DASM and Partners to Dedicate Celebrate Diversity Mural

The Downtown Association of San Marcos, the Dunbar Heritage Association, Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos, and the Indigenous Cultures Institute have collaborated to bring a new Diversity mural to downtown San Marcos that is nearly ready to make its debut.   Robert Jones, the selected local muralist, has created an expansive work that will celebrate all the cultures that make San Marcos an inclusive, welcoming community.

The mural is a community funded project that has already benefited from the generosity of more than thirty local businesses and citizens

The final mural will be located near the intersection of MLK Drive and LBJ Drive on a prominent brick wall of the Crossroads Building (110 E. Martin Luther King Drive).   Mark Shields, the building owner, has been a strong supporter of the project and welcomes this mural on his site.

The dedication will take place at the site on Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. featuring Robert Jones’ description of his work.  Claudea Blythe with the Dunbar Heritage Association will also describe some of the interactive features, symbolism, and treasures hidden within the mural.   It will be streaming live on Facebook @ celebrate diversity-community mural.   

This mural will be a true testament to the inclusiveness of San Marcos for everyone to enjoy for years to come!

2020 DASM Council Candidate Questionnaire

To help further inform local voters, the Downtown Association of San Marcos posed ten questions about Downtown San Marcos to the candidates running for mayor and city council.  

The questions aligned with the four Downtown Association committees [Arts + Culture, Business Advocacy, Mobility, and Quality of Life + Place] plus a general category.  

View the candidates’ responses as a PDF HERE or by clicking through the image gallery below (click the images to increase size).

MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE!

EARLY VOTING: Tuesday, October 13 to Friday, October 30

ELECTION DAY: Tuesday, November 3


Downtown Begins Curbside Parking Pilot October 12

The City of San Marcos is implementing a 90-day Curbside Parking Pilot Program to assist downtown businesses with COVID recovery efforts. An initiative of the Main Street Program, the pilot will establish 15-minute curbside parking spaces in areas of downtown where businesses are already offering curbside services.

“We created temporary curbside parking signage at the start of the pandemic, and both businesses and their customers appreciated this,” said Josie Falletta, Downtown Coordinator for Main Street. “This pilot will support businesses as they continue to make sales via curbside services, a strategy that has allowed many stores to weather this pandemic.”

The Curbside Parking Pilot Program will begin Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, and will continue for 90 days through Jan. 11, 2021, at which point the program will be evaluated. A total of 7 signs will be installed and 14 curbside parking spaces will be allocated for this program, at two spaces per sign.

The public will have the opportunity to provide feedback on their curbside experience via online survey. A QR code and bit.ly link will be clearly displayed at all curbside parking locations. 

For more information about Main Street initiatives, follow @DowntownSMTX on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or email mainstreet@sanmarcostx.gov.     

About the San Marcos Main Street Program:

San Marcos was designated in 1986 as an official Main Street City by the Texas Historical Commission and the National Trust for Historic Preservation and remains one of the oldest Main Street programs in the state. The vision of the San Marcos Main Street Program is to foster a downtown that is a unique and culturally vibrant destination, where local business thrive and people of all ages can connect, create and celebrate.

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ART LEAGUE SEEKING YOUNG ARTISTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ART SCARED OCT. 24

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SAN MARCOS, TEXAS  The San Marcos Art League (SMAL) is bringing a new temporary public art installation to the exterior windows of participating establishments on the historic downtown Square via a unique kid’s art project titled Art Scared. Elementary – High School-aged children are invited to paint a section of a designated window on Saturday, Oct. 24 with a Halloween-themed image. Painted windows will remain on display for the public to enjoy through the end of the month.

“The town I grew up in did this every fall and it was always a great hit with kids and adults alike,” said Nancy Brown, SMAL’s San Marcos Art Center Manager. “Our purpose here is two-fold,” she added. “First, to supplement the art curriculum for San Marcos area students, and second, to encourage engagement in downtown San Marcos establishments.”

SMAL is joining forces with area schools, the Downtown Association of San Marcos (DASM), and San Marcos Main Street to bring the free, fun, and creative event to town. The event is made possible through the generous support of the sponsors, including HEB, Greater San Marcos Partnership, Calaboose Museum, Main Street Mermaid Society, the Insurance Agency of San Marcos, Central Texas Ballet, Rick’s Lock and Key, and SOAR.  First Place Prizes will be awarded in each different school-age-level. All participants will receive acknowledgement and leave the event with brushes and paint supplies to create more art at home.

