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TO ORDER.[ROLL CALL]
LISA, PRESIDENT RAINEY.[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
MALIA MICHAELSON.EVERYONE COULD PLEASE PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
UNTO GOD, INDIVIDUAL INDIVISIBLE.
[ANNOUNCEMENTS]
UM, WE ARE GONNA FIRST CALL ON GLORIA, WOULD ITGLORIA, UH, CHRIS, ARE WE DOING YOU WANNA DO THE INTRODUCTION THIS POINT? SHOULD WE GO AHEAD? YES, GO AHEAD.
I ACTUALLY HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF, UH, INTRODUCING OUR GUESTS THIS MORNING.
UM, I HAVE ALSO THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH THEM VERY CLOSELY, UM, FOR I THINK ALMOST THE LAST SIX YEARS.
SO, UH, VERY HAPPY THAT THEY'RE HERE.
I THINK, UH, ADELE, I THINK YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.
I THINK ADELE HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE, AND I KNOW CHARLES HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE.
UM, LET ME, LET ME JUST START WITH, UM, OUR CHAIR, AAN ORTEGA IS HERE, AND, UM, WE'LL HEAR A LITTLE BIT FROM HIM IN A LITTLE BIT.
UM, AAN HAS BEEN IN THERE FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW, A LITTLE OVER, ALMOST TWO YEARS.
UM, WHAT I LIKE ABOUT A A DON'S STYLE OF LEADERSHIP IS HIS INCLUSIONARY ASPECT.
HE'S ALWAYS, UH, WILLING TO LISTEN.
SO IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA AND YOU COME TO HIM AND YOU TALK ABOUT IT, HE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE.
THERE'S, THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN HAVING SOMEONE AT THE TOP LEADING YOUR ORGANIZATION WHO IS INCLUSIVE, BUT ALSO LISTENS.
UM, SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UH, ADELE, ADELE HAILE HAS BEEN WITH US FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS AS WELL, I BELIEVE.
SO, I MEAN, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN AHEAD CALL.
IT'S WHEN, WHEN YOUR, YOUR NAME IS CALLED.
THIS IS ADELE HASHI KIL, UH, OUR GENERAL MANAGER.
AND AS HE SAID, HE IS BEEN HERE FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS.
UM, IT WAS QUITE A PROCESS TO BRING HIM ON.
WE WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT HAVING HIM COME ON.
HE HAS, UM, A LOT OF VISION, AND I HAVE HIS, UH, PLAN ON MY DESK AT HOME, UM, OF WHERE HE WANTS THIS ORGANIZATION, THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT, TO GO IN THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS.
SO NOT ONLY IS HE A GOOD LEADER, HE'S INCLUSIVE, BUT HE ALSO HAS GREAT VISION FOR WHERE HE WANTS THIS ORGANIZATION TO GO.
UM, SO I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I ALSO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WHENEVER I TEXT YOU, CALL YOU, YOU ALWAYS GET BACK TO ME AND YOU ALWAYS PICK UP.
AND THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME AS WELL.
WE HAVE DEVIN
UM, AND DEON, ALL I CAN SAY ABOUT DEVIN IS THAT HE'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE EEF HUTTON WHEN HE SPEAKS, EVERYBODY LISTENS.
SO I, I, I NOTICE THAT ABOUT HIM WHEN HE, WHEN HE SPEAKS, I WAS GONNA SAY HE WAS LIKE BILL CLINTON.
I HAD USED THAT FOR, FOR, UM, BILL CLINTON.
THE, THE, THE, UH, I SAID THAT ABOUT ANTO, THAT HE'S, UH, THE PROFESSIONAL AT EXPLAINING STUFF.
UH, CHARLES GALE IS OUR LOCAL FACE IN LONG BEACH.
UM, CHARLES, YOU WANNA JUST WAVE CHARLES? YOU'LL SEE HIM.
HE'S THE ONE WHO IS HERE LOCALLY MORE THAN THE OTHER.
SO, UH, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THIS COMMUNITY WELL.
AND THEN YVETTE MARTINEZ LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, UH, IS HERE THIS MORNING.
AND SHE, IF I HAD TO GIVE HER A TITLE, IS SHE MAKES THINGS HAPPEN AND SHE KEEPS THINGS RUNNING WELL.
SHE'LL OFTEN CALL ME TO REMIND ME ABOUT THINGS, AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I OVERALL APPRECIATE THAT THIS ORGANIZATION IS MOVING IN A DIRECTION THAT IT SHOULD BE.
WE'RE ADDRESSING ISSUES LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE, WE'RE ADDRESS ADDRESSING ISSUES LIKE AFFORDABILITY, AND WE'RE OBVIOUSLY ADDRESSING ISSUES ABOUT THE DELIVERY OF WATER AND THE EQUITY IN DELIVERING WATER.
SO, AGAIN, THIS IS OUR TEAM TODAY, AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE HERE.
I BELIEVE THEY'RE GONNA GIVE, GIVE A PRESENTATION.
COMMISSION PRESIDENT RAINEY AND MEMBERS OF THE LONG BEACH UTILITIES COMMISSION, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE HERE TO LISTEN AND TO ALSO BE RECOGNIZED.
I'D LIKE TO FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE ON OUR BOARD
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AS A DIRECTOR REPRESENTING THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, BUT ALSO FOR SERVING AS OUR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ON THE COLORADO RIVER BOARD.COLORADO RIVER BOARD IS IN A PIVOTAL POSITION IN UNITING CALIFORNIA'S COLORADO RIVER USERS, INCLUDING AGRICULTURAL AND URBAN AREAS, IN MAKING REDUCTIONS ON WATER USE TO KEEP HOOVER DAM'S ELECTRICAL GENERATION GOING, AND ALSO FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR WATER SUPPLIES.
UH, THROUGH YOUR LIFELONG WORK WITH AMERICA'S TRIBES, YOU HAVE ALSO BEEN OUR GUIDING LIGHT FOR ENGAGING TRIBAL NATIONS ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, IN A WAY THAT GUIDES OUR INVESTMENTS IN WATER EFFICIENCY, AS WELL AS BRINGING RESOURCES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR TRIBAL PARTNERS.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER CORDERO, FOR ALL YOU DO FOR US AT METROPOLITAN.
AS METROPOLITAN'S BOARD CHAIR, MY VISIT TODAY COMES AT A TIME WHEN METROPOLITAN AND OUR MEMBER AGENCIES FACE ENORMOUS PRESSURE TO REDUCE OUR RELIANCE ON IMPORTED SUPPLIES.
BEGINNING WITH THE COLORADO RIVER ON THE COLORADO, THE US BUREAU OF RECLAMATION EXPECTS US TO PRODUCE ALMOST WHAT WE CALL REAL TIME RESULTS SHOWING IN THE FORM OF HIGHER LAKE ELEVATIONS AT LAKE MEAD.
IN THE CURRENT YEAR, WE HAVE CONSERVED OVER 450,000 ACRE FEET THAT REMAINS AT LAKE MEAD THROUGH INVESTMENTS AND CONSERVATION AND SUPPLY OFFSETS IN DUE PART BECAUSE OF OUR EFFORTS.
AND THOSE OF OUR PARTNERS IN CALIFORNIA LEVELS AT LAKE MEAD TODAY ARE EQUIVALENT TO THOSE IN 2021 BEFORE THE CURRENT CRISIS WAS TRIGGERED.
IN FACT, WE HAVE MAXIMIZED OUR ACCUMULATED STORAGE AT LAKE MEAD WITH 1.7 MILLION ACRE FEET OF WATER, WHICH CONSTITUTES ABOUT 12 FEET OF THE LAKE'S ELEVATION LEVEL.
THESE INVESTMENTS ON COLORADO RIVER RELATED CONSERVATION PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED IN LARGE MEASURE BY FEDERAL GRANTS.
NONETHELESS, THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT FREE TO YOU OR METROPOLITAN.
THE CONSERVATION ACHIEVED THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS IS ON TOP OF ALREADY STEEPLY DECLINING WATER CONSUMPTION BY THE PUBLIC, AND IS A CONSEQUENCE FOR ALL OF US.
METROPOLITAN'S BOARD HAS TAKEN INITIAL STEPS TO ADDRESS THIS PARADOX WITH THE NEWLY ADOPTED BUDGET FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
IN AUGUST, WE WILL BE INCREASING THE AVALOR TAX WHILE KEEPING VOLUMETRIC RATES, VOLUMETRIC RATE INCREASES IN THE SINGLE DIGITS.
ON AVERAGE, WE REALIZE THAT THERE ARE INEQUITIES TO RESOLVE, SUCH AS THE TREATMENT SURCHARGE.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE ACCELERATING THE PLANNING PROCESS FOR A NEW BUSINESS MODEL THAT IS PART OF OUR CLIMATE ADAPTATION MASTER PLAN FOR WATER, KNOWN AS CAMP FOR WATER.
BUT PLEASE DON'T GET ME WRONG, WE ARE NOT FIXING A FAILURE, BUT SHIFTING TO ADDRESS CLIMATE ADAPTATION, THE EXTRAORDINARY DROP IN DEMANDS, WHETHER WE HAVE A DROUGHT OR NOT, DEMONSTRATES THAT THE 25 YEAR PLANNING HORIZON THAT SAW REAL INTEGRATED, UH, PLANNING AND RESOURCES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON LOCAL PROJECTS AND CONSERVATION HAS WORKED.
MY FRIEND ANTO FAGAN AND I, UH, WORKED WITH A WOMAN NAMED DEBORAH MANN, THE FORMER CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT METROPOLITAN.
AND WHEN PLANNING CONSERVATION PROGRAMS IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS, WHEN MR. FAGAN AND I WORKED THERE, SHE WOULD OFTEN CHALLENGE US TO QUANTIFY THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR CONSERVATION.
IT HAS TAKEN 24 YEARS TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION OUTSIDE THE ABSTRACT, BUT HERE IT IS.
THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN CONSERVATION AND LOCAL PROJECTS IS 2.4 MILLION ACRE FEET OF STORAGE OUT OF THE 3.4 MILLION ACRE FEET THAT WE HAVE IN RESERVE RIGHT NOW IN VARIOUS RESERVOIR AND GROUNDWATER STORAGE ACCOUNTS.
AND IT'S WORTH APPROXIMATELY $3 BILLION BECAUSE OF GOOD WEATHER AND CONSERVATION.
WE ARE CURRENTLY IN STORAGE CONDITIONS WITH ONLY A 30% ALLOCATION ON THE STATE WATER PROJECT.
WE'RE NOT GETTING OUR FULL ALLOCATION.
AND BECAUSE OF ALL THE CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENCY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WE CAN STORE WATER FOR THE NEXT DROUGHT.
LAST YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH OVER A 100% PLUS STATE ALLOCATION, WE RAN OUTTA STORAGE CAPACITY IN OUR SYSTEM PROMPTING THE NEED TO START PLANNING FOR FUTURE GROUNDWATER STORAGE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO THE TIME HAS COME TO ASK, WHERE WILL WE STORE ALL THE WATER BEING CONSERVED BY OUR CUSTOMERS AS WELL FROM THE GOOD HYDROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.
IN FACT, IT IS A PARADOX OF OUR TIME THAT IN 2022, WE FACED A CRISIS IN PORTIONS OF METROPOLITAN SERVICE AREA BECAUSE WE
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COULD NOT MOVE OUR STORAGE SUPPLIES FROM DIAMOND VALLEY LAKE AND HAMMETT TO THE NORTHERN REACHES OF OUR SERVICE AREA.AFTER THE STATE REDUCED OUR STATE WATER PROJECT ALLOCATIONS FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TO 20%.
NOW, THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE FOR 25 YEARS AFTER WE BUILT DIAMOND VALLEY LAKE, WE ASSUMED THAT WE WOULD NEVER HAVE ANYTHING WORSE THAN A 20% ALLOCATION FROM THE STATE.
AND THAT YEAR WE HAD A WORST CASE SCENARIO BECAUSE WE GOT ZERO FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND WE HAD TO ASK FOR A 5% ALLOCATION FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY.
THERE ARE OTHER INEQUITIES IN THE DESIGN OF OUR WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, OUR TREATMENT SYSTEM, AND OUR RATE STRUCTURE THAT HAVE RESULTED IN PAST ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE NOW HAVE TO UPDATE THROUGH OUR CAMP FOR WATER PROGRAM, TURNING TO THE BAY DELTA, AS WE CONSIDER MORE INVESTMENTS UNDER THE CAMP FOR WATER TO SHORE UP LEVIES AND RESTORE THE ENVIRONMENT IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
HERE ARE SOME FACTORS WE NEED TO CONSIDER.
AS I STATED, WE NEED INVESTMENTS IN PROJECTS THAT WILL YIELD FAST RESULTS.
YET THE LAWSUITS IN THE BAY DELTA OVER DELTA CONVEYANCE, THE WATER QUALITY CONTROL PLAN AND THE VOLUNTARY AGREEMENTS CAN TAKE DECADES TO RESOLVE.
HISTORICALLY, OUT OF OUR 2 MILLION ACRE FOOT ENTITLEMENT, WE HAVE AN AVERAGE.
WE HAVE, ON AVERAGE, ONLY IMPORTED ABOUT 800,000 ACRE FEET.
THAT'S LESS THAN HALF OF OUR ENTITLEMENT WHILE WE PAY THE FULL COST OF OUR CONTRACT.
SO, WHAT CAN WE DO BESIDES WEIGHT, TO MAKE UP FOR THE ERRATIC RELIABILITY OF OUR SUPPLIES FROM THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BAY DELTA? HERE'S ONE IDEA.
AGENCIES IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY, SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN, UH, SOME OF WHICH RELY ON THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER, THAT WE'RE ONCE HESITANT TO INVOLVE METROPOLITAN IN GROUNDWATER PROJECTS, ARE NOW ASKING US TO CONSIDER THOSE VERY INVESTMENTS AS A HEDGE AGAINST SUBSIDENCE FROM GROUNDWATER PUMPING AS A SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER ACT GOES INTO ENFORCEMENT.
THERE WAS AN ARTICLE ABOUT THIS IN THE FRONT PAGE OF THE LA TIMES TODAY.
CAN THESE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES SOUTH OF THE BAY DELTA AS WE WEIGH THE RISK OF MORE DELAY AND IMPASSE IN THE DELTA? COULD IT BE THAT WE CAN HELP SAVE PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY FROM MORE SUBSIDENCE BEFORE WE CAN DO OUR PART TO SAVE THE DELTA? THIS IS A LONG WAY OF SAYING THAT IN THE PRESENT, THE ISSUES RELATED TO THE COLORADO RIVER, THE BAY DELTA AND LOCAL SUPPLIES ARE ALL INTERWOVEN LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
THE GOAL OF CAMP FOR WATER IS TO UNITE AND FORTIFY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN THIS CHANGED ENVIRONMENT BY STRATEGICALLY INTEGRATING WITH OUR MEMBER AGENCIES LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS CHALLENGING US AND OUR WATER SYSTEMS EVEN SOONER THAN OUR MODELING PROJECTED.
WE MUST ACT NOW TO ADAPT, TO MAKE SMART, EFFECTIVE INVESTMENTS IN NEW WATER SUPPLY STRATEGIES, STORAGE, AND WAYS TO MOVE WATER, AS WELL AS, AS WATER CONSUMPTION AND SALES REVENUE ARE STEEPLY DECLINING.
THE TEST OF OUR TIME IS WHETHER THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES AND THE MEASURE OF REGIONAL EQUITY ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH THE CHANGE CLIMATE WILL STRENGTHEN US OR LEAVE US WITH EACH MEMBER AGENCY ON ITS OWN.
SO NOW I'D LIKE TO, UH, TURN IT OVER TO OUR GENERAL MANAGER, AL HAJA KIL, WHO'S GONNA GET A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC WITH YOU.
GREAT TO BE HERE IN THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF LONG BEACH.
UH, I, I WAS HERE I THINK A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I THINK, BEFORE YOU BECAME THE, THE, UH, CONSOLIDATED ONE AGENCY, WHICH TO ME, IT'S THE THEME THAT I TALK ABOUT IS THE FUTURE.
ADDRESSING THE FUTURE IS ABOUT INTEGRATION.
AND, UH, REALLY IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S WATER, GAS, SEWER AND ALL THAT, IT'S TOGETHER.
BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, PRESIDENT, UH, UH, RAINEY, AND THANK YOU FOR THE COMMISSIONERS FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE.
BUT I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE OUR BOARD REPRESENTATIVE GLORIA CORD FOR HER LEADERSHIP, UH, AND ALWAYS, UH, REPRESENTING YOU WELL, BUT ALSO REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE REGION AND THE ENTIRE STATE, AND REALLY ENSURING THAT, UH, NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND.
YOU KNOW, I TALK ABOUT OUR JOB AND THIS, I KNOW THE CHAIR TALKED ABOUT THE TEST OF OUR TIME IS ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND HOW WE ARE PREPARING OURSELF FOR THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS.
IT'S ABOUT ENSURING SAFE, RELIABLE WATER FOR EVERYONE WITH NO ONE LEFT BEHIND.
AND WE ALL SEE METROPOLITAN AS THE UMBRELLA.
THAT'S WHAT MADE US GREAT A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, COMING TOGETHER AS A CO-OP, REPRESENTING 19 MILLION PEOPLE, UH, 26 MEMBER AGENCIES, ALL THE WAY FROM VENTURA DOWN TO THE MEXICAN BORDER, AND BRINGING WATER TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
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TO MAKE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA A GREAT, UH, COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE.WE ARE THE LARGEST, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT A, IF WE'RE A COUNTRY BY ITSELF, UH, WILL BE THE 11TH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD.
