something is better than nothing.

So rather than have no ordinance at all that would support anti-discrimination, I think it's important for our city to make a declaration that we do not support discrimination against any group for any reason.

And this is our only avenue to do that.

And then the next item on the agenda, I'm sure y'all have looked down is a resolution that reinforces that declaration.

So something is better than nothing, even though it's not my preference.

Councilmember Hogg.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you to my colleagues.

Y'all all know how many conversations we've had about this.

And I think every single one of up here is up here.

We've all worked together a long time.

Early days on United Way, all kinds of different things we've worked on.

We're able to have these discussions.

Even when we don't agree with each other, but I know every single person up here wants the best for every person in this city.

Even when the mayor and I disagree on things, Ms.

Hunter, Mr.

Gonzalez, any of us disagree, we all know we're doing it for our right intent of what we believe.

And it says a lot to work with our colleagues.

Mayor, I appreciate how you run a meeting.

I appreciate the things you do for that.

And I appreciate you and I talked earlier how you're willing to fight almost to your fault for people.

And I think everyone should know that from what they're doing from that.

And I appreciate it.

You also know I'm pretty uh transparent on what we have and where we come.

And from the very start of this, when this came about, and we I would say probably no one in this crowd, or even most people on this council had not read that 2021 ordinance.

Um council when that was passed.

And when that was brought up to us by legal from that perspective, I saw it as a governance fail.

I saw it as a piece that had no enforcement.

It overstepped what the local government should be doing.

I've served in a governance capacity for over 17 years.

I've dealt with really difficult issues.

This is up there.

This is really up there and really hard one.

As Mr.

Gonzalez and I have said, we've dealt with this before, serving on separate school boards from what we've done.

And I keep looking at this, and I saw this as an enforceable, and in our discussions, my old colleagues know, and I think most people in this audience know from the last time we voted this down.

I believe this is about a governance decision.

I do not believe an ordinance is the right path for this.

I do not believe an ordinance is effective.

I do not believe it's enforceable, and I believe it gives false hope and false protections to people, especially when we've kept balance that with what legal opinions we've received.

Now, from the start, I've also said, and in a conversation, Mr.

Johansson and I have, who we've known each other a long time and had a lot of really deep discussions over things.

Something he said to me when we were talking earlier was this is about showing a value statement of the city.

And I don't disagree with that.

But where I think that goes in a governance perspective is through a resolution.

Now, if you don't agree with my governance points, that's okay.

Um I don't think an ordinance, even if we brought one back, you're right, I'm not going to vote for it.

But I do believe a resolution is the right path to show that no one should be discriminated against in this city.

So I will be voting against this ordinance, no matter which one comes back up.

Um, and I will support the resolution, as I said uh last time as a council, we talked about this.

Thank you, Councilmember Hogg.

I wrote my comments down because uh this is emotional for me.

I don't know who in the world told me being a mayor was an easy, fun thing.

But Lord, nights like tonight are not easy or fun.

Making these type of decisions bears on me tremendously, as I know it bears on my colleagues up here as well.

Tonight's vote is not about perfection, it's about responsibility.

We all know how we got here.

The previous ordinance was suspended, and despite good faith efforts, the council was unable to fully reinstate it.

And despite good faith efforts, the council was unable to fully reinstate it.

That left us with a real choice.

Continue down a path where Arlington has no active anti-discrimination ordinance at all, or come together around a compromise that restores meaningful safeguards while reflecting the concerns raised by members of this council.

This proposed ordinance and the resolution is that compromise.

Now I won't pretend that it answers every concern or satisfies every viewpoint.

I know it doesn't.

It doesn't answer every concern or satisfies every viewpoint of the members of this council.

But governing is rarely about choosing between perfect options.

More often it's about choosing whether we act to protect our community or allow inaction to become our policy.

Leaving the ordinance permanently suspended would mean telling our residents, our workers, our families, our visitors, that Arlington has nothing on the books affirming fair treatment and equal access.

I do not believe that reflects who we are as a city or the values we strive to uphold.

This ordinance and the resolution re-establishes a clear standard that discrimination has no place in Arlington.

It provides a framework for accountability while respecting the realities of compromise and collaboration.

Most importantly, it moves us forward instead of leaving us stuck.

I respect the differing perspectives around this diocese.

And I appreciate the work that went into finding common ground.

Tonight's vote is an opportunity to demonstrate that even when agreement is difficult, we can still choose progress over paralysis.

I urge my fellow council members to support this ordinance.

Not because it's perfect, but because it is necessary, and because doing something to stand against discrimination is far better than doing nothing at all.

With that, I have a motion from Councilmember Odom Wesley, a second from Councilmember Pham.

Please cast your vote.

And the motion passes.

Thank y'all.

Eleven, I'm sorry, twelve point one.

Elizabeth Kalar.

Good evening.

Before you for consideration is a resolution that condemns discrimination, bias, and hate in the city of Arlington.

The resolution focuses on Arlington's commitment to creating a hospitable and welcoming environment where all individuals can live the American dream.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr.

Buskin, any speakers on this item?

Yes, sir.

We have two speakers in opposition to this item.

Our first speaker in opposition is DJ Johanneson.

Mr.

Johanneson.

Mr.

Mayor, members of council.

First thing I want to say, Mr.

Mayor, I do know you.

And you have been one of the biggest supporters of our community.

I was proud to give you the inaugural leadership award at Pride, because I know how you feel.

