Over the next eight months, Arlington residents will have a chance to have their voices heard on the city\u2019s hot-button issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The first in a series of 12 town hall events focused on the city\u2019s future \u2014 with six topics for residents to weigh in \u2014 will take place at the Bob Duncan Center on Oct. 1.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mayor Jim Ross, who created the town halls, said he hopes anyone who is somewhat interested in Arlington issues will attend the events.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are coming for the purpose of a great exchange of dialogue, so that we can educate each other from our different perspectives and then do those things to make our community better,\u201d Ross said.<\/p>\n
Ross announced the series in a social media post<\/a> on Sept. 14, inviting residents to the events he wrote would give them a \u201cdirect voice on the issues that matter most to our community.\u201d<\/p>\n The events will address six topics, each with two town halls devoted to the theme and spaced a few months apart:<\/p>\n Ordinance changes, including the antidiscrimination ordinance and vaping rule changes. Ross said the topics were chosen based on the amount of feedback city staff and council members received on each subject. He acknowledged that not every issue made it onto the list for the events, but said there could be changes made to topics or even additional town halls in the future, if needed.<\/p>\n For the scheduled town halls, Ross said the city will bring in outside representatives and city staff to speak on the subjects.<\/p>\n \nTown hall schedule\n<\/p>\n For example, a representative from TotalEnergies, a French energy company that operates gas wells<\/a> in the city, will attend the environmental issues town halls, Ross said. During the transportation town hall, Arlington Police Chief Alexander Jones will discuss Flock cameras, he added.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll bring in staff members, whether it is parks and rec, the police department, fire department, city attorney\u2019s office, anybody who\u2019d had a role in doing some of these things we\u2019re doing,\u201d Ross said.<\/p>\n To register for any of the town halls, click here<\/a>. It is not required for entry, but is encouraged. Residents can also submit their concerns or questions on the topic beforehand, but it is not required, Ross said.<\/p>\n When asked if the conversations during the town hall will lead to effective change, Ross said he hopes the conversations can inform him of the different perspectives of residents and increase trust in local government.<\/p>\n \u201cMy goal on this is to nurture the relationship between city hall and the community,\u201d Ross said. \u201cThere\u2019s so much distrust in all forms of government nowadays. \u2026 People have a distrust of community leaders or politicians \u2014 I want to bridge that gap. I want to create an environment where they\u2019re saying to themselves and others, \u2018Arlington will face you face to face, and they\u2019ll tell you here\u2019s the good, the bad, what we can do, what we can\u2019t do, and why we can do it and why we can\u2019t.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re gonna hear honest, open dialogue in Arlington, and (the city) is going to include its community in how we shape the governing of Arlington,\u201d Ross said.<\/p>\n Chris Moss is a reporter for the Arlington Report. Contact him at chris.moss@arlingtonreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nEnvironmental issues such as gas wells and data centers.
\nTransportation issues, including the current Arlington On-Demand system and the use of Flock cameras in the city.
\nPublic and private responsibility, including discussions of private roadways, creek erosion and dams.
\nHousing and homelessness issues, including Texas Senate Bill 840, short-term rentals, multifamily housing and homeless accommodations.
\nBeautification and nuisance issues, including homeless encampments, panhandling, trash pickup, graffiti removal and beautification efforts.<\/p>\n