[00:00:01]
[CALL TO ORDER]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THE 4000TH 210 MEETING OF THE BOARD OF UTILITIES COMMISSIONERS TO ORDER PLEASE.AND THIS MORNING, BRIAN LAMB WILL, UH, LEAD
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
US IN THE PLEDGE, P TO THE FLAT EYE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR RICHARD STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER REGARD WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.[ROLL CALL]
ROLL CALL PLEASE.UM, WE NOW WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Utilities Commission on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Chair.]
IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON ANY NON-AG AGENDA ITEM? YES.I'M THE NEW ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER HERE AT THE ADMIN, AT THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.
UH, IT IS A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU ALL THIS MORNING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING WITH YOU PERSONALLY.
UH, I'M VERY EXCITED TO START MY WEEK HERE, UH, WITH THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, SUPPORT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR DIVISIONS, OUR BUREAUS AND OUR EMPLOYEE AND OUR EMPLOYEE POPULATION, AND THEN OF COURSE, WORK, UH, VERY CLOSELY WITH, UH, DIANA, TY, UH, A**L.
AND, UH, CHRIS, IT'S A PLEASURE AND, UH, HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A REALLY GOOD REST OF YOUR DAY.
CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND ON OH, BACKGROUND ON MYSELF? ABSOLUTELY.
UH, SO I HAVE SOME CITY EXPERIENCE.
I'VE COME FROM THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT.
UH, I'VE LED RECRUITMENT INITIATIVES, WORKERS' COMPENSATION, LEAVE MANAGEMENT INVESTIGATIONS, DISCIPLINE, UH, WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR FINANCE AND FACILITIES ANALYST.
UH, BEFORE THAT I SPENT, UH, TWO YEARS WORKING AT THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
I'M CURRENTLY THE SCHOLARSHIP CO-CHAIR FOR THE LATINO EMPLOYEES ORGANIZATION.
AND, UM, BEFORE THAT, I'VE HAD EXPERIENCE WORKING AT THE CITIES OF COSTA MISSA, SOUTHGATE, AND, UM, MANHATTAN BEACH.
I'M ALSO AN EAGLE SCOUT AND, UH, I LOVE TO SERVE.
AND, UH, WHAT ELSE? I SPEAK THREE LANGUAGES.
SEE, WE WOULD'VE MISSED ALL THAT.
YEAH, I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.
I ALWAYS FORGET TO BE, YOU KNOW, A A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT MYSELF AND A LITTLE BIT LESS ABOUT WHAT WE DO.
I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW WHAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER'S RESPONSIBLE FOR.
SO, UH, I THANK YOU FOR THE PERSONAL QUESTION.
SO, WE'RE REAL EXCITED TO HAVE HIM JOIN US.
UH, UH, WE'VE LOST SOME KEY, UH, MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL ON THE ADMIN SIDE, AND SO HAVING JAIME JOIN US IS A GREAT MOVE ON OUR PART.
UH, EVEN A BETTER MOVE ON HIS PART,
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IN THE INTERVIEWS WITH HIM, UH, THE TWO TAKEAWAYS THAT I HAD WAS, HE WANTS TO GET THINGS DONE, AND HE'S A A PEOPLE PERSON, AND HE'S INQUISITIVE, AND HE, HE'S A FAST LEARNER.
SO WE'RE REAL EXCITED TO HAVE HIM ABOARD.
[ELECTION OF OFFICERS - PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY]
THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS.UM, THE YEAR WENT VERY QUICKLY AND, UM, BUT I'M, I THINK THIS WILL BE A, A, A GOOD TIME TO, TO MOVE OVER AND, UH, LET SOMEONE ELSE TAKE THE, THE LEADERSHIP REIGN.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, WE WILL NOW ACCEPT, UH, NOMINATIONS FOR BOARD OFFICERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR RESOLUTION.
UH, IT ESTABLISHES A RESOLUTION OF RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
AND WE FIRST HAVE, UH, THE ELECT ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT.
DO WE HAVE A NOMINATION, PLEASE? OKAY.
UH, NOMINATION FOR COMMISSIONER RAINEY.
UH, YOU DON'T NEED A SECOND FOR THE NOMINATION.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? UH, I JUST HAVE TO SPEAK UP THAT I, I REALLY HESITATE NOT TO NOMINATE THE, UH, UH, BUT LOOK AT THIS OUTFIT.
GLAD THAT YOU LOOK, YOU LOOK GREAT.
WE HAVE A NOMINATION ON THE FLOOR FOR, UH, COMMISSIONER RAINEY TO TAKE OVER THE REIGNS.
I THINK SHE'S, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
UH, SEEING NO OTHER NOMINATIONS.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AND WE'LL HAVE A CALL FOR THE NOMINATION FOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.
UH, ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT? OKAY.
DO YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? NO, YOU CAN JUST SAY I NOMINATE YOU.
WE HAVE A NOMINATION FOR COMMISSIONER, UH, GINA MCGUIRE.
UH, ARE THERE ANY FURTHER NOMINATIONS? OKAY.
[00:05:01]
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD.UH, DO WE HAVE A NOMINATION FOR SECRETARY OF THE BOARD? I WILL NOMINATE DIRECT, UH, COMMISSIONER SCOTT.
COMMISSIONER SCOTT WILL NOW, UM, MOVE INTO THAT ROLE IF HE ACCEPTS AND HE HAS, UH, ARE THERE ANY FURTHER NOMINATIONS? OKAY.
UM, I JUST, UH, THESE, THESE, UH, NEW OFFICERS WILL ASSUME THEIR ROLE AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING, WHICH IS NOVEMBER 9TH.
UM, IT'S A LITTLE BITTERSWEET SOMETIMES TO LEAVE THE ROLE THAT YOU'RE IN.
YOU'LL, YOU'LL FIND AS YOU MOVE ON BECAUSE YOU KIND OF GET THE MOMENTUM GOING.
UM, BUT I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE COME IN AND TAKE THE REINS.
I THINK IT'LL BE, IT'LL BE GOOD.
UM, NAOMI, COMMISSIONER RAINEY WILL DO A GREAT JOB.
UM, I'VE ENJOYED THE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK CLOSELY A LITTLE MORE CLOSELY WITH THE STAFF WHO ARE ALWAYS VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE.
UM, SO I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO, TO THAT.
SO NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO TELL NAOMI THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR PRESSURE.
I'M SORRY, I NEED TO NO ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION.
GLORIA, IS THIS APPROPRIATE? SURE.
IF IT'S GOOD, BUT IT'S APPROPRIATE.
OH, YOU HAVE BEEN SO AWESOME AND SO HELPFUL.
UH, I'VE KNOWN SHANNON FOREVER.
THAT'S WHY I'M ALWAYS POUNDING HIM.
AND THEN HE, HE TEACHES ME THINGS.
BUT YOU'VE BEEN EXCEPTIONAL, AND I JUST THANK YOU AND APPRECIATE YOU.
AND I'M REALLY A, I'M AN A STUDENT.
AND I JUST, UM, APPRECIATE YOU AND IT'S GOOD THAT I'LL HAVE MY DEAR FRIEND MCGUIRE
AND J JUST AS A NOTE, UM, KIND OF FOLLOWING UP WITH THAT, THIS IS REALLY EVEN IN THE LEADER IN THESE ROLES THAT WE ASSUME, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST KIND OF MOVE ON, BUT IT, IT REALLY IS A ZONE DEFENSE.
I ALWAYS GO TO THE BASKETBALL ANALYSIS.
IT'S NOT MAN ON MAN OR WOMEN ON WOMAN.
IT'S, IT'S, AS WE ALL, WE ALL WORK TOGETHER.
AND SO, UM, I ASSURE YOU THAT WE'LL ALL BE THERE, YOU KNOW, UH, TO WORK WITH YOU AND, AND GINA AS YOU MOVE FORWARD.
[PRESIDENT'S REPORT]
UM, I THINK IN FRONT OF YOU, I, I THINK, LISA, DID YOU HAND THIS OUT TO EVERYBODY? THE, I, I DID.THERE, THERE'S A, IT'S, IT'S, UH, FEDS SAY, COLORADO RIVER CUTS ARE SUFFICIENT TO STAVE OFF IMMEDIATE, UH, RISKS.
UM, JUST VERY BRIEFLY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF, OF A LOT OF THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH REGARDS TO THE COLORADO RIVER.
UM, THINGS HAVE, UM, SPED UP A LITTLE BIT, UM, IN ONE WAY.
AND ON THE OTHER WAY, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF SLOWED DOWN.
UM, WHAT HAPPENED WAS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, UM, THERE WERE TWO, TWO TRACKS.
