WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.400 Okay, it is nine o'clock and we have a quorum, 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:10.760 so we'll call to order the Public Utilities Board for the City of Denton for July 25th, 2022. 00:00:10.760 --> 00:00:14.040 The first item is presentations from members of the public. 00:00:14.040 --> 00:00:17.760 Is there anyone from the public who wishes to address us? 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:21.600 Seeing none, we'll move on to consent agenda. 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:26.480 Does any board member wish to pull item A, B, or C? 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:32.000 Okay, seeing none, do we have a motion to approve the consent agenda? 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:39.840 Okay. I didn't catch who was seconding, but okay, Barbara. 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:42.360 All right. All in favor say aye. 00:00:42.360 --> 00:00:43.140 Aye. 00:00:43.140 --> 00:00:45.680 Opposed? Motion carries. 00:00:45.680 --> 00:00:50.420 Next item is consider approval of the July 11th, 2022 minutes. 00:00:50.420 --> 00:00:52.720 Do we have a motion to approve the minutes? 00:00:52.720 --> 00:00:56.240 Larry's moving. Do we have a second? 00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:57.200 Second. 00:00:57.200 --> 00:00:59.840 Billy's second. All in favor say aye. 00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:00.680 Aye. 00:01:00.680 --> 00:01:04.120 Carries. The next items are the approval of 00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:07.840 the budgets and their presentations are available if anybody has questions. 00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:11.240 Otherwise, we'll just go through and approve each item. 00:01:11.240 --> 00:01:17.320 The first one is the approval of the solid waste fiscal year 2022-2023 operating budget. 00:01:17.320 --> 00:01:21.520 Does any board members have questions on the solid waste? 00:01:21.520 --> 00:01:24.640 All right. Do we have a motion to approve? 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:26.600 Ben is motioning to approve. 00:01:26.600 --> 00:01:29.320 Lee is seconding. All in favor say aye. 00:01:29.320 --> 00:01:30.160 Aye. 00:01:30.160 --> 00:01:31.800 Did you have a question, Lee? 00:01:31.800 --> 00:01:34.320 I had a question, but I'm too late. 00:01:34.320 --> 00:01:36.880 No, that's fine. We can go back, can't we? 00:01:36.880 --> 00:01:37.400 Yeah. 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:38.240 Okay. Thank you. 00:01:38.240 --> 00:01:41.040 Go ahead. I thought you were seconding. 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:42.840 No, I was trying to get my hand up. 00:01:42.840 --> 00:01:43.960 Okay. 00:01:43.960 --> 00:01:50.480 My question is, has anything changed in this budget presentation since we last saw it? 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:52.400 No, sir. Nothing has changed. 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:54.720 It's 100 percent same as it was. 00:01:54.720 --> 00:01:57.280 Yes. Let me back up. 00:01:57.280 --> 00:01:59.520 Danielle Stanford and her own budget manager. 00:01:59.520 --> 00:02:03.840 The only thing Mr. Rybeck that has changed is we did adjust the supplemental requests. 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:08.320 We were double counting 630,000. 00:02:08.320 --> 00:02:15.920 We reduced the supplemental requests to accurately reflect what is moving forward as a recurring cost. 00:02:15.920 --> 00:02:17.840 Okay. What was that amount? 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:19.760 What's the new amount? 00:02:19.760 --> 00:02:34.640 The recurring cost is $620,065. 00:02:34.640 --> 00:02:36.640 It was 1.2 million. 00:02:36.640 --> 00:02:38.080 That was previously 130? 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:38.800 Yes, sir. 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:40.160 Okay. Thank you very much. 00:02:40.160 --> 00:02:40.800 No problem. 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:42.560 I have no further questions. Thank you. 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:44.800 Do we need to re-approve it, Marcella? 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:53.200 Okay. Do we have a motion to approve the fiscal year 2022-2023 solid waste budget? 00:02:53.200 --> 00:02:54.240 Okay. 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:55.040 Second. 00:02:55.040 --> 00:02:57.840 And Lee's seconding. All in favor this time? 00:02:57.840 --> 00:02:58.960 Aye. 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:00.000 Okay. It carries. 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:06.640 Next item is considered the approval of the water fiscal year 2022-2023 operating and capital budget. 00:03:06.640 --> 00:03:09.840 Okay. This one, Mr. Beck has questions. 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:17.440 I notice you say no rate increase, which is good, but considering the serious warm weather we've had, 00:03:17.440 --> 00:03:22.560 the drought weather, are we capable of doing that? 