Council advances managed-access fees for Rio Vista Park, adds local-area exemptions
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Summary
On first reading, San Marcos council advanced an ordinance establishing seasonal fees at Rio Vista Park while expanding free access to residents, school-district residents and ZIP code 78666. Council asked staff to finalize gate procedures and an outreach plan before the second reading.
San Marcos city council on March 31 advanced, on first reading, an ordinance to charge managed-access fees at Rio Vista Park from Memorial Day through Labor Day while exempting city residents and other local-area participants.
The ordinance—introduced as item 19—would require nonresident visitors to pay an entry fee, while allowing residents and designated local participants to preregister for a resident river pass or show qualifying ID at the gate. Jamie Lee Case, director of parks and recreation, said the system will accept a pass displayed on a phone or proof of address: "They could either have their resident river pass, which could be displayed on their phone, or they could show a proof of address," Case said.
Council members pressed staff on practical details, including what counts as acceptable identification at the gate and how staff should handle residents who arrive without documentation. One council member (council member, speaker 14) warned that the policy could “create some barrier if I don't have those six forms of identification,” and pressed for clear, public-facing procedures during an initial discretionary rollout.
Council amended the ordinance to explicitly include residents within the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District (SMC ISD) and properties with ZIP code 78666 as eligible local-area participants. The mayor and others asked staff to create an outreach plan so neighbors know preregistration options and to return with gate-procedure language for the second reading.
Staff described several verification paths: a government-issued ID with a San Marcos address, an enhanced library card or activity-center membership, a utility bill or lease combined with a photo ID, or a student ID for SMC ISD students. Case told council parks staff will train park ambassadors to use discretion during the initial period: "We're not trying to make it overly punitive," she said.
Council also asked for an end-of-season report and periodic debriefs to assess operational issues and equity impacts, and directed staff to work with local partners (including the school district and neighborhood groups) to distribute passes and educate the public. The item will return for second reading at a future meeting with the requested clarifications.
The motion to advance the ordinance with the amendments passed on first reading; the council recorded a 6–2–1 vote on the underlying motion after amendments and attendance adjustments were noted.
