Photo Credit: The Woodlands TownshipNews
The Woodlands Township Board meets, reviews study and potential plans of 208-Acre South Gosling Parcel
The Woodlands Township shared the following recap of The Woodlands Township’s regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting held on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.
PROCLAMATIONS
The Woodlands High School Women’s Swim and Dive Team’s State Championship
The Woodlands Township celebrates The Woodlands High School Lady Highlanders Swim and Dive teams for securing their 12th state championship, with notable victories in various events at the UIL Class 6A State Championship. Notable achievements include back-to-back state championships and impressive individual performances by team members, earning gold, silver, and bronze medals. The proclamation, read by Vice Chairman Kyle Watson, designated April 24, 2024, as The Lady Highlander Swim and Dive Team State Champions Day in recognition of their outstanding achievements. READ THE PROCLAMATION
National Police Week
In recognition of the valor and dedication exhibited by law enforcement officers from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Harris County Constable’s Office – Precinct 4 and the Montgomery County Constable’s Office – Precinct 3, The Woodlands Township celebrates Police Week. This week pays tribute to the tireless efforts of officers who safeguard our communities, often risking their own safety. Events throughout May 12 – May 18, 2024, including the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund’s 36th Annual Candlelight Vigil and the Bands and Badges celebration at Rob Fleming Park and Northshore Park, honor their service and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. READ THE PROCLAMATION
National Telecommunicators Week
In recognizing the indispensable role of Public Safety Telecommunicators as the initial contact during emergencies, The Woodlands Township designates April 14 – 20, 2024, as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. This proclamation underscores their pivotal contribution to public safety by providing vital information to emergency responders, ensuring efficient and effective responses to crises. The week honors their professionalism, compassion, and dedication in safeguarding the community and citizens of The Woodlands, Texas. READ THE PROCLAMATION
Bike The Woodlands Month
In recognizing the significant role of bicycles in promoting environmental sustainability, recreation and physical fitness, May is designated as Bike The Woodlands Month. This proclamation aligns with the League of American Bicyclists’ National Bike Month, emphasizing the benefits of bicycling for transportation and community well-being. Additionally, May 17, 2024, is designated as Bike to Work Day and May 18, 2024, as Bike The Woodlands Day, celebrating the Township’s commitment to cycling and its status as a nationally recognized Bicycle Friendly Community. To further support these initiatives, the Township partners with the Bike The Woodlands Coalition to facilitate activities and programs focused on bicycling safety and education throughout the month of May. READ THE PROCLAMATION
Monarch Butterfly Day
In recognizing the iconic status of the monarch butterfly and the need for conservation efforts, May 4, 2024, is proclaimed as Monarch Butterfly Day in The Woodlands, Texas. The proclamation underscores the critical role of local governments and residents in restoring habitat for monarchs and supporting other pollinators. Highlighting The Woodlands Township’s commitment to conservation, the proclamation emphasizes ongoing initiatives and partnerships aimed at preserving monarch populations and enhancing public awareness. READ THE PROCLAMATION
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Monique Sharp, President and CEO, during her President’s report, highlighted the upcoming Public Service Week, observed from May 5-11, 2024, acknowledging the invaluable contributions of the Township’s public servants to the community. Notable mentions included the Woodlands Fire Department, which was honored with the prestigious George Mitchell Award at the Interfaith Hometown Heroes event, an accolade rarely bestowed and a testament to their exceptional dedication. Additionally, Steven Romero, the Township’s Video Producer, was recognized for having been granted a scholarship to attend the 2024 National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors conference, for his outstanding storytelling skills. Furthermore, the Township has been honored once again as a Gold Star Affiliate by Keep Texas Beautiful, reflecting the Environmental Services team’s commendable efforts in promoting sustainability and beautification programs that help to keep The Woodlands beautiful.
REGULAR AGENDA
ACCEPTED – Quarterly Law Enforcement Report
Captain Tim Holifield of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Sergeant Jason Cearley from Harris County Constable’s Office Pct. 4 jointly delivered the first quarter public safety report. They provided an overview of the first quarter’s calls and incidents, detailing crime categories of note and quality of life crime trends. Captain Holifield noted a change in overall crime rates coinciding with warmer weather and increased area visitors, and additionally emphasized concern over fraud and forgery cases affecting seniors and young individuals. He urged community members to remain vigilant and engage in discussions with their families to prevent such crimes. Additionally, Sergeant Steven Terrell from the Criminal Investigations Division of Montgomery County Constable’s Office, Precinct 3, presented the Board with a quarterly update on the Safe Harbor and Special Victims Unit, highlighting the positive impact of additional personnel funded by the Township. Safe Harbor and Special Victims Unit focuses on combating Internet Crimes Against Children. The Board unanimously accepted the report.
