Arlington City Council Regular Meeting - June 9, 2026

The Arlington City Council met on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 6:32 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, 101 W. Abram Street, and adjourned at 8:36 p.m. The meeting included special presentations, approvals of appointments and minutes, a consent agenda with one pulled item, four public hearings, and a first reading of ordinance amendments. Key decisions included approval of a zoning change for townhomes near existing gas wells, denial of a multifamily development along US 287, and approval of two gas well expansion permits with modified drill zones.

Consent Calendar

• Appointments to Boards and Commissions (5.1): Approved unanimously (9-0) – Mark Caffey, Jaimin Patel, and Mauricio Galante to the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau; Brittney Garcia-Dumas to Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number One.
• Minutes of May 12 and May 19, 2026 (6.1): Approved unanimously (9-0).
• Consent Agenda (Items 7.1–7.15, 7.17–7.39): Approved unanimously (9-0), except Item 7.16 which was pulled for separate consideration.
  • Key consent items included renewals for street sweeping ($311,383), temporary personnel services ($2,500,000), multiple construction and engineering contracts, vehicle purchases, and grants for World Cup traffic barricades, FIFA World Cup reimbursement, water/wastewater interlocal with Mansfield, School Resource Officers ($3,657,590.06), Hometown Recruiting Officer ($151,014.04), Texas Parks and Wildlife grants ($1,500,000 indoor, $750,000 outdoor), drinking water and infrastructure grants (up to $6.65M and $35M), homeland security grants ($3,174,872.28), FEMA firefighter grants, and development agreements for the Anthem redevelopment of Lincoln Square.
• Zoning Case PD25-22 (1120 Debbie Lane & 8380 Glenn Day Drive) (7.16): Approved 6-3 (Mayor Ross, Councilmembers Gonzalez, Ware, Pham, Hogg, Odom-Wesley in favor; Galante, Hunter, Garcia-Dumas opposed). The ordinance rezones the property to Planned Development for Residential Medium-Density-12 and Community Commercial uses with a development plan. Speakers expressed opposition citing proximity to existing gas wells and health concerns.

Public Hearings – First Reading Ordinances

• 10.1 – Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number One Term Extension: Unanimously approved (9-0) to extend TIRZ No. 1 from 2038 to 2058 to fund downtown improvements. No public speakers.
• 10.2 – Zoning Case PD23-06R1 (Autumn Parc, 1915 & 1921 West Arkansas Lane): Unanimously approved (9-0) a revised development plan reducing units from 57 to 51 and increasing tree preservation. One speaker supported; none opposed.
• 10.3 – Zoning Case PD26-03 (Campbell Place, 6710–6608 US 287 Highway): Motion to approve failed 4-5 (Mayor Ross, Councilmembers Hunter, Garcia-Dumas, Odom-Wesley in favor; Galante, Gonzalez, Ware, Pham, Hogg opposed). The proposal to rezone to Planned Development for Residential Multi-Family-22 (78 units with a pre-K facility) was denied after the council determined it conflicted with the comprehensive plan. Speakers included applicant and supportive comments about affordable housing and pre-K.
• 10.4 – Specific Use Permit SUP08-15R1 (Stoner Drill Site, 4151 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive): Approved 7-2 (Mayor Ross, Galante, Gonzalez, Ware, Pham, Hogg, Odom-Wesley in favor; Hunter, Garcia-Dumas opposed). The permit allows five new gas wells within a reduced drill zone (46 ft x 6 ft). Multiple public speakers opposed, citing health impacts, proximity to schools, and cumulative pollution. Six speakers registered in support.
• 10.5 – Specific Use Permit SUP07-17R1 (Landing Drill Site, 4801 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive): Approved 7-2 (same vote as 10.4) allowing four new gas wells and use of a temporary frac pond, also with a reduced drill zone. Speakers opposed cited risks to children at nearby schools and disproportionate impacts on communities of color.

Discussion Items

• 11.1 – Amendments to the Transportation Chapter (First Reading): Approved unanimously (9-0). The ordinance updates definitions from “Neighborhood Electric Vehicle” to “Low-Speed Vehicle” to align with federal standards, amends pick-up/drop-off restrictions during special events, and adjusts trolley operations. No public comments.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Consent Agenda (7.29 – Homeland Security Grants): Dan Sullivan (Dallas, TX) opposed the grant, arguing it increases local police ties to DHS and cited the case of Yaqub Aira, a DACA recipient held by ICE for eight months for his political views. The item was nonetheless approved as part of the consent agenda.
• Item 7.16 (Zoning PD25-22): Five speakers opposed the development, citing proximity to existing gas wells, health risks, and tree ordinance loopholes. One speaker supported.
• Items 10.4 and 10.5 (Gas Well Permits): Multiple speakers opposed, including representatives from Livable Arlington, Public Citizen, and the Sierra Club, who cited asthma rates, ozone nonattainment, and cumulative health burdens on East Arlington (77% people of color). Supporters included the applicant and mineral interest owners.
• Citizen Participation: Two speakers addressed the city council: Susan Latimore requested repair of a deteriorating brick wall and enforcement of truck parking rules; three speakers (Tasmina Landra, Abira Mohammed, Yusuf Sheikh) urged the council to pass a resolution calling for the release of Yaqub Aira, an Arlington resident detained by ICE. No council action was taken on these topics.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved 39 of 39 items (one pulled item voted separately).
• TIRZ Extension: Approved unanimously; term now ends 2058.
• Autumn Parc Revised Development Plan: Approved unanimously.
• Campbell Place Rezoning: Denied on a 4-5 vote.
• Stoner Drill Site Expansion: Approved 7-2 with a reduced drill zone (46 ft x 6 ft).
• Landing Drill Site Expansion: Approved 7-2 with a reduced drill zone.
• Transportation Chapter Amendments: Approved unanimously on first reading.
• Total Voting: All council members were present and voting on all items.