[00:00:30]
WE HAVE COMMISSIONER WOLSTONCROFT, RIGHT? AND ABSENT IS, UH, COMMISSIONER NAVARRO, AND AT THIS MOMENT, COMMISSIONER ORTIZ, BUT HE HOPEFULLY SHOULD BE HERE.
ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS SIGNED UP? NO SPEAKERS.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE, UH, MARCH 11TH, UH, WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES.UM, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS OR REQUESTED CHANGES TO THOSE MINUTES? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
SEEING NO QUESTIONS THEN, COMMISSIONER PAN DURGE MOTIONS TO APPROVE.
EVERYONE VOTING IN FAVOR? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
YEP, YOU CAN, YOU CAN, YEAH, YOU CAN.
UH, VOTE IS UNANIMOUS FOR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
[DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS]
OKAY, SO NOW MOVING ON TO THE DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. UM, FIRST OFF, I WANT TO SAY THAT ITEMS NUMBER FIVE AND SIX HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN, UM, DUE TO AUSTIN WATER NOT BEING INVITED TO APPLY DUE TO THE FUND BEING OVERSUBSCRIBED.SO THOSE WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE ACTION ITEMS. AND THEN, AND THEN, UM, ITEM NUMBER 12, UH, NEEDS A CORRECTION THAT I WILL READ INTO THE RECORD.
ITEM NUMBER 12 IS RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE A CONTRACT FOR PRODUCTION METER EVALUATION AND PEDO TUBE OR PEDO TESTING FOR AUSTIN WATER WITH ME, SIMPSON COMPANY, INC.
IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 150,000 FUNDING OF 150,000 IS AVAILABLE IN THE FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 26 OPERATING BUDGET OF AUSTIN WATER.
AND THEN WE WILL PULL ITEM 14 FOR VOTING UNTIL AFTER THE PRESENTATION AND BRIEFING OF ITEM NUMBER 17.
SO I'LL GO AROUND AND ASK IF THERE IS ANY QUESTIONS OR RECUSALS.
OH, AND, UH, NOW, UH, COMMISSIONER ORTIZ HAS JOINED THE DIOCESE.
UM, OKAY, COMMISSIONER PENN QUESTIONS OF RECUSALS, UH, RECUSAL ON ITEM 10.
WE WERE A SUB-CONSULTANT ON THAT PROJECT, AND NO QUESTIONS.
OKAY, COMMISSIONER, NO QUESTIONS? NO RECUSALS.
COMMISSIONER MARLO? NO QUESTIONS? NO RECUSALS.
COMMISSIONER ORTIZ? NO QUESTIONS.
NO RECUSALS COMMISSIONER, TRULY, UH, QUESTIONS ON THREE SEVEN AND THEN I'M HAPPY TO HEAR WE'LL HAVE PRESENTATION ON 14.
UM, I UNDERSTAND 14 WAS PULLED, SO, UH, NO OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, RECUSALS.
YEAH, YOU'RE GONNA HATE ME TODAY.
UM, I AM RECUSING ON TWO, UH, WE ARE A SUB-CON.
WE ARE THE CONSULTANT ON THE PROJECT.
WE'RE ALSO, I'M ALSO RECUSING ON NINE, UH, WE'RE A SUB-CONSULTANT ON THE PROJECT.
FIVE AND SIX I UNDERSTAND HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF, BUT I'M RECUSING IF THEY ARE NOT, BUT YEP.
AND 14, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
BUT 14 WILL BE AFTER THE PRESENTATION.
AND, UM, I HAVE NO QUESTIONS OR RECUSALS, UH, COMMISSIONER CRO? NO QUESTIONS.
[00:05:08]
SO THE CONSENT AGENDA WOULD BE ITEMS NUMBER TWO, I, I RECUSED OH, BECAUSE OF THE RECUSAL.UM, SO IT WILL BE, UM, ITEMS NUMBER FOUR, NUMBER EIGHT, NUMBER 11, NUMBER 12, 13.
AND THEN THAT'S IT, BECAUSE 15 AND 16 WILL BE AFTER THAT.
SO, UM, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? I MAKE A MOTION.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PAN DURGE.
EVERYONE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[2. Recommend approval to authorize a contract for construction services for the West Riverside Reclaimed Water Main project for Austin Water with Austin Underground, Inc., in the amount of $3,699,813 plus a $369,982 contingency for a total contract amount not to exceed $4,069,795. Funding: $4,069,795 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water. ]
ITEM NUMBER TWO, RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE WEST RIVERSIDE RECLAIMED THE WATER MAIN PROJECT FOR AUSTIN WATER WITH AUSTIN UNDERGROUND, INC.IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,699,813 PLUS A $369,982 CONTINGENCY FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $4,069,795.
FUNDING OF THAT AMOUNT IS AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET OF AUSTIN WATER.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS NO QUESTIONS, ONLY A RECUSAL.
SO WE CAN TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.
OKAY, COMMISSIONER, TRULY SECONDS.
EVERYONE VOTING IN FAVOR FOR APPROVAL? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
EVERYONE VOTES IN, IN AFFIRMATIVE EXCEPT FOR, UH, COMMISSIONER PAN DURRANI, WHO IS RECUSED HERSELF ON THAT ITEM.
[3. Recommend approval to authorize a contract for construction services for the Northwest A & B Zone Waterline Extensions and Pressure Reducing Valves project for Austin Water with DeNucci Constructors, LLC, in the amount of $6,897,348 plus a $689,735 contingency for a total contract amount not to exceed $7,587,083. Funding: $7,587,083 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water.]
RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE NORTHWEST A AND B ZONE WATERLINE EXTENSIONS AND PRESSURE REDUCING VALVES PROJECT FOR AUSTIN WATER WITH DEUCE CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTORS, LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,897,348 PLUS A 689,007 $735 CONTINGENCY FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $7,587,083.FUNDING OF THAT AMOUNT IS AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET OF AUSTIN WATER.
OKAY, COMMISSIONER, TRULY, THANK YOU.
IT'S MORE A POINT OF INFORMATION THAN, UH, I I'M NOT CONTESTING, UH, THE PROPOSAL OR THE CONTRACT, THE RECOMMENDED CONTRACTOR.
UM, IT'S MORE JUST THE LANGUAGE OF, IT'S AN URGENT REQUEST, BUT IT'S A TWO YEAR TIMELINE, SO IT'S MORE JUST UNDERSTANDING, UM, WHAT SOME OF THIS WORK, UM, EXTENSIONS AND PRESSURE, PRESSURE VALVES.
SO I THINK IT'S GENERAL MAINTENANCE, BUT KIND OF HOW DO YOU BALANCE LIKE AN URGENT REQUEST WITH A TWO YEAR TIMELINE FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS? HI, KANE, WE WITH AUSTIN WATER.
I'M A SUPERVISING ENGINEER, UH, OVER THE GROUP THAT EXECUTES THIS PROJECT.
UM, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHERE THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU MIGHT BE REFERRING TO.
IS THAT IN THE RCA? JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.
IT'S MORE, I THINK THE BACKUP INFO.
UM, AND IT, IT'S OKAY IF YOU SAY IT'S NOT URGENT, BUT IT'S, UM, KIND OF AS I READ THROUGH IT, IT, HERE I CAN FIND IT.
UM, IT JUST SEEMED, IT, IT JUST FELT LIKE THERE WAS URGENCY IN THE ADDITIONAL BACKUP INFORMATION, UM, AROUND THE FUNDS.
AND THEN ALSO JUST LIKE, WHY DO PROJECTS LIKE THIS TAKE TWO YEARS TO FINISH KIND OF ANYWAY, URGENT OR OTHERWISE? BECAUSE TO MAYBE A RESIDENT WHO'S, YOU KNOW, WAY IS BLOCKED OR TO ANY KIND OF SHUTOFFS, IT COULD, YOU KNOW, THREE DAYS COULD FILL LIKE A LONG TIME.
SO JUST MAYBE JUST HELP ME UNDERSTAND A TWO YEAR TIMELINE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
THANKS FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
UM, AND SO, UH, FIRST THE TWO YEAR TIMELINE FOR THE PROJECT IS TYPICALLY, UM, A NORMAL TIME FOR A LOT OF OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT TYPICALLY RANGE IN THE ONE TO TWO YEAR, DEPENDING ON THE COMPLEXITY AND THE SIZE.
AND SO WITH THIS PROJECT, UM, WE DO ANTICIPATE TO BE WORKING IN ROCK, UM, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT HARDER AND JUST SLOWER, NATURALLY SLOWER PRODUCTION RATES, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, TO INSTALL LINES THROUGH ROCK VERSUS, UM, SOIL MATERIAL OR OTHERWISE.
UM, THE OTHER FACTOR THAT WE HAVE TO, UM, CONSIDER FOR THIS PROJECT IS THAT, UM, THERE'S A NUMBER OF,
[00:10:01]
UM, INDIVIDUAL PRESSURE REDUCING VALVES THAT WE ALSO ARE INSTALLING WITH THIS PROJECT.AND THAT'S A SAFETY MEASURE SINCE WE ARE BOOSTING THE PRESSURE IN THIS, UH, ZONE.
AND SO WE ALSO WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE DON'T IMPOSE, UH, A HARDSHIP OR A BURDEN ONTO CUSTOMERS IF WE INCREASE THEIR PRESSURE, AND THEY MAY BE, UM, RESIDUAL EFFECTS DUE TO A HIGHER PRESSURE THAT THEIR HOME IS NORMALLY EXPERIENCING.
SO WE ALSO WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT.
AND SO WITH THAT, THERE'S A, A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE PRESSURE REDUCING VALVES THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE TO INSTALL, UM, FOR, I THINK THE NUMBER IS IN THE, UH, 90 TO 100, UM, RANGE FOR THESE PRESSURE REDUCING VALVES AT, AT EACH HOME.
AND SO THAT JUST NATURALLY TAKES TIME.
AND SO, UM, OVERALL, THE, THE WORK ITSELF FOR THE, UM, FOR THE INSTALLATION MAY NOT TAKE ALL TWO YEARS.
AND THAT'S SORT OF A, A BUFFER THAT WE GIVE 'CAUSE THAT INCLUDES RESTORATION OF PAVEMENT, RESTORATION OF ANY IMPACTS THAT WE HAVE.
AND SO, UM, OUR IDEAL IS TO SHORTEN THAT TIMEFRAME IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION.
UM, BUT, UH, WE GIVE OURSELVES SORT OF THE TWO YEAR CALENDAR, UH, YOU KNOW, 730 CALENDAR DAYS FOR THIS PROJECT TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE AND FULLY BE OUT OF THE, THE, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, IN TERMS OF THE URGENCY ASPECT OF IT, YOU KNOW, THIS PROJECT IS A PROJECT THAT'S, UM, BEEN UNDER DESIGN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND, UH, WE'RE WORKING TO SORT OF BOOST THE PRESSURE FOR THESE, UH, HOMES THAT EXPERIENCE LOWER PRESSURES THAN USUAL.
AND SO THERE'S NOT ANY URGENT NEED IN TERMS OF TODAY, THERE ARE ANY DANGER OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT.
IT'S MORE SO A SYSTEM ENHANCEMENT THAT, UM, WE WANT TO PROVIDE, UH, BETTER PRESSURES FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
AND SO THAT'S MAYBE WHERE THE URGENCY COMES FROM TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE FOR THESE CUSTOMERS.
IT JUST TAKES TIME TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT AS, AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS WITH QUESTIONS? IF NOT, THEN DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOVE TO APPROVE.
COMMISSIONER ONG, UH, MOVES TO APPROVE.
EVERYONE VOTING IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[7. Recommend approval of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to file an application with the Texas Water Development Board for a low-interest loan in the amount not to exceed $6,000,000 from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Lead Service Line Replacement Program for Austin Water's Galvanized Water Service Line Replacement Program. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. The additional funding needed for this program is contingent upon available funding in future Austin Water budgets.]
ALL RIGHT.ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RES RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO FILE AN APPLICATION WITH A TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR A LOW INTEREST LOAN IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $6 MILLION FROM THE DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND LED SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR AUSTIN WATERS GALVANIZED WATER SERVICE LINE, GALVANIZED WATER SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, UH, FUNDING.
THIS ITEM HAS NO FISCAL IMPACT.
THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING NEEDED FOR THIS PROGRAM IS CONTINGENT UPON AVAILABLE FUNDS IN FUTURE AUSTIN WATER BUDGETS.
