AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Consider appointments to fill vacancies on the Comprehensive Plan Rewrite Steering Committee charged with assisting in the City’s Comprehensive Plan rewrite and provide direction to Staff.
Body
Meeting date: November 16, 2021
Department: Planning and Development Services
Amount & Source of Funding
Funds Required: n/a
Account Number: n/a
Funds Available: n/a
Account Name: n/a
Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: n/a
City Council Strategic Initiative:
N/A
Comprehensive Plan Element (s):
☒ Economic Development - Choose an item.
☒ Environment & Resource Protection - Choose an item.
☒ Land Use - Choose an item.
☒ Neighborhoods & Housing - Choose an item.
☒ Parks, Public Spaces & Facilities - Choose an item.
☒ Transportation - Choose an item.
☒ Core Services
☐ Not Applicable
Master Plan:
Vision San Marcos - A River Runs Through Us
Background Information:
The City is currently working on the Vision SMTX Comprehensive Plan Rewrite alongside the City Council selected consultant, Moore, Iacofano, and Goltsman (MIG). In addition to community, focus group, and policy guidance, the project team has been working with a Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee (CPSC) that is overseeing the project and the creation of the plan. This 31 member City Council appointed committee is a diverse working group that aids City staff and the consultant team with both the public process and the plan’s substance. The committee represents the broad interests that exist within the community and is intended to represent different districts and varying demographics within the City.
The Committee has met regularly at a combination of virtual meetings, in-person socials, volunteer events, and provided input via short virtual surveys and emails. Staff has also facilitated virtual 1-on-1 meetings with members to further discuss a variety of topics related to the Plan. An overview of past events include:
• CPSC Virtual Meeting #1: November 20, 2020
• CPSC Virtual Meeting #2: January 14, 2021
• CPSC In-person Social Event: April 22, 2021
• CPSC Virtual Meeting #3: May 27, 2021
• CPSC Virtual Meeting #4: August 25, 2021
The role of the members of the Steering Committee is as follows:
• The members of this committee will be asked to serve as a representative to various constituents and individuals in their respective networks, encouraging participation in the public process, while also sharing some of the more technical insights developed by the committee, as appropriate.
• The members of this committee will be asked to provide input throughout the process, as well as to share constructive feedback, both in the form of their individual expertise, as well as representative of those they are representing.
• Finally, as the plan moves toward adoption, members will be asked to champion the plan through the adoption process, sharing their unique perspective of having served on the committee and playing a key role in building consensus around the plan's vision, goals, and recommendations.
• Attend the remaining 4 CPSC meetings and attendance at optional volunteer events is encouraged.
At the 10/7/2020 City Council meeting, the City Council chose the following committee structure:
• Up to 21 members appointed by the City Council (3 members for each City Councilmember) - Must be residents of the city
• Two City Councilmembers
• Two Planning and Zoning Commission members
• One representative from Hays County
• One representative from San Marcos Consolidated ISD
• One representative from Texas State University
• One representative from the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce
The purpose of this item is for City Council to consider filling potential vacancies to the CPSC. The City Council may choose to appoint two potential vacancies:
• Vacancy #1: The vacancy of Mr. Robert Mooney who has requested to resign from the committee.
• Vacancy #2: The vacancy of Ms. Amy Meeks who was recently appointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission. City Council provided direction to the staff that a maximum of two Planning and Zoning Commission members shall serve on the committee. With this recent appointment there are three Planning and Zoning Commission members on the committee (Commissioner Rand and Commissioner Agnew are the existing serving members)
In addition, The City Council will consider the re-appointment of Councilmember Derrick’s position on the committee during another agenda item.
Applications for the potential vacancies were due by 5PM on Monday, November 1, 2021. Staff received 5 new applicants for this committee. In addition, staff reached out to all non-appointed applicants who applied to serve on the committee in 2020. Of the 40 individuals contacted, 20 individuals stated that they would like their application to continue to be considered for appointment to the committee. Therefore, a total of 25 applications are to be considered.
Council Committee, Board/Commission Action:
N/A
Alternatives:
N/A
Recommendation:
N/A