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SAN MARCOS BUDA KYLE EDITION
VOLUME 13, ISSUE 1 MAY 18 JUNE 14, 2023
SERVICE INDUSTRY STRUGGLES Workers in the service industry are one of the largest segments in Hays County, but on average earn less than half of the county’s annual average salary.
Texas minimum wage $7.25 per hour If a majority of income is through tips the wage can drop to $2.13 per hour
“THERE’S THAT PERVASIVE THOUGHT THAT ‘NOBODY WANTS TO WORK ANYMORE,’ BUT THE REALITY IS ‘CAN YOU LIVE ON $2.13 AN HOUR?’” SAMANTHA STRAHAN, CO OWNER OF THE PORCH AND THE TAP ROOM IN SAN MARCOS
Mural unveiled in downtown San Marcos
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SOURCE: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS RURAL CAPITAL AREA COMMUNITY IMPACT
National outlet shopping day to be held June 10
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CARTS debuts bus tracker tool
Transportation updates
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Bartender Miguel Alvarado makes drinks for guests at The Porch on the square in downtown San Marcos. (Zara Flores/Community Impacts)
Buda gallery showcases a variety of mixed media
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Sta ng and in ation woes test bars, restaurants Despite reaching an all-time high of unemployment in Hays County following the onset of the COVID- 19 pandemic, employment began to stabilize toward the end of 2021 and into 2022. But in ation and its subsequent e ects continue to pose obstacles to various industries. During the 12 months prior to the pandemic in March 2020, unem- ployment remained below 4.1% but spiked to 11.7% in April 2020. With low wages and increased costs among the service and retail industries, local organizations are working to create pathways and break down barriers to help people nd jobs with higher wages and more opportunities for growth. Sta ng trends Grins Restaurant co-owner Paul Sutphen said during the pandemic, the restaurant had to close on cer- tain days due to a lack of sta . CONTINUED ON 18 BY ZARA FLORES
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SAN MARCOS - BUDA - KYLE EDITION • MAY 2023
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THIS ISSUE
MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Heather Demere EDITOR Eric Weilbacher REPORTERS Zara Flores, Amira Van Leeuwen GRAPHIC DESIGNER Melissa Johnson ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Adrian Martinez METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Travis Baker MANAGING EDITOR William C. Wadsack COPY EDITOR Kasey Salisbury ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Rachal Elliott CONTACT US 16225 Impact Way, Ste. 1, Pflugerville, TX 78660 • 512-989-6808 CI CAREERS communityimpact.com/careers PRESS RELEASES sbknews@communityimpact.com ADVERTISING sbkads@communityimpact.com Learn more at communityimpact.com/advertising EMAIL NEWSLETTERS communityimpact.com/newsletter SUPPORT US Join your neighbors by giving to the CI Patron program. Funds support our journalistic mission to provide trusted, local news in your community. Learn more at communityimpact.com/cipatron ABOUT US Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today. We have expanded to include hundreds of team members and have created our own software platform and printing facility. CI delivers 35+ localized editions across Texas to more than 2.5 million residential mailboxes.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH
FROM HEATHER: In this edition, Reporter Zara Flores covers a story related to job openings, increases in cost of goods and services, competitive wages, and other components affecting our retail and food service industries. Next month is our annual Health Care Edition. Email sbkads@communityimpact.com for advertising inquiries. Heather Demere, GENERAL MANAGER
FROM ERIC: The San Marcos Air, Rail & Transportation Terminal—now known as AXIS Logistics Park—development agreement was once again postponed by City Council to July 3. The makings and scope of the large industrial hub have changed over time since planning began in 2016 and sparked a lot of residential concerns (see Page 14). In this edition we also have a feature on the Assemblage Contemporary Craftsman Gallery and the various types of jewelry, pottery and mixed-media works it showcases in Buda (see Page 17). Eric Weilbacher, EDITOR
CORRECTION: Volume 12, Issue 12 On Page 9, Growler Express is the name of the business in Buda that celebrated its fifth anniversary.