Approximately 60 window spaces have been identified at participating businesses around the Square. 20 spaces will be grouped and allotted for elementary, middle, and high school students. Interested students and their parent or guardian should visit: Art Scared – Artist Registration

Windows will be assigned to participating students to paint with the assistance of at least one parent or teacher on Saturday, October 24. Family-friendly imagery and safe social distancing practices will be observed, along with staggered painting times for elementary, middle, and high school students.

For more information, please email info@artleaguesmtx.org.

About the SMAL

OUR MISSION “To Encourage, Foster, Promote and Nurture the Arts in the San Marcos Community.”

The San Marcos Art League is the oldest arts organization in San Marcos. Founded in the 1970’s, SMAL obtained non-profit status in 1983. Through the years it has grown into a dynamic organization that currently has over 150 members. In 2017, this website was launched with the purpose of bringing information not only about the Art League, but about the entire arts community, to the public. As an additional outreach, our weekly newsletters reach over 1000 subscribers.

In October of 2019, the Art League reached a milestone and fulfilled a dream by opening the downtown San Marcos Art Center. This beautiful space, located in a historic building on the Square, showcases the talents of our members. It also serves as a special events venue, meeting space, and a space for workshops and artist demonstrations.

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GSMP Launches Covid-19 Economic Resources Site

Hays County public and private leadership have formed a taskforce to address the growing concerns around COVID-19. This team will work to better understand the impact of the virus on employers, employees, and residents to ensure current and future needs are met.

The Greater San Marcos Partnership has launched a website with useful information to serve as a repository of available resources from the federal and state governments. The site will be updated continually.

https://greatersanmarcostx.com/virus

Order Prohibits Gatherings >10 Persons; Closes Bars and Dining Areas until April 1; Take Out and Delivery Encouraged

Downtown Businesses:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to disrupt our daily lives as our public health officials and elected leaders encourage and require us to take the severe measures necessary to manage this pandemic. We are actively monitoring the evolving situation and doing our best to adjust and inform accordingly.

Please see the press release issued by the City the evening of Tuesday, March 17th. The San Marcos Police Department is enforcing any violation of these restrictions a City Ordinance Violation and the TABC may file against liquor license of any holders that violate the ordinance.

These are unprecedented, trying times. Hopefully, these aggressive actions can limit the time period of this catastrophic disruption.

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MARCH 17, 2020

Following yesterday’s order by San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson to prohibit public or private community gatherings of 50 persons or more anywhere within the city limits, she signed a new Order today that reduces that number to 10 persons. The new Order also adds new closures including common dining areas at food establishments, as well as bars, and is in effect until April 1, 2020.

Food establishments are ordered to take measures to reduce occupancy levels to ensure that no more than 10 people occupy the same space or dining room at the same time, and are encouraged to provide take-away or no-contact delivery food service designed to limit exposure between individuals.

The holder of a mixed beverage permit for on-premise consumption, commonly known as a bar, is ordered to close common bar spaces open to the public and is prohibited from allowing consumption on the bar premises until April 1, 2020.

The new Order is effective as of 5:00 p.m. today, Tuesday, March 17, 2020, and continues for the next 15 days, until April 1, 2020, when it will be reevaluated. This Order in its entirety is attached to this press release for public review and is also available on the city’s website at www.sanmarcostx.gov/covid19info. 

“San Marcos is coordinating and collaborating with the Hays County Health Department, which is following the guidelines and protocols from The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) which were adjusted again early today,” Mayor Jane Hughson said. “This is a rapidly changing and fluid situation. We are diligently working with our local, regional and state partners to enact decisions that make the most sense and help protect the public.”

She added that her decision to issue a new 15-day Order stemmed from newly revised guidelines enacted by the CDC, following new Whitehouse guidelines issued Monday, Mar. 16, that more strictly limit people’s interactions.

The Hays County Health Department recommends following social distancing protocols, including cancelling, postponing, or not attending events or community gatherings with 10 people or more. In addition, the Hays County Health Department urges individuals who are at the highest risk from COVID-19, as determined and defined by the CDC, to not attend and to avoid community gatherings or events that will have or will likely have 10 or more people.