UM, AND, UH, AND IT, WE NEED TO CONTINUE PROTECTING OUR BUSINESSES, OUR COMMUNITIES, THROUGH WATER.
I MEAN, CITY OF LONG BEACH HAS BEEN A GREAT EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP, THE STAFF.
I'M SO HONORED TO BE HERE WITH LEADERS THAT, THAT REALLY DO THE WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY.
UH, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE OUR SEWERS ARE TAKEN CARE OF, OUR WATER IS TAKEN CARE OF, OUR GASES TAKEN CARE OF, AND, AND YOU ARE THE THE FRONT LINE HERO.
SO I, I, I HONOR YOU AND I RESPECT ALL OF YOU, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, BECAUSE WITHOUT THE HARD WORK OF OUR WORKERS THAT BEHIND THE SCENES, WE CAN'T GET THIS DONE.
SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF YOU, IT'S HONOR TO BE HERE AT THE SAME TIME AS YOU GUYS WERE ARE BEING HONORED.
UH, BUT ALSO I WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR GENERAL MANAGER, CHRIS GARDNER.
THANK YOU CHRIS, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, FOR THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
UH, AND I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU ON A GREAT CAREER.
I KNOW YOU'VE ANNOUNCED YOUR RETIREMENT SOON.
I SAID, MAYBE NEXT MONTH HE'LL BE WITHOUT A JACKET.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT.
BUT, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU, CHRIS, FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND ALSO YOU, YOU LEFT FINGERPRINTS AND, AND YOUR LEGACY WILL LIVE, WHATEVER.
SO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND METROPOLITAN.
BUT ALSO, UH, YOU HAVE A GREAT ABLE ASSISTANT GENTLEMAN MANAGER, ANTO FALCON.
ANTO HAS BEEN A, A PERSON THAT I USE THEM AS A COUNCIL FOR ME.
UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I BROUGHT TO METROPOLITAN IS WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
AND WE NEED TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER.
THE FUTURE, AS THE CHAIR HAS DONE, IS BRINGING THE BOARD AND THE MEMBER AGENCIES TOGETHER.
I WANTED TO BRING ALL OF US TOGETHER 'CAUSE NO ONE SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND.
SO ANATOL WAS A GREAT GUIDE AND COUNCIL TO ME.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER ON BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
FIRST THING WE DID IS BRING A COLLABORATIVE GROUP OF PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT WATER REUSE IN THIS AREA.
AND HE HELPED ME AND, AND GUIDED US TO BRING US ALL TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT EARLY WINS.
HOW CAN WE DO THAT? AND WE IDENTIFIED CLOSE TO 40 MILLION GALLONS A DAY IN THIS REGION, CARSON LONG BEACH, UH, CENTRAL BASIN THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY TAP QUICKLY AND REPLACE PORTABLE WATER, IMPORTED WATER WITH RECYCLED WATER.
AND WE STILL MEET, I THINK WE'VE HAD OVER 10, 13 MEETINGS ALREADY.
WE HAVE A GUIDING PRINCIPLE AND WE HAVE, BUT ANATOL, YOU HAVE BEEN A LEADER.
AND THAT LEADERSHIP CONTINUES THROUGH THE CAMP FOR WATER PROCESS AND, AND THE CLIMATE ADAPTATION, MASTER PLANNING.
AND, AND MY, MY, YOU KNOW, AS, AS, UH, DIRECTOR CORD SAID IS, YOU KNOW, I, I REALLY WANNA BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER.
SO WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT EVERY MEMBER AGENCY, SMALL AND LARGE.
SHE AND I HAVE BEEN TO SMALL CITIES LIKE COMPTON, SAN FERNANDO, AND OTHERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE TAKING CARE BECAUSE I SEE METROPOLITAN AS THE UMBRELLA, BUT ALSO AS THE NET THAT WE PROTECT EVERYONE.
AND THAT'S THE JOB THAT WE ALL HAVE.
WE'VE ACTUALLY ARE WORKING HARD IN CREATING COLLABORATIVE WORK AROUND GRANTS, COORDINATING GRANTS TOGETHER.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A NEW EFFORT HAPPENING ON CYBERSECURITY.
WE'RE COORDINATING OUR RESOURCES, LEVERAGING OUR RESOURCE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
WE HAVE A CELEBRATION TODAY WITH ALL THE MEMBER AGENTS ON WATER QUALITY.
ALL THAT IS HELPING US MOVE FORWARD, LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, AND THE WORK WE'RE DOING.
BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD, IS TO MOVE TOGETHER.
AND, AND I WANT TO, YOU ARE AN EXAMPLE AS A, AS A CITY OF INCLUSION.
A CITY LEADING CONSERVATION, LEADING THE WAY.
AND IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU, UH, WITH US, WORKING WITH US HAND IN HAND.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOUR LEADERSHIP AT THE BOARD, BUT ALSO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM CHRIS AND ANTO WORKING WITH US CLOSELY.
THE CHAIR TALKED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGES HERE.
WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN 20 21, 22, SOME OUR COMMUNITIES ALMOST RAN OUT OF WATER.
OUR JOB AND RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MANAGE WATER.
AND HOW ARE WE GONNA MANAGE WATER IN THIS FUTURE? IN THIS FUTURE, WHICH IS THE WHIPLASH.
WE'RE GONNA SEE HOTTER AND DRIER DAYS FOR A LONG TIME.
BUT THEN WE'RE GONNA SEE WET YEARS.
OUR JOB IS HOW WE MANAGE WATER TO CAPTURE WATER AND PUT IT IN THE GROUND TO RECYCLE WATER, TO BUILD A CONVEYANCE OF THE FUTURE, TO MOVE WATER AROUND THE SYSTEM SO NOBODY CAN SUFFER.
AND WE'RE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE GREAT RECORD OF STORAGE.
3.4 MILLION ACRE FEET OF WATER IS STORED IN OUR SYSTEM.
GREAT RESULTS WE BUILT LAST OCTOBER, UH, A LARGE PARTNERSHIP WITH ANTELOPE VALLEY EAST KERN, UP IN LANCASTER, SOUTH OF THE DELTA TO PUT IN 300,000 ACRE FEET OF WATER UNDERGROUND IN A, IN A STORAGE BANK.
THAT IS CREATIVITY, THAT'S THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
WE ACTUALLY RE PLUMBED OUR SYSTEM TO BUILD WAYS TO MOVE WATER IN THE SYSTEM AND, AND ALLOW
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US TO MOVE STORAGE FROM HAMMIT AND THE EAST PART OF THE RIGHT TOWN, MOVING ALL THE WAY TO THE MID PART OF THE CITY, ALL THE WAY UP TO THE WESTERN PART OF OUR COMMUNITIES.WE'RE ALSO BUILDING THE LARGEST RECYCLED WATER PROJECT IN THE COUNTRY.
UH, PURE WATER, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, NOT FAR FROM YOU HERE IN CARSON.
AND THAT'S NOT ONLY A A, A PROJECT THAT WILL RECYCLE 150 MILLION GALLONS A DAY OF WATER.
AND METROPOLITAN, WE TOOK ON THE BOARD, APPROVED A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT, WHERE 60% OF THE WORKFORCE IN ANY PROJECT IS LOCALLY SOURCED.
THAT'S A BIG INVESTMENT IN UPLIFTING COMMUNITIES, IN TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE.
'CAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT JUST WATER.
AND THAT'S WHAT ALL WE ALL UNDERSTAND.
AND THAT'S THE, A COMMITMENT OF THE BOARD.
15% OF THAT IS LOCALLY, UH, IS, IS FROM, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT RISK.
WE'RE TRYING TO REALLY WORK TOGETHER ON FINDING WAYS TO PROVIDE JOBS AND CREATE JOBS.
THAT PROJECT ALONE WILL CREATE 50,000 JOBS.
THIS IS A FUTURE, UH, THAT WE ALL NEED TO DO BECAUSE WE'RE NOT JUST BUILDING RESILIENCY FOR WATER.
WE'RE BUILDING RESILIENCY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
UH, IN OUR APPLICATION FOR GRANTS.
LAST, LAST YEAR, WE BROUGHT IN $220 MILLION IN GRANTS.
WE HAVE AN APPLICATION THAT WE SHOULD HEAR SOON FROM THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION AS PART OF WHAT THE CHAIR TALKED ABOUT ADDRESSING THE DEFICIT IN THE, UH, COLORADO RIVER, AND HOW ARE WE GONNA MANAGE THE FUTURE OF THE COLORADO RIVER.
WE HAVE A DECLINING WATER IN THE RIVER, AND WE'RE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT FOR 2026 AND BEYOND.
THAT REQUIRES US TO CONSERVE AND CUT.
BUT WE HAVE AN APPLICATION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, $420 MILLION APPLICATION FOR CONSERVATION, LOCAL WATER SUPPLY AND MANY OTHER THINGS.
BUT WHAT'S KEY IN THAT ONE IS WE ASK THAT 40% OF THAT, UH, FUNDING GOES TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE UNDER PROP TWO 18, WE'RE LIMITED WHAT WE CAN SPEND ON UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
NOW, THIS EFFORT IS HELPING US DO THAT, AND I'M, I WILL HOPEFULLY SOON IN MAY, WILL CELEBRATE THAT PROJECT.
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET OUT TO OUR COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING LONG BEACH, TO ENSURE THAT WE INVEST IN THE RESOURCES THAT'S NEEDED TO UPLIFT AND TAKE CARE OF PROTECTING THE GROUNDWATER, CREATING LOCAL WATER SUPPLY, AND HELPING EVERYONE FROM COMPTON TO SAN FERNAN, TO LONG BEACH AND OTHERS ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.
TODAY, I'LL BE TESTIFYING AS SOON AS I FINISHED HERE IN A SENATE COMMITTEE, UH, AD HOC COMMITTEE ON CLIMATE RESILIENCY.
UH, WE ARE WORKING, I WAS IN DC IN SACRAMENTO TWO WEEKS AGO TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE CLIMATE RESILIENCY BOND.
THE INVESTMENTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS NOT JUST INVESTMENTS FOR US, IT'S INVESTMENT FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.
WHAT BENEFITS US FROM WATER RESILIENCY BENEFITS THE ENTIRE STATE.
WHEN WE HAVE MORE LOCAL WATER SUPPLY, WHEN WE HAVE MORE STORAGE IN OUR WET YEARS, WE'RE NOT FIGHTING OVER WATER BETWEEN AG ENVIRONMENT AND URBAN.
WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING TOGETHER.
AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT IS THROUGH INVESTMENTS.
SO THIS CLIMATE RESILIENCY INVESTMENTS THAT I'M GONNA BE TESTIFYING ON YOUR BEHALF, ADDING, ENSURING WE HAVE MONEY FOR RECYCLED WATER.
WE HAVE MONEY FOR STORAGE, WE HAVE MONEY FOR PROTECTING OUR RESERVOIRS AND MORE CONVEYANCE AND, AND HELPING THE DELTA, IT'S ALL GONNA BE TOGETHER.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE THE FUTURE THAT WE ALL ARE WORKING TOWARDS.
BUT REALLY WE NEED TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
AND THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
BECAUSE IF WE HAVE ANOTHER DROUGHT LIKE WE HAD IN 20 21, 22, THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK SINCE THEN.
UM, AND WE HAVE, WE'RE READY TO RESPOND TO IT, BUT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE AN EFFORT LED BY TASK FORCE OF DIRECTORS AND, AND, AND, UH, GENERAL MANAGERS.
AND, AND ANTO IS ON THAT REPRESENTING YOU ON THE TASK FORCE.
AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR DEVELOPING THE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
AND NEXT WEEK WE'LL BE KICKING OFF THE FIRST YEAR REPORT ON THIS EFFORT.
IT'S GONNA HELP US DEFINE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, DEVELOP A ROADMAP AND INVESTMENT THAT WE NEED TO DO, AND LOOKING AT THE RISK AND HOW WE'RE GONNA DO IT TOGETHER, BUT ALSO HOW WE PAY FOR IT.
THE CHAIR TALKS ABOUT IT, IS WE ARE USING, THE AMOUNT OF WATER WE'RE USING TODAY IS THE SAME WATER WE USED 50 YEARS AGO.
THE WATER WE'RE USING 50 YEARS AGO.
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE ONLY REASON WE DID THAT, BECAUSE OF YOUR ACTIONS, ACTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITIES CONSERVING, I WANNA THANK THE COMMUNITIES OF LONG BEACH AND, AND THE COMMUNITIES AND THE BUSINESSES ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION.
HERE WE ARE ACTUALLY USING LESS WATER THAN THAN WE EVER USED.
1.2 MILLION ACRE FEET OF WATER 10 YEARS AGO WAS 2.3 20 YEARS AGO WAS 3.2.
BUT IT COSTS MONEY TO CONSERVE.
IT COSTS A LOT OF RESOURCES AND ALSO TO BUILD RESILIENCY.
AND SO THIS NEW BUSINESS MODEL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS ALLOWING US, ONE, TO ENSURE EQUITY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE INQUIRIES WE HAVE, BUT ALSO TO ALLOW US TO INVEST APPROPRIATELY AND ENSURE AFFORDABILITY.
THAT'S A GREAT THING THAT, UH, UH, DIRECTOR CORDERO IS REALLY ADVOCATING FOR, TO MAKE SURE THAT AFFORDABILITY IS ON THE FRONT LINE OF EVERY DISCUSSION.
[00:25:01]
UH, IN ABOUT COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE'LL BE UP IN, UH, UH, UH, WITH THE COLORADO RIVER, UH, INDIAN TRIBE SIGNING AGREEMENT WITH THEM, CELEBRATING OUR AGREEMENTS.WE HOSTED THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR GENE CAMP UP BY LAKE HAVASU.
THAT RELATIONSHIP IS HAPPENING.
WE WENT UP INTO THE DELTA AND MET WITH THE DELTA TRIBES.
THIS RELATIONSHIP IS NEEDED TO BUILD THOSE BRIDGES TO MOVE US FORWARD INSIDE THIS REGION AND OUTSIDE THAT REGION.
AND YOU HAVE BEEN A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR DOING IT.
EXCHANGE IS CRITICAL BECAUSE WHAT WE NEED TO DO, AND YOU, I WANT US TO DO, THAT'S THE BENEFIT OF MET AS A CO-OP IS WHEN WE HAVE EXCESS WATER IN ONE REGION AND DEMAND ANOTHER REGION, WE DON'T WANNA CREATE NEW WATER SUPPLY IF WE CAN JUST MOVE THE WATER AROUND.
AND THAT ONLY CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU HAVE A REGIONAL AGENCY LIKE METROPOLITAN EXCHANGE IS AT THE HEART OF OUR EFFORTS IN, UH, IN OUR BUSINESS MODEL.
HOW ARE WE GONNA MOVE WATER FROM ONE AREA TO ANOTHER? HOW ARE WE GONNA EXCHANGE? HOW ARE WE GONNA ENSURE THAT CONSERVATION IS REWARDED AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE PAYING FOR THE WATER THAT YOU'RE USING APPROPRIATELY AND EQUITABLY, ENSURING AFFORDABILITY THAT'S GONNA BE ON THE TABLE FOR ALL OF US.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO INVEST IN CONSERVATION, CONSERVATION, THE BOARD THROUGH THE BUDGET ACTION, UH, THE LEADERSHIP THEY'VE DONE, THEY'RE COMMITTED TO CONSERVATION.
BUT I THINK THE CHAIR TALKED ABOUT IT, IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS CAN WE MONETIZE SOME OF THE BENEFITS FROM CONSERVATION IN STORAGE THAT WE'VE DONE TO HELP US ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES ON THE COLORADO RIVER AND BRING MONEY IN THAT WE CAN INVEST BACK IN.
SO WE'RE DOING A LOT OF O AND M CONSERVATION EFFICIENCIES, BUT ALSO LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO BRING REVENUE IN, NOT ONLY FROM THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL, BUT ALSO MONETIZING THE CONSERVATION THAT U RATE PAYERS HAVE DONE.
THE COST OF WATER IS, IS GONNA GO UP.
BUT IF YOU CAN CONSERVE, YOU'RE GONNA BE PAYING LESS BECAUSE YOU ARE ACTUALLY USING LESS WATER.
BUT THE INVESTMENTS IN RESILIENCY IS CRITICAL.
WE DON'T KNOW THE VALUE OF WATER TILL WE DON'T HAVE IT.
AND OUR JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE IT AVAILABLE.
THAT'S THE JOB WE ALL HAVE AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE COMMITTED AT METROPOLITAN TO DO.
IT TAKES ALL OF US TO WORK TOGETHER.
WE SPENT OVER A BILLION DOLLARS IN CONSERVATION AND, AND, AND WE INTRODUCED A NEW REBATE PROGRAM.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A GREAT REBATE PROGRAM IN, IN LONG BEACH, BUT ALSO WE HAVE OUR PROGRAM WE JUST ADDED AND YOU'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT.
YOU KNOW, WE PAY $3 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR CONSERVATION, BUT WE HAVE A NEW PROGRAM REBATE.
AS YOU CONVERT YOUR LANDSCAPING TO A, UM, CALIFORNIA FRIENDLY, YOU CAN ADD FIVE TREES FOR $500, A HUNDRED DOLLARS A TREE.
TREES HELP PROVIDING US, UH, UH, ADDRESSING THE, THE, THE HEAT, BUT ALSO CAPTURING WATER AND ADDRESSING IT.
IT'S CRITICAL TO HAVE THAT KIND OF ABILITY AND THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX TO DO IT.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR DIRECT INSTALL.
WE KNOW OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO ASK FOR A REBATE AND APPLY FOR A REBATE.
MOST PEOPLE ARE WORKING TWO JOBS AND DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR THE RESOURCES TO DO IT.
