Aug 20, 2025 Water and Wastewater Commission

[00:00:04]

NEED TO GO.

[CALL TO ORDER ]

WELCOME TO THE AUGUST 20TH, 2025 WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION MEETING.

IT IS NOW 4 0 4 AND I'M CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER.

SO RUNNING DOWN THE ROLL CALL.

PRESENT IN THE BUILDING, WE HAVE MYSELF, CHAIR MAXWELL GAINES, VICE CHAIR, UH, TU YOUNG COMMISSIONER WOLSTONCROFT, COMMISSIONER ORTIZ, NOT ORTIZ, UH, REYES.

AND THEN COMMISSIONER PENI.

AND THEN REMOTE.

WE HAVE COMMISSIONER MORIARTY, COMMISSIONER ORTIZ, AND COMMISSIONER NOVARRO.

AND ABSENT, AT THIS MOMENT, WE HAVE COMMISSIONER MARLO AND COMMISSIONER PENN.

IS THAT RIGHT? OKAY.

SO WE DO HAVE QUORUM, WHICH HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AROUND THE NEWS PARTS LATELY, RIGHT? IT'S JUST CRAZY.

OH, YEAH.

UH, COMMISSIONER TRI IS NOT PRESENT AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.

DO YOU HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? OKAY.

NO COMMUNICATIONS.

THEN

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, REVISIONS, COMMENTS? I'M, I NEED THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

OKAY.

BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY ROBUST MEETING FROM READING THE MINUTES.

UM, SO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COMMISSIONER PAN PANI, SECOND AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER TUON.

ALL THE COMMISSIONERS IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL.

PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

OKAY.

IT IS UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MOVING

[DISCUSSION AND ACTION]

ARE THERE REPRESENTATIVES HERE? OKAY.

SO COMMISSIONERS FOR ITEM NUMBER FIVE, IN CASE YOU DO HAVE QUESTIONS OR NOW MAYBE YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COLORADO, COLORADO RIVER ALLIANCE PRESENT.

SO IN CASE YOU DO HAVE QUESTIONS, UM, THEY CAN COME UP AND ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.

UM, AND THEN FOR ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, UH, THEY HAVE PROVIDED A REVISED, UM, ITEM, UH, LANGUAGE TO YOU POSSIBLY, UH, REMOTELY.

I GUESS YOU MIGHT'VE GOT IT BY EMAIL, UH, BUT I'M GONNA READ IT INTO RECORD SINCE IT IS, UH, DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WAS LISTED ON THE AGENDA.

SO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, THE REVISED LANGUAGE STATES RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE A CONTRACT FOR BASE FORM SOFTWARE AND SUPPORT SERVICES SERVICES FOR AUSTIN WATER WITH BASE FORM INC.

DBA BASE FORM FOR AN INITIAL TERM OF ONE YEAR WITH UP TO FOUR ONE YEAR EXTENSION OPTIONS IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $921,500.

FUNDING OF $184,500 IS AVAILABLE IN THE FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26.

OPERATING BUDGET OF AUSTIN.

WATER FUNDING FOR THE REMAINING CONTRACT TERM IS CONTINGENT UPON AVAIL AVAILABLE FUNDING IN FUTURE BUDGETS.

SO THAT IS THE REVISED LANGUAGE FOR ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

SO, GOING BACK TO SET THE CONSENT AGENDA, UM, I'LL ASK ALL THE COMMISSIONERS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR RECUSALS, UH, FOR THE ITEMS. SO, UH, STARTING HERE PRESENTLY, UH, COMMISSIONER TUON QUESTIONS, RECUSALS, NO QUESTIONS? NO RECUSALS.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER STEINS CROFT.

SORRY, QUESTION ON FIVE? UH, NO RECUSALS.

OKAY.

COMMISSIONER REYES, NO QUESTIONS.

NO RECUSAL.

OKAY.

COMMISSIONER PEN DURGE? NO QUESTIONS.

NO RECUSALS.

COMMISSIONER MORIARTY? NO QUESTIONS.

NO RECUSALS.

OKAY.

COMMISSIONER ORTIZ, I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION ON FIVE, BUT NO RECUSALS.

OKAY.

COMMISSIONER NAVARRO, UH, NO QUESTIONS.

UH, NO, RECUSALS.

OKAY.

SO THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE ITEMS NUMBER 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, AND NINE.

SO, COMMISSIONERS, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

OKAY.

APPROVE, UH, MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CRO.

I SECOND.

OKAY.

AND A

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EVERYONE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA? PLEASE SHOW YOUR HANDS.

OKAY.

IT IS UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO NOW MOVING ON TO

[5. Recommend approval to authorize negotiation and execution of an agreement with Colorado River Alliance (the Alliance) to provide educational and engagement activities to equip Austin Water customers with knowledge and tools needed to protect the Texas Colorado River and support its long-term viability as the primary source of Austin’s water supply. Funding: Funding in the amount of $100,000 is included in the FY 25-26 Operating Budget of Austin Water. Funding for remaining contract terms is subject to availability in future budgets. ]

ITS LONG-TERM VIABILITY AS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF AUSTIN'S WATER SUPPLY FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND IS INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 26 OPERATING BUDGET OF AUSTIN.

WATER FUNDING FOR THE REMAINING CONTRACT TERMS IS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY AND FUTURE BUDGETS.

SO COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

SO, UM, I'D, I'D LOVE TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT, UM, SOME OF THE IMPACT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE RELATIONSHIP WITH, UH, THE COLORADO RIVER ALLIANCE SO FAR.

SO I KNOW IN, UM, BACKUP ITEM NUMBER FIVE FOR, UM, REVIEW FOR THIS MEETING, UM, IT WAS NOTED THAT WE HAVE A, A LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COLORADO RIVER ALLIANCE, GOING BACK TO 2015.

UM, I REVIEWED A, A BIT OF THEIR 2024 IMPACT REPORT AND WAS EXCITED TO SEE THE, THE CONTACT HOURS, THE STUDENTS ENGAGED, UM, ESPECIALLY HOW THIS SORT OF STACKS INTO OUR LARGER, UM, CONSERVATION STRATEGY, JUST EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT, UM, CONSERVATION STRATEGIES.

UH, COULD YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND JUST A LITTLE BIT OF, IN THE 10 YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD, UM, THIS EDUCATIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COLORADO RIVER ALLIANCE, UM, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OUTCOMES OR OTHER SORT OF INDICATORS OF IMPACT THAT WE'VE SEEN? ARE WE SEEING, IS THERE A WAY TO SORT OF TRACE THAT TO CONSERVATION REDUCED USE, UM, THOUGHTFUL USE OF, UH, RESOURCES FROM CUSTOMERS? UH, YES.

HI, GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS.

RANDY JENKINS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AT AUSTIN WATER.

UH, YEAH, I'M, I'M EXCITED THAT YOU'RE EXCITED TO SEE THIS AGREEMENT COME FORWARD.

UM, WE DO HAVE, UH, ADRIAN, A MEMBER OF THE COLORADO RIVER ALLIANCE IN, IN THE, UM, AUDIENCE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PULL HER IN IF WE NEED TO, TO ANSWER SOME OF THE SPECIFIC DETAILS ABOUT, UM, SOME OF THE OUTCOMES THEY'VE SEEN.

