City Council - Regular Meeting

got to be right here. They'll say if there is one, there's not one. If they do, if there is one, they'll say there will be an executive session. Good evening everyone. Welcome to Shannondoa City Council meeting for March 11, 2026. Look around. I see that we do have a quorum, so we can proceed. We're going to stand up and say the pledge of allegiance to both our nation and to Texas, followed by a short invocation. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

I aliance to the Texas one and indivisible. President Robinson.

Thank you. Would you join me in a word of prayer, please? Our heavenly father, we humble ourselves before you and we thank you for your loving grace and forgiveness. Father, we ask that tonight you will surround this council with wisdom. Help us through our deliberations. We also ask, Father, that you will protect this body of citizens in our community, our council, our city staff, our police department, public officials. Father, we ask for your grace, especially for our military. We ask this in the name of your loving son, Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen.

Amen. We're going to move on to citizens forum. Citizens are invited to speak for three minutes on matters related to city government that relate to agenda or non-aggenda items. Speakers are asked to approach the podium and give their name and address before sharing their comments. Uh has anyone signed up to speak? Does anyone wish to speak? If not, we're going to move on to item number six, introduction of new employees. Chief or employee, Mayor and Council, I want to introduce to y'all Derek Hernandez. He's moved here to Texas in 2020. After serving in the military and federal government, he began his career in law enforcement in 2023. Since then, he has worked in a patrol. He has worked in patrol and takes pride in his service and community with professionalism and dedication. Derek lives with his wife and their two children. His family is the center of his life and motivation behind everything he does, both on and off duty. It's very commendable. All right, face me your right hand. Repeat after me. I state your name.

I, Derek Hernandez, do solemnly affirm do solemnly affirm that I will faithfully execute the duties that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of police officer of the office of police officer of the state of Texas state of Texas. I will never bring dishonor upon my integrity. I will never bring dishonor upon my integrity. the badge of my office. The badge of my office or the Shannondoa Police Department. or the Shannondoa Police Department. My character will remain impeccable. My character will remain impeccable. And I will never betray the public trust. I will never betray the public trust. I will always have the courage always have courage. To hold myself and others accountable for our actions. Hold myself and others accountable for our actions. I promise to uphold the Constitution.

Promise to uphold the Constitution. The laws of the United States of America. laws of the United States of Americ. So help me God.

So help me God. Shake my hand. Good job. How about a hand for our newest police officer? And I want to I want to thank all of you back there also for doing what you do for us, keeping us safe at night and daytime. to work.

All right, we're going to move on to item seven, discussion regarding findings from the tra traffic committee. Excuse me. Discussion only. Mayor, I want to first of all uh thank you for putting this as an agenda item. Um and also uh first I'd like to thank those uh people who were on the traffic committee uh last year and that was my first rodeo as far as having a committee in this position and uh they were really gracious uh and uh just provided some tremendous information. Uh last year's traffic committee I do want to let everybody know was formed to help identify uh some ongoing concerns in the Shannondoa Valley neighborhood. Uh particularly uh type of things we were looking for were speeding of course um uh a lot of repeat offenders running stop signs and cut through traffic. Uh the question I posed to them was if you did not have if you had an unlimited budget uh and you could put some traffic calming devices where would you put them and they all uh had their selection of choices and created a map. That map actually became the baseline of what we're going to be going forward with not for installation but just as our model. And uh this year uh really what we're focusing on is getting more citizens involved uh with if you have issues or see some things that concern you in the valley. Um we've got we're making a the city's making available uh documentation that you can come by uh the city hall and get a printout copy. But really trying to get it. Uh I believe that Kirby was working

on it then can you elaborate on that for me Joseph?

Right. So we we had uh some updated information and some of you may have seen this at the city's table at Lighting of the Angels. Um that one we really had a summary of just kind of the ongoings here at the city, new businesses and things like that. But we also included information the map that you just referenced. Uh so citizens could take a look at make comments on what they liked, what they didn't like, and there's some questions related to that that map and you know where they're interested in maybe placement of new four-way stops and intersections that may not have stop signs or uh some of the other traffic control and traffic calming devices you looked at.

