Aug 13, 2018 Public Utilities Board on 2018-08-13 9:00 AM

August 13, 2018 Public Utilities Board 14392

Meeting Details
Meeting Date: August 13, 2018
Board: Public Utilities Board
Video ID: 14392
Has Transcript: Yes
Has Agenda: Yes
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Meeting Summary: Public Utilities Board – August 13, 2018

Key Topics and Discussions - Lineman Rodeo Recognition: Staff recognized Denton Municipal Electric journeyman, apprentice, cooking, and judging teams for their participation in the 22nd Annual Texas Lineman Rodeo. Discussions highlighted competition results, safety training value, and inter-utility collaboration. - GreenSense Incentive Program Updates (Work Session): Staff presented proposed revisions to the GreenSense Incentive Program and Distributed Generation Manual for FY 2018-19. Key changes discussed included increasing the solar rebate fund from $300,000 to $500,000, adding a weatherization rebate category, clarifying eligibility for plug-in electric vehicles, removing the 200 kW minimum threshold for commercial standard offer incentives, and implementing a tiered rebate structure for residential solar systems to prioritize smaller installations. - Consent Agenda: Reviewed routine approvals including a confidentiality agreement with TrailStone Power LLC, a natural gas purchase contract with Tenaska, the FY 2018-19 electric rate ordinance, a TMPA transmission services agreement extension, professional services contracts with Garver LLC and Hazen and Sawyer, and solid waste equipment acquisitions. - Refuse Compactor Purchase (Item F): A board member questioned the $1,031,787.07 purchase price versus a $9,000/month rental option. Staff explained that existing compactors are non-operational, temporary bulldozer use is inefficient, and the Caterpillar 836K model provides significant landfill airspace savings (approximately 11 months over five years). Rental availability was noted as uncertain. - US 377 Advance Funding Agreement (Item B): Staff presented an AFA with TxDOT for utility relocations totaling $6,864,979.98. The low overall bidder (SEMA Construction) submitted a higher-than-anticipated utility cost. Stakeholders agreed to pursue $3,000,000 in additional RTR funding from NCTCOG to cover the difference. Payment structure: $3,864,979.98 from city funds immediately, with the remaining $3,000,000 due upon RTR approval. - ACM Update: Staff provided a summary of proposed FY 2018-19 utility rate decreases across electric, wastewater, and solid waste funds. The water fund was the only category not receiving a decrease. - Public Inquiries: Members asked about Spencer Station operations during recent high temperatures and requested a report on utility cybersecurity measures following media reports of foreign hacking attempts. Both were noted for follow-up per open meetings guidelines.

Motions, Votes, and Outcomes - Consent Agenda (Items A, B, C, D, E, G, H): Motion to approve carried unanimously. - Item F (Caterpillar 836K Refuse Compactor): Motion to approve carried unanimously following individual discussion. - PUB18-151 (July 23, 2018 Minutes): Motion to approve carried unanimously. - PUB18-153 (US 377 AFA Ordinance): Motion to recommend adoption to City Council carried unanimously. - PUB18-152 (ACM Rate Update): Informational; no vote required. - Closed Session: Convened at 9:48 AM to deliberate competitive power purchase matters and consult with legal counsel per Texas Government Code §§551.071 and 551.086.

Decisions Made - Approved proposed FY 2018-19 updates to the GreenSense Incentive Program and Distributed Generation Manual, including increased funding, new rebate categories, and revised eligibility and tier structures. - Authorized recommendation to City Council for adoption of ordinances covering all consent agenda items, the refuse compactor purchase, meeting minutes, and the US 377 AFA. - Directed staff to monitor the October Regional Transportation Council meeting for RTR funding approval and to develop contingency funding options if the $3,000,000 allocation is not secured.

Action Items or Next Steps - Staff to prepare and distribute a comparative report on GreenSense program expenditures relative to peer utilities for a future board meeting. - City Manager or designee to execute approved ordinances and contracts following City Council action. - Staff to track NCTCOG/RTC proceedings regarding the $3,000,000 RTR allocation and report to the board if contingency planning is required. - Staff to address public inquiries regarding Spencer Station operations and cybersecurity protocols in accordance with applicable open meetings and closed session procedures.

Agenda Chapters
1. WORK SESSION
0:03 - 0:32
2. 1. Texas Lineman Rodeo
0:32 - 0:44
3. AIS
0:44 - 1:00
4. C. PUB18-152 ACM Update: 1. Texas Lineman Rodeo 2. Summary of proposed rate decreases for the 2018-2019 budget 3. Future Agenda Items 4. Matrix
1:00 - 10:26
5. A. PUB18-128 Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding proposed updates to the GreenSense Incentive Program, the GreenSense Incentive Program Manual, and Distributed Generation Manual for FY 2018-19.
