* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:07] OKAY, IT'S 6 0 2, [CALL TO ORDER] AND WE WILL START THE REGULAR MEETING FOR THE WESTWATER COMMISSION. AND LO NOW IS 6 0 3, AND WE HAVE COMMISSIONER MONTI JOINED US BY REMOTE, AND WE GOT COMMISSIONER PAN NARO, SHIRLEY BERRY, MASS GROVE, UH, MAX WILLIAMS, AND TO THE IN PERSON PRESENT. AND BEFORE WE START THE MEETING, WE GOT A NEW COMMISSION MEMBERS, UM, MR. KRISTA FOR MAXWELL, UH, WELCOME BOARD. AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, GIVE US, UH, BRIEFING. INTRODUCE YOURSELF, PLEASE. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, OUR, UH, WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR, UM, I GUESS TO, UH, UH, MAYOR PROTE ELLIS FOR NOMINATING ME AND ALLOWING ME TO, UM, FILL THIS, UH, UH, POSITION ON THE BOARD, ON THE COMMISSION. AND, UH, MY NAME IS CHRIS MAXWELL GAINES. AND, UH, I WAS, UH, BORN AND RAISED, UH, CENTRAL TEXAS, CAMERON, TEXAS, SMALL TOWN. UH, WENT TO TEXAS A AND M, UM, WITH MY, UH, GOT A CIVIL ENGINEERING DEGREE FROM A AND M, AND, UH, YEAH, I HEARD SOME, WHOOPS, BUT NOT THERE. SO , WHOOP. AND, UM, AFTER, UH, UH, AFTER A AND M, MY WIFE AND I, UH, WE SIGNED UP AND SERVED IN THE PEACE CORPS, UH, FOR TWO YEARS. SO WE'VE SERVED IN SURNAME SOUTH AMERICA. AND, UM, THAT EXPERIENCE REALLY, UH, IMPRINTED ON ME, YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF WATER, OBVIOUSLY COMING FROM A BACKGROUND OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND, AND, UH, CENTRALIZED WATER SYSTEMS GOING TO TWO YEARS WHERE YOU HAD TO COLLECT YOUR RAINWATER, YOU HAD TO WASH YOUR CLOTHES AND YOUR DISHES AND YOURSELF IN THE RIVER, YOU REALLY SOON REALIZE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR IN TERMS OF OUR WATER SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE IN THE UNITED STATES. AND, UH, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF PROTECTING THEM AND UPKEEPING THEM. SO, UM, FROM THAT EXPERIENCE CAME BACK, UM, STARTED AT A SMALL ENGINEERING FIRM HERE IN AUSTIN, AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME DECIDED THAT, UH, MY BUSINESS PARTNER AND I WHO MET IN THE PEACE CORPS, WE DIDN'T WANT IT TO START OUR OWN WATER CONSERVATION BUSINESS. SO, UM, AND AT THAT TIME I WAS, UH, FINISH OR GOING TO UT FOR A GRADUATE DEGREE IN REGIONAL PLANNING. SO A LOT OF STUFF HAPPENING, UH, OVER, AND, UM, THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING FOR YEARS, UH, NOW IN THE AUSTIN AREA. UM, AND SO I FEEL, UM, INVOLVED VERY MUCH IN THE, UH, AUSTIN WATER COMMUNITY, UH, THE AUSTIN WATER SYSTEMS. UM, AND SO, YEAH, THAT'S, UH, UH, ME AND A, AND A QUICK LITTLE BLURB THERE. SO, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELCOME ABOARD. OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. AND THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS SIGN UP. SO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT, WHICH [APPROVAL OF MINUTES] IS TO APPROVE A MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 8TH, 2023 REGULAR MEETING FOR THE WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION. AND COMMISSIONER, YOU CAN STILL VOTE IT, EVEN YOU ARE NOT ATTENDING THE MEETING. SO, UH, COMMISSIONER GOT ANY CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE MINUTES? AND IS THERE A AMENDMENT OR A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION MADE BY VICE CHAIR CASTLE PERRY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MICHELLE O IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. OKAY. SHOWING, UH, PEN, MICHELLE, UH, NUMBER, UH, MAXWELL LEE BERRY MAROVE AND TO, AND, UM, MOTI. SO IT'S APPROVED ANTY. THANK YOU. OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE DISCUSSION [DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL] ITEMS. UH, COMMISSIONERS WILL GO AROUND THE TABLE TO SEE IF WE GOT ANY ITEMS THAT YOU GOT A QUESTION OR NEED TO RECUSE. SO, AND WE'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER PENN. I HAVE, UH, NO QUESTIONS. I DO HAVE A RECUSAL ON ITEM NINE. OUR FIRM IS PERFORMING DRAINAGE DESIGN ON THAT PROJECT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MICHELLE. UH, QUESTION ON NINE, NINE, NO RECUSAL. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER AMARILLO, NO QUESTIONS. NO RECUSALS. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MAXWELL GAINES, NO QUESTIONS. NO RECUSALS. OH, [00:05:01] COMMISSIONER KE, UH, QUESTION? NO, RECUSALS, I DON'T THINK THAT'S GONE, BUT, UH, NO RECUSALS AND QUESTIONS ON ITEMS THREE AND EIGHT. THREE AND EIGHT, OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTION OR RECUSAL . COMMISSIONER MAROVE, NO QUESTIONS. NO RECUSAL. COMMISSIONER TOTA? NO QUESTIONS? NO RECUSAL. COMMISSIONER MOTI QUESTIONS AT FOUR AND 10? OKAY, SO LAB ME, WE CAN HEAR HIM? YES. YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU, COMMISSIONER. OKAY, THANK YOU. SO THE CONSENT ITEMS ARE 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 7. YEAH. 2, 5, 6, 7. AM I CORRECT? OKAY. FOUR QUESTION QUESTION. SO 2 5 67 2 5 67. YEAH, THAT'S IT. SO IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT ITEM 2 56 AND SEVEN? ALL MOVE TO APPROVE MOTION MADE BY VICE CHAIR CAST PERRY? I'LL SECOND. SECOND. MY COMMISSIONER, TERRI. OH, IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND SHOWING O IN APPROVAL. AND COMMISSIONER MOTI ALSO, ALSO IT'S APPROVE ANDRY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, WE