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City Council <br />Council: <br />Meeting Minutes January 29, 2019 <br />I regret to inform you that I will be unable to attend the City Council meeting <br />scheduled for this Tuesday, January 29th, at which time you will be <br />considering the local historic landmark designation of Cape's Dam and <br />Engineering Structure. As you are well aware, this has been very important to <br />me. But I have a family engagement that has been scheduled for many weeks, <br />and I must be with them. <br />I don't believe it is necessary for me to restate how important the Hays County <br />Historical Commission believes Cape's Dam is to the history of the <br />development of San Marcos. I have appeared before you on numerous <br />occasions as chair of the county historical commission to discuss the historical <br />significance of the dam, millrace and its associated features. It's continued <br />recognition as being eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic <br />Places should be more than sufficient to convince anyone of its historic and <br />engineering significance. <br />I do, however, want to make one thing clear to the members of the City <br />Council. A historic designation, whether local, state or national, is a very <br />separate matter from the actual restoration or preservation of the building or <br />structure. Historic designation never requires the subsequent restoration of a <br />structure, nor does it even insure that this will eventually be a reality. <br />The question before the San Marcos City Council is simply: does Cape's Dam <br />meet the city's requirements for historic designation. As the city's requirements <br />are based on those of the National Register of Historic Places, and the dam <br />and mill race are eligible for the National Register - the answer is simply - yes. <br />No one is asking the City of San Marcos to preserve, restore or rehabilitate the <br />dam. And historic designation does not prevent a demolition permit from <br />being issued by the City. <br />All that is under consideration is the historic designation of a dam and millrace <br />that made enormous contributions to the early history of San Marcos and <br />Hays County. Those contributions should be recognized by the City of San <br />Marcos, regardless of what future decisions may ultimately be made for its <br />preservation. <br />I'm looking forward to your decision. I am confident you will choose to <br />recognize the history of San Marcos." <br />City of San Marcos Page 7 <br />