* 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. [00:00:03] RICHARD, [*This meeting was joined in progress* ] [1. Recommend authorizing execution of all documents necessary or desirable including, if applicable, an interlocal cooperation agreement, with the Austin Public Facilities Corporation for the purpose of developing the Northeast Service Center at 8301 Johnny Morris Road, for an amount not to exceed $245,000,000.] WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA, AND THAT IS THE NORTHEAST SERVICE STATION NOW. YEAH. SO, UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS. UM, THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING. UM, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS SPECIAL MEETING. THIS KIND OF CAME ALONG PRETTY QUICK. WE WEREN'T, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, FINANCIAL SERVICES AND OUR, OUR DEVELOPER AND DIDN'T THINK WE'D HAVE OUR NUMBERS IN TIME, BUT WE DID. SO WE'RE HAPPY ABOUT THAT. SO WE WERE ANXIOUS TO GET THIS PROJECT MOVING AND ANXIOUS TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT. SO, UM, WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING IS REQUESTING, UM, YOUR, UH, RECOMMENDATION FOR US TO, UM, EXECUTE ALL THE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY, UM, TO, UH, FOR AN INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH THE AUSTIN PUBLIC FACILITIES CORPORATION, UM, FOR THE, UH, NORTHEAST SERVICE CENTER. UM, ACTUALLY, YEAH, SO THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, UM, THAT RELATE TO THAT PROJECT. THE OTHER TWO DON'T NECESSARILY RELATE TO A RR. ONE'S A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE, UH, THE OTHER PROJECT. UM, SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND I HAVE A, UH, I PUT TOGETHER A PRESENTATION, UM, I HAD PROMISED, UM, LAST TIME WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, THAT I WOULD COME BACK TO YOU AND KIND OF GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. SO THIS IS THAT UPDATE AND, UM, WE ARE HOPING TO GO TO COUNCIL HERE DECEMBER 12TH, UM, TO GET THE APPROVAL FOR THE FUNDING. UM, AND WITH THAT, LET ME GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION. THIS FIRST, UH, PAGE HERE, THIS FIRST SLIDE. UM, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THIS, UH, RENDERING OF THE ADMIN BUILDING. THIS WOULD BE A JOINT ADMIN BUILDING BETWEEN FLEET, UH, MOBILITY SERVICES AND A RR. WE'D LIKE TO KEEP OUR WOW, UH, IMPORTANT, UH, PARTNER DEPARTMENT'S CLOSE TO US, AND I DON'T KNOW, WE CAN GET MUCH CLOSER TO FLEET, SO WE GOT 'EM IN OUR BUILDING. SO, UH, THAT'S A GOOD THING THAT'LL HELP FACILITATE ANY TYPE OF, UH, COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENTS. UM, SO LEMME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, THE PROJECT. UM, SO THE CITY PURCHASED THAT PROPERTY ON JOHNNY MORRIS ROAD IN 2013. UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, UM, ON PROGRAMMING AND DESIGN CRITERIA. WE FINISHED THAT, UH, THIS PAST, UH, IN 2023. UH, IN 2024, UH, COUNCIL APPROVED, UH, FUNDING FOR THE DESIGN. UM, THAT WAS ABOUT EIGHT AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FOR THAT. WOW. UM, THEN WE WENT TO COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 12TH TO CHANGE THE ZONING TO PEE ON THAT PROPERTY SO THAT WE COULD DO THE NECESSARY CONSTRUCTION CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO DO OVER THERE. UM, FINANCIAL SERVICES AND WORKED TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH STREAM REALTY. THEY WERE THE DEVELOPER THAT PROPOSED ON THIS PROJECT AND, UH, WE'RE CHOSEN TO, TO LEAD IT. UM, WITH, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT AUTHORIZATION UP TO 245 MILLION. NOW, THIS IS NOT JUST A RR UM, A R'S PORTION OF THIS. IT'LL BE ABOUT 109 MILLION. THE BALANCE OF IT WILL BE, UH, GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS, UH, FLEET, UM, AND OTHER, UH, DEPARTMENTS. UM, AND I'LL EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT WHY ON THAT. UM, AND, UH, WE HAD ALSO DONE THE, UH, INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE AUSTIN, AUSTIN PUBLIC FACILITIES CORPORATION. THIS IS HOW WE'RE DOING THIS PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. USUALLY A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP OCCURS ON PRIVATE LAND. THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. THIS IS WHAT ACTUALLY ON CITY LAND . SO THIS, UH, REQUIRED CITY STAFF TO BE A, TO BE INNOVATIVE. SO, UM, THE CITY CREATED THE AUSTIN PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION AND THEY'RE ABLE TO DO A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THROUGH THAT ON, UM, CITY OWNED LAND, WHICH, UH, REALLY EXPEDITES THE PROJECT AND HELPS, KEEPS COSTS LOW. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE SAME PROCESS THAT THE CITY USED ON THE, UM, PDC BUILDING, UH, AND I BELIEVE THE AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS AS WELL. SO SIMILAR PROJECTS. UM, SO AS I MENTIONED THAT FIRST SLIDE KINDA SHOWED THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES OF THE DEPARTMENT AND FOR FLEET, UM, IT WOULD CONTAIN OBVIOUSLY OFFICES. WE HAVE A CONFERENCE CENTER IN THERE TO HAVE, UM, MEETINGS, UM, CITYWIDE MEETINGS. WE'VE ALSO ARE MAKING THAT, UH, CONFERENCE CENTER AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE ADJACENT TO THE COLONY PARK COMMUNITY AND THERE'S, UH, A DEFINITE NEED FOR SPACE OUT THERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WE'RE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH, UH, COLONY PARK. UH, AND, AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE, UM, THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ON THERE AS A, A BENEFIT TO THAT COMMUNITY, UM, THAT THE FACILITY ALSO HAVE TRAINING FACILITIES. SO, UM, A RR UH, ACTUALLY DOES ALL THE CDL TRAINING FOR OUR OWN STAFF. SO FOLKS COME IN THAT WE HIRE WHO DON'T HAVE A CDL. WE, UH, WE HAVE A, UH, CERTIFIED PROGRAM THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS, THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO, TO DO ALL THE TRAINING. WE, UH, WE'RE BUILDING A TRAINING TRACK ON THIS FACILITY, UH, AND THEN WE WILL, UH, BE ABLE TO, UM, DO ALL THAT. AND, AND WE ARE ALSO A DPS AUTHORIZED TESTING CENTER FOR CDLS. SO THIS HELPS US OUT A LOT. 'CAUSE PREVIOUSLY WE THEN, ONCE SOMEONE WAS READY TO GET TESTED, WE WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE THEM TO NEW BRAUNFELS FOR THE ACTUAL TEST. UM, SO A LOT, UH, A LOT OF CHALLENGES THERE. UM, WE'VE ALSO BEEN IN SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH, UM, SOME OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS ABOUT A RR TAKING ON THE ROLE OF TRAINING ALL CDL DRIVERS IN [00:05:01] THE CITY BECAUSE OF OUR PROGRAM. UM, THERE'S, UH, VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FACILITIES ON THE NORTH PORTION, YOU'LL SEE, AND WE'LL HAVE SOME, UH, DIAGRAMS HERE LATER. I CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT WHEN WE GET THERE. THERE'S A, UM, WAREHOUSING THERE FOR, UH, THE FLEET DEPARTMENT, UH, VEHICLE MAKE READY. SO WHEN THE CITY RECEIVES VEHICLES, THEY HAVE TO HAVE DECALS APPLIED AND CERTAIN EQUIPMENT INSTALLED, RADIOS AND, UH, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, UM, THIS, UH, OPERATION WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT. UH, VEHICLE PARKING. UM, WE'LL HAVE A PARKING GARAGE FOR STAFF OUT THERE. UM, A HUGE PARKING AREA FOR THE TRUCKS THAT WE'RE HAVING OUT THERE. UM, PLUS FLEET. ALSO, WE'LL HAVE, UM, PARKING OUT THERE FOR, UM, VEHICLES THAT ARE COMING IN, LIKE I SAID, THAT NEED TO HAVE, UH, UH, DECALS OR WHATEVER PUT ON THEM. UM, ALSO ANY VEHICLES THAT MAY BE GOING TO AUCTION, I BELIEVE ARE GONNA BE GOING OUT THERE AS WELL. SO, UH, AND THEN WE HAVE A VEHICLE WASHING BAY THERE, I THINK A FOUR BAY, UH, VEHICLE, CAR, UH, TRUCK WASH. UM, WE'LL HAVE BETWEEN THE, THE WHOLE SITE, WE'LL HAVE ABOUT 750 EMPLOYEES OUT THERE, SO QUITE A BIT. UM, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD SITE. UM, A LOT OF THE TRAFFIC WILL, UH, THE EGRESS FROM THE PROPERTY IS ONTO JOHNNY MORRIS ROAD, SO WE'RE GONNA, THE MAJORITY OF THE TRAFFIC WILL HEAD NORTH ON JOHNNY MORRIS TO TWO 90 AND KIND OF STAY OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS. WE WILL HAVE SOME LIMITED TRUCKS THAT GO SOUTH ON JONI MORRIS JUST FOR THOSE LOCAL ROUTES. UM, BUT THE MAJORITY OF TRUCKS WILL TAKE THE, THE, UH, HIGHER, UH, THE HIGHWAYS, UH, MENTIONED THE MEETING SPACE. UM, WE'VE ALSO BEEN MEETING, UM, FLEET HAS BEEN MEETING WITH A ISD TO WORK ON A VOCATIONAL, UM, TRAINING PROGRAM WHERE THEY'RE ABLE TO WORK WITH STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO, UH, TRAIN THEM TO BE, UH, MECHANICS. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A SHORTAGE OF THAT, UH, RIGHT NOW. UM, SO VERY MUCH IN DEMAND. SO, UM, FLEET IS, UH, TAKING THIS INNOVATION TO GO AHEAD AND, AND GO AHEAD AND CREATE A PROGRAM AND HELP TRAIN THE FOLKS THAT THEY'RE GONNA NEED IN THE FUTURE. SO, UH, GREAT FACILITY TO DO THAT. AND, UH, THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN GOING WELL. UM, WE HAVE A, UH, A PLANNED PUBLIC GARDEN ALONG JOHNNY MORRIS ROAD. UM, WE ALSO HAVE, UH, AN AREA FOR FOOD TRUCKS THERE. UM, IF WE CAN, UH, MAKE IT WORK, UH, I GUESS THERE'S A CRITICAL NUMBER OF STAFF THAT HAVE TO BE AT A BUILDING FOR FOOD TRUCKS TO REALLY COME THERE. SO WE'RE GONNA SEE KIND OF WHERE WE FALL ON THAT. BUT FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT, WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE THAT OUT THERE. UH, AND THE VEHICLE SERVICE BAY, THAT FLEET WILL BE OFFERING OUT OF, UH, WE'LL HAVE CONDITION SPACE TO KIND OF IMPROVE THE WORKING CONDITIONS 'CAUSE IT'S, UH, THOSE, UH, VEHICLE FACILITIES GET EXTREMELY HOT. AND, UH, REALLY, UH, THE CRUX OF A LOT OF THIS PROJECT IS REALLY IMPROVING CONDITIONS FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF, OF THE, OF BOTH A RR AND, UH, FLEET MOBILITY SERVICES. UM, 'CAUSE, UM, BOTH GROUPS, UM, HAVE SOME CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS TO WORK IN. SO WE WANT TO MAKE THIS, UH, AS NICE FACILITY AS WE CAN AS FAR AS SUSTAINABILITY AND WELLNESS. THIS WILL BE IN AUSTIN ENERGY, UH, MINIMUM THREE STAR. WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET TO FOUR STAR. WE'RE, UM, SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO ON THAT. UH, IT WILL BE A WELL, UH, SILVER FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE SPACES. WE HAVE A LOT OF, UH, ONSITE WATER REDUCTION STRATEGIES. WE HAVE LOW FLOW FIXTURES. WE'LL BE COLLECTING RAINWATER AND CONDENSATE, UH, ON THE BUILDING. UM, OBVIOUSLY NATIVE PLANTS, ENERGY STAR APPLIANCES, AND WE WILL BE READY FOR PURPLE PIPE. THE RECLAIMED WATER PLUMBING, THERE'S, IT'S NOT, UH, NEAR US AT THIS POINT, BUT WHEN, UH, THOSE, UH, LINES ARE EXTENDED TO US, UH, WE WILL, UH, BE ABLE TO USE THAT RECLAIMED WATER FOR SOME OF THE WATER USES IN THAT BUILDING. UH, AND OF COURSE WE WILL HAVE SOLAR POWER, UH, AT THAT FACILITY. UH, I BELIEVE PRIMARILY ON THE SOUTH PORTION OF THAT FACILITY. AND I'LL, I'LL SHOW YOU A MAP ON THAT, JUST 'CAUSE IT WAS CHEAPER, UH, FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO PUT IT ON THE SOUTH PORTION OF THE, UH, INSTEAD OF THE NORTH. UM, OBVIOUSLY WE'LL HAVE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING OUT THERE AS WE, UH, START, UH, DIPPING OUR TOES INTO ELECTRIC, UH, HEAVY VEHICLES. UH, WE LEARNED SOME HARD LESSONS DURING SOME OF THESE WINTER STORMS. SO WE WILL HAVE EMERGENCY GENERATORS FOR BACKUP POWER. WE HAVE BACKUP WATER. UM, WE'LL MAKE, UH, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S, AS FAR AS LIGHT POLLUTION, WE HAVE, THERE'S CERTAIN STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW AS, UM, AS FAR AS LIGHTING AND THE PARKING LOTS THERE, ESPECIALLY WITH, UH, BEING ADJACENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, YOU KNOW, LOW EMITTING TER UH, MATERIALS. WE REQUESTED THAT THE CONTRACTORS MINIMIZE THE USE OF PLASTICS TO THE DEGREE THEY CAN IN THE BUILDING. UM, OBVIOUSLY WE, WE ALSO HAVE RESTORATIVE SPACES AND, AND LACTATION ROOMS FOR, UM, FOR THE WOMEN. UM, INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS, ACOUSTICAL IMPROVEMENTS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD REALLY PUSHED FOR, WHICH IS VERY INNOVATIVE, WE FEEL IS, UM, THE ABILITY TO DISASSEMBLE SOME OF THESE BUILDINGS. SO IN THE FUTURE, IF WE SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, MAYBE THIS LANDS BETTER FOR SOMETHING ELSE. UM, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE BUILDINGS CAN BE EASILY DISASSEMBLED AND, UH, AND, UH, RELOCATED OR REUSED. UM, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, WE'RE REALLY [00:10:01] INTERESTED IN. 