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City staff to move code enforcement under police department; certified officers, weekend coverage planned
Summary
La Marque staff proposed reorganizing code enforcement by assigning certified code officers to answer to Chief Franklin (not sworn police officers), expanding weekend coverage and providing notice/court mechanisms rather than routine ticketing.
City staff presented a plan to reorganize code enforcement so certified code officers report to the police department’s chief, with the goal of improving responsiveness and adding weekend coverage. The proposal clarified that code officers would not be sworn police officers and would wear different uniforms and not carry firearms.
Barbara Holly and Chief Franklin explained the reorganization would use certified code-enforcement officers who can issue notices and pursue municipal-court remedies; staff also acknowledged guidance from the Texas Municipal League advising limited ticketing by code officers. "These will be the code officers. It will not be police officers," staff said, adding weekend coverage is expected to help address issues such as roofing and unpermitted work that often occur outside normal business hours. Councilmembers discussed the potential revenue effects observed under previous leadership and urged attention to community policing and fee impacts before final administrative changes.
No vote was required for the administrative reorganization; staff said the changes are administrative and that they will return if council wants formal action or ordinance changes.
