Council at a glance: La Marque amends minutes, approves naming policy, rezones lots, funds K‑9 expansion; tabled impact fee adoption

La Marque — The La Marque City Council took a number of administrative and land‑use actions on April 14, ranging from amending prior minutes to approving purchases funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations. Because many of these items were routine or had limited debate, the council handled them together. Summary of approved items and procedural outcomes follows.

Votes at a glance

- Minutes amendment (financial retreat/certificate of obligation): Council approved an amendment to add the remaining balance from the Certificates of Obligation (Series 2018) to the minutes. Miss Turner read the figures into the record: original principal $6,000,000; remaining balance as of April 11, 2025, $2,666,037.84. Motion carried on the minutes item.

- Naming policy: Council approved an updated city naming policy and directed staff to charge applicants the true cost for changes plus an administrative fee. A motion to approve with “true cost and administrative fees” passed on voice vote.

- Impact fee update (Chapter 42): The engineering department presented an updated impact fee study recommending $8,448.70 (already discounted 50%). Council voted to hold the rate at current levels and requested further research before adopting a new ordinance (see separate article).

- Rezoning ordinances (multiple parcels): The council approved a set of rezoning ordinances to rezone several ABST parcels from LI (light industrial) to R‑1 (single‑family residential). Planning and Zoning had approved the requests at the prior meeting; the council voted in favor.

- ARPA funding for K‑9 expansion: Council approved the use of ARPA funds (up to $41,250 allocated) to expand the La Marque Police Department K‑9 program to provide K‑9 equipment, training and additional dogs to ensure a K‑9 unit available for each shift. The record reflects an allocation not to exceed $41,250.

- Saltgrass Park name: Council approved naming the city‑owned parcel on the west side of town Westside City Park (the item clarified the parcel had not been formally named previously).

- Volunteer background checks: Council tabled action on implementing background checks for volunteers, boards, commissions and committees to allow staff time to draft a proposal and bring it back.

- Waiver of Highland Bayou Pavilion fees: Council approved a parks board request to waive pavilion rental fees for the Southeast Texas Sports Fishing Association event.

Why it matters: These actions set administrative records, adjust city policy for naming and pavilion use, and allocate ARPA funds for public safety resources. They also preserve city discretion on a larger fiscal question (the impact fee update) by asking for more study before a final ordinance.

What’s next: Staff will return with a background‑checks proposal, follow up on the engineering impact‑fee research, and prepare any ordinance language required for rezones and the naming policy.