'CAUSE THAT'S REALLY KIND OF A, UH, CASE STUDY. WE WANNA SHOW FOLKS HOW THIS CAN BE DONE AND, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE WILL, WE WILL, WE'LL TAKE THE LUMPS AND SEE WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T, AND THEN, AND KIND OF HELP, UH, FUTURE FOLKS THAT WANT TO TRY THIS AND, UH, HOPEFULLY THEY CAN LEARN FROM OUR EFFORTS. UM, SO HERE'S KIND OF THE, THE LAYOUT, UH, OF THE AREA ON THE LEFT. UH, THERE ON THE MAP, THAT GREEN AREA IS THE, THE LOCATION YOU CAN SEE IT'S, UH, TO THE, KIND OF THE SOUTH OF IT IS THE COLONY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, TO THE WEST. THAT WHITE LINE THERE IS JOHNNY MORRIS ROAD AND KIND OF, KIND OF SEE A GRAY LINE KIND OF ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THAT PROPERTY THAT CURVES UP TO THE TOP. THAT'S THE, UH, THAT RAIL LINE, THE FUTURE GREEN LINE. MM-HMM . SO WE ARE, UM, LOOKING TO SEE, THEY'RE LOOKING AT A STOP. I MEAN, THEY HAVEN'T PICKED THE EXACT LOCATION AT THIS POINT, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT STOP AS CLOSE TO OUR FACILITY AS POSSIBLE. SO MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES CAN USE, UH, THAT LIGHT RAIL ONCE THAT IS IN EFFECT, UH, TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT TO WORK. SO ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, UM, AGAIN, THIS IS JUST KIND OF A, A PLAN VIEW OF THE PROPERTY. THE, THE PICTURE ON TOP IS REALLY THE, THE NORTH PORTION OF THAT PROPERTY. THERE'S REALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS WHOLE PROPERTY, IT'S 132 ACRES. IF YOU DIVIDE INTO THIRDS A RR AND FLEET KIND OF HAVE, UH, SOME OPERATION ON THE NORTH SIDE. THE MIDDLE THIRD IS BASICALLY A RIP PARION ZONE WITH A WET WEATHER CREEK AND SOME GRASSLANDS THAT WILL REMAIN UNTOUCHED. THERE'S SOME ALSO SOME, UH, TRANSMISSION LINES IN THERE. SOUTH PORTION IS ALL FLEET. THERE'S DIFFERENT SERVICE CENTERS THERE FOR THEM TO WORK ON. UH, AMBULANCES, FIRE TRUCKS, POLICE, UH, OTHER CITY DEPARTMENT VEHICLES, UH, THE VEHICLE MAKE READY. SO BASICALLY THE SOUTH THIRD OF THAT PROPERTY IS ALL FLEET OPERATIONS DOWN THERE. SO, UM, AS FAR AS THE BUILDINGS, LEMME, I'LL GO BACK UP TO THE NORTH THERE. SO THAT WHITE, UH, BUILDING IN THE UPPER, IS THERE A POINTER ON THIS? NO. OKAY. UH, THAT WHITE, UH, BUILDING AT THE VERY TOP THERE, THAT'S THE, A PARKING GARAGE THAT WILL BE, UH, FOR THE FACILITY IMMEDIATELY DOWN BELOW THAT KIND OF TO THE LEFT, UH, LOWER LEFT IS OUR, THE ADMIN BUILDING FOR FLEET, NARR. UH, IMMEDIATELY TO THE RIGHT, THAT OTHER BLUE BUILDING, UH, IMMEDIATELY TO THE RIGHT OF THE, UH, PARKING GARAGE. THAT WILL BE THE A RR, UH, OPERATIONAL SERVICE CENTER. SO VERY SIMILAR TO THE OPERATION WE HAVE ON TODD LANE, WHERE WE WILL, UM, STAFF WILL REPORT TO WORK AND THEN, UH, LEAVE FROM THAT LOCATION. IMMEDIATE LEAD TO THE RIGHT OF THAT, UH, IS THE, UH, SERVICE CENTER, UH, TO 20 BAY FACILITY. AND THAT BUILDING IS STRICTLY FOR A RR UH, TRUCKS. SO WE HAVE, UH, FINALLY WE HAVE A DEDICATED FACILITY TO, TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON OUR TRUCKS. UM, IF YOU LOOK KIND THE, THE KIND OF THE BUILDING'S A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN THAT FROM THE LEFT. UH, THAT BUILDING THERE IS OUR, UH, TRAINING BUILDING. IT HAS THAT, THE ONE THAT'S KIND OF ADJACENT TO THAT POND THAT, OR THE DETENTION PONDS, THAT'LL BE OUR TRAINING BUILDING. YOU CAN KIND OF SEE TO THE RIGHT OF THAT, THE TRAINING TRACK. UH, DPS ACTUALLY, UM, PRESCRIBES WHAT THAT TRACK MUST LOOK LIKE. SO WE HAD TO KIND OF, UM, MODEL THAT AS FAR AS FOR THE CDL TESTING, CERTAIN DISTANCES HAD TO BE, UH, ESTABLISHED, BUT IT ALSO HELPS US WHEN WE WERE TRAINING DRIVERS. 