[00:00:11] >>> GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR MEETING. WE ARE OUT HONORED THAT RABBI GOLDBERG IS HERE WITH US AND WOULD LIKE US ALL TO WELCOME HIM. HE HAS SERVED AS RABBI OF CONGREGATION OF THE WOODLANDS RECEIVED HIS ORDINATION IN DOCTORATE AND HEBREW LITERATURE FROM THE HEBREW UNION COLLEGE JEWISH INSTITUTE AND RELIGION, HE IS INVOLVED IN MANY COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES BUT IS DEAR TO OUR HEARTS, SERVING ON THE BOARD OF INTERFAITH OF THE [1. Invocation / Pledge of Allegiance;] WOODLANDS HE ALSO SERVES AS THE CHAPLAIN FOR THE MONTGOMERY RABBI? WELCOME . >> SUCH AN HONOR TO BE BACK WITH YOU , 50 YEARS, IT IS A JUBILEE YEAR FOR THE WOODLANDS. A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TOO. DEAR GOD IN A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY AND ALSO HOPE , MAY THESE WORDS BE HEARD. WE THANK YOU FOR LIBERTY, WHICH WILL NOT BE STRANGLED BY THE COLD CHAINS OF TYRANNY, WE THANK YOU FOR TRUTH, WHICH WILL NOT BE DISCOURAGED BY THE PERSISTENT CLAMOR OF FALSEHOOD, WE THANK YOU FOR JUSTICE WHICH WILL NOT BE DEFEATED BY MALICE. WE THINK YOU FOR LOVE, WHICH WILL NOT BE STIFLED BY HATE. WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF TOMORROW. WHICH WILL NOT BE CRUSHED BY THE HEAVY BURDENS OF TODAY. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE WILL TO LIVE, WHICH WILL NOT BE CHOKED BY THE RUDE HANDS OF SORROW AND FOR GRATITUDE AND FOR THE GIFTS OF LIFE THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US WE OFFER THE DEEPEST THANKS OF OUR HEARTS. AND WE SAY AMEN. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, RABBI AND WHO OUR COUNTRY AND STATE? AND IF YOU ALL PLEASE STAND WITH ME. THE FLAG 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 BLACK, ONE STATE, UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. [2. Proclamations;] YOU DIRECTOR HEISER. THAT LEADS US TO AGENDA ITEM TO WHICH IS OUR PROCLAMATIONS, WE WILL START WITH OUR PROCLAMATION THAT IS SUPPORTING INTERNATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL MONTH. WE ARE SO FORTUNATE THAT OUR INTERNATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL MONTH PROMOTES A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND ENCOURAGES FAMILIES TO USE OUR COMMUNITY PATHWAYS SAFELY TO WALK OR BIKE AND, IT IS COMBINED WITH FUN AND FITNESS, AND, DIRECTOR LINDA NELSON WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION. PROCLAMATION IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT IS HERE WITH US, COME ON UP WHILE I AM READING IT, SO THAT IT IS NOT JUST OF A PHOTO. YES, COME ON UP. >> WE WILL HAVE OUR INTERNATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL MONTH AS WELL AS OUR OUT, THAT WE WILL TAKE A PHOTO BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU AS DIRECTOR NELSON SAID, COME FORWARD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION AND I THINK THAT A NUMBER OF YOU ARE HERE, AND I THINK ANGEL IS HERE. AND, IF YOU WILL GO AHEAD AND COME FORWARD AS SUE IS ALREADY HERE, AND, CHRISTIAN, AND SYDNEY, AND ABBY MILLER, WOULD YOU COME UP, SO WE CAN PERSONALLY AS WE ARE ABLE -- >> OKAY. >> BE IT PROCLAIMED, IN SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL WALK, TO SCHOOL DATE AND THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP, 220+ MILE NETWORK OF PATHWAYS, THAT CONNECTS THE SCHOOLS TO HOMES AND PLACES OF RECREATION, THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP PROCLAIMS THE FOLLOWING , AS A LACK OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PLAYS A LEADING ROLE IN RISING RATES OF OBESITY, DIABETES AND OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS AMONG CHILDREN, AND BEING ABLE TO WALK OR BICYCLE TO SCHOOL OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ACTIVITY AND A DAILY ROUTINE, FURTHERMORE, TRAVELING BY PRIVATE VEHICLE TO SCHOOL, CONTRIBUTES TO TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND AIR POLLUTION AND WE KNOW THOSE LONG LINES AT SCHOOL, AND WHEREAS THE LIVES [00:05:03] OF HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN ACROSS THE NATION, COULD BE SAVED EACH YEAR, IF COMMUNITIES MAKE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY OF PARTY, AND WHEREAS, AS IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO TEACH AND MODEL PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND WHEREAS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LEADERS SHOULD CONTINUALLY ASSESS OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY AND EASE OF PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE TRAVEL AND WHEREAS CHILDREN'S, PARENTS AND WORLD ARE JOINING TOGETHER TO WALK TO SCHOOL, AND EVALUATE WALKING AND BICYCLING CONDITIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND, WHERE AS THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP IS NUMBER ONE AND REGISTERED PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS IN TEXAS, AND WHEREAS THE TOWNSHIP BOARD ENCOURAGES ALL CITIZENS OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP TO CONSIDER THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF CHILDREN THIS MONTH AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE WOODLANDS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER >> CONGRATULATIONS! AND, FOR YOUR SECOND PROCLAMATION, YOU HAVE ALL DONE INCREDIBLE, AND IS PROCLAMATION, THAT WILL BE READ BY DIRECTOR FRANK SUPPORTS THE TOWNSHIP'S NATIONAL NIGHT OUT PROGRAM THAT WILL BE HELD SUNDAY OCTOBER 6TH. DIRECTOR FRANKS? >> YES MA'AM, WHEREAS THE WATCH THROUGH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TOWN WATCH IS SPONSORING A UNIQUE NATIONWIDE CRIME DRUG AND VIOLENCE OCTOBER 6TH, 2024, TITLED NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, AND WHEREAS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT PROVIDES UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS OF THE WOODLANDS TO JOIN FORCES WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, TO GROW CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS AND WHEREAS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN ASSISTING THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, THROUGH A COMBINED CRIME, DRUG AND PREVENTION, IN THE WOODLANDS, THAT WILL SUPPORT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AND, WHEREAS IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT ALL RESIDENTS OF THE WOODLANDS ARE AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND THE IMPACT THAT PARTICIPATION HAS UPON REDUCING CRIME, DRUGS AND VIOLENCE IN THE WOODLANDS, AND WHEREAS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND AWARENESS AND COOPERATION ARE IMPORTANT THEMES OF THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AND WHEREAS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP WILL CALL ON THE RESIDENTS TO JOIN THE TOWNSHIP AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TOWN WATCH AND SUPPORTING NATIONAL NIGHT OUT , ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6TH, 2024, NOW, THEREFORE PERHAPS THE HALF 2024, AS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IN THE WOODLANDS OF TEXAS. >> >> >> THAT WILL BRING US TO OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION, AND WE ARE WITH US, IF YOU WOULD BE SO KIND TO JOIN STACY AND KENT AND WITH DR. HENRY AND LOCKED ARE HERE, AND COMING UP FRONT, WITH DIRECTOR BAILEY THAT WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AS NATIONAL DYSLEXIA MONTH, AND NO [00:10:04] REPRESENTATIVE HAS BEEN A BIG SUPPORTER OF THIS, DIRECTOR BAILEY? >> BE IT PROCLAIMED WHEREAS DYSLEXIA IS A SPECIFIC THAT IS NEUROLOGICAL AND CHARACTERIZED BY DIFFICULTIES WITH ACCURATE RECOGNITION AND BY DECODING TO RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH, DYSLEXIA IS A LANGUAGE-BASED LEARNING DISABILITY THAT AFFECT APPROXIMATELY ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF RACE, GENDER AGE AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND WHEREAS DYSLEXIA CAUSES DIFFICULTIES WITH READING SPELLING AND WRITING AND WORK RENUNCIATION AND WERE AS EARLY IDENTIFICATION SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION AND EXTRA SUPPORT FROM FRIENDS, FAMILY TEACHERS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF STUDENTS TO ENJOY THE CLASSROOM AND LIFE AND LATER IN EMPLOYMENT AND LIKE A BRIGHTER EDUCATION FOR DYSLEXIA, PARENT LETTER SUPPORT GROUP, WHOSE MISSION IS TO EMPOWER, EDUCATE AND INSTILL DYSLEXIA, AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE NATIONAL DYSLEXIA ASSOCIATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO CREATE FURTHER FUTURE FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE STRUGGLED WITH DYSLEXIA AND OTHER RELATED READING DIFFERENCES, SO THAT THEY HAVE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED IN OUR FOREFRONT OF NAVIGATING THOSE WITH DYSLEXIA REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL REST DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE WERE AFFECTED BY DYSLEXIA IN BOTH ACADEMIC SETTINGS AND WORK ENVIRONMENTS NOW THEREFORE I BRAD BAILEY, DIRECTOR OF THE ALL CITIZENS TO SUPPORT THE CITIZENS OF DYSLEXIA AND TO EFFORTS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AS NATIONAL DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH. [3. Call meeting to order;] >> IT IS 6:12, I DECLARE THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW, THE NOTICE OF THIS MEETING WAS POSTED 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING, THIS POSTING OCCURRED INSIDE OF THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TOWNSHIP AT THIS OFFICE BUILDING. STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT AT LEAST FOUR OF OUR BOARD MEMBERSHIP IN ATTENDANCE TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS. I ASKED EACH BOARD MEMBER TO PLEASE INDICATE HIS OR HER PRESENCE BY RESPONDING WITH SOME AUDIBLE SOUND OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT AS I CALL THE ROLL. >> DIRECTOR BRAD BAILEY? >> HERE. >> TREASURER RICHARD FRANKS? >> HERE. >> TREASURER RICHARD FRANKS? >> HERE. >> DIRECTOR SHELLEY SEKULA-GIBBS? >> HERE. >> CHAIRMAN ANN SNYDER? [4. Receive, consider and act upon adoption of the meeting agenda;] >> HERE. BY ROLL CALL IT IS TO DECLARE THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM. THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE AGENDA IN YOUR BOARD PACKET ON PAGES ONE THROUGH THREE. AND, I CALL ONE FOR A MOTION AND SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA, BUT WITH THE AMENDMENT THAT AGENDA CEO MONIQUE SHARPS WILL BE MOVED TO NEXT WEEK'S MEETING, IS THERE A MOTION? >> MOVED . >> SECOND. >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND [5. Recognize public officials;] SECONDED, EVERYBODY IN FAVOR, SIGNIFIED BY SAYING I. MOTION AGENDA ITEM FIVE, RECOGNIZING PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND WE ARE VERY HONORED TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVE STEVE TOTH WITH BRIGGS, WHO IS THE MUD 67 DIRECTOR, BOTH OF YOU WELCOME [6. Public comment;] [00:15:04] AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AYE WILL BRING US TO AGENDA ITEM SIX, PUBLIC COMMENT, WE DO HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THIS EVENING. PARTICIPATION BY MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, IS WELCOMED. AND ENCOURAGED. AND PUBLIC COMMENT AGENDA ITEM IS INCLUDED AT THE BEGINNING OF ALL REGULAR BOARD MEETING AGENDAS. AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BOARD ADOPTED POLICY TO PRODUCE THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE PROCESS FOR ALLOWING CONSTITUENTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, EXCEPT PUBLIC COMMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES ARE PARTICIPATING IN PERSON MUST WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD SIGN [00:24:56] >>> THAT BRINGS US TO OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT. [00:25:11] >> I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE SAME TOPIC. MY WIFE AND I MARYLAND MOVED TO THE WOODLANDS AREA, 1998 AND WE HAD JOINED THE WOODLANDS CHORALE IN 1999. SO WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AND WE HAVE JUST LOVED EVERY EXPERIENCE WITH THAT. AND WE HAVE PUT A LOT OF OUR QUALITY OF LIGHT -- AND WE HAVE ENJOYED THAT ASPECT OF THE WOODLANDS. THE BIG ISSUE, AS WAS MENTIONED WITH THE GROUP, SUCH AS OUR OWN. WE ARE A COMMUNITY GROUP OF ABOUT CURRENTLY, 80 MEMBERS, FOR CONCERTS, WE SIZE UP, AND WE HAVE AUDIENCES, BETWEEN 500 AND 700 PEOPLE, IT IS A PRETTY ONGOING GROUP AND WE DO COLLABORATIONS WITH CHILDRE'S CHOIRS AND LONE STAR COLLEGE WITH THE WOODLANDS SYMPHONY, WHEN WE DID THE MESSIAH LAST YEAR, IT HAS ADVANCED TO A PRETTY HIGH DEGREE OF PROFICIENCY, AND I THINK COOPERATION WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE PROBLEM IS OF COURSE WE HAVE TROUBLE ONGOING BINDING PERFORMANCE VENUES AND REHEARSAL SPACE ALL OF THE SAME THINGS, THAT ALL OF THE GROUPS HAVE TROUBLE WITH, TYPICAL OF MANY GROUPS THAT ARE NOT A WASH IN FUNDS, WE KNOW THAT. WE LIVE BY DONATION AND SOME BY TICKET SALES. AND I THINK WE HAVE THE SAME ISSUES ARE. SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE VENUES ARE GOING TO BE A LITTLE PROHIBITIVE. MY VIEW ON THIS, IS, ON THAT PARTICULAR SITE THAT HAS JUST BEEN CITED IS PERFECT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERFORMANCE VENUE. THE INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND IT, THE PARKING ON THE RESTAURANTS AND EVERYTHING ALREADY EXISTS. IT WOULD NOT STRESS ANY OF THAT VERSUS WHAT THE PAVILION ALREADY DOES, AS A MUCH LARGER FACILITY. AND TO ME, THE PAVILION IS PROBABLY THE FINEST THING WE HAVE FOUND IN HOUSTON, IN AND OF ITSELF IT IS TOO BIG FOR MOST OF OUR OPERATIONS OBVIOUSLY BUT SOMETHING NEAR THAT SIDE, INDOOR, WOULD BE JUST PERFECT FOR US, THAT WOULD PROVIDE A CONSOLIDATED PERFORMANCE VENUE AND REHEARSAL SPACE, SO I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT SIDE, IN PARTICULAR, WE WILL TAKE ANY SITE THAT SITE SEEMS TO BE PERFECT. THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE, WHICH THIS IS GOING FORWARD AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DANA SPARKS. DANA, WELCOME. >> HELLO. I AM HERE AS WELL FOR THE SAME EXACT REASON. I STAND BEFORE YOU NOT ONLY AS THE OWNER AND DIRECTOR OF INSTEP DANCE CENTER WHERE I HAVE BEEN IN HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING THIS COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS BUT ALSO THE FOUNDER OF ARTS IN MOTION AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN UPLIFTING AND INSPIRING THROUGH DANCE, MUSIC AND THEATER FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS. AND THROUGH THESE I HAVE WITNESSED THE TRANSFORMATION IN THE POWER OF THE PERFORMING ARTS AND TODAY I AM HERE TO SHARE A VISITING VISION I COULD SHAPE THE CULTURE LANDSCAPE OF OUR COMMUNITY, A NEW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. THIS CENTER WOULD NOT ONLY BE A BEACON OF CREATIVE TALENT AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION BUT ALSO, A MUCH-NEEDED HOME FOR PERFORMANCES, OUTREACH PROGRAMS, THAT SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN COUNTLESS WAYS AND OVER YEARS, ARTS IN MOTION HAS BEEN PUTTING ON A BENEFIT CONCERT AT THE HOBBY CENTER, DOWN IN HOUSTON, AND IN HOUSTON'S THEATER DISTRICT EVERY SEASON WE TRAVEL INTO THE CITY TO HOST THE EVENT WHICH RAISES FUNDS FOR OUR OUTREACH PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES BRINGING DANCE TO OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FAMILIES IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND IMAGINE A PLACE WHERE OUR LOCAL ARTIST AND DANCERS AND MUSICIANS AND PERFORMERS HAVE A STAGE TO SHOWCASE TALENTS, RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY, A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALIKE CAN COME TO LEARN AND GROW AND BE INSPIRED BY THE ARTS IT WOULD BE A PLACE WHERE FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN DISCOVER THEIR PASSIONS WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN FIND THEIR CONFIDENCE THROUGH DANCE, THEATER AND MUSIC AND WHERE EVERYONE CAN EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF LIVE PERFORMANCE AND WE WILL HAVE A SPACE THAT REFLECTS THE TALENT AND THE SPIRIT OF OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS CENTER WOULD BE A PLATFORM FOR OUR YOUTH OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW CONFIDENCE, DISCIPLINE AND [00:30:01] INSPIRATION. IT WILL BE A PLACE WHERE DREAMS CAN TAKE SHAPE WHERE ASPIRING PERFORMERS CAN TAKE THE STAGE AND WHERE FAMILIES CAN COME TOGETHER TO EXPERIENCE THE JOYS THAT ART WILL BRING TO OUR LIVES THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT BUILDING A VENUE IT IS ABOUT BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES. IT IS ABOUT CREATING A PLACE FOR EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND OR CIRCUMSTANCE AND, EXPERIENCE AND PARTICIPATION IN THE ARTS I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY, TO HELP BRING THE VISION TO LIFE AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR ARTISTS. AND THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH THAT WILL BRING US TO OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT, MR. MANSFIELD, DYLAN. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS DYLAN MANSFIELD, I'M GOING TO SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD BUT I'M ALSO HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. I AM 22 AND I BELIEVE THAT MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST TOOLS THAT WE AS HUMANS HAVE TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. AND WITH THIS LITTLE BIT OF TIME I WILL TO EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY. I AM A MUSICIAN AND MUSIC HAS PERMEATED MY LIFE SINCE I WAS A CHILD SINCE I WAS VERY YOUNG AND I EVEN HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK IN MUSIC AS AN ADULT DOING WHAT I LOVE. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS LACES SO MUCH EMPHASIS IN MY LIFE THE NUMBER ONE ASSUMPTION I GET FROM OTHERS IS OH, YOUR PARENTS MUST ALSO BE MUSICIANS HE MUST HAVE SIBLINGS THAT ARE MUSICIANS IN YOUR GRANDPARENTS OR ANYTHING BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE. IN FACT I WOULD BE LUCKY TO GET A SINGLE DON'T OUT OF ANYBODY IN MY FAMILY. ALTHOUGH MY FATHER WOULD SAY OTHERWISE. I GREW UP IN DALLAS TEXAS MORE SPECIFICALLY GARLAND THE CITY OF ABOUT 2 TO 300,000 WHERE THE ARTS IS INTERWOVEN INTO THE FABRIC FABRIC OF THE CITY AND AS A RESULT I REMEMBER ATTENDING ALL SORTS OF CONCERTS AND AS A CHILD, AND IT IS THAT WHICH IS WHAT GREW THE LOVE OF MUSIC AND THE ARTS AND MAY, WITHOUT THAT ACCESSIBILITY OF MUSIC I WOULD HAVE NEVER GOTTEN TO WHERE I AM TODAY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY I WOULD HAVE HAD RELATIONSHIPS WITH MY COMMUNITY IN THE SAME WAY FOR INSTANCE THIS ENTIRE SECOND ROW RIGHT HERE AS YOU CAN SEE, I AM VERY DIFFERENT FROM THAT. >> AND I THINK ON THE SAME ROW TOO. >> YES ON THE THIRD ROW. I NEVER WOULD HAVE COME TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH ANY OF THEM TO BE FRIENDS WITH ANY OF THEM IF I HAD EVEN MET THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE, IF NOT FOR THIS COMMUNITY OF MUSIC WE HAVE A THRIVING MUSICAL COMMUNITY HERE. WITH GROUPS SUCH AS THE YOUTH SYMPHONY, THE WOODLANDS CHORALE AND THE CONCERT BAND AND THE JAZZ NIGHTS BUT CURRENTLY THESE GROUPS RELY ON THE GENEROSITY OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO FUNCTION. WHICH IS STARTING TO BECOME A PROBLEM. THE WOODLANDS CHORALE, ONE OF THE PREMIER GROUPS IN THE HOUSTON AREA IS AT THREAT OF LOSING ITS HOME, DUE TO A CHURCH WANTED TO SELL ITS PROPERTY. AND I DISLIKE THINKING ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THAT ACTUALLY CAME TO FRUITION. I DO LIKE THINKING ABOUT HOW BENEFICIAL IT WOULD BE, TO GIVE THESE GROUPS, NOT ONLY DEDICATED REHEARSAL FACILITIES, BUT DEDICATED PERFORMANCE VISAS AS WELL. CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR MEMBERS TO COME TOGETHER AND BOND OVER THE ARTS, AND INSPIRED A NEW GENERATION JUST LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I WAS YOUNG. >> THANK YOU, DYLAN WE APPRECIATE YOU. >> THAT WILL BRING US TO OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT, MR. BRIGGS? >> THANK YOU GERMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU, I AM STEVE BRIGGS AND I'M HERE TO DISCUSS TWO ITEMS THIS EVENING THE FIRST IS THE BENCH PROPERTY I AM OFFERED COMMENTS REGARDING THIS PROPERTY ON TWO PRIOR BOARD MEETINGS AND ONCE AGAIN I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY FOR THE TOWNSHIP MEETING TO SELL AND DEVELOP THIS UNIQUE PROPERTY LOCATED NEAR THE TOWN CENTER, BUT I AM CONCERNED, IF IT IS SOLD, HOW WILL THE PROPERTY BE DEVELOPED MARG WILL PRIORITY BE GIVEN TO A DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT WILL BENEFIT THE INTEREST OF THE TOWNSHIP OF THE RESIDENCE OR WILL THE DEVELOPER AND THE DEVELOPER SHAREHOLDERS BE THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES? AND ADD A PRIOR MEETING I SUGGESTED THE BOARD, WHY NOT HAVE A REFERENDUM TO TELL THE RESIDENCE TO DECIDE HOW TO DEVELOP THE PROPERTY AND I ASKED THE SIMPLE QUESTION, HOW SHOULD THE PROPERTY BE DEVELOPED NEAR THE TOWN CENTER? [00:35:01] ONE, DEVELOP THE PROPERTY TO BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS AS A PARK WITH AN ARBORETUM AT ARTS CENTERS OR SOME OTHER RESIDENT FRIENDLY VENUE OR ALLOW A DEVELOPER TO CONSTRUCT A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ON THE SPACE OF THE HIGH-RISE HOTEL HIGH DENSITY FAMILY HOUSING, RETAIL SPACE FOR AN OFFICE BUILDING I KNOW HOW I WOULD VOTE. I LIKE MOST RESIDENTS, AM AN ADVOCATE FOR PRESERVING AND, IN MY OPINION, THE TOWNSHIP NEEDS TO PRIORITIZE OUR RESIDENTS WHEN CONSIDERING FURTHER DEVELOPMENT. I BESEECHED THE BOARD TO GIVE PRIORITY TO THE INTEREST OF THE RESIDENTS, IN WHATEVER DIRECTION YOU TAKE , AND CONCERNING THIS PROPERTY, I USE THIS VIABLE PIECE OF LAND TO MAKE A SPECIAL COMMUNITY FOCUSED DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WILL BE UNDER THE REASON FOR THE WOODLANDS TO BE THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE. MY SECOND ITEM WAS WITH REGARD TO THE WIDENING OF THE ROAD FROM 4 TO 6 LANES BETWEEN WOODLANDS PARKWAY AND RESEARCH FOREST DRIVE, FOR MANY OF THE SAME REASONS THAT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OPPOSED THE WIDENING OF RESEARCH FOR US, THE TOWNSHIP SHOULD OPPOSE THE WIDENING AS WELL. AND IN MY OPINION, THEY WOULD MAKE MEL A TARGET FOR CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC, IN ADDITION, TO CONGESTION, AND THE HEADACHES FOR THE RESIDENTS WITH ROAD CONGESTION, AROUND TOWN CENTER, THAT WE HAVE ALSO HEARD THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS WERE HAVING TO CROSS THE ROAD, EVEN TODAY. AGAIN IN THE INTEREST OF PRESERVING THE CHARACTER AND WHAT MAKES THE TOWNSHIP UNIQUE, I ASKED , WHAT WOULD THEY BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS, HOW WOULD THEY BENEFIT FOR THIS. I SUPPORT THE MOTION OFFERED BY DIRECTOR SEKULA-GIBBS, THE TOWNSHIP SHOULD REQUEST THE REMOVAL OF THIS ROAD PROJECT FROM THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY MOBILITY PLAN AND TXDOT REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU, THAT WILL BRING US TO OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT, MR. TIM? WELCOME. >> MY NAME IS JIM DOOR AND I REPRESENT THE CONCERT BAND WE ARE CURRENTLY IN OUR 24TH SEASON. THE WOODLANDS CONCERT BAND IS THE PARENT ORGANIZATION TO OUR BIG BAND JAZZ GROUP, THE WOODLAND JAZZ NIGHTS. THANK YOU FOR THE SHOUT OUT AND THE ANNUAL TROMBONE CHRISTMAS THE WOODLANDS PRODUCTION. AND IT HAPPENS TO BE DECEMBER THE 20TH THIS YEAR. AND AT MARKET STREET , THE WOODLANDS CONCERT BAND HAS OVER 96 MEMBERS WITH AN AVERAGE OF 75 TO 85 PLAYERS FOR ANY GIVEN CONCERT, WE HAVE PERFORMED FOR CONCERTS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON PLEASANT SUPPORT OF THE SOUTH COUNTY FOURTH OF JULY PARADE WITH THE CONCERT OF THE POPULAR PATRIOTIC MARCHES AND TUNES, WE HAVEN'T ANNUAL STUDENT CONTEST IN THE SPRING, WHERE WE WILL AWARD $1800 IN PRIZE MONEY TO THE TOP THREE FINALIST. THE WOODLANDS CONCERT BAND HAS WON SEVERAL NATIONAL DISTINCTIVE AWARDS AS WELL AS BEING INVITED AND PERFORMED AT THE ANNUAL MIDWEST BAND AND ORCHESTRA CLINIC IN CHICAGO AND THE TEXAS BAD MASTERS CONFERENCE IN SAN ANTONIO. WE AVERAGE 300 TO 450 IN ATTENDANCE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON AND RECENTLY WE FOUND OURSELVES IN NEED OF WEEKLY REHEARSAL SPACE, AS WELL AS PERFORMANCE