OUR JOB AND OUR BOARD'S DIRECTION IS LET'S FIGURE OUT A WAY HOW WE CAN HELP COMMUNITIES TAKE ADVANTAGE.
EVERYONE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SAME THING.
TO ME, IT'S, IT'S GREAT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.
YOU KNOW, THE CHAIR TALKED ABOUT THE CHANGE THAT WE'VE DONE.
30% STATE WATER PROJECT IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ALLOCATION TO METROPOLITAN PUTS US IN BALANCE THAT WE'RE PUTTING WATER IN STORAGE.
NOT LONG AGO IT WAS 75% TO GET US IN BALANCE, BUT AT 30%, THAT TELLS YOU WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN CONSERVATION, THE WORK WE'VE DONE IN INVESTING, BUT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.
AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT IS THROUGH PLANNING AND THROUGH WORKING TOGETHER IN COLLABORATION.
BECAUSE OUR JOB IS TO ENSURE SAFE, RELIABLE WATER FOR EVERYONE WITH NO ONE LEFT BEHIND.
BUT THANK YOU TO LONG BEACH FOR THE LEADERSHIP, YOUR SUPPORT, AND CONTINUED TO BE THE LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO WATER MANAGEMENT AND WATER CONSERVATION.
I'LL JUST, UH, SUMMARIZE OUR PRESENTATION TODAY.
SO WHAT ADELE AND I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DESCRIBE IS A DEFINITION OF RESILIENCE AND ADAPTATION.
RESILIENCE ISN'T ONLY THE ACT OF AVOIDING MISTAKES.
RESILIENCE IS GAINED BY SURVIVING SETBACKS AND LEARNING LESSONS FROM THEM.
METROPOLITAN AND OUR MEMBER AGENCIES HAVE TIME AND TIME AGAIN PROVEN THIS FACT AND WE ARE NOW STRONGER FOR IT AND POSITIONED TO AVOID THE SHORTCOMINGS SUCH AS THOSE WE FACED IN 2022.
[00:30:01]
AS A WHOLE HAS BEEN FORCED TO ADMIT WHAT PROBABLY ONLY FARMERS REALLY COPED WITH IN THE PAST.AND THAT IS THAT NATURE HAS THE FINAL WORD AND THAT WE HAVE TO LEARN TO LISTEN TO IT BETTER.
AND THAT IS THE FIRST STEP IN ADAPTATION.
SO THE CAMP FOR WATER PLANNING PROCESS IS AIMED AT THE CERTAINTY OF UNCERTAINTY AND PREPARING FOR WHATEVER NATURE BRINGS US.
SO, UH, PRESIDENT RAINY, IF YOU, IF YOU, ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, THE GENERAL MANAGER AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I, I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW THINGS.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK MATT.
UH, YOU KNOW, I, I APPRECIATE THAT AS THE WORLD HAS CHANGED FROM THE COLORADO RIVER, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, YOU'VE ADAPTED, AND I'VE TOLD THE BOARD MANY TIMES ON, IN CALIFORNIA, ON THE UTILITY SIDE, WE HAVE SIX, SEVEN NATURAL GAS UTILITIES.
WE HAVE 40 ELECTRIC UTILITIES, AND WE LITERALLY HAVE THOUSANDS OF WATER AGENCIES.
AND SO FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WITHOUT A REGIONAL VOICE, UM, WE WILL NOT GET MUCH DONE.
AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOU, UH, CHANGING AND ADAPTING.
PURE WATER IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU'RE CHANGING YOUR ORGANIZATION.
SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR THAT, UH, PURE WATER TOMORROW.
SO I THINK SOME PEOPLE HERE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN, I THINK SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS ARE GOING, UM, SO THAT'LL BE VERY INTERESTING AND VERY EXCITING.
AND I, I, UM, I I PUT A, A LOT OF, UM, MERIT INTO LEADERSHIP STYLE BECAUSE, UM, EVERYBODY COMES WITH A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE.
WE ALL HAVE, A LOT OF PEOPLE AT MED HAVE A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE.
AND, AND THAT'S WHAT WE, WE HANG OUR HATS ON IS THEIR OPERATIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND THEIR EXPERIENCE.
UM, AND WE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE GREAT LEADERSHIP ALL AROUND.
AND I WANNA GIVE JUST TWO QUICK EXAMPLES, IF I MAY.
UM, I WAS WITH ADELE UP IN, UM, WITH THE SHINGLES SPRINGS TRIBE.
UH, THEY'RE A SMALL INDIAN TRIBE UP, UP NORTH, AND WE FLEW UP TO MEET WITH THEM REGARDING SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS WITH THE DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT.
SO UNDERSTANDING THAT LEADERSHIP DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU ALWAYS GET PEOPLE TO ALWAYS AGREE WITH YOU, BUT IT MEANS THAT YOU ALWAYS WILL LISTEN AND YOU'LL BE COLLABORATIVE AND YOU'LL TRY TO SEE THEIR SIDE.
SO WE SAT IN THIS ROOM AND, UM, ADELE GAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE DELTA, AND SOMEONE FROM THE TRIBE RAISED HER HAND AND SHE SAID, WE DON'T AGREE WITH THIS.
WE DON'T AGREE WITH IT, AND WE WON'T AGREE WITH IT.
AND SO I, I SAT BACK AND THOUGHT, OKAY, HOW'S HE GONNA HANDLE THIS? AND, AND HE VERY SIMPLY SAID, KINDLY SAID, I, I MAKE, I HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS, OR WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR 19 MILLION PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TO LISTEN TO YOU.
WE'RE TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
AND I ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT, AND I USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE OF, OF SOMEONE WHO HAS, UM, LEARNED HOW TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE AND TO MAKE THEM FEEL, EVEN IF THEY DON'T AGREE WITH YOU, THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING LISTENED TO.
UM, ADON THE, THE EXAMPLE THAT I HAVE WITH YOU, UM, IS, IS A LITTLE MORE PERSONAL.
THERE'S SOMEONE ON THE BOARD WHO DIDN'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH ADON INITIALLY, UM, DIDN'T NECESSARILY SUPPORT HIM WHEN HE WAS, UM, TRYING TO RUN HE, THIS OTHER PERSON, YOU KNOW, FROM THE DIRECTOR POSITION, HE, HE HAD SOMEONE ELSE.
BUT AFTER AAN WON, HE AAN PICKED UP THE PHONE AND TALKED TO THIS PERSON AND SAID, WHAT DO YOU WANT ON THIS BOARD? WELL, HOW CAN I HELP YOU BECOME MORE ENGAGED? AND TO ME, THAT SHOWS A GREAT LEADER AS WELL.
SOMEONE WHO CAN PUT THOSE THINGS ASIDE AND REACH OUT ACROSS THE AISLE, IF YOU WILL, AND BRING SOMEONE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS TEAM, UH, OF, OF LEADERS INCLUDING, UH, OUR, OUR, UH, DEVON AS WELL AND OUR OTHERS, UM, IS THIS, THIS METHOD OF TRYING TO BE COLLABORATIVE, TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SERVE 19 MILLION PEOPLE.
AND I'M VERY HONORED TO BE PART OF THAT GROUP.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
SORRY, I HAVE A FEW MORE THINGS.
SO WE, WE WANTED TO RECOGNIZE OUR EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR NOW AND OUR SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR.
SO WE HAD AN EVENT AT THE QUEEN MARY, UM, ALMOST A MONTH AGO NOW.
UM, UH, COMMISSIONER SCOTT WAS THERE, UH, FANTASTIC EVENT.
IT WAS OUR FIRST ONE AS A ENTIRE CONSOLIDATED UTILITIES.
AND UH, UH, SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE RECOGNIZED EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR, SUPERVISOR OF THE YEARS.
SO IF I CAN HAVE THE ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGERS, THEY'RE GONNA EACH, UH, UM, BRING UP THEIR EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR AND SUPERVISORS OF THE YEAR SO THAT YOU GET TO RECOGNIZE THEM.
EACH ONE WILL BE ASKED TO, UH, STATE YOUR NAME, WHAT, WHAT YOU DO, WHAT YOUR JOB
[00:35:01]
TITLE IS, HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY OR THE UTILITIES, AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR JOB AND WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT IT.SO ANTO, YOU WANNA GO FIRST? SURE.
APPARENTLY THERE'S ONLY ONE LIST.
UM, SO, UH, COULD I HAVE ABE ORTIZ? ABE, ARE YOU ABE IS BUSY AT THE MOMENT.
SO, UM, IN GAS ENGINEERING, IF DANIEL GUTIERREZ IS HERE.
SO WE'RE RECOGNIZING YOU FOR THE AWARD THAT YOU RECEIVED, WHICH WAS REALLY WELL DESERVED.
SO CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YEAH.
UH, MORNING COMMISSIONERS A ORTIZ, UH, BUSINESS SYSTEM SPECIALIST.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR FIVE YEARS AND MY JOB ENTITLED IS, UH, DESKTOP SUPPORT, UM, THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT.
AND I ALSO HANDLE THE, UH, MOBILE PHONES FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
AND WHAT AWARD DID YOU, I HAD THE LITTLE PAPER, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT WAS ON IT.
UH, EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR BOARD NAME, MY BOARD NAME WAS, IT WAS EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR.
UH, SO EVERY ONE OF THE BUSINESS UNITS IN THEIR DIFFERENT ELEMENTS, THEY ALL GOT TO, UH, NOMINATE.
AND THEN AS A GROUP THEN THE DECISION WAS MADE FOR EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR IN EACH OF THOSE DIFFERENT WORKING UNITS.
AND ABE IS IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND HE IS VERY HUMBLE.
AND I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT WHEN YOU DO INFORMATION SYSTEMS SUPPORT ON EVERY DAY YOU'RE WORKING WITH PEOPLE THAT THE REASON THEY'RE SEEING YOU IS BECAUSE THEY'RE AT THE MOST DIFFICULT TIME IN THEIR WORKDAY.
SOMETHING IS NOT WORKING AND THAT UNFORTUNATELY IS WHY YOU'RE THERE TO BE WITH THEM.
AND ABE IS GRACIOUS WORKS WITH EVERYBODY AND I CAN'T TELL YOU ALL THE TIMES I GET HIGH PRAISE FOR WHAT IS SOMETIMES A MORE DIFFICULT ENCOUNTER THAT ABE IS HAVING WITH EMPLOYEES.
SO ABE, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
SO IN, IN GAS ENGINEERING, DANIEL GUTIERREZ? NO, DANIEL GOD.
IT, I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE AT THE DENTIST OR SOMETHING.
HEY DANIEL, HOW YOU DOING? DOING GOOD.
SO DANIEL WORKS IN GAS ENGINEERING AND SO DANIEL, CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU DO HERE? I'M A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AT THE GAS CAMPUS AND I, I HELPED ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT PUT IN, WELL, RIGHT NOW PLASTIC PIPE FOR OUR GAS DITCH REGIONING SYSTEM.
AND, UM, I MA MAINLY MANAGE THE CROSS BOARD PROGRAM.
SO I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE WITH THE CITY SINCE 2008.
I'VE BEEN WITH GAS SINCE, UM, 2019 AND I LIKE WHAT I DO, IT'S FUN, I LIKE THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH AND IT HAS A BUNCH OF FUN CHALLENGES.
SO YEAH, I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THE COMMISSION WHAT A CROSS BOARD SITUATION IS? SO WHEN WE'RE INSTALLING UH, GAS SERVICES TO HOMES, SOMETIMES UH, THE PIPE GOES THROUGH A SEWER PIPE AND THAT'S A CROSS BOARD AND THAT'S DANGEROUS 'CAUSE PEOPLE WILL TRY TO CLEAR THEIR SEWER WITH A TREE ROOT CUTTER AND THAT CAN INITIATE A GAS LEAK INTO THEIR HOME AND PRETTY MUCH LIKE BLOW IT UP.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THOSE AND GET THEM OUT.
SO OUR CROSS BOARD PROGRAM'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WHERE WE'RE GOING BACK, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS THESE SITUATIONS OCCUR.
AND SO OUR JOB IS TO GO SEEK THEM OUT AND THEN REPAIR IT IN A MANNER THAT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE CROSS BOARD SITUATIONS GOING FORWARD.
AND DANIEL'S A KEY PART OF THAT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH DANIEL.
AND, AND, AND SO WHEN WE NAMED, UH, DANIEL, UH, IN EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR, WE HAD TO BE VERY CAREFUL 'CAUSE WE HAVE TWO DANIEL GUTIERREZ AS IN THE, IN THE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE HAD TO MAKE SURE WE WERE CLARIFIED WHO WE WERE PICKING.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO DANIEL GUTIERREZ IN FINANCE, WHO BOTH VERY GOOD IS HELPING YOU GREATLY AS AS WELL.
UM, SEE I'M GOING DOWN MY LIST.
AND SO THEN IN WATER ENGINEERING HAVE NICK, BAAL.
NICK, WHY UP? GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS, NICK BAAL.
TWO YEARS HERE, UH, AT THE WATER DEPARTMENT UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.
I WORK IN WATER ENGINEERING, UH, IN THE FACILITIES GROUPS.
WE, UH, WORK ON THE DESIGN, UH, CONSTRUCTION, UH, OF ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
I WORK IN THE FACILITIES GROUP.
[00:40:01]
IS CONCENTRATED ON OUR WELLS TREATMENT, PLANT TANKS, SEWER LIFT STATIONS, UM, A LOT OF THE MORE COMPLICATED, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY.SO NICK, UH, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH US NICK NOW? SORRY, TWO YEARS.
AND SO AS A CONSOLIDATED UTILITY, WHEN BUSINESS UNIT ONE CAME TOGETHER AND ENGINEERING WAS PART OF IT, NICK AND I GOT TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER BECAUSE OF A VERY SPECIAL PROJECT IN STEARNS PARK.
AND IT'S CONTINUING AND UH, YOU PROBABLY SEE ME, YOU WILL BE SEEING ME NEXT MONTH, UH, AS WE HAVE THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PROJECT, UH, THAT WILL BE PRESENTED.
SO IT WAS WELL CONSTRUCTION, VERY IMPORTANT FOR US.
AND IT ALSO HAPPENED TO BE A CRITICAL FOCUS IN INTERACTING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
IT WAS ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION, 24 HOURS IN A PARK RIGHT NEXT TO NEIGHBORHOOD HOMES.
AND THAT KIND OF INTERACTION PUTS YOU IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
AND I GOTTA SAY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DID A LOT OF WORK TO COORDINATE WITH THE COMMUNITY, BUT NICK WAS FRONT AND CENTER IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
UM, AND SO WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE INTERACTION WITH THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GUYS' SUPPORT.
I HAVE IN IN FINANCE RESOURCES, MIS FOR SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR WAS DAN GWEN.
MY NAME IS DAN AND CAN YOU GET CLOSER TO THE MIC? AND I'M A SENIOR CAPTAIN AT THE GAS CAMPUS AND UM, MY JOB IS BASICALLY DO FINANCE FOR GAS AND SUPPORT FINANCE FOR OIL ALSO.
AND, UH, I PAY, I OVERLOOK LIKE INVOICE, MAKE SURE THING GOT PAY ON TIME AND UH, SET UP PROJECTS FOR ENGINEERING.
DAN, DAN IS VERY UNDERSTATED, BUT YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE IN ORGANIZATIONS, THEY WIND UP BEING THE BACKBONE OF ORGANIZATIONS.
AND I KNOW THAT STEPHANIE COUNTS ON DAN EXTENSIVELY FOR A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT, AND THE CONSOLIDATED UTILITY WAS INITIALLY JUST SIMPLY THE PURVIEW OF GAS.
AND SO IN THAT FOCAL ASPECT, UH, DAN IS AN INCREDIBLE RESOURCE FOR THEM.
THEN IN GAS ENGINEERING I HAVE RAUL MARTINEZ.
UH, SO RAUL MARTINEZ, I'M A, UH, SENIOR MECHANICAL ENGINEER.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY, UH, AND WITH GAS FOR SINCE 2015.
UH, SOME OF MY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES WITH THE DEPARTMENT IS, UH, TO SUPERVISE, UH, PART OF OUR ENGINEERING TEAM.
UM, I ALSO MANAGE OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
I, UH, WORK ON SELECTING AREAS FOR GAS MAIN AND SERVICE REPLACEMENT, UH, BASED ON OUR DIM, WHICH I BELIEVE YOU MAY LEARN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT TODAY.
UM, AND THEN ALSO I SUPPORT, UH, A PORT OF LONG BEACH PROJECTS.
UH, SO CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, UM, THE LARGE ONE THAT'S ONGOING IS THE, UH, PB UH, RAIL ON DOCK, UH, PROJECT.
SO I, I PLAY A KEY PART OF THAT.
SO HELP ME OUT WITH THE ACRONYM 'CAUSE I OFTEN FORGET WHAT DIM STANDS FOR.
SO DIMP, IT'S FOR DISTRIBUTION INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT PLAN.
A CRITICAL PART OF OF GAS OPERATIONS IN THE GAS UTILITY OVERALL.
SO YOU STARTED AS AN INTERN? I STARTED AS AN INTERN 2015 THROUGH APPLE ONE, NOT KNOWING IF I WOULD EVER GET ON PERMANENTLY, UM, YOU KNOW, TOOK SOME TIME, BUT WHEN SOMETHING FINALLY OPENED UP, I I APPLIED FOR IT AND UH, I WAS HAPPY TO TAKE IT AND UM, 'CAUSE I ACTUALLY LEFT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME I CAME BACK.
AND IT'S FULL-TIME AND I'M GLAD I I MADE THAT MOVE.
UM, YOU KNOW, BEING BORN AND RAISED HERE IN LONG BEACH, UM, IT IS NICE TO WORK FOR THE CITY THAT I GREW UP IN.
