Humorseo.

Human, so I don't really know anything.

I think it's not anything else.

Welcome to the Arlington City Council meeting.

We're going to go ahead and call the council meeting to order.

I'm going to ask Greg Key from the renewed life church to please come forward for the invocation.

Please rise if you can.

Thank you, Mary and Council.

Let us pray.

Thank you, Father God, for your blessings as we are able to gather here tonight celebrating two hundred and fifty years as a country, a hundred and fifty years as a city, and before this memorial day where we recognize those who've fallen so that we could have this freedom today.

Touch those children.

From the smallest to the most important in this city, God.

I played the leaders to the flag of the United States of America.

And to the Republic for which it stands on a nation under God.

Honor the Texas flag.

I pledge allegiance to the Texas.

Thank you.

You may be seated.

Okay.

Thank you, Mary.

Good evening, everyone.

I'm Jake Warren, the director of the other.

I didn't see so many young faces in our audience tonight.

Some of you are here as a part of our celebration of our 150th anniversary, our Cesquest centennial.

And we started this year with the pledge that not only will we celebrating the entire 12 months of 2026, but it will be also celebrating all 99 square miles of our university and all the pockets of our community.

We've been participating in a bookmark contest.

Every sixth grader in the entire horizontal independent school district was invited to participate in this program.

And we have a lucky seven winners that are here with us tonight.

Now, why the number seven?

Well, because we have seven libraries in our system, and we wanted to recognize each of those libraries.

And so we have seven winners from our sixth grade that are here today.

Let me have them come up.

Jeremy, Thomas with our team here, is going to present them with that you can see kind of the unveiling of their artwork.

So first we have Hanena Aldana with Barry Elementary.

Very nice.

Very nice.

We have Garrett Hosier from Little Elementary.

We have Cecilia Trent also from Little Elementary.

So our other way that was able to join us tonight is Ariana Woods from Sharon Elementary.

I also want to recognize Ashley Martinez from very elementary who was not able to be with us, but we're so thankful that you all were able to join us here tonight.

I know the school year is wrapping up.

This is a busy time.

I'm excited to have you here.

Also, I recognize Lynn.

When Lynn Becker in the back, he helped us organize all the time.

So what is this going to be?

Well, each of these bookmarks will be reproduced.

You'll find them in all seven of our libraries starting June first.

And if you want to collect all seven, well, that means you have to go to all seven libraries.

So we hope that we would invite you to take part in that uh as we celebrate not only our anniversary, but celebrate the amazing artistic work of our sixth graders here at AISD.

Thank you so much, everybody.

We close to each other, something like a picture here.

Parents, teachers, if you all need to move around, feel free to move around.

You can take your artwork with you.

Thank you.

Brittany Clark, I saw you in here somewhere.

Where'd you go?

Oh.

Yeah, I knew you moved around in there.

Are you ready to do that?

I'm going to go.

Thank you.

Hi, everybody.

Thanks for coming tonight.

So I have the wonderful honor for the 25th year of the Sherry K.

Part Animal Essay Contest to welcome Sherry K.

herself for her to announce the winners of this year's contest.

So Sherry, if you will come on up.

Let them stand just to the side of you.

Okay, got it.

All right.

So this is the as Britney has said, this is the 25th year of the issue of I just say the animal essay contest.

And it was really uh the dream of Alan Sachs.

He approached me in my first year as a council member back in 2000.

And he really wanted he and Alan was always very vocal about animals.

He was also very vocal about his dislike of children.

And he said, I want to teach the children how to teach the treat the animals in an early age.

And so I accomplished two things.

I do something good for the kids and do something good for the animals.

And so that's how it began.

I never envisioned 25 years later, we would still have a group of winners.

And so I'm delighted.

We've learned a lot from these kids and their essays because this is not something that's graded.

You know, it comes to us, we want to hear what they think about the topic.

So we have three rinners for all four grades.

So we have a total of 12 winners, first, second, and third for all four grades.

So, and they get a lot.

Everybody gets a hundred dollar savings account, uh compliments of EECU and of Spring Creek Barbecue, who underwrote it years ago.

And so we keep that going forward.

They all get a Kindle fire.

