WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.720 Okay, it's 902 and we do have a quorum, so we're called to order the Public Utility Board 00:00:06.720 --> 00:00:10.480 meeting for the City of Denton on March 8, 2021. 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:13.800 The first item is public comment. 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:17.120 Do we have anyone on the phone waiting to have public comment? 00:00:17.120 --> 00:00:19.880 Hi there, this is Tyler Smith. 00:00:19.880 --> 00:00:21.440 At this moment, we do not. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:22.440 Okay. 00:00:22.440 --> 00:00:23.440 All right. 00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:26.440 Then we will move on to consent agenda. 00:00:26.440 --> 00:00:30.960 Does any board member wish to pull an item from the consent agenda? 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:33.400 Okay, I do. 00:00:33.400 --> 00:00:40.560 I'm going to pull item C. I have a potential conflict of interest, so I'll step out when 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:42.520 we get to that point. 00:00:42.520 --> 00:00:48.480 Do we have a motion to approve items A, B, D, and E? 00:00:48.480 --> 00:00:49.480 Move approval. 00:00:49.480 --> 00:00:50.480 Second. 00:00:50.480 --> 00:00:52.840 All in favor, say aye. 00:00:52.840 --> 00:00:53.840 Aye. 00:00:53.840 --> 00:00:54.840 Aye. 00:00:54.840 --> 00:00:56.480 All right, Billy, it's all yours. 00:00:56.480 --> 00:00:57.480 Text me when you're done. 00:00:57.480 --> 00:00:58.480 I will do. 00:00:58.480 --> 00:00:59.480 All right. 00:00:59.480 --> 00:01:07.400 Well, Susan's stepping out, and as the vice chair, we're looking at consent agenda item 00:01:07.400 --> 00:01:10.080 C. Are there any questions? 00:01:10.080 --> 00:01:15.920 We may like to discuss anything about this. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:17.560 I have one question. 00:01:17.560 --> 00:01:18.560 Oops. 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:22.360 I'm new to the board, so I just wanted to ask. 00:01:22.360 --> 00:01:28.560 I presume this has already been discussed in past public utility board meetings. 00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:35.960 So, Mr. Rybeck, I'm Tony Punt, I'm the executive manager of utilities and the facilitator for 00:01:35.960 --> 00:01:40.800 the PUB and staff, and so I'm going to ask Pritam Deshmuth in our water/wastewater department 00:01:40.800 --> 00:01:42.760 to respond to that question. 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:43.760 Okay. 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:44.760 Thank you. 00:01:44.760 --> 00:01:45.760 Since I'm new, I just wanted to ask. 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:46.760 Appreciate it. 00:01:46.760 --> 00:01:51.400 Hi, this is Pritam Deshmuth, deputy director of water and wastewater. 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:53.000 Can you please repeat the question? 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:56.840 I've kind of heard part of it. 00:01:56.840 --> 00:02:02.520 I was just asking if the board had previously considered this since this is my first meeting. 00:02:02.520 --> 00:02:05.200 Not this particular item. 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:06.800 This is a decommissioning. 00:02:06.800 --> 00:02:10.520 It's for design of the actual plant. 00:02:10.520 --> 00:02:15.600 We have a 0.5MGD plant out on ropes and ranch. 00:02:15.600 --> 00:02:19.520 This item, particularly for design, has not gone through the board. 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:20.520 Okay. 00:02:20.520 --> 00:02:24.320 Well, I live at ropes and ranch, so I need to recuse myself. 00:02:24.320 --> 00:02:30.920 Tony, or I think Ms. Susan, she's on the board there, right? 00:02:30.920 --> 00:02:32.760 Is that why she's recusing herself? 00:02:32.760 --> 00:02:38.720 Yeah, I'm not really sure what the matter is there, to be honest with you. 00:02:38.720 --> 00:02:43.720 I don't think living in an area causes you not to be able to vote. 00:02:43.720 --> 00:02:44.720 I think that'll... 00:02:44.720 --> 00:02:50.000 I'll see if Catherine Clifton can respond to that. 00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:56.040 That's something that you might want to consider, but that's within your judgment to make. 00:02:56.040 --> 00:03:02.360 Okay, so if I don't vote, will we not have a quorum to approve the item? 00:03:02.360 --> 00:03:07.640 It appears to me that you'll still have four, so you'll still have a quorum. 00:03:07.640 --> 00:03:12.760 Okay, then I think I'll recuse myself from this vote as well. 00:03:12.760 --> 00:03:13.760 Okay. 00:03:13.760 --> 00:03:19.200 Is there any further discussions from other board members? 00:03:19.200 --> 00:03:20.200 No. 00:03:20.200 --> 00:03:21.200 Okay. 00:03:21.200 --> 00:03:29.920 After we take this vote, quick discussion about that recusal, if you don't mind. 00:03:29.920 --> 00:03:35.120 I entertain a motion to approve item number C on the consent agenda. 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:36.120 So moved. 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:37.120 Second. 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:39.840 We have a motion from Karen, a second from Barbara. 00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:42.600 All those in favor, please say aye. 00:03:42.600 --> 00:03:43.600 Aye. 00:03:43.600 --> 00:03:44.600 Aye. 00:03:44.600 --> 00:03:45.600 Aye. 00:03:45.600 --> 00:03:46.600 Any opposed? 00:03:46.600 --> 00:03:51.520 It's four to oh on that one, with two abstaining. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:59.120 I think if each one of us had to recuse ourselves over anything that affected us from a utility, 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:00.800 none of us would vote. 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:02.960 So that's my opinion. 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:03.960 If you felt like... 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:12.720 I think Lee's new, so let me text Susan. 