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i; crn� or SAN �MARCOS City of San Marcos Regular Meeting Minutes Q City Council Tuesday, April 21, 2020 6:00 PM Virtual Meeting This meeting was held using conferencing software due to the COVID-19 rules. I. Call To Order With a quorum present, the regular meeting of the San Marcos City Council was called to order by Mayor Hughson at 6:12 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, 2020. This meeting was held virtually. II. Roll Call Observed a moment of silence Council Member Melissa Derrick, Mayor Jane Hughson, Mayor Pro Tem Ed Present: 7 - Mihalkanin, Council Member Joca Marquez, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Mark Rockeymoore, Council Member Maxfield Baker and Council Member Saul Gonzales 30 Minute Citizen Comment Period The following comments were submitted as written comments and read aloud during the citizen comment portion of the meeting: Lamar Hankins: I am writing to make known my support for the Cite and Release ordinance, a policy that should have been in place long ago. With the Covid-19 pandemic, the need for the ordinance has reached critical mass because of crowding in jails. Diversion from the criminal legal system has always been an important tool for police officers, prosecutors, and judges. Its use with eligible misdemeanors takes pressure off all levels of the legal system and makes better use of resources. In addition, it helps equalize the treatment between low-income offenders and those with the ability to pay bail or who have ready access to an attorney. The exceptions to Cite and Release found in the ordinance provide adequate discretion to police officers to allow them to fulfill their primary purpose to "serve and protect." I have heard no arguments against Cite and Release that refutes any of what I have written. I urge all members of the City Council to vote in favor of this common-sense approach to keeping our community both safe and fair to all people. Kate McCarty: City of San Marcos Page 1