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I'M LESLIE POOLE AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN ENERGY UTILITY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
AND, UM, WE'VE COME BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION AND, UM, WE'RE STILL AN IN A BREAK FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
[Call to Order]
ORDER FOR THE AUSTIN ENERGY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING.UH, FRIDAY IS JUST NOT FRIDAY.
IT'S TUESDAY, UM, JULY 27TH AND IT IS 2:03 PM.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A QUORUM AND I THINK WE HAVE OUR STAFF AND I SEE ON THE, ON THE TV, I SEE OUR GENERAL MANAGER AND OTHER STAFF WHO WILL BE JOINING US AND MAKING REPORTS.
I THINK, I THINK WE'RE ALL READY TO GO.
I'VE CALLED THIS MEETING TO ORDER AND THE FIRST, UM, UM, ITEM IS CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.
[Citizen Communication]
WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, MR. PAUL ROBBINS.HI PAUL, COME ON UP TO THE MICROPHONE.
AND COULD I ASK OUR, OUR STAFF TO DO A TIMER FOR THREE MINUTES? THANKS.
BEFORE YOU START, COULD YOU CUE THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION PLEASE? OKAY.
I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST AND CONSUMER ADVOCATE ON JANUARY 20TH.
I FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO REVIEW THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN FORMERLY KNOWN AS CAP FOR GIVING SOME OF ITS MONEY MEANT FOR LOW-INCOME RATE PAYERS TO THE WRONG PEOPLE OR FOR THE WRONG PURPOSE.
CAP IS ADMINISTERED BY AUSTIN ENERGY.
OH, THE AUSTIN AUSTIN WATER CONTRIBUTES ABOUT $10 MILLION TO CAP A YEAR ON JULY 14TH, THE CITY'S WATER WASTEWATER COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO RECOMMEND THAT COUNCIL PLACE AN ITEM ON THE APPROPRIATE COUNCIL COMMITTEE AGENDA TO DISCUSS AN AUDIT OF CAP IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, TO ASSURE THAT THESE RELATIVELY SCARCE FUNDS TO HELP THE POOR ARE SPENT PROPERLY.
I HANDED OUT THE RESOLUTION TO BE PASSED OUT TO YOU IN HARD COPY.
TWO PROBLEMS DISCUSSED IN THE JANUARY COMPLAINT TO THE AUDITOR OR THE IS THE CONTINUING, ARE THEY CONTINUING PROBLEM OF AWARDING MONEY TO CUSTOMERS WITH HIGH REAL ESTATE ASSETS IN THE LACK OF INCOME QUALIFICATION OF PARTICIPANTS? OVERALL, THIS SLIDE IS, UM, OF THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN STORY IN ON DECEMBER 1ST, 2014.
SO THIS IS BEEN GOING ON ABOUT SEVEN YEARS.
NOW, HERE ARE THREE EXAMPLES OF THE CONTINUED ABUSE IN 2020.
THIS IS A 7,100 SQUARE FOOT MANSION WITH A TENNIS COURT IN SWIMMING POOL ON FOUR ACRES IN A GATED COMMUNITY.
THE OWNER HAD A SECOND HOME RECEIVING CAP.
HERE'S A RECENTLY BUILT HOME IN OLD WEST AUSTIN WORTH $1.7 MILLION.
RECEIVING CAP HERE IS A MODEST DUPLEX IN AUSTIN RECEIVING CAP.
UH, IT WOULD BE UNDERSTANDABLE IF THE OWNER DID NOT OWN FIVE PROPERTIES IN CORPUS CHRISTI, INCLUDING THIS WATERFRONT HOME.
SO THE OWNER HAS TOTAL ASSETS OF ABOUT $2 MILLION.
THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS NO INCOME QUALIFICATION FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS, JUST BECAUSE A CAP PARTICIPANT DOESN'T OWN A MANSION DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE POOR.
THEY MIGHT HAVE HIGH SALARIES OWN STOCK PORTFOLIOS OR OWNING EXPENSIVE CARS AND JEWELRY.
THERE COULD BE THOUSANDS OF CAP PARTICIPANTS IN THIS CATEGORY.
WE SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW SINCE SACRAMENTO'S UTILITY RUNS AN INCOME QUALIFIED LOW INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT SERVES MORE CUSTOMERS THAN AUSTIN'S.
WE SHOULD SERIOUSLY EVALUATE THIS ALTERNATIVE SINCE AUSTIN ENERGY WILL NOT TAKE THE INITIATIVE.
AND WE, MR. VICE, WE HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKERS.
UM, MOVING ON TO, UH, APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
[1. Approve the minutes of the June 1, 2021 meeting of the Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee.]
CAN I HAVE A MOTION, UM, A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY AND A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.UM, ARE THERE ANY, UH, AMENDMENTS OR EDITS TO THE, TO THE MINUTES? ALL RIGHT.
UM, ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 1ST, 2021 MEETING
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OF OUR OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.AND THAT LOOKS LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO IS ALSO VOTING FOR THIS, I GUESS.
WE HAVE TWO MORE MEETINGS FOR THIS YEAR SCHEDULED AND, UM, ITEM NUMBER
[2. Revise the 2021 Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee Meeting Schedule.]