WILL [3. Recommend approval to execute a contract for liquid ammonium sulfate with Chemtrade Chemicals US LLC for a term of five years in an amount not to exceed $1,500,000.] MOVE ON TO ITEM THREE AND I'LL READ IT FOR RECORD. RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR LIQUID AMMONIUM SULFATE, WHICH CAN TRADE CHEMICALS US L L C FOR A TERM OF FIVE YEARS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1.5 MILLION. AND I BELIEVE VICE CHAIR, YOU GOT A QUESTION? YES. THANK YOU. UM, I HAD, UH, SENT SOME QUESTIONS IN, AND I KNOW DIDN'T GIVE ENOUGH TIME. UM, BUT BASICALLY, GIVEN THAT THE METRICS DON'T REALLY SUPPORT WHAT THIS IS, CAN WE HAVE THE OPTION, THE COMMISSION UP, THE OPTION OF NOT HOLDING YOU BACK VOTING FOR ONE YEAR, AND, UM, HAVING IT BE REBID RATHER THAN GO THE WHOLE TERM FOR FIVE YEARS AT THAT A HUNDRED PER 180% HIGHER? GO AHEAD. UN UNFORTUNATELY, SORRY. UH, IT'S BEEN A WHILE. JOSEPH GONZALEZ, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OVER FINANCIAL SERVICES. UM, UNFORTUNATELY THE, UH, OUR CENTRAL PURCHASING HAS INFORMED US THAT, THAT IT'S BASICALLY AN ALL OR NOTHING. UM, THE, IT WAS BID AS A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT. AND, AND SO THE OPTIONS ARE TO EITHER RECOMMEND IT AS A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT OR, UM, NOT RECOMMENDED AS, AS A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO BREAK IT UP. SO WHAT HAPPENS IF WE, WE DON'T RECOMMEND IT. I MEAN, I KNOW THERE'S A LITTLE BLURB IN THERE THAT WE NEED, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE NEED THAT. SO WE, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. UM, WELL, IT WOULD, IT WOULD GO FORWARD WITH, WITHOUT THE RECOMMENDATION OF, OF COMMISSION. UM, I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE, UH, ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR ALTERNATE PROCUREMENT OPTIONS. WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH, WITH OTHER, UH, OTHER UTILITIES THAT WE COULD PIGGYBACK OFF OF. UM, BUT, BUT IT IS A, A CRITICAL CHEMICAL AND OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE, THE FIVE YEAR CONTRACT, UM, WHILE WE, UH, YOU KNOW, EVALUATE OTHER OPTIONS. BUT IT WOULD GIVE US SOME PRICE STABILITY AND ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO, TO, TO HAVE THE CHEMICAL AVAILABLE TO US. SO, BUT YOU'RE NOT LOCKED IN FOR THAT FIVE YEARS THOUGH. CAN YOU MAKE A CHANGE AT ANY TIME? WE, IF WE, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE ABLE TO, UM, TO PULL TOGETHER ALTERNATIVE PROCUREMENT OPTIONS, WE COULD MAKE A CHANGE. YES. [00:10:01] OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. MY, OH, I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT, UM, IF WE SEE MARK CONDITION STABILIZE, WE CAN ALSO GO ASK THE, THE SUPPLIER FOR A REDUCTION IN PRICE, THE SAME WAY THEY COME TO ASK US FOR MORE MONEY WHEN PRICES GO UP. SO WE HAVE SOME NEGOTIATING POWER THERE TOO. GREAT. THANK YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTION FOR THE STUFF? I, I GOT A ONE STUPID QUESTION. . WHAT, WHAT IS, UM, B A O S STANDS FOR? LEMME SEE. BS. YEAH. WHAT IS B OS STANDS FOR? BUREAU OF LABOR AND STATISTICS. HMM. BUREAU OF LABOR AND STATISTICS. OH, YEAH. IT'S, IT'S A INFLATIONARY MEASURE, UH, PUT TOGETHER BY THE BUREAU OF LA LABOR AND STATISTICS, UM, YOU KNOW, AT THE COMMODITY LEVEL. SO WE GENERALLY USE THAT AS AN INDICATOR WHETHER, UM, WHETHER, UH, THE INFLATION THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING, UH, YOU KNOW, IT SUPPORTS THE PRICE INCREASES THAT, THAT WE'RE GETTING. AND, AND OFTEN THEY DO, UH, OCCASIONALLY THEY DO NOT. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR THE STAFF? IS THERE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION MADE BY VICE CHAIR CAST PERRY. IS THERE SECOND? SECOND MADE BY COMMISSIONER MICHELLE O IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SHOWING APPROVED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S MOVE TO [4. Recommend approval to negotiate and execute a contract for water loss program review, analysis, and optimization with Black & Veatch Corporation, for a term of one year in an amount not to exceed $200,000.] ITEM NUMBER FOUR. RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR WATER LOSS PROGRAM REVIEW, ANALYSIS AND OPT OPTIMIZATION WITH BLOCK AND WHICH CORPORATION FOR A TERM OF ONE YEAR IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $200,000. AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER MON GOT QUESTION. YES, CHAIR. UM, IS IT OKAY TO ASK MY QUESTION NOW? YES, PLEASE. UH, I WAS GOING TO ASK WHAT EXACTLY WE'RE GONNA DO FOR THIS $200,000? GOOD EVENING, UH, COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS MATT CULLEN, INTERIM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR ENGINEERING AND AUSTIN WATER. UM, SO IT, IT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE TITLE, UH, IS SAYING WE'VE BRINGING IN AN EXPERT TO REVIEW WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW WE'RE MEASURING AND TRACKING WATER LOSS. UH, AND SO THEY'RE GONNA REVIEW EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING, GONNA, UH, YOU KNOW, REQUEST INFORMATION FROM US AND DATA, UH, AND REVIEW OUR PROCESSES FOR BOTH TRACKING AND, AND MINIMIZING WATER LOSS. UM, GONNA COMPARE US TO INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND TO, YOU KNOW, BEST PERFORMING