[00:00:02]
[CALL TO ORDER]
AND WE WILL START JANUARY, UH, WATER WASTEWATER COMMISSION RIGOR, GENERALLY MEETING, AND WE HAVE COMMISSIONED PNEUMONIA.HE MUST GO OFF, UH, FISHER VICE CHAIR, CASTLEBERRY D UH, CHERYL PAN PRESENT, AND UNFORTUNATELY, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, TOWER RESIGNED.
AND THERE IS NO CITIZENS COMMUNICATION, SO WE WILL
[A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
MOVE ON TO ITEM A ONE APPROVED THE DECEMBER 20, 21 MINUTES.COMMISSIONER NORTECH YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY COALITION NEED TO BE DONE, OR IF NOT, WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PAN CHAIR.
ALL SECOND, SECOND, MY COMMISSION, LET ME SHARE ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, SHE, UH, FOR SURE, THE MICHELLE PAN BOAT FOR YEARS, EH, COMMISSION, UH, MUSCULAR OFFICER.
AND THEN S THEN, UM, MORIARTY, ABSTAIN AND THE AND THE CASTLEBERRY.
KEN, UM, THE MEMBERS OF STAINING, UH, RAISE YOUR HANDS TO CONFIRM.
SO THEN THE MINUTES DO NOT PASS BECAUSE IF THERE'S, UH, NOT SIX VOTING OF THE MINISTER NOT PASS.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER, UH, THE MEMBERS DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT AT THE PRIOR MEETING TO BE ACTIVELY VOTING ON THE MINUTES, JUST AS A REMINDER.
IF I CHANGE MY VOTE, WILL THAT HELP? YES.
I'D LIKE TO CHANGE MY VOTE TO AFFIRMATIVE.
SO THERE WILL BE RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
[B. ITEMS FOR COMMISSION’S REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL TO CITY COUNCIL]
LET'S MOVE TO ITEM B AND WE'LL GO AROUND THE TABLE TO SHE COMMISSIONED AND GOT ANY QUESTIONS OR WE Q SOWS.AND IF WE GOT RECUSED, SOWS PRIESTS STATE, THE REASON FOR YOUR RECUSAL.
SO WE START WITH COMMISSIONER MORIARTY QUESTION AT ITEM SEVEN.
COMMISSIONER FISHER, NO QUESTIONS, NO RECUSALS.
AND I'VE GOT A QUESTION ON ITEM B TO AN ORDER.
I HAVE A RECUSAL ON ITEM B SEVEN.
MY FIRM IS ON SUB-CONSULTANT ON THAT PROJECT AND I WAS INVOLVED IN PREVIOUS PHASES OF IT AS WELL.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER JULIETTA, NO QUESTIONS.
NO RECUSALS OFF WAY, WAY UP THERE.
SOLO CONSENT ITEMS ARE B 1 3 4 5 6, 8, AND THE NY.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, AND NINE MACRA.
ANY CHAIR I MOVED TO APPROVE MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER MICHELLE HALF SECOND, SECOND BY VICE CHAIR, PERRY.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
SHE'LL APPROVE AN MSD FOR THE COMMISSIONERS PRESENT.
[B.2. Recommend approval to award two contracts with Beard Integrated Systems, Inc. and SI Mechanical LLC for plumbing services, each for a term of five years in an amount not to exceed $37,475,000 divided among the contractors. Austin Water’s total requested authorization is $1,250,000.]
TO ITEM B TO[00:05:02]
RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO A WAR TO COUNTRIES WITH SPEAR INTEGRATED SYSTEMS, INC IN SSI, MECHANICAL AREA OR SHEEP OR PREMISE SERVICES FOR EACH, FOR A TERM OF FIVE YEARS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $37,475,000 DIVIDED AMONG THE CONTRACTORS' AUSTIN WATERS.TOTAL REQUEST AUTHORIZATION IS 1 MILLION, $250,000.
AND I GOT A QUESTION IS THIS IS THE $37 MILLION CONTRACT.
AND JESUS SLEPT PROBLEM IN REPAIR.
THIS IS NOT A HIGH TECH, NO PRIOR PILOT, TOADY SOFTWARE PROCUREMENT, OR ASSUMPTION LIKE THAT.
AND THERE'S NO SUBCONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MINORITY DEFORMS NOCO FIRMS WE MET ON THE PATIENT IS, AND THE PRICE.
I THINK THAT'S THAT'S, UH, I CANNOT, I CANNOT SUPPORT IT THAT THIS, THIS ITEM THERE, I THINK THERE WILL BE PRIMING SERVICES.
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT HIGH-TECH OR SPECIALIZED SPECIALTY SERVICES.
COMMISSIONER GOT ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT QUESTIONS WE'LL ENTERTAIN MOTION.
AND BY THE WAY, I WILL STAND ON THIS TITLE.
COMMISSIONER GOT ANY MOTION CHAIR I'D LIKE TO JUST GIVE STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THAT COMMENT.
COMMISSIONERS ON BRIAN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS SERVICES, UH, WITH AUSTIN WATER.
UM, AS YOU NOTED, THIS IS A, UH, LARGE CITY-WIDE CONTRACT.
AUSTIN WATERS PORTION IS APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION.