This year, Spring Creek even gave them a for 25 years, gave them a gift certificate to go to his barbecue place.

So it's been a great thing, a great journey, and I'm very proud of it.

So, but without further ado, because they have business to end to, and these people need to go home.

Thank you.

So, first I will call for the third place winner.

Let me get a little bit of assistance here called glasses.

All right.

So Jameson Glass, Jones Academy, Miss Zelena, Miss Davis.

Yeah.

Let me get out of.

Let me get this way.

Okay, got it.

Thank you.

Second place, Daniela Alvarez from Goodman Elementary.

Miss Sipes.

Thank you.

And Mayor Miss Sipes, I believe, is retiring very soon.

So thank you for your involvement all these years.

We very much appreciate it.

Silvio Lopez, St.

Maria Haredi, Miss Guterres, is Miss Uttendorf.

Good.

Thank you.

Fourth grade, third place, Eugenia Wynn, St.

Joseph Catholic School.

Thank you, Eugenia.

Second place also from St.

Joseph Classic School is Audrey Kirchan.

And first place, Reese Miller from St.

Joseph Catholic School.

Thank you.

Fifth grade, third place, Madeline Palament Palmetter.

Did I pronounce that correctly?

Close enough.

Children's University, Valerie Grant, and Julianne Reed.

And Regina Wright.

Thank you.

Second place, Frankie Leach from Duff Elementary, Julianne Reed, Sean Knott, Cindy Harvesting.

Thank you.

And first place, Penelope Stalls St.

Joseph Catholic School.

Thank you for me.

Third place, sixth grade, third place, Aya Osman from Butler Elementary, Miss Bryan.

Thank you.

Second place, Dev Parick, Butler Elementary, Miss Bryant.

And who's the one I'm not talking about?

Miss McNair, the principal.

Oh, I shouldn't forget the principal, right?

Okay.

Thank you.

And first place, Pat Pox Lott from Arlington Classics Academy, Miss Bullington, and others.

And parents.

And parents.

Yes.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

That concludes it.

Rick Ripley, where'd you run off to?

There you go.

Is Rick not here?

Jency.

You're filling in.

We have one proclamation here tonight.

Whereas Building Safety Month provides an opportunity to recognize the vital contributions of building safety professionals.

Helps if I put my glasses on.

Including code officials, fire prevention personnel, architects, engineers, builders, tradespeople, and laborers who work year-round to ensure the safety and resilience of our build environment.

And whereas these dedicated professionals uphold the highest standards through their collaboration with the International Code Council.

Advancing model codes that safeguard our homes, workplaces, schools, and public spaces.

And whereas modern building codes play a critical role in protecting communities from natural hazards, such as tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and severe weather, while promoting sustainability, energy efficiency, and long-term resilience.

And whereas the City of Arlington is served by code officials whose work on an average of 900 plan reviews and 4,000 inspections per month ensures that major developments, including e-space at Arlington Municipal Airport and along Nolan Ryan Expressway, as well as new hospitality investments in the entertainment district are constructed safely and responsibly.

And whereas the 2026 theme, Safety for all, building Codes in Action, calls upon all residents to recognize the importance of safe construction practices, disaster preparedness, and the growing career opportunities within the building safety profession.

Now, therefore, I Jim Ross, Mayor of the City of Arlington, do hereby proclaim May 2026 as building safety month.

They all left, didn't you?

We ask that the citizens and other visitors in attendance and 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 or 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 this 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, or other forms of media signs or props.

During public hearings for zoning cases, the applicant will be asked to speak first and will be given five minutes to make a presentation.

Speakers in 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 iss 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 city council.

Thank you, ma'am.

Do we have any appointments to boards or commissions this evening?

We do, mayor.

We have two appointments to boards and commissions to the Arlington Housing Finance Corporation, Tom Ware, place two, Brittany Garcia Dumont, place three.

Thank you.

Do we have any speakers on these items?

We have no speakers, Mayor.

Thank you.

I have a motion from Councilmember Gonzalez.

A second from Council Member Pham, please cast your vote.

The motion passes.

Consideration of items from the executive session, Miss Garcia.

Items 6.1 to 6.4 resolutions authorizing the settlement of negotiations for fee simple title for the following properties.

