[CALL TO ORDER/GENERAL COMMENTS ]
[00:00:04]
I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE BEDFORD CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.
IT'S TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH, 2024.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH AN INVOCATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES. EVERYONE, PLEASE STAND.
>> HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU TONIGHT ASKING FOR YOUR BLESSING AND HELP AS WE GATHER TOGETHER.
WE PRAY FOR YOUR GUIDANCE IN THE MATTERS AT HAND AND ASK YOU TO INSPIRE OUR THOUGHTS, IDEAS, DECISIONS, AS WE SEEK TO WORK TOGETHER AS A GROUP, AND HELP STRENGTHEN THE BONDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
>> AMEN. COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS, MIND LEADING US IN THE PLEDGES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES, COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS COUNCIL RECOGNITION.
[COUNCIL RECOGNITION ]
I'LL INVITE CHIEF JEFF WILLIAMS TO THE PODIUM.>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'VE GOT TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT I'M GOING TO GET TO RECOGNIZE TONIGHT.
THE FIRST IS OFFICER JAMES TEAL.
JAMES HAS BEEN WITH US FOR FIVE YEARS.
BEFORE COMING TO THE CITY OF BEDFORD, HE GRADUATED FROM TARLETON STATE WITH A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE.
HAD A SHORT STINT WORKING FOR THE TARRANT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THE DETENTION CENTER.
LATER WENT ON TO WORK AT TARRANT COUNTY COMMUNITY SUPERVISION WORKING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES.
HE'S ACTUALLY WORKED HERE TWICE, IT'S KIND OF A COOL THING, SO HE'S ACTUALLY HAD MORE IN FIVE YEARS, BUT WE DIDN'T ADD THEM TOGETHER.
HE WAS A DETENTION OFFICER HERE AT THE CITY OF BEDFORD, BUT PRIOR TO LEAVING AND THEN COMING BACK AS A POLICE OFFICER WHEN HE WAS HIRED IN 2019.
SINCE HE'S BEEN BACK, HE'S BEEN AN FTO.
HE'S OBTAINED A INTERMEDIATE POLICE OFFICER CERTIFICATION.
HE'S GOT OVER 3,000 HOURS OF TRAINING IN HIS FIVE YEARS HERE, AND HE'S A GOOD FAMILY MAN AND FATHER, AND JUST A GOOD PERSON TO HAVE AROUND AND DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE JAMES TEAL TO YOU GUYS. [APPLAUSE].
>> THANK YOU. SHALL I CONTINUE ON?
>> ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS SERGEANT BRETT BOWEN.
BRETT COMES TO US, HE WAS HIRED HERE FIRST IN 2004, A LENGTHY, LENGTHY CAREER HERE.
HE'S DONE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
HE'S BEEN A PATROL OFFICER, HE WAS AN INVESTIGATOR IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS.
HE PROMOTED TO CORPORAL, AND WHILE IN CORPORAL, HE WAS OVER THE CODE COMPLIANCE WHEN THAT WAS STILL IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, HE SERVED IN THE PATROL SECTION AS A DETECTIVE, LATER BECAME THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SERGEANT WHERE HE SERVED SINCE HIS PROMOTION TO SERGEANT.
PROBABLY THE MOST NOTABLE THING THAT YOU GUYS WILL KNOW ABOUT HIM IS HE'S THE ONE THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR SERVING OUR 34-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE HOMICIDE A FEW YEARS AGO USING DNA EVIDENCE, SO FIRST ONE IN THE DEPARTMENT TO DO THAT.
SOME OF HIS SIDE DUTIES HE'S DONE, CRISIS TEAM NEGOTIATOR, HE'S OUR PEER SUPPORT TEAM LEADER WHICH DEALS WITH OUR OFFICERS WHO ARE HAVING TROUBLES, AND YOU GUYS, I THINK WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT LATER ON IN THE AGENDA HERE.
HE'S ALSO AN ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR AT TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE.
HE'S BEEN THE SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR, RECEIVED 13 LETTERS OF COMMENDATION, AND ALSO A CERTIFICATE OF MERIT.
SO BRETT BOWEN, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND COMING UP. [APPLAUSE].
>> CONGRATULATIONS. [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND].
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE HAVE ONE MORE.
INVITE TO THE PODIUM MUNICIPAL COURT MANAGER, DOUG CAMPBELL. HOW ARE YOU DOING, DOUG?
>> VERY GOOD. HOW ARE YOU, SIR?
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF INTRODUCING MINDY EICHORST.
SHE'S BEEN WITH THE CITY 25 YEARS NOW.
MINDY WAS BORN AND RAISED IN OSWEGO, ILLINOIS.
WHICH IS ABOUT 40 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CHICAGO.
SHE GRADUATED FROM A AURORA UNIVERSITY WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THEN MOVED TO TEXAS IN 1998.
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IN 1999, MINDY STARTED HER CAREER WITH THE BEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A POLICE AND FIRE DISPATCHER.SHE WORKED THERE FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF IN DISPATCH, AND THEN SHE TRANSFERRED TO THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION AS A CRIME SCENE TECHNICIAN, WHERE SHE WORKED ABOUT 8 1/2 YEARS.
FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH MINDY DIRECTLY.
SHE'S BEEN OUR TEEN COURT COORDINATOR FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS.
IN HER CURRENT ROLE, SHE HAS SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT FOR THE TEEN COURT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS AND CURRENTLY SERVES AS A BOARD MEMBER ON THEIR EXECUTIVE BOARD.
MINDY HAS A PASSION FOR HELPING OTHERS, WHICH IS EVIDENT IN HER ENTHUSIASM THAT SHE HAS FOR THE TEEN COURT PROGRAM AND ALL OF THE BENEFITS IT OFFERS TO TEENS AND JUVENILES.
WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE HAD WORKED WITH MINDY AND GLAD THAT SHE'S BEEN HERE FOR 25 YEARS.
>> MINDY, YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY A FEW THINGS? NO, NOTHING.
>> OKAY. [LAUGHTER] I'M JUST JOKING.
I WILL SAY THAT WHEN I FIRST CAME ON THE COUNCIL, I WAS ASSIGNED THE TEEN COURT ADVISORY BOARD, AND THAT'S WHERE WE FIRST MET AND YOU INVITED ME TO ONE OF THE TEEN COURT NIGHTS AND I GOT TO SEE EVERYTHING IN ACTION.
I GOT TO SAY, YOU RUN AN AMAZING SHIP OVER THERE AND YOU DO SUCH A GREAT THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR TEENS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] MOVING RIGHT ALONG, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYBODY SIGNED UP, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON WITH CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ITEMS BY CONSENT.
[CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ITEMS BY CONSENT]
I GIVE YOU CITY SECRETARY MICHAEL WELLS.>> YES, SIR. UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE FIRST ITEM IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 13TH, 2024 REGULAR MEETING.
THE NEXT ITEM IS CONSIDER RESOLUTION, AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER OR HER DESIGNEE, TO ENTER INTO AN INTERLOCAL COOPERATION CONTRACT WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PARTICIPATING IN AN AUTOMATED FAILURE TO APPEAR PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7060.08 OF THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE.
LET ME JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A SUMMARY OF THAT ITEM.
A CITATION BECOMES DELINQUENT WHEN THE VIOLATOR HAS FAILED TO PAY, CONTACT THE COURT, AND/OR APPEARED BEFORE THE JUDGE BY THE DUE DATE OF HIS OR HER CASE.
ONCE THE CITATION IS CONSIDERED DELINQUENT, STAFF UPLOADS THE DELINQUENT OFFENSES INTO THE OMNIBASE SYSTEM.
OMNIBASE WILL THEN NOTIFY THE VIOLATOR OF HIS OR HER DRIVER'S LICENSE RENEWAL RESTRICTION VIA A NOTIFICATION LETTER.
THE LETTER DIRECTS THE VIOLATOR TO THE MUNICIPAL COURT TO RESOLVE ANY OUTSTANDING OFFENSES.
MUNICIPAL COURT STAFF WILL THEN COLLECT THE OUTSTANDING FINES, COURT COSTS, AND THE STATUTORY FEE OF $10 PER VIOLATION TO REMOVE THE VIOLATOR FROM THE OMNIBASE SYSTEM.
THE $10 STATUTORY FEE IS PAYABLE TO THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES.
SIX DOLLARS IS PAYABLE TO OMNIBASE, AND FOUR DOLLARS REMAINS WITH THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
THE FEE IS PAID BY THE VIOLATOR AND IS COLLECTED BY THE COURT.
THE CITY OF BEDFORD DOES NOT INCUR THIS FEE.
IN ADDITION, THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON HOW THE CITY USES ITS PORTION OF THE FEE.
THEREFORE, IT IS COLLECTED IN THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND.
