May 24, 2023 Austin Water Oversight Committee

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GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES.

[CALL TO ORDER]

OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? I DIDN'T DO THE, THE CALLING TO ORDER APPROPRIATELY.

1:30 PM 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET.

UM, IT SAYS SOME MEMBERS MAY BE PARTICIPATING BY VIDEO CONFERENCE, BUT I DO NOT THINK THAT'S THE CASE TODAY.

IT LOOKS LIKE ALL OF US ARE HERE.

UM, WE

[1. Approve the minutes of the March 29, 2023 special called meeting of the Austin Water Oversight Committee.]

AND DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE FROM VICE CHAIR RYAN ALTAR? IS THERE A SECOND? COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ'S SECONDS.

ARE THERE ANY CHANGES OR CORRECTIONS TO BE MADE TO THE MINUTES HEARING AND SEEING NONE? UM, WE CAN DEEM THESE MINUTES APPROVED BRIEFINGS.

[2. Director’s Report on innovations, events and awards, and upcoming recommendations for Council action.]

AND WE HAVE DIRECTOR SHA ROLSON WITH US TODAY.

GOOD AFTERNOON, DIRECTOR.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE YOU SOME UPDATES ON ACTIVITIES AT AUSTIN WATER, UH, BEYOND THE SPECIFIC ITEMS WE'LL BE DISCUSSING ON THE AGENDA TODAY.

UH, FIRST WE HAVE SEVERAL IMPORTANT AND EXCITING ITEMS COMING FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL IN JULY AND AUGUST.

UH, THE JUNE 8TH COUNCIL MEETING WILL INCLUDE AN ITEM TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE AUGUST 3RD COUNCIL MEETING TO REVIEW AUSTIN WATER'S UPDATED CAPITAL RECOVERY FEES FOR THE AMI ADVANCED METERING PROGRAM.

THE FINAL LOAN INSTALLMENT OF 18 MILLION FROM THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD SWIFT PRO FUNDING PROGRAM WILL BE ON THE JULY 20TH COUNCIL AGENDA.

AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING PROPOSALS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK FOR THE $700 MILLION EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT AT THE WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

THE CONTRACT AWARD IS EXPECTED TO BE ON THE AUGUST 31ST COUNCIL AGENDA.

WE APPRECIATE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT OF THESE ITEMS, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OR NEED ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

UH, I'VE BEEN DIRECTOR NOW FOR JUST ABOUT FIVE MONTHS, AND IN THAT TIME I'VE BEEN MAKING MY WAY AROUND THE UTILITY MEETING WITH OUR TEAMS. I'VE ATTENDED ABOUT THREE DOZEN STAFF MEETINGS SO FAR, UH, FROM A SINGLE SUPERVISOR IN THEIR DIRECT REPORTS ALL THE WAY TO PROGRAM AREA.

ALL HANDS MEETINGS AND DIFFERENT WORK GROUPS HAVE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES, BUT THERE ARE A FEW THEMES SUCH AS TRUST AND ENGAGEMENT.

OUR STAFF ARE LOOKING FOR LEADERS WHO HAVE A VISION FOR A CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE, AND THEY WANT TO WORK FOR A TEAM WHERE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE VALUED.

OUR WORK IN THESE AREAS BEGAN LONG BEFORE I BECAME DIRECTOR.

OUR TALENT AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION IS PROACTIVELY REACHING INTO THE ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND GUIDANCE FOR OUR LEADERS AND STAFF.

WE ALSO LAUNCHED OUR TECHNICAL TRAINERS IN EACH WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THEY HAVE DEVELOPED AN AUSTIN WATERS FOR SPECIFIC CURRICULUM, AND THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE STAFF ARE MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE TRAINING MODULES.

AND WE HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT PASSING RATE.

SO FAR.

I'M FOND OF SAYING THAT AUSTIN WATER IS A LEARNING ORGANIZATION, AND MY CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF ARE BEARING THAT OUT.

WE HAVE NATIONAL LEVEL EXPERTISE IN EVERY AREA IN WHICH WE PRACTICE, AND THE WORK THAT WE DO MATTERS DEEPLY TO OUR COMMUNITY.

SO TODAY I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT AUSTIN WATER STAFF INVOLVEMENT IN WATER RELATED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CULTURE AS A LEARNING ORGANIZATION AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHARE OUR TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AS WELL AS NETWORK WITH OTHER INDUSTRY EXPERTS.

THE TEXAS WATER CONFERENCE IS THE LARGEST REGIONAL WATER AND WASTEWATER CON CONFERENCE IN THE COUNTRY, AND IT'S ACTUALLY MORE DIFFICULT TO GET AN ABSTRACT ACCEPTED THERE THAN AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCES LAST MONTH.

THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN HOUSTON AND TOPPED ITS 27 YEAR ATTENDANCE RECORD WITH MORE THAN 6,000 ATTENDEES AND 650 EXHIBITORS.

MORE THAN 80 AUSTIN WATER STAFF ATTENDED FROM FIELD PERSONNEL TO EXECUTIVES, AND WE MADE MORE THAN A DOZEN PRESENTATIONS IN 11 DIFFERENT TECHNICAL TRACKS.

ADDITIONALLY, TWO OF OUR STAFF WERE RECOGNIZED WITH THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS IN THE WATER INDUSTRY.

CHARLIE MADDOX WAS INDUCTED INTO THE WATER INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME IN RECOGNITION OF HIS LONG CAREER AS AN INNOVATOR, REGULATOR, UTILITY MANAGER AND MENTOR TO MANY, INCLUDING ME, HEATHER COOK RECEIVED THE GEORGE WARREN FULLER AWARD FOR

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AND TRINITY O'NEILL WAS HONORED BY THE COMPETITORS IN THE OPERATIONS CHALLENGE AS THE MOST DEDICATED VOLUNTEER JUDGE DURING THIS MULTI-DAY CHALLENGE.

WE HAVE A PACKED AGENDA FOR YOU TODAY.

SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR MOVE ON TO THE EXTERNAL REVIEW UPDATE.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON TER.

I ONE REALLY QUICK ONE.

FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY.

UM, I WAS JUST WONDERING FOR, UM, THE HORNSBY BEND RENEWABLE GAS PROJECT, DO YOU KNOW WHEN THAT WILL BE COMING TO COUNCIL? I WILL GET YOU THAT ANSWER.

GREAT, THANK YOU.

IT IS, IT IS PROCESS SEPTEMBER, SO YOU MIGHT NOT, IT MIGHT NOT BE FULLY ON YOUR YEAH, YOUR IT IS DEFINITELY ON MY RADAR AND WE ARE TRACKING IT.

I'M JUST NOT SURE WHEN IT WILL BE COMING TO COUNCIL.

WE'RE IN THE, WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF ISSUING THE RFP FOR THAT.

OKAY, GREAT.

THANK YOU.

I THINK YOU CAN PROCEED WITH YOUR, WITH THE REST OF YOUR REPORT THEN.

OKAY, GREAT.

I THINK WE HAVE SOME SLIDES.

OKAY.