VENUES, FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE REHEARSAL SPACE BUT FOUND THE LACK OF ADEQUATE CONCERT VENUES IN THE WOODLANDS QUITE LIMITING. AND WE FEEL A DEDICATED PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN THE WOODLANDS WITH THE ABILITY TO HOUSE INSTRUMENTAL, CHORAL, THEATRICAL AND DANCE EVENTS IS WELL NEEDED IN ADDITION TO THE AVAILABILITY BY LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING GROUPS COULD PERFORM HERE, IN THE WOODLANDS, ALLOWING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCES IN THEIR BACKYARD, IT WOULD ALSO BOOST REVENUES, BY KEEPING SPENDING INTO THE WOODLANDS. THE IMPACT OF THE PAVILION ON THE PROFILE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE WOODLANDS IS SIGNIFICANT, AND A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER WITH A 12 MONTH ALL WEATHER ACCESS WILL HAVE SIMILAR IMPACTS ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND WE URGE THE TOWNSHIP BOARD TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER ALL ASPECTS OF A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER HERE IN THE WOODLANDS, AND ITS LOCATION, DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT. THE ORGANIZATIONS HERE TONIGHT AS WELL AS OTHERS HAVE LIFETIMES OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE, THAT WILL PROVE INVALUABLE IN THE PLANNING, THE IMPLEMENTATION AND SUCCESS OF SUCH A FACILITY WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEAN ON US, AND HEAR OUR [00:40:03] CONCERNS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. IN OUR LAST PUBLIC COMMENT IS CHUCK . WELCOME. YOU ARE WELCOME. >> I LIVE IN ALDEN BRIDGE, I AM A MEMBER OF THE BOARD BUT THESE ARE MY COMMENTS, NOT THOSE OF THE BOARD. >> THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT JOB THAT YOU GUYS DO, IT IS A LOT OF HARD WORK AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT. AND ON THE TWO SUBJECTS, ELECTRICITY, AND ROADS. ELECTRICITY I SENT A PROPOSAL TO I THINK DIRECTOR BAILEY AS WELL AS THE OFFICES OF OUR GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES. AND, SENATOR CREIGHTON AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. AND THE IDEA IS, WE CAN HAVE THESE WEEK LONG OR MORE COLLEGES, AND, WHATEVER CAME UP ON INTERSTATE 45. THREE WEEKS OR THREE MONTHS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND I THINK IT IS TIME THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT A WIDE RANGE, OF PROGRAMS TO HARDEN THE SYSTEM. SOME DISTANCE MILES UP THE COAST. AND THE CATEGORY A■ND STORM THAT YOU WANT TO HARDEN INTO, AND TO USE THE STATES RAINY DAY FUND AS COLLATERAL TO SELL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT BONDS, AND REQUIRE THE UTILITIES WHO USE THE MONEY, TO HARDEN THE SYSTEM AND MAKE THEM HAVE SOME SKIN IN THE GAME AND IF THEY DON'T GET IT DONE BY A CERTAIN DATE, THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO SERVICE. OTHERWISE THE BONDS WOULD BE SERVICED BY A SMALL KILOWATT HOUR INCREASE, IN THE ELECTRICITY CLAUSE, AND I THINK I WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY HALF A PENNY MORE THAN TO BE OUT OF POWER FOR A FULL WEEK OR MORE. AND I WAS LUCKY BECAUSE THREE YEARS AGO, SO MY LIGHTS WERE ON, SO I DIDN'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM, AND NOT EVERYBODY HAS THAT, SO THAT IS A THOUGHT ON THAT, AND THE SECOND THING IS TO APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS, ONE, GORDON'S MILL AND STOPPING THE 242 NONSENSE, AND THESE THINGS SEEM TO BE RECURRING IN THE COUNTY WANTS TO TURN US INTO A FREEWAY SYSTEM, IN THE WOODLANDS AND I AM WONDERING, IF I HAVE HEARD THE IDEA ABOUT A LOOP AROUND THE WOODLANDS AND I AM WONDERING IF SOMETHING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION IS IF THE TOWNSHIP WERE TO OFFER SOME MODEST AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM OUR CAPITAL FUNDS TO HELP FUND SUCH A PROJECT AT LEAST, WHAT THE APPETITE ON DISCUSSING THAT ISSUE ON DOING THAT, THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY. >> WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS, AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND WE THINK YOU ALL ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD FOR COMING AND GIVING THAT AND YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY IF YOU SO DESIRE. >> WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS, SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STAY FOR THE AGENDA ITEMS THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO HEAR IT FROM THE HORSES MOUTH. >> THAT WILL BRING US TO THE NEXT AGENDA. THAT WILL BRING US [ CONSENT AGENDA] TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM. AGENDA ITEM SEVEN, WAS REMOVED UNTIL NEXT WEEK, AND THAT WILL BRING US TO OUR CONSENT ITEM, THERE ARE EIGHT ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ARE NONCONTROVERSIAL OUR HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS REQUIRED BY LAW AND WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR APPROVAL AS IT WOULD WITH ONE MOTION, NO DISCUSSION WILL TAKE PLACE ON ANY ITEMS UNLESS THE ITEM IS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND PLACED ON THE REGULAR AGENDA BY ANY BOARD MEMBER PRIOR TO TAKING THE VOTE ON THE MOTION, WE HAVE HAD THESE SINCE LAST FRIDAY AND, THEY WERE PAGES 10 THROUGH 40 IN YOUR BOARD PACKET, IS THERE A MOTION. >> MOVED . >> SECOND. >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY, AND THE MOTION PASSES. [9. Receive, consider and act upon an update on activities related to The Woodlands Township property located at 9669 Grogan’s Mill Road (as requested by Director Bailey);] THAT WILL BRING US TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER NINE, WHICH IS TO RECEIVE AND CONSIDER AND ACT UPON AN UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP OPERATIVE LOCATED AT 9669 GROGAN'S BELL ROAD AND IT WAS REQUESTED BY DIRECTOR BAILEY, AND WE HAD IT WAS POSTED ON PAGE 41 IN OUR PACKET AND MONIQUE SHARP OUR WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE, PRIOR TO HER PROVIDING THAT I DO HAVE A COMMENT THAT WILL TAKE AND WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO MISS SHARP AS WELL AS MR. BAILEY AND THE REST OF THE BOARD. AND I WANT YOU TO BE AWARE, THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS RUMORS AND SPECULATION [00:45:03] ON THE STATUS OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP PROPERTY, LOCATED ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF GROGAN'S MILL AND AT THAT INTERSECTION. AND COMMONLY REFERRED TO THIS EVENING AS A BENCH PROPERTY AND AT THE JUNE 20TH, 2024 WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING, FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE BOARD APPROVED TO PREPARE AN ISSUE AT RP FOR THE PROPERTY AND THE VOTE WAS 5-1 IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION PASSES. AND DIRECTORS KULA GIBBS, VOTED AND DIRECTOR BAILEY WAS ABSENT AND WITH THAT SAID, THIS DOCUMENT IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DEVELOPED. IT IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DEVELOPED AND AND RP HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED, IT HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. PART OF THE MOTION WAS THAT WE WOULD GIVE APPROVAL TO THE STAFF, TO PREPAREAND TO BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. AND, WE THE BOARD HAVE NOT SEEN THIS DOCUMENT AND WE HAVE NOT REVIEWED IT WE HAVE NOT DISCUSSED IT. AND WE WILL POSTED WHEN THAT HAPPENS. SO LET ME REITERATE, NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE REGARDING THIS PROPERTY AND THE ONLY ACTION, THE ONLY ACTION WAS REQUESTING STAFF TO DEVELOP A MARKETING PLAN, FOR THE BENCH PROPERTY AND WITH THAT WE WILL TURN IT TO MONIQUE ENTERED THE DIRECTOR DAILY AND WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR A DISCUSSION, FOR THE REST OF THE BOARD. >> THANK YOU I WILL GIVE A BRIEF HISTORY, OF THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE BOARD ACTIONS, THAT TRANSPIRED, TO GET US TO THIS POINT AND THE PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED FROM GE BETZ, IT WAS 11.6 ACRES, PURCHASED FOR 15 POINT 2 MILLION, AND JUNE'S OF 2015, OR THAT