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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Arlington City Council Special Meeting Summary - October 13, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, October 13, 2026

BodyArlington, Texas

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, October 13, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 4:14:31

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Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

17:09

Okay, good morning, everybody.

17:11

We're gonna go ahead and call the afternoon session of the city council meeting to order.

3:32:26

Okay, we're gonna go ahead and call the afternoon session back to order.

3:32:32

We're gonna move on down to item three point one.

3:32:42

Lemuel.

3:32:43

Thank you.

Speaker 2

3:32:44

Mayor, members of city council, Lemuel Randolph, Deputy City Manager.

3:32:48

This afternoon I have your quarterly enhanced mobility update.

3:32:52

Um, just as a quick reminder, this uh priority was created in twenty thirteen.

3:32:57

Um back then it was known as enhanced regional mobility and changed to

Speaker 3

3:33:02

enhanced mobility

Speaker 2

3:33:04

uh this past year.

3:33:05

You'll notice in this report uh the quantitative measures won't be in here.

3:33:09

Uh we need another month to get those completed.

3:33:12

So this will be really more of a focus on uh project updates.

3:33:16

In addition, at your place, you have this document that lists the ten priorities in more detail.

3:33:23

So if you come up with questions that are specifically related to items outside of the presentation, they're likely covered in in there.

3:33:42

So UTA Boulevard uh to border place, about one point nine miles out of the twenty twenty-five mill and overlay program was completed as well as about one point eight uh lane miles on Burney Road between Green Oaks and the city limits.

3:34:00

Um, and then Russell Curry Road to the between Eden and US two eighty-seven frontage.

3:34:07

And so both of these developments have uh improved the street condition index from yellow to green in the uh first one, and then from red to to yellow, I believe, in the second.

3:34:19

And so you'll see excuse me, that that red one will go to green.

3:34:24

Um you'll see the pictures associated with those.

3:34:32

Back in August, one point five miles.

3:34:35

Um so this is a significant project.

3:34:37

It expanded W Lane from two lanes to four.

3:34:41

Um, all the way from State Highway three sixty to the Mansfield city limits.

3:34:46

It also included new sidewalks, lighting, landscaping, and the like.

Unassigned speaker

3:35:00

And so as you're aware, our OCI index is done on a three-year cycle.

Speaker 2

3:35:03

So every three years or every year, we assess about a third of the streets.

3:35:07

This year we'll be focusing on streets to the north and kind of central Arlington.

3:35:13

That vantage you see on the right has a number of of survey instruments and sensors, and it monitors the road condition index.

3:35:22

And then that is reviewed by our public work staff to verify the actual street conditions.

3:35:29

So information obviously is really critical in assessing the need for our bond program.

3:35:40

So the master plan is being led by Kimley Horn.

3:35:45

And then we'll through that process, we'll be interviewing uh the school communities, neighbors, and the like to assess uh concerns regarding safe routes to school.

3:35:56

Um we in addition have um two campuses that have been approved as part of uh quick build demonstration project uh to take place for the 27-28 school year.

3:36:07

So about 10% of the funding for that is uh coming through this program.

3:36:14

And then regional updates.

3:36:16

Uh the project Nexus uh was one of the projects through the FAA to support our UBTOL efforts.

3:36:24

Um so this will generate real-world operational data to help establish um air mobility integration into the national uh airspace system.

3:36:34

Uh the airport has been identified as one of the North Texas nodes for demonstration of these programs for EVTOL.

3:36:43

And then for electric air aircraft at the municipal airport, uh, we're gonna be having a uh charging station completed by the end of this month.

3:36:51

Um, and so we'll be able to charge those EV talls, um, which are certainly kind of similar to better operated cars, so they're much cleaner, quieter, and we are trying to be kind of in the forefront of that development regionally.

Unassigned speaker

3:37:09

With

Speaker 2

3:37:10

that, I'll be happy to answer any questions from this report or any associated uh mobility uh projects or initiatives that you might be have interest in.

Speaker 1

3:37:19

Any questions, comments for Lemuel Randall?

Unassigned speaker

3:37:23

Yes,

Speaker 1

3:37:23

Councilman

Speaker 4

3:37:24

Hogg.

3:37:24

Mayor, one thing, and Lemuel, thank you all for this and to the whole team that works on this.

3:37:29

I just think we as we all meet with our federal government relations people, we've got to keep into account a lot of this determines on some federal funding that we're getting down either through grants in the state or different things, you know, the streets we have, but some of these things really do matter, and and the federal funds can make a big difference.

