Melissa Derrick
Length of residency in San Marcos: SMTX has been my home for most of the last 33 years. I left for Austin after graduating from Southwest Texas State, and immediately returned. Work took me to Houston from 2003-06, but again, I quickly returned to the only place I’ve ever planted roots and called home.
Experience: I assisted with amending and passing our new 450-page land development code and know the steps we must now take to guide growth responsibly. I have assisted in setting policy for flood mitigation, economic development, capital improvements, land acquisition, student housing and student rental rights. I know where our needs are and prioritize them during budgeting. I’ve lobbied for disaster funds.
Why are you running? I have no further political aspirations; I simply want to continue to be the voice of our citizens and to work with them towards shared goals. I’m obligated to complete work on Code SMTX to its completion and am compelled to continue to endeavor to find balance between growth and preservation, city and university needs, while keeping an eye on the future, knowing decisions made today will create the San Marcos inherited by generations to come.
What do you believe is the greatest challenge facing the city? No singular challenge faces us in this time of growth, as needs must be addressed in concert. Affordable workforce housing and student housing must be matched with an improved transportation network to create efficient mobility. All future housing must be built resilient to our common flood events, and current affordable housing must be maintained to keep gentrification at bay. Preservation of our rivers and neighborhoods are also vital when addressing plans for growth and transportation.
Why do you believe you’re the most qualified candidate? In the past I protested rampant rezoning that had negative [e]ffects upon our neighborhoods and our environment. I learned the old land development code and it’s many faults and argued my case, but no one would listen. I listen and know how far we’ve come and how far we still need to go. Good governance comes from the heart, not from special interests. My only interest is making San Marcos a better place for all.
What do you believe the city should do to protect neighborhoods and have adequate
housing for students and families? I’m on the committee for workforce housing; we’ve set ambitious new policy for city led initiatives to provide affordable housing for the backbone of our community. Council has also directed student housing downtown and the university edge, where it offers a walkable, bikeable lifestyle close to amenities and away from neighborhoods where lifestyles are incompatible. This policy is working to the benefit of both communities. Our new code will ensure the protection of neighborhoods from incompatible developments. Until neighborhood character studies and small area plans are completed for each area in San Marcos, we have in place a single-family preservation buffer.
What do you believe are the top priorities for San Marcos? We’ve prioritized flood mitigating infrastructure projects across the city and adopted a new workforce housing policy to increase home ownership. Focus must be given to acquiring greenspace for flood mitigation and to completion of neighborhood character studies for our new land development code. We must also gain community input and analyze, amend and adopt our new Transportation Master Plan and Parks Master Plan while partnering with the county and university on shared goals. I believe that addressing the needs of the roughly 70 percent of our community who reside in rental property is imperative. After I learned of the struggles suffered by students who had signed leases for newly constructed housing, which opened months later than anticipated, I assisted in crafting ordinance language that protects student renters against exploitation. After yet another “late opening,” I’ve made it a priority to soon help update that language and place into it further protections. Additionally, recent meetings have brought to light the need for more staffing in our departments that oversee the health and safety of multifamily rentals, and I support these needed changes and the funding they require from our budget.
Website:
https://www.facebook.com/MelissaDerrickCouncilPlace6/
