AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Consider approval of Ordinance 2025-16, on the first of two readings, amending Section 2.231 of the San Marcos City Code to provide that the non-voting member of the Human Services Advisory Board may have either a degree in social work or experience in social service administration; providing for the repeal of conflicting provisions; providing a savings clause; and declaring an effective date.
Body
Meeting date: May 20, 2025
Department: Planning and Development Services
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Background Information:
City staff is requesting that City Council consider changing Code of Ordinances Section 2.231(a) to allow the non-voting social work position on the Human Services Advisory Board (HSAB) to be filled with someone who has either a social work degree or experience in social service administration. The ordinance currently requires both, which limits the pool of candidates. Staff believes that this position can be well served by someone with experience in social services who does not have a degree in social work, or by a newly degreed social worker who does not have experience.
The City’s application for this position on the HSAB inadvertently used the phrase “and/or” when asking whether the candidate had a “degree and/or experience in Social Work”. This has resulted in the appointment of Lucy Gonzalez to the Board’s non-voting social work position without the required degree. She has worked in social services for Community Action for four years and she is currently in school to earn a Masters in Human Services, to be completed in 2026.
Staff believes Ms. Gonzalez is a good fit for the position and that this appointment highlights the benefit of changing the wording in the ordinance.
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Recommendation:
Staff recommends adding the word “or” to the current wording of San Marcos Code or Ordinances Section 2.231(a) as shown below:
…Seven members will be voting members and the eighth member will be a non-voting member, and will be a person with a degree in social work or with experience in social service administration…