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City Council Meeting Minutes September 21, 2021 <br />For: 5 - Mayor Pro Tem Derrick, Mayor Hughson, Council Member Gonzales, Deputy Mayor <br />Pro Tem Scott and Council Member Gleason <br />Against: 2 - Council Member Baker and Council Member Garza <br />NON -CONSENT AGENDA <br />44. Hold Discussion on not allowing the homeless to camp out or panhandle in San Marcos <br />city limits or ETJ and what our police need to help with the effort of enforcement, and <br />provide direction to the City Manager. <br />Bert Lumbreras, City Manager, provided information in the packet regarding <br />what ordinances are is in place and how the City handles panhandling and <br />camping. <br />Deputy Mayor Pro Scott stated the written caption is deceiving. He mentioned <br />with the increase of homelessness, we can't wait to guide better actions or <br />address homelessness. Law enforcement is limited and how it affects homeless <br />creates more problems. He would like the City to take another direction since <br />what is in place now is not working and need to focus on what will work and <br />push those elements. He suggested the city find property and have grant <br />writers to apply for federal funding to build housing. <br />Chase Stapp, Director of Public Safety, stated it appears that the discussion <br />item is to find effective strategies to help those that are in danger of becoming <br />homeless or those that are houseless more than enforcement? He reminded <br />council of an upcoming work session on October 4 to receive feedback on the <br />effective models that could work in the city and how to use the $400K of <br />American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds. <br />Police Chief Standridge provided a website www.texashomelessnetwork.org <br />and search Built for Zero campaign that is a pathway to achieve homelessness <br />in the community. <br />Mayor Pro Tem Derrick expressed concern with working with property owners <br />will get more citations to the homeless and get them displaced. She is <br />concerned with unhoused neighbors who can't afford citation fines, to end up a <br />warrant and be arrested. An arrest record makes obtaining housing and other <br />things more difficult. She would like to review the needs assessment to make <br />decisions on how to spend the $400K from the ARP fund. She would like for <br />the city to have a grant writer to work with non profit organizations. She noted <br />there are volunteers assisting some families every day. <br />City of San Marcos Page 20 <br />