[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6630287,"mediaKeyId","2696732-8ee1686f51056467afe479aedd58f3c4","parentId",2696732,"title","San Marcos police recommend 30-day retention for license-plate reader data; council asks for MOU and stricter outside-agency controls","audioSeconds",2523,"startMs",2531000,"endMs",7890,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2696732-8ee1686f51056467afe479aedd58f3c4&start=2531&end=7","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2696732-8ee1686f51056467afe479aedd58f3c4/thumbnail_2531000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6630287/San-Marcos-City/Hays-County/Texas/San-Marcos-police-recommend-30-day-retention-for-license-plate-reader-data-council-asks-for-MOU-and-stricter-outside-agency-controls","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630287-cba4e8633ee4decd3e532f1e0f09a19d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189207&Signature=Hb4-THgwh42AdLVi6yVfhC7Z3JjFWZKrrOUjbXX3g8h~PNyvKqygPLrO3QT4Og6kWB~nIrkNZp0Tv-iaOnx4Ro4DCCVJkDnnUgAYufQLkYZekxvMOfiIwv-NizeKP4XRcdBgUH3HBR3ZlLb6wUWbsf-Gim8Yu2LxvAiM1tHlBgcLqoCsi6yAtbTteQIDtZxf8TijbSbv8hhlZLan0WGH6xJ~OByH3ta2R852ySqeobnGuNMBBM2RQrl7edFz-QA2RyXl46~FmKz1t4Cd4CLgrmGIJ5vbU8nY3fjGnoft1FElUXT-FNl29G36R~q9btdmNBEgRKBZ~PF4vG90Fq3RnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Marcos","date","2025-03-18T15:00:00Z","article","San Marcos Police Department leaders on March 18 presented proposed revisions to the city's automatic license plate reader (ALPR) policy and outlined steps to formalize how the department will retain data and share it with outside law enforcement agencies.

Chief Standridge (identified in the presentation as the police chief) told the City Council that the department recommends retaining ALPR reads for 30 days. \"I strongly recommend that we retain 30 days,\" he said, citing investigative cases and what staff characterized as frequent delays between offenses and reporting. Standridge described several investigations in 2024 in which delayed reporting or case development made older ALPR records relevant to identifying vehicles linked to offenses.

The chief described two investigative examples to explain the policy rationale: a series of 2024 incidents involving voyeurism and burglary where ALPR queries tied a vehicle to multiple scenes days after the events, and a previously adjudicated homicide (the presentation referenced the case of Mandy Reynolds) where ALPR data contributed to identifying a suspect who had traveled through other jurisdictions. Standridge also cited an internal analysis showing substantial delayed-reporting intervals for certain crimes (the presentation cited examples such as embezzlement averaging 317 days delayed reporting and some sexual-assault-related offenses with reporting delays the presentation listed in the hundreds of days), and he said that norm argues for retention at or near 30 days.

Standridge described the Flock Group Inc. ALPR system and emphasized several limitations and protections in the proposed policy: the system captures still images of vehicle rear plates; the vendor asserts it will not sell or share data with third parties; the system does not perform facial recognition or speed enforcement; and the vendor's data controls are configured by the department. The department currently has 33 cameras on the system (not all operational), Standridge said, and several recent grant awards added cameras; staff said the grants and seized-funds match will cover additional units with no general-fund impact in fiscal 2025.

Council members asked about safeguards for privacy and for limiting data access by outside agencies. The presentation and subsequent discussion addressed three council priorities: retention periods, privacy protections, and data sharing. Proposed changes in the draft policy include:

- Requiring login training and audits. The draft language would mandate initial and biennial training for system users and require audits of queries; Commander Eric Sprigle and Sergeant Tommy Villanueva were identified in the presentation as the staff who will perform audits with at least an annual formal audit.

- Requiring a query reason. The draft requires that users enter a reason for each query, typically an incident or case number, with auditing exceptions for authorized audit actions. Staff said that outside agencies seeking access would be required to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that mirrors this requirement.

