[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6645453,"mediaKeyId","3684263-c4c9bfdc4cf449dcd750f8b2b59e0d06","parentId",3684263,"title","Charter Review Committee releases draft recommendations, urges leaner charter and term-extension plan","audioSeconds",1140,"startMs",3780000,"endMs",4920000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3684263-c4c9bfdc4cf449dcd750f8b2b59e0d06&start=3780&end=4920","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3684263-c4c9bfdc4cf449dcd750f8b2b59e0d06/thumbnail_3780000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6645453/Lago-Vista/Travis-County/Texas/Charter-Review-Committee-releases-draft-recommendations-urges-leaner-charter-and-term-extension-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6645453-e597c12839e529595f61c4bad82f18a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447969&Signature=WqlC7YYiPgSUA7YjKj2KFaYTAZ4v3ZyuEq0caAPRR0ngDV9pZD6faww~pxV0zjUA2JHo-3ADvDDHBQikzVaohYE~GXNljPOGaM2W5EBayqC8EGxlK5tlbDowG62bQ42hYNkLWYNpM8HNhyd5P-1WFgxo6FegsC22emkyWYes-eegrigeDjO5i-lMGfolPpD1~YaAimNK1gpomuJlAYKgD2GC-gcOcn9q8vvRUxTn8Rq-LdM8hJY60SDUV6aDfiFdBzTMCDiMAulER8mnifZnFQIIXaaI-IWzizWl6oXLV8v7sYv-WDLtWrO45qYy8yqG6F4ue3Fj2fwXiOXP1gYpGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lago Vista","date","2025-06-05T00:00:00Z","article","The Lago Vista Charter Review Committee presented its draft recommendations to the City Council on June 12 and said it will continue meetings in June and July before delivering final proposals for council consideration.

Robert Owen, secretary of the committee, said the group followed a ‘‘less is more’’ philosophy and sought to remove obsolete, duplicative and highly prescriptive language from the charter. The committee’s draft contains about 22 substantive items plus cleanups; committee members said many suggested edits are scrivener and standardization changes (for example, standardizing references to \"registered voters\").

Key proposals include changing the mayor and council member terms from two years to three years with a staggered election cadence (described in the committee’s exhibit), requiring majority vote in some citywide elections, and adding a limited set of whistleblower protections for employees beyond existing state protections. The committee also debated removal procedures for council members, proposing options that preserve due process and include lesser sanctions short of removal such as suspensions or loss of voting privileges.

Committee members also recommended clarifying the role and wording for the Building and Standards Commission, which currently exercises quasi-judicial functions in practice but is not explicitly recognized in the charter, and suggested the council adopt language that will align the charter with how boards and commissions already operate.

The committee requested council feedback on the number and grouping of amendments that should go on a ballot. The group also presented sample transition language that would shift council seats to the longer staggered three-year cycle without forcing all offices up for election at once.

Ending: Council members thanked the committee and asked staff and the city attorney to review the draft redlines, clarify which items are substantive vs. scrivener edits, and return recommended ballot propositions and legal language for future meetings. The committee will meet two more times in June and July before delivering a final package.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lago Vista - City Council - Jun 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Charter Review Committee presented draft recommendations that would lengthen mayor and council terms to three years (staggered) and reorganize mayor/council duties. The committee favored a 'less is more' charter and plans further meetings in June and July before finalizing ballot language.","taxTitle","Lago Vista, Travis County, Texas","taxId",69620,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6645458,"City approves staff review of volunteer’s AI ‘grant agent’ pilot to pursue more funding",140,4230000,4370000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3684263-c4c9bfdc4cf449dcd750f8b2b59e0d06&start=4230&end=4370","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3684263-c4c9bfdc4cf449dcd750f8b2b59e0d06/thumbnail_4230000.jpg","/articles/6645458/Lago-Vista/Travis-County/Texas/City-approves-staff-review-of-volunteers-AI-grant-agent-pilot-to-pursue-more-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6645458-9980ca90330d1b82fe820d35bb15485f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447969&Signature=UwORjiOwfuha76CiAk5Xh6EgL07Vj7sNJ3l1biaE81iHtiySMDl5h57pFagWHKfLkfUmi7WlS6wfsLcdoR8VN~muLEdRkrYX-s7Nam93xbw3OBlUV6FyGZrud5LtuAeYd9~ZEKREs~4mBSKWwlskfr-DbooSLl0xjne6S8oEwRqFzCEIzrocZNdRv9iDJF-~64D~wkEw5A0drVRl0o7nM3kleYlbvLxZDkZcNThXYE6FnG3H4cVJgHsGNTdcIyTyVwsJ285qQoP-gprc3-tF9sDSftH2BFNkhCvSjEDVTq5kuE1hAUWooCqMdrA31nt5w26zTlgPOTwEvHVzlbLSuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lago Vista City Council on June 12 authorized staff to explore a pilot using AI-powered ‘‘agent teams’’ to identify and prepare grant applications after a local volunteer demonstrated a prototype for automating grant research and writing.

