Water Commission (now under Utilities Commission)

CITY OF LONG BEACH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE, 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 Special 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 Martinez at 9:00 A.M. This special meeting was held via teleconference pursuant to Executive Order N-29-20 issued by Governor Gavin Newsom. ROLL CALL Executive Assistant, 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 and Frank Present: Martinez Commissioners Art Levine Excused: PUBLIC COMMENT Page 1 of 14 CITY OF LONG BEACH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE, 9:00 AM MINUTES 1. 21-068WA Recommendation to receive April 28, 2021 public comments report. President Martinez called for any public comment. He asked if any other written public comment had been received.. Ms. Fox responded no. Hearing no public comment President Martinez closed the public comment period. PRESIDENT'S REPORT President Martinez announced that Commissioner Levine was absent from the April 28, 2021 board meeting. President Martinez thanked Ms. Weatherly for coordinating the April 23, 2021 Communications Workshop. He advised he looked forward to seeing the final plan when developed. President Martinez called on Metropolitan Water District (MWD) Director Gloria Cordero for a report for the March 9, 2021 MWD Board meeting. She provided an update on the MWD General Manager search, and noted some of the public comments that had been received for that agenda item. Director Cordero advised she would like to see MWD create a vision statement. She noted that she has spoken to other MWD directors regarding this topic and looked forward to further discussions with them. She provided comments regarding the current drought conditions that are affecting California and the Western United States. She advised that the MWD Drought Contingency Plan would be renegotiated in 2026. But she advised that discussions are already taking place regarding this document and conditions on the Colorado River. President Martinez spoke about the opinion piece in the April 28, 2021 LA Times regarding the drought. Page 2 of 14 CITY OF LONG BEACH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE, 9:00 AM MINUTES He requested that staff provide an update at a future meeting regarding the Long Beach Water Department water restrictions that were implemented in the past, and where LBWD currently stands regarding these restrictions. Mr. Garner spoke about the current water availability from MWD in case of a worsening drought and steps that MWD has taken to mitigate drought conditions for their customers. President Martinez spoke about a previous Board workshop held at Rancho Los Alamitos where some of the discussions regarding water availability and conservation had been discussed. Director Cordero spoke about the recent teleconference meetings that she and President Martinez (along with management staff) participated in with local and national legislators. She advised one of the topics mentioned during these discussions was the drop in water usage in California compared to the 1990's. She spoke about how climate change has affected precipitation, water runoff and water storage in California and the Western United States. GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT Mr. Garner advised the Commission that the City Manager had sent out an e-mail to all employees a few days back giving them a 30-day notice regarding a potential return to offices in mid-June. He advised this will depend on COVID restrictions and number of cases identified in the county. He said that he feels they will safely be able to bring the balance of the office personnel back to their offices. He reported that all employees have now had the opportunity to receive the COVID vaccination. He advised it had been reported that the city had administered 200,000 vaccinations, and that 94% of Long Beach seniors had received their vaccinations. REGULAR AGENDA 2. 21-069WA Recommendation to approve April 28, 2021 Transfer of Funds. Bureau: Business - Finance President Martinez called for a motion to approve the April 28, 2021 Transfer of Funds. He called for any Commission comments or questions. Page 3 of 14 CITY OF LONG BEACH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE, 9:00 AM MINUTES He called for any public comment. Hearing none he called for a roll call vote. This WA-Agenda Item was approve recommendation. 3. 21-070WA Recommendation to approve March 18, 2021 Board meeting minutes. President Martinez called for a motion to approve the March 18th Board meeting minutes. President Martinez called for any Commission comments, or any public comment. Hearing none a roll call vote was taken This WA-Agenda Item was approve recommendation. Yes: 4 - Gloria Cordero, Naomi Rainey, Robert Shannon and Frank Martinez Excused: 1 - Art Levine 4. 21-071WA Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to Execute a Change Order to Contract # WD-3522 with Stephen Doreck Equipment Rentals, to cover increased fees for labor and material costs for the Alley Water Main Conversion Daisy Avenue (MC-5161) Project, by $155,755, to a total contract amount not-to-exceed $2,243,685. BUREAU: Engineering President Martinez introduced agenda item 4. Ms. Jenny Huang-Uy provided the staff report. President Martinez called for any Commissioner comments or questions. Commissioner Rainey requested an explanation regarding how change orders are processed. Ms. Huang-Uy responded. President Martinez called for any public comment. Hearing none he called for a roll call vote. Page 4 of 14 CITY OF LONG BEACH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE, 9:00 AM MINUTES A motion was made by Commissioner Cordero, seconded by Secretary Shannon, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 4 - Gloria Cordero, Naomi Rainey, Robert Shannon and Frank Martinez Excused: 1 - Art Levine 5. 