News Flash

Children’s Playscape Closing Thursdays for Cleaning

The San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department announced that Children’s Park Playscape will be closed every Thursday until further notice for deep cleaning and disinfecting beginning Thursday, Oct. 22 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The park wi...

Virtual Holiday Shoebox Parade Call for Entries

The City of San Marcos will be hosting the inaugural SMTX Hometown Holiday Shoebox Parade on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020, online at 2 p.m.

The parade is dedicated to promoting community engagement, holiday spirit, and shopping local in the great city of San Ma...

Man Arrested for Aggravated Assault on Peace Officer

Man Arrested for Aggravated Assault on Peace Officer

The San Marcos Police Department is releasing information regarding an incident that occurred on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, and resulted in the arrest of Benjamin Reece Lawton (DOB 02/22/77)&...

San Marcos Electric Offers Rebates for Planting Trees

In celebration of Texas Arbor Day on Friday, Nov. 6, the City of San Marcos Electric Utility is implementing the Shade Tree Rebate Program to encourage residents to plant shade trees around their homes. The program is open to existing single-family reside...

Police Respond to Seven Discharged Firearms Calls and Arrest Two over Weekend

Police Respond to Seven Discharged Firearms Calls and Arrest Two over Weekend

The San Marcos Police Department responded to seven separate discharged firearms calls between Saturday, Oct. 10 at 9 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 11 at 5 a.m. Most incidents ...

City Cemetery Official Location for Wreaths Across America Day

The City of San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department is pleased to announce that the San Marcos City Cemetery will join over 2,100 official locations across the country to participate in National Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020.

&am...

Farmer Fred’s Harvest Fall Carnival Goes Virtual for 2020

The City of San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department’s Youth Services Division will host two new programs in place of the annual Farmer Fred’s Harvest Fall Carnival that is traditionally held the Friday before Halloween. As a safer alternative to the in...

Downtown Begins Curbside Parking Pilot October 12

The City of San Marcos is implementing a 90-day Curbside Parking Pilot Program to assist downtown businesses with COVID recovery efforts. An initiative of the Main Street Program, the pilot will establish 15-minute curbside parking spaces in areas of down...

Women’s Hall of Fame Postponed to 2021

 The City of San Marcos and Women’s Hall of Fame committee has decided to postpone the Women’s Hall of Fame nominations and induction until Fall of 2021.

 The San Marcos Women's Hall of Fame began in 1984 to h...

Chief Finalists Public Meet & Greet on October 14

The City of San Marcos invites the public to a Community Meet & Greet for the two police chief finalists on Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Embassy Suites San Marcos Conference Center, Spring Lake Salon, 1001 E McCarty Ln.

Masks are requi...

City of San Marcos to host “Month of Service” in lieu of Veterans Day Parade

The City of San Marcos, with assistance from the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee and local veterans’ organizations, will be hosting a month of service opportunities for the community to honor all who have served. These opportunities will rep...

City Accepting Applications for Arts and Cultural Grants

The San Marcos Arts Commission is accepting applications for 2021 Arts and Cultural Grants now through Nov. 9.

Art projects must meet the following criteria to be eligible for funding: 

1. Promotes the arts, which may include: instrumental and vocal ...

Update: Warrants Issued for Driver Involved in Labor Day Traffic Fatality

Update: Warrants Issued for Driver Involved in Labor Day Traffic Fatality

On Wednesday, Sept. 23, the San Marcos Police Department obtained warrants for Kyle Nissen, 30, of San Marcos for Intoxication Manslaughter with Vehicle (...

San Marcos Art League Offers “Art Scared” Installations for Halloween Fun

The San Marcos Art League (SMAL) is joining forces with the San Marcos Main Street Program and the Downtown Association of San Marcos to host “Art Scared,” an art installation bringing Halloween to the windows of downtown buildings on ...

San Marcos Drought Restrictions Scheduled to End Sunday

The City of San Marcos will return to year-round water conservation rules, ending currently imposed drought restrictions, starting Sunday, October 4. 

Year-round conservation rules are implemented when the 10-day average Edwards Aquifer ...

