[b. Receive, consider and act upon an award of bids for playground equipment at Artist Grove Park (C-2025-0122), High Oaks Park (C-2025-0118), Alden Trace Park (C-2025-0121), Alden Woods Park (C-2025-0119), and Alden Place Park (C-2025-0120);]

EASIEST REPORT. AGENDA ITEMS 7 B, RECEIVE CONSIDER AND ACT UPON AN AWARD OF BIDS FOR THE PLAYGROUND. CALL FOR MOTION A SECOND TO APPROVE THE REPORT GIVEN ON 7A.

>> SO MOVE. >> SECOND BY DIRECTOR HEISER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RESPOND BY

[00:20:06]

SAYING AYE. MOVING ON TO 7B CONSIDER RECEIVE AND ACT UPON AN AWARD OF BIDS FOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT THAT ARE DESCRIBED PARK, HIGH OAKS PARK, ALDEN PLACE PARK, ALDEN WOODS PARK AND

ALDEN PLACE PARK. >> SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID THEY APPRECIATED ALL THE RENOVATIONS ON THE GOOD THINGS WE HAVE DONE AND THOUGHT THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING TONIGHT , FOR THEM TO

HEAR WHAT IS STILL COMING. >> YES, MA'AM. SO AGAIN GOOD EVENING . FOR THE FIVE PLAYGROUND RENOVATIONS JUST REAL QUICK , JUST A PRESENTATION TO TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM LOCATIONS, RENDERINGS AND THE RECOMMENDATION. WE HAVE 95 TOTAL PLAYGROUNDS IN THE WOODLANDS, PROBABLY ABOUT 90 PARKS . HALF PLAYGROUNDS, SOME OF THE BIGGER PARKS HAVE THREE PLAYGROUNDS WITHIN THAT ONE PARK BUT BASICALLY REPLACING PLAYGROUNDS. 17 , ABOUT 20 YEARS IS THE RESERVE STUDY KIND OF LOOKED AT . THERE ARE ABOUT SIX OF US THAT ARE CERTIFIED PLAYGROUND SAFETY INSPECTORS SO EVERY YEAR WE GO OUT AND INSPECT ALL THE PLAYGROUNDS AND WE ALSO LOOK AT THE AGES TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONES FALL INTO THAT. CONSIDERATIONS THERE ARE FOR REPLACEMENT, OVERALL CONDITION, WEAR, TEAR, PLAYGROUND SAFETY STANDARDS AND RESIDENT REQUEST, PEOPLE JUST ASKING HEY, MY LOOKS A LITTLE DATED. WHERE ARE WE ADDED THIS AND SUCH SO AGAIN

THIS WAS THROUGH BY BOARD. >> DO YOU HAVE TO REPORT WE DEFINED TO ANYBODY?

>> NO. THE FIVE PARKS THAT WERE MENTIONED, ARTIST GROVE, STERLING RIDGE, 21 YEARS OLD.

ALDEN TRACE, ALDEN WOODS, ALDEN PLACE 21 YEARS. SO, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE A THEME YOU KNOW BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY DEVELOPMENT REALLY STARTED UP IN THOSE YEARS. 20 YEARS AGO, IN ALDEN BRIDGE SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF PLAYGROUNDS GROUPED TOGETHER. STERLING RIDGE AND CREEKSIDE WILL BE NEXT TO YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF THOSE CLUSTERS. THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE A LITTLE OLDER THAN THIS OR THE SAME AGE BUT AGAIN LIKE I SAID , WE WENT AND RANKED WHICH ONES. SOME OF THEM, THERE IS STILL YEAR OR TWO LEFT IN THEM SO WE LOOK AT THAT. THIS KIND OF SHOWS YOU ON THE MAP WHERE THE LOCATIONS ARE AT. AND THEN JUST SOME RENDITIONS OF THAT AGAIN, WE SENT THE SERVICE OUT. WE HAVE TALKED IN THE PAST WITH FOUR OF THOSE PARKS, ALDEN WOODS IS AN AREA PARK, SO WE SENT THE SURVEYS OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS A HALF-MILE OUT. THE AREA PARK, WE SEND THEM A HALF MILE OUT ANDSO WE SEND THE SERVICE OUT, GET THE SERVICE BACK, LOOK AT THE SURVEYS AND THEN WE GIVE THEM TO THE PLAYGROUND COMPANIES AND THEY LOOK AT IT AND TAKE A SWING AT TRYING TO MEET IS MUCH AS THEY CAN FROM THE SURVEYS, YOU KNOW. DO THEY LIKE PLAYGROUNDS? DO THEY LIKE BARS? THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF COMMENTS THAT ARE MADE THERE AND THEN OUR STAFF WILL LOOK AT IT AND RE-EVALUATE. DID THEY HIT WHAT THE SURVEYS ASKED OR NOT? AND IF THEY DON'T, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T, WE WILL SEND IT BACK TO THEM. WE THINK YOU NEED TO ASK -- AT THIS, SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T. ARTIST GROVE PARK THERE. HIGH OAKS PARK. ALDEN TRACE, ALDEN WORDS , AND THEN ALDEN PLACE , AND THAT IS REALLY KIND OF IT, SO ANY KIND OF QUESTIONS THAT I CAN

ANSWER? >> YOU RECENTLY A COUPLE YEARS AGO DID MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT WAS INCREDIBLE. I'VE NEVER SEEN A PLAYGROUND MORE PARKED -- PACKED IN MY LIFE. IT WAS A

GREAT ADDITION BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF KIDS REALLY ENJOYED IT. >> MICHELLE, OUR PROJECT MANAGER OVERSEES UNDERNEATH MITCH HALL, SHE REALLY DOES AN AMAZING JOB WITH THAT I MEAN REALLY TAKES THE HEART LANDS IN THE COMMUNITY AND SPENDS TIME OUT THERE, SURVEYS THE KIDS AND SHE DOES

PUT A LOT OF HEART AND SOUL INTO THIS. >> YOU SAY KIDS FLOCK TO IT.

THAT REALLY MEANS YOU FLOCK TO IT. >> WOULD IT BE ACCURATE TO SAY THAT ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS WAS PAID FOR THROUGH OUR CAPITAL

RESERVES? >> YES, MA'AM. AGAIN, IT WAS 775,000 WAS BUDGETED THIS YEAR.

FOR CAPITAL, THIS IS UNDER BUDGET BUT IT LEAVES SOME THERE IN CASE WE HAVE TO ADD SOME FALSE SURFACING OR CLEANUPS AND DRAINAGE AND SO ON BUT IT WAS ABOUT JUST UNDER 705,000, SO

UNDER BUDGET SO YES. >> GREAT JOB. >> WHAT IS THE TURNAROUND TIME?

[00:25:03]

>> HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE? IT'S USUALLY ABOUT A SIX-MONTH PROCESS ONCE THEY PICK IT AND BRING IT IN. IT IS GETTING BETTER OBVIOUSLY. THE SUPPLY CHAIN WAS A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THERE BUT ABOUT I WILL SAY SIX TO NINE MONTHS TO BE SAFE, SO I KNOW IT IS AGGRESSIVE IN ALL FIVE OF THEM WE WANTED TO GET THIS TO YOU NOW AND INSTEAD OF PIECING THEM OUT THROUGH THE

YEARS SO WE CAN -- >> WHEN YOU TAKE DOWN SOME OF THESE OLDER STRUCTURES DO YOU EVER WORK WITH A NONPROFIT TO DONATE THE OLDER PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT?

>> YES. THERE IS A GROUP THAT WE USE. IT IS A MINISTRY GROUP THAT ACTUALLY WAS APPROVED AND WE HAVE A CONTRACT AND SO THEY ACTUALLY WILL TAKE THEM AND IF THEY CAN REPURPOSE THESE PIECES, SOME OF THEM, THEY WILL ACTUALLY AND IT IS AMAZING THEY WILL GO TO THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE PICTURES YOU KNOW FROM AFRICA AND SOUTH AMERICA, MEXICO, AND THEY ARE

ABLE TO REPURPOSE SOME OF THE MENUS THEM. >> IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU ALL COULD BRING SOME OF THOSE PICTURES AND SO EVERYONE CAN SEE.

>> A FEATURE IN A MAGAZINE OR SOMETHING WOULD BE REALLY GOOD.

>> DEFINITELY. >> JUST RECENTLY A NONPROFIT REACHED OUT TO ME ABOUT PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT THAT IS HERE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. DO WE EVER VARY FROM WHERE WE HAVE THE

CONTRACTOR IS THERE LIABILITY INVOLVED IN ALL OF THAT? >> YES, THERE IS, SO THAT IS YES. THIS GROUP IS ABLE TO PUT THEM TOGETHER BECAUSE I MEAN OBVIOUSLY FOR US TO BE REPLACING

THEM, THERE IS A REASON WHY BUT YES. >> OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT I ASK FOR A MOTION . APPROVAL IS REQUIRED TO AWARD THE PROPOSALS FOR PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENT REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR PLAYGROUND THAT ARTIST GROVE, TRACE PLAYGROUND TO MCKENNA CONTRACTING TO FOR A TOTAL OF 1200 68,666 AND FOR ALDEN PLACE PARK PLAYGROUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $135,000 AND AUTHORIZE PRESIDENT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER THE NECESSARY AGREEMENTS BY DIRECTOR SNYDER, SECOND BY DIRECTOR FRANKS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RESPONDED SAYING AYE. THE

[8. Receive, consider and act upon an update on post-Hurricane Beryl recovery efforts;]

QUESTION CARRIES. I'M GOING TO GET IN THE PLAYGROUND BUSINESS. HOLY COW I HAD NO IDEA. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, CONSIDER AND ACT UPON POST HURRICANE BERYL RECOVERY EFFORTS. I CALL ON JOHN

MCGOWAN TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE. >> ALL RIGHT. I HAVE AN UPDATE ON HURRICANE BERYL AND REFORESTATION EFFORTS IN THE CLEANUP SO JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND AS YOU ALL KNOW JULY 8TH LAST YEAR 2024, CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE, WIND GUST OF 78 MILES AN HOUR, 4 INCHES OF RAINFALL, WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES, NUMEROUS DOWNED TREES ARE REALLY KIND OF IT WAS BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE PHASES HERE. THE FIRST ONE IMMEDIATE POST-STORM AGAIN, STAFF FROM THE TOWNSHIP ASSISTED MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND THE WOODLANDS FIRE DEPARTMENT AND REMOVING DEBRIS. THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS ON THE ROADS TO HELP CLEAR THE ROADS , SECURE COMMUNITY FACILITIES. ABOUT 232 WORK ORDERS FOR DEBRIS ON HOMES, FENCES AND BACKYARDS, THEN WE GOT INTO PHASE TWO , SUSTAINED CLEANUP PARK PATHWAYS AND RESERVES SO YOU CAN SEE THERE ABOUT 307 WORK ORDERS . IT IS A LITTL BIT MISLEADING AND MAYBE IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS A LOW NUMBER. THAT WORK ORDERS COULD BE FROM ONE TO 25 TREES IN THAT LOCATION SO IT IS A LOT BIGGER THAN THAT NUMBER LOOKS. JUST TIMING. IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT STORM. TIMING, BEETLE INFESTATION FROM PREVIOUS FREEZES AND DROUGHTS WE HAD SO OBVIOUSLY WE ARE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN THE WOODS WITH THE TREES, SO NOTICING THAT THE BEETLE INFESTATION SO GOING AHEAD SO THAT JUST -- THERE WAS MORE WORK THAN JUST ONE WORK AT THAT TIME. OBVIOUSLY WE ARE NOT JUST GOING TO LEAVE THAT.