ONE WAS, UM, THE IMMEDIATE NEED, WHICH BECAUSE OF THE RAINS THAT WE HAD, WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
UM, SO THAT IMMEDIATE NEED, IT WASN'T LIKE CUTS IMMEDIATELY.
WE WERE ABLE TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, COOL OUR JETS AND SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO CONTINUE, UM, CONSERVING.
UM, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE POST 2026, UH, SEIS, WHICH IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE TRACK THAT WE'RE ON.
SO THAT WILL BE AFTER, UH, 2026.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS, UM, BIDEN, THEY PUT OUT PRESIDENT BIDEN AND, AND, UH, UH, VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, UH, PUT OUT A STATEMENT, WHICH, UM, IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED IN IT, WE CAN GET IT TO YOU.
BUT THEY ANNOUNCED THE NEXT STEPS FOR STABILITY FOR THE COLORADO RIVER.
UM, THE GOOD THING IS THAT IN APRIL OF THIS LAST YEAR, UH, THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO, TO SAVE OR TO CONSERVE 3 MILLION ACRE FEET THROUGH THE, DUE TO THE END OF 2026, UM, WHICH WAS A, A BIG HEADSTART, WHICH WAS A, A REAL COMMITMENT.
AND I THINK CALIFORNIA REALLY STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE ON THAT ONE.
IT'S NOT AN IMMEDIATE NEED, BUT THERE'S STILL A NEED TO, UH, CONSERVE AND TO, UM, TO INCREASE OUR SUPPLY.
UH, LAKE MEAD IS 34% FULL, AND LAKE POWELL IS 37% FULL, A LOT BETTER THAN IT WAS, UH, A WHILE AGO, BUT STILL NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE.
UM, SO NOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A DRAFT, SEIS, WHICH IS WHAT, UM, CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA,
[00:10:01]
AND NEVADA ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY, UH, WITH THE OTHER BASIN STATES TOO, TO TRY TO MOVE FORWARD ON.UM, WHAT I'M HEARING IS THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UPPER STATE, UPPER BASIN, AND THE LOWER BASIN THAT THE UPPER BASIN, WHO DOESN'T USE ALL OF ITS ALLOCATION OF WATER, STILL SAYS, WELL, IT'S OURS.
YOU KNOW, WE, JUST BECAUSE YOU NEED IT, DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE, AND WE DON'T, THAT WE'RE GONNA BE WILLFULLY JUST GIVING IT AWAY.
AND SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE THE RUB IS RIGHT NOW.
UM, THERE'S A, AN ADDITIONAL 3 MILLION ACRE FEET OF COMMITMENTS, UH, THAT ARE, THAT WILL NEED TO HAPPEN.
A LARGE PART OF THAT WILL FALL ON ARIZONA.
UM, AND I THINK IT WAS UP TO 140,000 ACRE FEET, UH, FOR LAKE MEAD AND ABOUT 393,000 ACRE FEET, UH, THROUGH 2025.
SO, WITH THAT, SOME GOOD NEWS IS, AND I'M GONNA READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, UH, IS THE DOLLARS THAT ARE OUT THERE FOR, UM, FOR, FOR WATER AND, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROJECTS.
281 MILLION FOR 21 WATER RECYCLING PROJECTS, 233 MILLION IN WATER CONSERVATION FUNDING.
AND, BUT THAT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR THE GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY INCLUDES 83 MILLION FOR A WATER PIPELINE PROJECT, AND 50 MILLION THAT WOULD COME FROM THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.
UM, ANYWAY, SO THAT'S ANOTHER ONE.
OVER 73 MILLION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS ON WATER DELIVERY SYSTEMS. UH, 71 MILLION FOR 32 DROUGHT RESILIENCY PROJECTS, 50 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIF, UH, FIVE YEARS TO IMPROVE KEY WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND 20 MILLION IN SMALL SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER STORAGE.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF, LOT OF MONEY OUT THERE, AND THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF, UM, CONCERN THAT THE BUREAU HAS NOT, UM, ACTED ON THE, UH, PROPOSALS QUICK ENOUGH, SO PEOPLE ARE PUTTING IN FOR IT.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF I MET, HAS PUT IN SOME THINGS FOR PURE WATER AND OTHER THINGS.
SO WE'RE KIND OF WAITING ON THAT.
UM, WE WILL BE SEEING CAMILLE TUAN, WHO IS THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION, UM, IN EARLY NOVEMBER.
SHE'LL BE AT PURE WATER, WHICH YOU'VE ALL SEEN.
SHE'LL BE THERE FOR THE NAMING OF PURE WATER, AND IT WILL BE NAMED THE GRACE NAPOLITANO, UM, UH, PURE WATER PROJECT OR PROJECT, I GUESS.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
SO A LOT MORE NEWS TO COME, BUT THINGS ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IT HASN'T, UH, BLOWN UP YET WHERE PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING ALONG TO THE POINT WHERE WE'VE ST GOTTEN A STALEMATE.
THERE'S A LOT, A LOT OF MEETINGS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
[GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT]
ALL RIGHT.LET'S CALL ON CHRIS FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT.
WELL, THAT TOOK A LOT OF MY THUNDER, SO THAT'S OH, OH, SORRY,
UM, SO, UH, WE HAVE, UM, OR THE CITY HAS ANNOUNCED, UH, THAT THEY HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT ON SOME OF THE LABOR AGREEMENTS.
UH, ONCE WE GET ALL THOSE IN PLACE, I'LL GIVE A SUMMARY TO, TO THE BOARD MEMBERS, UH, SO YOU'LL KNOW WHERE THAT GOES.
IT, IT'S A DIFFERENT, UM, PHILOSOPHY THIS YEAR THAN CITY HAS USED IN THE PAST, WHICH I THINK IS FANTASTIC.
WHAT, WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY DID, UH, GENERAL RATE INCREASES, OR, I'M SORRY, RATE INCREASES GENERAL, UH, WAGE INCREASES, UM, ACROSS THE BOARD LIKE THEY NORMALLY DO, BUT FAIRLY LOW.
AND THEN WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY TARGETED, UM, VARIOUS CLASSIFICATIONS BASED UPON, UH, SALARY SERVICES THAT THEY DID.
'CAUSE WE'RE FAR, FAR BEHIND THE MARKET, AND IT'S IMPACTED EVERY DEPARTMENT.
UM, YOU HEARD THAT, UM, UH, AT ONE POINT WE'RE, I THINK 22%, UH, VACANCY RATE ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE CITY.
AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE, UH, WE'RE NOT COMPETITIVE ON THE WAGES.
AND SO, UH, WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY DID THE SALARY SURVEYS, AND THEN BASED ON THAT, DEPENDING ON WHERE A CLASSIFICATION WAS, UM, IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE MARKET, THEY GAVE, UH, BIGGER INCREASES TO THOSE CLASSIFICATIONS.
SO THEY'RE ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.
AND SO WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT, UH, VARIOUS CLASSIFICATIONS GOT, UH, UH, ONE SET OF INCREASES.
OTHERS GOT OTHERS HIGHER ONES, AND SOME GOT MUCH HIGHER.
UM, SO IT PUTS US IN A GOOD POSITION WITH THE MARKET, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO REALLY HELP US RETAIN TALENT THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO IN THE PAST.
SO, I'LL, I'LL GIVE YOU A SUMMARY OF THAT ONCE WE GET ALL THE LABOR AGREEMENTS IN PLACE.
BUT THAT'S, HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE DONE.
UH, THEY'RE HOPING TO WRAP UP THE NEGOTIATIONS IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS, AND THEN, UM, STILL HAS TO GO TO COUNCIL.
UM, SO SOMETIME AFTER THAT, AS SOON AS IT BECOMES PUBLIC, I'LL, I'LL BRING IT TO THE BOARD.
YES, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
I'M SURPRISED 22% ACROSS THE BOARD.
YOU, YOU CAN'T PROVIDE THE SERVICES, OBVIOUSLY.
AND THEN BECAUSE OUR HIRING PROCESS IS SO LONG IN THE CITY, ONCE YOU LOSE SOMEONE, IT TAKES FOREVER TO FILL THAT.
SO IT JUST KEEPS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE.
AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, PLEASE FIRE LIBRARY, US UTILITIES, EVERYBODY.
SO THE 22% MIGHT BE REFLECTIVE OF THE FA FACT THAT WE DON'T MAYBE PAY AS MUCH AS OTHERS, BUT ALSO THAT IT TAKES SO LONG.
[00:15:03]
OKAY, GREAT.[1. 23-24727 Recommendation to approve October 12, 2023 Board meeting minutes. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
OKAY, WE'LL MOVE INTO THE REGULAR AGENDA.UH, ITEM NUMBER ONE IS A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE, UH, THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 12TH MEETING.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[2. 23-24729 Recommendation to approve Transfer of Funds for October 26, 2023. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
NUMBER TWO IS A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS.ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE? ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENT? YES.
