Regular Meeting of the Water and Wastewater Commission June 18, 2025 — 4:00 pm Austin Water Headquarters Waller Creek Center 625 East 10th Street, Austin, Texas Some members may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live For more information go to: http://www.austintexas.gov/wwc Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register, call or email the board liaison Vicky Addie at 512-972-0332 or Vicky.Addie@austintexas.gov. To register to speak in person, people must sign up at least ten minutes before the meeting is called to order. Commissioners: William Moriarty (Mayor) Jesse Penn (District 1) Alex Navarro (District 2) Amanda Marzullo (District 3) CALL TO ORDER Mike Reyes (District 4) Evan Wolstencroft (District 5) Shwetha Pandurangi (District 6) Alex Ortiz (District 7) Christopher Maxwell-Gaines, Chair (District 8) Marcela Tuñón, Vice Chair (District 9) Shannon Trilli (District 10) PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of minutes from the May 21, 2025 regular meeting of the Water and Wastewater Commission. DISCUSSION AND ACTION 2. Recommend approval to authorize a contract for basin descaling and debris removal services for Austin Water with Meylan Enterprises, Inc. for an initial term of two years, with three one-year extension options, for a total contract amount not to exceed $4,800,000. Funding: $420,000 is available in Austin Water’s Operating Budget. 3. Recommend approval to authorize negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with Travis County for City Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP) staff access to the Travis County MyGovernmentOnline program (“MGO”) to accept, process, and track BCCP infrastructure Incidental Take Permit applications. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. STAFF BRIEFINGS 4. Briefing on Austin Water’s wildland conservation programs. The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Vicky Addie at Austin Water, 512-972-0332 for additional information; TTY users’ route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Water and Wastewater …
WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, May 21, 2025 The Water and Wastewater Commission convened in a regular called meeting on May 21, 2025 at Waller Creek Center, 625 E 10th Street, Austin, Texas. Commission Members in Attendance: Chair Christopher Maxwell-Gaines, Amanda Marzullo, William Moriarty (remote), Shwetha Pandurangi, Jesse Penn, Mike Reyes, Shannon Trilli, and Vice Chair Marcela Tuñón Commission Members Absent: None Chair Christopher Maxwell-Gaines called the Water and Wastewater Commission to order at 4:04 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Stuart Hersh spoke about budget funding for affordable home repair. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of minutes from the April 16, 2025 regular meeting of the Water and Wastewater Commission. The minutes were approved on Commissioner Pandurangi’s motion and Commissioner Marzullo’s second on an 8-0 vote with three vacancies. DISCUSSION AND ACTION 2. Recommend approval to authorize an amendment to the 2021 Facilities - Large Facilities Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract for Austin Water with HEI Civil LLC, to increase the amount by $3,750,000, for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $18,750,000. Funding: $3,750,000 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water. Recommended on Commissioner Marzullo’s motion and Vice Chair Tuñón’s second on an 8-0 vote with three vacancies. 3. Recommend approval to authorize a contract for construction services for the North Austin CIPP Wastewater Renewal Project for Capital Delivery Services with Insituform Technologies, LLC in the amount of $2,772,892 plus a $277,290 contingency for a total contract amount not to exceed $3,050,182. Funding: $3,050,182 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water. Recommended on Commissioner Marzullo’s motion and Vice Chair Tuñón’s second on an 8-0 vote with three vacancies. 4. Recommend approval to authorize a contract for construction services for the East Allandale White Rock Neighborhood Water and Wastewater System Renewal – Rebid Project for Capital Delivery Services with Facilities Rehabilitation, Inc., in the amount of $4,799,250, plus a $479,925 contingency, for a total contract amount not to exceed $5,279,175. Funding: $5,279,175 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water. Recommended on Commissioner Pandurangi’s motion and Vice Chair Tuñón’s second on a 7-0 vote with Commissioner Penn recusing and three vacancies. Page 1 of 4 5. Recommend approval to authorize an amendment to the contract for engineering services for the McNeil Drive Water Transmission Main Project with Black & Veatch Corporation, in the amount of $5,000,000., for a revised total contract amount …
Item 2 Water & Wastewater Commission: June 18, 2025 Council: July 24, 2025 Posting Language ..Title Recommend approval to authorize a contract for basin descaling and debris removal services for Austin Water with Meylan Enterprises, Inc. for an initial term of two years, with three one-year extension options, for a total contract amount not to exceed $4,800,000. Funding: $420,000 is available in Austin Water’s Operating Budget. ..Body Lead Department Financial Services Department. Client Department(s) Austin Water. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $420,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget of Austin Water. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Purchasing Language: The Financial Services Department issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB) 2200 MLJ1028 for these services. The solicitation was issued on January 13, 2025, and closed on February 18, 2025. The recommended contractor submitted the only responsive offer. A complete solicitation package, including a tabulation of the bid received, is available for viewing on the City’s website. This information can currently be found at https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=142019 . MBE/WBE: This solicitation was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the services required for this solicitation, there were no subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: June 18, 2025 – To be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission. Additional Backup Information: The contract will facilitate the removal of accumulated scale and zebra mussels from the upflow clarifier mechanisms at the Ullrich and Handcox Water Treatment Plants. These plants utilize a lime-softening process to deliver drinking water to the City. Over years of operation, a buildup of scale forms on all submerged surfaces of the clarifiers reducing their efficiency. This contract will replace a contract which expires September 8, 2025. The recommended contractor is the current provider for these services. The requested authorization amounts were determined using departmental estimates based on historical spending. If a contract is not secured, the clarifiers will not operate properly, increasing the risk of equipment failure. Item 2 Water & Wastewater Commission: June 18, 2025 Council: July 24, 2025 Contract Details: Contract Term Initial Term Optional Extension 1 Optional Extension 2 Optional Extension 3 Length of Term 2 years 1 year 1 year 1 year Contract Authorization $1,920,000 $ 960,000 $ 960,000 $ 960,000 Total 5 years $4,800,000 …