UM, I, THIS IS MORE JUST CONTINUING TO UNDERSTAND THE FINANCE THIS QUESTION, UM, WHICH IS, WHY IS IT BETTER FOR US TO GET A LOAN OR VERSUS JUST FINANCE THIS OURSELF? UM, JUST CURIOSITY AROUND THAT.
UH, JOSEPH GONZALEZ, AUSTIN WATER, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF OUR BUSINESS SERVICES.
UM, WE, WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS WITH, UH, LOANS THROUGH THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
UM, THEIR LOAN PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY ON THE STATE REVOLVING FUND SIDE, ARE HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED, UM, INTEREST RATES, UH, UM, WHICH MEANS, UH, YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY WE WILL END UP WITH FINANCING COST, YOU KNOW, IN, IN THE QUARTER TO, TO, YOU KNOW, 50% RANGE OF, OF OUR TYPICAL FINANCING COSTS, UM, GIVEN THE SUBSIDIES THAT THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD OFFERS FOR, UH, STATE REVOLVING FUND LOANS, UM, WHICH IS WHY, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN STATE REVOLVING FUND LOANS ARE AVAILABLE, WE, WE'VE, UH, ALWAYS JUMP AT THE CHANCE FOR, FOR THOSE LOANS.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, RATES HAVE OBVIOUSLY RISEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT, BUT SOME OF OUR STATE REVOLVING FUND LOANS HAVE HAD, YOU KNOW, EVEN 0% INTEREST AS A RESULT OF THE SUBSIDIES THAT THE STATE PROVIDES FOR, FOR THOSE LOAN PROGRAMS. SO, IS IT FAIR TO SAY THANK YOU? UM, AND SO IS IT FAIR TO SAY IT'S JUST GENERALLY KIND OF, FOR LACK OF A MORE TECHNICAL WORD OR TERM, LIKE KIND OF CHEAPER MONEY IF YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO STAY UP IN FRONT OF EVERYTHING? UM, YES.
UM, IN TERMS OF OUR LOAN PORTFOLIO, UH, OUR WATER, OUR STATE REVOLVING FUND LOANS ARE THE LOWEST COST LOANS THAT WE HAVE IN, IN OUR FINANCING PORTFOLIO.
SO IT'S, IT'S, UH, CHEAPER FOR US, WHICH MEANS IT'S CHEAPER FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
I JUST HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION, BUT IT'S, IT'S A SOFTBALL, DON'T WORRY.
ISN'T IT ALSO THAT IT'S ABOUT TAKING ONE TIME EXPENSES AND PROPORTIONING IT OUT ACROSS
[00:15:01]
SEVERAL YEARS SO THAT YOU'RE MAINTAINING MORE BUDGET FLEXIBILITY? IT'S NOT EVEN JUST THE INTEREST RATE, IT'S THE AMOUNT OF CASH THAT YOU HAVE ON HAND.WELL, UM, NO, I'M NOT SURE THAT, THAT, I WOULD CHARACTERIZE IT THAT WAY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT FINANCING, AND PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE FINANCE THROUGH THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD OR FOR BIGGER PROJECTS, MAYBE WITH YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA FINANCE THOSE PROJECTS ANYWAY.
UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT REALLY IS ABOUT TRYING TO FIND THE, THE, THE LOWEST COST OF FUNDS, THE LOWEST INTEREST RATES, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND LOOKING FOR WAYS TO REDUCE OUR FINANCING COSTS OVER TIME.
AND I WOULD SAY IS BECAUSE RIGHT, THEY HAVE THIS DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND LEAD SERVICE LINE, IT'S A SPECIFIC PROGRAM FOR THAT.
SO WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST LIKE WE'RE ASKING FOR THE GENERAL FUND, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT PROGRAM, BUT THEY ACTUALLY, IT'S, IT'S A PROGRAM DEDICATED THAT AND THEY HAVE MONEY ALLOTTED TO THAT.
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE, UM, WE'VE ACTUALLY STRUGGLED, UH, TO, UM, RECEIVE LOANS THROUGH STATE REVOLVING FUNDS, BOTH ON THE DRINKING WATER SIDE AND THE CLEAN WATER SIDE BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN OVERSUBSCRIBED.
UH, BUT BECAUSE OF THE LEAD AND COPPER RULE, UH, THERE ARE SPECIAL EARMARKS FOR, UM, FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE RELATED TO LEAD AND COPPER RULE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, THE GALVANIZED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT FALL INTO.
UM, HAVE, HAS AUSTIN WATER PREVIOUSLY APPLIED FOR LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT FUNDS OUT OF THE SRF BEFORE? I'M SORRY, COULD YOU REPEAT? HA.
HAS AUSTIN WATER APPLIED FOR THESE, THIS PARTICULAR POT OF FUNDING OUT OF THE STATE REVOLVING FUNDS BEFORE? UH, I, I BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE, WE'VE APPLIED, UH, YOU KNOW, WE COMPLETED, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR LEAD AND COPPER INVENTORY, UM, AT THE END OF 24.
AND, UM, AND SO ONCE YOU COMPLETE THE INVENTORY, THEN IF YOU, IF YOU IDENTIFY, UH, YOU KNOW, SERVICE LINES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED, THAT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE TRIGGER FOR, FOR THE REPLACEMENT PROJECT.
AND SO AS WE COMPLETED OUR INVENTORY, WE UNDERSTOOD, UM, YOU KNOW, THE POOL OF, OF SERVICE LINES THAT MIGHT REQUIRE REPLACING.
AND, UH, SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, BEEN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NOT QUITE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF SINCE WE COMPLETED THE INVENTORY.
AND, AND I WOULD, UM, JUST TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT ON THAT, WE'VE REPORTED OUT TO THE COMMISSION ON THIS AS WELL, BUT I THINK IT'S BEEN A WHILE THAT, UM, AUSTIN WATER HAS BEEN REPLACING LEAD SERVICE LINES, UM, FOR A, FOR DECADES.
AND SO WHEN WE DID OUR INVENTORY, UM, WE, WE FOUND THAT WE, WE HAVE NO LEAD SERVICE LINES THAT NEED REPLACING.
AND SO WE HAVE THIS, THIS COLLECTION OF GALVANIZED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT.
YOU KNOW, IT TALKS ABOUT IT IN THE BACKUP, BUT THESE ARE, THIS IS A PIPE MATERIAL THAT EPA HAS IDENTIFIED AS THAT.
IF YOU CAN'T AFFIRM THAT LEAD HAS NEVER BEEN UPSTREAM OF IT, THEN YOU NEED TO REPLACE IT.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA REPLACE ALL THE GALVANIZED SERVICE LINES IN OUR, IN OUR SYSTEM.
AND SO, SO WE'RE IN A VERY, VERY GOOD POSITION AS IT RELATES TO COMPLYING WITH THE LEAD SERVICE LINE REQUIREMENTS.
AND WE'RE THRILLED THAT TWDB IS HELPING US, UM, MAKE IT, UH, THAT MUCH MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO REPLACE ALL THESE GALVANIZED LINES.
AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, WE'RE GONNA HELP OUR CUSTOMERS DO IT ON THEIR SIDE.
I, I'VE, THAT'S KIND OF MY BACKGROUND IS WORKING ON THESE SRF, SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR THAT WE'RE APPLYING COMMISSIONERS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I MOVE TO APPROVE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
THANK COMMISSIONER TRI SECONDS.
EVERYONE VOTING IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[9. Recommend approval to authorize the negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro) for the City to reimburse CapMetro for an amount not to exceed $747,500 for costs associated with the design and construction of an oversized water main and appurtenances related to Service Extension Request No. 5781R2 that will provide water service to a proposed office warehouse and fleet facility development located at 10805 Cameron Road. Funding is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Capital Budget of Austin Water.]
ITEM NUMBER NINE, RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO, TO AUTHORIZE THE NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH CAPITAL METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY METRO FOR THE CITY TO REIMBURSE CAP METRO FOR THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 747,500 UH, DOLLARS FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF AN OVERSIZED WATER MAIN AND A S RELATED TO SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST NUMBER 5 7 8 1 R TWO THAT WILL PROVIDE WATER SERVICE TO THE PROPOSED OFFICE, WAREHOUSE, AND FLEET FACILITY DEVELOPMENT LOCATED AT, UH, ONE THOU, UH, 10,805 CAMERON ROAD FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 26 CAPITAL BUDGET OF AUSTIN WATER.SO THERE'S NO QUESTIONS SINCE, UH, COMMISSIONER PANI IS RECUSING
[00:20:01]
HERSELF, IS, UH, DO HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.UH, COMMISSIONER MARLO MOTIONS TO APPROVE.
DO HAVE A SECOND? I WILL SECOND.
UH, EVERYONE VOTING IN FAVOR? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UM, IT'S NOT UNANIMOUS, UH, VOTING IN AFFIRMATIVE EXCEPT FOR COMMISSIONER PANY.
[10. Recommend approval to authorize execution of a contract for the Oltorf at Travis Heights Pressure Zone Conversion project with Facilities Rehabilitation, Inc., for a total contract amount not to exceed $5,073,625 plus a $507,363 contingency for a total contract amount not to exceed $5,580,988. Funding: Funding is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water.]
NUMBER 10, RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT FOR THE TWF AT TRAVIS HEIGHTS PRESSURE ZONE CONVERSION PROJECT WITH FACILITIES REHABILITATION INC.FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,073,625 PLUS A 507 360 $3 CONTINGENCY FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,580,988.
FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET OF AUSTIN WATER.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? COULD YOU JUST REPEAT, UM, CHAIR, WHO'S, UH, RECUSING? COMMISSIONER PENI.
COMMISSIONER PENN IS RECUSING HIMSELF.
ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
THANK COMMISSIONER PAN DUREN MOTIONS TO APPROVE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
EVERYONE VOTING IN FAVOR? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THE, THE VOTE IS APPROVED WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER PENN RECUSING HIMSELF.
OKAY, I THINK, UH, ARE WE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 17? IS THAT, AM I RIGHT ON THAT? DO I HAVE MY NOTES RIGHT? YES.
[17. Staff briefing by Austin Project Connect staff regarding Austin Light Rail project updates, including water, wastewater, and reclaimed water infrastructure improvements.]
YEAH.SO, SO WE'LL MOVE TO THE STAFF BRIEFING ITEM NUMBER 17, UH, BEFORE WE HOLD THE VOTE FOR ITEM NUMBER 14.
UM, THIS WILL BE A STAFF BRIEFING BY THE AUSTIN PROJECT CONNECT STAFF REGARDING THE AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL PROJECT UPDATES, INCLUDING WATER WASTEWATER AND RECLAIMED WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
GOT A WHOLE SQUAD HERE FOR YOU GUYS.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, UH, MY NAME IS LEANNE CONTI.
I'M THE INTERIM MOBILITY OFFICER FOR AUSTIN PROJECT CONNECT.
WE'RE THE OFFICE WITHIN THE CITY THAT SUPPORTS THE DELIVERY OF PROJECT CONNECT, WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY CAP METRO AND THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, UM, TO EXPAND TRANSIT OPTIONS AROUND THE CITY.
SO TODAY WE ARE HERE SEEKING A RECOMMENDATION ON AN ITEM THAT WE, UM, ANTICIPATE BRINGING TO CITY COUNCIL, UH, IN MAY, UH, TO, UH, APPROVE AND NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, UM, THAT BUILDS ON, UM, THE EXISTING, UH, PROJECT AND, AND PARTNERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE OF THE, UM, OF THE, OF THE AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL PROJECT.
UM, AND, UH, TODAY I HAVE WITH ME, UH, SEAN BERRY WITH THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP TO GIVE A BRIEFING ON THE AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL PROJECT AND, YOU KNOW, JUST THE STATUS OF THE PROJECT AND WHERE WE ARE AND HOW THIS, UM, THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THE, THE ITEM THAT'S GONNA COME TO COUNCIL, WHICH IS AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
UM, SO, UH, AGAIN, SEAN BARRY WITH AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.
UM, SO BASICS, I THINK MOST OF YOU ARE AWARE, BUT I KNOW SOME ARE LESS AWARE THAN OTHERS.
SO WE'LL JUST KIND OF DIAL IT BACK FOR A MOMENT AND REMIND PEOPLE OF WHAT AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL IS AND WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING.
UM, SO AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL IS A NEW ELECTRIC, UH, TRAIN THAT WOULD BE IN STREET, SO VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE EXISTING CAT, METRO RED LINE TYPE SERVICE.
