Sep 19, 2024 Utilities Commission

OUR WORK, YOUR WORK AND ALSO, UH, HOPEFULLY, UH, REFLECTIVE OF YOU ENOUGH THAT YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY WANT TO HANG IT IN YOUR OFFICE.

UH, NEXT YOU CAN HUG HIM TOO.

IT'S OKAY.

NEXT IS MISS DIANA TANG.

GIRL, I COULD WALK IN THEM SHOES.

I THINK CUT 'EM DOWN TOO.

ALRIGHT, CHRIS, I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO COME UP HERE BECAUSE I CAN'T KEEP HOLDING THIS THING.

AND WHILE HE IS MAKING HIS WAY UP, I JUST WANNA SAY, CHRIS, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING OUR THREE UTILITIES TOGETHER, UM, FOR REALLY HIGHLIGHTING SEWER.

EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE A FLUID COMMODITY, THEY'VE NOT ALWAYS BEEN WATER.

AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR THAT.

UM, BUT THIS FROM BU THREE IS FROM OUR GAS SIDE OF THE UTILITY.

OH, VERY NICE.

AND A LITTLE TOILET.

WE MAY HAVE BROKEN A SANDER, SANDING IT TO DEATH.

, WE FELT THAT IT WAS REPRESENTATIVE OF

[00:05:01]

, UM, THE GUYS TOOK A LOT OF PRIDE IN, IN MAKING IT.

AND THERE'S A SPECIAL INSCRIPTION AT THE TOP THAT WAS CHOSEN TO, TO REALLY EXPRESS HOW WE FEEL.

UH, AND, AND, AND SIMILARLY, UH, IT IS SET TO 2024, UM, TO CAMATE YOUR RETIREMENT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SAYS YOU ARE THE BEST BOSS EVER.

FAMILY FOREVER.

NEVER APART BABY IN DISTANCE.

NEVER IN MARCH.

OKAY, UM, ANNA CALL.

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

UM, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WRAP IT.

THIS WAS A REALLY, UM, A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME TO, TO WISH CHRIS WELL FOR EVERYTHING THAT HE, HE'S DONE FOR US.

BUT WE'RE THE NON-OPERATIONAL SIDE OF THE, UH, TEAM.

SO WE'RE BUSINESS UNIT ONE.

SO WE'VE GOT FINANCE AND ALL THESE THINGS.

SO I DON'T HAVE A METER CLOCK AND I DON'T HAVE THAT.

SO WE DO HAVE THINGS FROM BUSINESS UNIT ONE THAT WE WANNA SHARE WITH YOU.

WE'LL HOPEFULLY HELP YOU ALONG YOUR WAY IN RETIREMENT NOW THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE HOME A LOT.

SO WHY DON'T YOU COME UP AND WE KNOW WE'LL HAND YOU SOME OF THESE GIFTS SO YOU CAN SEE.

'CAUSE I THINK, I THINK THEY WORK REALLY WELL FOR YOU.

AND IT'LL REMIND YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BUSINESS UNIT ONE.

NO, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH.

SO WE FIGURED LIKE YOU'RE GONNA BE HOME A LOT.

AND SO BEING HOME A LOT, SOME OF THE THINGS YOU CAN START DOING IS MAYBE WORKING ON THE HOUSEHOLD BUDGET.

AND SO YOU'RE OLD FASHIONED.

THEY DON'T MAKE THESE ANYMORE THAT WE USE THEM.

BUT HERE'S SOME ACCOUNTING LEDGER BOOKS.

DON'T WORRY, DON'T HOLD THEM.

I'LL GIVE THEM TO YOU LATER.

THIS, YEAH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

YOU WANNA HOLD THIS ONE UP? SO THAT'S FROM FINANCE.

THEY GOT YOU THAT.

BUT WE ALSO THINK THAT YOU COULD HELP US OUT.

LIKE YOU'RE GONNA BE HOME.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS YOU COULD HELP US OUT IS YOU COULD HELP ENGINEERING OUT.

SO NOW THAT YOU'RE THERE, WE THOUGHT THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP US WITH IDENTIFYING THE UTILITY LINES OUT IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE.

SO WE GOT YOU SPRAY PAINT.

THIS ONE'S FOR WATER.

REMEMBER THE COLORS DON'T MISS MARK 'EM.

THIS ONE'S FOR SEWER.

DON'T ASK WHY'S GREEN.

THIS ONE'S FOR GAS YELLOW.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE RECYCLED CANS, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A RECYCLED LINE IN FRONT OF YOU.

SO I DON'T THINK IT WORKS.

BUT WE'RE SENSITIVE THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE MARKING THE LINES OUT IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE AND IT'S A DANGER.

SO FOR SAFETY REASONS, WE GOT YOU A SAFETY VEST SO YOU CAN PUT ON, OKAY, BUT THAT'S NOT ALL BECAUSE ONCE YOU'RE HOME, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THE WATER SIDE OF THINGS AND SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO START DOING SOME THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE BEING HOME NOW, IT'S GONNA BE A WHOLE LOT MORE WATER CONSUMPTION, RIGHT? SO YOU CAN START GARDENING PICTURES.

ONLY DESCRIPTION OF WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN.

WE KNOW YOU LIKE KEEPING YOUR CAR CLEAN.

REMEMBER, USE A WATER SHUTOFF VALVE WHEN YOU'RE WASHING YOUR CAR, OKAY? AND OF COURSE WE'RE OUTSIDE, WE'RE A COMBINED UTILITY.

