[9. Receive, consider and act upon emergency authorities related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and authorizing the President/General Manager to act in connection therewith;]

MEETINGS OR A SPECIAL MEETING TO DISCUSS OPTIONS AND GET RESIDENT INPUT WHICH THERE IS QUITE A BIT.

IN AUGUST IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT A YOUNG BOY ON A BIKE WAS INJURED ENTERING THE SEVEN-11 PARKING LOT FROM A PATHWAY CONNECTER FROM CREEKSIDE FOREST.

I WAS ON VACATION WHEN I RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. I CONTACTED HOWARD HUGHES AS IT WAS THEIR PROPERTY, I FOUND OUT. THE VEGETATION BLOCKING THE SITE LINE WAS REMOVED AND A LOWER GROUND COVER PLANTED AND

[00:30:02]

IMPROVED VISIBILITY WITHIN TWO WEEKS.

ON OCTOBER 23, CREEKSIDE PARK WILL HAVE OUR 2021 COMMUNITY SPIRIT EVENT SINCE WE WERE UNABLE TO HOLD OUR WINTER FESTIVAL AND CHILI COOKOFF LAST JANUARY.

THERE WILL BE A LIVE BAND, A FEW FOOD TRUCKS AND A PRESENTATION ON BIKE SAFETY. OUR NEXT WINTER FESTIVAL AND CHILI COOKOFF IS SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 22 OR 2022.

WE WILL ATTEMPT TO INCLUDE OUR TRADITIONAL CHILI COOKOFF IF WE CAN MAKE IT WORSE WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND FIND TEAMS WHO WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE. ON OCTOBER 5, CREEKSIDE PARK VILLAGE ASSOCIATION WILL HAVE A MEETING FEATURING AN INCORPORATION DISCUSSION WITH REPRESENTATIVES FOR AND AGAINST INCORPORATION. WE WILL HAVE QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD AND RESIDENTS. THE INCORPORATION PRESENTATION AND RESIDENT Q&A AT OUR SEPTEMBER MEETING WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED. I AM PLEASED TO SAY RESIDENTS ARE BECOMING MORE ENGAGED ON THIS IMPORTANT DECISION.

THE 72 OBNOXIOUS SIGNS THAT HOWARD HUGHES HAS PLACED AROUND OUR VILLAGE HAVE HAD AN UN UNEXPECTED BENEFIT.

RESIDENTS ARE UPSET AT THESE SIGNS AND ASKING WHO PUT THESE UP. THE ASSUMPTION IS THESE SIGNS ARE NOT ALLOWED. AFTER EXPLAINING WHY THEY ARE ALLOWED, DISCUSSION ABOUT INCORPORATION NORMALLY FOLLOWS WHICH IS INCREASING RESIDENT KNOWLEDGE ON THE SUBJECT AND THE UPCOMING VOTE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, NANCY. DID WE HAVE ANY OTHER VILLAGE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT SNEAK IN? IF NOT, WE'LL TAKE A MOTION AND

SECOND TO ACCEPT THE REPORTS. >> CAN I SAY SOMETHING?

>> YOU CAN SAY SOMETHING RIGHT NOW.

>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO JUST -- REALLY I SHOULD HAVE ASKED WHILE YOU WERE UP HERE, BOTH PRESIDENTS.

DO YOU THINK THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE WORD INCORPORATION MEANS TO BECOME THE CITY OF THE WOODLANDS? OR IS THERE STILL CONFUSION THAT INCORPORATION COULD MEAN HOUSTON

[10. Receive, consider and act upon Incorporation Planning Study matters (as requested by Chairman Bunch); ]

IS TAKING US? DO YOU THINK IT IS CLEAR? I HAVE MET SOME PEOPLE WHO I THOUGHT -- THEY CAME TO ME AND SAID, WE ARE CONFUSED, DOES THAT MEAN HOUSTON IS TAKING US? I SAID NO, NO, IT IS NOT THE CASE.

I WONDER IF WE ARE DOING A GOOD ENOUGH JOB THAT INCORPORATION DOES NOT MEAN HOUSTON WILL INCORPORATE US.

IT MEANS WE ARE BECOMING A CITY OF THE WOODLANDS.

YOU HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED THAT? IT IS MIXED.

[INAUDIBLE]. >> NANCY BECKER IS SAYING IT IS MIXED THAT PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED ABOUT THAT.

WHAT ABOUT YOU, MS. BRAID?

[INAUDIBLE] >> BUT THERE IS CONFUSION.

>> WE SHOULD TAKE THIS UP IN THE INCORPORATION AGENDA ITEM.

>> YOU BET. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.

>> NOW WE'LL TAKE A MOTION. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU FOR THE REPORTS. WE NOW NEED A MOTION AND SECOND

TO APPROVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

THAT IS CARRIED. AGENDA ITEM 9, RECEIVE, CONSIDER AND ACT UPON EMERGENCY AUTHORITIES RELATED TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC. WE DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION? DO YOU WANT AN UPDATE ON YOUR RECENT TRAVEL? BETTER BE A PRESENTATION. IT IS AN UPDATE ON WHAT YOU DID

THIS WEEK? >> SURE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU, BOARD.

GOOD EVENING. A COUPLE OF QUICK UPDATES RELATED TO THE CORONAVIRUS AND WHERE WE ARE AS A COUNTY.

WE CONTINUE TO SEE A DECLINE IN OUR POSITIVITY RATE.

[00:35:03]

WE ARE SEEING A TAPERING IN TESTING USE OR REDUCTION IN TAPERING OF WHERE THAT MAXIMUM LEVEL WAS AS WELL AS -- SOME OF THE CASE COUNTS. OUR HOSPITALS ARE VERY, VERY BUSY. I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO BE SAFE WHILE THEY ARE OUT THERE. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH OUR FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON ON OUR WORK ON TRYING TO RECEIVE OUR BE INCLUDED IN THE AMERICA RESCUE PLAN ACT. SOME COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR WRITING THE LEGISLATION.

WE HAVE SOME POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM THEM.

WE'LL CONTINUE SOME CONVERSATION WITH THEIR STAFF TO PROVIDE SOME -- OR TO GET ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK AND CLARIFICATION ON INTENT AND OBVIOUSLY STATE OUR CASE ABOUT WHY WE BELIEVE WE DO QUALIFY AND HOPE THEY WILL SUPPORT OUR POSITION AND TRY TO FIND A LONG TERM REMEDY FOR OUR SITUATION.

HOPEFULLY OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FOLLOW UP ON THOSE CALLS -- OR THOSE MEETINGS AND SEE SOME FURTHER ACTIVITY FROM THOSE FOLKS TO HELP SUPPORT OUR CASE.

>> TO CLARIFY FOR THE AUDIENCE, OUR CALCULATIONS ARE UP TO $30 MILLION FOR THE AMERICA RESCUE PLAN ACT.

WE WENT THROUGH THE COMMENT PERIOD IN JULY.

NOW WE ARE IN AN APPEAL PERIOD, TRYING TO APPEAL THE DETERMINATION THAT WE WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED.

SO IT IS A SIGNIFICANT EFFORT ON A LOT OF PARTS.

WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT ON BEHALF OF OUR RESIDENTS. THE ONLY OTHER THING I HAVE ON THIS IS THE -- THE POSITIVITY RATE IS STILL HOVERING AT 20%.

THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE CASES OF 12 AND UNDER IS ABOUT 10% OF THOSE TESTING POSITIVE. WE ARE STILL SEEING A LOT IN THE YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHIC WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN WE SAW LAST YEAR SO ALL RIGHT, ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR TODD? NO.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. SORRY TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.

THANK YOU. MOVE AND SECOND TO APPROVE.

>> MOVE. >> SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT.

NOW WE GO TO AGENDA 10, RECEIVE, CONSIDER, ACT UPON INCORPORATION PLANNING STUDY MATTERS. WE'LL START OFF WITH KAREN.

>> OKAY. I'M GOING TO COVER THE SAME INFORMATION I PROVIDED NEXT WEEK BECAUSE WE CAN'T TELL THE PUBLIC OFTEN ENOUGH. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DID CALL AN INCORPORATION MEETING ON AUGUST 13.

THERE ARE TWO PROPOSITIONS THAT WILL APPEAR ON THE NOVEMBER 2 BALLOT AND THE WORDING OF THOSE PROPOSITIONS WAS DEVELOPED BY LEGAL COUNSEL. THE FIRST PROPOSITION IS PROPOSITION A WHICH CREATES THE CITY OF THE WOODLANDS AND SETS THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE. VOTERS WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR OR AGAINST THE PROPOSITION WHICH IS SHOWN BELOW WHICH IS TO AUTHORIZE THE TYPE A CITY INCORPORATION THAT THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP DISTRICT AND ADOPTION OF INITIAL TAX RATE OF NOT MORE THAN 22.31 CENTS PER $100 VALUATION OF TAXABLE PROPERTY.

PROPOSITION B IS CONTINGENT UPON PROPOSITION A PASSING.

THE RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES TO THE CITY OF THE WOODLANDS DISSOLVING THE WOODLANDS.

VOTERS CAN VOTE FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM AND THE SPECIFIC WORDING OF THE PROPOSITION IS UPON INCORPORATION OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP DISTRICT INTO A TYPE A LAW CITY TO BE CALLED THE CITY OF THE WOODLANDS. THE TRANSFER OF THE RIGHTS, POWERS, PRIVILEGES, PURPOSES, FUNCTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES, THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BONDS FROM THE DISTRICT TO THE CITY OF THE WOODLANDS. SOME KEY DATES TO KEEP IN MIND, THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS OCTOBER 4 WHICH IS COMING UP HERE QUICKLY. THE FIRST DAY OF VOTING BY PERSONAL APPEARANCE IS OCTOBER 18.

THE LAST DAY TO APPLY FOR A BALLOT BY MAIL IS OCTOBER 22.

THE LAST DAY OF EARLY VOTING BY PERSONAL APPEARANCE IS OCTOBER 29. ELECTION DAY IS, OF COURSE, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2. IN ADDITION TO THE TOWNSHIP, THE INCORPORATION ELECTION, WE HAVE THREE DIRECTOR RACES THAT WILL APPEAR ON THE BALLOT. FOR ANYONE WHO HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT VOTER ELIGIBILITY IN ORDER TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION, YOU

[00:40:03]

MUST BE A REGISTERED VOTER AND RESIDENTS MUST BE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP.

VOTER REGISTRATION AND OTHER ELECTION RELATED INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE FOR THE COUNTY IN WHICH YOU RESIDE. FOR MONTGOMERY, THAT IS WWW.MONTGOMERYVOTES.ORG. CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION AND PRECINCT LOCATION. ON ELECTION DAY, THAT MONTGOMERY COUNTY WILL USE CONSOLIDATED PRECINCTS WHICH DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN VOTE ANYWHERE. IT MEANS THAT YOU MAY NOT VOTE IN THE SPECIFIC LOCATION YOU NORMALLY VOTE BUT IS TYPICALLY IN THE SAME SITE YOU WOULD VOTE IN NOVEMBER ELECTION THAN ODD NUMBERED YEAR. VOTERS IN THE VILLAGE OF CREEKSIDE PARK CAN CHECK FOR THE SAME INFORMATION THROUGH HARRIS VOTES.ORG. HARRIS COUNTY DOES USE COUNTY WIDE POLLING SITES ON ELECTION DAY.

AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL MEETING TOMORROW EVENING AT THE WOODLANDS WATERWAY.

WE'LL HAVE OUR CONSULTANTS FROM THE NOVACK CONSULTING TO PRESENT AS WELL AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF HR GREEN IN CASE THERE ARE QUESTIONS ON THE ROAD PORTION OF THE STUDY.

THE MEETING IS DESIGNED SO THAT THERE WILL BE SMALL BREAKOUT AREAS SO YOU CAN INDIVIDUALLY ASK QUESTIONS DIRECTLY FROM THE EXPERTS. THAT MEETING WILL ALSO BE LIVE STREAMED. FOR MORE INFORMATION, RESIDENTS CAN CHECK THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ON NOVEMBER ELECTION, FOR THE EXACT WORDING OF THE PROPOSITIONS YOU JUST HEARD HERE, CANDIDATE NAMES AND BALLOT ORDER AND ADDITIONAL VOTING INFORMATION. THE INCORPORATION STUDY WEBSITE DOES PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PREVIOUS REPORTS, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS IF SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN DOING

THAT. >> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, KAREN. NEXT UP WILL BE MISS MONIQUE SHARP. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

MY PRESENTATION THIS WEEK WILL BE MUCH SHORTER THAN LAST WEEK.

THAT'S THE GOOD NIGHT. THERE ARE SOME -- THERE IS SOME INFORMATION OUT THERE THAT IS NOT ACCURATE AND SO I WANTED TO TAKE SOME TIME TO EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED LAST TIME, THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT INCORPORATION.

FOR ME, IT IS ABOUT THE REPRESENTATION WE MAKE TO OUR BOND HOLDERS AND BANKERS AND THOSE WHO RELY ON THE ACCURACY OF OUR INFORMATION. I WANT TO START WITH THIS ONE.

THIS CAME -- THIS WAS POSTED EARLIER THIS WEEK, I BELIEVE, ON PRESERVE THE WOODLANDS WEBSITE. IT IS CALLED BAIT AND SWITCH, THE WOODLANDS BOARD ADDS $5 MILLION TO THE COST OF INCORPORATION. INCLUDED IN THE ARTICLE ARE THE COMMENTS YOU SEE HERE, THE EXPECTED COST OF INCORPORATION IS ALREADY SKYROCKETING IN JUST THREE WEEKS VOTED TO PUT INCORPORATION ON THE BALLOT, THE COST IS OVER 5 MILLION WITH NO EXPLANATION. I WON'T READ THEM ALL OUT.