SO WE'RE HERE TODAY

[3. Austin Water External Review: Second Quarter Update on Implementation of Recommendations.]

UH, AT OUR LAST MEETING, UM, WE INITIATED THIS, UH, REVIEW FORMAT AND WE WILL FOLLOW THE SAME FORMAT AGAIN, UM, TODAY.

SO THIS IS WHAT WE SHOWED YOU ALL LAST, UH, MEETING.

UM, WE HAD, UH, ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE IMPLEMENTED, UM, ANOTHER 43% UNDERWAY, AND THE REMAINING WERE PLANNED.

AND AS OF, AND, AND JUST TO, UH, RECAP WHAT WE MEAN BY IMPLEMENTED, UM, THERE'S THREE WAYS WE CALL SOMETHING IMPLEMENTED.

IT'S EITHER, UH, WE'VE COMPLETED THE SPECIFIC ACTIONS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

WE HAVE, UM, OPERATIONALIZED THE STEPS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THAT RECOMMENDATION, OR WE'VE PROGRAMMED A LONG-TERM CAPITAL PROJECT AND IT IS, UH, IT IS IN THE C I P OR THE LONG RANGE PLANNING PROCESS.

SO, UH, TODAY YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'VE MADE QUITE A BIT OF PROGRESS IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS.

UM, AND WE'RE NOW UP TO 38% IMPLEMENTED, UH, 41% UNDERWAY AND 13% PLANNED.

SO WHAT I WILL DO TODAY IS HIGHLIGHT THE ITEMS THAT HAVE CHANGED, THAT HAVE MOVED FROM, UM, UH, UNDERWAY TO IMPLEMENTED OR FROM PLANNED UNDERWAY.

SO ON THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED, UM, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS TO COMMUNICATE SIGNIFICANT HR STAFF TO OPERATE DECISIONS TO OPERATION STAFF.

AND WE HAVE COMMUNICATED ALL OF THE, UH, COMPENSATION CHANGES THAT WE'VE MADE TO BASE PAY.

UM, AND WE HAVE OPERATIONALIZED OUR PROCESSES FOR REVIEWING AND UPDATING, UM, AND SUBMITTING COMPENSATION, UM, CHANGE REQUESTS, UH, ON THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

UM, WE HAVE BEEN ATTENDING CAREER FAIRS.

WE'VE HOSTED TWO RECRUITMENT OPEN HOUSES.

I THINK LAST TIME I WAS HERE I TOLD YOU THOSE WERE PLANNED AND WE DID BOTH OF THOSE.

WE HAD A RECRUITMENT OPEN HOUSE AT THE ULRICH WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND ONE AT THE DAVIS WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

AND THOSE DID RESULT IN, UH, APPLICANTS AND AT LEAST A COUPLE OF OF HIRES SO FAR.

UM, THERE ARE, UH, UH, SOME OF THOSE APPLICANTS ARE STILL IN PROCESS.

SO WE FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THOSE EVENTS AND ABOUT BRANCHING OUT AND INTO DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THOSE RECRUITING EVENTS.

SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

UM, OUR TRACKING OF VACANCY RATES HARD TO FILL POSITIONS AND SEPARATIONS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO, UM, BIWEEKLY.

UH, AND WE MONITOR THOSE NUMBERS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

SO THIS RECRUITING AND RETENTION IS, UM, AND PRIORITIZING OUR VACANT POSITIONS.

THAT IS DEFINITELY A, UH, A, A PART OF HOW WE DO OUR BUSINESS.

SO WE CONSIDER THAT IMPLEMENTED ON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

UM, WE HAVE COMMUNICATED OUR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES PRIOR TO EVENTS.

SO WE HAVE REVISED OUR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR INCIDENT COMMAND ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

UM, WE HAVE COMMUNICATED THAT TO AUSTIN WATER STAFF AND WE HAVE, UM, IMPLEMENTED AS PART OF THAT, UH, THE, THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT WILL HAPPEN AS WE GO INTO AN ACTIVATION.

AND THEN REGULARLY THROUGHOUT THE ACTIVATION TO KEEP ALL AUSTIN WATER STAFF, UM, UP TO DATE ON ACTIVITIES IN THE UTILITY FOR OPERATIONS AND ENGINEERING.

THE, UH, FILTRATION STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES ARE AVAILABLE.

UM, THEY'RE, THEY HAVE BEEN UPDATED AND MADE AVAILABLE ON THE O AND M WEBSITE.

UM, AND WE'VE ALSO

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CONTINUING ON WITH OUR IMPLEMENTED ITEMS IN THE AREA OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, UM, THE, UH, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE AS PART OF THE CITY.

UM, UH, ONE OF THE, AS PART OF THE CITY STRUCTURE, UH, HAS BEEN WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS TO, UH, UPDATE COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS FOR EMERGENCIES, INCLUDING A CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS CHECKLIST.

AND WE PARTICIPATED IN THAT PROCESS AND HAVE INCORPORATED THOSE CHANGES INTO OUR PROCESSES, UH, AND THAT THE, THAT COLLABORATION INCLUDES, UM, C P I O, UH, HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AUSTIN ENERGY WATERSHED PROTECTION, UM, AUSTIN FIRE AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS REGARDING SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.

WE HAVE, UH, FINALIZED OUR STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES FOR THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT HAPPENS BETWEEN PUMPING AND TREATMENT, UM, WHEN WE NEED TO, UH, INCREASE OR, OR DECREASE TREATMENT CAPACITY IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS, UH, OUT IN THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

AND WE ARE USING OUR ONLINE, UM, TOOL, THE VOC, WHICH YOU'VE HEARD US TALK ABOUT BEFORE, WHICH IS OUR VIRTUAL EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER PLATFORM, UH, TO DOCUMENT THOSE PUMPING CHANGES.

AND THAT THE FIRST BULLET UNDER OPERATIONS, OH, WAIT, OKAY.

SO THERE WERE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THAT LAST ONE, AND WE JUST COVERED IT IN THAT ONE BULLET.

SO, SO MOVING ON TO OUR PROGRESS, UM, FOR THE ITEMS THAT WERE PLANNED AND ARE NOW UNDERWAY FOR OPERATIONS IN ENGINEERING, UM, WE ARE PLANNING TO STRESS TEST ULRICH.

WE MENTIONED THAT, UM, TWO MONTHS AGO, BUT WE'RE WAITING FOR THE, UH, DEMANDS TO BE QUITE HIGH.

THAT'LL BE THE BEST TIME TO DO THAT STRESS TESTING.

SO THAT IS STILL PLANNED FOR LATE JUNE.

AND THEN WE'LL UPDATE OUR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES BASED ON THOSE TEST RESULTS.

UM, WE ARE UNDERWAY ON THE REVIEW OF THE BACK WASHING AND FILTER EVALUATION, STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.

UM, AND ONCE THOSE, UH, UPDATES ARE COMPLETE, THEN THIS ITEM, THE SECOND BULLET THERE WILL BE COMPLETE AS WELL.

