Lago Vista council corrects Turnback Trail agreement, authorizes city manager contract and approves several other measures

Lago Vista City Council members on Wednesday instructed the city attorney to amend a development agreement for the Turnback Ranch (Dodge Trail/Turnback Trail extension), authorized the mayor to negotiate and execute a contract for a new city manager and approved a set of other routine and community items, including park naming and public-art installations.

The changes to the Turnback Ranch development agreement address a mistaken statutory citation in the agreement and were adopted after the city attorney told council the developer and staff agree a single-line amendment would correct the legal reference. City Council also voted to authorize the mayor to negotiate and execute a contract for a new city manager within parameters discussed in executive session. Other council actions included approving an alternate public art piece proposed by Keep Lago Vista Beautiful, adopting a request to name the green space adjacent to the library “Library Friends Park,” and adopting an amendment to the municipal pool fee schedule.

The Turnback Ranch amendment is procedural: the change replaces an incorrect statutory reference in the development agreement that governs conveyance of property for the new roadway entry and clarifies the legal authority for that conveyance. The pool fee ordinance raised certain daily resident rates but left other membership/punch-pass items unchanged following council discussion. The council also referred a proposed policy framework for reviewing dormant Planned Development Districts (PDDs) to the Planning & Zoning Commission for further work, with a specific set of evaluation bullets struck from the draft before referral.

Actions and votes at a glance - Turnback Ranch / Turnback Trail development agreement amendment — Motion: “instruct the city attorney to amend the development agreement as discussed in the executive session and authorize the city attorney to describe what that amendment would entail.” Mover: Councilmember Prince; Second: Councilmember Roberts. Outcome: Approved, 6–1. Council discussion included a detailed explanation by the city attorney that the existing agreement incorrectly referenced Texas Local Government Code 253.001 and that parties agree the proper statutory reference is Texas Local Government Code 272.001(b)(4). The council vote was recorded as 6 in favor, 1 opposed.

- Authorization to negotiate and execute contract for a new city manager — Motion: “we authorize the mayor to negotiate and execute a contract for new city manager within the parameters as discussed in executive session.” Mover: Councilmember Prince; Second: Councilmember Benfield. Outcome: Approved unanimously.

- Referral of draft policy framework for reviewing dormant PDDs to Planning & Zoning Commission — Motion to refer the draft framework posted on the city message board, with an amendment to remove three evaluation bullets from section 3 of the draft. Mover: Councilmember Roberts; Second: (recorded). Outcome: Approved, 6–1 (one dissent). The referral directed P&Z to draft a stand‑alone ordinance based on the framework and to identify any properties on the staff list they believe warrant immediate council consideration; council instructed staff to seek verification/evidence of activity from owners for properties on the list prior to P&Z action.

- Approve alternate art piece (Keep Lago Vista Beautiful) — Motion by Councilmember Benfield; second by Councilmember Owen. Outcome: Approved unanimously. Staff reported the art piece had been purchased and would be installed if council approved.

- Rename green space adjacent to the library “Library Friends Park” — Motion by Councilmember Prince; second by Councilmember Owen. Outcome: Approved unanimously. Staff noted the city will maintain the site and that prior donors did not require name recognition.

- Ordinance amending the municipal pool/public use fee schedule — Motion to adopt ordinance in packet amending certain daily-use resident rates. Outcome: Approved 4–3. The three dissenting councilmembers said they preferred deferring changes until after a full season of operation to establish a usage baseline and questioned whether additional fee items (punch passes, season passes) should also be adjusted.

- Consent agenda (minutes and updated council work plan) — Approved unanimously.

Why it matters The Turnback Ranch amendment resolves a drafting error that, left uncorrected, could have created legal ambiguity about the statutory authority for transferring property to a private association for a public roadway. The city manager authorization concludes the executive‑session hiring process with direction to complete a contract. The dormant‑PDD referral signals council interest in a formal, transparency‑oriented review process for long‑inactive entitlements that can affect infrastructure planning, while the irrigation, wastewater and fee discussions (addressed elsewhere on the agenda) reflect near‑term operational choices with fiscal implications for water reuse and city facilities.

Looking ahead Council directed staff to prepare follow‑up materials and legal review where needed: recordation of deeds tied to past dedications (discussed elsewhere on the agenda), verification of PDD activity for owners on the staff list, and drafting ordinance language following the P&Z review. The Turnback Ranch amendment will be drafted and described by the city attorney as authorized by the council before being executed.