TUESDAY April 9, 2024 VOLUME 114 ISSUE 27 www.UniversityStar.com
Proposed housing project faces local scrutiny, potential legal questions By Jacquelyn Burrer News Contributor Questions are being raised around a development company proposing a high-rise student apartment complex called the McLain Project, which is set to be
built across the street from Texas State’s campus. At the first reading of the proposal on April 2, city council voted 6-1 on the first of the proposed amendments after the initial vote failed to secure a supermajority, which is required after the San Marcos Planning and Zoning Committee recommended denial on Feb. 27.
City council also voted to table the remaining amendments and the McLain Project is set to go before the San Marcos City Council for its second and final vote on April 16.
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Specially-abled pet owners of Texas State By Jamin Ochoa Life and Arts Contributor Pets come in all shapes and sizes, with different personalities. Some of these pets are deemed “speciallyabled,” meaning they have a unique niche that requires unique care. When it comes to caring for these pets, there can be added stress on top of the challenges of caring for a pet.
Some owners don't have the opportunity to choose a specially-abled pet and adapt in real-time to their pet gaining a disability later. Bella Rodriguez, a communication design freshman, dealt with her dog getting hip displasia. Rosie Pickles, a Jack Russel Terrier, used to love to run, jump and play, but wasn’t able to after she lost the ability to use her right hind leg after her diagnosis. “She was gonna get through this because we all adapt
to changes,” Rodriguez said. “Rosie reacted really well to her change.” Rodriguez recounts Rosie Pickles changing in multiple ways after becoming disabled including being less energic, heightened aggression and the overall pain her pet was feeling. Watching these changes at a young age gave Rodriguez a unique perspective toward all animals moving forward and increased her love for Rosie Pickles.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF CATE WEISBRODT
PHOTO COURTESY OF JILLIAN ENGLERT
PHOTO COURTESY OF BELLA RODRIGUEZ
Animal justice junior Cate Weisbrodt's guinea pig, Pendleton, June 2019, in Austin.
Criminal justice freshmen Jillian Englert and her cat Linga, December 2023, in Forney, Texas.
Communication design freshmen, Bella Rodriguez's dog, Rosie Pickles, August 2019, in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Local activism group to submit petitions to repeal police protections By Ryan Claycamp Senior News Reporter Local political action committee Mano Amiga Safe Communities plans to submit a petition to repeal civil service protections for the San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) by the end of the month. Local Government Code Chapter 143, which provides civil service protections, was established by the Texas legislature in 1987 to provide increased standards and protections for municipal police in jurisdictions with more than 10,000 residents. Chapter 143 controls the rules police departments must follow for hiring, firing, career advancement and disciplinary procedures for law enforcement officers. "Civil service laws established criteria for hiring [officers], they now have to meet certain standards by law, " Howard Williams, a lecturer in the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology and former SMPD chief, said. "If [Chapter 143] is repealed there will still be certain minimum qualifications, but I could hire anybody I want and I can promote anyone I want."
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PASS keeps pets out of the San Marcos Shelter By Cara Cervenka Life and Arts Reporter Austin Pets Alive worked alongside Hays County to introduce a new initiative called Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender (PASS). The program launched in January 2024 and serves as a virtual resource center for residents of Hays County. The addition of this program provides resources for pet owners and opportunities for one-on-one counseling to support complex cases. San Marcos struggled to provide counseling before PASS. The effort to provide in-house counseling was lengthy, which resulted in the overcrowding of the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter. PASS has minimized the number of animals entering shelters; pet owners can get a response within 24 hours.
PHOTO BY ROSEY MENDOZA
SEE ADOPTION PAGE 5
A shelter dog eagerly waits for his forever home, Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter.
New city hall to be built in San Marcos By Eleanor Munoz News Contributor
PHOTO BY ROSEY MENDOZA
A local community member heads to the door of San Marcos City Hall for assistance, Friday, April 5, 2024, in San Marcos.
The development of a new San Marcos City Hall is underway, intending to increase sustainability and community engagement. The new city hall is still in the beginning planning stages while the city searches for more staff. Assistant City Manager Laurie Moyer spearheaded the proposal for the new city hall located across the street from the current building on East Hopkins Street. Moyer said the project will address the current city hall's unstable condition. The size of the current city hall is the biggest restriction as the population
of San Marcos and city staff has increased exponentially since the hall was first built in 1975. The population of San Marcos in 1970 was 18,860 compared to the 2023 record population of 87,111 according to Josh Daspit, an associate professor of management at Texas State. “[A new city hall has] been discussed for probably several years now. We had really outgrown this particular site,” Moyer said. “Right before COVID-19, you would have seen we were all jam-packed in here." According to Moyer the city already owns the land for the new building, which will keep the city hall near other public buildings.
SEE DEVELOPMENT PAGE 2