Item 3 Water & Wastewater Commission: June 18, 2025 Council: July 24, 2025 Posting Language ..Title Recommend approval to authorize negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with Travis County for City Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP) staff access to the Travis County MyGovernmentOnline program (“MGO”) to accept, process, and track BCCP infrastructure Incidental Take Permit applications. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. ..De Lead Department Austin Water Fiscal Note This item has no fiscal impact. Prior Council Action: May 4, 1995 – Council authorized the negotiation and execution of the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between Travis County and the City of Austin Implementing the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (“BCCP”) Shared Vision, which guided the creation of the BCCP Habitat Conservation Plan for issuance of the Federal Endangered Species Incidental Take Permit issued to the City of Austin and Travis County in 1996 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. September 21, 2023 – Council authorized negotiation and execution of an amended and restated interlocal cooperation agreement with Travis County for the implementation of the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Shared Vision to update implementation of the BCCP and to reflect current industry standards. For More Information: Heather Cooke, Austin Water Chief Administrative Officer, 512-972-0083, heather.cooke@austintexas.gov Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: June 18, 2025 – To be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission. Additional Backup Information: The Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP) provides a fast-track solution to habitat mitigation for Endangered Species Act compliance that supports economic growth and protection of endangered species habitat. It honors multiple community priorities by enabling the construction of roads, utilities, and buildings, while upholding a commitment to natural resources, including the parks, creeks, and preserves that make up our green infrastructure. The BCCP Permit is the name given to the Federal Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit issued to the City of Austin and Travis County in 1996 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service combined with the BCCP Habitat Conservation Plan which is the governing document that established the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP). The permitting process for infrastructure projects and the City owned BCP lands are managed by City of Austin staff at Austin Water and the permitting process for development projects are managed by Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources staff. In the 28+ years since the BCCP was created, more than 1,200 private landowners and developers have applied for BCCP …
Wildlands for Water, Wildlife, and People Water and Wastewater Commission June 18, 2025 Environmental Resource Office (ERO) Wildland Conservation Division o Water Quality Protection Lands (WQPL) o Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP) Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan (BCCP) Center for Environmental Research at Hornsby Bend Climate Protection Austin: A biodiversity hotspot Austin’s population has doubled every 20-25 years Austin Austin Metro 87,930 214,603 186,545 301,261 345,890 585,051 656,562 1,249,763 961,855 2,283,371 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 Austin’s Wildlands: A Unique Gift A 30-year, $250M+ commitment to protecting Austin’s unique landscapes A large-scale network of conservation lands that benefit water, wildlife, and people • 49,000 acres and growing Managed under goals of two programs: • Balcones Canyonlands Preserve • Water Quality Protection Lands Intentionally placed with Austin Water to ensure support and stewardship into the future Balcones Canyonlands Preserve Goal: Protect woodland and cave habitat for endangered species & species of concern Provides mitigation for habitat loss from energy, communication and transportation infrastructure Public areas of preserve include some of Austin’s favorite places: o Barton Creek o Mt. Bonnell o Bull Creek Helps to protect quality of our water supply in Lake Travis & Lake Austin watersheds 33,000+ acres (COA + partners) Habitat Conservation Plan sets targets for size/configuration of land in each macrosite Protection of 62 named caves The BCCP facilitates development. 1,500+ landowners/ developers 400+ infrastructure projects 12,000+ acres Water Quality Protection Lands Goal: Protect and restore native grassland savannas and creeks that provide the main source of water flowing from Barton Springs Actively manage land over ¼ of the recharge zone to protect groundwater Prescribed burn program carefully mimics natural fire cycle using highly trained wildland fire professionals Goal of 100,000 acres protected over Barton Springs Zone 12,000+ acres in fee 22,000+ acres in conservation easements Plus regulatory protection Wildland Conservation Ongoing Management Understand • • Intensive monitoring of endangered species and species of concern Vegetation transects • Oak wilt monitoring • • • • Invasive species monitoring/mapping Drought, winter storm impacts Live fuel moisture monitoring In-house and external research Protect • • • • Boundary patrols Fence construction and repair Facility management Invasive species management • Wildfire fuel mitigation • Conservation easement reviews Restore/Enhance • Grassland and forest restoration Prescribed fire Seed collection Nursery operations • • • • Oak wilt trenching • • …