REMEMBER TO SMELL FOR GAS AND YOU'RE NOW A DEPUTY GAS INSPECTOR TOO.

SO YOU'D BE ABLE TO USE THESE TO CHECK FOR THE SMELL OF GAS TOO, RIGHT? SO WE GOT YOU ALL SET ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT IF YOU RECALL, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS WE HAVE IS CONSUMPTION OF WATER INDOORS, RIGHT? SO HERE'S SOME DIET TESTS TO CHECK FOR TOILET LEAKS.

SO YOU KNOW, WE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT TOO.

AND THEN SOME AERATORS.

SO THE FAUCETS USE LESS WATER.

GOOD.

REMEMBER NOW THIS WILL HELP YOU SAVE MONEY ON YOUR BILL TOO, RIGHT? OKAY.

MY SHOWER FOR HER SHOWER WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SHOWERS.

OKAY? SO JUST

[00:10:01]

AND YOU KNOW THAT OUR OLD SLOGAN WAS TAKE A ONE SONG SHOWER.

UH, BUT I THINK YOU'RE PRONE TO REALLY LONG SEVENTIES ROCK BALLADS, UH, WHICH DOESN'T REALLY WORK FOR US IN TERMS OF ONE SONG SHOWER.

SO WE GOT YOUR SHOWER TIMER, LIKE YOU SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHO SHOWER YOU'RE GONNA PUT IT IN, BUT THAT'S UP TO YOU.

AND THEN BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA SAY WATER NO MATTER WHAT.

SO IF A REALLY BAD DROUGHT COMES, YOU KNOW THAT WE TELL EVERYBODY THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

EVERYBODY USES A BUCKET.

AND SO THIS WILL HELP YOU CONSERVE US.

VERY GOOD.

OKAY? THAT'S ALL.

THAT'S ALL.

NOT ALL BECAUSE IS INFORMATION SYSTEMS WANTED TO GET YOU SOMETHING, BUT WE CAN'T REALLY GIVE YOU A COMPUTER.

SO THIS IS THE MIFI HOTSPOT.

THIS IS WHAT ALLOWS YOU TO CONNECT REMOTELY WHEN YOU WANNA WORK REMOTELY, IT DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE.

BUT THEN AGAIN, YOU WERE NEVER REALLY A FAN OF WORKING REMOTELY.

SO I'M REALLY HAPPY I GOT PAST ALL THIS 'CAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW HOW THIS WAS GONNA GO, BUT WE ACTUALLY GOT YOU A NICE GIFT, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE BUSINESS UNIT ONE OPERATIONAL.

SO I'LL HAVE STEPHANIE BRING IT UP.

OH, HERE YOU HELP ME UNVEIL IT.

WELL HE IS GOT IS THAT ANOTHER GIFT FOR HIM TOO? NO.

OH, OKAY.

NO, YOU DON'T GET TO KEEP THAT VERY, SO I KNOW YOU LIKE IRISH WHISKEY.

I REALLY HOPE AND PRAY THAT THE IRISH WHISKEY BOTTLE FITS NOW ON THE TOP.

OH, THIS WORKS AND ALLOWS YOU TO DISPENSE.

YES.

IT ACTUALLY WORKS DILIGENT.

AND SO THIS IS OUR GIFT TO YOU LONG BEACH TAP WATER TO REMEMBER US BY YOU.

REMEMBER US WORKING TOGETHER.

I TOLD YOU THE SUPPOSEDLY MARK TWAIN QUOTE, RIGHT? WATER'S FOR FIGHTING, WHISKEYS FOR DRINKING.

RIGHT? BUT JUST IN CASE IT GETS CONFUSING, WE BOUGHT YOU A BOTTLE OF LONG BEACH WATER .

CAREFUL IT MIGHT FALL OUT.

WON YOU.

WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID FOR US, RIGHT? BRING US ALL TOGETHER IS REALLY, REALLY A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT.

AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR IT.

CHRIS, YOU'LL DECIDE IF YOU WANNA HOLD ONTO ALL THIS.

IT'S FINE.

WOULD.

COMMISSIONERS NO, I'M GONNA GO, IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE, BUT BE BRIEF, 'CAUSE ON, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA START CRYING.

UH, THAT WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A FEW WORDS.

MR. HARRY SAUCE.

GAVER.

UH, CHRIS, I DIDN'T GET YOU ANYTHING.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

UH, I WAS HERE FOR THE CHRIS'S VERY FIRST WATER COMMISSION MEETING.

UH, IT WAS QUITE THE, UH, CHORE TO GET HIM OVER FROM GAS.

UH, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT.

UH, WE HAD TWO COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE STILL SITTING THAT, UH, WERE HERE FOR THAT FIRST MEETING AS WELL.

SO I HAD TO COME TO BE HERE FOR THE LAST MEETING.

AND I AM, INSTEAD OF MAKING FUN OF HIM LIKE I USUALLY DO, I HAVE TO SAY THAT CHRIS IS REALLY THE DEFINITION OF PUBLIC SERVANT.

AND HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A QUIET GUY TRYING TO GET THE RIGHT THING DONE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

THIS LONG BEACH BOARD OF UTILITIES IS, UH, REALLY A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT.

AND WE SPENT A LONG TIME WORKING ON THAT.

AND IT WAS QUITE THE DAY WHEN THAT WAS PASSED IN THE CITY.

AND IT'S GOING TO LEAVE A LONG LEGACY FOR CHRIS IN TERMS OF, UH, EFFICIENCY AND IN TERMS OF SERVING OUR PUBLIC.

