SAN MARCOS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Daily Record coverage of this luncheon will be divided in two parts, with the first focused on the talk and presentation of City Manager Reyes.
City Manager Stephanie Reyes and SMCISD Superintendent Michael Cardona discussed their vision and priorities for the San Marcos area in “The State of the City & District” business luncheon last week at the Embassy Suites Conference Center.
Hosted by the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce, the event provided community leaders with a candid look at the accomplishments of the past year as well as a discussion of opportunities and challenges in the coming year.
Chamber Board Chair Brooke Damron began the presentation by acknowledging city and school officials in attendance, then gave a brief overview of the focus of the event.
This “State of the City and District” business luncheon is being held at a pivotal moment in San Marcos history,” Damron said. “With rapid growth continuing to impact our landscape, collaboration isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. Over the past year, we’ve weathered challenges and celebrated milestones, and one thing remains clear: progress in our community is a team effort.”
In her introduction for City Manager Stephanie Reyes, Damron said that she and Reyes were fourth-grade classmates who formed their own club.
“Along with two other very serious fourth-grade fashionistas, we founded what we proudly called “The Guess Club” at recess. We’d sit on the cement block and map out a monthly calendar of the days we were required to wear a Guess-branded outfit. Stephanie, of course, was the one who carefully designed the color-coded calendar. She had the best handwriting, but she always made sure to gather input from the rest of us.
“Looking back, it’s no surprise that even at 10 years old, she was already showing the leadership organization and collaborative spirit that define her today,” Damron said.
Reyes hugged Damron as she approached the podium, and began her talk by thanking her team at the city.
“I get a lot of credit as a city manager, but I’ll tell you what, I don’t do it alone,” Reyes said. ”It is a spectacular team that is beside me every single day, helping to guide this work.”
Rather than a scripted presentation, Reyes said her talk would be more of a conversation, with audience members asked to scan a QA code which directed them to a question about San Marcos.
“Community engagement is a priority for us,” Reyes said. “Because decisions about growth, infrastructure safety, economic development and our budget affect everyone today and for generations to come.”
The first question was “What do you think makes San Marcos special?” After a couple of minutes, Reyes announced the results by summarizing a bar chart projected to either side of the podium. The top three responses were: 1.The river and our natural environment; 2. Texas State University and the energy it brings to our city, and 3. The strong sense of community we have here.
“San Marcos continues to grow and evolve, bringing both excitement and responsibility,” Reyes said. “Our role is to make thoughtful decisions about how we invest in services, infrastructure and spaces that support our community. What truly makes San Marcos special is our people, the entrepreneurs, the students and the families that are building their lives here.”
Reyes said the city began the fiscal year with a $4 million shortfall, but reduced this gap to $1.5 million through strategic cost-saving measures such as reviewing vacancies, managing food costs and adjusting fees. She added that the preliminary tax roll statement for the city shows $367 million in new property value, leading to $3.1 million in additional property tax revenue. The city also predicts $700,000 of additional sales tax.
“Residential and construction permits represent $5.35 billion in investments in our community and its future,” Reyes said.
She singled out three projects as having a major impact on the San Marcos economy in the coming year. Buc-ee’s Travel Center, opening in summer of 2026, will provide a $50 million investment in the economy, with 175 full-time jobs. The H-E-B on McCarty Lane, currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2026, will provide 212 full-time jobs and 238 part-time jobs. And the Boutique Hotel adjacent to the Texas State campus will provide 250 jobs once completed.
Another of the interactive questions asked the audience how they feel about the growth the city has been experiencing. The top three responses were: 1. Supportive of growth, but believe it needs careful planning, 2. Excited about the opportunities it brings, and 3. Concerned about the pace of growth and its impacts.
As part of the discussion on area growth, Reyes showed a short video highlighting local businesses, some of which began in the last few years and others which had been in the area for decades. The businesses were Bobcat Movers (est.2005), McCoy’s Building Supply (est. 1972), Mochas & Javas (est. 2003), Sunset Bowling Lanes (est. 1959), San Marcos Veterinary Clinic (est. 1990), and Green Guy Recycling (est. 1995).
The areas which the city has prioritized for business growth are advanced manufacturing, destination attractions, clean technology, regional distribution, aerospace and aviation, she said.
As San Marcos continues to attract business investment, the city must focus on maintaining the quality of services, according to Reyes. Another question posed this choice to the audience: “If you had to pick one, what’s the most critical infrastructure investment for the city to prioritize?” The top three finishers: 1. Water and wastewater systems, 2. Roads and mobility, and 3. Flood mitigation.
Capital improvement projects in the past year have included 15 lanemiles of roads resurfaced, 150,000 ft. of storm pipes safeguarded and more than 1.5 miles of sidewalks installed, Reyes said. In the next few weeks, city staff and the City Council will finalize over 300 amendments to the Land Development Code, including efforts to streamline development processes and provide clarity to business and development stakeholders.
Reyes also recapped the number of calls answered by first responders as well as additional services provided by the city. To find out more on the State of the City, visit sanmarcostx. gov/newshub “Let’s keep working and let’s keep believing in what’s possible, because the best chapters of our story are not behind us, they’re still ahead, and we’re the ones who are going to write those stories,” Reyes said.
