May 21, 2025 Water and Wastewater Commission

NOW, UH, NEXT WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AND I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER.

OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

UH, SIR, IF YOU'D LIKE TO STEP UP, GREETINGS CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.

MY NAME IS STUART HARRY HIRSCH.

I TELL PEOPLE I'M STU FROM DISTRICT TWO EACH YEAR, THIS COMMISSION MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET.

AND TWO OF THE ITEMS THAT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE ON INVOLVE REPAIRS FOR LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS, THE POOREST HOMEOWNERS AMONG US.

AND MANY OF THOSE REPAIRS ARE UNDER FEDERAL PROGRAMS, HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH PLUMBING, BUT SOME OF THEM INVOLVE PLUMBING SPECIFICALLY, UH, PLUMBING FIXTURES, UH, WATER HEATERS AND WATER LINES AND SEWER LINES THAT ARE FAILING.

AND THE HOMEOWNER JUST DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES THIS YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE.

THE DEMAND FOR THOSE KINDS OF SERVICES FROM WITH CITY ASSISTANCE IS SO GREAT THAT BY MID BUDGET YEAR, ALL THE MON MONEY IS ALREADY SPENT OR ALLOCATED, GIVEN WHAT WE THINK IS GONNA HAPPEN WITH THE FEDERAL BUDGET AND THE LACK OF SUPPORT WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT MONEY FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, UH, IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE CITY LOOK AT ITS ROLE IN HELPING LOW INCOME, UH, OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSING TO NO LONGER HAVE PLUMBING VIOLATIONS, WHICH IS SIMPLY WHAT THE PROGRAM DOES.

FULL DISCLOSURE, I WORKED FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN FROM 1977 TO 2008 AND WAS ONE OF THE 12 STAFFERS WHO WROTE THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND THE CRITERIA MANUALS BACK IN 1987.

SO YOU CAN BLAME IT ALL ON ME AND MY COLLEAGUES.

UH, I'M URGING YOU TO CRITICALLY LOOK AT HOW MUCH WAS SPENT BY MID, UH, BUDGET YEAR THIS YEAR, AND HOW MANY, UH, PEOPLE ARE IN THE QUEUE TO GET REPAIRS, BUT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BECAUSE THE FUNDING HAS RUN OUT AND THERE PROBABLY WON'T BE ANY BUDGET AMENDMENTS IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR BETWEEN NOW AND OCTOBER 1ST.

SO PLEASE HELP THE POOREST AMONG US THAT ARE HOMEOWNERS.

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RENTAL PROPERTY AT ALL.

IT HAS TO DO WITH OWNER OCCUPIED HOMEOWNERS AND PEOPLE WHO EARNED AS LESS THAN AS LITTLE AS $10,000 A YEAR TRYING TO STAY IN THEIR HOME AND MAKING SURE THAT THEIR WATER AND SEWER LINES AND PLUMBING FIXTURES ARE NOT LEAKING.

SO, HOPE, HOPE TO COME BACK TO YOU AFTER THE MANAGER RELEASES HIS PROPOSED BUDGET, UH, USUALLY IN JULY, AND THE COUNCIL WILL, I'M SURE, ADOPT THE BUDGET BY MID-SEPTEMBER LIKE IT DOES EVERY YEAR.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, STU.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TO COME AND SPEAK.

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

SO MOVING ON TO THE NEXT LINE ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF THE APRIL 16TH MINUTES.

UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, UM, ABOUT THE APRIL 16TH MINUTES HEARING? HEARING NONE? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

COMMISSIONER MARZOLO SECONDING.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SO I HAVE COMMISSIONER PENI, UH, MOTIONING FOR APPROVAL UNDER

[00:05:01]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR FOR APPROVAL? UH, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

OKAY, MOVING ON TO THE DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. I WILL CALL ROLL AND YOU WILL LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED TO, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR RECUSING YOURSELF ON ANY OF THE ITEMS. SO, COMMISSIONER TUON, UH, NO, RECUSALS, I DO HAVE A QUESTION ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

VOTE IS UNANIMOUS FOR APPROVAL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[DISCUSSION AND ACTION]

COMMISSIONER MARZULLO, NO QUESTIONS? NO RECUSALS.

COMMISSIONER PIN, NO QUESTIONS, BUT I HAVE RECUSALS ON FOUR, FIVE, AND 11.

THE FIRM I WORK FOR AS A SUB CONSULTANT ON THOSE PROJECTS.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

TRULY NO QUESTIONS.

NO RECUSALS.

OKAY, COMMISSIONER MORIARTY? NO QUESTIONS.

COMMISSIONER REYES? NO RECUSALS UH, QUESTIONS ON 18 AND 19? OKAY, COMMISSIONER PENGU, NO, RECUSALS.

QUESTION ON NUMBER FOUR.

NO RECUSALS.

OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA WE HAVE ITEMS NUMBER TWO, NUMBER THREE, NUMBER 6, 7 8, 9, 10, 12, 13.

UM, I'LL SAY I'LL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND SAY IT, 15, 16, 17, AND 20.

UM, BUT FOR ITEMS NUMBER 14, WE ARE GOING TO WITHDRAW AND POSTPONE THAT, UM, ITEM FOR THIS, UH, COMMISSION MEETING.

UM, AND THAT WILL BE POSTPONED TILL THE JUNE 18TH COMMISSION MEETING.

SO ITEM NUMBER 14 WILL NOT BE PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

AND THEN ALSO SINCE ITEM NUMBER 20 IS RELATED TO A STAFF BRIEFING, WE WILL WITHHOLD, UM, ITEM NUMBER 20 AND VOTE ON THAT ONE AFTER THE BRIEFING FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

COMMISSIONER TUONG SECOND.

SO FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA, DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OR IS THERE ANY WELL, YEAH, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

SO COMMISSIONER MARLO MOTIONS FOR APPROVAL.

SO ALL COMMISSIONERS IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THE VOTE FOR APPROVAL IS UNANIMOUS.

HI, UH, COLLEEN KIRK WITH AUSTIN WATER, THAT IS CORRECT THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL STILL REVIEW THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, SO THE WATER AND THE WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE REVIEWED AS WELL AS, UH, THERE ANY TECH STOP PERMITTING WOULD BE COORDINATED THROUGH THAT.

MOVING ON TO THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. SO WE WILL BE READING ITEMS NUMBER FOUR, NUMBER FIVE, NUMBER 11, UH, NUMBER 18 AND NUMBER 19.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE WATER PROTECTION WATERSHED PROTECTION STAFF HERE FOR ITEMS NUMBER 18 AND 19.

SO I WILL READ THOSE FIRST BECAUSE THEY REQUESTED TO, UH, UH, BE ABLE TO LEAVE A LITTLE SOONER.

UM,

[Items 18 & 19]

SO YEAH.

SO, UH, UH, ITEM NUMBER 18, RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST.

NUMBER 61 40 FOR WASTEWATER SERVICE ON A 10 ACRE TRACK LOCATED AT TEN SIX FIVE SIX NORTH FM SIX 20 WITHIN THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE, UNINCORPORATED TRAVIS COUNTY AND AUSTIN WATERS SERVICE AREA.

SO I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER REYES, YOU HAD A QUESTION.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

UM, I SEE THAT THERE WERE VOTES FOR FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, UM, TO NOT RECOMMEND, AND I SEE THAT THERE IS A MEMO FROM AUSTIN WATER THAT PROVIDES BACKUP.

UM, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS PROPERTY HAS PULLED ITSELF FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ETJ.

UM, SO IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THE PROPERTY ITSELF WOULD BE SUBJECT TO ANY CITY OF AUSTIN SPECIFIC SITE PERMITTING, IT'S TRAVIS COUNTY IS MY UNDERSTANDING.

HOWEVER, THE WATER AND WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE IN THIS SER SHOULD BE GOING THROUGH CITY OF AUSTIN REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF SOME SORT.

UM, IS MY UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE THAT'S IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.

UM, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALSO PART OF, UM, POTENTIALLY, UH, TX DOTS JURISDICTION AS WELL.

FM SIX 20, I BELIEVE.

SO IT'D BE REVIEWED BY BOTH CITY OF AUSTIN, WHICH INCLUDES AUSTIN WATER AND TRAVIS COUNTY.

AND I WANTED TO GET CLARIFICATION ON IF MY UNDERSTANDING IS CORRECT ON HOW THAT WOULD GET REVIEWED, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SER.

[00:10:04]

SO IT'LL BE PROCESSED AS A SITE PLAN, D PERMIT MOST LIKELY.

AND, AND JUST TO CLARIFY, CLARIFY, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UH, WE ARE VOTING ON THE PUBLIC WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS BASED OFF THE SCR RESULTS IS MY UNDERSTANDING.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

UM, THOSE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE.

THE, UH, COMMISSIONER REYES FOR 19, WERE THERE SIMILAR QUESTIONS FOR 19? I WOULD SAY THAT 18 AND 19 ARE RELATED.

UM, THEY HAVE SIMILAR, UH, ONE IS FOR WATER, UM, SER, THE OTHER ONE'S FOR WASTEWATER FOR THE SAME PROPERTY.

SO THE QUESTIONS WOULD APPLY TO BOTH? WOULD APPLY TO BOTH.

SO, UM, SO I GUESS SINCE WE PULL 'EM OUT OF CONSENT, WELL VOTE INDIVIDUALLY.

RIGHT.

CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YES, SIR.

COMMISSIONER MORIARTY, AM I TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE, UH, WATERSHED PROTECTION IS NOT APPROVING THESE? UH, YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT HAS RECOMMENDED AGAINST APPROVAL OF THE SCRS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? OKAY, WELL, I GUESS WE WILL VOTE, UH, FOR ITEM NUMBER EIGHTEENS.

SO ALL COMMISSIONERS VOTING IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE.

OH, EXCUSE ME.

I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE, SORRY, BASED OFF THE QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED AND HOW THE INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD BE REVIEWED BY AUSTIN WATER, UM, THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE VOTING ON.

UM, I'M MOTIONING TO APPROVE, UM, ITEMS NUMBER 18 AND 19.

OKAY, I MAKE A SECOND.

DO WE WANT TO DO THESE TOGETHER OR? OKAY, SO EIGHT.

SO FOR 18 AND 19, SO I HAVE A, A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COMMISSIONER REYES AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER PENI.

ALL THOSE VOTING AND APPROVAL, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

SO I HAVE, UM, COMMISSIONERS TEON MARLO, PENN REYES, UH, PENI, UH, MAXWELL GAINES, ALL VOTING IN FAVOR.

UH, COMMISSIONER TULEY IS ABSTAINING.

AND THEN COMMISSIONER MORIARTY? I'M AND NO VOTING? NO.

SO NOW WE'LL MOVE BACK TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[4. Recommend approval to authorize a contract for construction services for the East Allandale White Rock Neighborhood Water and Wastewater System Renewal – Rebid Project for Capital Delivery Services with Facilities Rehabilitation, Inc., in the amount of $4,799,250, plus a $479,925 contingency, for a total contract amount not to exceed $5,279,175. Funding: $5,279,175 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water.]

ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS RECOMMEND A APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE EAST ALLENDALE WHITE ROCK NEIGHBORHOOD WA WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEM RENEWAL REBID PROJECT FOR CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES WITH FACILITIES REHABILITATION INC.

IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,799,250 PLUS A, UH, $479,925 CONTINGENCY FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT KNOCKED TO A SEED, $5,279,175 FUNDING.

UM, OF THAT AMOUNT IS AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET OF AUSTIN WATER.

SO COMMISSIONERS WHO HAD QUESTIONS? GOOD AFTERNOON.

UM, MY QUESTION IS, WHY WAS THE PROJECT REBID? IT SAYS REBID PROJECT FOR CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES.

WHY WAS THE PROJECT REBID? SO, KEVIN KOHLER, AUSTIN WATER DIVISION MANAGER FOR PIPELINE, UH, CIP DELIVERY, THE PROJECT WAS REBID BECAUSE, UH, WITH THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR, IT WAS A CONTRACTOR FROM OUT OF TOWN AND THERE WERE PERFORMANCE AND SCHEDULE ISSUES.