I'M NOT ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE DECISION ABOUT THE, UM, MINORITY SUB CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES.
WE MAY HAVE A MEMBER OF OUR PURCHASING STAFF WHO MAY BE ABLE TO ADDRESS HOW THAT WAS, UH, HOW THAT DECISION WAS REACHED.
JONATHAN HELLO, MY NAME IS JONATHAN DATIA AND I'M WITH, WITH THE AUSTIN WATER PURCHASING OFFICE.
UM, SO TYPICALLY, UM, THIS DECISION IS BY US AND BR, UM, SO IT GOES THROUGH THE, THE REGULAR, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, CENTRAL PURCHASING PROGRAMMING OFFICE.
UM, SO I CANNOT SPEAK TO THEIR DECISIONS ON WHY, UH, THIS PARTICULAR ITEM WAS, UH, DID NOT HAVE GOALS AS I DID, UM, OUTSIDE OF THE FACT THAT THIS CONTRACT IN THE PAST, UM, HAS GONE THROUGH THE SIMILAR PROCESS WHERE NO GOALS WERE ASSIGNED, UM, TO THE PARTICULAR CONTRACT.
UM, AND AS WELL AS, UM, I DO KNOW THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT, THIS POINT IN TIME, UM, WE DID HAVE, UH, ISSUES, UM, GETTING VENDORS TO BID ON THE CONTRACT, MAINLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CURRENT SITUATION THAT WE'RE THERE WE'RE CURRENTLY IN, UM, THE, UH, SIZE OF THE CONTRACT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO GET SMALLER BUSINESSES TO ACTUALLY BID ON IT, UM, TO MEET THE CITY'S GOALS AND DEMANDS.
I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UPS MAYBE SOMETIME THE ROAD THAT WE ASK A DSMB OR TO HAVE A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE PROCUREMENT, ESPECIALLY THE PROMOTED, THE PROCUREMENT ISSUES THERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, REPORT COMMISSIONERS.
GOT AN ISSUE WITH MR. JOHNSON.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.
MOTION MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER MICHELLE.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER.
UM, MICHELLE PAN AND JULIETTA, AND I AM ABSTAIN ON IT.
[B.7. Recommend approval to award and execute a construction contract with Matous Construction, Ltd., for the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant Centrifuges project in the amount of $11,136,000 plus a $1,113,600 contingency, for a total contract amount not to exceed $12,249,600. (ETJ)]
LET'S MOVE TO ITEM[00:10:01]
B SEVEN.WE COMMAND APPROVAL TO AWARD N IS CUTE.
A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH MATTEUS CONSTRUCTION LIMITED FOR THE PEN BIOSOLIDS MANAGEMENT PRINT CENTRIFUGE PROJECT IN AMOUNT OF 11 MILLION, $136,000 PROSTATE $1,113,600 CONTINGENCY HAWAII TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED 12 MILLION, $249,600.
AND THE COMMISSIONER PENN IS GOING TO RECUSE ON THIS ITEM AND THEN WORK COMMISSIONER MORIARTY GOT QUESTION THREES.
UM, MY, MY CONCERN WITH THE CONTRACT IS THAT WE ONLY HAD ONE BIDDER, AND I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD TAKE ME THROUGH THE PROCESS, UH, HOW WE ARRIVED AT ONLY ONE BIDDER FOR THE JOB.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIR COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS SHEA RAWLS ROLSON AND I'M ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES.
AND, UH, WE HAVE REPRESENTATION HERE FROM THE PROJECT TEAM, AS WELL AS FROM CAPITAL CONTRACTING OFFICE.
AND SO WE CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS CONTRACT.
UM, THE, THERE WAS A MEMO THAT WAS SENT, UM, BY BLANCA FROM CAPITAL CONTRACTING OFFICE AS WELL.
THAT DESCRIBED THE PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH.
UM, WE, UH, WE CONDUCTED OUTREACH.
WE ADVERTISED THIS PROJECT FOR SIX WEEKS.
WE HAD A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF BITTERS AT PRIME CONTRACTORS AT THE PRE-BID.
UM, AND THE, WHAT WE FOUND, WE DID SOME, UM, A CCO DID SOME OUTREACH AFTER WE ONLY GOT ONE BETTER TO FIND OUT WHY THE BETTERS THAT HAD ATTENDED THE PREBID CHOSE NOT TO BID.
AND WHAT CCO FOUND WAS THAT THE MATERIAL PRICES AND UNPREDICTABILITY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN WERE DRIVING HIGHER PRICES AND LOWER PARTICIPATION OF THE BITTERS.
IN ADDITION, THIS IS A HIGHLY COMPLEX PROJECT AT, UH, TO REPLACE THE CENTRIFUGES AT THE HORNSBY BEND, UH, BIOSOLIDS MANAGEMENT PLANTS.
AND IT'S THE SECOND PHASE OF THIS PROJECT, WHICH WILL COMPLETE THAT WORK.
THE BIDDER THAT THAT DID BID, UM, DID THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS PROJECT AND IS HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CITY'S SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTING DOCUMENTS.
