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City Council Meeting Minutes June 18, 2019 <br />housing, they have to jump through significantly less hoops. For this reason, <br />many developers proceed in this manner, but once the building is complete <br />they target college students as their residents. This continues because there is <br />no regulation in the Code which defines what student housing and family <br />housing looks like. For example, in some cities for a building to remain <br />multi -family, less than 50% of their residents can be students. It should not be <br />in the cities hand, nor should it be the cities goal to stop a developer from <br />being transparent and honest about their target audience. In fact, the city can <br />actually use this situation in their favor because they can have more control <br />over who is placed where. Meaning they can more easily recommend and <br />section off where students live versus where families live. The atmosphere <br />created for and by students is much different than the environment that a <br />family raising children likely wishes to live. By reducing the regulations on <br />student housing and making them equal with those places on multi -family <br />housing the city actually gains greater control over the functionality of the city <br />as a whole. She stated that college students are everywhere and they are the life <br />of San Marcos. <br />Sharri Boyett, addressed the Council regarding the work session presentation <br />and stated that it was wonderful, but feels that 5 years is just too long. The <br />collaboration that is forthcoming is promising, but please expedite the process, <br />the advocates can help expedite things. She stated that there will be future <br />discussions about budgets, but this seems prolonged. We would like to form an <br />empowered taskforce and a create a campaign to educate the community as <br />this is a regional facility. We need to bring the enthusiasm while there is such a <br />heightened community involvement for a no kill shelter. She implored the <br />Council to capitalize and use a campaign and to be more bold. <br />Rodney Smith, spoke about the 75 Sylvan project (#24 on agenda). He stated <br />he had the opportunity to watch the Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) <br />meeting and he was concerned with the mixed messages that were being sent. <br />They state they are about growth and density in the right area and doing things <br />the right way. He stated that Mr. Garber, P&Z Chair, called around to <br />different establishments that student housing is now full and that he washed his <br />hands of it. It was clear in watching the video his mind was already made up. <br />He believes this commission is not a true representation of the City and <br />everyone thinks the same way. There needs to be student representation on this <br />committee. Mr. Garber makes a comment and links it to a decision about a <br />collaboration that was a partnering relationship with your P&Z staff to hit the <br />outcome the city is asking for. He understands there was a project on the other <br />side of town, similar to 75 Sylvan, and the big objection was that codes weren't <br />City of San Marcos Page 3 <br />