Shenandoah City Council held its regular workshop meeting Wednesday to discuss several items, such as placing a bid to host the 2018 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships, funding options for water plant No. 4 and the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District proposed rate increase.

To view the complete June 14 meeting, click here.

1. The council unanimously voted to place a bid to host the 2018 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships
The tournament would take place April 23-24 with a practice scheduled for April 22 and would be held at the Golf Trails of The Woodlands.

The estimated total economic effects from the event is approximately $49,875 with estimated hotel revenue of $64,851.

2. In a 3-2 vote, the council will request the Shenandoah Municipal Development District fund 100 percent of water plant No. 4, which is estimated to cost $1.7 million
The request was proposed by Council Member Byron Bevers and opposed by council members Ted Fletcher and Charlie Bradt.

Other funding options discussed by council included partial funding by MDD, partial or total funding through water/sewer cash reserves, funding through the city’s general fund or funding the water plant as a capital improvement project.

Already under construction, the council has until Aug. 1, when the first bill is due, to determine a payment plan for the project. The additional water plant was first proposed in 2006 based on the city’s growth projections at that time.

3. The council unanimously voted to draft a resolution of opposition to the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District rate increase
The proposed water use rate by LSGCD would be set at 11 cents per 1,000 gallons, effective Sept. 1.

This would be a 46.7 percent increase from the current rate of 7.5 cents, which was set in January. According to city officials, between 2016-18 LSGCD has increased its water rates by 83 percent. Members of the board were told the reason for the recommended rate increase was to cover lawsuit costs the LSGCD is facing.

LSGCD's Budget Committee recommended the 2018 water use fee for groundwater produced from the Chico, Evangeline and Jasper aquifers be set at 11 cents per thousand gallons withdrawn, an increase of 3.5 cents over the current rate of 7.5 cents. No fee increase is proposed for groundwater produced from the Catahoula aquifer, which remains 6 cents per 1,000 gallons.

4. The council voted to have both the first and second council meetings of the month begin at 7 p.m.
Previously, the first meeting of the month—the workshop format—began at 6 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. The council also opted to have all meetings take place with council seated at the dais, as opposed to a table. These changes will take effect immediately. The council meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month.

5. The council unanimously voted to create the position of investigator for the Shenandoah Police Department in fiscal year 2016-17
For the remainder of FY 2016-17, the position will be funded through the Shenandoah PD budget and the position will be recommended as a permanent position in FY 2017-18.

6. The council also discussed potential regulation options the city has with regard to unregulated hotels within residential areas of Shenandoah like Airbnb
City officials said although they have not experienced any issues with the unregulated hotels, they did know of several Shenandoah homes that are listed on websites like Airbnb. The city will need to proactively decide how to regulate this phenomenon.

7. The council also elected to table appointing any new members to the Shenandoah Civic Club Board
Council members also opted to not make any City Council committee appointments to the Parks and Recreation Committee, the Policy Committee or the Internet (fiber to home) Committee. Council will assess the necessity of these committees at a future meeting.