Sep 18, 2025 Utilities Commission

THE

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THE PLEDGE OF

[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

JOHAN SGI OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.

.

WELL, I FEEL LIKE I'M SITTING UP HERE ALL BY MYSELF.

AND , THIS IS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE LAST MEETING I CHAIR, UH, BUT KEVIN SCOTT, WHO WAS, WAS TERMING UP FOR HIS, HIS TERM AS PRESIDENT, IS SICK.

HE HAS STREP THROAT , SO THAT WE DO NOT WANT HIM HERE.

AND, UH, FOR THAT WE HAVE DEFERRED THE ELECTION OF NEW OFFICERS.

TILL NEXT TIME, I

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

WAS THAT TRUE? OR MONDAY NIGHT? UM, SORRY.

UH, ANYWAY, WE WANNA WELCOME YOU AND THANK YOU FOR SO QUICKLY CHECKING THE SCHEDULE AND BEING HERE WITH US THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU.

IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD.

OKAY, I'LL CALL ON GINA FOR THE ROLL CALL.

PRESIDENT

[ROLL CALL]

VICE PRESIDENT SCOTT IS ABSENT.

SECRETARY CORDERO.

COMMISSIONER PARKIN.

COMMISSIONER RAINEY IS ABSENT.

WE HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU FOR THE RECORD.

COMMISSIONER RAINEY AND VICE PRESIDENT SCOTT ARE EXCUSED FROM THE SEPTEMBER 18TH BOARD MEETING.

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS FROM THE BOARD? SEEING NO OBJECTION, WE WILL PROCEED TO THE NEXT ITEM.

OKAY, I GET TO JUMP AHEAD.

[ 25-56509 Conduct Public Hearing on the results of Public Health Goals Report and receive and file the 2025 Public Health Goals Report (California Health and Safety Code Section 116470 (b)).       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, SECTION 1 1 6 4 7 OH B.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.

DR.

JAN SANG WILL GIVE US A STAFF REPORT.

WELCOME.

GOOD MORNING, PRESIDENT MCGUIRE.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

MORNING.

SO MY NAME IS IAN ZANG.

I'M THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF WATER QUALITY IN THE PROCESS.

I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I PRESENT, UH, WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER PARKING.

SO VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE.

SO I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE 2025 PUBLIC HEALTH GOALS REPORT.

UM, TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND ANNUALLY, UH, WE CONDUCT ABOUT 60,000 TO 70,000 WATER QUALITY TESTS TO MONITOR THE PRESENCE OF CONTAMINANTS IN OUR WATER.

WE DELIVER TO THE CUSTOMERS CUSTOMERS AND WE HAVE ALWAYS DEMONSTRATED THAT LONG BEACH TAP WATER MEET ALL EPA AND CALIFORNIA DRINKING WATER STANDARDS.

AND ANNUALLY WE RE REPORT THE WATER QUALITY RESULTS TO OUR CUSTOMERS THROUGH THE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT.

AND THIS IS ALSO CALLED OUR ANNUAL WATER QUALITY REPORT.

SO THIS IS PUBLISHED ON OUR WEBSITE EVERY YEAR BEFORE JULY 1ST.

AND AS THE UTILITIES WITH CLOSE TO 90,000 SERVICE CONNECTIONS, WE ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO PREPARE A PUBLIC HEALTH SCHOOL REPORT EVERY THREE YEARS.

SO WHAT DOES THE PUBLIC HEALTH SCHOOL REPORT INCLUDE? WE NEED TO, UM, INCLUDE THE CONSTITUENTS THAT HAS THE PRIMARY DRINKING WATER STANDARD, THAT'S MCL, AND THE WHENEVER THEY ARE DETECTED ABOVE THE PHG OR MC GS.

SO HERE WE HAVE A LOT OF ACRONYMS. I'LL GET TO THE DEFINITION OF THEM LATER ON.

SO BESIDES THE LEVEL OF THOSE CONSTITUENTS, WE ALSO NEED TO INCLUDE EACH CONSTITUENT'S RISK TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY.

ALSO CAUGHT BACK POSSIBLY TO REDUCE THOSE CONSTITUENTS AND THE DUAL COST ESTIMATE.

SO HERE THIS TABLE WILL LIST THE DEFINITION OF THE DIFFERENT STANDARD.

WE HAVE THE FIRST MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL, THAT'S A MCL.

SO THIS IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL FOR CONTAMINANT THAT IS ALLOWED IN DRINKING WATER.

IT'S REGULATORY AND ENFORCEFUL STANDARD.

WE HAVE TO MEET THIS STANDARD, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR ARSENIC IN WATER.

THE MCL IS 10 MICROGRAM TER, THAT'S 10 PARTS PER BILLION.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEALTH GOAL.

PHG.

THIS IS A LEVEL OF CONTAMINANT BELOW WHICH THERE IS NO KNOWN OR EXPECTED HEALTH RISK.

SO PHG IS SET SOLELY BASED ON INFORMATION ON POTENTIAL HEALTH RISK AND ALSO LIFETIME EXPOSURE.

AND THIS IS

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AND THIS IS NOT AN ENFORCEABLE STANDARD.

IT'S BASICALLY A HARD HIGH GOAL WE ARE TRYING TO REACH.

AND FOR PHG, FOR ARSENIC IS 0.004 PARTS PER BILLION.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S MUCH LOWER THAN THE STANDARD MCL.

AND SIMILARLY, WE ALSO HAVE THE MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL GOAL, MCLG.

THIS IS ALSO THE LEVEL OF CONTAMINANT BELOW WHICH THERE IS NO KNOWN OR EXPECTED HEALTH RISK.

IT'S SET BY EPA AND NOT ENFORCEABLE STANDARD.

SO WHEN EPA, WHENEVER THEY SET THEIR REGULATION, MCL, THE GOAL IS TO TRY TO SET THE MCL AS CLOSE TO THE MCLG AS POSSIBLE.

BUT A LOT OF TIMES THIS IS ACTUALLY NOT FEASIBLE, BOTH FROM THE TREATMENT SIDE, IT'S NOT FEASIBLE TO TREAT THE WATER TO THAT LOW LEVEL.

AND ALSO FROM THE MONITORING SIDE, IT'S NOT FEASIBLE FOR US TO MONITOR AT THOSE, THOSE LOW LEVEL.

AND OF COURSE, MCL NEEDS TO CONSIDER COST AND BENEFIT LIKE THEY DO THOSE TYPE OF ANALYSIS BEFORE SETTING THE REGULATION.

SO HERE WE HAVE A SUMMARY OF, UH, UM, ALSO CONSTITUENTS WE DETECTED DURING 2022 TO 2024.

SO THIS IS A REPORTING PERIOD THAT NEEDS TO BE COVERED UNDER 2025 PHG REPORT.

SO WE LIST OUT THE CONSTITUENTS WE HAVE, WE HAVE FIVE OF THEM.

UM, ARSENIC ATE, GROSS ARFA, GROSS BETA, AND URANIUM.

