[00:00:01]
[CALL TO ORDER]
YES WE CAN.RIGHT NOW IT'S ONE OH NINE AND WE WILL START THE WATER AND THE WASTEWATER COMMISSION, JANUARY 14TH, 2021.
VIDEO CONFERENCING, UH, MS.
UH, THE ROLE, UH, CHAIR LEE IS PRESENT, UH, UH, VICE CHAIR, CASTLEBERRY I'LL I'LL I'LL GO AHEAD AND, UH, CONFIRM EVERYONE'S PRESENT, UM, UH, COMMISSIONER MORIARTY.
I SEE, UH, STILL PRESENT, UH, COMMISSIONER PEN.
PRESENT COMMISSIONER MICHELLE.
ABSENT COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS RECORDED ABSENT COMMISSIONER FISHER.
THANK YOU AND COMMISSIONER MARIETTA PRESENT.
THERE IS NO CITIZENS COMMUNICATION SIGN UP.
[A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
A APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE DECEMBER 9TH, 2021 AND A WESTWARD COMMISSION, REGULAR MEETING COMMISSIONERS.GOT A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE MINUTES AND WE WILL ENTERTAIN ANY MOTION.
THIS IS, UH, VICE CHAIR, CASTLEBERRY, UH, COMMISSIONER CASE PERRY.
AM I CORRECT? YES, THIS IS HOW SECOND, MS.
UH, MS. BRANCA, PLEASE CODE AT.
FOR THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES, UH, WITH VICE CHAIR, CASTLE BERRIES, UM, MOTION AND COMMISSIONER HO'S SECOND COMM MISSIONER MORIARTY.
YETTA, ARE YOU REFUSING COMMISSIONER? ARE YOU HELLO? COMMISSIONER AND CHAIR YETTA? NO, I SAID YES.
THERE, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE DELAY.
SO WE HAVE EVERYONE'S VOTE CONFIRMED THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES, SO YOU, OKAY? OKAY.
YOU CAN TRY TO TURN YOUR VIDEO OFF.
IT WILL RESTORE YOUR, YOUR CONNECTION WITH THE SOUND.
UH, CHAIR, THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES HAS BEEN RECORDED AND, UH, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, JUST IN CASE, UH, COMMISSIONER TREATED, UH, DIDN'T GET TO HEAR ME.
IF YOU TURN YOUR VIDEO OFF, UH, IT, IT SHOULD HELP WITH YOUR CONNECTION TO THE SOUND, OR YOU CAN TRY, UM, LOGGING BACK IN, UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'LL BREAK THROUGH.
[Items B.1, B.3, & B.5]
LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM B AND WE'LL GO AROUND AND ASK COMMISSIONER IF THEY WANT TO PULL ANY ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION OR WE QUEUE.SO, UH, WE'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER MORIARTY.
I HAVE A RECUSAL ON BEFORE MY COMPANY IS ON THE THERE'S A SUB CONSULTANT ON THE DESIGN TEAM.
[00:05:03]
COMMISSIONER WHOLE, UH, NO RECUSAL QUESTIONS ON B3.AND BEFORE SIR, COMMISSIONER MICHELLE, I HAVE NO RECUSALS.
I DO HAVE QUESTIONS ON B2, VICE CHAIR.
ART TO ITEM B TO, SINCE OUR, FOR THE CONTRACTOR IS WORKING ON ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT OUR FIRM DESIGN.
I KNOW QUESTIONS ON OTHER AGENDA ITEMS. UH, VICE CHAIR, CASTLEBERRY, NO QUESTIONS, NO RECUSALS COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS IS NOT PRESENT CHAIR LEE.
SO SHE'S CURRENTLY OFF THE DICE.
SO THE CONSENT ITEMS ARE, THIS IS SORRY.
MY QUESTION IS ON B TWO AND BEFORE NOT B THREE.
SORTA CONSENT ITEMS ARE B ONE D SHREE AND THE B FIVE.
AM I CORRECT?
SO WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS. THIS IS HOW I SUM UP.
I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS. AND IS THERE A SECOND? OKAY.
UH, MS. BARRANCA PLEASE CODE AT ALL ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. UH, COMMISSIONER MORIARTY? YES.
OH, SHE'S STILL NOT WITH US COMMISSIONER FISHER.
THE VOTE IS RECORDED, UH, WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER TREE AT A STILL OFF THE DIOCESE AND COMMISSIONERS.
[B.2. Recommend approval to award and execute a construction contract with Santa Clara Construction, Ltd., for the Highland Park Water and Wastewater Improvements Phase 2 project in the amount of $5,891,883.50 plus a contingency of $589,188.35, for a total contract amount not to exceed $6,481,071.85. (District 10)]
TWO, AND WE WILL ASK, UH, COMMISSIONER VICE CHAIR, CASTLE, PAYDAY TO CONDUCT MEETING ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE.I'LL READ IT IN IS RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO AWARD AND EXECUTE A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH SANTA CLARA CONSTRUCTION LTD FOR THE HIGHLAND PARK WATER AND WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENTS.
PHASE TWO PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF 5 MILLION, $891,883 AND 50 CENTS.
PLUS A CONTINGENCY OF 589,188 AND 35 CENTS OR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 6 MILLION, $481,071 AND 85 CENTS.
UM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OH, WELL, SORRY.
UH, COMMISSIONER, WE HAD TWO QUESTIONS.
WE HAD, UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, HO AND MICHELLE COMMISSIONER.
MICHELLE, DO YOU WANT TO ASK YOUR QUESTION FIRST? YES.
UH, MY QUESTION IS ON THE CONSTRUCTION DURATION, THE BACKUP INFORMATION SHOWED A DURATION OF TWO AND A HALF YEARS FOR THIS PROJECT.
AND I WAS CURIOUS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT WAS DRIVING THAT DURATION IF IT WAS SIMPLY THE, THE WORK IN THE RIGHT OF WAY ABOUT CONEYS DRIVE, IF THERE ARE OTHER PERCEIVED CONSTRUCTION CHALLENGES.
UM, SO I WANTED STAFF TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN THAT CONSTRUCTION DURATION.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MICHELLE, WE HAVE SHEA ROLSON AND KEVIN
[00:10:01]
COLBERT HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN, UH, MOVING ON TO THE PANEL.NOW I WILL TURN IT OVER TO SHAVE GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS SHEA ROLSON ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES, AUSTIN WATER.
UM, UH, THE CONSTRUCTION DURATION, UH, GENERALLY IS, UM, RELATED TO RIGHT AWAY AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
AND, UM, HAVING TO MANAGE A HIGHLY TRAFFICKED AREA AND A FAIRLY LARGE COMPLEX CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AND MINIMIZING, UH, OUTAGES AS WELL, UM, TO OUR, TO OUR CUSTOMERS IN THE AREA.
DOES ANY, UM, COMMISSIONER HOPE YOU HAD A QUESTION? OKAY.
UH, MY QUESTION IS TOO HAS TO DO WITH THE ALLOWANCE ON THE BOY MITIGATION.
SO THAT BUDGET OF $50,000, THAT IS ONLY FOR THE GEOLOGISTS AND GEOLOGISTS TO STUDY THE VOID, CORRECT.
THAT'S ANY GIVEN UP MITIGATION PLANS WILL BE TO COME OUT OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE MITIGATION ITSELF WILL COME OUT OF CONTINGENCY DOLLARS, CORRECT? UM, YES.
SO THE, THE ALLOWANCE, UH, AT THAT LEVEL, UM, WOULD BE INSUFFICIENT FOR MITIGATION, BUT WOULD ALLOW US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I'M GOING WITH THAT IS IT'S A FAIRLY LARGE PROJECT, LONG DURATIONS.