CONTRACTORS AND STAFF REMOVAL OF DEBRIS. WE REASSIGNED OUR STAFF. WE HAVE SOME STAFF THAT DID CUL-DE-SAC MAINTENANCE. THEY ALSO DID PATHWAY MAINTENANCE AND ALSO THE ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY TRASH PICKUP SO WE REALLOCATED WHAT THEY DID TO HELP OUT IN THE EFFORT TO KIND OF BLITZ THE

[00:30:06]

COMMUNITY AND GET THAT DEBRIS UP AND THEN PHASE THREE , WHAT WE ARE CALLING FIND CLEANUP TOWARDS THE END THERE. THIRD AND FOURTH PASSES OF SMALLER DEBRIS RESERVES AND PATHWAY. AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THERE 7098 TREES WERE REMOVED IN 2024. WE ESTIMATE ABOUT 860 ARE FROM JUST HURRICANE BERYL, SO AGAIN TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, BEFORE THE DROUGHTS IN THE FREEZES AND 2023 AND SUCH, BEFORE THOSE YEARS, THE AVERAGE WAS ABOUT 800 TREES A YEAR THAT WE WOULD TAKE DOWN SO THIS ONE STORM WAS EQUAL TO WHAT OUR AVERAGES WERE. OBVIOUSLY NOW THAT HAS GONE UP BECAUSE OF THE STORMS IN THE FREEZES AND SUCH. WITH REFORESTATION OBVIOUSLY WE ARE FOLLOWING THE INTEGRATED FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN. YOU SEE THE YEARS THERE. WE ARE WORKING ON AN UPDATE CURRENTLY TO HOPEFULLY BRING THAT TO THE BOARD SOON. PRESIDENT REQUEST AVERAGE OUT OF ALL THE TREES THAT ARE PLANTED YOU KNOW, AVERAGE ABOUT 43% OF RESIDENT REQUESTS. 30% AVERAGE FINE REMOVAL. 19% TO PARKS AND JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU'RE JUST PUTTING IN THE PRODUCTS, SOME OF THOSE ARE SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT WE HAD LIKE KAYAK RIDGE, SPINDLE TREE, SOME OF THOSE WITH THERE ARE MASSIVE PLANTINGS IN THEIR SO IT IS PARKS STREET -- DIRECTED RESERVE.

>> HOW MANY TREES DID YOU END UP PLANTING IN THOSE TWO CREEKSIDE AREAS AND THEN HOW MANY DO YOU THINK ARE SURVIVING? CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE PLEASE? THANK YOU.

>> AT SPINDLE TREE I WANT TO SAY WHICH IS THE SUMMERTIME CREEK AREA WHICH IS THE REASON THAT WAS TARGETED FOR REFORESTATION AND ACTUALLY IT IS IN MY NEXT PRESENTATION, AS WELL, WAS REGARDING RESIDENT'S CONCERNS ABOUT BASICALLY A VIEW CORRIDOR ON A NEW COMMUNITY THAT IS NOT WITHIN THE WOODLANDS. I THINK IT IS CALLED BLACK OAK, IF THAT MAKES SENSE, WHICH IS ACROSS THE MUD RETENTION POND. WE HAVE A TRAIL IN THAT AREA TO TRY TO ENHANCE THAT BUFFER THERE. I THINK THERE ARE BETWEEN 150 AND 300 TREES PLANTED IN THERE. YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT'S A THIRD

OF A MILE IF NOT LONGER. >> IT IS BIG. >> THERE WERE I BELIEVE SOME RESIDENTS WHO CAME TO THE BOARD MAYBE THE LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE ABOUT THE SPECIFIC

LOCATION. >> HOW MANY DO YOU THINK ARE SURVIVING?

>> THAT AREA SPECIFICALLY HAS AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM SO WE ARE PROBABLY SHOOTING UP TO WELL OVER 90%. WE ACTUALLY HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IRRIGATION SYSTEMS THIS WEEK AS WELL.

>> WHAT ABOUT KAYAK RIDGE? >> KAYAK RIDGE HAS AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM AS WELL THAT PULLS WATER OFF OF LIKE VOYAGERSO THAT IS ACTUALLY PROBABLY ALMOST HALF A MILE LONG, I BELIEVE, BECAUSE IT GOES UP AND AROUND THERE. THE GOOD NEWS IS, YOU KNOW, THAT COMMUNITY OF RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE LET YOU KNOW IF THOSE TREES WERE DEAD SO WE GOT SOME GOOD RESULTS THERE.

>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO OF COMMON SPOKE TO OUR BOARD PULLED ME ASIDE AND TELL ME HOW WELL THOSE TREES ARE DOING . SHOCKED THAT WE HAD A SPRINKLER SYSTEM THERE SO VERYHAPPY AND

THEY SEE HOW HARD YOU GUYS ARE WORKING ON IT. >> WITH THAT, AS YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY REFORESTATION WAS ABOUT 3000 TREES PER YEAR BUT WITH THE BOARD INCREASING THE BUDGET LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR THAT WAS UP TO 5200 TREES A YEAR. REALLY WITH THAT RESIDENT REQUESTS, TO ANSWER ON THAT ONE, AND MOST OF THEM IT IS USUALLY ALONG THE RIGHT OF WAYS. A LOT OF THE TREES, NOT A LOT BUT TREES HAVE COME DOWN. MAYBE THEY HAVE WROUGHT IRON FENCES AND THEIR ALONG PATHWAYS OR ROADS THEMSELVES SO A LOT OF THOSE REQUESTS ARE USUALLY ON THE EDGES THERE, YOU KNOW, TO HELP STOP HEADLIGHTS GOING INTO THE HOUSE AND SUCH, SO THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF THOSE RESIDENT-REQUESTE D TREES ARE GOING. YOU CAN SEE THERE WHEN IT OCCURS AND WE ARE ABOUT TO WRAP UP HERE PRETTY SOON FOR THIS ONE THEN WE WILL START BACK UP IN OCTOBER FOR PHASE TWO , AND THEN WATERING, AS YOU WOULD IMAGINE. I ALWAYS SEE A LOT OF COMMENTS WITH THAT BUT A LOT OF OVERTIME IS SPENT WITH WATERING. THEY HAVE TO GO OUT ABOUT 30 TIMES A YEAR THAT WE GO OUT THERE AND WATER , SO THEY HAVE THE WATERING TRACKS ARE TRAILERS THAT WE HAVE AND

THEY ARE OUT WATERING ALL THESE TREES. >> ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE SOME

QUESTIONS. >> MAY I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT TREE REMOVAL? FIRST OF ALL, HOW

[00:35:08]

ARE WE DOING ON STUMP REMOVAL? IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A WHILE, VISIBLE STUMPS VISIBLE ALONG THE DRIVES , WOODLANDS PARKWAY, LAKE WOODLANDS, THAT SORT OF THING. THE OTHER IS A MORE RECENT QUESTION I'VE RECEIVED. IF THE TREE IS LEANING OVER A PATHWAY, BUT IT MIGHT BE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT FALL ONTO THE PATHWAY , POSSIBLY

ENDANGERING A RESIDENT, WHAT IS OUR POLICY ON THAT? >> PART OF THIS GOES INTO THE NEXT PRESENTATION . JOHN SAID SOMETHING VERY POIGNANT. OF THE 800 TREES, WHICH WAS OUR PRE-HURRICANE, PRE-DROUGHT REMOVAL WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN YOU REMOVE 7000, 8000 TREES, WHERE THE MONEY IS FOR THE CONTRACTORS IS IN THE TREE REMOVAL, NOT THE STUMP REMOVAL BECAUSE THE STUMP REMOVAL IS 25, $50 SO WHEN THEY WANT TO MAKE THEIR MONEY AND ALSO FROM A HAZARD TRIAGE PERSPECTIVE, THEY WANT TO GET THOSE TREES REMOVED AS FAST AS YOU CAN. WHEN YOU ARE DOING 8000 A YEAR, THE STUMPS BECOME A SECOND PRIORITY, SO HOPEFULLY IF WE HAVE GOOD WEATHER AND WE DO NOT HAVE THE VOLUME OF TREES TO BE REMOVED, WE CAN GET THE STUMPS. THIS IS SOMETHING JOHN SEES EVERY DAY, I SEE EVERY DAY. I SEE IT ON LAKE WOODLANDS AND THE LAKE MARSH AREA IN THAT AREA GOING TO THE SHOPPING CENTER GOING WESTBOUND. I SEE IT EVERYDAY AND IT IS ON OUR RADAR.

WE ARE JUST BALANCING THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AND PRIORITIZATION AND TRIAGING ALL OF THESE REQUESTS. WHEN A TREE IS HANGING ON THIS PATHWAY, THAT IS GOING TO GET THE HIGHER ATTENTION THAN THE STUMP. WE NOTICE THERE. WE WANT TO GET TO IT. WE ARE GOING TO GET TO IT FROM THAT STANDPOINT. HER SECOND COMMENT WHICH IS A VERY VALID QUESTION, IS OUR PATHWAY SYSTEMS ARE MADE UP OF 220 MILES. NOT ALL THAT LAND IS ACTUALLY OWNED BY THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP. MANY OF THOSE PARCELS OR CROSSINGS ACTUALLY HAVE EASEMENTS ON THEM ON COMMERCIAL TRACKS. WE WILL FIRST TRY TO GET THE OWNER OF THAT TRACK TO REMOVE THAT TREE BUT HOWEVER WE ALSO HAVE OUR FORESTER INSPECT THAT TO DETERMINE IF THE TREE IS DEAD. YOU WILL FIND THAT PEOPLE WILL CLAIM TREES ARE DEAD AND OUR FORESTER WILL SAY NO, THEY ARE NOT. WE WILL KEEP THIS ON A LIST AND LOOK AT IT FOR THE NEXT YEAR SO I BELIEVE THE ISSUE IS DOWN IN THE BERGEN MILL AREA WHERE THERE IS A WONKY LITTLE AREA, THE PATHWAY THAT WE WILL INSPECT. WE WILL TRY TO GET THAT AND PUSH COMES TO SHOVE AFTER A LITTLE WHILE WE WILL NOT BACK BUT IT IS NOT OUR FIRST CHOICE BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT IS THE PROPERTY OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY THEN WE REFERS TO OUR EASEMENT

RESPONSIBILITIES. >> I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO ORDER OUR OWN STUMP GRINDERS.

>> THERE IS A STUMP GRINDER IN THE ENHANCEMENTS BUDGET. THAT IS ON ORDER OR IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DELIVERED ON THOSE STAFF MEMBERS ARE IN THE FINAL PROCESS OF HIRING THE FOREMAN FOR THE ENHANCEMENT BUDGET AND ONCE WE GET THE FOREMAN, WE CAN GET THE STAFF. THAT IS STILL ON THE RAMP UP ASPECT OF WHAT WE HAVE PROBABLY PRETTY SOON AS A ROAD MAP WHERE WE ARE GOING TO DEPLOY THOSE RESOURCES AND WE WANT TO SHOW THAT ROAD MAP SO WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND SETTING

EXPECTATIONS. >> YOU'VE GOT SOME CRAZY AMOUNT OF STUMPS TO GRIND BECAUSE THEY

ARE EVERYWHERE AND IT IS AN ISSUE. >> WHAT IS INVOLVED WITH THAT? I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHEN YOU HAVE A BIG STUMP LIKE THAT. WHAT IS THE TIMFRAME FOR THAT?

>> IT PROBABLY WILL ONLY TAKE MAYBE A HALF AN HOUR PLUS OR - . IT IS A MOBILIZATION OF A MACHINE THAT IS PROBABLY HALF OF A DESK THAT MONIQUE AND BRETT ARE ON. IT IS A CLUNKY MACHINE, TO SAY THE LEAST. IT BASICALLY HAS A LARGE SOB PLAYED AT THE FRONT GOING VERY FAST AND YOU GO VERY SLOWLY TO CHIP UP THE SOB PLAYED THEN YOU BREAK OUT THE DEBRIS AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE. THE TIME ACTUALLY IS IN THE MOBILIZATION AND AS I WAS MENTIONING BEFORE, TO YOU, THE ACTUAL FEE IS NOT THAT BAD . IT IS 50, $75 BUT WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO GO GRAB A TREE AT $500, THE THOUSAND DOLLARS, THEY ARE PUSHING THAT AS OPPOSED TO $75 STUMPS, ESPECIALLY THE VOLUME WE HAD, ESPECIALLY LAST YEAR. AGAIN, WE HAVE HEARD THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT. WE SEE IT.

[00:40:01]

WE LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE SEE IT ON THE SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS WHEN WE ARE DRIVING

AROUND. WE KNOW IT IS THERE. WE'VE GOT TO GET TO IT. >> THANK YOU.

