News
Township Board meets, approves engineering services for 208-acre parcel
THE WOODLANDS, TX – The Woodlands Township Board of Directors held a regular meeting on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. The Board received reports and discussed a variety of topics, including the 2023 CISD Bond Referendum, the August 2023 Financial Report, an update from the Village Presidents’ Council and Phase 1 Engineering Services for the 208-acre parcel of land transferred in July from Howard Hughes.
The Board opened the meeting with the reading of proclamations recognizing National Dyslexia Month, National Night Out and International Walk to School Month.
- National Dyslexia Month takes place in October. Dyslexia is a language-based learning difference which affects approximately one in five people. The proclamation was presented to Brighter Education for Dyslexia, a Woodlands based parent-led support group, whose mission is to empower and educate parents with children affected by dyslexia. Read the proclamation.
- National Night Out takes place in The Woodlands on Sunday, October 8, 2023. National Night Out is a crime prevention program aimed at building strong neighborhoods and relationships among neighbors and law enforcement to support community policing efforts. Read the proclamation.
- International Walk to School Month promotes clean air, healthy kids and families, a sense of community, and safe use of the community’s pathways. Since 2005, The Woodlands Township has ranked in the top two of Texas communities with the most participating schools. Read the proclamation.
On the Regular Agenda, the Board accepted a report given by President/CEO Monique Sharp, which highlighted the importance of both Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Fire Prevention Month. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a time for communities to work together to raise awareness about the importance of conducting business safely online and minimizing cyber threats. Fire Prevention Month aims to raise fire safety awareness and protect families from the devastating effects of fires. Both events are observed annually in October.
Captain Tim Holifield of Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office presented the September 2023 Public Safety Report. He noted that fraud activity is on the rise, particularly via scam phone calls. Residents are encouraged to exercise caution when sharing personal information that could lead to identity theft. Captain Holifield also touched on the rise in calls regarding homeless and panhandlers in the community. He encouraged residents not to engage directly, but to instead allow law enforcement to direct those in need to philanthropic non-government organizations with the resources to provide assistance.
Chairman Ann K. Snyder noted the Board’s ongoing commitment to public safety in The Woodlands, citing the funding of eight new officer positions for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, three new positions for Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable Ryan Gable’s Safe Harbor/Internet Crimes division, and two new officer positions in Harris County (Village of Creekside Park). View the presentation.
Dr. Curtis Null, Superintendent of Schools for Conroe Independent School District (CISD), presented information to the Board regarding the 2023 CISD Bond Referendum. In the past decade, CISD enrollment has typically grown by 1,500 students per year. The current rate of growth surpasses 3,000 students per year. The proposed $1,820,000,000 bond would fund numerous projects in CISD including the construction of new schools, additions and renovations to existing schools, safety initiatives, transportation, technology, infrastructure and more. Several schools within The Woodlands would be impacted by renovations and additions related to the passage of the proposed bond. The estimated tax impact of the bond, if passed, would be roughly $80 a year on a $500,000 home. The bond will be on the ballot during the upcoming election on November 7, 2023. View the presentation.
Director of Finance Kellan Shaw presented the August 2023 Financial Report which demonstrated the continued financial stability and strength of the Township and its services. The report included favorable variances totaling $10,366,279 in revenue and $310,328 in operating expenditures.
Director Brad Bailey noted the Board’s legislative initiative regarding the Township’s authorization to receive proceeds from the State for mixed beverage taxes, which begins on October 1, 2023, and will generate an estimated $1.2 million annually. View the presentation.
Chief Operating Officer Chris Nunes presented information regarding “South Gosling” Park and the Phase 1 Engineering for the 208-acre parcel. The land tract was previously transferred to the Township from Howard Hughes in July 2023 along with the conveyance of The Woodlands Waterway.
Director Linda Nelson said, “This property is by far the largest park in The Woodlands; how exciting it is to have this kind of property that we can develop over time to provide recreational amenities for our residents.”
The first phase of engineering includes wetland analysis, flood plain analysis, hydraulic analysis, Harris County review and more. The results of the environmental studies may limit where future amenities can be located. The Board approved Task Order 12 for Halff Associates, Inc., for “South Gosling” Park engineering services and utilization of funding from the Undesignated General Fund Balance for the Task Order and soil sampling. View the presentation.
Board Treasurer Richard Franks and Secretary Linda Nelson shared an update with the Board regarding the Village Presidents’ Council meeting on September 11, 2023. Montgomery County Commissioner James Noack attended and presented about county projects in the villages and the ongoing land exchange with Howard Hughes for the construction of a new library and community center in Grogan’s Mill. Landon Reed of Harris County Precinct 3 presented about ongoing projects in Creekside Park. The village association presidents in attendance also discussed the merits of consolidating the associations’ various insurance policies and the future of The Woodlands Flea Market, which is currently on hiatus.
Chairman Snyder thanked Director Franks and Director Nelson for their leadership working with the Village Presidents’ Council.
On the Consent Agenda, which consists of routine housekeeping items that do not require Board discussion, the Board received administrative reports for Community Services, approved the Interlocal Agreement with Harris County for contracted law enforcement services, approved an Interlocal Agreement regarding membership in the Purchasing Association of Cooperative Entities (PACE), authorized the use of 2024 funds to be used in 2023 for the pre-ordering of fleet vehicles for the Parks and Recreation Department, approved the landscape maintenance services agreement with Berkeley Services for The Woodlands Waterway, approved the proposal from Act Global for the replacement of the all-weather turf fields at Alden Bridge Sports Park and Bear Branch Sportsfields, and awarded a bid for materials testing services to Terracon Consultants, Inc.
After recessing to Executive Session, the Board returned and took no action.
The Board also received reports from the Village Associations regarding their recent and upcoming programs and activities.
Members of the public were able to address the Board at the beginning of the meeting.
The Woodlands Township Board Meetings may be attended in person, watched live online, or viewed later via recording at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/meetingvideos. The agenda and attachments may be viewed at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/991/Agendas-Minutes-and-More.
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