BUT I WOULD JUST SAY IN GENERAL, WE HAVE HAD, UM, 10 YEARS PLUS.

UM, WE WERE, UH, PART OF THE, UH, PARTNERING AGENCIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN DEVELOPING THE MOBILE RIVER THAT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE.

AND, UM, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF FRUITFUL OUTCOMES.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD THE ABILITY TO, TO CHECK OUT THE MOBILE RIVER AS A PLUG.

IT WILL BE AT CITY HALL ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, WHEN, WHEN, UM, CITY COUNCIL TAKES, UM, A LOOK AND CONSIDERS THIS AGREEMENT TO MOVE FORWARD.

UM, SO IT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THAT DAY TO CHECK OUT, BUT IT'S, UM, IT'S VERY EDUCATIONAL.

UM, IT'S REALLY A HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH WATER USE AND IT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO, YOU KNOW, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, UM, ADJUST THEIR WATER USAGE IN THEIR OWN HOUSEHOLD AND KIND OF COME UP WITH THAT WATER BALANCE, YOU KNOW, SO WATER BALANCING IS A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT HERE IN OUR WATER CONSERVATION STRATEGIES.

AND SO IT GIVES THE STUDENTS REALLY A HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, TO LEAVE A LASTING IMPACT AND IMPRESSION ON THEM IN THEIR, IN THEIR LIVES GOING FORWARD.

AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE ASK STUDENTS TO DO, OR THROUGH THE COLORADO RIVER RELIANCE IS TO TAKE A WATER PLEDGE.

AND SO THEY MAKE A PLEDGE ABOUT HOW MUCH WATER, UM, THEY WILL SAVE, YOU KNOW, AFTER THEIR LITTLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE.

AND SO, UM, THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE'LL BE SHARING WITH OUR CUSTOMER BASE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE THE PLEDGE ALSO.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S ANOTHER EFFORT FOR, FOR SHARING ACROSS THE TWO AUSTIN WATER AND COLORADO RIVER ALLIANCE.

THANK YOU.

CAN I ASK A FOLLOW UP QUESTION? MM-HMM .

UM, SO EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT, UM, SOME OF THE CONSERVATION, UM, AND, AND TOOLS THAT STUDENTS CAN, UH, SORT OF PLAY AROUND WITH, UM, TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN REDUCE THEIR OWN WATER USAGE.

IS THERE, UM, ANY CLEAR CAREER EXPLORATION THAT, UM, THE COLORADO RIVER ALLIANCE DOES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AUSTIN WATER, UM, AROUND, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLE CAREERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, CONSERVATION, UM, WATER MANAGEMENT? ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE ADRIAN COMING UP TO JOIN ME TO HELP ANSWER THAT.

THANK, HI.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR QUESTION.

I'M ADRIAN LONG AND LONGNECKER, IT'S SUCH A PLEASURE TO MEET ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATION OF TIME TO THIS WORTHY EFFORT, AND I LOVE HEARING THAT YOU CHECKED OUT OUR IMPACT REPORT.

SO WATER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS IMPORTANT TO US.

AND SO, UM, WE DO WORK WITH OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS TO CONNECT

[00:10:01]

THAT IS THE MOST CLEAR CUT METRIC I HAVE FOR UNDERSTANDING THEIR, THE THROUGH LINE TO THEIR CONTINUED EXPLORATION OF CAREERS IN WATER EDUCATION, IN ENVIRONMENTALISM AND SCIENCE.

UM, SO WE HAVE HAD ON RECORD AT LEAST FIVE STUDENTS WHO WENT THROUGH THE PROGRAM AS A MIDDLE SCHOOLER WHO HAVE THEN COME ON TO, UH, APPLY TO BE AN INTERN WITH US.

THE ONE OTHER METRIC THAT I'D LIKE TO ADD TO EVERYTHING RANDY PRESENTED, WHICH WAS VERY THOROUGH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, IS WE DO, UM, PRE AND POST KNOWLEDGE GAIN SURVEYS SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE TRUE IMPACT, UH, ALIGNED WITH TEAKS THAT WE'RE HELPING TO PROVIDE TO THE STUDENTS.

AND THE MOST NOTABLE METRIC IS KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR WATER SOURCE, OF WHICH, ON AVERAGE, ABOUT 10% OF STUDENTS CLEARLY KNOW THE, UM, SOURCE OF THEIR WATER BEFORE TAKING, UM, BEFORE TAKING AN EXPERIENCE WITH US.

AND AFTER WHICH ABOUT 98% ARE CLEAR ON THE SOURCE OF THEIR WATER.

EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE THAT ADRIAN AND RANDY, UM, NO OTHER QUESTIONS FROM ME.

COMMISSIONER ORTIZ, YOU HAD A QUESTION.

I DID.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR BEING HERE.

UM, MY QUESTION IS, I WAS JUST CURIOUS, UH, IF YOU COULD PLEASE SHARE ABOUT THE COLORADO RIVER ALLIANCES WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ANY OF THE LARGE STATEWIDE NONPROFITS THAT DO A LOT OF WORK ON WATER CONSERVATION.

HAVE, ARE THOSE SPACES THAT Y'ALL REGULARLY ENGAGE IN, IN TERMS OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT EITHER HAVE GRASSROOTS MEMBERS OR ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS? UM, UM, I, I THINK I'M, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THERE'S ANY FORMAL OR INFORMAL RELATIONSHIPS IN THOSE SPACES.

ONE, UH, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ORTIZ FOR YOUR QUESTION.

UH, ONE WAY, UH, WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD, UM, KIND OF A WELL-KNOWN STALWART IN WATER, JENNIFER WALKER ON OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

SO THAT'S ONE FORMAL RELATIONSHIP I WOULD SAY THAT HELPS CONNECT OUR RATHER TINY ORGANIZATION TO VERY LARGE ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

AND THEN SECONDLY, WE ARE A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS WATER COMMISSION, UH, COMMISSION IS NOT THE RIGHT WORD.

IT'S AN INFORMAL GROUP THAT COMES TOGETHER THAT IS SUPPORTED BY ONE STAR AND, UM, SO THAT IT IS A STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION THAT PULLS TOGETHER NONPROFITS AS WELL AS BUSINESSES THAT ARE WORKING IN WATER TO HELP FUND AND FIND RESOURCES FOR GRASSROOTS, GRASSROOTS, UM, OPPORTUNITIES.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS IF I DIDN'T NAIL IT WITH THAT.

NO, NO, THAT WAS PERFECT.

I'D LOVE TO VISIT SOME MORE ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR, FOR THAT KIND OF ENGAGEMENT.

YEAH, WE'D LOVE TO CONNECT YOU THERE.

COMMISSIONER PAN PANDO HAD A QUESTION.

YEAH, I HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.

I DID NOT INITIALLY PULL THE ITEM.