I DON'T REALLY WANNA MAKE A PROBLEM WHERE THERE IS NONE, BUT I JUST, I WAS JUST CURIOUS.
UM, IN THE WATER REVENUE FUND AND IN THE SEWER REVENUE FUND, ITEM 3, 4, 3 IN BOTH FUNDS, EXCUSE ME, ITEM 3, 4 3 IN THE, UH, WATER REVENUE FUND AND ITEM THREE FIVE OH, IN THE SEWER REVENUE FUND, IT APPEARS THAT WE'RE PAYING AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY, UH, INITIALLY, OR AT LEAST AT ONE POINT IN TIME, WHICH FAR EXCEEDS THAT PORTION OF THE BUDGET, WHICH WE SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS PARTICULAR QUARTER OR MONTH OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
IS THERE SOMEONE THAT CAN, UH, EXPLAIN THAT TO ME? I'LL, I'LL TRY BR BRENDAN JUMBO IF I SAY THIS WRONG, BUT THIS IS THE GENERAL FUND TRANSFER FOR BOTH THE WATER AND SEWER FUNDS.
SO THEY DON'T DO IT BY, THEY DON'T DO IT AN EQUAL AMOUNT EVERY MONTH.
UM, SO IT, IT USUALLY IS DONE TOWARDS THE END OF THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
SO THEY DO IT AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR RATHER THAN SOMETIMES IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.
BUT, UH, IS, IS THAT CORRECT? SAY YES, YOU HEARD THAT YOU, SO, YEAH.
SO THE, THE ACTUAL TRANSFERS ARE ACTUALLY BASED ON ACTUAL AMOUNTS.
SO THEY'RE IMPACT FEES BASED ON PUBLIC WORKS, UH, WORKS AROUND THE, THE, THE CITY.
SO IT'S A PORTION OF, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR UTILITIES IMPACT ON THE STREETS.
SO ESSENTIALLY IT'S THE CALCULATION AND, AND ARREARS.
SO THEY TAKE A, A YEAR FULL OF DATA AND A PORTION, A PORTION TO THE GAS AND THE SEWER FUND.
SO THERE'S NO QUARTERLY AMOUNT.
THAT'S WHY THEY WAIT TILL THE END OF THE YEAR TO GET ACTUALS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS.
SO, UM, THAT'S WHY YOU'RE GETTING THE AMOUNT AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND EVERYTHING CHRIS SAID WAS A HUNDRED PERCENT CORRECT.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS OR COMMENT? OKAY, SEEING NONE, UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? NO, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SCOTT, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SHANNON.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[3. 23-24732 Recommendation to authorize additions to the Long Beach Utilities Department’s Rules, Regulations, and Charges governing gas-related fees and charges. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
ADDITIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT'S RULES, REGULATIONS, AND CHARGES GOVERNING THE GAS RELATED FEES AND CHARGES.UH, JUST A QUICK BACKGROUND ON WHAT THIS ITEM IS.
SO, UH, WE HAVE TWO SETS OF FEES AND CHARGES AND RATES.
SO THIS ITEM IS NOT PARTICULARLY PERTAINING TO THE RATES.
SO WHAT THE BOARD APPROVED DURING OUR BUDGET PROCESS WERE THE RATES WE CHARGE NATURAL GAS CUSTOMERS.
SO THE BILL FOR THE GAS AND THE TRANSMISSION THAT'S ON THE BILL, THIS IS NOT THAT ITEM.
THIS IS PERTAINING TO FEES AND CHARGES FOR SPECIAL SERVICES, GETTING A METER REPLACED.
UM, YOU KNOW, LATE, LATE FEE NOTIFICATIONS, THERE'S A SET OF FEES.
SO WHAT END UP HAPPENING IS, PRIOR TO THE MERGER, ALL OF THESE FEES WERE UNDER THE CITY'S CITY MANAGER'S PURVIEW, CITY COUNCIL PURVIEW ON THEIR MASTER FEE AND CHARGES SCHEDULE.
SO THIS ITEM IS, IS THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS.
FIRST IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTION OF JUST MOVING THOSE FEES AND CHARGES OVER TO OUR RULES AND REGS UNDER YOUR PURVIEW AND CONTROL IN THE FUTURE.
SO THAT'S JUST A PURELY ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTION.
THE SECOND PORTION IS A, IS A NEW FEE THAT WE ARE PROPOSING.
SO RIGHT NOW, UH, NATURAL GAS REGULATION SAYS YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE METER AT LEAST THREE FEET AWAY FROM AN IGNITION SOURCE.
SO RIGHT NOW, THERE'S TWO WAYS TO MITIGATE THAT ISSUE.
IF A CUSTOMER CALLS, THE FIRST WAY IS HAVING OUR STAFF GO OUT AND ACTUALLY DIGGING A TRENCH, REMOVING THE, THE, THE PIPING, MOVING THE METER.
WE CAN GET INTO THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
THE SECOND OPTION IS VENTILATION.
WE CAN GO OUT AND ACTUALLY VENT THE, UM, THE METER AND THE REGULATOR.
IT'S NOT VERY AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, AND IT'S ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE.
SO THIS NEW FEE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY IS A NEW TECHNOLOGY CALLED A SLAM SHUT REGULATOR.
ESSENTIALLY, IT'S $150 IS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO CHARGE CUSTOMERS.
IT ALLOWS THE METER TO REMAIN IN PLACE AND IN EMERGENCIES, ESSENTIALLY SHUT THE METER SHUT AND PREVENT ANY KIND OF IGNITION SOURCES.
SO THIS IS A GREAT THING FOR CUSTOMERS RIGHT NOW.
IT'S THAT IF, IF THERE WAS A REQUEST PRIOR TO THIS FEE, IT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE.
IT WOULDN'T BE VERY AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, AND IT'S A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT.
SO WE'RE UTILIZING NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT PUT THIS SLAM SHUT, UH, REGULATOR AND PROPOSING A NEW FEE, UM, OF $150, WHICH IS MUCH MORE CHEAPER THAN THE EXISTING WORK.
SO AGAIN, TWO ITEMS, UM, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
ONE, THE ADMINISTRATIVE MOVING OF FEES AND CHARGES OVER TO THE UTILITY COMMISSION PURVIEW, UHHUH, AND THEN THIS NEW FEE THAT IS A MUCH CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR BRANDON? ARE THERE A LOT OF
[00:20:01]
CUSTOMERS THAT NEED A SLAM SHUT DEVICE INSTALLED? ARE THERE A LOT OF THEM? OR HOW DO YOU EVEN KNOW?COMMISSIONER MCGUIRE? UH, IT DOES VARY.
UM, UH, A LOT OF THE, UH, SCENARIOS WHERE THIS IS NEEDED IS WHEN, UM, A CUSTOMER, UH, DOES AN A DU AND NEEDS TO UPGRADE THE, THEIR METER, AND BECAUSE THEY ARE MAKING THOSE CHANGES, THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, ALL THE RULES THAT DIDN'T APPLY BEFORE APPLY NOW.
UH, SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT, I WOULD SAY IT HAS BEEN ON THE INCREASE LATELY BECAUSE OF THE ADUS, UH, INCREASING.
BUT THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT, THAT SOMEONE JUST ASKS LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE VALVE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S REQUIRED.
SO BRANDON, THESE FEES ARE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
IT'S NOT ACROSS THE BOARD FEE THAT'S TACKED UNDER THEIR BILL IN CASE THEY NEED IT.
THE, THE, THE BASIS OF A FEE IN CHARGE ESSENTIALLY IS JUST FULL COST RECOVERY.
SO ANY KIND OF SPECIAL SERVICE THAT A CUSTOMER REQUIRES, WE JUST ESSENTIALLY ARE RECOUPING COSTS.
THE, THE IDEA IS ZERO PROFIT, AND IN SOME INSTANCES WE'RE ACTUALLY SUBSIDIZING THE CUSTOMERS TO SOME, TO SOME EXTENT.
SO, UM, THESE ARE JUST FEES FOR SERVICE OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR NATURAL GAS DELIVERY ON A MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANY, UM, OTHER QUESTIONS? I SEE NONE.
ANY, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, UM, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER THREE? MOTION TO APPROVE.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MCGUIRE.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SHANNON.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[4. 23-24730 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute an amendment exercising the first one-year renewal period with 1) Geiger with an increased contract amount of $75,000 for a new total amount not to exceed $150,000 and 2) Safeguard Business Systems in an amount not to exceed $60,000. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
AUTHORIZE A GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT, EXERCISING THE FIRST ONE YEAR RENEWAL PERIOD WITH GEIGER AND SAFEGUARD BUSINESS SYSTEMS. AND DAISE WILL GIVE US THAT TODAY.AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE ROTATION OF OUR NEW POSITIONS FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS.
