Mar 26, 2025 Board of Directors Regular Meeting Agenda

[00:00:07]

>> I CALL THIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR MEETING ON MARCH 26TH AT 6:00 P.M. TO ORDER. I WANT TO HAVE VICE CHAIRMAN CRAIG EISSLER OPEN US UP IN PRAYER.

>> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN BAILEY, PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS. HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR MANY BLESSINGS THAT YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON US AND OUR GREAT COMMUNITY, AND OUR GREAT STATE, AND OUR GREAT NATION , WE ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING OVER US, LORD, PLEASE BE WITH US TONIGHT IN THIS MEETING AND JUST EVERYTHING WE THINK, SAY, OR DO WE PRAY THAT IT GLORIFIES AND HONORS YOU. AMEN.

>> AMEN. DIRECTOR EISSLER LEADERS IN THE PLEDGE.

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG; I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER

GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. >> PROCLAMATIONS BUT BEFORE WE DO HAVE A GROUP FROM WOODLAND HIGH SCHOOL THEATER CLUB, WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAND UP HERE FOR US ALL? THEY CAME IN WITH THE PROCLAMATION A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WE READ FOR THEM AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND BUT ALL OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY, GIVE THEM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL THAT THEY DO. AS WE EXPLORE OUR

[2. Proclamations;]

INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT , MARY DOUGLAS , AND WRITER THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT CAROL CHAPMAN, TREASURER MARTY CAGE , SECRETARY PARLIAMENTARIAN LAURA VAN LOW , PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR BETH MARSHALL, MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR , MY PARENTS NEIGHBOR, PAT LOW , AND FRIDA THOMAS THE HISTORIAN, THANK YOU FOR COMING, LINDA WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION.

>> WHILE I READ IT, MARY TEAM, PLEASE COME UP AND FACE THE AUDIENC WHILE I READ IT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WHEREAS THE WOMEN OF THE WOODLANDS NEWCOMERS CLUB WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1980 AS A NONPROFIT SOCIAL CLUB OPEN TO ALL WOMEN WHO LIVE IN WOODLANDS, TEXAS AND WHEREAS THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE CLUB IS TO ENGAGE NEW RESIDENCE IN THE SOCIAL AND CIVIC LIFE OF THE WOODLAND COMMUNITY AND WHEREAS THOUSANDS OF WOMEN HAVE BUILT LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS THROUGH THE WOMEN OF THE WOODLANDS NEWCOMER CLUB , WHEREAS THE WOMEN OF THE WOODLANDS NEWCOMERS CLUB HAS INSPIRED A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY IN THE WOODLANDS.

THEREFORE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP ACKNOWLEDGE THE POSITIVE ROLE THE WOMEN OF THE WOODLANS NEWCOMERS CLUB HAS PLAYED IN FORGING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY IN THE WOODLANDS , WE CONGRATULATE THE WOMEN OF THE WOODLANDS, THAT IS A TONGUE TWISTER , NEWCOMERS CLUB ON ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY AND DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 1ST, 2025, AS WOMEN OF THE WOODLANDS NEWCOMERS CLUB 45TH ANNIVERSARY DAY , IN THE WOODLANDS , TEXAS.

STAY THERE, WE WILL TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU, ALL SO MUCH, WE APPRECIATED . THANK YOU, ALL.

[00:05:16]

>> IT IS CLUBS LIKE THIS THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE RANKED ONE OF THE TOP PLACES TO LIVE IN THE COUNTRY, THANK YOU SO MUCH,

LADIES. >> THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY TO

HAPPY HOUR RIGHT NOW. >>

>> OH, YOU DON'T WANT TO STAY FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING? OKAY, NEXT AGENDA ITEM, RECOGNIZING EARTH MONTH IN THE WOODLANDS, DIRECTOR HEISER, READ THE PROCLAMATION, JOINING US UP FRONT IS AMBER BARNES , ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES MANAGER AND GRACE DECARLO, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION COORDINATOR AT THE

WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP. >> BE IT PROCLAIMED WHEREAS THE FIRST EARTH DAY WAS CELEBRATED ON APRIL 22ND, 1970 , WITH THE GOAL OF INSPIRING AND APPRECIATION OF OUR NATIONS NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES THROUGH CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION. TODAY IT IS OBSERVED THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF APRIL AS EARTH MONTH. WHEREAS THE WOODLANDS HAS SINCE ITS INCEPTION COMMITTED TO PRESERVING , MAINTAINING AND ENHANCING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT , WHEREAS THE WOODLANDS COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP IS EVIDENCED BY THE SUPPORT OF VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND EVENTS , SUCH AS COMPOSTING AND GARDENING CLASSES, ARBOR DAY TREE GIVEAWAY AND COMMUNITY TREEPLANTING EVENTS. RECYCLING DRIVE AND LITTER CLEANUPS , MOSQUITO EDUCATION , AND THE CREATION OF POLLINATOR HABITATS . WHEREAS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP CONSIDERS THE PRESERVATION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND FOSTERING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY ESSENTIAL TO KEEPING THE HOMETOWN VISION ALIVE . WHEREAS THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP HEREBY ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, AND INSTITUTIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LIVING EARTH DAY AS A MONTH-LONG CELEBRATION IN APRIL, PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVITIES THAT RAISE AWARENESS, FOSTER ENVIRONMENT OF STEWARDSHIP , AND ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES TO PROTECT OUR HOMES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THEREFORE I BRAD BAILEY AS CHAIRMAN OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF APRIL 2025 AS EARTH MONTH, 2025 IN THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS. THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT. >> I'M GOING TO HOLD UP THIS INCREDIBLE -- YOU .

READY? ONE, TWO, THREE . ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, ALL, SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT .

>> A REALLY COOL GRAPHIC THAT I'M SURE WILL BE ON EVERYBODY'S SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS, ALL THE DIFFERENT EVENTS THEY HAVE, ONE EVERY SINGLE DAY IN THE MONTH OF APRIL. THESE TWO

[3. Call meeting to order;]

LADIES WILL BE PRETTY BUSY. >> NO DAYS OFF.

>> ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON, CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:09 P.M., IN ACCORDANCE TO STATE LAW NOTICE OF THE MEETING WAS POSTED EVERY TWO HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING, THE POSTING OCCURRED INSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TOWNSHIP OF THIS OFFICE BUILDING. STATE LAW REQUIRES AT LEAST FOUR MEMBERS BE IN ATTENDANCE TO ESTABLISH AND CONDUCT BUSINESS, I ASK EACH BOARD MEMBER TO INDICATE YOUR PRESENCE BY RESPONDING WITH AN AUDIBLE SOUND OF YOU AS A CORAL. CRAIG EISSLER?

>> HERE. >> RICHARD FRANKS?

>> HERE. >> CINDY HEISER ?

>> HERE. >> SHELLEY SEKULA-GIBBS?

>> HERE. BRAD BAILEY? >> HERE.

[4. Receive, consider and act upon adoption of the meeting agenda;]

>> A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF MEMBERS ARE HERE TO BRING -- TO DECLARE WE HAVE A QUORUM. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR, ACTING UPON THE ADOPTION OF THE MEETING AGENDA. PLEASE REVIEW THE AGENDA ON PAGES 1 THROUGH 3 IN YOUR PACKET, I CALL A MOTION TO ADOPT

THE AGENDA. >> SOUL MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> --

>> THE MOTION CARRIES. RECOGNIZE PUBLIC OFFICIALS, WE HAVE NO

[6. Public comment;]

[00:10:05]

NUMBER THREE, INDIVIDUALS ARE LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF THREE MINUTES REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF TOPICS, IF THERE ARE MORE THAN 15 SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, EACH SPEAKER WILL BE LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF TOPICS. NUMBER FOUR, SPEAKERS WILL BE TAKEN IN THE ORDER THAT THEY SIGN UP, SPEAKERS CANNOT YIELD THEIR TIME TO ANOTHER SPEAKER ON THE LIST. NUMBER FOUR, NUMBER FIVE, STATE LAW PROHIBITS THE BOARD FROM FORMALLY ACTING ON A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM OR PUBLIC, UNLESS IT APPEARS ON THE POSTED AGENDA, THEREFORE ANY BOARD DISCUSSION OF ITEMS NOT INCLUDED ON THE POSTED AGENDA IS LIMITED TO QUESTIONS, CLARIFICATIONS AND WHETHER OR NOT THE ITEM SHOULD BE PLACED ON FUTURE BOARD AGENDAS. NUMBER SIX, SPEAKERS MAY EXPRESS THEIR OPINION AND VIEWPOINT ON AN ISSUE BUT ARE NOT PERMITTED TO PUT IT IN THE DEBATE OF AN ISSUE. NUMBER SEVEN, SPEAKERS MAY NOT USE PROFANITY. NUMBER EIGHT, COMMENTS FROM SPEAKERS CAN BE MADE TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE OR TO AN INDIVIDUAL DIRECTOR.

NUMBER NINE, PLEASE PLACE YOUR CELL PHONES ON SILENT MODE. I CALL THE NAME TO THE SPEAKER ROSTER, FIRST UP IS OUR GOOD FRIEND ARTHUR BIRTTINGHOFF , ARTHUR?

>> GOOD EVENING , CHAIRMAN BAILEY , DIRECTORS , SENIOR STAFF , I AM HERE TONIGHT TO FIRST THINK THE BOARD FOR THEIR ACTIONS AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, IT WAS VERY EFFECTIVE TO HELP ME WHEN IN THE MCAT ELECTION , I AM ELECTED TO REPRESENT SPECIAL-PURPOSE DISTRICTS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, YOUR ACTIONS DO HAVE POSITIVE IMPACT AND I WANTED TO COME TONIGHT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO, I WILL REPRESENT YOU AS BEST AS WE CAN AND IT IS AN HONOR TO REPRESENT SPECIAL PROGRAM DISTRICTS, PARTICULAR THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP WHERE I

LIVE ON THE THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, CONGRATULATIONS.

>> COME BACK PERIODICALLY AND CATCH US UP ON WHAT IS GOING ON.

>> PLEASE MAKE SURE THE ELECTION PROCESS IS STREAMLINED NEXT

[7. Receive, consider and act upon reports from Village Association representatives;]

ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM SEVEN, REPORTS BY THE VILLAGE ASSOCIATIONS , WE HAVE A FEW VILLAGE ASSOCIATIONS HERE TODAY, FIRST UP FROM ALDEN BRIDGE , MARION --, WELCOME.

>> GOOD EVENING CHAIRMAN BAILEY AND DIRECTORS, MY NAME IS MARIANNE BRADEN , PRESIDENT OF THE ALDEN BRIDGE ASSOCIATION, I WOULD LIKE TO GET AN UP DATE. WE HAD OUR ANNUAL MEETING ON MARCH 17TH, WE RECEIVED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT FROM SPECIALIST --, WHO PROVIDED US WITH A HOME SECURITY CHECKLIST WHICH WE SHARED ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA SO THE RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION. DR. SEKULA-GIBBS TOLD US ABOUT THE TOUR SHE TOOK TO THE NEW LIBRARY AND COMMITTEE CENTER AND SHE SAID BOTH WOULD BE TREMENDOUS ADDITIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND SHE REALLY ENJOYED THE TOUR. WE CEDED THE BOARD FOR THIS YEAR, THE BOARD ELECTED MYSELF AS PRESIDENT, EMILY MAUER AS VICE PRESIDENT, CARRIE CARR AS SECRETARY AND JUSTIN BUTTERFIELD AS THE TREASURER. WE NOW HAVE A FULL BOARD OF 19 MEMBERS. WE ARE REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT ADELE YOUNG DID NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION, SHE HAS SERVED THE WOODLANDS AS A VOLUNTEER SINCE 2005 AND HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE ALDEN BRIDGE VILLAGE ASSOCIATION SINCE THE VILLAGE ASSOCIATIONS WERE CREATED. WE WILL BE RECOGNIZING ADELE AND THANK HER FOR OUR SERVICE TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND COMMUNITY AT OUR MEETING IN MAY. SHE WAS ACTUALLY , SHE STARTED VOLUNTEERING IN MAY OF 2005, IT WILL BE EXACTLY 20 YEARS WHEN WE DO RECOGNIZE HER AT OUR MEETING.