UM, SO AT THE END OF THIS CONTRACT PERIOD FOR THIS FUNDING AMOUNT THAT'S BEING AUTHORIZED TODAY, WHAT IS THE DELIVERABLE? WHAT, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AFTER THIS? LIKE, WHAT IS THE TANGIBLE GOAL THAT AUSTIN WATER SLASH THE ALLIANCE WILL GET? I'D LOVE TO HEAR ADRIAN'S RESPONSE ON THIS, BUT WHAT I WOULD SHARE FROM AUSTIN WATER'S PERSPECTIVE IS THAT WE, UM, ONE WANNA LOOK FOR A LONG-TERM SOLUTION FOR THE THE MOBILE RIVER.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A TRAILER AND SO IT WILL EVENTUALLY, YOU KNOW, END, END ITS USEFUL LIFE AND NEED TO BE REPURPOSED AND, AND POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, GET OFF THE ROAD, SO TO SPEAK.

AND SO LOOKING FOR A HOME FOR THAT AND KIND OF HOW WE, UM, USE THAT IN PERPETUITY, YOU KNOW, FROM HERE TO COME AND THEN SECOND TO THAT, UM, BUT NOT, NOT IN, UM, ANY LESS STATED VALUE WOULD BE, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE ENHANCE THE CURRICULUM THAT WE'RE, WE'RE DELIVERING.

SO AUSTIN WATER HAS AN IN-HOUSE, UM, UH, ELEMENTARY AGE CURRICULUM THAT WE ROLL OUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF HIM.

HE'S OUR OWN DOWSER DAN, AND HE GOES OUT AND PREACHES, UH, WATER CONSERVATION TO ALL OF OUR YOUNG STUDENTS.

AND SO, UM, WE WANT A WAY TO, UM, UH, CREATE THAT, YOU KNOW, FOREVER LASTING DOWSER DAN.

AND SO, UM, PART OF WHAT THIS AGREEMENT WILL DO IS ALLOW US TO, UM, CO-PARTNER ON THAT INITIATIVE AND THEY WILL TRAIN UNDER OUR DOWSER DAN AND BE ABLE TO TAKE, UM, COLORADO RIVER ALLIANCE ALLIANCE, DOWER DAN OUT INTO THE PUBLIC SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST A ONE PERSON SHOW, IT CAN BE, UH, REP REPLICATED ALL ACROSS THE AREA.

ANY OTHER

[00:15:01]

JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY, HOW LONG HAS THIS PARTNERSHIP BEEN ONGOING? FORMALLY, WE'VE HAD AGREEMENTS IN PLACE, UH, STARTING IN 2015, BUT OUR PARTNERSHIP ACTUALLY PREDATES THAT FIRST AGREEMENT.

UM, AS I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE, UM, PARTNERED WITH THEM ON THE DESIGN OF THE MOBILE RIVER AND THEN ENDED UP FUNDING, UH, PORTIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOBILE RIVER RIVER TRAILER.

SO, UM, OUR PARTNERSHIP CERTAINLY PREDATES ME IN THIS ROLE, BUT I WOULD SAY CERTAINLY PL 10 PLUS YEARS, IF NOT LENDING ON PROBABLY 20.

AND HOW LONG HAS THE FUNDING BEEN GOING FROM BOSTON WATER TO SINCE 2015.

SINCE 2015? MM-HMM .

YEAH, WE'VE HAD TWO FIVE YEARS AGREEMENT, TWO FIVE YEAR AGREEMENTS.

THREE, THREE YEARS.

EXCUSE ME.

UM, THANK YOU.

MM-HMM .

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.

SEEING NONE THEN DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER FIVE? I MAKE A MOTION.

OKAY.

TO APPROVE.

COMMISSIONER PGI HAS APPROVED, DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'D LIKE TO SECOND.

OKAY.

COMMISSIONER WALIN HAS SECONDED EVERYONE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

OKAY.

UNANIMOUSLY VOTED IN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO NOW WE WILL MOVE

[10. Briefing on Austin Water’s quarterly report on Water Management Strategy Implementation for Q2 ]

UH, WE'LL HAVE A BRIEFING ON AUSTIN WATER'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION FOR Q2 2025.

TAKE IT AWAY.

WONDERFUL.

WHILE OUR TEAM GETS SET UP HERE, I'LL, UM, REMIND EVERYONE THAT, UH, THIS IS OUR SECOND OF THESE REPORTS THAT WE DEVELOPED AFTER, UH, WATER FORWARD AND WATER CONSERVATION PLAN AND DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLANS WERE APPROVED BY COUNCIL LAST NOVEMBER.

UM, AND WITH THAT CAME DIRECTION TO REPORT OUT MORE FREQUENTLY.

THAT WAS A BIG PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE WERE HAVING WITH, WITH YOU ALL AND WITH, UH, WATER FORWARD TASK FORCE.

AND SO WE DEVELOPED THIS, UM, SORT OF COMPREHENSIVE IMPLEMENTATION REPORTING STRUCTURE, UM, AND ARE CONTINUING TO COLLECT THE DATA TO GO INTO THIS SO THAT WE CAN REPORT OUT ON A REGULAR BASIS.

UM, SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO, UH, KEVIN AND KEVIN.

UM, AND SO I'M SURE KEVIN CRITTENDEN WOULD LIKE TO TEE US UP BEFORE WE GET STARTED.

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS, KEVIN CRIT AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AUSTIN WATER.

UM, AS SHEA SAID, UM, THIS IS OUR SECOND QUARTERLY REPORT.

JUST AS A REMINDER, UM, I THINK WE STILL CONSIDER THIS KIND OF A WORK IN PROCESS.

SO ALL OF YOUR FEEDBACK IS DEFINITELY WELCOME.

UM, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL.

UM, ALSO WHAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED IS SORT OF THE ENTIRETY OF THE REPORT, AND SO IT MAKES FOR A VERY LONG PRESENTATION.

SO WE'RE GONNA TRY OUR BEST TO KIND OF NARRATE FROM THAT AND TRY TO GET THROUGH IT.

BUT PLEASE STOP US AT ANY POINT IN TIME.

UM, JUST THE OTHER REMINDER IS THAT THIS IS Q2, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TRANSPORT YOURSELF BACK INTO Q2.

SO SECOND QUARTER OF COURSE IS APRIL THROUGH JUNE OF THIS YEAR.

UM, IF YOU'LL RECALL, UM, APRIL WAS, UH, VERY DRY.

UH, APRIL, UH, WE ALSO HAD A FAIRLY, UM, DRY MAY, UM, JUNE WE GOT A LITTLE BIT WETTER.

UM, BUT NONE OF THIS REFLECTS THE MORE SIGNIFICANTLY WET JULY, RIGHT? SO I'M JUST KIND OF FRAMING THAT UP FOR YOU.

I WOULD SAY OVERALL, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR EFFORTS IN Q2 WERE STILL MARKED BY, WE WERE IN A DROUGHT AND STILL MARKED BY A LOT OF OUTREACH, UH, ALONG, UH, DROUGHT EDUCATION.

WE WERE STILL IN STAGE TWO.

UM, I WOULD SAY JUST LOOKING AT THE METRICS OVERALL, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD, UH, DEMONSTRATION THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE HAD SOME STRONG PROGRESS AND SO THAT'LL SHOW UP IN THE METRICS.

UM, BUT I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO KEVIN AND LET HIM KIND OF TELL YOU ABOUT ALL THE DETAILS.

SO, GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS ON THE OTHER.

KEVIN, KEVIN KLUGE, WATER CONSERVATION DIVISION MANAGER, AND WE'LL MOVE THROUGH THIS REPORT.