UM, SO I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO YOU IN REGARDS TO ITEM FOUR ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS THE, UM, BOARD AUTHORIZATION.
SO ORIGINALLY IN OCTOBER 22, THE BOARD AUTHORIZED OUR GENERAL MANAGER, CHRIS, TO PURCHASE OUTREACH MAT OUT OUTREACH MATERIALS WITH TWO ONE-YEAR RENEWALS.
THOSE OUTREACH MATERIALS WERE TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS AND OUTREACH IN DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR COMMUNITIES ON THINGS LIKE WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND THEN HEALTHY SEWERS.
UM, THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO GET MESSAGING OUT FOR TO OUR RESIDENTS HERE IN LONG BEACH.
WITH THE 2022 MERGER, OF COURSE, WE HAD TO COME UP WITH A, THE BEST WAY TO ACTUALLY MERGE THE EFFORTS BEING MADE BY THE GAS SIDE, WHICH REQUIRED, WHICH WERE REQUIRED FOR COMPLIANCE, UH, THEIR PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS WITH THE EFFORTS THAT WE WERE ALREADY MAKING UNDER THE SPEAKERS BUREAU ON THE WATER AND GAS SIDES.
UM, SO WE NEEDED TO HAVE OUTREACH GOALS OF REGULATORY COMPLIANCE FOR GAS AND SAFETY WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, WHICH WOULD BE THINGS LIKE LA AND GARDEN AND DIG, AND THEN SEWER EDUCATION.
OF COURSE, OUR FOG CAMPAIGN, WHICH IS OUR BIGGEST SEWER CAMPAIGN, PREVENTING FATS, OILS AND GREASE, UM, CLOGS TO YOUR DRAINS.
SO WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO TODAY IS REQUESTING THE EXTENSION TO THE EXISTING CONTRACT AND AN INCREASE IN FUNDING TO THE GEIGER PORTION.
UM, WE HAVE HAD A LARGE INCREASE, NOT ONLY IN EVENTS, BUT PROMOTIONAL ITEMS NEEDED NOT ONLY TO SUPPORT OUR CET, OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM, BUT ALSO SO WE CAN SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF OUR WATER RESOURCE TEAM, WHICH INCLUDES SOME OF THEIR MATERIALS FOR SOME OF THEIR PROGRAMS, SOME OF OUR APPAREL WE PURCHASE HERE, AND OF COURSE, THE CO-BRANDING NEEDED FOR SOME OF OUR 8 1 1 DIG ITEMS. UM, AND THEN GEIGER IS THE PRIMARY PROVIDER OF THE MAJORITY OF THOSE MATERIALS.
SO FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM, WE ARE A TEAM OF OVER 75 EMPLOYEES HERE IN THE LONG BEACH UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.
WE GO ACROSS ALL BUREAUS, EVERYONE'S INCLUDED.
OUR MESSAGING INCLUDES AT ALL OF OUR EVENTS, WATER, GAS, AND SEWER MESSAGING.
AND WE ALSO DO DEMONSTRATIONS, WATER QUALITY DEMONSTRATIONS BY USE OF OUR 330 GALLON BRANDED WATER TRUCK QUENCH BUGGY, AND OUR BRANDED WATER COOLERS WHERE WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF TAKING AND LETTING THE COMMUNITY SAMPLE OUR DELICIOUS, SAFE AND RELIABLE LONG BEACH WATER.
AND WE ALSO DO GAS DEMONSTRATIONS.
WE TAKE OUT WATER METERS AND WE SHOW, UH, THE RESIDENTS HOW TO ACCESS WATER, UH, THE WATER IN THEIR WATER COOLERS, EXCUSE ME.
AND, UM, ALSO WE DO A DEMONSTRATION WHERE WE ACTUALLY SHOW THEM HOW TO TURN OFF THEIR GAS IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
SO WHAT WE WERE ASKING YOU TO DO
[00:25:01]
TODAY TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT, EXERCISING THE FIRST ONE YEAR RENEWAL PERIOD WITH GEIGER FOR AN INCREASED CONTRACT AMOUNT OF 75,000 FOR A NEW TOTAL AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED 150,000 AND SAFEGUARD BUSINESS SYSTEMS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 60,000.NOW, IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, OKAY, THANK YOU, DELI.
ANY, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR DELI? NO ONE.
I WAS, UM, IN EL PASO AT THE EL PASO WA UTIL WATER UTILITY UHHUH
I MEAN, YOU MIGHT WANNA LOOK INTO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
JUST BE, WHY ARE YOU GIVING ME THAT LOOK
I MAY HAVE TO PUT, UH, COMMISSIONER SCOTT ON YOU.
UM, BUT IT, I JUST THINK ANYTHING THAT GET IN THE HANDS OF KIDS IS SO IMPORTANT.
AND I KNOW PENCIL POUCHES ARE PROBABLY PASSE.
PEOPLE DON'T, THEY'RE, MAYBE YOU DON'T USE THEM, BUT IT'S KIND OF A NEAT THING TO HAVE IN FRONT OF KIDS, MAYBE WITH JUST, YOU KNOW, MESSAGE OR SOMETHING.
AND WE HAVE SOME NEAT THINGS CONSIDER COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE, UM, WITH OUR, UM, MASCOT DIG THE DOG ACTUALLY REPRESENTING OUR, UM, GAS SIDE OF THE FAMILY.
NOW WE'RE DOING SCRATCH AND SNIFF STICKERS.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE, THAT'D BE GREAT.
ANOTHER STICKER, UH, FEATURING DIG, WE'RE LOOKING INTO DIG PLUSHIES.
SO, UM, THERE'S GOING TO BE AN EXPANSION, WHICH IS WHY I NEED YOU GUYS TO GIMME MORE MONEY.
WELL, I THINK THAT'S A FAIR ASK BECAUSE, UM, I, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HERE WILL DISAGREE WITH THAT, THAT WHEN YOU GO OUT AND YOU SEE OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM, UM, THEY ARE THE FACE OF, OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
AND I KNOW IT HASN'T COME WITHOUT A COST.
I, WE KNOW THAT, AND I THINK CHRIS REMINDED US OF THAT, THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT DOING SPONSORSHIPS, WHICH I THINK, I THINK EVERYBODY HERE FEELS PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'VE CHANGED THAT.
UM, NOT THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE WERE SITTING AT THE TABLES FOR OR AT, WERE NOT WORTHY OF, YOU KNOW, DOLLARS.
BUT THIS JUST GOES SO MUCH FURTHER AND I THINK IT JUST REALLY REPRESENTS WHAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE DOING, YOU'RE DOING AND ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
SO YOU, 75 PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR I, I JUST, YES.
IS THIS, IS THIS PROGRAM, UH, IN TERMS OF THE SCHOOL SCHOOLS K THROUGH 12 OR WHAT, WHERE DOES IT START? AND SO, SO ACTUALLY, UM, THE PRIMARY PART OF WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM, UM, ACTUALLY WE'RE THE ONES THAT ARE AT THE COMMUNITY EVENTS.
SO OUR TEAM OF 75 PLUS 75, UM, GO OUT INTO COMMUNITY EVENTS, ANYTHING FROM CITY SPONSORED EVENTS TO BENEFIT FAIRS TO JOB FAIRS, BUT THERE'S ALSO THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON TO DEVELOP MORE OF AN EDUCATIONAL ARM OF IT, WHERE WE'LL ACTUALLY HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE TREATMENT PLANT GO OUT AND SPEAK DIRECTLY TO SCHOOLS, OR WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE, UM, FROM ENGINEERING GO OUT AND SPEAK AT LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN EDUCATION PROGRAM WHERE WE'RE WORKING WITH OUT OUTSIDE VENDORS THAT GO INTO SCHOOLS AND ACTUALLY HAVE SKITS AND PROGRAMS THAT THEY'RE TEACHING THE SCHOOLS.
BECAUSE I WAS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR A LONG TIME, PEOPLE ARE CALLING ABOUT CAREER SPEAKERS IF THEY WANTED THAT.
DO, CAN THEY GET THAT SERVICE? ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO FOCUS ON NOW.
WE'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF BEING ABLE FOR THE LAST COUPLE, I BELIEVE, UH, CAL STATE LONG BEACH.
WE ACTUALLY SENT, UM, KENNY CHOW FROM OUR TREATMENT PLANT OUT TO SERVE ON A PANEL.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAD THE PLEASURE OF HAVING, UM, DEAN AND KEVIN, UH, AS WELL AS PAULA AND HEATHER GO OUT AND SPEAK AT A RECENT JOB FAIR THAT WE HAD AT MILLIGAN.
