* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. OF, OF HER [00:00:01] HEALTH AS WELL. UH, WE'RE GOING TO BE PASSING OR DEFERRING A FEW ITEMS THAT I THINK ALL OF YOU ARE AWARE OF WHO ARE PLANNING ON GIVING A PRESENTATION, AND WE DO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. I KNOW YOU PREPARE HARD FOR THIS KIND OF THING, AND I, WE'VE CERTAINLY RECEIVED ALL THAT MATERIAL IN ADVANCE, BUT, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL DEFER TO ANOTHER TIME ON THOSE. SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH ALL OF THAT. [2. 25-55695 Recommendation to adopt Request for Qualifications UD-25-255 for various On-Call Gas Engineering and Inspection Services and award contracts to SPEC Services, Inc., from Fountain Valley, CA and EDM Services, Inc., of Simi Valley, CA, in a total annual aggregate amount not to exceed $1,500,000 for one-year, with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods at the General Manager’s discretion; and authorize the General Manager to execute all necessary documents to enter into the contracts, including any subsequent amendments.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] UM, THAT SAID, ITEM NUMBER TWO IS TO ADOPT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS UD 25 DASH TWO FIFTY FIVE FOR VARIOUS ON-CALL GAS ENGINEERING AND INSPECTION SERVICES AND AWARD CONTRACTS TO SPEC SPAC SERVICES AND EDM SERVICES INCORPORATED. I CALL ON KEVIN TGA FOR THAT REPORT PRESENTATION, RATHER. WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UM, CAVO IS GONNA TO DO THAT PRESENTATION. AND, AND KYLE, YOU'RE UP. SORRY, ADJUST THIS RIGHT HERE. GOOD MORNING BOARD MEMBERS, UH, BEING FIRST TIME PRESENTING, UH, TO INTRODUCE MYSELF, I'M, UH, CAVO MANAGER OF GAS ENGINEERING. I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS, AND PRIOR TO THAT I WAS WORKING FOR A PRIVATE ENGINEERING FIRM FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, UH, SPECIALIZING IN PIPELINE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING, UH, PAST TWO YEARS HERE. UM, REALLY ENJOY THE WORK I DO, UH, FIND QUITE REWARDING, KNOWING THAT WE PROVIDE CRITICAL AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO DECEASED RESIDENTS. AND JUST, UH, GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THIS TEAM. UH, SIMON TO THE AGENDA ITEM FOR RFU UD TWENTY FIVE TWO FIFTY FIVE. VARIOUS ON-CALL ENGINEERING, GAS ENGINEERING INSTRUCTION SERVICES. UH, NEXT SLIDE. OH, SORRY, I'LL CLICK. UH, THE PURPOSES OF THIS RFQ IS TO REQUEST THE FOLLOWING SERVICES, UM, GAS DISTRIBUTION DESIGN, WHICH BASICALLY COMPRISES OF PROVIDING A PACKAGE TO REPLACE, UH, SEGMENTS OF OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE. UH, SECOND IS, UH, PROTECTION DESIGN, PROVIDING CORROSION PROTECTION TO EXTEND THE STEEL, UH, SERVICE LIFE OF OUR PIPELINE INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THIRD IS THE GAS INSPECTION SERVICES. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE, UH, SERVICES ARE INTENDED TO SUPPLEMENT OUR IN-HOUSE GAS ENGINEERING TEAM, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH STAFF AUGMENTATION OR PROVIDING SPECIALTY ENGINEERING AND COORDINATION. UH, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD THE, UH, PORT LONG BEACH PRB RAIL PROJECT. IT'S QUITE A MASSIVE, UH, PROJECT REQUIRING A LOT OF COORDINATION AND REALIGNMENT OF OUR UTILITIES. AS SUCH, WE RELY ON OUR CONSULTANTS TO SUPPORT OUR ENGINEERING STAFF. THE SECOND PROJECT IS THE LONG BEACH AND WARLOW BACKBONE MAIN. AGAIN, ANOTHER COMPLEX PROJECT. UH, REPLACING 10 INCH STEEL WITH 12 INCH STEEL SPANNING OVER 2000 FEET, UH, REQUIRE A LOT OF COORDINATION WITH OUR COW TRENDS AND A COMPLEX, UH, TRAFFIC CONTROL 'CAUSE IT'S A VERY HEAVILY CONGESTED AREA. SO WE NEEDED THEIR SERVICES FOR THAT. UH, NEXT SLIDE. UH, THIS SLIDE IS A SUMMARY OF THE RFQ POSTING. WE HAD 20 VENDORS VIEW AND DOWNLOAD THE RFQ OF THE 23 VENDORS SUBMIT THE PROPOSAL, UH, INCLUDE SPEC SERVICES, EDM SERVICES AND ARGOS ENGINEERING, UH, THROUGH A SELECTION PROCESS WITH OUR ENGINEERING STAFF AND PANEL. WE LOOKED AT THEIR EXPERIENCES, UM, WHAT THEY CAN PROVIDE IN TERMS OF HOW IT MEETS OUR NEEDS. AND ULTIMATELY WE SELECTED SPEC SERVICES AND EDM SERVICES. NEXT SLIDE. AND LASTLY, UM, WE RECOMMEND THE BOARD TO ADOPT THE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION UD TWENTY FIVE TWO FIFTY FIVE FOR VARIOUS ON-CALL GAS ENGINEERING AND AWARD CONTRACT TO SPEC SERVICES AND INC FROM FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA AND EDM SERVICES, INC. OF SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA IN A TOTAL ANNUAL AGGREGATE AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED 1.5 MILLION FOR ONE YEAR, WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR TWO ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR PERIODS AT THE GENERAL MANAGER'S DISCRETION, AND AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO ENTER INTO THE CONTRACTS, INCLUDING ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS. UH, THAT CONCLUDES, UH, THE PRESENTATION. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. YOU DID A GREAT JOB. . ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT TO THIS, ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENT? MOTION TO APPROVE. THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. THANKS. OKAY, THANK YOU. [3. 25-55696 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute all necessary documents to amend Agreement UT-1527 with Stuart C. Irby Company, LLC, of Jackson, MS, for the furnishing and delivery of Mueller products, to increase the contract amount by $350,000 on a one-time basis, for a revised total amount not to exceed $1,000,000.