UM, THIS WOULD BE A VERY HIGH FREQUENCY SERVICE IN A DENSE URBAN ENVIRONMENT.
UM, WHAT YOU SEE ON, ON THIS MAP HERE IN YELLOW, THAT, THAT RUNS FROM 38TH STREET IN THE NORTH TO UL TORF IN THE SOUTH AND YELLOW JACKET, WHICH IS BASICALLY AT RIVERSIDE IN BEN WHITE TO THE EAST.
THAT IS WHAT WE CALL AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL PHASE ONE.
AND IS THE PROJECT THAT IS CURRENTLY ADVANCING FORWARD, UM, RIGHT NOW THAT HAS 15 STATIONS INCLUDED IN IT, UM, AND HITS REALLY SOME OF THE, THE DENSEST AREAS IN TOWN, UM, AND WILL INVOLVE SIGNIFICANT RECONSTRUCTION OF THE, THE ROADWAYS IN THOSE AREAS.
THAT IN INVOLVES A LOT OF COORDINATION WITH, UM, EXISTING CITY INFRASTRUCTURE AS WE IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT.
WANNA GO TO THE NEXT, SO WHERE WE ARE IN THE, IN THE PROJECT, UM, I THINK THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE OFTEN THE MOST EAGER TO HEAR IS WHERE ARE WE AND WHEN WILL IT BE DONE
[00:25:01]
UM, AND SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING, UM, IN JUNE OF 2023, WE WENT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND, AND CODIFIED OUR, UM, IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THAT, THAT REALLY LED TO THE PHASE ONE PROJECT AS CURRENTLY DEFINED.AND WE WENT INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS.
UM, WE WILL GET TO THAT IN A MOMENT, BUT THAT'S ONE OF OUR MAIN MILESTONES AT THIS POINT, IS THAT WE HAVE MADE IT THROUGH THAT ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS.
UM, AND, BUT WITH THAT HAVE CONTINUED TO LOOK AT THE GENERAL CONCEPTUAL LEVEL DESIGNS, UM, ADVANCE IT WORK THROUGH COMMUNITY CONCERNS TO BETTER DEFINE THE PROJECT THAT WE WOULD ADVANCE FORWARD.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, SOME OF THE NEXT STEPS IS WHEN WE WILL ACTUALLY MOVE MORE INTO THE ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.
UM, AND WE'LL, WE'LL GET A LITTLE MORE DETAILED ON THAT IN A MINUTE.
AS I SAID, THIS HAS KIND OF BEEN A, A MOMENT, A BIG MOMENT FOR US OVER THE LAST, I'LL SAY FIVE MONTHS OR SO.
UM, SO RIGHT AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT OUR PROJECT RECEIVED A MEDIUM HIGH RATING FROM THE FTA AS PART OF THE, THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANT PROGRAM.
SO THAT IS THE FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCE THAT WE ARE SEEKING, UM, TO FUND A, A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR PROJECT IN ADDITION TO THE LOCAL FUNDS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
AND SO THAT, THAT MEDIUM HIGH MIGHT NOT SOUND LIKE ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT, BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY VERY SIGNIFICANT.
IT WAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATED PROJECTS.
NO PROJECT WAS RATED HIGHER THAN THAT IN THIS ROUND.
UM, SO THAT WAS A VERY POSITIVE SIGN IN TERMS OF WHERE WE STAND WITHIN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S, UM, PROCESS AS WE CONTINUE TO ADVANCE AND SEEK THAT FEDERAL FUNDING PARTNERSHIP.
UM, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE MADE IT THROUGH NEPA.
SO OUR FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND RECORD OF DECISION WAS ISSUED IN JANUARY OF 2026.
THIS IS A VERY BIG MILESTONE FOR THE, THE PROGRAM IN A FEW WAYS.
ONE IS THAT WE ACCOMPLISH THAT WITHIN A TWO YEAR TIMEFRAME, WHICH IS A GOAL THAT HAD BEEN SET OUT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND GENERALLY HADN'T BEEN ACHIEVED.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT.
UM, THAT WAS A TESTAMENT TO A LOT OF PARTNERSHIP, INCLUDING PARTNERSHIP OF, OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
UM, THAT ALSO OPENS UP DOORS FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS, INCLUDING ADVANCING TO THE NEXT PHASE OF CONTRACTING, UM, REAL ESTATE PURCHASES, THINGS OF THAT SORT THAT ALLOW US TO BEGIN MOVING FORWARD, UM, WITH THE REST OF THE IMPLEMENTATION.
AND SO WE WILL, I'LL, I'M GONNA SKIP THOSE LAST FEW BULLETS HERE 'CAUSE I THINK THE NEXT SLIDE ACTUALLY HITS THEM IN IN A BIT MORE DETAIL.
UM, SO CONTRACTING AND REALLY GETTING INTO THE MEAT OF WHO WILL TAKE US THROUGH DESIGNING AND CONSTRUCTING, CONSTRUCTING THIS PROJECT.
UM, THE, THE LEFT ONE, THE CIVIL RAILS STATION SYSTEMS CONTRACT, UH, OUR BOARD AWARDED THAT THE A TP BOARD AWARDED THAT IN FEBRUARY OF 2026 TO, UM, A CONSORTIUM KNOWN AS AUSTIN RAIL CONSTRUCTORS.
UM, AND SO THEY ARE ALREADY MOBILIZED AND AT WORK CO-LOCATED WITH US AND, AND WORKING ON THE, THEIR PHASE ONE SERVICES.
UM, WHICH WE'LL GET A LITTLE MORE ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WHAT THAT MEANS.
THIS MIDDLE ONE, THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FACILITY, THAT IS THE, THE HEART OF KIND OF THE, THE, JUST THE ABILITY TO HOUSE THE TRAINS, MAINTAIN THE TRAINS, MAINTAIN THE RAIL SYSTEM.
THAT CONTRACT OF BOTH, SORRY, I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE.
THE FIRST ONE IS A PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILD TEAM.
SO THIS IS OUR FINAL DESIGNER AND OUR CONTRACTOR BOTH ON BOARD NOW TO GET THE BENEFITS OF THAT COLLABORATION, THAT CONSTRUCTION INPUT WHILE WORKING THROUGH THE DESIGN.
SAME CONTRACTING APPROACH WITH THE PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILD MODEL FOR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FACILITY.
THAT WAS ACTUALLY AWARDED BY THE A TP BOARD EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, SO THAT IS OUR NEXT BIG MILESTONE, AND THEY'LL BE IN THE OFFICE AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK AND BEGINNING THEIR MOBILIZATION PROCESS, UM, SO THAT WE CAN BRING THEM UP TO SPEED AND INTEGRATE THEM AS WELL WITH THE OTHER CONTRACTING TEAM THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AT WORK.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE HERE, LIGHT RAIL VEHICLES.
SO THAT IS OUR OTHER MAJOR PROCUREMENT THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH.
UM, WE ARE LOOKING TO MAKE AN AWARD THIS SUMMER.
UM, AND THEN WE WOULD BE BRINGING THEM ON IN A MORE OF A LIMITED CAPACITY AT FIRST JUST TO CONSULT WITH OUR DESIGNERS.
THERE'S A LOT OF SPECIFICATIONS AND DESIGN PARAMETERS FROM THE VEHICLE THAT INFORM OTHER ASPECTS OF WHAT THE, THE OVERALL ALIGNMENT DESIGNER WILL BE DOING AND WHAT THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FACILITY DESIGNER WILL BE DOING.
UM, AND THEN ULTIMATELY AFTER THAT, ACTUALLY MOVING FORWARD WITH THE, THE, THE ORDER OF THE TRA VEHICLES THEMSELVES.
AND SO LASTLY HERE, BEFORE I HAND IT BACK TO LEANNE, KINDA WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? THIS, THIS LOOKS LIKE A NICE LINEAR GRAPHIC, I WILL SAY.
THE REALITY IS, IS OUR PROJECT WILL HAVE LOTS OF MANY CONTRACTING SEGMENTS TO IT JUST BY THE NATURE OF, UM, THE SIZE AND COMPLEXITY OF WHAT WE ARE DOING.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE PRE PRE-CONSTRUCTION PHASE, WHICH IS CONSIDERED PHASE ONE, AND WE'VE REALLY SPLIT THAT INTO TWO PIECES.
UH, PHASE ONE A IS REALLY A CHANCE FOR OUR NEW DESIGN TEAMS TO COME ON TO ESSENTIALLY OWN THAT DESIGN THAT WAS KIND OF A REFERENCE DESIGN THAT WAS, WAS USED TO DATE AND TO REALLY UPDATE THAT TO DO ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING WORK, ADDITIONAL FIELD WORK, UM, AS WELL AS ANALYZE HOW ARE THEY GOING TO BREAK THIS UP FOR FINAL DESIGN AND FOR CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCING AND ANSWER A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THE PUBLIC HAS ABOUT
[00:30:01]
WHERE ARE WE GONNA START ON CONSTRUCTION, HOW IS THIS ACTUALLY GONNA PLAY OUT IN THE REAL WORLD? UM, SO THEY'RE WORKING ON DEVELOPING THOSE.AND THE END OF THAT PHASE WILL REALLY HAVE A, A BIG DESIGN MILESTONE THAT WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE INITIAL, UH, PATH INTO THE PERMITTING PROCESS.
SO THAT, THAT'S A BIG PIECE OF WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
THE NEXT STEP, WHICH REQUIRES ADDITIONAL BOARD AUTHORIZATION FOR US, IS TO GO INTO FINAL DESIGN AND PERMITTING.
UM, THAT ALSO HAS LINKAGES TO OUR FEDERAL PROCESS AS WELL.
UM, AND SO THAT'S WHEN WE WILL REALLY GET INTO THE, THE NUTS AND BOLTS HERE.
TRADITIONAL 60, 90, A HUNDRED PERCENT TYPE DESIGNS, PACKAGING, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GONNA END UP ALMOST MANY DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT MAKE UP THE WHOLE, IF YOU WILL.
AND THEN LIKEWISE ON CONSTRUCTION, UM, THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO BE CON CONSTRUCTION IN 2027.
THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE TIMETABLE THAT WE'VE HAD OUT THERE, AND AGAIN, WITH A GOAL OF HAVING REVENUE SERVICE IN 2033.
UM, COMING BACK TO ITEM 14 ON YOUR AGENDA, THE A RECOMMENDATION FOR, UM, APPROVAL OF THE, UH, INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP.
I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THIS DESIGN ILA THAT'S, THAT'S OUR SHORTHAND FOR IT.
WHAT IT DOES, UM, IT, IT BUILDS ON AN EXISTING, UM, GOVERNANCE FOUNDATION THAT THE CITY AND AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP HAVE, UM, THAT DELINEATES ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS WE, UM, GO FORWARD AND DELIVER THESE PROJECTS UNDER THE PROJECT CONNECT PROGRAM.
SO A AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL, BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INSTANCES WHERE THE CITY HAS COMMITMENTS AS WELL, UM, IN, IN THE PROGRAM.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE ARE DEFINING WHAT OUR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE ON A SPECIFIC PHASE OF THE PROJECT.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE FOCUSED ON DESIGN.
SO IT WILL, UH, THIS IN OUR LOCAL AGREEMENT WILL SPEAK TO THOSE RESPECTIVE, UM, ROLES WITHIN THE DESIGN PHASE.
UM, IT SPEAKS TO, UM, RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MITIGATIONS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE NEPA PROCESS THAT SEAN MENTIONED.
UM, IT TALKS ABOUT THE SUPPORT SERVICES THAT THE CITY PROVIDES TO AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP.
WE HAVE, UM, A SERIES OF SUPPORT SERVICES AGREEMENTS WHERE A TP ACTUALLY FUNDS, UM, OUR OFFICE AND, UM, THE, THE SUPPORT THAT WE PROVIDE TO, TO HAVE DEDICATED STAFF, UM, IN, IN THE OFFICE WITH A TP CO-LOCATED.
UM, IT DEFINES THE PERMITTING PROCESS FOR, UM, FOR AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL AND OTHER ELEMENTS ABOUT WHAT THE, THE DESIGN WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH.
UM, IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT THE USE OF PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, AS SEAN MENTIONED.
THEY'RE BEGINNING PRE-CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, UH, THAT, THAT A TP SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY IN TO USE THE RIGHT OF WAY IN A TEMPORARY CAPACITY.
