* 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. COMMISSION MEETING [00:00:01] IS CALLED TO ORDER. [CALL TO ORDER] UH, IF WE CAN GET OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] TY SANG PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE. THANK YOU TY. UH, DINA, MAY WE HAVE [ROLL CALL] ROLL CALL PLEASE? PRESIDENT SCOTT, VICE PRESIDENT CORDERO. SECRETARY PARKIN. COMMISSIONER MCGUIRE. COMMISSIONER AUSTIN. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU. UH, CONSENT CALENDAR. [CONSENT CALENDAR] UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR? SO MOVE AND A SECOND. ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AND ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER TWO, REGULAR [2. 26-54488 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute all documents necessary to amend the existing contract with Bradley Tanks, Inc. for excavation material hauling and disposal services by increasing the authorized annual amount for the renewal terms by $350,000, for a revised amount not to exceed $1,527,000 for the first renewal term; a revised amount not to exceed $1,633,890 for the second renewal term; and a revised total aggregate agreement amount not to exceed $4,260,890.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AGENDA. UH, AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO AMEND THE EXISTING CONTRACT WITH BRADLEY TANKS INC. FOR EXCAVATION MATERIAL HAULING AND DISPOSAL SERVICES. UH, THIS ITEM IS BEFORE US WITH A STAFF RECOMMENDATION. IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, AND UNLESS THERE IS A OBJECTION FROM THE COMMISSION, I WOULD ENTERTAIN PROCEEDING TO APPROVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, UH, WITHOUT A STAFF PRESENTATION. ANY OBJECTION? OKAY. SECOND. OKAY, SO THANK YOU. JUMPED AHEAD. SO, UH, HAS SEEN NO REQUEST FOR PRESENTATION. WE HAVE A FIRST, UH, FROM COMMISSIONER CORDERO AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER MCGUIRE. SO, UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. THE OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. MOVING ALONG. ITEM NUMBER THREE, [3. 26-54489 Recommendation to Grant the request of Environmental Construction, Inc. pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 5101, to be relieved of their bid as set forth in their letter dated February 6, 2026, requesting withdrawal of their bid due to clerical errors; and Adopt Specifications WD-08-25 for the Removal of Water Well Annex 26 Project (EO-3744), award a contract to Levon Construction Group in a total contract amount not to exceed $580,000 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. ] PARDON ME, NOTHING . NO WORRIES. . UH, GRANT THE REQUEST OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRUCTION INC. PURSUANT TO PUBLIC CONTRACT CODE SECTION 5 1 0 1 TO BE RELIEVED OF THEIR BID AS SET FORTH IN THEIR LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 6TH, 2026, REQUESTING WITHDRAWAL OF THEIR BID DUE TO CLERICAL ERRORS AND ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS WD DASH EIGHT DASH 25 FOR THE REMOVAL OF WATER WELL ANNEX 26 PROJECT E ZERO EO 3 7 4 4. AWARD A CONTRACT TO LEVON CONSTRUCTION GROUP IN A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $580,000 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. UH, IN ORDER TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION, PLEASE HAVE A MOTION. THANK YOU. AND A SECOND THANK YOU. UH, CALL ON DANA MONSON FOR PRESENTATION. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. I WAS HOPING I WAS ALSO GOING TO BE ABLE TO SKIP THE PRESENTATION, BUT THAT'S OKAY. I CAN PRESENT. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. UH, OKAY. SO TODAY'S BOARD ITEM IS FOR THE REMOVAL OF WATER WELL NX 26. UH, HERE'S SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT LOCATION. THIS IS AN INACTIVE WELL NX 26, LOCATED AT THE STAR OVER THERE. IT'S LOCATED EAST OF PARK AVENUE AND SOUTH OF CONAN, RIGHT NORTH OF FIRE STATION 19. ON THE PICTURE HERE ON THE RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THE ACTUAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE WATER WELL IS LOCATED IN THAT VAULT UNDERGROUND, AND THE PENETRATIONS THAT YOU SEE ABOVE GROUND ARE FOR AIR RELIEF ACCESS AND SO ON. AND SO, SO MOST OF THE EQUIPMENT IS UNDERGROUND. SO THIS PROJECT WAS TRIGGERED BECAUSE WE RECEIVED A SE DOCUMENT FROM PUBLIC WORKS BACK IN JULY, 2024, UH, FOR THE SKYLING STORM WATER CAPTURE PROJECT. THIS PROJECT WILL CONSTRUCT A REGIONAL STORMWATER CAPTURE INFILTRATION FACILITY, WHICH WILL INTERCEPT FLOWS CURRENTLY GOING TO THE LOS CERRITOS CHANNEL AND DIVERT THEM TO AN UNDERGROUND STORAGE BASIN. FROM THERE, PUBLIC WORKS IS EXPECTING TO USE THAT FILTRATED WATER TO EITHER BE PUMPED FOR LANDSCAPING OR TO LET IT FIL INFILTRATE AND RECHARGE THE GROUNDWATER. SO WE'VE BEEN GOING, UH, WE'VE ONE BEACH COMMUNICATED THAT WE NEED TO DESTROY AN NEARBY INACTIVE, WELL, THAT'S WATER WELL ANNEX 26. UH, THIS WAS GOING TO BE IN CONFLICT WITH PUBLIC WORKS PROPOSED DRIVEWAY, AND ALSO THERE WAS A CONCERN OF OUR WELL SERVING AS A CONDUIT TO CONTAMINATE, UH, THE DEEPER AQUIFERS IN THE AREA. THUS, WE'VE BEEN IN COORDINATION WITH PUBLIC WORK SINCE TO SCHEDULE THE PROJECTS. UH, CURRENTLY WE HOPE TO COMPLETE OUR PROJECT FIRST AND PUBLIC WORKS WILL BE COMING IN EARLIEST SUMMER. FOR THE SCOPE OF WORK, WE ARE GOING TO BACKFILL THE EXISTING WELL AND DESTROY IT PER THE STATE'S REQUIREMENTS. THE EXISTING PIPELINES AND THE VAULT AND SEARCH TANK ON SITE WILL BE SLUR AND ABANDONED AND OR DEMOLISHED. ON THE LEFT, YOU CAN SEE THE STEPS LEADING INTO THE UNDERGROUND VAULT, AND ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, THAT'S THE EXISTING WELL PEDESTAL. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE PUMPING EQUIPMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN REMOVED. THE RECOMMENDATION, THE PROJECT WAS ADVERTISED BACK IN JANUARY OF [00:05:01] THIS YEAR. ON FEBRUARY 3RD, WE RECEIVED FIVE BIDS. THE INITIAL LOWEST BIDDER WAS ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRUCTION, INC. ECI. THREE DAYS LATER, AFTER THE BID OPENING, WE ECI SUBMITTED A LETTER REQUESTING TO WITHDRAW THEIR BID DUE TO A CLERICAL ERROR. WE DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY WHO INFORMED US OF POPE PER PUBLIC CONTRACT CODE SECTION 51 0 1 A BIDDER MAY BE RELEASED A BID BY CONSENT OF THE AWARDING AUTHORITY US. IF THE BIDDER CAN ESTABLISH THEY MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA, THIS CRITERIA IS FIRST ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THEY MADE A MISTAKE, SECOND, GIVEN THE NOTICE WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF THE BID OPENING. THIRD, MAKE MAKING SURE THAT THE MISTAKE MADE THEIR BID MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WAS INTENDED. FOURTH, THAT THE MISTAKE WAS MADE IN FILLING OUT THE BID AND NOT IN AN ERROR OF JUDGMENT OF THEIR SCOPE. IN ECIS CASE, THEY ENTERED A LINE ITEM MUCH LOWER THAN THEY INTENDED, WHICH MADE THEIR BID 25% LOWER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. SO OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THE FIRST ONE, WE RECOMMEND TO GRANT THE REQUEST OF ECI PURSUANT TO PUBLIC CONTRACT CODE TO BE RELIEVED OF THEIR BID AS SET FORTH IN THEIR LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 6TH, REQUESTING WITHDRAWAL OF THEIR BID DUE TO CLERICAL ERRORS. THE SECOND LOWEST BIDDER FOR THIS BID WAS LIVE ON CONSTRUCTION GROUP, AND THEIR BID TOTAL AMOUNT WAS MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLED OR AN ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE. FOR THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION, WE RECOMMEND TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS WD 0 8 25 FOR THE REMOVAL OF WATER WELL ANNEX 26 PROJECT AWARD, A CONTRACT TO LEAVE ON CONSTRUCTION GROUP IN A TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED 580,000 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 AMENDS. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS HAVE. THANK YOU, DANA. UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. JUST IS, THIS WAS AN INACTIVE, WELL HEADED, WHAT IS IT? AND WE'RE JUST, UM, EXPEDITING THE ABANDONMENT OF IT. WAS IT RE-DRILL OR IS IT, WAS IT A NECESSARY? WELL, AT ONE POINT, OBVIOUSLY. SO IS IT RE IS A RE-DRILL NEARBY OR IS THAT YET TO HAPPEN? ACTUALLY, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. SO WE HAVE A NEW WATER WELL PROJECT FOR DRILLING TWO NEW WELLS IN THE AREA. THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO BE REPLACING THIS WELL IN LOCATION IS GONNA BE CITIZENS EIGHT A, SO THAT THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS WELL WAS PLANNED TO BE DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT DRILLING. HOWEVER, OUR SCHEDULE HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK FOR BUDGETING FOR PUBLIC WORKS. THEY NEED THIS WELL TO BE DESTROYED TO ALLOW FOR THEIR PROJECT. SO WE'RE JUST SPEEDING UP THE SCHEDULE. MM-HMM . ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YEAH, JUST A A POINT OF CLARIFICATION. AND WE DESCRIBED TO YOU THE SKY LINK STORMWATER CAPTURE PROJECT, AND INDEED PUBLIC WORKS CAN TALK ABOUT REPLENISHING THE AQUIFER AND THERE IS A SURFACE AQUIFER, SO SURFACE NATURALLY THE GROUND UNDERNEATH OUR FEET, IT COLLECTS THE RAINWATER, AND THAT'S TRUE. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT REPLENISHING THE AQUIFER THAT WE PUMP FROM. SO IN GENERAL, THE ENTIRE SURFACE AREA OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH OVERLIES GROUNDWATER BASIN, BUT THE AQUIFER ZONES THAT WE PUMP FROM ARE CAPPED BY THE VARIOUS CLAY LAYERS, AND THERE IS NO DIRECT CONNECTION IN THIS CASE, THOUGH, IN TERMS OF PROTECTING THROUGH THE WELL CAVITY, WE ARE COVERING THAT UP. BUT THE SKYLING STORMWATER PROJECT ITSELF DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE IN ANY WAY TO OUR GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES BY CAPTURING THE STORMWATER. THANK YOU. EXCELLENT CLARIFICATION. ARE THEY GONNA PUMP WATER FROM STORM WATER? I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS OF THE PROJECT. UH, DANA MENTIONED THAT THEY INTEND TO USE IT IN SOME MANNER. UM, THERE'S WATER QUALITY ELEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. AND OUR FAMILIARITY WITH THAT IS THAT WHEN THEY DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT BECOMES INVOLVED. UTILITIES BECOME INVOLVED IN . NO, IT'S, IT'S AN OFFSET. SO THROUGH THROUGHOUT THIS, UH, COASTAL AREA, THE GROUNDWATER BASIN AND STORMWATER CAPTURE HAS THESE ELEMENTS WHERE STORMWATER CAPTURE IS AT ITS VERY BEST INTENDED TO BE REPURPOSED SOMEHOW. UH, WHEN THEY DO THAT, UM, IT IS A SPECIAL TYPE OF WATER, IF I CAN CALL IT THAT. IT DOESN'T FALL UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE TREATED DRINKING WATER, UH, ELEMENTS. IT FALLS UNDER PROBABLY PUBLIC HEALTH CODE. I'M REALLY REACHING THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT I CAN TALK ABOUT, AND I'M LOOKING AT TY TO KIND OF DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT. CAN YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN WHAT THEY'RE WATER? WE, WE WOULD HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE SENSE THAT IT OFFSETS TREATED DRINKING WATER OR OFFSETS RECYCLE WATER IN TERMS OF IRRIGATION. UM, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY OWNERSHIP [00:10:01] OF IT PER SE. UM, THE CAPTURE OF THE WATER, IT EXCEEDS AND GOES BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT IS CONSIDERED CONSIDERED REPLENISHMENT WATER TO THE GROUNDWATER BASIN. UM, SO IT HAS NO LEGAL RIGHT TO IT. IS THAT, IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH? GOOD. 'CAUSE THAT, I MEAN, THAT WAS LIKE GOING WAY BEYOND WHAT I'M ABLE TO TALK ABOUT. OKAY. THANK, THANK YOU. UH, OKAY. SO WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION CA UH, PASSES. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DANA. ITEM NUMBER FOUR, [4. 26-54490 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute all documents necessary to enter into an agreement, including any necessary subsequent amendments, with the State of California, Department of Community Services and Development (CSD), to provide direct credit of allocated federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to the Long Beach Public Utilities Department on behalf of qualifying low-income gas utility customers for a three-year period from April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2029.