CPVA MEETING MINUTES

MINUTES APPROVED

Board Meeting Notes:

1. Note from the RDRC that Allen Renny (forgive me if the spelling is not correct), an engineer, has joined the committee.  He should be an outstanding addition to the committee and we look forward to his contributions.  The RDRC dealt primarily with gazebo and pool requests this past month.

2. Minutes from June and July were approved.

3. Treasury report: we have $9,781.73 currently in the College Park bank account.  That number will decrease significantly next month upon payment of required liability insurance premiums.  We sold all but one of the pre-purchased Astros game tickets; game day bus costs were less than expected.  We’re in good shape.  Thanks, Ron.

4. The Woodlands Associations did not meet in August, so no report there. 

5. Alicia Klosterman, our Village Liaison, brought the usual poundage of papers and handouts to the meeting.  A lot of those brochures are really quite informative.  The Woodlands is hosting The Woodlands Academy 2005 in October.  Sign up early.  It’s a series of evening presentations telling you everything you ever wanted to know about the operation of various elements of The Woodlands, and more. 

6. National Night Out was an absolute, resounding success.  Congratulations to Ann Schultz!  Ann masterminded the event and put it together with the help of her Neighborhood Watch folks.  Grogan’s Forest doubled the number of attendees from last year (wow!).  Harper’s Landing had more than 400 people at the pavilion.  Chuck E. Cheese manager Raul Medina donated 35 pizzas.  They disappeared faster than teenagers at a family reunion.  Ann secured a visit from The Woodlands fire department  and the PHI helicopter – which drew even more folks than the pizza.  We had Child ID cards (with picture) available as well as representatives of the police auto theft unit, offering ideas on how to protect your vehicle.  Sheet cakes donated by Kroger, cotton candy and sodas added additional refreshment.  Thanks again, Ann!

7. Fire service update – we roll over to coverage by The Woodlands Fire Department officially on 12/31/05.  Right now we are covered both by TWFD and by ESD #4 (Needham Road).  December 31^st marks the last date we are obligated to pay ESD #4 for service.  We are still obligated, however, to make payments on debts incurred by ESD #4 while they serviced us (read: we have to pay for equipment procured during that time).  That debt payment should be relieved in another year and a half/ 2 years.  No solid date for that at this time.  Recap: we will continue to pay for debt service but not for operational service as of 12/31.

8. Astros Night was a success.  We sold all but one ticket and even better, the Astros won.    

Speakers:

1.  Miles McKinney of The Woodlands Associations presented the latest developments on the railroad Quiet Zone.   Mr. McKinney gave an excellent, detailed, well-prepared discussion of the issue. 

Summary: Will we have a Quiet Zone?  

                  Short answer: No.

                  Long answer: No, we won’t. 

Reason(s):  Wow.  There are a lot. 

a)      For a Quiet Zone to be implemented, there must be a Supplemental Safety Measure in place at all street crossings within the zone.  That means a curb down the center of the street, plus an island, so that circumventing downed safety arms would be impossible.  Cost of each SSM: roughly $30,000.

b)      The SSM was a surmountable challenge.  Mr. McKinney researched the issue more, meeting with Dale Hill, the engineering manager for the RR.   He also researched the issue through the Federal Register, which spells out all the federal regulations associated with a Quiet Zone.  He passed out an abbreviated version at the meeting. Dale Hill provided more input on the information in the Register.

c)      The Register indicates that the train must blow a warning whistle before approaching a Quiet Zone, at a distance of ½ mile.  That works out great for Harper’s Landing when trains are southbound.  They can blow the whistle just south of 1488 and everything works out great.  The problem lies with northbound trains.  There’s another street crossing at 242.  That crossing is required to have a whistle blow, being that it’s not a Quiet Zone.   The implementation of a Quiet Zone at Harper’s Landing prevents the horn from blowing there.  Conflict problem.  Safety rules are stronger – for Harper’s Landing to install a Quiet Zone, it would also have to install one at the 242 crossing.  Another $30,000.

d)     By Federal standards, a Quiet Zone at both intersections is acceptable.  Quiet Zones can not be considered if the ratio of wrecks to safe crossings is too high. 

                                    Our stats:

a.       Roughly 30 trains/day

b.      Trains supposedly travel at 5-60 mph  

c.       The 30 trains carry approx. 1400 cars/day

      Our safety ratio is fine.

e)      The warning arms that drop when a train approaches a Quiet Zone must be in the “constant warning” mode and take the speed of the train into account.  Makes sense.  You don’t want the arms to drop at the same time for a train going 5 mph as one going 60 mph (which brings back all those agonizing calculus problems of a train traveling x speed leaving the station at y time….).   Our current arms are not in this mode.

      Fee for a design estimate: $5000

      Fee for actually doing the work: $170,000-$225,000 per crossing.

f)       Mr. McKinney was shocked and amazed, as we were.  He confirmed it independently with another individual involved in RR work.   Same answer.

g)      Even better news is that the village association would have to pay for any and all maintenance of the crossing  (curb runover by trucks, damaged by lightning, whatever).  The county would be responsible for project management, but the RR would do the work and bill us for all expenses.

h)      Minimum cost of the project:

($170K x 2) + ($30K x 2) + $5K = $405,000 (+ maintenance)

w-a-y more than TWA would spend

i)        Plan B may be to look into the decibel level of the horn. 