00:04:12.720 --> 00:04:18.520 I just think we're all affected by rates, we're all affected by water flow, sewer flow, 00:04:18.520 --> 00:04:21.640 drainage, electrical. 00:04:21.640 --> 00:04:28.400 So unless you have a direct interest or a direct effect on what happens in that vote, 00:04:28.400 --> 00:04:29.400 I don't see the reason. 00:04:29.400 --> 00:04:33.120 I'd be surprised if there would be some sort of conflict. 00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:36.600 Susan, are you on the board of Robeson? 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:38.640 I'm actually employed by Robeson. 00:04:38.640 --> 00:04:39.640 Okay. 00:04:39.640 --> 00:04:41.440 See, that's a good recusal. 00:04:41.440 --> 00:04:42.440 Yeah. 00:04:42.440 --> 00:04:43.440 I'm actually... 00:04:43.440 --> 00:04:50.960 The legal entity is Robeson Communities, but they're all under the same larger umbrella. 00:04:50.960 --> 00:04:54.040 Okay. 00:04:54.040 --> 00:05:02.720 I would think that there would have to be an adequate financial interest for recusal. 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:08.520 So for instance, if I was a consultant to the engineering firm that's being awarded 00:05:08.520 --> 00:05:13.280 the contract under this item, then that would be the kind of thing. 00:05:13.280 --> 00:05:14.280 Okay. 00:05:14.280 --> 00:05:23.640 I think in the rewritten ethics ordinance, there's a set financial number. 00:05:23.640 --> 00:05:26.600 $600, I believe it is. 00:05:26.600 --> 00:05:27.600 That's correct. 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:28.600 Yeah. 00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:30.000 Yes, I remember reading that. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:31.000 Right. 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:36.040 The other component is just, is there an appearance of conflict? 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:41.080 This other kind of catch-all provision where you have to make that determination for yourself. 00:05:41.080 --> 00:05:45.640 That's not something that we give any particular direction on. 00:05:45.640 --> 00:05:50.080 And that's where I said, I think maybe I should just step out on this one so that there isn't 00:05:50.080 --> 00:05:55.960 an appearance because a lot of people don't know the difference. 00:05:55.960 --> 00:05:57.960 Hand it back over to you. 00:05:57.960 --> 00:05:58.960 Okay. 00:05:58.960 --> 00:05:59.960 Hand it back over to me. 00:05:59.960 --> 00:06:00.960 Okay. 00:06:00.960 --> 00:06:03.800 Items for individual consideration. 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:11.740 Are there any changes to the February board minutes, February 8th, 2021 board minutes? 00:06:11.740 --> 00:06:13.760 All right. 00:06:13.760 --> 00:06:15.120 Do we have a motion to approve? 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:16.120 So moved. 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:17.120 And a second? 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:18.120 I'll second. 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:19.120 All in favor say aye. 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:20.120 Aye. 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:21.120 Okay. 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:30.880 Next item is consider adopting an ordinance for the city of Denton, Texas, a professional 00:06:30.880 --> 00:06:35.920 services agreement with Fries and Nichols Inc. for engineering related on-call professional 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:51.560 services in the amount of not for three years, not to exceed $3,031,783. 00:06:51.560 --> 00:06:52.560 I'm back here. 00:06:52.560 --> 00:07:12.000 Pretend they smoke again and let me give me a second, I'll pull up the presentation. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:17.480 Please let me know when you can see the presentation and I move forward. 00:07:17.480 --> 00:07:19.360 Okay. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:26.680 So it's a professional services contract, quick overview. 00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:33.080 The objective behind this particular contract is we are seeing a lot of growth in the city 00:07:33.080 --> 00:07:42.240 and we have to continue at a fast pace implementing some of our water and wastewater capacity 00:07:42.240 --> 00:07:50.240 enhancement and upgrading for the entire infrastructure, not just the pipes in the ground, but also 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:55.600 the treatment facilities, both on the water and wastewater side. 00:07:55.600 --> 00:08:03.120 The reason I did allude to that high growth rate, we are growing at a much faster pace 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:08.640 and we have a lot of backlog on projects that we have to quickly complete in the next two 00:08:08.640 --> 00:08:10.440 to three years. 00:08:10.440 --> 00:08:14.800 So this contract will help augment our staff. 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:20.360 It is primarily for project management, pushing some of these projects through. 00:08:20.360 --> 00:08:26.120 And it's critical that we get these move forward in a timely fashion. 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:34.280 Here's a quick list of projects that it is not necessarily all of these projects or some 00:08:34.280 --> 00:08:39.720 of these projects may drop out, but definitely these are projects are currently on our books. 00:08:39.720 --> 00:08:46.440 There are several others, but what we want is have the ability and flexibility to add 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:48.160 more capacity to our staff. 00:08:48.160 --> 00:08:53.840 We currently have only one engineer that was involved in delivering capital projects on 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:56.360 the treatment facility side. 00:08:56.360 --> 00:09:01.520 So a lot of bandwidth issues there with the staff. 00:09:01.520 --> 00:09:04.080 And that's the reason this contract is in front of you. 