The details
League City City Council voted 7-1 to approve an ordinance creating new regulations for live-aboard vessels, abandoned and derelict vessels and sanitation within city waterways at its Dec. 16 meeting.
According to the ordinance, a live-aboard is defined as anyone who lives on a vessel for more than 10 days within a 30-day period.
Residents must obtain a live-aboard permit from the city and pay an annual fee of $150. The permit application requires the following:
- Proof that the vessel passed a U.S. Coast Guard inspection or a check by a certified Marine Safety Enforcement Officer within 60 days of the permit application
- Written consent for the city to perform a criminal background check
- Liability insurance and 24-hour emergency towing capability, unless a waiver is granted documenting that the vessel can be moved by ordinary means in an emergency
- A daily log on board that documents the vessel's occupancy, sanitation activity and any maintenance issues affecting safety or wastewater management
- Owner-provided written consent allowing the city to remove or relocate the vessel during emergencies or if the permit is revoked and the vessel is not moved within 10 days
The ordinance also increases the city's authority to remove vessels that are deemed abandoned or derelict, according to city documents.
The backstory
In an interview published by the city in November, League City Mayor Nick Long said abandoned boats, which often sink, had become increasingly hazardous for other boats and the general bay area.
Several League City residents said they had seen suspicious activity at Marina del Sol at a Nov. 18 City Council meeting, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
Those opposed
Michael Sample, a live-aboard resident for over five years, said many live-aboards choose to live in their boats because they have a passion to live on the water.
"We could go buy a house, we could go live in an apartment, but we choose to be live-aboards because we live on the water, and that is our passion. And if you do this, you're infringing on our passion," he said.
Sample added that his wife was a former employee at Marina del Sol—a marina that had been criticized at previous meetings for safety concerns—and that she had tried to improve the safety and security of the marina but was unable to do so due to what he felt was poor management.
“It does not stem from the people who live there, it does not stem from the boaters,” Sample said.
What else?
Council member Tom Crews attempted to amend the ordinance to make what he felt would be less burdensome for law-abiding residents while still targeting bad actors.
Crews made a motion to change the live-aboard status from ten to 20 days, grandfather existing live-aboards to mitigate displacement and remove the daily log requirement.
The motion to amend the ordinance failed 2-6.
Quote of note
“It's not here to jam people up over minor engine problems or ... backlog on parts,” Long said. “It is to make sure that we are trying to go the right direction and getting these things livable and getting these things sanitary and getting them safe.”
What it means
The ordinance goes into effect 30 days after it is passed, according to city documents.
Violating the new ordinance could result in fines, permit revocation or even misdemeanor charges, according to city documents.