Approximately 278 square feet at 501 West Division Street, approximately 627 square feet at 704 East Division Street, approximately 614 square feet at 200 West Division Street, and for approximately 1,350 square feet at 800 816 and 808 East Division Street, Arlington, Texas, for the public use of sidewalks and landscaping improvements for the Division Street Text Lots Sidewalk, Cooper Street to Collins Street Project.

Thank you, Ms.

Garcia.

Do we have any speakers on this item?

We have no speakers.

Thank you.

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

Please cast your vote.

The motion passes consideration of minutes.

We have the minutes for the May 5th, 2026 afternoon and evening meetings.

Thank you.

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

Seeing none, Miss Garcia, do we have any speakers on this item?

We have no speakers, Mayor.

Thank you.

I have a motion from Councilmember Hogg, a second from Council Member Pham.

Please cast your vote.

The motion passes consideration of the consent agenda, please, Miss Garcia.

The consent agenda this evening contains six-minute orders, one ordinance, and 13 resolutions.

The minute order seek to authorize one and two annual requirements contracts for environmental consulting services and for milestone video management system maintenance repairs and support services.

Three architectural services contract for the redesign of the city secretary's office at City Hall.

Four engineering services contract for the demolition of the parks administration building 717 West Main Street.

Five buyout purchase of lease personal computers and related equipment.

Six purchase and installation of audiovisual hardware, software and related services for North Police Department Substation.

The ordinance seeks to authorize seven zoning case PD 21-28R1.

Harmony Court 800 Debbie Lane.

The resolution seek to authorize.

Yes, Mayor.

We have a speaker for item 8.10.

Jimmy Burke.

Come on up, Mr.

Burke.

Thank you again, Mayor and Council.

Um Jimmy Burke of 4104 Staplewood Court, my mailing address.

Homeless in Arlington.

Saw this agenda item on the ledger, and I had to give a couple of comments on it.

Is just from a cursory reading.

I mean, if I'm reading it correctly, I really am supporting this because it probably won't surprise you that I believe there's more to fixing the homeless situation than fiscal responsibility alone and what the government, if I may, can provide rather than removing barriers to doing that.

I think it's good to have, since we already have it on the table, an isolation of factors here to figure out what's gonna work and once and for all find out here, and hopefully this has been going on for a long time.

But as you know, I'm new to the scene here myself, so I think the good news is y'all probably have some past feedback, but we need to find out how much that's gonna help, because I believe if I'm looking at it correctly, it's a it's a looking, it's a research block grant or a grant looking into fiscal policy for housing.

Okay, fair enough, because I think we need to isolate factors, kind of like an somebody alerted to something in their diet.

Well, until we we've isolate what it is and get and not do a grouping of all the factors at the same time, we're not gonna go know what's causing the problem nor the fix.

But I also believe whether we can do it as subset of this grant, and y'all know y'all know more than I do how much that would convoluted if we add stuff because whatever the case, or a separate way of researching other factors that you've heard me talk about for you know a couple of months now on helping out the homeless situation.

Since this is on the table, of course, already, and y'all know way more about it than I do, of course.

Sure, let's go ahead and look into that and find out over the next year what that feedback will tell us on a policy level, if again if I'm reading it correctly.

But I also believe that we need to have the right people that may not seem that are not part of the official people, if I may, give input, whoever that is, of different ideas within this the strategy of the grant, because you know me, I don't wanna throw too many things in the woodworks that are outside the box.

But I just wanted to give a couple of statements on what I saw there about it.

I like the idea of the grants.

This is already in motion.

Let's isolate those factors, and then that'll give us feedback one way or another in a reasonable amount of time as we're also working on the other factors.

Thank you all so much.

Thank you, Mr.

Burke.

Any other speakers, Miss Garcia?

Mayor, we have two speakers.

We just have one non-speaker in support of item 814.

Thank you, ma'am.

I have a motion from council member Vellante and a second from Councilmember Ware.

Please cast your vote.

The motion passes eight point one eight point seven.

Miss Garcia, any speakers on that one?

We have no speakers, mayor.

Thank you.

Uh Councilmember Hunter, did you have anything new to add on that one, or you just want to do separate consideration?