10:26 - 23:44
6. A. PUB18-093 Consider recommending approval of an Ordinance authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to execute a Confidentiality Agreement between the City and TrailStone Power LLC. ("TrailStone"); providing for a severability clause; and providing for an effective date.
23:44 - 24:58
7. F. PUB18-156 Consider recommending adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas, a Texas home-rule municipal corporation, authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to execute a contract through National Joint Powers Alliance Cooperative Purchasing Network Contract # 032515 for the purchase of a Caterpillar Inc. Model 836K refuse compactor for the City of Denton Solid Waste Department; authorizing the expenditure of funds therefor; and declaring an effective date (File 6869- awarded to B.D. Holt CO. dba Holt Texas, Ltd., in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,031,787.07).
24:58 - 30:40
8. A. PUB18-151 Consider approval of the Public Utilities Board Meeting minutes of July 23, 2018.
30:40 - 31:15
9. B. PUB18-153 Consider recommending adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas, authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to execute an Advance Funding Agreement (AFA) in the amount of $6,864,979.98, by and between the State of Texas, acting through the Texas Department of Transportation (the "State") and the City of Denton (the "City"), regarding water and wastewater improvements associated with the US 377 (Ft Worth Drive) roadway widening project. The City will make two incremental payments to the State. The first payment will be upon full execution of the AFA and will be in the amount of $3,864,979.98. The second payment will be in the amount of $3,000,000.00 after receiving additional RTR funds from NCTCOG in the amount of $3,000,000.00.
31:15 - 45:54
10. 3. CONCLUDING ITEMS
46:51 - 49:15
Transcript
7593 words
August 13th 2018 public utility board meeting to order We we're gonna take things a little bit out of order this morning to start with we have Before we go into our work session We have quite a few gentlemen outside that We'd like to recognize and I'm gonna let Mario introduce if you would Thank You. Mr. Chairman. Good morning members of the board I'm gonna turn it over to George more or our general manager for municipal electric to make some introductory comments and and then allow the the folks out in the hallway to come in to be recognized Good morning, George Morrow DME general manager Chair Robinson and the pub. Thank you for the opportunity to recognize our our lineman rodeo teams they had a great time and We're very competitive down in sagin, Texas Had the opportunity to stop by there myself very hot and humid but it was a super event a week of weekend of the July 21st we had two journeyman teams and four apprentice teams So we had a good group of folks and as part of that we provide also some judges for the other folks to To to see the competition. So I want to introduce Gonna pass the baton here to Brad Watts Brad's our operations line superintendent Brad led the team to very close to super victory and I think he has a little a few a few photos he you might want to show you and he'll introduce introduce the folks so Good morning George that I'm Brad Watts operation line superintendent and We did a real good job down there. This is the 22nd annual lineman rodeo It usually has 20 to 30 utilities that represent different divisions investor owned municipal contractor Cooperative and as George said the guys just did an outstanding job. It's very competitive down there This year it was one of the hottest that I've ever seen. It was 112 degrees and These guys were just I mean Drenched in sweat, but they were working hard and they practiced real hard leading up to this I mean they put in a lot of hours on their own time During the weekend coming in trying to sharpen their lin eman skills up and that's you know that's a chance you get to show them off down there and I'll go ahead and introduce the guys I Hear the second we'll get you the face to the left And as George said it's like this is the 22nd annual we've only missed one competition down there And that was due to note the island was underwater. They had a bunch of rain down there I'm gonna go ahead and introduce I'll start with the rodeo coordinator This is the guy that just I mean he gets everything set up for the team when they need things Listen events. I mean he's the go-to guy and this Lanny Am ix and Then I'll start with the journeyman team Clinton peak Cody Schneider Blake Smith and then our other journeyman team is Tyler rank Garrett Dillard Curtis Espadaugh and Then we also had our apprentices that went down there Jordan Padrone Gustavo Soto Mitch Hassel and Jack Gray and Along with competition teams down there we also it's a big tradition down there that utilities will provide a cooking team and they'll cook barbecue ribs bris ket and We took our team down there and that team was Lane Freeman, which is lanes out. He just had a baby girl and then Jason Wilkins and Then also make the road the rodeo possible because there's so many things that factor into the rodeo They asked the teams to provide judges to go down there because I mean these guys are on the pole But there's also judges that are judging them which we can 't judge our own people wish we could but we And those judges were Cliff Knight Van Emman Michael Pennington Dave Dwanell Ethan Horton and Ryan Clearman and Then we got one other guy that we big thanks goes to and he 's the one that makes sure that our tent get our awning Get set up so we have somewhere to get out of the out of the Sun You know water and Gatorade for the guys And we call him our logistics man. That's Tim Kudis And we did very well down there we it's a very stiff competition I mean these guys are great journeyman and they're going against great journeyman, but we had The first team I called out Clinton peak Cody Snyder Blake Smith Smith took second place in the journeyman mystery event And one of you guys want to explain what that event was? I Think we had to do is work with three pop bang. We had two jumpers change out on each side The event time was 15 minutes. We did it in 10 and we were Two seconds