AND THEN REVIEWING THE STAFFING NEEDS FOR SYSTEM FLOW CHANGES, UM, WE HAVE, UH, REVIEWED AND DOCUMENTED OUR SOPS.

UM, AND AGAIN, WITH THE STRESS TESTING OF ULRICH THIS SUMMER, UH, ANY UPDATES NEEDED TO THE SOP RELATED TO STAFFING ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE MADE AT THAT TIME.

ALSO UNDERWAY IS ENHANCING THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE C I P PROCESS THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION.

SO WE ARE WORKING ON, UM, THE PREPARATION OF MATERIALS TO HELP OPERATION STAFF UNDERSTAND HOW THE WORK THAT THEY DO FEEDS INTO THE DECISIONS THAT GET MADE ABOUT WHAT PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD IN OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM.

AND THAT COMMUNICATION WILL HAPPEN, UM, LATER THIS SUMMER.

AND THEN ON, OH, FINALLY ON SOPS IN TRAINING.

UM, AS I MENTIONED IN MY EARLIER REMARKS, WE HAVE, UH, DEDICATED CERTIFICATION TRAINERS AT EACH WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

AND AS PART OF THAT TRAINING, WE ARE, UH, TEACHING STAFF TO ACCESS THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, UM, AND TRAINING THEM, UM, AND WORKING, INCORPORATING THAT TRAINING INTO OUR ONBOARDING OF NEW TREATMENT STAFF AS WELL.

SO THAT WORK IS, IS UNDERWAY.

UM, THAT ITEM WAS, UH, ONE LAST TIME THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT AS BEING COMPLETED BECAUSE WE HAD ONBOARDED THE TRAINERS.

UM, AND BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL, IT FELT LIKE YOU WANTED TO CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM US THAT, UM, THAT THAT WORK WAS UNDERWAY UNTIL ALL OF THE STAFF HAD BEEN TRAINED.

WE ARE PLANNING TO HAVE THAT WORK COMPLETE BY THE END OF THE YEAR, SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO REPORT ON IT.

UM, UNTIL THEN, SO A A QUICK UPDATE ON THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING ON HIRING, UH, EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS.

SO, UM, AS OF THE TIME THAT WE HIT PRINT ON THIS PRESENTATION, WE HAD HIRED 214, I THINK AS OF TODAY.

THAT NUMBER IS ACTUALLY 228 POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE FILLED.

UH, WE ARE ABSOLUTELY ON PACE TO EXCEED OUR, UH, RECORD RECRUITMENT LAST YEAR OF 300 HIRES.

UM, WE HAVE SET AN EVEN MORE AUDACIOUS GOAL CLOSER TO 400 THIS YEAR,

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UH, AS I MENTIONED, WE, WE'VE DONE OPEN HOUSE RECRUITING EVENTS AT DAVIS AND ULRICH.

UM, WE HAVE PLACED ADVERTISEMENTS AND COMMUNITY IMPACT.

WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTIONS.

WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT ON THEIR, UH, GET HIRED CAMPAIGN, PARTICIPATED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN CAREER EXPO.

AND THEN, UM, THAT GRAPHIC ON THE LOWER LEFT WAS OUR FULL PAGE BROCHURE THAT WE PUT IN THE TEXAS WATER CONFERENCE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTING ALL OF OUR, UH, TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS AND, UM, AND, AND ATTEMPTING TO RECRUIT, UH, YOU KNOW, TECHNICAL STAFF FROM THAT CONFERENCE.

UH, WE ALSO, I THOUGHT I HAD BROUGHT, UH, COPIES OF IT UP HERE WITH ME.

OH, I DROPPED 'EM ALL OVER THE FLOOR.

SO WE ALSO, UM, HAD MADE THE THANK YOU, RANDY.

WE ALSO HAD MADE THESE, UM, BUSINESS CARDS THAT SAY, AUSTIN WATER IS HIRING AND HAVE A QR CODE FOR FOLKS TO SCAN.

AND WE HANDED THOSE OUT SHAMELESSLY AT THE CONFERENCE AS WELL.

SO I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT, UH, I'VE BEEN MAKING THE ROUNDS MEETING WITH DIFFERENT TEAMS HERE.

HERE'S SOME PHOTO DOCUMENTATION OF THAT.

UM, AND IN TERMS OF THE RETENTION EFFORTS, UH, WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF RETENTION STRATEGIES IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

UM, ONE IS THE RETENTION STIPEND, WHICH IS A 10% STIPEND FOR ALL STAFF WITH MORE THAN A YEAR OF AUSTIN WATER SERVICE THAT THEY SEE IN EVERY PAYCHECK.

UH, WE ALSO HAVE A NEW HIGHER RETENTION BONUS, UM, AND THAT PAYS OUT, UH, A TOTAL OF $3,000 OVER TWO YEARS AT, AT INTERVALS.

UM, WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED A SAFETY INCENTIVE PAY.

THAT'S A RECOGNITION THAT EVERY EMPLOYEE AT AUSTIN WATER OPERATES IN A SAFETY SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENT.

THERE ARE THREE TIERS TO THAT SAFETY INCENTIVE PAY, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH TIME AN EMPLOYEE SPENDS IN THE FIELD VERSUS IN THE OFFICE.

AND IT'S A COMBINATION OF STIPEND AND, UH, LEAVE PAID TIME OFF.

UM, AND WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED, UH, ENHANCED, UH, A LICENSE STIPEND THAT WE HAD ALREADY.

SO IF AN EMPLOYEE HAS A LICENSE ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR THEIR JOB, THERE IS A STIPEND ASSOCIATED WITH THAT LICENSE.

UM, AND WE'VE IMPLEMENTED THAT FOR T C Q REQUIRED LICENSES AS WELL AS, UM, ELECTRICIAN LICENSES.

WE HAVE SOME EXEMPT STAFF THAT, UH, ARE ON CALL TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES.

UM, AND, UH, WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED A PILOT PROGRAM WITH H R D TO, UM, PAY THEM STRAIGHT TIME FOR TIME OVER 40.

SO IF, UH, IF WE HAVE A REGULAR EXEMPT EMPLOYEE THAT'S WORKING 40 HOURS A WEEK, UM, ON THEIR REGULAR JOB AND THEN GETS CALLED TO GO OUT TO A WATER MAIN BREAK OR A SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOW OR SOME OTHER KIND OF EMERGENCY, THEN WE ARE ABLE TO PAY THEM STRAIGHT TIME FOR THAT TIME, UM, WHICH IS A VERY NICE BENEFIT FOR THEM.

UH, AND THEN WE'VE ALSO BEEN DOING A NUMBER OF JOB TITLE AND PAY GRADE REVIEWS, AND WE'VE BEEN COORDINATING WITH, UM, THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO GET THOSE, UM, APPROVED.

AND WE'VE DONE AN ANALYSIS OF ALL OF OUR STAFF.

SO, UM, SOMETIMES STAFF WHO'VE BEEN IN THEIR POSITIONS FOR A LONG TIME, UH, THEY TEND TO FALL BEHIND IN THE WAY THE CITY DOES THE ZONING FOR PAY.