WE RECEIVED 24 APPLICATIONS FOR OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE REVIEWING THE APPLICATIONS.

[00:15:01]

ALL RESIDENTS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND AND THAT CONCLUDES MY

REPORT. >> THANK YOU, MARIANNE , YOU MAY WANT TO PLAN THE TIME BECAUSE NICK CAN TALK.

>> I TRIED TO GIVE HIM A TIME LIMIT.

>> IMPOSSIBLE, PUT A SHOCK COLLAR ON HIM OR SOMETHING. ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, --, JC HARVEY, WELCOME. MY PERSONAL FAVORITE.

MY PERSONAL FAVORITE BILL ASSOCIATION.

>> THANK YOU, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND THE TOWNSHIP PEOPLE.

LAST NIGHT WE HAD OUR MEETING OUR ANNUAL MEETING, WE DID HAVE DR. CHRIS NEWS AS OUR GUEST SPEAKER , HE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB SHARING ABOUT PLANS IN THE WOODLANDS, ESPECIALLY THINGS HAPPENING IN COCHRAN'S CROSSING AND ANSWERED VILLAGE MEMBERS QUESTIONS, ALSO DR. SEKULA-GIBBS WAS WITH US AND WE HAD 10 RESIDENTS THERE WHO WERE ASKING DIFFERENT QUESTIONS . WE DID ELECT OUR OFFICERS , I WAS RE-ELECTED AS PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT IS DOUG --, SECRETARIES CYNTHIA KISSINGER AND LAURA RILEY WILL CONTINUE AS TREASURER. WE ADOPTED OUR BUDGET AND COMPLETED ALL OF OUR INFORMATION FOR THE SERVICE AGREEMENT SO WE CAN GET THAT TURNED INTO THE TOWNSHIP TODAY.

WE HAD ONE RESIDENT THERE WHO WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SPEEDING AND CUTTING THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I LIVE AND OVERGROWTH AROUND THE STREET, I KNOW CHRIS TOOK HIS INFORMATION AND GAVE HIM INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT. WE STARTED PLANS FOR OUR POOL PARTY WHICH WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 7TH AT VERA BRANCH POOL, WE DO HAVE OUR APPLICATIONS ONLINE FOR OUR SCHOLARSHIPS, JUST LIKE MARIANNE TALKED ABOUT. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 14 YOU HAVE APPLIED , 14 SENIORS AND OUR SCHOLARSHIPS ARE OPEN UNTIL APRIL THE 17TH. OUR MEETING FOR MAY WILL BE HELD AT FIRE STATION 2 ON GOSLING. THANK YOU, ALL , FOR YOUR CONTINUED

SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU , SO MUCH.

>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP IS PANTHER CREEK , ANDREW FREEMAN. WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU CHAIRMAN BAILEY AND TOWNSHIP BOARD, AN UPDATE ON PANTHER CREEK. BEFORE I BEGIN I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR ALL OF THEIR HELP. THEY HAVE HELPED TO KEEP ME IN LINE AND I APPRECIATE

IT. >>

>> THE ELECTION UPDATE, WE DID OUR SEATING IN FEBRUARY , WE MOVED OUR MEETINGS AND THIS YEAR WE HAD 10 PEOPLE FOR NINE SEATS AND WE HAD A CONTESTED ELECTION, IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE HAD A CONTESTED ELECTION. VOTER TURNOUT WAS 60 PEOPLE, WE WERE ONE OF THE HIGHEST VILLAGES, NOT A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BUT FOR AN ASSOCIATION ELECTION, PRETTY GOOD. WE DON'T HAVE A FULL BOARD, WE HAVE A FEW SLOTS OPEN , HEALTHY BY THE END OF THIS YEAR WE WILL HAVE A FULL BOARD, WE ARE RECRUITING. APRIL IS , WE NORMALLY HAVE A MEETING IN APRIL BUT WE ARE CHANGING IT TO BE A COMMUNITY EVENT WHERE WE WILL HAVE MONIQUE, SHE WILL GIVE A FINANCIAL UPDATE, I AM ASKING FOR HELP FROM DIRECTOR NELSON AND DIRECTOR FRANKS TO GET PEOPLE FROM OUR VILLAGE TO ATTEND, WE WOULD LIKE TO FILL THE ROOM. WE WILL FORGO REGULAR MEETING AND HAVE IT BE , WE WILL STOP THE SHERIFF'S REPORT AND HEALTHY THAT WILL RECRUIT MORE PEOPLE TO JOIN THE BOARD. WE WILL ALSO POST THAT ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. WE ARE GOING TO START A SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER, WE ARE GOING TO PRODUCE A SMALL BATCH OF T-SHIRTS TO HELP FUND OUR SCHOLARSHIP. THOSE WILL GO ON SALE WHEN WE DO OUR FLAG DAY PICNIC ON JUNE 14TH. UPCOMING DATES, SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE IS MAY 1ST, SO FAR WE HAVE NOT GONE ANYONE TO APPLY BUT USUALLY IN PANTHER CREEK WE NOTICE MOST PEOPLE DO IT IN MAY, SO, OR APRIL, THAT WOULD BE FOR ANY RESIDENT OF PANTHER CREEK ATTENDING A TRADE SCHOOL, COLLEGE, OR UNIVERSITY STARTING IN FALL OF 2025. OUR FLAG DAY PICNIC WILL BE AT RIDGEWOOD PARK ON JUNE 14TH, 11:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M. AND OUR FALL MOVIE NIGHT WILL BE OCTOBER 18TH , SATURDAY EVENING, THE TIME IS UNDETERMINED UNTIL WE SEE THE SUNSET SCHEDULE BUT THAT WILL BE AT MEADOW LAKE PARK. ANY

[00:20:01]

QUESTIONS? >> THAT IS GREAT, HOPEFULLY EVERYONE IS EXCITED ABOUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF SPROUTS COME INTO PANTHER CREEK VILLAGE CENTER.

>> E.R. >> IT IS OFFICIAL. THAT IS

EXCITING. >> I WANT TO SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO WITH THE OTHER HALF OF THE STORE, I THINK THEY DIVIDED IT.

>> EXCITING. >> THANK YOU, ANDREW.

>> ANY OTHER VILLAGE PRESIDENTS HERE? IF NOT I CALL A MOTION TO SECOND AND RECEIVE AND FOLLOW THE VILLAGE ASSOCIATION REPORTS.

>> SECOND. >> MOVED.

[ CONSENT AGENDA]

>> ALL IN FAVOR RESPOND BY SAYING AYE.

>> AYE. >> THE MOTION CARRIES. CONSENT AGENDA, NUMBER EIGHT, CONSENT AGENDA, NONCONTROVERSIAL HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS REQUIRED BY LAW AND WILL BE CONSIDERED AS APPROVAL AS A GROUP WITH ONE MOTION. NO DISCUSSION WILL TAKE PLACE UNLESS AN ITEM IS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND PLACED ON THE REGULAR AGENDA PRIOR TO TAKING A VOTE ON THE MOTION. THERE ARE NINE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ON PAGES 8 THROUGH

173, DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> MOVED BY DIRECTOR FRANKS AND

SECONDED BY DIRECTOR HEISER. >> AYE. ALL OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. REGULAR AGENDA. RECEIVING UPDATES AND

[9. Receive, consider and act upon an update on repairs to the Waterway Fountains; ]

MATTER, THANK YOU, JOHN. >> THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING , I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT UPDATES FOR THE REPAIRS TO THE WATERWAY SQUARE. AS YOU ALL KNOW THE BUDGET INITIATIVE THAT WAS APPROVED THIS YEAR WAS FOR $3.5 MILLION FOR REPAIRS TO THE WATERWAY SQUARE FOUNTAIN, THIS WAS FUNDED OUT OF THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, RESERVE. WITH THAT WE HAD A MEETING OR AT TASK ORDER WITH HALF ASSOCIATES, UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE TOWNSHIP FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES. SO, REALLY REACHED OUT TO SEE THE VENDORS, AS YOU PROBABLY IMAGINE IT IS A NICHE, YOU KNOW, PHONE REPAIRS . SO, MET WITH ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT GROUPS, THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS . SOMEWHAT IN WITH A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION , A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION CAME OUT THAT WE CAN USE AND FROM THAT WE HAVE NARROWED IT BETWEEN STAFF AND HALF ASSOCIATES TO ONE INDIVIDUAL, OR GROUP, SET BY THE CONSULTANT TO WORK WITH, WE ARE WORKING ON A TASK ORDER THERE FOR SCHEMATIC DESIGNS. THE APPROACHES THEY WILL DO THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN, WHERE THEY WILL COME OUT AND ACTUALLY DO A DEEP DIVE INTO IT EVEN MORE THAN WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE. LOOK AT THE PREVIOU REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE, TALK TO STAFF ABOUT WHAT THE FOUNTAIN USED TO DO, WHAT IT CURRENTLY DOES, AND WHAT WE WANTED TO DO, MOST IMPORTANTLY. BASICALLY FROM THOSE SCHEMATIC DESIGNS ONCE THAT IS APPROVED , YOU KNOW, THEN WE WILL MOVE TO CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS FROM THAT. ONCE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS ARE DONE WITH HALF , WITH THEM, WITH STRUCTURAL NAP, CIVIL, THEY ARE THE BACKING TO THAT, THEN WE WILL PUT THIS OUT TO BID, UNLESS THERE IS A CO-OP THAT SOMEBODY IS IN, WE WILL PUT THAT OUT TO BID AND THEN FROM THAT THEN CONSTRUCTION WOULD START WITH THE BIDS, I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR STAFF , THE TOWN CENTER STAFF AND THE AQUATIC STAFF , THEY DO A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO KEEP IT GOING AND IT IS NOT LIKE IT IS A BLACK HOLE OUT THERE OR ANYTHING, IT IS RUNNING, YES THERE IS NO MUSIC BUT AGAIN, WE WILL DETERMINE WHAT THE FUTURE IS GREAT . THERE WAS A GREAT FACEBOOK POST FROM WATERWAY NIGHTS TWO WEEKENDS AGO WHERE YOU SAW THE CONGO LINE GOING ALL AROUND THE PARK, THE LIGHTS WERE ON THE FOUNTAIN, THINGS WERE RUNNING, SO , I THINK MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH IT ACTUALLY. A LOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE LEAKS THAT ARE THERE, FILLING OF THE WATER, A LOT OF BABYING GOES ON TO MAKE IT LOOK WHAT IT IS RIGHT

NOW. ANY KIND OF QUESTIONS? >> IF I MAY. YOUR COMMENT IN THE VERY BEGINNING ABOUT USING THE HOTEL TAX, EXPLAIN WHY THAT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE DOING THAT RATHER THAN ANOTHER MEANS

OF PAIN FOR THIS RENOVATION ? >> BY USING HOTEL TAX WE CONSIDER THAT AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THE WATERWAY, ALWAYS HAVE ,

[00:25:04]

APPROPRIATE USE OF THOSE FUNDS. >> I THINK THAT IS VERY RELEVANT AND IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE NOT USING RESIDENCE' TAX TO CORRECT SOME OF THE MALFUNCTIONS OF THE WATERWAY FOUNTAIN.

>> I AGREE AND THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ADD TO JOHN'S PRESENTATION , THERE WILL BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BOARD TO WEIGH IN. HE OUTLINED THE STEPS BUT AFTER EACH ONE OF THOSE STEPS IT WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR FURTHER DIRECTION AND APPROVAL. I DO NOT WANT YOU TO THINK THAT ALL WE SAID WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU ALL SEEING IT AGAIN.