2.      Larry Faith – Panther Creek Fall Flea Market

 Date: October 1

Time: early a.m.

Place: Market Street Parking Garage (new venue)

We need volunteers.  These flea markets are how we fund our scholarships.  The Village Association is paid by the number of volunteers we supply.  Shifts are available from 4:30-8:00 a.m., and from 8-11:30 a.m.

There will be an orientation Wednesday, September 28, 6 p.m., at the garage.  Contact Gail Carney if you are interested.

For those interested in exhibiting, the height of the garage dictates that displays and/or vehicles transporting goods can be no higher than 6’8”.  Tickets for exhibitors will go on sale 9/17 from 8:30-noon at the Panther Creek Village Center.

Upcoming Events:

October 30^th – Halloween Spooktacular

Place: Harper’s Landing pool, once again

Time: TBD

Food: Yes!

Games: Yes!

More details coming later? Yes!

The Social Chairman (that’s me, Susan Kooiman) would like to have a meeting of all parties interested in planning the event.  I’m tentatively thinking of September 17^th.  Please contact me via email, szkooiman@earthlink.net or by phone, 832-515-5479, if you would like to help.  WE NEED HELP!!!!  PLEASE VOLUNTEER!

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Board Meeting Notes:

1. Note from the RDRC that one of the members of the committee has resigned because of other commitments.  Applications for persons interested in filling the open position will be accepted until close of business 7/26.  Applications are available and should be filed at The Woodlands Associations Building on Lake Woodlands Dr.

2. The official Design Review Committee of The Woodlands also has an opening.  This one requires experience in the RDRC world and, preferably, in the world of architecture.  The DRC handles appeals from RDRC meetings for various villages, handles projects individual village committees might not be able to evaluate comfortably, and handles disputes between residents not resolved at the local level.  Applications are available at The Woodlands Associations Building

3. Fire Service Update – the board of the Emergency Services District #4 (that’s the Needham Road fire station) will vote next month on our de-annexation request.  The official de-annexation would not occur until 12/31 for tax/accounting reasons.  We will still be obligated for payment on purchases made by the fire department while we were under their service.  The obligation should be completed in 2007.

4. Our TWA Director, Ted Stanley, reported that TWA did not meet in July.  This is the end of the acronyms.  This report is beginning to look like a government document.

5. Our 4^th of July float turned out great.  We had a great time building it and although we didn’t get a trophy, we can gloat: we were a float of note in the official float vote. 

6. The official treasurer’s report shows us to have a little more cash in hand than we expected.  Not true for my own bank account.  No significant changes occurred in the budget during the last reporting period.

7. We have a new Village Liaison: Alicia Klosterman.  Alicia let us know that the Paint-Your-Number kits are a little behind schedule.  These are different from the normal paint-by-number kits.  They’re not nearly as much fun.  No pictures of kittens or horses or landscapes.  These let you paint your house number on your driveway to help emergency vehicles or Aggie Homeowners find the house.  They are available free of charge at The Woodlands Associations Building.  Probably the best bet is to sign up for a waiting list.  They’re roughly a month behind in loaning them out.  

8. We have 3 tickets left for the Astros v. Mets game on July 30^th.  The $15 price tag includes transportation so that you don’t have to park your car behind the Bail Bonds joints downtown, like I usually do.  You can park at the Village Medical Center on W. Panther Creek Dr., take the bus at 4:30 and contribute in a small way to keeping Bonds away from baseball in 2005…what a coincidence…the same thing is happening with Barry Bonds…..

9. A new dog park opens at Bear Branch on July 30^th.  Dogs are not leashed there.  Owners are expected to de-fuse any bombs left.  Bad, bad place to bring a cat.

10.  Rumors have been floating about Harper’s Landing being annexed by Conroe.  Ted Stanley had some information on this one.  Ted is doing an outstanding job as our TWA Director.  He even addressed this one, standing.  Conroe has no interest in annexing us.  It would involve a minimum of a 3-year notice before occurring and is just not on the Conroe Top-Things-To-Do-in-the-Near-or-Distant-Future list.  Ted will keep us apprised of any changes.

11. Finally, Ted has also been in touch with the builders of the new shopping center on the east side of 242/I-45.  It’s supposed to be an upscale area – not Neiman’s but not Joe’s Jewelry-and-Car-Repair.   He can provide more details about the shopping area and about almost anything else in The Woodlands if needed.

Upcoming Events/Speaker:

1.      National Night Out. 

Date: August 2^nd.

Place: Harper’s Landing Pool and in Grogan’s Forest, on Rosewood Dr.

Food: Complimentary Chuck E. Cheese pizza, drinks and Kroger sheet cakes. 

Activities: ID the Burglar – we won last year and need volunteers for this year’s contest.  The idea of National Night Out is to meet neighbors and learn to identify suspicious folks.  ID the Burglar helps to do that.