AND SO WE ARE DOING A ZONING ANALYSIS OF STAFF THAT MEETS CERTAIN CRITERIA, AND WE'VE SUBMITTED THAT TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT FOR REVIEW.

SO ONE OF THE DISCUSSION ITEMS THAT WE HAD AT THE LAST MEETING WAS HOW WE WILL REPORT OUT ON ITEMS FROM THE EXTERNAL REVIEW THAT WE HAVE OPERATIONALIZED, UM, BUT OUR ONGOING WORK AS A PART OF OUR, UH, OF EVERYDAY OPERATIONS.

AND SO THIS SLIDE COVERS, UM, HITS THE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOW WE INTEND TO REPORT OUT ON THOSE ITEMS. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE, WE WILL PROVIDE ANNUAL UPDATES ON WATER FORWARD AND OUR LONG RANGE PLANNING, AND THAT WILL COVER, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE EXTERNAL REVIEW RELATED TO, UH, RAW WATER QUALITY, UM, AND ENHANCING WATER SUPPLY TO THE SOUTH PRESSURE ZONES.

UM, WE WILL ALSO INTEND TO PROVIDE, UH, SEMI-ANNUAL UPDATES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE, MY ATX WATER, UM, AND THAT WILL INCLUDE, UM, THE EXTERNAL REVIEW, COMMENT RECOMMENDATION RELATED TO, UH, HIRING STAFF, UM, TO SUPPORT THAT PROGRAM.

WE ALSO BRING TO COUNCIL, UH, CONTRACTS FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, AND WE WILL, WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL UPDATE ON OUR C I P PROGRAM.

AND THAT WILL COVER THE, UH, C I P RELATED RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE EXTERNAL REVIEW.

AND THEN WE WILL PROVIDE AN ANNUAL

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AND, UH, THAT WILL ADDRESS THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE EXTERNAL REVIEW RELATED TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

AND THEN AGAIN, SAME, UH, WITH THE RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND TRAINING, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS.

UM, SO WITH THAT, I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANKS SO MUCH, SHAY.

AND I, I WAS PRETTY IMPRESSED WITH THE GOOD WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING AND, UH, KIND OF HAVING A FRESH LOOK AT RECRUITING AND RETENTION.

AND I WONDERED, UM, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, ARE YOU SHARING THOSE IDEAS WITH OTHER DIRECTORS AT THE CITY, UM, FOR THEM TO KIND OF, FOR THEM TO CHECK AND SEE IF THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING, LIKE STRAIGHT TIME FOR EXEMPT EMPLOYEES WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NEVER RECEIVE OVERTIME PAY? I MEAN, THAT'S PART OF, UM, THE WAGE.

AND, UH, OUR ACT EXEMPT MEANS YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T GET PAID MORE, EVEN THOUGH THE EXPECTATION IS THAT SHE WILL SHOW UP AND DO MORE WORK IF NEEDED.

UM, THAT, AND THERE WAS ANOTHER THING ON THERE THAT YOU HAD, OH, THE ZONES LOOKING PROACTIVELY AT THE ZONING AND PEOPLE FALLING BEHIND, UH, IN THE SALARY ZONES, IS THAT INFORMATION THAT CAN BE SHARED TO OTHER, OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY? I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF IMPLEMENTING THAT AND SEEING HOW WELL IT WORKS.

UM, THE STRAIGHT TIME PAY OVER 40 IS, UM, IS A PILOT, UM, WITH H R D.

THEY WANT TO SEE HOW THAT, HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

UH, SO I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LEFT, UM, THAT WE NEED TO GO THROUGH TO SEE HOW WELL THESE PROGRAMS WORK.

UM, BUT CERTAINLY I, UM, AM IN CONVERSATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, UM, AND SHARING, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE SHARE OUR STRATEGIES ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, INCLUDING HIRING AND RETENTION, RIGHT? MY GUESS IS IF IT'S, IF IT WORKS AND IT'S SUCCESSFUL IN WATER, THEN WE CAN ASSESS WHY IT IS, IT WORKS WELL AT WATER AND SEE IF IT IS, CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO SOME OTHER DEPARTMENTS, BECAUSE THAT, THAT COULD BE A BENEFIT THAT WOULD BE NOT ONLY, UH, FISCALLY VALUABLE, BUT ALSO FOR, UM, EXPERTISE AND, AND EXPERIENCE IN A JOB THAT A PERSON ALREADY HOLDS WHO HAPPENS TO BE EXAMINED.

I AGREE WITH THAT.

AND ALSO THE, UM, CREATIVE STRATEGIES THAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE EXPLORING, WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THOSE TOO.

SO THE, THE, UH, THE STRATEGY SHARING GOES BOTH WAYS.

THAT SOUNDS GREAT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, VICE CHAIR, AL ALTER.

UH, NOT A QUESTION.

JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR HOSTING US OUT AT ULRICH.

OUR TEAM WENT OUT THERE AND GOT THE TOUR.

IT WAS REALLY COOL.

UH, I RECOMMEND ANYBODY, I KNOW, I'M SURE Y'ALL HAVE, BUT, UM, IT WAS REALLY NEAT TO SEE IT ALL IN ACTION, AND SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR LETTING US DO THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT.

I THINK, UM, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S, UH, THAT MAKES MY ENGINEER'S HEART HAPPY TO GET TO WALK AROUND THE TREATMENT PLANTS, SO I APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT WITH YOU.

AND ALSO I THINK THAT IT'S HARD TO APPRECIATE THE SCALE AND MAGNITUDE AND COMPLEXITY OF WHAT AUSTIN WATER DOES DAY IN AND DAY OUT UNTIL YOU SEE IT WITH YOUR OWN EYES.

SO WE ARE HAPPY TO HOST ANYONE WHO WOULD, UH, LIKE TO COME OUT AND TAKE A LOOK WITH US.

COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER.

THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO MOVING THESE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS FORWARD AND AND SERIOUSNESS WITH WHICH YOU'RE LOOKING AT THEM.

I WAS WONDERING, UM, YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE STRATEGIES FOR FILLING THE VACANCIES AND GAVE US THE NUMBERS THAT YOU'VE HIRED, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE VACANCIES LEVEL IS WHAT MATTERS AND WHERE WE'RE AT.

AND, AND JUST KNOWING HOW MANY YOU RECRUIT ISN'T GIVING THE FULL PICTURE.

SO CAN YOU SHARE WHAT THE CURRENT VACANCY RATE IS AT ULRICH AND WHERE IT WAS LIKE GOING BACK A BIT? SURE.

SO SPECIFIC TO ULRICH, OUR VACANCY RATE HAS NOT BUDGED VERY MUCH, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE, UM, HIRED INTO ULRICH.

WE HAVE HAD SOME ATTRITION FROM THERE AS WELL.

OVERALL, FOR THE, UH, OVERALL UTILITY, WE STARTED THE FISCAL YEAR AT JUST UNDER 15%.

UM, AND AS OF THE MOST RECENT, UM, UH, UH, PAY PERIOD 10, WE WERE AT 11%.