What does SWAG stand for? “Stuff We All Get” as CI Patrons
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SAN MARCOS - BUDA - KYLE EDITION • MAY 2023
BLANCO RIVER
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
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AMIRA VAN LEEUWENCOMMUNITY IMPACT
COURTESY LOCAL JOE'S KITCHEN
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5 Wild re SMTX , a new bar, dance and nightclub located at 141 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos, opened April 21. The new venture was spearheaded by Axis owners Jovan Marin, Henry Hogensen, Miles Alpgelp and Freddy C’s owner Jaimie Frailicks. Freddy C’s is located below Wild re SMTX. The nightclub has a full bar and is open until 2 a.m. www.instagram.com/wild resmtx SAN MARCOS RIVER Goodbye Laundry , an on-demand pickup and delivery laundry service, launched in March. The business is based in San Marcos and serves from Buda to New Braunfels, including Wimberley, Uhland, Redwood and Martindale. The service o ers wash and fold services for clothes, towels and sheets by the pound or by a set. Laundry is returned within 24 hours. www.goodbyelaundrytx.com COMING SOON 6 A new eatery called Local Joe’s Kitchen is slated to open by early sum- mer at 205 W. Hopkins St., San Marcos. The restaurant was founded by Texas native Joe Perricone, who has spent the last 30 years in Nashville opening up ve other concept restaurants called Local Joe’s Cafe and Our Place Cafe. The San Marcos location will have a menu that will rotate daily and o er Southern comfort food, such as fried chicken, prime rib, jalapeno corn bread and pie. www.localjoeskitchen.com RELOCATIONS 7 Sun eld Hand Pies relocated to the Red Bus Food Park, 801 Chestnut St., San Marcos, on April 8 from Buda. 1979
Sun eld Hand Pies were previously sold at various businesses in Buda, including Growler Express. Sun eld Hand Pies sells empanadas that are either savory or sweet with llings such as beef and cheese, apple, banana Nutella, and more. 512-905-0816. www.sun eldhandpies.com 8 Taquitos Mi Rancho relocated to 413 Riverside Drive from 651 E. Hop- kins St., San Marcos, on April 3. The menu at the taco truck features gorditas and tacos with meat options such as bistek, pastor, barbacoa, chicken, carnitas and more. The truck also sells fruit bowls with chamoy, corn in a cup and agua fresca. 830-312-9395. www.bit.ly/3AXoFgu EXPANSIONS 9 The Hays County Local Health Department is expanding its services to a larger building at 101 Thermon Drive, San Marcos, and will be operational by August. Health Department Director Tammy Crumley said the larger facility will accommodate stang space and provide more services to Hays County residents. The department’s expansions include STI treatment; childhood im- munizations; and an adult safety net for uninsured, underinsured and low-income residents. Patient health care services will still be provided at the 401 Broad- way St. location. 512-393-5220. www.hayscountytx.com NEW OWNERSHIP 10 The Car Wash Express, located at 233 Wonder World Drive, San Marcos,
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NOW OPEN 1 A new location of IHOP opened in April at 3945 N. I-35, San Marcos, across from the outlet malls. The new build broke ground in mid-2022 and is around 4,500 square feet. IHOP is known for its breakfast items, such as omelets, pan- cakes, wa es and more. www.ihop.com 2 Jorge’s Mexican Restaurant had its grand opening April 18 at 2550 Hunt- er Road, Ste. 1106, San Marcos, where El Jefe Mexican Restaurant used to be. Jorge’s Mexican Restaurant has the same owners as Los Vaqueros Cafe and Grill in Kyle. Jorge’s serves breakfast plates, such as Jorge’s Plate, which comes with eggs, a side of meat such as carne guisada or barbacoa, and pancakes. The restaurant also serves enchiladas and other plates with handmade tortillas. 512-216-6891. www.bit.ly/42701Gd
3 Quality Urgent Care opened May 1 at 200 N. I-35, Ste. 102, San Marcos. The new urgent care location, one of half a dozen in the Central Texas area, o ers walk-in services for minor wounds, annual physicals, allergies, COVID-19 testing, drug and alcohol testing and more. The clinic also has Veteran A airs services and tele- health appointments. 737-214-1285. www.qualityurgentcareofamerica.com 4 Shelter Studio , a recording stu- dio, opened in downtown San Marcos within The Cigar Vault, located at 122 N. LBJ Drive, on March 20. The studio is by appointment only with standard rates of $50 an hour, but it varies based on the material the artist is working on and sound complexity. Studio manager Luis Parra said he opened the studio because he sees San Marcos as an under- served area with a lot of musical talent. www.shelterrecording.com
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMPILED BY ZARA FLORES & AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
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Palmer’s Restaurant, Bar & Courtyard o ers indoor and outdoor dining options.
Suds Deluxe Car Wash
Earth Day mural
AMIRA VAN LEEUWENCOMMUNITY IMPACT
AMIRA VAN LEEUWENCOMMUNITY IMPACT
AMIRA VAN LEEUWENCOMMUNITY IMPACT
FEATURED IMPACT ANNIVERSARY Palmer’s Restaurant, Bar & Courtyard is celebrating 45 years of continued business in San Marcos this May. The restaurant, located at 218 Moore St., was established in 1978 by founder Michael Palmer McKinster. Later, the Haug brothers took over, and in May 2010, Monte and Kristin She eld became the current owners. After being in business for 45 years, Monte said they have had to work to stay up to date with “current new vibes.” The restaurant has also made minor enhancements and additions to the layout of the building. “We moved the greenhouse and put the
IN THE NEWS 12 San Marcos unveiled its newest mural, located at 313 E. Hutchison St., from Texas Disposal Systems in honor of Earth Day on April 27. TDS has been doing an arts program in support of Earth Day since 2020, commissioning local artists who hold similar values. This year, the disposal company commissioned local San Marcos artist Rene Perez to create a 23-by-12-foot Earth Day mural that celebrates Earth Day. Perez said it took him about six days to complete the mural. Perez wanted his mural to emphasize a key part of the slogan “Every Day is Earth Day”— picking up trash—noting it felt good to paint a mural for his town. www.instagram.com/reneperezart
changed ownership in December and is now a Suds Deluxe Car Wash . Suds Deluxe Car Wash is a family-owned franchise that ocially opened its doors to the San Marcos community Jan. 3. It held a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the new location April 20. Suds Deluxe Car Wash o ers single car washes as well as unlimited wash packages ranging from $19.99-$38.99 a month as well as free amenities, including air wands, vacuums, leather conditioner and glass cleaner. www.sudsdeluxe.com CLOSINGS 11 Mucho Taco , located at 1109 N. I-35, San Marcos, closed in April. A note on the front door cited ination as the determin- ing factor. The shop served breakfast and lunch tacos, burritos, and more.