SO WE LISTED THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT DETECTED FOR THOSE CONSTITUENTS AND COMPARING THEM TO THE MCL, THE PHG.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, FOR ALL FIVE CONSTITUENTS, THE LEVELS ARE DETECTED BELOW MCL AND ABOVE PHG OR MCLG.

AND HERE WE ALSO LISTED OUT THE ANOTHER ACRONYM.

IT'S CALLED DETECTION LIMIT AND DLR.

SO IT'S DEFINED AS DETECTION LIMIT FOR PURPOSE OF REPORTING.

THIS IS ACTUALLY THE LOWEST LEVEL OF CONTAMINANTS THAT CAN BE DETECTED FOR WHICH WE CAN, UM, DETERMINE OUR COMPLIANCE.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT UM, DLR AND PHG OR MCLG, YOU CAN SEE THAT PHG MCL GS ARE MUCH LOWER THAN DLR, WHICH DEMONSTRATES THE DIFFICULTY TO DETECTING CONSTITUENTS UNDER THOSE LEVELS.

AND THE LAST COLUMN, WHICH SHOWS THE BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY SPECS FOR THE DIFFERENT CONSTITUENTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, FOR ARSENICS, THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY WE COULD USE.

THERE ARE ION EXCHANGE BLENDING, REVERSE OSMOSIS, COAGULATION FILTRATION, AND GRANULAR, UH, FERRIC OXIDE.

AND THEN RO IS A VERY COMMON, UM, BAT WE CAN USE FOR DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT EACH OF THEM IN DETAILS.

SO FIRST, ARSENIC.

ARSENIC IS A NATURALLY OCCURRING ELEMENT IN EARTH CRUST.

AND IF WE CAN CONSUME WATER ABOVE ARSENIC MCL FOR MANY YEARS, THERE IS A POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE RISK FOR CANCER OR SKIN AND CIRCULATE SYSTEM PROBLEMS. AGAIN, THE STANDARDS FOR ARSENIC, WE HAVE MCL, THAT'S 10 PARTS PER BILLION.

THG IS 0.004 PARTS PER BILLION.

AND MCLG IS SET AT ZERO.

AND FOR 2022 TO 2024, WE COLLECTED 312 SAMPLES.

AND THE LEVEL OF ARSENIC RANGE FROM NON-DETECT TO 2.6 PARTS PER BILLION.

AND THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY WE COULD USE FOR ARSENIC TREATMENT.

ACTUALLY, OUR TREATMENT PLANT ALREADY USED TWO OF THE BATS FOR ARSENIC.

THAT INCLUDES BLENDING, WHICH WE BLEND ALL OUR WELL WATERS BEFORE IT COMES TO THE TREATMENT PLANT.

SO THE RAW WATER COMING INTO THE PLANT IS ALREADY HAVING ARSENIC LEVEL BELOW THE MCL.

AND THEN WE TREAT THE WATER WITH COAGULATION AND FILTRATION AND FURTHER REDUCE ARSENIC GUM.

AND USUALLY OUR ARSENIC LEVELS ARE NON-DETECT.

AND NEXT ONE IS BROMATE.

BROMATE IS A DISINFECTION BYPRODUCT OF, UH, ATION.

AND WE DON'T HAVE ULCERATION IN A, IN THE PLANT.

THIS IS ACTUALLY COMING FROM METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT PURCHASE WATER.

AND IF WE CONSUME WATER WITH BROMATE OVER MCL FOR MANY YEARS, THERE IS A POTENTIALLY INCREASED CANCER RISK.

SO THE STANDARDS FOR BROMATE IS MCL 10 PARTS PER BILLION.

PHG IS 0.01 PARTS PER BILLION.

AND MCLG IS ALSO SET AT ZERO FOR THIS REPORTING PERIOD.

WE HAVE, UH, 295 SAMPLES COLLECTED.

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AND THAT'S REALLY BEYOND OUR CONTROL.

SO OVER HERE WE'LL NOT TALK ABOUT THE BATS FOR BROMATE.

AND THE REMAINING THREE ARE ALL RADIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES.

THEY INCLUDE GROSS ARFA, GROSS BETA, AND URANIUM.

AND THIS COULD COME FROM DECAY OR EROSION OF NATURAL OR MANMADE DEPOSITS.

AND IF WE CONSUME WATER WITH RADIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OVER, UH, MCL FOR MANY YEARS, THERE IS ALSO A POTENTIAL INCREASED RISK FOR CANCER.

AND THIS TABLE WILL LIST THE, UH, RESULTS WE HAVE FOR THIS REPORTING PERIOD.

AGAIN, WE HAVE THE CONSTITUENTS GROSS ARFA, GROSS BETA URANIUM, AND THEIR MCL OR P-H-G-M-C-L-G.

SO FOR BOTH GROSS ARFA AND UH, URANIUM, THE MCL IS UH, SET WITH, UH, RADIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES.

THAT'S, UM, LITER LITER.

BUT FOR GROSS BETA IT'S ACTUALLY USING A DIFFERENT UNIT.

IT'S CONSIDERED THE HEALTH IMPACT.

SO THAT'S MEASURED BY, UM, MILLIGRAM PER YEAR.

BUT WE CAN EQUIVALENT THAT TO ALSO TO, UH, RADIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY.

PICOLITER THAT'S ABOUT 50.

AND FOR GROSS ARFA AND GROSS BETA AND O IHA HAS DETERMINED THAT THEY CANNOT SET A PHG.

SO WE RELY ON THE MCLG FOR ALL THREE.

THEY'RE SET AT ZERO.

SO AGAIN, THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT DETECTED FOR THIS R ABOVE MCLG, BUT BELOW THE MCL AND THE BAT 4 0 3 IS REVERSE OSMOSIS.

AND RO CAN BE USED TO REMOVE MANY DIFFERENT, UH, CONTAMINANTS AT THE SAME TIME.

BUT IT ALSO HAS SOME DISADVANTAGES BECAUSE RO PRETTY MUCH REMOVES ALL THE MINERALS IN THE WATER SO IT CAN MAKE THE WATER VERY CURSIVE.

AND AFTER RO TREATMENT, WE DO HAVE TO PUTTING ADDITIONAL TREATMENT TO AVOID CORROSION ISSUES IN UH, DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND ALSO IN CUSTOMER'S HOMES.

AND RO CAN GENERATE A LOT OF WASTE STREAM.

IT CAN BE UP TO 70% OF THE WATER LOSS.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS IS REALLY NOT PRACTICAL FOR LONG BEACH IN OUR TREATMENT PLANT BECAUSE WITH THE PHG REPORT, THE MAJORITY OF THE DETECTION IS ACTUALLY COMING FROM MWD WATER.

AND THIS IS REALLY BEYOND OUR CONTROL, BUT ANY, ANYWAY, WE DID THE COST ESTIMATE BASED ON AVAILABLE DATA.

AGAIN, THIS IS BASED ON HYPOTHETICAL REDUCTION.

