Martindale Council Meeting Summary Page
This page provides a summary of recent city council meeting topics and discussion. It provides a link to the current city council meeting agenda, a link to the YouTube channel to watch the recording, notes about the topic, and sometimes helps to decipher the formal descriptions the City uses to make the agenda.
- The City Council meetings are available on YouTube for anybody who wants to relive the magic. https://www.youtube.com/@cityofmartindale-youtubech5986/featured
- Every City Council meeting is also broadcast live on zoom. You need to go to Zoom.com or download the app onto your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://zoom.us/signin#/login You’ll create an account, then join the meeting by entering the information posted on the agenda. You can usually copy and paste the meeting id from the agenda into the front page of zoom website or the zoom app.
Key notes for May 2nd Meeting:
- The city will plan a survey and workshop to hear community opinion on a donation of a “mini-pitch” soccer field from the US Soccer Foundation. It would be installed in Hopson Ranch near the retention pond.
- Bike rodeo will be on May 18, contact Sonya Villalobos to help
- New council members Terri Werner and Laura Sanchez Fowler, as well as reelected council member Mike McClabb were sworn in.
May 2nd City Council Meeting
The city council agenda was available from the City at https://www.martindale.texas.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2321/2024-05-02—Agenda-Regular-City-Council-Meeting
Don’t forget you can always watch online by Zoom if you don’t want to come down after work and sit in the actual meeting. It is a free video app. (You can download it by clicking the word “Zoom” in blue hyperlink above.) You need to register for a free account, then open the emailed agenda from Adrian at the City office, and click on the Zoom link on the front page. This should allow you to watch the meeting from your phone/laptop/computer.
July 4th Parade
Second Planning Committee Meeting will be May 22 at 2pm 407 Main Street downtown Everyone is welcome!
The Mayor provided an update on the plans for the July 4th parade. If you are a local resident and want to be in the parade, come to the staging area near the corner of Lockhart and Main by 9am. The police officer stationed there can direct you if you need help.
If you know of an organized group who wants to be involved, call the Mayor 512-357-2639 to fill out a form so we can be ready for you! (There’s no entry fee.)
This year there will be booths, food, etc. stationed around the parade route. A map will be available in advance.
All traffic will be stopped from entering the city at 9:30am until the parade is completely over. So come early, and if you park in town, plan to leave late.
Mrs. Sonia Villalobos is organizing the bicycle rodeo event. She has many donations. If you’d like to donate a bike or volunteer to help, please contact her. She’s a real dynamo and she’ll put you right to work! And for sure, if you have kids, bring them out! There’s some free goodies from the library, free helmets, and the grand prizes are four new bikes!
The kids will learn about road safety from the Martindale police and ride their bikes on an obstacle course. Bring your kids’ bikes because they will also get a lesson on how to check their bike for any safety-related maintenance issues. Hotdogs provided by Mayor and Bill Glaze!
City Administrator Report
Agenda Item 2.2(a) The City Admin report included a technology update. The IT team (ha ha ha — who knew Martindale had an IT team? We only have one FT employee!) The City is updating the IT network and software. They are transferring from Versio to HTS Data Solutions at an overall savings to the city. There have been a few email and other glitches, as is to be expected, but overall its going well.
2.2(b) The city has published an request for proposals (an “ad”) for maintenance on the grounds for the Wastewater Treatment Plant. They need to hire someone to do maintenance four times a year.
2.2(c) Vandalism at the City Parks. Several ParkMobile signs were “tagged” (defaced) with graffiti at Phase 1 park, and the playground equipment at Alan Bates park was also “tagged.” AJ’s Lawn Care reported the damage (that’s the company who takes care of the parks). The City will either replace the signage with Alupanel, which has a covering that paint won’t stick to, OR cover the signs with a film that paint won’t stick to. [Comment from the editor: Hahaha, vandals! Our signs are rubber and you’re glue–whatever you paint wipes off of us and sticks to you!]
New Business:
A Donated Sports Field
Motion to approve or reject Mini Pitch Program Donation Agreement. FY2025. Matter was tabled until an estimate for laying a foundation can be obtained.
The Mini Pitch donation program is a collaboration between the US Soccer Foundation and Musco Sports Lighting. Mini-pitches are customized, hard-court surfaces suited for soccer programs and pick-up games. Mini-pitches serve as community hubs, encourage physical activity, and provide more opportunities for play.
The City will receive a donation of an ADA accessible sports field, seating, and dark sky compliant lighting. The City Council must donate the land, lay a hard surface foundation, and clean up any demolition materials at the end (anticipated to be minimal).
What’s the problem?
The city didn’t understand that Martindale is responsible for the cost of the foundation when they pursued the opportunity. They did select a location (near the retention pond at Hobson Ranch), but did not yet ask anyone living at Hobson if they supported placing a mini sports field (50×84) there. A Martindale resident volunteered to pay for a concrete foundation (up to approximately $20,000). The foundation is anticipated to cost about $29,000. More estimates on the way.
They asked resident Terri Werner (at that time not yet an elected council-member to be) to ask people in her Hobson neighborhood, if they would want the field there. If either the cost to the city is a lot more than the donated $20,000, or if the neighborhood doesn’t want it, they will decline the donated mini-sports field.
