When used in this article, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Boat.
All ships, vessels, boats, motorboats, or similar devices or structures used or designed to be used upon, or operating or existing upon, the surface of the water, except those motorboats, outboard motors, and vessels registered with the state parks and wildlife department pursuant to Tex. Parks and Wild. Code Ann. section 31.001 et seq.
Dock.
Piers, platforms, or other structures designed to extend into or float on the surface of the water, often used for the mooring of boats, swimming, and fishing.
Houseboat.
A watercraft structure designed primarily to be occupied as living quarters on either a temporary or permanent basis, except those houseboats registered with the state parks and wildlife department pursuant to Tex. Parks and Wild. Code Ann. section 31.001 et seq.
(1995 Code, sec. 174.001)
(a) 
Any property owner or occupant upon whose premises a boat, houseboat, dock, similar structure, or part thereof washes up on or comes to rest upon may file a sworn complaint with the city.
(b) 
The complaint shall contain the following information.
(1) 
A description of the boat, houseboat, dock or similar structure or part thereof;
(2) 
An identification of the location of the boat, houseboat, dock, similar structure, or part thereof;
(3) 
A statement of the date on which the boat, houseboat, dock, similar structure, or part thereof washed up on or came to rest upon the complainant’s property; and
(4) 
A statement that he or she has never had or claimed any legal or other interest in the houseboat, boat, dock, similar structure, or part thereof.
(1995 Code, sec. 174.002)
Within ten (10) days of the city’s reception of a completed complaint described in section 8.08.002, or as soon as practicable in case of houseboats, boats, docks, other similar structures, or parts thereof that have been found on public property, the city shall publish notice one (1) time in the city newspaper that the houseboat, boat, dock, other similar structure, or part thereof, has been found. The published notice shall include the following:
(1) 
A description of the boat, houseboat, dock, similar structure, or part thereof;
(2) 
A statement of the date and location at which the boat, houseboat, dock, similar structure, or part thereof was found;
(3) 
The city’s phone number at which any additional information can be obtained;
(4) 
A statement that the owner has the right to reclaim the houseboat, boat, dock, similar structure, or part thereof within ten (10) days of the date of publication of the notice after he or she pays the city all costs incurred by the city in connection with notice and publication and with removing, preserving, or storing the houseboat, boat, dock, similar structure, or part thereof; and
(5) 
A statement that, if the houseboat, boat, dock, similar structure, or part thereof is not claimed by anyone within ten (10) days of the date of publication of the notice, the city may dispose of it in any manner it deems appropriate.
(1995 Code, sec. 174.004)
If a houseboat, boat, dock, similar structure, or part thereof has not been reclaimed by anyone as provided for in section 8.08.004, the city shall dispose of it in any manner it deems appropriate. If the houseboat, boat, dock, similar structure, or part thereof is sold for scrap or for any other purpose, the city shall deposit the proceeds into its general fund.
(1995 Code, sec. 174.005)