garden patio in to extend our private dining options. ... We also renovated the guesthouse and added the little private patio on the back side of the guest house,” Kristin She eld said. The restaurant’s goal is to get to 50 years and continue to be a staple for the San Marcos community, she said. 512-353-3500 • www.palmerstexas.com
HOPKINS ST.
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SpRING
Join us for a fun celebration of spring at La Cima, including the opening of our Amenity Center and gorgeous new model homes from our star-studded line-up of builders. Best of all, you will have a chance to win great prizes when visiting the models. Saturday, May 20 | 11am – 4pm
SCAN THE QR CODE OR VISIT:
Featuring:
Food and Drinks for All Ages Self-guided TOURs
Live Music special home buying incentives
Kids activities prize drawings
LaCimaTX.com/public-event
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SAN MARCOS BUDA KYLE EDITION • MAY 2023
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
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ZARA FLORES/COMMUNITY IMPACT
4 Howerton Eye Clinic opened its newest location in March at 4282 FM 1626, Ste. 20, Kyle. There are two other clinics in Austin. The Kyle location is a new build at around 5,000 square feet. The clinic offers compre- hensive eye exams and treatment for a variety of needs, such as glaucoma management and dry eye syndrome. The clinic also provides Lasik as well as customizable glasses and lenses. 512-872-6064. www.howertoneye.com 5 Puff Club Vape Shop opened March 10 at 21150 I-35, Ste. B, Kyle. The shop specializes in CBD products, glass pipes, cigars, vape products, hookah products and more. 737-342-9552. 6 Storage Landing held a grand open- ing celebration April 27 for its newest facility at 850 FM 2001, Buda. This is the second facility in Texas with the other in Madisonville. Storage Landing offers climate-controlled residential and commercial storage, tenant insurance, month-to-month lease terms, and pack- ing and moving supplies. 512-295-3333. www.storagelanding.com 7 Teapioca Lounge held a grand opening May 6 for its newest location at 21150 I-35, Ste. C, Kyle. The shop sells various types of tea, such as cream tea, loose-leaf brewed tea, matcha and more. Some drinks also include boba pearls, such as the Boba Madness drink, which comes with a choice of flavor such as peach and blueberry. The chain has various locations throughout Central Texas and the Midwest. 512-487-4622. www.teapiocalounge.com 8 Tint World opened a new location April 27 at 118 Trademark Drive, Ste. 502, 2001 21
Buda. The shop specializes in window tinting for cars with four different packages, including economy, premium, supreme and ultimate. Each package offers different colors, levels of glare re- duction, shade and more. 512-596-1532. www.tintworld.com RELOCATIONS 9 Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ is set to open its doors at the Buda Mill & Grain Co., 306 S. Main St., Buda, in late May after several delays. The announcement of the relocation from 11500 Mencha- ca Road, Austin, was initially announced in early 2021 and was anticipated to open in 2022. The new restaurant space will be around 6,500 square feet, enough to accommodate about 235 customers. It will also have a full-service bar. The city of Buda and the Buda Economic Development Corp. invested $288,707 in Valentina’s for equipment and other necessities to create jobs for the commu- nity. Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ is known for its barbecue by the pound, sand- wiches, tacos and more. 512-221-4248. www.valentinastexmexbbq.com EXPANSIONS 10 Anthem , a 422-acre master-planned community located on the west side of Kyle, opened its Central Park Amen- ity Center at Anthem Parkway and Hoover Drive on April 23. The amenity center has a swimming pool that can hold up to 206 people. Other ameni- ties include a firepit, a playground, an open lawn area, pickleball courts and a community garden. There are also plans
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NOW OPEN 1 ATX Specialty Foods held a rib- bon-cutting ceremony May 3 to celebrate its newest facility located within the Hays Commerce Center at 300 Gate- way Blvd., Ste. 100, Kyle. The new facility is 53,000 square feet and serves as a production center for its food products. ATX Specialty Foods partners with local restaurants, such as Tarka Indian Kitchen, Hat Creek, Kerbey Lane Cafe and more. www.atxspecialtyfoods.com 2 The newest location of Oregon-based chain Dutch Bros Coffee , located at 2090 Main St., Buda, opened April 28. Dutch Bros is known for its Dutch Classic drinks, such as the Carmelizer, a caramel mocha drink, and its line of Rebel Energy
drinks in flavors such as peach and black- berry with pomegranate. The new store is around 1,000 square feet with a drive-th- ru and a walk-up window. Like other new- er Dutch Bros locations, it does not have an indoor seating area for customers. 541-955-4700. www.dutchbros.com 3 Hays Uniforms , a local family-owned scrub and workwear shop, opened April 25 at 21511 I-35, Kyle. The shop celebrated its grand opening May 1. Owners Richard Bera Sr., Chassidy Bera, James Bera and Janet Bera are also owners of Austin’s Uniform Shop. After opening their uniform shop in Austin, they wanted to expand, Janet Bera said. The shop sells a variety of scrub collections, jewelry and sunglasses. www.instagram.com/hays.uniforms
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COFERCONNELLY.COM • 602 W. 11 T H ST., AUSTIN, TX 78701 • 512-200-3801
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COMPILED BY ZARA FLORES & AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
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COURTESY HAYS COUNTY
Brooklyn’s Down South
REGIONAL IMPACT IN THE NEWS Hays County o cials announced April 30 that swimming at Jacob’s Well Natural Area , located at 1699 Mt. Sharp Road, Wimberley, is on hold for the foreseeable future as water levels have left it unsuitable for safe recreation. County o cials will provide updates if water levels change to allow for safe swimming. www.hayscountytx.gov
ZARA FLORES/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Buda Place RV Resort includes a variety of amenities, including its general store.
