MAY 6, 2025. CORPUS CHRISTI CITY COUNCIL MEETING [ ♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪ ] >> Mayor Guajardo: GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. WELCOME TO CITY HALL AND WELCOME TO COUNCIL CHAMBERS. I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. THIS MORNING OUR INVOCATION WILL BE GIVEN BY RABBI NAFTOLI SCHMULKER WITH CHABAD COASTAL BEND. >> GOOD MORNING, GUYS. >> Mayor Guajardo: GOOD MORNING. >> FIRST, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE POLICE OFFICERS HERE. WE APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE CCPD AND WE REMEMBER THOSE THAT SERVE AND PAID THE HIGHEST PRICE. AND ALSO TO THE 9-1-1 METROCOM GRADUATES. IT'S ALL GOOD. MORE SAFETY. MORE SECURITY. BLESS YOU. FRIENDS, IT'S A PLEASURE TO COME TOGETHER FOR TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON BEHALF OF THE GREAT CITIZENS OF CORPUS CHRISTI TEXAS. 3,334 YEARS AGO I WAS BORN -- JOKING. 3,334 YEARS AGO AT THE GREAT EXODUS OF EGYPT, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE INSTRUCTED TO COUNT THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE ARRIVAL AT MT. SINAI WHERE THEY WOULD RECEIVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, THE WORD OF GOD, AS WELL AS THE SEVEN LAWS FOR ALL OF THE CHILDREN OF NOAH UNITING ALL OF HUMANITY. THE MESSAGE OF THE COUNTING OF DAYS REMINDS US THAT EACH AND EVERY DAY OF LIFE IS UNIQUE AND NEEDS TO BE FILLED WITH PURPOSE AND HAS GREAT POTENTIAL. AND WE SHOULD ENDEAVOR TO MAXIMIZE THE TIME WITH MEANING AND PURPOSE THROUGH INCREASING ACTS OF GOODNESS AND KINDNESS, MAKING EVERY DAY AND EVERY MEETING AND INTERACTION SHINE WITH A SPARK OF DIVINE INTENT. ALMIGHTY GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS OUR GATHERING HERE TODAY. BLESS THE HONORABLE MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER, AND ALL THEIR STAFF. BLESS US THAT OUR WORK BE EFFECTIVE AND LEAD TO GOOD RESULTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY AND COMMUNITIES. BLESS US WITH GOOD HEALTH, WITH PROSPERITY, AND WITH JOY. ALMIGHTY GOD, BLESS US WITH PRODUCTIVITY. BLESS US WITH UNITY AND BLESS US WITH PEACE. LET US ALL SAY AMEN. >> Mayor Guajardo: AMEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TODAY OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES FLAG AND TO THE TEXAS STATE FLAG WILL BE LED BY HANNAH NICHOLE HOMINICK. SHE'S A 12th GRADER FROM CALALLEN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATING CUM LAUDE. SHE WON STATE FOR CLAY SHOOTING. >> GO CATS! >> PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >> PLEASE JOIN ME IN HONORING THE TEXAS FLAG. [HONORING THE TEXAS FLAG] >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, HANNAH. GOOD LUCK FROM YOUR STUDIES. MS. HUERTA, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? [ROLL CALL] >> City Secretary: MAYOR AND COUNCIL, A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL AND THE REQUIRED CHARTER OFFICERS ARE PRESENT TO CONDUCT THE MEETING. >> Mayor Guajardo: WE'LL MOVE ON TO E, CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS AND UPDATE ON CITY OPERATIONS. MR. ZANONI. >> Zanoni: GREAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT THIS MORNING AND THEY BOTH DEAL WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATIONS, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE'RE GLAD TO PRESENT THESE TODAY. AND THE FIRST ONE IS TO RECOGNIZE RECENT GRADUATES FROM THE 61st CLASS OF METROCOM. AND JUST AS SOME BACKGROUND, THE CITY DOES TEACH OUR CALL TAKERS, OUR 9-1-1 CALL TAKERS, WE HAVE AN ACADEMY AND THEY GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF TRAINING. RECENTLY THEY GRADUATED THIS CLASS OF SEVEN. AND SO WE WANTED TO INTRODUCE THEM TODAY TO THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY. THEIR WORK IS UNMEASURABLE AND HIGHLY CRITICAL TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY. OUR 9-1-1 CALL TAKERS OR 9-1-1, WHEN WE DIAL THAT NUMBER, THAT IS THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI AND THAT OPERATION HAS DISPATCHERS FOR ALL EMERGENCIES IN NUECES COUNTY WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF TWO OF OUR COMMUNITIES WHO MANAGE THEIR OWN. BUT THE CORPUS CHRISTI POLICE DEPARTMENT OVERSEES METROCOM AND WITH THESE RECENT GRADUATES WE HAVE 64 EMPLOYEES THAT ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO ANSWER CALLS AND THEN DISPATCH CALLS TO POLICE OR FIREFIGHTERS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY REASONS. JOINING US THIS MORNING ARE FOUR OF THE GRADUATES. AND THEY'RE WORKING ALREADY. IN FACT, THE OTHER THREE ARE SLEEPING BECAUSE THEY WORKED LAST NIGHT. THEY HAD THE NIGHT SHIFT. BUT FOUR ARE HERE. JESSICA IS HERE. MARCO, KILLIO IS HERE AND THEN ISABELLA AS WELL IS HERE. I'M GOING TO INVITE ASSISTANT CHIEF WHITE UP TO THE PODIUM. CHIEF WHITE OVERSEES THE ADMINISTRATIVE SECTION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING THE METROCOM AREA. HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB WORKING WITH US AND THIS CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF MEMBERS THERE. TWO, BE COMPETITIVE IN PAY, BECAUSE THE OTHER CALL AGENCIES TRY TO RECRUIT OUR PEOPLE AFTER WE TRAIN THEM, SO WE'VE RECENTLY ADJUSTED PAY, IMPROVED WORKING CONDITIONS, AND HIGHLIGHT AND RECOGNIZE OUR CALL TAKERS OFTEN SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THEM HERE. THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT. CHIEF WHITE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU TALK ABOUT THEM ABOUT THEIR GRADUATION. >> THANK YOU, PETER. CHRISTOPHER WHITE WITH CCPD. IT'S AN HONOR HERE THIS MORNING TO SHARE A GOOD STORY WITH YOU. WE'RE HONORING THESE GRADUATES. SO REAL QUICK NOTE. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET DISPATCHERS, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER PROFESSION. TO UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITY OF IT, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A CLEAN BACKGROUND. NO DRUGS OR ARRESTS, JUST LIKE A POLICE OFFICER. WE SCREEN WITH THEM POLYGRAPHS, A PSYCHOLOGICAL. THEY HAVE TO PASS A TEST CALLED CRITICAL, AN ASSESSMENT OF YOUR ABILITY TO MULTITASK WHILE YOU'RE TYPING AND LISTENING AND RECALLING. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. I ATTEMPTED IT FOR FIVE SECONDS. THAT'S HOW GOOD I WAS AT IT. THESE SEVEN HAVE DONE IT AND FOUR OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY. THEY WILL ROTATE SHIFTS SO THEY CAN GET A TASTE OF DAY, NIGHTS, AND WEEKENDS. WITH THIS ACADEMY WE GRADUATED ON APRIL 18th WITH SEVEN GRADUATES. ONE OF THEM WAS A GRADUATE FROM OUR CCISD METROCOM PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE THROUGH CCISD/CTE PROGRAM. WE HAVE HAD ONE OTHER EMPLOYEE COME THROUGH. I THINK HE WENT ON TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL. THESE ARE OUR SEVEN GRADUATES. THE ONES WHO AREN'T HERE ARE MASON, RILEY, AND ZYLA. THEY ARE ON THE NIGHT SHIFT. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DISPATCHERS. THEY ARE RECOGNIZED AS FIRST RESPONDERS. SINCE 20 2019 THE STATE ADDED THEM IN. THEY ARE LICENSED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS THROUGH TCOLE. SO WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ACADEMY? IT'S ABOUT 240 HOURS OF EDUCATION, INCLUDED BUT NOT LIMITED TO CARDIAC EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION, FIRST AID, CPR, GEOGRAPHY, WHAT WE CALL MEDICAL EMERGENCY DISPATCH CERTIFICATION. THEY ALSO HAVE TO GET THEIR LICENSE SO THAT THEY CAN DO BACKGROUND LOOKS ON INDIVIDUALS, ET CETERA. AND THEN CRISIS AND COMMUNICATION FOR TELECOMMUNICATORS. THAT'S A SMALL PORTION OF WHAT THEY LEARN IN THE ACADEMY. WHEN THEY GRADUATE, THEN THE FUN REALLY STARTS. THEY'RE ON THE OJT PART OF IT. THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO A SHIFT. WE WORK 12-HOUR SHIFTS IN METROCOM AND THOSE SHIFTS ROTATE AROUND THROUGH VARIOUS DAYS OF THE WEEK. THEY ARE ASSIGNED DTO, DISPATCH TRAINING OFFICER. THE WAY WE DO IT IS THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO A ONE DISPATCH TRAINING OFFICER IN A POD ENVIRONMENT ON THE 9-1-1 FLOOR. THEY LEARN HOW TO DO 9-1-1 CALLS AS A GROUP. THEY GET TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER, HEAR THE GOOD AND BAD OF WHAT THAT INDIVIDUAL DID, TALK ABOUT THAT, TAKE THE NEXT 9-1-1 CALL, THE GOOD AND BAD OF THAT CALL. IT ACCELERATES THE LEARNING PROCESS AND THEY END UP ACCELERATING THE ABILITY TO HIT THE FLOOR AS INDIVIDUAL 9-1-1 CALL TAKERS IN SIX TO 12 WEEKS WHERE IT USED TO TAKE US THREE TO FOUR MONTHS. THAT'S IT IN A NUTSHELL. I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE AND ALLOW ME TO PRESENT THIS. I HAVE BEEN ON METROCOM SINCE 2021 AS A DEPUTY CHIEF AND NOW AS ASSISTANT CHIEF. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH THINGS ABOUT THE WORK THEY DO. AND PETER AND MICHAEL'S SUPPORT AND Y'ALL'S SUPPORT IN MAKING THEM FEEL VALUABLE, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE. WE'VE IMPROVED GREATLY IN OUR METROCOM, HONORING THEM MORE AND DOING MORE THINGS FOR THEM, SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK WE HAVE A SHORT VIDEO OF THE ACADEMY GROUP, IF WE CAN PLAY THAT. [ VIDEO ] >> 9-1-1, YOU NEED POLICE, FIRE, OR MEDICAL? >> ARE THERE ANY WEAPONS INVOLVED? >> IS THERE AN APARTMENT NUMBER? >> I'LL PUT YOU BACK IN LINE SO AN OFFICER WILL GIVE YOU A CALL BACK OKAY? ♪ >> JUST PUT IN A LOCATION. ♪ >> 9-1-1. IS THIS GOING TO BE A POLICE, FIRE, OR MEDICAL EMERGENCY? >> MEDICAL EMERGENCY. >> SO THAT WAS SHORT AND SWEET BUT IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM THEY'RE GOING THROUGH AND Y'ALL ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME DOWN TO THE STATION ANY TIME TO OUR METROCOM. MAYOR, I KNOW YOU HAVE DONE IT A TIME OR TWO. WE LOVE TO HAVE YOU AND SHOW YOU WHAT WE DO AND IT'S JUST PHENOMENAL. I STAND BY FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. I THINK WE'LL HAVE SOME COMMENTS BUT I GUESS JUST FOR CLARITY, THERE ARE HOW MANY TOTAL? THE PICTURE SHOWED ABOUT EIGHT. >> WE HAD SEVEN GRADUATE. THREE ARE ON NIGHT SHIFT NOW AND THESE FOUR WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO DRAW THE DAYS. >> Zanoni: THREE ARE SLEEPING RIGHT NOW. >> THEN WE'LL SWITCH. THEY'LL GET TO STAY UP. >> Mayor Guajardo: I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU HOW PROUD WE ARE OF YOU AND I WANT TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I MEAN, 2019 I WAS GOING TO ASK WHAT YEAR WAS IT WHEN IT WAS OFFICIAL, RIGHT, THAT METROCOM OPERATORS ARE DEEMED FIRST RESPONDERS. BECAUSE IT IS SO TRUE. YOU ARE REALLY A FIRST RESPONDER AND THAT IS A SERIOUS, SERIOUS POSITION AND HUGE RESPONSIBILITY. AND, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST THIS COUNCIL BUT FOR MANY YEARS COUNCIL AFTER COUNCIL AFTER COUNCIL HAS PRIORITIZED PUBLIC SAFETY OR YOU, WHETHER YOU'RE ON THE STREETS, ON MOTORCYCLES, YOU KNOW, OR IN METROCOM, YOU ARE A PRIORITY. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT AND HEAR THAT FROM ME DIRECTLY. I KNOW I SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUES BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. SO CONGRATULATIONS. TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT IS HUGE AND YOU ARE ALL VERY YOUNG AND SO THAT'S SO INSPIRING. THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING, OR MAYBE DISCERNING IN KNOWING THAT THIS IS THE PATH FOR YOU. WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU AND I'LL LET MY COLLEAGUES MAKE SOME COMMENTS. COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON. >> Paxson: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, GUYS. WOW, WHAT A SPECIAL DAY THAT WE GET TO MEET YOU AND HAVE YOU GUYS COME UP AND BE A PART OF OUR MEETING TODAY. THIS IS A SPECIAL DAY TO ME. WE RECOGNIZED OUR MUNICIPAL CLERKS EARLIER, NOW WE GET TO CELEBRATE THIS CLASS, THIS GRADUATE CLASS AND, YOU KNOW, WE COULD NOT DO WHAT WE DO HERE WITHOUT THE VITAL SUPPORT THAT EACH DEPARTMENT PLAYS. AND YOU GUYS ARE JOINING THIS TEAM. YOU'RE COMMITTING TO THIS PUBLIC SERVICE. I COMMEND YOU FOR THAT. I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT. YOU HAD A SLIDE OF THE GRADUATES. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO GO BACK TO THAT REALLY QUICKLY TO SHOW THAT ONE MORE TIME? >> THERE WE GO. >> Paxson: WE HAVE OUR I.T. GENIUS IN THE BACK THAT I'M SURE CAN PLAY IT. THAT PICTURE -- DID WE FIND IT? >> THERE WE GO. >> Paxson: DO YOU HAVE THE ONE WHERE EVERYBODY'S STANDING TOGETHER? >> ON THE VIDEO? >> Paxson: IT'S A VIDEO. THESE FACES RIGHT HERE, WHEN I WATCHED THIS PRESENTATION, THAT EXCITEMENT, THAT TO ME IS A PUBLIC SERVANT. I'M CONFIDENT AND I'M EXCITED BECAUSE THIS IS WHO IS JOINING OUR TEAM, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS. > >> Mayor Guajardo: COUNCILWOMAN CAMPOS. >> Campos: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AGAIN, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I STARTED OUT AS A OPERATOR FOR A HOSPITAL. AND IT WAS BACK THEN WHEN YOU HAD TO ACTUALLY PLUG. SO THAT'S HOW FAR IT WENT. BUT THEY ALWAYS -- THE HOSPITAL ALWAYS SAW THIS AS WE WERE THE FACE. Y'ALL ARE ACTUALLY THE FACE, EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY NOT SEE YOU, IT IS A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR FOR Y'ALL TO SERVE THIS AND TO CHOOSE THIS. AND I REALLY THANK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR REALLY INCREASING THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THIS AWESOME GREAT RESPONSIBILITY THAT Y'ALL HAVE. BECAUSE WHEN I SAW ON THE VIDEO OF Y'ALL TYPING AWAY, I'M LIKE, OH, MY GOD. IT'S AMAZING. AND, YES, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS THE RETENTION -- WHAT IS THE RETENTION FOR THAT JOB? >> IT VARIES. IT'S A VERY STRESSFUL JOB. >> Campos: I WOULD IMAGINE. >> WE DO A LOT TO COMBAT THAT WITH SOME MENTAL HEALTH STUFF THAT WE DO. WE GOT OUR PEER SUPPORT. BUT OUR AVERAGE TURNOVER IS EIGHT YEARS SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN GET PAST THAT AND HAVE SOME LONGEVITY IN METROCOM BUT WE SEEM TO GET A LOT OF BURNOUT AROUND THAT PERIOD OF TIME. >> Campos: SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP THEM HAPPY RIGHT? SO AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS. I'M SORRY IT TOOK A WHILE TO BE CONSIDERED AS FIRST RESPONDERS. THAT'S HARD TO BELIEVE BUT WE'RE HERE NOW. SO, AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL STAY LONGER. MAKE US PROUD LONGER THAN EIGHT YEARS. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: COUNCILMAN CANTU. >> Cantu: DO YOU GUYS FEED THEM GOOD BECAUSE THEY'RE THERE ALL NIGHT LONG. >> WE JUST HAD TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK AND THEY GOT FED TWICE A DAY. AND ALSO ONCE A MONTH WE DO AN APPRECIATION LUNCHEON. BOTH SHIFTS GET FED. AND THROUGHOUT THE MONTH WE FEED THEM. >> Cantu: I TOURED THE FACILITY AND YOU TOLD ME Y'ALL FEED THEM REALLY GOOD. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS FOR BEING HERE, GUYS, AND GOOD LUCK. >> Zanoni: THANK YOU, GUYS. WE WANT TO GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, CHIEF. GOOD JOB IN YOUR PRESENTATION. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WE DO HAVE ONE OTHER ITEM THAT'S EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND THAT'S TO TALK ABOUT NATIONAL POLICE OFFICERS' WEEK. DURING THIS WEEK LOCAL JURISDICTIONS LIKE OURS HAVE EVENTS, BUT ALSO IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THERE ARE EVENTS THAT REPRESENT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. AND THERE'S A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL, AS AN EXAMPLE, FOR FALLEN POLICE OFFICERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. I'LL GIVE YOU DETAILS ABOUT THAT. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A TOP COP AWARD CEREMONY THAT TAKES PLACE DURING THIS WEEK. AND WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS MORNING ABOUT THAT. LET'S TALK ABOUT POLICE MEMORIAL WEEK. THE NATIONAL POLICE OFFICERS MEMORIAL WEEK IS FROM MAY 11 THROUGH MAY 15. THIS IS A SPECIAL EVENT IN COMMEMORATION TO ALLOW US TO REMEMBER AND HONOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL WHO DIED TRAGICALLY IN THE LINE OF DUTY. AND ALSO TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM WHO SERVE AND PROTECT US TODAY. THAT'S THROUGH THE TOP COP AWARD, AS AN EXAMPLE. SO APPROXIMATELY UP TO 40,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO GO TO WASHINGTON, D.C. BEGINNING THIS SUNDAY. THERE WILL BE FAMILIES ALONG WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT WILL BE THERE FOR TWO OR THREE EVENTS, AT LEAST. JUST AS SOME QUICK BACKGROUND, IN 1962, PRESIDENT KENNEDY PROCLAIMED MAY 15, NEXT THURSDAY, AS THE NATIONAL PEACE OFFICERS' MEMORIAL DAY. THAT'S PART OF THE WHOLE WEEK THAT TAKES PLACE. I'M GOING TO BRING YOU LOCALLY HERE FOR A MOMENT. THIS NEXT THURSDAY ON THAT DAY, ON MAY 15, THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL VIGIL THAT TAKES PLACE AT NUECES COUNTY COURTHOUSE AT 9:00 A.M. MANY HAVE ATTENDED OVER THE YEARS. I HAVE GONE ALL OF MY SIX YEARS I HAVE BEEN HERE. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL AND WELL-RUN EVENTS IN THE TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE THAT I'VE SEEN. THAT EVENT IS TO RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN NUECES COUNTY. AND IT INCLUDES THOSE THAT HAVE DIED IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE PORT OF CORPUS CHRISTI. SO THAT TAKES PLACE NEXT THURSDAY HERE LOCALLY. THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING THESE EVENTS TAKE PLACE IN LOCAL CITIES BUT IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AS WELL. SO IN WASHINGTON, D.C., BACK TO WASHINGTON, D.C., THERE WILL BE HUNDREDS OF NAMES OF OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR WILL BE RECOGNIZED THERE ON TUESDAY NIGHT AT THE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THESE OFFICERS NAMES ARE READ ALOUD, THOSE WHO ARE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY, THEY ARE READ ALOUD DURING THE ANNUAL CANDLELIGHT VIGIL TO MEMORIALIZE THEM, AND THEN THEIR NAME IS ENGRAVED ON THE WALL. THIS YEAR UNFORTUNATELY 345 NAMES WILL BE READ OUT LOUD AND THEN ENGRAVED ON THE WALL. AND LOCALLY HERE IT HITS US HERE HOME BECAUSE TWO OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE ON THAT LIST OF THE 345. SO THEIR NAMES WILL BE READ AND THEIR NAMES WILL BE ENGRAVED ON THAT WALL. THOSE OFFICERS INCLUDE OFFICER VICENTE ORTIZ, WHO WAS KILLED IN A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT WHILE CONDUCTING A FUNERAL PROCESSION. AND OFFICER KYLE HICKS, WHO WAS KILLED RESPONDING TO A DISTURBANCE LAST YEAR. THIS IS THE 37th ANNUAL CANDLELIGHT VIGIL AND THAT WILL BE ON TUESDAY EVENING AND TWO OF OUR OFFICERS WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED THERE. ON A MORE POSITIVE NOTE, DURING THAT SAME WEEK NEXT WEEK, THERE'S A TOP COPS AWARD, AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 1994. THE NAT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POLICE ORGANIZATION, NAPO, PRESENT THE TOP COP AWARDS DURING THIS WEEK, DURING POLICE APPRECIATION WEEK. THE PURPOSE OF TOP COP'S AWARD IS TO EDUCATE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ABOUT OUR NATION'S HEROES AND PAY TRIBUTE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, BOTH AT FEDERAL STATE COUNTY TRIBAL AND LOCAL AGENCIES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THESE TEN OFFICERS THIS YEAR ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR WORK ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. WE ALREADY KNOW THAT'S A PRETTY TOUGH CALL BUT THESE OFFICERS ARE RECOGNIZED FROM AN INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND NATIONALLY. THE GREAT NEWS FOR US IS WE HAVE ONE OF OUR OWN OFFICERS WILL BE ONE OF THOSE TOP TEN NAMED NATIONALLY AND WILL BE RECOGNIZED NEXT WEEK. AND THAT OFFICER IS HERE WITH US TODAY. HE'S IN THE BACK. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HIM COME UP TO THE FRONT AND HAVE CHIEF AS WELL ADD A FEW WORDS. OUR OFFICER IS OFFICER MARCO RAMIREZ AND HE'S GOING TO BE HONORED AS ONE OF OUR TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY FOR HIS BRAVERY IN THE FACE OF DANGER WHEN HE CONFRONTED INDIVIDUALS WHO TOOK THE LIFE OF KYLE HICKS OVER A YEAR AGO. SO OFFICER ORTIZ, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY ORGANIZATION, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US SAFE ALWAYS. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS HONOR. WE'RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU. WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE TODAY AND WE'RE GLAD WE'RE GOING TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK. CHIEF, CAN YOU JOIN HIM TO MAKE SURE HE'S OKAY UP THERE? THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. CHIEF, IF YOU WANT TO ADD A FEW THINGS. AND OFFICER ORTIZ, IF YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW THINGS AS WELL. >> HE'S A PRETTY BRAVE YOUNG MAN. I THINK HE'S OKAY. >> Zanoni: RAMIREZ, SORRY. >> BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I THINK WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE PARENTS OF OFFICER ORTIZ WHO ARE HERE TODAY, ALONG WITH VICENTE'S YOUNGER SISTER, ELIZABETH. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. [APPLAUSE] SOME OF THE MOST HUMBLE, SWEETEST PEOPLE I HAVE EVER MET. MR. ORTIZ, VICENTE SR., IS A LONGTIME PUBLIC SERVANT HIMSELF. AGAIN, MARCO -- AND SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE, FOLKS. MARCO IS A REMARKABLE RESPONSE IN THE FACE OF GRAVE DANGER. SAVED LIVES. SAVED OTHER OFFICERS' LIVES. THIS TURNED INTO A FAMILY DISTURBANCE TURNED INTO A GUN BATTLE VERY QUICK. IT TOOK THE LIVES OF ONE OF OUR OFFICERS AND MARCO RESPONDED WITH EXEMPLARY SPEED AND ACTION AND COMMITMENT. WE CALL IT A ONE-PERCENTER. 99% WOULD RUN THE OTHER WAY AND OF COURSE MARCO DID NOT DO THAT. HE CONFRONTED THE DANGER AND HE STOPPED THE DANGER WITHOUT REGARDING TO HIS OWN PERSONAL SAFETY. GET OVER HERE, SON. WITHOUT REGARDS TO HIS OWN PERSONAL SAFETY THINKING NOTHING BUT SAVING THE LIVES OF HIS FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES. HE IS A REMARKABLE YOUNG MAN AND HE IS INDICATIVE OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR CULTURE. IT IS HONORABLE THAT HE IS BEING RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AND WE APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH, MY FRIEND. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. >> YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? [APPLAUSE] >> Mayor Guajardo: HOLD ON. WHERE IS HE GOING? WE WANT TO HEAR YOU SAY SOMETHING. COME ON BACK DOWN. I WAS LIKE, DID YOU RUN HIM OFF, CHIEF MARKLE? WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU. WE ARE SO PROUD OF WHAT YOU'RE REPRESENTING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WASN'T EXPECTING TO BE ON A MIC BUT I DO WANT TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT FOR BELIEVING THAT I DESERVE THE AWARD. AND I WANT TO SAY I LOVE AND MISS KYLE EVERY DAY, ALONG WITH OUR OTHER FELLOW OFFICER THAT PASSED AWAY. AND JUST THANK ALL OF YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. GOOD JOB. [APPLAUSE] >> Zanoni: GREAT, MAYOR. THAT CONCLUDES THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, PETER. LET'S SEE, IT'S 12:00. PERFECT TIMING. AS WE PROCEED TO ITEM F, PUBLIC COMMENT, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS BUSINESS MEETING. WE HANDLE SIGNIFICANT MATTERS CONCERNING TAXPAYER DOLLARS, MAKING IT IMPERATIVE THAT WE UPHOLD THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF DECORUM AND ADHERENCE TO POLICIES. OUR CORE PRINCIPLES OF OPENNESS, TRANSPARENCY, AND INCLUSIVENESS GUIDE OUR ACTIONS AND WE AIM TO ACHIEVE THEM WHILE RESPECTING OUR CITY COUNCIL POLICY, WHICH HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR 30 YEARS. PUBLIC COMMENT SERVES AS ONE AVENUE FOR COMMUNICATION BUT IT CERTAINLY IS NOT THE SOLE METHOD. YOU CAN REACH OUT TO MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL BY WAY OF PHONE CALLS, E-MAILS, OR EVEN BY SCHEDULING AN IN-PERSON APPOINTMENT. WITH THAT SAID, LET'S PROCEED TO PUBLIC COMMENT, KEEPING IN MIND THE IMPORTANCE OF DECORUM AND ADHERENCE TO THESE POLICIES. SO BEFORE I BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK CITY ATTORNEY MILES RISLEY TO REVIEW THE RULES OF DECORUM. THESE RULES WILL BE DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN FOR OUR AUDIENCE'S REFERENCE. MR. RISLEY. [RULE OF DECORUM] >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. RISLEY. [RULES OF DECORUM] >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. RISLEY. SO INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED UPON IN ORDER THEY SIGNED UP ELECTRONICALLY. WE WILL FIRST HEAR IN-PERSON COMMENTS FOLLOWED BY VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENTS. RESIDENTS OF CORPUS CHRISTI WILL BE GIVEN PRIORITY OVER NON-RESIDENTS AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY IN WHICH YOU LIVE BEFORE BEGINNING YOUR COMMENTS. YOU HAVE TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AN AGENDA ITEM OR CITY-RELATED BUSINESS. FIRST IS AT THIS PRESENT TIME AND SECOND WOULD BE WHEN WE ACTUALLY HEAR THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA. SO PLEASE SELECT ONE OPTION. CITIZEN COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES WHILE NON-RESIDENT COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO ONE MINUTE. A VISIBLE TIMER POSITIONED NEAR THE CITY SECRETARY'S DESK WILL ASSIST IN MANAGING THE ALLOTTED TIME. IF YOU HAVE A PETITION OR RELEVANT INFORMATION, PLEASE PRESENT IT TO THE CITY SECRETARY PRIOR TO SPEAKING AND SHE WILL DISTRIBUTE IT TO US. SO WITH THAT, WE WILL START WITH MR. STEPHEN CLEPPER. >> MAYOR, COUNCIL, STEPHEN CLEPPER, DISTRICT 2. 