- Narrowing permissible use. The draft narrows use to \"official law enforcement purposes only,\" e.g., to support a specific criminal investigation or missing-person case, and states that captured data will be purged after 30 days unless retained as evidence.

- Defining prohibited targeting. The draft adds language that locations for ALPR cameras will be determined by investigative need and not on the basis of protected characteristics such as race, religion, gender identity, immigration status, or — at council request — economic status.

Council members pressed for further safeguards around outside agencies. Several council members asked whether federal agencies (including ICE) or other outside entities could obtain San Marcos data without more restrictive protections. City Attorney Geary said cooperative agreements with outside law-enforcement partners are common and that he would need to research whether the city could require court orders in all circumstances; staff proposed using an MOU and administrative controls as a middle ground. Several council members said they wanted a definition of \"outside agency\" added to the policy and requested that the MOU include requirements and penalties (including loss of access) if an outside agency failed to follow the city's rules.

Kristen, a Flock representative, told council that Flock customers can be configured so that a department controls who can view its cameras and that the city owns its data.

Commander Sprigle said daily operational queries vary but that the department sees approximately seven to 10 queries per day on average; on busier days the system can record more queries or multiple hits for the same vehicle across cameras. Staff said they will require outside agencies to provide a case or call number on queries as part of the MOU; staff acknowledged that Flock's portal currently permits the query-reason field to be left empty but said the MOU and internal procedures would compel agencies to provide that information and that the department can audit for compliance.

The draft policy also addresses private cameras owned by businesses or residents: the department would consider one-way access to privately owned camera feeds only if the private owner grants access, and any data shared with the department would be subject to the department's policy.

Legal and administrative protections were discussed: the presentation cited relevant state practice standards for accreditation, penal-code sections for misuse of access and harassment or intimidation language and the department said misuse could lead to administrative discipline or criminal referral. Standridge said misuse of the system could be prosecuted under state law and could lead to termination for employees.

Next steps: staff said it will draft an MOU template for outside agencies, refine the policy text (including adding a definition of \"outside agency\"), and return to council on April 1 with a recommendation to amend the Flock contract to authorize all 33 cameras. Staff said most additional cameras are grant-funded and that the fiscal 2025 general fund will not be affected. Staff also said it will make a transparency portal available for public view once policy language is finalized.

Ending: Council members expressed continued concern about privacy and oversight but several members said they were satisfied with the proposed changes and with staff's plan to return with an MOU and a formal contract amendment. No final ordinance or contract amendment was adopted during the work session; staff will return with the MOU and proposed contract resolution for council action.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","San Marcos - City Council on 2025-03-18 3:00 PM - 630 E. Hopkins St. - Work Session This will be an in-person and online meeting. To view the meeting please go to http://sanmarcostx.gov/421/City-Council-Videos-Archives or watch on Grande channel 16 or Spectrum channe - Mar 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","San Marcos Police Department leaders presented proposed changes to the city's automatic license plate reader policy on March 18, recommending a 30-day retention period and proposing memoranda of understanding for outside agencies; staff said it will return April 1 with the MOU and a recommended contract amendment.","taxTitle","San Marcos City, Hays County, Texas","taxId",9292,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6630291,"San Marcos staff outlines 20-year downtown area plan implementation strategy",2150,326000,2476000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2696732-8ee1686f51056467afe479aedd58f3c4&start=326&end=2476","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2696732-8ee1686f51056467afe479aedd58f3c4/thumbnail_326000.jpg","/articles/6630291/San-Marcos-City/Hays-County/Texas/San-Marcos-staff-outlines-20-year-downtown-area-plan-implementation-strategy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630291-540a390ee62317bb009fc337d7e6d504/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189207&Signature=fBrbJhkpKahErw~IsrAI7NxTbDSZLJRfoWgTo0WGWbb0B~lAsASbDkmVjbnbVauYwewoFRugrVpUtVuniCWfCXEQrg-z3JQSBsFaf2sagBgkX6GNN3kxIiLqW6jiP0kcR5fcsUhppV9Lot9VLmf4ox-iJAdd1cgmW3b0JsX71pRD7hwXrzpxX3TCqU0dCpYE~0-OmuUEvM~x6l2vr08SgrR4omoQ1fLg77YBynuR2fidR1CAR2vA~uiJ0fq5Fcod7hoxYbsF3Vh-WlWCZSPLfXnXQoFb-ljR8-J-XAYPTGC5bKpdxAJu314oRKW3MIzTZoxc4L4v3GFwh~G3lbzhlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","San Marcos City planning staff on March 18 presented an implementation strategy for the downtown area plan the city adopted in fall 2023, outlining projects, funding needs and next steps to carry out 75 recommendations across seven topic areas over a 20-year horizon.

