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City Council Meeting Minutes May 18, 2021 <br />& Release is a common sense way to reduce needless on -the -spot arrests. Mr. <br />Kanski stated this is not a perfect solution to the vast problem of mass <br />incarceration, this ordinance has been successful in reducing needless arrests in <br />San Marcos. Mr. Kanski mentioned there are bills moving through the Texas <br />legislature would institute text message reminders that would improve court <br />appearance numbers across the state. House Bill 830 would reduce arrests <br />during traffic stop violations. He would like Council to continue the path <br />toward meaningful criminal justice reform, and applauds Council taking a <br />stand to make San Marcos unique and proud of our Cite & Release <br />Ordinance. <br />Kelly Stone, spoke on item #20 and #28, spoke as a river enthusiast and on the <br />climate crisis. Ms. Stone mentioned that she has trained for Water Safari <br />competitions, completing it twice, and has a better understanding and how <br />dangerous dams are. She stated the dam was built by slaves and climate change <br />is not climate neutral. Ms. Stone would like Council to maintain the Cite and <br />Release Ordinance and free the river by removing the dam. <br />Erin Ckodre, spoke in favor of the Cite and Release Ordinance. Ms. Ckodre <br />stated while not a perfect solution to the vast problem of mass incarceration, <br />this ordinance has been successful in reducing needless arrests in San Marcos. <br />Ms. Ckodre would like Council to leave the ordinance as is including the word <br />"only" to eliminate discretion. <br />Benjamin Salinas, spoke regarding the Cite and Release Ordinance. Mr. <br />Salinas stated Cite and Release provides law enforcement with an obligation to <br />not arrest individuals for having committed a certain type of crime. He stated <br />it's a great first step to reforming our broken criminal justice system. <br />Jake Rankin, read by Bryanna Salinas, spoke in support of the Cite and <br />Release Ordinance. Mr. Rankin shared his experience while being held at the <br />County Jail and would like council to keep the ordinance as is and not be <br />derailed by petty offenses. <br />PRESENTATIONS <br />1. Receive a presentation of the final report from the 2021 Charter Review Commission; <br />discuss proposed amendments to the San Marcos City Charter; and provide direction to <br />Staff. <br />Mr. John Thomaides, chair of the Charter Review Commission provided the <br />presentation. He thanked the members of the Commission, Esther Garcia, <br />Travis Kelsey, Paul Mayhew, Zach Sambrano, Chance Sparks, and Arthur <br />City of San Marcos Page 5 <br />