IN THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR, 1,606 VIOLATIONS WERE RESOLVED, COLLECTING $552,628 IN FINES AND FEES, AND RESULTING IN $6,624 COLLECTED VIA THE FOUR-DOLLAR FEE IN THE OMNIBASE FTA PROGRAM.
NEXT ITEM IS CONSIDER RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF BEDFORD, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE FY 2025 GRANT APPLICATION FOR A GPS CELLULAR PRE-EMPTIVE SIGNAL LIGHT SYSTEM FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION.
SHOULD THE GRANT BE AWARDED, THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES TO PURCHASE OF THE GPS CELLULAR PRE-EMPTIVE SIGNAL LIGHT SYSTEM.
THE BEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS RECENTLY MADE AWARE OF A COMPETITIVE GRANT THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION.
THROUGH THIS FY 2025, CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSIST GRANT PROGRAM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SEEKING FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $96,000 FOR A GPS, CELLULAR PRE-EMPTIVE SIGNAL LIGHT SYSTEM.
THERE IS NO MATCH REQUIRED WITH THIS GRANT AWARD.
THE START DATE IS OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 AND IT IS AN FY25 PROJECT.
THERE ARE NO FUTURE FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THIS PROJECT.
THE SYSTEM WORKS WITH THE EXISTING GPS ACTIVE AND ALL THE PATROL VEHICLES.
THE FINAL ITEM IS CONSIDER RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF BEDFORD, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION AND ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO
[00:10:03]
CREATE A MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR.SHOULD THE GRANT BE AWARDED, THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES THE CREATION OF THIS WELLNESS PROGRAM.
THE BEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS RECENTLY MADE AWARE OF A COMPETITIVE GRANT THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR.
THROUGH THIS FY25 FIRST RESPONDER MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SEEKING FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,837 WITH A REQUIRED MATCH OF $4,613 FOR A PROJECT TOTAL OF $18,450 FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS PROGRAM.
THE START DATE IS OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 AND IS AN FY25 PROJECT.
THIS REQUEST IS FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM.
IF AWARDED, CONTINUING FUNDING MAY BE SOUGHT THROUGH REAPPLICATION.
IF AWARDED, FEDERAL SEIZURE FUNDS WILL BE REQUESTED FOR THE REQUIRED MATCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MICHAEL.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE CONSENT ITEMS?
>> I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO.
I HAVE A SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI. LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, STAFF. THAT MOVES US ON TO NEW BUSINESS.
[5. Consider an ordinance approving a resolution authorizing the issuance, sale, and delivery of Trinity River Authority of Texas (Tarrant County Water Project) revenue bonds, and approving and authorizing instruments and procedures relating thereto. ]
FOR ITEM NUMBER 5, CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE, SALE, AND DELIVERY OF TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY OF TEXAS, TARRANT COUNTY WATER PROJECT REVENUE BONDS, AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING INSTRUMENTS AND PROCEDURES RELATING THERETO.>> THAT'S CORRECT, MATT JALBERT. I'VE GOT KIM PROBASCO.
SHE'S OUR FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR.
SHE'S PASSING OUT THE HANDOUTS, AND SO BASICALLY IN THE HANDOUTS IS A STATUS REPORTS FOR OUR PROJECTS AS WELL AS OUR FIVE-YEAR CIP FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
IN THE BACK, WE'VE GOT OUR COST OF SERVICE AS WELL AS OUR DEBT SCHEDULE SHOWING WHAT COMES OFF AND THEN SOME OF THE FUTURE DEBT THAT WE'VE GOT SHOWN THERE AS WELL.
I ALSO HAVE WITH ME CHRISTINE EPPS.
SHE'S OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
SHE'S GOING TO PRESENT ON AN EXTENDED COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAM WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR TARRANT WATER SUPPLY TO HELP WITH THE ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO SELL EACH YEAR RELATED TO THE BONDS.
SHE'LL GET INTO THAT INTO MORE DETAIL.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OH, YOU GOT IT? THANK YOU. I GET MOVING.
THOSE OF YOU THAT AREN'T AWARE OF WHAT TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY IS, WE ARE A WATER WASTEWATER UTILITY.
WE PROVIDE WHOLESALE WATER TO THE CITIES OF EULESS, BEDFORD, NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, COLLEYVILLE, AND GRAPEVINE.
WE ALSO PROVIDE WASTEWATER SERVICES AS WELL.
WE HAVE FIVE WASTEWATER FACILITIES.
WHAT I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON TODAY IS OUR ACTUAL RAW WATER OR DRINKING WATER THAT WE SELL WHOLESALE TO YOU ALL.
WE ACTUALLY PUMP OUR RAW WATER FROM LAKE ARLINGTON.
IT GOES THROUGH ABOUT EIGHT MILE PIPELINE UP TO OUR TREATMENT FACILITY, THEN FROM OUR TREATMENT FACILITY IT GOES OUT UP TO OUR MURPHY DROP PUMP STATION WHERE WE HAVE FOUR GROUND STORAGE TANKS AS WELL AS A PUMP STATION AND THEN THAT GETS DISTRIBUTED OUT TO OUR WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON SOME OF OUR CURRENT PROJECTS THAT WE'VE GOT ONGOING, WE HAVE A FEW IN OUR SYSTEM.
STARTING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE HERE, THAT'S OUR LAKE ARLINGTON INTAKE STRUCTURE.
WE ARE UNDER OUR FIRST PHASE OF OUR RAW WATER TRANSMISSION PROJECT.
THAT'S BASICALLY REPLACING OUR 30''.
WE HAVE TWO PIPE LINES OF 54'' AND 30'.
REPLACING THE 30'' WHICH IS BASICALLY REACHES IN THE DRIVE WITH A 72'' LINE.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE MURPHY DROP PUMP STATION IMPROVEMENTS THERE, WHICH IS ON THE TOP PORT THERE.
THAT'S ACTUALLY WITHIN THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CHERYL AND STAFF ON THAT, GETTING THAT PROJECT UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THEN, OF COURSE, THE ARC FLASH MITIGATION PROJECTS ARE PUMP STATIONS.
BASICALLY, IT'S FOR EMPLOYEE SAFETY FOR THOSE PROJECTS.
ON THE RAW WATER TRANSMISSION I PRESENTED ON THIS LAST TIME, BUT JUST FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WEREN'T AWARE OF IT, BASICALLY, IT'S EIGHT MILES OF 72'' PIPE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE INSTALLING BY REPLACING OUR 30'' LINE.
WE'VE ACTUALLY BROKE THIS PROJECT UP INTO SIX PHASES UNDER OUR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT APPROACH.
WHAT THIS DOES IS IT HELPS US BASICALLY TACKLE ONE SET OF THE FIRST LEG OF THE PIPELINE.
WE'RE NOT HAVING TO SELL A BUNCH OF MONEY, WE'RE BASICALLY SPREAD THAT DEBT OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.
THIS JUST GIVES YOU THE LIMITS OF THE PROJECT.
IT GOES ALL WAY BACK FROM OUR LAKE ARLINGTON PUMP STATION TO THE TARRANT COUNTY WATER SUPPLY PROJECT AS WELL.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS GOING ON.
WE HAVE OUR REHAB OF OUR FILTER COMPLEX AND THAT'S ONGOING.
THAT'S BASICALLY TAKING WHAT WAS INSTALLED BACK IN THE MID-'70S, EARLY '80S, AND REVAMPING THAT AND MAKING SOME DEEPER MEDIA BEDS, AS WELL AS RAISING SOME OF OUR TROUGHS.
WE ALSO HAVE A CHLORINE CONTACT BASIN WHERE WE GET BETTER MIXING WITH OUR CHLORINE RESIDUALS, AS WELL AS SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR FLOCCULATION SEDIMENTATION BASINS THEN WE'RE ALSO HAVING TO UPGRADE OUR OZONE GENERATOR FACILITY AND ALSO ADD A FOURTH OZONE GENERATOR AND
[00:15:04]
THAT'S TO HELP WITH OUR TASTE AND ODOR IN THE SYSTEM SOME PROPOSED GENERATORS.THESE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IN THOSE PROJECTS ON THE EMERGENCY POWER THAT'S REALLY DRIVEN BY OUR SENATE BILL FORWARD, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE BACKUP GENERATORS IN PLACE, SO THE EVENT WE HAVE ANOTHER WINTER STORM, URI.
WE'VE GOT FULLY FUNCTIONAL OPERATIONAL GENERATORS THAT CAN PROVIDE THE FULL PSI TO OUR CUSTOMER CITIES AT THE DELIVERY POINTS.
THIS IS THE MURPHY DRIVE PUMP STATION THAT JUST BID RECENTLY WAS A $67 MILLION PROJECT.
WE'RE ABOUT 5% COMPLETE AND ANOTHER CONTRACTOR HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE PRIVACY FENCE AND WORKING WITH THE HOMEOWNERS AROUND THERE TO GET THAT INSTALLED.
