The Parks Board voted unanimously on Nov. 6 to forward to town council the town’s proposed Standards of Care for municipal youth recreation programs, following a staff presentation and an annual public hearing with no public comment.

David Powell, recreation superintendent, and Kimberly Cheek, recreation services supervisor, explained the document is required when a municipality operates elementary-age recreation programs that are exempt from Department of Family and Protective Services licensing under Texas Human Resources Code §42.041. The standards outline staffing ratios, staff qualifications, parent notification that the program is not a licensed childcare facility and safety measures including swim-status reporting for children.

Powell said camps include seasonal holiday and spring-break Explorer camps at the CAC (cap ~36) and summer Explorer and Adventure camps (Explorer cap ~100; Adventure cap ~27 because of daily field trips). He noted a 2023 change requiring parents to provide written information about a child’s swim ability and life-jacket needs; board members confirmed that other recent state emergency-planning laws apply only to overnight camps.

The board opened and closed the public hearing with no speakers and then moved to approve the item “in the caption.” A roll-call vote was conducted and the motion passed unanimously. The recommendation will go to town council for ordinance adoption.