SO, UM, CCOS ANALYSIS FOUND, AND WE'LL, WE CAN LET, UM, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, CYNTHIA GONZALEZ SPEAK FOR CCO, BUT THERE, THE MEMO STATES THAT THEY FOUND THAT THIS WAS A RESPONSIVE BITTER, AND THAT THERE WAS NOT JUSTIFICATION FOR REBIDDING IT IN PART, BECAUSE THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY TO REPACKAGE THIS PROJECT TO MAKE IT DIFFERENT, THAT WOULD RESULT IN A DIFFERENT OUTCOME.
SO, AND IN ANY INSTANCE, WHEN WE HAVE ONLY ONE BIDDER AND THE MATTER THAT THE PROJECT, UH, WE HAVE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER WE WANT TO REJECT THE BID OR MOVE FORWARD.
WHEN, WHEN WE ASKED A LOT APARTMENT ABOUT THAT, THEY HAVE ADVISED US THAT IN ORDER TO CHANGE IN ORDER TO REJECT THE BID AND, AND REBID IT, WE SHOULD HAVE A, WE SHOULD REPACKAGE IT SOME WAY SO THAT IT WON'T RESULT IN, IN THE SAME, HAVE THE SAME RESULT, BASICALLY.
AND WE HAVE A GOOD REASON FOR REJECTION, FOR REJECTING THE BIT CONTRACTORS THAT SUBMIT BEDS.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO DO IT.
AND SO IF WE REJECT THE BID WITHOUT RE WITHOUT REASON I'M REPACKAGING IT SO THAT IT CHANGES, IT, IT CHANGES THE, THE RESULT.
THEN WE COULD LOSE BITTERS AND WE JUST HAD ONE BIDDER ON THIS.
SO THAT IS ANOTHER REASON WHY WE, WE, IF THE, IF THE, THE BIDDER IS A, A, A RESPONSIBLE, RESPONSIVE BID, THEN WE CHOOSE TO, IN MOST CASES NOT REJECT IT.
UM, THE WAY THE BID IS RENDERED AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE CONTRACTOR BRINGS IN ELO ENVELOPE TO A CERTAIN LOCATION AT THE CITY AT A CERTAIN TIME.
ACTUALLY, WE GET MOST OUR BEDS ELECTRONICALLY NOW, BUT WE DO REQUIRE THAT THEY, THEY GET TO US BY A CERTAIN TIME.
SO YOU CAN SEND IT BY EMAIL OR ELECTRONICALLY,
[00:15:01]
OR YOU CAN HAND IT IN EITHER WAY, EITHER WAY.DO YOU THINK THAT THE INDIVID, THE COMPANY THAT WAS THE ONLY BIDDER, DID THEY KNOW THEY WERE THE ONLY BIDDER AT THE TIME THEY RENDERED THEIR BID? NO, THEY HAVE THIS ALL DONE CONFIDENTIALLY, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW FOR SURE THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW.
WELL, IF THEY TURNED IT DOWN IN PERSON THAT COULD PROBABLY SEE SOMEBODY ELSE TURNING ONE IN AT THE SAME TIME.
BUT I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION.
DID THEY TURN IT IN, IN PERSON? NO.
THEY TURNED IT IN ELECTRONICALLY.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME THEY TURNED IT IN COMPARED TO THE, NO, I DON'T.
I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION WITH ME, BUT YOU DON'T THINK THEY KNEW THEY WERE THE ONLY BIDDER? I DON'T THINK THEY KNEW THAT.
NO, BUT YOU CAN'T BE SURE CAN'T BE SURE.
I MEAN, THEY, I IMAGINE THEY, THEY TALK THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THE EQUIPMENT VENDORS THAT ARE GIVING PRICES, WE'LL TELL THEM WHO ELSE THEY'RE GIVING PRICES TO.
SO THEY PROBABLY KNOW GOING IN THEY'RE THE ONLY BIDDER.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN ASSUME THAT THERE WERE FIVE PRIME CONTRACTORS AT THE PRE-BID.
I THINK THEY, I THINK ANY CONTRACTOR WHO WAS BIDDING WOULD HAVE, EVEN IF THEY'RE TALKING TO OTHERS AND TO THEIR SUPPLIERS, THEY THERE, THEY HAVE NO WAY TO KNOW IF ONE OF THOSE OTHER FOUR BIDDERS WILL BED.
DO YOU GUYS THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM HAVING ONE BIDDER? WE PREFER MORE BIDDERS OF COURSE, BECAUSE OF COMPETITION.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS FINDING WAYS TO, TO INCREASE BIDDERS BY DOING AN EVENT, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE MEMO WE SENT.
UM, BUT THERE'S, I MEAN, AND WE, WE WERE ACTUALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAD FIVE THAT SHOWED UP AT THE PRE-BID.
UM, SO WE WERE KIND OF, WE'RE DISAPPOINTED WHEN WE ONLY RECEIVED ONE.
AND JUST SO I KIND OF UNDERSTAND THIS IN MY MIND, YOU INTERVIEWED THE FOUR THAT DIDN'T BID AFTERWARDS.
WE ASKED ALL OF THEM THREE RESPONDED.
SO YOU SENT THEM A SURVEY OR SOMETHING.
HOW DID YOU, HOW DID YOU GET THAT DONE BY EMAIL? SEND HIM AN EMAIL AND SAID, WHY DIDN'T YOU BID? YES.
