Water Commission (now under Utilities Commission)

CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE/WEB, 9:00 AM MINUTES Harry Saltzgaver, President Robert Shannon, Commissioner Frank Martinez, Vice President Gloria Cordero, Commissioner Arthur Levine, Secretary Christopher J. Garner, General Manager Richard Anthony, Deputy City Attorney REGULAR MEETING FINISHED AGENDA & FINAL MINUTES The Water Commission minutes are prepared and ordered to correspond to the Water Commission agenda. Agenda items can be taken out of order during the meeting. The agenda items were considered in the order presented. CALL TO ORDER The Board of Water Commission regular meeting was called to order by President Saltzgaver at 9:00 A.M. This regular meeting was held via teleconference pursuant to Executive Order N-29-20 issued by Governor Gavin Newsom. ROLL CALL Executive Assistant to the Board, Sandra Fox took the roll call and confirmed a quorum. She noted that Commissioner Martinez and Commissioner Levine were absent and would be excused. Also present: Christopher J. Garner, General Manager; B. Anatole Falagan, Assistant General Manager; Tai Tseng, Assistant General Manager - Operations; Sean Crumby, Deputy General Manager - Engineering; Sandra Fox, Executive Assistant to the Board. PUBLIC COMMENT 1. 20-107WA June 25, 2020 Board of Water Commission Meeting Public Comments Page 1 of 7 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE/WEB, 9:00 AM MINUTES President Saltzgaver opened the public comment period and asked if any written public comment had been received. Ms. Fox advised no written public comment had been received for the June 25, 2020 Board meeting. President Saltzgaver then inquired if there was any public on the line who would like to speak. Hearing none, he closed the public comment period. PRESIDENT'S REPORT President Saltzgaver discussed the determination of the format for the upcoming Prop. 218 Public Hearing to be held on August 27, 2020.. He advised at this time the plan was to hold an in-person meeting with social distancing mandates in place. He noted that if any Commissioner or staff felt uncomfortable with attending an in-person meeting a telelconference of this meeting would be set up for log-in or call-in access. He advised if the State had set in place by the date of this meeting that in-person meetings could not take place, then a teleconference/web meeting would be confirmed, and re-noticing of the meeting would have to take place. GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT Mr. Garner provided a COVID update. He noted that all of the field personnel were back at work and fully operational. He noted for the most part office staff was continuing to work from home, and rotating into the office at times. He advised he expected this plan to continue through the summer at this time. He advised the City is working on establishing COVID protocols such as temperature checks before personnel could go to their work stations, etc. He noted the Department would be working closely with city Human Resources staff regarding these types of decisions. He noted the Port is currently using this protocol as a pilot program. Mr. Wang provided an AMI update and how the COVID crisis had affected installations. He advised that suspension of installations had taken place from March 20, through May 15th. He advised the end date for the project had been moved to March 1, 2021 in light of the temporary suspension of installations. He provided an update on the current AMI installation schedule. Mr. Garner made comments regarding the relationship with the installation company. President Saltzgaver asked about the status for manual meter reading. Page 2 of 7 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE/WEB, 9:00 AM MINUTES Mr. Wang responded. Mr. Falagan provided an update regarding delinquent utility bills, revenue loss and the moratorium on shut-offs due to the COVID crisis. Commissioner Shannon inquired what the temperature break point for staff checks was. Mr. Garner it was 100.4 for staff. REVIEW JULY 2020 BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE 2. 20-108WA Review Board meeting schedule for July 2020 Board meetings President Saltzgaver reviewed the July 2020 Board meeting schedule with the Commissioners. He advised he had had a request to move the July 9th meeting to July 2nd. The Board agreed to meet on July 2nd and July 23rd. 3. 20-109WA Recommendation to approve minutes of the May 7, 2020 Special Meeting A motion was made by Commissioner Cordero, seconded by Commissioner Shannon, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 3 - Harry Saltzgaver, Robert Shannon and Gloria Cordero Excused: 2 - Frank Martinez and Art Levine REGULAR AGENDA 4. 