Water Commission (now under Utilities Commission)

CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE/WEB, 9:00 AM MINUTES Frank Martinez, President Robert Shannon, Secretary Arthur Levine, Vice President Gloria Cordero, Commissioner Naomi Rainey, Commissioner Christopher J. Garner, General Manager Richard Anthony, Deputy City Attorney REGULAR MEETING - 9:00 A.M. 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 meeting was called to order by President Martinez at 9:00 A.M. This 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. Also present: Christopher J. Garner, General Manager; B. Anatole Falagan, Assistant General Manager; Tai Tseng, Assistant General Manager - Operations; Sandra Fox, Executive Assistant to the Board. Commissioners Gloria Cordero, Naomi Rainey, Robert Shannon, Art Levine and Present: Frank Martinez Page 1 of 9 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE/WEB, 9:00 AM MINUTES PUBLIC COMMENT President Martinez 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 October 29, 2020 Board meeting. President Martinez then inquired if there was any public on the line who would like to speak. Hearing none, he closed the public comment period. 1. 20-178WA October 29, 2020 Board of Water Commission meeting public comments. President Martinez 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 October 29, 2020 Board meeting. President Martinez 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 Martinez welcomed the newest Board member, Ms. Naomi Rainey. Commissioner Rainey made remarks. President Martinez reported to the Board that he had received a thank you from the Mayor for the Board's memorial donation to California State Long Beach in memory of his mother. President Martinez announced the recent passing of Ken Bott's mother. President Martinez reminded the Board that they would be having another Board meeting on November 5, 2020. President Martinez reviewed current Standing Committee assignments. He invited Commissioner Rainey to let him know what Standing Committee she might be interested in serving on. Page 2 of 9 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE/WEB, 9:00 AM MINUTES Commissioner Rainey advised at this point in time she would be interested in serving on the Communications Committee. GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT Mr. Garner commented on the upcoming City of Long Beach election. He advised that Ms. Crocci had brought to his attention that the City of Los Angeles City Council had recently authorized $50 million from their recent CARES Act payment to fund low income utility payments. He noted the customers would need to apply for this one-time grant of $500 to be used to pay gas bills; cell phone/internet bills; or cable bills. He pointed out that payment for water bills or electric bills was not mentioned for this program. He reported that the City of Long Beach had received $40 million in CARES funding from the federal government. He reported that in July the City Council had allocated these funds - making half of the funding available to the Health Department to fund COVID related expenses. He noted the balance of these funds were set aside for community services such as housing, homelessness; digital inclusion and business recovery expenses. He reported that he had reached out to Assistant City Manager, Linda Tatum to see if all of that funding had not been allocated that the City Council might consider a similar program like the one authorized by Los Angeles City Council for utility customers in Long Beach. She advised she would look into this issue. He advised the Board that they would be receiving a cubby item via e-mail that contained a report on the Office of Sustainability and how the LBWD funding had been used per the MOU. He noted this was in response to a request from Commissioner Shannon made at a previous meeting. He also spoke about the recent LBWD employee newsletter and advised the Board staff would be sending them a copy of the recent publication. Page 3 of 9 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE/WEB, 9:00 AM MINUTES REGULAR AGENDA 2. 20-180WA Recommendation to approve Transfer of Funds dated October 29, 2020. BUREAU: Business - Finance President Martinez introduced agenda item 2. Transfer of Funds and called for a motion. He called for any Commission questions or comments; he then called for any public comments. Hearing none he called for a roll call vote. A motion was made by Secretary Shannon, seconded by Commissioner Cordero, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5 - Gloria Cordero, Naomi Rainey, Robert Shannon, Art Levine and Frank Martinez 3. 