Item 20: Cape’s Dam MOU
I sat down to write up this item, and got so bogged down in the backstory that it became clear that that had to be its own post. With that out of the way, the story becomes less important.
The foreground issue is a Memorandum of Understanding between the city and the county, about an East side park called the Cape’s Dam Complex. The background issue is whether or not the dam should be rebuilt.
Melissa Derrick moved to strike a clause from the main statement: “whereas the scientific community has pointed out that the flow race of the main channel and the mill race are important for the protection of river wild rice etc etc,”
If you don’t know the background, this clause sounds totally innocuous, and Derrick sounds like an anti-science nut. But this is actually the false environmental propaganda, in my opinion. (I’m basing my opinion on the San Marcos River Foundation.)
Anyway, the amendment passed and the clause was struck.
Max Baker moved to insert SMRF into the groups where communication is a high-priority. This passed.
The county clearly thinks that the dam ought to be rebuilt. I don’t think the city has decided yet. Or rather, they’re split. “Renovate/rehabilitate the dam” may mean different things to different councilmembers.
The MOU passed. Only Baker voted no.
Onto the next-most-interesting items!
Items 19 and 27: Miniature goats! Spear-fishing!
You are now allowed to have miniature goats within city limits. Congrats! You must have a pair, so that they don’t get too lonely and hence noisy. You’re not allowed to sell your goat cheese or goat milk. Your goat shed must meet certain criteria. The billy goats must be neutered, lest ye develop a third goat.
Shane Scott likes to gig fish and doesn’t want to have to get a permit, because it’s not a spear-spear. Can gigging be exempt from the permitting process? Others pointed out that all fishing needs a permit, aside from the special spear-fishing permit. This was just a discussion item, and four voted yes to have city staff research it and bring it back. But it did not appear that four people would actually want to change anything.
Everything else:
- Reviewed the process for Community Block Development Grants (CBDG) for the coming year
- 10% discount for San Marcos residents at the Kissing Tree. Will it be raised to a 25% discount? Probably not.
- Purple heart trail, ethics review training, etc.
DONE.
I skipped the work session again, this week. I’m still getting my sea legs on this whole thing, and the Cape’s Dam entry took a long time.
The San Marxist 