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City Council Meeting Minutes January 29, 2019 <br />Dava Flowers, student at San Marcos High School. She has done a lot of <br />research on Cape's Dam. She stated we need to look at preservation and <br />historical designation at two different levels. We can overlook the historical <br />significance and fear that it could influence the debate on removal. City <br />Council has responsibility to see the whole picture regardless of precedence. If <br />precedence is of concern, she reminded Council that landmark status can be <br />granted prior to demolition of a site. Landmark status does not keep a <br />structure from being removed for safety reason. She has done a lot of research <br />over the last year on Cape's Camp and believes it deserves historical <br />designation. This dam helps us understand how residents utilized technology at <br />the first industrial movement of Hays County. She asked Council to please <br />your scope to recognize the historical value above all else. <br />Amanda Alexander, stated that At the end of the meeting it is your decision to <br />determine if historical preservation financial, safety and environmental cost is <br />preferable over the removal of the dam. We have a fiscal, moral and historical <br />responsibility to remove the dam. We need to allow the river to run freely <br />again. <br />Charles Soechting, stated he does not understand why this is such a hard <br />decision to make this a historical designation. City Staff has even <br />recommended designation status. He stated there are many people who want <br />the river to go back to the way it was and he stated he has seen many changes <br />in San Marcos. However, changes do happen and you can not go back to the <br />way things were. The decision tonight is whether this designation meets our <br />criteria, and it does. This has been approved since the mid 80s to allow this <br />designation and there are many that have showed support of this dam. With <br />approval, a lot of heritage will be preserved. <br />Virginia Parker, stated that she has paddled the safari and we can all recognize <br />what a special place this area is. Her concern is the safety of the area. If this is <br />deemed a historical location, and if something like a piece of rebar pops up, we <br />Council be able to properly fix this issue? Another concern is the bacteria <br />levels. She has two children now and she mentioned the bacteria levels are <br />already high in that area and if we keep the mill race the bacteria levels rise <br />even more during drought situations. Please consider the safety aspect of the <br />entire area. <br />Jordan Buckley, quoted Zora Neale Hurston "If you are silent about your <br />pain, they will kill you and say you enjoyed it." Mr. Buckley made the <br />City of San Marcos page 8 <br />