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PLEASE RISE[CALL TO ORDER]
FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
COLIN, ROBERT V.[ROLL CALL]
OKAY, UH, COLIN DINA FOR THE ROLL CALL, MCGUIRE, VICE PRESIDENT SCOTT PRESENT.SECRETARY CORDERO, COMMISSIONER SHANNON, COMMISSIONER RAINEY IS ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER RAINEY IS EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S BOARD MEETING.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS FROM THE BOARD? SEEING NONE, UH, WE'LL NOW MOVE ON
[8. 25-54886 Receive verbal presentation on Water Supply Update. Suggested Action: Receive verbal report. ]
WITH THE REGULAR AGENDA.UM, TODAY WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST, BILL HAZEN, CAMP MANAGER OF THE COLORADO RIVER RESOURCES, AND, UM, HE NEEDS TO CATCH A PLANE.
SO WE HAVE MOVED AGENDA ITEM EIGHT FORWARD, AND WE WILL JUST GET STARTED RIGHT AWAY WITH THAT.
I CALL ON DEAN WANG FOR THE INTRODUCTION.
MORNING COMMISSIONERS, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE, THE BRIEF INTRODUCTION, BUT I'LL MAKE IT, UH, SLIGHTLY LESS BRIEF.
UH, SO BILL HEISEN CAMP I IS THE MANAGER OF WATER RESOURCES, UH, MANAGER OF COLORADO RIVER RESOURCES AT METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT.
HE HAS OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, UH, DEFINITELY AN, AN EXPERT IN, IN THE COLORADO RIVER ISSUES, UH, HELPS NEGOTIATE, UH, A LOT OF DIFFERENT AGREEMENTS HAVE HELPED TO, UH, INCREASE THE WATER SUPPLY, UH, FOR OUR REGION.
UH, SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'LL, I'LL PASS IT OVER TO BILL HAEN CAMP FOR HIS, UH, PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR THE NICE INTRODUCTION AND INVITATION TO SPEAK.
WE ARE, UH, A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AWAY FROM A FEDERAL DEADLINE, WHICH WILL DICTATE THE FUTURE OF THE COLORADO RIVER.
AND THERE ARE REALLY THREE CHOICES THAT ARE FACING THE WATER SUPPLY OF 40 MILLION PEOPLE.
ONE IS THAT THE SEVEN STATES WILL COME TOGETHER AND HAVE AN AGREEMENT OF HOW WATERS OF THIS GREAT RIVER WILL BE SHARED FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
IF THERE IS NO AGREEMENT, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MIGHT COME IN AND DECIDE WHO GETS WHAT WATER AND WHEN, OR THREE IT MIGHT GO TO THE SUPREME COURT TO DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF THIS RIVER.
HISTORY IS ON OUR ON OUR SIDE, THOUGH WE'VE, WE'VE ALWAYS MANAGED TO SOMEHOW COME TO A CONSENSUS OF THE SEVEN STATES.
NOW, AS A LITTLE BIT OF A REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COLORADO RIVERS TO OUR REGION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, GENERALLY WE GET ABOUT ABOUT HALF OF OUR WATER FROM THE STATE WATER PROJECT AND HALF FROM THE COLORADO, THE, OUR IMPORTED SUPPLIES, UM, UH, AS WELL AS OUR LOCAL SUPPLIES.
HOWEVER, I THINK THOSE PERCENTAGES MASK THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COLORADO RIVER TO OUR REGION IN YEARS WHEN CALIFORNIA IS DRY AND WE HAVE VERY LITTLE RAIN AND SNOW HERE.
AND THE LA AQUEDUCT DOESN'T PROVIDE MUCH WATER, AND THE STATE PROJECT DOESN'T PROVIDE MUCH WATER AND THE SAN GABRIEL RIVER DOESN'T PROVIDE MUCH WATER.
WHERE DOES OUR REGION TURN TIME AND TIME AGAIN IN THOSE YEARS TO THE COLORADO RIVER, WE'RE ABLE TO FILL OUR AQUEDUCT EVERY SINGLE YEAR WHEN WE NEEDED TO MEET OUR DEMANDS HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
AND THE, THE CHALLENGE OF MY TEAM IS TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE WE CAN DO THAT GOING FORWARD FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
AND THE CHALLENGE IS, IS TO BRING AGREEMENTS TO METROPOLITAN'S BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION.
AND COMMISSIONER CORDERO AND O OUR OTHER BOARD MEMBERS CAN IMPROVE THOSE TO ENSURE WE HAVE THAT RE DRY RELIABILITY GOING FORWARD.
BUT WHAT IT TAKES IS ALL SEVEN STATES TO COME TOGETHER IN UNISON.
NOW, THE COLORADO RIVER FLOWS THROUGH SEVEN STATES AND TWO COUNTRIES BE BEFORE REACHING THE OCEAN, BUT IT ACTUALLY NEVER REACHES THE OCEAN.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF AGRICULTURE PROVIDING WATER TO ALL THE MAJOR CITIES IN THE BASIN.
30, UH, NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES RELY ON THE RIVER AND NEARLY A DOZEN NATIONAL PARKS.
UM, ONE FACTOR OF THIS RIVER IS THAT STORAGE HAS BEEN SETTING THIS RIVER ASIDE FROM ANY OTHER RIVER IN THE AMERICAN WEST, 60 MILLION ACRE FEET OF STORAGE OR FOUR TIMES THE FLOW OF THE RIVER CAN BE STORED IN THE LARGE RESERVOIRS, LAKE MEAD, LAKE POWELL, AND THE OTHER RESERVOIRS.
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A BLESSING AND A CURSE.UH, IT'S A BLESSING BECAUSE IT CAN GET YOU THROUGH MULTIPLE YEARS OF DROUGHT, BUT IT'S ALSO A CURSE CAN 'CAUSE IT CAN LEAD TO COMPLACENCY LIKE THE PERSON WHO WON A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN THE LOTTERY AND SAYS, I HAVE SO MUCH MONEY, I'M SET FOR LIFE AND BUYS YACHTS AND HOUSES AND BUYS CARS FOR, FOR HIS FRIEND.
AND THEN AFTER 20 YEARS REALIZES WHAT HAPPENED TO MY MONEY.
WHERE I STARTED FROM WE'RE, WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT IN THE COLORADO RIVER, AND NOW WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH CHOICES AS OUR STORAGE BANK ACCOUNT IS AT CRITICAL LEVELS.
NOW, THE RIVER STARTED BACK, UH, IT WAS JOHN WESLEY POWELL.
THE THE COLORADO BASIN WAS THE LAST BASIN TO BE EXPLORED IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES.
AND IN, UH, 1869, JOHN WESLEY POWELL, UH, FROM, UH, THE CONGRESS SENT HIM ON A TRIP DOWN THE RIVER NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS DOWN THERE.
IT WAS REALLY THE FIRST EUROPEAN AMERICAN TO MAKE THIS JOURNEY DOWN THE RIVER.
AND AS HE, HIS, HIS QUOTES AS HE WENT DOWN, AS WE HAVE AN UNKNOWN DISTANCE TO RUN AN UNKNOWN RIVER TO EXPLORE WHAT FALLS THERE ARE, WE KNOW NOT WHAT ROCKS BE SET, THE CHANNEL WE KNOW NOT WHAT WALLS RIDE OVER THE RIVER.
WE KNOW NOT OH, WELL, WE MAY CONJURE MANY THINGS AS HE GOES THROUGH THE GRAND CANYON WITHOUT ANY CLUE WHAT LIES AHEAD.
HE MADE IT DOWN TO NEAR PRESENT DAY LAS VEGAS.
AND HE, WHEN HE WENT BACK TO CONGRESS, HIS MESSAGE WAS, AND, AND THAT THE WEST HAS LIMITS.
THEY WERE HOPING THIS WOULD BE IN A PLACE FOR AN ABUNDANCE, AGRICULTURE ABUNDANCE, THRIVING THAT THEY COULD DEVELOP.
BUT HIS MESSAGE WAS THE COLORADO BASIN WAS AN ERA OF LIMITS.
LET'S FACE IT, IT'S NOT KENTUCKY.
SO RUGGED WAS THE COLORADO RIVER.
THE ONLY CROSSING POINT FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES WAS LEE FERRY IN THE 18 HUNDREDS.
AND JOHN D. LEE OPERATED A FERRY THAT COULD TAKE FIRST HORSES LATER CARS ACROSS IN NORTHERN ARIZONA.
AND THIS BECAME THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN THE UPPER BASIN STATES AND THE LOWER BASIN STATES.
AND IT'S REALLY THE POINT WHERE THE RIVER CHANGES FROM A MOUNTAINOUS RIVER THAT IS GROWING AS IT FLOWS TO A DESERT RIVER THAT IS SHRINKING.
AND TODAY, THIS IS THE CENTRAL ARGUMENT OF THE SEVEN STATES, IS HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD FLOW BY THIS POINT.
THAT IS THE, THE DISAGREEMENT THAT IS HOLDING PROGRESS ON THE RIVER IS WHAT SHOULD BE THE FLOW OF THAT RIVER AT THAT POINT FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS OR SO, THERE WAS A PLACE IN THE RIVER THAT WAS GOOD FOR DEVELOPMENT, THE IMPERIAL VALLEY.
AND IN THE 19 HUNDREDS FARMERS STARTED FARMING IN THE IMPERIAL VALLEY.
IT WAS A GREAT PLACE BECAUSE THERE WAS ABUNDANCE SUPPLY OF WATER AND IT ALMOST NEVER RAINED.
IN FACT, IF YOU GO TO IMPERIAL VALLEY TODAY, THEY PREFER IF IT DOESN'T RAIN, THEY DON'T LIKE RAIN, THEY ONLY GET TWO INCHES A YEAR AND IT MESSES UP THEIR CROPS.
AND IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO FARM EXCEPT THAT THE COLORADO RIVER WAS UNCONTROLLABLE.
THERE WERE YEARS WHEN IT WAS NOT VERY FULL, AND YEARS WHEN IT WAS FLOODING, AS IN 1906 WHEN IT FIRST OUT OF ITS ITS CANAL FLOWED UNCONTROLLABLY AND FORMED THE SALT AND SINK AND DID A LOT OF DAMAGE AS IT WENT THROUGH THE IMPERIAL VALLEY.
MARK REISNER TALKS ABOUT THIS REVERSE WATERFALL CHURNING UP THE IMPERIAL VALLEY, CREATING DAMAGE IN HIS WAKE.
AND IT WASN'T UNTIL A YEAR LATER THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO FINALLY GET THE RIVER BACK IN ITS CHANNEL.
BUT IT WAS CLEAR THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE A THRIVING AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY, THEY NEEDED TO TAME THIS MIGHTY RIVER.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT WAS LOOKING AT BUILDING AN AQUEDUCT TO THE COLORADO RIVER TO OUR REGION.
WE COULDN'T DO IT WITH A RIVER THAT WAS FLUCTUATING WILDLY.
SO WE NEEDED A DAM TO BE BUILT TO CONTROL THE MIGHTY RIVER.
AND THE PERFECT SPOT WAS BLACK CANYON, WHICH IS NEAR LAS VEGAS TODAY.
BUT IN ORDER TO GET APPROVAL TO BUILD A DAM, WE NEEDED CONGRESS TO, TO BLESS IT.
SO WE NEEDED ALL SEVEN STATES THAT RELY ON THE RIVER TO AGREE ON THIS DAM.
THE UPPER BASIN STATES, HOW, HOWEVER, WE'RE CONCERNED, THEY SAID, IF YOU BUILD A DAM, THIS WILL ALLOW THE LOWER BASIN TO DEVELOP.
AND ONCE THE LOWER BASIN DEVELOPS, THEY DEVELOP FIRST OUR RIGHTS IN THE FUTURE WILL BE CURTAILED.
SO WE'RE NOT GONNA AGREE TO A DAM UNLESS WE HAVE CERTAINTY IN OUR SUPPLIES.
SO IN 1922, A LITTLE OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AGO IN SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, THE SEVEN STATES
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GOT TOGETHER AND AGREED WITHOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED.BUT IT WAS REALLY THE SEVEN STATES THAT SAID, HERE'S HOW WE WILL SHARE THE RIVER GOING FORWARD IN PERPETUITY.
THIS COMPACT SAID THE UPPER BASIN, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT GONNA NEED WATER FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, GETS HALF OF THE RIVER, THE LOWER BASIN, HALF THE RIVER.
THERE WAS ALSO A CONSIDERATION OF TRIBUTARY USE IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.
SO THEY GAVE AN EXTRA MILLION ACRE FEET TO THE LOWER BASIN.
AND THEN LATER IN 1944, MEXICO GOT A MILLION AND A HALF.
AND THIS COMPACT WORKED REALLY WELL UNTIL IT DIDN'T.
IT, IT WORKS REALLY WELL IF THE FLOWS ARE MORE THAN 17 AND A HALF MILLION ACRE FEET.
BUT AT THE TIME THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
SO WITH THAT CONSTRUCTION OF HOOVER DAM BEGAN IN 1928.
AND THE HEYDAY OF, UH, THE COLORADO RIVER WAS 1983 WHEN HOOVER DAM WAS SPILLING.
IN 1983, I WAS THE STUDENT AT LONG BEACH STATE UNIVERSITY STUDYING CIVIL ENGINEERING.
AND I REMEMBER HEARING THE COLORADO, THERE'S SO MUCH WATER, TAKE IT.
THERE'S SO MUCH, IT'S JUST BEING LOST TO THE OCEAN.
BUT THOSE DAYS DID NOT LAST, JUST LIKE THE LOTTERY WINNERS DIDN'T LAST.
AND BY 2007, WE REALIZED WE WERE IN AN ERA OF LIMITS.
PEOPLE STARTED TAKING MORE WATER, THE RIVER STARTED TO DRY OUT, AND THE RESERVOIR STARTED DROPPING.
SO WE AGREED ON RULES FOR 20 YEARS OF HOW WE WOULD OPERATE.
BACK THEN, THOUGH THERE WAS STILL ENOUGH WATER IN THE BANKING ACCOUNT THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE RELATIVELY EASY.
WE WOULD NEGOTIATE SOME CUTBACKS A LITTLE BIT.
HERE'S HOW DIFFERENT THINGS WORK.
BUT THERE WAS ENOUGH WATER IN THE BANK ACCOUNT SO THAT THE STATES WERE ABLE TO COME TO AGREEMENT.
AND NOW, BUT THE FLAWS IN THE COMPACT WERE HIDDEN BACK THEN.
WHEN YOU STILL HAVE ENOUGH WATER IN THE BANK ACCOUNT, YOU CAN, YOU CAN GET BY FLAWS THAT TODAY, NOW ARE FRONT AND CENTER.
AND THERE'S TWO MAIN ISSUES THAT ARE FRONT AND CENTER TODAY THAT THE SEVEN STATES ARE, ARE NEGOTIATING.
THE FIRST IS, THIS IS THE COMPACT AGAIN, BUT IN ORDER FOR THE LOWER BASIN TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THEIR WATER, THE UPPER BASIN HAD TO AGREE TO RELEASE THE LOWER BASIN'S WATER PLUS HALF OF MEXICO'S WATER.
SO THAT'S HOW THE LOWER BASIN GETS, MAKES SURE THEY GET ENOUGH WATER.
AND THAT WORKS FINE IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH WATER, 18 MILLION ACRE FEET OR MORE, 17, 18.