 This Order does not apply to the following facilities:

(i)                 critical infrastructure, including airport facilities and operations, transit, and transit facilities;
(ii)              government buildings providing essential services;
(iii)            schools or institutions of higher learning;
(iv)             grocery stores and pharmacies; and
(v)               hospitals and medical offices and facilities.

 “Critical city infrastructure, including communications, emergency services, energy, transportation systems, and water and wastewater systems, are ordered to continue operating,” Hughson said. “Those departments are encouraged to implement screening precautions to protect employees.”

A Frequently Asked Questions document is also attached to this email and available on the City’s website at www.sanmarcostx.gov/covid19faqs. The FAQ provides clarification and definitions of the terms within the Order and provides answers to questions of interest to the public.  It also details new limited access services available at the Library during this public closure. 

As a reminder, the Mayor’s new Order also applies the April 1 date to the closure of the San Marcos Public Library, Activity Center, Senior Center, Discovery Center, and to the adjusted operations at the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter. All City sponsored public gatherings, board and commission meetings, 50+/Senior Programs, and programs of more than 10 people will also be canceled, with the remainder of City facilities and parks remaining open for normal business hours.  

The City offers many online resources for San Marcos residents; a complete list of those with links are available at www.sanmarcostx.gov/remotebusiness. The public is encouraged to practice social distancing and to utilize phone and computer access to services whenever possible.

Contact your healthcare provider or the new COVID-19 hotline, 512.972.5555 if you have any non-life-threatening questions about COVID-19.  If you are concerned that you have been exposed or if you are experiencing symptoms, call your health care professional to determine next steps.

San Marcos will continue to follow the guidelines set forth by the State Department of Health Services, the Hays County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control. Current updates and helpful links may be found at www.sanmarcostx.gov/covid19info.

Contact:

Kristy Stark, Director of Communications & IGR, 512.393.8105 kstark@sanmarcostx.gov
Kim Hilsenbeck, Community Outreach Coordinator, 512.393.8223 khilsenbeck@sanmarcostx.gov

 
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Take the GSMP Vision 2025 Survey by Fri, Feb 7

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Greater San Marcos Vision 2025 Community & Business Survey

San Marcos, Texas (January 20, 2020) – The Greater San Marcos Partnership (GSMP), the non-profit economic development organization supporting all the communities in Hays County and Caldwell County, including Buda, Dripping Springs, Kyle, Lockhart, Luling, San Marcos, and Wimberley is requesting community input to help guide the Greater San Marcos region’s economic development strategic plan for the next five years – Vision 2025.

The Vision 2025 planning process will be conducted over a six-month period in collaboration with city and county governments, private businesses, educational institutions, local economic development partners and many other community members/stakeholders across the Greater San Marcos region. GSMP is leading this comprehensive process to assess and enhance the region’s competitive position to support thoughtful, diverse, intentional, and sustainable economic growth. 

To ensure everyone in the region has the opportunity to provide input on Vision 2025, community members/stakeholders are being asked to participate in an online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/GreaterSanMarcos2025 beginning Monday, January 20 through Friday, February 7. The survey will take approximately fifteen minutes to complete and responses are entirely anonymous. Participants will be asked to evaluate the region’s strengths and challenges and provide suggestions as it relates to job creation and improving the economy. The online survey is managed by Market Street Services who is also facilitating the development of Vision 2025. Market Street Services is regarded as an industry leader in the development of economic development strategies for communities across the country.

“As Co-Chairs of the Vision 2025 Strategic Planning Process, Dr. Denise Trauth, Mr. Anthony Stahl, Rep. John Cyrier and I greatly appreciate you taking the time to complete the Vision 2025 Greater San Marcos Community & Business Survey,” said Patrick Rose, Immediate Past Chair of the Greater San Marcos Partnership. “The success of our region’s economic growth within Hays and Caldwell Counties, over the next five years, will depend upon an insightful and well-informed strategic plan. Your feedback on this survey will help us begin the strategic planning process with the best possible perspective. Thank you for your consideration, as we know and respect the value of your time.”

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Contact: 

John Ellis

Director of Marketing & Communications

Greater San Marcos Partnership

O: (512) 393-3406 | C: (512) 781-3065 | E: johne@greatersanmarcostx.com

Photo Credits: San Marcos Photos, San Marcos Main Street Program, and as noted on select photos

Video Credit: SMTX Sessions