CPVA MEETING MINUTES

College Park Village Association
Annual Meeting Minutes
March 19, 2007
7:30 p.m., Rooom B-102
President Gail Carney calls meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
Installation of Officers:

• Congratulations to:
• Ted Stanley
• Gail Carney
• Tasha Proske
• Steve Reimund
• Scott Singletary
• Area Reps
• Glen Bernstein
• Kevin Kastor
• Wayne Mulkey (also RDC)
• Ray Penton
• Cori Singletary
• Janet Reimund
• Jason Stephens

Guest Speaker – Lynn Aldritch, Representative from Community Association to speak on Mosquito control, Earth Day

• Integrated Mosquito Management – recommended by CDC, Texas A&M
• 1st study in The Woodlands was completed in 2004 and identified 27 different species of mosquitoes. These types of studies are important because certain kinds are certain carriers for different diseases.
• Biggest problem in The Woodlands is different yard watering techniques
• In 2003, The Woodlands was a hot spot for West Nile – 17 cases in Montgomery County, 12 of those in The Woodlands, prompted the 2004 study
• 2004 there was only 1 case (cyclical, not necessarily because of spraying, etc.)
• 2005 implemented Mosquito Management – doing premises work, identifying what people were doing, and were able to eliminate West Nile in most all sites, and reduce numbers of mosquitoes
• During draught, the biggest problems are high end homes with pools and tropical plants (more water)
• In 2006, really expanded program – set 463 traps (increase), in which 63 traps came in positive for West Nile
• Winter (or the harshness of it) impacts mosquito population
• Overuse of pesticides creates resistance by mosquitoes to endure
• In Montgomery County last year, 12 cases of neuro-invasive West Nile, 5 of these in The Woodlands – lower numbers as a result of pesticide, but also more people being vigilant
• Older sections of The Woodlands have more mosquitoes as a result of drainage infrastructure
• Newer sections people putting things in storm drains that shouldn't be there – only thing that clears these out are the very large storms. In a positive test site, when pulling up storm drains they found stagnant water because things were blocking them.
• Daytime mosquitoes – Asian Tiger Stripe (striped and larger) – very aggressive species, tend to be out in commuter times, stay out all day in wooded areas, and have no program; can feed 5 times in 60 seconds – itch a lot and very painful species bite. Not a primary vector for West Nile because they do not prefer birds. Asian Tiger will bite any warm blooded animal; are a vector for heart worms in pets, also Dengue fever (worse than West Nile) – very bad because they are out in the day and can't spray in the day! You can control these with containments for water. For French drains – tie a mosquito dunk to the grate which targets larvae (not harmful to birds, pets, etc), also meter boxes can be a big breeding site. Even water as little as in a ladder groove can be a breeding site.
• When neighbors work together to identify breeding sites, they can really make an impact as a neighborhood
• High percentage (over 60%) of West Nile cases were not wearing any repellant
• This year, Montgomery County precinct 3 is getting a grant from the CDC to have more people this summer (interns) to get into more neighborhoods on a proactive basis – last year, did almost 800 surveys to identify problems; want to educate at a neighborhood level and can come speak to these groups as well
• Can volunteer to have a test box put in your background (cost $150 a piece so like to keep them in a fenced backyard)
• Would like to experiment with control groups over time to see impacts on a grid basis
• Drainage ditches are usually ok because they have dragonflies, minnows, frogs, etc – it's the newer spots that go in and out that create more of the problem; water does attract mosquitoes, but is not as much of a breeding ground
• Comment from Harper's Landing: Area on 242 - Donwick when it rains that fills up intermittently (roadside ditches are precinct's responsibilities)
• Flood plain mosquitoes in October were a huge problem – can lay dormant for up to 7 years and pop up when it floods
• Question from audience: Are dead birds a sign of a problem? Birds aren't as much of an indicator as they used to – unfortunately the county not testing dead birds (should be animal control)
• Possibility of a separate organization for mosquito management in the future
• Comment from audience: For those with yard services that use blowers and instruct them not to put them down the drain, but can't put them in bags, or people don't want them in the yards. What Lynn proposes is cut your yard by a third and leave it to be organic matter to retain water (and not run off and create a breeding site!).
• Question from audience: Are holding ponds policed for the flood plain mosquitoes?
• Have a third grade program in CISD called JoJo the Mosquito about Asian Tiger to educate their families during the month of May
• Earth Day – April 14th at The Woodlands High School
• Need 200 – 250 people to volunteer for Earth Day, as incentive the money that comes in for concessions, entertainment, in accordance to how many volunteer hours your community association puts in, they will give you money for your scholarship funds
• Feed the Dragon Village Challenge – if you use alternative transportation, and register at the table, weighted for how far you have to come and how many are in your village; winning village gets $500 as the winner, BikeLand is giving $1000 in prizes
• Think globally but act locally
• Shifts – Lynn will email them to Gail
• Light lunch will be provided for volunteers
• Great exhibits, activities, and a great community wide event
• Feel free to reach out to do presentations on mosquitoes – Lynn's contact information is 281.210.3900