BUT NOW WE KNOW THE FLOW OF THE RIVER IS CLOSER TO 13.
AND IF THE UPPER BASIN STILL HAS TO RELEASE THEIR FULL SHARE OF THE LOWER BASIN, THAT MEANS THE UPPER BASIN DOESN'T GET IT.
IN FACT, THEY'RE ONLY USING ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF MILLION ACRE FEET.
AND THAT'S ALL THEY CAN USE BECAUSE IT'S DRIER.
SO THE UPPER BASIN IS SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, OUR DEAL WAS SEVEN AND A HALF, BUT WE'RE ONLY GETTING FOUR AND A HALF.
AND THEN IN THE LOWER BASIN INITIALLY CAME AFTER WE SUBDIVIDED THE LOWER BASINS, SEVEN AND A HALF WITH THE STATE OF ARIZONA, ARIZONA, AND CALIFORNIA.
THIS IS THE ONE TIME WHERE THE COLORADO WENT TO THE SUPREME COURT.
ALL THE OTHER TIMES WE WERE ABLE TO WORK OUT OUR DIFFERENCES, EXCEPT WITH ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA IN 1964.
AND IN 64, ARIZONA WON IN THE SUPREME COURT, EVEN THOUGH CALIFORNIA THOUGHT WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD CASE OR SO, I'M TOLD I WASN'T ACTUALLY THERE.
AND IN THAT CASE, ARIZONA ARGUED WE GET NOT JUST A MILLION ACRE FEET THAT THE COMPACT SAID, BUT ALL OF THE TRIBUTARIES IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA WE GET TO KEEP.
AND WE DON'T, WE'RE NOT CHARGED FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE IN OUR STATE.
OF COURSE, OUR ARGUMENT WAS SIMPLE.
THERE'S TRIBUTARIES THROUGHOUT THE BASE AND OBVIOUSLY IF YOU TAKE WATER FROM A TRIBUTARY, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
WHOLE UPPER BASIN IS TRIBUTARIES.
AFTER ALL, SUPREME COURT SAID NO TRIBUTARIES COUNT.
AND SO THAT INCREASED THE WATER SUPPLY AVAILABLE TO THE STATE OF ARIZONA BY OVER A MILLION ACRE FEET.
HOWEVER, WE DID HAVE IN CALIFORNIA AND ACE UP OUR SLEEVE THAT SAID THEY WANTED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BUILD THE CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT.
UNLIKE METROPOLITAN THAT FUNDED OUR AQUEDUCT LOCALLY WITH BOND FUNDS, ARIZONA WANTED THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION TO BUILD IT AND GET A SUBSIDIZED LOAN TO DO THAT.
SO THEY NEEDED CONGRESS AGAIN.
AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO INFLUENCE CONGRESS TO MAKE
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SURE THAT THEY CAN BUILD THE CAP, BUT IT'S JUNIOR TO ALL OF CALIFORNIA.SO WITH THOSE RULES IN PLACE, NOW YOU'VE GOT THIS, YOU'VE GOT THIS COMPACT THAT SHOWS 50 50.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE ACTUAL DELIVERIES OF WATER LAST DECADE, THE UPPER BASIN WAS ONLY USING FOUR AND A HALF THE LOWER BASIN NINE BECAUSE OF THE TRIBUTARIES.
SO, AND THEN MEXICO IS GETTING THEIR, THEIR FAIR SHARE OF ONE AND A HALF.
SO ALL OF THE UPPER BASIN STATES ARE SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, WE'RE WE'RE 3 MILLION LESS.
YET THE LOWER BASIN'S USING MORE THAN THE COMPACT ALLOWED BECAUSE OF THE SUPREME COURT LET THEM, AND IT'S REALLY ARIZONA AND NEVADA.
NEVADA'S ALSO GOT TRIBUTARIES ARE USING MORE.
THE FOUR UPPER BASIN STATES ARE USING LESS.
AND CALIFORNIA'S RIGHT IT WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ALL ALONG.
SO WE'RE SORT OF WATCHING THIS REALLY FIGHT BETWEEN MOSTLY ARIZONA AND THE UPPER BASIN ABOUT WHAT'S A FAIR SHARE GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT WHAT WE ENVISIONED IN 1922.
SO THE LOWER BASIN DECIDED, WELL, WE ARE GOING TO STEP UP AND SHARE THE FIRST ONE AND A HALF MILLION ACRE FEET.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO STEP UP FIRST.
SO WE WOULD GO FROM THAT 9 MILLION DOWN TO SIX AND A HALF MILLION, SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION.
AND EACH STATE AGREED TO A SHARE OF CUTS.
CALIFORNIA PUT ON FOUR 40 EVEN THOUGH WE WEREN'T REQUIRED TO DO SO.
THIS IS NOT OUR PRIORITY CUTS.
WE HAVE SENIOR PRIORITY TO ARIZONA, BUT WE WERE WILLING TO COMPROMISE AND GIVE UP 10% OF OUR SUPPLY IN THE RIVER IN ORDER TO GET A DEAL.
AND THIS IS A, ESSENTIALLY AN EVERY YEAR CUT OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE OF HOW WE WILL GET OUR WATER.
AND CALIFORNIA IS IN DISCUSSIONS TODAY ABOUT HOW WE WOULD LIVE WITH 10% LESS WATER.
'CAUSE IT'S THE AG AGENCIES AND METROPOLITAN.
IN FACT, MY GENERAL MANAGER AND I WERE MEETING WITH IID YESTERDAY, UH, OVER HOW WE WOULD SHARE THIS.
SO FOR US, IT IS A GOOD FAITH OFFER WE THOUGHT.
BUT THE UPPER BASIN STILL SAYS NO.
THE, THE ISSUE NOW IS WHAT TO DO IF YOU NEED MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION ACRE FEET.
AND THERE ARE SOME CLIMATE CHANGE SCENARIOS, SOME THAT SAY IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS, WE MAY HAVE TO CUT 2 MILLION ACRE FEET OR EVEN THREE, DEPENDING ON HOW BAD CLIMATE CHANGE MIGHT GET.
BUT WE WANNA BE PREPARED IN CASE THE WORST HAPPENS.
THE TWO STATES ARE NOT SEEING EYE TO EYE AT ALL.
WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN MEETING SINCE JANUARY TO SAY, HOW CAN WE BRIDGE THE DIVIDE EVERY TWO WEEKS WE'VE BEEN MEETING UPPER BASE AND LOWER BASIN.
IN FACT, WE'RE MEETING ALBUQUERQUE NEXT WEEK, SAN DIEGO THE WEEK AFTER THAT TO TRY TO MEET, UH, AN AGREEMENT.
UH, JUST, UH, THIS WEEK THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR ASKED THE SEVEN STATES TO COME TO WASHINGTON, DC AND THEY'VE SAID THEY'RE GONNA START GETTING INVOLVED BECAUSE THE LACK OF PROGRESS AMONG THE SEVEN STATES.
SO OUR, FOR CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE ONE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE THAT'S THE CHAIR OF THE COLORADO RIVER BOARD, WHICH IS JB HAMBY.
AND COMMISSIONER CORDERO ALSO SITS ON THAT BOARD.
HE, HE SPEAKS FOR CALIFORNIA, BUT ULTIMATELY IT'S GONNA BE THE CALIFORNIA AGENCIES THAT WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE THE DEAL, INCLUDING METROPOLITAN.
SO THOSE SEVEN ARE BACK IN DC MONDAY TO TRY TO SEE IF PROGRESS CAN BE MADE.
AND THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, WE STILL DON'T HAVE A BUREAU OF RECLAMATION COMMISSIONER.
UM, WE STILL DON'T HAVE A ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF WATER, BUT WE DO HAVE A COMMISSION AND WE DO HAVE SOME RECLAMATION EMPLOYEES STILL IN PLACE, UH, THAT ARE GONNA TRY TO MOVE THE BALL FORWARD.
A COMPLICATING FACTOR CAME UP LAST WEEK WITH REGARD TO THOSE DELIVERIES TO MEXICO.
UM, THE TREATY WITH MEXICO HAS TWO COMPONENTS TO IT.
IT HAS BOTH A, THE COLORADO PIECE WHERE WE GIVE ONE AND A HALF MILLION AC FEET ON AVERAGE TO MEXICO.
THAT GOES TO TIJUANA, MEXICO FARMING, AND, AND THE COASTAL REGIONS, JUST LIKE HERE IN CALIFORNIA.
AND THE OTHER, EXCUSE ME, GET EXCITED OVER THIS.
THE OTHER PART OF THE TREATY IS ON THE RIO GRANDE SIDE WHERE MEXICO DELIVERS WATER TO THE RIO GRANDE THAT PROVIDES WATER TO FARMERS IN TEXAS.
AND MEXICO'S OBLIGATION IS A FIVE YEAR AVERAGE.
OURS ON THE COLORADO, BECAUSE WE HAVE LAKE MEAD, WE CAN GIVE THEM A MILLION AND A HALF EVERY YEAR ON THE COLORADO ON THE RIO GRANDE.
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IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.IT SORT OF GIVES THEM FLEXIBILITY.
AND THIS IS THE FIFTH YEAR AND THEY'RE FAR BEHIND DELIVERIES.
AND THE FARMERS IN TEXAS ARE SAYING MEXICO'S NOT GONNA LIVE UP TO ITS OBLIGATION, WHICH IS OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR.
AND WE ARE HERDING HERE IN TEXAS, AND IT'S THE STATE DEPARTMENT THAT OVERSEES THIS TREATY, NOT THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION OR THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.
AND SO PART OF AN AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH MEXICO IS WE TAKE SOME OF THEIR WATER OUT OF LAKE HAVASU IS EMERGENCY DELIVERY THAT COMES THROUGH OUR SYSTEM AND SAN DIEGO SYSTEM AND GOES TO TIJUANA.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN TIJUANA NEEDS EXTRA WATER BECAUSE MAYBE THEIR AQUEDUCT IS DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE OR THERE'S OTHER ISSUES.
SO WE HAVE A EMERGENCY DEAL WHERE WE CAN, CAN PROVIDE THEM WATER ON A SCHEDULE.
A FEW THOUSAND AC FEET A YEAR, BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO TIJUANA.
SO THERE WERE WATER SCHEDULED FOR DELIVERIES IN APRIL, AND WE GOT THIS NOTE FROM THE, UH, FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
MEXICO'S CONTINUED SHORTFALLS IN ITS WATER DELIVERIES UNDER THE 1944 WATER SHARING TREATY ARE DECIMATING AMERICAN AGRICUL AGRICULTURE, PARTICULARLY FARMERS IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
AS A RESULT, TODAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE US WILL DENY MEXICO'S NON TREATY REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL DELIVERY CHANNEL FOR COLORADO RIVER WATER TO BE DELIVERED TO TIJUANA.
AND THEY TOLD US, YOU'RE NOT DELIVERING WATER METROPOLITAN.
YOU'RE NOT DELIVERING WATER TO TIJUANA, EVEN THOUGH THEY ASKED FOR IT.
SO WE SAID, OKAY, IT'S, THAT'S THEIR, THEIR DECISION.
IT'S ONLY RIGHT NOW FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL.
BUT THINGS COULD RAMP UP AND MEXICO COULD BE IN A WATER WAR.
NOW WITH THE UNITED STATES, DEPENDING ON HOW IT, HOW IT, IT'S STILL VERY EARLY.
AND THAT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE FOR US ON THE COLORADO, BECAUSE COLORADO, UH, MEXICO HAS BEEN PART OF THE COLORADO RIVER SOLUTION.
THEY HAVE AGREED TO REDUCTIONS IN THE PAST WHEN ARIZONA TOOK A REDUCTION.
AND OUR HOPE IN OUR PLAN, IF YOU NOTICE, WE DO HAVE A LINE FOR MEXICO.
THAT LINE FOR MEXICO HASN'T BEEN AGREED TO BY MEXICO YET.
SO WE, WE, WE WANT MEXICO PART OF THE SOLUTION.
AND WE THINK THIS IS, THERE'S GOOD REASONS WHY MEXICO SHOULD PARTICIPATE.
THEY WANT A RELIABLE SYSTEM TOO.
THEY DON'T WANT THE RESERVOIRS TO CRASH.
BUT IF WE'RE IN A WAR WITH MEXICO, THAT'S LESS AND LESS LIKELY.
SO THAT'S A, A COMPLICATING FACTOR THAT IS EVOLVING AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT MIGHT SHAKE OUT.
BUT THAT'S, THE MEXICO PIECE IS PART OF IT.
SO WHERE ARE WE HEADED NOW? SO WE'VE, THE CLOCK IS TICKING, RIGHT? SO, AND NOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS, IS INVOLVED FOR THE NEW ADMINISTRATION FOR THE FIRST TIME.
WE DID HAVE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WAS INVOLVED, UH, THROUGH JANUARY.
BUT EVER SINCE BIDEN DROPPED OUT, IT WAS A LAME DUCK ADMINISTRATION.
SO I THINK THE STATES WEREN'T REALLY TAKING THEIR LEADERSHIP VERY SERIOUSLY.
UM, SO THE STATES WERE ON THEIR OWN BUT NOT MAKING PROGRESS.
SO NOW WE'RE HAVING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WITH THE SECRETARY AND SOME RECLAMATION STAFF, UH, MAKING THINGS, I THINK MOVING FORWARD, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL MAKE PROGRESS AND, AND GET THE STATES TO, TO AGREE.
WE NEED TO GET AN AGREEMENT BY THE END OF SUMMER IN ORDER FOR THAT TO GO INTO THE EIS PROCESS.
AND FOR METROPOLITAN, WE ARE WILLING TO GIVE UP SOME WATER FOR THAT DRY RELIABILITY.
WE DON'T, WE, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE OUR CONTRIBUTIONS, BUT WHAT WE NEED MORE THAN ANY OTHER REGION IS TO BE ABLE TO FILL OUR ACT DUCT WHEN THE STATE WATER PROJECT IS AT 5% OR 10%.
SO THAT IS OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET IN THIS SEVEN STATE PROCESS.
BUT IF THERE IS NO SEVEN STATE AGREEMENT, THEN THE LOWER BASIN WILL LIKELY DEVELOP THEIR OWN PLAN, WHICH THEY DID BEFORE UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.
BUT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAYS THERE IS NO LOWER BASIN PLAN, THERE IS NO UPPER BASIN PLAN.
IT'S SEVEN STATES TOGETHER, OR IT'S A FEDERAL PLAN.
SO WE MIGHT DEVELOP A LOWER BASIN PLAN, BUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MIGHT SAY, NO, WE'RE GOING TO, IT'S GONNA BE OUR PLAN.
AND THEY MIGHT OPERATE THE RIVERS BASED ON THEIR INTERPRETATION OF THE LAWS OR POLITICS COULD GET INVOLVED.
CALIFORNIA IS NOT, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A HIGH WATER, RIGHT? CALIFORNIA'S
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NOT REALLY IN FAVOR RIGHT NOW.OR IT COULD GO TO THE SUPREME COURT IF THE STATE STARTS SUING EACH OTHER.
ALL, ALL OF THOSE LATTER TWO ARE DISASTERS.
AND I THINK THE SEVEN STATES KNOW THAT.
BUT REALLY THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS WILL DETERMINE IF WE, IF WE CAN, UH, REACH AGREEMENT.
SO WHAT CAN LONG BEACH DO WITH MY, MY LAST SLIDE AND, AND THAT IS, UM, ONE IS SPEAK OUT AND, AND BY SPEAKING OUT, WE NEED TO GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS OF ALL THAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN CALIFORNIA.