Yep. So, um, just so everybody knows, no decisions are made. Uh, all that was was to start the process and have a baseline that we walk from, uh, that we work from. So, going forward, what are we going to do? Uh, we're going to continue to let citizens get involved, uh, as much as possible. Uh, guys, it the data comes from y'all and from me as a citizen. If we have issues around um our streets and we're feeling unsafe about something going on, make that known. Don't just hold it in and tell your neighbor, but make it known to the city. Uh this is a really good time uh for us. Uh where are we at right now with this? Currently, we're looking at some technologies uh and we're going to try to roll this out in a phased uh process if we decide to do it. Uh you know, it's got to be in the budget and you've got to you've got to want it uh and agree to have it. And so, uh the thought was we're looking at some actual uh radar indicated signs that will reflect your speed and also collect data at the same time. uh we're examining those. Uh I think that would be a great first start. It helps us get consistent data and also a feature of it is the police department would be able to monitor those remotely and in live conditions. Uh there's a lot of other they call it calming technologies. I'm not sure if it's a unique name description, but uh some of them are controversial. When we get to speed humps, uh we're not going to make a decision to go out and put one right out in front of your house. Uh so to get you to slow down from backing out of your

driveway. Uh those types of things are going to really require some further agreement uh if we do that, but that's down the line. Uh the mayor, I know we've even talked about if something like that comes in place, that would be more of a citizen forum uh specifically to that topic to uh make everybody aware. Uh but I think that there's another there's a lot of other devices that we can put in place uh in the meanwhile and the first phase and second phase. So, um, just wanted to encourage y'all to, you know, let us know what's going on with your issues in the traffic. Uh, as far as traffic goes, I live by the park and I'm very thankful that we have more parking spaces now at the park. Uh, and people are not speeding as much. Uh Chief, uh it's awesome to see the officers and that we're are we at full compliment now?

We are at this time. Yeah. And it's noticeable. Uh at least I've noticed it. And u but thank you again, Chief. I mean, for uh getting your guys on that and really being you were you were visible, but uh I I really appreciate what you guys do for us and the name that you've made and for our for our city. No, sir. And Mr. Mayor, thanks for putting this on here and look forward to Were there were these maps online somewhere for people to see?

Yes. Uh Kirby's working on that right now to make those available so anybody can go online and submit a change. It's just get, you know, we're kind of tweaking it. Uh when we first got those, it was just a here's what the original committee found. They personal their personal experiences. They marked down what they would like and then uh you can go and get a picture of that and you can get a blank one and make some recommendations on that. We have some uh citizens that have already taken advantage of that and are submitting their information of where they see concerns. Is that a uh interactive setup on the website where they can do their submittals right there if they look at the map and make some comments and

Yeah, they actually um I think they're work got to work out some things but it's almost like a map you would see um when you're doing a Google a Google search. you can actually zoom into a location, make a identification of that point and write down what you would like to see there. And I can add to that. Um, so the the tool that we're trying to use, and it's it's a free tool that we actually found online because we've never done anything like this before where you can pick data points like that.

It is limiting in that you can only pick one data point, then you'd have to submit it, go back, pick another data point, which is tedious. So, we're trying to find a way to make it where you can do multiple, you know, select all of your points and once the middle just so it's not quite so tedious because that would just drive anybody crazy to do one data point at a time.

Yeah. And so, and also for everybody, the traffic calming devices, uh, they're by number. When we're saying traffic calming device, we're talking it's a speed hump or speed bump is that a radar sign is another thing. a stop sign with flashing lights on it is another trafficcoming device. And also the if you've ever seen them at intersections, the white uh rumble uh disc, if you will, uh that's another type of technology. So, trying to keep it easy and you just can look at a picture and put a number at a location uh you know of introduction. So, but again, if you if you want to drive down, say hi to everybody at the city, uh come and get a copy of the map and do that way.