AND I JUST WANNA THANK HIM FOR THE TIME THAT I'VE KNOWN HIM, WHICH IS, UH, FOR 44 YEARS AND, UH, THE TIME THAT HE IS WORKED HERE IN THIS BUILDING.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND I'M GLAD TO BE HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU, ERIC.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? AS LONG AS YOU'RE BRIEF NOW, DON'T LET ME SCARE YOU.

WE HAVE A MEETING.

[00:15:02]

OH.

OH, WELL WHY DIDN'T YOU LEAVE AT A MEETING WHERE I WAS NOT GONNA BE HERE? UM, ACTUALLY, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL, I'LL INTRODUCE SOME PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE.

OH, UM, COMMISSIONERS.

IS THERE A COMMISSIONER? COMMISSIONERS THAT LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TO MR. CHRIS? WONDERFUL.

CHRIS GARNER.

WE DO, DO YOU WANNA INTRODUCE? WAIT, WAIT, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, GLORIA, I GOT IT.

OKAY, SAY YOURS.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

UM, YEAH, THIS IS A HARD DAY.

IT'S A HARD DAY 'CAUSE CHRIS, YOU'VE BEEN SUCH A PART OF THIS, UM, THIS ORGANIZATION, BUT ALSO A PART OF THIS CITY.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S A REALLY TOUGH, TOUGH LOSS FOR ALL OF US IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

UM, I'VE WORKED WITH CHRIS BEFORE I EVEN, UM, WAS ON A COMMISSION HERE.

WE, WHEN CHRIS WAS AT THE GAS DEPARTMENT AND, UM, CITY LIGHT AND POWER AND THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HAD AN IDEA TO TAKE OVER OUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AT EDISON.

AND SO WE GOT TOGETHER, UM, BOB FOSTER AND I BEFORE HE WAS MAYOR, AND WORKED PRETTY MUCH AGAINST THE CITY TO TRY AND STOP THAT.

UM, CHRIS AND I WERE ON OPPOSITE SIDES, BUT WE ALWAYS GOT ALONG.

WE ALWAYS SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHIRLEY WHAT WE WANTED WAS WHAT WAS BEST FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

AND I THINK THE OUTCOME PROVED ITSELF.

UM, WE WERE SO FORTUNATE TO GET YOU HERE, CHRIS, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN, IN OUR DEPARTMENT HERE.

UH, THE OPERATIONAL THINGS AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE THINGS, BUT REALLY JUST THE PERSON THAT YOU ARE AND THE SPIRIT THAT YOU HAVE THAT LEAVES ITS FOOTPRINT ON THIS ORGANIZATION, I THINK IS EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE.

UM, YOU'RE, YOU DON'T TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY.

YOU, UM, HAVE A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR AS EVERYONE KNOWS.

YOU'RE, YOU'RE COMPASSIONATE, YOU'RE KIND, BUT YOU'RE ALSO DIRECT.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT VERY, VERY MUCH.

I, UM, WAS, WE MADE IT, WE HAVE A CARD FOR CHRIS AND IT'S ACTUALLY, UM, TRAPEZE ARTISTS , JUST GOING BACK TO YOUR ROOTS BECAUSE, UM, THE COMMISSION WILL BE, UH, SIGNING THIS.

AND THEN WE HAVE A GIFT FOR YOU.

I THINK GINA, WE ALL DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL YOUR RETIREMENT, IF THAT'S OKAY.

UM, BUT WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU AND WE'LL PRESENT IT TO YOU AT THAT TIME.

BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU.

UM, I DON'T SAY GOODBYE 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'LL SEE BOTH YOU AND BECKY, UM, AND LOOK FORWARD TO MANY TIMES TOGETHER AFTER THIS.

SO THANK YOU.

SO, BUT BEFORE YOU BEGIN A LITTLE STORY WITH GLORIA.

SO WE WERE FIGHTING, I WAS ON THE CITY SIDE, , SHE WAS WITH EDISON.

AND, UH, I CAUGHT WIND THAT THEY WERE HAVING A, A MEETING WITH, UH, COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS OVER AT THE GRAND.

AND, UH, SO I CRASHED THE MEETING AND, UH, I COULD KEEP SEE PEOPLE WHISPERING FROM THE EDISON SIDE.

AND SO GLORIA CAME UP TO ME AND SHE WAS VERY NICE.

SHE GOES, CHRIS, CAN I TALK TO YOU? AND SHE GOES, I THINK IT'D BE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE IF YOU'RE IN THIS MEETING, 'CAUSE YOU'RE FROM THE CITY, AND WOULD YOU MIND LEAVING? I SAID, GLORIA, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DRAG ME OUT OF HERE.

I'M NOT LEAVING.

AND, UH, SHE GOES, SERIOUSLY? I SAID, NO, I'LL LEAVE .

BUT I, ONE THING I REMEMBER, UM, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE ON OPPOSITE SIDES, MY FATHER PASSED AWAY IN 1999 AND GLORIA CAME TO THE FUNERAL AND I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT THAT WAS VERY KIND OF YOU.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I JUST HAVE A FEW WORDS.

UM, I'VE BEEN A COMMISSIONER FOR TWO YEARS, SO I HAD THE HONOR OF COMING IN LATE TO THIS STORY.

UH, BUT WHEN I ACCEPTED THAT POSITION, EVERYBODY I TALKED TO SAID, YOUR JOB IS GONNA BE MADE SO MUCH EASIER BY CHRIS GARNER.

HE'S AN AMAZING LEADER.

HE'LL BE THERE FOR YOU.