SO THOSE ARE WHAT I WAS SPEAKING TO IN REGARDS TO THOSE ADDITIONAL ARMS AND EXTENSIONS THAT WE HAVE UNDERNEATH THIS, UM, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM UMBRELLA.
I'M GONNA GET YOU LOTS OF CALLS.
EVERYBODY THAT CALLS ME AND WE TELL, AND I'M GONNA MAKE SURE THAT I TAKE CARE OF THEM FOR YOU,
UM, OKAY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, ANY, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, DELISE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK TOO.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER FOUR? WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAINEY, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SHANNON.
UH, SEE NO FURTHER COMMENTS, NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[5. 23-24731 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to develop a long-term occupational safety program that meets the standards of California Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Voluntary Protection Program. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
UH, THIS IS GONNA BRING BRIAN UP.BRIAN LAMB UP, AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO DEVELOP A LONG-TERM OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY PROGRAM.
I'M THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY MANAGER FOR LONG BEACH UTILITIES.
[00:30:01]
UH, I HAVE 23 YEARS OF SAFETY EXPERIENCE.I STARTED OUT AS A SAFETY CONSULTANT, WORKING EARNING SAFETY EXPERIENCE WITH CLIENTS SUCH AS BOEING, SPACEX, ANHEUSER-BUSCH, DISNEY.
UM, UH, I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.
UM, I THEN MOVED ON TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, UH, STARTING WITH THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT FOR SIX YEARS, ENERGY RESOURCES FOR THREE YEARS.
AND THEN I SPENT THE LAST YEAR HERE WITH LONG BEACH UTILITIES.
THIS ITEM IS REGARDING CAL OSHA'S SAFETY VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAM.
BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, UH, LET ME PROVIDE YOU A BRIEF HISTORY OF HOW OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY GOT STARTED.
AND ONE OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT WAS TO ALLOW STATES, UH, TO CREATE THEIR OWN REGULATORY SAFETY AGENCY.
AND FOLLOWING A SERIES OF WORKPLACE INCIDENTS, SPECIFICALLY THE SYLMAR TUNNEL DISASTER, RESULTING IN 17 FATALITIES, AND THE ARROYO SECO BRIDGE COLLAPSED, RESULTING IN SIX FATALITIES.
IN 1973, CALIFORNIA ESTABLISHED THEIR OWN OSHA AGENCY, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS CAL OSHA.
CAL OSHA SETS THE MINIMUM STANDARD BY WHICH ALL CALIFORNIA EMPLOYERS MUST ABIDE BY AND FOLLOWING CALSUS RULES AND REGULATIONS ALLOWS US TO USE THE RECORDABLE INCIDENT RATE AS A MEASURE OF A WORKPLACE SAFETY PROGRAM.
THE RECORDABLE INCIDENT RATE INDICATES THE NUMBER OF SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND ILLNESSES PER 100 EMPLOYEES FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, UM, INDICATED BY THE BLUE LINE LONG BEACH WATER IS IN AND AROUND WHERE THE INDUSTRY STANDARD IS.
SIMILARLY, UH, LONG BEACH GAS ALSO SHOWN IN BLUE FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS HAS BEEN IN AND AROUND THE INDUSTRY STANDARD.
HOWEVER, THERE IS A PROGRAM THAT HAS STATISTICALLY PROVEN THAT HAS BEEN STATISTICALLY PROVEN TO LOWER INJURY RATES.
IN 1979, CAL OSHA INITIATED AN EXPERIMENTAL SAFETY PROGRAM TO DETERMINE WHETHER TAKING A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO SAFETY, IMPROVED SAFETY PERFORMANCE.
THAT PROGRAM IS WHAT IS NOW COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAM OR VPP FOR SHORT.
UH, VVP HAS BECOME A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SAFETY PROGRAM THAT GOES BEYOND OSHA'S STANDARDS.
LESS THAN 0.5% OF ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE EMPLOYERS IN CALIFORNIA HAVE EARNED A DISTINCTION OF BEING A VPP WORKPLACE AND EARNING THE DESIGNATION MERITS SIGNIFICANT DISTINCTION IN THE INDUSTRY.
CURRENTLY, THE EASTERN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT AND SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC ARE THE ONLY GAS OR WATER UTILITY WITH THE DESIGNATION.
OTHER AGENCIES SUCH AS IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT ARE WORKING TOWARDS EARNING THE DESIGNATION.
STATISTICALLY, VPP HAS PROVEN TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE INJURIES ACROSS ALL INDUSTRIES IN COMPARE IN COMPARING THE RECORDABLE INCIDENT RATES OF VPP SITES VERSUS NON VPP SITES OF THE BOARD.
IN ALL INDUSTRIES, THERE'S BEEN A DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN INDUSTRIES, INDUSTRIES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO HERE, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION AND SOME FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION.
REDUCING INJURY RATES NATURALLY LEADS TO OTHER BENEFITS LIKE IMPROVEMENT IN EMPLOYEE MORALE, INCREASED MOTIVATION TO WORK SAFELY, AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN THE SAFETY CULTURE AND PRACTICES.
IN ADDITION, VTP SITES EXHIBIT INDIRECT BENEFITS COMMONLY UNNOTICED, INCLUDING INCREASES IN WORK EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY, DECREASES IN LOSS WORK TIME, AND TRAINING COSTS, AND LOWER COMPENSATION RATES AND OTHER INSURANCE COSTS.
FURTHERMORE, JOINING DPP OPENS THE WORK SITE TO THE LEADING EXPERTS, SAFETY EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD, AND SOME EXEMPTIONS FROM CAL OSHA OVERSIGHT.
IN CONCLUSION, WE ASK THE BOARD TO REQUEST A GENERAL MANAGER DEVELOP A LONG-TERM OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY PROGRAM THAT MEETS THE STANDARDS OF CAL OSHA'S VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAM.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND I'M OPEN TO FIELD ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR THAT.
SUCH A IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT PART OF OUR, OUR DEPARTMENT.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS,
[00:35:02]
JESS? SO, I, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT, AGAIN, A ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THE MERGER.SO ON THE GAS SIDE, UH, BRIAN WAS WORKING OVER THERE UNDER ENERGY RESOURCES DEDICATED TO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY.
WE DID NOT HAVE ANYONE ON THE WATER SIDE DEDICATED SOLELY TO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, UM, A FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL.
AND SO WE REALLY WELCOMED, UH, BRIAN AND HIS TEAM TO, TO, UH, CONVEY THIS SAFETY MESSAGE TO THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S, IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR A DEPARTMENT LIKE OURS WHERE WE HAVE FIELD OPERATIONS, AND NOW WE'VE, I, UH, INHERITED, UH, THE GAS SIDE WITH THE, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, I ALWAYS SAY ON THE WATER SIDE, IT DRIPS, UH, GAS CAN EXPLODE.
AND SO, UH, UH, SAFETY IS, YOU KNOW, PARAMOUNT IN OUR, OUR MINDS.
UH, EXACTLY WHAT WILL WE BE DOING? WELL WITH OUR CURRENT STAFFING LEVEL, THERE'S A SERIES OF STEPS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE IN ORDER TO PROCURE THE VPP DESIGNATION.
UH, THESE INCLUDE, UH, DEVELOPING OUR WRITTEN SAFETY PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THAT THEY MEET OUR OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND CAL OSHA STANDARDS, UH, TO CONDUCT FIELD, UH, AND FACILITY AUDITS TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY ALL THE SAFETY HAZARDS AND ACCOUNT FOR THEM.
UH, DEVELOP STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS TO ENSURE THAT WE DO UNDERSTAND WHERE ALL OUR WORKERS' EXPOSURES ARE AND TO MITIGATE THEM, AND ALSO TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE DIALOGUE BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES SO THAT THEY CAN CONVEY SAFETY CONCERNS AND HELP CONTROL AND FIX THEM AS THEY COME UP AND NOT LET IT LINGER FOR A LONG TIME.
WELL, THIS, THIS POSITS A, A VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAM, WHICH PRESUMES THAT THERE IS A, THERE'S A LESSER STANDARD THAT OSHA USES, UH, TO APPLY TO EMPLOYEES.
IS THAT TRUE OR IS THERE JUST NOTHING OUT THERE EXCEPT WHEN SOMEBODY GETS INJURED, OSHA COMES, COMES OVER AND SECOND GUESSES YOU? THE STANDARD METHOD IS TO SIMPLY FOLLOW CAL OSHA'S STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS THAT THEY SET FORTH, WHICH IS IN THE INDUSTRY, TENDS TO BE A LAGGING METHOD WHERE YOU WAIT FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN BEFORE YOU REACT.
