Oct 16, 2025 Utilities Commission

[00:00:16]

GOOD MORNING.

[CALL TO ORDER]

, SORRY.

UH, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16TH.

WELCOME TO THE BOARD OF UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING.

UH, IF I, UH, CALLING IN THE MEETING TO ORDER, AND IF I COULD GET LETICIA MILA TO

[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE REPUBLIC.

THANK YOU.

AND CALLING ON DINA FOR

[ROLL CALL]

PRESIDENT SCOTT PRESENT, VICE PRESIDENT CORDERO IS ABSENT TODAY.

SECRETARY PARKIN.

COMMISSIONER MCGUIRE HERE.

COMMISSIONER AUSTIN.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WE HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU.

AND FOR THE RECORD, VICE PRESIDENT CORDERO'S EXCUSED FROM OUR OCTOBER 16TH MEETING.

UH, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS FROM THE BOARD? AND FURTHERMORE, UH, JUST DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE AGENDA, YOU'LL NOTE THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER RAINEY IS STILL LISTED.

UH, THAT IS BECAUSE THE AGENDA WAS POSTED PRIOR TO, UH, OUR NEWEST COMMISSIONER BEING SEATED.

WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME AL AUSTIN AS OUR NEWEST COMMISSIONER.

WELCOME, SIR.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS, FEEL FREE.

UH, VERY SHORT.

UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, THE WELL WARM WELCOME.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND, UH, A FEW MEETINGS, UH, TO, UH, KIND OF GET ACCLIMATED TO HOW THIS UTILITIES COMMISSIONED, THIS BODY OPERATES.

AND, UH, I SAID I'M HAPPY TO, TO BE HERE.

UH, THIS IS AN OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT WORK THAT, UH, COMMISSION DOES, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE, THE, THE EMPLOYEES, UM, DELIVERY OF SERVICE IS, IS CRITICAL FOR, FOR EVERYBODY IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

UH, SCOPE IS, IS, UH, AWESOME AND, UH, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO ROLLING MY SLEEVES UP, LEARNING A LOT, UM, OF ISSUES THAT ON AN ISSUE THAT I'M, I, I, I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ON THE CITY COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS I GET TO NOW SPECIALIZE, UM, AND WORK WITH THIS GREAT BODY AND WITH THIS GREAT TEAM, UH, HERE AT Y LONG BEACH UTILITIES.

AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL.

THANK YOU.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, SO MOVING ON WITH THE, UH, THE AGENDA.

WE'RE

[3. 25-56725 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute any and all documents necessary to amend Lease No. WDL-79 with Los Angeles SMSA Limited Partnership, dba Verizon Wireless, for the cellular communications tower and associated infrastructure located within the 32nd Street Booster Pump Station site, to extend the lease term through October 31, 2029, with five consecutive automatic five-year extensions; to increase the monthly rent to $5,003.06, subject to a two percent annual increase; and to accept a one-time signing bonus of $10,000 to be paid by the lessee.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

UH, AND WITH THAT, UH, ONTO

[1. 25-56721 Recommendation to approve October 9, 2025 Board meeting minutes.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

ITEM NUMBER ONE, APPROVE THE OCTOBER 9TH BOARD MEETING MINUTES.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECOND.

YOU COMMISSIONERS.

UM, SO, UM, WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND.

UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? RIGHT.

THAT MOTION PASSES.

UH OH, I'M SORRY.

I FORGOT TO ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PREVIOUS MINUTES AND IS THERE ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? OKAY, THANK YOU.

SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, WE ALREADY DID THAT.

THE AYES HAVE IT.

[00:05:02]

[2. 25-56722 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to reallocate $1,020,000 in Assembly Bill 32 Cap-and-Trade Program (AB 32) funds from prior year allocations to the Long Beach Police Department North Division HVAC Upgrade and Roof Repair Project for FY 26.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

IN LINE WITH OUR, UH, NEWEST, UH, PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES.

IN ORDER TO HEAR OUR PRESENTATION, MAY I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION? SECOND COMMISSIONER MCGUIRE.

UH, SO THEREFORE I CALL ON TONY FOSTER FOR THE PRESENTATION.

ALRIGHT, GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

THIS PRESENTATION PROVIDES BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT RELATED TO STAFF'S REQUEST REALLOCATION OF AB 32 CAP AND TRADE PROGRAM FUNDS.

TODAY'S ITEM REQUESTS THE BOARD'S AUTHORIZATION TO REALLOCATE 1.02 MILLION IN EXISTING CITY AB 32 CAP AND TRADE FUNDS.

THIS REALLOCATION HAS NO NEW FISCAL IMPACT AND SUPPORTS AN URGENT PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECT, THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT'S, NORTH DIVISION, HVAC AND ROOF REPLACEMENT.

THESE ARE EXISTING PROGRAMMATIC FUNDS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED UNDER CITY ALLOCATIONS, NOW BEING REDIRECTED TO A SHOVEL READY ENERGY EFFICIENT PROJECT CONSISTENT WITH OUR AB 32 AND CLIMATE ACTION GOALS.

THIS PROJECT IS DIRECTLY ALIGNED WITH AB 30 TWO'S CORE INTENT, REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS THROUGH REINVESTMENT IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY BY UPGRADING AN AGING HVAC SYSTEM AND INSTALLING AN INSULATED REFLECTIVE ROOF.

WE'VE CUT, WE'RE CUTTING ENERGY CONSUMPTION, IMPROVING BUILDING PERFORMANCE, AND ADVANCING THE GOALS OF THE LONG BEACH CLIMATE ACTION AND SUSTAINABILITY PLAN.

THE CITY AND UTILITIES AB 32 WORK GROUP BRINGS TOGETHER MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING UTILITIES, PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND RECREATION, AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO EVALUATE PROJECTS BASED ON READINESS, EMISSION REDUCTIONS, POTENTIAL AND COST EFFECTIVENESS PROJECTS THAT MEET THESE CRITERIA MOVE FORWARD FOR BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL, ENSURING STRONG ALIGNMENT BETWEEN OUR MUNICIPAL SUSTAINABILITY AND FISCAL PRIORITIES.

THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT AND CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE JOINTLY MANAGE AB 32 PROGRAM FUNDS UNDER THIS FRAMEWORK.

PREVIOUSLY, UH, ALLOCATED FUNDS FOR CITY PROJECTS MUST STAY WITHIN CITY PROJECTS, AND THE SAME FOR UTILITY PROJECTS.

THIS REALLOCATION FOLLOWS THAT STRUCTURE, DIRECTING PRIOR YEAR CITY FUNDS, UH, TOWARD THE NORTH, UH, PD, HVAC, AND ROOF PROJECT, QUALIFIED ENERGY EFFICIENCY INITIATIVE READY FOR IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION.

THIS REALLOCATION MAXIMIZES THE VALUE OF EXISTING AB 32 FUNDS.

SEVERAL EARLIER CITY ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED UNDER BUDGET, LEAVING RESIDUAL FUNDS AVAILABLE OR WERE NEVER CONSTRUCTED.

