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Minutes of the Meeting of the
Georgetown Utility System Advisory Board
and the Governing Body of the
City of Georgetown, Texas
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Georgetown Utility System Advisory Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Tuesday ,
April 21, 2009.
Board Members Present:
Patty Eason, John Nett, Richard Lenning - Secretary, Stephen Quinn, Temple Page
Board Members Absent:
Bill Sattler - Chair, Fred Beach- Vice Chair
Staff Present:
Paul E. Brandenburg, Jim Briggs, Jana Kern, Tom Benz, Micki Rundell, Rachel Osgood, Elizabeth Cook,
Laurie Brewer, Chris Foster, Jimmy Sikes, Paul Elkins, Marsha Iwers, Glenn Dishong, Kathy Ragsdale,
Leticia Zavala, Walter Koopmann, Peggy Leatherman, Ken Arnold,
OTHERS PRESENT:
Rex Stuart - Citizen, Ercel Brashear, Verna Browning - TDS
Minutes
Regular Meeting
With the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair, Mr. Richard Lenning - Secretary of the GUS Board, called
the regular GUS Board meeting to order on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 2: 11 p.m.
Per the GUS Board Bylaws Section 4.8 - a chair will be elected for this meeting.
Action: Motion by Nett, seconded by Eason to select Richard Lenning as acting chair for the GUS Board
meeting held on Tuesday, April 21, 2009.
Approved 5-0-2 (Bill Sattler & Fred Beach absent)
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, 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.
Public Wishing to Address the Board
Mr. Rex Stuart, of Texas Traditions Subdivision, will address the Board regarding flat rate sewer
charges and water base rate charges.
Mr. Stuart addressed the Board concerning the wastewater rates and water rates. He also stated
that he has present this to City Council when he first moved here in 2007. What was discussed was the
comparison to the consumption method to the flat rate of today. There was lengt hy
discussion and many questions. The Board and staff asked Mr. Stuart to give them time to
research and asked if he would be willing to come back to the June GUS Board Meeting. Mr. Stuart
agreed.
I. Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes from the regular GUS Board meeting
held on March 17, 2009. -- Jana Kern
Discussion: None
Action: Motion by Quinn seconded by Eason to approve minutes as presented.
Approved 5-0-2 (Sattler & Beach absent)
II. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve a Master Services Agreement with
Prime Controls, LP of Lewisville, Texas, for professional engineering services related to Supervisory
Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and control systems. -- Tom Benz
Discussion: Benz stated that he had listen to the minutes from the last meeting and answered the
question the were raised at that time.
Action: Motion by Quinn seconded by Nett to approve a Master Services Agreement with Prime
Controls, LP for professional engineering services related to Supervisory Control and Data
Acquisition (SCADA) and control systems.
Approved 5-0-2 (Sattler & Beach absent)
III. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve Task Order No. HCI -09-001 with Haynie
Consulting, Inc., of Round Rock , Texas, for professional services, related to 2006 Annexation in the
amount of $301,905.00. -- Tom Benz
Discussion: Benz stated that as part of the 2006 annexation service plan, the City is required to
extend utilities to several properties by the year 2011. Haynie Consulting and Steger Bizzell will be
responsible for the final design phase, bidding & construction phase. Haynie Consulting will be
responsible for the East side of IH 35 and Steger Bizzell will be responsible for the west side of IH 35.
The Program Manager for the 2006 Annexation project will be Camp, Dresser & McKee (CDM). CDM
will monitor the design work, bidding and contract management.
Action: Motion by Page, seconded by Nett to approve Task Order No. HCI-09-001 with Haynie
Consulting, Inc., for professional services, related to 2006 Annexation in the amount of $301,905.00.
Approved 5-0-2 (Sattler & Beach absent)
IV. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve Task Order No. SBE -09-003 with Steger
and Bizzell., of Georgetown, Texas, for professional services, related to 2006 Annexation in the
amount of $275,000.00. --Tom Benz
Discussion: Benz stated that as part of the 2006 annexation service plan, the City is required to
extend utilities to several properties by the year 2011. Haynie Consulting and Steger Bizzell will be
responsible for the final design phase, bidding & construction phase. Haynie Consulting will be
responsible for the East side of IH 35 and Steger Bizzell will be responsible for the west side of IH 35.
The Program Manager for the 2006 Annexation project will be Camp, Dresser & McKee (CD M). CDM
will monitor the design work, bidding and contract management.
Action: Motion by Nett, seconded by Quinn to approve Task Order No. SBE -09-003 with Steger and
Bizzell for professional services, related to 2006 Annexation in the amount of $275,000 .00.
Approved 5-0-2 (Sattler & Beach absent)
V. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve a franchise agreement with Consolidated
Construction Texas Services (CCTS) to provide lumber recycling within the City's limits and its ETJ. --
Rachel Osgood
Discussion: Osgood stated that in November 2008 Mr. Jason Chavez, of CCTS, requested from City
Council the opportunity to be more activly engaged in site clean up for residential construction. This is
for recyclable lumber which means raw scrap lumber from the job site that is free of trash, dirt, nails
or other debris. Question was asked what would happen with the lumber. Osgood stated that there
were a couple of options; one being it could be grinded on site and turned into mulch, or CCTS could
contract with a separate company and they could come and haul it off.