BUT VPP STANDARD IS FOR US TO GO FORTH AND PUT FORTH THE EFFORT TO STUDY AND INVESTIGATE EVERY EXPOSURE THAT OUR WORKFORCE MAY BE EXPOSED TO, AND TO MITIGATE THAT IN ADVANCE TO HELP PROTECT THEM AND ENSURE THAT WE DON'T INCUR INJURIES.
AND THAT'S WHY IN THE CHART, YOU SEE VPP SITES TEND TO HAVE A DRAMATICALLY REDUCED LEVEL OF INJURIES THAN NON VP SITES.
IT'S A AGGRESSIVE APPROACH AND YOU EXPECT IT TO BE COST EFFECTIVE.
AND I, I WAS AT, I WAS AT A MEETING THIS MORNING OVER ON GAS CONSTRUCTION SITE, AND IT WAS GREAT DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE WORKERS IN THE FIELD AND THE MANAGEMENT TEAM ON SAFETY CONCERNS, UH, TALKING ABOUT WORK BOOTS.
UM, THEY TALK ABOUT, UH, UH, SPECIAL GLOVES FOR DEALING WITH ELECTRICAL CHARGES, UM, SPECIAL EQUIPMENT, UH, REPAIRS OF EQUIPMENT, UH, DIFFERENT TYPES OF EQUIPMENT.
SO SAFETY IS AN ISSUE, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T REALLY COME TO OUR LEVEL TOO OFTEN, BUT, UH, IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR THE DIALOGUE THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE EMPLOYEES CONVEY WHAT EQUIPMENT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR TO HELP THEM DO THEIR JOB SAFER.
ANY OTHER, YES, COMMISSIONERS.
SO I APPRECIATE THE, UH, WORKERS IN THE FIELD ARE, ARE INTERESTED IN SAFETY.
ARE WE ALSO ENGAGING WITH LABOR LEADERS, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THEY'RE ON THE SAME PAGE AND, AND FOLLOWING ALONG WITH THE VOLUNTARY PROGRAM? YES.
PART OF CONFORMING WITH VPP IS ENGAGING WITH LABOR MANAGEMENT AS WELL.
SO THE UNIONS WILL HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED THAT WE ARE MAKING THE EFFORT AND IF WE ARE TO PURSUE THIS PATH, AND THEY'RE, THEY WILL BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED AS WELL.
AND AS A FOLLOW UP, HOW DO WE THEN, UM, GET TO WHERE EASTERN DID, ARE YOU WORKING WITH THEM AT ALL? HAVE YOU TALKED TO THEM? HAVE YOU OBSERVED HOW THEY, UM, THEY TEND TO KEEP THINGS CLOSER TO THE VEST? DO THEY, THEY'RE VERY PROUD OF THE DESIGNATION AS ANY VPP SITE DOES, BUT KYLE, OSHA DOES LAY OUT A GAME PLAN FOR SITES WHO DO WANT TO PURSUE THIS DESIGNATION.
AND SO WE DO RECOGNIZE THE STEPS THAT IT TAKES, AND WE WILL WORK WITH EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS AND IN-HOUSE STAFF TO GO AHEAD AND PURSUE IT SHOULD BE PERMITTED.
I, I WOULD, I WOULD THINK THAT ONCE WE ACHIEVE THAT AND WE GET THAT DESIGNATION, ALSO, WE'D BE HAPPY TO OPEN IT UP AND SHARE BEST PRACTICES BECAUSE I, I WOULD THINK THAT EVERYBODY WOULD WANT THE INDUSTRY TO STAY SAFE, AND YOU WOULD WANNA OPEN IT UP AND, AND HELP HOPEFULLY YOUR, ANOTHER DISTRICT, ANOTHER AGENCY WOULD BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, LEARN FROM WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
SO, UM, I, I DON'T THINK WE CAN OVER OVERSTATE HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.
UM, AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE THERE NOW, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY, AND, AND NOT JUST TO GET A DESIGNATION, BUT TO REALLY SHOW OUR EMPLOYEES THAT, THAT THAT REALLY IS WHAT MATTERS IS THEIR SAFETY COMES FIRST, FIRST AND FOREMOST.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT GOOD WORK.
[00:40:01]
GLAD YOU'RE PURSUING THAT.UM, I THINK I SPEAK FOR THE BOARD WHEN WE SAY ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU IN ANY WAY, UM, PLEASE, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
UM, BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO US.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES, COMMISSIONER SHANNON.
ARE ANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS, UH, ENGAGING IN THE PROGRAM OF THIS NATURE OR SIMILAR TO THIS, UH, DEPARTS WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IN THE CITY? YES.
WHY IS THAT? UM, WELL, WITH THE MERGER, IT PRESENTS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US WITH THE DIFFERENT CULTURES THAT WE HAVE AND OUR EXPOSURES, YOU KNOW, ALL IN THIS PROCESS, WE ARE ABLE TO UNIFY UNDER THE FLAG OF TRYING TO ACHIEVE THIS DISTINCT DESIGNATION.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS I CAN'T SPEAK FOR, BUT THIS PRESENTS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US AND TO BLEND OUR CULTURES TOGETHER, RIGHT, AS A SINGLE ENTITY AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
AND ONE ADVANTAGE WE HAVE, AND COMMISSIONER SCOTT BRINGS IT UP, IS, UH, NOW REPRESENTING OUR FIELD EMPLOYEES IS IBEW AND THEY'RE VERY MUCH UTILITY FOCUSED AND VERY MUCH SAFETY ORIENTED.
AND SO THAT, THAT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
WE, WE WILL REACH OUT TO IBW AND WORK WITH THEM ON THIS.
AND I HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH IBEW.
UM, DICK, I'VE TALKED TO HIM A NUMBER OF TIMES, AND HE IS A PROPONENT, HE ACTUALLY SITS ON THE KALOSHA BOARD OF STANDARDS, STANDARDS BOARDS, AND HE HELPS, UH, CREATES SOME OF THESE STANDARDS THAT WE WILL BE ADDRESSING FOR SURE.
SO THE RELATIONSHIP I HAVE WITH DICK HAS ALWAYS BEEN POSITIVE.
AND ANYTHING THAT I'VE EVER DONE, UM, WHETHER IT'S HERE, LONG BEACH HARBOR DEPARTMENT, ENERGY RESOURCES, YOU KNOW, HE'S ALWAYS BEEN ON BOARD WITH TAKING THE MORE PROACTIVE APPROACH.
SO BRIAN, THE, THE, THE VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAM, UM, YOU MENTIONED FOUR THINGS, UM, WRITTEN SAFETY PROCEDURES OR FIELD AUDITS, HAZARDOUS ANALYSIS, AND THEN DIALOGUE.
UM, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ROLL THAT OUT? DO YOU, DO YOU GET A, UH, LIKE YOU GET EMPLOYEES AT THE SMALL GROUP? DO YOU HAVE A COMMITTEE? DO YOU, OR YOU JUST DOING IT ON YOUR OWN? NO, IT INVOLVES, AND THIS IS WHY IT HELPS UNIFY THE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE IT REQUIRES ACTIVITY FROM ALL LEVELS OF EMPLOYEES, ALL THE WAY FROM THE LOWEST TIER EMPLOYEE UP TO THE MANAGEMENT LEVEL.
THERE HAS TO BE THAT DIALOGUE, THERE HAS TO BE THE EFFORT AND THE WORK PUT IN AT ALL LEVELS.
AND SO ONCE A DEPARTMENT'S COMMITTED AND EVERYONE'S FOCUSED, YES, IT'S, IT'S, I MAY BE PROVIDING THE BLUEPRINT, BUT THE WORK IN AND OF ITSELF WILL HAVE TO BECOME FROM EVERYONE DOWN THE LINE.
DO WE EVER DO ANYTHING WHERE WE HAVE A MILESTONE? LIKE SAY WE'VE GONE FOR SIX MONTHS WITHOUT A, A CHRIS, AND THEN WE HAVE A PARTY OR SOMETHING.
DO WE DO THAT OR DO THE CITY USED TO DO A LOT OF THAT, UM, AND THEY'VE SORT OF STEERED AWAY FROM IT RECENTLY.
UH, THEY USED TO GIVE OUT AWARDS FOR THAT.
UH, THERE WAS ACTUALLY THE LARRY LARSSON, THE FORMER GENERAL MANAGER AT WATER, UH, AWARD.
I DUNNO, THE CITY STILL DOES THAT.
UM, I WAS ALWAYS WAS MAD BECAUSE PARKS AND REC WOULD WIN IT.
AND, UH,
UH, SO, UM, BUT I I I DO THEY STILL DO THE LARRY LARSSON AWARD? I DON'T RECALL.
I DON'T THINK, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY DO.
EVEN JUST INTERNALLY, I'M JUST SAYING ANYWAY, EVEN, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING.