TWO ARE THE TWO DATES FOR THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING AND, UM, I HAVE THEM HANDY.YOU'RE ALSO IN THE BACKUP AND JUST TO READ THEM INTO THE RECORD CHAIR, I'VE GOT THEM PULLED UP, IF IT'S HELPFUL.
DO YOU, ARE YOU SHOWING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 AND TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH? YES MA'AM.
COULD I HAVE A MOTION APPROVE THESE TWO DATES AND A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
AND THESE ARE AT ONE 30, UM, ON THESE TUESDAYS AND, UM, ANY COMMENT OR CHANGES TO THESE COUNCILMEMBER ALTER? CAN YOU PLEASE REPEAT THE DATES? YOU BET.
AND, UM, ANY OTHER COMMENTS ALL IN FAVOR? JUST RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND THAT LOOKS UNANIMOUS ON THE DICE.
[3. General Manager’s Report - Upcoming Recommendations for Council Action - Innovations, events, awards.]
IS OUR GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT.AND I THINK WE HAVE GENERAL MANAGER SERGEANT.
I SEE HER FACE, THEIR SMILING FACE.
AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS I'M JACKIE SERGEANT AUSTIN ENERGY GENERAL MANAGER.
IN ADDITION TO THE GENERAL MANAGERS REPORT TODAY VICE-PRESIDENT OF POWER PRODUCTION.
PAT SWEENEY WILL PRESENT THE UPDATE ON THE DECKER CREEK POWER STATION, WORKFORCE PLANNING EFFORTS.
I WILL BEGIN TODAY WITH A SHORT BRIEFING ON FIVE OF AUSTIN ENERGY'S UPCOMING REQUESTS FOR COUNCIL ACTION.
THE FIRST ITEM IS TO AUTHORIZE A THREE YEAR MULTI-DEPARTMENTAL CONTRACT WITH RFD AND ASSOCIATES.
AUSTIN ENERGY'S PROJECTED COST IS $1.9 MILLION.
THIS CONTRACT PROVIDES SOFTWARE LICENSING, MAINTENANCE AND SERVICES FOR ORACLE PRODUCTS THAT ARE CRITICAL FOR SECURITY AND PERFORMANCE OF DATABASE SYSTEMS. THE NEXT ITEM IS AUTHORIZATION OF A CONTRACT WITH PEERLESS MANUFACTURING FOR $3.2 MILLION.
THIS CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE REPLACEMENT OF FOUR AMMONIA EVAPORATION SKIDS FOR THE GENERATING UNITS AT SANDHILL ENERGY CENTER.
THE NEXT ITEM IS AUTHORIZATION OF A THREE-YEAR MULTI-DEPARTMENTAL CONTRACT, THE SOFTWARE ONE FOR MICROSOFT OFFICE 365.
AUSTIN ENERGY'S PROJECTED COST IS $9.75 MILLION.
THIS CONTRACT WILL ALLOW FOR THE PURCHASE OF VARIOUS MICROSOFT CLOUD PRODUCTS AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES.
THE NEXT ITEM IS A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH J REESE CONTRACTORS FOR THE RAINY STREET GAS INSULATED SWITCHGEAR SUBSTATION PROJECT FOR $12.5 MILLION.
AS WE'VE PRIVILEGED PREVIOUSLY SHARED WITH YOU, A NEW SUBSTATION IS NEEDED TO SERVE THE INCREASED CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT AND POTENTIAL REDEVELOPMENT ALONG THE WALLER CREEK AREA.
DEVELOPING THIS NEW SUBSTATION IS CRITICAL TO SUPPORT THE ANTICIPATED DEMAND AND LOAD GROWTH AND TO PROVIDE REDUNDANCY THAT ALLOWS FOR NECESSARY UPGRADES AT THE BRACKENRIDGE SUBSTATION.
THE LAST ITEM IS A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH KIEWIT INFRASTRUCTURE SOUTH FOR $3.1 MILLION THROUGH THIS PROJECT, AUSTIN ENERGY WILL FULFILL ITS REQUIREMENTS TO ENABLE THE INTERCONNECTION OF A LARGE THIRD PARTY WHOLESALE SOLAR GENERATOR WITH THE ERCOT TRANSMISSION GRID.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE LAUNCHED AUSTIN ENERGY'S LARGEST DC FAST ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING HUB TODAY WITH EIGHT UNITS, THIS NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE FITTINGLY BUILT ON OUR PREVIOUS COLLABORATION OF ELECTRIC DRIVE A SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY SHOWCASE FOR AUSTIN.
IT USES THE LATEST CHARGEPOINT DUAL STANDARD TECHNOLOGY WITH IMPROVED RELIABILITY AND SPEED, AND IT IS ADA COMPLIANT.