City to Test School Zone Flashing Lights Tomorrow

In preparation for the fall semester, the City of San Marcos Transportation Division will test school zone flashing signs and inspect traffic signs within school zones on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

During the testing, motorists will see the school zon...

Keep San Marcos Beautiful to Share in $400,000 Grant Award

The City of San Marcos is excited to report that its Keep San Marcos Beautiful program has been named as an affiliate recipient of a portion of a recent $400,000 grant award to Keep Texas Beautiful. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) G...

City Announces Two Final Candidates for Police Chief

The City of San Marcos has narrowed down its search for the next Chief of Police to two finalists to complete the final stages of the interview process by early November.  From the original pool of 92 applicants from across the nation, five candi...

Discovery Center Offers Curbside Pickup On Oct. 7

For a limited time, starting Wednesday, Oct. 7, the San Marcos Discovery Center will offer curbside pickup for native plants purchased at the online store.

Customers may schedule curbside plant pickups from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Fr...

Hopkins Street Project Amends Traffic Plan with Speed Reduction

In an effort to monitor and improve the flow of detoured traffic from the Hopkins Street Project, the City of San Marcos is amending the traffic plan and implementing temporary speed limit reductions from 30 mph to 25 mph on Belvin and San Antonio Streets...

Two Shooting Incidents Reported in San Marcos

The San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) has been called to the scene of two non-fatal shootings since Sunday, prompting public safety concern within the community.

Sunday, Sept. 20

On Sunday, Sept. 20 at 7:55 p.m., SMPD received a call reporting a...

Wastewater Treatment Plant Recognized as “Utility of the Future Today”

The City of San Marcos Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) has received national recognition as a Utility of the Future Today for Community Partnering and Engagement.

The San Marcos WWTP is one of 65 water utilities being recognized for transformat...

SMPD Kicks Off Blue Santa Season, Donations Needed

The San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) is asking the public for financial donations for this year’s SMPD Blue Santa Program, which will undergo a major transformation this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.  

Each year, SMPD c...

Phased Scooter Pilot Program Launches in San Marcos

The City of San Marcos, in collaboration with Texas State University, has signed a pilot agreement with Spin electric scooters for an initial two-step deployment of 200 shared scooters beginning this month. Spin has separate agreements with each entity wh...

UPDATE: Redpoint Apartments Murder Suspect Turns Himself In

On Wednesday, September 16, Steven Deshawn Crawford (DOB 12/20/1999) turned himself in to the Hays County Jail. Crawford was identified as a suspect in the May 30 shooting death of 21-year-old Ivoryana Chante Ballard at the Redpoint Apartments.

There is no...

Citizen Committee to Study Use of Force Opens to Applicants

The City of San Marcos is accepting applications for membership on the San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) Use of Force Policy Ad Hoc Committee. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, Sept. 30.

The committee’s charge is to study the Use of Force pol...

Testing Scheduled Oct. 17 for Career with SMPD

The San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) is hosting the biannual entrance exam for interested applicants on Saturday, Oct. 17. The department is interested in both certified and noncertified applicants. The deadline to apply for the test is Monday, Oct. 12...

San Marcos Celebrates International Housekeeping Week

The San Marcos Convention & Visitor Bureau (SMCVB) is honored to recognize the professional housekeepers of San Marcos.

“Our housekeepers are vital in ensuring a clean, welcoming and safe experience for visitors in San Marcos,” said...

City to Reopen Parks, River Access & Facilities on Sept. 16

The City of San Marcos will reopen all public facilities, riverfront parks, neighborhood park playgrounds, athletic complexes, tennis and basketball courts on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 8 a.m.  Children’s Park Playscape will reopen on Frida...

San Marcos Animal Shelter Receives $20,000 from ASPCA

The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter (SMRAS) has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) as part of its national ASPCA Relief and Recovery Initiative, which includes p...

Labor Day Weekend Claims 13th Traffic Fatality of the Year

On Sunday, Sept. 6 at approximately 1 p.m., San Marcos Police, San Marcos Fire and Hays County EMS responded to a fatal multi-vehicle collision on W. Wonder World Drive and Purgatory Creek Bridge.

