Handgun prohibition back on council docket
Concealed carry of handguns could be prohibited in city meetings following this week’s city council meeting.
On Tuesday, the San Marcos City Council will vote on resolution 2019-138R, which was postponed during Council’s Aug. 6 meeting. If passed, the resolution would forbid concealed handguns in rooms where a meeting of a government entity is being held, which includes city Council or any city Board, commission, body, or committee meeting.
The resolution states that handguns will be prohibited regardless of whether the gun is concealed or openly carried.
Resolution No. 2015-177R already prohibits the 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 supersede Resolution No. 2015-177R and prevent concealed carry in these meetings as well.
In other business, city council will hold a public hearing and consider approval of Resolution 2019-159R, which provides no objections to LDG Development’s submission of an application to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for low-income housing tax credits.
According to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, “Tax credits are awarded to eligible participants to offset a portion of their federal tax liability in exchange for the production or preservation of affordable rental housing. The value associated with the tax credits allows residences in HTC developments to be leased to qualified households at below market rate rents.”
According to the resolution, LDG Development, a company based in Louisville, KY, intends to submit the application for its proposed Redwood Multifamily housing project. Redwood will provide approximately 336 units of affordable rental housing, located at 1600 Block of Redwood Road.
Should the resolution pass, it will express the city’s support for the submission of LDG Development’s application and authorization of the allocation of Housing Tax Credits for the project.
After postponement during the last city council meeting, members will vote to approve an updated contract with VeoRide for the renewal of its Dockless Bike Share System. The proposed contract has been updated to address citizen complaints and idle bicycles, which were addressed in council’s Aug. 6 meeting.
Additionally, council will consider approval of a resolution that supports a 319 Grant proposal to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The proposal was submitted by the Meadows Center for the continued implementation of the Watershed Protection Plan (WPP).
Council will also vote to authorize the City of San Marcos to form an Urban Transit District, which will allow the cCity to receive State Urban Transit Funds from the Texas Department of Transportation, according to information from city Staff.
“An Urban Transit District means a local governmental body or political subdivision of the state that operates a public transportation system in an urbanized area with a population greater than 50,000 but less than 200,000,” the resolution states.
Council will approve an amended ordinance that will call for a Nov. 5 General Election to be conducted jointly with Hays County.
Additionally, council will discuss design standards for both downtown and design standards applicable in Historic Districts.
Tuesday’s meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at 630 E. Hopkins St.