away from third place and not second place first So it was a tight race and then our second team Which I mean no no special order one or two But our other team took second place overall overall journeyman municipal division So they were the second second best journeyman team down there in the municipal division And that was Tyler rank Garrett Dillard and Curtis Espada ugh, and that's all their events combined We were don't think the data. I don't have our our teams overall overall the utilities down there Ended up. I think fifth overall and sixth overall so I mean we represented it well these guys they worked hard to did a lot of a lot of hard work on their own and You know when they got down there And that you know that work shows when they get back home because they learn a lot of safety rules down there How different utilities are doing things and it just you know it helps didn't helps the service that we do provide, but they did a great job On the cooking team we took first place brisket and when you In the cooking world if you win brisket you're that you're the king Right now Denton's the king until we get dethroned Well all the different teams that provide cooking teams, which there's quite a few Jason how many teams were there 60 cooking teams down there well all the food that they they cook all that goes towards the brisket dinner The event the awards dinner that night so everybody's fed real well And I mean it's just a big you know family atmosphere where all these all the different utilities come together I mean and they get to they get to be brothers because Ly man our brotherhood and You know one another thing that I really take pride in that when when you go compete in these events If the chips ever got down here in Denton we know who to call we got brothers out there And they'd be here to help us and vice versa will help them if they need to help I'd I'll let the guys go out, and then I'll show you some of the pictures from it What you're one of the most important And then this is the journeyman municipal division second place overall team them getting their trophies and Then there's our brisket Kings right there And they do cook a good brisket Here's one of the events that this is I Can't see this is Tyler and Garrett on the pole doing one of their events notice that you know all the cover-up I mean when they're working up there, they're they're doing just like they do here I mean, they don't change anything. It's you know it's very safety oriented and it has to be And then this is the Curtis on the ground the groundman is a big vital role in that team because he's the one that sends Everything up to the guys on the pole and gets them already And then here's the other team. This is they were changing out disconnects And When they that second team when they on that that event they they they smoked it I mean that's very fast the time that they had And if y'all got any questions I'll answer them if not I pre we appreciate the time and you know the sport letting us go down there The most important thing you said was you learn how to do it safely and quickly to get the power back on and that's the biggest Part of the whole yes ma'am it is Although the brisk it's probably Thanks Brad appreciate it thank you Okay Before we go into work session Want to welcome first of all Karen's Davini our newest public utility board member Welcome to the to the public utility board and hopefully you'll It's It's it's a it's a good good good board to be on so welcome Okay our work session We're gonna receive a report hold a discussion and give staff direction regarding proposed updates to the green sense and incentive program The green sense incentive program manual and distributed generation manual for fiscal year 2018-19 All Right George Morrow general manager of DMA and I also want to thank the new pub board member welcome Oh, thank you and also recognize Liz Ruiz over here Liz is the mastermind and Author and promoter of our green sense program and that was one of the first things I looked at when I came to Denton Work for the utility is hey, what kind of customer programs do we have and I was very impressed with the green sense program there's a lot of meat there and We made a few little tweaks to it. We're here to I guess Reapprove it for the following fiscal year and here's a little bit of history. It had been called some different things over different time Today, it's the green sense program. You can see some of the changes that were made as it moved through time Here's the history for this year so far We've given 353 rebates for all the different types of things that we do help our customers Accomplish about a hundred thousand dollars so far and the PV photovoltaics or solar rebates is at the very bottom So far this year, there's been Let's see here 66 actually installed. We have 81 applications. So there's some to be finished 408 KW which is not bad and there's the rebates that we've provided And basically paid out all of our money, you know committed all of our funds pretty early in the fiscal year And that's something we wanted to address during the the redo of the program Here's a little bit of history of some of the different things that Comprised the program you can see we started in F 200,000 for solar rebates last two years. It's been about 300,000, but the rebates as I indicated go pretty quickly So we're proposing to up that to 500,000 this year. That's you know as we You know stand in the shoes of trying to make Dent in a green city a renewable city It just seemed like the right thing to do is to at least have enough money for most if not all of the fiscal year For everybody that's interested in putting solar panels on their on their home So those those are kind of the numbers The things we're proposing to do the tweaks I'll call them for the next fiscal year is one we've added Weatherization as a category to get a rebate for so it's kind of like do-it-yourself Solarization so you can go buy some different products bring us the receipt and It's fairly modest. I guess in the first year. We're looking at $50 as a as a rebate weatherstripping caulk spray foam, etc, but So that's one of our changes second is that we've been providing $300 rebates for electric vehicles But it