>> I GUESS ONE OF MY CONCERNS ARE, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF TREES DOWN. I HAVE SEEN LIKE 10 THAT I CAN SHARE WITH YOU BUT WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING ON WOODLANDS PARKWAY COMING INTO WOODLANDS RIGHT BEFORE YOU GET TO SIX PINES ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE THERE IS A BIG OLD TREE DOWN. THERE IS A BIG OLD TREE AT LYRIC HARBOR CIRCLE AND LYRIC HARBOR DRIVE ON OUR PROPERTY.

THE BIG ONE DOWN. IN FRONT OF CATTAIL PARK THERE ARE STILL BIG ONES THAT ARE DOWN . I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET SOME OF THOSE BIGGER ONES . I UNDERSTAND LIMBS FALL AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT SOME OF THE BIGGER ONES ESPECIALLY AS YOU'RE COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY LOOK AT WOODLANDS PARKWAY , LAKE WOODLANDS RESEARCH. WE'VE GOT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT THOSE FOREST AND DO THINGS RESPONSIBLY AND REACH ACROSS ALL STAKEHOLDERS . COUNTY, RIVER AUTHORITY, SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHOEVER. WE HAVE GOT TO WORK HAND-IN-HAND BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WAS DONE BEFORE AND I JUST THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THAT SO I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME OF THESE BIG I'M TALKING THESE ARE LIKE 16, 18-INCH DIAMETER TREES THAT ARE DOWN AND I DON'T KNOW IF NO ONE HAS CALLED ON THEM OR THEY JUST HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE GOT THOSE. MY OTHER QUESTION IS OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE KILLING IT IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. WE SAW THE AWARDS THERE. HOW DO YOU DIVIDE YOUR STAFF BETWEEN PARKS AND HAVING

PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF THE TREES? HOW DOES THAT WORK? >> WITH THAT PART, OUR FORESTRY DEPARTMENT REALLY. THERE IS SEVEN INDIVIDUALS. THEY ARE OUT THERE. LIKE CHRIS MENTIONED, THE WORK ORDERS COME IN AND THEN OUR STAFF WILL GO OUT AND THEY ARE CERTIFIED ARBORISTS. WE HAVE TWO OF THEM OR THREE NOW, RIGHT? TWO AND THEN THEY WILL GO OUT AND MAKE SURE THE TREE IS DEAD AND SO BECAUSE LIKE CHRIS SAID, A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, SO THEY WILL GO OUT, CHECK THEM, MAKE SURE AND THEN TURN THAT IN TO A CONTRACTOR AND THEN THE CONTRACTOR WILL GO OUT THERE AND GET RID OF IT THEN WE HAVE TO FOLLOW UP AFTER THAT WHEN THEY DO IT TO MAKE SURE THEY DID THE WORK THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. THEY DID NOT DO ANOTHER TREE OR SOMETHING, SO WITH THOSE DESIGNATED SEVEN INDIVIDUALS, THAT IS ALL THAT THEY DO. WHICH, IT IS A LOT FOR SEVEN PEOPLE.

>> TO THEY MANAGE THE CONTRACTOR'S, TOO? >> YES.

>> WE HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD CONTRACTORS I HAVE NOTICED. ON THE RE-FRUSTRATION -- REFORESTATION PROJECT IS GREAT BUT WE'VE ALL GOTTEN CALLS. IF WE COULD HAVE A BIG OLD SIGN JUST EXPLAINING WHAT THE DEAL IS INSTEAD OF A LITTLE SIGN THAT WOULD BE GREAT. IF WE COULD HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA REALLY EDUCATING OUR RESIDENTS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON, BECAUSE THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES RUN RAMPANT AND WE GET A LOT OF HITS HERE UP HERE, SO PLEASE . WE ARE WILLING TO HELP DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO GIVE RESOURCES TO YOU GUYS BUT I DROVE BY YESTERDAY . I THINK IT LOOKS -- IS IT COMPLETED NOW? IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD AND I THINK IT WILL HELP.

>> DEFINITELY, WE WILL DO THAT, YES. >> GETTING A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK, ESPECIALLY ON NIGHT SKATE, THE TREES YOU PUT THERE. I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO LIVE THERE AND I WALK ALONG THAT PATHWAY SO GREAT JOB ON NIGHT SKATE. IT LOOKS GOOD.

[9. Receive, consider and act upon an initiative pertaining to reforestation of county-owned medians;]

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? IF NOT TO I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND TO ACCEPT THE

REPORT? >> MOVED. >> SECOND BY DIRECTOR NELSON.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RESPOND BY SAYING AYE. MOTION CARRIES. NUMBER 9, RECEIVE, CONSIDER AND ACT UPON AN INITIATIVE PERTAINING TO THE FRUSTRATION OF COUNTY-OWNED MEDIANS.

>> THIS IS REALLY FOR TRYING TO IDENTIFY REFORESTATION OF COUNTY-OWNED MEDIANS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, NOT JUST COUNTY-OWNED MEDIANS . IT IS MEDIANS IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY SO YOU ALSO HAVE HARRIS COUNTY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY AS WELL AS STATE HIGHWAY 242. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO TELL YOU OVERALL IS THE FACT THAT THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO REALLY LOOK AT THE ENTIRETY OF OUR FORESTRY PROGRAM, TO REALLY PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE, WHAT JOHN WAS SAYING IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION IS EXACTLY ACCURATE. WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL AND TALK ABOUT MORE GUIDING DOCUMENTS AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS WHICH IS REALLY GUIDED BY THAT INTEGRATIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT

[00:45:01]

PLAN AND ALSO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE AND HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU DESIRE IN TERMS OF THE FOREST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND FINALLY TALK ABOUT THE OVERALL FORESTATION PLAN AND A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL AND A PROPOSED COUNTY-OWNED MEDIAN PROGRAM. YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM INTEGRATIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN. I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND ON THIS.

THIS PLAN HATCHED PROBABLY IN THE LATE 90S, AND WAS FIRST FORMALLY ADOPTED IN DRAFT FORM BY THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS OF THE WOODLANDS, THE WOODLANDS ASSOCIATION, THE WOODLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION IN THE WOODLANDS OWNERS ASSOCIATION BACK IN 1999. IT WAS FORMALLY ADOPTED IN 2003. IT TOOK THEM BASICALLY FOUR YEARS TO FINALIZE ALL THE DETAILS ON THE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN. THE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN IS FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, HOW THE FOREST IS MANAGED. WE ARE GOING TO GET TO HOW THIS FOREST IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER FOREST YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH BUT THE OTHER INTERESTING ASPECT IS BURDITT CONSULTANTS HAS BEEN MONITORING OUR FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN SINCE 1923. -- EVEN WHEN THE PLAN WAS FIRST PUBLISHED BACK IN 2003, 2004, IT WAS SLOTTED AS A STANDARDBEARER FOR MANAGEMENT PLANS THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A DROUGHT HAPPENS IN 2009, 2012, WE UPDATED THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE DECIDE TO UPDATE IT AGAIN THEN REVIEW WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE HAVE THE RIGHT PLANNING MIX, THE RIGHT REMOVALS, THE RIGHT THINGS FOR VINE REMOVAL AND THAT'S GOING TO BE PRESENTED AT A LATER TIME AND WHAT WE CALL THE 2025 UPDATE AND THAT PLAN LOOKS AT VINE REMOVAL, REFORESTATION, DISEASE INSECTS GOING THROUGH THERE. WILDFIRE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, A LOT OF COMMUNITY EDUCATION SO THAT IS YOUR COMMUNITY REFORESTATION DAY, THE ARBOR DAY AND A LOT OF THE INFORMATION ESPECIALLY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DOES IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARKS AND RECREATION SO THE BIGGEST THING THE INTEGRATIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN WILL TELL YOU IS THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A FOREST. WE HAVE A SERIES OF FOREST STRIPS SO IF YOU LOOK OUTSIDE OF THIS BUILDING RIGHT BEHIND YOU THERE IS A WALL. BEHIND THAT WALL THERE IS A WINDOW AND THERE IS A FOREST PRESERVE. IT IS A COMMERCIAL PRESERVE, NOT A RESERVE AND WE WANT TO WORK THROUGH THOSE TWO DIFFERENCES. THERE IS 50 FEET OF FOREST BETWEEN IT SO IT IS NOT A 2000 ACRE FOREST. WE HAVE 27 THOUSAND ACRES, 28,000 ACRES IN OUR COMMUNITY BROKEN UP INTO 15-FOOT -WIDE STRIPS. REALLY A MAXIMUM OF 100 FOOT WIDE STRIPS SO THE TECHNIQUES ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT OTHER FORESTS USE. THAT GETS INTO THE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE AND THE TOOLS WE HAVE AND WE'VE REALLY BEEN TALKING TO STAFF OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR ABOUT WHAT IS OUR MANAGEMENT PRACTICE.

A MANAGED FOREST IS DIFFERENT THAN A MAINTAINED FOREST WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN A MANICURED FOREST. A MANAGED FOREST IS REALLY WHAT JONES STREET FOREST DOES. THEY HAVE TOOLS WE DON'T HAVE IN TERMS OF FIRE. SOMETIMES WE SEEM NOTICES ABOUT CONTROLLED BURNS. WE SEE THEM UP IN THE STATE FOREST AS WELL. WE DON'T HAVE THOSE TOOLS AND SO REALLY THE GOALS OF THAT FOREST IS REALLY TO MAINTAIN IT FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSES, FOR WILDLIFE AND STUFF. WE ACTUALLY MAINTAIN OUR FOREST MORE FOR VISUAL BUFFERS AND SCREENING, WHICH IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ASPECT WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO FOR A MAINTAINED FOREST AND SO IT IS LESS INTENSIVE. WE PRUNE IT. WE REMOVE DANGEROUS LIMBS. WE CONTROL INVASIVE SPECIES. THAT IS WHAT WE SEE LARGELY IT RESERVES IN PARKS AND KIND OF WHAT WE CAME UP WITH IS THE GOAL TO PRESERVE THE EXISTING FOREST STRUCTURE VERSUS ACTIVELY SHAPING IT. YOU DO THE ACTIVE SHAPING WHICH IS WHAT JONES STATE FOREST DOESN'T TO THEIR CREDIT , THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. WE LOOK AT MEDIAN TIPS AND WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEDIAN TIPS IN THE AREA BETWEEN ENHANCED MEDIAN TIPS AND ALSO SOME PLACES IN OUR TOWN CENTER AREA WHERE WE ARE STRING TRIMMING AROUND THE TREES. WE HAVE NO UNDERSTORY ON PURPOSE BECAUSE WE NEED TO SEE OTHER ASPECTS OF THE TOWN CENTER FROM A VIEW CORRIDOR. OUR CURRENT REFORESTATION EFFORTS. JOHN SPOKE A LITTLE BIT. THIS IS ONE OF YOUR SATISFIED -- CERTIFIED

[00:50:02]

FORESTERS, ALAN SOMMER. HE'S BEEN HERE FOR 10 YEARS. TIME FLIES. HE IS OUR POINT PERSON .