Michael Reinwald presented a prototype that splits grant work across a set of AI agents: a researcher agent screens opportunities; supporting agents compile budget, community impact and compliance details; a final agent assembles a draft application and a punch list of follow-up work. Reinwald said his prototype produced a draft grant package for a recent parks-related request and calculated a 76 percent chance of success based on the materials available.

Councilor Norma Owen asked the council to permit staff to meet with Reinwald and evaluate whether the city could use the tool, initially to build a “grant department” pilot that would extend staff capacity without adding permanent staff. City Manager and IT staff said they would examine hosting, data and security needs and discuss integration with state Department of Information Resources services if needed.

Council voted unanimously to authorize staff to pursue further discussions with Reinwald, to identify candidate projects (parks and economic development items were mentioned) and to return with a feasibility report and timeline. Council also asked that the pilot evaluate hosting, data privacy, integration with city systems and any procurement implications.

Ending: Council asked staff to coordinate meetings between Reinwald and IT/finance staff and to bring a short feasibility memo and proposed pilot timeline back to council, with a target report date set in July.","Council authorized staff to work with a local volunteer who demonstrated an AI-powered grant-research/packaging prototype that divides tasks among multiple agents; council asked staff to report back with feasibility and a timeline for a pilot.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6645463,"Council grants one permit-fee waiver, tables another after mixed votes",1620,9900000,11520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3684263-c4c9bfdc4cf449dcd750f8b2b59e0d06&start=9900&end=11520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3684263-c4c9bfdc4cf449dcd750f8b2b59e0d06/thumbnail_9900000.jpg","/articles/6645463/Lago-Vista/Travis-County/Texas/Council-grants-one-permit-fee-waiver-tables-another-after-mixed-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6645463-a0dc4f445ab78179c527d2af57652c22/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447969&Signature=TjO9Hz8UFJmViyUukiQDGQtJ78SKq2Mpv64fuLLq~D1SVfzQjo9WjWPFxk1ushwiOsgjoo2gIet75atbyow~fzWVeLO9GWAfrMLZzCS~DeqrMBIP~ycDzta-pSfUuKg5smo2ZfEOD-VWbTLlBRpjLFxE4msc8vkvhdq2OO5qSxvS-ceD~5msyQazoEBqzY26AT06BwUVR6294OZ~~MM0agNsuo514kcIdux9knQHsrTvJFk5-l~pmUjM0PbsKFxtghrPvLSRcXkoFDFXO-gohq5MuPnaT7upES4wUim9yNHDf1MwbUn5LctXLf3U1ljVqRC4ALjOOUKmO5TgRsgnKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lago Vista City Council split on two requests asking the city to waive or refund building-permit extension fees for large custom homes.

At the June 12 meeting the council approved a waiver for a permit at 21313 Cardinal Lane (RFP/project 11783) where the applicant argued the size of the house and floodplain elevation requirements made the one-year permit period impractical. The motion passed 5–1; Councilor Durbin was recorded as the lone dissenting vote.

Separately, the council considered a related request from the owners of 6801 Cedar Ridge asking for a refund of a fee they had already paid. Applicants said a delayed cabinet shipment and other construction dependencies prevented final inspection within the paid extension period; they asked the council to return the third extension fee of $4,087.50.

City staff and the city attorney cautioned the council that the municipal code does not clearly authorize refunds of building-permit fees already collected and that the legal authority for rebates is unclear. City Attorney Brad Bullock advised that the ordinances generally provide for variances in advance but do not contemplate after-the-fact refunds; he warned a court challenge could follow if the city refunds fees without explicit authority.

Following discussion, council first voted 4–2 to deny the Cedar Ridge rebate request, then later reconsidered and voted to table that item for further legal research and to return to council by June 26 with a memorandum detailing whether a rebate or refund is permissible under state law and city ordinance. Council also asked staff to provide the email or written advice applicants reported staff had given them when they paid the fee.