AND I THINK THE ROLE'S PROGRESSION FROM INTERN TO SENIOR ENGINEER IS THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE'RE ALWAYS STRIVING TO DO HERE IN THE UTILITY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE CORE ENGINEERING STRENGTH OF THE DEPARTMENT.
SO IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THE EMPLOYEE AND SUPERVISORS OF YEAR FOR BUSINESS UNIT TWO.
SO I'LL START WITH THE TREATMENT PLANT GROUP.
SO I'M GONNA ASK FRANCO DE LOS ANGELES TO COME UP HERE AND GIVE HIMSELF A LITTLE QUICK INTRODUCTION, SOME BACKGROUND.
AND WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT WAL BEACH
[00:45:01]
SIGN? GOOD MORNING.UH, MY NAME IS FRANCO DE LOS ANGELES.
I'M AN ENI TECH OVER AT THE GROUNDWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
UM, MY RESPONSIBILITIES ARE MOSTLY TO INSTALL, MAINTAIN AND REPAIR ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL AND INSTRUMENTATION COMPONENTS THROUGHOUT OUR VARIOUS FACILITIES.
MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE JOB IS ACTUALLY THE VARIETY WITH THOUSANDS OF COMPONENTS.
ANY NUMBER OF THINGS COULD GO WRONG AT ANY TIME.
AND SO IT'S NEVER A BORING DAY
WE HAD THE, UM, OUR FIRST MERGE EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR, BREAKFAST RECOGNITION AT THE QUEEN MARY.
UM, BUT ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE THAT, THE QUEEN MARY WAS IN DISARRAY.
IT WAS BEING OPERATED POORLY AND THE CITY TOOK IT OVER AND THERE WERE TWO SEWER PUMP STATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE CREAM AREA THAT NOBODY WANTED OWNERSHIP.
AND SO I HAD TO ARGUE WITH THE CITY.
RICH HELPED ME, RICH CONVINCED ME THAT IT WAS THE UTILITIES, NOW THE UTILITIES PUMP STATION THAT WE HAD TO GO TAKE CARE OF.
AND SO THEN I HAD TO HURRY UP AND GET FRANCO AND ALL HIS TEAMMATES TO GET THAT PUMP STATION WORKING SO THAT THE CREAMERY COULD BE FUNCTIONAL AGAIN.
UM, AND THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB.
UM, THE PUMP STATION WAS SCARY TO LOOK AT.
WE, WE WEREN'T SURE THAT, UM, PEOPLE ON THE SHIP CAN FLUSH THE TOILETS AND SO WE REALLY HAD TO GET THE STATION, UM, UP AND RUNNING QUICKLY.
AND THEY ACTUALLY DID A FANTASTIC JOB IN HANDLING IT ALL IN-HOUSE.
UM, THEY TOOK CARE OF REPLACING ALL THE PUMPS AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL AND INSTRUMENTATION AUTOMATION SO THAT THE PUMP STATION COULD RUN, UM, CONTINUOUSLY WITHOUT HICCUP.
UM, AND ACTUALLY SAVED US QUITE A BIT OF MONEY BY DOING IT ALL IN.
SO I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR FRANCO AND HIS, UH, EXPERTISE, UM, DEDICATION TO THE JOB.
SO FOR THE SUPERVISOR HERE FOR TREATMENT, HE'S ACTUALLY ON VACATION, BUT I DO WANT TO MENTION HIS NAME.
UM, HE WAS ALSO, UM, VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THE COMPENSATION BACK INTO ORDER FOR THE QUEEN MARY.
SO FOR WATER CONSTRUCTION, I'M GONNA GO WITH, UM, EMPLOYEE A YEAR.
I WORK, UH, WATER SERVICE CONSTRUCTION UNDER, UH, RUBEN MARTINEZ.
I STARTED WITH THE NON-CAREER ACADEMY PROGRAM AND HAVE MOVED MY WAY UP.
UH, I FEEL VERY BLESSED TO BE HERE AND BLESSED THAT I GOT THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I TRY TO PASS ON THE KNOWLEDGE AS MUCH AS I CAN AND BE AS MUCH HELP AS I CAN TO WHOEVER ASKED ME FOR ANYTHING.
I WAS GONNA SAY, SO WHAT'S YOUR, UH, FAVORITE PART OF WORKING IN SERVICE CONSTRUCTION? UH, PROBABLY IT'S, IT'S, EVEN THOUGH IT'S LIKE THE SAME THING, IT'S A DIFFERENT SCENERY EVERY DAY.
YOU KNOW, DEALING WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE, UH, BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE, YOU KNOW, IN THIS CASE, WATER.
SO I'M LEAVING THEM WITH SOMETHING THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE.
SO THAT, THAT, THAT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD.
SO FOR SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR, FOR WATER CONSTRUCTION, WE HAVE RICK SMA MORNING COMMISSIONERS.
UM, I'VE BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT NOW, I'M ON MY 26TH YEAR.
SINCE THE BEGINNING I WAS IN WATER CONSTRUCTION, UH, INSTALLING WATER MAINS, HYDRANTS, FIRE SERVICES, YOU NAME IT.
AND ALSO JUST MAINTAINING THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AS FAR AS LEAKS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
IT'S BEEN, UH, QUITE A CHALLENGE.
IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO GO UP SOMEWHERE AND, YOU KNOW, FEEL A, THE, UH, ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE IMPROVING THE SYSTEM AND FIRE FLOW AND ALL THAT.
WELL WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO THE GAS SIDE.
WE'RE GONNA GO GAS CONSTRUCTION AND HIRO GUANO.
WHEN I LOOK AT HIS NAME, I ALWAYS WANNA SAY HERO.
HI, UH, MY NAME IS HIRO BUDINO.
[00:50:01]
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS TO LONG BEACH, BUT I WAS A CONTRACTOR OVER THERE.I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR GOING ON THREE YEARS.
UM, WHAT I DO FOR WORK, IT'S, I'M ON THE MAINLINE SIDE, SO I DO A LOT OF MAINLINE JOBS.
UM, PUTTING A LOT OF MAIN GAS SERVICES TO HOMES, UH, ABANDONED, UH, ONES THAT AREN'T GONNA BE USED NO MORE.
UM, YEAH, YOU KNOW, YOU OVER THERE, IT'S A LOT OF GO, GO GO IN HERE IS DO IT SAFE AND TAKE YOUR TIME OVER THERE IS YOU GOTTA GET IT DONE AND GET IT DONE.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH HOW THEY GO OVER THERE.
WE'RE GAS CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISOR.
UH, WHAT SAY? OH, UH, MY NAME IS MARK RAMEZ.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE GAS DEPARTMENT, UH, GOING ON.
UH, I'M NOT, I'M A GAS MAINTENANCE, UH, SUPERVISOR ONE.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT? UH, 10 YEARS OR GOING ON 10 YEARS IN OCTOBER.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT MANAGING THE, UH, THE GUYS? THE GUYS MAKE IT EASY.
UM, WE HAVE A GOOD, GOOD GROUP OF GUYS AND, UH, THEY MAKE, THEY MAKE WORK FUN.
UM, SO YEAH, SO, SO GAS IS NEW FOR ME.
UM, I CAME UP WITH THE WATER SITE.
BUT, UM, NATE TOOK ME OUT TO, UH, ONE OF MARK'S JOB SITES.
THEY WERE BUILDING A REG STATION OUT IN, UM, PRETTY, PRETTY ROUGH HARD TOWN.
UM, BUT THEY, THEY WERE, I'LL SKIP THAT STORY LATER,
BUT, UM, BUT HE, HE REALLY TOOK THE TIME TO EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THE REGULATION STATIONS WORK.
UM, THE CITIES KIND OF DIVIDED IN A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT GAS PRESSURE ZONES AND THEY HAVE THESE STATIONS THAT DIVIDE THE PRESSURES SO THAT THE EXISTING OLDER INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD DOESN'T POP.
AND SO THESE REG STATIONS ARE SUPER IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T OVER PRESSURIZE CERTAIN ZONES WITHIN THE CITY.
AND SO HE HAS, UM, ONE OF THE TOUGH JOBS OF BUILDING THESE STATIONS CORRECTLY.
SO REALLY WANNA THANK MARK FOR YOUR, THANK YOU.
SEE FOR SUPPORT SERVICES, UM, WE HAVE JIMMY OLIVIER, BUT HE'S ACTUALLY ON VACATION.
WE, WE DO HAVE TO LET PEOPLE OFF ONCE IN A WHILE.
UM, AND SO, BUT JIMMY IS AN ELECTRICIAN AND UM, WHEN WE MERGED, APPARENTLY THERE WAS A LOT OF ELECTRICAL NEEDS AT THE GAS CAMPUS AND BOY DID JIMMY'S PHONE NOT STOPPED RINGING.
UM, BUT HE REALLY TOOK ON THAT, THAT ROLE AND WENT OVER THERE AND HELPED THEM REWIRE WHATEVER THEY NEEDED TO GET, UM, THE WORK THAT THEY NEED DONE.
SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE JIMMY'S EFFORT IN HELPING THE DEPARTMENT, UM, AS A MERGED UTILITY.
SO WHAT AM I MISSING? I THINK THAT'S FOR IT FOR YOU, TY.
I DON'T NEED TO, I CAN GET DOWN, SIT DOWN.
NEXT UP WE'LL HAVE DIANA WITH HER TEAM.
UM, BU THREE EMPLOYEE AND SUPERVISORS OF THE YEAR.
WE'LL START WITH JANINE FRANKLIN AS EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR FOR ADMIN SERVICES.
SO JANINE, I'LL LET HER SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HERSELF.
UM, MY NAME IS JANINE FRANKLIN.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY GOING ON 32 YEARS IN JULY.
A PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH MR. GARNER HERE.
UM, I'M GLAD YOU DID NOT START WITH THE JOKE TODAY.
CHRIS
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SAY TO STAFF, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE SAYING, OH, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANNA BOTHER YOU.
WELL, FOR ANYONE THAT I'VE EVER HELPED, IF IT WASN'T FOR THEM BEING HERE, THE SERVICE THAT THEY PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY, I WOULD NOT BE NEEDED.
SO I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR SUPPORTING ME.
UH, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH SOME TRYING TIMES WITH STAFFING, BUT WITH THAT, UM, THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
[00:55:02]
WHAT I DO ENJOY ABOUT MY JOB IS SERVING, UM, PRIOR TO STARTING WITH THE CITY, I WORKED FOR A PUBLIC AGENCY WHERE I HAD INTERACTIONS WITH CITY EMPLOYEES, WHICH INSPIRED ME TO APPLY FOR OUR CITY SERVICE.AND HERE ALMOST 32 YEARS LATER, IT'S STILL BEEN A PLEASURE.
JANINE REALLY DOES, DOES KEEP THE SHIP RUNNING AND WE ALL GET PAID BECAUSE OF HER AND HER WORK.
UM, NEXT STEP IS EMPLOYEE AND SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR FOR OUR CALL CENTER AND BILLING GROUPS.
WE'LL START WITH EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR.
I AM A CUSTOMER SERVICE LEAD IN THE UTILITIES CALL CENTER.
SO I ASSIST THE RESIDENTS WITH THEIR UTILITY INQUIRIES, WITH THEIR BILLS AS WELL AS ASSIST OR PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR, UM, THE OTHER REPRESENTATIVES AS WELL AS MANAGEMENT.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR ALMOST NINE YEARS.
I LOVE THAT EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT.
IN OUR CALL CENTER GROUP, WE GET TO HEAR FROM ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE AND SO CRYSTAL AND NICOLE AND, AND ALL THE FOLKS THEY WORK WITH ARE QUITE, UM, PATIENT AND GREAT AT WHAT THEY DO.
SO IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE NICOLE.
UH, MY NAME IS NICOLE ETI JONES, BUT I GO BY JONES 'CAUSE IT'S JUST SO MUCH EASIER.
UM, BUT I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY SINCE 2011.
I ACTUALLY STARTED AS A, UH, SUMMER FOOD, UM, PROGRAM OVER AT AK PARK AND UH, JUST LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WE'VE HEARD, UM, I WAS A NON-CAREER THEN WAITED FOR THAT BANDING AND HAD THE UH, FORTUNE OPPORTUNITY TO COME ONTO THE CALL CENTER IN 2011.
UM, I LEFT FOR A SHORT TIME AND WENT OVER TO FM, LEARNED A LITTLE BIT.
UM, AND THEN I WAS BLESSED TO COME BACK, UM, IN MAY OF LAST YEAR TO BE A SUPERVISOR IN THE CALL CENTER, WHICH IS, UM, REALLY GRATIFYING.
UH, I'M REALLY A PEOPLE PERSON AND I FEEL IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A GOOD REPRESENTATION FOR OUR UTILITY CUSTOMERS AS WELL AS CONSTITUENTS.
SO I LOVE WORKING WITH CRYSTAL AND ALL OF OUR STAFF AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR OUR MANAGEMENT FOR MARIBEL.
AND UM, I JUST, I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN WHAT WE DO AND UH, WE DO OUR BEST EVERY SINGLE DAY TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER ALL THE CUSTOMER'S CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS WHEN THEY COME IN AS WELL.
WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE CRYSTAL AND NICOLE IN THE CALL CENTER AND THE CALL CENTER'S GONE THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF A TRANSITION IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF WITH A GOOD AMOUNT OF TURNOVER.
SO HAVING THEIR SEASONED LEADERSHIP, THEIR PATIENTS, THEIR ABILITY TO TEACH AND EVERY TIME I GO TO A CALL CENTER SECTION MEETING WITH NICOLE, I LEARN SOMETHING NEW.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO.
ALRIGHT, UM, NOW WE'RE OVER TO SEWER OPERATIONS AND SEWER EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR.
UM, I THINK HE IS WITH A NEWBORN SON, SO HE IS NOT WITH US, ANDREW FLORES.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE OUR SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR.
I'M A WATER UTILITY SUPERVISOR.
ONE I STARTED IN 2003 AS A MECHANIC NON-CAREER.
UM, WAS PROMOTED IN 2016 TO UTILITY SUPERVISOR.
I TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR IN-HOUSE SEWER REPAIRS, UH, COORDINATING, PRIORITIZING, UM, THINGS.
I ENJOY OUR, THE COMRADERY WITH MY TEAM AND WORKING WITH THE RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH AND TYLER MAKES REALLY GOOD ITALIAN SLIDERS.
SO IN, IN CUSTOMER SERVICE WE'RE A CELL.
HE HAD THE LONGEST WALK LAST TIME, SO I'M HOPING WE'RE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER
UM, SALVADOR P I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITI SINCE 2006 AS A NON-CAREER.
UM, THE REST OF MY YEARS IN METER SHOP NOW CUSTOMER SERVICE, UM, AND VALVE OPS.
SO IT'S PRETTY FUN JUMPING AROUND.
AND OUR WATER CUSTOMER SERVICE GROUP AND GAS, UM, CUSTOMER SERVICE ACTUALLY WITH A MI AND ALL OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WE'RE PUTTING OUT IN THE FIELD, THEY ARE REALLY GETTING A, A KIND OF 21ST CENTURY EXPERIENCE WITH OUR CUSTOMERS OUT THERE EVERY DAY.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT THEY DO.
AND NOW WE HAVE SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR FOR WATER SERVICES.
[01:00:01]
EVERYONE.UM, OH, BEEN WITH THE CITY SINCE 2005.
WORKED WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT, STARTED A NON-CAREER PROGRAM, WENT UP THE RANKINGS FROM A UTILITY MECHANIC, BECAME AN OPERATOR, THEN MADE SUPERVISOR IN 2015, UM, IN MAIN CONSTRUCTION UNDER SALALA IN HANLEY.
THEN 2017 I TRANSFERRED OVER TO METER SHOP.
UH, THEY WERE GETTING READY TO DO THIS.
A MI PROJECT REALLY TOOK INTEREST IN ME TO BE PART OF SOMETHING NEW AND TO BROADEN MY EXPERIENCE HERE.
SO 2017 WE LAUNCHED, I WENT THERE, STARTED IN 18.
THEN UM, JUST RECENTLY I WENT OVER TO VALVE OPS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I'M OVERSEEING THAT DEPARTMENT.
LEARNING NEW ASPECTS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, I DID START IN SEWER FOR THREE MONTHS IN OH FIVE, SO I'VE KIND OF BEEN A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, EVERY SECTION HERE SO FAR.
AND IT'S BEEN, UM, AN HONOR, YOU KNOW, IT'S UH, ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW HERE.
SO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS HAVE PROVIDED FOR ME AND ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES.
NO, THAT IS TOO SMALL OR BIG FOR HIM.
UM, OVER THE HOLIDAY SEASON WHEN STAFFING TENDS TO GET A LITTLE BIT THINNER 'CAUSE PEOPLE ARE ON VACATIONS.
I WALK IN THERE, YOU KNOW, JUST TO CHECK IN AND SEE HOW HE IS DOING.
AND HE'S LITERALLY DOING THREE JOBS AT ONCE.
SO I KIND OF WALKED AWAY REALLY QUICKLY.
AND OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE BREAKFAST WITH US BECAUSE HE WAS AT A TRAINING.
I'M A GAS FIELD TECHNICIAN WITH GAS SERVICES.
UH, I'VE BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS NOW, AND, UH, ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS IN MY CURRENT POSITION.
UH, WE WORK IN UNDER DISTRICT REGULATION AND TELEMETRY.
SO, AS TY MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE DIFFERENT PRESSURE DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
PART OF MY JOB IS MAINTAINING THOSE REGULATORS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE CITIZENS IN EACH DISTRICT ARE RECEIVING THE SAFE AND ADEQUATE PRESSURE.
UM, ON THE TELEMETRY SIDE OF THINGS, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR, FOR CALIBRATING MEASUREMENT, COMPUTERS OUT IN THE FIELD, UH, PRESSURE TRANSMITTERS, AS WELL AS FIELD DETECTION DEVICES THAT ARE USED THROUGH, UH, FROM OUR FIELD PERSONNEL.