'CAUSE CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, UM, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A GOOD PLACE TO DO IT. WE USED TO HAVE SOME, UH, PARTS OF TOWN WHERE SOME HOMES HAD BEEN REMOVED AND IT WAS A CITY STREET, SO WE WOULD PRACTICE DOWN THERE. UM, BUT, UH, THOSE AREAS HAVE BEEN GETTING REDEVELOPED. UM, SO WE'VE KIND OF BEEN WITHOUT A HOME. SO THIS WILL BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS. UM, UH, RIGHT ABOVE THAT TRAINING TRACK, THAT FIRST BUILDING, I BELIEVE THAT IS THE FUELING STATION. UH, SO THAT WILL HAVE, UM, UH, DIESEL, I THINK ELECTRIC CHARGERS. AND, UM, I BELIEVE, UH, REGULAR GASOLINE, UH, AT THAT FACILITY. UH, ADJACENT TO THE RIGHT OF THAT IS, UH, OR TRUCK WASH. UH, AND THEN LOWER, UM, KIND OF THAT LOWER RIGHT THERE IN THAT PARKING LOT. UM, IT SAYS CARTS BUILDING. SO THAT WILL BE WHERE WE RECEIVE AND ASSEMBLE CARTS. CURRENTLY WE HAVE STAFF AT OUR OLD FM, A 12 LANDFILL. UM, THEY HAVE TO DO THAT WORK OUT, UH, IN THE ELEMENTS. UM, SO THEY'LL FINALLY BE ABLE TO WORK UNDERCOVER. UM, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. SO, UM, HERE'S SOME RENDERINGS. AGAIN, THIS IS KIND OF THE ADMIN BUILDING. UM, IT LOOKS VERY NICE, BUT IT'S REALLY A VERY UTILITARIAN BUILDING. I MEAN THAT, UH, THE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE UNDERSIDE OF THAT, UH, THE ROOF OVERHANG THERE LOOKS LIKE WOOD, BUT IT'S, IT'S METAL THAT LOOKS LIKE WOOD. IT'S, SO IT'S, WE'RE GIVEN THE ILLUSION OF A, YOU KNOW, LITTLE BIT HIGHER GRADE MATERIALS. BUT, UH, WE REALLY WERE EXCITED, UM, THE WAY IT LOOKED. AND, UM, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO GET THAT STARTED. UM, THIS IS A, A COURTYARD KIND OF OUT, UH, FRONT OF THAT. THIS WOULD KIND OF BE IN AN AREA WHERE MAYBE THE, UH, THE [00:15:01] FOOD TRUCKS WOULD BE. UH, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE BRICK OR THE STONE AREA THERE, KIND OF BEHIND THE TREES ON THE, UH, RIGHT. THAT WOULD BE THE KIND OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER THAT WE COULD HAVE. UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD COULD COME IN TO HAVE EVENTS IF THEY WANTED, OR, UM, IF THE CITY HAD OTHER, YOU KNOW, MEETINGS AND SUCH. IF WE WANTED TO HAVE SWAC THERE, WE CERTAINLY COULD. WE'VE, WE'VE MADE THE IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO HAVE, UM, THE, THE ELECTRONIC NEEDS, THE, THE, UH, DIGITAL NEEDS. SO, UM, THAT WILL BE AN OPTION, UH, IN THE FUTURE AS WELL. UH, THE BUILDING RIGHT ABOVE THAT COMMUNITY CENTER IS A, A SMALL TERRACE AND REALLY KIND OF LIKE A BREAK AREA FOR STAFF. UM, IF YOU'RE REALLY SQUINT, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE DOWNTOWN. UM, IT'S, UH, IT'S BEEN A, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. UM, AS WELL, THIS, UH, THIS HERE WILL BE THE OPERATIONS BUILDING. THIS WILL BE A ONE STORY BUILDING, UM, ON THE FACILITY HERE. SO THIS WILL BE AGAIN, LIKE OUR TODD LANE FACILITY WHERE STAFF WILL REPORT TO, UH, FOR THE DAY. THIS IS ONE OF THE FLEET, UM, VEHICLE MAINTENANCE CENTERS. UM, THEY ALL, UM, PRETTY MUCH LOOK ALIKE ON THE ENTIRE PROPERTY. AND I THINK FLEET IS REALLY LOOKING AT THE SAME STYLE FOR, UM, FOR CONSISTENCY AROUND FOR FUTURE FACILITIES AS WELL. SO, UM, AGAIN, THIS WAS A 20 BAY FACILITY THERE. VERY NICE. JUST ANOTHER ANGLE OF THAT. YOU CAN SEE THE WATER COLLECTION TANKS AND, UH, JUST SOME OF THE, THE BAY DOORS THERE. UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE BUILDING THERE, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE CLEAR STORY WINDOWS LETTING A LOT OF NATURAL LIGHT INTO THE BUILDING. YEAH, SEE THAT RIGHT THERE. THIS IS KIND OF OUR SCHEDULE HERE. YOU KNOW, WE STARTED THIS PROCESS, THE RFP PROCESS BACK IN NOVEMBER OF, UH, 2023. UM, GONE THROUGH A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF DESIGN WORK, UM, TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. UM, HOPEFULLY ON THE 12TH WE GO. UM, AND WE GET A FAVORABLE, UH, VOTE. UM, BY THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY, WE'LL BEGIN THE, UH, THE PERMIT PROCESS. WE EXPECT THAT TO LAST ABOUT SIX MONTHS. THAT WOULD PUT US AROUND JULY AND BUDGET, UH, BY SOMETIME IN JULY. WE HOPE TO PUT OUR FIRST, UH, SHOVEL IN THE GROUND, START DIGGING. AND BASICALLY WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A TWO YEAR PERIOD TO GET THIS BUILT. SO HOPING TO MOVE IN NO LATER THAN, UH, OCTOBER OF 2027. CAMERA SPEED. THAT'S IT. OKAY. THAT'S IT. OKAY. SET. UM, COMMISSIONERS, THAT'S, UH, OUR PRESENTATION AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE. THANK YOU, RICHARD. I MEAN, THIS IS KIND OF THE HOPE, THE FUTURE OF, OF A RR AND IT'S, YOU GUYS ARE PROBABLY GONNA GET SPOILED IN THIS FANCY, FANCY BUILDING, ESPECIALLY THAT SECOND STORY TERRACE. BUT, UH, YEAH, VERY, VERY NICE. THANK YOU. UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? LOOKS GOOD TO ME. I WILL, I WILL. LET ME, LET ME, UH, LET