THE CONTRACTOR ACTUALLY WON'T BE ON SITE PROBABLY FOR PROBABLY 8-9 MONTHS LONG LEAD TIME ON ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND THE ACTUAL SUBMITTALS FOR THE PUMPS AS WELL.
THEN WE'VE JUST RELEASED THE STAND ALONE PROJECT FOR GROUND STORAGE TANKS, NUMBER 2 AND 3 THIS WEEK.
THERE WILL BE A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON IN THAT PUMP STATION.
OUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, THESE ARE JUST SHOW YOU HOW OUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FEEDS THE OTHER CITIES.
WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT ENTRY POINTS INTO THE DIFFERENT CITIES AND OF COURSE IT'S ALL REGULATED BY THE ELEVATED STORAGE TANKS IN THEIR SYSTEMS. WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT BASICALLY A DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OPERATION AND SERVICE ASSESSMENT, HOW THE SYSTEMS PUT TOGETHER HYDRAULICALLY, HOW THE CUSTOMER'S SYSTEM INTERACTS WITH OUR SYSTEM, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR ANY FUTURE GROWTH AND SO FORTH AS WELL AS CONDITION ASSESSMENTS.
THAT PIPE HAS BEEN INSTALLED IN THE MID '80S.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN CONTINUOUS SERVICE TO Y'ALL, AND SO THIS IS A WAY FOR US TO LOOK AT WHAT IS OUR HIGHER PRIORITY LINES AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY PLACES WHERE WE NEED TO DO SOME REPAIRS.
THIS WILL GIVE US AN IDEA WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE THOSE NEXT REPLACEMENTS.
THIS IS THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, OUR 2025 TO 2029.
I BROKE IT DOWN INTO THREE SECTIONS.
OUR RAW WATER SYSTEM, TREATMENT PLAN, AND DISTRIBUTION.
IT'S ABOUT $513 MILLION TOTAL OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
OUR RAW WATER TREATMENT PLANTS REALLY HEAVILY DRIVEN BY CONDITION.
BASICALLY, I HAVE A PLANT THAT'S BEEN IN SERVICE FOR 30 YEARS.
OF COURSE, IT HITS ALL THE SAME TIME WHERE I'VE GOT TO START DOING REPLACEMENT FOR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'VE REACHED THAT STAGE ON THIS FACILITY AND THEN OUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, THERE'S SOME CAPACITY ON THAT AS WELL AS SOME OF THE CONDITION DRIVERS AS WELL.
I'M SURE THE CONDITION DRIVERS WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ONCE WE DO OUR CONDITION ASSESSMENT.
FOR THIS YEAR, FISCAL YEAR, WE'RE PLANNING ON SELLING $33 MILLION WORTH OF BONDS SO FOR TONIGHT'S APPROVAL, THAT WOULD BE FOR THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THAT MAXIMUM BOND AUTHORIZATION AMOUNT.
NOW WITH SAYING THAT, I WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND BRING MY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, CHRISTINE EPPS, TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA WHAT WE'RE RUNNING INTO RIGHT NOW AT TARRANT COUNTY.
WE REACHED A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE HAVING TO ISSUE BONDS FOR, SO WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT OTHER FINANCING OPTIONS OUT THERE THAT CAN HELP STABILIZE IT A LITTLE BIT AND NOT HAVE TO SELL BONDS EVERY TIME WE HAVE TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CHRISTINE.
>> THANK YOU, MATT, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT.
AS MATT SAID, I'M GOING TO BE DISCUSSING THE CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THE TARRANT COUNTY SYSTEM AND HOW WE ARE FUNDING THOSE PROJECTS AND SOME PROPOSED CHANGE THAT WE HAVE ON THE HORIZON.
I'M CHRISTINE EPPS, THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AS MATT MENTIONED.
MATT WENT OVER OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND THE PROJECTS THAT MAKE UP THAT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
HE DISCUSSED WITH YOU THAT 2024 PLANNED BOND SALE THAT WE HAVE FOR YOUR APPROVAL THIS EVENING.
I'M GOING TO BE FOCUSED MORE ON THE FUTURE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE AND THE FINANCING OF THOSE PROJECTS.
AS MATT MENTIONED, OUR CIP FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS DOES TOTAL $514 MILLION.
THIS CAPITAL PROGRAM THEN DRIVES, OF COURSE, THE DEBT ISSUANCES THAT WE NEED TO HAVE TO SUPPORT THOSE PROJECTS AND TO PAY FOR THOSE PROJECTS.
THOSE DEBT ISSUANCE TURN INTO DEBT SERVICE REQUIREMENTS IN OUR ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE TARRANT COUNTY SYSTEM.
THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THOSE COSTS AND OUR ANNUAL REQUIREMENT THAT WE CALCULATE AND CHARGE TO OUR CUSTOMERS TO SUPPORT THE BUDGET FOR THE TARRANT COUNTY SYSTEM.
RIGHT NOW THE TARRANT COUNTY SYSTEM IS LIMITED TO ISSUING LONG TERM DEBT ISSUANCES TO FUND ITS CAPITAL PROJECTS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE BOND MONEY IN HAND TO BE ABLE TO AWARD A CONTRACT.
THAT MEANS OUR BOND ISSUANCES FOR EACH YEAR MATCH OUR CIP.
WHATEVER AMOUNT IS IN OUR CIP FOR THE YEAR IS THE AMOUNT OF BOND ISSUANCES WE NEED TO HAVE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER OPTIONS FOR US, AND WITH THE SIZE AND THE GROWTH OF THE CAPITAL PROGRAM AT TARRANT COUNTY, I'M PROPOSING THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CREATION OF AN EXTENDABLE COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THESE PROJECTS AND PLAN TO GO TO THE TRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR APPROVAL OF THIS PROGRAM THIS APRIL.
OUR CONTRACT WITH THE CITY DOES REQUIRE THE CITY COUNCIL'S APPROVAL OF THIS PROGRAM, SO IT WOULD REQUIRE THE CITY COUNCIL'S APPROVAL AS WELL.
THE ANTICIPATED PROGRAM SIZE FOR THE COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAM IS $250 MILLION.
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FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ECP, ECP IS SHORT TERM DEBT THAT YOU CAN ISSUE WHEN YOU NEED CASH AND THEN WHEN IT ACCUMULATES TO A CERTAIN LEVEL, YOU WOULD REFUND IT USING LONG TERM DEBT.HAVING THIS ADDITIONAL FINANCING OPTION AVAILABLE TO US, WOULD ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO CONSIDER MULTIPLE FACTORS BEFORE WE HAVE A DEBT ISSUANCE WHEN WE'RE DETERMINING THE TIMING OF THAT DEBT ISSUANCE AND THE AMOUNT OF THAT DEBT ISSUANCE.
AT THAT POINT, INSTEAD OF JUST KNOWING THE CONTRACTS THAT WE PLAN TO AWARD, WE CAN LOOK AT THE PROJECT TIMING, OUR SPEND DOWN ON OUR CURRENT CONTRACTS AND THE PLANNED CASH FLOW SPEND ON THE CONTRACTS WE PLAN TO ENTER INTO AND LOOKING AT INTEREST RATES FOR BOTH THE LONG TERM AND SHORT TERM.
ONE OF THE KEY BENEFITS OF THIS PROGRAM IS THAT IT ESTABLISHES AN AUTHORIZATION LEVEL THAT WE CAN AWARD CONTRACTS UNDER.
IN THAT WAY, WE CAN ISSUE DEBT BASED ON THE CASH FLOW THAT WE NEED.
THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL WHEN YOU HAVE A LARGE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THAT HAS CAPITAL PROJECTS WITH CONSTRUCTION PERIODS THAT SPAN OVER MULTIPLE YEARS.
THAT WAY WE CAN ISSUE OUR DEBT OVER A PERIOD OF THE CONSTRUCTION TIME RATHER THAN AT THE FRONT END OF THE CONTRACT AWARD.
THIS PROGRAM WOULD ALSO ALLOW US TO BE MORE AGILE WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGES WITH PROJECTS AND TIMING.
WE HAVE, AS MATT MENTIONED, A REALLY LARGE PIPELINE PROJECT AND LAND RIGHTS GET INVOLVED AND THERE COULD BE PROJECT DELAYS, SO IT ALLOWS US TO MANEUVER AS THOSE CHANGES OCCUR.
WE DO HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH EXTENDABLE COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAMS. WE HAVE ONE FOR OUR LARGEST REGIONAL WASTEWATER SYSTEM, OUR CENTRAL SYSTEM, WHICH THIS CITY IS A MEMBER OF AS WELL.
THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 2014.
THE GOAL OF HAVING THIS ADDITIONAL FINANCING OPTION IS TO HELP MANAGE OUR COST OF SERVICE INCREASES.
NEXT STEPS IN THE ECP PROGRAM.
THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THIS PROGRAM IN PLACE THIS JUNE, AND TO DO SO WE WOULD BE ASKING FOR THIS COUNCIL'S APPROVAL OF THE CREATION OF THIS PROGRAM IN APRIL.
THEN WE WOULD BE TAKING THIS PROGRAM TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR APPROVAL AT THEIR APRIL BOARD MEETING AS WELL.
AT THAT POINT, WE WOULD THEN FINALIZE THE CONTRACTS TO CREATE THE PROGRAM, PARTICIPATE IN RATING AGENCY CALLS, AND CLOSE ON THE PROGRAM.
THEN WE WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR CUSTOMER ADVISORY MEETINGS TO REVIEW THE CIP IN OUR ANNUAL BUDGET, AND THEN EXECUTE THE CIP PROJECTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT BUDGET.
THAT'S A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON TO ADDRESS THE GROWING CAPITAL NEEDS OF THE TARRANT COUNTY SYSTEM AND THE FINANCING OF THOSE.
OUR BOND COUNCIL IS WORKING ON THE DOCUMENTS FOR THE ECP PROGRAM, AND WE PLAN TO HAVE THAT BACK TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION IN APRIL.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
>> WHAT I'M HEARING FROM YOU IS THAT FOR THIS THIS IS GOING TO PROVIDE YOU ALL THE TARRANT COUNTY WATER SUPPLIES THAT IT'S GOING TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE FOR YOU?
>> EXACTLY. INSTEAD OF HAVING TO HAVE BONDS EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND THEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR MONEY IN HAND AND THEN YOU HAVE TO AWARD THE CONTRACTS.
IT GIVES YOU MORE FLEXIBILITY SO YOU CAN GET THESE PROJECTS DONE, YOU CAN MANAGE THEM, MANAGE YOUR CASH FLOW IF YOU WILL.
>> I WOULD SAY PUTTING THE MONEY TO GOOD USE.
IF WE HAVE A BOND ISSUANCE AND WE'RE ISSUING IT FOR A LARGE PROJECT, THAT MONEY IS GOING TO SIT THERE WHILE THAT PROJECT IS GOING ON.
>> FANTASTIC. JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I'M CLARIFYING THE REASONING BEHIND THIS.
>> YES, YOUR REASONING IS CORRECT.
>> I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANKS FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
EVERYONE'S INFRASTRUCTURE IS AGING AND IT'S ALL I MEAN, OURS IS TOO.
MY QUESTION IS WHAT DOES THE IMPACT TO THE RESIDENTS LOOK LIKE?
>> KIM PROBASCO PASSED OUT THAT PACKET TO YOU WITH OUR PROJECTED RATES FOR THE FUTURE.
NOW, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THOSE RATES ARE BASED ON ISSUING LONG TERM DEBT FOR THE CIP PLAN THAT I SHOWED YOU ON THE SCREEN.
THAT DOES NOT CONSIDER THE ECP PROGRAM, WE WOULD PLAN TO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS IF THE PROGRAM IS APPROVED, WE WOULD PROCEED WITH PREPARING AND DEVELOPING OUR BUDGET WITH THAT ECP PROGRAM IN MIND, AND WE'D BE GOING OVER THOSE NUMBERS AT OUR SUMMER ADVISORY MEETINGS.
>> [LAUGHTER] I'M GOING TO PRETEND I KNEW WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
IT SOUNDED VERY GOOD, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO REWORD IT.
I SEE NUMBERS ON THE CHART, SO IF WE VOTE TO APPROVE THIS $250 MILLION FINANCING.
>> TONIGHT'S APPROVAL IS ON THE 2024 BONDS WHICH IS INCLUDED IN OUR 2024 BUDGET AND THAT'S ALREADY BUILT INTO TO OUR RATES FOR THE 2024 FISCAL YEAR.
[00:25:02]
THE ECP PROGRAM IS A SEPARATE ITEM.DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE, $514 MILLION IT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PROJECTS. YES.
>> THEN THE QUESTION IS WHAT KIND OF IMPACT WILL THE RESIDENCY THAT YOU SERVE?
>> THE GOAL WOULD BE TO HELP REDUCE THE RATES THAT YOU'RE SEEING ON THAT RATE SCHEDULE.
BECAUSE THAT RATE SCHEDULE IS BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS ISSUING LONG TERM DEBT FOR THE CIP, SO $514 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY AND THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF IMPACT THERE, SO WITH THE ECP PROGRAM WE'RE HOPING TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT RATE INCREASE, SPREAD OUT THE DEBT ISSUANCES OVER A MULTI YEAR TIME PERIOD.
THE RATES AREN'T WHAT YOU'RE SEEING BEFORE YOU.
>> I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE ALSO IS I'M LOOKING AT THAT RED LINE, THE FLOWS, AND I'M SEEING AND EVERY YEAR IT'S INCREASING OF COURSE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND SO THE RESIDENTS GOING TO SEE THAT REFLECTED BECAUSE THE CITY IS GOING TO BE PAYING MORE FOR THE WATER BECAUSE OF THAT, BECAUSE YOU'LL BE CHARGING US MORE BECAUSE OF THE DEBT ISSUANCE, AND THEN WE'LL BE PASSING THAT ONTO THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE OF IT.
>> YOU'RE SEEING THAT FLOW THERE YEAR OVER YEAR.
THE ONE THAT YOU GAVE US IS SHOULD THERE BE A CONCERN WITH THE FLOWS ON 2027 BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE THE FLOWS ARE ABOVE THAT LINE THERE THAT YOU GAVE US.
IS THAT SOMETHING OF CONCERN OR?
>> CAN I TRY TO ADD SOMETHING? I'M SORRY, I JUST WANT TO HELP.
>> THIS IS SOMETHING WE NORMALLY PRESENT AT THE ADVISORY MEETING, SO I JUST WANT TO HELP AT THIS PART.
>> YOU WANT TO COME TO THE MIC. DO YOU HAVE TO SAY?
>> I DON'T WANT YOU SCREAMING OBVIOUSLY.
>> NO. I JUST WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, SO THIS IS OUR COST OF SERVICE DETAIL.
BASICALLY WHAT THIS IS, IS WE PRESENT THIS TWICE A YEAR, BASICALLY THREE TIMES A YEAR.
WE PRESENTED IT BASICALLY IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND I'M SORRY, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE OVERVIEW REALLY QUICK SO YOU UNDERSTAND.
WHAT WE DO IS WE BASE THOSE FLOWS UPON WHAT YOU GIVE US.
WE ASK FOR THOSE FLOWS AND THE CITIES PROVIDE THOSE AND YOU PAY BASED UPON YOUR PERCENTAGE OF THE SYSTEM, WHICH I THINK YOU GUYS ALL UNDERSTAND THAT.
THEN WE COME BACK, SO WE JUST REQUESTED THOSE FLOWS.
THOSE WERE JUST TURNED INTO US BY CHERYL.
WE JUST GOT THOSE. NOW, WE'RE GOING TO THE PROJECTION MODE OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
THE FLOWS THAT YOU SEE HERE ARE BASED UPON A VERY STATIC AMOUNT BECAUSE YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE A LOT TO BUILD OUT.
THAT'S WHERE THOSE FLOWS ARE COMING FROM.
THEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE RATE WE BACK INTO THE RATE, WE DON'T BUILD BY RATE, WE LOOK AT HOW MUCH IT TAKES US TO OPERATE.
>> THAT'S WHERE THAT'S COMING FROM.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE, THIS RATE OVER RATE, BASICALLY IS A PROJECTION AND WE'RE TRYING TO REDUCE THAT DEBT RATE.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING THERE FOR THE O&M RATE, THAT'S PRETTY STATIC.
>> I WASN'T TRYING TO STEP OUT.
>> NO. THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT.
DEALING WITH ALL OF THIS AND THESE WATER RATES, SO OBVIOUSLY THIS IS JUST A PROJECTION YEAR OVER YEAR.
THAT IS THE REASON WHY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS ECP PROGRAM SO THAT YOU CAN REDUCE IT.
>> WE WANTED TO BASICALLY GIVE YOU, MY THOUGHT WAS, HERE IS PRESENT OUR CFP, BUT ALSO WANTED TO KIND OF GET Y'ALL PREPARED.
THE QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE ASKED, 500 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY.
I WANT TO SAY WHAT ARE OUR WAYS THAT WE'RE DOING TO TRY TO HELP WITH THAT? THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TOOLS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT WE'LL BE BACK IN APRIL FOR APPROVAL.
>> IN ESSENCE, THAT'S GOING TO HELP US MANAGE IT SO THAT IT'S NOT INCREASING AS MUCH YEAR OVER YEAR.
THUS, OBVIOUSLY, WITH OUR RESIDENTS, IT'S GOING TO BE SAVING THEM MONEY AS WELL BY DOING THIS.
SAVING THE CITIES AND WHAT WE PURCHASE AND THEN PASSING THAT ON TO THE RESIDENTS.