to build a school within the community. www.anthemtexas.com RENOVATIONS 11 Brooklyn’s Down South , located at 100 N. Main St., Buda, reopened its main dining area May 2 after around a month of renovations. For a month, the restaurant operated mainly through to-go orders and service on the back patio. Renovations to the dining area included stripping the existing floor and replacing it with solid oak flooring, new chairs and tables, new booths, and a different floor plan. In addition to the renovations, the restaurant also added some new items to its menu, such as a Veggie Lovers section with vegetar- ian and vegan options. 512-312-4387. www.brooklynsdownsouth.com
COURTESY BUDA PLACE RV RESORT
FEATURED IMPACT NOW OPEN Nestled on the outskirts of Buda on around 30 acres of land is a new resort called Buda Place RV Resort . Located at 5267 Hillside Terrace, Buda, the resort began accepting reservations March 15. Throughout the 30 acres are four di erent areas where RVs can camp at with some overlooking a 4-acre lake, which can be utilized for kayaking, paddleboarding and shing. Other amenities throughout Buda Place include a pool, an outdoor courtyard, on-site bathrooms and showers, on-site
laundry, a general store and dog parks. There are almost 200 full RV hookups that are meant to be utilized for both short- and long-term stays. 737-282-4162. www.budaplace.com
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SAN MARCOS - BUDA - KYLE EDITION • MAY 2023
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
TO DO LIST
May & June events
COMPILED BY ZARA FLORES & AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
LIVE MUSIC BUCK’S BACKYARD 1750 S. FM 1626, Buda 512-312-9456 www.bucksbackyard.com MAY 26 Dale Watson, 7 p.m. JUNE 03 Scotty Alexander, 9:30 p.m. 09 Kate Watson, 8 p.m. 16 Pop Punk’s Not Dead Fest, 8 p.m. 24 Mike Ryan, 9 p.m. CHEATHAM ST. WAREHOUSE 119 Cheatham St., San Marcos 512-353-3777 www.cheathamstreet.com MAY 25 Zach Welch, 8 p.m. 26 Randy Hoyet & Colton Mathis, 8 p.m. THE PORCH 129 E. Hopkins St., Ste. 110, San Marcos 512-392-9824 www.taproomsanmarcos.com/ theporch MAY 25 Tequila Rose Drag Show, 9 p.m. 26 Los Gatos 512, 9 p.m. JUNE 10 The Lonesome Heroes, time TBD 16 Blues in the Night, 10 p.m.