HE LEADS A TEAM OF SEVEN. JOHN MADE MENTION OF 8003 REMOVALS. THEY WILL GO OUT AND CITE EACH LOCATION FOR REFORESTATION YOU KNOW. WHEN A RESIDENT CALLS AND SAYS I WANT AN AREA REFORESTED TO ENHANCETHE BUFFER BETWEEN THE ROAD AND THE PARKER OF THE DITCH OR WHATEVER THAT GENTLEMAN AS WELL AS HIS TEAM NEEDS TO GO OUT TO EVERY SITE AND RENEW THE SITE BECAUSE WE HAVE GONE TO SITES PEOPLE SAY WE NEED TO RE-FOREST. WE CAN'T FIT A TREE AND BECAUSE OF THE SPECIES. YOU KNOW, EVERY TREE WANTS TO GROW CERTAIN WIDEOUT AND CERTAIN HEIGHT. WE ALWAYS SAY WITH FOREST MANAGEMENT THERE'S NEVER A WRONG TREE, JUST THE WRONG LOCATION FOR THE TREE. THAT'S THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE FROM THAT. EVERY SITE GETS A UTILITY LOCATOR BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT SOME OF OUR OTHER UTILITY LOCATORS POPPING GAS LINES AND WATER LINES. VINE REMOVAL. MORE IMPORTANTLY THE AMOUNT OF RESIDENT COMMUNICATION THIS TEAM DOES BETWEEN EMAILS, BETWEEN PHONES, BETWEEN TEXT MESSAGES, 43%, AS JOHN MENTIONED, OUR REQUESTS FOR RESIDENTS. THAT IS NOT ONE EMAIL. THAT IS MANY EMAILS, MANY CALLS, MANY FOLLOW-UPS OF YES, WE ARE COMING THIS WEEK, THIS MONTH OR WHATEVER. YOU ARE NEXT ON THE LIST, WHATEVER. IT IS A LOT OF WORK IN ONE OF THE CHALLENGES YOU SET FORTH AND WE ARE FINE WITH THAT CHALLENGES GOING FROM 3000 TREES PLANTED TO 6000, SO DOUBLING THE WORKLOAD OF BASICALLY THE SAME STAFF, WHICH THEY HAVE DONE A YEOMAN'S EFFORT IN THERE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WHAT WE LOOK AT IS YOU JUST DON'T PLAY WITH THESE TREES. YOU HAVE TO GO SEE THESE TREES IN SIX MONTHS, IN A YEAR, IN TWO YEARS TO UNDERSTAND OVERALL FOREST HEALTH.WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT REFORESTATION PROGRAM WE LOOK AT VINE REMOVAL, RESERVE ENHANCEMENTS. A LOT OF TIME HAS BEEN SPENT IN THE CREEKSIDE PARK AREA OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. HOWEVER, ALL ASPECTS OF OUR COMMUNITY GET ACCESS TO REFORESTATION AND WE USE THE TERM GOALS TO JUMPSTART THE FOREST IN SPECIFIC AREAS. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO DO AND HOPEFULLY I'M TECHNOLOGICALLY SAVVY TO CHANGE OUT PROGRAMS HERE , AS THIS IS YOUR REFORESTATION MAP FROM 2025. WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO INTO SPECIFIC LOCATIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BUT WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO SHOW WITH THIS IS WHAT THE STAFF IS DOING AND REALLY TRYING TO LOOK WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT AT ONE VILLAGE, NOT AT ONE AREA EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE . IT IS A FULL EFFECT OF REALLY TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE LOCATIONS WHERE BEST TO ALLOCATE THE 3000, 6000 TREES ACROSS THE COMMUNITY ON A YEARLY BASIS SO THESE GUYS ARE IN THE TRACKS A LOT, DRIVING AROUND THE COMMUNITY FROM THAT

STANDPOINT. >> THAT WAS THE PAINT? >> YES, THANK YOU. AND WE CAN SEND YOU THE GIS LINK TO LOOK AT IT IN MORE DETAIL. MITCH HALL, TO HIS CREDIT THEY PUSHED US IN THE WATER PROGRAM WITH CONTRACTORS. WE LOOKED AT THE FINANCIALS AND FOUND OUT THIS MIGHT ACTUALLY WORK. WE WENT UP FROM FIVE WATERS PER YEAR FOR THESE TREES TO SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 30 WATERS WITH THE EXISTING TRACK AND THAT GOT YOU A 33% JUMP IN ESTABLISHMENT SO THAT REALLY HAS WORKED IN HERE IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO SHOW YOU. THIS IS THE DETAILED LIST ALLEN AND HIS TEAM REALLY LOOKS AT. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LINES OF COMMUNICATION AND YOU SEE IT IS ALL OUTLINED BY THE FACT OF WHETHER IT BE A RESIDENT REQUEST, AN INTERNAL REQUEST, THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE IDENTIFIED WOULD BE PART OF A VINE REMOVAL AND SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE ADDRESSES. YOU'RE LOOKING AT ANYWHERE BETWEEN THREE TREES, 26 TREES. THEY ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT IS A LOT OF DETAILED WORK THE TEAM DOES TO REPLANT THESE TREES IN THE COMMUNITY. MOVING ON TO A REFORESTATION PROGRAM TO WHAT MIGHT LIE AHEAD OF THE BOARD SO CHOOSES ON WHAT WE CALL A MEDIAN PROGRAM OR RIGHT-OF-WAY PROGRAM, ALL THE BOARD IN PUBLIC KNOWS THAT THESE RIGHT-OF-WAY'S ARE NOT OWNED BY THE TOWNSHIP. HOWEVER, WE DO EXISTING MAINTENANCE ALREADY IN THESE MEDIANS, ESPECIALLY THE MEDIAN TIPS ON THE SIDES OF THE ROADS WERE REMOTE. IF WE WERE TO -- WE DID A CALCULATION FOR OUR GIS SYSTEM. WITHOUT ABOUT 233 ACRES OF ADDITIONAL AREA TO THE SCOPE OF THE DEPARTMENT IF WE WERE TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE TREES WERE

[00:55:13]

JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN DECIDE TO REPLANT THOSE TREES AND OUTSIDE OF THE ENHANCED MEDIAN TIPS, IT REALLY HAS BEEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY AND THAT IS BEEN MEMORIALIZED IN SOME AGREEMENTS AS WELL, THERE. GOING TO AGREEMENTS IT GETS A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE BECAUSE WE ARE DEALING WITH THREE PARTIES HERE. MONTGOMERY COUNTY WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS SIGNED IN 2023 , BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT REALLY OUTLINES THE STREETSCAPE RESPONSIBILITIES OF WHO DOES WHAT . THE COUNTY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY ALLOWED REFORESTATION WITH THEIR APPROVAL SO ANYTHING THAT YOU DIRECT ME TO DO, JOHN MCGOWAN, MITCH TO DO WE HAVE TO GO WALKING OVER TO THE COUNTY, AND SAY IS THIS PLANTING ACCEPTABLE? CAN WE DO THIS, THEN WE CAN GET BACK TO YOU AND SAY YES OR NO IF WE HAVE THE APPROVAL TO SCOPE THROUGH THE PLANTING. WITH PIERCE COUNTY WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT FOR MAINTENANCE BUT NOT NECESSARILY TO PLANT TREES.

THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB AT REFORESTING SOME MEDIANS BUT THE STANDARD IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN THE MONTGOMERY STANDARD WHICH IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN TXDOT STANDARD. THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SPEED, TURNING LANES, SIDELINED HIS VISIBILITY . YOU LOOK IN OUR AREA THEY ARE PLANTED PROBABLY IN A 25 TO 30 FOOT DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TREES VERSUS THAT LARGER CLUSTER ASPECT WHICH WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. FURTHERMORE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT TXDOT, THEY TYPICALLY DO NOT WANT TO TREAT ANYWHERE IN THE MEDIANS AND WE HAVE WORKED WITH THEM TO TRY TO GET SOME TREES , HISTORICALLY, ON 242 IN THAT MEDIAN THAT IS BEING RENOVATED.

THE BOARD I BELIEVE REVIEWED SOME INITIAL LANDSCAPE PLANS BUT IT'S A LOT OF CRATE MORTALS IN THEIR SO YOU KEEP VISIBILITY LINES THEY ARE DESIRING. AGAIN, IT IS THEIR RULES. WE DO NOT OWN THIS RIGHT-OF-WAY FROM THAT STANDPOINT. FOR EVERY CHALLENGE, THERE IS OPPORTUNITIES. THE NUMBER ONE THING IS SIDELINE VISIBILITY. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE THOSE MEDIAN TIPS BETWEEN 20 TO 100 FEET TO KEEP THAT CLEAN IN THAT AREA AND THAT IS FOR YOU REALIZE WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE LAKE WOODLANDS AREA . YOU CAN REALLY SEE THAT SO OPEN. THERE ARE A LOT OF CURB CUTS THERE AND A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS FOR YOU CAN DUNK IN AND OUT ON THE NORTH SIDE OR THE SOUTH SIDE OF LAKE WOODLANDS MORE THAN SOME OTHER PLACES, MORE THAN RESEARCH FOREST WHERE IT IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER SPEED IN THAT AREA. IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR YOU GO TO A COLLECTOR ROAD FIRST VERSUS A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET LIKE YOU DO IN LAKE WOODLANDS AREA. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE COST, YOU KNOW. YOU HAVE GENEROUSLY AND WE THANK YOU, PUT UP MILLION DOLLARS FOR RESPREAD STATION BUT WE HAVE ALREADY ALLOCATED A LOT OF THE TREES. DO WE NEED TO DO REALLOCATION? BUT, WHEN WE LOOK AT EVERY SITE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT DRAINAGE, SLIP, AXIS, UTILITIES AND FUTURE ROAD EXPANSION AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT IS CONCERNING OF A RIGHT-OF-WAY PLANTING PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY MORE WORK IN THE ACTUAL RIGHT-OF-WAY SO IF WE ARE GOING TO COME OUT HERE AND WE KNOW SOME AREAS HERE THAT DO NOT LOOK AT AND WE DO NOT DISAGREE WITH THAT ESPECIALLY IN THIS NEW TRAILS AREA, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE PROBABLY TWO DAYS TO CLEAN UP THE VINES. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE TWO DAYS TO REFOREST. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER 30 VISITS TO WATER THOSE TREES SO THERE IS A LOT OF LANE CLOSURES THAT WE NEED TRAFFIC CONTROL PLANS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE DETAILED OUT AND APPROVED BY THE COUNTIES. ALL THE COUNTIES REQUIRE THAT. THE OTHER FACTORS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IS WE DON'T WANT THEM PLANTING TREES WERE FUTURE ROADS MIGHT BE EXPANDED OR FUTURE LANES , TURNING LANES MAY BE EXTENDED TO ACTUALLY ENHANCE THE STORAGE OF THE TIMELINE CAPACITY. THE OTHER GOOD THING IS REMOVAL OF GRASS. NOT BAD BECAUSE THEN WE ACTUALLY SAVE SOME DOLLARS PLANTING THERE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, ONE OF THE OTHER CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LARGER STRETCHES, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA AND I KNOW SOME BOARD MEMBERS HAVE COMMENTED ON THIS ABOUT THE AREA SOUTH OF FLINT RIDGE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THERE, THAT IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST WILDFIRE AREAS SO YOU TAKE WILDFIRES OUT. YOU PUT TREES. WE

JUST NEED A VALUE DECISION FROM THE BOARD. >> WILDFLOWERS ARE 30 TO 45 DAYS. THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL BUT 30 TO 45 DAYS THE REST OF IT IS BARREN THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE

TO ME. >> WELL, AND YOU HAVE A CONTINGENT OF COMMUNITY WHO LOVE

THEIR WILDFLOWERS, TOO. SO, HOW DO WE VALUE THAT? >> WELL, CAN YOU PUT THEM IN THE TIPS? BETWEEN THE ENHANCED LANDSCAPING. THERE HAS TO BE SOME SPOTS.

>> YOU'VE ALSO GOT TO FIND THE RIGHT AREA FOR THE SUN. A LOT OF THINGS. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S

[01:00:02]

NOT. >> THERE'S TURF. I MEAN LET'S JUST FACE IT I MEAN I UNDERSTAND THE WILDFLOWERS BUT DRIVING PAST THIS LIKE YOU HAVE IN THIS PICTURE EVERY DAY , AND WE JUST CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT , THAT IS THE COUNTY'S LAND. I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT LIKE MR. MITCHELL WORKED WITH EVERYBODY. EVERYONE WORKED TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT IF WE COULD HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTRACT WITH MONTGOMERY COUNTY THAT IS $16 MILLION A YEAR PLUS, WE CAN GET WITH THE COMMISSIONER AND HIS TEAM AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO CLEAN UP THAT MESS.

