School Supply Drive with GSMYC

While shopping for school supplies, why not pick up a few extra items to help a SM child that might not have the resources to be successful.  Greater San Marcos Youth Council is hosting a community-wide school supply drive through August 22 that ...

Banana Split Eating Contest Between FD and PD

Dairy Queen on Hwy 80 had a grand opening on Saturday, July 29 and recruited the Fire Department and Police Department in a banana split eating contest.  The Fire Department won the challenge!  If the food had been donuts, then the outco...

Summer Fan Drive

Family Eldercare’s well-known Summer Fan Drive is still accepting donations.  This year marks the 27th anniversary for the Summer Fan Drive. When it began in 1990, staff and volunteers gathered 50 fans for Austin seniors. This summer th...

Lil’ Firefighters Day Camp

The San Marcos Fire Department held its second annual Junior Fire Academy camp one week in June and July.  The camp was available for boys and girls ages 8 -11.   

The mission of the camp was to install servant-leadership, teamwo...

Sam's Club Donates $1000 to SMFD

Fire Chief Les Stephens from the San Marcos Fire Department along with Assistant Chiefs Karl Kuhlman, Rick Rowell, and Administrative Assistant Senior Melinda Villarreal received $1000.00 dollar check on July 21, 2017 from Sam’s Club Store Manag...

SMFD Brings Home Silver

On a couple of hot, arid July weekdays, the San Marcos Fire Department participated in the Texas Firefighter Summer Games that were held in San Angelo, Texas.  The team played 6 matches in two consecutive days with only two substitute players. &a...

Local Business Donates Smoke Detectors

Brett Harmer from United Technologies Aerospace Systems donated almost 40 smoke detectors on July 7, 2017 to the San Marcos Fire Department for the department’s smoke detector program.

The employees of UTC Aerospace Systems held a smoke detector ...

Firefighter’s Receive Paramedic Certification

Firefighters Robert Dallimore, Ross Garman, and Lucas Sergent graduated from University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and achieved their paramedic certification. 

The program consists of 30 semester credit hours and they attended f...

Junior Fire Academy Day Camp - CAMP FULL FOR JUNE & JULY!

The program is open to boys and girls, ages 8 - 11.  It will give your child a chance to interact with Fire Department staff and to make friends with positive role models.  The mission of the camp is to instill camaraderie, servant-leade...

SMFD and PD Assist with 100 Club Fundraiser

On Monday, May 15, 2017, the San Marcos Fire Department and Police Department assisted the 100 Club of Central Texas to support them in a fundraiser with Freddy’s Custard and Steakburgers.  The event coincided with Peace Officers Memori...

Public Safety Bond Gets Voter OK

The public safety bond included the relocation of the Holland Street Fire Station #2, the construction of a new fire station on the east side of Interstate 35, the creation of a fire training facility located near the airport, and renovations to the San M...

Insurance Services Office (ISO) Rating for San Marcos

A rating schedule was developed by the Insurance Services Office (ISO). This rating schedule serves insurance companies that cover property and casualty benefits for their clients.  ISO representatives use the schedule when surveying a community’...

Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for New Station #4

The new facility will replace the current Fire Station #4, located at 404 Broadway, which opened in 1982 and has been plagued by both structural and functional shortfalls.  At 4:00 p.m., Friday, March 10, 2017, the ceremony started at the site of...

New Activity Guide Available

The Activity Guide covers September 2017-February 2018. Click here to view it.

New Park Rules

Park Rules

• ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION/DISPLAY PROHIBITED
• NO SMOKING OR E-CIGARETTES/INHALED VAPOR DEVICES
• NO GLASS CONTAINERS
• NO STYROFOAM CONTAINERS
• MOTORIZED VEHICLES PROHIBITED BEYOND PARKING AREAS
• ANIMALS ARE TO REMAIN RESTRAINED AT ALL TIMES
• ALL WILDLIF...

Fall 2017 Preferred Scenario Amendment

PSA-17-04 Yarrington Commons – A request for approximately 95 acres of Employment Center near Yarrington Road and Post Road. CLICK HERE for more information.

City Initiated Amendments – Changes to the Preferred Scenario Map to support the adoption of CodeS...

Revised Fee Schedule

The City Council provided direction to Planning and Development Services staff to research fee revenue and actual cost of service to process permits, review applications, and inspect permitted projects. Staff researched fees charged by other cities and an...

Code SMTX - Adoption Process Begins

Code SMTX, the project to update the City’s land development code, continues to make progress and has moved into the approval stage. Find out more about how the Code is implementing the City’s Comprehensive Plan.

Police Entrance Exam

San Marcos Police Department will be hosting a Police Entrance Exam on Friday November 3, 2017 at 8:30 am. For further details see Addition Information below

34th Annual National Night Out October 3, 2017

neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. It provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Come and join the San Marcos Police Department in celebration of the 34th ann...

San Marcos Animal Shelter Hosts Biannual Shelter Game Night

The San Marcos Animal Shelter is preparing for their third Biannual Shelter Game Night. The event will be on Friday, Aug. 25, from 6-9 p.m. at the San Marcos Rec Hall, 170 Charles Austin Drive.