RIGHT? IT, IT KIND OF GETS LOST IN THE NOISE.
CALIFORNIA HAS DONE MORE TO REDUCE OUR DEMAND FOR IMPORTED WATER THAN ANYONE ELSE, RIGHT? METROPOLITAN'S DEMANDS ARE DOWN 1.3 MILLION ACRE FEET FOR IMPORTED WATER.
IT WAS OVER TWO AND A HALF WHEN ANATOL WAS THE ASSISTANT GROUP MANAGER OF WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 20 YEARS AGO.
RIGHT? AND THAT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THE MEMBER AGENCIES AND METROPOLITAN SUPPORT OF REDUCING DEMANDS.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THAT GREAT GARDEN OUT FRONT, UH, UH, NATIVE LANDSCAPE.
GET THE MESSAGE OUT IF YOU'RE AT PLACES SO THAT OTHER STATE, 'CAUSE THEY'RE GETTING THEIR MESSAGE OUT.
SO WE NEED TO GET OUR MESSAGE OUT SO THAT WE, WE WERE IN WYOMING AND, AND AND WYOMING.
THEY SAID, WELL, COLORADO RIVER WATER, ONCE IT GETS PAST HOOVER DAM, IT JUST GOES TO PHIL'S SWIMMING POOLS IN BEVERLY HILLS, RIGHT? THAT'S THEIR VISION IS IT JUST GOES TO WASTE IN LA AND WE NEED TO SAY NO.
WE ARE STEPPING UP AND DOING A LOT BOTH HERE AND OUR AGRICULTURAL PARTNERS.
SECONDLY IS, IS STAY INFORMED.
THE NEXT YEAR'S GONNA BE A WHIRLWIND, PROCESS'S GOING TO BE CHANGES.
UH, AND THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.
SO YOU, YOU KIND OF GET THE LATEST, BUT IT'S, IT'S GONNA CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY AND REALLY NEED TO STAY ON TOP OF IT.
'CAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT THIS NEXT YEAR FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF, OF WATER RELIABILITY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
AND THEN FINALLY PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.
THERE ARE, UH, THERE IS A PUBLIC PROCESS OF A DRAFT EIS THAT COMES OUT PROBABLY IN DECEMBER.
WE WILL BE SUBMITTING COMMENTS AND WE'LL REACH OUT TO CITIES LIKE LONG BEACH TO SUPPORT COMMENTS IF WE HAVE, UH, AN ALTERNATIVE IN THERE THAT WE WANT SUPPORT FOR.
UH, WE ALSO, IF THERE'S A CHANCE TO INFORM YOUR, UH, LEGISLATORS, IF YOU HAVE BRIEFINGS OR LOCAL POLITICIANS OR POLITICIANS IN DC OR SACRAMENTO, UH, GET THEM INFORMED OF THE ISSUES BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW.
WE MIGHT END UP IN A FIGHT WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
WE MIGHT END UP IN A FIGHT WITH ARIZONA.
AND SO WE NEED TO BE READY TO HAVE OUR LEGISLATORS RAMPED UP TO PROTECT OUR INTERESTS IN THIS PROCESS.
SHOULD WE NEED IT? PLAN A FOR SURE IS A SEVEN STATE DEAL, BUT IF IT DOESN'T FALL, COME THROUGH, WE MIGHT BE FIGHTING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING AND STAY TUNED AS WE GO THROUGH THIS, UH, WILD RIDE OF THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE WITH US TODAY.
THIS WAS REALLY INFORMATIVE AND WE LIKE THE LATEST NEWS SO WE CAN DO WHAT WE CAN ON OUR PART.
OKAY, LET'S SEE WHAT HERE? I, IF I COULD JUST, YES.
COMMENTS? YEAH, JUST VERY BRIEFLY.
IIII LOOK AT THE, UH, EVERYBODY'S SITTING OUT THERE AND I, I KNOW YOU'RE, YOU'RE SO MUCH YOUNGER AND I WANTED TO SAY BILL'S LIKE EF HUTTON, BUT NOBODY WOULD PROBABLY GET THE JOKE.
UH, WHEN EF HUTTON SPEAKS, EVERYBODY LISTENS.
UH, AND THAT'S VERY SIMILAR, UH, IN THIS STATE AT METROPOLITAN, OBVIOUSLY, BUT ALSO, UM, WITHIN ALL THE OTHER BASIN STATES, IF YOU CAN, YOU CAN IMAGINE JUST THE WAY HE PRESENTED HIMSELF TODAY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU.
IF, IF, I DUNNO IF WE CAN HAVE A LITTLE SECOND, MAYBE JUST ONE MINUTE.
UM, SO YOU'VE KIND OF CLEARLY SHOWED US THAT THE UPPER BASIN AND LOWER BASIN HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS AND THEN AT SOME POINT IT'LL BE ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA.
AND THEN ALSO WITHIN CALIFORNIA, CAN YOU JUST KIND OF MAYBE SPEAK BRIEFLY TO THE CALIFORNIA ISSUES BETWEEN MAYBE URBAN AND AG AND WHERE, WHERE WE MAY GO WITH THAT? YEAH, SO, UM, WE ARE, WE ARE NEGOTIATIONS ON THREE FRONTS WITH THE LOWER BASIN.
WE'RE NEGOTIATING WITH THE UPPER BASIN ABOUT HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD BLOW PASS LEAF AREA IN INTO THE GRAND CANYON.
WE'RE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH ARIZONA IN CASE ADDITIONAL CUTS BEYOND THAT 1.5 ARE NEEDED.
HOW WOULD CALIFORNIA SHARE? WOULD WE PUT MORE THAN FOUR 40 ON THE TABLE UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS? PROBABLY, BUT HOW MUCH MORE THAT'S TO BE NEGOTIATED? AND THE LAST PIECE IS NEGOTIATING WITHIN CALIFORNIA.
[00:30:01]
IN 2003, CALIFORNIA HAD TO REDUCE ITS USE BY 800,000 ACRE FEET PERMANENTLY.WHEN WE HAD TO REDUCE OUR USE TO OUR BASIC APPORTIONMENT, WE NEGOTIATED WITH IID COACHELLA, PVID, BUT METROPOLITAN IS THE JUNIOR PRIORITY WITHIN CALIFORNIA.
SO WE TOOK THE BRUNT OF THE REDUCTION, BUT WE PARTNERED WITH AGRICULTURE, PROVIDED INCENTIVES FOR THEM TO SHARE IN THE REDUCTION TOGETHER BOTH AG AND URBAN REDUCED OUR USE WITH INCENTIVES PROVIDED AG SAN DIEGO COUNTY PROVIDED THEM.
UM, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO THAT AGAIN NOW, BUT THIS TIME AROUND THE, WE'RE EXPECTING ALL AGENCIES TO REDUCE THEIR USE, BUT AGAIN, IT'S GONNA REQUIRE FUNDING FOR AG CONSERVATION.
AND I, ID YESTERDAY SAID, YES, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, RIGHT? WE'RE NOT GONNA SAY METROPOLITAN HAS TO DO IT ALL, BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME TOUGH NEGOTIATIONS OVER WHAT KIND OF PRICING AND HOW MUCH WHO'S GONNA PAY AND HOW MUCH.
SO THERE'S STILL A LOT TO DO MORE THAN JUST EVEN AT THE HIGH LEVEL IN DC THERE'S EVEN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
COMMISSIONER SCOTT, UH, THANK YOU.
UH, THIS ISSUE IS SO COMPLICATED.
IT, IT, UH, IT'S, IT HAUNTS ME EVER SINCE I GOT ON THIS BOARD AND I'VE BEEN GOING TO CONFERENCES, IT REMINDS ME OF, UH, THERE'S SO MANY DIMENSIONS TO IT, LIKE A RUBIK'S CUBE THAT EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE AFFECTS ALL THE OTHER SIDES OF THE, OF THE PUZZLE.
UM, YOU DO A GREAT JOB DISTILLING IT DOWN TO A LEVEL THAT, THAT FOLKS LIKE ME CAN UNDERSTAND AND, AND WRAP OUR HEAD AROUND IT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY.
SO THIS PRESENTATION WAS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
[1. 25-54879 Recommendation to approve February 25, 2025 and March 20, 2025 Board meeting minutes. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
ITEM NUMBER ONE ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 25TH AND MARCH 20, 20, 25 BOARD MEETING MINUTES.I HAVE A, A FIRST AND A SECOND.
ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.
[2. 25-54880 Recommendation to approve Transfer of Funds for April 3, 2025. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
TO APPROVE A TRANSFER OF FUNDS FOR APRIL 3RD, 2025.DO I HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? NO, I DON'T NEED PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, I UNFORTUNATELY MY PRESENTATION WON'T BE AS EXCITING, BUT IT'LL BE PRETTY EASY.
THIS IS, UH, 1 0 1 OF INTERDEPARTMENT ONE TRANSFERS, UH, THE LAST MEETING, WE MM-HMM
HELD THIS OVER AND, UH, THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ASKED.
SO I'D LIKE TO, UM, PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME ANSWERS.
SO WE WILL BE GOING OVER THE PURPOSE AND PROCESS OF INTERDEPARTMENTAL FUND TRANSFERS.
BASICALLY, THIS IS THE WHAT, WHY, AND HOW.
WE'RE GONNA GOING TO GO OVER THE OVERVIEW OF INTERDEPARTMENTAL FUND TRANSFERS THAT WE HAVE, WHY THEY'RE NECESSARY FOR OPERATIONS, AND AN EXPLANATION OF THE TRANSFER FREQUENCY.
WHAT ARE INTERDEPARTMENTAL FUND TRANSFERS? UH, IN SIMPLE TERMS, UH, THEY ARE THE MOVEMENT OF FUNDS BETWEEN CITY DEPARTMENTS AND IT ENSURES ACCURATE COST ALLOCATION AND FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY.
SOME EXAMPLES, NOT ALL OF 'EM INCLUDE COMMERCIAL SERVICES AT CITY HALL LEGAL SERVICES.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE MARCIE SDA AND GENERAL CITY OVERHEAD.
WHY ARE FUND TRANSFERS NECESSARY? SO THERE ARE THREE REASONS WHY, UM, THEY'RE NECESSARY.
AND THE FIRST ONE IS BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY.
THIS ENSURES DEPARTMENTS PAY FOR SERVICES UTILIZED PER AGREED UPON MOU OR ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS.
IT CLEAR CLEARLY TRACKS CITY SPENDING AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL, UH, CHARGES AND COST RECOVERY DEPARTMENTS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES RECOVER THEIR EXPENSES.
THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE DIAGRAM OF HOW THE PROCESS WORKS.
THE MOU IS ESTABLISHED AND BUDGETED IN MOST CASES.
FUND TRANSFERS ARE SUPPORTED BY A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, UH, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN EACH YEAR'S ANNUAL BUDGET.
SO WE DON'T BRING EACH MOU TO YOU.
WHEN WE COME TO YOU DURING OUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS, EACH MOU HAS A DIFFERENT CALCULATION METHODOLOGY, WHICH IS DETERMINED BY THE DEPART DEPARTMENT SERVICE PROVIDER.
ONCE THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED, UM, THE SERVICE PROVIDING DEPARTMENT DELIVERS.
[00:35:01]
THEY, THEY DELIVER SERVICES TO US AND THEN THEY BILL US.UM, THEY'LL SEND THE INFORMATION AND BACKUPS TO FINANCE AND FINANCE.
OUR FINANCE TEAM, UM, AT UTILITIES THOROUGHLY REVIEWS CHARGES FOR APPROPRIATENESS AND ACCURACY AND CONSOLIDATES THE FUND TRANSFERS AS INFORMATION IS RECEIVED.
TYPICALLY IT QUARTERLY, BUT IT CAN BE MONTHLY OR AS NEEDED.
ONCE OUR TEAM SCRUTINIZES THE ALL OF THE, UM, FUND TRANSFERS, WE BRING IT TO ALL OF YOU FOR BOARD APPROVAL.
AND ONCE YOU AUTHORIZE IT, WE THEN TRANSFER THE FUNDS.
SO WE WILL NOT POST ANY TRANSFERS UNTIL IT IS APPROVED HERE DURING OUR MEETINGS.
SO I THINK THIS WAS ONE OF THE BIGGER QUESTIONS AT, UM, LAST MONTH'S MEETING.
SOME SERVICES GENERATE, UH, MONTHLY CHARGES.
OTHER COSTS ARE BETTER HANDLED THAN QUA HANDLED QUARTERLY TO REDUCE ADMINISTRATIVE WORKLOAD.
SO SOMETIMES WHAT THEY WILL DO IS THEY WILL BILL US QUARTERLY, BUT THEY WILL STILL BREAK IT DOWN ON A MONTHLY, UM, SPREADSHEET.
QUARTERLY TRANSFERS ALLOWS TIME FOR ADJUSTMENTS, CORRECTIONS AND PROPER FUND ALLOCATIONS.
SOME EXAMPLES ARE FOR MONTHLY.
THEY ARE REGULAR, VERY PREDICTABLE, AND QUARTERLY THEY COULD, UH, COST COULD FLUCTUATE OR REQUIRE SOME CONSOLIDATION.
AND IN SUMMARY, UH, INTERDEPARTMENTAL FUND TRANSFERS ENSURE FAIR COST ALLOCATION.
THE TIMING DEPENDS ON THE NATURE OF THE EXPENSES AND ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY.
AND THE CITY AND OUR DEPARTMENT, LONG BEACH PUBLIC UTILITIES AIM FOR TRANSPARENCY, ACCURACY, AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
AND WITH THAT, UH, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
DO I HAVE ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENT? OKAY.
UH, COMMISSIONER SCOTT, I'M SORRY THAT BOB WASN'T ABLE TO STAY AT I KNOW
UH, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION ON THE, UH, THE GAS TRANSFER TO THE GENERAL FUND, IS THAT A LUMP SUM? IT IS.
SO, WELL, I GUESS OCTOBER, IT'S AT IT, THE FISCAL YEAR END CLOSE.
SO WE WILL NOT TRANSFER ANYTHING UNTIL WE DO AN ASSESSMENT OF OUR FINANCIAL, YES.
AND THAT'S AT THE END OF OUR FISCAL YEAR? YEAH.
AND WILL THAT BE LISTED ON THE YES.
SO IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THAT PRESENTATION.
COMMISSIONER SCOTT AND I ARE FAIRLY NEW HERE, SO
ANY OTHER, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS? ANY COMMISSIONER, FURTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENT? YES, AN ATAL.
I, I'LL MAKE SURE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH COMMISSIONER SHANNON BECAUSE THIS WAS FOR EVERYBODY'S SAKE, BUT ALSO INFORMATIVE TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HE'S ASKED ROUTINELY.
UM, SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION.
[3. 25-54881 Recommendation to receive and file the 2025 Annual Update from the Office of Ethics and Transparency. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
THREE, TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE 2025 ANNUAL UPDATE FROM THE OFFICE OF ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY, I CALL ON ANNA TOGAN.YES, WE HAVE, UH, HEATHER, AND, AND I APOLOGIZE, HEATHER, I DIDN'T ASK HOW TO PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME.
SO HEATHER VAN WICK IS THE ETHICS OFFICER FOR THE CITY'S HERE TO GIVE YOU THE PRESENTATION.
BEFORE I GET STARTED, I'M JUST GONNA LET JEFF WILLIAMS, UH, SAY A FEW WORDS ON BEHALF.