ANYWAY, THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT TOO, AS WE, WE DO RECOGNIZE EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR EFFORTS, FOR SURE.
WE DO, I MEAN, WE, I HOLD MEETINGS WITH THE FIELD EMPLOYEES ON A REGULAR BASIS, MONTHLY BASIS LIKE CHRIS ATTENDED THIS MORNING.
THEY ADDRESS ANY SAFETY CONCERNS, BUT WHENEVER THERE'S A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT, GREAT EFFORT ON THEIR PART, WE TALKED ABOUT THE WAY THEY'VE ACTED OUT IN THE FIELD AND THE WAY THEY REALLY ARE MINDFUL OF SAFETY.
AND IF IT'S DESERVING OF REWARD, WE DO, WE DO GO OUT AND MAKE AN EFFORT TO REWARD THEM AND BRING ATTENTION TO THEIR EFFORTS.
I THINK THAT'S, UH, GREAT WORK.
COMMISSIONER RAINEY, THIS IS FOR COMMISSIONER RAINEY, THIS IS FOR CHRIS.
DOES OUR, UM, CITY HAVE LIKE BEST PRACTICES WHERE, UM, DEPARTMENTS SHARE, BECAUSE SEEMS LIKE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, OTHER, UH, HOUSING, UM, DEPARTMENTS, SEEMS LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, AND, AND MAYBE IT IS, AND YOU CAN, UM, SHARE IF IT IS THAT, UM, SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S THROUGHOUT THE CITY, NOT JUST OUR DEPARTMENT.
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT IT? IT, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT, UH, PRESIDENT CORDERA WAS TALKING ABOUT.
IF, IF WE GO THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AND ASSUMING THAT WE'RE SUCCESSFUL, NOT ONLY WOULD WE BE OPEN AND SHARING IT TO OTHER UTILITIES, BUT YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE CITY ITSELF, UH, NATURAL, UH, UH, DEPARTMENTS THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY LOOK AT WOULD BE LIKE HARBOR, UM, PUBLIC WORKS, DEFINITELY ONES THAT HAVE FIELD OPERATIONS SIMILAR TO OURS.
I I THINK WE'D BE VERY OPEN TO SHARING THAT.
[00:45:01]
LIKE, WHEN YOU GUYS MEET AS DEPARTMENT HEADS, IS THIS SOMETHING YOU'RE GOING TO SHARE THAT WE ARE DOING THAT MAYBE THEY COULD THINK ABOUT? BECAUSE SEEMS LIKE IT'S ALL OKAY.IS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE THROUGHOUT IT WOULD, UM, SAVE US MONEY, UM, PROTECT STAFF AS WELL AS OUR CITY? YES.
SO SAFETY PROFESSIONALS WITHIN THE CITY ALL KNOW EACH OTHER, AND WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP.
SO WE DO SHARE ALL THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE DO WITHIN OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS.
AND SO ANY PROGRAM THAT I DRAFT, THEY GET A COPY OF, THEY CAN REVIEW IT AND SEE HOW IT APPLIES TO THEM.
ANY STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, ANY JHAS, WHATEVER APPLIES TO US.
IF THEY LIKE IT, THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND ADAPT IT AND VICE VERSA.
THEY PROVIDE ME INFORMATION AS WELL.
WE TRY TO KEEP EACH OTHER UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE REGULATORY INFORMATION.
UM, SO WE DO SUPPORT EACH OTHER A LOT.
I MEAN, RELATIVELY SMALL UNIT WITHIN THE ENTIRE CITY OF OVER 5,000 EMPLOYEES.
AND SO WE DO HAVE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND WE DO.
BRIAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN.
DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, UH, FURTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER FIVE? DO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SHANNON? DO WE HAVE A SECOND COMMISSIONER? UH, COMMISSIONER SCOTT SECOND.
UM, NO PUBLIC COMMENT, NO FURTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENT.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[6. 23-24733 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council and applicable Craft Councils and Local Unions, for covered projects over $1,000,000 in the public right-of-way and $750,000 outside of the public right-of-way through May 5, 2031; and authorize the General Manager to execute any subsequent amendments to the PLA that are recommended by a majority vote of the Joint Administrative Committee, that do not change the coverage thresholds or the term of the PLA. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
NUMBER SIX, AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT.CHRIS, CAN YOU SAY YOUR LAST NAME? UH, YES.
I GO BY CHRIS P, IT WORKS JUST FINE.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WERE GIVING THEM AN OPTION.
SO IT'S COMMONLY MISPRONOUNCED BECAUSE OF ZARE AND ELLO
SO THOSE TWO NAMES, UM, ARE KNOWN IN THE LEXICON, AND SO PEOPLE GRAVITATE TO THE ORELLI AND THEIR ALO, BUT SORRY, I DIGRESS.
SO IF WE CALL YOU ELLI, YOU'LL BE OKAY WITH THAT? YES.
UH, SO GOOD MORNING PRESIDENT CORDERO AND UTILITY COMMISSIONERS.
ITEM NUMBER SIX BEFORE YOU IS TO AUTHORIZE THE JOURNAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT, A PLA WITH THE LA AND ORANGE COUNTY BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TRADES AND APPLICABLE CRAFT COUNCILS, LOCAL UNIONS FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE COVERED THAT ARE OVER $1 MILLION IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, THAT OVER $750,000 OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY THROUGH MAY 5TH, 2031.
SO I'LL START WITH A LITTLE BACKGROUND.
UH, THIS IS FOR, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE COMMISSIONERS THAT WERE NOT ON THE COMMISSION AS OF 2018.
UH, SO IN 2018, THE BOARD OF UTILITY COMMISSIONERS, UM, AUTHORIZED THE EXECUTION OF A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT WITH A FIVE-YEAR TERM.
UH, THE QUAL ALL QUALIFYING PROJECTS ARE REQUIRED TO USE UNION LABOR FOR ALL CRAFTS ON THESE PROJECTS.
UH, THE PLA INCLUDES LOCAL HIRE GOALS, SIMILAR TO THE CITY'S PLA.
UH, THE GOAL IS 40% LOCAL HIRE FROM TIERS ONE THROUGH THREE.
TIER ONE INCLUDES RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH.
TIER TWO INCLUDES THE GATEWAY CITIES SURROUNDING US.
THAT INCLUDES CITIES SUCH AS EAST LOS ANGELES, COMPTON, LINWOOD, PICO RIVERA, AND MANY OTHERS.
TIER THREE INCLUDES ALL OF LOS ANGELES AND ORANGE COUNTIES.
THE TYPE OF PROJECTS THAT ARE INCLUDED, UM, IN THE, UH, FIRST PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT WERE WATER PIPELINE PROJECTS, NEW SEWER PIPELINE PROJECTS, THINGS LIKE THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING HERE, WHEN WE PUT THE NEW ROOF ON, UH, THE AUTOMATED METER REED PROJECT, AND THE NEW TREATMENT PLAN, HVAC PROJECT THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
SO SOME, UH, KEY TERMS FOR THE PROPOSED, UH, REVISION TO THE PLA, UH, THE TERM AND THE, UH, UNION RECOGNITION WILL BE THE SAME AS THE CITY'S CURRENT PLA.
UM, HENCE WHY WE PICKED THE DATE IN MAY OF 2031, SO THAT IT MATCHES EXACTLY TO THE EXPIRATION.
UH, THE PLA WILL COVER PROJECTS OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
SO THAT'S WITHIN OUR STREETS FROM SIDEWALK TO SIDEWALK, WHERE WE DO MOST OF OUR WORK AND $750,000 OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
SO THAT WOULD BE PROJECTS LIKE ON THIS BUILDING OR ON ANY OF OUR CAMPUSES OR ANY OF OUR, UM, WATER DEPARTMENT OWNED PROPERTIES.
UM, ALSO, UH, WE ARE MERGING AND NOW THAT WE'RE ONE UTILITY, WE WILL BE INCLUDING
[00:50:01]
GAS PROJECTS, UM, THAT WERE ORIGINALLY CONSIDERED UNDER THE CITY'S PLA, BUT WE'RE BRINGING THEM UNDER TO THIS PLA.UM, AND SO WE'LL HAVE JUST ONE UTILITY, PLA, SIMILAR TO THE EXISTING PLA.
UM, THERE WILL BE CERTAIN PROJECTS THAT WILL BE EXCLUDED, UH, INCLUDING SEWER LINING PROJECTS, BRIDGE CROSSING PROJECTS, TANK REHABILITATION PROJECTS, GAS DISTRIBUTION PROJECTS, AND WELL PROJECTS.
UM, IN THE PAST, THIS HAS REPRESENTED ABOUT 50% OF OUR WORK, SO ABOUT 50% OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE PUT OUT HAS BEEN COVERED BY THE PLA.