AND SO THE CONTRACT, UM, WAS FINISHED AND THEN WE REBID IT.

SO WE DIDN'T, DID NOT GO TO THE SECOND HIGHEST BIDDER, WE JUST DECIDED TO CANCEL THE CONTRACT AND THEN GO REISSUE A BRAND NEW CONTRACT.

I MEAN BRAND NEW BID AND PICK ANOTHER CONTRACTOR.

CORRECT, CORRECT.

AND, AND I WAS CAREFUL WITH MY WORDS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T TERMINATE THE CONTRACT.

IT WAS A MUTUAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CONTRACTOR AND, AND THE CITY TO JUST END THE CONTRACT.

UM, BECAUSE THEY WERE FROM OUTTA TOWN.

THEY WEREN'T USED TO THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROCK AND OTHER THINGS.

AND SO, UM, IT WAS AGREED TO JUST MUTUALLY END THE CONTRACT AND THEN REBID IT.

[00:15:02]

UM, I DIDN'T FOLLOW WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN THIS A LITTLE SLOWER? OKAY.

WE HAD A CONTRACTOR UNDER CONTRACT TO DO THIS JOB AND THEY GOT INTO THE JOB A LITTLE BIT AND THEN THEY FOUND THE, THE, THE, THE ARRANGEMENTS, WHATEVER THOSE WERE NOT TO THEIR SATISFACTION.

AND THEY CAME TO YOU AND SAID, WE WOULD LIKE TO EXIT.

SO IS THAT HOW IT, SO LET ME RE CLARIFY THAT.

SO WE HAD A CONTRACT WITH THE CONTRACTOR.

UM, THEY WERE FROM OUT OF TOWN.

THEY WERE BEHIND SCHEDULE AND THE QUALITY OF THE WORK WAS, UM, IN QUESTION.

AND, UM, THEY WERE WAY BEHIND SCHEDULE.

AND SO WE HAD MEETINGS WITH THEM AND WE, UM, DISCUSSED TERMINATING THE CONTRACT.

UM, THROUGH THE NEGOTIATIONS AND DISCUSSION IN OUR CAPITAL CONTRACTING OFFICE WAS VERY INVOLVED WITH THAT.

IT WAS DECIDED TO MAKE A MUTUAL SEPARATION AND NOT TERMINATE THE CONTRACT, UM, AND TO GET SEPARATE, AND THEN WE DECIDED TO REBID IT.

NOW, DID YOU PAY THEM ANY, ANY MONEY FOR WHAT THEY DID? SO THE CONTRACT, YES.

SO WE DID, I MEAN, WE, WE HAD CONTRACT AND WE HAD A UNIT PRICES, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS, UM, I MEAN WE WERE, WE WORKED TO BE VERY EQUITABLE FOR THE CITY.

UM, AND IN OTHER WORDS, DID YOU DEDUCT FOR THE DEFICIENT WORK AND NOT, NOT PAY THEM FULL PRICE FOR THINGS THAT WERE WRONG? YES, ABSOLUTELY.

AND, UM, OUR SPONSORS NEXT TO ME WHO COULD ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON THAT, BUT YES, WE WERE VERY, WE, WE, WHEN WE KNEW THAT THEY HAD QUALITY ISSUES AND SCHEDULE ISSUES, WE DID WITHHOLD PAYMENT, UM, AND DID NOT PAY THEM IN THE FUTURE.

WILL THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACTOR BE LIMITED IN THEIR ABILITY TO BID YOUR WORK AFTER THIS EPISODE? YES.

WHERE, WHERE WERE THEY FROM? I DON'T WANNA KNOW THE NAME, BUT WHAT PART OF THE COUNTRY WERE THEY FROM? THAT WAS, THEY WERE FROM HOUSTON.

THEY WERE FROM HOUSTON.

THERE WERE FROM HOUSTON.

THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS TWO HOURS AWAY.

WELL, AND THE, THE, THE SOIL CONDITIONS IN HOUSTON AND ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE ROCK CONDITIONS IN AUSTIN.

YES.

I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.

YEAH, I AGREE WITH THAT.

SO ANYWAYS, PROBABLY, PROBABLY A GOOD MOVE, BUT, UH, I'M SORRY THAT, UH, WENT SIDEWAYS.

YES.

UM, I GUESS NOW I HAVE A QUESTION, YOU KNOW, AS A CONTRACTOR, I GUESS WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS TERMINATED, YOU KNOW, THIS CONTRACT HAS TERMINATED? WELL, SO, SO I'VE BEEN, IN MY CAREER, I'VE ACTUALLY TERMINATED CONTRACTS AND INVOLVED BONDING COMPANIES.

I THINK THAT THERE IS, THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES WITH THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, CONTRACTORS DON'T WANNA HAVE A CONTRACT TERMINATED.

UM, DEALING WITH BONDING COMPANIES, ESPECIALLY IN THESE KIND OF SITUATIONS IS VERY CHALLENGING.

AND SO I THINK THE, THE TEAM GOT TOGETHER AND TALKED AND IT WAS JUST AGREED TO MUTUALLY SEPARATE.

UM, WAS THE THE BEST SOLUTION FORWARD? I MEAN, I DEFINITELY, IF Y Y'ALL KNEW THAT WHAT THEY DID WAS WHAT THEY WERE PAID FOR AND NOTHING MORE THAN ABSOLUTELY.

THEN THAT'S ABSOLUTELY, I GET IT.

I GET IT.

WHEN WE HAD QUALITY ISSUES AND SCHEDULE ISSUES, WE WERE VERY TIGHT FINANCIALLY AS IN THAT WE, WE WITHHELD MONEY AND, AND ABSOLUTELY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'M CURIOUS NOW, HOW FAR INTO THE CONSTRUCTION DID IT GO BEFORE YOU AMICABLY EXITED, INTRODUCE YOURSELF? STEVEN VARGAS, UM, AUSTIN WATER PROJECT SPONSOR.

UM, SO, BUT WE ARE ONLY LIKE 10% INTO THE PROJECT WHEN WE KIND OF QUICKLY FIGURED OUT THAT THE, THE PERFORMANCE JUST WASN'T THERE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, THEN DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? I, UM, I'M COMFORTABLE MAKING A MOTION AFTER THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ANSWERED.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

SO COMMISSIONER BANGOR, UH, MOTIONS FOR APPROVAL.

COMMISSIONER SECONDS.

EVERYONE VOTING IN FAVOR? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

OKAY, SO I HAVE, UH, EVERYONE VOTING UNANIMOUSLY EXCEPT FOR COMMISSIONER PENN WHO IS, UH, WHO IS ABSTAINING FROM ITEM NUMBER FOUR, CUS RECUSING.

EXCUSE ME.

NOW, ITEM NUMBER FIVE, RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE MCNEIL DRIVE WATER TRANSMISSION MAIN PROJECT WITH BLACK AND VEATCH CORPORATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $5 MILLION FOR A REVISED TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT, NOT TO ACE $8,800,000.

OKAY,

[Items 5 & 6]

THAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET

[00:20:01]

OF THE AUSTIN WATER DEPARTMENT.

UM, SO WE HAVE A QUESTION.

I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION.

UM, I GUESS GENERALLY IN MY EXPERIENCE, THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN, DESIGN AND BID PHASE SERVICES, THAT FEE IS USUALLY GREATER THAN A CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICE CONTRACT.

SO I'M LOOKING FOR A BIT OF CONTEXT ON WHAT MAKES THIS CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICE AUTHORIZATION GREATER THAN THE PREVIOUS, UH, KANE WAY.

AUSTIN WATER, A SUPERVISING ENGINEER WITH THE PIPELINE PROJECT DELIVERY TEAM.

UM, SO THE $5 MILLION FOR CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES, UH, INCLUDES A LOT OF SPECIALTY INSPECTION.

THIS IS A TUNNELING PROJECT AND SO, UM, THE CITY STAFF DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES NOR THE EXPERTISE TO BE ABLE TO DO THOSE INSPECTIONS.

UH, WITH THIS TUNNELING PROJECT, UH, THE CONSTRUCTION IS ANTICIPATED TO TAKE AROUND TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE.

UM, NOT ALL OF THAT WILL BE TUNNELING THE WHOLE TIME, BUT THE MAJORITY WILL BE, UM, AT THE SAME TIME, THE TUNNEL CONTRACTORS TYPICALLY ALSO RUN THE TUNNEL 24 HOURS.

AND SO, UH, WE'RE ALSO PAYING FOR NIGHT INSPECTIONS AS WELL.

AND SO, UM, A, A LARGE BULK OF THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES THAT WE'RE CONTRACTING, UH, WITH THIS, UH, CONSULTANT IS TO PROVIDE THOSE TUNNEL SPECIALTY TUNNEL INSPECTIONS.

UM, ALSO NIGHT SHIFT INSPECTIONS TOO TO HELP SUPPLEMENT THAT.

UM, AND THEN THE PROJECT IS ALSO LOCATED, UM, IN AN AREA WITH POTENTIAL CARS FEATURES.

SO PART OF THE SCOPE IS ALSO TO HAVE, UH, SPECIALTY INSPECTION IN CASE WE RUN INTO A CARS FEATURE OR ANYTHING BEYOND THAT.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, ESSENTIALLY SPECIALTY ENGINEERING SERVICES THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS.

UH, THE FINAL THING I'LL POINT OUT IS THAT THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, UM, IS ITEM NUMBER SIX.

UM, THAT'S $50 MILLION.

AND SO, UM, THE TOTAL PRICE OF THE, OR PERCENTAGE OF THE ENGINEERING SERVICES STILL DOES KIND OF ALIGN WITH WHAT WE SEE AS TYPICAL IN TERMS OF ENGINEERING SERVICES COMPARED TO A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT.

COULD YOU DESCRIBE IN MORE DETAIL THE SPECIAL INSPECTION SERVICES THAT'LL BE PERFORMED? YEAH, SO, UH, THE ENGINEER, UH, I TYPICALLY HAVE SPECIALTIES IN TERMS OF GEOTECHNICAL EXPERIENCE AND TUNNELING EXPERIENCE, UM, THAT OUR CITY STAFF DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITIES FOR.

UM, THESE TUNNEL PROJECTS ARE, ARE GENERATIONAL.

THEY DON'T HAPPEN FREQUENTLY.

AND SO, UM, WE HIRE CONSULTING, UH, ENGINEERS TO, UH, BE ABLE TO, UM, PROVIDE THEIR EXPERTISE TO KNOW WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR IN TERMS OF, UH, THE TUNNELING, INSPECTION, PRODUCTION RATES, EVEN THINGS IN TERMS OF TUNNEL AND SHAFT, UH, EXCAVATION, SAFETY, THINGS OF THAT SORT.

UM, THERE'S A LOT OF COMPLEX, UM, SOILS OR ROCK THAT ALSO HAVE TO BE, UM, BE FACTORED IN.

BUT, BUT THESE, THESE SPECIAL INSPECTIONS ARE JUST EYEBALLS, TRUE SPECIALIZED EYEBALLS.

UH, IT'S NOT JUST EYEBALLS.

THERE'S ALSO KIND OF DESTRUCTIVE OR NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING WHERE WE JUST HAVE SMART GUYS WATCHING THE TUNNEL 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, OR WHATEVER THE SCHEDULE IS.

PART OF IT IS THEIR EXPERIENCE THAT THEY HAVE.

THEY KNOW WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR.

THEY'VE DONE THESE TUNNELS THROUGHOUT THE, THE NATION, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA.

AND THEN PART OF IT IS THERE IS SOME, UH, SPECIALTY TESTING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

UM, THIS PIPE IS LIKE WHAT THE UM, LIKE, I'M SORRY.

LIKE WHAT, WHAT KIND OF SPECIAL TESTING? I, I DON'T KNOW.

PARTICULAR, GO AHEAD.