The event features many rounds of Bingo, baked goods and drink...

San Marcos Arts Commission Accepting Grant Applications for Art and Cultural Diversity Projects

The City of San Marcos Arts Commission is accepting funding applications for art projects.

The deadline to apply is Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. Applicants are encouraged to schedule a pre-review meeting with city staff to discuss and review applications prior ...

Rose Brooks Selected for First San Marcos Community Outstanding Senior Citizen Volunteer Award

San Marcos Parks and Recreation and the San Marcos Senior Advisory Board invites the public to join them for the first ever San Marcos Community Senior Citizen Volunteer Award presentation at the San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E. Hopkins on National Seni...

City Seeks Nominations for Women’s Hall of Fame

The City of San Marcos is seeking nominations of outstanding local women to induct into the San Marcos Women’s Hall of Fame annual ceremony in October.The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, Sep. 8, at 5 p.m. Entry forms are available...

FEMA Proposes New Flood Maps for San Marcos

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the State of Texas, and local communities and counties, have released preliminary flood maps for public review and comment. These preliminary flo...

San Marcos Animal Shelter hosts annual Empty the Shelter Event

The San Marcos Animal Shelter will host their annual Empty the Shelter event Friday, Aug. 18, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at 750 River Road.

The shelter will offer a chance to spin the “Wheel of Adoptions” and award an adoption special to ever...

Drop Off Brushy Waste Saturday – 750 River Road

 The City of San Marcos will host its monthly brushy waste drop-off for residential garbage and recycling service customers on Saturday, Aug. 12 from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The brush drop off can be reached by taking the San Marcos Animal Shelter entranc...

Northbound McCarty exit to Close for Tax-Free Weekend

The northbound McCarty Lane exit ramp will be closed on Friday, Aug. 11 at noon until 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12 to accommodate increased traffic at the outlet malls during Tax-Free Weekend.

Dynamic signs on the interstate will notify motorists of the closed...

SECRETARY CARSON ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL $179 MILLION TO HELP STATES RECOVER FROM 2015, 2016 DISASTERS

SECRETARY CARSON ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL $179 MILLION TO HELP STATES RECOVER FROM 2015, 2016 DISASTERS

Funding to support recovery in hard-hit areas of Florida, West Virginia, Texas, and the Carolinas

WASHINGTON – U.S. Housing and Urban Development (...

Children’s Park Play Scape Renovation Project Meeting

What:          Informational meeting and public input

When:         August 2, 2017 10 am to 1 pm, and 5 to 7 pm

Where:        San Marcos Act...

August 2017 Downtown Business of the Month

For the month of August, Main Street is proud to present the Downtown Business of the Month award to Sean Patrick’s Pub for their contributions to both Downtown San Marcos and the local community.

Sean Patrick’s opened in 2005 and was purchased by Brian Je...

Animal Shelter Receives Grant Funding for Adoption Trailer

The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter has just been awarded a grant for a mobile adoption trailer from their adoption partners at PetSmart Charities. Over the course of the last 7 months, the Animal Services Team, the City of San Marcos Grants Team and F...

City Rules Require Annual Inspections of Stormwater Facilities

San Marcos City Council approved amendments to the drainage utility ordinance as part of the City’s stormwater management plan on July 5. The amendments require permanent stormwater management facility owners to annually submit inspection report...

Summer Road Construction in San Marcos

Roadway repairs and constructions are in high gear this time of year. Texas State University student traffic is lighter now than any other time of year allowing the City of San Marcos and Texas State University crews to make necessary repairs and perform ...

San Marcos Fire Department Seeks Fan Donations

The San Marcos Fire Department is partnering with Family Eldercare to distribute fans to seniors, adults with disabilities, and families across 14 Central Texas counties during its 27^th annual Summer Fan Drive.

SMFD will accept fan donations at any of the ...

Rabies Alert Issued to San Marcos Residents

The City of San Marcos is issuing a rabies alert after a fox was found exhibiting unusual behavior on the 1400 block of Wonder World Drive July 19 tested positive for rabies. This is the second case of rabies in San Marcos in less than 30 days.

The previou...

San Marcos Commission on Children and Youth Awards Funds

The San Marcos Commission on Children and Youth (SMCCY) has completed its first round of youth services funding, distributing $46,000 to ten different youth programs that satisfied needs of children in San Marcos, in line with the Youth Master Plan (www.s...

Bert Lumbreras Named Lone Finalist in City Manager Search

San Marcos City Council has chosen Bert Lumbreras as the lone finalist for San Marcos City Manager.

The City Council, with assistance from Strategic Government Resources, conducted an extensive search and a rigorous interview process that led to the select...

San Marcos to enter Stage 1 drought restrictions

The City of San Marcos will enter Stage 1 drought restrictions effective July 16 in response to dropping aquifer levels. The Edwards Aquifer Authority implemented Stage 1 on July 13.

Stage 1 drought rules restrict use of sprinklers to one day per week on a...

Arts Commission Seeks Nominations for Arts Recognition Award

The City of San Marcos Arts Commission is seeking nominations for the SMart Award to honor

artists, arts and cultural organizations, community members and businesses, students and friends of the City who have contributed substantially to the cultural and a...

