[1. Invocation / Pledge of Allegiance;]
[00:00:13]
WOODLANDS BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING JUNE 22ND, 2023. THIS EVENING, WE'RE VERY HONORED TO HAVE PASTOR DAVID BOWSER WHO'LL BE PROVIDING THIS EVENING'S INVOCATION. PASTOR BOWSER GREW UP IN DAYTON OHIO AND COMPLETED HIS STUDIES AT TRINITY LUTHERAN SEMINARY. HIS WIFE AND THREE KIDS HAVE CALLED THE WOOLDANDS HOME SINCE 2017. SO, WELCOME. HE WAS ALWAYS CALLED AS THE ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF LORD OF LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH. IN 2021 HE WAS CALLED TO SERVE AS THE LEAD PASTOR. AT LORD OF LIGHT, HIS WORK IS FOCUSED ON EXPANDING THE CONGREGATION'S REACH TO INCLUDE ALL PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE LEFT ON THE MARGINSES OF CHURCH AND SOCIETY. SO, WELCOME, PASTOR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, LET US PRAY. ALL MIGHTILY GRACIOUS GOD WE LOOK FOR YOU TO GOVERN ALL IN THE WOOLDANDS. TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY WELL AND WITH YOUR WISDOM. WE PRAY FOR ALL WHO GATHERED HERE TO SPEAK BEFORE COUNCIL AND DRIVE US FROM CYNICISM, SELFISHNESS AND CORRUPTION AND LED US TOWARDS GRACIOUSNESS, GENEROSITY AND HONESTY. GRANT US WORDS TO SPEAK AND EARS TO LISTEN. OH, LORD, WITH A WORD YOU COULD STILL ANY STORM AND SPEAK HOPE INTO THE LIVES OF THOSE HURTING AND EVEN THOSE STILL UNDER AFFECTS OF LAST NIGHT'S STORM HERE IN THE WOOLDANDS AND IN OTHER COMMUNITIES T YOUR PEACE WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, AND RENEWED HOPE FOR RESTORATION AND REBUILDING. WE THANK YOU FOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS BRINGING HELP AND HEALING TO THOSE WITHOUT POWER AND WHOSE HOMES HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. AND WE ASK YOU TO SHOW EACH OF US THE WAYS THAT WE MIGHT REACH OUT AND EXTEND THE HANDS OF CARE TO OUR NEIGHBORS. WE ASK YOUR HAND TO BE OVER THIS MEETING THAT WE MIGHT SEEK YOUR WISDOM IN THIS SPACE. WE SPEAK THESE PRAYERS ALLOWED AND LEFT OUT THE SILENT PRAYERS OF OUR HEARTS, TRUSTING THAT YOU WILL HEAR AND THAT YOU
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: THANK YOU, PASTOR BOWSER, FOR THOSE INSPIRATIONAL AND THOUGHTFUL WORDS. AND NOW, PLEASE JOIN US AS WE HONOR OUR GREAT COUNTRY AND OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL." "HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG: I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.".
[2. Proclamations;]
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: THIS EVENING, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION DECLARING JULY AS THE PARK'S AND RECREATION MONTH MOUNTAIN WOOLDANDS, I CALL UPON DIRECTOR SEKULA-GIBBS TO READ THE
PROCLAMATION. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>> BE IT PROCLAIMED, WHEREAS IN SUPPORT OF THE WOOLDANDS TOWNSHIP'S 150 PARKS, 14 POOLS, 220 PLUS MILES OF PATHWAY, COUNTLESS GREEN BELTS, TWO RECREATION CENTERS, TWO BOAT HOUSES AND ADVENTURE COURSE AND THE NATIONAL NATIONAL RECREATIO PARK'S ASSOCIATE, AND WHEREAS, PARKS, RECREATION ACTIVITIES AND LEISURE EXPERIENCES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE, GROW, AND DEVELOP AND WHEREAS THESE GENERATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER, AND EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY THROUGH FUN, RECREATIONAL PURSUITS AND EVENTS, WHEREAS PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES PROVIDE OUTLETS FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, SOCIALIZATION, AND STRESS REDUCING EXPERIENCES, AND WHEREAS PARKS, FOREST PRESERVES AND OPEN SPACES PROVIDE A WELCOME RESPITE FROM OUR FAST-PACED, HIGH-TECH LIFESTYLES, WHILE PROTECTING AND PRESERVING OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, AND WHEREAS THE WOOLDANDS HAS BEEN DESIGNED AROUND THE CONCEPT THAT PERSONAL AND FAMILY LIFE ARE MEANT TO BE ENJOYED AND THAT THE NATURAL AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT SHOULD ENHANCE OUR COMMON LIFE.
WHEREAS THE WOOLDANDS UNDERSTANDS THE ECONOMIC VALUE
[00:05:03]
OF PRESERVING AND PROTECTING OPEN SPACES, STRATEGICICLY PROVIDING AND MAINTAINING PARKS AND RECREATION AMENITIES TO SUSTAIN PROPERTY VALUES AND THE VALUES OF OUR PARKS IN DRAWING TOURISTS AND VISITORS. AND WHEREAS, THE WOOLDANDS PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TOUCHES THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, GROUP, AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PROVISION OF POSITIVE PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. AND WHEREAS THE TOWNSHIP ENCOURAGES ALL CITIZENS OF THE WOOLDANDS TO CELEBRATE BY PARTICIPATING IN THEIR CHOICE OF LEISURE ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE IN THE WOOLDANDS, TO FIND REFRESHMENT AND ENJOYMENT. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DR. SHELLEY SEKULA-GIBBS ON BEHALF OF DR. ANN DAY SNYDER, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP TO HERE BY PROCLAIM, THE MONTH OF JULY, 2023, AS PARKSND A RECREATION MONTH INTHE WOOLDANDS, TEXAS. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: I KNOW THAT THE PAMELA WOODS, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION, AND IF YOU WOULD AND IF THERE'S ANYONE ON YOUR TEAM, WILL YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD FOR A GROUP PHOTO TO SAY THANK YOU.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: THE WOOLDANDS IS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE LEADERSHIP OF BOTH PAMELA AND MITCH, AND WE THANK
[3. Call meeting to order;]
YOU VERY MUCH, AS WELL AS YOUR INCREDIBLE TEAM. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:07 P.M. AND THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW, NOTICE OF THIS MEETING WAS POSTED 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING. THIS POSTING OCCURRED INSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP AT THIS OFFICE BUILDING. STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT AT LEAST FOUR OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS BE IN ATTENDANCE TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS. I ASK EACH BARD MEMBER TO INDICATE HIS OR HER PRESENCE BY RESPONDING WITH SOME AUDIBLE SOUND OFACKNOWLEDGEMENT AS I CALL ROLL. >> DIRECTOR BAILEY?
>> HERE. >> DIRECTOR SEKULA-GIBBS?
>> HERE. >> AND DIRECTOR SNYDER, HERE.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: BY THE ROLL CALL IT IS DETERMINED THAT A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF MEMBERS ARE PRESENT TO DECLARE THAT WE
[4. Receive, consider and act upon adoption of the meeting agenda;]
HAVE A QUORUM. THAT MOVES US TO AGENDA ITEM 4, PLEASE REVIEW THE AGENDA ON PAGES 1-3 IN YOUR BOARD PACKET FOR ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. I CALL FOR A MOTION, I AM, UM, ASKING TO PULL 8.C, FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA IS THERE A MOTION.>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RESPOND BY SAYING
(CHORUS OF AYES). >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: OPPOSED, RESPOND WITH THE SAME. WE HAVE NO PUBLIC OFFICIALS HERE. BUT,
[6. Public comment;]
DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. SO, BEFORE WE BEGIN, PARTICIPATION BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN OPEN MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS WELCOMED AND ENCOURAGED. A PUBLIC COMMENT AGENDA ITEM IS INCLUDED AT THE BEGINNING OF ALL REGULAR BOARD MEETING AGENDAS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BOARD-ADOPTED POLICY TO PRODUCE THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE PROCESS FOR ALLOWING CONSTITUENTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD, THE TOWNSHIP BOARD ACCEPTS PUBLIC COMMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES. 1: EACH PERSON WISH TOSS ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST FIRST SIGN THE SPEAKER'S ROSTER PROVIDED BY OUR BOARD SECRETARY.INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO MAKE GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS, ADDRESS A TOPIC WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA OR WHAT WISH TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS MUST DO SO UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT
[00:10:04]
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. YOU ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF TOPICS, SPEAKERS WILL BE TAKEN IN THE ORDER THEY HAVE SIGNED UP. STATE LAW PROHIBITS THE BOARD FROM FORMERLY ACTING ON A SPECIFIC ITEM OR MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT UNLESS IT APPEARS ON THE POSTED AGENDA.THEREFORE, ANY BOARD DISCUSSION OF ITEMS NOT INCLUDED ON THE POSTED AGENDA IS LIMITED TO QUESTIONS FOR CLARIFICATION AND WETHER OR NOT THE ITEM SHOULD BE PLACED ON A FUTURE BOARD AGENDA.