>> THAT IS GREAT. GOOD, THANKS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> YES, JOHN, THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION AND I AGREE , I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T KNOW ALL THE PATCHWORK JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE , I DIDN'T KNOW AND MY OFFICE IS RIGHT THERE BY THE PHONE. BASED UPON YOUR DISCUSSION , ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE APPROVED ALLOTMENT IN THE BUDGET IS STILL GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT GOING FORWARD?

>> WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT BUT FROM PRELIMINARY , IT WAS WITHIN THE BUDGETED AMOUNT IS WHAT THEY WERE DISCUSSING, SO, YES.

>> OKAY, GREAT GREAT >> IF YOU COULD SAVE 1 MILLION

THAT WOULD BE GREAT. >> JOHN, WHILE YOU ARE UP THERE CAN YOU GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE WATERWAY WHERE YOU GO OVER THE

BRIDGE AND WHERE -- WILL FINISH? >> YES, AT THE WATERWAY AVENUE BRIDGE THERE, YES. A LOT OF WORK HAS GONE INTO THAT, POWER WASHING, SOME LIGHT ACID TO GET SOME OF THE STAINS OFF OF THE BRICK WALLS THERE. I KNOW IRON MAN IS OBVIOUSLY USING THAT AS A BIG BACKDROP THIS YEAR, WE ARE WORKING WITH HIM TO PUT BANNERS THAT THEY CAN HANG AROUND IT AND SUCH. I KNOW THE VIP AND THE FINISH LINE AREA WILL BE ADJUSTED FOR THAT. WE ARE WORKING ON THAT , I KNOW YOU ALL APPROVED LAST MONTH OR TWO MONTHS AGO THE LIGHTING. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE STILL TRYING, BUT IT IS A SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE WITH THAT. WE ARE GOING TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN WITH SPOTLIGHTS, PARTS OF IT, WE ARE NOT GOING TO WAIT , WHATEVER WE CAN GET WE WILL HAVE UP THERE TO

HELP. >> THAT IS ALREADY A BIG

IMPROVEMENT. >> YES, AND THE PAINTING IS ALREADY DONE, THE LETTERS HAVE COME DOWN AND WE ARE RE-PAINTING THE LETTERS, IT IS AMAZING TO SEE NOW.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION, JOHN. FIRST OF ALL, WATERWAY NINTH WAS GREAT, I TOOK MY FAMILY THERE AND WE HAD DINNER AND ENJOYED THE MUSIC AND THE CONGO LINES. I SAW A COUPLE OF POLICE OFFICERS WALKING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EVENT BUT THEN I TRIED TO WATCH OUT FOR THEM, I DID NOT SEE THEM ANYMORE, WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP OR DO YOU SCHEDULE THEM TO COME? DID THEY EVER COME ON THEIR PATROL? I KNOW SOMETIMES THERE ARE MOUNTED

PATROLS, DO YOU EVER SCHEDULE? >> YES, MA'AM. FOR THOSE EVENTS TO SCHEDULE THEM AND THEY COME OUT FOR THOSE SPECIFIC EVENTS.

>> HOW MANY DO YOU USUALLY REQUEST?

>> ON THAT ONE IT WOULD BE TWO, THAT IS A SMALLER ONE. OBVIOUSLY WHEN THERE ARE MORE PARKING ISSUES, MORE PEOPLE, WE BRING MORE PEOPLE FOR BIGGER ONES BUT THAT IS A SMALLER FOOTPRINT THERE , MOST OF THE PARKING IS PAID, SO , REALLY JUST THOSE TWO

IN THE AREA. >> DO THEY STAY THE WHOLE TIME?

>> YES, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO. >> THAT IS GOOD, THANK YOU.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

>> LOOKING GOOD. >> THANK YOU, JOHN. I CALL A

MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REPORT. >> MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> MOVED BY DIRECTOR HEISER AND

[10. Receive, consider and act upon initiating a micro-transit service;]

>> AYE. >> APPROVED. ONE AGENDA ITEM 10, -- REFER TO PAGES 176 TO 202, CALLING RUTH AND HAWK THE DIRECTOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION RELATED TO MICRO-TRANSIT SERVICES IN THE WOODLANDS. WELCOME. FIRST OFF, YOU ALL DID SUCH A GOOD JOB ON THE RODEO BUSES, I HAD SOME PEOPLE CONTACT ME TO TELL ME WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE IT IS.

IF WE COULD IN THE FUTURE BOARD MEETING GET THE NUMBERS TO SHARE WITH THE RODEO, I THINK THEY WOULD BE IMPRESSED WITH HOW MANY PEOPLE WE TRANSPORTED TO AND FROM THE RODEO.

>> I WAS A SELF-SERVING IN THE PRESENTATION AND DID INCLUDE THE RODEO, YOU GET A SLIGHT PREVIEW OF THE NUMBERS BUT WE CAN GO MORE IN DEPTH LATER. GOOD EVENING, I WILL PRESENT TO YOU

[00:30:01]

REVIEW THE SERVICE AND PRICING OPTIONS FOR THE TOWNSHIP, AS WELL AS GIVE IT CONTEXT IN THE OVERALL TRANSIT PROGRAM AND REVIEW SOME DIFFERENT POTENTIAL FUNDING OPTIONS. WHAT IS MICRO-TRANSIT? AN ON-DEMAND SERVICE OPTION BEING PROVIDED BY A GROWING NUMBER OF TRANSIT AGENCIES IN THE UNITED DATES TO FILL IN TRANSIT SERVICE GAPS, KIND OF THE FIRST MILE, LAST MILE SERVICE IS WHAT IT IS CALLED. QUICK, LITTLE TRIPS, GETTING AROUND A SPECIFIC AREA. PASSENGERS REQUEST A RIDE, TYPICALLY THROUGH THEIR SMART PHONES TO AN APP, BUT PERHAPS THERE IS AN CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE PEOPLE CAN CALL. THE IDEA OF BEING ON-DEMAND IS YOU ARE NOT SCHEDULING THE TRIP TWO DAYS PER WEEK IN ADVANCE, THE SCHEDULING SERVICE ASSOCIATED WITH THE APP THEN OPTIMIZES THE PARATRANSIT VEHICLES TO ROUTE IN REAL TIME TO THE SERVICE REQUEST . THIS CAN BE FOR A SOLO RIDE OR IN THE CASE OF A MULTI-PASSENGER VEHICLE , LIKE THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE SHOWN HERE WHICH WOULD HOLD ABOUT SIX PASSENGERS, COULD BE A SMALL CARPOOL RIDE WHERE THEY PICK UP, IT IS AN OPTIMIZED TRIP TO PICK UP MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON THE WAY. ALL OF THAT IS A SOFTWARE AND SERVICE THAT OPTIMIZES THAT. AGAIN, A LOT OF THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH SMALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES, ALTHOUGH, ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE ALSO AN OPTION LIKE SUVS BUT ALSO SOME PLACES ARE OFFERING THEM THROUGH STANDARD VEHICLES, WHICH IS ALSO AN OPTION. SERVICES ARE TYPICALLY RESTRICTED TO A SPECIFIC , DEFINED AREA, IT IS CALLED GEO-FENCED. THE EXAMPLE HERE, REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLE OF VEHICLES AND WHERE THE GEO-FENCE IS, PURELY CONCEPTUAL HERE. PROS AND CONS, IT IS FLEXIBLE. IT IS CONVENIENT, IT IS NON-FIXED ROUTES, THE TROLLEY OR FIXED ROUTES SERVICES, THEY DON'T DEVIATE. THIS CAN TAKE YOU ANYWHERE WITHIN THE GEO-FENCED AREA, THAT INCREASES ACCESSIBILITY AND REDUCES THE NUMBER OF SHORT TRIPS, ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS CARPOOLING HAPPENING. IT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY OFFERED THROUGH ELECTRICAL VEHICLES. IT IMPROVES THE LAST MILE/1ST MILE CONNECTIVITY AND IT IS REALLY DRIVEN BY THE DATA OF THE SOFTWARE AND OPTIMIZING THOSE RIDES. THE CONS ARE IT IS A HIGHER OPERATING COST PER RIDE COMPARED TO THE TROLLEY, WE ARE NOT EXACTLY SURE WHERE THAT IS, IT IT FALLS WITH FURTHER ANALYSIS BUT WE HAVE FOUR TROLLEYS AT A TIME, 100 SEATS AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THESE VEHICLES SIT ABOUT SIX PEOPLE, IT IS THE ECONOMY OF SCALE THAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THAT. SCALABILITY, DURING HIGH PEAK DEMAND HOURS AND TIMES OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION, YOU HAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE , VEHICLES ARE ON THE ROADWAYS AND STUCK IN THE SAME TRAFFIC YOU ARE. GETTING PEOPLE TAKES LONGER. LIMITED PUBLIC AWARENESS ADOPTION, YOU NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT THAT THE SERVICE EXISTS, HOW PEOPLE CAN USE IT AND YOU REALLY NEED TO HAVE SOME FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH IT TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND ENCOURAGE ADOPTION OF IT. AND THEN IT IS ALSO IN COMPETITION WITH EXISTING TUBERS, LISTS, AND OTHER CAR SHARE ASPECTS THAT ARE ALREADY EXISTING IN THE MARKET AND PRIVATE SECTOR. I MENTIONED A CASE STUDY IN FORT LAUDERDALE.

THEY HAVE A SERVICE CALLED LAUDER-GO , A FULL TURNKEY SERVICE WITH CIRCUIT, FULL TURNKEY REFERS TO CIRCUIT TAKING CARE OF EVERYTHING, THEY PROVIDE THE CAPITAL AND ALL OPERATION NEEDS. THEY PROVIDE 18 VEHICLES IN THE SERVICE AREA , TO GIVE CONTEXT FOR THE SERVICE AREA, I MEASURED IT, FROM THE COAST TO HIGHWAY 95, THAT IS ABOUT 4.5 TO 5 MILES, TO GIVE YOU A SCALE THERE. THEY HAVE CURRENTLY GOT IN THAT YELLOW AND ORANGE AREA HUNDRED 72 HOTELS, THAT IS WHERE THE MARKET TO HIS HOTEL VISITORS. WE LOOKED UP SOME ECONOMIC DATA AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE 9600 ADDITIONAL HOTEL ROOMS COMING BETWEEN NOW AND 2030 , SO, PART OF THE REASON, SPEAKING WITH THEIR STAFF, THERE IS A LOT OF TOURISM AND IS ENOUGH FOR THE HOTEL VISITORS.

[00:35:01]

AND THE SUB OPTION AS WELL. EITHER A PROGRAM WOULD BE 12 MONTHS LONG, NUMBER OF HOURS HERE , THIS IS AN ASSUMPTION THAT IT IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC, WE ARE NOT CHARGING ANY KIND OF FAIR. ADDITIONAL TO THIS COST, THIS WOULD BE FOR THE CONTRACT COST OF THE CHART. THE TOWNSHIP WOULD ALSO NEED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR MARKETING EFFORTS TO GET THE WORD OUT THAT THE SERVICE EXISTS. WE ANTICIPATE ABOUT 40,000 NEEDED FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF MARKETING TO HIT HARD AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF IT AND KNOW ABOUT IT. ESPECIALLY PEOPLE VISITING THE AREA THAT DO NOT NECESSARILY LIVE IN THE WOODLANDS. GETTING THE MARKETING OUTSIDE TO THE HOUSTON REGION. STAFF WOULD NEED TO ADD A SUPERVISOR LEVEL STAFF MEMBER TO HELP WITH A LOT OF CUSTOMER SERVICE NEEDS , CONTRACT OVERSIGHT, AND THAT ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT IN VOICE PROCESSING AND ALL OF THAT WHICH GOES ALONG WITH THESE CONTRACTS. THIS IS A FULL TURNKEY MODEL. IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE WE CAN EXPLORE OTHER, LIKE FULL IN-HOUSE, PARTIAL TURNKEY READ PURCHASE THE VEHICLES, LIKE OUR PARK-AND-RIDE SYSTEM IS SET UP. THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE BEYOND THIS. THIS IS ONE WE WANTED TO KNOW AND I WILL , A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL WOULD NEED TO BE SUBMITTED IN ORDER TO GET THE CONTRACT AND USE THE FUNDS. SO, THE NEXT SLIDE WAS REQUESTED BY DR. SEKULA-GIBBS , TO GIVE CONTEXT TO WHERE THE PROGRAM COULD FALL IN RELATION TO HER OTHER TRANSIT OFFERINGS.