AND THE COST FOR US TO INSTALL OUR TREATMENT AT OUR PLANT WOULD BE ESTIMATED AT, UM, FROM $20 MILLION TO $74 MILLION ANNUALLY.

AND THIS WILL BE EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT 227 TO, UM, $830 PER SERVICE CONNECTION.

AND THE TAKEAWAY MESSAGE, SO THE TAKEAWAY MESSAGE, WE WANT TO SAY LONG BEACH WATER DRINKING WATER HAS ALWAYS MEET OR EXCEED, UH, US EPA AND CALIFORNIA DRINKING WATER STANDARD.

AND FOR US TO INSTALL TREATMENT TO ATTEMPT REDUCTION OF VERY LOW LEVELS OF CONSTITUENTS MAY ACTUALLY ADVERSELY AFFECT OTHER ASPECTS OF WATER QUALITY.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S THE HEALTH PROTECTION BENEFITS OF THOSE FURTHER HYPOTHETICAL REDUCTIONS ARE NOT REALLY CLEAR AND MAY NOT, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO QUANTIFY SOME.

SO AT THIS TIME, UH, THERE'S NO FURTHER ACTION PROPOSED.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR THE SCIENCE LESSON.

UM, THIS OVERVIEW, WE ALSO RECEIVED THE DETAILED REPORT, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS JUST RIVETING TO READ AT 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.

AMAZING.

UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, SEAN.

DO I HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? YES.

FIRST THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT.

I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE DO IS TEST THE WATER, THE CONFIDENCE OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE CONSUMING OUR LONG BEACH WATER.

BUT A, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

THE LONG BEACH UNIT, UH, LONG BEACH UTILITIES DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, DOES THAT INCLUDE LIKE THE PORT OF LONG BEACH OR CAL STATE LONG BEACH OR? YES, YES.

AND SO ONCE IT, IS THAT ONE OF THE, UM, CONNECTION SERVICES, SO LIKE ALL THE CUSTOMERS WITHIN THE PORT, IS THAT WATER TESTED FOR THEM TOO OR IS THAT NOT YES, SO WE ACTUALLY HELP THEM TEST THEIR WATER.

OKAY.

YEAH.

EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE RIGHT NOW JUST CONSIDERED ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS.

SO USUALLY, UM, AS SOON AS WATER GETS TO THE SERVICE CONNECTION POINT, IT'S

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ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COMMISSIONER CORDERO.

THANK YOU.

THAT WAS AN EXCELLENT REPORT.

UM, IT, BECAUSE IT'S FOUND IN THE EARTH'S CRUST.

YES.

UM, AND SO IT'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT OUR DEPARTMENT AND SAY WE'RE NOT DOING OR WE'RE DOING.

UM, AND THEN YOU HAD THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT IN 1974 TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THIS.

YEAH.

SO 1974, BASICALLY THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT IS TO ESTABLISH THAT AUTHORITY FOR EPA TO SET STANDARDS FOR DRINKING WATER.

AND THEN THEY SET LIKE A PROCESS HOW DRINKING WATER STANDARDS SHOULD BE SET AND ARSENIC.

THE, UM, LATEST STANDARD WAS ACTUALLY SET IN 2005.

THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT REVISION.

SO INITIALLY STARTED, THE MCL IS 50 PARTS PER BILLION.

AND 2005 IT WAS DROPPED TO 10 PARTS PER BILLION.

SO, UM, WHEN YOU HAVE A HOME INSTALLATION OF AN REVERSE OSMOSIS LIKE I DO UNDER MY CROWN, YES.

DOES THAT TAKE CARE OF THAT OR DOES IT NOT? REVERSE OSMOSIS USUALLY DOES, IT DOES REMOVE MINERALS AND THE DIFFERENT, LIKE ARSENIC IS LIKE METAL TYPE OF, UH, IONS.

SO FOLLOWING ALONG IN THAT LINE, METROPOLITAN WERE TO INCENTIVIZE.

DO WE EVER DONE THAT? MET, YOU KNOW, WE DO TURF REPLACEMENT, WE DO WHAT IF WE INCENTIVIZE THIS SORT OF A THING WHERE PEOPLE COULD PURCHASE THAT AND PUT IT IN THEIR HOME.

I, I THINK ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, THE DISCUSSION HAS BEEN MANY TIMES FOR ISSUES OF AFFORDABILITY, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT COMES TO TRYING TO MEET DRINKING WATER STANDARDS AND YOU TAKE A DISTRIBUTED APPROACH AS OPPOSED TO A CENTRALIZED APPROACH.

AND AT FIRST GLANCE, THE IDEA OF A DISTRIBUTED APPROACH SOUNDS VERY GOOD.

UM, THERE'S BEEN CONCEPTS WHERE THEY WERE THINKING ABOUT FILTERS THAT WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO CONTROL FOR ARSENIC IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY WHERE ARSENIC IS, UH, A PROBLEM IN SOME OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY DEPOSITS.

THE ISSUE WITH A DISTRIBUTED NETWORK THEN IS THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MEETING THE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS IS RETAINED BY THE AGENCY.

AND SO IN THE DISTRIBUTED NETWORK THEN IT BECOMES HOW IS IT PROPERLY INSTALLED, HOW IS IT PROPERLY MAINTAINED, AND WHAT IS THE ASSURANCE THAT IT IS CONFIDENTLY IN PLACE EACH AND EVERY TIME TO MEET THAT WATER QUALITY STANDARD? THAT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT AND IT BECOMES VERY COSTLY.

SO IT'S NOT THE INITIAL COST, BUT THE CONTINUING COST BECAUSE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WATER QUALITY IS NOT ABSOLVED OF THE AGENCY.

IT DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFER TO THE HOMEOWNER.

RIGHT.

DO YOU YOU FOLLOW WHAT I'M SAYING? I DO.

SO IN CONCEPT, WE THINK ABOUT IT AS THESE DISTRIBUTED NETWORKS, BUT THEN THERE'S CONSEQUENCES FOR THAT IN TERMS OF ASSURING THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE GETTING THE VERY BEST QUALITY WATER.

AND AND PART OF THAT WOULD BE WITH, UM, OBVIOUSLY EDUCATION AND TEACHING PEOPLE.

I MEAN, HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE THE GREEN TRASH CANS OUTSIDE AND ARE STILL TRYING TO ADAPT TO LEARNING HOW TO USE THOSE? BUT IN THIS CASE IT WOULD APPEAR.

'CAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT.

'CAUSE I, I THINK ABOUT, OH, I NEED TO REPLACE THAT FILTER AND YOU FORGET AND YOU FORGET.

SO I DO UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT IF IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN ANYWHERE, CALIFORNIA WOULD BE THE PLACE WHERE IT WOULD, COULD HAPPEN.

MY FAMILY WAS DEALING WITH A FRIEND AND THEY HAD A, UH, PITCHER, DEVICE, I WON'T NAME THE NAME.

THEY HAD A PITCHER DEVICE AND IT HAD A FILTER AND IT CLEANED THE WATER AND THEY WERE COMPLAINING THAT, UH, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WATER HAD TURNED GREEN IN THE MATTER OF TWO DAYS.