SO WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

IF WE STAY ON, UH, ON TARGET, THEN WE, UH, WE AIM TO FINISH THE YEAR CERTAINLY UNDER 10%, HOPEFULLY CLOSER TO 8%.

UM, WE DID SEE, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR ATTRITION NUMBERS HAVE BEEN QUITE HIGH, UH, OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS OR SO.

UH, THE LAST TWO MONTHS WE'VE SEEN A DECLINE IN ATTRITION RATES.

SO WE'RE HOPING THAT SOME OF OUR STRATEGIES ARE STARTING TO, UM, TO HAVE SOME SUCCESS.

SO, UM, DO YOU HAVE A, I WAS GONNA ASK YOU ABOUT THE RETENTION RATE.

UM, OBVIOUSLY THE ATTRITION RELATE RATE IS SIMILAR TO THAT.

IS THERE ANYTHING MORE YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT HOW THOSE RATES ARE TRENDING? SO THE

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FEWER FOLKS LEAVING, UH, AUSTIN WATER, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO CALL THAT A TREND, BUT WE'RE NOT READY TO SAY THAT YET.

SO BY OUR NEXT MEETING, WE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE, UM, HA BE ABLE TO TELL YOU IF THESE RETENTION STRATEGIES ARE REALLY, UM, MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR US.

THANK YOU.

AND I WANTED TO CLARIFY ON THE, UM, STRAIGHT PAY FOR THE EXEMPT, THAT'S, IF THEY ACTUALLY ARE CALLED TO GO TO AN EMERGENCY, IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE WORKING AN EXTRA COUPLE HOURS TO GET THEIR JOB DONE FOR THAT WEEK, THAT'S THEY'RE ON CALL TO GO TO AN EMERGENCY AND THEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY CALLED TO GO OUT TO WORK THE EMERGENCY.

THAT THAT IS CORRECT.

THIS IS VERY SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO RESPONDING TO AN EMERGENCY IN THE FIELD.

GREAT, THANK YOU.

IT'LL BE, BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT PILOT, UM, STANDS OUT.

ARE THERE OTHER, UM, RESOURCES OR MEASURES THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO EXPLORE WITH HR TO FURTHER, UH, REDUCE THE VACANCY RATE? WE HAVE, UH, I MENTIONED JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND PAY GRADE REVIEWS.

UM, WE'RE DOING THAT IN A, IN A FEW DIFFERENT AREAS, UM, TO LOOK AT SPECIFIC JOB FUNCTIONS.

UH, WE'RE DOING SOME RECLASSIFICATIONS OF POSITIONS.

UM, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY SORT OF OVERARCHING ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES BEYOND WHAT WE'VE IMPLEMENTED SO FAR THAT WOULD AFFECT ALL OUR STAFF, BUT WE'RE CONTINUING TO TRACK HOW THE ONES THAT WE HAVE DONE ARE PERFORMING, UM, IN ORDER TO HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THOSE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.

AND I HOPE THAT YOU'RE GETTING THE SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FOR ANY OF THOSE HR NEEDS, PARTICULARLY IF IT PERTAINS TO ULRICH.

SO WHEN YOU GAVE THE VACANCY RATES GOING FROM 15% THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO 11%, BUT ULRICH IS STAYING THE SAME, UM, UM, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUTSIDE OF ULRICH THEN? LIKE IS, I MEAN, ARE WE, ARE, ARE OTHER PLANTS ALL FINE OR ARE, IS IT, IS IT, IS THERE A PARTICULAR PATTERN? SO IN TERMS OF OUR TREATMENT PLANTS, UM, THE, UH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF STEPHANIE WOULD LIKE TO WEIGH IN ON THIS, BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE, UM, NUMBER OF STAFF THAT WE HAVE AT THOSE PLANTS IS, UM, SUCH THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE GAIN A FEW AND LOSE A FEW IT, THEN OUR ATTRITION RATE, YOU KNOW, OUR VACANCY RATE DOES NOT REALLY CHANGE THAT MUCH.

UM, HANCOCKS IS, UH, I BELIEVE EITHER FULLY STAFFED OR ONLY HAS A COUPLE OF VACANCIES.

DAVIS HAS IMPROVED A LITTLE BIT.

THEY'VE HIRED THE SAME AS ZURICH, BUT THEY HAVEN'T LOST A COUPLE OF THE WAY ULRICH HAS.

SO IT'S REALLY, UM, A MATTER OF, UM, JUST THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS FOR THOSE PLANTS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN SAY THERE'S A TREND WHERE WE'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT ONE PLANT OR ANOTHER.

UM, OTHER THAN WE'RE JUST REALLY FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING ALL THE PLANTS AND THEIR HIRING.

SO WITH RESPECT TO ULRICH, THERE WAS ALSO SOME MANAGEMENT CHANGES.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THOSE A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DETAIL? I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO HAVING, UM, DEDICATED OUR DIVISION MANAGER OVER TREATMENT TO ULRICH THAT'S IN PLACE.

AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK TO SUPPORT, UM, ALL OF OUR WATER TREATMENT TEAMS. WE HAD A, A LEADERSHIP MEETING, UM, EARLIER THIS WEEK ON MONDAY WITH ALL OF THE LEADERS FROM ALL THREE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS TO TALK ABOUT, UM, TO DO SOME LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN SUPPORT ALL OUR STAFF AND, AND, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THE DIVISION MANAGER WAS A PART OF THAT.

SO WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON, UM, SUPPORTING THE PLANTS AND, AND GETTING THEM THE RESOURCES THEY NEED, THE TRAINING THAT THEY NEED, THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING.

SO IT, IT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS.

SO AS YOU, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD IF YOU'RE, IF YOU DO NEED RESOURCES OR, OR THERE ARE OBSTACLES, UM, TO ADDRESSING THE VACANCIES, PARTICULARLY AT ULRICH, PLEASE, UM, BE IN TOUCH WITH US.

UM, AND OBVIOUSLY WITH THE CITY MANAGER, UM, BUT I THINK THAT'S A HIGH PRIORITY.

UM, IF WE WANNA REALLY ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES THAT WE EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST, WE HAVE TO GET ULRICH MORE STAFFED UP.

UM, AND SO ALL OF THESE EFFORTS ARE GREAT AND ULTIMATELY THEY WILL HELP US DO THAT, BUT, BUT WE DO NEED TO TRY TO MOVE THAT NEEDLE AS WELL.

IT IS CERTAINLY A PRIORITY TO AUSTIN WATER.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO, UM, ITEM FOUR,

[4. Updates on water supply and drought response.]

AND WHO DO WE HAVE FOR THIS PRESENTATION? KEVIN CRITTENDON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, WILL COME UP AND INTRODUCE THIS TEAM.

HELLO, MR.

[00:30:01]

WELCOME.

OH, YEAH, GOOD AFTERNOON.

THAT'S THE RADIOACTIVE, OH, SHUT UP.

SPEAKING.

SPEAKING.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR, POOL AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS KEVIN CRITTENDON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AT AUSTIN WATER.

UM, THIS AFTERNOON WE'RE HERE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH WATER SUPPLY AND DROUGHT CONDITIONED UPDATE.

UM, YOU MAY RECALL THAT, UH, A YEAR AGO IN, UH, WE'RE COMING UP, UH, ON IN JUNE, WE DID ENACT OUR, UH, STAGE ONE DROUGHT RESTRICTIONS AS RELATED TO AN ONGOING, UH, REGIONAL DROUGHT THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING.

UH, WE'VE BEEN, UH, FORTUNATE THAT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS AND MONTHS WE'VE BEEN SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF LOCAL RAINFALL.

SO THAT'S, UH, GENERALLY GOOD NEWS, BUT, UH, NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO REALLY CHANGE OUR CURRENT TRAJECTORY.

UM, WE'VE STILL, THE BASIN REMAINS IN DROUGHT CONDITIONS, AND WE STILL CONTINUE TO, UH, WATCH FOR POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL INFLOWS INTO THE HIGHLAND LAKES AND TRY TO JUDGE THAT IMPACT ON OUR WATER SUPPLY.

UM, OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE BEEN BUSY, UH, MONITORING WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS ACROSS OUR BASIN.

UH, THAT INCLUDES WORKING WITH THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY JUST TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE, UM, UH, ENACTING THEIR, UH, AMENDED, UH, UM, WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN.

UH, WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WATER CONSERVATION STAYS ON TOP OF MIND TO ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, WE CONTINUE TO PROMOTE ALL OF OUR WATER CONSERVATION OFFERINGS AND OF COURSE, OUR WATER CONSERVATION, UM, ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.

UH, AND THEN OF COURSE, WE CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS ON WATER FORWARD.

SO A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO.

UM, A AGAIN, WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT, UH, AS POTENTIALLY WEATHER PATTERNS MAY SHIFT IN THE LATE SUMMER, EARLY FALL, UH, TO REFLECT AN EL NINO CONDITION, WE'RE GONNA REMAIN OPTIMISTIC THAT PERHAPS WE GET SOME ADDITIONAL RAINFALL, AND THAT DOES MANIFEST ITSELF AS ADDITIONAL INFLOWS INTO THE HIGHLAND LAKE.

UM, BUT EVEN WITH THAT, WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL, UH, THERE'S A HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT WE WILL BE MOVING INTO A STAGE TWO DROUGHT RESTRICTIONS.

SO, UH, THIS AFTERNOON WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON THAT.

WITH ME IS TERESA LUTZ.

SHE'S OUR DIVISION MANAGER OF OUR ASSISTANCE PLANNING GROUP, AND THEY DO OUR, UH, WATER SUPPLY PLANNING IN ADDITION TO THEIR SYSTEM PLANNING WORK.

AND THEN KEVIN KLUGE, WHO IS OUR DIVISION MANAGER OVER WATER CONSERVATION.

THANKS SO MUCH.

I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION.

ARE WE LOOKING AT ANY, UH, DAM RELEASES FROM THE HILL C R AT ALL RIGHT NOW? THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY, AGAIN, LAKE TRAVIS IS VERY LOW.

UH, I THINK COMBINED STORAGE BETWEEN LAKE TRAVIS AND, AND BUCHANAN IS ABOUT 50%.

SO, SO LAKE BUCHANAN IS ALSO LOW, AS LOW AS TRAVIS.

THEY'RE BOTH LOW, I THINK.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE EXACTLY.

THERE'S TYPICALLY LCR WILL KEEP A LITTLE MORE WATER IN BUCHANAN JUST TO TRY TO KEEP IT AS FAR UPSTREAM AS THEY CAN, BUT IT'S REASONABLY BALANCED.

UM, I'LL SIMPLY SAY THAT THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM IF WE ACTUALLY START GETTING SOME, SOME WATER, SO THAT'LL BE A GOOD THING.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

I AGREE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MS. LUTZ.

ARE YOU NEXT? NEXT? YES.

APPRECIATE THAT.

WELL, WELCOME.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.

YOU TOO.

APPRECIATE THAT.

UH, CHAIR POOL AND, AND, UH, COMMITTEE MEMBERS APPRECIATE THAT.

I'M THERESA LUTZ, DIVISION MANAGER FOR SYSTEMS PLANNING.

I WANNA, UM, GIVE A QUICK UPDATE ABOUT OUR WATER SUPPLY.

WE HAVE, UM, THIS MAP SHOWS OUR WATER SUPPLY RESERVOIRS THAT, UH, THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER, UM, MANAGES AND, AND OPERATES LAKES TRAVIS AND BUCHANAN, UPSTREAM OF, UM, AUSTIN, INCLUDING OUR INTAKES AT OUR THREE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS, HANCOCK'S, ULRICH, AND, UH, DAVIS.

UM, CITY OF AUSTIN HAS ACCESS TO UP TO 325,000 ACRE FEET OF WATER SUPPLY FROM THIS, UH, COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM.

THAT SUPPLY COMES FROM A COMBINATION OF OUR CITY OF BOSTON, SENIOR RUN OF RIVER RIGHTS, AND THEN ALSO WATER SUPPLY CONTRACTS WITH L C R A, WHERE THEY PROVIDE FIRM WATER AND BACKUP TO OUR RUN OF RIVER RIGHTS.

SO RUN OF RIVER RIGHTS ARE JUST, UH, ACCESS TO WATER IN THE STREAM, IF, IF IT'S AVAILABLE, UH, IN A PRIORITY, FIRST IN TIME, FIRST IN RIGHT SYSTEM THAT THE T C Q, THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OVERSEAS THAT SYSTEM.

BUT THE, WE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH L C R A, AS I MENTIONED, FOR, UH, RELEASES OF FIRM WATER FROM LAKES, TRAVIS AND BUCHANAN, TO FIRM UP THOSE WATER RIGHTS SO THAT IF THERE IS NOT ENOUGH WATER IN THE, IN THE RIVER TO MEET OUR NEEDS, UM, UNDER OUR, UH, RUN OF RIVER RIGHTS, THEN L C R CAN RELEASE THAT STORED WATER AND PROVIDE THAT WATER TO US.

AS A A POINT OF REFERENCE, LAST YEAR WE USED ABOUT 175,000 ACRE FEET.

UH, SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE KIND OF ON A RELATIVE SCALE TO OUR, TO OUR ACCESS TO UP TO 325,000 ACRE FEET.

[00:35:01]

UH, IT SHOWS SEVERAL THINGS.

I'LL POINT OUT A FEW THINGS ON THE, ON THE GRAPH.

WE'RE EXPERIENCING VERY LOW INFLOWS TO THE HIGHLAND LAKES, UH, THIS YEAR, SO FAR THIS YEAR, FROM JANUARY TO APRIL, WE'VE HAD THE LOWEST AMOUNT OF INFLOWS SINCE THE LAKES WERE COMPLETED IN 1942.

THIS IS OUR LOWEST YEAR THUS FAR.

AND LAST YEAR, 2022 WAS THE LOWEST YEAR, UH, FOR THE WHOLE YEAR IN THAT SAME, UH, PERIOD OF RECORD.

