[1. Invocation / Pledge of Allegiance;] [00:00:11] >> REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 22ND, 2025. 6:00 P.M. FIRST OFF, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME DR. BRUCE WEBB, SENIOR PASTOR OF THE WOODLANDS CHURCH. DR. WEBB AND HIS WIFE NANCY AND THEIR THREE DAUGHTERS AND THREE GRANDCHILDREN ALL RESIDE HERE IN THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP. DR. WEBB, WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT. >> APPRECIATE IT. DO PRAY WITH ME, PLEASE. FATHER, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COUNTRY AND TO LIVE IN TEXAS AND OF ALL PLACES, FATHER THAT YOU HAVE BLESSED US. WE FEEL BLESSED AND GRATEFUL. WE RECOGNIZE MUCH HAS BEEN GIVEN. MUCH IS ALSO REQUIRED. WE PRAY TOGETHER THAT YOU HELP US TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US AND WHAT YOU HAVE BLESSED US WITH. TO BE GOOD STEWARDS IN A WAY THAT BLESSES OUR SELF AND IT HELPS US. BUT IT ALSO HELPS THOSE AROUND US. I THINK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS TOWNSHIP AWARD AND FOR THEIR GIVING THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TO THIS SERVICE. LORD, THEY CAN BE DOING A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS WITH THIS TIME BUT THEY ARE SPINNING THEIR EFFORT TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER. LORD, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEM AND PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THEIR FAMILIES AND BLESS THEIR WORK. SO THEY CAN FOCUS AND DO A GOOD JOB HERE FOR THE WOODLANDS. LORD, WE LOVE YOU AND WE PRAY THIS WAY BECAUSE OF YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST. AMEN. >> AMEN. >> THANK YOU, DR. WEBB. JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISILE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> TEXAS FLAG. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE . ALL [2. Call meeting to order;] RIGHT. IT IS 6:02 P.M. I CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. THIS MEETING WAS POSTED 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THIS MEETING. THIS POSTING OCCURRED INSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP. POSTING AT THIS OFFICE BUILDING. STATE LAW REQUIRES AT LEAST FOUR BOARD MEMBERS BE IN ATTENDANCE. A QUORUM FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS. LOOKS LIKE WE BARELY MADE IT. I ASK EACH MEMBER AS I CALL ROLL. BRAD BAILEY HERE. CRAIG EISSLER. >> HERE. >> SHELLEY SEKULA-GIBBS. >> HERE. >> CINDY HEISER. >> SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF MEMBERS [3. Receive, consider and act upon adoption of the meeting agenda;] ARE PRESENT TO DETERMINE WE HAVE A QUORUM. ITEM NUMBER 3 IS RECEIVED, CONSIDER, AND ACT UPON THE ADOPTION OF THE MEETING AGENDA. >> YES. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE AGENDA ITEM 12 TO IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW AGENDA ITEM 8. WE HAVE THE HONORABLE COMMISSIONER RILEY HERE IN CASE THERE ARE QUESTIONS ON -- >> I AGREE WITH THAT. THAT SOUNDS GOOD. >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY DR. SNYDER. SECOND MADE BY DR. SEKULA-GIBBS. ALL [4. Recognize public officials;] THOSE OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 4 IS RECOGNIZED PUBLIC OFFICIALS. AS -- AS DR. SNYDER MENTIONED. WE HAVE COMMISSIONER FOR PRECINCT 2, CHARLIE RILEY, IN ATTENDANCE. THANK YOU, CHARLIE, FOR TAKING TIME. YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING [5. Public comment;] YOUR TAIL OFF OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING TIME FOR US. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS PUBLIC COMMENT. PARTICIPATION BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE OPEN IN MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND WELCOMED AND ENCOURAGED. A PUBLIC COMMENT AGENDA ITEM IS AT THE BEGINNING OF ALL REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS AND AGENDAS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BOARD-ADOPT A POLICY TO PRODUCE THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE PROCESS FOR LONG CONSTITUENTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. ACCEPTS PUBLIC COMMENTS IN ACCORDANCE TO THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES. NUMBER 1, EACH PERSON MUST -- EACH PERSON WISHINGTO ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST FIRST SIGN THE SPEAKERS ROSTER PROVIDED BY THE BOARD SECRETARY. NUMBER 2. INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO MAKE GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS ADDRESS THE TOPIC CANNOT BE INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA OR WISH TO ADDRESS A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM THEN MUST DO SO UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT. NUMBER 3. INDIVIDUALS WILL BE LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF THREE MINUTES REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF TOPICS. IF THERE IS MORE THAN 15 SPEAKER SIGNED UP, EACH SPEAKER WILL THEN BE LINED UP FOR TWO MINUTES REGARDLESS [00:05:01] OF THE TOPIC. NUMBER 4. SPEAKERS WILL BE TAKEN IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY SIGN UP . SPEAKERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO YIELD THEIR TIME TO ANOTHER SPEAKER ON THE LIST. NUMBER 5. STATE LAW PROHIBITS THE BOARD FROM SPECIFICALLY ACTING ON PUBLIC COMMENT UNLESS IT APPEARS AS A POSTED AGENDA ITEM. THEREFORE, ANY DISCUSSION NOT INCLUDED ON THE POSTED AGENDA IS LIMITED TO QUESTIONS FOR CLARIFICATION AND WHETHER OR NOT THE ITEM SHOULD BE PLACED ON FUTURE BOARD AGENDAS. SPEAKERS MAY EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS AND VIEWPOINTS BUT ARE NOT PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEBATE OF AN ISSUE. MAY NOT USE PROFANITY. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU TO PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES ON THE SILENT MODE. I CALL ON PUBLIC COMMENT. STARTING OFF WITH OUR GOOD FRIEND MR. STEVE LINCOLN. STEVE? >> AND I USE MY WALKING TIME TO COME OUT HERE. GLAD YOU READ THAT. THANKS, MR. CHAIRMAN AND GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON THE WIDENING OF KIRKENDALL ROAD. EACH OF YOU SHOULD BE GETTING A PACKAGE OF HANDOUTS HERE. SINCE IT IS ON THE AGENDA AND WILL BE DISCUSSING THEM, I WILL NOT GO INTO DETAIL ON ANY OF THESE HANDOUTS BUT REAL QUICKLY, ONE OF THEM IS A LETTER FROM DR. CAPACITY WHO I'M HONORED TO SAY IS WITH US THIS EVENING. WHO IS A PRINCIPAL OF METRO INTERMEDIATE AND WAS THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLE. SHE WAS THERE WHEN IT OPENED. STUDENTS. FACULTY. SUPPORT STAFF. ET CETERA. THE SECOND ITEM IS A NOTE FROM SUPERINTENDENT DR. CURTIS KNOLL, A -- SUPPORTING WHAT SHE SAID. THAT IS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THE THIRD ITEM ARE SPECIFIC STATISTICS FROM THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF. SINCE THAT STRETCH OF ROAD WAS OPENED. YOU WILL RECALL IT DID NOT USED TO GO ALL THE WAY TO 1488. THEY BUILT THE TWO LANES EIGHT YEARS AGO, AND YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBERS THERE OF THE INCIDENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED . THE ONES THAT JUMP OUT OF COURSE ARE THERE WERE ONE FATALITY. 1300+. TRAFFIC NOT INJURIES. THAT IS A LOT OF ACCIDENTS. AND ONE THAT REALLY KIND OF BLEW ME AWAY WAS OVER 10,000 LAW-ENFORCEMENT ENCOUNTERS. STOPPING SPEEDERS AND THE LIKE. THE NEXT DOCUMENT, I ASKED THE QUESTION OF, IS THAT OUT OF LINE WITH ROADS THAT LONG? AND IT IS ONLY ABOUT 1.1 MILES. HE SAID ABSOLUTELY AND HE ALSO INTRODUCED THE FACT THERE IS A SECONDARY IMPACT WITH BUSH ELEMENTARY. THAT IS ALSO THAT KIRKENDALL AND BROWNRIDGE. SO THERE IS A NOTE THERE THAT CONFIRMS THAT. NEXSTAR SOME PICTURES. WHICH I THINK SOME OF YOU HAVE SCENE. THE TOP PICTURE IS, THAT IS AT 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON. THAT IS TAKEN FROM WHERE THE HEB CONVERGENCE TAKES PLACE. LIKE THAT ALL THE WAY TO ALTON BRIDGE . THAT IS 1:00. YOU SHOULD SEE IT WHEN THE SCHOOL IS ENFORCED. AND YOU SHOULD SEE IT AT THE BOTTOM. THOSE ARE PICTURES OF WHERE THE OTHER TWO LANES ARE SCHEDULED TO GO IN SO THERE ARE NO SURPRISES THAT THEY ARE HAPPENING AND TREES ARE CUT, SO WE WILL SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH MORE WORK WOULD NEED TO BE DONE TO ACTUALLY DO THE PROJECT. BUT THE RIGHT-OF-WAY IS ALREADY CLEARLY MARKED AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS COMING. SO, IN CONCLUSION, PUBLIC SAFETY IS EVERYONE'S TOP PRIORITY AND THIS IS VERY DEFINITELY A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. WE HAVE COMPELLING VERBAL AND STATISTICAL DATA THAT SHOWS THAT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE FROM A SAFETY POINT OF VIEW. AND I WILL TELL YOU A PERSONAL STORY. I HAD THREE GRANDKIDS THAT WENT TO BUSH AND METRO AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CAR SHUTTLES I RAN OVER THE YEARS AND TWO OF THOSE HAVE ALREADY GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, SO I MUST BE GETTING OLD AND I DON'T KNOW IT. AT ANY RATE, I CAN TELL YOU PARTICULARLY AT METRO, YOU ALWAYS WONDER WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT IS ALWAYS VERY TENSE THERE. THE TRAFFIC BACKUPS CAN BE SOLVED OR REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY. IT COSTS THE TOWNSHIP NOTHING. THIS IS A 0.0 CHARGE FOR THE TOWNSHIP. THE SUPPORT OF COMMISSIONER RILEY IN GETTING THIS PROJECT DONE. HE IS 100% BEHIND IT. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR HOW MANY YEARS, COMMISSIONER? AND HOW MANY TIMES? BECAUSE HE HAS ALWAYS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN DOING THE PROJECT. I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER RILEY FOR HIS CALLOUS PROJECT HE HAS DONE THROUGH PRECINCT 2 OVER THE [00:10:06] YEARS, AND THERE ARE A LONG LIST OF THEM, BOTH BIG AND SMALL. I BET YOU REMEMBER THE DUCK CROSSING SIGNS. THAT IS ONE OF THE SMALLER PROJECTS THAT WE DID. ANYWAYS, HIS OFFICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY RESPONSIBLE. I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. AS I HAVE SAID TO MANY OF YOU IN THE PAST, LET'S GET THIS DONE. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP AS STEPHEN INTRODUCED AND REFERENCED IN HIS SPEECH IS THE PRINCIPLE OF MITCHELL INTERMEDIATE, POLLOCK KAPESKI. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING YOUR TIME, ESPECIALLY WITH SCHOOL CLOSED TODAY. >> I JUST WANT TO ADD TO WHAT MR. LEAHY SAID IN THE FACT I DID OPEN THIS BUILDING 29 YEARS AGO, AND IT HAS GONE FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL TO WHAT I CONSIDER SCHOOL ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. FOR SAFETY PURPOSES, THERE FAMILIES THAT WILL NOT ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN TO WALK OR RIDE BIKES ANY LONGER. I THINK BY ADDING THAT BOULEVARD WITH THE SAFETY COMPONENTS WITH CROSSING GUARDS AND POTENTIALLY ADDITIONAL LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS, IT WILL MAKE IT A MUCH SAFER ENVIRONMENT. PARENTS RIGHT NOW ARE DROPPING CHILDREN ALL OVER UP AND DOWN KUYKENDAHL AND ALL OVER ALDEN BRIDGE DRIVE. JUST BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION. AND WE HAVE PEOPLE COMMUTING UP 1488, WHICH CAUSES IT TO BE WHAT I AM CONSIDERING THE INTERSTATE. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO CONSIDER THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN. OUR SCHOOL IS NOW 29 YEARS OLD. LIKE I SAID, I HAVE SEEN THE SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH OVER THAT TIME. ALMOST 1300 CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOL. IT IS CRITICAL FOR SAFETY. THANK YOU FOR TIME. >> APPRECIATE IT. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. NO MORE PEOPLE SIGNED UP. ARE WE [6. Receive, consider and act upon reports from Village Association representatives;] ALL GOOD? ALL RIGHT. WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 6. REPORTS FROM THE VILLAGE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS. WE HAVE THREE IN ATTENDANCE. FIRST UP FROM ALDEN BRIDGE, OUR GOOD FRIEND MARIAN BRADE. >> GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN BAILEY AND DIRECTORS. MY NAME IS MARIANNE BRADEN. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF BY WISHING EVERYBODY A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND I HOPE THAT 2025 IS A GREAT YEAR FOR ALL OF US. WE DO NOT HAVE A MEETING IN SEPTEMBER BUT WE DID GET TOGETHER FOR A HOLIDAY DINNER. THE RESIDENCE AT 53 MILLIPORE WON THE BEST HOUSE IN THE LIGHTING CONTEST AND BETHANY BENNETT WON THE BEST NEIGHBORHOOD. DECORATIONS THIS YEAR HAVE BEN PRETTY AMAZING. WE HELD OUR LAST MEETING ON JUNE 14TH. DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, A RESIDENT MENTIONED USE OF ELECTRIC SCOOTER SPEEDING ON THE TRAILS, AND SHE IS AN OLDER PERSON WITH A CANE. SHE DID NOT REALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE WALKING ON THE TRAIL WITH THE KIDS WRITING PAST HER AND TOWARDS HER. SO QUICKLY. ANOTHER RESIDENT SAID THAT THERE WAS AN AIRBNB ON THEIR STREET THAT HAD CLIENTS, BOTH THE WEEK OF CHRISTMAS AND DIFFERENT CLIENTS THE WEEK OF NEW YEAR'S. AND BOTH TIMES THEY WERE HAVING PARTIES AND SEVERAL CARS WERE PARKED ON THE STREET. WE WELCOMED OUR NEWEST SPNSOR, THE DAILY COMPANY, WHICH PROVIDE SERVICES FOR HVAC SYSTEMS AND PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL SERVICES. MARKETING DIRECTOR INJURES HERSELF, TOLD US ABOUT HER COMPANY, AND EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS WHO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO OUR SCHOLARSHIP FUND. THE BOARD DECIDED TO MOVE OUR ANNUAL MEETING TO THE THIRD TUESDAY OF MARCH BECAUSE SPRING BREAK WILL BE THE SECOND WEEK OF MARCH. OUR ANNUAL MEETING WILL BE ON MARCH 18TH. THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THE EXPANSION OF KUYKENDAHL UNDER NUMBER 9 ON THE AGENDA. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL RESIDENTS MAKE COMMENTS IN THIS PROJECT. SOME ARE FOR. NOT VERY MANY. SOME ARE AGAINST. AND MANY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN AND IF THE EXPANSION WILL HAPPEN.WE HAVE 10 POSITIOS OPEN FOR ELECTION THIS YEAR. WE HAVE 13 CANDIDATES, SO WE WILL HAVE AN ELECTION IN FEBRUARY AND I WILL BE ATTENDING THE ELECTION MEETING TOMORROW EVENING. C ISD SUPERINTENDENT DR. NOEL WILL BE THE SUPERINTENDENT AT OUR MEETING ON FEBRUARY 11TH. HE WILL GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE BOND PROJECTS AND HE WILL GIVE US A LOOK AT 2025. OUR MEETING IS AROUND THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH AND BEGIN AT 6:30. ALL RESIDENTS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MARYANN. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, JC HARVELL. HAPPENS TO BE MY VILLAGE [00:15:13] PRESIDENT. >> THANK YOU. WE ARE GLAD TO BE HERE TONIGHT. WE DID NOT HAVE A MEETING IN DECEMBER AS WE ALWAYS JUST YOU ALL OUR HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND DECIDE ON THE WINTER FOR THAT. WE DO WANT TO THANK THE TOWNSHIP FOR THE PLAQUES AND FOR THE GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR THE SKATING RINK. 94 WEST CHILEAN WAS THE HOUSE THAT WON AND WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS GOING TO BE THEIR LAST YEAR TO DO THE DECORATIONS. WE DID HAVE HONORABLE MENTIONS FOR FOUR DIFFERENT PLACES THAT WE GIVE DIFFERENT SIGNS TO YOU AND THE BEST RATE WAS SILVER STRAND AND THE HONORABLE MENTION WAS EDGE MEYER. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE 24 APPLICATIONS FROM OUR TEACHERS FROM THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, AND WE WILL BE GIVING THOSE OUT AT OUR MEETING ON TUESDAY WHICH WILL BE THE LAST MEETING OF THIS CURRENT BOARD. WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING OUR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION , WHICH WILL BE ONLINE THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME. SO THOSE ARE GOING OUT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. SO FAR, WE HAVE HAD 17 PEOPLE TO APPLY FOR THE 18 POSITIONS, SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL BE PRETTY FULL. THE TREE DECORATION FOR JIM GOLDA MEYER AS I MENTIONED A COUPLE TIMES, THIS WILL BE THIS SUNDAY AT 2:00 AT SUMMER STORM PARK. WE ARE HOPING THE THIRD TIME IS THE CHARM . THE LAST TIME, WE HAD TO CANCEL IT BECAUSE OF AN ILLNESS WITH HIM. NEXT WEEK WILL BE THE LAST MEETING OF OUR BOARD AND WE INVITE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME. WE MEET AT TUESDAY'S. 7:00. >> LAST BUT NOT LEAST, TO STANLEY, COLLEGE PARK. THANK YOU SO MUCH, TED. >> WELL, I AM VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE . ASIDE FROM MY OBLIGATORY DUTIES TO BE HERE, I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE RE-ELECTED TO THE BOARD AND TO WELCOME THE NEW DIRECTOR, CRAIG EISSLER. CONGRATULATIONS, MR. CHAIRMAN, ON YOUR APPOINTMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PREVIOUS CHAIRMANSHIP AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THAT THE VILLAGE OF COLLEGE PARK IS BUSY AS USUAL. WE DID NOT HOLD OUR MONTHLY MEETING IN JANUARY SO FAR BECAUSE THE TOWNSHIP OFFICE WAS CLOSED LAST WEEK SO OUR MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THE 27TH, WHICH IS THIS COMING MONDAY AT 6:00 P.M. HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP OFFICE. ANY OF YOU WHO WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US, PLEASE DO SO. THIS DECEMBER, WE ALSO DID HAVE HOLIDAY DECORATING CONTEST. WE HAD AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WON. CABIN CREEK. A BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED HOUSE. THEN STREET KNIGHTSBRIDGE REALLY STEPPED UP ITS GAME. WE WERE LED BY THE DODD FAMILY WHO PUT TOGETHER THE VERY FAMOUS HOLIDAY LIGHTING DISPLAY EACH YEAR, SO WE WERE HAPPY TO DO THAT. KNIGHTSBRIDGE REALLY STEPPED UP ITS GAME. WE GAVE OUT 20 $50 SCHOLARSHIPS TO OUR TEACHER GRANTS IN THE FALL OF THIS PAST YEAR . JUST LIKE TO REMIND THE BOARD ONCE AGAIN, I KNOW THIS IS COMPLETELY OUT OF YOUR PURVIEW AND I AM HAPPY TO HEAR WHAT COMMISSIONER ROWLEY IS GOING TO SAY IN JUST A WILD, BUT THE INTERSECTION OF 242 AND 45 AS I TOLD YOU A FEW TIMES IN THE PAST IS QUITE TREACHEROUS AND ANY HELP YOU MIGHT GIVE TO EITHER TXDOT OR TO THE COUNTY OR WHOEVER IT MIGHT BE TO EITHER TRY TO GET THE LIGHTS SYNCED AS THEY NEED TO BE FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE SAFETY MEASURES BECAUSE THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AT THAT CORNER PRETTY FREQUENTLY. SO I DON'T THINK WE HAVE HAD ANY FATALITIES YET, BUT THAT IS PROBABLY ONLY A MATTER OF TIME SO ANYTHING YOU COULD DO TO HELP WITH THAT, WE APPRECIATE IT. WE WILL NOT HAVE A CONTESTED ELECTION AND REQUIRED NINE OR NOT REQUIRE BUT HAVE NINE REPRESENTATIVE AREA SLOTS ON OUR BOARD AND WE WILL NOT HAVE A CONTESTED ELECTION BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE QUITE NINE PEOPLE TO SIGN UP. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A NEW YEAR. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND BEST OF EVERYTHING SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, TED. THAT IS ALL REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE VILLAGE ASSOCIATION THAT WE HAVE TODAY. I CALL A SECOND. [ CONSENT AGENDA] >> SO MOVED. >> SECONDED BY DIRECTOR EISSLER. RESPOND BY SAYING AYE. ALL OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 7. CONSENT AGENDA. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE NONCONTROVERSIAL OR HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS REQUIRED BY LAW AND WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR APPROVAL AS A GROUP WITH ONE MOTION. NO DISCUSSION MAY TAKE PLACE. UNLESS ONE SPECIFIC ITEM IS REMOVED AND PLACED ON THE REGULAR AGENDA BY ANY PRIOR BOARD MEMBER TAKING THE VOTE IN NOTION. A THROUGH F. DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED. [8. Receive, consider and act upon matters related to the potential expansion of Kuykendahl Road; ] [00:20:02] >> MOVED BY DIRECTOR SNYDER IN SECONDED BY DIRECTOR EISSLER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RESPOND BY SAYING I. THE MOTION CARRIES. AGENDA ITEM 8 ON THE REGULAR AGENDA. RECEIVE AND CONSIDER AND ACT UPON MATTERS RELATED TO THE POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF KIRKENDALL ROAD. I CALL ON COMMISSIONER CHARLIE RILEY, PRECINCT 2, WHO OVERSEES THE ROADS IN THIS PORTION OF OUR COUNTY. WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE COMMISSIONER RILEY HERE TO KIND OF GIVE US THE 411 ON ALL THINGS IN THIS PROJECT. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. DIRECTOR, I APPRECIATE YOU AND THE CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTORS FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT. NOW, WE HAVE ALREADY HEARD QUITE A BIT ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE TRIED TO DO IN THE- PAST, WORKING WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND POLICE DEPARTMENT. YOU KNOW? WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE INTERSECTION. WE HAVE CHANGE THE LIGHTING. WE HAVE CHANGE THE TIMING OF THE LIGHTS. WE ADDED A RIGHT LANE INTO THE SCHOOL. WE TRY TO EXTEND THE LEFT TURN LANE OF KUYKENDAHL GOING ON TO ALDEN BRIDGE. WE PUT STOP SIGNS ALL DOWN ALDEN BRIDGE. WE DID A NUMBER OF THINGS TO TRY TO MAKE THIS A BETTER SITUATION AT THE INTERSECTION OF MITCHELL INTERMEDIATE, BUT IT IS NOT ONLY THE INTERSECTION. IT IS THE WHOLE ENTIRE REST OF THE ROAD. IT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED AND THE OTHER TWO LANES NEED TO BE THERE. I'M DRAWING A BLANK ON WHAT THE NEXT INTERSECTION IS HEADED NORTH WHERE THE FOUR WAY STOP SIGN IS. THAT IS A NIGHTMARE. THE OTHER TWO LANES WE WILL CLEAN THAT. IT WILL NOT CLEAN IT COMPLETELY UP, BUT IT WILL CERTAINLY RELIEVE A LOT OF THAT CONGESTION AND CONFUSION AT THAT INTERSECTION. I MEAN, WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE -- NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO USE A FOUR WAY STOP SIGN ANYMORE. I AM SORRY. THEY JUST DIDN'T. WHEN YOU SEE THAT SITTING THERE WITH OTHER PEOPLE TRYING TO USE THAT, THAT JUST ADDS TO IT. IT WILL PROBABLY BE A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT THAT INTERSECTION WHEN WE GET THE ROAD WIDENED. WE ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO WORK WITH TXDOT. OF COURSE, TXDOT IS COMING TO TRYING TO GET THEIR MEETINGS DONE AT KUYKENDAHL ALL THE WAY OVER TO 45. BUT WE ARE TALKING TO TXDOT ABOUT PUTTING ANOTHER TURN LANE ONTO KUYKENDAHL. ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO CLEAN UP THAT CONGESTION AND MAKE THE TRAFFIC MOBILITY AND TRAFFIC MOVEMENTS EASIER. SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR SUPPORT FOR THE EXTENSION OF KUYKENDAHL. I THINK IT IS A MAJOR PROJECT FOR OUR ROAD. IN CASE SOMEBODY DOESN'T KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM ON OUR NEXT COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING TO CALL FOR $452 MILLION-$550 MILLION ROAD BLOCK. DESPERATELY NEEDED IN THE COUNTY FOR NOT ONLY PRECINCT 2 BUT FOR EVERYBODY, EVERY PRECINCT. SO WHEN WE GET THAT CALLED, KUYKENDAHL, NOW, WHEN YOU SEE MY LIST, KUYKENDAHL MAY BE THE VERY LAST THING I HAVE GOT ON MY LIST BUT IS THE VERY LAST THING ON MY LIST BECAUSE IT IS THE THING THAT I NEED THE MOST ENGINEERING DONE. BUT ONCE WE GET THE BOND PASSED AND OUR FIRST ROUND OF BONDS SOLD IN JULY, KUYKENDAHL WILL BE THE FIRST THING ASSIGNED AN ENGINEER AND ASSIGNED SOMEBODY TO GET STARTED ON THIS TO GET THIS DONE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN BECAUSE I FIRMLY BELIEVE IT IS MY MAJOR PROJECT THAT I WILL BE WORKING ON. MY OTHER PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE MY COUNTY ROADS THAT I'M TRYING TO REHAB AND RECONSTRUCT. BUT THIS WILL HERE IS AT THE TOP OF MY LIST. AS FAR AS IT IS GOING TO BE ENGINEER DESIGN, JUST LIKE THE TWO LANES THAT ARE THERE NOW. SO WE GET IT IN UNDER CONTRACT. ENGINEERING IN JULY. YOU KNOW? MAYBE WE CAN FAST-TRACK THIS. I DO ALL I CAN TO GET IT FAST-TRACK. IT WON'T TAKE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS TO GET IT ENGINEERED AND DESIGNED SO WE CAN MOVE THIS THING HOME BECAUSE I WANT THIS THING DONE AS FAST AS WE CAN GET IT DONE. IT NEEDS TO BE ON THE GROUND TODAY. >> THANK YOU, FIRST, RILEY. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. THIS AGENDA ITEM. I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND OF COURSE OUR RESIDENTS ARE PARAMOUNT, AND WE HAVE ALWAYS EMBRACED THAT AS A BOARD. AND VERY THANKFUL, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS WEATHER, THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT, COMMISSIONER. >> WELL, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THAT INTERSECTION IS ALREADY DESIGNED. THEY ARE ALREADY ON THE GROUND. IT IS A PRETTY SIMPLE JOB TYING THE TWO LANES TO THE INTERSECTIONS. >> COMING SOON. >> THAT IS A PRETTY SIMPLE JOB. [00:25:05] >> COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR POINTING ALL THIS OUT. THANK YOU FOR THE LETTER AND ALL THE INFORMATION. YOU KNOW, I AM A PROUD MITCHELL MUSTANG PARENT MYSELF. I AM ONE OF THOSE PARENTS THAT WITNESSES AND SEES THAT TRAFFIC ON A DAILY BASIS. IT IS IMPERATIVE. YOU KNOW? STEVE POINTED OUT THAT IT IS ALREADY ESSENTIALLY CLEARED OUT. IT IS ALMOST INEVITABLE. >> WE HAVE TO MATCH WHAT IS THERE ALREADY. THE RIGHT AWAY IS THERE. GET IT DESIGNED JUST LIKE THE OTHER TWO LANES AND WE ARE READY TO GO. >> RIGHT. AND I THINK MAYBE IT WAS MENTIONED BRIEFLY. BUT SAFETY OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES. RIGHT? AND THEN BEING ABLE TO NAVIGATE THAT ROAD AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY. ALL OF THOSE THINGS. IT MAKES COMPLETE SENSE TO ME. >> AND I THINK IT IS CLOSE TO 1400 STUDENTS. >> I THINK THERE IS 13. 13, RIGT? >> COMMISSIONER RILEY, WHEN WE HAD SPOKEN A LITTLE BIT BACK, YOU HAD DRAWN FOOTAGE AND POSSIBLY TOPIC STUDIES THAT APPLY TO THAT AREA THAT SHOWED AN OVERWHELMING NEED FOR THAT TO BE EXPANDED. >> WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DRAWN FOOTAGE. WE DO HAVE ENGINEERING SURVEYS WE HAVE DONE. WE HAVE OUR OWN TRAFFIC COUNTS. LIKE I SAY, OUR OWN DRONES THAT LOOK AT IT. WE COULD TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE COULD GET PEOPLE IN AND OUT OF THE SCHOOLS AND IN AND OUT OF THE INTERSECTIONS SAFELY. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS. WELL, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS EVER SINCE I WAS COMMISSIONER. I JUST NEVER DID HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THIS TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION. SO WITH THIS BOND, WE CAN AFFORD TO DO THIS AND MAKE IT SAFER. MAKE IT BETTER. >> COMMISSIONER RILEY, DIRECTOR SEKULA-GIBBS HAS LOST HER VOICE. SHE PARTICIPATED IN A LITTLE BIT TOO HARD. SHE WROTE DOWN A QUESTION HERE ON , IF YOU COULD MAYBE CLARIFY, I WILL KIND OF PUT DOWN TWO OF HER QUESTIONS. IT LOOKS LIKE THE PICTURES THAT STEVE DID ON HIS RESEARCH. IT LOOKS LIKE THE CLEARING HAS BEEN DONE ALREADY. SO MINIMAL TREE CUT DOWNS. THE SIZE OF THE MEDIANS AND ANY SOUND BARRIERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SOUND OF TRAFFIC IS NOT GETTING OVERWHELMING, EITHER. >> WE WILL DO JUST LIKE WE HAVE DONE ON THE NEXT SECTION OF RESEARCH. WE NEED THE BARRIERS TO THE MIDDLE. THE GREEN SPACE TO THE MIDDLE. 30 FEET OR WHATEVER IT IS BEHIND THE HOUSES. JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WOODLANDS HAS DONE. >> MY QUESTION IS, I LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT BACKS UP TO KUYKENDAHL. YOUR PRECINCT IS JUST PAST IT. IT SEEMS TO ME WHENEVER WE WIDEN THAT , A LOT MORE TRAFFIC. WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME SPEEDING ISSUES WE HAVE ALERTED THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ABOUT. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO THAT WHEN WE DO WIDEN THIS WE CAN MAKE SURE THE TRAFFIC IS STAYING AT THE RESPONSIBLE SPEED AND NOT JUST A BIG, MASSIVE, YOU KNOW, INTERSTATE COMING FORWARD? >> YOU KNOW, ANYTIME WE ARE GOING TO ADD TWO LANES, WE ARE GOING TO ADD A NICE, SMOOTH, WIDER ROAD. WE ARE GOING TO GET THAT PROBLEM. THE GOOD THING ABOUT IT IS WE HAVE GOT A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN WHO WANTS TO INCREASE HIS PATROL DIVISION. WE WILL GET HIM TO HELP US OUT WITH THAT. WE WILL MAKE SURE ALL THE SPEED LIMITS ARE UNIFORM THROUGHOUT THE ROAD. WE WILL MAKE SURE WE GET ENOUGH ENFORCEMENT ON THERE. WE ARE NOT GOING TO STOP THEM ALL, BUT I THINK WE CAN CUT IT WAY DOWN. >> COMPANY STOP LIGHTS ARE GOING TO BE IN THAT SECTION? >> THERE WILL BE A NEW ONE. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THAT ROAD? >> KENDALL GREENE. KENDALL GREENE. >> THERE WILL BE A NEW TRAFFIC SIGNAL THERE AND THEN ALDEN BRIDGE. CROWN RIDGE. THE ONLY ONE THAT WILL BE NEW WILL BE THAT ONE AT KENDALL GREENE. >> COMMISSIONER, SORRY I CAN'T BE MORE CLEAR BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T GET THE DAYTONA SPEEDWAY. THE DAYTONA SPEEDWAY. YOU KNOW? BECAUSE IT IS ALREADY FAST. >> I UNDERSTAND. AND WE WILL TRY TO CONTROL THAT. >> PARKING LOT. >> SORRY? >> I SAID, WE ALSO DON'T WANT THE DAYTONA PARKING LOT. >> WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO KEEP TRAFFIC UNDERCONTROL. >> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU SO [00:30:02] MUCH. >> CAN I SAY ONE MORE THING? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT THE 42 INTERSECTIONS. THAT INTERSECTION HAS MORE ACCIDENTS THAN ANYWHERE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. IT IS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THAT IS THE WORST INTERSECTION IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. YOU KNOW? WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING THE FLYOVER FROM NORTHBOUND TO EASTBOUND AND THERE ARE TWO RIGHT TURN LANES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GOING IN. YOU KNOW? WE FUNDED IT THROUGH MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND WE HAD ALL THAT GOING AND HEADED OUR WAY AND THEN WE DECIDED WE ARE GOING TO PARTNER WITH TXDOT TO DO THE DRAINAGE FROM THE WEST SIDE UNDER 45 OVER TO THE EASTSIDE INTO THE HOSPITAL AND GOES OUT DOWN 242. THAT KIND OF DELAY THE PROJECT. I THINK WE ARE ABOUT 60% ON THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING, THE CONSTRUCTION PLAN. SO WE SHOULD SEE SOME KIND OF ON THE MIDDLE PARTNER LAST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR. NOW, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHICH PART IT IS GOING TO BE YET. IT MAY BE THE DRAINAGE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE SERVICE FLOODS IN FRONT OF THE HOSPITAL'S. AND THEN THE OVERPASS. BUT YOU SHOULD SEE SOME KIND OF CONSTRUCTION BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. >> I CAN TELL YOU FOR THE RAPID RATE THAT OUR COUNTY IS GROWING, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS GOT A LOT ON THEIR PLATE AS FAR AS LOOKING AT THIS ROAD BLOCK. YOU CAN SEE THE MASSIVE GROWTH IN THIS COUNTY-WIDE AND EXPECT US TO SEE EVERYTHING THE EXACT SAME. >> IT IS HARD. IT IS HARD TO ROUND UP WHAT IS THE BEST OR THE MOST NEEDED PROJECT. DEPENDING ON WHO YOU TALK TO. THE RAMPS ON 45 AND TOAD ROAD. THAT IS A MUST. ALL KINDS OF THINGS NEED TO BE DONE BUT WE GOT THEM IN THE WORKS. >> HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT THE EXPANSION TO BE? >> I HAVE GOT IT AT $8 MILLION. I DON'T THINK IT IS ANYWHERE NEAR THAT. SO IF WE GET IT DONE LESS THAN THAT, I CAN DO SOMETHING ELSE. I WANT TO KEEP IT AT $8 MILLION. >> ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, THE CHAIRMAN CALLS ON THE COMMISSIONER -- THE CHAIRMAN CALLS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE REPORT. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> MOVED BY DIRECTOR SNYDER AND SECONDED BY DIRECTOR HEISER. WE MOVE THE OTHER AGENDA ITEM UP [12. Receive, consider and act upon the submission of a letter to the Texas Department of Transportation to review a road system around The Woodlands ("Woodlands Loop");] HERE. RECEIVE AND CONSIDER AGENDA ITEM 12 HAS MOVED IN AND MOVED UP. SUBMISSION OF LETTER TO TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO REVIEW A ROAD SYSTEM AROUND THE WOODLANDS REFERRED TO BY DR. SEKULA-GIBBS AS THE WOODLANDS LOOP. IT STARTS IN YOUR PRECINCT. SO, TODD, YOU WANT TO COME UP AND GIVE A PRELUDE AND LET COMMISSIONER RILEY STEP IN? >> YES. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE BOARD IS CLEAR WITH THE CONCEPT THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED. EXCUSE ME. SO AROUND 2017 -- EXCUSE ME -- A STUDY WAS REQUESTED BY PRECINCT 3, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, NUMBER 1, TO LOOK AT WAYS TO IMPROVE AREAS OF MOBILITY SO YOU COULD REDUCE CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC COMING TO THE WOODLANDS. AND ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME TO THAT STUDY WITH THE CONCEPT OF APPROVING ROADWAYS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT AROUND THE AREA OF THE WOODLANDS SO THAT YOU WOULD ESSENTIALLY HAVE A LOOP SYSTEM THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE ENHANCED SO YOU COULD REDUCE THAT CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC. IN YOUR MIND YOU COULD VISUALIZE IT. A CONCEPT OF SOMETHING THAT WOULD INCLUDE 1488, 2978, POTENTIALLY DOWN TO 99. THE GRAND PARKWAY BACK OVER 245 AND THEN 45 NORTH. SO SINCE THAT STUDY HAS HAPPENED, SEVERAL PROJECTS HAVE INCURRED THAT WOULD ENHANCE THOSE ROADS. FOR EXAMPLE, 2978 AT THAT END OF THE WOODLANDS HAS BEEN WIDENED IN RECENT YEARS. OBVIOUSLY, 1488 IS OBVIOUSLY UNDER IMPROVEMENTS AND THERE ARE ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO COME BY EARLY NEXT DECADE ON EXPANDING ADDITIONAL LANES CAPACITY ON BOTH SIDES OF 1488. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN ASKED ABOUT IS THE IDEA OF A STUDY AT TXDOT TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY AND WHAT WOULD BE INVOLVED IF A LOOP OR ROADWAY SYSTEM LIKE THIS WAS ENVISION. AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A REQUEST FOR WHAT THEY CALL A PLANNING LEVEL FEASIBILITY STUDY. AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SUPPORT FROM LOCAL JURISDICTIONS. YOU HAVE TO HAVE SUPPORT FROM YOUR LOCAL COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONERS COURT. ALSO, SUPPORT FROM A STATE REP OR SENATOR, PREFERABLY BOTH. AND THEN YOU [00:35:02] NEED TO DO THAT FOR ALL THE AREAS ARE COUNTIES THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY ANY IMPROVEMENTS FOR THOSE ROADS. SO BROADLY THAT IS WHAT THE CONCEPT IS. WHAT HAS BEEN ASKED OF THIS BOARD IS WHETHER THEY WOULD WANT TO CONSIDER ANY KIND OF LETTER TO TXDOT, SHOULD ONE OF THOSE ENTITIES MAKE A REQUEST TO DO THE FEASIBILITY STUDY. >> FOR CLARIFICATION, COULD YOU PLEASE LIST OUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE IN SUPPORT OF SOMETHING. I AM NOT GOING TO HOLD YOU TO EXACT, BUT I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO REALIZE THE GRAVITY OF WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. >> I AM SURE I AM GOING TO MISS SOME. IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT ALL THE ROADWAYS, POTENTIALLY YOU WOULD BE LOOKING AT EACH OF THE PRECINCT COMMISSIONERS IN MONTEREY COUNTY EXCEPT FOR COMMISSIONER WALKER. YOU WOULD BE LOOKING AT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IN HARRIS COUNTY. FROM THE JUDGE PERSPECTIVE, COUNTY JUDGE MARK KIEL AND HARRIS COUNTY. THEN YOU WOULD ALSO BE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY SOME ASSORTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE STEVE COHEN'S AT THE STATE LEVEL, SENATOR BRANDON CREIGHTON, SENATOR PAUL, REPRESENTATIVE VALERIE SWANSON, REPRESENTATIVE CECIL BELL. I THINK I'VE GOT MOST. >> MERE TUMBLE. >> YES. MAYOR. SHENANDOAH. OAK RIDGE NORTH. SO, BASICALLY, ANYONE THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY BE IMPACTED BY THE CONCEPT OF EXPANSION TO THOSE ROADWAYS. >> I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER FOR THE URGENT ITEMS SHE ASKED FOR. >> I WANT TO JUST CLARIFY THE WORD IS NOT REQUIRED. THE WORD IS IT WOULD BE NICE. IT IS NOT REQUIRED. RIGHT? IT WOULD BE NICE, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE AT THE TXDOT. YOU WERE THERE, DR. SNYDER. HE SAID WOULD REALLY BE IMPORTANT. AGAIN, IT IS NOT REQUIRED. THAT WOULD BE REPRESENTATIVE TOASTS BECAUSE HE IS ON APPROPRIATIONS. IT WOULD BE YOU, COMMISSIONER RILEY. IT WOULD BE COMMISSIONER WHEELER. AND IT WOULD BE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND IT WOULD BE US AT THE TOWNSHIP. SO THE WORD IS NOT REQUIRED. IT IS ENOUGH SUPPORT THAT WOULD INDICATE A BEGINNING. IT IS A BEGINNING. IT DOES NOT MEAN EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME ON BOARD TO SET SALE. IT IS A SMALL BEGINNING. AM I RIGHT? >> YEAH. TO CLARIFY WHAT DR. SHELLEY SEKULA-GIBBS IS SAYING, WOULD NOT ALL HAVE TO SIGN OFF AT ONE TIME OR AT ANY POINT TO DO IT. ESSENTIALLY, AN EXPRESSION OF LOCAL SUPPORT. THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT YOUR STATE REP AND STATE SENATOR REALLY RELATE TO FUNDING. SO TXDOT DOES NOT HAVE THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING FOR FEASIBILITY STUDIES. WHAT THEY CALL THEIR CONSULTING BUDGET IS ESSENTIALLY SPENT. ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WOULD MAKE A PROJECT LIKE THIS POSSIBLE POTENTIALLY COULD COME FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN THE FORM OF ADDITIONAL CORPORATIONS. SO THAT IS WHAT DR. SHELLEY SEKULA-GIBBS WAS REFERRING TO. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE AND HAVE SOME INPUT THERE VERY DIRECTLY ON HOW THAT BUDGET IS PUT TOGETHER. >> IF I COULD FINISH, I AM SORRY. ADDRESS YOUR COMMENT, TODD. I QUERIED REPRESENTATIVE TOTE'S OFFICE AND GOT A LETTER BACK FROM HIS OFFICE THAT SAID THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO WRITE THE LETTER, BUT THEY WANT COMMISSIONER RILEY TO GO FIRST. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT IS, COMMISSIONER, BUT THERE YOU HAVE IT. >> IMAGINE THAT. >> IMAGINE THAT. >> LOOK, I DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE. >> NOR DO WE. >> I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. BUT WHAT I FIGURE IS, I WANT TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE BEFORE I STEP OUT HERE AND WRITE A LETTER. LOOK, I AM WORRIEDABOUT WHAT IT IS GOING TO DO TO SOME OF THESE MAJOR INTERSECTIONS. 