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City of Shenandoah News

Posted on: December 14, 2022

Shenandoah City Council Meeting December 14, 2022 Update

Supporting Documents for Agenda Items can be found HERE.

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Attendance: Present: 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)

ITEM 6: Municipal Development District (MDD) Monthly Report - No action required.

ITEM 7: Integrated Development Code (IDC) Revision Project Update -City Attorney Bill Ferebee reported that the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) is near completion of the IDC review. He stated that some of the zones will be deleted as they have never been used while others may be revised in scope. Several items will be changed to not require current Council approval such as generator variances. He hopes that they will be through with the review by the middle of 2023. Ferebee stated that the commission is looking at recent legislative changes as well as possible future legislative changes to ensure the most up-to-date document possible. No Council action required.

ITEM 8: Executive Assistant Position- An executive assistant position was included in the budget for the administration department five years ago. The position was never filled after the existing assistant became the City Secretary. Due to increasing workloads and a busier year ahead, staff requested to add that position back to the 2022-2023 administration budget. Council voted 5-0 to approve funding of an Administrative Assistant position.

ITEM 9: Non-Budgeted Emergency Expense - Staff authorized an emergency repair on a 16" waterline break located at 120 Vision Park. Due to the amount of work to repair the line and the clean-up, the price of this repair exceeds the City Administrator’s approval level and must be approved by City Council before payment can be made. Council voted 5-0 to approve the payment.

ITEM 10: Equipment Replacement Fund Expenses - The public works department recently sold their Gator utility vehicle on Govdeals and need to replace it with a newer model. The public works department was able to secure $8,344.45 for the old unit. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the old asset will be to pay towards the new unit and the rest of the proceeds will remain in the equipment replacement fund under the public work’s claim. Council voted 5-0 to approve the use of the Equipment Replacement Funds.

ITEM 11: Shenandoah Drive Asphalt Project - The Municipal Development District funded a partial asphalt replacement on Shenandoah Park Dr. The scope will involve the removal of asphalt roadway abutting the east driveway into the Park at Woodmoor apartments. The approximate 50’ x 70’ section of roadway will be replaced with concrete. Staff recommends awarding the project to LHO for $41,500 which is under the $70,000 budgeted for this project. Council voted 5-0 to award the bid to LHO.

ITEMS 12-14: Food and Beverage Retail Sales Special Use Permit - Graze Craze, a charcuterie business located at 1500 Research Forest Drive, Suite 110, has requested a Food and Beverage Retail sales Special Use Permit (SUP). required for retail food and beverage businesses. All requirements of the above sections and Chapter 6 of the Shenandoah Code will be met. Typical uses include grocery stores, delicatessens, ice cream and dairy, A public hearing was held with no comments. Council voted 5-0 to approve the SUP.

ITEMS 15-17: Convenience Sales and Personal Services Special Use Permit. The proposed zoning amendment is for Surreal Creamery, 1500 Research Forest, Suite 170, an ice cream store. According to Section 4.4.26 Convenience Sales and Personal Services: Establishments or places primarily engaged in the provision of frequently needed, day-to-day retail commercial goods and services. Such uses are designed and intended to serve a limited local market and to be generally within walking or short driving distance of a residential area. A public hearing was held with no comment. Council voted 5-0 to approve the SUP.

ITEMS 18-20: Variance for Encroachment of Generator and Equipment. A submitted request for a variance to allow for the encroachment of a generator and equipment within a 4’ side building
setback. The proposed variance would permit the placement of the generator and the equipment within the building setback. A public hearing was held and no comments. Council voted 5-0 to approve the variance for 115 Lily Landry Court.

ITEMS 21-23: - Variance for Encroachment of Generator and Equipment. A submitted request for a variance to allow for the encroachment of a generator and equipment within a 4’ side building
setback. The proposed variance would permit the placement of the generator and the equipment within the building setback. A public hearing was held and no comments. Council voted 5-0 to approve the variance at 169 Slverwood Ranch.

ITEM 24: Ratification of November Accounts Payable - Council voted 5-0 to ratify the accounts payable.

Civic Club Update:

Civic Club Secretary Charley Ballmer reported that the recent Lighting of the Angels had received many compliments on the changes this year to the event, meeting the club's goal of making it better each year. He thanked the city staff and multiple volunteers who helped in this year's processes and said that it went smoothly. Ballmer said that December 10 was the annual workday preparing for the Lighting of the Luminaries on Christmas Eve. We had a great turnout to make the luminaries for the city's main entrances including not only staff and residents but also a Boy Scout troop and leaders from The Woodlands as a service project. He urged all citizens to swing by the Public Works bays at City Hall and take advantage of the luminary workstation to make their residential luminaries for Christmas Eve. Let's light up Shenandoah!

City Attorney Updates :

Apparently, someone reported that the City lost the OHAH appeal. That is wrong. In the appeal, the City made two arguments; (1) that there were no active pleadings against the City and therefore the Court could not grant a Summary Judgment against the City as requested by OHAH and (2) that if there were active pleadings against the City, that the trial court should grant a summary judgment in favor of the City. The trial court found that there were active pleadings against the city and granted the City’s Motion for Summary Judgment.
The Court of Appeals agreed with the City’s first point, holding that OHAH had no active pleadings against the City, therefore the Court was without jurisdiction to grant any summary judgment for either party. Because there were no active pleadings against the City, the court dismissed the City from the lawsuit. i

City Administrator Updates

Lighting of the Angels was very well received this year. Thanks to Civic Club, staff and volunteers who made it a "class act."
The recent mailout on the Senior Ride Program has resulted in many inquiries and applications mailed out. We received over 50 requests for applicants in the first week.
Dirt hauling has begun at the Vision Park detention pond.
A groundbreaking for the David Memorial extension was held Dec. 13 will all the players in a photo opportunity. Thanks to all the local, Montgomery County, City of Conroe and Houston Methodist partners that have worked diligently to get to this point. Special thanks to former mayor Ritch Wheeler and Bleyl Engineering for their continued efforts.