San Marcos council conditions police and firefighter contract extensions on transparency request; approves pay increases

The San Marcos City Council on Nov. 5 approved one‑year extensions of the city’s meet‑and‑confer agreements with its fire and police associations and endorsed scheduled base pay increases while recording council intent to press for more transparent negotiations.

Council approved a resolution extending the San Marcos Police Officers Association agreement that includes a 5% base pay increase for police officers beginning Oct. 1, 2026; the vote on the police resolution passed 7–0. A companion resolution to extend the firefighters’ agreement was approved after council adopted amended language directing the city manager to request that the listed terms — including public notice, recorded and broadcast negotiations, opportunities for public comment at the start or end of negotiations, and public access to final exchanged documents — be considered for inclusion in the ground rules for the 2027 meet‑and‑confer negotiations.

The amendment was introduced by a council member who said the change mirrors a model used…