>> I WOULD NOT ARGUE THAT. WHAT WE ARE SEEKING FROM YOU IS THE ENTIRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, IS WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES? WE WILL GO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT. YOU KNOW, WE MET THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. WE ARE ALL ABOUT PLANTINGTREES. WE WANT TO PLANT MORE TREES, NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT BUT WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE THE DIRECTION TO HAVE THE STAFF RESOURCES TO HAVE THE DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS FROM THERE SO IF YOU JUST HOLD ON ONE MORE THING. I APPRECIATE THE DIALOGUE. WE WANT TO GET SOMETHING THAT IS DONE THAT IS UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND WE ARE FINE WITH THAT. MY CAUTION ABOUT THE WILDFLOWERS WAS ONE MAN'S WILDFLOWERS IS ANOTHER MAN'S WE DO KNOW SO WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT . A SEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY LOVES THE WILDFLOWERS.

A SEGMENT OF THE COMMUNITY LOVES TURF SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DISCUSS THAT ISSUE AND IT HAS BEEN VETTED BECAUSE THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS COME BACK UP HERE AND SAY WHY DID YOU REMOVE THE WILDFLOWERS WILL WE PUT TREES THERE WILL THIS GROUP DIDN'T LIKE IT WHY DID YOU DO THIS? WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING CLEAR DIRECTION FROM YOU ON WHAT YOU WANT PLANTED.

>> AS SEES ME FOR INTERRUPTING BUT ONE OF THE NICE AREAS ON KIRKENDALL THAT HAS TREES AND WILDFLOWERS IS RIGHT BY ST. ANTHONY CHURCH WHEN YOU COME OUT OF THE REAR EXIT ON KIRKENDALL.

THERE ARE CLUSTERS OF WILDFLOWERS RIGHT UP AGAINST THE TREES. THEY DON'T SEEM TO HATE

EACH OTHER. >> THEY ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

>> THEY ARE NOT SO LET'S NOT MAKE THEM ENEMIES. I THINK WE CAN DO BOTH.

>> WE ARE NOT TRYING TO MAKE THEM ENEMIES. WE ARE JUST TRYING TO SAY THESE ARE DISCUSSION POINTS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THE PRO AND CON OF IT. WHATEVER YOU DECIDE, WE ARE GOING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT. THAT IS OUR JOB AS YOUR STAFF. YOU KNOW, THERE IS ATTACHMENT A OR B THAT IDENTIFIED 11 LOCATIONS. THOSE LOCATIONS MAY NOT BE PRIORITIES FOR YOU. WE UNDERSTAND THAT IS A PART OF THIS WOULD BE IF THOSE AREAS ARE NOT PRIORITIES THAT'S FINE. GIVE US A LIST OF PRIORITIES. WE WILL INVESTIGATE WHAT IS GOING TO TAKE FOR THAT.

WHAT THE COST IS FOR THAT FROM JUST A CONTRACTING COST AS WELL AS TREE COST AND IDENTIFY AND BRING BACK TO YOU OKAY HERE'S WHAT IT IS AND ALSO, HAVE WE GOTTEN APPROVALS BECAUSE THE

COUNTY, WE CAN GO WITH THE PLAN AND THEY CAN SAY NO. >> THE COMMISSIONERS FULLY ON

BOARD TO WORK WITH US AND FIGURE OUT A WAY. >> THAT IS FINE BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I NEED DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SO HERE ARE 11 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

THE BIGGEST ONE IS AT GOSLING FROM FIRE STATION ALL THE WAY UP TO FLOOD RIDGE. THAT IS A BIG TICKET ITEM. WE WOULD NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT THAT. SON OF OF THE SMALLER ONES WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO WITH SOME TREES THIS YEAR BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE NEED DIRECTION SO I WANT TO CLOSE THIS UP HERE. WE HAVE ALREADY ALLOCATED THE TREES FOR THE SPRING SEASON. WE ARE FASTLY WINDING UP THAT. WE HAVE ABOUT 2000 ALLOCATED ALREADY FOR REQUESTS. WE HAVE ABOUT 400 TREES WE HOLD BACK ON PURPOSE ON A YEARLY BASIS BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO POP UP, WHAT RESIDENT IS GOING TO MAYBE CALL THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SO WE WANT TO HAVE THOSE AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND ALSO WHERE ELAINE GETS EXTENDED AND WE NEED TO GO POP SOME TREES SO DO WE HAVE

SOME TREES? YES, WE DO. THE POINT I WOULD LIKE >> MENTION JUST TO GIVE AGAIN SOME IDEA OF PROXIMITY AND IT WAS A VERY HEAVY SPOT . THAT WOODLANDS AND STONY HURST SPOT THERE WERE 330 TREES IN THAT LOCATION ALONE. THAT'S A LOT OF TREES. SO, WE CAN KIND OF WORK THROUGH SOME OF THE EXISTING NUMBERS RIGHT NW IF YOU GIVE ME SOME LOCATIONS OR WE CAN COME BACK WITH A BUDGET AMENDMENT AT A LATER TIME OR WE CAN GET THE ENTIRE PLAN TO YOU AND REALLY UNDERSTAND IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO WITH SMALL CAN WE DO THAT IN EXISTING RESOURCES BUDGET AS WELL AS STAFF OR IF YOU ARE GOING TO GO A LARGER PLAN THAT'S FINE, TOO. WE NEED TO LOOK AT STAFF RESOURCES LONG-TERM. HOW MANY YEARS IS THIS GOING TO TAKE BECAUSE A LOT

[01:05:15]

OF THINGS FOR I THINK YOU MIGHT BE GOING IS NOT JUST GO PLANT 5000 TREES IN ALL THESE LOCATIONS. THAT IS A LOT OF WORK. WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF WORK. WE WANT TO GET THIS DONE FOR YOU. IT IS JUST WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE KEEPING UP THE TREES AND MORE IMPORTANTLY KEEPING UP WITH THE 6000 TREES WE JUST PLANTED THIS YEAR AS WELL AS THE YEAR BEFORE AND THE 3000 THE

YEAR BEFORE THAT AND BEFORE THAT. >> THE COUNTY-OWNED MEDIAN PROGRAM, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE WATER SUPPLY, SPRINKLER SYSTEM, PAYING FOR THE WATER TO KEEP IT

ALL ALIVE AND WELL? >> YOUR TOWNSHIP DOLLARS. >> SO IN THE COUNTY-OWNED MEDIAN WE WOULD BE THE ONES WHO WOULD BE PAYING FOR THE WATER SYSTEM AND SUPPLY?

>> MOST OF THOSE WILL NOT BE IRRIGATED. THEY WILL BE HAND-WANTED, AT LEAST FOR THE FIRST YEAR IF NOT THE FIRST TWO YEARS. THOSE ARE TYPICALLY OVERTIME DOLLARS AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE OVERTIME DOLLARS ALLOTTED FOR THOSE 5500 , 6000 TREES WE HAVE. WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW MANY TREES YOU WERE DESIRING. IT IS FINE. WE JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY SO WE CAN CRUNCH THE NUMBERS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE TOTAL IMPACT IS TO BRING BACK TO YOU TO SAY HERE'S WHAT WE BELIEVE WOULD BE A BUDGET TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU ARE DESIRING TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO MAKE THE COMET IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE LOST AN UNUSUALLY LARGE NUMBER OF TREES DO TO PINE BARK BEETLES, HURRICANES AND THE VINES THAT ARE STRANGLING OUR TREES SO POSSIBLY WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND MAYBE WE DID NOT GIVE ENOUGH FUNDING FOR THIS REFORESTATION EFFORT CONSIDERING WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN THROUGH OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. IF WE ARE OUT OF TREES IT SOUNDS LIKE WE MIGHT NEED SOME MORE. ALSO I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE WILDFLOWERS BECAUSE WHEN I JOINED THE PARKS AND REC COMMITTEE LAST YEAR ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS I ASKED WAS, BLUEBONNETS USE TO GROW ALONG THE SIDES OF TERROR MONTH AND WE WOULD TAKE PICTURES THERE WITH HER CHILDREN YEAR AFTER YEAR THEN THEY STOPPED GROWING SO I WAS TOLD THEY ARE TEMPERAMENTAL. WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE TRUTH. I HAVE NOT SEEN THEM AGAIN REALLY SINCE THOSE EARLY YEARS, SO IS THERE CONSIDERATION TO WHERE WE COULD CREATE SOME SORT OF WILDFLOWER FIELD IN ONE OF THESE LOCATIONS? NOT A MEDIAN. WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE RUNNING INTO THE MEDIAN TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH THEIR CHILDREN BUT MAYBE A SIDE LOCATION WHERE WE COULD CREATE A WILDFLOWER FIELD THAT HAS A CHANCE OF LIVING AND SURVIVING AND THEN TREES GOING TO PLACES WHERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW THAT SEEM TO BE

VACANT? >> WILDFLOWERS HAVE BEEN A REAL CHALLENGE THE LAST FEW YEARS.

BASICALLY WHEN THE SOIL IS GOOD AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT STREETSCAPE PROGRAM DOES A LOT OF GOOD PRACTICES AND WE HAVE BASICALLY ENRICH THE SOIL PROFILE SO MUCH BECAUSE WE DON'T COLLECT CLIPPINGS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. WE LET IT LIE THERE. TYPICALLY BLUEBONNETS LIKE A VERY BAD SOIL AND LEAVE MADE THE SOIL, OVER 30, 40 YEARS OF REALLY SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES , BUT YES WE CAN GO OUT AND FIND THAT AREA AND I'VE GOT ONE AREA THAT WE'VE HAD SOME GOOD LUCK WITH AND CHALLENGES WITH AS WELL IS WHAT WE CALL THE DOG BONE IN THE BACK OF THAT AREA. I THINK THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER AREA I CAN THINK OF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THAT MAY BE GOOD, ESPECIALLY FROM A PICTURE STANDPOINT, IS IN THE GEORGE MITCHELL PRESERVE CREEKSIDE PARK WEST TRAILHEAD OFF OF DR. AND SNYDER WAY BECAUSE THAT ROUND IS REALLY BAD. THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE

TO COME TO MY MIND. >> I DIDN'T MEAN TO PUT THOSE TWO TERMS IN THE SAME SENTENCE I

APOLOGIZE. >> THANK YOU FOR GIVING US OPTIONS, MAKING DECISIONS TO SEE WHERE THE BOARD WANTS. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS LOOKING AT THIS AND AGREE WITH SEVERAL OF US THAT MAINTAINING THE HEALTH OF OUR FORESTED AREAS THROUGHOUT THE WOODLANDS IS ESSENTIAL , BUT I REALLY FEEL WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE THE FORESTRY RESERVES OR PROPERTY THAT WE ARE ALREADY RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING PRIOR TO CONSIDERING ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY IN COUNTY-OWNED MEDIANS. CURRENTLY WE ALREADY ARE MAINTAINING BOTH SIDES OF COUNTY ROAD SHOULDERS, THE COUNTY RIGHT-OF-WAY. WE ARE ALSO MAINTAINING THE CENTER MEDIAN TIPS WHICH ARE OWNED BY THE COUNTY AS WELL AS ENHANCING ALL OF THE CUL-DE-SACS CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG , IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH ARE COUNTY-OWNED AND I THINK OUR PUBLIC WORKS AFTER SPEAKING WITH BOTH COMMISSIONER RILEY AND COMMISSIONER WHEELER, INCLUDE

[01:10:08]

ROAD MAINTENANCE AND STREETSCAPE. THEY ARE THE PRIMARY ROLE OF THE COUNTY AND UNDERSTAND THAT THEY PROBABLY CAN'T DO DIFFERENT HERE THAN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE PRECINCT BUT WITH THAT I AM IN AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED TO WORK WITH OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO PERHAPS IDENTIFY SOME OF OUR MAJOR THOROUGHFARES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BUT MY PRIMARY CONCERNS AND ONE THING THAT DIRECTOR NELSON BROUGHT UP HIS IRRIGATION. ALSO, IF WE PLANT UTILITIES, IF WE BREAK A LINE I WOULD ASSUME THAT IS ALSO A COST TO US. ALSO, SOME OF THE MEDIANS IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, HAVE SOME TYPE OF DRAINAGE SYSTEMS THAT PERHAPS WE WOULD LIKE TO PLANT TREES HERE BUT IT IS NOT EVEN FEASIBLE OR POSSIBLE TO DO THAT. BUT THE OTHER CONCERN IS WE HEARD EARLIER FROM JOHN MCGOWAN . WE HAVE SEVEN PEOPLE AND WE WANT TO DO DOUBLE IF NOT MORE WHAT WE HAVE THEN PERHAPS YOU KNOW, WE NEED ADDITIONAL STAFF AND RESOURCES PER CONTRACTUAL HOWEVER YOU WILL DECIDE THAT, SO THOSE ARE MY MAIN CONCERNS BUT I ALSO NOTE THAT THE GOAL OF THE WOODLANDS IS SUSTAINABILITY AND TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH NATURE IN A NATURAL FOREST AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS THAT IS IMPORTANT, BUT I FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO WAIT UNTIL I

THINK YOU'VE SCHEDULED OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING SOON. >> I THINK THEY ARE WORKING ON

DATES. >> OKAY MAYBE NOT TOMORROW BUT SOON, WORKSHOP BEFORE APPROVING ANY MIDYEAR ADJUSTMENTS I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER OR AT LEAST HERE OTHER INITIATIVES FROM STRATEGIC PLANNING . THIS IS ME TALKING, RATHER THAN MAKING A DECISION ABOUT A SINGLE INITIATIVE THIS EVENING. I JUST THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT AND REFORESTATION, WE HAVE THE GEORGE MITCHELL PRESERVE, THE 200 ACRES ON GOSLING THAT PERHAPS THE WILDFIRE -- WILDFLOWERS THAT WE COULD CREATE. I LOVE THE WILDFLOWERS. I KNOW THEY'RE NOT LONG BUT I STILL LOVE THEM AND I WOULD LIKE US NOT TO DO AWAY WITH ALL OF THAT BUT SEE IF THERE IS A PLAN.