AND THEY SAID, WELL, DID YOU EVER CHANGE THE FILTER? YEAH.

I SAID, NO, WHY WOULD I CHANGE THE FILTER? I SAID, WELL, 'CAUSE IT'S THE VERY NATURE OF WHY THAT PROTECTS YOU.

AND, AND I USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT, WELL IF IT'S AN UNDER THE SINK FILTER FOR ARSENIC AND STUFF LIKE THAT, YOU, YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN THIS.

IT DOESN'T JUST AUTOMATICALLY GUARANTEE YOU A CERTAIN QUALITY OF WATER.

YEAH.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

IT APPEARS THAT IGNORANCE IS BLISS.

'CAUSE I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I WOULD DRINK OUT OF THE HOSE OUTSIDE.

NEVER THINKING OF THE, BUT THERE ARE LIKE, AND YOU TURNED OUT FINE.

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

QUESTIONS STILL OUT? BUT YEAH, THANK YOU.

THAT WAS VERY, VERY NO THANK YOU.

REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

I, I BELIEVE WE'RE COMPLETE HERE.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

DO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE? MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE.

SECOND.

THANK YOU.

AND I HAVE A SECOND AS WELL.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.

THANK

[1. 25-56510 Recommendation to approve September 4, 2025 Board meeting minutes.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

NOW FOR OUR REGULAR AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER ONE IS TO APPROVE THE SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2025 BOARD MEETING MINUTES.

DO I HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT?

[00:20:01]

THANK YOU.

AND A SECOND RECEIVED.

THANK YOU.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY

[2. 25-56511 Recommendation to adopt Specifications UD-25-264 and award a contract to Los Angeles Truck Centers, LLC, dba Velocity Truck Centers, to furnish and deliver one compressed natural gas (CNG) 10-yard dump truck, in a total amount not to exceed $370,000, and authorize the General Manager to enter into the contract, including any necessary amendments.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NUMBER TWO IS TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS UD 25 DASH 2 64 AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO LOS ANGELES TRUCK CENTERS L-L-C-D-B-A VELOCITY TRUCK CENTERS TO FURNISH AND DELIVER ONE COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS CNG 10 YARD DUMP TRUCK.

AND WE HAVE MICHAEL HERBA WITH US.

HI MICHAEL.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS MICHAEL HERBA, MANAGER OF SEWER OPERATIONS.

I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PURCHASE OF ONE 10 YARD DUMP TRUCK.

THE 10 YARD DUMP TRUCK IS THE WORKHORSE OF OUR CONSTRUCTION CREW.

ITS PRIMARY FUNCTION IS TRANSPORTING EXCAVATED MATERIAL FROM THE JOB SITE TO OUR SERVICE YARD AND DELIVERING BACKFILL MATERIAL TO THE JOB SITE.

THE 10 YARD DUMP TRUCK ALSO SERVES TO TRANSPORT THE BACKHOE BETWEEN THE SERVICE YARD AND JOB SITES, AS WELL AS CARRYING LARGE PIPES, STEEL PLATES, AND VARIOUS TOOLS AND MATERIALS NEEDED FOR OPERATIONS.

OUR FLEET CURRENTLY CONSISTS OF TWO 10 YARD DUMP TRUCKS, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE REACHED THE END OF THEIR SERVICE LIFE.

WE RECOMMEND REPLACING ONE OF THESE TRUCKS AT THIS TIME, 45 POTENTIAL VENDORS WERE NOTIFIED OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO BID FIVE PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS DOWNLOADED THE BID DOCUMENT WITH ONE BID RECEIVED BY LOS ANGELES TRUCK CENTER'S LLC, DOING BUSINESS AS VELOCITY TRUCK CENTERS.

OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS UD 2 5 2 6 4 AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO LOS ANGELES TRUCK CENTERS LLC, DOING BUSINESS AS VELOCITY TRUCK CENTERS TO FURNISH AND DELIVER ONE COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS CNG 10 YARD DUMP TRUCK AND A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $370,000 AND AUTHORIZED THE GENERAL MANAGER TO ENTER INTO THE CONTRACT, INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY AMENDMENTS.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

OKAY, PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENT? SEEING NONE, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED.

SECOND.

THANK YOU.

AND I HAVE A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

[3. 25-56512 Recommendation to adopt Specifications WD-42-22 for the Water Main Improvements at Long Beach Airport South Project (MC-5209), award a contract to Lonerock, Inc., in a total contract amount not to exceed $3,385,750 for a period of one year, and authorize the General Manager to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

THANK YOU, MICHAEL.

THANK YOU.

ITEM NUMBER THREE IS TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS WD 42 DASH 22 FOR THE WATER MAIN

[4. 25-56513 Recommendation to adopt Request for Proposal to provide Construction Management and Inspection Services for the Water Main Improvements at Long Beach Airport South Project (MC-5209), award a contract to GHD Inc., in a total amount not to exceed $1,544,689 for a period of two years, and authorize the General Manager to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

AND ITEM NUMBER FOUR, TAKEN TOGETHER TODAY TO ADOPT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION SERVICES FOR THE WATER MAIN IMPROVEMENTS AT LONG BEACH AIRPORT, SOUTH PROJECT MC 52 0 9 AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO GHD INCORPORATED.

I CALL ON ELIZABETH LASKA, UH, FOR BOTH PRESENTATIONS.

ELIZABETH, WELCOME.

GOOD MORNING, PRESIDENT MCGUIRE.

MY NAME IS ELIZABETH.

CAN'T, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OKAY, ECHO.

OKAY, LEMME TRY AGAIN.

GOOD MORNING.

UH, PRESIDENT MCGUIRE AND COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS ELIZABETH KOSKA AND I'M WITH THE PIPELINE INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING GROUP.

UM, TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ONE OF MY PROJECTS WITH YOU, UH, AND OVER THE NEXT FEW BEAUTIFUL SLIDES I HAVE PREPARED FOR YOU.

I WILL SHARE THE BACKGROUND, THE OVERVIEW, AND THE LOCATION OF THE PROJECT.

OKAY, SO PROJECT BACKGROUND.

UM, WHY ARE WE HERE? WELL, I'M HERE BECAUSE IT'S MY PROJECT AND I WAS TOLD I HAVE TO PRESENT ON THIS.

UH, SO A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE PROJECT.

THIS IS PART OF OUR, UH, WATER DISTRIBUTION MASTER PLAN, WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2020.

UM, THE MASTER PLAN, UH, DID A THIRD REVIEW OF OUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS ON IMPROVEMENTS AND THAT, UH, AND, UH, THEN THAT WAS COMPILED INTO A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, EXCUSE ME, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON OVER THE PAST, UH, COUPLE OF YEARS.