HE'LL GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO GET UP TO SPEED.

AND OF COURSE, I WAS ASSURED THAT IT WAS GONNA BE AN EASY TWO YEARS.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SURPRISES, WITHIN THE MERGER AND MEASURE M AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS GOING ON IN THE GAS CRISIS.

SO IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, BEEN AN INTERESTING TWO YEARS TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT IT HAS BEEN SO EASY BECAUSE OF YOU.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEGACY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVANT LEADERSHIP.

WELL, SINCE WE ALL SEEM TO BE INCLINED TO CANONIZE, I'M GONNA SAVE MY OF MY REMARKS TO THE GOING AWAY BECAUSE I GO WAY BACK, UM, 30 YEARS OR SO FOR THE LAST, UM, OF COURSE I'M A LOT , I WON'T SAY.

UM, BUT, UH, I'VE GOT A FEW THINGS TO SAY ABOUT CHRIS, UH, AT THE RETIREMENT.

AND MOST OF THEM ARE GONNA BE ABOUT WHAT HE REALLY

[00:20:01]

DID FOR THE CITY.

HE PUT THE MANAGEMENT PARTIES TOGETHER, .

NOW MOST OF, YOU'RE NOT GONNA LAUGH AT THAT, BUT THOSE OF YOU THAT COME TO THE MANAGEMENT PARTY, YOU'LL EXCUSE ME, GO, COME TO HIS RETIREMENT PARTY.

YOU'RE REALLY GONNA ENJOY IT.

SO DON'T MISS IT.

THANK YOU, UH, CHRIS, I'M THE ROOKIE ON THE GROUP, OBVIOUSLY, AND, AND, UH, I'VE BEEN SPOILED BY YOUR PRESENCE AND I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW THE, THOSE SHOES ARE GONNA BE FILLED.

UM, UH, THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL YEAR AND A COUPLE MONTHS FOR ME.

AND, AND, UH, I JUST WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.

YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GOOD FOR THIS CITY AND, AND FOR THIS DEPARTMENT, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE SHAVE OFF FIVE MINUTES AT THE PARTY AND I HOPE ALL OF YOU WE'LL HAVE CHRIS GARNER INTRODUCE HIS YES.

AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS.

PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY.

SO I HAVE MY WIFE BECKY, IN THE AUDIENCE, RAISE YOUR HAND.

HEY, BECKY, LONG TIME FOR GRANDSON.

SAMUEL, MY OLDEST DAUGHTER, JULIET.

SHE, SHE, SHE'S A CITY EMPLOYEE OVER AT LONG BEACH AIRPORT.

SHE'S ON HER BREAK.

AND, UH, MY SON MATTHEW, AND THEN MY, UH, OLDEST SISTER JERRY ANN AND MY YOUNGEST SISTER JAM.

SO I, I JUST WANNA JUST SAY REAL QUICKLY, A FEW WORDS AND JUST, UH, THANK THE COMMISSION FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR ME.

UM, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T SURE, I REALLY WASN'T PLANNING ON LEAVING GAS.

I I ENJOYED THAT JOB.

UM, BUT THEN THE OPPORTUNITY CAME UP, I WAS INVITED TO APPLY, AND SO I APPLIED, UH, WORKED OUT A SALARY WITH HARRY .

UH, THAT TOOK ABOUT TWO MINUTES, SO THAT WAS GOOD.

UM, AND, UH, AND, UH, I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT WATER.

AND, YOU KNOW, I TOLD THE, THE JOKE THAT WHEN I MET WITH THE EMPLOYEES, I, I THINK I INSULTED SOME BECAUSE THEY ASKED, YOU KNOW, NOTHING ABOUT WATER.

HOW WILL YOU LEARN? AND I SAID, THAT'S WHAT GOOGLE IS FOR.

AND, UH, , THEY WERE, THEY WERE NOT PLEASED WITH THAT.

BUT, UH, BUT I, I DIDN'T REALIZE THEY DIDN'T KNOW MY SENSE OF HUMOR.

SO I, UH, THERE'S A LEARNING CURVE ON BOTH ENDS.

UM, AND THEN HARRY, I REMEMBER MY FIRST MEETING.

I, I TOLD THE STORY THIS MORNING.

UM, I SAID, I MENTIONED DURING THE MEETING THAT WE'RE GONNA DO X, Y, Z AND HE SAID, THAT'S WHAT YOU RECOMMEND THAT WE WILL DO, AND NOT, UH, WE WILL DO IT.

SO HE PUT ME ON IN A PLACE BECAUSE I, I'D NEVER HAD A COMMISSION BEFORE.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GETTING MYSELF INTO WITH A BOARD.

AND SO IT'S BEEN A, A PLEASURE.

EVERYBODY HAS BEEN, UH, PUTTING THE UTILITY FIRST AND THE CUSTOMERS FIRST.

AND SO WE WERE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.

IT WAS A REAL TEAM EFFORT.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY ALL THE MANAGERS HERE, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND, UH, UH, I'M NOT SURE WHY YOU'RE NOT WORKING, BUT, UH, UH, APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT HERE.

AND I THANK EVERYBODY FOR, YOU KNOW, THE KIND WORDS AND EVERYTHING.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS AND POLICY.

[00:35:12]

WE'RE

[00:35:12]

THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS

[ELECTION OF OFFICERS - PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY]

UM, COULD I MAKE A STATEMENT BEFORE YOU START? LET ME SEE.

WELL, UH, IF NOMINATED, I WILL NOT ACCEPT ELECTED.