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:09.840 And there are several large projects, if I may kind of highlight, there's a Mayhill 35 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:15.240 utility relocation based on the widening of I-35E. 00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:21.880 By tech start, there was another larger project, I-35 North, that's from the split to Milam. 00:09:21.880 --> 00:09:24.160 That's a 30 plus million dollar project. 00:09:24.160 --> 00:09:30.160 So you can see there are several large projects and we necessarily don't have staff to move 00:09:30.160 --> 00:09:32.000 these projects forward. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:38.360 A little bit of detail on this, I want to explain what the differences, the Lakeview 00:09:38.360 --> 00:09:44.080 Ranch Interceptor and then the Robeson Decommissioning, those were in front of you earlier today. 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:47.480 The contracts were just only for design. 00:09:47.480 --> 00:09:53.280 This particular is staff augmentation to push those projects, to manage them, to process 00:09:53.280 --> 00:09:58.120 invoices, help us review engineering design and stuff like that. 00:09:58.120 --> 00:10:00.520 So there's a little bit of nuance. 00:10:00.520 --> 00:10:04.000 I'm sure you must have caught onto that. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:08.880 So we went through a process of selecting and short listing firms. 00:10:08.880 --> 00:10:10.440 We had a pre-qualified list. 00:10:10.440 --> 00:10:16.720 This is 6590, you might have heard that number multiple times. 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:22.320 It was back in 2018, about three years ago, that we went through council and a formal 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:24.600 approval process. 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:30.680 And out of that, five firms were shortlisted for the project management piece of it. 00:10:30.680 --> 00:10:38.160 We've ranked those firms and we have selected, or at this point recommending, Fries and Nichols 00:10:38.160 --> 00:10:42.600 as the highest ranked firm for this particular item. 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:50.200 So at this time, staff does recommend moving forward and ask the PV members and the commission 00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:54.960 to recommend council for approval of this particular contract. 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:57.360 It's a three-year contract. 00:10:57.360 --> 00:11:04.440 And then it's capped at $3 million, a little over that. 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:07.680 I will be happy to answer any questions if you have. 00:11:07.680 --> 00:11:08.680 Questions? 00:11:08.680 --> 00:11:10.720 Yes, Ed, go ahead. 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:17.940 Yeah, I was just curious if in the future the city has any plans to hire any more engineering 00:11:17.940 --> 00:11:24.480 staff so that we're not so shortlisted in that area. 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:25.720 Absolutely. 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:27.240 I think this is our first step. 00:11:27.240 --> 00:11:34.640 We want to make sure that we have a consistent 10-year CIP and master plans that back all 00:11:34.640 --> 00:11:35.680 of that. 00:11:35.680 --> 00:11:42.280 So as we move into that transition, we don't want to hire someone and in a few years then 00:11:42.280 --> 00:11:45.620 think that we don't have the need for what we thought we had. 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:50.240 So as a first step, we're going to have a consultant and consistently track that work 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:52.240 over the next year or so. 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:56.720 And then accordingly make recommendations to move forward and hire permanent staff that 00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:57.720 will be required. 00:11:57.720 --> 00:11:58.720 Great. 00:11:58.720 --> 00:11:59.720 Thank you very much. 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:01.240 And add all that to that. 00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:06.520 We had at least one vacancy that we were attempting to fill and really had a hard time finding 00:12:06.520 --> 00:12:11.040 applicants that kind of believe it even in this job market. 00:12:11.040 --> 00:12:12.040 We looked at different options. 00:12:12.040 --> 00:12:17.320 And I think at this point, this is kind of the route that we'd like we'd recommend. 00:12:17.320 --> 00:12:21.320 And then certainly we'll be looking at that as the job market continues to improve. 00:12:21.320 --> 00:12:26.700 But for now, we just need this additional help to get these projects going. 00:12:26.700 --> 00:12:27.700 Thank you, Tony. 00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:29.760 Barbara, did you have a question? 00:12:29.760 --> 00:12:30.760 Well, I did. 00:12:30.760 --> 00:12:33.760 And I found it in my notes. 00:12:33.760 --> 00:12:42.760 An hourly this would be an hourly way it would be charged, yeah. 00:12:42.760 --> 00:12:43.760 All right. 00:12:43.760 --> 00:12:44.760 Thank you. 00:12:44.760 --> 00:12:45.760 No other questions. 00:12:45.760 --> 00:12:46.760 Do we have a motion to approve? 00:12:46.760 --> 00:12:47.760 Move approval. 00:12:47.760 --> 00:12:48.760 Second. 00:12:48.760 --> 00:12:49.760 Okay. 00:12:49.760 --> 00:12:50.880 I hope Kim got all that. 00:12:50.880 --> 00:12:52.440 All in favor say aye. 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:53.440 Aye. 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:54.440 Opposed? 00:12:54.440 --> 00:12:55.440 All right. 00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:56.440 Management reports. 00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:57.440 Tony. 00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:58.440 So again, this is Tony. 00:12:58.440 --> 00:13:08.320 I'm an executive manager of utilities, before we get into this item, I just wanted to just 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:11.960 communicate something to the board. 