Unassigned speaker

3:37:49

Am

Speaker 2

3:37:49

I

Speaker 4

3:37:49

correct on that, Lenny?

Speaker 2

3:37:50

They absolutely do make a big difference.

3:37:52

In fact, uh the W Lane project, and that was some Terrant County bond funds, um, as you're well aware,

Speaker 3

3:37:59

the

Speaker 2

3:37:59

Randall Mill project, significant grant funding.

3:38:02

Um, we could not do as much as we do in the streets uh area without grants.

Speaker 4

3:38:06

Yeah.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████84%

Parking██3%

Housing█2%

Economic Development█2%

Legislative Advocacy█2%

Engineering And Infrastructure█1%

Parks and Recreation█1%

Boards and Commissions█1%

Elections█1%

Summary of Proceedings

Arlington City Council Special Meeting - October 13, 2026

The Arlington City Council held a special meeting on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in the Council Briefing Room at 101 W. Abram Street, 3rd Floor, Arlington, Texas. Mayor J. Ross called the meeting to order at 1:22 p.m. and convened executive session, which continued until 4:30 p.m.; the open session reconvened at 4:40 p.m. The executive session addressed attorney consultation on stormwater maintenance and federal grant compliance, possible property purchases in the Milby Addition, WD Lacy Addition Block CP, WM D Lacy Survey Tract 5C, and Robert R. Ramey Survey Tracts 32A02A and 32A02A3, and economic development incentive offers. Afterward, the council received work-session and issue-session reports. No formal city council votes were taken during the afternoon open session, and the afternoon session adjourned at 5:19 p.m.; the evening session was scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Discussion Items

Council Priority - Enhance Mobility (Work Session 3.1)

Deputy City Manager Lemuel Randolph presented the FY2026 third-quarter update. The priority was created in 2013 as Enhanced Regional Mobility and was renamed Enhance Mobility this past year. Quantitative performance measures were not yet available, requiring about another month.
Completed projects included approximately 1.9 miles of mill-and-overlay on UTA Boulevard to Border Place, about 1.8 lane miles on Burney Road between Green Oaks Boulevard and the city limits, and Russell Curry Road between Eden Road and the US 287 frontage, with improved street condition index ratings.
W. Lane was expanded from two lanes to four lanes for about 1.5 miles from State Highway 360 to the Mansfield city limits, including sidewalks, lighting, and landscaping; it used Tarrant County bond funds.
The city's pavement condition index is assessed on a three-year cycle, with north and central Arlington streets evaluated this year; staff use a survey van with sensors and field verification by Public Works. Kimley-Horn is leading the mobility master plan, including interviews with school communities about safe routes to school. Two campuses were approved for a quick-build demonstration project for the 2027-28 school year, with about 10% of that funding coming through the program.
Regional air mobility updates included Project Nexus through the FAA, the airport's selection as a North Texas node for EVTOL demonstration, and an electric aircraft charging station expected by the end of October.
Councilmember Hogg emphasized the importance of federal and regional funding; Randolph agreed, noting that grants significantly expand street project capacity.

FY2026 Floodplain Program Annual Reports (Informal Staff Report 4.1)

The annual evaluation reports for the Floodplain Public Information Plan, Repetitive Loss Area Analysis Plan, and Substantial Damage Management Plan were available from Public Works. No council questions or comments were offered.

Community and Neighborhood Development - Single-Family Shared Rental Update (4.2)

Councilmember Hogg, committee chair, reported that the committee met October 7 and will meet again October 27. Staff proposed ordinance modifications including: requiring at least one living room of no less than 120 square feet per dwelling unit; requiring bedrooms to be at least 100 square feet and 10 by 10 feet; adding ingress/egress requirements for bedrooms and bathrooms; limiting the number of bedrooms that can be added during alterations based on home size; limiting garage conversions for homes built before 1984; and limiting each single-family rental property to one lease.
The committee supported moving the modifications forward for council consideration. It also reviewed single-family rental registration programs used by other cities but decided more time was needed. Planned outreach includes the Arlington Board of Realtors on October 30 and a community town hall. Staff will bring example floor plans to the October 27 committee meeting. Hogg said the target effective date for changes is February 1, 2027, with public hearings.