UM, HEATHER, UH, HAS BEEN DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB.
WE, WE DECIDED, WE PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE ROAD SHOW.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE VISITING ALL OF OUR CITY COMMISSIONS AND, AND SHE AND HER TEAM AND OUR CITY ATTORNEYS TEAM MAKING SURE ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONERS GET THEIR INFORMATION.
I'M, I'M GOING ALONG JUST TO KIND OF, I'M THE THANKS GUY.
SO I JUST WANT TO KIND OF FIRST EXTEND A THANKS TO ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONERS WHO SERVE HERE ON THE COMMISSION.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE, THIS IS A VERY EXPERIENCED, UH, KINDA HEAVY HITTERS COMMISSION HERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING AND YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR A LONG TIME.
I ALSO WANNA THANK ALL THE STAFF TO SUPPORT THE COMMISSION.
I THINK WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO BE BETTER ABOUT KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH THE STAFF AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY NEED SOMETHING FROM, FROM, FROM US THAT WE CAN BE HELPFUL WITH.
AND ALSO EVERYBODY THAT COMES AND PARTICIPATES, YOU KNOW, THIS, THESE COMMISSIONS ARE KINDA HOW WE MAKE OUR CITY BETTER, RIGHT? PEOPLE GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE PROCESS AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE.
SO I JUST WANT TO JUST GENERALLY THANK EVERYBODY FOR DOING THIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS WE ASKED YOU TO DO, WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT WITH FORMS AND TRAININGS, SEND A LOT OF THAT YOUR WAY.
[00:40:01]
IT'S IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, UH, THE MAYOR WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONERS ARE KIND OF ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CITY.WE HAVE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS, ALSO COMPLIANCE THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
SO WE'LL KEEP BUGGING YOU ABOUT THAT.
BUT IF YOU NEED ANY HELP WITH THIS CAN ALWAYS REACH OUT TO ME, LET ME KNOW.
UM, BUT, UH, REALLY JUST HERE TO SAY THANK YOU AND ALSO A BIG THANK YOU TO HEATHER AND HER TEAM FOR, FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.
BUT, UH, IF Y'ALL NEED ANYTHING, REACH OUT.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND THANKS FOR YOUR JOB.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU
OH, THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE WAS, LIKE JEFF SAID, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS CITY MANAGER OFFICE OUTREACH.
UM, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
SO, THE OFFICE OF ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY, WHEN I WAS HERE IN AUGUST OF 23, WE WERE NOT AN OFFICIAL OFFICE YET.
UH, THAT HAPPENED BEGINNING OF FY 24 WHEN THE CITY PEOPLE APPROVED THAT DURING, UM, THE BUDGET PROCESS.
AGAIN, WE ARE IN THE CITY MANAGER'S DEPARTMENT.
AND WHAT THE OET IS IS A COMBINATION OF THE ETHICS PROGRAM.
AND OUR MISSION IS PRETTY SIMPLE.
UH, IT IS TO BUILD TRUST AND MAINTAIN THAT TRUST WITH THE PUBLIC, OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR OFFICIALS.
AND WE ARE ALWAYS WORKING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE BEST RESOURCES, UH, TO MAKE THE DECISIONS WE MAKE TOWARDS RESOURCES.
A PART OF OUR GOAL IS ALWAYS, UM, OR SINCE THE 2020 AUDIT HAS BEEN REALLY FOCUSED ON CENTRALIZING OUR ETHICS PROGRAM, TRAINING AND EDUCATION, INCLUDING OUTREACH IS AT THE CORE OF WHAT WE DO.
AND AGAIN, WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL OF THESE, UM, DEPARTMENTS TO DO THE WORK THAT WE DO.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE AN ETHICS COMMISSION.
THIS IS A NEWER COMMISSION THAT THE OET SUPPORT THAT CAME ABOUT AT THE END OF 2018.
UM, HOWEVER, IT IS A RECOMMENDING BODY.
IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY, UM, INVESTIGATIVE OR ENFORCEMENT CHARTER DOES GIVE THEM OVERSIGHT OVER OUR, OR SOME OVERSIGHT OVER EDUCATION.
THAT'S ONE OF, UM, THIS IS THE OET VERY BRIEFLY.
I, I LOVE ALWAYS TO SEE FACES WITH NAMES THAT'S IMPORTANT.
SO IN ADDITION TO MYSELF, THERE'S JORGE EZ, MEGAN NAVIN, SAM AND LILIANA, AND THEN, UH, TYLER CUR CURLY AS ONE OF OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGERS.
SO SINCE I SAW YOU LAST, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE BEGINNING OF FY 24, UM, ALLOCATED, UH, THE OET 75,001 TIME DOLLARS TO WORK WITH THE COMMISSION ON BRINGING ON A CONSULTANT TO DO SOME
UM, OUR FOCUS MOVING FORWARD WILL BE REALLY ENFORCING A CULTURE OF ETHICS, BUILDING OUT OUR COMMUNICATION STRATEGY, ADDING ONTO OUR EDUCATION AND TRAINING BLUEPRINT AND ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATIONAL ALIGNMENT REQUIRED TRAININGS.
JEFF TOUCHED ON THAT, SO I WANTED TO TOUCH ON THAT TOO.
UM, YOU GUYS ARE REQUIRED TO DO SEVERAL TRAININGS AT THIS POINT.
UM, SO JUST WANTED TO LAY OUT WHAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DO AND WHEN YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DO THEM.
SO WE NOW, AS YOU KNOW, HAVE A CITY REQUIRED CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICS.
THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE STATE REQUIRED AB 1234, WHICH IS TWO HOURS BY.
AND WE ALSO HAVE THE STATE AND CITY REQUIRED HARASSMENT TRAINING FOR CALIFORNIAS.
THIS IS BIENNIAL EVERY TWO YEARS, AB 1234.
THAT'S A STATE REQUIREMENT, UM, THAT NOW, EXCUSE ME, LIVES IN OUR LEARN SYSTEM AS OPPOSED TO ON THE STATE SITE.
WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY DID WAS THERE WAS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH ON IF THE STATE WOULD EVEN BE PROVIDING THIS TRAINING ANYMORE.
AND WE, UM, WERE PROACTIVE AND DIDN'T WANNA WAIT FOR THE STATE TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
SO THE CITY ATTORNEY REALLY TOOK THE LEAD AND CREATED OUR OWN AB 1234 TRAINING.
UM, STILL TWO HOURS, BUT THIS LIVES AND LEARN.
NOW, I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON THAT.
[00:45:01]
THE CITY ATTORNEY REMOVED SEVEN COMMISSIONERS, UH, FOR NON-COMPLIANCE OF AB 1234.UM, SO WE ARE TAKING THIS PRETTY SERIOUS.
WHEN YOU GET THOSE REMINDERS, THOSE ANNOYING REMINDERS FROM LEARN, UM, JUST TAKE HEED AND, AND JUST GET IT OVER WITH.
UM, IF YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE WITH YOUR LEARN ACCOUNT, THERE IS, UM, A CONTACT INFORMATION ON A A FOLLOWING SIDE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LEARN EMAIL.
SO REACH OUT TO THEM, REACH OUT TO TINA, REACH OUT TO MYSELF.
WE'LL, UH, FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE'RE ALSO REQUIRED, UM, WITHIN 120 DAYS OF ASSUMING OFFICE.
SO ASSUMING YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY DONE THESE TRAININGS, UM, THE 2030 STRATEGIC VISION PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, PUBLIC MEETINGS.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE EQUITY TOOLKIT TRAINING IS STILL PENDING.
UM, AGAIN, YOU ONLY HAVE TO TAKE THESE ONCE.
I LIKE TO REVISIT THESE TRAININGS EVERY NOW AND THEN JUST TO REMIND MYSELF, UM, WHAT IT IS I'M REQUIRED TO DO.
BUT IT'S JUST GREAT TO REVISIT THIS INFORMATION.
I TEND TO ABOUT, AND AGAIN, THESE ALL LIVE AND LEARN.
AND THEN THERE'S AN INFOGRAPHIC ON THIS SIDE.
UM, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS, I CAN SEND IT TO TINA AND SHE CAN SEND IT OUT TO YOU ALL.
IT JUST REALLY EXPLAINS WHAT AB 1234 IS AND WHAT OUR CODE OF CONDUCT ETHICS TRAINING IS.
UM, THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU, WE WERE PARTNERING WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO HAVE ONE HELPLINE SLASH HOTLINE THAT DID NOT WORK.
UM, SO UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL NUMBER NOW.
HOWEVER, WHAT I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE IS JUST CALL ANY NUMBER AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT, UM, WHO TO GET YOU TO.
THIS CAN BE ANONYMOUS IF YOU WANT IT TO BE ALWAYS CONFIDENTIAL WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE LAW.
THESE ARE ALL THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, UH, FOR YOU AND ALL OF OUR OTHER APPOINTED OFFICIALS.
I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THE COMMISSION BOARD AND COMMITTEE HANDBOOK.
THIS HANDBOOK IS ONE THAT WE ALL TEND TO KIND OF INFORMATION THAT CAN USUALLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
UM, I'M ALWAYS SURPRISED WELL HAVE BEEN AT SURPRISE IN THE PAST AT HOW MUCH TIME I'VE SPENT TRYING TO GET ANSWERS THAT IN THE HANDBOOK.
UM, SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE AN UPDATED ETHICS GUIDE THAT INCLUDES A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF ALL OF YOUR LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AS APPOINTED OFFICIALS.
AND THEN WE HAVE HOTLINE, THE CLERK'S ETHICS PORTAL, AND THEN THE OET LEVEL REMINDERS BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MARSHA IN THE BROWN ACT PRESENTATION.
UM, SPEAKING IN OFFICIAL VERSUS PERSONAL CAPACITY, THIS IS CALLED MISUSE OF AUTHORITY.
WE'VE HAD THIS, UM, HAD AN ISSUE ISSUES WITH OTHER COMMISSIONS, NOT WITH UTILITIES, BUT WE LIKE TO INCLUDE IT IN THE ROAD SHOW.
JUST GENTLE REMINDER THAT OUTSIDE OF THE COMMISSION, YOU ARE GENERALLY SPEAKING AS YOURSELVES AND NOT AS COMMISSIONERS UNLESS THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY YOUR BODY.
UH, WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING, MEMORIALIZING THAT INTO EITHER A POLICY OR UM, ORDINANCE THAT'S STILL ACTIVELY BEING CREATED.
UM, BUT AGAIN, JUST REMINDING YOU, UH, JUST TO BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING, UM, AS A COMMISSIONER, AND THIS ALSO GOES FOR OTHER PUBLIC MEETINGS.
I THINK WE HAVE ONE SENTENCE IN THE HANDBOOK THAT REFERS SPECIFICALLY GENERALLY APPLIES TO ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS.
CAREFUL ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT.
UM, WE CAN ALL BE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THINGS, BUT YOU WANNA BE SPEAKING AS YOURSELF NOT AS A COMMISSIONER OF THESE.
UM, AND THEN MINDFUL OF YOUR ANNUAL REPORTS, THOSE ARE DUE ON JUNE 1ST EVERY YEAR.
THIS IS THE EMAIL IF YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR LEARN ACCOUNT FORM 700 SEASON.
UM, SO JUST A REMINDER TO GET THOSE IN.
THE CLERK WILL CONTINUE TO BUG YOU.
SO THOSE FORMS HAVE BEEN TODAY WILL CONTINUE TO BUG YOU MORE AFTER THE DUE DATE.
UM, GENERALLY IT'S APRIL 1ST DATE.
JUST EXTENDED THAT TO JUNE 1ST FOR THIS YEAR ONLY.
WE ARE SO ENCOURAGING YOU TO GET THIS HERE.
BUT, AND OF COURSE, COMMISSION MEETING, CROWN ACT BYLAWS, AND ROBERT REPORTER AND AGAIN ON THE NEXT THIS YEAR.
[00:50:01]
THANK YOU, HEATHER.I HOPE WE'RE ALL IN COMPLIANCE HERE.
UM, I, I KNOW THAT I ACTUALLY REVISITED THAT PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE WHEN, YOU KNOW, AFTER I TOOK IT ORIGINALLY WAS GONNA BE DOING THIS 'CAUSE IT IS DIFFERENT FROM SHE AS A CHAIR.
THERE'S DIFFERENT, AND OF COURSE WE HAVE HAVE MARCIA, WE'RE ALWAYS PESTERING HER
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
UM, SO I HAVE, DO I HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS, ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? UM, SEEING NONE, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE RECEIVE AND FILE.
[4. 25-54882 Recommendation to receive and file the Brown Act Training. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
IS TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE BROWN ACT TRAINING AND I BRING MARSHA YASUDA TO THE PODIUM.UM, SO I'M HERE JUST TO GIVE A REFRESHER AND OVERVIEW TRAINING ON THE BROWN ACT.
JUST A LITTLE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND ON THE BROWN ACT.
IT WAS ENACTED IN 19 THREE IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC CONCERNS OVER, OVER INFORMAL UNDISCLOSED MEETINGS HELD BY LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.
UH, THE BROWN ACT IS ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S MAIN SUNSHINE LAWS.
THE OTHER SUNSHINE LAW BEING, UH, THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS ACT.
AND SUNSHINE LAWS GET THEIR NAME FROM THE IDEA THAT A TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT IS ONE THAT HAPPENS OUT IN THE OPEN SUNSHINE.
AND CALIFORNIA'S CONSTITUTION GRANTS ALL PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO ACCESS MEETINGS AND, AND RECORDS OF PUBLIC AGENCIES.
THIS ENSURES THE ACTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT CAN BE SCRUTINIZED BY THE PUBLIC.
SO THESE ARE FOUR GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE BROWN ACT.
UM, THAT ALL MEETINGS MUST BE OPEN AND PUBLIC ACTIONS AND DELIBERATIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN OPENLY, THAT EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN MEETINGS, INCLUDING THE PUBLIC.
AND THAT ONLY MATTERS ON THE AGENDA CAN BE DISCUSSED.
AND THIS LAST ONE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF YOU TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, THEN THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW IF THEY SHOULD SHOW UP, UH, AND COME TO A MEETING TO PARTICIPATE AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK.
SO THE BOARD SHOULD ONLY BE DISCUSSING WHAT'S AGENDIZED SO THE PUBLIC CAN MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL ATTEND THE MEETING AND MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT IF THEY SO CHOOSE TO.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE OF THE BROWN ACT IS TO AVOID THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY, WHICH MEANS AVOIDING THE PERCEPTION THAT WRONGDOING OR MISCONDUCT MAY HAVE OCCURRED BY A PUBLIC OFFICIAL.
IF THE PUBLIC PERCEIVES THAT YOU'VE ENGAGED IN WRONGDOING OR MISCONDUCT, IT'S JUST THE PERCEPTION, NOT EVEN THAT YOU'VE DONE IT.
UM, IT CAN CALL INTO QUESTION YOUR ABILITY TO CARRY OUT YOUR OFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITIES WITH FAIRNESS, IMPARTIALITY, OBJECTIVITY, AND INTEGRITY.
AND YOU CAN AVOID THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY THAT YOU'RE VIOLATING THE BROWN ACT BY DISCUSSING BUSINESS OF THE BODY ONLY AT PUBLIC MEETINGS.