THESE ARE THE TRANSIT PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS OF THE TOWNSHIP CURRENTLY FUNDS AND PROVIDES, OF COURSE THE WOODLANDS EXPRESS, IN THIS NUMBER IS INCLUDED OUR REGULAR PARK-AND-RIDE, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, FROM THREE PARK-AND-RIDE LOCATIONS , DOWNTOWN, THE MEDICAL CENTER, GREENWAY PLAZA, ALSO INCLUDING THE ENERGY CORRIDO ROUTE THAT WE HAVE. ALSO, AS DIRECTOR BAILEY MENTIONED, CHAIRMAN BAILEY, THE RODEO EXPRESSLY SEASONALLY DUE IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH. WE ALSO HAVE THE TOWN CENTER TROLLEY PROGRAM , ARE FIXED ROUTE CIRCULATOR IN TOWN CENTER AND ARE TWO, YOU CAN CALL THESE ON-DEMAND PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS AND THOSE WITH DISABILITIES THAT WE FUND THROUGH INTER-FAITH AND MEALS ON WHEELS TO PROVIDE RIGHTS FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I HAVE THE FUNDING BREAKDOWN THERE OF THE WOODLANDS EXPRESS, BEING THE ONE WHERE WE COLLECT A FAIR REVENUE TO HELP FUND THE PROGRAM, WE HAVE A CAUTIONARY PARTNERSHIP WITH ENERGY CORRIDOR TO FUND THE ROUTE AND ALL OF THE FTA FORMULA GRANTS AS WELL AS IN 2024 WE WERE STILL UTILIZING A CONGESTION MITIGATION AND AIR-QUALITY GRANT FROM HTC FOR THE ENERGY CORRIDOR ROUTE. AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE, HERE I WANT TO SUMMARIZE SOME OF THE OTHER SERVICE OPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED PREVIOUSLY FOR CONSIDERATION. SOME OF THESE CONCEPTS WERE REQUESTED BY THE BOARD TO BE RE-VISITED AFTER

[00:40:02]

>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, FIRST OF ALL, WOW. YOU ARE GOOD, THEY ALWAYS SAY YOU ARE GOOD BUT YOU ARE REALLY GOOD. I ACTUALLY ASKED FOR THIS, I WAS IN FORT LAUDERDALE AND I USE THE CIRCUIT WHEN WE WERE THERE AND THERE WERE FOUR BENEFITS THAT YOU TOUCHED ON. MY HUSBAND IS IN A WHEELCHAIR AND A WALKER AND THEY EASILY HANDLE THAT , AS FAR AS A.D.A. IT WAS DEFINITELY COVERED. NUMBER TWO , WE COULD ONLY GO TO HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS IN -- ONLY IN FORT LAUDERDALE, YOU CANNOT GO HALF A MILE INTO -- BEACH OR ANYWHERE ELSE. YOU ARE STAYING WITHIN YOUR AREA THAT IS PAYING FOR THE CIRCUIT. THE DRIVERS OF THOSE, THEY WERE GETTING I THINK $14 AN HOUR OR SOMETHING BUT THEY WERE MARKETING THE ENTIRE TIME, THEY WERE TELLING US ALL THE ACTIVITIES GOING ON, THEY WERE JUST A MILE A MINUTE TALKING AND MOST OF THEM ARE RETIRED, THEY JUST LOVED BEING THERE AND YOU KNEW THAT . THE LAST THING , WE WERE TRYING TO DO PARKING IT FIRST, PARKING WAS SO DIFFICULT IN FORT LAUDERDALE , THE MINUTE WE STARTED THE CIRCUIT WE NEVER HAD TO WORRY ABOUT PARKING AGAIN, THEY BROUGHT US RIGHT TO WHERE WE WERE. AS FAR AS PARKING SITUATIONS GO IT REALLY ALLEVIATED CARS THAT COULD NOT FIND A PLACE TO GO, I THINK IT WAS A GREAT JOB AND I THINK WE

HAVE A LOT TO THINK ABOUT. >> ANYONE ELSE?

[00:45:02]

>> WHAT GAP WERE TRYING TO FILL WITH THESE VEHICLES? IT SOUNDS LIKE SPECIAL NEEDS IS A POSSIBILITY.

>> THAT WAS NOT THE REASON FOR THAT BY ANY MEANS BUT I AM JUST SAYING THAT IT CAN CHECK OFF SOMETHING, WHAT IT REALLY IS , WE TALK ABOUT UBER ANF LYFT , BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO GO 10 BLOCKS. AND THE TROLLEYS, THERE ONE ROUTE, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE WATERWAY ON YOUR LUNCH BREAK , THAT WOULD BE SEVEN YOU CAN CALL THEM REALLY QUICK AND HEAD ON OVER THERE.

>> THANK YOU, RUTH-IN, A WEALTH OF INFORMATION , WITH THAT SAID, YOU HAVE DONE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE JOB AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SECURE FUNDING FOR SEVERAL BUSES , TROLLEYS, ALL OF THAT AND HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO SERVE ON SEVERAL COMMITTEES FOR THAT '25 CALENDAR YEAR. IS THERE FUNDING, PERHAPS, IF WE WERE GOING TO LOOK AT DOING THIS , THAT HTC HAS LOOKED AT WITH REGARD TO BEING ENVIRONMENTALLY MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN THE OTHER ?

CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT? >> YES, HTC HAS A POT OF MONEY THEY CALL CATEGORY FIVE, THE CONGESTION MITIGATION AND AIR QUALITY , WE HAVE UTILIZED IT IN THE PAST TWO I BELIEVE PURCHASE THE FIRST ROUND OF BUSES AND ALSO FUND THE ENERGY CORRIDOR PILOT. THERE IS POTENTIAL THAT THAT MONEY COULD BECOME AVAILABLE, THEY WILL DO A CALL FOR PROJECTS IN THE FUTURE. IT IS COMPETITIVE BASE, THE FUNDING WE GET DIRECTLY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS FORMULA BASED, WE GET THAT EVERY YEAR DIRECTLY FROM THEM. IT IS COMPETITIVELY HTC. THEY HAVE NOT ANNOUNCED THE NEXT RUN OF FUNDS, THEY ARE ANTICIPATING IT SOMETIME SOON.

THEY'RE GETTING THINGS IN LINE WITH TXDOT AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET FUNDS. THEY ANTICIPATE PERHAPS A CALL FOR PROJECTS SOMETIME THIS YEAR WITH IT . IT IS TYPICALLY AVAILABLE FOR THE REGION TO COMPETE FOR IN THE RANGE OF 3 TO 5 MILLION BUT CERTAINLY THE PROJECT COULD FALL INTO THAT IF WE WANTED TO SEE.

IT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE. >> BOTH CRAIG AND I SIT ON THE BOARD AND HAVE HEARD COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC WHEN WE WERE THERE AS WELL AS OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. WHAT I DID NOT REALIZE IS WE HAVE A SECOND LARGEST TRANSIT SYSTEM IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA AND YOU HAVE BEEN A LARGE PART OF THAT.

>> AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE FROM METRO I WILL ADMIT , THAT OUT OF ALL OF THE SMALL GUYS WE ARE THE BIGGEST RIGHT NOW.

>> THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE ADVENTUROUS.

>> TWO POINT , FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU , VERY NICE REPORT. GO BACK TO THAT FIRST POINT , THE SLIDE THAT I ASKED YOU TO DEVELOP, THAT ONE. YES. CAN YOU RAKE OUT HOW MUCH THE WOODLANDS ACTUALLY PAYS WITH LOCAL DOLLARS OUT OF THAT 5.6 MILLION AMOUNT?

>> THIS IS FEDERAL FUNDING, THE EASIEST THING TO SAY ABOUT IT IS IT IS COMPLICATED. 2024 WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL YEAR BECAUSE THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF THE PARK AND RIDE 100% FEDERALLY FUNDED THROUGH THE AMERICAN RELIEF REINVESTMENT AND RECOVERY ACT FUNDS WE RECEIVED FROM FTA AND SO , IN A TYPICAL YEAR I CAN SAY THE TOWNSHIP CONTRIBUTES ABOUT 32% OF THE OVERALL COST OF THE PROGRAM. REALLY THAT CAN FLUCTUATE AND CHANGE DEPENDING ON DIFFERENT ASPECTS. THERE IS ALSO A BLENDED RATE IN HERE, I CANNOT SAY THAT ACROSS THE BOARD BECAUSE THE ENERGY CORRIDOR WAS IN THE THIRD AND FINAL YEAR AND THAT IS FUNDED AT AN 80%, 20% LOCAL COST BUT WE HAVE THE COST SHARE PARTNERSHIP WITH ENERGY CORRIDOR TO FUND 10%, THERE IS A BLENDED RATE HERE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE I CAN GET WITH MY FINANCE GURUS IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO COME UP WITH THE EXACT NUMBER WE CONTRIBUTE LAST YEAR, IF YOU WOULD LIKE, I JUST DON'T HAVE IT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

>> WOULD YOU SAY IT IS IN THE $1.5 MILLION CATEGORY?

>> MONIQUE? >> FOR THE WOODLANDS EXPRESS ,

[00:50:03]

$1.7 MILLION RANGE. >> THAT IS THEN MINUS ALL OF THE RECOVERY WE HAVE FROM THE TICKETS? THAT WILL REDUCE THAT.

A LITTLE BIT. >> THAT IS RIGHT.

>> WHAT IS THAT? ANOTHER 30% OFF BECAUSE OF TICKETS?

>> KNOW THE 30% IS AFTER THE DUCT DINGED THE TICKETS. THE TOWN CENTER , WE PAID ABOUT 50% OF THAT.

>> OKAY. LET'S BE GENEROUS, ONE .7 AND THE TROLLEY, WE PAY HOW

MUCH? >> 500,000.

>> DIRECTS OPERATOR WE GET 50% REIMBURSED. ABOUT 500,000 FOR

THE TOWN CENTER. >> ABOUT A QUARTER MILLION FOR

THOSE TWO PROJECTS. >> ROUGHLY.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BENEFIT HERE FOR BIG EVENTS? WHICH ARE , TWO THINGS COME TO MIND, ONE IS WE HAVE THESE PEDICABS, RICKSHAWS , THAT ARE BECOMING A PROBLEM IN THE AREA AROUND TOWN CENTER. WILL THIS PROJECT HELP WITH REDUCING THE NEED FOR THOSE PEDICABS? AND THE INVASION THAT A LOT OF THE RESIDENCE ARE SEEING IN THE APARTMENTS AND THE TOWNHOMES

AROUND TOWN CENTER. >> WITHOUT ANALYSIS IT WOULD BE HARD TO SPECULATE WHAT THE DEMAND FOR THE SERVICE WOULD BE ON A GIVEN NIGHT IN TOWN CENTER. I HAVE MORE DATA FROM THE TRANSIT STUDY ON USAGE FOR ON-DEMAND SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE TOWNSHIP, WHICH IS ABOUT A 2% ADOPTION RATE. THAT IS GOING ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE VILLAGE CENTERS AND NOT JUST IN TOWN

CENTER. >> JUST GO BACK TO WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN FORT LAUDERDALE BECAUSE ARE YOU AWARE, DO THEY SERVICE THEIR BIG EVENTS? I'M ASSUMING THEY HAVE A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN FORT LAUDERDALE AND THEY HAVE SYMPHONIES AND SO FORTH, DO PEOPLE USE THIS FOR THAT , FOR THOSE TYPES OF

EVENTS? >> IT INCLUDES THEIR DOWNTOWN AREA, ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT IS AN ASSUMPTION THEY WOULD BE BUT

I DID NOT ASK THAT. >> YOU DIDN'T, FOR THE BIG EVENTS, THEY SHUT AT 10:00, IS NOT ENOUGH TIME?