YEAH, I WOULD'VE TO LOOK, I MEAN, SOME, SOMETIMES, SO WE WOULD DO SOME GEOLOGICAL MAPPING THAT SOMETIMES IS DONE AS PART OF PROJECTS WE WOULD DO, UM, THE, THE TESTING OF THE, THE PIPE MATERIAL, THE WELDING, UM, THOSE TYPES OF TESTS.

WHAT, WHAT, WHAT KIND OF, WHAT KIND OF PIPE IS IT? WHAT KIND OF LINER ARE YOU PUTTING IN? IT'S PCC PIPE, SO PRESTRESS CONCRETE PIPE.

SO WHERE'S THE WELDING? WE HAD WELDING IN THERE AS A BASE ALT, UH, A BID ALTERNATIVE.

SO WE ALLOWED THE CONTRACTORS TO BID, UM, UH, TWO DIFFERENT PIPE MATERIALS, STEEL AND PCCP.

UH, SO WE ENDED UP CHOOSING THE PCCP MATERIAL.

AND SO, UM, THAT PART OF THE WELDING INSPECTION MAY NOT OCCUR.

THERE MAY BE OTHER AREAS OF WELDING THAT MIGHT BE NEEDED FOR THE SHAFT EXCAVATION OR THINGS OF THAT SORT, UM, THAT, THAT MAY STILL BE NEEDED.

WELL, REGARDLESS OF THE PIPE MATERIAL.

WELL GOOD.

THAT'S A GOOD, YOU'RE BEING CAREFUL WITH THIS.

IT'S A COMPLEX PROJECT, SO I I THINK THAT'S VERY, UH, GOOD THAT YOU'RE, UH, TAKING THAT, UH, CAUTIOUS APPROACH THERE.

UH, THERE'S STILL WELDING, UH, STEVE VARGAS, UH, PROJECT SPONSOR.

THERE'S IS STILL WELDING IN PCCP PIPE AS WELL.

SO THERE'S, UM, THE JOINTS ARE, ARE WHERE THE WELDING OCCURS.

SO THERE, THERE WILL STILL BE, UH, WELDING SPECIALTY INSPECTIONS AS

[00:25:01]

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? OKAY, HEARING NONE.

DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? I MOVE TO APPROVE.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

SO I HAVE, UH, COMMISSIONER TUON APPROVING, UH, MOTION TO APPROVE.

AND COMMISSIONER MARLO SECONDING ALL COMMISSIONERS IN VOTING IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

TO ITEM NUMBER 11, RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT FOR THE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE BOGGY CREEK LIFT STATION FORCE MAIN EXTENSION PROJECT FOR CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES WITH AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC.

HAVE A UNANIMOUS, UNANIMOUS VOTE EXCEPT FOR COMMISSIONER PENN, WHO IS RECUSING HIMSELF.

, I LOOKED DOWN AT THE, OKAY.

THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT, MOVING

[11. Recommend approval to authorize an amendment to the contract for engineering services for the Boggy Creek Lift Station Force Main Extension project for Capital Delivery Services with AECOM Technical Services Inc. in the amount of $600,000 for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $2,200,000. Funding: $600,000 is available in the Capital Budget of the Austin Water.]

IN THE AMOUNT OF $600,000 FOR A REVISED TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 2,200,000 FUND.

THE FUNDING OF THE 600,000 IS AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET OF AUSTIN WATER.

SO I BELIEVE THAT COMMISSIONER PENN IS JUST RECUSING HIMSELF.

THERE WAS NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM.

SO IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, THEN DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

SECONDED EVERY, ALL THE COMMISSIONERS IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THE VOTE IS UNANIMOUS EXCEPT FOR COMMISSIONER PENN, WHO IS RECUSING HIMSELF.

I BELIEVE WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE STAFF BRIEFINGS.

SO, UM, ITEM UH, NUMBER 20 WAS PULLED UNTIL AFTER THE BRIEFING, SO

[21. Briefing on Austin Water’s proposed Go Purple Affordable Housing Pilot Incentive for alternative onsite water reuse systems and reclaimed water connections (related to Item 20)]

SO THE FIRST BRIEFING IS, UH, BRIEFING ON AUSTIN WATERS PROPOSED GO PURPLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PILOT INCENTIVE FOR ALTERNATIVE ONSITE WATER REUSE SYSTEMS AND RECLAIMED WATER CONNECTIONS.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS CATHERINE DKI.

I'M A SUPERVISING ENGINEER IN THE RECLAIMED AND ONSITE REUSE PROGRAM.

I'M HERE TO GIVE A BRIEFING ON AN AMENDMENT TO THE GO PURPLE PROGRAM, UM, TO INCREASE INCENTIVES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.

AND JUST AS A REFRESHER OR PROBABLY AN INTRODUCTION TO THE GO PURPLE PROGRAM, UH, THIS PROGRAM IS ABOUT A JUST OVER A YEAR OLD.

IT WAS ADOPTED ON MARCH 7TH IN 2024.

UM, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, SPURRED FROM OUR WATER FORWARD PLAN TO INCREASE WATER REUSE THROUGHOUT NEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THE CITY.

AND SO THE PROGRAM INVOLVES CODE CHANGES, UH, FOR ONSITE WATER REUSE AND RECLAIMED WATER CONNECTIONS.

AND NEW COMMERCIAL MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS INCLUDES AFFORDABILITY STRATEGIES FOR REUSE PROJECTS IN THE FORM OF INCENTIVES AND COST SHARING BY THE WATER UTILITY.

AND THERE WAS A NEW COMMUNITY BENEFIT CHARGE ADOPTED THAT INCREASES, UM, WHICH ADDS 15 CENTS PER THOUSAND GALLONS TO UTILITY RATE PAYERS BILLS TO HELP FUND THESE, UM, AFFORDABILITY STRATEGIES.

UM, WITHIN, SO WHEN COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CODE CHANGES TO REQUIRE ONSITE WATER REUSE SYSTEMS AND RECLAIMED WATER AND DUAL PLUMBING AND THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS, THEY MADE EXEMPTIONS FOR DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.

THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE 50% ONSITE OF THEIR UNITS THAT MEET, UM, INCOME, INCOME, UH, RESTRICTION LEVELS.

AND SO, UM, YOU EITHER HAVE TO HAVE 50% OF YOUR DWELLING UNITS HAVE 60% OR LOWER MEDIUM FAMILY INCOME FOR RENTAL UNITS, OR 80% OR LOWER MEDIUM INCOME FAMILY FOR OWNERSHIP UNITS.

AND GENERALLY, UM, PROJECTS LIKE THESE, THEY MEET AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED CRITERIA IN THE CITY OR GET, UM, FUNDING THROUGH LITECH PROGRAMS, LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS.

SO THEY ARE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.

GO THROUGH THE ADDITIVE EXPENSE OF INSTALLING DUAL PLUMBING AND ONSITE REUSE AND RECLAIMED INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY, UH, ALSO WANTED THE OCCUPANTS OF THESE BUILDINGS TO BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM LOWER UTILITY RATES WHEN YOU ARE USING RECYCLED WATER IN YOUR BUILDING, THAT RECLAIMED WATER'S CHEAPER THAN POTABLE WATER.

UM, AND SO AT THE SAME TIME THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, EXEMPTED THESE PROJECTS FROM HAVING TO, UH,

[00:30:01]

AND THEN, UM, ONSITE WATER REUSE IS NO CHARGE, UM, FOR, FOR THE, THE USE OF THAT WATER.

UM, AND SO THEY GAVE DIRECTION IN THE, IN THE SAME ORDINANCE WHERE THEY ADOPTED THE CODE, UH, TO HAVE THE CITY LOOK AT, UM, FULLY SUBSIDIZING THE COST OF THESE TYPES OF REUSE PROJECTS WITHIN THESE EXEMPT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.

SO THE CURRENT CAP WITHIN THE GO PURPLE PROGRAM, UH, IS $500,000 PER PROJECT.

AND SO WE, UH, TOOK A LOOK AT OUR, UH, COST STUDY THAT WE DID WHEN WE WERE DEVELOPING THE ORDINANCES AND, UM, DETERMINE THAT AT MOST A PROJECT WOULD HAVE TO PAY UP TO 1.5 MILLION TO COMPLY WITH THE REUSE REQUIREMENTS.

THAT'S ON THE VERY HIGH END.

IT COULD BE AS LOW AS JUST A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IF YOU'RE CLOSE TO A RECLAIMED WATERLINE, FOR EXAMPLE.

UM, AND SO WE HAVE, UH, SOME EXISTING INCENTIVES.

THE ONSITE WATER REUSE INCENTIVE, IT COVERS THE COST OF EVERYTHING RELATED TO INSTALLING AN ONSITE WATER REUSE SYSTEM, DUAL PLUMBING, THE COLLECTION AND TREATMENT SYSTEM, THE DESIGN.

UM, SO WE'RE PROPOSING DECREASE, INCREASE THAT, UM, INCENTIVE CAP FROM 500,000 TO 1.5 MILLION JUST FOR THE EXEMPT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.

THE RECLAIM MAIN EXTENSION COST SHARE WHERE WE, UM, COST PARTICIPATE FOR A PORTION OF INSTALLING PUBLIC RECLAIMED WATER MAIN BEYOND 250 FEET FOR KEEPING THE CAP OF THAT, UH, AT 500,000, THAT SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT, BUT, UM, ADDING A DUAL PLUMBING REBATE TO BE ABLE TO CO, UH, COVER THE COST OF DUAL PLUMBING A, UM, A BUILDING OR SEVERAL BUILDINGS WITHIN A LARGE NEW DEVELOPMENT.

SORRY.

UM, AND SO IN TERMS OF THE OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PROGRAM, UH, CURRENTLY FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS PROGRAM GETS REAUTHORIZED EVERY YEAR, EVERY FISCAL YEAR.

SO START RE STARTS AGAIN IN OCTOBER 1ST.

CURRENTLY WE HAVE ALLOTTED $4 MILLION FOR THIS, UM, PROGRAM.

WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY NEW APPLICATIONS COME IN SINCE OCTOBER 1ST.

AND SO WE DO HAVE FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR A, AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT OR, OR A COUPLE OF THEM.

UM, AND EVERY YEAR WE'LL, UH, EVALUATE HOW THE PROGRAM IS DOING, HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING, IF THERE IS MORE INTEREST FROM THESE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS, AND LOOK AT IF WE NEED TO INCREASE THE SPENDING OR NOT.

AND THEN WE WILL BE REPORTING THE PROGRAM ACTIVITY QUARTERLY IN THE, UH, THE NEW, UM, WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES QUARTERLY REPORT THAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE, UH, IN A LITTLE BIT.

AND THAT IS SORT OF THE, UM, AND THEN ALSO AT THE END OF THE YEAR, EVERY YEAR WE'LL KIND OF DO A RECAP AND LOOK BACK AT HOW, HOW THE PROGRAM DID IN THE, IN THE, IN THE YEAR.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION.

RECEIVED THAT COULD EXPLAIN WHY WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY APPLICANTS YET THIS YEAR.

COMMISSIONER MORTY.

UM, WHY DO YOU THINK NOBODY'S PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM? SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD DEAL TO ME.

WHAT IS YOUR SPECULATION AS TO WHY WE HAVE HAD NO TAKERS ON THIS, WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A PRETTY GOOD PROGRAM? YEAH, WE HAVE HAD, UM, THREE PEOPLE APPLY AND TWO OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE IN THE WORKS.

UM, SO WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE APPLY, UM, WHY WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY CURRENTLY I THINK THAT, OR, YOU KNOW, IN THIS, IN THIS CURRENT YEAR.

I THINK THAT, SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS YOU'VE HAD THREE PEOPLE APPLY IN THE PAST, BUT SINCE OCTOBER YOU'VE HAD ZERO APPLICATIONS.

YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

AND WHAT, WHAT DO YOU SPECULATE? I SPECULATE AND IT IS SPECULATION THAT, UM, THE, THE PROGRAM IS SO NEW AND THIS SORT OF STRATEGY IS SO NEW TO, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY THAT THEY, UH, THAT UNCERTAINTY AROUND DOING THIS IS ONE BARRIER, UM, THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO OVERCOME.

