At its April 7 meeting, the San Marcos City Council held a public hearing to discuss the allocation of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.
San Marcos receives an annual allocation of CDBG funds each year from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with funds go toward local projects that improve infrastructure, provide affordable housing and enhance public services, according to San Marcos’ website. All programs and projects funded by CDBG must meet at least one of three national objectives: benefit people with low to moderate incomes, aid in the prevention of slums or blight, and meet a need having a particular urgency, such as in times of disaster.
Rodrigo Amaya, a San Marcos resident, said during the citizen comment period that he is concerned about safety and professionalism at council meetings, stating his wife was shoved by another attendee after a previous meeting focused on a proposed AI data center project. Amaya said the city should increase security at high-attendance meetings.
”The lack of security when meetings have sensitive subjects needs to be addressed,” Amaya said. “One officer just isn’t going to cut it.”
Carol Griffith, housing and community development manager for San Marcos, presented a draft action plan to seek guidance from council members, and would make revisions and produce a finalized plan on July 7.
Griffith said the city is required to submit an annual action plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development detailing how the funds will be distributed by Aug. 14.
”City Council has set the top three priorities for [the CDBG funds] to be affordable housing, public services, meaning social services, and public facilities,” Griffith said.
Griffith said San Marcos was notified it will receive $774,000 in CDBG funding in the 2026 fiscal year, an increase from its usual $740,000. She said that since the notification came after the initial draft plan was created, funding recommendations will need to be revised before the City Council can take formal action.
Organizations approved as applicants for funding include; Blanco River Regional Recovery Team, the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center, Hays County Mental Health Court transitional housing, Greater San Marcos Youth Council, Central Texas Food Bank and many more listed on the San Marcos City Council website.
Alyssa Garza, council member, said she is concerned about how effectively social service funds are being used.
Garza said she has heard repeated complaints from citizens since taking office in 2020 about individuals applying for assistance through funded organizations, but did not receive responses.
“I don’t know who’s responsibility it is to gauge [public satisfaction]… But I do know when I’m stopped at H-E-B I get told an individual has submitted an application, but hasn’t heard back,” Garza said. “The public expects me to have an answer on why these programs aren’t being efficient.”
In addition to the public hearing, the council met in executive session to deliberate personnel matters related to the municipal court judge and the evaluation process for city council appointees, as well as a real property matter involving a proposed land bequest for park purposes.
The San Marcos City Council meets at 6 p.m. every first and third Tuesday of each month. For more information, visit its website.