THAT IS THE GENERAL GIST OF THE COMMENTS AND THAT THIS EQUATES TO A CLASSIC BAIT AND SWITCH. THIS COMES DIRECTLY FROM WHAT WAS POSTED ON THE PRESERVE THE WOODLANDS WEBSITE.

WHAT IT IS DOING, IT IS COMPARING FINANCIAL INFORMATION -- THESE ARE SLIDES I PREPARED.

ONE WAS SHOWN AT THE AUGUST 3 MEETING, THE OTHERS WERE SHOWN AT THE SEPTEMBER 13 MEETING. WHAT THEY ARE SAYING HERE -- THE TOP PIE CHART HAS TO DO WITH REVENUE.

IT SHOWS WE ARE 154,000 DOLLARS OFF.

I WON'T SPEND MUCH TIME. I DIDN'T PREPARE A SLIDE.

THINGS DID CHANGE BECAUSE BETWEEN AUGUST 13 AND SEPTEMBER 16, THE BOARD -- THEY DID NOT CHANGE ON INCORPORATION.

THEY CHANGED ON THE BASE BUDGET BECAUSE THE BOARD OF DIRECTS HAD BUDGET WORKSHOPS AND ADOPTED A BUDGET.

WE DID THINGS LIKE ADD PROGRAM REVENUE BECAUSE WE ARE

[00:45:04]

PURCHASING SWAN BOATS. THAT WAS A BUDGET INITIATIVE AND THERE ARE REVENUES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT THAT MORE THAN OFFSET THAT. THAT IS THE LARGEST PIECE OF THE 154,000. THERE WERE ADJUSTMENTS IN GRANT REVENUE THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THERE.

LET'S CONCENTRATE ON THE EXPENSES.

THE CHART ON THE LEFT, THE RED LINE DOWN AT THE BOTTOM SHOWS OPERATING EXPENSES AND DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS PREINCORPORATION. THAT IS JUST OUR BASE BUDGET NUMBER, DOES NOT INCLUDE ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH INCORPORATION. THE YELLOW LINE IS ONCE WE ADD INCORPORATION, EXPENSES IN. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO LINES IS THE INCORPORATION EXPENSES.

WHAT THE PREPARER OF THIS GRAPH IS CLAIMING IS THE CHART DOWN AT THE BOTTOM ON SEPTEMBER 16 WHEN YOU ADD BOTH OF THOSE -- ALL THE PIE CHART NUMBERS, YOU COME UP WITH $150 MILLION AND HE OR SHE IS COMPARING IT TO $145 MILLION ON THE LEFT-HAND SAYING THIS IS WHERE THE BAIT AND SWITCH HAPPENED, WE ADDED $5 MILLION IN INCORPORATION EXPENSES WITHOUT TELLING ANYBODY AND WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION. LET'S GO TO -- THIS IS MY SLIDE TRYING TO EXPLAIN ALL THAT. WHAT IS INTERESTING AND IRONIC IS THE CHART THIS PERSON USED TO SUPPORT THEIR CLAIM ACTUALLY DEBUNKS THEIR CLAIM. LET ME SHOW YOU WHY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RED AND THE YELLOW LINE WHICH IS WHAT WE JUST SAID WAS BETWEEN THE BASE BUDGET AND ONCE EXPENSES ARE ADDED, THE DIFFERENCE IS 16 MILLION 192 DOLLARS WHICH IS THE SAME AMOUNT WE SHOWED SEPTEMBER 16.

IF YOU ADD UP ALL THOSE PIECES -- WE HAVE IT LISTED THERE, IT IS CIRCLED IN PINK. ALL THE PIECES OF THE BUDGET NOT BASE BUDGET TOTAL TO THE DOLLAR, 1 # MI$1 # MILLION, 351982.

IT IS CLEAR FROM THIS CHART NOTHING CHANGED IN TERMS OF OF THE INCORPORATION EXPENSES. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL.

THEY DIDN'T CHANGE BETWEEN THE TWO MEETINGS.

WHAT THIS CHART DOES SHOW IS WHAT THE CHANGE WAS WAS BETWEEN THE BASE BUDGET. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PIE CHART ON THE BOTTOM, THE $133 MILLION AND YOU COMPARE THAT TO THE 128 MILLION ON THE RED LINE, WHICH WAS PREINCORPORATION, THAT'S WHERE THE 4.9 MILLION, WHAT THEY ARE SAYING THE $5 MILLION COMES FROM. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH INCORPORATION EXPENSES. HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE BASE BUDGET. WHY DID WE SHOW -- WHY IN THE BASE BUDGET DID WE SHOW SOMETHING DIFFERENT? THESE CHARTS ARE TRYING TO ILLUSTRATE TWO THINGS.

THE ONE ON THE LEFT-HAND, YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE IN THE DESCRIPTION FOR THE RED LINE, IT SAYS OPERATING EXPENSES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ZONE PAYMENTS AND DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS PREINCORPORATION. WE SPECIFICALLY LEFT OUT CAPITAL. WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO SHOW WAS ON AN ONGOING BASIS, YOUR REVENUES OUTPACE YOUR EXPENSES, SOMETHING WE LOOK AT EVERY BUDGET SEASON.

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM AND WE NEED TO CORRECT THAT. CAPITAL IS SPECIFICALLY LEFT OUT OF THERE BECAUSE IT IS FUNDED BY A RESERVE AND IT IS NOT AN ONGOING OPERATION WHEREAS THE PURPOSE OF THE CHART ON THE RIGHT-HAND WAS TO SHOW TOTAL EXPENSES AND BREAK THAT OUT BETWEEN THE BASE BUDGET AND THE INCORPORATION EXPENSES.

THIS CHART RIGHT HERE, THE CHART THEY -- THAT THEY USED TO SUPPORT THEIR POINT ACTUALLY COMPLETELY DISAPPROVES THEIR POINT AND ALL THE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE IN FRONT OF THEM.

>> VERY IMPRESSIVE HOW QUICKLY YOU ARE ABLE TO TURN THIS STUFF AROUND BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE GETTING A DAILY DUMP OF NEW

[00:50:01]

ANALYSIS THAT IS NOT BEING PROPERLY VETTED BEFORE GOING TO PRINT OR POSTING OR RE-POSTING. I APOLOGIZE TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY FOR THIS CONSISTENT AND CONSTANT BOMBARDMENT OF PEOPLE QUESTIONING THE ETHICS AND INTEGRITY OF OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF.

ALL THESE SLIDES YOU HAVE SHOWN ARE PUBLICLY PRESENTED IN OUR OPEN MEETINGS THROUGH OUR ENTIRE BUDGET PROCESS ALL THE WAY THROUGH ADOPTION. AS WE LEARNED LAST WEEK, MANY OF THE DATA POINTS THAT ENDED UP IN THIS NEWS ARTICLE, THIS COMMUNITY IMPACT HAD WITH ALL THESE DATA POINTS ON THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT ARE MISSING THAT AREN'T ACTUALLY MISSING, NOBODY FROM ANY OF THESE GROUPS IS CALLING TO VERIFY THESE ASSUMPTIONS BEFORE THEY PRINT, POST, ADVERTISE, MAIL PHONE THIS TO OUR RESIDENTS.

THIS IS THE SECOND ONE, EXAMPLE, OF WHERE IT IS 100 PERCENT WRONG. 100% WRONG.

>> RIGHT. >> AND IT IS PUBLIC OFFICERS POSTING THIS MISINFORMATION. I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD TAKE A STEP BACK AND TAKE A BREATH. STOP OVERREACTING TO EVERYTHING YOU SEE AND HEAR AND DO YOUR OWN DUE DILIGENCE.

OUR STAFF IS NOT ELECTED. THEY ARE NOT POLITICIZED.

THEY ARE GOING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

THIS BOARD HAS NO ACCESS TO THEIR FINANCIAL RECORDS.

WE CAN'T GO IN HERE AND GO, LET'S GO IN AND DROP THIS NUMBER IN HERE TO MAKE SURE IT DEBUNKS WHAT THEY POSTED.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN THIS.

>> I JUST FINISHED IT. >> LOOK, OUR WHOLE BOARD NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THE WORK PRODUCT OF MONIQUE SHARP AND OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF. AND UNAMBIGUOUSLY TELL EVERYONE OUR DATA IS OUR DATA. IT IS ACCURATE.

WE ARE NOT AFRAID TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THINGS THAT MAY BE -- PEOPLE WANT TO SAY THEY FEEL DIFFERENTLY ABOUT DIFFERENT ASPECTS. WHEN THE DATA POINTS ARE WRONG AND YOU ARE TENS OF MILLIONS WRONG AND FIVE MILLION WRONG THE NEXT WEEK, 20 MILLION THE WEEK BEFORE THAT, IT IS RIDICULOUS.

THESE ARE PROFESSIONALS. THESE ARE NOT UNWISE PEOPLE PUBLISHING THIS STUFF. DOES ANYBODY ON OUR BOARD HAVE ISSUE WITH OUR OWN FINANCIAL REPORTS?

>> NO. >> WE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVE THEM.

REPEATEDLY, WE DO HAVE TOTAL FAITH --

>> HOW ABOUT WE DO A HAND COUNT? A HAND IF YOU BELIEVE MONIQUE'S NUMBERS? OKAY.

THERE IS NO CREDIBILITY ISSUE WITH THE WORK PRODUCT BEING PERFORMED BY OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF.

I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS EVERY WEEK BUT I'M GOING TO SUGGEST WE PUT A PLACE HOLDER OUT THERE IN CASE WE DO.

>> CHAIRMAN BUNCH, SOME OF THESE -- AT LEAST THE STUFF YOU SAW IN THE PAPER THAT WAS MAILED O OUT, IT SAID PAID POLITICAL AD ON THE BOTTOM WHICH IS AN OPINION. I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH WHAT WOODLANDS ONLINE IS DOING BY PRINTING VERBATIM WITHOUT ANY DISCLAIMER THAT THIS IS A PAID POLITICAL AD.

THIS IS THREE TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK THAT THEY PUBLISHED ARTICLES THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY FLAT-OUT WRONG WITH ANY REFERENCE TO THE TOWNSHIP FOR A QUOTE OR REPUTATION OF THE FACTS. IF THEY WILL JUST BE AN ADVERTISING RAG FOR PACS, THEY NEED TO SAY THAT AND THEY NEED TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE NEWS COLUMN AND PUT IT IN THE AD SECTION. THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE FLATTOUT PERVERTING THE FACTS.

IT IS TIME TO STOP. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I MAY.

>> PLEASE. >> I'M NOT A POLITICIAN.

I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

I TOO BELIEVE IN FACTS VERSUS FEAR.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME THIS PAST WEEK COMPOSING SOME THOUGHTS THAT I WANTED TO PUBLICLY SHARE BECAUSE I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ON

[00:55:01]

THIS. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERS TO BE TRANSPARENT AND FACTUAL TO THOSE THEY REPRESENT.

THROUGHOUT MY YEARS OF SERVING ON MANY COMMUNITY BOARDS, I ALWAYS BELIEVED IT IS IMPORTANT TO TREAT OTHERS WITH RESPECT, THEIR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AND INDIVIDUALS POSSESSING DIFFERENT VIEWS. OUR DECISION AS COMMUNITY, IF WE DECIDE TO BECOME A CITY IS NOT REVERSIBLE.

BUT THAT'S UP TO ALL OF US TO DECIDE.

MISINFORMATION AS WAS POINTED OUT SEVERAL OF US AND OUR BOARD IS BEING DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY BY PRESENT ING FER VERSUS FACT. I WANT TO GO ON RECORD REGARDING SEVERAL TOPICS. SEVERAL OF THESE CHAIRMAN BUNCH HAS ADDRESSED. FIRST AND FOREMOST, ANNEXATION ISN'T A THREAT AND HASN'T BEEN SINCE WE BECAME A TOWNSHIP.

WE ARE PROTECTED AGAINST AN ANNE ANNEXATION. TEXAS LAW CHANGED TO ANNEXATION BUT THOUSANDS BILL 347 AND SENATE BILL WHICH STATES RESIDENTS MUST APPROVE TO BE ANNEXED.

I BELIEVE THE PARK CHAIRMAN BUNCH WAS ASKED --

>> TO BE CLEAR ON THAT, THIS BOARD NEVER USED ANNEXATION.

>> I KNOW THE BOARD ISN'T. I WANT TO GO ON RECORD.

THE LAW WAS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

SECOND, THE WOODLANDS PARKWA WHICH IS ALSO BEING MISCONSTRUED. IT IS NOT A THREAT.

IT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE PLAN DUE TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON THE BOARD WORKING TIRELESSLY ALONG WITH ALL THE INGRESS AND EGRESS EXTENSIONS. THE PROPERTY OWNER ON THE WEST SIDE OF TEXAS IS BUILDING SOME TYPE OF BIG BOX STORE IS MY UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE PARKWAY WAS PLOTTED AND FOUR TENTHS OF A MILE, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ROAD BUILT TO CONNECT THE AGGIE PARKWAY. THE WOODLANDS DOESN'T HAVE CONTROL OF THE ROAD. THE ROAD BEING BUILT IS OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE WOODLANDS. WE FOUGHT HARD AND IT WAS LED BY CHAIRMAN BUNCH TO MAKE SURE THE WOODLANDS PARKWAY WAS NOT APPROVED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO. THIRD IS FRANCHISE FEES WHICH IS ANOTHER TOPIC. THE TOWNSHIP DID BUDGET 7.6 MILLION DOLLARS IN NEW FRANCHISE FEES.