UM, AND I THINK WE DID HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH SOME OF THESE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS OR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK ON THOSE PROJECTS, NOT THE DEVELOPERS THEMSELVES, BUT SOME OF THE DESIGN TEAMS. AND THEIR FEEDBACK WAS THAT THEY WOULD PREFER TO GO THROUGH A MANDATORY PROJECT FIRST AND KIND OF FIGURE OUT HOW IT CAN BE DONE BEFORE THEY WOULD ADVISE TO THEIR CLIENTS THAT THEY DO THIS VOLUNTARILY.

AND SO THAT, THAT'S ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT WE

[00:35:01]

BUT WHAT, WHAT WAS THE REASON, THE FIRST REASON YOU GAVE, NOT THAT THE ENGINEERS WERE SAYING THEY DID, THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT GOOD ENOUGH, SO THEY WERE GONNA WAIT UNTIL THEY WERE FORCED TO DO IT.

BUT BEFORE THAT YOU SAID SOMETHING ELSE WAS A REASON? UM, I THINK IT'S RELATED THAT IT'S JUST, IT'S A NEW STRATEGY AND A NEW WAY OF DESIGNING BUILDINGS, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF, UM, CHANGE THE WAY THAT THE, THE PLANS THAT YOU SUBMIT AND KIND OF HOW YOU E EVEN JUST PLAN AND, AND INCORPORATE THIS INTO YOUR OVERALL PROJECT.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S A BIG SHIFT FOR PEOPLE THAT EVEN IF WE ARE COVERING THE FULL COST OF IT, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S ANOTHER BARRIER TO ACTUALLY HAVING TO, TO PUT IN A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK AND THOUGHT INTO HOW TO, HOW TO MAKE IT WORK IN YOUR OVERALL PROJECT.

DO THEY THINK IT'LL SLOW DOWN THEIR PROJECT AND THEY'RE JUST SAYING IT'S NOT WORTH IT? I THINK THERE IS THAT, UM, YEAH, THERE IS THAT CONCERN THAT IT COULD SLOW DOWN THE PROJECT.

I THINK THAT'S FAIR.

AND I GUESS WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS YOUR REMEDY TO THIS, UM, SITUATION IN THE MARKETPLACE WHERE THE ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS DON'T KNOW ENOUGH HOW TO DO THIS AND THEY'RE KIND OF WALKING AWAY FROM FREE MONEY THAT WE PUT, WE PUT TOGETHER TO INCENTIVIZE THEM TO SAVE WATER.

THEY'RE JUST SAYING, WE'RE NOT DOING IT.

IT'S TOO MUCH TROUBLE.

WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH OR WHATEVER THEY'RE SAYING, WHAT'S THE ANSWER TO THAT? I THINK THE ANSWER IS THAT WE ARE HAVING PROJECTS DO IT WHO ARE REQUIRED TO, AND I THINK THE MORE PROJECTS THAT DO DO IT ARE WE'LL JUST HAVE MORE AND MORE EXAMPLES OF LIVING SYSTEMS THAT PEOPLE CAN GO AND VISIT.

WE HAD A, UM, AWARD CEREMONY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHERE WE, UM, GAVE GO PURPLE AWARDS TO, TO THE TWO, UM, UH, AWARD REC OR THE PEOPLE WHO APPLIED FOR THE INCENTIVES AND GOT THEM WAS APPLE AND A CC.

AND SO I THINK JUST HIGHLIGHTING THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD AND DOING REUSE, UM, WILL JUST HELP KIND OF SPUR THE CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

GREAT, GREAT PRESENTATION, GREAT INITIATIVE OBVIOUSLY.

UM, SO YOU SAID THREE PEOPLE APPLIED, SO WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE THIRD PERSON? YEAH, THERE'S ANOTHER, UH, THERE'S ANOTHER ENTITY THAT IS, UM, JUST SORT OF EXPANDING THEIR KIND OF OVERALL CAMPUS.

AND SO THEY HAVE, UM, SORT OF GROWING IN A WAY THAT, UM, THEY'RE ADDING A LOT OF NEW COOLING TOWERS TO THEIR SITE.

AND SO THEY ACTUALLY HAVE ANOTHER CODE REQUIREMENT WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO USE REUSE WATER FOR MAKEUP WATER.

AND SINCE THAT IS A CODE REQUIREMENT, THEY MAY NO LONGER BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE INCENTIVE BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST REQUIRED TO DO IT BY CODE.

SO MM-HMM .

I HAVE, SORRY, I HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, HAVE YOU GUYS THOUGHT ABOUT INCENTIVIZING THE SOFT COSTS AS WELL? SO OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE GIVING MONEY FROM THE CONSTRUCTION STANDPOINT.

IF THE RESISTANCE, IF, IF WHERE YOU GUYS ARE INTERFACING WITH IS THE DESIGN COMMUNITY AND IF THE DESIGN COMMUNITY IS INCENTIVIZED TO TRY IT, WOULD THAT WORK BETTER? HAS THAT BEEN A THOUGHT OR A DISCUSSION POINT? YEAH, THE, UM, THERE ARE DESIGN COSTS EMBEDDED IN THE ONSITE WATER REUSE PILOT INCENTIVE.

I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT REALLY COVERS IT FOR THE RECLAIMED WATER PROJECTS.

WE KIND OF FEEL LIKE THOSE ARE MORE STANDARD, IT'S JUST KIND OF, YOU'RE USED TO DESIGNING PIPES.

THE ONLY THING DIFFERENT IS I GUESS THE DUAL PLUMBING.

AND WE SPENT, UM, WE COMMISSIONED A STUDY TO KIND OF DEMONSTRATE HOW TO DUAL PLUM A BUILDING AND, UM, HAVE SHARED THAT STUDY AND THE DESIGN OF THOSE BUILDINGS OUT THERE.

SO I THINK THAT THAT PIECE IS KIND OF COVERED THERE.

SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IT'S NOT REALLY A WHOLE LOT OF ADDITIONAL BURDEN WHEN IT COMES TO DESIGN, SO THERE'S REALLY NOT A NEED TO INCENTIVIZE THAT.

I THINK SO.

SLABS TO PUT IN A GRAY WATER SYSTEM AFTER THE FACT.

WELL, I WANNA SAY I APPRECIATE AUSTIN WATER'S, UM, INITIATIVE TO EXPAND THIS BECAUSE ON THESE PROJECTS, RIGHT, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO DO SOMETHING FROM A DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT WHERE IT'S MAY NOT BE AS PROFITABLE, RIGHT? AND SO THEN TO TAKE ON THIS ADDITIONAL COST OF TRYING TO IMPLEMENT AN ONSITE WATER SYSTEM THAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

SO I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT TO PROMOTE THAT BECAUSE ONCE A BUILDING IS BUILT, YOU'RE NOT GOING BACK AND RETROFITTING THIS, UH, I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME TO CLIENTS, YOU'RE NOT GOING BACK AND JACKHAMMERING CONCRETE

[00:40:01]

SO APPRECIATE THE, THE, UH, THE EFFORT THERE TO PUT MONEY, UH, INTO THIS.

SO, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? OH, COMMISSIONER PENN, I JUST, I KIND OF WANTED TO GO BACK TO THAT EARLIER CONVERSATION JUST TO MAKE SURE I KIND OF UNDERSTAND THIS PART OF IT.

IF AS MORE PURPLE PIPE IS PUT IN THE GROUND AND THAT SYSTEM EXPANDS AND MORE DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS AND IT BECOMES CLOSER TO IT BY CODE, THEN THAT'S WHEN SOME OF THIS MANDATORY, THERE WILL BE MORE MANDATORY CONNECTIONS ON THE PURPLE PIPE, RIGHT? AND OR TO THE MANDATORY CONNECTIONS.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE TO COMMISSIONER MORIARTY'S QUESTION, HOW, HOW IS THAT GONNA HAPPEN? THAT'S ONE WAY THAT IT MAY HAPPEN AS, AS THE SYSTEM EXPANDS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS FOLKS WILL BE MORE INTERESTED.

AND ONCE THAT HAPPENS MORE AND MORE AND THE COMMUNITY GETS MORE INTERESTED IN IT AND USED TO IT, THEY MAY, THERE MAY BE A LOT MORE VOLUNTARY CASES JUST FROM THE STANDPOINT OF ALL THE BENEFITS THAT COME FROM THAT.

AND I'M JUST KIND OF, IS THAT ON THE TRACK WITH, WITH HOW THIS IS KIND OF DEVELOPING? YEAH, I THINK SO, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT EVENTUALLY THE INTENT IS THAT WE WON'T NEED INCENTIVES ANYMORE, THAT IT WILL JUST BECOME STANDARD PRACTICE.

AND SO THIS IS THE SORT OF INITIAL KIND OF PUSH TO HELP GET AS MANY PROJECTS AS WE CAN ON THE GROUND.

GOTCHA.

MM-HMM .

THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

THANKS.

I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.

UM, HOW ARE YOU GUYS GOING ABOUT MARKETING THIS SPECIFIC LIKE, INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR THESE DEEPLY? UM, I FORGET THE WORD.

YEAH.

WE ARE, UM, MEETING WITH EVERY SINGLE NEW, UH, DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT COMES IN AND WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WHO HELPS WITH THE FINANCING OF THESE PROJECTS.

AND, UM, SO, AND THAT'S HOW WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH, UM, SOME OF THESE PROJECT DEVELOPERS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL PAY FOR THE WHOLE THING AND YOU'RE STILL SAYING NO.

AND, YOU KNOW, SO WE, WE ARE HAVING DIRECT CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT HAVE MISSED THIS PROJECT, BUT IN THEIR NEXT ONE THEY MAY CONSIDER IT, UM, MOVING FORWARD.

MM-HMM .

CATHERINE, CORRECT ME, BUT EVERY PROJECT THAT COMES IN HAS TO DO A WATER BALANCE.

THAT'S CORRECT.

YEAH.

THEY DO HAVE TO FILL OUT A FORM, SAY WHAT KIND OF DEVELOP THEY DEVELOPMENT THEY ARE, AND THEN WE KIND OF SPIT OUT THIS, ALL THESE CHARTS AND GRAPHS TO SHOW HOW MUCH WATER THEY CAN SAVE, WHAT INCENTIVES ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM, AND, UM, KIND OF DO A QUICK, YOU KNOW, CALCULATION OF HOW MUCH THEY COULD SAVE IN UTILITY BILLS EVERY YEAR BY INSTALLING THESE SYSTEMS. SO THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS GET AN EDUCATION EVERY, EVERY, EVERY ONE.

YEP.

THANKS.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO, UH, VOTE, UM, ON THE ITEM NUMBER 20 THAT WE HAD SKIPPED UNTIL AFTER THE PRESENTATION.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? IF NOT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH CATHERINE FOR THE PRESENTATION.

[20. Recommend approval of a resolution authorizing amendments to Austin Water’s Fiscal Year 2024-2025 GoPurple pilot incentive program for alternative onsite water reuse systems and reclaimed water connections for new commercial, mixed use and multi-family developments in the total aggregate amount of $4,000,000, not to exceed $1,500,000 per project for affordable housing projects exempt from the GoPurple reuse requirements and not to exceed $500,000 per project for all other projects. Funding in the amount of $4,000,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget of Austin Water.]

UM, SO ITEM NUMBER 20, I RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE AMENDMENTS TO AUSTIN WATER'S FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 20 25 GO PURPLE PILOT INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

SO DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED.

AND I WILL SECOND.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL FROM COMMISSIONER MARZULLO AND, UH, COMMISSIONER MAXWELL GAINES SECONDS.

UM, ALL THE COMMISSIONERS VOTING IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

OKAY, THE VOTE IS UNANIMOUS.

WILL HAVE A BRIEFING ON AUSTIN WATER'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION.

OKAY, SO NOW WE

[22. Briefing on Austin Water’s quarterly report on Water Management Strategy Implementation]

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS KEVIN KLUGE.

