The Woodlands Township Board holds videoconference meeting

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Woodlands Township Board of Directors discussed opening up the community, received various presentations and administered the Oath of Office to a new Director during its regular meeting via videoconference on Wednesday, April 22, 2020.

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors are meeting weekly to determine how to open the Township facilities for residents and other needs of the town.

The Board of Directors took the following actions before conducting business on Consent and Regular agenda items:

Accepted the forms of the Oath of Office, Official Bond and Statement of Elected/Appointed Officer for the newly elected Director of The Woodlands Township.
Administered the Oath of Office to newly elected Director of The Woodlands Township: Director – Jason Nelson.
The Board of Directors took the following actions on the Consent Agenda:

Received Administrative Reports from Law Enforcement and Community Policing.
The Board of Directors then moved on to take the following actions on the Regular Agenda:

Took no action on Incorporation Planning Study matters.

Chairman Gordy Bunch discussed Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Orders for Opening Texas including Restricted Activities Under Presidential and CDC Guidelines, Permissible Essential Services and Daily Activities and Reopened Services. His presentation can be found at this link: https://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=10104

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors has approved the opening of tennis courts in the Township beginning Friday, April 24, 2020. “This is the first step in moving forward to open The Woodlands facilities,” said Township Chairman Gordy Bunch. “We’re closely following the guidelines set forth at the national, state and county levels. As we open facilities, we strongly encourage to our residents to use sound judgment of protecting yourself, practicing good hygiene, and respecting fellow residents.”

The opening of the courts will be done in compliance with social distancing guidelines by removing nets on courts next to each other to keep participant numbers to a minimum. Tennis courts with a two-court system will have one net removed, while three-court systems will have the center net removed. At this time, no programs or court reservations will be offered.

As a reminder to residents, all trails and pathways are open to residents to enjoy the outdoors and get exercise, and doing so should be done according to CDC guidelines for social distancing.

Chairman Bunch announced that beginning Friday, April 24, 2020, The Woodlands Mall will introduce curbside pickup. A designated Curbside Pick-up area will be located in the North parking lot closest to the main entrance where signage will direct guests to park. More information about this program can be found on The Woodlands Mall website at https://www.thewoodlandsmall.com/en.html.

Chairman Bunch also discussed the White House Guidelines for “Opening Up America Again,” which includes conditions to reopen the country in three phases. The Township’s discussion of this can be viewed online at this link: https://woodlandstx.new.swagit.com/videos/52000.

The Guidelines to Opening Up America Again can be found here: https://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=10072

The Board approved sending a letter to both Montgomery and Harris County Public Health Districts to request a modification to how both health districts report positive COVID-19 cases. The modification suggests reporting positive cases on the date the test was administered rather than on the date the results are reported to the health districts from the confirming laboratory.

The Board also approved sending a letter to Harris County Judge Hidalgo and copying the Attorney General opposing the mandatory face cover order and $1,000 fine for non-compliance.
Director Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs provided an update on the Help Our Heroes campaign. As of Thursday, April 23, 2020, this program is expanding to help our heroes personally as well as professionally. The Woodlands Township will support an existing program called “Adopt a Healthcare Worker” to provide those supplies.

The collection will be made in conjunction with the Help Our Heroes campaign, every Monday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Fire Station, 9951 Grogan’s Mill Road, The Woodlands, TX 77380. Donations will be accepted over the next three collection dates of Thursday, April 23, 2020; Monday, April 27, 2020; and Thursday, April 30, 2020, when both programs conclude.

For the new Adopt a Healthcare Worker collection, items needed include bottled water/bottled sports energy drink, nonperishable snacks, Emergen-C or Vitamin C tablets, travel-size toiletries, bathroom tissue, paper towels, disinfectant supplies, and hand-written notes of encouragement.

Learn more about the Help Our Heroes campaign at http://thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/1489/HELP-OUR-HEROES.

Director Dr. Ann K. Snyder provided an update on various non-profits including the Montgomery County Food Bank, Interfaith of The Woodlands, Crisis Assistance Center, Meals on Wheels, United Way, The Woodlands Family YMCA and Mosaics of Mercy. Her presentation can be found at this link: https://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/10099.

The Montgomery County Food Bank distributed 11,626 senior boxes, 62,526 backpack buddies and raised $94,605 for the virtual food drive in March 2020. The Interfaith Food Pantry has drive thru distribution for families in need on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Interfaith accepts food donations on Wednesdays from 9 to 11 a.m. and offers crisis assistance Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Meals on Wheels delivered 15,645 meals in March 2020 and saw a 150% increase in the number of seniors added to the waitlist in the last four weeks. The Crisis Assistance Center is currently providing no contact service delivery including financial assistance services for rent, mortgage and utility payments by phone Tuesday through Friday. Help is available 24/7 for food, housing and other critical information through the United Way by calling 211. The Woodlands Family YMCA will host a mobile market in the Shadowbend YMCA parking lot, 6145 Shadowbend Place, on Saturday, April 25, 2020, from 10 a.m. to noon. Boxes of food will be loaded into patron’s cars by volunteers and Y Staff.

Dr. Snyder also discussed the resource of Mosaics of Mercy, a non-profit that serves as a hub for resources for mental well-being. The organization stays current on the available mental health resources for our community, including the status of treatment programs, counselors seeing clients through telehealth, and virtual support groups. More information can be found at www.mosaicsofmercy.com. Help is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 346-703-0051 for personal assistance navigating resources.

The Board received a presentation from Dr. Chris Nunes on the opening of Township Parks, following the White House Guidelines for “Opening Up America Again.” After the presentation, the Board approved reopening tennis courts in a staggered manner on or before Friday, April 24, 2020.

Received and accepted quarterly updates on Law Enforcement from Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County Constable Precinct 3 and Harris County Constable Precinct 4.
Received and accepted a presentation on neighborhood concerns regarding the San Jacinto River Authority Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 1.
Received and accepted a quarterly update from the Development Standards Committee.
Received and accepted a quarterly update from Visit The Woodlands (Convention & Visitors Bureau).
Accepted the transfer of Trolley Operations from Brazos Transit District to the Township.
Accepted the financial report.
Please stay connected to The Woodlands Township through many communications channels. Learn more and sign up at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/stayinformed. Follow the Township’s official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thewoodlandstownship.

For more information on The Woodlands Township, or to view the meeting in its entirety, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov, or call 281-210-3800.