UTILITIES. UH, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN DO TO, UH, IMPROVE AND OF COURSE TELL US, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT, TOO. IS THAT, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR COMMISSIONER MO ALREADY? OR DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? OKAY, I HAVE, I HAVE A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS. OKAY. UH, READING THE BACKUP, IT SOUNDED LIKE THE WATER LOSS PERCENTAGE IS GOING UP. DID I UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECTLY? YES, IN A SENSE. UM, I, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, THE LAST FULL YEAR OF DATA THAT WE HAVE IS 21, AND, AND THE NUMBERS THERE WERE ACTUALLY LOWER THAN THEY WERE IN 20. AND FROM 2015 TO 2021, ABOUT LEVEL, BUT FLUCTUATING YEAR TO YEAR. UH, AND PRIOR TO 2015, THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, UH, AN INCREASE IN, SAY THE, THE FIVE OR SIX YEARS BEFORE THAT. SO YES, THERE HAS BEEN, UH, A SLIGHT INCREASE OVER THE LAST DECADE, UM, AND, AND FLUCTUATING YEAR TO YEAR WITHOUT NECESSARILY PINPOINTING WHY THAT MAY BE. AND SO, WHILE WE PERFORM WELL AND, AND WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD SUGGESTS WE SHOULD BE FOR A UTILITY OF OUR TYPE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE FOUND IT PRUDENT TO, TO HAVE AN EXPERT COME IN AND LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, GIVE US, UH, ANY TIPS OR HELP THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO BE ABLE TO IMPROVE TO, TO MEET OUR WATER FORWARD GOALS, WHICH ARE PRETTY AGGRESSIVE. SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A PROACTIVE THING, NOT A REACTIVE THING. YES. YEAH, I, I'D AGREE WITH THAT. UM, WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT WATER LOSS IN PER, UH, SO I HONESTLY [00:15:01] CAN'T TELL YOU THAT, NOT BECAUSE I'M NOT ALLOWED TO, BUT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT NUMBER. YOU KNOW, THE INDUSTRY IS MOVED AWAY FROM PERCENT, UH, LOSS, UH, FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. YOU KNOW, THE ILI IS INFRASTRUCTURE LEAKAGE INDEX IS THE, UH, INDUSTRY STANDARD. AND SO WHEN I TALKED ABOUT, EXCUSE ME, FROM 2015 TO 2021 BEING ESSENTIALLY LEVEL, THAT WAS ILI, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. I JUST LOOKED AT IT, 20, UH, 15 WAS 3.88. 2021 WAS 3.86. LOWER NUMBERS BEING BETTER. UM, SO I, I DON'T WANNA DANCE AROUND YOUR QUESTION, BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER IN MY HEAD AS A PERCENTAGE, CUZ THAT'S THE, YOU KNOW, A W A ALL THE IN INDUSTRY WOULD SAY THAT'S, UH, NOT A GOOD THING TO, TO REFER TO. I, I, I, I'M JUST MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE PERCENTAGE AND, UM, BUT I, AND, UH, YOU'VE GOTTA DO WHAT THE INDUSTRY REQUIREMENTS ARE. OKAY. I, I THINK I'M, UH, I'M GOOD WITH THIS. I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHY WE'RE SUDDENLY DOING THIS, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE TAKING A PROACTIVE STEP TO KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS AND BRING IN SOME BEST INDUSTRY, UH, GUIDANCE. AND I THINK THAT'S QUITE GOOD. SO I'M GONNA SUPPORT THIS ISSUE. CHAIR LEE, I'VE COMPLETED MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOTI. IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE STAFF? WELL, I GOT ONE QUESTION. WHY THIS PROJECT IS, UH, GOES THROUGH PROCUREMENT AS A R FP, NOT A RFQ. I THOUGHT THIS REQUIRES SOME ENGINEERING AND THE TECHNICAL, UH, EXPERTISE ON IT. SO A LOT OF THE, THE INDUSTRY LEADERS IN WATER LOSS THERE, THERE CERTAINLY ARE ENGINEERS INVOLVED, BUT NOT NECESSARILY. UM, AND SO WE WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE EVERYONE WHO'S INVOLVED AND, AND THE EXPERTS WHO HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN DOING THIS WORK HAVE THE AVAILABILITY OF, OF DOING THE WORK. AND SO THIS APPROACH, UH, YOU KNOW, ALLOWED, UH, ALLOWED THAT FOR RESPONSES. SO THE, SO THE PRICE WAS SPINNING ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE QUALIFICATION POST OUR SET QUALIFICATION PROCESS, PROCUREMENT PROCESS? YES. AND I DON'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THE PERCENTAGE, BUT, BUT THERE WAS, UH, A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF THE, UM, UH, WAS PRICE. UM, BUT I WILL SAY, AND, AND WE HAD THREE RESPONDENTS AND ALL WERE VERY, VERY GOOD, UM, UH, RESPONDENTS. WE FELT LIKE ALL THREE OF 'EM COULD, UH, PROVIDE GOOD INFORMATION FOR US. OKAY. THANK YOU. MM-HMM. , ANY MORE QUESTIONS? UH, CHAIR. I WAS, I'M SORRY, I FORGOT TO ASK SOMETHING. CAN I GET A COPY OF THIS REPORT? THEY'RE GONNA WRITE A REPORT AND WHEN WILL THE REPORT BE DONE? SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE DONE HERE, WE GO TO COUNSEL AND, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, GET THE CONTRACT GOING AND EVERYTHING. SO, UM, AND DO YOU REMEMBER SIX TO NINE MONTHS? YEAH, IT'S, IT'S PROBABLY SIX TO NINE MONTHS. IT'S PROBABLY THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS FALL INTO EARLY WINTER. BEFORE WE HAVE A FINAL REPORT, COULD I GET A COPY OF THE REPORT WHEN IT'S DONE? I, I BELIEVE SO. I, I THINK WE CAN, WE'LL BE SHARING THAT WITH THE COMMISSION, . FAIR ENOUGH. THANKS. THANK YOU. ANY MORE QUESTIONS? IF NOT, WE'LL ATTEND. MOTION. AYE. MOTION, MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER TOTA. I'LL SECOND. SECOND. BYE-BYE. CHAIR CASTLE