The Arlington City Council convened on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, with Mayor J. Ross presiding and all nine council members present. The council approved the first reading of the FY 2027 Operating Budget, set the property tax rate via a substitute ordinance, approved the Shops at Viridian development plan, and adopted several public improvement district (PID) and business improvement district (BID) assessment plans.
The City Council approved the majority of the consent agenda, which included 18 minute orders, 2 ordinances on final reading, and several resolutions. Items 8.21 (Shops at Viridian) and 8.24 (Canales Furniture) were pulled for separate votes. Approved consent items included annual requirements contracts for auto body repair (up to $600,000), LED roadway fixtures (up to $250,000), soft body armor for the Arlington Police Department (up to $275,000), overhead door repair (up to $103,625), traffic pavement markings (up to $257,119), and athletic equipment (up to $100,000). The council also approved a seven-month requirements contract for traffic parts and ethernet switches ($144,558), contracts for fleet telematics software ($210,883), and renewals for fire department testing services ($108,235), federal legislative consulting ($135,500), and supplemental vehicle services (up to $5,449,248). Construction contracts were awarded for the 2026 Miscellaneous Sidewalks and ADA Ramps ($1,356,960) and demolition of the Parks Administration Building ($869,745). Other approvals included a merchant payment processing contract, library software maintenance, the purchase of a bucket truck and seven replacement vehicles, and fitness equipment. Final readings of ordinances amended the Elections Chapter and the Health and Sanitation Chapter.
Soft Body Armor Contract: Jimmy Burke of Arlington expressed strong support for the annual contract for soft body armor for the APD, stating the idea provides assurance for police officers during encounters with citizens. Shops at Viridian: Howard Porteus and Vibhor Mehrotra presented the development plan, arguing the 3-acre mid-block site required a retail-focused design and that they would bring high-end tenants. They noted the landscaping would be sustainable via non-potable water. Loch N Green Trail (Zoning Case): Craig Smith, speaking on behalf of his mother Patricia Smith, the adjacent neighbor, voiced strong opposition to the setback revision. He criticized the city's handling of the conflict, stating it was always about the retaining wall, and expressed concern that the development could crater his mother's home property value. Lamar Boulevard PID: Jeff Cassell opposed the updated assessment, questioning the effectiveness of the district's improvements and stating the funds were not visibly benefiting his business. Citizen Participation: Three residents addressed the council on non-agenda items. Jimmy Burke spoke on homelessness. Jamisha Homer raised concerns regarding an interaction with the Arlington Police Department and a lack of follow-up from internal affairs. Larry McFarland criticized the conduct of ambulance personnel who responded to his neighborhood.
Convivium Property Purchase (Item 6.1): The council authorized the city manager to execute an all-cash contract of sale with Convivium Investments, LLC for property at 505 West Abram Street. The motion passed unanimously (9-0).
Canales Furniture Amendment (Item 8.24): Councilmember Gonzalez requested separate consideration of this item. Lyndsay Mitchell, Director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives, presented the First Amendment to the Chapter 380 Performance Agreement. She explained the change switched the performance requirement from total taxable sales to total sales to accurately capture revenue from sales financed through third parties. The council approved the resolution unanimously (9-0).
Shops at Viridian (Item 8.21): The council debated the Development Plan for the Shops at Viridian. Porteus explained that the original PD07 vision from 2007 had proven unfeasible for the 3-acre parcel over nearly two decades. He detailed design revisions including added towers, landscaping, and articulated facades. Several council members expressed reservations. Councilmember Garcia-Dumas stated the plan did not fit the luxury sense of place of Viridian and deviated too far from the original vision. Mayor Ross admitted he was not a huge fan of the design but ultimately voted yes. Councilmember Galante supported the design improvements. Councilmember Ware was a reluctant yes, framing the plan as the best option for mid-block retail. Councilmember Shelton voiced concern about having service-based tenants like dentists in a shopping center planned for destination retail. The developer clarified that premium end-cap spaces would be reserved for restaurants and community-gathering tenants. The motion to approve carried 7-2, with Councilmembers Gonzalez and Garcia-Dumas voting against.