AND FROM MY EXPERIENCE, IT SEEMS LIKE ALLOWING MAYBE LOW, UH, JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, UH, IF WE NEED TO ANTICIPATE MAYBE ADDITIONAL IN THE FUTURE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION IT'S CAN GO OUT OF THE CONTINGENCY.
AND IF WE, UM, IF WE GET INTO THAT SITUATION, THEN WE WILL EVALUATE THE BEST PATH FORWARD AND THE, UM, CONTINGENCY AVAILABLE TO US IN DETERMINING HOW BEST TO USE.
NO, I DID JUST WANT TO, UH, GET THAT ON RECORD SINCE IT'S, UH, SEEMS LIKE THE HIGHLY SENSITIVE AREA, LOTS OF POTENTIAL OUTAGE.
AND I'VE SEEN THAT OCCUR ON, UM, UH, PALMER AREA WHERE A SIMILAR PUBLIC PRIVATE, THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS WE'RE GOING TO ASSIGN THEM? IF NOT, UM, CAN I HEAR A MOTION FOR APPROVAL VICE CHAIR? I MOVE TO APPROVE COMMISSIONER MICHELLE AND COMMISSIONER MICHELLE, WHO SHOULD APPROVE? DO I HEAR A SECOND? THIS IS HOW SECOND.
UM, CAN I HAVE A VOTE FOR APPROVAL? WE'LL GO DOWN THE WHOLE CALL, UH, COMMISSIONER MORIARITY YES.
SO WE HAVE, UM, UNANIMOUS APPROVAL WITH EXCEPTION OF CHAIR LEE WHO RECUSE IT.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL HAND IT BACK OVER TO CHEERLEADER.
[B.4. Recommend approval to award and execute a construction contract with Sefbo Pipeline Bridge, Inc., for the Ullrich WTP Low Service Pump Station Safety Structures Renewal project in the amount of $66,666.66. (District 8)]
ITEM BEFORE WE COME IN APPROVAL TO AWARD, AND IT'S CUTE.A CONTRACTION CONTRACT WITH WHOLE PIPELINE BRIDGE, INC FOR ERIK WATER TREATMENT PRINT, AND ALSO SERVICE PUMP STATION SAFETY STRUCTURES, RENEWAL PROJECTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $66,666 AND 66 CENTS.
AND THIS IS THE STREET NUMBER EIGHT IN IBD.
UM, MY QUESTION IS THE, SO WE, WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA TODAY, A COUPLE ITEMS THAT, YOU KNOW, RATIFICATION OF CONTRACT THAT IS PRETTY HIGH VALUES.
UH, THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT IS ONLY, UH, I GUESS, 60 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND I SEE IN THE BACKUP THAT IT HAD A HARD TIME GETTING
[00:15:01]
BITTER, MY GUESS IS BECAUSE OF THE LOW VALUES.AND IT MENTIONED IMMINENT, UH, SAFETY CONCERN, UH, JUST ETIQUETTE.
I MEAN, IT WAS A, A REASON WHY, UM, UH, AUSTIN WATER CAN JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, SORT OF IMPLEMENT A CONTRACT AND RATIFIED INSTEAD OF HAVING TO BID AND WADE AND ON SUCH A SMALL ITEM COMMISSIONER.
UM, THIS IS ANA BRIAN BOERHAAVES AGAIN, I WILL MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS THERE AND THEN INVITE, UH, SHANE RAULSON TO ADD, UM, TYPICALLY RATIFICATIONS ARE, UM, UH, SAVED OR RESERVED FOR THOSE MOST URGENT EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
AND SO WHILE THIS ITEM DOES HAVE, UH, IMPORTANT SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS, I BELIEVE OUR STAFF FELT THAT IT COULD, UH, GO THROUGH THE TYPICAL PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
SHAY, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON THAT ONE AND YOU ARE ON MUTE, JAY? THANK YOU.
UM, THAT IS CORRECT ON A WEE WHILE B2 SAFETY ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS, WE FELT WE WERE ABLE TO FOLLOW THE CITY'S PROCESS.
UH, AND SO WE WANTED TO DO THAT.
UM, WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING THE, UM, THE MOST APPROPRIATE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS.
SO WE WANT THEM TO TAKE THE TIME TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THAT.
UM, MY ONLY KIND OF FOLLOW-UP COMMON THAN IT'S NOT REALLY A QUESTION, BUT MY OBSERVATION, YOU KNOW, SINCE THE CONTRACT IS SO SMALL, BUT IT ABSOLUTELY CONCERN ANY CONCERNS FROM STAFF SIDE THAT ANY MALFUNCTION OR DEFECTIVE WORK, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO INTERPRET THAT WORK, BUT FOR A SMALL CONTRACT, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PURSUE, I DON'T KNOW IF INSURANCE CONTRACTS PROTECTION THAT IS NECESSARILY WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY.
THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN BECAUSE YOU CONTRACT SOMEONE FOR SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT, CAN YOU, WHO IS ADEQUATE TO COVER INSURANCE? IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG? UM, THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN, YOU KNOW, GENERAL, I TRUST THE STAFF.
I APPRECIATE THAT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT.
SMALL CONTRACTS HAVE THEIR OWN, UM, CHALLENGES.
UM, WE WILL HAVE ONSITE INSPECTION OF THIS WORK AS WELL.
SO WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE THE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORK IS ADEQUATELY PERFORMED.
THANK YOU, MR. JENNIFER QUESTIONS WOULD HAVE STUFF.
COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONERS, IF THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS.
WHAT IS A 10 ANY MOTION? THIS IS HOW I MOVED UP.
MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER HALL.
SECOND CHAIR, COMMISSIONER MICHELLE.
I'LL SECOND COMMISSIONER MICHELLE CHECK SECOND.
UH, JUST TO CONFIRM, I BELIEVE THAT COMMISSIONER TREE AT A SECONDED PRIOR TO COMMISSIONER MICHELLE, BUT HER CONNECTION MAY HAVE NOT COME THROUGH FOR ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO HEAR.
IS, IS THAT ACCURATE, UH, COMMISSIONER TRIOTA? YES.
UH, SO FOR THE RECORD, UH, THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER HO SECOND IS BY TRIOTA.
UH, SO, UH, COMMISSIONER MICHELLE, YOU DID NOT SECOND IT, BUT, UH, DO YOU APPROVE? THANK YOU.
MOVING ON TO THE OTHER MEMBERS, UM, COME TO SHARE MORIARTY.
OH, THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER, SIR.
UH, COMMISSIONER, UM, W FISHER.
UH, THE VOTE IS RECORDED WITH, UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, PARDON? AND WILLIAM'S ABSENT COMMISSIONER PENN'S RECUSAL.
[C.1. Update from Joint Sustainability Committee Meeting]
UPDATE FROM JONES 10[00:20:01]
APPEARED AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING COMMISSIONER HALL.SO WE HAD TO CANCEL A MEETING FROM A LAST TIME.
SO NOT A WHOLE LOT OF DETAIL TO REPORT THE COMMUNITY CLIMATE.
UH, EQUITY PLAN IS IN FRONT OF COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION IN MARCH FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE PROGRESS.
[C.2. Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force]
C TWO AUSTIN INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE PLANNING COMMITTEE, COMMUNITY TASK FORCE, COMMISSIONER MANJARI, PLEASE.CHAIR LEE AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION AND STAFF, THE, UH, WATER FORWARD TASK FORCE METH.
TWO DAYS AGO, WE COVERED A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS.
OF COURSE, THE PRINCIPAL TOPIC RELATE TO THE PROGRESS ON THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE WATER FORWARD PLAN CURRICULARLY.
