HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GUS_02.08.2019Minutes of the Meeting of the
Georgetown Utility Systems Advisory Board and the
Governing Body of the City of Georgetown, Texas
February 8, 2019 at 2:OOPM
at Georgetown Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Avenue, Georgetown, TX
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Board Members Present: Mike Cunningham - Chair, John Copelan - Vice Chair, Edward Wiley
- Secretary, David Maserang, Ed Pastor, Arthur Yaeger, Steve Fought
Board Members Absent: None
Staff Members Present: Jim Briggs, Mike Babin, Glenn Dishong, Wesley Wright, Leticia Zavala,
Chris Foster, Michael Hallmark, Bill Cardwell, James Foutz, Emily Koontz for Sheila Mitchell
Others Present: none
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 Chair at 2:00 PM
The 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.
B. Introduction of Visitors -- none
Employee Recognition — Dishong recognized a new supervisor. Internal candidate, Bill Cardwell, has
been promoted to Water Services Supervisor. Cardwell has been with the city for approximately 5
years and is well deserving of his promotion. Copelan recognized and thanked Yaeger and
Cunningham who are departing the board.
C. February 2019 GUS Project Updates and January Council Action
Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering Director/Michael Hallmark, CIP Manager
Wright gave updates on all projects included in packet. Cunningham remarked that he really liked
the work done by CB&I out in Sun City with the new elevated storage tank (EST). Maserang asked
and Hallmark replied that Sun City tank should come on line around the end of April. Copelan asked
and Hallmark responded the work going on near Hwy29 and DB Wood is Round Rock moving its
waterline. Copelan asked and Wright responded that DB Woods is not currently going to be rerouted
and the current project is focused on making it wider. Future plans for DB Woods will be considered
by the city's Transportation Advisory Board and Council.
D. Water Conservation Plan Update and Presentation — James Foutz, Marketing and Conservation
Manager.
Foutz gave presentation on water conservation and drought contingency plans, implementation and
tracking plans as well as Ordinance requirements. He noted the water conservation plans are
required to be reviewed every five years and reported back to TCEQ and the Water Development
Board; last one was 2014. Copelan asked and Foutz responded that the GPCD (gallons per capita per
day) counts both residential and commercial usage. Copelan asked and Foutz confirmed that Council
approval will be needed for proposed plans and Ordinances. Cunningham asked and Foutz
responded that we want to be able to communicate a similar message as Brazos River Authority
regarding contingency plans. Pastor asked and Foutz responded that the city's rain water program is
a rebate program for water barrels. Pastor asked and Foutz replied that there are requirements for
minimum soil depth and what types of grass; this is required by Ordinance. It is enforced by the
inspectors and plan and irrigation systems are also reviewed by inspectors. Copelan mentioned that
there is still much watering going on during winter months and there needs to be more
communication about turning off watering devices during this time. Zavala said they could
implement more targeted communications. Fought stated that it would be helpful if the new system
was able to inform people about when their water was still on.
E. Industry Updates
Briggs spoke on reworking the intake structure on which divers have already found zebra mussels.
The city is working on mitigation measures to prevent the mussels from attaching themselves. Wiley
asked and Briggs responded that they are using chemical injections along the structure. Briggs talked
about mussel population and where they originated from. Copelan asked and Briggs responded that
Texas Parks and Wildlife has been attempting to convey the seriousness of ships carrying these
mussels from place to place. Pastor asked and Briggs replied that the mussels cannot get through the
plant so they would not end up in elevated storage tanks. Briggs provided the board members with a
handout on the projected summer 2019 capacity demand electric reserves, per reports from the TPPA
Winter Board meeting. Briggs reminded the board that the 2018 projections did not materialize.
Briggs explains that the report shows that there is projected 8.1 percent margin, which says there is a
significant risk to have possible brownouts or roiling curtailments during the summer due to
availability. The PUC Chair has invited generators from across ERCOT to meet and discuss plans for
generation and transmission maintenance schedules and preparation for the summer season. Briggs
reviewed additional information. No further discussion.
Legislative Regular Agenda
The Board will individually consider and possibly take action on any or all of the following items:
F. Review and possible action to approve the minutes from the regular GUS Board meeting held on
January 11, 2019. — Sheila K. Mitchell, GUS Board Liaison (Koontz filling in for Mitchell)
No discussion. Motion by Copelan, seconded by Pastor to approve the minutes from the regular
GUS Board meeting held on January 11, 2019. Approved 7-0-0
G. Consideration and possible recommendation to award a bid to Prota Construction Inc. & Prota Inc.,
JV. of Austin, Texas in the amount of $2,936,000.00. — Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering
Director/Michael Hallmark, CIP Manager
Wright provided information on the 24 -inch waterline to Pastor Pump Station to meet demands in
the Western District in the SH -29 and Ronald Reagan area. This line is needed to move water to the
Western District. Terms in the contract have delivery before the end of May. A total of 9 bids were
received. Prota has done good work for the city in the past. Pastor remarked that there were many
caves in that area. Wright responded that there was mitigation in the bids for caves they've run into.
Cunningham asked and Wright responded that the bid came in right at what they expected. Motion
by Pastor, seconded by Copelan to award a bid to Prota Construction Inc. & Prota Inc., JV. of Austin,
Texas in the amount of $2,936,000.00. Approved 7-0-0
Adjournment
M6tion by, Fought, seconded by Wiley to a irn. Adjourned at 3:12 PM
Mike Cunninghamit Edward Wiley -- Secre
Emily Koontz/Fod Sheila Mi chef , GUS Board Liaison