UM, IN CONCLUSION IS STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THE APPROVAL FOR THE AUTHOR OR TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT WITH THE LOS ANGELES AND ORANGE COUNTY BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES AND APPLICABLE TR UM, UNIONS FOR COVERED PROJECTS, OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, $750,000 OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, UH, WITH A TERM EXTENDING THROUGH MAY 5TH, 2031.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CHRIS, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER SHANNON? YES.
I'M JUST CURIOUS AS WHY, UH, WHY EXCLUDING, UH, WHY DO WE HAVE THE EXCLUSION? SO THERE ARE, UM, A FEW DIFFERENT REASONS FOR EACH ONE.
SO WITH THE SEWER LINING, UM, THE EXCLUSIONS ARE BECAUSE IT'S TYPICALLY DONE BY A PROPRIETARY, UM, MANUFACTURER.
SO SAN CON IS ONE OF THEM THAT BOTH MANUFACTURES THE LINER AND DOES THE INSTALLATION.
AND IT WOULD LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO, UM, GET ON OUR BIDS.
SO WE HAVE HAD CHALLENGES IN THE PAST WITH DRILLING WELLS AND GETTING NUMEROUS BIDDERS BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY WELL DRILLERS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND THE MUNICIPALITY IS THEIR LOWEST HANGING FRUIT.
IT'S THE ONE THEY, I'M SORRY, IT'S THE HIGHEST HANGING FRUIT.
IT'S THE ONE THEY DON'T WANT TO DO BECAUSE WE HAVE SPECIFICATIONS.
WHEREAS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY, IF A FARMER WANTS A NEW WELL, HE SAYS, GO DRILL ME A WELL, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW RULES OR SPECIFICATIONS, JUST GET ME A WELL, WELL, WE MAKE 'EM ACTUALLY PROVIDE WHAT WE, WHAT WE PUT IN THE BID.
SO WE'RE KIND OF THE LAST ONE THEY WANT TO BID.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT ON THOSE TYPE OF PROJECTS.
BUT PROJECTS THAT ARE THE REGULAR PROJECTS THAT WE DO, THE BUILDING ROOF, NEW HVAC SYSTEMS, PUTTING NEW, UH, WATER PIPELINES IN THE STREET, THOSE ARE PROJECTS THAT, UH, WE HAVE AMPLE COMPETITION AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, BRING THIS FORWARD AT, AT THE DESIRE OF THE THANK YOU.
ANY FURTHER COMMENT? YES, COMMISSIONER SCOTT? WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS, UH, ALIGNING US WITH THE, WITH THE CITY.
UM, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT, THAT, UH, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT, UH, CHANGE TO THE PLA THAT WE, THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
IT'S A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION, UH, IN THE, IN THE PROJECT.
UH, THE EXISTING PROJECT LIMITS? UH, NO.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S IN, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE EXISTING PROJECT LIMITS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR EXISTING PLA.
DID I, SO OUR EXISTING ONE WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS OVER 500,000.
UH, SO NOW WE'RE UPPING THAT TO SEVEN 50 AND A MILLION.
SO OUR ORIGINAL PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT THAT WENT IN, IN 2018, SORRY IF I'M, UM, HAD A LIMIT OF 500,000 FOR ALL OF OUR PROJECTS.
IT WASN'T, IT DIDN'T SPLIT IT UP.
THE CITY STARTED THEIR PLA IN 2016 AND HAD THAT $500,000 LIMIT.
WHEN THEY MODIFIED THEIR PLA IN 2021, THEY CHANGED THE LIMITS TO THIS 1,000,700 50,000.
MOST OF OUR PROJECTS, UM, ARE WELL OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND THIS THRESHOLD DIFFERENCE, UM, WE DON'T SEE MANY PROJECTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY IT, BUT WE WANTED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE CITY IS DOING AND NOT HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
'CAUSE IT, IT CAUSES CONFUSION WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT, AT OURS AND THEIRS.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY.
UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? CASEY? NONE.
UH, CHRIS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, GOING BACK TO SOMETHING THAT BRIAN SAID AT OUR LAST, OUR LAST ITEM, UM, HOW HE'S WORKING WITH, AND, AND I KNOW A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS DO WITH UNION AND LABOR.
UM, I THINK THIS, IT'S, IT'S REALLY SIGNIFICANT, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CITY, HOW, HOW MUCH WE WORK AND HOW WELL WE WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS IN LABOR.
SO I, I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THIS.
UM, I KNOW METROPOLITAN HAS A THRESHOLD THAT'S A LITTLE HIGHER LIKE THAT TOO.
SO THAT WAS A GOOD QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED.
UM, BUT ANYWAY, I THINK, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD THING AND I, I OBVIOUSLY PLAN TO SUPPORT THIS.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, PUBLIC COMMENTS, OR ANY COMMENTS? NO.
SEEING NONE, NO COMMISSIONER COMMENTS?
[00:55:01]
ALL RIGHT.UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE? WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MCGUIRE.
AND WE HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SHANNON.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[7. 23-24734 Recommendation to adopt Resolution UT-1498 setting the time and place for the Board of Utilities Commissioners regularly-scheduled meetings. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
ITEM IS A SIMPLE ONE.ADOPT A RESOLUTION, SETTING THE TIME AND THE PLACE FOR THE BOARD OF UTILITIES COMMISSIONERS.
UM, BASICALLY THIS IS, UM, GOING TO BE NOW GOING BACK TO ESTABLISHING OUR, UH, OUR MEETINGS ON THE FIRST AND THE THIRD, LISA, CORRECT.
UM, IT, IT JUST, IT JUST SEEMS THAT, UM, IT'S A LITTLE EASIER WHEN YOU'RE PLANNING YOUR WHOLE YEAR OUT, UH, TO KNOW SPECIFICALLY FOR US AND ALSO FOR EVERYONE ELSE THAT'S INVOLVED.
WE'LL TAKE YOU TO BREAKFAST OR SOMETHING AND THEN YEAH.
UM, YOU ALWAYS PROMISES, YEAH,
BUT I THINK, I THINK IT JUST MAKES SENSE.
AND I DOES ANY ANYBODY WANNA COMMENT ON THAT? I THINK IT JUST SEEMS TO, OTHER THAN THAT COMMENT THERE.
I THINK IT'S JUST EASIER FOR ALL OF US AND, AND FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S SCHEDULING THIS.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THAT? I THINK IT'S ALSO GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC TOO.
YOU KNOW, THEY'LL KNOW THAT IT'S A FIRST AND THE THIRD.
SEEING NO PUBLIC COMMENTS, UH, NO FURTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMM, SECOND.
COMMISSIONER SCOTT, AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SHANNON.
OH, UH, VICE PRESIDENT RAINEY.
[CONSIDER STANDING COMMITTEE REFERRALS]
RIGHT.ANY STANDING COMMITTEE REFERRALS? SEEING NONE.
PARDON? DO WE HAVE ANY COMMITTEES? WELL, I THINK NEXT WEEK.
I THINK WE'LL, WE'LL DEAL WITH THAT NEXT WEEK WHEN COMMISSIONER RAINEY TAKES OVER.
[NEW BUSINESS]
BUSINESS? THE ONLY THING I JUST, YES, GO AHEAD.I JUST HAVE ONE THING TO SAY AND IT'S DIRECTED PRIMARILY TO TY, UH, GO BRUINS, UH, ALL RIGHT.
YOU PUT YOURSELF IN THE FRONT ROW JUST FOR THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, MAKE NOTE THAT WE DO HAVE, UH, LISA'S ASKED US TO REPLY ON THE URBAN WATER INSTITUTE FEBRUARY CONFERENCE.
UM, THAT'S THE ONE THAT'S DOWN IN PALM SPRINGS.
UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S SMALL, BUT IT'S A GOOD ONE.
IT YOU REALLY GET TO MEET, ESPECIALLY FOR THE NEW PEOPLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND, UM, IT IS A GOOD ONE.
SO IF YOU CAN MAKE IT DOWN THERE, UM, PLEASE LET LISA KNOW ON THAT ONE.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, I WILL BE ATTENDING THE COLORADO RIVER USERS WATER ASSOCIATION DECEMBER 13TH THROUGH THE 15TH, I BELIEVE.
I'M GONNA BE GOING ON METROPOLITAN.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HERE WOULD WANNA ATTEND, BUT, UM, IF YOU WANNA KNOW MORE ABOUT THE COLORADO RIVER ALLOCATIONS AND ALL THE NEGOTIATIONS, THAT'S A GOOD ONE TO ATTEND.
HAVING SAID THAT, UH, NO FURTHER NEW BUSINESS.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR REPORTS.
[ADJOURNMENT]
UH, GOOD MEETING.AND THIS ADJOURNS OUR MEETING.