THAT WAS THE DIRECT DEVELOPMENT OF THE AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY FACILITY, WHICH AUSTIN WATER IS MAKING DELIBERATE PROGRESS AND HAS SECURED THE SERVICES OF AN ENGINEERING SCIENTIFIC, UH, ENGINEERING FIRM SLASH CONSORTIUM TO HELP, UH, BEGIN ANALYSIS TO THE POSSIBLE LOCATION OF AN ASR FACILITY, UH, SOMEWHERE REGION, AS PART OF THAT WORK WATER HAS SCHEDULED A, I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE THE THIRD MEETING OF A PANEL OF EXPERTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE AND INSIGHT TO THE CITY, UH, ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS, UH, VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT.
WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT OTHER STRATEGIES IN THE WATER FORWARD PLAN.
THOSE INCLUDE THE INDIRECT POTABLE REUSE PROJECT AND THE VARIOUS CONSERVATION MEASURES AND ORDINANCES.
SOME OF WHAT OCCURRED ABOUT BEING ATTACHED TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE BEING KIND OF STUCK.
SO SOME OF THOSE WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES ARE, ARE, ARE THEY THEMSELVES KIND OF IN LIMBO, BUT SOME OF THE OTHER ONES THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THROUGH IN A MORE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS ARE GOING ON, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT IF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE DOES NOT BREAK FREE BY THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, THAT, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER ADDRESSING THE REMAINING WATER CONSERVATION ORDINANCE TYPE ISSUES AS A STANDALONE FEATURE.
UM, FURTHER, UH, WE, UH, WE DISCUSSED A CERTAIN ASPECTS OF CREATING A, UH, MORE COMMUNITY ORIENTED COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF WATER FORWARD.
UH, THIS IS KIND OF, UH, AN INITIAL, UH, INITIAL POSITION.
AND, UM, WE ALSO DISCUSSED, UH, OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE LEAD AND COPPER RULE.
AND, UH, WITH THAT BRIEF, UH, SUMMARY, I'D BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER HAS GOT ANY QUESTIONS FOR COMMISSIONER MORIARTY, IF NOT, THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT.
WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM THREE OH ONE
[D.1. Ratification of a contract with National Works, Inc., to provide emergency cleaning and diffuser replacement in the aeration basin and clarifier at the Dessau Wastewater Treatment plant, in the amount of $274,232.]
RECTIFICATION OF A CONTRACT WITH NATIONAL WALKS, INC, TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY CLEANING AND THE DIFFUSER REPLACEMENT IN AVIATION PATIENT AND CLARITY FILE EDITOR WITH WATER TREATMENT PLANT IN THE AMOUNT OF 274,232 HOURS STUFF.WHEN TO MAKE A BRIEF PRESENTATION, CHARLIE, WE HAVE STAFF AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR PROVIDE INFORMATION YOU MAY NEED ON THIS ITEM.
WE HAVE AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RICK NATTO, AN OPERATIONS MANAGER I'M IN THE NEW ME.
I BELIEVE A PRESENTATION HAS NOT BEEN PREPARED.
UM, BUT I WILL INVITE RICK TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
UH, RICK, CAN YOU GIVE US, UH, UH, TWO MINUTES WAITING,
[00:25:02]
RICK? I SEE THAT YOU ARE ON THE PANEL, BUT I DO NOT HEAR YOU.IF, UH, RICK IS UNABLE TO UNMUTE, UH, I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT, UH, I'M IN, UH, BENYAMIN IS ALSO AVAILABLE.
HE'S BEEN UN-MUTED WELL, CAN YOU, CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY.
THIS IS IRONMAN BINYAMIN ON THE WASTEWATER OPERATION MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
A SUMMARY OF THE WORK IS WE, UH, SINCE THE START OF COVID, WE HAVE BEEN, UH, INUNDATED IN THIS PLANT WITH HIGH AMMONIA LOADING AND RAG DUE TO WE ASSUME, UH, REPETITIVE CLEANING, UH, DUE TO COVID IN SCHOOLS AND APARTMENTS AROUND US.
WE COULD NOT 0.1 SOURCE TO THAT, THAT RESULTED IN OVERLOADING OF RAGS AND LOSING THREE FEET OF AERATION BASIN.
THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE TREATMENT HAPPENED ALSO, THAT'S WHERE THE DIFFUSERS ARE.
SO WE MADE A DECISION AND WE STARTED TO SEE VIOLATION OF AMMONIA OR BEST UP TO 6 BILLION GRAM PER LITER.
SO WE MAY NEED A DECISION THAT WE NEED TO CLEAN THE AERATION BASIN TO GAIN THE AERATION BASED ON VOLUME AND AREA EFFICIENT.
SO WE CAN TREAT WASTEWATER, UH, APPROPRIATELY.
COMMISSION COMMISSIONER HAS GOT ANY QUESTIONS OR STUFF, IF NOT, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT.
[E.1. COVID-19 – Austin Water Operations, Staff and Financial Impact Update]
ITEM E ONE COVID-19 AUSTIN, WATER OPERATIONS STUFF, AND THE FINANCIAL IMPACT UPDATE COMMISSIONERS.WE HAVE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JOSEPH GONZALES HERE TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, AGAIN, MY NAME IS JOSEPH GONZALES.
I'M ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES WITH AUSTIN WATER, AND I'LL BE PROVIDING A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE COVID, UH, FINANCIAL IMPACT TO THE UTILITY, AS WELL AS AN UPDATE ON OUR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND BILL RELIEF PROGRAM.
AND I'LL START WITH THE UPDATE ON, ON THE R PLUS ONE BILL RELIEF PROGRAM, UH, IN DECEMBER PLUS ONE PROGRAM PROVIDED A 1.2 MILLION IN BILL RELIEF TO, UH, 3,526 CUSTOMERS.
NOW SINCE APRIL, UM, THE, THE PLUS POINT PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED OVER $10 MILLION IN BAIL RELIEF TO, UH, TO APPROXIMATELY 28,000 CUSTOMERS.
NOW YOU'RE MOVING ON TO THE FINANCIAL IMPACT TO AUSTIN WATER, UH, DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, UM, I'LL PROVIDE A BRIEF UPDATE ON, UH, IMPACTS TO WATER DEMAND AS WELL AS REVENUE AND EXPENSES.
UH, WITH REGARD TO WATER DEMAND, CUSTOMER DEMAND CONTINUES TO TRACK ABOVE BUDGETED LEVELS.
UH, IN DECEMBER, UH, CUSTOMER DEMAND WAS 8.7, 5% HIGHER THAN EXPECTED, UH, LEVELS, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 307 MILLION GALLONS, UH, MORE THAN BUDGETED LEVELS.
AND THIS PROVIDES AN INDICATION THAT JANUARY REVENUES, UH, SHOULD BE, UH, HIGHER THAN BUDGETED LEVELS.
SO FROM A REVENUE PERSPECTIVE, DECEMBER WATER AND WASTEWATER REVENUES WERE 4.3 MILLION ABOVE EXPECTED LEVELS, UH, FOR PRIMARILY WITH IN RESIDENTIAL MULTI-FAMILY AND COMMERCIAL CLASSES, UH, RESIDENTIAL, UH, CLASS WAS ABOUT TWO AND A HALF BILLION ABOVE, UM, DUE IN PART, UH, TO CONTINUE THE MILD WELL, BUT ALSO FOLKS, UH, YOU KNOW, A SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY WORKING FROM HOME, UH, MULTIFAMILY IS ALSO, UH, ABOVE EXPECTED LEVELS BY ABOUT 1.4 MILLION, UM, AND COMMERCIAL, UH, WHICH HAS PROBABLY MOST HEAVILY BEEN IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC, UH, WAS, WAS 400,000 ABOVE BUDGETED LEVELS.
UH, YEAR TO DATE THROUGH DECEMBER, UH, REVENUES WERE 10.6 MILLION ABOVE BUDGET LEVELS.
AND THEN FINALLY FROM AN EXPENSE PERSPECTIVE, UH, COVID-19 SPECIFIC EXPENSES THROUGH DECEMBER, UH, WERE 3.9 MILLION.
