Charter Review Committee adopts final draft, forwards recommendations to City Council

The Lago Vista Charter Review Committee voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to adopt a final third draft of the city charter and will send the draft and a transmittal letter to City Council for consideration at its Feb. 19, 2026 meeting. Chair Linda Ayred opened and closed the meeting and led the committee through final edits and votes.

The committee debated and then kept a new provision that would bar any appointee from serving on more than one quasi‑judicial body — specifically the Board of Adjustment, the Planning & Zoning Commission and the Building and Standards Commission. "No appointee may serve on more than one of the quasi judicial bodies," the committee read aloud from the posted draft during discussion; supporters said codifying that restriction in the charter would make it harder for a future council to reverse. Jean Harris moved to keep the provision as written; the motion passed 4–1.

Members also argued over whether the charter should explicitly require a comprehensive plan. Supporters, citing the risk that ordinances could be changed by a future council, urged codifying the comp plan to preserve long‑term development guidance. Opponents warned that mandating a comp plan in the charter could create cost and timing obligations for staff and volunteers. After clarifying that the motion addressed section 12.14 (comprehensive master plan: purpose and effect), the committee voted to retain the comprehensive‑plan language in the charter, 4–1.

The committee reviewed language in Article 12 that would have applied a monetary penalty tied to political‑activity rules. Members questioned whether putting a fixed dollar penalty in the charter could conflict with future statutory penalties. The committee voted unanimously to delete the $500 penalty amount from the draft; members left the broader criminal‑penalty language for later review.

After resolving line‑numbering, formatting and a handful of scrivener issues, the committee voted unanimously to adopt the full third draft (articles 1–11 as finalized, with article 12 inserted as agreed) and approved a transmittal cover letter naming working contributors. Robert Owen, the committee secretary, said he would deliver the packet and a streamlined presentation to City Council. The chair said the committee would remain available for special meetings if council asks for follow‑up.

The committee recorded its formal motions and votes on the minutes; the packet presented to council will include section and line references and a short presentation of highlights. The council meeting to which the committee will transmit the charter is scheduled for Feb. 19, 2026; final council action and any ballot timing remain with City Council and are not decided by the committee.