AND THAT ALSO HAS A NUMBER OF FUNDING COMMITMENTS.
THE ONE THAT I WANNA FOCUS ON TODAY IS, UM, THOSE BETTERMENTS, AND I CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO, UM, BETTERMENTS BEING, I THINK Y'ALL ARE PROBABLY ALL VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE CONCEPT OF, UM, YOU KNOW, A SUBJECT PROJECT INCORPORATING ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT AREN'T NECESSARY FOR THE PROJECT ITSELF, BUT BENEFIT THE OWNER.
AND IF, AND IF THE PROJECT CAN IMPLEMENT THOSE, UM, THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, THEN IT IS A KIND OF A DIG ONCE, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS.
AND SO, UM, A TP SOUGHT INPUT FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, NOT, UM, NOT JUST AUSTIN WATER FOR, ARE THERE ANY BETTERMENTS THAT COULD BE CONCLUDED IN THE PROJECT? UH, THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION HAS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY GUIDANCE FOR, UM, FOR PROJECT SPONSORS ABOUT HOW TO DO THIS.
AND SO ALL OF THAT, UM, WAS COMPLIED WITH IN THIS PROCESS.
BUT, UM, OH, IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR.
UM, IN THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN PHASE, THERE WAS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO REVIEW THE DESIGN AND UNDERSTAND WHERE THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE INTERACTS WITH THE LIGHT RAIL ALIGNMENT AND WHAT, UM, OPPORTUNITIES THERE MIGHT BE FOR BETTERMENT.
SO THE CITY SUBMITTED, UH, BETTERMENT REQUESTS TO A TP IN EARLY 2025 TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF INCORPORATING THOSE BETTERMENTS.
AND THEN LAST YEAR, UM, DEPARTMENTS REVIEWED DESIGNS AND, UM, ESTIMATES FOR, UM, THE COST, BOTH OF THE DESIGN COST AND THE, THE, UH, CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF THOSE BETTERMENTS.
AND THEN WITH THAT INFORMATION IN HAND, WERE ABLE TO MAKE A FINAL LIST OF BETTERMENTS REQUESTS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT DESIGN PHASE.
AND SO THE CONTRACTOR THAT, UM, SEAN TALKED ABOUT BEING BROUGHT ON, THE ARC TEAM HAS NOW HAS THAT THEY HAVE THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND THEY HAVE THOSE REQUESTS FROM THE CITY, UM, OF BETTERMENTS, AND THEY'RE INCORPORATING THOSE AND UPDATING THEM INTO THE, THE NEXT DESIGN MILESTONE.
UM, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL BETTERMENTS AS THEY ADVANCE TO 60% DESIGN AND ALSO TO REMOVE BETTERMENTS FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS THAT THAT MIGHT BE NECESSARY.
UM, THIS DESIGN, ILA COMMITS THE CITY TO THE FUNDING FOR THE DESIGN PHASE, AND WE WOULD COME BACK FOR A FUTURE AUTHORIZATION, UH, FOR THE CONSTRUCTION FUNDING OF THESE BETTERMENTS AND THE NEXT ONE.
AND SO, AUSTIN WATER SPECIFICALLY,
[00:35:01]
UH, THIS IS A TABLE THAT SHOWS THE HOW THAT, UM, THE SERVICE LINES THAT BROKE DOWN TO, UM, TO, TO COME TO THAT TOTAL APPROXIMATELY $36 MILLION.THAT IS THE, FROM THE ESTIMATE, UM, AS I MENTIONED, THE ILA ONLY COVERS THE DESIGN.
IT ALSO SAYS THAT, THAT AUSTIN WATER WOULD ONLY PAY THE ACTUAL DESIGN COSTS AND THAT, SO THIS, THIS NUMBER IS AN ESTIMATE AND THAT A TP WOULD INVOICE, UH, THE CITY FOR THOSE APPLICABLE, UM, DESIGNS AND THEN, AND THEN THE CITY WOULD HAVE A, A TIME TO PAY, UH, PAY THAT INVOICE.
UM, AND FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN AUSTIN WATERS CAPITAL BUDGET FOR THESE BETTERMENTS.
AND I HAVE, UM, SOME FOLKS BOTH FROM AUSTIN WATER AND, AND JUSTIN MORRIS FROM OUR TEAM WHO HAVE WORKED ON, ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE BETTERMENT REQUESTS AND CAN PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT ON, UM, ON THE, THE BASIS FOR THEM IF, IF, UM, COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
UM, I'LL HAVE A STARTING QUESTION.
WHAT'S THE END CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE? I KNOW THIS IS MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS, BUT YOU KNOW, JUST SO WE ALL KNOW KIND OF WHAT TO EXPECT.
SO WHAT WE ARE AIMING FOR IS REVENUE SERVICE IN 2033.
SO GENERALLY YOUR CONSTRUCTION TIMEFRAME IS 2027 TO 2033.
THE BACK PART OF THAT IS REALLY MORE COMMISSIONING AND TESTING ACTIVITIES.
SO YOUR HEAVY CONSTRUCTION WOULD BE DONE A LITTLE BIT SOONER.
WELL, COMMISSIONERS OTHER QUESTIONS? I, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH QUESTIONS.
I, I GUESS, UM, I PROBABLY WILL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS.
WHAT IS THE QUANTITY? I THINK ON THE LAST SLIDE WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE BETTERMENTS AND YOU HAD WATER WAS 22 MILLION IN WASTEWATER, WAS 250, CLOSE TO TWO 50, WHAT'S THE QUANTITY OF WATER WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THAT AMOUNT? I GUESS? THIS IS CHARLES SRO, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING TECHNICAL SERVICES WITH AUSTIN WATER FOR THE WATER FOR ABOUT THE $23 MILLION.
IT CONSISTS OF OVER 62,000 LINEAR FEET OF OUR LINE FOR WASTEWATER.
IT CONSISTS OF ABOUT 3,300 LINEAR FEET.
AND FOR OUR RECLAIMED WATER, OUR THIRD UTILITY, IT'S ABOUT 57,500 LINEAR FEET.
SO IN ALL TOTAL, IT'S OVER 123,000 LINEAR FEET OF PIPE.
I'LL STOP FOR NOW AND LET SOME OTHERS GO.
YOU CAN KEEP GOING IF YOU'D LIKE.
UH, MY ONLY OTHER QUESTION WAS, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR? UH, BUT DO YOU HAVE A SIMILAR THING WITH AUSTIN ENERGY AND I MEAN OTHERS WHO ARE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY AS WELL? THAT'S CORRECT.
AUSTIN ENERGY AND WATERSHED PROTECTION ALSO HAVE BETTERMENT REQUESTS, UM, AND WILL BE COMMITTING DESIGN FUNDING FOR THOSE BETTERMENTS AS WELL.
UM, IT'S NOT TO THE EXTENT OF AUSTIN WATERS, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, BUT YES, THEY'RE TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY AS WELL.
I, I WAS GONNA ASK THAT I GUESS YOU HAVE JUST FOR, FROM A SCALE REFERENCE STANDPOINT, IS THAT LIKE 10% OF THOSE COST 25%? DO YOU HAVE A NUMBER? UM, SO I'M, I'M NOT GONNA TRY TO DO A PERCENTAGE ON THE FLY.
UH, SO FOR, UH, AUSTIN ENERGY IT'S ABOUT 88,000 MM-HMM
AND FOR, UM, WATERSHED PROTECTION IT'S 665,000.
SO THAT'S SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN FOR.
SO I GUESS I WOULD JUST LOVE TO HEAR FROM AUSTIN WATER.
I MEAN, LET ME, LEMME STEP BACK PROCESS WISE, DID AUSTIN WATER REQUEST THE BETTERMENTS? OKAY.
SO, UM, COULD YOU ALL JUST SHARE KIND OF, UM, IS IT SOME, LIKE IN THIS CONSTRUCTION PROCESS ARE THINGS TOUCH, NEED TO BE MOVED? JUST AN OPPORTUNITY, 'CAUSE LIKE THE EARTH'S DUG UP LITERALLY TO DO THINGS THAT WERE ALREADY IN THE PLAN.
CAN YOU JUST GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF KIND OF MEAT ON THE BONES OF, OF WHY WE'RE INVESTING SO MUCH, UM, IN THE PROJECT? ABSOLUTELY, AND I'LL LET, UM, KEVIN KOHLER WEIGH IN ON THIS AS WELL.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS, UH, THIS CONSTRUCTION IS COMING RIGHT THROUGH THE HEART OF OUR SERVICE AREA.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF AUSTIN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS IMPACTED BY THE PROJECT AND WILL BE RELOCATED OR REBUILT BY THE PROJECT.
UM, WE ALSO, BECAUSE IT'S IN THE HEART OF OUR SERVICE AREA, THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO MAKE THAT SERVICE EITHER MORE ROBUST OR TO, UH, CONSOLIDATE AND, UM, AND MAKE OUR SERVICE KIND OF WORK BETTER, IF YOU WILL.
UH, AND SO WE REALLY WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GET BACK INTO THIS CORRIDOR IN THE FUTURE.
UM, SO IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS, FIVE YEAR PROCESS OF FIGURING OUT WHAT'S PART OF THE PROJECT, WHAT'S A BETTERMENT, AND REALLY COMING THROUGH, UM, THAT PROCESS TO THE
[00:40:01]
POINT WE ARE TODAY WHERE WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD.DO YOU WANNA ADD ANY COLOR TO THAT, KEVIN? YEAH, SO KEVIN KOHLER, AUSTIN WATER, UH, DIVISION MANAGER FOR PIPELINE CIP DELIVERY.
SO YES, WE COORDINATE EXTENSIVELY WITHIN AUSTIN WATER.
SO WE'VE REACHED OUT TO OUR SYSTEMS PLANNING TEAM TO LOOK AS SHEA HAD MENTIONED, TO LOOK LONG-TERM.
UM, I THINK SOME SIGNIFICANT PARTS OF THIS ARE THE RECLAIMED, SO WE'RE GONNA PUT A RECLAIMED IN RIVERSIDE, WHICH IS REALLY GONNA BE BENEFICIAL FOR OUR RECLAIMED SYSTEM.
WE ALSO HAVE A LARGE WATER LINE THAT'S GONNA GO IN GUADALUPE, UH, THAT WAS A SYSTEMS PLANNING REQUEST.
SO WE COORDINATE EXTENSIVELY WITHIN AUSTIN WATER.
WE'VE LOOKED AS SHEA HAD SAID LONG TERM 'CAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO GO BACK IN THERE AND DIG LATER AND, UM, IMPACT THE NEW RAIL SYSTEM.
CAN I HAVE A FOLLOW UP TO THAT? I GUESS, UM, THIS IS AGAIN, JUST FOR MY UNDERSTANDING.
IF AUSTIN WATER WAS TO GO DO THAT WORK, WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING IS THE DESIGN COST WOULD BE ABOUT THE SAME.
SO THE DESIGN COST TO HAVE MULTIPLE CONSULTANTS DO ONE 23,000 LINEAR, YOUR FEET OF PIPE IS GOING TO BE ABOUT 36 MILLION.
IS THAT, IS THAT ROUGHLY KIND OF MATCH IT? THE, THE $36 MILLION, EXCUSE ME, IS AS IS NOTED AS AN ESTIMATE.
UH, NORMALLY WHEN WE'RE IN FRONT OF THIS COMMISSION, WE HAVE THE PROPOSAL FROM A CONSULTANT ALREADY ON BOARD WITH US.
WHEN WE COME THROUGH HERE, THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAT WE'RE HAVING AN ESTIMATE FOR US, AS NOTED THAT WE'LL COME BACK WITH A SCOPE AND FEE THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO AUSTIN WATER, AND THEN WE WILL ONLY BE INVOICED AND PAID FOR THE ACTUAL FEE.
UM, SO I, AND I MADE A NOTE ABOUT THAT TOO, AUSTIN WATER TO PAY ACTUAL DESIGN COSTS.
SO, UH, LET'S SAY, AND MAYBE THIS IS THINKING A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AHEAD.
I'M ASSUMING THAT IF WE GET TO THAT, THAT COST THE TOTAL COST AND WE'RE APPROACHING THAT AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE INVOICES AND A TREND OF APPROACHING THAT ESTIMATE WHEN WE ACTUALLY GET ACTUAL DESIGNS THAT THEN PRESENTED BACK TO THIS COMMISSION FOR AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING, UM, AMOUNT, IT, IT WOULD BE DO YOU WANNA YEAH.