CASTLEBERRY. OH, IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND SHOWING APPROVAL AND MSK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE ON [8. Recommend approval to execute a contract for liquid sulfur dioxide with DXI Industries Inc. for a term of five years in an amount not to exceed $4,240,000.] TO ITEM EIGHT, RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR LIQUID. SO FOR DIOXIDE WITH DXI INDUSTRIES INC. FOR A TERM OF FIVE YEARS IN THAT AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED $4,240,000. AND I BELIEVE VICE CHAIR CASE MEDICAL QUESTION, MY APOLOGIES FOR MAKING YOU COME TO THE TABLE AGAIN. UM, I, THE, IT'S THE EXACT SAME QUESTION THAT WAS ANSWERED FOR ITEM THREE. SO I NO LONGER HAVE A QUESTION. THANK YOU. COMMISSION HAS GOT ANY OTHER QUESTION FOR THE STAFF. IF NOT, WE WILL ENTERTAIN MOTION. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE MOTION MADE BY VICE CHAIR CASA PERRY AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MICHELLE. OH, IN FAVOR, [00:20:01] PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND SHOWING APPROVE AND ANALYSIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW LET'S MOVE TO [9. Recommend approval to award and execute a construction contract with MA Smith Contracting Co., Inc., for the Burnet Road Corridor – AE Kramer Site Drainage project in the amount of $12,088,426.75 plus a $1,813,264.01 contingency, for a total contract amount not to exceed $13,901,690.76. ] ITEM NUMBER NINE. RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO AWARD AND EXECUTE A CONTRACTION CONTRACT WITH MS. MIS CONTRACTING COMPANY, INC. FOR THE BURNETT ROAD CORRIDOR. AE KRAMER SIZE DRAINAGE PROJECT IN A MONTH OF $12,088,426 AND 75 CENTS, PLUS A $1,813,264 AND ONE PENNY CONTINGENCY FOR A TOTAL COUNTRY AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $30,901,690 AND 76 CENTS. WELL, MY UNDERSTANDING IS COMMISSIONER PEN, GOING TO RECUSE IT AND COMMISSIONER MICHELLE GOT A QUESTION, PLEASE? YES. THANK YOU, CHAIR. UH, GOOD EVENING, KEVIN. UH, WE'VE GOT 15% CONTINGENCY SET ASIDE ON, ON THIS CONTRACT. AND I KNOW IN THE BACKUP IT SAYS, UM, YOU KNOW, DUE TO UNFORESEEN CONDITIONS OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, I WAS CURIOUS IF THERE WAS ANYTHING SPECIFIC ON THIS PROJECT THAT WE WERE, ANY FORESEEN, UNFORESEEN CONDITIONS WE MIGHT BE EXPECTING ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. YEAH, KEVIN KOHLER, UH, DIVISION MANAGER FOR PIPELINE C I P DELIVERY. UM, THE CONTINGENCY WAS SET BY THE CORRIDOR PROGRAM AND, BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL CONTINGENCY. AUSTIN WATER'S PORTION OF THIS IS A VERY SMALL SECTION OF WASTEWATER PIPE THAT WE'RE, UH, IMPROVING. GOTCHA. UM, BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD REQUIRE OKAY. WITH CONTINGENCY. THANKS, CHAIR. I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. ANY MORE QUESTION BOARD OF STUFF? IF NOT, WE WILL IN THE 10 MOTION I MOVE TO APPROVE I'LL SECOND. MOTION, MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER MICHELLE AND SECOND BY VICE CHAIR CASE PERRY. OH, IN WEBER, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND SHOWING ALL, UH, UNANIMOUSLY APPROVAL EXCEPT COMMISSIONER PEN RECUSED ON ITEM. LET'S MOVE ON TO [10. Recommend approval to amend two contracts for continued Advanced Meter Infrastructure systems, including meters, meter installation, a data platform, and customer portal, with Meter Reading Holding, LLC dba Aclara Technologies, LLC or Aclara Smart Grid Solutions, LLC and Vertex U.S. Holdings, Inc. dba VertexOne Software LLC or Watersmart Software Inc, for an increase in the amount of $7,934,000 for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $103,000,000, divided between the contractors.] ITEM 10. RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO AMEND TWO CONTRACTS FOR CONTINUED AND ADVANCED METER INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS, INCLUDING METERS METER INSTALLATION DATA PLATFORM, AND THE CUSTOMER PROTOCOL WITH METER READING HOLDING L L C D B ARA TECHNOLOGIES, L L C OR ACCRA, SMART GRID SOLUTIONS, L L C AND VERTEX US HOLDINGS, INC. D B A VERTEX ONE SOFTWARE, L L C OR WATER SMART SOFTWARE INC. FOR AN INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF $7,934,000 FOR A DEVICE, TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $103 MILLION DIVIDED BETWEEN THE CONTRACTORS. AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER MOTI GOT A QUESTION. YES, CHAIR. I DO. UM, COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT THE ORIGINAL BUDGET WAS FOR THE PROJECT? GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS. RANDY JENKINS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AUSTIN WATER. THE ORIGINAL BUDGET WAS $95 MILLION. AND SO THIS CASE IS UP TO WHAT, $103 MILLION. OKAY. UM, HOW ARE WE DOING ON THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULE TO GET THESE METERS INSTALLED? WE'RE DOING REALLY WELL AND WE'RE ON TARGET TO COMPLETE ON TIME. UM, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE INSTALLED, UM, JUST OVER 110,000 METERS THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE AREA, OF WHICH 60,000 OF THOSE ARE BILLING OFF OF THE AMI READS TO DATE. SO THAT MEANS YOU'VE GOT OVER HALF LEFT TO DO? CORRECT. AND WHEN WILL THOSE BE DONE? BY THE END OF 2024. [00:25:03] OKAY. NOW, PART OF THIS, UH, ITEM ALSO INCLUDES INSPECTING THE METER BOXES FOR