I'M THE WATER CONSERVATION DIVISION MANAGER HERE AT AUSTIN WATER.

AND I AM EXCITED TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT OUR FIRST EVER QUARTERLY IMPLEMENTATION REPORT OF WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FROM THE WATER FLOOR PLAN AND THE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN.

THIS QUARTERLY REPORT IS FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS

[00:45:01]

OF THIS YEAR, JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND MARCH.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THIS REPORT, SO, AND SO, IT'S A LOT TO ABSORB AS I GO THROUGH IT AND WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME INTO EACH SLIDE, BUT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FROM THIS REPORT, FEEL FREE TO, UH, SEND THEM TO US AFTERWARDS.

AS I MENTIONED, THIS QUARTERLY REPORT WILL PROVIDE IMPLEMENTATION UPDATES FOR FIVE BROAD CATEGORIES OF STRATEGIES, WATER CONSERVATION, WATER LOSS, RECLAIMED WATER, AND ONSITE WATER REUSE, CONSERVATION OUTREACH, AND WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS.

IN ADDITION, WE WILL PROVIDE QUARTERLY REPORTING OF WATER USE IN THE FORM OF GALLONS PER CAPITA DAILY GPCD OR WATER USE BY DIFFERENT CATEGOR CUSTOMER CATEGORIES.

OKAY, SO THESE IMPLEMENTATION REPORTS, THEY'RE A FIRST FOR AUSTIN WATER.

THEY MAY BE A FIRST ANYWHERE IN THE STATE OR COUNTRY 'CAUSE WE HAVEN'T FOUND ANY OTHER EXAMPLES.

SO THIS WILL BE A WORK IN PROGRESS AS WE GO FURTHER INTO THE YEAR AND REPORT EVERY QUARTER.

SO WE ARE INTERESTED IN RECEIVING FEEDBACK FROM ALL OF YOU, FROM ALL STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT HOW THIS REPORT CAN BE MORE USEFUL AS WE GO ALONG AND MORE UNDERSTANDABLE AND NOT ALL THE POTENTIAL METRICS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT.

YOU MAY QUESTION THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT IN HERE, BUT SOME THINGS WE DID NOT INCLUDE, BUT WE MIGHT CONSIDER INCLUDING THEM IN FUTURE REPORTS.

BEFORE WE GET INTO THE UPDATES, UH, THIS SLIDE PROVIDES JUST A FEW NOTES TO SET EXPECTATIONS ON THE CONTENTS OF THIS UPDATE.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, ALL THE QUARTERLY DATA SHOULD BE CONSIDERED PRELIMINARY.

UM, THEY MAY BE CORRECTED AS THE YEAR GOES ON.

UH, IN OUR FINAL ANNUAL REPORT, WE ATTEMPT TO INCLUDE HISTORICAL DATA 2024 DATA, UH, QUARTERLY 2024 DATA FOR THESE METRICS.

SO YOU CAN SEE RELATIVELY HOW Q1 OF 25 COMPARES TO THE OTHER QUARTERS.

UH, BUT THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE IN ALL CASES OF METRICS.

AND THEN FINALLY, THE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN AND THE WATER FORWARD PLAN, AS YOU MAY REMEMBER THEM FROM LAST, UH, I GUESS IT'D BE OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, INCLUDE PROJECTED VOLUMETRIC YIELDS FROM THE STRATEGIES.

HOW MUCH IS THIS GONNA SAVE IN MILLION GALLONS OR IN ACRE FEET? UH, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GET ALL THAT INTO THIS REPORT NOW, THOSE VOLUMETRIC YIELDS, BUT WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN PUT IN FUTURE QUARTERLY REPORTS.

SO NEXT SLIDE.

THE FIRST SET OF STRATEGIES.

UH, THIS SECTION STARTS OFF WITH THE NUMBER OF HIGHLIGHTS.

UH, EVERY SET OF STRATEGIES WILL HAVE THIS HIGHLIGHT SLIDE, UH, REGARDING PROGRESS OVER THE LAST QUARTER.

AND THIS FIRST MET, THIS FIRST SET OF STRATEGIES ARE THE WATER CONSERVATION STRATEGIES, UH, BETWEEN JANUARY AND APRIL.

APRIL 1ST, I GUESS OF THIS LAST YEAR.

AND WATER CONSERVATION CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW IRRIGATION INSPECTIONS FOR NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOME SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO IDENTIFY DIFFERENT WAYS TO FIND MORE CONSERVATION SAVINGS FOR COMMERCIAL, INSTITUTIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL.

AND FINALLY, WE SAW A BIG INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF Q1, UH, REBATES FOR LANDSCAPE RELATED REBATES.

I KNOW.

MOVING TO METRICS, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THESE ARE IMPLEMENTATION METRICS, NUMERICAL REPRESENTATIONS OF OUR EFFORTS.

AND IN THIS CASE, THE FIRST METRIC FOR WATER CONSERVATION ARE THE NUMBER OF REBATES FOR OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS. THE VERTICAL BARS REPRESENT THE LAST, THE NUMBER OF REBATES OVER THE LAST FIVE QUARTERS.

UM, THE FOUR BLUE BARS IN THE, UH, IN THE CHARTS, THOSE ARE FROM 2024, STARTING WITH Q1 TO Q FIVE, Q4 RATHER.

AND THEN THE ORANGE BAR IS THE NUMBER OF REBATES FOR Q1 IN 2025.

UH, YOU'LL SEE THAT IN ALL THESE CATEGORIES.

THE FAR LEFT BAR FOR Q1 2024 IS, IS LESS THAN 2025.

UM, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE A BIG JUMP IN THOSE RELATIVE TO WHAT WE DID LAST Q QUARTER,

[00:50:01]

FIRST QUARTER.

UM, WE ATTRIBUTE SOME OF THAT TO IT BEING PRETTY HOT AND DRY LAST OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, WHICH SPURRED PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS. BUT I THINK A LOT OF IT, I'D SAY MOST OF THE INCREASE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION'S OFFICE EFFORTS TO GET MESSAGING OUT TO CUSTOMERS.

SO THEY'VE REALLY DRIVEN INTO THAT AND I THINK THAT'S HAD A BIG EFFECT ON OUR REBATES.

WE DO HAVE CONSERVATION REBATE PROGRAMS. LAST YEAR WE HAD A BIG YEAR FOR OUR BUCKS FOR BUSINESS PROGRAM.

YOU SEE THAT ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE THERE PRODUCED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SAVINGS FROM COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS IN Q1 OF THIS YEAR.

WE'VE HAD, UH, NUMBER FOUR, UH, PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

UM, AND, BUT WE HAVE MORE IN THE PIPELINE AND HOPE TO, UH, SOLIDIFY THOSE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF QUARTERS.

AND ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, WE HAVE A, A MORE MODEST NUMBER OF OTHER COMMERCIAL PROGRAM REBATES.

IN ADDITION TO REBATES, AUSTIN DOES REQUIRE WATER EFFICIENCY COMPONENTS FOR COMMERCIAL COOLING TOWERS, IRRIGATION, LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION AND VEHICLE WASHES.

FACILITIES WHO HAVE THESE, UH, WATER USES HAVE TO SUBMIT ANNUAL OR BIANNUAL REPORTS INTO US CERTIFYING THAT THEY HAVE THESE WATER EFFICIENT COMPONENTS ON THEIR FACILITIES.

YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF VARIATION AMONGST THESE, UH, PROGRAMS, BUT THEY DO REPRESENT 60% OF OUR IDENTIFIED WATER SAVINGS, UM, FROM 2024.

SO THEY ARE A VERY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER SAVINGS.

NOW, IN, IN ADDITION TO, UH, REBATES AND COMMERCIAL COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS, AUSTINITES ARE SAVING A LOT OF WATER THROUGH THE NEW MYX WATER SYSTEM.

THIS IS AUSTIN'S SMART WATER METER, UH, SYSTEM.

ONE OF THE, THE BEST, UM, TOOLS FROM THE MYX WATER SYSTEM ARE THE LEAK ALERTS OR CONTINUOUS USE ALERTS.

ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE.

THERE YOU SEE THE NUMBER OF LEAKS IN EACH OF THE QUARTERS OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO, INCREASING GENERALLY FROM Q1 OF 24 TO Q1 OF THIS YEAR.

AND THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, YOU SEE THE NUMBER OF ES, THE ESTIMATED SAVINGS FROM THOSE, THOSE LEAK ALERTS.

UM, AGAIN, Q1 OF 25 IS, IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN Q1 OF 24.

A LOT OF THIS IS RESULTING FROM THE DEPLOYMENT OF OUR SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE LAST YEAR.

SO, OH, I THINK ALMOST IF NOT ALL RESIDENTIAL HAVE THE SMART METERS NOW, UM, AND MANY OF THE COMMERCIAL DO EXCEPT FOR THE VERY LARGE METERS.

NOW FOR EACH OF THESE STRATEGIES, WE ARE ALSO, UH, PRESENTING THE MILESTONES.

THESE ARE MILESTONES THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE WATER FORWARD PLAN AND THE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN.

NOW THERE'S, THEY'RE RATHER DETAILED AND THEY'RE RATHER SMALL PRINTS, SO WE'RE NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL OF THOSE AS AS I GO ALONG THIS AFTERNOON.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO MENTION A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM EACH OF THE SLIDES FOR THE WATER CONSERVATION MILESTONES.

UH, HIGHLIGHT IS BACK IN APRIL THE COUNCIL APPROVED UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE WITH LOCAL AMENDMENTS.

AND THAT INCLUDED THREE, UH, LOCAL AMENDMENTS THAT WE BELIEVE WILL BE, UH, SUBSTANTIAL WATER SAVERS FOR NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

UH, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THE IRRIGATION INSPECTIONS THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE.

AND IN JUNE WE START TO ADD, UH, CHECKUPS FOR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS FOR THESE NEW HOMEOWNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR SYSTEM IS SET AND MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE IT RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING.

WE HAVE MILESTONES FOR THE MITX WATER PROGRAM AND, AND THOSE EFFORTS THAT YOU SEE THERE, ALMO, ALL OF THEM ARE AT LEAST IN THE PLANNING PHASE OR IN THE IN PROGRESS PHASE.

UM, WE WERE PLANNING TO START PILOTING THIS SUMMER PILOTING OUTREACH TO CUSTOMERS BASED ON THE MYY WATER SYSTEM, UH, LETTING CUSTOMERS KNOW WHEN THEY MAY NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE WATERING SCHEDULE AND WHEN THEY MAY, UH, BENEFIT FROM OTHER AUSTIN WATER REBATES, WHAT HAVE YOU.

SO THIS SUMMER WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO PUSH THOSE PILOTS TO USE MYY WATER, UH, TO OUTREACH TO CUSTOMERS DIRECTLY.

[00:55:02]

WATER LOSS REDUCTION UPDATES.

UH, THIS WAS, UH, WATER LOSS WAS A BIG THING LAST YEAR.

WELL, CONT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A BIG THING, BUT IT WAS A BIG THING LAST YEAR AS WE CONTRACTED WITH AN EXTERNAL ENGINEERING FIRM, BLACK AND BEACH, TO REVIEW OUR, UH, WATER LOSS REDUCTION, UH, ACTIVITIES AND, AND STRATEGIES AND COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR US.

UM, STAFF ARE WORKING TO IMPLEMENT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE ARE INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT WE ARE COMMITTING TO REPLACING THE SERVICE LINES, UH, THAT MAY BE PARTICULARLY PROBLEMATIC.

NOW THE THIRD BULLET.

OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS, AUSTIN WATER HAS BEEN DOING MORE THAN EVER TO ADDRESS WATER LOSS.

BUT FOR 2024, THE CALENDAR YEAR 2024, THE NUMBERS SHOWED A HIGHER INFRASTRUCTURE LEAKAGE INDEX, UH, DUE PART IN DUE TO BETTER DATA AS WE GET.

BETTER DATA CAME OUT OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BLACK AND BEACH REPORT AND AN INCREASED LOSS DUE TO HIGH WATER USE AND HIGH TEMPERATURES.