SPEAKERS MAY EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS OR VIEWPOINTS ON ANY ISSUE BUT ARE NOT PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN A DEBATE ON THE ISSUE. SPEAKERS WILL NOT USE PROFANITY, COMMENTS FROM SPEAKERS CAN BE MADE TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE OR TO AN INDIVIDUAL DIRECTOR. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE AUDIENCE TO PLEASE PLACE THEIR CELLPHONES ON THE SILENT MODE. AND THAT BRINGS US TO OUR FIRST SPEAKER, CINDY PRESTON. WELCOME, CINDY, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
>>> FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CHAIRMAN DR. ANN SNYDER, AS WELL AS THE BOARD FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK. ON BEHALF OF THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP, WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR THANKS TO THE BOARD FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND HARD WORK IN HELPING US DELIVER THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR IN THE WOOLDANDS. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE HERE THAT THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP IS THE FIRST MAJOR IN THE LPGA SOAP WHICH IS HUGE FOR THE WOOLDANDSS. POST EVENT ARES WE HAVE SPOKEN TO SPONSORS, SPECTATORS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE RAVED ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF THE TOURNAMENT'S NEW HOME. WE HAD AN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL EVENT WITH VIEWERSHIP ON NBC THROUGHOUT THE WEEK SHOWCASING THE BEST OF THE WOOLDANDS.
CEMENTING OUR PARTNERSHIP HERE WAS A MAIN PRIORITY AND WE SFEEL THAT WE HAVE A GOOD, SOLD BASE TO BUILD ON FOR THE YEARS TO COME. HAVING DR. ANN SNYDER PARTICIPATE IN THE PRIZE PRESENTATION WAS IMPORTANT TO US TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY HOW INVESTED WE'RE HERE. THANK YOU, AGAIN, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP FOR 2024. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: WELL, THANK YOU, CINDY, WE WERE
HONORED TO BE A PART. >> WELL, I HAVE ONE MORE THING,
BECAUSE, I'M SWITCHING HATS. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: OKAY.
>> SO, I'M SWITCHING HATS NOW. AS A PRIVATE RESIDENT OF THE WOOLDANDS FOR OVER 37 YEARS, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE TO OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND ALSO REPRESENTATIVE STEVE TOUGH AND SENATOR BRANDON CRITAN FOR PASSAGE OF THE LAW OF HB 5311.
GOD BLESS YOU, YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME. SO, THANK YOU.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: THANK YOU. AND THAT IS AN AGENDA ITEM LATER ON THIS EVENING IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STAY AND HEAR. THAT BRINGS US TO OUR SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT, SIMON, WELCOME BACK, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU THIS EVENING.
>>> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS SIMON BODISON AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SOCCER OPERATIONS FOR HDX SOCCER, YOUR LOCAL YOUTH SOCCER CLUB. THIS SPRING WE HAVE GONE THROUGH A REBRAND, WE WERE FORMERLY THE DYNIMO DASH YOUTH SOCCER CLUB AND WE'RE NOW CALLED HDX SOCCER AS OF JUNE 1, 2023. SO, YOU'LL SEE A CHANGE OF A LOGO, THE, FACILITIES, THE PROGRAMS, THE CURRICULUM, THE STAFF, THE BOARD, IT'S STILL THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE WORKING ON BEHALF OF OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS.
YOU WILL JUST SEE US DOING BUSINESS AS HDX SOCCER. SO, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT OFFICIAL AND BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION. (INDISCERNIBLE) IS CLOSED, THE SUMMER IS HERE, SO, I JUST WANT THE TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF
[00:15:02]
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
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: THANK YOU, SIMON. AND THAT BRINGS US TO OUR THIRD PUBLIC COMMENT, JUANITA MAGART, WELCOME.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS LA LANITA MAGART, I'M A RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER, I TAUGHT KINDERGARTEN AT GLEN LOCK ELEMENTARY, AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH FAMOUS PAST LEADERS OF THE WOOLDANDS. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AFTER TALKING WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ABOUT THE LANES LOP THAT IT'S IMMINENT, AND THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT THE SENIORS CAN DO ABOUT IT. I AM A MEMBER OF THE SENIOR CITIZEN'S COMMUNITY CENTER, AND, THEY ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS SWAP. THE ONLY THING THEY'VE BEEN TOLD ABOUT THE SWAP IS THAT YOU LIKE IT.
BUT, WE WANT FACTS, BECAUSE, YEAR RETIRED PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY, AND, UM, WE KNOW HOW BUSINESSES GO, AND WE LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE INFORMATION SO FOR, IT'S NOT AT ALL TRANSPARENT. SO, I'M ASKING ON BEHALF OF THE SENIORS, AND THE LIBRARY PATRONS, THAT YOU REVIEW THE MOU, WHICH IS THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND SEE WHAT YOU THINK AND PROTECT THE CITIZENS. ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY WHAT IT IS. AND, WE NEED ANSWERS. I, UM, HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THE MOU, AND, WE NEED SPECIFICS IN THAT DOCUMENT THAT GIVES WHAT THE CITIZENS ARE EXPECTED TO PAY AND WHAT HOWARD HUES IS GOING TO PAY AND WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, AND WILL IT BE THE PART OF RAND DAL'S CONSTRCTED IN THAT PART OF THE BUILDING AND WILL IT BE IN THE SHELL CENTER AND HOW MUCH ROOM WILL IT HAVE? HOW MANY MEETING ROOMS WILL IT HAVE? WILL IT HAVE A COOKING FACILITY. THE DOCUMENT IS TOO OPEN-ENDED, IT HAS NOT AFFIXED WHO PAYS FOR WHAT. AND THE CITIZENS ARE
[00:20:03]
AFRAID, ESPECIALLY IN GROVER'S MILL, WHERE I LIVE. IF FOR SOME REASON, IT IS PLACED UPON US. WE WANT TO BE TOLD EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THOSE LANDS, WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE CONVERTED TO. PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW, THEY DON'T WANT TO BE TOLD "OH, YOU'LL LIKE IT". WE NEED TO KNOW AND WE WOULD LIKE A VOTE. I MEAN, IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE INCLUDED IN SOME PART OF A VOICE. SO, THAT IS MY HOPE AND EXPECTATION. THANK YOU.>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: THANKS, LANITA.
[7. President/CEO's Report;]
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS EVENING. OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS OUR CEO'S REPORT. AND I CALL UPON MONIQUE SHARP TO PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT. I WOULD LIKE FOR EVERYONE TO PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING LEE ANN PETERSON, AS THE TOWNSHIP'S NEW DIRECDIRECTOR OF COMMUNICAT LEE ANN'S IN THE AUDIENCE WITH US. LEANNE WILL BE LEADING OUR EXISTING TALENTED COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT. PREVIOUSLY SHE'S HELD THE POSITIONS OF DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MULTIMEDIA DEVELOPER, COMMUNICATIONS LECTURER, ART DIRECTOR AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR. SHE HOLDS A MASTERS OF SCIENCE AND A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATIONS. SHE'S ASSERTED PUBLIC COMMUNICATOR AND RECENTLY COMPLETED HER CERTIFICATION AS A CERTIFIED PUBLIC MANAGER.
LEANNE HAS A BROAD SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORK. WE BELIEVE THESE SKILLS AND HER PROFESSIONALISM AND LEADERSHIP WILL BE A GREAT ASSET TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND, UM, WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL ALL JOIN US IN WELCOMING LEANNE TO THE TOWNSHIP.
[ CONSENT AGENDA]
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: WELCOME, LEANNE, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT YOU WILL BE DOING. THAT BRINGS US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE HAVE REMOVED 8.C, THESE ARE NON-CONTROVERSIAL OR HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS REQUIRED BY LAW AND WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR APPROVAL BY THE GROUP WITH ONE MOTION, UNLESS ONE HAS BEEN MOVED FROM THE CONSENT. THERE ARE FIVE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, IS THERE A MOTION.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> THANK YOU. MOTION PASSES. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: THAT BRINGS US TO THE REGULAR AGENDA. I'VE PULLED AGENDA ITEM 8.C, NO, LAST NIGHT WE HAD A VERY SEVERE STORM, AND WANTED THE CHIEF TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US AN UPDATE AND ALSO, PRIOR TO THIS UPDATE, WOULD LIKE TO, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, THANK THE ENTIRE WOOLDANDS' STAFF FOR HOW HARD THEY HAVE WORKED THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS. OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND OUR PARKS AND RECREATION, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES, OUR COVENANT, ADMINISTRATION, COMMUNICATIONS, AND RESIDENTIAL CARE CENTER STAFF FOR THEIR DEDICATION I KNOW A NUMBER OF OUR TEAM HAVE BEEN UP SINCE LAST NIGHT, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: OH, I WAS JUST SEEING IF YOU WERE STILL AWAKE. AND, ALSO, UM, I APPLAUD YOU FOR WORKING WITH THE COUNTY VERY MUCH. SO, THE FLOOR IS YOUR'S, CHIEF BUCK.
>> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU DR. SNYDER, IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT. WE STARTED BUT BY NO MEANS WERE WE THE ONLY PART, YOU LISTED EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN PITCHING IN, IT'S ALWAYS A TEAM EFFORT. AND NOT ONLY IN THE THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP, BUT, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PRECINCT TWO COMMISSIONERS AS WE WORK TO CLEAR THE ROADS AND WORK TO CLEAN UP AFTER THE STORM.
STARTING AT 8:30 WE GOT HIT WITH A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER EVENT, STRAIGHT LINE WINDS SPEEDS WERE MEASURED AT 70 MILES AN HOUR IN THE WOOLDANDS IN TWO SEPARATE PLACES. THAT SNAPPED OFF TREES AND THE TOO BOARD, ALMOST ALL OF OUR CALLS WERE BECAUSE OF DOWNED TREES. 42 HOMES THAT WE RESPONDED TO THAT HAD TREE THAT IS HAD FALLEN INTO THEM. A NUMBER OF FIRE ALARM CALLS AND
[00:25:04]
GAS RELATED CALLS SINCE THE TREES CAME UP AND PULLED UP THE GAS LINES FROM THE GROUND. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE SEGUED RIGHT INTO BEING PART OF THE WOOLDANDS TEAM AS WE WORKED TO CLEAR OUR BEAUTIFUL PARKS AND THAT CONTINUES THIS EVENING.>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: WELL, WE'RE MOST, MOST THANKFUL. SO, I THANK THE BOARD ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US, YOU DESERVE AN APPLAUSE. (APPLAUSE)
. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: THAT BEING SAID, BOTH INTERGY AND CENTER POINT SENT ME SOMETHING TO READ, FROM CENTER POINT, IT'S CREEKSIDE PARK, AS WELL AS MOST OF STERLING RIDGE AND JUSTIN ASKED ME TO SHARE WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT CENTER POINT HAS BEEN REMOVING TREES AND RESTORING POWER AS SAFE AND FAST AS POSSIBLE. THEY CALLED IN MUTUAL ASSISTANCE ALONG WITH CONTRACTORS TO ASSIST IN THE RESTORATION AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK UNTIL WE GET ALL THE SERVICE RESTORED. WHEN H-E-B WENT OUT, IT TRICKLED UP TO MOST OF STERLING RIDGE, AND FROM INTERGY, STEWART BARRETT SHARED THAT 98% OF THE WOOLDANDS IS BACK ON. AND THEY, TOO, HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY QUICKLY, AND REALIZED THE NEED FOR ALL TO HAVE POWER. AND BOTH JUSTIN AND STEWART WERE BOTH VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU AND THE TOWNSHIP STAFF FOR HELPING AND DOING SO MUCH.
>> CHAIRMAN. MADAM CHAIRMAN, MAY I MAKE A COMMENT?
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: YES. >> THANK YOU. I RECEIVED A TEXT FROM DIRECTOR MILNER AT 5:15 AND HE SAID THAT PERTINENT TO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE WEATHER, HE SAID THAT THEY ARE THEY HAVE SUFFERED FROM DAMAGE FROM THE STORM AND THEY HAD GOT THE POWER BACK ON 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO THAT AND ALSO WERE ADDRESSING AND TRYING TO HELP THE NEEDS OF SOME OF THEIR NEIGHBORS WHO WERE ALSO AFFECTED IN CREEKSIDE PARK.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: I THINK THAT COULD BE SAID THROUGHOUT THE WOOLDANDS THAT EVERYON'S PITCHED IN TO HELP EACH OTHER,
[9. Receive, consider and act upon an update on legislative matters, including HB 5311;]
SO, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT, DIRECTOR SEKULA-GIBBS.>> NOW, WE MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM 9. RECEIVE, CONSIDER AND ACT UPON AN UPDATE ON LEGISLATIVE MATTERS, INCLUDING HB 5311..
OUR DIRECTOR OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS IS HERE TO PRESENT HOUSE BILL 5311 AND SENATE BILL 2306 IN THE 88TH REGULAR SESSION OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN, AND DIRECTORS, GOOD EVENING, I'LL GIVE A QUICK UPDATE ON HB 5311, THIS WAS THE TOWNSHIP'S SIGNATURE PRIORITY BILL FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT ENDED AT THE END OF MAY. AND I WANT TO THANK OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, REPRESENTATIVE STEVE TOUTH, MR. TOUTH INTRODUCED HOUSE BILL 5311 WHICH WAS PASSED INTO LAW. SO, THE BILL DOES TWO THINGS, IT PROVIDES THE TOWNSHIP AUTHORIZATION TO RECEIVE THE PORTION OF THE MIXED BEVERAGE TAX THAT IS CURRENTLY COLLECTED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS. THAT'S STAYING WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS WILL NOW BE RETURNED TO THE TOWNSHIP FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR RESIDENTS. AND IT INCLUDED A PROVISION THIS ALLOWS A NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL IN THE FORM OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ZONE FOR HOTEL BASES TO ALLOW US TO COURT TO MARKET OUR COMMUNITY FOR LEISURE AND TOURISM. THE BILL WAS FILED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR ON JUNE 9TH. THERE WERE OVER 8,000 BILLS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION, JUST OVER 1200 OF THEM BECAME LAW AND IN FACT, THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE SECOND HIGHEST YEAR ON RECORD FOR THE LEGISLATURE FOR VETOES. MANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS SHOWED UP TO ADVOCATE, AND CHAIRMAN SNYDER WAS ABLE TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE COMMITTEES IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE TO HELP ADVANCE THIS BILL. AND WHAT I HAVE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE IS RELATED TO THE MIXED BEVERAGE TAX AND WHAT THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE ON THE BILL WHAT THEY BELIEVE THE POTENTIAL REVENUES GAINED FROM THE
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BEVERAGE TAX FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THERE ARE TWO COMPONENTS, PER MEANTEES, INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS THAT SELL MIXED DRINKS AND BEVERAGES, PAY A TAX TO THE STATE. AND INDIVIDUALS WHO PURCHASE MIXED BEVERAGES PAY A TAX TO THE STATE. AND AS A RESULT OF THIS LEGISLATION, THAT TAX HELD BY THE STATE WILL COME BACK TO THE TOWNSHIP IN THE FORM OF 10.7% OF THE TOTAL REVENUES COLLECTED WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES. SO, THIS IS A BIG WIN FOR THE TOWNSHIP. THE ESTIMATE IS CURRENTLY $860,000 IN THE FIRST YEAR OF ITERATION, GROWING TO $1.4 MILLION BY THE END OF THE YEAR. SO, THIS IS A VERY, VERY, BIG VICTORY FOR THE TOWNSHIP.>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: THANK YOU, TODD, WE WOULD LIKE THE BOARD, IF YOU SO DESIRE TO MAKE A COMMENT. BUT, THIS SHOWS WHAT A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT CAN DO. IT ALSO SHOWS THAT, ON BEHALF OF WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS OUR TWO LOBBYISTS WHO WROTE OUR ENABLING LEGISLATION ALL THOSE YEARS AGO, THEY WERE KEY IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN, AS WELL AS, TOMMY WILLIAMS, WHO REPRESENTED US YEARS AGO AS STATE REP AND THEN STATE SENATOR. AND IT ALSO, IN MY OPINION, SHOWS THE BOARD'S VISION ON MOVING FORWARD AND LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVES ON BEHALF OF ALL OF YOU HAVE. BUT, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION THE HOTELIERS, THEY REACHED OUT AND THEY WERE THRILLED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THIS PASS AS WELL AS THEIR LOBBYIST, SAID, THANK YOU, VERY
MUCH. >> YOU KNOW, WHICH IS A REAL DOUBLE WIN BECAUSE THE HOTELIERS NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO GENERATE MORE TAX THROUGH HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES WHICH ALSO AGAIN FITS THE RESIDENTS HERE IN THE WOOLDANDS. SO, IT'S AN ALL AROUND WIN.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS. THIS WAS A HUGE LIFT AND A VERY VERY CONDENSED AMOUNT OF TIME. USUALLY, EVERY LEGISLATURE MEETS EVERY TWO YEARS, TOWNSHIPS OR CITIES AND COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE STATE WORK TWO YEARS PLANNING FOR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, WE STARTED IN DECEMBER. WE DIDN'T HIRE A LOBBYIST UNTIL JANUARY. AN THANKS TO REPRESENTATIVE TOUTH AND THEIR TEAMS, THEY DID A GREAT JOB DOING THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT TO OUR TOWNSHIP STAFF, OUR TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES, THESE NUMBERS DON'T INCLUDE THREE MAJOR NEW RESTAURANTS IN TOWN, 60 VINES WHICH IS A TOP-10 GENERATOR IN ALCOHOL SALES, SO, IT DOES NOT, BOSCAT OR KIRBY'S ICE HOUSE, WHICH IS THE NUMBER ONE GENERATOR OF ALCOHOL. THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF THIS WILL HIT OVER $1.4 MILLION IN TAXES. AND IF NOT, I'LL OWE YOU A STEAK AND
OBVIOUSLY AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: BUT, I ALSO WANT TO SAY, THE TIMING WAS AMAZING, WE WERE ELECTED IN NOVEMBER AND TO THINK THAT IN JANUARY THIS ALL WENT THROUGH WITHIN A FEW MONTHS AND IF IT DIDN'T GO THROUGH IN A FEW MONTHS IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN A FEW MORE YEARS BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT TO THE NEXT SESSION. SO, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY BROUGHT IN BECAUSE OF THE QUICK WORK OF STEVE TOUTH AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF US THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUSH IT THROUGH, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP TOD AND SENATOR WILLIAMS AS WELL.
>> AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY KUDOS FOR THE FOLKS THAT WORKS FOR US UP THERE. AND THE FOLKS THAT HE BROUGHT WITH HIM, AND OUR ORIGINAL FOLKS DID A GREAT JOB AND, UM, OUR SENATOR, HE'S, WE WITNESSED HIM MAKING HIS PRESENTATION TO THE SENATE AND HE DID AN EXEMPLARY JOB. THANK YOU, SO ALL.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BOARD AND TO VISIT THE WOOLDANDS BOARD BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A TINY CORRECTION, BEING ON THE VISIT THE WOOLDANDS BOARD BEFORE, I'M NOT ON NOW, BUT, BEFORE THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED AND HAD BEEN PART OF THE CONVERSATION IN EXECUTIVE SESSION KIND OF THING.
AND NOW THAT IT'S OUT, IT'S OUT. BUT, IT WAS BROUGHT BY THE HOTELIERS. SO, IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS CERTAINLY NOT EVER NEGLECTED, BUT, IT WAS NOT THE TIME TO BRING IT UP BECAUSE LEGISLATURE WASN'T IN SESSION. JUST, TO GIVE KUDOS TO PRIOR
[00:35:03]
WOOLDANDS' STAFF AND BOARD INITIATIVES AND LIKE YOU SAID, TO THE HOTELIERS, BUT, NO SHADE ON Y'ALL, BECAUSE, VISIT THE WOOLDANDS IS AN AWESOME GROUP AND YOU TOOK IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. SO, CONGRATULATIONS.>> I THINK, THE VISIT THE WOOLDANDS BOARD HAD WORKED HARD ON THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX PORTION AND IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE INFLUX. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT ONE THING THAT I THINK IS VERY, VERY, IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO AND HEAR, FOR YEARS UPON YEARS, YOU'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY OVER AND OVER, YOU CAN NEVER CHANGE THE ENABLING LEGISLATION OF THE WOOLDANDS, WE JUST DID IT IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS. SO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE IT, WE CAN'T LET THE PERFECT GET IN THE WAY OF WHAT WE HAVE, WE CAN ALWAYS BETTER IT. AND WE JUST PROVED THAT.
SO, I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS.
>> WELL SAID. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: AND WITH THAT, IT WAS STATED THAT THIS COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF WE WERE A TOWNSHIP. SO, IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO AGAIN, THANK OR INCREDIBLE STAFF, AS WELL AS SENATOR CRITAN AND REPRESENTATIVE TOUTH FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN. IS THERE A MOTION.
>> SO MOVED. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: WELL,
EVERYONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >>
(CHORUS OF AYES). >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: OPPOSED?
MOTION PASSES. >> AND I ALSO WANT TO MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: THANK YOU, BECAUSE, I FORGOT TO DO THAT.
>> I'LL SECOND THAT. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: OKAY.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO ACCEPT WHERE DID HE GO? CHIEF BUCK'S REPORT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. THAT BRINGS US TO -- AND THANK YOU, TODD. OKAY, THAT BRINGS US
[10. Receive, consider and act upon adoption of Resolution No. 008-23, nomination to the Montgomery Central Appraisal District Board election;]
CONSIDER AND ACT UPON ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 008-23, NOMINATION TO THE MONTGOMERY CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD ELECTION. REFER TO PAGES 145-154. THE RESOLUTION IS NUMBER 008-23, AND IT IS REQUIRED IN ORDER FOR THE TOWNSHIP BOARD TO NOMINATE ARTHUR WHO IS WITH US THIS EVENING AS THE CANDIDATE TO THE MONTGOMERY CENTRAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. I CALL UPON MS. DAMPSY, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVEOFFICER TO PRESENT. >> I THINK THAT YOU JUST
COVERED IT ALL. >> AS WE DISCUSSED LAST MONTH, THE TOWNSHIP IS TREATED AS A CONSERVATION, RECLAIMATION DISTRICT FOR THE PURPOSES OF VOTING, THIS IS THE FIRST OF A THREE STEP PROCESS TO NOMINATE A CANDIDATE. ARTHUR BRADEHOFF IS HERE, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR HAVE ANY NEEDS ABOUT HIS
QUALIFICATIONS. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: OKAY, IS
>> SECOND. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: DISCUSSION? IF NOT, THANK YOU, MR. BRADEHOFF FOR BEING HERE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >>
(CHORUS OF AYES). >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: OPPOSED?
[11. Receive, consider and act upon a briefing on Homestead and 65 and older/Disabled exemptions from taxation;]
MOTION PASSES. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: AND THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM 11. RECEIVE, CONSIDER AND ACT UPON A BRIEFING ON HOMESTEAD AND 65 AND OLDER/DISABLED EXEMPTIONS FROM TAXATION.. I DIRECT YOU TO PAGE 155 IN YOUR BOARD PACKET.
MONIQUE SHARPE WILL PROVIDE A BRIEFING ON TAX EXEMPTIONS, THE
FLOOR IS YOUR'S MS. SHARPE. >> THANK YOU, AND GOOD EVENING.
GOING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION ON, UM, EXEMPTIONS THAT THE TOWNSHIP IS ELIGIBLE TO GRANT. FOR TAXATION PURPOSES. THE DEADLINE FOR THE BOARD TO SUBMIT ANY CHANGE IN OUR CURRENT STATUS OF EXEMPTIONS AND WE'LL GO OVER THAT, IS JUNE 30TH, SO, WE HAVE THIS BOARD MEETING AND THE NEXT TO COME TO A CONCLUSION ON THIS.
I WANT TO FIRST START OFF BY THIS CHART WHICH Y'ALL HAVE SEEN BEFORE, THIS IS OUR BUDGET CHART WHICH, AGAIN, JUST GOING TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT AS WE MAKE DECISIONS ON ONE OF THESE COMPONENTS OF THE BUDGET PRIORITIES, IT AUTOMATICALLY AFFECTS ONE OR MORE OF THE OTHER. TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO CONCENTRATE ON THE PART THAT'S IN THE YELLOWISH COLOR, THE PROPERTY TAX AND THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THAT. BUT, AGAIN, AS WE MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, WHICH
[00:40:04]
IS WHAT IT AFFECTS, IT DOES HAVE A DIRECT EFFECT ON SOME OF THESE OTHER ITEMS. THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, AS YOU KNOW, HAS TWO PRIMARY COMPONENTS THAT AFFECT IT. ONE IS THE PROPERTY TAX VALUE AND THE OTHER IS THE PROPERTY TAX RATE AND WHEN YOU TAKE THE TWO TOGETHER, THAT'S WHAT GENERATES THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. THE PREVIOUS BOARDS HAVE FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON THE TAX RATE REDUCTION SIDE OF THIS. THE RATE SIDE AS OPPOSED TO THE EXEMPTIONS, ALTHOUGH THERE'S AN EXEMPTION ELEMENT TO THAT. THIS IS A LOOK BACK FROM 2019 TO WHAT IS NOW THE 2024 PRELIMINARY TAX ROLLS AND HOW MUCH OUR VALUES INCREASED OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME. VALUES ARE AFFECTED BY AN INCREASE IN REVALUATION, MEANING THE EXISTING HOMES, HOW MUCH THOSE ARE INCREASING IN VALUE AND OF COURSE, WE ALSO HAVE NEW RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. YOU COULD SEE THERE THAT THAT IS, STEADILY DECLINING OVER TIME AS WE REACH BUILD OUT IN TERMS OF THE NEW PROPERTY.RIGHT NOW, ON OUR PRELIMINARY ROLLS WE'RE SHOWING ABOUT 7.2% INCREASE IN VALUES, BUT, THAT NUMBER WILL CONTINUE TO BE REFINED AS THE PROTESTS GO ON THROUGHOUT THE APPRAISAL PROCESS UNTIL WE REACH THE BUDGET PROCESS AND HAVE THE CERTIFIED TAX ROLL. WE ALSO WANT TO LOOK AT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE, SO, HERE'S A LOOK AT IT OVER THE YEARS, EVER SINCE IT'S INCEPTION FROM THE TOWNSHIP, SO, BACK STARTING ON THE FAR LEFT-HAND SIDE, BACK IN THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION DAYS, PRIOR TO 2010, WE HAD A COMPOSITE RATE OF $0.42 WHICH HAS STEADILY DECREASED OVER TIME AND OVER THE YEARS AND WE'RE CURRENTLY AT A RATE OF 18.5 CENTS, SO THAT SPEAKS TO THE FOCUS ON THE RATE SIDE OF THE QUESTION. ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING TO LOOK AT IS TO LOOK AT THE DECLINE IN RATE, OR THE CLINE TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. AND THAT IS THE RATE THAT PRODUCES THE SAME AMOUNT OF REVENUE FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT ONCE YOU TAKE OUT THE NEW PROPERTY. SO, IF YOU'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE PROPERTIES THAT WERE EXISTING IN BOTH YEARS, THE NEW NEW REVENUE RATE IS WHAT YOU WOULD APPLY IN ORDER TO HAVE NO INCREASE OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. OTHER THAN WHAT'S COMING FROM NEW PROPERTIES.
