AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Consider approval of Ordinance 2026-13, on the second of two readings, amending Chapter 58, Public Facilities, Parks and Recreation and the City’s Schedule of Fees to establish fees to be charged for managed access to Rio Vista Park, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, on weekends and holidays, with exemptions for residents (“Local Area Participants”), including those who reside within the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District boundary or living within the 78666 zip code; providing a savings clause; providing for the repeal of any conflicting provisions; and declaring an effective date.
Body
Meeting date: April 7, 2026
Department: Parks and Recreation
Amount & Source of Funding
Funds Required: N/A
Account or Project Number (C = CIP funds): N/A
Funds Available: N/A
Account Name: N/A
Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: Click or tap here to enter text.
City Council Strategic Initiative: [Please select from the dropdown menu below]
Public Safety, Core Services & Fiscal Excellence
Environmental Protection
Quality of Life & Sense of Place
Comprehensive Plan Element (s): [Please select the Plan element(s) and Goal # from dropdown menu below]
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☒ Parks & Public Spaces + Health, Safety & Wellness - PPS-2: Ensure stewardship of the rivers aquifers, and other sensitive lands and natural resources while providing outdoor recreation opportunities
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☒ Core Services
☐ Not Applicable
Master Plan: [Please select the corresponding Master Plan from the dropdown menu below (if applicable)]
Parks, Recreation, & Open Space Master Plan
Background Information:
Purpose of Item
The purpose of this item is to request City Council approval of a managed access fee for out-of-town visitors at Rio Vista Park for the Summer 2026 season, consistent with prior Council direction regarding Managed Access operations. Currently, summer operations cost the General Fund $508,568.72. Implementing the managed access fee will create a dedicated revenue source to offset these costs and reduce reliance on the taxpayer-funded General Fund. This fee will also help ensure that out-of-town visitors contribute to the upkeep and maintenance required to manage the high seasonal impact on the park, rather than placing the full financial burden on San Marcos taxpayers.
Previous Council Considerations:
September 17, 2024, during the Summer Season update, City Council provided consensus to explore new revenue-generating measures to offset operational and maintenance costs for riverfront parks.
These measures included:
• Researching installation of aesthetically pleasing perimeter fencing and designated managed access points.
• Charging non-residents for entry through managed access points.
• Implementing a permit system for picnic areas.
May 20, 2025, during a City Council Work Session, Council authorized implementation of a Managed Access Test Plan for weekends and holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The plan was executed over 50 days during Summer 2025 (Fridays-Sundays and holidays).
October 8, 2025, during the Summer Season update, City Council reviewed potential access fee structures used by New Braunfels, Wimberley, and Austin. While no consensus on adopting a fee was reached at that meeting, Council expressed support for exempting residents within the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District (SMCISD) should a fee be implemented. Council also gave consensus to continue managed access at Rio Vista Park using aesthetic temporary fencing to support rule education prior to entry. Observations from the 2025 Test Plan indicated a visible reduction in litter and rule violations.
January 6, 2026, City Council held a workshop to discuss Managed Access at Rio Vista Park, including fencing options and potential fee implementation. Council provided consensus on the fencing and layout presented by staff, supported implementing an access fee for out-of-town visitors, and affirmed exempting residents within the SMCISD boundary. Council directed staff to develop specific fee proposals to be brought back in an ordinance. Council also requested consideration of rate consistency with other park facilities and ensuring accessibility for all users, including those without cashless payment options.
Parks and Recreation staff evaluated several platforms to support implementation and determined that CivicPlus, our existing website and recreation software provider, is the best option for process automation and digital payment. Our residents currently use this system for all program registrations and facility rentals.
CivicPlus provides:
• Streamlined workflows with reduced manual paperwork and errors.
• Secure data management, analytics, online payments, and customizable forms.
• Online purchasing or QR-code scanning at the access point; compatibility with existing staff hardware; and easy registration for digital Resident River Passes.
The anticipated implementation cost of the solution is approximately $15,000, which is half of the previously projected amount. While staff cannot safely collect or store cash in the park at this time, in-person payments can be processed during operating hours at the San Marcos Activity Center (Monday-Thursday:6am-9pm; Friday: 6am-7pm; Saturday: 10am-5pm) or the Parks and Recreation Office (Monday - Friday: 8am-5pm).
March 31, 2026, City Council amended the Ordinance on first reading to exempt households within the 78666 zip code from the fee along with those that resides within the corporate city limits of San Marcos and the boundary of the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District. During first reading of this ordinance, Council directed staff to place the ordinance requirements in Chapter 58 regarding Public Facilities and Parks and Recreation. The attached ordinance reflects this direction with amendments to Chapter 58. The substance of the ordinance from first reading remains intact. City Council passed the amended ordinance on first reading 6-1.
Managed Access for the 2026 Summer Season will be operated for a total of 36 Days.
Below is a schedule of days Managed Access will be operated and the fee charged:
Memorial Day Weekend: May 22-25, 2026
May 30-31, 2026
June 6-7, 2026
June 13-14, 2026
June 20-21, 2026
June 27-28, 2026
Independence Day Weekend: July 3-5, 2026
July 11-12, 2026
July 18-19, 2026
July 25-26, 2026
August 1-2, 2026
August 8-9, 2026
August 15-16, 2026
August 22-23, 2026
August 29-30, 2026
Labor Day Weekend: September 4-7, 2026
Council Committee, Board/Commission Action:
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Alternatives:
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Recommendation: