[f. Receive, consider and act upon a contract extension with Community Impact Printing for the printing and distribution of The Woodlands Community Magazine (C-2024-0223);]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. MOVING TO THE CONSENT AGENDA WE START WITH ITEM "F," CORRECT? RECEIVE, CONSIDER AND ACT UPON A CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH COMMUNITY IMPACT PRINTING FOR THE PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE WOODLANDS COMMUNITY

MAGAZINE. >> SO LAST YEAR WE CHANGED THE CONTRACT FOR THE COMMUNITY MAGAZINE. WE NO LONGER PRINT IT ON A MONTHLY BASIS, AND THIS WAS BECAUSE THE VENDOR THAT WAS SUPPLYING THE MAGAZINE COULD NO LONGER SUSTAIN THAT BUSINESS MODEL, SO THE TOWNSHIP TOOK OVER THE COST OF PRECIPITATING AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE MAGAZINE, AND WE MOVED TO AN EVERY OTHER MONTH DISTRIBUTION. SO THE CONTRACT IS UP FOR EXTENSION, AND WE'RE MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION TO EXTEND THAT AND WELCOME TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

>> DIRECTOR SEKULA-GIBBS.

>> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THE SURVEY THAT WENT OUT RECENTLY? IT'S PROBABLY TOO SOON FOR THAT. OR FOR ANY OTHER MANNER SO THAT WE CAN JUDGE THE VALUE WE'RE GETTING FOR $200,000 A YEAR TO SEND OUT A MAGAZINE? HOW DO WE KNOW IT'S ACTUALLY MEASURING UP?

[00:25:03]

HOW DO WE MEASURE IT?

>> SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF WAYS WE MEASURE. THE SURVEY IS ONE OF THOSE WAYS, AND WE DO NOT HAVE THE RESULTS FROM THE 2024 SURVEY.

HOWEVER, THE 2022 SURVEY WAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST READ MAGAZINES OR PRINT COPIES FOR TOWNSHIP NEWS, SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE BASE THAT ON. IT'S A VERY POPULAR PUBLICATION. WE HEAR POSITIVE THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. IN ADDITION TO IF SOMEONE DOESN'T RECEIVE THEIR MAGAZINE, WE ARE SURE TO GET A CALL SAYING WE DIDN'T GET THE PUBLICATION, AND WE RECTIFY THAT.

>> AND THE PRICE HAS IT -- I NOTICED IT WAS REDUCED. COULD YOU COMMENT ON

THAT? >> SO WE WERE BASING ON IT ON ESTIMATES WHICH WAS ABOUT 55,800 HOUSEHOLDS. THAT'S BEEN REDUCED BECAUSE NEW TECHNOLOGY IS ALLOWING US TO BE MORE PRECISE WITHIN TOWNSHIP BOUNDARIES, WHICH IS A NEW GIS TECHNOLOGY SO IT'LL ONLY BE ABOUT CLOSE TO 49,000 NOW.

>> SO THEY DIDN'T TECHNICALLY REDUCE THE PRICE BUT WE'RE SENDING IT TO FEWER

HOUSEHOLDS. >>

CORRECT. >> THANK YOU.

I DO WANT TO COMMENT YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

I THINK IT'S AN INCREDIBLE PUBLICATION. YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. AND HAVING IT INSERTED IN COMMUNITY IMPACT, I PERSONALLY GETTING A LOT MORE EYEBALLS ON IT THAN IT WAS BEFORE. I THINK IT'S OUTSTANDING AND VISIT WOODLANDS SO OFTEN APPRECIATE IT FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN AND WORKING WITH THE WOODLANDS TEAM.

>> I THINK IT'S ALSO POSITIVE WE'RE NOW GOING TO APARTMENTS WE WEREN'T BEFORE.

>> AND YOUR THE TIRE REPORT WAS TALKING ABOUT THE PUBLICATION, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

TO AUTHORIZE PRESIDENT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO EXECUTE A SERVICES AGREEMENT AND APPROVAL IN FINAL FORM BY TOWNSHIP LEGAL COUNSEL. DO I HAVE A

MOTION? >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND.

>> SO MOVED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RESPOND

[l. Receive, consider and act upon an award of bid for park restroom renovation services (C-2024-0608);]

BY SAYING AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOVING ON. AGENDA ITEM "L," RECEIVING AND CONSIDER AND ACT UPON A WARD FOR BID FOR PARK RESTORATION SERVICED LOCATED ON PAGE 1022 TO 104 OF YOUR BRIEF.

>> GOOD EVENING.

THIS WUSS PUT OUT TO BED FOR RESTROOM RENOVATIONS.

IS THERE SOMETHING SPECIFIC OR --

>> WELL, CONSIDERING THE KERFUFFLE WE HAD OVER RESTROOMS IN THE PAST I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE VALUABLE TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE'RE DOING TO THE

PUBLIC. >> YES, MA'AM. THIS IS JUST RENOVATING CURRENT BATHROOMS THAT ARE IN PLACE.

SO AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW SOME OF OUR RESTROOMS ARE OVER 40 YEARS OLD. SO BASICALLY WE WENT OUT TO BID AND GOT UNIT PRICES FOR THE RESTROOMS. AND WHAT WE WILL DO IS BE RENOVATING THEM TO BE CONSISTENT, TOO.

SO IT'S THE SAME TOILETS IN ONE AND THE OTHER, SO WE'RE ABLE TO DO REPAIRS AND THEN ANY, YOU KNOW, THE PAINTING, FLOORS TO KEEP THEM CLEANER.

>> JOHN, HOW MANY YOU DOING?

>> RIGHT NOW WE PUT OUT TO BID FOUR OF THEM.

BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE -- IT'S LIKE ABOUT TEN OF THEM THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TO SEE.

OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A PRETTY BIG SCOPE, AND WE DON'T WANT TO SHUT EVERY BATHROOM DOWN IN THE WOODLANDS EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE 30 OF THEM TOTAL. SO WE WILL HAVE THOSE TEN, BUT TWO WILL BE DONE AT A TIME.

BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE'LL WE'RE RENOVATING THEM AND PART OF THIS COST YOU'LL SEE IN THERE WAS TO BRING IN TEMPORARY PORTA POTTIES AND SUCH SO THERE'S STILL BATHROOMS AVAILABLE WHILE THE RENOVATIONS GOING ON.

>> WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME TO RENOVATE A BATHROOM?

>> WELL, WE'LL START IN JANUARY, AND THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE. WE'VE BEEN TOLD, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THREE WEEKS IS WHAT THEY'RE

ESTIMATING. >> AND THE

AVERAGE COST? >> AVERAGE COST FOR EACH ONE, THEY -- IT WAS -- IT WAS ABOUT $50,000 FOR THE RENOVATION FOR

THAT. >>

THANK YOU. >> YOU GUYS ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB DOING THE TEMPORARY FACILITIES WHILE THE OTHER WITNESSES ARE BEING BUILT.

SO YOU'VE GOT YOUR EXPERIENCE BEHIND YOU ON THAT.

SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, FEEDBACK, COMMENTS? IF NOT, APPROVAL IS NEEDED FOR THIS AWARD TO BID THE PARK RESTORATION RENOVATION SERVICES AND CHIEF OFFICER TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY AGREEMENTS AS APPROVED BY FINAL FORM BY THE LEGAL TOWNSHIP COUNSEL. ALL THOSE

[8. Receive, consider and act upon an annual report from The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership; ]

IN FAVOR RESPOND BY SAYING AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOVING ONTO THE REGULAR AGENDA, RECEIVE AND CONSENT ITEM

[00:30:01]

NUMBER 8. CALL ON OUR GOOD FRIEND STALEY TO GIVE HIS ANNUAL REPORT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIRMAN.

GET THIS STARTED. THERE WE GO.

BEAR WITH ME AS I MOVE THIS JUST A TAD. THERE WE GO.

AGAIN, THANK YOU CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTORS, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT ONCE AGAIN OUR ANNUAL REPORT TO THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD.

I CAN VERY PROUDLY SAY I'VE ENJOYED IT THOROUGHLY OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, BUT THIS WILL BE MY LAST REPORT. AND ONE I WAS A BIT ANXIOUS TO PREPARE BECAUSE I WAS REALIZING THE TIME HAS COME. BUT I NOW GO ON WITH THE REPORT.

SO THE NEXT SLIDE YOU'VE SEEN SO MANY TIMES. AND IT'S OUR STATEMENT OF PURPOSE. AND WHY WE EXIST FOR THE LAST 27 YEARS TO BE A RESOURCE TO AND ADVOCATE FOR EMPLOYERS. AT ONE TIME THAT SAID MAJOR EMPLOYERS. WE'RE MORE THAN THAT.

WE'RE ALSO THERE FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES.

WE'RE ALSO THERE FOR THE ENTREPRENEURS. SO WE CHANGED THAT A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO. WHAT WE DO WE FACILITATE ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND INFLUENCE. BUT WHY WE EXIST PERHAPS IS WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT AND THAT IS TO PROMOTE JOB GROWTH AND ECONOMIC VITALITY IN THE WOODLANDS AREA BY RECRUITING NEW BUSINESSES AND SUPPORTING EXISTING BUSINESSES IN JOB RETENTION AND EXPANSION.

I'M PROUD TO SAY THIS IS OUR CURRENT STAFF AS IT IS.

AND I OWE A SINCERE THANK YOUYOU THEIR SUPPORT AND THEIR DEDICATION FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR TONIGHT. SO THIS IS A REFLECTION OF WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED IN OUR LAST FISCAL YEAR THAT ENDED AUGUST 31ST.

SO WE'RE OPERATING FROM SEPTEMBER TO AUGUST 31ST EACH YEAR. I'D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY.

THAT'S WHY YOU SAW THE MAYOR, BY THE WAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR, BUT THANK YOU TO THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE.

ALSO SOME OFOF PAST CHAIR OF OUR BOARD. SO THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT AS WELL. HERE'S OUR SERVICE AREA.

OBVIOUSLY THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP IS THE VAST MAJORITY OF THAT SERVICE AREA, BUT WE DO SERVICE SHENANDOAH. WE DO SERVE OAK RIDGE NORTH.

WE DO SERVE UNINCORPORATED MONTGOMERY SPRING COUNTY, THIS SIDE OF SPRING CREEK.

WE'RE PROUD OF THIS, AND WE'RE PROUD BECAUSE YOU HELPED ACHIEVE THIS. THIS RANKING MEANS EVERYTHING TO US WHEN WE'RE RECRUITING COMPANIES OR WE'RE ENCOURAGING COMPANIES TO STAY HERE AND EXPAND ARE TOOSH BE THE BEST CITY TO BUY A HOUSE IN AMERICA, THE BEST CITY TO LIVE ONLY SECOND NUMBER TWO WHERE AND THE BEST CITY TO RAISE A FAMILY.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT, AND WE USE IT IN ALMOST EVERY MARKETING PIECE THAT WE HAVE. VERY QUICK SNAPSHOT, AGAIN, OF WHY WE EXIST. SO YOU SEE HERE BUSINESS RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND EXPANSION.

RECRUITMENT, LOOK AT BIONOVA SCIENTIFIC.

IN FACT, I'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH THEM ALL DAY TODAY AND PART OF TONIGHT IN WORKING OUT SOME ISSUES. SO THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD THEIR NEW 100,000 SQUARE FOOT LABORATORY DOWN THE STREET, LITERALLY IN TECH WOOD FOREST. I'M VERY THANKFUL TO YOU, THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, FOR APPROVING THE INCENTIVES THAT ENCOURAGED THEM TO COME HERE. WITHOUT THAT, THEY WERE GOING TO NORTH CAROLINA. AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE FEARFUL OF.

SO THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN BRINGING BIONOVA TO OUR COMMUNITY. KODIAK GAS SERVICES ARE HERE NOW.

WE'RE PROUD THEY NOW CALL THE WOODLANDS HOME IN THE WOODLANDS TOWER. AND NOW NOT ONLY THEIR HEADQUARTERS BOUGHT THEY'RE A MAJOR EMPLOYER WITH 152 JOBS. SO WE'RE PROUD OF THAT. AND THEN TEXAS CAPITAL BANK, A RATHER UNIQUE SITUATION. THEY'RE ONE OF THE LARGEST BANKS THE HOUSTON REGION, BUT THEY'RE ONE OF THE FEW BANKS THAT OPERATES IN A BRANCH TOP ENVIRONMENT. THEY'RE NOT FULL- SERVICE RETAIL BANKS WE SEE AND THE LIKE, SO THEY BROUGHT AN OPERATION HERE FOR THIS WOODLANDS AREA AND THEY'RE IN THE WOODLANDS TOWER AS WELL, SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT. AGAIN, AN OVERVIEW OF BIONOVA, WE'RE SO THANKFUL THEY CHOSE US. I DON'T THINK IT'S THE END. I REALLY DON'T. THIS COMPANY IS OWNED BY A JAPANESE CONGLOMERATE. THEY HAVE COMPANIES ALL OVER THE WORLD, ALL OVER UNITED STATES. THEY HAVE A LOT OF LIFE SCIENCE

[00:35:03]

INVESTMENTS. IF WE CAN SHOW THEM THIS IS THE BEST PLACE FOR THE OPERATION, WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL AND OPTIMISTIC THEY WILL BRING THOSE OTHER OPERATIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY. AS I SAID, KODIAK IS HERE AS WELL WITH THEIR HEADQUARTERS AND AGAIN ACTUALLY 120 JOBS, SO I CORRECT MYSELF. THEY'RE OCCUPYING AROUND TWO FULL FLOORS IN THE TOWER. AND THEY EXPANDED LIKE THAT.

THEY ONLY CAME IN AT ONE FLOOR, REALIZED THAT WASN'T ENOUGH AND LEASED ANOTHER FLOOR. SO WE'RE VERY PROUD THEY'RE HERE. TEXAS CAPITAL I GAVE YOU THAT. THEY OCCUPY 6,300 FEET IN THE WOODLANDS TOWER. LET'S TALK ABOUT BUSINESS RECRUITMENT AND MORE OF A DEFINITE AREA.

WE HOSTEDHOSTED PSYCH CONSULTANTS.

ACTUALLY WE CO- HOSTED WITH THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THEM FOR A TOUR. WE INTERTAPED AT AN ASTROS GAME. WE HAD DINNER WITH THEM IN HOUSTON BUT ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT ONE-ON-ONE WITH THEM, WHERE I'M THE ONLY ONE IN FRONT OF THEM AT THAT TIME AND GAVE THEM AN OVERVIEW OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

WE ALSO HOSTED GHP'S, GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP'S, BIOCITY BIOPLUS. AND THAT IS A GROUP OF LIFE SCIENCE COMPANIES AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT LIFE SCIENCE IN THE REGION TO COME OUT AND SEE WHAT WE'RE ABOUT. SEE WHY COMPANIES ARE COMING AND RELOCATING FROM CALIFORNIA HERE.

SO WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENTS TO THEM BUT ALSO HOST THEM ON A DRIVE BY TOUR OF OUR ASSETS. WE ALSO HOSTED A SOCIAL WITH THE BRITISH AMERICAN BUSINESS COUNSEL IN REACHING OUT TO OUR FRIENDS IN GREAT BRITAIN, AND THOSE COMPANIES THAT REPRESENT WITH THAT ORGANIZATION.

FOR THE LAST MANY YEARS I PRESENTED IN ABERDEEN CALLED THE ABERDEEN HOUSTON GATEWAY.

ABERDEEN SCOTLAND IS ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND AREAS FOR OIL AND GAS IN THE WORLD.

THEY'RE VERY SIMILAR TO HOUSTON.

SO WE PAY ATTENTION TO THEM. I DIDN'T TRAVEL THERE THIS YEAR. I DID IT VIRTUALLY, SO I PRESENTED TO 300 ATTENDEES IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT THROUGH ZOOM, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GO BACK THERE IN THE FUTURE. WE ALSO HOSTED A MEETING WITH THE HUNGARY HOUSTON TRADE COMMISSIONER, SO HE REPRESENTS TRADE FOR HUNGARY, AND HE BROUGHT WITH HIM A GUEST FROM BUDAPEST WHO'S THE CEO OF AN INTRIGUING COMPANY.

THEY HAVE AN INNOVATIVE, MARKET LEADING FOLDABLE UNIT THAT CAN HOUSE PEOPLE.

YOU CAN OPERATE FESTIVALS WITH IT, ONE CRANE YOU LIFT UP THE MIDDLE AND YOU HAVE IT DONE. YOU BRING IT IN ON A TRAILER. THEY'RE ALL COLLAPSIBLE, SO THEY STACK ON EACH OTHER. WE PUT THEM IN CONTACT WITH OUR FRIENDS THAT DO FESTIVALS, AND MANY OF US KNOW WHO THAT IS AROUND THE AREA.

WE CONNECTED THEM WITH THE PGA SO THEY COULD TALK TO THEM. THEY WERE THE NUMBER ONE PROVIDER OF HOUSING IN MAUI AFTER THE FIRE AND STILL ARE.

STILL ARE. SO VERY INTERESTING COMPANY.

OF COURSE, I WANT THE HEADQUARTERS HERE FOR THE U.S. WE HOSTED A MEETING RATHER UNIQUELY WITH CATHERINE, THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE FOREIGN MISSIONS IN HOUSTON.

SO IF YOU'RE A CONSULATE, YOU'D GO THROUGH HER TO DO BUSINESS IN THE HOUSTON AREA. SHE IS THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE U.S. , SO SHE IS ACTUALLY UNDER THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT. WE ALSO HOSTED A MEETING WITH JASON WILSON WHO'S THE DIRECTOR OF U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE IN HOUSTON. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, HE LIVES IN THE WOODLANDS, LIVES OVER ACROSS THE FREEWAY IN WHAT DO YOU CALL IT, HARPERS LANDING, OVER THERE. HE'S A DIVISION OF THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE INTERNATIONAL TRADE ASSOCIATION. IN FACT, HE'S GOING TO BE OUR GUEST AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING NEXT WEEK, ACTUALLY.

WE SUPPORTED CONGRESSMAN CRENSHAW'S HEALTH CARE AND INNOVATION SUMMIT LAST YEAR WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT -- ACTUALLY AT HOUSTON.

WE ASKED DR. CASSIDY WITH NEXUS HEALTH SYSTEMS, ONE OF OUR VERY OWN DOCTORS, TO PRESENT TO THIS GROUP. AND IT WAS HUGELY RECEIVED, VERY POSITIVELY.

AND I'M PROUD TO SAY FOR THOSE THAT WENT, HE BROUGHT THAT CONFERENCE TO THE WOODLANDS THIS YEAR. NOW HE BRINGS THAT CONFERENCE TO US EACH AND EVERY YEAR. I'M VERY HAPPY TO SAY HPA --

[00:40:01]

HPE, I'M SORRY. HEWITT PACKARD ENTERPRISE, WE'RE STILL ON THEIR RADAR. THEY STILL CALL ME FOR SITUATIONS THEY NEED HELP WITH. THEY NEEDED CONTACTS AT THE RESORT FOR THEIR WORLD TRADE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE. ALL OVER THE WORLD THEIR EMPLOYEES COME TO LEARN WHAT'S NEW WITH HP.

SO WE CONNECTED THEM WITH VISIT THE WOODLANDS, AND WE GOT IT AND GOT THE CONFERENCE. SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.

HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A PANEL DISCUSSION ON WHY TEXAS TO BRING YOUR COMPANIES AND THAT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT PROFITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN EXPLORING THE TOPIC OF INVESTING IN THE WOODLANDS.

AND THEN FINALLY, WE'VE STARTED AGAIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH SATOP, THAT'S NASA'S PROGRAM CALLED THE SPACE ALLIANCE OUTREACH PROGRAM. THEY PROVIDE FREE 40 HOURS OF SERVICE FROM ROCKET SCIENTISTS OR FROM ENGINEERS WITH AN ISSUE WITH AN ENTREPRENEUR OR SMALL BUSINESS THAT HAS A DIFFICULT ISSUE THEY CANNOT RESOLVE, THEY WILL HELP THEM FOR FREE. FOR 40 HOURS THEY GET THAT FREE SERVICE. SO WE'RE UNDER CONTRACT WITH THEM AGAIN TO PROMOTE THAT WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESS MARKET IN THE WOODLANDS AREA.

AND WE GET PAID FOR IT. THEY ACTUALLY PAY US TO DO THAT. SO I'M GLAD WE REORGANIZED THAT RELATIONSHIP.

OKAY, LET'S GO INTO WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE ECONOMICS OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO THIS IS THE SNAPSHOT OF OUR COMPANIES AND THE NUMBER OF COMPANIES THAT WE HAVE THAT EMPLOY AT LEAST 100 JOBS. WE CALL THOSE THE MAJOR EMPLOYERS NONRETAIL. AND PLEASE DO NOT SAY GILL STALEY HATES RETAIL, HE'S HERE DENOUNCING IT.

WE LOOK AT PRIMARY JOB CREATORS.

85 COMPANIES IN THE WOODLANDS, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT, REPRESENT THOSE MAJOR EMPLOYERS. IT'S DOWN, UNFORTUNATELY. BUT WITH THAT SAID, NOT ONLY THAT REPRESENTS ONE COMPANY THAT WE LOST, BUT WE RAISED THE JOB NUMBERS.

A VERY INTERESTING FACT AND I'LL GO IN DEEPER WITH THAT.

THERE IT IS. 85 COMPANIES REPRESENTS 40,036 JOBS IN THIS COMMUNITY. I CAN SAY WOULT A DOUBT IF YOU LOOK AT THAT GROWTH YEAR OVER YEAR FROM LAST YEAR, WHICH AGAIN WAS A FABULOUS YEAR, WE GAINED ALL OF THE JOBS THAT WE LOST DURING COVID.

THE ONLY TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COMMUNITY IN THE 50 YEARS THAT WE COLLECTIVELY EVER LOST JOBS WITH OUR MAJOR EMPLOYERS, FIRST TIME.

BUT WE'VE GAINED THEM. THEY'RE GONE.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE DON'T EVEN THINK OF ANYMORE.

SO HERE IS A SNAPSHOT OF THE TOP TEN OF THOSE 85.

LOOK AT NUMBER ONE -- EXCUSE ME, NUMBER ONE IS A GIVEN, RIGHT? IT'S ALWAYS A GIVEN WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, ROB EISSLER, ANN, YOU KNOW THAT, BUT LOOK AT 2, 3, 4, 5, HEALTH CARE. MORAL HERMAN REPRESENTS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THE WOODLANDS WITH 3,218 JOBS.

IT'S FANTASTIC. WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT. WHAT I ALSO THINK IS OF INTEREST EVEN THOUGH I LISTED HEALTH CARE IN 2, 3, 4, AND 5, LOOK AT THE OTHER COMPANIES.

THAT'S EIGHT BUSINESS SECTORS REPRESENTED. IT'S AMAZING HOW DIVERSE WE ARE EVEN THOUGH HEALTH CARE MAKES UP A BIG PART OF OUR JOBS. AND THERE IT IS ONE- THIRD OF OUR JOBS ARE IN HEALTH CARE. PRIMARILY WITH THOSE MAJOR HOSPITALS. I'VE SAID IT SO MANY TIMES. WHEN YOU SEE AN AREA THAT GROWS IN POPULATION LIKE WE ARE ENJOYING AND HAVE ENJOYED AND WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY, TWO SECTORS WILL STEP UP.

THEY NEED TO STEP UP -- HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION.

GUESS WHAT? WHAT'S NUMBER TWO? EDUCATION. THEY ANSWER THE CALL BECAUSE THE POPULATION NEED IS THERE. THEY HAVE TO GROW, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP.

IT'S JUST NOT. SO VERY PROUD OF THE TOP TEN EMPLOYERS AND THEN ALSO WHAT THEY REPRESENT IN ALL OF THE SECTORS. SOME OF OUR COMPANIES THAT ACTUALLY JUMPED UP TO THE MAJOR EMPLOYER.

TO US A MAJOR EMPLOYER, IF YOU REMEMBER, IS 100 JOBS.

THIS GOES UP TO THE 99. SO BANK OF AMERICA PROBABLY

[00:45:01]

ONE JOB, I SAY COME ON YOU CAN FIND ONE JOB. I DID NOT.

THAT'S NOT FAIR, I WOULDN'T DO IT. BUT LOOK AT THE DIVERSITY OF JUST THAT TOP TEN MIDSIZE, AGAIN, SHOWING HOW STRONG THIS ECONOMY IS AND HOW DIVERSE WE ARE.

WE'RE NOT DEPENDENT ON ONE SECTOR, SO VERY PROUD OF THAT.

SO HERE ARE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE GET INVOLVED WITH AT THE STATE LEVEL, INTERNATIONAL IN SOME CASES, REGIONAL LEVEL, AND IT TAKES ACTIVITY TO PERFORM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. YOU JUST DON'T SIT IN THE OFFICE AND WAITING FOR THE PHONE CALL TO RING. YOU HAVE TO BE INVOLVED, AND WE ARE VERY HEAVILY. WE'RE NOTING AT THE STATE LEVEL THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNORS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE'RE VERY INVOLVED.

IN FACT, WE'RE GOING TO THE MANSION A WEEK AFTER NEXT FOR THE HOLIDAY PARTY JUST FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP OF THE STATE. WE'RE ALSO VERY INVOLVED WITH THE TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNSEL. THAT'S OUR STATE ASSOCIATION.

YOU HAVE TO BE A PART OF THAT. THEY OFFER GREAT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR US, BUT ALSO IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN WHAT OUR COUNTER PARTS ARE DOING ACROSS THE STATE.

WE'RE ALSO VERY INVOLVED WITH THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS, TAB. I'VE BEEN SERVING ON THAT FOR ONE YEAR. AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL WE'RE INVOLVED IN A PARTNERSHIP OF COURSE, BUT ALSO BIOHOUSTON, WE'VE JOINED THAT ORGANIZATION BECAUSE OF THE LIFE SCIENCES COMPANY WE'RE SEEING COMING HERE AND THEY'RE A GREAT RESOURCE TO US.

AT THE WOODLANDS AREA CHAMBER, WE SPUN OUT OF THE CHAMBER AND HAVE CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM HAVE CONTINUE TO DO SO.

THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISPANIC CHAMBER WE'RE INVOLVED WITH, VISIT THE WOODLANDS. VERY ACTIVE WITH ALL OF THOSE. THOSE ORGANIZATIONS I MENTION THIS IS MORE SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES, AND I'VE ALREADY ALLUDED TO A LOT OF THEM. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT WE DO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN EVERYTHING THAT WE BELONG TO OR ARE A MEMBER OF.

SO THERE'S OUR MEMBERSHIP. 95 -- ACTUALLY IT CHANGED THIS WEEK.

BUT UNTIL WE GET THE CHECK, WE DON'T COUNT THEM, JUST TO BE HONEST. BUT WE DID RECEIVE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION FROM ONE OF THE MAJOR EMPLOYERS IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO WHEN WE GET THAT, YOU'LL SEE THEM UP HERE.

BUT WE'RE AT 95 PARTNERS AND VERY PROUD OF THAT AND VERY PROUD OF THE FIVE NEW BRONZE MEMBERS THAT WE RECEIVED OVER THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN OUR EVENTS, WHETHER IT'S THE PARTNER EXECUTIVE BRIEFINGS THAT HAPPENED -- HAPPENS, IN FACT, NEXT WEEK.

OUR PARTNER NETWORKING SOCIALS, WE JUST HAD ONE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN SHENANDOAH AT THE MARRIOTT COURTYARD COURTYARD AND VERY PROUD OF THAT.

AND THEN END OF YEAR CELEBRATION.

AGAIN, THE ANNUAL GOLF OUTING, WHICH I WILL HOPEFULLY GET INVITED TO IN THE FUTURE, AND OUR PARTNER LUNCHEON, WHICH COMING UP IN JANUARY.

AND OUR NEW COMMISSIONER IS SPEAKING TO OUR MEMBERSHIP, SO I ENCOURAGE YOUR PARTICIPATION TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT. THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF EVENTS THAT WE DO IN CONJUNCTION WITH BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION. SO COMPANIES THAT WE RELATE TO, A CEO ROUND TABLE. THIS IS ONE THAT WE DID LAST FISCAL YEAR WITH THE DEAN OF THE RICE BUSINESS SCHOOL.

WE JUST DID ONE THIS MORNING WITH THE CEO OF A CHEVRON PANEL DISCUSSION WITH CHEVRON CEO, WESTERN MIDSTREAM CEO, AND TEXAS CEO.

AND IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THEM AND SEE HOW THEY ENGAGE WITH THEIR BUSINESSES AND COMPANIES BUT ALSO HOW THEY GIVE BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY AND THEN THE OTHERS YOU SEE THERE THAT WE'RE VERY, VERY INVOLVED WITH. AGAIN, IT'S JUST NOT SIMPLY SITTING IN OUR OFFICE JUST ON THE PHONE.

WE ARE ALWAYS ACTIVELY ENGAGING ANY WAY WE CAN TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. HERE'S OUR MARKETING COMMUNICATION OVERVIEW. AND MARIANA'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.

SHE HATES WHEN I POINT HER OUT. BUT LOOK AT THE HELP SHE'S ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE HELP OF MADISON, OUR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE MEDIA REQUESTS WE GET, AND WE GET A LOT OF THEM.

I'LL ANSWER ANYBODY'S PHONE CALL IF IT'S ABOUT A PRESS

[00:50:01]

RELEASE. SO I WILL. I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE ANY TIME.

IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

SO WITH THAT I WANT TO INTRODUCE TO YOU, YOU'RE THE FIRST TO SEE THIS, MY REPLACEMENT. THE INCOMING CEO JAYDEN GIBB.

APPROVED THAT OVER 80 APPLICANTS, NARROWED THAT DOWN TO A FINAL TWO CANDIDATES, AND THEN THE COMMITTEE SELECTED GIBB AND THE BOARD SUPPORTED THAT IN FULL YESTERDAY. HE'S COMING BACK TO TEXAS. HE LIVES IN SALT LAKE CITY RIGHT NOW. HIS PARENTS LIVE IN TEXAS. HE HAS SIX YEARS IN UTAH AND THE GREATER HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, REGION.

HE ALSO HAS EXPERIENCE IN BUSINESS CONSULTING.

PROUDLY TO SAY HE SERVED WITH THE U.S. NAVY AS A JAG OFFICER SO VERY BRIGHT YOUNG MAN. HE'S EARNED HIS BA.

HE EARNED A MASTERS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FROM TULAIN. VERY BRIGHT AND ENERGETIC IN KEEPING THE VITALITY OF THIS COMMUNITY GOING OVER THE NEXT MANY YEARS.

WITH THAT, I THANK YOU SINCERELY FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER MY LAST 20 YEARS, AND THANK YOU FOR % THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU

TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, GILL, FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE. ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, FEEDBACK?

>> THANKS, GILL, FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND HE'S WORKED

IT, TOO. >> YES, I

HAVE. >> THAT'S VERY NICE.

WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU'VE DONE.

>> ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

>> I'D LIKE TO APPLAUD YOU NOT ONLY FOR YOUR TENURE BUT ALSO YOUR LEADERSHIP, NOT ONLY THE COMMUNITY BUT PROFESSIONALLY, GILL. KNOW YOU'RE HIGHLY REGARDED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT FACETS. AND WE WILL MISS YOU AND WISH YOU WELL, BUT EXCITED ABOUT JEVON COMING AND AN INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUAL WHO I WAS FORTUNATE TO SERVE ON THIS SELECTION COMMITTEE AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHERS. AND HE WILL BE -- BIG SHOES FILL, BUT HE WILL BE AN ASSET.

AND THIS HAS BEEN HIS GOAL IS TO BE THE CEO OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TO RETURN TO

TEXAS. >> I TOLD HIM, YOU'VE REACHED THE PINNACLE. YOU'VE REACHED THE PINNACLE, SO YOU'LL BE PROUD OF THAT, AND HE WILL

BE. >> SO, GILL, YOU HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL. THE PASSION YOU HAVE FOR THE BUSINESSES HERE IS SECOND TO NONE. I THINK YOU PRESENTING AT EOC WAS THE HIGHLIGHT AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE MISSED THE WAY YOU PRESENTED AND YOUR LOVE OF EVERYTHING YOU DO.

>> I'M GOING TO PERFORM THAT SURVEY.

MARIANA, I TOLD HER I'D HELP HER WITH THIS, SO I'M GOING TO DO THAT SURVEY I'VE PRESENTED EVERY YEAR BUT I WON'T BE PRESENTING IT.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETITION WITH THAT

SURVEY. >> I'D LIKE TO JOIN IN ON THE COMPLIMENTS, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I WANT TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR THE WOODLANDS AND GENERATING BUSINESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT, WITHOUT THE JOBS AND WITHOUT ALL THE SALES THAT GOES ON AND THE SALES TAX THAT'S GENERATED, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE AMENITIES THAT WE DO FROM THIS BOARD TO OUR TAXPAYERS, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. I ALSO WANT TO SAY YOU ARE VERY AVAILABLE, AND I JUST THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR BEING ONE OF THE MOST AVAILABLE EXECUTIVES IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO COME AND SERVE ON THIS DAIS.

I THINK YOUR CELLPHONE IS PROBABLY IN MANY PEOPLE'S POCKETS, AND WE NEED THAT KIND OF AVAILABILITY, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND FINALLY A THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE TOWNSHIP AS A LEGACY PARTICIPANT IN THE EDP. THAT'S NEW, AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR

TAXPAYERS. >> THANK YOU.

THANKS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF

Y'ALL. >> GILL, APPRECIATE YOU. YOU'VE DONE SO MUCH FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANKS TO THE COMMITTEE THAT HIRED YOUR REPLACEMENT. WE GOT A BRIEF CALL FROM HIM THIS AFTERNOON. I THINK EVERYONE'S RECEIVED HIS R\SUM\, CORRECT, MONIQUE? IT'S

[00:55:03]

IMPRESSIVE, VERY WELL LAID OUT, VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT. I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE A GREAT RESOURCE IN THE FUTURE. GILL, MAYBE WE'RE GOING TO TAP INTO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CALL FOR A MOTION TO SECOND TO ACCEPT --

>> THANK YOU, GILL.

>> MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REPORT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RESPOND

[9. Receive, consider and act upon the 2025 Service Agreement with The Woodlands Economic Development Partnership (C-2025-0063); ]

BY SAYING AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 9 WITH THE WOODLANDS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DELIVERABLES TO THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP THAT MR. STALY JUST LAID OUT.

MOVED BY DIRECTOR SNYDER, SECONDED BY DIRECTOR

[10. Receive, consider and act upon a quarterly update from the Development Standards Committee; ]

HEISER. MOTION CARRIES.

AGENDA ITEM 10 --

>> BUT WAIT, YOU CAN'T LEAVE

NOW. >> WE'VE GOT 38 ITEMS LEFT, GILL. YOU'VE GOT TO AT LEAST STAY AND HEAR THAT. CALLING COURT UPDATE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS. CHAIRMAN, I CALL ON WALTER INVIED TO PROVIDE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AN UPDATE INVOLVING DSC MATTERS. WALT, WELCOME. THIS IS ANOTHER RETIREMENT LAST SPEECH HERE. THIS IS RETIREMENT

DAY. >> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN BAILEY, BOARD MEMBERS. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TONIGHT AND PRESENT THE YEAR END REVIEW.

I'D LIKE TO START OFF AND GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT OF THE AGENDA DATA THAT WE WENT THROUGH AND SOME OF THE ITEMS, GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE KEY ITEMS WE DEALT WITH THIS PAST YEAR AND THEN GIVE YOU A PREVIEW OF SOME OF THE FUTURE ITEMS WE'LL BE WORKING ON.

ALSO I HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS I'D LIKE TO ADD AT THE END WHEN I GET THROUGH. WE RECEIVED 930 APPLICATIONS, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT A MAJORITY OF THEM WERE RESIDENTIAL, ABOUT 70% OF IT.

THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT WE HAD LAST YEAR FOR 2023 OF ABOUT 17%. THE MAJORITY OF IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THE USUAL UPDATES OF BACK YARDS, OUTDOOR KITCHENS, PERGOLAS AND SO FORTH. WE DID EE A LOT OF ROOM ADDITIONS ADDED ONTO PARENTS MOVING IN WITH CHILDREN.

SO WE SAW A LOT OF THAT. SAW A LOT OF NEW FENCES GO IN AS YOU WOULD EXPECT WITH THE STORMS THAT HIT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAD A LOT OF FENCES DOWN SO WE HAD A LOT OF APPLICATIONS FOR THAT, AND WE CHANGED THE STANDARDS ON THAT, WHICH I'LL GO THROUGH LATER.

ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS THAT HAPPENED, IS WE GET A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TEARDOWN TREES BECAUSE THEY'RE CONCERNED WITH THE STORMS WE HAD, TREES FALLING ON HOUSES. AND SO THEY WANT TO TAKE TREES DOWN THAT DO NOT MEET THE STANDARD. SO WE LOOKED AT THE TREE STANDARD THAT WE HAVE. IF THEY COME WITHIN ARBORS, CERTIFIED ARBORS, IF THERE'S KIND OF LIKE A MASTERS ON ARBORS TO DETERMINE THAT TREE IS IN DISTRESS AND COULD POSSIBLY FALL. THEY'LL COME UP WITH ALL EXCUSES ABOUT ROOTS AND, YOU KNOW, THE DRIVEWAY AND SO FORTH.

IF WE TOOK EVERY TREE DOWN BECAUSE IT WAS NEXT TO A SIDEWALK OR A DRIVEWAY, WE'D HAVE NOTHING LEFT THERE. WE STILL SEE THE REDEVELOPMENT GOING ON.

WE PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT 17 THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND IN A LOT OF AREAS. AND ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING SOME OF THE OLDER BUILDINGS BEING RENOVATED LIKE THE BED, BATH AND BEYOND, THE OLD ACE HARDWARE SO WE'RE SEEING THAT, MONUMENT SIGNS. SO WE'RE SEEING REDEVELOPMENT THERE ALSO. SO SOME OF THE KEY ITEMS THAT WE FACED.

OF COURSE, WE RESPONDED TO THE IERLTAL ISSUES THAT HIT OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE FREEZE AT FIRST AND THEN THE JUNE STORM THAT HIT AND THEN THE HURRICANE.

TO HELP THE RESIDENTS WE RELINQUISHED SOME OF THE STANDARDS SO THAT PEOPLE COULD GET THE WORK DONE WITHOUT HAVING TO APPLY FOR THEIR APPLICATIONS.

[01:00:07]

WE WAIVERED THE FEES. TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS IN THE FUTURE WE MADE A CHANGE TO THE STANDARDS TO COMPLY WITH THE TEXAS MEETING ACT ABOUT HAVING TO HAVE A MEETING TO IMPLEMENT THESE CHANGES. THE CHAIR CAN NOW DO THAT IN CONFERENCE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION GROUP.

AND THEN WE'LL REVIEW IT AT THE NEXT MEETING, BUT IT ALLOWS US TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE CHANGES WITHOUT IT HAVING TO INTERFERE WITH LIKE I SAID THE TEXAS MEETING ACT.

WE STAYED OUT OF TROUBLE THIS PAST YEAR.

WE ONLY MADE THE PAPER ONE TIME.

WE HAD QUESTIONS ON GARAGE SALES AND ESTATE SALES.

YOU KNOW, WE DO ALLOW ESTATE SALES ONLINE.

IN FACT, THERE WAS ONE ON MY STREET THIS WEEK.

SO THE ONLY TIME WE MADE THE PAPER. WE DID RECEIVE QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS THIS YEAR ON SHORT- TERM RENTALS.

WE DID PULL SOME PERMITS, AND WE BASICALLY HAVE A ZERO- TOLERANCE WHEN IT COMES TO VIOLATION OF THE STANDARDS ON THAT. AS USUAL WE LOOKED AT THE STANDARDS THIS PAST YEAR. WE MADE SOME REVISIONS ON FENCES, FOR ONE. WE WERE ALLOWING 7 FOOT 6 INCH FENCES NOW BETWEEN NEIGHBORS.

IF YOU LIVE ON A THOROUGHFARE STREET OR FEEDER STREET YOU CAN GO 8 FOOT 6.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE HAD CHICKEN COOPS IN BACK YARDS AND WE HAD SOME INSTANCES THERE THAT CAME UP. AND SO WE LOOKED AT THE STANDARDS. YOU CAN'T HAVE MORE THAN THREE ANIMALS. DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU HAVE THREE DOGS, THREE CATS, OR THREE CHICKENS, THAT'S ALL YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE.

SO WE MADE SOME CHANGES THERE WITH NO ROOSTERS EITHER. IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS. AS I MENTIONED ABOUT THE TREE STANDARDS, WE DID THAT. AND THEN WE LOOKED AT THE HOME BUSINESS STANDARDS. AGAIN, WE LOOKED AT REAPPLYING FOR HOME BUSINESSES. AND MORE EMPHASIS ALSO ON THE IMPACT OF A NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN SOMEONE HAS A HOME BUSINESS. SO WE UPDATED THE STANDARDS ON THAT. COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.

WE HELD FOUR WORKSHOPS. WE REALLY GET A LOT OF THE WORKSHOPS.

IT ALLOWS US TO WORK THROUGH A LOT OF ISSUES THAT COME UP DURING THE YEAR.

WE HELD OUR JOINT MEETING LAST MONTH. THAT WENT VERY WELL. AND ON THE COMMERCIAL STANDARDS WE BASICALLY HAVE DONE OUR PART. THIS WILL ALLOW THE STAFF TO DO MORE APPROVALS.

IT'LL ALSO SPEED UP THE PROCESS AND BASICALLY IT'S JUST FOR FINAL REVIEW AND FOR SIGNATURE. AS YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER, I MENTIONED BEFORE THAT WE ENTERTAINED WORKING WITH THE HOUSTON RESEARCH ADVANCE CENTER AND TO LOOK AT OUR STANDARDS AND DO A COMPREHENSIVE SWAT ANALYSIS TO TELL US WHAT THE STRENGTHS ARE, WHAT OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO APPROVE THEM, AND WHAT THREATS MIGHT BE COMING DOWN FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENT OR RELENTLESS STATUS REQUIREMENT. WE RECEIVED A INITIAL REVIEW THAT THEY DID.

WE HAD A MEETING LAST MONTH. WE EVEN BROUGHT ROBERT OUT OF RETIREMENT TO JOIN US AT THE MEETING TO GET HIS INPUT. AND THEY'RE REVIEWING THE FIRST PHASE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WE'LL GET THE FINAL FIRST DAYS REVIEW AND SUMMARY. AND THEN WE'LL ASCERTAIN WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO MOVE ON WITH PHASE 2 AND PHASE 3 OF IT. FUTURE ITEMS WE'LL BE LOOKING AT. ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS. WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT STANDARDS TO SEE IF THERE'S THERE'S STANDARDS WE NEED TO MAKE. AND WE'LL DO OUR JOINT MEETINGS, PROBABLY HAVE AT LEAST TWO JOINT MEETINGS.

AND TO FINISH UP THE MAKE-UP OF THE DOC, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW THIS IS MY LAST DOC PRESENTATION ALSO.

AFTER MUCH REFLECTION I DECIDED IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON AND TURN IT OVER TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

AND SO IT'S BEEN A TRUE HONOR TO SERVE ALONGSIDE SUCH DEDICATED PEOPLE ON THE BOARD OVER

[01:05:04]

THE YEARS AND ACTUALLY ALMOST TEN YEARS NOW BEEN ON IT, AND VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AND WHAT THE IMPACT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE ON OUR COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, I'D BE REMISS, THOUGH, IF I DIDN'T SAY THERE WERE TWO GROUPS THAT MADE A BIG IMPACT ON OUR HEALTH, THE CUV INSTANCE ADMINISTRATION GROUP, AND THEY WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING OUR PROCESS WORK. AND ALSO THE STRONG LAW FIRM, ESPECIALLY BRET STRONG. THE ADVICE HE PROVIDED US IS SOMETHING THAT KEEPS US WITHIN THE CONFINES OF HOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO OPERATE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

SO I GUESS YOU COULD SAY IN CLOSING, AGAIN, VERY PROUD OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE'VE HAD, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THE SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW ME TO SERVICE MY COMMUNITY. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.

CAN I ANSWER ANY QUESTIOS FOR YOU, ANY COMMENTS YOU MIGHT

HAVE? >> I HAVE A QUESTION.

I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THE QUESTION I ASKED MARY LAST WEEK AND I THINK I THREW HER OFF A LITTLE BIT, BUT HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU DEDICATE TO THIS POSITION PER

YEAR? >> HOW MANY DO WE PUT

IN? >> HOW MANY HOURS APPROXIMATELY WOULD YOU SAY? GO PER

MONTH. >> AS I TOLD JOHN ONE TIME, THE PAY IS GREAT.

>> RIGHT.

>> HUNDREDS OF HOURS. IT'S A LOT OF WORK.

TOMORROW NIGHT'S MEETING THE AGENDA IS 108 PAGES.

THAT'S ONE THING WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT HOW CAN WE STREAMLINE THE MEETING.

WE ARE GOING TO BE AT ONE OF THE WORKSHOPS TO LOOK AT HOW CAN WE MAKE IT RUN SMOOTH AND NOT JUST FOR THE RESIDENTS BUT FOR THE STAFF ALSO BECAUSE THEY PUT IN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HOURS GETTING A PACKAGE FOR YOU AND HAVING ALL THE INFORMATION.

WE DO SPEND AN AWFUL LOT OF

TIME. >> I KNOW YOU DO.

WE APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH. THIS JOB IS SO IMPORTANT, AND IT'S TEDIOUS, AND IT'S TIMELY.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE

TOWNSHIP. >> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> I'M CURIOUS. WHAT WOULD BE THE MAIN REASONS FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE SHORT- TERM

RENTALS? >> I'M

SORRY? >> WHAT HAVE BEEN THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE VIOLATIONS OF THE SHORT- TERM

RENTALS? >>

OH, PARTIES. >>

FIGURED. >> MOSTLY PARTIES.

AND THERE'S ALWAYS EXCUSES, BUT LIKE I SAID WE HAVE PULLED PERMITS. AND I KNOW THERE'S A PROGRAM NOW HE'S LOOKING AT REALLY DO WE HAVE ALL THE SHORT- TERM RENTALS IDENTIFIED BECAUSE THERE'S PROBABLY MORE OUT THERE THAN WHAT WE

HAVE. >> WELL, I'D LIKE TO, IF I MAY, ALSO ECHO AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEAD DEDICATION, YOUR COMMITMENT.

WHAT I'VE SEEN HAPPEN DURING MY TENURE DURING YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE REST OF THE DSC IS THAT YOU BROUGHT IT TO A NEW LEVEL. AND IN THE TEN YEARS WE HAVEHAVE GROWN IMMENSELY, AND WE'VE ALSO AGED. AND YOU'VE HELPED MAKE THAT -- ADDRESSING THOSE NEEDS AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

I JUST AM PERSONALLY VERY, VERY THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE, WALT.

>> WALT, I'D LIKE LIKE THANK YOU YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO WORKED SO HARD AND DILIGENTLY ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY IN SOMEWHAT I EXPECT TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES FROM TIME TO TIME. YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB AND KEPT THINGS QUIET AND ON THE RAIL WHICH IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT IN ITSELF.

SO THANKS AGAIN.

>> THE WOODLANDS IS WHAT WE ARE BECAUSE OF THE STANDARDS.

YOU COULD HAVE CAVED IN SO MANY TIMES.

PEOPLE CAN BE VERY DETERMINED WHAT THEY WANT, AND IT WAS THE BACKBONE THAT THIS COMMITTEE HAS THAT MAKES THE WOODLANDS THE WOODLANDS AND SEPARATES US FROM SO MANY OTHER AREAS. GREAT JOB. I KNOW YOU'RE MY GO- TO PERSON. I THINK YOU'RE ON SPEED DIAL, SO YOU'RE STILL GOING TO BE ON SPEED DIAL.

YOU'RE NOT MOVING.

>> YOU CAN STILL CALL.

>> DIRECTOR GIBBS.

>> YES, I'D LIKE TO HO CONGRATULATIONS AND EXPERT SERVICE YOU'VE BROUGHT TO THE DSC, AND YOU WILL BE VERY MUCH MISSED AND I'M CERTAIN OF

[01:10:02]

THAT. AND I HAVE TWO THINGS TO ASK.

ONE IS THE FENCE SITUATION THAT WE'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER ABOUT TRAFFIC SOUND BEING A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF OUR HOME OWNERS. HOW IS THE -- OR WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE 8 FOOT 6 INCH FENCE IS HAS IT BEEN FAVORABLE AT ALL, AND ARE YOU SEEING ANY OTHER ADJUSTMENTS ON THE EXTERIOR FENCES THAT ARE ADJACENT TO ROADWAYS? ANY OTHER ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE HELPFUL? THAT'S QUESTION NUMBER ONE. QUESTION NUMBER TWO IS ON THAT HARK REPORT, WOULD YOUR REPLACEMENT BE WILLING TO GIVE US A SYNOPSIS ON THAT REMARK

REPORT? >> OH,

DEFINITELY. >> THAT WOULD

BE HELPFUL. >> AS FOR THE FENCE IT HAS HELPED. WE HAVE APPROVED FENCES HIGHER THAN THAT FOR SOME AREAS. I THINK THERE IS ONE OFF OF -- GOING TOWARDS SAINT ANTHONY LIKE A 12 FOOT FENCE WE ALLOW THEM TO PUT IN BECAUSE THE TURN WHERE IT'S PUT THERE, THE HEADLIGHTS FROM THE CAR ACTUALLY SHINE RIGHT INTO HIS LIVING ROOM.

SO WE DID DO THAT. SO÷÷ WE'RE PRETTY RECEPTABLE.

IF THERE IS SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, WE'LL LOOK AT IT. AND IF NEEDS TO BE 10 FOOT, WE'LL PUT 10- FOOT IN THERE.

ALL OF THINGS WE'VE TRIED TO FIND THAT RIGHT ANSWER.

WE'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO WORK WITH THE RESIDENT AND TRY TO REMEMBER WHAT OUR MISSION IS TO MAINTAIN THE STANDARDS.

BUT HOW CAN WE HELP THE RESIDENT? I ALWAYS SAY IT'S LIKE THE GUY THAT COMES OUT HE WANTS A 900 SQUARE FOOT KITCHEN AND HE ONLY HAS A 1,000 SQUARE FOOT LOT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET YOU DO THAT, BUT IF YOU CAN GO WITH 400 SQUARE FEET, WE CAN LIVE WITH THAT MAYBE. WE TRY TO WORK WITH

PEOPLE. >> I WANT TO THANK YOU.

YOU'RE ONE OF MY GO-TOS. I CALL YOU ON A REGULAR BASIS WHEN I QUESTIONS. AND YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY IS GREATLY GOING TO BE MISSED. YOU HAVE A WEALTH OF INFORMATION THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND APPRECIATE

YOU. >> THANK YOU.

I'M STILL GOING TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY.

I'M STILL ON THE WATER BOARD. WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES THERE WITH INFRASTRUCTURE WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH, SO I'LL STILL BE

AROUND. >> SO YOUR JOB WILL STILL BE

FLUID. >> OH,

MY GOSH. >> THANK YOU VERY

MUCH. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, WALT.

I CALL A MOTION TO SECOND TO RECEIVE THE QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

COMMITTEE. >> SO

MOVED. >>

SECOND. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RESPOND

[11. Recess the regular meeting of the Board of Directors;]

BY SAYING AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES.

IT'S 7:12. AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO RECESS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IT'S NECESSARY TO RECESS THIS REGULAR MEETING TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING RELATED TO AMENDMENTS OF THE TOWNSHIP ORDER NUMBER 020-09.

[12. PUBLIC HEARING: Convene and conduct a Public Hearing regarding proposed amendments to Township Order No. 020-09, Adopting Park User Fees for the use of Park, Recreation and Open Space Areas of The Woodlands Township;]

A PUBLIC HEARING FOR DIRECTORS WE'LL NOW CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING FOR TOUBSHIP ORDER NUMBER 020-09.

ADOPTING PARK USER FEES FOR THE USE OF PARK RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE AREAS FOR THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP. I CALL ON DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION JOHN MCGOWAN. WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING, BUT, JOHN, YOU WANT TO TAKE US THROUGH

THIS. >> JUST A RECAP FROM TWO WEEKS AGO. REALLY ONLY THE FACILITY FEE CHANGE WERE THE TWO ROOMS AT THE ROB RECREATION CENTER. WE ADDED THE TWO 85- INCH TVS IN THE HICKORY AND CYPRESS ROOMS, SO WE JUST RAISED THOSE FEES BY $10.

SO THOSE ARE THE ONLY FEE

CHANGES. >> ALL RIGHT.

ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, FEEDBACK?

>> QUICK QUESTION. DO YOU HAVE ANY FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS ON THESE CHANGES POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE? IS THAT PART THE SURVEY OR ESTIMATE WHAT IT COSTS TO COVER YOUR

EXPENSES? >> IT'S JUST THE COST TO COVER OUR EXPENSES. OBVIOUSLY THE SALARY'S GOING UP, THE TV, THE AMENITY. WE DO HAVE OUR OWN PROGRAMS IN THERE ALSO, BUT FOR THE EXTERIOR

[13. Reconvene the regular meeting of the Board of Directors;]

RENTALS, YES.

>> ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, IT'S 7:14. I RECONVENE THE REGULAR

[14. Adopt the proposed amendments to Township Order No. 020-09, Adopting Park User Fees for the use of Park, Recreation and Open Space Areas of The Woodlands Township and revisions to the 2025 Recreation Facility Operating Hours;]

MEETING OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO REGULAR SESSION. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 14 ADOPT PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO TOWNSHIP ORDER NUMBER 020- 09 ADOPTING PARK USER FEES FOR THE USE OF THE PARK, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE AREAS OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP AND REVISIONS.

[15. Receive, consider and act upon the Harris Central Appraisal District Board of Directors Election ballot and approve a resolution in connection therewith;]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, JOHN.

AGENDA ITEM 15 IT APPROVES THE RESOLUTION IN CONNECTION TO WHERE

[01:15:07]

WHEREWITHIN.

>> THANK YOU. AS YOU MAY RECALL I WE HAD A BRIEFING ON THIS AT LAST MONTH'S MEETING. THE TOWNSHIP IS CONSIDERED A CONSERVATION RECLAMATION DISTRICT.

THERE ARE EIGHT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON THE BALLOT, AND THE TOWNSHIP IS ABLE TO CAST FIVE VOTES. THIS ITEM WAS DEFERRED ATAT NOVEMBER 22ND MEETING. JONATHAN COWAN IS THE DIRECTOR WHO CURRENTLY REPRESENTS CONSERVATION AND RECLAMATION DISTRICTS. OF THE SEVEN LISTED MIKE SULLIVAN WAS ONE LISTED TO CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WE WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT WAS IS THE MIKE SULLIVAN THAT HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO MIND.

AND SO IF THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN CASTING ITSITS VOTES, THE MOTION BEFORE YOU WOULD BE TO AUTHORIZE RESOLUTION NUMBER 016- 24 CASTING THE TOWNSHIP VOTES FOR THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTOR ELECTIONS AND AUTHORIZE A BOARD CHAIRMAN TO SIGN A BALLOT. AS A REMINDER THE BOARD HAS A ABILITY TO CAST ITS FIVE VOTES TO SPREAD THAT AMONG THE PEOPLE OF THE CANDIDATES OR CAST THEM ALL FOR A SINGLE DIRECTOR, AND WE WOULD JUST NEED TO KNOW WHICH DIRECTOR YOU WOULD LIKE TO CAST THOSE VOTES FOR.

>> OKAY, I'D LIKE TO SAY MIKE SULLIVAN WAS A DEAR FRIEND, GREAT MAN AND ALSO SITS ON THE LONE STAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND KNOWS OUR COMMUNITY AND SEVERAL OF OUR MEMBERS, AND I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF HIS.

>> YEAH, MIKE SULLIVAN SERVES ON THE ADVISORY BOARD, AND HE ATTENDS EVERY SINGLE MEETING, VERY ACTIVE IN IT, AND HE SEEMS EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR AREA.

>> I'VE ALSO GOTTEN POSITIVE FEEDBACK MIKE SULLIVAN WHO WE WOULD CAST OUR VOTES FOR.

I'D BE IN FAVOR OF CASTING ALL FIVE --

>> IS THAT A MOTION? SECOND BY DIRECTOR DIRECTOR NELSON. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR FOR PLACING ALL FIVE VOTES FOR MIKE SULLIVAN FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF ELECTORS ELECTION BALLOT AND APPROVE THE RESOLUTION WITHIN

[16. Receive, consider and act upon discussion of the Montgomery Central Appraisal District election process;]

SAY AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. AGENDA ITEM 16 RECEIVING AND ACTING ON DISCUSSION OF THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY ELECTION PROCESS.

TIS THE SEASON.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S BASICALLY THE SAY.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF PARTICIPATING IN THIS ELECTION. FOR THIS ONE WE DID JUST RECEIVE NOTICE THAT NOMINATIONS ARE DUE.

AND SO THIS IS A MULTIPLE- STEP PROCESS JUST LIKE HARRIS COUNTY NORMALLY OPERATES. THERE ARE FIVE BOARD POSITIONS TO BE FILLED IN THE PROCESS.

THE TOWNSHIP DOES HAVE THE ABILITY TO NOMINATE CANDIDATES. THAT IS DUE ON -- BY JANUARY 17TH. WE DON'T HAVE OUR BOARD MEETING ESTABLISHED FOR JANUARY YET.

BUT THAT IF WE STICK WITH A CONSISTENT SCHEDULE FOR WHAT WE'VE USED IN THE PAST, YOUR FIRST BOARD MEETING IN JANUARY WOULD BE JANUARY 16 TH. WE DID JUST RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION. ACTUALLY THE FINAL LETTER WE RECEIVED THIS AFTERNOON.

THE TOWNSHIP BOARD CAN BASICALLY DO ONE OF TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. YOU CAN DIRECT STAFF TO USE THE SOLICITATION PROCESS OR YOU CAN CHOOSE A COMMUNITY MEMBER OF YOUR CHOICE. ARTHUR BREDEHOF SERVES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CURRENTLY AND EXPRESSED INTEREST ON SERVING ON THAT AGAIN. WE DO HAVE ONE KNOWN CANDIDATE WHO'S INTERESTED IN BEING NOMINATED. JUST LIKE THE LAST ONE, ACTIONS RELATED TO THIS ELECTION HAVE TO BE THROUGH A RESOLUTION. YOU DO HAVE A DRAFT RESOLUTION IN YOUR BOARD MATERIALS.

IF THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN NOMINATING SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THE TIMING, YOU WOULD ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO THINK IT OVER FOR A MONTH AND COME BACK IN JANUARY IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WAIT UNTIL THE JANUARY MEETING.

>> HOW MANY VOTES DO WE HAVE?

>> WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION FROM MCAD, AND I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE HOW MUCH THEIR PROCESS HAS CHANGED.

IN THE PAST WE HAD ABOUT 187 JUST FOR THE TOWNSHIP.

AND THEN WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THE OTHER THAT ARE IN THE WOODLANDS, THE WOODLANDS HAS A MAJORITY OF VOTES FOR CONSERVATION

[01:20:04]

DISTRICTS. >> HE CURRENTLY SERVES ON THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT SINCE 2018 TO 2019. HE ALSO WAS A DIRECTOR FROM '22 TO '24, SERVES ON THE DSC AS WELL AS THE MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY METRO, FORMER MUNICIPAL MUD DIRECTOR, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND HAS REPRESENTED THE WOODLANDS, THIS AREA VERY, VERY WELL. AND HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB ON THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

>> IS THAT A MOTION?

>> YES.

>> SECOND. >> MOVED BY DIRECTOR SNYDER, SECONDED BY DIRECTOR NELSON. ALL THOSE ININ TO ARTHUR AND AUTHORIZE THE BOARD CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE RESOLUTION SAY AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED.

[17. Receive, consider and act upon an extension of the agreement for lobbying services with Williams Public Affairs and authorize acceptance of Texas Ethics Commission Form 1295 (C-2023-0038);]

MOTION CARRIES, ARTHUR. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOU. AGENDA ITEM 17 RECEIVE AND CONSIDER AND ACT UPON EXTENSION OF THE AGREEMENT FOR LOBBYING SERVICES FOR WILLIAMS PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND AUTHORIZE ACCEPTANCE OF THE TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION FORM 1295 C-2023-0038.

CHAIRMAN REFERS DIRECTORS TO 221 OF YOUR PACT, ADDITIONAL MATERIAL ALSO INCLUDED ARE THE UPDATED COPY OF THAT -- THAT CONTRACT. CALL ON TODD STEVENS TO BRIEF US ON THIS.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND GOOD EVENING, DIRECTORS.

SINCE 2004 ON REGULAR OCCASION THE TOWNSHIP HAS ENGAGED LOBBYING AND A LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATION TO REPRESENT TOWNSHIP PRIORITIES BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. AND 2023 YOU'LL RECALL THAT WE HIRED WILLIAMS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AND THIS BOARD WAS VERY STRONG AND SUCCESSFUL IN ADVOCATING CHANGES ON LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO COLLECT OUR SHARE OF BEVERAGE TAXES AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO CREATE A HOTELS-BASED. THIS SUMMER THE BOARD ALSO RETAINED WILLIAMS PUBLIC AFFAIRS AFTER HURRICANE BERYL TO MONITOR AS IT RELATES TO ANY CHANGES AS IT RELATES TO UTILITY PROVIDERS AND THOSE SERVICES WITHIN THE WOODLANDS. AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE HAD MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD TO BE ABLE TO TESTIFY BOTH BEFORE THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES THAT ARE PREPARING REPORTS AND POTENTIALLY LEGISLATION GOING INTO THE NEW SESSION FOR THOSE PARTICULAR ISSUES.

WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU NOW IS A PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THAT AGREEMENT WITH THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE SERVICE -- OR SESSION, EXCUSE ME. THAT WILL BEGIN IN THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY FOR WILLIAMS SERVICE TO CONTINUE TO REPRESENT US FOR ANY LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED BY THE BOARD. OBVIOUSLY WILLIAMS PUBLIC AFFAIRS IS WELL SITUATED TO REPRESENT THE TOWNSHIP. MR. WILLIAMS AS YOU KNOW IS A STATE LEGISLATURE THAT REPRESENTED THE WOODLANDS, VERY FAMILIAR WITH OUR PARTICULAR STRUCTURE AND/OR THE NEEDS AND SERVICES WE PROVIDE.

OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE BUT ALSO WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. SO THEY HAVE THE STATE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACTS. AND THE CONTRACT, I'LL RUN THROUGH IT REAL QUICKLY, WILL GIVE US ACCESS IN THE THREE PRINCIPLES WITHIN THE FIRM FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO ESSENTIALLY THE LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT OUTLINES A LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE, AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES. SO THEY WILL, OBVIOUSLY, TALK TO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, MEET WITH THE CHAIRS OF VARIOUS COMMITTEES, THE MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF TOWNSHIP PRIORITIES, TO CHAMPION AND ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THOSE PRIORITIES, TO IDENTIFY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THEY WOULD HAVE. OBVIOUSLY THEY'LL DO THAT ON BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE SIDES.

SO THEY'LL BE WORKING BOTH SIDES OF THE LEGISLATURE. THEY'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING US COORDINATE ANY TESTIMONY WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE BOARD MEMBERS GIVE IN SUPPORT OF OUR PRIORITIES AS WELL AS OBVIOUSLY MAKE SURE -- GIVING US ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT TESTIMONY. THEY WOULD ALSO OBVIOUSLY COMMUNICATE OUR POSITION ON ALL OF OUR ISSUES WITH ALL THE STAFF IN THE INTERIM STUDIES OF INTEREST AS WELL. AS IT RELATES TO ANY PERSPECTIVE LEGISLATION THAT THE BOARD MAY WANT TO CONSIDER, OBVIOUSLY THEY WOULD HELP SECURE SPONSORS AND COSPONSORS FOR THAT LEGISLATION TO SHOW STRONG SUPPORT AS WELL AS BRIEF BOTH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WHO'S OBVIOUSLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN ADDITION TO LEGISLATIVE OFFICES ON WHAT THAT LEGISLATION ENTAILS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE TOWNSHIP. WE WOULD ALSO, OF COURSE -- THEY WOULD ALSO OBVIOUSLY REPORT BACK TO US ON A REGULAR BASIS TO LET US KNOW THE STATUS AND TO KEEP THE BOARD INFORMED. AS IT RELATES TO THE EXECUTIVE OBVIOUSLY WITH THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, THEY'LL MEET WITH THE GOVERNOR AND HIS STAFF, AGAIN, TO DISCUSS PRIORITIES AND TRY TO GAIN THE GOVERNOR'S SUPPORT ON THOSE INITIATIVES. AND THEN LATER

[01:25:07]

SHOULD ANY SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATION PASS, THAT WOULD ALSO HELP WITH STATE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES ON RULE MAKING AND ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE PIECES OF LEGISLATION. SO THEY WOULD SERVICE US THROUGH THAT FINAL IMPLEMENTATION STAGE SO YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU A ENGAGEMENT LETTER THAT WOULD BE FROM JANUARY OF 2025 TO DECEMBER OF 2025.

THERE IS $120,000 IN THE 2025 BUDGET FOR THIS PURPOSE.

AND I WOULD BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL

QUESTIONS. >> TODD, BEFORE YOU GO INTO THAT COULD YOU GIVE US AN ESTIMATED TO TAP INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT HOW MUCH THE MIXED BEVERAGE TAX HAS GENERATED FOR THE TOWNSHIP SO FAR PASSED IN THE LAST

SESSION. >> I THINK IT'S 1. 2 MILLION AT THIS POINT, ROUGHLY.

>> 1. 5 MILLION.

>> $1. 5 MILLION. SUCCESSFULLY PASSING THAT LEGISLATION CHANGED THAT IN ADDITION TO THAT'S NOT EVEN STARTED YET IS THE ABILITY FOR OUR HOTELS TOTO ALSO AN INCENTIVE BASE THAT WILL BE ABLE TO GROW INTO.

THAT CAN BE PULLED OFF THE SHELF AT ANY TIME TO BE USED AT OUR HOTELS FOR THE VOTE OF OUR HOTELS.

>> MY QUESTION WASN'T WITH THE PROCESS.

IT WAS WE HADN'T SEEN THE DOCUMENTS. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S JUST FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THROUGH

JUNE. >> THE WILLIAMS PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTRACT WOULD ACTUALLY BE FROM JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2025 AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES AND STATE AGENCIES LIKE THE COMPTROLLER LOOKS TO IMPLEMENT THE LAWS THAT ARE

PASSED. >> SO THE RULES THAT COME IN USUALLY GET PUSHED DOWN IN LATE SUMMER MONTHS, AND THEN THE GOVERNOR OBVIOUSLY SIGNS THEM OR DOESN'T SIGN THEM.

JUST HAVING THEM THE END OF THE YEAR IS AN IMPORTANT PART.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION DOES START IN MID-JANUARY.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT TIME. THERE'S A LOT OF BILLS ALREADY STACKING UP.

ANY OTHER QUESTIOS?

>> COMMENT, IF I MAY. THANK YOU.

I, TOO, HAVE CHAGRIN OVER THE LACK OF TIME TO REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS THAT WERE PLACED ON OUR DESK WHEN WE -- APPARENTLY IN A FOLDER TO BE REVIEWED WHEN WE ARRIVED. AND THEY ARE NOT CONTRACTS.

THEY ARE SOME SORT OF LETTER OF PROPOSAL, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S EXPECTED THAT WE WOULD -- THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THE TOWNSHIP TO SIGN, IT'S JUST SOME SORT OF PROPOSAL. YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT?

>> THEY ARE LETTERS OF ENGAGEMENT AND THIS IS TYPICAL HOW THEY SUBMIT. WE JUST SIGN ON IT.

IT'S -- IT'S VERY TYPICAL OF HOW WE DO THAT, BUT THEY ARE CONSIDERED LETTERS OF THE ENGAGEMENT AS OPPOSED TO

CONTRACTS. >> ALMOST WORD FOR WORD WHAT WE SIGNED LAST SESSION, CORRECT?

>> HOWEVER, BACK TO LAST SESSION I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ACTUALLY WERE EVER TOLD WHAT WE EARNED FOR THAT FOUR- MONTH CONTRACT, $10,000 A MONTH. WAS THAT BENEFICIAL TO THE WOODLANDS? THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TO GENERATE SOME SORT OF ACTIVITY RELATED TO WAS IT CENTER POINT ENERGY? DID WE GAIN ANYTHING FROM ALL

THAT? >> ARE YOU SPEAKING TO WHEN WE AUTHORIZED THIS COMPANY TO -- FOR THE HURRICANE BERYL.

>> THE CONTRACT INITIATED IN JULY AFTER HAD HURRICANE AND WENT INTO EFFECT IN AUGUST AND EXPIRING THE END OF THIS MONTH.

>> CORRECT.

>> SO WAS THAT VIEWED TO BE SUCCESSFUL BY THE BOARD? I HAVEN'T HEARD A REPORT ON ANY OF THE RESULTS.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON A COMMITTEE THAT WOULD BE HEARING SOME OF THIS, AND THAT COMMITTEE NEVER MET.

SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE DOING SOMETHING AGAIN WHEN WE DIDN'T REALLY EVEN GET ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE LAST

CONTRACT. >> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DID NOT RECEIVE -- BECAUSE SHE AND I DID DISCUSS IT RECENTLY AND ADDRESS THAT, REGARDING THE 50,000 THAT WE ALLOCATED TO THISTHIS COMPANY AFTER HURRICANE BERYL.

>> SO AS TODD MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING PART OF THAT WAS GAINING ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO DO THE TESTIMONY.

THIS IS AN ONGOING -- WE KNEW RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING THAT THIS WAS A PROJECT THAT WAS GOING TO OR AN INITIATIVE THAT WAS GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME.

IT WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE RESOLVED IN FIVE MONTHS, SO IT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS -- THROUGH THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AND WILLIAMS -- WILLIAMS WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT. AND WHEN THERE IS AN UPDATE

[01:30:01]

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST ALL CHURNING, SO THERE ISN'T AN UPDATE TO PROVIDE, BUT WHEN THERE IS, THEY WILL PROVIDE

THAT. >> IT WAS ALSO THAT THE BOARD WHEN WE VOTED TO DO THAT WAS IN PROTECTION FOR THE COMMUNITY.

FOR CREEK SIDE AT THAT TIME WAS HAVING CHALLENGES, PART OF AND CENTER POINT AS WELL AS STERLING RIDGE AND FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A VOICE AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE REPRESENTATION IF THE NEED AROSE, AND THAT AS THE BOARD -- I THINK IT WAS A UNANIMOUS --

>> I VOTED FOR IT, BUT I'M JUST SAYING I SEE NOTHING -- NO

RESULTS. >> GOOD QUESTION.

BUT SOMETHING COULD HAVE THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE REPRESENTED BY THE

FIRM. >> AT LEAST TO THAT POINT WE KNEW WHAT WE WERE ASKING THEM TO DO.

THE BOARD KNEW. WE WERE ASKING THEM TO WORK WITH CENTER POINT TO IMPROVE SERVICE TO OUR CONSTITCH UENTS. IT WAS VERY SPECIFIC AND MEANINGFUL, AND I SUPPORTED THAT.

TODAY WE'RE BEING ASKED TO HIRE THEM, BOTH ORGANIZATIONS TO HIRE THEM FOR SOME VAGUE AGENDA, LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WE HAVEN'T VOTED AND BEEN DISCUSSED AND BROUGHT TO THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION.

I'VE HEARD RELATING THIS TO THE BOARD IS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT COULD BE POTENTIALLY PUSHED, AND I HAVE EXPRESSED MY OPPOSITION TO THAT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT EXTENDING TERM LIMITS WITHOUT A PUBLIC REFERENDUM OR PUBLIC CALL TO DO THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE.

>> I THINK WE'RE OUT OF ORDER

HERE. >> WE'RE

NOT. >> TWO THINGS MENTIONED, FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T KNOW THE TOPIC OF BOARD TERMS HAS EVER BEEN DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC.

>> YES, IT WAS. IT WAS BROUGHT UP BY KYLE WATSON AT HIS FINAL MEETING AND ALSO TALKED ABOUT PAYING THE BOARD A SALARY. YES, IT WAS AND YOU DID NOT SILENCE HIM. SO SILENCING ME I THINK IS UNFAIR.

>> AND THIS IS NOT ON THE AGENDA, THE TOPIC THAT YOU'RE BRINGING UP. YOU

CAN DISCUSS --? >> AGENDA IS PAYING A GROUP OF LOBBYIST TO WORK ON OUR BEHALF BUT NOT KNOWING WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING FOR US.

THAT'S THE QUESTION.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT DR.

SEKULA-GIBBS. >> COUPLE OF ITEMS WAVE TOUCHED ON, DR. SEKULA-GIBBS. ONE, AS YOU KNOW AS A FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN, AS A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, AS A LONG TIME TOWNSHIP DIRECTOR, LEGISLATION DOESN'T HAPPEN LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW, D.C. IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THINGS THAT DRAG ONON LONG TIME. THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE MEET ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS. A NATURAL DISASTER DEVASTATED OUR COMMUNITY, DEVASTATED OUR REGION. WE HAD RESIDENTS GOING ALMOST TWO WITHOUT POWER FROM CENTER POINTS FAILURES, FROM HARRIS COUNTY CREEK SIDE PARK AND STERLING RIDGE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THIS BOARD, THE PRIOR BOARD, WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. WE DID ENGAGE TOMMY WILLIAMS AND HIS FIRM, WILLIAMS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, THEN CHAIRWOMAN SNYDER AND DIRECTOR HEISER, MYSELF, MONIQUE, TODD, STAFF WENT TO TWO DIFFERENT HEARINGS, SPENT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME THERE TESTIFYING, FOLLOWED THAT UP WITH LETTERS FROM RESTAURANTEURS AND BUSINESS OWNERS AND TALKED WITH TWO SENATORS WE HAVE WHO WERE VERY, VERY ENGAGED IN LOOKING INTO CENTER POINT.

AND THEY'RE USING ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR LETTERS FROM ONE OF OUR RESTAURANTEURS HERE DID AN INCREDIBLE LETTER, AND THEY'RE USING THAT AS TESTIMONY BASICALLY TO PUT INTO THE RECORD. AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY DRAFTING BILLS. BILLS ARE BEING SUBMITTED AS WE SPEAK FOR THE NEXT SESSION. SO I REALLY BELIEVE THE WORK THAT'S DONE BY STAFF AND THE PREVIOUS BOARD AND THE THREE OF US THAT ARE HERE NOW ASAS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR RESIDENTS, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR BUSINESSES.

AND TO SAY THAT WE GOT NOTHING FOR FIVE MONTHS OF PAYING THEM I THINK IS IRRESPONSIBLE. THAT'S

NOT TRUE. >> NO, I DIDN'T SAY WE GOT NOTHING. I SAID WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY FEEDBACK FROM THIS ORGANIZATION.

I HAVEN'T.

>> AND THAT IS AN ACCURATE

[01:35:01]

STATEMENT. >> AS YOU KNOW.

I MEAN, YOU'VE PASSED BILLS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

YOU'VE PASSED, YOU KNOW, LAWS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. IT TAKES TIME AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO UTILITIES PROVIDING SERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. SO I ASK FOR A LITTLE GRACE ON -- ON THE UPDATES. THERE'S NO UPDATES TO GIVE BECAUSE LEGISLATION IS BEING DRAFTED FOR THE CURRENT SESSION.

AND THE CURRENT SESSION IS GOING TO BE VERY, VERY -- THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES OF THIS SESSION.

AND I THINK WE -- IT IS OUR DUTY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RESPECT -- HELP OUR RESIDENTS.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY ONE OTHER THING.

BY BEING A SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT, THE ONLY TOWNSHIP IN TEXAS, WE DON'T HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL THAT THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE HAS IN REPRESENTING MUNICIPALITIES. OFTENTIMES THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE COMES OUT AGAINST THE THINGS WE WANT AND NEED.

WE'RE NOT PART OF A MASSIVE ASSOCIATION BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONLY TOWNSHIP IN TEXAS.

