Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
San Marcos proposes temporary gates, resident passes and test fee for Rio Vista; council asks for more detail
Summary
City staff proposed a temporary, staffed managed-access pilot at Rio Vista to reduce litter, crowding and safety problems on busy summer weekends, with a resident pass and a possible fee for non-residents as tools to offset summer operating costs.
City staff recommended a temporary managed-access pilot at Rio Vista to the San Marcos City Council on May 20, proposing staffed access points, resident river passes and a possible out-of-town access fee as tools to reduce crowds, litter and safety problems that peak during summer weekends.
Assistant City Manager Rodney Gonzales told council the city’s single-use-beverage-container ordinance (effective May 1, 2024) entered the enforcement phase for its second year, and that the parks and marshals used education, signage and increased staffing in 2024 but still recorded thousands of contacts and hundreds of safety-related incidents. Gonzales said marshals recorded more than 7,600 instances of verbal education, 329 ejections and 69 medical incidents during last year’s season.
Staff recommended a limited, temporary pilot focused on Rio Vista that would: - Install temporary fencing and designate staffed access points on weekends and holiday peaks. Gates would be staffed by park ambassadors to provide on-the-ground education and entry control. - Issue resident river passes (no charge) and register residents in advance so residents can enter without paying; out-of-town visitors would pay an access fee only when gates are staffed. - Use the revenue from any fee to offset summer operating costs that staff said total roughly $728,000 for seasonal park ambassadors, deputy marshals, contracted litter removal and other summer-specific services (staff noted additional costs when Cheatham Street is closed for holiday events).
Staff described the proposal as a test only: temporary fence rentals and gates (not permanent structures) that could remain only for peak months. Gonzales said temporary fencing can be removed after the season to mitigate concerns about permanent barriers and flood impacts.
Council reaction and concerns focused on enforcement capacity and equity. Several members said they supported installing fences and staffing access points as a near-term measure so residents can use the parks safely. Others said they were not comfortable approving a fee without time to review implementation details and outreach plans to ensure residents — including those without reliable internet access — are informed and can obtain resident passes. Councilmembers also flagged recent turnover and personnel changes in the City Marshal’s Office and asked that staffing, training and any outstanding HR questions be addressed before relying on enforcement-based measures.
Staff said the Lions Club will reroute its shuttle to reduce neighborhood parking impacts and that the club contributes funds annually for park improvements; staff said the club’s concession proceeds and contract-generated park-improvement funds have averaged about $17,000 in recent years and the contract obligates a $10,000 annual payment. The city manager’s office and parks staff said communications and in-person registration events (multiple dates in June) will be used to register residents and publicize any changes before a fee would be implemented.
Council consensus: four council members supported moving forward with the managed-access pilot (temporary fencing and staffed access points) this summer. Council asked staff to return with a detailed ordinance and operational plan before any access fee is adopted and asked for explicit outreach and resident-registration plans, Spanish-language support at registration events, and an itemized accounting of Lions Club contributions and how those funds have been used.