21-072WA Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute an agreement with Hazen and Sawyer, to provide Professional Engineering Services for the LBWD Groundwater Treatment Plant Facility Improvement Master Plan Study Project (EO-3552) in an amount not-to-exceed $1,242,963. BUREAU: Engineering President Martinez introduced agenda item 5. Ms. Wendy Chen provided a staff report and reviewed a presentation with the Board. President Martinez called for any Commissioner comments or questions. Commissioner Cordero requested clarification on the treatment plant current treatment capacity. . Ms. Chen responded. Mr. Garner complimented the Engineering staff for their work on developing this contract. President Martinez commented on planning for capital improvement projects that might be moved up on the list when infrastructure funding may become available. Mr. Garner responded. President Martinez asked if any of the Hazen and Sawyer staff who were on the line wanted to make any comments. Mr. Sean Pour of Hazen and Sawyer responded. President Martinez inquired if Hazen and Sawyer had worked on any other Page 5 of 14 CITY OF LONG BEACH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE, 9:00 AM MINUTES projects for the Water Department. Mr. Pour responded. Commissioner Cordero spoke about the department being visionary and example throughout the state regarding water compensation. 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 Commissioner Rainey, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 4 - Gloria Cordero, Naomi Rainey, Robert Shannon and Frank Martinez Excused: 1 - Art Levine 6. 21-073WA Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute an Agreement with GHD, Inc., to provide Engineering Services for the 2021 Sewer Master Plan Update Project (SC-0376), in the amount not-to-exceed $863,729. BUREAU: Engineering President Martinez introduced agenda item 6. Mr. Santos made introductory remarks and Ms. Danna Monzon provided the staff report and reviewed a presentation with the Board. President Martinez called for any Commission comments or questions. Commissioner Shannon inquired if these are both sewer projects. Mr. Santos responded yes. 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 Commissioner Rainey, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Page 6 of 14 CITY OF LONG BEACH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE, 9:00 AM MINUTES Yes: 4 - Gloria Cordero, Naomi Rainey, Robert Shannon and Frank Martinez Excused: 1 - Art Levine 7. 21-074WA Recommendation to adopt Specifications WD-11-21 and authorize the General Manager to execute an agreement with Haaker Equipment Company to furnish and deliver one (1) Closed Circuit Television Truck (CCTV) with Lateral Launch System in an amount not to exceed $455,656.36. BUREAU: Operations President Martinez introduced agenda item 7. Jennifer Rojas made introductory comments and Mr. Adam Klempke reviewed a presentation with the Board. President Martinez called for any Commission questions or comments. Commissioner Shannon inquired about the taping of the meeting. Ms. Fox responded. For the record: At this point in the meeting Mr. Anthony, Deputy City Attorney called on Mr. Verceles regarding a clarification on earlier agenda item 4. The total amount should have read $155,775 in the subject line. President Martinez called for any questions or comments regarding this clarification. Hearing none he continued discussion regarding agenda item 7. President Martinez called for any public comment. Hearing none he moved on with the item. He then 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: 4 - Gloria Cordero, Naomi Rainey, Robert Shannon and Frank Martinez Page 7 of 14 CITY OF LONG BEACH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE, 9:00 AM MINUTES Excused: 1 - Art Levine 8. 21-075WA Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute an agreement with DG Investment Intermediate Holdings 2, Inc., dba Convergint Technologies, LLC (Convergint) to provide security system services to the Long Beach Water Department (LBWD) for three-years with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods, for a total contract amount not-to-exceed $1,600,000. BUREAU: Business - Administration President Martinez introduced agenda item 8. Mr. Curtis provided the staff report and reviewed a presentation with the Board. President Martinez called for any Commission questions or comments. Commissioner Shannon inquired why LBWD staff had not been on the selection committee. Mr. Curtis responded. Commissioner Shannon inquired why a new RFP had not been used. Mr. Curtis responded. Commissioner Shannon expressed his concern regarding this contract. Mr. Garner provided clarification. 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 President Martinez, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 4 - Gloria Cordero, Naomi Rainey, Robert Shannon and Frank Martinez Excused: 1 - Art Levine 9. 21-076WA Recommendation to Receive and File the Comprehensive Annual Page 8 of 14 CITY OF LONG BEACH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE, 9:00 AM MINUTES Financial Report for the period ended September 30, 2020. BUREAU: Business - Finance President Martinez introduced agenda item 8. Mr. Walker provided a staff report. Mr. Walker recognized Ms. Houng and Ms. Eggleston (finance staff) for their work in compiling this report. President Martinez called for any Commissioner questions or comments. Commissioner Shannon asked how much KPMG had charged for reviewing this report. Mr. Walker responded. Commissioner Shannon inquired further regarding the KPMG contract. Mr. Walker responded. President Martinez called for any public comment. Hearing none he called for a roll call vote. A motion was made by Commissioner Rainey, seconded by Commissioner Cordero, to received and filed. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 4 - Gloria Cordero, Naomi Rainey, Robert Shannon and Frank Martinez Excused: 1 - Art Levine 10. 21-077WA Recommendation to adopt Resolution No. WD-1439 amending Resolution No. WD-1431 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: Business - Administration President Martinez introduced agenda item 10. Mr. Bott provided a staff report and reviewed a presentation with the Board. Page 9 of 14 CITY OF LONG BEACH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE, 9:00 AM MINUTES President Martinez called for any Commissioner questions or comments. He then called for any public comment. 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: 4 - Gloria Cordero, Naomi Rainey, Robert Shannon and Frank Martinez Excused: 1 - Art Levine 11. 21-078WA Recommendation to receive verbal presentation regarding the Long Beach Water Department's 2020 Urban Water Management Plan Results and Findings. BUREAU: Water Resources President Martinez introduced agenda item 11. He announced that an extensive e-mailed public comment had been received for this item, and that when we got to public comment that would be read into the record. Ms. Rhee provided a verbal staff report. President Martinez complimented Ms. Rhee and her team for assembling the data for the plan and keeping the Board apprised of the various steps leading to the adoption of the plan. President Martinez called for any Commissioner questions or comments. Commissioner Cordero made comments regarding multi-family data that appeared in the report. Ms. Rhee responded. Commissioner Cordero made comments regarding the difficulty of having multi-family residents to conserve when they do not pay their individual water bill. Mr. Falagan made comments. Page 10 of 14 CITY OF LONG BEACH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE, 9:00 AM MINUTES Commissioner Cordero suggested that this point might be a topic for the California Municipal Utilities Association to pursue. Commissioner Cordero made comments regarding MWD reliability, drought and the Delta conveyance and how this sends her a mixed message on water conservation. Mr. Falagan responded. Ms. Rhee made comments regarding the collaborative process that LBWD has with MWD regarding water planning and conservation. President Martinez made comments regarding slide 6. (Supply Use) of the presentation. Ms. Rhee responded. Mr.Wang made general comments regarding the Urban Water Management Plan. President Martinez called for any additional Commissioner comments or questions. Hearing none, he called for any public comment. At this point in the meeting he called on Ms. Fox to make remarks regarding the written public comment that had been received. She advised the written public comment had been received from Patrick Gleason Gonzales. She advised this comment would become part of the public record as follows: Dear Commissioners, Thank you for making available the "2020 Urban Water Management Plan Results & Findings Update." I'm writing in strong support of and to spotlight a small, easily overlooked "Potential Future Supply" listed on Slide 10 of the presentation: Rainwater Harvesting. The City's current strategy is defined by two major projects: the Los Cerritos Channel Storm Water Capture Facility and LB-MUST. With these two projects, our city is a regional leader in reducing runoff and preserving our resources. But we can do so much better. I ask this commission to work with relevant city departments to develop resources, Page 11 of 14 CITY OF LONG BEACH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE, 9:00 AM MINUTES incentives, and- as relevant- building code updates to massively increase rainwater harvesting through rooftop catchments. There are proven systems available for parking garages, residences, industrial/warehouse buildings, and hospitality. City-owned buildings should also take the lead here. We should be retrofitting our largest buildings (e.g. downtown's giant parking garages, the Long Beach Convention Center, warehouses, big box retailer stores, and airport buildings) to capture rainwater and require new developments to build capture into their designs. This decentralized model is more equitable and democratic, it reduces demand for water resources right across the city, and it reduces the volume of stormwater and runoff that pollutes Alamitos Bay. Regards, Padric Padric Gleason Gonzales President Martinez noted this agenda item was a receive item and did not need a vote. CONSIDER STANDING COMMITTEE REFERRALS President Martinez called for any committee referrals. Hearing none he moved on in the agenda. NEW BUSINESS President Martinez called for a motion to excuse Commissioner Levine from the April 28, 2021 board meeting. Commissioner Shannon made a motion to excuse Commissioner Levine from the April 28, 2021 board meeting. Commissioner Cordero seconded the motion. President Martinez called for any public comment. Hearing none he called for a roll call vote. The motion carried with a 4-1 (Levine absent) vote. Page 12 of 14 CITY OF LONG BEACH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE, 9:00 AM MINUTES ADJOURNMENT President Martinez adjourned the meeting at 10:49 A.M. to the May 13, 2021 teleconference meeting to be held at 9:00 A.M. Adjournment to the May 13, 2021 teleconference board meeting at 9:00 A.M. Page 13 of 14 CITY OF LONG BEACH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021 WATER COMMISSION VIA TELECONFERENCE, 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 14 of 14