HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GTWU 01.2021Georgetown Water Utilities Advisory Board
January 14, 2021
Board Members Present: Stuart Garner, Vice Chair; Scott Macmurdo, Steve Fought, (joined
the meeting at 2:21 PM), Michael Morrison
Board Members Absent: Thomas Glab; Board Chair
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; Mike Welch, Treatment and Regulatory
Manager; Michael Hallmark. CIP Manager; Chris Pousson, Project Manager; Mayra Cantu,
Management Analyst; Cindy Popisil, Customer Care Manager; Katherine Clayton, Budget
Analyst; Tina Davis, Board Liaison
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 Vice Chair at 2:00 PM
After the meeting was called to order Wright stated he would like to provide follow up
and clarification on a Board Members participation on an item they have recused
themself from. It was clarified with Legal, any Member recusing themself from an item
may not participate in any discussion or vote on the item.
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.Review and possible action to approve the minutes from November, 2020
meeting. Davis states recording from November meeting no longer available
to transcribe meeting outside of Directors Report. There is a record of votes
on each item. Motion to approve minutes by Morrison, Seconded by
Macmurdo. 3-0-2 (Glab absent, Fought not present for this vote-logged in at
2:21 PM)
D.Monthly report from Water Utility Directors -Utility Directors gave department
updates: Jones (Customer Care) reports additional 414, residential customers,
collecting over 77% of advanced meter infrastructure (AMI), 23 % of automated
City of Georgetown, Texas
Georgetown Water Utility Board Meeting
Minutes
Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.
Virtual
Georgetown Water Utilities Advisory Board
January 14, 2021
meter readings (AMR). Average Water Bill FY2020 $43.51, FY2021 residential is
$55.78, all customers $63.69. Aged Receivables report for Water AR shows decrease
because Blanchard Water Contract was billed back in October. They changed which
part of their company was making payments. Took awhile for Customer Care to get
the billing to the right people after updating records. Payments were made in
December resulting in receivables being lower. Morrison asked for clarification on
dates for FY2020-FY2021. Jones states, FY runs from October 1st – September 30th.
FY2020 is October 2019 - September 2020. FY 2021 is October 1st, 2020 - September,
2021. Finance; Wallace reports FY2020 4th Quarter Financial Report is preliminary
and unaudited. Currently going through external auditing process with outside
firm. City as a whole and Water Fund ending FY2020 in strong financial condition
due to many uncertainties we’ve experienced. Water experiences a lot of growth in
our service territory. Overall revenue for the FY totaled $98 million or 115.2 % of
budget. Total Operating Revenue totals, $88 million or 116% of budget. Year to date
expenses in the Water Fund total $64.5 million or 43% of budget. Capital Recovery
Fees finished 8% higher than budget or projection. Operating expenditures, $45
million or 92% of budget. The return on investment totaled $815K. Non operating
revenues, (bond proceeds) are about $9.3 million, sale of assets $735. Non operating
expenditures, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) $13 million or 13% of budget.
Approximately $86 million rolled from FY2020 to FY2021 for CIP projects.
Discussion on incumbered revenue and status of AA minus combines ratings for
Water and Electric. Wallace states City of Georgetown did not seek new rating, will
in the future. Operations; Solomon reports peak day productions for 2020 was 42.87
million gallons in August compared to 2019, it was 41.7 million. Peak day
production for December was 30 million. Wastewater capacity is 8.5 with an annual
production of 5.4. Solomon states Dove Springs had an agreed order and had three
months in which it had violations. The violations will cost approximately $7K.
Morrison asked what the total flow capacity of Dove Springs is. Welch answers, dry
weather 1.3. Macmurdo asked if there were any downstream impacts to learn from.
Welch confirms we did not pollute the stream. Morrison asked how long it took to
accrue the fine. Welch says it is a one-time administrative fine. Solomon says our
legal team thinks it’s best to do the improvements, pay the fine and move on. No
further discussion on agreed order. Solomon says we will be taking a contract to
Council. City of Leander had a catastrophic failure at their intake structure, causing
them to lose intake flow to their Water Treatment Plant. We have a connection point
near HWY 29 and Ronald Reagan where we can feed them water. Rancho Sienna
use to be ours until we transferred the customers to Leander earlier this year. The
contract will last 100 days. Not an action item, will take emergency contract to
Council. Systems Engineering; Wright states he will talk more about CIP Projects in
March/April timeframe. One being the potential improvements at Dove Springs. On
design at Cimarron Hills WWTP Expansion, Berry Creek Interceptor and San
Gabriel Interceptor. In design at South Lake Water Treatment Plant. Approximately
30% into project. Could be bid in 2021 or early 2022. One easement to get foe Shell
Road Waterline. Possible bid this spring. In Design on South Lake WTP. We are 30%
on it. Could bid 2021, early 2022. One easement left to get for Shell Road Waterline.
Georgetown Water Utilities Advisory Board
January 14, 2021
Plans to bring to bid this Spring. Hoover Pump Station was put on hold when
COVID hit, hopes to bring this to bid it this spring or early summer. Need to do
pilot study on Southside WTP Rehab. Will update Board in monthly Directors
Report. Design completed on Lakeway Blvd 16” water lime. Construction phase,
San Gabriel Park Lift station underway. San Gabriel WWTP did major CIP work.
working great. Southwest Bypass Waterline, work will get started this week.
Northlake Pump Station moving along well. Pumps are on the way. Pre-con
scheduled next week for Northlake Pump Station. Cunningham ready to get on site.
Hope to have it ready in 2023.
E.At time of posting, no one signed up to speak on an item.
F.Consideration and recommendation to approve and award a contract for the
construction of the Leander Water Connection Improvements Project to Joe Bland
Construction, LP of Austin, TX, in the amount of $290,500.00 -- Wesley Wright, P.E.,
Systems Engineering Director / Michael Hallmark, CIP Manager. Wright states we
entered into a contract with Leander to take peak demand water in the summer of
3 million gallons a day to give us time to get South Plant up and running. To make
inner connect we need to install a mechanically controlled butterfly valve, check
valve and a meter. The low bidder (Legion Development) is capable but they did
not meet our bid specs. (to have experience working over the Edwards Aquifer) Joe
Bland is 2nd lowest bidder. Wright agreed to work with Legion Development to give
them the opportunity to get Edwards Aquifer experience. work with the City for
experience. Legal recommends we award bid to Joe Bland. The price is about $ 9K
more. Discussion on future qualifications needed. Motion to approve
recommendation to award Joe Bland Construction as stated by Morrison, Seconded
by Macmurdo. 4-0-1 (Glab absent)
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn by Macmurdo, Seconded by Morrison. The meeting adjourned at 3:06 PM
Thomas Glab, Chair Secretary
Board Liaison
Thomas Glab Scott Macmurdo