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:31.440 I noticed there was a surplus of about $24 million from last year or this last fiscal year. 00:03:31.440 --> 00:03:36.000 Is that the reason we're able to hold rate increases steady? 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:42.000 I'm concerned that the dry weather, the drought weather we've had, 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:49.920 is that susceptible to change that prognosis of no rate increases? 00:03:49.920 --> 00:03:51.760 I'm actually going to let Nick help me with that one. 00:03:51.760 --> 00:03:52.000 Okay. 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:58.480 One comment I'll make is when we do have drought weather, we sell more water. 00:03:58.480 --> 00:03:58.960 Yeah. 00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:00.880 So we usually have a surplus of sales. 00:04:02.720 --> 00:04:08.960 Okay. But if we're using more water, then we're depleting our resources quicker too. 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:11.200 So I guess that's where I was going with that. 00:04:11.200 --> 00:04:14.960 This projection takes all that into account? 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:18.400 Good morning. Nick Vinson, Assistant Director of Finance. 00:04:18.400 --> 00:04:23.200 Mr. Beck, you're exactly correct. This forecast does take that into account. 00:04:23.200 --> 00:04:26.480 So a couple of the major projects in water and wastewater for this fiscal year 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:30.880 is replacement of the existing infrastructure, that aging infrastructure. 00:04:30.880 --> 00:04:35.280 So I think to your point, the more water we use, the more demand on that infrastructure. 00:04:35.280 --> 00:04:39.920 Yeah. Okay. But we're okay. No rate increases this fiscal year. 00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:42.960 For water, correct. No rate increases. That is correct. 00:04:42.960 --> 00:04:43.760 Right. Thank you. 00:04:43.760 --> 00:04:50.800 All right. Do we have a motion to approve the water operating capital? 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:53.280 Yes. Mr. Beck is moving. 00:04:53.280 --> 00:04:57.920 And do we have a second? Okay. Ben's seconding. 00:04:57.920 --> 00:04:59.360 All in favor say aye. 00:04:59.360 --> 00:04:59.860 Aye. 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:08.240 Carries. Next one is consider recommending the approval of the waste water fiscal year 2022-2023 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:11.840 operating and capital budget. Are there questions on this budget? 00:05:11.840 --> 00:05:16.320 All right. I see no hands going up. Do we have a motion to... 00:05:16.320 --> 00:05:19.600 Oh, okay. Now I see a hand going up. Mr. Rybett, go ahead. 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:23.920 Same question. Has anything changed in this budget from the prior presentation? 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:27.040 No, sir. Nothing has changed from the prior presentation on wastewater. 00:05:27.040 --> 00:05:28.340 Thank you. 00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:31.520 Do we have a motion to approve? 00:05:31.520 --> 00:05:33.920 So moved. Mr. Rybett's moving. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:34.800 And do we have a second? 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:38.720 Billy second. All in favor say aye. 00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:39.220 Aye. 00:05:39.220 --> 00:05:46.000 Consider recommending the approval of the electric fiscal year 2022-2023 operating and capital budget. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:49.280 Questions on this one? Mr. Beck. 00:05:49.280 --> 00:05:53.360 I'm not sure if it goes here, but going through all these reports, 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:58.000 we had talked about in the past that we were going to hire new people and some of that's in here, 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:03.520 but there was the gas well inspector. Would that fall under this domain? 00:06:03.520 --> 00:06:07.600 Yes, sir. I believe that's part of the water as sustainability. 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:12.720 Okay. So there was a person in there that we intend on hiring for that purpose. 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:13.860 Go ahead. 00:06:13.860 --> 00:06:20.320 So great question. That question actually came up last week with a council presentation. 00:06:20.320 --> 00:06:24.720 So that position, if I'm not mistaken, was actually scheduled to start today, 00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:29.520 it'll be their first day at the city. Okay. So I just missed it all. I'm just glad it's there. Thank you. 00:06:29.520 --> 00:06:32.800 All right. Other questions? 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:37.040 Do we have a motion to approve the electric fiscal year budget? 