AGAIN, IF THE PUBLIC DOES NOT TRUST THAT PUBLIC OFFICIALS WILL DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND AND PERCEIVED AS FAIR, THEN THE PUBLIC WILL BE LESS LIKELY TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNMENT DECISIONS.
AND WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT, UH, THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT ADDRESS THE NEEDS AND PREFERENCE OF ITS RESIDENTS.
SO AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, YOU HAVE A CRITICAL ROLE IN HELPING TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN THE PUBLIC'S TRUST BY AVOIDING ANY, ANY, UM, APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY, COMPLYING WITH THE BROWN ACT AND BEING MINDFUL OF HOW YOUR ACTIONS MAY BE PERCEIVED BY WHO IS SUBJECT TO THE BROWN ACT.
THE BROWN ACT APPLIES TO LEGISLATIVE BODIES SUCH AS THIS BOARD, AND IT ALSO APPLIES TO SUBCOMMITTEES CREATED BY FORMAL ACTION OF A BODY.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND FINANCE STANDING COMMITTEES MET A FEW WEEKS AGO, THEY ARE SUBJECT TO THE BROWN ACT AS THEY WERE ESTABLISHED BY BOARD RESOLUTION.
BROWN ACT, HOWEVER, DOES NOT APPLY TO TEMPORARY AD HOC COMMITTEES MADE UP OF MEMBERS OF A BODY AND CONSTITUTING LESS THAN A QUORUM.
SO THESE ARE AD HOC COMMITTEES THAT ARE GENERALLY TEMPORARY IN NATURE AND ARE DISSOLVED ONCE THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT, UM, WAS ESTABLISHED IS COMPLETE.
SO TYPES OF COMMUNICATIONS THAT ARE PROHIBITED INCLUDE WHAT IS KNOWN AS A SERIAL COMMUNICATION.
A SERIAL COMMUNICATION MEANS, UH, EACH COMMUNICATION INVOLVES LESS THAN A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS.
BUT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF COMMUNICATIONS IN THE SERIES INVOLVES A MAJORITY OF THE BODY OUTSIDE OF A PUBLIC MEETING.
THIS MEANS THAT THE SERIES OF COMMUNICATIONS RESULTS IN A MEETING OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC'S VIEW, WHICH IS NOT ALLOWED UNLESS THE MEETING IS PERMITTED
[00:55:01]
BY CLOSED SESSION RULES.SERIAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROHIBITED UNDER THE BROWN ACT AND COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN MEMBERS THAT MAKE UP LESS THAN A MAJORITY OF THE BODY ARE AUTHORIZED UNDER THE BROWN ACT, SUCH AS COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT ADDING AN ITEM TO THE AGENDA OR SCHEDULING THINGS.
BUT MEMBERS GENERALLY SHOULD TRY TO NOT GET OTHER MEMBERS TO FORM A DECISION OR A CONCURRENCE OUTSIDE OF A PUBLIC MEETING.
THE BEST PRACTICE IS TO ENGAGE IN ALL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MATTERS WITHIN THE BODY'S JURISDICTION AT A NOTICED PUBLIC MEETING.
SO HERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMMUNICATIONS THAT ARE PROHIBITED, UM, AND WE'LL GO THROUGH EACH ONE IN THE NEXT SERIES OF SLIDES.
WE HAVE THE HUB AND SPOKE DAISY CHAIN BY REPRESENTATIVE AND EMAILS, TEXT MEDIA.
SO IN THE HUB AND SPOKE EXAMPLE, THAT'S A COMMUNICATION WHERE ONE MEMBER CONTACTS ALL OTHER MEMBERS TO ENSURE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT A YES VOTE, UM, WILL OCCUR FOR AN ITEM UNDER A BROWN ACT.
THE MAJORITY OF THIS BOARD IS THREE MEMBERS.
THE ORIGINAL MEMBER CAN ONLY COMMUNICATE WITH ONE OTHER MEMBER, UM, INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT ABOUT BODY BUSINESS WITHOUT VIOLATING THE BROWN ACT.
UM, IF THE ITEM IS A HEARING, IF THE ITEM IS A HEARING OR SIMILAR PROCEEDING, THE MEMBER SHOULD NOT HAVE MADE UP THEIR MIND YET, UM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT HEARD AND RECEIVED ALL THE EVIDENCE YET.
SO WHAT WE WANNA DO IS AVOID ONE MEMBER CONTACTING EACH OTHER, COMMISSIONER SEPARATELY, UH, TRYING TO GET, UH, THEIR CONCURRENCE ON, FOR EXAMPLE, OR NON CONCURRENCE ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
AND IN THE DAISY CHAIN EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE ONE MEMBER CONTACTING ANOTHER AND THAT MEMBER CONTACTING THE OTHER AND THE OTHER.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE A MEMBER GREEN CONTACTING MEMBER ORANGE AND MEMBER ORANGE CONTACTS MEMBER YELLOW, AND THEN MEMBER YELLOW CONTACTS MEMBER PINK.
AND THEN THIS EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A WHOLE RAINBOW OF MEMBERS CONTACTING EACH OTHER, WHICH ADDS UP TO MULTIPLE MEMBERS OR, UM, MORE THAN A MAJORITY OF THE BODY.
AND SO THIS IS A PROHIBITED, UH, COMMUNICATION UNDER THE BROWN ACT.
AND JUST BE AWARE THAT DAISY CHING COMMUNICATIONS CAN OCCUR OUTSIDE OF JUST TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS OR IN-PERSON CONVERSATIONS.
IT CAN COME UP WITH WHERE, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, SOMEBODY FORWARDS AN EMAIL TO ONE PERSON, THEN THAT PERSON FORWARDS IT TO ANOTHER COMMISSIONER.
SO, UM, JUST BE AWARE THAT IT CAN HAPPEN BOTH IN, UH, EMAIL OR TEXT CHAIN, NOT JUST IN PERSON.
ANOTHER, UH, EXAMPLE OF A SERIAL COMMUNICATION IS BY A REPRESENTATIVE.
SO IF FOR EXAMPLE, UM, THIS OCCURS MORE LIKE IN CITY COUNCILS WHERE THEY HAVE AIDS, UH, THAT REPRESENT THEM, AND IF THE AID WERE TO GO OUT AND CONTACT, UM, THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO TRY TO GET CONCURRENCE OR NON CONCURRENCE ON A ITEM THAT COULD BE A SERIAL COMMUNICATION.
AND SO, UM, HEATHER HAD, UH, TOUCHED BASE ON THIS IN HER PRESENTATION AS WELL IS JUST TO BE CAREFUL WITH RESPECT TO, UM, SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS BECAUSE THOSE CAN CONSTITUTE, UH, SERIAL COMMUNICATION PROHIBITED UNDER THE BROWN ACT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU, IF THERE'S A POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA JUST SIMPLY BY LIKING IT OR SHARING IT, THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED, UM, UH, SERIAL COMMUNICATION, UM, THAT'S PROHIBITED OR THAT THE BODY IS HAVING A COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER EVEN JUST BY SHARING OR LIKING A POST.
SO, UM, YOU JUST NEED TO BE CAREFUL AND MINDFUL WHEN COMMENTING OR POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
AND THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO AS A MEMBER IS TO JUST GENERALLY NOT ENGAGE IN SOCIAL MEDIA WITH OTHER MEMBERS ABOUT MATTERS WITHIN THE SCOPE AND DUTIES OF THIS BODY TO AVOID, UM, AND TO AVOID GROUP TEXT OR EMAILS WITH OTHER MEMBERS.
IF STAFF SENDS A COMMUNICATION TO THE WHOLE BODY, AVOID, UM, REPLY ALL IN THIS CASE.
UH, USUALLY BCC IS YOUR BEST FRIEND BECAUSE IF YOU HIT REPLY ALL, WE'LL ONLY, UM, REPLY TO THE SENDER.
SO JUST BE MINDFUL THAT IF IT'S NOT A B, C, C, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, IF DINA SENDS OUT THE AGENDA AND IT HAS EVERYBODY'S, UM, EMAIL ADDRESS ON THERE THAT HIT REPLY ALL, YOU MAY BE COMMITTING A BROWN ACT VIOLATION.
UM, YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY.
BUT BECAUSE YOU'RE SUBJECT TO THE BROWN ACT, BE MINDFUL THAT ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT ISSUES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF YOUR DUTIES OF THE BODY RISKS THAT OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR BODY MAY REACT TO THE SAME POST, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VIOLATION OF THE BROWN ACT.
SO YOU MAY BE ASKING YOURSELF THEN WHAT KIND OF COMMUNICATIONS ARE ALLOWED.
UM, THE BROWN ACT DOES HAVE EXCEPTIONS THAT ALLOW FOR CERTAIN KINDS OF COMMUNICATIONS BY MEMBERS OUTSIDE OF A PUBLIC MEETING.
UM, AS A COMMISSIONER, YOU CAN SPEAK, FOR EXAMPLE TO
[01:00:01]
PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE BODY OR WITH INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS ABOUT AN ISSUE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE DUTIES ASSIGNED TO YOUR BODY.THIS EXCEPTION UNDER THE BROWN DECK RECOGNIZES THE RIGHT TO DISCUSS MATTERS WITH CONSTITUENTS, ADVOCATES, CONSULTANTS, REPORTERS, STAFF, STAFF AND COLLEAGUES.
HOWEVER, WAS TALK AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION, IF YOU SPEAK TO ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER ABOUT SOMETHING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF YOUR DUTIES ON THE BOARD, YOU MUST SPEAK TO LESS THAN A MAJORITY TO COMPLY WITH THE GROUND ACT.
SO THAT IN THIS CASE IT'S JUST ONE OTHER COMMISSIONER.
UM, THIS MEANS THAT AS A MEMBER YOU CAN MEET WITH CITY STAFF OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THAT THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT CAN EMAIL OR PLAN THE AGENDA FOR A MEETING WITH STAFF.
AND THAT'S NOT A VIOLATION AROUND THAT.
OTHER COMMUNICATIONS ARE ALLOWED IS THAT A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED TO ATTEND A CONFERENCE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, THEY CAN ATTEND LOCAL PUBLIC MEETINGS AND OPEN MEETINGS OF ANOTHER BODY, SOCIAL AND CEREMONIAL EVENT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE WAS A CEREMONY THAT WAS OCCURRING AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS WANTED TO ATTEND, YOU WERE MORE THAN WELCOME TO DO SO.
UM, HOWEVER, WHILE YOU'RE IN ATTENDANCE, YOU CANNOT DISCUSS ANY MATTERS OF YOUR BODY WITH THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS.
SO JUST, UH, BE MINDFUL THAT YOU CAN ATTEND, BUT BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DISCUSSING.
SO, AGENDA POSTING REQUIREMENTS, AS WE HAD MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THAT, UM, YOU CAN ONLY DISCUSS WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA.
UM, THE AGENDA AGENDAS ARE IMPORTANT FOR THAT PURPOSE, UM, BECAUSE IT PUTS THE PUBLIC ON NOTICE OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE DISCUSSED SO THAT THEY CAN DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANNA PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING.
REGULAR MEETINGS SUCH AS THIS ONE, UM, ARE MEETINGS THAT OCCUR ON THE DATES AND TIMES AND LOCATIONS SET BY RESOLUTION, ORDINANCE, OR OTHER FORMAL ACTION BY THE BODY.
AND AGENDAS FOR THESE REGULAR MEETINGS MUST BE POSTED 72 HOURS PRIOR TO THE BODY MEETING.
UM, WE, THE BOARD CAN ALSO HOLD SPECIAL MEETINGS AND THOSE MEETINGS ARE CALLED BY THE CHAIR OR A MAJORITY OF THE BODY TO DISCUSS ONLY DISCREET ACTIONS ON THE AGENDA AND ARE SUBJECT TO A 24 HOUR POSTING REQUIREMENT.
SO WHAT NEEDS TO BE ONTO THE AGENDA? UM, THE BROWN ACT REQUIRES THAT THE AGENDA MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS.
UM, IT MUST INCLUDE A BRIEF GENERAL DESCRIP DESCRIPTION OF EACH ITEM.
AND THE AGENDA MUST INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE SCOPE OF THE BODY'S INTENDED PLAN SO THE PUBLIC CAN DECIDE WHETHER TO PARTICIPATE.
THE DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION OF THE MEETING MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA AND IT MUST BE LOCATED, POSTED, UM, IN A FREELY ACCESSIBLE AREA, UH, THAT'S, EXCUSE ME, FREELY ACCESSIBLE.
SO WHERE CAN THE MEETING BE HELD? THAT'S WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY UNLESS A SPECIFIC EXEMPTION APPLIES AND THE MEETINGS MUST BE ACCESSIBLE PURSUANT HELD PURSUANT TO THE A DA OR AMERICANS GROUND ACT AFFORDS THE PUBLIC THE RIGHT TO ACCESS PUBLIC MEETINGS AND RECORDS OF PUBLIC AGENCIES, WHICH IS, INCLUDES THE RIGHTS LISTED HERE.
PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER ON THE AGENDA AND WITHIN THE BODY SUBJECT MATTER.
AND THIS IS, AND THEY CAN ALSO COMMENT ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA, AND THAT'S KNOWN AS THE NON AGENDA.
THE PUBLIC ALSO HAS THE RIGHT TO RECORD THE MEETING WITH AUDIO OR VIDEO, UM, MEANS.
AND THEY CAN TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS AS LONG AS IT'S IN A NON-DISRUPTIVE MANNER.
THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO REVIEW THE AGENDA AND OTHER NON-CONFIDENTIAL MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED TO THE MAJORITY OF THE BODY.
AND THERE ARE STRICT RULES THAT REQUIRE THE PUBLIC TO RECEIVE COPIES.
AT THE SAME TIME, ANY WRITINGS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE MAJORITY OF THE BODY.
PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO ATTEND BODY MEETINGS WITHOUT REGISTERING OR IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES, SUCH AS BY GIVING THEIR NAME SECRET BALLOT, VOTING IS PROHIBITED.
ALL VOTES MUST BE CAST IN PUBLIC EXCEPT FOR VOTES ALLOWED ENCLOSED SESSION.
AND THIS PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC TO WITNESS VOTES OF THE BODY, THE VIOLATIONS OF THE BROWN ACT CAN RESULT IN CIVIL LAWSUITS OR CRIMINAL PENALTIES.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU FOLLOW IT.
UM, ANY INTERESTED PARTY CAN BRING A CIVIL LAWSUIT TO INVALIDATE ACTIONS OF THE BODY THAT VIOLATED THE BROWN ACT AND TO PREVENT FUTURE VIOLATIONS OF THE ACT.
THE BODY WILL ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CURE THE ALLEGED VIOLATION, AND A SUCCESSFUL PARTY MAY BE AWARDED COSTS AND ATTORNEY'S FEES.
UM, AS AN INDIVIDUAL, YOU COULD RECEIVE A MISDEMEANOR FOR VIOLATING THE BROWN ACT IF THE COURT FOUNDS YOU INTENDED TO DE BRIBE THE PUBLIC OF INFORMATION.
SO I KNOW THAT WAS SORT OF A WHIRLWIND
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
THAT WAS A GREAT REMINDER, AND I'M SURE INTERESTING AS WELL FOR EVERYONE HERE TO HEAR, NOT JUST THE COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE RECEIVED THIS TRAINING, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS SO MANY POINTS THAT REQUIRE CLARIFICATION
[01:05:01]
AS WE DO BUSINESS, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU ALWAYS BEING HERE FOR US AND ATTENDING AND BEING A RESOURCE AS WELL.DO I HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENT? GLORIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR THAT.
