The Hays County Parks and Open Space Advisory Commission (POSAC) had its second meeting using a virtual platform on March 25th. Highlights included a briefing by Commissioner Lon Shell, an overview of past bond initiatives and the Parks and Open Spaces Master Plan by county staff, and discussion of the most inclusive way to compile a list of potential parks and open space projects. The WVWA supports this open spaces initiative because it can conserve land to protect water quality, enhance recharge, help alleviate flooding risk, and provide a way to sustainably increase accessibility to beautiful natural resource lands.
Commissioner Shell explained the County’s process for bond initiatives, current financial market benefits and drawbacks, funding options that could be available, and thanked all the public and Commission members for their work on this vital project. Hays County Natural Resources Coordinator, Alexandra Thompson, presented details from the $3.5 million bond in 2001, the $30 million bond in 2007, and the Hays County Parks and Open Spaces Master Plan approved in 2012. POSAC members discussed an input form to collect standardized information about large and small projects county-wide.
The POSAC operates under a Charter that was approved by the Hays County Commissioners Court on March 3, 2020. Members of the public can view meetings in real-time by requesting to be added to meeting invites or review the archived video recording available through the unofficial POSAC Facebook page.
The Commission’s role is to establish a democratic, inclusive process to study a parks, open space, and conservation bond program that will yield project recommendations to the Hays County Commissioners Court meant to ensure the confidence and trust of Hays County voters.
Useful links:
- 2007 Park Bond Projects Status Report (pdf, Hays Co. Grants Administration Dept, 7/15/2016)
- Hays County’s POSAC web page
- Hays County 2012 Parks and Open Spaces Plan