Council approves limited $5 gate fee, hours and revenue-share for Fiesta de los Reyes at Market Square after heated public comment

The San Antonio City Council voted to approve an ordinance amending the agreement with the Ray Veil Consejo Educational Foundation to set hours, allow ticketing during certain peak hours and permit a $5 gate fee during those hours for the Fiesta de los Reyes event at Market Square.

Shannon Miller, the city's Chief Downtown Officer, told the council that security enhancements implemented for the 2025 event — including perimeter fencing, magnetometer screenings and restricted access to certain areas — led the Consejo to run at a loss last year. "The amendment that's before you today... would allow for a $5 gate fee during peak event hours," Miller said, adding that the Consejo would retain the first $250,000 of gate revenue to break even and that the city would receive 25% of revenue above that amount, which staff estimated could yield about $37,500 to the Market Square Fund if gross gate collections reach $400,000.

The council heard more than a dozen public comments from Market Square tenants and neighborhood leaders who warned a fee would change Market Square's character and harm small, family-run businesses. Thelma Gonzales, who said she has been a business owner at Farmers Market Plaza for more than 35 years, told council: "Market Square has always been a free public space... this would fundamentally change the nature of Market Square." Yvette Ramirez, president of the Farmers Market Plaza Association, urged council to require transparent financial information before approving any restriction on access.

Consejo representatives said they incurred roughly $143,000 in additional security costs in 2025 and that the fee, as drafted, included concessions: the event would remain free during daytime hours and for children 12 and under on specified days, and tenants would receive credentials and preprinted or QR-based tickets to speed entry. Frank Garza, longtime Fiesta Los Reyes chair, said the fee would help the Consejo continue scholarships and programming; he called the amendment "reasonable" given added security expenses.

Councilmembers debated alternatives including city subsidy, reallocating existing revenue, or surcharging alcohol sales to cover private security costs. City staff provided figures: police security costs for Market Square were about $690,000 in FY25 and were projected at $730,000 for FY26; the Consejo reported a security-related shortfall of roughly $140,000 in 2025. Maria, the city manager, said the city spends roughly $3 million net across Fiesta events beyond collected revenues.

After council discussion, the ordinance passed in a verbal vote during the a session; a single recorded "no" vote was noted and the motion carried. Councilmembers and staff said private security and screening will be provided regardless of today's vote, but advocates who opposed the fee said transparency measures and assistance for low-income attendees must be pursued going forward.

Why it matters: Market Square is one of the city's historic public spaces and a longstanding free-access Fiesta venue. The amendment alters access during certain peak hours in the name of security and financial viability for the Consejo, raising equity concerns among merchants and residents who said the measure risks excluding low-income families.

Next steps: Staff and the Consejo will implement ticketing logistics (including QR pre-sales and vendor credentials). Councilmembers asked staff to report back on options to subsidize access and on whether private screening reduces police deployment needs.