I WILL NOT, SIR, YOU ARE TAKING THE TIME THAT WE NEED .

I WILL NOW ACCEPT NOMINATIONS FOR BOARD OFFICERS FOR 24 25.

THESE NOMINATIONS DO NOT REQUIRE A SECOND, SO I WON'T DO THAT.

I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE GINA FOR PRESIDENT.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS THERE? BEING NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS.

I DECLARE THE NOMINATION IS CLOSED FOR PRESIDENT.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO, BECAUSE SHE'S THE BEST .

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY A AYE.

UM, VICE PRESIDENT, I DECLARE THE NOMINATION OPEN FOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TO NOT KEVIN SCOTT.

UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS THERE BEING NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS? I DECLARE THE NOMINATIONS CLOSED FOR VICE PRESIDENT.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

SECRETARY, I DECLARE THE NOMINATION OPEN FOR SECRETARY OF THE BOARD NOMINATIONS.

SECRETARY SHANNON WILL NOMINATE OUR SECRETARY.

I SHOULD, NO, I CAN'T NOMINATE MYSELF.

WELL, NO, I NOMINATE, UH, THAT YELL AT THE END.

GLORIA, THANK YOU FOR FINISHING THIS FOR ME.

OH, WITH THE SECRETARY? OH, YEAH, YEAH.

OH, YOU ARE THE SECRETARY.

WE NEED OUR NOMINATION FOR SECRETARY.

ANYBODY NOMINATION.

WE HAVE A NOMINATION BY, UH, COMMISSIONER SHANNON.

COMMISSIONER SHANNON.

NOMINATION BY COMMISSIONER SHA, UH, SHANNON ARE THERE.

OH, WHO'S, WHO'S OUR, OUR NOMINEE IS GLORIA CERO.

UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? ARE THERE ANY OTHER NO, I MOVE THAT THE, OH, WE'VE ALREADY MOVED.

THAT IT BE CLOSED.

ARE THERE ANY FURTHER NOMINATIONS? I DECLARE IT CLOSED FOR SECRETARY.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSITIONS? HEARING NONE, IT'S CALLS.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT, DEAN OF MCGUIRE.

UH, VICE PRESIDENT KEVIN AND SECRETARY WILL BE GLORIA, AND SHE HAS EXPERIENCE IN THIS CATEGORY.

ROOM, AND YOU HAVE, YOU'VE KEPT YOUR HEART WITH US AND AND DONE SO MUCH, AND WE SO APPRECIATE YOU AND WE LOVE YOU.

YOU WILL ASSUME YOUR NEW HOST, THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, OCTOBER THE THIRD REGULAR AGENDA, APPROVE SEPTEMBER THE FIFTH BOARD.

COULD I, COULD I MAKE A COMMENT HERE BEFORE WE MOVE ON? I JUST WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT, OUTGOING PRESIDENT, NAOMI RAINEY FOR HER, YOU KNOW, KINDNESS, HUMANITY, LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, HUMOR, ALL OF THE ABOVE.

SHE KEEPS THINGS INTERESTING.

SO WE JUST SO APPRECIATE YOU AND WE KNOW IT'S BEEN A HARD YEAR FOR YOU.

WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON OUTSIDE OF THIS

[00:40:01]

I HAVE A SMALL GIVE FOR HER, SO OF COURSE, A NATIVE PLANT, .

NOW I'M GONNA FLOOD .

UH, YES, CHLOE.

UM, I JUST WANNA FOLLOW, FOLLOW UP ON THAT AND ECHO, ECHO WHAT, UH, COMMISSIONER MCGUIRE SAID.

UM, I KNOW IT'S BEEN A REALLY HARD YEAR FOR YOU PERSONALLY.

AND PEOPLE, UH, WHEN THEY COME AND THEY SPEAK, NOT, NOT STAFF AND ALL OF YOU, BUT PEOPLE FROM THE OUTSIDE WHEN THEY COME ARE, ARE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN LONG BEACH DON'T REALIZE, AND MAYBE THEY DO THAT WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN LIVES AND WE ALL LIVE IN LONG BEACH AND LOVE LONG BEACH.

UM, BUT YOU, YOU'VE ENDURED THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

IN FACT, BOTH OF YOU HAVE, AND, AND WE KNOW THAT, AND I KNOW A LOT OF THE STAFF MEMBERS DO TOO.

AND I, I KNOW IT'S HARD.

I KNOW IT'S HARD TO, TO PUT THIS FIRST, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN THERE AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE REALLY GIVING IT THE BEST SHOT AS YOU GO THROUGH THE PERSONAL THINGS THAT YOU HAVE.

AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING DILIGENT ON THAT AND FOR BEING A FRIEND FOR MANY YEARS.

I'VE KNOWN GLORIA FOREVER.

UH, HER COUSIN IS SHE, FIRST COUSIN, SECOND COUSIN.

WE WORKED TOGETHER AT AND GINA FOR TOO YOUNG TO .

IT IS JUST AMAZING.

AND I, I'LL TELL YOU, MY HUSBAND'S BEEN IN HOSPICE SINCE LABOR DAY OF, OF LAST YEAR.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE IS I GOT AN EMAIL FROM GLORIA YESTERDAY, AND WHENEVER SHE WRITES, SHE ALWAYS SAYS, HOW IS ELMA? AND I APPRECIATE THAT GINA.

HEAVEN'S ARM IS RED, , , BECAUSE WHENEVER I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING, WELL, I CUT 'EM DOWN, BUT I DO THIS, AND SHANNON, I'VE KNOWN FOREVER AND I KNOW CHRIS IS NOT A BOARD MEMBER, BUT, UM, HE'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL.