SO WITH ALL THESE EFFORTS OVER THIS NEXT YEAR, WE ARE LOOKING FOR THAT ILI TO DECREASE 'CAUSE WE'LL HAVE A FOUR FULL YEAR OF LEANING INTO THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BLACK AND VEATCH REPORT.

SOME OF THE METRICS FROM WATER LOSS REDUCTION.

UH, THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE SHOWS THE NUMBER OF WATER MAIN LEAKS.

UM, THE ONE NUMBER OF WATER MAIN LEAKS IN THAT GOLD BAR TO THE RIGHT, UH, IS UP A LITTLE BIT FROM Q1 OF 2024.

AND THE WATER NUMBER OF WATER MAIN LEAKS ARE VERY WATER, OR I'M SORRY, VERY WEATHER DEPENDENT.

UM, MILD WEATHER SUCH AS IN Q2, WHICH IS THE SPRING.

UM, RESULTS IN LOWER BREAK LEAK, BREAK RATES, EXCUSE ME, THERE WHILE FREEZING TEMPERATURES IN VERY HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS, PARTICULARLY FOR THE SOIL RESULT IN MORE PIPE BREAKS.

THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE, WE SHOW THE METRICS OF THE NUMBER, THE LINEAR FEET OF LEAK DETECTION PERFORMED ON THE LARGE DIAMETER LINES, WHICH IS ON THE LEFT.

AND THE SMALLER DIAMETER, UM, LINES ON THE RIGHT ON THE LEFT.

YOU SEE IT'S PRETTY WEIGHTED TO Q1 OF 2024.

UH, THE REASON IS THAT THIS, THIS WORK REQUIRES CONTRACTS WITH EXTERNAL FIRMS TO DO LARGE PROJECTS TO, UH, LOOK FOR LEAKS AMONG THESE LARGE PIPES.

SO IT REALLY COMES IN IN CHUNKS.

STAFF ARE WORKING NOW ON ESTABLISHING THOSE CONTRACTS, UM, AND GETTING THAT, THOSE LEAK DETECTIONS GOING ON THESE LARGE DIAMETER WATER LINES.

UM, SO WE HOPE TO SEE NUMBERS TO REPORT LATER IN THE YEAR.

SO WE DON'T REPORT THE NUMBERS UNTIL THE CONTRACT'S DONE, AND THEN WE HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW.

BUT WORK IS GOING ON ON THE SMALLER LEAKS.

IT IS MORE, UH, SPREAD OUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT WE CAN SHOW THAT, UH, THERE, THERE WERE MORE LINEAR FEET OF SMALL DIAMETER PIPES BEING CHECKED FOR LEAKS, UH, THAN THERE WAS IN Q1.

MILESTONES FOR WATER LOSS REDUCTION STRATEGY.

UM, THERE'S QUITE A FEW OF 'EM, YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY'RE ALMOST ALL IN PROGRESS THERE.

LAST YEAR, BLACK AND VEATCH GAVE US RECOMMENDATIONS.

UH, MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE OPERATIONAL IN NATURE, UM, SAYING, RECOMMENDING THAT WE ESTABLISH THESE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES OR REVISE THEM.

AND THAT'S WHAT STAFF ARE REALLY WORKING ON NOW THIS YEAR.

UH, I GO WITH THAT NEXT SLIDE.

MOVING ON TO THE THIRD CATEGORY OF WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, RECLAIMED WATER AND ONSITE WATER REUSE.

SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, UH, SOME OF THESE ARE WHAT CATHERINE SPOKE ABOUT JUST A LITTLE BIT AGO.

UM, THERE'S THAT FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

UM, AND THERE'S A ADOPTED WASTEWATER BILLING ORDINANCE THAT AIDS IN THE CALCULATION OF, OF WASTEWATER, UM, FOR, FOR BILLING PURPOSES.

NEXT SLIDE IN THE RECLAIMED WATER METERS.

THIS IS AUSTIN'S PURPLE PIPE SYSTEM, THE RECLAIMED WATER SYSTEM.

UH, THE NUMBER OF NEW METERS IN THE LAST QUARTER THERE, THERE'S TWO OF 'EM.

ADDITIONAL LENGTH OF RECLAIMED WATER MAINS.

THERE'S NONE TO REPORT IN THIS QUARTER, BUT AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IN TERMS OF FLEET DETECTION, THIS CAN

[01:00:01]

BE KIND OF OF CHUNKY.

UH, WE DON'T, WE MIGHT HAVE A LOT OF WORK GOING ON, BUT NOTHING'S REPORTED UNTIL THE CONTRACT'S DONE.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE ALL THIS WORK THAT'S BEING DONE IN THAT ONE QUARTER.

SO, UH, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO FUTURE QUARTERS TO ADDING TO THOSE BARS AS PROJECTS CONTRACTS GET COMPLETED.

THE NUMBER, TOTAL NUMBER OF RECLAIMED WATER METERS.

THIS SLIDE ON THE LEFT IS REPORT RELATED TO THE LAST SLIDE IN THE LEFT, INCREASED TWO OR THE LAST QUARTER, BRINGING OUR TOTAL UP TO 222 RECLAIMED METERS.

THE VOLUME OF, OF CENTRALIZED RECLAIMED IS ON THE RIGHT THERE.

YOU SEE THAT THE, THE GOLD BAR FOR Q1 OF 2025 IS ACTUALLY LESS, UH, THAN Q1 OF 2024.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT LAST YEAR, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN'S JIMMY CLAY GOLF COURSE, WHICH USES A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF RECLAIMED WATER FOR THEIR GOLF COURSE, WHICH EVERYONE LIKES TO HEAR.

UM, WAS USING WATER TO, UM, REESTABLISHED TURF AREAS THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN DAMAGED OR, OR YEAH, DAMAGED, LEMME SAY THAT.

SO THEY'RE USING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER FOR THOSE REESTABLISHMENT AREAS THAT THEY'RE NOT USING THIS YEAR.

SO THAT IS EXPLAINS A LOT OF THAT DIP IN Q1 OR 2025.

AND NEXT SLIDE.

ONSITE WATER REUSE AND GO PURPLE.

UH, CATHERINE MENTIONED, UH, THIS JUST A LITTLE BIT AGO.

UM, IN THE LAST QUARTER WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY INCENTIVES OR REBATES OR, OR FEE IN LIEU AS SHE DESCRIBED.

A LOT OF THAT'S A, A SLOW MOVING PROCESS, GETTING DEVELOPERS AND THEIR DESIGNERS, UM, MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE, THE PROCESS.

BUT CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING ON SO THAT WE HOPE THAT IN FUTURE QUARTERS THERE'LL BE ABLE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO REPORT PROGRESS ON THOSE INCENTIVES.

BUT ONSITE WATER REUSE SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION PERMITS ARE BEING APPROVED BY, BY HER GROUP.

WE HAD THREE APPROVED IN THE LAST QUARTER.

MILESTONES FOR THE RECLAIMED ONSITE WATER REUSE STRATEGIES.

UM, IN 2025, UH, WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY AND EXTEND THE PURPLE PIPE SYSTEM.

UM, SOMETIMES IT'S EASIER TO SEE IN BARS OR THAN OTHER QUARTERS, BUT, UH, STAFF ARE WORKING ON THAT.

AND THERE ARE FIVE RECLAIMED PROJECTS, UM, THAT ARE PART OF THAT COMPLETE THE CORE, WHICH IS THE MILESTONE ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN TO EXPAND THE SYSTEM.

SO THERE ARE FIVE PROJECTS GOING ON AT THIS TIME.

AND THEN THESE ARE ONSITE WATER REUSE MILESTONES.

UH, AS MENTIONED BEFORE, WATER AND WASTEWATER, OR I'M SORRY, WASTEWATER BILLING ORDINANCE HAD BEEN ADOPTED.

UM, AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER MILESTONES THAT ARE IN PROGRESS AT THIS TIME, AND ONE OF THEM YOU APPROVED JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

ITEM 20, THAT'LL GO ONTO COUNCIL ON JUNE 5TH.

VIEWS COME FROM THE TRADITIONAL, UM, MEDIA, UH, PRINT, RADIO AND, AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS. ACTUALLY, THAT THAT'S THE MOST OF IT.

THE FOURTH AND FINAL STRATEGY, UH, GROUPING WE HAVE IS WATER CONSERVATION OUTREACH UPDATES.

PREVIOUSLY I SHOWED YOU THE NUMBER OF REBATES THAT WE HAD IN Q1 AND THAT, THAT JUMP UP FROM Q1 OF 2024.

AND THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN BY JUST MAGIC JUST HAPPENED NATURALLY.

THAT'S REALLY THE RESULT OF A LOT OF WORK DONE BY OUR, OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT FOR CUSTOMERS AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.

THE MESSAGING IS REALLY FOCUSED ON WINTER PREPAREDNESS AND WASTEWATER AVERAGING.

KNOW THOSE AREN'T CONSERVATION REBATES, BUT THOSE DO HELP CUSTOMER SAVE WATER DUE TO LEAKS IN THE WINTER AND TO KEEP OUTDOOR WATER USE LOW DURING THAT WASTEWATER AVERAGING PERIOD.

ONCE THEY GET INTO MARCH, THE, OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE REALLY SHIFTED FOCUS TO MORE LANDSCAPE, UH, REBATES THAT, UH, AS CUSTOMERS START TO THINK ABOUT THEIR LAWN FOR THE SUMMER.

UH, NEXT SLIDE.

THE PRIMARY METRIC FOR WATER CONSERVATION OUTREACH FOR THE LAST QUARTER REALLY IS 15 MILLION IMPRESSIONS.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE TALK TO 15 MILLION PEOPLE.

UH, THIS ARE 15 MILLION VIEWS IN THE AUSTIN METRO AREA, AND THESE ARE CONSERVATION MESSAGES THAT WENT OUT.

MOST OF THE

[01:05:01]

WE HAD ABOUT 200,000 OF THESE IMPRESSIONS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, AND THEN THE REMAINDER CAME FROM OUR WEBSITE AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.

SO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF IMPRESSIONS OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE FIRST QUARTER.

OKAY, SO THOSE WERE THE UPDATES.

NOW WE'RE MOVING INTO THE TOPIC THAT IS OFTEN VERY, UH, INTERESTING TO FOLKS.

THE, UH, PER PERSON WATER USE OR GALLONS PER CAPITA DAILY.

UH, THIS WAS REQUESTED BY US WHEN WE TOOK THE CONSERVATION PLAN, UH, TO THE BOARD, I'M SORRY, THE COUNCIL LAST NOVEMBER.

WE SEE HERE ARE THE, THE TPCD BY CATEGORY AND BY YEAR.

SO TIME RUNS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ON THIS CHART FROM 2018 TO 2025.

EACH VERTICAL BAR IS A QUARTER AND THEY'RE GROUPED TOGETHER FOUR AT A TIME.

UH, Q1 BEING WINTER Q2, SPRING Q3, WHICH IS ALWAYS THE SPIKE IS THE SUMMER.

AND Q4 IS THE FALL.

UM, LAST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR.

THE STRATA OF EACH VERTICAL BAR IS THE GPCD FOR THAT PARTICULAR CUSTOMER CATEGORY.

SO AT THE BOTTOM YOU SEE A BLUE FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, UH, MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ABOVE THAT IN ORANGE AND THEN COMMERCIAL, AND THERE'S SEVERAL OTHERS.

AT THE TOP.

YOU HAVE THE NON-REVENUE WATER.

THIS IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF WATER FOR THOSE CATEGORIES DIVIDED BY THE POPULATION ESTIMATE FOR THAT PARTICULAR, UH, QUARTER YELLOW BAR OR GOLD BAR YOU SEE TOWARDS THE TOP.

THAT'S THE AVERAGE ANNUAL GPCD FOR THAT PARTICULAR YEAR.

AND YOU ALSO SEE THAT IN PRINT AT THE TOP THERE.

AND THEN WE HAVE A NEXT SLIDE, WHICH IS ALSO GPCD.