AND THE THREE HAD THE IDENTICAL ANSWER THAT THE PRICES OF THE EQUIPMENT WERE, NO, THERE ARE ANSWERS ARE, OR IN THE MEMO, THEY, THEY VARIED SUMMARIZE THE ANSWERS FOR SURE.
SO ONE OF FLINT COAST SAID WE WERE CONFIDENT IN OUR ABILITY TO PERFORM THE WORK, BUT WE WERE NOT, WE COULD NOT ASSURE WE COULD PROVIDE PERSONNEL THAT MET THE LETTER OF THE QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS.
UH, INTEGRATED WATER SERVICES SAID WE WERE NOT ABLE TO BID PROJECT DUE TO SCHEDULING CONFLICTS WITH OTHER BIDS.
AND ACP LIMITED SAID, WE SPECIALIZE.
I'M GOING TO SUMMARIZE THERE'S IT'S QUITE LONG, BUT YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE MEMO.
BUT ESSENTIALLY WE SPECIALIZE IN WASTEWATER PLANT CONTRACTING.
AND THIS PROJECT WAS IN OUR WHEELHOUSE, BUT DUE TO UPCOMING WORK AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION, UH, WE PASSED, UM, WE WERE UNSURE OF THE TIME AND RESOURCES REQUIRED TO ENSURE WE COMPLIED WITH THE REGULATIONS AUSTIN HAS IN PLACE.
AND WE HAD ANOTHER PROJECT BIDDING AT THE SAME TIME.
UM, GIVEN THERE SEEM TO BE A CONFLICT FOR A COUPLE OF THE BIDDERS WITH THE TIMING OF THE BID, DID YOU CONSIDER SHIFTING THE BID TO A DIFFERENT DAY? IF THEY TELL US IN THE PRE-BID THAT THAT WAS A PROBLEM, WE WOULD HAVE DONE THAT.
AND AT THE PRE-BID THE, YOU ASK PEOPLE THAT QUESTION, DO YOU SAY, HEY, WE'RE BIDDING NEXT WEEK? IS THAT A PROBLEM? IS THERE OTHER BIDS THAT DAY THAT WOULD MAKE THIS IN FEASIBLE FOR YOU? WE DON'T, WE DON'T, UH, TYPICALLY SAY THAT, BUT WE HAVE HAD CONTRACTORS TELL US IT'S NOT A GOOD TIME FOR OUR BINS.
THEY COME TO THE MEETING AND SAY, GEE, IF YOU DID THIS A DIFFERENT DAY, WE'D LOVE TO PUT IN A BID.
AND IF THEY DO THAT, WE DO, NONE OF THESE GUYS SAID THAT, NO, THEY SAID IT AFTERWARDS.
WE ALSO ADVERTISED PER SIX WEEKS, WHICH IS QUITE LONG FOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT.
AND I'M COMING OFF FOR COMMISSIONER MORTY'S, UH, COMMENTS.
I HAVE MORE OF AN OBSERVATION AS OPPOSED TO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, AND REALLY MY, MY COMMENTS ARE GONNA APPLY REALLY TO SEVEN ITEMS, SEVEN, EIGHT, AND NINE.
THESE ARE ALL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS WITH VERY FEW BIDDERS.
UM, SO MY OBSERVATION IS THAT WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A DOUBLE WHAMMY HERE.
UM, ALL THREE OF THOSE CONTRACTS ARE, ARE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATES WERE LOW.
UM, AND I'M NOT THROWING STONES AT THE ENGINEERS,
[00:20:01]
BUT I THINK THE DOUBLE WHAMMY IS THAT, UH, CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS PRICES HAVE GONE UP.AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT WITH COMMISSIONER MAURA, YOU ALREADY HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT AT MULTIPLE MEETINGS, IS, IS OUR LACK OF BITTERS, UH, PARTICULARLY, UM, WHEN ITEMS EIGHT AND NINE.
AND THEN I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SEVEN, WHAT ON EIGHT AND NINE, THAT'S A LIFT STATION AND A PIPELINE CONTRACT.
THE DOLLAR VALUE OF THOSE TWO CONTRACTS IS IN THE RANGE THAT A LOT OF LOCAL CONTRACTORS CAN HANDLE THAT SCOPE OF WORK.
AND IN THE PAST IT SEEMED LIKE WE WOULD GENERALLY SEE ANYWHERE FROM SAY FIVE TO 10 BIDDERS ON THOSE SCOPES OF WORK.
UH, AND SO IT, I THINK IT KIND OF GOES BACK TO COMMISSIONER MORIARTY'S.
I KNOW HE'S BEEN MENTIONING, UM, A LOT OF BRINGING UP THE FACT THAT A LOT OF OUR CONTRACTS WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE BITTER THE PAST YEAR OR TWO.
AND, UH, I THINK FOR ME, THIS REALLY HIGHLIGHTS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE DO TRY TO GET MORE BIDDERS.
UM, OUR ENGINEER'S ESTIMATES ARE LOW.
UM, AND, UH, I KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF OTHER LIFT STATION PIPELINE AND FACILITY CONTRACTS STILL TO COME.