>> CORRECT. ISSUING THE MONEY WHEN THE MONEY IS NEEDED, YES.
>> THEN ONE THING I DID WANT TO MENTION TOO IS THAT OUR RAW WATER RATE COMES FROM [INAUDIBLE] .
SO THAT'S JUST A PASS THROUGH RATE.
OF COURSE, THEY ADJUST THEIR RATES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
CHRISTINE, I THINK YOU MENTIONED THAT WE ALREADY APPROVED A PROJECT FOR THE CENTRAL SYSTEM USING THE ECP PROGRAM IN 2014.
>> WE HAVE AN EXTENDABLE COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAM FOR A CENTRAL SYSTEM.
OUR CENTRAL CUSTOMER CONTRACT DOES NOT REQUIRE TO GO TO CITY COUNCILS FOR APPROVAL ON OUR BOND CHECKS TRANSACTIONS, BUT FOR TARRANT COUNTY WE ARE REQUIRED TO COME TO THE CITY OF BEDFORD FOR APPROVAL ON OUR BOND.
>> BUT YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT AS AN EXAMPLE OF USING THIS.
>> YES. THAT WE USE A COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAM FOR OUR CENTRAL SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE ONE FOR OUR DENTON CREEK WASTEWATER SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE ALSO PUT INTO PLACE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO ON OTHER SYSTEMS.
>> ARE THERE ANY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COMMERCIAL PROGRAM?
[00:30:04]
>> I WOULD SAY THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH A COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAM, JUST MARKET RISK IN TERMS OF IF YOU'RE ISSUING SHORT TERM DEBT VERSUS LONG TERM, WHAT'S THE MARKET DOING? WHAT'S THE PROJECTED MARKET? RIGHT NOW, THE PLANNED APPROACH WITH THE ECP PROGRAM FOR THE TARRANT COUNTY SYSTEM WOULD BE TO USE IT TO LET CONTRACTS TO BE ABLE TO ENTER INTO THOSE CONTRACTS, AND THEN ISSUING THE LONG TERM DEBT WHEN WE NEED THAT MONEY.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS BASED ON ALL FOUR CITIES APPROVING IT? IT HAS TO BE ALL FOUR CITIES WOULD BE IN AGREEMENT.
>> JUST BASED ON THE CONTRACTS, IT'S JUST BEDFORD AND EULESS.
>> WE JUST PRESENTED AT EULESS AND THEN RUSHED OVER HERE AND PRESENT IT FOR YOU GUYS.
>> IS THERE RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT THE ECP FUNDING COULD BE USED FOR AS LIKE IN THE BONDS? LIKE REGULAR BONDS, IT'S RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT YOU COULD USE IT FOR.
DO YOU STILL HAVE THOSE RESTRICTIONS IN THAT?
>> RESTRICTED TO OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM.
>> IT IS RESTRICTED TO THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER SABOL.
>> I WOULD LOVE FOR EVERYBODY TO STOP USING ACRONYMS, AND I WOULD LIKE EVERYTHING TO BE VERY WELL EXPLAINED SO THE AVERAGE JOE CAN UNDERSTAND IT.
YOU KEEP SAYING ECP PAPER AND YOU TALK ABOUT BONDS.
IN ORDER TO FUND ALL OF THIS, YOU'D HAVE TO PUT A BOND OUT FOR PURCHASE TO GET THE MONEY TO FUND THE PROJECT. CORRECT?
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON THE 2024 BOND MONEY WOULD BE A REVENUE BOND THAT WE ISSUE FOR THE $30 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE 2024 PROGRAM.
ECP IS EXTENDABLE COMMERCIAL PAPER, AND IT'S IN THE FORM OF A BOND, BUT IT'S SHORT TERM PAPER THAT THEN IF WE HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OUTSTANDING, IF WE ACTUALLY DECIDE TO ISSUE IT FOR THE CASH AND NOT JUST LET CONTRACTS, IF WE ISSUE IT AND IT BUILD UP TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT, WE WOULD USE LONG TERM BONDS TO THEN REFUND IT BECAUSE IT IS SHORT TERM IN NATURE AND AT SOME POINT YOU WOULD WANT TO TAKE IT OUT LONG TERM.
>> GOING ALONG WITH MR. MAYOR COGAN'S QUESTION, THE ECP IS NOT REGULATED AS MUCH AS A REGULAR BOND.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE MARY WILLIAMS WITH HILLTOP SECURITIES, OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
>> THE THING, I THINK, THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS WE DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BECAUSE THERE'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF FINANCING THAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I THINK BONDS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR YEARS AND YEARS, SO THEY UNDERSTAND HOW THEY GO.
BUT WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT A NEW PRODUCT OR A RELATIVELY NEW PRODUCT LIKE AN ECP, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN HOW THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR, HOW IT'S GOING ABOUT.
>> THE COMMERCIAL PAPER OR THE EXTENDABLE COMMERCIAL PAPER IS STILL A SECURITY.
IT'S GOVERNED BY SAME SECURITIES RULES AND THERE WILL BE FULL DISCLOSURE WITHIN THE BOND DOCUMENTS.
THERE'S AN OFFERING DOCUMENT FOR THE COMMERCIAL PAPER.
THAT PARTICULAR DOCUMENT ISN'T UPDATED ANNUALLY, BUT IT IS INCORPORATED IN YOUR ANNUAL BOND UPDATES.
>> SO IT'S PRETTY DETAILED AS TO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY ON.
>> YEAH. FEDERAL LAW, STATE LAWS, ALL JUST, AS CHRISTINE SAID, FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
>> THAT HELPS A LOT. I THINK IT JUST GET A LITTLE CONFUSED THERE.
>> THANK YOU. JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU'VE USED THIS PROCESS BEFORE.
> YES. WE HAVE THIS FOR OUR CENTRAL SYSTEM THAT WE'VE HAD IN PLACE SINCE 2014, AND WE'RE ALSO USING IT ON OUR DENTON CREEK WASTEWATER SYSTEM AS WELL.
>> SO THIS IS NOTHING NEW TO YOU ALL?
> JUST A LITTLE BIT NEWER TO US BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HEARD THESE ACRONYMS BEFORE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AS COUNCIL MEMBER SABOL SAID, THAT THE RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND AND THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND SO THAT NOBODY'S GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AND SO FORTH.
>> I'D SAY ALSO THE OTHER UTILITIES AROUND THE DFW UTILIZES THE SAME METHOD AS WELL.
>> SO THIS IS JUST A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH ALL UTILITIES?
ONCE YOU GET TO A CERTAIN THRESHOLD, WE GET TO THIS LARGER AMOUNT, IT STARTS MAKING MORE SENSE.
IF YOU GET TO BELOW A CERTAIN THRESHOLD, IF IT'S $100 MILLION, YOU WOULD JUST GO AND ISSUE LONG TERM BONDS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING HERE TONIGHT, WHAT WE'RE APPROVING TONIGHT. VERY GOOD QUESTION.
ANYMORE QUESTIONS? IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT. THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
[OVERLAPPING] I APPRECIATE THAT. THIS IS AN ACTIONABLE ITEM. LET'S SEE HERE.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK FOR A MOTION.
I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO. DO I HEAR A SECOND?
[00:35:03]
>> SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER STEVES. LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, SIX, ZERO.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU, STAFF.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 6,
[6. Update on Utility Billing.]
WHICH IS AN UPDATE ON UTILITY BILLING.I GOT FINANCE DIRECTOR BRADY OLSEN. HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY, BRADY?
>> IT'S A FINE DAY. HOW ARE YOU?
>> DOING WELL. [LAUGHTER] YES, IT IS.
>> NOW, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF UTILITY BILLING CHANGES RECENTLY.
SOME HAVE BEEN SIDE EFFECTS FROM OTHER CHANGES, SOME HAVE BEEN POINTS WHERE WE HAD SOME FAILURES AND WANTED TO IMPROVE, AND SOME AREAS WHERE WE SAW SOME ADDED EFFICIENCIES WE COULD ADD TO THE SYSTEM TO HELP OUR UTILITY BILLING CUSTOMERS ACROSS OUR SYSTEM.
OUR NEXT TWO ITEMS ARE RELATED.
THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF OVERVIEW OF ALL THE CHANGES AND THE NEXT CHANGES COMING UP, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE WATER CODE ORDINANCE ON THE NEXT ITEM.
STARTING OFF, WE DID CHANGE OUR DEPOSITORY.
WE CHANGED OUR BANK LAST YEAR.
AS A PART OF THAT, WE DID HAVE A NEW LOCKBOX SENDING FOR UTILITY BILLING PAYMENTS.
WE HAD IT MISNOTICED AND THEN CORRECTED ON ALL FUTURE BILLS.