UH, THE MASTER PLAN, UM, IDENTIFIED THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THROUGH, UH, DIFFERENT PROCESSES AND CAME UP WITH, UH, SOLUTIONS FOR ADDRESSING HYDRAULIC DEFICIENCIES,

[00:25:01]

CAN YOU GUYS HEAR HOW NERVOUS I AM THROUGH THIS MICROPHONE? BECAUSE I ACCIDENTALLY, AND THEN THERE WAS IDENTIFY LARGE DIAMETER PIPELINES TO CONSIDER FOR CONDITION ASSESSMENTS, UM, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN FUTURE WORK.

I MISSED ANYTHING.

UH, JUST TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON THE FIRST TWO, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE, UH, THIS PROJECT FOCUSES ON IS ADDRESSING HYDRAULIC DEFICIENCIES.

SO THAT WOULD BE EITHER, UM, ISSUES WITH VELOCITIES IN THE PIPELINES OR WITH, UM, MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRE FLOW DEMANDS.

OKAY, SO THE PROJECT OVERVIEW.

SO THE MC 5 2 0 9 PROJECT IS ACTUALLY COMPRISED OF TWO PROJECTS, UH, PROJECT 2D AND PROJECT POF FOUR.

UH, BOTH OF THESE WILL BE SHOWN TO YOU ON THE NEXT SLIDE SO YOU CAN SEE A BETTER LOCATION.

'CAUSE FROM THE DESCRIPTION, I HARDLY DIVE, YOU KNOW, WHERE FIRE HYDRANT, UH, W 2 0 0 4 IS.

UM, SO PROJECT TWO 2D IS ACTUALLY TO ADDRESS HYDRAULIC DEFICIENCIES, WHICH I MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.

AND PROJECT, UH, POF FOUR IS TO ADDRESS THE, THE NUMBER TWO IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, WHICH IS THE HIGH PROBABILITY OF FAILURE.

OKAY, PROJECT LOCATION.

SO THIS, UH, THIS PROJECT IS A LITTLE BIT, UH, DIFFERENT THAN OUR TYPICAL PROJECTS FOR WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT, UM, BECAUSE PARTS OF IT ARE WITHIN THE AIRPORT ITSELF.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS DIAGRAM, WHERE IS, IS THERE A POINTER ON THIS? AH, THERE WE GO.

OKAY.

SO, UH, THE PROJECT IS LOCATED ALONG, UH, UH, SPRING STREET AND REDONDO AVENUE, WHICH IS CLOSE TO OUR TREATMENT PLANT.

THE BLUE HERE, UH, THAT'S OUR EXISTING DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

AND THE RED IS WHAT'S BEING, UM, IS GOING TO BE, UH, CONSTRUCTED AS PART OF THIS PROJECT.

UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, SOME OF THE RED IS WITHIN THE RESTRICTED AREAS OF THE AIRPORT.

UM, SO THIS REQUIRES, THIS REQUIRED A LOT OF COORDINATION WITH AIRPORT, UM, WHICH HAS, WHICH HAS GONE VERY WELL.

AND IT REQUIRES ALSO DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS FOR, FOR INTERNALLY FOR OUR CONTRACTOR AND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FIRM.

UM, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THEY WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW DIFFERENT PROCESSES THAN THEY'RE USED TO WHEN THEY'RE WORKING IN THE RIGHT OF WAY IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

SO THEY WILL HAVE TO, UM, GET A OA BADGES.

THERE ARE DESIGNATED HAUL ROADS THAT THE, UH, CONTRACTOR WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW WHEN THEY ARE WITHIN THE AIRPORT.

THERE IS A DESIGNATED, UM, STAGING AREA THAT WILL HAVE TO BE UTILIZED.

UH, THIS RIGHT HERE IS A, IS A TEMPORARY HALL ROAD THAT WILL HAVE TO BE CONSTRUCTED FOR AIRPORT BECAUSE SOME OF THE MAIN REPLACEMENT IS TAKING PLACE WITHIN THEIR EXISTING SERVICE ROADS.

SO WE HAVE TO CONSTRUCT A TEMPORARY SERVICE ROAD FOR AIRPORT OPERATIONS.

THE OTHER INTERESTING IS THAT WE HAVE WORK THAT WILL BE DONE AROUND THE FAA CONTROL TOWERS.

SO WE DID HAVE TO SUBMIT, UH, APPLICATION WITH THE FAA AND OBTAIN THEIR APPROVAL.

AND THERE HAS BEEN, UH, NUMEROUS, UM, COORDINATION WITH THIS OTHER STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED, SUCH AS APLS AND THE OTHER AT ATTENDANTS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY, UH, BY THIS WORK.

WHAT ELSE? UH, SO MAJORITY OF THE WORK WILL TAKE PLACE DURING THE NIGHT.

UH, CONSIDERING THE LOCATION OF THE MAIN REPLACEMENT, UH, THE PROJECT 2D, THE ERROR MOVED ITSELF.

SO , THE PROJECT 2D IS SUPPOSED TO BE, UH, THIS ONE HERE.

UH, THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A NEW MAIN THAT WILL BE CONSTRUCTION.

AND THIS IS FOR THE HYDRAULIC DEFICIENCIES, UH, TO MEET FIRE FLOW DEMANDS.

SO THAT IS A NEW MAIN THAT WILL BE, UH, ADDED TO OUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

THE PF FOUR IS FOR UPSIZING AND REPLACING, UM, THESE SMALLER DIAMETER PIPELINES THAT HAVE A HIGH, UM, HIGHER PROBABILITY OF FAILURE THAN OUR OTHER PIPELINES.

UM, POF FOUR MEANS IT'S PRETTY HIGH UP THERE, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S 1, 2, 3, 4, AND IT GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO I BELIEVE, A 28 OR 30.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THE, THE HIGHER, UM, PROBABILITIES OF FAILURE.

UH, SO ALSO, WHAT ELSE? UM, OH, THE LAST THING.

SO THE, UM, THERE ARE TWO CROSSINGS THAT WILL BE ACROSS, UH, SPRING STREET RIGHT HERE.

POINTER WORKS PRETTY WELL AND RIGHT HERE.

UH, SO WE DO HAVE APPROACH APPROVED TRAFFIC CONTROL PLANTS FOR THESE.

UM, THE, IF WE'RE ALL VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND, UM, OIL AND GAS HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF US.

SO, UH, CROSSING SPRING STREET IS GOING TO BE QUITE A CHALLENGE.

UH, THERE ARE NUMEROUS OIL AND GAS LINES, SO WE DO HAVE, UH, REQUIREMENTS PUT INTO THE CONTRACT FOR THE CONTRACTOR ON HOW TO NAVIGATE AROUND THESE.

SO, UM, THESE WILL BE CHALLENGING.

THIS WILL

[00:30:01]

UH, THE ONLY AREA THAT WILL BE WHAT'S APPROVED FOR DAYTIME WORK IS THIS AREA HERE, UM, WHICH WON'T HAVE MUCH IMPACT ON THE STAKEHOLDERS OR AIRPORT OPERATIONS.

THAT'S WHY IT WAS ALLOWED TO DO FOR DAYTIME WORK.

UM, WELL, LIKE I SAID, AND THEN, UH, SOME OF THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS IS THAT THERE WE WILL HAVE, UM, FULL, FULL-TIME SECURITY DURING THE TIME THE CON CONTRACTOR IS, IS ON SITE.