UM, AND IT SHOWS THE SAME DATA, BUT JUST IN A LITTLE DIFFERENT MANNER.

UH, SO SOME PEOPLE MIGHT FIND ONE SLIDE MORE, UH, USEFUL THAN THE OTHER.

ON THE SECOND SLIDE, YOU SEE GPCD BY CATEGORY, NOT IN STRATA OF VERTICAL BARS, BUT RATHER THAN LINES GOING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.

UH, THEY'RE NOT STACKED ON EACH OTHER.

THE LINES GOING ACROSS ARE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER.

SO YOU CAN SEE AS YOUR AI GOES ACROSS THE, THE SLIDE, KINDA DIFFERENT JUMPS AND HOW THEY MIGHT COMPARE TO EACH OTHER.

THE GRAY BARS ARE THE QUARTERLY, UH, GPCD AND THE YELLOW LINE AT THE TOP IS THE AVERAGE ANNUAL GPCD.

AND I DIDN'T MENTION THE LAST SLIDE, BUT IN THIS ONE ALSO, WE NOTE WHEN WE WENT INTO STAGE ONE DROUGHT AND WE WENT INTO STAGE TWO DROUGHT.

AND IN ADDITION TO CONSERVATION REUSE, RECLAIMED, UM, OUTREACH, UH, WE ARE PRO PROVIDING IMPLEMENTATION UPDATES ON THREE OF THE WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN THE WATER FORWARD PLAN.

UH, THERE WAS A FOURTH ONE, BRACKISH GROUNDWATER, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY MILESTONES IN 2025.

UH, SO YOU JUST SEE MILESTONE PROGRESS ON THREE OF THOSE AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY.

THE LAKE WALTER LONG OFF CHANNEL RESERVOIR AND INDIRECT POTABLE REUSE.

UM, ONE OF THOSE WE'VE ALREADY COMPLETED THE DESKTOP ANALYSIS AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE OTHER MILESTONES.

FOR OUR JOURNEY TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, MORE WATER CONSERVATION AND, UH, MORE WATER SECURE, UH, CITY, YOU KNOW, WATER GOING OUT, YOU KNOW, SERVING AND THEN TREATED WASTEWATER.

ALL RIGHT, MOVING FORWARD.

UM, WATER SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE CITY IS, IS NOT A SPRINT.

IT IS PROBABLY BETTER CONSIDERED A MARATHON.

UH, AND THESE QUARTERLY REPORTS CAN BE CONSIDERED OUR REGULAR TRAINING LOG OF WHAT WE ARE DOING TO GET THROUGH THAT MARATHON.

UH, AS WE GO FORWARD, WE WILL BE TRANSPARENT IN ALL THAT WE'RE DOING.

WE'LL ADJUST OUR EFFORTS AND THESE REPORTS AS NECESSARY TO MEET OUR GOALS.

FORTUNATELY TODAY, WE HAVE ALL OF OUR EXPERTS FOR ALL THESE IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS IN THE AUDIENCE.

UH, SO IF YOU DO HAVE QUESTIONS NOW OR AFTER THIS MEETING, UH, WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ALL OF THEM.

UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST AND FEEDBACK GOING FORWARD.

AND WITH THAT NEXT SLIDE BRINGS US TO QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KEVIN.

UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, UM, AS YOU'RE SAYING THESE TRAINING LOGS IS IMPORTANT

[01:10:01]

THOSE ARE RELATIVELY EASY METRICS, RIGHT? THESE ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT ARE TOUGH.

SO I, I DO APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN TO, UH, PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION TO US AND TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

UM, SO WITH THAT, THE, ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION.

COMMISSIONER ARDI, UM, A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.

I, I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS THAT YOU'RE DOING THIS REPORT, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL REQUIRED THIS WHEN WE APPROVED THE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN LAST YEAR.

DO I HAVE THAT RIGHT? I THINK THE SHORT ANSWER TO THAT IS YES.

UM, I THINK THE, THERE WAS CERTAINLY A REQUIREMENT THAT WE, THAT WE REPORT ON WATER USE IN TERMS OF GPCD BY CUSTOMER CLASS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.

WE ALSO COMMITTED TO PROVIDING QUARTERLY REPORTS BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZED, AS WE WORKED THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF WATER 4 24, THE UPDATED WATER CONSERVATION PLAN AND THE UPDATED DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN THAT REPORTING OUT ON THE, ON HOW WE'RE DOING ON WATER USE, UM, ON A, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEAR, ONE YEAR SCALE IS NOT FREQUENT ENOUGH.

UM, AND SO WE NEED TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO, UM, BE IN COMMUNICATION WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND OUR CUSTOMERS ON HOW WE'RE DOING AS A COMMUNITY.

UM, REDUCING OUR WATER USE OVER TIME IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, MANY OF THE METRICS THAT KEVIN REPORTED ON TODAY ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY'S ENGAGEMENT IN THIS EFFORT.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF HOW WE GET FROM WHERE WE ARE TODAY TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY.

SO, I'M SORRY, THAT'S A LONG ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER, WHICH IS TO SAY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AUSTIN WATER IS COMMITTED TO, AND IT IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS FROM CITY COUNCIL.

UM, LET'S GO BACK TO THAT CHART THAT HAD THE VERTICAL BARS, WHICH SHOWED GALLONS PER CAPITA PER DAY, PER QUARTER.

AND MY QUESTION IS VERY, UH, GO BACK A LITTLE FURTHER BACK THIS ONE, IF YOU AND I, IF YOU ADDED UP THOSE NUMBERS FOR Q1 2 0 2 5 AND COMPARED IT TO THE ADDED NUMBERS FOR Q1 2 0 2 4, AND I APOLOGIZE, I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT ARITHMETIC.

WHAT, WHAT ARE THE, WELL, HOW DO THEY COMPARE THAT? THEY'RE, THEY'RE PRETTY, I MEAN, IF I LOOK AT THE NUMBER, THEY'RE ONE APART, THEY'RE VERY SIMILAR.

I, I MEAN, DID YOU ADD 'EM UP? WELL, THEY'RE ALL THE SAME EXCEPT SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, WHICH IS ONE DIFFERENT .

SO IN FACT, THE GPCD OVER LAST YEAR WENT UP BY ONE ONE GALLON.

AM I READING THAT CORRECTLY? I, I'M SORRY.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

THE, OKAY.

THE TOTAL GPC FOR Q1 IS ONE HIGHER THAN Q1 24.

AND, AND I'LL JUST SAY THE HESITATION ON OUR PART IS THAT GPCD IN A SINGLE QUARTER, LIKE IT'S REALLY AN ANNUAL METRIC THAT WE LOOK AT, SO YEAH, I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE THAT.

YEAH, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YOU'RE GONNA BE, UH, CHECKED ON THIS NO MATTER WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.

BUT THE, UM, THE THING ABOUT THIS THAT IRRITATES ME IS WHEN WE WERE DEVELOPING THE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN LAST YEAR, AND, UH, I HAD A LITTLE, LITTLE INVOLVEMENT IN IT, AND I, I MUST SAY I WASN'T VERY HAPPY THAT WE OFFERED, WE, AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WATER FORWARD TASK FORCE, WHOEVER OFFERED ABOUT 50 SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE THE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN.

AND YOU DIDN'T TAKE ANY OF 'EM.

I MEAN, YOU SAID, AH, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

WE'LL THINK ABOUT IT, BUT THAT'S WHY I THINK THE WATER, THE NUMBERS ARE GOING UP IS WE'RE NOT AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH.

BUT ANYWAYS, I KNOW YOU'LL DISAGREE WITH MY OPINION ON THAT, BUT THAT'S MY OPINION.

I'D LIKE TO GO FURTHER TO THE SLIDE AT THE END THAT SHOWS THE PROJECTS, THE WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS, AND, UH, YES, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO COMMENT THAT THESE THREE PROJECTS ARE THE

[01:15:01]

BACKBONE OF THE WATER FORWARD WATER SUPPLY STRATEGY.

AND TWO OF THESE PROJECTS ARE IN TROUBLE.

AND, AND I, AND I DON'T KNOW MUCH MORE THAN WHAT I READ IN THE PAPER, BUT OUR A SR PROGRAM IS BEING RESISTED BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

AND I'M NOT TRYING TO GET INTO THE DETAILS OF THAT.

I KNOW WHERE IT'S ALL BIG SECRET AND EVERYTHING, BUT THAT PROJECT'S STRUGGLING.

AND I WOULD SAY THE SAME THING WITH THE INDIRECT POTABLE REUSE INTO LADY BIRD LAKE, THAT PRO THAT PROJECT HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS. SO I JUST POINT THAT OUT THAT, UM, I'VE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT THESE PROJECTS FROM THE DAY WE WROTE THAT PLAN 10 YEARS AGO, THAT THEY WERE, UH, THEY WERE TRICKY, COMPLICATED.

AND, UH, I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO PRESENT THEM AS IF THEY'RE SAILING ALONG REAL SMOOTH.

ANYWAYS, I THINK THAT'S ALL I GOT, AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

I, I, UH, UH, THE REASON THAT THESE THREE PROJECTS ARE LISTED ON HERE IS BECAUSE OF THEIR IMPORTANCE, JUST AS YOU STATED.

UM, THEY, THEY ARE COMPLEX, CHALLENGING, GENERATIONAL PROJECTS, UH, AND WE HAVE APPLIED THE RESOURCES TO THESE PROJECTS IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM SUCCESSFUL.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE COMMITTED TO GETTING THESE PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED AND WE FULLY EXPECT CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY AND WE'RE PREPARED FOR THAT.

COMMISSIONER MORTY, IS THAT ALL YOUR QUESTIONS? YES, THANK YOU.

THAT'S, THAT'S QUESTIONABLE.

GREAT JOB, KEVIN.

UM, AND KUDOS TO THE ENTIRE TEAM.

I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD WORK THAT'S HAPPENING.

MY QUESTION, I GUESS IS TWO PARTS.

THIS IS A LOT OF METRICS.

IT'S A FULL-TIME JOB FOR SOMEBODY.

WHAT HAPPENS, LIKE IN, I MEAN, I THINK ARE YOU GONNA BE, IN TERMS OF REGULAR, REGULARLY KEEPING UP WITH THIS, WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS GONNA FIZZLE OUT IN TWO YEARS, TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

YEAH.

I MEAN, THAT WAS A QUESTION THAT WE HAD IS HOW, HOW ARE WE GONNA MAKE THIS SUSTAINABLE? UM, ONE OF THE WAYS IS THAT THE SLIDE DECK THAT YOU SEE HERE, THAT IS THE QUARTERLY REPORT.

THERE'S NOT GONNA BE A TEXTUAL 2030 PAGE DOCUMENT BEHIND IT.

WE ARE GONNA KEEP IT AS A SLIDE DECK TO CONSTRAIN WHAT WE CAN DO, WHAT WE CAN SAY, HOW MUCH TEXT WE CAN PUT IN THERE.

UH, AND WE DO HAVE A METHOD TO UPDATE THIS QUARTERLY.

YOU KNOW, THE METRICS ARE ONES THAT CAN BE REPRODUCED EVERY THREE MONTHS OR SO, AND THEN IT, IT'S A CASE OF THE EXPERTS GOING IN AND, AND CHECKING OR CHANGING THOSE BARS.

SO I DO BELIEVE THERE IS, WE CAN SUSTAINABLY DO THIS GOING INTO THE FUTURE.

SO IS THAT A MANUAL PROCESS RIGHT NOW? IS THIS A MANUAL PROCESS RIGHT NOW OR IS THAT MORE AUTOMATED WHERE YOU'RE ABLE TO PULL DATA AND IT JUST GETS FED IN AND SOMEBODY CHECKS THE THE DATA? YES, AT THIS POINT IT IS A MANUAL PROCESS AND IN TERMS OF TAKING THE TOTAL LINEAR FEED OF PIPE CHECKED, UM, AND PUTTING THAT INTO A, AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET, UM, BUT WE FEEL THAT IT IS A SIMPLE PROCESS, BUT IT'S ONE THAT DOES NOT GET OVERLY BURDENED BY TECHNICAL, UH, POINTS OF SOFTWARE.