20-110WA Recommendation to approve Transfer of Funds by Journal Entry dated June 25, 2020 BUREAU: Business - Finance President Saltzgaver called for a motion on agenda item 4. Page 3 of 7 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE/WEB, 9:00 AM MINUTES Commissioner Shannon asked the City Attorney about item 159. - sewer transfer; requesting standards used regarding this type of transfer in relation to Prop. 218. Mr. Anthony responded. Commissioner Shannon also inquired about item 138. and maximum transfer amounts. Mr. Garner responded. President Saltzgaver called for any public comment. Hearing none he called for a roll call vote. A motion was made by Commissioner Cordero, seconded by Commissioner Shannon, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 3 - Harry Saltzgaver, Robert Shannon and Gloria Cordero Excused: 2 - Frank Martinez and Art Levine 5. 20-111WA Recommendation to Adopt Resolution No. WD-1432 authorizing the General Manager to sign and file all necessary documents associated with the application for the United States Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation Fiscal Year 2021 WaterSMART Drought Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for New Wells Alamitos 9A and Alamitos 9A and Alamitos 14. BUREAU: Legislation & Grants Ms. Croci provided the staff report. President Saltzgaver asked if the matching funds is part of the 2020-2021 budget. Mr. Crumby responded. Commissioner Shannon asked if LBWD did not receive this grant, then the department would move forward with this project at the fully budgeted amount. Page 4 of 7 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE/WEB, 9:00 AM MINUTES Mr. Crumby responded yes. Commissioner Shannon requested further clarification regarding these types of projects. Commissioner Cordero commented. She requested a list of who in California is being awarded these types of grants. Ms. Croci advised she would research this request and provide this information to the Board at a future meeting. Commissioner Shannon made general comments regarding grants. Mr. Garner responded. President Saltzgaver called for any public comment. Hearing none he called for a motion. A motion was made by Commissioner Cordero, seconded by Commissioner Shannon, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 3 - Harry Saltzgaver, Robert Shannon and Gloria Cordero Excused: 2 - Frank Martinez and Art Levine 6. 20-112WA Recommendation to Adopt Resolution No. WD-1431 amending Resolution No. WD-1411 creating offices and positions in the permanent service of the Long Beach Water Department, fixing the amount of compensation for such offices and positions, and rescinding all other resolutions or orders relating thereto. BUREAU: Administration Mr. Bott provided the staff report and presentation for agenda item 6. He reviewed all of the changes that were made in this amendment to the salary resolution. President Saltzgaver called for any Commission comments or questions. He then called for any public comment. Hearing none he called for a motion and a roll call vote. Page 5 of 7 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE/WEB, 9:00 AM MINUTES A motion was made by Commissioner Shannon, seconded by Commissioner Cordero, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 3 - Harry Saltzgaver, Robert Shannon and Gloria Cordero Excused: 2 - Frank Martinez and Art Levine CONSIDER STANDING COMMITTEE REFERRALS President Saltzgaver called for any Standing Committee referrals. Hearing none he moved on in the agenda. NEW BUSINESS President Saltzgaver called for a motion to excuse Commissioner Martinez and Commissioner Levine from the June 25, 2020 Board meeting. Commissioner Cordero made the motion, and Commissioner Shannon seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Three yes, 2 absent (Martinez and Levine). ADJOURNMENT President Saltzgaver adjourned the meeting at 9:31 A.M. to the July 2, 2020 special meeting at 9:00 A.M. that will be held via teleconference/web. Page 6 of 7 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE/WEB, 9:00 AM MINUTES NOTE: If written language translation of the Commission agenda and minutes for non-English speaking persons is desired, please make your request by phone to the Office of the City Clerk at (562) 570-6101, 72 business hours prior to the Commission meeting. Kung nais ang pagsasalin ng nakasulat na wika ng agenda ng Komisyon at ang minutes para sa mga taong hindi nagsasalita ng Ingles, mangyaring isagawa ang iyong hiling sa pamamagitan ng telepono sa Opisina ng Clerk ng Lungsod sa (562) 570-6101, 72 oras ng negosyo bago ang pagpupulong ng Commission. Si desea obtener la traducción escrita en otro idioma de la agenda y actas de la comisión para personas que no hablan inglés, haga su solicitud por teléfono a la Oficina de la Secretaría Municipal al (562) 570-6101, 72 horas hábiles antes de la reunión de la comisión. Page 7 of 7