AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Consider approval of Resolution 2024-253R, adopting City of San Marcos Guiding Principles for the 89th Texas Legislative Session (2025); and declaring an effective date.
Body
Meeting date: December 17, 2024
Department: Communications Department
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Fiscal Note:
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City Council Strategic Initiative: [Please select from the dropdown menu below]
Environmental Protection
Economic Vitality
Public Safety, Core Services & Fiscal Excellence
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☐ Core Services
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Background Information:
The City of San Marcos recognizes the need for an active state legislative program to ensure the interests of the City’s residents and businesses are protected and enhanced. The City Council has created a focused legislative platform, which reflects the core values found in the City Charter’s statement of Goals and the Comprehensive Plan Vision Statements. As directed by the City Council, the City will participate in the 89th Texas Legislative Session (2025) process through monitoring and actively advocating for or against legislation when appropriate to support or safeguard the interests of the City.
The “Guiding Principles” serve as direction for staff and the City’s legislative advocates on key issues.
Council Committee, Board/Commission Action:
Legislative Council Committee members: Mayor Jane Hughson, Councilmember Mark Gleason, Councilmember Alyssa Garza
The Legislative Committee convened on October 22 to review and provide initial edits to the Guiding Principles for the 89th Legislative Session.
On November 19, during a Work Session, the City Council discussed adding a provision to advocate for changes to the application of area median income (AMI) standards by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, ensuring they better reflect local economic conditions.
The Legislative Committee met again on December 5 to finalize the Guiding Principles. The committee approved the AMI addition and proposed an additional item advocating for measures requiring prior consent from local governing bodies before any agency or entity can remove itself from the tax roll.
Both items have been included in the final draft, which will be presented to the City Council for approval on December 17.
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