HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GUS_10.13.2017Minutes of the Meeting of the
Georgetown Utility Systems Advisory Board and the
Governing Body of the City of Georgetown, Texas
October 13, 2017 at 2:00 PM
at Georgetown Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Avenue, Georgetown, TX
The City of Georgetown is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA). If you require assistance in participating at a public meeting due to a disability, as
defined under the ADA, reasonable assistance, adaptations, or accommodations will be
provided upon request. Please contact the City Secretary's Office, at least three (3) days prior to
the scheduled meeting date, at (512) 930-3652 or City Hall at 113 East 8th Street for additional
information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711.
Board Members Present: Mike Cunningham — Chair, John Copelan — Vice Chair, Joyce
Mapes — Secretary, Steve Fought, Buddy Yeager, David Maserang
Board Members Absent: Ed Wiley
Staff Members Present: Mike Babin, Jana Kern, Glenn Dishong, Wes Wright, Michael
Hallmark, Chris Foster, David Thomison
Others Present: Gary Newman — Developer, John Linder — Walker Partners
Regular Session
(This Regular Session may, at any time, be recessed to convene an Executive Session for any
purpose authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code 551.)
A Call to Order — called to order by Mr. Cunningham at 2:OOPM
The Board may, at any time, recess the Regular Session to convene in Executive Session at
the request of the Chair, a Board Member, the City Manager, Assistant City Manager,
General Manager of Utilities, City Council Member, or legal counsel for any purpose
authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551, and are
subject to action in the Regular Session that follows.
B Introduction of Visitors
Employee Recognition
-- none submitted at time of posting
Mr. Cunningham made a comment on how great the city employees are. Especially the
response during the storm.
C October 2017 GUS Updates and Council Action
— Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering Director/Michael Hallmark, CIP Manager.
Wright gave project updates to the Board.
D Industry Updates
Babin stated that TCEQ has an irrigation advisory committee made up with members that
are state licensed irrigators. This committee has put forward a proposal to TCEQ to change
the rating for irrigation backflow devices. If this proposal is accepted it will mean that there
will be annual inspections. Babin is not sure that this will come to fruition. Babin does not
feel that this will have an effect on the City because for the last year we have a complete
overhaul of our backflow devices. Also, the inspection of the devices will be done by a third
party. A statement was made that this seems like a work for nothing. Babin stated that there
has been some studies showing that it can siphon back into the system, but we feel the risk
is low.
On the Electric Side - There was an article in the American Statesman about a white paper
that was submitted by NRG and another party, to ERCOT proposing changes to the rules on
transmission rates. They were looking to utilize resources that are further away from the
load which they are providing today.
There have been a number of press releases about Power Plants being decommissioned or
retiring. One in particular, Luminant, announced they will be retiring the Monticello Power
Plant, which is a coal fueled power plant and approximately 1,800MW of power will be
taken offline. Luminant will also be closing its Sanpower Plant, in Milam County, and Big
Brown Power Plant in Freestone county. Both of these are also coal fueled power plants. In
total, approximately 2,300MW of nameplate power will be taken offline.
Legislative Regular Agenda
E Review and possible action to approve the minutes from the regular GUS Board meeting
held on September 8, 2017. - Sheila K. Mitchell, GUS Board Liaison
Motion by Yaeger second by Copelan to approve the minutes as presented.
Approved 6-0-1 (Wiley absent)
F Consideration and possible recommendation to approve the purchase of sewer inspection
camera system's Envirosight from Green Equipment Co., Inc., of Fort Worth, TX, in the
amount of $147,000.00. - David W. Thomison, Water Services Manager/Glenn W.
Dishong, Utility Director
Thomison explained the EARZ rules of the TCEQ that requires the testing of wastewater
collection system mains once every five years. This testing is to locate structur -5-ma&
and defects that could pose a threat to the aquifer. The current camera systems have reached
their end of life and some of the technology is no longer supported and the utility is unable
to meet its regulatory obligations. Motion by Mapes second by Yaeger to approve the
purchase of sewer inspection camera system's Envirosight from Green Equipment Co.,
Inc., of Fort Worth, TX, in the amount of $147,000.00. Approved 6-0-1 (Wiley absent)
G Consideration and possible recommendation to approve a contract with Elster Solutions,
LLC "Honeywell" to provide Energy Axis AMI water modules and related items for the
Advance Metering Infrastructure system in the estimated amount of $415,000.00. - David
Thomison Water Services Manager/Glenn Dishong Utility Director
Thomison was asking the Board for approval to purchase Honeywell water modules and
related items for a one year initial term with four annual extension options. These items will
be purchased on an as needed basis. Asked and answered the city will be purchasing the
transmitter receivers and registers. Motion by Maserang second by Mapes to approve a
contract with Elster Solutions, LLC "Honeywell" to provide Energy Axis AMI water
modules and related items for the Advance Metering Infrastructure system in the estimated
amount of $415,000.00. Approved 6-0-1 (Wiley absent)
H Consideration and possible recommendation to approve Task Order CDM -18-001 with
CDM Smith, Inc. of Austin, Texas, for professional services to renew the wastewater
treatment plant permits in the amount of $81,500.00 - David W. Thomison, Water Services
Manager/Glenn W. Dishong, Utility Director
Thomison explained to the Board that our four wastewater treatment plant's permits will
expire on December 1, 2018. TCEQ requests that all permit renewal applications be
submitted no later than June 1, 2018 based on their permit expiration dates. Motion by
Yaeger second by Copelan to approve Task Order CDM -18-001 with CDM Smith, Inc. of
Austin, Texas, for professional services to renew the wastewater treatment plant permits in
the amount of $81,500.00. Approved 6-0-1 (Wiley absent)
Discussion and possible recommendation to procure consulting services with Neil
McAndrews and Associates for Resource Price Risk Management. — Chris Foster, Manager
of Resource Planning and Integration
Foster stated this is the annual contract with Neil McAndrews for electric consulting work
we do for wholesale price — risk management. McAndrews has been the electric portfolio
consultant since 1998. City staff is proposing to continue Neil McAndrews duties, as well
as represent GUS in the CRP market, QSE analysis, daily market bids, etc. Two concerns
were brought up by the Board: 1) The depth of the office — it appears that we are depending
on maybe three or four people to do complex, fast paced, and reasonable consequences of
error. 2) The city does not have contracts with other people to buy our excess power, we
sell it directly into market. Is the city going to look into these two concerns? Foster
answered by saying that the city is actively looking where the city can sell excess power.