HAVING SOMEONE THERE WATCHING AFTER US AND WATCHING AFTER OUR NEEDS AND BEING ABLE TO GET US SOME OF THE THINGS LIKE THE MIXED BEVERAGE TAX, THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT IN THE CORPORATION ON A REGULAR BASIS, TO LOOK AT AND CONSIDER HOW WE CAN NOW GET CONTROL OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES AND NOT HAVE TO GO ASK THE COUNTY FOR PERMISSION, THINGS LIKE THAT I THINK ARE THINGS THE BOARD NEEDS TO LOOK AT.

WE'RE A BRAND NEW BOARD. THIS IS OUR FIRST MEETING -- WE HAD A MEETING AND A HALF MAYBE, AND THIS BOARD IS GOING TO VOTE ON THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES WE PUT THESE GUYS TO START WORKING ON. AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE BY AN AD HOC COMMITTEE. THAT AD HOC COMMITTEE CAN TAKE IT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BRING IT TO THIS BOARD TO BRING OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, AND EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE BOARD WILL HAVE A VOICE ON

THAT. >> I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS AND CLARIFICATION. I STILL HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT IT, BUT THAT IS HELPFUL, AS LONG AS WE ALL GET TO SEE WHAT THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES ARE, AND I'LL GET A VOTE ON WHAT THEY ARE AND HAVE FULL DISCUSSION WITH THE ABILITY OF RESIDENTSRESIDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THOSE.

>> ABSOLUTELY. 100% AGREE.

CALL THE QUESTION BY DIRECTOR FRANKS.

DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO AUTHORIZE THE TOWNSHIP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT OF LOBBY SERVICES OF WILLIAMS PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND OFFER ACCEPTANCE OF THE FIRM'S TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION FORM 1295 IN CONNECTION

WITHIN? >> SECOND.

>> SO MOVED.

>> YEAH, YOU BEAT RICHARD FRANKS ON A MOTION. THAT'S IMPRESSIVE. MOVED BY DIRECTOR FRANKS,

[18. Receive, consider and act upon an agreement for lobbying services with Schwartz, Page and Harding, L.L.P., and authorize acceptance of Texas Ethics Commission Form 1295 (C-2023-0037); ]

SECRETARY BY DIRECTOR HEISER. REFER TO PAGE 222 OF YOUR CONTRACT. TODD, TAKE THIS ONE OVER.

>> YES, SIR, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU, AGAIN.

THE BACKGROUND, OBVIOUSLY, IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DISCUSSED AND PARTICIPATED WITH US IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND HELPED US ON THOSE SAME CRITICAL ISSUES YOU'VE BEEN DISCUSSING. SPORTS PAGE HARDING IS VERY UNIQUELY SITUATED TO REPRESENT THE TOWNSHIP.

THEY ARE THE AUTHORS OF OUR LEGISLATION. THEY ARE VERY WELL ATTUNED AND ONE OF THE STATE'S BEST EXPERTS ON SPECIAL DISTRICTS.

AND THEY HAVE PROMISED AGAIN TO PROVIDE THE SAME SIMILAR TYPES OF SERVICES, WHICH IS REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE AS WELL AS DRAFTING RESPONSIBILITIES FOR LEGISLATION THAT THE BOARD MAY DECIDE YOU HAVE A PRIORITY. BEFORE YOU YOU HAVE A PROPOSAL THAT OUTLINES THEIR AGREEMENT TO THOSE SERVICES, AND THEY WOULD BE LOOKING AT $75,000 FOR THE TERMS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN THIS CASE. SO THIS WOULD BE JANUARY THROUGH MAY RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING IN PAST THAT IT WAS -- THEY ONLY BILLED HOURS, SO IT MAY NOT BE 75. HAS THAT CHANGED?

>> SO THERE'S A DISTINCTION BETWEEN LEGAL SERVICES THAT THEY ALSO PROVIDE FOR US WHERE ON A ONE- OFF BASIS WE NEED ÚSOMETHI CAN PROVIDE THAT ON AN HOURLY BASIS. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS NOT ONLY DRAFTING THE LEGISLATION BUT DOING THE SAME PROMOTION, ADVOCACY, AND WORK BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE FOR THOSE PRIORITIES AS WELL. SO NOT ONLY THE LEGAL SERVICES, DRAFTING KIND OF COMPONENTS BUT ACTUALLY THE REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE AGAIN WITH KEY COMMITTEES, CHAIRS, ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

>> OKAY. AND HOW MUCH DID YOU SAY WE HAD

[01:40:02]

ALKALTED IN OUR BUDGET FOR THIS?

>> I BELIEVE WE HAVE CONTRACTED SERVICES OF ABOUT 175 --

>> WE HAD BUDGETED 50 FOR THIS. BUT WE ALSO BUDGETED FOR SPECIFICALLY FOR LOBBIES BUT WE ALSO INCREASED THE LEGAL FEES BUDGET, WHICH WE WOULD JUST MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT TO MOVE LEGAL FEES DOWN TO THE CONSULTING. IT'S FULLY COVERED IS WHAT I'M

SAYING. >> JUST FOR OUR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WATCHING ONLINE, COULD YOU GO INTO THE EXPERTISE THAT SCHWARTZ, PAGE, AND HARDING HAVE FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT THEY BE AN ACTIVE PART OF THIS IN ADDITION TO WILLIAMS PUBLIC AFFAIRS?

>> SURE. OBVIOUSLY AS I MENTIONED EARLIER WITH OUR PARTNER PAGE, MR. PAGE INITIALLY HELPED DRAFT THE LEGISLATION FOR THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP. THEY ARE THE AUTHORS THAT HELPED THE PREDECESSOR COMMUNITIES AND LEADERS AT THAT TIME PUT TOGETHER THE FORMAT OF WHAT WOULD BE THE TOWNSHIP. SO THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE CHARACTERISTICS AND PROVISIONS THAT APPLY TO US. WHY THEY WERE DRAFTED THE WAY THEY WERE, WHY THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO THE TOWNSHIP. AND IN ADDITION THEY OBVIOUSLY REPRESENT MANY SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS, BUT IN OUR CASE THEY ALSO REPRESENTED US ANY TIME WE HAD ANY CHANGES TO OUR ENABLING LEGISLATION. THROUGH THE EARLIER 2000S WHEN WE HAD ANY LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, THEY WERE ONE OF THE FIRMS THAT HELPED US OBTAIN THOSE CHANGES BY PROVIDING THE COUNSEL TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THEY'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE ON OUR BEHALF SINCE INCEPTION.

>> IF THEY EXTEND THE SESSION AS IN THE PAST WILL WE OWE EXTRA MONEY EACH MONTH THAT IT GOES PAST WHAT IT NORMALLY SHOULD?

>> I THINK IF THERE WAS A SPECIAL SESSION WE'D PROBABLY HAVE TO AMEND THE CONTRACT, BUT SPECIAL SESSIONS ARE SPECIFIC TO THE CALLS OF THE GOVERNOR. SO PERSONALLY FROM EXPERIENCE I WOULD THINK THAT A SPECIAL SESSION WOULD BE -- IT WOULD BE UNUSUAL FOR A SPECIAL SESSION TO INVOLVE LEGISLATION THAT WE WOULD BE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN BUT IT'S POSSIBLE SO WE WOULD HAVE TO AMEND AT THAT TIME.

>> THESE BILLS WE'RE LOOKING AT ARE LOCAL BILLS THAT ARE HANDLED BY SENATOR CREIGHTON AND REPRESENTATIVE TOTH THAT ARE NOT ON GENERAL DOCKETS.

ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? AS I SAID EARLIER, I READ A PREVIOUS CONTRACT FROM SCHWARTZ, PAGE, HARDING. WE NEED TO CREATE A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THROUGH THE AD HOC LEGISLATION COMMITTEE THAT WOULD BE APPROVED BY THIS BOARD BEFORE GIVE DIRECTION. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS CURRENT CONTRACT CLARIFIES THE LEGISLATIVE PARTIES SET BY THIS BOARD, NOT BY STAFF OR ANYTHING. ANY COMMENTS, FEEDBACK? ALL RIGHT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AGREEMENT OF LOBBYING SERVICES WITH SCHWARTZ, PAGE, AND HARDING LLP.

[19. Receive, consider and act upon appointments to the Development Standards Committee;]

6-1, MOTION CARRIES. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 19.

CALL ON THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING DSC APPOINTMENTS OR

CANDIDATES. >> ACTUALLY JUMPING RIGHT

IN. >> SO AT LAST WEEK'S MEETING OR LAST MONTH'S MEETING YOU DID INTERVIEW -- THERE ARE NINE CANDIDATES WHO APPLIED FOR THE POSITIONS, AND YOU DID CONDUCT INTERVIEWS OF THOSE.

AS A REMINDER THE NINE CANDIDATES ARE -- THE WAY THIS PROCESS WORKS TO BASICALLY KEEP IT ORDERLY, THE BOARD WILL ELECT OR WILL SELECT TWO CANDIDATES TO APPOINT TO THE DSC. IN ADDITION THE BOARD WILL ALSO APPOINT THREE DEVELOPER APPOINTED MEMBERS. THE DEVELOPER APPOINTED MEMBERS ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY SERVICES AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH HOWARD HUGHES OR WITH THE

[01:45:03]

WOODLANDS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY. IN ORDER TO HAVE AN ORDERLY PROCESS FOR VOTING WHAT WE HAVE A BALLOT THAT LISTS ALL NINE DAYS OF THE CANDIDATES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. I'M GOING TO HAVE RENEE PASS THOSE OUT. SIMILAR TO THE PROCESS THAT WAS USED FOR OFFICER ELECTIONS, WHAT YOU WILL DO IS CHECK THE BOX NEXT TO YOUR TWO CANDIDATES YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SELECTING AND SIGN YOUR NAME. IT'S A WRITTEN BALLOT.

IT'S NOT A SECRET BALLOT. AND THEN WE WILL COLLECT THOSE, TALLY UP THE VOTES. AND IN ORDER TO SELECT A CANDIDAT -- A CANDIDATE WOULD NEED TO RECEIVE AT LEAST FOUR VOTES FROM THE DIRECTORS. IF SOMEONE DOES NOT RECEIVE -- IF WE DON'T HAVE TWO PEOPLE WHO WILL RECEIVE THAT DURING THIS FIRST ROUND, THEN I'LL GO THROUGH THE EXPLANATION OF WHERE WE GO FROM THERE.

>> OKAY. BASED ON THE VOTES RECEIVED WE DO HAVE TWO PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED MORE THAN FOUR VOTES APIECE, AND SO THE BOARD HAS SELECTED TRISHA DANTO AND ANDREW

FREEMAN. >> I CALL ON THEM TO BEGIN 2025 OR UNTIL SUCCESSORS ARE ASSIGNED AND TO APPOINT ROBERT ADAMS, JOHN ANDERSON, AND DAN COLE TO THE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. MOVE BY DIRECTOR FRANKS, SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES.

>> THEY'RE BOTH HERE, SO

[20. Receive, consider and act upon appointments to the Audit Committee; ]

CONGRATULATIONS. >>

CONGRATS. >> ALL RIGHT, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 20 CONSIDER AND RECEIVE ACT UPON APPOINTMENTS TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. CALL ON THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER TO PROVIDE INFORMATION RELATED TO APPOINTMENTS OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.

>> THANK YOU. SO THE BOARD HAS TWO FINANCE RELATED STANDING COMMITTEES.

ONE IS INVESTMENT COMMITTEE SO THE BOARD DOESN'T TAKE ANY ACTION ON THOSE AT THIS TIME.

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, HOWEVER, IS AN ADDITIONAL STANDING COMMITTEE THAT IS REQUIRED TO ASSIST THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN FULFILLING ITS OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY ON FIDUCIARY MATTERS ON SYSTEMS AND CONTROLS, FACILITATE THE AUDIT PROCESS AND PROVIDE OPEN ON COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR AND THE BOARD. THE CHAIRMAN APPOINTS UP TO THREE DIRECTORS ON THIS COMMITTEE AND THE CHAIRMAN HAS APPOINTED RICHARD FRANKS -- ON THIS. IT'S SIMPLY TO AFFIRM THE CHAIRMAN'S APPOINTMENTS. AND I POINT THAT OUT FOR MOST OF THE REST OF YOUR COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS, YOU'LL ACTUALLY EXTEND TERMS IN ADDITION -- AND APPROVE CHARTERS NO, IT ISN'T TO MAKING THOSE APPOINTMENTS. SO, AGAIN, THOSE ARE RICHARD FRANKS, CRAIG EISSLER, AND DR.

[01:50:01]

SEKULA-GIBBS. >> DO I HAVE A

MOTION? >> MOTION.

>> MOVED BY DIRECTOR NELSON.

>> SECOND.