IS WHEN THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE PURCHASE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2015, AND IT IS WHEN THE BOARD APPROVED THE FINAL PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT, THAT IS WHEN IT WAS OFFICIAL. AND, THEY CONTINUE TO LEASE THE PROPERTY, THROUGH 2018, SO ANY ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE BOARD BETWEEN 15 AND 18 PRIMARY RELATED TO THOSE LEASE AGREEMENTS AND AMENDING THE LEASE AGREEMENT TO EXTENDED AND THEN AT SEPTEMBER OR JUNE OF 2018, GE BETZ, VACATED THE PROPERTY THAT WAS THE DETERMINATION OF THE LEASE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018, THE BOARD AT THAT TIME APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED STAFF TO DEVELOP AN ISSUE AN INVITATION FOR BIDS, FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE PROPERTY, AND FOR ASBESTOS ABATEMENT, AND FOR PARKING SERVICES. TO PROVIDE A PARKING SERVICE OVER THAT LOT, AND THEN IN MARCH OF 2022, THAT WAS THE 2018 AND THE NEXT ACTION WASN'T TAKEN UNTIL MARCH OF 2022, AND THAT WAS TO AWARD THAT BID, FOR THE ABATEMENT AND THE BUILDING DEMOLITION AND THE PAINTING SERVICES AND THE REASON FOR THAT GAP BETWEEN 2018 AND 2022, FIRST OF ALL IS RELATED TO, WE HAD TO REBID A SECOND TIME, SO THAT WAS A PART OF WHAT 2019 IT, AND THERE WAS NO ACTIVITY FOR THAT COUPLE OF YEARS, IN COVID, SO IN 2022, THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE DEMOLITION, AND THEN CHAIRMAN SNYDER JUST READ AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED IN JUNE OF 2024. SO THAT IS A BRIEF HISTORY OF HOW WE GOT HERE AND I WILL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> DIRECTOR BAILEY? >> THANK YOU FOR THAT SUMMARY, I THINK THIS IS VERY VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SHED AS MUCH LIGHT ON THIS TO DISINFECT ANY OF THE RUMORS THAT ARE RUNNING RAMPANT, IT IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT IT IS GOING ON BUT IT IS A POLITICAL CRAZY SEASON AND IT IS WHAT IT IS I ASKED THE REPRESENTATIVE TOTH TO HANG AROUND FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM BECAUSE I NEED HIS HELP TO SAY WHAT THE FACTS ARE AND WHAT THE FICTION IS, AND GOING BACK TO YOUR TIMELINE THAT YOU JUST WENT THROUGH, SEVERAL ON THE BOARD POSED A QUESTION FROM OUR LOCAL TEA PARTY ON THE G BETZ PROPERTY, THAT WERE FOR UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS, THREE CONCRETE AND, ONE LEAKING FIBERGLASS TANK WITH NO DISPOSITION IS THIS ACCEPTABLE AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE. AND GOING BACK TO THE DEMO, COULD YOU TAKE ME THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED WITH THOSE STORAGE FACILITY TANKS AND WHAT IS FACT AND WHAT IS FICTION ON HOW THEY WERE DISPOSED OF ARE PROPERLY [00:50:09] HANDLED? >> IN 2018 WE HAVE GOT A REPORT FROM TCE Q THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND, WHO HAD DONE THEIR INVESTIGATION, CONFIRMING THAT ALL OF THE CONTENTS, IN THE STORAGE TANKS, HAD BEEN DISPOSED OF PROPERLY, THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO REPORTED LEAKS OR CONTAMINATIONS OF THE AREA, WHILE GE BETZ WAS IN OPERATION, AND THE WELLS WERE CAMPED AT THAT TIME, AND, AGAIN, I GOT A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH. >> THAT IS A LETTER YOU HAVE PROVIDED THE BOARD. >> ALSO PUBLIC RECORD IF SOMEBODY WOULD LIKE. >> IN REGARDS TO THE FIBERGLASS TANK, AND WHEN WE WERE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY, THERE WAS A CRACK , AND NOT A LEAK THERE WAS A CRACK IN ONE OF THE FIBERGLASS TANKS, SO WE REQUESTED THAT THE TANK BE REPLACED, PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE, AND IT WAS., AND THAT IS NOTED IN THE REPORT AS WELL. >> 40 FIBERGLASS TANK THAT WAS CRACKED AND IT WAS PROPERLY ISPOSED OF BY THE CONTRACTOR? >> CORRECT AND THEN REPLACED. >> AND THEN IN THIS LETTER TODAY, DATED NOVEMBER 8TH OF 2018 >> THE TC Q REPORT? >> WHAT MEMBERS ON THIS CURRENT BOARD WERE A PART OF THAT BOARD AT THAT TIME? >> I WAS. >> ANYONE ELSE? >> OKAY. I JUST KNOW -- I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, THE TIMELINE. THE TIMELINE IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO, OUR CHAIRMAN SNYDER WAS THE ONLY PERSON ON THE BOARD IN NOVEMBER OF 2018, IS THAT CORRECT? >> AND AS A BOARD UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF CHAIRMAN BUNCH WE HAD ASKED FOR, CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, PRESIDENT BUT THERE WERE CONSIDERING SAYS FOR THIS ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY STUDY AND THEN THIS CAME BACK TO US. >> NO HARM NO FOUL, NOBODY HAS DONE ANYTHING WRONG, NO PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBER HAS DONE ANYTHING WRONG AND, IN MAY OR IN MARCH OF 3020 22, THE BOARD APPROVED THE BID OF THE ABATEMENT BUILDING DEMOLITION AND THE TEARING OUT OF EVERYTHING ON THAT PROPERTY. WHAT MEMBERS OF THE CURRENT BOARD WERE ON THAT BOARD IN MARCH 30, OF 2022. >> I WOULD ASSUME THAT DR. SNYDER . >> GIVES AND CHAIRMAN SNYDER. AND, WE WEREN'T EVEN ON THE HORIZON YET, SO LET ME MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTND THAT. MOVING ON. AND, IN 2017 AND 18, THE BOARD WAS HIRED TO DO INCREDIBLE STUDIES ON THE GE BETZ PROPERTY, THAT INCLUDED A MUSEUM OF A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND THE CITY HALL I LIKE THAT YOU OUT OF THE THREE. >> IF I MAY CORRECT, IT WAS EITHER A MUSEUM, AND, A PERFORMING ARTS. >> IT IS AN INCREDIBLE DESIGN. AND THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH IT I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH HER, AND A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO IT. CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THAT WHOLE PROCESS, THAT YOU ALL WENT INTO. AND I KNOW PROBABLY COVID ENDED UP SHUTTING IT DOWN AND PUTTING IT ON THE SHELF. AND CAN YOU HELP ME WALK THROUGH THAT WHOLE PROCESS? >> WHEN THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE PURCHAS OF A PROPERTY, IT WASN'T JUST TO HOLD ONTO A VACANT PIECE OF PROPERTY, THERE WAS AN INTENTION TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT, AND AT THAT TIME, AND THE THOUGHT PROCESS WAS, THAT IT COULD BE USED FOR A TOWNHALL FACILITY FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES AND FOR THE TOWNHALL FACILITY AND FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS PARKING AND MUSEUM WE LOOKED AT A VARIETY OF PURPOSES FOR IT AND THEN, YOU ARE CORRECT, COVID HAPPENED AND WE WERE PARTWAY THROUGH THAT EVERYTHING DOWN. SORT OF SHUT - >> AND IN MAY OF 2022. WE DID ANOTHER STUDY FOR THE GOLD LOT, THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE PAVILION, NEXT TO THE PAVILION TO LOOK AT THE CENTER THERE AND WE SPENT ON THAT AND HIRED THEM AGAIN TO PUT TOGETHER THE PROCESS. >> AND IN COVID HAPPENED AND THE AMOUNT THAT WAS ESTIMATED ALMOST DOUBLED FROM THREE BED, TWO POST-COVID, SO AT THE TIME, WHEN THE BOARD FELT THAT WE WOULD NOT AT THIS TIME CONSIDER A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND IT WENT FROM >> AND THEY WOULD COMMENT ABOUT THE REASON FOR THE SECONDARY DELAY, IS ONE THAT I WAS NOT ASKING OF PUTTING THE BUILDING [00:55:02] ON BECAUSE IT IS A VERY SMALL PIECE OF PROPERTY WHEN COMPARED WITH THAT PROPERTY, VERY SMALL. AND WHAT IS THE SIZE OF THE GOLD LOT, LESS THAN AN ACRE? TWO ACRES? >> I DON'T KNOW. >> THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER. THERE IS A VERY SMALL FOOTPRINT VERY SMALL. SO IT IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE PLACE FOR THE PERFORMING ART CENTER. WHERE THE PROPERTY IS 11.6 ACRES, AND IT IS A WAY OF DISTRIBUTING TRAFFIC FLOW, ON THE CORNER OF GROGAN'S MILL AND LAKE WOODLANDS. >> MY POINT -- >> DIRECTOR GIBBS, LET ME, IS THAT THE PERFORMING ARTS, THE RENDERING THAT DIRECTOR BAILEY WAS SHOWING, WE DID ON THE GOLD LOT, SO YOU MAY NOT HAVE A GRADE, BUT WORKING WITH THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS IT WAS ON THE GOLD LOT BECAUSE LYONS DID. >> AND WHAT WE WERE DELAYED THOUGH, IT WAS NOT JUST COVID BUT INFLATION, IT WAS RAPIDLY RISING INTEREST RATES . >> PLEASE NOTE, I'M NOT CHALLENGING ANY OF THE PREVIOUS DECISIONS I BELIEVE AND YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR MY