UM, I'M SMILING BECAUSE YOU, THIS IS, YOU ARE KEYING IN ON CONVERSATIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS REPORTING AND HOW WE MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE.

AND I, I WOULD SAY THAT THE METRICS THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE ARE THE METRICS THAT WE LOOK AT, THAT OUR TEAMS LOOK AT TO UNDERSTAND MM-HMM .

UM, HOW WE'RE DOING AND HOW WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.

AND SO OUR, OUR CHALLENGES NOT SO MUCH KEEPING UP WITH THOSE METRICS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, THESE ALL OF OUR TEAMS ARE LOOKING AT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

UM, AND THANK YOU TO KEVIN FOR REPRESENTING THE WORK OF MANY DIFFERENT TEAMS ACROSS AUSTIN WATER AND HIS REPORTING TODAY.

UM, SO OUR CHALLENGE IS REALLY JUST HOW DO WE MAKE THAT THE CREATION OF THIS REPORT AS SEAMLESS AS POSSIBLE AND THAT'S, THAT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS.

YEP.

I THINK THAT WAS GONNA BE MY COMMENT ON THAT IS, UM, JUST AS YOU GUYS ARE DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING, IF THERE'S A WAY TO MAKE THIS MORE NATURALLY INGRAINED AND LESS MANUAL, IT JUST HELPS KEEP THIS UP IN THE LONG COURSE.

SO, UM, MY SECOND COMMENT, SO THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THAT.

MY SECOND COMMENT IS SOME OF, I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THE METRICS ARE VERY QUANTITATIVE.

I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR HAVING QUANTITATIVE METRICS, BUT HOW DOES THAT TRANSLATE TO QUALITY? LIKE, LIKE COMMERCIAL REBATE PROGRAMS? IT'S GOOD TO KNOW A NUMBER, BUT WHAT DOES THAT NUMBER REALLY MEAN? LIKE, CAN ALL THESE METRICS REALLY BE TIED DOWN TO WATER SAVED? I THINK THE DIRECTOR HIT ON IT AT ONE POINT, CAN AT

[01:20:01]

SOME POINT, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE NEXT QUARTER, IT'S JUST IS THIS, COULD ALL, COULD IT ALL BE LIKE IT'S ONE SINGLE MESSAGE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUT, RIGHT? THAT THE WATER SAVED IS X GALLONS? IS THAT A YEAH, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING ON FOR SOME METRICS.

FOR INSTANCE, THE COMMERCIAL OR COMMERCIAL REBATES, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THAT, WE HAVE THAT NUMBER, UM, BUT NOT ALL THE METRICS HAVE THAT EASILY IDENTIFIABLE YIELD.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO, TO WORK ON OVER THE NEXT QUARTER OR TWO.

THAT'S ALL I HAD.

I, I'LL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO VOTE WITH ME.

GOOD WORK.

SO THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE AND RESILIENCY, WHICH USED TO BE THE SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT DEVELOPMENT, THEY CHANGED THEIR NAME.

THEY HAVE A DASHBOARD IMPLEMENTATION DASHBOARD THAT'S ONLINE AND, AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

I GUESS JUST THINKING ABOUT DOWN THE LINE, YOU KNOW, THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH THEM OVER THERE OF HOW THEY CREATED THIS DASHBOARD TO TRANSLATE SOME OF THESE INTO AUSTIN WATER ZONE POTENTIAL DASHBOARD, JUST AS AN IDEA, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD FOR, FOR KEEPING THIS SUSTAINABLE AND, AND OUT THERE AND MOVING FORWARD.

AND, AND ALSO AS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, AND AS, UM, I SAID EARLIER LIKE THE, TO GET TO OUR GOALS FOR, UM, WATER SUSTAINABILITY FOR AUSTIN, THAT'S A COMMUNITY EFFORT.

AND SO WE'RE, WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO ENGAGE MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AND I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE OUR PROGRESS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THEY'RE LIKE, OKAY, THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING ARE WORKING, UM, IN ORDER TO BUILD THAT MOMENTUM.

AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA BE CONTINUING TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE DO THAT AND CERTAINLY WE'RE, UH, WELL INTEGRATED WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE, HAVE THE, THOSE SAME TYPES OF GOALS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING IN CONCERT WITH THEM.

I HAVE ONE LAST, I'LL GO AHEAD.

UM, KEVIN, MAYBE YOU SAID THIS, I MIGHT'VE BEEN TAKING NOTES, BUT, UH, WITH THE, DURING THE REBATE SECTION, UM, I GUESS DID YOU SAY SOMETHING ABOUT ENGAGING WITH, UM, SERVICE PROVIDERS, LIKE CONTRACTORS ON PROMOTING THE REBATES VERSUS JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO PROMOTE IT OUT TO RESIDENTS? UM, DID YOU SAY SOMETHING OR DID I MAKE IHE SOMETHING COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL? YEAH, RESIDENTIAL.

UH, EXCUSE ME.

YEAH, RESIDENTIAL.

DID YOU SAY THAT Y'ALL WERE, UH, ENGAGING WITH MAYBE THE CONTRACTING COMMUNITY, THE KINDA LET THEM KNOW THAT HEY, THESE, THESE REBATES ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS? THAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON.

UM, FOR INSTANCE, UH, ENGAGING WITH, UH, NURSERIES OR OTHER PROVIDERS THAT YOU SEE, THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD WAY TO GET THESE OUT.

YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY WITH THE COMMERCIAL, A LOT OF THOSE COMMERCIAL REBATES REALLY CAME ABOUT FROM, UH, THE, THE VENDORS WHO ARE PROVIDING THESE WATER EFFICIENT FIXTURES AND THEY WOULD BRING 'EM IN.

SO REACHING OUT TO THOSE, THOSE VENDORS OR THOSE THIRD PARTIES IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET THOSE REBATES IN.

YEAH, I WOULD JUST TO SUGGEST THAT, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WITH RAINWATER HARVESTING AND, AND THE REBATES THAT COME THROUGH THAT I KNOW OF, UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT INTERACTION WITH THOSE, THOSE POTENTIAL CONTRACTORS, SO THEN THEY'RE PROMOTING IT OUT TO THEIR POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS, UM, COULD BE, UH, A GREAT WAY TO REALLY EXPAND, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER.

UH, 'CAUSE I CAN, IT'S SURPRISING WHEN I HEAR CUSTOMERS OF OURS, THEY GO, OH, I DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE REBATES.

AND YOU KNOW, FOR US BEING IN THE BUSINESS, RIGHT, IT'S KINDA LIKE, WOW, REALLY YOU DON'T KNOW? SO YEAH, SO JUST, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT THAT AS A WAY TO REALLY HELP EDUCATE, YOU KNOW, THESE POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS OF, OF THESE VARIOUS VENDORS AND CONTRACTORS COULD BE A WAY TO DRIVE THAT.

OTHER QUESTIONS? I JUST HAD A BRIEF COMMENT THAT, UM, JUST MORE OF A SHOUT OUT TO WHOEVER'S DOING YOUR INSTAGRAM.

IT'S HILARIOUS AND THEY'RE DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB AND I MEAN THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF IMPRESSIONS THAT ARE COMING FROM THAT AND THEY'RE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THAT TEAM AND SOME OF THEM ARE IN THE AUDIENCE.

UM, I, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT OBVIOUSLY THIS IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND AND AS KEVIN SAID, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF GO BYS OUT THERE IN THE INDUSTRY FOR DOING THIS KIND OF REPORTING.

WE HAVE SPENT A LOT, AND BY WE, I MEAN PEOPLE LIKE KEVIN HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, UH, DETERMINING WHAT TO INCLUDE, UM, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST WAY TO DISPLAY IT IS.

UM, IF YOU HAVE FEEDBACK FOR US ON WHAT'S MEANINGFUL, UH, WHAT'S WHAT, UH, TWEAKS YOU WOULD RECOMMEND, UM, WHAT OTHER, YOU KNOW, AS YOU READ THROUGH IT, WHAT QUESTIONS IT RAISES IN YOUR MIND.

I WONDER WHAT THEY'RE DOING ABOUT X.

IF YOU WOULD SHARE THOSE WITH US, THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.

UM, AND PARTICULARLY ON THOSE TWO GRAPHS AT THE END, LET US KNOW WHICH GRAPH YOU LIKE BETTER WITH THE TWO BAR CHARTS.

, UM,

[01:25:01]

I PERSONALLY LIKE THE ONE WITH ALL THE COLORS ON IT PREVIOUS TO THIS ONE.

OTHERS REALLY LIKE THIS ONE, THE SECOND ONE.

SO, UH, I MEAN WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE TWO, UH, BUT YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE AN OPINION, LET US KNOW.

OKAY, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

THE LAST, LAST AGENDA ITEM IS AN UPDATE FROM THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, UH, REGARDING CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES BY MYSELF.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

OKAY,

[23. Update from the Joint Sustainability Committee meeting regarding conservation and sustainability initiatives. – Chair Chris Maxwell-Gaines]

UM, SO AT THE APRIL 23RD JSC MEETING, WE WERE GIVEN TWO PRESENTATIONS, ONE ON THE 2026 BOND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, AND THE OTHER ONE WAS ON THE I 35 CAP AND STITCH.

DON'T ASK ME ANYTHING ABOUT THE BOND DEVELOPMENT, UH, PRESENTATION.

UH, THERE WAS A, THERE WAS A, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION, BUT JUST REALLY FOR ME TO, TO SPIT OUT SOME ANSWERS FOR YOU.

UM, BUT THE CAPTAIN STITCH THERE WAS A VERY ROBUST, UH, DISCUSSION AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE AT THE, UH, JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.

UM, AND SO IT WAS PRESENTED BY THE, UH, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND, UM, SO LOTS OF QUESTIONS.

UH, THERE WAS A, A DRAFT, A RESOLUTION OR A RESOLUTION THAT WAS DRAFTED BY JSC.

UM, UH, BUT, UH, THE ADJUST IS THAT MANY OF THE MEMBERS FELT LIKE THE, UM, KNOW, THE, UH, IT WOULD REALLY HAVE TO BE JUSTIFIED, THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE.

AND SO I DON'T, I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE WHAT IS CAP STITCH 'CAUSE I'M SURE Y'ALL KNOW, BUT, UH, JUST FROM A, THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE STANDPOINT THAT, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ABILITY TO, UH, STRADDLE MORE DEBT, UM, ONTO THE CITY AND WHAT ARE WE GETTING OUT OF IT VERSUS OTHER SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS, UH, THAT THE CITY COULD POTENTIALLY USE WITH THAT, UH, TYPE OF FUNDING AND EVEN PURCHASE OF, OF OTHER PARKLAND AND OTHER AREAS, UH, THAT WOULD BE MUCH CHEAPER.

SO THAT WAS THAT TYPE OF DISCUSSION THAT, THAT WE HAD AT THE JSC ABOUT THAT.

SO I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS, UH, ABOUT THE CAPTAIN STITCH, IF YOU HAVE ANY? UH, IT'S ALL OVER THE NEWS, SO, UM, YOU CAN PROBABLY EDUCATE YOURSELF A LOT ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

SO I DON'T WANNA BE YOUR SOLE SOURCE OF, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAPTAIN STITCH, SO.

[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]

ALL RIGHT.

IF NO QUESTIONS THEN, UM, ARE THERE ANY, UM, IDEAS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE, UH, TO SEE? I, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.

I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT THE SPEAKER TODAY SPOKE ABOUT.

I MEAN, HE TALKED ABOUT LIKE, JUST, JUST, I MEAN MORE LIKE AN INFORMATIONAL THING.

I'M NOT SAYING WE NEED TO VOTE ON IT, BUT JUST TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT THE UTILITY HAS SPENT IN THE PAST WITH RESPECT TO PLUMBING OR THE PROGRAM THAT HE REFERENCED.

JUST AN INFORMATION SESSION.