ME DO, ADD SOMETHING THOUGH. WHEN I DID, UH, I THINK REPORT BACK HERE LAST MORNING, AT LEAST TO AUDEN FINANCE COMMITTEE, I DON'T KNOW IF I, UM, HAD THE RATES AT THE TIME THAT WE SPOKE. UM, BUT WHEN WE MET WITH AUDEN FINANCE, UM, BASICALLY SOME THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE WE HAD THAT MEETING. SO THE RATES, UH, RATE IMPACT AT THAT POINT IS A LITTLE LOWER. UM, IT'S ACTUALLY HIGHER NOW THAN IT WAS BACK THEN. UM, ONLY BECAUSE THAT A RR VEHICLE SERVICE CENTER ON THAT NORTH SIDE HAD BEEN MISTAKENLY, UM, ALLOCATED TO THE GENERAL FUND TO PAY FOR. AND SINCE THAT BUILDING IS DEDICATED TO US, I SAID THAT THAT HAS TO GO UNDER US, OUR BUDGET THAT, YEAH, THAT INCREASED OUR SHARE OF THE PROJECT. WE WERE ABOUT 23% OF THE PROJECT THAT JUMPED US UP TO ABOUT 40, 46%. SO, UH, MUCH HIGHER, UM, THAN WE ANTICIPATED. UM, BUT ALL THESE THINGS ARE REALLY LONG OVERDUE AND THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF. AND JUST A SILLY QUESTION, WHAT, WHAT'S THE CLEARANCE OF THE, UH, ACTUAL BAYS? THE, UH, SHOP BAYS? THAT'S, I KNOW WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION 'CAUSE UH, BUT I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER. UM, THE DOORS ARE, THE DOORS ARE E FEET, I BELIEVE, AND THE INSIDE IS 35 FEET. OH, WONDERFUL. SO 18 FOOT BAY DOORS AND A 35 FOOT, UM, CEILING SPAN. SO FLEET'S REALLY PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THIS TO KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE SPACE THAT THEY NEED TO, UH, TO DO THE WORK. 'CAUSE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THEY, UM, THEY HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE IN A CONSTANT BATTLE WITH THE PRIVATE, UM, AUTO REPAIR SHOPS AND DEALERSHIPS MM-HMM . FOR THOSE MECHANICS. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GO TO A, A, A CAR DEALER AND THERE'S VERY NICE SERVICE CENTERS TO WORK IN. SO THEY REALLY, THEY REALLY GOTTA UP THEIR GAME TO KIND OF RETAIN THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE. SO, A QUESTION, GO AHEAD. UM, AND ARE, YOU [00:20:01] KNOW, I'VE HEARD THIS CALL A TRANSFER STATION, ARE YOU ACTUALLY GOING TO KEEP ANY KIND OF MATERIAL THERE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME OR IS IT THERE WILL BE NO TRANSFER STATION ON THIS PROPERTY. OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO THIS, YEAH. OKAY. THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. THANK YOU. HOW MANY CHARGING UNITS OR CENTER? SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE LEVEL TWO AND LEVEL THREE AND I, I, I'LL ASK CHRISTINE WHITNEY TO, TO COME UP AND GIVE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS 'CAUSE IT'S, IT'S FLUCTUATED SO MUCH. 'CAUSE AT ONE POINT WE REALLY WANTED TO HAVE A REALLY ROBUST SYSTEM, BUT THAT WOULD'VE ACTUALLY REQUIRED AUSTIN ENERGY TO BUILD A NEW SUBSTATION BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL DEMAND. AND IT WOULD'VE COST, IT WOULD'VE TAKEN US LONGER TO BUILD A SUBSTATION THAN THE WHOLE FACILITY. SO, SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN WITH THE EXISTING AVAILABILITY OF POWER GENERATION FROM THAT SUBSTATION AND THEN LAYING THE CONDUIT AND EVERYTHING. SO WHEN THERE IS MORE AVAILABLE POWER, THEN WE CAN UPGRADE MUCH EASIER. BUT CHRISTINE, HELLO CHRISTINE WHITNEY. UM, THERE SHOULD BE 24 LEVEL TWO CHARGERS AND EIGHT LEVEL THREE WITH SIX OF THOSE BEING AT THE FILLING STATION AREA. SO, UM, BUT AGAIN, WE WERE LIMITED BY HAVING TO NOT, WE DID NOT WANNA BUILD A SUBSTATION, SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO WAIT FOR THAT. BUT WE ALSO ARE GOING TO HAVE THE CONDUIT, LIKE, NOT, NOT THE ACTUAL, UM, NOT THE ACTUAL PIECES FOR THE, THE FUTURE, UM, CHARGING STATIONS, BUT JUST THE, UM, THE CONDUIT, LIKE THE HOLE IN THE GROUND WHERE WE COULD RUN AT SOME POINT TO CHARGE VEHICLES SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GO AND RIP UP THE PARKING LOT LATER IF WE DECIDE WE WANT A BUNCH OF CHARGING STATIONS IN THAT AREA. WELL, I MEAN, THIS IS A GREAT START. I MEAN, IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO, TO START SLOW WITH THE, UH, POTENTIAL OF, UH, ELECTRIFYING THE FLEET AND YEAH, I DON'T KNOW THAT ERCOT COULD HANDLE THIS GOING FULLY ELECTRIC. YEAH. . SO REALLY WE DON'T WANT TO UNPLUG