MAY 29
HONOR THE FALLEN HAYS COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL
JUNE 10 11
SHOP UNTIL YOU DROP SAN MARCOS PREMIUM OUTLETS
Visit the Hays County Veterans Memorial this Memorial Day to honor those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department will host the 20th dedication where veterans and community members will recite the names of local veterans who have been killed in action since World War I. 10 a.m. Free. 101 Riverside Drive, San Marcos. 512-393-8400. www.bit.ly/3Anoqv5
The San Marcos Premium Outlets will host its second-annual National Outlet Shopping Day. Retailers will o er exclusive deals at stores as well as giveaways. Shoppers who open a Simon American Express credit card will receive double points and rewards. 10 a.m. (June 10), 11 a.m. (June 11). Free (admission). 3939 S. I-35, San Marcos. 512-396-2200. www.premiumoutlets.com/san-marcos
07 LEARN ABOUT STEAM The Kyle Public Library will host the Daniel G. Benes Science show which is open to all ages. Daniel G. Benes regularly hosts science, technology, engineering, art and math-based shows with live demonstrations of physics, electricity and more. 2 p.m. Free. 550 Scott St., Kyle. 512-268-7411. SEE A LIVE MERMAID Watch as Ariel breaks free from her life under the sea and traverses onto land at Hays CISD’s summer musical, “Disney’s The Little Mermaid.” HCISD students will act, sign and work on the tech crew for ve showings of the musical at the district’s Performing Arts Center. 7 p.m. (June 22-24), 2 p.m. (June 24-25). $10. 979 Kohlers Crossing, Kyle. 512-268-2141. www.hayscisd.net 17 GET BETTER AT MUAY THAI American Vintage Society will host Jo Nattawut for a Muay Thai seminar where individuals at all skill levels can learn more about the Muay Thai discipline. Nattawut, also known as “Smokin’ Jo,” is a Muay Thai kickboxer www.cityo yle.com 12 THROUGH 15
MAY 27 GET YOUR ART ON Head to the park in downtown Kyle for a morning of art hosted by the parks and recreation department. Attendees will have the chance to create resin coasters with alcohol ink in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. Registration before the event is required. 10 a.m. $5. 101 S. Burleson St., Kyle. 737-213-0233. www.teamsideline.com JUNE 02 THROUGH 04 GO ON A RETREAT The Samadhi Yoga Retreat will host an all-inclusive women’s retreat called “Strawberry Moon Forever” in honor of the last full moon of spring. The three- day retreat will feature daily yoga for all levels, artful journaling, sound healing and more, all led by Ti any Asha and Kristen Ferguson. 1 p.m. (June 2). $600- $1,395 (June 2-4). 1830 Camino Alto, San Marcos. 512-289-9003. www.samadhiyogaretreat.com
and has won several middleweight and lightweight championships over the course of his career. 10 a.m. $120 (early bird tickets), $150 (general admission). 17020 S. I-35, Unit D, Buda. www.americanvintagesociety.com 18 CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH The city of Buda will host its third annual Juneteenth celebration, dubbed a CommUnity Celebration. Attendees are encouraged to bring two nonperishable items to help ll the Hays County Food Bank food truck. The event is family-friendly, and will feature live music, food and other vendors. 10 a.m. Free (admission). 204 San Antonio St. 512-523-1081. www.budaamphitheater.com 18 DANCE WITH DAD Myron Barnes and Candace Roberson Barnes will host the third annual father/daughter dance at Texas Old Town’s Sage Hall in Kyle. There will be a DJ for dancing, a photo booth, a crafts table, food and drinks. 4 p.m. Tickets start at $35 for the rst father/ daughter pair; $10/additional daughter. 1205 Roland Lane, Kyle. 512-578-6931. www.onthreephotobooth.com
THE RAILHOUSE 107 E. Center St., Kyle 512-262-7879 www.railhousebar.com MAY
24 Zachary Burnett, 8 p.m. 26 Tarry & The Towns, 8 p.m. JUNE 02 Neel Cole & Southern St., 8 p.m. 07 Gareth Fowler, 8 p.m. 16 Chuck Wimer Band, 8 p.m.
Find more or submit San Marcos, Buda and Kyle events at communityimpact.com/event-calendar. Event organizers can submit local events online to be considered for the print edition. Submitting details for consideration does not guarantee publication.
We’re welcoming the Summer in Kyle!
Artist Spotlight: Anna Martinez Boling Art on display at City Hall Through May. Juneteenth Market Day Celebration Join us for food, performances, and local vendors at Mary Kyle Hartson Park on June 10th! Dialogue for Peace and Progress Juneteenth The dialogue event starts June 16th at 7 PM at City Hall, but come early to experience cultural readings and thought-provoking conversation. The dialogue event will also be livestreamed on Facebook and Kyle10.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion Ribbon Cutting We’re throwing a block party on June 23rd at 5 PM with snacks, a bouncy castle, and details on how our water is treated in Kyle! Catch a Movie in the Park! We’re screening Wakanda Forever June 23rd and Top Gun: Maverick July 7th. Movies start at sundown, so bring a lawnchair and some snacks! For more info, visit CityofKyle.com/Calendar
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SAN MARCOS BUDA KYLE EDITION • MAY 2023
TRANSPORTATION UPDATES
COMPILED BY ZARA FLORES & AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
COMPLETED PROJECT
License plate readers pending Kyle Police Department Chief Jeff Barnett gave a presentation to City Council April 18 for automated license plate readers that may be imminent throughout the city. If approved by council in the future, public safety system Flock Safety would be utilized to install mounted cameras in Kyle. Barnett said the department had pre- viously tried to use cameras mounted to police cars, but it was not successful. The new cameras, if installed, would record and store data for 30 days to help investigators solve crimes by sending alerts to officers of suspect license plates, Barnett said. A policy is already drafted, but it is unclear how soon this would be implemented or where exactly all the readers would be placed.
KNOW YOUR ROUTE The new real-time bus tracker feature on the San Marcos website outlines each route and its stops and route frequency. All buses run Mon.-Fri. from 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
ROUTE NUMBER LOCATION
FREQUENCY
Route 1 Route 2 Route 3 Route 4 Route 5 Route 6 Route 7
Hopkins/Wonder World
Every half an hour
N
Thorpe/Post
Once an hour Once an hour
SPRING BRANCH DR.