UM, I, I FIND IT REALLY INTERESTING THAT I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT EVERYTHING IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
THE RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL, AND I KNOW WE, WE ADHERE TO THAT.
UM, I FIND IT A LITTLE CONCERNING THAT NOT ONLY IN THIS CITY, BUT IN OTHER CITIES, UM, THERE IS, THERE'S NOTHING THAT SAYS WHAT THE PUBLIC CANNOT DO.
AND I, I, I SAW AN A MEETING IN LA AND I'M SURE YOU GUYS WHO ATTEND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ALL THE TIME COULD SPEAK TO THIS, BUT I, I WAS, I THOUGHT IT WAS CRAZY THAT THIS PERSON STOOD UP AND FOR THREE MINUTES YELLED EVERY BAD WORD THAT YOU CAN THINK OF, EVERY RACIAL ATTACK.
IT WAS JUST, IT WAS RE IT WAS TERRIBLE.
AND NO ONE STOPPED THIS PERSON FROM DOING THAT.
SO WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THAT, UM, I WAS TOLD THAT, THAT THE CITY HAD BEEN SUED BECAUSE OF FREE SPEECH.
IS THAT THE CASE HERE TOO? YES.
SO FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, THE PUBLIC IS ALLOWED TO EXERCISE THOSE.
UM, THERE IS A POINT AT WHICH IF THE, UM, PERSON IS ACTING IN AN EXTREMELY DISRUPTIVE MANNER, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES JUST SPEECH IN AND OF ITSELF CAN BE VERY DISRUPTIVE, BUT USUALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIKE SOME TYPE OF PHYSICAL FORCE OR THREAT, UM, TO SECURITY, UM, THAT IN THAT CASE, ACTION CAN BE TAKEN.
BUT WITH SPEECH, IT'S GENERALLY PRETTY LIBERAL BECAUSE OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
YEAH, BECAUSE WHAT I WITNESSED, UM, NO ONE STOPPED THIS PERSON, AND I SAY IT WAS VERY EXTREME.
UM, BUT WHAT I DID HEAR THAT, THAT I THINK IT WAS MAYOR GARCETTI DID AT ONE POINT, WAS HE, HE SAID, LET'S STOP THE CLOCK.
AND HE, HE SAID, YOU HAVE, I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT THERE'S CHILDREN THAT COULD BE LISTENING AND WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU BACK YOUR TIME NOW AND ASK THEM TO, UH, IT, IT, IT JUST AMAZES ME THAT THE PEOPLE CAN GET UP THERE AND JUST SCREAM AND YELL THESE RACIALLY, YOU KNOW, OFFENSIVE THINGS, UM, ACROSS THE BOARD, UH, AND GET AWAY WITH IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
ANY OTHER COMMENT? THANK YOU, MARCIA.
I THINK, I THINK WE'VE COVERED IT.
UM, I NEED, UH, THIS IS A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE.
DO I HAVE A, A MOTION? MOTION MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE.
ANY OPPOSED? A MOTION CARRIES.
[5. 25-54883 Recommendation to adopt Specifications UD-25-248 and authorize the General Manager to execute a contract and any necessary subsequent amendments with Taylor Distribution Group, LLC, to furnish and deliver laboratory materials and supplies, in an amount not to exceed $282,000 for the initial one-year term. The contract includes the option to renew for up to two additional one-year periods, with each renewal period subject to a maximum annual increase of 10 percent over the prior year’s contract amount. The maximum potential contract amounts are $282,000 for year one, $310,200 for year two (if renewed), and $341,220 for year three (if renewed). Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
JEFF.ITEM NUMBER FIVE, TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS UD 25 DASH 2 48 AND AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT TAYLOR DISTRIBUTION GROUP, LLCI CALL ON KEVIN WANG WONG.
I'M THE LAB LABORATORY SERVICE MANAGER FOR WATER.
TODAY MY PRESENTATION IS FOR ITEM NUMBER FIVE ON AGENDA.
ITEM FIVE IS FOR LABORATORY MATERIAL AND SUPPLY.
ALRIGHT, KEVIN? YEAH, JUST UM, SPEAK IN TO THE MIC.
WE NEED LAB ATORY SUPPLY BECAUSE WE ARE, WE HAVE A CERTIFIED LAB AT THE GROUNDWATER TREATMENT PLAN.
THE LAB MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A STRICT MONITORING DATA TO SUPPORT SAFE, RELIABLE QUALITY OF SUPPLY FOR DRINKING WATER.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT LONG BEACH TAP WATER MEET ALL EPA INSTEAD, CALIFORNIA DRINKING WATER STANDARD ANNUALLY WE CONDUCT 60 TO 70,000 TESTS TO MONITOR THE PRESENT OF CONTAMINANT.
THE FOUR GENERAL CLASS OF CONTAMINANT ARE BIOLOGICAL.
WE MONITOR FOR PATHOGEN PHYSICAL.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CHARACTERISTIC CHARACTERISTIC OF WATER FOR CLARITY OR OTHER PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF WATER.
UM, CHEMICAL LIKE P-F-A-S-A SNAKE, UM, SINAI TOMATOES AND RADIOACTIVE.
HOW DO WE MONITOR, UM, WATER QUALITY BY COLLECTING SAMPLE AT 65 DIFFERENT SITES.
SO WEEKLY WE DRIVE OUT TO THE SITE.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE PICTURE HERE, OUR, OUR GROUP COLLECT SAMPLE OUT ON THE FIELD.
UM, TEST SAMPLE ON THE FIELD FOR CHLORINE, FOR TEMPERATURE, FOR DISSOLVED OXYGEN, AND BRING IT BACK TO THE LAB FOR IN-DEPTH TESTING THE WATER QUALITY LAB LOCATE IN THE TREATMENT PLAN AND IS CERTIFY AND AUDITED EVERY
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TWO YEAR BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY AC ACCREDITATION PROGRAM AT THE STATE WATER RESOURCE CONTROL BOARD.WITHIN THE TREATMENT PLAN, WE HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT LAB GENERAL PHYSICAL LAB.
WE TEST FOR GENERAL CAT CHARACTERISTIC OF, UM, WATER SUCH AS HARNESS
UM, LAB WE MONITOR FOR BACTERIA CONTAMINANTS, SUCH COLIFORM E COLI AND BACTERIA COUNT.
THE INIC LAB MONITOR FOR TRACE METAL CONTAMINANT LIKE ASIC LEAD AND COPPER AND DISINFECTANT BYPRODUCT LIKE CHLORIDE.
ROMA BROMATE ORGANIC LAB MONITOR FOR ORGANIC CONTAMINANT AND DISINFECTANT BYPRODUCT BY CHAR METHANE AND HALO ACIDIC ACID.
THIS SLIDE REPRESENT A, A LIST OF ALL OF THE, UM, SUPPLY MATERIAL THAT THE LAB NEED, LIKE, UM, SAMPLING BOTTLE, SOME VOLUMETRIC FLASK, SOME CHEMICAL THAT WE USE FOR REAGENT TO TEST PH NI NITRATE.
UM, SOME FILTER FOR METAL DIGESTION AND SOME MEDIA AND PETRI DISH.
FOR BACTERIA TESTING, THE SPECIFICATION UD 25 DASH 4 2 8 LAB MATERIAL AND SUPPLY WILL POST ON FEBRUARY 26TH AND THE BID IS DUE ON MARCH 17 TO BID WILL RECEIVE TELE DISTRIBUTION GROUP LLC AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING SUPPLY LLC.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING SUPPLY BID WERE NONCONFORMING BECAUSE THE VENDOR ONLY PROVIDE PRICING FOR ONLY 18 ITEM OUT OF 400.
ITEM ON THE LIST, THEREFORE, TAILORED DISTRIBUTION GROUP LLC SUCCESSFULLY BID FOR THE CONTRACT.
THE TOTAL BID FOR THE LAB MATERIAL AND SUPPLIES IS 281,500.
SO WE RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THE SPECIFICATION DUTY 25 2 4 8 AND AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AND ANY NECESSARY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENT WITH THE TELE DISTRIBUTION GROUP LLC TO FURNISH AND DELIVER LABORATORY MATERIAL AND SUPPLY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 282,000 FOR THE INITIAL ONE YEAR TERM.
THE CONTRACT INCLUDE OPTION TO RENEW FOR UP TO TWO ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR PERIOD WITH EACH RENEWAL PERIOD.
SUBJECT TO MAXIMUM ANNUAL INCREASE OF 10% OF THE PRIOR CONTRACT AMOUNT.
THE MAXIMUM POTENTIAL CONTRACT AMOUNT IS 280,000.
SO ONE YEAR, 310,000 WITH $200 FOR THE YEAR TWO EVERY RENEWAL AND $341,220 FOR YEAR THREE EVERY RENEW.
THIS CONCLUDE, UH, MICROSOFT PRESENTATION.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, COMMISSIONER COMMENT ANNA TOLD WE'RE OKAY.
LOOKS LIKE YOU ANSWERED OUR QUESTIONS ALREADY.
UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION TO APPROVE.
ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.
[6. 25-54884 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute all documents necessary to amend the existing contract with Ocean Blue Environmental Services, Inc., to provide as-needed hazardous waste removal services to increase the total contract amount by $500,000, for a revised contract amount not to exceed $1,500,000. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
IS TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO AMEND THE EXISTING CONTRACT WITH OCEAN BLUE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INCORPORATED.GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX.
STAFF IS REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER TO INCREASE THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT WITH OCEAN BLUE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INCORPORATED TO PROVIDE AS NEEDED HAZARDOUS WASTE REMOVAL SERVICES BY $500,000 FOR A REVISED CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,500,000.
ON JANUARY 18TH, 2024, THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE GENERAL MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH OCEAN BLUE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FOR AS NEEDED HAZARDOUS WASTE REMOVAL SERVICES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1 MILLION FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS.
SINCE THE CONTRACT'S INITIAL AUTHORIZATION, THE DEPARTMENT HAS ENCOUNTERED UNFORESEEN MAJOR WATER MAIN BREAKS THAT HAVE REQUIRED SIGNIFICANT CLEANUP ACTIVITIES EXCEEDING THE ORIGINAL ANTICIPATED NEED.
THESE EVENTS HAVE RESULTED IN AN INCREASED DEME DEMAND FOR REMOVAL SERVICES TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES, UH, REGULATIONS TO ADDRESS THESE EMERGENT NEEDS WHILE MAINTAINING UNINTERRUPTED UTILITY OPERATIONS.
BOARD APPROVAL IS REQUESTED TO, TO INCREASE THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $500,000 WITH A TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $1,500,000.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
[01:15:02]
THANK YOU.UH, DO I HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT AND ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENT? MOTION, MOTION TO APPROVE.
ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.
[7. 25-54885 Recommendation to receive and file Overview of Rancho Main Break Incident. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
I HAVE A ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS TO RECEIVE AND FILE AN OVERVIEW OF RANCH OF THE RANCHO MAIN BREAK INCIDENT AND I CALL ON DIANA TANG MORNING PRESIDENT MCGUIRE AND COMMISSION.UM, TODAY WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE UPDATE, REALLY TO THE BIXBY HILL MAIN BREAK.
UM, THE MAIN BREAK, WHILE IT DID OCCUR ON RANCHO LOS CTOS PROPERTY, UM, ALSO CITY OF LONG BEACH PROPERTY REALLY WAS IN THE BIXBY HILL NEIGHBORHOOD AND IMPACTED, UM, NOT JUST THE RANCHO BUT UH, RESIDENCES IN THAT AREA AS WELL.
SO FOR THAT REASON, WE'RE GONNA CALL IT THE BIXBY HILL MAIN BREAK HERE TODAY.
UM, THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION IS TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT HAPPENED.
UM, SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR RESPONSE TO THE MAIN BREAK ITSELF.
AND, UM, AND, AND INCLUDED IN THAT WILL BE, UM, JUST A, A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ON OUR COMMAND INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM ACTIVATION, THE OBJECTIVES THAT WE HAVE INSTITUTED AND OUR WORKING TOWARDS.
AND THEN OF COURSE, NEXT STEPS.
SO A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE INCIDENT.
UM, I'VE TRIED TO NUMBER IT HERE, OF COURSE.
UM, THE, THE WATER MAIN BREAK IS, IS WHY WE ARE HERE AND, AND HAS CAUSED, UM, THE IMPACTS TO THE, UH, OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT.
SO, UM, FOR THIS RESPONSE, WE HAD FOUR MAIN OPERATIONAL AREAS, UM, FIRST OF COURSE BEING THE WATER MAIN BREAK ITSELF, AND THEN SECOND, UM, IMPACTS TO THE RESIDENCES.
AND THEN, UH, ROCHELLE LANE, UM, IS JUST, IS LOCATED JUST BELOW THE RANCHO RIGHT HERE, UM, AS AS WATER FLOWS BY GRAVITY.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE SOME IMPACTS, UM, ALONG RANCH AND DRIVE RIGHT HERE.
AND THEN AGAIN, GRAVITY BROUGHT THE WATER FURTHER DOWN TO SURREY.
AND THEN, UM, THROUGH THE, UM, THE CHANNEL WALL, THE LISTER IS CHANNEL WALL HERE.
SO WE HAVE THE MAIN BREAK RESIDENTIAL AREAS, THE RANCHO ITSELF, AND THEN THE CHANNEL WALL.
UM, WHEN THE MAIN BREAK, UM, BROKE, UM, EARLY ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 7TH, UH, WE HAD A NUMBER OF AGENCIES RESPOND IN COORDINATION WITH LONG BEACH UTILITIES.
FIRST BEING THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING TO ENSURE LIFE AND SAFETY.
UM, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER FLOWED AND AS, AS WE'LL DISCUSS AND AS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE NEWS, UM, THERE HAS BEEN FLOODING TO SOME HOMES IN THE AREA AS WELL.
SO, UM, HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE STAFF WHO CAME OUT TO SUPPORT THE INCIDENT THAT MORNING.
UM, THEN OF COURSE OUR UTILITIES TEAM, UM, DEPLOYED.
UM, WE DEPLOYED MORE RESOURCES THAN WE TYPICALLY DO, AS THIS WAS A PRETTY LARGE BREAK THAT REQUIRED A NUMBER OF VALVE SHUTOFFS, UM, IN ORDER TO CONTAIN THE BREAK ITSELF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
AND THEIR INSPECTORS ALSO SHOWED UP TO HELP WITH BUILDING INSPECTIONS, UM, ALSO, UM, AND, AND THROUGH FOR THE GOAL OF LIFE AND SAFETY.
WE'LL DISCUSS THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.
UM, PUBLIC WORKS REALLY, UM, REALLY CAME THROUGH WITH A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, UM, ON THEIR PART TO HELP, UH, RESTORE, UM, THE STREETS AND ROADS OF PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY IN THAT AFFECTED NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT IS A GATED RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, BUT, UM, GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS, SILT, UH, AND, AND SUPPORT THAT OUR DEPARTMENT NEEDED, OUR COLLEAGUES AT PUBLIC WORKS, UM, SHOWED UP IN FORCE.
UH, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WAS THERE.
SO THANK YOU TO CITY ATTORNEY DON MCINTOSH AND ALSO, UH, VICTORIA ADAMS AND KATHLEEN SANCHEZ FOR SHOWING UP AND HELPING THE UTILITIES NAVIGATE THE PROCESS.