THE CITY HERE, BUT, UH, NOW THIS IS, UH, AGAIN, I, I'VE SAID THIS AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. I THINK JAN HAS A QUESTION. JAN, I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD JAN, PLEASE. UH, YEAH, JUST A COUPLE QUICK THINGS. YEAH, I, I THINK IT'S GREAT TO GET THOSE LEVEL TWOS IN THERE SINCE THEY'RE BETTER ON THE BATTERY LIFE ANYWAY AND IT WON'T PUT AS MUCH TAX ON THE SYSTEM. SO, UM, IT SEEMS LIKE JUST LETTING THOSE CHARGE OVERNIGHT WHERE THE TRUCKS END UP BEING PARKED ANYWAY WOULD BE YOUR BEST BET. SO IS, ARE THE LEVEL TWOS GONNA BE SPREAD AROUND THE PROPERTY? YEAH, THEY'LL BE LEVEL, THERE'LL BE LEVEL TWO FOR BOTH CITY VEHICLES AND VISITORS AND THE, UM, EMPLOYEE, UM, PARKING AREA. SO THEY'LL, THEY WILL BE SPREAD AROUND THERE. YES. YEAH. GREAT. AND THEN YOU MENTIONED SOLAR. ANY IDEAS OF THE SCOPE OF WHAT THAT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH OF THE POWER FOR THE BUILDINGS AND HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL POWER IT MIGHT PROVIDE? LIKE WHAT'S THE SCALE OF SOLAR YOU'RE LOOKING AT? I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW MANY, LIKE, HOW MANY MEGAWATTS OF ENERGY IT'S PRODUCING. UM, I'M SORRY, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT, JAN. WE'LL, WE'LL LET, WELL LET, LET ME FIND THAT OUT AND WE'LL GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU. YEAH, THAT'D BE GREAT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. I, I CAN TELL YOU THOUGH, A LOT OF THE PARKING ON THE SOUTH PORTION IS ACTUALLY THE, THERE'S COVERED PANELS OVER THE PARKING, SO, UM, AND THE BUILDINGS AS WELL. SO THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BIT DOWN THERE. YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING. I MEAN, WHEN YOU MENTIONED DOING GENERATORS, I HAVE YOU LOOKED INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF USING SOLAR TO POWER BATTERIES, WHICH WOULD NOT ONLY ALLOW FOR BACKUP POWER, BUT ALSO ALLOW YOU TO, UM, OFFSET, UH, YOU KNOW, THE LOAD BECAUSE WHEN THE TRUCKS ARE DRIVING AROUND AND IT'S THE SUNNIEST PART OF THE DAY, THEY COULD BE STORE WEARING POWER AND THEN WHEN THE TRUCKS COME BACK AT NIGHT, THEY COULD BE OFFLOADING. I DON'T KNOW, JUST SEEMS LIKE THAT'D BE A NICE, UH, LEVELING FUNCTION THERE IF WE HAD SOME NICE BATTERY BACKUPS. YEAH, I, I KNOW WE HAD TALKED WITH THE, THE CONTRACTORS AND THE, AND THE, UM, THE, THE VENDORS THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT WHEN WE BROUGHT UP, SO I, I CAN'T EXACTLY ANSWER WHAT THEY FOUND, BUT I KNOW THAT THAT WAS LOOKED AT. THE ONE PROBLEM WITH HAVING TO USE VEHICLES AND KIND OF, YOU KNOW, USING THAT POWER AT NIGHT AND THEN KIND OF OFFLOADING THAT POWER IS THAT CONSTANT CHARGING AND DRAINING OF THAT BATTERY ACTUALLY WEARS THAT BATTERY DOWN RATHER QUICKLY. SO THEN THAT KIND OF SHORTENS THAT BATTERY LIFE ON THAT TRUCK. SO I, I THINK, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE READY RIGHT NOW TO BE LOOKING AT ANY TYPE OF SYSTEM WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE USING OUR TRUCKS TO KIND OF STORE POWER FOR, FOR GENERATOR OR SOMETHING. JUST TO BE CLEAR, I WASN'T SAYING THE TRUCKS NECESSARILY WOULD BE STORING BATTERY, ALTHOUGH THAT WOULD BE A BACKUP, BUT IT WOULD BE MORE OF THE, UM, INDUSTRIAL BATTERIES THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR, [00:25:01] UH, PROVIDING KIND OF SMOOTHING OUT THE POWER CURVE. RIGHT. UH, BUT DID YOU HAVE YEAH, LOOK, WE WERE LOOKING AT THE INDUSTRIAL BACKUP, THE BATTERIES FOR THE SOLAR AND AT THE SIZE WE WOULD NEED, I MEAN WE'RE TALKING A BUILDING SIZE BATTERY, IT'S REALLY, IT WASN'T REALLY PRACTICAL AND WE DECIDED THAT IT REALLY WITH THE, IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE ABSOLUTELY HAD ENOUGH POWER TO OPERATE OUR FACILITIES IF WE HAD ANOTHER ICE STORM WHEN WE WERE DOWN FOR FIVE DAYS, THAT UM, THAT NATURAL GAS WOULD BE THE WAY TO DO THAT. WHILE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE RUNNING ANYTHING ON NATURAL GAS AT ANY OTHER POINT, UM, FOR THE BACKUP WE WOULD, THAT'S HOW OUR GENERATORS ARE GONNA RUN. OKAY. BUT AS FAR AS HAVING THE BACKUP BATTERIES, IT JUST WASN'T PRACTICAL, UM, FOR HAVING THAT. UM, YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR INDULGING. THANK YOU. YA. THANK