[00:30:02]
AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THESE EXPENSES INCLUDE PERSONNEL CALLS, UH, PP AND SUPPLIES, BUT, YOU KNOW, PRIMARILY THE PRIMARY ONGOING EXPENSE IS TEMPERATURE MONITORING AND OUR FACILITIES.AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. GONZALES? IF NOT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO
[E.2. Austin Water Facility Planning for Atlas 14 Flood Risks]
ITEM E TO AUSTIN WATER FACILITY PRINTING AFTER US 14 FLOOD RISKS COMMISSIONERS WE HAVE, AND CHARLES SOLARA HERE TO PRESENT ON THIS TOPIC.UM, UH, THIS UPDATE IS, UH, OR THIS BRIEFING IS AN UPDATE FROM A BREACH IN THE GAME LAST YEAR.
SO, UH, YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THE SAME INFORMATION, BUT WE HAVE MADE, UM, LEARNED ADDITIONAL, UH, ITEMS ABOUT THIS, UM, ISSUE.
AND SO CHARLES IS GOING TO PRESENT THAT AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO HIM.
THIS IS CHARLES SOLARA WITH AUSTIN WATER.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF MY CAMERA'S ON OR NOT.
UM, BUT I AM WITH, UH, UH, WASTEWATER SUPERVISING ENGINEER FOR FACILITY ENGINEERING.
AND I'M GOING TO DISCUSS KIND OF ALSO IS WATER PRE-PLANNING FOR THE ATLAS 14 FLOOD IMPACTS.
BLANCA, IS THERE A PRESENTATION THAT'S GOING TO BE SHOWN WHERE THEY'RE JUST FALLING ON, ON WRITTEN DOCUMENTS? OKAY.
UH, THE PRESENTATION IS NOW, UH, ON RIGHT.
SO ATLAS 14 IS A STUDY BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND NOAA ON THE HISTORICAL RAINFALL EVENTS.
AND THAT A STUDY SHOWED THAT CENTRAL TEXAS IS MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE LARGER STORMS IN THE FUTURE.
UM, THIS NEW WEATHER PATTERN WILL NOW RESULT IN A HIGHER 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN.
UH, THE RAINFALL EVENT PREVIOUSLY WAS APPROXIMATELY 10.2 INCHES, AND NOW WILL BE ABOVE 13 INCHES FOR A HUNDRED YEAR RAINFALL EVENT.
UH, YOU COULD ALSO SEE WATERSHED ENGINEERING, UH, UH, LAST YEAR KIND OF TRIED TO PREDICT HOW MANY NEW STRUCTURES WOULD BE IN THE PLAIN AND JUST GOING FROM 4,000 TO ABOUT A 7,200 OR 80%.
UM, ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS OR ACTIONS THE CITY HAS DONE IS A PASSAGE OF A NEW ORDINANCE IN 2019, UH, FOR A NEW FLOOD PLAIN, UH, IN GENERAL, THE OLD PRE ATLAS 500 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN IS NOW THE NEW A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAIN, AND THE OLD 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN IS NOW THE NEW ATLAS 25 YEAR FLOOD, PLAIN.
UM, AND THAT'S THE GUIDANCE THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED.
UM, THERE ARE SOME FLOOD PLAINS THAT HAVE ALREADY INCLUDED THE NEW ATLAS 14 AND ARE MAPPED IN THE COURSE.
AND THAT WOULD BE, UH, THAT WOULD BE USED INSTEAD OF THIS, UH, CONVERSION OF THE OLD FLOOD PLAINS.
UM, ONE KIND OF, I WON'T CALL IT AN EXCEPTION, BUT ONE KIND OF A NOTED DIFFERENCE IS ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER WHERE THE FLOOD PLAIN IS STAYING AS IT WAS SHOWN IN THE 2016 IN THE FLOODPLAIN MAPS.
UM, MY UNDERSTANDING FROM WATERSHED IS THAT WITH THE HIGHLAND LAKES, THAT'S A GOVERNED, UH, A FLOOD PLAIN, AND THAT'S NOT, UH, AS AFFECTED AS MUCH AS I GUESS THE REST OF THE STREAM WOULD BE A NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO THE FLOOD PRO, WHICH IS A FORWARD FACING A FLOOD PLAIN MAPPING FOR THE CITY, UM, IN 2019, YOU CAN SEE IT SHOWS THE INTERIM ATLAS 14 AND PURPLE, UH, NEXT SLIDE.
AND WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE, UH, UH, ORDINANCE YOU COULD SEE NOW THAT IT'S ACTUALLY DESIGNATED AS THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAIN.
AND SO THESE ARE THE MAPS THAT WE ARE NOW USING, UM, UH, IN, IN, IN, UH, IN AUSTIN WATER TO EVALUATE THE FLOOD PLAIN IMPACTS.
OKAY, PLEASE, MOST OF THE, UH, IMPACTS ARE WASTEWATER, BUT WE DO HAVE A WATER IMPACT FACILITY.
UH, I BELIEVE THIS IS A FACILITY WHERE THE LYME RESIDUALS ARE STORED FROM THE WATER TREATMENT PROCESS.
UH, YOU CAN SEE THAT ALONG THE COLORADO, UH, EXCUSE ME, ALONG THE ONION CREEK, THAT THERE IS A SLIGHT INTRUSION INTO THE CHARLAINE FACILITY.
UH, TODAY THERE HAS BEEN AN EROSION PROJECT
[00:35:01]
TO RESTORE THE BERM ALONG INDIAN CREEK, BUT I FURTHER PROJECT IS GOING TO BE NEEDED TO PROTECT THE SITE FROM THE ATMOSPHERE, UM, 100 YEAR FLOOD EVENT.AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CONSULTANT ON BOARD EVALUATING THAT NOW.
UM, THIS IS, UH, UH, PICK A GRAPHICAL PICTURE OF OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND PACKAGE PLANTS.
UH, WE DID HAVE ONE WISH TREATMENT IMPLANT CALLED THOROUGHBRED FARMS IN THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD, PLAIN, PRIOR TO ATLAS 14, WITHOUT US 14, WE HAVE THREE ADDITIONAL AND THEY'RE OUR TWO LARGEST WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN OUR ALARMS PACKAGE PLANT, UH, BEING WALNUT CREEK, SOUTH AUSTIN, REGIONAL AND WILD HORSE.
SO A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE WASTEWATER SIDE ON THE PLANT SIDE.
AND THIS IS NOT QUITE AS, AS DRAMATIC.
UH, WE DID HAVE 11 LIFT STATIONS NOTED AND 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN.
UH, THE ATLAS 14 DID BRING IN NINE ADDITIONAL LIFT STATIONS.
AND I DIDN'T MAKE A NOTE OF SIX ADDITIONAL LIFT STATIONS, RATTLE RIVER.
UM, AGAIN WITH, UH, THERE, THERE ON THE COLORADO RIVER RIGHT NEXT TO A STREAM THAT'S COMING INTO COLORADO RIVER.
SO THERE'S SOME, PROBABLY SOME MORE DETAILED MATHEMATICAL CALCULATIONS OR WOULD BE NEEDED ON THE FLOOD PLAIN TO SEE IF THERE REALLY ARE.
AND THE FLOOD PLAIN ARE NOT RADICALLY THERE.
THEY'RE SHOWN THAT THERE COULD BE SOME ANALYSIS TO SEE IF TRULY IF THEY ARE IN THE 100 YEAR FLOOD, PLAIN AS THE STREAMS TO MEET THE LOWER TAILWATER ELEVATION IN THE COLORADO RIVER.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A FEW INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS.
THESE ARE ALL BEING WASTEWATER PROJECTS.
THE FIRST ONE IS THE SOUTH AUSTIN REGIONAL, AS YOU CAN SEE IS COMPLETELY IN THAT 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN.
