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Commission approves package to publish city ordinances online, adopts film-friendly filming guidelines and records ordinance
Summary
The commission approved a multi-ordinance recodification project to publish city ordinances online, adopted film-friendly filming guidelines and designated an interim records officer in a series of votes designed to improve transparency and attract film production.
Rio Grande City's commission voted unanimously to move a large package of ordinances into an online codification system, approved filming guidelines required for a Texas Film Friendly designation, and designated the interim city secretary as records officer.
City officials said the package will make the municipal code and individual ordinances accessible to citizens online for free. Assistant city staff described the change as a transition from what they called an ‘‘older’’ system of paper files to a searchable, publicly available online code.
The commission approved the second reading of an ordinance establishing filming guidelines for Rio Grande City. Staff said the guidelines are required to receive the Texas Film Friendly Community designation through the Texas Film Commission; the designation is intended to boost tourism and economic activity by making the city easier to use for film and media projects.
Councilors also approved a second reading designating the interim city secretary as the city's records keeper and adopting a records-control schedule, a step staff said is mandated by state law and intended to improve public records handling.
The commission handled a long list of related first readings together (a through r in the meeting packet) to move previously adopted and uncodified provisions into the new online system and to restate existing code sections; commissioners asked staff to correct a few typographical references and to separate an alarm-management reference into the appropriate ordinance where the content resides.
Votes at a glance (items approved in this meeting): - Ordinance establishing filming guidelines (second reading) — approved unanimously. - Ordinance adopting records-control schedule and designating records officer (second reading) — approved unanimously. - Package of first-reading ordinances to recodify municipal ordinances (C through R, first readings) — motion to approve package passed unanimously with corrections requested to titles and typographical fixes.
City attorneys and staff said CivicPlus (the contracted vendor) will host the codified ordinances and will offer training for staff and department directors on how to use and update the online code.
No changes to substantive penalties, tax rates or fees were included in the items approved at this meeting; staff said the packet largely restates existing ordinances and moves them into the new system.