00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:15.760 So many of these items that are on here, and certainly if you have questions about these 00:13:15.760 --> 00:13:22.360 items, their staff here that can respond to each of those items, I want to be clear that 00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:27.680 our process and certainly our preference is that these items not go to the council before 00:13:27.680 --> 00:13:29.760 they're seen by the PUB. 00:13:29.760 --> 00:13:34.440 But unfortunately, just because of the recent events that we had, I did communicate with 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:40.600 Susan and we talked about canceling the previous PUB meeting. 00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:45.880 And then I did inform her that we would be looking at the agenda and that there might 00:13:45.880 --> 00:13:50.400 be some contracts that we would have to take directly to council just because of their 00:13:50.400 --> 00:13:57.080 nature and the need to have them approved so that projects and other efforts could continue. 00:13:57.080 --> 00:14:02.820 What Susan and I then subsequently discussed is that, you know, it probably made sense 00:14:02.820 --> 00:14:08.720 for me to communicate that to the board rather than her because of some of the Open Meeting 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:09.720 Act rules. 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:14.880 And so going forward, I just want to assure the PUB that when those types of issues come 00:14:14.880 --> 00:14:20.080 up, I will normally speak with Susan as the chair of the PUB. 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:25.960 I will make every attempt as well to communicate with Billy Cheek as the vice chair. 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:30.080 But then going forward, what I'll do is I'll then communicate that to the PUB as well to 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:33.960 all the other members to let you know what's going on with the meeting, why we arrived 00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:37.680 at canceling the meeting, and if there are any contracts that will be going straight 00:14:37.680 --> 00:14:43.520 to the council as a result of those discussions, that I will communicate that to you. 00:14:43.520 --> 00:14:46.620 And so that's something, again, that Susan and I did talk. 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:51.280 But again, just wanted to give you that explanation and let you know as well that as issues come 00:14:51.280 --> 00:14:58.720 up, and if certainly like three weeks ago, just know that I'm in constant communication 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:04.440 with the chair about what's going on and responding to her on any questions that she or you might 00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:05.440 have. 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:07.920 So, again, just wanted to let you know that. 00:15:07.920 --> 00:15:12.520 But again, we have a number of items here. 00:15:12.520 --> 00:15:16.440 If anyone has a question about any of those items, please let us know. 00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:20.640 And like I said, there's ample amount of staff here. 00:15:20.640 --> 00:15:26.000 On the future agenda items, I think we just had the really our intent was to come back 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:32.560 to you and kind of give you a wrap-up of where we ended the budget with the utilities, specifically 00:15:32.560 --> 00:15:33.880 DME. 00:15:33.880 --> 00:15:39.120 But as a result of the events of three weeks ago, we're pushing that back and do plan to 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:45.640 come back to you and give you some additional information about how we -- where we ended 00:15:45.640 --> 00:15:51.560 up the '19-'20 budget, but then also kind of let you know where we're at for the current 00:15:51.560 --> 00:15:53.240 year's budget and obviously the forecast. 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:55.480 And so that will be forthcoming to you. 00:15:55.480 --> 00:15:59.880 And then the new business action items, as you can see on there, are just items that 00:15:59.880 --> 00:16:02.280 we've had already on the table. 00:16:02.280 --> 00:16:06.760 The one item that I did not add, and my hope is that you have already received, is that 00:16:06.760 --> 00:16:11.940 we are planning to have a joint PUB and council meeting on the 23rd. 00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:16.080 And so that's already in the works and being scheduled. 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:23.120 Two presentations will be made at that meeting will be an update from DME on the winter storm 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:27.800 events, which will probably take us some time, and then the other one will be an update for 00:16:27.800 --> 00:16:30.320 water and wastewater to do exactly the same. 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:34.480 And again, that'll be a joint council and PUB meeting. 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:38.440 And again, the agenda and those types of things will be forthcoming to you. 00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:42.800 Like I mentioned earlier, for those of you that weren't on, if you have specific questions 00:16:42.800 --> 00:16:49.120 about those utilities, please send those directly to Kim. 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:54.160 My request to you is to send us all your questions all at once so that we're not piecemealing 00:16:54.160 --> 00:16:55.160 them. 00:16:55.160 --> 00:17:01.040 And then our intent would be to either incorporate responses to your questions within the presentations 00:17:01.040 --> 00:17:07.600 or to have a separate memo that's attached to that agenda item that addresses those specific 00:17:07.600 --> 00:17:08.600 questions. 