HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GUS_03.14.2014 Minutes of the Meeting of the
Georgetown Utility Systems Advisory Board and the
Governing Body of the City of Georgetown, Texas
March 14, 2014 at 2:00PM
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Board Members Present: Arthur Yaeger, Bob Kostka, Bill Stump, Ed Pastor, Joyce Mapes, John Hesser
Board Members Absent: Patty Eason
Staff Present: Jim Briggs, Mike Babin, Glenn Dishong, Wesley Wright, Michael Hallmark, Jimmy Sikes,
David Munk, David Thomison, Chris Foster, Sheila Mitchell
Others Present: Ben Lake/Steger & Bizzell, Trae Sutton/KPA
Regular Session
A. Called to Order by Chair, Yaeger at 2:00PM
Georgetown Utility Systems Advisory Board may, at any time, recess the Regular Session to convene an
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.
Yaeger thanked previous board members Robert Young and Brian Lindsey for their service to the Board
and introduced 2 new members, Joyce Mapes and Edward Pastor.
B. Introduction of Visitors -- None
C. Discussion regarding the Project Progress Report, timelines including projects and Council Actions. – Michael
Hallmark, Project Manager
Discussion: All reports included in packets. All items passed at Council. No discussion.
D. Industry Updates
Discussion: Briggs noted increased activities in preparation for the next Legislative Session; committees
preparing preliminary legislation for filing. Regarding the TCEQ process for the Chisholm Trail consolidation,
the next deadline is April 15th for the Executive Director to make a ruling. Approximately 800 comments were
received; approximately 30 were requesting a hearing. If a hearing is called, this will extend into late summer
or early fall. Yaeger reminded board to RSVP to board reception on March 26th.
Legislative Regular Agenda
The Board will individually consider and possibly take action on any or all of the following items:
E. Nominations and election of Vice-Chair of the GUS Board. – Arthur Yaeger, GUS Board Chair
Discussion: Yaeger nominated Kostka for Vice- Chair, seconded by Pastor. Approved 6-0-1 (Eason absent).
Kostka accepted position of Vice-Chair.
F. Nominations and election of Secretary of the GUS Board. – Arthur Yaeger, GUS Board Chair
Discussion: Kostka nominated Mapes, however Mapes declined. Kostka nominated Hesser for Secretary,
seconded by Yaeger. Approved 6-0-1 (Eason absent). Hesser accepted position of Secretary.
G. Review and possible action related to the Day and Time of GUS Board Meetings. – Arthur Yaeger, GUS Board
Chair
Discussion: Yaeger reviewed current date and time of meetings. No further discussion. Motion by Kostka,
seconded by Hesser to approve the Day and Time of Meeting to remain the same; at 2:00PM on the second
Friday of each month with the exception of the December meeting to be held on second Thursday of
December. Approved 6-0-1 (Eason absent)
H. Review and possible action to approve the minutes from the Regular GUS Board meeting held on February 14,
2014. – Sheila K. Mitchell, GUS Board Liaison
Discussion: None. Motion by Hesser, seconded by Stump to approve the minutes from the Regular GUS
Board meeting held on February 14, 2014. Approved 6-0-1 (Eason absent)
I. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve the contract for construction of the Tin Barn
Alley / 17th St / 8th St Pavement and Utility Improvements to Patin Construction, LLC., of Taylor,
Texas for the amount of $882,678.00. - Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering Director/Michael
Hallmark, Project Manager
Discussion: Wright stated project is ready for construction. Was originally a utility project for Tin Barn
Alley and grew to incorporate electric and paving projects in the area. Yaeger asked and Wright further
explained history and location of project for the benefi t of new members. Work will provide conduit to
facilitate electric when funding available. Lumped projects together for a competitive bid. Patin has done
work for us in past and performed well. Kostka stated this was the first he remembered seeing the
engineer’s estimate included in the bid. Hallmark and Wright explained we try and include those costs if
available at time of board review; this cost was for engineer design work of packaging quotes . Kostka
asked what you would do if only one bid received and Wright responded if bid was competitive then staff
would bring forward to board. If bid not competitive and funds not in budget, then bids would be sent out
for re-bid. Sometimes companies bid out to stay active and meet requirements of their bonding co mpany.
Pastor asked and Wright noted completion date of 150 days; will start after Red Poppy Festival and
contractor should be able to make timeline. Stump asked about depth of trench and Hallmark noted 3-7
feet depending on electric needs. Pastor commented about natural springs under Palace and Hallmark felt
we would not trench that deep. Motion by Kostka, seconded by Hesser to approve the contract for
construction of the Tin Barn Alley / 17th St / 8th St Pavement and Utility Improvements to Patin
Construction, LLC., of Taylor, Texas for the amount of $882,678.00. Approved 6-0-1 (Eason absent)
Yaeger asked staff to introduce themselves for benefit of new board members – introductions around the
room. Ben Lake of Steger & Bizzell introduced himself, stating they were engineer of the Tin Barn Alley
project.
