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San Marcos populationPosted July 4, 2007, 7:50 p.m.
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SAN MARCOS – Officials in San Marcos weren't happy when the 2000 Census counted the city's population at only 34,733. Figuring to come in around 40,000, city officials thought the Census must have undercounted.
Now, San Marcos is counting its own population. As of June 1, according to a municipal count, the city included 50,016 residents.
The increase to 50,000 puts the city into new strata concerning federal regulations and opportunities. The city will have to take responsibility from the state for traffic control, but it's also eligible for increased federal transportation money.
The big payoff, perhaps, is a near doubling of the city's extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ), which expands from two miles to 3 1/2 miles.
Most of the San Marcos ETJ expansion will go to the city's northwest and southeast, because the San Marcos territory runs into Kyle on the northeast and New Braunfels on the southwest. Earlier this year, Kyle claimed a population of 25,000, doubling its ETJ from one mile to two, and New Braunfels claimed 50,000 for an expanded ETJ to 3 1/2 miles.
The new San Marcos ETJ will surround all but the most eastern stretches of the Martindale ETJ. The expanded San Marcos territory also will wrap up along the western edge of Kyle's ETJ near the Blanco River.
However, the San Marcos expansion doesn't take the portion of the Blanco River that runs north-south through the Kyle ETJ. Kyle is considering a strategic plan that would involve building high-end houses near the Blanco River.
Claims of ETJ enable cities to exercise some development controls on areas surrounding the city limits, presumably to make those areas more suitable for future annexation.
In a memo to the city council, San Marcos Senior Planner Chance Sparks said the city has grown at an annual average rate of 5.1 percent in the last seven years. The city made its estimate by starting with the 2000 Census data, then adding in subsequent building permits, allowing six months after completion before considering single-family homes and ten months after completion of multi-family units.
The study assumes occupancy rates of 95 percent for single-family units and 97 percent for multi-family units, using persons-per-unit figures from the 2000 Census. Sparks said the technique is consistent with those used by the Census Bureau, the Texas State Data Center and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
In addition, Sparks said, Texas State reported its fall population for inclusion in the estimates.
At 50,000 population, San Marcos will be considered a Small Urban Area by the federal Office of Management and Budget.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will consider San Marcos responsible for the traffic control lights at the intersections of city-maintained roads. However, TxDOT won't pass off those controls until the 2010 Census, which should count San Marcos at well past 50,000. So, San Marcos can expect to take responsibility for those lights in early 2012.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requires cities of 50,000 or more to develop storm water management programs. That, too, would take effect roughly 18 months after the 2010 Census is taken. The city also would be required to issue annual water quality tests for lead and copper under the Safe Drinking Water Act, but Sparks said it's unclear if that's triggered by the 2010 Census or the city declaration.
Once San Marcos declares 50,000 population, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) no longer assumes responsibility for patrolling IH-35 through town. DPS officers will handle major dangerous violations as they happen by, but they won't be routinely assigned to those sections, nor will they take routine enforcement actions. That means the San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) will handle the routine infractions and collect the fees.
The U.S. Department of Transportation requires cities of 50,000 or more to either form a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), or join one in the area. However, the city also becomes eligible for federal transportation money, Generally, the federal government will fund 80 percent of approved projects with a state/local match of 20 percent, according to Sparks’memo. Transportation projects for the disabled could receive up to 95 percent federal funding.
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