Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Council backs Rio Vista fencing plan, signals intent to charge nonresident access fees after follow-up
Loading...
Summary
After staff reported summer pilot results and itemized the seasonal costs of managed access, council approved the proposed temporary fencing layout and gave staff direction to draft fee‑options and an outreach/implementation plan (council also directed that San Marcos Consolidated ISD residents be exempt).
San Marcos City Council signaled support for continuing managed access at Rio Vista Park and approved a staff‑proposed temporary fencing layout Jan. 6, while asking staff to return with specific fee options and an implementation plan.
Jamie Lee Case, director of parks and recreation, reviewed the managed-access pilot run during the 2025 summer season and said staff proposes 36 managed days in 2026 (Saturdays, Sundays and holiday weekends), installation of temporary perimeter fencing and two additional double‑gated access points at centrally located park entries to ease circulation outside managed hours.
Case presented season-specific costs tied to the program: park ambassador personnel ($136,303), park ambassador supplies ($10,333), weekend/holiday maintenance ($21,960), contracted deputy marshals ($81,454), police and fire overtime ($37,557), in‑stream litter removal and related contracts (~$137,000 combined), portable toilets ($30,018) and fencing rental (~$11,180). Staff said total season‑related costs cited in presentation were about $508,568.72 and that the city budgets some of these items but continues to seek revenue options to offset the expenditures.
On potential revenue, Case said peer cities use small river‑management fees; staff proposed a simplified entry-ticket approach (example: $25 per group up to 10 people or $5 per individual age 6 and older) applied only on managed days, and said a ticketing system that supports resident passes and visitor tickets would require about a $30,000 upfront/annual contract. Council members pressed staff on equity (cashless-only systems, access for people without bank accounts), verification for exempt residents and operational impacts on the parks and pool.
Council members gave staff direction to proceed with procurement of temporary fencing and to return with ordinance language and a short list of fee options, projected revenue scenarios and a public‑education/implementation plan; members also indicated they wanted to exempt residents within the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District boundary (the same exemption the council approved for paid parking eligibility earlier in the meeting). Staff confirmed the fee requires an ordinance and that a successful implementation would include an education period and clear onsite options for residents who need assistance.
Several council members asked staff to include robust before/after metrics (litter volume, enforcement needs, emergency response impacts and budget offsets) and to take equity considerations into account when designing the ticketing and resident verification workflows. The council did not adopt a fee ordinance at the workshop but directed staff to return with options and costs for formal consideration.
