The City of San Marcos is gearing up for the one thousand spectators who are expected to fly into Central Texas for a nearby international racing event.

The San Marcos Regional Airport will make multi-million dollar renovations in preparation for the November Formula One race in Austin. Stephen Alexander, airport manager from Texas Aviation Partners, said flying into the San Marcos airport will be an easy option for race attendees because it will not be as congested as the Austin airport.

Laurie Moyer, managing director of community services, said the City of San Marcos is expected to invest $1.5 million in five capital improvement projects that will renovate some of the original infrastructure of the airport. The bulk of the budget includes a projected $950,000 replacement of a 60-year-old water line that has been in place since 1947, when the municipal airport was developed.

Alterations to the Patton Street railroad crossing must be made to continue with the city’s new quiet zone ordinance for trains.

The Engineering and Capital Improvements Department addressed approximately 20 San Marcos residents on the future improvements of the Patton and Eisenhower Street railroad crossing. Janae Ryan, graduate engineer for the Parks and Recreation Department, said the intersection is one of 26 public railroad crossings in the city to be “quiet zoned.” About 20 trains pass through San Marcos every day, she said.

The implementation of a monthly waste drop-off day may be in the City of San Marcos’ future.

Laurie Moyer, managing director for Community Services, updated the San Marcos City Council during its Oct. 1 meeting on ways to improve the city’s green waste collection, which includes leaves, branches and brush.

The council unanimously approved a pilot program that would establish a monthly green waste drop-off day every Saturday.

The Solid Waste Task Force asked city council in May to address green waste. Moyer presented three options to the council at the Oct. 1 meeting. Besides the drop-off day, the other options were to create a manned drop-off facility and a schedule change to the Texas Disposal Systems service. The other two options will be considered if the drop-off pilot is unsuccessful.

Cape’s Camp, owned by the Thornton and Stokes families, is on the market. Cape’s Camp is the last largest undeveloped riverfront property in San Marcos, and voters will be asked during the Nov. 6 general election if the city should attempt to purchase the property.

Matthew Lewis, director of development services for the City of San Marcos, said 45 acres are for sale until developers close a contract on the land. He said Dovetail Development, based in Athens, Ga., is the only company that has submitted a zoning change request, which is part of the process to buy the land.

The San Marcos City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding between four different parties to promote a San Marcos River educational center near Spring Lake during Tuesday’s meeting.

Hays County, Texas State, the Parks and Wildlife Department and the City of San Marcos have joined forces to collaborate on a plan for an “interpretive and education center.”  The center will promote awareness for the San Marcos River.

According to the memorandum, the educational center would inform the public on protecting and preserving natural resources, engaging and enhancing research efforts and informing the public about recreation opportunities.

Michael Cosentino, city attorney, said the Memorandum of Understanding is a preliminary step needed to cooperate and set a plan to work in the future, not a binding agreement. There are no finances involved in this particular document.

More than 25 people participated in the hour-long event in the LBJ Student Center, which included a panel of local health care professionals and breast cancer advocates.

Jenn Hatch, marketing and communication manager for the Austin affiliate Susan G. Komen for the Cure office, speaks at Think Pink, a breast cancer awareness event in the LBJ Student Center. Hatch discussed her family ties to the disease.

Perreda Manor, a Komen Austin volunteer for the speaker’s bureau, said Think Pink is a way to get people talking.

SMPD Commander Penny Dunn said the department has noticed an increase in pedestrian-vehicle fatalities since May 2009, when local bars extended their closing time from midnight to 2 a.m.

Dunn said there have been nine vehicle fatalities since Jan. 1. Of the nine car-related deaths recorded this year, five were pedestrians. Dunn said five vehicle fatalities were recorded in 2011, and three were pedestrians.

Although the recent hit-and-runs did not take place during a game day weekend, SMPD is only planning to increase the number of officers patrolling downtown during large events.

Faculty senators met with University President Denise Trauth and Provost Eugene Bourgeois during the first President’s Academic Advisory Group (PAAG) meeting of the semester, when top university officials met with the senate to discuss issues and seek suggestions.

Barbara Melzer, faculty senate chair, brought up several instances where she heard among faculty there was a decrease in enrollment this fall. Melzer said she has only seen fall enrollment numbers for freshmen and transfer students, not including retention rates.

The San Marcos City Council held a public hearing Tuesday night regarding the budget for the 2013 fiscal year.

The approximately $160.7 million proposed budget is larger than the budget from fiscal year 2012 because of property tax increases. The city budget for fiscal year 2012 was approximately $146 million.

Finance Director Steve Parker said he started assessing the proposed budget in January of this year. He said this particular budget has been the most reviewed one since his term as director.

Parker said the city has “trended very well” in terms of its budget, primarily due to the increase in property values and sales taxes. He said there are some instances where the city did spend money from the reserves. Parker said for every dollar the city spends, he wants to have 25 cents in the bank.

The San Marcos City Council held a public hearing Tuesday night regarding the budget for the 2013 fiscal year.

The approximately $160.7 million proposed budget is larger than the budget from fiscal year 2012 because of property tax increases. The city budget for fiscal year 2012 was approximately $146 million.

Finance Director Steve Parker said he started assessing the proposed budget in January of this year. He said this particular budget has been the most reviewed one since his term as director.

Parker said the city has “trended very well” in terms of its budget, primarily due to the increase in property values and sales taxes. He said there are some instances where the city did spend money from the reserves. Parker said for every dollar the city spends, he wants to have 25 cents in the bank.