SO WE'RE EXPERIENCING VERY LOW INFLOWS.

UH, ANOTHER, UH, IN THOSE, UH, 2022 INFLOWS ARE SHOWN THERE IN GREEN.

AND THE 2023 THUS FAR THIS YEAR IN PURPLE, UH, ALSO SHOWN ON THE GRAPH ARE AVERAGE INFLOWS FOR THE 2008 TO 2015 PERIOD.

THAT PERIOD'S SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THAT'S THE NEW DROUGHT OF RECORD FOR OUR BASIN HERE IN THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER BASIN.

UH, AND THAT IS AN AVERAGE OVER THAT, UH, NEW DROUGHT OF RECORD PERIOD.

THAT WAS JUST FAIRLY RECENTLY.

HERE WE REFER TO IT AS THE 20 TEENS DROUGHT.

IT'S OUR NEW DROUGHT OF RECORD FOR THIS BASIN.

ALSO FOR REFERENCE SHOWN IN THE, UH, SO THOSE ARE IN THE DARK BLUE BARS.

THE, THE DROUGHT OF RECORD AVERAGE AND THEN ALSO SHOWN FOR REFERENCE ARE THE AVERAGES FOR THE PERIOD OF RECORD ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1942 WHEN THE LAKES WERE COMPLETED.

SO, JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE MONITOR ON A REGULAR BASIS.

WE, UH, CONTINUALLY, UM, LOOK AT THE INFLOWS AND THE AMOUNT OF INFLOWS AND KEEP TRACK OF THIS PARTICULAR GRAPH ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRACK THOSE, BUT JUST RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE IN A VERY LOW INFLOW PERIOD.

THIS IS ANOTHER KEY WAY TO LOOK AT OUR WATER SUPPLY PICTURE.

THIS IS THE COMBINED STORAGE IN LAKES, TRAVIS AND BUCHANAN.

THOSE ARE OUR TWO WATER SUPPLY RESERVOIRS.

AS I AS MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, L C R A OPERATES THOSE UNDER A WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT IS, UH, APPROVED BY THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND IS PART OF THEIR PERMIT FOR OPERATING THESE RESERVOIRS.

AND WATER SUPPLY.

UH, THE RESERVOIRS ARE JUST, UH, THE COMBINED STORAGE IN THOSE IS 2 MILLION ACRE FEET, A LITTLE OVER 2 MILLION ACRE FEET.

AND THE AMOUNT THAT'S IN THOSE COMBINED RESERVOIRS RIGHT NOW IS A LITTLE OVER 1 MILLION.

SO THE LEVEL IS ABOUT 51%, UM, IS THE AMOUNT OF STORED WATER THAT WE HAVE IN THE RESERVOIRS.

NOW.

WE HAVE OUR DROP CONTINGENCY PLAN TRIGGERS THAT ARE, UH, PEGGED OFF OF THE COMBINED STORAGE LEVELS.

AS MENTIONED, WE'RE CURRENTLY IN STAGE ONE.

WE ENTERED THAT IN ABOUT JUNE LAST YEAR IN 2022 WHEN THE COMBINED STORAGE DROPPED BELOW 1.4 MILLION ACRE FEET AT THAT POINT.

AND, UM, THE NEXT STAGE WILL BE THE, UH, STAGE TWO TRIGGER.

IF THE COMBINED STORAGE CONTINUES TO DROP, IT WILL BE, UH, THAT WOULD BE, UH, AT 900,000 ACRE FEET OF STORAGE.

BUT AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE JUST AT ABOUT 51%, JUST A LITTLE OVER, UH, 1 MILLION ACRE FEET RIGHT NOW.

WANTED TO POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE.

UH, WE MADE A NOTATION AT THE BOTTOM, I THINK YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT THE, UH, THE RELEASES FROM THE HIGHLAND LAKES, UH, FROM, UH, STORED WATER DOWN THROUGH, UM, THE LAKES.

TRAVIS AND BUCHANAN, UH, L C R A RELEASES WATER, UM, FOR INTERRUPTABLE PURPOSES FOR, UH, AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION IN THE LOWER THREE COUNTIES, UH, TOWARD, DOWN TOWARDS MATAGORDA BAY.

AND, UM, THOSE RELEASES HAVE, UH, STOPPED SINCE MID LAST YEAR, 2022.

UM, THERE, THE L C R A OPERATING UNDER THEIR WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN, UH, UH, PROVIDES THIS INTERRUPTABLE TYPE WATER.

AND WHEN WE'RE IN DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND CONDITIONS ARE MET, UH, TO ALLOW FOR THOSE, UM, RELEASES TO BE STOPPED.

THEN, UM, THAT'S TRIGGERED BY THE WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN.

SO RELEASES HAVE, HAVE, WERE DOWNSTREAM RICE IRRIGATION STOPPED MID LAST YEAR, AND THEN THEY WERE ALSO STOPPED FROM 20, UH, 12 THROUGH 2015 IN THE 2018 DROUGHT.

BEFORE YOU MOVE OFF OF THAT, YES.

IF I CAN ASK, THERE WAS, UH, THERE WERE SOME CONVERSATIONS A YEAR OR TWO AGO AND MAYBE BEFORE THAT ABOUT THE, UM, INTERRUPTABLE STORED WATER AND THE, THE, UM, QUALITY OF THE WATER AND THE, UM, AMOUNT FLOWING DOWN TO MATAGORDA BAY AND THE IMPACTS ON THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THE FISHERIES AND SHRIMPERS AND SO FORTH.

SO DURING THAT, THAT DISCUSSION, THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT

[00:40:01]

IS, DO YOU HAVE ANY, IN, DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATES ON THAT? UH, HAS THAT CONVERSATION CONTINUED OR ANY STATUS? YEAH.

DO YOU KNOW THERE, THERE IS CONTINUING TO BE, UH, I THINK, UM, UH, THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY L C R A IS LOOKING AT POTENTIAL, UH, ADDITIONAL, WHAT THEY REFER TO AS OFF CHANNEL RESERVOIR, UM, UM, LOCATIONS, POTENTIALLY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN MATAGORDA BAY AND AUSTIN ALONG IN THE AREA WHERE YOU WERE MENTIONING.

I THINK THEY'RE STILL LOOKING AT THAT AS PART OF THEIR, AS PART OF OUR REGIONAL WATER PLANNING PROCESS REGION.

K.

AND THEN ALSO LCR IS, UH, WORKING ON A, A WATER SUPPLY RESOURCE REPORT THAT THEY'RE DEVELOPING WHERE THEY'RE, UH, LOOKING AT WATER SUPPLIES AND WATER SUPPLY NEEDS IN THE BASIN, SO THAT, THAT MAY COME OUT OF THAT, THAT MAY BE, UM, PO POTENTIALLY RELEASED SOMETIME LATER THIS YEAR, POSSIBLY EARLY NEXT YEAR.

THIS, UM, WATER SUPPLY REPORT THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON.

SO WE'LL LOOK AT THAT.

YEAH.

AND SEE.