2.      September 17^th  -- Fall Flea Market ticket sales begin

Randall’s in Panther Creek

3.      October 1^st – Fall Flea Market

    Market Street Parking Garage

4.      October 30^th – Halloween Spooktacular

Place: Harper’s Landing pool, once again

Time: TBD

Food: Yes

Games: Yes

More details coming later? Yes

Resident Issues and Concerns:

Resident expressed concern over basketball games on the courts, mainly on Sunday evenings.  We will ask a Park Ranger to stroll by and take a look.

Resident expressed concern about dogs off leashes.  Montgomery County and The Woodlands have leash laws.

Next meeting:

August 15.   Miles McKinney will speak on the status of the Quiet Zone (Railroad).

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Date: June 20, 2005

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Topic: July 4^th parade

Attendees: Quite a few!

The official attendance list has disappeared. If it surfaces anywhere, please let me know and I’ll add the names.

Unofficial list: Ray Penton

                        Gail Carney

                        Susan Kooiman

                        Cori Singletary

                        Wade Mulkey

                        Glen Bernstein

                        Janet and Steve Reinmund

                        Seth Bienek

                        Ron and Ann Schultz

                        James, Laura and Jerrod Dean

Board Meeting Notes:

1. Motion to change Treasurer’s account to reflect baseball tickets purchased v. baseball tickets sold.  Approved.    Also added Bank Interest Income of $70.

2. The RDRC approved 4 in-ground pools for various residents in Harper’s Landing and Grogan’s Forest.  Roughly 13 notices were sent (not by the RDRC but by The Woodlands) for non-compliance to The Woodlands regulations.

3. Board voted to observe electronic voting for approval of the May minutes.  Apparently there was a problem with my email or with something else in cyberspace so that only a fraction of the intended recipients actually received the minutes.  I sent them again, shortly after the meeting, amended to show that Gail had presented the Treasurer’s report while Ron was on vacation. 

1. So far, I have had one vote returned for those May minutes.
2. I have had one abstention notice from someone not in attendance at the May meeting and rightfully not able to approve or disapprove their adherence to the meeting events.
3. Please vote on those May minutes!

4. Note that the new College Park High School opens in August.  We’re all excited about the prospect of more traffic on College Park Drive.

5. Kudos to The Woodlands.  A tree downed on Blair Bridge was removed in less than half an hour Tuesday morning.

6. Idea was presented to give some of our unused scholarship funds to special projects or extra-curricular activities that teachers are sponsoring.  Resounding “no” vote to that one.

7. Resident concern:  any new pools going up in Harper’s Landing or remodeling of the current one?  Nope.  The Woodlands has 12 pools to service 75,000 people.  A pool pass provides entry to any pool within The Woodlands.

8. Board meeting of the ESD #4 board on the second Tuesday of July.  That vote should determine whether College Park will be gracefully released from service by Needham Road Fire Department personnel or whether a full citizen vote will be required.

9. Steve Anderson has resigned from the board.  Ray Penton was nominated and approved for his position.

10. A light at Donwick has been approved by TxDOT.  They are waiting for parts.

Upcoming Events:

1.  Fourth of July Parade

a.       We still need folks to ride on the float. 

b.      James Dean took our tentative float design and offered some really great suggestions for making it better.  As a result, he is now head of the decorating committee.  Go James!

c.       We will put together the float the day before the parade, at the Harper’s Landing pool.  Nothing better than working in the heat and watching others have a delightful time immersed in water and sprinklers.

d.      We’ll have hot dogs and sodas, water and miscellaneous other edible items for the workers.

2.      Fourth of July Parade, part deux

Volunteers still needed for helping with the actual parade.  Contact Darla Bell, dbell7246@aol.com or 936-321-6269.

3.      The Woodlands Night at MinuteMaid.  Tickets still available for the Astros v. the Mets.  The Woodlands has its own section at the game, and we have tickets that include admission and a bus ride to the game.  That saves $30 in parking, if you were to park at the park (!) as close as the bus takes us.  Contact Gail Carney.  Date: July 30.  Time of game: 6:05 p.m.   Price: $15.

4.      National Night Out. 

Date: August 2^nd.

Place: Your neighborhood street or the Harper’s Landing pool (why the pool, you ask?  It’s the largest meeting area in either Grogan’s Forest or Harper’s Landing).

Food?  Absolutely.  At the pool, free Chuck E. Cheese pizza, drinks and Kroger sheet cakes.  ID the Burglar will be in full swing.

5.      Halloween Party

Date: October 30^th.

Place: Harper’s Landing pool, once again

Time: TBD

Food: Yes

Games: Yes

More details coming later? Yes

Next meeting:

July 18.   Miles McKinney will speak on the status of the Quiet Zone (Railroad).

Addendum 7/17: Mr. McKinney will be unable to make the meeting tomorrow evening.  Ann Schultz will present a program on National Night Out in its place.

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College Park Annual Meeting - MINUTES APPROVED

Date: May 16, 2005

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Topic: Summer Gardening and regular village business

Attendees:

Ray Penton

Lue Penton

Brent White

Glen Bernstein

Cori Singletary (board)

Gail Carney (board)

Wayne Mulkey (board)

Ted Stanley (board)

Jason Stephens (board)

Susan Kooiman (board)

Claude Hunter

Ben and Heather Benedict

Board Meeting Notes: 

1. Our treasurer is currently in Alaska so Gail presented the official treasurer’s report in his absence.  Treasurer gone, CPVA money still here.     