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] OKAY, ITEM NUMBER TWO IS TO ADOPT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS UD 25 DASH TWO FIVE. WHOOPS. NOPE, THAT ONE, WE ALREADY DID THAT. ITEM NUMBER THREE, WE ARE GOING TO PASS ON THIS ITEM. PASS ON THE PRESENTATION. ON THE PRESENTATION. SO I WILL READ IT IN AND WE WILL HAVE OUR VOTE, BUT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO PASS [00:05:01] ON THE PRESENTATION. I'M JUST GETTING THIS STRAIGHT. OKAY. UH, ITEM NUMBER THREE IS TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO AMEND AGREEMENT UT 1527 WITH STUART C IRBY COMPANY FOR THE FURNISHING AND DELIVERY OF MUELLER PRODUCTS. MOTION TO APPROVE. DO I HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER, COMMENT IT. WE RECEIVED THESE MATERIALS IN ADVANCE. SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? THANK YOU, GLORIA. AND A SECOND RECEIVED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NUMBER FOUR [4. 25-55697 Recommendation to adopt Resolution No. UT-1539 readopting and amending Resolution No. UT-1532 adding and adjusting offices and positions of employment and corresponding salary ranges in the permanent service and amending skill pays of the Long Beach Public Utilities Department, and rescinding all other resolutions or orders thereto.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] IS TO ADOPT RESOLUTION UT 1539 READOPTING AND AMENDING RESOLUTION NUMBER UT 1532, ADDING AND ADJUSTING OFFICES AND POSITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND CORRESPONDING SALARY RANGES. I'M ADVISED, ADVISED THAT WE WILL BE, UH, PASS ON THE PRESENTATION FOR THIS ITEM AS WELL. DO I HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? COMMISSIONER COMMENT. MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION TO APPROVE. UH, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? SECOND. OKAY, GREAT. AND THE SECOND ALL IN. OH, THIS IS A ROLL CALL. VOTE. SO I CALL ANDINA FOR THAT VOTE. SORRY. VICE PRESIDENT SCOTT. AYE. SECRETARY CORDERO? UH, YES. PRESIDENT MCGUIRE? YES. COMMISSIONER SHANNON IS ABSENT. COMMISSIONER RAIN IS ABSENT. THANK YOU. GREAT. OKAY. [5. 25-55698 Recommendation to adopt Resolution No. UT-1540 approving the Amended and Restated Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement for Los Angeles Gateway Region Integrated Regional Water Management Authority (Agreement) and authorize the General Manager to execute the Agreement and any subsequent necessary amendments.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS TO ADOPT RESOLUTION UT 1540 APPROVING THE AMENDED AND RESTATED JOINT EXERCISE OF BOWERS AGREEMENT FOR THE LOS ANGELES GATEWAY REGION INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY. AND I CALL ON DIANA TANG FOR THIS PRESENTATION. GOOD MORNING COM. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. I'LL BE, UM, BRIEF IN THIS PRESENTATION. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT JOINT POWERS, UM, AGREEMENT AND A WORK GROUP THAT WE DO PARTICIPATE IN. SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE BRIEF TIME TO, UM, LISTEN TO IT. UH, THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT IS BETWEEN LONG BEACH UTILITIES AND A NUMBER OF, UM, CITIES AND WATER AGENCIES IN THE GATEWAY WATER MANAGEMENT REGION. IT IS PRIMARILY SOUTHEAST LA COUNTY. AND SO THIS MAP, I KNOW HAS A LOT OF LINES ON IT, UM, BUT IS INTENDED TO SHOW THAT THIS IS AN AGREEMENT, UM, AND A WORKING GROUP THAT IS INTENDED TO BRING TOGETHER CITIES AND WATER AGENCIES FOR THE PURPOSES PRIMARILY OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FOR STORM WATER, WATER, WATER QUALITY, AND NOT DRINKING WATER QUALITY. ALTHOUGH STORMWATER DOES, UM, HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN THE REGION. AND, AND THAT'S A RELATIVELY NEW, UM, CONCEPT THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT FORTH BY THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD AND REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD IN THE LAST 20 OR SO YEARS. SO, UH, THIS IS A SLIDE TO SHOW ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PARTICIPATING AGENCIES. AGAIN, IT'S PRIMARILY CITIES, UH, BECAUSE STORMWATER IS, UM, IS MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS RUNOFF AND RUNOFF, NO, NO BOUNDARIES. AND SO IN AN EFFORT TO MANAGE, UM, THE STORM WATER QUALITY AND DISCHARGES INTO PLACES LIKE THE LOS ANGELES RIVER, THE SAN GABRIEL RIVER, AND ULTIMATELY, UM, THAT ALL FLOWS OUT INTO OUR BEACHES. UM, THE REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD HAS REQUIRED, UM, DIFFERENT, THEY CALL 'EM TM DLS OR TOTAL DAILY MAXIMUM LOADS DISCHARGED FROM CITIES. AND SO CITIES HAVE CHOSEN TO WORK TOGETHER THROUGH THE GATEWAY WATER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY TO TRY AND MANAGE, UM, THEIR, THEIR STORMWATER AND T MDLS. THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IS A MEMBER ALSO. UM, LONG BEACH UTILITIES IS THE WATER AGENCY SIMILAR TO WRD AND CENTRAL BASIN, UM, ARE ALSO IN THE REGION. AND SO OUR PARTICIPATION IS USEFUL AND PROVIDES CONTEXT FOR THOSE CITIES WHO ARE TRYING TO MANAGE STORM WATER. UM, THIS IS JUST A VERY TECHNICAL DOCUMENT THAT STATES THAT THE PURPOSE OF OUR REQUEST TODAY IS TO ENTER INTO THIS JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT. UM, THERE IS, UM, AN AMOUNT THAT WE PAY TO PARTICIPATE AS PART OF THE REGIONAL GROUP. UM, THE PRIMARY BENEFIT OF THE GATEWAY WATER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY IS TO BRING TOGETHER CITIES FOR, AGAIN, JOINT PROJECTS, BECAUSE STORM WATER KNOWS NO BOUNDS. AND SO, UM, THE GOVERNING BOARD MEETS ONCE EVERY TWO MONTHS. UM, IN APRIL, 2022, THIS BOARD, UM, APPOINTED ME AS OUR MEMBER TO THE GATEWAY WATER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY. AND SO I DO ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS. AND AGAIN, UM, ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT, UM, I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE GATEWAY WATER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY IS MANAGING ON BEHALF OF SEVERAL CITIES IN THE REGION IS THIS GATEWAY AREA PATHFINDING ANALYSIS. AGAIN, IT'S TO TRY AND MAP OUT THE DIRECTION OF STORMWATER, THE QUALITY [00:10:01] OF STORMWATER, AND DIFFERENT BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE DEVELOPING IN THE INDUSTRY TO MANAGE, UM, THIS TYPE OF FLOW. UM, AND SO THE RECOMMENDATION TODAY IS TO ADOPT UT 1540 APPROVING THE AMENDED AND RESTATED JOINT EXERCISE OF POWERS AGREEMENT FOR THE LOS ANGELES GATEWAY REGION INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY AGREEMENT, AND TO, UM, AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT AND ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS. WITH THAT, I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DIANA. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS COMMISSIONER COMMENT? YES, DI GO AHEAD, GLORIA. THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU, DIANA. UM, I, I GREATLY APPRECIATE THIS. I KNOW THAT GATEWAY CITIES HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN A LOT OF THINGS, UM, STARTING WITH CITY MANAGERS, RIGHT? WE HAVE CITY MANAGER, UH, AND THE SOUTHEAST LA CITIES ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AS A REGION. UM, SO I'M REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THIS AND I THINK THERE'S NO ONE BETTER THAT CAN SERVE US AS, AS YOU CAN THERE WITH YOUR BACKGROUND. UM, IS IT TRUE THAT WE HAVE BOTH OUR, BOTH WITH RUNOFF AND STORMWATER, BOTH PUBLIC WORKS AND LONG BEACH UTILITIES ARE PLAYERS IN THAT? YES. UM, PUBLIC WORKS, I BELIEVE IT'S KEITH HUEY WHO SITS ON THE BOARD, UM, NOW AS WELL AS, UM, LONG BEACH UTILITIES. CENTRAL BASIN, AGAIN IS THERE, AND WRD IS THERE AS WELL. OKAY. THIS IS GREAT. UM, AT METROPOLITAN WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS, WE SOMETIMES FORGET THAT WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS ON A REGIONAL, TRYING TO LOOK AT A REGIONAL APPROACH. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. UM, AND I, I STILL HAVE THIS COMMENT IN MY HEAD THAT SOMEONE FROM SACRAMENTO ON THE COLORADO RIVER BOARD MADE ONE TIME, AND I SHOULD HAVE PRESSED HER ON IT, AND I MAYBE WILL GO BACK WITH YOUR HELP AND ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS WHEN SHE MADE A STATEMENT SAYING, YEAH, LONG BEACH HAS, HAS A MESS WITH STORMWATER. AND SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT SHE MEANT BY THAT. AND WE WERE IN A MEETING, SO I DIDN'T, I FORGOT TO GO BACK TO HER, BUT SOMEDAY I'M GONNA TALK TO HER ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE WHERE SHE WAS GOING WITH THAT. I, I, IF I COULD ADD, UM, GENERALLY SPEAKING, EVERYTHING ROLLS DOWNHILL. AND SO FOR A VERY LONG TIME, A LOT OF THE NORTHERN CITIES WERE LESS CONSCIOUS ABOUT THE STORMWATER BECAUSE IT WOULD FLOW DOWN TO LONG BEACH. AND SO LONG BEACH REALLY IS, UM, THE, I CALL US THE BOTTOM OF THE KITCHEN SINK. AND SO THE MORE WE CAN GET OTHER CITIES UPSTREAM OF US TO, UM, MANAGE THEIR STORMWATER, PUT IN, UM, CATCH BASIN INSERTS OR BIOSWALES OR OTHER DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT CAN BE BUILT INTO PUBLIC SPACES AND EVEN PARKWAYS AND BIKEWAYS, UM, THE BETTER IT IS FOR OUR CITY. GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND WITH THAT, CHALLENGES COMES A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES IS WHAT I'M HEARING. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT COMMENT, GLORIA. AND MOTION TO APPROVE SECOND. OH, THAT WAS EASY. OKAY. UM, UH, COLIN DINA, VICE PRESIDENT SCOTT AYE. SECRETARY CORDERO? YES. PRESIDENT MCGUIRE? YES. COMMISSIONER SHANNON IS ABSENT. COMMISSIONER UH, COMMISSIONER RAINEY IS ABSENT. THANK YOU. THE, THE, THE VOTE CARRIES. UM, ITEM THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER [6. 25-55699 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), and any subsequent necessary amendments, between Southern California Edison Company (SCE) and the Long Beach Public Utilities Department (LBPUD) to facilitate discussions relative to feasibility of implementing a Zonal Electrification Pilot.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] SIX, TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE A NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT NDA AND ANY SUBSEQUENT NECESSARY AMENDMENTS BETWEEN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY, SCE, AND THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT TO TAKE IT AWAY, TONY. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING BOARD MEMBERS. UH, THE ZONAL ELECTRIFICATION PILOT IS A PROPOSED COLLABORATION INITIATIVE BETWEEN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON AND LONG BEACH UTILITIES. THE GOAL IS TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY AND COST EFFECTIVENESS OF TRANSITIONING SELECT LOW-INCOME RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS FROM NATURAL GAS TO FULL ELECTRIFICATION. OKAY. WOW. THE ZONE OF THE Z ELECTRIFICATION PILOT PROGRAM OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF ELECTRIFYING UP TO 50 LOW INCOME SINGLE FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS ORGANIZED IN SMALL CLUSTERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING SERVED BY AGING NATURAL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE IN LONG BEACH. BUT BEFORE WE CAN DETERMINE WHETHER ELECTRIFICATION IS THE RIGHT OPTION FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WE NEED DATA. AND SOME OF THIS DATA CAN BE VERY SENSITIVE, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY ASKING FOR A NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT. THE STATE RECOGNIZES THAT ANY TRANSITION OF ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE VERY EXPENSIVE FOR BOTH THE PROVIDER AND THE CONSUMER. THE SHARED DATA WILL ASSESS WHETHER CLUSTERS OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WITH HIGH NATURAL GAS USAGE AND LOW INCOMES EXIST IN LONG BEACH. AND WHETHER THESE CLUSTERS ARE IN AREAS WITH AGING NATURAL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HAVE NOT CONDUCTED THIS TYPE OF ASSESSMENT ON OUR SYSTEM, NOR HAVE WE EVALUATED WHETHER ELECTRICITY CAN ECONOMICALLY REPLACE [00:15:01] NATURAL GAS AS A SOLE ENERGY SOURCE. IF WE IDENTIFY THAT AREAS EXIST AND THAT ELECTRICITY CAN ECONOMICALLY REPLACE NATURAL GAS, THEN THERE IS SOME POTENTIAL THAT EXISTING STATE FUNDED INCENTIVE PROGRAMS TO ELECTRIFY THESE HOMES FULLY MAY BE APPLIED TO MEET STATE AND CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION GOALS. AS A PUBLIC UTILITY MINDFUL OF RATES AND AFFORDABILITY, WE NEED TO CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT A TRANSITION TO ELECTRIFICATION WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR OUR RATE PAYERS AND OURSELVES. A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS WILL CONSIDER CRITICAL FACTORS SUCH AS CUSTOMER MONTHLY BILLS TO ENSURE THAT ELECTRIFICATION DOES NOT IMPOSE HIGHER COSTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE ANALYSIS WILL EXAMINE THE IMPACTS OF THE LONG BEACH UTILITIES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND GAS FUND, AS WELL AS COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH DECOMMISSIONING AGING GAS INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAKING UPFRONTS INVESTMENTS IN ELECTRICAL UPGRADES. INFRASTRUCTURE RELIABILITY AND RESILIENCE WILL BE SCRUTINIZED. FINALLY, CLIMATE IMPACTS WILL BE EVALUATED TO CONSIDER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION REDUCTIONS THAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE ACHIEVED WITH ELECTRIFICATION, INCLUDING THE SOURCES OF ELECTRIFICATION. THE NEXT STEPS OF THE Z ELECTRIFICATION PILOT PROGRAM INVOLVE FINALIZING A NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT BETWEEN EDISON AND LONG BEACH TO ENSURE SECURE SHARING OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SENSITIVE CUSTOMER DATA. FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE N-D-A-S-E-E AND LONG BEACH WILL COLLABORATE TO ANALYZE DETAILED DATA, POTENTIALLY IDENTIFYING OPTIMAL LOCATIONS FOR ELECTRIFICATION WITH A FOCUS ON CLUSTERS OF LOW INCOME, HIGH USAGE HOUSEHOLDS NEAR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE. UPON COMPLETION OF THE DATA ANALYSIS, REGARDLESS OF THE FINDINGS, SEE AND LONG BEACH WILL STAFF WILL RETURN TO THE BOARD TO PROVIDE INFORMATION LEARNED AND SEEK THE BOARD'S GUIDANCE FOR POTENTIAL NEXT STEPS. THE RECOMME, THE RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION IS TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT TO EXECUTE A NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT WITH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY. THIS AGREEMENT WILL ENABLE THE SECURE EXCHANGE OF CONFIDENTIAL UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND CUSTOMER DATA NECESSARY TO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A Z ELECTRIFICATION PILOT. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. I DO WOULD NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MR. BRIAN BUSANTE AND MR. MIKE TOMLIN FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON. THEY ARE HERE, UH, JUST TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS ACTION AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU WOULD HAVE THEM, OF THEM OR OF ME. OKAY, GREAT. WELL, THAT MAKES SENSE, , YOU DID A GREAT JOB, TONY. THANK YOU. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, COMMISSIONER COMMENT? YES, KEVIN, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA. UH, A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW. UH, AND ANALYSIS OF THIS SORT, I THINK IS, IS VERY BENEFICIAL REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT TAKES US. UH, I'M JUST CURIOUS, UH, IS THERE A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE DATA ANALYSIS, A COST TO LONG BEACH UTILITIES? SO, UH, YES, THERE IS A COST. THE COST ON EDISON, I BELIEVE IS COVERED BY VARIOUS GRANTS. UH, THE COST TO US WOULD BE MINIMAL, MINIMAL. IT'S NOT COVERED BY THOSE GRANTS OR OUR STAFF TIME ARE SELF COVERED. OKAY. AND DO WE HAVE A TIMEFRAME WITH, UH, THE ANALYSIS? UH, WITH THAT I WOULD DEFER TO EDISON. DO YOU HAVE A SURE, A GREAT QUESTION. UH, MIKE TOMLIN. UM, THANK YOU. YEAH, SO WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THREE MONTHS FOR THE ANALYSIS TO TAKE PLACE. UH, WE'VE ALREADY AT EDISON ALREADY RUN A BUNCH OF ANALYSIS ON THE ELECTRIC SIDE. UM, SO WE REALLY NEED THE NDA IN PLACE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE GAS DATA IS TO DO THE END MATCHING, WHICH WE ANTICIPATE WOULD BE ABOUT THREE MONTHS. OKAY. AND WILL WE RECEIVE A JOINT REPORT BACK FROM EDISON AND ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. THAT'S THE PLAN IS TO COME BACK AND REPORT. UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRANSPARENT IN THE PROCESS, THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING WELL AND PARTNERING AND MAKING SURE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING THAT WE DON'T JOINTLY AGREE TO. SUPER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT NO CUSTOMERS WILL BE CONTACTED UNTIL WE RETURN BACK TO THE BOARD FOR FURTHER DIRECTION. SO THIS WILL ALL BE, UH, BEHIND, UH, OUR LINES, UH, UNTIL WE REPORT BACK TO YOU, GLORIA. YEAH. UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT. TONY. UM, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR EDISON. I KNOW EDISON HAS ABOUT 300 CITIES, IS THAT CORRECT? MAYBE A LITTLE OVER OR AROUND 300 CITIES THAT, THAT EDISON SERVES? YES. OKAY. UM, HAVE I, I'M A FORMER EDISON EMPLOYEE. I THINK YOU MIGHT KNOW THAT IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR 18 YEARS. BUT, UM, HAVE WE, HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU DONE THIS WITH ANY OTHER CITY OR PROPOSED IT WITH ANY OTHER CITY? SO, GREAT QUESTION. UH, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW BETWEEN THE INVESTOR [00:20:01] OWNED UTILITIES AND, UH, INCLUDING THE GAS COMPANIES IN THE ELECTRIC SIDE. ON THE MUNI SIDE, THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION. UH, SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY. IT'S THE FIRST TIME EDISON'S REALLY GONE OUT TO A CITY AND ASKED A PARTNER ON THIS ISSUE. UH, WE THINK LONG BEACH IS THE IDEAL LOCATION. UH, AND FOR THOSE REASONS, THAT'S WHY WE'VE CHOSEN TO GO WITH LONG BEACH FIRST TO UNDERSTAND THE FEASIBILITY OF MOVING FORWARD. I, I'M REALLY HIGH ON PARTNERSHIPS, BUT I'M SMILING BECAUSE IT'S FUNNY HOW TIME CHANGES THINGS. THERE'S NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT, UM, WHEN I WAS AT EDISON, WE WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE TRYING TO TAKE OVER THE DISTRIBUTION IN LONG BEACH, IF YOU CAN RECALL. UM, AND IT, ALONG WITH BOB FOSTER, WHO THEN BECAME MAYOR, I MEAN, AND THEN CHRIS GARNER WAS INVOLVED. IT JUST