La Marque council holds off on higher impact fees, approves rezoning, ARPA K‑9 purchase and other items

La Marque — The City of La Marque City Council on April 14 voted to hold off adopting a staff-recommended increase to the city’s water and wastewater impact fees and instructed staff to return with more research, while approving several other items including rezoning requests, use of ARPA funds for the police K‑9 program and an amendment to the minutes that added a $2,666,037.84 balance from a 2018 certificate of obligation.

Why it matters: Impact fees determine how much new development pays to fund water and sewer capacity. Council members debated whether a higher fee could deter builders at a time of regional development pressure. The pause gives staff time to provide alternatives and comparables for council to consider before a final vote.

Votes at a glance

- Impact-fee update (ordinance O-2025-0005): Council voted to hold the recommended increase and direct staff to research alternatives and comparables. Motion passed (3 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 abstention). Staff had presented a study recommendation that would yield a maximum combined water/wastewater fee of $8,448.70 (this figure reflected a 50% reduction the consultant applied under the law); that amount was broken out in the presentation as about $3,593.41 for water and $4,855.29 for wastewater. Council noted the city’s current fee is much lower (the packet referenced $37.07). The council also heard that developments underway would be grandfathered for 12 months under the ordinance as allowed by statute.

- Rezoning ordinances (O-2025-0006, O-2025-0007, O-2025-0008, O-2025-0009): Council…