Residents urge brush clearing after insurer cancellations; council pledges staff follow-up on mobile-home concerns

Residents used public comment to press the city for more action on vegetation management and mobile-home park maintenance.

Jane and Bob Tutslaff, who live on Poppy Road, said brush behind their home near a trail and Discovery Lake includes extensive dead material and a large eucalyptus tree, and that insurers have repeatedly canceled their policies because the area is classified as a high-severity wildfire zone. "They keep canceling us saying that we're in, too much of a fire zone," the resident said, asking the city to clear the brush or provide guidance.

Mayor Jones and Deputy Mayor Sunella responded that city staff will reach out and that San Marcos is a Class 1 fire agency and routinely fields brush-management requests; the mayor cautioned that sensitive habitats can limit clearing but said staff will contact insurance companies and follow up with residents.

Marlene Walder described conditions at her mobile-home community, saying routine clubhouse cleaning, window maintenance and bathroom accessibility remain inconsistent under new management, and that proposed lot-rent increases would raise her rent from an expected ~$24 to ~$36–$38. She said some infrastructure issues (electric, sewer, gas) predate the pandemic and that management has made only limited maintenance improvements.

Council asked staff (Sylvia) to contact Walder about health concerns; officials said the city manager's office was already looking into the Poppy Road brush complaint and would provide a response soon.

The meeting record shows staff follow-up was promised; council did not take immediate policy or regulatory action during the session.