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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes_GTWU_04.08.2021Georgetown Water utility Advisory Board Meeting April 8, 2021 Board Members Present: Thomas Glab; Board Chair, Scott Macmurdo, Steve Fought, Michael Morrison Absent: Stuart Garner Staff Members Present: Laurie Brewer, Assistant City Manager; Chelsea Solomon, Director of Water Utilities; Leticia Zavala Jones, Customer Care Director; Wesley Wright, System Engineering Director; Leigh Wallace, Finance Director; Elaine Wilson, Assistant Finance Director; David Thomison, Water Services Manager; Mike Welch, Treatment and Regulatory Manager; Mayra Cantu, Management Analyst; Chris Pousson, CIP Manager; Cindy Popisil, Customer Care Manager; Mike Maldonado, Meter Services Manager; Tina Davis, Board Liaison Guest: Trae Sutton 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 - Meeting was called to order by Chair at 2:05 PM B. Virtual conference instructions, to include options for public comments and how the public may address the Commission – Chelsea Solomon - Solomon explained the participation process for the public (no one signed up to speak) and the Board, everyone must state name before speaking, Chair will do roll call for votes by name) No further questions or discussion. C. Monthly report from Water Utility Directors - Utility Directors give department updates: Zivala Jones-Just under 400 new residential and non-residential customers combined Water Billing Collection is 77% advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and Automated Meter Reading (AMR) is 23%, rate increase change in January 2021-average water bill in Marc for residential is $37.46, all customers is $52.97, collected just under $4k in accounts receivable. by continuing disconnects for non-payments, reduced sewer accounts receivables by approximately $12K. Brief discussion on timeframe of FY 2020. Leigh – will present final comprehensive audit to Council April 13th. Overall net position City of Georgetown, Texas Georgetown Water Utility Board Meeting Minutes Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Teleconference Georgetown Water utility Advisory Board Meeting April 8, 2021 increased by $111million from 2019 to 2020; total net position is $983 million. Water fund net position increased $54.4 million to a total of $418.6 million, includes net operating income of $2.6 million, capital contributions of $31.2 million. Glab asked for name of auditors -Weaver answered Weaver and Tidwell. Debt Portfolio Update-March 23rd Council approved a $48 million tax-backed instrument for unbudgeted energy cost from winter storm, Council approved selling $16.3 million of debt for water capital projects this spring as self- supporting CO’s, sale takes place May 11th. Brief discussion of self-supporting debt. 2021 First Quarter Report-total budget for revenue for Water is $82.8 million, 58% of budgeted charges for service come from Water: $32.2 million, Wastewater: $14.2 million, Irrigation: $300 thousand, Impact Fees: 21.3%, Bond proceeds total 16.3 million or 18.5%; water charges revenue up 11% compared to FY 2020 first quarter. Morrison suggest footnotes, Wallace agrees for future reports. Overall City and Water funds are doing well. Brief discussion on how a surplus is handled at the end of the year. Solomon reports Operations-water system rated capacity 44.13, peak day production is 23.36 million gallons (*554%), wastewater is holding at 5.4 million gallons. Summer and conservation-work in winter to prepare for summer peak demand usage, peaks July and August, 97% usage 3 days in a row is trigger for drought contingency plan. No watering Mondays allows system to recover. Conservation is cheapest resource in State water plan, impacts resources and system capacity. Goal is 120 GPCD. Conservation strategies; we have rebate incentive programs with about $300 thousand. Encourage customers to make their yards more efficient by converting some irrigation to drip, hand-held or smart controllers, customers can be sign up for aqua alerts to be notified of water usage. FY2020 distributed $211 thousand for the program. To date as of January, we have distributed about $50K. Brief discussion on potable water. Current Ordinance requirements regarding soil depth and irrigated area adopted in 2014-min. 6” for soil dept, max. irrigated area of 10,000 sq. ft. or 2.5 X building footprint; whichever is smaller, two-day watering schedule adopted in 2019. New water rates went into effect January 1, 2021. Water use ordinances allows for administrative penalties for non-compliance. Customers can waive first violation by taking a conservation class. Preparing for summer 2021 drought contingency plan phase 1-no watering between noon and 7:00 PM. BRA has issued a stage 1 drought watch for Lake Georgetown. Brief discussion on how the information gets out to