UH, WHAT'S TROUBLING IS THAT ALL OF THE LOCAL PIPELINE LIFT STATION TYPE CONTRACTORS THAT WE GENERALLY SEE ON THESE CONTRACTS, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S BEEN SOME CONSOLIDATION THERE'S FEWER IN THE MARKET, OR THERE REALLY ARE THAT BUSY.
AND JUST GENERALLY DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO BID ON THESE CONTRACTS EITHER WAY.
UH, I KNOW IT IMPACTS THE BOTTOM LINE ON RCIP SPENDING, UM, WHEN WE'RE, UH, ABOVE OUR ESTIMATES AND WHERE WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE WITH THESE PROJECTS.
SO, UH, AGAIN, THAT, THAT'S MY COMMENT, UH, UM, FEW BIDS, RISING MATERIALS COSTS, RISING LABOR COSTS, NOT A GOOD RECIPE, LOOKING AHEAD TO OTHER PIPELINE, LIFT STATION AND FACILITY CONTRACTS COMING UP.
AND, UM, WE'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT, UH, CCO DID REACH OUT TO, UM, OTHER MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS IN TEXAS, SAN ANTONIO, UH, FORT WORTH AND HOUSTON, AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A CONSISTENT ISSUE, UH, ACROSS THE STATE.
UM, THERE'S ALSO A NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT, THAT WE ARE ENGAGING IN THAT ARE, THAT ARE DETAILED IN THE MEMO.
UM, LONGER ADVERTISING PERIODS.
IF WE DON'T GET GOOD ATTENDANCE AT THE PRE-BID PROACTIVELY REACHING OUT TO CONTRACTORS, UM, AND HOLDING CONTRACTOR OUTREACH EVENTS.
WE HAD AN AUSTIN WATER SPECIFIC OUTREACH EVENT IN NOVEMBER, AND I THINK WE HAD A 34 ATTENDEES, UM, WHICH LOOKS LIKE IT REPRESENTED 20 POTENTIAL GENERAL CONTRACTORS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THOSE OUTREACH EVENTS, UM, AND DO THE, AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO ENCOURAGE BETTERS.
WE DID RECENTLY OPEN A BID WHERE WE ONLY HAD ONE BETTER AND IT WAS QUITE HIGH AND WE'VE REJECTED THAT ONE AND ARE GOING BACK AND REPACKAGING THAT PROJECT TO TRY TO MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO USE ALL THE TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX.
YOU, I GOT A ONE CURIOUS QUESTION ON THIS, UH, HANS-PETER INPUT CHECKED.
WHAT'S THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE, THE ENGINEERS, UH, OPINION OF PROBABLE CONSTRUCTION COST WAS $8,538,059.
SO DOES BASICALLY BASE SPEED IS ABOUT $1.5 MILLION HIGH.
GOOD IN THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE.
YEAH, I THINK IT'S ABOUT TWO AND A HALF, 2.5.
OH, THAT'S THAT? THAT'S, THAT IS NOT NOTHING GOOD CONCERN BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THE ENGINEERS ESTIMATE TEND TO, DID NOT CATCH UP WITH THE MARKET SITUATION, BUT ON THE SAME TOKEN, THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO EDUCATE OURSELVES OR, YOU KNOW, PUTTING OUR ATTENTION THAT IF THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE IS WAY TOO LOW COMPARED TO THE MARKET, THEN WE NEED TO CONSIDER REPEAT IT OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER NECESSARY.
COMMISSIONER MANIETTA YOU GOT A MORE QUESTION.
UM, SO THIS ONE WAS 3 MILLION OVER THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE, THE MATTOO STEEL, UH, I THINK, UH, ALL TOGETHER, IT WAS ABOUT 2.6 OVER.
[00:25:01]
I THINK IT WAS THE PROJECT THAT YOU THREW THE BID OUT.HOW MUCH HIGHER THAN THE ESTIMATE WAS THAT I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T GET THE, YEAH, I KNOW, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER HOW MUCH IT WAS TWICE.
THAT WAS TWICE THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE.
WELL, YEAH, THAT, THAT, UM, I'M JUST GONNA SAY MY PEACE.
AND I, I WILL SAY SOMETHING ELSE.
THE CONTRACTORS KNOW THEY'RE THE ONLY BIDDER AND, UH, ACTUALLY THIS MATUSE GUY WAS PROBABLY PRETTY NICE TO YOU.
HE COULD ABSOLUTELY TORE YOU APART.
SO I, UH, I'M GLAD YOU'RE TAKING MEASURES.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE LOOKING AFTER THIS.
UH, I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAVE A POLICY THAT THEY DON'T MOVE ANYTHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE THREE BIDDERS.
AND I KNOW YOU, THAT'S HARD FOR YOU.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE MORE TIME AND IT'S ALL THAT STUFF, BUT MAYBE THERE'S A WAYS TO, TO DO MORE BECAUSE, UH, I HATE SOUNDING LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, BUT I'M JUST VERY WORRIED ABOUT THIS, BUT, UH, I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING YOUR BEST.
WE ARE VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT ALL OF OUR BEDS AND TRYING TO MAKE A GOOD DECISION AROUND WHAT TO DO WHEN WE GET A SINGLE BETTER.
SO, UM, WHILE STILL MEETING THE CITY'S, UM, LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS AND, UM, CHAIRMAN LEE, I DID, UH, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING UP THE COST ESTIMATES.