THE FLOOD PLAIN IS ACTUALLY THE RESULT OF THE ONION CREEK, OVERTOPPING ITS BANKS, AND FLOWING TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE THERE TO THE COLORADO RIVER.
THE FLOODPLAIN EFFECT IS NOT DUE TO THE COLORADO RIVER, BUT JUST EXPLICITLY FROM THE ONION.
WE DO YOU HAVE A VERY LARGE PROJECT AT SOUTH AUSTIN, REGIONAL CALLS, UH, TRAIN AIM, BE IMPROVEMENTS.
IT'S A COMPLETE REHABILITATION OF BASICALLY, UM, ALMOST ALL THE MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT ON THOSE TWO TRAINS, AS WELL AS REPLACING THE NEW ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, WHICH WE ARE PUTTING A NEW ELECTRICAL BUILDINGS, BASICALLY TAKING THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH GEAR OUT OF THE PROCESS AREA AND IN A DEDICATED SELF-CONTAINED CONTROLLED BUILDING ENVIRONMENT CONTROL BUILDING FOR LONGEVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THOSE, OF THE ELECTRICAL GEAR.
UH, WE'RE WE'RE SEEING, UH, BECAUSE OF THE FLOODPLAIN THAT WE ACTUALLY RAISING THESE ELECTRICAL BUILDINGS ABOUT SIX FEET ABOVE THE NATURAL GROUND TO BE ABOVE THE FLOOD PLAIN AND THE REQUIRED, UH, FREEBOARD, UM, PROJECTS.
AND ABOUT 60% COMPLETE, UH, THE PICTURE IN THE LOWER LEFT IS A, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT IS.
UM, AS ACTUALLY A PICTURE, I JUST FOUND A, I BELIEVE THE CONSULTANT SENT THAT TO ME, BUT IT'S APPROXIMATELY ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE ELECTRICAL BUILDINGS.
WE HAVE FOUR, UH, THAT WILL BE ELEVATING AT THE SOUTH AUSTIN REGION, AND IT'LL BE ABOVE THE FLOOD PLAIN, AND WE'LL HAVE TO, YOU CAN SEE HAVE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT INGRESS EGRESS INTO THE EQUIPMENT BUILDING AS WELL AS WELL.
W WHAT'S NOT SHOWN HERE IS WE'LL PROBABLY DO A LITTLE BETTER JOB IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN GET A MOVE EQUIPMENT IN AND OUT IN THE FUTURE.
IF WE HAVE TO REPAIR IT, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE OTHER PORTION OF THIS, WHICH KIND OF OFFSITE OF SOUTH AUSTIN REGIONAL IS FALWELL MAINE.
WHEN ONION CREEK DID TOP ITS BANKS AND FLOW OVER TO THE COLORADO RIVER, IT ERODED THE COLORADO RIVER BANKS TO THE POINT THAT IT DID IMPACT THE FALWELL LANE.
UH, WE HAVE A KIND OF A TWO PHASE APPROACH AND THIS PROJECT OR PUBLIC WORKS DOES.
AND THE FIRST PHASE IS TO ACTUALLY RELOCATE A PORTION OF FALWELL LANE AS SHOWN IN RED.
UM, THE OTHER PART OF THE PROJECT IS YOU CAN SEE IN YELLOW IS THE FORTIFYING, THE BANK STABILIZATION ON COLORADO RIVER FOR THE, UH, ONION CREEK SUBSTATION.
AND THAT DARKER PINK AREA IS ACTUALLY SO ADDITIONAL DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS WHEN COLOR, WHEN THE ONION CREEK STARTS, THE FIRST OVERFLOW, THAT'S WHERE IT FIRST GOES.
AND SO WE'RE DOING SOME ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS THERE.
THE PROJECT'S ABOUT 60% COMPLETE IT'S ABOUT $13 MILLION PROJECT.
UM, I DO KNOW THAT THE BANK STABILIZATION IS ABOUT 50% OF THAT OVERALL COST.
UH, THE PHASE TWO PORTION OF IT IS THE INSTALLATION OF FLOOD BERMS AND WALLS.
UH, YOU DO SEE THAT THEY'RE NOTED AS LEVIES HERE.
UH, WHAT I CALL FLOOD BURNS THEIR LEVIES AS WELL AS WE HAVE FLOOD
[00:40:01]
WALLS.UH, THERE ARE PORTIONS OF THE PLANT SITE WHERE WE CAN'T DO A, UM, A LEVY OR A BURN BECAUSE IT JUST TAKES TOO MUCH ROOM.
SO WE'RE PROPOSING A WALL INSTEAD.
UM, THE PRO THIS, THIS PROJECT WOULD REMOVE SOUTH AUSTIN REGIONAL AS WELL AS A SANDHILL POWER PLANT FROM THE UNIN CREEK FLOOD, PLAIN, UH, THE PROJECTS AT ABOUT A $50 MILLION BUDGET.
UM, IT ALSO INVOLVES A LITTLE BIT OF CREEK WORK, THAT LITTLE RED THAT YOU SEE IN THAT SLIDE IS SOME BENCHING.
BASICALLY WE DO NEED TO INCREASE SOME OF THE CHANNEL WITH THEIR, FOR MORE EFFECTIVE VOLUME OF, OF, OF FLOOD, OF CONVEYANCE, OF FLOOD WATER TO MITIGATE ANY, UH, UPSTREAMS, UH, UH, IMPACT OR WATER ELEVATION SURFACES.
WE WERE BURNING UP THE FLOODPLAIN.
SO WITH THE $50 MILLION, THE CITY AND PUBLIC WORKS HAS, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT SEVERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, UH, WHETHER IT BE LOANS AND GRANTS, UH, ONES THAT WE HAVE TAKEN A HARD LOOK AT AND SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS, THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, THE HUD COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT, THE THEME OF FLOOD MITIGATION AND A FEMA BUILDING RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE BRICK FUNDING.
UH, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE CONCLUSION OF THESE APPLICATIONS.
SO I DO NOT KNOW AT THIS TIME, WHETHER WE BEEN ACCEPTED FOR ANY LOANS OR BEEN PROVIDED ANY GRANTS AT THIS TIME FOR ANY OF THOSE, UH, THOSE, UH, OUTSIDE, UH, FUNDING SOURCES.
UM, ANOTHER ONE THAT THE CITY HAS DONE INITIATIVE IS LOOKING AT CREATING A TAX INCREMENTAL, UH, REINVESTMENT ZONE, UH, TOURS.
UH, THE CITY IS ACTIVELY PURSUING THIS WITH, UM, THE EFFECTIVE LANDOWNERS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS AND THIS TYPE OF FINANCING, UM, BASICALLY RELIES ON THE ADDED LORE ON PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
AS YOU REMOVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY OUT OF THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAN THERE, THAT BECOMES A MORE VALUABLE, AND THEN IT CAN BE USED FOR, UH, DEVELOPMENT, WHICH THEN AGAIN, INCREASES THE VALUE OF THE LAND, UM, THAT INCREASED VALUE OF THE AD VALOREM TAXES IS THE FUNDING SOURCE TO PAY FOR THE PROJECT.
UM, ALTHOUGH I, UH, THE, THE FULL FINANCING, UM, UM, VALUATION HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED, THE ORIGINAL, THE INITIAL PRELIMINARY RESULTS INDICATES THAT THE TERS WOULD CREATE ENOUGH FUNDING REVENUE TO PAY A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE $50 MILLION.
OH, STOP TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE, SINCE THAT ONE'S A LITTLE BIT, OKAY.
THIS IS, UH, WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
AND AS YOU COULD SEE, THE, THE, THE FLOOD PLAIN IS ALSO AFFECTING THIS PLANT, UH, RIGHT.