the community about rebates and incentive programs available. City plans to be more aggressive on getting the word out via social media, Community Impact and HOA’s. Wright reports; Design Wastewater-Cimarron Hills WWTP Expansion-Developer obligation that the City is doing because it’s an expansion of an existing facility, next year will see $4 million line item, Berry Creek Interceptor, design complete, 13 easements to get, 1/3 closed and secure, 1/3 close to being secured and 1/3 working to secure. Not much focus on San Gabriel Interceptor currently. Design Water-South Lake Water Treatment Plant-under design-completed two day meeting to go over 60% design phase, looking at about $100 million, 3 years to Georgetown Water utility Advisory Board Meeting April 8, 2021 construct, likely going to bid before the end of this year. Shell Road Waterline-still working easements, has development interest in this area, Hoover Pump Station, Linework and Tank-deep in design, actively working with land owner to secure site for pump station. Southside WTP-loss some capacity with inability of replacing membrane filters. Will move ahead with pilot study this summer. Currently working on foundation. Lakeway Blvd, 16” waterline is in and operational. Construction Wastewater; EARZ-Wright clarified TCEQ tracking comes from the annual sanitary overflow report from the City. Brief discussion on SSO term. Thomison states, time frame for SSO is eight years, currently past the 8 years but working on another agreement. San Gabriel Park Lift Station-expansion underway, expected to turn over to operation late summer. San Gabriel Belt Press and Capital Maintenance, work complete. Infrastructure operational. Construction Water-Southwest Bypass Waterline-progress going well, expect to drop off updates soon. Northlake Pump Station, delivered to Solomon in June for operation, Treatment Plant Expansion, Cunningham Construction is on site and mobilized, plan to complete summer 2022. D. Public Wishing to Address the Board - no one signed up to speak at this meeting Regular Agenda E. Review and possible action to approve the minutes from March 11, 2021. Motion to approve March minutes by Morrison, seconded by Glab; 4-0-0 (Garner absent) F. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve a contract amendment with Bruce Flanigan Construction, Inc. of Belton, Texas for the relocating and lowering of two (2) existing waterlines that cross Hwy 183 in the amount of $195,389.60 - Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering Director- Wright asking to change order the Southwest Bypass Waterline. Flanigan Construction currently installing 24 inch waterline from HWY 29 to Leander Rd. TX DOT is widening HWY 183 north of Liberty Hill, north of HWY 29 to move our water lines that are in the way of their active project. Glab asked if TX DOT reimburse for utility relocating, Wright answered, TX DOT not consistent with reimbursements. Brief discussion on change order. Motion to approve change order-contract amendment as stated in caption by Macmurdo, seconded by Morrison. Approved 4-0-0 (Garner absent) G. Consideration and possible action to award a contract to CFG Industries, LLC. of Magnolia, TX for the rehabilitation of the Southside Clearwell Roof Replacement and Rehab project for the base bid in the amount of $547,000.00. - Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering Director- Water Treatment Plant located on Austin Ave. south of Leander Rd.in need of repair Plan to finish foundation work this spring. With Board and Council approval, will have contractor order materials and begin roof replacement after foundation work Georgetown Water utility Advisory Board Meeting April 8, 2021 complete. Two bids, $547,000.00 and $745, 000.00. Motion to approve contract by Morrison, seconded by Glab, Approved 4-0-0 (Garner absent) H. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve a Consulting Services Contract with NewGen Strategies and Solutions to conduct a study related to a water rate study and model deliverable in an amount not to exceed $131,600 – Chelsea Solomon, Water Utility Director – Rate study in 2020, or residential and wastewater. Rates went into effect January 1, 2021. Will do another rate study this summer to look at the cost of service for Commercial and Impact Fee Review. Will do rate study summer of 2022 to make sure measures taken result in what is intended. Of 3 proposals submitted, 2 firms were interviewed week of 3/22, estimate awarding contract on 4/27. Brief discussion on City Ordinances and sewer variables. Motion by Morrison to recommend NewGen Strategies and Solutions for Council approval to conduct a rate study, seconded by Glab, Approved 4-0-0 (Garner absent) Adjournment Motion to adjourn by Glab, seconded by Morrison at approximately 4:06 PM. Approved 4-0-0 (Garner absent) Thomas Glab, Chair Secretary Board Liaison