Happy August, everyone! It’s that time of year where I like to organize everything that’s happened over the last 12 months. A little dry, but Council resumes normal shenanigans next week.
Note: Council has not posted minutes for meetings since May 2022! (This may finally get fixed by next year.)
August 2024
- CDBG money handed out
- Smart/Axis asks for a road through the eastern part of their gigantic site. (Just a discussion)
- Grand jury declines to press charges against the officer who killed Malachi Williams. (Big turnout at citizen comment)
- Budget details are discussed
- $800K to Southside from ARPA money to implement the Homelessness plan
September 2024
- Tax rate and budget debate, part 1
- SMART/Axis gets its road approved. (Yes: Jude Prather, Jane Hughson, Mark Gleason, Matthew Mendoza. No: Shane Scott, Alyssa Garza, Saul Gonzales)
- School Resource Officer Contracts increased to two years long
- First discussion of steering committee for the new City Hall
- Update on channel and hike/bike path that will connect Purgatory Creek to Rio Vista
- First discussion on Utility Assistance Program
- More discussion on steering committee for the new City Hall
- Sturgeon street bans non-resident parking on their street.
- Tax rate and budget discussion, part 3
- Extreme damage to the river during Summer 2024
October 2024
- VisionSMTX discussion of final draft
- Update on Quail Creek Park
- Endorsements and coverage of city council candidates
- Final vote to approve VisionSMTX
- Gateways sign design is approved
- Extend TDS contract through 2030
- New HEB coming to McCarty and I-35!
- ARWA water updates
- Renaming downtown alleys
- Mitchell Center going to the Calaboose museum
November 2024
- Amanda Rodriguez elected to Place 6, run-off for Place 5
- Riverside Drive gets their non-resident weekend parking ban
- New HEB deal is officially approved
- Final list for steering committee of the new City Hall. (DEI recommendations were ignored, and their recommendations ended up being out-of-sync with what the public wants.)
- Last bit of ARPA money redirected for rental assistance
- Tantra Coffee Shop gets its alcohol CUP back
- Paid parking coming to the Lion’s Club
- Acquiring Five Mile Dam parks from the county
- Presentation on Rent by the Bedroom exploitative rental practices
- Presentation on LIHTC projects
December 2024
- Rezoning natural area around Hays County Government Center, in exchange for securing land for the hike-and-bike trail from Rio Vista to Purgatory Creek.
- mailing parking tickets at City Park
- SMPD buying seven new Tahoes
- SMPD establishing a motor vehicle crime prevention unit
- Shane Scott wants to double the councilmember travel budget from $12K to $24K.
- Presentation on future growth of Texas State
- Lorenzo Gonzalez elected to Place 5 (by 9 votes!)
- $50K of ARPA money to Evoke Wellness, for a substance abuse treatment program
- New flood maps are coming, affecting 800 acres of San Marcos
- First discussion of HSAB funding
- Topics for lobbying the state legislature
- Presentation on the mess over the waitlist at the San Marcos Housing Authority in September 2024.
January 2025
- HSAB funding is approved
- SMPD gets their total bullet containment system
- Suggestions for Charter Review Commission, and appointing of the commission
- Blanco Gardens Area Plan
- Bike lanes on Sessom
- Presentation on the San Marcos water supply
February 2025
- Townhomes on Post Road
- Flock License Plate Reader cameras, first discussion
- Transit Equity Cabinet recommendations
- Bystander footage of Malachi William’s death is released
- First discussion of Data Center proposal
- Council discusses doubling their travel budget and stipend
- Strategic Plan for the FY 2026 budget
- Utility Payment Assistance workshop discussion
- Update on ARPA money
March 2025
- HUD grant money plan updates
- Riverbend Ranch gets cut-and-fill approved
- Discussion of SMCISD stormwater fee waiver
- Second discussion of council compensation
- Presentation by Evoke Wellness on their in-patient treatment program
- SMPD presentation summarizing what Chief Standridge has implemented over the past four years
- Budget Policy Statement discussion
- Third discussion of council compensation – whole thing goes down the tubes
- SMCISD stormwater fee voucher approved, in exchange for help building a detention pond at Mendez Elementary
- Council sends a letter to Guadalupe County about the septic issues in Redwood
- Cape’s Dam backstory and feasibility study
- Update on Downtown plan
- Privacy policy on SMPD License Plate scanners
April 2025
- Update from the Charter Review Commission
- Flock License Plate Cameras briefly discussed, but original postponement continues until June
- Housing development approved down by Trace
- Presentation on our Bicycle Friendly status
- Spin Scooters expand region of service
- Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan
- New student housing complex by mini-Target, downtown
- Speed Limits in the Wallace Addition
- First Discussion of a Gaza ceasefire resolution
- Controversy over whether or not to move City Hall and overshadow the skate park
May 2025
- Discussion and vote on the resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. (Does not pass)
- Presentation on Homeless 2025 point-in-time count
- Charter Review Commission submits their recommendations
- Modifying downtown TIRZ
- Staffing study for SMPD
- SMPD police station improvements and grant applications
- Fiscal update and budget planning
- River parks update: fencing off the river but not charging admission
June 2025
- Budget and sidewalks update
- More street parking non-resident bans
- CDBG funding
- Discussion of Data Center proposal (no vote)
- Flock License Plate Reader Cameras are voted down (just the proposed new ones)
- Spin Scooters are leaving San Marcos
- Presentation on Capital Improvement Projects
- Presentation on SMPD vehicle policies
July 2025
- University proposes boutique hotel across from mini-Target
- Veterans funding discussion
- Gary Job corps contingency plans in case of shutdown
The San Marxist 