MEANWHILE, PUBLIC WORKS IDENTIFIED AN URGENT NEED AT THE NORTH DIVISION FACILITY, AN AGING HVAC AND FAILING ROOF JEOPARDIZING BUILDING INTEGRITY.

THIS PROPOSAL ENSURES THOSE EXISTING FUNDS ARE PUT INTO IMMEDIATE HIGH VALUE USE.

SO NOW I'LL INTRODUCE MR. JONATHAN BOLEN, A BUSINESS MANAGER FOR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, WHO WILL DESCRIBE THE AVAILABILITY OF CITY FUNDS AND THE PROPOSED NORTH PROJECT IN GREATER DETAIL.

THANK YOU, TONY.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

I'M JONATHAN BOLEN, BUSINESS OPERATIONS BUREAU MANAGER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.

SO THE DEPARTMENT HAS IDENTIFIED A MILLION $20,000 IN EXISTING EB 32 FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR REALLOCATION TO THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT, NORTH DIVISION HVAC AND ROOF REPLACEMENT PROJECT BEING MANAGED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

THESE DOLLARS ARE NOT NEW APPROPRIATIONS.

THEY COME FROM PAST YEAR APPROPRIATED FUNDS, WHICH ARE REMAINING FROM COMPLETED OR CLOSED OUT PROJECTS FROM PRIOR FISCAL YEARS, SPECIFICALLY FISCAL YEAR 19, 20, 21, AND 23.

THIS REALLOCATION ALLOWS THE CITY TO MAXIMIZE RESOURCES WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL FISCAL IMPACT.

AND THIS ALLOCATION FULLY FUNDS THE PROJECT'S TOTAL $3.5 MILLION PROJECTED COST.

THE EXISTING HVAC SYSTEM AT THE NORTH

[00:10:01]

THE CURRENT HVAC SYSTEM REQUIRES NEARLY CONTINUOUS MAINTENANCE CALLS TO REMAIN OPERATIONAL, AND IS SIG SIGNIFICANTLY ENERGY INEFFICIENT BY TODAY'S STANDARDS.

THE ROOF SYSTEM ALSO IS SHOWING SIGNS OF FAILURE, WHICH JEOPARDIZES BOTH THE BUILDING INTEGRITY AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THE HVAC EQUIPMENT ON TOP OF IT.

THIS FACILITY SUPPORTS CRITICAL PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATIONS, AND BY COMPLETING THE REPLACEMENT NOW BEFORE COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILURE, THE CITY CAN AVOID COSTLY EMERGENCY REPAIRS AND ENSURE CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S NORTH DIVISION.

THIS PROJECT WILL INSTALL A NEW ENERGY EFFICIENCY, UH, SORRY, NEW ENERGY EFFICIENT EIGHT TRACK SYSTEM DESIGNED TO REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND IMPROVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY FOR THE CITY STAFF AND THE PUBLIC.

A NEW INSULATED HEAT REFLECTIVE ROOF LINING WILL FURTHER REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY LOWERING HEAT ABSORPTION AND ENHANCING THERMAL PERFORMANCE.

TOGETHER, THESE IMPROVEMENTS ADVANCE THE CITY'S CLIMATE ACTION AND SUSTAINABILITY PLAN AND THE STATE'S AB 32 GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION GOALS.

THE ESTIMATED LIFESPAN OF BOTH THE NEW HVAC SYSTEM AND THE ROOFING SYSTEM ARE ESTIMATED TO BE 20 TO 25 YEARS.

THIS PROJECT IS ALSO INCLUDED WITHIN THE CITY'S ELEVATE 28 INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT PLAN, WHICH ENCOMPASSES MORE THAN 180 CRITICAL PROJECT CITYWIDE.

AND WITH THIS PROPOSED REALLOCATION, THIS PROJECT, AGAIN, WILL BE FULLY FUNDED AND READY TO PROCEED TO CONSTRUCTION THIS FALL PENDING APPROVAL BY THE COMMISSION AND THE SUBSEQUENT COUNCIL ACTION TO AWARD THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, WHICH IS SLATED FOR NOVEMBER 11TH.

OKAY.

IN CASE WE HAVEN'T, UH, EMPHASIZED THE POINT ENOUGH, A KEY COMPONENT OF THIS ITEM IS THAT THERE ARE NO NEW FISCAL IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACTION.

IT'S PURELY A REALLOCATION OF EXISTING AB 32 FUNDS.

NO ADDITIONAL GAS FUND OR GENERAL FUND DOLLARS ARE REQUIRED.

REALLOCATION FUNDS WILL FULLY COVER THE PROJECT'S COST, ALLOWING CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN THIS FALL.

SO IN SUMMARY, STAFF RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER REALLOCATE 1.02 MILLION IN PRIOR YEAR AB 32 CAP AND TRADE FUNDS, THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT, NORTH DIVISION HVAC ROOF REPLACEMENT PROJECT FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, SUSTAINABLY ALIGNED REINVESTMENT IN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR REPORT, AND JONATHAN AND I ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

UH, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ARE THERE ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? THANK, THANK YOU, TONY.

UM, I, I WAS TALKING A LITTLE BIT TO TY.

UH, I PROBABLY NEED A AB 32 1 0 1 TRAINING.

UH, AL YOU TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT, WE KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME THINGS.

I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT AB 32, BUT WITH THE CONSOLIDATION, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ME.

UM, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR THESE PROJECTS? AND, AND I TOTALLY SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.

I, I, I'M GONNA VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT, BUT, UH, GOING FORWARD, HOW ARE THEY SELECTED? HOW ARE THEY DETERMINED TO MEET THE CRITERIA OF AB 32? UM, I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM.

IT'S ON THE GAS BILL, AND SO THAT'S PART OF THE GAS FUND.

BUT JUST THAT KIND OF BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THAT, IF YOU CAN.

SURE.

WE WOULD EMBRACE A SORT OF AB 32, UH, 1 0 1, UH, FOR THIS BOARD.

UH, IT'S, IT'S VERY TIMELY.

UM, SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THAT ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, UH, GOVERNOR NEWSOM, UH, SIGNED INTO LAW A REAUTHORIZATION OF THE CAP AND TRADE PROGRAM, AND IT HAS SOME INTERESTING CHANGES.

SO, UM, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR THE BOARD TO BE AWARE OF THESE CHANGES.

AND IN FACT, THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT IT MIGHT PUT SOME OF THESE FUNDS WHICH ALLOCATE THE PROGRAM OR WHICH FUND THE AB 32 PROGRAM THAT THE CITY AND THE UTILITY HAVE IN JEOPARDY.

TO YOUR EARLIER QUESTION, HOW ARE THE FUNDS ALLOCATED? UM, EVERY YEAR THROUGH THE SALE OF OUR CON UH, SOME OF OUR ALLOWANCES AT AUCTION, WE RECEIVE A, SOME OF REVENUE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN SIX AND $10 MILLION, DEPENDS ON THE PRICE OF THE AUCTION.

AND A COMMITTEE, UM, REVIEWS.

