Bee Cave council amends solicitor-permit rules to bar applicants with assault misdemeanors

The Bee Cave City Council on May 27 voted to approve Ordinance No. 571, amending Article 14, Section 4 of the City of Bee Cave Code of Ordinances to expand the offenses that disqualify applicants for door-to-door solicitor permits to include misdemeanor assault.

City Economic Development and Planning Coordinator Chelsea Jimenez told the council the amendment would add misdemeanor assault to the list of offenses that bar an applicant from receiving a solicitor permit because “since they are going door to door, it's a bit of a safety issue.” Jimenez said she could answer questions about the draft ordinance as presented.

Mayor Kara King said she supported the change, calling it “a good catch,” and noting that residents who see a city permit should be able to feel safe answering their doors. Council discussion was brief and there were no public comments on the item.

A motion to approve Ordinance No. 571 carried unanimously among the members present. Four council members voted in favor; Council Member Kit Crumley was not present for the vote. The ordinance text as presented includes standard clauses for finding of fact, a cumulative clause, severability, and an effective date.

The change modifies the city’s solicitor-permit application requirements to add misdemeanor assault to the list of disqualifying convictions; no other substantive changes were described on the record. The council did not specify implementation details such as retroactivity, appeal procedures, or how background checks will be verified during the meeting.

City staff may publish the ordinance language and an effective date in the city code update and will handle permit-processing details through the city’s existing licensing procedures.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance No. 571 — approved; vote recorded as unanimous among members present (4 yes, 0 no); 1 absent (Kit Crumley).