ARLINGTON -- For several years, the Arlington City Council has gathered at City Hall to decide natural gas drilling requests for both public and private land. On Tuesday, members will decide whether to lease the minerals for the city-owned land beneath their feet.

Arlington is seeking a natural gas lease for about 43 acres of public land downtown, including City Hall, the Central Library, Ott Cribbs Public Safety Center, and Gene Allen and George Stevens parks. If the proposal is approved, the city will begin taking bids next month, Real Estate Manger Roger Venables said.

The 43-acre deal would also include the City Tower Parking Garage, the Fire Prevention Building, the Human Services Center and other tracts. Arlington has received about $5,500 per acre in bonus money for leases on similar-size parcels over the past two years, Venables said.

The city has 5,941 acres of public land under lease with about 985 acres available for lease, Venables said.

Also Tuesday, the council will vote on an oil and gas lease with Chesapeake Exploration L.L.C. for just over 14 acres of Northwest Green Oaks Boulevard right of way and other nearby tracts.

The council will also vote on whether to authorize a pipeline license agreement with DFW Midstream Services to build a low-pressure natural gas pipeline through the Matlock Road and George Finger Road rights of way and other city property, according to the evening council agenda.

Susan Schrock, 817-709-7578

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