>> I THINK WHEN THEY ASKED THEM IT WAS 11:00 ON THOSE NIGHTS.

>> FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT TO GO TO 11:00 P.M.

>> THAT IS ADEQUATE? >> IN OUR PRODUCTION FOR FUNDING THE SERVICE , HOURS OF OPERATION WOULD GO UNTIL MIDNIGHT , THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ASSUMING IN THIS COST MODELING.

>> WE ARE EXPANDING IT. >> YES, 8:00 A.M. UNTIL

MIDNIGHT. >> I DON'T THINK IT WOULD HELP TOO MUCH WITH OUR PARKING PROBLEM BUT IT SOUNDS GOOD COULD HELP ALLEVIATE THE PEDICAB PROBLEM. WHICH IS A GROWING ISSUE FOR US. I AM INTERESTED IN THAT.

>> CORRECTLY IF I'M WRONG , LINDA, BUT I DON'T THINK SHE'S ASKING FOR US TO ACT ON THIS TONIGHT, THIS IS MORE BACKGROUND FOR CONSIDERATION IN FUTURE BUDGETS AS WE EXPLORE THIS , YOUR PRESENTATION WAS INCREDIBLE. VERY THOROUGH AND MUCH APPRECIATED. IT IS FOR ME TO CONSIDER AND THINK ABOUT AS WE GROW. I HAVE HEARD LINDA RAVE ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME NOW.

>> I KNOW YOU ARE ALL TIRED OF ME TALKING ABOUT IT , BUT LISA DID A GREAT JOB SO WE UNDERSTAND IT.

>> IT WAS VERY GOOD. I GUESS THE ACCEPTANCE IS TO ACCEPT THE REPORT FROM RUTH-ANN AND HAVE IT AS CONSIDERATION FOR BUDGET

INITIATIVES IN THE 2026 YEAR. >> SO MOVED.

>> AND WE CAN DISCUSS IT AT THE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION.

>> ABSOLUTELY. SO, I CALL ON EMOTION AND A SECOND TO ACCEPT

THE REPORT FROM RUTH-ANN. >> MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE .

[11. Receive, consider and act upon a report to improve cell service in The Woodlands;]

>> AYE. >> THANK YOU , REPORT APPROVED CELL SERVICE IN THE WOODLANDS,: WILLIAM PHAM TO TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION OFFICER TO PROVIDE REPORT TO APPROVED CELL SERVICE

IN THE WOODLANDS. WILLIAM ? >> GOOD EVENING . TO CUT TO THE CHASE, THINK EVERYONE REALIZES WE HAVE COVERAGE ISSUES AND CAPACITY ISSUES IN THE WOODLANDS. COVERAGE ISSUES ARE REALLY TOO FAR FROM A TOWER OR A SMALL SO , OR THE SIGNAL IS BEING BLOCKED FOR WHATEVER REASON AND THE CAPACITY ISSUES ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE IN A GIVEN AREA. OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE MET WITH DIFFERENT CARRIERS IN CONJUNCTION WITH HOWARD HUGHES TO DISCUSS GROWTH PLANS AND DEVELOPMENT AND THE ISSUES WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY . ULTIMATELY, IT IS DOWN TO A BUSINESS DECISION WITH THOSE CARRIERS ON WHERE THEY WANT TO

[00:55:05]

>> HAVE YOU TALKED TO HOWARD HUGHES ABOUT THIS?

>> WE HAVE NOT TALKED , AND WITH ME PERSONALLY, NOT IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. AFTER THE LAST TIME THEY REJECTED OUR REQUEST.

>> TWO BOARD MEMBERS TALKED TO THEM AND THEY ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP US , AT LEAST JIM CARMEN TOLD ME.

>> I TOO SPOKE TO MR. CARMEN AND HE SAID THEY WOULD BE GLAD TO MEET , WHAT HE SUGGESTED AND AFTER DOING A LITTLE BIT, AND WILLIAM, YOU PROBABLY KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS THAT I DO BUT USING A HEAT MAP TO EXPLORE AREAS OF THE WOODLANDS THAT ARE UNDERSERVED AND IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS OF NEED . I ALWAYS THINK LAKE WOODLANDS BUT THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER AREA THAT IS EVEN MORE SO, AND TO MEET WITH THEM , THAT WOULD BE WORTHY OF A DISCUSSION.

>> WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THOSE AREAS ALREADY AND HAVE DISCUSS THOSE WITH THE CARRIERS , THEY REALIZE WHERE THEY HAVE ISSUES, ULTIMATELY IT IS A BUSINESS DECISION ON THEM BECAUSE IT IS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT . WE HAD ONE CARRIER IN THIS BUILDING AND HE STEPPED OUT FOR A COLLEGE HE CAME BACK AND SAID, I HAVE HAD THREE DROPPED CALLS, HE CAME BACK AND SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO SPEND THEIR ENTIRE HOUSTON BUDGET TO WORK ON HERE.

>> OKAY. HAVE WE DONE WHAT IS CALLED A HEAT MAP?

>> THEY HAVE , THEY HAVE APPROACHED THIS OVERTIME ON

PROPERTIES BUT ULTIMATELY . >> CAN YOU EXPAND WHAT YOU JUST SHARED WITH US? SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO'S AND THEIR ENTIRE

HOUSTON BUDGET TO PUT UP A POLL? >> NOT THE BUDGET, TO RESOLVE ALL OF OUR COVERAGE AND CAPACITY ISSUES .

>> IT IS THAT BAD ? >> THAT WAS JUST ONE CARRIER.

>> THAT SOUNDS TERRIFIC. >> DEPENDS ON HOW PEOPLE IN A

GIVEN AREA. >> A KIND OF BUDGET IS IT?

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS? >> A CELL TOWER GENERALLY COSTS A COUPLE OF MILLION DOLLARS TO INSTALL.

>> I HAD A CELL TOWER DEVELOPMENT COMPANY CALL ME CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO PUT IN A CELL SERVICE IN SOME OF OUR PARKS TO MEET THE DESPERATE NEEDS, THE CARRIERS PAY YOU BACK ON TOP OF THAT. SO, I KNOW FOR A FACT , MY FATHER HAS A CELL TOWER ON THE PROPERTY HE OWNS IN LAKE CITY, IT PAYS EIGHT TO $10,000 PER MONTH FOR A 5G TOWER ON THE PROPERTY, IF WE COULD ADDRESS OUR CELL COVERAGE NEEDS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY IN ALDEN BRIDGE AND BEAR BRANCH AND GOSLING SPORTS PARK, THEY HAVE SOME PRETTY HIGH TOWERS , THEY HAVE SOME PRETTY HIGH TOWERS OF LIGHT POLES THERE THAT WOULD NOT BE MUCH BIGGER THAN THAT WOULD BE FOR THAT. SO, THERE IS A BUSINESS CASE TO BE MADE FOR THIS FOR THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP. I HAVE TALKED TO NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THE DEAL . THEY HAVE BASICALLY THAT EVERY TIME THEY INQUIRE ABOUT IT THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD NO. SO, I DON'T STOP PUSHING WHEN I HEAR NO ONE TIME, I WILL CONTINUE ASKING. I REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT THIS AND GET A FULL REPORT ON IT. I WANT TO TAKE THE RUTH-ANN MODEL TO THIS REPORT AND GO DEEP

[01:00:01]

>> NO. >> A CELL SERVICE SUCKS, HORRIBLE , WE ARE ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE COMMUNITY TO LIVE IN AMERICA, BUT YOU CANNOT KEEP A CELL PHONE GOING, SOMETHING IS

WRONG. >> IT IS EMBARRASSING.

>> IT IS, WE ARE VERY HIGHLY TECHNICAL COMMUNITY , YOU ARE THE CHIEF TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION OFFICER, WE HAVE TO BE INNOVATIVE ON THIS AND LOOK AT IT IN ALL WAYS POSSIBLE. WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW AND SAYING WE CANNOT DO ANY BETTER IS

UNACCEPTABLE. >> IT IS PART OF THE EXPERIENCE OF EVEN VISITORS , NOT JUST RESIDENCE. PEOPLE COME TO THE TOWNSHIP AND THE FIRST EXPERIENCES LIKE , WOW, TERRIBLE CELL SERVICE, TERRIBLE PLACE TO MAKE A PHONE CALL.

>> AND HER ELECTRICITY GOES OUT A LOT.

>> IT AFFECTS YOUR BUSINESS TOO. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO

PURSUE. >> WHAT ACTION ARE WE SUGGESTING THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN AS I AGREE.

>> IS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE INFORMATION IN THIS REPORT , I

DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU ALL? >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION IF THE BOARD WOULD CONSIDER TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF A HEAT MAP TO EXPLORE AREAS IN THE WOODLANDS THAT ARE UNDERSERVED AND IDENTIFY THE LEVEL OF NEED AND WITH THAT INFORMATION YOU , THE CHAIRMAN OR WHOEVER MEETS WITH HOWARD HUGHES , MONIQUE, THEY MUST ALSO HAVE CHALLENGES IN THE SAME AREAS THAT WERE

OUTLINED. >> AND ALSO, THERE IS A CELL TOWER OVER BY COLLEGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL THAT LOOKS LIKE A TREE.

IT HAS GOT LIMBS AND EVERYTHING, IT KINDA FITS THE MODEL. I SHOW THAT TO MR. CARMEN IN OUR REVIEWS AND THEY LIKED THAT IDEA BUT IF WE CAN PUT SOME OF THESE AREAS ON OUR PUBLIC PARKS AND GET PAID FOR THE LEASING OF IT , WHICH GOES TO HELP FUND PROJECTS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, THAT IS A GOOD THING.

>> I SUGGEST WE KIND OF REVERSE THAT AND INSTEAD OF DOING A HEAT MAP, BECAUSE THAT IS WELL KNOWN ALREADY, LOOK AT THE AVAILABLE PARKS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE AVAILABLE LAND BECAUSE DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE TOWER, IT IS ACRES.

>> A HEAT MAP IS CURRENT? >> THEY LOOK AT ALL THAT STUFF MONTHLY , THAT IS THEIR LINE OF WORK BUT WE WOULD , WELL WE ARE WILLING TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PUBLIC BID PROCESS ANYWAY IF YOU'RE GOING TO LEASE OUT YOUR LAND OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TOWER.

>> MONIQUE, DO YOU HAVE SOME TO ADD?

>> I DO. THANK YOU. TONIGHT WAS THE FIRST STEP IN THE PROCESS, UNLIKE THE REPORT FROM RUTH-ANN, WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT EXPENDITURES OF LEGAL RESOURCES AND OTHER EXPENSES , THIS ONE DOES. EVERYTHING THAT WILLIAM SAID IS A CHALLENGE, IS A CHALLENGE. WE ARE NOT SAYING IT IS INSURMOUNTABLE, TONIGHT WE WANT DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD WANTS TO PURSUE THIS , SOUNDS LIKE YOU DO AND WE ARE HAPPY TO DO THAT, WE NEED THE AUTHORIZATION BECAUSE IT WILL REQUIRE RESOURCES, CASH RESOURCES , WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH BUT WE WILL START PURSUING IT AND HAVE TO REPORT BACK TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> AND LETTING US KNOW THE COST .

>> CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?

>> ANYONE SEGMENTING THE MOTION?