SAY YES, YES, IT WOULD NEED TO BE.
UM, I WAS GONNA ASK SEAN MAYBE IF TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE KIND OF OPPORTUNITY THAT HAPPENS WHEN THE A TP ISN'T MAYBE NEEDING TO MOVE A LINE BECAUSE OF THE LIGHT RAIL AND THEN THERE'S A BETTERMENT REQUEST TO UPSIZE THAT LINE.
THAT IS A BENEFIT IN TERMS OF THE DESIGN COSTS, RIGHT? NOT BEING, NOT BEING ACCOUNTED FOR THAT.
AS CHARLES MENTIONED, THESE ARE DESIGN COST ESTIMATES, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF LOGIC APPLIED TO THESE COST ESTIMATES.
SO IF THIS IS, SAY FOR EXAMPLE, A NEW RECLAIMED WATER MAIN, OKAY, THAT MAY BE THE FULL COST OF THAT DESIGN.
BUT IF THIS IS AN UPSIZE OF LET'S SAY A 16 INCH PIPE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO RELOCATE BECAUSE WE'RE IMPACTING IT WITH OUR PROJECT, AUSTIN WATER WOULD ONLY BE PAYING THE CONSTRUCTION COST DIFFERENCE OF THAT ADDITIONAL.
BUT REALLY FROM A DESIGN PERSPECTIVE, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, THAT'S GENERALLY A NEGLIGIBLE DESIGN COST AND THEREFORE WE DIDN'T INCLUDE A DESIGN COST UNLESS IT WAS A PIPE SIZE THAT TRIGGERED SOME ADDITIONAL DESIGN ELEMENT THAT ACTUALLY HAD AN, A COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE EXPENDED OTHERWISE.
SORRY, I HAVE ONE MORE FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
I PROMISE IT'S COMING BACK TO YOU
IT'S, IT'S, IT WAS ALL RELATED TO THE SAME TOPIC.
SO I GUESS, DO YOU HAVE LIKE A BREAKDOWN OF THIS? I, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS JUST AN ESTIMATE, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN A TRUE SCOPE AND FEE IS DEVELOPED, IT'S GONNA COME BACK TO THIS BOARD.
UM, WHAT WAS, I KNOW YOU WALKED US A LITTLE BIT THROUGH THE METHOD BEHIND THIS MADNESS, RIGHT? LIKE WHAT WAS THAT, DID YOU ACTUALLY GET, I MEAN, HOW DID THIS $36 MILLION I GUESS SORT OF COME ABOUT? LIKE, WAS THERE A, WAS THERE A CONSULTANT WHO SORT OF GAVE YOU SOME HIGH LEVEL NUMBERS? HOW, HOW WAS THAT, I GUESS DEVELOPED? I'LL TAKE THE FIRST PART OF THAT AND THEN IF Y'ALL WANT TO ADD ON FEEL FREE.
SO, UM, SO, SO IT, AUSTIN WATER PRO PROVIDED THO THE REQUESTED BETTERMENTS TO A TP.
WE FIRST STARTED FROM A PURELY TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS.
CAN WE ACTUALLY FIT THESE WITHIN THESE CORRIDORS AND WHAT TYPES OF THINGS WOULD BE NECESSARY TO FIT THEM IN THE CORRIDOR? BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE ANSWER IS YES, BUT THAT MEANS A MORE EXPENSIVE CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE POTENTIALLY.
AND WE WANTED TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT FROM THE START, UM, WHILE ALSO TRYING TO MAKE SURE TO REARRANGE THINGS TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE BETTERMENTS AS, AS WELL AS POSSIBLE.
AND SO AFTER WE WENT THROUGH THAT TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY PROCESS, WE DID HAVE OUR, OUR TEAM ACTUALLY PREPARE COST ESTIMATES FOR IT.
WE HAVE A DELIVERY PARTNER THAT'S ON BOARD WITH A LOT OF TECHNICAL STAFF.
THEY CAME ON AND THEY, THEY PREPARED THE COST ESTIMATES ASSOCIATED WITH THESE BETTERMENTS, UM, BASED ON TYPICAL BID PRICING, BUT ALSO BASED ON THINGS LIKE CONTRACTOR OVERHEAD AND PROFIT BASED ON ESCALATION, KNOWING THAT E EVEN THE DESIGN IS GONNA BE OVER A FEW YEAR PERIOD, OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE GET TO CONSTRUCTION, THAT'S EVEN MORE OF A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD.
UM, LIKEWISE, UM, CONTINGENCY, WE'RE AT A VERY EARLY STAGE OF THE OVERALL
[00:45:01]
PROJECT DESIGN.THESE BETTERMENTS ARE AT AN EVEN EARLIER STAGE WHERE IT'S REALLY MORE JUST A FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS THAT'S BEEN COMPLETED.
AND SO THERE'S SOME CONTINGENCY THAT JUST HAS TO BE FACTORED IN BECAUSE OF THAT AS WELL AS JUST THE OVERALL PM COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MANAGING THAT WORK.
AND SO THOSE ELEMENTS ALL WENT INTO THE PROJECT COST THAT WAS THERE, UM, WITH A FOCUS ON GETTING TO THE DESIGN COSTS FOR THIS RIGHT NOW, WHILE ALSO LOOKING AT ROUGH ORDER OF MAGNITUDE CONSTRUCTION COSTS BASED ON WHAT WE KNEW OF THE DESIGN TO DATE, UM, SO THAT AUSTIN WATER COULD THINK ABOUT THAT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IS VIABLE.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THERE WILL, AS THE DESIGN PROGRESSES, WE'LL KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT WHAT WOULD ACTUALLY OCCUR ON THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE.
I, I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY ALSO THAT THIS, UH, REQUEST IS, UM, FOR AUTHORIZATION TO SPEND UP TO THE STATED AMOUNT, UM, IN THE RCA.
SO CHARLES WAS TALKING ABOUT GETTING A DETAILED SCOPE AND FEE FROM THE CONSULTANT.
IF THAT WERE, UH, IF THAT WERE TO BE HIGHER THAN THIS NUMBER, WE WOULD BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION AND COUNCIL, BUT, BUT NOT UNDER THIS NUMBER.
UH, I THINK WE'RE ALL JUST BUILDING ON THE CONVERSATION AND I REALLY WANNA PULL THE CONVERSATION THE COMMISSION HAD ABOUT THE WALNUT CREEK, JUST KIND OF THE, HOW THE ENVIRONMENT, THE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT HAS CHANGED A LOT SINCE WE STARTED PLANNING FIVE YEARS AGO.
AND I KNOW WE AS A CITY ARE TRYING TO GET OUR ARMS AROUND THIS AND I PERSONALLY BELIEVE IT'S A TRICKIER FINANCE ENVIRONMENT THAN EVEN COVID, WHICH HAS BEEN WHAT WHAT WE'VE BEEN REFERENCING UP UNTIL NOW, I THINK WE'RE IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL OF ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY AND INFLATION.
SO IN THE DESIGN OR AS WE ESTIMATE THE CONSTRUCTION, LIKE HAS THAT BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THAT ESTIMATING COSTS DESIGN AND OTHERWISE IS MORE EXPENSIVE AND DIFFERENT THINGS NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO REALLY TALK BACK TO THE CITY AND THE COUNCIL ABOUT, ABOUT THIS ENTIRE PROJECT AS ONE OF TOP WHAT 10 THE STATES SAY, WHAT 10 PROJECTS THAT ARE GONNA INFLUENCE OUR CITY.
BUT I I REALLY WANT US TO LEARN WHAT, FROM THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE ALL HAD IN WITH AUSTIN WATER ABOUT BETTER ESTIMATIONS IN THIS ENVIRONMENT THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN WHEN WE STARTED FIVE YEARS AGO.
SO CAN YOU ALL LIKE KINDA JUST SPEAK TO HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS DIFFERENTLY NOW? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT'S OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.
AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP AS WELL FOR OUR PROJECT AT LARGE, RIGHT? IS WE, WE HAVE A, A SET AMOUNT OF MONEY AND WE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO THE VOTERS OF WHAT WE WILL DELIVER FOR THAT MONEY.
UM, SO ABSOLUTELY THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT.
UM, THIS, THIS COST THAT WAS PRESENTED HERE TODAY THAT'S GOING INTO THIS ILA INCLUDED A LOT OF VERY CONSERVATIVE CONTINGENCIES FOR PRECISELY THAT REASON.
UM, THAT SAID, THERE'S, I WILL SAY LESS UNCERTAINTY ON DESIGN COSTS THAN THERE WOULD BE ON CONSTRUCTION COSTS, RIGHT? AND SO WHEN WE LOOKED AT THAT FIRST ROUGH ORDER OF MAGNITUDE, THAT INVOLVED EVEN MORE CONTINGENCY, BUT THAT'S ALSO A BIG PART OF WHY WE'RE NOT AT A POINT OF ASKING FOR A COMMITMENT FOR THAT YET, RIGHT? IS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE DESIGN AND THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND THE ACTUAL COST BEFORE COMING BACK AND REASONABLY WORKING WITH OUR AUSTIN WATER STAFF ON WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT COMMITMENT LOOK LIKE? WHAT DOES THAT CONSTRUCTION LOOK LIKE AND HOW DO WE MANAGE THAT? UM, THE GOOD NEWS, I I WILL SAY BECAUSE OF OUR CONTRACTING MODEL IS THAT THIS IS NOT A TRADITIONAL DESIGN BID BUILD, UM, THAT WE DO HAVE A CONTRACTOR ALREADY IN THE BUILDING.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE A PRICE FROM THEM TO DO THIS CONSTRUCTION WORK YET, BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT A LOT OF THOSE INPUTS AND A LOT OF THOSE RISKS WE CAN ACTUALLY GET OUT IN FRONT OF AND THAT ALSO INFORMS A LOT MORE ACCURATE COSTS.
AND I JUST, AT THE SAKE OR THE RISK OF BEING REPETITIVE, I, I, UM, I, I THINK I JUST WANNA KNOW, EVEN IN DESIGN THAT WE'RE DESIGNING WITH A DIFFERENT SET OF PRINCIPLES THAN WE WERE IN THE PAST JUST, AND THAT WE'RE APPLYING LESSONS LEARNED AND NOT IN ANY WAY TO UNDERMINE EXPERTISE THAT YOU ALL HAVE OR BRING.
I JUST THINK IT IS SUCH A CLEAR MESSAGE I'M GETTING FROM MY DISTRICT 10 AND, AND JUST LESSON KIND OF, AGAIN, LESSONS LEARNED THAT, UM, I JUST WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T KIND OF IN THIS FORUM BRING IT HOME THAT EVEN IN DESIGN, THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT DESIGN WITH THESE DIFFERENT REALITIES IS IMPORTANT VERSUS LEANING ON, UM, MORE DATED WAYS.
SO, BUT I, I TRUST YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO, TO PUSH ON THIS POINT A LITTLE BIT.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
UM, OUT OF CURIOSITY, HOW MANY OF, OF THE PROJECTS, I GUESS INCLUDED IN THAT 123,000 LINEAR FOOTAGE WITHIN THAT 36 MILLION WE'RE ALREADY ON AN AUSTIN WATER, CIP DO YOU HAVE A SENSE FOR THAT? IF NOT, THAT'S TOTALLY FINE.
YEAH, SO KEVIN KOHLER, I DON'T HAVE A SENSE FOR THAT.
I DON'T THINK VERY MANY WERE ON OUR CIP BECAUSE YEAH, THIS PROJECT IS JUST COMING RIGHT THROUGH THE HEART OF OUR SERVICE AREA.
[00:50:02]
OKAY.UH, LEANNE, SEAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PRESENTATION.
[14. Recommend approval to authorize negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with the Austin Transit Partnership to define responsibilities and commitments for the design of light rail, related improvements, and utility betterments. Funding: $88,484 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Energy; $36,035,455 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water; and $665,706 is available in the FY27 Capital Budget of Austin Watershed Protection.]
SO MOVING TO ITEM 14.ITEM 14 IS RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP TO DEFINE RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMMITMENTS FOR THE DESIGN OF LIGHT RAIL RELATED IMPROVEMENTS.
AND UTILITY BETTERMENTS FUNDING OF 88,487,000 IS AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET OF AUSTIN ENERGY.
36,035,455 IS AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET OF AUSTIN WATER.
