Council to consider forbidding handguns in City meetings

After a month off, the San Marcos City Council will resume its regular meeting today. 

The Council will vote on this evening to approve a resolution that forbids concealed handguns in rooms where a meeting of a government entity is being held, which includes city council or any city board, commission or committee meeting. 

The resolution states that handguns are forbidden regardless of whether the gun is concealed or openly carried. 

Section 46.035 (c) and (i) of the Texas Penal Code prevents licensed handgun holders from carrying a handgun in rooms where a government entity is held if the meeting is subject to the Texas Open Meetings Act, however, the law is not effective unless notice of the rule is given. As such, the new resolution would allow the city to provide notice that no handguns, whether concealed or openly carried, will be allowed at open meetings. 

Resolution No. 2015-177R already prohibits open carry of handguns in rooms where “city council or any city board, commission, committee or body are being held.” The new resolution, if passed, will supercede Resolution No. 2015-177R and prevent concealed carry in these meetings as well. 

According to Texas Penal Code, violation of this handgun law could result in a Class A misdemeanor.

In other business, council will consider approval of Resolution 2019-135R, which will approve the appointment of Bickerstaff, Heath, Delgado, Acosta, LLP to represent the city in litigation against Senate Bill 1004 and Senate Bill 1152. The bills relate to municipal right-of-ways and fees cities may charge and receive for the right-of-ways. If passed, San Marcos will join the lead client, the City of McAllen, along with several other Texas cities in the suit against the constitutionality of the two Senate bills. 

Additionally, the council will consider the approval of Ordinance 2019-18, which will order a general election to be held on Nov. 5, 2019 to elect City Council member to places one and two. The election will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the deadline for candidates to file is Aug. 19. 

Council will consider approval for a resolution that will approve a renewal contract with VeoRide for the company’s dockless smart bike system. The city and Texas State University worked together to bring VeoRide to San Marcos in 2018 as part of the city’s effort to encourage bicycling as a mode of transportation.

The council will also consider appointments to fill vacancies on the Historic Preservation Commission and the Senior Citizen Advisory Board. 

Additionally, the council will consider a resolution in support of the city’s application to the Texas  Department of Transportation for a shared use path project on Hopkins Street/State Highway 80. 

The council will vote on the appointment of Vincent Luizzi as an associate judge of the San Marcos Municipal Court of Record for a two-year term. 

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at 630 E. Hopkins St.