MINUTES
Special Meeting of the San Marcos City Council
TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2025
VALLEY OF DISCOVERY CONFERENCE ROOM
1 Civic Center Drive, San Marcos, CA 92069
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Jones called the City Council Meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: JONES, LEBLANG, MUSGROVE, NUÑEZ, SANNELLA ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Chris Freeman, resident, spoke in support of supporting public safety, infrastructure, core services and employee retention.
Tanis Brown, resident, spoke in support of a sustainable work plan and succession planning.
GOAL SETTING WORKSHOP
CITY MANAGER BENDER provided a presentation of the following list of proposed 2025/26 council goals. During the presentation two changes were requested, which are noted.
Public safety and emergency response
1 Improve emergency response times by building and staffing Fire Station 5 $150,000
1. Complete entitlement and environmental clearance for the site
2. Determine delivery method for design and construction 2 Work with Sherrif to develop cost-effective strategies to address emerging law enforcement needs $35,000
1. Seek grant funding to enhance tools and technology that can enhance crime fighting efforts. Bring options to the City Council for consideration $50,000
2. Purchase side by side offroad vehicle to increase Sheriff’s access to open space areas
3. Create new capacity within existing officer resources to strategically deploy where needed 3 Promote emergency preparedness plans to improve resident safety and awareness n/a
1. Identify lessons learned and new best practices from recent natural disasters Update city’s Emergency Operations Plan as needed
2. Conduct emergency preparedness community education campaign within existing officer resources to strategically deploy where needed Traffic management and mobility
4 Enhance e-bike safety through additional education and collaboration with schools and Sheriff $4,000
1. Encourage schools not currently requiring an e-bike permit to establish a program
2. Explore partnership with the San Diego County Bike Coalition to offer safe city cycling classes in San Marcos 5 Add street and pedestrian lighting in high priority areas to enhance safety and walkability $200,000
1. Complete study of crime trends and current lighting needs
2. Create prioritized list of improvements
3. Begin implementation in first area (if funding can be secured) 6 Optimize traffic signal management using smart signals and other supportive strategies along major corridors n/a
1. Analyze performance of key corridors/intersections citywide to identify opportunities to increase throughout
2. Work with Caltrans to determine feasibility of a pilot project to improve coordination of state- controlled signals near freeway entrances and exits 7 Analyze areas of concern on key roadways and intersections where small changes could improve traffic flows and reduce congestion TBD
1. Analyze a minimum of two intersections and other opportunities for operational improvements as part of the San Marcos Boulevard Reconstruction CIP Project 8 Explore options for supporting the NCTD+ program
TBD
1. Initiate discussions with NCTD staff, board, and other potential community partners, to identify potential models to support the program
2. Present potentially viable options to the City Council for consideration Community well-being
9 Help more residents access housing and other basic needs TBD
1. Work with affordable housing projects in San Marcos to pilot test a common application
2. Finalize and publish affordable housing online map
3. Increase oversight of all affordable housing developments to ensure compliance and maximize available units
4. Explore direct financial assistance programs for renters and bring options to the City Council for consideration 10 Make San Marcos an official “Blue Zone” city
Up to
1. Engage community partners to contribute funding for a Blue Zone assessment $150,000
2. Present options to the City Council for funding the assessment, if city funds are needed
3. Become the first city in the region to initiate a Blue Zone assessment 11 Enhance access to arts and culture in San Marcos
TBD
Explore opportunities with the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce to create programs to connect the community with more arts and culture
2. Include arts and culture component in updated Economic Development Strategic Plan
3. Explore establishing arts and culture land uses in Creek Specific Plan 12 Conduct a comprehensive study to upgrade/renovate city pools, including exploring community partnership opportunities for new pools TBD
1. Conduct a best value analysis of current operations and future planning
2. Present results and next steps to the City Council for consideration 13 Enhance city parks and trails maintenance
Q spending
1. Prioritize parks and trails maintenance in Measure Q spending plan plan
2. Explore creation of Trail Volunteer Program, collaborating with community partners, scouting groups and others to host monthly volunteer events focused on trail clean up and maintenance Fiscal health and good governance
14 Explore commercial cannabis program for future revenue generation potential $n/a
1. Create a proposed legal framework, including potential ordinance updates, that would be needed to create a commercial cannabis program Hold an informational City Council workshop featuring experts in various aspects of commercial cannabis programs in a municipal setting. 15 Review School Resource Officer needs and funding. Seek cost-share agreement with school district n/a
1. Review trends, usage and needs with San Diego Sheriff’s Office. Review cost share models from other cities
2. Engage school district in discussion of options for moving forward 16 Explore needs of existing and start up small businesses. Develop new programs to support their success n/a
1. Complete new Economic Development Strategic Plan, including needs assessment and program recommendations
2. Create an updated online toolbox with resources for existing and prospective small business, establishing an easy to find one-stop-shop for small business resources 17 Create a centralized city grant procurement and management strategy $80,000
1. Complete best value analysis for in-house vs contracted grant writer and administrator
2. Proceed with implementation based on findings
3. Continue to work with government relations consultants to identify state and federal funding opportunities 18 Restart the update to the city’s General Plan
n/a
1. Once land uses are determined for the Creek Specific Plan, create a work and resourcing plan for the General Plan update
2. Present plan to the City Council for consideration and direction
3. If directed to proceed, include funding in FY 26/27 budget to proceed 19 Ensure transparency with how Measure Q funds are being spent n/a
1. Create a public dashboard showing annual Measure Q spending plans, reports of actual spending, status of key projects and other information to demonstrate transparency to voters
2. Create visual marker to identify projects being funded by Measure Q on project signs and other materials in the community. 20 Evaluate current campaign contribution limits in comparison to surrounding cities and consider changes $10,000
1. Research current contribution limits and conditions from other cities in the region. Present an overview of campaign contribution law and regional summary to the City Council for discussion and consideration 21 Enhance the San Marcos customer experience
$80,000
1. Complete design and begin migration to a new user-focused city website
2. Complete a best value analysis for info desk and proceed with preferred solution to customer experience for in person visitors and those calling the city
3. Continuing implementing building and development action items from the 2024 Service Excellence Assessment; track and report metrics CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION INCLUDED: staff research and preparation leading up to the workshop; fire station 5 consultant fees, proposal process; sheriff contract, overtime costs, use of offroad vehicles, drones, future public safety plans; fire severity maps, emergency operations plan; E-bike programs, school district permit programs; areas needing public safety lighting; traffic technology interface with CalTrans; traffic improvements along corridors; NCTD+ program continuation; standardized affordable housing application; Blue Zones; creek specific plan update; pool upgrades; park and trails maintenance and programming; and cannabis policies and implementation process.
MOVED TO APPROVE WITH CHANGES BY COUNCILMEMBER MUSGROVE, SECONDED BY MAYOR JONES TO DIRECT STAFF TO PROCEED WITH THE PROPOSED 2025/26 CITY COUNCIL GOALS AS NOTED ABOVE.
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: JONES, LEBLANG, NUÑEZ, SANNELLA, MUSGROVE NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Jones adjourned the meeting at 4:57 p.m.
________________________________
REBECCA D. JONES, MAYOR
CITY OF SAN MARCOS
ATTEST:
_____________________________
PHILLIP SCOLLICK, CITY CLERK
CITY OF SAN MARCOS
Special City Council