UM, IT HAS, WE HAVE REALIZED ALSO THAT OUR OPINIONS OF COST CAN GET A LITTLE DATED FROM THE TIME WE FINISHED THE PLANS UNTIL WE BID DUE TO GOING THROUGH PERMITTING AND OTHER OTHER REVIEWS.
AND SO WE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH CCO, THE NEED TO UPDATE THOSE OPINIONS OF COSTS, UM, CLOSER TO BEDTIME.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER, THAT'S ANOTHER, UM, IMPROVEMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING.
IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA THAT WHEN YOU GET TO A 90% COMPLETION OF THE PRINTS, YOU KNOW, SO THE STATE WITH POTENTIAL PETER SAY, HEY, THIS IS MY ESTIMATE.
DO YOU THINK THAT'S, THAT'S A REASONABLE AND MY TURO ON AM I TOO HIGH IS AS A SECOND OPINION.
I THINK THAT THAT ALSO HELPED THEM TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU, IF YOU CHANGE THESE TO ABC PLAN OR YOUR CHANGE TO SOME ARRANGEMENT IN ORDER, PRICE CAN BE IT, OR, OR THE, THE DECK TIME WILL BE SHORTER BECAUSE THE ITEM, THE ITEM YOU SPECIFIED, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES EIGHT MONTHS TO GET IT OR WHATEVER ARE ALL.
WHAT ABOUT ALSO, I THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IF WE CAN GET, INSTEAD OF A BIG CHUNK PACKAGE, WE NEED, IF WE CAN SPLIT IT INTO EXPERTISE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT WE, YOU CAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE PAY FOR THE OVERHEAD OF A GENERAL CONTRACTOR.
THE OTHER THING IS WE, IF WE PACKAGE THEN BY THE, BY THE EXPERTISE OR SPECIALTIES AND THE PRICE, WOULDN'T BE MAYBE PAINTER, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE WE TALK ABOUT IT, THE PLUMBING REPAIR REPAIR, WHY YOU NEED THIS $37 MILLION CONTRACT, CAN YOU SPLIT THEM TO SMALL, DIFFERENT PACKAGES, $1 MILLION FOR A PROGRAMMING COMPANY TO IT, WHY WE NEED TO PICK COMPANIES TO DO THAT? I MEAN, THERE IS NO INTERGRADATION.
THE PROBLEM IN HERE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OTHER ONE.
IF IT'S A CITY WIDE INTERNET SERVICES ASSUMPTION, I CAN SEE THE INTEGRATION BETWEEN THEM, BUT WHAT A BEAUTY IN ITSELF, A PRIMARY REPAIR IS INDEPENDENT.
YOU REALLY NEED ONLY TO PACKAGE THERE.
NOW IT'S MUCH EASIER FOR THE MANAGING DEPARTMENT TO HAVE ONLY ONE COUNTRY TO COUNTRY, TO, TO MANAGE IT, WHICH IS WE CAN UNDERSTAND IT, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC'S MONEY SPENT, I THINK THAT WILL BE BETTER TO HAVE A DOG SMALL PACKAGES FOR THE TWO IN COTTAGE, SMALL, LOCAL CONTRACTORS TO DO A JOB.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE STUFF? IF NO, WE ARE IN, IN THE 10 MOTION CHAIR, I MOVED TO APPROVE MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER MICHELLE AND, AND I LIKED THE SECOND, SECOND BY VICE CHAIR, KESSEL PERIOD.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND SHOWING COMMISSIONER SCHOOL.
MY STAIRCASE PERRY LEE, MICHELLE, AND TO CREATOR FALL AND COMMISSIONER PENN RECUSE AND COMMISSIONER .
COMMISSIONER MORIARTY, NO COMMISSIONER PENN ABSTAINED THAT RACIST.
NOW WE MOVE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY SHAME.
[00:30:01]
WILLIAMS, UH, CANNOT ATTEND TODAY'S MEETING.SHE WON FOR THE JONES SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REPORT, AND THEN THERE IS NO MEETING ON AUSTIN INTEGRATE OR THE TASK FORCE, OR YOU GOT ONE.
[C.2. Update from the Austin Integrated Water Task Force]
OKAY.UM, AS OUR CHAIRMAN REPORTED LAST YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, WE WERE, UH, SCHEDULED TO HAVE OUR WATER FORWARD MEETING.
AND I BELIEVE WE'VE NOT HAD A MEETING SINCE SEPTEMBER AND, UH, IT WAS QUITE SUDDENLY CANCELED AND I'M NOT SURE I KNOW THE EXACT REASON, BUT I THINK PART OF IT IS, UH, COVID ISSUES WITH PEOPLE AND STUFF.
AND, BUT WHATEVER IT IS, I MEAN, UH, IT'S NOT, NOT A HORRIBLE THING, BUT SO MY REPORT, I CAN GO BACK TO THE SEPTEMBER MEETING AND I SHOULD SAY THAT MERISSA WHO I SENT AN EMAIL TO YESTERDAY.