>> YES. >> I MOTION TO HAVE THE STAFF PURSUE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RESEARCH REQUIRED, ALL-ENCOMPASSING THE EXPLORATION OF A NEW CELL TOWERS IN THE

WOODLANDS. >> INCLUDING TALKING TO INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTIES THAT BUILD CELL PHONE COVERAGES, THEY GET CONTRACTS FROM ALL OF THE CELL PHONE CARRIERS AND THEY SIGN A LEASE WITH THE TOWNSHIP ON TOWNSHIP LAND, WHETHER

PARKLAND OR OTHER LANDS . >> I SECOND AS AMENDED BY

CHAIRMAN BAILEY. >> AND IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR

PARTNERS TOO, RIGHT? >> THIS WILL BE VERY INVOLVED.

>> WE WOULD WANT TO BALANCE OUT OR LOOK AT WHETHER WE BUILD IT AND LEASE OUT THE TOWER SPACE , WHICH YOU HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER. VERSUS LEASING OUT THE LAND, WHICH HAS ITS OWN LEGALITIES AND BASICALLY A TURNKEY APPROACHTHAT YOU HAVE

LESS CONTROL. >> ALL RIGHT.

>> I SECOND. >> SECOND FROM DIRECTOR HEISER, MOTION BY DIRECTOR SNYDER, SECONDED BY DIRECTOR HEISER. ALL

[12. Receive, consider and act upon the financial report;]

[01:05:05]

IN FAVOR, SAY AYE AYE. >> AYE.

>> THE MOTION CARRIES, THANK YOU. CONSIDERING AND ACTING UPON THE FINANCE REPORT, I CALL AND TELL AND SHOW. PAGES 205 TO 222

OF YOUR PACKET. HELLO. >> GOOD EVENING.

OKAY. GOOD EVENING. THIS WILL BE THE FINANCE REPORT THROUGH FEBRUARY 2025 . FIRST SLIDE WE HAVE WILL BE REVENUE. THE YEAR-TO-DATE BUDGETED REVENUE IS 61.5 MILLION. YEAR-TO-DATE ACTUAL COLLECTED REVENUE IS 63.6 MILLION . YEAR-TO-DATE FEBRUARY VARIANCE OF 2.1 MILLION. THE MAIN COMPONENT OF THE VARIANCE IS GOING TO BE IN OUR SALES TAX AND ALSO IN AN UNBUDGETED CONTRIBUTION FOR THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT , FOR THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATION 5, ABOUT 750,000. AT THE TIME OF THE BUDGET WE DID NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION. NEXT SLIDE IS EXPENDITURES, THE YEAR-TO-DATE BUDGETED IS 20.1 MILLION, YEAR-TO-DATE ACTUAL IS 17 MILLION . YEAR-TO-DATE FAVORABLE VARIANCE OF A LITTLE OVER $3 MILLION. AT THIS TIME OF THE BUDGET JUST TWO MONTHS IN, JUST ABOUT EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS A FAVORABLE VARIANCE DUE TO TIMING OF WHEN THE EXPENDITURE BUDGET AND WHEN THEY WILL ACTUALLY BE SPENT. THE ONLY EXCEPTION WOULD BE THE UNFAVORABLE VARIANCE OF THE REGIONAL PER DISSIPATION PAYMENTS , THAT IS DUE TO OUR SALES TAX BEING FAVORABLE IN REVENUE. THOSE PAYMENTS WILL BE MORE. NEXT SLIDE IS SALES TAX DEPOSIT, THIS IS THROUGH MARCH 31ST. THE YEAR-TO-DATE BUDGETED IS 20.8 MILLION , YEAR-TO-DATE ACTUAL COLLECTED IS 21.9 MILLION, YEAR-TO-DATE FAVORABLE VARIANCE OF 1.1 MILLION, ABOUT 2.5 ADDITIONAL SALES TAX REVENUE DOLLARS THAT WE COLLECTED IN 2024. ON THE NEXT SLIDE IT SHOWS IN WHAT CATEGORY THE FUNDS WERE COLLECTED , WHEN COMPARED TO 2024, ABOUT 1.2 MILLION OF IT WAS IN MANUFACTURING IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY. OF COURSE WE DID HAVE ABOUT , ALMOST A 5% INCREASE IN RETAIL TRADE, 3% INFORMATION AND THEN THE MINING, OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION WAS A 3% INCREASE. I INCLUDED A BOX OVER TO THE RIGHT THAT SHOWS YOU THIS HAS NOT CHANGED A LOT, THE RETAIL TRADE MAKES UP ABOUT 50% OF OUR COLLECTIONS, FOLLOWED BY MANUFACTURING , ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD SERVICES, AND INFORMATION. NEXT SLIDE IS HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX DEPOSITS. THE YEAR-TO-DATE BUDGETED IS 1.4 MILLION, YEAR-TO-DATE COLLECTED, 1.3 MILLION , AN UNFAVORABLE VARIANCE OF 61,866 . THIS WOULD BE JANUARY STAYS, WE HAD CORPORATIONS THAT HAD TO CANCEL MEETINGS DUE TO THE BAD WEATHER WE HAD IN JANUARY, LOOKING BACK AND TALKING -- FEBRUARY STAYS HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER. NEXT SLIDE IS MIXED BEVERAGE REPORT.

YEAR-TO-DATE BUDGETED IS 354,565 . YEAR-TO-DATE ACTUAL, 364 366, FOR A YEAR-TO-DATE FAVORABLE VARIANCE OF $9801 , WHICH WE ARE JUST WITHIN ABOUT $300 WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR. THAT IS THE END

OF MY REPORT. >> AWESOME, GREAT NEWS.

>> LOOKS GREAT. >> CAN YOU GO BACK PLEASE TO THE HOTEL REPORT. ON THE HOTEL AND TAX, CAN YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK THE CAUSE OF THE DROP IS BECAUSE THAT IS A BIG SURPRISE, THAT WAS A BIG SURPRISE FOR ME.

>> DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS IT? FOR JANUARY .

>> YES, THE GREAT SNOWSTORM IN JANUARY REALLY KNOCKED US OUT FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK. WE HAD TWO MAJOR CONVENTIONS CANCEL , ONE ACTUALLY POSTPONED TO LATER IN THE YEAR. AND IT WAS NOT SUCH A SIGNIFICANT STORM THAT DROVE PEOPLE HERE, SO, REALLY IT WAS JUST A COMPLETE LOSS OF BUSINESS FROM LIKE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

[01:10:03]

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, NICK. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I CALL A MOTION TO SECOND , TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT

THE WOODLANDS FINANCE REPORT. >> MOVED.

>> ALL IN FAVOR RESPOND BY SAYING AYE.

[13. Receive, consider and act upon a quarterly update from Visit The Woodlands (Convention & Visitors Bureau);]

>> AYE. IN THE MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 13, UPDATE FOR --, CALLING

ON NICK --. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND GOOD EVENING TO THE DIRECTORS. WHILE I LOAD THIS, LET'S SEE.

IS IT TOO LATE TO SAY, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>>

>> ON YOUR CALENDAR THAT WORKS. >> THIS IS PART OF THE FOUR TIMES PER YOUR REPORT THAT WE COME TO FROM VISIT THE WOODLANDS, YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET A LOT OF STATS. I PULLED A FEW ITEMS OUT. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS WITH 2024 BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT CONVERSATION , AND THEN TAKING A LOOK AT 2025 AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WE HAVE A NEW CHAIRMAN THIS YEAR , CONGRATULATIONS TO CHAIRMAN NELSON , VICE CHAIRMAN RICHARD FRANKS ENTER SECRETARY-TREASURER IS --. AND DIRECTORS ROD BAILEY, KIM LOWE AND MONIQUE SHARP. WE DID LOSE A DIRECTOR THIS YEAR IN JENNY TAYLOR , AT THIS POINT THE BOARD IS OPERATING WITH SEVEN-MEMBER DIRECTORS. OUR NEXT MEETING IS IN APRIL. HERE IS OUR STAFF AND TEAM. SOME OF THE SLIDES WILL GO THROUGH QUICKLY. I HAVE PRETTY CONFERENCE OF INFORMATION ON YOUR FOR THE INQUIRING PUBLIC THAT IS HERE TONIGHT AND ALSO WATCHING AROUND THE WORLD. AND FOR FOLLOW-UP AS WELL. THE HIGHLIGHTS COMING OFF OF 2024, WE HAVE LOFTY GOALS FOR 2025 TO TOP 2024 BUT I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, WE TOPPED 10.3 MILLION LAST YEAR, SALES TAX WAS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH AS WELL IS THE MIXED BEVERAGE TAX. I WILL SKIP THROUGH THIS SLIDE, WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OF THIS LATER OR AT YOUR OWN LEISURE. A LOT OF BIG PROJECTS LAST YEAR, MARKETING WISE CHANGED THE LOGO , CHANGED THE LOOK AND FEEL. OUR MARKETING RULED OUT SEVERAL THINGS. I WILL TELL YOU WHAT WAS A HUGE HIT, PUTTING THE RAPS ON THE BACK OF THE BUS, WE GET ALL KINDS OF COMMENTS ABOUT THAT.

THESE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE THROUGHOUT 2024. A VERY SUCCESSFUL YEAR IN 2024 AS FAR AS NUMBERS. REALLY AN ALL-TIME RECORD AS FAR AS THE IMPRESSIONS THAT WE HAD, SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS, THE VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA PERFORMANCES , ONE OF THE BIGGEST CAMPAIGNS WAS THE WOODLANDS WATERWAY WONDERLAND , HERE ARE THE NUMBERS. RIGHT HERE. THESE ARE TO TRY TO CAPTURE EVERYTHING THE WOODLANDS DID IN 2024. THE GOALS, THESE ARE OUR INTERNAL GOALS. THESE ARE NOT PUBLISHED IN OUR BUDGET DOCUMENT, WE MEASURE HOTEL TAX COLLECTION , THAT IS OUR BIGGEST MEASUREMENT. THAT MONEY COMES IN DIRECTLY AND WE LIKE TO SAY OUR JOB IS TO GET , WHAT IS THE WORD? CASH REGISTER TO RING, WE GET VISITORS HERE TO SPEND MONEY BUT WE HAVE OTHER MEASUREMENTS AND THINGS THAT WE DO WITH THE NUMBER OF GUIDES, WEBSITE INQUIRIES, SITE TOURS , LEADS, WORKING GROUPS THAT WE SERVICE, PAGE VIEWS ON THE WEBSITE , ADVERTISING IMPRESSIONS, SOCIAL MEDIA AUDIENCE AND CIRCULATION OF OUR PUBLICATION PATHWAYS.

LAST YEAR WAS A BIG YEAR FOR MEETINGS AND BRINGING MEETING ASSOCIATIONS HERE WHERE WE HAD HIGHLY QUALIFIED MEETING PLANNERS THAT WE GOT TO MEET. THIS YEAR WE ARE BREAKING ALL OF US UP IN SMALLER PIECES , 45 MEETING PLANNERS AT THE TIME, WE HAVE LIKE FIVE COMING IN NEXT WEDNESDAY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE LUNCH WITH THEM. WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN FOR SUGGESTIONS , WE HAVE A LOCAL CAMPAIGN OF REACHING OUT TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESS, WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP , WHEN THEY MAKE SALES CALLS WE WANT TO BE ON THERE WITH THEM.

GET THERE MEETING AND GET THEIR CORPORATIONS HERE, A LOT OF TALKS ON THAT. SALES AND MARKETING, EVERYTHING IS BEING

[01:15:06]

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR

NICK? >> WELL DONE.

>> NICK, I AM CURIOUS, FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATS ON A SUCCESSFUL

2024 . >> THANK YOU, NOW WE ARE LOOKING

FORWARD. >> ANY METRICS ON THE SUCCESS OF THE ADVERTISING AT THE ASTROS GAME? I THOUGHT THAT WAS COOL, I DIDN'T EVEN OTHER WAS HAPPENING AND I SAW THAT ON THERE AND IT MAY BE PROUD TO SEE THE WOODLANDS REPRESENTED.

