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Council approves first readings to ban bikes/e-bikes on fields and raise unsupervised pool minimum to 14 to match state code
Summary
Council approved first readings of ordinance changes that would add bicycles and e-bikes to park motor-vehicle restrictions for turf/field areas and update municipal pool age rules to align with Texas public pool code (minimum age 14 to be at a city pool without an adult). Council voted to advance both items to a subsequent reading.
A city parks staff member told the council the proposed ordinance amendment would expand the city’s prohibition on motorized vehicles in park turf and field areas to explicitly include "e-bike and bicycle" damage, citing recurring incidents of damaged sod and irrigation. "We are recommending, or motion to approve the first reading of this ordinance change to include e bike and bicycle in the ordinance," the staff member said; council clarified the change is aimed at fields and irrigated turf rather than into sidewalks, paved trails or areas specifically designated for bikes. The council approved the first reading. Separately, staff proposed amending the municipal code for public pools to match state minimums: the current city ordinance allowed children 8 and older to remain at the pool without a guardian, while the Texas public pool code and Texas Administrative Code set the minimum at 14. A staff member summarized: "The minimum for state, Texas public pool code and Texas administrative code is 14 years old. And so we're just looking to bring this in the up to the state code." Council moved and approved the first reading of the pool ordinance amendment. Both items passed first reading and will return for a subsequent reading and potential final adoption.
