Lago Vista council approves contracts, annexation-related consent, grant requests and service agreements

The Lago Vista City Council on March 6 approved a series of resolutions and contracts covering legal services, developer consent for a municipal utility district, short-term rental monitoring software, and several planning and infrastructure items.

Key actions included authorization for the city manager to execute a contract for Brad Bullock of Messer Ford PLLC to serve as city attorney; council consent for creation of a municipal utility district (MUD) for Firefly Cove LLC and ratification of the related MUD consent agreement after negotiated edits; award of the short-term rental monitoring and compliance RFP to Deckard Technologies; and direction to staff on multiple airport and transportation items.

Votes at a glance - City attorney contract: Motion to authorize the city manager to execute a contract for Brad Bullock of Messer Ford PLLC as city attorney. Mover: Councilmember Roberts; Second: Councilmember Prince. Outcome: approved unanimously. - Firefly Cove MUD creation (Resolution 25-2114): Motion to consent to creation of a municipal utility district for Firefly Cove LLC. Mover: Councilmember Benfield; Second: Councilmember Som. Tally: 5 yes, 2 no (Councilmembers Roberts and Durbin opposed). Outcome: approved. - Ratification of Firefly Cove MUD consent agreement (agenda item 10): Motion to approve consent agreement with the amendments agreed in open session. Mover: Councilmember Benfield; Second: Councilmember Owen. Tally: 5 yes, 2 no (Roberts, Durbin). Outcome: approved. - Short-term rental monitoring (RFP 24-10): Award of RFP to Deckard Technologies and authorization for the city manager to execute the agreement, with the vendor agreeing to delay invoice until implementation. Outcome: approved unanimously. - Surplus property (Resolution 25-2119): Declared assorted municipal equipment and vehicles surplus and authorized disposal. Motion carried; vote: 6 yes, 1 no (Councilmember Som opposed). Outcome: approved. Council directed staff to report back on an asset-management approach. - Water master plan (Resolution 25-2120): Final version of the water master plan adopted. Outcome: adopted by consent by unanimous vote. - Library art piece (Resolution 25-2115): Council approved installation of an art piece at the Lago Vista Public Library. Outcome: approved unanimously. - Friese Nichols engineering contract for lift station rehabilitation: Council authorized the city manager to execute a contract for engineering services for lift station design and bidding in the amount stated in the agenda. Vote: 6 yes, 1 no (Councilmember Benfield dissenting on final motion). Outcome: approved. - CapMetro service and transparency: Two resolutions were approved — one requesting CapMetro expand service to all areas of Lago Vista and the other requesting quarterly financial reporting on CapMetro fund usage. Both passed unanimously. - AAB representation (Resolution 25-2116) and liaison appointment (Resolution 25-2121): Council designated the airport advisory board chair and liaison as the city’s representatives on airport matters (resolution passed 5–2); council also appointed Councilmember Salm as the new AAB liaison (unanimous).

Context and next steps Council members and staff described several of the votes as steps toward larger workplans: the MUD approvals contain negotiated assignment and lender provisions developers agreed to in open session; the Deckard contract was awarded after demos and a staff recommendation; and the lift station design authorization is the first step toward a planned multi-station rehabilitation project. Several motions included direction for staff to return with follow-ups, timelines or detailed plans (for example, a request that staff report back on fleet asset management and the surplus process).