AND 665,706 IS AVAILABLE IN THE FISCAL YEAR 27 CAPITAL BUDGET OF AUSTIN WATERSHED PROTECTION.
I'M SO SORRY, CHAIRMAN MAXWELL GAINES.
CAN I GO BACK TO THE LAST QUESTION? I JUST YEAH, I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
UH, YEAH, DO YOU NEED THEM BACK UP OR? I THINK I'M, I'M, I FEEL LIKE OUR DIRECTOR CAN PROBABLY OKAY, GOOD.
YOU SEE, I WISH WE COULD SAY WE COULD, WE PLANNED THAT AND THEN NO, WE WOULD NEVER, I GUESS I'M NOT UP SURE IF IT'S, NO, WE DID NOT.
IF YOU GUYS WANNA COME BACK UP, I'LL WARM IT UP FOR YOU.
UM, I THINK MY, MY WAY OF ASKING THE QUESTION, OR KIND OF A FOLLOW UP IS IF THE PROJECTS WEREN'T ON THE CIP THEN WHERE WERE THEY IN JUST THE, THE STRATEGIC PLAN OF THE GROWTH OF THE CITY? YEAH, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO THE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THESE MOBILITY PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH THE HEART OF OUR SERVICE AREA, I WOULD SAY WE KNOW AS WE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN, THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE, UM, UH, OPPORTUNITIES AND THE NEED TO UPGRADE INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, AND TO MAKE IT LARGER, UM, AND TO, UH, RENEW INFRASTRUCTURE AS IT AGES.
UM, AND, AND SO THE, WHEN A NEW, WHEN ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT COMES IN, WE MAY NOT HAVE THAT PARTICULAR AREA ON AS A LINE ON A PLAN, BUT WE'RE GONNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FUTURE PROOFING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AS IT GOES IN.
SO THAT'S TRUE FOR ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT AND IT'S CERTAINLY TRUE FOR THESE MOBILITY PROJECTS.
IF THEY ARE GONNA COME RIGHT DOWN LAMAR BOULEVARD, THEN WE, WE WANT TO WORK WITH THAT PROJECT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN IT'S DONE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S IN LAMAR BOULEVARD WILL WILL BE GOOD FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DECADES.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE MAY NOT HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, AND WE SEE THIS ALL OVER ALL OVER AUSTIN, YOU KNOW, WE MAY NOT HAVE, UM, THE MOBILITY PROJECT THAT'S GOING DOWN SOUTH LAMAR, UM, MUCH OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE WAS NOT NECESSARILY ON OUR LIST AS HAVING A PERFORMANCE PROBLEM, YOU KNOW, POOR PERFORMING PIPE OR UNDER CAPACITY PIPE, BUT WE DON'T WANNA LEAVE A 75-YEAR-OLD, SIX INCH CAST IRON WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK WITH A 16 INCH DUCTILE IRON.
UM, AND SO THO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF DECISIONS THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE MAKING.
AND THIS HAS BEEN A LONG PLANNING PROCESS WITH, UM, WITH, UH, AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP AND THE PROJECT CONNECT OFFICE TO AND AMONG AUSTIN WATER TEAMS TO REALLY, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, FINE TUNE WHAT WHAT WE THINK IS BEST VALUE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AND FOR THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN.
SO A LOT OF THOUGHT AND WORK HAS GONE INTO THIS, BUT WAS IT KIND OF PLANNED FOR LIKE, IF THE PLANNING HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY YEARS AND WE KNEW, I MEAN MAYBE WAS IT THAT WE KNEW WHERE THE LINE WOULD COME DOWN? LIKE HOW MUCH FORESIGHT DID YOU HAVE OR KIND OF ESTIMATION OF WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AND THEN HOW WAS IT BUILT OR NOT INTO THE BUDGET? AND I'M NOT ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, SO MAYBE OUR BUDGET COMMITTEE MEMBERS CAN REMEMBER OR NOT IF THIS WAS IN THERE, IT'S JUST MORE ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU CAN PLAN OR NOT.
UM, AND IF SINCE IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SO LONG, THEN COULD THERE, YOU KNOW, HAS THERE BEEN A, A PLAN ANYWAY? MM-HMM
SO WHAT WE DO WHEN WE DO OUR CIP PLANNING, UH, WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT, UM, OF THESE SORT OF PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS ARE COMING.
UM, HOWEVER, WE DON'T CONTROL THE SCHEDULE OF THOSE PROJECTS.
AND SO WE DON'T WANT TO PROGRAM THEM INTO OUR CIP AND ESSENTIALLY RESERVE DOLLARS FOR A PROJECT THAT WE DON'T CONTROL WHEN IT WILL ACTUALLY GO FORWARD.
UH, AND SO WE HAVE ADOPTED THE PRINCIPLE THAT WE WILL PROGRAM THAT INTO OUR CIP AT THE POINT AT WHICH WE HAVE MORE SCHEDULE CERTAINTY FROM THOSE PROJECTS.
AND TYPICALLY, LIKE FOR A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT MIGHT BE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE COST PART COST PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR A
[00:55:01]
TECH STOP PROJECT THAT MIGHT BE THE ILA OR MOU HAS BEEN APPROVED.UM, AND SO WE TYPICALLY, AT THE POINT WHEN WE HAVE SCHEDULED CERTAINTY IS WHEN WE BUILD THAT INTO OUR, UH, INTO OUR CIP PLAN AND REALLY RESERVE THE MONEY FOR THAT, FOR THAT PROJECT.
UM, AND THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT WAYS WE COULD DO IT, BUT THAT STRATEGY HAS SERVED US REALLY WELL.
AND BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A LARGE AND COMPLEX CIP WE HAVE A LOT OF ABILITY TO PROGRAM THESE PROJECTS IN AT THE POINT WHERE THEY MAKE SENSE.
AND IF WE NEED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, UM, IN THE REST OF OUR CIP PROGRAM, WE CAN DO THAT AT THAT TIME.
AND EVERY SINGLE YEAR WE'RE REVISITING IT.
SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO TUNE UP OUR CIP PLAN EVERY YEAR.
I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION AND I THINK YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT TOO.
DIRECTOR
SO LET'S SAY WE APPROVE THIS TODAY.
WHAT HAPPENS? LIKE, IS AUSTIN WATER GONNA HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO PICK THE DESIGN CONSULTANT TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS OF THE SCOPE AND FEE EVALUATION? HOW DOES, HOW DOES THAT REALLY HAPPEN AT THIS POINT? UM, THAT, THAT ACTUALLY I THINK IS AN A TP QUESTION OR A PROJECT CONNECT QUESTION, UM, ABOUT SELECTION OF CONSULTANTS AND REVIEW OF SCOPES AND FEES MORE SO LIKE HOW MUCH OF AN INVOLVEMENT WOULD AUSTIN WATER REALLY HAVE IN, IN THIS? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU
UM, SO FROM A PROCUREMENT PERSPECTIVE, REALLY THE PROCUREMENT FOR ALL OF THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECTS INCLUSIVE OF THE BETTERMENTS GOES THROUGH A TP.
AND SO AGAIN, WE HAVE ACTUALLY ALREADY PROCURED THIS TEAM THAT WILL BE DESIGNING AND CONSTRUCTING THESE BETTERMENTS.
SO FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, THAT IS WHERE WE ARE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF REVIEWING THE FEES AND REVIEWING IN, YOU KNOW, REVIEWING THE, THE DESIGN FEE AND THE CONSTRUCTION COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT, AUSTIN WATER WILL HAVE A VERY KEY ROLE.
THE, THE ESTIMATES THAT WERE USED TO INFORM THE NUMBER THAT'S IN THE ILA WAS VERY CLOSELY COORDINATED WITH AUSTIN WATER.
AND AS WE GO FORWARD WITH ACTUAL CONSULTANT AND ACTUAL CONTRACTING FEES AND, AND, AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS, THOSE WILL CONTINUE TO BE, UM, A REVIEW PROCESS ASSOCIATED.
I GUESS JUST ONE FOLLOW UP TO THAT.
SO SAME THING WHEN YOU'RE GONNA BE GETTING DURING DESIGN, WHEN THE DESIGN, UH, TEAM IS WORKING THROUGH IT, THAT'S ANOTHER ACT OF PARTICIPATION WITH AUSTIN WATER, WHERE YOU'RE GONNA BE WORKING THROUGH SEPARATION DISTANCES, LIKE THE DESIGN ELEMENTS OF PUTTING THE LINE ACTUALLY IN THERE, RIGHT? YES.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE VERY, VERY EXTENSIVE COORDINATION WITH AUSTIN WATER.
WE WOULD HAVE EVEN WITHOUT THESE BETTERMENTS TO BE CLEAR.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS THAT CHARLES WAS MENTIONING EARLIER ABOUT THE LINEAR FOOTAGE OF THE BETTERMENTS, I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS FOR YOU, BUT THEY WOULD BE VERY LARGE NUMBERS.
IF WE TOLD YOU HOW MUCH AUSTIN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WE JUST NEED TO RELOCATE BECAUSE OF THE PROJECT THERE.
IT'S SIGNIFICANT, IT'S EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT.
UM, AND SO AGAIN, WE HAVE ROUGHLY A 10 MILE LONG PROJECT THROUGH THE DENSEST CORRIDORS OF AUSTIN WITH A LOT OF EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE AND GENERALLY ALL OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE MOVED.
SO WE, WE WILL HAVE VERY ROBUST DESIGN COORDINATION WITH AUSTIN WATER AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
AND WE, WE REALLY HONESTLY HAVE TO DATE TO EVEN PRIOR DESIGN PHASES TO GET WHERE WE ARE TODAY, HAVE HAD CLOSE INVOLVEMENT WITH AUSTIN WATER THAT WILL RAMP UP AS WE GET DEEPER INTO DESIGN.
UM, THESE BETTERMENTS SPECIFICALLY THOUGH, BECAUSE THERE IS A FUNDING PARTICIPATION FROM THE CITY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, WE WILL HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL ATTENTION AND, AND KIND OF AN ADDITIONAL WORKING GROUP SPECIFIC TO BETTERMENTS IN THE OVERSIGHT OF THOSE FOR ALL THREE OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING MONEY FROM THE CITY.
AND TO THAT, I JUST WANNA, SORRY LEANNE CONTI AGAIN.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THAT JUST JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THE KIND OF UNIQUE NATURE OF THE COLLABORATION ON THIS PROJECT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED EARLIER WE ARE, WE'RE CITY STAFF, BUT WE'RE CO-LOCATED WITH AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP AND THEIR CONTRACTORS AT THEIR OFFICE.
THAT INCLUDES A, A A, A POSITION THAT WE'RE HIRING TO HAVE A DEDICATED AUSTIN WATER STAFF MEMBER THAT'S IN THE BUILDING WITH THE CONTRACTOR THAT IS PLUGGED IN AND, AND REVIEWING THE DESIGN ALL THE TIME.
SO THAT MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN SOME OTHER PROJECTS WHERE YOU MIGHT HAVE A SUBMITTAL AND IN A REVIEW PERIOD WE WILL HAVE THOSE MORE FORMAL PROCESSES TOO, BUT THERE WILL BE A LOT OF OFF OVER THE SHOULDER WORK AND, AND DESIGN COORDINATION AS THE DESIGN ADVANCES.
SO I JUST THINK THAT THAT'S, UM, A PARTICULAR BENEFIT FOR, UM, AUSTIN WATER AS THESE BETTERMENTS, UM, DEVELOP.
THANK YOU JUST ONE LAST QUESTION, I GUESS TO YOUR, UM, COMMENT ON, YOU KNOW, WATERSHED AND AUSTIN ENERGY'S PARTICIPATION IN THIS, WHICH WAS, I DID, THE MATH WAS LESS THAN 1% OF WHAT AUSTIN WATER IS DOING.
SO, UM, SO JUST FROM A PERSPECTIVE THERE, IS IT PURELY THE, THE AMOUNT OF LINEAR FOOTAGE? IS THAT WHAT'S DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THAT NUMBER? UH, YES.
THEY, THEIR, THEIR REQUESTS WERE JUST SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER, UM, IN TERMS OF LINEAR FOOTAGE AND TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
[01:00:01]
THANK YOU.I HAVE A QUESTION NOW, I'M SORRY.
