San Marcos City Council Working To Strengthen Their Ethics Policy

This ordinance falls under the San Marcos City Code; Chapter 2, Article 5, Code of Ethics and most people would be thrilled to know that the city council is working to strengthen their Ethics Policy.

At tonight’s San Marcos City Council meeting the council will be holding their second reading of Ordinance 2017-20(b) which will require Financial Disclosure Forms to be filed by “members of temporary boards, commissions, subcommittees or similar groups.”

This ordinance falls under the San Marcos City Code; Chapter 2, Article 5, Code of Ethics, and the city council is working to strengthen their Ethics Policy.

The City of San Marcos Article 5, Code of Ethics  follows closely, but not exactly, the rules of the Texas Chapter 145. Financial Disclosure By And Standards Of Conduct For Local Government Officers.

The Texas Chapter 145 applies only to a municipalities with a population of 100,000 or more. The difference between the two is in the language, but when reading legalese, a few words could have a significant difference in the meaning.

The differences between the two are the consequences if the “officials” do not follow the stated guidelines and requirements, how to file a complaint and who can file a complaint.

According to the City of San Marcos’s website, the Mayor and the five of the six council members are missing some of the same reports they are requesting in this new ordinance for “members of temporary boards, commissions, subcommittees or similar groups.”

Corridor News will be filing several Public Information Requests to verify if this is just a slight oversight.

Here’s a quick breakdown on who is missing what with links to the Member’s website page.

John Thomaides – Mayor

• Missing: Semi Annual Campaign Finance Report — January 15, 2017 

Lisa Prewitt – City Council, Place 1

• Missing: Semi Annual Campaign Finance Report — January 15, 2017 
• Missing: Annual Financial Disclosure Report — 2016

Saul Gonzales – Council Member – Place 2

• Missing: Annual Financial Disclosure Report — 2016

Ed Mihalkanin – Council Member – Place 3

• Missing: Annual Financial Disclosure Report — 2016

Jane Hughson – City Council, Place 4      

• Missing: Semi Annual Campaign Finance Report — January 15, 2017  
• Missing: Annual Financial Disclosure Report — 2016

Scott Gregson – City Council Member – Place 5

• No Missing Documents

Melissa Derrick – City Council Member – Place 6

• Missing: Semi Annual Campaign Finance Report — January 15, 2017  
• Missing: Semi Annual Campaign Finance Report — July 15, 2016  
• Missing: Annual Financial Disclosure Report — 2016

See full agenda below.

The San Marcos City Council has not yet to release the following Meeting Minutes for public review;

• Friday, June 2, 2017 – Workshop (Packet) Meeting 
• Friday, May 26, 2017 – Special Called Meeting 
• Tuesday, May 16, 2017 – Regular Meeting 
• Monday, May 15, 2017 – Special Called Meeting  
• Friday, May 12, 2017 – Workshop (Packet) Meeting  
• Friday, May 12, 2017 – Code SMTX Joint Work Session – Council/P&Z 
• Tuesday, May 9, 2017 – Code SMTX Joint Work Session – Council/P&Z  

San Marcos City Council Meeting Minutes released for public review;

• Tuesday, May 2, 2017 – Regular Meeting Minutes 
• Friday, April 28, 2017 – Workshop (Packet) Meeting Minutes 
• Monday, April 24, 2017 – CDBG-DR Meeting Minutes 
• Tuesday, April 4, 2017 – Regular Meeting Minutes 
• Friday, March 31, 2017 – Workshop (Packet) Meeting Minutes 
• Wednesday, March 29, 2017 – CDBG-DR Workshop Minutes 
• Monday, March 27, 2017 – Budget Policy Workshop Minutes 
• Tuesday, March 21, 2017 – Regular Meeting Minutes 
• Tuesday, March 7, 2017 – Regular Meeting Minutes 
• Friday, March 3, 2017 – Workshop (Packet) Meeting Minutes 
• Tuesday, February 21, 2017 – Regular Meeting Minutes 
• Wednesday, February 15, 2017 – Special Meeting Minutes 
• Friday, February 10, 2017 – Council Visioning Workshop Minutes 
• Wednesday, February 8, 2017 –  Joint Council/P&Z Workshop Minutes 
• Tuesday, February 7, 2017 – Regular Meeting Minutes 
• Friday, February 3, 2017 – Workshop (Packet) Meeting Minutes 
• Monday, January 30, 2017 – Council/P&Z Code SMTX Workshop I Minutes 
• Monday, January 23, 2017 – Community Improvement Task Force Recommendation Meeting Minutes 
• Tuesday, January 17, 2017 – Regular Meeting Minutes 
• Friday, January 13, 2017 – Workshop (Packet) Meeting Minutes 
• Tuesday, January 3, 2017 – Regular Meeting Minutes 

San Marcos City Council Regular Meeting Agenda — Tuesday, June 5, 2017 at 5:00 PM