>> SECOND BY DIRECTOR SEKULA,

[21. Receive, consider and act upon the charter and an extension of the term for the Ad Hoc Economic Development Committee and the related appointments to the Committee;]

GIBBS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. AGENDA ITEM 21 ON THE EXTENSION OF THE TERMS OF THE AD HOC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE RELATED TO THE APPOINTMENTS OF THE COMMITTEE. I CALL ON VISIT THE WOODLANDS PRESIDENT AND CEO.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.

YES, THIS AGENDA ITEM REVOLVES AROUND THE AD HOC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE DIFFERENT ITEMS WITHIN WHAT IS NEEDED HERE. ONE WOULD BE TO EXTEND THE TERM FOR THE AD HOC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

THAT'S DONE ON ANNUAL BASIS, AND THEN CONFIRM THE CHARTER THAT'S IN YOUR MATERIALS, AND THEN AFFIRM THE CHAIRMAN'S APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMITTEE.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THOSE ITEMS, BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE. THE CHAIRMAN'S APPOINTMENTS ON THOSE WERE RECOMMENDED AS BRAD BAILEY, LINDA NELSON AND CINDY HEISER.

>> WE DID SOME CLARIFYING ABOUT --

>> CHAIRMAN AILEY, IF WE CAN WAIT TO GET TO THAT AGENDA ITEM.

>> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND.

>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

[22. Receive, consider and act upon the charter and an extension of the term for the Ad Hoc Government Relations Committee and the related appointments to the Committee;]

>> AYE.

>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

APOLOGIZE ABOUT THAT. NEXT ITEM.

RECEIVE, KRSH AND ACT UPON AD HOC GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE. AGAIN, I CALL ON TODD STEVENS TO WALK US THROUGH THIS.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THIS IS SUMMER THE BOARD CREATED AN AD HOC COMMITTEE AFTER HURRICANE BERYL. AS THE CHAIRMAN JUST RECOGNIZED OR MENTIONED IN YOUR ADDITIONAL MATERIALS YOU HAVE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER THAT INCORPORATE THE FACT THAT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL BE BEGINNING IN JANUARY, ASSIGNING TASKS TO THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE TO HEAR AND TO CONSIDER AND THEN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BACK TO THE FULL BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION OF WHAT LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES THE TOWNSHIP WOULD HAVE FOR THE IN ADDITION TO THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO APPOINT OR AFFIRM THE CHAIRMAN'S APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMITTEE. AND FOR THAT WOULD BE CHAIRMAN BAILEY, SECRETARY NELSON, AND DIRECTOR CINDY HEISER ARE THE CHAIRMAN'S APPOINTMENTS.

THE ACTIONS WOULD BE EXTEND THE TERMS OF THE COMMITTEE, ACCEPT THE LANGUAGE TO INCLUDE THE LANGUAGE EXPRESSING THE ABILITY TO CONSIDER AND BRING BACK TO THIS BOARD LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES OR PRIORITIES FOR THE SESSION, AND TO APPOINT THE CHAIRMAN'S -- OR TO, EXCUSE ME, AFFIRM THE CHAIRMAN'S

APPOINTMENTS. >> THANK YOU, TODD.

ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR FEEDBACK? IF NOT, I CALL A MOTION TO SECOND TO AFFIRM THE CHARTER AND EXTEND THE AD HOC GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE AND EXTEND THE APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMITTEE.

>> SO MOVED.

>> MOVED BY RICHARD. SECOND BY CRAIG.

[23. Receive, consider and act upon the charter and an extension of the term for the Ad Hoc Emergency Management Committee and the related appointments to the Committee;]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. MOTION CARRIES.

AGENDA ITEM 23 RECEIVE, CONSIDER AND ACT UPON THE CHARTER AND EXTENSION. THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING TO TABLE FOR NOW. I BELIEVE THERE'S A REPORT STAFF IS WORKING ON THAT WILL BE COMING TO THE FULL BOARD IN THE FUTURE AND MIGHT NOT BE NECESSARY TO HAVE THAT COMMITTEE GOING FORWARD. I CONVERSED WITH DIRECTOR HEISER ON THIS. SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE'D LIKE TO DEFER -- AFTER THAT REPORT IS MADE BY STAFF. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF DEFERRING THAT MOTION?

>> MOVED.

>> SECOND.

>> ALL RIGHT, MOVED BY DIRECTOR SEKULA- GIBBS, SECOND BY

[24. Receive, consider and act upon the charter and an extension of the term for the Budget Task Force and the related appointments to the Task Force;]

DIRECTOR HEISER.

24. AS I SAID EARLIER WHEN BUDGET IS NOT TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK AS A BOARD WE NEED TO WEIGH IN ON. ON A FUTURE BOARD MEETING AS FAR AS HOW WE WANT TO TACKLE THAT AND HOW BEST TO LOOK INTO THAT GOING FORWARD.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO DEFER THIS TO A FUTURE ONE AND HOPEFULLY TALK ABOUT IT IN OUR STRATEGIC SESSION THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT AT THE END OF THE MEETING AS FAR AS OUR

AGENDA. >> SO MOVED.

>> MOVED BY RICHARD, SECOND BY

[25. Receive, consider and act upon appointments to the Village Presidents' Council;]

[01:55:04]

SHELLEY. MOTION CARRIES.

25. RECEIVE, CONSIDER, AND ACT UPON APPOINTMENTS TO THE VILLAGE PRESIDENTS' COUNCIL.

CALLS ON RICHARD FRANKS -- PAGE 267 -- I'LL MAKE THIS EASY. ASK FOR RICHARD FRANKS AS THE PRIMARY AND HEISER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RESPOND BY

[26. Receive, consider and act upon the appointment by election of Directors of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors as members of The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau (d.b.a. Visit The Woodlands) in accordance with its Bylaws;]

SAYING AYE. MOTION CARRIES. RECEIVE, CONSIDER AND ACT UPON THE APPOINTMENT BY- ELECTION OF DIRECTORS OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS AS MEMBERS OF THE WOODLANDS CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS BYLAWS AND VISIT THE WOODLANDS BOARD.

>> IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CVB BYLAWS THE TOWNSHIP APPOINTS THREE DIRECTORS TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD. THE APPOINTMENTS ARE TYPICALLY MADE THROUGH WRITTEN BALLOT PROCESS.

AGAIN, IT'S JUST TO KEEP THINGS ORDERLY. THE CHAIRMAN DOES RECOMMEND APPOINTMENTS TO THOSE POSITIONS, BUT THE BOARD AS A WHOLE VOTES ON THOSE.

IN THIS CASE THE CHAIR RECOMMENDS RICHARD FRANKS, LINDA NELSON, AND BRAD BAILEY.

YOU DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO VOTE FOR ANYONE, AND SO THERE ARE THREE SPACES ON THE BALLOT FOR THAT.

>> IF I MAY DO SO, I WILL BE RECUSING MYSELF FROM BEING AN OFFICER ON VISIT THE --

>> WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT?

>> IF I -- IF I WAS ELECTED BY THIS BOARD TO BE ON THE VISIT TO WOODLANDS BOARD I'D RECUSE MYSELF OF BEING AN OFFICER OF VISIT THE WOODLANDS. JUST BE A

DIRECTOR. >> THANK YOU.

>> IN ADDITION TO THE DIRECTORS THAT ARE APPOINTED, THE BOARD DOES ALSO NORMALLY RECOMMEND THAT THE VISIT THE WOODLANDS BOARD SELECT NICK NICK WALDA AS THE PRESIDENT OF SERVING THE

CVB. >> I LEFT THAT OFF THERE.

SORRY, NICK. SHE'S GOT TO TALLY THE

VOTES. >> OKAY.

BASED ON THE VOTES THE CHAIRMAN'S RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE THE ONES APPOINTED.

>> CHAIRMAN CALLS A MOTION TO SECOND -- MOTION TO SECOND AND APPROVE RICHARD NELSON, RICHARD FRANKS, AND BRAD BAILEY BY WRITTEN BALLOT AND RECOMMEND NICK WALDA AS THE PRESIDENT TO SERVE BETWEEN JANUARY 2025 THROUGH DECEMBER 2025.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? SECOND BY DR. SEKULA-GIBBS.

[27. Receive, consider and act upon the Township’s appointment to The Woodlands-Conroe Urbanized Area (UZA) Transit Advisory Committee;]

MOTION CARRIES. 27.

CALL TO PROVIDE INFORMATION.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE U SWRRKTS ZA WAS FORMED IN 2010 AND PROVIDES THE FUNDING FOR TRANSIT PROGRAMMING. AS SUCH YOU HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE ON THAT, AND BY THE BYLAWS IT HAS TO BE

[02:00:04]

AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. CURRENTLY IT IS DR. SHELLEY, AND THAT IS THE RECOMMENDATION RIGHT

NOW. >> ANY DISCUSSION, QUESTIONS? CHAIRMAN CALLS A MOTION TO APPOINT DR. SEKULA-GIBBS.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOVED BY LINDA, SECOND BY

[28. Receive, consider and act upon an appointment by The Woodlands Township Board of Directors to serve as a Director on The Woodlands Road Utility District No. 1 Board of Directors;]

CINDY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

AGENDA ITEM 28 CONSIDER AND RECEIVING ACT UPON APPOINTMENT -- CALL ON TODD STEVENS TO BRIEF US ON THESE APPOINTMENTS.

>> IN 2013 THE WOODLANDS DISTRICT NUMBER 1 EXPANDED THE BOARD TO INCLUDE TWO MEMBERS. THAT POSITION IS TYPICALLY SERVED BY AN ELECTED DRERKT OF OUR BOARD AS AN APPOINTMENT BACK TO THE RUD. MOST RECENTLY REPRESENTED BY DR. WATSON WITH DIRECTOR WATSON'S RETIREMENT FROM THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND ALSO PROVIDED HEZ RESIGNATION FROM THE RUD BOARD. IT IS BEFORE THE BOARD, EXCUSE ME, TO APPOINT A NEW MEMBER TO THE RUD AND THE CHAIRMAN'S DESIGNATED APPOINTMENT WAS DR.

SNYDER. >> CALL A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPOINT DIRECTOR ANN SNYDER TO SERVE AS THE WOODLAND BOARD FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CURRENT TERM UNTIL ANOTHER IS ASSIGNED.

[29. Receive, consider and act upon appointments to the Houston-Galveston Area Council Transportation Policy Council and nominations to related committees and subcommittees;]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RESPOND BY SAYING AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES.

RECEIVE AND ACT UPON APPOINTMENTS TO THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL AND NOMINATIONS RELATED TO COMMITTEES AND SUBCOMMITTEES.

I CALL ON TODD STEVENS.

>> AGAIN, ONE OF THE GREAT SUCCESSES OF THIS BOARD THIS PAST YEAR IS BEING ABLE TO ADVOCATE AT THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL. THAT POSITION ALSO RUNS FOR A YEAR JANUARY TO DECEMBER. SO IT'S NECESSARY TO REAPPOINT TO POSITION. AND IN ADDITION STAFF SERVE ON SEVERAL SUBCOMMITTEES IN THE STRUCTURE, AND THE NOMINATIONS ARE IN YOUR PACKET WE WOULDWOULD FOR THE STAFF TO CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THOSE ROLES. FOR THE CHAIRMAN'S APPOINTMENT FOR THE RUD AND THE ALTERNATE, WHICH IS ALSO DIRECT ELECTED IS AN ALTERNATE ON

THE TPC. >> THIS IS AN ITEMS I THINK DOESN'T GET A LOT OF BUILDING.

IT'S A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT FOR THIS BOARD TO ACHIEVE, AND DIRECTOR SNYDER IS REALLY THE KEY PART MAKING THAT HAPPEN AND HAS DONE A GREAT JOB ON THERE. CAN CALL FOR A MOTION TO APPOINT DIRECTOR SNYDER AND CRAIG EISSLER AS AN ALTERNATE TO SERVE ON THE POLICY COUNCIL UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS NAMED REPRESENTATIVE TO SUBMIT STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE 2025 COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE PORTIONS

OF. >> SO MOVED.

>> MOVED BY RICHARD, SECONDED BY DR. SEKULA-GIBBS.

[30. Receive, consider and act upon an appointment to the One Water Task Force;]

MOTION CARRIES. AGENDA ITEM 30 CONSIDER AND RECEIVE AND ACT UPON APPOINTMENT OF THE ONE WATER TASK FORCE. I CALL GEP ON TODD

STEVENS. >> I HAVE TO SHUFFLE ALL MY PAPERS HERE TO MAKE SURE I'M DOING THE RIGHT APPOINTMENTS. AGAIN, THE ONE WATER TASK FORCE WAS RECONSTITUTED IN 2024, NOW LED BY WOODLANDS WATER. CURRENTLY IT'S DIRECTOR HEISER. THAT GROUP IS MEETING ON A PERIODIC BASIS AS NEEDED TO DISCUSS WATER RELATED ISSUES TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. AND SO THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CHAIRMAN IS THAT DIRECTOR HEISER WOULD CONSIDER TO SERVE ON THE ONE WATER TASK FORCE.