Secretary's Report of Previous Meeting (skip as a result of new Secretary)
Treasurer's Report

• Earned some interest on savings account, reimbursed on some expenses, very little change
• Spring Fling, Avalon Park, and scholarships in the balance
• Doing well on saving and staying under budget

Reports of Board of Directors

• Scott: Been a lot of activity, principle area was annexation issue, and encouraged to read words in the editorials, Rob Eissler talking about working things through as a productive, non-animosity agreement with Conroe; annexation committee was extremely active, but now more of a watch and wait and see and reminding those of earlier commitments, but will hopefully see agreement soon. Other thing that came out of this, was residents inputting wishes for improvement for how reserves would be used, connecting pathways to Harper's Landing and Spartan Trail which has gone underway even if annexation falls by the wayside. A lot of productive, positive things that have occurred for Harper's Landing.
• Gail: This last year has been many challenges and have stuck together – would like to commend the board in working together as a group. Looking for this year to be a good year for us, would like more attendance at the meetings and more involvement from the community. Encourage all of us to talk up the meetings to our neighbors to get more involvement

Unfinished Business

• Scholarship applications are due – reviewing those soon and will have winners of scholarships at next meeting
• Funds that were raised by volunteer activities: Got $647 from Panther's Creek Flea Market event last fall which was good considering some did not show up
• Shop for a Cause earned $275 which is good for a first time event, not a lot of advertising for the short notice, and was an easy event to sell

New Business

• Earth Day volunteers are needed – last year made almost $500 and would like to surpass this – more volunteers we have, the more money we earn and families are welcome with older kids that can play on their own, and teenagers can volunteer as well
• Residents Issues and Concerns
• Kevin: Has been addressed to Ted, in wake of tragedy on Terrell Trail (22 year old man at home with his father, threw himself under a bus), concerned about speed through this area, and there is a sign that has been put up for 25 miles per hour throughout, but think maybe that is too fast as well (also for Knightsbridge Street) – can't put up warning signs (Ted) because subject themselves to lawsuits; is there a way to petition to lower it? Ed Reinhart's office;
• Ted adding that TWA will increase 30 policemen for The Woodlands to police more/patrol more; can ask sheriff, policemen to ask them to patrol certain areas more – develop relationships with officers more (we are Zone 3)
• Truck parking on 242 in no parking zone
• Ray: having all kinds of problems with neighbors two houses down, have a car – what is rule on noise control because they are up at all hours, rev the car (after 11 p.m. call the sheriff's department) – John inputs to say decibel level is pretty high, but can report as a disturbance and the police can go out

New Liaison

• Peggy Krysiak – new village liaison, she has a report with highlights
• Wednesday Woodlands Association is at the Marriott
• Energy preparedness for hurricane season, contact Peggy
• Telephone network message (also a flier) as a neighborhood service
• Safety Day in Panther Creek
• Art Festival, Hummingbird walk on Thursday evening (also fliers)
• Solicitor free neighborhoods
• Churches, etc – Kevin would like door hangers
• John Rayburn – manager of neighborhood services
• Focused on safety and security in the community – neighborhood watches, National Night Out, neighbor days
• The safest neighbors are those that know each other and who is supposed to be there
• No Solicitor – constantly pushing this issue. There is no law in Montgomery County that says they can't, so at this time The Woodlands can't make any statutes against anyone who doesn't own property because doesn't have to abide by covenants
• Note! Coming from the sheriff – don't call dispatch to let them know a solicitor is there, they have to prioritize with things that are breaking the law; do not lose your barrier of protection (door) and say no thank you. If they do not leave, they are now trespassing and it is now a disturbance and a crime. Give them a chance to leave of course.
• Janet comment about the soldier in Iraq that was killed in The Woodlands and the service today and the outpouring of support and was overwhelmed and felt proud and encouraged to be a part of The Woodlands
• Ann question for John: Automated telephone system will be implemented when? Fiber optic cables have to be laid, and once this is done then they can begin this – due to the changes in The Woodlands with the governance – to get the contract, and to get the cables in, is a contractual matter. Should hopefully get it worked out in next 30 days, cable laid in next 90 days, and then from TeleWorks standpoint, they can do the installation and will start marketing this – community members can sign up for certain information by phone, fax or email, and information can be quickly disseminated. Phone tree has too many potential breakdown points and no one depends on anyone else to relay the message. Cable will run to the dispatch in Shenandoah (equipment will be housed here) because they have the independent power source that would hold up under emergency situations so was the most logical choice to place the equipment. Cable runs from there to main building and parks within Woodlands structure, not within the neighborhoods.
• Scott questions John about WiFi area – is being discussed and research being discussed about capability
• Ted: congratulations to those elected and commending everyone on sticking together. With annexation issue with Conroe, really were the dark horses but with everyone's participation really have made a lot of headway, still work to be done but wanted to highlight editorial in Courier from yesterday's paper. Would encourage residents to drop an email to Tommy Williams and Rob Eissler to say thank you for their efforts, it would help the relationship and help the situation to get resolved.

Meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. following with refreshments and cake