LEAD WATER SERVICES. DO I HAVE THAT UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY? THEY ARE DOING, UM, SERVICE LINE INSPECTION AND INVENTORY FOR US, WHICH COULD INCLUDE THE IDENTIFICATION OF LEAD. UM, AGAIN, TO DATE WE'VE, UM, INSPECTED AND VISUALIZED OR REVIEWED ALL OF OUR TAP RECORDS AND OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND OF THOSE HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND AS NOT LED, UM, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 36,000 OR SO, UM, THAT WE HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED AND SENT OUR FIELD CREWS OUT, WHICH ALSO DID NOT COME BACK WITH ANY LEAD SERVICES ON OUR SIDE OR THE PRI OR THE PUBLIC SIDE. I MEAN THE PUBLIC SIDE OR THE PRIVATE SIDE, EXCUSE ME. AND SO THEY WOULD HANDLE THE REMAINDER OF THESE, UM, INVENTORY REQUESTS FOR AUSTIN WATER ON OUR BEHALF. THEY ARE ALREADY CONDUCTING FIELD SURVEY AT EACH, UH, METER BOX LOCATION BEFORE THEY DO THE METER EXCHANGE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT ANY CONSTRUCTION ISSUES THAT THEY NEED TO BE AWARE OF BEFORE THEY SEND THEIR CREWS OUT. SO THIS WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL ASK AND JUST AN EFFICIENCY MEASURE FOR AUSTIN WATER TO ASK THEM TO DO THAT WHILE THEY WERE ALREADY ON SITE. UH, HOW MANY INSPECTIONS, UNLIKELY LEAD SERVICE LOCATIONS ARE LEFT TO DO, IF YOU KNOW THAT NUMBER? WE HAVE NO LIKELY LED SERVICES, BUT THE REMAINDER OF THE, UM, INSPECTIONS AND INVENTORY THAT WE NEED TO DO HOVERS AROUND. I WANNA SAY, I'M GONNA KINDA LOOK 35, 30 5,000, I WAS GONNA SAY 36. SO 36,000, UH, THESE ARE, YOU ARE NOT SUSPICIOUS OF THERE BEING A LEAD OR GALVANIZED LIFE LED INVOLVED IN THOSE 36,000. DO I UNDERSTAND THAT RIGHT? YOU UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY? YES. SO IS IT, IS IT LIKELY YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ANY MONEY AT ALL? IT'S LIKELY THAT WE WON'T. THAT IS WHAT, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY BASED ON, UM, THE TAP RECORDS AND THE INSPECTIONS THAT WE'VE DONE TO DATE HAS INDICATED THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A LEAD SERVICE LINE ISSUE IN AUSTIN. UM, WE DO HAVE SOME GALVANIZED SERVICES, BUT AGAIN, UM, WE, WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT IN THAT INVENTORY. SO IT'S LOOKING GOOD FOR AUSTIN WATER. BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THERE MAY BE SOME GALVANIZED SERVICES YOU HAVE TO PULL OUT? CORRECT. HOW MANY OF THOSE, UM, MATT CULLEN AGAIN? UH, SO, UH, BILL, THE, THE QUESTION SO FAR OF THE, UH, WHAT WE'VE INVESTIGATED, UM, AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE THESE NUMBERS SUD IN MY HEAD, BUT IT'S SOMEWHERE AROUND A THOUSAND OR 1500 GALVANIZED SERVICES. UM, UH, AND ABOUT AS MANY ON THE PRIVATE SIDE AS THE PUBLIC SIDE, JUST, UH, AS A BALLPARK. OKAY. DOES THAT HELP? ALL RIGHT. SO 1,500 GALVANIZED SERVICES THAT MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY MIMIC A ALLEGED SERVICE IS WHAT I'M, WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU, IS THAT AN OKAY THING TO SAY? YOU AGREEING WITH ME? YES. SOME OF THE REGULATIONS RELATED TO THE LEAD AND COPPER RULE ARE STILL BEING FLESHED OUT. YOU KNOW, T C Q IS THE PRIMACY AGENCY FOR THAT, AND IT'S, IT'S EVEN STILL BEING WORKED OUT IN SOME EXTENTS AT THE, UH, AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. BUT THERE IS, UH, A POSSIBILITY THAT ALL THE GALVANIZED SERVICES THAT WE FIND COULD BE CATEGORIZED AS GALVANIZED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT, UH, IN WHICH PLACE, WHICH CASE WE WOULD REPLACE THOSE. AND IF I WERE TO DO SOME QUICK MATH WITH YOU, LET'S ASSUME EACH SERVICE COSTS $10,000 TO REPLACE AND THERE ARE 1,500 THAT WOULD BE A $15 MILLION JOB. DO I HAVE MY MATH RIGHT? UH, I WAS DOING MY OWN MATH, BUT, UH, , BECAUSE WE REPLACE SERVICES AT ABOUT $5,000 A POP, UH, WITH OUR CURRENT CONTRACTS THAT, THAT WE HAVE COMMISSIONERS. IF I COULD, UM, JUMP IN HERE, I'LL OFFER THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT GALVANIZED SERVICES REPLACEMENT. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THAT AS PROGRAMMING THAT IN TO PART OF OUR CIP P I DON'T THINK WE'RE PREPARED TO GIVE A BRIEFING ON THAT TONIGHT. UM, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO COME BACK AND, AND, AND TALK ABOUT THAT MORE SPECIFICALLY WHEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE THOSE NUMBERS IN HAND AND WE CAN AND PRESENT THEM TO YOU. OKAY. LET'S, FAIR ENOUGH. LET, LET ME JUST, UH, FIGURE THIS OUT. ONE LAST THING BECAUSE PART OF THIS JOB IS YOU'RE DOING THE INVENTORY AND IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THESE INVENTORIES HAVE TO BE DONE BY OCTOBER, 2024. YES. AND SO YOU'RE COMFORTABLE THAT WHATEVER INVENTORY WORK THAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS CONTRACT, YOU'LL HAVE IT DONE BY THEN? YES. WE'RE COM WE'RE [00:30:01] COMMITTED TO THAT. AND EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE NOT DOING A BRIEFING ON LEAD WATER SERVICES, UH, YOU, YOU WOULD ANTICIPATE PERHAPS USING WHATEVER FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE THROUGH THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO EITHER REPLACE THESE THINGS IF THEY, IF THEY'RE SO CALLED ON TO DO SO, RIGHT? YES. YEAH. THAT WE, WE GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS AS A, AS A MATTER OF BUSINESS OF, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, APPLYING TO THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND EVERYTHING. WE'RE KEEPING OUR EYES OPEN FOR ALL OF THAT. HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING FROM THEM ABOUT THE FUNDING PROGRAM YET? THE, THE LEAD HAS NOT BEEN FINALIZED AS OF YET, BUT WE'RE KEEPING EYES ON THAT. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE EXPLANATION. UH, I, I YIELD CHAIR LEE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. GOT ANY MORE QUESTION FOR THE STAFF? IF NOT, WE'LL ENTERTAIN MOTION. I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. MOTION MADE BY VICE CHAIR CAST PERRY. AND SECOND, MY COMMISSIONER TOTA. OH, IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND SHOWING APPROVAL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM [11. Discussion of future elections for officer positions for the Water and Wastewater Commission] 11. DISCUSSION OF FUTURE ELECTIONS FOR OFFICER POSITIONS FOR THE WATER IN THE WESTWATER COMMISSION. UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, THIS IS THE ANNUAL, UH, EVENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO ELECT THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR FOR ONE YEAR TERM. SO ANY COMMISSIONER INTEREST IN SERVING AS A CHAIR OR VICE CHAIR? YES. IT, IT NEEDS TO GOING TO BE THIS, UH, ENACT. UH, AND, UH, IN THE APRIL COMMISSION CODE MEETING, IF YOU CAN FIND SOMEONE THAT IS QUALIFIED INTEREST VOLUNTEER OR RECOMMEND, YOU KNOW, THINK THROUGH IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE'LL DO THAT IN, UH, NEXT MONTH'S MEETING IF NO QUESTION WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM [12. Discussion and possible action on appointment of Budget Committee members] 12, DISCUSSION AND THE POSSIBLE ACTION AND APPOINTMENT OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEMBERS. RIGHT NOW WE GOT COMMISSIONER TOTA AS THE CHAIR AND COMMISSIONER MICHELLE AS THE VICE CHAIR, AND WE GOT COMMISSIONER PENN AND OFFICIAL SERVING ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE. AND I, I'D LIKE ALL THE COMMISSIONERS IN THIS SUB COMMITTEE TO CONTINUING THE SERVICE IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION. AND WE WILL ALSO DOUBLE CHECK WITH COMMISSIONER OF FISHER SINCE HE'S NOT HERE TODAY. MAKE SURE THAT HE'S INTERESTED IN CONTINUING THE SERVICE. AND ANYONE, ANY COMMISSION OF INTEREST IN SERVING THAT IS WELCOME. JUST LET US KNOW. WE'LL KIND OF APPOINTED THE COMMISSION TO JOIN THE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND THEN TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEE. ADDED THE CHAIR AND THE VICE CHAIR. YES. UM, THAT'D BE FINE. ARE WE LIMITED TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE CAN HAVE BECAUSE OF QUORUM? UM, THERE SHOULDN'T BE A QUORUM FOR BUDGET COMMITTEE. SO IT'S, I I MEAN, A QUORUM OF THE COMMISSION. RIGHT. SO IT, IT SHOULD BE FIVE OR LESS. FIVE OR LESS. SO YEAH, SO IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED WHO ISN'T CURRENTLY ON, THEY'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO APPROACH ME OR CHAIR AND, UH, LET HER KNOW. OKAY, THANK YOU. OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM [13. Staff briefing on zebra mussels] 13. STOP BRIEFING ON ZEBRA MUSCLES. SO WHO'S D WHO'S, WHO'S ADVANCING THIS LIGHTS? OKAY, I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN I'M READY. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING COMMISSION MEMBERS. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE SUE AND I AM THE OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR THE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AT AUSTIN WATER. AND I'LL BE GIVING YOU A BRIEFING THIS EVENING ON, UH, ZEBRA MUSCLES MITIGATION, UM, MEASURES THAT WE'VE BEEN TAKING. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, SO THE LAST BRIEFING I PROVIDED WAS BACK IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR. UM, AND IT WAS, IT GAVE A PRETTY GOOD OVERVIEW OF OUR HISTORY OF DEALING WITH ZEBRA MUSCLES. UM, ALSO PROVIDED SOME INFORMATION ON THE INSPECTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AT OUR INTAKES, UM, AS WELL AS C I P IMPROVEMENTS. UM, WE, WE CONTINUE TO [00:35:01] FEED COPPER SULFATE, UM, AT THE INTAKES OF ALL THREE PLANTS. UM, BUT I DID INCLUDE A LINK TO THE LAST, UH, SET OF SLIDES THAT I PRESENTED BACK IN JUNE, UH, FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES. BUT WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF DEVELOPMENTS SINCE THEN. SO I'LL BE PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON THOSE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, UH, LAST TIME I PRESENTED, I DID GIVE AN UPDATE ON INTAKE CLEANING AND INSPECTIONS. AND, UM, THESE ARE INSPECTIONS THAT WE DO, UM, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS THAT, UH, REALLY IS, UM, HELPFUL AT REMOVING ZEBRA MUSCLES, UH, FROM OUR SUBSURFACE INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, BOTH UPSTREAM OF THE CHEMICAL FEED AND THEN ALSO IN, IN THE AREAS WHERE CHEMICAL IS ADDED. UM, AND IT'S, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO LOOK AT ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, THAT'S, UH, BELOW WATER. UM, AS I MENTIONED, WE DO ADD COPPER SULFATE, UM, BUT WE DON'T ADD IT. WE HAVE TO ADD IT IN A WAY SUCH THAT IT'S, UH, TAKEN INTO THE PLANT AND NOT DISSIPATED OUT INTO THE LAKE, UH, BECAUSE IT HAS