Thorpe/Uhland Conway/Linda
Every half an hour Once every hour Three times a day Three times a day
Outlets/University Guadalupe/Redwood
H L O O
R
N
Bishop
134
SOURCE: CITY OF SAN MARCOS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
OLD POST RD.
CARTS debuts bus tracker tool The San Marcos Public Works Department and Capital Area Rural Transportation Systems about each route and is meant to help riders plan their trips.
158
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF APRIL 25. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT SBKNEWS@COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. three intersections in Kyle on April 24: Sanders and Kohlers Crossing, CR 158 and Old Post Road, and Spring Branch Drive and Spring Branch Loop/Fall Creek Drive. Timeline: February-April Cost: $5,441 City of Kyle adds three new stop signs Four-way stop signs were added at
SMTX The Bus is a free munic- ipal mode of transit that operates Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; there are seven routes throughout San Marcos that vary in frequency from 30 minutes to an hour. The tracker tool can be accessed at www.sanmarcostx.gov/bustracker
announced April 10 that a new tool has been developed to give riders the ability to track SMTX The Bus locations in real-time. Both entities collaborated for about two months to build, test and ulti- mately launch this bus tracker tool in the community. The tool also offers information
Timeline: TBD Cost: $50,000 Funding source: city of Kyle
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from San Marcos & Hays CISDs
COMPLIED BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN & ERIC WEILBACHER
Process begins to create a school marshal program
Hays CISD will meet May 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the Historic Buda Elementary Campus, 300 San Marcos St., Buda 512-268-2141 • www.hayscisd.net San Marcos CISD will meet June 2 at 6 p.m. at San Marcos High School, 2601 Rattler Road, San Marcos 512-393-6700 • www.smcisd.net MEETINGS WE COVER a decision on teachers and other positions was put off until a later date as the district’s budget for next year could change. Mike Doyle, the district’s executive director for business and finance, said a number of factors are still in play that could determine the district’s total budget for salaries, such as House Bill 100 in the Texas Legislature. Should the bill pass, it would increase the state’s basic allotment for each student and increase salaries further than budget projections. A vote will take place at a later date. NUMBER TO KNOW place at 74 school districts across Texas, according to San Marcos police Chief Stan Standridge. 299 The number of school marshals already in HIGHLIGHTS HAYS CISD The board of trustees approved two new administrative hires at its meeting April 25. Lockhart ISD Chief of Staff Christina Courson will now serve as the district’s chief of human resources. Tim Robinson, the district’s director of talent acquisition, has been promoted to the deputy chief position. SAN MARCOS CISD Some classified employees will see their annual salaries increase by 3% and other professionals by 2% after a board of trustees vote May 1, though
Bus service opens on busy roads was the single dissenting vote. SMCISD’s proposed marshal program advocates for using staff whose sole responsibility would be to protect elementary campuses, such as retired law enforcement or military members, as opposed to arming teachers. According to board documents, the district’s proposed program would mirror that of the Wylie ISD’s model, consisting of one marshal on each elementary campus, who would act as a safety officer. It would include consistent, regular training as well as a stipend. SAN MARCOS CISD A new school marshal program is slated to be inte- grated into the district following a 6-1 vote April 17 from the school board, despite pleas from the community to vote against it. Trustee Mari Salmi HAYS CISD Students who previ- ously did not qualify for school bus service because they lived too close to their schools now can catch rides if they live on roads near campus deemed hazardous for walking. The board of trustees approved a resolution April 25 declaring 54 hazardous routes—streets near schools that are too busy or unsafe for walkers—throughout the district. With this resolution, students who live within the hazardous walking routes can catch the bus even if they reside 2 miles or less from campus.