2. The RDRC approved 6 in-ground pools for various residents in Harper’s Landing and Grogan’s Forest.

3. The board approved minutes from the April meeting.

4. We are looking for current or former military members to be included in the 4^th of July parade.  Would also like photos of current members serving away from home.  Contact Gail Carney.

5. Update on fire issue – Gail has officially presented to the ESD board the signed petition regarding withdrawal from ESD/Needham Road services.  A public hearing is set for the evening of June 14^th, at the fire station.

6. Resident concern over the proposed extension of a road in Grogan’s Forest.  Ted Stanley will take the issue to TWA for action.

Speaker: Tarrol Roberts, Master Gardener, on Summer Gardening

Tarrol presented a slide show and details on summer gardening and lawn care.  There was a wealth of information.  About half of it is summarized here.  I can only take notes just so fast!

1.      For the month of May:

a)      Watch for spider mites on azaleas and hibiscus plants.  If you find them, hose down the plants with a strong spray of water.  The exoskeletons of the little critters are soft and pliable; the power of the water stream destroys them.  Be sure to spray underneath the leaves, not just on top. 

b)      Roses:

1)      Prune climbing rose bushes when they have finished flowering.  Regular rose bushes should be pruned on February 14, not now.

2)      Feed roses throughout the summer, once a month.  No need to buy designer rose food; they’re happy with 1 c. cottonseed meal mixed with ½ c. Epsom salts.  Find cottonseed meal at feed stores.  It’s cheap.  Find Epsom salts near the pharmacy at any and all drug stores/supermarkets.

3)      A rather new variety of roses, called the Knock Out Rose, is the rose of the moment.  It’s resistant to diseases for the most part, including brown spot and mildew, and it blooms all summer and through most of the winter.  Originally in pink only, it now comes with dark red blooms.  Has dark green leaves.  Loves sun.  Works great as a hedge or as a single bush.

c)      Agapanthus (translation: Lily of the Nile) -  feed now and provide abundant water in preparation for June blooms.

d)     Day lilies – these are the flowers you see blooming by most of the intersections in The Woodlands.  Some will last all summer, but most bloom for the month of May and then retire.  Why are they called day lilies?  Blooms only last a day.

e)      Cut back garden mums to keep them from getting leggy. 

f)       Problem with white flies nailing your gardenias?  Plant butterfly milkweed.  It repels white flies and is a host plant for monarch butterflies.

g)      Lawns:

·         Check for chinch bugs.  They like hot, dry places or areas that tend to get swamped with a lot of sprinkler spray.  You’ll notice light green areas in your grass first, then dead grass.  Check for chinch bugs either by dumping soapy water on a suspected area and checking for activity a minute or two later, or by cutting a coffee can at both ends, wriggling it into the ground and pouring water in it.  Chinch bugs change looks – they’re into that metamorphosis thing – but if you see a number of small black insects, slightly larger than a fire ant, crawling around, you’re the proud owner of a chinch lawn.  The insects may or may not have wings, which can be white or black or brown.  Solution: insecticide that specifies it will demolish chinch bugs.  It will take several applications. 

·         Brown patch – don’t spend money on it right now.  It’s a fungus.  Fungal activity stops at 90 degrees.  It’ll bake right on out of your lawn.  Healthy grass will pop right on in to take over the damaged blades, so don’t worry about it.  The Rhizoctonia solani fungus actually doesn’t kill the lawn, just makes it look awful.  You’ll notice circular to irregular patches of yellow blades, usually with greener stuff in the middle (that’s the grass that’s already healing).  You’ll see it again in the fall.  Solution: fungicide, when you see those circles starting to appear.

2.      For the month of June:

a)      Fertilize established annuals and perennials with a high nitrogen/low phosphorus fertilizer such as 15-5-10

b)      Need color?  Plant portulaca.  These flowers actually thrive in the heat and low watering conditions

c)      Check for grubs.  These are the larvae of June bugs.  If you see a high number of those lovely brown June beetles beating themselves senseless near your porch light, you most likely have their kids in your lawn, chewing your grass roots.  Check a section: just pull up a square foot of your lawn.  Put it back down and in a couple of days you’ll never notice you did anything.  If you see 4-5 grubs in that square foot area, put back the grass, grab the keys and drive to Home Depot or Lowe’s.  You’ll need grub killer.

d)     Spray insecticides in late evening or early morning.  Else you may burn the little leaves off your plant.

e)      Check your crape myrtles for a white film on the leaves.  It’s a fungus called powdery mildew.  Remedies for this one are neem oil (spray only when it’s above 55 degrees outside – obviously not a problem in June) or fungicides that explicitly indicate they’re good for powdery mildew

f)       Give your trees long drinks of water.  Stand with the watering hose and let it go for a couple of minutes or so per each tree.  They need it.

