San Marcos — On many occasions I have communicated to you by writing a column or a letter to the editor as an additional way to promote open government and to reach as many of you as possible who are interested in the happenings in our city.  Today I am again reaching out to you on two matters: our community response to the tragic death of the mayor of our Sister City recently in Mexico and the Paso Robles project.

 

A Death in Mexico

I want to ask for your thoughts, prayers and participation in an event to honor and show our sympathy concerning the tragic events that took place recently in our Sister City, Santiago, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

Last week we received word from Santiago that the mayor of our sister city, who had been kidnapped on the Sunday before, had been found dead.  Mayor Edelmiro Cavazos, who was only 38 years old, was found on the side of the road after being kidnapped, tortured and slain.

We are in shock and deeply saddened.  Mayor Cavazos and several other dignitaries were scheduled to visit San Marcos last month but had to delay their trip due to natural disaster created by Hurricane Alex in July.   We had planned to reschedule the visit in the coming month.

Our Sister City relationship with Santiago began in 1995 when many of us boarded a bus to travel to Santiago. Our goal was to get to know the people of Santiago and to advance the understanding that we all believe leads to peace between nations.  In Santiago, we found a gracious people who wanted to embrace our culture and share theirs.  We talked about history, commerce and education.  We discussed the differences in our governing structure.  They wanted to learn the “American” way as they believed it would help lead them to a better life.  Sister City relationships are distant by miles but close in heart.

With that in mind, I am extending an invitation to all who might wish to respond to join local clergy on Monday August 30, 2010 at 6 p.m. at the Plaza San Marcos Stage at Hopkins and CM Allen to lift the city of Santiago, the mayor’s family and friends up in prayer.  We will also collect cards, letters and other expressions of sympathy and have a city wide signing of a condolence message that we will send to our sister city, Santiago.  This day also marks a year ago when many gathered to pray for rain to help break the drought and prayers of thanksgiving for our many blessings will be offered.

Please consider what you might do in your own way to keep the people of Santiago in your thoughts and prayers.

 

Paso Robles Update

On Tuesday, August 31st at 6 p.m., the City Council will hold a second public hearing on the potential annexation of land for the Paso Robles project.  There will also be hearings on the Planned Development Document and Zoning Changes requested by the applicant, Carma Developers.

This project has been making its way through the required City planning process since 2008.  This has included over 50 formal meetings with City Staff and Management and an additional 14 public meetings which started with a briefing of the project concept to the public at a regular Council meeting in 2009.

The project has been before the Parks Advisory Board and Planning and Zoning Commission and will make its way to the City Council at the regular meetings on September 21st and October 4th.

The Paso Robles project consists of a 1,340 acre planned community at Centerpoint and Hunter Road, at the edge of the Texas Hill Country. The location of the community in the Hill Country allows both existing and new residents of our City to live in a natural environment while enjoying access to City amenities.  Annexing this community into our city limits allows us to ensure that it develops in a manner consistent with our vision for the future. In fact, the community was designed to reflect the goals and principles in our San Marcos Horizons Plan and the Horizons Tomorrow Vision Statement.

 Let me share with you some of the ways that we have listened and have incorporated your suggestions and ours:

We are striving to address citizen concerns about using reclaimed water in a portion of the golf course over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone.  The concern of using reclaimed water over the small percentage of the project area that is located in the Recharge Zone has been one that staff and the applicant have been working on since 2009.  The developer has committed to me that the area of the golf course (approximately 3-5 holes) in the recharge zone will be maintained without the use of reclaimed water.  This is a solution that can address both the City’s commitment to use our water sources in a responsible manner and to protect our natural environment.

Speaking of our natural environment, I am proud to share with you that at my request and as part of the agreement that the City Council will consider, Carma is providing $300,000 to represent the city’s match for a grant that the city, county, EAA and The Trust For Public Land will apply for that will secure approximately 289 acres of land adjacent to the Purgatory Creek Preserve to preserve land over the aquifer and retain its natural state for eternity.  This is above and beyond what Carma has included in the Paso Robles plan.

Many of our neighbors outside the City Limits have raised concerns regarding the road connectivity around the development and its impact on their homes.    Roads outside of the boundaries of the development are not at the request of Carma and are not needed to support the traffic generated by Paso Robles.  These roads were required to meet future connectivity shown in the five year old Thoroughfare Plan.  The City Council has heard your concerns and will have the ability to vote to remove these roads from the project.   Additionally, this Thoroughfare Plan will be updated during the City’s overall Horizon’s Master Plan process which will begin review in 2011.  I encourage the public to participate in the process so that future city requirements that will be imposed on potential developments will reflect your updated thoughts and views.

In regard to the financing of this project, Carma will finance and pay for all infrastructure costs until such time that the development generates enough new revenue to the City coffers from its own increased property tax values.  The item before the Council is to commit to use a legal tool called a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) as a means to reimburse the developer for up to $20 million for the cost of public infrastructure that they are building and paying for initially.  Again no current tax revenue would ever be redirected to this project.

While these are the items that seem to have had your attention, you can find the most updated information regarding Paso Robles at the city website. (www.sanmarcostx.gov)

During the process, people have voiced their thoughts, support and concerns about elements of the project.  I want to thank all of you who have been active participants in the governing process at these public meetings.  The best government is the one that offers opportunities for its citizens to engage and one that listens.  San Marcos does its best to do just that and this project is one example of many that have proven that our system, although ever improving, is working.