BECAME VERY CONVOLUTED. BUT I, I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE'VE MOVED ON BEYOND THAT. WE ARE CREATING A MAYBE POSSIBILITY OF A GOOD PARTNERSHIP. UM, AND WITH THAT, I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. LET'S SEE. SO I MIGHT HAVE YOU AND THE PORT I KNOW IS DOING SOME THINGS WITH YOU AS WELL. THAT'S RIGHT. I THINK, UH, THAT WOULD BE BEST FOR, YEAH. DOES THIS, DOES THIS INTERSECT AT ALL? IT DOES NOT. AND TO DOUBLE BACK TO YOUR OTHER QUESTION, WE'VE HAD SOME OF THESE PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER CITIES, UM, IN FORUMS THAT WE'VE PARTICIPATED IN. UM, THIS IS JUST THE FIRST, WE'RE TAKING A STEP FURTHER WITH LONG BEACH. THAT'S WHO WE'VE CHOSEN. SO THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION AMONGST OTHER ENTITIES. AS FOR THE PORT, UM, IT IS, WE'RE WE ARE, WE SUPPORT CUSTOMER CHOICE. AND SO WE HAVE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PORT. I LEAD THE EFFORTS WITH THE PORT. UM, YOU KNOW, THEIR CONVERSATION IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. IT IS, THEY'RE LOOKING AT A CLEAN RESOURCE. IS IT HYDROGEN OR IS IT ELECTRIFICATION? WE ARE LEAVING THAT UP TO THE CUSTOMERS, AND WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF BOTH PATHWAYS. WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE, THAT IN ANY SCENARIO, IT'S GONNA NEED SOME SORT OF ELECTRIFICATION TO SUPPORT THAT, THAT WE'RE THERE TO SUPPORT THROUGH THAT PROCESS. OKAY. SO IN TERMS OF DIRECT INTERSECTION, NO, I THINK IT'S SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. OKAY. AND SO IT'S NOT THAT EDISON'S LOOKING, WE'RE NOT, LOOK, YOU'RE NOT LOOKING TO CREATE MORE, GENERATE MORE ELECTRICITY IN THIS CITY. YOU'RE, YOU'RE LOOKING TO USE WHAT YOU HAVE IN A CREATIVE WAY, IN A SENSE THAT, THAT'S CORRECT. UM, SO THE WAY WE SEE IT IS WE HAVE A BUNCH OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE EXISTING, UH, THAT HAVE A LOT OF MONEY FOR ELECTRIFICATION, ESPECIALLY FOR LOW INCOME. AND SO IT'S EXISTING RIGHT NOW. IT'S AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW. AND SO WE SEE THAT AS THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OUT THE CUSTOMER. SO THEY BASICALLY DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING. IT WOULD BE FREE TO THEM, UH, TO ELECTRIFY USING THE MONEY THAT'S AVAILABLE TODAY. I, I LOVE PARTNERSHIPS AND I REALLY, I THINK THAT'S GREAT. I'M REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT IT WILL SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, ESPECIALLY OUR LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS. SO THANK YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE HEARING, THE REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WITH THAT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO. THANK YOU THREE FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND RESPONSES. OKAY. ITEM NUMBER [7. 25-55700 Recommendation to receive and file a report on the Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) Self-Audit (2021-2024).       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] SEVEN WILL BE DEFERRED TO, I BELIEVE OUR NEXT MEETING. SO MIKE HERBA CAN BE ON HOLD A LITTLE BIT HERE. UM, HERB? PARDON? SORRY. OH, . OKAY. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, [8. 25-55701 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding, and any subsequent necessary amendments, with Bay Area Community Resources (BACR) to provide California Climate Action Corps (CCAC) Fellows from September 2025 to August 2026 to assist Long Beach Public Utilities Department (LBPUD) in water conservation program implementation.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH BAY AREA COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO PROVIDE CALIFORNIA CLIMATE ACTION CORPS FELLOWS WITH SEP FROM SEPTEMBER, 2025 TO AUGUST, 2026. AND JOSEPH RIZZO. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. I'LL BE BRIEF AS WELL. UM, SO JUST STARTING OFF HERE. CCAC IS A PART OF A, UH, STATEWIDE INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS AND MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE BY MATCHING FELLOWS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO MOBILIZE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON DIRECT CLIMATE ACTION THROUGH EDUCATION, VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, AND THE ASSESSMENT WITH PROJECTS FOCUSED ON URBAN GREENING, ORGANIC WASTE DIVERSION, EDIBLE FOOD RECOVERY, AND WILDLIFE RESILIENCY. UH, CCAC AND LBUD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, UH, SINCE 2017 AND WORKING ON MULTIPLE PROJECTS TOGETHER. AS I GO THROUGH THESE SLIDES, YOU'LL SEE A MIXTURE OF PROJECTS AND, UM, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AS WELL AS, UM, DIFFERENT ENGAGEMENTS WITH THE COMMUNITY, UM, THAT THEY HAVE HOSTED AND THEY'VE, UH, BEEN ABLE TO CREATE WITHIN THE CITY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM. UM, WITH THE FELLOWSHIP HERE, WE'RE WORKING WITH, UH, LONG BEACH UTILITIES, UH, EXCUSE ME, LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH, WITH A, UH, TURF REMOVAL PROGRAM. UM, THE, THE FELLOWS [00:25:01] THAT ARE WORKING IN THIS, UH, FOR 2024, UH, SEASON, THE, THEY HELPED GATHER, UH, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS MULTIPLE, UH, NATIVE PLANT GROWERS AND THEN ALSO, UH, CONTRACTORS TO HELP REMOVE THE TURF AT THE PROPERTY AND THEN, UH, GATHER ALL OF THE, UH, VOLUNTEERS TO INSTALL PLANTS WITHIN THE SPACE. ANOTHER LARGER ONE THAT HAPPENED BACK IN 2024 WAS A, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UM, WETLAND EVENT DAY AT, UH, DEFOREST WETLANDS. UH, WE HAD A LARGE AMOUNT OF BUSINESSES AS WELL AS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT HAD TENT POPUPS. WE HAD MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS. AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS WAS TO SHOW THE, UH, THE BENEFITS OF THE FOREST WETLANDS PARK, AS WELL AS PROVIDE TOURS TO ALL OF THE COMMUNITY. UM, AND THEN ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF ENGAGEMENTS WITH