WE THE RESIDENTS WILL BE CHARGED THIS IF WE BECOME A CITY AS CITIES COLLECT FRANCHISE FEES. UTILITIES PASS THIS CHARGE TO OUR CUSTOMERS. CURRENTLY, HOWARD HUGHES COLLECTS A FEE FROM COMCAST FOR USE IN A PRIVATE EASEMENT, NOT IN THE RIGHT OF WAY. THAT FEE ENDS IN 2023.

AT THE TOWNSHIP, THERE WILL BE NO FRANCHISE OR ACCESS FEES COLLECTED FOR MANY UTILITY COMPANIES UNLESS WE INCORPORATE.

LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT HAS -- AND I SHARED THAT WITH GEORGE MILNER BEFORE HE LEFT TOWN.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC HAS BEEN A PRIORITY.

THE COMMENTS OF TWO OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE. BOTH THE SHERIFF HAVE INDICATED THERE IS A LACK OF FUNDING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH THE NUMBERS PROVIDED BY OUR CONSULTANT FOR FUTURE CITY.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP ASSISTANT MANAGER AND FINANCE DIRECTOR MONIQUE SHARP ONLY CREATED THE BASE BUDGET FOR THE WOODLANDS AS A TOWNSHIP. WE AS A BOARD SUPPORT HER WHOLEHEARTEDLY. THE CONSULTANTS CREATED THE CITY'S ASSUMPTIONS AND THE CITY FINANCIAL MODEL.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE AS BOTH DIRECTOR RIESER AND CHAIRMAN BUNCH SAID WE STAND BEHIND THE LEADERSHIP OF WHAT MONIQUE AND HER TEAM HAVE DONE. I THANK YOU MONIQUE AND I APOLOGIZE AS SEVERAL HAVE -- THAT YOUR NAME HAS BEEN ANY TYPE OF SOCIAL MEDIA. I'M NOT A BIG SOCIAL MEDIA

[01:00:04]

PERSON OR PRESS RELEASE. I APOLOGIZE ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN BUNCH.

>> DIRECTOR SNYDER SINCE WE ARE ABSOLUTELY INTERESTED IN THE TRUTH AND ACTUAL FACT, THE TWO CONSULTANTS THAT WERE HIRED AND PAID FOR BY THE HOWARD HUGHES CORPORATION PRODUCED NUMBERS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, PART OF OUR PLAN AND OUR OVERALL PLAN THAT ARE ACTUALLY LESS THAN OUR CURRENT INCORPORATION PLAN CALLS FOR. IS THAT NOT CORRECT, MONIQUE?

>> YES, SIR, THAT IS CORRECT. IT IS OKAY IF RAN HENDERSON WANT TO CRITICIZE THE NUMBER THAT PERHAPS THE CONSULTANTS PUT IN THEIR MODEL. THAT'S NOT WHAT IS IN OUR PLAN.

WHAT IS IN OUR PLAN IS WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED.

IT IS MORE THAN THE TWO EXPERTS THAT WERE HIRED BY HOWARD HUGHES TO VET THE PLAN. YOU HEAR THAT? VET THE PLAN. SIX AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS MORE, IN FACT, I BELIEV THAN WHAT WAS ACTUALLY CALLED FOR BY THE TWO EXPERTS. LET'S MAKE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR WHILE, YOU KNOW, THAT NUMBER THAT THE EXPERTS PUT IN WAS HIGHER THAN THE NUMBER THAT WAS ACTUAL PROPOSED INITIALLY BY THE NOVACK GROUP. THAT'S NOT NUMBER IN THE PLAN, LET'S BE CLEAR WHAT THE NUMBER IN THE PLAN IS, IT IS 6.5 MILLION DOLLARS MORE THAN WHAT HOWARD HUGHES EXPERTS RECOMMENDED THAT WE NEEDED IN YEAR FIVE FOR INCORPORATION.

>> I THINK MY POINT, AND UNDERSTAND THAT DIRECTOR RIESER WAS BOTH THE MONTGOMERY SHERIFF AS WELL AS OUR MONTGOMERY

CONSTABLE MADE THAT COMMENT -- >> THAT IS FINE, ANN.

DID SHERIFF HENDERSON OR CONSTABLE GABLE CALL YOU AND ASK YOU ANY QUESTIONS? JEFF, DID THEY CALL YOU AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NUMBERS IN OUR STUDY? IN ACTUAL FACT THEY CRITICIZE US WITHOUT HAVING THE CORRECT INFORMATION AND NOW THEY OWE US AN APOLOGY.

>> I THINK OUR CONSULTANTS WERE TO MEET WITH THEM.

>> THEY DID MEET WITH THEM. WE MET WITH SHERIFF HENDERSON AND RENEGOTIATED A FIVE-YEAR TRANSITION THAT HE STOOD BEHIND TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SAFETY TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT WAS MOTIONED AND APPROVED BY THE FULL COMMISSIONERS COURT DECEMBER OF 2020. IT IS NOT EVEN DECEMBER AND EVERYBODY IS BACKING OUT FROM THEIR OWN WORK PRODUCT.

TO DIRECTOR RIESER'S POINT. THE TWO, YOU KNOW, SHERIFF HENDERSON AND CONSTABLE GABLE, THEY CAME OUT BECAUSE OF THE CRITIQUE OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT WHICH IS THE REPORT THAT WAS REFUTED AND REBUKED LAST WEEK.

WHY WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT THIS WEEK AS SOME VALID REASON TO, YOU KNOW, DISCREDIT OUR OWN WORK PRODUCT AFTER YOU JUST AGREED EVERYTHING THAT MONIQUE HAS PRESENTED IS ACTUAL AND FACTUAL

AND SUFFICIENT? >> I'M JUST SHARING WHAT THEY

BOTH SAID, CHAIRMAN BUNCH. >> BUT THE QUALIFIER THEY SAID SOMETHING ON INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN REFUTED LAST WEEK, LESS

THAN SEVEN DAYS AGO. >> AND TO FURTHER REITERATE A COUPLE OF POINTS, I WAS SPEAKING AT A GATHERING ON TUESDAY NIGHT, THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, DID I NOT SAY UNEQUIVOCALLY AT THIS TIME WITH THE LAW IN PLACE THERE IS NO THREAT OF ANNEXATION AND CONROE. A SHOW OF HANDS? IS THAT WHAT I SAID? ANYWAY, THE POINT IS THIS BOARD IS NOT USING THIS AS A REASON FOR THIS MOVE TO INCORPORATE.

LET'S MAKE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR, CHAIRMAN BUNCH HAS SAID IT MANY TIMES, I HAVE SAID IT MANY TIMES, THIS IS NOT A THREAT.

YOU ARE FACTUALLY CORRECT. YOU ARE MAKING IT SOUND AS IF WE ARE ACTUALLY USING THAT AS A SCARE TACTIC TO THE RESIDENTS.

WE ARE NOT. >> NO, I DID NOT SAY THAT.

I SAID WITH ALL THE MISINFORMATION, DIRECTOR RIESER.

I WASN'T AT YOUR MEETING. AS I QUALIFIED AND SAID, CHAIRMAN BUNCH HAD SUPPORTED THAT.

IT WAS NOT ABOUT WE THE BOARD. IT WAS ABOUT INFORMATION THAT IS BEING CIRCULATED THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THE MISINFORMATION IS ACTUAL COMING FROM THE OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE PUTTING IT OUT THERE AS IF THE BOARD IS USING ANNEXATION AS SOME SCARE TACTIC TO PROMULGATE AN OUTCOME.

[01:05:06]

IN NONE OF OUR MEETINGS EVER HAS THAT BEEN A DRIVING REASON.

I WILL SUBMIT THE WOODLANDS EXTENSION IS WHAT GOT THAT ROLLING. I WILL DISAGREE WITH YOU IT IS OFF OF THE THOROUGH FARE PLAN. IT HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY ALTERED.

A SIX-MILE PROJECT THAT SHIFTS A QUARTER MILE DOESN'T MATERIALLY CHANGE THE PROJECT. REBRANDING IT ISN'T GOING TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT COMES THROUGH THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE WOODLANDS. IT WILL MAKE IT MORE OF A CLUSTER YOU KNOW WHAT ON 9728. THE FACT THAT FOLKS ARE KAPTH WHAT WILL BE BUILT ON THE WEST SIDE OF 7928, THERE IS NOTHING PLANNED FOR THAT. IT BASICALLY SAYS THIS WILL BE COMMERCIAL. THERE IS NOTHING THAT MAKES THAT REAL UNTIL IT IS CONSTRUCTED. TAKING SOMETHING OFF A THOROUGHFARE PLAN CAN BE PUT BACK ON A THOROUGHFARE PLAN.

SIX YEARS AFTER WE HAD VOTES, THE COUNTY DECIDES TO REMOVE THREE CONTENTION INGRESS AND EGRESS PROJECTS TO TRY TO TAKE AWAY A NARRATIVE THAT THE REASON WE STARTED THIS PROCESS NO LONGER EXISTS. I WOULDN'T GIVE IT ANY CREDIBILITY TO SAY SHIFTING A ROAD A QUARTER OF A MILE BUT HAVING IT ALONG THE SAME SIX-MILE PATH IS SOMEHOW SOMETHING DIFFERENT. IT IS THE EXACT SAME SIX-MILE PROJECT. IT JUST TERMINATES BETWEEN TWO INGRESS POINTS, COMING DOWN MAY VALLEY.

IT IS THE SAME PROJECT UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME.

AS FAR AS ACCESS FEES AS A TOWNSHIP, ENTERGY COLLECTED FEES FOR 25 YEARS. IT EXISTED WHEN WE WERE AN HOA.

IT EXISTS TODAY AS A TOWNSHIP. WE WERE ALL BLISSFULLY UNAWARE IN ACCESS FEES THAT WERE NEVER DISCLOSED.

NOW WE KNOW COMCAST, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING IN WRITING FROM ANY UTILITY COMPANY. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING IN WRITING FROM THE HOWARD HUGHES CORPORATION SAYING WE CERTIFY UP AND DOWN THIS IS ALL WE ARE GETTING.

I HAVE HEARD VOCALIZATIONS, THAT OUR CONSULTANTS REACHED OUT AND ASKED EVERY UTILITY COMPANY TO GIVE US WRITTEN VERIFICATION OF WHAT IS BEING CHARGED OR NOT CHARGED.

WENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY AND WE GOT NO RESPONSES.

I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE VERBAL REPRESENTATION AS FACT BECAUSE THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE A CREDIBLE SOURCE.

YOU HAVE TO VERIFY AND FOLLOW-UP.

AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY COMCAST, WITH OR WITHOUT THE FEE EXPIRING IN 2023, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ADDING A NEW EXPENSE TO OUR RESIDENTS. I THINK IT IS STILL FACTUALLY INACCURATE TO SAY IT IS GOING TO BE AN EXTRA COST WHEN WE DON'T KNOW. WE HAVE ALWAYS SAID IT CAN BE AN EXTRA COST BECAUSE NOBODY WILL ANSWER THE QUESTION.

SOME OF THESE UTILITY COMPANIES OPERATE, MOST OF THEIR CLIENTELE ARE IN CITIES AND THEY OFFER FIXED RATE PLANS.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THEIR FIXED RATE PLANS BECAUSE A SMALL SUBSET BECOME A CITY. THE OTHERS ARE PAYING THE FRANCHISE FEE. THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE THAT AS A SUBTOTAL. DIRECTOR MILNER CALLED VERIZON AND SAID, THEY DON'T DO THAT. THEY ARE FIXED RATE, SIMPLE BILLING. DO WE HAVE IT IN WRITING? NO. SO I'M NOT GOING TO SAY -- DIRECTOR MILNER WORD IS DISCREDITED JUST AS --

>> MAYBE WE SHOULD ASK HOWARD HUGHES TO GIVE AN EXPLANATION?

>> YOU ARE VERY CLOSE. WHY DON'T YOU ASK THEM?

>> THAT IS A GREAT IDEA. >> THOSE WERE THINGS I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON. I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BE ON RECORD. I DID NOT SAY THIS BOARD IN ANY ONE OF THOSE WAS MISINFORMATION. IT IS FINE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE.

I JUST -- IT DISTURBS ME GREATLY TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THIS INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY WITH EVERYTHING THAT I HEAR -- AND PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE.

>> LET ME ASK YOU A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS WHILE I HAVE YOU.

I HAVE BEEN ON THIS BOARD FOR 10 BUDGET CYCLES.

10 BUDGET CYCLES. DID I EVER DO THAT BY MYSELF?

>> NO. >> DO I UNILATERALLY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MANIPULATE EVERY BOARD MEMBER INTO A VOTE? MOST OF THE VOTES HAVE BEEN UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. MOST OF THE TAX RATES HAVE BEEN UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED? THERE ARE THINGS CIRCULATING

[01:10:02]

THAT WE HAVE FOUND A WAY TO OVERTAX THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT. IS THAT FACT? BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT.

>> I REALIZE THAT, CHAIRMAN BUNCH.

I VOTED FOR THE 2231. I ALWAYS VOTED THE SAME ON THE BUDGET AND TAX RATE SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD.