Andrea Villalobos, assistant director of planning, presented the report to the City Council and said the plan \"was adopted in fall of 2023 following community input and includes 75 recommendations across 7 different topics.\" Villalobos told council the implementation strategy groups recommendations by topic and by the departments responsible so the city can track progress and resource needs.

The presentation covered seven topic areas: housing; building form and infill development; multimodal connectivity and parking; streetscapes; public spaces and amenities; small business support; and history, art and culture. Staff described recent successes and projects in progress and flagged large capital projects that will be needed to meet the plan’s recommendations.

On housing, Villalobos noted the city has acquired land for a new downtown fire station on MLK Drive and identified transit and preservation plans and a development-code update as items that will support future housing. She said no new market-rate multifamily housing was constructed downtown in 2024, but council previously approved a purpose-built student housing project at Lindsay and North Street and additional housing permits near downtown are currently under review.

On building form, staff noted changes to the city code requiring vacant structures to board windows and reported Main Street division efforts to inventory vacant properties and to connect property owners with tenants. Staff pointed to the 4 Jackman Building on Hutchinson Street as an example of a vacant-structure success (the presentation states that building is now about 70% leased).

For multimodal connectivity and parking, Villalobos summarized 2024 accomplishments including repairs and installation of roughly 1,500 feet of sidewalks in the downtown boundary, reintroduction and expansion of e-bikes and e-scooters across I-35, and a code update establishing a framework for a parking benefit district. She said the city approved an interlocal agreement with Texas State University to coordinate transit, and staff will present a comprehensive parking advisory board recommendation in 2025.

Staff described streetscape work such as moving aerial electric underground on Guadalupe Street and a near-complete (90%) design for the Kissing Alley project, which would convert an alley to a green-infrastructure pedestrian space. The presentation also noted a new downtown plant palette developed in 2024 and the installation of pollinator gardens and sidewalk medallions highlighting local history.

On public spaces and amenities, staff emphasized connections between downtown and riverfront parks and said the Purgatory Creek CIP project remains a priority; the presentation said engineering is advancing easement and right-of-way acquisition. Main Street staff reported securing a 1-to-1 match from the TERS board (as cited in the presentation) to expand incentive grants for facade and tenant improvements.

Small-business support items highlighted ongoing programs: the Think Big technical-assistance program, the 1 Million Cups Greater SMTX entrepreneurship series, and a local Business Community Lenders of Texas (BCL) presence downtown that provides bridge loans and grant-application assistance. Staff said the city recently hired a business retention and expansion coordinator to improve coordination with downtown businesses.

Villalobos acknowledged that many recommendations depend on private development or require capital funding and added that some CIP projects needed to support downtown infrastructure are funded many years out; as an example she said a full reconstruction of South LBJ Drive would not be fully funded until 2032. Staff recommended pursuing grants and other funding sources and noted TERS funds and CIP/bond funds as likely sources for larger projects.