The uh the collection of data that you mentioned on one of those items that we discussed with a vendor. Uh can you explain what data it is that it collects? uh blow actually did a a great uh study for us, has done a number of those for us. And uh last year, one of a couple of the things that they captured uh were at multiple intersections throughout the city and at different places. They had a Were those considered the Doppler readers also or were they one way? Uh I don't believe it was considered the Doppler readers.

Okay. We had traffic counts and speed study.

Got it. Traffic counts and speed. And then what those accomplished for us when they had those placed, they they actually were trying to find a pattern and and also people that were speeding. Uh the pattern research is great for how many people come in off research or any entrance into Shannidoa and how many calls cars end up going out somewhere else. and they were trying to correlate some some time of traffic flow. So, we got uh we captured some really good information on actual traffic flow. It actually surprised me on where we saw more traffic. Uh I was I didn't even think of that location and saw that they were having a heavier amount of traffic going through there. So, it was really good information there. We have that uh traffic study available to us to look at in any time for further evaluation.

So it's data to determine patterns, not necessarily personal information about vehicles, registration of vehicles or anything of that nature. None at all. Uh the even the speed signs that we're looking at, it's a Doppler radar. Uh the only information it's going to be collecting is it can actually determine the size of your vehicle and the speed at which you came to the stop uh to the uh sign and also it it determined your speed going away from the sign. Uh so it was really unique thing and yeah but no no personal information no scanning of anything like that. area they they collect it's going to be time how many

date and speed. Yeah. Okay. Any any other questions? Oh, I think it's a good start. Very good start. I I remember a lot of a lot of councils and a lot of citizens were absolutely did not want speed bumps. Okay. I don't know if that's still true or not. We'd have to really take it.

I like the the approach of the neighborhood specific kind of questions and and working with the neighbors and people that live in a specific area. The gated community's only got one way in, one way out. Yeah. You know, we don't have to this problem that much. uh research forest um and Shannidoa Drive and Grogens's Mill, Groen's Forest, whatever you want to call it out there.

Yeah. And I know the study also is uh includes Grogan's Mill, which to me is one of the worst places in Shannondoa for traffic. And I I don't want people to think we're just looking at the valley. It's the entire area. No,

Broen's Mill area is is a disaster with people running stop signs and speeding through them. And I'm hoping I I would I would like to see us consider putting in a hard uh a hard bump there at that stop sign to make them stop. And I know that that uh the police is not crazy about that because it could slow down police uh pursuits and fire uh engines, but we want people to stop if they have to stop anyway and then go. That's what we want them to do.

Uh with a the hard bump, I think it would be desirable. But uh that area is really I to me it's it's it's just as important as in in the valley. It's both of them. those those questions as far as our roads that we're not responsible for in the sense of repairing them that it's a text thing. Um those definitely are those were part of the uh evaluation and so we've got data on that. uh we have some shocking speeds going down Wellman uh you know and so uh but we have trends like that and yes that information has to be collected that's the long game of traffic as we understand you know being associated with that we know things that we can affect as a city internally uh but without a doubt um I'm 100 it's those are not it's not that we're not looking at that we're just this is what we it's kind of like two traffic studies were running side by side. Uh one was with the PNZ planning and zoning committee uh that got collected and uh this discussion about internal to the valley also. I know Joseph's been Joseph working with the police department have been very effective uh in getting the county to put up uh signs uh road crossings because the people that walk from

say the neighborhoods over to across Grogan's or across uh Wilman to slow down and and even though it's not our area we've been able to stop Yep. slow down because of that even though it's not our our deal. Yeah, if we if we contacted Riley or Gray about any of that because those are county roads about what they would feel about putting any of those calming devices on county roads. I believe there has been some discussion. Uh we have looked at uh u the flashing stop signs on

right and any any of those would be requests because it is a countymaintained road um if it were on Grog's Mill. So, as Councilman Pard was saying, um there was residents requesting the the crosswalk signage. You know, you had the markings on the road, but no signage, and I was able to reach out to Commissioner Riley's office, and they quickly responded and and got the signage up. So, they they do listen uh to our request as a city. And let's not forget Vision Park, too. Vision Park can can get treacherous there. Sometimes it's they forget about the speed limit and uh it's a truly

So Vision Park Boulevard is the city's roadway. So that's one we can work with. I can tell you I know firsthand that Holly Hill is is bad news. When you're coming off of Research Forest North because I've sat up over there in that parking lot and watched them and you have a posted speed limit of 20 miles an hour when you're coming in there. They're not going 20 miles an hour. No. So what do you do? There's I sure would like for us to try some things and maybe even if it's and and just work with the neighbors over there and experiment with some things and just see if we can make something happen that improves the situation. Absolutely. I agree with that 100%.