“Words cannot express how thankful we are to have your group doing what you are doing for our children,” said Chairman Dr. Ann K. Snyder. “And we are also glad the additional resources have made a difference.”
ACCEPTED – Review of Initial Engineering Studies of South Gosling 208-Acre Parcel
Chris Nunes, Chief Operating Officer, introduced Halff Associates, a contracted engineering firm for the Township, who prepared a report regarding the 208-acre South Gosling parcel acquired through the Comprehensive Services Agreement (CCSA) with Howard Hughes. This parcel holds potential for a range of recreational facilities and amenities, pending a thorough understanding of its limitations and opportunities. Halff Associates presented their preliminary investigation, which encompassed topographical and boundary surveying, cultural resource analysis, environmental assessments and inundation studies. Their findings indicate that approximately 42 acres of the parcel lie outside flood zones, permitting the construction of various structures such as pavilions, sports courts, miniature golf, field sports and restrooms, while the remaining 166 acres offer potential for non-structural facilities like trails, community gardens and dog parks. Notably, any development on this parcel must incorporate flood-resilient design principles, similar to the development of Gosling Sportsfields. The Board unanimously accepted the report.
ACCEPTED – Report on Houston-Galveston Areas Council 2025-2028 Draft Transportation Improvement Program
Todd Stephens, Director of Intergovernmental Relations and Assistant to the President, discussed the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s (H-GAC) 2025-2028 Draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), pertaining to the proposed widening of Research Forest Drive. The TIP outlines transportation infrastructure and service enhancements planned for the Houston-Galveston Region over the next four years, with projects requiring federal, state and local funding. The draft includes a proposal to widen Research Forest Drive from four to six lanes, estimated at $5 million; however, funding has not been allocated for the project. Mr. Stephens explained that the draft TIP recommends excluding the project from the final TIP, citing it as not meeting the criteria for regional significance. Despite the Township’s lack of direct responsibility for road funding and development, the Board deemed it important to convey residents’ concerns by sending a letter of opposition to H-GAC regarding the widening of Research Forest Drive.
“I would like to thank Commissioner Noack for issuing a letter of opposition to this project,” said Director Dr. Shelly Sekula-Gibbs. “I would also like to thank our residents who responded to H-GAC when asked for comments. Our residents matter a great deal, and they should never underestimate their value.”
“This Board, our commissioners, and our residents are united in opposing this project,” said Director Brad Bailey.
ACCEPTED – Financial Report
Kellan Shaw, Chief Financial Officer, presented the Board with the March 2024 Financial Statements. Year-to-date budgeted revenues total $65.9 million compared to actual revenue collections of $65.6 million. The reason for this unfavorable variance is lower-than-estimated sales tax collections. However, this is offset by favorable variances in revenues generated by parks and recreation programs, mixed beverage tax, hotel occupancy tax and property tax. While sales tax revenues reflect a 1.8% decline compared to the previous year, the top four industry categories for sales tax deposits experienced growth. Additionally, hotel tax revenue has surpassed the budget by approximately 6%, and mixed beverage tax revenue is exceeding the budget by 23%. Actual year-to-date general fund operating expenses total $25.6 million compared to a budget of $30.8 million, resulting in a favorable variance of $5.2 million. The Board unanimously accepted the report.
APPROVED – The Purchase of Six Transit Trolley Replacement Vehicles
Ruthanne Haut, Director of Transportation, reviewed the purchase of six new trolleys. The Woodlands Township, as an FTA public transportation grantee, issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to procure six new rubber-tire replica trolley vehicles for its fixed route service. Following a pre-proposal meeting and addendums, only one proposal was received from Model 1 Commercial Vehicles and Hometown Manufacturing. The proposal underwent a thorough evaluation based on various criteria, including product design, price, delivery schedule, qualifications and financial responsibility. A comparative price analysis showed the proposal to be competitive, fair and reasonable. Consequently, staff recommended awarding the contract to Model 1 Commercial Vehicles, necessitating a budget amendment and Transportation Improvement Plan amendments. Delivery of the trolleys is expected in 18 to 20 months. A plan is currently being developed for the existing trolleys for their potential reuse after meeting federal useful life standards to enhance Township programming and services.
The Board unanimously approved the purchase of the trolleys from Model 1 Commercial Vehicles and directed staff to submit a Transportation Improvement Plan and a Transportation Development Credit application to the Houston-Galveston Area Council, aimed at securing funding for the additional 20% local share cost requirement totaling $146,486.40 for the vehicles. In addition, the Board approved increasing the Trolley Capital Project – Trolley Replacement budget line item from $1,500,000 to $2,232,432 and increasing the FTA grant revenue line item from $1,200,000 to $1,785,945.60. Furthermore, upon the successful award of additional Transportation Development Credits from the Houston-Galveston Area Council, authorization was granted for the President/Chief Executive Officer to execute the firm-fixed-price contract with Model 1 Commercial Vehicles, subject to approval by Township legal counsel.
APPROVED – Purchase of Three Replacement Fire Engines and Two Replacement Ladder Trucks
The Woodlands Fire Department, Fire Chief Palmer Buck, requested that the Board consider the pre-purchase of three fire engines and two ladder trucks as outlined in The Woodlands Township capital reserve study. Chief Buck explained to the Board that supply chain disruptions have led to significant delays in manufacturing and delivering essential fire apparatuses, with production times estimated as long as four to five years. Despite efforts to replace aging units in The Woodlands Fire Department’s fleet, delays persist due to these manufacturing challenges. Ordering three replacement engines now will help address the aging reserve apparatus fleet, ensuring reliable backups for community protection during primary unit repairs. The Board authorized the purchase of the additional apparatuses; however, payment will not be made until the vehicles are received.
APPROVED – Budget Task Force Charter
The Board reviewed the Budget Task Force Charter which was prepared by staff following the March 24, 2024 meeting. The charter delineates the Task Force’s purpose, objectives, authority, limitations and duration. The Board unanimously approved the charter and appointed Treasurer Richard Franks and Director Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs to serve on the task force.
ACCEPTED – The Village Presidents’ Council Report
Treasurer Richard Franks briefed the Board on the Village Presidents’ Council meeting held on April 1, 2024. Chief Operating Officer Chris Nunes attended the April 1 meeting and delivered a presentation covering parks and recreation, transportation, and covenant administration services. The next meeting Village Presidents’ Council meeting will be held on April 29, 2024.
ACCEPTED – Report from The Woodlands 50th Anniversary Task Force
Secretary Linda Nelson provided the Board with an update on The Woodlands 50th Anniversary Task Force’s activities. She announced that a press conference is scheduled for May 8, 2024, where several upcoming events and activities will be unveiled. Nelson encouraged community members to submit photos for inclusion in the 50th Anniversary photo book before the approaching deadline of May 31, 2024. Additionally, she mentioned the availability of 50th Anniversary merchandise at this weekend’s Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas event, as well as online at TheWoodlands.com, with the featured item of the month being an umbrella.
ACCEPTED – Report from the Homelessness Task Force
Director Cindy Heiser delivered an update from the Homelessness Task Force, noting its recent commencement of meetings. The task force comprises stakeholders, law enforcement representatives and nonprofit organizations. Their primary objective is to furnish tools and resources to individuals in need of assistance.
APPROVED – Purchase of Access Control System
Upon reconvening from Executive Session, the Board unanimously authorized the President and CEO, Monique Sharp, to execute an agreement for the purchase of an access control system in the amount of $121,000.
CONSENT AGENDA
The Consent Agenda consists of non-controversial, or “housekeeping” items required by law. One motion with modifications, if applicable, approves for action, all items contained within the Consent Agenda. Items may be moved from the Consent Agenda to the Regular Agenda by a Board Member making such a request prior to a motion and vote. To view more information about each item, please review the Meeting Agenda online.
The following items were unanimously approved by the Board of Directors:
- Approval of the minutes of the March 21, 2024 Regular Meeting, and the March 27, 2024 Regular Meeting for the Board of Directors for The Woodlands Township
- Administrative Reports for Community Services
- Administrative Reports for The Woodlands Fire Department
Communications Metrics Monthly Report - Amended and Restated Housing Agreement Between The Woodlands Township and Montgomery County Hospital District (C-2014-4140A7)
- Fares for The Woodlands Express (Park and Ride)
- Annual computer replacement purchase
VILLAGE ASSOCIATION REPORTS
Village association presidents present reports to the Board each month regarding activities and news from the villages. The following gave reports for their respective village associations:
- Maryann Braid, Alden Bridge
- JC Harville, Cochran’s Crossing
Meeting agendas, videos and more are available online at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.