THERE IS A PORTION OF THAT FLOOD PLAIN IS ALREADY IMPACTING THE EXISTING FACILITIES.
SO IT'S ROAR WITH THE INITIAL THOUGH INFLUENCE STREAM COMES IN WHERE THE HEADWORKS AND, AND PRIMARY TREATMENT IS.
UM, ALSO YOU CAN SEE IN THE LIGHTER BLUE, KIND OF ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE EXISTING PLANT IS IN THE FLOOD PLAN.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE PROPOSING THE EXPANSION.
SO ONE OPTION THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT HERE IS, AGAIN, ANOTHER LITTLE FLOOD WALL.
UH, THIS OPTION IS STILL BEING VETTED BECAUSE THIS IS NOT LIKE SAR.
UM, WE WOULD ACTUALLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO PASS THROUGH THE WALL FOR INGRESS AND EGRESS.
SO THAT DEFINITELY COMPLICATES THE, UH, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A FLOOD WALL WHEN YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH THAT.
SO WE'RE STILL EVALUATING THAT, BUT THAT IS POTENTIAL SOURCE OF PROVIDING SOME FLOOD RELIEF IF WE NEED TO.
UM, I THINK I MENTIONED IN THE LAST MEETING WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, SUCH AS SAR ELEVATED, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE SHOWED THE ELEVATED ELECTRICAL BUILDINGS, THERE COULD BE POTENTIAL FOR THE NEW EXPANSION TO UTILIZE SOME OF THAT FLOOD MITIGATION METHOD, AS WELL AS, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME PARTS OF HOUSTON AND GALVESTON.
YOU KNOW, THE PLANTS ARE ACTUALLY DESIGNED TO BE IN THE WATER TO GO AROUND THE PLANT, BUT THE PLANTS DESIGNED WHERE WATER WON'T AFFECT THE PLANT WHEN IT'S FLOODED.
IT'S JUST THAT IT'S, THE WATER IS ALL AROUND THE PLANT.
OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T GET THERE DURING A FLOOD EVENT FOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, BUT IT'S DESIGNED THAT IT WON'T BE A, THE WATER ARISE AND THEN FLOW AWAY AND NOT IMPACT THE PLANT.
SO WE HAVE THOSE OPTIONS AS WELL AS WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, THE, UH, PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING STUDY, UH, THEY GO TO A THROUGH WATER WASTEWATER COMMISSION, UM, LAST YEAR.
AND WE HAVE NOW STARTED THAT WITH THE CONSULTANT.
[00:45:01]
SO THAT'D BE ONE OF THE PRIMARY FOCUSES ON THE PLUMBING ENGINEERING FOR IT IS HOW TO HANDLE THE FLOOD MITIGATION FOR WALNUT CREEK.NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, THE OTHER, UH, WAY FOR TREATING PLANT THAT IT'S IMPACTED.
AND IT'S A PLANT THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY EXPANDING IS ABOUT 60% COMPLETE IN DESIGN IS THE WILD HORSE, UH, WHICH WORKS FOR IMPLANT.
YOU CAN SEE KIND ON THE SOUTH SIDE THERE, AND IT'S KIND OF IMPACTED THE GRAPHICALLY.
IT'S NOT SHOWN IMPACTED, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE, THE SURFACE ELEVATION OF THE WATER AND WHAT IS ACTUALLY ON THE SITE, THERE IS AN IMPACT OF THE WATER COMING IN ON THE, ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THAT PLANT.
UH, SO LITTLE BIT OF SAME THEME HERE, HERE, WE'RE TRYING TO UTILIZE MAYBE A SHEET PILE.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT BERMS FLOOD WALLS, WHERE I KIND OF, KIND OF THINK OF MORE OF A CONCRETE STRUCTURE.
UM, UH, THIS WAS MORE OF A SHEET POWER WHERE WE'D ACTUALLY DO A, DO A SHEET PILE METAL OR FIBERGLASS.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT EVALUATING AND SEE HOW EFFECTIVE THAT WOULD BE, AND IF THAT'S A VIABLE SOLUTION TO THIS PARTICULAR PLANT.
UM, THE OTHER ONE WE'RE LOOKING AT IS, UM, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE LET THE WATER GO INTO THE SITE AND NOT MITIGATED AT THIS TIME.
SO WE'RE EVALUATING THAT, THAT PROBABLY DOESN'T LOOK AS PROMISING AS I WAS HOPING.
CAUSE I WAS TRYING TO AVOID SOME OF THESE WALLS BECAUSE IT JUST GOES AROUND OR UV STRUCTURE.
AND IF THERE'S ANY, PROBABLY A PART OF THE PLANT THAT I WOULDN'T WANT NOT TO BE ABLE TO GET TO DURING A RAIN EVENTS, THE UV STRUCTURE, IT'S HIGHLY INTENSIVE ELECTRICAL AND JOEL KNOW JOINING A RAIN EVENT, USUALLY ELECTRICALS ARE PROBLEMS. SO, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE EVALUATING ON, ON THAT PARTICULAR PLANT FOR FLOOD MITIGATION.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE LOOK AT A COUPLE OF LIFT STATIONS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
THIS IS PRESENTED LAST TIME, THE SOUTH ON OAKS LIFT STATION, THAT'S DOWN ON FREIGHT BARKER ROAD.
OH, CAN DRY LIFT STATION, UH, WHERE THE, UH, THE, THE, UH, PUMPS ARE DOWN UNDERGROUND AS WELL AS THE ELECTRICAL AND THAT SHOULD, WHAT'S KIND OF SHOWN IN THE UPPER PICTURE THERE.
WE'VE HAD SOME PREVIOUS FLOODING THERE AND WHAT YOU SEE ON THE BOTTOM.
WE TOOK THE ELECTRICAL OUT OF THE, AND PUT IT INTO AN ELECTRICAL ENCLOSURE AND ACTUALLY ELEVATED ABOUT TWO OR THREE FEET, UM, TO GET OUT OF THE FLOOD PLAIN.
AND THAT'S ONE PORTION OF GETTING THE ELECTRICAL OUT OF THERE.
WE ARE CURRENTLY IN A, HAVE ANOTHER PROJECT TO ACTUALLY TAKE THE DRY PIT PUMPS AND ACTUALLY CONVERT THE STATION INTO A SUBMERSIBLE LIVE STATION AND RAISE THE TOP LABS UP.
SO IN THIS FLOOD MITIGATION METHOD, WE'RE USING A CUT AND FILL BALANCE, WHATEVER WE FILL IN THE FLOOD PLAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO CUT TO RE UH, TO, UH, OFFSET THE FILLING IN THE FLOOD.
THE BLUE IS THE AREAS WHERE WE'RE FILLING AND THE RED IS THE AREAS WE'RE CUTTING.
SO IT'LL, YOU KNOW, IT'LL PUT THE LIFT STATION LIMIT ON A PENINSULA, BUT IT'S ONE WAY TO ACTUALLY MITIGATE THE, THE FLOOD PLAIN, UH, MEASURE WITHIN OUR SITE WITHIN OUR PROPERTY AND NOT HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE THE PROPERTY AND START DEALING WITH OUTSIDE INFLUENCES ON THE FLOOD LIKE THAT.
UM, THE, THE NECK, THIS ONE IS THE SPRINGFIELD LIFT STATION, AND IT IS COMPLETELY SUBMERGED COMPLETELY IN A, IN A 25 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN.
UH, THIS IS ON WILLIAM CREEK RISK TO THE LEFT OF US AS THE SOUTH AUSTIN SOCCER COMPLEX AND ONION CREEK AND MARBLE CREEK FLOWS TO THE NORTH INDIAN CREEK.
SO A LOT OF THIS FLOOD PLAIN IS INFLUENCED BY ONION CREEK.
UM, WE DID OUR EVALUATION OF ACTUALLY RAISING THIS LIFT STATION.