AND THEN WHAT I LIKE MOST IS, IS I WOULD SAY THE, THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE PHYSICAL LABOR I GET TO DO WITH THE, THE REGULATORS.
YOU KNOW, I STILL GET TO TURN WRENCHES, WHICH I'M KIND OF A SUCKER FOR, UM, AS WELL AS THE ANALYTIC ASPECT WITH, UH, TELEMETRY AND, UH, BEING ABLE TO TROUBLESHOOT SOME OF OUR EQUIPMENT OUT IN THE FIELD.
SO IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD BALANCE.
JACK HOLDS A PRETTY SPECIAL POSITION IN GAS SERVICES.
WE ONLY HAVE A FEW GAS FIELD SERVICE TECHNICIANS, AND, UM, TY'S TEAM BUILDS THE REGULATORS AND OUR TEAM, UH, MAINTAINS THEM.
AND SO, UM, IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD COMPLIMENT.
AND NOW WE HAVE SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR.
WHERE'S SAM? GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.
SAM GARCIA, GAS DISTRIBUTION SUPERVISOR.
BEEN WITH THE, UH, GAS DEPARTMENT SINCE 2007.
I WILL BE CELEBRATING 17 YEARS IN JULY, COMING.
UM, WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT MY JOB IS I WAS ABLE TO COME UP THROUGH THE RANKS AS A GAS FIELD SERVICE REP, SELECTED TO JOIN THE METER SHOP GROUP AFTER THAT.
UM, JOINED THE TELEMETRY SHOP AFTER THAT.
AND NOW I AM, AM A SUPERVISOR FOR THE TELEMETRY GROUP, DISTRICT REGULATION GROUP, AND OUR 24 HOUR GAS EMERGENCY DISPATCH THAT ALSO HANDLES OUR AFTER HOURS WATER EMERGENCY CALLS AND SEWER AS WELL.
SO, UM, I WAS ABLE TO GAIN A LOT OF, UH, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THROUGH, UH, COMING UP THROUGH THE BOTTOM, UH, TO THIS, UH, CURRENT POSITION.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO MR. GARNER FOR ALLOWING ME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONSTELLATION PRIZE OF THROWING THE FIRST PITCH.
UM, EXCITED FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND AGAIN, AND ALSO, UH, MR. LEE RIC WHO COORDINATED THAT AS WELL.
IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR TO, UM, STAND HERE TODAY AS YOUR SUPERVISOR OF THE, UH, YEAR FOR GAS SERVICES.
ANY QUESTIONS?
AND I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE CHRIS, TOO, FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THIS BREAKFAST ON THE QUEEN MARY.
AND, AND HOPEFULLY ON BEHALF OF ANNA TILL, AND, AND TY
[01:05:01]
AND EVERYONE WHO, UM, HAS WORKED WITH CHRIS, WHETHER IT WAS IN GAS OR WATER.UM, THE S MERGER, I THINK REALLY ONLY WORKED BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS CHRIS AND KNOWS, UM, HIS JOKES AND WHEN HE IS ACTUALLY SERIOUS
SO JUST REAL QUICK, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, I THINK YOU HEARD THE COMMON THEME OF ALL THESE EMPLOYEES AND SUPERVISORS, THEY'VE COME INTO THE ORGANIZATION AND THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES.
AND SO THESE PEOPLE HAVE SHINED AND THEY'VE MOVED THROUGH THE, UH, RANKS IN, IN THE ORGANIZATION AND TRIED NEW THINGS.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
IF YOU TAKE A SHOWER THIS MORNING, YOU TOUCHED, UH, IF THE WATER CAME OUT, IT WAS WATER.
IF IT WAS A HOT SHOWER, IT WAS GAS, AND THE WATER HAD TO GO SOMEPLACE IN A SEWER.
SO EACH OF THESE PEOPLE TOUCH THE HOMES, EVERYBODY IN LONG BEACH EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO.
NOW YOU CAN STAY FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING OR YOU CAN LEAVE.
I, I HAVE A COUPLE MORE THINGS.
UM, WE HAVE THE RANCHO LOS AMIGOS, UH, COTTONWOOD AWARD LUNCHEON.
UH, COMMISSIONER CORDERO IS BEING HONORED AT THAT LUNCHEON.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE A CONFLICT FOR OUR MANAGERS.
THERE'S THE, UH, CITY'S MANAGEMENT, UH, RETREAT THAT SAME DAY.
UM, BUT WE HAVE, UM, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FIVE AND 10, UH, OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ATTENDING, UH, BUYING INDIVIDUAL TICKETS.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT, UH, EACH OF THE COMMISSIONERS ARE, HAVE BEEN ASKED IF YOU'D LIKE TO ATTEND.
UH, WE COULD BUY INDIVIDUAL TICKETS, SO PLEASE COORDINATE WITH LISA ON THAT.
AND THEN LASTLY, UM, WE HAVE OUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS.
UH, WE'RE PUTTING THESE OUT EVERYWHERE.
WE ARE DOING A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO TRY AND GET, UH, THE WORD OUT TO OUR RESIDENTS, UM, THAT IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO COME AND TALK AND, AND PARTICIPATE, UH, THEY CAN DO SO.
AND, UH, SO WE HAVE OUR THREE WORKSHOPS, MAY 2ND, MAY 16TH AND JUNE 6TH.
[1. 24-53009 Recommendation to approve April 4, 2024 Board meeting minutes. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
AGENDA, AND I'M CALLING FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE APRIL 4TH BOARD, UH, MEETING MINUTES.SECOND, WE HAVE A, A MOTION TO APPROVE.
ANY OPPOSITION? HEARING NONE, IT CARRIES.
[2. 24-53010 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to partner with the City’s Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications Department in the development and implementation of an Automated Earthquake Early Warning System program in an amount not to exceed $53,000. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
IS NUMBER TWO, AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY DISASTER PREPARATION AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN AUTUMN MADE IT EARTHQUAKE EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS PROGRAM.AND I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE LITTLE ITEM.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.
UH, THE ITEM I BRING BEFORE YOU IS ITEM NUMBER TWO REGARDING AN EAR EARTHQUAKE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.
AND THIS IS GOING TO BE, UH, PARTIALLY GRANT FUNDED THROUGH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY'S, UH, HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA BE DISCUSSING TODAY IS THE PROJECT OVERVIEW, HOW THE EARTHQUAKE EARLY, UH, WARNING SYSTEM WILL WORK, OR HOW IT DOES WORK, THE PROFE POTENTIAL BENEFITS FOR OUR UTILITY ORGANIZATION, AND THEN CLOSE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION.
SO, UH, A COUPLE YEARS AGO, I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT 2022, THE, UH, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT REACHED OUT TO ME INQUIRING IF WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN, IN, UH, PARTICIPATING IN A PILOT PROGRAM FOR AN EARTHQUAKE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM.
AND, UH, THEY WOULD SEEK OUT IF WE WERE INTERESTED IN, IN PARTICIPATING FOR A, A FEMA HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM, UH, GRANT TO, UH, FUND THIS PROJECT.
UH, RECENTLY I LEARNED THAT THIS GRANT WAS AWARDED, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, UH, PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM.
ORIGINALLY, IT WAS GOING TO BE OUR AGENCY, UH, AT THE TIME IT WAS THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
UM, SO THIS WILL BE COVERING OUR OPERATIONS SERVICE CENTER ADMINISTRATION, BUILDING AND TREATMENT PLANT ONLY AT THE MOMENT, UM, AS
[01:10:01]
WELL AS THE LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.HOWEVER, I LEARNED THAT, UH, L-B-U-S-D DID BACK OUT OF THIS, UH, PILOT PRO PROJECT.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE THE UTILITIES, UH, CARRYING THE, THE PILOT PRO PROJECT FOR THE CITY.
UM, THE WAY THAT THIS, UH, WOULD WORK IS THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE ADVANCED WARNING OF AN INCOMING, UH, EARTHQUAKE SHAKING, UH, THROUGH OUR VOIP TELEPHONE SYSTEM, OUR PA SYSTEM OR PUBLIC ADDRESS, AS WELL AS, UH, THROUGH OUR RADIO SYSTEM.
SO THE EMPLOYEES OUT IN THE FIELD WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THIS, UH, ADVANCED WARNING.
AND THEN, BECAUSE IT'S A PILOT PRO PROJECT, WE ARE GOING TO BE EVALUATING ADDITIONAL, UH, BENEFITS FOR THIS PROGRAM, UH, AS IT PERTAINS TO OUR OPERATIONS.
SO THE WAY AN EARTHQUAKE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM WORKS, AND I'LL USE MY POINTER HERE, IS THAT YOU HAVE, UH, AN EARTHQUAKE EPICENTER.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE EARTHQUAKE ORIGINATES.
AND SO FROM THAT EARTHQUAKE, THERE'S TWO TYPES OF SEISMIC WAVES THAT ARE PRODUCED.
THERE'S THE PRIMARY WAVE OR P WAVE, WHICH IS A VERY FAST MOVING, UH, WAVE FROM THE EARTHQUAKE, AND IT IS NOT REALLY FELT BY ANYONE.
THEN THERE'S THE SLOWER MOVING, UH, SECONDARY WAVE.
AND THIS IS THE WAVE THAT WE REALLY FEEL WITH WHEN AN EARTHQUAKE, UH, OCCURS.
SO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE, THE TWO, EXCUSE ME, MY HAND SHAKING, UH, THE TWO WAVES IS WHERE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE AN ADVANCE WARNING DEPENDING ON HOW FAR, UH, THE EPICENTER OF THE EARTHQUAKE IS.
THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF, UM, SEISMOMETERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
AND SO WHEN THESE SEISMOMETERS, UH, PICK UP THE P WAVE, UH, THEY WOULD PERFORM THEIR A ALGORITHM TO DETERMINE THE, UH, AMOUNT OF IMPACT THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY RECEIVE, UH, UP UPSTREAM, UH, FOR US.
AND THIS GOES TO AN EARTHQUAKE ALERT CENTER, AND THEY DISTRIBUTE THE NOTIFICATION TO ALL THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS EARTHQUAKE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM.
UM, THIS ALERT COULD HAPPEN REALLY FAST WITHIN THREE TO FIVE SECONDS OF WHEN THESE SENSORS START DETECTING THE P WAVES.
SO THAT COULD PROVIDE US WITH SECONDS TO EVEN MINUTES OF ADVANCED WARNING OF AN OF INCOMING SHAKING.
AND THIS, THIS CHART HERE, THIS IS WHAT YOU MIGHT TYPICALLY SEE FOR A, A SEISMOGRAPH WHERE, UM, WHEN THE SEISMOGRAPH STARTS DETECTING THE SHAKING, THEN IT COULD SAY, HEY, WE'RE HAVING AN EARTHQUAKE.
SO THE, THE SMALLER, UM, SHORTER WAVES HERE, THIS IS THE P WAVE THAT IS BEING DETECTED BY THE, THE SEISMOMETER.
AND SO ASSUMING THAT THIS IS, WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL SECONDS OF WHEN THAT, UH, SEISMOMETER DETECTS THE P WAVE, WE COULD GET THAT ADVANCED WARNING, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THIS IS THE ACTUAL S WAVE THAT WILL, WE WILL FEEL, UM, ONCE THE EARTHQUAKE SHAKING STARTS HITTING US.
UM, SO I DID WANNA SHOW THIS HERE.
THERE IS A DEFINITE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EARTHQUAKE MAGNITUDE, WHICH IS WHAT WE TYPICALLY HEAR ABOUT ON THE NEWS.
SO YOU'LL HEAR LIKE A 6.0 EARTHQUAKE, UH, STRUCK SOMEWHERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
AND MAGNITUDE IS REALLY THE MEASURE OF ENERGY, UH, FROM THE SEISMIC ACTIVITY AT THE EPICENTER OF THE EARTHQUAKE.
SO FOR, FOR SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE 20 MILES AWAY, IT WOULDN'T FEEL LIKE A MAGNITUDE SIX, IT WOULD FEEL A LOT LESS.
UM, SO WHAT WE ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN, AND WHAT THE SYSTEM REALLY OPERATES OFF OF IS THE MODIFIED ME INTENSITY SCALE.
AND THIS IS REALLY, UH, A LITTLE MORE SUBJECTIVE BASED ON THE OBSERVATIONS OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCE THE SHAKING WHEREVER THEY'RE STANDING AT.
UM, SO IT COULD GO FROM ONE WHICH IS REALLY FELT, WHICH IS THE EQUIVALENT OF WHERE YOU'RE STANDING OF A, A ONE TO 3.0 EARTHQUAKE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO A MAGNITUDE 10, WHICH WOULD BE AN INTENSITY OF 12, WHICH IS YOU'RE DEFINITELY FEELING IT AND IT IS CAUSING, UH, SEVERE DESTRUCTIVE DAMAGE TO FACILITIES AND SO FORTH.
SO THE WAY THAT THE, UH, EARTHQUAKE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM WOULD WORK IS THAT IF WE'RE ANTICIPATED TO FILL AN INTENSITY OF THREE, WHICH YOU'LL FEEL A LITTLE BIT OF SHAKING, IT WILL START TO DISTRIBUTE THE, THE AUTOMATED EARTHQUAKE EARLY WARNING.
UH, FOR, FOR OUR DEPARTMENT HERE, YOU'LL SEE THAT THIS IS A SCENARIO THAT WAS USED DURING, UH, ONE OF THE, UM, WHERE IS THAT EARTHQUAKE? JILL
SO THEY USE THIS, UH, THIS SIMULATION HERE TO DEPICT HOW A 7.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE ALONG THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT WOULD AFFECT THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION.
AND I HAD A VIDEO, BUT IT WAS TWO MINUTES LONG, AND I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO SIT HERE WHILE YOU SEE THESE, THIS EARTHQUAKE INTENSITY MOVING TOWARDS LONG BEACH.
BUT WE WILL REALLY, UH, DEFINITELY
[01:15:01]
FEEL IT.AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS, THIS CHART HERE, UH, IF SOMETHING OCCURRED ALONG THE SAN ANDREA'S FAULT, AND THIS, THESE COLORS HERE REPRESENT THE INTENSITY OF WHAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THE SPECIFIC POINT WHERE THEY'RE AT ON THIS MAP WOULD FEEL THE EARTHQUAKE.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, THINGS IN BETWEEN THAT WOULD REALLY DETERMINE, UM, THE AMOUNT OF SHAKING YOU RECEIVE.
AND IT'S, IT'S PRIMARILY BASED ON THE GEOLOGY OF THE AREA.
SO MOUNTAINS AND HILLS AND SO FORTH MAY REDUCE THE INTENSITY OF THE SHAKING WHERE FLAT OR EVEN SANDY AREAS COULD EXPERIENCE A LOT MORE INTENSITY AS WELL AS LIQUEFACTION.
SO WHAT I HAVE HERE IS A VIDEO DEMONSTRATION OF WHAT THE EARTHQUAKE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM WOULD SOUND LIKE.
AND THIS WAS A TEST AT, UH, LOMA LIN, WHAT IS IT? VIOLA, THANK YOU.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO PLAY THIS VIDEO SO YOU CAN GET A, A GOOD DEMONSTRATION OF WHAT THAT ALERT WOULD SOUND LIKE, UH, THAT OUR EMPLOYEES WOULD RECEIVE.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH A FEW SECONDS OF ADVANCED WARNING THAT OUR EMPLOYEES WOULD BE ABLE TO DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON FOR PROTECTIVE MEASURES.
MOST OF THE INJURIES AND FATALITIES FALLING, UH, WHEN AN EARTHQUAKE OCCURS ARE DUE TO PEOPLE MOVING AROUND OR RUNNING OUT OF BUILDINGS AND SO FORTH.
SO IF EMPLOYEES HAD ADVANCED WARNING OF SOME SIGNIFICANT SHAKING, THEY COULD DO THESE PROTECTIVE MEASURES OF DROP COVER AND HOLD ON, OR MOVE AWAY FROM TALL BUILDINGS, TREES, ET CETERA, WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN THE FIELD SO THAT THEY DON'T GET INJURED DUE TO THE SHAKING FROM THE EARTHQUAKE.
SO THIS WOULD BE A DEFINITE BENEFIT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE IT WILL NOT ONLY PREVENT INJURIES, BUT ALSO SAVE LIVES SO THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY FALLING A, A CATASTROPHIC EARTHQUAKE THAT AFFECTS OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, IN ADDITION, WE'RE GOING TO BE EVALUATING CERTAIN OPERATIONAL, UH, MEASURES.
UH, WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO LOOK AT ELEVATOR STOPPING.
SO IF, IF ADVANCED WARNING IS RECEIVED, THE ELEVATOR WILL MOVE TO THE NEAREST FLOOR, OPEN THE DOOR SO NO ONE BECOMES ENTRAPPED IN THE ELEVATOR, FALLING THE EARTHQUAKE, WE CAN EVALUATE THE POSSIBILITY OF SHUTTING DOWN, UH, OR SECURING EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT SO THAT THEY DON'T GET DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE SHAKING.
AND THEN FOR OUR OPERATIONS AS WELL AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE COULD LOOK AT THE POTENTIAL OF OPENING BAY DOORS, UH, BEFORE THE SHAKING OCCURS, SO THAT VEHICLES DON'T GET STUCK INSIDE OF A CLOSED BAY WHEN POWER'S LOST.
SO THESE ARE GONNA BE A VARIETY OF, OF MEASURES THAT WE'LL LOOK AT IN ADDITION TO POTENTIAL TRIGGERS FOR OUR OWN EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES.