Council members who spoke during the presentation expressed appreciation for the report and for staff and Main Street efforts. A council member asked staff to move two economic-development items from medium to short-term: (1) explore downtown-focused recommendations within the economic development policy and (2) explore a formalized business retention and expansion (BRE) program for downtown businesses. Staff responded that it could do so and council verbally agreed to advance that effort.

Villalobos said staff will provide annual status reports, post the full report and a strategy online, and explore an online dashboard to make implementation progress visible to the public. She noted the full implementation report is in the packet and posted online.

The presentation included requests for additional staffing and funding to implement programmatic recommendations (incentive programs, enhanced maintenance for landscaping and street trees, and expanded sidewalk easement funding). Villalobos said private development will also be a major driver of implementation because developers typically install required streetscape and utility upgrades when they build.

Looking ahead, staff identified the transportation master plan and stormwater master plan updates as key coordination opportunities for downtown projects and said more specific CIP funding and timelines will be presented in future CIP briefings.

Ending: Staff said it will return annually with status updates, continue to coordinate implementation across departments and pursue funding. Council asked staff to return with updated priorities and the proposed timeline for the short-term items, and staff indicated Main Street would lead many of the actions.

","City planning staff detailed progress and next steps for the downtown area plan adopted in fall 2023, highlighting housing, streetscape, multimodal connectivity, small-business support and funding constraints tied to capital improvement program timelines.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6630282,"San Marcos civics club urges council to advance tenants bill of rights and community outreach",168,71000,239000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2696732-8ee1686f51056467afe479aedd58f3c4&start=71&end=239","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2696732-8ee1686f51056467afe479aedd58f3c4/thumbnail_71000.jpg","/articles/6630282/San-Marcos-City/Hays-County/Texas/San-Marcos-civics-club-urges-council-to-advance-tenants-bill-of-rights-and-community-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630282-cfb4230d34109445d3ad4ce3fb4e96be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189207&Signature=e7p5k9TbJxPgJDcsEcOCaZgsGLdQsNL4eNtah52q7whQ3iE0E~oQMg7sxcXjfQ-eNnIGNeFsCRzX-h19ymuKTpX7hhyCHflUTjzshvl5GmIb1X6zWlJOEfdaxW3aozofqQaWMUZ-vTV6l8tIjIUPqvS6bpRcnGTE7729wtuewguPm091JG1SNq7V3sZvJvh9j2aTd6YwcvxGiJruJObmAVXiRZrtFUH3TuwrTKyo0vMO1Ouz6wb7gTUzM0HHIxyuZYlJCr7lZE818dbBvWP8Mg-13W-CFX~AXoCxkhbwn1VfiYemej-DmxSsxPTOCtzc8j1zdQTkPbWTvUn2ucYHzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Maxfield Baker, founder of the San Marcos Civics Club, used the citizen comment period on March 18 to urge the City Council to continue moving forward on a tenants bill of rights and to prioritize community outreach and education.

Baker said the civics club has produced a flyer and started a petition for San Marcos residents to support the tenants bill of rights. He said the club appreciates that council incorporated the tenants effort into its strategic initiatives and asked the city to ensure robust outreach and education about what the tenants bill of rights would mean in practice. \"We are continuing to push for our tenants bill of rights,\" Baker said.

Baker also said the civics club is organizing community resources to help residents engage on other local issues, including concerns he said are circulating about data centers and water. He described a \"how to be an activist\" guide the club has posted and invited residents to check the club's online materials and petition.

Ending: Baker thanked council and staff for past meetings and said the civic group will continue to organize and provide resources to residents interested in tenant protections and other local issues.

","Maxfield Baker, founder of the San Marcos Civics Club, told council the organization is circulating a petition and flyer urging the city to implement a tenants bill of rights and to conduct robust outreach and education.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

San Marcos police recommend 30-day retention for license-plate reader data; council asks for MOU and stricter outside-agency controls

San Marcos staff outlines 20-year downtown area plan implementation strategy

San Marcos civics club urges council to advance tenants bill of rights and community outreach