00:17:08.600 --> 00:17:12.540 And that way we have a little bit of time so that we can get those together. 00:17:12.540 --> 00:17:17.100 If you can get those to me by the middle of this week, it would be very helpful. 00:17:17.100 --> 00:17:19.880 And then we will compile those along with any questions that we get from the council 00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:21.360 as well. 00:17:21.360 --> 00:17:24.640 But with that, I'll go ahead, Susan, that's what I have. 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:27.880 If there's any questions, let us know. 00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:28.880 Questions. 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:33.500 Karen, go ahead. 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:40.140 This is pretty minor and I don't want staff taking time away from the storm related stuff. 00:17:40.140 --> 00:17:48.980 A while ago, I brought up with Larry the fact that we're approving minutes as the state 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:53.960 record for our meetings, but the real state record is going to be the video now that we're 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:56.280 doing, I think. 00:17:56.280 --> 00:17:57.280 Didn't he change that? 00:17:57.280 --> 00:17:58.280 I believe. 00:17:58.280 --> 00:18:00.840 Well, he said he was going to look into it. 00:18:00.840 --> 00:18:06.680 I thought he circled back and said the, am I wrong there? 00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:08.640 Well, I missed one meeting. 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:09.640 So maybe that... 00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:10.640 Okay. 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:14.240 I think at that meeting, he circled back, maybe Catherine, can you shed some light on 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:19.600 that and said that the written ones are the official document, but we keep the video. 00:18:19.600 --> 00:18:20.600 Okay. 00:18:20.600 --> 00:18:27.640 So if the written ones are the official document, I would like them to be more extensive. 00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:32.560 Right now, it says so and so asked a question, so and so answered it. 00:18:32.560 --> 00:18:37.120 If that's going to be the official document, then we need to know what the question is 00:18:37.120 --> 00:18:39.020 and what the answer was. 00:18:39.020 --> 00:18:43.840 And I know that's going to be bringing more work on staff, but it just seems like the 00:18:43.840 --> 00:18:50.920 minutes as they are now are not fulfilling their job as the record of the meeting. 00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:57.440 And I think, Karen, that my recollection is that Larry put a memo together. 00:18:57.440 --> 00:19:02.520 Let us circle back up on that to make sure, and then we can kind of share that with Catherine, 00:19:02.520 --> 00:19:05.000 unless Catherine, you remember that memo and you can respond. 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:08.240 I do not remember that off the top of my head. 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:13.760 I do remember some discussions about it, but we'll get that memo and provide that for you. 00:19:13.760 --> 00:19:14.760 I mean, I know that... 00:19:14.760 --> 00:19:19.760 We track that under new business action items so that we can keep track of it. 00:19:19.760 --> 00:19:20.760 Okay. 00:19:20.760 --> 00:19:21.760 We can add it on there. 00:19:21.760 --> 00:19:23.080 Yeah. 00:19:23.080 --> 00:19:27.840 I know that people can go to the video, but there's not going to be the attention paid 00:19:27.840 --> 00:19:34.600 to preserving the video as an archive, if it's not the required record. 00:19:34.600 --> 00:19:42.000 Catherine, correct me again, but aren't they... 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:51.160 You're keeping them in forever, the video, under the records law, records management? 00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:56.280 Sorry, circle back. 00:19:56.280 --> 00:19:57.280 Thanks. 00:19:57.280 --> 00:20:00.840 Okay, Seb, go ahead. 00:20:00.840 --> 00:20:06.280 Yeah, I had a question for Tony. 00:20:06.280 --> 00:20:13.640 I was just curious if there were any updates coming up in the future regarding the development 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:18.080 of the high BTU landfill facility. 00:20:18.080 --> 00:20:23.640 Yeah, we have Brian Borners right here, so I'll let him respond to that. 00:20:23.640 --> 00:20:28.040 Good morning, Madam Chair, members of the board, Brian Borners, Solid Waste Director 00:20:28.040 --> 00:20:29.040 with the City of Denton. 00:20:29.040 --> 00:20:31.440 I appreciate the question this morning, Mr. Sof. 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:32.440 Thank you. 00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:38.480 We are currently in the process of finalizing the RFP to go out for consideration. 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:45.800 So internally, we have not put it out to find out specifically what the bid might be once 00:20:45.800 --> 00:20:54.840 we get the information back from the potential proposers, we will be bringing information 00:20:54.840 --> 00:21:03.360 to the PUB for consideration and moving forward with contracting. 00:21:03.360 --> 00:21:04.360 Thank you very much. 00:21:04.360 --> 00:21:05.360 You're welcome. 00:21:05.360 --> 00:21:18.960 On the other hand, yes Barbara, go ahead, you're on mute. 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:25.800 I read in the minutes about my asking for maps when you're talking about locations, 00:21:25.800 --> 00:21:32.960 so that if we wanted to go visually look at what we would be talking about in our minutes 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:40.920 and our meetings and I appreciate very much that that was included and it is helpful. 