wasn't really clear and it's something that Liz and I talked about early about whether plug-in electric vehicles qualify So that would be like the Chevy Volt or Ford Focus that have a small engine But you know the batteries do provide a lot of the of the propulsion and we said, you know what? Let's do it. Let's let's clarify that to Going forward that plug-in electric vehicles also qualify for that rebate because they have the same benefit to the utility You know, they've become a customer. They use a lot of off- peak energy Off-peak energy consumption is good for us as a rate rate item standard offer incentive changes for commercial accounts Seemed like it was very restrictive as as I reviewed it this past year There was a 200 KW minimum peak so you had to be a fairly large customer to take advantage of this incentive and We just went ahead and removed that limitation though. There is still embedded in the program a 50 KW Project, you know if you do a project and we provide incentives for that it needs to be at least 50 KW So so it has some bulk but it didn't seem like it was necessary to have the 200 KW And also we had some tiered rebates in one category. We did a hundred Dollars per KW and another hundred twenty five. We just kind of made it flat hundred and twenty five dollars So for anything and so it's very flexible. I actually like that a lot Commercial customers can propose almost anything that gives us a KW reduction and peak load and we verify that analyze it and Then we can provide the rebate to them. So I mentioned already the I guess that's a typo down there that should say 500 K for solar systems and type that hot off the press this morning and And then we modified the solar rebates because in fact that they were going so quickly we thought okay, let's have more opportunity and Instead of 75 cents per watt We looked at a tiered system where we pay a little bit more for the smaller system and then a little bit less for the larger systems and You'll see probably very few systems over 10 KW unless they 're commercial take a W would be a very large home program so I think for Residential customers most are going to probably fall in the three to five KW range I'll actually get a little more incentive with that and you can see we did the same thing with if you install solar with a battery There's not actually too many of them Liz. What about two so far this year So that hasn't really taken off yet battery is still extremely expensive and the business case for battery is still a little bit questionable We don't have off-peak rates yet So there you know, what do you charge it with and we do give you credit for surplus solar no matter what time it is So you don't have to put it in a battery to get credit for it We keep track of that and we'll we'll move that around and let you offset some other usage at a different time frame So that's actually a good a good program, but there are some that want to put batteries in I think one advantage of a battery is if you had a power outage which does happen once in a while with some of the crazy weather we have out here and You can you know You can draw the power out of that battery to keep your lights on while we're out there getting getting the repairs done so so that's a pretty much the Nuts of it. Okay. Yes. Oh, I'm sorry. I just had a question about the 57 participants we had have had Where would they fall in the? Size of the system. It would be the three to five Cool. I mean as Liz if she's got any any details Come on up. Yeah This year we had varied between four KW and 10 KW with with the Price of solar coming down. You'll see a little bit more larger systems coming on the residential side Their size a little bit larger also for the homes But it it does vary between four and ten KW five and six is the average Okay Thank you. You know another reason for ramping down maybe the solar rebate as you get to a larger size is that solar is basically economic today the costs have dropped dramatically, so Incentives for a lot of electric utilities are not as necessary We had a 10-year incentive program in California which started at a high level and then it we were forced to lower it every year And it finally went away last year so you can't get a solar rebate in California anymore because basically the industry is is Mature and commercial and it's not really necessary. So but we still do it. We want to give folks You know some additional incentive to do that Okay questions comments so the applications received 81 with the Small requirements or the tiered Size would all 81 of those have been I Guess that combined with increasing the dollar amount to so all the applications I Guess the question I'm asking is if there were 57 participants and we had 81 sorry She doesn't let me see the rebate applications Go ahead oh, I'm just I'm just wanting to clarify all the 81 Residential and commercial that we received applications Would all of those have been? Applications approved based upon the increase in the five to five hundred thousand and plus the tiered The smaller system. Yes had the tiered rebate been in place this year We would have been able to do the 81 plus the one commercial the 82 and we would have ran out of funds at the beginning of July So the tiered is gonna allow us to help more people do solar right Very good point. I like that. Yeah, it's making it more accessible to Okay, more people. Yeah, and then so we have that changed so as you indicated we would be able to provide a lot more rebates With the tearing system and then we double down with the additional money to make sure that we can handle The interest that's out there and that was already included in the budget in the it is now in the budget Okay. Yeah, I was confirmed that this morning. It's there and We're gonna pretty good Okay in the plugins how many have we had people get rebates yet on the on the cars Well, I had a Prius before having a Prius was sexy back in 2006 so I'm just curious We have not for this fiscal year, but I did receive last week two applications for it. So those will fall. Okay this year Thank you. Yeah, I think we had a little harsher interpretation of what was in the program Which is you had to be all electric so like a leave. Okay, Tesla those kinds of things and