AS KEVIN MENTIONED, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO MOVE THROUGH A LITTLE MORE QUICKLY THAN WE HAD BEFORE, NOT SPENDING SO MUCH TIME ON THE SLIDES, BUT FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS AS WE GO ALONG OR AS WE, UH, AFTER WE FINISH UP, WE CAN GO BACK INTO SLIDES THAT WE'VE ALREADY LOOKED AT.

NEXT SLIDE, AS WAS MENTIONED, UH, THE CONTENTS OF THIS QUARTERLY REPORTS IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS THE FIRST ONE.

NEXT SLIDE WITHIN THE SECOND QUARTER, SOME OF THE, THE HIGH LEVEL HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED LANDSCAPE WATER CONSERVATION

[00:20:01]

NEXT SLIDE.

WATER CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES.

UH, SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE THE FIRST ONE, AND ON APRIL 10TH, THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE TECHNICAL CODES INCLUDING THE UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE FOR THE CITY.

AND THAT NEW UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE INCLUDED THREE LOCAL AMENDMENTS THAT DEALT WITH WATER CONSERVATION.

THE FIRST ONE REQUIRED ADDITIONAL PRESSURE REGULATING DEVICES ON NEW IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. THE SECOND ONE, UM, WAS ONE OF NOTE IT REQUIRES FOR NEW HOMES AND NEW AUTOMATIC IRRIGATION SYSTEMS TO THOSE SYSTEMS BE NO MORE THAN 50% OF THE LANDSCAPE AREA OF THE LOT.

SO ESSENTIALLY YOU CAN HAVE AN AUTOMATIC IRRIGATION SYSTEM FOR NEW HOMES ON HALF OF THE LANDSCAPE AREA.

AND THEN FINALLY, NEW HOMES WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO HAVE PLUMBING TO UTILIZE LAUNDRY TO LANDSCAPE THAT IS USING CLOSED WASHER DISCHARGE AND OUT INTO THE LANDSCAPE TO PROVIDE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF LANDSCAPE WATER.

SO THOSE WERE APPROVED BY COUNCIL AND WE'RE WORKING TO IMPLEMENT.

THOSE REBATES WENT UP, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE IN THE SPRING.

SO WE HAD ADDITIONAL INCREASE IN LANDSCAPE, UH, REBATES.

NEXT SLIDE.

THE RESIDENTIAL REBATE PROGRAMS Q2 IS IN THE GOLD BAR FOR ALL OF THESE CHARTS.

AS YOU, AS WE GO FORWARD, UH, SOME PROGRAMS REALLY HIT CONTINUE TO HIT HIGH POINTS AS WE WENT INTO Q2.

NEXT SLIDE.

WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE ON COMMERCIAL REBATE PROGRAMS. ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF REBATES ARE SMALLER, THE UM, SAVINGS IS ACTUALLY QUITE SIGNIFICANT.

AS YOU SEE, WE HAD ONE REBATE IN Q2 FOR OUR BUCKS FOR BUSINESS PROGRAM THAT INCLUDED A, UH, AN APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT RETROFITTED THEIR FIXTURES TO ABOVE GRADE, OR I'M SORRY, ABOVE CODE FIXTURES, UH, SAVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MILLION GALLONS A YEAR OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

SO EVEN THAT ONE APPLICATION CAN PRODUCE QUITE A BIT OF SAVINGS.

NEXT SLIDE.

WE ALSO HAVE, UH, THREE COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS. THESE ARE MANDATORY PROGRAMS FOR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS FOR LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION, COOLING TOWER, AND CAR WASH FACILITIES.

YOU SAW THIS IN THE LAST ONE ON THE LEFT THERE YOU SEE THE NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL, UH, FACILITIES THAT ARE COMPLIANT WITH THE LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION.

NOW JUST TO NOTE THAT THAT SCALE IS TRUNCATED.

UM, SO YOU SEE A LOT MORE DIFFERENCE THAN YOU MIGHT AS IF THE LEFT AXIS WAS AT ZERO.

BUT OVERALL, YOU HAVE ABOUT 90% COMPLIANCE FOR THOSE FACILITIES WITH LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION FOR COOLING TOWERS A BIT LESS, ABOUT 75% AND 80, 80 PLUS PERCENT FOR THE VEHICLE.

CAR WASH ASSESSMENTS.

THOSE ALSO PRODUCE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SAVINGS, THESE MANDATORY PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE MILESTONES.

UH, LARGELY THE NUMBERS OR THE, UH, PROGRESS BARS REALLY HAVEN'T CHANGED.

BUT A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ON THE NEXT TO LAST MILESTONE.

FROM THE BOTTOM, YOU SEE, TALKED ABOUT THE COUNCIL ADOPTION.

I JUST MENTIONED THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THOSE LOCAL AMENDMENTS IN APRIL.

WE HAVEN'T MOVED THE BAR CREW STILL WORKING ON IMPLEMENTING THOSE, BUT WE ARE LOOKING IN Q3, YOU'LL SEE THAT BAR MOVE.

AND THEN THE FINAL ONE, AWESOME WATER INSPECTIONS AND NEW RESIDENTIAL IRRIGATION SYSTEMS AND CHECKUPS.

AGAIN, WE JUST REALLY KIND OF PUT THE BOW ON THAT, UH, AT THE VERY END OF Q2.

SO WE'LL SEE THAT MOVING ALSO.

NEXT SLIDE.

WATER LOSS UP REDUCTION UPDATES.

STAFF CONTINUE TO WORK HARD IMPLEMENTING MANY OF THE R RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BLACK AND VEATCH REPORT FROM LAST YEAR.

NEXT SLIDE.

THE NUMBER OF WATER MAIN LEAKS, UH, WENT DOWN FROM THE Q1, WHICH, UH, ISN'T NECESSARILY UNEXPECTED BECAUSE A LOT OF THE WATER MAIN LEAKS ARE DEPENDENT ON THE WEATHER AND COLD WEATHER WITH THE GROUND FREEZING CAN PRODUCE LARGER NUMBERS OF LEAKS

[00:25:02]

NEXT SLIDE.

UH, NICK, ON THE LEFT THERE YOU HAVE THE NUMBER OF LINEAR FEET, UH, LEAK DETECTION FOR LARGE DIAMETER.

AS WE MENTIONED, THAT'S VERY, UH, CHUNKY REPORTING, AS IN THOSE CONTRACTS HAVE TO BE COMPLETED AND FINISHED BEFORE YOU'LL SEE 'EM ON THIS CHART.

ON THE LEFT, YOU SEE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FEET FOR LEAK DETECTION, FOR SMALL DIAMETER, UH, INCREASE OVER Q1, BUT ALSO AN IN QUEUES INCREASE OVER Q2 OF 2024.

NEXT SLIDE.

MILESTONES FOR THE WATER LOSS REDUCTION.

THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGE SINCE THE LAST, UH, REPORT IN THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE, BUT STAFF CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES THAT WERE RECOMMENDED IN THE LACK IN EACH REPORT.

UH, NEXT SLIDE.

MOVING ON TO RECLAIMED WATER.

ONSITE WATER REUSE ON JANUARY 5TH.