2948. THAT IS MY BIGGEST -- IT IS MY BIGGEST HEADACHE. BUT IT IS MY BIGGEST ECONOMICAL PIECE OF PROPERTY IN MY WHOLE PRECINCT RIGHT THERE. AND I AM AFRAID TO DO ANYTHING THAT MIGHT MESS ANY OF THAT UP OR DISPLACE IT. I WANT TO SEE HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE STRUCTURED. I AM WILLING TO HELP ANYWAY I CAN. I JUST WANT TO SEE WHAT IT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO LOOK LIKE. >> HER QUESTION IS CAN WE MEET? >> YES. CAN TXDOT AND YOU AND CHAIRMAN AND I'M NOT SURE WHO ALL ELSE? >> I AM WILLING TO MEET WITH [00:40:02] ANYONE. >> JUST DON'T DISPLACE MY RAISING CANES THERE. THAT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THERE. >> AND PERHAPS, IF I MAY, DIRECTOR GIBBS, SAY ENGINEER A DRAWING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR A BEGINNING THAT YOU MIGHT HELP. >> I DON'T HAVE THE $5 MILLION I THINK IT IS GOING TO TAKE TO DO THIS SURVEY OR THIS STUDY. BUT WHAT I HAVE ASKED, AND I AM GOING TO PUT SOMEBODY ON THE SPOT. I HAVE ASKED DAVID BOMBA'S, THE ENGINEER HERE, TO DO KIND OF AN OVERLAY OF WHAT WE THINK THE INTERSECTION OF 1488 AND 2978 WOULD LOOK LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT I THINK WE ARE LOOKING FOR. AND WHENEVER HE GETS THAT DONE, I WILL BE HAPPY TO COME BACK AND MEET HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT. IF YOU WANT TO DO IT HERE. HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT. >> WE COULD DO IT IN YOUR OFFICE. >> AND THEN IF WE SEE WHAT THIS INTERSECTION MAY LOOK LIKE, WE MAY NOT HAVE TO DISPLACE ANYBODY. WE MAY HAVE TO TAKE OUT THAT WHOLE INTERSECTION TO DO WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO OR WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. IF WE CAN SEE THAT ONE AND THEN THAT ONE, 242 AND 242 AND 45, 99, 2978, ALL THOSE ARE GOING TO BASICALLY LOOKED THE SAME WAY I THINK IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE THIS ONE INTERSECTION AND IT KIND OF AN IDEA. >> THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. >> HE TOLD ME HE WOULD HAVE THAT ON TUESDAY. >> NO PRESSURE. >> NO. I PICK ON DAVE A LOT. HE WILL GET IT DONE AS SOON AS HE CAN. I WILL GET BACK WITH YOU ALL. >> I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO FORMALLY MAKE A GROUP, BUT MAYBE HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT HANDLES A LOT OF THESE ISSUES, WHICH IS DR. SNYDER, DIRECTOR EISSLER, AND DIRECTOR SECULAR GIBBS. KIND OF MEET WITH YOU ON THAT. YOU ALL OF THE EXPERTS, ESPECIALLY MEETING WITH TXDOT LIKE YOU DID TODAY. SO IF WE COULD DO THAT, IS THAT A PROBLEM? >> I MEAN, IT IS NOT A FORMAL COMMITTEE. >> TALK ABOUT ROAD STUFF. >> I JUST DON'T MEAN TO GET IN THERE AND MESS THE WHOLE THING UP. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> SO ONCE I GET THIS I WILL GET A HOLD OF DR. GIBBS AND WE WILL MEET IN MY OFFICE OR MEET HERE OR WHEREVER YOU WANT TO EAT. WE WILL JUST HAVE A LOOK AT IT. >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO. TODD , ANYTHING ELSE? >> NO, SIR. THAT IS THE FINAL ONE ON THAT ITEM. >> ALL RIGHT. I CALL A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ACCEPT THE REPORT AND GO FORWARD. >> I MOVE. >> DR. SEKULA-GIBBS, SECONDED BY DIRECTOR EISSLER. ALL THOSE [9. Receive, consider and act upon an update regarding Fire Station 5 and the Emergency Training Center; ] IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. QUESTION NUMBER 9. FIRE STATION NUMBER 5. CALL ON FIRE CHIEF PALMER TO GIVE HIS PRESENTATION. >> GOOD EVENING, DIRECTORS. I WILL BRING IN ASSISTANT CHIEF DOUG ADAMS WHO HAS BEEN STARING BOTH THESE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TO GIVE YOU THE UPDATE. >> THANK YOU. CHIEF, HOW ARE YOU? >> GOOD. HOW ARE YOU ALL? ENJOYING THE SNOW? >> IT WAS NICE. A LOT OF WORK. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR DOING THAT. >> SURE. WE GOT A GOOD VIEW FROM OUR TOWN CAMS. I DID NOT GET TO DO ANY SNOWBALL FIGHT. ANYHOW, MAYBE, AROUND THE SAME TIME. I HAVE A BRIEF UPDATE. THE PROJECTS ARE GOING VERY WELL. WE ARE MAKING SOME SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS AT THAT TTC. WE ARE NEARING THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW BATHROOMS, THE NEW LOCKER ROOM, WE ARE WORKING ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE GENERATOR, AND WE ARE EXPECTING TO ACTUALLY CLOSE THAT OUT ON VALENTINE'S DAY. AND MOVE ONTO THE NEXT PHASE. THE NEXT PHASE IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE LOUDEST PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION, WHERE WE ACTUALLY GO IN AND DEMO THE EXISTING BATHROOMS AND THE BREAK ROOM. BUT WE WILL ACTUALLY BE CONSTRUCTING A FULL KITCHEN, FULL BREAK ROOM, FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY DURING LIKE TIMES OF A DISASTER WHERE [00:45:01] WE CAN ACTUALLY HOUSE THE ARMY. WE HAVE DONE THAT QUITE A BIT. WE WILL ALSO FINISH AND GET THE ENTIRE BUILDING ON GENERATOR POWER. FIRE STATION 5, IF YOU LOOK THERE, YOU KIND OF SEE THE OVERVIEW OF WHAT IT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. THE FLOOR PLAN. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CENTER POINT ON ACTUALLY GETTING A TRANSFORMER LOCATION THAT HAS BEEN A PRETTY BIG CHALLENGE. AND WE HAVE HAD QUITE A FEW WEATHER DELAYS. BUT IF YOU DRIVE BY YOU CAN SEE THE CONCRETE SLAB. I APOLOGIZE. THE STEEL IS NOT ARRIVING TOMORROW. I FOUND OUT THIS AFTERNOON MAYBE FRIDAY. THE CRANE IS THERE. OVER THE NEXT PROBABLY STARTING AROUND THE 27TH, YOU WILL START SEEING THE BUILDING COME TO LIFE. SO WE ARE LIKE REALLY EXCITED. I KNOW I HAVE GOT TO KEEP THE GUYS AND GIRLS FROM GOING OVER THERE. TRY TO LOOK BUT DON'T GET OUT. SO FAR, OUR PARTNERS IN CONSTRUCTION HAVE BEEN GREAT. OUR STAFF, DAVID CARSON, HAS BEEN GREAT, KEEPING -- KEEPING THE CONTRACTORS ON THEIR TOES. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. WE ALL APPRECIATE IT . WE ARE ALL REALLY EXCITED HOPEFULLY WE GET IN BY THE END OF THE YEAR IN STATION FIVE. HOPEFULLY BY THE LEADERSHIP OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN MARCH, WE WILL HAVE A QUESTION CAPACITY PROBLEMS. WE ARE ALL VERY EXCITED. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, GREAT. I WILL CALL FOR A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REPORT. ALL THOSE IN [10. Receive, consider and act upon the financial report;] FAVOR, RESPOND BY SAYING AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 10. FINANCIAL REPORT. >> SO MOVED. >> PAGES 45 TO 62 IN YOUR BOOKLET. I CALL ON KELLAN SHAW, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION. >> CHAIRMAN BAILEY, BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THIS FINANCIALS THROUGH NOVEMBER 2024. OUR FIRST FLIGHT IS THE REVENUE SLIDE. THE YEAR TO DATE BUDGET OF REVENUE THROUGH NOVEMBER IS $127.2 MILLION. THE YEAR TO DATE COLLECTED, 128 MILLION. FOR YEAR-TO-DATE FAVORABLE VARIANCE OF ALMOST $1.6 MILLION. THE MAIN COMPONENT FOR THE VARIANCES HIGHER THAN BUDGETED INTEREST INCOME, WE HAD SOME HIGHER THAN BUDGETED PARKING AND AGREEMENTS AND WE HAVE HAD SOME INSURANCE PROCEEDS THAT WE DID NOT BUDGET FOR. OF COURSE, THESE ARE OFFSET BY AN UNFAVORABLE VARIANCE IN OUR CONSOLIDATED TAXES. NEXT SLIDE. WILL BE THE EXPENDITURES. THE YEAR-TO-DATE BUDGETED, $118 MILLION. YEAR-TO-DATE SPENT, $414.3 MILLION. FAVORABLE VARIANCE OF $3.7 MILLION. ALL THE CATEGORIES OF DEPARTMENTS ARE SHOWING FAVORABLE VARIANCES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUR OTHER EXPENDITURES, WHICH INCLUDE THE HURRICANE BERYL DEBRIS CLEANUP AND TREE REMOVAL THIS YEAR. THAT HAS AN UNFAVORABLE VARIANCE ABOUT $1.8 MILLION. THAN WE HAVE OUR EVENT TAX REPAYMENT. DATA SHOWING AN UNFAVORABLE VARIANCE OF $260,000. BUT THAT IS BASED ON THE EVENT TAX, SO THAT IS BASED ON THE FAVORABLE VARIANCES AND REVENUE. >> QUESTION. THAT SMALL OF AN AMOUNT. DOES THAT MEAN YOU PAY THE BULK OF IT ALREADY TO THEM? >> NO. WE PAY THEM QUARTERLY. SORRY. WE PAID THE MONTHLY. BUT JUST THE REVENUE IS GREATER SO THE PAYMENTS ARE GOING TO BE GREATER. SO IT TIMELY BUDGET, IT IS JUST THAT WE DIDN'T BUDGET ENOUGH BECAUSE WE DID NOT REALIZE THAT REVENUE IS GOING TO EXCEED WHAT WE BUDGETED. >> YOU HAVE THE TOTAL FOR LAST YEAR? >> FOR 2023? >> FOR? >> YES. I DO. RIGHT AT $2 MILLION. IT IS $1,999,000. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU ARE WELCOME. NEXT FIGHT IS OUR SALES TAX DEPOSITS. YEAR-TO-DATE BUDGETED, $75.7 [00:50:01] MILLION. YEAR-TO-DATE ACTUAL, $73.7 MILLION. FAVORABLE VARIANCE OF $1.9 MILLION. IF YOU WILL LOOK OVER TO THE FAR RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM, WE HAVE COLLECTED $1.5 MILLION ADDITIONAL SALES TAX REVENUE DOLLARS THAN WE DID IN 2023. ON THE NEXT SLIDE, JUST ILLUSTRATES IN WHAT SALES TAX CATEGORIES THE ADDITIONAL SALES TAX REVENUE CAME IN AND OUT OF TO THE RIGHT IT IS GOING TO BE YOUR RETAIL MANUFACTURING, CONSTRUCTION, INFORMATION, MINING, AND OIL, AND GAS OBSTRUCTION. THOSE ARE THE CATEGORIES WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THAT HAVE BEEN INCREASING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. TO THE RIGHT, WHOLESALE TRADE AND TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING. A COUPLE OF THE MAIN OFFICES THAT LEFT THE WOODLANDS LAST YEAR. NEXT SLIDE IS HOTEL OCCUPANCY DEPOSITS. YEAR-TO-DATE BUDGETED WAS $9.9 MILLION. YEAR-TO-DATE ACTUAL, $10.3 MILLION. FOR A YEAR TO DATE FAVORABLE VARIANCE OF $470,000. AND IF YOU'RE COMPARING '23 TO '24, WE HAVE COLLECTED ABOUT 723,000 ADDITIONAL DOLLARS. THAT IS EXCITING. FIRST TIME WE HAVE GOT OVER $10 MILLION. WE WERE AT ABOUT 92 IN 2019, I THINK. >> THAT IS A BIG PLUS. AND FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, I BELIEVE, THEY HAVE BOTH INCREASED. YOU PUT US TOGETHER AT A 17% INCREASE OVER THE YEARS BEFORE. SO THAT IS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT. TOWNSHIP. THIS IS THE WOODLANDS TEAM. NICK EVANS AND THEIR ENTIRE TEAM HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB. 10.3 IS AN AMAZING DEAL FOR US. >> IT IS. >> OUR LAST SLIDE IS A MIXED BEVERAGE TAX DEPOSITS. YEAR-TO-DATE BUDGETED WAS $1.2 MILLION. YOUR TODAY COLLECTED, $1.5 MILLION. ABOUT 23% OVER BUDGET. SINCE WE JUST COLLECTED OUR FIRST DEPOSIT DECEMBER 2023, WE ONLY HAVE ONE NEXT MONTH TO COMPARE TO. BUT WE COLLECTED THIS DECEMBER ABOUT 36% MORE THAN WE DID THE PRIOR DECEMBER. SO THAT IS A BIG INCREASE IN JUST THE ONE NEXT MONTH. >> THE SELF TAX. TWO MONTHS. MIXED BEVERAGE. IS IT JUST ONE MONTH? >> IT IS ALSO TWO MONTHS. >> THANK YOU. >> THAT IS BECAUSE IT SUBMITTED TO THE STATE ONE MONTH AND THE STATE PASSES IT ON TO US. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? >> ANY QUESTIONS? GOOD NEWS, KELLAN SHAW IS BACK. >> I HAD A QUESTION ON THE SALES TAX USE. ON PROJECT 2 AND 3. USE OF THE SALES. PLAYING CATCH UP WITH PROJECT 2 AND 3. >> OKAY. SO PROJECT 2 AND 3 COLLECTIONS ARE INCLUDED AND IS ACTUALLY COLLECTED WHICH IS THE $73.7. $73.7 MILLION. SO THOSE AMOUNTS ARE, IT IS GOING TO BE MARKET STREET. OKAY. OUTDOOR PORTION OF THE MALL. SO THOSE ARE BROKEN OUT SEPARATELY. AND THAT 1% IS PAID TO THE DEVELOPER. SO THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PORTION THAT WE USE IN GENERAL FUND FOR OPERATIONS. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> IF YOU LOOK AT THE SALES TAX REPORT, IT KIND OF BREAKS IT DOWN IN THE BOTTOM PERK OF THE PORTION THAT SHE USED FOR THAT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT IS WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT. >> ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? IF NOT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND AND EXCEPT THE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE 11 MONTHS ENDING NOVEMBER 30TH, 2024? >> SO MOVED. [11. Receive, consider and act upon a date and location for a Strategic Planning Session;] >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 11. DATE AND LOCATION FOR THE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION FOR THE BOARD. IT IS ON PAGE 63 OF YOUR BOOKLET. I CALL ON PARK PRESIDENT CEO MONIQUE SHARP TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. MONIQUE? >> THANK YOU. AS YOU ALL ARE ALL AWARE, THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE BOARD HAVING A STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION, SOMETIME DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025. WHILE THE BOARD IS CERTAINLY WELCOME TO TRY TO SELECT A DATE TODAY, THAT IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS DECIDING ON A FEW OTHER ITEMS THAT I'M GOING TO GO FOR AND WE CAN ALWAYS PULL THE BOARD FOR A SPECIFIC DAY. BUT WHAT I [00:55:01] NEED SOME FEEDBACK ON TOMORROW FIRST THING IS HAVING A FACILITATOR FOR THE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION. WE HAVE DONE THAT BEFORE. STAFF DOES RECOMMEND THAT. WE THINK IS HELPFUL AND PRODUCTIVE TO DO THAT. WE HAVE A FRQ REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS READY TO GO. PROBABLY WOULD ONLY TAKE ABOUT THREE WEEKS TO GET SOMETHING BACK AND THEN WE COULD BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD IN FEBRUARY FOR A RECOMMENDATION ON THE FACILITATOR. SO , IF THERE IS NO SPECIFIC OBJECTIONS TO THAT, I AM GOING TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. THE OTHER THING IS THE LOCATION, WHICH OUR PREVIOUS STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSIONS OR THE LAST COUPLE HAVE BEEN HELD HERE AT TOWNHALL. THERE IS ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING IT AT A LOCAL -- THE MARRIOTT. AS PER OUR AGREEMENT, WE GET SIX NIGHTS OR SIX DAYS FREE. SO WE COULD ACCESS A CONFERENCE ROOM THERE, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TECHNOLOGY, THE I.T., THE SOUND, THE AV EQUIPMENT, AND FOR REFRESHMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO THERE WILL BE SOME COSTS, OTHER THE MAJOR COST WILL BE COVERED THROUGH OUR AGREEMENT. SO, AGAIN, JUST TO BE ABLE TO START PLANNING THIS, SOME FEEDBACK ON THE BOARD FOR WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION. AND THEN THE FINAL THING. I NEED SOME INFORMATION ON, I HAVE QUITE A LENGTHY AGENDA OF TOPICS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORWARD BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTION -- BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT WE EITHER DO NOT HAVE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR OR IT HAS NOT BEEN PRIORITIZED. PROBABLY AN AGENDA RIGHT NOW OF UP TO ABOUT 10 ITEMS. SO I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A HALF-DAY STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION. I THINK THIS IS AT LEAST A FULL DAY. IT COULD BE SPLIT INTO TWO HALF DAYS IF YOU ALL WOULD PREFER TO DO THAT OR WE COULD SET ASIDE A FULL DAY. AGAIN, IF I COULD GET SOME FEEDBACK ON THOSE THINGS. THE FACILITATOR. THE LOCATION. OR EITHER TWO HALF DAYS ARE ONE DAY, TAMIKA PULLED THE BOARD AND GET SOME DATES DOWN. >> THIS AGENDA ITEM, THAT I EXPLAINED MYSELF, ONE IS ON THE FACILITATOR. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE RFQ INCLUDES TIME FOR THAT FACILITATOR TO MEET WITH STAFF, THE KEY STAFF YOU IDENTIFIED. TO MEET WITH EACH ONE OF THE DIRECTORS. SO THEY CAN BE ABLE TO SEE BOTH SIDES AND BE PREPARED IN HAVING THAT SESSION. LOCATION. I AM FINE WITH HAVING IN HERE AT THE MARRIOTT OR SOMETHING CLOSE TO GET SOMETHING FREE. I DO THINK ON THE TIMING THOUGH, OVER A DAY. I THINK THIS IS A DAY AND A HALF DEAL SO MAYBE PLAN FOR TWO DAYS OR ONE DAY AND A MORNING SESSION. I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS TO COVER. NOT JUST OUR IDEAS, BUT ALSO HEARING EACH OTHER IS AN IMPORTANT PART. SO ALMOST SITTING IN A CIRCLE WHOM BY A HOSTILE. NOT GOOD FOR STRATEGIC SESSIONS. SO I AM NOT AN EXPERT BUT I THINK KIND OF GETTING OUT OF THE TOWNSHIP. YOU KNOW? ROOM HERE IS A GOOD THING. GOOD THING FOR US TO GET OUT AND TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS. I THINK HAVING A STRATEGIC VISION, WE ARE CLEAR WITH STAFF AND STAFF IS CLEAR WITH US AND THAT STRATEGIC DIALOGUE IS VERY IMPORTANT. >> I WOULD AGREE WITH BRAD. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. FOR A GOVERNMENT ENTITY, DOES THE FACILITATOR HAVE TO BE PAID WITH THE ENTITY? WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A FACILITATOR? COULD IT BE A VOLUNTEER? >> IT COULD BE A VOLUNTEER. AGAIN, WE WOULD WANT THE EXPERIENCE OF DOING THAT, SPECIFICALLY WITH GOVERNMENTAL BACKGROUND. SO, IF WE ISSUED THE RFQ, WE WOULD INTEND ON PAYING THAT PERSON. SO THAT TYPICALLY FOR A SERVICE PROVIDED, WE WOULD WANT TO PAY. >> OKAY. I HAVE DONE IT WITH BUSINESSES. I HAVE DONE WITH CHARITABLE. I HAVE NEVER DONE IT WITH GOVERNMENT ENTITY. SECOND THING IS, IS THERE A MILEAGE AREA THAT WE ARE HARD TO STAY WITHIN? >> THERE'S NOT A REQUIREMENT. NO, MA'AM. >> AS LONG AS IT IS A MEETING. >> WE HAVE NEVER GONE OFF-SITE. HAVE WE? >> THIS BOARD HASN'T. PREVIOUS BOARDS HAVE. >> SAY THAT AGAIN, PLEASE. >> WE HAVE HAD STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSIONS CHILD -- TELL BY THE TOWNSHIP THAT HAVE GONE OFF-SITE. YES. HAVE GONE OUTSIDE OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP. >> IT HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD. >> IT HAS NOT HAPPENED IN A [01:00:04] WHILE. I AM SAYING PREVIOUSLY. IT HAS BEEN DIFFERENT PLACES. GALVESTON HAS BEEN ONE OF THE LOCATIONS. BUT YOU ARE RIGHT. IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SO WE HAVE NOT DONE IT IN 10 YEARS. >> WHAT ABOUT THE SUNSHINE ACT? HOW DOES THAT WORK? >> I DON'T KNOW. BACK THEN IT WAS ALOUD. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD APPLY HERE. >> THIS WOULD BE AN OPEN SESSION AND RECORDED AND EVERYTHING. >> CORRECT. >> THIS WOULD NOT BE SOMETHING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. >> SO WOULD IT BE BROADCAST LIVE? >> IF IT IS NOT IN THIS ROOM, WE CANNOT BROADCAST IT LIVE. THAT IS WHAT THIS IS SET UP FOUR. WE WOULD VIDEO IT AND THEN POSTED ONLINE. THERE WOULD BE A DELAY. >> MAKES IT EASY FOR TOWN PEOPLE TO ATTEND IF THEY NEED TO I KNOW YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE BOARD IN PUBLIC TO SEE HOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS HELPS STAFF AS WELL AS THE BOARD. >> SURE. FOR ME, AS THE PRESIDENT CEO AND THEN ALSO, I BELIEVE, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM, IT IS VERY HELPFUL. OUR JOB AS A MANAGEMENT TEAM IS TO CARRY OUT THE OBJECTIVES AND THE POLICY DECISIONS AND THE GOALS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. SO, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE ALL NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR ON WHAT THOSE ARE. SO GOOD PRACTICE IS REVISITING THE STRATEGIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. AT LEAST EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS IF NOT ANNUALLY. AND, RIGHT NOW, AGAIN, WHEN I JUST DO MY QUICK LIST, THERE ARE PROBABLY 12-13-14 ITEMS THAT OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE MENTIONED AS POSSIBLE THINGS TO STRIVE TOWARDS. MOST OF THOSE ARE UNFUNDED AT THIS POINT IN TIME. SO THE BIG THING I THINK FOR STAFF WOULD AGAIN TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE VERY CLEAR ON WHAT THE BOARD'S STRATEGIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE. WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE. AND THEN TO LOOK AT FUNDING SOURCES AND OTHER RESOURCES TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. >> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> IN THE PAST, WHEN YOU HAVE USED THE FACILITATOR, AND I AM JUST TALKING ABOUT LENGTH OF TIME, WHEN IT MAKES SENSE TO IDENTIFY WHAT OUR AGENDA IS AND WHAT WE WANT AND THEN THEY COME BACK AND SAY WELL FOR THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND A DAY OR A DAY AND A HALF. HAVE YOU IN THE PAST WISHED YOU HAD MORE TIME? >> YES. I THINK PROBABLY ALWAYS. >> FOR INSTANCE, TWO YEARS AGO, IT WAS A DAY-LONG RETREAT AND THEN WE HAD A FOLLOW-UP THREE MONTHS LATER. AND THEN A SHORT ONE. SO IT WAS A DAY. AND WE HAD A FACILITATOR. AND AGENDA ITEMS WERE ITEMS THAT BOARD MEMBERS ASKED FOR. AND THEN WE FOLLOWED UP AFTER THAT, I THINK, IN MARCH AND THEN IN MAY. >> ONLY THINKS THERE WOULD BE FOR A FACILITATOR TO HAVE IT BACK TO BACK. IF WE END UP WITH A FACILITATOR THAT IS OUT OF THIS AREA. INSTEAD, WE MAY GET MORE FOR OUR MILEAGE IF WE HAVE BACK TO BACK AND SET OF THAT PERSON GOING HOME AND THEN COMING BACK. BUT YOU ARE RIGHT. PART OF IT WOULD BE FOR, AND AS CHAIRMAN BAILEY MENTIONED AND THAT IS HOW THE RFQ IS WORDED, THE FACILITATOR WOULD MEET WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS EACH INDIVIDUALLY AND WITH CERTAIN MEMBERS OF SENIOR STAFF IN ORDER TO TRY TO IDENTIFY, GET SOME COMMON GROUND ON WHAT THOSE TOPICS WOULD BE. AGAIN, I AM CONFIDENT WE HAVE ENOUGH TO COVER AT LEAST FOR SURE A DAY, AND MIGHT GUESS THAT WE WOULD HAVE MORE TIME. WE MIGHT NEED TO SCHEDULE THIS FOR TWO DAYS AND IF WE WRAP IT UP IN A DAY AND A HALF THAT WOULD BE GREAT. >> ALL RIGHT. MOTION FOR SPECIFIC THINGS WE HAVE DISCUSSED HERE OR -- YES? OKAY. SO THE MOTION WOULD BE, I PRESENT A MOTION TO GET STAFF TO DO AN RFQ TO FACILITATOR THAT SPENDS TIME WITH EACH DIRECTOR AND TARGETED EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM. THAT WE HAVE THE EVENT AT THE MARRIOTT CONFERENCE CENTER. OFF-SITE. AND SCHEDULE A DAY AND A HALF OR TWO DAYS FOR THAT CONFERENCE. >> OKAY. >> THAT IS MY MOTION. DO I GET [01:05:01] A SECOND? >> I WILL SECOND THAT. >> SECONDED BY DIRECTOR EISLER. >> I JUST HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT USING TAXPAYER MONEY IF WE ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT COULD BE PERCEIVED AS BEING NOT SUCH A GREAT THING FOR THE TAXPAYERS. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SEE THAT FOR WHAT IT IS. >> I SAID I LIKED THAT. THAT IS A GREAT THING SO WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP A LID ON THE EXPENSES. >> RIGHT. >> AND DR. SEKULA-GIBBS, I CANNOT REMEMBER IF YOU'RE IN TENURE OR NOT, BUT MULTIPLE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSIONS OVER AT THE MARRIOTT UTILIZING OUR FREE CONFERENCE. >> I MUST HAVE BEEN A SLEEPER DO NOT HAVE IT DURING MY TERM BECAUSE I DO NOT REMEMBER GOING THERE. I JUST REMEMBER US DOING THEM THERE. BUT IT DOES NOT MATTER. IF IT IS ALLOWED, IT WAS ALOUD. THE THING IS I JUST WANT TO KEEP A LID ON IT BECAUSE YOU JUST SAID WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS, GREAT IDEAS, AND NO MONEY TO PAY FOR THEM. >> WELL, THE THINGS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS MAJOR EXPENSES. >> BUT, S■TILL, EVERYTHING ADDS UP. >> ARE YOU SPEAKING FOOD AND DRINKS AND THAT SORT OF THING? THE COST OF THE FACILITATOR? >> HAVING EVERYTHING OFF-SITE COSTS MORE. THAN NOT BEING LIVE SO PEOPLE CAN'T SEE IT LIVE AND THEY CAN'T COME EASILY. >> SO THAT THE AUDIENCE AND PUBLIC COULD HEAR. MY EARS ARE STILL STEPPED UP FROM WHEN I FLEW HOME. I AM SORRY, DIRECTORS ACHILLE GIBBS. I AM NOT QUITE SURE WHAT YOU WERE SAYING. OR, MONIQUE, COULD YOU -- >> SHE IS CONCERNED WITH THE OFF-SITE COST OF NOT BEING ABLE TO BROADCAST LIVE. >> THANK YOU. >> AND PEOPLE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT AGAIN. IT IS AN OPENED MEETING. PREVIOUS ONES, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INTERESTED HAVE COME TO THE MARRIOTT AND ATTENDED THOSE SESSIONS. >> IT WILL BE POSTED AND PEOPLE CAN ATTEND IN PERSON AND IT WILL BE POSTED ON VIDEO AFTER THE MEETING. CORRECT? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> OKAY. >> AND WE ARE ALWAYS MINDFUL OF THE COST. >> I MEAN, HAVING IT HERE, WE WOULD PAY FOR REFRESHMENTS ANYWAY. >> YES. WE WOULD. >> KNOW WHAT THE AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH THE MARRIOTT, WHEN SOME OF THOSE COSTS BE ABSORBED BECAUSE WE COULD USE THE TOWN HALL? I THINK IT IS SEVEN TIMES A YEAR SO THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO RENT A CONFERENCE ROOM? >> RIGHT. >> I AM SORRY. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION. >> DON'T WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MARRIOTT THAT WE COULD UTILIZE A CONFERENCE ROOM? >> YES. THAT IS WHAT I WAS SUGGESTING. YES. >> FOOD. DRINKS. >> YES. >> AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT CHANGE OF SCENERY COULD HELP FLOURISH THE CREATIVE JUICES. >> CORRECT. >> IS THAT THE TECHNICAL TERM? CREATIVE JUICES? >> WELL, LAST TIME WE HAD IT WE MOVED TO ROOM 150. IT WAS VERY STIMULATING. >> ALL RIGHT. I GOT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A SECOND DRUCKER HIGH [13. Receive, consider and act upon recommendations from the Ad Hoc Government Relations Committee;] SIR. OTHERS FOR IT, SAY AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. >> YOU ARE WELCOME. >> THE AD HOC GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE. PAGE 66 OF YOUR BOOKLET. STEVENS TO PRESENT THIS AGENDA ITEM. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. GOOD EVENING, BORED. EXCUSE ME. IN DECEMBER, THE BOARD EXTENDED THE TERM OF THE AD HOC GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE AND ASKED FOR THE COMMITTEE TO COME BACK WITH POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION DATA STARTED IN AUSTIN THIS MONTH. AND SO FIRST I SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE COMMITTEE MET TWICE IN JANUARY. EXCUSE ME. AT ITS FIRST MEETING. I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE COMMITTEE ELECTED DIRECTOR HEISER TO BE CHAIRMAN OF THAT COMMITTEE. SO THE COMMITTEE MET JANUARY 7TH AND THEY MET AGAIN LAST WEEK WHERE THEY ALSO HAD A CONSULTATION WITH LEGISLATIVE PARTNERS WILLIAMS PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND SPORTS PAGE AND HARDING, WHO WERE ABLE TO GIVE US A REALLY GOOD, IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF WHAT THEY ANTICIPATE IT WOULD HAPPEN. SOME OF THE CHALLENGES. SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES. AND THEN HEAR ABOUT THE COMMITTEE FROM SOME [01:10:01] OF THEIR IDEAS LEGISLATIVELY THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD. OUT OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS, THERE WERE TWO PARTICULAR ITEMS THAT CAME TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE COMMITTEE. ONE IS, WE DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES UNDER OUR LEGISLATION, UNDER OUR TAX. THE WAY IT STANDS NOW, WE DO THAT IS WE MIRROR AND WORK HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE COUNTIES. ONE THE COUNTY APPROVES A TAX ABATEMENT, AND THE COMMISSION SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO, BUT THE COUNTY GOES FIRST. AMEND OUR ENABLING LEGISLATION TO ALLOW US AS A TOWNSHIP TO ENTER INTO THE ABATEMENT AGREEMENTS AS A PRIMARY PARTY. THE OTHER ONE THAT THE COMMITTEE TALKED ABOUT THAT WAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST IS WHAT IS CALLED THE SPECIAL EVENTS TRUST FUND, AND THAT IS A PARTICULAR SET OF FUNDING AVAILABLE TO THE GOVERNOR POLIS OFFICE TO SUPPORT LARGE REGIONAL EVENTS THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT ECONOMICALLY TO AN AREA. SO WHEN YOU HAVE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE IRONMAN MEMORIAL, THOUGH PGA, AND OTHERS THAT COME TO OUR COMMUNITY, THOSE ENTITIES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO GET REIMBURSED FOR SOME OF THEIR EXPENSES AS EARLY TO THE ECONOMIC GAIN THAT THE AREA RECEIVES FROM HAVING THOSE EVENTS THERE. CURRENTLY, WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER ENTITY TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE THAT GRANT OPPORTUNITY FOR WHAT OTHER ORGANIZATION WE MAY BE WORKING WITH FOR THAT EVENT AND WAS RECOMMENDED WE POTENTIALLY THE IDEA OF TRY TO ENABLE LEGISLATION SO THAT WE COULD DIRECTLY BE APPROACHED, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WHEN WE HAVE AN EVENT THAT MY QUALIFY FOR THAT LEVEL OF FUNDING. SO THOSE WERE THE TWO BIG PRIORITIES THAT CAME FORTH FOR THE DISCUSSION. OF COURSE, ARE COMMITTEE MEMBERS MIGHT WANT TO ADD SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. >> THE OPGA AND THE IRONMAN. IT IS SIMILAR AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. >> THAT IS CORRECT. SO , CURRENTLY, WE GO TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY. ADMINISTRATIVELY, THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL WORK REQUIRED THERE FOR ILA AND ALL THAT. JUST A LITTLE BIT SMOOTHER PROCESS IF WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY ON OUR OWN. BUT WE DO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY HAND-IN-HAND ALMOST TODAY. >> DIRECTOR GIBBS HAS A QUESTION. I WAS ON THIS AD HOC COMMITTEE. I CAN TELL YOU MYSELF. LINDA NELSON AND DR. EISSLER ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. >> MY APOLOGIES. I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT AT THE BEGINNING. >> THIS IS JUST A CLEANUP AND THIS SHOULD BE A LOCAL BILL INTO A FULL ON BILL, WHICH LOCAL BILLS ARE HANDLED DIFFERENTLY THAN A FULL THROATED BILL. BUT , AND IT STANDS AS A SIMPLE CHANGE. LOBBY TEAM THOUGHT IT WAS EASY. I THINK MY PERSONAL OPINION IS IT IS A CLEANUP BILL THAT I THINK TALKED ABOUT AS A HINDRANCE FOR BEING A TOWNSHIP AND WE WERE ABLE TO CLEAN THAT UP LAST TIME WITH THE MIXED BEVERAGE TAX. LITTLE THING THAT GOT A LITTLE BITE AT THE APPLE. WE DON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE COUNTY ALL THE TIME. IT GIVES US A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ON OUR OWN. AND I THINK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS A BIG PART OF THAT. WE HAVE GOT A GREAT COMMISSIONER NOW INTEGRATE COURT. IT JUST GIVES US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABILITY TO RECRUIT AND KEEP SPECIAL EVENTS, LIKE THE LPGA AND THE IRONMAN. AS WELL AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. >> IF I COULD ADD TO WHAT CHAIRMAN BAILEY JUST SAID, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS BOUGHT OUT BY OUR CONSULTANTS WAS THAT ON THE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES IN PARTICULAR, THAT IS WHAT THEY CALL A TEMPLATE, THAT IS COMMONLY A POWER AUTHORITY GIVEN TO MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS AND OTHERS, SO WHAT WE WOULD BE DOING IS CLEANING UP OUR LEGISLATION TO MIRROR WHAT MANY OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE ACROSS THE STATE. >> DOES IT STILL NEED TO GO TO THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE? >> YES. THE BILL STILL GOES TO LEGISLATIVELY AS ANY OTHER BILL. LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE. THEY HAVE THE BODIES. SO THEY ARE BASICALLY DEALT WITH A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN OTHER BILLS, BUT THE PROCESS IS GENERALLY THE SAME. >> TODD, COULD YOU ALSO SPEAK TO THE BILL THAT CONGRESSMAN CONTROL SIGNED LAST SESSION. REGARDING FEDERAL FUNDING TOWARDS SPECIAL-PURPOSE DISTRICTS. >> YES, MA'AM. SPECIAL DISTRICTS GRANT A SENSIBILITY ACT I BELIEVE WAS HR 7525, IF I RECALL AT THE TOP OF MY HEAD. INTRODUCED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL [01:15:01] IN