Shenandoah provides update to City Council Meeting and Budget Workshop

THE WOODLANDS, TX - Shenandoah City Council met on August 9. In attendance were Mayor John Escoto, Mayor Pro Tem Charlie Bradt (Position 4), Mike McLeod (Position 5), Jim Pollard (Position 3), Ted Fletcher (Position 2), and Ron Raymaker (Position 1).

Items on the agenda included:

Interlocal Agreement on David Memorial Extension - The revised agreement replaces the original agreement between Shenandoah, Montgomery County and the City of Conroe, and it would also replace the supplemental agreement between Shenandoah and Montgomery County as approved by City Council at the July 26, 2023 meeting. The revised interlocal agreement is between Montgomery County and the City of Shenandoah, and it provides for funding as follows: City of Shenandoah - $2,000,000 (plus wetlands credits and Montgomery County - $3,475,000. This funding will complete the road up to the Conroe city limits. Council voted 5-0 to sign the interlocal agreement.

Awarding David Memorial Construction Contract - Items pertaining to the City of Conroe have been excluded from the Contract due to the City of Conroe not signing the Interlocal agreement with the City of Shenandoah and Montgomery County Precinct 4. This project consists of the extension of David Memorial Drive north to City of Conroe limits. Construction includes a bridge, 8-inch concrete pavement, dewatering, excavation/demucking, roadway embankment, underground storm, striping, and signage. The project is in the City of Shenandoah and Montgomery County Precinct 4. Council voted 5-0 to award the project to Brice Civil Constructors for $5,304,418.10.

Vision Park Phase 1 Project Change Order 1 - The change order adds pipe runners at 12'' spacing on 5 outfall pipe structures, reconciles the original base bid to final installed quantities and adds a 173-day extension of contract time due to weather-related delays. Council voted 5-0 to approve an additional $16,433.08 and a 173 calendar-day extension.

Vision Park Phase 2 Project Change Order 2 - The change order adds additional 7,500 cubic yards of excavated material to be spread over the clay liner to provide additional support. Council voted 5-0 to approve an additional $37,500.00.

Entergy Proposed Reconciliation Agreement - Entergy’s application to reconcile fuel and purchased power costs is currently pending at the Public Utility Commission of Texas. The Company, the Commission Staff, and other intervening parties have reached a final agreement regarding the Company’s fuel reconciliation application. The under-recovery balance to be carried over into the next fuel reconciliation period will be approximately $99.6 million instead of $103.1 million. There will be no rate impact on customers at this time as the Company did not request a fuel surcharge in these proceedings. Council voted 5-0 to approve the settlement and avoid costly court litigation.

2023 Property Tax Rate - The 2023 certified appraised taxable value and rate information is as follows:

• Net Taxable Certified Values - $1,497,354,888
• No-New-Revenue Rate - $0.1449/$100 Valuation (This is a $.0028 reduction to the current NNR rate of $.1477)
• Voter Approval Rate - $0.2697/$100 Valuation

There are still $28,879,605 taxable parcels under protest. Council discussed the tax rate and voted 5-0 to table action on this item until after the Budget Workshop.

The Mayor closed the regular meeting and opened the Budget Workshop at 7:12 p.m.

Budget Workshop presents the latest information on proposed departmental budgets for the 2023-24 fiscal year which are presented at earlier Council meetings for preliminary review and questions/ clarifications. In the workshop, any additional information on items as requested by Council is brought back for discussion. Any special considerations are brought up for discussion during this time, such as the purchase of police Tahoes, equipment replacement items such as trucks and equipment, and any other special items that have arisen during the budget year that need to be addressed going forward. Personnel items are discussed at this workshop including new staff additions, reduction of staff and reassignment of staff to other departments. Finally, special events and special Council requests are presented and discussed. A copy of the proposed budget is linked at the top of this page. Finally, capital projects and purchases are discussed allowing Council to determine the expenses the city will face in the upcoming year and allow them to finalize a budget and determine the tax rate that will allow them to meet the city's needs. All the discussions/questions/comments are available on the YouTube broadcast streaming at the above link