At its Nov. 5 meeting, the San Marcos City Council, approved extensions to police and fire meet and confer agreements and discussed the Nov. 1 shooting.
The decisions came just days after a Nov. 1 shooting near The Square, raising new concerns about safety and how city officials plan to respond. The discussion outlined steps the city may take to strengthen public-safety policies and expand community access to information about police and fire negotiations.
Mayor Jane Hughson extended condolences to the family of the victim in the late-night shooting near The Square on Nov. 1, saying the city “stands with you” amid growing safety concerns.
“We stand with you,” Hughson said. “Safety is and always will be our priority.”
Hughson also thanked multiple agencies, including the Kyle Police Department, the University Police Department, the city’s emergency management team, and the San Marcos Police Department, for their swift response and ongoing collaboration. She noted that city officials are now reviewing plans to strengthen public-safety measures and create a safer downtown environment.
Hughson said city officials are now looking at ways to make the area safer and more welcoming, aiming to prevent future incidents and give residents confidence that San Marcos remains a place for families and community.
Council also approved a one year extension to the current meet and confer agreements with the San Marcos Professional Fire Fighter’s Association and the San Marcos Police Officer’s Association. Part of the extension included a 4.5% pay increase for fire and 5% increase for police, starting Oct. 1, 2026.
Councilmember Amanda Rodriguez proposed an amendment that called for all future meet and confer contract negotiations between the city and public safety associations to be conducted publicly, with opportunities for public comment and for all related documents to be made available to the public.
The proposal sparked a lengthy discussion about transparency, debates, budget, and time constraints within meetings.
“This would help create more transparency between the city and its residents,” Rodriguez said.
Hughson said the difficulty of balancing transparency with time and budget limitations.
Council Member Alyssa Garza supported the amendment, pointing to similar changes passed in previous years.
“We all learn from each other here,” Garza said. She added that public access to negotiations allows residents to better understand where their tax dollars are going.
Council Members Shane Scott and Matthew Mendoza opposed the timing of the change, arguing it could slow down negotiations when the city is facing financial issues. Scott called the amendment “an overreach.”
“The city has to be careful not to overcomplicate something that’s already difficult,” Scott said.
Hughson raised concerns about how public participation could affect the flow and efficiency of future meetings.
Hughson expressed concern about how public participation would be managed. She suggested limiting comments to one minute per person with a maximum of 30 speakers to keep meetings functional. She noted that strict limits may frustrate residents who cannot speak but said an online option could help.
“We need to maintain order in the room,” Hughson said.
To ensure broader participation, Hughson proposed adding an email submission option for written comments. This would allow residents unable to speak during the meeting to share concerns or provide additional feedback afterward.
The final version of the amendment allowed the city manager to request more public access and transparency, but did not make it a requirement to continue future negotiations. Council approved Rodriguez’s amendment 6-1, with Mendoza voting against it.
The amended extension passed unanimously.
The San Marcos City Council meets at 6 p.m. every first and third Tuesday of each month. For more information, visit its website.
