THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS (Jun 03, 2015) – The Woodlands Township Board of Directors held a special Board of Directors meeting Wednesday, June 3, 2015, at The Woodlands Township Town Hall, 2801 Technology Forest Boulevard, at 7:30 a.m. The entire meeting can be watched on video at The Woodlands Township website (www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov).

After hearing comments from the public, The Woodlands Township Board of Directors deliberated on and adopted a resolution to be submitted to the Montgomery County Commissioners Court in support of the development of a revised road improvement plan and calling of a November 2015 Montgomery County road bond election. The resolution will be presented to Commissioners at the next Montgomery County Commissioners Court meeting by Township Board Chairman, Bruce Tough.

For more information on The Woodlands Township, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov, or call 281-210-3800.

RESOLUTION NO. 007-15

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP IN SUPPORT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT CALLING A NOVEMBER 2015 BOND ELECTION.

WHEREAS, Montgomery County has jurisdiction over the majority of roadways in The Woodlands Township; and

WHEREAS, The Woodlands Township, as the governing body for The Woodlands, works cooperatively with Montgomery County officials to represent the mobility interests of residents and businesses; and

WHEREAS, The Woodlands Township is represented by Commissioners of Precincts 2, 3, 4 and our County Judge comprising 4/5th’s of Montgomery County Commissioners Court ; and

WHEREAS, the Township jointly funded a study with Montgomery County, Houston-Galveston Area Council and other area governmental entities to develop a South County Mobility Plan; and

WHEREAS, the South County Mobility plan identified several major road projects that would be beneficial to The Woodlands community and Montgomery County as a whole; and

WHEREAS, as part of the South Montgomery County Mobility Study, HGAC projects that over the next 25 years the South Montgomery County population will increase 74% and traffic volumes will increase by 44 to 94% on roadways within the South Montgomery County area; and

WHEREAS, The Woodlands Township Board recognizes that reducing congestion and improving mobility is one of County’s biggest challenges; and

WHEREAS, Montgomery County is at a critical stage of our development and it is important to reach consensus on how best to prepare for this expected growth and improve mobility; and

WHEREAS, on May 9, 2015, Montgomery County voters rejected a proposed $350 million road bond voting 57.2% against and 42.8% in favor of the measure with precincts in The Woodlands voting against the road bond by 75% to 90%; and

WHEREAS, projects in the proposed bond issue that caused a negative reaction from many Woodlands residents were the proposed Woodlands Parkway extension and the funding of perceived maintenance projects in the bond; and

WHEREAS, many urgent countywide roadway projects need to be addressed immediately and the community and elected officials need to work together to develop a new plan that the majority of voters can support; and

WHEREAS, The Woodlands Township Board of Directors respectfully requests Montgomery County Commissioners Court put forth these urgent roadway projects on the November 2015 Ballot, expressly excluding The Woodlands Parkway extension; and

WHEREAS, the May 2015 Road Bond included some projects that voters considered to be “maintenance”, and the Township Board suggests the term of the debt incurred should not exceed the useful life of the proposed improvements in the bond issue; and

WHEREAS, the Township Board of Directors also asks that priority be given to the near term needs identified in the South County Mobility Plan and move to integrate that plan into a countywide mobility plan to assist in prioritizing future bond measures; and

WHEREAS, The Township urges that consideration be given to making use of available State and Federal matching funds when applicable, so that more improvements may be accomplished at a lower cost to the Montgomery County taxpayers; and

WHEREAS, the Township Board recommends public forums be conducted by Precinct Commissioners to explain the need for the improvements within their communities and seek additional input before calling a bond election; and

WHEREAS, The Woodlands Township Board urges The Montgomery County Commissioners Court to unify our county around our shared mobility needs and mutual desire to improve the county roadway system;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP SUPPORTS THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DEVELOPING A REVISED ROAD IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND CALLING A NOVEMBER 2015 ROAD BOND ELECTION.

PASSED AND ADOPTED this 3rd day of June, 2015.

THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP

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Chairman, Board of Directors

ATTEST:

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Secretary, Board of Directors