Council to mull Cite & Release program
A program to decrease arrests for certain misdemeanors is returning to the city council agenda for the first time since October 2019.
For consideration of Cite and Release, a statewide discretionary program, council will hear a report from the Criminal Justice Reform Committee, discuss draft legislation supporting the program and provide direction to City Manager Bert Lumbreras.
Texas law enforcement agencies have been able to Cite and Release since 2007, allowing officers to use their discretion on whether to issue a citation or to arrest for certain low-level, non-violent offenses. The proposed legislation for the City of San Marcos seeks to guide law enforcement on what instances a citation may or may not be used.
Under Cite and Release, the person issued a citation must be a county resident, must appear in court at a later date, must not be a threat to themselves or others, must not be publicly intoxicated, must have no outstanding warrants and must not be charged with a more serious offense.
Up for debate will be whether to pass the draft legislation as a resolution, which would serve as support of the program, or as an ordinance, which would mandate law enforcement to take action on broadly implementing the program and enforce data collection. They will also discuss specific language around the list of exceptions.
Other business will include possible action on items to approve funding and personnel for a new Youth Services Director. The votes were postponed until the Hays County Commissioners Court approved its portion of the joint funding, which passed unanimously Jan. 21 and included an outline of the director’s responsibilities.
The Youth Services Director will develop programs to increase education levels and college and career readiness for Hays County youth.
Resolution 2020-3R would approve the agreement between Texas State University, San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District and Hays County to provide the joint funding for a contract with Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas to “provide personnel to serve as a youth services director to administer youth services and programs for the benefit of the city and such entities.” The following Resolution 2020-33R would then approve an agreement with Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas to hire the Youth Services Director who would administer these programs. The amount for personnel will not exceed $110,000 in total, and the City of San Marcos will not contribute more than $50,000 toward the amount.
The council will also receive a staff presentation with priorities to be considered for drafting the 2020-2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Consolidated Plan, comment on the proposed renewal of the Citizen Participation Plan and provide direction to the city manager.
The Community Development Block Grant Entitlement Program is funding provided by the federal housing department to promote developing livable urban communities by providing housing, a suitable living environment and expanded economic opportunities for people with low and moderate incomes. This is related to two other grants that aid with disaster recovery which have already been completed, and disaster mitigation which is in progress.
Later, council will hold a public hearing on Resolution 2020-48R, which would approve Substantial Amendment No. 9 to the CDBG-Disaster Recovery Action Plan that changes eligibility criteria for Single Family Housing Assistance to include any qualifying flood damage home in the city. It also changes the activity category of the Blanco Riverine Project from “Construction” to “Acquisition.”
There will also be a Public Hearing to receive comments for or against Resolution 2020-49R, which would adopt the CDBG-Mitigation Action Plan that provides for the allocation of the $24,012,000 from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Tuesday's meeting begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall — 630 E. Hopkins St.