THE HOUSE LAST CONGRESS. THIS BOARD CHOSE TO ISSUE LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO OUR SENATORS AND CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IN SUPPORT OF THAT BILL. THE BILL INITIALLY CALLED FOR A STUDY AT THE GAO FOR HOW THEY WOULD IMPLEMENT REIMBURSING GRANT FUNDS OR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO SPECIAL DISTRICTS, THE SAME AS THEY DO OTHER JURISDICTIONS TODAY. WHEN THAT STUDY WOULD BE DONE WITHIN A TWO-YEAR PERIOD, THEN THERE WOULD BE A PRETTY MOVE FORWARD WITH AN IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTUALLY PURSUING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT ALLOWS IS SPECIAL DISTRICTS LIKE THE TOWNSHIP WOULD BE TREATED EQUALLY TO OTHER LOCAL JURISDICTIONS THAT WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS UNDER PARTICULAR SITUATIONS IN THOSE AGENCIES. SO FOR EXAMPLE THE COMMONLY RUNNING OR HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT FEMA. WHEN YOU RUN IN OR HAVE A DISASTER, WE MAY NOT HAVE FULL ACCESS TO ALL THE REIMBURSEMENT OR HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER ENTITY LIKE THE COUNTY IN ORDER TO CLAIMANT REIMBURSEMENTS, AND THIS WOULD ALLOW A SPECIAL DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. EVERY CONGRESS BILL THAT DOES NOT PASS OFFICIALLY DIES, BUT IT IS BEING REINTRODUCED TO THIS CONGRESS. I KNOW CHAIRMAN BAILEY WAS GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH HIM. >> YEAH. I SPOKE WITH HIM WHEN HE WAS IN D.C. THIS WEEK. HE WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN LAST YEAR WHEN WE SENT THE LETTER IN THAT BLESSED TOWNSHIP WAS A SPECIAL-PURPOSE DISTRICT. OUR CONGRESSMEN DID NOT COSPONSOR THAT BILL. WE HOPE HE JOINS TO COSPONSOR THIS TIME. WE ALL NEED TO JUST ENCOURAGE HIM. BUT IT IS SOMETHING HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK? >> THE ECONOMIC BILL FOR INCENTIVES, THE TAX ABATEMENT, THAT WOULD JUST ALLOW US TOWNSHIP. THE COUNTY WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO OFFER THEIR OWN INCENTIVES. >> CORRECT. SO OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE GOT THEIR ABATEMENT GUIDELINES. THEY CAN CHOOSE WHEN AND IF THEY WANT TO ENTER AN ABATEMENT AGREEMENT. THIS WOULD PROVIDE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO INDEPENDENTLY AS WELL. CURRENTLY, THEY MIRROR THE COUNTY. TO MODIFY THOSE IF THEY CHOOSE. AND THEN ON THE TOWNSHIP PORTION OF THE ABATEMENT, OF COURSE THE COUNTY AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT ALSO HAVE ABATEMENT POTENTIAL WOULD HAVE TO DO THOSE INDEPENDENTLY AS WELL LIKE THEY DO TODAY. >> DID THE REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS GIVE US ANY FEEDBACK? >> FEEDBACK? >> OR RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHAT IS COMING UP OR WHAT HE IS SEEING IN THIS SESSION THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF. OR BE NIMBLE? >> I THINK ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT THE COMMITTEE HAD WITH HIM WAS THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK IN THE NEWS RECENTLY ABOUT SPECIAL-PURPOSE DISTRICTS AS A GENERAL IDEA AND WHAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS DEEMED AND SOME VERY SPECIFIC CASES OF ABUSES. THERE HAS BEEN OTHER TYPES OF DISTRICTS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME . SO WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT ESPECIALLY SPECIAL DISTRICTS AND HOW THEY ARE USED AS A RULE. BUT THAT REALLY DOESN'T, AND THEY KIND OF ECHOED THIS. IT WOULD NOT INVOLVE US NECESSARILY BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE ARE VERY STRUCTURED AND PRE-ESTABLISHED AND A VERY RESPONSIBLE DISTRICT. SO CLEARLY THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST. BUT THEY DO NOT FORESEE ANY REAL PROBLEMS FOR THE TOWNSHIP IN PARTICULAR. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I HAVE A QUESTION. I AM NOT SURE IF THE ATTORNEY WILL LET ME ASK IT SO WE WILL GIVE IT A SHOT. DURING THE CONVERSATION TODAY, IT WAS WITH TXDOT. IT WAS MADE KNOWN THAT SENATOR CRUISE IS NOW ON THE TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE OF COMMERCE, I BELIEVE. THAT DEALS WITH TRANSPORTATION. >> SO HE WAS MADE CHAIR OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSPORTATION IN THE SENATE. >> I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS COMMERCE ARE NOT. ANYWAY, HE HAS MADE AN APPOINTMENT NOW. IT HAS TO DO WITH THE LOBBYISTS. THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS ARE FACING. AND IT HAS TO DO WITH PROVIDING CERTAINTY REPORTS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND IT DEALS WITH ATTAINMENT. I CANNOT REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE REPORTS. BUT AT THE LOBBYISTS -- I DON'T KNOW. DO THEY REACH [01:20:05] FEDERAL? >> THEY REACH STATE. BUT TODD CAN TRACK IT. >> WE CAN GET INVOLVED BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO PUT US IN JEOPARDY FOR THIS REGION BECAUSE THEY HAVE JUST BEEN LAYERING, PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE BEEN LEERING ON THIS AND CAUSING SO MUCH WORK FOR HGAC THAT IT IS BURDENING THEM WITH ACTUALLY MEETING THE DEADLINES AND THEN PRODUCING THE WORK WITHOUT IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAMS SO THE PROJECTS CAN BE DONE BECAUSE THEY ARE SPENDING SO MUCH TIME DOING THESE REPORTS. >> WE CAN MAKE THAT AN AGENDA ITEM NEXT FOR OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THAT AND YOU CAN MEET WITH TODD AND GET MORE SPECIFICS ABOUT IT. >> THAT IS FINE. YEAH. I THINK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CONFORMITY ISSUE. IF WE NEED TO BRING BACK, I WOULD BE GLAD TO DO SO. >> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR TODD? IF NOT, I CALL ON EMOTION AND SECOND TO ACCEPT TODD'S RAPPORT. >> SO MOVED. >> SECONDED. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RESPOND BY SAYING AYE. ALL OPPOSE? THE QUESTION CARRIES. WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO A SHORT EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE CHAIRMAN HEREBY ANNOUNCES THE BOARD WILL RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO 551.72 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, DELIBERATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURSUANT TO 551.087 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. PERSONAL MATTERS PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.07 FOR THE TEXAS CODE. 551.089, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. AND CONSULT WITH THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP'S ATTORNEY PURSUANT TO 551.071 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, BEFORE YOU CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, I THINK WE HAVE A POINT OF ORDER HERE. >> I APOLOGIZE. JUST FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE, WE WOULD ASK THE BOARD TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE PURSUE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE SPECIAL TRUST FUND AS OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. >> ALL RIGHT. >> I MOVED. >> DIRECTOR SEKULA-GIBBS. ALL THOSE RESPOND BY SAYING AYE. ALL OPPOSE? THE MOTION CARRIES. [14. Recess to Executive Session to discuss matters relating to real property pursuant to §551.072, Texas Government Code; deliberation of economic development negotiations pursuant to §551.087, Texas Government Code; discuss personnel matters pursuant to §551.074, Texas Government Code; discuss IT network or critical infrastructure security pursuant to §551.089, Texas Government Code; and to consult with The Woodlands Township’s attorney pursuant to §551.071, Texas Government Code;] >> YOU DON'T HAVE TO REPEAT THE SALUTA [15. Reconvene in public session;] [16. Consideration of items to be placed on the agenda for next month's meeting;] >> WE WILL RECONVENE FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 16. AGENDA ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. >> I HAVE ONE. >> ANY AGENDA ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS? >> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE. OH, DR. SHELLEY, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD. >> READ THAT WHEN YOU TEXTED EARLIER. DR. SHELLEY TEXTED ME AT -- AND AGENDA ITEM SHE WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THE NEXT AGENDA TO HAVE WOODLANDS WATER ASSOCIATION GM COME TO REPORT ON WHERE AND HOW MANY FIRE HYDRANTS ARE OUT OF SERVICE IN THE WOODLANDS. A RESIDENT RECENTLY SAID A FIRE HYDRANT IN PANTHER CREEK VILLAGE HAS BEEN MARKED A BROKEN FOR TWO YEARS. NUMBER TWO IS THE PROCESS OF CHECKING AND MAINTAINING FIRE HYDRANTS. HOW THE WOODLANDS WATER ASSOCIATION ENSURES ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY IN CASE OF A MASSIVE FIRE DISASTER. WHAT WOULD WOODLANDS WATER DROP MANAGEMENT PLAN B AND WHAT WOULD FIRE MANAGEMENT PROTECTION PLAN BE? >> THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT MINE WAS GOING TO BE. GREAT MINDS THINK A LIKE. >> SO I AM SECONDING AND I DID HAVE A HOUR-LONG CONVERSATION WITH HIM. >> I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THAT. SO YOU HAVE A SECOND AND A THIRD PERK ALL RIGHT? WAS THAT CLEAR FOR FUTURE? ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER AGENDA ITEMS? GOING ONCE? GOING [17. Board announcements; and] TWICE? ALL RIGHT. ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? I KNOW WE HAVE ARBOR DAY ON SATURDAY STARTING AT -- >> 9:00. >> 9:00 A.M. AT FLEMING. IT IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHT LEGACY PROGRAMS HERE. COME EARLY BECAUSE THE EVENINGS GO FAST. >> IT WON'T BE FREEZING. >> WON'T BE? >> IT WAS LAST YEAR. >> THANKS, DR. NEIL FRANK. ALL RIGHT. ANY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS? IF NOT, CALL FOR ADJOURNMENT. MOTION SECONDED TO [01:25:03] ADJOURN THE MEETING? >> SO MOVED. >> SECONDED BY * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.