WELL, ONCE WE HAVE THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE FOR THAT GIVEN FISCAL YEAR, UH, WE HAVE A PROCESS WHERE, UH, VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS ESSENTIALLY APPLY FOR A PORTION OF THOSE ALLOCATED FUNDS.

AND THIS COMMITTEE, WHICH CONSISTS OF MULTIPLE CITY DEPARTMENTS REVIEWS IN EACH AND EVERY ONE, AND WE LOOK FOR THE ONES THAT HAVE THE MOST IMPACT, GREATEST CRITERIA ARE REDUCTION OF GHG, UM,

[00:15:01]

AND SO, UM, THE CITY HAS A NUMBER OF PROJECTS.

THE UTILITY HAS A NUMBER OF PROJECTS.

MOST OF THE UTILITY PROJECTS, AS YOU MAY KNOW, ARE REBATES OR ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCES THAT HELP REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS.

THOSE ARE TAKEN AND PRESENTED TO BOTH, UH, THE, ONCE THE, THE, THIS BODY THAT REVIEWS THE PROJECT COMES UP WITH A SHORT LIST OF PROJECTS THAT CAN BE FUNDED BY THE EXISTING FUNDS.

IT'S BROUGHT BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL AND THIS BOARD FOR OFFICE.

SO THAT'S IN A SUMMARY WHAT IT IS, BUT WE CAN TAKE MORE TIME TO GET MORE IN DETAIL ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT ARE.

THANK YOU, TONY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THE TRAINING.

I, I, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? YES.

YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UM, I DEFINITELY, UH, RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE POLICE STATION IN NORTH DIVISION, UM, REPRESENTED THAT AREA FOR MANY YEARS.

I LITERALLY LIVE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE, UM, IN MY OWN HOME.

I'VE, UH, REPLACED MY ROOF IN THE LAST, BECAUSE I WAS ACTUALLY MOVED IN RIGHT WHEN THE POLICE STATION WAS BEING BUILT.

RIGHT.

AND SO I'VE REPLACED MY OWN ROOF AND HVAC SYSTEM, UM, AT LEAST ONCE WITHIN THIS TIME PERIOD.

SO I RECOGNIZE THE NEED, UH, TO, TO CHARLIE'S POINT, I DID, I DID HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THE ELEVATE 28 KIND OF BRAND ON IT.

UM, WAS THIS ALREADY APPROVED AS A CIP PROJECT OR FOR THE CITY AND THE BUDGET? UM, THANK YOU, UH, COMMISSIONER.

SO, YES, THIS PROJECT WAS APPROVED THROUGH THE CIP PROCESS.

UM, THERE IS GAP FUNDING OF THAT MILLION DOLLARS.

THIS, THIS PROJECT HAS CURRENTLY $2.5 MILLION IN FUNDING.

AND SO THIS FINAL REALLOCATION OF AB 32 WOULD FULLY FUND THE PROJECT, BUT IT HAS BEEN A PROJECT IN DESIGN FOR THE LAST, I BELIEVE, FIVE YEARS.

UM, AND AS WE GET TO A POINT WHERE WE THINK WE CAN AWARD, WE GET THE BIDS BACK AND WE'VE BEEN SHORT.

AND SO WE, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THIS PROJECT DONE.

WELL, I, I'LL JUST ALSO SAY, I, I NOTICED THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE NORTH DIVISION WON UNDER A, A FACELIFT.

IT HAS A NEW PAINT ON, IT LOOKS GREAT.

THE ROOF DOES NOT MATCH.

SO THIS WILL CERTAINLY HELP.

YES, CERTAINLY.

WITH THAT MR. CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THE MOTION IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SO WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND.

UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU.

MOVING ON.

AGENDA

[4. 25-56726 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute all documents necessary to enter into an agreement, including any necessary subsequent amendments, with 1401 Long Beach L.P., for the relocation and construction of potable water mains, including all associated appurtenances, for the housing project located at 1401 Long Beach Boulevard.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

IN ORDER TO MOVE THE PRESENTATION ALONG, MAY I HAVE A MOTION, MOTION TO APPROVE COMMISSIONER MCGUIRE AND A SECOND COMMISSIONER, I'M SO SORRY.

COMMISSIONER PARKIN.

UH, SO I'D LIKE TO CALL ON LETICIA MILA FOR PRESENTATION.

GOOD MORNING.

MORNING COMMERS.

MY NAME IS LETTI MILA.

UM, I'M A CAPITALS PROJECT COORDINATOR FOR THE WATER ENGINEERING BUREAU UNDER DEVELOPMENT SERVICE DIVISION.

AND I HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR FOR TODAY'S AGENDA.

DEVELOPER DEVELOPER'S AGREEMENT FOR THE WATER MAINE RELOCATION AT 1401 LONG BEACH BOULEVARD.

TO FACILITATE THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPER IS PROPOSING TO REROUTE AN EXISTING WATER MAIN.

THE NEW ALIGNMENT APPROXIMATELY 850 LINEAR FEET WILL RUN THE NORTH, ALONG THE NORTH END OF THE PROPERTY, UTILIZING EXISTING IMAGE AND CONNECT TO THE LOCUST AVENUE.

FROM THERE, THE MAIN WILL CONTINUE TO RUN SOUTHEAST STREET AND LONG BEACH BOULEVARD.

THIS IS SHOWING WHERE IT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROPERTY, AND THEN WE'RE, UM, RELOCATING IT AROUND THE PROPERTY.

UM, THIS WILL, UM, PROVIDE, UM, SPACE FOR, UH, A NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, BUILDING PROJECT BY THE DEVELOPER, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 153 DWELLING UNITS.

AND, UM, IT'S ABOUT SIX STORIES IN HEIGHT.

THE DEVELOPER'S CONTRACT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR RELOCATION WORK WHILE STRICTLY FOLLOWING OUR STANDARDS.

LBUD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGN REVIEW, PROJECT COORDINATION AND INSPECTION EFFORTS.

SO BASED ON THE INFORMATION WRONG PAGE, SO THE WATER RELOCATION IS CLASSIFIED AS A DEVELOPER PROJECT.

ACCORDINGLY, DEVELOPER RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL ASSOCIATED COSTS, IMPACTS.

[00:20:02]

I CAN'T SAY SINCE LAST TIME.

S THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER.

LETICIA, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, UH, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MOVING ON.

ITEM NUMBER

[5. 25-56727 Recommendation to adopt Request for Proposal to provide professional engineering services for the 2025 Water Distribution Master Plan Project (EO-3750), award a contract to Black & Veatch Corporation in a total amount not to exceed $1,521,167, 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. ]

HAVE A MOTION MOVED.

THANK YOU.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, UH, I'D LIKE TO CALL ON AMY KY.

IS THAT CORRECT? ALRIGHT, WELCOME BACK AMY.

UH, GOOD MORNING PRESIDENT SCOTT AND GOOD MORNING BOARD OF UTILITY COMMISSIONERS.

I'LL BE PRESENTING ON THE 2025 WATER DISTRIBUTION MASTER PLAN PROJECT EO 37 50.