>> JUST TO BACK UP HERE, I AM IN NO WAY ON THIS AGENDA ITEM ASKING FOR MONEY. I THINK OF

OTHER THINGS. HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU HAD THESE? >> WE BUILT THIS FROM AUGUST LAST YEAR IN BUDGET HEARINGS IS HERE IS A CONCEPT AND THEN HE KIND OF DIED THERE AND THEN WAS BROUGHT UP AS AN AGENDA ITEM FOR THIS YEAR TO BE PRESENTING IT. WHAT I WOULD ASK AND I DON'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF, CHAIRMAN BAILEY, IS IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC AREAS YOU ARE EMPHATIC ABOUT, GIVE THOSE TO ME BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE RIGHT ON FOR YOU AND REALLY LOOK AT THE TOTALITY OF

WHATEVER YOU ARE REQUESTING. >> ALL THE TREES ARE DEAD BECAUSE INVASIVE VINES HAVE SUFFOCATED EVERY ONE OF THOSE TREES AND WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN WOODLANDS PARKWAY AND YOU COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY, IT IS AN EYESORE. THE PICTURE YOU HAD THREE SLIDES BEFORE THAT RIGHT OUTSIDE TOWNSHIP YOU CAN THROW A ROCK AND HIT IT RIGHT NOW IT IS AN EYESORE AND WHEN YOU COME IN AND TALK ABOUT CURB APPEAL AND LOOKING AND FEELING AND I'M NOT SAYING IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

WE'VE GOT TO GO WORK WITH THE COUNTY. WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS AGENDA ITEM LET'S START HAVING DIALOGUE. SIGNIFICANT DIALOGUE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THE STAKEHOLDERS AROUND THE TABLE TO SAY, HOW CAN WE WORK ON THIS BECAUSE IT'S A PROBLEM . FROM THE DEVELOPER TO THE COUNTY TO US, THE RIVER AUTHORITY AND SO ON LET'S HAVE A DIALOGUE AND START LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE AREAS BECAUSE THEY ARE EYESORES. THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES ON ROGAN'S MILL THAT ARE EYESORES AND MAYBE THE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROPERTY THEY WERE GIVEN.

I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. WE HAVE A NEW COMMISSIONER. I'VE TALKED TO HIM ABOUT IT. HE WANTS TO WORK WITH US. WE SOLVE PROBLEMS IN THE WOODLANDS. HOW CAN WE

[01:15:04]

SOLVE THIS PROBLEM? I WANT TO BE KNOWN AS THE WOODLANDS, NOT THE VIOLENCE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE ARE SO MANY INVASIVE VINES COMING IN THAT SCARY THEN WE GOT TO GO BACK AND SPEND ALL THE MONEY ON ALL THOSE TREES. ALL THOSE TREES HAD TO BE FUNDED BECAUSE OF AN INVASIVE VINES

THAT KILLED ALL THE OTHER TREES. >> YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO GET RID OF VINES . IT IS A STRUCTURAL ELEMENT OF THE FOREST TYPE THAT WE HAVE. IF WE COLLECTIVELY REVIEW THE INTEGRATED FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN IS HAS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE FOREST IS IN SOUTH TEXAS WITH THE UNDERSTORY IN THE VINES WHEN YOU OPEN UP AN AREA YOU WILL GET VINES. IT'S CALLED THE EDGE EFFECT. OUTSIDE OF THAT , I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT POINT WAS THERE, SO NO MATTER WHAT WE DO WE ARE STILL GOING TO NEED TO DO VINE MAINTENANCE.

THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN THERE AGAIN WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR MONEY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IS WE HAVE 240 OR 280 DAYS . 240 VINE REMOVAL DAYS AND THAT IS TYPICALLY BE DONE BETWEEN THE OCTOBER AND MARCH TIME PERIOD IS CAN WE, THROUGH A BUDGET PROCESS, THROUGH BUDGET REVIEW, BUDGET INITIATIVE GET ANOTHER 60 DAYS IN THEN WE DO THAT IN THE SUMMER FOR MAINTENANCE ASPECTS, SO GO BACK TO THE SITES A YEAR OR TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO TO ASSIST WITH WHAT YOU WERE JUST SAYING THERE SO THE OTHER THING, TOO, IN MY PREPARATIONS ARE THIS. THE FOREST MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES WE HAVE USED MAY BE OUTLINED IN 2003 DOCUMENTS. THEY HAVE CONTINUALLY BEEN MODIFIED AND ENHANCED. WE CONTINUE TO MODIFY REFORESTATION. HOW DO WE DO THE WATER, THAT KIND OF STUFF BUT WHAT I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO DO IS MAYBE WE CAN SIT DOWN AND REALLY DETAIL THE LIST BECAUSE IF I'M GOING TO BRING YOU AN INITIATIVE OR BUDGET AMENDMENT OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING OFF THE LOCATIONS OF CONCERN TO YOU AS WELL AS THE OTHER BOARD AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS SO WE KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE TOTALITY OF WHAT THE REQUEST MAY BE IN WE CAN UNDERSTAND STAFF ASPECTS, TOO.

>> QUESTION ABOUT JUST TO BE CLEAR, CHAIRMAN DID NOT ASK YOU IN TERMS OF PAYING MORE MONEY.

IS THERE NOT MONEY IN THE EXISTING BUDGET? TO DO SOME OF THE PROJECTS YOU PRESENTED TO US

TONIGHT? >> WE HAVE RIGHT NOW ABOUT 500 TREES BUT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ALLOCATING ALL 500 TREES TO THESE PROJECTS BECAUSE BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE YEAR WE WILL GET OTHER REQUESTS. WE WILL FIND THAT SOME AREAS WE THOUGHT WOULD TAKE 10 TREES NEED 15 TO

20 TREES TO PLANT SO COULD 100, 150 TREES BE ALLOCATED? >> YES. I DON'T HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THAT AND THAT IS WITH EXISTING DOLLARS PER YOUR CONCERN AND RIGHTFULLY SO. BUT IF WE ARE LOOKING AT DOING REALLY LARGER PROGRAMMING AND I'M MAKING NUMBERS UP PLEASE UNDERSTAND, OVER THE COURSE OF NEXT YEAR WERE GOING TO DO ANOTHER 2000 TREES WELL, WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY GOT TO RATCHET DOWN VINES REMOVALS , RESIDENT REQUESTS OR SOMETHING.

>> SO YOU CAN COME TO US WITH AN AMOUNT SO THAT WE CAN DO MAYBE SECTIONS WE CAN RAISE THE BUDGET

IF NECESSARY TO KEEP THE TREES UP? >> I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO IDENTIFY THE LOCATIONS. BUT THESE I THINK ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE LOCATION THAT CHAIRMAN BAILEY AND OTHERS WERE IDENTIFYING AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. THESE WERE AREAS THAT ACTUALLY WERE BARREN OF TREES SO YOU REALLY HAVE TWO ISSUES. ONE, CHAIRMAN BAILEY IS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS REGULATION OF FINES, RIGHTFULLY SO THEN AREAS THAT HAVE NO TREES LIKE THE AREA TO THE SOUTH OF FLINT RIDGE, LIKE THE AREA IN THE WESTERN ENTRANCE TO THE COMMUNITY ONTO 978 AND WALLACE PARKWAY, AND THE OTHER NOW WE WILL CALL IT THE NORTHWESTERN ENTRANCE AT RESEARCH FOREST EXTENSION THAT ACTUALLY HAVE NO TREES SO WHAT IS THE STANDARD THAT YOU WANT? IF WE MAINTAIN THE EXISTING AND SAY LISTEN, LET'S GET A PROJECT FOR THE VINE REMOVAL AREAS YOU MENTIONED THAT'S FINE THEN WE CAN BRING BACK ANOTHER PROJECT. NOW WE DID THE VINE AREAS.

HERE'S ANOTHER PROJECT. THESE AREAS, MAYBE OTHERS AND BY THE WAY IT'S ANOTHER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS THEN CAN WE ARE CAN WE NOT GET THAT, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR STAFF LEVELS .

>> SO WE HAVE ALREADY OF THAT 1 MILLION SPENT 485, 450, WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS. DID THAT ALSO

INCLUDE THE INVASIVE VINE REMOVAL? >> NO. THE MILLION DOLLARS YOU SET ASIDE IS THE REFORESTATION BUDGET PLAIN AND SIMPLE SO THAT INCLUDES UP TO 6000 TREES, THE LABOR AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF TO INSTALL IT THROUGH CONTRACTING. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE EMBEDDED

[01:20:13]

STAFF TIME. YOU HAVE ANOTHER FOREST MANAGEMENT BUDGET WHICH IS THE VINE REMOVAL WHICH IS ANOTHER LINE ITEM IN THERE. THERE ARE SOME DOLLARS FOR EDUCATION AND OTHER THINGS, AS WELL, SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE POTS OF MONEY BUT THE VINE REMOVAL IS, YOU KNOW, WE DO 120 DAYS BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH AND WE WILL DO ANOTHER 120 DAYS BETWEEN OCTOBER AND DECEMBER.

>> DOING A GREAT JOB. THEY LOOK A LOT BETTER THAN THE CENTER MEDIAN SO MAYBE COMMISSIONERS THE PAST OF NOT CARING ABOUT IT AS MUCH. I KNOW OUR NEW COMMISSIONERS ARE READY TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH US ABOUT IT. THERE IS NO WAY SEVEN PEOPLE CAN TAKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON AND MANAGE IT BUT I AM NOT FOR HIRING 75 MORE PEOPLE TO DO IT . WE OUTSOURCE IT. I THINK YOU WILL HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB AT OUTSOURCING WHETHER IT BE KING SOLOMON OR WHATEVER FENDERS WE HAVE. WE CAN OUTSOURCE IT. INSTEAD OF PAYING MEDICAL AND RETIREMENT AND ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE WE CAN OUTSOURCE THAT. LET'S COME UP WITH A GAME PLAN. THAT'S IT DOWN WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN DO IT AND REALLY TAKE A RIFLE APPROACH AT THIS.

>> THE POINT I NEED TO MAKE ONE MORE TIME AS I NEED TO KNOW WHAT LOCATIONS. THE LOCATIONS WILL DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF DOLLARS, AND THE NUMBER OF TREES AND MORE STAFF. I'M NOT DISAGREEING.

I'M NOT HERE TO ASK FOR ANY MORE STAFF, I'M NOT BUT IF ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU SAY I WANT TO GO

FROM 6000 TREES TO 12,000 TREES, THEN I NEED TO LOOK AT STAFF. >> I'M JUST TALKING FOR ME.

MAYBE IT'S ME. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY TREES NEED TO GO IN AN AREA.