J. Consideration and possible recommendation to award the contract for construction of the Park Lift
Station and Miscellaneous Lift Station Improvements to Central Road and Utility of Austin, Texas in
the amount of $492,000.00.- Wesley Wright, P.E., Director of Engineering / Michael Hallmark, Project
Manager
Discussion: Wright updated on CIP plan for upgrades of lift stations to be compliant with TCEQ
requirements. This year’s major plant upgrade is Park Lift Station serving San Gabriel Wastewater
Treatment Plant. Four additional smaller lift stations are included. Motion by Kostka, seconded by Hesser
to award the contract for construction of the Park Lift Station and Miscellaneous Lift Station
Improvements to Central Road and Utility of Austin, Texas in the amount of $492,000.00.
Approved 6-0-1 (Eason absent)
K. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve a contract for construction of the Solid
Waste Public Drop Facility to BPI-Bauerle Partners, Inc., of Lakeway, Texas in the amount of
$184,125.80. -- Wesley Wright, P.E., Director of Engineering / Michael Hallmark, Project Manager
Discussion: Wright stated a Steger & Bizzell designed project. Wright referred to pictures in packet and
explained current facility and how it has fatigued over the years thus the need for redesign. Funds are
available in budget. No interruption of service to accommodate the public. TDS has been working close
with City on design of project. Kostka asked and Wright described concrete retaining wall being built.
Hesser asked length of wall; Wright noted approximately four dumpsters wide. Lake clarified
approximately 8 feet wide and approximately 8-9 feet high. Pastor asked about debris around current
containers (in pictures included in packet). Wright explained TDS will work through this process, noting
the re-design will take care of a lot of these issues and grounds will look much cleaner. Motion by Pastor,
seconded by Mapes to approve a contract for construction of the Solid Waste Public Drop Facility
to BPI-Bauerle Partners, Inc., of Lakeway, Texas in the amount of $184,125.80. Approved 6-0-1
(Eason absent)
L. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve a Task Order KPA-14-005 with Kasberg,
Patrick & Associates, LP of Georgetown, Texas, for professional services related to Edwards Aquifer
Recharge Zone Rehabilitation 2013-14 in the amount of $284,540.00. – Wesley Wright, P.E., Director
of Engineering / Michael Hallmark, Project Manager
Discussion: Wright explained EARZ and details of the project, to bring the new board members up to date.
Funds will become available for the construction work in the CIP Budget in October. This request is for the
design of construction work and funds are available in current budget. Pastor asked and Wright explained
process and materials used for replacing pipe and considerations taken during design work. Motion by
Hesser, seconded by Kostka to approve a Task Order KPA-14-005 with Kasberg, Patrick &
Associates, LP of Georgetown, Texas, for professional services related to Edwards Aquifer
Recharge Zone Rehabilitation 2013-14 in the amount of $284,540.00. Approved 6-0-1 (Eason absent)
M. Consideration and possible recommendation to award a bid to Power Line Services of Houston,
Texas in the amount of $203,294.52 for labor associated with the 2014 Electric System Overhead
Construction and Maintenance Projects. -- Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering Director and
Jim Ward, Electric Planning Supervisor
Discussion: Wright explained electric moving forward with multiple projects noting staff is not able to
construct all projects in-house. Staff feels it best to bid some work out and package together for competitive
bids. City provides all materials and contractor does labor work for us. Projects included in labor bid are
FM1460 Road Widening, Vine Street Reconductor and Tie, Georgetown East 60 Feeder Conversion. Yaeger
asked and Wright stated he did not think City has used this contactor before, however, McCord
Engineering, our contracted electrical engineering firm, has used them and received good service. Pastor
asked and Wright explained estimate process, stating this labor bid was a lump sum estimate instead of a
line item breakdown. Hesser asked and Wright explained how this is different than the Techline labor
agreement and why we’re not using them for this job. Techline chose three of the six projects proposed,
therefore, these three were bid out. Techline felt all six projects would be too large of a volume of work for
the one crew they have assigned to the City. Wes explained which 3 projects were given to Techline for this
year. Additional discussion continued. Kostka asked why projects were not bid independently and Wright
explained staff felt it would be a more attractive package for an electrical contractor than individual
projects. Briggs further commented on how this can affect receiving competitive bids. Discussion continued
about variances in bids and reasons for higher costs of materials in electric vs. water lines. Motion by
Hesser, seconded by Pastor to award a bid to Power Line Services of Houston, Texas in the amount
of $203,294.52 for labor associated with the 2014 Electric System Overhead Construction and
Maintenance Projects. Approved 6-0-1 (Eason absent)
Yaeger encouraged board members to attend the upcoming Board and Commissions reception for outgoing and
incoming board members. He noted the absence of board member Eason.
Adjournment
Motion by Kostka, seconded by Hesser to adjourn. Approved 6-0-1 (Eason absent). Adjourned at 2:42PM
Approved: Attested:
_________________________ ____________________________
Arthur Yaeger – Board Chair John Hesser – Secretary
_____________________________
Sheila K. Mitchell, GUS Board Liaison