>> I HAVE BEEN HERE BUDGETS, I WENT BACK AND LOOKED.

I ONLY VOTED FOR ONE TAX RATE. ADOPTED TAX RATES --

>> YES. >> THERE IS ONLY ONE I DIDN'T APPROVE. THAT WAS MY FIRST ONE AND I OFFERED A LOWER RATE. I WAS OUTVOTED BY THE ONE WHO IS WANT TO SPIN A DIFFERENT NARRATIVE.

MY POINT IS, RIGHT NOW AS WE ARE DEALING WITH MISINFORMATION, THERE IS A STRONG MESSAGING THAT WE HAVE OVERTAXED THE COMMUNITY BY TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND OUR TAX RATE SHOULD BE 17 CENTS. WHAT SAY YOU?

>> I'M SORRY. >> I WAS WAITING FOR YOU -- DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE THAT WE OVERTAX AND SHOULD OUR TAX RATE

BE 17 CENTS? >> NO, I NEVER WOULD HAVE VOTED WHAT I VOTED FOR WITHOUT AGREEING TO THE TAX RATE.

I DID BRING UP ON THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE THE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE ON TUESDAY. ONE OF THE DIRECTORS SAID IT

WOULD CREATE A BUDGET DEFICIT. >> THAT WAS THE 2019 BUDGET.

>> NO, IT WAS THIS LAST ONE ON TUESDAY.

THERE WAS NO OTHER CONVERSATION ON THAT.

THEN WE ALL VOTED FOR THE 2231. >> ALL RIGHT.

>> THERE IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ISSUE WITH THAT DIRECTOR SNYDER SAID, THE WOODLANDS PARKWAY EXTENSION THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE THOROUGH FARE PLAN CAN BE ADDED BACK BY THE COMMISSIONERS. IT CAN ALL BE ADDED BACK VERY SIMPLY. THEY DON'T NEED TO CONSULT WITH US. IT IS A -- IT IS A BASICALLY A SHELL GAME. DON'T BUY IT.

IT IS NOT SOLID. IT IS A GUARANTEE IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM. THE OTHER THING IS ON THE FRANCHISE FEES, IT IS VERY EASY FOR A COMPANY TO SAY THEY'LL STOP DOING SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE NO GUARANTEE OF THAT. AS CHAIRMAN BUNCH SAID, JUST BECAUSE THEY TELL US THAT THEY ARE NOT -- OR MAYBE THEY TELL DIRECTOR SNYDER THIS, THEY ARE NOT COLLECTING FROM OTHER UTILITIES, THE FRANCHISE FEES, WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO GIVE US THAT INFORMATION.

WHEN SOMEONE REFUSES TO GIVE YOU WRITTEN INFORMATION, I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE HIDING SOMETHING.

I THINK -- THAT'S -- WHEN I HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEBODY AND THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE ME SOMETHING IN WRITING, I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE HIDING SOMETHING BECAUSE IT IS NOT TRANSPARENT.

I SAY THE FRANCHISE FEES ARE GOING IN THEIR POCKET AND WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT AND THEY WOULD LOSE THAT IF THE CITY OF THE WOODLANDS WERE TO INCORPORATE, WE BECOME THE CITY OF THE WOODLANDS, THAT MONEY WOULD REDIRECT TO THE CITY.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK WE ARE GETTING SO MUCH NEGATIVE PROPAGANDA FROM THE HOWARD HUGHES CORPORATION BECAUSE THAT CASH MONEY INTO THEIR POCKETS EVERY YEAR THAT WOULD THEN REDIRECT TOWARDS THE CITY AND GO TOWARDS THE EXPENSES THAT WERE MENTIONED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TAKING CARE OF OUR ROADS. THAT'S VITAL.

THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT WOULD HAPPEN FOR THE SENIORS.

I MENTION IT OVER AND OVER BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE MENTIONED. A TAX FREEZE WOULD HAPPEN FOR THOSE DISABILITIED AND THOSE OVER 56.

THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR A COMMUNITY THAT CONSISTENTLY SEES RISING PROPERTY VALUES AND APPRAISED VALUES.

WE DON'T WANT OUR SENIORS DRIVEN OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE, UNLESS THEY REMODEL, THAT PROPERTY TAX RATE AND THE VALUE AND THE ULTIMATE DOLLARS THEY PAY IN PROPERTY TAXES WILL NOT GO UP.

I THINK SENIORS ARE GOING TO REALLY, REALLY BENEFIT FROM THAT. THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT THIS PROPAGANDA WAR, BECAUSE IT IS REALLY A WAR.

THAT MULTIBILLION DOLLAR COMPANY, THEY HAVE LIMITLESS RESOURCES TO HOLD ON TO THE GOLDEN GOOSE WHICH IS THE

[01:15:02]

WOODLANDS. WE ARE THE GOLDEN GOOSE.

WE ARE LAYING THE GOLDEN EGGS FOR THEM AND THEY DON'T WANT TO LET IT GO. I THINK THEY HAVE THEIR STOCKHOLDERS INTEREST AT HEART WHERE THIS BOARD HAS THE RESIDENTS' AT HEART. WE ARE RESIDENT ADVOCATES.

WE WON'T TAKE A SALARY IF WE BECOME A CITY, WE WON'T TAKE A SALARY. THERE WILL BE NO GROWTH IN GOVERNMENT. THERE WILL BE NO INCREASE IN TAXES. THE SIGNS PEOPLE SEE ALL THE TIME, RELENTLESS SIGNS IN YOUR FACE, YOU'LL HAVE HIGHER TAXES AND BIG GOVERNMENT, IT IS LIKE ALICE IN WONDERLAND.

WE CELEBRATED A FEW MINUTES AGO. THE REAL TRUTH IS IF WE DO NOT EXPAND OUR CONVENTION CENTER IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE'LL LOSE CONVENTION BUSINESS. IT WILL GO ELSEWHERE.

IT WILL GO TO THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE INVESTING IN A THEIR COMMUNITY CENTERS, EXPANDING THEM AND MODERNIZING THEM.

CITIES HAVE ECONOMIC TOOLS AT THEIR DISPOSAL TO BRING BACK REBATES ON SALES TAX AND HOTEL TAX, 12.25% EVERY YEAR TO PAY FOR CONVENTION CENTERS AND EXPANSIONS.

C CONROW WILL GET 12 MILLION TO EXPAND THEIR CONVENTION CENTER. WE DON'T GET THAT, WE DON'T QUALIFY. WE NEED TO.

WE NEED TO COMPETE TO KEEP OUR PROPERTY TAX 36% OF THE TOTAL REVENUE. I THINK, MONIQUE, YOU SAID, IN MOST COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS, THE PROPERTY TAX MAKES UP WHAT, 70% OF THE BUDGET? ISN'T THAT THE NUMBER YOU SAID?

>> THERE IS A WIDE RANGE. ALMOST DOUBLE WHAT WE HAVE TO PAY AS PROPERTY OWNERS. WE CAN'T RISK THAT.

WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR HOTEL TAX AND OUR SALES TAX.

THE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO STAY COMPETITIVE.

MR. JONES, YOU ADDRESSED THIS LAST TIME WE WERE TOGETHER.

YOU SAID EXACTLY, I THINK, WHAT I JUST SAID.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO REITERATE THAT, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO AVAIL OURSELVES OF EVERY TOOL THAT OTHER CITIES ARE GETTING. I THINK IN CONCLUSION, I'LL SAY THIS PROPAGANDA WAR REMINDS ME OF WHAT HAPPENS IN WALL STREET WHEN ACTIVIST INVESTORS ARE TRYING TO DRIVE DOWN A COMPANY AND DRIVE IT REALLY DOWN WITH AN ONSLAUGHT OF PROPAGANDA ALL THE TIME, MAKING THE COMPANY LOOK LIKE THEY ARE NOT FINANCIALLY STABLE AND THEN THEY COME IN AND THEY SWEEP IN AND TAKE IT OVER.

THEN THEY START DRIVING UP THE PRICE.

THEN THEY SELL IT AFTER THEY -- THEN THEY SELL IT AT A PROFIT.

THEY GO ON TO THE NEXT COMPANY. THAT'S HOW I FEEL.

I FEEL LIKE WE ARE BEING ATTACKED BY NEGATIVE PROPAGANDA EVERY DAY IN AND OUT AND THEY ARE TRYING TO DRIVE US DOWN.

ONCE THEY HAVE THEIR WAY, THEN THEY'LL MOVE ON.

THEY'LL GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. I JUST SAY FOLLOW THE MONEY.

ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MONEY. IT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE ANSWER OF WHY IS SOMEBODY DOING THIS. WHY ARE THEY WORKING SO HARD AND PUTTING OUT SO MUCH NEGATIVE PROPAGANDA.

>> BEFORE WE GO TO GENERAL MANAGER JONES.

I DO WANT TO -- WE CAN ALL AGREE AND DISAGREE ON ITEMS. I DON'T WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE, WE DON'T KNOW HOWARD HUGHES IS COLLECTING IN ACCESS FEES.

WE DON'T KNOW. >> DID YOU SAY WE DID?

>> YOU SAID MILLIONS. WE DON'T KNOW.

THAT WASN'T VOLUNTEERED. WE GOT THAT THROUGH A RESIDENT, KENT MAGGERD WHO WENT TO COMCAST.

THAT WAS THE FIRST RESPONSE WE GOT FROM THE UTILITY COMPANY WAS

FROM KENT'S EFFORTS. >> THAT WAS 1.3 MILLION.

>> IT WAS OVER A MILLION DOLLARS BUT IT WASN'T VOLUNTARILY GIVEN

TO US. >> BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO.

THEY ARE A PRIVATE COMPANY. >> WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEY GET. I DON'T WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE AS ABSOLUTES. IT IS AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY.

WE KNOW FEES HAVE TO BE CHARGED. WE KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE PASSED THROUGH TO CONSUMERS. WE KNOW AS BUSINESSES THEY CAN BE PASSED ON TO CONSUMERS. WE HAVE DIFFERENT VENDORS

[01:20:01]

VERBALLY TELL US DIFFERENT THINGS.

THEY HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN THE PAST FOR MULTIPLE DECADES AS WE WERE AN HO AND A TOWNSHIP. IT IS NOT LIKE THEY HAVEN'T

EXISTED. >> MAY I THEN REACH OUT TO HOWARD HUGHES AND ASK FOR SOMETHING IN WRITING REGARDING THIS ISSUE, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE IT?

I JUST WANT TO QUALIFY -- >> NO.

IT IS DONE. BASED ON THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDED THIS EVENING, SHOULD WRITE TO JIM CARMEN AND ASK HIM TO GIVE US THE STRAIGHT SKINNY ON WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN COLLECTING. I'D LIKE TO SEE HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS, ANN. HOW MANY FEES THEY WERE COLLECTING FOR HOW MANY YEARS AND WHAT THAT TOTAL WAS AND WHERE THEY SPENT THAT MONEY? DID THEY PUT IT INTO THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE WOODLANDS, I'D LIKE TO KNOW.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, SORRY, JEFF, WE'LL GIVE YOU MORE WORK.

WHY NOT GO BACK TO THE SAME UTILITY COMPANIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY? THEY WERE NON-RESPONSIVE YEARS AGO. MAYBE THEY'LL BE MORE RESPONSIVE AND MAYBE WE CAN GET SOMETHING IN WRITING.

WE HAVE NEVER HIDDEN THE FACT THAT THERE ARE FRANCHISE FEES.

IT SHOULDN'T BE A SHOCK TO ANYONE.

>> IT IS TRUE THAT THE CONSULTANT SAID IT IS OVER $7 MILLION IS THE POTENTIAL AMOUNT THEY COULD BE COLLECTING.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE COLLECTING THAT MUCH BUT IT

COULD BE MILLIONS. >> HOLD ON A SECOND.

THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE IN FRANCHISE FEE AREA WERE AN ESTIMATE BECAUSE NO ONE WOULD TELL US WHAT WAS GOING ON.

WE TOOK OUR CITIES, THE FIVE PEER CITIES WE WORKED WITH.

THE CONSULTANTS GAVE US A RANGE OF NUMBERS TO PICK.

IF I REMEMBER, THE BOARD PICKED THE HIGHEST NUMBER BECAUSE WE WANTED TO SHOW THE MAXIMUM POTENTIAL IMPACT FOR FRANCHISE FEES THAT COULD OCCUR. THAT NUMBER IS THE ABSOLUTELY OUTLIER AND THAT IS IN YEAR FIVE.

CORRECT? >> YES.

THAT IS YEAR FIVE. >> THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER IN YEARS ONE, TWO, THREE. THE REASON THAT NUMBER IS IN THERE BECAUSE AT SOME POINT THE STATE OF TEXAS REQUIRES US TO COLLECT FRANCHISE FEES FROM UTILITIES.

IT WOULD BE A MISREPRESENTATION FROM THE FACT IF WE DIDN'T PUT THOSE NUMBERS INTO THE PLAN. NOBODY KNOWS HOW MUCH IS FRANCHISE FEES. WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IS FOLDED INTO BASE RATES BECAUSE IT IS TOO HARD FOR THEM TO BREAK THE CHARGES OUT BECAUSE OF THE PORTABILITY OF PHONES THESE DAYS. YES, THIS IS A GREAT UNKNOWN IN THE PLAN. THIS COULD BE RECTIFIED IF EACH WAS WILLING TO GIVE THAT INFORMATION.

>> AND -- >> SORRY.

