08.18.20 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes August 18, 2020 driving up housing prices nationwide looking for investment properties. It is disappointing that, in the discussion about "affordable housing", helping first time homebuyers seems to have been neglected. He believes that the recommendations will start to address this urgent issue. The evidence is clear that owner -occupied housing provides stability and community in growing cities, and that owning your home is the surest way that all citizens of San Marcos can build equity and generational wealth. There are tools in our toolbox, like occupancy rules already in place for single family housing, which incentivize home ownership and owner -occupancy of our city's limited single-family housing stock and promote equality and opportunity for all our citizens. He urges Council to continue working to provide a reliable renter -to -homeowner pathway for citizens like me to own an affordable home in San Marcos. Haley Clements expressed her concerns on the proposed apartment complex at the entrance to La Cima neighborhood. She is concerned about the maintenance of drainage ditches on the property since apartment complex are not required to pay HOA dues. She would like Council to consider the apartment complex limited to a two-story building and the possibility of placing the apartment complex on the east side of West Centerpoint Road with its own entrance off Ranch Road 12, to preserve the beautiful and inviting entrance to La Cima. Alfonso Sifuentes, Director of Public Sector Services & Community Relations with Central Texas Refuse, expressed his concerns on item #32 for the contract renewal with Texas Disposal System. He would like to see this go out for bid to ensure that the City gets the best deal. He noted that his company participates in the communities in which they do business. J. Kama Davis, expressed her concerns on the changes in San Marcos' Land Development Code. She urged the Council to continue to protect all of us residents, all of our neighborhoods, and our ability to purchase or stay in our homes, rather than be pushed into rentals. The Land Development Code should be used in a way that corrects the systemic problems that have denied people access to truly affordable housing, permanent homes, and to serve, residents with middle and low incomes. Stephen Ramirez noted history of the river and the improvements that have occurred over the years. He expressed his concerns regarding Cape's Dam and the city council abandoning the 2016 decision to remove the old structure. City of San Marcos Page 4