UM, AND ALSO THERE ARE, UM, IN THE PLANS, THERE ARE DESIGNATED AREAS WHERE FLAGGERS WILL HAVE TO STAND AND TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AND TO DIRECT THE CONTRACTOR FOR HIS, UM, HIS WORK.

OKAY, BEAUTIFUL.

I'M ALMOST DONE.

SO THE RECOMMENDATIONS ITEM THREE DUB SPECIFICATIONS, WD 42 22, UM, TWO LOAN ROCK, AND THE CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THREE POINT 385 7 FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR.

AND THEN ALSO ITEM FOUR IS TO ADOPT A, UH, REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION SERVICES, UH, TWO GHD AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF 1.5, ET CETERA FOR TWO YEARS.

THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

UM, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT PLEASE SAY YES SO I CAN SIT DOWN .

OKAY, THANK YOU.

THANKS, ELIZABETH.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT?

[5. 25-56514 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute an agreement and any subsequent necessary amendments with the Long Beach Community College District (LBCCD) to provide funding in an amount not to exceed $320,000 to cover training, wages, and benefits of Long Beach Public Utilities Department employees participating in the Water Utility Academy for a period until March 1, 2026.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

MOTION TO APPROVE.

GOOD.

I, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION.

WHEN, WHEN WOULD THIS BEGIN? I KNOW THE CONTRACT IS JUST BEING DONE, BUT YEAH, SO WE ARE TIMEFRAME LOOKING AT, UH, NOVEMBER, MID-NOVEMBER.

YEAH.

OKAY.

THAT, THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING.

I KNOW IT'S NOT THE IDEAL TIME 'CAUSE OF ALL THE HOLIDAYS, THAT'S JUST LIKE SPRING STREET AT NIGHT IN THE NONO, RIGHT? EXACTLY.

FOR A LITTLE BIT .

SO HOPEFULLY MID-NOVEMBER, EARLY DECEMBER.

OKAY, GREAT.

IT'LL BE, I THINK IT'LL BE, SO I HAVE A MOTION.

SECOND, SECOND AND A SECOND ARE RECEIVED.

THANK YOU BOTH.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, ELIZABETH.

VERY GOOD, ELIZABETH.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE, TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT IN ANY SUBSEQUENT NECESSARY AMENDMENTS WITH THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, L-B-C-C-D-I CALL IN JENNIFER ROJAS.

HI JENNIFER.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

I WILL PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE UTILITIES ACADEMY PROGRAM AS WELL AS DESCRIBE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS ON BUILDING THE WORKFORCE HERE AT LONG BEACH UTILITIES.

SO THE GOAL OF THE UTILITIES ACADEMY IS TO CREATE A HIGHLY TRAINED COHORT OF WATER UTILITY WORKERS THAT WOULD QUALIFY FOR PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT WITH LONG BEACH UTILITIES.

AS VACANCIES ARISE, THE DEPARTMENT HAS A LONG HISTORY OF RUNNING SUCCESSFUL IN-HOUSE ACADEMIES FOR THIS PURPOSE.

SINCE 2016, WE HAVE RUN SIX IN-HOUSE ACADEMIES TRAINED OVER 80 PEOPLE, HALF OF WHICH ARE STILL EMPLOYED WITH US TODAY.

THE ACADEMY CURRICULUM CONSISTS OF TWO COMPONENTS, A CLASSROOM COMPONENT AND A PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE COMPONENT.

DURING CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, WE PROVIDE SAFETY CLASSES, WHICH WILL HELP PREPARE THE TRAINEES TO SAFELY PERFORM THEIR DUTIES IN THE FIELD.

IT ALSO INCLUDES PREPARATION FOR THEIR CERTIFICATION EXAMS. CERTIFICATIONS ARE INDUSTRY SPECIFIC STANDARDS THAT WILL HELP THE TRAINEE TO ADVANCE IN THEIR CAREER AS THEY PROGRESS.

FOR THE SECOND COMPONENT, WHICH IS THE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE PART, WE PROVIDE HANDS-ON TRAINING IN A CONTROLLED SETTING UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF EXPERIENCED EMPLOYEES TO HELP TRAINEES KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE DUTIES THEY WILL PERFORM WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN THE REAL WORLD FIELD SETTING.

THIS IS ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF SOMEONE THAT COMES OUT OF, DIRECTLY OUT OF THE ACADEMY HAS OVER SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T HAVE THAT ACADEMY EXPERIENCE.

SO THIS AGENDA ITEM PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS ON A JOINT EFFORT TO BUILD AND TO, UH, WORK TOWARDS, UH, RELIEVING THE NEED FOR HIGHLY SKILLED WORKERS IN THE WATER AND WASTEWATER SECTORS.

THIS PARTNERSHIP OFFERS, UH, SHARED OBJECTIVES INCLUDING TRAINING ON UTILITIES, OPERATIONS, PREPARATION FOR THEIR, UH, CERTIFICATION EXAMS, COMPLIANCE WITH SAFETY PROTOCOLS, AND PROMOTING CAREERS IN THE WA WATER AND

[00:35:01]

SO, CALIFORNIA, EXCUSE ME, THE, UH, LONG BEACH.

THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS HAS RECEIVED FUNDING THROUGH TWO MAJOR GRANT PROGRAMS, ONE OF WHICH IS THE CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL UTILITIES ASSOCIATION HIGH ROAD TRAINING PARTNERSHIP.

THE SECOND GRANT IS THROUGH THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S CLIMATE READY WORKFORCE INITIATIVE.

THE, UH, COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS WORKING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TOWARDS THESE INITIATIVES.

SO THIS ITEM PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LONG BEACH UTILITIES TO ALSO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THAT FUNDING TO BI.

UM, IN ORDER TO FUND A PORTION OF ITS UTILITIES ACADEMY, THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT WOULD INVOLVE THE FOLLOWING HIGHLIGHTS.

THE LONG BEACH UTILITIES DEPARTMENT WILL HIRE 25 NON-CAREER WATER PROFESSIONALS INTO ITS NINE MONTH UTILITIES ACADEMY.

THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS WILL COVER THE COST OF THE INITIAL TWO MONTHS OF TRAINING, WHICH INCLUDES WAGES AND BENEFITS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $320,000.

SO DURING THOSE TWO MONTHS, THEY'LL PROVIDE THAT, THAT SAFETY TRAINING AND THE PREPARATION FOR THE CERTIFICATION EXAMS. AFTER THE TWO MONTHS IS COMPLETED, THE TRAINEES WILL COMPLETE, I, EXCUSE ME, WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE, UH, THE WITH LONG BEACH UTILITIES IN THE STANDARD ACADEMY PROGRAM.

SO THAT INCLUDES US PROVIDING THE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, AS WELL AS ANY SUPPLEMENTAL SAFETY COURSES AND COMMERCIAL DRIVERS TRAINING.