3.      For the month of July:

a)      DON’T FERTILIZE THE LAWN.  It doesn’t need it.  Texas A&M recommends only fertilization only twice a year: spring – after the 2^nd mowing of the lawn, and fall.  No need to apply winterizer.  It really doesn’t help much.  Fertilizer companies will tell you different, but remember, they’re trying to sell product!

b)      As spring annuals fade, plant new ones: vinca (impatiens), portulaca, cosmos, cleome, rudbeckia.  Plant begonias in flowering baskets or in the shade.

·         Begonia note:  Only 2 varieties can handle the Texas summer heat and sun: Scarlanda and Scarletta.  Both are red flowering with dark green leaves.

c)      Keep checking for chinch bugs and grubs

d)     Planted a Bradford pear or a peach tree?  First year trees need a dose of 21-0-0 fertilizer.

e)      Sow seeds of snapdragons and pansies indoors for fall transplanting.

Next meeting, June 20.

 

College Park Annual Meeting – MINUTES APPROVED

Date: April 18, 2005

Time: 7:30 p.m.  (board meeting 7 p.m.)

Topic: Fire/Emergency Service

 Board Meeting Notes:

Board meetings have been moved to 7:00 p.m.  Meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend.  Moved to 7:00 so that the regular meetings at 7:30 won’t be bogged down by board (bored?) discussions of accounting methods and dates for submission of expenses and so forth.

1. Purchased a BBQ/cooker for events. 
   1. Inaugurated the cooker at the official opening of Avalon Park in Grogan’s Forest, 4/16.  Park opening had 80+ folks.  Great turnout.
   2. Cooker will be kept in storage facility and used for social events in Grogan’s Forest and Harper’s Landing.

2. Voted to purchase domain name for www.villageofcollegepark.com website for the next 5 years.

3. Voted to participate at bronze sponsorship level of the 4^th of July parade.  Theme this year: “Forever in our hearts: salute to the troops.”  This is Woodlands’ wide.  We don’t select the theme.  But we do need help with the planning and the construction of the float.

4. Approved minutes from March meeting.

5. Treasure’s report presented.  $10,000 was received from TWA and the current account balance is $12,807.85.  Ron Schultz presented the proposed budget.  This budget was voted on and approved by all present. 

6. Organized committee to plan the Spring Fling/free-day-at-the-pool, May 21^st. Interested in joining the committee and/or helping?  You are MOST welcome and wanted!  Contact Susan Kooiman, secretary and social chairman.

 

Regular Meeting Notes:

1.      Scholarship awards: 3 recipients. 

(Note: CPVA normally has money only for 2 awards.  Last year, however, we presented only one scholarship, leaving the funds available for 3 this year).

We had a number of outstanding candidates.  Two of our winners:

a.       Kristen Briggs.  A young lady on the track and swim teams of The Woodlands High School and an active member of her church youth group, holding the position of President this past year.  Will be attending Brigham Young University this fall with an emphasis on nursing and education.

b.      Kalpesh Patel.  Will be attending Montgomery County Community College this fall to knock out some hours, then transferring to the University of Houston and on, from there, to dental school.  He is on the student board at The Woodlands High School, as secretary.  Also working on the Relay for Life in the fight against cancer, serving as team captain.

2.      Announcement: 

We have tickets available for the Astros v. Mets, July 30.  “The Woodlands Day” at Minute Maid.  More importantly, it’s the first weekend Carlos Beltran will return to Houston. Will be an absolute sellout.  Tickets are $15 and include bus transportation to and from the game.   Contact Gail Carney.

Speakers

1.      Relay for Life

      Cheryl Llamas gave a great song and dance (literally, to the tune of Nancy Sinatra’s one and only hit).  She needs folks to join or form a team to relay around the track of the high school, from June 3^rd, 7 p.m. until June 4^th, 7 a.m.  All proceeds go the American Cancer Society. 

*** This is a great opportunity for all the young folks who still enjoy staying up all night to come out and do it.  Your parents will know where you are and you’ll be doing a service that will help save the lives of people fighting this challenging disease.

2.      Fire Department Issue

Guests: Kristy Adai, administration of The Woodlands Fire Department

Chief Alan Benson, The Woodlands Fire Department

Chief Greg Carter, Needham Road Fire Department

Joel Deretchin, TWDC and member of The Woodlands Fire Department board

History, provided by Joel Deretchin:

In the mid 1990s, circa 1995-1996, The Woodlands Operating Company saw the need for a combined fire service for all the villages.  Each village, down to different parts of villages, had pre-existing service agreements with various fire districts.  Expansion of the villages was creating chaos among the boundaries and had the potential for confusion in service.  TWOC formed its own fire and emergency response system.

In 1997, legislation passed that enabled villages to opt out of the pre-existing services and elect to be served by the services of The Woodlands.  By doing so, villages would no longer have to pay both entities: The Woodlands and other service. Cochran’s Crossing was the first to do so.

Fire/emergency service from The Woodlands did not create an instant hike in assessment fees.  With so many home owners paying TWOC each year, there was plenty of money available to handle the addition of fire/emergency service.

Harper’s Landing was created after 1997.  It initially was zoned only for industrial use.  The industries at that time did not want the services of TWOC; they didn’t need residential trash pick-up or pathways and parks and so forth.  Therefore, they opted to remain under service of ESD #4, the Needham road facility. 