According to evidence at the scene and witness statements, ...

City Requests “Welcome Home” Photos for Video to National Guard by Sept. 14

The City of San Marcos (COSM) and the Hays County Veterans Resource Office invite members of the public to submit “welcome home” photos for inclusion in a City-produced message to the Texas Army National Guard 4th Battalion-133rd Field...

Arbor Day Foundation, Texas A&M Forest Service, City to Provide Free Trees to San Marcos Residents

The City of San Marcos Community Forestry Program is providing 500 free trees to homeowners through a partnership with the Texas A&M Forest Service, the USDA Forest Service and the Arbor Day Foundation’s Community Canopy program, a program t...

Updated Stormwater Utility Rates Effective Oct. 1

In an effort to establish a financial framework for a more equitable and sustainable customer rate structure, the City of San Marcos is introducing an updated stormwater utility fee structure effective October 1, 2020, pending Council approval during the ...

City Council Approves 2020 Vote Centers

During Tuesday night’s meeting, the San Marcos City Council approved the established list of 2020 General and Special Election Vote Centers for early and election day voting in San Marcos. The proposed vote centers were first approved by the Hay...

Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Accepting Applications

The City of San Marcos Planning and Development Services Department is accepting applications from community members interested in serving on the Comprehensive Plan Rewrite Steering Committee. Application forms are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28.

The Ci...

City Announces Five Finalists for Chief of Police

The City of San Marcos has selected five candidates to interview in its Chief of Police recruitment process. Ralph Andersen & Associates is assisting the City with the search which resulted in an applicant pool of 92 candidates from across the United ...

September City Hall Calendar

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

City Council Proclamations – 2 p.m. Virtual. Televised live on Spectrum Ch. 10 and Grande Ch. 16 or 123-16 and video streamed online at http://sanmarcostx.gov/421/City-Council-Videos-Archives/.

City Council Meet...

City Offices Closed on Labor Day

City of San Marcos offices and services, including the Library’s front porch pick-up and public transit, will be closed Monday, Sept. 7 for the Labor Day holiday.

Animal Control will be available at 512.805.2650.

Texas Disposal Systems will operat...

Participate in the Platinum Planning Study through Sept. 28

The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), in collaboration with the City of San Marcos, invites the public to participate in the San Marcos Platinum Planning Study Virtual Open House and online survey, beginning August 31 and running th...

September is Bioblitz Month for Pollinators in San Marcos

Throughout the month of September, the City of San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting a citizen-science initiative called the bioblitz as part of the National Recreation & Parks Association’s “Parks for Pollinat...

Scams, Fraudulent Calls Increasing in San Marcos

The San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) seeks to alert the public about a recent increase in reports of attempted scam calls made to locals in and around San Marcos.

“Recently we have received calls from residents reporting they were contacted by...

San Marcos Convention & Visitor Bureau Wins Marketing Awards

The San Marcos Convention & Visitor Bureau (SMCVB) was awarded two Idea Fair awards from Texas Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (TACVB) during their Annual Conference, held virtually, on August 12.

The SMCVB won a first place People&rs...

TDEM Offering Free COVID Testing in San Marcos, Kyle

The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), City of San Marcos and Hays County are partnering to provide additional free COVID testing at locations in San Marcos and Kyle from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. next week from Monday, Aug. 24 to Saturday, Aug. 29.

Th...

Community Backpack Giveaway Scheduled for Aug. 29

The City of San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department’s Youth Services Division is partnering with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Phi Xi Omega Chapter to host a community backpack giveaway and school supply drive on Saturday, Aug. 29 in the S...

CM Allen Wins Regional EPA Green Infrastructure Competition

The City of San Marcos CM Allen Roadway Reconstruction Project achieved second place in the EPA Region 6 2020 Outstanding Green Infrastructure/Low Impact Development (GI/LID) Project Competition.

The competition assessed projects implementing realistic app...

“SMTX 2020” Watch Party Scheduled Sept. 2

The City of San Marcos has announced it will host a free video watch party of this year’s collaborative annual review of city progress, called “SMTX 2020,” online and through the City’s public access channel on Wedn...