THE COST OF THE SEVEN MONTH PORTION OF THE ACADEMY IS, UM, WILL BE UP TO $1,280,000.

SO THEREFORE, THE, THIS PARTNERSHIP OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT $320,000 THAT IT WOULD NORMALLY SPEND IF WE WERE TO RUN THIS ACADEMY ENTIRELY ON OUR OWN.

THEREFORE, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT AND ANY SUBSEQUENT NECESSARY AMENDMENTS WITH THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT TO PROVIDE FUNDING IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $320,000 TO COVER TRAINING WAGES AND BENEFITS OF LONG BEACH PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATING IN THE WATER UTILITY ACADEMY FOR A PERIOD UNTIL MARCH 1ST, 2026.

THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, JENNIFER.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND THE WHOLE TEAM THAT WAS INVOLVED.

I'M SURE PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, IT'S, IT'S A GREAT PARTNERSHIP.

UM, DO I HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? COMMISSIONER COMMENT? JENNIFER, THANK YOU.

I I JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THE APPLICANTS ARE SELECTED AND WHEN THIS PROGRAM WILL START AND HOW DO WE ADVERTISE THIS? BECAUSE I THINK, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A GREAT, GREAT THING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SURE.

SO WE RUN, UM, A RECRUITMENT JUST AS WE DO WITH ANY CIVIL SERVICE RECRUITMENT.

IT IS FOR THE CLASSIFICATION OF WATER UTILITY WORKER NON-CAREER.

HOW THIS DIFFERS FROM OUR NORMAL, UH, RECRUITMENT FOR A PERMANENT POSITION, SUCH AS THE WATER UTILITY MECHANIC, IS THAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE MUCH LESS.

SO IT GIVES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE THAT MAYBE DON'T HAVE PAST EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY TO GET THEIR FOOT IN THE DOOR AND TO START ON A PATHWAY TOWARDS A CAREER, TOWARDS, UM, IN, IN WATER OR WASTEWATER.

SO WHAT WE DO IS WE, WE, FOR WE, WE HAVE IT ON OUR WEBSITE, ON THE CIVIL SERVICE WEBSITE, UM, FOR A TWO WEEK PERIOD, WE GET A LOT OF APPLICATIONS AND THE HIRING MANAGERS OF WHICH THERE ARE FOUR, FROM THE FOUR DIVISIONS THAT, UM, HAVE THIS CLASSIFICATION.

AND WE GO THROUGH ALL THE APPLICATIONS.

WE INTERVIEW, UM, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN ORDER TO GET TO GET THAT 25, UH, NUMBER.

AND, UM, WE JUST, WE, WE WE'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE GOOD, UM, COMMUNICATION SKILLS THAT OUR TEAM PLAYERS THAT ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATED TO LEARN.

WE REALLY WANT THAT RAW TALENT THAT WE CAN MOLD AND SHAPE AND, UM, AND, AND WE, WE'VE BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL IN THE PAST WITH, UH, WITH, WITH THIS PROGRAM.

AND SO WHEN, WHEN WOULD YOU ANTICIPATE, DOES THE PROGRAM START AND IS, IS IT, IS I READING RIGHT, 10 MONTHS OR SEVEN MONTHS? YES.

SO IT'S A, IT'S A NINE MONTH TOTAL PROGRAM.

WE, AND, UM, WOULD LIKE TO START IN ON OCTOBER 20TH.

THAT COINCIDES WITH, UH, LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT'S TERM FOR THE FALL.

SO, UM, IF THIS IS APPROVED, WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND GO FORWARD WITH STARTING ON OCTOBER 20TH.

AND, UM, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE THE INITIAL TWO MONTHS OF INSTRUCTION THROUGH LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

AND THEN IT WOULD CONTINUE FOR SEVEN ADDITIONAL MONTHS, UH, WITH US HERE AT LONG BEACH UTILITIES.

LAST

[00:40:01]

ARE THE FIRST TWO MONTHS AT THE LONG BEACH, UH, CONDUCTED THE, THE APPLICANTS WILL BE AT THE SCHOOL AND THEN THE FOLLOW LAST SEVEN MONTHS HERE AT THE DEPARTMENT? YES, BUT IT IS NOT ENTIRELY.

SO THE FIRST TWO MONTHS WE WILL ALSO BE INVOLVED.

SO EVEN THOUGH THE COURSES WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE, UH, COLLEGE, UH, WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE FROM, FROM LONG BEACH UTILITIES IN BEING IN, IN THE CLASSROOM, INTERACTING WITH THE STUDENTS, ENGAGING WITH THE STUDENTS.

THERE'LL BE PORTIONS OF THE WEEK WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE WILL, WE'LL GIVE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GO OVER THEIR TIMECARDS.

THEY'RE THE WHOLE TIME THEY'RE EMPLOYEES OF LONG BEACH UTILITIES, SO THEY ARE GONNA KNOW THAT WE ARE, THAT THEY WORK FOR US.

UM, BUT THAT IT'S KIND OF LIKE WE DO WHEN WE DO IT IN-HOUSE.

WE DO THE SAME THING, UM, EXCEPT THAT THE CLASSES ARE LED BY OUR, OUR SAFETY INSTRUCTOR AND, UM, AND WE'RE JUST, WE'RE CHECKING IN WITH THEM AT LEAST ONCE A DAY THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WEEK AND, UM, INTERACTING WITH THEM, UM, JUST AS NORMAL EMPLOYEES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

GREAT JOB.

OF COURSE.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER CORDERO.

THANK YOU.

THAT WAS EXCELLENT.

GOOD QUESTIONS TOO.

UM, DO WE TRY AND RECRUIT LONG BEACH RESIDENTS? YES, WE DO.

WE'RE, WE AIM FOR, UM, AT LEAST A 50%, UH, LOCAL PREFERENCE.

UM, BUT, UH, WE OFTEN GET EVEN HIGHER 'CAUSE UH, WE FIND THAT LOCAL, UH, PEOPLE THAT'S COME FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, THEY HAVE MORE INVESTMENT IN THEIR OWN CITY.

AND ALSO IT'S, UH, PRACTICALLY IT, IT'S MORE CONVENIENT WITH STANDBY DUTY, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO.

GREAT, GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

NOW, DO WE GIVE THEM ANY SORT OF, UM, INFORMATION EDUCATION ON THE CITY OF LONG BEACH UTIL NOT JUST UTILITIES, BUT THE CITY AND, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE, WE, WE DO THAT DURING OUR ORIENTATION DAY.

THE FIRST DAY IS USUALLY FULL ORIENTATION AND WE DO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY, UM, THE, THE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AND JUST GIVE THEM AN OVERALL VIEW, UM, OVERVIEW OF THE, UH, BEING A PART OF, OF THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT AS, AS A PART OF THE CITY.

GREAT.

GREAT WORK.