I FIND IT HARD THAT HOWARD HUGHES CORPORATION SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN 2015 WITH THE UPROAR IN THE WOODLANDS PARKWAY EXTENSION. I KNOW THEY SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN 2016 BECAUSE THEY SAW A LOT OF MONEY TRYING TO INFLUENCE THAT ELECTION. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE WOODLANDS, THE TOWNSHIP BOARD WAS TAKEN OVER BY RESIDENTS OF THE WOODLANDS. THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR SOME TIME. THEY HAVE BEEN READY FOR A POTENTIAL VOTE ON INCORPORATION. IN THREE DIFFERENT ELECTION CYCLES I HAVE SAID OUTLOUD AND REPEATEDLY, I THINK OUR PATH FORWARD INCLUDES INCORPORATION. AND THAT I WAS ABSOLUTELY DEDICATED TO ALLOWING THE RESIDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE HOW THEY WANT TO BE GOVERNED.

IF THIS IS A BIG SURPRISE TO THE HOWARD HUGHES CORP., I'M SKEPTICAL. I'M ALSO SKEPTICAL BECAUSE WE VOTED ON FRIDAY. A LOT OF -- WE MUST HAVE HAD KIND OF A WEIRD RAINSTORM THAT WEEKEND BECAUSE ALL THESE GREEN SIGNS POPPED UP ALL OVER THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN LESS THAN 48 HOURS AFTER WE DECIDED THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD GIVE THE RESIDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE.

[01:25:05]

AND PROPAGANDA-LIKE PRESERVE THE WOODLANDS CAME OUT.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS. THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY AND CATEGORICALLY AGAINST THIS, THAT IS FINE.

THEY ARE A CORPORATION, THEY SHOULD PROTECT THEIR SHAREHOLDERS BUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING, FOLKS, THEY ARE BASICALLY SAYING -- AND IS THERE ANY QUESTION THE MAJORITY OF THE MISINFORMATION IS COMING OUT IS FROM THE OPPONENTS TO A CORPORATION? YES OR NO?

ANN? >> WELL, I HAVE SEEN IT ALSO FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE FOREIGN CORPORATIONS.

>> EXCUSE ME, ANN, WE'VE HAD PRESERVE THE WOODLANDS SPEND A TON OF MONEY INPUNING THE VORACITY OF MISS SHARP AND HER PRESENTATION, THE PLAN. WHO IS PUTTING OUT THE MISINFORMATION? US?

>> I HAVE SEEN, THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, I'M NOT SAYING THAT, DIRECTOR RIESER. I HAVE SEEN MISINFORMATION ON BOTH SIDES AND THAT'S WHAT MADE ME MAKE MY COMMENTS.

I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO TAKE A POSITION --

>> THAT'S NOT TRUE. THAT IS ALSO MISINFORMATION.

WE ARE -- WE DON'T HAVE -- >> LET ME CLARIFY BEFORE ANYBODY GOES BEYOND THE CONSTRAINTS THAT -- AS WE SIT HERE, AS WE REPRESENT OUR BOARD HERE AND ON OUR PROPERTY, WE ARE NEUTRAL.

>> THAT IS CORRECT. >> WHEN WE LEAVE OUR OFFICIAL DUTIES BEHIND, WE ARE NO LESS A CITIZEN OR RESIDENT THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN AMERICA. INDIVIDUALLY, AS PRIVATE CITIZENS, WE DO NOT GIVE UP OUR RIGHTS.

IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE AT AND WHAT YOU ARE REPRESENTING AT THAT MOMENT IN TIME. WHILE WE ARE UP HERE, I'LL REMIND MY FELLOW DIRECTORS WHO ARE PASSIONATE, LET'S TRY TO STAY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF NEUTRALITY.

I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, DEFENDING FACT BECAUSE IT IS FACT. MONIQUE LAID IT OUT WELL LAST WEEK, THE INFORMATION THAT IS OUT THERE THAT IS INACCURATE NEEDS TO BE REPUTED BECAUSE OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE THE TRUTH.

RIGHT? THEY DESERVE, HERE IS WHAT OUR FINANCIAL MODEL SAYS, HERE'S WHAT IT DOES.

YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH THE CASH IN THE BANK.

YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH OUR CURRENT COSTS.

THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE. TO GET TO DIRECTOR RIESER'S POINT, MORE FUNDING AND PLANNING THAN TWO OTHER REPORTS INDICATED WERE NEEDED. IT IS ACTUALLY LIKE WE'VE HAD AN OUTSIDE VERIFICATION OF OUR STUDY AND THEY VALIDATED IT BECAUSE WE HAD MORE THAN THEY SAID WE NEEDED.

WE SHOULD ALMOST THANK THEM BUT WE STILL WOULD LIKE THEM TO STOP USING MISINFORMATION AND GET TO THE CURRENT BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN WELL PRESENTED AND WE KNOW WHAT WE KNOW.

>> CAN WE HAVE -- >> EVEN AFTER LAST WEEK'S MEETING, DID ANYBODY CONTACT YOU TO CLARIFY NUMBERS?

>> NO, SIR. >> THERE IS JUST A LOT OF MISINFORMATION, PARTICULARLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

I THINK THE ENCOURAGING THING FOR US TO SAY IS GO AFTER THE TRUTH AND DON'T GET HUNG UP IN THE DISCUSSIONS THAT LEAD NOWHERE, THEY ARE UNPRODUCTIVE. POINTING OUT THE WEBSITE PAGE WE SAW EARLIER IS THE BEST WAY TO SAY, HERE ARE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS. WE USED TO HAVE A PHRASE IN FOOTBALL, THE EYE IN THE SKY DOES NOT LIE.

THE VIDEO CAMERA CATCHES EVERYTHING.

YOU AND YOUR STAFF POURED OVER THESE NUMBERS, YOU HAVE MATCHED THEM. YOU HAVE ANALYZED THEM.

THIS IS FACTUAL. ANYBODY WHO IS LISTENING WHO WANTS TO KNOW THE RAW DATA, THE NUMBERS IN ORDER TO MAKE AN INFORMED JUDGMENT NEEDS TO GO TO THE WEBSITE OR NEEDS TO CALL THE TOWNSHIP TO ASK THE QUESTIONS INSTEAD OF GOING TO SOURCES WHO ARE INSTEAD OF GIVING ESTIMATES ARE GIVING ABSOLUTELIES SAYING THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS THEY CAME UP WHEN THEY ARE NOT AT ALL.

YOU CAN SEE HOW THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, I BELIEVE, IS PURSUING THIS. IF THERE ARE NUMBERS LIKE THE FEES WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WE DON'T KNOW, WE SAY WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE COLLECTING, WE CALL THAT ESTIMATES.

WHEN THE OTHER SIDE SEEMS TO NOT KNOW, THEY JUST TAKE A NUMBER, NUMBERS IN THE AREA AND CALL THEM ABSOLUTES WHEN THEY ARE NOT. NUMBERS DON'T LIE.

AS A BOARD, AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO EMBRACE THE FAMOUS LATIN PHRASE IS 2,000 YEARS OLD THAT PILOT ASKED JESUS, WHAT IS THE

[01:30:05]

TRUTH? THE TRUTH IS HERE.

YOU PRESENTED IT AGAIN AND THE TRUTH IS THE REPORT YOU PRESENTED LAST WEEK, THE TRUTH IS ONLINE, ON OUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN GIVE YOUR OPINION AS TO WANT TO INHERENTLY SPEAKING WANT TO SUPPORT INCORPORATION BUT YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH THE NUMBERS.

THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING OUT THERE, PEOPLE ARE HAVING CIRCULAR ARGUMENTS, THE ART OF DISTRACTION IS BEING USED TO GET PEOPLE TO LOOK AWAY FROM THE ACTUAL TRUTH.

WE NEED TO JUST PUT THIS ON THE NEXT MEETING SO WE CAN BE PREPARED TO CORRECT AGAIN WHATEVER WILL COME OUR WAY.

TOMORROW NIGHT WILL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION TO SHOW UP SO THEN THEY CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION BECAUSE KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GIVE PEOPLE THE KNOWLEDGE THEY DESERVE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IF NOT ONE OF THE MOST EDUCATED COMMUNITIES I HAVE SEEN.

WE CAN BE INFORMED. WE CAN DO THIS, TO YOUR POINT, WITH RESPECT AND GENTLENESS. THE TRUTH, SOMETIMES IT HURTS.

IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND VERBALLY HURT SOMEONE

WHO IS DELIVERING THE MESSAGE. >> WITH THAT SAID, DIRECTOR NELSON, AND THANK YOU, COULD YOU SHARE THE FORMAT SO WE KNOW, HAVE SHARED IN ANY MEETING, EXCEPT I FORGOT AT ONE TIME ABOUT THE SEPTEMBER 23, CAN YOU SHARE THE FORMAT TOMORROW?

>> BEFORE WE DO THAT, WHICH I THINK NEEDS TO BE DONE, COULD WE GET PRESIDENT JONES TO FINISH THE QUESTION I ASKED -- NO, IT IS OKAY, DIRECTOR SNYDER. BEFORE WE WRAP UP, I'D LIKE HIM TO COMMENT ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PIECE WE COULD AVAIL OURSELVES OF IF WE INCORPORATE AND WE BECOME A CITY, PLEASE,

SIR. >> DIRECTOR SEKULA-GIBBS, I THINK YOU DID A GOOD JOB OF SUMMARIZING THE LAW.

IT IS IN THE TEXAS TAX CODE. YOU CAN READ ABOUT THE ARTICLES ON HOW THE CITY CONROW, IT DOES REFERENCE A STATE HOTEL TAX REBATE. THOSE ARE NOT NEW TAXES, THEY ARE TAXES THAT ARE PAID. THEY GO TO THE STATE.

APPLY FOR THE STATE HOTEL TAX FOR 10 YEARS.

IN THE CITY OF CONROW, IT WILL GENERATE $50 MILLION.

I HAVE A COLLEAGUE WHO WORKS AT THE CITY OF CONROW AND I VERIFIED THAT WITH HIM. I HAVE RECEIVED FEEDBACK.

THE ASSERTION THE TOWNSHIP DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE REBATE ISN'T TRUE. I HAVE CLARIFIED WITH OUR OUTSIDE COUNCIL AND HAVE E-MAILED OUR OUTSIDE COUNSEL.

HE IS HERE TONIGHT, I THINK HE STEPPED OUT TO TAKE A PHONE CALL. HE E-MAILED ME SAID THIS DOESN'T APPLY TO THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP. I THINK IT IS PRETTY CLEAR THIS IS A TAX REBATE THAT IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO MUNICIPALITIES.

AS YOU SAID, IT IS AN ECONOMIC TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO. IF I COULD CLARIFY ONE OTHER STATEMENT, THE SENIOR TAX FREEZE, IT DOES FREEZE THE PROPERTY TAXES PAID FOR THE LIFE OF THAT RESIDENT, DISABLED OR 65 OR OLDER, AND I BELIEVE YOU MAY HAVE USED THE TERM REMODEL, IF YOU REMODEL YOUR HOUSE, THE TAXES COULD GO UP.

I THINK WHAT YOU MEANT TO SAY, CORRECT OR CLARIFY ME IF I'M WRONG, IF YOU EXPAND YOUR HOUSE, IF YOU ADD A SWIMMING POOL.

IT WASN'T AFFECT YOUR SENIOR TAX FREEZE IF YOU REMODEL.

YOU WOULD HAVE THE TAX FREEZE FOR AS LONG AS YOU OWN THE HOME.

INLAND THAT'S WHAT YOU MEANT BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I CAUGHT THAT. IF I MAY, CHAIRMAN BUNCH, WE DO HAVE OUTSIDE COUNCIL THAT PROVIDES LEGAL OPINIONS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STAFF AND SOME DIRECTORS WHO HAVE BEEN AT

[01:35:02]

SOME OF THE VILLAGE MEETINGS REGARDING INCORPORATION HAVE RECEIVED ANNEXATION COLLECTION. I WOULD REMIND THE PUBLIC OPINION, THERE IS LEGAL OPINION THAT THE WOODLANDS AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS PROVIDED THEIR OPINION ON THE APPLICATION LAW CHANGE AS IT APPLIES TO ANNEXATION AN HOW THAT IMPACTS A LONG TERM CONTRACTUAL TO PREVENT THE WOODLANDS BECOMING PART OF HOUSTON OR PART OF CONROW. THERE IS A LEGAL OPINION OUT THERE THAT HAS BEEN QUESTIONED. SO I JUST WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE, THAT OPINION IS STILL OUT THERE THAT DOES SAY ESSENTIALLY THAT THE 2017 STATE LAW CHANGE ON ANNEXATION HAS NO IMPACT ON OUR LONG TERM CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE TWO

CITIES. >> IN REFERENCES THE LEGAL OPINION, I BELIEVE THIS PRESIDENT GENERAL MANAGER IS REFERRING TO THE ONE BIT ON THE INCORPORATION SUMMARY WHICH THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND NOT THE ONE THAT WAS PROVIDE D UNDER TORONTO-CLIENT PRIVILEGE TO THE BOARD.

>> I THINK ON THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS DIRECT MAIL SENT OUT USING IMAGES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE. I CHECKED WITH SENATOR GRADEN, HE HAD NO IDEA HIS PHOTO HAD BEEN USED IN A MAILER TELLING PEOPLE ABSOLUTELY THE WOODLANDS WOULD NEVER BE ANNEXED.

ONLY A COURT THE ADJUDICATE THAT.

THE GENERAL MANAGER JONES POINT, IT IS A CONTRACT.