Loch N Green Trail Zoning (Item 11.1): The council considered a PD revision to reduce the side yard building setback from 20 feet to 15 feet 9 inches to allow an expansion by Armstrong Forensic Laboratory. The owner reported a mutual agreement with the HOA to install a live green wall on the retaining wall. Craig Smith raised serious objections on behalf of his 91-year-old mother, arguing the city never directly contacted her despite her being the directly affected neighbor, and that her equity was at risk. Councilmember Hogg made a motion to approve. The motion carried 8-1, with Councilmember Hunter dissenting.
Public Improvement Districts and FY 2027 Budget (Items 11.2-11.6, 12.1): Spenser Slider, Chief Financial Officer, presented the FY 2027 Operating Budget and tax rate for first reading. The council held public hearings and approved first readings of updated service and assessment plans for the Downtown Business Improvement District ($678,775 budget), the Anthem Public Improvement District (year two of a plan with assessments not to exceed 80 cents per $100 valuation), and the Arlington Tourism Public Improvement District (2% assessment on hotels with 75+ rooms). The Lamar Boulevard PID was approved on a 7-2 vote. Councilmember Hogg moved to approve a substitute ordinance for the tax rate, setting it at a combined rate of $0.6298 per $100 valuation (44.46 cents M&O / 18.52 cents I&S). The motion passed 7-2, with Councilmembers Garcia-Dumas and Shelton dissenting.
Other Ordinances (Items 12.2-12.4): The council approved first readings of ordinances amending the Construction, Electrical, and Fire Prevention chapters of the city code (9-0), reversing the one-way direction on Coke Drive near a school to improve traffic flow during pick-up and drop-off times (9-0), and adjusting water and wastewater rates (9-0).
Hey my carrying me and moved it in. Well, good evening, everybody. Welcome to the Arlington City Council Chamber. It is September 8th, 2026, 630 p.m. We're going to get started right away. I'm going to invite Matt Hart from Mission Arlington to come up and give us an invocation, please. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for this evening. We thank you for this gathering of people that love this community and care very deeply about it. And so we pray, God, that that love and that care would always be translated to gratitude to you for what you've done and the way you have blessed this community and carried us through. We pray for unity. We pray for protection and for blessedness, God. We pray and ask that above all that you you would be honored, you would be pleased in who we are as a people and the way that we care for those that you care for, Lord. And so we pray as we care for those that need help that we would keep our eyes open for our neighbors around us, that we would love you with heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Lord, we pray, and we ask all of these things in Jesus' name. Amen. Please join us in the pledge of belief. I pledge the leaders to the flag of the United States of America. Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to the Texas on state under God. One and divisible. Thank you. You may be seated. Ms. Garcia, speaker guidelines and general decorum, please. Thank you, Mayor. We ask that the citizens and other visitors in attendance assist in preserving the order and decorum of this meeting and to provide for attendance at and participation in the meeting without fear of intimidation, threats, or hostility. Any person making personal profane, hostile, slanderous or threatening remarks, who uses vulgar or obscene language, who engages in any other actions that disturb or are calculated to disturb the meeting, or who becomes disruptive while addressing the mayor 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. Speakers may not use music, videos, or other forms of media, signs, or props. During the public hearings for zoning cases, the applicant will be asked to speak first and will be given five minutes to make a presentation. Speakers and supporter opposition of the item will be given three minutes each to make their statements. The applicant will then be given three minutes for any rebuttal. For all other items on the agenda, speakers will be given three minutes to speak. If multiple speakers plan to provide the same or similar comments, those speakers may, if they so desire, designate one or more individuals to provide public comments 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, Ms. Garcia. Do we have any appointments to boards and commissions this evening? Mayor, we have no appointments to boards and commissions. Thank you. We'll move on down to 6.1 consideration of items from the executive session. 6.1 a resolution authorizing the city manager or his designee to execute all cash contract of cell with convivium investments LLC for the purchase of fee simple property rights and land with the physical address being five 505 West Abram Street, Arlington, Texas, Tarrant County, and authorizing acceptance of the conveyance of fee simple property rights. I'm going to recognize Councilmember Pham. Do you have something you wanted to talk about on this? Or did you hit the wrong button? You hit the wrong button. Perfect.