>> EXCELLENT. GOOD POINT , THAT WAS IN KAMINSKI PARK, WHERE THE WHITE SOX PLAY AND CHICAGO IS A BIG FEEDER FOR US AND THAT WAS REALLY WHY WE HAD CHOSEN TO BUY THOSE AND IT WAS A GREAT PRICE.

WE ALSO HAD SOME AT FORMALLY KNOWN AS MINUTE MAID, BUT AS FAR AS RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT, CREATED A LOT OF IMPRESSIONS, WE HAVE THE NUMBERS SOMEWHERE. IT CREATED A LOT OF BUZZ, THE OLD MARKETING ADAGE OF EXPOSURE EQUALS AWARENESS EQUALS SALES,

RIGHT? >> TERRIFIC , IT WAS BRILLIANT BECAUSE IT IS IN THE WHITE SOX STATING WHEN THEY PLAYED THE YANKEES AND IT SHOWED UP BECAUSE EVERYONE WATCHES THE YANKEES AND IT WAS A GREAT DEAL AND WE GOT A CHEAP PRICE BECAUSE THE WHITE

SOX ARE HORRIBLE. >> THEY WERE THE WORST TEAM IN BASEBALL, THEY SET A RECORD FOR THAT LAST YEAR.

>> ONE OF MY FRIENDS TOOK A SCREENSHOT OF IT WHILE IT WAS UP THERE AND SAID, WHAT IN THE WORLD?

>> THE FEEDBACK WE GOT WAS INCREDIBLE.

>> IT LOOKS GREAT. DO YOU ALL TRACK HOTEL OCCUPANCY FOR THE YEAR? IS THAT A METRIC YOU TAKE A LOOK AT? DO YOU HAVE THAT

NUMBER? I AM CURIOUS. >> WHAT OCCUPANCY IS RUNNING, KIND OF AS AN AVERAGE FOR EVERY DAY FOR THE 365 IS AROUND 62 TO 65% AND IN , THE TIMES OF DAY AND WEEK VARY. SUNDAY NIGHT IS OUR LOWEST AT ABOUT 45% , GOAL OF OURS IS HOW WE CAN GET THAT UP 20 OR 30 POINTS BECAUSE IT IS 15% OF OUR COLLECTION IN YEAR BUT WE ARE RUNNING SOMEWHERE AROUND 65%. I WILL GIVE YOU SOME THOUGHTS ON THIS, WHEN LUNAR PLANETARY WAS HERE IN MARCH WE ACTUALLY RAN AN ADR, NOT ADR BUT HER OCCUPANCY WAS ALMOST 80% THAT WEEK. IN FACT IF YOU WEEK --

>> DURING SPRING BREAK? >> CORRECT.

>> WELL DONE. >> WE LOOK AT THAT, WE LOOK AT WHAT IS CALLED REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM IN THE INDUSTRY AND WE LOOK AT LOTS OF OTHER FACTORS AS WELL TO COMPARE YEAR-OVER-YEAR AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

>> HOW DOES OUR REVENUE COMPARE WITH HOUSTON?

>> WE ARE OUT-PACING, I CANNOT TELL YOU EXACTLY BUT WE ARE DOING VERY WELL. I CAN GET THOSE NUMBERS.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE WOODLANDS CONVENTION VISITORS BUREAU REPORT.

>> SECOND. >> MOVED.

>> MOVED BY DIRECTOR SEKULA-GIBBS, SECONDED BY DIRECTOR CHAIR. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

[14. Receive, consider and act upon an update from the Ad Hoc Government Relations Committee;]

>> AYE. >> APPROVED. -- AD HOC GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE , REFER TO PAGE 247. THE BOARD WILL NOW HERE A PAGE FROM THE AD HOC GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE AND

[01:20:04]

>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE BEEN BUSY IN THE AD HOC GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE. ONE THING I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT WE WENT TO THE CAPITAL AND ACTUALLY MET WITH THE TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM OFFICE TO TALK ABOUT HOW LEADS TO THE STATE ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE STATE. WE GOT SOME GOOD INFORMATION THERE , GOOD KNOWLEDGE, I THOUGHT I WOULD LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT. SOME OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT WITH OUR LOBBYISTS , WE BRIEFED THEM ON THE CHAPTER 13 OF THE TEXAS TAX CODE, WE DISCUSSED POTENTIAL WHAT A SLATE OF OPTIONS , WE USED INFORMATION DURING TWO MEETINGS WE HAD IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY WITH COMMISSIONER WHEELER TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES . WE HAD GOOD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMMISSIONER REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY THE IMPORTANCE OF CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WE KNOW HE IS GOING TO BE A GREAT PARTNER GOING FORWARD. HE PROVIDED GREAT FEEDBACK AND SHARED SOME OF HIS IDEAS ON BRINGING OPPORTUNITIES TO THE AREA AND WE ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO GET HIS FEEDBACK ON SOME OF THE POTENTIAL LEGISLATIVE OPTIONS THAT THE COMMITTEE WAS CONSIDERING. AFTER THESE MEETINGS AND EXTENSIVE DISCUSSION OF THE COMMITTEE WE DID NOT SEE A VIABLE LEGISLATIVE OPPORTUNITY THIS SESSION BUT WE WILL VISIT WITH THE COUNTY SHOULD A PARTICULAR SITUATION ARISE. SO, TBD. OUR COMMITTEE FELT THAT WITH COMMISSIONER WHEELER JUST TAKING OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS ANTICIPATED TO PLAY OUT THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS OUR FRIENDS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP AND IF NECESSARY WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AGAIN BUT AS OF NOW WE DON'T HAVE A PARTICULAR SITUATION. AND SECONDARILY, YOU ALL MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT SENATOR BENTON -COURTS SENATE BILL 1452 AND MY COLLATERAL DAMAGE RADAR WENT UP WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS, HOWEVER I SPOKE WITH OUR LOBBYISTS LAST NIGHT, TEAM HAS TOLD US THAT REGARDING THIS PROPOSED BILL THEY ARE CLOSELY MONITORING THE LEGISLATION THAT COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT SPECIAL-PURPOSE DISTRICTS . WE WILL TOE THEY ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR SITUATION.

SINCE WE HAVE COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS FOR OUR BOARD EVERY TWO YEARS. WE ARE NOT THE TARGET OF THIS BILL. IT WAS SPONSORED BY SENATOR BENTON-COURT, THEY HAD A HEARING AND HERE IS THE NET OF IT, THE LEGISLATION WOULD REQUIRE MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS TO CALL AN ELECTION ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS TO SUBMIT TO THE VOTERS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE DISTRICT SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXIST. THAT WAS A LITTLE SCARY TO ME. BUT OUR TEAM HAS ALREADY BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE SENATOR'S OFFICE TO DISCUSS THE BILL AND A MEMBER OF THE LOBBYING TEAM ALSO TESTIFIED BEFORE THE COMMITTEE MONDAY EVENING AND THE TESTIMONY WAS WELL RECEIVED BY COMMITTEE MEMBERS, WE ARE NOT WORRIED, SENATOR BETTENCOURT INDICATED DURING THE HEARING THAT DISTRICTS LIKE THE TOWNSHIP LOVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND ARE NOT THE TARGET OF THE LEGISLATION. WE WILL LET YOU KNOW AS THAT

PROGRESSES. QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU , CHAIRMAN HEISER.

A COUPLE OF THINGS, WHEN THE SESSION IS OVER, SINCE THERE ARE NO LEGISLATIVE PROCESSES THAT ARE GOING TO BE AT OUR INITIATIVE, OUR LOBBYISTS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PUT FORTH ANY KIND OF LEGISLATION, WILL WE BE ABLE TO STOP PAYING THEM AFTER THE SESSION IS OVER? AS I RECALL THE CONTRACT WAS FOR THE WHOLE YEAR. I DON'T SEE WHY WE WOULD STILL NEED TO PAY THEM ONCE THE

SESSION IS OVER. >> YOU ARE CORRECT. THE CONTRACT THAT WE SIGNED THIS YEAR AND IN PREVIOUS YEARS REQUIRES PAYMENT FOR THE FULL YEAR. REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME , OR THE WORK.

>> NOW IS TO ENHANCE OUR PRESENCE IN THE REGULATORY PART , ONCE THE LEGISLATION IS SIGNED INTO LAW , THEN IT HAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE AGENCIES. BUT SINCE THAT IS NOT HAPPENING, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING GOING FORWARD, WHY DO WE NEED TO CONTINUE? I WOULD THINK IF YOU APPROACH THE LOBBYISTS, IN THE INTEREST OF DOSAGE AND COST EFFICIENCIES, THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO RE-CONSIDER .

>> MONIQUE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN CHANGE A CONTRACT.

>> WE CAN ASK. WE DID NOT INTRODUCE LEGISLATION , THEY

[01:25:09]

>> ALSO TO POINT OUT, YOU HEARD DIRECTOR HEISER TALKED ABOUT IT, IT IS NOT JUST THE BILLS THAT WE FILE. THERE ARE ALSO BILLS THAT OTHER PEOPLE FILE THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECT OUR INTERESTS ON AND THE WORK THAT OUR TEAM IS DOING ON THE BILL FOLLOWED BY SENATOR BETTENCOURT, THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE ON THAT AND THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE GOING ALL THE WAY THROUGH JUNE. IF THEY GO TO SPECIAL SESSION THEN THEY GO TO

THE FALL. >> I AM SAYING WHEN SESSION IS OVER, WHEN ALL OF THEM ARE OVER, YOU WILL KNOW AT THE END IF THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL SESSION CALLED, SCHOOL CHOICES COMPLETED, THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL SESSION. I UNDERSTAND THAT. I AM JUST SAYING, LOOK AT IT, BE OPEN TO IT, MAYBE JUST CONSIDER IT BECAUSE THERE IS NO REASON TO KEEP PAYING A LOBBY FIRM WHEN THERE IS NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO AND AFTER THE BETTENCOURT BILL, IF IT PASSES, IS SET IN STONE AND WE ARE OUT OF IT, IT IS LIKE BEING DROPPED FROM A LAWSUIT, WE DON'T NEED OUR LAWYERS TO FOLLOW THE LAWSUIT.

>> CORRECT BUT AS YOU KNOW IN LEGISLATION, AS LEGISLATION STARTS MOVING PEOPLE CAN PIN THE THINGS ONTO BILLS AT THE VERY END AND START HANGING ORNAMENTS ON THEM AT CHANGING THE LAW AS IT GOES. NOTHING IS DONE UNTIL THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE LAW TO ACTION OR IT IS ACTUALLY KILLED AND THE TIME RUNS OUT. THERE IS STILL A LOT OF GAMES WE PLAYED. I UNDERSTAND DOGE AND THE WORD OF THE DAY IS EXCITING BUT WE ARE ALSO NOT TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS BOARD, THE CENTERPOINT

ISSUE. >> THAT IS MY SECOND POINT, DID YOU ALL DISCUSS THAT ? I GUESS YOU WERE THERE TOO, CHAIRMAN?

>> ON MONTGOMERY COUNTY DAY I DID NOT GO UP, ANYTIME WE GET REPORTS FROM THEM , NOTHING HAS BEEN GOING ON, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF HEARING AND BILLS HAVE BEEN FILED, I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ON THE REGULATORY END, WHICH IS THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION , WHICH THEY ARE TRACKING AS WELL.

>> AND IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT AND OUR LOBBYISTS AND ATTORNEYS IN THE CAPITAL AND I ALSO HEARD THEM STATE THEY WILL LOOK AT YOUR SUGGESTION.

