Keeping up with safety improvements and clean-up efforts throughout the City, especially in the wake of recent damaging storms, can be a tall order.

But Arlington officials have committed to a new citywide beautification plan that will focus on solving common disrepair issues and finding ways to improve the City's overall appearance.

Such visual images as dilapidated fences or falling walls, or in the case of an East Arlington neighborhood, leaning power poles, can negatively affect the perception of the City, officials said.

"It has a tremendous impact on an individual if they come into the City and are looking at buying a home," said Mike Bass, Arlington's assistant director of code compliance services.

Bass called the new effort "a business plan for beautification" and said that it would consider all options to enhance Arlington's aesthetic appeal.

One issue affecting an area east of Collins Street, leaning utility poles, is being addressed by service provider Oncor.

Complaints from residents at a town hall meeting sparked the work.

Arlington resident JaRue Addison said she reported the poles to the City because they have been leaning for some time.

"They keep leaning further and further over," she said.

Oncor officials said that the leaning poles are due to ground shift and that the company has straightened the pole lines in the past. The company is expected to install guy wires, or tensioned cable, to better stabilize them.

Mark Bringhurst, Oncor's director of Fort Worth Region Business Operations, said that Oncor has scheduled crews to begin work on righting the poles.

"Oncor Electric Delivery is working to straighten poles as an ongoing initiative to continually maintain and upgrade facilities in Arlington," he said.

"Oncor works closely with Arlington City officials to respond to citizen concerns and determine the best course of action."

Another area that soon will benefit from City beautification efforts is the downtown Arlington area.

Last month, the City Council approved almost $240,000 for the Division Street Sidewalk Design and Installation Project, which authorizes the City to proceed with the design, right-of-way acquisition and construction of sidewalk and lighting on Division Street.

The council also approved $800,000 for the Division Street Utility Pole Relocation Reimbursement Agreement to relocate and consolidate power lines along Division.

The Division Street Corridor Strategy, an ongoing effort to redevelop the area, consisted of community meetings and recommendations that identified specific steps to support private investment to provide jobs, increase property values and provide an important link between Downtown and the Entertainment District.