UH, IT HAS TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY RAISED MORE THAN WHAT THE LIFT STATION THAT I JUST HAD SHOWN ON SOUTH AND OAKS.
IT'S ABOUT MORE LIKE SEVEN FEET AND THE COST OF RAISING IT UP AND THE PROBLEMATIC OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE THAT WOULD CAUSE ACTUALLY STARTING TO LOOK AT US ON WELL, COULD WE ABANDONED THE LIFT STATION AND STILL BE A COST EFFECTIVE MEASURE AND DUE TO THE, JUST THE HIGH COST OF RAISING THAT LIFT STATION UP IT IS, IS LIKE, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A BANNING, THE LIFT STATION TO A GRAVITY SEWER, UH, OVER THERE TO THE LEFT, WHERE THE LINES END IS THE ONION CREEK TUNNEL.
AND SO WE WOULD EVALUATE, UH, BRINGING A GRAB YOUR LINE AND DISCHARGING IT INTO THE ONION CREEK TUNNEL.
UM, I WILL SAY THAT BOTH ALIGNMENTS THE PROPERTY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF WILLIAM CANNON, AS WELL AS THE SOUTH SIDE WHERE THE YELLOW ALIGNMENT IS AND PURPLE ALIGNMENT ON THE
[00:50:01]
NORTH DOES GO THROUGH PARKS PROPERTY.THERE WOULD BE THERE'S, THERE'S NO OTHER ROUTE TO GO FROM HERE TO ONION CREEK WITHOUT GOING THROUGH PARK'S PROPERTY.
SO THIS PROJECT WE'LL PROBABLY END UP GOING THROUGH A CHAPTER 26 EVALUATION.
SO IN CONCLUSION, UM, YOU KNOW, AWESOME WATERS UTILIZING EVALUATIONS SHOULD MINIMIZE THE FLOOD RISK FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE EVEN REMOVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO USE, YOU KNOW, FLOOD-PROOFING METHODS, UM, SHOWN ONE WHERE WE'RE RAISING THE ELEVATED, UH, ELEVATING THE ELECTRICAL BUILDING.
UH, WE COULD GET IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO FLOOD PROOF, THE BUILDINGS, UM, A LITTLE BIT MORE PROBLEMATIC DUE TO FLOOD PROOF ENTRANCES INTO, TO BUILDINGS, TO DOORS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE VERSUS JUST ELEVATING, UM, BUT DEFINITELY USING IT THE, AT THE PLANTS, THE, THE, THE, THE VALUE OF FLOOD BERMS, LEVIES AND SHEET PILING, UH, CUT AND FILL WILL STILL PROBABLY BE FOR THOSE SMALLER PROJECTS, A FLOOD MITIGATION METHOD THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO USE AS WELL AS JUST A COMPLETE ABANDONMENT OF THE, OF THE, OF THE STRUCTURE, UH, SUCH AS OUR OWN, AS WELL AS THE PARMER LANE TUNNEL.
NEXT BEING, COMING TO A CONCLUSION WILL, UH, ABANDON THE LAKE CREEK LIFT STATION, WHICH HAS ALSO AN A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAIN.
SO WITH THAT, THAT KIND OF COMPLETES MY UPDATE.
AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONERS GOT ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHARLES? I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
UH, THAT WAS CRUCIAL MORIARTY, BUT AMMONIA THAT YES, PLEASE.
I WAS GOING TO ASK, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE ENGINEERING ON THESE FLOOD PREVENTION PROJECTS IS FAIRLY WELL ADVANCED TO THE POINT YOU'VE GOT A REASONABLE ESTIMATE OF COSTS.
WOULD THAT BE CORRECT? I FEEL THAT FOR THE SOUTH AUSTIN REGIONAL, YES, WE HAVE A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING AND IT IS ABOUT $50 MILLION.
I WILL TELL YOU, UM, THE COMMISSIONER ALREADY ON THE ROADWAY PROJECT, THE STOPE SLOPE STABILIZATION, THERE DID INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY.
SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE BERMS DOESN'T DO THAT, BUT, UH, FOR SOUTH OFFICER REGIONAL, WE DO HAVE A NUMBER FOR THE WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
ALL WE DID WAS KIND OF LOOK AT AN OPTIMIZATION PLAN AND WE KIND OF ASKED THE ENGINEER, HEY, WHAT KIND OF, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK? RIGHT.
SO WE HAVEN'T EVEN DONE PLUMBING ENGINEERING FROM THAT.
WE'RE JUST NOW STARTING THAT, BUT SOME NUMBERS ARE HIGH AS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 20 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS JUST FOR THE WALNUT CREEK PROJECT.
SO WE'RE TALKING SOME SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS.
AND WHEN YOU PUT UP THE SLIDE ON THE FINANCING ASPECT, YOU MENTIONED THE FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FUND.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU HAVE AN ACTIVE EQUITY APPLICATION INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, OR YOU ARE HOPING AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE TO PUT IN AN APPLICATION? I I'M PRETTY FAMILIAR.
I DO KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS HAS EVALUATED ALL THOSE FOUR.
I KNOW THAT I'VE PERSONALLY, UH, PROVIDED INFORMATION FOR THE COMMUNITY BLOCK BLOCK COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANTS AS WELL.
MOST OF THE FEMALE BRICK PROGRAM, IF THE OTHER TWO, IF WE HAD NOT BEEN ASKED TO PUT THE INFORMATION FOR THE OTHER TWO PROGRAMS, BUT I DO KNOW THAT PUBLIC WORKS, UH, PROJECT MANAGEMENT HAS LOOKED AT ALL, ALL OF THOSE FUNDING SOURCES TO SEE IF WE COULD MEET THE REQUIREMENTS TO GET FUNDING AND A HALF.
AND ASSOCIATES HAVE BEEN HELPFUL IN PROVIDING THOSE, UH, THE DETAIL FOR US.
UH, I GUESS THE REASON I ASK IS I, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THIS THE AUSTIN WATER DEPARTMENT HAS AN ACTIVE FR APPLICATION.
NOT THAT THAT ISN'T A GOOD IDEA, BUT, UH, THE CONCERN IS, YOU KNOW, THE STATE AWARDED ABOUT $800 MILLION OF THAT PROGRAM OR ARE ACTUALLY IT, AND I'M NOT SURE THE PROGRAM IS GOING TO REMAIN ACTIVE.
UH, I DOUBT, I DON'T THINK THEY'LL HAVE A CALL FOR APPLICATIONS THIS YEAR, UNLESS THE LEGISLATURE GIVES THEM MORE MONEY.
ONE SOURCE THAT YOU DID NOT MENTION THAT I THINK IS ONE THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE A REALLY GOOD LOOK AT.
AND THAT IS THE CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND.
UH, TWO YEARS AGO, TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD CHANGED THE CRITERIA AND OPENED THE DOOR FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROJECTS.
AND I THINK ALL OF THIS STUFF WOULD QUALIFY.
THEY OFFER EVEN BETTER INTEREST RATES THAN INFRASTRUCTURE FUND.
AND, UH, I MENTIONED THIS ONLY BECAUSE THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 3RD AND WE'RE DOING THIS
[00:55:01]
PROJECT.I THINK I'D GET MY APPLICATION IN BECAUSE I THINK YOU COULD GET CERTAINLY GETTING FUNDED THAT WAY.
I'LL PASS IT ALONG TO THE PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT MANAGER.
HEY, THANK YOU FOR COMMISSIONER MORNING, YETI.
UH, THE COMMENDATION, UH, COMMISSIONERS THAT, ANY OTHER QUESTION FOR CHARLES SALMON? THIS IS MICHELLE HOLD.
I THINK YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS, SO THANK YOU.
