Arlington’s Code Compliance Presents at State Conference

Published on March 25, 2025

By Carol Weemes, Code Compliance

Arlington’s community focused programs and initiatives are gaining the attention of other cities, state and nation-wide. Neal Lucas, field operations manager with Code Compliance was invited to speak at the Code Enforcement Association of Texas (CEAT) conference in February 2025.

This year was CEAT’s 40th education and business conference, held in Garland, Texas, with over 120 cities represented. Lucas taught a class on Dangerous and Substandard Structures providing information about State laws, processes, and best practices for abatement of these types of properties. During the conference, Lucas was awarded the 2025 Charles W. Daniels Scholarship.

Last year, Lucas taught a class at CEAT’s conference on Developing Community Engagement, focused on Arlington’s award-winning Neighborhood Enhancement Team and mobile tool sharing programs.

Inspired by learning about Arlington’s tool sharing program, Ronee Huerta, senior code enforcement officer with the City of Hutto, Texas, succeeded in getting her city’s Council approval for $5,000 to fund a pilot tool sharing program for residents in her city.

Additionally, last year, the City of Raleigh, NC reached out about Arlington’s tool sharing program, and Lucas provided information, best practices and success stories. He also presented at the Texas Environmental Health Association (TEHA) in October 2024 and was invited back to present again at TEHA’s North Texas Chapter Spring 2025 Conference in April.

“We are working together to increase neighborhood engagement initiatives,” said Lucas. “It is incredibly encouraging and inspiring to learn from veterans of our profession from across the state and country, and an honor to share my experience and see positive developments as a result.”