>> THAT IS WHERE WE NEED THE LOCATIONS. THEN JOHN, MITCH, ALAN, MARK ARE GOING THERE AND SAYING HEY LISTEN, HERE'S THE DEPTH OF THE VINES WE ARE CONCERNED WITH. HERE'S THE WIDTH OF IT. HOW MANY TREES, WHAT IS THE SPECIES SELECTION. DO WE WANT TO MAKE IT REALLY A FORESTED AREA OR A MORE KIND OF MANICURED AREA. THOSE ARE THE DECISIONS WE ARE GOING TO COME

BACK WITH YOU BUT I NEED THE LOCATIONS. >> QUESTION AGAIN ABOUT THE COST, THE DOLLARS FOR TONIGHT. IF WE WERE GOING TO PASS THE ENTIRE REQUEST THAT IS HERE

WHERE WOULD THIS MONEY -- WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF THE MONEY? >> UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE.

>> TWO WE HAVE THAT? >> WE DO. WE DO. YOU CAN DO IT RIGHT NOW BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER DEMANDS ON THAT FUND BALANCE THAT I'M AWARE OF SO IT BECOMES A MATTER OF

PRIORITIZATION. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THIS IS NOT WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING

WE DO. THIS IS JUST A SAMPLE . >> IT IS. >> THIS IS A SAMPLE OF AREAS

WHICH HAVE NO TREES. >> RIGHT. YOU SAID THAT. >> THAT CHAIRMAN BAILEY AND I THINK SOME OTHERS ARE ALMOST MORE CONCERNED AND IF I'M PUTTING WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH I APOLOGIZE, WE ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT AREAS LIKE HERE, NEW TRAILS AND RESEARCH THAT HAVE

EXTENSIVE VINES TO REMOVE THAT AND REFOREST THAT AREA. >> I'M OKAY WITH STARTING HERE BECAUSE THESE ARE PERMANENT TREES. THEY ARE GOING TO SURVIVE. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THEY SURVIVE. GET THE WATER ON THEM. THEY ARE NOT HARD TO REACH, SO THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BECAUSE THESE ARE NEW TO OUR -- AREAS THAT HAVE NO TREES AND WE KNOW PEOPLE COME INTO THE WOODLANDS AND THEY DESERVE TO SEE TREES AND THEY ARE NOT THERE SO THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE THE WOODLANDS. IT LOOKS LIKE THE REDHEADED STEPCHILD AGAIN IT'S NOT US. SO I'M INTERESTED IN TAKING A STEP AND I KNOW THE STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING IS COMING BUT AGAIN THAT

PUTS US DOWN ANOTHER MONTH OR THREE MONTHS >> I WOULD SAY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO PLANT A TREE IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY SO THE COMMENT I WOULD MAKE IS WE CAN BRING BACK THIS PROPOSAL, THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THEN CHAIRMAN BAILEY'S CONCERN AND VICE CHAIRMAN EISSLER'S CONCERN ABOUT THESE AREAS OUT HERE SO NOW YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE TOTALITY AND WE CAN ALSO LOOK AT THE TOTALITY FROM A STAFFING RESOURCE. HOW DO WE GET NOT ONLY THESE TREES THAT YOU WANT BUT ALSO THE ORIGINAL 6000. IS KIND OF A MOVING TARGET.

[01:25:10]

>> I AGREE I'M NOT READY TO DO ANYTHING TONIGHT. I REALLY WANT TO STUDY IT BUT YOU KNOW, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS AREA RIGHT HERE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WOODLANDS PARKWAY BETWEEN THE PANTHER CREEKS. CAN WE IDENTIFY IN A QUICK TIME BY THIS TIME NEXT MONTH, HERE ARE FIVE AREAS THAT ARE IMPORTANT? CAN I THINK, THIS IS ME, COMING IN AND OUT OF THE WOODLANDS, THE HIGH-TRAFFIC AREAS WITH THIS BERKELEY LAKE WOODLANDS RESEARCH 242, ARE IMPORTANT. GOSLING, ROGAN'S MILL ALSO, HOW DO WE LOOK AT THOSE AREAS, TARGET JUST FIVE AREAS THAT WE CAN DO KIND OF A TEST CASE SCENARIO. THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE MASSIVE PROJECTS BUT JUST LITTLE ONES TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY IN THE PROCESS OF HEY, YOU TAKE CARE OF THE ROAD CLOSURES AND THE CONES AND ALL THAT STUFF. WE ARE GOING TO CONTRACTED OUT TO A CONTRACTOR TO DO IT AND THEY SUPERVISE IT. ADDITIONALLY I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE ALL ON THE TOWNSHIP'S DOLLAR. I DON'T. THE GREAT BANK OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP IS COMING TO A QUICK CLOSE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE STEWARDS OF OUR MONEY AND DON'T JUST GIVE IT ALL OUT SO I THINK WE COME FROM ONE OF THE MOST PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITIES IN THE WORLD . I THINK WE'VE GOT INCREDIBLE COMPANIES THAT WOULD GIVE BACK TO A COMMUNITY TO SPONSOR TREES AND FRUSTRATION THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. HOW ARE WE GOING TO WORK WITH A NONPROFIT TO GET SOMETHING LIKE THAT SET UP AND TO START GETTING COMPANIES OR PEOPLE OR INDIVIDUALS TO SPONSOR GROSS OF TREES IN AREAS SO IT'S NOT ON THE TAXPAYERS, IT IS PRIVATE MONEY COMING IN FROM NOT -- NONPROFITS. THAT IS AN AREA I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT. SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE TOWNSHIP NEEDS TO LOOK AT THAT BUT I THINK IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE A PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY. IT SHOULD NOT BE ON THE TAXPAYERS EXPECTS TO DO ALL THIS BUT WE CAN MANAGE IT, OVERSEE IT, MAKE SURE IT IS DONE RIGHT BECAUSE OUR TEAM DOES A FANTASTIC JOB, ESPECIALLY WITH SEVEN PEOPLE. THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE. PLEASE DON'T TAKE OUR CRITICISM ON THIS IS A

SITUATION. THIS IS A MASSIVE PROJECT. >> AGAIN EVERYONE AROUND THE

TABLE CAN WORK ON IT. >> THAT IS WHAT IT IS SO IF I CAN GET THOSE TEST AREAS FROM THE BOARD COLLECTIVELY WE CAN THEN DO THE RESEARCH AND GO TALK TO THE COUNTY. WE CAN THEN GO REALLY AND THEN PRESENT THE QUOTE UNQUOTE WORST-CASE SCENARIO FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE AND ARE THERE AVAILABLE FUNDS?

>> I THINK IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT I THINK YOU ALL HAVE CERTAINLY AN IDEA WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE AND I'M CERTAIN YOU CAN IDENTIFY AREAS THAT WOULD FALL INTO THESE

CATEGORIES AS WELL. >> I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT BUT YOUR INPUT IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE THESE ARE THINGS OF CONCERN TO YOU AS BOARD MEMBERS AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE -- HERE'S MY RECOMMENDATION OF HERE'S FIVE LOCATIONS. WHAT ARE YOU DOING THAT FOR? I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BLENDING THOSE TWO INTO YOUR COMMENT , DIRECTOR FRANKS, SO WE ARE LOOKING AGAIN

AT THE TOTALITY. >> WELL, THAT IS AN EASY ASKED. >> EVERYBODY SEND AN IDEA TO CHRIS BY THIS TIME NEXT MONTH. WE CAN SAY HERE ARE FIVE TARGET AREAS, MAYBE HAVE A MEETING WITH THE COMMISSIONER TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN DO IT BUT I JUST THINK IT IS NEEDED AND I AM FOR SPENDING THE MONEY WHEN WE HAVE A PLAN. IF WE CAN GO THE NONPROFIT ANGLE TO GET TREES DONATED , SAVE THE TAXPAYER MONEY, THAT IS A WIN, SO. ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL THINGS? CAN WE JUST ACCEPT THE REPORT AS IS? MOVE BY DIRECTOR SNYDER, SECONDED BY DIRECTOR

[10. Receive, consider and act upon adoption of the 2025 Budget Calendar and a related amendment to the Board of Directors 2025 Meeting Schedule;]

SEKULA-GIBBS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. MOTION CARRIES. ACT UPON THE ADOPTION OF THE 2025 BUDGET CALENDAR TO AMEND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025 MEETING SCHEDULE. I CALL ON KELLEN SHAW

TO PRESENT THE MEETING. >> THANK YU. TO THIS ITEM THERE ARE TWO PROPOSED BUDGET CALENDAR OPTIONS RELATED TO THE 2026 BUDGET, THE 2025 PROPERTY RIGHT. THE FIRST OPTION WOULD HAVE THE

MEETINGS ON AUGUST 4 THROUGH EIGHT. >> YOU HAVE A SLIDE FOR THAT?

>> I DO NOT HAVE A SLIDE. >> FOR SOME REASON MY COMPUTER IS NOT WORKING RIGHT. WHAT'S

THE NUMBER OF THE PAGE AGAIN? >> 33 THROUGH 37 MAYBE. OPTION A WOULD BE AUGUST 4 THROUGH EIGHT AND THIS WOULD ALLOW THE BOARD TO ADOPT A RATE THAT MAY EXCEED THE VOTER APPROVAL RIGHT BUT ANY DISCUSSION REGARDING THE 2025 TAX RATE AND THE 2026 BUDGET WOULD BE MADE WITHOUT KNOWING

[01:30:13]

THE FINAL PROPERT TAX EVALUATIONS FROM THE COUNTIES, MONTGOMEY AND HARRIS COUNTY.

THAT WOULD BE OPTION A. OPTION B WOULD BE MEETING DATES OF AUGUST 18 THROUGH 22ND AND ALTHOUGH YOU WOULD HAVE THE FINAL VALUATIONS OF THE PROPERTY TAX, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THE OPTION OF A TAX

RATE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE VOTER-APPROVED. >> I KNOW I ALREADY HAVE PLANS

FOR A NEW JERSEY SHORE HOUSE THAT FIRST ONE. SORRY. >> PLANS TO GET VACATIONS EARLY.

>> SAME TIME EVERY YEAR. >> IF I RECALL, IT IS THE LATER WE ARE IN AUGUST PROVIDES MORE

INFORMATION. >> IT DOES ALLOW US TO HAVE MORE HISTORICAL DATA AND JUST HISTORICALLY THE BOARD HAS GONE WITH OPTION B THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

>> IF I CAN ADD THE ONLY REASON YOU WOULD CHOOSE OPTION A AS OF RIGHT NOW YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING TO APPROVE A RATE THAT IS ABOVE THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE WHICH MEANS YOU WOULD HAVE TO PUT THAT RATE ON THE BALLOT AND HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS APPROVED FOR IT. UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF AND I AM NOT, I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING AND I WOULD RECOMMEND

OPTION B. >> MOTION FOR OPTION B. >> ALL RIGHT. MOVED AND

SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> THANK YOU. GOOD NEWS AGAIN.

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

ITEM NUMBER 11, RECEIVE AND ACT UPON MONTGOMERY CENTER APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION BALLOT AND APPROVE A RESOLUTION IN CONNECTION THERE WITH. KAREN DEMPSEY IS GOING TO COME UP AND EXPLAIN THE MOST COMPLICATED ELECTION PROCESS IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA. AGAIN.

>> I DID LET SHELLEY HUNTER KNOW SHE WAS WELCOME TO ATTEND BUT SHE IS NOT HERE TODAY SO I WILL TAKE A QUICK RUN AT IT. AS WE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK, THIS IS THE GENERAL BALLOT, WHICH IS NOT THE SAME AS THE GENERAL ELECTION. THE GENERAL BALLOT IS USED TO APPOINT DIRECTORS TO MCAT BY THE PARTICIPATING TAXING ENTITY. THE GENERAL ELECTION PIECE OF IT IS WHERE THE VOTERS ARE ABLE TO VOTE DIFFERENT POSITIONS, DIFFERENT PROCESS, SO LAST MONTH THE TOWNSHIP DID CAST ALL OF ITS VOTES FOR ARTHUR BRINKERHOFF AS THE CANDIDATE AND WE WERE INFORMED BY CHIEF SHELLEY HUNTER THAT HE DID RECEIVE THAT NOMINATION AND SO THAT IS PART OF WHY THE GENERAL BALLOT THAT WE HAVE THIS MONTH INCLUDES HIS NAME. SIMILAR TO LAST MONTH BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION WE RECEIVED FROM IN C.A.D. THE TOWNSHIP AGAIN DOES HAVE THE ABILITY TO VOTE FOR ANY OF THE DIRECTORS THAT APPEAR ON THE BALLOT. THERE ARE 11 NAMES. SOME OF THEM ARE FAMILIAR TO YOU.

