# Meet & Confer - October 16, 2026

The City of San Marcos and San Marcos Professional Police Officers Association held a meet-and-confer session on October 16, 2026, focused on proposed negotiation ground rules and employment terms. Participants discussed edits to the ground rules, including how minor issues could be added during negotiations, scheduling and duty-time participation, security at public meetings, and clarifying that subcommittees would develop information but decisions would be made in open meetings. The group did not record a formal vote or adoption; revised ground rules are to be prepared and circulated.

Management outlined discussion topics including lateral entry, vacation-leave payouts, residency incentives, association business leave, discipline alternatives, longevity pay, external hiring for assistant chiefs, relocation reimbursement, and compensation. The city proposed changing vacation payouts for employees hired on or after October 1, 2027, while grandfathering current employees; the discussion cited a 720-hour existing maximum and a goal nearer peer practices of about 480 hours. The association identified compensation as its priority and requested that market comparisons begin early; the city discussed exploring targeted pay increases by rank rather than a uniform increase. No procurement, contract award, purchasing decision, or budget allocation was identified. The next meeting and an intervening committee meeting are to be scheduled.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Public Safety
**Published:** October 16, 2026

### Sources
- [Meet & Confer - October 16, 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCb3dsj0h2U) - City of San Marcos