YOUR NAME WAS USED IN VAIN. CAN A LEGISLATURE LEGALLY CHANGE A CONTRACT? THERE IS A WORD SAYING WHAT THEY CAN'T DO. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING

ABOUT? >> CAN YOU COME TO THE

MICROPHONE? >> SORRY.

YOU WALKED IN AND I NOTICED YOU. I THINK WE ARE PAYING YOU TO BE IN THE AUDIENCE. MIGHT AS WELL GET SOME WORK

DONE. >> I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE LAW OF 2017 IS ACTUALLY THAT POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE AND IT NULLIFIES THE EFFECTS, WOULDN'T WE BE ABLE TO STOP PAYING THEM.

>> LET'S STICK WITH THE FIRST QUESTION BECAUSE HE WASN'T IN

[11. Receive, consider and act upon an update from the South County 4th of July Parade Committee (as requested by Director Sekula-Gibbs);]

THE ROOM WHEN IT WAS ASKED. I KNOW A LAW CAME OUT IN 2017 ABOUT ANNEXATION. THINGS TIED TO OUR 2017 CONTRACTS WITH HOUSTON AND CONROW.

MONTY IS HERE, HE DID PROVIDE A LEGAL OPINION SAYING IT DOESN'T IMPAIR EXISTING CONTRACTS AND STATE LEGISLATORS ARE PROHIBITED FROM ALTERING CONTRACTS BY LEGISLATION.

THERE WAS A WORD HE USED. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?

>> I DO NOT. WE WERE NOT INVOLVED IN

RENDERING THAT OPINION. >> EXPOSE --

>> EXPOSE FACTO, WOULD THAT BE APPLICABLE?

>> I CAN'T SAY WITHOUT HAVING LOOKED AT THE AGREEMENT, THE CASE LAW BEHIND IT. I APOLOGIZE.

>> IT IS ALL RIGHT. WE DO HAVE THE LEGAL OPINION ON OUR SITE. WE HAVE A VIDEO OF THE PRESENTATION OF THAT. I THINK --

>> EXPOST FACTO. >> WE'LL LET DANIEL GO DOWN.

HE WASN'T PAID TO OPINE ON THAT. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I COULD CLARIFY FOR MR. RINGO THAT I DID CALL HIM OUT -- I DID REFERENCE A COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MR. RINGO AND MYSELF ABOUT THE CHAPTER 51 ABOUT THE OCCUPANCY TAX LAW.

THAT'S WHY HE WAS USED IN REFERENCE TO THAT QUESTION.

>> CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GAVE THAT OPINION, IT ONLY APPLIES TO HOME RULE AND NOT TO THE TOWNSHIP AS WE EXIST, THAT TOOL, THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL IS NOT AVAILABLE TO US RIGHT NOW?

>> AS TO -- >> THIS WAS THE ECONOMIC TOOL THAT WAS BEING USED BY CONROW BY DEVELOPMENT --

>> THE REBATE. >> THAT IS CORRECT.

YES, I DID HAVE CORRESPONDENCE WITH GENERAL MANAGER JONES ON THAT. THAT PARTICULAR SECTION OF THE

[01:40:02]

TAX CODE HAS A LITANY OF DIFFERENT BRACKETS THAT APPLY TO INSTANCES WITHIN THE STATE. CONROE FALLS WITHIN ONE OF THEM.

NONE OF THE BRACKETS WOULD APPLY TO THE TOWNSHIP AS THE LAW IS

WRITTEN. >> WE WOULD NOT QUALIFY AT THIS

POINT AS A TOWNSHIP? >> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> BUT WE WOULD QUALIFY IF WE BECOME A HOME RULE CITY BY

INCORPORATION? >> THAT IS MY RECOLLECTION.

AGAIN, IT HAS BEEN QUITE SOME TIME SINCE I LOOKED AT THAT.

I WAS NOT ASKED -- NOT TOLD IN ADVANCE TO BE PREPARED TO SPEAK

ON THAT. >> OKAY.

THANK YOU. >> WITH APOLOGIES, DANIEL, WE'LL LET YOU GET BACK TO YOUR SEAT. I'M SORRY.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE HERE, I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WE ARE PAYING HIM, WE'LL ASK THE QUESTION. DR. SNYDER ASKED ABOUT THE FORMAT TOMORROW NIGHT. WE'LL HAVE OUR CONSULTANTS HERE.

THERE WILL BE A PRESENTATION REGARDING THE INCORPORATION PROCESS. AND THEN THERE WILL BE A BREAKOUT SESSION WHERE WE'LL HAVE FOUR AREAS OF THE ROOM BROKEN INTO DIFFERENT SUBJECTS. SOMEBODY REALLY WANTS TO ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ROAD STUDY, HR GREEN, CONSULTANT AND NOVACK CONSULTANT AND STAFF WILL BE MANNING THAT BOOTH.

WE'LL HAVE A SECTION OF THE ROOM FOR THE FINANCIALS, A SECTION OF THE ROOM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. A SECTION OF THE ROOM FOR GOVERNANCE. WE'LL HAVE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN EACH OF THE FOUR QUADRANTS IN THE ROOM TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE FOLKS WHO PREPARE THE REPORTS. THE CONSULTANTS WILL GATHER THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FROM THOSE SUBSETS OF BREAKOUT SESSIONS, COME BACK TO A GENERAL SESSION AND BASICALLY CONSOLIDATE THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED ISSUES BY SUBJECT MATTER SO THE WHOLE AUDIENCE GETS THE WHOLE FEEDBACK OF WHAT WAS ASKED BY EACH OF THE SUBCONSULTANT MEETINGS.

A LOT MORE DIRECT DIALOGUE WITH THE CONSULTANTS AND ABILITY TO ASK QUESTIONS DIRECTLY TO THEM AND HAVE THAT INFORMATION SHARED WITH THE GROUP IN A RECONVENING GENERAL SESSION.

IF THERE IS TIME, WE'LL HAVE QUESTIONS AT THE END.

WE ARE JUST WORKING THROUGH THE FINAL FORMAT AT THIS POINT.

THAT'S THE PLAN. WE HOPE TO SEE EVERYBODY THERE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THAT IS A LONG AGENDA ITEM. WE DIGRESSED SLIGHTLY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF THERE ARE NONE, DO WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND TO RECEIVE THE REPORT.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE.

>> OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, MONIQUE. RECEIVE, CONSIDER AND ACT UPON, I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE THE SOUTH COUNTY 4TH OF JULY PARADE COMMITTEE. WE'LL HAVE STEWARD SHRADER AND

JEREMY HALL. >> GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THAT SOUTH COUNTY 4TH OF JULY COMMITTEE.

OUR COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF NINE DEDICATED VOLUNTEER AND BEGIN PREPARING SIX MONTHS IN ADVANCE OF THE PARADE.

ON PARADE DAY WE RELY ON OVER 100 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE IN MANY ROLES TO EXECUTE THE PARADE.

FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP FOR YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE 4TH OF JULY PARADE AS OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER. WE HAD MEMBER SPONSORS FROM BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY AND FROM SEVERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.

AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE COVID PANDEMIC FORCED THE CANCELLATION OF THE 2020 ADDITION OF OUR PARADE.

THE COMMITTEE WAS ANXIOUS TO MAKE SURE WE COULD HOLD A PARADE IN 2021. WE WERE QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER. OF CONSULTING WITH THE DIRECTOR ON THE MORNING OF THE PARADE, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO HOLD THE PARADE. THANKFULLY LIGHTNING WAS NOT NEAR ENOUGH TO BE AN ISSUE, THOUGH IT INCLUDED A STEADY RAINFALL MAKING THIS A TRUE RAIN OR SHINE EVENT.

ONE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, IT WAS NICE AND COOL.

[01:45:03]

UNFORTUNATELY, AN INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEREBY VEHICLES VIOLATED OUR PARADE RULES AND WERE NOT AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMITTEE AND WERE NOT DEPICTED BY VOLUNTEERS.

THE COMMITTEE DEEPLY REGRETS THIS OCCURRENCE AND HAS UNDERTAKEN DILLS MEASURES TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT OCCUR AT FUTURE PARADES. JEREMY HALL OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHAIR WILL PROVIDE A REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT. JER

JEREMY? >> GOOD EVENING.

>> GOOD EVENING. >> CHAIRMAN BUNCH, DIRECTORS, TOWNSHIP STAFF, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IN THE AUDIENCE AND TO THOSE OF YOU WATCHING ONLINE, I AM JEREMY HALL AND AS STEWART SAID, I AM THE MEDIA CHAIRPERSON FOR THE SOUTH COUNTY 4TH OF JULY PARADE COMMITTEE. WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY INTO THE PA PARADE. TO BE CLEAR THIS WAS NOT AN ENTRY PERMITTED TO ENTER THE PARADE.

WE DID NOT ALLOW THIS VEHICLE TO ENTER THE PARADE.

THIS WAS A GROUP THAT SNUCK IN WITH A GROUP THAT SNUCK IN WITH A GROUP. IN FACT, I HAVE A PHOTO OF THE EXACT TIME THAT THE GROUP SNUCK IN TO THE PARADE, PROVIDED COURTESY OF THE MONTGOMERY REPUBLICAN PARTY.

DIRECTOR NELSON, I HAVE A COUPLE OF COPIES FOR YOU.

I APOLOGIZE, ONLY PRINTED OUT A COUPLE.

PASS THESE AROUND. THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE GROUP SNEAKING INTO THE PARADE. THE GROUP SNUCK IN WITH THE GROUP MENTIONED IN THE PAPER, UNITED 45 THAT REGISTERED WITH OR DID NOT REGISTER WITH BUT CAME WITH THE MONTGOMERY REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO PROVIDED US THESE PHOTOS IN FULL COOPERATION IN OUR INVESTIGATION OF THE INCIDENT.

THEY PROVIDED ANOTHER PHOTO THAT WENT OUT IN THEIR PRESS RELEASE SHOWING THE MEMBERS OF UNITED 45 POSING WITH THE MONTGOMERY REPUBLICAN PARTY AFTER THE PARADE.

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE TWO PEOPLE IN THE PHOTOS THAT ARE BEING PASSED BETWEEN THE DIRECTORS THAT WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TWO VEHICLES WE IDENTIFIED AS BEING OFFENSIVE.

I WANT TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS FIRST, NO VOLUNTEER OR COMMITTEE MEMBERS WERE AWARE THERE WAS A VEHICLE WITH PROFANE LANGUAGE IN THE PARADE. I AM ONLY AWARE OF TWO PEOPLE THAT SAW THE VEHICLE DURING THE PARADE.

THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO BECAME AWARE OF THIS OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE BECAME AWARE DUE TO THE POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA CRITICIZING THE PARADE ENTRY AND THE FACT THAT PROFANITY ALLOWED IN THE PARADE. THERE WERE NO PROFANITY LACED VEHICLES IN THE PARADE. THERE WAS ONE VEHICLE WITH TWO PROFANE ROOMS ON THE VEHICLE. THEY WERE REMOVABLE MAGAZINE NETS. WE HAVE SEEN THE VEHICLE SINCE, THOSE WORDS ARE NOT THERE. THERE WAS NO CONFUSION WITH THE VFW. I HEARD ISAAC GET UP AND SPEAK.

THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT HOW THE VEHICLE ENTERED THE PARADE THAT WAS DEBUNKED WITHIN HOURS OF THE POST BY MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WHO STARTED THE UPROAR AND CANCEL CULTURE THAT TRANSPIRED AFTER THIS ENTRY WAS IDENTIFIED.

WITHIN HOURS, THEY IDENTIFIED IT WAS NOT THE VFW.

THERE WAS NO CONFUSION ABOUT THE VFW.

THERE WAS A POST ON THE VFW FACEBOOK PAGE SAYING THEY MADE US AWARE OF THE ENTRY PRIOR TO THE PARADE.

THAT IS FALSE. NONE OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS NOR THE VOLUNTEERS WERE AWARE. IN FACT, THE FIRST TIME WE HEARD ABOUT IT WAS LATER THAT EVENING. LET ME MOVE ON TO OUR RESPONSE.

WE IDENTIFIED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH A VEHICLE WITHIN HOURS OF THE PARADE. WE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO TAKE ACTION. WE ISSUED TWO STATEMENTS.

ONE 48 HOURS AFTER THE PARADE AND ANOTHER THE FOLLOWING DAY APOLOGIZING FOR ANYONE WHO SAW THE PROFANE LANGUAGE.

I'LL READ YOU PART OF THAT. WE SINCERELY APOLOGIZE FOR THE DISRESPECTFUL EXPRESSIONS DURING THE PARADE BY AN UNAUTHORIZED GROUP WHO ENTERED WITHOUT REGISTRATION OR THE CONSENT OF THE PARADE COMMITTEE. WE APOLOGIZE TO THOSE IN ATTENDANCE WHO MAY HAVE SEEN OR BEEN OFFENSED.

WE DO NOT PERMIT ANY EXPRESSION THAT IS DISRESPECTFUL OR HATEFUL

[01:50:03]

TO ANY OTHER GROUPS. THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER ANY OTHER PARADES. THE ACTION WE HAVE TAKEN SINCE HAS BEEN SWIFT AND IT HAS ALSO BEEN BROAD.

I SPENT 50 HOURS TRACKING DOWN WHAT HAPPENED, WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE IN REVISING OUR PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES TO MAKE SURE WE DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. THE GROUP WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE VEHICLES HAS BEEN BANNED. THEY WON'T BE ALLOWED TO ENTER FUTURE PARADES. THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO ENTER THIS PARADE BUT THEY WON'T BE ALLOWED TO ENTER FUTURE PARADES.