UM, WHEN WE, I GET A CALL FROM THE INSTI, I MEAN THE HOSPICE CENTER, THEN I CALL HIM AND IT'S SOMETIMES LATE AT NIGHT AND HE'S JUST BEEN SO KIND.

THANK ALL OF YOU.

AND I KNOW MANY OF THE WORKERS, UH, TY, YOU KNEW IT WAS MY LAST DAY AND I DIDN'T GET A .

OKAY, WE'LL, WE'LL GO BACK TO THE, UH, GO BACK TO THE YEAH, TY WOULD BRING ME ONE AND THEN HE'LL GET ONE TO MY HUSBAND AND ALL LEFTOVERS I WAS STEAL.

THE FIFTH 20, UH, 2024 BOARD MEETING MINUTES.

UH, APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER

[1. 24-54932 Recommendation to approve September 5, 2024 Board meeting minutes. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

I HAVE MOTION.

SECOND.

IT'S BEEN, UH, MOTION BY KEVIN, SECOND BY GLORIA.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE A UTILITIES AGREEMENT WITH CALTRANS TO PROTECT LONG BEACH UTILITIES DEPARTMENT'S.

ANY APO? ANY OPPOSITIONS? HEARING NONE.

IT PASSES.

UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO,

[2. 24-54933 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute a Utility Agreement with Caltrans to protect Long Beach Utilities Department’s existing 6” natural gas line in place during the road construction on Katella Avenue near the I-605 Freeway. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

EXISTING SIX INCH NATURAL GAS LINE, DOING THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION ON ELLA AVENUE NEAR THE SIX OH FIVE.

CALL ON CHUCK.

SAY YOUR LAST NAME FOR ME SO I DON'T MESS IT UP.

UH, LAST NAME IS CARDO.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

AND, UH, ACTUALLY THIS IS MY FIRST TIME PRESENTING TO THE COMMISSION.

SO, UH, WANTED TO DO A QUICK INTRODUCTION ABOUT MYSELF.

UH, AGAIN, MY, MY NAME IS CHUCK CARDO.

UM, I'VE WORKED FOR THE CITY FOR 16 YEARS.

WHAT? 16 YEARS? I KNOW.

IT'S TIME FLIES.

I GET THAT A LOT.

POSITION IS MANAGER OF GAS ENGINEERING.

UM, THROWN OFF A LITTLE BIT, BUT , UH, SO STARTED IN 2008 AS AN ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN.

HELD, UH, SEVERAL POSITIONS IN THE GAS ENGINEERING FIELD OVER THE YEARS.

AND MY CURRENT

[00:45:01]

I OVERSEE OUR, UM, UH, GAS INSPECTION ENG AND ENGINEERING STAFF.

UH, ALSO WANTED TO MENTION TOO, THAT, UH, I'M A LONG BEACH RESIDENT.

I'VE LIVED IN LONG BEACH FOR 26 YEARS, AND JUST, UH, VERY THANKFUL TO SAY THAT.

UH, THANKFUL TO SAY THAT I, I WORK, THANK, THANKFUL THAT I'M WORKING.

I WORK FOR THE CITY THAT MY FAMILY LIVES IN AND THAT I LIVE IN.

SO JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT.

UH, ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, UH, CHRIS'S, UH, FINAL BOARD MEETING AND I WAS ASKING KEVIN, HEY KEVIN, DO YOU HAVE ANY GOOD JOKES, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS MEETING? AND, AND HE'S, HE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD SAY THAT, THAT IT'S AN HONOR THAT MY FIRST COMMISSION, UH, MY FIRST PRESENTATION IS YOUR LAST PRESENTATION.

UH, I DON'T KNOW.

THAT WAS GOOD.

THAT WAS, THAT WAS ALL RIGHT.

THAT WAS ALL RIGHT.

KEVIN .

YES, THAT'S TRUE, .

BUT, UH, SINCERELY, JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHRIS FOR, UH, MODELING A GREAT, UH, SERVANT LEADER AND, UH, BEING A FEARLESS LEADER FOR US.

I KNOW A LOT OF, UH, DECI DECISIONS THAT SHE MADE WEREN'T, UH, POPULAR AND VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

BUT, UH, JUST, UH, A BEING A GREAT MODEL.

THANK THANKFUL THAT YOU, UH, WERE A GREAT MODEL FOR US.

SO, ONTO, UH, DID YOU SAY MY POS UH, DECISIONS WEREN'T POPULAR? ABSOLUTELY.

DID I, DID I SAY THAT? I DID SAY THAT.

I DID SAY .

UH, IF YOU SAID THAT YOU LOOK YOUR A , YES.

SO, UH, ONTO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, WHICH STATE, WHICH IS, UH, STAFF REQUESTS THE BOARD TO AUTHORIZE THE GM TO EXECUTE A UTILITY AGREEMENT WITH CALTRANS TO PROTECT LBU D'S EXISTING GAS LINE IN PLACE DURING A CALTRANS ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

SO, SOME BACKGROUND REGARDING THIS PROJECT, CALTRANS WILL BE RECONSTRUCTING THE PAVEMENT ON ELLA AVENUE NEAR THE 6 0 5 FREEWAY.

UH, DURING THE PLANNING PHASE OF THIS PROJECT, CALTRANS IDENTIFIED LBU D'S SIX INCH GAS LINE TO BE IN CONFLICT WITH THEIR WORK AND ASKED LBUD TO RELOCATE THE LINE.