>> THERE IS NO REASON NOT TO LOOK AT IT BUT I AM GLAD WE HAVE HAD LOBBYISTS IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE THEY WERE ONE OF THE FEW TO TESTIFY POSITIVELY FOR THE TOWNSHIP, IF WE HAD NOT HAD THEM WE MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN THE RESULT THAT WE HAD GOTTEN AND THE REACTION THAT WE GOT FROM SENATOR BETTENCOURT. HE ACTUALLY CALLED US, SEPARATING THE WHEAT FROM THE SHAFT AND WE ARE THE

WHEAT. >> WE DON'T WANT TO DISREGARD THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TODD STEVENS, OUR GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS PERSON , HE CAN DRIVE TO AUSTIN AND WE CAN ALL DRIVE TO AUSTIN TOO IF WE NEED TO TESTIFY. WE SHOULD NOT PRETEND THAT THERE IS ONLY A LOBBYIST TO TESTIFY ON IMPORTANT ISSUES LIKE

THIS. >> RIGHT. I BELIEVE CHAIRMAN BAILEY SAID IT IS SOMETHING WE WILL LOOK INTO.

>> WE WILL EXPLORE IT. >> A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AD HOC GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT.

>> MOVED BY -- ALL IN FAVOR RESPOND WITH AYE.

>> AYE. >> THE MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 16, EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS RELATING TO -- RELATED TO

SECTION -- >>

[15. Receive, consider and act upon an update regarding the Village Presidents' Council;]

>> I AM SORRY, RICHARD. >> NOT A PROBLEM.

>> AGENDA ITEM 15, UPDATE FROM THE VILLAGE PRESIDENT COUNCIL.

CALLING ON TREASURER RICHARD FRANKS.

>> WE HAD ANOTHER REALLY GOOD MEETING, ALL THE PRESIDENTS WERE PRESENT, WE ALSO HAD MONIQUE AND KAREN THERE, WHICH IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE THEY HAD SEVERAL THINGS THEY HAD TO REACT AND ACT TWO. WE HAD A CHIEF BUCK AS OUR MAIN PRESENTER AND HE BASICALLY DID THE SAME PRESENTATION IN ANNOTATED FORM THAT HE DID FOR THE BOARD ABOUT FOREST FIRES AND FIRE PREVENTION. ALSO NOTED THAT WE ARE PREPARING, WE THE TOWNSHIP ARE PREPARING A FIRE AWARENESS BROCHURE , A PAMPHLET OR SOME SUCH THING WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ALL HOMEOWNERS ABOUT FIRE PREVENTION IN THEIR HOMES AND THEIR AREAS. WHICH I THINK IS A REALLY GOOD IDEA.

THERE WAS A BIT OF DISCUSSION ON THE DISAPPOINTMENT BY SOME OF OUR PRESIDENTS ON THE TURNOUT ON THE VILLAGE ELECTIONS , THEY HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION. SOMEWHAT BETTER TURNOUT THAN OTHERS , PANTHER CREEK HAD A GREAT TURNOUT , I THINK THEY WERE OUT RECRUITING PEOPLE AND SOME HAVE FEWER PEOPLE TURNOUT. I THINK

[01:30:03]

WHICH I THINK IS A GREAT THING FOR THEM TO HAVE.

>> GREAT, ANY QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK?

>> NO, I THINK RICHARD AND TEAM, YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB , BRINGING THEM ALTOGETHER TO HEAR , PANTHER CREEK WOULD PROBABLY AGREE WITH THAT, DO YOUR BEST AND WORST PRACTICES AND TO

CONTINUE THAT, RACHEL. >> ALL RIGHT, GREAT WORK. I CALL ON A MOTION TO SECOND AND ACCEPT THE REPORT. DIRECTOR HEISER SECONDED BY DIRECTOR NELSON. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

[16. 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;]

>> AYE. >> CLOSED SESSION FOR AGENDA ITEM 16 , I ANNOUNCED THE BOARD WILL RECESSED EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS MATTERS RELATED TO REAL PROPERTY IN SECTION 5.107 TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, DELIBERATION OF EQUAL DEVELOPMENT -- DISCUSS PERSONAL MATTERS IN SECTION 5.1074 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, DISCUSSED I.T. NETWORKING CRITICAL STRUCTURES IN SECTION 5.1089 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND TO CONSULT THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY IN SECTION 5.17 BY THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. NO ACTUALLY TAKEN DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE

[17. Reconvene in public session;]

>> IT IS 8:31 , -- EXECUTIVE SESSION , I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY ACTION ITEMS COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION , CORRECT?

[18. Receive, consider and act upon additional light displays for The Woodlands Waterway Wonderland; ]

>> CORRECT. NUMBER 18. >> NUMBER 18. DO WE HAVE A MOTION -- ADDING THE ADDITIONAL LIGHTS TO THE WONDERLAND.

>> OKAY. >> DOES EVERYONE HAVE THIS?

>> A MOTION ON WHAT YOU WANT, ON WHAT YOU WANT , THERE WILL BE A

SECOND. >> OKAY. I MOVE THAT WE ADD THE ADDITIONAL LIGHTS THAT WOULD INCLUDE A MAJOR SCENE AND A MENORAH ON THE WOODLAND WATERWAY WONDERLAND DISPLAY.

>> OKAY. A SECOND? I WILL SECOND THAT.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO ADD A COST ASSOCIATED, CHRIS ?

>> $5715 , PER YEAR , MULTIPLIED BY THE FIVE YEAR CONTRACT.

>> AND THAT IS ADDING ONTO ALMOST A $500,000 X MANSION -- EXPANSION, $470,000 EXPANSION, SMALL AMOUNT.

>> $715 PER YEAR. >> 570 HASN'T -- $5750 PER

YEAR. >> $728,000. THANK YOU FOR THE

SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION?

>> NO. I BELIEVE THE HOLIDAY OF CHRISTMAS IS A CHRISTIAN, CHRIST

[01:35:07]

WITH THE PROPOSAL . >> ANYONE ELSE?

>> I DISAGREE WITH THAT IN TERMS OF THE LIGHTS ON THE WATERWAY ARE FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON, THAT IS WHY THEY ARE THERE, RIGHT? WE DON'T PUT THEM UP ON LABOR DAY OR ANY OTHER TIME, SO, I THINK IT IS A NON-ISSUE AND THESE KIND OF DISPLAYS HAPPEN ALL OVER, EVERYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY AND THERE ARE PROTESTS BUT THE FACT IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY LEGAL COUNCIL THAT IT IS UNLIKELY THE CITY WILL BE UPSET AS LONG AS YOU

STAY WITHIN THE GUIDELINES. >> ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

MOTION IS ON THE FLOOR. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> ALL OPPOSED?

>> NAY. >> NAY.

>> 5-2. >> 5-2, THE MOTION CARRIES.

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

>> I HAVE ONE , CONSIDERING THAT THE NEW LIBRARY WILL BE OPENING , THE KEVIN BRADY LIBRARY, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WILL BE OPENING AND THE SOUTH COUNTY COMMITTEE CENTER WILL BE OPENING ON SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM TO EXPLORE , EXPANDING THE TROLLEY FROM WHERE IT IS NOW TWO THE LIBRARY AND THE SOUTH COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER , NOT CONVENTION CENTER THE SOUTH COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTER. THAT WOULD HELP THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ALONG THE WATERWAY , PARTICULARLY THE RESIDENCE AT THE VILLAGE, THERE ARE 200 SENIOR CITIZENS THERE, THEY WILL HAVE LOST ACCESS TO SOUTH COUNTY COMMITTEE CENTER AND HAVE LOST ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WHEN THE PROJECT WAS ONGOING.

>> WE NEED TO MOVE ON IT NOW. >> LIKE TO DISCUSS EVEN MORE EXPANSION THAN JUST ONE ADDITIONAL ROUTE, THERE MAY BE OTHER ROUTES WE WANT TO ADD AS WELL.

>> I WILL SECOND THAT. >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT AT YOUR STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP?

>> YES, MONIQUE. THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE WE CAN DISCUSS DURING

THAT PERIOD >> WILL BE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO IT? AND STILL EXECUTE BEFORE THE MOVE? YES, OKAY, THANK YOU,

THAT IS FINE. >> THE OTHER THING, DID WE NOT APPROVE , THE NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER FUNDING TO INTERFAITH TO GO TOWARDS PURCHASING SOME TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION THAT WOULD ALSO ASSIST DEPENDED SENIORS --

>> YES, WE DID. CHRIS , WHAT IS THE STATUS ON THAT?

>> THAT WAS IN THE CARRYOVER THAT WAS APPROVED IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. MAYBE I NEED TO REACH OUT TO INTERFAITH TO GET THE

INVOICE. >> AND I WILL GO BACK AND CLARIFY SOMETHING I JUST SAID. IN TERMS OF EXECUTING BY WHEN THEY OPEN, WE NEED MORE TROLLEYS? CAN I DO IT WITH THE CURRENT WITHOUT UPSETTING THE WHOLE SYSTEM , THE LEADTIME WOULD BE TOO MUCH. THAT IS A PROCESS. IT WOULD NOT BE OPERATIONAL BY THE TIME THE NEW COMMUNITY CENTER OPENS.

>> IT WAS PRESENTED TO US IN THE PAST, SHE HAS REFRESH NUMBERS.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN GO THROUGH.

>> I HAVE TWO, I WOULD LIKE AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THE 280 ACRES ON GOSLING , AS WELL AS, A PROCLAMATION RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM ONE OF THE LONGTIME VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS , HE WAS A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE WOODLANDS AND HE IS ONE OF SEVERAL SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THAT ORGANIZATION AND WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER A PROCLAMATION FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS , IT IS A VERY SMALL NUMBER. TO BE RECOGNIZED AT ONE

OF OUR BOARD MEETINGS. >> SECOND.

>> ANYONE ELSE? >> I ALREADY MENTIONED IT TO MONIQUE BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO DO A PROCLAMATION AGAINST CHILD ABUSE, AS WE DID LAST YEAR. THIS APRIL, IT IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH AND THERE IS AN EVENT , CONCERT FOR

[01:40:04]

HOPE, APRIL 24TH. >> SECOND.

>> ANYONE ELSE? >> I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE BOARD, LAST WEEK WE HAD DISCUSSION ON FIVE POTENTIAL AREAS IN THE COUNTY THAT WE COULD DO RE-FOR STATION , IF ALL OF US COULD PLEASE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS SUBMIT THESE IDEAS, SPECIFIC LOCATIONS, SOME ARE RATHER LARGE. AND AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DON'T HAVE , IT IS JUST TOO MUCH MONEY AND WE HAVE TO BE UNDERSTOOD OF WHERE WE ARE AT BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR THAT TO APPEAR, MONIQUE, ON THE FIRST THURSDAY MEETINGS SO WE CAN DISCUSS EVERYBODY'S IDEAS AND GIVE CHRIS AND HIS TEAM MARCHING ORDERS TO START HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY. I THINK EVERYONE WILL HAVE DIFFERENT AREAS AND IDEAS, HAVING THAT DISCUSSION WILL BE GOOD. WE CAN GET IT TO CHRIS AND HIS TEAM SO THEY CAN MAP IT OUT AND WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY

ARE ALL AT. I NEED A SECOND. >> SECOND.

[20. Board announcements; and]

>> ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. AGENDA ITEM 20, ANY OTHER BOARD

ANNOUNCEMENTS? >> WE HAVE A LOT COMING UP IN APRIL, I KNOW WE HAVE MEETINGS ON THE 17TH AND THE 23RD BUT JUST EVERYONE THAT IS LISTENING, WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON WITH THE ARTS FESTIVAL, WE HAVE GOT THE IRON MAN, THE LPGA, AND FOLLOWING THAT IS THE --, STAY TUNED, I SEE THE BANNERS ARE UP, CHRIS, WITH IRON MAN , THE LPGA AND SOME ART ONES, GOOD JOB, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU FOUND THAT MANY POLLS TO DO THAT.

>> GREAT JOB. LET'S PRAY FOR GOOD WEATHER IN APRIL.

>> YES. >> A LOT OF BANNERS ARE BEING HELD , AND HUNG, IT IS AN EXPENSIVE ENDEAVOR. KUDOS TO STAFF VARIED ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OR ANNOUNCEMENTS? IF NOT I MAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.