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT, INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT, CSD TO PROVIDE DIRECT CREDIT OF ALLOCATED FEDERAL LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, L-I-H-E-A-P, LIHEAP MAYBE, UH, FUNDS TO THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF QUALIFYING LOW INCOME GAS UTILITY CUSTOMERS FOR A THREE YEAR PERIOD FROM APRIL 1ST, 2026 THROUGH MARCH 31ST, 2029. IN ORDER TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION, MAY I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION? THANK YOU. AND SECOND, THANK YOU. UH, CALL ON TONY FOSTER FOR THE PRESENTATION. TONY, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. UH, THIS PRESENTATION PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED RENEWAL OF LONG BEACH UTILITIES PARTICIPATION IN THE LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OR LI HEAP. THE ITEM BEFORE THE BOARD REQUESTS AUTHORIZATION FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER TO ENTER INTO, ENTER INTO A NEW THREE YEAR AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL WOULD ALLOW LI HEAP FUNDS TO CONTINUE BEING CREDITED DIRECTLY TO QUALIFYING LONG BEACH UTILITY GAS CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS FROM APRIL 1ST, 2026 THROUGH MARCH 31ST, 2029. SO LI HEAP IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT HELPS LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS PAY FOR ENERGY COSTS. THROUGH THE DIRECT PAYMENT AGREEMENT, THE STATE SENDS APPROVED ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS DIRECTLY TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AND THOSE FUNDS ARE CREDITED TO CUSTOMER UTILITY ACCOUNTS. THIS APPROACH PROVIDES IMMEDIATE OR RELIEF FOR ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS WHILE ALLOWING THE UTILITY TO MAINTAIN NORMAL BILLING AND REVENUE COLLECTION PROCESSES. DURING THE CURRENT HEAP PROGRAM CYCLE, THE ONE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY UNDER THE PROGRAM HAS DEVELOPED MEANINGFUL ASSISTANCE TO LONG BEACH RESIDENTS. SO SINCE 2023, APPROXIMATELY 2.1 MILLION NLI HEAP FUNDS HAS BEEN APPLIED TO MORE THAN 3,300 LONG BEACH UTILITY GAS COUNTS. THESE PAYMENTS HELP REDUCE ENERGY BURDENS FOR VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY, UH, CONTINUITY OF SERVICE DURING PERIODS OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. SO CUSTOMERS SEEKING HEAP ASSISTANCE CAN APPLY THROUGH THE LI HEAP APPLICATION PORTAL OR THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERS SUCH AS THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP. ONCE ELIGIBILITY IS CONFIRMED, THE STATE ISSUES A PAYMENT DIRECTLY TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, WHICH IS THEN CREDITED TO THE CUSTOMER'S GAS ACCOUNTS PAYMENTS ARE TYPICALLY APPLIED OR PAYMENTS ARE TYPICALLY ISSUED ONCE PER YEAR, PER HOUSEHOLD HAS APPLIED AS A BILL CREDIT. CUSTOMERS SEEKING ASSISTANCE CAN APPLY THROUGH THE LI HEAP APPLICATION PORTAL AS WELL, OR THROUGH, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, AND THROUGH COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP. AND SO AGAIN, ONCE THAT, ONCE THE ELIGIBILITY IS CONFIRMED, UH, THE ADMINISTERING AGENCY IN THIS CASE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP WILL SEND THOSE FUNDS DIRECTLY TO THE CITY AND WE APPLY THEM IMMEDIATELY TO THE COUNCIL. SO STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO ENTER INTO THE NEW LI EAP DIRECT PAYMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD OF APRIL 1ST, 2026 THROUGH MARCH 31ST, 2029. CONTINUING PART, UH, PARTICIPATION ENSURES THAT ELIGIBLE LOW INCOME GAS CUSTOMER CUSTOMERS CAN RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHILE MAINTAINING STABLE BILLING AND REVENUE PRACTICES. FOR THE INCLUDES MY REPORT. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. TONY, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. TONY, WHO, UM, COMMUN THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE. COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP? YES. HOW DO THEY GET COMPENSATED FOR THAT? UH, THEY HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE, WHICH THEY [00:15:01] WILL GET PAID TO THE STATE FOR ADMINISTERING THESE FUNDS. SO IT'S FEDERALLY FUNDED BY, THEY GET PAID THROUGH THIS, THE STATE ON THAT. OKAY. AND WE HAVE ABOUT 3,300 AND LONG BEACH RESIDENTS THAT HAVE, YES, THAT'S HOW MANY, HOW MANY WE ASSISTED OVER THE LAST THREE YEAR TERM OF THIS. OKAY. SO I WONDER, DO WE HAVE ANY NUMBERS ON HOW MANY COULD, COULD QUALIFY? WELL, WE KNOW WHAT THE INCOME THRESHOLDS ARE. UM, IT'S BASED ON HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, IT'S 60% OF THE STATE MEDIAN INCOME. SO ANY HOUSEHOLD THAT FALLS WITHIN THAT INCOME THRESHOLD, UM, IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM. SO I HAVE SOME FIGURES HERE. SO FOR A HOUSEHOLD OF ONE PERSON, THAT THRESHOLD INCOME IS ABOUT 3,300 PER MONTH GROSS INCOME FOR A HOUSEHOLD OF FOUR PEOPLE, THAT'S ABOUT 6,400 PER MONTH. ANYONE MAKING LESS THAN THAT THRESHOLD IS ELIGIBLE FOR, AND I'M NAIVE ON THIS. I'M GONNA ASK A QUESTION NOW, YOU KNOW HOW WE HAVE MASTER METERS FOR WATER? WE DON'T HAVE THAT FOR GAS, FOR LIKE, FOR RE FOR OUR APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND THINGS LIKE THAT? NO. THERE ARE MASTER METER GAS ACCOUNTS. UM, IF A PERSON, THIS IS ELIGIBLE FOR PERSONS WHO HAVE A GAS ACCOUNT? CORRECT. OKAY. THERE'S ONLY AVAILABLE FOR ENERGY, SO THAT'S GAS OR ELECTRICITY. RIGHT. OKAY, THANK YOU. YES, YES. IT'S A YEAR. A YEAR. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. SO A CUSTOMER CAN ONLY, UH, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROGRAM ONCE PER YEAR. UM, THE FOLKS WHO WE FIND ARE APPLYING TO IT HAVE SORT OF ACCRUED A LARGE GAS ARREARAGE, AND SO IT WIPES OUT THAT ENTIRE AMOUNT AND CAN SPEAK TO A CUSTOMER THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH NOW WHERE THEY PAID APPROXIMATELY $1,300 IN A ONE TIME SHOT FOR, UH, SEVERAL YEARS OF GAS ARREARAGE. THEY LOOK AT WHAT THE GAS OR THE ENERGY ARREARAGE IS. IT'S THE SAME THING WITH THE ELECTRIC ACCOUNT. SO IF THE QUALIFYING CUSTOMER DEMONSTRATE AN ARREARAGE ON THEIR UTILITY BILL, THEN THAT'S THE CALCULATION FOR THE FUNDS RECEIPT. THEY DID, THEY DID DURING, UH, COVID PERIOD, UH, THERE WAS A BRIEF LIE PROGRAM FOR WATER HAS, GO AHEAD. REAL, I CAN ANSWER IT. UM, COMMISSIONER PARK, AND I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT THAT, THE STATE LEGISLATURE'S LOOKING AT THE LOW INCOME RATE ASSISTANCE, BUT IT'S TAKING A WHILE TO GET THERE. COMMISSIONER, I THINK THIS IS GREAT FOR THOSE WHO WERE EXPERIENCING HARDSHIP. UM, IT'S A GREAT SERVICE. I JUST HAD SOME, A QUESTION RELATED TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CUSTOMER, LONG BEACH UTILITIES AND LONG BEACH CAP. UH, SOMEONE I WOULD ASSUME IT STARTS WITH A CONTACT WITH LONG BEACH UTILITIES. THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, YES. RIGHT. UM, AND THEN THEY'RE REFERRED TO LONG BEACH CAP, CORRECT? UH, FOR ASSISTANCE POTENTIAL. OKAY. UM, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PART WAS, THAT'S CORRECT. THE INCOME, UH, SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION SENT TO LB VERIFIED SO THEY DO THE ELIGIBILITY. THAT'S CORRECT. SCREENING. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH. UH, JUST SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. COMMISSIONER P YOU ASKED ABOUT RATE ASSISTANCE FOR WATER. AND SO PROP TWO 18 CONTINUES TO HAVE BOTH BENEFITS AND NEGATIVES. AND THEN ONE OF THE NEGATIVES IS THAT INHERENTLY FOR MUNICIPAL UTILITIES, THEY DON'T HAVE AN ABILITY TO PROVIDE RATE ASSISTANCE. UH, P-U-C-P-U-C INVESTOR OWNED UTILITIES, UH, FOR WATER. THEY DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHARGE IN A PARTICULAR MANNER, UH, AND CAN DEVELOP RATE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SUBJECT TO THE GOVERNANCE OF THE PUC. THEY COULD, AND THAT REPRESENTS THE VERY NATURE OF THE PUBLIC DEBATE, UH, TO THE EXTENT THAT STATE FUNDS HAVE BEEN COMMITTED FOR THE INTERESTS OF SERVING CUSTOMERS FOR WATER. UH, YOU MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE SAFE AND AFFORDABLE DRINKING WATER ACT, WHICH INTENDED TO CONNECT OVER MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY THAT DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN SAFE WATER. SO THERE WAS A COMMITMENT, AND THAT CONTINUES TO BE A FUNDING COMMITMENT THERE. BUT A BROADER BASED RATE ASSISTANCE BASED ON INCOME AND AFFORDABILITY CONTINUES TO BE TRYING TO FIND SOME NEXUS UNDER WHICH THE STATE COULD TECHNICALLY COMMIT FUNDS ON A REGULAR BASIS RATHER THAN ONE TIME. WHAT TONY POINTED [00:20:01] OUT WAS THERE WAS INDEED ONE TIME, UH, BENEFITS AFTER THE COVID PANDEMIC AND AS A RESULT OF IT TO TRY TO PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE WITH, UH, WITH THE BILLS. BUT IT WAS A ONE TIME THING. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU. THE ITEM PASSES AND ITEM NUMBER FIVE, RECOMMENDATION [5. 26-54491 Recommendation to receive and file the February 19, 2026 Resources Committee Report.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE FEBRUARY. OH, I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. TONY RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE FEBRUARY 19TH RESOURCES COMMITTEE REPORT IN ORDER TO HEAR THE REPORT. MAY PLEASE HAVE A MOTION MOVE SECOND AND SECOND. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, CALL ON VICE PRESIDENT FOR, UM, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WE HAD OUR, UH, COMMISSIONER AUSTIN AND I HAD A, A COMMITTEE MEETING, A RESOURCES COMMITTEE MEETING. IT WAS OUR FIRST MEETING AND WE HAD TWO PRESENTATIONS. UH, DEAN WAS VERY THOROUGH ON WHAT HE GAVE US. UM, THE FIRST WAS A PRESENTATION THAT WAS ON THE WATER SUPPLY UPDATE, UH, WHICH GAVE US THE, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT LOCAL RAINFALL, WHICH WE ALL KNOW WE EXPERIENCED EARLIER IN THE YEAR, WHICH WAS ABOVE AVERAGE FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR. AND IT WAS ABLE TO REPLENISH SOME OF THE GROUNDWATER REPLENISHMENT UP TO ABOUT 99% OF OPTIMUM QUALITY ALSO ALLOWED THE STATE WATER PROJECT. UH, OVERALL PRECIPITATION WAS ABOUT 117% OF NORMAL, WHICH IS GREAT FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR, AS WE ALL KNOW, DUE TO THE WARM WEATHERS AND THE ABOVE, UH, WEATHER THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN TERMS OF HEAT, UH, WHICH HAS BEEN FLUCTUATING. UH, THIS WILL ONLY RESULT IN ABOUT A 43% OF NORMAL FOR THE SNOW PACK, WHICH IS A REAL PROBLEM. UH, THE STATE WATER PROJECT ALLOCATION WAS UPDATED TO ABOUT 30%, WHICH AS YOU ALL KNOW, ALLOWS METROPOLITAN TO THEN, UH, IF THEY DON'T USE A LOT OF THIS, WE DON'T USE A LOT OF THIS WATER. WE CAN, UH, THEN, UH, PUT THIS INTO STORAGE. SO, UM, THAT, THAT'S ONE POSITIVE THING. UM, SECOND, WHAT PRESENTATION WAS GIVEN ON THE, UH, AN UPDATE ON THE WATER REPLENISHMENT DISTRICT? UM, THERE'S A, UH, COMMITTEE CALLED THE WATER PUMPERS COMMITTEE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THAT'S WHAT IT IS, AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AND IT, UH, GIVES PUMPERS SUCH AS LONG BEACH, UH, AN IMPORTANT FORUM TO ENGAGE IN, UH, WITH THE BOARD STAFF REGARDING PROPOSED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, BUDGET RESERVES, AND THE REPLACEMENT ASSESSMENT. REPLENISHMENT ASSESSMENT. I'M SORRY. UM, THIS REPRESENTATION OF THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS CHANGED TO PROVIDE FOR EQUAL REPRESENTATION, UH, AMONG THE WEST BASIN, THE CENTRAL BASIN, AND ALSO ALLOW FOR, UM, ADDITIONAL DISPROPORTIONAL PUMPING THAT HAS OCCURRED IN EACH BASIN. GOING FORWARD. THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL THEN BE COMPRISED OF THREE REPRESENTATIVES, ONE FROM THE WEST BASIN, ONE FROM THE CENTRAL BASIN, AND THREE FROM LARGE PUMPERS WHO HAVE RIGHTS IN BOTH OF THOSE BASIN. AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE, WE PRESIDE IN BOTH, UH, THE WEST, UH, BASIN AND IN CENTRAL BASIN. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH. GO AHEAD. I'LL JUST REMARK THE CHAIR DID A WELL DONE JOB HERE IN TERMS OF, UH, PRESENTING ALL OF THAT GREAT CONTENT IN THREE OR FOUR MINUTES. WELL DONE. GOOD JOB. AND I'LL PASS THAT ALONG TO OUR STAFF. VERY ARE ALWAYS ON TOP OF IT, SO APPRECIATE WHOEVER WROTE THIS REPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I'M PROBABLY DEAN OR SOMEONE. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO RECEIVE, UH, A LET'S SEE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU. UH, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, [PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Utilities Commission on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Board.] UH, IS NOW OPEN. IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A NON AGENDA ITEM? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONPUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. UH, ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? [ANNOUNCEMENTS] JUST A COUPLE OF OF VERBAL ANNOUNCEMENTS. UH, JUST FOR NEWS, UH, ASPECT, UH, THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER FOR LOS ANGELES, DENISE QUINONE, UM, HAS RESIGNED. UM, THERE CAN BE ANY NUMBER OF INTERPRETATIONS OF THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I UNDER, I UNDERSTAND, I HAVEN'T READ DIRECTLY MYSELF, IS THAT SHE'LL BE MOVING, UH, TO PUERTO RICO, UH, TO HELP WITH THE REBUILDING OF THE ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE. THE ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WAS DEVASTATED IN PUERTO RICO AS A RESULT OF THE HURRICANE. THERE'S BEEN INTENSE LABOR EFFORTS TO TRY TO RESTORE THE GRID, ALL KINDS OF ISSUES SURROUNDING THAT. BUT IN EFFECT, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT COMPLETELY RESTORED. THE COUNTRY CONTINUES TO SUFFER, UH, FROM AN IMBALANCE IN TERMS OF DELIVERING ELECTRICAL SUPPLY. THE COLORADO, UH, RIVER NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE ON. I KNOW YOU WERE AT THE CONFERENCE, YOU HEARD DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. UM, I THINK FOR SOME OF YOU, I, I HIGHLIGHTED THAT IT'S [00:25:01] AN INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE WHEN THE PARTIES THAT ARE NEGOTIATING ARE TRYING TO BE CORDIAL WITH EACH OTHER AND THEY TRY TO RESTATE THE OTHER PERSON'S POSITION AND THEN USE THE WORD, BUT, UH, TO THEN MOVE ON TO THEIRS, UM, CORDIAL, BUT PERHAPS STILL ADVERSARIAL. UM, UNDERLYING THE, THE ADVERSARIAL ASPECTS OF THAT IS WHAT I WOULD CALL SOME VERY, VERY SIMPLE MATH. AND THE VERY SIMPLE MATH OF IT IS THAT THE UPPER BASIN USES SOMEWHERE ON THE ORDER OF 4 MILLION ACRE FEET. SO THE OPERATING NUMBER IS FOUR, AND THE LOWER BASIN HAS CHAMPIONED ITS EFFORTS IN CONSERVATION AND ADJUSTING ITS DEMANDS, AND HAS MOVED FROM SEVEN AND A HALF DOWN TO SIX. SO SIX AND FOUR, SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 10. HOWEVER, NO ONE HAS EVER ACCOUNTED FOR THE FACT THAT WATER EVAPORATES. AND SO THEREFORE, WHEN YOU TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT PHYSICAL WATER IS DELIVERED ON THE ORDER OF THE NUMBER SIX, YOU HAVE TO AT LEAST ADD ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE ALL OF THAT'S GONNA EVAPORATE BY THE TIME YOU TRY TO ACTUALLY PUT IT INTO AN OUTPUT ACT. SO THAT'S ABOUT SEVEN. AND THEN IF YOU ADD THE OTHER PERFECTED RIGHTS FOR MEXICO AND FOR THE TRIBES, YOU GET YOURSELF TO EIGHT. SO SIX PLUS ONE PLUS ONE IS EIGHT. THAT WILL ALL BE WELL AND GOOD BECAUSE EIGHT PLUS FOUR IS 12. AND IF 12 WAS TRULY DELIVERED ON THE SYSTEM, THEN EVERYBODY ABOVE AND EVERYBODY BELOW WOULD BE OKAY. NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THE UPPER BASIN SAYS, I NEED MORE THAN FOUR BECAUSE I'M ENTITLED TO GROW. BUT LET'S HOLD IT AT 12. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IS THAT, UM, UNFORTUNATELY IT HASN'T BEEN 12 RECENTLY. IT'S BEEN NINE IS WHAT ACTUALLY THE BASIN HAS YIELDED. AND IF ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL IS WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY, THAT MEANS THAT COMING TO THE LOWER BASIN THAT NEEDS EIGHT IS FIVE, FIVE IS WHAT ACTUALLY COULD BE RELEASED FROM LAKE POWELL. AND THAT IMBALANCE BETWEEN FIVE AND EIGHT OF 3 MILLION ACRE FEET IS SOMETHING NOBODY IN THE LOWER BASIN IS PREPARED TO DEAL WITH. UH, TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF CALIFORNIA, CALIFORNIA IS 4.4 MILLION ACRE FEET. METROPOLITAN'S ENTIRE DRAW FROM THE AQUEDUCT, UH, AS A PRIORITY, RIGHT, IS 550,000 ACRE FEET. ONCE AGAIN, YOU CAN TAKE IT TO ZERO AND YOU'RE STILL NOT GONNA COME CLOSE TO 3 MILLION ACRE FEET, FIRST GRADE MATH. BUT IN ESSENCE, THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY'S FIGHTING ABOUT ON COLORADO ON THE FINANCIAL FRONT. METROPOLITAN CONTINUES ITS BUDGET PROCESS. IT IS, UH, TRYING TO STRIKE A BALANCE ON RATE INCREASES IN THIS TWO YEAR CYCLE OF BUDGET AND RATES THAT IT'S GOING FOR. THE MORE DISTURBING ELEMENT IS THAT IN TERMS OF THE MAJOR DECISIONS