Yeah. I on a I I wasn't going to do it, but I just went on a personal note. Um wasn't necessarily going to say this, but here I have a lot of motivation behind this and about uh cars about drivers being attentive. Um back in 2022 on May 7th, uh we lost our son because of a inattentive driver. And so um we've seen the worst case scenario. And my choice is I'd be putting up speed bumps everywhere if it was my money and my willingness to slow down traffic. Uh uh I just, you know, my my motivation is the worst case scenario. I don't want anybody else to understand what uh Donna and I have gone through and I'll leave it at that.

Thank you. If there are no additional Thank you, Mr. City attorney. Would it be appropriate uh uh or in line to uh take questions from the public if they have any questions uh at this? Not at this point, but we could set it up where we could do that. Okay. So, if if the public has any any input or any questions to ask, then we'll uh we can set it up as a public hearing as a public hearing at at the next agenda. I'd like I'd like us to do that. Yeah, you need a motion like that. Put that on the agenda. I'll make a motion to put it on the agenda for the next meeting as like a public hearing.

A public hearing. Yeah. I'll I'll second that. Good. Good. All right. Thank you. Well, if there's nothing else, we're going to move on. Move on. Thank you, Council. Thank you.

We're going to move on to item eight. Discussion and possible action regarding the 2026 2027 budget calendar. Mayor and council, as you see in the agenda pack is the proposed budget calendar for the upcoming budget um process. I can't believe we're already here. So, um it pretty much follows the same exact format as past couple years. There's um at the last MDD meeting, they um agreed to have the joint meeting at that first meeting in June on the 12th um just to discuss capital project plans. Um and then the only other change that was of significance I I mentioned in the agenda um form was typically what we've done in the past is we've had the budget workshop the night of the regularly first council meeting of August. Um there is a little conflict there because that's usually the first day of most schools. Um Conor Steve goes back that day and some of the other schools in the area. Um, and it also when we do it like that, um, we have to have enough time to get, uh, team ready to give us some language and then get it posted in the courier. Um, so it's kind of a mad dash for me and Courtney the day after to get all that, you know, over to the courier. So moving it up to a week to August 5th um would give us enough time and also a little bit more time to digest the budget and the tax rate um before we go to approval either at the August 26th meeting or the first meeting in September. So the request is just to if everyone's okay with August 5th be in the proposed budget workshop.

Good idea. Okay. Staff was we met when uh internally and staff was good with that date. So, okay. I'll move we accept the dates presented. I'll second. We have a motion to approve the dates as presented by Councilman Bro, seconded by Councilman Robinson. Any additional discussion? Everyone good with that calendar then? All right. All in favor say I. I we see this opposed. Motion carries. Thank you.

We're going to move to item number nine, discussion of possible action to adopt the following ordinance. An ordinance of the city of Shannidora, Texas, suspending the rates proposed by Centerpoint Energy Resources Corporation doing business as Centerpoint Energy in Entex and Centerpoint Energy Texas Gas Companies. uh Texas Gas Company's gas reliability infrastructure program filing made with the city on February 17, 2026, finding that the meeting complies with the open meetings act making other findings and provisions related to the subject and declaring declaring an effective date. council. This is the Texas Public Utilities Commission handles increases in gas rates and the commission has approved a very very small increase for uh uh Center Point. uh we have the option of delaying that for 45 days to give us an opportunity if we wanted to uh go to Austin and complain about that rate. We obviously would not spend the time or money doing that. But we can pass this ordinance and it will delay everyone's rate increase for 45 days. And so staff recommends approval.