BUT, UM, THEY, THEY ALSO HAVE, UM, BEEN, ARE VERY INTO CONSTRUCTION ON ANOTHER OFF CHANNEL RESERVOIR CALLED THE ARBUCKLE RESERVOIR.

OKAY.

WHICH IS FURTHER DOWN IN THE BASIN.

IT'S CLOSER TO THE, TO THE COAST, UHHUH , THAT WOULD BE A RESERVOIR THAT COULD PICK UP AND STORE, UH, FLOWS IN THE RIVER CLOSER TO, TO THE BAY THAT COULD BE USED FOR, UM, FIRM WATER CUSTOMERS IN THAT AREA.

AND ALSO INTERRUPTABLE CUSTOMERS IF THE WATER'S AVAILABLE FOR THAT.

THAT IS STILL, HASN'T BEEN COMPLETED.

THEY'VE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH, UM, CONSTRUCTION AND LEAKAGE DUE TO THE, UH, SOME OF THE, UM, SOIL AND OTHER CONDITIONS THAT THEY'VE ENCOUNTERED IN THAT CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.

SO I DON'T HAVE A VERY LATE, UH, VERY UP TO DATE, UH, ESTIMATE ON WHEN THAT MIGHT BE COMPLETED, BUT THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT AND TRYING TO GET THAT COMPLETED.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO PURSUE, UM, AT A, AT OUR NEXT MEETING, DEPENDING ON WHAT OTHER AGENDA ITEMS WE HAVE ON IN FRONT OF US DIRECTOR AND FOR MY NEWER COLLEAGUES.

UM, ON, ON THE DAIS, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF, DRAW A COUPLE OF CONNECTIONS TO THE DOTS CUZ WE'VE GOT THIS NATURAL, THE, SO THE FRESHWATER FLOWS GOING DOWN TO THE GULF ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE ECONOMY BELOW AUSTIN, RIGHT? AND ABOVE US, THE RANCHERS AND SO FORTH NEED THE WATER AS WELL.

SO THERE'S THIS NATURAL TENSION TO MAKE SURE AUSTIN GETS ENOUGH WATER.

UM, AND THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT, AND I THINK MAYBE IT WAS IN LATE 1990S, EARLY TWO THOUSANDS, IT WAS MAYBE UNDER THEN MAYOR WATSON WHERE WE CRAFTED THAT AGREEMENT WITH THE L C R A TO HAVE THE ADDITIONAL WATER SUPPLY MADE AVAILABLE TO THE CITY.

AM I GETTING MY DATE? HOW AM I DOING ON MY DATES? YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

UH, 1999.

1999.

AND, BUT NOW WHAT YOU CAN, AND YOU CAN TELL FROM THOSE INFLOWS THAT EVEN THEN WHEN WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT IT, IT'S NOWHERE NEAR AS BAD AS IT IS NOW.

SO THE NATURAL TENSION WITH AUSTIN AND THE DOWN RIVER FOLKS, AND THEN HERE COMES TESLA AND THEY ARE TAKING A SIGNIFICANT, THEY'RE DRAINING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER.

AND WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE WATER BUDGET THAT TESLA WAS GOING TO, UM, TAKE FROM THE COLORADO RIVER AND I'D, I'D LIKE TO ALSO GET AN UPDATE ON, ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMMODATED.

I THINK IT HAS, BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET UPDATED ON THAT.

UM, SO ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE KIND OF AT PLAY AND WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED, BUT WE MAY NOT HAVE ALL THAT MUCH INFLUENCE, UM, OTHER THAN JUST RESPONDING AND REACTING TO THE CONDITIONS AS THEY, AS THEY ACCRUE.

AND THE, UH, AS I MENTIONED, THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY OPERATES, THE STORED WATER OPERATES THE, UH, LAKES TRAVIS AND MCCANNON IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN APPROVED BY T C Q.

WE ARE VERY INVOLVED AS A, AS STAKEHOLDERS IN THE UPDATE PROCESS THAT WAS COMPLETED, I BELIEVE IT WAS COMPLETED IN 2016.

AND, UH, AND THEN ANOTHER UPDATE PROCESS THAT WAS COMPLETED IN 2020 TO UPDATE THE WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN TO REFLECT THESE, UH, THE, UH, IN LOWER INFLOWS THAT WERE SEEN DURING THE DROUGHT, NEW DROUGHT OF RECORD.

AND THERE IS ANOTHER UPDATE TO THAT BECAUSE THAT'S A, THAT'S A FORUM AND A, UM, PROCESS WHERE ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS AND ALL OF THE BASIN INTERESTS AND NEEDS ARE LOOKED AT KIND OF HOLISTICALLY IN RELATION TO OPERATION OF THE RESERVOIR RESERVOIRS.

UH, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE UPDATE

[00:45:01]

AND SO THAT'S A, UM, I JUST THOUGHT I SHOULD MENTION THAT BECAUSE IT'S, UH, KIND OF A SCHEDULED, UH, FORUM WHERE WE'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO, UH, PUT, HAVE INPUT TO THAT PROCESS THAT IS KEY IN, IN L C'S DECISION MAKING ABOUT HOW THE, THE, UH, STORAGE, HOW THE STORED WATER IS MANAGED.

IS THAT UNDER THE AUSPICES OF REGION K OR IS THAT TCE, EQ OR T HEALTHCARE? C OKAY.

YEAH, TCQ.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS HOW MUCH WATER IS TESLA TAKING OUT OF THE COLORADO RIVER? IT DOESN'T AFFECT US DIRECTLY BECAUSE IT'S SOUTH OF US, UM, BUT IT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT ON, UH, FOLKS NEEDING THE FRESHWATER INFLOWS BELOW, UM, BELOW TRACKS COUNTY.

OKAY.

I THINK I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO WANTED TO STOP YOU AT THAT POINT, SO YOU CAN PROCEED.

OKAY.

AND THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UH, NEXT WANNA SHOW THE, UH, THE WATER WEEKLY GRAPH THAT WE HAD AT, AT THAT TIME WHEN, UH, WE NEEDED TO PROVIDE THE, UH, THE PRESENTATION.

UH, IT, IT VERY MUCH SHOWS THE, UH, THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS FOR THE STATE AND THEN ALSO UPSTREAM OF AUSTIN, UM, WHERE THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER BASIN IS.

WE'RE IN DROUGHT CONDITIONS THERE.

THIS WEEK'S, UH, PICTURE LOOKS A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN, UH, BUT IT'S STILL, WE'RE STILL EXPERIENCING DROUGHT CONDITIONS IN THE COUNTIES UPSTREAM.

AND WE, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE MORE INTENSE AREAS I THINK ARE SHRINKING A LITTLE BIT WITH THIS RAIN THAT WE'RE HAVING.

AND WE'RE, WE'RE EVEN GETTING SOME BENEFICIAL RAIN TO THE BASIN TODAY.

ALSO DURING THE DAY.

WE GOT SOME OVERNIGHT, UM, IN TODAY, BUT, UH, IT'S, IT'S, WE'RE STILL IN DROUGHT CONDITIONS.