AND THEN I UNDERSTAND, I WAS TOLD THAT SOMEONE AT METROPOLITAN HAD MENTIONED THAT THEY ARE WORKING OR GOING TO BE WORKING WITH LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

DOES THIS INTERACT WITH THIS AT ALL, OR IS THAT SEPARATE? SO, UM, THAT WOULD BE SEPARATE, BUT THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS, SINCE IT, THEY RECEIVED THAT, THOSE TWO GRANTS, THEY ARE WORKING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION TO, UM, TO DEVELOP THESE INITIATIVES IN A SIMILAR MANNER.

YES.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

VERY MUCH, JENNIFER.

GOOD WORK.

GREAT QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? OH, SORRY, ME A**L? YEAH, NO, THE, THE PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE'RE GONNA TRY TO, I'M GONNA TRY TO CONTINUE TO MAKE AN EFFORT IN THIS ASPECT OF PRESENTATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE VALUE THAT THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS TOP OF MIND ACROSS THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY.

YOU WERE MENTIONING METROPOLITAN'S EFFORTS AS WELL.

AND SO WE HAVE DONE THIS ROUTINELY, BUT EACH YEAR THAT GOES BY, WE GET MORE AND MORE ENGAGED AND MORE SOPHISTICATED IN THE APPROACH.

AND NOW PARTNERING WITH LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE IS ANOTHER ELEMENT OF DELIVERING VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

AND IN THE END, WHEN IT COMES TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, IT IS AN ENTRY LEVEL OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE, IN ESSENCE, ARE PROVIDING THE TRAINING FOR YOU.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME TRAINED.

AND SO THAT REPRESENTS A CERTAIN ELEMENT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THAT IT'S OVER AND ABOVE, UH, WHAT OTHER ELEMENTS OF, OF THE UTILITY INDUSTRY DO.

AND I KNOW, I DO KNOW METROPOLITAN IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THAT AS WELL.

SO IT'S, IT'S CRITICAL FOR US IN TERMS OF HOW WE GAIN WORKERS FOR US.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I BELIEVE THAT IT'S AN IMPORTANT VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE GONNA MAKE MORE AN EFFORT TO COMMUNICATE IN THE FUTURE.

I I JUST WANNA SECOND THAT BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT $1.2 MILLION, THAT'S QUITE, IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, BUT, AND IT, AND IT SERVES OUR NEEDS AT THIS DEPARTMENT.

WELL, BUT IT DOES SO MUCH MORE IN THIS COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF, UH, GIVING PEOPLE OPTIONS.

I REMEMBER, I, I, ONE OF YOUR SPEAKERS BUREAUS WE WERE AT, AND ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES, YOUNG MAN, I DON'T REMEMBER HIS NAME AT THIS POINT, BUT SAID TO ME, I ASKED HIM HOW LONG HE'D BEEN HERE, AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, AND HE TOLD ME HOW LONG, AND HE SAID, AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS I WAS ABLE TO BUY A HOME.

AND HE SAID, AND I'M ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR A SECOND HOME RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT JUST WARMED MY HEART BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I THINK WE'RE HERE TO DO, IS NOT JUST PROVIDE A JOB, BUT PROVIDE SOMETHING FOR A LIFETIME.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK.

I HAVE JUST ONE MORE QUESTION, JENNIFER.

UM, IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP FOR THE PROJECT, DID CITY COLLEGE COME TO US OR DID WE GO TO THEM FIRST? SO, UM, ALSO A PART OF THE GRANTS THAT THEY RECEIVED, THEY, UM, ARE PART OF IT IS TO, TO FORM AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

THEY INVITED US TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I THINK AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.

SO WE HAVE HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM ON THIS TOPIC

[00:45:01]

SO WHEN IT, UM, WHEN WE STARTED WORKING ON THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT, WE KIND OF EXCHANGED IDEAS AND I TOLD THEM ABOUT OUR ACADEMY PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL, AND IF THERE WAS SOME WAY THAT WE COULD, UM, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE, UM, THE INITIATIVES THROUGH THE GRANTS AND APPLY IT TO THE ACADEMY PROGRAM.

SO THAT'S HOW WE, OVER MANY MONTHS, WE KIND OF DEVELOPED THIS, UM, THIS PARTNERSHIP.

SO

[6. 25-56515 Recommendation to Approve the Long Beach Public Utilities Department’s (LBPUD) 2025–2031 Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP), and authorize the General Manager to implement the SSMP to meet current state regulatory requirements.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

THAT'S GREAT.

OKAY.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SECOND.

A SECOND FROM MY, MY TEAM, MY TRUSTEE.

TEAM .

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NO, THE MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

ITEM NUMBER SIX, TO APPROVE THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENTS, L-B-P-U-D 2025 THROUGH 2031 SEWER SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLAN, SSMP, AND AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT THE SSMP TO MEET CURRENT STATE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.

AND MICHAEL, WE HAVE YOU BACK MORNING COMMISSIONERS AGAIN.

MICHAEL HERBA, MANAGER OF SEWER OPERATIONS.

I'M PLEASED TO BE BACK BEFORE YOU TODAY, JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER OUR LAST MEETING WHERE WE DISCUSSED THE FINDINGS OF OUR INTERNAL AUDIT.

AS PROMISED, WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT THE CULMINATION OF THAT WORK, THE UPDATED 2025 SEWER SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLAN.

AND I'M EXCITED TO SHARE ITS KEY CHANGES WITH YOU TODAY.

THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD GENERAL ORDER REGULATES SANITARY SEWER SYSTEMS IN CALIFORNIA.

THIS GENERAL ORDER ESTABLISHES THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT WE MUST FOLLOW.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION THE STATE RECENTLY ISSUED A REVISED GENERAL ORDER FOR SEWER SYSTEMS, WHICH INCLUDES UPDATED REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS VERSION, OUR EXISTING SSMP WAS DEVELOPED UNDER THE ORIGINAL GENERAL ORDER.

SO THERE ARE AREAS WHERE OUR PLAN NO LONGER FULLY ALIGNS WITH THE CURRENT EXPECTATIONS.

I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TEAM THAT HELPED US WITH THIS CRITICAL PROJECT.

AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO BE AN EFFECTIVE AND UP-TO-DATE PLAN, LONG BEACH UTILITIES WENT THROUGH A COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS TO SELECT A PARTNER FOR THE SSMP UPDATE.

FOLLOWING A THOROUGH REVIEW, WE CONTRACTED WITH WATERWORKS ENGINEERS.

THE WATERWORKS ENGINEERS TEAM IN LEWIS IS WITH US HERE TODAY, AND WE WILL BOTH BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AFTER THE PRESENTATION.

THE CALIFORNIA STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD ADOPTED THE REVISED GENERAL ORDER ON DECEMBER 6TH, 2022, WHICH BECAME EFFECTIVE ON JUNE 5TH, 2023.

THIS UPDATED ORDER INTRODUCED SEVERAL CHANGES, NOTABLY TRANSITIONING THE SSMP UPDATE CYCLE FROM EVERY FIVE YEARS TO SIX YEARS.

THE SELF-AUDIT FROM TWO YEARS TO NOW THREE YEARS, AND AN UPLOAD OF OUR DIGITAL SERVICE AREA BOUNDARY MAP.