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Irving council sustains point of order, strikes three late addenda submitted on Memorial Day
Summary
Councilman Lamourges raised a procedural challenge to three agenda items submitted on May 26 (a legal holiday); the mayor sustained the point of order and the items were removed from the posted agenda for the May 29 meeting.
Councilman Lamourges raised a point of order at the May 29 Irving City Council meeting, saying three items submitted on Monday, May 26 — a federal and city holiday — were submitted after the council's publishing deadline and should be struck from the agenda.
Lamourges cited the council's rules of procedure and the Texas Open Meetings Act, telling the mayor: "The rules require that agenda items agenda requests be submitted no later than 04:30 on the Thursday, 7 days prior to the meeting." He said the items were submitted late, were new (not continuations or clarifications), and deprived the public and council members of adequate notice and time to prepare.
After Lamourges raised the point of order, the mayor ruled immediately, citing section 4.3 of the council rules: "Therefore, I sustain the point of orders. The 3 agenda items submitted on 05/26/2025, are hereby strucken from the agenda as procedurally improper." The ruling removed the three addenda from the May 29 agenda; the mayor noted the items had not been included in the Friday posting that the public and council rely on.
Why it matters: Lamourges warned the late submissions could risk noncompliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act and undermine public transparency. The mayor's ruling ended debate on the procedural point immediately, as the council's rules require.
Discussion vs. decision: The exchange was a procedural point of order (discussion limited by rule 4.3) and a ruling by the presiding officer; no separate roll-call vote on the point of order was recorded. The council proceeded to the consent agenda after the ruling.
Clarifying details: Lamourges referenced the council's rule 5.1(b) deadline (agenda requests due by 4:30 p.m. the Thursday seven days before a meeting) and cited that May 26 was a federal, state and city holiday. He also cited the 72-hour posting requirement under the Texas Open Meetings Act and referred to Robert's Rules of Order in arguing members require reasonable notice to prepare.
What comes next: The mayor did not return the removed items to the dais; the items were struck from the May 29 agenda. The transcript does not record whether the removed items will be resubmitted later.