BUT THAT HAS BEEN A CHANGE FOR OUR UTILITY BILLING CUSTOMERS, SO WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
NEXT UP IS A NEW ONLINE PORTAL AND UTILITY BILLING SYSTEM CALLED OPENGOV.
>> CALLED OPENGOV. THE COUNCIL DID APPROVE THAT LAST YEAR.
OUR OLD SYSTEM WAS SUNSETTING AND WE SEARCHED AROUND AND WE FOUND THIS WOULD BE THE BEST SOLUTION FOR OUR UTILITY BILLING SYSTEM GOING FORWARD.
I WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON THAT ON OUR NEXT SLIDE.
NEXT UP, WE'RE PUTTING IN A NEW NOTICE SYSTEM.
BACK IN NOVEMBER, WE DID HAVE OUR EMAIL BILLS GO OUT WITH THE WRONG MONTH.
THAT WAS VERY EMBARRASSING FOR US, IT WAS TWO OF OUR VENDORS TALK TO EACH OTHER WITHOUT US BEING INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS, AND THEY DID NOT VERIFY IT AND THEY JUST PUSHED IT THROUGH.
THEN WHENEVER WE SAW IT, WE HAD TO GO AND CONTACT THEM AND GET THAT FIXED.
THIS IS GOING TO BE SOLVED WITH THE NEW UTILITY BILLING SYSTEM, THAT'S COMING FROM US NOW.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE TWO VENDORS TALKING TO EACH OTHER.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO REPLACE ONE OF THOSE VENDORS WITH THIS NEW SYSTEM, GETTING SOME COST SAVINGS AND ALSO A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTROL.
IN THE MEANTIME, THEY ACTUALLY DID ALSO ADD AN EXTRA STEP OF VERIFICATION IN THE PROCESS.
A HUMAN BEING IS LOOKING AT IT AND SAYING, HEY, DOES THIS MAKE SENSE THAT WE'RE SENDING OUT NOVEMBER BILLS IN JANUARY? IT DOESN'T. WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO AVOID THAT IN THE FUTURE.
NEXT UP IS THE CHANGES TO THE WATER CODE, WHICH IS THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR THE MEETING TONIGHT.
I HAVE A SLIDE ON THAT, THERE'LL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL.
THEN THE LAST UP IS THE $2 CREDIT CARD FEE THAT WE'RE CHARGING ON CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS FOR OUR UTILITY BILLING SYSTEM.
COUNCIL APPROVED THAT WITH THE FEE ORDINANCE ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
BUT THEN THERE WAS A DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION AS WE WORKED WITH OUR VENDORS TO PUT IT INTO PLACE.
THEY ACTUALLY WERE GIVING US CREDIT FOR A FEW MONTHS AND NOT CHARGING CUSTOMERS, WHICH WAS A GREAT WIN FOR US.
IT WAS BASICALLY FREE MONEY FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T CHECK THE RIGHT BOX.
THEY FINALLY CAUGHT THAT AND THEN IT WENT TO OUR CUSTOMERS WITHOUT US HAVING THE CHANCE TO GIVE THEM PROPER NOTIFICATION.
THAT WAS CERTAINLY A FAILURE ON MY PART TO NOT MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE DOING A BETTER JOB OF LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THIS WAS ON THE HORIZON.
A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND THOUGH ON THAT.
LAST YEAR WE PAID ABOUT $170,000 IN CREDIT CARD FEES.
THERE'S A REASON YOU GET ALL THOSE NICE BONUSES ON YOUR CREDIT CARD, IT'S BECAUSE THEY CHARGE THE BUSINESS THAT MONEY TO MAKE UP FOR IT.
THE CITY OF BEDFORD UTILITY SYSTEM IS THAT BUSINESS.
BEFOREHAND, THE ENTIRETY OF THE CUSTOMER BASE WAS SPLITTING THAT $170,000 IN THEIR NORMAL RATES.
WE RECOMMENDED THAT IT WOULD BE MORE FAIR FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY USING THE CREDIT CARDS TO HAVE A GREATER SHARE OF THAT, SO WE PUT IN THAT $2 FEE SO THAT ANYTIME THEY USE THAT CREDIT CARD, $2 OF IT BEING PAID DIRECTLY FROM THEM.
THE CITY IS STILL COVERING A GOOD PORTION OF THAT.
WE THINK ABOUT $90,000 MAY BE GENERATED THIS YEAR IN REVENUE FROM THE CREDIT CARD FEE, WHICH IS NOT NEAR THE 170, BUT IT DOES GIVE THEM A SLIGHTLY BIGGER PIECE OF THE PIE THAT EVERYONE NOW DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY.
GOING ON TO OPENGOV, OUR OLD SYSTEM WAS NOT BEING SUPPORTED ANYMORE, SO WE STARTED TO BE PROACTIVE IN FINDING A SOLUTION BEFORE WE WERE FORCED INTO IT.
WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH OPENGOV ALMOST CONSTANTLY FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO MAKE SURE THIS IS A SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION.
[00:40:02]
WE ARE SET TO PUT THIS INTO PLACE IN THE MID-MARCH BILLINGS OR THE 1ST OF APRIL BILLINGS, DEPENDING ON WHAT CYCLE EACH CITIZEN IS ON.WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LIVE CUSTOMER PORTAL.
CURRENTLY, IF SOMEONE MAKES THEIR BILL PAY ONLINE OR THEY GO AND PAY THROUGH THE PHONE, WE DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW IF THEIR PAYMENT WENT THROUGH UNTIL THE NEXT DAY.
SO IF SOMEONE SAYS THEY PAID THEIR BILL AND PLEASE GO TURN ON OUR SERVICE.
WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A WAY TO VERIFY THAT.
WE'RE TAKING THEM ON THEIR WORD.
THIS WILL LET US KNOW THAT YES, THEY DID PAY THEIR BILL ONLINE.
WE CAN VERIFY THAT THEY MADE THIS PAYMENT, AND THEN WE CAN GO DO WHATEVER THE NEXT STEPS ARE ON THAT.
OR IF SOMEONE IS CURIOUS ABOUT THE STATUS OF THEIR ACCOUNT, THEY CAN CONTACT US OR SEE IT LIVE.
THEY CAN SEE MY PAYMENT WENT THROUGH, NOW I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THIS.
WE'VE HAD CUSTOMERS IN THE PAST MAKE DOUBLE PAYMENTS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T SEE IT ON THE PORTAL.
IT WAS A REAL PROBLEM THAT WE IDENTIFIED, AND DENIM SANTIANO AND HER TEAM, OUR UTILITY BILLING MANAGER, IDENTIFIED THAT TO BE ABLE TO IMPROVE OUR SERVICE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE SOME IMPROVED TEXT MESSAGE, PHONE, AND EMAIL COMMUNICATION WITH OUR CUSTOMERS.
RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE A GREAT WAY OUTSIDE OF MAILING NOTICES TO LET SOMEONE KNOW THAT THEY MAY HAVE MISSED THEIR BILL.
MAYBE THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE ON OUR PAY, BUT THEY EXPIRED.
OR MAYBE JUST FOR SOME REASON LEFT THEIR MIND.
I KNOW I GET A LOT OF MAIL THAT I'M NOT NECESSARILY SURE IS LEGITIMATE OR NOT. I MAY IGNORE IT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A COUPLE DIFFERENT AVENUES TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO OUR CITIZENS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN THIS PAYMENT, CAN YOU PLEASE PAY US NOW? THEN LAST IS INCREASE OF VENDOR EFFICIENCY.
ONE OF THE PROBLEM AREAS FOR THE DEPARTMENT WE FOUND IS WE HAD A LOT OF VENDOR RELATIONSHIPS.
CAN BE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE THAT MANY RELATIONSHIPS.
WHENEVER YOU CHANGE ONE THING YOU HAVE TO LET THE OTHER SEVEN PEOPLE KNOW THAT'S CHANGED AND GET THEM ALL TALKING TO EACH OTHER, AND IT CAN BE DIFFICULT.
WITH OPENGOV, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONSOLIDATE THAT AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTROL AND DIRECT ACCESS FOR PUSHING OUT UTILITY BILLS.
[7. Consider an ordinance amending Chapter 118 “Utilities” Articles I, II, and III, Section 118-3 “Illegal Water Connections; Theft of Water,” Section 118-34 “Application for Residential Utility Service,” Section 11840 “Limitations on Termination of Utility Service,” Section 118-41 “Reinstatement of Utility Service,” Section 118-75 “Commercial Utility Bill,” Section 118-79 “Limitation on Termination of Utility Service,” and Section 118-80 “Reinstatement of Utility Service” of the Code of Ordinances, City of Bedford, Texas, to clarify penalties for water tampering; update the required information for utility service applications; remove the waiting period for restoring service; update nonpayment balances for cutoffs; and update notice language. ]
TONIGHT WE ARE RECOMMENDING SOME CHANGES TO OUR WATER ORDINANCE.RIGHT NOW FOR WATER THEFT, SO THAT'S ANYTIME THAT WE DO PUT A LOCK ON SOMEONE'S WATER METER BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT PAID FOR IT, SOMETIMES THEY CAN GO OUT THERE AND MANUALLY CHANGE IT THEMSELVES OR CUT A LOCK, RIGHT NOW THAT IS ONLY GOING TO BE A FINE PER OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE.