Editorial side note: Y’all probably know me by now. I have a lot to say about this. Look for a blog post soon.
April 18th Meeting
The city council agenda was available from the City at https://www.martindale.texas.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2315/2024-04-18—Agenda-Regular-Council-Meeting?bidId=
Don’t forget you can always watch online by Zoom if you don’t want to come down after work and sit in the actual meeting. It is a free video app. (You can download it by clicking the word “Zoom” in blue hyperlink above.) You need to register for a free account, then open the emailed agenda from Adrian at the City office, and click on the Zoom link on the front page. This should allow you to watch the meeting from your phone/laptop/computer.
July 4th Parade
First Planning Committee Meeting
The Mayor provided an update on the plans for the July 4th parade. If you are a local resident and want to be in the parade, come to the staging area near the corner of Lockhart and Main by 9am. The police officer stationed there can direct you if you need help.
If you know of an organized group who wants to be involved, call the Mayor 512-357-2639 to fill out a form so we can be ready for you! (There’s no entry fee.)
This year there will be booths, food, etc. stationed around the parade route. A map will be available in advance.
All traffic will be stopped from entering the city at 9:30am until the parade is completely over. So come early, and if you park in town, plan to leave late.
Riparian Zone
The Mayor also gave a recap of the San Marcos River Foundation workshop on riparian zone
Mayor Glaze received an informative booklet and handouts. She will make them available in City Hall if you want to stop by!
The “riparian zone” is a fancy way of saying the land on the sides of the river where plants and trees grow that help the river’s ecosystem. If you are interested in learning more about it, you can also find very helpful materials on line.
New Business
New Business included:
Motion to approve or reject the spending of $5,000 for the Texas General Land Office (GLO) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Wastewater Improvement matching component was passed.
Motion to set the Martindale Bicycle Rodeo on May 18th and approve the expenditure of no more than $1,000 from the Child Safety Restricted Fund for the purpose of the event was passed.
Mrs. Sonia Villalobos is organizing the bicycle rodeo event. She has many donations. If you’d like to donate a bike or volunteer to help, please contact her. She’s a real dynamo and she’ll put you right to work!
Motion to create a special city council meeting between May 7th though May 15th, due to the Council elections on May 4th. Motion was approved.
April 4th Meeting
The agenda was available from the City at https://www.martindale.texas.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2273/2024-04-04—Agenda-Regular-Council-Meeting
And the video of the meeting is on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@cityofmartindale-youtubech5986/featured
Key notes for April 4th Meeting:
- Langford Community Management Services (CMS) presented to the council and attendees from the community about the long-term community planning grant kick-off.
- Over the next 3 years, they will help Martindale create a long-range plan for where we want to be in 20 years (or at least somewhere down the road). Lots of opportunities for resident-input for the plans.
- If you keep checking back here at the newspaper, you MIGHT even know when those opportunities for public input are happening — BEFORE they happen.
- Haynie & Company will conduct our city’s next financial audit (FY2022-2023)
Side note from the editor (for April 4th meeting): There wasn’t too much on the agenda this week, folks. And there were only about three of us in the audience who were not there for a formal purpose. Join in by zoom or come sit with us (byop–bring your own popcorn)! Its the best way to know what’s up around here. But if you really can’t get yourself to come in person or you fall asleep listening on zoom, I get it. Just check back here for updates. I’ve got ya back.
Proclamations
Mayor Glaze read a a Proclamation of Child Abuse & Prevention Month and a Proclamation of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. Representatives of San Marcos community advocacy organizations were present to thank Martindale’s mayor and council for the proclamations to raise awareness. *
*Sidenote from the Editor: It would be wonderful if Martindale took some sort of action during the months when a social proclamation is made. For example, next April when Martindale makes a proclamation for child abuse and prevention month, perhaps they may take some form of action to educate, advocate, prevent, or intervene upon child abuse in the Martindale community. It seems like it would make the proclamation read at the meeting carry more weight, reach more of Martindale’s community than the few residents who attend the meetings, and perhaps we might hope to gradually make a impact upon the problem.
Financial Audit
There was a motion to accept or deny to engage Haynie & Company to initiate 2022-2023 annual financial audit at $27,000. This motion passed. It was noted that with the new networked software, particularly the accounting software, it would be a much easier audit next time in terms of man hours (person hours?). The auditors will be able to read, locate pertinent information, and decipher reports much easier because they will be receiving files and print outs that have an appearance similar to what the rest of the industry uses.
Community Master Plans
At the April 4th City Council meeting, a team from Langford Community Management Services came to present at the first public meeting to kick off Martindale’s new 3-year project funded by the Resilient Communities Program (RCP). The goal is to work with the city and its residents to create a comprehensive master plan for the City focused on resiliency.
The comprehensive municipal government plan will address the following:
- Hazards and Risk Assessment
- Population Study with 20-Year Projection
- Housing Study
- Land Use Plan
- Capital Improvement Plan
- Optional Chapters
- Zoning Ordinances
Keep a look out for more information as they begin to roll-out the project. You can also call over to City Hall to learn more in between these city council updates!
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