Photo Credit: The Woodlands TownshipNews
Township Board holds meeting: Earth Day GreenUp Day, 50th Anniversary Drone Show, Budget Task Force
The Woodlands Township shared the following review of the regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting held on March 21, 2024. This review is not the official minutes of the meeting. Official minutes are posted online upon review and approval by the Board of Directors. The Township holds regular meetings twice per month. Meetings typically occur on the third Thursday followed by the fourth Wednesday each month.
PROCLAMATIONS
The Environmental Services Department of The Woodlands Township is organizing the 14th annual Earth Day GreenUp event on March 23, 2024. The event aims to encourage community stewardship by having volunteers remove litter from streets, pathways, parks and stream banks in our community. Participation is open to individuals, clubs, scouts, neighborhoods, businesses, places of worship and schools. Schools can also register for a one-day campus clean-up. Volunteers should check-in at a designated park in each village between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Here, they will receive supplies and a map to their clean-up sites.
In consideration of Earth Day, a proclamation has been presented designating Saturday, March 23, 2024, as “The Woodlands Earth Day GreenUp Day” and proclaiming April 2024 as “Earth Month” in The Woodlands, Texas.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President and CEO Monique Sharp encouraged the Board and the community to attend the Township’s annual Get Ready—Emergency Preparedness event at Town Hall on April 13, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 1 p .m. The Neighborhood Services Department organizes this annual event, which is coordinated by Program Coordinator Sue Martin. The event will feature presentations from the National Weather Service, CenterPoint Energy and The Woodlands Fire Department. The event gets larger and larger each year and includes kid activities, demonstrations and items to help residents make a preparedness kit.
REGULAR AGENDA
At the beginning of the meeting, the Board agreed to move Agenda Item 8g from the Consent Agenda to the Regular Agenda.
ACCEPTED – Proposal for 50th Anniversary Drone Show
Chief Operating Officer Chris Nunes presented a proposal from Sky Elements for the provision of a turnkey drone show for The Woodlands 50th Anniversary event. The proposal encompasses the design and choreography, along with all required equipment and technology, and the capacity to integrate music, sound and movement into the display. Nunes further elaborated on the show’s logistics, transitions and graphic themes. Sky Elements, a qualified FFA-certified vendor, has executed numerous drone shows across the United States, including many high-profile events for professional sports leagues. The Board approved an allocation of $200,000 in the 2024 Budget for a drone show to be performed as one component of the overall 50th Anniversary Event to be held on October 19, 2024. The Board unanimously awarded the bid for a 50th Anniversary Drone Show C-2024-0215 to Sky Elements and authorized the President/Chief Executive Officer to negotiate and execute a services agreement within the budgeted amounts.
APPROVED – Award of Bid for The Woodlands Community Magazine C-2024-0223
Director of Communications LeaAnn Petersen presented the costs associated with a full-gloss publication as requested by the Board of Directors during the February 28, 2024, meeting. During the February 28 meeting, the Board unanimously voted to move forward with a magazine to be mailed bi-monthly without advertising support. The Board recognized the importance of maintaining high production quality by continuing to produce a full-gloss publication. Moreover, they highlighted the necessity of distributing to both residential properties and apartment complexes. With a five to one vote, The Board awarded the bid for The Woodlands Community Magazine C-2024-0223 to Community Impact Printing and a budget amendment therewith.
“Communicating with our residents about what we are doing is critically important,” said Director Brad Bailey. “I believe that transitioning the distribution to six times a year versus 12 times per year is needed.”
“I would second that,” said Treasurer Richard Franks, referring to Director Bailey’s comments. “Nothing is more important than communicating with our taxpayers.”
APPROVED – An award of bid for holiday lights along The Woodlands Waterway (C2024-0080)
Chief Operating Officer Chris Nunes introduced a proposal from Shadrack Productions regarding the installation, removal, storage and upkeep of a holiday light exhibit along The Woodlands Waterway. The proposal specified that the display would be active throughout the holiday season, commencing with The Lighting of the Doves event in November and running until the first week of January. It was proposed that decorations along The Waterway would enhance the ambiance during both daytime and nighttime, featuring music, sound and animated displays. The Board approved an allocation of $200,000 in the 2024 Budget for enhancements to The Woodlands Waterway. The Board unanimously awarded the bid for holiday lights along The Woodlands Waterway C-2024-0080 to Shadrack Productions and authorized the President/Chief Executive Officer to negotiate and execute a services agreement within the budgeted amounts.
APPROVED – The establishment of a charter for a Budget Task Force
Township Director Richard Franks requested that the Board establish a Budget Task Force for the 2025 budget process. Following discussion, the Board suggested appointing three Township Directors to the Budget Task Force. The appointments and the review of the task force’s charter will be discussed during a regularly scheduled meeting in April.
“The purpose of a Budget Task Force is to provide more in-depth information about the budget to the Board,” said Treasurer Richard Franks. “The proposed Task Force would meet with the President and appropriate staff as we prepare the budget.”
“I view this as a tool that keeps a pulse on the budget and what is going on,” said Vice Chairman Kyle Watson. “The Task Force can also provide assistance as needed to Monique and her team as we approach budget planning.”
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.
The following items were unanimously approved by the Board of Directors:
- Receive, consider and act upon approval of the minutes of the February 22, 2024 Regular Meeting, and the February 28, 2024 Regular Meeting for the Board of Directors for The Woodlands Township;
- Receive, consider and act upon the Communications Metrics Monthly Report;
- Receive, consider, and act upon Administrative Reports for Law Enforcement and Community Policing for February 2024;
- Receive, consider and act upon Administrative Reports for The Woodlands Fire Department;
- Receive, consider and act upon adoption of Resolution No. 006-24 Establishing Authorization Limits for Commitments and Agreements, Checks and Disbursements, and other Documents and Materials by the Board of Directors, Board Officers, President/Chief Executive Officer, and Other Designated Staff Positions of The Woodlands Township;
- Receive, consider and act upon Resolution No. 007-24 adopting the 2024 Montgomery County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
View the full agenda online here and watch video of the recorded meeting here. Learn more about The Woodlands Township’s Board of Directors meetings at https://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/585/Board-of-Directors-Meetings
Source: The Woodlands Township
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