Municipal Policy - Honorary Naming and President's Corner Facility Naming (4.3)

Councilmember Gonzalez reported that the Municipal Policy Committee reviewed the facility naming policy adopted in 2019 and amended in April 2021 and January 2023. The committee reviewed naming opportunities in the President's Corner neighborhood in North Arlington, where streets and developments are named after U.S. presidents, and agreed to focus on five or six deceased presidents not yet represented in Parkway Central Park.
Councilmembers may submit naming suggestions within the next 30 days. The committee will bring recommendations by the end of the year. A proposal to unname facilities received no committee support. Members emphasized that a honoree's name should fit the facility or location.

Economic Development - Tax Abatement Policy Update (4.4)

Councilmember Galante reported that the Economic Development Committee met in the morning with a full quorum. The committee discussed the city's tax abatement policy, which is up for renewal every two years under state law, and voted to renew it; staff is not recommending changes. A formal item is scheduled for the October 27 council agenda. Ongoing economic development incentive negotiations were discussed in executive session.

Arlington Housing Finance Corporation Update (4.5)

Councilmember Hunter, chair, reported that the Arlington Housing Finance Corporation met in the morning with all members present and approved an amendment to the regulatory agreement for an apartment property that had been discussed over several meetings.

Appointments and Evening Agenda Items (4.6, 4.7)

There were no appointments to boards and commissions on the evening agenda, and no discussion of evening agenda items.

Mansfield ISD Single-Member Trustee District Resolution (4.8)

City Attorney Molly Shortall presented a resolution approved the prior day by the Mansfield City Council, with one member absent, for council information. She said Mansfield ISD can proceed with the change if it acts within the required time before the next election, targeting the May election.
Councilmember Gonzalez spoke against single-member districts. He said about 38% of Mansfield ISD students live in Arlington, that three town halls drew mostly opposition (he estimated 98% opposed), and that trustees appeared determined to move forward. He expressed concern that single-member trustees would focus only on their own districts.
Councilmember Garcia-Dumas cautioned that there are Mansfield residents on both sides of the issue and disputed the 98% opposition figure. Councilmember Hogg, drawing on his school board experience, said single-member districts often lead to lawsuits and greater individualism. Councilmember Pham said the city should not get involved and that voters can remove school board members.
The mayor concluded there was no council consensus to bring a resolution forward; councilmembers could express their views individually.

Downtown Parking (4.9)

City Manager Trey Yelverton said downtown has a parking problem, particularly around City Tower and the Urban Union area across the railroad tracks. New parking inventory is expected with the Trammell Crow development, a voter-approved pedestrian crossing over the railroad, and potentially a future parking facility in the Urban Union area.
Council discussion focused on technology-based parking management, maintaining free or time-limited visitor parking, and not turning downtown parking into a revenue generator. Councilmember Garcia-Dumas noted that downtown businesses and form-based code parking requirements make the issue urgent, and mentioned a Downtown Arlington Management Corporation study tour to 'Old Pasadena' and other cities.
Yelverton said staff would bring back options and ideas for engaging downtown businesses in late 2026 or early 2027.

Issues Relative to City and TxDOT Projects (4.10)

No discussion.

External Committee, Training Reports and Discussion (4.11)

Mayor Ross reported on the U.S. Conference of Mayors 2026 Mayors and Police Chiefs Meeting in San Diego with Police Chief Jones, where Arlington's Real-Time Crime Center and drone program were highlighted. At the USCM Fall Leadership Meeting, discussions focused on upcoming elections and possible conference locations; a Medal of Honor leadership cohort is planned in Arlington in April.
Councilmember Gonzalez reported on the National League of Cities Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations Committee meeting in September, including budget training videos for new council members. He was invited to be a discussion leader at the 2026 City Summit on improving civic conversation; the next NLC meeting is October 15.
Mayor Ross reported on the Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition Board meeting, including a presentation by TxDOT Fort Worth District Director David Salazar on regional planning and the I-30 project, which has about $125 million in funding being prioritized between the east city limits and Cooper Street.
Councilmember Gonzalez reported on the Regional Transportation Council meeting October 8, which approved a one-time merit payment for Michael Morris, applications to the Federal PROTECT grant program, the regional bike safety action plan, the 2027 Transportation Alternatives call for projects, and the legislative program for the 90th Texas Legislature. The RTC was renamed the Regional Transportation Council, North Central Texas Metropolitan Planning Organization. The next RTC meeting is November 5, and a Dallas-Fort Worth high-speed rail meeting is scheduled in November.