Motion to approve. Second. We have a motion to approve the uh ordinance as stated by council Ray Maker, seconded by Councilman Summerland. Any discussion? If not, all in favor say I. I.

Opposed. The motion carries. Item 10, final report of public hearing regarding proposed special use permit for a mixed beverage permit with late hours for Sin Yolanda located at 1400 Research Forest Drive, sweet 180 Shannondoa, Texas. Mayor and Council, as the mayor just read, the requesttor for this special permit is Sen Yulanda. And I'm going to refer to Jackie's agenda since she's not here. She always does such a good job. I'm going to use her agenda to go through this information. So, they are requesting a special use permit for mixed beverage on premises consumption permit with late hours. Um, this uh zoning amendment is for the 1400 resource horse drive uh suite 180. So, this was discussed at the planning and zoning commission meeting. There were public hearings on February 17th and March 3rd and um one point of interest before the recommendation of the planning zoning commission. So the property owner of the strip center inform city staff that their lease agreements do not allow for late hour serving of alcohol. So it's against the tenants um permitting and lease agreements. Um, and with that in mind and also other considerations, the planning and zoning commission recommended approval of the permit but without late hours. Oh, okay. Good. All right. At this time, we're going to u open up the public hearing for this particular item at 6:29 p.m. Is there anyone here to speak on the subject? Please approach.

Good evening. Uh my name is Enrique. I am going to be the general uh general manager for this location. Um I was here for the meeting last uh last month month when they told us that they would not be uh giving the extended late hours for due to our lease. We are totally going to be in compliance with that. we have adjusted our um our operating hours to be closed at midnight aside from our cleaning duties um just to make sure we can set up for success for the next day. So, I've discussed that with the owner. He is fully aware and um if anything, we might just talk with the owners of the property to see if we can amend the lease. Um but until that time, we are going to comply with it and make sure that we follow the rules.

Great. Thank you. Yes, sir.

Thank you. Is there anyone else here to speak on this item? If not, we're going to close the public hearing at 6:30 p.m. We're going to move on to item 11, discussion and possible action to adopt the following ordinance. An ordinance of the city of Shannidor, Texas, amending the code of ordinances, chapter 102, granting a special use permit for a mixed beverage beverage on premise permit with laid hours for sin yolanda located at 1400 research for suite 180 Shannondoa, Texas. Providing for a penalty in the amount of $2,000 for violations thereof, providing severability and providing for an effective date. I'll entertain a motion. Motion that we approve the alcohol permit but deny the amendment for late hours.

Second. We have a motion to approve the uh uh the amendment with with no uh no late hours without without late hours. Late hours. Okay. Who second it? I Ray Maker. Any discussion? Yeah. One of my first promises to folks in the valley was that I would never approve anything that had late hours adjacent to residential areas and I'm holding to that. Any additional comments? What's written here on what I'm reading? He says with late hours as long as it says without

Yeah. What the reason it's written that way is that is the request. Okay. That was made. Got it. Okay. All right. So it's as long the motion is to make it without without. Correct. Yeah. In the uh in the ordinance it ordinance itself it says without. Okay. There's two sides of it. There's the permit the alcohol. Yeah. I got you. We're approving that but denying the amendment of late hours. All right. If there's no additional discussion, all in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. The motion carries. Welcome to Shando, sir. Yes, sir.

We're going to move on to item 12, discussion and possible action to adopt the minutes of the February 10, 2026 special meeting and the February 11, 2026 regular meetings. Motion may be approved as read. Second. Motion to approve as read by Councilman Broad, seconded by Council Ray Maker. Any comments? All in favor say I. I. I opposed. Motion carries. Item 13, city administrator updates.

