04141997 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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100 Regular Meeting April 14, 1997 Page 3 Downtown San Marcos Improvement Plan. Mr. John Cooper, Vice-Chairman of the Main Street Advisory Board stated the Main Street Board has been concerned with the need for a safe and attractive downtown, and their concerns are very similar to those expressed by the Tourism Commission. Mr. Cooper stated rather than continuing to address these concerns individually the board decided to attempt to develop a single comprehensive plan. Mr. Cooper stated the plan would address what needed to be done, how it should be done and by whom. Mr. Cooper stated the plan was in two parts, one setting out the responsibilities of the public sector and the other being the responsibilities of the private sector. Mr. Cooper stated the only change which needs to be made was in the second of the two documents where they refer to drought resistant plantings, they meant to say drought resistant native plantings. Mr. Cooper stated a revised page would be provided later. Mr. Cox stated he would like to comment the plan does tie in with the downtown section of the master plan, and it seems to have a great deal of interface with Mr. Mihalkanin's tourism document. Mayor Moore stated an important consideration is for the staff, Mr. Patterson, Chief Kendrick and others, have access to this so they can review it and propose back into it. Mr. Cooper stated they had not released copies to anyone else except the Council. Mr. Guerra stated one observation on Page 1 of Safety, Police Presence No. 5 he would have hoped it would have been disruptive individuals in the CDBD. Mr. Guerra stated he has run into several disruptive adults as well. Mr. Guerra asked if his next step was to work with staff regarding dollar figures 'on the recommendations. Mr. Cooper stated there was also the matter of priorities if they really believed in tourism and if they believed in a downtown where people would like to spend time. Mr. Cooper stated they would have to make that a priority and advise staff that has a certain level in the priority scheme, which is as important as the allocation of dollars. Mr. Guerra asked if it made sense for the City to make a policy whereby they would dedicate a certain amount of dollars every single year to the accomplishment of the recommendations of the report. Mr. Cooper stated there would have to be a period of time for it to occur. Ms. Hughson stated there are some things already in the works, and she would like the staff to let the Council know. Mayor Moore stated his suggestion is for the staff to run their review process of the supplement and let Mr. Patterson, Mr. Cobb and the responsible parties make their observations what is being done and what needs to be done. Laura Huffman stated some of the items are in next year's budget and Staff can let Council know what is funded, such as the downtown police and garbage would be in next year's budget and Staff bring a response and recommendation to the Council to let them know where each exists in progress and which requires additional funding. Ms. Hughson stated another issue which has been discussed for years and nobody has taken over the project is regarding signage. Ms. Hughson stated the City has their own sign-shop. Ms. Hughson stated she would like to see from the report that the tourist group did where Mr. Mihalkanin chaired, and appoint a committee of three to review where signage should be, existing poles and color scheme worked out, and get that done by Memorial Day. Ms. Hughson stated she was not talking about highway signs, only signs in town such as those which could get you from Wonder World to Downtown. Mayor Moore stated the University is taking a similar look at solving certain signage. Phil Neighbors stated they are working on some signage to the Main Street District downtown and historic signage from the interstate, and another subcommittee is working on highway signage. Ms. Valerie Guzman, Chairman of the Main Street Board, stated the Board had been in touch with Tex- Art to get the signage done and was not aware of getting signage done by the City. Ms. Hughson stated this has been an issue for the past year and nothing had been done. Ms. Guzman stated they could come up with everything except how much it would cost for the City's sign shop to do it and could get it to the Council after Texas Natural Weekend. Mr. Gilley suggested Ms. Guzman check with Planning and Development Services to get right of way information. Ms. Hughson suggested it be paid from the Tourist Account. Mayor Moore introduced for consideration a public hearing and approval of an Ordinance on first reading, the caption which was read as follows: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS, TEXAS, DESIGNATING A REINVESTMENT ZONE NO. 9 PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 312 OF THE TEXAS TAX CODE TO INCLUDE PROPERTY COMPRISING AN AREA OF 0.860 ACRE LOCATED AT 817