Future Agenda Items (4.12)

Councilmember Pham requested a future agenda item for a resolution regarding Yaakub Ira Vijandre, described as a DACA recipient detained by federal agents in Georgia. The mayor asked staff and legal to provide a report before considering the item.
Councilmember Garcia-Dumas requested a report on historical home preservation, including an inventory of historic homes and areas and current protections, noting that East Arlington residents are exploring a conservation district overlay.
Councilmember Gonzalez requested an update on Wallbox Company.

Key Outcomes

No formal city council votes were taken on the afternoon agenda; all items were reports, discussions, or committee updates.
The Community and Neighborhood Development Committee will return proposed single-family shared rental ordinance modifications for council consideration, with a target effective date of February 1, 2027.
The Economic Development Committee will advance renewal of the tax abatement policy, with the formal item scheduled for October 27.
Facility naming recommendations for President's Corner will be developed; councilmembers have 30 days to submit suggestions.
The Arlington Housing Finance Corporation approved the regulatory agreement amendment during its morning meeting.
Staff will bring back downtown parking management options and engagement proposals in late 2026 or early 2027.
No council action was taken on the Mansfield ISD single-member district resolution; councilmembers may communicate individually.
Future reports were requested on the Yaakub Ira Vijandre case, historical home preservation, and Wallbox Company.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, good morning, everybody. We're gonna go ahead and call the afternoon session of the city council meeting to order. Okay, we're gonna go ahead and call the afternoon session back to order. We're gonna move on down to item three point one. Lemuel. Thank you. Mayor, members of city council, Lemuel Randolph, Deputy City Manager. This afternoon I have your quarterly enhanced mobility update. Um, just as a quick reminder, this uh priority was created in twenty thirteen. Um back then it was known as enhanced regional mobility and changed to enhanced mobility uh this past year. You'll notice in this report uh the quantitative measures won't be in here. Uh we need another month to get those completed. So this will be really more of a focus on uh project updates. In addition, at your place, you have this document that lists the ten priorities in more detail. So if you come up with questions that are specifically related to items outside of the presentation, they're likely covered in in there. So UTA Boulevard uh to border place, about one point nine miles out of the twenty twenty-five mill and overlay program was completed as well as about one point eight uh lane miles on Burney Road between Green Oaks and the city limits. Um, and then Russell Curry Road to the between Eden and US two eighty-seven frontage. And so both of these developments have uh improved the street condition index from yellow to green in the uh first one, and then from red to to yellow, I believe, in the second. And so you'll see excuse me, that that red one will go to green. Um you'll see the pictures associated with those. Back in August, one point five miles. Um so this is a significant project. It expanded W Lane from two lanes to four. Um, all the way from State Highway three sixty to the Mansfield city limits. It also included new sidewalks, lighting, landscaping, and the like. And so as you're aware, our OCI index is done on a three-year cycle. So every three years or every year, we assess about a third of the streets. This year we'll be focusing on streets to the north and kind of central Arlington. That vantage you see on the right has a number of of survey instruments and sensors, and it monitors the road condition index. And then that is reviewed by our public work staff to verify the actual street conditions. So information obviously is really critical in assessing the need for our bond program. So the master plan is being led by Kimley Horn. And then we'll through that process, we'll be interviewing uh the school communities, neighbors, and the like to assess uh concerns regarding safe routes to school. Um we in addition have um two campuses that have been approved as part of uh quick build demonstration project uh to take place for the 27-28 school year. So about 10% of the funding for that is uh coming through this program. And then regional updates. Uh the project Nexus uh was one of the projects through the FAA to support our UBTOL efforts. Um so this will generate real-world operational data to help establish um air mobility integration into the national uh airspace system. Uh the airport has been identified as one of the North Texas nodes for demonstration of these programs for EVTOL. And then for electric air aircraft at the municipal airport, uh, we're gonna be having a uh charging station completed by the end of this month. Um, and so we'll be able to charge those EV talls, um, which are certainly kind of similar to better operated cars, so they're much cleaner, quieter, and we are trying to be kind of in the forefront of that development regionally. With that, I'll be happy to answer any questions from this report or any associated uh mobility uh projects or initiatives that you might be have interest in. Any questions, comments for Lemuel Randall? Yes, Councilman Hogg. Mayor, one thing, and Lemuel, thank you all for this and to the whole team that works on this.

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