In the latter part of the 1990s, TWOC realized that the industrial division idea wasn’t really taking off.  They looked at Imperial Oaks, a successful community in an industrial area, and decided to try residential development here.  It worked. 

Joel mentioned also that this is the fourth time he has attended a meeting in Harper’s Landing regarding this issue….

Synopsis:

Removal from ESD #4 services, if the petition is signed and presented, would occur as of 1/1/06.  The Woodlands Fire Department will be building a new fire station on the campus of Montgomery College, right at the entrance of 242, whether the petition is signed or not.  If the petition is signed, TWFD and Needham will continue a mutual aid agreement where they both respond to emergencies, until the new station is fully operating.  After that, they both will continue to respond to structure fires and trade off other responses according to whichever station is most available.  TWFD will respond most often.  If, for instance, TWFD is responding to a vehicle accident at 242 and Gosling, Needham will respond to a cat caught in a tree in Harper’s Landing. 

Q/A:

Can we alter the covenants to where we don’t pay TWFD for service?  

Not really.  It would take ratification of 85% of the folks in TWA, not just Harper’s Landing.  That would mean 85% of folks in Alden Bridge, Panther Creek, etc. The covenants establish uniformity of service at a specific rate for all members of TWA.

Will assessment fees increase?

Not because of the new fire station.  Back during the early years of the formation of The Woodlands, area representatives (not TWOC) created by-laws to determine when new fire stations would be built.  A number of circumstances have to be met for a new fire station to be put into place.  Every village in The Woodlands has gone through this: build first, fire station later.  With the development of the 242 corridor and with the construction of the new high school, enough of the criteria for a new station have been met. 

So TWDC has enough money for a new station and new personnel lying around?

Um, yes….Plus there’s going to be a new tax (who’d have figured?) rate on businesses along 242 and in the new town center.  It may be across all areas of The Woodlands, I (secretary writing these minutes) just don’t know.  That tax was mentioned during last month’s meeting.  I think it’s going to fund the new waterfalls and such in the town center, along with other things.  It’s a half-cent or cent tax.   

 

Will response time increase? 

Depends on who answers the question.  Needham Road chief says yes, TWFD chief says not significantly.  TWFD has one of those nifty devices that change traffic lights.  And they WILL drive on the wrong side of the road if needed, to get where they need to go.

What about trains?

Trains are pretty much on a pre-determined schedule.  But TWFD will probably enter on the south side, just to make sure.

Insurance rates?

Needham Road currently has a rating of 4.  The lower the rating, the better.  TWFD currently is 3.  Both are expecting to be rated as 2, next time evaluations come around.  Evaluations are expensive.  But lower ratings also translate to lower homeowner’s insurance.

Frequency?

Needham Road responded to 34 calls to Harper’s Landing last year.  TWFD will be closer than it currently is, once the new station is built.  I believe they also responded to the calls, or worked with Needham to determine if 2 services were necessary.

Emergency service?

This is where it gets a little tricky.  The fire station we pass everyday on Harper’s Landing Blvd. houses a Conroe hospital district ambulance.  They’ll respond to medical emergencies in Harper’s Landing.  If they are unavailable, TWFD and/or Needham Road respond.  TWFD has fully certified paramedics, able to administer drugs and conduct advanced cardiac care.  Needham road has folks available for medical service but unable at this time to administer cardiology care or drugs. 

Extras?

Needham Road fire chief lives in Harper’s Landing.  TWFD chief doesn’t.  Needham Road has been gracious to Harper’s Landing in the past, allowing us to hold board meetings there free of charge, sending fire fighters to National Night Out and providing a Santa Claus.  TWFD hasn’t.  But then, I don’t know if they were asked. 

Charges?

By law, Needham Road can charge extra for services.  Yes, we currently are paying a tax to enable them to respond.  By Texas law, code 775.040, they are allowed to assess an additional fee for response to non-structure fires.  The chief said if Harper’s Landing pulls out, removing a significant source of his funding, he may do so.  That translates to the ability to charge roughly $400 for motor vehicle accidents.

What happens to Needham if we opt for TWFD?

Funding gets creative.  Needham, in anticipation of the chance of a funding change, is utilizing grants.  If, however, Needham finds itself in a financial crunch, it will stop mutual aid.  24% of the budget comes from Harper’s Landing.  On the other hand, TWFD has additional stations and mutual aid agreements with other FDs so that we would never have a situation of no response or response in unacceptable time parameters. 

Why not just de-annex from Needham in a few years?

Could do that.  Any debt accrued by the station in the meantime is also accrued by Harper’s Landing and must be paid off.  They currently are in the process of trying to purchase a ladder truck.  Ladder trucks are expensive.

What’s the bottom line?

            De-annexation saves $0.10 per $100 assessed home value, or $150/yr for $150,000 house.  Tax assessments in Montgomery County are continuing to rise, especially after failure of the Texas legislature to pass a law preventing an uncontrolled rise in homeowner rates.

Any other bottom lines?

We must continue to pay TWDC for service, regardless whether we opt to continue with Needham or go with TWFD.  It is an agreement we all signed upon moving into The Woodlands, and as noted at the beginning of the Q/A section, something that in reality can not be changed.

