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City code overhaul moved to next meeting after board fails to suspend rules
Summary
City staff presented a full replacement of the Texarkana code of ordinances, but the board did not secure the two‑thirds vote needed to suspend rules and complete third reading; the third/final reading was rescheduled for the August 4 agenda.
City staff said the city’s code dates to 1983 and includes obsolete provisions and drafting errors; staff proposed a cleaned-up, consolidated replacement with minor fee adjustments.
Heather (city staff) summarized changes and said the draft corrects grammatical and charting errors and updates fees such as court costs. The board read the ordinance in title for the first and second readings. A motion to suspend the rules for third reading and final adoption did not secure the two-thirds threshold required for the emergency/suspension clause, and the mayor announced the third reading will be held at the board’s next meeting (August 4).
Assistant Mayor Harris recorded a dissenting vote on the proposed emergency/suspension (he said he thought it required five votes), and the board elected to defer final adoption rather than proceed without the supermajority. Staff said the full code will return for third reading on the next agenda.
