City Council to take a hybrid approach to future meetings
Sierra Martin | Managing Editor
SAN MARCOS — After over a year of conducting San Marcos City Council meetings virtually, council members are planning to return to the council chamber during their August 3 meeting, while social distancing and maintaining virtual access.
The Texas Municipal League recently stated that on September 1, the Open Meetings Act Suspensions will be lifted, allowing in-person meetings to resume.
Councilmember Maxfield Baker expressed some reservations for coming back to in-person meetings unmasked with the growing outbreak of the Delta variant. Overall, he would like to return in person, but maintain virtual accessibility to the community.
“My biggest concern is actually this idea that we’re going to get rid of zoom and all the access that it has created for people,” said Baker. “I mentioned this and other conversations about access for those with disabilities or chaotic family lives, but still want to be able to participate. I hope that when we do return that we managed to keep some semblance of digital participation.”
Council will space out in the chambers, and city staff and consultants would have the option to speak through zoom, when necessary. The public will be able to attend council meetings in person, and masks will not be required, but social distancing will be encouraged.
“It looks like council members are ready to come back,” said Mayor Jane Hughson. “But we need to spread out, staff is willing to zoom in to give us that opportunity. We will still allow for the public to zoom in for citizen comments, and public hearings like we’ve been doing and staff will allow people into the chambers if they want to come sit.”
Community members intending to speak during the citizen comment periods can be attended either in person or through zoom, although the council still requires those wishing to speak to sign up before noon on the day of the meeting.
City staff will have a zoom test prior to the August 3rd meeting to practice and put in place the future hybrid procedure that will be adopted by the city council.
The San Marcos City Council meets on the first and third Monday of every month. Meeting archives and agendas can be found on their website.
Staff need to show themselves on camera. If they do not have a laptop or desktop, then show up in person. The taxpayers have a right to see them speaking not just an audio. This goes to transparency. Something our city manager does not adhere to in most instances of his decision making process. I look forward to posting some information about how many people have retired, resigned or been terminated under the incompetent city manager Bert Lumbreras, who lives in the kissing tree.
PS welcome back to the toxic mold den city council. The building Steve Parker says there is no mold even tho the city keeps making expenditures to fix the problem.