UM, I APPRECIATE, UH, COMMISSIONER MORIARTY'S LINE OF QUESTIONING BECAUSE I THINK IT'S KIND OF TAKE US OUT OF THE BOX OF JUST THINKING ABOUT IT AS A, AS AN ENGINEERING KIND OF BOXED IN BUILD SOME WALLS.
AND SO, UM, AND I APPRECIATE SAY THE LEVEL OF DETAIL A QUICK OVERALL QUESTION IS, UM, CHARLES, YOU ALREADY MENTIONED THAT SOME ELECTRICAL IS BEING DISCUSSED.
IS THERE LIKE AN OVERALL SUMMARY MAP THAT'S SHOWN WHERE EACH ONE OF EACH TREATMENT PLAN WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT FROM ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE STANDPOINT? UM, THAT'D BE IN PLAN ON.
AND HOW DOES THAT USUALLY WORK? IS AUSTIN ENERGY GOING TO ASSIST OR IS THAT ALL COMING OUT OF OUR POCKET? W UM, THE, I THINK WE JUST HAVE THE, THE, THE FOUR PLANTS IN THE FLOOD PLAIN.
UH, SO THOSE HAVE BEEN THE ELECTRICAL IMPROVEMENTS, UM, ON SOUTH AUSTIN AND, UM, AND, UH, WALNUT CREEK, SINCE WE TAKE PRIMARY ELECTRICAL ENGINEER.
SO I MAY MISS THE TERMINOLOGY.
BASICALLY WE TAKE PRIMARY INTO THE SUBSTATION AND THEN BASICALLY, SO WE OWN ALL THE ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ONSITE, ALL THE TRANSFORMERS AND ALL THAT.
SO ON THOSE PLANTS, IT IS ALL AUSTIN WATER.
WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR OWN ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT THAT MANAGES THAT AND MAINTAINS THAT.
SO ON, THOSE IS ON, UM, A WILD HORSE IS ACTUALLY IN BLUE BONNETS.
UH, AND THEN AGAIN, SIMILAR THERE, WE MAKE A LARGE DROP OR LARGE VOLTAGE DROP AND WE OWN THE TRANSFORMER AND, AND CONVERT THE POWER DOWN TO WHAT WE NEED.
SO IN GENERAL, YOUR, YOUR, THE ANSWER IS THAT, UH, AUSTIN ENERGY'S IS, IS NOT SIGNIFICANTLY INVOLVED BECAUSE WE'RE BASICALLY OWN OUR OWN ELECTRICAL ON THE PLANT SITES.
AND, UM, WHERE WAS GOING WITH THAT IS I NOTICED ON SONGS Y'ALL MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY REALIGNED TO GET SLIGHTLY BETTER LOCATION.
AND I REMEMBER DURING THAT FLOOD BRIEFING, UH, I KNOW THAT SOME STAFF MIGHT'VE BEEN STUCK IN THE PLAN BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T SAVE LATE CROSS OUT OF THE LOW WATER CROSSING.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, KINDA STUCK WITH ME FOR A LITTLE BIT.
SO AS Y'ALL CONSIDER FURTHERING THIS ROADWAY, UH, PAT LOOKED AT, AND I KNOW YOU PROBABLY HAVE, CAUSE YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THE SORT OF CREATIVE, UH, UNNAMED MECHANISM, LIKE THE TURDS OR THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, BUT HAVE Y'ALL LOOK AT POTENTIALLY ADDING A SECONDARY ACCESS SAY, SR, THAT WOULD ALSO COUPLE AS OPENING UP THAT AREA BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF THAT COMMUNITY ALSO HAVE THE SAME EXACT ISSUE, UH, DURING THE ONION FLOOD, UH, ONION CREEK FLOOD, YOU KNOW, THEY GET THOSE COMMUNITIES GOT STUCK IN A ONE ROW IN AND OUT AS WELL.
SO I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THE PLANNING EXERCISE LOOK AT IT FROM THE SORT OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT AS WELL.
UM, I DO KNOW THERE DURING THE INITIAL STAGES, AND YOU DID BRING A POINT UP THAT I WANT TO MENTION TO YOU WHEN I DID SHOW THE GRAPHIC OF THE ROAD BEING REALIGNED, IT DIDN'T SHOW ANY FLOODPLAIN THERE.
I DO WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THE PHASE ONE REMOVED MOVES THE ROAD AT GRADE.
SO IT'S STILL IN THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAIN.
WE WOULD NEED PHASE TWO TO REMOVE THAT ROADWAY FOR NINE YEAR FLOOD PLAIN.
SO THERE'S ONE THAT JUST, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT POPS IN MY MIND WHEN YOU WERE TALKING, I ASKED YOUR QUESTION, BUT IT WAS A QUEST, THERE WAS A LOOK AT, ON CROSSING THE ONION CREEK ON THE BACKSIDE OF, OF SOUTH AUSTIN REGIONAL INTO THE, I DON'T KNOW, I FORGET THE NAME OF THAT PARK, BUT THERE IS A TRAVIS COUNTY PARK IT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT POTENTIALLY WE COULD LAND ANOTHER BRIDGE OVER THERE.
THAT OPTION WAS JUST MORE THAN WHAT WE WERE PROPOSING NOW, SO THAT IT FELL OUT OF THE, UM, ALTERNATIVE ALTERNATIVES THAT WE DID.
SO BECAUSE IT WAS MORE INCREASE IN COSTS.
WE, WE DID NOT LOOK AT THAT, THAT SECOND.
WE DID NOT CONTINUE, UM, BUILDING, UH, AN ALTERNATIVE FOR A SECOND ALTERNATIVE, UH, ALIGNMENT, LEAVING SAR BECAUSE WHEN WE DID LOOK AT WAS CROSSING THE ONION CREEK INTO THAT PARK, AND IT WAS JUST MORE EXPENSIVE THAN WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW.
AND THAT'S THE SOUTH EAST METRO PARK.
AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA.
THAT'S KIND OF WHY I BRING IT UP BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU'RE RIGHT.
IF YOU ARE PURELY LOOKING AT THIS FROM A COST INVESTMENT, THERE'S NO REASON FOR US IN WATER TO PUT
[01:00:01]
ANY MORE MONEY UP, THEN, THEN WE HAVE TO, THIS IS ALREADY KIND OF EXPENSIVE AT IT IS.BUT IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT FEMA, UH, COMMUNITY RELOCATION TYPE OF FUNDING OR, UH, SORT OF A PUBLIC AREA IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, I THINK HAVING THOSE SORT OF, UM, LARGER PLANNING INVESTMENT, UH, MY, UH, CREATE, UH, MORE AVENUE TO, UH, CREATE SOME FUNDING, UH, KIND OF, KIND OF LIKE WHAT A PERMISSION MEMORIAL YOU MENTIONED.
UH, COMMISSIONER HAS GOT ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CHARLES.
[F.1. Discussion of future agenda items]
ON TO F1 DISCUSSION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. COMMISSIONER GOT ANY ITEMS THAT WANT TO CONCEDE THE PUT ON THE AGENDA.MR. CHAIRMAN, JUST A REMINDER.
I THINK SAP MAY ALREADY WORKING ON IT IS THE UPDATE ON PROJECT CONNECT AND RELATED TO THE IMPROVEMENTS ON OUR END.
THAT'S WHAT DISCUSSED AT THE, UH, LAST, UH, MEETING.
ANY OTHER ITEMS? UH, YOU ALWAYS CAN GET, UH, TWO SPONSORS TO PUT THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA, SO OKAY.
IF NOT OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE FEBRUARY THE THIRD, WHICH IS WEDNESDAY AT 5:30 PM BY VIDEO CONFERENCE, FEBRUARY 3RD, WEDNESDAY AT FIVE 30.
AND WE WILL SEE YOU ON THE AIR.
AND IF THERE IS NO OTHER QUESTIONS, THE COMMISSION MEETING WILL BE ADJOURNED AT TWO 11.