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:42.400 Billy's moved. And Mr. Rybett second. All in favor say aye. 00:06:42.400 --> 00:06:49.040 Aye. That carries. Consider recommending approval of the customer service fiscal year 2022-2023 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:52.800 operating and capital budget. Are there questions on the customer service? 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:55.520 Mr. Rybett. 00:06:55.520 --> 00:07:01.920 We had a very nice presentation on the customer service budget review previously, but I have a 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:06.480 question that occurred to me afterwards, which is one of the things they wanted to do with this 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:11.760 budget is to add personnel, but they're also pushing very hard to have everything done online. 00:07:11.760 --> 00:07:17.360 So I'm modestly confused about we're adding people, but we're trying to get everything automated. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:22.800 So I just thought I would pose that question before we go ahead and say to approve the budget. 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:24.240 I don't know if you can answer that or not. 00:07:25.440 --> 00:07:30.240 That's a good question, Mr. Rybett. It doesn't look like someone from customer services here, 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:34.560 but they do have metrics that support the need for additional personnel that I'll be happy to 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:37.760 share with Kim to send to you all after the meeting. Thank you. 00:07:37.760 --> 00:07:43.280 Oh, and then Barbara. Thank you. 00:07:43.280 --> 00:07:47.200 I just wanted to say, I know customer service is getting busier and busier, 00:07:47.200 --> 00:07:53.440 so I think there is probably a need for an additional person along with automating because 00:07:53.440 --> 00:07:57.520 now if you're trying to get through, you have a considerable amount of weight. 00:07:57.520 --> 00:08:03.840 And I will say those guys do a great job. Yes, ma'am. They do a wonderful job. And 00:08:03.840 --> 00:08:08.640 she does have a table provided in a different presentation that supports the need for additional 00:08:08.640 --> 00:08:12.800 staff. All right. Move approval. 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:18.160 All right. Thank you, Barbara. Do we have a second? Mr. Beck, seconding. All in favor say, 00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:24.320 aye. Aye. That carries. Thank you. Thank you. Management reports. Christine. 00:08:24.320 --> 00:08:38.720 Okay. So on your, we don't have any items under the future public utility board agenda items, 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:41.440 unless you'll have something you want us to look into and bring back to you. 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:45.360 And then on our second attachment for the new business action items, 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:51.280 we still have the item on there that Mr. Soph had requested back in 2020. I did meet with Tony 00:08:51.280 --> 00:08:56.320 prior to this meeting and he indicated he wanted to let you all know that DME anticipates taking 00:08:56.320 --> 00:09:01.440 that item to the sustainability committee in mid August. So they should have that information 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:06.400 ready for public utilities board and an update after that. Okay. Thank you. Is there any other 00:09:06.400 --> 00:09:15.440 items we need to add or look into? Yes, sir. Yeah. So I know there's, we have the incentives for 00:09:16.400 --> 00:09:20.880 getting solar panels on your roof, which I know gets depleted very quickly. 00:09:20.880 --> 00:09:25.280 Has there been any thought to increasing that or removing it altogether or 00:09:25.280 --> 00:09:30.160 have we reconsidered anything with that recently? I'd be curious to know info on that. 00:09:30.160 --> 00:09:35.120 I will add that and bring that back. I do know that Michael Gagne, our sustainability director, 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:39.920 has been working on that in conjunction with DME, looking at that program and what can we do 00:09:39.920 --> 00:09:44.400 additionally to either enhance that or what can we do? So we'll add that to our list and bring that 00:09:44.400 --> 00:09:52.400 back as an action item. Great. Thanks. All right, that brings us to concluding items. I think this 00:09:52.400 --> 00:10:00.720 is where I say I did get my absence approved for June 13th. So we can have that in the record. 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:08.160 Does any board member wish to have anything else added or make any comments? Just want to make sure 00:10:08.160 --> 00:10:12.720 that everybody's going to be here because Susan and Barbara and both will miss the next meeting, 00:10:13.760 --> 00:10:19.120 which is the 8th. Everybody else ought to be here? Should be, yeah. Okay. I will be here on the 8th, 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:24.800 but I will not be on the 22nd. Okay. And I will send an email to the secretary on that. 00:10:24.800 --> 00:10:37.360 And Barbara. Yes, yes. All right. Do we have a motion to adjourn? Okay, 910.