THE GO PURPLE PROGRAM WAS AMENDED, UH, WITH INCENTIVES TO SUBSIDIZE RECLAIMED DUAL PERMANENT ONSITE REUSE FOR DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO THAT'S EXCITING.

UH, AND THE RECLAIMED LONG RANGE PLAN UPDATE HAS, HAS ALSO BEEN STARTED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A CONSULTANT.

NEXT SLIDE.

IN TERMS OF OUR RECLAIMED SYSTEM, WE'VE ADDED THREE CUSTOMERS AND THE VOLUME OF RECLAIMED WATER HAS INCREASED IN GOING INTO Q2.

NEXT SLIDE.

UM, THIS ACTUALLY IS A NEW SLIDE.

UM, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, YOU MAY RECALL IN Q1 WE HAD A SLIDE REGARDING THE NUMBER OF FEET FOR THE RECLAIMED SYSTEM.

AND AGAIN, IT WAS A CHUNKY CHART.

WE DIDN'T PUT 'EM IN UNTIL THOSE PROJECTS WERE DONE, SO IT'D BE A LOT OF ZERO QUARTERS I'M AFRAID.

SO IN ORDER TO GIVE A BETTER IDEA OF OUR PROGRESS ON RECLAIMED CIE PROJECTS, WE INCLUDED THIS SLIDE, WHICH INCLUDES THE EIGHT, UM, RECLAIMED PROJECTS AND THEIR PROGRESS FROM, UH, PRELIMINARY DESIGN TO CONSTRUCTION.

SO WE HAVE THREE OF THE CIP PROJECTS IN CONSTRUCTION AND ONE IN, UM, ADVERTISEMENT TO, UM, VENDORS OR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS.

SO WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS ON THOSE CIP PROJECTS.

NEXT SLIDE, ONSITE WATER REUSE.

UM, UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE ANY, UM, REBATES TO REPORT AS OF YET.

NONE HAVE BEEN FINALIZED, BUT WE ARE DOING WORK ON ONSITE WATER REUSE DURING THE LAST QUARTER.

THREE PROJECTS RECEIVED PERMITS FOR ONSITE WATER REUSE.

SO THOSE WILL BE COMING ONLINE IN THE FUTURE.

NEXT SLIDE.

MILESTONES FOR RECLAIMED ONSITE WATER REUSE.

UH, THERE'VE BEEN NO CHANGE STAFF CONTINUE TO WORK ON THESE, BUT THE BAR CHARTS, THE PROGRESS BARS RATHER HAVE, HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE THE LAST, UH, QUARTERLY REPORT.

NEXT SLIDE.

AND IN TERMS OF ONSITE WATER REUSE MILESTONES, YOU SEE FIVE THERE.

THE BARS HAVE NOT CHANGED, HOWEVER, THAT THIRD ONE DOWN AMENDED GO PURPLE RESOLUTION, I HAD MENTIONED THAT BEFORE BEING APPROVED ON ON JUNE 5TH.

WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION MECHANICS OF THAT.

SO YOU'LL SEE THAT BAR MOVE IN THE Q3 BRIEFING AND THE FINAL ONE DOWN ON THE BOTTOM PROGRAM.

NEW SOFTWARE TO TRACK ONSITE REUSE THAT'S STARTING DEVELOPMENT IN OCTOBER.

SO YOU'LL ALSO SEE THAT ONE MOVE NEXT MONTH OR NEXT QUARTER RATHER.

CONSERVATION OUTREACH, I'M SORRY.

NEXT SLIDE.

CONSERVATION OUTREACH, AS I MENTIONED OR HAS BEEN MENTIONED GOING INTO Q2, THAT'S THE SPRING.

IT'S REALLY A TRANSITION NOT ONLY FOR CLIMATE BUT FOR DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF CONSERVATION OUTREACH.

THERE'S REALLY A BIG INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF OUTREACH, AS IT MENTIONED THERE, ABOUT 50% INCREASE IN AUDIENCE REACH OVER Q1, UM, WHETHER THAT'S THE WEB TRAFFIC OR OTHER ASPECTS.

NEXT SLIDE AND A GOOD METRIC FOR THIS ARE THE NUMBER OF IMPRESSIONS IN Q1.

I MENTIONED THAT WE HAD ABOUT 15 MILLION IMPRESSIONS FOR OUR CONSERVATION OUTREACH.

SO THAT'S JUMPED UP TO ALMOST 23 MILLION IMPRESSIONS

[00:30:01]

SO A LOT OF THAT HAS BEEN WITH THE LAND LANDSCAPE, UH, TRANSFORMATION AND IRRIGATION OUTREACH THAT HAS BEEN DONE.

AS YOU SEE THERE ON THE BOTTOM, THEY'VE REALLY LEANED INTO A NUMBER OF SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.

SO SOME OF THESE ARE MORE POPULAR MEDIA POSTS AND ALSO TV ADS, UH, BEGAN IN, UH, Q2, BUT THAT WAS REALLY KIND OF JUST THE START OF THEM.

SO IN OUR Q3 REPORT, WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THOSE UH, TV ADS WENT.

AND THEN FINALLY I WANTED TO MENTION THAT, UH, MY A TX PORTAL OR MY A TX WATER, OUR A MI PORTAL THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE, HAS BEEN USED IN Q2 FOR SOME PILOT NOTIFICATIONS FOR IRRIGATION, UH, CUSTOMERS WHO MAY BE WATERING OUTSIDE OF THE IRRIGATION SCHEDULE.

UH, RECEIVED A FEW PILOT NOTIFICATIONS THROUGH OUR MYX WATER PORTAL, AND THOSE WILL BE DISCUSSED MORE IN Q2 Q3.

SO THOSE ARE JUST REALLY STARTING TOWARDS THE END OF THE SECOND QUARTER.

NEXT SLIDE.

AS I WAS JUST NOTING, THE MYX WATER, UH, PORTAL LEAK ALERTS, UM, UH, CONTINUE TO GROW IN, IN NUMBERS AND IN IMPACT.

ON THE LEFT THERE, YOU SEE THE NUMBER OF LEAK ALERTS SENT OUT IN Q2 OVER Q2 OF 2024.

UM, THAT'S GROWN.

PART OF THAT'S PROBABLY JUST THE NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL METERS WE PUT OUT OVER THE LAST YEAR, OR PROBABLY MOST OF THAT ACTUALLY IS.

AND THEN ON THE RIGHT THERE YOU SEE THE ESTIMATED SAVINGS FROM THOSE LEAK ALERTS.

NEXT SLIDE.

SOME OF THE MILESTONES FOR THE, UM, MY TX WATER WORK, THE BARS, AGAIN, HAVEN'T CHANGED, BUT I DO WANNA NOTE ON THAT TOP MILESTONE, UM, IS TO DEVELOP DATA REGARDING CII, WHICH IS COMMERCIAL, INSTITUTIONAL, AND INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMER CATEGORIZATION.

UM, WE DIDN'T FINISH THAT IN Q2, BUT WE JUST RECENTLY COMPLETED THAT WITH SOME HARD WORK FROM INTERNS AND STAFFS TO CATEGORIZE ALL OF OUR CII CUSTOMERS.

SO THAT GOING FORWARD WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE OF THIS PARTICULAR CLASSIFICATION, WHAT'S THE AVERAGE, WHAT ARE THE OUTLIERS, WHICH ONES WE NEED TO CONTACT.