UH, SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE BOARD TO DO TODAY IS TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY'S DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN AUTOMATED EARTHQUAKE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM PROGRAM IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $53,000, WHICH IS OUR GRANT, UH, LOCAL AGENCY SHARE OF 28%.
WITH THAT, I CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION, AND I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AND COMMISSIONERS, WE JUST HAVE A QUICK, QUICK QUESTION.
I THINK THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
AND, UH, WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS.
BUT, UM, ON A SEPARATE NOTE, THIS IS REALLY JUST ABOUT COMMUNICATION EFFORT.
UM, HAVE WE DONE ANYTHING IN TERMS OF OUR OWN PREPAREDNESS, IN TERMS OF OPERATIONALLY? YES.
SO WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN, AND WE'RE MANDATED BY THAT BY, UM, THE EPA THROUGH THE AMERICA'S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE ACT.
SO WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN FOR THE WATER AND SEWER AS WELL AS A, AT THE MOMENT, A SEPARATE PLAN FOR THE, THE GAS OPERATIONS.
AND WE ARE LOOKING TO CONSOLIDATE, CONSOLIDATE THOSE TWO PLANS
[01:20:01]
TOGETHER.UH, IN ADDITION, WE DO A VARIETY OF EXERCISES AND DRILLS WITH OUR EMPLOYEES SO THEY UNDERSTAND THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES DURING, UH, A MAJOR INCIDENT.
UH, THIS COULD BE THE FORM OF, OF DISCUSSION EXERCISES AS WELL AS, UH, OPERATIONAL OR PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARRYING OUT THEIR SPECIFIC ROLES, UH, IN A SIMULATION EXERCISE.
SO WE DO A, A NUMBER OF EXERCISES ANNUALLY, UH, AS WELL AS KEEP OUR OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS UP TO DATE.
JOHN, CAN YOU TOUCH AGAIN ON WHY THIS IS JUST WATER AND AND SEWER, NOT GAS? UH, ABSOLUTELY.
SO WHEN WE APPLIED FOR THE GRANT, UH, THE MERGER WASN'T BEING DISCUSSED AT THE MOMENT AND WE WERE SEPARATE UTILITIES.
UM, SO WHEN, WHEN, UH, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS APPLIED FOR THE GRANT, WE WERE NOT EMERGED UTILITY AT THE TIME.
SO THEY, THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED AT WHEN THEY APPLIED FOR THE GRANT, BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'D BE VERY BENEFICIAL ON THE GAS SIDE.
UM, AND SO WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT.
UM, IF WE CAN GET ADVANCED WARNING OF A EARTHQUAKE, A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE ON THE GAS SIDE, WE CAN START SHUTTING OR BE READY TO SHUT OFF VALVES AND REALLY RESTRICT GAS FLOW IN CERTAIN AS, UH, PARTS OF THE CITY.
SO WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT VISION.
RAIN PRESIDENT RAINEY, I'M SORRY, BUT JUST REAL QUICK AGAIN.
UM, AND I'M SURE WE HAVE A COORDINATED EFFORT WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITIES THAT WE MEET WITH AND WE'VE MET WITH TO JUST COORDINATE SO THAT IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN, WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT USING THAT, UM, UH, LOUDSPEAKER AND EVERYTHING FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T PAID THEIR BILLS STILL.
YEAH, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO PAY YOUR BILL.
AND, AND THIS MIGHT BE REALLY OUT THERE, BUT I JUST WATCHED A MOVIE THAT REALLY KIND OF FREAKED ME OUT.
BUT, UM, TSUNAMI, DO WE HAVE ANY INDICATIONS ON, LIKE, IS THERE A, IS THERE A TALK ABOUT THAT AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AND HOW YOU WOULD GET A WARNING? AND SO THE CITY HAS A, UM, EVACUATION PLAN FOR THE AREAS THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED BY A TSUNAMI.
UM, SO, UH, THE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION, UH, CARRIES FORTH THAT EFFORT.
SO TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE IS SIGNAGE ALONG THE EVACUATION PATH AS WELL AS INFORMATION ABOUT HOW, ABOUT HOW TO DETECT A TSUNAMI THAT MAY BE COMING WITH THE WATER LEAVING SHORE DRAMATICALLY.
AND THEN A OF COURSE, A HUGE WAVE COMING FORTH AND TO SEEK HIGHER GROUND.
BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE IS NO, UM, NOTIFICATION WARNING THAT WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO AIR, UH, INDIVIDUALS IN THOSE AREAS.
THE PLAN IS TO GO TO SIGNAL HILL.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SIGNAL HILL.
AND WITH THAT I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, WE HAVE THE MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE.
NEXT IS OUR ITEM NUMBER THREE, AUTHORIZE
[3. 24-53011 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to adopt the final Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, approve filing of a Notice of Determination with the Los Angeles County Clerk, and execute the appropriate environmental documents related to the LADWP Haynes Generating Station Recycled Water Pipeline Project (REO-0213). Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
THE GENERAL MANAGER TO ADOPT THE INITIAL STUDY MITIGATION NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND THE MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM APPROVED FILING OF A NOTICE OF DETERMINATION WITH LOS ANGELES COUNTY CLERK AND EXECUTE THE APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE L-A-D-W-P HAYNES GENERATING STATION RECYCLE WATER PIPELINES, I MEAN WATER PIPELINES PROJECT.UH, FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM, WE PREPARED A SHORT PRESENTATION AND AS MENTIONED, THIS IS RELATED TO THE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO L-A-D-W-P AIDS GENERATING STATION RECYCLED WATER PIPELINE PROJECT.
OUR DEPARTMENT HAS AN EXISTING AGREEMENT WITH L-A-D-W-P, WHICH STARTED IN 2022 FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF RECYCLE WATER AND SEWER PIPELINES TO ADDRESS THE FUTURE NEEDS OF PAINT STATION.
UM, I JUST WANNA BRING UP THAT THIS BOARD ITEM IS JUST FOR THE RECYCLED PORTION OF THE PROJECT.
UH, LATER ON THIS YEAR, WE WILL BE COMING BACK ASKING FOR SIMILAR APPROVAL FOR THE SEWER PORTION OF THE PROJECT.
SO AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT WITH L-E-D-W-P, THE DEPARTMENT HIRED A CONSULTANT TO HANDLE THE DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENTAL RELATED SERVICES FOR THE PROJECT.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PORTION INCLUDES COMPLIANCE WITH CQA AND OTHER PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS.
THE PROPOSED RECYCLED PROJECT, UH, RECYCLED WATER PROJECT INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION WITHIN AREAS WITH EXISTING STRUCTURES,
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AREAS WITH EXISTING SUBSURFACE UTILITY.SO THAT INCLUDES WATER, SEWER, GAS, STORM DRAIN, UM, AREAS WITH EXISTING VEGETATION, ESPECIALLY NEAR SR 22 FREEWAY.
AND OF COURSE, EXISTING ROADWAYS OWNED EITHER BY THE CITY OR THE STATE.
UH, THE PIPELINES WITH SIZES RANGING FROM 12 TO 24 INCH WILL BE CONSTRUCTED VIA THE TRADITIONAL OPEN CUT METHOD, BUT THERE WILL BE A SHORT SECTION USING TRENCHLESS METHOD.
SO THE PHOTO HERE IN FRONT OF US IS JUST SHOWING, UH, ONE SECTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION AREA NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF STUDEBAKER AND COLLEGE PARK DRIVE.
THIS IS WHERE YOU WOULD EXIT AND ENTER SR 22 FREEWAY FROM STUDE BAKER.
THE PIPE ITSELF WITH LENGTH OF MORE THAN 8,000 FEET, AND I'LL REVISIT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS LENGTH LATER ON IN THE PRESENTATION, WILL BE CONSTRUCTED FROM WHERE WE HAVE OUR EXISTING RECYCLE FACILITY.
SO IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE MAP, IT'S THE UPPER PORTION OVER HERE RUNNING E UM, EAST WEST OR LEFT, RIGHT? SO FROM THAT LOCATION, THE PIPELINE WILL BE CONSTRUCTED SOUTH ON STUDEBAKER, AS SHOWN BY THE SOLID, UH, RED LINE.
UH, IT'LL TURN EAST OVER HERE TOWARDS SAN GABRIEL RIVER.
IT'LL CROSS THE RIVER THROUGH COLLEGE PARK DRIVE BRIDGE.
FROM THERE, IT ALL TURNS SOUTH, UH, CROSSING UNDER SR 22 FREEWAY, UH, ENDING AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF HAINES STATION.
SO HAINES STATION, AS WE KNOW, IS LOCATED IN LONG BEACH, BUT THE POINT OF CONNECTION OR THE END OF CONSTRUCTION FOR THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF SEAL BEACH.
AND EVERYONE CAN SEE THE, UH, THE CITY BOUNDARY LINE BETWEEN LONG BEACH AND SEAL BEACH.
THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT OR CQA REQUIRES PUBLIC OR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR PROJECTS.
SO FOR THIS PROJECT, LONG BEACH UTILITIES IS THE LEAD AGENCY SINCE, UH, WE'RE REPRESENTING AND PARTNERING WITH L-E-D-W-P.
AS SUCH, WE ARE REQUIRED TO INFORM THE GOVERNMENT DECISION MAKERS AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT AND TO REDUCE THE IMPACTS TO THE EXTENT FEASIBLE.
SO WHEN THERE'S A PUBLIC AGENCY PROJECT, THERE'S A TYPICAL S QL PROCESS THAT NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED.
SO THE FIRST STEP IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE PROJECT IS CONSIDERED EXEMPT FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS.
UH, MOST OF OUR PROJECTS HERE AT LONG BEACH UTILITIES FALL UNDER AN EXEMPTION, WHETHER STATUTORY OR CATEGORICAL.
HOWEVER, THIS, UH, HAYES PROJECT EXCEEDS THE ONE MILE LENGTH THRESHOLD I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE LENGTH OF CONSTRUCTION OF MORE THAN 8,000 FEET.
THEREFORE, WE NEED TO GO TO THE NEXT STEP, WHICH IS THE PREPARATION OF AN INITIAL STUDY, OR IS TO FIGURE OUT THE IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
SO AFTER THE, THE PREPARATION OF THE IS THE LAST STEP IS TO PREPARE THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENT BASED ON THE RESULTS.
GENERALLY, THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF DOCUMENTS AS SHOWN ON THE THIRD STEP OVER HERE FOR THIS PROJECT.
SINCE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT IM IMPACTS, HOWEVER, THE IMPACTS CAN BE MITIGATED TO LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT.
THE MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION, THE SECOND ONE ON THE LIST OR M AND D, WAS PREPARED.
SO AFTER THE PREPARATION OF THE ISM AND D FOR THE PROJECT, THERE WAS A REQUIRED 30 DAY PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD.
THE REVIEW IS MANDATORY BEFORE THE DOCUMENT CAN BE APPROVED OR ADOPTED.
SO FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT THE M AND D WAS PUBLISHED IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER AND RECORDED WITH LA COUNTY CLERK.
ADDITIONALLY, COPIES WERE MADE AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE CLEARINGHOUSE CITY PLANNING'S WEBSITE, AND OVER HERE AT OUR WATER ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, THE 30 DAY REVIEW AND COMMENT PERIOD TOOK PLACE BETWEEN JANUARY 19TH TO 20TH TO FEBRUARY 20TH.
SO COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED AND MOST NOTABLY FROM THE FOLLOWING AGENCIES LIST LISTED HERE.
AND WE ALSO RECEIVED MINIMAL COMMENTS FROM SILL BEACH, UM, SOME NA NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES AND SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED INCLUDED RECOMMENDED MEASURES AND PROGRAMS TO MITIGATE IMPACTS TO FISH AND WILDLIFE MEASURES FOR VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIAN IMPACTS OR TRAFFIC CONCERNS, MEASURES RELATED TO NOISE.
AND LASTLY, TRIBAL RELATED MEASURES.
ALL COMMENTS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AND MEETINGS WERE SCHEDULED FOR THE AGENCIES WHO REQUESTED THEM, AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE FINAL ISM AND D DOCUMENT.
AND IN CONCLUSION, THE PROJECT WITH ALL THE MITIGATED MEASURES
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WILL NOT RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT INFA IMPACT TO THE ENVIRONMENT.THE CQA DOCUMENTS THAT WE PREPARED REQUIRE APPROVAL FROM THE BOARD BEFORE WE CAN ADVERTISE THE RECYCLED WATER PIPELINE PROJECT OUT BID.
AND I BELIEVE THE, UH, BOARD LETTER HAS, UH, SOME LANGUAGE ABOUT, UH, FISCAL IMPACT.
BUT I JUST WANNA MENTION AGAIN THAT ALL ASSOCIATED COSTS WITH THE SQL PROCESS AND FUTURE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT WILL BE PAID FOR BY L-E-D-W-P, PER THE CURRENT AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH THEM.
SO WITH THIS INFORMATION STAFF RECOMMENDS OUR BOARD TO AUTHORIZE OUR GENERAL MANAGER TO ADOPT THE FINAL ISM AND D AND THE MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM APPROVE, FILING UP A NOTICE OF DETERMINATION WITH LA COUNTY CLERK AND EXECUTE THE APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS RELATED TO HAYNES STATION RECYCLE WATER PIPELINE PROJECT.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS, ANY COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS? CHRIS, JUST REAL QUICK.
SO THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WAS ORIGINATED WITH, UH, LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER FOR THEIR POWER PLANT, AND THEY HAD THE OPTION TO REALLY WORK CLOSELY WITH THEIR OWN WATER UTILITY SIDE OF THE, THE DEPARTMENT.
AND THEIR PREFERENCE WAS TO WORK WITH DENNIS AND HIS GROUP.
I THINK IT'S REAL TESTAMENT TO THAT.
I THINK IT WAS ME PERSONALLY, BUT
UM, ANY COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS? OKAY.
UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? MOTION TO APPROVE.
MOTION BY GLORIA AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CHEN.
ANY OPPOSITION? HEARING NONE THE MOTION, UH, PASS.
[4. 24-53012 Recommendation to adopt Resolutions UT-1509 and UT-1510 authorizing the General Manager to execute contracts, and any necessary subsequent amendments, with Measurement Control Systems and Meter, Valve & Control, Inc., respectively, to furnish and deliver gas meters and other services and parts, in an aggregate annual amount not to exceed $800,000 for a period of one year, with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR, ADOPT A RESOLUTION UT DASH 1509 AND UT 1510 AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS WITH MEASUREMENTS, CONTROL SYSTEM AND METERS, VALVES AND CONTROL INC.AND WE HAVE MR. ED FARRELL, WHO WILL ADDRESS THIS ITEM.
UH, GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.
FIRST OFF, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE SAM AND JACK OF THE GAS SERVICES BUREAU.
THEY STILL HERE? YEAH, THEY'RE, UH, FOR THEIR EMPLOYEE, EXCUSE ME, AND SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR, AND I HOPE IT'S OKAY.
BUT, UH, OUR BU THREE A GM DIANA WAS, UH, OUR MANAGER OF THE YEAR.
SO WHERE SHE, OH, SHE MISSED IT.
THIS MORNING I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, UT 1509 AND UT 1510 LONG BEACH UTILITIES IS REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS WITH MEASUREMENT CONTROL SYSTEMS, MCS AND METER VALVES AND CONTROL MVC TO PURCHASE METERS REGULATORS AND MISCELLANEOUS PARTS.
SO WHO ARE MEASUREMENT CONTROL SYSTEMS AND WHO'S METER, VALVES AND CONTROL? MEASUREMENT CONTROL SYSTEMS IS A CALIFORNIA BASED BUSINESS APPLYING METERS AND REGULATORS TO UTILITY CUSTOMERS ACROSS THE US.
MCS IS THE MANUFACTURER APPROVED VENDOR TO DISTRIBUTE HONEYWELL AMERICAN GAS METERS AND REGULATORS USED IN OUR, UH, DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
METER VALVES OF CONTROL, OR MBC IS ANOTHER CALIFORNIA COMPANY THAT HAS FOR YEARS BEEN SERVING GAS UTILITY CUSTOMERS AS A DISTRIBUTOR OF METERS AND REGULATORS.
MBC IS THE SOLE DISTRIBUTOR OF ITRON METERS AND REGULATORS USED FOR OUR LIGHT DUTY AND RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
MCS AND MVC ARE THE MANUFACTURER WHO AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR METERS AND REGULATORS WIDELY USED IN THE LVU SYSTEM.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER MY LAST VISIT HERE IN DECEMBER OF 2023 WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT METERS.
AT THAT TIME, YOU APPROVED A CONTRACT SUPPLYING THE MAJORITY OF OUR, UH, 150,000 RESIDENTIAL METERS IN LONG BEACH AND SIGNAL HILL.
AND AS STATED, WE UTILIZE SEVERAL DIFFERENT METER TECHNOLOGIES DEPENDING ON, UH, THE VARIOUS APPLICATIONS.
SO THE METERS FROM THESE DISTRIBUTORS TODAY, UH, COVER USAGE RANGES FROM THE VERY HIGH RESIDENTIAL TO LIGHT COMMERCIAL LOADS.
MEASUREMENT CONTROL SYSTEMS PROVIDES US WITH THE AMERICAN METER, AC SIX 30, A SMALL FOOTPRINT, COMMERCIAL SIZED DIAPHRAGM METER WELL-SUITED FOR LIGHT, LIGHT COMMERCIAL AND MASTER METERED APPLICATIONS.
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METER VALVE AND CONTROL CONTROL PROVIDES US THE UTILITY WITH ADDITIONAL METER OPTIONS, INCLUDING THE ITRON 5 0 8, A LARGER DIAPHRAGM METER OPTION AT A THOUSAND CUBIC FEET PER HOUR, AND RELATIVELY NEW TO OUR UTILITY, A COMPACT HIGH VOLUME, UH, ULTRASONIC SOLUTION.SO IN THIS SLIDE, YOU'LL NOTICE A REGULATOR.
WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT REGULATORS IN MY PREVIOUS GAS, UH, 1 0 1, BUT, UH, UH, UM, A REGULATOR IS SIMPLY A DEVICE THAT DECREASES LINE PRESSURE, WHICH IN OUR SYSTEM, AND WE'VE TALKED A FEW TIMES ABOUT THE PRESSURE TODAY CAN SPAN BETWEEN SEVEN AND 40 PSI, UH, DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION, THE REGULATOR JUST TAKES THAT SERVICE LINE PRESSURE AND KNOCKS IT DOWN TO OPERATING PRESSURE, WHICH IS GENERALLY, UH, A QUARTER POUND.
SO, EXCEPT IN VERY RARE CASES, EVERY METER SET IS ASSOCIATED WITH A REGULATOR.
MEASUREMENT CONTROL SYSTEMS APPLIES THE 1800 SERIES REGULATORS FOR US, MADE BY ELRA AMERICAN.
THIS IS A LARGER VOLUME REGULATOR SUITABLE, UH, FOR MID TO VERY HIGH VOLUMES AND METER VALVE AND CONTROL SUPPLIES.
THE ITRON B 42, A SMALLER VOLUME REGULATOR SUITABLE FOR RESIDENTIAL USE IN MANIFOLDS UP TO THREE METERS.
THE B 42 IS ACTUALLY OUR MOST COMMONLY USED REGULATOR.
AND AGAIN, MCS AND MVC ARE SOLE SOURCE VENDORS.
AS THE APPROVED DISTRIBUTORS OF THESE GAS COMPONENTS, DIRECT PURCHASES FROM THESE MANUFACTURERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
SO WHY IS THE CONTINUITY OF THESE METERS AND REGULATORS IMPORTANT? AS YOU'VE HEARD A COUPLE TIMES TODAY ALREADY, MUCH OF OUR OPERATIONS ON THE GAS SIDE OF THE UTILITY ARE REGULATED BY PIPELINE.
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, OR F IMSA F IMSA CONDUCTS INTERNAL AUDITS TO ENSURE SAFE OPERATIONS AND QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES IN ORDER TO PROTECT LIFE AND SAFETY.
WE ARE GOVERNED BY THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS TITLE 49, PART 1 92, WHICH COVERS TRANSPORTATION OF GAS AND PIPELINES.
SO FOR US, WHAT THAT MEANS IS ALL METERS AND REGULATORS INSTALLED INTO THE GAS SYSTEM ARE VETTED TO ENSURE A SAFE OPERATION.
ALL VETTED MATERIALS IN OUR SYSTEM ARE RECORDED AND TRACKED, AND METERS AND REGULATORS ASSOCIATED WITH MBC AND MCS HAVE BEEN EMBEDDED THROUGH GAS ENGINEERING AND HAVE PROVEN RECORDS OF RELIABILITY.
THESE METERS AND REGULATORS ARE CURRENTLY WRITTEN INTO OUR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL AS APPROVED AND EMBEDDED COMPONENTS.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO SECURE THESE CONTRACTS TO KEEP METER AND REGULATOR INVENTORIES AT ADEQUATE LEVELS TO COVER REGULARLY SCHEDULED WORK, BUT ALSO TO HAVE ADEQUATE INVENTORY IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.
LARGER RESIDENTIAL DEMAND FOR THESE METERS AND REGULATORS IS INCREASING TO KEEP PACE WITH ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND LARGER VOLUME APPLIANCES, UH, BECOMING MORE COMMONPLACE, TANKLESS WATER HEATERS, HIGHER VOLUME, FOREST AIR FURNACES, POOL HEATERS, AND, UH, BACKYARD FIRE PITS, NUDGE RESIDENTIAL LOADS INTO THIS MID RANGE OF VOLUME ER BY THESE METERS AND BEYOND NEW INSTALLATION AND UPGRADE WORK, WE HAVE A LARGE INVENTORY OF THESE LIGHT COMMERCIAL SIZED METERS, UH, CURRENTLY IN OUR SYSTEM.
SO SUPPLY ON HAND ENSURES METERS ARE AVAILABLE FOR NORMAL REPLACEMENTS.
AND WITH THAT, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO ADOPT RESOLUTION UT 1509 AND UT 1510 WITH ONE MEASUREMENT CONTROL SYSTEM AND TWO METER VALVE AND CONTROL RESPECTIVELY AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS IN ANY NECESSARY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS TO FURNISH AND DELIVER NATURAL GAS METERS AND OTHER SERVICES AND PARTS IN AN AGGREGATE ANNUAL AMOUNT OF $800,000 FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR TWO ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR PERIODS.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? UH, COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS? I THINK HE MISSPOKE.
HE SAID, UH, IN AN ACCURATE AMOUNT OF, UH, 800,000, IT'S NOT TO EXCEED 800,000, RIGHT? YES, I DID.
UH, I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
SO YOU MENTIONED RISING PRICES, RISING COSTS, UM, WHAT SORT OF COST INCREASES HAVE YOU, WE'VE SEEN LIKE PERCENTAGE YEAR OVER YEAR FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
I CAKE, I, I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU.
UH, BUT EVERYTHING WE TOUCH HAS GOT INCREASED COSTS, UH, AND INCREASED WAIT
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TIMES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.UH, ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER'S? QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? OKAY.
MOTION BY, UH, COMMISSIONER SHANNON SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCGUIRE.
UM, IS, WE HAVE OUR MOTION AND OUR SECOND AND WE HAVE TO CALL FOR ROLL CALL VOTE VICE PRESIDENT MCGUIRE.
[5. 24-53013 Recommendation to adopt Resolution No. UT-1513 authorizing the General Manager to enter into an agreement with Synergy Companies for a full-service direct installation program providing efficient water and natural gas devices to single family and multifamily properties in an initial amount not to exceed $821,000, with the option to increase the contract amount equal to any additional AB 32 Cap and Trade Credit funds or other grant funds awarded to the program, for a period of five years or until the direct installation program terminates, whichever is sooner. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
ITEM FIVE, ADOPT RESOLUTION.UT 1513 AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL MANAGER TO ENTER AN AGREEMENT WITH SYNERGY COMPANIES.
IS IT RISI OR RISSO? B RISSO OR BACA? RIZZO, IF YOU'RE, THAT'S VERY GOOD.
I DID IT VERY, I ALWAYS LOVE WHEN I GET A COMMENT FROM YOU, COMMISSIONER
JOSEPH, YOUR BAR IS VERY LOW, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, GOOD MORNING.
WE'RE HAVING A QUITE MEETING TODAY.
UM, GLAD I CAN PRESENT TO YOU, UH, THIS, UH, MULTI-FAMILY AND SINGLE FAMILY DIRECT INSTALLATION PROGRAM.
UH, THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE ONE OF THE FIRST PROGRAMS THAT I WORKED ON HERE WHEN I, UH, CAME TO LONG BEACH.
SO IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU TO COME, UH, POTENTIAL, UH, FULL PROGRAM FRUITION.
UM, SO A LITTLE AGENDA TODAY, OUR DIAMOND D UH, PILOT PROGRAM, UH, IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THE DIME PROGRAM IS OUR DIRECT INSTALL MULTIFAMILY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM.
OUR DIA PROGRAM IS OUR DIRECT INSTALL APPLIANCE PROGRAM THAT'S FOCUSED MORE, IT'S SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTS.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE BACKGROUND AND RESULTS FOR THOSE TWO PILOT PROGRAMS, UM, HOW WE FOUND IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO MORE PEOPLE.
ALSO, UH, SOME PROGRAM PARTNERSHIPS AND HOW WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE, UH, WORKING WITHIN THE CITY.
UM, THE DEVICE OFFERINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE, UH, PROVIDING FOR THIS, UH, PERMANENT TWO PERMANENT POTENTIAL PROGRAMS, UM, WHERE WE'RE GETTING OUR FUNDING FROM.
AND THEN ALSO FINALLY, OUR STAFF RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HOPE THAT YOU APPROVE.
SO WE'LL START WITH OUR DIRECT INSTALL, MULTI-FAMILY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM.
SO THIS, UH, PROGRAM STARTED BACK IN 2019 AND RAN, UM, ALL THE WAY TILL 2022, EXCUSE ME, 2021.
UM, THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM WAS TO INSTALL WATER EFFICIENT DEVICES AT MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES IN STATE DEFINED DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY AREAS.
SO IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE SB 5 35, UH, MAPPING, WHICH IS THE AREAS HERE IN RED, UM, THIS IS STATE DEFINED, UH, DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY AREAS.
UM, THE FUNDING THAT WE HAD FOR THE DIME PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY AB 32 FUNDS AS WELL AS METROPOLITAN.
AND WE WERE REQUIRED TO USE THAT FUNDING IN THESE RED AREAS.
SO YOU'LL SEE THAT THE BLUE DOTS ARE AREAS WHERE WE HAD INSTALLATIONS DURING THIS DIME, UH, PILOT PROJECT.
UM, THE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT FUNDING SAID THAT WE COULD ONLY, UM, UH, INSTALL THESE, UH, HIGH EFFICIENCY DEVICES IN THE RED AREAS.
UM, THE RE REDUCE BARRIERS IS ANOTHER OBJECTIVE THAT WE HAD IN THE DIME PROGRAM.
UM, WATER EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS BETWEEN RENTERS WHO MAY NOT, UH, SEE THEIR WATER BILL AND OWNERS WHO ARE NOT ON SITE.
SO IF ANY OF YOU HAVE LIVED IN A MULTIFAMILY PROPERTY, YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT.
UH, THERE YOU MAY NOT KNOW THE REBATES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU.
YOU MAY NOT, UH, SEE A BILL TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MAY HAVE A, UH, HIGH, UH, USAGE BECAUSE YOUR BILL IS GOING UP.
SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A, UH, UH, OF A BARRIER BETWEEN AN OWNER WHO'S PAYING THE BILLS AND A RENTER WHO'S USING THE ACTUAL, UH, WATER.
SO THIS PILOT WAS HOPING TO, UH, CLOSE THAT GAP.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE WANTED TO FOSTER PARTNERSHIPS HERE.
SO I WOULD SAY ACTUALLY MORE, UH, OF A, UH, DEVELOP A RAPPORT BETWEEN CUSTOMERS AND THEIR OWNERS AND THE UTILITY ITSELF SO THAT WE CAN ALL WORK IN, UM, UNISON, UH, TO, UH, SAVE WATER AS WELL AS, UH, SAVE ON BILLS.
SO HERE'S OUR PROGRAM RESULTS FROM
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THIS INITIAL PILOT FROM DIME.WE HAD 81 DIFFERENT BUILDINGS THAT ARE APPLIED FOR THIS, UH, FOR THIS, UH, PILOT PROJECT.
711 UNITS HAD, UH, DEVICES INSTALLED.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, HERE'S A LIST OF ALL THOSE DEVICES THAT WERE INSTALLED DURING THAT, UH, DIME PILOT PROJECT, ROUGHLY ABOUT $470,000, UH, AS WAS, WAS USED FROM FUNDING, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, TO INSTALL THOSE, UH, DEVICES, UM, AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY HOMES.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THE PRIMARY DEVICES.
THERE ARE TOILETS, SHOWER HEADS, UM, BATHROOM AERATORS AND KITCHEN AERATORS, EXCUSE ME, NOT DISADVANTAGED HOMES, MORE MULTI-FAMILY HOMES, AND THEN ALSO COMMUNAL WASHING MACHINES.
COMMUNAL MEANING THAT THEY'RE EITHER COIN OPERATED OR IN SOME INSTANCES THEY'RE LEASED, UM, WASHING MACHINE THAT'S NOT OWNED BY THE BUILDING OWNER.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO EXCHANGE ALL THESE, PROVIDING US WITH A, UH, AVERAGE SAVINGS ABOUT 26% FOR THOSE 81 DIFFERENT BUILDINGS THAT HAD, UH, DEVICES INSTALLED IN THEM.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, UH, A SUCCESS FROM WHAT WE ORIGINALLY HAD AN OBJECTIVE FOR WAS TO HAVE A STRONG RAPPORT BETWEEN OUR TENANTS AND OUR LANDLORDS.
AND I'D LIKE TO INCLUDE, I THINK UTILITIES DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO INCLUDE THAT AS WELL.
AND THEN GOING TO OUR SECOND PILOT, SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT, UH, DIFFERENT OF A PILOT, UM, FOR OUR SINGLE FAMILY CUSTOMERS.
OUR DIRECT INSTALL APPLIANCE PROGRAM, UH, WAS ACTUALLY INITIATED FROM A 2022 STUDY DONE BY THE ALLIANCE FOR WATER EFFICIENCY.
AND WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY LOOKED AT WHAT'S CALLED, OR WHAT THEY DEFINED AS THE HOUSEHOLD BURDEN, BURDEN INDICATOR BY CENSUS TRACK.
AND WHAT THAT TOLD US, UH, OR PROVIDED US WITH A DENSITY MAP THAT YOU SEE IN THIS GREEN AREA HERE, AND ALSO THIS KEY HERE IN THE LEGEND.
UM, THERE'S A HIGH COST OF WATER BASED OFF OF THE PERCENT OF THE HOUSEHOLD INCOME.
SO THE DARKER THE GREEN OF THE PROPERTY OR THE CENSUS TRACT, EXCUSE ME, THE, UM, THE LOWER THE INCOME.
SO THE HIGHER THE COST OF THE WATER FOR THE, UM, FOR THE CUSTOMER.
THIS STUDY GAVE US A, A DIRECTION OF WHERE, WHAT AREAS WE WANTED TO PRIORITIZE FOR ONE.
AND THEN TWO, IT ALSO WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE US PARTNERSHIPS THAT A WE THE ALLIANCE, UH, SET UP BETWEEN METROPOLITAN, UM, KOHLER, WHIRLPOOL AND OURSELVES.
SO THEY THANKFULLY CHOSE US TO, UH, START THIS PROJECT AND PILOT THIS PROJECT.
AND THIS PROJECT WAS ACTUALLY FUNDED BY THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THEY LEFT, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ELSE IS HERE FROM THAT, BUT, UH, THEY HAD A HUGE HAND IN THIS.
UM, AND THEN OUR BONUS OBJECTIVE HERE.
SO ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WHEN WE'RE DOING PILOT PROJECTS OR ANY TYPE OF, UH, EFFICIENCY INSTALLATION, THE HARDEST THING TO DO IS TO ACTUALLY GET A CUSTOMER TO RESPOND AND ACTUALLY LET US BE ON THE PROPERTY TO DO AN INSTALLATION WITH THIS EX, WITH THIS OPTION HERE FOR A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T BE TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF US BEING ON THE PROPERTY.
SO WITH THE, WITH THE MERGER FOR THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, WORK WITH, UH, AT THE TIME LONG BEACH ENERGY RESOURCES TO, UH, HAVE THEM PROVIDE FUNDING FOR, UH, NATURAL GAS EQUIPMENT.
SO NOT ONLY DID WE DO WATER AND GAS, UH, INSTALLATIONS, OR EXCUSE ME, WE DID WATER AND GAS INSTALLATIONS THROUGH THIS PROJECT.
AND THEN EVEN FURTHER ON IN THAT, UM, WE REACHED OUT TO OUR, OUR PARTNERS AT SEE, SO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON.
AND WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO WAS PROVIDE US WITH A APPROVAL, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY, A MAP FOR AREAS THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO ALLOW US TO USE THEIR CONTRACTOR IN THE 9 0 8 0 5 ZIP CODE.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL EVERYONE IS WITH THEIR ZIP CODE TRACKS, BUT THAT REALLY FALLS INTO THIS AREA HERE.
SO THE, THE, THE COMBINATION OF, UH, US USING, UH, THE, UH, UTILITIES WATER DEVICES AS A SAVINGS COMBINATION OF THE NATURAL GAS DEVICES, AND AT THAT TIME USING LBER FUNDING FROM, UM, AB 32, UM, AS WELL AS SEE GAVE US THIS FULL, UH, DIA PILOT PROGRAM PROJECT AND RESULTS FROM THAT PROJECT.
SO, UH, THE LONG LIST OF INSTALLATIONS ARE OVER HERE.
SO 163 HOMES, UM, RECEIVED DEVICES.
I WOULDN'T SAY ALL OF THEM RECEIVE THESE DEVICES.
UM, DEPENDING ON THE, THE INSTALLATION OR THE RE PRE-INSTALLATION REVIEW HOMES MAY ALREADY HAVE EFFICIENT EQUIPMENT, SO THEY WOULDN'T, WE WOULDN'T BE SWAPPING OUT.
UM, LIKE FOR, LIKE, IN THAT SENSE, IT WOULD, THEY WOULD NEED TO EITHER NOT HAVE A, UM, WATER SENSE PRODUCT OR AN ENERGY STAR PRODUCT, AND THEY WOULD NEED TO MEET CERTAIN, UM, GALLONS, UH, SAVINGS OR THERMAL SAVINGS.
UH, THERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE TWO CONTRACTORS THAT ARE INSTALLING THESE DEVICES.
UM, AND THEN ALSO THE SHARED PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAD WITH SEE.
UH, AS I MENTIONED, NOT EVERYBODY HAS, UH, OR NEEDS EFFICIENT DEVICES OR IN THE SEE CASE, THEY ACTUALLY PROMOTE CENTRALIZED HVAC USE.
[01:50:01]
SO THESE ARE TYPES, UH, EQUIPMENT THAT THEY, UH, INSTALL FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE CENTRAL AC.AND THEN FROM A SAVINGS PERSPECTIVE, UH, RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING WITH METROPOLITAN A WE KOHLER AND WHIRLPOOL FOR A REPORT THAT'S GONNA BE RELEASED IN JULY OF 2024.