Didn't Seem like now we're gonna have a broader interpretation is the clarification that we're making so as As a basically this point in time Okay, I might have a hard time giving three hundred dollars to somebody who can afford to Tesla. So I don't know I was trying to think of another all-electric Fiat Okay Any other questions I think You know what I'm hearing is I think everybody likes the increased accessibility Increased dollar amount. I think that's great. I'd be curious at some point to know How it compares to You know how much dollars we allocate to this compared to You know say other utilities around the area. I think we'll find we spend more per per customer Per meter, I guess if you will everybody want to count it Liz may have that information, but let us put that together for you and yeah to a report and we'll ship that out and one of the Friday reports and You know going forward so we're going to be taking a hard look at the program this next year See if you know to take it up another notch is sort of what I'd like to do This year we have sort of a depleted staff Liz Liz is the staff at the moment we've promoted a couple of our folks into other jobs in the city and we're hiring some some replacement folks that At even a higher level to kind of bring some more experience and background into the program more excitement and we'll try to We try to take it to the next level next year. So that should be a little more exciting Than this year Okay, thank you George. Thank you Okay We're also under our closed meeting this the item that's on there does not require any action So what we'll do is if we can't move that to the end of the meeting So we'll go right into our regular meeting now And start with the consent agenda and would ask if there's any Any board member who would like to have? any of these items a B CVE F G or H pool for individual consideration. I'd like item F pulled And I don't see Ethan so I hope there's somebody else Okay, all right so item F Would anybody else like anything else pool for individual consideration? Okay hearing none then is there a motion on the consent agenda I Recommend approval We have a motion to approve and a second any discussion All in favor say aye aye any opposed Okay individual consideration we have item F And I am sure there's a good explanation In looking at all the documentation it looks like we're gonna be paying a lot more for 30 days when there was an alternative to pay $9,000 to rent one and And I get the whole compaction that that we're gonna save in the landfill space But I I just still thought that maybe there's a little bit too much money being left on the table So and just for clarification, did you ask about the possibility of renting a unit? I saw in the documentation that somebody proposed we could rent one for nine thousand dollars a month Because we're really just gaining 30 days basically correct . Yeah, there's hundreds whatever and And just to walk through the the presentation really quick that the the point that you made is Correct. We are in a pretty bad situation right now with our 826 is both of those units are down part of the reason is that they had some specialized wheels added to them that actually Were heavier and required some of them screening that would normally be in place to actually remove the material To be they were taken off and so we're pulling a lot of material into our differentials and causing a lot of breakdowns so since about June 30, we've been basically Using a bulldozer as a means of compaction, which is not a good long-term solution It's hard on that equipment and it's also not a very efficient compactor. The 836 is are the ones that were put in place by are recommended to be put in place by Blue Ridge and Can handle a little bit more versus a little bit less as a unit of the average waste that we're that we're getting and So you're absolutely correct the airspace savings with regards to the remainder of the fiscal year is Substantial between the two units we're getting about 300 a little bit less than 300 pounds per cubic yard out of the 836 so at an average of 145 tons per day that really adds up and probably the biggest issue Is the one that's that's here at the bottom at five years of operation of an 836 We'll actually gain about 11 months of additional landfill time Compared to the use of the 830s or 826s rather with the heavier wheels so looking at the net benefit loss as you stated By gaining that estimated period of time. We'll be able to More than make up the the difference between the units the the cat is also a competitive vid versus a quote like we got for the BOMAG and and all John because it's on a Cooperative buy board and then we've also got a preference for the cat units because they're the ones that we have used in the past so That was our rationale for getting the giving the staff Direction of proceeding with the purchase of the Caterp illar model 836 with regards to a rental I'm gonna have to rely on Randall Morris the landfill manager. I think that the short answer to that is that the availability of those Compactors is is such that we would not be able to likely get one in but I'll I'll let Randall go on to the details Good morning During this a quoting process BOMAG Has offered us they are taking in a it's a smaller compact or. They're taking in in on trade Through their process and they said they could have it available for us to rent here in the near future It's not available right now as we speak, but it will be available in the future Hopefully we'll have one of our machines back up and operational Before that before the need for that one or before it's available. I guess I would like to say So where where do the numbers for the efficiency of the 836 K and the airspace savings who did who did those numbers? It was actually Scott Libsack and Lee and we and I helped out with it a little bit We got a bunch of the numbers out of the Caterpillar performance handbook And I also got a spreadsheet from Holt Kat on what the 836 was capable of, you know doing compaction wise Okay, so you're comfortable. Yes, sir Yes, sir, okay, okay, and the 836 was the recommendation out of the solid waste consulting. Yes I mean I agree with the Model that you're gonna be using and to stay with