City approves parks plan, food code

The San Marcos Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan got its final approval Tuesday night.

The San Marcos City Council gave the plan the green light after some discussion about trails on a map in the plan. Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Prewitt voiced concerns about trails going through private property.

“They’re very conceptual in nature and not really meant to be in a specified location on the ground,” community services chief Drew Wells said of the trails on the map. They were drawn to coincide with the city’s Transportation Master Plan, he said.

“When we get to the implementation phase … there will be a design portion of that project and an opportunity for public input on exactly where those trail alignments need to go on the ground,” Wells said. 

Rather than redraw the lines on the Parks Master Plan map, thereby creating changes in the Transportation Master Plan, council agreed that the word “conceptual” can be added to the trails maps in the two master plans.

Council approved the parks plan on the second of two readings.

The city council also approved the second of two readings of the ordinance updating and revising the city’s food safety code. The updates keep San Marcos in line with state law governing food establishments. 

In other business, council approved a resolution awarding a design-build construction agreement to Flintco LLC for the new Fire Station No. 2. The $359,000 contract will cover pre-construction services for the station, which will be located off Centerpoint Road and will serve the southwestern part of the city. The fire station is part of the city’s 2017 bond initiative.

Fire Chief Les Stephens said that even with changes in how the construction and design will take place, “We are currently on track to be within budget.”