House Bill 1009, passed by the 83rd Texas Legislature in 2013, allows public school districts and open-en- rollment charter schools to appoint school marshals to “prevent the act of murder or serious bodily injury on school premises.” To be certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, applicants must pass a psychological exam, a written state exam and complete the commission’s training program. Applicants must also possess a current handgun license. In SMCISD, school marshal duties will include assisting in planning, tracking and executing drills as well as with nursing through Stop The Bleed training. Audits and reviews on security—such as weekly checks on exterior doors—are part of the Preventing crashes Additional students will be eligible to ride the bus following a change in the district’s policy on walking on hazardous streets. • 23 of the district’s 26 campuses have one or more roadways identified as hazardous. • Students who live on or adjacent to the identified roadways can now catch the bus. • The district estimates about 3,000 students who live within these areas are now eligible for bus service. • An extensive list of campuses
Funding approved for evaluations HAYS CISD Amid an increasing need for special education evaluations and a lack of staff to conduct them, the board of trustees approved a payment of $78,262.25 to Trinity Education Services on April 25 to conduct an additional 20 screenings by June 30. The district screens students for special education needs and those 20 must be completed to remain compliant with the Texas Education Agency in timely evaluations of students. Each assessment costs about $1,500. program as well. The approval of the program is the first step, though it is unclear when it will be fully implemented into the district and a position has not opened. PROJECTED COST The projected cost for eight marshals—one at each elementary school in the district—in total is as follows: First year: $515,280 Second year: $518,896 Third year: $525,351 According to SMCISD, there are 74 school districts with a marshal program in Texas. SOURCE: SAN MARCOS CISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
and the roadways deemed hazardous can be found at www.bit.ly/3nTzqxx
SOURCE: HAYS CISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
HEALTH CARE EDITION COMMUNITY IMPACT’S COMING SOON
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SAN MARCOS - BUDA - KYLE EDITION • MAY 2023
CITY & COUNTY
News from San Marcos & Kyle
San Marcos City Council will meet June 6 and 20 at 6 p.m. 630 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos 512-393-8000 www.sanmarcostx.gov Kyle City Council will meet June 6 and 20 at 7 p.m. 100 W. Center St., Kyle 512-262-1010 • www.cityo yle.com Buda City Council will meet June 6 and 20 at 6 p.m. 405 E. Loop St., Buda 512-312-0084 • www.budatx.gov Hays County Commissioners Court will meet May 23 and June 6 at 9 a.m. 111 E. San Antonio St., San Marcos 512-393-2205 www.hayscountytx.com MEETINGS WE COVER HIGHLIGHTS SAN MARCOS Police Chief Stan Standridge presented the newly negotiated police contract between the city of San Marcos and the San Marcos Police O cers’ Association to City Council on May 2. The previous contract was repealed following a petition e ort led by local activist group Mano Amiga. Council was scheduled to vote on it at the May 16 meeting, which was after press time.
SMART Terminal development set to add acreage, draws community opposition BY ZARA FLORES & ERIC WEILBACHER decent working conditions, and not all pay well.” On May 11, Texas-based Scarborough Lane
Rezoning retail to townhome request denied
REZONE PENDING While the request to rezone to townhomes was denied, city sta will work to come to an agreement.
INDUSTRIAL HUB MOVING FORWARD
BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
McAllister and Associates Real Estate Services to bring back a proposal for a combination of townhomes for own- ership as well as retain retail units. Collins noted that it had been challenging gaining retail develop- ers’ interest in the property due to visibility concerns. “If you don’t have visibility, retail- ers don’t do very good,” Collins said. In 2020 an application for residen- tial condos was denied because of tra c congestion on Bebee Road.
KYLE A request to rezone 4.68 acres of land from retail to townhomes for property located at 1290 Bebee Road was rejected. Although the rezoning request was denied April 18, Kyle City Council directed sta to work with the applicant—Vincent Huebinger, owner of Vincent Gerard and Associates Inc., an Austin-based land, planning development and zoning consultant company—and Spencer Collins with
With the development, the company seeks to attract corporate tenants that would utilize it as a central hub for a railway-served industrial park.
MAROON LN.
SAN MARCOS The San Marcos Air Rail and Truck Terminal development took another step forward toward o ering new manufacturing jobs after City Council approved plans to annex around 620 acres into the city; its subsequent zoning change to heavy industrial was postponed to July 3. The vote came after more than 3 1/2 hours of citizen comment and council discussion April 18 in which residents of San Marcos, Martindale, Maxwell and surrounding areas spoke in opposi- tion to it. At the following May 2 meeting, City Council voted to initiate a review of the development agreement as residents took issue with the lack of transparency on the developer’s part. “Besides revenue, the second good reason to support SMART Terminal is because it will bring good jobs to town,” San Marcos resident Ana Juarez said. “How do we know this? We knew what type of industry and what types of jobs the original SMART [Terminal] was bringing, but new SMART [Ter- minal] has provided no details about this. Not all manufacturing jobs are good jobs; not all provide
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and the Union Pacic Corp. railroad would connect to the project. Aviation Partners so the terminal can partner with the nearby San Marcos Regional Airport to potentially attract air cargo distribution companies. The developer is working with the Texas Department of Transportation and Texas AXIS Logistics Park—formerly known as the SMART Terminal—will be a railroad- serviced industrial park that will have about 15 business facilities with access to trucks as well as air cargo and rail transportation.
Development and Partners Real Estate announced the SMART Terminal was renamed as AXIS Logis- tics Park. The rst phase of the development will consist of the roughly 850 acres that lies between FM 1984, Hwy 80, the San Marcos Regional Airport and a railway line adjacent to the airport. Most of the opposition at the May 2 meeting and worries surrounding the development revolve around harm to the existing but frail infrastructure and the environment as well as risks to nearby resi- dents. The city will meet with the developer on how to move forward and address community concerns. The SMART Terminal has been in the works since 2018 and has more than doubled in size since its inception. The company applying for the amend- ment to the SMART Terminal agreement is seeking to add an additional land to the already existing area that would increase its size from 890 acres to more than 2,000 acres. The company wants to attract corporate tenants that would utilize it as a central hub for a rail- way-served industrial park.
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SOURCE: CITY OF KYLECOMMUNITY IMPACT
Kyle selects new city manager
and I look forward to working with the mayor, council and our dynamic sta to serve this community,” Langley said in a news release. Council selected Langley as the lone nalist for the position during its special meeting April 14.
BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
KYLE City Council announced Bryan Langley’s appoint- ment to city manager at its regular meeting April 18. The city had been without a permanent city manager for about eight months since former City Manager Scott Sellers resigned in September. Assistant City Manager Jerry Hendrix had been acting city manager since July. “I am thrilled to become a part of the Kyle team,
About 15 miles of track would be laid within the terminal property for loading and unloading railway cargo.
Bryan Langley
Mayor Travis Mitchell noted Langley has an “adept understanding” of what the Kyle community needs, noting his knowledge of municipal government.
SOURCES: TEXAS TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE, UNION PACIFIC CORP., BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE RAILWAY COMMUNITY IMPACT
SAN MARCOS 510 Barnes Dr (512) 392-0366
CREEKSIDE TOWN CENTER 263 Creekside Crossing (830) 608-1969
SOUTHPARK MEADOWS 9900 IH-35 Service Rd S (512) 280-7400
NEW BRAUNFELS 1671 IH-35 S (830) 629-0434
AT THE CAPITOL
News from the 88th legislative session
“ON BEHALF OF ALL OUR FAMILY QUOTE OF NOTE
House passes bills to improve teacher retention and increase school funding
KEEPING STAFF The Texas Teacher Vacancy Task Force issued a report in February. House Bills 11 and 100, which passed April 27 in the Texas House, respond to the task force’s recommendations:
MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIED INNOCENTLY BY TAKING MEDICATION LACED WITH FENTANYL ... WE’RE HERE TODAY TO TELL THE PEOPLE WHO DEAL THAT DRUG: WE’RE GOING TO PASS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION. WE’RE COMING AFTER YOU.” STATE REP. CRAIG GOLDMAN, R-FORT WORTH, BEFORE THE HOUSE PASSED HB 6, WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE WHO MANUFACTURE OR DISTRIBUTE FENTANYL
BY HANNAH NORTON
The minimum salary for a beginning Texas teacher is $33,660 for the 2022- 23 school year, according to the Texas Education Agency. HB 100 also adjusts the basic allotment—or how much state money schools receive per student—by $140 over the next two school years. The basic allotment is set at $6,160. It would go up to $6,250 during the 2023- 24 school year and $6,300 in 2024-25. The Texas Education Agency in March 2022 reported teacher depar- ture rates to be 11.57%. That rate is the highest it’s been since the agency started collecting data beginning in the 2007-08 school year. “House Bill 100 is a historic bill that is infusing an estimated $4.5 billion into public education while making policy shifts that will support critical increases in teacher pay and greater predictability,” King said. Both bills are now headed to the Texas Senate.
In an attempt to reduce the high rate of turnover among public and charter school staff, the Texas House passed two bills April 27 that are aimed at increasing school funding and provid- ing more support for teachers. House Bill 11, by Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, would provide additional funding for teacher residency and mentorship programs, which help aspiring and early-career teachers. The proposal also increases the Teacher Incentive Allotment, a program designed in 2019 to give “outstanding” teachers added pay. “This bill ultimately provides ... an opportunity for all of our schools—all five and a half million students in Texas to get a better quality educa- tion,” Dutton said. HB 100, by Rep. Ken King, R-Ca- nadian, would raise the minimum salaries for teachers, librarians, nurses and counselors based on experience.
Raise overall teacher compensation
Give teachers additional benefits and support
Increase help for special education teachers
Improve training for aspiring teachers
Expand teacher mentor- ship programs
Increase access to high- quality teaching materials
Extend teacher planning periods
HIGHLIGHTS
Sign up for our newsletter at communityimpact.com for daily updates throughout the session. SUBSCRIBE TODAY House Bill 2051 Sent to the House Calendar Committee on May 6, this bill would require the Department of Public Safety to maintain statistics on reported sexual assaults. House Bill 83 Referred to the House Calendar Committee on May 8, this bill would give school districts the option to allow high school students to use timed writing portfolio assessments instead of taking the multiple- choice end-of-course English exams to show their mastery of essential knowledge and skills. REP. ERIN ZWIENER District 45 • Democrat • Elected: 2018
Provide additional sup- port for staff
SOURCE: TEXAS TEACHER VACANCY TASK FORCE AND TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Lawmakers seek to require armed security in schools
INCREASING SECURITY
Texas lawmakers are working on a trio of bills that will increase school security statewide.
BY HANNAH NORTON
school safety audits from the Texas Education Agency for all public school districts. HB 13, by Rep. Ken King, R-Cana- dian, would provide a $25,000 annual stipend to school employees who choose to be armed on campus. HB 3 and HB 13 are now headed to the Texas Senate, and SB 838 will be sent to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk to sign.
The Texas House on April 25 passed three bills to enhance school safety. Senate Bill 838, by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, would add silent panic alert devices to all classrooms. The devices would immediately alert district officials and law enforcement of an emergency. House Bill 3, by Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, would require
Action: Requires an- nual safety audits for Action: Gives a $25,000 stipend to
House Bill 3
all public school districts House Bill 13
armed employees on campuses
Action: Adds panic alert devices to all
Senate Bill 838
classrooms
SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
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