Thank you, ma'am.

Can I get a motion and a second, please?

I have a motion from council member Odom Wesley and a second from council member Pham.

Please cast your vote.

And the motion passes.

Citizen participation, please.

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, 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.

Saida Sayed.

Miss Sayed, I don't see her in here tonight.

Okay.

Next speaker.

Mr.

Burke, I see you next.

Come on back up here.

Remember from last time you wanted to be on the way down already?

Well, I appreciate you remembering.

Yes, sir.

Hello again.

Homeless to the American Dream Part 7.

You know, I've been thinking about what to share today, and I might as well share the story in the old testament of a holy Bible about Shamma and the pea patch.

If you remember, you know, it's fairly well known the story of when David defeated Goliath and the Philistines.

Well, the Philistines were an internal foe.

So we can take that for what it's worth.

But in the after in the aftermath of that, when David was hiding away in the cave in shame and all that, one of his mighty men was Shamma.

And what they would do, the Israelites, they would plant their peas and then cultivate them.

And then in the right season, the Philistines would come in and steal them.

And of course, the oppression was relentless.

And they would just let it happen.

Until one day Shamma said, Enough's enough.

I left this P patch my last time.

And I share that illustration because it's a reminder that sometimes the homeless situation that needs to be fixed, is that somebody was homeless because they never were allowed due process to defend themselves against the legal activity that forced them to be homeless in the first place.

So we need to just remember that that needs to be in our arsenal, if I can use that word too.

Because in my case, it really was that so many things were taken from me, including fraudulent, corrupt landlords, including here in another state too.

And I think that we have to remind ourselves that there's due process because I was forced to leave the pea patch, and I can't find another one on my own.

So we need to consider.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, sir.

Vanessa Strength.

And next will be Miles Carsh Smith.

In the mighty name of Jesus, don't hear my words, hear God's will.

Okay, I'm here tonight to demand accountability for gross failures that have deeply impacted my life and the safety of my community.

This marks the ninth time I have stood before you over the past two years and still nothing is being done.

Several months, well, a couple months ago, I was sexually assaulted in the park right here.

The initial report was falsified by the officer involved, and I had to go down to the records department myself too to correct it.

Following that, I filed a complaint with internal affairs about the detective on the case.

Yet I've heard absolutely nothing for two months, despite them having my contact information and and a duty to act.

Furthermore, my dog clutch was stolen in a coordinated conspiracy.

Anthony Garza used his resources at a veterinic to illegally alter the microchip information to keep my dog from me.

Three individuals worked together to pull this off, which is a petrol crime.

That's a conspiracy against somebody's rights.

The failure to act on these matters constitutes a deprivation of rights under color of law violating 18 U.S.

Code Section 242 points to a conspiracy against rights under section 241, reflecting systemic issues akin to 42 USC section 1983.

If my experiences do not serve as proof of systemic targeting, then it leaves only two possibilities.

Either this council acknowledges a pattern of neglect that extends to others in the city, or you must explain why I am uniquely subjected to this treatment.

I'm not on the last one.

In the name of the most merciful, the most compassionate, I'm honored that you would hear me speak today.

And that you would give me the chance to talk about something that is weighing heavily on my mind and my spirit.

My government name is Miles Cars Smith.

I'm currently a resident of the neighboring city, Grand Prairie, Texas.

And I'm known by the moniker Imam of the Look Awesome.

And I'm currently bringing to you and making bringing attention about the case of Yaqub Ira, which was a who was a resident of the city, who was a resident who was a model of what it meant to be a perfect American.

He was a hard worker, he paid his taxes, he did everything that he could do to live in this nation under the laws and the regulations that are found to be moral and just according to the people that live here.

Yet, his rights were forsaken, and he was taken and kidnapped and put into a detention facility.

So I'm going to ask that this city and its representatives stand true on true moral justice standards and make a statement together that you will stand by his right to be freed from this oppression and be made free and allowed to enter this country as someone who is legal.

He was already in process, but that was stripped from him.

So I ask all of you today to really take into consideration moral justice.

To really take into consideration what this country was founded on, which was the American dream, which was what?

To allow this place to be a refuge for every single person that needed it.