Action: Motion by Quinn, seconded by Page, to approve a franchise agreement with Consolidated
Construction Texas Services (CCTS) to provide lumber recycling within the City's limits and its ETJ.
Approved 5-0-2 (Sattler & Beach absent)
VI. Discussion and possible recommendation regarding an amendment to the Water Conservation
Plan including updates to the Drought Contingency Plan and Water Rates Schedule. -- Glenn
Dishong
Discussion: Dishong stated that the City conducted a water conservat ion pilot study during the
summer of 2008. The study also assessed the impact of feedback on water use. The study was
completed in December 2008 with the compilation of data from a survey from the pilot participants.
The customer surveys, usage data, regulatory bodies, and prudent management indicate the need to
update the Water Conservation Plan. The updated plan will require City Council approval by
resolution as well as amendment to two ordinances regarding the Drought Contingency Plan and
Water Rates. Below are the recommended changes to the Water Conservation Plan include:
1) Adoption of a 160 gal per capita goal
2) Implementation of customer usage feedback
3) Amendment of the water rates schedule to:
a) Expand the conservation rate period to May to November billings
b) Change the break point for the first rate tier from 19,000 gallons to 9,000 gallons
c) Apply conservation rates to small commercial customers
d) Set a commercial potable irrigation only rate equal to the second rate tier
e) Set the non-potable irrigation rates to cover cost
4) Amendment of the Drought Contingency Plan to:
a) Implement a three day per week irrigation schedule on Phase I
b) Implement a two day per week irrigation schedule on Phase II
c) Implement a one day per week irrigation schedule on Phase III
5) Implement a Water Conservation Specialist position for customer outreach
Action: Motion by Eason, seconded by Nett to approve an amendment to the Water Conservation
Plan including updates to the Drought Contingency Plan and Water Rates Schedule.
Approved 5-0-2 (Sattler & Beach absent)
VII. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve a contract with West Monroe Partners,
Inc. for the development of a grant application for the purpose of securing federal funds from the
Department of Energy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for the
CIS/AMI project. -- Micki Rundell
Discussion: Rundell stated that staff is requesting an approval of contract with West Monroe, Inc. to
assist in the creation of the Smart Grid grant request with the U.S. Dept. of Energy for funding
assistance for the overall AMI/CIS replacement project.
Action: Motion by Page, seconded by Quinn to approve a contract with West Monroe Partners, Inc.
for the development of a grant application for the purpose of securing federal funds from the
Department of Energy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for the
CIS/AMI project.
Approved 5-0-2 (Sattler & Beach absent)
Moved to Item "I"
VIII. Consideration and Discussion on the formation and transition of Georgetown Utility Systems
into an Independent and Autonomous Utility Board. -- Jim Briggs
Discussion: Briggs updated the board on the formation of an independent & autonomous utility
board.
Action: None
Moved to Item "J"
IX. Consideration and possible recommendation on proposed revisions to the City's development
related fee structure. -- Micki Rundell
Discussion: Rundell/Brewer gave a power point presentation to the Board. There was a lengthy
discussion on fees, timing etc.
Action: Staff to bring this item back to the May 2009 GUS Board meeting.
Approved 5-0-2 (Sattler & Beach absent)
Moved to Item "H"
X. Discussion and possible action regarding the Project Progress Report and timelines -- Michael
Hallmark/Tom Benz.
Park WTP Clearwell, 4th Pump at Leander Pump Station, Escalera Elevated Water Storage Tank
Rock Street WW Extension, SG3-A, SG-P1, 16” Irrigation Water Line & Irrigation Pump Station
Improvements
San Gabriel WWTP Wet Weather & Irrigation Water Improvements, 2006 Annexation, EARZ Phase 5.
Discussion: Benz stated that there were no significant changes and if any one had any questions he
would answer them. Page stated that he drove by the Escale ra Water Tank and the City must be
pleased with the work that was done there, it is very impressive.
Action: None
Motion by Quinn, seconded by Nett that Item"K" is a competitive matter under Sec.551.086 .
Approved 5-0-2 (Sattler & Beach absent)
Moved into Executive Session at 5:38 p.m.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
XI. Sec.551.086 Competitive Matters
The GUS Board will go into Executive Session under Chapter 551 of the Texas Government
Code to discuss matters or take action on a"competitive matter" of the Energy Services
Department as provided under Section 551.086
- Energy Costs and update on prices for 2009. -- Jim Briggs
- Update and status report on Energy Above the Capped Load of our Wholesale Power Agreement
with LCRA. -- Jim Briggs
RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION @ 6:03 p.m.
XII. Action from Executive Session if necessary
No Action was needed from Executive Session.
XIII. Discussion and possible action related to the May 19, 2009 GUS Board Meeting. -- Jim Briggs
Discussion: Briggs stated that due to staffing conflicts, staff would like to move the May 19, 2009
meeting to May 22, 2009 and change the time to 9:30 a.m.
Action: Motion by Nett, seconded by Quinn to move the May 19, 2009 GUS Board meeting to May 22,
2009 at 9:30 a.m.
Approved 5-0-2 (Sattler & Beach absent)
Motion by Quinn, seconded by Nett to adjourn
Approved 5-0-2 (Sattler & Beach absent)
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 06:05 PM.
Approved : Attest:
_______________________ ________________________
Richard Lenning - Acting Chair Richard Lenning - Secretary