CITY OF SAN MARCOS
The city’s Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction as well as those that are zoned within the San Marcos Consolidated School District will now also be exempt from paying for City Park parking. Previously, only those within the city limits were exempt from a parking fee. According to city documents, the SMCISD Boundary includes areas in San Marcos, Martindale, Redwood and Staples.
The San Marcos City Council discussed the history, implementation and revenue for the paid parking program at City Park on Tuesday during a workshop.
In 2019, the city adopted the Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan, city documents show, which was meant to ensure funding for well-maintained parks and trails. In 2023, Council approved paid parking at City Park, which was then developed and went into effect in July of this year.
There are 3,637 active resident parking permits, and there has been a $171,764 net revenue. The city began to issue citations for non-payment on Oct. 9, and, to date, 1,502 citations have been issued for $19,234 in revenue. San Marcos Parks and Recreation Director Jamie Lee Case said that 25% of citations issued were to people that live in the 78666 zip code.
City documents show that council expressed the desire to possibly expand permit eligibility to those within the 78666 zip code, which would add an estimated 33,836 households, and possibly the San Marcos CISD boundary, which would add an estimated 20,591.
The council voted unanimously to approve inclusion of the entire 78666 zip code, not just the city limits, for the paid parking exemption. The council approved the inclusion of all households in the San Marcos CISD area to be exempt from paying, with councilmembers Shane Scott and Matthew Mendoza voting against it.