SO, LBUD STAFF REVIEWED THAT REQUEST AND REVIEWED THEIR PLANS, AND, UH, WITH RESEARCH DETERMINED THAT THE GAS LINE DID NOT NEED TO BE RELOCATED, UH, AND CAN BE PROTECTED IN PLACE.

SO THAT PROPOSAL WAS SENT OVER TO CALTRANS, CALTRANS, UH, UH, REVIEWED THAT PROPOSAL AND EVENTUALLY ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO PROTECT THE GAS LINE IN PLACE AT NO EXPENSE TO LBUD.

EVEN THOUGH LBU D'S INVOLVEMENT IN THIS PROJECT IS MINIMAL, AND THE COST, UH, NO COST WILL BE INCURRED BY LBUD FOR, FOR THIS WORK, UH, A UTILITY AGREEMENT IS NEEDED BY CALTRANS FOR THEM TO PROCEED WITH THE PROJECT.

SO THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE REASON WHY THEY NEED THIS UTILITY AGREEMENT.

AN IN CONCLUSION, UH, STAFF RECOMMENDS THE BOARD TO AUTHORIZE THE GM TO EXECUTE THIS UTILITY AGREEMENT WITH CALTRANS AND AT, AT THIS TIME, RECOGNIZE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY PUBLIC OH, OKAY.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS, ANY COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS? UH, KUDOS TO STAFF FOR THIS.

UM, I KNOW THIS IS A SEEMINGLY, UH, MINOR SMALL ITEM, BUT, UH, IT, IT, I THINK IT'S GREAT.

UM, THINKING OUT OF THE BOX, BEING ABLE TO SAVE THE MONEY, BEING ABLE TO SAVE THE TIME, EFFORT, AND ALL THAT, UH, UH, WITHOUT HAVING TO RELOCATE THAT LINE.

UH, I THINK IT'S GREAT.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT IN THE FUTURE WITH OTHER PROJECTS.

UH, WELL DONE.

UM, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? AND A, A SECOND? SECOND.

WE HAVE OUR MOTION BY SHANNON AND OUR SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CERO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

THREE, AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH DUNCAN WEINBERG, JEN AND PRIM BOOK FOR LI LEGAL SERVICES.

ANY OPPOSITION? HEARING NONE.

THE MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NUMBER

[3. 24-54934 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute an agreement, including any necessary amendments, with Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, P.C. for legal services in an annual amount not to exceed $100,000 for a period of three years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, as approved by the General Manager. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

AND IT'S MR. TONY FOSTER.

IN 1971 WITH PRINCIPAL OFFICES IN WASHINGTON, DC AND SACRAMENTO.

GOOD MORNING BOARD MEMBERS.

THIS ITEM REQUESTS YOUR AUTHORIZATION FOR ENTRY INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE LAW FIRM OF DUNCAN WEINBERG, GI GINSLER, GINSLER, AND PEMBROKE FOR SPECIALIZED LEGAL SERVICES RELATED TO GAS OPERATIONS.

THE GAS UTILITY HAS LONG BENEFITED FROM FOCUSED THIRD PARTY COUNSEL, ESPECIALLY ON MATTERS BEFORE THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION THAT MAY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE NATURE AND COST OF OUR OPERATIONS.

SOME OF THE, SOME EXAMPLES OF THESE SERVICES INCLUDE GENERAL RATE, CASE PROCEEDINGS, COST ALLOCATIONS, PROCEEDINGS, NATURAL GAS STORAGE, PROCEEDINGS AND GAS RELIABILITY PLANNING, INCLUDING BACKBONE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, AND INTRASTATE NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION.

DUNCAN WEINBERG WAS FOUNDED

[00:50:01]

LISA GAST, THE FIRM'S VICE PRESIDENT AND SHAREHOLDER, WILL PRINCIPALLY HANDLE OUR ACCOUNT.

SHE SERVES IN BOTH CONSULTATION AND LITIGATION CAPACITIES AND IS AN EXPERT IN ENERGY LAW AND PUBLIC UTILITY REGULATION.

SHE HAS DECADES OF EXPERIENCE ASSISTING CLIENTS ON THE CONSUMER SIDE OF THE INDUSTRY, INCLUDING NATURAL GAS, UTILITIES, RURAL, ELECTRIC, CO-OPS, AND STATE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSIONS IN CALIFORNIA.

SHE CURRENTLY REPRESENTS MUNICIPAL GAS UTILITIES IN THE CITIES OF PALO ALTO AND VERNON.

IN FACT, WE BECAME VERY FAMILIAR WITH MS. GAS WORK RECENTLY, AS SHE SUCCESSFULLY LED A CONSORTIUM OF MUNICIPAL GAS UTILITIES BEFORE THE PUC AND CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION REGARDING ACCELERATED GAS DECOMMISSIONING EFFORTS LACKING IN JURISDICTION AND SUFFICIENT DATA REQUIREMENTS AGREEMENT WOULD BE FOR A THREE YEAR PERIOD, NOT TO EXCEED $100,000 ANNUALLY, AND WOULD FEATURE AN OPTION FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER TO RENEW THESE SERVICES FOR UP TO THREE ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR TERMS. THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT, AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

THEY'RE PROBABLY EXCELLENT.

UM, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS, ANY COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS? UH, MR. SHANNON? YES.

UM, YOU DID IT AGAIN, CHRIS.

WHAT, UH, WHAT OTHER FIRMS HAVE WE, UH, HAVE, UH, SUBMITTED THEIR PROPOSALS? THE PROPOSAL WENT OUT TO SIX FIRMS, AND, UH, THREE RESPONDED.

