Fire, food codes get green light

The codes governing fire safety in San Marcos received an official update last week, and the city’s food safety code is next.

At its meeting last Tuesday, the San Marcos City Council approved the second reading of the new fire code and the first reading of the new ordinances governing food establishments. 

The Fire Prevention and Protection ordinance included numerous local amendments, including the addition of penalties for violations and a provision that the fire marshal shall be appointed by the fire chief. The food code includes measures to accommodate the downtown Third Thursday event and other amendments to bring the city’s code in line with state law. 

In other business, the council held a discussion but did not take a vote on restructuring funds related to the San Marcos Cemetery and changing cemetery fees. The Cemetery Commission has suggested dissolving the perpetual care fund, which the city recently depleted to purchase 4.2 acres for the expansion of the cemetery. 

“My concern is that we had that money because we set money aside in that special fund,” Mayor Jane Hughson said. “Please advise why we would not want to repeat that process, though we might change the name of the fund, and how we can build up some funds in the future.”

The city’s financial chief Heather Hurlbert explained that when lots in the cemetery are sold, the money is divided between the perpetual care fund and the cemetery fund. 

“We’re proposing that we dissolve the perpetual care fund … and then all funds would go into just the cemetery operating fund rather than having a portion of it allocated to the perpetual care fund,” she said. 

The Cemetery Commission is also suggesting that the perpetual care fee be included in the purchase fee of a lot in the cemetery.