THAT MEANS OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS TO GET INVOLVED.
THEY HAVE TO FIND AN APPROPRIATE BURDEN OF PROOF.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON THAT THEY COULD BE DEALING WITH AS OPPOSED TO GOING AND CHECKING TO SEE IF SOMEONE CUT THE LOCK ON THEIR WATER METER.
WE WOULD HAVE NOW WITH THE OPTION TO DO A FINE, WHICH WOULD BE VERIFIABLE OUT IN THE FIELD BY ONE OF OUR TEXTS, THEY COULD TAKE A PICTURE OF THE CUT LOCK.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PICTURE OF THE LOCK BEFOREHAND, THEN THERE'S NO LOCK, AND WE'LL SAY, SOMEONE CUT THIS LOCK, WE'RE GOING TO PUT A FINE ON THIS ACCOUNT, AND IT'S A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF PROOF FOR BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THE BILL.
NEXT UP. RIGHT NOW, WHILE IT IS POLICY AND PROCESS TO TAKE AN ID WHENEVER WE'RE OPENING AN ACCOUNT.
WE DO NOT REQUIRE IT PER OUR ORDINANCE.
OUR ORDINANCE IS FAIRLY SPECIFIC HERE ON THE PROCEDURES FOR OPENING AN ACCOUNT, AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REQUIRING AN ID SO WE CAN VERIFY THAT THE PERSON WHO IS OPENING UP THAT ACCOUNT IS THAT PERSON.
THAT SEEMS PRETTY STANDARD. IT IS.
IT'S A FAIRLY STANDARD ONE THAT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE UP-TO-DATE ON IN OUR ORDINANCE.
NEXT ONE IS SLIGHTLY LARGER CHANGE OF SERVICE.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE THE ONLY CITY WE'RE AWARE OF IN THE AREA PER ORDINANCE, WE ARE REQUIRED TO TURN SOMEONE'S WATER BACK ON WITHIN 12 HOURS OF PAYMENT IF THEY HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED.
THAT'S PUTTING A LOT OF STRESS ON VARIOUS MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM.
RIGHT NOW, OUR POLICE DISPATCH IS HANDLING THE AFTER HOUR CALLS.
ANOTHER THING THAT OUR POLICE DISPATCH PROBABLY HAS BETTER TIME TO BE SPENDING, THEN WE HAVE AN ON-CALL PUBLIC WORKS PERSON.
ANYTIME THEY ARE CALLED OUT, THAT IS OVERTIME HOURS AND THEY'RE HAVING TO GO IF SOMEONE PAID THEIR BILL AT 5:30 PM.
WE HAVE UNTIL 5:30 AM TO GET THAT WATER TURNED ON.
IF SOMEONE IS AT HOME, ON CALL, THEY'RE BROUGHT IN TO GO TURN ON THE WATER AND THEN GO BACK.
THAT HAPPENS MAYBE FIVE TIMES OR SO A CYCLE, SO ABOUT 10 TIMES A MONTH.
SO WE ARE WANTING TO REMOVE THIS 12-HOUR REQUIREMENT.
THEN THE LAST ASPECT IS SOMETIMES OUR WATER FOLKS ENCOUNTER A MAIN BREAK, SOMETHING REALLY OUT OF THEIR CONTROL THAT WE WANT EVERY POSSIBLE PERSON ON OUR TEAM, THEY ARE ADDRESSING THAT VERY IMMEDIATE ISSUE, AND THEY CAN'T NECESSARILY DO THAT.
WE HAVE TO TURN AROUND WITHIN 12 HOURS TO RECONNECT.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO LET THEM PRIORITIZE SOME OF THESE MORE EMERGENCY-BASED ISSUES. YES.
[00:45:01]
>> BRADY, THERE'S NO STATE REGULATION THAT WE HAVE TO TURN IT ON.
THERE'S NO LAWS THAT WE'RE VIOLATING OR BREAKING.
IT'S JUST WE CAN SET THAT STANDARD?
>> WE CAN. THERE'S NOTHING SPECIFIC IN THE TEXAS CODE ON HOW FAST WE HAVE TO TURN THAT AROUND.
>> JUST WANTED OUR CITIZENS TO KNOW.
>> YES AND IT'S IN LINE WITH HOW EVERYONE ELSE AND ALL THE OTHER CITIES IN OUR AREA HANDLE IT.
IN ALL HONESTY, OUR TEAM IS THEY ARE QUALITY TEAM.
WE JUST PASSED TWO ADDITIONAL METER READERS IN THE BUDGET THIS LAST TIME AND METER TECHNICIANS, UTILITY BILLING TECHNICIANS.
WE'LL HAVE TWO PEOPLE OUT IN THE FIELD DEDICATED TO THIS.
IF SOMEONE PAYS THE NEXT MORNING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE NINE TIMES OUT OF 10.
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT 10TH TIME THEY'RE COVERED.
>> ARE WE REQUIRING SOMEBODY TO BE HOME? I KNOW SOME CITIES REQUIRE THAT SOMEBODY IS THERE.
>> WE DO DO DOOR HANGERS IN THAT INSTANCE.
WE DON'T WANT TO TURN ON AND HAVE SOMEONE HAD A FAUCET ON WITHOUT REALIZING AND THEY FLED THEIR HOME.
>> A QUESTION ON THAT ONE, BRADY.
NORMALLY, IF THIS WAS DURING THE WEEK, SOMEBODY WANTED TO HAVE THEIR WATER TURNED BACK ON, WE'LL BE ABLE TO MEET THAT NEED FAIRLY QUICKLY, OBVIOUSLY, WELL BEFORE THE 12-HOUR PERIOD.
>> RIGHT NOW THE SYSTEM IS IF SOMEONE SATURDAY MORNING THEY PAY THEIR WATER BILL ON LINE, THEY'LL CALL DISPATCH SAY WE PAID OUR WATER BILL, WE'D LIKE OUR WATER SERVICE TURNED BACK ON.
DISPATCH CONTACTS THE PUBLIC WORKS PERSON ON CALL.
THEY GO OUT, THEY TURN IT ON, SOMETIME DURING THAT DAY.
DURING THE NEW SYSTEM THEY WOULD CONTACT.
WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE REAL TIME INFORMATION AND WE'D KNOW IF THEY PAID THEIR BILL ONLINE, WHICH WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.
MONDAY MORNING, WE'LL CHECK THOSE REPORTS, WE'LL PUT IT IN A WORK ORDER.
OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM WILL GO OUT THERE FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING AND GET THAT TURNED ON.
>> FROM WHAT I'M SEEING, THE WAY IT WORKS RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN VERIFYING WHETHER OR NOT THEY PAID IT OR NOT.
>> AGAIN, OUR SYSTEM AS IS JUST DOESN'T HAVE THAT FUNCTIONALITY, THOUGH IT WOULD IN THE FUTURE.
WE HAVE WE FAILED TO EVER MEET THAT 12-HOUR STANDARD?
>> NOTHING THAT WE'VE RECORDED, NO.
>> THANK YOU, BRADY. COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.
BRADY, DO WE KNOW IF THERE ARE CONSISTENT ACCOUNTS THAT ARE GETTING THESE DISCONNECTIONS AND REQUESTING RE-CONNECTIONS?
>> YES, THAT IS WHAT IS LARGELY HAPPENING.
WE'RE TRYING TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE FROM A NUMBER OF VARIETIES.
WE DON'T WANT OUR DISCONNECT LIST.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE GOING OUT AND CUTTING OFF PEOPLE'S WATER.
WE'RE TRYING TO HELP MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO GET THOSE BILLS AND GET THOSE REMINDERS ON THE BILLS.
WE THINK THE OPENGOV NOTICE SYSTEM IS GOING TO GO A LONG WAY TO CUTTING DOWN THAT LIST SO PEOPLE ARE JUST HAVING CONTINUED WATER SERVICE.
>> THE NEXT IS RIGHT NOW, IF SOMEONE HAS AN OUTSTANDING BALANCE OF MORE THAN $25 AFTER ABOUT FIVE OR SIX WEEKS, THEY ARE ON THE CUTOFF LIST.
WE HAVE FEES THAT ARE ABOVE $25 FOR BEING ON THE CUTOFF LIST.
THEORETICALLY, YOU COULD MAKE THAT PAYMENT, BUT YOU'D BE LATE AND THEN HAVE A $30 FEE AND THEN BE ON THE VERY NEXT CUTOFF LIST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T PAY THAT $30 FEE.
