ORDINANCE NO. 147

PERTAINING TO: LAKE SAFETY

11/11/97

DATE PASSED:

EFFECTIVE DATE: 11/1 1/97

AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE OPERATION OF
BOATS AND PERSONAL WATERCRAFT WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF THE TOWN OF
RANSOM CANYON. THIS ORDINANCE INCLUDES PROVISIONS FOR BOAT REGISTRATION
AND BOATING, SKIING, AND FISHING REGULATIONS, ESTABLISHING A PENALTY,
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, AND PROVIDING FOR
PUBLICATION.

WHEREAS, a substantial portion of the territory composing the Town of Ransom Canyon is
composed of a recreational lake, and

WHEREAS, the public safety requires the establishment of rules and regulations.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR THE TOWN OF
RANSOM CANYON, TEXAS, BY ITS MAYOR AND ALDERMEN:

SECTION ONE. There are hereby established the following rules and regulations pertaining to the
registration of boats and personal watercraft and size restrictions in the Town of Ransom Canyon, Texas;

BOAT REGISTRATION: Each and every boat or personal watercraft operated inside

1.
the city limits of the Town of Ransom Canyon, Texas, shall have permanently displayed on the stem or
right-hand side a recreational permit issued by the Town of Ransom Canyon. An annual fee of $ 20.00 for
each power boat and S I 0. 00 for any boat not a power boat is required. Before a recreational permit can be
issued, the owner of the boat or personal watercraft shall provide proof of ownership, proof of residency or
property ownership within the Town of Ransom Canyon, and evidence of current registration certificate
from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The City Council may provide for a boat registration without a fee for special recreational events.

Boat registrations may be obtained at the Ransom Canyon City Hall during regular business hours.

Recreational permits shall be valid for one (1) calendar year beginning on January Ist and ending on
December 31st of each year.

BOAT SIZE LIMITATIONS: No boat over 200 horse power and 22 feet in length, as

2.
determined by the boat manufacturer's specifications shall be permitted on the lake except those legally
registered in previous years, as long as there has been no interruption in registration. All boat motors must
emit exhaust below the water surface. No jet boats shall be permitted, but jet drive personal watercraft are
permitted.

There are hereby established the following rules and regulations pertaining to boating

SECTION 2.

safety, operation of boats, and sport fishing activities in the Town of Ransom Canyon;

The Texas Water Safety Act, the Texas Penal Code, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code,

1 .
the Texas Parks and Wildlife Game and Fishing Laws, and all other applicable Texas laws shall apply to
boating operations and sporting activities on Lake Ransom Canyon, unless further restricted by this
ordinance.

Ordinance 147, p 2, 11-11-1997

All motor boats and personal watercraft must reduce speed to a wakeless five (5) miles

2.
per hour or less when traveling between any buoy markers and the shoreline. The West end of the lake,
from the East shoreline of the Party Island to the West City Limit property line, is a no wake area.

3.

No buoy marker may be used as an anchor point at any time,

Boating, skiing, tubing, knee boarding or other water activities that require speeds in

4.
excess of five (5) miles per hour shall be conducted in the center of the lake inside the buoy markers, in a
counter-clockwise direction. Skiers under tow shall not travel between the buoy markers and the shoreline.

5,

The area from the North surface of the dam valve structure to South shoreline is a

wakeless area.

6.

The dam area and the roadway may be utilized for fishing activities only. No vehicle
parking or boat launching activities shall be allowed on the dam.

7.

A current and valid Texas Parks and Wildlife Fishing License shall be required of any

person participating in fishing activities on the lake. All fish and game laws regarding fish possession limits
and size of catch restrictions are hereby adopted except that any Black Bass caught and kept shall be a
minimum of fourteen (14) inches.

8.

No swimming is allowed in the lake except when directly associated with boating or

skiing.

9.

Guest boats may be approved for lake use as long as all of the rules, regulations, and

restrictions stated in this ordinance are followed. The property owner or resident wishing to have a guest
boat on the lake is responsible for obtaining a guest pass from the City. The pass shall be valid for one (1)
day only, and the cost shall be $ 5.00 per day.

SECTION THREE.

SEVERABILITY Should any section, phrase, or word of this Ordinance be

declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, such shall not affect the remaining portions of this Ordinance
which shall continue in full force and effect.

SECTION FOUR.

EFFECTIVE DATE This Ordinance shall become effective from and after its
passage and publication as provided by law.

PENALTY Any person who is convicted of a violation of this Ordinance shall

SECTION FIVE
be guilty of a Class C Misdemeanor and shall be fined in accordance with State Law. Any person convicted
of a violation under the Texas Water Safety Act, the Texas Penal Code, the Alcoholic Beverage Code, the
Texas Parks and Wildlife Code or any other State Law shall be penalized in accordance with State Law.

Ordinance 147, p 3, 11-11-1997

THE TOWN OF RANSOM CANYON

BY:

Lee Kitchens

Mayor

ATTEST:

Melissa Verett

City Secretary

CERTIFICATION OF PUBLICATION

1, Melissa Verett, City Secretary for the Town of Ransom Canyon hereby certify that a true and correct copy
of the above and foregoing Ordinance was published by posting said Ordinance or a descriptive caption with
the penalty provision of said Ordinance at City Hall for a period of at least ten (10) days.

November 21, 1997

Date

Melissa Verett, City Secretary