Both chiefs and both fire departments have mutual respect for and camaraderie with each other.  Whatever the decision, neither chief will have animosity toward the other.  Chief Carter and Asst. Chief Bittner worked together years ago in Baltimore and are working together again, in our area.

Next meeting: Summer Gardening, May 16

 

College Park Annual Meeting

Date: March 21, 2005

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Topic: Changing of the Guard

Notes:

Board Business

1. Officially installed/welcomed new Board Members.

New committee chairs:

1. Communications committee – Chair: Cori Singletary
2. Audit committee – Chair: Steve Reinmund (automatic chair as V.P.)
3. Civic and Residential – Chair: TBD  (Eric Krug volunteered to serve on committee but not chair it)
4. Social – Chair: Susan Kooiman
5. Scholarship – Chair: Gail Carney
6. Ad hoc to modify by-laws in official format – Chair: Eric Krug

2. Proposed changes to the by-laws, to be put before the full board for vote and ratification on Monday, 4/18:

(Note: discussed at board meeting 3/14; not presented 3/21 in interest of time)

1. Changing the budget to fiscal year beginning in April rather than June.  Why? Corresponds more appropriately to board elections, allows CPVA to submit a reasonable budget to TWA on time, with expenses and revenues more tightly mapped to the expected levels.  Budgets originally were established in April, and then moved to June.

Newly appointed budget committee to meet soon to review proposed budget and make amendments

2. Changing the Area Representative terms to be staggered, two-year terms. Why? Avoids changing all area reps at one time.  Initial step will be to determine which representatives grandfather to a second year and which will end at the closure of the current year term.

3. Approved minutes from January and February meetings

Motion to approve: Ron Schultz

Second: Gail Carney

4. Proposal to move the business part of the monthly meetings to 7:00 so that the interesting part of the meetings can begin at 7:30, when most residents will be attending.  Ratified.  NOTE: business portion is open to anyone who wants to attend.  We’re just trying to get the duller business section out of the way to make the regular meetings shorter…

5. Announcement:  We have tickets available for the Astros, July 30.  “The Woodlands Day” at Minute Maid.  Better yet, it’s the Astros v. the Mets.  And that, as we all know, is the team that grabbed Carlos Beltran.  Will be an absolute sellout.  Tickets are $15 and include bus transportation to and from the game. 

 

Miscellaneous Items

1. Grogan’s Forest parks
   1. Avalon Park official celebration 4/17
   2. Tapestry Park, a second park, is estimated for completion in the 3^rd quarter of 2005.  Location is off Tapestry Rd.  Park will have a gazebo, a playground area and other not-yet-specified features.  Plans call for a pond to be added later as part of a “Phase 2.”

2. Fire Department Issue

a.      We will be distributing a petition to be legally separated from the services of ESD #4 (Needham Rd. fire station).  Under the new arrangement, Harper’s Landing will still be serviced by ESD #4 but under agreement from The Woodlands.  

b.     Translation: The Woodlands will pay ESD #4 to service Harper’s Landing until a new fire station gets going.  New station is proposed for the north side of 242, sorta near the high school, or near St. Luke’s Way, or near…. – official location keeps changing.  Stay tuned!

c.      Why de-annex?  Residents are paying twice for the same service.  Will save us each household 10 cents per $100 home valuation.  That’s $200/yr for a $200,000 valuation – if I did my math correctly.

d.     Changes in service?  None – same great folks at ESD #4 will service Harper’s Landing until the new fire station is built (possibly operating from a temporary location by mid-2005, but then again….stay tuned for updates on that one!)

3. Train

We’re moving along on the proposed quiet zone for the RR crossing. 

What does a Quiet Zone mean?

a.      We would no longer have that blasted train horn, well, blasting.  Not in the middle of the night, not on sight, not on a train, not on a plane, not with green eggs or ham.

b.     A median would be built on either side of the tracks, preventing folks from driving around the lowered signal barrier arms (that’s what I’m calling those things that come down to stop traffic and signal a train is coming.  They have an official name, of course, but I currently have no idea what it is).  Yes, going around them sounds stupid.  And it is if a train is indeed coming.  We have a fair number of malfunctions on those arms, though.  The medians would prevent crossing when the arms are down…but the RR also promises that the new arms associated with Quiet Zone crossings do not malfunction.  Or if they do malfunction, it’s something to call your grandmother about, because it just doesn’t happen often.

Speakers

1. Nick Wolda – V.P. of Marketing & public affairs for the Town Center

Topic: Update on Market Street and Town Center development

Waterway Square: Wow.  Ground breaking to occur later this year. Will have water wall – stunning architectural feature.   Also will have 5-6 new buildings of 7-9 stories, mostly for office space, but all with retail stores on the ground floor.

