AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Receive an update on Senate Bill 71 (SB 71) which, if passed would authorize the State of Texas to convey ownership of the bed and banks of the San Marcos River within the corporate limits of the City to City of San Marcos, and provide direction to Staff.
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Meeting date: February 21, 2017
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Funds Required: N/A
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Funds Available: N/A
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CITY COUNCIL GOAL:
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ELEMENT(s):
BACKGROUND: During the 84th Texas Legislative Session the San Marcos City Council partnered with Senator Judith Zaffirini and Representative Jason Isaac on a bill to transfer ownership of the bed and banks of the San Marcos Rive from the State of Texas to the City of San Marcos. March 2015 the city council provided a resolution of support for the proposed legislation to both Senator Zaffirini and Representative Isaac. The legislation was not passed during the 84th Legislative Session.
In July of 2016 the San Marcos City Council adopted Guiding Principles for the 85th Legislative Session. One of the principles listed is to support legislation that protects the San Marcos River and continued progress of the Habitat Conservation Plan. At that time, Council was provided, as an attachment to the agenda item, the City of San Marcos Policy Issues Document which outlined specific issues the City would support or oppose including the Bed and Banks issue, which would later become SB 71.
In November of 2016 Senator Zaffirini filed SB 71 to help the City of San Marcos better manage restoration and environmental protection of the San Marcos River.
The bill, if passed, would assist the City in better protecting the river, plants and wildlife by streamlining and more efficiently managing in river Habitat Conservation Plan projects. This bill will help the City balance the value of the San Marcos River as a center for recreation and the need to protect the habitat of the some of the earth's most rare sp...
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