UH, THE PROJECT WILL BE, UH, AN UPDATE AND CONTINUATION OF THE PREVIOUS MASTER PLAN IN 2020, WHERE THE CONSULTANT WILL EVALUATE EXISTING WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM TO PROVIDE A FINAL REPORT.

AND LITTLE PROJECTS OF TWO YEARS PROJECT WILL BEGIN BY COLLECTING DATA AND PROVIDING IT TO THE CONSULTANT FOR PROVID ASSESSMENT AND UTILIZATION.

SUCH DATA SOURCES INCLUDE PREVIOUS STUDIES, UH, BILLING AND SCADA INFORMATION, HYDRAULIC OR HYDRAULIC MODEL, GROUNDWATER RESILIENCE PLAN, AND, UH, CITY GENERAL PLAN.

UH, JUST TO NAME A FEW EXAMPLES, EXISTING AND FORECASTED DEMANDS WILL BE EVALUATED DURING THE PROJECT.

IN PLANNING FOR FUTURE DEMANDS, THE CONSULTANT WILL PROVIDE INSIGHTS AND COORDINATION TO ENSURE FUTURE PLANNING WILL ALIGN WITH STATE MANDATES, LONG-TERM PLANNING INITIATIVES, WATER RESOURCE PLANNING EFFORTS, UH, LONG BEACH'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND REGIONAL PLANNING GOALS.

THE CONSULTANT WILL EVALUATE ALL ASPECTS OF THE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND PREPARE CONDITION ASSESSMENT WORK PLAN THAT WILL CONSIST OF OUR LINEAR ASSETS, THOSE BEING OUR PIPELINES AND OUR VALVES.

WE'LL ASSESS THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO PREDICT VALUE PROBABILITY WITHIN THE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM BASED UPON HISTORICAL DATA AND ASSET CHARACTERISTICS.

PIPES IDENTIFIED AS HIGH CRITICALITY ASSETS.

THOSE A HIGH CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE DETERMINE FROM HYDRAULIC MODELING AND THE PIPES IDENTIFIED AND QUANTIFIED BASED ON PROBABILITY OF FAILURE WILL BE EVALUATED IN A DECISION MATRIX.

MUCH LIKE WE'RE SEEN ON THE BOARD HERE, THOSE IN THE CONDITION MONITORING SECTION WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE WORK PLAN FOR INFIELD EVALUATION AND POTENTIAL FURTHER INVASIVE, UH, INSPECTION.

THOSE, THOSE IN THE REPLACEMENT CATEGORY, THOSE OF HIGH PROBABILITY PROBABILITY OF FAILURE AND HIGH CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL CIP RECOMMENDATION AND FINAL REPORT AS FUTURE PROJECTS FOR REHABILITATION AND REPLACEMENT.

ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE PROJECT IS THE DISTRIBUTION HYDRAULIC, UM, MODEL WILL BE UPDATED AND CALIBRATED.

THE LATEST UPDATE TO THE HYDRAULIC MODEL WAS PERFORMED IN 2020.

THE UPDATED MODEL WILL BE USED TO IDENTIFY HYDRAULIC DEFICIENCIES, STORAGE AND FIRE FLOW NEEDS, AND PLANNING FOR FUTURE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

KEY STEPS TO THE MODEL UPDATE INCLUDE MODEL OPTIMIZATION, ENHANCED CALIBRATION IN 24 HOUR CALIBRATION, UH, DATA INTEGRATION, UM, AND COLLABORATIVE REVIEW REVIEWS WITHIN, UH, LONG BEACH UTILITIES ENGINEERING TEAM.

TRADITIONALLY, MASTER PLANS CULMINATE IN A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND FINAL REPORT FOR THIS MASTER PLAN.

PART OF THE DELIVERABLE FOR THE CIP PROGRAM WILL BE IN THE FORM OF POWER BI DASHBOARD VISUALIZATIONS.

THE DASHBOARDS

[00:25:01]

IT ALSO REDUCED THE NEED TO PERFORM AS LARGE OF, UH, MASTER PLANNING UPDATES IN THE FUTURE.

UH, THE CONSULTANT FOR THIS PROJECT BLACK, EACH PREVIOUSLY WORKED WITH METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT TO DEVELOP A 20 YEAR CAPITAL SPENDING PLAN FOCUSED ON REDUCING SYSTEM RISK USING SIMILAR MEANS.

CONCLUSION FROM THE PREVIOUS MASTER PLAN, LONG BEACH HAS COMPLETED FIVE IDENTIFIED PROJECTS DUE TO FIRE FLOW AND HYDRAULIC DEFICIENCIES DUE TO WHICH ARE ACTIVELY IN CONSTRUCTION.

SEVEN PROJECTS ARE IN DESIGN.

MOVING FORWARD, THE PROPOSED MASTER PLAN OR LOOK INTO AI FOR SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS, UM, PROVIDE A CENTRALIZED DATA SOURCE, UM, AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON ACTIVE DATA WITHIN THE DASHBOARD VISUALIZATIONS WITH AN ADD FOCUS ON CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND STREAMLINING OUR HYDRAULIC MODEL.

UH, WITH THAT, UH, A RECOMMENDATION IS TO ADOPT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE 2025 WATER DISTRIBUTION MASTER PLAN EO 37 50, AND TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO BLACK AND VEATCH CORPORATION IN A TOTAL AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED $1,521,167 FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS.

TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO THE CONTRACT, INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS THAT I'LL OPEN UP TO.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU.

AMY.

DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? UM, SO, UH, THIS STRIKES ME AS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, UH, PROJECT THAT WE'RE DOING THAT.

YES.

UM, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE DID, UH, AN, AN ANALYSIS SIMILAR TO THIS? SO THE LAST MASTER PLAN WAS FROM 2020.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

FOR THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'RE USING THE, UH, THE DASHBOARD, UH, OR HAVING THIS DASHBOARD, UH, EXCITING.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THIS ME TOO .

UH, ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? I THINK THIS REALLY ANSWERS THE QUESTION THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE RESILIENCE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR DISTRIBUTION.

YOU KNOW, SO I THINK THERE ARE CONCERNS OUT THERE.

EVERYONE'S WORRIED ABOUT THINGS LIKE, AND THIS IS ADDRESSING THAT.

SO THANK YOU.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

WELCOME.

JUST A GREAT PROJECT.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS.

ALSO.

THIS MAY BE FOR TY.

I KNOW I THINK LAST MONTH WE APPROVED THE MASTER PLAN FOR SEWER.

IS THAT RIGHT? AND THEN, SO I JUST QUESTION IS GAS COMING UP TOO? IS THAT THE NEXT MASTER PLAN? SO WE HAVE A MASTER PLAN FOR EVERYBODY.

I'M NOT AWARE WHEN THAT ONE'S OKAY.

NO, I'M TEA.

THERE ARE, THERE ARE, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT MASTER PLANS.

UM, SO THE LAST APPROVAL WAS THE SSMP, WHICH IS THE SEWER SYSTEM, UM, MANAGEMENT PLAN.

