Help Make Connections to Last a Lifetime

Now is the time to act!

Tuesday evening
SMGA prep meeting for the Master Plan Rodeo and the Growth and Preservation Allocation exercise.
We will meet at the San Marcos Public Library large meeting room.
NEW DATE Tuesday, August 28 at 5:30 pm to get an update on the master plan from city staff and 6:00 pm to receive information about greenways in San Marcos from SMGA.
Abby Gilfillan and Betsy Robertson will give a 10-15 minutes describing the process, future and why we have a master plan followed by a brief Q&A session. Afterwards, join SMGA to hear about how greenways can be incorporated into the Master Plan and why it is so crucial for us to do it now.

San Marcos has an abundance of creeks with floodways that can serve as greenways. Greenways along creeks can become part of a hike and bike system that connects the places where we live, learn, work, and play.

The greenways in San Marcos can also:

• Protect continuous linear swaths between development, parks and natural areas
• Limit building in floodways and floodplains
• Promote water quality and flood safety
• Protect the interests of land owners (through conservation easement, etc.)
• Ensure proactive planning for greenways by state, county and city planners. Assist developers with planning by designating greenway locations
• Attract state and federal transportation money for greenways

Join SMGA at the San Marcos Public Library on August 28 at 5:30 to learn more!

Wednesday, 29 August (attend one of two sessions)
The city will conduct two sessions for the Growth and Preservation Allocation Exercise. The sessions will take place and Dunbar Community Center. The first session will run from 1-4 pm, the second from 5:30-8:30 pm.

What do you want San Marcos look like in 2035? San Marcos residents are invited to show city planners where they would like to see the community grow in the coming decades Here is an introduction from Matt Lewis, Director of Planning and Development Services:

"Now it’s time for the real work to begin. The next event is called the Growth and Preservation Allocation exercise and is scheduled for August the 29th at Dunbar Community Center at either 1 pm or 5:30 pm. This will be a fun and important activity, and the public will work together in groups with the Committees."

Learn more about the exercise at http://www.sanmarcostx.gov/index.aspx?page=34&recordid=426&returnURL=%2findex.aspx%3fpage%3d733

Design Rodeo
Date: 9/10/2012 - 9/14/2012 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Public participation is encouraged
Location: San Marcos Activity Center Rooms 1&2

This event will be a public planning process to determine the details of the city’s
comprehensive plan. Learn more at the city’s website: http://www.sanmarcostx.gov/index.aspx?page=22&recordid=2546

Upcoming Meetings You Shouldn't Miss

Capes Camp
August 16 - Thursday the Council will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. to consider placing a non-binding proposition on the acquisition of riverfront parkland (including Cape's Camp) on the Nov. 6 city election ballot. This is non-binding. The contract on the property and the development can continue. We will continue to monitor this process and keep you up-to-date.

Master Plan - Growth/Preservation
August 29 – Density Allocation Exercise; 1-4pm and 5:30-8:30pm at Dunbar Community Center. Participants will place markers on a map showing where they would like to see the San Marcos population grow. Remember to conserve our greenways along the the creekways.

SMGA Public Meeting on the Master Plan: Rodeo Prep
August 30 - San Marcos Public Library; Representatives from the city will give an update on the process, and we will provide ideas and feedback to participants in preparation for the Design Rodeo.

COSM Design Rodeo
September 10-14 – Activity Center; Work with Committees to evaluate future scenarios and decide which is best.

Master Plan Goals
Have you given your feedback? Vote on the drafted goals today at http://sanmarcostx.gov/index.aspx?page=874

SMGA - Flickr - Maps

Did you know that SMGA has photos posted to flickr? Lance Jones recently uploaded some for Ringtail Ridge and Blanco Shoals with a new flickr mapping feature.

Blanco Shoals natural area:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/
smga/sets/72157630563984604/map/

Ringtail Ridge natural area:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/
smga/sets/72157630576721726/map/

Review of PCNA hiking trail

Purgatory Creek Natural Area is reviewed on AllTrails.com. What an excellent resource to share reviews of our wonderful trails in San Marcos.

Hiking Prescription Fall Internship

CORRECTION: Send your applications to alliance@smgreenbelt.org

SMGA wishes to
Engage one or more student interns from the Health Sciences, Geography
and Recreation Departments to create a "Park Prescription" program to
encourage the use of our parks and natural areas. The project offers
several opportunities for internships in different disciplines.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Physical activity is an effective method for maintaining and improving
health. It is also essential for the healthy development of children.
Furthermore, many studies show there are psychological benefits to
exercising in parks or natural areas.

Several communities in the United States have developed programs, with
the cooperation of local medical societies, which utilize parks and
natural areas to improve community health. Using 'hiking
prescriptions' and other methods the doctors encourage patients to
exercise in the out of doors. The approach is effective and virtually
free for the patients and the community.

San Marcos has a good variety of parks and natural areas which offer
walks ranging from easy strolls on flat surfaces to challenging hikes.
The project will engage the medical community in planning the project
and develop materials for use in using hiking prescriptions.


MAJOR ACTIVITIES
Gather information on similar programs already functioning around the
country. Identify at least three as sources of ideas and information
on successes and failures.

Present the general idea to the local medical society and recruit a
small group of practitioners who will serve as advisors for the
project.

Utilizing GIS, GPS or other methodology measure and mark trails at
appropriate distances to enable people to know when they have 'filled'
their prescription.

Prepare materials for the hiking prescriptions, including trail
locations, distances, difficulty and other information.

Present materials to the medical society and offer training for the
practitioners' staffs.

Prepare informational materials and press releases for the general public.

At each step inform the Parks and Recreation Department of your activities.


COMPENSATION
This is a non-paid internship.

LOCATION
San Marcos. SMGA does not have an office, but there will be regular
meet up with an SMGA appointed representative to track progress,
ask/answer questions, and provide guidance.

TO APPLY:
Submit your resume to alliance@smgreenbelt.org.

Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program Draft Habitat Conservation Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), in cooperation with the Edwards Aquifer Authority; San Antonio Water Systems; the City of New Braunfels, Texas; the City of San Marcos, Texas; and Texas State University (collectively, the Applicants), will conduct seven public meetings to obtain comments on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (dEIS) and an incidental take permit application for the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program (EARIP) that includes a draft Habitat Conservation Plan (dHCP).


All the meetings are scheduled from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Friday, August 3, 2012- Dunbar Center, 801 West MLK St., San Marcos, Texas 78666

Monday, August 6, 2012- San Antonio Water System, Customer Service Building, 2800 North Highway 281, San Antonio, Texas 78212

Tuesday, August 7, 2012- Texas AgriLife Extension and Research Center, 1619 Garner Field Rd., Uvalde, Texas, 78801

Wednesday, August 8, 2012- New Braunfels Civic Center, 375 S. Castell Ave., New Braunfels, Texas 78130

Friday, August 10, 2012- Schreiner University, Cailloux Activity Center, 2100 Memorial Blvd., Kerrville, Texas 78028

Tuesday, August 14, 2012- Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas 78412

Wednesday, August 15, 2012- University of Houston- Victoria, Multi-Purpose Room, 3007 N. Ben Wilson, Victoria, Texas 77901