UM, AND I, I THINK THIS IS AN AUSTIN WATER QUESTION, WHICH IS, IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT PURSUING LIKE IN, IN THIS FORMAT THROUGH THE BETTERMENTS IN PARTNERSHIP THAT WOULD PREVENT AUSTIN WATER FROM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF LIKE THE MORE RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED STATE LEVEL FUNDING MECHANISMS? AND I'M THINKING OF HOW THE LEGISLATURE HAS REALLY SORT OF TAKEN THE ISSUE OF WATER LOSS SERIOUSLY, RIGHT? FIXING PRE-EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE.
IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS THAT WOULD PREVENT AUSTIN WATER FROM USING THOSE OR TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE FUNDS THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT? OR IN, I GUESS IN ADDRESSING SOME OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, PREEXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE? I'LL START BY SAYING THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED, UM, OUR PART OF THE COST OF THIS FOR ANY PARTICULAR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I'LL LET JOSEPH TAKE IT FROM THERE.
JOSEPH GONZALEZ, UH, AUSTIN WATER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS SERVICES, UM, I THINK, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANYTHING PREVENTING US FROM DOING IT.
UM, BUT IF, IF THE REASONS THAT WE ARE, WE'RE MOVING INFRASTRUCTURE IS RELATED TO ANOTHER PROJECT LIKE THIS, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE TAKING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO UPSIZE IT, UM, THERE MAY BE LIMITED APPLICABILITY, UH, AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, REPLACING A LINE TO, TO ADDRESS WATER LOSS SPECIFICALLY OR, OR SOME OF THE, UM, SOME OF THE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT THE STATE IS PRIORITIZING IN TERMS OF THOSE FUNDS.
UM, IT, IT'S A GOOD THOUGHT AND IT'S, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD, WE, WE WOULD LOOK INTO.
UH, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY FROM, FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, STATE WATER FUND AND, AND SOME OF THE, THE NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, THEY'RE REALLY MORE TARGETING, UM, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT OF NEW WATER SOURCES AND, AND, AND EXTENDING WATER SUPPLY.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE WERE TO IDENTIFY ANY OF THESE LINES THAT, THAT WE HAVE HAD WATER LOSS, THERE MIGHT BE SOME APPLICABILITY, BUT, UM, I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE LIMITED AND CHARLES MAY BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW.
I GOT ONE LAST ONE, ONE MORE, AND I'M SO SORRY.
THIS REALLY, I DON'T HAVE ANY AFTER THIS.
UM, YOU MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS A SMALL PORTION OF THE LARGER AMOUNT OF AUSTIN WATER FACILITIES THAT Y'ALL WERE TOUCHING AS A FOLLOW UP.
AND NOT THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE THIS NUMBER NOW, BUT COULD YOU GUYS SHARE WITH US WHAT THAT TOTAL NUMBER IS? YEAH, WE CAN DEFINITELY FOLLOW UP ON WHAT THE QUANTITY IS.
AGAIN, IT WOULD BE ESTIMATED BASED ON THE CURRENT LEVEL OF DESIGN THAT WILL BE REFINED.
BUT, UM, AGAIN, IF YOU, IF YOU WANT TO GET AN EARLY BACK OF HAND, WE HAVE 10 MILES OF CORRIDOR.
GENERALLY ALL OF THOSE CORRIDORS HAVE ONE TO TWO WATER LINES ON THEM, OCCASIONALLY THREE, UM, AND A WASTEWATER LINE.
AND IN SOME LOCALIZED CASES, RECLAIMED THOUGH NOT TOO MUCH.
UM, SO YOU CAN START TO GET A, A DECENT FEEL.
I THINK THAT JUST HELPS PUT THIS NUMBER INTO CONTEXT RIGHT OF, OF THE BIGGER PICTURE AND OBVIOUSLY THE HUGE PICTURE OF THIS PROJECT.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING BACK UP TO FIELD QUESTIONS.
JUST, JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE WELCOME ALL THE QUESTIONS.
WE LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT OUR PROJECTS, SO ABSOLUTELY.
ALRIGHT, IF NO MORE QUESTIONS, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 14? I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 14.
COMMISSIONER TO YOUNG MOTIONS TO APPROVE.
EVERYONE VOTING IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I, AFTER HEARING THE PRESENTATION, THERE WAS A REFERENCE TO THE, UH, DELIVERY PARTNER TEAM.
I, I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF AS A MEMBER OF THAT, SO, OKAY.
I NEED TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING.
SO WE'LL REMOVE THE, THE VOTING AND THEN, UH, COMMISSIONER PENN WILL RECUSE HIMSELF ON THAT.
SO, UH, WE HAVE THE MOTION AND WE HAVE THE SECOND.
SO NOW, UH, EVERYONE VOTING IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THE ITEM IS APPROVED WITH COMMISSIONER PENN RECUSING HIMSELF.
I THINK WE GOT THROUGH THE, THE AUSTIN WATER ACTION ITEMS, I GUESS.
[15. Approve appointment of Chair and Vice Chair for next 12-month term for the Water and Wastewater Commission.]
SO NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 15, WHICH IS,[01:05:01]
UH, APPROVE APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTH TERM FOR THE WATER AND COMMISSION.SO WE CAN TAKE NOMINATIONS, I GUESS, OR, UM, CAN WE JUST EXTEND THE TWO OF YOU?
I MEAN, I KNOW THAT THESE THINGS CAN BE AWKWARD SOMETIMES, SO I WAS GONNA SAY LIKE, I WOULD BE HONORED TO, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER YEAR TO, TO CHAIR THIS COMMISSION AND I WOULD BE HONORED FOR THAT, BUT I DID NOT WANT TO TAKE SOMEONE WHO ELSE WANTS TO POTENTIALLY, UM, CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION.
WELL, I WAS GONNA SAY, DO YOU WANNA NOMINATE THEM THEN? YEAH, I, I'LL NOMINATE, UM, CHRIS TO BE CHAIR AND, UH, MARCELLA TO BE VICE CHAIR.
WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER PANI TO, WE DIDN'T EVEN ASK THE REST OF THOSE.
COMMISSIONER WALSTON CR UM, ANY QUESTIONS OR SINCE YOU'RE, SINCE YOU'RE NOT HERE, UM, SINCE YOU'RE VIRTUAL, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT NO, I'M, I'M ALL SET.
I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE WITH THESE NOMINATIONS.
IN FACT, I'LL SECOND THEM IF YOU'LL ALLOW ME.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER PANI TO EXTEND WELL, NO, I GOT IT.
UM, COMMISSIONER MAXWELL GAINES AS CHAIR AND COMMISSIONER TUON AS VICE CHAIR.
AND WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER WALSTON CROFT.
SO EVERYONE VOTING IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[16. Discussion and possible action: Changing meeting start time from 4:00pm to another time for remaining 2026 Water and Wastewater Commission meetings.]
OKAY.ITEM NUMBER 16 IS A DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON CHANGING OUR MEETING START TIME FROM 4:00 PM TO ANOTHER TIME FOR THE REMAINING COMMISSION MEETINGS OF 2026.
UM, SO THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE PAST AND, UH, SO WE FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
AND, UM, SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, MY PERSONAL OPINION IS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE FIVE O'CLOCK WOULD, YOU KNOW, FIT SOMETIMES BETTER, I THINK FROM MY SCHEDULE POINT OF VIEW, BUT FOUR O'CLOCK, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IS OKAY WITH ME AS WELL, BUT I KNOW I'M FLEXIBLE IN THAT.
BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY NOT GETTING INTO THE SIX, YOU KNOW, HOUR BECAUSE I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS AS WELL.
UM, SO YEAH, SO IF ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER COMMENTS, WELL, JUST FOR ME, SOMETIMES I'M IN COURT UNTIL FIVE O'CLOCK AND I HAVE NO CONTROL OR VISIBILITY IN AS TO HOW LONG I'M GONNA BE IN COURT.
AND SO IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL TO SCHEDULE THIS AFTER THE WORKING DAY.
'CAUSE THEN I KNOW I CAN BE THERE AT FIVE OR 10 MINUTES AFTER FIVE.
ARE THERE OTHER COMMENTS OR STRONG FEELINGS OF A CERTAIN TIME? I WOULDN'T SAY STRONG FEELING OR FOR A CERTAIN TIME BESIDES THE, I THINK THE POINT THAT COMMISSIONER PENANG YOU BROUGHT UP WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR SPEAKERS, FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS TO COME IN, LIKE THEY CAN'T COME IN DURING THE WORKDAY.
UM, OR IT MAY BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO DO THAT.
SO JUST TO CONSIDER THAT AS PART OF THE ITEMS WHEN WE MAKE THE DECISION.
YEAH, I DON'T, UH, I MEAN, I I CAN, WE CAN JUST, UH, TAKE A MOTION FOR, YOU KNOW, FIVE O'CLOCK, YOU KNOW, OR, AND THEN WE CAN VOTE FOR THAT AND THEN WHOEVER DOESN'T, UH, WANT TO APPROVE THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO VOTE.
WELL, I GUESS TO COMMISSIONER MARLO'S COMMENT, DOES IT HAVE TO BE AT THE TOP OF THE HOUR? CAN WE ACTUALLY DO, DO A RANDOM FIVE 15 START TIME, LIKE JUST TO ACCOMMODATE COMMISSIONER MARLO? IS THAT SOME, OR, OR LIKE MY OLD OLD COACHES USED TO DO 5 32 SO THAT YOU'LL REMEMBER TO BE AT THE BUS.
I WAS LEANING MORE TOWARDS THE FIVE 15 TIMEFRAME, BUT WHAT, WELL, FIVE 30, I MEAN, UM, YEAH, I MEAN, AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK WITH AUSTIN'S WATER STAFF, YOU KNOW, IT'S, YOU KNOW, BENEFICIAL FOR Y'ALL 'CAUSE IT'S END THE WORKDAY AND, AND YOU KNOW, BUT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN USED TO DOING THESE COMMISSION MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, WAY AFTER AS WELL.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY Y'ALL WOULD ACCOMMODATE, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT, THAT WE VOTE ON.
UM, SO YEAH, I MEAN, WE DON'T, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TOP OF HOUR.
UM, YEAH, ALL WE CAN DO IS REALLY HAVE A VOTE.
SO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE THE REMAINING MEETINGS TO FIVE 30.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY IF YOU DON'T WANNA VOTE FOR THAT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO VOTE
[01:10:01]
FOR IT.SO DO HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE TO FIVE 30.
I'LL MOVE TO MOVE THE MEETINGS TO FIVE 30.
COMMISSIONER MARLO APPROVES OR MOVES A ACTION ITEM WHO HAVE A SECOND? DO I HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND.
OKAY, SO EVERYONE IN FAVOR OF MOVING TO MEETING TIMES TO FIVE 30.
OKAY, WELL THAT WAS, UH, EASIER MAYBE THAN I THOUGHT.
SO THE VOTE WAS APPROVED TO MOVE THE REMAINING MEETINGS TO FIVE 30 AGAIN MEETINGS.
AND THEN AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, WE WILL VOTE FOR THE NEW MEETING DATES NEXT YEAR, AND THEN WE CAN CHANGE START TIME IF, IF NECESSARY, UM, AT THAT POINT.
[18. Update from the Joint Sustainability Committee March 25, 2026 meeting regarding conservation and sustainability initiatives. – Chair Chris Maxwell-Gaines ]
OKAY, UM, MOVING ON TO THE, UH, COMMITTEE UPDATES AND, UH, SO UPDATE FROM THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, UH, THE MARCH 25TH MEETING, UH, FROM MYSELF AND I FORGOT TO PRINT OUT MY NOTES.AND SO WE HAD TWO UPDATES AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING A LITTLE LONGER, SO I'LL KEEP IT SHORT.
UM, SO THE FIRST UPDATE WAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN PLAN TO TRANSITION TO LOW EMBODIED CARBON CONCRETE.
UM, AND SO, I MEAN, UH, THIS WAS A RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED APRIL 20TH, 2023, UH, FOR CITY OF AUSTIN TO, UM, DEVELOP A PLAN TO PROGRESS TOWARDS LOW EMBODIED CARBON CONCRETE.
UM, SOME NOT, I DON'T THINK PRIVATE PROJECTS APPLICABLE FOR THIS.
UM, AND, UH, PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, CONCRETE TRACKING AND THAT IDENTIFIES HOW MUCH CONCRETE IS BEING USED AND ITS IMPACT ESTABLISH SPECIFICATIONS AND PROVIDE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL ON THE PROGRESS TOWARDS THE OVERALL GOAL.
UM, YEAH, SO WE JUST GOT AN UPDATE ON THE, UH, SOME OF THE CONCRETE AND CEMENT VOLUME TRACKING.