THE MONTGOMERY REPUBLICAN PARTY WAS GIVEN AN ULTIMATUM, TO ADDRESS THIS INTERNALLY OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCE.

THEY COMPLETELY OVERHAULED THEIR PROCEDURES FOR ENTRY INTO THE PARADE AND THE PERSON WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPEN CALL FOR OTHER GROUPS TO COME WITH WILL NO LONGER BE IN THE SAME POSITION.

WE TOOK THAT AS A SATISFACTORY RESPONSE.

WE HAVE ALSO HAD A SPECIAL MEETING SINCE THEN TO ADDRESS THE INCIDENT AND REVISE OUR RULES.

WE'VE HAD A MEETING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ENINSURE THEIR CORPORATION IN THE FUTURE. WE HEARD FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT HATE SPEECH IS PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

I DID A BIT OF RESEARCH, THAT IS CORRECT.

MONTGOMERY ALLOWS US TO USE THE TOWN CENTER AREA TO CONDUCT THE PARADE AND ALLOWS US TO SET RULES FOR ENTRY INTO THE PARADE

[12. Receive, consider and act upon the financial report;]

LIKE NO THROWING CANDY DURING CO

COVID. >> I GOT BUSTED.

>> A MINOR INFRACTION. WITH THOSE -- WITH THOSE RULES IN MIND, OUR RULES ALREADY IN PLACE PROHIBITED PROFANE LANGUAGE FROM BEING IN THE PARADE.

OUR REVISED RULES MAKE IT CLEAR WHAT IS AND WHAT IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE PARADE. OUR MEETING WAS ADDRESSED.

HERE'S WHAT WE DID. WE REVISED THE PARADE RULES.

THE PARADE RULES PREVENT THIS TYPE OF SPEECH IN THE FUTURE, INCLUDING THAT PARADE ENTRIES MAY NOT HAVE MESSAGES THAT ARE PROFANE, HATE SPEECH IS ANY MESSAGE THAT IS DISRESPECTFUL OR HATEFUL TO ANY OTHER PERSON OR GROUP.

WE REVISED OUR APPLICATION. PARADE ENTRIES ARE LIMITED TO ONE GROUP PER PARADE ENTRY. THERE ARE TWO GROUPS THAT CAN'T COME TOGETHER. THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT AN ENTRY.

PARADE ENTRIES MUST PROVIDE AN EXACT DESCRIPTION OF WHO AND WHAT THEY ARE BRINGING. WHEN THEY CHECK IN ON GAME DAY, THAT DESCRIPTION HAS TO MATCH THE VEHICLES AND PEOPLE CHECKING IN. THEY HAVE TO BRING THEIR ENTRY STAMPED APPROVED AND SUBMIT IT TO VOLUNTEERS.

WE HAVE CREATED NEW COMMITTEE POSITION CALLED THE PARADE RULES COMPLIANCE CHAIRPERSON. THAT PERSON IS IN CHARGE OF OUR REVISED PARADE ENTRY CHECK-IN PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS THAT HAS A VEHICLE CHECK BEFORE VEHICLES ARE ALLOWED INTO THE STAGING LOT. THIS MANUAL THAT WAS WRITTEN BY MYSELF AND VETTED BY THE COMMITTEE PROVIDES EXAMPLES OF WHAT IS ALLOWED AND WHAT IS NOT ALLOWED SO COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHO IS ALLOWED INTO THE PARADE.

THERE ARE FOUR CHECK POINTS WHERE IF A VEHICLE IS SEEN ON THE ROOT THAT VIOLATES THE PARADE.

ANOTHER SNEAK-IN, THEY CAN BE PULLED OUT AND EXIT THE PARADE WHILE ON THE ROUTE. WE HAVE SUGGESTED AN AD HOC FOR COMPLETE OVERHAUL. I HAVE COPIES OF OUR DRAFTS IF ANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM.

THAT INCLUDES STEWARD TRADER, REMI HALL, DR. KELLY, JOE, JOHNNY HENIGAN AND OUR NEWEST MEMBER, NICK SORENSON.

AM I MISSING ANYONE? AND WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY

[01:55:05]

QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. >> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.

I DID ASK THE PARADE COMMITTEE TO COME TODAY AND GIVE US A WRAP-UP BASICALLY ON WHAT STEPS THEY HAVE TAKEN GOING FORWARD.

I KNOW THERE ARE NO ONE MORE UPSET THAN THE TWO PEOPLE IN FRONT OF US. THEY WORK TO MAKE THE PARADE SUCCESSFUL. THIS WAS AN ASSAULT ON THE ENTIRE ATTENDANCE. WE LOVE A PARADE.

RIGHT? ISN'T THAT THE SLOGAN? EVERYONE LOVES A PARADE. WE WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY, FAMILY FRIENDLY, THE BEST EVENT IT CAN BE IN THE STATE.

YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. WE APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH.

IF I CAN DIGRESS ONE SECOND. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE HALLS FOR THEIR BEAUTIFUL EDITION TO THEIR FAMILY.

THE BABY'S NAME IS EMORY GRACE. >> REMI GRACE.

>> I KNEW I WOULD MIX THAT UP. REMI GRACE.

I SAW A PICTURE OF REMI GRACE, I THINK SHE WILL LOOK GREAT AT THE

NEXT 4TH OF JULY PARADE. >> SHE WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO

HEAR THE REPORT. >> SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE A THOROUGH PLAN. ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER

QUESTIONS? >> NO.

I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO AND SAY THANK YOU.

I KNOW SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THAT COMMITTEE HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR A LONG TIME, A NUMBER OF YEARS.

REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE.

WE WERE OUT OF TOWN AND HEARD ABOUT IT FROM A RESIDENT.

WITHIN MINUTES, SOMEONE SAID YOU HAD ADDRESSED THE ISSUE AND APOLOGIZED TO THE COMMUNITY AND NOW HAVE THE MECHANISMS IN PLACE TO ENSURE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME. >> ALL RIGHT.

IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, WE'LL TAKE A MOMENT

AND SECOND TO ACCEPT. >> MOVE TO ACCEPT.

>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? THANK YOU, JEREMY AND STEWART.

>> THANK YOU. WE'LL SEE YOU JULY 4, 2022.

>> I'M BRINGING MY CANDY. >> IT WILL BE ON JULY 4 THIS

TIME. >> GOOD.

>> ALL RIGHT. NOW, RECEIVE, CONSIDER, ACT UPON OUR FINANCIAL REPORT. MONIQUE?

>> THANK YOU. THIS IS THE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE EIGHT MONTHS IN AUGUST 2021. I'M LOOKING AT OUR GENERAL FUND WHICH IS OUR PRIMARY FUND. IN TERMS OF REVENUES, YEAR TO DATE, THE BUDGET WAS 87.8 MILLION.

OUR ACTUAL REVENUES WERE 90.5 MILLION.

WE HAVE A FAVORABLE REVENUE VARIANCE OF 2.7 MILLIO DOLLARS.

[13. Receive, consider and act upon a briefing regarding waste collection services and fees provided by The Woodlands Township to multi-family apartment complexes (as requested by Director Milner);]

THE FAR RIGHT SHOWS THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THAT.

WE ARE OVER $2 MILLION NAIFRL OUR SALES TAX COLLECTIONS.

WE HAVE HAD A REBOUND FROM COVID THAT EXCEEDED OUR ORIGINAL EXPECTATIONS. OUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE HIGHER THAN WHAT WAS PROJECT BY A LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.

WE ALLOW FOR A LARGER COLLECTION -- UNCOLLECTIVE BALANCE, NOT KNOWING WHAT THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC WILL BE.

WE DIDN'T EXPERIENCE THAT. IN TERMS OF THE OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE, THOSE ARE POSITIVE. INTEREST RATES ARE JUST NOT GOOD RIGHT NOW. MAYBE WE'LL SEE A COMEBACK ON THIS ONE. IN TERMS OF OPERATING EXPENDITURES, THE YEAR TO DATE BUDGET IS 64.9 MILLION.

ACTUAL EXPENDITURES ARE 60 MILLION DOLLARS.

WE HAVE A 4.8 MILLION DOLLARS FAVORABLE VARIANCE.

THE RIGHT-HAND COLUMN SHOWS THE COMPONENTS OF THAT.

YOU CAN SEE COMMUNITY SERVICES, SPECIFICALLY STREET LIGHTING IS OVERBU OVERBUDGETED SOME OF THE RATE INCREASE HASN'T HAPPENED YET. THEN IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE ARE RUNNING 735,000 DOLLARS FAVORABLE.

BACK OPPOSITE THIS FIRST PAGE, 1.1 IN GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND 1.5 IN PARKS AND RECREATION. WHEN WE WE WANT THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROCESS, WE IDENTIFIED WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD STAY

[02:00:03]

PERMANENTLY FAVORABLE WHICH WAS ABOUT 3 MILLION DOLLARS.

SOME OF THIS WILL STAY FAVORABLE THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> WHAT IS THE MAKE-UP OF THE LARGE SAVINGS?

LESS OVERTIME? >> IT IS IN BENEFITS AND

CONTRACTED SERVICES. >> THIS IS OUR SALES TAX REVENUE THROUGH THE SEPTEMBER REPORT. SALES TAXES ARE ON A TWO-MONTH LAG. WE RECEIVED THE MONEY IN SEPTEMBER BUT IT RELATES BACK TO JULY ACTIVITY.

YOU CAN SEE WHEN WE COMPARE TO THE SAME MONTHS OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR, WE ARE 5.2 MILLION OR 14.7% AHEAD OF THAT.

WE ARE AT 2.2 AHEAD OF BUDGET. THAT IS A VERY POSITIVE SALES TAX REPORT. IT IS MORE POSITIVE WHEN YOU LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES AND SEE THE POSITIVE TRENDS.

IT IS VERY POSITIVE RIGHT NOW. IN TERMS OF OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, IN AUGUST, WE HAD A GOOD MONTH IN TERMS OF A TURN-AROUND.

WE HAD 31.5% AHEAD OF WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR.

WE ARE ABOUT 4.3% LOWER THAN BUDGET.

AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THE LAST TWO MONTHS HAVE BEEN FAVORABLE.

WE EXPECT A HICCUP BASED ON THE RISE IN COVID CASES.

THEN OUR HOTEL PROPERTIES ARE SAYING MAYBE TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR WE MAY SEE -- GET BACK TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.

>> THIS IS A MONTH LAG. >> AUGUST TO JULY, I FELT THAT PAIN. I DID HAVE A RECENT CONVERSATION. IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF FEAR WE HAD FOR THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTER ABOUTS HAVING TO CANCEL BECAUSE OF THE DELTA VARIANT. I THINK THEY HAD SOME CANCELLATIONS, BUT I THINK THEY HAD REBOOKINGS TOO.

THERE ARE ONLY THREE OTHER FUTURE CONCERTS HAVING COVID PROT PROTOCOLS WHICH ARE VACCINE OR NEGATIVE TESTS WITHIN A PERIOD OF TIME.

THEY ARE FEELING PRETTY BULLISH THEIR FULL SEASON WILL COME OFF.

SO THAT MAY REBOUND INTO THE HOTEL SECTOR AS THOSE EVENTS

CONTINUE TO GO ON. >> THE OTHER THING I WANT TO POINT OUT, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN UNFAVORABLE VARIANCE FOR THE YEAR IN TERMS OF OUR BUDGET, WE ARE STILL FULLY FUNDED ON PAYING DEBT SERVICE, FULLY FUNDED ON PAYING THE EXPENSES OF VISIT THE WOODLANDS.

THE ONLY THING BEING EXACT IS WHAT GOES INTO THE RESERVE.

IT IS NOT AFFECTING OPERATIONS AT ALL.

>> WE'LL BE ON THE POSITIVE SIDE.

WHEN WE DID THE PROJECTIONS. WE ARE PROBABLY 15% AHEAD OF

WHERE WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE. >> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE 20% OFF AND PICK IT UP THE REST OF THE YEAR. WE HAVE DONE BETTER THAN

EXPECTED. >> THAT IS CORRECT.

THANK YOU. >> IN TERMS OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY IMPACT IN COLLECTIONS IN THE PANDEMIC. PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK WHY WE ARE OVER. BECAUSE WE GET PENALTY AND FEES.

THAT PUTS US SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF THE BUDGET.

THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY

QUESTIONS. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MONIQUE? IF THERE IS NONE, WE'LL TAKE A MOTION AND SECOND TO ACCEPT.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? NUMBER 13, RECEIVE, CONSIDER AND ACT UPON A BRIEFING REGARDING WASTE COLLECTION SERVICES AND FEES. JOHN, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE TIME TO GET YOU UP BUT WE APPRECIATE HAVING YOU HERE.

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOHN GEIGER, I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES MANAGER. WE HANDLE THE DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT OF THE SOLID WASTE, TRANSPORTATION DISPOSAL AND PROCESSING AGREEMENT. WE'LL CALL THAT THE SOLID WASTE

[02:05:01]

CONTRACT FOR SHORT. TONIGHT I'LL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE MULTIFAMILY COMPLEX WASTE SERVICES PROVIDED AND THE FEES INVOLVED IN SERVICES. THE SOLID WASTE CONTRACT IS FOR AN EIGHT YEAR TERM, THAT INITIATED FEBRUARY 1 OF 2020.