A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON, ON BIOLOGICAL CREATURES OUT THERE. SO, UM, THE CLEANINGS AND INSPECTIONS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AT LOOKING AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS NOT EXPOSED TO, TO THE COPPER SULFATE. UM, IT HAS PROVEN REALLY HELPFUL FOR US TO LOOK AT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE BELOW THE WATER, CUZ IT IS VERY CRITICAL FOR US TO KEEP OUR RAW WATER FACILITIES GOING, CAUSE THAT THAT'S HOW THE WATER GETS TO OUR TREATMENT PLANTS. UM, SO OUR INSPECTIONS ARE CONDUCT CONDUCTED WITHIN THE INTAKE STRUCTURES, UH, WITHIN THE PUMP CASINGS, THE PUMP PITS, ET CETERA. NEXT SLIDE. UM, AT ALL THREE OF OUR WATER TREATMENT PLANTS, WE HAVE CONDUCTED, UM, INTAKE CLEANINGS AND INSPECTIONS ON AT LEAST AN ANNUAL BASIS SINCE 2019. UM, THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE YEARS WHERE WE'VE DONE IT A COUPLE TIMES, UM, BUT MOST RECENTLY WE HAVE, UH, WE, WE ARE DOING IT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. UM, SO SINCE I PRESENTED IN JUNE, WE HAVE, UH, HAD, UM, OUR, OUR ANNUAL ROUND OF INSPECTIONS WERE CONDUCTED IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR AT ALL THREE PLANTS AS WELL AS AT, UM, LONGHORN DAM AND EMMA LONG WATER TREATMENT PLANT. UM, AND ESSENTIALLY, UH, OBSERVATIONS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT WITH, WITH THE PREVIOUS YEARS WHERE WE, WE'VE CONFIRMED THAT ZERO MUSCLE ACCUMULATION HAS ACTUALLY DECREASED. UM, AND THAT'S, UH, FOR A FEW, FOR A COUPLE REASONS. ONE, WE'VE BEEN CONSISTENTLY FEEDING COPPER SULFATE FOR A FEW YEARS, AND SO THAT THAT HAS HELPED TO ALLEVIATE THAT. UM, BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, IT, IT'S, IT'S A GOOD, UH, WAY TO KIND OF WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN, LIKE PHYSICALLY, UM, AND PREVENT THE ZEBRA MUSCLES FROM, FROM GETTING BIGGER AND, AND, UH, INVESTING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. NEXT SLIDE. SO, UM, I WANTED TO INCLUDE A FEW PHOTOS FROM, UH, THE LAST, UM, FROM OUR EARLIER INSPECTIONS STARTING IN 2019. UM, AND THESE ARE PHOTOS OF THE TRASH RACKS THAT WE HAVE, UM, AT ULRICH WATER TREATMENT PLANT. UM, AND YOU CAN SEE IN 2019, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE LIKE THE SHELLS OF THE ZERO MUSCLES THAT HAVE DEVELOPED. THAT WAS OUR FIRST INSPECTION. UM, 20 20, 20 21. YOU CAN SEE SOME REMNANTS OF, OF SHELLS NOT AS HEAVILY, UH, BUILT UP AS IN 2019. UM, AND THEN NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS A GOOD REPRESENTATIVE, UM, PHOTO OF WHAT WE WERE SEEING LAST YEAR IN OUR MOST RECENT INSPECTION, WHICH THE DIVER, THE INSPECTION DIVERS CALL, UM, SOFT GROWTH. UH, BASICALLY IT IS IN INDICATIVE THAT ZEBRA MUSCLES ARE GROWING, BUT, UM, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY DO WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN, THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO ACTUALLY BUILD UP IN, INTO THE ADULT ZEBRA MUSCLES THAT, THAT WE WERE SEEING KIND OF EARLIER ON IN THE INSPECTIONS. SO, UM, THE LEFT SHOWS, THE, THE LEFT PHOTO SHOWS THE SOFT GROWTH ON THE RIGHT, YOU SEE THE POST CLEANING ONCE THEY'VE, YOU KNOW, PHYSICALLY WIPED IT CLEAN. UM, AND IT'S ALSO WORTH POINTING OUT THAT WHEN THE GROWTH IS SOFT, IT IS A LOT EASIER TO CLEAN OFF. LIKE I TH WHAT THEY'VE REPORTED IS YOU CAN DO IT WITH YOUR HAND VERSUS, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WERE SEEING IN 2019 AND 2020 WITH THE, THE, THE MORE DEVELOPED ZEBRA MUSCLES THAT THAT'S MORE OF AN ABRASIVE CLEANING OR WATER BLASTING CLEANING AND THAT OBVIOUSLY TAKES A LOT LONGER. SO, SO THE FACT THAT WE ARE BEING CONSISTENT WITH OUR ANNUAL INSPECTIONS IS, IS ACTUALLY ALSO HELPFUL TO KIND OF KEEP EVEN THAT, THAT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT TAKES TO INSPECT DOWN. SO THAT'S ONE UPDATE, UH, THAT I WANTED TO PROVIDE. THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, IS ON OUR COPPER ION GENERATION SYSTEM OR THE CI, OUR C I G SYSTEMS. SO, UM, WE'VE HAD OUR COPPER SULFATE SYSTEMS IN PLACE FOR A FEW YEARS NOW AND THEY, THEY CONTINUE TO WORK WELL. UM, WE DID MAKE A DECISION TO, UM, REPLACE THESE PERMANENTLY WITH A COPPER ION GENERATION SYSTEM. UM, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT THESE SYSTEMS ARE SAFER AND ARE SUSTAINABLE. UM, SO THE COPPER SULFATE SYSTEMS, [00:40:01] WE DO RELY ON MONTHLY, UM, DELIVERIES OF, OF THE COPPER SULFATE CHEMICAL TO THE PLANTS. AND THAT, YOU KNOW, FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, WE HAVE TO HANDLE THAT, ESPECIALLY IF, IF IT, YOU KNOW, IF, IF IT LEAKS OR, OR, UM, GETS OUT OUTSIDE OF THE TANK. UM, AND ALSO FROM A SUSTAINABILITY STANDPOINT, INSTEAD OF THE CHEMICAL DELIVERIES, WE'RE ACTUALLY RELYING ON, UH, THE COPPER ANODES TO ACTUALLY BE REPLACED ON A ANNUAL BASIS. AND SO COPPER ION GENERATION IS THE NAME SUGGESTS, UM, BASICALLY YOU, YOU TAKE A COPPER ANODE, YOU APPLY ELECTRICAL CHARGE AND YOU GENERATE YOUR OWN COPPER SOLUTION, UM, WITH, WITH THAT TECHNOLOGY. SO, UM, CONSTRUCTION DID START, UH, LAST FALL OF 2022. UM, AND SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION IS EXPECTED IN WINTER OF 2024. UM, ELECTRICAL, STRUCTURAL AND CIVIL WORK IS PROGRESSING. AND THE PHOTO THAT WE'RE SHOWING HERE IS REALLY KIND OF THE START OF THE, THE PAD THAT WE'RE GONNA BUILD FOR THE C I G SYSTEM. THIS IS ACTUALLY A PHOTO OF OUR LOW