Shane Saum
Councilmember
Councilmembers,
After speaking with Chief Boshears, staff and council members, I have updated the draft ordinance for Agenda Item 12 on Daily Citations. Please use this draft to work from on Thursday and not the one that is in the packet.
This updated ordinance reflects input from multiple stakeholders:
Key Takeaways:
Feel free to reach out with any questions or ideas — this is a living process, and I’m committed to thoughtful enforcement that reflects the values of Lago Vista.
After speaking with Chief Boshears, staff and council members, I have updated the draft ordinance for Agenda Item 12 on Daily Citations. Please use this draft to work from on Thursday and not the one that is in the packet.
This updated ordinance reflects input from multiple stakeholders:
- Chief Boshears asked that we retain daily citation authority for severe or ongoing cases, particularly for commercial actors. He shared that the PD already practices restraint with homeowners, always issuing a warning and offering time to fix the issue before citations are given. We've now codified that practice into law.
- Development Services staff pointed out that our current contractor registration system hasn’t had teeth. This new version empowers the city to tie contractor registration to code compliance, allowing us to suspend or revoke registration for repeat offenders — and to publish compliance reports.
- Several City Council members wanted to ensure that individual homeowners are treated differently than developers, and that we avoid criminalizing ordinary folks who just need a heads-up and time to fix things.
Key Takeaways:
- Homeowners must receive at least one written warning and a chance to fix the issue before daily citations can even be considered.
- Developers, builders, and businesses can receive daily citations only after a notice period and if they are registered (or required to be registered) under our contractor program.
- The city can now suspend or deny permits to repeat violators who are contractors or developers.
- We've authorized the publication of Developer Violation Reports and Contractor Compliance Reports so citizens and Council can track what’s being done.
Feel free to reach out with any questions or ideas — this is a living process, and I’m committed to thoughtful enforcement that reflects the values of Lago Vista.