WE DON'T THINK THAT SYSTEM MAKES A LOT OF SENSE ON HOW IT'S DESIGNED, SO WE WANT TO INCREASE THAT MINIMUM FROM $25-$50.
THAT'S GOING TO SAVE ABOUT 10% OF THE LIST.
IT'S NOT A SMALL AMOUNT, BUT WE THINK IT'S SMALL ENOUGH TO GIVE PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA LEEWAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THOSE PAYMENTS IN SO THEIR WATER IS NOT CUT OFF.
>> REAL QUICK ONE ON THAT, YOU SAID IF IT WAS ON $25 THAT THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL FEES THAT COULD BE TACKED ON?
>> NO, WE DO HAVE SOME FEES THAT ARE $30 FEES FOR HAVING TO GO OUT THERE AND WE CUT OFF THEIR SERVICE.
>> RIGHT NOW THE MINIMUM IS BELOW THAT, SO IT JUST DOESN'T NECESSARILY MATCH UP, AND IT KEEPS SOMEONE IN A PERPETUAL CYCLE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO AVOID.
THEN THE LAST IS OUR ORDINANCE HAS A COUPLE MENTIONS OF REQUIRING US TO MAIL ALL OUR BILLS.
WE'D LIKE TO REMOVE THAT MAILING AND JUST THAT WE WILL SEND PEOPLE BILLS.
WE'LL CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO MAIL BILLS TO ANYONE WHO WANTS THEM BUT IF SOMEONE WANTS TO OPT OUT OR JUST HAVE AN EMAIL ONLY BILL, WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THE OPTION TO DO SO AND FROM OUR READING OF THE ORDINANCE WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE THAT OPTION.
>> I GUESS I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW RESIDENTS CAN SIGN UP TO OPT IN IN ELECTRONIC BILLING SO WITH US OFFERING THAT SERVICE, IS IT AGAINST OUR ORDINANCE BECAUSE RESIDENTS OPT IN?
>> WE ARE CLEANING UP OUR ORDINANCE TO MATCH BEST PRACTICES.
>> THANK YOU, BRADY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.
[00:50:03]
ANYBODY ELSE ON THESE ONES? [OVERLAPPING] COUNCIL MEMBER SABOL.>> BRADY, SO A FEW YEARS AGO WE HAD A DEAL WHERE SOMEBODY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAD NO WATER AND IT HAD GONE ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT THE CITY TRACKS THAT TO SEE IF SOMEBODY MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE OR IF IT'S A HOMEOWNER?
>> WE AREN'T TRACKING THAT SIDE OF IT.
WE'RE TRACKING ACCOUNTS THAT HAVE USAGE BUT AREN'T NECESSARILY IN OUR SYSTEM OR PAYING BUT WE DON'T HAVE AN ACTIVE ACCOUNT OR AN ADDRESS THAT JUST HAS ZERO USAGE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO KNOW IF THEY'RE JUST AIRBNB OWNER WHO DOESN'T HAVE ANYONE THERE OR THEY'RE HERE FOR CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SABOL, I'M SORRY.
[NOISE] JUST TO JUMP IN ON THAT.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THAT PARTICULAR INSTANCE IS WHEN WE GET A COMPLAINT THAT THERE IS NO WATER ON IN A HOME, IT TURNS OVER TO A CODE ENFORCEMENT NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES MATTER.
AT THAT POINT, THE GROUP WILL THEN INVESTIGATE WHETHER THERE ARE RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE HOME WITHOUT WATER SERVICE.
AT THAT POINT, IT IS A CODE OF VIOLATION.
IT JUST LEAVES THE WATER UTILITY BILLING SIDE AND MOVES OVER TO A CODE ENFORCEMENT MATTER BUT WE DO HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED OF THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO DO IT.
WE DON'T COMB THE BILLS TO LOOK AT THOSE THINGS.
>> IS IT A QUESTION OF HEALTH AND SAFETY TO HAVE SOMEBODY LIVING IN A HOME WITH NO WATER?
>> ABSOLUTELY [OVERLAPPING] YES, IT IS A CODE VIOLATION.
>> THE LONG TERM, SO IF THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE WATER BILL, THEN IT GOES TO CODE?
>> CORRECT. WE DO HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR CODE PROCESS, WHICH IS NOT A QUICK PROCESS EITHER.
WE HAVE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM, WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM TIME TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION, AND DURING THAT TIME, YES, THEY ARE LIVING IN THE HOME THEN WITHOUT WATER.
IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME. IT'S NOT A QUICK PROCESS, BUT IT WOULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN ADDITIONAL FINES AND PRESENCE IN FRONT OF COURT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> BUT WE DO OFFER PAYMENT PLANS FOR PEOPLE HAVING A HARD TIME.
>> WE ALSO POINT TO THERE'S A FEW STATE PROGRAMS THAT YOU CAN REFERENCE OFF OUR MAIN UTILITY BILLING PAGE WHERE PEOPLE CAN FIND SOME EXTRA ASSISTANCE.
>> BECAUSE THE WATER KEEPS GOING UP IN VALUE AND IT IS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER.
EVEN THE BASIC PRICE IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE FOR HOMEOWNERS THAT DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY. THANK YOU, BRADY.
>> COULD I JUST ADD QUICKLY AS WELL THERE COUNCIL MEMBER SABOL? ESSENTIALLY WHEN CODE ENFORCEMENT GETS INVOLVED, THEN MY OFFICE WILL OFTEN BE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE AS WELL.
THERE ARE SOME REAL LIMITATIONS UNDER FEDERAL LAW, WELL FORTUNATELY AND UNFORTUNATELY, IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT.
ENFORCEMENT, YOU HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T PUT SOMEBODY OUT ONTO THE STREET ON THE BASIS OF A COURT ENFORCEMENT ACTION, BECAUSE FEDERAL LAW WOULD REQUIRE THAT YOU FIND THEM EQUIVALENT HOUSING ELSEWHERE.
IT'S INCUMBENT ON THE CITY TO ASSIST WITH SOME SOLUTION THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE THE MORE COSTLY AND LEGALLY COMPLICATED [LAUGHTER] PROCESS OF EVICTING SOMEBODY.
NEAN'S TEAM HAS A VERY DELICATE BALANCE THEY'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE WHILE ALSO HAVING A HEART IN TRYING TO SERVE OUR CITIZENS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SABOL.
MY HOPE IS ALSO THAT INCREASING THAT NON PAYMENT BALANCE FROM 25-50 WILL ALSO ALLEVIATE A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING.
>> YEAH. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE COMMENTS?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRADY. I APPRECIATE IT.
SEEING NO MORE COMMENTS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 7.
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 118, UTILITIES ARTICLES 1, 2, AND 3 SECTION 118-3, ILLEGAL WATER CONNECTIONS STUFFED TO WATER, SECTION 118-34, APPLICATION FOR RESIDENTIAL UTILITY SERVICES.
SECTION 118-40, LIMITATIONS ON TERMINATION OF UTILITY SERVICE, SECTION 118-41, STATEMENT OF UTILITY SERVICE, SECTION 118-75, COMMERCIAL UTILITY BILL, SECTION 118-79, LIMITATION ON TERMINATION OF UTILITY SERVICE, AND SECTION 118-80, REINSTATEMENT OF UTILITY SERVICE OF THE CODE OF WARRENTON CITY IN BEDFORD, TEXAS TO CLARIFY PENALTIES FOR THE WATER TAMPERING, UPDATE THE REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR UTILITY SERVICE APPLICATIONS, REMOVE THE WAITING PERIOD FOR RESTORING SERVICE, UPDATE NON PAYMENT BALANCE FOR CUTOFFS, AND UPDATE NOTICE LANGUAGE.
THINK I GOT IT ALL. I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER FARCO, A SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THIS. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[00:55:02]
THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU, STAFF.NEXT UP IS MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS.
[8. Mayor/Council Member Reports ]
I HAVE NO REPORT FOR THIS WEEK.DO I HAVE ANYBODY ELSE, ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? NO. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT. WELL, GO AHEAD [INAUDIBLE].
>> I JUST WANT TO GIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO THE BEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THIS PAST SATURDAY, THEY HOSTED THE FIRST POLAR PLUNGE AT THE YMCA.
THE CHIEF AND DEPUTY CHIEF AND PLENTY OF OFFICERS, THEY ALL GOT TOGETHER AND JUMPED IN.
IT WAS FOR CHARITY, FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS, AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU DID TAKE THE PLUNGE?
[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU FOR TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM, WHICH I APPRECIATE IT.
ANYBODY ELSE? NEXT UP IS CITY MANAGER STAFF REPORTS.
INTERIM CITY MANAGER ANDREA ROY. SAVE YOUR VOICE.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THIS EVENING. [LAUGHTER].
>> THAT WORKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SEEING NO MORE ACTION, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SOMEBODY DOWN THERE? [LAUGHTER] MAYOR PRO TEM GAGLIARDI, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DAWKINS.
[NOISE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.