SOME OF THEM MAY NOT BE. ALL OF THEM DID HAVE BIOS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET. THE THREE THAT ARE KNOWN TO LIVE IN THE WOODLANDS ARE ARTHUR BRENDA HOFF, RUTH REESER, WHO IS A FORMER DIRECTOR AND BRETT TAFT WHO ALSO IS A FORMER DIRECTOR BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES DALE INMAN, DR. JERRY NAFF, MISTY, SHAKEEL SAMSON, CHARLES SHIRLEY AND FRANK SMITH. THE WAY THAT THIS ELECTION WORKS IS SIMILAR TO THE WAY THAT THE ELECTION WORKED FOR H C.A.D. IT IS TO BE A DIFFERENT PROCESS NOW FROM WHAT MCAT HAS TOLD US IS THAT IT IS A DIFFERENT PROCESS WHICH IS THAT YOU CAN VOTE FOR ANY OF THE NAMES ON THIS BOUT HOWEVER ALL OF THE BALLOTS THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE CONSERVATION RECLAMATION DISTRICTS WILL BE SET ASIDE AND WHOEVER RECEIVES THE MOST VOTES FROM THE CONSERVATION AND RECLAMATION DISTRICTS WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE RECEIVED ALL THE VOTES CAST BY CONSERVATION RECLAMATION DISTRICTS SO IF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD CHOOSES TO DIVIDE ITS 130 VOTES AMONG NOTABLE CANDIDATES , AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO COUNT FOR ONE CANDIDATE AND THAT IS GOING TO BE THE ONE CANDIDATE THAT ADVANCES OUT OF THIS SEPARATE

ACCOUNT FOR THE CONSERVATION RECLAMATION DISTRICTS. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. I KNOW THAT COUNTY BUT THIS MORNING AND PUBLICLY SAID THEY HAVE PUT ALL THEIR VOTES BEHIND MISTY. HAS

ANY OTHER ENTITIES VOTED FOR A CANDIDATE THAT WE KNOW OF? >> I HAVE NOT DONE THAT

[01:35:04]

RESEARCH. >> DO YOU KNOW ANYBODY? >> YOU REPEAT WHAT YOU SAID?

>> IS THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAD A MEETING THIS MORNING AND THEY PUT MISTY

PERRINI UP AS THEIR CANDIDATE. >> THE CONROE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT IS HAVING THEIR MEETING

TOMORROW NIGHT AND I BELIEVE THEY HAVE CLOSE TO 1400 VOTES. >> YOU, WHOEVER THEY VOTE FOR IS

IN. >> TOMORROW THEY WILL VOTE. >> OKAY. I JUST DID NOT KNOW IF

ANYONE BESIDES THE COUNTY HAD VOTED. >> IF I MAY INFORM THE BOARD, I KNOW SOME THIS IS MUD 67 AND IT SPLIT ITS VOTES BETWEEN MR. BREEDER HALF AND MR. SHIRLEY. I JUST WANT TO LET THAT SINK IN BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T DO THAT SO THIS IS NEW FOR THEM AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING FOR US TO CONSIDER SINCE WE HAD A 4-3 VOTE LAST TIME WHEN WE VOTED FOR THIS AND WE NOW HAVE THREE PEOPLE ON THE BALLOT WHO ARE FROM THE WOODLANDS, THAT WE CONSIDER

SPLITTING THE VOTE FOR THOSE THREE. >> THE BOARD IS WELCOME TO DETERMINE THE WAY IT WISHES TO CAST ITS VOTES IN ORDER TO HAVE AN ORDERLY PROCESS . WE CAN PREPARE BALLOTS LIKE LAST MONTH FOR THE ELECTION WOULD HAPPEN IN TWO PHASES WHERE THE FIRST PROCESS THE BOARD WOULD CHOOSE WHICH CANDIDATES THEY WANT TO CAST VOTES FOR, AND ANY CANDIDATE THAT RECEIVES AT LEAST FOUR OR A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD , INTEREST THROUGH THAT BALLOTING PROCESS WOULD THEN ADVANCE. ANYONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE INTERESTED WOULD NOT CONTINUE ON AND THEN THE ENTIRE BOARD WOULD TAKE THOSE REMAINING CANDIDATES AND DETERMINE HOW MANY VOTES YOU WANT TO CAST FOR THAT. WE HAVE A SPREADSHEET .

>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION. I DID NOT SEE BRUCE TOUGH'S NAME LAST TIME.

HOW DID HE END UP ON THIS LIST? >> SO, THE LAST ONE WAS ONLY THOSE CANDIDATES WHO HAD BEEN NOMINATED BY CONSERVATION RECLAMATION DISTRICTS AND SO IF YOU RECALL, IN DECEMBER, THE BOARD NOMINATED ARTHUR BREDEHOFT.

>> BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT APPLIED. >> HE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO WOULD

APPROACH US WITH INTEREST AT THAT TIME. >> YES, SO ALL THESE OTHERS --

THIS IS JUST AMAZING TO ME. >> DISTRICT MEMBERS ARE ALL OVER THE COUNTY SO IT'S NOT JUST THE WOODLANDS MEDS . IT IS ANY CONSERVATION RECLAMATION DISTRICT WITHIN THE COUNTY. AND SO THERE IS CONROE, EAST MONTGOMERY COUNTY. THEY ARE ALL OVER, REALLY.

>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER ENTITIES WHO HAVE FEWER VOTES THAN WE DO? >> SOME OF THE -- WITHIN THE CONSERVATION RECLAMATION DISTRICTS WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGER ONES. IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE COMBINATION, THE TOWNSHIP AND THE MUDS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP THAT IS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE VOTE FOR THE CONSERVATION RECLAMATION DISTRICT PIECE BUT IT IS NOT THE ENTIRETY.

>> HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY MAKE IT OUT OF THIS LIST? >> FIVE.

>> THE TOP FIVE SO THAT'S QUITE A NUMBER. >> MANY VOTES DO WE HAVE THIS

TIME? >> 130 AGAIN BECAUSE IT IS BASED ON THE TAXABLE VALUE.

>> YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE WAY UP THERE SINCE WE PAY 33% OF THE COUNTY'S PROPERTY TAXES.

JUST A LITTLE INSTRUCTION. >> THAT'S WHY WE HAVE 130, NOT 30.

>> SHENANDOAH, DID THEY EVEN VOTE? >> I DON'T KNOW.

>> SOME PEOPLE DO. THEY DON'T EVEN VOTE. >> I DON'T KNOW. M.U.D.S THAT

HOUSE REVOTES MIGHT NOT EVEN BOTHER TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS. >> ARE YOU INTERESTED IN GOING

THROUGH THE BUILDING PROCESS? >> I WILL MAKE A MOTION. I MOVED TO CASTEL 130 VOTES TO ARTHUR

BREDEHOFT. >> SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE

>> NO. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED? >> WELL I THINK WE NEED -- SO,

[01:40:05]

NOW WE HAVE BRUCE TOUGH ON HERE, TOO. >> I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW THIS

WORKS. THIS IS ALL NEW TO ME. >> THERE IS NO VETERAN ON THIS ONE.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE WE ALL NEED TO KIND OF VOTE THE VOTES WERE ON THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IT WOULD BE HELPFUL. WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A RECORD

VOTE BUT THERE WERE SOME QUIETER -- >> I WILL SAY IT. ROLL CALL.

>> QUICK QUESTION. ARTHUR IS ALREADY ON THE BALLOT AS FAR AS WAS IT THE COUNTY? NO, THE

COUNTY PUT MISTY ON IT. >> HE IS ON THE BALLOT CERTAINLY BECAUSE OF THE CONSERVATION RECLAMATION DISTRICTS. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WERE OTHERS BECAUSE OTHER TAX ENTITIES DID PUT SOME OF THE NAMES. SOME PEOPLE WERE ADDED BY OTHER MULTIPLE TYPES OF TAXING

JURISDICTIONS. >> HOW IS MR. TUFTS ON THE SPELL IT?

>> WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. >> THE SECOND.

>> WE ARE DISCUSSING IT, THOUGH. >> OH, OKAY, I THOUGHT WE VOTED.

>> SO, WHERE ARE WE OUT? ROLLCALL? I HAVE A MOTION FROM DIRECTOR SNYDER, SECOND FROM

CRAIG EISSLER. ROLLCALL. DIRECTOR NELSON. >> IS IT ABOUT ARTHUR? YES.

>> DIRECTOR SEKULA-GIBBS. >> NO. >> DR. ANN SNYDER.

>> YES. >> DIRECTOR HEISER. >> GOING TO GO WITH YES.

>> ALL RIGHT. DIRECTOR FRANKS. >> WHAT WAS YOUR VOTE? I DIDN'T HEAR .

>> IT IS THAT I'M GOING WITH YES. >> NO. YES.

>> VICE CHAIRMAN EISSLER. >> YES. >> ALL RIGHT, CHAIRMAN BAILEY IS

YES. 6-1, THE MOTION CARRIES. >> THIS IS THE MOST CONFUSING THING IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. AND ARTHUR DID COME TO US. THANK YOU FOR THAT. CONGRATULATIONS, ARTHUR.

>> IF YOU CAN MAKE SURE WE'RE DONE APPROVING THE RESOLUTION. >> SORRY. I THOUGHT WE WERE

DONE. >>. ALL RIGHT, THE CHAIRMAN CALLS A MOTION TO SECOND

ADOPTION. >> WE CAN INCORPORATE THAT INTO DIRECTOR SNYDER'S ORIGINAL

MOTION. >> YES, CHAIRMAN CALLS FOR A MOTION FOR ARTHUR BREDEHOFT TO

[12. 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;]

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR TO SIGN THE BALLOT. DO I HAVE A MOTION?

>> WE ALREADY VOTED. >> MOTION ON THE SECOND. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ITEM 12, RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. HEREBY ANNOUNCE THE BOARD WILL RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO ANNOUNCY PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.072

[13. Reconvene in public session;]

[14. Consideration of items to be placed on the agenda for next month's meeting;]

RECONVENE FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. IT IS 9:56. CONSIDERING ITEMS PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR

NEXT MONTH'S MEETING. DO I HAVE ANY? >> I HAVE. AN UPDATE ON THE

GOVERNMENT AND/OR EDC COMMITTEES, PLEASE. >> OKAY.

>> I HAVE A COUPLE. IN ONE I'VE MENTIONED, ON THE COUNTY ACTUALLY ATTEMPTED TO DO THIS, TOO, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE ADMINISTRATION TO LOOK INTO AN AI OPERATION THAT WOULD DO A MINI DOGE FOR THE WOODLANDS AND TRY TO LOOK FOR AREAS WHRE WE CAN CUT AND TO BE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO IS TO GET AN UPDATE ON WHERE CREEKSIDE PARK IS RECEIVING SERVICES FROM CENTERPOINT, HAVE SOME SORT OF

[01:45:08]

FEEDBACK ON HOW THAT IS GOING, BECAUSE I HAVE HAD REPORTS FROM DIFFERENT RESIDENTS THAT IT IS NOT GOING WELL. SO, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHERE WE STAND. I KNOW WE SET UP TWO COMMITTEES THAT I HAVE NEVER MET. MY COMMITTEE HAS NEVER MET. NOT THAT WE HAVE TO MEET, BUT AT THE SAME TIME --

>> THERE'S A LOT GOING ON THE LEGISLATURE WITH CENTERPOINT RIGHT NOW.

>> MAYBE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE NEXT MONTH BUT WITHIN THE NEAR FUTURE I WOULD LIKE TO GET AN