YOU BUDDY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS HEARING NO OTHER QUESTIONS? YEAH, I, I THINK, OH, I GOT ONE MORE. OH, CAITLYN, GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. UM, YEAH, I THINK THIS IS REALLY EXCITING. UM, JUST LOOKING AT THE IMAGES OF THE ACTUAL FACILITY, I'M SEEING THAT THERE'S A LOT OF CONCRETE, WHICH MAKES SENSE. THIS IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, A TRUCK FACILITY. UM, BUT I'M CURIOUS, WAS THERE ANY CONSIDERATION FOR ANY ASPECT OF PERMEABLE COVER TO BE USED SINCE THIS IS KIND OF A SENSITIVE WATER AREA? UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE LOOKED AT PERMEABLE COVER, BUT I KNOW WE DID LOOK AT LOW CARBON CONCRETE, UM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ENDED ON THAT. SO LET ME HAVE CHRISTINE COME BACK UP ON WHAT THAT ONE, THE WEIGHTED TRUCKS WOULD BE ABOUT WHAT THE LOW CARBON CONCRETE, UM, WE, WE ARE ACTUALLY HAVING TO HAVE A SPECIFIC TYPE OF CONCRETE OUT THERE BECAUSE OF THE SULFUR CONTENT OF THE SOIL. AH, IT, UM, IS NOT GOOD FOR REGULAR CONCRETE. SO I THINK THAT IS ACTUALLY LIMITING THE TYPE OF CONCRETE THAT WE CAN USE. UM, BUT AS FAR AS HAVING, UM, PERVIOUS COVER OUT THERE, UM, WE ARE IN THE GARDEN AREA. I KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT, BUT WE HAVE HAVE THE PARKING LOT WITH, UM, FOR ALL OF OUR TRUCKS AND I MEAN, IT JUST, YEAH, IT LEAVES A LOT OF CONCRETE. RIGHT. THANK YOU CHRISTINE. CAITLYN, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? CAITLYN? OH, HELLO? YES. YES, AMANDA, I HAVE, I HAVE A QUESTION, UM, ON, ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE. SO RICHARD, JUST FIRST OF ALL, WONDERFUL PLAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE VERY DETAILED LOOK AT WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE VISION FOR THE SITE IS IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET AND HOW MUCH IS GOING TO BE ALLOCATED FOR THIS PLAN. UM, I HEARD YOU SAY ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO BEGIN TO, FOR, TO SHOVEL ON SITE AND THEN TWO YEARS TOTAL. SO I'M THINKING ABOUT COSTS, CHANGING COSTS OF MATERIALS, CONSTRUCTION, LABOR. OH, ABSOLUTELY. TO WHAT EXTENT IS THAT BUILT IN? LIKE WHAT SORT OF INFLATION IS BUILT INTO THE, THE PLAN? WELL, UH, I BELIEVE IT'S A NOT TO EXCEED PRICE, SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH SET. WE DO HAVE A CONTINGENCY BUILT IN THAT 245 MILLION OF ABOUT, GOSH, I WANNA SAY FOUR OR 5 MILLION. UM, BUT IT'S PRETTY SAD ONCE, UH, ONCE WE SIGN THE DEAL, THOSE, THOSE COSTS ARE, ARE SET. EXCELLENT. AND AND THE SIGNING IS BEFORE THE PERMITTING, SO THAT WOULD HAPPEN AS SOON AS YOU GET THE OKAY. FROM COUNSEL? CORRECT. OH, THAT'S GREAT NEWS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AMANDA. COMMISSIONERS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR HEARING NO OTHER QUESTIONS. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. THIS IS A DISCUSSION ACTION ITEM. I MOVE THAT WE PASS THIS ITEM. CRAIG, THANK YOU. CRAIG MOVES. DO I HEAR A SECOND? LET'S DO IT. YOU ON SECONDS. AMANDA, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT YOU HERE. VOTES. YEP. COMING UP. CAN YOU, OH, THERE ARE YOU ALMOST ARE. HOW'S THAT? OH YES. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, EVERYBODY, RAISE YOUR HAND REAL QUICK, REAL QUICKLY. YES. ALL THOSE IN PAPER, RAISE YOUR HAND. AND WAVE. WAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. ANY, UH, ANYBODY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? NO, UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR TAKING TIME OUT ON A KIND OF A CHALLENGING DECEMBER 5TH TO, TO BE OUT HERE. RICHARD STAFF, YOU GUYS TOO, THANK YOU FOR, FOR DOING THIS, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS PROJECT AND, UH, OH GOD, I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO INVITE [00:30:01] YOU OUT IN TWO YEARS FOR THE, THE GROUNDBREAKING. WELL, MORE IMPORTANTLY, MERRY CHRISTMAS GUYS. AH, THANK AND HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADJOURN. YES, YES. THERE'S 2020 SECONDS UP HERE. SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU GUYS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. CIAO. THANKS. BYE ALL. BYE. * 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.