OVER THE YEARS, THE TOWNSHIP HAS BEEN VERY CLOSE TO THE NO-NEW-REVENUE RATE. SO THE ADOPT THE TAX RATE IS BLUE AND THE NO-NEW-REVENUE RATE, DEPENDING ON ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OR ENHANCED SERVICES THAT THE BOARD WANTED TO PROVIDE, BUT, OVERALL, IT'S BEEN VERY CLOSE. AND BECAUSE WE HAVE MANAGED THE TAX RATE THAT WAY, YOU COULD SEE THERE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE LOOKING OVER A SEVEN OR EIGHT HERE PERIOD IT'S REMAINED STEADY. IN 2017, AN IN 2023, ONLY ONE MILLION DOLLAR MORE THAN THAT. AND WHEN YOU THINK OVER THAT TIME PERIOD HOW MANY SERVICES HAVE OPINION ADDED AND THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PROPERTIES, THAT REALLY IS A REMARKABLE STATISTIC THERE. IN TERMS OF OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, ARE THE PROPERTY TAX I CAN SAY BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYER. THIS CHART SHOWS THAT IN AN AVERAGE VALUED HOME OF $500,000 IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, YOUR TAX BILL THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET WILL BE $8,834, BUT, THE TOWNSHIP COMPONENT OF THAT IS $925 OR, 10%. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF TIMES, STAFF OR BOARD MEMBERS WILL GET THE QUESTIONS ON THE TAXES, WHY IS MY TAX $8,800? WELL, THE PART THAT WE NEED TO SPEAK TO IS THE TOWNSHIP PORTION WHICH IS THAT $925. AND HERE IT IS, IN HARRIS COUNTY, THE TAX THERE IS $11,655, AND THE TOWNSHIP'S PORTION, AGAIN, $925 REPRESENTS ABOUT 8% OF THE TOTAL TAX BILL. SO, WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND LOOK AT THAT FOCUS ON THE TAX RATE SIDE OF THE EQUATION HAS DONE, IN 2012, WE HAD A TAX RATE OF ABOUT 346, AND WHEN YOU APPLY THE APPRAISALS THAT HAVE GONE ON OVER THAT 10-YEAR PERIOD
[00:45:04]
OF TIME. THAT SAME HOME IS WORTH 555,800 YET THE PROPERTY TOWNSHIP PORTION OF THAT HAS ACTUALLY DECLINED OVER THAT SAME PERIOD OF TIME FROM $1,126 TO $1,028. SO, AGAIN, BACK TO THIS CHART, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE TAX RATE REDUCTION AND HOW THAT'S WORKED. I WANT TO MENTION THERE'S PROTECTIONS BUILT IN THAT BY STATE LAW, THE RATE CANNOT GO UP BY MORE THAN 3.5% WITHOUT GETTING VOTER APPROVAL ON THAT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE TAX RATE REDUCTION SIDE OF THIS, WE'RE IMPACTING ALL TAXPAYERS, BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL. NOW, WE'LL LOOK AT THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE EQUATION WHICH IS THE VALUE SIDE AND THAT IS WHERE THE EXEMPTIONS COME IN. BEFORE WE TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE EXEMPTIONS, I WANT TO UM, LET ME GO BACK TO THIS SITE. SO, THE THIRD ONE DOWN, THIS IS WHERE THIS BECOMES THE THIRD BULLET POINT DOWN, THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT THE EXEMPTIONS IS JUNE 30TH, WHICH AS YOU ALL KNOW IS PRIOR TO THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS. IT'S NOT THAT THIS CAN'T BE DONE, BUT, WHEN I GO BACK TO THE VERY FIRST SLIDE THAT WE LOOKED AT, WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER HERE, IS IF WE MAKE DECISIONS RIGHT NOW THAT AFFECT THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THOSE OTHER TYPES OF SERVICES, THOSE OTHER BOXES THAT WE LOOKED AT, AND THIS IS JUST A REMINDER OF ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE SORT OF ON THE BOARD'S RADAR, IF YOU WILL. DECISIONS HAVEN'T BEEN MADE ABOUT THESE, BUT, THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WILL BE COMING UP IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE THAT MAY REQUIRE FUNDING, MAY NOT. BUT, AGAIN, JUST A REMINDER THESE ARE THE THINGS COMING UP.>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION ON THE DEADLINE?
>> OF COURSE. >> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE EXPLORE ALL AVENUES FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS. I BELIEVE HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES, THEM HAVING THEIR MONEY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE GOVERNMENT HAVING THEIR MONEY. BUT, HAVING A DEADLINE TO SUBMIT BY THE 30TH, IT REALLY PUTS OUR ARMS BEHIND OUR BACKS, BECAUSE, WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE FACTS OF WHAT'S GOING ON. SO, CAN WE
SUBMIT AND PULL BACK? >> NO. NO, SIR. IT IS A HARD
DEADLINE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT. >> I WISH WE HAD KNOWN ABOUT
THAT BEFORE TODAY. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: WELL, IT'S BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE TODAY. DURING THE FINANCIAL REPORTS BY
MONIQUE. >>> SO, THAT IS THE REALITY OF TAKE A LOOK AT THE HOMESTEAD S - EXEMPTIONS. 66% OF THE HOMES IN THE TOWNSHIP QUALIFY FOR A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS. THE NONHOMESTEAD PROPERTIES WHICH MAKE UP 34% OF TOTAL WOULD BE THE PROPERTIES THAT WOULD NOT BENEFIT FROM A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS AND THOSE INCLUDE OUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS, RENTAL PROPERTIES, APARTMENTS, SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES, ET CETERA. WITH A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION DOES IS SHIFTS THE TAX BURDEN TO NON-HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES. SO, WHEN YOU GRANT A HOME STEAD EXEMPTION. YOU WOULD END UP IN THE SAME FINANCIAL PLACE IF YOU DID A 5% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION OR OFFER AN $0.55 DECREASE IN THE PROPERTY TAX RATE. SAME THING, IF YOU LOOKED AT A 20% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, ON A FINANCIAL BASIS, YOU COULD OFFER THAT TO HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES ONLY OR REDUCE THE TAX RATE BY 2.2 CENTS FOR ALL PROPERTY OWNERS. THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF HOW IT WORKS. HERE IS A BUSY SLIDE BUT GETTING ALL THE INFORMATION HERE. EACH 5% OF A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR THE TOWNSHIP WOULD REDUCE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO THE TOWNSHIP OF ABOUT $1.4 MILLION. BASED ON OUR CURRENT VALUES AND OUR CURRENT RATE. THE CHART AT THE BOTTOM SHOWS THAT CURRENTLY WE'RE EARNING $46.1 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. IF WE WERE TO GO TO A 5% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT NUMBER GOES DOWN TO $44.7 MILLION, SO A REDUCTION OF $1.4 MILLION. IF WE DID THE MAXIMUM EXEMPTION OF $24,000, THAT WOULD REDUCE TO THE
[00:50:07]
$20.41 MILLION, WHICH IS A 5.OVER THE 5 YEAR PLAN THAT WOULD BE A 28% REDUCTION IN REVENUE. ANY QUESTIONS ONHOMESTEAD BEFORE I MOVE ON? >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: YOU MIGHT CLARIFY, MONIQUE, IF YOU WOULD, WHY, THE BOARD SINCE IT'S INCEPTION HAVE DONE WHAT THEY'VE DONE ONLY THE DISABLED 65 AND OLDER RATHER THAN A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR RESIDENTS?