THE TOTAL PROJECTED ANNUAL COST TO THE TOWNSHIP IS 7.5 MILLION.

THESE COSTS COVER SERVICES TO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND MULTIFAMILY COMPLEXES AND OUR RECYCLE CENTER.

BY CONTRACT THESE SERVICE RATES ARE SUBJECT TO AN ANNUAL 3.5% RATE INCREASE. CURRENT THERE ARE 29 MULTIPLE FAMILY COMPLEXES THAT ARE RECEIVING SERVICE THROUGH THIS CONTRACT. THE COST FOR SERVICING THOSE COMPLEXES IN 2021 PROJECTS TO BE AROUND 470,000.

THAT AVERAGES OUT TO 16,000 PER COMPLEX.

THERE ARE IN TOTAL 51 MULTIFAMILY COMPLEXES IN THE TOWNSHIP. THAT INCLUDES CONDOMINIUMS, LOW INCOME COMPLEXES, SENIOR HOUSING AND WHAT WE CALL YOUR STANDARD APARTMENT COMPLEX. THERE ARE 29 OF THAT 51 THAT ARE RECEIVING SERVICE THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP.

THAT LEAVES 22 COMPLEXES THAT HAVE ELECTED NOT TO RECEIVE SERVICES THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP. THOSE 22 COMPLEXES REPRESENT AN ANNUAL LIABILITY OF A LITTLE OVER 250,000.

THE LEVEL OF SERVICE REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE, WHETHER THAT IS LOW INCOME, ASSISTED LIVING IS FIXED ACCORDING TO A BORDER PROOF FORMULA BASED ON THE NUMBER OF UNITS IN THAT COMPLEX.

THE SERVICE LEVEL STANDARD WAS ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE NEW SOLID WASTE CONTRACT IN 2020. THAT STANDARD ADJUSTS AS TO WHETHER THEY DECIDE TO EMPLOY DUMPSTERS OR COMPACTING UNITS.

THE COST TO DELIVER IN A MULTIFAMILY COMPLEX IS 5:08 A MONTH. THAT IS NOT ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE CONTRACT. THAT IS SIMPLY THE AVERAGE PER UNIT COST ACROSS OUR 29 COMPLEXES.

THAT COMPARES TO THE SINGLE FAMILY HOME RATE OF 1502 PER MONTH. PLEASE REMEMBER MULTIFAMILY COMPLEXES DON'T ENJOY ALL THE SERVICES THAT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES DO, INCLUDING BULKY TRASH OR YARD TRIMMINGS.

ONLY FIVE COMPLEXES OFFER RECYCLING TO THEIR TENANTS.

SOME COMPLEXES REQUEST SERVICE BEYOND THE SERVICE LEVEL STANDARD AND WASTE MANAGEMENT WORKS VERY WELL WITH THEM TO MEET THOSE SERVICE NEEDS. ANY ADDITIONAL SERVICE BEYOND THE STANDARD IS BILLED BY WASTE MANAGEMENT TO THE COMPLEX.

THIS YEAR, THERE ARE SIX COMPLEXES THAT HAVE EITHER ORDERED EXTRA SERVICE ABOVE THE STANDARD OR ARE PROJECTED TO.

THEY PAY FOR THAT TO WASTE MANAGEMENT.

THOSE COSTS WILL BE FROM 500 TO 900 PER COMPLEX IN 2021.

TOWNSHIP STAFF SURVEYED 29 COMPLEXES RECEIVING SERVICE.

WE FOUND 15 OF THE 16 STANDARD APARTMENT COMPLEXES, AGAIN, THOSE ARE NOT CONDOMINIUMS, LOW INCOME.

A MONTHLY TRASH SERVICE FEE ADDITION TO OTHER FEES.

WHEN OUTSTANDING BUNDLES THEIR TRASH FEE.

THE TRASH FEE CHARGED BY THE COMPLEX IS $21.67.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE ALL THREE OF THESE FACILITIES OFFER SOME TYPE OF TRASH TO THEIR CITIZENS.

>> WHAT IS A VALET TRASH SERVICE?

[02:10:01]

>> THEY HAVE STAFF THAT HELPS PORT THEIR TRASH TO THE

DUMPSTER. >> TO REITERATE THE TOWNSHIP PROVIDES SERVICE TO RESIDENTS ONLY THROUGH THE OPEN MARKET.

IF VOTERS WERE TO APPROVED FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BECOME A CITY, THE CITY CAN ELECT TO CHARGE A FRANCHISE FEE TO CONTRACTORS.

THOSE FEES CAN RANGE FROM 3% TO 10%.

THEY ESTIMATE THERE IS ABOUT 10 MILLION DOLLARS IN HAULING ANNUALLY. AND THOSE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES INCLUDED IN THEIR ESTIMATE WOULD BE MULTIFAMILY COMPLEXES, RETAIL, RESTAURANTS, OFFICES, LIGHT SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.

THAT IS THE INFORMATION -- >> THE FRANCHISE FEE WOULDN'T APPLY TO OUR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

ONLY -- >> COMMERCIAL ONLY, YES.

NOT RESIDENTIAL. CORRECT.

>> CAN YOU GO BACK A SLIDE? I WAS STARTING TO GET SOME OF

THOSE DATA POINTS. >> CHAIRMAN BUNCH, WHILE HE GOES BACK ON THE SLIDES, ON THE FRANCHISE FEES, UNLIKE FEES, FEES FOR SOLID WASTE ARE NOT REQUIRED UNDER LAW.

THOSE ARE UP TO A GOVERNING BODY TO DECIDE IF THEY ARE THE SINGLE PROVIDER FOR ALL SOLID WASTE. THOSE ARE OPTIONAL AS OPPOSED TO THE FRANCHISE FEES THAT APPLY TO THE PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY.

>> IF I'M CORRECT, WE DO NOT ASSUME ANY OF THESE TYPES OF

[14. Receive, consider and act upon a Letter of Intent with Harris County Precinct 4 regarding Spring Creek Trail Development;]

FRANCHISE FEES NO OUR MODEL? >> I'M SORRY?

>> DO WE HAVE ANY OF THESE FRANCHISE FEES IN OUR FINANCIAL MODEL? I THINK KAREN IS COMING UP.

AS LONG AS YOU BOTH HAVE THE SAME ANSWER, IT IS ALL GOOD.

>> SO AS DIRECTOR RIESER MENTIONED EARLIER, THE NUMBER IN FRANCHISE FEES DID COME BASED ON AN AVERAGE OF COMPARABLE CITIES INCLUDE. SOME OF THOSE DO INCLUDE THE FRANCHISE FEES FOR TRASH SERVICE IN THEIR BUDGET LINE ITEM.

THAT IS AT LEAST PARTIALLY CAPTURED, THE NUMBER THAT WE

HAVE. >> OKAY.

MONIQUE? >> FROM THE DATA I LOOKED AT, TWO OUT OF THE FIVE COMPARABLES DID INCLUDE THE SOLID WASTE.

IT IS A MIXED BAG. >> 60% HAVE THESE FEES.

>> THEY MAY HAVE HAD THEM BUT THEY WEREN'T PICKED UP.

IT IS A MIXED BAG. >> THE REASONS WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS AND THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION, RESIDENTS THAT WERE LIVING IN MULTIFAMILY WERE RECEIVING LITERATURE IF WE BECOME A CITY, THEIR TRASH FEES WOULD GO UP.

BUT THERE IS NO -- WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT, IF WE INCORPORATE YOUR TRASH FEES DO NOT GO UP.

THROUGH JANUARY 1 OF 2021.

>> CAN YOU GO TO THE MICROPHONE? >> WE DO CHARGE FRANCHISE FEES ON MANY OF OUR CITY CONTRACTS. THEY PUT INTO THE BIDS.

IT WAS SOMETHING THE CITY REQUESTED.

IF THE TOWNSHIP DOES NOT WANT TO, WE WON'T.

THAT IS NOT OUR CHOICE. >> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A CONTRACT

THROUGH 2028. >> YES, SIR.

>> WITHOUT THEM. >> WITHOUT THEM.

>> AND NOT A PROVISION IN OUR CURRENT CONTRACT WITH THEM

EITHER. >> THERE YOU GO.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE WON'T BE FRANCHISE FEES ON APARTMENT COMPLEXES. PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN MULTIFAMILY HOUSING THAT HAVE BEEN TOLD THEIR TRASH FEES WOULD GO UP, THAT IS NOT JUST NOT TR

TRUE. >> MORE MISINFORMATION.

[02:15:03]

>> ALL THOSE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, BREATHE EASY.

THERE IS NO CHANGE, OUR CONTRACT IS THROUGH JANUARY 1, 2028 WITH NO PROVISIONS FOR ADDITIONAL COSTS.

WE HAVE THE ESCALATING 3.5% FEE BUT THAT IS PICKED UP UNDER THE TOWNSHIP PROPERTY TAX. IT IS CURIOUS.

WE ARE PAYING $5 PER DOOR. HOW IS THERE A TRAFFIC MARGIN ON TRASH? I GUESS IT IS ALLOWED.

>> MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I CAN, MOST PROPERTIES, BECAUSE JUST LIKE WITH WATER AND SANITARY UTILITIES, EACH UNIT GENERALLY ISN'T METERED. WHATEVER THE COMPLEX RECEIVES IN THEIR TOTAL BILL, HOWEVER THEY WANT TO DISTRIBUTE THAT, IT IS UP TO THAT APARTMENT COMPLEX. MANY TIMES THERE IS A MARK-UP.

IF I'M CORRECT FROM YOUR SLIDES, IT WAS AROUND 21, AN AVERAGE

ACTUAL COST IS CLOSER TO $5. >> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> THERE IS NO PROHIBITION TO MARK UP THOSE FEES FOR THE SERVICE. WE WANTED TO ADDRESS IT BECAUSE I GOT AN E-MAIL FROM SOMEONE IN AN COMPLEX SAYING THEY WERE AFRAID THEIR TRASH TEES WERE GOING TO GO UP.

WE WERE UNAWARE THEY HAD TRASH FEES.

THE APARTMENT COMPLEX IS NOT GETTING A BILL FROM US FOR THOSE TRASH SERVICES. I COULDN'T SEE THE CORRELATION OF WHAT WOULD BE DRIVING THEM TO SAY THEIR TRASH PRICES WOULD BE GOING UP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CLARITY.

>> SURE. HAPPY TO.

>> THANK YOU, TERRY. DO WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND

TO APPROVE THE REPORT? >> MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED?

[15. Receive, consider and act upon a nomination regarding the Harris County Appraisal District election;]

I WILL NOTE DIRECTOR RIESER STEPPED AWAY.

AGENDA ITEM 14, RECEIVE, CONSIDER ACT UPON A LETTER OF INTENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 4 REGARDING SPRING CREEK TRAIL DEVELOPMENT. JOHN POWERS?

>> THANK YOU. THIS ITEM IS ON A LETTER OF INTENT. AS YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION FOR MANY BUDGET CYCLES.

YOU HAVE SET ASIDE ALLOCATION TO HELP PARTNER WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND THE DEVELOPER. WE HAVE KIND OF A FIRST STEP TO GET THE BALL ROLLING TO ACCELERATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PIECE, THE SEGMENT OF THE SPRING CREEK TRAIL WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TOWNSHIP. THIS SLIDE IS SHOWING -- IT IS KIND OF BLURRY UP THERE. THAT SHOWS IT GOING FROM THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE TRAIL FROM I-59 OVER IN KINGWOOD ALL THE WAY TO 249 FOLLOWING THE SPRING CREEK ON THE HARRIS COUNTY SIDE.

WHAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT, WHAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN, IS THE PORTION WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP. WHAT HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR IS WORKING ON NOW IS FROM THE EXXON MOBIL CAMPUS ABOUT TO BURLS PARK. THE GREENWAY DOES GO OVER 45 AND ENDS AT THE FRONTAGE ROAD. THE REST WILL GO THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP. THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHTED AREA IS WHAT THEY ARE WORKING ON NOW AND THIS PIECE RIGHT HERE FROM ANN SNYDER WAY. COMMISSIONER KEGLE ARE WORKING ON THIS PIECE. THEY HAVE THIS FUNDED.

WHAT THEY DON'T HAVE FUNDED IS THE REST OF IT WHICH IS FROM ANN SCHNEIDER WAY TO GOSLING ROAD AND YOUR FUNDING WILL ACCEPT TO

[02:20:03]

GET THIS COMPLETED IN A SHORT OF TIME.

YOU HAVE ALLOCATED $5 MILLION AS A RESERVE FOR THIS.

[16. Recess to Executive Session to discuss matters relating to real property pursuant to §551.072, Texas Government Code; deliberation of economic development negotiations pursuant to §551.087, Texas Government Code; discuss personnel matters pursuant to §551.074, Texas Government Code; discuss IT network or critical infrastructure security pursuant to §551.089, Texas Government Code; and to consult with The Woodlands Township’s attorney pursuant to §551.071, Texas Government Code;]

ON THIS -- ON THE BOTTOM LEFT, YOU'LL SEE THE PROJECTED AMOUNT, IT IS AN ESTIMATE. THEY ARE JUST BEGINNING TO GET INTO THE DESIGN PORTION FOR THE BRIDGES.

THIS IS PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION UNCERTAIN, THE BRIDGE STRUCTURE THAT IS WILL HAVE TO GO IN THIS AREA TO FACILITATE THE TRAIL BECAUSE THE -- SORRY, THE TRAIL, LET ME SHOW Y

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.