20-181WA Recommendation to Adopt Specifications WD-14-20, and authorize the General Manager to execute an agreement with Golden Bell Products, Inc., to provide roach control services for sanitary sewer manholes in the City of Long Beach, in an amount not to exceed $168,100.00 for a period of one year, and to authorize the General Manager to exercise the option to renew for two additional one-year periods, subject to a maximum annual increase of 6 percent BUREAU: Operations President Martinez introduced agenda item 3. Ms. Rojas provided a staff report and shared a video with the Board related to this agenda item. Commissioner Shannon inquired about the previous contract for this service. Page 4 of 9 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE/WEB, 9:00 AM MINUTES Ms. Rojas responded. Commissioner Shannon asked additional questions regarding the bid. Ms. Rojas responded. President Martinez called for any other Commission questions or comments. He then called for any public comment. Hearing none he called for a roll call vote. A motion was made by Vice President Levine, seconded by Commissioner Cordero, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5 - Gloria Cordero, Naomi Rainey, Robert Shannon, Art Levine and Frank Martinez 4. 20-182WA Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to Execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Board of Water Commissioners of the City of Long Beach and the Board of Harbor Commissioners of the City of Long Beach to Relocate Existing Water and Sewer Utilities within the Port of Long Beach area for the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility (ODRSF) Project. BUREAU: Engineering President Martinez introduced agenda item 5. Mr. Dennis Santos provided the staff report. President Martinez called for any Commission comments or questions. He then asked if Long Beach Water had a budget for this project. Mr. Santos responded. President Martinez called for any other questions or comments from the Board. Hearing none he called for any public comment. He then called for a roll call vote. Page 5 of 9 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE/WEB, 9:00 AM MINUTES A motion was made by Secretary Shannon, seconded by President Martinez, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5 - Gloria Cordero, Naomi Rainey, Robert Shannon, Art Levine and Frank Martinez 5. 20-183WA Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute all necessary documents associated with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Stormwater for Direct Use Pilot Program Agreement for the Rancho Los Cerritos Looking Back to Advance Forward Project. BUREAU: Water Resources President Martinez introduced agenda item 5. Mr. Dean Wang provided the staff report. President Martinez called for any Commission comments or questions. Commissioner Cordero congratulated Rancho Los Cerritos regarding this project. She noted they had successfully received a grant from MWD, and advised they were seeking additional funding possibly from the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy. President Martinez made closing comments regarding the project. President Martinez called for any public comment. Hearing none he called for a roll call vote. A motion was made by Commissioner Cordero, seconded by Secretary Shannon, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5 - Gloria Cordero, Naomi Rainey, Robert Shannon, Art Levine and Frank Martinez Page 6 of 9 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE/WEB, 9:00 AM MINUTES 6. 20-184WA Recommendation to authorize Board and/or manager attendance at the Association of California Water Agencies December 2 - 3, 2020 Virtual Fall Conference BUREAU: Board of Water Commissioners President Martinez provided background information regarding the ACWA fall virtual conference. He called for a motion. Commissioner Shannon made a motion to receive and file this item in order to make a statement. President Martinez made additional comments. He then called for a roll call vote. Receive and file. Yes: 4 - Gloria Cordero, Robert Shannon, Art Levine and Frank Martinez Abstain: 1 - Naomi Rainey 7. 20-185WA Recommendation to adopt Resolution WD-1435 authorizing an amendment to the terms of compensation for the General Manager. BUREAU: Board of Water Commissioners President Martinez introduced agenda item 7. Mr. Bott provided a summary of this item. President Martinez called for a motion. Mr. Garner spoke. Commissioner Shannon spoke. Commissioner Cordero spoke. Page 7 of 9 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE/WEB, 9:00 AM MINUTES He then called for any additional Commission comments and public comment. Hearing none he called for a roll call vote. A motion was made by Commissioner Cordero, seconded by Secretary Shannon, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5 - Gloria Cordero, Naomi Rainey, Robert Shannon, Art Levine and Frank Martinez CONSIDER STANDING COMMITTEE REFERRALS President Martinez called for any Standing Committee referrals. There were none. NEW BUSINESS President Martinez called for any new business. He asked Director Cordero to provide an MWD update. Director Cordero commented on the MWD General Manager recruitment. President Martinez inquired when a description of the MWD General Manager position would be released. Director Cordero responded sometime in November. ADJOURNMENT President Martinez adjourned the meeting at 9:35 A.M. to the next teleconference meeting of November 5, 2020 at 9:00 A.M. Page 8 of 9 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 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 9 of 9