>> BASICALLY, WHAT I TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, THE TOWNSHIP BOARD HAS CHOSEN OVER THE YEARS FOR TAX RELIEF TO APPLY TO ALL TAXABLE PROPERTIES, NOT JUST HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES. SO, THE BOARD HAS ALWAYS FELT IT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS VERY IMPORTANT HERE AND IS A CENTRAL PART OF THE SUCCESS OF THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S WHY THAT CHOICE WAS MADE, IT'S TO BENEFIT
ALL TAXPAYERS. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: THANK YOU.
>> YOUR WELCOME. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE EXEMPTION FOR PERSONS 65 OLDER OR DISABLED. SINCE 2011, THE TOWNSHIP GRANTED THIS EXEMPTION, STARTED AT $25,000, AND LAST YEAR THE AMOUNT WAS RAISED TO $40,000. THIS EXEMPTION RESULTED IN $5.8 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX SAVINGS TO QUALIFIED TAXPAYERS AND IN 2023, THAT AMOUNT WAS 694 AND FOR US, EACH $10,000 OF EXEMPTION REDUCES THE TOWNSHIP PROPERTY TAX REVENUE BY APPROXIMATELY $175,000. SO, IF WE WERE TO GO FROM A $40,000, THE CURRENT EXEMPTION THAT WE HAVE, TO A $50,000 EXEMPTION, THAT WOULD REDUCE REVENUE BY ABOUT 175, IF WE WERE TO GO ANOTHER $10,000, THE TOTAL WOULD BE ABOUT $347,000. SO, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS IN MORE, AND AGAIN, WE HAVE ONE MORE MEETING BEFORE WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION. BUT, WHEN YOU DO ADOPT, IF YOU DO WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE, WE HAVE DO IT IN A RESOLUTION. SO, IF WE COULD HAVE DIRECTION TONIGHT IF WE'RE CONSIDERING ANYTHING, WE CAN HAVE THAT RESOLUTION PREPARED IN ADVANCE, IF YOU NEED MORE TIME, WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO HAVE A GENERIC RESOLUTION NEXT WEEK, AND WE WOULD HAVE TO FILL IN THE
DETAILS. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE US TO CONSIDER AN EXEMPTION FOR PERSONS AGES 65 OR OLDER AND/OR DISABLED TO CONSIDER THE $50,000 EXEMPTION.
I THINK WE, AFTER SPEAKING WITH YOU, HAVE A VERY HEALTHY BOTTOM LINE, I THINK OUR SENIORS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CHALLENGED DESERVE EVERY CONSIDERATION AS WELL AS OTHERS, BUT, DESERVE EVERY CONSIDERATION THAT WE CAN AFFORD DO.
>> WHAT ARE WE RUNNING OVER? I NEED SOME JUST PRELIMINARY NUMBERS ON OUR SALES TAX. HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES THAT WERE
GENERATED ABOVE BUDGET. >> FOR THIS YEAR? FOR 2023 WE'RE PROJECTING A $5.5 MILLION INCREASE, FAVOR VARIANCE
INCREASE. >> IN BOTH HOTEL OCCUPANCY AND
SALES TAX? >> IN HOTEL TAX, IT'S LESS THAN THAT, IT'S RIGHT AROUND $1 MILLION, $800,000, BUT, AGAIN, HOTEL TAX IS USED FOR VERY SPECIFIC PURPOSES, IT REALLY DOESN'T FLOW INTO THE GENERAL FUND, BUT, SALES TAX
DOES. >> BUT, OVERALL RIGHT NOW, WHAT
ARE WE BETTER THAN BUDGET? >> $5.5 MILLION.
>> AND THOSE NUMBERS DON'T INCLUDE MONEY THAT WE'LL ULTIMATELY BE GETTING FROM HOUSE BILL, 5311 AND THE SALE OF THE
MIXED BEVERAGE REVENUE, RIGHT? >> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> AND EVEN IF THE CONSERVATIVE PROJECTIONS WE'RE TALKING $800,000, AND GOING TO 50 IS A DELTA OF $174,000.
>> RIGHT. >> I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH YOU, ANN, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE AUTO DO.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: I THINK THE 65 AND OLDER AND THE DISABLED, A LOT OF THEM ARE ON FIXED INCOMES AND THIS HAS BEEN A TOUGH YEAR FOR THEM. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US RAISE THAT.
>> AND WE CAN DO THAT AND MAINTAIN OUR POSITION OF NO
HOMESTEAD. >> I AGREE AND I THINK THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A 10-15% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO EXPLORE GETTING OUR RESIDENTS, I JUST BELIEVE THAT WE'VE GOT A LOT MONEY IN THE BANK, A LOT OF MONEY IN
[00:55:02]
RESERVES, AND I WOULD RATHER THAT MONEY SIT WITH THE TAXPAYERS RATHER THAN A GOVERNMENTAL CHECKING ACCOUNT.>> I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU, NEED TO THINK ABOUT IN THAT WE - REGARD, BRAD, IS DO YOU DO THAT IN A WAY IN WHICH THE BURDEN IS SHARED EQUALLY AMONGST BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS, ALL THE FOLKS WHEN WE GET TO LOOKING AT THE NO-NEW-REVENUE RATE OR DO YOU DO THIS, WHERE YOU TOUCH THE HOMESTEAD, YOU'RE NOT SHIFTING THAT BURDEN. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING?
>> I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE KIND OF GOING INTO A FIGHT WITH ONE ARM BEHIND OUR BACKS BECAUSE WE HAVE PROJECTIONS, NOT REAL NUMBERS.
>> BUT, YOU DON'T MISS OUT ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOAL BY DOING THAT THROUGH THE RATE PROCESS LATER JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T DO THE HOMESTEAD TODAY.
>> CAN YOU GIVE REBATES TO TAXPAYERS?
>> NO, SIR. AND RESERVES CAN BE USED FOR ONE-TIME PURPOSES, LIKE FOR CAPITAL PURCHASES OR TO RETIRE DEBT. RESERVE BALANCES CANNOT BE USED TO REDUCE A TAX RATE. IT'S LIKE USING YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT, RIGHT, TO, A ONE-TIME TYPE OF THING IN ORDER TO FUND AN ONGOING EXPENSE. AND THE CREDIT AGENCIES WILL RAISE
THE RED FLAG IMMEDIATELY. >> WHAT ARE LIKE-MINDED COMMUNITIES, THIS IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE FOR NEXT WEEK, IS WE JUST DID A BIG HR STUDY AND WENT TO ALL OF THESE LIKE-MINDED CITIES ACROSS TEXAS, AND COMPARED THEM TO THE SALARIES OF OUR STAFF, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE FOLKS TOO AND SEE WHAT THEY ARE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS ARE, AS WELL SINCE IT'S PUBLIC RECORD, AND SEE WHERE THEY ARE. I THINK THIS IS A BIG DECISION TO BE THROWN UPON US IN A TWO-WEEK PERIOD. I WANT TO EXPLORE ALL OPTIONS, I'LL TAKE PTO FROM MY REAL JOB TO COME IN HERE AND ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
BUT, I HAVE A PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING WHY WE CAN'T OFFER HOMESTEAD TO EVERY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNER INSTEAD OF JUST
65 YEARS-OLD. >> IT'S HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES.
>> AND THE ONLY OTHER THING WAS THE ONE PAGE THAT YOU HAD WHERE YOU HAD ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO BE THINKING ABOUT. I GUESS, THE INFLATIONARY COMPONENT IS ONE THAT CAUSES ME PAUSE, BECAUSE, WE ARE $5 MILLION TO THE FAVORABLE. BUT, WE HAVE PLANS TO DO A LOT OF THINGS AND OUR COSTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES FOR THE TOWNSHIP LIKE EVERY HOUSEHOLD HERE IN THE WOOLDANDS,
THEY'RE GOING UP. >> AND AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND IT'S A LOT BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF IT, IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IN YOUR BUDGET PROCESS COMING UP FOR NEXT YEAR. THE OTHER EXAMPLE OF AN ONGOING COST THAT I KNOW IS COMING BEFORE THE BOARD IS ENHANCED LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES. AND I SHARED THAT WITH Y'ALL BACK IN YOUR MAY RETREATS, BUT, THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, SAFE CHILD HARBOR, HARRIS COUNTY, ALL OF THEM HAVE SUBMITTED BUDGET REQUESTS FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SO THAT IS A LARGE NUMBER.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: FOR CLARIFICATION, MONIQUE, IF WE ARE GOING TO, UM, MAKE A CHANGE WE NEED DO IT THIS EVENING IN ORDER TO HAVE THE RESOLUTION FOR NEXT WEEK, OR, CAN WE WAIT UNTIL
OUR MEETING ON THE 28TH? >> WE CAN WAIT. WE CAN DO THAT. I WILL HAVE IT SEVERAL VERSIONS OF RESOLUTIONS READY TO GO. WHAT IS THE DESIRE OF THE BOARD?