You and I disagree about this ordinance, and we'll both disagree, and anybody who knows us knows we're going to disagree.

But I want you to know I know who you are, and we can fight and we'll do that because we're doing what we both believe is right.

But I don't want it to go by without me saying I appreciate everything you've done for our community.

Thank you, sir.

Mayors and members of council, regarding this resolution, this would be a fantastic resolution.

And it would be a great statement of who we are as a city.

If it did not come 35 seconds after stripping Arlington residents of their basic civil rights.

An ordinance, a resolution, is much better than closing the books for people, residents, visitors having no basic civil rights.

So I appreciate the words.

If they had come at a different time, I'd be here to support it.

100%.

But as it comes directly after stripping people of their basic civil rights, it rings hollow, and I have to speak in opposition.

But I appreciate the words I do because they're great.

But coming immediately after stripping people of civil rights, it just rings hollow.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, sir.

Our next speaker is Rojo Mehuero.

Good evening, neighbors, and good evening, Council.

Uh I'm glad I was able to make it.

I almost didn't make it for the for this one.

But uh my name is Rojo Mechuero.

I use Hide Pronounce.

I am here tonight because uh this is an abstract thing for me.

And it is truly personal.

Uh I myself, uh I don't think if I share, I don't know if I've shared this with you all, but uh I myself have experienced discrimination here in Arlington.

It was at my place of in it was at my place of employment as I was a freshman in IUT Arlington.

Uh I remember at the time they brought me to the office and they told me that it was because I was wearing earrings.

It was because I have long hair.

I'm proud to be an indigenous queer American.

I'm proud to be uh two spirit, as we call it here.

And I'm really proud of those things because I understand that those don't define my work ethic.

Those do not define my dignity, those don't define my values that I grew up with, and uh they were gonna still look upon me by my great parents.

I say this to say that um this thing stay with you.

It affects your sense of safety in the city that you love.

It has it uh it affects your sense of dignity, your ability to provide for yourself, and I believe that nobody in this city should have to carry that weight just to earn a living.

If we truly believe in fairness, if we truly believe in loving our neighbors, then we need policies that actually protect our LGBTQ community.

Not symbolic gestures, but truly protections.

And it's it's it's fun, you know.

Like we we see there the American dream is for all of us.

It is for the queer kids growing up in the west side of Arlington.

It is for the trans worker that is trying to keep their job, it is for the families who just want to live openly and safely in the city that they call home.

And I also want to remind everybody out here, because I know I'm speaking to the council, but if you're hearing this, uh, and if you don't agree with the direction this council is taking, you have power too.

Early voting runs April 20th to 28th, and election day is May 2nd.

I hope to see you at your door because I'll be canvassing to elect some only people.

Thank you so much, SB.

Any other speakers, Mr.

Buskin?

No, sir.

That concludes our speakers on this item.

We had two non-speakers in support and 13 non-speakers in opposition.

Thank you, sir.

I have a motion from Councilmember Galante, a second from Councilmember Odom Wesley.

Please cast your vote.

The motion passes citizen participation, Mr.

Buskin.

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 are 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 have one um one individual who registered for citizen participation this evening.

Vanessa's strength.

The strength.

I don't need two minutes now.

Thanks, y'all.

Y'all said everything I need to see, but applied to disabled person protected class and the 1996 act of violence against women.

I am in that I'm a survivor of multiple violent crimes, including a serious degree of discrimination from this city.

What is going on with my dog?

Do you really expect people to think that y'all are capable of caring or living anything if you can't get a service ball dog back to a disabled woman in two protected classes?

I wouldn't again today.

Why did the mayor's office tell me on Friday?

As a Friday, he was picked up four days prior, but the same day of Friday, this past Friday, actually that Jennifer told me to contact would get my dog back if he said he was going to be there at 11 30.

Y'all are asking me of the impossible.

Next time on car, I'm coming hard and heavy.

I better see my dog before them because they're even telling me he's dead.

He's my dog, the world knows he's my dog.

Even the Uber that picked me up from Arlington Memorial.

I may be dying from stomach cancer or something else I gotta throw out there and be exploited by this town.

Y'all need to figure this out.

Any other speakers, Mr.

Buskin?

No, sir.

Thank you.

Council, do y'all have any announcements?

Dr.

Odom Wesley.

Thank you, Mayor.

We were we were saddened to hear this week of the passing of Gina Bibbins.

Gina was the longest serving councilwoman, council person in the Fort Worth City Council.

She was also serving on the National Board for the National League of Cities, and has been a public servant all of her life.

So on behalf of the council, we express our sympathy and condolences to the family and all who loved her and just wanted to acknowledge her public service this evening.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Dr.

Odom Wesley.

She was a class act indeed.

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 WW.arlington tx.gov.

Thank you all.

God bless you for being out here tonight.

This city council meetings adjourned.

Hey, walking just helps everything overall.

It gets your heart pumping, it gets your legs moving.

Um overall your cardiovascular health, especially if you can be consistent, you know.

And really, it's also just to engage our members.

This is the first fitness challenge that we've done it active, and there's going to be more to follow.

But anything we can do to just kind of give benefits to them, uh, get them active, get them moving, and also socializing.

Really, it's community here because I have met so many people since I've been here that I really care about them.

And we have it helps walking go faster because we were talking about just different things, and you know, we're having friendships.

I'm very excited, and I think it's good for everybody.