Ending: Council approved the Cardinal Lane waiver and directed staff and the city attorney to report back on whether a refund for the Cedar Ridge permit can legally be issued; the Cedar Ridge request remains on the June 26 agenda pending legal review.","Lago Vista City Council approved a waiver of a permanent permit-extension fee for a Cardinal Lane house, denied and then tabled a similar rebate request for a Cedar Ridge project while staff seeks legal guidance on refund authority.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6645468,"Tesera residents press city over public parkland, bond constraints and HOA costs",0,3600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3684263-c4c9bfdc4cf449dcd750f8b2b59e0d06&start=3600&end=3600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3684263-c4c9bfdc4cf449dcd750f8b2b59e0d06/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","/articles/6645468/Lago-Vista/Travis-County/Texas/Tesera-residents-press-city-over-public-parkland-bond-constraints-and-HOA-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6645468-47461b0a3cfc412dc43deb0b189e4eb3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447969&Signature=eiwO9B2hI7tFUoYGq0CP-~NI24J6r~2~chdsMjUHnKhQnp8qcoDFqcCFSNAnq-HdTXb1tF7TX48hrcf0yRB556Uh-imBeIZSOJZ35k6OjONQvweraua02NIgBpAnd1xhTDpUzcZ~vmiWey2mRzcbpNZYMLA2SQHXTekSgFsFSls1Q0G6lX87dylPCfRv8pB6kaPtEBmtrgQjxX17t5HkOOwMEHtObGMEpaqpNan1LG~c9u518KhA1I4p56g91TyXtc5H5A~lYB6cQeFpwYRu4zY4W1A~l1bV9NQfMx9Mo8PJDaxZ-4EkcTxGlU2Aw3dUduT5Giad5Qj~QKqsC35~sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents of the Tesera subdivision pressed the Lago Vista City Council on June 12 over whether amenities including the pool, pavilion and trails are public parkland or HOA property and who must pay to operate them.

The issue arose after multiple residents told the council they bought homes expecting “amenities” for residents only, but later learned portions of the community’s pool, pavilion, parking and some trails were conveyed to the city and are subject to public access. Residents said disclosure during sales and marketing was misleading and asked the city to seek remedies.

At the meeting, Darlene Luke, a Hines representative, said the developer is willing to work with the city ‘‘to resolve the issue in a way that everybody would...benefit’’ but that legal and tax constraints limit quick fixes. She also asked for meetings with city counsel and staff. Homeowner Robert Donnelly outlined how operation and maintenance agreements assign significant, long-term costs to the HOA even though the majority of the amenities are city-owned public facilities.

Bond counsel and city attorneys told the council the ownership and tax status are legally complicated. Bond counsel said the pool and amenities were financed with tax-exempt bond proceeds and that federal rulings about ‘‘private use’’ of tax-exempt bond-funded property could require using sale proceeds to defease part of the outstanding bond issue before any private conveyance. That defeasance can be expensive and, he said, bonds may not be callable for several years. He also pointed out state law requires voter approval to remove dedicated city parkland from the municipal park system unless limited statutory exceptions apply.

City Attorney Brad Bullock told the council the county records show a scrivener’s error in the deed/resolution conveying the Tesera park parcels; one parcel apparently was omitted in filings even though the total acreage conveyed matched the intention. He said staff and the developer would seek a correction deed and corrected resolution to fix the record.

Several residents urged the council to pursue legal remedies and to involve the attorney general if marketing or disclosures violated consumer-protection laws. Council members asked staff to check prior disclosure documents and PID materials and to report back. Councilor Shane Som said he wants staff, bond counsel and the developer to explore solutions but cautioned the city’s hands are limited by existing financing and state law.

Council direction and next steps: Mayor and council agreed to ask staff, the city attorney and bond counsel to research whether the deed and resolution can be corrected, to assess the tax/bond implications of any conveyance or sale to the HOA, and to return to council with legal options and a timeline. Officials said they will also meet with Tesera residents and the developer and will consider whether to ask the attorney general to review consumer-disclosure complaints.

The council did not take a final vote on ownership or conveyance; members directed staff to report back at a future meeting.

Ending: The council scheduled follow-up work and asked staff to present corrected deed language, legal options on addressing the tax-exempt bond restrictions and suggested outreach to Tesera residents and the developer to attempt an amicable solution. The council also said it would place a follow-up agenda item to update the public on legal and practical options relating to the parkland.","Residents of the Tesera neighborhood told Lago Vista City Council they were led to believe community amenities were private, while city and developer officials said title, tax-exempt bond restrictions and state law limit quick fixes. Council directed staff and bond counsel to research deed corrections and return with options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Charter Review Committee releases draft recommendations, urges leaner charter and term-extension plan

City approves staff review of volunteer’s AI ‘grant agent’ pilot to pursue more funding

Council grants one permit-fee waiver, tables another after mixed votes

Tesera residents press city over public parkland, bond constraints and HOA costs