>> I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OTHER 30% NOT PART OF THAT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. IT AFFECTS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE NOT PART OF THAT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. SO, MAY BE, BRAD, IT'S MORE OF A LEARNING CURVE FOR US TO UNDERSTAND A BIT BETTER, BUT, JUST TO ELIMINATE 34% TO GET THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR THE OTHER 66%, I THINK THAT WE NEED
MORE KNOWLEDGE TO GET THERE. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF WHERE WE STAND WITH THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WITH LIKE-SIZED CITIES. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT IN HAND BEFORE MAKING A DECISION, A RUSHED DECISION.
[01:00:03]
>> IT'S HARD TO DO IN ONE OPINION, RELATIVE TO WHAT DECISION THEY MADE TO GET THAT RATE. THE CIRCUMSTANCES WILL BE DIFFERENT. SO, I DON'T PERHAPS APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.
>> I DO AGREE WITH YOU. THAT IS CORRECT.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: AND I THINK, TOO, ALONG THE SAME LINE, WE HAVE BEEN PRESENTED WHY, AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION TALK, WHY DON'T YOU DO A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR EVERYONE? WELL, WE'VE GOT THROUGH AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MONIQUE AND, WHEN SHE WAS CFO, AS WELL AS HER LEADERSHIP NOW AS OUR CEO, HAS SHOWN THAT IT IS BETTER FOR THE RESIDENTS, FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS, FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY DOING WHAT WE HAVE DONE SINCE, UM, 58%, WAS THAT?
>> WELL, SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE TOWNSHIP. RIGHT.
>> WELL, I, IN NO WAY, MONIQUE AM DISBARRAGING YOU OR YOUR WORK. BUT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAKING A DECISION IN A VACUUM, WE'RE MAKING A DECISION IN A VACUUM BY HAVING TO DO THIS IN TWO WEEKS. I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE HAD THIS DISCUSSION THAN I HAD THREE MONTHS OF BATHROOM DISCUSSIONS.
>> REALLY? >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: AND WE DID HAVE IT, AS I RECALL, DURING A STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING. AND WE HAVE HAD IT DURING A BOARD MEETING. BUT, IF YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE, IF THE BOARD DOES AND IF WE COULD DO THAT.
>> NOTHING TO BE LOST BY THE DELAY ANOTHER TWO WEEKS.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: AND IF THAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD, WE COULD VOTE ON IT. WHAT IS THE CONSENSUS? WHAT IS
THE PLEASURE? >> I BELIEVE WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD IF WE'RE IN AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE EXEMPTION FOR AGE 65 AND OLDER OR DISABLED. IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S
RELATIVELY AGREED TO. >> I AGREE.
>> SO, WE NEED TO PROCEED IN THAT MANNER FOR SURE FOR THAT MEETING TO THE EXTENT THAT WE COULD GET MORE DATA.
>> AND I THINK, THAT WE COULD LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT WE SAW AS UP COMING EXPENSES AND WHETHER THERE ARE OFF SETS.
LET'S TAKE SOME TIME TO LOOK AT IT.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: IS THAT A MOTION?
>> I'LL MOVE IN THAT MANNER. >> SECOND.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: THANK YOU, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED, IS THERE TO INCREASE THE 65 AND OLDER DISABILITY EXEMPTION FROM 40 TO 50, BY DIRECTOR WATSON, DIRECTED BY DIRECTOR FRANKS, FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: THE MOTION PASSES. AND, UM --
>> QUESTION. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: YES?
>> CAN WE DO FURTHER RESEARCH IN TIME FOR OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING, IS IT WEDNESDAY NIGHT? TO HAVE SOMETHING IN THE WINGS TO BE ABLE TO PUT FORWARD? I MEAN, I JUST --
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: OF COURSE WE CAN.
>> IS THE RESEARCH THAT YOU WOULD LIKE --
>> NO, IF WE HAVE SOME DISCUSSION, LET ME FINISH, PLEASE. IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS NEXT WEEK AND WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A PROCLAMATION DONE, WE ALL AGREED ON WHAT WE JUST VOTED ON, 6-0. UM, ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO EXPLORE OR GET ANYMORE DATA ON A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR 5% OF REGULAR HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES, AND BE ABLE TO DISCUSS AND APPROVE, OR, AFTER
TONIGHT IT'S OVER? >> NO, I'LL HAVE ONE WAITING IN THE WINGS THAT SAYS YOU'LL ADOPT 5%, 10%, 15% OR 20%. THE RESEARCH IS HARD BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A 2024 BUDGET TO SHOW YOU, WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF DEVELOPING THAT, AND SO, THAT, I CAN NOT TELL YOU WHAT THE IMPACT WILL BE ON THE 2024 BUDGET. SO, IF YOU DO THIS, YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO ACCEPT NEXT WEEK THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE 1.4 OR 2.8, OR, 4.2, MILLION DOLLAR, YOU'RE GOING INTO THE BUDGET REDUCING THE REVENUE.
>> THAT WAS WHAT I WAS WONDERING, ON THAT PAGE, ON ALL THE FIGURES WE WERE LOOKING AT, IS THAT YOU ARE BASICALLY TAKING AWAY MONEY ON COMMITMENT RIGHT NOW THAT WON'T BE THERE TO ALLOCATE SUBSEQUENT, HOWEVER, IF YOU WAIT, YOU CAN PROVIDE A BENEFIT IN TERMS OF THE RATE ADJUSTMENT THAT WILL BE THE
[01:05:03]
EQUIVALENT TO HELPING THE RESIDENTS AS YOU WANT TO DO>> RIGHT. HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION- >> IF WE'RE PROJECTING A $5.5 MILLION OVERAGE, PLUS, 5311S DELIVERABLES, WHICH, I THINK WILL BE HUGE, I DON'T KNOW, I JUST, I WOULD LIKE TO, NOT GIVE UP ON THIS AND LOOK AT IT, SO, I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING PROCLAMATIONS IN THE WINGS, BUT...
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: ABSOLUTELY, DIRECTOR BAILEY, WE'LL HAVE IT NEXT WEEK AND EXCELLENT POINT.
>> THANK YOU. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: YOUR
[12. Receive, consider and act upon a proposal to purchase ad space in the Community Impact Newspaper and authorize a budget amendment in connection therewith (as requested by Director Franks);]
WELCOME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: AND THAT BRINGS US PROPOSAL TO PURCHASE AD SPACE IN THE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER AND AUTHORIZE A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. THIS IS ON PAGE 156, AND, DIRECTOR FRANKS REQUESTED THAT OUR STAFF PURCHASE ADD SPACE IN THE COMMUNITY IMPACT MAGAZINE IN ORDER TO PUBLIC MONTHLY ADS RELATED TO TOWNSHIP BOARD ACTIONS AND UPCOMING EVENTS, I CALL ON DIRECTOR FRANKS TO
PRESENT THE INITIATIVE. >> I THINK OUR STAFF AND I THINK THAT WE DO A GREAT JOB WITH A LOT OF COMMUNICATION TOOLS THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE, BUT, I ALSO THINK THAT WE'RE MISSING A BIG OPPORTUNITY AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY BROUGHT THIS TO MIND TO ME WAS SPENDING HOURS, AS I THINK MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD AGREE, STANDING IN THE PARKING LOTS IN FRONT OF THE COUNTY BUILDING WITH FOLKS AND FINDING OUT HOW MUCH FOLKS REALLY DID STILL HAVE QUESTIONS ON WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE TOWNSHIP. IN SPITE OF ALL OF OUR EFFORTS, ALL OF OUR DIGITAL ADS AND OUR ABILITIES TO GO ONLINE, THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF FOLKS, THAT I WOULD CALL, KINDLY, THE PASSIVE CITIZENS THAT DON'T COME HOME AT NIGHT AFTER BANGING ON COMPUTERS ALL DAY LONG AND LOOKING AT AGENDAS, OR WHAT THE TOWNSHIP'S DONE, AND NOW WE DO 8-12 PARTIAL ADS UNTIL COMMUNITY IMPACT EVERY MONTH OR EVERY YEAR, I GUEST, FROM INFORMATION THAT I'VE GOTTEN, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FOUND IS WHEN I WAS TALKING TO FOLKS ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT GOES ACROSS OVER DEMOGRAPHIC, EVERYONE LOOKS AT THAT PRODUCT FOR ONE ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, A NEW RESTAURANT, OR A SHOP THAT'S CLOSING OR OPENING. THERE'S NO AGE LIMIT WHATSOEVER. AND MY THOUGHT IS, IF WE COULD PROVIDE NOT ONLY ACTION THAT THE BOARD HAS TAKEN BUT ALSO ALL SORTS OF OTHER INFORMATION THAT WE THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN AS WELL AS ENCOURAGING OUR VERY TALENTED CITIZENS TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE TOWNSHIP. LET'S USE SOME OF THIS TALENT THAT WE HAVE IN THE TOWNSHIP THAT, QUITE FRANKLY IS SITTING ON THE PERIPHERY, I CALL THEM, NOT UNKINDLY, THE PASSIVE CITIZENS, I WOULD LIKE TO GET THEM MORE INVOLVED SO WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE NEW RESTAURANT OR TRAFFIC ISSUE, OR WHATEVER IT IS, THEY SEE, OH, THERE'S A TOWNSHIP, I'M INTERESTED IN THAT, AND LET'S QR CODE IT, IF YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED WITH THESE ISSUES, PUT IN THE QR CODE AND GET IN TOUCH WITH SOMEONE HERE THAT'S WORKING ON IT AND IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET INVOLVED, THEY COULD DO THAT. I THINK IN EVERY HOUSEHOLD, IN MY EXPERIENCE, TALKING WITH CITIZENS, EVERYONE FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER LOOKS AT IT, AND WHAT COULD BE MORE IMPORTANT IN MY MIND, THAN GIVING FOLKS MORE INFORMATION.