UM, THAT'S KIND OF THE MASTER DOCUMENT THAT SEWER OPERATIONS USES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COMPLY WITH HOW WE DO COLLECTIONS AND PREVAILS INTO, SO THERE ARE, THERE ARE MULTIPLE WA MASTER PLANS WITHIN THE UTILITIES AND THOSE KIND OF COME UP IN DIFFERENT SEQUENCES AND THEY'RE UPDATED CONTINUOUSLY ON A TYPICALLY A FIVE YEAR CYCLE.

SO YOU'LL GET MORE AND THEY, ON THE GAS SIDE, THEY HAVE A DIMP POND.

YEAH.

SO ANSWER COMMISSIONER HARKIN'S QUESTION.

WE DO HAVE A MASTER PLAN ON THE GAS SIDE.

WE DO IT INTERNALLY AT WATER.

WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

SO ANY RESULTS WE HAVE THERE, AUSTIN, THANK YOU GUYS.

HAVE TO BEAR WITH ME.

I'M THE NEW GUY.

UM, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE LAST TIME WE DID A MASTER PLAN REVIEW, UM, WAS 2020.

YES.

UM, SO IN TERMS OF THE FINDINGS OF THAT MASTER PLAN, HOW, WHAT KIND OF PROGRESS HAVE WE MADE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO, UH, ADDRESS ANY OF THE CHALLENGES? SO THAT'S WHY I INCLUDE THIS INFORMATION HERE WHERE WE, IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WE'VE INCLUDED OR COMPLETED, UM, FIVE PIPELINE PROJECTS.

UM, TWO MORE ARE WITHIN CONSTRUCTION, AND SEVEN ARE CURRENTLY IN DESIGN.

UM, AND JUST TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT, A PIPELINE PROJECT COULD TAKE ANYWHERE FROM ROUGHLY 12 MONTHS TO TWO YEARS LENGTH AND SCOPE OF

[00:30:01]

THANK YOU.

THAT PUTS THAT WAY IN THE CONTEXT FOR ME.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU, AMY.

THANK YOU.

MOVING ON.

FINAL AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX, RECEIVE

[6. 25-56728 Recommendation to receive and file the FY 2025 Business Plan Closing Report.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

ORDER TO MOVE DISCUSSION ALONG MAY HAVE A, A, UH, A FIRST AND A SECOND PLEASE, OR A MOTION AND A SECOND.

SECOND.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS.

AND, UH, CALL ON JENNIFER ROJAS.

WELCOME, JENNIFER.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX.

I'LL BE PRESENTING THE FINAL CLOSING REPORT FOR THE FY 25 BUSINESS PLAN.

SO EARLIER THIS YEAR IN MARCH, WE INTRODUCED THE FIRST BUSINESS PLAN FOR THE UTILITY.

AND, UH, WE DESCRIBED THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE'D BE USING, WHICH IS THE BALANCE SCORECARD, UH, FRAMEWORK, AND ALSO DESCRIBED THE MAJOR ELEMENTS WHICH COMPRISE THE BUSINESS PLAN.

SO ON THIS CHART HERE, YOU SEE FROM, UM, THE MOST BROAD, UH, ELEMENT, WHICH IS THE OBJECTIVES.

AND THEN AS YOU MOVE TO THE RIGHT, IT GETS MORE AND MORE DETAILED.

SO WE HAVE INITIATIVES, MEASURES, AND ACTIONS, AND THEN THE MOST GRANULAR IS THE TARGETS AND GOALS.

THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER IN JULY, WE GAVE A PROGRESS UPDATE ON HOW WE WERE DOING, ON ACHIEVING THOSE TARGETS AND GOALS.

AND, UH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT READING THE SENTENCES IN THE BOXES, THIS IS MORE OF THE VISUAL FOR, UM, JUST TO KIND OF SHOW YOU HOW THE BALANCE SCORECARD HAS PROGRESSED OVER THE, OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

AND SO NEW FOR IN JULY, IN JULY, 2025 WAS THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHTED COLUMNS.

SO TO GIVE A PROGRESS REPORT, WE ADDED A COLUMN FOR, UM, METRICS AND MILESTONES REACHED, AND THEN WE ALSO PROVIDED COMMENTS WHICH GIVE SOME ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR EACH TARGET.

SO THAT BRINGS US TO TODAY WE'RE IN OCTOBER AND WE JUST FINISHED FY 25.

SO WE ADDED ANOTHER COLUMN, WHICH IS NOTED THERE IN THE RED ARROW.

AND THAT SHOWS WHERE WE ENDED FY 25 FOR EACH OF THE TARGETS AND GOALS, WE KEPT THE JULY COLUMN, JUST SO YOU CAN SEE THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE SINCE THEN.

BUT THE NEW COLUMN IS REALLY THE FINAL YEAR END COLUMN.

COMMENTS ARE ALSO THERE, BUT WE'VE UPDATED THE COMMENTS TO REFLECT, UH, THE CURRENT CURRENT STATUS AS A YEAR END.

SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE, UM, SOME OF THE ITEMS IN THE BUSINESS PLAN.

YOU SHOULD HAVE THE COMPLETE BALANCE SCORECARD, WHICH HAS THE COMPREHENSIVE ELEMENTS OF, UH, THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT'S BUSINESS PLAN.

BUT OF COURSE WE ONLY HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL GO THROUGH SOME HIGHLIGHTS.

AND I CHOSE HIGHLIGHTS THAT, UM, MAYBE THEY WERE, WERE ONES THAT WE HADN'T, UH, FOCUSED ON BEFORE OR WE HAD, I HADN'T MENTIONED IN PREVIOUS BOARD MEETINGS.

JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE VARIETY AND THE BREADTH OF ACTIVITIES THAT THE DEPARTMENT UNDERTAKES IN A YEAR.

SO WE ALWAYS LIKE TO ANCHOR, UM, ANY OF THE TARGETS AND GOALS IN OUR FOUNDATION, WHICH IS THE OBJECTIVES ARE THERE ON THE LEFT AND, UH, WHICH ARE THE CUSTOMER, THE FIN, OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY, INTERNAL OPERATIONS, AND OUR WORKPLACE CULTURE.

THOSE FOUR OBJECTIVES BREAK DOWN FURTHER INTO INITIATIVES WHICH ARE REFLECTED ON EACH OBJECTIVES LINE IN THOSE COLORED BOXES.

AND THOSE ARE THE INITIATIVES WHICH ARE GONNA DRIVE PROGRESS WITHIN EACH OBJECTIVE.

SO TO FOCUS ON THE CUSTOMER, THESE ARE THE INITIATIVES THAT CORRESPOND TO THAT OBJECTIVE.

A HIGHLIGHT OR SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE INITIATIVE OF PROVIDING SAFE WATER AND GAS INCLUDE THE COMPLETION OF A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS.

OUR WATER ENGINEERING TEAM, UH, COMPLETED A DEVELOPMENT HANDBOOK, WHICH IS GONNA HELP DEVELOPERS TO, UM, UNDERSTAND BETTER THE GUIDELINES THAT ARE EXPECTED FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

OUR WATER SERVICES TEAM HAS SUBMITTED THE CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL PROGRAM DOCUMENT TO THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD, UM, DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER.