UH, AGAIN, WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN Q3.

SO PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON THAT.

AND THE FINAL MILESTONE AT THE BOTTOM THERE TALKS ABOUT THOSE NOTE NOTIFICATIONS TO CUSTOMERS WHO ARE WATERING OUTSIDE OF THE IRRIGATION SCHEDULE.

AND AGAIN, WE'LL TALK MORE IN Q3 ON THAT.

THE FINAL SECTION, WATER SUPPLY UPDATES.

UM, STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD, UH, ON THE AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY, AS YOU MENTIONED.

I'M SORRY, NEXT SLIDE.

SO THE WATER SUPPLY UPDATES AS YOU SEE IN THAT TOP BULLET THERE.

STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD WITH THE A SR PROJECT, UH, WORKING WITH, UM, STAKEHOLDERS AND AND PARTNERS IN BASTROP COUNTY.

AND WE'LL START CONDUCTING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN BASTROP COUNTY BEGINNING IN IN AUGUST, AS IT MENTIONS THERE.

IN ADDITION TO A SR AUSTIN WATER AND CONSULTANTS ARE DEVELOPING THE EMERGENCY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN UTILIZING INDIRECT POTABLE REUSE.

UH, FORTUNATELY OUR LAKES ARE HIGH NOW, SO, UM, THAT'S A GOOD THING.

BUT WE WANNA BE PREPARED WHEN WE ENTER THAT STAGE TWO AGAIN AND NEED TO START CONSIDERING IPR FOR EMERGENCY BASIS ON THE EMERGENCY BASIS.

AND THEN AT THE END, WE'RE DOING PRELIMINARY PLANNING ON ADDITIONAL WATER SUPPLY STRATEGIES.

NEXT SLIDE.

MILESTONES HAVE HAVE GONE UNCHANGED, UM, IN THE LARGER SENSE IN BARS, UH, BUT STAFF CONTINUE TO WORK ON THOSE.

AND THEN FINALLY, NEXT SLIDE, WE GET TO WATER USE AND GALLONS PER CAPITA DAILY.

AS I WE MENTIONED LAST TIME, THIS WAS INCLUDED AT THE BEHEST OR DIRECTION OF, OF COUNCIL LOOKING AT CATEGORICAL WATER USE ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.

UH, NEXT SLIDE.

AND LOOKING AT Q2 ON THIS PARTICULAR CHART, ON THE FAR RIGHT, YOU'LL SEE, UH, Q2 OF 2025.

THAT VERTICAL BAR,

[00:35:01]

SO THAT'S A, A COMMON INCREASE YOU SEE AS VERY SIMILAR TO THE GPCD VALUE FOR 2024 AND IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS.

NEXT SLIDE.

AND THIS IS THE SECOND GPCD CHART THAT WE HAVE THERE, AND WHICH REALLY ILLUSTRATES THE VARIABILITY, SEASONAL VARIABILITY OF THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF WATER USERS.

ON THE TOP THERE, YOU SEE THE BLUE LINE GOING ACROSS IS FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, AND THAT'S THE ONE WITH THE, THE LARGER PEAKS AND, AND VALLEYS REPRESENTING SEASONAL USE.

UM, AND THEN BELOW THAT YOU HAVE COMMERCIAL IN A NUMBER OF OTHER CATEGORIES.

AND NEXT SLIDE.

SO MOVING FORWARD, UH, THIRD QUARTER IS, IS THE HOT AND DRY SUMMER.

SO WE WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE WHAT OUR GPC IS FOR THAT PARTICULAR QUARTER.

AND AS I MENTIONED, A LOT OF THE ACTIVITIES WILL REALLY START TO BEAR FRUIT AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO REPORT THOSE IN THE THIRD QUARTER BRIEFING.

UH, SOME OF THE THINGS TO NOTE GOING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN WATER IS GONNA BE SOON LAUNCHING A NEW INCENTIVE FOR THAT, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH I MENTIONED BEFORE, WHICH FULFILLS GOAL NUMBER ONE OF THE, UM, CITY MANAGER'S TOP 25 GOALS.

SO THAT'S GOOD.

WE'LL BE ENGAGING BASTROP COUNTY ABOUT THE AQUIFERS GEORGIA IN RECOVERY.

AND ONE GOOD THING, ANOTHER THING THAT HAPPENED IN JULY THAT WE'LL REPORT MORE ON IS THE NEW SWIFT LOAN, WHICH WAS APPROVED IN JULY FOR A PIPE REPLACEMENT AND ONE OF THE RECLAIMED STRATEGIES.

AND NEXT SLIDE IS JUST THE FINE PRINT SLIDE.

UM, WE THOUGHT WE'D KEEP IT IN THERE AS THE FINE PRINT AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE LAST SLIDE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, KEVIN AND KEVIN.

UM, I GUESS I WILL START OFF, UM, JUST ON THAT LAST SLIDE JUST BEFORE I GO BACK TO EVERYONES, UH, THE NEW INCENTIVE.

SO THAT IS, UM, DUAL PLUMBING FOR THE ABILITY TO CONNECT TO THE RECLAIMED.

IS THAT THE INCENTIVE FOR THE MULTIFAMILY? UM, I GUESS EXPLAIN, I'M NOT UP ON THE GOAL.

ONE OF CITY MANAGERS, UH, TOP 25 GOALS, SO, YEP.

YEAH, YEAH, THE GOAL WAS, BUT THAT'S TO, UM, SO THAT RECLAIM WATER COULD BE USED FOR LIKE TOILET FLUSHING, THAT TYPE OF DUAL PLUMBING IN MULTIFAMILY.

SO YEAH, IF YOU'LL RECALL, COUNSEL KEVIN CRITTENDON, UH, COUNCIL APPROVED THE DUAL PLUMBING.

IN ESSENCE, I'M SIMPLIFYING MY MANDATE BACK IN, UH, THE END OF 2024.

UH, PART OF THAT ALSO INCLUDED A DIRECTION BACK TO STAFF TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY FULLY SUBSIDIZE THAT ACTIVITY FOR PROGRAMMATIC AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO THAT PARTICULAR, UM, GOAL, UM, IS REALLY JUST ABOUT A APPROVING THE FUNDING MECHANISM.

AND SO THAT IS IN PLACE AND WE'RE HAPPY TO REPORT ON THAT.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT THAT'S ABOUT.

PERFECT.

I'M SO ON THE, UH, MY A TX WATER, UM, IS THERE ANY SORT OF UPDATE ON LIKE, NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE, UH, SIGNED UP AND WHAT THEIR INCREASE IS AND ALL THAT? 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, KUT, UH, UH, NEWS, UH, WHAT YOU CALL IT, ADS, AND YOU KNOW, AND IT, IT, IT SITS CERTAIN THINGS IN THERE LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL HAVE A PASSWORD PROTECTED, UH, ACCOUNT.

YOU KNOW, IT JUST MADE ME THINK OF IS, IS IT LIKE WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE COMFORTABLE WITH SIGNING UP FOR, I DON'T KNOW, IT'S JUST SOME OF THE WORDING.

UH, WHEN I HEARD IT, I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WONDER THEN WHAT THE METRICS ARE IN TERMS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE AND WHAT THE, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN TERMS OF SIGNUPS, UH, THROUGH THE DIFFERENT QUARTERS.

