San Marcos authorizes land actions and hires firm to design FM 1978 wastewater reclamation plant

The San Marcos City Council on July 1 authorized staff to proceed with property-interest acquisitions tied to the planned FM 1978 water reclamation facility and awarded a design services contract to Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company Inc.

Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the use of eminent domain, as needed, to obtain fee-simple title and easements for parcels tied to the plant site and associated pipelines. Marcus Neiser, assistant director of capital improvements, told council the city had negotiated agreements with property owners but needed friendly condemnation to cure clouded titles on four transactions: three fee-simple purchases and one wastewater easement. The property area includes a 25‑acre site conveyed to the city and a pipeline corridor to Cottonwood Creek, the proposed effluent discharge point.

Council then approved a separate resolution to contract Burns & McDonnell for Phase 1 progressive design‑build services in an estimated amount of $3,518,405. Staff and the developer group said the plant was planned as an initial 2 million-gallon-per-day facility with the ability to expand up to 8 MGD to serve a cluster of new developments; developers participating in a cost‑sharing agreement committed more than $60 million toward design and construction. City staff said odor control and modern design are top priorities, and that a regional plant avoids building multiple smaller package plants for each subdivision.

Both measures passed 7–0. Staff said access and easement issues raised in earlier development agreements have been resolved and that additional Sedona South development agreement items are scheduled to return to council in September.