NOW, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN READ THESE SENTENCES, BUT IF YOU CAN, IT'S OKAY.

I'M GONNA JUST SUMMARIZE THEM FOR YOU SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO RE UH, WORRY ABOUT READING EVERY, EVERY LINE.

YOU DO HAVE THE COMPLETE, UM, THE COMPLETE BALANCE SCORECARD, OF COURSE, IN FRONT OF YOU.

UM, WHICH IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, YOU CAN, YOU CAN, UH, READ EVERYTHING THERE, BUT I'LL PROVIDE A SUMMARY JUST TO MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER ON YOU.

SO THE NEXT OBJECTIVE, I MEAN, EXCUSE ME, THE SAME OBJECTIVE, BUT THE NEXT INITIATIVE

[00:35:01]

SO A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF THAT ARE THAT THE TREATMENT PLAN HAS COMPLETED THEIR GOAL OF, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE ADEQUATE INVENTORY OF SPARE PARTS FOR THEIR CRITICAL EQUIPMENT.

AND THIS WILL HELP REDUCE THE DOWNTIME THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE EQUIPMENT, THEY HAVE ENOUGH SPARE PARTS, UM, AT THEIR DISPOSAL TO, UM, TO GET THAT EQUIPMENT BACK IN IN OPERATION.

ALSO, OUR SOAR OPERATIONS TEAM, THEY HAVE COMPLETED THEIR, UH, SOAR SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLAN, WHICH TY REFERRED TO EARLIER THAT WAS JUST APPROVED LAST MONTH BY THE BOARD.

THE NEXT INITIATIVE OF PROVIDING INNOVATIVE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS, OUR RESOURCES TEAM HAS INCREASED, UM, THEIR, UH, SOME OF THEIR PROGRAMS, THEIR EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS, SPECIFICALLY WATER AND NATURAL GAS DIRECT INSTALL APPLIANCES.

AND THEY'VE ALSO INCREASED THE USAGE OF SOME OF THE OUTDOOR EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS. SO MOVING ON TO THE FINANCIAL OBJECTIVE, YOU'LL SEE HERE LISTED THE, THE INITIATIVES THAT CORRESPOND TO THAT OBJECTIVE.

NOW FOCUSING ON THE COST OF SERVICE INITIATIVES.

SPECIFICALLY OUR TREATMENT PLAN HAS MAXIMIZED GROUNDWATER PUMPING BY UTILIZING ALL AVAILABLE WELLS AND SPECIFICALLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE LAKEWOOD INTERCONNECT.

INSTEAD OF THE M-W-M-L-B EIGHT INTERCONNECT, OUR BILLING TEAM HAS REACHED AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN FY 25, AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE COVID ARREARAGES.

THEY'VE REACHED THE THRESHOLD OF $150, WHICH MEANS THAT ANY OF THEIR ARREARAGES OVER $150 HAVE BEEN RESOLVED IN FY 25.

AND THEN OUR WATER ENGINEERING TEAM IS CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN THEIR, UH, THEIR ONGOING WELL PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES, UH, THAT THEY EQUIPPED TWO WELLS.

THEY DRILLED TWO NEW WELLS AND THEY REHABILITATED THREE OTHER WELLS UNDER LONG RANGE FINANCE PLANNING.

OUR FINANCE TEAM HAS, UH, MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IN THAT RESPECT.

THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED AREAS OF COST SAVINGS AND EVALUATED AREAS WITH HIGHER SPENDING ACTIVITY.

THEY'VE ALSO, UM, IDENTIFIED AND PRIORITIZED SOME OF OUR LONG-TERM CAPITAL PROJECTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE CAMPUS REDEVELOPMENT, UH, PROGRAM, WHICH IS A MULTI-YEAR PROGRAM, BUT THAT WILL BE SUPPORTED BY THE 10 YEAR FINANCE MODEL.

AND THEN, UM, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FY 25, THE WATER, GAS AND SOAR UTILITIES WERE ALL REPORTED AS ONE, UH, CONSOLIDATED MERGED UTILITY FOR THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.

FOR THE INTERNAL OPERATIONS OBJECTIVE, THESE ARE THE INITIATIVES THAT CORRESPOND WITH THAT OBJECTIVE.

UNDER THE INITIATIVE OF BEING PROACTIVE AND INNOVATIVE, OUR WATER QUALITY TEAM HAS ESTABLISHED A METHOD OF BIOCHEMICAL IDENTIFICATION OF TOTAL COLIFORM ISOLATES.

OUR SEWER OPERATIONS TEAM HAS COMPLETED THE INAUGURAL SMOKE TESTING PROJECT JUST IN JULY.

AND THEN OUR INFORMATION SERVICES TEAM IS CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION WITH CITY.

UM, IT ON, ON MUTUAL, UH, PROJECTS OF MUTUAL INTEREST UNDER THE INITIATIVE OF POSITIVE COLLABORATION.

OUR WATER ENGINEERING TEAM IS WORKING WITH THE GAS ENGINEERING TEAM ON PROGRAMS THAT THEY COULD, UM, JOIN TOGETHER AND, AND HAVE A JOINT PROGRAM SUCH AS THE CATHARTIC PROTECTION PROGRAM, THE BRIDGE CROSSING PROGRAM, AND FOR DIG ALERT MARKING EFFORTS.

ALSO, OUR WATER ENGINEERING TEAM CONTINUES TO COLLABORATE WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM ON PROJECTS OF MUTUAL INTEREST FOR OUR WORKPLACE CULTURE OBJECTIVE, WHICH IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE OTHER OBJECTIVES.

THIS IS HAVING TO DO WITH OUR EMPLOYEES.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT ARE GONNA HELP US DRIVE FORWARD, UH, A POSITIVE WORKPLACE CULTURE UNDER THE INITIATIVE OF EQUITY.

WE HAVE OUR PERSONNEL AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM THAT ARE WORKING TO INCREASE OUTREACH TO ATTRACT DIVERSE TALENT.

AND THEY DO THIS THROUGH, UM, ATTENDING SEVERAL JOB FAIRS THIS YEAR, UM, INCLUDING A DISABILITY JOB FAIR AND JOB FAIRS AT LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, AS WELL AS CAL STATE UNIVERSITY, UM, LONG BEACH.

ADDITIONALLY, OUR PERSONNEL TEAM AND OUR PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM, UM,

[00:40:01]

BOTH THE TREATMENT PLAN AND THE RESOURCES TEAM HAVE, UM, IMPLEMENTED AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AND THE RESOURCES TEAM ALSO OFFERS FELLOWSHIPS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.

AND THEN FINALLY, THE GAS CONSTRUCTION TEAM HAS REVISIT REVISITED THE OPERATOR QUALIFICATION CRITERIA TO MODERN, TO MODERNIZE APPLICABLE TASK ASSIGNMENTS PER CLASSIFICATION.

AND IN FY 25, ALL GAS CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN REQUALIFIED FOR FY 25.

SO BEFORE I OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS PLAN WORK GROUP.