35-YEAR RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, BY THE WAY, WHERE I'VE WATCHED A LOT OF BUDGETS BEING DEVELOPED. OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS NOW AND I GUESS 27 OF THEM I HAVE WATCHED FROM THE INSIDE. NOW I'M RETIRED, I'M SEEING IT A LITTLE BIT FROM THE OUTSIDE. AS YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK THE BUDGET DIRECTOR MADE A BUDGET PRESENTATION, GAVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROCESS. IT WAS A VERY WELL-DONE PRESENTATION. LOTS OF GOOD SLIDES AND LOTS OF INFORMATION. BUT I WAS STRUCK BY WHAT I DID NOT SEE -- HOPEFULLY I WILL SEE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. MOSTLY IT'S INFORMATION FOR YOU TO MAKE DECISIONS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY STRUCK ME, I'VE GOT A QUOTE ON THAT SLIDE THERE. IN FEBRUARY, CITY DEPARTMENTS INITIATED A CRITICAL OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY EFFICIENCIES AND SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES. THE BUDGET DIRECTOR ESSENTIALLY SAID THAT, AND THAT WAS FROM THE PRESS RELEASE. MY QUESTION IS: IS THERE GOING TO BE ANY DISCUSSION BY WHAT IS MEANT BY EFFICIENCY? HOW DO YOU MEASURE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS? ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE ON WHAT I THINK -- >> Zanoni: MAYOR, OBJECTION. QUESTIONS OF CITY COUNCIL OR CITY STAFF ARE NOT PERMITTED. >> THAT WAS RHETORICAL, MILES. WOW, THAT JUST THREW ME. I'M SORRY. THE BIG QUESTION -- I POSED IT THERE AS YOU ARE MARCHING DOWN THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD TOWARDS THE BUDGET. IS THE CURTAIN GOING TO BE OPENED? ARE WE GOING TO REVEAL THE INFORMATION? ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE AN INCREMENTAL BUDGETING PROCESS WHERE YOU LOOK AT TOTAL EXPENDITURES NOT AT WHAT YOU'RE GETTING OUT OF THOSE EXPENDITURES. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE TOP PART THERE, THAT'S TWO CHARTS FROM THE ACTUAL PRESENTATION. IT'S TOO SMALL FOR YOU TO READ BUT WHAT IT SAYS IN FEBRUARY, THE BUDGET OFFICE CRITICALLY -- OR DEPARTMENTS CRITICALLY ANALYZE OPERATIONS FOR EFFICIENCIES. IN MARCH, LOOKING AT REVENUES, ARE WE CHARGING APPROPRIATELY? ARE WE OPERATING EFFICIENTLY, AND ARE THERE PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT CORE SERVICES? ALL OF THOSE HAVE A LOT OF SUBSTANCE BEHIND EACH ONE OF THOSE. WHAT IS A CORE SERVICE? OR RECYCLING, IS THAT A CORE SERVICE? ALL OF THESE THINGS DESERVE A LOT OF DISCUSSION. MOST IMPORTANT, YOU NEED MEASURES OF WHAT IT IS YOU'RE ACCOMPLISHING, HOW YOU'RE ACCOMPLISHING, ARE YOU DOING IT EFFICIENTLY OVER TIME AND ON. AS YOU SAY IN THE PARADE, SHOW US YOUR SHOES. SHOW US YOUR DATA AND ANALYSIS, COUNCIL. AND, COUNCIL, ASK FOR IT. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. CLEPPER. SHERYL MARTINEZ. >> SHERYL MARTINEZ, CORPUS CHRISTI TEXAS. I WANTED TO BRING SOME IMPORTANT CLARIFICATIONS TO YOUR ATTENTION REGARDING SOME STATEMENTS MADE BY CYNTHIA MARTINEZ IN ANIMAL CARE SERVICES. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF THE FACTS. CYNTHIA MARTINEZ MET WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM EDGAR AND IVY'S SANCTUARY RESCUE AND THEY HAVE NOT PULLED CATS FROM ACS DUE TO THE LACK OF PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. INSTEAD THEY WORKED WITH SURROUNDING SHELTERS. WHEN THEY DID BEGIN TO WORK WITH ACS, THEY REQUESTED COLLABORATION. EDGAR AND IVY IS VERY UNIQUE BECAUSE THEY CAN CARE FOR LARGE NUMBERS OF BOTTLE BABIES, WHICH RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN BOTTLE BABY SEASON, MANY OF WHOM WOULD BE AT RISK FOR EUTHANASIA. DURING THEIR MEETING WITH CYNTHIA MARTINEZ, THEY MENTIONED THEY DO WORK CLOSELY WITH US AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT ALL OF THE SURROUNDING SHELTERS WORK CLOSELY WITH US TO HELP WITH THE PROBLEMS THEY'RE HAVING IN THEIR SHELTERS AND RECOMMEND THEY REACH OUT TO ME. THEY RESPONDED BY SAYING PAT SAID WE WOULD NO LONGER ASSIST ACS. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT IS FALSE. WHAT I SAID IS I DID NOT WISH TO WORK WITH CYNTHIA MARTINEZ BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL SHE IS SUITED FOR HER ROLE AND SHE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT SHE IS DOING. PAC HAS BEEN SUPPORTING CORPUS CHRISTI SINCE 2010. WE HAVE PERFORMED THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF SURGERIES. WE ARE THE HIGHEST LARGE-VOLUME CLINIC IN SOUTH TEXAS. WE WORK WITH THE AT-RISK NEIGHBORHOODS AND CREATE OUTREACH THROUGH OUR DEDICATED TEAM. CORPUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND IS A PRIORITY, EVEN THOUGH WE DO WORK WITH SURROUNDING A AREAS . WHAT HAPPENED WAS PAC HAD RECENTLY COME INTO LIGHT ABOUT THE ACS EMPLOYEES THAT WERE MISUSING ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS, WHICH I HAD TOLD YOU ABOUT. WE DID CANCEL THAT PROGRAM. SHELTER LEADERS HAD ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT BLAME ON US. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PROVIDE TRAINING PROGRAMS WITH ACS BUT MY OFFER WAS NEVER ACCEPTED AND I WAS GOING TO DO IT FOR FREE. TO BE CLEAR, WE HAVE NEVER REFUSED TO ASSIST THEM. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN RESPONSIVE TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBERS REACH OUT TO FOR SUPPORT. WE ARE WORKING WITH JUDGES SO WE ARE DOING THINGS THAT WE CAN HELP. WITH THE DIRECTOR'S DEPARTURE APPROACHING, I HOPE ACS'S LEADERSHIP IS REEVALUATED. ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO HELP. ON ANOTHER NOTE, I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT US BEING THE SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN TEXAS FOR SENDING EUTHANIZED ANIMALS TO THE LANDFILL. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS. IT WASN'T JUST TWO MONTHS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. BECAUSE BEYOND THIS TRAGIC LOSS OF LIFE, THIS PRACTICE INTRODUCES HARMFUL CHEMICALS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT AND POSES RISK TO LOCAL WILDLIFE. THIS IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND FORWARD THINKING. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE BACK. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MS. MARTINEZ. SUSIE SALDANA. >> SUSIE SALDANA, DISTRICT 2. I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS THAT WHEN YOU SAY A STATEMENT OF FACT, IT HAS TO BE A STATEMENT OF FACT. I'VE GIVEN TO YOU SOME PAPERWORK THAT I'M SURE YOU ALREADY HAVE, OKAY, WHICH IS BASICALLY A LAWSUIT FILED BY THE COUNCIL MEMBER IN QUESTION WITH THE DATE AND TIME IT WAS FILED. I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT IT GOT MOVED OUT OF THAT COURT AND DISMISSED. AND THEN YOU HAVE THE SECOND PAPER, WHICH IS BASICALLY WHAT THE COUNCIL PERSON WAS TALKING ABOUT. DISCOVERY. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT ISSUE, IT SAYS SYLVIA CAMPOS, PLAINTIFF V. CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI. THAT'S US. THAT'S WE, THE TAXPAYER. AND I GAVE YOU ANOTHER PAGE THAT YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT, WHICH IS PAGE NO. 11. I BELIEVE IT'S 11. LET ME MAKE SURE. AND IN IT IT SAYS THAT THE REASON THEY'RE DOING THIS, THIS DISCOVERY, IS SO THEY CAN FILE CIVIL SUIT AGAINST THE CITY. SO THERE'S A LAWSUIT INCLUDED. SO THE REASON FOR DOING THIS IS TO BRING ACTION AGAINST THE CITY, WHICH IS BRINGING ACTION AGAINST WE THE TAXPAYER. SO I APPRECIATE IT WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON -- AND I KNOW YOU DO. I KNOW YOU UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON. BUT DON'T MAKE A STATEMENT OF FACT THAT IS NOT FACTUAL. THAT IS THE MAIN THING. AND WHILE I'M HERE, BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, I WANT THE PEOPLE IN CORPUS CHRISTI TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. I WANT THEM TO KNOW WHEN YOU DO RIGHT THINGS AND WHEN YOU DO WRONG THINGS. AND WHEN YOU SIT IN A CHAIR AND THEN TURN AROUND AND FIGHT THE PEOPLE WHO YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE REPRESENTING. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO. I KNOW YOU TAKE A LOT OF HEAT FROM US, WE THE PEOPLE, BUT WE THE PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK UP WHEN WE FEEL IT'S WRONG. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO IT BECAUSE IF IT WALKS LIKE A DUCK, IT QUACKS LIKE A DUCK AND IT SWIMS LIKE A DUCK, IT IS A DUCK. HAVE A GREAT DAY. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MS. SALDANA. >> Campos: [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: COUNCILWOMAN. >> Campos: JUST, AGAIN, STATEMENT OF FACT. IT IS NOT A LAWSUIT. YET. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: MS. SANDERS. >> ROBIN SANDERS, CORPUS CHRISTI. WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY TO BE HERE. IT'S TOTALLY THROWN ME OFF MY GAME BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR POLICE OFFICERS HERE. AS A PERSON WHO LIVES IN THE MOST CRIME-INFESTED AREA OF THE CITY, NOBODY APPRECIATES OUR POLICE OFFICERS MORE THAN I DO. BUT WHAT WE'VE GOT TO THINK ABOUT IS WHAT IS OUR JOB. WHAT DO WE DO? AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY, THIS IS NECESSARY. WHO'S COMMITTING THESE CRIMES? ARE THESE RECIDIVISTS? ARE THESE PEOPLE THAT IS OUR JOB TO ARREST, PUT IN JAIL, KEEP IN JAIL? SO WHAT IS OUR DUTY TO PROTECT OUR POLICE OFFICERS AS THEY PROTECT US? NOW, I KNOW FOR YEARS WE'VE HAD A D.A.'S OFFICE THAT'S SOMEWHERE BELOW PAR AND I'M HOPING THAT WE ARE WORKING TO CORRECT THAT. ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT CORRECTING IS A DETENTION CENTER THAT WAS PUT RIGHT ON LEOPARD STREET CORRIDOR. THAT'S WHERE ALL THE HOOKERS ARE. THEY'VE MOVED DOWN THE ROAD NOW. THE WORST PLACE IN THE WORLD YOU COULD PUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, NUMBER ONE, IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM AN H-E-B, THE ONLY ONE. AND, SECOND, THIS IS IN CRIME CENTRAL USA. IT'S THE WORST OF THE WORST. SHORTLY AFTER THAT WAS PUT THERE, SOMEBODY'S -- I THINK THEY WERE TRYING TO BREAK SOMEONE OUT -- AND AN OFFICER HAD TO USE DEADLY FORCE TO STOP THIS PERSON. SO A MAN LOST HIS LIFE AND AN OFFICER HAS TO LIVE THE REST OF HIS LIFE KNOWING THAT HE HAD TO TAKE A LIFE. THAT'S SERIOUS BUSINESS. SECONDLY, SOME GUY WALKED OUT OF THE DETENTION CENTER -- THIS WAS JUST LAST WEEK. WALKED TO THE RESTAURANT, TRIED TO GET IN TO ROB IT. HE BROKE THE GLASS, REACHED IN AND STOLE THEIR DEBIT MACHINE AND A SET OF KEYS. WALKED RIGHT OUT OF THAT BAR OVER THERE AND STOLE THIS. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF EMPTY BUILDINGS IN TOWN, INCLUDING EVERYTHING ON LEOPARD STREET IS DESTROYED BY CRIME. YOUR INTENTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT ON THAT STREET AND SIX POINTS. CRIME DESTROYS EVERYTHING. PEOPLE DON'T MOVE THERE, BUSINESSES DON'T COME THERE. BUSINESSES LEAVE THERE. WHAT DOES THAT DO TO YOUR TAX BASE? [TIMER] GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MS. SANDERS. >> AND TO OUR POLICE OFFICERS, I LOVE THOSE GUYS. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANKS, MS. SANDERS. GARY ALSUP. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS GARY ALSUP. I'M THE CEO OF CORPUS CHRISTI HOUSING AUTHORITY AND I LIVE IN NORTH BEACH IN CORPUS CHRISTI. MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME TALK MANY TIMES ABOUT THE GREAT NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT 30,000 PEOPLE ON A WAIT LIST FOR THE SECTION 8 PROGRAM. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HEARS ME TALKING ABOUT ALL THE TIME AS WELL. AND SO ABOUT A YEAR AGO AN OPPORTUNITY CAME UP TO CREATE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME -- NOT FOR THE SECTION 8 FOLKS, BUT FOR SOME MIDDLE-INCOME FOLKS. AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY. I OWE YOU AN APOLOGY. I APOLOGIZE NOT FOR THE FACT THAT WE DID IT, THAT WE TRIED TO IMPACT THE LIVES OF SO MANY CORPUS CHRISTIANS, BUT BECAUSE I FAILED TO COMMUNICATE THAT WELL WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. SO I WILL -- I'VE MADE COMMITMENTS ALREADY AND I WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE COMMITMENTS TO DO A BETTER JOB OF COMMUNICATING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. AND IN THAT LIGHT, I WANTED TO OFFER ONE OTHER PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT'S COMING UP. OVER THE WEEKEND, PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCED A PRELIMINARY BUDGET. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THAT. THAT PRELIMINARY BUDGET INCLUDED A 43% CUT IN HUD PROGRAMS. SO IT INCLUDED THE COMPLETE ELIMINATION OF THE FEDERAL HOME PROGRAM, WHICH I BELIEVE THE CITY TAKES GREAT ADVANTAGE OF IN INTERNAL OPERATIONS. BUT IT ALSO REALLY SHOWS THE APPETITE, PERHAPS, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO IMPACT THE FEDERAL BUDGET. AND PART OF THAT IS GOING TO BE THE FEDERAL HOUSING PROGRAM. SO THE ONLY REAL PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE THAT IS FEDERALLY FUNDED IS THE SECTION 8 PROGRAM. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT FOR EVERY 10% CUT THAT MIGHT COME IN THE FEDERAL BUDGET FOR THE SECTION 8 PROGRAM, REPRESENTS 300 FAMILIES IN CORPUS CHRISTI THAT ARE HOUSED TODAY THAT WOULD NOT BE HOUSED IN THE FUTURE. SO I KNOW THAT THERE'S COMMENTS ABOUT, WELL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO IMPACT ANYBODY WHO IS IN HOUSING. THAT'S A NOBLE GOAL. IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE. AND I ALSO KNOW THAT IT'S JUST A PRELIMINARY BUDGET BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE COUNCIL REALLY HEAR THAT THAT'S A POTENTIAL THAT'S ON THE BOOK. IT IS A PROPOSAL FROM OUR PRESIDENT AND ALSO I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT IS ON CORPUS CHRISTI, SHOULD THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. ALSUP. RONALD COLE. >> HI. JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT IT WAS A WEEK AGO THIS YEAR, IT WAS THIS TIME OF YEAR AGO [INDISCERNIBLE] GOD BLESS HIM. >> City Secretary: CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY. >> MY NAME IS RONALD COLE. I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF CORPUS CHRISTI. I'M A NATIVE OF WASHINGTON, D.C. I HAVE POSTED ON SEVERAL NEWSPAPERS, INCLUDING THE WALL STREET JOURNAL. TODAY I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY FUNDING OF A POTENTIAL MOVIE HERE IN CORPUS CHRISTI. AND TWO CRUCIAL SCENES ARE ON A YACHT IN THE MARINA. IN 2006 I HAD UNCOVERED A VIDEO WHICH ENDED HIS ATTEMPTS TO BECOME [INDISCERNIBLE] WAS COMMITTING SEVERAL CRIMES DURING THE STING, INCLUDING EXTORTION, FRAUD, AND PERJURY. AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS COVERING UP FOR HIM. THIS WAS EVENTUALLY REPORTED BY THE PRESS AND IN THE SENATE REPORT. HIS WIFE GOT ON 20/20 AND EXPOSED HIS BEHAVIOR AND WAS SCHEDULED TO GO BEFORE CONGRESS BUT WAS FOUND DEAD A WEEK LATER AND THEIR FOLLOW-UP REPORT, WHICH IS POSTED ON YOUTUBE. >> Risley: MAYOR, I DON'T BELIEVE THESE ARE CITY SUBJECTS. >> WITH A MOVIE BEING MADE HERE, YES, IT WOULD BE. >> Mayor Guajardo: MR. COLE, WHAT WAS THAT LAST STATEMENT YOU JUST MADE? >> OKAY. >> IT'S ABOUT A MOVIE IN CORPUS. >> THERE WAS A REPORT ON "20/20" THAT COVERED MARIE WEINBERGER WHERE SHE DIED. PLANS FOR A MOVIE HAD FALLEN APART BUT WEINBERG WAS INVOLVED WITH AMERICAN HUSTLE. WHEN I PUT OUT THE NAMES THEY CHANGED THE CHARACTER. I CO-WROTE A SCRIPT THAT WAS TRUE USING MEDIA REPORTS AND TRANSCRIPTS FROM THE TRIALS. IT IS A TIMELESS AND COMPELLING STORY THAT REFLECTS THE CORRUPTION OF THE FBI AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. IT'S A TIME FOR TRUTH. HUSTLE IS A DISGRACE AND WHAT HAPPENED TO MARIE WEINBERG THEN AND THE RECENT MOVIE IS AS WELL. THANK YOU . >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. COLE. APPRECIATE IT. >> GOOD DAY. TOM TAGLBIUE. I ASKED YOU TO NAME THE SOON OSO PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE FOR HIM. WE LOST TOM IN 2022 . THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE WAS JUST ONE OF MANY PROJECTS THAT TOM TOUCHED AND INFLUENCED IN HIS CAREER WITH THE CITY. I FIRST WORKED WITH TOM ON THIS PROJECT BACK IN THE EARLY 2000s WHEN THE CITY PROPOSED WHAT WAS THEN CALLED ICE TEA GRANT AND I WAS A STATE EMPLOYER REVIEWING THOSE GRANTS. YOU KNOW NOW HOW LONG IT TOOK TO FINALLY GET THE FUNDING FOR THAT PROJECT. THOSE WHO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH TOM KNEW HE LOVED WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO TACKLE HARD TO ACHIEVE PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS. WE HAVE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE DECADES TOM DEVOTED TO MAKE THIS DREAM A REALITY. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO NAME THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE FOR TOM UDDER. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. ADAM RIOS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, ADAM RIOS, RIGHT HERE IN CORPUS CHRISTI. JUST WANTED TO START BY SAYING CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY WHO PARTICIPATED IN WEST GUTH'S SKATE GAMES. I WAS OUT OF TOWN CATCHING MY SON'S MUSICAL PERFORMANCE IN AUSTIN, SO I WAS UP THERE FOR THE WEEKEND. BUT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING PRETTY POSITIVE. THESE ARE NUMBERS THAT YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW, BUT IN CASE PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON, THIS IS TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK HERE IN TEXAS. AND WHAT THAT DOES, NOT JUST FOR THE STATE, BUT FOR US LOCALLY. IT FUELS JOBS, DRIVES LOCAL ECONOMIES, AND SUPPORTS PUBLIC SERVICES. WE WERE LOOKING AT ABOUT $199 BILLION OF ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE STATE JUST IN THIS WEEK ALONE. AND I THINK IT WAS 1.3 MILLION TEXAS JOBS, INCLUDING THE OUTDOOR SECTOR. OUR SEASHORE AND PARKS ARE KEY COMPONENTS FOR TOURISTS. I BELIEVE IF YOU INCLUDE GUIDES, GEAR, THE MONEY SPENT, AND LAND MANAGEMENT, THAT WAS $55.8 BILLION ALONG THE COAST. SO STATE NUMBERS, WHICH I'M TALKING ABOUT, THOSE SPEAK VOLUMES, BUT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT IT CREATES FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES SPEAKS EVEN LOUDER. IT ALLOWS FOR MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES, IT SHOWCASES OUR LOCAL CULTURE. IT'S DEFINITELY A REVENUE BUSINESS, SPECIFICALLY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, WHICH I AM A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR. IT INCREASES THE REVENUE AND CREATES LONG-TERM CUSTOMER GROWTH. AND I BELIEVE THIS WEEK, ABOUT 14,000, WHICH IS ABOUT 6.7% OF THE JOBS LOCALLY, ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE OF THIS WEEK AND THIS MONTH. WE'RE KICKING OFF SUMMER TOURISM SEASON. IT'S DIRECTLY TIED TO IT AND WE'RE LOOKING AT AN INCREASE IN MONEY BY ABOUT 15% TO 25%, WHICH MEANS PROBABLY THIS YEAR, BECAUSE OF THIS BEING A TRAVEL WEEK, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT $30 MILLION LOCALLY. I DO MOST OF THIS RESEARCH ON MY OWN, BY THE WAY. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A STAFF THAT WOULD HELP ME. ANYWAY, AND THE THING IS WE STILL HAVE MORE GOING ON BECAUSE WE'VE GOT BUC DAYS. WE ARE LAUNCHING SUMMER EVENTS. WE HAVE ART WALK, WE'VE GOT MEMORIAL WEEKEND COMING UP. THIS ALSO HELPS GENERATE REVENUE FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. ALL THIS STUFF HAPPENS, DISPATCHERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE CROWDS THAT ARE SHOWING UP, AN ABSOLUTE POSITIVE REFLECTION OF WHAT'S GOING ON, BECAUSE HAVING BEEN IN AUSTIN OVER THIS WEEKEND AND SPENDING 20 YEARS THERE, I WOULDN'T LIKE WALKING AROUND THERE AFTER 6:00 P.M. ON SIX STREET IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. IF YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN ANYTHING FROM THIS WEEK, YOU KNOW, MY HASHTAG MOTTO, THINK GLOBAL AND SUPPORT LOCAL. AND, AGAIN, WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY I THINK THURSDAY, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, THERE'S A GOAL BUDGET SESSION THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYBODY TO MAKE BEFORE YOU COME UP HERE AND MAKE COMMENTS. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. RIOS. WE HAVE LAST, JASON HALE. >> >> JASON HALE, CORPUS CHRISTI. HI, MAYOR, HI COUNCILMEMBERS. I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE AGENDA TODAY AND I SAW THAT CORPUS CHRISTI WATER IS GOING TO BE PROVIDING UPDATES TO COUNCIL. NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE NEXT WEEKS AND MONTHS, BUT I WASN'T SURE WHAT THE PLANS WERE FOR UPDATING COUNCIL ON FAR FIELD MODELING FOR DESALINATION. SO TODAY I HANDED OUT A PAPER WITH A REQUEST OF MINE FOR COUNCILMEMBERS TO REQUEST THAT CORPUS CHRISTI WATER PROVIDES TIMELY UPDATES ON MODELING FROM GHD TO CITY COUNCIL DURING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. FOR ME, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE REQUEST IS WE WANT TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW GOOD OR BAD THE CIRCULATION IN THE BAY IS AT TRANSPORTING WASTE FROM THE DESALINATION FACILITY, AND THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS WHY YOU'D BE INTERESTED IN THAT. YOU KNOW, RELIABILITY, FEASIBILITY, WATER RATES. FOR ME, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE IMPACTS WILL BE AS FAR AS SALINITY INCREASES TO THE NUECES BAY. FOR CONTEXT, WE SEND FRESH WATER TO THE NUECES BAY TO MAINTAIN CERTAIN SALINITY REGIMES IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ECOLOGICAL PRODUCTIVITY. SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE INCREASING THE LA LYNNTY IN THE NUECES BAY, I'M HOPING THERE'S SOME WAY WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN THOSE ECOLOGICAL TARGETS. ANYWAYS, I INCLUDED A LIST OF SAMPLE QUESTIONS, SO ONE QUESTION I HAVE THAT Y'ALL MIGHT WANT TO ASK CORPUS CHRISTI WATER IS WILL THE DIFFUSER DESIGN IN ASSOCIATED MODELING BE COMPLETED BY MAY 25TH AS PREVIOUSLY STATED BY CHRISTOPHER BENJAMIN FROM GHD. IF SO, WHEN WILL IT BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL? BASED ON THE RESULTS FROM GHD'S MODELING, WILL PERMIT AMENDMENTS BE NEEDED FOR THE INNER HARBOR PLANT? YOU KNOW, BASICALLY, WE'RE KIND OF GOING OFF OF THE PERMIT TO TCEQ, SO IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW IF THERE ARE GOING TO BE AMENDMENTS TO THAT. ADDITIONALLY, IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW IF GHD WILL BE CONDUCTING MODELING FOR THE POTENTIAL OF THE CREATION OF HYPOXIA IN THE INNER HARBOR SHIP CHANNEL, IN N NUECES BAY AND CORPUS CHRISTI BAY, AND ALSO IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW IF GHD WILL BE DOING THE BAY-WIDE MODELING THAT THEY MENTIONED IN THE MARCH 19TH MEMO. IF SO, WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN THEY ANTICIPATE THAT TO BE COMPLETED. ANYWAYS, THAT'S IT. THANKS. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. HALE. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT. SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE -- WELL, NOT I THINK, BUT THE NEXT ITEM WOULD BE ITEM G, OUR BOARD AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS. >> City Secretary: OKAY. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THE FIRST BOARD FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IT'S THE ANIMAL CARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. IT HAS THREE VACANCIES REPRESENTING THE PREFERRED BUT NOT REQUIRED CATEGORY OF COMMUNITY AT LARGE. DIANA CARDENAS AND RONALD SMITH ARE SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT AND THEIR ATTENDANCE RATES ARE IN YOUR PACKETS. >> Barrera: MOVE TO REAPPOINT. >> SECOND. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. REBECCA, DID WE WANT TO SUBMIT OR JUST VOCAL. >> City Secretary: VOICE VOTE, PLEASE MAYOR. >> Mayor Guajardo: ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE (AYES). >> Mayor Guajardo: THERE'S A NOMINATION FOR KYLIE LONG. ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? COUNCILMEMBERS? >> Cantu: LAURA ESTRADA. >> Mayor Guajardo: LAURA ESTRADA. NANCY COOK. OKAY. I'M GOING TO CLOSE N NOMINATIONS, AND LET'S START WITH COUNCILWOMAN VAUGHN. WE'RE VOTING FOR ONE NAME, CORRECT? >> City Secretary: YES, MA'AM. THAT'S RIGHT. [OFF MIC] >> Barrera: ESTRADA. >> Mayor Guajardo: LONG. >> Roy: LONG. >> Paxson: LONG. >> Scott: ESTRADA. >> Cantu: ESTRADA. >> City Secretary: OKAY. SO LONG IS APPOINTED. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. SO NEXT WE HAVE THE BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD. THERE'S ONE VACANCY REPRESENTING THE PREFERRED BUT NOT REQUIRED CATEGORY OF AT LARGE. SO FOR THIS BOARD, THE BOARD HAS A PRACTICE OF REQUESTING THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ALTERNATE MEMBER TO THE REGULAR VOTING POSITION, AND THEN WE WOULD APPOINT A NEW PERSON TO SERVE AS THE ALTERNATE. SO CHICK HENDERSON CURRENTLY SERVES AS AN ALTERNATE MEMBER, AND THE COUNCIL COULD APPOINT MR. HENDERSON IF THEY CHOOSE TO FOLLOW THIS PRACTICE AS A REGULAR VOTING MEMBER. >> Mayor Guajardo: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. (AYES). >> Mayor Guajardo: ANY OPPOSED, SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES. >> City Secretary: THAT LEAVES ONE TO FILL. >> Mayor Guajardo: ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? WE'LL CLOSE NOMINATIONS. WE HAVE LINDSAY CLARK. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. (AYES.) >> Mayor Guajardo: ANY OPPOSED, SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES. >> City Secretary: NEXT WE HAVE THE CORPUS CHRISTI REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. THERE'S ONE VACANCY. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. WE'LL OPEN NOMINATIONS. >> Paxson: [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: WE HAVE GEORGE PALACAS. >> Scott: [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? OKAY. WE'LL CLOSE NOMINATIONS AND WE WILL START WITH COUNCILMAN CANTU? >> Cantu: GEORGE. >> Mayor Guajardo: I'M SORRY. I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN. >> City Secretary: OKAY. VERY GOOD. WHO'S -- GIL, AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM? >> Mayor Guajardo: YEAH, GIL, YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND -- HANG ON A SECOND. THERE YOU GO. >> City Secretary: LIKE I SAID, WE STOPPED AT -- >> Mayor Pro Tem: STILL GOING THAT WAY, GO AHEAD. >> [OFF MIC] >> City Secretary: OKAY. GEORGE PALAKIS IS APPOINTED. >> Mayor Pro Tem: OKAY. MOVING BACK TO THE MAYOR. >> City Secretary: OKAY. THE LAST BOARD IS THE SISTER CITY COMMITTEE. THERE ARE TWO VACANCIES. SO WE CAN OPEN NOMINATIONS FOR TWO VACANCIES, MA'AM. >> Mayor Guajardo: SORRY. OPEN NOMINATIONS, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR SISTER CITY -- >> Paxson: [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: HOW MANY DO WE HAVE, REBECCA? >> City Secretary: THERE'S TWO SLOTS MA'AM. >> Mayor Guajardo: THERE'S TWO SLOTS OPEN? AND HOW MANY APPLICANTS. >> City Secretary: WE HAVE THREE APPLICANTS. COUNCILWO MAN PAXSON, WHAT WAS THE LAST NAME? >> Pax >> Paxson: [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: CAN WE NOMINATE TWO? >> City Secretary: YES, AS LONG AS THERE -- YES, SHE CAN DO TWO. THERE'S TWO POSITIONS. >> Mayor Guajardo: SO WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE. ROMERO, STEINER AND GONZALES. >> [OFF MIC] >> City Secretary: SO WE'D VOTE FOR TWO. >> Mayor Guajardo: WE'LL VOTE FOR TWO. SO WE'LL START WITH COUNCILWOMAN VAUGHN. [OFF MIC] >> City Secretary: OKAY. SO IT'S ROMERO AND GONZALES. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. GREAT. GREAT, THANK YOU, REBECCA. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, NORMA. IT'S 12:35. LET ME -- HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THE PRESENTATION. >> Zanoni: THE PRESENTATIONS, THE DESAL ONE'S PROBABLY 10, 15 MINUTES OR SO. >> Mayor Guajardo: LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO THAT. >> Zanoni: YEAH, I WOULD GO INTO THOSE. THAT'S IMPORTANT. >> Mayor Guajardo: ABOUT. >> Zanoni: SO BRETT VAN HAZEL IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE WE CREATED OR THE SPECIAL MANAGEMENT OFFICE, IF YOU WILL, TO OVERSEE THE CONSTRUCTION. AND WE ARE GOING TO -- AS ONE OF OUR COMMENTERS SAID, WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING THE COUNCIL AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH ON DESAL. SOME PRESENTATIONS MAY BE MORE IN DEPTH. LIKE TODAY'S WILL BE A LITTLE LONGER, OTHERS MAY BE SHORT, MAY BE SOMETHING THAT TOOK PLACE THE WEEK PRIOR OR SOME MAJOR EVENT IN THE DESAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION THAT IS ABOUT TO COME UP. BUT THIS IS A WAY TO ENGAGE THE COUNCIL, SO YOU'RE MORE AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND ALSO WILL PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH INFORMATION TWICE A MONTH ON DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION EFFORTS FOR THE INNER HARBOR DESALINATION PLANT. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY WAY WE COMMUNICATE. WE HAVE A ROBUST WEBSITE, THERE WILL BE MANY OTHER WAYS, BUT THIS IS JUST ONE WAY I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TODAY, AND WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO BRETT TO GO THROUGH HIS PRESENTATION. >> OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, BRETT VAN HAZEL, SO AS PETER SAID, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT OFFICE THAT WAS STOOD UP TO MANAGE THE INNER HARBOR WATER TREATMENT CAMPUS PROJECT. AND ALSO, LIKE HE SAID, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MULTIPLE MEETINGS FOR THE REST OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR AND BEYOND, SO IN THIS PRESENTATION, WE'LL KIND OF GO THROUGH THAT. SO JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW, WE'RE GOING TO TOUCH ON THE PROCUREMENT RECAP, REALLY JUST FOCUSING ON SOME OF THE COUNCIL ACTIONS AND ITEMS THAT WE'VE DONE TO DATE. THAT GETS US TO WHERE WE ARE. WE'LL TALK ABOUT A STATUS UPDATE ON THE PROJECT, AS WELL AS TALKING ABOUT A TIMELINE. AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS TO COUNCIL, NOT ONLY MY BRIEFINGS, BUT SOME OTHER ONES. AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME IMPORTANT FUTURE TOPICS THAT WILL BE PRESENTED. AND I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ON THE RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE ONE OF THE CURRENT RENDERINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH, SO THE TURNER ROMERO'S TEAM IS PUTTING TOGETHER A LOT OF DESIGN CONCEPTS FOR CONSIDERATION. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE TO KIND OF SHOW YOU GUYS. THIS IS THE OPERATIONS AND EDUCATION FACILITY. SO THIS WOULD BE THE FACE OF THE CAMPUS. SO LAST YEAR IN JANUARY, WE HAD TWO COUNCIL ACTION ITEMS THAT KIND OF REALLY KICKED US OFF INTO WHERE WE ARE NOW. WE HAD ONE WITH FREESE & NICHOLS WHERE WE EXECUTED AN AMENDMENT TO THEIR EXISTING MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RFP AND THE RFQ, AND THEN ALSO HAVE THEM ASSIST THE CITY TEAM WITH THE -- CREATING A SHORT LIST OF POTENTIAL PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILD CANDIDATES THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE ON WITH. SO WE DID THAT FOR 3.78 MILLION. AND THEN WE ALSO APPROVED BOND ISSUANCE FOR UP TO 211 MILLION THROUGH THE STATE, AND THIS IS ALL MONEY THAT COULD BE PUT TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE INNER HARBOR PROJECT. AND THEN IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR, WE CAME BACK TO COUNCIL AND WE HAD A SHORT LIST OF FIRMS FOR THE DESIGN BUILDERS. SO WE APPROVED TWO THINGS: ONE, WAS THE FREESE & NICHOLS AMENDMENT FOR $12 MILLION, WHICH IS FOR PRECONSTRUCTION SERVICES. AND THEN WE ALSO APPROVED ONE, THE SHORT LIST, AND THEN, TWO, TO CONTINUE ON WITH THEM TO DEVELOP RFP AND ACTUALLY PICK A FIRM, WHICH WE DID IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, WE SELECTED KIEWIT INFRASTRUCTURE SOUTH AS OUR PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILDER, AND IN DECEMBER WE ACTUALLY AWARDED THEM A CONTRACTOR 9.25 MILLION WHICH WAS FOR THE INITIAL PHASE, WE'RE CALLING PHASE 1A. THERE'S REALLY TWO PARTS OF PHASE 1. PHASE 1A IS THE INITIAL PLANNING PORTION OF THE PROJECT, WHICH I'LL KIND OF TALK ABOUT HERE IN A SECOND. SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT'S INCLUDED IN PHASE 1A AND SO WE STARTED THAT IN DECEMBER, WE'RE AT THE END OF THAT PHASE RIGHT NOW. SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING THE DRAFT BASIS OF DESIGN REPORT, WHICH IS A -- IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT THAT DETAILS HOW WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THE PROJECT. AND IT'S TAKING INPUT FROM THE FREESE & NICHOLS TEAM, KIEWIT'S EXPERTS AND THEIR TEAM, AS WELL AS CITY INPUT. AND THEN LAST MONTH WE STARTED THE FIRST PART OF PHASE 1B, WHICH IS OUR NEXT -- OUR NEXT PHASE THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRANSITION INTO. AND I'LL GIVE A LITTLE MORE DETAILS IN A MINUTE ON THAT ONE. AND THEN THE NEXT MAJOR PHASE WILL BE THE FINALIZING THE DESIGN, BECAUSE WHEN WE GET TO THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE AS PART OF PHASE 1, WE'LL ONLY BE AT 60% DESIGN. SO WHEN WE TRANSITION INTO PHASE 2, THEY STILL NEED TO FINISH THE DESIGN, SO THEY'LL WORK TOWARDS THAT FINAL DESIGN EFFORT WHILE THEY'RE WORKING ON THE CONSTRUCTION. AND WHEN THE PLANT IS BUILT, WHICH IS RIGHT NOW PLANNED FOR 2028, THE KIEWIT TEAM WILL ACTUALLY MAINTAIN AND OPERATE THE FACILITY FOR ONE YEAR AFTER THE COMPLETION, ALONG WITH CITY STAFF. SO CITY STAFF WILL BE ON BOARD WORKING UNDER KIEWIT, LEARNING HOW TO WORK THE PLANT, MAINTAIN THE PLANT, AND THEN AFTER THAT YEAR, THE CITY STAFF WILL TAKE OVER. SO CURRENTLY, AGAIN, WE'RE IN PHASE 1A. IT WAS 180-DAY DURATION, AND OVER THE LAST FIVE PLUS MONTHS WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK. JUST TO KIND OF CAPTURE SOME OF THE MAJOR MILESTONES, ONE, WE DID RECEIVE THE ARMY CORPS PERMIT. WE ALSO RECEIVED OUR DISCHARGE PERMIT FROM TCEQ, BOTH IN ADVANCE OF WHEN WE INITIALLY ANTICIPATED, WHICH WAS GREAT. BUT THE KIEWIT TEAM, THE CITY TEAM, THE FREESE & NICHOLS TEAM MEET OFTEN, WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL TASK FORCE MEETING, WHICH IS REALLY DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC MEETINGS WHERE WE REALLY DIVE INTO THE DETAILS, WHETHER IT BE MARINE RELATED, CIVIL RELATED, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PROCESS TECHNOLOGY, ET CETERA. WE'VE HAD OVER 100 MEETINGS, JUST INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THOSE TOPICS, WHICH HAS ALL HELPED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BASIS OF DESIGN REPORT. THEY'RE ALL CRITICAL MEETINGS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE HAD OVER 20 WORKSHOPS, WORKSHOPS TYPICALLY ARE TWO PLUS HOURS WHERE WE REALLY DIVE INTO MORE COMPLEX TOPICS, AND WE BRING IN ALL THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS TO DISCUSS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS. WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER MEETINGS, AND WE HAVE A HUGE TEAM THAT HAVE ALL DEDICATED AND HELPED DEVELOP THE BASIS OF DESIGN REPORT, WHICH, AGAIN, IS UNDER REVIEW RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE A DRAFT. THE KIEWIT TEAM AS PART OF THE PHASE 1A IS REQUIRED TO DELIVER A FINAL DRAFT AT THE END OF MAY. IN ADDITION, THEY'RE GOING TO BE DELIVERING A COST MODEL, A DRAFT COST MODEL FOR THE CITY AND FREESE & NICHOLS' REVIEW AS WELL AS THE CITY HAS AN INDEPENDENT COST ESTIMATOR THAT WILL ALSO BE REVIEWING IT FOR ACCURACY AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK. WE DO EXPECT TO RECEIVE THAT AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, BUT WE WON'T ACTUALLY HAVE FINAL NUMBERS UNTIL, I'D SAY, PROBABLY JULY TIME FRAME, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO A PRETTY THOROUGH REVIEW OF IT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FULLY UNDERSTAND IT, THAT IT'S FULLY VETTED. SO IT WILL BE SOME TIME BEFORE WE'RE READY TO PRESENT ANYTHING RELATED TO THAT. AND THE COST -- THE COST MODEL WILL ACTUALLY PROVIDE A VERY HIGH-LEVEL KIND OF BUDGETORY RANGE, BECAUSE WE'RE SO EARLY IN THE PROJECT, TO SAY WE HAVE A NUMBER FOR THE PROJECT WOULD BE UNTRUE, BUT IT WILL HELP US REFINE WHERE WE'RE AT BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE'VE GAINED TO DATE, AND WE'LL GET SMARTER ON THAT NUMBER AS THE PROJECT DEVELOPS. SO WE'VE STARTED TRANSITIONING, LIKE I SAID, INTO PHASE 1B. IN APRIL, WE ISSUED OUR FIRST AMENDMENT AS PART OF PHASE 1B, AND IT WAS REALLY GEARED TOWARDS THE ITEMS IDENTIFIED IN THAT SCOPE PORTION, SO WE WANT TO GET AHEAD OF SOME OF THE LONG-LEAD ITEMS, YOU KNOW, OUT THERE, LIKE TRANSFORMERS, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND OTHER KEY -- KEY ITEMS, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING AMENDMENTS TO CAPTURE THAT, SO THAT WAS PART OF THAT, IS GETTING THE SEMENS TRANSPORTER ORDERED, GETTING LINES SO THEY'LL BE READY TO BE DELIVERED WHEN WE GET UNDER CONSTRUCTION. WE ALSO HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY SUPPLIER, WE'VE SELECTED A TECHNOLOGY SUPPLIER, WHICH IS CRITICAL TO THE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT. SO WE'VE BROUGHT THEM ON BOARD IN A LIMITED CAPACITY TO HELP INFLUENCE THE BASIS OF DESIGN REPORT AS WELL AS PROVIDE THEIR EXPERTISE AND THE EARLY DESIGN AND PLANNING STAGES. AND THEN WE'VE ALSO -- WE'RE ALSO BRINGING GHD ON TO DO MORE WORK IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODELING AND THE DISPERSION DESIGN, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THAN WE NORMALLY WOULD HAVE, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO BRING THAT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER INTO THE PROCESS, SO WE CAN BE A LITTLE BIT SMARTER ON THE DISPERSION. SO SOME OF THE MAJOR UPCOMING AMENDMENTS THAT WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING AS PART OF PHASE 1B INCLUDE THE DEMONSTRATION PLANT, SO FINALIZING THE DETAILS ON THAT ONE. ALSO DOING AN AMENDMENT FOR THE DESIGN AND GMP DEVELOPMENT, SO THAT WILL BE THE 30% DESIGN AND THE 60% DESIGN, WHICH WILL BE USED FOR THE GUARANTEE MAXIMUM PRICE, SO THAT WILL TAKE US THROUGH THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR. AND THEN AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'RE TRYING TO DO SOME OF THE EARLY WORK PACKAGES WHICH ARE VERY DISCRETE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES THAT CAN BE DONE IN ADVANCE OF ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION. FOR INSTANCE, LIKE GETTING SOME OF THOSE LONG-LEAD ITEMS, MAYBE EVEN DOING SOME SITE DEVELOPMENT, STUFF LIKE THAT. WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT THAT'S TYPICALLY WHAT THE EARLY WORK PACKAGES ARE USED FOR. THIS IS A HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT TIMELINE. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE YELLOW STAR, THAT IS WHERE WE'RE CURRENTLY AT THE BEGINNING OF MAY. SO WE'RE -- WE'RE TRANSITIONING OUT OF PHASE 1A, WHICH IS JUNE 1ST IS THE ACTUAL COMPLETION DATE FOR PHASE 1A, AND THEN WE'RE TRANSITIONING INTO PHASE 1B, WHICH STARTED WITH MY FIRST AMENDMENT, WHICH WAS APRIL 15TH. SO WE'RE MOVING INTO THAT NEXT PHASE, WHICH WILL TAKE US UP TO THE GMP SUBMISSION, WHICH IS PLANNED FOR THE END OF THIS YEAR. AND THEN AS YOU CAN SEE ON THERE, WE HAVE THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE STARTING AT THE BEGINNING OF 2026 TAKING US ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE LATE SUMMER, EARLY FALL OF 2028. AND, AGAIN, WHEN WE COMPLETE THAT -- AND IT'S NOT SHOWN ON HERE, BUT WHEN WE COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE, THAT'S WHEN KIEWIT TAKES OVER AND THEY START HANDLING THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF TTHE FACILITY. SO AS PETER MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'RE GOING TO DO PRESENTATIONS LIKE THIS TWICE A MONTH FOR -- AT LEAST FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR. I IMAGINE WE'LL DO SOMETHING SIMILAR WHEN WE GO UNDER CONSTRUCTION TO KEEP EVERYBODY UPDATED ON THE PROGRESS. I'VE LISTED OUT THE PLANNED PRESENTATION DATES. THOSE MIGHT CHANGE, DEPENDING ON WHAT COMES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS. THE TOPICS WILL VARY EACH WEEK. THEY'LL FOCUS ON WHATEVER THE CURRENT ACTIVITIES ARE ON THE PROJECT, SO WE'LL TRY TO BE -- WE'LL TRY TO PICK TOPICS THAT ARE RELEVANT, AND IF -- I IMAGINE WE'LL TAKE RECOMMENDATIONS IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT, WE'LL DIVE INTO THOSE. ANOTHER UPCOMING PRESENTATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AT CITY COUNCIL IS JUNE 17TH. BACK IN APRIL, SOME OF THE CITY STAFF WAS ABLE TO GO DOWN TO FORT LAUDERDALE TO VISIT A PROSPECT LAKE PROJECT. IT'S ACTUALLY A PROJECT BEING CONSTRUCTED BY KIEWIT. IT'S A 50 MILLION-GALLON PER DAY WATER TREATMENT PLANT, AND THAT WAS JUST PART OF IT WAS FOR US TO DO A TOUR OF THAT PROJECT, BUT THE PART THAT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST BENEFICIAL WAS ACTUALLY RECEIVING PRESENTATION BY THE WATER COLLABORATIVE DELIVERY ASSOCIATION, THEY'RE EXPERTS IN, YOU KNOW, PROGRESSIVE DESIGN-BUILD CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AT RISK, THOSE TYPE OF DELIVERY METHODS. SO LEOFWIN CLARK WAS THE MAIN PRESENTER AT THAT PRESENTATION. WE'D LIKE TO BRING HIM IN AND ACTUALLY DO A VERY SHORTER VERSION OF THE PRESENTATION YOU GUYS AND THE PUBLIC TO HELP EDUCATE ON THE PROCESS, AND ALSO EDUCATE ON WHAT THE GMP DEVELOPMENT WILL BE. SO WE'RE GOING TO BRING HIM DOWN TO DO A PRESENTATION ON JUNE 17TH. ALSO JUST KIND OF RECAP, AGAIN, FOR SOME OF THESE UPCOMING FUTURE TOPICS, WE'LL HAVE OUR COUNCIL BRIEFINGS HERE, AS WELL AS THE ONE BY LEOFWIN CLARK. THE CITY STAFF, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO TRAVEL BACK TO LINEXA, KANSAS, TO THE KIEWIT DESIGN CENTER AND MEET WITH HIM AND THE FREESE & NICHOLS TEAM TO GO THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN REPORT. IT'S A VERY COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT AND FOR US TO SIT DOWN AND GO THROUGH A COUPLE HUNDRED PAGES AND TRY TO FULLY UNDERSTAND IT, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO SIT DOWN WITH THE TEAM AND HAVE A FULL-DAY WORKSHOP TALKING THROUGH THE CRITICAL COMPONENTS AND HAVE THEM EDUCATE US ON THE BODR AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND JUST REALLY DIVE INTO IT. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT ON THE 14TH AND 15TH. AND THEN, AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE, WE'RE WORKING ON THE DEMONSTRATION PLANT AMENDMENT, SO HOPEFULLY I CAN PRESENT THAT HERE SOON, AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I PLAN ON THE NEXT PRESENTATION TO TALK ABOUT THE DEMONSTRATION PLAN, SHOW SOME RENDERINGS, TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO BE OUT THERE, WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE PLACED, INFORMATION ALONG THOSE LINES. AND THEN WE HAVE THE BASIS OF DESIGN REPORT AGAIN. IT'S UNDER REVIEW AND THE COST MODEL DRAFT WILL BE SUBMITTED AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, AND THEN UNDER REVIEW BY THE PROJECT TEAM. AND THEN THE DESIGN AND GMP DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT. SO THAT'S THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. I WILL SAY THE QR CODE THAT'S ON THE SCREEN, IF YOU CLICK ON IT, IT ACTUALLY WILL TAKE YOU TO THE CITY'S INNER HARBOR WATER TREATMENT CAMPUS SITE -- WEBSITE THAT WE HAVE. THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION ON THERE. IF YOU'RE UNABLE TO DO THAT, IF YOU TYPE IN SUSTAINABLE WATER.CORPUSCHRISTYTX.GOV, THAT WILL TAKE YOU THERE AS WELL. THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION. I STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, BRETT. COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON? >> Paxson: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION BRETT. WE DID RECEIVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FROM A PRESENT R IN PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING. I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL KIND OF WITH SIMILAR QUESTIONS, SO I THINK I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR SOME OF THOSE. IF YOU NEED, WE CAN READ THEM BACK OFF, BECAUSE THEY'RE PRINTED IN FRONT OF US. >> SO I THINK I HAVE THE GIST OF WHAT JASON'S ASKING FOR. SO THE REPORT THAT WAS PROVIDED BY GHD, IT -- IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS SHARED FROM THEM TO KIEWIT, AND THEN KIEWIT ALSO SHARED WITH THE CITY. IT'S NOT A BINDING DOCUMENT, IT'S NOT A CONTRACT SHALL DOCUMENT. I THINK -- THE DOCUMENT TALKS ABOUT THE CAPABILITIES OF GHD. I MEAN, THEY'RE A VERY QUALIFIED COMPANY THAT'S ABLE TO DO EXTENSIVE MODELING, BUT THE AMOUNT OF MODELING THAT WAS REFERENCED IN GH DOCUMENT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CONTRACTED KIEWIT TO DO. SO THOUGH GHD HAS SAID THEY'RE GOING TO BE EVALUATING SOME OF THE SYSTEMS AROUND THE INNER HARBOR, THEY'RE EVALUATING THEM IN THE SENSE THAT THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT IMPACT THOSE SYSTEMS HAVE ON THE INNER HARBOR, NOT THE IMPACT THE INNER HARBOR'S HAVING ON THOSE SYSTEMS. SO THEY'RE TREATING -- THEY'RE TREATING IT AS AN INPUT INTO THEIR MODELING, WHICH IS BASICALLY FROM THE HARBOR BRIDGE ALL THE WAY PAST WHERE THE CC POLYMERS. >> Paxson: SO SOME OF THE OTHER CONCERNS THAT WERE LISTED IN HERE, ONE IS REGARDING PERMIT AMENDMENTS. ONE IS REGARDING MODELING FOR THE POTENTIAL OF CREATION OF HYPOXIA, AND THEN IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I THINK YOU WERE REFERENCING THE FOURTH QUESTION, WHICH IS ABOUT SCOPE, IS THIS A -- HAS THE BAY-WIDE MOODELING MENTIONED IN GHD'S PRESENTATION ALREADY BEGUN. >> RIGHT. >> Paxson: SO SITTING THERE IN THAT PRESENTATION, THE BIG QUESTION WAS REGARDING THIS FAR-FIELD MODELING. I DON'T WANT TO REOPEN THAT DISCUSSION. >> RIGHT. >> Paxson: BUT THE COMMUNICATION THAT WAS RETURNED WAS WE ARE, IN FACT, CONDUCTING THE STUDIES THAT YOU'VE BEEN ASKING FOR. AND SO THESE FOUR QUESTIONS ARE SOME OF THOSE PILLAR CONCEPTS THAT WERE BEING ASKED TO COME ABOUT BASICALLY OF THAT STUDY. AND THE GENERAL GIST WAS WE'RE ALREADY DOING THAT IN THE PLAN. >> RIGHT. SO WE'RE NOT DOING THE MODELING IN THE SENSE THAT THE PUBLIC'S ASKING. WE'RE NOT MODELING THE ENTIRE BAY SYSTEM TO SEE THE IMPACT THE INNER HARBOR'S GOING TO HAVE ON THE BAY SYSTEM. WE'RE MODELING THE IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON JUST THE INNER HARBOR, AND IT'S TO INSURE THAT THE DISPERSION DESIGN MEETS THE TCEQ REQUIREMENTS. SO WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY CHANGES TO THE PERMIT WILL BE NEEDED. WE'RE GOING -- WE HAVE -- WE HAVE EVERYTHING THAT'S REQUIRED PER THE PERMIT. WE'RE DESIGNING TO THAT. AND -- BUT, AGAIN, WE ARE NOT -- WE ARE NOT MODELING THE BAY SYSTEMS OUT TO THE GULF. WE'RE NOT DOING ANY OF THAT. WE ARE SIMPLY STAYING WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE INNER HARBOR. >> Paxson: I KNOW AT THAT LAST MEETING, I THINK WE'D CERTAINLY BELABORED THE FACT THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENCES OF PREFERENCES ON THIS STUDYING. SO FOR THE INTEREST OF THE MEETING TODAY -- >> YES, MA'AM -- >> Paxson: -- I'LL SIMPLY LEAVE THESE RESPONSES ON RECORD BASICALLY. SO THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE. >> Zanoni: COUNCILWOMAN, SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOUR TRAIN OF THOUGHT. BUT THESE QUESTIONS WE'LL ANSWER IN ONE OF THE WORKSHOPS. WE HAVE THEM HERE FROM EXPWR JASON HALE, RIGHT? THESE ARE ALL QUESTIONS WE CAN WORK -- ONE OF THE PRESENTATIONS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE'LL MAKE SURE WE ANSWER THESE OR WE'LL HAVE A SESSION -- A PRESENTATION ON THE GHD FAR-FIELD MODEL THAT THEY'RE DOING IN THE SHIP CHANNEL. >> Paxson: I THINK THAT ANSWERS MY NEXT QUESTION, WHICH IS BASICALLY WHEN WOULD THAT MODELING BE AVAILABLE SHARED PUBLICLY. >> Zanoni: RIGHT. >> Paxson: IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN? >> Zanoni: YOU KNOW, I'M NOT -- DO YOU KNOW, BRETT, THE DAY -- >> WE DON'T HAVE A DATE WE COULD SHARE. THE MODELING SHOULD BE DONE WITHIN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS. >> Paxson: I THINK WHEN THEY HAD GIVEN US THAT PRESENTATION, THEY SAID WE WERE ABOUT A TWO-MONTH COMPLETION AND THAT WAS IN MARCH. SO WE'RE AT THE TWO-MONTH MARK. >> Zanoni: WE'LL GET AN UPDATE ON WHEN IT WILL BE DONE, AND WE'LL BRING -- THERE'S NO REASON TO NOT BRING THAT HERE AND FOR THE COMMUNITY, SO WE'LL BRING THAT AND POSSIBLY GHD WOULD PRESENT OR KIEWIT, ESSENTIALLY THE SUB OF -- >> Paxson: SINCE WE'RE DOING A PRESENTATION ACCORDING TO TODAY'S PRESENTATION ON THE 13TH, CAN WE ADDRESS SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS AT THAT TIME? >> Zanoni: YEAH, NEXT WEEK. WE CAN GET YOU THE TIMELINE, SURE. WE'LL ACTUALLY PUT IT IN THE MATERIAL THAT WILL GO OUT THIS FRIDAY COUNCILWOMAN. >> Paxson: THANK YOU. MY NEXT QUESTION -- >> Mayor Guajardo: OH, SORRY. I THOUGHT YOU WERE SAYING YOU WERE DONE. >> Paxson: THANK YOU. MY NEXT QUESTION, HAVE WE DONE ALREADY FORECASTING ON COST FOR REGULAR AND ONGOING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FOR THIS FACILITY? I KNOW YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT KIEWIT WOULD BE ASSUMING LEAD OF OPERATIONS FOR THE FIRST YEAR, SO I'D ASSUME THEY'VE KIND OF BUILT IN WHAT THAT COPYSCOPE WOULD LOOK LIKE. HAVE WE LOOKED AT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE AS THE CITY WHAT THOSE COSTS ARE FORECAST? >> YES. KIEWI TICKER IS LOOKING AT THAT. THAT'S PART OF THE COST MODAL PROCESS. THEY'RE LOOKING OUT. WE HAVE NOT SEEN IT. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE YET. BUT FROM OUR SIDE, WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THE PLANT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND THE NEEDS BEFORE WE CAN REALLY BUILD OUT WHAT THE CITY'S IMPACT WILL BE, HOW MANY STAFF YOU NEED, VEHICLES EQUIPMENT CHEMICALS, WE JUST DON'T KNOW ENOUGH YET TO ACTUALLY BUILD THAT OUT. >> Paxson: UNDERSTANDABLE. THANK YOU. >> Zanoni: YEAH, BUT WE DO HAVE -- BRETT -- DREW IS HERE, BUT WE HAVE DONE SOME INITIAL ESTIMATING BASED ON, YOU KNOW, THE SCOPE AS DEVELOPED BY THEN FREESE & NICHOLS, SO WHAT BRETT'S SAYING IS ACCURATE, WE DON'T KNOW THE ENTIRE OPERATIONAL MAKEUP OF THE ULTIMATE DESIGN, BUT WE HAVE A GENERAL SENSE FOR HOW MANY STAFF MEMBERS, ANNUAL OPERATING COST, IF WE WANT TO PUT IN A SINKING FUND TO REPLACE THE HIGH PRESSURE FILTERS, SO WE DO HAVE ALL THOSE COSTS, AND, IN FACT, WE'VE PUT THEM INTO THE PRESENTATION THAT DREW GAVE LAST YEAR. THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN PRESENT TO THE COUNCIL AGAIN, YOU KNOW, TO REFRESH -- BECAUSE I KNOW YOU GUYS -- SOME OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS WEREN'T HERE THEN. >> Paxson: IF THERE'S ANY NEW INFORMATION, MAYBE GLANCE OVER, MAKE SURE IT'S AS ACCURATE AS WE CAN FORESEEBLY FORECAST AT THIS POINT. I UNDERSTAND IT'S STILL A MOVING TARGET. >> Zanoni: AND THE REASON WE DID IT A YEAR OR SO AGO IS BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE RATE. >> Paxson: YES. >> Zanoni: SO WHEN WE PRESENTED THE RATE FOR WHAT THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER AND COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS WOULD PAY, THAT INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION, PAYBACK FOR DEBT SERVICE, BUT ALSO THE OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE COSTS, THAT'S STAFFING, ELECTRICITY CHEMICALS THAT TYPE OF THING, YES, MA'AM. >> Paxson: SURE. I APPRECIATE THAT. MY NEXT TWO QUESTIONS ARE KIND OF SIMILAR, OR AT LEAST THEY'RE IN THE SAME TRAIN OF THOUGHT. NO SECRET, I TEND TO BE MORE ON THE MONETARY FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE SIDE. SO WHEN I SEE THIS DRAWING, I SEE THE GLASS, THE STEEL CANTY LEVERS, TO ME, THIS IS HYPOTHETICALLY A WATER TREATMENT PLANT, I DON'T -- I'M CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A METRIC IN HERE OR THERE'S OPTIONS IN HERE, I KNOW WE CERTAINLY -- IF WE'RE PUTTING SOMETHING FORWARD, WE WANT IT TO BE SHINY AND CHROME AND GORGEOUS, BUT ON THE BACK END, I NEED SOMETHING TO ASSURE ME THAT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE PERHAPS COST RESPONSIBLE OPTIONS THAT WE'RE GIVING SINCERE LOOK AT TO, THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BRINGING THIS INDIVIDUAL DOWN TO DO A PRESENTATION ON JUNE 17TH, ARE WE FRONTING THAT BILL FOR A PRESENTATION THAT WE ARE NOW DOING A DISCUSSION ON TWICE A MONTH, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS? >> YEAH. SO REGARDING REALLY YOU COULD TALK ABOUT ANY PART, SO THE BUILDING, THE PROCESS EQUIPMENT, HOW WE'RE LAYING THE LAND OUT, WE'RE IN THE EARLY PHASES. AS WE START TO GET THE COST ON THE OVERALL PROJECT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START HAVING THOSE TYPE OF DISCUSSIONS, CAN WE REALLY AFFORD TO HAVE A FACILITY THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT? CAN WE REALLY AFFORD TO DO THIS THAT WAY? AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN PULL BACK ON TO SAVE MONEY. >> Paxson: IS IT -- PETER, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY SHEER ESSENTIALS AND INCREDIBLY HIGH COST. I WOULD HOPE THAT OUR UNITED FRONT TO OUR VEND DOR ERS IS WE WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE AS ECONOMICAL AS POSSIBLE. >> Zanoni: IT IS. THERE'S ABOUT FIVE BUILDINGS, FIVE OR SIX BUILDINGS ON THE CAMPUS. THERE'S ONLY ONE THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE THIS, AND IT MAY -- WE MAY NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO DO IT. THE PRICE IS PROBABLY GOING TO COME IN TOO HIGH. PHILLIP ROMERO WAS GIVING US THIS LOOK, THIS IS WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE. THE GOAL IS BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL SOME HOMES IN THE HILLCREST NEIGHBORHOOD, THE GOAL WAS TO PUT SOMETHING THAT'S ATTRACTIVE IN THE FRONT AND THEN EVERYTHING BEHIND THIS BUILDING OR REALLY AWAY FROM THE VIEW OF THE HOMES THAT ARE THERE WOULD NOT LOOK LIKE THIS, AND YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE THEM AS WELL, SO THE GOAL WAS TO SOMEWHAT SHIELD OR SHROUD THE MORE AUSTERE, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE WHEN WE BRING YOU THOSE RENDITIONS, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE BUILDING THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS. AND WHAT YOU SEE IS IT'S AN EDUCATION CENTER, WHICH WE MAY NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO AFFORD IN THE END. IT'S WHERE STUDENTS FROM ELEMENTARY MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOLS AND OTHER VISITORS COULD GO TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WATER'S BEING MADE. WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT, IT WOULD HAVE AN OPERATING AND CONSTRUCTION EXPENSE. AND BEHIND IT IS THE STAFF ADMINISTRATION BUILDING THAT WOULD BE BASICALLY A CINDER -- YOU KNOW, JUST A REAL PLAIN BUILDING. BUT AS BRETT SAID, THIS IS EARLY, AND SO THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE SO WE REQUEST HECAN HEAR COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL. THERE ARE NUMEROUS GROUPS THAT HAVE IDEAS OF WHAT THE BUILDINGS SHOULD LOOK LIKE. THE MESSAGE TO LEAVE THE COUNCIL IS THE GOAL TO HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE SOME TYPE OF A BUFFER BETWEEN WHAT THE RESIDENT COULD SEE AND THEN THE PROCESSING BUILDINGS, THAT WILL BE PRETTY TILT WALL, PLAIN CONSTRUCTION. UH-HUH. AND SOME OF THEM MAY NOT HAVE WALLS AT ALL, IT WILL JUST BE A ROOF COVERING SOME OF THE ELEMENTS, SOME OF THE MECHANICAL PIECES ARE ALL WEATHER, AND SO YOU DON'T NEED A BUILDING. >> Paxson: I KNOW WITH NEARLY ANY NEW BUILD CONSTRUCTION, YOU KNOW, THE VERY BASIC ABC'S IS THIS IS THE PRODUCT I WANT, THIS IS MY BUDGET. >> Zanoni: RIGHT. >> Paxson: THIS IS MY PRIORITY. >> Zanoni: UH-HUH. >> Paxson: I THINK, OF COURSE, PROVIDING WATER IS OUR TOP PRIORITY BUT COST HAS GOT TO BE SECOND IN MY OPINION. >> Zanoni: RIGHT. YOU'RE RIGHT, AND SO YOU'LL SEE IT, WE'LL HAVE SOME RENDITIONS, BUT THE CAMPUS HAS ONLY ONE BUILDING THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT. AND WE'RE TELLING YOU NOW, WE PROBABLY WON'T HAVE IT. BECAUSE IT'S -- >> Paxson: I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION FOR THE RESIDENTIAL AREA, BUT PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATING, THAT'S JUST THE FRONT, AND TALKING ABOUT AN EDUCATION CAMPUS, YOU KNOW, I REALIZE WE'RE DOING A DESAL FACILITY IN THIS DISCUSSION, BUT WE WOULDN'T PUT AN EDUCATION CAMPUS AT A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. >> Zanoni: WE DO HAVE -- >> Paxson: IT'S A BUSINESS FACILITY. >> Zanoni: WELL, AS COUNCILMAN BARRERA SAID, STUDENTS DO TOUR OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES AND AT OWENS STEVENS WE HAVE A MINIMAL SETUP WHERE IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO SEE THE PRODUCTION OF THE WATER, SO IT'S NOT A -- I DON'T THINK IT WAS A DIRECTIVE OF THE COUNCIL, BUT THE THOUGHT WAS THAT HAVING A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS CAN GO, WHEN WE WENT TO CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, THEY HAVE SOMEWHAT OF A DEMONSTRATION CENTER. IT'S NOT IN THE BUILDING, BUT AS YOU WALK AROUND THE CAMPUS, THERE'S SIGNS WITH INFORMATION AND STUDENTS AND OTHERS GO QUITE A BIT OVER THERE. SO THAT'S -- THAT WAS THE GOAL. BUT THE -- THAT IS NOT A GUIDING PRINCIPLE, THE EDUCATION CENTER. THE GUIDELINING PRINCIPLE IS BUDGET AND TIMELINE AND QUALITY OF PRODUCT. >> Paxson: THAT'S MY POINT. >> Zanoni: AND AFFORDABLE WATER. >> Paxson: THAT'S MY POINT, PUTTING THE COST AT THE FOREFRONT THERE. I'M A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, I'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR OUR OSO LEARNING PRESERVE AND ANY WAY WE CAN ADD A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, THAT'S MY CONCERN. I'M LOOKING FOR IN THIS PRESENTATION THAT ASSURANCE THAT WE'RE REALLY KEEPING THAT AT THE FOREFRONT. >> Mayor Guajardo: YEAH, AND COUNCILWOMAN, I WILL ECHO THAT THAT IS ALL OF OUR CONCERNS, TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING FANCY BUILDING, BUT YET, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE WHAT'S NEEDED ESPECIALLY ON A PROJECT SUCH AS THIS THAT IS -- IT WILL BE THE HISTORICAL PROJECT OF THIS ENTIRE CITY. THAT SAID, WE DO HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR -- WE HAVE FIVE COUNCILMEMBERS THAT HAVE QUESTIONS. RIGHT NOW IT'S 1:00. WE'RE GOING TO BREAK, BECAUSE WE HAVE -- I THINK WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE FOR OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM AT 1:00, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO TEND TO THEM, BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING IN FOR OUT OF TOWN FOR THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO FOR RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEMS 19 THROUGH 20 PER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.071 AND 551.072, AND WE WILL RETURN. THANK YOU. [CITY COUNCIL IN EXECUTIVE SESSION] [EXECUTIVE SESSION] MAY 6, 2025 [EXECUTIVE SESSION] [EXECUTIVE SESSION] [EXECUTIVE SESSION] [EXECUTIVE SESSION] >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND RECONVENE OUR MEETING, AND WE WERE ON ITEM NO. 4. WE HAD SOME COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTIONS ON THE UPDATE ON INNER HARBOR WATER TREATMENT CAMPUS PROJECT. COUNCILWOMAN CAMPOS. >> Campos: OKAY. LIKE I'M SUPPOSED TO REMEMBER. WELL, LET'S SEE. OKAY. SO BACK TO SLIDE NO. 3, BRAD, ON THE INNER HARBOR BOND ISSUANCE OF THE $211 MILLION. HOW MUCH HAVE WE SPENT OF THAT? HOW MUCH HAVE WE SPENT OF THAT $211 MILLION? >> SO TO DATE WE'VE ISSUED APPROXIMATELY $25 MILLION IN COMMITMENTS. SO WE HAVE THE $12 MILLION TO FREESE AND NICHOLS -- NOW, WE HAVEN'T SPENT ALL OF THAT AND I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER SPENT TODAY, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THE COMMITMENTS TO DATE. WE HAVE THE $12 MILLION FOR FREESE AND NICHOLS AND THEN WE HAVE THE $9 MILLION FOR PHASE 1A TO KIEWIT. AND THEN WE HAVE THE $4.7 MILLION THAT WE ISSUED TO KIEWIT RECENTLY AS PART OF PHASE 1 B. WE HAVE ALMOST SPENT ALL OF PHASE 1A. WE'RE ABOUT 80% PAID FOR PHASE 1A TO KIEWIT . I WOULD SAY THAT WE'RE -- I DON'T HAVE A GOOD NUMBER FOR THE FREESE AND NICHOLS SPENT TODAY BUT WE HAVEN'T SPENT HALF OF WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ALLOCATED FOR THEM THROUGH THE REST OF THE PHASE 1A AND PHASE 1B. >> Campos: THE ONLY THING I HEARD WAS THERE'S A COMMITMENT OF $25 MILLION. >> APPROXIMATELY 25, YES, MA'AM. >> Campos: OKAY. AS MOST PEOPLE KNOW, I'M AGAINST THIS INNER HARBOR PROJECT AND SO I'M WONDERING FOR THE TAXPAYERS , LIKE WE'VE BEEN SAYING -- I MEAN, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE, THE COMMENTERS THAT HAVE COME HERE IN THE PAST HAVE BEEN ASKING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FAR-FIELD MODELING. EARLIER YOU SAID THAT, YES, THERE IS THE FAR-FIELD MODELING DONE BUT IT'S ONLY GOING TO ENCOMPASS FROM CC POLYMERS TO WHERE THE INNER HARBOR -- >> AROUND THE HARBOR BRIDGE. >> Campos: AND SO MY QUESTION OR OUR QUESTION OR THE QUESTION THAT KEEPS COMING UP IS WHAT IF WE DO FIND SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR BAY. AND AT THAT TIME I THINK A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO IT WAS DETERMINED THAT BECAUSE KIEWIT IS THE ONE THAT IS DOING THE FAR-FIELD MODELING, THAT THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DESTRUCTION, I GUESS, TO THE BAY. BUT THE POINT WOULD BE THAT WE DON'T GET ANYTHING BACK. I THINK THAT'S WHAT COUNCILMAN CANTU HAD STATED BEFORE THAT, YOU KNOW, AT THE END -- HOW ARE WE LOOKING OUT FOR THE PEOPLE? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN? YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IS THAT THE CC POLYMER, THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON TO INCORPORATE THE CC POLYMERS. AND HOW DOES THAT -- HOW IS THAT CONNECTED TO THAT FAR-FIELD MODELING, DO YOU KNOW? >> YOU CAN COME UP, DREW. REGARDING THE CC POLYMERS, IN TERMS OF WHAT GHD IS DOING, THEY'LL USE THAT AS AN INPUT INTO THEIR MODELING SO IT WILL BE AN INPUT INTO THE OVERALL INNER HARBOR SYSTEM SO THEY'LL CONSIDER EVERYTHING IN THAT CHANNEL. AND THAT'S ONE INPUT. THAT WILL BE ONE INPUT. >> Campos: OKAY. AND THE OTHER THING IS WE'RE LOOKING AT 30 MGD. THAT'S THE MOST THAT I THINK -- WOULD THAT GET US OUT OF THE DROUGHT RESTRICTIONS? >> I'LL GO AHEAD AND JUMP IN. SO AS I'VE SAID BEFORE -- DREW MOLLY, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. SEAWATER DESAL IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT THAT WE HAVE FROM DROUGHT. BUT THERE'S ALSO OTHER WATER SUPPLIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT. IN FACT, THE PRESENTATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE HERE SHORTLY AFTER THIS ONE WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER PROJECTS, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE REUSE AND GROUNDWATER SUPPLY. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT'S A MULTI-PRONG APPROACH. THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT TO HELP US WITH THE DROUGHT THAT WE HAVE AND IT WILL HELP US IN THE FUTURE. >> Campos: OKAY. SO BACK TO THAT. YOU KNOW, WE, THE CITY, PRIOR COUNCIL, I GUESS, HAVE BEEN PUSHING THIS ONE PROJECT, THE DESALINATION. BUT YET WE NOW JUST RECENTLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET SOME GROUNDWATER -- I MEAN, PRETTY QUICKLY RIGHT? YEAH. SO AND THE OTHER IS THE WASTEWATER REUSE. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S STILL SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, DONE AS A STUDY AND LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME. BUT I'M JUST WONDERING WHY IS IT THAT WE WEREN'T DOING THAT TO BEGIN WITH? HERE WE ARE IN THE FIFTH YEAR, I THINK, AND NOW WE'RE IN A DIRE, DIRE STRAIT AND I WAS WONDERING WHERE WAS THAT DIRECTION THAT YOU WEREN'T GIVEN TO LOOK INTO THE WATER WELLS, THE GROUNDWATER WELLS, AND THE WASTEWATER REUSE? IS IT THE CITY, YOUR DEPARTMENT, CAN ONLY HANDLE ONE PROJECT AT A TIME, IS THAT WHAT I'M GATHERING? >> WE HAVE BEEN JUGGLING A LOT. WE'RE HAPPY TO DO IT. BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT MULTIPLE PROJECTS RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK. AND THE REALITY IS WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS IN A FEW MINUTES AFTER THIS PRESENTATION ABOUT ALL THE OTHER PROJECTS. WE HAD A WATER WORKSHOP WHERE WE HAD A NUMBER OF FOLKS COME TALK TO US FROM THE OUTSIDE ABOUT VARIOUS TYPES OF WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS THAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT. NONE OF THOSE PROJECTS WERE A SURPRISE TO US. THEY'RE ALL PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT. I THINK GIVEN THE FACT THAT THIS DROUGHT IS PRETTY DARN UNIQUE -- I MEAN, IT IS A PRETTY SEVERE DROUGHT. CERTAINLY IT IS RAISING THE ATTENTION LEVEL TO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME SHORTER-TERM SUPPLY PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED. AND THOSE ARE, AT LEAST ONE OF THEM, WAS ONE THAT SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS GOT A CHANCE TO GO LOOK AT, THE NUECES RIVER GROUNDWATER WELLS. THAT IS A RELATIVELY CHEAP PROJECT. IT'S RELATIVELY EASY TO IMPLEMENT. THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS REGARDING THAT PROJECT THAT MAKES SOME SENSE. BUT I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR. THAT WATER, WE HAD SOME, WE TASTED IT. >> Campos: YEAH. >> IT'S NOT THE BEST IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN DRINK. AND SO IT'S A GOOD PROJECT TO BUY US TIME. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT PROJECT IN PARTICULAR HAS PROBABLY A TWO-PHASE APPROACH. THE FIRST ONE IS PHASE 1 IN THE RIVER. PHASE 2 IS SOMETHING DOWN THE ROAD THAT I THINK WE CAN USE THAT WATER FOR BENEFICIAL PURPOSES DOWN THE ROAD. >> Campos: WELL, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY IT IS ABOUT COST. AND SO THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON A REGULAR BASIS IS THE UPDATES. LIKE HOW MUCH IS THIS COSTING US. EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, A PRESENTATION, THESE ARE THE UPDATED RATES. AND THIS SHOULD BE PER 1,000 GALLONS, LIKE WE AS RESIDENTS PAY FOR. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T PAY BY METRIC OR WHATEVER. WE PAY BY 1,000 GALLONS AND WHAT THIS IS COSTING US AND WOULD COST US. I GUESS THAT'S ALL FOR NOW. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. COUNCILMAN CANTU. >> Cantu: THANK YOU, MAYOR. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS -- LIKE SIX. >> OKAY. >> Cantu: HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE SPENDING RIGHT NOW, PER DAY, MORE OR LESS, ON THIS PROJECT? OR HOW ABOUT LIKE A MONTHLY BUDGET, LIKE YOU COULD BRING TO COUNCIL WHAT WE'VE BEEN SPENDING. >> WE CAN DO THAT. I CAN BRING THAT. WE HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION. I DON'T HAVE THE DATA WITH ME RIGHT NOW BUT WE COULD DEFINITELY PRESENT THAT AT THE NEXT BRIEFING. >> Cantu: AND THEN I THINK I WAS IN THE BACK WHEN THEY ASKED THIS QUESTION. BUT WHEN WILL THE FAR-FIELD STUDY BE COMPLETED? >> I WOULD SAY WITHIN THE NEXT ONE OR TWO MONTHS. THE GHD TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE READY FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION. THEY STILL NEED TO GO THROUGH, REVIEW THE DATA, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CONSIDERED. AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT AT CITY COUNCIL. >> Cantu: AND THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT, CORRECT? >> WE CAN SHARE THE RESULTS OF IT. I THINK THAT'S A FAIR STATEMENT. >> Cantu: OKAY. AND THEN WHEN WILL THE PILOT BE READY? TIME-FRAME. >> SO I WOULD SAY THE DEMONSTRATION PLAN, WE SHOULD HAVE AN EXECUTED AMENDMENT THIS MONTH. >> Cantu: OKAY. >> AND THEN THEY'LL START PROBABLY DOING SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION, I WOULD SAY THE LATTER PART OF JUNE, EARLY JULY. >> Cantu: GOT IT. ONE LAST QUESTION. IT MIGHT NOT BE THE MOST POPULAR QUESTION, BUT WHEN WILL WE HAVE THE DISCUSSION OF WHEN DO WE KNOW -- HOW CAN I SAY IT? WHEN DO WE KNOW IF IT COST TOO MUCH? LIKE, WHEN DO WE STOP? HAVE YOU FIGURED THAT STUFF OUT? WHEN WE HAVE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT'S TOO MUCH. >> SO I THINK THE FIRST THING FOR US TO DO IS GET THE COST MODEL. LET OUR INDEPENDENT COST ESTIMATOR, THE FREESE AND NICHOLS TEAM AND THE CITY STAFF. >> Cantu: THAT'S IN SEPTEMBER, RIGHT? >> NO. THE COST MODEL WILL BE SUBMITTED PROBABLY BY THE END OF THE MONTH, A DRAFT VERSION. >> Cantu: OKAY. >> AND THEN WE NEED TIME TO REVIEW IT AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING MAKES SENSE. SO IN JULY IS WHEN I WOULD EXPECT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION. >> Cantu: IN JULY. >> SO THEN WE CAN START HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PROJECT COSTS AND WHAT WE'RE GETTING. >> Cantu: IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO NOT DO A LOT, LIKE PETER SAID EARLIER. I THINK -- >> Zanoni: YEAH. SO KIEWIT, SO THE ANSWER IS A LITTLE BIT -- RIGHT NOW THE PLANT IS NOT EVEN 10% DESIGNED. SO 90% IS UNCERTAIN IN TERMS OF PRICING. BUT WITH THE 10% THEY SEE TODAY AND AS KIEWIT GETS IN AND ACTUALLY LOOKS AT THE SITE, IT'S DIFFERENT. THEY'RE FINDING OUT SOME THINGS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE ASSUMPTIONS WERE FROM FREESE AND NICHOLS. ON THE GROUND REALITY AND THE MORE AND MORE IT GETS DESIGNED, THE MORE AND MORE PRICING BECOMES CERTAIN. THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THESE BRIEFINGS TWICE A MONTH BECAUSE OVER THE NEXT SEVEN MONTHS, MORE AND MORE CERTAINTY IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE. WE HAVE TO TALK TO THE COUNCIL ON THE SEVEN-MONT CONTINUUM. THE GOAL IS TO GET TO MONTH SEVEN TO MAKE THAT DECISION. IT'S JUST TOO MUCH. BUT ALONG THAT CONTINUUM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE INFORMATION. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PRICING INFORMATION BUT THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND IT'S AT A LESSER DESIGNED STATE SO THE TRUE COST IS NOT >> Zanoni: IN THE FALL, WE'LL ONLY HAVE 60% DESIGNED, SEVEN MONTHS FROM NOW. >> Cantu: ARE WE LOOKING FOR GRANTS OR ANYTHING -- >> Zanoni: WE ARE. WE HAVE APPLIED -- DREW WILL SPEAK TO THIS. WE NEED SOME HELP. WE'RE GOING TO SPEAK TO OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATORS TO CLEAR UP THAT TITLE SIX CASE THAT WE BELIEVE SHOULD BE CLOSED AT THIS POINT. GO AHEAD, DREW. >> Molly: ONE OF THE BETTER GRANTS THAT'S OUT THERE IS ONE THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATOR DELEGATION WHICH IS THE U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION WHICH IS A DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, SO THERE'S A WIN GRANT, IT'S CALLED A WIN GRANT, AND IT'S POTENTIALLY AVAILABLE FOR US ON LARGE PROJECTS LIKE THIS UP TO $180 MILLION. >> Cantu: NICE. >> Molly: THAT WOULD BE MONEY -- >> Cantu: MONEY THAT YOU DON'T PAY BACK. >> Molly: YOU DON'T PAY IT BACK, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO RETURN ANYTHING. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME FEDERAL STIPULATIONS LIKE BABA, BUY AMERICAN TYPE -- YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, BUT THOSE ARE THINGS AT $180 MILLION WE'D BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THAT SUCCESSFULLY. >> Cantu: YEAH. >> Molly: AND THEN THE OTHER PART OF IT IS, YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN SECURING SOME OF THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS, THOSE GRANT FUNDS, SO I THINK FROM OUR STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD HAVE SOME GOOD SUCCESS IN BEING ABLE TO -- TO BRING THOSE TYPES OF DOLLARS TO TEXAS, TO THE GULF. >> Cantu: DO YOU HAVE AN ETA ON KNOWING ABOUT THOSE GRANTS? >> Molly: YEAH. SO TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS WE WOULD APPLY FOR THE GRANT IN THE FALL. SO IN THE -- OH, I'D SAY, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER TIME FRAME, AND THEN WE WOULD FIND OUT IN THE SPRING OF NEXT YEAR WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S GOOD ABOUT THE PROGRAM IS THERE'S FUNDING IN IT, AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS LIKE THIS. SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF COMPETITION IN THE MARKET FOR IT RIGHT NOW, OR NOT A LOT OF COMPETITION, I WOULD SAY. SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD SUCCESS CHANCE THAT WE WOULD BE -- WE'D BE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING -- GETTING THOSE FUNDS. OF COURSE, WE HAVE A FEDERAL DELEGATION THAT, YOU KNOW, HAS SEEN LARGE-SCALE DESALINATION FACILITIES, LIKE IN CALIFORNIA, THEY SEE THE TECHNOLOGY FOR WHAT IT IS AND THE VALUE THAT IT PROVIDES FOR COMMUNITIES, SO THEY'VE BEEN A BIG ADVOCATE FOR US IN PARTICULAR, AND THEY HAVE SHOWN EVERY EFFORT IN D.C. THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT THIS. >> Cantu: AWESOME. THAT'S SIX QUESTIONS? ONE MORE. >> Scott: SORRY. >> Cantu: YOU'RE HAVING A FUNDRAISER SOON, RIGHT, FOR -- TO HELP PEOPLE WITH UTILITIES; IS THAT -- >> Molly: RIGHT. SO THERE'S -- >> Cantu: I WANT THE PUBLIC TO SEE THAT. YOU GUYS ARE DOING SOME GOOD, YOU KNOW. I LIKE THAT. >> Molly: ABSOLUTELY. YEAH, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT NEXT TUESDAY, I THINK THE CITY MANAGER IS GOING TO. >> Zanoni: CAN YOU GIVE US A QUICK SYNOPSIS. >> Molly: ABSOLUTELY. I'M HAPPY TO GIVE YOU A QUICK SUMMARY AND THE COMMUNITY. THERE'S A NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT I WORK WITH AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND I'VE EXPRESSED A REAL INTEREST IN PUTTING TOGETHER A SUMMIT, A WATER SUMMIT. AND THE SUMMIT REALLY HAS TWO PURPOSES, NUMBER ONE, WE WANT TO START A UTILITY ASSISTANCE BILLING PROGRAM FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI DOESN'T HAVE ONE, AND I REALLY STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THE CAUSE FOR IT. AND SO THAT'S THE PRIMARY PURPOSE. THE SECOND PURPOSE IS, WE HAVE OPERATORS -- WE HAVE 500 PEOPLE WHO WORK IN CCW AND THEY'RE CONSTANTLY HAVING TO GET OPERATOR HOURS THROUGH TCEQ. SO THIS ONE WATER SUMMIT, WHICH IS MAY 22ND AND 23RD, WILL PROVIDE OUR OPERATORS, OUR WORKING FOLKS IN THE FIELD, 10 HOURS OF TCEQ HOURS THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE TO RECERTIFY FOR THEIR LICENSES. SO THOSE ARE THE TWO PRIMARY PURPOSES OF THE SUMMIT. ONE, TO RAISE FUNDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND, TWO, TO REALLY HELP OUR WORKING FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE TRENCHES DOING THE GOOD WORK EVERY DAY. SO FRANKLY, WHAT'S BEEN PRETTY ASTOUNDING IS THERE'S BEEN A HUGE INTEREST IN THIS SUMMIT. WE'VE SOLD OUT. IT'S AT THE AMERICAN BANK CENTER, IT'S 400 FOLKS IS THE CEILING, SO IT'S EXCITING BECAUSE NEXT YEAR I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO STEP IT UP AND DO EVEN MORE. >> Cantu: I'M SORRY I PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. I THINK YOU NEED TO HAVE SOME RECOGNITION, YOU GUYS ARE DOING GOOD, AND I APPRECIATE IT. I THINK THE COMMUNITY LIKES THAT, AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY WILL REALLY NEED IT, YOU KNOW. >> Molly: APPRECIATE THAT. >> Cantu: I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: DREW, BEFORE YOU LEAVE THERE, ON THESE GRANTS, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME. ARE WE -- WHEN ARE WE SUBMITTING FOR IT? OR HAVE WE SUBMITTED? >> Molly: YES. SO WE ARE GOING TO SUBMIT IN THE FALL. >> Mayor Guajardo: THIS FALL? >> Molly: YES. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. SO BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, WE SHOULD WORK ON -- THIS IS FEDERAL CORRECT? >> Molly: CORRECT. >> Mayor Guajardo: SO WASHINGTON. SO WE NEED TO BE WORKING, RIGHT, WITH -- YEAH, THE GOVERNOR AND OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION, JUST TO MAKE -- I KNOW YOU SAID THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF COMPETITION, BUT, STILL, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY WE'RE ASKING FOR. SO I THINK WE SHOULD START ON THAT. >> Zanoni: YEAH. >> Molly: I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, RYAN ZABOR SIKH IS VERY BLUGGED IN AND HE'S BEEN IN VERY CLOSE CONTACT WITH OUR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS, WHICH THEY DO, AND THE TIMELINE WE WOULD BE SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT FUNDS. >> Zanoni: AND WE'RE WORKING ON THE GRANT MATERIAL NOW, RIGHT, THAT HAS TO BE PART OF THE APPLICATION. >> Mayor Guajardo: AND WE SHOULD DO A RESOLUTION, IF THAT WOULD HELP. I'VE JUST HEARD A LOT ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME, AND I GUESS IT'S JUST NOT THE TIME YET. >> Molly: WE'RE GETTING CLOSE. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN SCOTT? >> Scott: I'VE GOT SIX THINGS. HEY, WE LOVE THE BUREAU RECLAMATION DREW. SENATOR CORNYN WAS DOWN, A MONTH, TWO MONTHS AGO, AND ROLAND AND I HAD A CHANCE TO SPEND ONE-ON-ONE, TWO-ON-ONE TIME WITH HIM, HE WAS VERY INTERESTED IN OUR DESAL PROJECT. CERTAINLY CONGRESSMAN HAS TOURED CALIFORNIA. I THINK THE GOVERNOR COULD WEIGH IN, MAYOR. THIS IS A SIGNATURE PROJECT FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS. >> Mayor Guajardo: I AGREE. >> Scott: SO ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP, WHICH IS PROBABLY NOTHING. I LIKE -- I LIKE THE EDUCATION DEMONSTRATION CONCEPT. I THINK -- I DO THINK THERE'S EXTRAORDINARY INTEREST IN THIS PROJECT, AND I THINK THE YOUTH, I THINK KIDS ARE GOING TO REALLY FIND IT FASCINATING, YOU KNOW, SO -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. I DON'T -- YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT YOU ONLY HAVE $10 TO SPEND AND IF IT'S MORE THAN THAT, WE CAN'T, I GET IT, BUT I THINK THERE'S -- I THINK ESPECIALLY PEOPLE THAT REMAIN SKEPTICAL, ONCE IT'S CREATING WATER, I THINK FOR THEM TO COME AND TOUCH AND FEEL AND LISTEN, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, POUR THE WATER FROM -- SOMEBODY WAS CALLING IT THE BEER SPOUT, THE BEER SPI GOT, SOMEWHERE, AND THEN IN THE END, HAVE A CUP OF WATER, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THAT IS, 30 MINUTES AGO OR A DAY BEFORE WAS IN THE BAY, I THINK IS INTERESTING. SO I'M A FAN. HEY, WHEN YOU -- WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT THE FAR-FIELD MODEL, TALK -- YEAH. JUST EVERY TIME YOU GET A CHANCE, HEY, OUR GHD'S FAR-FIELD MODEL IS FROM CC POLYMERS TO THE MOUTH OF THE SHIP CHANNEL OR TO THE NEW BRIDGE, I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR, AND I THINK THAT GETS LOST IN THE TRANSLATION. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DID TODAY, THIS IS NOT A BAY-WIDE, I GET THAT. SOMEBODY IN THE BACK, I DEFAULT IF THE WATER IS OKAY AT 5 FEET, I DON'T KNOW THEY NEED TO TEST IT AT 10 FEET, I MIGHT HAVE SOME SORT OF RESPONSE ABOUT OXYGEN, BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME WE'RE OXYGENATING THE WATER THAT COMES IN SUCH THAT IT HAS MORE OXYGEN GOING OUT THAN IT DOES COMING IN. >> CORRECT. >> Scott: I THINK THOSE KIND OF SIMPLE RESPONSES PEOPLE GO, OH, OKAY, IF THERE'S MORE OXYGEN IN THE WATER WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH IT, THAT PROBABLY HELPS ON THE HYPOXIA ISSUE WHICH INCIDENTALLY IS A BIG WORD FOR ME, SO I WANTED TO SAY IT TODAY. MAKE MY WIFE THINK I'M SMART. SO NEXT WEEK -- ANY TIME YOU GET A CONVERSATION OR A CHANCE TO TALK TO US ABOUT FAR-FIELD, JUST GIVE US THE PARAMETERS, RIGHT, BECAUSE IT IS WHAT IT IS. AND I THINK WHAT I'D HEARD AT ONE POINT WAS TO THE NEW -- ALL THE WAY TO THE NEW BRIDGE, WHICH INCIDENTALLY, IN ADDITION TO THAT, TELL US HOW FAR THAT IS FROM -- FROM THE PLANT RIGHT? SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE SAYING TO ME, IT'S GOING TO GO FROM POLYMERS ALL THE WAY TO THE MOUTH, I'M LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. BUT YOU SAID, THAT'S ACTUALLY A MILE AND A HALF, AND WE THINK THAT THE WATER'S GOOD AT 600 FEET, YOU KNOW, I THINK THOSE LITTLE -- THOSE LITTLE KIND OF GOTCHA OR AHA MOMENTS, I THINK, HELP AS WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THIS. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT CALIFORNIA -- OH, GOD, THAT CAME OUT WRONG -- 11 OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO IN CALIFORNIA IS MITIGATION. I THOUGHT THAT WAS FASCINATING TO ME THAT THEY WERE REQUIRED BY THE STATE, RIGHT, TO, LIKE, PLANT A MILLION TREES. I DON'T IMPLY THAT WE NEED TO GO PLANT A MILLION TREES, BUT I THINK IT'S A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE SPENDING $10 AND YOU CAN DO SOMETHING UNIQUE TO THAT -- TO THE AREA AROUND IT, OR EVEN SOMEWHERE ELSE, YOU KNOW, YOU MITIGATE BIG COMMERCIAL PROJECTS THAT TOUCH THE WETLANDS, AND I KNOW WE'RE NOT TOUCHING THE WETLANDS, BUT I WOULD BE OPEN TO WHAT -- WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS THIS PROJECT COULD PARTICIPATE IN OUTSIDE OF THAT WHICH IT IS RIGHT? SO I MEAN, IT'S A DESAL FACILITY, WE GET THAT. IT'S GOING TO MAKE WATER AND IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT THING, YOU KNOW, BUT IF WE COULD PLANT 100 TREES, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEXT BLOCK OVER. I DON'T KNOW, I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING THAT CALIFORNIA DID THAT, AND I DON'T LIKE MUCH ABOUT CALIFORNIA, BUT I LIKED THAT IDEA. I DID WANT TO MAKE A NOTE THAT I HEAR THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WATER SUPPLY, AND I THINK THIS WOULD BE THE LARGEST WATER SUPPLY PROJECT -- OR IS THE LARGEST WATER SUPPLY PROJECT IN OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS, 30 -- 36 MGD IS MORE THAN THE WELLS, IT'S MORE THAN EVANGELINE, IT WOULD BE MORE THAN EV RANCH, SO -- >> RIGHT. >> Scott: I WANT TO COUCH THIS CONVERSATION, LIKE YOU WALK AWAY FROM 36 MGD, AND I DON'T THINK YOU GET OVER THE FINISH LINE, SO I'M VERY SENSITIVE TO -- >> IT'S A LOT OF WATER. >> Scott: YEAH, I JUST WANT TO GET THAT OUT THERE. I DO THINK A BETTER RESPONSE IN THE GHD QUESTIONS WOULD BE BENEFICIAL. I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID MOSTLY, SO IF YOU GUYS CAN PUT THAT IN WRITING BEFORE NEXT WEEK, HEY, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT GHD AND HERE'S OUR RESPONSE SO WE CAN KIND OF PROCESS RATHER THAN JUST LISTENING. YOU'RE BRILLIANT, OF COURSE, BUT LISTENING TO YOU TODAY, I THINK IF YOU COULD PUT THAT IN WRITING, I'D APPRECIATE THAT. AND THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. >> Mayor Guajardo: TO FOLLOW-UP ON COUNCILMAN SCOTT'S -- HIS REMARK, DREW, WELL, BOTH, BRETT, YOU WERE THERE, WHILE YOU GET THE LIST, THERE WAS SOMEWHAT OF A LIST OF THINGS THAT CALIFORNIA DID. ONE WAS THE TREES. BUT IT WAS INTERESTING, THOSE TREES DO HAVE TO GROW UP AND BE BIG TREES. THEY DON'T GET CREDIT FOR THOSE TREES UNTIL THEY'RE MONSTER TREES, BUT NONETHELESS, IT'S A GREAT IDEA. BUT THERE WERE SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT THEY MENTIONED THAT THEY DID AS PART OF THEIR PROJECT. I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO CONSIDER SOME OF THOSE. COUNCILMAN CAMPOS, YOU WOULD LOVE SOME OF THEM. THERE WERE TOILETS THAT FLUSH X AMOUNT OF WATER INSTEAD OF, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY GALLONS, SO THAT WOULD BE VERY, VERY GOOD FOR US TO CONSIDER AND AT LEAST HEAR OUT. COUNCILWOMAN VAUGHN? >> Vaughn: WELL, I LOVE THE IDEA OF THE TREES, MAYOR AND MARK, BUT WE CAN'T PLANT TREES. WE HAVE NO WATER. WE CANNOT WATER THEM. THIS IS NOT A CRITICISM, IT REALLY ISN'T OF STAFF, BUT I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO BE SO CAREFUL WITH ACRONYMS. PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR ACRONYMS ARE. THAT'S KIND OF A CITY WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE CITY AND YOU HEAR THEM, BY THE TIME I'M SITTING HERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT GHD IS, YOU'VE ALREADY GONE TO ANOTHER SUBJECT. SO I KNOW IF I'M DOING IT, AND I'M USED TO IT, I KNOW THE PUBLIC -- THEY'RE NOT KNOWING WHAT IT IS. THAT'S NOT A CRITICISM, IT'S JUST AN IDEA. I DID THAT BEFORE I WAS ON COUNCIL, TOO, IT DROVE ME NUTS. IT WAS A PET PEECH. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, REAL QUICK, THE MODEL WE'RE DOING, THE PROTOTYPE. I'VE ASKED THIS BEFORE MR. ZANONI, WHOEVER WANTS TO ANSWER IT. WE HAD A BUDGET FOR IT, WHAT THE PROTOTYPE WAS GOING TO BE, WHERE ARE WE AT? AND THE REASON I ASK THIS, IF IT -- IF THE PRICE IS GOING TO GO UP, I THINK WE WOULD ALL WANT TO KNOW NOW SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING AS WE GO, AND THE PUBLIC DOES, TOO? >> Zanoni: RIGHT. SO THERE WASN'T NECESSARILY A BUDGET, BUT THERE IS A -- THERE'S A -- THERE WAS AN ASSUMPTION ON WHAT THE COST WOULD BE BASED ON OTHER DEMONSTRATION SITES, RIGHT, SO THERE WAS AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. WHEN KIEWIT IS PROCURING THE OFF-THE-SHELF COMPONENT PIECES, OURS WILL BE A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE OR MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE MODELS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED BEFORE IN OTHER PROJECTS IS THE ANSWER. I CAN GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION IF YOU WANT MORE. >> Vaughn: WELL, I JUST HEARD AT ONE TIME IT WAS 5 MILLION. AND I UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU'RE MAKING THESE, THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE. >> Zanoni: RIGHT. >> Vaughn: SO 5 MILLION IS WHAT I HEARD, AND THEN I'M HEARING 18 MILLION. THAT WAS A BIG JUMP. IS THAT TRUE OR NOT? >> Zanoni: THAT'S TRUE. SO THE ASSUMPTION WAS FROM WORKING -- THE KIEWIT ASSUMPTION, WORKING -- USING OTHER EXAMPLES THAT EXIST AND WORKING WITH FREESE & NICHOLS, THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AROUND 6 MILLION. HOWEVER, IT'S COMING IN AT A HIGHER PRICE AT THAT 18 MILLION. >> Vaughn: AND THAT'S A CONCERN FOR ME. AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE I'M THINKING TO MYSELF, OKAY, IF IT'S GOING TO COME IN FOR JUST THE PROTOTYPE, THREE TIMES MORE THAN WHAT THEY THOUGHT, WHAT IS OUR DESAL GOING TO BE. THAT'S A SCARY THOUGHT. >> Zanoni: YEAH, SORRY TO INTERRUPT. WHAT KIEWIT HAS TOLD US IS THAT IS NOT -- THIS PHENOMENON IS NOT INDICATIVE OF THE ENTIRE PLANT, BECAUSE THERE'S MORE -- WE HAVE MORE CONTROLLING FACTORS THAN WHAT WE DO HAVE ON THIS PROTOTYPE, ON THE DEMONSTRATION SITE. SO WE HAVE TO PROVE TO TCEQ, ANYBODY WOULD, NO MATTER WHAT WATER SOURCE IT IS, THAT THE WATER IS GOING TO WORK WELL WITH OUR SYSTEM, THAT WHAT THE SCIENCE SAYS FROM THE COMPUTER MODELING AND ENGINEERING MODELING ACTUALLY TURNS OUT THIS WAY. THE SOONER WE DO THAT THE BETTER IN TERMS OF THE DESIGN. SO IT'S A PROJECT THAT WE HAVE TO GET DONE TO CONTINUE TO PROGRESS. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF COMPONENT PIECES READY OFF THE SHELF, AND SO WHAT IS AVAILABLE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPENSIVE, A LITTLE BIGGER THAN WHAT WE GENERALLY NEED. HOWEVER, IF WE HAD IT MATE TO MADE TO SUIT, IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG. IT WOULD GO INTO NEXT YEAR, THAT WOULD DELAY THE ULTIMATE DESIGN AND COST US MORE ANYWAY, BECAUSE EVERYTHING'S GOING UP. >> Vaughn: OKAY. AND ONE OTHER QUESTION TO YOU, IS I DIDN'T MAKE THE TRIP TO CALIFORNIA. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PLANT WAS -- IT WAS WORKING, BUT NOT AT FULL CAPACITY. >> Zanoni: RIGHT. >> Vaughn: I ASKED YOU TO ASK ONE QUESTION FOR ME. WHAT IS THE COST OF MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION. >> Zanoni: RIGHT. AND WE COULD NOT GET THAT ANSWER. YOUR COLLEAGUES CAN ATTEST FOR ME. THAT PLANT IS -- AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT THE HIGHEST FANS OF THESE P3 MODELS WHEN IT COMES TO A PROJECT LIKE THIS. SO THAT PLANT IS OWNED BY A PRY VATTED ENTITY -- PRIVATEENTIIFY, CHANNEL SIDE. SO A COMPANY CALLED CHANNEL SIDE OWNS THE PLANT, AND GENERALLY KNOWS WHAT IT COSTS TO OPERATE IT. THE OPERATOR ALSO KNOWS WHAT IT COSTS TO OPERATE IT, BUT NEITHER PARTY WOULD TELL US IN OUR SIT-DOWN MEETING THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. >> Vaughn: THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SHARE. >> Zanoni: THEY DIDN'T WANT US TO KNOW. AND A THIRD PARTY WAS THERE AS WELL, THE WATER COMPANY THAT BUYS THE WATER AND THEN SELLS IT, I FORGET -- >> SAN DIEGO WATER. >> Zanoni: SAN DIEGO WATER AUTHORITY WAS THERE SO NOBODY COULD ANSWER THE QUESTION. UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN OUR MODEL WHICH IS VERY TRANSPARENT, VERY OPEN BOOK. WE TALK ABOUT OUR BUDGETS, YOU CAN SEE IT ONLINE. SO THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE MANY THIS TYPE OF MODEL, A P3 MODEL, IT'S A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER TO GET THE INFORMATION BECAUSE THERE'S NO ONE ENTITY. IN THIS CASE YOU HAVE THE OWNER OF THE PLANT, THE OPERATOR AND THE WATER AUTHORITY, AND NOBODY WANTS TO TELL US THE ANSWER. >> Vaughn: BUT WE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT POINT. >> Zanoni: SO THAT QUESTION CAME UP EARLIER THIS MORNING WITH COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON, WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE TO BE ABLE TO GENERATE THE RATE THAT WE TOLD THIS COUNCIL OR THE PRIOR COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY, WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS THE ULTIMATE OPERATIONAL COST BECAUSE IT'S NOT DESIGNED YET OR BUILT. BUT WE HAVE A GENERAL SENSE AND WE'LL REFINE THAT NUMBER AS WE GO THROUGH THE DESIGN. WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER UPDATE THIS SUMMER AS WE WORK ON THE BUDGET. >> Vaughn: OKAY. AND FINAL THING, THE GRANT THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GET, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO APPLY TO IT FOR THE FALL. THAT'S LIKE FOUR MONTHS AWAY. IS THE REASON FOR THAT, IS BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO GET THE GRANT READY, IS THAT NOT WHEN YOU'RE APPLYING TILL THE FALL OR IS THAT WHEN YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO APPLY. >> THAT'S WHEN THE WINDOW OPENS FOR THE APPLICATION. >> Vaughn: OKAY. JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ? HERN >> Hernandez: A COUPLE OF THINGS. WHO ARE THE TECHNICAL SUPPLIER YOU MENTIONED? >> WE HAVE TWO. FOR THE DEMONSTRATION PLANT, WE'RE GOING TO BE USING A COMPANY CALLED NIHOUSE, AND THEN FOR THE ACTUAL TECHNOLOGY PROVIDER FOR THE FULL PLANT, IT'S GOING TO BE AQUA TECH. AND THEN A PORTION OF THAT SYSTEM WILL BE PROVIDED BY BIWATER, BUT THE MAJORITY OF IT IS GOING TO BE AQUA TECH. . >> Hernandez: OKAY. I UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT FULLY DESIGNED, BUT WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE DAILY ENERGY CONSUMPTION FOR THIS FACILITY TO BE? >> I -- I THINK IT WOULD BE SAFE TO SAY I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE -- I WAS THINKING, YEAH, GREATER THAN 20 MEGAWATTS. >> Hernandez: AND THAT'S ON A DAILY BASIS? >> RIGHT. AND THAT'S STILL BEING REFINED, BUT... IN THAT BALLPARK. >> Hernandez: AND WHAT ARE OUR ESTIMATED COSTS FOR THAT ON A DAILY BASIS? >> I DON'T HAVE THAT, BUT WE CAN -- WE CAN GET THAT. >> Hernandez: OKAY. SO I MEAN, I GUESS WE'RE CHARGED ON A KILOWATT BASIS. >> RIGHT. >> Hernandez: I DON'T KNOW, WHAT ARE WE PAYING NOW, EIGHT CENTS, 12 CENTS? >> Zanoni: COUNCILMAN, WE HAVE A 10-YEAR CONTRACT, THOUGH, THAT WE ENTERED INTO. AND WE KNEW WHEN WE DID THIS CONTRACT THAT POTENTIALLY THE DESAL PLANT WOULD BE COMING ON, IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO NEGOTIATE BETTER RATES ON THE 10-YEAR CONTRACT PLUS THIS ONE, BECAUSE IT WILL BE A MUCH BIGGER POWER BUY. >> RIGHT. IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT RATE MAYBE. WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH AAP ON THAT, WE HAVEN'T LANDED ON THAT. >> Hernandez: WELL, AAP IS NOT THE ENERGY PROVIDER, THEY'RE JUST KIND OF THE -- >> RIGHT. WE HAVE A COMPANY WE WORK THROUGH WITH THE CITY AND WE'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT, BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT. >> Hernandez: SO THAT GOES TO THE OPERATIONAL COST THAT COUNCILMAN -- >> ABSOLUTELY. >> Hernandez: ENERGY'S THE LARGEST PORTION OF YOUR COST FOR YOUR OPERATIONAL COST. >> RIGHT. >> Hernandez: SO IT'S GOING TO BE KEY THERE. AND, DREW, ON THE GRANTS, WHEN WE HAD DISCUSSED THIS, I LOOKED AT -- I LOOKED UP FOR THOSE GRANTS, ALL I FOUND WERE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY -- I'M SORRY, THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR WAS $30 MILLION. AND I COULDN'T FIND ANY OTHER ONE. COULD YOU PROVIDE THE INFORMATION ON WHICH GRANTS YOU'RE SPECIFICALLY GOING FOR? >> Molly: RIGHT. >> Hernandez: IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T TRUST YOU -- >> Molly: NO, I'M WITH YOU. WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION. >> Hernandez: SO THE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL GRANTS, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S ALL ONE GRANT RIGHT? >> Molly: RIGHT. I MEAN, IT'S -- IT'S BASICALLY A LARGE-SCALE RECYCLING GRANT THAT -- LARGE-SCALE RECYCLING. >> Hernandez: RECYCLING? >> Molly: THAT'S WHAT IT'S CALLED. AND SO -- AND IT'S -- YOU'RE ELIGIBLE UP TO $180 MILLION OR 20% OF THE COST OF THE PROJECT, WHICHEVER IS -- >> Hernandez: OKAY. SO IF YOU CAN GET SPECIFICS ON THAT PARTICULAR GRANT SO WE KNOW EXACTLY WHICH ONE IT IS, BECAUSE THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, THEY WEREN'T GIVING YOU THE FULL GRANT. THAT'S AN UP TO AMOUNT, RIGHT? >> Molly: RIGHT. UP TO. >> Hernandez: OKAY. AND THE LAST THING IS, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH SOME OF THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS HERE ABOUT THE IMAGE ON PAGE 2 AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. THE GLASS -- I MEAN, UNLESS WE'RE MAKING A MENAGERIE FOR CCW EMPLOYEES, I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY WE WOULD NEED SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THAT FANTASTIC. YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND YOU MIGHT MAKE A BUFFER, BUT YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INDUSTRIAL ZONE WHERE EVERYTHING ELSE AROUND YOU LOOKS LIKE INDUSTRY. PUTTING LIPSTICK ON A PIG, BASICALLY. SO I JUST THINK WE NEED AS SIMPLE AS YOU CAN GET IT, NICE-LOOKING, BUT NOT ANYTHING -- YOU KNOW, IT DOES HAVEN'T TO BE -- LIKE I SAID. >> Zanoni: YEAH, THIS IS -- >> Hernandez: PLUS, WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THE FLARING OUT THERE AND -- AND, YOU KNOW, IMAGINE CLEANING THESE GLASS WINDOWS EVERY DAY OR ON A REGULAR BASIS, IT JUST ADDS COST, SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO -- WE NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE. OKAY. AND THEN IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SEPTEMBER, IT'S GOING TO BE DECEMBER FOR THE 60%, OR THE GUARANTEED FINAL PRICE -- OR GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE? >> SO WE ANTICIPATE THE 60% DESIGN IN THE FALL, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE GUARANTEE MAXIMUM PRICE SOMETIME AFTER THAT, BECAUSE THEY'LL NEED TIME TO DEVELOP IT AND US TO REVIEW IT, SO I WOULD EXPECT US TO BE COMING TO COUNCIL IN DECEMBER TIME FRAME TO PRESENT. >> Hernandez: OKAY. SO, YOU KNOW, MY CONCERN THERE IS THAT EVERYBODY IN DECEMBER IS LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAYS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING IT. WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING THESE, YOU KNOW, GENERATIONAL DECISION WITH A LOT -- YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT PROCESS INTO WHEN THAT COMES TO COUNCIL, IF WE'RE TRYING TO HIDE IT IN DECEMBER, I DON'T THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE. >> I THINK THAT'S JUST HOW THE SCHEDULE'S PLAYING OUT RIGHT NOW. >> Zanoni: YEAH, WE'RE NOT SANTA CLAUS, COUNCILMAN, BUT -- >> Hernandez: I WOULD SAY YOU'RE MORE THE GRINCH THAN SANTA CLAUS. >> Zanoni: SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT. WE KNOW NOVEMBER, TOO, IS, WE COULD DO A SPECIAL MEETING JUST TO GO OVER IT, TO KEEP IT FOCUSED. >> Mayor Guajardo: YEAH, I WOULD NOT WANT TO PUSH IT BACK. I MEAN, WE NEED TO -- YEAH, JUST DIVIDE BY -- AS SOON AS WE CAN. OKAY. I THINK THAT'S IT, BRETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, DREW, WE APPRECIATE IT. PETER, I THINK WE -- YOU KNOW WHAT? LET ME DO THIS. WE DO HAVE ITEM NUMBER 5, ANOTHER BRIEFING ON ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS, BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WE HAVE SOME GENTLEMAN AND WOMEN OVER HERE WHO WOULD LOVE TO GET THROUGH THAT. AND THEN WE'LL PULL THOSE ITEMS AND GO BACK TO ADDRESS THEM AFTER THE BRIEFING. SO DOES ANY COUNCILMEMBER -- WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO PULL ANY ITEMS 7 THROUGH 18 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TO CONSIDER? ITEM NUMBER 17. ITEM NUMBER 11. WAIT. HOLD ON, SYLVIA, YOURS WAS WHAT? >> W [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: 13, 14, 16. ANY OTHER ITEMS? OKAY. OKAY. I'LL GO AHEAD AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION -- ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO PULL ANY ITEMS SEVEN THROUGH 18. OKAY. THERE BEING NO ONE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS 11, 13, 14, 16 AND 17? >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> Mayor Guajardo: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. (AYES.) >> Mayor Guajardo: ANY OPPOSED, SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. WE'LL START WITH ITEM 11, THAT IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A ONE-YEAR SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH TWO ONE-YEAR OPTIONS BASED ON BEST VALUE BID WITH LONE STAR BLOWER, AND THIS IS FOR BLOWER REPAIRS AND ALIGNMENT AT WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS. AND WHO PULLED 11? COUNCILWOMAN CAMPOS, CAN YOU FLIP YOUR LIGHT? THANK YOU. YOUR QUESTION OR COMMENT? >> Campos: OKAY. IT LOOKS LIKE WE CHOSE THE HIGHEST BID. AND PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY, AGAIN. >> YES, MA'AM. WESLEY [INDISCERNIBLE] DIRECTOR OF WATER SYSTEMS INFRASTRUCTURE. SO THIS WAS A REQUEST FOR PRICING BASED ON BEST VALUE. THE REASON THAT WE WENT BEST VALUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS IT IS A PARTS AND SERVICE CONTRACT. AND THE SERVICE COMPONENT OF THIS IS ESSENTIAL TO THE PROPER OPERATION OF THE WASTEWATER PLANT. YOU GET BIDDER WHOSE ARE NOT ADEPT, A LOT OF TIMES, ON WORKING ON THE KIND OF BLOWERS WE HAVE IN OUR SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE UPGRADES WE'RE DOING AT OSO AND ALLISON AND GREENWOOD. WE HAVE SOME RELATIVELY NEW EQUIPMENT THAT'S GOING INTO THOSE, SO WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WE CHOOSE TO WORK ON THESE ACTUALLY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO DO IT PROPERLY. SO WE FORMED AN EVALUATION COMMITTEE, WE HAD A SET OF STANDARDS THAT WE WENT THROUGH, THAT WE LOOKED AT, AND THIS ULTIMATELY WAS THE COMPANY THAT COULD DEMONSTRATE EXPERIENCE WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BLOWERS AND THE SIZE BLOWERS THAT WE WORK WITH. >> Campos: OKAY. WELL, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, JUST ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE OTHER CONTRACTS THAT WE -- WE APPROVE FOR, WE USUALLY GO WITH EITHER THE LOWEST OR AT LEAST SECOND, BUT THEY WERE ACTUALLY THE VERY HIGHEST, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS KNEW WHAT WE WERE GETTING FOR OUR TAX DOLLARS. AND SO, AGAIN, IT IS ABOUT THE OVERALL, I GUESS, EXECUTION OF THEIR PRODUCT -- I MEAN, THEY'RE ABLE TO BRING IN MORE EXPERIENCE -- >> YES, MA'AM. >> Campos: AND VALUE, I GUESS, FOR OUR DOLLAR, IN THE LONG RUN? >> RIGHT. AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IS THESE BLOWERS, IF YOU THINK OF AWAYS WATER TREATMENT PLANT, THE BLOWERS ARE ESSENTIALLY THE LUNGS OF THE PLANT. THEY PROVIDE THE OXYGEN FOR WHAT WE AFFECTIONATELY CALL THE BUGS IN THE PLANT. WITHOUT THOSE, THE BUGS DIE. AND IF WE DON'T HAVE TIMELY RESPONSES TO THESE REPAIRS, IT'S LIKE THE SYSTEM GETS SICK. SO WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE TIMELY RESPONSES. THESE BLOWERS HAVE TO BE REPAIRED IN A CERTAIN MANNER WHERE THEY DO OPERATE EFFICIENTLY AND WE CAN DEPEND ON THEM. >> Campos: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, WITH THAT, I GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. REBECCA, ARE WE GOING TO PUT IT ON OR -- SURE. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. NEXT ITEM PULLED WAS ITEM NUMBER 13, THIS IS A RESOLUTION REJECTING THE BID OF D & J UTILITY SERVICE AS NONRESPONSIVE AND AUTHORIZING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO SOUTHERN TRENCHLESS SOLUTIONS. THIS IS FOR THE CITY WASTEWATER -- IDIQ. COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON, YOUR QUESTION OR COMMENT? >> Paxson: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS JUST CURIOUS ON WHAT THE PARAMETERS WERE THAT DEEMED THE LOWEST BIDDER NONRESPONSIVE IN THIS INSTANCE? >> Edmonds: THIS WAS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DISCUSSED LAST MEETING ABOUT THE FIVE YEARS IN BUSINESS AND THE LOW BIDDER DIDN'T HAVE THAT, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE SIGNIFICANT COMPARABLE EXPERIENCE, SO THEY DIDN'T MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF THE BID, AND ADDITIONALLY, THE NUMBER TWO BIDDER IS SOMEBODY THAT HAS WORKED FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AS SUBCONTRACTOR, SO THEY'VE PROBABLY DONE ABOUT $4 MILLION WORTH OF WORK FOR THE CITY, BUT INDIRECTLY AS A SUB. SO YOU HAD KIND OF AN UNKNOWN ELEMENT THAT DIDN'T MEET THE MINIMUM BID REQUIREMENTS, AND THE NUMBER TWO BIDDER WAS A KNOWN ELEMENT AND THE DELTA WAS NOT VERY MUCH. >> Paxson: IS IT SIMILAR, LIKE THE ITEM THAT WE HAD IN RECENT WHERE -- BECAUSE ORIGINALLY -- AND IT WAS THE CONTRACT FOR THE GREENWOOD WASTEWATER TREATMENT, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. WE HAD THOUGHT -- WHAT WAS EXPLAINED TO US WAS THIS EXACT SCENARIO, AND THEN IN FURTHER REVIEW, WE DETERMINED THAT THEY DID TECHNICALLY MEET -- >> Edmonds: SO THE MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCE IN THAT CASE WAS THAT ALL OF THE PERSONNEL HAD DEEP EXPERIENCE. >> Paxson: AND THIS IS DIFFERENT? >> Edmonds: WAY BEYOND THE FIVE YEARS OF THE COMPANY. AND THEY HAD DELIVERED VERY LARGE PROJECTS AND THEIR RESUME, NOT WITH THIS COMPANY. AND THE COMPANY WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT SHY OF FIVE YEARS IN BUSINESS. SO IT WAS A LOT CLOSER CALL. >> Paxson: SO THIS ONE IS -- WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT, IS THIS APPLES TO APPLES OR APPLES TO ORANGES, IS THIS ONE -- >> Edmonds: I THINK THIS IS -- SO IF YOU'RE CALLING BALLS AND STRIKES, SOMETIMES IT'S A CLOSE CALL. THIS IS A LOT EASIER CALL TO CALL A STRIKE THAN THE GREENWOOD. >> Paxson: OKAY. THANK YOU. THEN I MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE. THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 13. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. >> Mayor Guajardo: ITEM NUMBER 14 IS A MOTION AWARDING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO REYTEC CONSTRUCTION, AND THIS IS TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES FOR THE FILTRATION SYSTEM, HYDRAULIC IMPROVEMENTS AT OWENS STEVENS. COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON? >> Paxson: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO START BY SAYING I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES TO THIS ITEM. I JUST HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL WE RECEIVED. MY FIRST QUESTION, I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW DO THESE IMPROVEMENTS POSITIVELY, AND MAYBE THAT'S AN ASSUMPTION, BUT I THINK SINCE IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT, I'D SAY IT'S A GOOD ASSUMPTION, BUT HOW OLD WOULD THESE IMPROVEMENTS POSITIVELY IMPACT THE OWENS STEVENS TREATMENT PLANT IN CONSIDERATION WITH THE NEW VOLUME OF WATER THAT WE'RE POTENTIALLY GOING TO MOVE THROUGH THAT PLANT? IS THIS FARSIGHTED AND IT'S GOING TO HELP TREAT THAT, THAT'S MY ASSUMPTION. QUESTION ONE. QUESTION TWO, THERE'S A REFERENCE TO AN AMENDMENT NUMBER 3 WHERE A PLUMBER AND ASSOCIATES IS LISTED AS A SECONDARY PROVISION TO BE APPROVED IN THIS ITEM, AND I DIDN'T SEE ANY KIND OF BACKGROUND OR SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ON THAT AS TO WHY THAT PARTICULAR CONTRACTOR WAS NAMED AS MANAGING THE PROJECT. AND IT WENT FROM 56,000 TO 1.3 MILLION AND THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT. SO THAT -- IN THE SHORT SCHEME, 54,000, MAYBE NOT SO MUCH. 1.3, AND I DON'T REALLY SEE ANY METRICS ON HOW WE SELECTED THEM. >> Edmonds: LET ME TAKE QUESTION NUMBER TWO, AND THEN I'M GOING TO LET NICK TAKE QUESTION NUMBER 1. SO THE -- THE TWO ITEMS -- AND THIS IS VERY COMMON THING WHEN WE BRING CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS. SO ALAN PLUMBER -- OR THEY GO BY PLUMBER NOW, PLUMBER ASSOCIATES WAS THE ENGINEER OF RECORD THAT DID THE DESIGN ON THE PROJECT. AND SO THEY HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY DURING CONSTRUCTION. SO WHEN WE HAVE QUESTIONS FROM THE CONTRACTOR THAT WE CAN'T ANSWER, WE FORWARD THOSE TO THE ENGINEER, THEY CHARGE US BY THE HOUR FOR THOSE KIND OF THINGS. THEY HAVE SUBMITTAL REVIEWS, ANY MATERIAL, EQUIPMENT THAT'S INCORPORATED INTO THE PROJECT, WE GET SHOP DRAWINGS AND SUBMITTALS, WE FORWARD THOSE TO THE ENGINEER OF RECORD, THEY REVIEW AND APPROVE THAT. AND THAT'S JUST PART OF THE SOP. SO IF WE DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE FUNDING TO COVER THE ENGINEER SERVICE DURING CONSTRUCTION, WE WILL BRING AN AMENDMENT WITH THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, WE USUALLY BUNDLE THOSE INTO ONE ITEM. BUT THEY WERE SELECTED A LONG TIME AGO. THIS PROJECT, THE DESIGN WAS FINISHED SOMETIME MID, LAST YEAR. THE GUY WHO SEALS ON IT ACTUALLY WORKS UPSTAIRS FOR ME RIGHT NOW. BUT IT'S -- THAT SELECTION WAS PROBABLY DONE IN, I WANT TO SAY, MAYBE 2023 OR EVEN BEFORE THEN. BUT WE USE THE ENGINEER OF RECORD, WE DON'T GET ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL TO HANDLE THOSE CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES. >> Paxson: BECAUSE IT'S ONE PROJECT. >> Edmonds: BECAUSE IT IS ONE PROJECT. IT'S ALL CONTINUOUS EFFORT. THEY DO PERIODIC SITE VISITS, THEY'LL ATTEND THE CONSTRUCTION MEETINGS, AND THERE'S A LOT OF DOCUMENTS THAT GO TO THEM FOR THEIR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. >> Paxson: I UNDERSTAND NOW. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. >> Edmonds: NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO NICK FOR YOUR FIRST QUESTION. >> >> Winkelmann: NICK WING L MAN, DIRECTOR OF WATER SYSTEMS THE PROJECT HANDLES A NUMBER OF KEY COMPONENTS FOR US. FIRST OUR FILTER TO WAIST REQUIRES AN AIR GAP PER TCEQ. CURRENTLY OWENS STEVENS IS OPERATING UNDER AN EXEMPTION FOR THAT. SO IT WILL SOLVE THAT PROBLEM AND WE'LL BE TCEQ COMPLIANT. ADDITIONALLY WE'LL BE REPLACING MANY VALVES AND ACTUATE FORS TO MAKE THEM MORE RELIABLE JUST IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE ENTIRE FILTER BACKWASH PROCESS, IT MAKES TREATMENT MORE EFFECTIVE, AND THE UPGRADES WILL ALSO IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO RECYCLE THAT WATER AS WELL. IT WILL GO TO OUR RECYCLE POND AND WE'LL RETREAT IT AND REUSE IT. >> Paxson: HOW OFTEN WOULD YOU SAY THAT WE HAVE TO TREAT OR REFURBISH THESE FILTER SYSTEMS? >> Winkelmann: ONE THING TO -- YOU KNOW, ONE THING TO REMEMBER, SO WATER TREATMENT PLANT NUMBER ONE WAS INSTALLED IN THE '50S, RIGHT? AND THAT'S 12 FILTERS. AND THEN WATER TREATMENT PLANT NUMBER 2 WAS IN THE '80S, AND THAT'S 10 FILTERS, RIGHT? SO THOSE FILTERS ARE BEING BACKWASHED AND REFURBISHED AS WE SEE A HEAD LOSS OVER THE MEDIA. I MEAN, TYPICALLY, YOU COULD SAY MINIMUM ONCE A DAY ON EACH OF THE FILTERS, BUT, REMEMBER, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON BECAUSE WE'RE -- ADDITIONALLY, WE REPLACE FILTER MEDIA PERIODICALLY AT W AS WELL, AND THAT MAKES THE PROCESS MORE EFFICIENT. >> Paxson: FOR THAT FILTER IMMEDIATE IMRA, IS THAT EVERY THREE, FIVE YEARS, IS THAT -- >> Winkelmann: AGAIN, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU'RE SEEING. PROBABLY A SAFE ASSUMPTION, BUT IT DEPENDS ON WHAT WE'RE SEEING DURING HEAD LOSS THROUGH THE FILTER AND HOW WE GAUGE IT. >> Paxson: AND SO WITH THIS PROJECT HERE, IS THIS THE FILTERS OR THE MEDIA OR BOTH, BECAUSE THIS SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY BIG PROJECT? >> Winkelmann: SO, IT GETS A LITTLE CONFUSING, BUT IT'S THE FILTRATION SYSTEM HYDRAULIC IMPROVEMENTS. SO IT'S NOT -- >> Paxson: IT'S NOT THE FILTER. >> Winkelmann: WE'RE LOOKING AT THE HEADER PIPING, WE'RE MAKING THAT MORE EFFICIENT, WE'RE IMPROVING THE FILTER TO WAIST, THAT AIR GAP. THE FILTER GALLERY IS IN A VERY HUMID ENVIRONMENT, SO THE NEW HEADER PIPING WILL BE COATED TO PREVENT CORROSION AND CORROSIVETY, SO THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THINK ABOUT THE HEADER PIPING AND ALL THE MATERIALS USED TO BACKWASH THE FILTERS. >> Paxson: SO ULTIMATELY, THAT -- MY ORIGINAL ASSUMPTION THAT ALL OF THIS WORK DOES POSITION OWENS STEVENS TO BE MORE RESILIENT AS WE ARE DIRECTING MORE CAPACITY THROUGH THAT, BECAUSE IT'S OUR ONLY -- IT'S OUR ONLY TREATMENT PLANT RIGHT NOW, AND BASICALLY, AS WE CONTINUE TO SEEK WATER SOURCES, WE'RE RELYING HEAVILY ON THIS FASITY? FACILITY? SO FOR ME, THAT'S A BIG REASON WHY I I'D SUPPORT THIS ITEM. I WAS JUST CURIOUS MAINLY ON THAT ITEM AND SEEKING IF I COULD REST IN THAT ASSUMPTION THAT THIS MEETS THAT NEED? >> Winkelmann: YEAH, MY FAVORITE WORD YOU USED WAS "RESILIENT," BECAUSE THAT WAS IT. AND IF YOU SEE IN THE AGENDA MEMO, THE PRESENTATION, WE PUT TOGETHER STRATEGIC PLAN TO IMPROVE RESILIENCY OF OUR TREATMENT PLANT AND ALSO IMPROVE THE CAPACITY, THE TREATMENT CAPACITY AS WELL. SO ALL OF THESE PROJECTS ARE STRUCTURED IN A MANNER TO IMPROVE RESILIENCY OVER THE PERIOD. SOME PROJECTS ARE LARGER, SOME ARE SMALLER. OUR RAW WATER EFFLUENT PROJECT WHICH IS IN CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW WAS AN $84 MILLION PROJECT RIGHT? THIS IS A 20 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS PROJECT, BUT THEY'RE ALL PHASED AND TIMED SO THAT, YOU KNOW, OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD, WE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE BOTH OUR RESILIENCY AND OUR CAPACITY. >> Paxson: I DID SEE THAT PLAN. THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THAT IN THIS PACKET. SO TODAY IF WE APPROVE THE ITEM AS IT'S WRITTEN, I ALSO WANTED TO VERIFY, THIS INCLUDES THAT BASE PLUS ALTERNATE 1? >> Winkelmann: THAT IS CORRECT PICC OKAY. . >> Paxson: OKAY. AND SO THE EXTENSION OF PLUMBER AND ASSOCIATES IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE VERBIAGE OF APPROVING THIS ITEM. >> Winkelmann: THAT'S CORRECT. >> Paxson: THANK YOU. THEN I MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> Mayor Guajardo: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. COUNCILMAN ROY, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? >> Roy: BUILT IN THE '50S, RIGHT? HOW HARD IS IT NOW FOR YOU TO PROCURE PARTS AND JUST TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT FACILITY? >> Winkelmann: SO -- AND I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, COUNCILMAN. PART OF THIS PROJECT IS ACTUALLY TO LOOK AT ONE OF THE UNDERDRAINS OF ONE OF OUR FILTERS, RIGHT, SO THAT ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS OF ANY FILTER BACKWASH SYSTEM IS THE UNDERDRAIN. SO THIS PROJECT WILL LOOK AT THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THAT UNDERDRAIN, AND THEN WHETHER IF WE NEED TO LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE, THE REPLACEMENT OF THOSE UNDERDRAINS GOING FORWARD. SO IT MAY SPUR, YOU KNOW, WHAT I CALL A CHILD PROJECT, BUT KEEP IN MIND, YOU KNOW, THE FILTERS, YOU KNOW, THINK CONCRETE BASINS, THINK FILTER MEDIA, BUT THERE ARE KEY COMPONENTS AND THE UNDERDRAIN IS A KEY COMPONENT OF THAT. >> Roy: SO DO YOU THINK -- LET'S JUST SAY HYPOTHETICALLY 10 YEARS FROM NOW WHEN OUR DESAL IS UP AND RUNNING AND EVERYTHING, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER PLANTS THAT -- YOU KNOW, REVERSE OSMOSIS, WILL WE BE ABLE TO BRING THIS PLANT DOWN AND DO COMPLETE MAINTENANCE, THE OWENS STEVENS? WILL THAT EVER HAPPEN? YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE CAN'T CO DO THAT NOW, RIGHT? >> Winkelmann: IT'S CHALLENGING RIGHT NOW. BUT I WILL TELL YOU WE DO TAKE -- LIKE I SAID BEFORE, PLANT NUMBER 1 HAS 12 FILTERS, PLANT 2 IS 10. SO WE DO TAKE FILTERS OFF PERIODICALLY TO INSPECT AND REPLACE THE MEDIA. YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR LONG-TERMS, THE CIP CONSISTS OF SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM PROJECTS. IN OUR LONG-TERM PROJECT IS THE FEASIBILITY IN LOOKING AT PLANT 3, YOU KNOW, AND A LOT OF THAT DEPENDS WHAT HAPPENS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. BUT THAT'S ONE REASON WHY WE DO LONG-RANGE PLANNING, TO KEEP IT ON THE RADAR AND MAKE SURE WE'RE EVALUATING WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS. >> Roy: SO I DON'T WANT TO GET WAY IN THE WEEDS, BUT WHEN YOU TAKE ON A NEW PART, WHATEVER, AND YOU PUT IT IN PLACE, WHAT'S THE TYPICAL -- IS THERE A WARRANTY PERIOD ON THAT? >> Winkelmann: SURE. I MEAN, TYPICALLY -- AND I -- YOU KNOW, OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, TYPICALLY THE WARRANTY IS A YEAR FROM FINAL ACCEPTANCE OR WHAT'S SOMETIMES CALLED SUBSTANTIAL OR FINAL COMPLETION. >> Roy: BUT I MEAN LIKE NEW FILTERS AND THAT. IS THAT SOMETHING LIKE YOU PUT ONE IN AND -- YOU KNOW, OR WHATEVER THE CASE IS, AND DO THEY TYPICALLY ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT, DO THEY GIVE YOU FIVE YEARS, 100,000 MILES? >> Winkelmann: OKAY. YEAH, MR. EDMONDS TOLD ME, THERE ARE ACT BALL ACTUALLY, THERE IS SOME EQUIPMENT THAT WOULD EXTEND THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY THAT WOULD BE LONGER THAN THAT ONE YEAR. >> Roy: SO WHEN YOU MAKE THIS INVESTMENT, THE GOOD THING IS YOU WILL HAVE SOME TYPE OF WARRANTY IN PLACE THAT WILL PROTECT OUR ASSET AND HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING WILL RUN SMOOTH. >> Winkelmann: YEAH. I THINK THE KEY IN -- THE KEY TO ALL OF THIS IS THE HIGHLY QUALIFIED OPERATORS THAT OWENS STEVENS THAT ARE MONITORING THIS AND MAKING SURE ON ANY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT WE DON'T HAVE PREMATURE FAILURE. >> Roy: YEAH. >> Winkelmann: AND THAT WE'RE CONDUCTING THE PROPER PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND ANALYZING THE SYSTEM, WHICH IS WHAT THEY DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. THEY ANALYZE THE THROUGHPUT, THEY ANALYZE THE PERFORMANCE AT OWENS STEVENS, THEY ANALYZE THE WATER QUALITY. >> Roy: WE'RE SMENDING A LOT OF MONEY, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT TRIGGERED ME TO ASK THAT QUESTION. I KNOW THAT COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ IS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT -- AND SOME OF THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS ABOUT MAINTENANCE, AND IT JUST TRIGGERED IN MY MIND THAT -- TO ASK THAT QUESTION. BUT THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: I THINK THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS, NICK. THANK YOU. >> Winkelmann: THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: SO WE HAVE -- DID YOU MAKE A MOTION? YOU DID. DID WE GET A SECOND? WE DID. OKAY. THAT'S RIGHT. WE HAD -- >> Roy: THEN I HAD A QUESTION. >> Mayor Guajardo: EVERYONE, IF YOU'LL PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE. AND THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 14. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NUMBER 16 IS A MOTION AUTHORIZING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH FREESE & NICHOLS FOR THE DESIGN, BID AND CONSTRUCTION PHASES FOR THE HOLLY ROAD TRAIN TRUSS L PROJECT. COUNCILMAN PAXSON. >> Paxson: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO START BY SAYING THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PROJECT TO OUR DISTRICT. I AM IN FORWARD MOTION ON THIS ITEM, I JUST HAVE SOME QUESTION. I WAS CURIOUS, MAYBE THERE WAS A SENTENCE THAT EXPLAINED IT AND I MAY HAVE MISSED IT, BUT THERE SEEMED TO BE A LOT OF OUR INITIAL BID DOCUMENTS THAT HAD WHOLE SECTIONS THAT WERE VERY STRUCK OUT. ALSO IN READING THE DOCUMENT FROM THE CONTRACTOR, IT SEEMED TO ME THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF STAGES AND ELEMENTS OF EXECUTING THIS DESIGN THAT THEY WERE CONSIDERING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY TO EXECUTE. SO FOR ME, IS THAT A COST OR A PREFERENCE-DRIVEN DECISION? BECAUSE IN MY MIND, IF WE'RE SPENDING THIS MUCH MONEY WITH THE CONTRACTOR, I WOULD THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING A LOT OF SERVICES AND CERTAINLY MOST OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL PIECES THAT GO INTO THIS DESIGN. AND IT JUST SEEMED LIKE IN READING ALL THIS DOCUMENT, THERE WAS A LOT STILL ALLOCATED TO RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY. >> Edmonds: JEFF EDMONDS, DWRECT DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING SERVICES. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS GOING TO ANSWER ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU'RE HAVING THIS CONCERN OVER, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT IS PROBABLY GOING TO ANSWER A LOT. SO THERE WAS A PRIOR -- ACTUALLY TWO PRIOR PHASES OF THIS WORK THAT WERE DONE, SO THERE WAS A REPORT THAT FREESE & NICHOLS DID A FEW YEARS BACK UNDER CONTRACT TO PRIVATE ENTITY, IT WAS FUNDED BY PRIVATE FUNDS THAT FOLKS IN FLOUR BLUFF RAISED, AND THEY DID A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION/FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THAT. THEN THERE WAS $500,000 ON, I WANT TO SAY BOND '22 THAT WAS ALLOCATED TO START THIS PROCESS. IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO GET US THROUGH BID DOCUMENTS. SO A LOT OF THAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE. SO WHAT'S STRUCK OUT ON THIS ARE THINGS THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO, IT'S NOT SCOPE INCLUDED UNDER THIS CONTRACT. I THINK A LOT OF THIS CASES WORK THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE. >> Paxson: THAT MAKES ABSOLUTE PERFECT SENSE. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK ALREADY DONE. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE GETTING A FULL DESIGN PACKAGE FOR THE DOLLAR WE WERE INVESTING. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. >> Edmonds: WE BELIEVE SO, AND I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY SATISFIED. >> Paxson: ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, JEFF, FOR THAT. THEN I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> Barrera: SECOND. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ? >> Hernandez: CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME HOW FREESE & NICHOLS GOT THIS JOB? >> Edmonds: WELL, SO I WOULD SAY THAT THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB FOR US. THERE WAS ALSO A BIT OF INCUMBENCY ON THIS. FIRST, THEY WERE SELECTED BY FLOUR BLUFF AND DID THAT PRELIMINARY WORK WHICH GAVE THEM KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROJECT, AND THEN THEY WERE SELECTED FOR THAT $500,000 THAT WAS ON BOND '22. SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN KIND OF A CHANGE OF CONSULTANT TO SELECT SOMEBODY ELSE FOR THIS. >> Hernandez: I'M JUST CURIOUS, I MEAN, I DON'T RECALL THEM HAVING EXPERTISE IN THIS KIND OF WORK. >> Edmonds: THEY'VE GOT VERY GOOD STRUCTURAL ENGINEER THAT DOES A LOT OF WORK FOR US. >> Hernandez: NO, I MEAN, LIKE MARINE-TYPE WORK, LIKE SAY JACOBS WOULD HAVE MORE MARINE -- LIKE WHO DID COLE PARK PIER. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THEY DIDN'T APPLY FOR THIS ONE, BUT I MEAN, IT JUST -- AND I DON'T RECALL THE TWO -- I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN THE ONES FOR THE TWO SAN ANTONIO FIRMS. BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THEY GET AN AWFUL LOT OF THESE PROJECTS. MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME OUT HERE, AND GIVE ME, FOR LIKE THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE CONTRACTS THAT ARE AWARDED TO EACH OF THE ENGINEERING COMPANIES THAT HAVE BID OUR PROJECTS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND KIND OF RANK BY HOW MUCH MONEY THEY'VE RECEIVED FROM THE CITY. BECAUSE IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THEY'VE GOT A LOT THAT -- YOU KNOW, I'M NOT EVEN SURE -- AND WE DON'T SEE THEIR QUALIFICATIONS. THAT IS DONE BY YOU GUYS, WE JUST HAVE AN UP OR DOWN VOTE ONCE IT COMES TO US ON YOUR EVALUATION OF IT. SO I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. >> Edmonds: OKAY. WELL, WE CAN PROVIDE YOU THAT INFORMATION. AND YOU MIGHT RECALL, LIKE ON THE BOND '24 STREET PROJECTS, OF COURSE, THEY WERE SELECTED AND THEY'RE TYPICALLY ONE OF THE HIGHER RANKED FIRMS. OF COURSE -- >> Hernandez: THEY'RE THE HIGHEST RANKED ONE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY GOT THE MOST EXPENSIVE PROJECT AND IT'S THE YORKTOWN PROJECT. >> Edmonds: THAT'S NORMALLY WHAT THEY DO. THERE WERE 20 FIRMS. >> Hernandez: THEY GOT IT IN '22, THEY GOT IT IN '20. THERE'S A FRAC RECORD HERE, AND THAT'S WHY I ASK THAT QUESTION. I DON'T WANT TO ASSUME THE WORST, BUT I ALWAYS DO. . >> Edmonds: THERE IS A TRACK RECORD, AND THE TRACK RECORD IS THEY DO CONSISTENTLY VERY GOOD WORK. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. THANK YOU. >> Hernandez: SUBJECTIVELY, YES. THANK YOU. COUNCILWO MAN VAUGHN? >> Vaughn: ACTUALLY, THAT'S MY CONCERN TOO. WHEN I SAW IT, BECAUSE HOW MANY DID YOU HAVE COME OUT FOR AN RFQ? >> Edmonds: THIS WAS ON A BIG RFQ WHERE WE SELECTED PROBABLY A COUPLE OF DOZEN FIRMS. >> Vaughn: SO YOU HAD QUITE A FEW. >> Edmonds: YES, MA'AM. >> Vaughn: SO THE ENGINEERING SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS YOU GUYS. >> Edmonds: CORRECT. >> Vaughn: AND THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM IS -- >> Edmonds: USUALLY ON THOSE BIG PROCUREMENTS, THEY'LL HAVE AN ACM THAT PARTICIPATES IN THOSE AS WELL. >> Vaughn: AND I GET THAT. SO YA Y'ALL JUST DECIDE WHO'S GOING TO DO IT BY QUALIFICATION. >> Edmonds: THEY SCORE THEM INDIVIDUALLY, AND WHEN THEY HAVE INTERVIEWS, THEY INTERVIEW AS A TEAM AND THEY'LL SCORE THE INTERVIEWS, AND THERE'S COMPOSITE SCORE. >> Anastasia: I KNOW YOU PROBABLY HAVE ONES THAT YOU LIKE BETTER THAN THE OTHERS, THAT'S NORMAL. MY CONCERN IS THIS. IS WE'RE GIVING A LOT OF MONEY TO FREESE & NICHOLS. THEY'VE GOT THE BIGGEST PROJECT. I MEAN, THE DESAL PLANT, THAT'S HUGE, AND OTHER THINGS THEY'VE GOTTEN. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME OTHERS. I KNOW THERE'S SOME OTHERS JUST AS QUALIFIED AS THEY ARE. THIS WAS KIND OF A DISAPPOINTMENT TO ME HERE WE GO AGAIN WITH FREESE & NICHOLS. JUST GIVING YOU MY OPINION. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. AND COUNCILMAN CANTU. >> Cantu: THANK YOU. HOW MANY CONTRACTS IS FREESE & NICHOLS WORKING IN CORPUS CHRISTI ON. >> Edmonds: I DON'T HAVE THAT. I CAN LOOK THAT UP. >> Cantu: BUT MORE OR LESS -- >> Edmonds: HALF DOZEN EFFORTS THEY'RE WORKING ON, AND THEY HAVE MSAS WHERE THEY GET A LOT OF SMALL ASSIGNMENTS. >> Cantu: BUT THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE DESAL PROJECT, CORRECT. >> Edmonds: CORRECT. >> Cantu: YEAH. SO -- AND HOW MANY BIDS DID WE GET ON THIS? DID WE GET ANY BIDS. >> Edmonds: THIS WAS A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS. >> Cantu: OH, OKAY. GOT YOU. I THINK IT WAS LIKE FOUR OR FIVE OF THEM, RIGHT. >> Zanoni: FIVE IN TOTAL, COUNCILMAN, WITH FREESE & NICHOLS. ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE. >> Cantu: I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH FREESE & NICHOLS, I JUST WANT THE WORK SPREAD OUT. I THINK THEY'RE GETTING TOO MUCH WORK. I THINK WE NEED TO PLAY FAIR AND SPREAD THE WORK AROUND, ESPECIALLY TO THE LOCAL FIRMS THAT ARE FROM CORPUS CHRISTI. I DON'T KNOW, IS FREESE & NICHOLS FROM CORPUS CHRISTI? >> Edmonds: YES. THEY HAVE -- >> Cantu: THEY HAVE AN OFFICE HERE -- >> Edmonds: THEY'RE NOT HEADQUARTERED HERE. >> Cantu: LIKE PHILLIP RAMIREZ, HE'S A LOCAL GUY. >> Edmonds: HE'S AN ARCHITECT, WE USE HIM QUITE A BIT LIKE POLICE TRAINING, HE DESIGNED THAT. HE DID THE POLICE SUBSTATIONS. ON THIS ONE, YOU HAD FREESE & NICHOLS, YOU HAD LJA, WHICH THEY HAVE A BIG LOCAL OFFICE. Y'ALL PROBABLY KNOW JEFF COWEN, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY HEADQUARTERED IN HOUSTON. THIS USED TO BE HANSON'S HEADQUARTERS, THEY DO HAVE A LARGE LOCAL OFFICE. >> Cantu: I'M JUST TOLD FROM OTHER FIRMS THAT I TALK TO THAT YOU GUYS GIVE THEM A LOT OF WORK AND Y'ALL DON'T SPREAD THE WORK OUT. I'M JUST -- TRY TO SPREAD THE WORK OUT. I THINK WE GIVE THEM PRETTY BIG CONTRACT WITH THE DESAL PLANT, AND I THINK THAT'S LIKE 100 SOMETHING MILLION DLARS. >> Edmonds: OH, NO, NO, NO. >> Cantu: HOW MUCH WAS IT? GIL, HOW MUCH WAS IT? I'M SURE YOU KNOW THE PRICE. >> Edmonds: 12 MILLION. >> Cantu: 12 MILLION, WHATEVER. YEAH, IT'S STILL A LOT OF MONEY. I JUST WANT IT SPREAD OUT. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. OKAY. I THINK THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS. THIS IS ITEM 16. >> Paxson: I MADE THE MOTION. >> Mayor Guajardo: YOU MADE THE MOTION. WE HAD A SECOND. IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE SUBMIT THEIR VOTE. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. >> [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: SO THE LAST ITEM PULLED WAS ITEM 17, THIS IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE DOCUMENTS TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT 12 GRANT RENEWAL APPLICATIONS. WHO PULLED THIS ONE? WHO PULLED -- DID SOMEBODY PULL 17? AM I -- >> Mayor Guajardo: NO, I WROTE 17. IT WAS -- >> Barrera: ZERO MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> Mayor Guajardo: PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE. LET'S JUST MOVE ON. >> Barrera: YOU'RE WELCOME. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. >> Paxson: JUST A COMMENT, A QUESTION. >> Mayor Guajardo: WAIT, DID WE GET THE VOTE HERE? LET'S FINISH THIS VOTE. DID EVERYBODY VOTE? >> [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: MINE'S NOT SHOWING UP. LIKE THE TOTAL VOTE. BUT IT DID GO THROUGH? MRS. PAXSON HASN'T VOTED. >> Mayor Guajardo: LET'S EVERYBODY VOTE. GO AHEAD. YOU SHOULD HAVE -- >> City Secretary: ARE YOU READY? OKAY. SO DID YOU VOTE, KAYLIN? >> Paxson: YES. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON HAS A COMMENT ON THE PREVIOUS FREEZE AND NICKEL -- OR THE ITEM. GO AHEAD. . >> Paxson: SORRY, DIDN'T MEAN TO CAUSE CONFUSION. GOING BACK TO WHAT COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ SAYS, I BELIEVE THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF TIMES, I KNOW JEFF EDMONDS SENT ME INFORMATION ON OUR MASTER SERVICE, NOT TO REOPEN THAT, BUT DURING THOSE DISCUSSIONS, MORE TO MY POINT, I FEEL LIKE SEVERAL OF US HAVE KIND OF ASKED FOR BREAKDOWN, AND I THINK THE IMPETUS IS TO GET TO AN EVALUATION OF -- OF TOTAL, LIKE COMPLETE PROJECTS FOR THESE TOP -- IF I WAS TO SAY, FIVE OR 10, TYPE THINGS, JUST SO WE CAN SEE AND EVALUATE IT. WHETHER THE PROOF IS THERE, THE PROOF IS NOT, WE'VE GOT THE DATA. >> Zanoni: YEAH, WE'LL GET YOU THAT. AND THERE'S NUMEROUS TYPES OF CONTRACTS, BUT WE'LL WORK -- I'M NOT SURE HOW QUICK WE CAN GET IT BECAUSE OF THAT -- AS JEFF MENTIONED, THERE'S PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, LIKE FOR OUR DESAL, DESIGN ENGINEERING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, MSAS, WE'LL PUT YOU UP A LIST. >> Paxson: TYPE AND THEN. >> Zanoni: THEY HAVE ALL THE DATA. WE'LL DO THAT. THAT'S A GOOD REQUEST. >> Paxson: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO OUR LAST ITEM WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 5, AND THAT IS A QUICK BRIEFING ON ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS. >> Molly: OKAY. DREW MOLLY, GOOD AFTERNOON, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR CORPUS CHRISTI WATER. THIS IS QUICK UPDATE ON OUR ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLY UPDATE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GETTING IN A ROUTINE OF SENDING UPDATES ON A WEEKLY BASIS. THERE'S A LOT GOING ON. AND SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST QUICKLY GO THROUGH THE LATEST ON A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW. >> Zanoni: DREW, WE'LL TRY TO SEND A WRITTEN UPDATE EACH WEEK, RIGHT, AT THE END OF THE WEEK. >> Molly: YES. SO ON FRIDAY, WE HAD A WRITTEN UPDATE ON THE LIST OF ACTIVITIES THAT HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS, AND WE'LL STAY IN A ROUTINE WHERE WE CONTINUOUSLY UPDATE THE COUNCIL ON ALL THE -- ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WEEK TO WEEK ON THESE PROJECTS. AND I'LL GO THROUGH THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT. SO I THINK THIS IS JUST A REMINDER OF THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN. THE DROUGHT CONTINUES TO BE VERY CHALLENGING, NOT JUST FOR US, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE REGION. WE CONTINUOUSLY MEET WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ON A WEEKLY BASIS, AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE TWO MAPS HERE THAT COME OUT EVERY THURSDAY SHOW A PRONOUNCED EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT IN OUR WATERSHED. AND SO THIS CONTINUES TO BE, LIKE I SAID, NOT JUST AN ISSUE FOR US, BUT FOR MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES. ONE OF THE THINGS I ALSO WANT TO MENTION IS, IS THAT WE DO MEET QUARTERLY WITH ALL OF OUR LEADERS IN THE REGIONAL WATER SPACE, SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ON FRIDAY, WE MET WITH ALL THE LEADERS FROM THE FOLKS WHO WE SELL WATER TO, SO THAT WOULD INCLUDE MATHIS, ALICE, BEEVILLE, VIOLET WASN'T THERE, BUT SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY, SAN PATRICIO MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT, WE HAVE A ROUTINE MEETING WITH THEM, LIKE I SAID, WE HAD IT ON FRIDAY. WE TALK ABOUT NOT JUST THE PROJECTS THAT THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI'S DOING, BUT ALSO WE WANT TO LISTEN AND HEAR WHAT OUR PARTNERS ARE DOING, WHAT PROJECTS THAT THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING AS WELL. SO GOING BACK MAYBE A FEW WEEBS, TWO MONTHS, WE HAD A WATER WORKSHOP WHERE WE HAD A NUMBER OF ENTITIES THAT CAME IN AND TALKED ABOUT VARIOUS WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS THAT THE CITY SHOULD BE CONSIDERING. THESE PROJECTS PROBABLY AREN'T A SURPRISE, BECAUSE THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT WHILE WE HEARD A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IN THE WATER WORKSHOP, THESE WERE PROJECTS -- OR ARE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE BEEN CONSIDERING FOR QUITE SOME TIME. SO THE EVANGELINE IS ONE SUCH PROJECT. WE HAD -- WE HAD A MEETING AS RECENTLY AS APRIL 22ND WITH THE EVANGELINE TEAM TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN FURTHER DEVELOP THIS PROJECT. THE PROJECT HAS, IN ESSENCE, CHANGED A LITTLE BIT SINCE THE LAST TIME WE NEGOTIATED WITH THEM LAST YEAR. REALLY ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES THIS TIME AROUND IS THAT THE EVANGELINE, LAGUNA, LLP, IS WILLING TO SELL US THE WATER AS OPPOSED TO LEASING US THE WATER. THE PROPERTY EVANGELINE IS LOCATED NEAR SINTON, IT'S ABOUT 23,000 ACRES, AND THERE'S PREDICTIONS THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SECURE ABOUT 24 MILLION-GALLONS A DAY -- UP TO 24 MILLION GALLONS A DAY FROM THIS GROUNDWATER AQUIFER. I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO HEI HIGHLIGHT IS WE DID ENTER IN SORT OF A NONBINDING MOU, WHICH BASICALLY REALLY KIND OF PUTS -- PUTS US INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THIS PROJECT AND COMING UP WITH HOPEFULLY WHAT MIGHT BE A COUNTER OFFER TO THE OFFER THAT THEY PROVIDED US TO. THEY I'VE GIVEN US AN OFFER IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH THEY WOULD SELL THIS WATER TO US, AND SO THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LITTLE BIT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT, NUMBER ONE, WE UNDERSTAND THE RISKS AND THE POTENTIAL ATTRIBUTES OF THIS PROJECT, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S ALL FRAMED UP AND THAT WE HAVE -- IF WE DECIDE A COUNTER OFFER IF THAT WOULD BE IN OUR BEST INTEREST, AND WE ALSO NEED TO BE SURE THAT WE COMPARE THE COST OF THIS PROJECT TO THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. AND SO WE HAVE HIRED A FIRM TO HELP US DO THAT. IT'S A QUICK TURNAROUND, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NEXT THREE WEEKS WORKING PRETTY HARD TO LOOK AT THESE PROJECTS, BUT THE EVANGELINE IS ONE PROJECT THAT IS BEING REVIEWED AS WE SPEAK. THE CATAHOULA WATER COMPANY IS ANOTHER ONE. WE SAW THE CATAHOULA WATER COMPANY TALK AT THE WATER WORKSHOP A COUPLE MONTHS AGO. IT'S ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE ESCH ELMAN VOIT RANCH, THAT'S A SIGHT THAT'S ABOUT 70 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE CITY. IT'S POTENTIALLY COULD PRODUCE UP TO 28 MILLION-GALLONS, 28.5 MILLION-GALLONS OF WATER A DAY. IT'S ON A PRETTY LARGE RANCH OF ABOUT 100,000 ACRES. THE NUECES GROUNDWATER WELL PROJECT, NUECES RIVER GROUNDWATER WELL PROJECT THAT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT. A NUMBER OF COUNCIL HAS BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A FIELD TRIP OUT TO THE SITE. WE'VE HAD A COUPLE TRIPS WHERE WE'VE GONE OUT TO THE SITE. HERE'S A COUPLE PICTURES OF WHAT THE SITE LOOKS LIKE. ONE OF THE THINGS TA WE'RE DOING ON THIS PROJECT IS WE'RE REALLY REPEATING SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE DECADES AGO, WHICH IS DRILLING WELLS THAT COULD IN TIMES OF SEVERE DROUGHT BE USED TO AUGMENT OUR WATER SUPPLY. WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BACK LATE LAST YEAR, ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY, WE TRIED TO CAPITALIZE ON EIGHT EXISTING WELLS THAT ARE ALONG THE BANKS OF THE NUECES RIVER. UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO REHABILITATE ANY OF THOSE EIGHT WELLS SUCCESSFULLY. THOSE WELLS WERE DEEMED JUST NOT -- NOT -- WE COULDN'T REHAB THEM, BASICALLY, IS WHERE THAT ENDED UP. AND SO WE ALWAYS KNEW THAT PART OF OUR APPROACH WAS GOING TO BE LET'S TRY TO REHABILITATE THE OLD WELLS BUT THEN LET'S ALSO DRILL SOME NEW ONES, ESPECIALLY ON CITY PROPERTY. THE CITY HAS REAL ESTATE ALONG THE NUECES RIVER. OBVIOUSLY IT PLAYS AN ADVANTAGEOUS ROLE WHEN YOU'RE DRILLING WATER ON YOUR OWN PROPERTY WHICH IS WHAT WE FOCUSED ON. WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ALONG THIS LINE. WE'VE ESSENTIALLY TODAY HAVE COMPLETED THREE WELLS ON THE PROPERTY. WE'RE DRILLING A FOURTH WELL. THE WATER HAS BEEN -- IT'S BEEN ABUNDANT IN QUANTITY. WE CERTAINLY HAVE A LOT OF WATER THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ATTAIN FROM THESE WELLS. OBVIOUSLY, THE QUALITY IS NOT SOMETHING -- I MEAN, WE'RE NOT SURPRISED BY THE QUALITY I SHOULD SAY, BUT WE KNEW THE QUALITY OF THESE WELLS IS PROBABLY -- YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ALL THAT DESIRABLE. BUT IT DOES PROVIDE VALUE, BECAUSE IT'S WATER THAT CAN GO INTO THE RIVER, IT'S A TEMPORARY MEASURE TO PROVIDE US WITH WATER. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS OBVIOUSLY VERY BENEFICIAL FOR US AND FOR THE CUSTOMERS THAT WE SERVE. ONE OF THE THINGS I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS IS THAT THIS PROJECT REALLY FALLS WELL INTO THE PLAN AND THE ACTIONS THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS TAKEN. SO THE GOVERNOR HAS DECLARED NUECES COUNTY AND SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTIES SURROUNDING US AS DECLARATION FOR EMERGENCIES IN TERMS OF WATER SHORTAGES IN THE DROUGHT THAT WE'RE IN. AND SO WE WENT UP TO AUSTIN BACK IN DECEMBER WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION AND WE BRIEFED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ABOUT THE VERY THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW. SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN, STAGE III DROUGHT RESTRICTIONS AND NO REAL END IN SIGHT, AT LEAST NOT UNTIL WE GET INTO OUR WET TIME OF THE YEAR, WHICH TENDS TO BE MAY, JUNE, HOPEFULLY WE HAVE SOME TROPICAL SYSTEM THAT HELPS PUT WATER INTO OUR RESERVOIRS, WE EXPLAINED TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO, AGAIN, THE PROJECT INCLUDES DRILLING WELLS ALONG THE NUECES RIVER TO AUGMENT WHAT IS IN THE RIVER. ALSO WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT JUST THE RECLAIMED WATER -- THE REUSE PROJECT. WE HEARD DURING THE WATER WORKSHOP ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN WITH GARVER WHO GAVE A PRESENTATION ON WHAT REUSE IS AND THE BENEFITS OF IT. SINCE THAT WATER WORKSHOP DATE, WE HAD COUNCIL APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH GARVER, AND SO GARVER IS WORKING ON THAT. ACTUALLY, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESS TO GET GARVER THEIR NOTICE TO PROCEED, BUT THEY ARE ACTIVELY WORKING -- OR WILL BE WORKING ON THE PROJECT TO EVALUATE REUSE AS AN OPTION FOR US. AND SO JUST IN SUMMARY, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF GO BACK AND RECAP WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. SO WE'VE GOT THE NUECES RIVER GROUNDWATER WELL PROJECT, WHICH I JUST MENTIONED. SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF THAT IS, AGAIN, IT'S ON CITY PROPERTY. WE HAVE BRACKISH WATER THAT HAS ACTUALLY PRODUCED A LOT IN TERMS OF VOLUME, SO WE THINK THAT THIS IS MOVING ALONG WELL. WE ARE WORKING WITH TCEQ ON PERMITTING TO ALLOW US TO USE THE BED AND BANKS PERMIT, AND, AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH AUSTIN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE NEED AND THE CRITICALITY OF THIS PROJECT. THE EVANGELINE GROUNDWATER PROJECT, CERTAINLY HAS SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US IN THAT THE FIRST 12 MILLION-GALLONS A DAY COULD BE SOMETHING THAT MIGHT MAKE SOME SENSE IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO PUT THAT WATER INTO THE MARY RHODES PIPELINE WHICH HAS SOME CAPACITY TO TAKE IT, AND THEN TREATMENT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE REQUIRED BECAUSE WE'D BE ABLE TO BLEND THAT WATER IN WITH WATER THAT WE'RE PULLING DOWN THE MARY RHODES PIPELINE FROM LAKE TEXANA AND COLORADO RIVER. THE EV RANCH PROJECT, AGAIN, IS MENTIONED, BRACKISH GROUNDWATER SUPPLY, 70 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HERE, AND THEN LASTLY, SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY PROJECT, SO WE'RE WORKING WITH GENERAL MANAGER JOHN MARAS IN TERMS OF TRYING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND JOHN MARAS IS HERE TODAY, HE'S IN THE BACK, SO I TALKED TO HIM A LITTLE EARLIER, BUT GENERAL MANAGER MARAS IS WORKING WITH US IN COLLABORATIVE SPIR RIT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT PROJECT -- WHAT THE PROJECT IS THAT HE'S DEVELOPING FOR SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY AND PERHAPS THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER. SO IN CONCERT, WRAPPING ALL THIS UP, THESE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE FUNDAMENTALLY WORKING ON OVER THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR WEEKS TO ESSENTIALLY DEVELOP THE COST MODEL FOR THESE PROJECTS AND HOPEFULLY PUT THIS IN CONTEXT SO WE CAN COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND GIVE YOU A SUMMARY OF IT AND THEN ULTIMATELY ONE OF THE -- ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO POTENTIALLY PULL THE TRIGGER ON -- I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE PULLING THE TRIGGER ON THE NUECES RIVER WELL GROUNDWATER PROJECT, THAT'S LOW-HANGING FRUIT FOR US, BUT THEN WHAT OTHER PROJECTS MAKE SENSE FOR THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI TO IMPLEMENT. SO LOTS OF WORK GOING ON, LOTS OF ACTIVITY SURROUNDING ALL THE EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING MADE TO WORK ON THESE PROJECTS. AND WITH THAT SAID, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, DREW. COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON. >> Paxson: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO PETER AND DREW. I HAD REACHED OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS WEEK AND I REFERENCED OUR COUNCIL MEETING ON THE 29TH AND I ASKED IF WE COULD GO AHEAD AND START GETTING THESE WEEKLY UPDATES, AND YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO MOBILIZE VERY QUICKLY, SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I DO ASK THAT WHILE I RECOGNIZE YOU SAID WE'LL CONTINUE TO GET UPDATES, I WOULD STILL LOVE TO SEE THEM IN THIS PUBLIC ARENA. I THINK RIGHT NOW, WE NEED TO ALL STAY INVOLVED AND AWARE AND HAVE THIS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE'S EARS, JUST LIKE TODAY. I APPRECIATE TODAY THAT YOU WENT THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF EACH PROJECT, AND THEN AT THE END, KIND OF HAD THAT SNAPSHOT. EVEN SOMETHING AS SHORT AS THAT THAT GIVES US WHERE ARE WE AT RIGHT NOW. I THINK THAT WOULD BE PLENTY. SO IT'S NOT BURDEN SOME TO YOU HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND PUT TOGETHER A WHOLE 12-SLIDE PROJECTION, EVEN THOUGH I LOVE IT. BUT THANK YOU. SO MY QUESTION THEN IS ON EVANGELINE, I THINK A FEW WEEKS BACK WE WERE DIESH WE HAD BEGUN TALKS ABOUT WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE, TO PUT -- I THINK YOU PUT ON HERE 12 MILLION-GALLONS DIRECTLY INTO MARY RHODES. I THINK THAT SOUNDS LIKE RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT THE SAME PLACE. HAS THERE BEEN PROGRESS ON THAT, OR IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE REFERENCING WHEN YOU SAID YOU'RE PUTTING SOMETHING TOGETHER TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL. >> Molly: SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ON THE EVANGELINE PROJECT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY LOOKING AT -- ANOTHER LOOK AT THE COST ON THIS. ESSENTIALLY THE OFFERING FROM EVANGELINE HAS CHANGED SINCE WE LOOKED AT THIS PROJECT LAST YEAR. AND SO BECAUSE THE OFFERING HAS CHANGED, IT SORT OF CHANGED NOT JUST THE COST, BUT EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF THE RISK, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A BENEFIT POTENTIALLY. WE BUY THE WATER, AS OPPOSED TO LEASING IT. ONE OF THE EXAMPLES THAT I THINK GETS A LOT OF ATTENTION IN THE WATER WORLD IS SAN ANTONIO, FOR EXAMPLE. YOU KNOW, THEY -- THEY SECURED GROUNDWATER FROM A LOCATION 140 MILES AWAY, AND THEY SPENT A BILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS IN PIPELINE TO SECURE THAT WATER. THEY DON'T OWN THAT WATER. SO IN 30 YEARS, THEY'RE -- THE NEXT GENERATION OF PEOPLE IN WATER ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO -- RENEGOTIATE A CONTRACT WITH THE CARRIZO WILCOX FOLKS WHO ARE 140 MILES A AWAY. THIS IS A DIFFERENT PLAN FOR US. THERE MAY BE SOME RISKS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT. THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS WE OR LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW TO MAKING SURE THAT -- LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE EVANGELINE PROJECT, WE IDENTIFIED SOME RISKS, WE NEGOTIATED WITH THEM PRETTY HARD, AND FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, THEY WALKED A A WAY. WE DIDN'T WALK AWAY, THEY WALKED AWAY. AND SO WE CERTAINLY WANT TO GIVE IT EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE SURE SHIS OPPORTUNITY WORKS OUT, THERE'S SOME ADVANTAGES, RISKS, WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE WE SECURELY CAPTURE WHAT THE ADVANTAGES AND RISKS ARE, AND MAKE SURE WE MAKE SOME GOOD DECISIONS. >> Paxson: IF YOU HAD TO BALLPARK WHAT'S AN ETA FOR THE NEXT ACTION ITEM FOR IT TO COME BACK ON US, WE CAN'T EVEN APPROVE ON THIS, I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE ASSUMPTIONS, I'M JUST GAUGING TIMELINE. >> Molly: RIGHT. A LOT OF WHAT GOES INTO THIS IS GOING TO BE WHAT IS THE COST OF THIS PROJECT, WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR DELIVERY, AND THEN WHAT IS THE WATER QUALITY. AND, YOU KNOW, WATER QUALITY IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING A LOT MORE ABOUT. THERE'S -- THERE'S -- THERE'S SOME CONCERNS, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF JUST WHAT -- WHAT IS THIS QUALITY? YOU KNOW, UNLIKE SURFACE WATER WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT, THIS IS GROUNDWATER. YOU CAN'T SEE IT. DOES IT DETERIORATE OVER TIME? WHAT DOES THAT DETERIORATION LOOK LIKE? THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT OUR TEAM IS LOOKING AT. WHEN WE LOOKED AT THIS LAST YEAR, THERE'S CLEARLY SOME THINGS IN THE WATER THAT WE WERE GOING TO BLEND, RIGHT, WE WERE GOING TO BLEND WITH THE MARY RHODES PIPELINE TO DIMINISH SOME OF THE CONSTITUENTS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE A PROBLEM IF THEY WEREN'T BLENDED, AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AND MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE BUYING. YOU KNOW, IT'S -- >> Paxson: SO LIKE APPROXIMATE TIME OF BEING ABLE TO COME BEFORE US WITH AN ACTION TIME, AND AT THAT POINT IT WOULD BE, OF COURSE, YES OR NO, BUT WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT THAT STEP. >> Molly: REALLY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, AND I'M SORRY FOR NOT GETTING STRAIGHT TO IT. REALLY THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS, THEIR EXPECTATION, THEY BEING THE EVANGELINE IS WE WOULD COME BACK TO THEM WITH A COUNTER OFFER BY EARLY JUNE, JUNE 5TH, I BELIEVE. >> Zanoni: JUNE 2ND IS WHAT'S IN THE MOU. SO WE AGREED WITH ED CROSS THAT WE WOULD WORK IN ERNESTO TRY TO GET AN ANSWER TO HIM. SO THAT MEANS WE WOULD HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO HIM, AND THEN WE'D COME TO CITY COUNCIL ON THE SIXTH, WHICH IS THE FIRST COUNCIL MEETING, JUST TO BE FACTUAL HERE WITH THE DATES. >> Paxson: OKAY. THAT MAKES SENSE. THANK YOU. THEN MY NEXT QUESTION ON THE NUECES RIVER WELLS, THREE COMPLETE, MOVING INTO THE FOURTH. LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT IT, YOU WERE ABOUT 30 DAYS OUT ESTIMATED ON YOUR -- ON THE PERMITTING. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE STILL WAITING ON PERMITTING, SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS ETA ON THAT OR AN UPDATED ETA, AND WHAT ARE WE LOOKING LIKE FOR VOLUME RIGHT NOW? WE WERE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WITH WELL NUMBER ONE. ARE WE SEEING THE SAME TREND WITH THE OTHERS? HAS IT KIND OF LEVELED OUT? SO PERMITTING AND VOLUME? >> Molly: VOLUME CONTINUES TO BE PROMISING. THE THIRD WELL THAT WE DRILLED PRODUCES -- WE WERE SEEING 2 MILLION-GALLONS A DAY, MORE THAN WHAT WE ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED, SO VOLUME CONTINUES TO BE POSITIVE. WITH REGARDS TO PERMITTING, WE WERE ACTUALLY ON THE PHONE TODAY WITH OUR REGULATORY COMPLIANCE PERSON WHOSE'S HELPING US WITH THE PERMITTING. SO OUR PLAN IS, IF -- HOPEFULLY IF NOTHING CHANGES, THE PLAN WOULD BE TO SUBMIT THE PERMIT APPLICATION TO THE TCEQ ON MONDAY. THE PLAN WOULD BE, WE WOULD DELIVER IT IN PERSON WITH -- THERE'S A CHECK THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE TO THEM TO PROCESS THE APPLICATION, AND SO WE WOULD JUST PLAN ON DOING THAT. AND THEN THERE'S A PROCESS WITH THAT TCEQ THAT GOES THROUGH. THEY HAVE A REVIEW, THEY HAVE TO ADVERTISE IT PUBLICLY, AND SO THAT PROCESS PLAYS OUT. WE'D BE LOOKING AT PROBABLY THE LATE JUNE TIME PERIOD TO HAVE A PERMIT FROM TCEQ. >> Paxson: OKAY. PERFECT. >> Molly: LATE JUNE TIME PERIOD. >> Paxson: TO HAVE THE PERMIT. THAT'S REALLY THE THING WE'RE WAITING ON BEFORE WE CAN ACTUALLY UTILIZE THAT WATER, OR NO. >> Molly: CORRECT. WE NEED TO HAVE THE TCEQ PERMIT PROCESS. >> Cantu: . >> Scott: [OFF MIC] >> Paxson: ON YOUR RECLAIMED WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, YOU SAID YOU'RE WORKING ON THE NOTICE TO PROCEED, WHAT ARE -- >> Molly: WHAT I MEANT TO SAY WAS THE CONTRACT WAS APPROVED, AND THEN THERE'S A PROCESS THAT HAS TO GO THROUGH. IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS. SO THEY'RE GOING TO GET A NOTICE TO PROCEED TO START THE WORK. I BELIEVE IT'S -- THEY DON'T HAVE IT, IT'S HAPPENING ANY DAY. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WITH THIS FIRM IS THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE GETTING A NOTICE TO PROCEED, SO THEY'RE WORKING. OFFICIALLY, THEY'LL HAVE A NOTICE TO PROCEED HERE IN THE NEXT -- I'D SAY IN THE NEXT WEEK. >> Paxson: NEXT WEEK? >> Molly: AT THE LATEST, YEAH PAKSZ AGAIN. I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS UPDATE. I APPRECIATE IT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK. >> Molly: YOU BET. COUNCILWO MAN CAMPOS? >> Campos: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PAXSON FOR ASKING ALL THOSE GREAT QUESTIONS. I JUST HAVE A FEW, MAINLY IT'S ON THE WASTEWATER REUSE. I WAS JUST LOOKING UP SOME OF THE PLANTS THAT ARE IN EXISTENCE HERE IN TEXAS. THERE'S FIVE SO FAR THAT I'VE FOUND. FRED HARVEY, EAST FORK RAW WATER SUPPLY PROJECT, TEAR RANT REGIONAL WATER, CITY OF ABILENE, CITY OF WICHITA FALLS. AND I'M JUST WONDERING, BECAUSE YOU ARE ON THE BOARD FOR THE DESALINATION -- WHAT WAS IT CALLED, THE ONE THAT YOU'RE -- >> Molly: WELL, SO -- I'M ON THE BOARD FOR TEXAS DESAL. I'M ON THE BOARD FOR THE AMERICAN WATERWORKS ASSOCIATION. I'M A MEMBER OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS. I WITH IT'S JUST ASKED LAST WEEK IF I WANTED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE REUSE. THERE'S TEXAS REUSE. YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, PART OF THIS IS SPREAD AROUND A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT BOARDS AND AGENCIES THAT YOU CAN FIND YOURSELF ON THAT YOU'VE ONLY GOT SO MUCH TIME IN THE DAY. >> Cantu: I KNOW. I AGREE. >> Molly: THAT'S A GOOD ONE. WE'RE GOING TO PLUG IN. IT'S A GOOD BOARD. >> Campos: OKAY SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST. YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE ONE THAT SITS ON THAT BOARD, BUT IF THERE'S ANY WAY YOU CAN SPREAD IT OUT TOO WHERE, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE THAT, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, COMPARABLE OR REALLY PASSIONATE MAYBE ABOUT THAT PROJECT, I DON'T KNOW, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO PHRASE IT OR DO IT, BUT EVIDENTLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT -- WE DON'T HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL. I'M JUST HOPING THAT MAYBE WE CAN GET TO THIS WASTEWATER REUSE A LOT QUICKER THAN, YOU KNOW, THE PROPOSED DESALINATION. ANYWAY, BUT YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT IT'S JUST RECENTLY, THOUGH, THAT YOU POSSIBLY ARE LOOKING OR TRYING -- >> Molly: LOOKING FOR -- >> Campos: TRYING TO GET ON THAT BOARD. >> Molly: THE LADY THAT RUNS THAT BOARD, COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ MET HER A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, NO ELLA GEORGE, LOVELY LADY. I'VE KNOWN HER FOR QUITE A WHILE. THE AMERICAN WATERWORKS ASSOCIATION, WHICH I'VE BEEN PLUGGED INTO THAT ORGANIZATION FOR 15 YEARS. THERE'S ACTUALLY A WATER REUSE DIVISION IN THE AMERICAN WATERWORKS ASSOCIATION WHICH I KNOW A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS KOMS UH-HUH. >> Molly: BUT THE AMERICAN WATERWORKS ASSOCIATION COVERS EVERYTHING IN WATER, THE FULL SPECTRUM FROM DESAL TO CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT. TEXAS REUSE IS A VERY SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW, ORGANIZATION JUST FOR REUSE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE. AND SO THAT'S ONE THAT WE'VE BEEN AWARE OF. WE KNOW THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND TO THE EXTENT THAT IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO PLUG IN WITH THEM, WE'RE HAPPY TO DO IT. >> Campos: WELL, AS A MATTER OF FACT, RIGHT BEFORE OUR MEETING YESTERDAY, I WAS TRYING TO REACH OUT TO WICHITA FALLS TO SEE WHAT WAS THEIR TIMELINE. I THINK IT WAS THE -- NO, THAT'S 2017. THERE'S ONE -- NO, THAT'S THE LATEST ONE. >> Molly: SO -- >> Campos: THE OTHER'S 2015, 1985, EL PASO, SO I WAS TRYING TO SEE WHAT B WAS THE TIMELINE TO GET THEIR PLANT -- DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA. >> Molly: JUST A LITTLE PITCH. THE WATER SUMMIT, THE GUY THAT BASICALLY BROUGHT INDIRECT POTABLE REUSE TO WICHITA FALLS IS A GOOD -- I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR YEARS. DANIEL MIX. DANIEL WILL BE ON A PANEL TALKING ABOUT REUSE. AND WICHITA FALLS HAD A LOT OF CHALLENGES BACK IN THE 2011 DROUGHT. THEY LITERALLY WERE WEEKS FROM RUNNING OUT OF WATER. AND THEY WERE LUCKY, THEY GOT RAIN RIGHT AT THE VERY END, SO THEY DO INDIRECT POTABLE REUSE. IT'S NOT DIRECT. I BELIEVE THE BUSTAMANTE PLANT IN EL PASO WILL BE THE FIRST DIRECT POTABLE REUSE F FACILITY, AT LEAST ON A LARGE SCALE, THEY'RE UP TO 10 MILLION-GALLONS A DAY, THEY'RE IN CONSTRUCTION. SO WICHITA FALLS HAS GOT A GREAT -- THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD PEOPLE UP THERE THAT WILL BE DOWN HERE ON MAY 22ND. >> Campos: IS THERE GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO VISIT ANY OF THOSE PLANTS? BECAUSE I'D BE INTERESTED IN ONE OF THOSE PLANTS TO SEE HOW THEY OPERATE AND HOW FAST THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THEIR WATER REUSE PLANT UP AND RUNNING? IS THERE A POSSIBILITY FOR THAT? >> Molly: I'M HAPPY TO INTRODUCE YOU TO GILBERT TREJO, EL PASO'S GOING TO BE HERE ON THE 22ND. THERE ARE GOING TO BE A WHOLE BUNCH OF FOLKS COMING IN. I'D BE HAPPY TO INTRODUCE YOU TO WHOEVER YOU'D WANT TO TALK TO. COUNCILWO MAN. >> Vaughn: MINE ARE REAL QUICK. THANKS FOR SERVING ON ALL THOSE BOARDS, THE MORE INFORMATION WE GET IS BETTER FOR US. WELLS NUMBER 1 AND 2, HOW MUCH DID YOU GET OFF OF THOSE? >> Molly: HOW MUCH WATER. >> Vaughn: YEAH, WATER. >> Molly: SO NUMBER ONE BEING THE EVANGELINE. >> Vaughn: NOT EVANGELINE. ON THE RIVER. >> Molly: OH, ON THE RIVER. SO THE FIRST ONE WAS LIKE RIGHT AT ABOUT 2 MILLION-GALLONS -- ONE AND A HALF FOR THE FIRST ONE. THE SECOND ONE WAS LESS. >> THE SECOND ONE WAS TWO. >> Molly: TWO FOR THE SECOND. I THOUGHT THE SECOND ONE WAS A LITTLE LOWER. >> Vaughn: AND I KNOW YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY. SO DO YOU HAVE A PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT? >> Molly: SO HERE'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE TEAM IS WORKING ON RIGHT NOW. SO WE THINK THAT PHASE 1 OF THIS PROJECT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO USE THE RIVER AS A TEMPORARY MEANS OF CONVEYANCE TO BUY US SOME TIME AND CAPITALIZE ON THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT WATER FROM THESE WELLS. WE BELIEVE THAT PHASE 2, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS NOW, PHASE 2, WHICH ULTIMATELY IS ABOUT 12 MILLION-GALLONS A DAY OF BATTER, WATER, WE THINK WE'D BE ABLE TO PRODUCE FROM THESE WELLS, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A BRACKISH RO FACILITY THAT COULD BE USED, TAKE THIS WATER, CONVEY IT TO A LOCATION, WE'RE NOT SURE WHERE, BUT WE ARE IN THE CALALLEN AREA, WHERE THERE'S DEMAND, THERE'S ALSO OTHER DEMAND CENTERS THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY PROVIDE THIS WATER TO. SO A LOT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. >> Vaughn: OKAY. >> Molly: BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S GOOD WATER, THAT WITH TREATMENT, AND A LOT OF WORK NEEDS TO GO INTO THIS, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT VALUE-WISE, THIS COULD MAKE A LOT OF SENSE. WE OWN THE WATER, WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR WATER RIGHTS, WE OWN THOSE WATERS, AND SO WE COULD USE THIS EFFECTIVELY. SO, AGAIN, LOTS OF WORK FROM THE TEAM BUT THAT IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS POTENTIALLY SOMETHING TO CONSIDER FOR A PHASE 2 APPROACH. >> Vaughn: GOOD. BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF WATER. I FIGURED YOU HAD A PLAN. ON THE EVANGELINE, SO JUNE THE SECOND, I THINK, IS WHEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE EVERYTHING READY WHERE Y'ALL COME BACK AND TALK. HERE'S MY CONCERN ABOUT ALL THE WATER. WE CAN'T DO EVERY PROJECT, BECAUSE OF MONEY. DO WE HAVE ANY IN THE BACK OF OUR MIND AN AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE CAN GET REALISTICALLY, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT ALL. CAN WE AFFORD TO GET WATER AND DO SOME OF THESE PROJECTS? >> Molly: WELL, WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS, IS THAT WE HAVE A RATE CONSULTANT THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH. WE HAVE A -- OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WHO, I THINK, IS RIGHT BEHIND ME, WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR BUSINESS ANALYTICAL TEAM AND OUR OUTSIDE RATE CONSULTANT TO HELP US MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ULTIMATELY HAVE TO MAKE, WHICH IS HOW MUCH CAN WE AFFORD, HOW MUCH OF THE APPLE CAN WE BITE AND NOT PUT OURSELVES INTO A RATE SITUATION WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT. >> Zanoni: YEAH, I THINK ALL -- ANY ADDITIONAL WATER, EVEN THE WELLS WE'RE DRILLING, WILL HAVE A RATE IMPACT, A RATE INCREASE. >> Vaughn: OKAY. >> Zanoni: IT'S NOT LIKE THIS MONEY'S SITTING SOMEWHERE, WE'RE JUST GOING TO USE IT. IN FACT, WE DREW DOWN A LOT IN OUR FUND BALANCES IN THIS BUDGET INCLUDING THE WATER OPERATION AND WASTEWATER, SO ANY MONIES THAT WE NEED OF SUBSTANCE TO BRING ON THAT NEXT WATER SOURCE IS GOING TO COME IN THE FORM OF RATE INCREASES. UNLESS WE CANCEL OTHER PROJECTS, BUT WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING DOING THAT. IT WAS STATED TODAY, COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS ON THE IMPROVEMENTS AT OWENS STEVENS AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT BEGINNING POINT IN OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT BRINGING ON MORE WATER SOURCES, BECAUSE EVEN IF WE HAD 50 MILLION-GALLONS OF RAW WATER, FIVE YEARS AGO WE COULDN'T TREAT IT ANYWAY BECAUSE THE PLANT WAS FALLING APART. JUST FOR A QUICK DIVERGENCE HERE, THE STORY ON MORE WATER SOURCES BEGAN FIVE, SIX YEARS AGO WHEN WE RECOGNIZED THAT THE OWENS STEVENS WATER TREATMENT PLANT WAS, LIKE A LOT OF THER THINGS, ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE ALMOST. AND UNTIL WE GOT IT UP TO PAR AND EXPANDING IT TO TREAT MORE WATER, EVEN IF WE HAD MORE RAW WATER, IT WOULDN'T HAVE MATTER BECAUSE WE COULD ONLY TREAT SO MUCH. SO THAT STORY'S LOST, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT THROUGH TODAY. I THINK WHAT THE GOAL IS TO HAVE AS MINIMAL OF A RATE IMPACT AS POSSIBLE IF WE HAVE TO ISSUE DEBT BY EXTENDING THE DEBT OVER TIME SO IT'S NOT A RATE SHOCK, BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING TODAY, WE NEED TO KEEP DOING. AND ALL THE NEXT WATER COSTS MONEY. IT'S -- THE CHEAPEST ONE WAS OUR WELLS PROJECT, BECAUSE WE'RE JUST PUTTING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WE DON'T PAY ANYBODY ROYALTY OR ACQUISITION FEES, THAT'S THE CHEAPEST, BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. SO I THINK THE NEXT -- IF SAY IT'S EVANGELINE FOR 12 MILLION-GALLONS, THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT ONE THAT'S A LITTLE MORE AFFORDABLE THAN A MASSIVE CONTRACT FOR 24 MILLION, SAY, THAT'S WHY WE'RE INTERESTED IN THAT 12. SO, YEAH, IT'S JUST THE REALITY OF IT. >> Vaughn: AND I THINK THE REALITY NEEDS TO BE OUT THERE. WE HAVE TO HAVE WATER. WE OR GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE WATER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR IT, I DON'T WANT THE RATEPAYERS TO HAVE TO PAY A BUNCH OF MONEY FOR WATER. I KNOW IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO UP SOME, BUT THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO AS A COUNCIL. WE NEED TO LOOK AT SOME OF OUR THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING AND PRIORITIZE, AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT. >> Zanoni: RIGHT, YEAH. >> Vaughn: JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE OF THE EVANGELINE, HAS ANYBODY TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER OR THE MAYOR OF SINTON. WE KNOW THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THEM AND THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A LITED LITTLE GOODWILL. I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HAVE DONE THAT OR NOT. . >> Molly: WE HAVE TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER OF SINTON, IT'S PROBABLY BEEN ABOUT A YEAR SINCE WE'VE SPOKEN TO HIM, SO WE PROBABLY SHOULD GIVE HIM A CALL. ONE OF OUR -- ESTEBAN RAMOS HAD A MEETING WITH HIM LAST YEAR, AND REALLY THE TAKEAWAY THAT WE HAD IN THAT CONVERSATION WAS -- AT LEAST THIS IS WHAT I TOOK AWAY FROM IT WAS, YOU KNOW, DON'T PUT OUR CITY AT RISK OF OVERPUMPING THIS AQUIFER, YOU KNOW, THAT GOES BACK TO BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR, MITIGATE, MINIMIZE, YOU KNOW, ANY KIND OF UNDUE INFLUENCE THAT WOULD BE A NEGATIVE TOWARDS PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN AND AROUND THE AREA WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT THING. >> Vaughn: AND THAT WOULD BE GOOD WILL TO REACH OUT. THE ONLY OTHER THING IS SOUTH TEXAS WATER, THAT'S A NEW ONE FOR ME. SO I'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. CAN YOU EXPAND ON IT A LITTLE BIT MORE? >> Molly: YES, MA'AM. SO I -- WE'VE REACHED OUT TO COMMISSIONER MARAS AND TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THIS PROJECT. I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT IT, BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT IT'S A BRACKISH RO WELL THAT IS BEING DRILLED. IT'S A TEST WELL AT THIS POINT IN TIME. AND THE SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY IS LIKE OTHER COMMUNITIES, LOOKING AT DIVERSIFYING AND HAVING OTHER OPTIONS BESIDES JUST SOLELY DEPENDENT UPON SURFACE WATER. AND SO THEY HAVE GOT AN AGREEMENT WITH A WATER PURVEYOR TO DRILL THIS WELL AND DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT IT MAKES SENSE FOR THEM TO KIND OF TAKE THE NEXT STEP, WHICH WOULD ULTIMATELY BE TREATING IT THROUGH SOME TYPE OF AN RO SYSTEM AND THEN PROVIDE THAT WATER TO SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME. AND I'M -- I'M SURE -- I'M PRETTY SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FINAL AGREEMENTS TOWARDS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET. I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT THIS AS A POTENTIAL OPTION, BUT HAVEN'T -- HAVEN'T AGREED UPON A FINAL LONG-TERM CONTRACT WITH THAT COMPANY. >> Vaughn: SO SEVEN SEAS IS INVOLVED IN THIS? >> Molly: YES, MA'AM. >> Vaughn: OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMA N HERNANDEZ? >> Hernandez: OKAY. THERE'S SOME THINGS, YOU DIDN'T PROVIDE A LOT OF COST INFORMATION IN YOUR INFORMATION, LIKE WE VANNING WITH EVANGELINE, YOU DIDN'T HAVE A COST ESTIMATE FOR THAT INITIAL 12 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS. >> Molly: THOSE ARE ALL THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW. >> Hernandez: OKAY. AND TALKING ABOUT THEIR PERMITTING WITH THE GROUND CONTROL DISTRICT. >> Molly: A RISK. >> Hernandez: OKAY. >> Molly: YEAH, THAT'S SOMETHING FRANKLY -- WE'VE GOT OUTSIDE LEGAL SUPPORT LOOKING AT THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH -- YOU KNOW, WE'VE KIND OF TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN AVERSION FOR GOING TO RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE AND TAKING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF WATER OUT OF AQUIFERS AND DELIVERING THEM TO CITIES. AND SO WE WOULD POTENTIALLY BE AT RISK FOR A SMALL GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT THAT DOES NOT LIVE IN THE CITY. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE CITY, BUT IT COULD BE A POTENTIAL RISK OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THAT WATER TO THE CITY DELIVERED. >> Hernandez: OKAY. SO IT MIGHT BE ONLY 12 AND A HALF MILLION GALLONS, NOT THE FULL 24 MILLION? >> Molly: THAT'S A RISK THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, YES, SIR. >> Hernandez: OKAY. AND THEN ESCH MAN VOIT, DID WE DO AN MOU WITH THEM? >> Molly: WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN AN MOU WITH THEM. WE'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH THEM. >> Hernandez: SPEAKING OF MOUS, DO WE HAVE A POLICY ON THIS? I DON'T RECALL US SEEING THAT AS A COUNCIL TO VOTE ON? IS THERE AN ISSUE WITH THAT? DO WE HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE WITH REGARDS TO DOING MOUS OR DOES IT HAVE TO HAVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT? WHAT'S THE POLICY? >> Risley: THE DOLLAR AMOUNT ON AN MOU IS ZERO. THAT'S WHY THE CITY MANAGER HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO IT. MEMORANDUM IS NOT BINDING, THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. MANY PEOPLE KIND OF CONFUSE THAT, AND QUITE OFTEN WHEN WE'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE, THEY PUSH US TO DO AN MOU, WHAT MAKES IT AN MOU IS IT'S NOT BINDING, IT DOESN'T HAVE A DOLLAR VALUE. IT IS ESSENTIALLY A COMMITMENT, AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO START NEGOTIATIONS. BUT IT IS NOT AN AGREEMENT AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT COMPLETELY LEGAL. >> Hernandez: OKAY. SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IN THE FUTURE, IF WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT WE'RE -- ESPECIALLY AS SOMETHING AS HIGHLY VISIBLE AS WATER SOURCES, IT SHOULD BE SENT TO COUNCIL FOR US TO REVIEW, AT LEAST SEE OR READ SO WE'RE AWARE OF IT AND WE'RE NOT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HE'S SAYING WITH THE MOU. >> Zanoni: IT WAS, COUNCILMAN. I SENT IT TO THE COUNCIL ON APRIL 21ST, THE EXACT MOU. I SENT IT TO THE COUNCIL. >> Hernandez: WAS IT A TEXT OR A -- >> Zanoni: I SENT IT VIA TEXT AND MILES SENT IT VIA E-MAIL. >> Zanoni: APRIL 21. I HAVE IT HERE. >> Hernandez: OKAY. I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK. I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING IT. THE GROUNDWATER, YOU HAD MENTIONED WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC QUALITY OF THAT WATER PER WELL? >> Molly: WHICH WELLS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT. >> Hernandez: I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ONES THAT WE'RE DRILLING. >> Molly: OKAY. SO THE ESCH ELMAN VOIT. >> Hernandez: NO, THE ONES WE'RE DRILLING. >> Molly: OKAY. THE ONES WE'RE DRILLING, THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF VARIABILITY. SO WE HAVE SEEN RANGES FROM TWO TO 5,000-MILLIGRAMS PER LITER OF TDS. >> Hernandez: CAN YOU DO PARTS PER MILL I DON'T KNOW? >> Molly: WHAT IS THAT, PARTS, TWO >> Molly: YEAH. 2,000 PARTS PER MILLION TO 5,000 PARTS PER MILLION, MILLIGRAMS PER LITER. >> Hernandez: AS COMPARED TO SEAWATER? THAT'S 35? >> Molly: YES, SIR. 35. POTENTIALLY 36, 37 PARTS PER THOUSAND. >> Hernandez: WHAT DOES TCEQ CONSIDER POTABLE OR DRINKABLE WATER? >> Molly: THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF -- SO THE SHORT ANSWER IS A THOUSAND. THE EPA, WHICH EPA HAS EPA STANDARD FOR SECONDARY MCL FOR TDS IS 500. >> Hernandez: WE ARE TALKING 2,000 AND 5,000? DO YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION PER WELL? >> Molly: I CAN GET IT TO YOU. YES SIR. THOSE ARE THE WELLS THAT WE HAVE PUMPED TO DATE SO THE THREE WELLS THAT WE HAVE. >> Hernandez: IN YOUR NEXT UPDATE, CAN YOU PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION? I MEAN, IF WE'RE -- THE MORE YOU PUMP IN THE BIGGER OF AN ISSUE IT BECOMES. >> Molly: SURE. >> Hernandez: GOING TO RECLAIM THE WATER HAVE WE TALKED TO FLINT HILLS ABOUT THE RAW WATER THEY'RE TAKING AND IF WE COULD SOMEHOW UTILIZE THE RECLAIMED WATER OR EFFLUENT COMING OUT OF ALLISON FOR THEM? >> Molly: YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH FLINT HILLS ON A LOT OF THINGS. THEY HAVE NOT EXPRESSED A GREAT INTEREST IN THE RECLAIMED WATER. >> Hernandez: I UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION BUT IF WE GO INTO A WATER EMERGENCY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT THEM OFF. IT MIGHT BE SOME OPTION FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT SOME EFFLUENT WATER MIXED IN WITH THE RAW WATER THEY'RE TAKING FOR ONE OF THEIR PLANTS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY NEED FOR THAT BUT IF THERE'S SOME PRE-WORK TO BE DONE, IF THEY CAN TAKE THE 3, 3.5 MILLION GALLONS THAT ALLISON IS PUTTING IN THE SHIP CHANNEL, THAT'S 3.5 MILLION GALLONS FOR OUR POTABLE WATER. IF WE CAN DO THE PRECURSOR WORK WITH THAT. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE DRINKING WATER SO YOU CAN AVOID SOME OF THE TCEQ STUFF. BUT WE SHOULD AT LEAST EXPLORE THAT AS AN OPTION IF WE GO INTO A WATER EMERGENCY. THIS WILL AFFECT US STATEWIDE. I MEAN, THEY PUMP JET FUEL TO DFW. IT WON'T JUST AFFECT US, IT WILL AFFECT THE STATE. SO I WOULD RATHER KIND OF LOOK AT THAT AHEAD OF TIME. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT YOURSELF BUT, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY ON YOUR STAFF. OKAY. AND LIKE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE ACTUALLY HEARING ABOUT SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY. I KNOW I HAVE BROACHED THIS WITH YOU TO GET INFORMATION ON IT. WHAT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF WATER WE CAN GET FROM THAT, BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PIECEMEAL THIS. 12MILLION FROM HERE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO GET FROM THE WELL WATER, CONSIDERING THE QUALITY ON THE NUECES RIVER. VOIGHT IS A LONG WAY AWAY BECAUSE IT'S BRACKISH WATER. WHAT KIND OF VOLUME ARE THEY LOOKING AT AT SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY? WE NEED WATER NOW, CONSIDERING DESAL IS AT LEAST THREE YEARS AWAY, AT BEST. RIGHT? THAT'S IF THERE'S NO CONSTRUCTION DELAYS AND THERE'S NO WEATHER DELAYS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO YOU HAVE A LOT THAT WE HAVE TO GO IN HERE. IF THEY CAN DELIVER IT QUICKER, THEN WE NEED TO SERIOUSLY LOOK AT IT. AND THEN KIND OF GIVE US A RUNNING TOTAL OF HOW MUCH WATER WE CAN GET FROM ALL THESE SOURCES. AND THEN A TIMELINE. WHAT'S THE QUICKEST WE CAN GET? OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GETTING THE WATER FROM THE NUECES RIVER WELLS SO FAR, SO WE CAN SEE WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING AND WHAT THE TIMELINE IS FOR EVANGELINE. HOW FAST CAN THEY DRILL THEIR WELLS? HOW SOON CAN WE GET AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE? WHAT INFRASTRUCTURE THEY NEED TO PUMP IT INTO THE MARY RHODES PIPELINE? WE'RE ON THE CLIFF LOOKING OVER. SO I'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION. SO I KNOW WE HAVE JOHN MOTT IS HERE. I KNOW WE HAVE MICHAEL HUNTER HERE. >> MICHAEL HUNTER? OH, I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS HERE. >> Hernandez: IF WE CAN GET BETTER INFORMATION ON THAT IN YOUR NEXT REPORT. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: COUNCILMAN SCOTT. >> Scott: MAN, YOU MUST TALK TO US A LOT. GOT DANG IT. CERTAINLY, I DON'T BOTHER YOU. LAST NIGHT WAS AN EXCEPTION, CLEARLY . LET ME GO THROUGH MY LIST. HAS SOMEBODY TALKED TO THE EV RANCH FOLKS IN THE LAST TEN DAYS? HE BENT MY EAR AT A SOCIAL FUNCTION. HE WAS HIGHLY AGITATED AND WHAT HE PERCEIVED TO BE, A, THE LACK OF ANY CONVERSATION AT CITY COUNCIL LEVEL THAT YOU, PETER, HAD PROMISED HIM. AND ANY RESPONSE, WHICH I THINK WE DID, RIGHT? HAVE WE TALKED TO HIM SINCE? >> Mayor Guajardo: I'M SORRY. WHO IS THIS, COUNCILMAN? >> Scott: DR. MINCE APPROACHED ME AND SAID I WAS PROMISED THAT MY PROPOSAL WOULD BE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL AND IT HASN'T HAPPENED. I SAID I THINK IT HAS. THEN HE SAID NO ONE HAS GOTTEN BACK TO ME, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. HE'S VERY SENSITIVE. HAVE WE TALKED TO HIM IN THE LAST EIGHT DAYS? >> Molly: I CALLED HIM YESTERDAY. I DIDN'T TALK TO HIM. >> Scott: YOU CALLED HIM ON THE WAY INTO THE MEETING AND LEFT A MESSAGE. >> Molly: HE CALLED ME A LITTLE WHILE AGO. I'LL CALL HIM BACK. >> Scott: I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I DEFENDED OUR POSITION VIGOROUSLY. SO I WOULD LIKE SOME FOLLOW-UP. APPRECIATE THAT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND. SO THE SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY -- BECAUSE THE WATER FLOWS SOUTH, RIGHT, DOWN THE PIPELINE. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SEVEN SEAS. BUT FOR US TO ACCESS SEVEN SEAS IT'S GOT TO FLOW NORTH. IS THAT RIGHT? >> Molly: CORRECT. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. >> Scott: AND IF IT FLOWS NORTH -- I MEAN, YOU CAN'T USE THE WATER WE SELL, SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY, BECAUSE THE WATER IS COMING THE WRONG WAY. HOW MUCH WATER DO WE SELL TO SOUTH TEXAS? >> 2 MILLION GALLONS. >> Scott: JOHN IS BACK THERE. I'M NOT PUTTING HIM IN A BOX. THIS IS THE FIRST -- THAT'S NOT TRUE. I HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN THIS PROJECT. I THINK THE ANSWER IS WE HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH EV RANCH AND YOU GUYS AT SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY CHARGE US A TARIFF, PER SQUARE FOOT FEE, WHICH I THINK IS AWESOME. THE WATER IS GOING NORTH. YOU HAVE EV RANCH WATER GOING NORTH. YOU'VE GOT SEVEN SEAS WATER GOING NORTH. SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY HAS A LOT OF WATER, PLUS THEY'RE MAKING MONEY OFF THE PIPELINE. BUT THEN I THOUGHT THE ANSWER WAS THAT WATER'S NEVER COMING NORTH. SO I'M CONFUSED AS TO WHERE WE'RE AT. JOHN -- MAYOR, IS THAT INAPPROPRIATE TO ASK JOHN? BLESS HIS HEART, HE'S BEEN BACK THERE FOR SIX HOURS. I'M FEEDING HIM POPCORN. I FEEL LIKE I OWE HIM. >> Mayor Guajardo: HE CAN COME UP, IF HE WOULD LIKE. >> Scott: AND I LOVE SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY. YOU KNOW, MY MOTHER LIVES IN KINGSVILLE. I'M A HUGE FAN. HIS NUMBER TWO AND I WENT TO COLLEGE TOGETHER. YOU GUYS ARE IN A TEST WELL, I GUESS, WITH SEVEN SEAS. AND THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT. HAS THAT COME BACK? >> YES. THEY HAVE STARTED THE DRILLING -- WELL, THEY'RE BEGINNING THIS WEEK. THEY ALREADY HAD THE RIG SET UP NORTH OF DRISCOLL. AND SO WE HOPE TO HAVE SOME RESULTS WITHIN A FEW WEEKS TO BE ABLE TO SEE -- GET A GENERAL IDEA OF WHAT THE TDS ARE. WATER QUALITY IS GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE AND OF COURSE WHAT DOES THE OVERALL WATER COST MEAN TO US. WE WANT AND EXPECT AND NEED A SUPPLEMENTARY WATER SYSTEM. WE CAN'T RELY ON THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI. BUT I'M HERE JUST BECAUSE -- AS I MENTIONED TO DREW EARLIER, I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF THE REGIONALIZATION THAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE. AND THE WORK THAT DREW HAS DONE, ALONG WITH NICK AND THE REST OF THE TEAM, AND OF COURSE YOUR CITY MANAGER, HAVE BEEN THE MOST INCLUSIVE -- AND THIS IS FROM STAFF THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR TWO OR THREE DECADES, WORKED AT SWA. THE MOST INCLUSIVE STAFF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI HAS EVER HAD. YOU SEE THAT IN OUR QUARTERLY MEETINGS WE HAVE HAD, NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. THIS CONCEPT STARTED PROBABLY ABOUT A YEAR, OVER A YEAR AGO. AND THESE ARE VALUABLE FOR US. BY THE WAY, ALL OF OUR SMALLER WATER SYSTEMS, WE'RE STRUGGLING LIKE YOU ARE. BUT OVERALL, WE ARE HERE TO COLLABORATE. WE ARE HERE TO SERVE AS PARTNERS WITH THE CITY AND SO IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN CONNECT WATER TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE REGION, THEN WE'RE WILLING TO DO THAT. IF IT MEANS HELPING SPLIT SOME OF THE COSTS FOR US AND WORK WITH THE CITY ON THAT, WHATEVER IT MAY BE. COULD BE THE EV RANCH, COULD BE THIS DESAL PROJECT, THIS BRACKISH DESAL PLANT WITH SEVEN SEAS, WE'RE READY TO WORK WITH YOU. THAT'S WHY I SAT HERE. I DIDN'T EXPECT TO BE CALLED UPON BUT THAT WAS MY MESSAGE I WANTED TO BRING TO YOU. OUR BOARD IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE REGIONALIZATION. THEY WANTED TO SEPARATE BUT THEY REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT CCW IS TO THE REGION. BUT HAVING THAT SECOND SOURCE IS VITAL, JUST BECAUSE IN TIMES LIKE THIS. WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN, WE CHANGE TO MATCH IT. WE FOLLOW YOUR LEAD. STWA IS READY ON HAND TO BE A PARTNER, TO CONTINUE TO BE A WHOLESALE CUSTOMER OF CCW BUT IF THAT OPPORTUNITY COMES UP, WE WOULD LOVE TO PARTNER AND COLLABORATE. I TALK TO DREW ON A WEEKLY BASIS, IF NOT MORE. JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT. HOPEFULLY I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION. >> Scott: ABSOLUTELY. IT'S GREAT. VERY COMPLEMENTARY RELATIONSHIP WITH CORPUS CHRISTI. THANK YOU, JOHN. TWO MINUTES. OKAY. YOU ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NO CONVERSATION ABOUT -- THE ALICE PROJECT. WHERE'S ALICE AT IN THEIR SEVEN SEAS DESAL? >> WE MET WITH THEM LAST THURSDAY. SO THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF THEY'VE GOT THEIR FIRST WELL AND IT IS OPERATIONAL. THEY'RE GOING THROUGH TCEQ TO GET THE APPROVAL FROM TCEQ TO ACTUALLY BLEND THAT WATER IN WITH THEIR EXISTING SYSTEM. SO I BELIEVE THEY'RE LOOKING AT HAVING TCEQ APPROVAL WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS, SO THEY WERE SAYING KIND OF LIKE IN THE JUNE TIME-FRAME THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE. AND I BELIEVE IT'S A 1.5 MILLION-GALLON A DAY WELL, BRACKISH, AND THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DRILLING A SECOND WELL. >> Scott: THEY HAVEN'T TURNED ON THE DESAL -- >> NO. >> Scott: THEY NEED TO GET THE PERMITS. >> Molly: THEY'VE GOT THE FIRST WELL DRILLED. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THEY HAVE DONE ALL THE TESTING THEY NEED TO DO AND SO THEY'VE TESTED IT THROUGH THEIR RO SYSTEM. THEY JUST NEED TO GET APPROVAL FROM TCEQ TO ACTUALLY PUT THAT WATER INTO THEIR DRINKING WATER SYSTEM. AND I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT A JUNE TIME-FRAME. >> Scott: BUT WHEN AVAILABLE THEY INTEND TO TAKE WATER FROM LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI? >> Molly: AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE A TETHER TO LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI BUT THEY WON'T HAVE AS MUCH OF A TETHER AND THEY'LL HAVE MORE RESILIENCY BUILT INTO THEIR SYSTEM NOW THAT THEY'VE GOT GROUNDWATER. >> Scott: CC POLYMERS, CAN THAT BE ON THE NEXT UPDATE? >> Zanoni: YEAH. YEAH. WE SHOULD BE, ACTUALLY. WE HAD CONTEMPLATED DOING AN EXECUTIVE SESSION NEXT WEEK BUT THERE'S STILL A LITTLE WORK TO DO ON THE WATER DISTRIBUTION. >> Scott: JUST WANT TO KEEP THAT CONVERSATION -- >> Zanoni: YEAH, PUT THAT ON THE UPDATE FOR THIS FRIDAY, CC POLYMERS. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. LAST COMMENT IS COUNCILMAN ROY. >> Roy: HE JUST ASKED THE QUESTION I WANTED TO ASK. I WANTED AN UPDATE ON CC POLYMERS. I SIT HERE AND WONDER DO YOU EVER GET TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT WATER? >> Molly: NOT REALLY. >> Roy: THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAD. I JUST WANTED TO ASK ABOUT CC. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, DREW, YOUR TEAM, NICK, ESTEBAN. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU CONTINUE TO DO AND CONSTANTLY ADDRESSING EVERYTHING THAT WE ASK FOR AND THAT YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING. MEANWHILE, MAKING CERTAIN THAT THE PLANTS WORK AND THEY'RE RUNNING AND EVERYTHING GOES WELL. IT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. OKAY. THANK YOU. LASTLY, AND I THINK, REBECCA, WE NEED TO OFFICIALLY PULL OFF ITEM NO. 6. WE WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM 6 OFF OF THE AGENDA. >> City Secretary: THEY'RE GOING TO WITHDRAW IT. >> Mayor Guajardo: THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. [MEETING ADJOURNED]