00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:46.000 And just a word, I know you've got thanks from a lot of people, but I knew when I was 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:51.240 sitting in my house, though it may have been without electricity, that some of you guys 00:21:51.240 --> 00:22:00.240 were out there and what a staff we have and I appreciate it so much as everybody that 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:05.880 I've talked to have been impressed with the city staff, so thank you very much. 00:22:05.880 --> 00:22:06.880 Thank you, Barbara. 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:07.880 Yes, Billy. 00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:13.280 Yeah, I guess I better thank you as well for this item and we're adding added the little 00:22:13.280 --> 00:22:18.200 simple description of where the money's coming from for each item, the fiscal information, 00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:22.840 thank you for adding that. 00:22:22.840 --> 00:22:28.080 All right then, concluding items, does any board member wish to have something added 00:22:28.080 --> 00:22:32.960 to a future agenda or have any congratulations to the staff? 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:36.880 I guess we've all been doing that. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:38.720 And under this item, Lee, welcome. 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:43.920 Do you want to tell us a little bit about you and why you were interested to join us? 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:46.240 Well, thanks for asking. 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:53.960 I was recruited by my predecessor, Russ Bafford, to ask me if I'd be interested in helping 00:22:53.960 --> 00:23:01.160 out with the board, since I don't know most of you, I'm a commissioning project director 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:02.960 for the McKinstry Company. 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:10.680 My current assignments include Charles Schwab's DFW headquarters there at the 114 and 170 00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.680 Trophy Club. 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:18.960 I've got 30 plus years experience with building systems, including HVAC, heating, ventilating, 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:24.000 air conditioning, lighting controls, emergency power, and that sort of thing. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:29.260 And so I have some interest in and knowledge about the functioning of utility systems. 00:23:29.260 --> 00:23:35.640 So I thought it might be a good fit and I'm happy to add my two cents for my civic responsibility. 00:23:35.640 --> 00:23:36.640 So thank you. 00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:40.280 Sounds like a great fit with your background. 00:23:40.280 --> 00:23:41.680 Thank you. 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:43.000 Any other board members? 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:46.200 All right, let's go into the work session. 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:52.040 We're going to receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding the processes, 00:23:52.040 --> 00:23:57.320 impacts, and results of service delivery during the February 2021 inclement weather event 00:23:57.320 --> 00:23:59.920 by Solid Waste and Recycling Department. 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:03.080 Good morning again, Madam Chair, members of the board. 00:24:03.080 --> 00:24:04.080 My name is Brian Berner. 00:24:04.080 --> 00:24:06.200 I'm Solid Waste Director with the City of Denton. 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:11.320 I do appreciate the opportunity this morning to talk a little bit about our service delivery 00:24:11.320 --> 00:24:16.960 during the Snowvid event that we had here a couple of weeks ago. 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:24.960 So if you give me a minute to pull this up. 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:36.160 All right, hopefully everybody can see the presentation. 00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:39.680 What I want to do is talk a little bit about how we went about developing our response 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:45.720 plan with regard to the inclement weather that we had the week of the 14th of February, 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:49.480 review a little bit about what actually was happening in North Texas with both the public 00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:54.800 and private solid waste providers, and then give you a few little results of the results 00:24:54.800 --> 00:25:00.240 of what happened as a result of the service change that we had during that week. 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:08.520 The development of our program and the way we approach service during that week all circulates 00:25:08.520 --> 00:25:10.200 around safety. 00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:16.720 Solid waste industry is the sixth most dangerous profession statistically that you can be involved 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:18.720 in right now. 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:24.320 You are more apt to be injured or killed as a result of a solid waste accident than any 00:25:24.320 --> 00:25:26.900 other public service right now. 00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:33.920 So again, we have to think about our employees and the citizens that we serve, both curbside 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:35.520 and out on the road. 00:25:35.520 --> 00:25:41.120 So as we approached and saw what was coming, we were thinking how will it affect our customers 00:25:41.120 --> 00:25:43.360 and how will it affect our operators. 00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:47.060 The question we ask about our customers is, you know, can we actually get the garbage 00:25:47.060 --> 00:25:52.120 to the curb with minimal for potential entry to the customer? 00:25:52.120 --> 00:25:57.240 You know, it's icy, it's slick, there is a slip trip and fall hazard, and with the record 00:25:57.240 --> 00:26:00.320 low temperatures that we saw, there was also some exposure potential. 