Caterp illar because then you don't have you know Two different parts and fleet and all that. Yes I just needed to ask the question Because that was a and the 826 is are actually overworked, you know per our tonnage that we take per day They're way overworked the one 836 can almost take the place of two 826 is that we have basically Thank you, thank you you're welcome You think else I will move approval Just had to ask we have a motion to approve item F second and a second any further discussion All in favor say aye. Aye any opposed Next we have item a which is consider approval to public utility board meeting minutes of July 23rd 2018 Sorry, okay, that's all right We have a motion to approve the minutes. Is there a second? second and a second discussion Okay, all in favor say aye. Aye any opposed any abstentions Okay, thank you Item B is to consider recommending adoption of an ordinance of the city of Denton, Texas Authorizing the city manager or his designee to execute an advanced funding agreement in the amount of six million 864 thousand nine hundred seventy nine dollars and ninety eight cents by in between the state of Texas Acting through the Texas Department of Transportation and the city of Denton regarding water and wastewater improvements associated with the US 377-roadway widening project That was the short version of that catch. Oh, thank you. I appreciate that. Could we not have squeezed two more cents out? Good morning members of the pub. I'm Chad Allen deputy city engineer And yes, my presentation is about the four-orth drive utility relocations project and it's associated with the text dot us 377-roadway widening project. Welcome to the BV. Good morning Specifically I'm going to ask that you approve the execution of an advanced funding agreement in a fa It's between the city of Denton and text dot and it's regarding our water and wastewater utilities that have to be moved out of the right of way The amount of the agreement is six point eight six million dollars I'm going to talk about that later in the presentation But we're gonna make two payments in the agreement The first payment is going to be paid from city of Denton funds and the amount of three point eight six million dollars And then we expect to receive additional RTR funding regional total revenue funding from net cog and the amount of three million dollars to complete the agreement So this map shows the limits of the text up project it starts on the north end at I 35 East and it extends to the south South of Country Club Road or FM 1830 Text out is going to widen the two-lane road to a six lane concrete roadway with the raised median They're gonna install traffic signal improvements at various intersections They're going to construct a storm drain system and replace the roadside ditches And then they're gonna build sidewalks along both sides of the roads road throughout the project limits Before any of that happens, we have to move our utilities outside of the text out right of way. So We're gonna move all of our utilities so that they do not conflict with the text on improvements any of the text out Improvements and every now and then we're gonna construct new crossings of water and sewer lines across the right of way We have to do all of that before text. Dot can start the roadway work In order to pay for that we have to enter into an advanced funding agreement because we're putting our Construction plans in with the text out plans and it's going to be one bid package We hired a consultant they designed our plans We combined them with the text dot plans and then they bid it out to a contractor and the text out contractor is going to build our utility work We're gonna pay for that with the advanced funding agreement We're gonna give money to text out upfront so that they can pay their contractor to move our utilities So on July 9th, I brought a draft version of the advanced funding agreement here to PB for your consideration At the time the amount of the aFA was based on our consultants construction cost estimate And at the time on July 9th, we estimated the cost to be three point two million dollars The very next day the very next day after I told you it was gonna be three point two million dollars text dot received bids for the project There were nine bids for the project the low bidder for the overall project was SEMA construction, Inc They had a total bid of forty three point six two million dollars that includes all of the roadway work and the utility work So here's a list of the bids SEMA's listed on top. They're the low bidder their overall bid was low Was the lowest and it's forty three point six two million dollars Unfortunately when you looked at their bid and you took you looked at the public utility items They had a very high bid for the public utility work six point one million dollars Which was almost three million more dollars than what we anticipated the public utilities to cost So I just wanted to show you that all of the utility bids aren't that high Bidder number four Austin Bridge and Road had a three point five million dollar bid for the public utility work We know them more as a utility contractor Their numbers were very close to our estimates, but we're obligated to pay as part of the F AFA six point one million dollars for the utility improvements because text dot has to select this low bidder SEMA construction, Inc So right when the bids were opened we realized the utility numbers are very high Unfortunately, all of our the other stakeholders in the project realize the same thing we immediately reached out to text out with our concerns about the high bids for the utility work and Text on and net cog and Denton County and us at the city We all agree that the low bidder the overall low bidder for the project had unreasonably high bids for the utility work . So We went to text on and net cog for a solution Everyone agreed that yes those it's those costs are unreasonable and that we and so what net cog proposed to do was to go to the regional transportation council and Seek approval of an additional three million dollars in RTR funding to cover the cost of the additional utility work So all of our stakeholders are on board with that solution at the October 2018 meeting We fully expect the