UM, IN COORDINATION WITH RANCHO LIST, RITA AND THE IMPACTED HOMEOWNERS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, UM, WAS ON SITE AS WELL TO ASSIST WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SOIL TESTING TO ENSURE THAT WE COULD BEGIN CLEANUP EFFORTS, UM, IN A SAFE, SAFE MANNER.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE CITY'S DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE, UM, WAS ON ONSITE AT THE, AT THE ONSET AS WELL TO HELP US SET UP SOME PROJECT CODES TO HELP TRACK THE RESPONSE.
SO WITH THAT, UM, INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM STRUCTURE WITH ALL OF THESE AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE MULTI OPERATIONAL AREAS, UM, THAT WE WERE WORKING WITHIN, UM, WE ESTABLISHED, UM, THIS, UM, WE IN, WE INSTITUTED THIS INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM, AND THE SYSTEM HERE, UH, WAS CREATED AFTER NINE 11, AFTER IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT, UM, WHILE THERE ARE A LOT OF AGENCIES THAT ARE ABLE TO RESPOND AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WHO ARE ABLE TO ASSIST IN INCIDENT
[01:20:01]
RESPONSE, A CLEAR, UM, SET OF, UM, A A CLEAR WAY OF, UM, COMMUNICATING AND, AND MAKING DECISIONS WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ALL.AND SO FOR THAT REASON, UM, THIS, THIS STRUCTURE IS CREATED BY FEMA WHERE WE AT THE UTILITIES AND, UM, EMPLOYEES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH ARE TRAINED TO IT.
SO INCIDENT COMMAND WAS INITIALLY HELD BY THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT, GIVEN THAT, UM, THE PRIMARY GOAL AT THE, AT THE INITIAL RESPONSE WAS LIFE AND SAFETY.
BUT AFTER WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, CONFIRM LIFE AND SAFETY, UM, WAS, WAS GOOD INCIDENT COMMAND TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, AND WE HAVE HELD IT SINCE.
SO A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT THIS ENTAILS.
UM, AND, AND I APOLOGIZE, POLICY GROUP IS NOT ON HERE, BUT POLICY GROUP REALLY WAS HEADED BY ANNA TO FAGAN AS OUR GENERAL MANAGER AND IN COORDINATION WITH THE MAYOR AND OTHER KEY, UM, DEPARTMENT HEADS AND OFFICIALS IN THE CITY TO HELP, UM, MAKE KEY DECISIONS, UM, FOR IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM.
UH, THE INCIDENT COMMANDER, UM, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INCIDENT COMMANDER, I'M SORRY,
AND, AND THIS POSITION, UM, HAS, HAS BEEN HELD BY MYSELF, UM, WITH SUPPORT FROM A TEAM THAT WE'LL GO THROUGH HERE IN A LITTLE BIT.
UH, THE INFORMATION OFFICER, UM, SAFETY OFFICER AND LIAISON INFORMATION OFFICER WAS JOY CONTRERAS, WHO IS TYPICALLY OUR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
SAFETY OFFICER WAS HELD BY WAYNE JOHNSON, WHO IS OUR SENIOR DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION AND TYPICALLY OVERSEES OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN LIAISON OFFICER WAS HELD BY SEAN CURTIS, UM, WHO TYPICALLY IS OUR MANAGER OF SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR LONG BEACH UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.
AND SO THIS TEAM, UM, COMPRISED THE COMMAND STAFF, JOY, OF COURSE, LIAISON PRIMARILY WITH THE MEDIA AT THE ONSET.
AND I SEE WE HAVE A MEMBER OF THE MEDIA HERE WITH US TODAY.
UM, WAYNE ENSURED THAT WE WERE FOLLOWING SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND THEN SEAN WAS ABLE TO HELP, UM, HELP THE VARIOUS GROUPS COMMUNICATE AMONGST OURSELVES AND WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES, WHICH WE'LL DISCUSS IN A LITTLE BIT.
UM, UM, BECAUSE IT DOES INCLUDE LA COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS.
AND THEN OF COURSE, UM, A NUMBER OF CONTRACTORS WHO WE'VE BROUGHT ON SITE THAT HAVE PLUGGED INTO OPERATIONS PLANNING AND LOGISTICS.
SO OPERATIONS SECTION CHIEF WAS TY SINGH.
UM, TY, UM, OVERSEES A NUMBER OF OUR OPERATIONS GROUP IN THE UTILITIES ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
AND THEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH HIM WAS CHRISTOPHER PINKER LEE, WHO IS OUR MANAGER OF ENGINEERING.
UM, FOR PARTICULARLY THE MAIN BREAK SECTION OF THE RESPONSE PLANNING SECTION CHIEF IS JENNIFER ROJAS, UM, LOGISTICS SECTION CHIEF LISA GUTIERREZ, AND THEN FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION SECTION CHIEF PRIMARILY, UM, IS, IS IS FOCUSING ON FINANCE ASPECTS OF THE RESPONSE.
AND THAT IS STEPHANIE CLARY, WHO IS OUR ACTING SENIOR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AT THE MOMENT.
SO THOSE FOUR INDIVIDUALS COMPRISE THE GENERAL STAFF AND THEY DIRECTED, UM, THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK, UM, FOR THOSE WORK GROUPS, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN A LITTLE BIT.
SO AGAIN, INITIAL OBJECTIVES WERE LIFE AND SAFETY.
UM, THE, A NUMBER OF HOMES, UH, IT WAS RAINING THAT MORNING.
AND SO I THINK INITIALLY FOLKS THOUGHT THAT, WOW, IT'S RAINING A LOT.
AND SOON DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS NOT JUST THE RAIN, BUT IN FACT A MAIN BREAK HAD OCCURRED AND SOME OF THEIR HOMES WERE UNFORTUNATELY FLOODING.
UM, SO THERE WERE, UH, SEVERAL 9 1 1 CALLS THAT WERE PLACED EARLY THAT MORNING.
LONG BEACH FIRE, SWIFT WATER TEAMS RESPONDED AND, AND LONG BEACH UTILITIES DEPLOYED ALSO, UM, TO BEGIN THE VALVE DOWN TO CONTAIN THAT MAIN BREAK, WHICH IS OUR SECOND OBJECTIVE HERE.
AND THEN, UM, RELATED TO LIFE SAFETY, STRUCTURAL SAFETY WAS A KEY PRIORITY, AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THEIR BUILDING INSPECTORS WERE OUT.
AND THEN AS WE'VE WERE RECENTLY DISCUSSED, UM, FIRE HYDRANTS AND FIRE FLOW, UM, GIVEN THAT THIS WAS A FAIRLY LARGE MAIN BREAK IN THE AREA, WE NEEDED TO MAKE ENSURE THAT, UM, SUFFICIENT FIRE FLOW COULD BE PROVIDED WHILE THE PIPELINE WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR REPAIRS.
SO AFTER THE INITIAL OBJECTIVES WERE, UH, WERE CONFIRMED AND TAKEN CARE OF, WE MOVED ON TO, UM, THE SHORT TERM RESPONSE AND RECOVERY.
UM, AGAIN, ON THE, THE LEFT HERE, WE HAVE A PICTURE OF FROM THAT MORNING, UM, SHOWING THE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS AND WATER THAT REMAINED IN THE STREET.
UM, AND, UM, ON SOME PRIVATE PROPERTY IN THE SIDEWALKS AFTER THE MAIN BREAK EVEN WAS, WAS CONTAINED.
AND THIS IS WHAT WE WERE FOCUSED ON REMOVING, UM, INIT INITIALLY.
AND, UM, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE MAIN BREAK WAS, WAS CONTAINED.
SO IF YOU'LL RECALL, UM, THE MAJORITY OF THE RAIN THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN THIS REGION THIS YEAR HAS HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY.
AND SO, UM, THE, THE WEEK THAT THIS MAIN BREAK, UM, HAPPENED, WE
[01:25:01]
DID EXPERIENCE SOME RAIN.WE GOT RAIN A FEW DAYS AFTER THE MAIN BREAK HAD OCCURRED, AND THEN EVEN, UM, I BELIEVE THE WEEK AFTER THAT.
SO THERE WAS A HUGE AMOUNT OF EFFORT TAKEN BY LA BEACH UTILITIES AND WITH, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AT PUBLIC WORKS TO CLEAR AS MUCH DEBRIS AND SILT AS WAS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ROADS WERE SAFE, THE SIDEWALKS WERE SAFE TO WALK ON, AND THAT THERE WASN'T ANY MORE PRESSURE THAT WAS, UM, BEING APPLIED TO ANY STRUCTURES, UM, BECAUSE OF, OF THE BREAK.
AND WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT FAIRLY QUICKLY.
UM, THAT WEEKEND WORK, UM, ON THE MAIN BREAK DAY, UM, EXTENDED UP UNTIL 10:00 PM SO WE, WE BROUGHT OUT SOME LIGHTS, THERE'S SOME, SOME EQUIPMENT.
AND SO AT ABOUT 10:00 PM WE DECIDED, YOU KNOW, FOLKS PROBABLY WANNA SLEEP, OUR CREWS NEED TO REST.
AND SO WE CONCLUDED AT 10:00 PM BUT WE PICKED RIGHT BACK UP AT 7:00 AM THAT NEXT MORNING AND WORKED THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND, INCLUDING ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY.
UM, WE ALSO, UM, WERE FOCUSED ON MAINTAINING AND VERIFYING THE INTEGRITY OF OUR SEWER AND STORM DRAIN SYSTEMS AGAINST THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.
AND THE SEWER SYSTEM ARE TWO VERY SEPARATE SYSTEMS IN THE CITY, UM, AND, AND ELSEWHERE IN CALIFORNIA, THEY ARE NOT DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE FLOWS FROM ONE OR THE OTHER.
STORM IS FOR STORM WATER, SEWER IS FOR SEWER FLOWS.
AND WHEN THE TWO MIX, UM, THAT IS LE LESS THAN IDEAL BECAUSE THAT'S NOT HOW THEY WERE DESIGNED, AND THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEMS IN PARTICULAR WERE VERY IMPACTED.
UM, IT WAS NOT DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE WATER FLOWS FROM A FLOOD LIKE, UM, LIKE WAS EXPERIENCED IN THE REGION, UH, IN THIS AREA.
AND SO, UM, WE DID HAVE TO SUCTION OUT AND JET THOSE STORM SYSTEMS. AND AGAIN, BECAUSE WE WERE EXPERIENCING RAINS, UM, THE NORMAL RAIN DEBRIS THAT YOU WOULD ASSUME, UM, WAS IN THE STORM SYSTEM, WAS IN THE STORM SYSTEM.
SO THROUGHOUT THE, THE DEBRIS REMOVAL PROCESS, WE WERE CONSISTENTLY AND CONSTANTLY, UM, JETTING AND CHECKING OUR STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.
AND THE PUBLIC SEWER SYSTEM, SEWER, AS YOU KNOW, IS, UH, MANAGED BY LONG BEACH UTILITIES.
THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM IS MANAGED BY CITY PUBLIC WORKS.
AND SO WE DID THAT WORK IN COORDINATION WITH PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.
UM, AND, AND I'M, I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT THROUGHOUT, UM, WHILE THERE WAS, UM, SIGNIFICANT SILT AND DEBRIS IN THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM, UH, WE, IT WAS EXPECTED, UM, DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF FLOWS, THEN WE WERE ABLE TO REMOVE IT.
AND SO AT NO POINT, UM, WERE EITHER THE SEWER SYSTEM OR THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM, UM, IN DANGER OF, OF NOT WORKING AFTER, UM, THE INITIAL DEBRIS REMOVAL HAD OCCURRED POST MAIN BREAK.
AND THEN OF COURSE, UM, HERE'S THE MAIN BREAK REPAIR.
UM, THIS IS, UM, UH, A PICTURE TAKEN SOON AFTER THE BREAK AND, AND WE'RE EVALUATING AND ASSESSING THE TRENCH ON THE LOCATION WHERE IT HAD OCCURRED.
AND ALSO, UM, BROUGHT ON PERIC AND SUNS TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR REPAIRS TO THE MAIN BREAK, WHICH, UM, DID HAPPEN IN QUITE SHORT ORDER.
AND SO, UM, THANK YOU TO CHRIS KERLEY AND HIS TEAM IN UTILITIES ENGINEERING AND ALSO PERKIN'S FOR, FOR THEIR WORK ON THAT.
WE HAVE NOW MOVED, UM, PRIMARILY TO LONG-TERM OBJECTIVES, UM, WHICH IS TO REPAIR THIS SECTION OF THE LOS CERRITOS CHANNEL WALL, UM, AND IN COORDINATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ADDRESS CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES FROM THE HOMEOWNERS AND ALSO, UM, RANCHO LOS CERRITOS, UH, THE HOMEOWNERS, UM, WE KNOW ALL PRETTY INTIMATELY, UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM AND, AND TY IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN, UM, VISITING THEM AT THEIR HOMES, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS, ASSISTING WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO.
AND THEN, UM, FOR SOME OF THE MORE COMPLEX PRIVATE PROPERTY DAMAGES, UM, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN, UM, WALKING FOLKS THROUGH THE INSURANCE CLAIMS PROCESS, BOTH WITH THEIR PRIVATE INSURANCE AND, UM, EXPLAINING HOW THE CITY'S OWN CLAIMS PROCESS WORKS SO THAT WE COULD, UM, ASSIST WITH THEIR RECOVERY TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WORK WILL BE ONGOING FOR A LITTLE BIT.
UM, BUT COMMUNICATIONS ARE HAPPENING DAILY AND, UM, I I EXPECT THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE, ARE, WELL, THIS IS IS NOT AN IDEAL SITUATION BY ANY MEANS.
UM, THE COMMUNICATION IS FLOWING AND WE ARE ALL TRYING TO, UM, MOVE FORWARD IN THE, IN THE WAY THAT IS MOST EXPEDITIOUS AND, UM, PRODUCTIVE FOR THE IMPACTED RESIDENTS.
UM, SO AGAIN, UM, THIS IS JUST A SUMMARY OF WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE WITH THE INITIAL OBJECTIVES, THE SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVES.
AND THEN AS MENTIONED, UM, WE'VE PRIMARILY MOVED ON TO LONG-TERM OBJECTIVES, WHICH, UM, THE, THE MOST COMPLEX PART OF IT IS LIKELY GOING TO BE THE REPAIRS TO THE LISTER CHANNEL WALL, WHICH WE'LL NEED TO WORK, UM, CLOSELY WITH THE, THE HOMEOWNERS, UH, WHO, WHO SHARE THAT WALL WITH THE CHANNEL AND ALSO, UM, LA COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, GIVEN THAT THAT IS THEIR AREA RIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CHANNEL.
WITH THAT, WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
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WOW.SO, UM, I KNOW THIS IS A CONTINUING STORY, SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE AND YOUR TEAM.
HUGE EFFORT, TWO MONTHS FOCUS.
UH, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AS COMMISSIONERS TO TAKE A WALK AT, AT THE RANCHO THIS WEEK AND, AND SEE ALL SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE, AND IT'S LOOKING AMAZING ACTUALLY FROM WHERE THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS STARTED.
DO I HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? COMMISSIONER COMMENT.
UM, AN ORGANIZATION LIKE OURS IS JUDGED NOT BY THE CHALLENGES THAT, THAT ARE BE SET UPON US, BUT BY HOW WE, UH, REACT TO THOSE AND HOW WE RECOVER FROM THOSE.