What the city does not have is a marketing team that goes out soliciting people to buy our
excess power. For the concern about depth — We have one analyst position that has been
frozen for some time — there is no further plan to add staff. Motion by Copelan second by
Yaeger to procure consulting services with Neil McAndrews and Associates for Resource
Price Risk Management in the amount not to exceed $150,000.00. Approved 6-0-1 (Wiley
absent)
J Consideration and possible recommendation to award a contract to E.J. Chris Contracting,
Inc. of Live Oak, Texas for the rehabilitation of the Airport Reuse Water Ground Storage
Tank in the amount of $417,000.00 — Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering
Director/Michael Hallmark, CIP Manager.
Wright stated the tank is located on the northwest side of Airport Road. It primarily
provided gray water to Sun City for use on open spaces and golf courses. This work will
include repairing corroded metal and repainting/coating both inside and outside of the tank.
Motion by Copelan second by Mapes to award a contract to E.J. Chris Contracting, Inc.
of Live Oak, Texas for the rehabilitation of the Airport Reuse Water Ground Storage Tank
in the amount of $417,000.00. Approved 6-0-1 (Wiley absent)
Mr. Yeager left the meeting at 2: 31 PM.
K Consideration and possible recommendation to award a contract for the Edwards Aquifer
Recharge Zone (EARZ) Wastewater System Rehabilitation 2017 to PM Construction &
Rehab, LLC of Pasadena, TX in the amount of $260,875.00 — Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems
Engineering Director/Michael Hallmark, CIP Manager.
Wright stated EARZ is an ongoing project. TCEQ requires all wastewater lines over EARZ
be tested in a five year period.
Mr. Yeager returned to the meeting at 2: 34PM.
Data is collected and sent to a consultant to analyze and prepare engineering drawings for
areas that have known deficiencies. Motion by Copelan second by Mapes to award a
contract for the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone (EARZ) Wastewater System Rehabilitation
2017 to PM Construction & Rehab, LLC of Pasadena, TX in the amount of $260,875.00.
Approved 6-0-1 (Wiley absent)
L Consideration and possible recommendation on Task Order WPL-18-001 with Walker
Partners, LLC of Austin, TX in the amount of $1,551,075.00 for professional engineering
services related to the Berry Creek Interceptor - Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering
Director
Wright gave a presentation showing how the Berry Creek Interceptor (BCI) will ultimately
be connecting Sun City to the Pecan Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant east of HWY 130.
This will be approximately a 4 mile line. The task order will provide route study analysis,
detailed field survey — including trees, full design, detailed environmental analysis —
Phase 1, geological, cultural, wetland, and waters of the US assessments, as well as bidding
and construction support. Motion by Maserang second by Copelan to approve Task
Order WPL-18-001 with Walker Partners, LLC of Austin, TX in the amount of
$1,551,075.00 for professional engineering services related to the Berry Creek Interceptor.
Approved 6-0-1 (Wiley absent)
M Consideration and possible recommendation on Task Order TCI -18-001 to Terracon
Consultants, Inc. of Austin, TX in the amount of $98,000.00 for geotechnical engineering
services related to the Berry Creek Interceptor - Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering
Director
Wright informed the Board the task order number in the caption was incorrect. It should be
Task Order TCI 18-003. Terracon will come in and put 25 to 40 foot deep bores to see what
the soil looks like and in 7 of those holes they will put ground water monitors to judge the
flow of the ground water. This is an important step to complete the environmental study.
Motion by Yaeger second by Copelan to approve Task Order TCI -18-003 to Terracon
Consultants, Inc. of Austin, TX in the amount of $98,000.00 for geotechnical engineering
services related to the Berry Creek Interceptor. Approved 6-0-1 (Wiley absent)
Adjournment
Motion by Fought second by Copelan to adjourn meeting. Approved 6-0-1 (Wiley absent).
141,I
Joyco Mapes — gecretary
,17
Sheila K. tchell, GUS oard Liaison