additional three million dollars in RTR funds to be approved for use on this project Seema's bid for the utility work is this number right here 6.1, but that's not all we're obligated to pay as part of the aFA Text out asked us to add additional costs and basically it amounts to 12% additional on top of the utility bid It's 2% for barricades 5% for mobilization and 5% for contingency. So the total amount of the aFA is the utility bid Plus an additional 12% which winds up being six point eight six million dollars again The city will be obligated to pay three point eight six million and then we expect to get additional funding RTR funding from net cog that makes up the other three million So this is how it's proposed to work and this is the agreement that text is going to sign with us The advanced funding agreement sets out the terms and conditions for payment and right now it says that we're gonna make two incremental Payments to the state the first one we will pay right after hopefully Pub agrees to the aFA and so does council tomorrow will immediately send a check to text out in the amount of three point eight six million dollars After that we'll receive the additional funding from net cog of three million dollars and we'll make the final payment to text dot honor before February 16th after we receive those additional funds So we expect this to be the total amount of money that we have to pay for the project The only reason we would have to pay more than the six point eight six million is if we ask the contractor to do additional work If we asked for a change order and we requested it we would have to pay for that But right now we think the total amount we're gonna have to pay is the six point eight six million dollars So What I'm asking you to do is to recommend adoption of an ordinance that allows the advanced funding agreement to be executed between the city and text dot in the amount of six million eight hundred and sixty four thousand nine hundred and seventy nine dollars And ninety eight cents for the Fort Worth Drive utility relocation project and I'll be happy to answer any questions if you have any Questions I have one what if we don't get the three million dollars That's a good question I can't tell you one hundred percent that we're going to get the money But all of our stakeholders including Michael Morris and net cog and Denton County and text dot They attend the RTC meetings and they vote at the meetings and we have all of their support to get this funny Everyone realizes that this is such a very important project for the overall region Everyone's on board to making the project happen and if we don't get those additional funds It's going it could cause serious delay in the project Text dot could probably have to bid the project again or some other solution would have to happen No one in the region wants that to happen. No one wants this project not to happen I'm very certain For the utility work was so high because that's not what they do Exactly. That's exactly it. So on that list there was big roadway contractors And then there was more contractors who do a lot of utility work We feel like a big roadway contractor won the project They are gonna hire a subcontractor to the utility work that subcontractor came in with high prices and then the general marked it up again Yeah that or they use the utility work Which is done in the very front of the project to just get more cash on hand at the beginning of the project Sometimes contractors do that. Yeah, I feel like it's a combination of those two things So the advanced funding agreement is not contingent upon Or is it contingent upon receiving approval? That's that's correct basically all it says is we will make two payments the first one immediately 3.86 million and then the second they delayed the date until after we would get the funds approved from the RTC and after we would receive Those funds and so we don't have to make that second payment until February. I'm very confident. We're gonna get that additional three million dollars Miss Chad mentioned we do expect the funds to come from cog , but for some reason that would not occur As you know, we're approving the agreement. We are on the hook for the project We'd come back with a solution of potentially how to rest ructure our capital program or how to come up with those funds internally We don't expect that to be the case But if it were we'll come back to you with a solution and talk that through give you those options It's the entire project is gonna take two to two and a half years so They're expecting to start in November of 2018. So it'd be November 2020 or early 2021 The utilities will be done first in about 11 months Should be green it is green there you go. That's it now. It 's always been green I don't really see we have a whole lot of Choices here really Dollars that we I mean how badly would it impact all of our capital projects? Yeah Well, that's certainly a lot of money it would have an impact at this point We're proceeding thinking that we're going to get the funds from the RTR and from cog as we've described to you But it would be an impact. Absolutely for some other projects, but we'd hopefully be able to restructure projects brings Maybe delay some other projects that we had and bring funds forward to make this happen. This is a priority project for us It's ready to go and it's long long overdue I don't suppose the public utility portion can be extracted from the overall bid and bid separately so It would be possible to take that work out and rebid it again and constructed it by some other methods and not use the textile Contractor, but that would cause about 18 months of delay for the textile project Then they would have to rebid their project and in 18 months their prices are gonna be way more higher than this additional $3 million for the job. Everybody understands that and that that delay would really hurt them much more financially than this would And just to lighten it how will I get to mr. Frosty? We need to make sure there's a good detail Hopefully text on is considered that Well, I think this this is a Big project and it's been it has been on the drawing board for a long time. I know we've talked about it in bond committees for probably 20 years