This land was founded by people who sought refuge.

And he was seeking refuge like many of those people.

So please look into your heart and allow this man to be freed from these terrible conditions that are found in these places, to once again walk amongst the people, and to have honor as a human being who deserves the rights to be treated as such.

I see my time.

I'm here today to request immediate release of Yakub Ira from ICE detention.

Yakub Ira is a poet, photojournalist, first responder and human rights activist.

He was kidnapped by ICE at gunpoint on October 7th while being a Dhaka recipient.

He has now been in unconstitutional detention for 225 days, over seven months.

Conditions in these detention centers are cruel and only worsening.

There are detention centers that give detained people foul-tasting drinking water, rotten food, and inadequate health care.

There are little to no religious accommodations.

Muslim people are being denied access to the Quran, provided no prayer mats, and have been given small portions of food while they fast that do not meet their nutritional needs.

Imagine your loved one being in a detention center, subject to face these horrors.

Empathy is vital to the current landscape of the human condition.

I attend the same poetry club as Yakoub.

For months, ever since his attainment, we have written him letters that speak from our hearts so that he knows his community loves him and eagerly awaits for his return back home.

He writes back to each person that writes him a letter.

And take action so that he may be free and return to his family, friends, and community that love him so deeply.

Can you hear me?

Okay, my name is Carolina, and I have a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

I've a teaching certificate, so I'm not a dummy.

But one thing I want to let you know about me is that I really like the constitution and I love this country.

And this is this is a constitution that allows citizens to complain about the government without fear or retaliation.

And y'all took an oath to it.

All y'all took an oath to it.

So when people come to you with problems, you're supposed to serve them using the constitution without your personal feelings coming into play.

So that's why I find it really weird that y'all criminalize or degrade the person coming to you with the complaints about someone doing something criminal.

I mean, that makes y'all, if you don't do anything about it, that makes you all criminals yourself.

That's just very strange for me.

And um Ronald Reagan was saying, was quoted as saying, trust but verify.

And you're trusting what those in charge of the police department are telling you and not verifying anything.

Recently, a young man, he's a YouTuber has been coming here complaining loudly.

He's rude, he's demanding, he's been going to offices, he's been filming y'all, and he is rude.

He's been really loud and demanding.

And but you made him to be the bad guy instead of the people that he's complaining about.

None of you have gone to verify anything about his story.

And one reason that you may not be verifying anything is because most of y'all had your campaigns paid for by the police unions and police groups.

So they're the ones that got you elected, right?

So why would you want to, you know, risk your job by going against the police because you back the blue?

And I guarantee you that all these police that do the misconduct and the misdeeds, and the DA, who also accepted money for his campaign and 100,000 from Donald Trump, refused to, he refuses to prosecute the police.

And and you guys are up there looking the other way.

All you all are gonna maybe sleep very well at night because none of you all will ever be held accountable.

That's a good reason.

Not you're not gonna be held accountable, so why should you even help any of these people that came up here to ask you and help with their problems?

That's it.

Oh, forget your camera.

Let me put y'all on YouTube too.

Let me make y'all get a lot of views.

Because I'm a YouTuber too.

Because it's the only way we can complain.

Thank you.

Miss Garcia, any other speakers, ma'am?

We have no other speakers, Mayor.

Council, do y'all have any announcements tonight?

Councilmember Gonzalez.

Yes, Mayor.

I'd like to let the people know I want to congratulate Timberview High School for winning their first state championship for track.

Uh, the Timberview Boys 5A track team won the state championship this past Saturday, and there'll be a celebration tomorrow at Timberview High School at 6 30.

Everyone's invited.

Any announcements on this end?

Seeing none, Miss Garcia, 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 all for coming out here tonight.

City council meeting is adjourned.

My dad served in the South Vietnamese and after uh 1975 when the North uh companies took over.

Uh they put my dad in prison camp for seven years.

After he got released, and the U.S.

government came over and you know they brought our family over here.

You know, we came here with nothing.

Arlington provide us an a huge opportunity to uh rule our life and especially that we live close to the uh university of Texas in Arlington.

We call UTA.

That's the plus.

That's why all of my brother and sister we came to UTA and we graduate from