San Marcos opens 2026 UniverCity applications for civic engagement | The Locally Times
The San Marcos initiative joins a range of regional programs, including an Austin pilot offering up to $2,000 for flood insurance and a student video contest aimed at connecting residents with local governance.
The City of San Marcos is accepting applications through March 2, 2026, for its UniverCity program, a civic engagement initiative. The program is one of several recent efforts across the region to connect residents with local governance through financial aid, educational contests, and public works participation. A public notice for the San Marcos program states it is designed to foster community involvement, but the city has not yet released details on the curriculum, duration, cost, or eligibility requirements. ## Austin Offers Financial Aid and Youth Outreach In Austin, the Watershed Protection department has launched two distinct programs. A pilot Flood Insurance Assistance Program offers up to $2,000 in financial aid to help homeowners obtain or maintain flood insurance for one year. To be eligible, applicants must be Austin homeowners residing in a floodplain with a household income below 140% of the Median Family Income. To engage younger residents, the department is also sponsoring a Flood Safety Video Contest. A public notice on the department’s website lists a submission deadline of March 25, 2026. These programs combine direct financial support for vulnerable residents with creative public safety education for students. ## Austin Manages Infrastructure and Invasive Species Public engagement also extends to shared environmental resources and infrastructure. Austin Parks and Recreation temporarily closed Barton Springs Pool from the week of February 23 through March 13, 2026. A release from the department states the closure was necessary for the Barton Springs Skimmer Bypass Project, which addresses safety and environmental concerns related to a decommissioned bypass structure from the 1940s. The closure also allowed staff to perform additional deferred maintenance. Separately, the Austin Watershed Protection department is managing the spread of hydrilla in Lake Austin, where the invasive, nonnative plant's coverage grew from less than 5% in June 2024 to approximately 30% of the lake. In response, the department’s website notes that the city added approximately 1,950 sterile grass carp to the lake in November 2025 to help control the plant’s growth. The city held a public meeting on the issue on November 18, 2025, and made a recording and presentation materials available online for residents.