00:26:00.320 --> 00:26:06.200 We wanted to minimize those risks, and secondarily, for our operators, the question is, is it safe 00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:07.200 to be on the road? 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:11.560 We operate some of the largest pieces of equipment in the fleet of the city of Denton. 00:26:11.560 --> 00:26:18.480 We drive on a weekly basis the most miles of any department, and as a result, we have 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:21.940 to ask our question, you know, is it safe? 00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:24.780 If we are going to be out, how do we minimize equipment damage? 00:26:24.780 --> 00:26:28.880 How do we minimize potential impacts to private property? 00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:30.640 And then again, how do we protect our drivers? 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:35.240 Again, if they have to get out, there are slip trips and fall hazards, exposure issues. 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:39.840 At the end of the day, we don't want to create a risk obligation to the city as a result 00:26:39.840 --> 00:26:44.560 of injuring a driver when it was something that we had really in our control. 00:26:44.560 --> 00:26:49.100 So again, safety first as we approach this issue. 00:26:49.100 --> 00:26:56.240 We actually started preparing for that week, the snow, during the week of February 8th. 00:26:56.240 --> 00:27:00.520 Again, that weather affects us significantly, we're a little bit of a weather nerd. 00:27:00.520 --> 00:27:05.440 We saw that looking through all the apps and all the TV stations out there, there was this 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:09.840 convergence that was coming of cold weather, and the forecast weren't changing. 00:27:09.840 --> 00:27:11.160 They were getting worse and worse. 00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:15.640 So we had internal communications talking about, you know, what are we going to do? 00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:17.360 How are we going to approach this? 00:27:17.360 --> 00:27:21.600 We started discussion with our public, discussions with our public and private counterparts to 00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:27.680 determine what was going to be required as a result of us, and then we began weatherproofing, 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:32.120 looking at our equipment, our facilities to minimize any long-term damage as a result 00:27:32.120 --> 00:27:34.320 of the cold weather. 00:27:34.320 --> 00:27:39.160 On the 14th of December, which is a Sunday, we made a decision to curtail all operations 00:27:39.160 --> 00:27:44.620 during that week, only because from a safety issue, it was the right decision to make. 00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:50.000 We did open the landfill shortly for a few hours on Tuesday the 16th. 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:55.340 As you know, we do receive sludge from some wastewater treatment, third-party wastewater 00:27:55.340 --> 00:28:01.040 treatment plant operators, and their sludge boxes were full, and in order to keep wastewater 00:28:01.040 --> 00:28:06.660 flowing throughout the region, we needed to be open so they could dispose of the sludge. 00:28:06.660 --> 00:28:09.760 We did open full-time on Thursday, February 18th. 00:28:09.760 --> 00:28:15.000 Operations resumed, and at that time, we were operating the landfill full-time. 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:21.080 On Friday, February 19th, we resumed our commercial operations, focusing on hospitals, warming 00:28:21.080 --> 00:28:27.120 centers, other places that were high operation, and then moved into multifamily and grocery 00:28:27.120 --> 00:28:34.640 stores and other commercial operations to get at least one empty of the dumpsters during 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:38.480 that week so that we continue to operate over the weekend. 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:44.440 We reopened residential collection the week of the 22nd. 00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:48.640 This was a double week, so all the trash that we missed during the week of the 14th, we 00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:50.680 picked up during the 22nd. 00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:54.920 We did defer yard waste in bulk until the following week. 00:28:54.920 --> 00:29:00.040 Any HCC home chemical collection appointments that were called in previously and during 00:29:00.040 --> 00:29:05.120 that week were serviced on time. 00:29:05.120 --> 00:29:09.080 During March 1st, that week, we resumed full service, picking up all the yard waste, the 00:29:09.080 --> 00:29:17.800 garbage in bulk, and as of this week, we're returning to normal services, collecting garbage 00:29:17.800 --> 00:29:22.840 recycling, everything within the service standard that we had previously committed to. 00:29:22.840 --> 00:29:24.920 We look across the Metroplex. 00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:29.440 Most private and public operators did curtail operations during that week. 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:34.320 The cities of Fort Worth, Arlington, Dallas, and any of the other cities that were serviced 00:29:34.320 --> 00:29:39.400 by our private waste haulers, whether it be CWD, Frontier, Republic, Waste Connections, 00:29:39.400 --> 00:29:41.880 most of them did defer throughout the week. 00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:48.560 Again, it was simply unsafe to have drivers try to get to the yard and then have the trucks 00:29:48.560 --> 00:29:53.860 out on the streets, so with few exceptions, everybody was closed that entire week. 00:29:53.860 --> 00:29:58.800 We saw, again, just as the city of Denton, commercial collections start again on the 00:29:58.800 --> 00:30:06.360 19th and then full residential collections start again the week of the 22nd. 00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:13.360 This is just a few examples of what presented itself to us as we started going through the 00:30:13.360 --> 00:30:17.120 neighborhoods and the multifamily and the commercial during the 19th and the week of 00:30:17.120 --> 00:30:18.560 the 22nd. 00:30:18.560 --> 00:30:24.560 We did allow excess bags outside the containers, and again, we did get all this off the curb 00:30:24.560 --> 00:30:31.120 and got it picked up within our service standard. 