SERVICE PUMP STATION AT, UH, HANCOCK'S WATER TREATMENT PLANT. UM, SO THE, THE SYSTEM, THE NEW SYSTEM WILL BE INSTALLED BETWEEN TWO OF THE LOW SERVICE PUMPS. UM, AND THAT'S ANOTHER POSITIVE THING TO POINT OUT IS THAT THE C I G SYSTEMS AT ALL THREE PLANTS ARE ACTUALLY GONNA BE INDOORS INSIDE OUR LOW SERVICE PUMP STATION BUILDINGS, UM, AS OPPOSED TO THE COPPER SULFATE SYSTEMS WHICH ARE OUTDOORS. UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE HAD SOME CHALLENGES IN THE PAST WITH JUST THE WINTER WEATHER AND, AND EVERYTHING. SO, SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THESE SYSTEMS INDOORS. UM, WITH THAT SAID, WE DO DO INTEND TO ALSO REPURPOSE THE COPPER SULFATE SYSTEM, THE EXISTING COPPER SULFATE SYSTEMS, UH, TO BE USED FOR SODIUM PER MAGNATE, WHICH IS JUST ANOTHER TOOL THAT WE WANNA HAVE IN OUR TOOL BELT, UH, FROM A TREATMENT STANDPOINT. UM, SO THOSE WERE THE TWO UPDATES THAT I WANTED TO PROVIDE, UH, RELATED TO SBRA MUSCLE MITIGATION AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. COMMISSION NO GOT ANY QUESTION FOR THE STAFF COMMISSION NUMBER? I I HAVE A QUESTION, COMMISSIONER MA. UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOUR INSPECTIONS ALLOWED YOU TO SEE ANYTHING, BUT WAS THERE EFFECT OF THE WINTER STORM URI ON ANY OF THE ZEBRA MUSCLE POPULATIONS? SO, UM, AND, AND, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO HAVE AT, UH, UH, SPECIFICALLY AT ULRICH IS WE SET UP WHAT WE CALL BIO BOXES TO PROVE TO OUR OURSELVES THAT, YOU KNOW, THE DOSE THAT WE'RE USING OF COPPER SULFATE IS, IS APPROPRIATE AND EFFECTIVE. AND THOSE BO BOXES, THERE'S BASICALLY TWO BOXES IS A CONTROL OF JUST THE REGULAR WATER WITHOUT ANY COPPER SULFATE. AND THEN, UM, A SECOND BOX WITH COPPER SULFATE BEING ADDED. AND, UM, OUR, OUR GUYS GO AND CHECK IT EVERY SO OFTEN JUST TO KIND OF SEE, UM, HOW THE ZEBRA MUSCLES ARE DOING. AND, AND OBVIOUSLY THE SECOND BOX THAT THAT HAS THE COPPER SULFATE WATER DOESN'T HAVE ANY ZEBRA MUSCLES, BUT THE CONTROL, WE DEFINITELY SAW, UH, A KIND OF A A THE DIE OFF, UM, IN THE WINTERTIME. UM, AND, AND IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER AS WELL. SO IT'S, IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THAT. UM, WELL, THANK YOU. MM-HMM. , UH, JUST CURIOUS, I KNOW THERE'S A, THE CYTOXIN STUDY ONGOING. HAS THERE BEEN ENOUGH INFORMATION TO LIKE GAUGE ANY CORRELATION? I WOULD, I I THINK THAT'S A GOOD WATERSHED QUESTION. IT'S JUST AS FAR AS AS HOW THEY COEXIST IN THE WATER. I MEAN, UH, I I CAN SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DO OUR OWN MONITORING THE C TOXINS AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN, UM, ANY INCREASES OR ANYTHING. UM, I, I, BRIAN MAY KNOW MORE, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE, THE WATERSHED FOLKS HAVE SAID THAT THERE IS A, A BIT OF A CORRELATION BECAUSE OF THE ZEBRA MUSCLES EXISTING IN, IN THE WATER AND BEING THE GROUNDS LIKE KIND OF LAYING THE, THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT FOR CYAN TOXINS TO SORT OF BREW IN THE WATER. BUT FROM A MONITORING STANDPOINT, WE HAVEN'T SEEN, WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT, WE DON'T HAVE ANY HARD DATA FOR THAT. AND THEN NEITHER DOES WATERSHED, THERE'S RESEARCH GOING , UH, BRIAN HAWS, AUSTIN WATER, UH, OPERATIONS MANAGER, ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES. UH, SO, UH, WATERSHED, UH, WATERSHED PROTECTION, UM, HAS, HAS BEEN DOING THEIR OWN MONITORING OF, OF THE ALGAE AND, AND THE WATER. AND, UH, SO THERE'S, THERE'S RESEARCH GOING ON IN THE, IN THAT FIELD OF STUDY, UH, LOOKING AT THE, THE POTENTIAL FOR A CORRELATION BETWEEN THE, UM, THE FORMATION OF, OR THE, UH, PROLIFERATION OF, UH, SANO TOXINS AND, UH, THE ZEBRA MUSCLES. BUT, UH, THAT'S, UH, WATERSHED PROTECTION THEMSELVES IS NOT DOING, UM, NOT DOING THAT RESEARCH. THEY'RE, THERE'S OTHER, THEY'RE, THEY'RE FOLLOWING THAT FIELD OF STUDY. SO, AND THAT'S, UM, TO ME IT'S, IT'S, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE'S THEORIES OUT THERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S REAL HARD DATA [00:45:01] PROVING THAT RIGHT NOW. THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF A THEORY THAT'S STILL BEING WORKED OUT. THANK YOU. QUESTION, QUESTION. IF NOT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON [ FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS] TO ITEM 14. DISCUSSION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE GOT, UH, COMMISSIONER MUST GROW, WANT TO HAVE A BRIEFING ON WATER PLANT RELIGIOUS AND THE STATUS OF THE AUSTIN WATER SHOWERING FACILITY COMMISSION VICE CHAIR REQUEST BRIEFING ON LARGE VOLUME WATER USERS AND UPDATE ON THE AQUAFOR STORAGE RECOVERY PROJECT. AND OF COURSE, WE STILL ALL COMMISSIONER NAMA AND TESLA ORDER PRESENTATION AND COMMISSIONER GOT ANY QUESTION OR GOT ANY, ANY REQUESTING ANY BRIEFING AND AGENDA. JUST NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER COMMISSIONER TO CO-SPONSOR IT AND WE'LL PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, JUST FOR ONE HOUSEKEEPING ITEM IS, UH, IF YOUR COMMISSIONER, IF YOUR TERM IS UH, EXPIRING, CHECK WITH YOUR, THE COUNCILPERSON TO GET THE REAPPOINTED SO WE WILL HAVE ADEQUATE QUO TO CONDUCT A MEETING. AND THAT'S ABOUT IT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS? IF NOT, THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 6 49. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.