IT IS ENERGIZED THIS MONTH AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
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LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION AN UPCOMING AUSTIN ENERGY EVENT ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 20TH, THE CITY WILL HOST ITS 13TH ANNUAL AFFORDABLE ENERGY SUMMIT MORE THAN 130 REPRESENTATIVES FROM COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO WORK WITH LIMITED INCOME AUSTINITES ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND.THE SUMMIT, PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CITY'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND UTILITY SERVICES ATTENDEES ALSO NETWORK WITH OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS AND PROVIDE INPUT ON CITY OF AUSTIN UTILITIES PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE PROVIDED $16.9 MILLION IN BILL ASSISTANCE TO OUR CUSTOMERS DURING FISCAL YEAR 20 AND 21.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, WITH THAT, IT CONCLUDES MY GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER ON HER REPORT? GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. SERGEANT, AND THEN I THINK WE HAVE, UH, ITEM FOUR IS
[4. Decker Creek Power Station Workforce Planning.]
THE, UH, UPDATE ON THE DECKER CREEK POWER STATION, WORKFORCE PLANNING.UH, MY NAME IS PAT SWEENEY AND VICE PRESIDENT OF POWER PRODUCTION FOR AUSTIN ENERGY.
I HAVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON OUR, OUR TRANSITION PROGRAM THAT WE'VE ADDED AWAY FOR SOME TIME NOW AT DECKER, AS WE CONTEMPLATE THE LAST STEAM UNIT SHUT DOWN AT A LATER POINT, UH, THIS YEAR OR BEYOND.
UH, AND AS WE GO THROUGH THAT, WE'VE OFFERED ROUTE THIS TIME, UH, SEVERAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, UH, TO OUR, OUR TEAM.
AND MORE RECENTLY WE'VE BEEN CONDUCTING JOB SHADOWING.
UH, WE'VE COMPLETED SIX ADDITIONAL JOB SHADOWING SINCE OUR LAST UPDATE TO YOU JUST BEFORE THE SUMMER BEGAN, WE HAVE TWO MORE PENDING, UH, THOSE GO A LITTLE BIT SLOWER IN THE SUMMER AS WE HAVE OUR SUMMER OPERATIONS UNDERWAY.
AND OUR FOCUS AT THAT POINT IS SAFE AND RELIABLE OPERATION.
UH, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE THOSE ON THROUGH THE SUMMER AND INTO THE FALL.
UH, IN ADDITION, UH, WE CONTINUE TO OFFER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS CAREER ASSESSMENTS FOR ANY WHO STILL NEED THEM AND HAVE COMPLETED TWO RETIREMENT EDUCATION SESSIONS WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
OVERALL, WE CONTINUE TO BE ON A GOOD TRAJECTORY OR JUST HAVEN'T TAKEN A RETIREMENT OPPORTUNITIES OR NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN AG.
I EXPECT THAT TREND TO CONTINUE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SWEENEY? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA.
THANKS, MR. SWEENEY, YOU CUT OUT AT JUST ONE MOMENT AND I COULDN'T TELL IF YOU HAD GIVEN US A NUMBER OF THE, OF THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYMENTS WHO HAD TAKEN EMPLOYMENT RETIREMENT OPPORTUNITIES, OR IF YOU WERE JUST SAYING THAT SOME HAD NO, I JUST SAID, UM, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T PROVIDE A NOTE.
UM, DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF, OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THE NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE FOUND OTHER EMPLOYMENT VERSUS TAKING EMPLOYMENT WE'RE AT ABOUT 18 RIGHT NOW THAT'S A COMBINATION OF RETIREMENTS AND TAKING OTHER OPTIONS.
HOW DOES THAT BREAK DOWN BETWEEN THOSE TWO CHOICES BETWEEN THOSE TWO PILOTS? IT'S ROUGHLY HALF AND HALF, UH, WHICH IS GOOD.
UH, AND, AND WE'VE GOT MORE FOLKS THAT WE EXPECT.
WE'LL TAKE SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, UM, WE WOULD THEN ADD ADDED DISTRICT BILLING PLANTS, AND WE HAVE SOME NEW OPENINGS TO STAFF, THOSE PLANTS COMING UP, UH, THAT, THAT WE HOPE THEY'LL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AS WELL AS SOME FOLKS INDICATED, UH, HAD FURTHER INDICATIONS THAT I HAVE SOME EARLY RETIREMENT.
SO BETWEEN THOSE, THOSE COMBINATIONS OF THE ONES WE'VE HAD, AND I THINK THE ONES THAT WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE, I THINK WE'RE ON A BIT, AGAIN, A GOOD PATH, UH, TO WINDING DOWN THE OPERATIONS OF THE STEVIE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDED TO US TODAY.
I WAS WONDERING IF IT WAS AVAILABLE IN MEMO FORMAT, OR IF YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEND ONE TO US JUST FOR FURTHER REVIEW, I'M SURE WE CAN DO THAT.
SO THE LAST ITEM, UM, FUTURE ITEMS FOR OUR UPCOMING MEETINGS, IF ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING TO OFFER RIGHT NOW, I'LL TAKE IT OTHERWISE WE CAN, UM, PUT SOMETHING UP ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
ALL RIGHT, MAYOR, I THINK WE ARE ALL DONE WITH OUR OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, UH, MEETING FOR AUSTIN ENERGY UTILITY.
AND SO I WILL, UM, I WILL ADJOURN THAT MEETING NOW AND IT IS 2:17 PM.