City Breaks Ground on New Public Service Center

The City of San Marcos is breaking ground on the new Public Service Center on Clovis Barker Road which will provide a streamlined and centralized location for public utilities, transportation operations, fleet operations, and infrastructure services for t...

San Marcos Named “Beautiful Hill Country Retirement Town”

San Marcos is a great place to retire, according to a new article featured in Southern Living magazine’s August edition.

From the crystal-clear waters of the San Marcos River to Kissing Tree, the community designed to welcome 3,000 homeowners age...

City Expects 2020 Street Overlay Completion Sept. 4

The City of San Marcos Transportation Division of the Public Services Department expects to begin work on the remaining 2020 overlay projects on Monday, Aug. 31, with completion expected by Friday, Sept. 4, weather-permitting.

The remaining projects includ...

Overnight Collision Results in 12th Traffic Fatality of 2020

A vehicle occupant identified as Maria D. Villegas (DOB 07/01/1950) of San Benito was killed late last night in a collision on IH35 southbound in San Marcos at the Blanco River exit.

At approximately 2 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, the San Marcos Police...

City and CARTS Announce Interurban Bus Updates

The City of San Marcos and CARTS announce the resumption of the Interurban Express 1517 Gold Bus, with service from Austin to San Marcos, beginning August 24 with a modified schedule.

Riders may purchase interurban daily and monthly passes on the HopThru A...

Youth Services Director Hired by Community Action

The City of San Marcos, through an agreement with Community Action, Inc., is pleased to announce the hiring of Youth Services Director Dana Washington to lead a new, collaborative initiative to improve the lives of San Marcos youth.

This position was forma...

Resident Engagement Improves with SMTX Connect Redesign

SMTX Connect, the official City of San Marcos civic engagement tool, is being upgraded today to a new platform that will allow residents a simpler and better experience when reporting non-emergency issues, requesting services, and commenting to the City.

&...

August City Hall Calendar

Saturday, August 1, 2020

Clear the Shelters Month: All cats free! – Aug. 1 through Aug. 8 at San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter, 750 River Rd, San Marcos, TX. For more information, visit the Adoption Center.

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

City Co...

Annual Clear the Shelter Event Goes Virtual, Month-Long for 2020

Clear the Shelters, the national pet adoption annual campaign that normally takes place on a single day every August, has been extended with various specials lasting through the entire month of August at the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter!

Each year th...

University Drive to Close for Utility Work Starting Aug. 3

Starting Monday, Aug. 3, the City of San Marcos Engineering and Capital Improvements Department will close University Drive to conduct construction to replace an aged wastewater main from Moon Street to North LBJ Drive and along North LBJ Drive from Unive...

Fredericksburg Street to Close July 27 for Wastewater Main Replacement

On Monday, July 27, the City of San Marcos Engineering and Capital Improvements Department will begin construction efforts to replace a sewer main on Fredericksburg Street between Hopkins and San Antonio Streets. Motorists can expect lane closures during ...

Arts Program Announces New Anti-Littering Mural Project

The City of San Marcos Mural Arts Program is seeking artist submissions to be considered for a newly commissioned public mural to enhance the pair of bridge barriers on CM Allen Parkway by the Children’s Park.

The ultimate goal of the mural proje...

Candidate Filing Period Opens for November Election

The City of San Marcos is accepting applications for candidates seeking a place on the ballot for the upcoming General and Special elections taking place this November.

Positions to be filled during this election include the offices of Mayor, Council Membe...

San Marcos Residents Can Text Emergency Info to 9-1-1

With storm season in full swing, the City of San Marcos is reminding residents that in an emergency they can send text messages to 9-1-1 in the Central Texas area.

The Capital Area Council of Governments deployed Text to 9-1-1 service region wide in Octobe...

City Council Approves New San Marcos Development Code

The San Marcos City Council approved Code SMTX, a new 434-page development code that aligns with the City’s comprehensive plan and will guide how the City grows in the coming years.

“This is a day of celebration! Our new code has been in the works for four...