Laserfiche WebLink
City Council Meeting Minutes October 7, 2020 <br />Updates to Governor Abbott's Actions <br />• September 17: Expands Capacity for Certain Services in Texas <br />— Increased capacity to 75% for restaurants, offices, manufacturers, museums, <br />libraries, gyms except in areas with high hospitalizations (San Marcos is not <br />one of the areas with hospitals with high hospitalizations) <br />— Bars and commercial rafting or tubing services were to remain closed. Last <br />Friday the rules changed and the Governor is allowing bars to re -open with <br />certain conditions. This is being considered for Hays County. <br />• September 25: $171 million of CARES funding allocated to TX <br />Eviction Diversion Program <br />— Allows TX Supreme Court, Office of Court Administration, and TX Dept of <br />Housing and Community Affairs to work in partnership with certain local <br />governments. <br />— $167 million to targeted rental assistance; $4.2 million to help the state's <br />legal aid providers, pro bono lawyers provide basic legal services <br />— Specific details not yet available but they are doing a pilot program with <br />towns and Hays County is not one of them and there are no further details at <br />this time. There will be a pilot program in some counties but not Hays County. <br />• October 1: Proclamation related to mail -in ballot delivery <br />— All mail -in ballots must be delivered to a single location administered by the <br />county's early voting clerk (effectively shut down satellite locations for mail -in <br />ballots) <br />— Pending litigation <br />Mr. Stapp stated the program for suspended utility disconnection for <br />nonpayment or late payments has expired and we will have a staff <br />recommendation at the next council meeting to determine when to resume <br />utility disconnections where appropriate in January 2021. Mr. Stapp <br />mentioned that staff will do extension outreach in November and December <br />and there are current payment plans available and we will promote the utility <br />assistance program through Community Action. <br />Mayor Hughson asked about the testing type Mr. Stapp mentioned at Lucio <br />Park, it is a cheek swab test and results come back within 48 hours and if <br />positive they are asking people to follow up with nasal test. <br />Council Member Baker asked if we are doing the right thing listening to what <br />the state and federal are recommending regarding re -opening given the recent <br />outbreak. Should we question their advice? Mr. Stapp stated we are looking at <br />the Governors orders and in combination with the county numbers which are <br />going down. Council Member Baker expressed concerns about the numbers <br />City of San Marcos Page 3 <br />