UM, PRELIMINARILY REPORTS, WE HAVE DOUBLE DIGIT SAVINGS, UM, ABOUT IN THE 13% RANGE, 15% RANGE.
SO WE ARE LOOKING POSITIVE IN THAT, IN THAT SENSE.
UM, BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST THING THAT'S COMING OUT OF THIS IS OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH, UM, MANUFACTURERS, UH, WHOLESALERS, AND ALSO MULTI UTILITY BENEFITS.
SO WHAT THAT MOVES US INTO OUR PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT.
SO PILOT PROJECTS TAKE A LONG TIME.
UM, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, UM, KIND OF WORK OUT A LITTLE BIT OF THE KINKS HERE SO THAT WE CAN EXPAND THIS TO ALL OF, UH, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
SO THE DIME PROGRAM, UM, AS WE WERE FAMILIAR WITH, REALLY FOCUSED ON, UH, THE SB 5 35 CENSUS TRACK.
SO THE AREA HERE THAT YOU SEE THAT'S IN THE DARK BLUE, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF THE CROSS HASHED, UH, MAYBE DARKISH PURPLE OR LIGHTISH PURPLE.
UM, THOSE AREAS HERE ARE SB 5 35 AND A COMBINATION OF AB 15 AND 50, WHICH IS ANOTHER MEANS OF, OF TRACKING LOW INCOME CENSUS TRACKS IN, UH, LONG BEACH.
UM, THAT WAS FOR THE DIME PROGRAM FOR THE DIA PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY, AS I MENTIONED, WAS MAINLY IN THIS 9 0 8 0 5 ZIP CODE BASED ON S E'S APPROVAL FOR THEIR CONTRACTOR FOR US TO WORK WITH THEM WITH, UM, AS WELL AS AN DISADVANTAGED AREA BECAUSE WE WERE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AB 32 FUNDS.
UM, SO WHERE WE'RE, WHERE WE LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD TO WITH THESE TWO PROGRAMS FOR MULTIFAMILY AND SINGLE FAMILY, FAMILY IS AGAIN, WE WANNA PRIORITIZE THE USE OF AB 32 CAP AND TRADE FUNDS.
WE ALSO WANNA PRIORITIZE THE, UH, THE COMMUNITIES LIVING IN THESE AB 32, UH, DEFINED AREAS SO THAT WE CAN PRIORITIZE INSTALLATIONS IN THERE BASED OFF OF THAT SAME TYPE OF, UH, HOUSEHOLD BURDEN INDICATORS, STUDY DONE BY A WE.
AND THEN TWO, WE WANNA PROVIDE THIS TO ALL OF LONG BEACH, UH, SERVICE AREA.
SO WHAT THE RULES ARE FOR, UH, AB UH, 32 IS WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE AB FUNDS OUTSIDE OF THESE AREAS AS WELL.
SO IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO APPLY FOR, UH, LONG BEACH DIA OR DIME PROGRAM, WE HAVE THAT ABILITY TO HOLD FUNDS ASIDE FOR THEM AND THEN, AND THEN ALLOW THEM TO APPLY, MAKING SURE THAT WE PRIORITIZE THOSE BLUE SHADED AREAS HERE FIRST.
UM, THE PROGRAM PARTNERSHIP, SO THE CONTRACTOR RIGHT NOW THAT SCE USES FOR THEIR SINGLE FAMILY AND THEIR MULTIFAMILY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS THAT WE ALSO USED FOR THE DIA PROGRAM, UM, IS A HUGE BENEFIT TO US AS WELL AS TO THE CUSTOMER.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE EVER APPLIED FOR A DIRECT INSTALLATION PROGRAM AT YOUR HOME, BUT THE HARDEST THING TO DO IS CHOOSE THE PERSON THAT YOU WANT TO BE WORKING WITH.
ARE YOU WORKING WITH A UTILITY? ARE YOU WORKING WITH THE CONTRACTOR? ARE YOU WORKING WITH AN, WITH SOMEONE THAT'S SETTING UP THE TIMING.
WHAT THIS COMPANY DOES, IT'S NOT ONLY DO THEY DO IT FOR SEE, BUT THEY ALSO DO IT FOR US, AND THAT THEY'LL TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THE, UM, THE, UH, MARKETING AS YOU CAN SEE FROM OUR GLASS DOOR HANGER.
UM, THAT'LL BE ON THE GROUND, DOOR TO DOOR MARKETING, UM, CALLING, UH, THEY'LL TAKE IN APPLICATIONS, THEY'LL HOST THE WEBSITE FOR US.
UM, THEY'LL ALSO DO ALL OF THE PURCHASING FOR THE PRODUCT, THE INSTALLATION FOR THE PRODUCT, THE REMOVAL OF THE OLD PRODUCT, UM, AND ALSO ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY ON THE DEVICES, WHETHER THAT BE FOR LABOR, UM, OR FOR, UH, THE DEFINED WARRANTY FOR THE PRODUCT.
SO THEY'RE A, A GREAT COMPANY THAT CAN SERVE FOR A NATURAL GAS INSTALLATION, UH, WATER DEVICE INSTALLATION AND CEES EXISTING INSTALLATIONS.
AND I THINK WHAT EVERYBODY IS INTERESTED IN ARE PROGRAM DEVICE OFFERING.
SO, UH, THE BIG THINGS I THINK WE COULD TAKE AWAY FROM HERE IS WE'RE PROVIDING TOILET SHOWER HEADS, BATHROOM AERATORS AND WATER HEATER PIPE INSTALLATION FOR MULTIFAMILY AND, UH, SINGLE FAMILY CUSTOMERS.
UH, THE COMMON WATER HEAT TANK INSTALLATION IS A HUGE THERMAL SAVINGS FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE IN MULTIFAMILY UNITS.
UM, AND THEN THE HOT WATER STORAGE HEATER, TANKS, CLOTHES, WASHERS, CLOSED DRYERS, AND WEATHER BASED IRRIGATION TIMERS ARE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING IN THE SINGLE FAMILY SECTOR.
UM, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE'S THE MOST LIKELY ALL OF THESE DEVICES AREN'T GONNA BE INSTALLED IN EVERY SINGLE HOME BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT EFFICIENCY MEASURES ALREADY INSTALLED.
BUT WE COULD TAKE AWAY THAT AT LEAST ONE OR TWO OF THESE THINGS WILL BE INSTALLED TO HELP THE, UH, PROGRAM MOVE FORWARD.
AND THEN FINALLY, I THINK THERE'S OUR LAST FUNDING SLIDE, UM, IN FY 21.
UM, AFTER THE INITIAL DIME OF, UH, PROGRAM FINISHED, PILOT PROGRAM FINISHED, UM, WE APPLIED FOR $250,000 OF, UH, AB 32 CAP AND TRADE CREDITS.
SO $250,000 OF THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN FUNDED AND SECURED.
[01:55:01]
UM, FUNDING SOURCERS ARE FROM FY 23, FROM AB 32 CAP AND TRADE CREDITS.UH, WE WORKED WITH, UH, LONG BEACH ENERGY RESOURCES AT THIS TIME, UH, TO SECURE A MILLION DOLLARS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET $571,000 OUT OF THAT, UH, UM, APPLICATION SO THAT WE COULD FUND SINGLE FAMILY SPECIFIC PROGRAMS. SO A TOTAL BUDGET OF $821,000 FOR THIS PROGRAM IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
AND THEN FOR FUTURE FUNDING, UH, WE'VE ALREADY APPLIED FOR A-U-S-B-R GRANT, UM, WHICH IS A 50% COST SHARE.
SO USBR WOULD BE PROVIDING US A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AS LONG AS WE SPEND A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE RESULTS OF THAT APPROVAL FOR THAT GRANT.
UM, BUT THAT IS IN THE WORKS RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN ADDITIONALLY IN THE WORKS IS WE RECENTLY APPLIED FOR $2 MILLION FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, AB 32 FY 25 FUNDING IN THE HOPES TO RECEIVE $2 MILLION, SPLITTING THAT EQUALLY ACROSS THE DIME PROGRAM AND THE DIA PROGRAM SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE PROVIDING THIS TO CUSTOMERS IN THE FUTURE.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE BIG BREATH AS OUR RECOMMENDATION.
UM, WE'D LIKE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER UT 1513 AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH SYNERGY COMPANIES FOR A FULL SERVICE, DIRECT INSTALLATION PROGRAM, PROVIDING EFFICIENT WATER AND NATURAL GAS DEVICES TO SINGLE FAMILY AND MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTIES IN AN INITIAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $821,000 WITH THE OPTION TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT EQUAL TO ANY ADDITIONAL AB 32 CAP AND TRADE CREDIT FUNDS OR OTHER GRANT FUNDS AWARDED TO THE PROGRAM FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS OR UNTIL THE DIRECT INSTALLATION PROGRAM TERMINATES, WHICHEVER IS SOONER.
AND THAT IS THE COMPLETION OF THE PILOT PROGRAM REVIEW AND OUR HOPEFUL NEW PROGRAMS. OKAY.
UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS? GLORIA? NO, JUST WONDERFUL.
AND, AND, UM, ON A COUPLE OF FRONTS, ONE METROPOLITAN HIGHLIGHTS PROGRAMS LIKE THIS.
AND, UM, BECAUSE THEY ADDRESS TWO THINGS, AFFORDABILITY, WHICH IS ON THE TOP OF OUR DISCUSSION AT METROPOLITAN ON HOW WE MOVE FORWARD IN A NEW, UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UH, A NEW BUSINESS MODEL, HOW DO WE ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, AFFORDABILITY AND THEN OF COURSE CONSERVATION, WHICH, UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS THAT COME TO MET WHO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT MET IS STILL COMMITTED TO CONSERVATION.
AND I THINK LONG BEACH, WE'VE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE ON BOTH OF THOSE AREAS.
SO, UM, JOEY, I KNOW YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THIS AND I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU AND THE TEAM HAS DONE ON THIS ANATOL.
UM, I I WANTED TO ASK YOU, CAN YOU TELL ME, IS IT TRUE THAT LONG BEACH IS, IS AHEAD IN MANY WAYS, UH, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE GOT A LOT OF VISION IN THIS DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO BECAUSE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES YES.
I OPPOSED TO OTHER SMALLER DISTRICTS? YEAH, I HAD COMMENTED TO PRESIDENT RAINEY THAT I WANTED TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS, AND I WAS GONNA SAY EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID.
I, I THINK YOU HEARD TODAY FROM ADELE AND AAN, WHICH IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THEIR PERSPECTIVES, RIGHT, FOR THE ENTIRE REGION.
AND ADELE MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY THAT HE'S TRYING TO GET INTO THE ATMOSPHERE OR THE ENVIRONMENT OF DIRECT INSTALL FOR MANY REASONS, INCLUDING EQUITY AND OUTREACH TO DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
HE MENTIONED THAT HE'S GOING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TRY TO GET MONEY, AND INDEED WE'RE TRYING TO GO TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET THAT GRANT.
SO IT'S ONE THING TO SAY THAT YOU WANT TO DO THAT, IT'S ANOTHER THING TO DEDICATE THE TIME AND COMMITMENT TO TRY TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
UH, TO NOT JUST DO A PILOT STUDY, BUT TO DO A PILOT STUDY AND THINK THROUGH, HOW CAN I MAKE THAT BETTER? HOW CAN I MAXIMIZE THE VALUE? AND SO I, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT JOE'S EFFORT, BUT THE ENTIRE STAFF AT UTILITY RESOURCES AND DEAN'S EFFORTS, LONG BEACH IS INCREDIBLY IN THE FRONT OF MAKING THESE PROGRAMS WORK FROM THE ASPECT OF WORKING OUT ALL THESE KINKS PARTNERSHIPS AND GETTING OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDS.
IT'S NOT THAT PEOPLE HAVEN'T TRIED DIRECT INSTALL BEFORE.
PEOPLE HAVE TRIED DIRECT INSTALL BEFORE, BUT IT'S USUALLY BEEN ANOTHER WATER UTILITY, PERHAPS SMALLER, AND TRYING TO SAY, HOW DO I MANAGE MY RATE MONEY AND TRY TO MAKE THAT WORK? AND THAT'S INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT, AND I'LL SPARE US THE DETAILS THERE, BUT PARTNERSHIPS AND OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDS AND HOW TO MAKE THE PROGRAM VALUABLE, WE ARE LEADING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE STAFF HERE, AND LEADING MEANS THAT YOU GET COPIED.
SO METROPOLITAN HAS ALL EYES ON THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS ON HOW THEY CAN BRING THEM TO THEMSELVES AND PROMOTE THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
AND JOEY, JUST SO YOU'LL KNOW, YOU MAY
[02:00:01]
BE BUSIER BECAUSE I DID OFFER US UP AS A BEST, UH, PRACTICES MODEL, UH, WITHIN METROPOLITAN.SO HOPEFULLY THEY'LL FOLLOW THAT.
I LOVE ALL THIS, IT'S REALLY GOOD.
UM, ARE, ARE, IS THERE A PROGRAM IN PLACE TO FOLLOW UP ON THE CUSTOMERS AND, AND WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN, UH, HOW SATISFIED THEY ARE, ARE, ARE WE ABLE TO BUNDLE THAT AND SHARE THAT IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THE PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT MORE? ABSOLUTELY.
OR THE TWO PROGRAMS? SO THE, UM, THE STUDY THAT'S GONNA BE COMING OUT IN JULY FOR 2024 FOR THE DIA PROGRAM, THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT SYNERGY DOES AS WELL, IS THEY TAKE IN CUSTOMER COMMENT.
THEY'VE TAKEN IN, UH, CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP FROM THE PHONE CALLS WITH THEIR, WITH THEIR AGENTS.
UM, AND THAT'S WILL ALSO BE EMBEDDED IN THAT REPORT TOO.
UM, THERE IS A SECOND ASPECT THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TO DO A POST INSPECTION OF WHAT GETS INSTALLED SO THAT WE CAN HAVE, UH, THE ADEQUATE FUNDING AS A, AS PROOF OF WHAT WAS DONE.
AND THAT IS ALSO OUR SECOND STEP THAT WE CAN VERIFY WITH THE CUSTOMER THAT EVERYTHING WENT SMOOTHLY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION.
ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I FORGOT TO ADD SOMETHING FOR YOU BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE VERY INTERESTED.
SCE MEASURES FOR, UM, SINGLE FAMILY AND MULTIFAMILY MEASURES ARE SMART THERMOSTATS, WHICH I KNOW YOU'RE VERY INTERESTED IN.
SMART HVAC FAN CONTROLLERS, DUCT TEST AND SEALS FOR HVAC SYSTEMS AND HVAC REFRIGERANT CHARGE LEAK DETECTION AND AC TUNEUPS.
SO YOUR THERMOSTATS ARE THERE.
SECOND BY GLORIA LISA, VICE PRESIDENT MCGUIRE.
[6. 24-53019 Recommendation to discuss and refer potential agenda items to the Infrastructure Committee. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
ITEM SIX US AND REFER TO THE ITEMS, TO THE THANK YOU.UM, IF POSSIBLE, WE'D LIKE TO SCHEDULE A, UM, UH, FOR THE MAY 2ND, THE NEXT MEETING, A, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, TO DISCUSS.
WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE STARTING THE PROCESS OF TALKING ABOUT SPACE PLANNING, AND SO WE WANTED TO GET THE COMMITTEE TOGETHER TO, UH, BRING YOU IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR ON THAT, NO PUN INTENDED.
SO THAT WILL REQUIRE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND A VOTE OFFICIALLY.
SO I'LL MOTION, MOTION BY KEVIN THOUGHT SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCGUIRE.
ANY OPPOSITION HEARING? NONE HEARING.
[ 24-53014 Pursuant to Paragraph (b) (1) of Section 54957 of the California Government Code and Charter Section 1403(2) regarding Public Employee Employment: Appointment of General Manager ]
THEY DON'T WANT TO STAY FOR THIS ONE.WE CAN, WE CAN ADJOURN OR WE, SO YEAH, I WOULD SAY NO ONE HAS TO STAY, BUT THE MEETING CAN'T BE ADJOURNED TILL AFTER THE CLOSED SESSION.
THE COMMISSIONERS CAN JUST COME OUT AND BANG THE GAVEL AND YOU'LL BE DONE.
[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.]
HAS ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE CLOSED SESSION ITEM? JUST A SECOND.DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CLOSED SESSION? BUT THERE'S NOBODY HERE.
HEARING NONE, WE WILL ANY MOVE TO OUR ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON A NON AGENDA ITEM? OH, DOES ANYONE HAVE, UH, QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT A NON AGENDA ITEMS? I HAVE A QUESTION OF RICH ANTHONY.
[02:05:01]
QUESTION, SORT OF A PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION.GREG VINKY, UH, HAD A PARTICULAR, UH, OPINION ABOUT YOU? IF THERE'S NOBODY IN THE ROOM, DO YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? I THINK SO, UNLESS YOU MAKE IT VERY CLEAR FOR THE RECORD THAT NO ONE IS IN THE ROOM AND GOTTA DO ONE OR THE OTHER.
I APPRECIATE YOU GOING THROUGH THIS EXERCISE, NAOMI RE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT COMMISSIONER SHANNON SAYS, I THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE NOW, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER SHANNON'S MY BOYFRIEND AND I HAVE TO LIKE, LISTEN TO HIM
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WE'LL GET TO GO.[ADJOURNMENT]
OVER, UH, HAS ENDED AND WE WILL CLOSE THIS SESSION.UH, THERE'S NO PERSON'S PRESENCE, SO THERE IS NO QUESTIONS FROM AUDIENCE OR COMMISSIONERS.