RAFFLES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. UM, WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE THE NEXT, UH, GROUP OF CCAC FELLOWS CREATE A SIMILAR TYPE OF, UH, WETLAND EVENT DAY OR AN EVENT DAY HERE TO BENEFIT OUR PROGRAMS AND TO EDUCATE OUR, OUR COMMUNITY. ONE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE POPULAR THAT YOU MAY HAVE SEEN WITHIN LONG BEACH MARINA, AS WELL AS OTHER AREAS, UH, AROUND THE, THE MARINA. UH, THIS, THESE PHOTOS HERE ARE TAKEN, UH, NEAR, UH, SECOND AND PCH IF YOU EVER VENTURE DOWN THERE ON SUNDAYS WITH THE FARMER'S MARKET, YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE PLANTS THAT WERE INSTALLED THERE, SIMILAR TYPE OF APPROACH. HERE. WE'RE WORKING WITH NON-PROFIT GROUPS, UH, TO IDENTIFY AREAS THAT ARE NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF, UM, AND THEN REMOVING THAT TURF, WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE MARINA AS WELL AS PARKS, REC AND MARINE, EXCUSE ME, AS WELL AS PARKS AND REC. AND THEN INSTALLING THESE, UH, NATIVE PLANT AND CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPES. WE'RE ALSO, UH, HELPING FELLOWS ENGAGE IN, UH, ACTION WITHIN THE OFFICE. SO SOME OF THE IMPORTANT ASSEMBLY BILLS THAT WE'RE WORKING THEM, WORKING WITH THEM ON TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY EN ENGAGE PROFESSIONALS WITH OUR AB 1572, WHICH IS REGARDING NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF WITHIN THE CITY, AS WELL AS AB 1826 AND SB 1383, WHICH HELP PROVIDE ORGANIC WASTE COLLECTION, UH, WITHIN THE COMMERCIAL SPACE. SO YOU MAY HAVE, IF YOU WALKED AROUND THE OFFICE, YOU SEE MULTIPLE TRASH CANS FOR, UH, ORGANIC WASTE. UH, CCAC HAS HELPED DEVELOP THAT PROGRAM, AS WELL AS A LOT OF THE MAPPING FOR THE AREAS. SOME STATE REPORTING THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO IS IDENTIFY IRRIGABLE AND NON IRRIGABLE LANDSCAPES THROUGH THE WHOLE CITY FOR ALL OF OUR COMMERCIAL CONNECTIONS. UM, THEY'RE DOING ALL OF THE, UH, ONSITE WORK TO REVIEW ALL THOSE IRRITABLE AREAS, THE MAPPING THEM WITH GIS, SO THEN WE CAN REPORT BACK TO THE STATE. SO FINALLY, HERE'S A LITTLE, UH, PICTURE OF THE, UH, THE WORKS THAT'S BEEN DONE THIS YEAR. AND I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE LAURA AAO, WHO'S SITTING OVER HERE. UM, SHE IS OUR CURRENT CCAC, UH, FELLOW. UM, SHE'S BEEN WORKING WITH US FOR ACTUALLY TWO SESSIONS, AND IF SHE'LL HAVE US, UM, SHE'S GONE THROUGH A, UH, A VERY RIGOROUS, UH, HIRING PROCESS, AND WE HOPE THAT SHE CAN JOIN US AS A COMMUNITY PROGRAM SPECIALIST COME, UH, AUGUST WHEN HER SESSION ENDS. SO, WITH THAT, UM, I DO WANNA PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION FOR, UH, HAVING CCAC COME BACK AND WORK WITH LONG BEACH UTILITIES. SO I'D LIKE TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND ANY SUBSEQUENT NECESSARY AMENDMENTS WITH BAY AREA COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO PROVIDE CALIFORNIA CLIMATE ACTION CORPS FELLOWS FROM SEPTEMBER, 2025 THROUGH AUGUST, 2026 TO ASSIST LONG BEACH PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT AND WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND IMPLEMENTATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JOEY. LAURA, IT'S GREAT TO MEET YOU. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY. IT'S, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK, AND THIS PROGRAM IS REALLY JUST ONE OUR FAVORITE , LET'S JUST SAY THAT IT'S VIBRANT. AND I WAS AT SECOND AND PCH LAST SUNDAY, AND IT WAS PRETTY LOT GOING, LOTS GOING ON OVER THERE. IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL. JUST BEAUTIFUL. UM, OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? THIS ITEM COMMISSIONER COMMENT, JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR JOEY. THANK YOU. THAT WAS A GOOD REPORT. UM, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU, LAURA, FOR CHOOSING LONG BEACH UTILITIES. UM, MY QUESTION IS, WHEN WE HAVE FELLOWS, HOW LONG HAS THIS, THIS PROGRAM'S BEEN AROUND FOR HOW LONG? UH, THE INCEPTION OF THE ACTUAL PROGRAM? I AM NOT SURE. I WANNA SAY, UH, BEGINNING OF 2017 IS WHEN IT STARTED WITH LONG BEACH UTILITIES. UM, BUT, UH, WHEN WE STARTED WORKING WITH THEM, BUT THE ACTUAL START, I, I'M NOT SURE. YEAH. WITH JUST LONG BEACH. SO DO WE RETAIN, UM, RELAT COMMUNICATION WITH THE FORMER FELLOWS? WE DO, YES. CORRECT. WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD, UM, LAURA WAS HERE FOR, OR IS HERE FOR TWO SESSIONS. UM, WE HAVE A, ANOTHER, UH, WOMAN [00:30:01] NAMED ANDREA, WHO I THINK YOU MAY HAVE MET IN THE PREVIOUS SESSION. SHE, SHE WORKED AS A, UH, A FELLOW HERE AND THEN WENT ON TO WORK AT MODOC, UM, AS A PERMANENT EMPLOYEE. OH, OKAY. UM, AND THEN THE, UH, THE OTHER, UM, FELLOW THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR, HER NAME WAS VERONICA. UH, WE KEEP IN TOUCH AND SHE'S ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH, UH, SCHOOL RIGHT NOW TO BETTER EDUCATION. GREAT. I'M, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT, THOUGH. AS YOU KNOW, THE WATER WORLD IS VERY SMALL, SO IT'S GREAT TO KEEP EVERYBODY IN THE LOOP. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENT? MOTION TO APPROVE. THANK YOU. DURING THE SECOND, SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO, THANK YOU. THE MOTION CARRIES. [9. 25-55702 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute Conjunctive Use Program Termination Agreements with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ALL RIGHT. ITEM NUMBER NINE IS TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE CONJUNCTIVE USE PROGRAM TERMINATION AGREEMENTS WITH THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. DEAN WANG. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING. IS IT ON? CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME OKAY? UH, SO GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. UH, TODAY, THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS AN ITEM THAT I PRESENTED BACK TO, UH, IN DECEMBER TO THE BOARD. UH, AT THAT TIME, WE WERE STILL IN DISCUSSIONS, NEGOTIATIONS WITH METROPOLITAN. AND THE GOOD NEWS IS, UH, TODAY, I'M, I'M HERE WITH AN AGREEMENT, UH, FOR THE TERMINATION OF AN, UH, PRIOR AGREEMENT. SO, AS A REMINDER, OUR CONJUNCTIVE USE PROGRAM, CONJUNCTIVE USE, IS THE COORDINATED USE OF SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER TO MAXIMIZE RELIABILITY OF WATER SUPPLIES. AND SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS, IN WET YEARS, UH, WHEN METROPOLITAN HAS A LOT OF SURFACE WATER SUPPLIES AND IT NEEDS SOMEWHERE TO, TO STORE THAT, UH, WE OFFER OUR GROUNDWATER BASINS AS A PLACE TO PUT THE, THAT WATER IN WET YEARS. IN DRY YEARS WHEN THERE'S A LIMIT ON HOW MUCH SURFACE WATER SUPPLIES IS AVAILABLE, WE THEN ASSIST THE REGION BY TAKING THE IMPORTED WATER OUT OF STORAGE, OUT OF OUR GROUNDWATER BASINS, UH, TO USE INSTEAD OF, UH, USING THE LIMITED, UH, SURFACE WATER SUPPLIES. AND SO, IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, OR TO, TO ARRANGE, UH, THAT, UM, THAT THOSE LOGISTICS OF THAT EXECUTION OF THE, THE PUTTING IN WATER AND, UH, EXTRACTING OF WATER, WE ENTERED INTO AGREEMENTS WITH METROPOLITAN BACK IN 2002, AND THEN A SUBSEQUENT EXPANSION, UH, OF THAT AGREEMENT INTO LAKEWOOD IN 2005. AND SO, UH, AS PART OF THOSE AGREEMENTS, UH, METROPOLITAN HAD RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE STATE GRANT FUNDING FROM THE STATE. AND THAT GRANT FUNDING ASSISTED US IN CONSTRUCTING OUR INJECTION AND EXTRACTION WELLS, UH, TO, TO CREATE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE TO ALLOW THIS CONJUNCTIVE USE PROGRAM TO WORK. UH, SO THE WAY THAT THE CONJUNCT USE PROGRAM WORKS IS IN THE WET YEARS WHEN METROPOLITAN HAS IMPORTED WATER FOR US TO STORE, THEY GIVE US THAT IMPORTED WATER, AND WE PUT IT IN THE GROUNDWATER BASIN. AT THAT TIME, WE DO NOT PAY METROPOLITAN FOR THAT WATER. AND SO THE WATER THAT'S PUT IN THE GROUND IS, IS ESSENTIALLY METROPOLITAN'S WATER IN THE YEARS, IN THE DRY YEARS WHEN THEY WANT US TO PULL THAT WATER OUT. THEN AT THAT TIME, WE PAY METROPOLITAN THE GOING METROPOLITAN RATE FOR THAT IMPORTED WATER. UM, AND IT, THAT COSTS US ADDITIONALLY BECAUSE WE ARE PUMPING THAT, UH, UH, WATER OUT OF THE GROUND. AND SO THERE'S, UM, POWER AND, AND PUMPING COSTS FOR, FOR US AND TREATMENT COSTS FOR US RUNNING OUR WELLS. AND SO METROPOLITAN PROVIDES US WITH OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE CREDITS, UH, TO OFFSET THAT ADDITIONAL COST. AND SO, ESSENTIALLY PULLING THAT WATER OUTTA THE GROUND COSTS US THE METROPOLITAN RATE. UM, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IT'S, IT'S BEEN REALLY WET. AND SO WE'VE ACCUMULATED A STORAGE BALANCE OF OVER 6,000 ACRE FEET IN, IN OUR GROUNDWATER BASIN, UH, THAT'S, UH, ATTRIBUTED TO THIS CONJUNCTIVE USE PROGRAM ACCOUNT. UH, AND SO ORIGINALLY THE AGREEMENTS WERE SET UP FOR 25 YEARS. AND SO THOSE ARE SET TO, UH, EXPIRE IN 2027 AND 2030. THE REASON THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY, RATHER THAN 2027 OR 2030, IS BECAUSE, UH, METROPOLITAN, UH, CURRENTLY IN, IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET BIENNIUM, UH, IDENTIFIED THAT THEY NEEDED ADDITIONAL REVENUE. AND SO RATHER THAN WAIT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS TO RECEIVE, UH, THE, THE PURCHASE OF THIS WATER, ESSENTIALLY FROM US, UH, IT'S TO THEIR BENEFIT. AND, AND THEY, THEIR BOARD HAS DIRECTED THEIR STAFF TO, UM, UH, RECOVER THIS REVENUE IMMEDIATELY. AND SO THE BENEFIT TO METROPOLITAN IS THAT THEY WILL, UH, RECOGNIZE, UH, WATER SALES IMMEDIATELY THIS YEAR. UH, AND, UH, FOR US, THE BENEFIT IS THAT, UH, AS METROPOLITAN RATES ARE INCREASING, UH, US BUYING THIS WATER TODAY WILL COST US LESS THAN IT WILL TO PURCHASE THIS WATER OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, UH, WITH THE PROJECTED MET RATE INCREASES, UM, THAT, THAT SIGNIFICANT, THAT SAVINGS IS QUITE SIGNIFICANT AND WILL COME OUT TO APPROXIMATELY, UH, $500,000 OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. UH, MORE IMPORTANTLY THOUGH, FOR US IS THAT WE REGAIN OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY AND CONTROL OF OUR GROUNDWATER INFRASTRUCTURE. UH, A LOT OF TIMES WE NEED TO TAKE OUR TREATMENT PLANT OFFLINE OR CERTAIN WELLS OFFLINE FOR REHABILITATION. AND IT, THE UNCERTAINTY OF WHEN METROPOLITAN [00:35:01] WILL REQUIRE US TO PULL THAT WATER OUT, UH, IN, IN A DRY YEAR, BECAUSE NOBODY HAS A CRYSTAL BALL TO KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THAT WILL BE. IT'S, IT'S, UH, CHALLENGING. IT CAN BE CHALLENGING FOR US TO RESCHEDULE OUR SCHEDULED CIP OR OUR, UM, UH, PROJECTS, REHABILITATION PROJECTS AROUND CONJUNCTIVE USE PROGRAM. SO, UH, THIS RESTORES BY TERMINATING, TERMINATING THE AGREEMENT. WE RE, UH, RESTORE THE FULL FLEXIBILITY TO OPERATE OUR SYSTEM ACCORDING TO ALL OF OUR OTHER CONSTRAINTS THAT WE'RE FACING, RATHER THAN HAVING TO ADD ADDITIONAL, UH, CHALLENGE AND CONSTRAINT TO OUR OPERATIONAL SCHEDULE. UH, SO WITH THAT, THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE CONJUNCTIVE USE PROGRAM TERMINATION AGREEMENTS WITH THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD. THAT WAS VERY CLEAR. THANK YOU. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, COMMISSIONER COMMENT, KEVIN? SO PHILOSOPHICALLY, DO YOU SEE US GETTING BACK INTO A CUP AT, AT ANY POINT IN THE FUTURE? PHILOSOPHICALLY? PROBABLY NOT. UM, A AGAIN, I THINK THE, THE MAJOR BENEFIT TO US IN, IN LONG BEACH UTILITY SPECIFICALLY IN THIS WAS, UH, WE RECEIVED GRANT FUNDING TO CONSTRUCT INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THE, UH, CONTINUING BENEFIT HAS BEEN TO THE REGION AND TO METROPOLITAN WHEN WE HAVE TO PUT WATER IN AND TAKE WATER OUT. AND SO REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE, THAT WAS THE, THE BENEFIT OF THE, THE GRANT, UM, WAS OFFSET BY FUTURE, I GUESS, UM, INCONVENIENCES TO US. AND SO, YOU KNOW, ABSENT, UM, EVEN BETTER GRANT FUNDING OR A BETTER, UH, ARRANGEMENT, I, I DON'T FORESEE US, UH, PURSUING A FUTURE CONJUNCTIVE USE PROGRAM. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, GLORIA. UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT, DEAN. YOU ALWAYS DO A GOOD JOB ON THAT. UM, THE REGIONAL APPROACH, I SAW THE, THE DECISION WAS A REGIONAL ONE. AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THERE ARE SOME AGENCIES THAT WERE QUESTIONING THIS AND WEREN'T HAPPY WITH NECESSARILY GOING THIS ROUTE AT MET, NOT, NOT HAPPY WITH DOING CONJUNCTIVE DISAGREEMENTS OR TERMINATING THEM. WELL, NO, JUST GOING ALONG WITH 'EM. IS THERE, WAS THERE ANY QUESTION, ANY RISK THAT, UH, LIKE DEAN POINTED OUT ORIGINALLY, THE GOAL OF, OF THE, THIS INCEPTION OF CONJUNCTIVE USE WAS THAT IN LIEU OF BUILDING MORE DAMS AND MORE SURFACE STORAGE, WE WOULD USE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S RESOURCES UNDER OUR FEET. SO THE GROUNDWATER BASINS WOULD BECOME A HOLDING REPOSITORY FOR METROPOLITAN WATER. AT THE SAME TIME. THEY WOULD DO THAT WITHOUT VIOLATING THE RIGHTS THAT OCCURRED LOCALLY TO STORE AND SO FORTH. SO IT WAS A PARTNERSHIP APPROACH. NOW, THE ASPECT OF STORING WATER AT NO COST, AND THEN JUST SIMPLY HAVING TO RETRIEVE IT AND GETTING THE COMPENSATION OF METROPOLITAN'S, THEN CURRENT RATE WAS EXTREMELY FAVORABLE TO METROPOLITAN. AND SO PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT. WHEN I GOT HERE AT LONG BEACH, PEOPLE SAID, WHO CREATED THIS AGREEMENT? AND I HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE. I'M THE ONE THAT CREATED THE AGREEMENT WHEN I WAS AT METROPOLITAN. OKAY. SO IT, IT SERVED US WELL. UM, SO DEAN DEAN'S, RIGHT. WE, WE WOULDN'T DO THIS AGAIN THIS WAY. SO, BUT NOW WE HAVE ANIS HOS NEGOTIATE ON OUR SIDE. YOU, YOU WERE NOT GONNA THROW 'EM UNDER THE BUS, BUT YOU DID A REALLY GOOD JOB ON THAT . UM, THEY ALREADY DID PRIVATELY. I GUESS THAT'S WHERE I WAS GOING. BUT THIS, BUT WOULD IT HAVE BEEN A, A BENEFICIAL, DID IT EVER COME UP AT MET THAT WHEN YOU TAKE OUT, WHEN YOU GIVE BACK THE WATER AND YOU PAY FOR IT, IT WOULD BE AT THE PRICE OF WATER WHEN YOU STORED IT? YEAH, I NEGOTIATED AGAINST THAT. YES. DID YOU? YEAH. THANK YOU. BUT, BUT THAT, THAT IS SOME OF THE DIFFICULTY IS THAT YOU WANT TO TRY TO BENEFIT THE REGION AND TRY TO HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE TO JUST CONSTANTLY BUILDING MORE DAMS. EVEN THE GOVERNOR'S STATEWIDE PLAN SAYS WE NEED TO USE THESE RESOURCES. HOW WE USE THEM TOGETHER, LIKE YOU POINTED OUT, IS LIKE, OKAY, SO THAT'S A BIT ONE SIDED, RIGHT? THERE HAS TO BE BALANCING ELEMENTS TO THAT. IF IT EVER COMES BACK AS A CONJUNCTIVE USE PROGRAM, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE RESOLVED. YEAH. BUT I THINK IN METROPOLITAN'S DEFENSE, METROPOLITAN IS TAKING OTHER APPROACHES TO WORKING WITH GROUNDWATER, RIGHT. UH, ENTITIES THAT DOESN'T HAVE THESE STRICT CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENTS. CORRECT. AND SO I I, I SHOULDN'T SAY WE WOULDN'T DO CONJUNCTIVE USE IN THE FUTURE. WE JUST WOULDN'T DO IT THE WAY WE CURRENTLY DO IT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT FIND OTHER MORE FAVORABLE OR BALANCED TERMS, UH, TO, TO, UM, WORK OUT AGREEMENT. 'CAUSE IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY. THE GROUNDWATER BASINS ARE, ARE HUGE STORAGE, UM, UH, BENEFIT FOR THE REGION. AND SO YEAH, WE JUST HAVE TO FIND A BETTER ARRANGEMENT. UM, AND, AND MAYBE, UH, DIRECTOR CORDERO TO, UH, COMMISSIONER CORDERA TO YOUR, UM, UH, QUESTION THERE, UH, ARE SIX CONJUNCTIVE USE AGREEMENTS THAT ARE BE TERMINATED BY METROPOLITAN THROUGH THIS, UH, BROADER EFFORT. AND, AND WE JUST COMPRISE TWO OUT OF THE, THE SIX. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT VERY GOOD. UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. AND WITH THAT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND, THANK YOU. FIRST AND A [00:40:01] SECOND. RECEIVED. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES EXPERIENCE [10. 25-55703 Recommendation to receive and file the Water Resources Plan update.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AS A GREAT TEACHER, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU DEAN. ITEM NUMBER 10. UM, DEAN DOES NOT GET TO COME BACK. UM, WE ARE DEFERRING THAT ONE TO OUR NEXT MEETING, AND THIS IS [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.] THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A NON AGENDA ITEM? AND SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? AND I WILL CALL ON ANATOL FOR HIS REPORT. UH, I'LL PASS AT THIS POINT. I'LL, I'LL SAVE MY COMMENTS AND ADD THAT TO THE GM REPORT FOR JULY. OH WOW. OKAY. OH MY GOODNESS. RECORD TIME HERE. THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND PATIENCE. COMMISSIONER CANARO AGAIN. . ANYWAY, UM, SO WITH THAT, CAN I, THERE'S AN ANNOUNCEMENT. OKAY. OKAY. IF, IF I MAY JUST VERY QUICKLY, 'CAUSE EVEN THOUGH COMMISSIONER SHANNON'S NOT HERE, UM, I, I WISH HE HAD BEEN SO WE COULD, YOU KNOW, GIVE HIM ALL THE ACCOLADES ON, ON ALL THE GOOD THINGS HE HAS DONE FOR US, FOR ALL OF YOU, FOR THE DEPARTMENT. UM, BUT I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING AND THERE'S SO MANY COMMISSIONS IN LONG BEACH, AND WE ALL LIVE IN THE CITY, AS MANY OF YOU LIVE OR WORK HERE. UH, AND, AND FIND THIS THE PLACE WHERE YOU CHOOSE TO DO YOUR PASSION AND, AND, AND, AND DO YOUR CREATIVITY AND YOUR GOOD WORK. AND SO WHEN WE SERVE ON A BODY LIKE THIS, WE DON'T, NOT ALL COMMISSIONERS GET ALONG LIKE WE HAVE. AND I THINK WE'VE DONE A, A REALLY GOOD JOB OF REALIZING EVERYONE'S STRENGTHS. AND, UM, I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT COMMISSIONER SHANNON WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. UM, HE HAS LENT A LOT TO THIS, THIS COMMISSION, UM, HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE CITY, UM, BUT ALSO HIS, HIS INTEREST AND HIS PASSION FOR WATER. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HIS, UM, PASSION FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR CUSTOMERS AND OUR, OUR, THE PEOPLE OF LONG BEACH. UM, THAT, THAT WAS VERY LOUD AND CLEAR WITH HIM AS HE MADE DECISIONS. WE DIDN'T ALWAYS GET AGREE, BUT WE ALWAYS GOT ALONG AND HE'S BECOME A BIG PART OF MY JOURNEY, UH, ON THIS COMMISSION AND HE'S GONNA BE GREATLY MISSED. SO, UM, I THINK HE NEEDS TO KNOW THAT I WILL NOT BE JOINING AT LUNCH. SO YOU CAN SHARE THAT WITH HIM, PLEASE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, ALRIGHT. WITH THAT, THE MEETING [ADJOURNMENT] IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.