AND I SAID, COULD YOU GIVE ME SOME BULLETS SO I COULD, UH, GIVE A REPORT? OH, MAYBE KEVIN'S GOING TO GIVE THE REPORT CAUSE HE, UH, I'LL GIVE IT AN AND YOU CLEANED IT UP.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO KIND OF KEEP EVERYBODY INFORMED.
UM, SO MARISSA SENT ME THIS EMAIL, WHICH MANY OF THESE THINGS I KNOW ABOUT, BUT I JUST DON'T REMEMBER HIM VERY WELL.
BUT ANYWAYS, THE FIRST ONE IS THE STAFF PROVIDED A WATER SUPPLY OUTLOOK AND AN OVERVIEW OF WATER FORWARD 2018 IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS.
AND WHAT THAT IS IS WE'RE TAKING THE ORIGINAL BUTTER FORWARD STUDY AND IT'S BEING UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS.
SO TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO START A COUPLE YEARS.
SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU GET THE STUDY DONE AND THEN YOU'RE BACK INTO IT.
SO THEY GAVE A REPORT ON, UH, SO THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT UPDATING THE PLAN.
AND I THINK THE, WHAT I EXPECT IS THAT THE CITY WILL TAKE A LARGER ROLE IN THE UPDATE THAN THE FIRST REPORT, BECAUSE WE HAD THE ENGINEERING FROM CDM WHO DID SOME OF THE WORK AND WORK, BUT I THINK WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TIME IS THE, IS GOING TO TAKE MORE OF THE LEAD AND USE INDIVIDUAL LITTLE CONTRACTS FOR SUPPORT.
UM, AND THE BIG THING IS, UH, I KNOW THEY'RE WORKING SERIOUSLY ON THE AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY PILOT SURVEY, AND THEY HAVE A VERY TOP-NOTCH GROUP, UH, ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS THAT ARE WORKING ON THAT.
AND WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF MEETINGS WITH THEM AND THEY SEEM TO REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN MY OPINION, AND THEY'RE STUDYING DIFFERENT PLACES TO DO THIS AND HOW TO DO IT.
AND WE WE'VE TALKED IN THE, UH, WATER DEPARTMENT HAS BROUGHT IN, AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, UH, PEOPLE FROM OTHER UTILITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
AND A COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR WE'VE HAD VIRTUAL MEETINGS.
ACTUALLY, WE STARTED, WE ACTUALLY HAD IN-PERSON MEETINGS WHERE PEOPLE FROM FLORIDA AND, UH, OTHER PLACES FLEW INTO AUSTIN AND, UH, WERE AROUND THE TABLE AND THEY'RE HELPING AND PROVIDING SUGGESTIONS AND GUIDANCE.
UM, SO, AND THEN ANOTHER THING WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS AS THE WATER FORWARD PRO PROCESS HAS GONE ALONG, WE'VE CREATED A LOT OF SUBCOMMITTEES AND WE'RE TRYING TO CONSOLIDATE THOSE INTO FEWER COMMITTEES AND TRY TO HAVE FEWER MEETINGS ON EVERY LITTLE THING SO THAT THE STAFF WERE NOT EATING UP THEIR TIME FOR MAKING POWERPOINTS AND DOING ALL THIS STUFF.
SO I THINK THAT'S GOING ALONG, BUT KEVIN, PLEASE SUPPLEMENT THAT.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WAS THE GREATEST, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, REAL-TIME, WHAT'S GOING ON.
KEVIN CRITTENDON ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, AUSTIN WATER, ACTUALLY, HE DID GREAT.
UM, I WOULD SAY, UM, JUST TO THE FIRST POINT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE WERE OBVIOUSLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING STARTED THIS YEAR WITH OUR FIRST MEETING.
UM, DID HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, ON EXPECTED STAFF, UM, ISSUES.
SO EVERYBODY'S HEALTHY AND FINE.
IT'S JUST, UNFORTUNATELY KIND OF AT THE TIMES THAT WE'RE IN.
SO WE'RE LOOKING TO RESCHEDULE OTHERWISE.
UM, I THINK YOU HIT ALL THE POINTS.
IT WAS A BIT OF A, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST EXCITED TO START IN 2022.
WE WILL BE VERY BUSY CAUSE WE'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE OUR, UM, IMPLEMENTATION OF WATERFORD 2018 AND THEN MOVED TO STARTING TO UPDATE WATERFORD 24.
AND AS, UH, THE COMMISSIONER INDICATED, UM, KNOW WE ARE ADJUSTING OUR SCHEDULES SOMEWHAT TO TRY TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THOSE THINGS AND HAVE APPROPRIATE INVOLVEMENT, UM, BY OUR VARIOUS STAFF, UH, AND TASK FORCE MEMBERS.
SO THAT WOULD BE ALL I WOULD ADD.
[00:35:01]
HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK, BUT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.I KNOW IN DECEMBER WE PASSED THE WATER CONSERVATION ORDINANCE THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE ANY DEVELOPMENT OF A QUARTER MILLION SQUARE FEET TO, IF IT'S WITHIN 500 FEET OF A PURPLE PIPE, THEY'VE GOT TO HOOK HOOKUP AND THEY ALSO HAVE TO DO DUAL PIPING, ET CETERA.