Nautilus Fountain: Another wow.  Designed to be two-level fountain with pedestrian walkway underneath the top level.  Will have music/lights choreographed with water movement.  (Think Disney World).  Will be near TinselTown Movie Theater, in that area currently covered with pine trees.  Pine trees out; hardwood trees in: bald cypress trees, dogwood, the obligatory crape myrtles…

(Note: do not try this at home!  Bald cypress roots have a habit of cracking foundations – even with the tree 50-75 feet from the house. And the official word from Texas A&M, via the Montgomery County Master Gardener program, isn’t the greatest.  Their phrase for our area: plant a dogwood to watch it die….  So…we may see some v-e-r-y creative horticulture practices over there!)

Shade canopy and pedestrian bridge:  Will be in the Town Center somewhere. 

Where? Newsflash: Your faithful CPVA secretary doesn’t look at maps and drive at the same time, much less look at maps and take notes in the dark….so suffice it to say….somewhere in the Town Center vicinity.  Should have jazz bands and such performing in the open, with trellised/stepped sitting area for the audience (think Arnesan River Theater in San Antonio).

There’s also a jazz festival currently going on – Town Center hosts it from March-May. 

For more details, check the website: www.town-center.com.

Note:  All water in the proposed fountains will be recycled.  Architecture and horticulture (that’s the trees/vegetation) plans have been constructed so that the average temperature around these structures will be an average of 15 degrees cooler than surrounding areas. 

Second note: Plan is for trolleys to traverse the town center alongside the water taxis.  (Think San Francisco, just without the hills – or the earthquakes).  TWDC – that’s the new name for TWOC (it’s now The Woodlands Development Company) recognizes the current $6 water taxi rate is too high – and is working with the transportation company operating those taxis to get the fare reduced.  Fare for the trolleys is expected to be in the .50 - $1.00 range.

2.     Larry Faith – organizer of the Annual Spring Flea Market. 

Topic: The Annual Spring Flea Market

Flea market set for 4/16.  We need volunteers.  Volunteers would handle tough jobs like making snow cones or directing traffic or helping vendors set up displays.   College Park gets paid for our volunteer hours (go figure that one…how often do you see “volunteer” and “paid” in the same sentence?).

Proceeds go directly to the CPVA scholarship fund. 

Volunteers get a free T-shirt, free lunch and a hat. 

Contact Trent Andrews ASAP, please, to register as a volunteer.

3.     Audra Koester Thomas – our new Village Liaison

Topic: Updates from the Community Associations

There is a nifty new online feature available: Request for Service. 

Use this very-easy-to-fill-out form to report leaking water mains, street sign damage, park issues, fire ant condos, Elvis sightings, you name it.   You’ll be able to track the request and get a response – quickly. 

Website: www.thewoodlandsassociations.org.

Free Crime Prevention Seminar at the Community Assoc. building, April 20. Morning session: 10:30-11:30 – Internet Schemes and Scams

Afternoon session: 1:00- 2:00 – Identity Theft

RSVP to hold a place: Susan Johnston 281-210-3885

Resident Concerns:

Trash in the main drainage ditch. 

            Residents can contact the M.U.D. to have trash removed from the ditch, or contact us and we’ll do it for you.  As a reminder, grassy areas around that ditch are officially M.U.D. property and activities (walking the dog, walking the cat, etc.) are not only inherently risky because of the land condition there but are also considered as trespassing.  Ted Stanley offered to check with other areas of The Woodlands to see how they handle the situation and keep those ditches clean.

Next Monthly Meeting

Date: 4/18

Topic: Walk for the cure of cancer

Refreshments afterward!!!!!

Other Future Events

April – dates 4/2, 4/16, 4/17

a.      Earth Day. 4/2 - need volunteers for shifts of:

 7 a.m. – 10 a.m.

 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

b.     Annual Flea Market, 4/16

c.      Avalon Park celebratory opening, 4/17

- Does not include the Astros Killer B’s, but will have BBQ and bocce (and for those of you who, like me, are unfamiliar with bocce – it seems to be a variation of lawn bowling)

 

May -  dates 5/16, 5/21

a.      Spring Fling, 5/21 (free pool admission, free games, free hot dogs)

b.     Meeting, 5/16

June – dates TBD, 6/20

a.      Fourth of July Committee Meeting, TBD – Gail wants to do something untraditional, like plan ahead for the float

Theme: Salute to our Troops: “Forever in Our Hearts”

b.     Meeting, 6/20

July – dates 7/3, 7/4, 7/18, 7/31

a.      Fourth of July float building, 7/3 (food included)

b.     Fourth of July parade, Free Day at the pools, 7/4

c.      Meeting, 7/18

d.     Woodlands Day at Minute Maid: $15 Tickets include bus transportation Astros v. Mets (this is Carlos Beltran’s new team – will guarantee a sell-out: also is where we traded Richard Hidalgo last year as part of the deal that landed us Beltran – Hidalgo has since been traded to the Rangers

August – dates 8/2, 8/15

a.      National Night Out, 8/2 – potentially will have Chuck E. Cheese pizza

b.     Meeting, 8/15

September – Meeting 9/19

October – dates 10/4, TBD, 10/17, 10/30

a.      Susan’s birthday, 10/4

b.     Annual Fall Flea Market, TBD

c.      Meeting, 10/17

d.     Halloween Spooktacular and Costume Parade, 10/30 (or so we think)

November – Meeting 11/28

December – No Meeting, Holiday Lighting Contest TBD