MANY OF THEM COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, BUT WE DO HAVE A COUPLE, WE HAVE, UM, Y ZANG FROM, UM, SHE'S RIGHT HERE.

UH, AND THEN WE HAVE CYNTHIA PORTILLO IS ALSO PART OF OUR TEAM, AND I THINK THAT'S ALL THAT MADE IT TODAY, BUT THESE ARE ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE TEAM.

IT TAKES, UM, TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT AND, UM, THAT'S THE ALLSTAR TEAM RIGHT THERE.

SO, UM, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT AND I AM OPEN FOR QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

JENNIFER, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M A HUGE FAN OF THIS, RIGHT? SO I'VE GOT A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS.

UM, THE, UH, UH, THE COMPLETED ITEMS WHERE THEY'RE A HUNDRED PERCENT COMPLETED AND AND DONE, I, I IMAGINE THOSE WILL JUST FALL OFF THE, THE PLAN.

YES.

SO YES, THOSE, THERE ARE, THERE'RE DIFFERENT KIND OF CATEGORIES OF ITEMS. SOME THAT ARE JUST ONE AND DONE, THEY'RE COMPLETED.

FOR INSTANCE, THE, UM, THE SSMP, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE TO TOUCH THAT.

WELL, NOT, WE, WE TOUCH IT, WE LOOK AT IT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO REDO IT FOR ANOTHER, UM, SIX YEARS.

SO THAT ONE'S GONNA FALL OFF.

THERE'S OTHER, UM, TARGETS THAT YOU'LL SEE THERE ONGOING AND CONTINUOUS THINGS THAT WE'RE ALWAYS GONNA DO.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE, UM, THE EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS FROM RESOURCES, YOU'RE ALWAYS GONNA SEE THOSE BECAUSE THAT'S AN ONGOING PROGRAM.

SO WE HAVE BOTH, BOTH OF THOSE.

THANKS.

UH, I'M A HUGE FAN OF CELEBRATING SUCCESSES, UH, AND WHEN I SEE SOMETHING COMPLETED, UH, I FEEL LIKE THAT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED, BROUGHT FORTH, UM, SHARED WITH THE, WITH THE BOARD, SHARED WITH STAFF, SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY, UM, BECAUSE IT'S A BIG DEAL.

YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE SET OUT THESE GOALS AND WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING THESE GOALS.

UM, IS THERE A WAY TO MEMORIALIZE THESE SUCCESSES, UM, RATHER THAN JUST FALLING OFF? ARE THEY, ARE THEY GOING SOMEPLACE TO BE MEMORIALIZED? WELL, UM, WELL THOSE ARE RECORDS THAT WE KEEP LONG TERM, BUT, UM, WE ARE WORKING, UH, WITH ANNA TOLL TO DEVELOP A, UM, MORE OF LIKE A DASHBOARD KIND OF FORMAT, A DIGITAL FORMAT TO PUT THE BUSINESS PLAN IN.

AND I THINK THAT WILL BE MORE CONDUCIVE TO, TO KEEPING THOSE RECORDS, UM, AT, YOU KNOW, AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.

SO THAT IS THE PLAN, UH, IN THE LONG TERM.

YOU JUST STOLE MY THIRD POINT DASHBOARD, THAT SEEMS PERFECTLY IN LINE FOR A DASHBOARD.

UM, ONE THAT, UH, ALL THOSE CONSTITUENTS THAT I JUST SPOKE ABOUT, THE, THE BOARD STAFF AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, UH, OR, OR THE ELECTED COULD REFER TO, UH, THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER CU FIRST OF ALL, GREAT JOB, THANK YOU TO YOU AND THE COMMITTEE.

THIS IS A LOT OF WORK TO PUT TOGETHER, I'M SURE, BUT IT ALSO REPRESENTS ALL OF THE HARD WORK FOR ALL THE FOLKS IN ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE UTILITIES.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL IT.

IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SEE IN BLACK AND WHITE EVERYTHING, WELL, NOT EVERYTHING, BUT A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON HERE THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY THAT PROBABLY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT OR DON'T SEE.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I, I AGREE WITH PRESIDENT'S.

THE DASHBOARD WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE THAT UP THERE.

IT HELPS DURING BUDGET, IT HELPS DURING RATE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR RATES, ET CETERA.

ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE, AND THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO POINT THE PEOPLE TO.

ONE QUESTION I DO HAVE, AND, AND IT GETS KIND OF DOWN INTO THE WEEDS, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THE FIRE HYDRANTS AND IDENTIFYING ALL THE FIRE HYDRANTS, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT KIND OF CHANGED FROM JULY TO NOW.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A PLAN AND A PROCESS IN PLACE TO NOTIFY FIRE DEPARTMENT OF HYDRANTS THAT ARE OUT OF SERVICE.

HAVE WE IDENTIFIED ALL OF THE HYDRANTS AND ALL OF THE HYDRANTS THAT HAVE SOME SORT OF ISSUE? IS THAT, SO THAT'S, THAT'S AN ONGOING PROJECT AS FAR AS THE NOTIFICATION TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD ALWAYS DONE, BUT WE, WE MADE, I THINK WE EXPANDED THE EXPLANATION IN THE BUSINESS PLAN TO ENCOMPASS THAT AND BE MORE DESCRIPTIVE OF THAT.

AND AS FAR AS IDENT WE'RE

[00:45:01]

OF THE ONES THAT WERE, THAT WAS, THERE WAS A CERTAIN PER LIKE A SMALL SL, UH, NOT SMALL, BUT LET'S SAY LIKE HOW MANY WAS IN THAT, UH, ABOUT 1600 THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD RECORDS ON.

WE'RE ABOUT 80, 86% THROUGH OF THOSE.

BUT THE REST OF THEM HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND WE ARE, UM, WORKING ON A MORE, UH, ROBUST INSPECTION PROGRAM AND ALSO, UM, A WAY THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE THOSE INSPECTIONS WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WE'RE EXPLORING, UH, DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND MAYBE BEING ABLE TO TALK TO THEIR SYSTEM SO THAT THEY'LL HAVE REAL, REAL TIME UPDATES ON ANY, ANY TIME OF PRIOR HYGIENIST TOUCH.

SUPER.

I THANK YOU.

I, I JUST AS WE COME UP TO THE ANNIVERSARY OF THOSE TERRIBLE FIRES, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR SYSTEM AND, AND ABLE TO COMMUNICATE HOW WE'RE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THAT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? I, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY I, I LOVE SEEING THE GOALS AND OF BEING REMINDED OF OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND IT'S ESPECIALLY GREAT TO SEE THEM TIED TO THE INITIATIVES AND THE PROJECTS AND HOW WE'RE DOING.

THIS IS A HUGE SUCCESS FOR THIS YEAR.

ARE YOU THE KEEPER OF THIS DOCUMENT? JENNIFER, WHO'S THE KEEPER? WELL, I MEAN, I'M THE LEAD, BUT THE, BUT IT'S A TEAM EFFORT.