COMMENT VERY CLEAR ON THIS, WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS, MANY BOARDS, FOR MANY YEARS HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE INFORMING ART CENTER IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY HAVE TALKED TO GROUPS LIKE THE WOODLANDS CHOIR. >> CARL. I'M SORRY, AND THE WOODLANDS ORCHESTRA AND THE PAVILION LEADERSHIP AND ALL DIFFERENT DANCE GROUPS ALL ACROSS THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THEIR NEEDS AS A NEEDS ASSESSMENT. >> YES. >> SO I REALLY THINK IT IS REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THE FACTS ARE OUT. SO, AT THE ADVICE OF MY WONDERFUL WIFE I AM GOING TO READ MY STATEMENT AND PUT IT ON RECORD SO I WON'T SAY ANYTHING WRONG AND I WILL MAKE IT CLEAR AND I WILL GIVE EVERYONE A COPY. AND, THE PROPERTY IS A PRIME PIECE OF REAL ESTATE LOCATED IN THE BUSIEST COMMERCIAL DISTRICT AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IT IS ALMOST 12 ACRES IN SIZE AND YOU ATTACH IT TO THE WOODLANDS WATERWAY, AN AMAZING PARCEL OF LAND THAT IS NOT USED TO THE BENEFIT OF RESIDENTS NOR IS IT GENERATING ANY TAXES, THE TOWNSHIP HAS NOT MADE ANY ULTIMATE DECISIONS ABOUT THIS VIABLE PIECE OF PROPERTY AND WE WELCOME FEEDBACK AND BELIEVE NEEDS TO BE FULLY TRANSPARENT AND I BELIEVE THAT ANY DEVELOPMENT ANY REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS PLAN NEEDS TO BE DONE RESPONSIBLY TRANSPARENTLY AND WITH THE GOAL OF BENEFITING OUR RESIDENTS. AND PERSONALLY AS, BRAD BAILEY, I THINK THIS PROPERTY CAN BEST BE UTILIZED FOR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, OR AS A MUSEUM, PERHAPS WITH AN ATTACHED UPSCALE HOTEL, TO THE PROPERTY I ALSO THINK THAT WE CAN USE SUPPORT OF ADDITIONAL RESTAURANTS THAT COMPLEMENT A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND MUSEUM, THE TOWNSHIP HAS RECEIVED MANY REQUESTS FOR A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, AND THE LAST 10 YEARS, PRIOR, THEY HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, THIS INCLUDES CONDUCTING RESIDENTIAL SURVEYS AND MEETING WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD USE A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, FROM 2017 UNTIL 2019, AND HIRED GENSLER ARCHITECTS DESIGN, A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, AND WHILE THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT BENEFIT TO THE WOODLANDS AND BE A GOOD USE OF THE PROPERTY I BELIEVE OTHER ADDITIONAL BOARD MEMBERS BELIEVE SO AS WELL. WE REMAIN ABSOLUTELY OPEN-MINDED, TO ALL CONSIDERATIONS AND OPTIONS, FOR THE BEST USE OF THIS PROPERTY AND IT BEARS REPEATING, THAT NO DECISIONS HAVE MADE ON THIS PROPERTY TO THIS POINT. IN MY MIND THE NEXT STEP IS TO ISSUE A REQUEST FOR A PROPOSAL WHAT IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS AN RFP, TO GATHER IDEAS AND HOW WE CAN REDEVELOP THIS PROPERTY TO BEST ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND YOU WILL BE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT AND LOOK TOGETHER COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, THIS IS A MAJOR PROJECT THAT REQUIRES EXTENSIVE INPUT FROM RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY LEADERS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, CHURCHES AND ET CETERA. ADDITIONALLY WE WILL NEED TO WORK WITH SURROUNDING BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY OWNERS AND CYNTHIA WOODS MITCHELL PAVILION, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, THE WOODLANDS WATERWAY SENIOR LIVING FACILITY, THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT TODAY, THE WOODLANDS WATER AGENCY, AND YES, THE HOWARD HUGHES CORPORATION ALSO HAS A PROPERTY RUNNING UP TO THIS PROPERTY. NATURALLY WE ALSO WILL NEED TO BE BETTER UNDERSTANDING THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, AND THE USE OF THIS PROPERTY I KNOW THAT PRIOR BOARDS CHOSE NOT TO MOVE FORWARD IN PART BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FINANCIAL VIABILITY, THIS BOARD WILL ALSO TAKE FINANCIAL VIABILITY, CONSIDERATION AS THE KEY FACTOR IN DETERMINING THE BEST USE FOR THIS PROPERTY AND FURTHER, PARKING IS A MAJOR ISSUE IN THE AREA AS A KEY ISSUE TO SIGN THE BEST BOARDS TO BE MINDFUL TO CONSIDER ALL PARKING OPTIONS, [01:00:04] FOR THIS PROPERTY, INCLUDING UNDERGROUND PARKINGTHAT DR. GIBBS HAS TALKED ABOUT AND SHARED PARKING OPTIONS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. IN SUM, WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST IDEAS, BALANCE IT WITH THE DESIRE OF THE RESIDENCE AND IS A EXAMINE THE SIGNING OF THE BEST PATH FORWARD, THOUGH WE DO NOT KNOW, WITH THE ULTIMATE PARTICULAR PROPERTY WILL SERVE I CAN SAY THAT I AM, WHAT I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF, I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF APARTMENTS OR MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING ON THIS PROPERTY AT ALL. I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF HAVING HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS ON THIS PROPERTY, I'M NOT FOR CLEARCUTTING A LARGE AMOUNT OF TREES ON THIS PROPERTY, WE NEED TO TAKE A PAGE OUT OF GEORGE MITCHELL'S PLAYBOOK AND PRESERVE EVERY TREE THAT WEEKEND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE A DEVELOPMENT LOOK LIKE THE WOODLANDS THAT MYTHS AS A MEMBER OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARDS, THE RESIDENTS ARE AT MY PRIMARY FOCUS AND I BELIEVE GOVERNMENT IS FOR THE PEOPLE WHEN MAKING GOVERNMENT DECISIOS, MY POSITION REGARDING THE BEST PROPERTY WELL GUIDE MY PATH AND THAT PRINCIPLE I LOOK FORWARD TO OPEN DISCUSSIONS IN A TRANSPARENT PROCESS, AS THE TOWNSHIP BOARD WORKS WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND DECIDE HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROPERTY. >> DIRECTOR BAILEY, THANK YOU, THAT WILL BRING US DIRECTOR HEISER AND ALSO DIRECTOR GIBBS . >> THAT WAS A GREAT STATEMENT, ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WAS GOING TO BE, AT THE TIME OF THIS, WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS PROPERTY, 11.6 ACRES, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN REALLY THINK THROUGH THIS EARLY, WAS THERE IMMOBILITY STUDY DONE, ALONG WITH A STUDY, SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE TRAFFIC FLOW WOULD LOOK LIKE, WHEN WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 5000 PEOPLE COMING TO THE WOODLANDS ON THE NIGHT OF THE PAVILION CONCERT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT SORT OF THING IS OF CONCERN TO ME, AND THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR WHATEVER GOES INTO THAT SPACE, WE NEED TO CONSIDER THAT CAREFULLY, SO IT MIGHT MEAN, FOR ME, I WAS GOING TO COME IN AND SAY I WOULD LIKE TO PUT A PAUSE ON THIS SO THAT WE CAN GO BACK AND MAYBE LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE THINGS BECAUSE WHEN YOU WRITE AN RFP, YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A VERY SPECIFIC SET OF OBJECTIVES AND WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO ASK FOR, AND SO, THAT IS MY QUESTION TO YOU WITH A VERY LONG STATEMENT. >> THE QUESTION IN TERMS OF THE PARKING AND MOBILITY. >> YOU HAD A PRELIMINARY ONE AND THAT IS IN PART ONCE WE GO THROUGH SOME OF THOSE DECISIONS THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT WOULD BE A PART OF THE DUE DILIGENCE TO HAVE A PARKING STUDY ASSOCIATED WITH IT, SO WE NEED TO DECIDE WHAT IS GOING TO BE THERE AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE KNOW THAT MAY BE COMING IN AROUND THERE, IN ORDER TO DO THAT. YES, ABSOLUTELY I WOULD RECOMMEND BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DEFINITIVE >> YES I JUST FEEL LIKE WE HAVEN'T REALLY AND I'M NOT ACCUSING ANYONE OF ANYTHING, BUT I FEEL LIKE ALL OF THE HOMEWORK HASN'T BEEN DONE QUITE YET AND, NOT YOU GUYS BUT ON OUR PART, >> THE HOMEWORK WAS ON THE GOLD LOT, BUT AS WE TALKED ABOUT, FROM A 1500 SEAT FACILITY TO A 22 TO 2500, THAT PART, STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND IT IS IN THE WORKS WITH THE STUDY THAT IS BEING DONE. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR HEISER, AND THAT BRINGS US, DIRECTOR FRANKS. >> YES, MADAM CHAIR, SO FIRST I HAVE TO CONGRATULATE DIRECTOR BAILEY, WHO HAS REALLY COME AROUND, SO I THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTARY, AND, FOR WRITING IT ALL DOWN, AND FOR COHERENTLY DELIVERING YOUR THOUGHTS BECAUSE I AGREE WITH QUITE A LOT OF THEM AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO, FIRST OF ALL AND SECOND OF ALL, THE RUMOR MILL IS NOT A REAL THING, THE RUMOR MILL, THAT YOU ARE KIND OF CHASTISING PEOPLE WHO SPOKE ABOUT IT THAT IS NOT FAIR, AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LONG-STANDING INTEREST IN THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. >> I DIDN'T CHASTISE THEM I AM JUST ADDRESSING THE TANK SITUATION THAT NONE OF US KNEW ABOUT AND WE WEREN'T EVEN ON THE BOARD. >> OKAY THAT IS FINE. >> THAT IS FAIR. >> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE SEEN THIS LETTER, SO I THINK THAT IT IS VITAL THAT THESE DISCUSSIONS AND THE PEOPLE BRING IT BACK TO WAS AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, THIS IS A PART OF THE SUNSHINE THAT WE NEED, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE, AND AS I COUNT THEM, THERE WERE EIGHT SUB- STORAGE TANKS AND, CONTAINMENT BUILDINGS, DON COULD HAVE AND MAY STILL POSE SOME RISK ON THAT PROPERTY, I AM NOT SURE AND THAT IS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS ABOUT COULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON EXACTLY WHAT REMAINS, NOT ONLY WAS IT REPAIRED AND SEALED, BUT WHAT IS IT THAT STILL REMAINS ON THAT PROPERTY I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT IF ANYTHING, BUT THIS LETTER DOESN'T SAY THAT THESE WERE REMOVED, IT JUST SAYS THAT THEY ARE NOT LEAKING. >> THEY ARE NOT REMOVED THEY [01:05:02] WERE KEPT . >> THEY WERE NOT LEAKING, SO THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS WAS IN 2018, SIX YEARS AGO, AND, NUMBER TWO AND NUMBER THREE, THE FIRST THING TO CONGRATULATE YOU, THAT WAS A VERY GOOD SUMMATION, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BROUGHT UP ON THE PAST AND I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE ABOUT THIS RFP, I VOTED AGAINST IT BECAUSE IT IS GOING FORWARD, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS THE OPTION OF MAINTAINING OWNERSHIP AND HAVING A PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, THE WAY THAT MANY CITIES DO WITH PRIME REAL ESTATE, AND NOT SELLING THE REAL ESTATE BUT MAINTAINING OWNERSHIP MUCH LIKE THE CITY OF HOUSTON DOES WITH DISCOVERY GREEN, SO THERE COULD BE PERFORMANCES AND WE CAN HAVE FANTASTIC FACILITIES AND AMENITIES THERE, BUT WE STILL AS THE RESIDENTS OF THE PROPERTY. AND IT WILL STILL BE GENERATING TAXES AND THERE WILL BE TICKET TAXES THAT WILL BE GENERATING OVERFLOW WITH BEVERAGE TAX, AND WE WILL BE BENEFITED FROM IT BUT WE WILL BE THE OWNERS OF THAT PROPERTY. SO, THAT IS VITAL IN MY OPINION, AND IT WAS AN OPTION ON THE BOARD THAT MAY NOT GO THAT WAY BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY THINK IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST, LONG TERM FOR OUR COMMUNITY. BECAUSE PROPERTY IS SO PRECIOUS. >> AND DIRECTOR SEKULA-GIBBS, WHEN IT COMES BACK WE CAN SHARE THAT THE BOARD APPROVES AND IT IS AND IT IS NOT A PART OF THAT. >> I HAVE SOME MORE POINTS. >> I KNOW THAT, I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN IT COMES BACK FROM THE STAFF, WE CAN AND IF THE BOARD APPROVES IT, INCLUDE THAT OR NOT. >> THANK YOU, MAY I CONTINUE? >> THANK YOU, SO ANOTHER POINT IS THE SURVEY, THAT DID GO OUT, I HAVE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO IT WENT TO, YOU MENTIONED, THE AMS I THINK IT IS CALLED SURVEY, SOME SORT OF A SURVEY WENT OUT. >> THE CONSULTING FIRM THAT IS WORKING ON THE PERFORMING ARTS, THE CONSULTING FIRM, >> DID THEY SEND OUT A SURVEY EVER TO ANY OF THE RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS, OR DID THE SURVEY JUST GO TO THE BOARD >> THE SURVEY IS CONFIDENTIAL. >> BECAUSE? >> BECAUSE IT IS REQUIRED TO BE IN THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT THAT WE SIGNED WITH THE SURVEYOR, WHICH IS VERY COMMON, AND COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE. >> AND A SURVEY OF THE PROPERTY OF ANOTHER SURVEY OF THE RESIDENTS. >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE SURVEY OF THE PROPERTY? >> NO I TOTALLY MISUNDERSTOOD. AND A SURVEY OF RESIDENTS. >> WHAT IS THE AMS THAT YOU HAVE REFERRED TO? >> AMS WAS THE STUDY THAT WAS COMMISSIONED BY HOWARD HUGHES AND IT IS A CONSULTANT THAT IS SPECIALIZED IN THE PERFORMING ARTS, AND, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWED BY THEM, I HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWED BY THEM. AND, MANY OF OUR PARTNERS HERE HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWED BY THEM, AND THEY ARE DEVELOPING A REPORT WITH WHICH MY UNDERSTANDING SHOULD BE READY IN OCTOBER, NEXT MONTH. >> IS NOT GOING TO STAND INSTEAD OF ASKING THE RESIDENTS AS THEY HAD BROUGHT UP WHAT THEIR OPINION IS. >> I DON'T THINK THE BOARD HAS MADE A DETERMINATION WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO THE PUBLIC INPUT PART OF THIS PROCESS AND I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED HERE, WE ARE ON STEP TWO OF A VERY LONG PROCESS, SO THAT PART HAS NOT BEEN DISCUSSED YET. >> I THINK IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT WE DO DISCUSS IT BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED. JUST VERY VERY INTERESTED, AND WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THEIR REASONED AND PROFESSIONAL INPUT. >> CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY, THEY HAVE INTERVIEWED PEOPLE BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN PRESENTED BY THEM IN ANY PHASE WHATSOEVER. AND NOBODY HAS SEEN ANYTHING, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE WOULD OBVIOUSLY SEE BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN PRESENTED AS CURRENT. >> THAT IS CORRECT AND A PART OF THE STUDY IS TO DETERMINE THE VIABILITY OF THE PROJECT SO WE ARE TRYING TO DO THIS IN A LOGICAL ORDER, SO GETTING THAT REPORT BACK AND GETTING THE FINDINGS OF THAT, IS THE FIRST STEP. >> WILL THAT REPORT BE GIVEN TO THE ENTIRE BOARD OR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE? >> I'M NOT SURE, HOWARD COMMISSIONED THAT REPORT AND IT WILL BE UP TO THEM TO DETERMINE HOW TO DISTRIBUTE THAT. >> BUT THE FOCUS GROUPS ARE THE PEOPLE, THAT AMS DISCUSSED FOR MANY OF THE SMALL, ALBEIT, THE CORAL, OR THE WOODLANDS ARTS, THEY WERE A PART OF THAT. NOT ALL BUT THERE WAS A SAMPLING THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM PEOPLE THAT I KNOW, IN THESE GROUPS, DIRECTOR SEKULA-GIBBS? DIRECTOR FRANKS? >> YES I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, I THINK OUR BOARD GENERALLY, EXCUSE ME IS VERY SUPPORTIVE AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST . WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, [01:10:05] AND THE REALISTIC STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN WITH THE SURVEY, AND THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, AND AS A THEATER JOCK MYSELF I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THERE IS NO ONE MORE ENTHUSED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A REALLY REALLY REALLY NICE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN THE WOODLANDS, AND AT THE SAME TIME WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GO ABOUT THIS IN MAJOR TERMS, SO THAT WE CAN DO THE RIGHT THING FOR EXAMPLE AND HOW LEGAL LOT WAS CONSIDERED AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, BASED ON PAST STUDIES, THAT A MINIMUM OF 2000 SEATS, TO DO THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO IS NECESSARY, AND THAT WILL FIT ON THE GOAL LINE, AND I THINK AS THEY POINTED OUT, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING AS MECHANICAL AS THE PARKING, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING AT THE HOTEL AND SOMETHING UP THE COMPLETE GRIDLOCK. SO, I KNOW, MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD, THEY ARE ALL VERY SUPPORTIVE WE HOPE THAT IT TURNS OUT TO SAY YES THAT IT IS FEASIBLE AND IF THERE ARE A COUPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE SITES, HERE THERE OR WHATEVER WE HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY THOSE AND SAID, WE WILL PARTICIPATE IN A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, IF WE WILL PUT IT IN OUR PLACE, THAT IS NOT REALLY WHAT WE HAD IN MIND AND WE KNOW, THERE ARE GREAT GROUPS THAT WANT TO USE IT, AND A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WILL PREFER TO DRIVE AND SPEND THE WEEKEND IN THE WOODLANDS, PARK YOUR CAR ONE TIME. >> GO TO MARKET STREET AND GO TO THE CONCERT, AND COME HOME AND YOU HAVE MOVED YOUR CAR ONE TIME, AND I DO BELIEVE, THAT THERE IS ENOUGH FOLKS INTERESTED HERE AND IN THIS AREA TO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT MONTGOMERY COUNTY LAST YEAR, HAS MORE THAN 22,000 ACRES IN A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND I THINK OUR AUDIENCE WILL BE HERE, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL LEAD AS AN ECONOMIC MAGNET AS THEY HAVE POINTED OUT, AND SERVES AS RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS AS THE SHOPS AS WELL. SO I THINK WHAT WE ARE ALL TRYING TO SAY, WE THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA, AND WE DON'T SAY, HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD UNTIL WE REALLY HAVE A SOLID FEASIBILITY. AND, THE FIRST STEP REALLY NOW, TO PUT IT WHERE WE CAN REALLY START LOOKING AT, WITH THE RESULTS OF THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IS DOING THIS STUDY, THAT USES, IS SUCH AN EXPERT IN THIS, THAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD, THAT PEOPLE COME TO SEE THE THEATER ITSELF, FROM ALL OVER UNITED STATES. AND WE ARE ALMOST EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECTS AT THIS POINT, THERE IS STILL PROSPECTS. >> THANK YOU DIRECTOR FRANK AND DIRECTOR NELSON? AND THE TOPIC THAT WE ARE DANCING AROUND IS ALSO THE FUNDING OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS. AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS BIG WONDERFUL 11 1/2 ACRES HELD WITH ITEMS BUT THE PARTNERSHIP IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE EXPLORING, OUR WISH LIST MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT OUR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ARE, SO THEY HAVE TO KEEP THAT AND WE MAY WANT THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY AND OUR COMMUNITY BUT WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE IT FUNDED CORRECTLY. >> WE ARE NOT IN ANY RUSH TO SELL IT, CAN WE AGREE ON THAT? >> I AM GOING TO CLOSE, AND TAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REPORT, AND NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE REGARDING THIS PROPERTY. NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE REGARDING THIS PROPERTY. AND THE ONLY ACTION THAT THIS HAS TAKEN, IS REQUESTING STAFF OR APPROVING STAFF, TO DEVELOP IN OUR OPINION, WHICH IN THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE IS CALLED A MARKETING PLAN I DON'T WANT TO CONFUSE, BUT IT IS A MARKETING PLAN, AND TO BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD THE BOARD WILL SEE THAT, PRIOR TO IT BEING IF WE DECIDE TO ISSUE THAT OR NOT, AND WITH THAT, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REPORT? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> SO MOVED, CAN I HAVE A SECOND? AND OPPOSED, AND I THINK YOU ALL, FOR YOUR VERY HEALTHY DISCUSSION AND [10. Receive, consider and act upon changes to the 2024 Board of Directors Meeting schedule;] COMMENTS. THAT WILL BRING US TO AGENDA ITEM 10. AND I KNOW THAT KAREN DEMPSEY, WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION, BUT --, I'M SORRY, CHANGES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING SCHEDULE. >> SO, THERE ARE CHANGES PROPOSED FOR THE OCTOBER MEETINGS, BECAUSE OF A VERY BUSY SCHEDULE, CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY, AND WE ARE PROPOSING THAT THE BOARD CANCEL THE OCTOBER 17TH MEETING, AND THERE ARE ACTIVITIES ALL WEEK LONG, INCLUDING THAT PARTICULAR DAY, AND BECAUSE THEY ARE ALSO [01:15:03] SCHEDULING CONFLICTS, ON THE WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23RD. AND THE MEETING DATE WE ARE PROPOSED THAT THE BOARD MEETING TUESDAY OCTOBER 22ND. IN ADDITION, THERE IS, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT, THAT THE CANVASSING MEETING, WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH, IT HAS BEEN MOVED FOR NOVEMBER 15TH, AND IT HAS BEEN MOVED TO TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH, THAT IS BASED ON OUR ABILITY TO GET THE ELECTION RESULTS. >> AND, FROM >> NOVEMBER 19, WHICH IS ALSO A TUESDAY. >> OKAY, GOOD. IS THERE A MOTION? >> SECOND. >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING I. THE MOTION [13. Consideration of items to be placed on the agenda for next month's meeting;] PASSES, THERE IS NO NEED FOR A CLOSED SESSION, AGENDA ITEM 11 OR 12, THAT WILL BRING US TO AGENDA ITEM 13. CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MONTHS MEETING. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADD AGENDA ITEM TO DISCUSS PARKING CURRENTLY, BEFORE THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER BUT AS WE SAID RIGHT NOW IN THE TOWN CENTER AREA WE HAVE RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS IN THE MARKET STREET, AND IT IS BECOMING A BIT OF A PROBLEM WITH MAJOR CONCERTS AND VENUES AND MULTIPLE VENUES GOING ON WE NEED TO LOOK AT HIRING A PROFESSIONAL WITH ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS IN A ROOM, TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A FIXED PARKING SITUATION AND ALSO PLAN FOR FUTURE EXPANSIONS. BUT RIGHT NOW, IT IS A TOUGH SITUATION. >> SECOND. >> OKAY, ANY OTHER AGENDA ITEMS? DIRECTOR SEKULA-GIBBS. >> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO PUT FORTH AN ITEM THAT WOULD ACCELERATE THE FUNDING AND I HAVE SOME LANGUAGE, THAT I HAD RECEIVED FROM PRESIDENT SHARP TO HELP ME GET THIS RIGHT. BUT AN ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON THE NEXT MONTH AGENDA, THIS WOULD BE AN ITEM TO ADVANCE THE SAFE HAVEN BABY BOX PROJECT THAT WAS APPROVED IN A 2025 BUDGET, TO 2024 AND ASHER RECALL, IT WAS $22,000 . >> RIGHT. >> IT IS NOT A LOT OF MONEY, BUT MONIQUE SAYS THAT WOULD ACCELERATE AND ALLOW US TO APPLY FOR IT. [14. Board announcements; and] >> ANY OTHERS? >> IF NOT, THAT WILL BRING US TO THE BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS. ARE THERE ANY BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS? >> I HAVE ONE. I WOULD LOVE TO ANNOUNCE THE ARTIST THAT HAD BEEN CHOSEN FOR THE MURAL, AND THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT INFORMATION COMING OUT ABOUT THEM BUT WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE MURAL. AND, THEY HAVE DONE A LOT OF MURALS, DOWN, IN THE HOUSTON AREA, AND, SHE IS AN EXPERT AT IT, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HER, AND AND, SHE HAS ALSO CREATED ONE OF THE BIKE RACKS IN THE PAST. AND THOSE TWO WILL BE LOOKING TOGETHER ON THE MURAL ON THE WATERWAY. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. >> WE APPRECIATE THE COMMITTEE IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN. AND WE WILL HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM NEXT WEEK ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY. I THINK SOMEONE HAD REQUESTED THAT. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? >> YES. I HAVE GOOD NEWS. MOVING THEIR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS BACK TO THE WOODLANDS. I HAD MET THE PRESIDENT YESTERDAY, AT AN OIL AND GAS CONVENTION, AND HE IS TOURING THE PROPERTY ON FRIDAY, AS CONSTRUCTION IS FINISHING UP AND IT SHOULD BE WRAPPED UP AT THE END OF THE MONTH, AND THEY WILL BE MOVING IN THE FIRST OF OCTOBER, SO THIS IS A HUGE DEAL OVER 4000 MANY EXECUTIVES LIVE IN THE WOODLANDS NOW, NOW SEVERAL OF THEM INCLUDING THE PRESIDENTS MOVING IN, THEY WANT TO BE BACK IN THE WOODLANDS BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THEY LIVE AND WORK AND PLAY, AND EVERYTHING ELSE, SO THAT IS EXCITING STUFF, SO IT IS BIG FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE THEM COME BACK. >> YES. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS, IF NOT IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING AND 7:19 ? >> SECOND. >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.