SO LIKE FISCAL YEAR 2023 IS LIKE 499 CUBIC YARDS OF CONCRETE, UH, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 175 MILLION POUNDS OF, UH, CO2, UH, 2024 WENT UP TO 518,000 CUBIC YARDS.
AND THEN 2025 WENT DOWN TO 426,000 CUBIC YARDS.
UH, SO AGAIN, A LOT OF, UH, CARBON IN THAT.
UM, ALSO TOO, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU IMAGINE LIKE A NUTRITION LABEL.
UM, THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE IMPLEMENTED FOR CONCRETE BATCHES, I GUESS IF YOU WANNA CALL IT THAT.
SO THIS IS ALL NEW TO ME PER SE.
SO ANYWAY, SO UPDATE ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN THE OTHER UPDATE WAS ON THE SOLAR ON CITY FACILITIES.
SO THIS IS PART OF THE CLIMATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR 2025 TO 27.
UH, THE GOAL IS TO INSTALL EIGHT MEGAWATTS OF ROOFTOP SOLAR ON CITY FACILITIES, UM, AT A COST OF 22 MILLION.
UM, AND, UH, ESSENTIALLY $28 PER TON OF GREENHOUSE GASES, UH, REDUCED, I GUESS IF YOU DO THE, THE MATH ON THAT.
UH, ANYWAY, SO WE JUST GOT AN UPDATE, UM, AN ERROR AT THE PAR, UH, POINT WHERE THEY ARE SELECTING A VENDOR, UM, FOR THE CONS, YOU KNOW, UH, INSTALLATION OF THE SOLAR ON THE CITY FACILITIES.
AND PREVIOUS TO THIS, THEY HAD ALREADY IDENTIFIED, UH, THE BEST CITY FACILITY BUILDINGS TO DO THAT.
YOU KNOW, THEY WERE, THEY LOOKED AT OVERALL 110 SITES AND THEN NARROWED IT DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS THE MOST OPTIMAL, UH, BUILDINGS FOR, FOR THIS.
SO, UM, YEAH, SO THAT WAS THE TWO UPDATES.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANYONE? SEEING NONE.
UM, SO BEFORE WE GO TO THE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, UM, I WANTED TO SAY THAT YESTERDAY, UH, COMMISSIONER PRAN AND MYSELF HAD THE JOY OF, OF JOINING THE AUSTIN, UH, WATER TEAM AT THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE WALNUT CREEK, UH, WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION PROJECT.
AND, UM, THERE WAS AN AIR OF EXCITEMENT.
IT WAS A REALLY A, A FUN TIME.
AND, UM, MAYOR WATSON WAS THERE.
UM, THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UH, JOHNSON WAS THERE, UM, ALONG WITH A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT I FORGOT WHO THAT WAS, WHO WAS COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN THAT.
AND, UH, AND, AND YES, AND, AND THE VARIOUS STAFF FROM AUSTIN WATER.
SO TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND EPA WERE BOTH THERE AS WELL.
I FORGOT THEIR, FORGOT THEIR NAMES.
AND SO I DIDN'T WANT TO, UM, SO YEAH, SO IT WAS, UH, A, A GREAT EVENT AND UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE, UH, WAS THERE NEWS COVERAGE, UH, WAS GREAT.
AND, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT UH, THIS REVEALED A BUCKET LIST ITEM FOR ME THAT I DID NOT KNOW WAS A BUCKET LIST ITEM AND THAT WAS THE THROW IN THE CEREMONIAL DIRT WITH THE GOLDEN SHOVEL,
[01:15:01]
RIGHT? AND SO WE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT AND AFTERWARDS I WAS LIKE, WOW, THAT WAS A PRETTY AMAZING, UH, EXPERIENCE.AND SO CHECK OFF THE BUCKET LIST ITEM FOR THAT.
SO I DID APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY, YOU KNOW, FOR US TO BE INVOLVED IN IT.
I WAS REALLY GLAD THE MAYOR WAS THERE TO DO THE COUNTDOWN, THE 3, 2, 1 WITH THE SHOVELS.
'CAUSE HE'S DONE MANY MORE GROUNDBREAKINGS THAN ANYBODY ELSE UP THERE, BUT HE IS MUCH MORE EXPERIENCED IN THESE THINGS, RIGHT? SO YEAH, I, I WAS GONNA ADD, I THINK I WAS WAITING FOR THE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS TO MAKE THAT SAME NOTE.
YEAH, I WAS REALLY GONNA SAY IT WAS A GREAT, I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S A HUGE PROJECT FOR AUSTIN WATER, REALLY SPECTACULAR IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THE AMOUNT OF SHOWING THAT IT HAD, AND IN TERMS OF BOTH THE FUNDING AS WELL AS THE CONVERSATIONS THAT IT GENERATED WAS REALLY GOOD.
I WILL ENCOURAGE MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO MAKE FUTURE RIBBON CUTTINGS AND HOLD THE SHOVEL.
NOW, ON A SIDE NOTE, I DID GET TROLLED FOR THAT PICTURE WHERE I WAS HOLDING A SHOVEL, BUT WE WILL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION OFFLINE.
THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T WHERE SO I CAN JOIN THE TROLL YOU NO, IT WAS TROLLED INTERNALLY BY MY TEAM.
IT, IT WAS NOT EXTERNAL TROLLING, IT WAS JUST INTERNAL TROLL.
UH, YEAH, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
UM, YEAH, SO ARE THERE ANY OTHER, UH, ARE THERE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS THAT, JUST A QUESTION.I KNOW THAT, UM, BILL MORIARTY, COMMISSIONER MORIARTY WAS OUR LINK TO WATER FORWARD, AND I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S A FORMER, A FORMAL STRUCTURAL RELATIONSHIP.
DO WE NEED SOMEONE ELSE APPOINTED? HOW DO, HOW, WHAT'S THE RELATIONSHIP LIKE BETWEEN, SO I HAD A MEMBER OF AUSTIN INTEGRATED WATER FORWARD COME TO ME AND WAS ASKING THAT, AND THEN I BELIEVE SHE RESEARCHED IT.
AND THERE IS NOT ANYTHING THAT SAYS THAT THAT COMMITTEE OR TASK FORCE HAS TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM AUSTIN WATER, UH, I'M SORRY, WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, ANY OTHER COMMISSION.
THERE'S, THERE'S NOTHING IN THE BYLAWS.
UM, UH, COMMISSIONER MORIARTY, HE WAS THE MAYOR'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THAT, SO HE WASN'T THE WATER AND WASTEWATER REPRESENTATIVE, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO REPORT BACK TO US.
AND, UM, SO YEAH, SO IT WAS BASICALLY, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ESSENTIALLY, UM, GOING BACK THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO ASK, UM, YOU KNOW, BUT YEAH, THERE'S NOTHING THAT SAYS THAT WE, UM, ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE SOMEONE REPRESENTED ON THAT TASK FORCE, AT LEAST THROUGH THE BYLAWS, THE WAY THEY'RE WRITTEN RIGHT NOW FOR THAT.
SO, WE'LL, YOU KNOW, I I THINK IT'S, IT WAS AN IMPORTANT LINK.
UM, AND SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, YOU KNOW, SHOULD CONSIDER.
AND WHETHER IT'S MAYBE, UM, GOING THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, UM, YOU KNOW, SHE, SHE, SHE SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE I, I COULD CONTACT BILL AND, AND MAYBE, UH, HE COULD BE THE SOMEONE THAT WOULD START OFF THAT PROCESS, YOU KNOW, SINCE HE WOULD BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE MAYOR ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HIS HEALTH SITUATION AND EVERYTHING AND ALL THAT.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT ON THAT.
BUT YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, ALSO TO REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, THAT TASK FORCE IS A, A QUARTERLY, SO WHILE THERE WAS JUST ONE ON TUESDAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A A BIT OF TIME BEFORE YOU KNOW, THE NEXT TASK FORCE MEETING.
SO IT IS, IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S A MONTHLY, UH, MEETING, SO WE WOULDN'T BE MISSING TOO MUCH IF HOPEFULLY BY, UH, THREE MONTHS FROM NOW WE GET POTENTIALLY A REPRESENTATIVE BACK ON THAT TASK FORCE.
OTHER FEATURE AGENDA ITEMS? COMMISSIONER PANGANI, WERE YOU GONNA BRING UP? UM, SOME OF US GOT SOME EMAILS ABOUT THE HANCOCKS.
UM, YEAH, SO I, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FUTURE ITEM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE WE DON'T CLOSE THE MEETING UNTIL THANK, THANK YOU.
WE GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION.
I THINK THIS IS MAINLY, UM, THIS WAST WITH MY DISTRICT, BUT I THINK A COUPLE OF OTHER COMMISSIONERS ALSO GOT IT.
I MEAN, LITERALLY AT THIS POINT I HAVE ABOUT 65 EMAILS, UH, FROM LIKE JUST DIFFERENT NAMES THAT, UH, IS BASICALLY TALKING ABOUT JUST HANCOCKS AND THE WORK.
SO REALLY IF THERE'S ANYTHING AUSTIN WATER IS DOING ON HANCOCKS, WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW NOW THAT I DON'T THINK I'M LOOKING TO RESPOND TO THAT, BUT IT JUST SEEMED REALLY RANDOM AND BIZARRE.
IS THAT KIND OF WHAT I, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, FOR A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM, YOU KNOW, SO IT GIVES AUSTIN WATER TO RESEARCH, UH, MAYBE MORE OF, UH, YOU KNOW, WHERE THESE ARE COMING FROM AND ALSO TO THE SUBSTANCE, UM, THAT WAS IN THOSE, UH, EMAILS.
UM, SO YEAH, I, I, YES, I THINK AS A, A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.
YEAH, I, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A VERY LIKE COMMON ADVOCACY NON-PROFIT TACTIC AND I, I AM A, I'M GENUINELY CURIOUS WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM, BUT I ALSO THINK IT COULD BE REALLY HELPFUL IF AT THE SAME TIME THAT AUSTIN WATER WANTS TO GIVE
[01:20:01]
ANY BRIEFING ON THAT, THAT WE CAN ALSO, I THINK, TALK ABOUT THE ALREADY EXISTING REALLY SUBSTANTIAL WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES THAT, THAT THE CITY UNDERTAKES.I THINK ADDING ON THAT, TO ME, IT COULD BE A SOFTBALL WAY TO ENGAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SAY, THIS IS ALL THE MAINTENANCE WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING, OR, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW THE BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT.
IF THERE WAS AN AGENDA I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND COMING AND I ALSO AM, WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND IN SOME WAY, I REALLY WOULD.
UM, I THINK IF WE SAY WE GOT YOUR EMAIL AND BROUGHT IT TO THE MEETING, I MEAN, EVEN IF IT'S SIMPLE, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT IN A WAY THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO HAVING THE RIGHT CONVERSATION AND ACKNOWLEDGING CITIZENS, EVEN IF THEY'RE DOING IT WITH BOTS ON A WEBSITE.
I MEAN, I'VE USED THOSE BOTS TO ADVOCATE TO MY CONGRESS PEOPLE AND IT MEANS A LOT WHEN THEY WRITE BACK.
SO JUST GETTING SOME ADVICE ON, ON HOW WE WE DO THIS SO THAT, YEAH, NO, I THINK, I THINK THE FUTURE AGENDA ITEM ON THIS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THIS COULD, YOU KNOW, POP UP, YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE, RIGHT? AND SO, YEAH, SO HAVING THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY AS A, YOU KNOW, CITIZEN COMMISSIONER IN THAT, UH, BECAUSE I WAS TELLING SHAY IS LIKE, YEAH, I FEEL LIKE A POLITICAL, YOU KNOW, OFFICE WHERE YOU'RE JUST GETTING INUNDATED WITH THESE, YOU KNOW, COPY PASTING, COPY KIND OF THINGS.
AND SO YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, JUST GOING, HOLY MOLY, WHAT DO WE DO? SO YEAH, I THINK AS A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM TO, YOU KNOW, ALSO INCLUDE WHAT ARE THE, THE PROCEDURES, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD USE AS COMMISSIONERS, UH, FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AS WELL.
WE CAN, UH, WORK WITH YOU CHAIR MAXWELL GAINES ON BEST NEXT STEPS.
UM, SO ANY OTHER BUSINESS? NOPE.
SEEING NONE AND MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 5:26 PM THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.