San Marcos City Council Issues Oaths Of Office To New Council Members, Votes To Expand City Cemetery

On Thursday, the city council considered the approval of a contract with Jerry D. Fields and Linda G. Fields for the purchase of approximately 4.21 acres of land adjacent to the San Marcos Cemetery.

Staff Reports

The San Marcos City Council held a special meeting on Wednesday, December 19, and Thursday, December 20.

On Wednesday, the city council held a special meeting to approve on the first and final reading the canvas of the December 2018 Run-Off Election results.

The canvass, which passed 5-0 with Councilmember Scott Gregson absent, was followed by the official swearing in ceremony for Councilmember elect place 4, Jocabed Marquez, and Councilmember elect Place 5, Mark Rockeymoore.

Rockeymoore and Marquez both spoke following their oaths of offices thanking constituents and supporters for their efforts.

Marquez noted the voters of San Marcos had not only elected their first female-majority council but also “a council as diverse as the city itself.”

Prior to the oaths of office, Council held the second of two public hearings regarding the annexation of approximately 934.34 acres along State Highway 80 and FM 1984.

City council will consider the first of two readings on the zoning and annexation of the property on January 15.

On Thursday, the city council considered the approval of a contract with Jerry D. Fields and Linda G. Fields for the purchase of approximately 4.21 acres of land adjacent to the San Marcos Cemetery.

City Manager, Bert Lumbreras thanked council for allowing staff to bring the item before them and expressed the need for the expansion of the city’s cemetery.

According to staff, the cemetery currently the remaining space at the cemetery will allow for an additional 800 plots, and the city sells, on average, 80 plots per year.

Staff reported the cemetery has a remaining lifespan of approximately ten more years before it is capacity.

The city has two options when it comes to expanding. In order to expand within the city limits, the proposed expansion must be adjacent to an existing cemetery. Otherwise, expansion of the cemetery space could only occur in the ETJ.

Lumbreras said those options are dictated by state law.

During the presentation, Lumbreras reviewed the city’s current cemetery feeds.

• Burial Plot Type:
  • Residents: $1,550
  • Non-residents but have a San Marcos Address or Pay School Taxes: $1,900
  • Non-residents: $2,650
  • Perpetual Fee: $50

The proposed purchase of property from Mr. and Mrs. Fields will allow for 1,575 to 2,275 additional plots and “would extend life by an additional 25 to 30 years.”

The purchase price of the property is $2,250,000. The property currently has several homes on it, which are under lease.

According to Lumbreras, the city would assume control of those leases upon purchase and receive the potential revenue of those leases.

The proposed funding options by staff come from the Cemetery Perpetual Fund, which contains $1,071,000, and a Fiscal Year 2019 Capital Improvement Project funding of $1,200,000.

The item passed 6-0 with Councilmember Ed Mihalkanin being absent. The necessary budget amendment will return to city council at a future meeting.

City Council will return in January after the holidays.