THAT'S MY BASIS. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: OKAY.
QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR FRANKS? >> I'LL SECOND WHAT RICHARD IS SAYING. YOU KNOW, I THINK AN EXAMPLE IS SO MANY PEOPLE SAID, WELL, WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE SURVEY THAT WENT OUT FOR THE WOOLDANDS. BUT, I THINK IF IT WERE NOTED IN THE COMMUNITY IMPACT IN ONE OF THOSE FULL-PAGE ADS WHERE WE COULD TALK ABOUT WHAT WE WANT THEM TO KNOW, I THINK IT'S WORTH TRYING.
IT'S NOT INEXPENSIVE, BUT, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD NOT
AFFORD. >> WHAT IS THE EXPENSE AND HOW
LONG DOES IT RUN? >> THE RESIDENT AMENDMENT IS
APPROXIMATELY $40,000. >> AND IT WOULD RUN EVERY MONTH IN THE SAME PAGE POSITION. SO, PEOPLE WILL GET USED TO SEEING, PAGE SIX WILL BE TOWNSHIP INFORMATION AND NEWS. AND THAT'S THE IDEA. AND THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD POINT OUT IN TERMS OF THE SUCCESS, AS DR. SEKULA-GIBBS ASKED ME, I THINK IF YOU LOOKED AT YOUR COMMUNITY IMPACT MONTH AFTER MONTH AFTER MONTH AND LOOK AT THE ADVER ADVERTISING PAGES, IT'S THE SAME FOLKS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT OUT OF HABIT OR CHARITY.
>> GREAT JOB ON THIS, RICHARD, GREAT ENDEAVOR.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: IS THAT A MOTION?
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: IT'S MOVED BY DIRECTOR BAILEY AND SECONDED BY DIRECTOR NELSON. FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT,ED MOTION
[01:10:05]
WOULD BE PURCHASING AD SPACE IN COMMUNITY IMPACT MAGAZINE WITH A BUDGET AMENDMENT OF $40,000. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.[13. 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;]
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR FRANKS. THAT BRINGS US TO, UM, EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THERE IS A NEED TO RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. I HEARBY ANNOUNCE THAT THE BOARD WILL RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS MATTERS RELATED TO REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO TEXAS COAT 551.087, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, DISCUSS PERSONAL MATTERS PURR SUNDT TO 551.074, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, DISCUSS IT NETWORK OR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY PURSUANT TO 551.089, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO CONSULT WITH THE THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP'S ATTORNEY PURSUANT TO 551.071, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, NO ACTION IS TAKEN IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND THE BOARD WILL RECONVENE TO THE PUBLIC SESSION IMMEDIATELY
AFTER >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: RECONVENE
[14. Reconvene in public session;]
FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. IT IS 7:46 IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY TO[15. Consideration of items to be placed on the agenda for next month's meeting;]
TAKE ACTION AT THIS TIME. THAT BRINGS US TO FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, ARE THERE ANY MATTERS THAT NEED TO BE PLACED ON THEAGENDA FOR NEXT MONTH'S MEETING? >> ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFING NEXT TIME?
CAPITAL HOLLEFIELD WILL BE HERE, HE'LL UPDATE THAT. THANK YOU.
YES? >> REGARDING MS. MAGARTS PRESENTATION TODAY IN PUBLIC SESSION, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE INFORMATIVE FOR HER AND ALSO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO HAVE AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE MILL VILLAGE CENTER. I KNOW THAT I GET QUESTIONS ON THAT. SO, IF WE COULD DO THAT, I GUESS, TOD WOULD TAKE THE LEAD ON THAT.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: I AGREE WITH THAT, EVEN IF WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING. I THINK THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, AS WE ALL DO, WHAT'S GOING ON AND A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S NOT A LOT GOING ON, BUT, AT LEAST WE COULD TELL THEM WHAT WE KNOW, WHAT LITTLE WE KNOW.
>> BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND ANOTHER PRIVATE ENTITY.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, THAT
[16. Board announcements; and]
BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM 16, I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THE FOURTH OF JULY FESTIVITIES, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL RED WHITE AND BLUE FESTIVALS, FOR WE WILL HAVE FIREWORKS THAT KICK OFF AT 9:30.THE FESTIVITIES ARE FROM 6:00 TO 10:00 ON THE FOURTH OF JULY.
AND WE HAVE A PARADE, THAT WE AS THE TOWNSHIP HAVE A FLOAT, AS DO MANY OTHERS, THE PARADES'S 9:00 A.M. I HAVE TWO MESSAGES FROM CENTER POINT THAT THEY'VE ASKED ME TO READ. ONE, CREWS WILL WORK UNTIL 10:00 P.M. THIS EVENING AND COME BACK TOMORROW MORNING AT 6:00 A.M. WE STILL HAVE CREWS WORKING OVERNIGHT, BUT, IT'S HARD TO GET BIG WORK COMPLETED SAFELY IN THE DARK, EVEN WITH SPOTLIGHTS. SOME POWER WILL BE OUT UNTIL TOMORROW. AND THEY ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY DID HAVE POWER ISSUES AT THE END OF '22 AND THE BEGINNING OF 12, BUT, THEY WANT US TO KNOW THAT THIS WAS AN EXTREME AND UNEXPECTED STORM THAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO PREDICT THE TYPE OF DAMAGES THAT MAY OCCUR FROM MOTHER NATURE WHEN 100 MILES AN HOUR WINDS ARE NOT NORMAL. TREES ARE THE NUMBER ONE CULPRIT AND, LIVE TREES SNAPPED IN TWO, ALSO, HAVE BEEN UP ROOTED THROUGHOUT CENTER POINT, AS WELL AS, THE WHOLE SOUTHEAST PART OF TEXAS. CENTER POINT, IS COMMITTED TO RESTORING POWER AS SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE. AND WITH THAT, UM, KNOW THAT BOTH CENTER POINT AND ENTERJY ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY
[01:15:03]
AS WELL AS OUR STAFF. I THINK THAT DIRECTOR WATSON HAS ANANNOUNCEMENT. >> THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS ISSUED A NOTICE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON A DIRECT CONNECTER ON I-35 AND 245, IF YOU'RE HEADED NORTHBOUND, GOING NORTHBOUND, CURRENTLY THERE'S A FLYOVER TO GO WEST ON 242, ANYBODY THAT'S FAMILIAR WITH THAT SECTION KNOWS THERE'S A WIDENING AT THE TOP AND A CUTOFF, WELL, THAT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETED SO THAT YOU COULD GO UP AND OVER ON 242 GOING EAST WHICH SHOULD BE A VERY, VERY GOOD THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND HOPEFULLY, IT WILL LESSEN THE TRAFFIC THAT WE SEE WHERE EVERYBODY GETS TO THE RIGHT TO GET OFF OVER RESEARCH BEFORE GETTING TO PORIFINO. BECAUSE, THAT'S THE IMPACTED AREA. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANYBODY WILL TAKE ISSUE OR HAVE CRITICISM, AND OF COURSE, TXDOT WANTS COMMENT AND THE DEADLINE TO PROVIDE COMMENT IS THURSDAY JULY THE 6TH, 2023. YOU CAN SUBMIT COMMENT EITHER TO SUZANNE IN A SCOTT, WHICH IS SUSANNA.SCOTT@TXDOT.GOV. OR, E-MAIL YOUR WRITTEN COMMENTS TO HOU-PIOWEBMAIL@TXDOT.GOV. AND THE DEADLINE, AGAIN, IS JULY THE
6TH. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: THANK YOU, DIRECTOR WATSON. ONE LAST ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE WE ADJOURN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DIRECTOR SEKULA-GIBBS.
>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY. >> THANK YOU, IT'S A PLEASURE TO SPEND MY BIRTHDAY WITH THE BOARD.
>> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: I CALL FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADJOURN
>> SECOND. >> CHAIRMAN SNYDER: IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, DISCUSS? ALL THOSE IN
FAVOR? SAY AYE. >>
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.