UM, I, I GUESS WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A SHAREPOINT FILE WHERE WE, WE, WE ALL KIND OF, UH, THE, THE MEMBERS, UH, WE, WE, EACH MEMBER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF, UH, DIVISIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

AND SO IT IS A TEAM EFFORT, BUT I GUESS I'M THE LEAD ON IT.

SO KEEPER A SHAREHOLDER, , LET'S PROBABLY THE KEEPER.

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS.

YEAH.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THANK YOU, JENNIFER.

APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

UM, SO WE'VE GOT A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

UH, ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION PASSES.

MOVING ON TO PUBLIC

[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? SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED.

UH, ANNOUNCEMENTS, UH,

[ANNOUNCEMENTS]

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT SCOTT.

UM, SO TODAY IS OCTOBER 16TH.

IT IS THE DAY SET FOR THE GREAT SHAKEOUT.

SO AT 10 16, ON 10 16, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PRACTICE, UM, DUCT COVER AND HOLD ON.

UM, IN THIS CASE WE WILL MISS THAT.

YOU'LL NOT HAVE TO DO THAT, BUT I DO WANT TO KIND OF TALK THROUGH WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, UM, TO THE COMMISSION SO THAT IN THE EVENT EARTHQUAKE, WE WOULD DUCK COVER AND HOLD ON UNDERNEATH THE DESK.

ONCE THE SHAKING HAS SUBSIDED AND IS NOW SAFE TO EVACUATE, WE WOULD GET UP, EVACUATE.

THERE ARE TWO STAIRWELLS, ONE RIGHT HERE, RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR TO THE RIGHT, AND THERE'S ANOTHER ONE, THE WEST STAIRWELL RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

AND WE'D GO DOWN THE STAIRS OUT TO THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING, GO UP WARDLOW TO WALNUT.

AND THAT IS OUR MUSTERING POINT.

UM, AS WE EVACUATE, THERE ARE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERED, THAT HAVE VOLUNTEERED.

THEY WILL CHECK THE FLOORS, MAKE SURE EVERYBODY EVACUATES, AND THEN THEY WILL MEET AT THE MUSTERING POINT.

JUST MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE CORRECT HEADCOUNT AND EVERYBODY'S ACCOUNTED FOR.

SO THAT IS KIND OF THE PRACTICE IN AN EMERGENCY.

NOW THE CITY'S EXERCISE TODAY IS JUST A DUCK COVER AND HOLD ON.

UM, THE DEPARTMENT IS PLANNING ON A LARGER, MORE COMPREHENSIVE EXERCISE WHERE WE'LL ACTUALLY GO THROUGH A FULL EVACUATION AND, UM, AND FLOOR CHECK AS WELL.

AND THAT WILL HAPPEN, UM, IN NOVEMBER.

THE EXACT DAY HASN'T BEEN DETERMINED YET, BUT WE'LL DO THAT IN NOVEMBER.

SO I JUST WANT TO KIND OF GO OVER THAT PRACTICE WITH YOU SO THAT THE, THE BOARD IS READY IN CASE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPEN.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO REPORT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, TY.

AND THANK YOU FOR SITTING IN FOR ANATOL TODAY.

UH, IT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT BEING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, TALKING ABOUT ALL THIS STUFF, BUT IT'S, IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT.

WE, WE FORGET HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE A PLAN AND TO KNOW WHAT, UH, WHAT'S UH, REQUIRED OF EACH OF US, UH, IN, IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.

UH, FROM EXPERIENCE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN AN EMERGENCY, A LOT OF YOUR FACULTIES, UH, LOSE YOU QUICKLY.

AND, UH, YOU, YOU OFTENTIMES ARE HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME THINKING STRAIGHT.

SO HAVING A PLAN AND HAVING THOUGHT ABOUT IT IN AHEAD OF TIME IS, IS VERY HELPFUL.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

APPRECIATE IT.

UH, ARE THERE ANY, UH, COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS? UM, SO I WILL TAKE MY POINT OF PRIVILEGE AS, AS THE NEW PRESIDENT, UH, TO DISCUSS, UH, WHAT, UH, WILL BE COMING FORTH.

UM, SO IN CONJUNCTION WITH, UH, UH, GENERAL MANAGER FAGAN, UM, UH, THE BOARD WILL BE BRINGING FORTH A, UH, FY 2025 PRIORITIES, UH, OF THE BOARD OF UTILITIES COMMISSIONERS.

AND I'LL, I'LL JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE INFORMATION

[00:50:01]

SO IN SUMMARY, IN CONSULTATION WITH MANAGEMENT STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS, THE FOLLOWING SET OF DIRECTIVES SHALL SET FORTH SEVERAL KEY PRIORITIES OF THE COMMISSION FOR FY 25.

THESE PRIORITIES REFLECT THE COMMISSION'S COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING LONG-TERM RESILIENCY, EFFICIENCY, TRANSPARENCY OF OUR UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, WHILE ENSURING ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY'S BROADER OBJECTIVES.

SO THE FOLLOWING ARE SIX DIRECTIVES FROM THE, UH, NUMBER ONE, STREAMLINE COMMISSION MEETINGS, UH, TO IMPROVE MEETING EFFICIENCY EFFECTIVENESS, THE BOARD DIRECTS STAFF TO THREE CONCEPTS, ESTABLISH CRITERIA FOR AND IMPLEMENT A CONSENT CALENDAR ON OUR REGULAR BOARD AGENDA.

UH, NUMBER TWO, INCORPORATE INTO EACH REGULAR AGENDA ITEM A CLEAR REFERENCE TO THE SPECIFIC BUSINESS PLAN OBJECTIVES AND INITIATIVES THAT ARE ADDRESSED BY THE RELATED MEASURES AND ACTIONS OF THE AGENDA.

ITEM.

AND NUMBER THREE, SUPPORT INCREASED ACTIVITY OF BOARD COMMITTEES IN COLLABORATION WITH EXECUTIVE STAFF.

THE COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD SHALL BE REALIGNED AND REORGANIZED TO REFLECT HOW OUR OPERATIONS AND POLICY CONSIDERATIONS ALIGN WITH EXECUTIVE STAFF AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY.

FURTHER COMMITTEE MEETINGS WILL BE CALENDARED UP TO A YEAR IN ADVANCE TO ALLOW COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND STAFF SUFFICIENT TIME TO PREPARE AND CONVENE MORE FREQUENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

GOAL IS FOR EACH COMMITTEE TO REDUCE THE BURDEN ON THE BOARD'S REGULAR AGENDA BY REVIEWING A HIGHER VOLUME OF INITIATIVES AND UPDATES AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS MAY THEN PROVIDE PERTINENT AND RELEVANT RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ENTIRE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION.

UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO, DIRECTIVE NUMBER TWO.

UH, UTILITY MERGER BENEFITS ANALYSIS IN ORDER TO PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.

WHENEVER PRACTICAL.

IN PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD AND ITS COMMITTEES, STAFF IS DIRECTED TO INCORPORATE EXAMPLES, ANECDOTES, UH, AND OR BRIEF REPORTS OF BOTH ONE TIME AND ONGOING BENEFITS FROM THE 2022 UTILITY MERGER UTILITY.