IT HAS AHEAD, THE 10 YEAR FORECAST HAS CHANGED TO STRAIGHT 9% RATE INCREASES OUT INTO THE FUTURE. UM, I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAD THAT ACCURATELY FORECASTED OURSELVES AND OUR 10 YEAR FINANCE PLAN. SO AS WE GO FORWARD IN DEALING WITH THE BUDGET WITH YOU, WE'LL BE UPDATING THE 10 YEAR FINANCE PLAN TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT. UH, COMMISSIONER CORDERO MENTIONED THAT AT THE RESOURCES COMMITTEE WE TALKED ABOUT THE BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR W-R-D-W-R-D ITSELF IS FACING PRESSURES AND WHAT HAD BEEN HISTORICALLY SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF THREE TO 4% INCREASE IN THE REPLENISHMENT. ASSESSMENT IS CURRENTLY PROPOSED AT 13.5%. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'LL STAY THERE. I BELIEVE IT'LL COME DOWN, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S GONNA BE THREE TO 4% EITHER. SO AS WE GO INTO BUDGET CYCLE, WE'LL BE DEALING WITH THOSE, UH, IMPACTS TO BUDGET AS WELL. AND WE WILL SHAPE ALL THAT UP INTO WHAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH, WITH YOU AND THE BOARD, UH, AS WE HEAD INTO MAY. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMENT. JUST TO PUT A CAP ON THE, UM, COLORADO RIVER, IF I MAY. UM, THE REAL CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS NO DECISION MADE, WHICH WE HAVEN'T TO THIS POINT. UM, THERE STILL HAS TO BE A DECISION AND THERE'S, THERE WILL BE A DECISION 'CAUSE THERE'LL BE LESS WATER. SO WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN THEN, EVEN IF A DECISION ISN'T MADE? THE SECOND, AND THE BIGGEST THING IS THE LITIGATION ASPECT. METROPOLITAN SPENT ABOUT $22 MILLION ON LITIGATION WITH SAN DIEGO AND SAN DIEGO SPENT ABOUT THE SAME THING. SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT $40 MILLION SPENT, THAT'S JUST TWO AGENCIES, ONE BIG ONE, AND ONE THAT'S SMALLER. YOU IMAGINE WITH SEVEN BASIN STATES AND, AND EACH, AND THEN HAVING TO GO TO THE SUPREME COURT, NOT JUST THE LITIGATION ITSELF, BUT THEN THE TIME AND THE MONEY. SO THERE'S, UH, MANY THINGS TO CONSIDER AND ALL THAT, WHILE WE'RE STILL GONNA SEE THE RIVER, THE FLOW OF THE RIVER, THE RELEASES FROM POWELL TO MEAD WILL BE GOING DOWN. WE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT IF WE COULD, AT SOME POINT, IF THINGS DON'T GET BETTER AND WE DON'T FIND A WAY TO REDUCE ALLOCATION ON BOTH BASINS UPPER AND LOWER, UM, THAT THERE MAY BE A TIME WHEN WE WILL HAVE TO SAY WE'RE GONNA TURN WATER OFF AT A CERTAIN TIME OF DAY. I MEAN, WE'VE, WE'VE DONE THAT IN MEXICO. WE DID, THEY DID THAT. THERE'S OTHER COUNTRIES THAT HAVE DONE THAT. I REMEMBER GOING [00:30:01] TO VISIT A FAMILY IN, IN MEXICO WHO HAD A VERY NICE HOUSE, BUT THEY SAID, OKAY, AFTER, YOU KNOW, FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING AFTERNOON, WATER WILL BE REDUCED SO LOW THAT YOU PROBABLY CAN'T TAKE A SHOWER. SO YOU GOTTA GET, I MEAN, IT'S CRAZY TO THINK ABOUT THAT. BUT THEN IT WAS ALSO CRAZY TO THINK THAT WE'D GO THROUGH A PANDEMIC. SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE ON THE LINE RIGHT NOW. THEY HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN THEY MAKE DECISIONS AND IT'S REALLY TOUGH. IT'S VERY, VERY TOUGH, UM, AT THIS POINT. SO NEWS AT 11. THANK YOU. YEAH, THANK YOU. SOBERING FOOD FOR THOUGHT. UH, JUST ONE MORE ANNOUNCEMENT, JUST A REMINDER, AT 10:00 AM THE INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE WILL BE MEETING, UH, IT'S LED BY EXECUTIVE LEAD TYING, UH, OUR COMMITTEE CHAIRS AL AUSTIN, COMMITTEE MEMBER CHARLES PARKIN. UM, UH, AND THE, UH, JUST JUST BECAUSE THIS IS NEW TO EVERYBODY, JUST A LITTLE REMINDER, INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE PROVIDES STRATEGIC OVERSIGHT OF THE DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY TO DELIVER SAFE, RELIABLE, AND EFFICIENT UTILITY SERVICES ACROSS WATER, SEWER, AND GAS SYSTEMS, REVIEWS, PERFORMANCE, RISK MANAGEMENT, AND OPERATIONAL RESILIENCE TO ENSURE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND WORKFORCE CAN SUSTAIN CONTINUOUS 24 7 OPERATIONS. INVITE YOU TO JOIN US FOR THAT COMMITTEE MEETING AND THIS MEETING [ADJOURNMENT] IS NOW 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.