[00:00:04] AND WELCOME TO THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS. REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2024. THIS EVENING, WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE OUR INVOCATION THAT WILL BE PROVIDED BY PASTOR BRIAN BUTLER. AND ALSO OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY DIRECTOR KYLE WATSON. PASTOR BRIAN BUTLER OF THE WOODLANDS FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. HE HAS SERVED AS OPERATIONS PASTOR FOR THE PAST 26 YEARS. HE AND HIS LOVELY WIFE, MONA RAISED THEIR FAMILY RIGHT HERE IN THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS, AND BOTH OF THEIR CHILDREN ARE GRADUATES OF THE WOODLANDS COLLEGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL. IT'S EASY TO SEE AND SAY THAT HE LOVES THE WOODLANDS, AND IS PROUD THAT HIS TWO GRANDCHILDREN, HUDSON AND LUCA, ARE ALSO WOODLANDS RESIDENTS. WELCOME, PASTOR BUTLER. [1. Invocation / Pledge of Allegiance;] THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING. THANK YOU, DOCTOR SNYDER. LET'S OPEN IN PRAYER. PLEASE JOIN ME AS WE PRAY. OUR FATHER, IT'S A PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT TO MEET TOGETHER. THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSING OF BEING PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND FOR THE MANY THAT HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR US TO HAVE SUCH A BLESSED PLACE TO LIVE. WE'RE GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR YOUR PROVISIONS, AND WE FREELY GIVE YOU OUR PRAISE FOR YOUR GOODNESS AND FOR YOUR SUSTAINING US THROUGH THOSE DAYS THAT SOMETIMES ARE TOUGH, AND SOME OF THOSE DAYS THAT ARE MUCH EASIER. WE PRAY YOU WOULD GIVE US EACH A SINCERE COMMITMENT TO SHOW GRACE TO ONE ANOTHER AS WE MEET TONIGHT. WE PRAY THAT WE WOULD BE RECOGNIZED AS A COMMUNITY THAT CARES AND LIVES AND BUILDS AND GROWS AND LOVES TOGETHER. MAY WHAT WE SAY AND DO TONIGHT. BE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR EXPECTATIONS, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE ABILITY TO PETITION YOU AS OUR CREATOR WITH THE. PLEASE GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. JUST AS JESUS TAUGHT US HOW TO PRAY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. WE ASK FOR YOUR BLESSINGS IN HIS NAME. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU, PASTOR BUTLER. JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO 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. AND OUR TEXAS PLEDGE. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU AGAIN, PASTOR BUTLER, AND ENJOY YOUR TRIP. AND ALSO DIRECTOR WATSON. IT IS 603. [2. Call meeting to order;] I DECLARE 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 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 BOARD MEMBER TO PLEASE INDICATE HIS OR HER PRESENCE BY RESPONDING WITH SOME AUDIBLE SOUND OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT, AS I CALL ROLL. DIRECTOR FRANKS. PRESENT. DIRECTOR HEISER HERE. DIRECTOR. NELSON HERE. DIRECTOR. SEKULA-GIBBS HERE. DIRECTOR WATSON HERE. AND DIRECTOR SNYDER, PRESENT. BY THE ROLL CALL, IT IS DETERMINED THAT A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF MEMBERS ARE PRESENT TO DECLARE THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM. [3. Receive, consider and act upon adoption of the meeting agenda;] NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS TO RECEIVE, CONSIDER AND ACT UPON THE ADOPTION OF THE MEETING AGENDA. YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION PAGES ONE THROUGH THREE FOR ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA IN YOUR BOARD PACKET. IS THERE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM FOUR TO RECOGNIZE PUBLIC OFFICIALS. [4. Recognize public officials;] ELIZABETH RICARDI IS WITH US TONIGHT. WHO IS THE REPRESENT AS THE PRECINCT CHAIR FOR 58? NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE. THAT BRINGS US TO PUBLIC COMMENT. [5. Public comment;] WE DO HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. PARTICIPATION BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND OPEN MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED. A PUBLIC COMMENT AGENDA ITEM IS INCLUDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BOARD ADOPTED POLICY TO [00:05:04] PRODUCE THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE PROCESS FOR ALLOWING CONSTITUENTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACCEPTS PUBLIC COMMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATING IN PUBLIC MEETINGS. EACH PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST FIRST SIGN THE SPEAKER'S ROSTER PROVIDED BY THE BOARD SECRETARY. INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO MAKE GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS ADDRESS A TOPIC THAT IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA, OR WHO WISH TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS, MUST DO SO UNDER PUBLIC COMMENTS. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, INDIVIDUALS WILL BE LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF THREE MINUTES, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF TOPICS. IF THERE ARE MORE THAN 15 SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. EACH SPEAKER WILL THEN BE LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF TOPICS. SPEAKERS WILL BE TAKEN IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY SIGN UP. SPEAKERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO YIELD THEIR TIME TO ANOTHER SPEAKER ON THE LIST. STATE LAW PROHIBITS THE BOARD FROM FORMALLY ACTING ON A SPECIFIC ITEM OR 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 WHETHER OR NOT THE ITEM SHOULD BE PLACED ON A FUTURE BOARD AGENDA. SPEAKERS MAY EXPRESS THEIR OPINION OR VIEWPOINTS ON AN ISSUE, BUT ARE NOT PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEBATE OF AN ISSUE. SPEAKERS WILL NOT USE PROFANITY. COMMENTS FROM SPEAKERS MAY BE MADE TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE, OR TO AN INDIVIDUAL DIRECTOR OR DIRECTORS. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO PLEASE REMIND YOU TO PLACE YOUR CELL PHONES ON SILENT, AND OUR FIRST PERSON ON THE SPEAKER ROSTER IS MR. WAGNER. WELCOME BACK. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MIKE WAGNER. I'M PRESIDENT OF THE RESIDENTS VILLAGE ASSOCIATION AT THE WATERWAY. I SPOKE LAST WEEK AND I FEEL LIKE IT WAS IN VAIN. YOU PEOPLE MUST HAVE BEEN HAVING A NICE LAUGH AT MY EXPENSE, KNOWING GOOD AND WELL. YOU HAD NO INTENTIONS TO PUT THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF THE WIDENING OF GROGAN'S MILL ON THE AGENDA. WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? ARE YOU SCARED OF SOMETHING? GET IT OUT IN THE LIGHT. ALL MY RESIDENTS WANT TO DO IS GET IT OUT IN THE LIGHT. IF YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, SPEAK UP FOR IT. HAVE THE POLITICAL BACKBONE TO BE LEADERS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE JUST SHEEP AND FOLLOWING THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU OVER THE CLIFF OR WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. WE DO NOT. I WANT TO MAKE VERY CLEAR MY RESIDENTS ARE HAPPY WITH ME BECAUSE THEY THINK I'M FAILING TO COMMUNICATE. THE RESIDENTS, THE 200 FAITHFUL VOTING CONSTITUENTS OF YOURS DO NOT WANT TO SEE GROGAN'S MILL WIDEN. IT'S NOT NECESSARY. WHAT IS SO HARD FOR YOU TO SEE ABOUT THAT? OH, I HEAR YOU WANT MORE DATA. YOU WANT MORE DATA THAT IS KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND YOU KNOW IT. YOU KNOW IT'S KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. GET IT OUT IN THE PUBLIC. LET'S SEE WHAT THE POSITIONS ARE. MY GOD, WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO VOTE ON THE WIDENING. WE'RE JUST ASKING YOU TO GET IT ON THE AGENDA TO TALK ABOUT IT. SO WE CAN ALL KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING. WHETHER IF YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA. TALK ABOUT THE GOOD IDEAS. IF YOU NEED TALKING POINTS SO BADLY CALLS UP HUGHES CORP. THEY PROBABLY CAN HAVE TALKING POINTS ON YOUR DESK BY TOMORROW MORNING, AND THEY'LL SUPPORT THEIR NICE BRAND NEW SWEETHEART DEAL OF LAND RIGHT ON GROGAN'S MILL. THIS IS NOT THAT HARD OF A THING, PEOPLE. MY GOD, YOU ARE THE LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND YOU CAN'T YOU GET ALL TANGLED UP IN YOUR UNDERWEAR OVER A BAD IDEA. HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO DEBATE AND CONSIDER? HOW MUCH HAVE YOU EVEN STARTED GATHERING ANY DATA? YOU'VE HAD THIS FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THIS STINKING ISSUE HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 2016. YOU ALL TOOK OFFICE. YOU HAD AN OBLIGATION TO STUDY WHAT MESS WAS LEFT HERE. NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THE BUNCH GROUP, NO PUN INTENDED, THAT WANTED TO INCORPORATE US THAT GOT THIS ON THERE IN 2016. BUT IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTS, IT STINKS BACK THEN. THE WAY THIS LITTLE SECTION WAS PULLED OUT. WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO QUIT? THANK YOU. WELL, YOUR THREE MINUTES IS UP, BUT FOR CLARIFICATION, THIS BOARD DID NOT GET THE INFORMATION UNTIL THE AUGUST MEETING. TWO OF US SIT ON A COMMITTEE THAT GAVE THE INFORMATION. [00:10:06] WE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. SO THEY HAVE NOT HAD IT FOR TWO MONTHS. WELL, I RESPECT THAT, BUT HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WILL BRING US TO OUR NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER, MR. CLEEK? I MEAN, I WANT TO WELCOME JAY. YEAH. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JAY GLICK. I'M A RESIDENT OF EAST SHORE. AND I'LL JUST START WITH KIND OF MARK TWAIN'S OBSERVATION. AND THAT IS NEVER MISTAKE MOTION FOR PROGRESS. AND I THINK THIS. I'M HERE TO TALK, AS THE PREVIOUS GENTLEMAN DID, AGAINST THE WIDENING OF GROGAN'S MILL ROAD. SO FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IT'S A SOLUTION. LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM? WE DON'T HAVE A TRAFFIC ISSUE THERE. I THINK WIDENING IT SUDDENLY WILL INVITE MORE TRAFFIC CUTTING THROUGH BETWEEN RESEARCH FOREST AND WOODLANDS PARKWAY. IT'S THE LAST THING WE NEED. IT'LL ALSO ENCOURAGE MORE DENSITY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE AREA. JUST BECAUSE THERE WILL BE MORE TRAFFIC OUTLETS, WE DON'T NEED THAT EITHER. AND THE DISRUPTION ASSOCIATED WITH DOING THAT WOULD PROBABLY CLOSE THE WATERWAY. IT WOULD CLOSE THE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WHO USE THE WATERWAY. IT WOULD CLOSE THE BOATING ACCESS BECAUSE THAT BRIDGE WOULD HAVE TO BE WIDENED. AND IT WOULD ALSO TAKE AWAY THE GREENBELT AND THE PEDESTRIAN WAYS ON BOTH SIDES OF GROGAN'S MILL, BOTH OF WHICH ARE USED EXTENSIVELY BY THE RESIDENTS. AND LASTLY, IT WILL CREATE A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM IN CROSSING GROGAN'S MILL FOR THOSE OF US WHO WANT TO GO TO THE WATERWAY OR MARKET STREET OR ANY OF THOSE AREAS, AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT, YOU CAN GO TO RESEARCH FORESTS AND TRY AND CROSS RESEARCH FORESTS ON FOOT OR ON A BICYCLE. AND IT'S AN ADVENTURE AT THE BEST OF TIMES. SO I KNOW IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA TODAY. AND THIS IS REALLY A PREEMPTIVE REQUEST TO FOR FOR THIS BOARD TO STOP AND SEND A MESSAGE THAT WE ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF IT. IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE IT WOULD WE SAY WE NEED MORE INFORMATION TO STUDY THIS. IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE SAYING, WELL, SOMEONE'S PROPOSING PUTTING A NUCLEAR FUEL DUMP ON GROGAN'S MILL. I THINK WE NEED TO STUDY THAT A LITTLE BIT BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION. THERE'S NO FURTHER RESEARCH REQUIRED. IT'S A BAD IDEA AND WE JUST NEED TO CALL IT AS THAT. SO I'LL YIELD BACK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CLARK. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RICHARD. RICHARD. MAYOR, WELCOME. IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE SEEN YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RICHARD MAYOR. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT AND A HOMEOWNER IN THE WOODLANDS FOR 32 YEARS. THE PAST NINE YEARS IN EAST SHORE. I AM ALSO SPEAKING TO EXPRESS MY STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE WIDENING OF GROGAN'S MILL ROAD. MY PRIMARY OBJECTIVES ARE SAFETY RELATED. THERE IS CONSIDERABLE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC ACROSS GROGAN'S MILL TO MARKET STREET, THE PAVILION, ETC. AND EVEN WITH TRAFFIC CONTROLS, PEDESTRIAN CROSSING WILL BE MORE DANGEROUS. WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING PEDESTRIAN USE, NOT MAKING IT MORE DANGEROUS. LEFT TURNS OFF OF GROGAN'S MILL, ACROSS THE ONCOMING LANES AND ONTO THE SIDE STREETS WILL BECOME MORE DANGEROUS THAN THEY ALREADY ARE. THERE IS ALREADY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC IN EAST SHORE WITH DISREGARD FOR SPEED LIMITS, STOP SIGNS, ETC. WIDENING GROGAN'S MILL IS LIKELY TO FURTHER INCREASE THIS, INCREASING THE RISK OF COLLISIONS AND PEDESTRIAN INJURIES OR WORSE. I DO NOT MENTION THIS AS SOME NOT IN MY BACKYARD NAYSAYER, BUT AS A GRANDFATHER WITH A YOUNG GRANDDAUGHTER WHO ACTUALLY WALK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IF THE TOWNSHIP NEEDS TO COLLECT ADDITIONAL DATA SUCH AS TRAFFIC COUNTS, I ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO INCLUDE THE SIDE STREETS ENTERING EAST SHORE AS PART OF THE STUDY TO OBTAIN AN EXPERT IN OBJECTIVE OPINION ON THE IMPACT OF WIDENING GROGAN'S MILL ON TRAFFIC IN EAST SHORE, AND TO SHARE THAT WITH THE TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS. I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL LOSS OF TREES AND THE ATTENDANT REDUCTION IN THE NOISE BARRIER. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TOWNSHIP TO AVOID ANOTHER UNFORTUNATE DEVIATION FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER PLAN, AND TO RETAIN PART OF THE ORIGINAL HOMETOWN VISION. I RESPECTFULLY BUT STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE TOWNSHIP BOARD TO SEND A RESOLUTION AGAINST THE WIDENING OF GROGAN'S MILL TO HVAC, TXDOT, AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU RICHARD. THANK YOU. THE NEXT IS ELIZABETH PICARD. MISS PICARD. SAY THAT OUT LOUD. [00:15:03] BECAUSE I AM SHORTER. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH RICHARD, AND I'M THE CURRENT PRECINCT 58 CHAIR OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE WOODLANDS FOR 24 YEARS, AS WELL AS A WIFE AND MOTHER OF FOUR YOUNG MEN. THE LAST ONE IN HIS JUNIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL AT COLLEGE PARK. I AM HERE TO TALK AGAINST THE PROPOSED WIDENING OF GROGAN'S MILL BETWEEN WOODLANDS PARKWAY AND RESEARCH FOREST. I AGREE WITH DOCTOR SEKULA-GIBBS AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PROJECT REMOVED FROM TXDOT'S ROAD IMPROVEMENTS LIST. EVEN WITH THE GROWING NUMBER OF WOODLANDS RESIDENTS. WHY? BECAUSE EVEN WITH THE AMOUNT OF DRIVERS, WE ARE ALSO A COMMUNITY OF PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS. WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN OUR MANY PARKS AND SIDEWALKS, WHERE FAMILIES CAN ENJOY OUTINGS BY FOOT OR ON BIKES SAFELY. IN PAST MEETINGS, YOU HAVE HEARD FROM RESIDENT ADVOCATES CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF CROSSING CERTAIN AREAS OF GROGAN'S MILL, PRECISELY BETWEEN WOODLANDS PARKWAY AND RESEARCH FOREST. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE REMOVAL OF THE MEDIANS, SIGNIFYING LESS GREEN SPACE. A FEW COMMENTS WERE MADE BY SOME OF THE DIRECTORS, POINTING OUT THAT IT WAS MAINLY RETAIL SPACE. SOME OF YOU WANTED TO HEAR HOW THIS MIGHT IMPACT THE RESIDENTS, SO I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE. MY SON JUST TURNED 16 THIS YEAR AND BEFORE HE WAS DRIVING, HE WOULD WE WOULD ENCOURAGE HIM TO RIDE HIS BIKE EVERYWHERE. HE AND HIS GROUP OF FRIENDS WOULD HOP ON THEIR BIKES AND RIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE MALL AND TOWNE GREEN, BECAUSE WE LIVE RIGHT ON SHADOW BEND BETWEEN RESEARCH AND LAKE WOODLANDS. EITHER ROAD IS A STRAIGHT SHOT TO GROGAN'S MILL. I WOULD HATE TO THINK HOW DIFFICULT THAT WOULD BE WITH THE PROPOSED WIDENING, SINCE THE QUICKEST WAY TO CROSS TO GET TO TOWN GREEN IN THE PAVILION IS AN INTERSECTION THAT HAS A BLINKING YELLOW LIGHT. NOT VERY SAFE FOR PEDESTRIANS OR CYCLISTS. THINK OF WHAT YOU'RE GIVING UP FOR WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED. YOU WOULD BE RISKING RESIDENT SAFETY. YOU'D BE GIVING UP THAT COMMUNITY JOY OF BEING ABLE TO WALK AND BIKE ALMOST EVERYONE EVERYWHERE HERE IN THE WOODLANDS. MAYBE YOU DON'T SEE IT BECAUSE YOU MIGHT LIVE IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS FURTHER BACK AND DRIVE TO THESE AREAS IN QUESTION. COME DURING A CONCERT OR EVENT AND YOU'LL SEE JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE CROSS GROGAN'S MILL. YOU WOULD BE BOTH PROUD AND CONCERNED. PROUD THAT THIS TOWNSHIP IS SO PEDESTRIAN, FAMILY FRIENDLY, BUT ALSO CONCERNED AT WHAT A WIDENING COULD BRING. YOU COULD KEEP POSTPONING THIS PROJECT, BUT I AM ASKING AS A RESIDENT FOR YOU TO REMOVE IT, WRITE THE LETTER AND HAVE IT REMOVED COMPLETELY. JUST LIKE WITH MOST TRAFFIC, WHEN DRIVERS SEE CONGESTION, THEY FIND AN ALTERNATE ROUTE. IF WE HOLD TO THE NUMBER OF LANES WE HAVE NOW, I BELIEVE THOSE DRIVERS WILL FIND ANOTHER WAY TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION. AND YOU, AS OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CAN CONTINUE BEING PROUD OF OUR PEDESTRIAN, FAMILY FRIENDLY, SAFETY FIRST COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND OUR NEXT. CONNOR EARNEST. WELCOME. HI. BUT WHOEVER CAUSES ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES WHO BELIEVE IN ME TO SIN, IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR HIM TO HAVE A GREAT MILLSTONE FASTENED AROUND HIS NECK AND TO BE DROWNED IN THE DEPTH OF THE SEA. THESE ARE THE WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST IN MATTHEW 18 SIX. FOR THE SIXTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, THE SO-CALLED WOODLANDS PRIDE WILL HOLD AN EVENT ON PROPERTY CONTROLLED BY THIS BOARD. THROUGH THIS BOARD'S DE FACTO APPROVAL, FEATURING EXPLICIT DISPLAYS IN FRONT OF THE MOST VULNERABLE, MALLEABLE AND INNOCENT AMONG US CHILDREN. I WITNESSED THIS TWO YEARS AGO. KIDS NO OLDER THAN FIVE HANDING DOLLAR BILLS TO MEN DRESSED AS WOMEN WITH PROSTHETIC BREASTS WHILE THEY DANCED SUGGESTIVELY TO THE APPLAUSE OF ADULTS AND POLICE OFFICERS. AN OFFICER ON SITE TOLD ME IT'S A PARENT'S DECISION IF THEY WANT THEIR CHILD HERE OR NOT. TO THAT, I PROMPTLY RESPONDED THAT ONE DAY IT WILL BE THE STATE'S DECISION WHETHER THEY SHOULD HAVE CUSTODY OR NOT. MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD TRY TO CONVINCE ME THEN THAT THEY HAD TO ALLOW THE EVENT TO TAKE PLACE, BECAUSE IT WASN'T WORTH THE HEADACHE IF THEY WERE TO TAKE ACTION. IN JOB 31 ONE IT STATES, I HAVE MADE A COVENANT WITH MY EYES AS PROTECTING THE COVENANT. A CHILD HAS MADE WITH THEIR EYES NOT WORTH MORE THAN THE FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL COST OF LITIGATION. TO PUT IT KINDLY, YOU ALL HAVE SAID A REPULSIVE PRECEDENT BY ALLOWING THIS FILTH YEAR AFTER YEAR. WHEN? WHEN DID THOSE WHO SEEK TO GROOM CHILDREN STOP BEING CHARGED WITH ABUSE AND ENDANGERMENT? WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND A PARENT WATCHING PORNOGRAPHY WITH THEIR CHILD. WHAT ABOUT THE CHILD BEING RAISED IN A STRONG CHRISTIAN HOME, PASSING BY AND UNKNOWINGLY WITNESSING THIS? THIS INEVITABLY LEADS TO THESE CHILDREN SINFULLY AND IMPROPERLY FALLING INTO THE TRAP OF ESTABLISHING THEIR IDENTITY IN THE WORLD THROUGH HOMOSEXUALITY, GENDER DYSPHORIA, AND LUST, RATHER THAN RIGHTFULLY PLACING THEIR IDENTITY IN JESUS. YOU WOULD THINK TWICE IF WE SAW PARENTS WALKING THEIR CHILD INTO A STRIP CLUB OR A BROTHEL. YET A GROUP OF DEPRAVED INDIVIDUALS GROOMING AND SEXUALIZING CHILDREN IN THE WOODLANDS AT A PUBLIC PARK ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON. [00:20:04] NO ONE ON THIS BOARD HAS DONE AS MUCH AS LIFT A FINGER. THIS BEHAVIOR MUST BE EXPELLED FROM OUR HOMES, PLACES OF WORSHIP AND PUBLIC PARKS. IT'S PEDOPHILIA. WE LIVE IN A TOWN THAT BELIEVES IN TRADITIONAL VALUES. THIS IS REFLECTED IN OUR STRONG CHRISTIAN FAMILIES, HOMES AND CHURCHES AND THE WAY WE VOTE. EVERY MEMBER OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE FROM OUR TOWN VOTED TO BAN CHILD GENDER MODIFICATION, AND MEN DRESSING PROVOCATIVELY AS WOMEN LAST SESSION. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS RIGHTFULLY CALLS THE HOMOSEXUAL LIFESTYLE ABNORMAL. YOU WERE ALL ELECTED TO UPHOLD THESE VALUES, NOT PREDATORY MARXIST AGENDAS. THE RAINBOW IS GOD'S PROMISE TO US AS CHRISTIAN CHRISTIANS. THERE IS NO PRIDE IN SIN, AND THE WOODLANDS IS A PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, PLAY, AND WORSHIP. NOT A PLACE FOR THE PROMOTION OF SODOMY. WOULD YOU TAKE YOUR CHILD TO THIS EVENT? WOULD YOU WANT YOUR CHILD AROUND THOSE WHO DO? THE ANSWER IS A RESOUNDING NO. I WOULD HOPE. WHERE IS YOUR CONVICTION TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE? AS I'VE SAID IN ACTION IS AN ENDORSEMENT OF THESE BEHAVIORS THAT ARE CORRUPTING OUR CHILDREN. FAILURE TO ACT WOULD BE THE CONTINUATION OF YOUR CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE. THIS BOARD MUST DO EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO PROTECT OUR LITTLE ONES. LEST YOU HAVE A MILLSTONE HUNG AROUND YOUR NECK. THANK YOU. CONNOR. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM SIX. [a. Texas Travel Alliance Rising Star Award; ] OUR PRESIDENTS AND CEOS REPORT. MISS SHARP. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN SNYDER. IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TONIGHT TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE SEVERAL OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS FOR THEIR TALENT AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. SO I'M GOING TO START FIRST WITH JOSE LEWIS FROM VISIT THE WOODLANDS. JOSE IS OUR DIRECTOR OF SALES FOR VISIT THE WOODLANDS, AND SHE WILL BE HONORED WITH THE TEXAS TRAVEL ALLIANCE 2024 RISING STAR AWARD AT THE TEXAS TRAVEL SUMMIT IN HOUSTON THIS COMING OCTOBER. THIS IS A COMPETITIVE AND A PRESTIGIOUS AWARD THAT RECOGNIZES ONE PROFESSIONAL ANNUALLY FOR HIS OR HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND LEADERSHIP IN THE TEXAS TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY. SO WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD OF JOSE AND QUITE THE ACCOMPLISHMENT. CONGRATULATIONS, GRATULATIONS JOSE. AND NOW YOU HAVE A VERY SPECIAL YOUNG MAN WITH YOU. I THINK JACKSON. WELL, WE WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE. IS THAT ALL RIGHT? WILL YOU COME UP WITH YOUR MOM AND WE'LL TAKE A PHOTO CONGRATULATING HER, PLEASE. THIS IS SPECIAL. OKAY. HOW ARE YOU? HERE SHE COMES IN THE MIDDLE. OH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. THANKS FOR COMING, JACKSON. WELL. OF COURSE. YES. EVERYBODY READY? ON THREE. ONE. TWO. THREE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK SO AS JOSIE SITTING DOWN, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS. I WAS AS THE VICE CHAIR OF VISIT THE WOODLANDS. I WAS ABLE TO SEE HER IN ACTION LAST WEEK WHEN WE HAD 500 EXECUTIVES THAT DEAL WITH MEETING PLANNERS. WHAT SHE DID LAST WEEKEND WAS AMAZING. IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SEEN MARKET STREET CLOSED DOWN ON A SUNDAY NIGHT. WE WERE WITH 60 VINES. WE WERE WITH TOMMY BAHAMAS. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT. ENDED UP AT BOBCATS. AND IF AFTER THOSE 500 PEOPLE CAME AND THEY DID NOT DECIDE TO HAVE THEIR MEETINGS HERE, THEY'RE CRAZY. BUT JOSIE DID AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, INTENTIONAL, TOP NOTCH. AND WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE HER REPRESENTING THE WOODLANDS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR NELSON. I'LL SECOND THAT. OKAY. NEXT. [b. 3CMA Savvy Award; ] THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT WON A FIRST PLACE SAVVY AWARD AT THE CITY COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING ASSOCIATION'S A MOUTHFUL 2024 ANNUAL CONFERENCE. THIS RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. THE AWARD WAS FOR OUR E-NEWSLETTER AND FOR POPULATIONS OVER 75,000. WE COMPETED AGAINST NUMEROUS HIGH QUALITY ENTRIES, AND WE WERE RECOGNIZED AGAIN FOR OUR RELAUNCH OF THE TALK OF THE TOWNSHIP, WHICH [00:25:02] WAS WE INITIATED IN JANUARY OF 2024. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZE. AND YOU SEE HER PICTURE UP HERE. CASEY LED THE CHARGE. IT WAS A DEPARTMENT AWARD, BUT CASEY LED THE CHARGE ON THIS. I'M NOT GOING TO READ TO YOU ALL OF THE DIFFERENT JUDGES COMMENTS THAT SHE GOT AND THAT THE TEAM GOT, BUT THEY WERE AWESOME. AND SO AGAIN, VERY, VERY PROUD OF THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM AND THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT. AND CASEY AND THEN ALSO OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, LEANNE PETERSON, AS WELL AS PERRY FRANK, OUR COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST. IF YOU'D COME UP SO WE CAN CONGRATULATE YOU AND TAKE A PHOTO. AND PERRY, WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE ELSE TAKE THE PHOTO SO YOU CAN BE IN IT. TAKE A SELFIE. PERRY, TAKE A SELFIE, A LONG SELFIE. COME ON, PERRY, YOU GET TO BE. NO, YOU'RE VERY, VERY IN THE MIDDLE. HE LIKES TO HIDE. I KNOW THIS IS YOUR AWARD CARD. ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO. STARTING FIRING AWAY. GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. WE STILL LOOK GOOD. OH, YES. OH. THANK YOU, MISS SHARP. AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. WE HAVE INCREDIBLE STAFF AT THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP. WE ARE TRULY FORTUNATE TO HAVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS DO SO MANY GOOD THINGS. THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM SEVEN TO ACT UPON REPORTS FROM OUR VILLAGE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES. [7. Receive, consider and act upon reports from Village Association representatives;] WE DO HAVE SEVERAL HERE THIS EVENING. WE'LL START WITH ALDEN BERGE. MARIANNE, WE MISSED YOU LAST WEEK, BUT REGGIE. OR LAST MEETING. BUT REGGIE DID A GREAT JOB. YES. HE DID. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, CHAIRWOMAN SNYDER AND DIRECTORS. MY NAME IS MARIANNE. BRADEN IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALDEN BRIDGE VILLAGE ASSOCIATION. I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. WE HELD OUR LAST MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 10TH. SPECIALIST TAVARES GAVE US A LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT. AND DIRECTOR FRANKS AND DOCTOR SEKULA-GIBBS BOTH SPOKE DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS. AND WE THANK THEM BOTH FOR ATTENDING OUR MEETING. WE APPROVED OUR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FOR NEXT YEAR, AND ALSO DISCUSSED DEVELOPING ANOTHER APPLICATION FOR STUDENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND LONE STAR COLLEGE OR ATTEND A TRADE SCHOOL. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT AT OUR NEXT MEETING. A REMINDER THAT SEVERAL OF US WILL BE ATTENDING THE HOCUS POCUS POPS CONCERT AT THE PAVILION ON OCTOBER 17TH. THE CONCERT IS FREE AND WILL BE RECOGNIZED AS ALDEN BRIDGE NIGHT AT THE PAVILION, SO PLEASE COME AND JOIN US. WE ARE STILL BUSY GETTING READY FOR OUR FALL FESTIVAL ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND. IT WILL BE FROM 1 TO 4 P.M. AT LAKESIDE PARK. WE WILL HAVE BOUNCE HOUSES, A ROCK WALL, A TRAIN, FACE PAINTING, BALLOON TWISTERS, A PHOTO BOOTH, A CARICATURIST, A DJ AND A PRESENTATION FROM THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE K9 UNIT. CHICK FIL A WILL BE SERVING CHICKEN NUGGETS AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE ICE CREAM, SNO CONES, GAMES AND SNACKS. WE WILL BE HAVING OUR NOVEMBER MEETING AT FIRE STATION NUMBER FOUR. THERE WILL BE A TOUR OF THE FIRE STATION AT 630, AND OUR MEETING WILL BE HELD IN THE BAY AFTER THE TOUR. ALL RESIDENTS ARE INVITED TO COME. WE DO HAVE ONE OPENING ON THE BOARD. IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO, PLEASE CONTACT US AT ABBVIE, INFO AT GMAIL.COM AND OUR NEXT MEETING IS ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8TH. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU MARIANNE, AND ALSO VERY THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU AND YOUR BOARD DO FOR SO MANY. JC HARVILLE COCHRAN'S CROSSING. WELCOME, JC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. LAST NIGHT WE HAD OUR WE DID OUR OUR NORMAL MONTHLY BUDGET MONTHLY MEETING. WE DIDN'T DO MOST OF OUR WORK WAS AROUND OUR OCTOBER 20TH, WHICH WE DECIDED TO PUT AS PART OF THE 50TH CELEBRATION. [00:30:02] IT'S JUST NOT BEING ADVERTISED AS THAT, BUT THAT'S OUR ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL. IT WILL BE HELD AT SHADOW BAND FROM 1 TO 4. WE HAVE 12 VENDORS ALREADY, AND WE'RE DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. WE'RE CREATING A SHOPPING BAG. THINK OF A KROGER SHOPPING BAG OR AN HEB BAG WITH SPONSORS ON IT, AND WE'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL PEOPLE FOR THAT. SO RIGHT NOW WE'VE RAISED APPROXIMATELY $5,000 AND THEN WE'LL TAKE THE EXPENSES AWAY. BUT THEN THAT WILL HELP WITH OUR EDUCATION FUND FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND FOR TEACHER GRANTS. WE ALSO HAVE THE VERY GOOD OVERABUNDANCE OF HAVING 180 STUDENT VOLUNTEERS SIGN UP ALREADY FOR OUR FALL FESTIVAL ON THAT DAY FROM THE DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THAT'S THE MOST WE'VE EVER HAD BY BEING ABLE TO DO THAT. WE DID ELECT A NEW MEMBER LAST NIGHT. WE STILL HAVE ONE VACANCY BECAUSE SOMEONE MOVED AWAY, BUT THERE WAS SOMEONE THERE LAST NIGHT WHO'S ALREADY EXPRESSED INTEREST AND IS READY TO COME AND JOIN US AT OUR NEXT MEETING AND HOPEFULLY BE ELECTED. WE DID HAVE AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION ABOUT THE 50TH CELEBRATION AND WHAT WAS GOING ON EACH DAY LAST NIGHT, SO WE WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE ARE PLANTING A TREE IN HONOR OF JIM GOLDMEIER. MANY OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW HIM. HE WAS THE HE WAS ONE OF THE WOODLANDS OUTSTANDING CITIZEN. A COUPLE OF YEARS. HE SERVED ON OUR BOARD FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND HE ALSO WAS ON THE D'ARCY. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE PLANTING A TREE IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD PARK THERE FOR IN HONOR OF HIM. AND ONCE WE GET THE DETAILS, WE'LL GIVE THAT TO YOU AND INVITE YOU TO COME TO THAT SPECIAL MEETING SO THAT WE CAN SHARE IN THAT. WE'RE JUST WAITING ON JIM. HE'S IN QUEBEC CITY RIGHT NOW WITH HIS WIFE, SO HE'S GOING TO LET US KNOW AS SOON AS HE GETS BACK. THE TREE WILL BE PLANTED THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 14TH. OUR NEXT MEETING DATE HAS BEEN CHANGED FROM THE FROM THE FOURTH UNTIL OCTOBER 15TH, BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE IT RIGHT BEFORE OUR FALL FESTIVAL, SO WE CAN FINISH ALL THE PLANNING AND ALL OF THE THINGS ABOUT THAT. BUT WE DO. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR COCHRANES CROSSING. WELL, WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO AND PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT THE PLANNING OF THE DECREE ACTUALLY TOOK JIM TO THE AIRPORT YESTERDAY MORNING AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING. SO THAT'S WHY I WAS VIDEOTAPING YOU TO SEND THAT TO HIM. AND THAT BRINGS US TO TOM SCHWARZKOPF. YOU HAD A GREAT GOLF TOURNAMENT TODAY. YES WE DID. GOOD EVENING, DIRECTORS, STAFF AND RESIDENTS. MY NAME IS TOM SCHWARZKOPF. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE STERLING RIDGE VILLAGE ASSOCIATION. I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU THE MONTHLY UPDATE. THE VILLAGE OF STERLING RIDGE. WE HOLD THREE EVENTS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE RESIDENTS EVERY YEAR. PRIMARILY FOR THE CHILDREN, SUCH AS A FISHING TOURNAMENT AND POOL PARTIES. WE ALSO HOLD ONE FUNDRAISER, AND THE FUNDRAISER IS SPECIFICALLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS. AND WE GIVE EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE RAISE TO KIDS IN STERLING RIDGE WHO WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE. AND LAST YEAR, WE ALSO OPENED IT UP TO TRADE SCHOOLS AS WELL. SO TODAY WE HAD OUR GOLF TOURNAMENT AND THAT'S OUR FUNDRAISER, AND WE RAISED ABOUT $20,000 IN THAT. AND LIKE I SAID, WE WILL BE GIVING ALL THAT MONEY TO STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING OFF TO SCHOOL, EITHER IN COLLEGE OR IN A TRADE SCHOOL. SO WE HAVE ONE MORE EVENT TO GO IN THE FALL. IT WILL BE A CHILI COOK OFF IN DECEMBER. THAT'S RIGHT. IT WAS A CONFLICT WITH THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP 50TH ANNIVERSARY, AND WE TRIED TO SCHEDULE OUR BARBECUE THREE TIMES AND THINGS CAME UP, SO WE HAD TO RESCHEDULE. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, AND I'M GLAD TO BE HERE TONIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU AS ALWAYS, TOM. AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU AND YOUR BOARD DOES IN STERLING RIDGE. THAT CONCLUDES OUR REPORTS FROM THE VILLAGE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, CALLED FOR A MOTION AND SECOND TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE REPORTS. MOVED. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. THAT BRINGS US TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. [ CONSENT AGENDA] THESE ARE NONCONTROVERSIAL OR HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS REQUIRED BY LAW, AND WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR APPROVAL AS A GROUP WITH ONE MOTION. NO DISCUSSION WILL TAKE PLACE ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS, UNLESS THE ITEM IS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND PLACED ON THE REGULAR AGENDA BY ANY BOARD MEMBER PRIOR TO TAKING A VOTE ON THE MOTION. THERE ARE FIVE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. YOU'VE HAD ALL OF THIS INFORMATION SINCE THE BOARD BOOK WAS PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY FROM 4 TO 45. I CALL FOR A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS MOVED. [00:35:05] SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. THAT BRINGS US THEN, TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA. AGENDA ITEM NINE. [9. Receive, consider and act upon an update on The Woodlands 50th Anniversary;] WHEN YOU'RE READY TO RECEIVE, CONSIDER AND ACT UPON AN UPDATE ON THE WOODLANDS 50TH ANNIVERSARY. OUR PRESIDENT OF THE WOODLANDS, NICK WALTER, WILL PRESENT. AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU JUST YOUR DAUGHTER'S HAD ANOTHER BABY. SO. IRISH TWINS. THANK YOU. EVERYTHING'S GREAT. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY. THIS IS THE ONLY SLIDE YOU HAVE. THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS HERE, RIGHT? T T MINUS THREE WEEKS AND COUNTING. WE ARE THREE WEEKS FROM TODAY. WE WILL BE DEDICATING ON THIS AT THIS TIME, A VERY LARGE SIGNATURE TREE IN NORTH SHORE PARK, THANKS TO CHRIS NUNES AND HIS TEAM. SO I JUST WANT TO RUN OVER THIS VERY BRIEFLY OF THE ACTIVITIES AND THEN SPEND A LITTLE TIME HERE WITH DIRECTOR HEIZER TALKING ABOUT THE MURAL. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL HAD TALKED ABOUT IN AUGUST AND WANTED TO BRING THAT BACK. SO KICK OFF FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY BEGINS ON MONDAY. 10 A.M. OVER AT THE BANDSHELL AT HUGHES LANDING WILL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR SOME STORIES FROM THE PAST AND TO VISIT WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MANY YEARS AND REMINISCE ABOUT THE WOODLANDS. AND NOW, 50 YEARS LATER, TUESDAY, A DAY OF GIVING. SO THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY PROBABLY HAVE SEEN SOME PR THAT'S COMING UP ON THAT. LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES. CHECK INTERFAITH FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT ARE WATCHING IF YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER ON THAT DAY. THAT DAY OF GIVING WEDNESDAY JUST MENTIONED THE TREE DEDICATION 6 P.M. AT NORTH SHORE PARK. THURSDAY IS THE UNVEILING OF THE MURAL THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT 11 A.M. THURSDAY ON THE WATERWAY SOUTH PLAZA AT THE CYNTHIA WOODS MITCHELL PAVILION, WHERE THE MILLENNIUM SCULPTURE IS. FRIDAY IS A FREE CONCERT. I SAY FREE WITH AN ASTERISK BECAUSE THAT IS PAID FOR BY HOWARD HUGHES CORPORATION. THEY ARE GENEROUS, GENEROUSLY DONATING THE CONCERT, PAYING FOR THE COST. THAT'S LYLE LOVETT, JACK INGRAM, AND HAYES CARLL. THE WOODLANDS OWNED THE MCCULLOUGH GRADUATES PERFORMING THAT NIGHT. IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT COMMUNITY ACTIVITY IN THE PLAZA AS WELL AS INSIDE THE PAVILION. AND THEN SATURDAY, THE GRAND CELEBRATION. AND I KNOW THAT DOCTOR NUNEZ AND HIS TEAM ARE PUTTING TOGETHER ALL THE FINAL TOUCHES ON. THIS IS GOING TO BE SPECTACULAR. A MOMENT IN TIME IN OUR 50TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY DRONE SHOW. FIREWORKS SHOW BEST SEEN FROM NORTH SHORE PARK IN LAKE WOODLANDS BRIDGE. CHRIS AND I COVER EVERYTHING ON THAT. YOU THINK? ALL GOOD ON THAT. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. SO WANT TO GO BACK NOW? DIRECTOR HEISER HAS AN UPDATE ON THE MURAL. EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TICKETS. I'VE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE ASK IF THEY WANT TICKETS ON FRIDAY NIGHT. YES. SO THAT'S GOING THROUGH. HOWARD HUGHES IS MANAGING THAT WHOLE PROCESS. SO PEOPLE HAVE PUT NAMES IN. AND SO THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS NOW OF DISTRIBUTING THOSE TICKETS OUT. SO SO THE GIST OF IT IS YOU DO NEED A TICKET TO GET IN. YES. SO YOU HAVE TO REGISTER AT THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP WEBSITE. AND THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED SENDING OUT. I KNOW I REGISTERED FOR MY FAMILY AND THEY SENT OUT A LINK. NOW I CAN EITHER ORDER IT ONLINE, THE TICKETS, OR I CAN GO TO THE BOX OFFICE AND PICK IT UP WITHOUT A $5 FEE. BUT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED A TICKET TO GET IN. SO EVEN THOUGH IT IS FREE, YOU NEED A TICKET TO GET IN. THAT'S CORRECT. AND IT'S YES. AT THE WEBSITE THE WOODLANDS.COM INFORMATION IS THERE. OKAY, GREAT. AND WE JUST WE WANTED TO FOCUS A LITTLE BIT ON ALL THE ACTIVITIES. ACTIVITIES ARE FANTASTIC. IT'S BEEN VERY WELL PLANNED. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK. BUT WE WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE MURAL BECAUSE OUR WONDERFUL ARTIST MARLA SAUCEDO IS HERE. IF YOU'LL WAVE, STAND UP FOR A MINUTE. MARLOW AND A RESIDENT OF THE WOODLAND. AND SHE IS A RESIDENT OF THE WOODLANDS AND ALSO THE ARTIST WHO COLLABORATED WITH. I'M NOT GOING TO REMEMBER HIS AT MORGAN, I THINK. AND JENNY RYAN, COULD YOU COME UP TO THE PODIUM? SO THE AUDIENCE, AS WELL AS THE BOARD AND THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING IT LIVE. SPEAK TO BOTH DIRECTOR HEIZER AND DIRECTOR NELSON AND DIRECTOR BAILEY, WHO COULD NOT BE HERE THIS EVENING. I'LL SERVE ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE WITH MISTER WALDO AND OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO. SURE. SO MY SPECIALTY IS USING WORDS AS FORM. SO ON THAT BIKE RACK, WHICH IS RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE HEB, ALL OF THE SPONSORS NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN A SPECIFIC WAY, AND THAT WAS MY CONTRIBUTION TO THAT PIECE, AS WELL AS BEING A PART OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW EXHIBITION. [00:40:04] RIGHT. SO BARLOW'S A WONDERFUL ARTIST, AND SHE'LL BE COLLABORATING WITH AMY MALKIN, WHO HAS 70, I BELIEVE, PUBLIC ARTWORKS THROUGHOUT HOUSTON, THE HOUSTON AREA. YES. SO SHE'S VERY WELL KNOWN AS A MURAL OUTDOOR MURAL SPECIALIST. SO SHE WILL BE ON THE WALL FOR DAYS AND DAYS. AND WE'RE ALSO HAVING A COMMUNITY PAINT DAY. AND SO WE'D LOVE FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADD MURAL ARTISTS TO THEIR RESUME TO COME OUT ON SATURDAY MORNING BETWEEN 9 AND 11. WE'LL HAVE THE PAINT AND THE BRUSHES. JUST WEAR SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T MIND GETTING DIRTY BECAUSE THE PAINT WILL NOT COME OFF. REMEMBER, IT'S FOR AN OUTDOOR WALL AND HELP US PAINT. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IT LIKE PAINT BY NUMBER, AND Y'ALL CAN JUST PICK THE COLOR THAT GOES WITH THE NUMBER AND HELP US PAINT IT. YEAH, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. AND SO THAT WILL BE THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28TH FROM 9 TO 11. THEY'LL BE AT THE WATERWAY DOWN BY THE MILLENNIUM STATUE. RIGHT. RIGHT PAST THE PAVILION TOWARD THE WATERWAY. SO. AND ALL AGES ARE WELCOME. SO THIS COMMUNITY DAY IS SEPTEMBER 20TH. SEPTEMBER 20TH, 28TH. BUT THE ACTUAL DATE OF THE UNVEILING IS OCTOBER 17TH AT 11 A.M.. SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THE UNVEILING THAT WILL BE OCCURRING AT THAT AT THAT TIME. SO OUT OF ALMOST 40 ARTISTS WE HAD, 40 ACTUALLY, TWO CAME IN A LITTLE TOO LATE, SO WE COULDN'T ACCEPT THEIR SUBMISSIONS. BUT SO WE HAD 38. BUT MARLO AND AMY WERE CHOSEN AS OUR SELECT ARTISTS FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY MURAL, SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL. WELL, SO AM I. I'VE LIVED HERE 17 YEARS. MY YOUNGEST IS A SENIOR AT THE WOODLANDS HIGH SCHOOL. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THE SYSTEM SINCE BUCKALEW. WE'VE LOVED LIVING HERE. AND SO THIS IS A REAL HONOR FOR ME TO BE A PART OF THIS. THANKS, MARLO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE SO HONORED THAT YOU'RE HERE THIS EVENING. CONTINUE. THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT FOR ME? YEAH. THE ONLY OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO DO IS THANK THE BOARD. FOR JUST BEING SO WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH ON THIS. OF COURSE, OUR STAFF, HOWARD HUGHES, AND ESPECIALLY THE ARTS COUNCIL, BECAUSE THEY SET EVERYTHING UP AS FAR AS TRYING TO GET SUBMISSIONS. IT'S CALLED A CALL FOR ARTIST THAT THEY DID ONLINE. SO THEY DID ALL OF THAT. JENNIE WRIGHT AT THE ARTS COUNCIL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND A SHOUT OUT TO KIM PHILLIPS WITH HOWARD HUGHES FOR COORDINATING SO MANY OF THESE DETAILS. I KNOW THAT IN THIS NOW THREE WEEKS LEFT IT'S IT'S A LITTLE MIND BOGGLING, BUT YEAH. DIRECTOR NELSON, WOULD YOU TALK ABOUT THE DAY OF GIVING? YEAH. RIGHT. SO THE DAY OF GIVING IS GOING TO BE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15TH. THAT'S ACTUALLY THE ACCUMULATION OF EVERYTHING. BUT YOU CAN GO ON THE WEBSITE NOW AND YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR THE HAND ME UP SHOP OFF OF SAWDUST. THE COMMUNITY CENTER. SERVING MEALS AND ACTIVITIES WITH THE SENIORS. THERE'S SEVERAL. THE VEGGIE VILLAGE. THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS TO SIGN UP FOR FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF OCTOBER. AND THEN THE DAY OF GIVING, WHICH IS OCTOBER 15TH. IF I KNOW AN EXAMPLE, MEMORIAL HERMANN'S DOING A COAT DRIVE, AND WE'RE STARTING IT NEXT WEEK AND ALL WEEK, ALL MONTH LONG. AND THEN WE'LL BRING IT ON THE 15TH. AND THERE'LL BE PEOPLE, VOLUNTEERS THERE THE ENTIRE DAY AT INTERFAITH ON INTERFAITH WAY. SO THERE IS A LOT GOING ON. AND THE WHOLE IDEA IS THE TOWN IS THE WOODLANDS IS SET ON PHILANTHROPY AND GIVING BACK. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS SUCH A BIG PART OF OUR 50TH CELEBRATION WITH THE PHILANTHROPY THAT WE ALL ARE INVOLVED IN. SO WE'RE REALLY HOPING THAT YOUR ORGANIZATIONS, YOUR NONPROFITS, YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BOY SCOUTS, THAT YOU ALL DO SOMETHING TO GIVE BACK AND, AND BRING IT ON THE 15TH, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE, AND THEY'LL ALSO PICK UP IF WE GET TOO MANY COATS. THEY SAID THEY'LL BRING THEIR BOX TRUCK AND PICK IT UP AT THE HOSPITAL AS WELL. YEAH. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WILDER OR OUR BOARD MEMBERS ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE? IF NOT, VERY THANKFUL. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL WEEK OF CELEBRATION. EXACTLY. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. OF COURSE. IS THERE A MOTION SECOND TO ACCEPT THE REPORT? SO MOVED. I'LL SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO ACCEPT THE REPORT. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM TEN. [10. Receive, consider and act upon an award of contract for commuter bus service operations for The Woodlands Express (C-2024-0406);] TO RECEIVE, CONSIDER AND ACT UPON AN AWARD OF OF CONTRACT FOR COMMUTER BUS SERVICE OPERATIONS FOR THE WOODLANDS EXPRESS. YOU HAVE SEEN IN YOUR BOARD PACKET, PAGE 47. AND RUTH ANN HALL, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION RELATED TO AN AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR COMMUTER BUS SERVICE [00:45:01] OPERATIONS. YES. GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AS YOU MENTIONED, I'M HERE TO PRESENT ON STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR AWARD OF THE WOODLANDS EXPRESS PARK AND RIDE BUS COMMUTER OPERATIONS CONTRACT. SO OUR CURRENT CONTRACTOR IS FIRST CLASS TRANSPORTATION. THEY WON THE AWARD FOR THIS CONTRACT TEN YEARS AGO. WE ARE IN OUR 10TH YEAR WITH THEM CURRENTLY. THE CONTRACTS SET TO EXPIRE IN 2025. MAY 2025. THE CONTRACT IS SET UP AS WHAT WE CALL A PARTIAL TURNKEY IN THE TRANSIT INDUSTRY. WE PROVIDE THE VEHICLES. THEY'RE TOWNSHIP OWNED, FIRST CLASS TRANSPORTATION PROVIDES THE OPERATIONS, THE BUS DRIVERS, THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF THAT, AS WELL AS THE MAINTENANCE OF THE BUSSES. WE JUST A REMINDER, WE HAVE THREE PARK AND RIDE LOCATIONS IN STERLING RIDGE RESEARCH FOREST AND SAWDUST AND WE SERVICE DOWNTOWN, THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER, GREENWAY PLAZA, AND THE ENERGY CORRIDOR DISTRICT, WHICH THE BOARD HAS APPROVED NOW TO ESTABLISH AS A FULLY FUNDED ONGOING SERVICE. WE ALSO DO OUR ANNUAL VERY POPULAR SERVICE IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH TO THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO AND FIRST CLASS TRANSPORTATION STAFFS. ALL OF THESE SERVICES FOR US. SO IN ANTICIPATION OF THE EXPIRATION OF THIS CONTRACT, STAFF COMPLETED AN EXTENSIVE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROCESS OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST SIX MONTHS. THIS IS TO SATISFY THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION'S FAIR AND OPEN COMPETITION IN PROCUREMENT PROCESS. SO IN ADDITION TO AN EVALUATION TEAM SCORING THE PROPOSALS, WE ALSO COMPLETED INTERVIEWS OF THE TWO PROPOSALS AND RESPONSIBILITY CHECKS OF THE PROPOSALS. AND ALSO DID A PRICE ANALYSIS TO ENSURE THE REASONABLENESS OF THE PROPOSED PRICING. SO LIKE I SAID, WE RECEIVED TWO PROPOSALS, ONE FROM COACH USA, WHICH THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE, AFTER INTERVIEWS SCORED AT A 91 AND FIRST CLASS TRANSPORTATION, WHICH THE COMMITTEE SCORED AT A 107. ON THE GRAPH ON THE RIGHT SIDE, YOU SEE THE ESTIMATED TOTAL COST OF THE FIVE YEAR CONTRACT CONTRACT, SO THE ESTIMATED TOTAL OF JUST OVER 29 MILLION, WHICH AVERAGES OUT TO BE ABOUT 1.8 PER YEAR OVER THE FIVE YEARS. THIS WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH A COMBINATION OF FAREBOX REVENUE THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION FORMULA GRANT FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVE EVERY YEAR, AND ALSO SOME LOCAL FUNDING. BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WAS AWARE THAT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PURSUING TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT CREDITS TO OFFSET THE TOWNSHIP'S LOCAL SHARE CONTRIBUTIONS WITH ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING. IT'S A PROCESS WE NEED TO GO THROUGH WITH HVAC TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR A LOT OF APPROVALS, BUT WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THAT AS WELL. SO I WANT TO JUST RECOGNIZE THAT GREG ROGERS, THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF FIRST CLASS TRANSPORTATION, IS HERE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM, HE CAN ALSO COME ON UP AND ANSWER ANYTHING FOR YOU. BUT OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL FROM FIRST CLASS TRANSPORTATION FOR THE OPERATION. GOOD EVENING. RAY. ARE IS THERE A MOTION? AND SECOND TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSED FORM A FIRST CLASS TRANSPORTATION FOR THE WOODLANDS EXPRESS COMMUTER BUS SERVICE OPERATIONS. AND AUTHORIZE THE PRESIDENT CEO TO EXECUTE THE SERVICE AGREEMENT AS APPROVED TO FINAL FORM BY TOWNSHIP LEGAL COUNCIL. SO MOVED. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR ROSANNE. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A GOOD WORD ON BEHALF OF RUTH ANN AND THE PEOPLE SHE WORKS WITH, BOTH HERE AND AT THE GAC, BECAUSE SHE'S HIGHLY RESPECTED THERE. AND I THINK THEY LOOK UP TO YOU, RUTH ANN, AND YOU ARE DEFINITELY A LEADER IN TRANSIT IN OUR REGION. AND I WANT TO THANK THE FIRST CLASS TRANSPORTATION MANAGER FOR BEING HERE WITH US. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND NICE OF YOU TO BE HERE, SIR. LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS. TEN YEARS, ACTUALLY, OF WORKING WITH YOU AND PROVIDING GREAT TRANSPORTATION SERVICE. ALTERNATIVE TO CARS FOR OUR NOT ONLY THE TOWNSHIP BUT ALSO THE GREATER AREA AROUND THE TOWNSHIP. SO THANK YOU BOTH. WELL DONE. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF THINGS IN ORDER FOR US TO RECEIVE GRANT FUNDS, RUTH ANN AND VERY PROUD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM 11. [11. Receive, consider and act upon the financial report;] YOU'VE HAD THIS INFORMATION IN YOUR BOARD PACKET PAGES 48 TO 65. THIS EVENING MONIQUE SHARPE, OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO, WILL PRESENT THE FINANCIALS FOR THE EIGHT MONTHS ENDED AUGUST 31ST, 2020 FOR. [00:50:05] OUR CFO, KELLEN, HAD A CONFLICT COME UP, SO I VOLUNTEERED TO DO THIS. I'M HOPING IT WILL COME BACK TO ME. THIS IS YOUR EXPERTISE ANYWAY. THIS IS WHAT YOU DO BEST. OKAY. I CAN'T GET THIS OUT. LET ME SEE. OKAY. I DON'T CANCEL. OH, YEAH. THERE WE GO. THERE WE GO. THERE WE GO. RIGHT HERE. OKAY. OKAY. I'M GOING TO PRESENT TONIGHT THE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE EIGHT MONTHS ENDED AUGUST 2024. STARTING OFF WITH OUR GENERAL FUND, OUR PRIMARY ACCOUNT. WE HAD TOTAL REVENUES FROM THE BUDGET WERE $93.5 MILLION. OUR YEAR TO DATE ACTUAL REVENUES WERE 93.7 MILLION, RESULTING IN A FAVORABLE VARIANCE OF ABOUT $278,000. THE PRIMARY REASONS FOR THE FAVORABLE VARIANCE RELATE TO OUR OR. I'M SORRY, I'M GOING TO GO I'M GOING TO START OVER. SEE I'M NOT I'M OUT OF PRACTICE ALREADY. SO I'M GOING TO LOOK DOWN AT THE BOTTOM. I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THE THE TAX REVENUES IN TOTAL REVENUES WERE $105.3 MILLION FOR THE BUDGET. ACTUAL REVENUES WERE $106 MILLION. SO WE HAVE $1.3 MILLION IN A FAVORABLE VARIANCE. THE PRIMARY COMPONENTS OF THAT ARE REALLY RELATED TO OUR OTHER CATEGORIES. THIS IS PROGRAM REVENUES FROM OUR PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS, OUR INVESTMENT INCOME AND SOME MONEY FROM GRANTS. AND WE ARE ALSO SHOWING FAVORABLE VARIANCES IN OUR EVENTS, ADMISSION TAX AND OUR MIXED BEVERAGE TAX. I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT SALES TAX A LITTLE BIT LATER. SO HERE IS A LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS, MOST OF WHICH I JUST MENTIONED. AGAIN YOU CAN SEE OUT OF THE 1.3 MILLION, OUR OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE IS MAKING UP THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THAT AGAIN RELATED TO INTEREST PROGRAM REVENUE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT GRANT REVENUE. HERE IS A LOOK AT OUR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES A TOTAL YEAR TO DATE BUDGET OF 85.3 MILLION. OUR YEAR TO DATE ACTUAL IS 80.7 MILLION. SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE FAVORABLE EXPENDITURES OF ABOUT $4.6 MILLION. SOME OF THIS IS TIMING DIFFERENCES, PARTICULARLY RELATED IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AND PARKS AND RECREATION, MEANING THAT WE DO IT'S JUST A TIMING DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHEN THEY WERE BUDGETED AND WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY BEING INCURRED. BUT FOR THE YEAR, WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL STILL END UP PROBABLY SOMEWHERE IN THE TWO AND A HALF TO $3 MILLION FAVORABLE OVERALL. SO SOME OF THESE ARE PERMANENT VARIANCES. AND THOSE WOULD OCCUR FROM THINGS LIKE SAVINGS IN OUR CONTRACTED EXPENDITURES OR CONTRACTED SERVICES OR SAVINGS AND SALARIES AND BENEFITS DUE TO OPEN POSITIONS. HERE'S A LOOK OF THAT VARIANCE. AT $4.6 MILLION. IN TERMS OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, THE CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT IS PRIMARILY DUE TO OPEN POSITIONS IN OUR CONTRACTED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENT WITH MONTGOMERY COUNTY. AND THEN IN PARKS AND RECREATION, IT'S FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS RELATED TO OPEN POSITIONS AND CONTRACTED SERVICES. AND THEN OUR NEXT LARGEST IS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. MOST OF THAT IS A TIMING DIFFERENCE. THIS IS A LOOK AT OUR SALES TAX DEPOSITS. SO ACTUAL YEAR TO DATE FOR 2024 TOTALED 55.6 MILLION. THAT COMPARES TO A BUDGET OF $56.9 MILLION. SO WE ARE WE HAVE AN UNFAVORABLE VARIANCE WHEN WE COMPARE TO THE BUDGET OF ABOUT $1.3 MILLION, AND WE ARE SLIGHTLY OVER AT 158,000. WHEN WE COMPARE TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR. SO LET'S SHOW SOME COMPONENTS OF THAT REAL QUICK. WE ARE OVERALL NEGATIVE OR UNFAVORABLE WHEN WE COMPARE TO THE BUDGET. AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE AND WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE BUDGET, IT'S PRIMARILY RELATED TO TWO COMPANIES IN THE MANUFACTURING AND OIL AND GAS AND TRANSPORTATION BUSINESSES THAT HAD THEIR HEADQUARTERS HERE IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AND THOSE HEADQUARTERS HAVE MOVED OUTSIDE OF THE TOWNSHIP BOUNDARIES. AND SO WE ARE NO LONGER COLLECTING THE SALES TAX FROM THEM. BUT THE REASON THAT WE REMAIN POSITIVE OVERALL AND POSITIVE MEANING IN TERMS OF HOW WE FEEL GOING ON A GO FORWARD BASIS IS BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU SEE HERE. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR FOUR LARGEST CATEGORIES THAT MAKE UP OUR SALES TAX REVENUE, IT'S RETAIL TRADE, FOOD SERVICES, MANUFACTURING AND INFORMATION. [00:55:06] AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE LITTLE CHART OVER THERE, THE LITTLE NOTATIONS TO THE RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE ALL ALL FOUR OF THOSE CATEGORIES ARE SHOWING INCREASE WHEN WE COMPARE TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR. SO ALL OF THOSE ARE ON THE INCLINE ARE TRENDING UPWARD. WE JUST HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE FOR THE TWO HEADQUARTERS THAT WE LOST. HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR HOTEL TAX. AND ACTUAL FOR 2024 IS SIX POINT ALMOST 6.8 MILLION. THAT IS $225,000 FAVORABLE VARIANCE COMPARED TO THE TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR OR TO THE BUDGET. AND IT'S 454,000 COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR. SO THE HOTEL TAX IS ON TRACK TO WILL PROBABLY REACH $10 MILLION BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, WHICH WOULD SET A RECORD FOR THE TOWNSHIP. SO THIS IS GOING VERY WELL. THANKS TO OUR VISIT, THE WOODLANDS TEAM AND OUR DIRECTORS THAT ARE ON VISIT THE WOODLANDS WHO MANAGE THIS VERY, VERY CAREFULLY IN TERMS OF OUR MIXED BEVERAGE TAX DEPOSITS. OUR ACTUAL FOR 2024 IS JUST UNDER 1.1 MILLION. THAT REPRESENTS AN 18.3% INCREASE OVER WHAT WE BUDGETED. I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS FOR MISS SHARP. UP. WE APPRECIATE YOU STEPPING IN SINCE KELLEN NEEDED TO LEAVE. IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS. IS THERE A MOTION SECOND TO ACCEPT THE FINANCIAL REPORT? SO MOVED. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. THAT BRINGS US THEN TO AGENDA ITEM 12. [12. Receive, consider and act upon an update regarding the Village Presidents' Council;] THANK YOU. MONIQUE. TO RECEIVE, CONSIDER AND ACT UPON AN UPDATE REGARDING THE VILLAGE PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL. OUR TREASURER, RICHARD FRANKS, WILL PRESENT. HE AND DIRECTOR NELSON HAVE THE LEADERSHIP FOR THIS COUNCIL. DIRECTOR FRANK. YES, MA'AM. WE HELD OUR MEETING ON THE NINTH MONTH, AND THE AGENDA WAS BASICALLY OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO, MONIQUE SHARP, PRESENTING THE 2025 BUDGET PRESENTATION AND DETAILS TO ALL THE VILLAGE PRESIDENTS. AND THERE WERE ALSO SOME VILLAGE BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT THAT WERE ALSO INVITED, AND I THINK IT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED. THE REPORT'S VERY CONCISE AND AND DETAILED JUST ENOUGH, AND I THINK THEY ALL REALLY ENJOYED THE PRESENTATION AND LEARNED A LOT. AND I MIGHT ADD THAT WE WILL CONTINUE THOSE KIND OF PROGRAMS FOR THE PRESIDENTS AND THE VILLAGE BOARD MEMBERS WHEN IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S OF GENERAL INTEREST AND THAT WE THINK THAT THEY CAN REALLY HELP US IN TERMS OF GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS THAT WE ALSO ANNOUNCED TO THE VILLAGE PRESIDENTS AND THE BOARDS THAT GIVEN OUR NEW BUDGET STAFF IN THE 2025 BUDGET FOR MAINTENANCE OF FACILITIES, THEY'RE GOING TO START LOOKING AT THEIR FACILITIES AND PRESENT TO US A LIST OF THINGS THAT THEY THINK NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, SO WE CAN START GETTING THOSE ON A SCHEDULE AND GET THAT WORKED OUT. AND THE LAST THING I WOULD HAVE IS WE ALSO TOLD THE PRESIDENTS AND THE MEMBERS THAT WERE PRESENT THAT ON OCTOBER 23RD. IT'S TENTATIVE AT THIS TIME. IT'S A TENTATIVE DATE. DSC AND D'ARCY ARE GOING TO HOLD A JOINT MEETING, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR DIRECTOR OF CODE ENFORCEMENT, HENNIE VAN RENSBURG, IS GOING TO GO AND GIVE THE ENTIRE PRESENTATION ON ALL THE CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES AND PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES AND EVERYTHING. SO EVERYONE ON THE RDCS AND, YOU KNOW, WITH THE VARIED GROUPS WILL HAVE THE SAME BASIS OF UNDERSTANDING OF OF WHAT THE PROCESS IS AND HOW IT WORKS AND WHY. SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T GET THE GARBAGE CANS OUT OF THE NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY FOR MORE THAN THE NEXT DAY. SO I THINK IT'LL BE VERY USEFUL, A GREAT IDEA. REMEMBER THAT TIME AND I APPRECIATE THE 23RD. WHAT TIME? 6:06 P.M.. 6 P.M. ON THE 23RD. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUST PUT A TENTATIVE AT THIS POINT, BUT THAT'S WHEN IT'S. THEY THINK THEY HAVE IT SCHEDULED. DSC HAS IT SCHEDULED. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR NELSON. ANYTHING TO ADD TO KNOW. OKAY. VERY THOROUGH REPORT AND WE APPRECIATE YOU. YOUR LEADERSHIP FOR BOTH OF YOU ON THE VILLAGE PRESIDENTS COUNCIL, IS THERE A MOTION AND SECOND TO ACCEPT THE REPORT? SO MOVED. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM 13. [ CLOSED MEETING (if applicable)] WE DO HAVE NEED TO RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE BOARD WILL RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS MATTERS RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO 551072 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE DELIBERATION [01:00:07] OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO 551087 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS PURSUANT TO 551074 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. DISCUSS IT NETWORK OR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY PURSUANT TO 51089 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, AND TO CONSULT WITH THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY PURSUANT TO 551071 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND THE BOARD WILL RECONVENE THE PUBLIC SESSION IMMEDIATELY AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION. IT IS 7:00. IT IS 726. IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY TO TAKE ACTION AT THIS TIME, AND WE WILL NOW RECONVENE FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM 15, CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT MONTH'S [15. Consideration of items to be placed on the agenda for next month's meeting;] MEETING. ARE THERE ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON NEXT MONTH'S MEETING? YES, MA'AM. MAY I SPEAK? YES. THANK YOU. YES. I WOULD LIKE TO PLACE THE WIDENING OF GROGAN'S MILL ROAD FROM THE WOODLANDS PARKWAY TO RESEARCH FOREST ON NEXT MONTH'S AGENDA, AND REGISTER MY OPPOSITION TO THAT RIGHT NOW. YES. AND OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO HAD PLANNED TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. PENDING INFORMATION. THANK YOU. OTHER AGENDA ITEMS. I THINK I NEED A SECOND. ACCORDING TO Y'ALL'S RULES, THEY'RE PUTTING IT ON. I THINK IT'S ALREADY ON THERE. HE'S PUTTING IT ON. YEAH. OKAY. SECOND ANY OTHER AGENDA ITEMS THEN? NO. IT'S GOING TO BE AN INCREDIBLE MONTH. [16. Board announcements; and] A REMINDER, OUR BOARD MEETING IS CHANGE FROM THE 23RD TO THE 22ND OF OCTOBER. BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS. ARE THERE ANY BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS? I HAVE ONE, YES. YES. IT WAS AN INTERESTING TO READ THAT ELON MUSK HAS MOVED X TO AUSTIN, WHICH I FOUND VERY, VERY INTERESTING. AND IT CAME ON THE HEELS OF AN ARTICLE WHERE I SAW THAT LAS VEGAS WAS ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT HAD THE FASTEST COMMUTES, AND IT'S A BIG SPREAD OUT CITY. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE GONE TO LAS VEGAS, I'M SURE YOU'VE THOUGHT THAT TOO. IT'S VERY SPREAD OUT, BUT THEY THEY RANKED NUMBER TWO IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THE FASTEST COMMUTES. SO THAT MADE ME THINK. WELL, ONE OF THE REASONS THEY HAVE A FASTER COMMUTE IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE BORING COMPANY, WHICH IS PUTTING THAT HYPERLOOP CONNECTING ALL OF THE MAJOR AMENITIES IN LAS VEGAS UNDERGROUND, IN THE TUNNELS WHERE TESLAS RUN BACK AND FORTH. AND I'M SURE SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN THAT. I THINK WE ALL WROTE THAT WHEN WE WERE THERE. YES. SO THE POINT IS, IT WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING TO EXPLORE THIS AS A METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE WOODLANDS. WE ARE DEALING WITH TRAFFIC ALL THE TIME. TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC. SO WHY NOT GET SOME OF OUR OUR WONDERFUL SMART PEOPLE ON OUR STAFF AND OUR BOARD TO INVESTIGATE? WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO HAVE A HYPERLOOP IN THE WOODLANDS? OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THOSE GOOD COMMENTS. ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, IT IS 729. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR? I'M SORRY. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU ALL. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.