AND HAVE YOU HAD ANY, I REALIZED THIS IS THIS JUST STARTED, BUT HAS HAVE ANY DEVELOPMENT SUBMITTALS COME IN, UH, WITH THOSE RULES BEING, UH, LOOKED AT, NOT AT THIS POINT, NEXT QUESTION IS THAT AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN SITE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THERE, WILL THEY BE FORCED TO DO THE WATER CONSERVATION STUFF? SO GENERALLY SPEAKING, UM, THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES.
UM, THE COMPLEXITY IS, YOU KNOW, THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT IS VERY COMPLEX AND COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT SCHEME.
AND SO PART OF IT RELATES EXPLICITLY TO THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN TRACK, BUT THAT PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT EXTENDS BEYOND THAT.
AND SO RIGHT NOW THERE'S A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT, UM, DEVELOPMENT TYPES BEING IMAGINED AND DISCUSS.
SO RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF VERY SPECIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING WHERE, SO AS THE PROCESS GOES ALONG, WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRACK IT AND DEAL WITH IT IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
BUT AT THIS POINT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, OUR WATER FORWARD, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, ON-SITE REUSE REQUIREMENTS FOR, UH, BUILDINGS OVER 250,000 SQUARE FEET.
SO YES, THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED.
UM, THERE MAY BE SOME DETAIL I, YOU KNOW, AROUND VESTED RIGHTS.
SO WE HAVEN'T KIND OF GOTTEN INTO THAT CAUSE WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN AN APPLICATION THAT MAY BE RELATED TO, UM, PRIOR VESTING THAT MAY ONLY APPLY OLDER ORDINANCES TO THAT SPECIFIC SITE.
SO AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW, I GUESS, AND I'M GOING TO MAKE A SUGGESTION AND I'LL QUICKLY ADMIT, I DIDN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THIS, BUT SINCE THE CITY'S CONSIDERED CONSIDERING GIVING THEM THAT $275 MILLION BREAK, I MEAN, ISN'T THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE DEVELOPER TO GET THEM TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.
SO AGAIN, IN THE CONTEXT OF BROADER CONCESSIONS FOR THE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, THERE HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS AROUND, YOU KNOW, UM, ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERIORITY REQUIREMENTS.
AND SO THAT'S IN THE MIX AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF SUSTAINABLE WATER DEVELOPMENT.
UM, SO I, AGAIN, UNTIL WE START TO SEE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE PLANS BEING, YOU KNOW, UM, FINALIZED, YOU KNOW, WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL ACTUAL BUILDINGS BECOME, UH, COME FORWARD FOR, FOR ACTUAL SITE DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING AND PERMITTING, I GUESS WITH THAT DEAL, THEY DON'T KNOW THEY'RE GETTING THE 275 MILLION.
SO THEY MAY JUST, THEY CLEARLY CAN'T GO VERY FAR UNTIL THEY GET THAT IRONED OUT, RIGHT.
AND WHEN YOU GET INTO THE WORLD OF, UH, YOU KNOW, CONCESSIONS AROUND PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT COME ON THE TABLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, HAS TO KIND OF THROUGH, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE CITY'S PRIORITIES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ALWAYS ONE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE TYPICALLY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND CAN PROVIDE OUR INPUT AND TRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN.
AND, UM, YEAH, I WOULD SAY GENERALLY SPEAKING, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CITY AS A WHOLE IS SUPPORTIVE OF WATERFORD AND SUSTAINABLE WATER INITIATIVES.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME GOOD PARTNERSHIPS.
[D.1. Discussion of administrative matters. ]
LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM D ONE DISCUSSION OF ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.UH, COMMISSIONER GOT ANY ITEMS NEED TO DISCUSS HOUSEKEEPING.
UH, ONLY SHE AND I WANTED TO DISCUSS IS WE GOT TWO VACANCIES RIGHT NOW.
SO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THE MEETINGS THAT, UH, MS BARRANCA KNOW IN ADVANCE, SO WE MAKE SURE THAT ALL HAVE A QUORUM.
I WAS GOING TO MENTION SOMETHING AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THIS ROOM FOR A YEAR.
IS THAT TRUE? DO WE ALL KNOW THAT? OKAY.
[E. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
WE WILL MOVE ON TO E ONE[00:40:01]
DISCUSSION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. UH, WE HAVE ONE ITEM, NOT A COMMISSIONER MONYETTE HE PROPOSED TO HAVE A STAFF REPORT ON THE STRATEGY ON UPRISING AND THE SECURITY IN FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING POGROMS. AND THAT WILL BE PRESENTED IN THE NEXT MONTH.FEBRUARY IS A MEETING COMMISSIONER.
HAVE ANY ITEMS THAT WANT TO BE POSTS? CONSIDER IF NOT, WELL, ANYTIME YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS, YOU JUST NEED TO POSTPONE PROPOSALS AND HAVE A SEC A CO-SPONSOR OF THE ITEM, AND THEN WE'LL PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.
AND, UH, THE STAFF WILL MAKE PRESENTATION WHEN THEY GET THEIR INFORMATION AND A SCHEDULED IN ON IT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YEAH, THERE IS NO CLOCK IN THE NO CLOCK TIME.
THIS, UH, COMMISSIONERS AND STUFF GOT ANY QUESTIONS ON IT.
IF NOT THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED, IT'S 6 41.