UH, ONE OF THEM WAS THE INCUMBENT, UH, DWT, WHO WAS THE INCUMBENT INCUMBENT, UH, DAVIS, WRIGHT AND TREMAINE, AND THEY'VE SERVED US SINCE 2010.

SO IT'S, IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

UH, AND THEY DEFINITELY, UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE A GOOD FIRM.

UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS A TIME FOR REFRESH.

UH, THEIR COST BECAME QUITE EXPENSIVE.

AND THE COMPETITION, UH, IN, UH, THIS NEW FIRM WON OUT FROM THE RFP.

WELL, THERE'S AN ISSUE THAT I WILL NOT BE INVOLVED IN, OF COURSE.

UH, AND IT, IT'S A, FRANKLY, IT'S A CRITICAL ISSUE, MAYBE NOT TO YOU FOLKS.

IT'S A LEGAL ISSUE, UH, THE DEGREE TO WHICH YOU'LL BE INVOLVED IN MAKING, IN PARTICIPATING IN THE DECISION AS TO WHICH, UM, FIRM TO EMPLOY.

NOW, THIS, THE, THE, UM, TERMS OF THIS LETTER DOES NOT INDICATE WHO MADE THE DECISION.

THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.

WHO MADE THE DECISION? TYPICALLY, UH, OUR THIRD PARTY LEGAL SERVICES WERE HANDLED OUTTA THE CITY'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

BUT SINCE THE MERGER WITH THE COMMISSION, IT'S NOW BROUGHT BEFORE YOU, WE DO HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHO RAN THAT, UH, RFP WITH US.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF, UH, MARSHALL WANTS TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS, RIGHT.

SO IT WAS, IT WAS OUR OFFICE ALONG WITH STAFF THAT MADE THE DECISION.

WELL, OKAY.

IT, UM, I'M A LAME DUCK, AND, UH, BUT I HOPE YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, WITH THIS TYPE OF ISSUE, AND MAYBE IT ISN'T EVEN A LEGAL ISSUE, BUT THIS ONE IS, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT ENOUGH THAT YOU HAVE FULL INFORMATION AS TO HOW THE PROCESS WAS VETTED AND, UH, HOW IT WAS CHOSEN.

AND WHO CHOSE, UH, WHO CHOSE THIS FIRM? I HAVE, I HAVE NO, BY THE WAY, I HAVE NO BEEF WITH THIS FIRM.

I DON'T KNOW THE FIRM.

UM, BUT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT 'EM.

AND, UH, SO FROM MY PER PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE IN THE FUTURE.

SURE.

NO, THAT, THAT'S VERY MUCH UNDERSTOOD.

UM, YOU KNOW, RICH ANTHONY WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THIS DECISION.

HE NO'S EXPLAIN .

OH.

SO, UH, HE, HE IS AWARE OF THOSE FIRMS. HE, HE IS AWARE OF ALL THE ONES THAT, UH, UH, RESPONDED TO THE RFP.

AND HE, UM, IN HIS ESTIMATION, ALONG WITH MARSHA'S AND, AND STAFF INPUT, WE SELECTED THIS AND WE CAN PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

I THINK, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, DIANA, MISS, UH, GAS WILL BE COMING DOWN SOON IN EARLY OCTOBER.

AND IF YOU WISH, WE CAN HAVE HER PRESENT BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND I MEAN, BEFORE THE BOARD SURE.

CALL YOU.

I, I'LL JUST FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

I, I, I THINK THAT'S A, A FAIR QUESTION THAT BOB PRESENTED.

UM, AND I, I'D LIKE TO LOW A LITTLE BIT MORE.

I WAS MORE ON THE SIDE OF, UM, WHAT DO THEY DO AT THE PUC? I'D BE INTERESTED JUST, JUST FOR OUR OWN KNOWLEDGE, UM, HOW DO THEY MONITOR IT? UM, WHAT DO WE EXPECT OF THEM? SO I THINK I'D LIKE A, MAYBE SOME SORT OF A FOLLOW UP ALSO.

WHEN DID YOU SAY THEY'D BE DOWN? OCTOBER, MAYBE DOWN IN EARLY OCTOBER.

DO I MAKE A MOTION OR DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO MAKE THE MOTION FOR ME? PLEASE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO MAYBE HOLD THIS OVER UNTIL, UH, THE EARLY MEETING IN OCTOBER 2ND AND I'LL, OKAY.

SO I THINK I SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH THIS.

SHOULD WE HOLD, HOLD THIS OVER TO, UH, UH, CARRY THIS OVER TO THE NEXT MEETING WITH COMMISSIONER? WOULD THAT SATISFY ALL COMMISSIONERS? YEAH.

I'LL, I'LL MAKE A REC.

CAN I,

[00:55:01]

IT'S BEEN MOVED.

AND SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR A AYE, IF I COULD JUST SAY ONE MORE COMMENT UNRELATED TO THIS ITEM, AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, I THAT DECISION.

UH, CHRIS, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY TO YOU, THANK YOU.

UM, YOU KNOW, UNLIKE WHAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID HERE, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU'VE TAUGHT US AS TO EMBRACE CHANGE AND TO, UM, BE PROACTIVE IN IT, AND I JUST WANNA TELL YOU THAT WE'RE GONNA BE OKAY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

WE'RE GONNA MISS YOU, BUT I THINK WE'RE IN IN GREAT HANDS AND WE'RE GONNA BE FINE.