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55. RESOLUTION 1998-243 R A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS, TEXAS ESTABLISHING A DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE REVIEW TASK FORCE; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS. TEXAS: PART 1. Backaround: Creation of Task Force. (a) The City is in the middle of the most rapid period of growth in its history. New building permits have averaged over a million dollars per week for the last four years. Approximately 1,000 persons are added to the City's population annually. Given the City's strategic position between two of the fastest growing major cities in the country, Austin and San Antonio, this growth can only be expected to intensify overcoming years. The question for San Marcos is not whether we will grow, but how well we will grow. (b) Growth brings both opportunities and challenges to a community. The opportunities include increased economic prosperity in the form of new jobs, additional tax base and increased housing, shopping and employment choices for the citizens of the community. The challenges include keeping up with the demand for new roads, new infrastructure and new services, while, at the same time, protecting the unique quality of life and environmental resources that makes San Marcos a very special place to live. (c) Recognizing both the opportunities and challenges of growth, the City Council establishes the Development Ordinance Review Task Force as a temporary committee to examine the quality of the community's growth and to recommend policy changes that will help the community grow in ways that will be economically, environmentally and socially responsible. PART 2. Charge to the Task Force. The Development Ordinance Review Task Force is charged with the following duties: 1. To comprehensively examine existing ordinances related to growth and development, to assess their strengths and weaknesses, and to determine whether these ordinances are properly managing the qualìty of San Marcos' growth; 2. To comprehensively examine existing development processes, to assess whether these processes are effectively managing the quality of San Marcos' growth, and to determine if the processes allow all parties an opportunity for meaningful participation in decisions related to the quality of San Marcos' growth; 3. To examine the goals and objectives of the San Marcos Horizons master plan to determine if existing development ord inances and processes are effectively meeting the intent of the master plan; 4. To examine interrelated and overlapping development ordinances to see if policy conflicts exist, or if the streamlining or consolidation of ordinances is a desirable goal; 5. To receive information from the staff and the public regarding the perceived need for changes in existing development policies and ordinances of the city; 6. To examine the principles of "New Urbanism" and "Traditional Neighborhood Development" for possible application in San Marcos' development ordinances; 7. To comprehensively examine existing ordinances to ensure the protection of San Marcos' natural resources;