The San Marcos City Council approved city plans to spend federal CARES Act funding and appointed members to two citizen committees at its regular Oct. 20 meeting.
City staff presented a proposed allocation of CARES Act funding to the council, which approved the plan as put forth by city staff. This funding comes in two varieties: Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) and Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus (CDBG-CV).
CRF funds are used to cover “necessary expenditures incurred due to [COVID-19].” San Marcos has received $3,655,630 in CRF funds, which will be allocated as follows:

• $400,000 for public health expenses, including PPE, sanitizer stations, fencing and HVAC systems for buildings.
• $2,416,705 for payroll expenses.
• $298,925 for economic support, including school district technology and utility billing assistance.
• $540,000 for function of government, including city phone system and city learning management system.

CDBG-CV funds are used to address community issues, primarily evictions and impact on businesses and unemployment. San Marcos will receive $567,825 in CDBG-CV, which will be allocated as follows:

• $454,260 for eviction prevention programs for renters, homeowners and small businesses.
• $113,565 for administration costs.

The council also reviewed applications and appointed 15 members to the ad hoc committee to review the San Marcos Police Department’s use of force policies. The council determined the committee will not wait until the new chief of police is selected in November before it begins meeting.
The council also appointed members to the Comprehensive Plan Rewrite Steering Committee, including two council representatives: Mayor Jane Hughson and Councilmember Melissa Derrick.
On the second of two readings, the council approved a resolution dissolving the San Marcos Youth Commission and the San Marcos Commission on Children and Youth, transitioning youth services to the Core 4 partnership with Hays County, Texas State and the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District.
The council held a public hearing on an ordinance rezoning approximately 14.71 acres of land located near the 1500 block of N. LBJ Drive from Future Development District to Single Family. Several citizens attended to speak against the ordinance, citing concerns over traffic, density and environmental degradation.
The planning and zoning commission also recommended the council deny the ordinance. The council did not approve or deny the ordinance. Instead, it postponed it to a later meeting for further discussion.
The council voted to approve the renewal of the city’s Interlocal Agreement with the Edwards Aquifer Authority and Texas State for funding of activities under the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan Program.
The council also decided not to continue utility disconnections until Jan. 31, 2021. It will consider another extension closer to that date.
San Marcos City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month over Zoom; meeting recordings and agendas can be viewed on its website. Residents who wish to speak during the citizen comment or public hearing periods should email [email protected] no later than noon on the day of the meeting.