and You know text dot is bearing the brunt of the cost of It's a much more much better project than then, you know, if we were of course we couldn't really widen the state road anyway, but I know Some of the history of it is it goes back to the replacement of the railroad underpass text dots taking all that cost on So yeah, it's it is what it is It's the I'm on now, right? Is the 3.8 coming out of the most recent bond or is it what where the funds coming for the three? So these are utility bonds utility revenue funds There's money in the accounts to pay for that 3.8 6 million today. We have to send text out a check Immediately after the City Council meeting tomorrow Well, it sounds like you're confident the other three millions gonna come I'm very confident I don't want y'all to think that that's not gonna happen Okay I'm excited about the project. Like you said, yeah I was disturbed by this little hiccup, especially after since it happened right after the last pub meeting that was a shame But we're about to get it resolved And it sounds like a good solution. So Okay, well the comments Do we have a motion then on item B I'll move approval Motion and a second to approve item B Any discussion I just want to recommend I don't want to sound like Doomsday here, but I'd like to recommend that we start thinking about other options for funding before October rolls around You know just so that we're not caught by it That's a good idea. That's a good point Okay, any other discussion all in favor say aye aye any opposed Okay, thank you Next we have item C which is ACM update. Good morning. Mr. Chairman members of the board Not much to report in your packet. There is a memo that Indic that provides you a summary of all the utility rate decreases and that are being recommended for fiscal year 1819 the only area that is not being decreased is the is the Excuse me is within the water fund. So all the other items Utilities electric wastewater solid waste are all being decreased for this next fiscal year So if you have any questions, we have representatives from finance here that can help answer any any detailed questions that you may have But very good news for didn't repairs this next year nothing further Very good Okay, we will before we go into closed session I guess we 'll ask through any Concluding Adams under section 551 102 the Texas Open Meetings Act is to respond to inquiries from the public utilities board or the public with specific factual information Arrest station of policy or accepted proposal to place a matter on the agenda for an upcoming meeting I just have a quick question Mine is really a simple question. I don't know if it falls under those guidelines there But it does does anybody know if Spencer station came online when it got really hot last month I'd heard that Spencer station was being mothballed But when I rode by there on my scooter the other day it felt like the cooling towers were operating But I don't know you might have we handle that in closed session. I have an answer Okay, given that somebody else's power plant and whether it runs or doesn't run is kind of competitive in the marketplace Just over but it was really just an observational question I don't really need to know if it was performing well or anything like that on or off I guess but that's okay I'm just so no we do okay. We'll catch it right away. That 's not on the agenda for today But we can look at trying to give you some information. Okay. Well, I guess I just thought maybe it fell under factual information Yes, it was on no, it wasn't Okay, okay then mine is on July 23rd in the Wall Street Journal there was an article on Russian hackers reach US utility control systems Homeland Security officials say so Can we have a report on what we're doing to make sure that that isn't? happening, I don't know that probably has to be closed session, but you know check with Larry and Obviously, we don't want everybody to know what we're doing . But I'd like to know what we're doing At least when I was doing something right Okay, any other items for future agenda or for future agenda items Okay, if not we will convene the Closed session at 948 to consider the following items
Agenda
6 pages
City of Denton City Hall 215 E. McKinney St. Denton, Texas 76201 www.cityofdenton.com Meeting Agenda Public Utilities Board Monday, August 13, 2018 9:00 AM Work Session Room After determining that a quorum is present, the Public Utilities Board of the City of Denton, Texas will convene in a meeting on Monday, August 13, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Work Session Room at City Hall, 215 E. McKinney Street, Denton, Texas at which the following items will be considered: WORK SESSION A. PUB18-128 Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding proposed updates to the GreenSense Incentive Program, the GreenSense Incentive Program Manual, and Distributed Generation Manual for FY 2018-19. Attachments: Exhibit 1 - Agenda Information Sheet Exhibit 2 - GreenSense Incentive Program Manual Exhibit 3 - Distributed Generation Manual Exhibit 4 - GS and DG Presentation The Public Utilities Board (PUB) will convene in a Closed Meeting to consider specific items when these items are listed below under the Closed Meeting section of this agenda. When items for consideration are not listed under the Closed Meeting section of the agenda, the PUB will not conduct a Closed Meeting and will immediately convene its open meeting. The PUB reserves the right to adjourn into a Closed Meeting on any item on its open meeting agenda consistent with Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, as amended, or as otherwise allowed by law. CLOSED MEETING A. PUB18-154 Deliberations Regarding Certain Public Power Utilities: Competitive Matters - Under Texas Government Code Section 551.086; Consultation with Attorneys - Under Texas Government Code Section 551.071. Receive a presentation from staff regarding public power competitive and financial matters about power purchase agreements under development as a result of the City’s participation in the New Braunfels Utility’s Request for Proposal for the purchase of solar-generated electric power (“NBU RFP”); discuss and deliberate str…

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