Yes, Mayor and Council. Just have a couple updates here. really uh just a reminder that the inaugural tourism advisory board is having their meeting on March 19th at 4 p.m. And as a reminder and for those who are listening, this is a grouping of residents, business owners, uh hotels, restauranteers, council members who will be discussing strategy for promoting the city and spending hot funds to get more people into Shannondoa. So again, that's March 19th at 4 PM. It's the first meeting. So there there will be a lot of business that's going to be handled. Not a lot of discussion because they need to get a a president vice president do all of that work first. The second update I have is another reminder on March 24th and just a little less than two weeks at 5:00 p.m. in this room, the city will be hosting the meet the new member event with the Woodlands Chamber of Commerce. And so that's a great event where new business owners that are coming into this area, the Woodlands area, Shannondoa, are able to to meet, mix and mingle. you have, you know, community leaders here. Uh it should be a really, really neat event. Um probably about 100 to 150 people is what we're planning on. So it'll be it'll be full in here. But uh really exciting to work in partnership with the Wildens Chamber of Commerce to make that happen. And again,

have a birthday cake there. That's my birthday. So is it your birthday? Let me make a note. Make a note. So again, that's March 24th at 5:00 pm here in the city council chambers. And those are my updates. All right. Thank you. Move on to council inquiry. Council Raymond, did we put together the plan for the IDC so we can bring this to an end? It's Yes. And the first update is at the next council meeting. Okay. So there's nothing on paper right yet that you can send out.

I will be sending out uh well in advance of the meeting the the first summary. Okay. Can you can you share a possible date that you have in mind for any of these? The next the next the first report from planning and zoning uh that they just finished is the one that I will bring. You're going to and you're going to cover the outstanding items and when their targets are. Sections 1 through 4 will be at the next meeting. Yes. There's more than sections 1 through 4. That's what's covered at planning and zoning has approved and that's what I'll cover at the next meeting. Okay.

Not just Thank you, Joseph. I had uh some questions uh a lot of questions frankly in the the last couple last week about trash and uh about uh broken um trash cans and delivery of those trash cans to residents. I know I spoke I sent one email to you and you got back to me really quick with some of the solutions that you've already worked out. Can you share with uh the people here what's going on with the trash now?

Right. Absolutely. So we have um we have transitioned um from manual collection to an automated side loading system. The good news about that is is before if your trash cart, you know, that was a cart that you bought yourself, um you were responsible for that. These carts are all owned by Republic Services. So, if you do have a wheel that busts off or you get a crack or the lid comes off, you can contact Republic Services. They have an app that you can make those reports or you can call them and let them know and they will make repairs and replacement of that card. So, you you don't have to worry about trying to fix it yourself. They'll take care of it because they own those cards.

I'm sorry, just to clarify, who is they? Republic Services. Okay. Okay. And you've had success by you told me the man that's uh the supervisor. Yes. Getting these fixed forms. Yes. Yes. Troy's been very responsive. I I know in Councilman Bratz's culde-sac there when they first started they broke wheels off of about three or four carts. Yeah. First day. But but made those repairs. It's the culde-sac itself. The truck can't line up. It is a tight turn there. What's the turnar around on that? I'm sorry. Yeah. Go ahead. The turnaround,

it should be replaced by the next pickup. And in fact, what they often times do is they'll bring that cart for replacement during the next pickup. We haven't seen that in every case. I'll be honest with you. There have been delays and there's have staff has had to do some followup to make sure that these requests are being fulfilled. So the system is that if that happens, if they don't follow up, that they will contact the city and we will follow up with Republic. So you you can put in a a gov request still and we see those as well as well as Republic services. And if we see those escalating because they're not being resolved, we can reach out to Republic and find out what is going on. And I've had to do that on a handful of occasions.

Those those go guffs, they go directly to Republic. Yes, that's correct. And so if they don't respond, they have a 10-day window to respond. If not, then we get a notification that they have not resolved it. Uh, another Joseph question that I have, uh, will you give us an update on the new, uh, city administrator on, uh, possible start dates? Uh, the start date is April 6th. It is. Yes, that's been decided. Great. Thank you. Council Brock, I'm good. Thank you. Council Robinson, not tonight.

All right. Uh I don't have anything u either. Uh hope uh the storm doesn't arrive as as they promised. I hope you have a safe drive safe drive home. Uh it is 6:39. We're going to adjourn this uh session of the city council meeting.