Council approves hotel-tax rules, TCEQ permit update and 5.8% water rate increase

The Aransas Pass City Council on Jan. 6 approved a series of administrative and budget-related items, including an updated notice of intent to operate a citizen's collection station, new guidelines for hotel-occupancy tax awards, an amendment to the city code to align HOT spending with state law, the rescheduling of a January meeting and an automatic water-rate increase.

City staff presented the revised Texas Commission on Environmental Quality notice of intent that would expand the materials accepted at the city's citizen collection station. "We're going to add, along with the furniture and yard waste, brush, commercial waste in small quantities, recycle material like metal, and household waste," Marie David, city staff, told the council. David said the change also adds tires to the list so the city's permit remains in compliance with TCEQ…