Local Business Donates Smoke Detectors

Brett Harmer from United Technologies Aerospace Systems donated almost 40 smoke detectors on July 7, 2017 to the San Marcos Fire Department for the department’s smoke detector program.

The employees of UTC Aerospace Systems held a smoke detector ...

Art Teachers Selected for Crockett Elementary Mural

Two San Marcos CISD art teachers have been selected to paint a mural at Crockett Elementary School as part of the San Marcos Mural Arts Program.

Jessica Botello and Amy Hall were awarded the project by the Mural Art Committee and Crockett Elementary School...

City Asking Public’s Help Identifying Tree Vandals

The City of San Marcos is seeking help from the public identifying the person or people who spray-painted an ancient cypress tree on Thompson’s Island.

The damage was discovered July 1. It is believed the offense took place sometime the week befo...

July 2017 Downtown Business of the Month

For the month of July, Main Street is awarding the Downtown Business of the Month award to San Marcos Athletic Club for their contributions to both Downtown San Marcos and the local community.

“San Marcos Athletic Club exemplifies staying power a...

Dog Exposed to Rabid Fox on 1400 Blk of Wonder World Dr.

The City of San Marcos is issuing a rabies alert after a fox that attacked a family dog on the 1400 block of Wonder World Drive June 28 tested positive for rabies.

The dog is in the custody of a local veterinarian and will undergo a state-required 90-day i...

Call For Artists – Raising Cane’s Retaining Wall

The City of San Marcos in partnership with Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is seeking proposals from Central Texas area artists to design and create a mural on the retaining wall located at the restaurant. This mural will be an addition to a seri...

City Confirms Five Finalists for City Manager Position

City Confirms Five Finalists for City Manager Position

The City of San Marcos is considering five candidates for the City Manager position that was vacated when former City Manager Jared Miller stepped down in January to become the City Manager of Amarillo...

City, SMRF Program Director Honored by Keep Texas Beautiful

The City of San Marcos and the program director for the San Marcos River Foundation were honored at the 50th Annual Keep Texas Beautiful Annual Conference June 12-14 in San Antonio. 

The City of San Marcos won the Government Award- Population 30,0...

Communications Department Earns Statewide Honors

The City of San Marcos Communications Department has won three statewide awards from the Texas Association of Municipal Information.

The department won top honors in the marketing categories, the Award of Excellence for Best Use of Social Media, and an Awa...

City Honored for Budget Presentation for 32nd Year

The City of San Marcos has received the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the Fiscal Year 2017 budget.

The award is the highest form of recognition the GFOA presents cities in governmental budge...

San Marcos CDBG-DR Housing Workshop Set for June 7

The City of San Marcos will hold the second in a series of workshops to share information with residents and assist in the application process for the City’s disaster recovery housing program. The workshop is set for Wednesday, June 7 at the San...

San Marcos Park Rangers Enforcing New Rules

San Marcos Park Rangers are enforcing new park rules passed earlier this month and, with aid from San Marcos Police and Marshals, will step up patrols during the Memorial Day Weekend.

The new park rules, which were approved by the City Council May 2, prohi...

Springtime Reminder: Don’t Disturb Baby Wildlife

This spring and summer marks the time when San Marcos residents begin to see young and baby wildlife, and occasionally these animals will be without their mother.

The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter has had several baby animals brought in by residents t...

San Marcos Police Warn Residents About Bank Jugging Crimes

San Marcos Police Department is releasing surveillance video of a “bank jugging” crime following three incidents that occurred in March. Jugging is when a crook watches a bank customer leave a bank with money, follows them, and breaks ...

Rumor: The City of San Marcos is anti-pet and won’t allow animals at eating establishments & bars.

Rumor:  The City of San Marcos is anti-pet and won’t allow animals at eating establishments and bars.

Fact: Texas State law within the 2006 Texas Food Establishment Rules, which the city has adopted, prohibits animals on the premises of food estab...

Rumor: The City of San Marcos is charging fees for entry into the San Marcos River.

Fact: The City is not charging for access to the river or river parks, and has no plans at this time to implement park user fees.

The Parks Advisory Board and City staff made a presentation to the City City during the February 21, 2017 City Council meeting...

Rumor: A scary clown hoax has made it to San Marcos.

Fact: At this time, the San Marcos Police Department has no active cases involving clowns as suspects, witnesses, or victims.

The department is aware that there is at least one spurious clown social media account in San Marcos.  

While there have b...

Rumor: Resident are concerned about what appeared to be a kidnapping or hostage situation.

Fact: We looked into the concerns and our police department tells us the incident took place Monday night after patrons and employees of IHOP saw a man and woman arguing near a vehicle next to the Old CiCis pizza in Springtown Center. There was also anoth...

Rumor: The City of San Marcos has hiked the minimum wage to $15 an hour plus benefits.

Fact: The City of San Marcos and the State of Texas adopts the federal minimum wage rate.

The San Marcos City Council voted on Feb. 2. 2016 to amend the City of San Marcos Economic Development Policy to require all jobs calculated or counted for economic d...