SO WE'LL GET YOU THAT ANSWER.

WE'RE GONNA PHONE A FRIEND.

HELLO EVERY AGAIN.

UH, HELLO AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS.

RANDY JENKINS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AUSTIN WATER.

UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

UH, RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF, UM, CUSTOMERS GOING OUT AND FILLING OUT THEIR CUSTOMER PORTAL, WE'RE AT 23%.

UM, WE

[00:40:01]

UH, AND SO I JUST WANNA ADD A BIT OF CLARITY WHILE, UM, AND, AND I'LL ADD THAT 23% IS ABOVE INDUSTRY AVERAGE FOR, UH, CUSTOMER PORTALS THAT ARE, UM, OUT AND ABOUT AND, UH, OTHER UTILITIES.

SO WE ARE PROUD OF THAT NUMBER, BUT THAT IS NOT WHERE WE'RE STOPPING.

SO WE DO HAVE GOALS TO GET TO A HUNDRED PERCENT EVENTUALLY OF ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS SIGNED UP AND USING THE PORTAL DAILY.

BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, THE LEAK ALERTS AND THE CONTINUOUS USAGE, THOSE STILL SEND TO THE ACCOUNT HOLDER.

SO EVEN IF THEY HAVE NOT REGISTERED FOR THE PORTAL AND PROVIDED AND FILLED OUT THEIR PROFILE, THOSE, THOSE LEAK ALERTS AND CONTINUOUS USAGE ALERTS STILL STILL PING, UM, THE ACCOUNT HOLDER TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE AT AT THEIR HOME.

THANK YOU.

UM, SO HAVE Y'ALL INTERNALLY IDENTIFIED, LIKE, LIKE YOU SAID, 23% IS GREAT ABOVE IN INDUSTRY AVERAGE.

HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED LIKE, WHAT ARE THE ROADBLOCKS? 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T TOO HARD TO SIGN UP FOR MY A TX WATER.

SO AGREE.

HAVE Y'ALL IDENTIFIED, WHAT ARE THOSE ROADBLOCKS THAT POTENTIALLY PEOPLE ARE HAVING? YOU KNOW, I THINK IT DEPENDS.

I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S MULTIPLE ROADBLOCKS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, DIGITAL ACCESS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO REACH OUR CUSTOMERS WHERE THEY ARE.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UH, A REALLY ROBUST COMMUNICATIONS PLAN FOR, UM, MOVING MY ATX WATER CUSTOMER PORTAL REGISTRATIONS TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN SO FOCUSED ON JUST GETTING OUR A MI SYSTEM UP AND RUNNING, UM, AND CERTAINLY INVITING CUSTOMERS AS THEY RECEIVE THEIR METER.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AS, AS, JUST AS AN ASIDE, YOU KNOW, SOME CUSTOMERS JUST RECEIVED THEM THIS SUMMER, RIGHT? AND WE WERE STILL FINISHING UP DEPLOYMENT.

SO NOW THAT WE HAVE WRAPPED THAT PART UP, WE CAN REALLY FOCUS ALL OF OUR EFFORTS, NOT JUST ON THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE SYSTEM, BUT NOW USING THE SYSTEM AND LEVERAGING IT IN THE WAY.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, MEETING CUSTOMERS WHERE THEY ARE, UM, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, JUST WHETHER IT BE YOUR SMARTPHONE OR YOUR TV OR RADIO ADS, UM, THE WHOLE, THE ENTIRE WORLD AND UNIVERSE IS COMPETING FOR THAT SPACE AND FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

AND I THINK WE SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST ONE BLIP ON RADAR.

YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT GET THOUSANDS OF PINGS, UM, FOR DIFFERENT ADVERTISEMENTS IN ONE SINGLE MINUTE EVERY DAY.

SO, YOU KNOW, UM, BEING ATTRACTIVE AND GETTING THEIR ATTENTION RIGHT THEN AND THERE, UM, AND, AND DOING THAT IN MULTIPLE PLATFORMS, WHETHER IT BE RADIO, TV, UM, SOCIAL MEDIA, TRADITIONAL MAILERS, UM, EMAIL BLASTS, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE, UM, DOING ALL OF THEM AND, AND HOPING TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO TICK UP.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I THINK I, MAYBE I HAD ONE MORE.

WELL, BEFORE I GET ONTO OTHER COMMISSIONERS, GO AHEAD IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS SO I CAN HAVE TIME TO FORMULATE MY NEXT QUESTION.

I HAVE A, YOU ALL RIGHT, I'LL FINISH AND THEN YOU CAN TAKE IT.

THANKS, .

UM, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.

I, I THINK, UM, COMING TO THE REBATES, THE APPROVED REBATES, UM, SLIDE THREE, I SLIDE FIVE, SORRY.

UM, WHY DO THE APPROVED REBATES, ESPECIALLY FOR WATERWISE RAN, UH, RAIN SCAPE AND THE OTHER RESHIP PROGRAMS GO DOWN? SHOULDN'T IT BE KIND OF GOING UP? ISN'T THAT WHAT I MEAN, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS, WHICH IS WHY IT'S NOT GETTING APPROVED? YOU ARE ASKING ABOUT THE WATER WISE RAIN SCAPE.

YEAH.

GENERALLY LIKE THE APPROVED REBATES, LIKE ESPECIALLY FOR WATER WISE, RAIN SCAPE HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY.

SO A REASON FOR THAT, I THINK IT WAS, WELL, THERE WAS A LARGE SURGE THAT FELL INTO Q1 MM-HMM .

UM, AND THEN THERE, THERE ARE FEWER GOING INTO Q2, UM, Q STAFF DO HAVE A CUTOFF AND I CAN'T RECALL THE EXACT DATE GOING INTO THE SUMMER WHERE WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO ESTABLISH A NEW, UM, RAIN SCAPE MM-HMM .

WHEN IT'S GONNA BE REALLY HOT AND DRY.

GOTCHA.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY GUESS AT WHY THAT IS ONE, THEY JUST FELL INTO THE Q2 OR THE Q1 REPORTING RATHER THAN THE Q2 AND THEN A CUTOFF WITH HOW MANY WE WANNA KEEP ACCEPTING GOING INTO A HOT DRY SUMMER.

GOT IT.

ALONG THE SAME LINES, I'M THINKING FOR BUCK BUCKS FOR BUSINESS THAT DROPS TO, I, I'M, I'M ASKING JUST TO BE SURE THAT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WHERE STAFF IS TAKING A SUPER STRINGENT APPROACH TO REJECT APPLICATIONS AS OPPOSED TO MAKING THEM MORE EASY FOR FOLKS WHO ARE APPLYING.

THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I'M GOING WITH THAT QUESTION, RIGHT? YEAH.

DROPPING TO ONE, UH, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY WITH THE, THE COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS, IT REALLY TAKES A VERY, A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, SO YOU HAVE A LIMITED NUMBER AND IT TAKES A LOT OF OF WORK, UM, TO GET THOSE ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

I KNOW WE STILL HAVE A GOOD NUMBER IN THE PIPELINE THAT WE'RE OPEN TO, UH, FINISH UP IN Q3

[00:45:01]

UM, SO I STAFF AND TOLD THINK THAT THEY HAVE, IT'LL BE PRETTY CLOSE IN TERMS OF SAVINGS, OVERALL SAVINGS BY THE END OF THE YEAR IF, IF THOSE ONES THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE CONTINUE TO RIPEN AND AND ARE APPROVED.

