San Marcos City Council To Consider Construct Contract Award For Park Renovations, Speed Limits And Grants

Staff Reports

The San Marcos City Council will consider several items during their regular meeting tonight including reducing the speed limit for two San Marcos neighborhoods and approving the award of a construction contract to T.F. Harper and Associates, LP.

As part of the consent agenda, council will consider reducing the speed limit from 30 Miles Per Hour to 25 Miles Per Hour for several sections of road in the Black Garden and Blanco Terrace Neighborhoods.  

According to the agenda, city staff conducted a traffic speed study on major streets in the Blanco Garden and Blanco Terrace Neighborhoods between November 30, 2018, and December 2, 2018.

For all three major streets studied, the 85^th percentile speeds were within 5 MPH of the current speed limit. Staff is suggesting the speed limit be changed on a total of eleven streets.

City Council approved the speed limit change on the first of two readings at their last meeting with a 7-0 vote.

Also as part of their consent agenda, the council will consider approving the award of a construction contract to T.F. Harper and Associates, LP, for improvements to Anita Reyes Park.

According to the agenda, the proposed project is for a Community Development Block Grant-funded project to renovate Anita Reyes Park; the renovation will include the installation of a new playground, a new canopy shade structure, 375 feet of 4-foot sidewalks and the painting of the existing wrought-iron fence.

The award of the construction contract to T.F. Harper & Associates, LP is in the amount of $143,530.75.

In other news, council members will consider the approval of a resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to apply for Homeland Security Grants for the San Marcos Emergency Warning Sirens and for Primary Emergency Operations Center Technology Upgrades.

According to the agenda, the city intends to apply for grants to sustain existing early warning systems and capabilities and upgrade equipment and technology for the San Marcos Police Department auditorium.

Currently, the City of San Marcos uses the San Marcos Police Department auditorium for its Primary Emergency Operations Center, which is not “adequately equipped to operate in such a capacity.”

Staff says the upgrades will allow emergency operations center staff to be better enabled to communicate with mutual aid partners, efficiently track resources, gather damage assessment data, share information and maintain overall awareness of the disaster situation.

Finally, the SMART Terminal will return before city council in an executive session discussion. Council will deliberate after a presentation from staff on a 380 Economic Development Incentive Agreement for the terminal. Action could follow in the open meeting.

Council will convene at 6:00 PM in the San Marcos Council Chambers at City Hall.