AND KUDOS TO ALL OF THOSE INVOLVED WITH THIS.
UH, THIS IS SECOND TYPE OF INCIDENT THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST YEAR AND, AND, UH, I THINK WE'VE HAD ENOUGH, UH, BUT GOOD JOB TO EVERYBODY AND, AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
AND, AND I KNOW IT, YOU STILL HAVE ALL YOUR REGULAR DUTIES TO DO AND, AND ALL OF THE REGULAR PROJECTS AND, AND YET WE'RE STILL MOVING FORWARD AS A UTILITY AND COMPLIMENTS COMMISSIONER SCOTT.
UM, THE RESPONSE AND THE COORDINATION IS ABSOLUTELY KEY.
SO I'D BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T ALSO THANK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SUPER'S OFFICE, AND I SEE ISABELLA IN THE AUDIENCE AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER WAS KEY IN, IN HELPING US CONNECT WITH THE HOMEOWNERS.
UM, AND OF COURSE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHO ATTENDED, UH, AT LEAST ONE, UM, COMMUNITY MEETING WITH US, UM, WITH THE AFFECTED RESIDENTS.
AND, AND JOY AND I, UM, ATTENDED A, A, A ACTUALLY THE INITIAL COMMUNITY MEETING THAT MONDAY, UM, FOLLOWING THE, THE MAIN BREAK ON FRIDAY.
SO WE'VE BEEN OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND IT TRULY HAS BEEN A TEAM EFFORT ALL AROUND.
AND THEN, UH, ONE OTHER THING, THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE, UH, INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM PRIMER, UH, FIRE POLICE, UH, UH, OUR, OUR COAST GUARD BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT, AT SUCKER LA LONG BEACH.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE REALLY THE EXPERTS JUST BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH THAT THEY, THEY USE THAT, UH, IT'S GREAT THAT WE CAN, CAN PLUG OURSELVES INTO THAT AND, AND PRACTICE WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE ALL PROBABLY BEEN LEARNED IN A CLASSROOM AND, AND DON'T OFTEN GET TO, UH, PRACTICE IT IN REAL LIFE.
SO I'M, I'M GLAD THAT, THAT THE ICS SYSTEM WAS SET UP.
I'M GLAD WE, WE PUT OURSELVES IN IT, PLUGGED OUR, UH, ALL OF OUR FOLKS INTO THE RIGHT SPOTS, UM, AND WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE US CONTINUING TO PRACTICE THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS, UH, WITH NON-EMERGENCIES.
THE, THE BETTER WE GET, UH, AT THE ICS SYSTEM, THE BETTER WE'LL BE ABLE TO HANDLE GLORIA.
UM, DIANA, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I, IT, I'VE WRITTEN DOWN THE WORD COMPREHENSIVE AND, AND SUCCINCT ALSO.
YOU DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF, OF, UM, MAKING IT SHORT, BUT REALLY MAKING IT COMPREHENSIVE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE RESPONSE AND THE NEXT STEPS.
UM, THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME WERE, UM, THE STAFF'S IMMEDIATE RESPONSE AND, AND COMING TOGETHER.
SO I KNOW THAT THAT TAKES A LOT OF YOU.
I THINK THERE'S, OUR LEADERSHIP WAS REALLY GOOD ON THAT, SO APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT ALSO THE CITY PARTNERSHIPS AND I THINK, UM, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF THE RESPONSE AND SUPPORTING COUNCIL MEMBER SUBINA, WHO I KNOW WAS RIGHT THERE, RIGHT, RIGHT AWAY, UH, AND THE SUPPORT OF OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, MY ONLY QUESTION IS, UM, WHEN TY VISITS, DOES HE TAKE HIS BANANA PUDDING? IT NEEDS, IT MIGHT HELP.
THAT WAS A GOOD SWEETEN THE DEAL HERE.
UH, JUST TO COMMENT, YOU'VE GOTTEN A, A GREAT OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION AND COMMISSIONER SCOTT COMMENTED ON THE ICS AND ITS ABILITY TO DEAL WITH A RAPIDLY EVOLVING SITUATION.
AND SO I, I JUST WANNA SHARE WITH YOU THAT, UH, A PERSPECTIVE, SO YOU HAVE IN THE INCIDENT COMMAND STRUCTURE, THE VARIOUS FUNCTIONS, AND INDEED IT EXISTS BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW AT THE TIME AS THE SITUATION EVOLVES, WHICH OF THOSE BOXES IS GOING TO HAVE SOME IMMEDIATE URGENT NEED.
AND I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU THIS PERSPECTIVE THAT AS WE SAW THIS INCIDENT UNFOLD, THERE IS WHAT I WOULD CALL THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT SIDE INHERENT IN THE ICS STRUCTURE.
THERE ARE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
SOME OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY DOCUMENTED IN SOPS OR NS OP APPROACH, AND YOU EXECUTE YOUR WAY THROUGH THOSE.
I, I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND BOTH ACKNOWLEDGE TO YOU AND GIVE MY PERSONAL GRATITUDE TO DIANA AND TO I, THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL LEVEL WITHIN THAT STRUCTURE.
AS THE SITUATION EVOLVES AND YOU FACE THE ACTIONS THAT YOU NEED TO TAKE, THERE IS AN ESSENCE OF LEADERSHIP, AN ABILITY TO STEP OUT OF THAT BOX.
AND AT THE SAME TIME THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU MUST EXECUTE, THAT YOU MUST
[01:35:01]
ACTUALLY BE AWARE OF THE ENTIRE SITUATION TO GUIDE ADDITIONAL DECISIONS THAT YOU MUST MAKE.AND THEN THIS ENTIRE INCIDENT, DIANA STANDS OUT OR THAT ABILITY TO DO THAT AND EXECUTE THAT ADDITIONAL LAYER OF LEADERSHIP, THE NATURE OF THE EVOLVING SITUATION INVOLVED A MYRIAD OF MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE CONTACT WITH RESIDENTS ALONG A WIDE RANGE OF DIFFERENT NEEDS.
BEING AWARE NOT JUST OF THE STEPS YOU NEEDED TO EXECUTE, BUT THE SENSITIVITY TO WHAT THOSE RESIDENTS NEEDS WERE.
THAT WAS LEADERSHIP ON TY'S PART.
SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE SPECIAL TEAM THAT WE HAVE.
EVERYBODY DID A FANTASTIC JOB, BUT OVER AND ABOVE DIANA'S LEADERSHIP AND TY'S LEADERSHIP IS CRITICAL TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITH THE RESIDENTS.
I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOR JEANETTE TO HAVE YOU.
THAT'S, I THINK WE HAVE, UM, RIGHT.
I HAVE, UM, A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE REPORT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION AND A SECOND RECEIVED.
ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.
[9. 25-54887 Recommendation to receive and file the March 2025 General Manager’s Monthly Report. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER NUMBER NINE IS TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE MARCH, 2025 GENERAL MANAGER'S MONTHLY REPORT.UM, THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS, IS JUST SIMPLE AND IT WAS THERE PRINTED FOR YOUR REVIEW AND FOR YOUR READING AT YOUR LEISURE.
I KNOW THE TOPIC, UH, CONTINUES TO DOMINATE THE DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF WHAT IS POTENTIALLY HAPPENING IN TERMS OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSES AND HOW IT AFFECTS GRANTS.
I GIVE YOU A SUMMARY THERE, AS LEAST AS IT AFFECTED SEVERAL OF OUR WATER AND GAS RESOURCES.
I'M MINDFUL AGAIN, ALSO THAT WE HAD OUR FEMSA GRANT, I KNOW THAT WAS REPORTED TO YOU BY KEVIN TUUS.
AND AS OF THIS DATE, WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT THAT ASSIGNED GRANT WILL CONTINUE IN EFFECT.
SO TO THIS DATE, NO DISRUPTION ON THAT EFFORT.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT KIND OF CONCLUDES THAT ASPECT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THOSE.
ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ANY COMMISSIONER? SEEING NONE, UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE? RECEIVE AND FILE.
ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.
WE'RE WINDING, WINDING DOWN HERE.
[10. 25-54888 Recommendation to discuss and refer potential agenda items to the Finance Committee. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
10 IS TO DISCUSS AND, AND REFER POTENTIAL AGENDA ITEMS TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.SO, UH, FINANCE COMMITTEE WOULD APPRECIATE A, UH, FY 26 BUDGET PREVIEW, UH, ALONG WITH A MID-YEAR, UH, FINANCIAL RESULTS.
UH, I DID SPEAK TO COMMISSIONER SHANNON SINCE HE'S ABSENT RIGHT NOW.
UH, THE DATE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT 4 24 IS, SO THE PROPOSED DATE IS APRIL 24TH.
AND I BELIEVE THIS IS JUST TO, TO PROVIDE NOTICE.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE? THAT, SO WE, WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS, UM, AGENDA ITEM TO REFER POTENTIAL ITEM AGENDA ITEMS TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, NO PUBLIC COMMENT, ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENT.
AND SO WITH THE DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD, UH, FOR REFERRAL TO THE COMMITTEE, WE WILL INDEED FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT DATE AND HAVE THE ITEMS PRESENTED ON THE AGENDA FOR THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AS DIRECTED BY COMMISSIONER SCOTT, I'LL SCHEDULE THAT MEETING.
UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM? MOTION TO APPROVE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? THANK YOU.
ANY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.
UH, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Utilities Commission on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Board.]
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A NON AGENDA ITEM? UH, SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED UNDER ANNOUNCEMENTS.[ANNOUNCEMENTS]
I DO HAVE AN ITEM ALL BEFORE ALL OF YOU.I DON'T KNOW, DID THEY, EVERYONE? DINA, DID EVERYONE GET THIS? OKAY.
UM, IT'S COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL MEETING DATES THAT THE, UH, COMMISSION HAD SET PRIOR COMING UP IN JUNE AND JULY WHERE THERE ARE CONFLICTS.
UH, THE JUNE 5TH MEETING CONFLICTS WITH A CITY MANAGEMENT RETREAT,
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AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THAT DATE BE MOVED A WEEK FORWARD TO JUNE 12TH.THE, UM, JUNE 19TH MEETING HAPPENS TO FALL ON JUNETEENTH, WHICH IS A CITY HOLIDAY.
AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT FORWARD TO JUNE 26TH.
AND THEN THE JULY 3RD MEETING, OF COURSE, IS THE DAY BEFORE THE 4TH OF JULY.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE NOT AVAILABLE THAT DAY.
SO WE'RE REQUESTING, UH, THAT THAT MEETING DATE BE PUSHED FORWARD A WEEK AS WELL TO JULY 10TH.
AND OF COURSE, THAT AFFECTS THE, THE MEETING, THE SECOND MEETING IN JULY, WHICH WOULD ALSO MOVE FORWARD THEN TO JULY 24TH.
SO BASICALLY FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE AND JULY, WE'VE MOVED EVERYTHING ONE WEEK FORWARD.
AND, UM, DO I HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? ANY ISSUES WITH COMMISSIONERS? IF YOU, IF YOU DO HAVE ANY, ONCE YOU CHECK YOUR CALENDARS, WHICH MAY NOT BE WITH YOU, UM, PLEASE LET DINA KNOW AND, AND WE'LL DEAL WITH THAT IF THAT COMES OUT.
BUT HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING WORKS FOR EVERYBODY AND WE CAN JUST PROCEED WITH THAT SCHEDULE AND POST THOSE MEETING DATES FOR THE FUTURE.
SO, UM, DO I HAVE ANY COMMENT OR DISCUSSION ON THESE CHANGES? NO.
UM, ANNA CALLING YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.
JUST, UH, JUST BRIEFLY, JUST A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS.
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BILL HAZING CAMP FOR PRESENTING THAT INFORMATION.
UH, YOU KNOW, IN MY INTERACTIONS WITH YOU, I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE CHANGES EVERYTHING.
AND SO BILL IN ESSENCE WAS GIVING YOU A SUMMARY OF HOW HISTORICALLY THE SYSTEM WAS OPERATING TECHNICALLY WITH ASSURANCES THAT EVERYBODY COULD JUST GET ALONG.
AND NOW CLIMATE CHANGE CHANGES, EVERYTHING WE FIND THE SYSTEM IS NO LONGER SUSTAINABLE AND WE FACE SERIOUS ISSUES GOING FORWARD.
UM, SO THAT, THAT WAS ONE MAJOR, UH, COMMENT THAT I WANTED TO MAKE.
I KNOW WE HAD JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE, WHERE BILL WAS GONNA GO WITH THIS PRESENTATION, BUT IT, IT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THIS PIECE COMING FORWARD, THIS SYSTEM THAT EXISTS OUTSIDE THE CITY BOUNDARIES.
IT HAS THE ABILITY TO AFFECT OUR IMPORTED SUPPLIES AND EMBEDDED WITHIN THAT, IF YOU LISTEN TO WHAT BILL WAS SAYING WAS THAT HE IMPLIED, WELL, THE PARTIES ARE ALL GOING TO GET ALONG, HE SAID, AND CALIFORNIA WILL COME UP WITH INCENTIVES, MEANING MONEY TO THE FARMERS, AND THE FARMERS WILL TAKE THE MONEY AND WORK WITH US.
BUT WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM? THE MONEY COMES FROM OUR MONTHLY WATER BILLS.
SO CLIMATE CHANGE CHANGES EVERYTHING.
IT AFFECTS THE SUPPLIERS AND DRASTICALLY STRESSES OUR IMPORTED SUPPLIES.
AND THE SOLUTIONS THAT MAY COME FORWARD MAY EVENTUALLY BE IN THE FORM OF ADDITIONAL REVENUES NEEDED, WHICH MAKE THEIR WAY SLOWLY BUT SURELY DOWN TO THE RESIDENTS AND THEIR MONTHLY WATER BILLS.
SO CLIMATE CHANGE CHANGES EVERYTHING.
THERE IS ANOTHER ASPECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE IS EVERYTHING WAS JUST ANNOUNCED IN THE LA TIMES TODAY, A VERIFICATION OF INFORMATION THAT WAS ALREADY BEING PRODUCED, THAT THE SNOW SURVEY IS INDICATING THAT IT WAS AGAIN, VERY, VERY CLOSE TO NORMAL.
UM, ODD THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE VERY CLOSE TO NORMAL, MAKE THE FRONT PAGE OF THE LA TIMES.
UM, BUT THAT'S INSIGHTFUL IN AND OF ITSELF.
THREE YEARS OF WET AND CLOSE TO NORMAL IS NOW RECORDED AS THE FIRST TIME IN A QUARTER CENTURY THAT THOSE THREE YEARS HAVE OCCURRED.
AND IT LEADS TO ANOTHER ELEMENT OF WHAT WE CALL CLIMATE AMNESIA BECAUSE THEY'RE REPORTING THAT, BUT THEY DON'T REPORT THAT CAME ON THE HEELS OF TWO OF THE DRIEST YEARS EVER RECORDED.
SO TWO OF THE DRIEST YEARS EVER RECORDED IN A SEQUENCE OF THREE YEARS, FIRST TIME IN 25 YEARS INDICATES THE VOLATILITY THAT WE FACE, WHICH MEANS THAT WE TRY TO LOOK FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE SUPPLIES LIKE OUR GROUNDWATER.
THOSE WERE MY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR YOU AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR ATAL? THAT'S GREAT.
WE WE'RE LEARNING SO MUCH, AREN'T WE? OKAY.