SO KEVIN, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE COMMISSIONER'S QUESTION ABOUT, UM, HOW HARD IT IS TO GET APPROVED AND, AND STAFF'S EFFORTS TO BOTH HAVE A ROBUST PROGRAM BUT ALSO APPROVE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE? WELL, IN TERMS OF THAT, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

YES, THANK YOU.

IN TERMS OF THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STAFF HAVE REALLY FOCUSED ON OVER THIS LAST YEAR SINCE 24, IS JUST TO SEE WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET THOSE INDIVIDUAL APPLICATIONS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE IN TERMS OF ADDITIONAL FOLLOW UP FOR MISSING INFORMATION OR TRYING TO RELAXING SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS.

UM, FOR INSTANCE, IN THE PAST WE HAD, FOR THE WATERWISE LANDSCAPE, WE HAD A MINIMUM AREA OF 500 SQUARE FEET, WHICH, YOU KNOW, THAT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL THAT'S A LOT OF WORK, IT'S A LOT OF TURF TO TAKE OUT AND A LOT OF BED TO MAKE.

SO WE REDUCED THAT DOWN TO 200 SQUARE FEET.

SO THOSE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT STAFF HAVE BEEN DOING TO MAKE THOSE RESIDENTIAL ONES, UM, REALLY GET 'EM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

UM, COMMERCIAL, IT CONTINUES JUST TO BE A SLOG AND SOMETIMES DEPENDENT UPON, UM, THE, THE CORPORATION'S TIMELINE ON, ON WHEN THEY WANNA ENACT SOME OF THESE THINGS.

BUT THE STAFF ARE REALLY LEANING INTO THOSE COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS TO TRY TO GET THOSE ON BECAUSE THOSE RESULT IN BIG SAVINGS.

THANK YOU.

IT'S A GREAT PRESENTATION AND A GREAT METRIC FROM THIS.

DO I NEED TO MUTE, SIR? THANK YOU.

I DO HAVE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS ON RECLAIM, BUT I'LL LET VICE CHAIR.

I, I WANTED TO JUST SPEAK ON THE REBATES.

UH, PERSONALLY MY COMPANY FACILITATES REBATES FOR OUR CUSTOMERS, SO IN TERMS OF A APPROVAL AND THE STAFF, Y'ALL DO, THEY DO REALLY GOOD .

SO JUST, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING TO, UH, THE SPEED OF THAT, YOU KNOW, AND OBVIOUSLY, UH, YOU KNOW, PREPARING THESE REBATES AND HAVING ALL THE INFORMATION THAT'S, YOU KNOW, TICK NUMBER ONE, AND IF YOU HAVE IT THEN IT REALLY HELPS OUT.

BUT YEAH, JUST SPEAKING PERSONALLY, IT'S UH, VERY QUICK APPROVAL AND, UH, SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.

MINE'S QUICK AND IT'S JUST A SUGGESTION FOR SLIDE 15 WHERE PREVIOUSLY YOU HAD THE FOOTAGES AND IT WAS KIND OF HARD TO FOLLOW, BUT THIS IS A LOT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND, SO I LOVE THAT.

AND, BUT IF YOU WOULD ADD THE FOOTAGES ON THERE JUST NEXT TO THE, THE NAME OF THE PROJECT, THEN WE CAN GET A SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, HOW FAR IT'S GOING AND KIND OF THE PROGRESS OF, OF THE PIPE AS A WHOLE.

SORRY, CAN I PIGGYBACK OFF OF THAT ONE? , UM, THAT WAS ONE OF MY COMMENTS AS WELL, IS I THINK THIS IS REALLY GREAT, IT GIVES US A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE PHASE, BUT CAN WE ALSO HAVE SOME KIND OF A TIMEFRAME OF WHEN IT'S EXPECTED? SO LIKE FY 25, WE FY 28, THIS IS GONNA BE COMPLETE.

SO JUST GETTING A SENSE OF WHEN THAT'S GONNA BE TOUGH.

JUST A SUGGESTION.

THANK YOU.

CERTAINLY WILL.

SO MY, MY NEXT COMMENT WAS QUESTION SLASH COMMENT.

AND WE'RE SENDING THESE ALERTS OUT, RIGHT, TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE MAYBE WATERING OUTSIDE OF THEIR SCHEDULE OR DOING THINGS THAT THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO.

UM, IS THERE SOME SORT OF PROTOCOL OR A PLAN FOR, YOU KNOW, YOU GET X NUMBER OF ALERTS AND YOU DO NOTHING, UM, WHAT HAPPENS? IS THAT, HAS THAT BEEN ESTABLISHED OR HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT POTENTIALLY HOW WE DROP THE HAMMER AND ACTUALLY MAKE PEOPLE DO THINGS? OR CAN WE DO THAT? OR WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WELL, WE HAVE NO PLANS TO UTILIZE THESE NOTIFICATIONS, UM, IN ENFORCEMENT.

I MEAN, ANY, UM, NOTICES OF VIOLATION, WHICH ARE WARNINGS OR CITATIONS, WHICH ARE THE PENALTIES, THOSE ARE ALL BASED ON, UM, WITNESS INFRACTIONS.

UM, THESE NOTIFICATIONS ARE AN ATTEMPT TO NOT HAVE THOSE, WE DON'T WANNA SEE THOSE.

OUR PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO HAVE PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR AFTER NOTIFICATIONS SO THAT WE DON'T GET TO A WITNESSED VIOLATION.

GOT IT.

THANK YOU.

I GUESS I'LL JUST ADD, AND I'LL LET RANDY CORRECT ME, BUT I MEAN, I THINK ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES JUST REALLY BALANCING LIKE PORTAL ADOPTION AND TRYING NOT TO SCARE PEOPLE.

I MEAN, RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT A, AT A TIME WHERE I, I THINK WE REMAIN VERY OPTIMISTIC

[00:50:01]

I EXPECT TO SEE US WELL OVER, YOU KNOW, AVERAGES, YOU KNOW, YOUNG COMMUNITY, HIGHLY EDUCATED, VERY INFLUENCED BY WATER CONSERVATION STUFF.

SO THAT'S GREAT.

WE WANNA BE VERY CAUTIOUS NOT TO SCARE PEOPLE OFF.

SO I, I THINK IT'S A BALANCE AND UNLESS KEVIN SAID THAT'S NOT PART OF OUR PLANNING RIGHT NOW, UM, WE'RE GONNA HOPE AT THIS POINT.

AND, AND REALLY WITH, WITH ALL OF OUR ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS, VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE IS REALLY THE KEY.

THAT'S, I MEAN, IT'S SORT OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU MAKE THE ANALOGY OF, OF, YOU KNOW, ISSUING TICKETS, RIGHT? YOU CAN ONLY PUT SO MANY POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREET.

YOU KNOW, REALLY VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE AND SPEED LIMITS IS REALLY WHAT WE NEED TO BE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND SAFE AS A COMMUNITY.