City of Austin Water Oversight Committee met May 24.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
Committee Members Present:
1. Leslie Pool, Chair
2. Ryan Alter, Vice Chair
3. Alison Alter
4. Jose Velasquez
Committee Members Absent:
1. None
Call to Order
Chair Leslie Pool called the committee meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.
Public Communication: General
There were no speakers.
Approval of Minutes
1. Approve the minutes of the March 29, 2023, regular meeting of the Austin Water Oversight Committee.
The minutes of the March 29, 2023, Austin Water Oversight Committee meeting were approved on Vice-Chair Ryan Alter’s motion, and Council Member Jose Velasquez’s second, on a 4-0 vote.
Briefings
2. Director’s Report on innovations, events and awards, and upcoming recommendations for Council action
The Committee received an update from Austin Water Director Shay Roalson on upcoming recommendations for council action including capital recovery fees, advanced metering infrastructure funding and capital improvements at the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant through a construction manager at risk-based contract. Director Roalson noted that Austin Water staff provided a dozen technical presentations at the Texas Water conference in April, and two Austin Water staff members received prestigious professional recognitions for innovation, regulatory management and distinguished service. A third Austin Water staff member was recognized at the conference for their volunteer service.
3. Austin Water External Review: Second Quarter Update on Implementation of Recommendations
The Committee received a briefing from Austin Water Director Shay Roalson on Austin Water’s progress in implementing recommendations from the External Review. The Director answered questions from Committee members.
4. Updates on water supply and drought response
The Committee received a briefing from Austin Water Division Manager for Systems Planning, Theresa Lutes and Austin Water Division Manager for Water Conservation, Kevin Kluge on water supply and drought response with introductions from Austin Water Assistant Director of Environmental, Planning and Developmental Services, Kevin Critendon. They answered questions from Committee members.
5. Water Forward updates
The Committee received a briefing from Austin Water Program Manager, Marisa Flores Gonzalez. Austin Water Director Shay Roalson and Assistant Directors Kevin Critendon, Anna Bryan-Borja and Randi Jenkins aided in answering questions from Committee members.
Future Items
6. Identify items to discuss at future meetings
· LCRA’s off channel reservoir project
· Tesla’s water usage downstream of Austin
· Austin Water’s centralized reclaimed system expansion plans and Travis County participation
Addendum: Discussion and Possible Action
7. Discussion and possible action regarding remaining Austin Water Oversight Committee meeting dates for 2023
A motion by Alison Alter with a second from Council Member Velasquez passed 4-0, to reschedule the next Committee meeting from August 30 to August 23, 2023, at 1:00 pm.
Chair Pool adjourned the meeting at 3:23 p.m. without objection.
https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=413299