00:30:31.120 --> 00:30:35.240 When we look at the weather impacts to our facilities, we did have water leaks in several 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:39.400 of the buildings that are on the solid waste facility, our administration building, home 00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:40.400 chemical collection. 00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:45.600 We have a warehouse at 651 Mayhill, what we're calling the electronics building, our fleet 00:30:45.600 --> 00:30:52.220 building, about $100,000 worth of damage both in the plumbing as well as the ultimate repair 00:30:52.220 --> 00:30:54.720 of the drywall and things of that nature. 00:30:54.720 --> 00:31:00.240 We look at the solid waste collections as a result of pushing back the collection, two 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:02.200 weeks collection into one. 00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:07.600 We did realize almost twice the tonnage collected in a regular week, and that makes sense, but 00:31:07.600 --> 00:31:12.160 it wasn't quite twice, it was right at about 80 percent, so where'd the other 20 percent 00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:13.160 go? 00:31:13.160 --> 00:31:17.360 Well, Amazon wasn't delivering, people weren't going out to pick up food, there were just 00:31:17.360 --> 00:31:24.520 some things that weren't characteristically waste generating activities that occurred 00:31:24.520 --> 00:31:25.520 during that week. 00:31:25.520 --> 00:31:30.800 So we saw that if it wasn't available to go in the trash, it didn't go in the trash. 00:31:30.800 --> 00:31:36.200 So it was a nice little data exercise for us, and we're still evaluating what happened 00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:41.920 last week with the bulk and the brush, and it'll be interesting to use it as we plan 00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:43.240 for the future. 00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:46.700 So with that, I'd be glad to answer any questions that you might have regarding our service 00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:50.320 standard and the inclement weather in our response to it. 00:31:50.320 --> 00:31:51.320 Questions? 00:31:51.320 --> 00:31:53.760 Go ahead, Ed. 00:31:53.760 --> 00:32:00.280 Yeah, I think that your policy over the storm was, the extent of the storm was admirable 00:32:00.280 --> 00:32:03.560 and really better, it's better to be safe than sorry. 00:32:03.560 --> 00:32:10.520 So common sense came through, and I appreciate that, do a lot of people. 00:32:10.520 --> 00:32:11.520 Thank you. 00:32:11.520 --> 00:32:21.280 The idea of wrestling those carts out over the icy driveway was, I can't imagine, disaster. 00:32:21.280 --> 00:32:30.520 But my question is, has there been any discussion of further winterization of the facilities 00:32:30.520 --> 00:32:39.120 that received this damage that had the broken pipes, so that if there is another weather 00:32:39.120 --> 00:32:48.520 event like this, which they say there will be, we won't have that expense of fixing busted 00:32:48.520 --> 00:32:53.580 pipes and ruin drywall. 00:32:53.580 --> 00:32:57.840 As part of our after action report, we're evaluating not only what happened, but trying 00:32:57.840 --> 00:32:59.320 to evaluate the root cause. 00:32:59.320 --> 00:33:05.640 We do know that in one, it was a pressure swell due to the ice dam and caused a pipe 00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:08.320 burst, but the other, we actually had a failure in a joint. 00:33:08.320 --> 00:33:12.720 So it was really inconsequential to the cold weather, it was going to happen when it just 00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:14.000 happened at the same time. 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:18.480 So there are a couple of things that we are looking at, as well as our weatherization. 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:24.240 So we will be coming back as part of that after action to include that information in 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:25.240 there. 00:33:25.240 --> 00:33:26.240 Okay, thank you. 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:27.240 You're welcome. 00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:30.840 Other questions or comments? 00:33:30.840 --> 00:33:33.280 Yes, Lee. 00:33:33.280 --> 00:33:34.280 Yes, ma'am. 00:33:34.280 --> 00:33:38.680 I wanted to echo the previous comments, I was really glad we didn't have to go out to 00:33:38.680 --> 00:33:43.920 the curb during the storm, so my thanks for postponing, even though it was all for the 00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:48.280 good reasons of safety, but not only for your guys, but for us as well. 00:33:48.280 --> 00:33:49.280 You're welcome. 00:33:49.280 --> 00:33:51.800 Appreciate that. 00:33:51.800 --> 00:33:58.120 And those heavy trucks on the highway is not a good idea, nice, so they don't stop either. 00:33:58.120 --> 00:34:01.400 All right, any other questions? 00:34:01.400 --> 00:34:05.160 All right, did you get what you need? 00:34:05.160 --> 00:34:06.280 Good job. 00:34:06.280 --> 00:34:07.280 Thank you. 00:34:07.280 --> 00:34:10.120 All right, that's all the items. 00:34:10.120 --> 00:34:12.920 So do we have a motion to adjourn? 00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:17.120 All right, motion, Ed seconded. 00:34:17.120 --> 00:34:18.120 We are adjourned. 00:34:18.120 --> 00:34:20.640 See you next week or next time.