San Marcos City Manager Bert Lumbreras has announced his intention to retire effective January 31, 2022. Lumbreras formally notified members of the San Marcos City Council during their regular meeting on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.
In a letter to Council, Lumbreras noted he has been planning his retirement for almost two years and made his decision strictly to focus on new personal goals.
“I have had the very distinct honor and privilege to serve as San Marcos’ City Manager,” said Lumbreras. “This is all I have done and have always wanted to do. Now it is time for me to spend time with my family, travel, take on new hobbies, and volunteer.”
Lumbreras began his career with the City of San Marcos as an intern in 1981. He went on to work directly in city management in several communities for 40 years, returning to San Marcos in 2017.
“I chose city management in my freshman year of college with the intention of making a difference,” said Lumbreras. “It is only befitting I finish out my career 40 years later in a city we have loved for many years and the home of my alma mater.”
In his letter, Lumbreras highlighted a list of projects and initiatives the City accomplished, put on the path for significant success, or made great strides toward with Council support during his tenure including:
- $32 million worth of voter-approved bond projects including the renovation and expansion of the San Marcos Public Library, and updated facilities for the San Marcos Fire Department and San Marcos Police Department
- Construction of a new $44 million Public Service Center to streamline services
- Successful reaffirmation of the City’s AA bond rating and proposing a balanced budget during some of the most challenging budget processes due to the pandemic
- Adopted a variety of community-focused maintenance and recovery plans including a new SMTX Land Development Code, Housing Action Plan, CDBG Disaster Recovery Plan, and Downtown Architectural Standards and Master Plan
- Acquired properties along Guadalupe Street in collaboration with the Downtown TIRZ and commenced plans for redevelopment
- Completed a housing needs study, taking three City-owned sites for workforce housing units, and created a Workforce Housing Taskforce
- Introduction of cost effective, energy saving sustainability and efficiency standards in new City buildings, updated Climate Action Plan, and environmentally focused rebate programs
- Addressed mobility throughout the community through infrastructure, working toward a seamless transit system with Texas State University, and implementing a permanent program for bikeshare and electric scooters
- Collaborative partnerships with local organizations including Texas State University, the Greater San Marcos Partnership, and the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce
- Managed the City during multiple local disasters and incidents including floods, the COVID-19 pandemic, law enforcement deaths and injuries in the line of duty, the Iconic Village apartment fire, and this past February’s winter storm
“I have been truly blessed,” said Lumbreras. “I retire knowing we have made a difference, given it our best with very little, and worked tirelessly to give back to our community.”
In their upcoming regular meeting scheduled for September 21, Council will discuss moving forward with the search process for a new city manager.
For more information, contact the City Manager’s Office at 512.393.8101. For media inquiries, contact communicationsinfo@sanmarcostx.gov.
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