City Council Meeting 3/18/2024

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Combined Agency/City Council Minutes Page 1 of 4 March 18, 2024

CITY OF PITTSBURG

CITY COUNCIL/AGENCY CONCURRENT MEETING MINUTES

DATE: March 18, 2024

LOCATION: Council Chamber, City Hall, 65 Civic Avenue, Pittsburg, CA 94565

CITY COUNCIL/AGENCY MEMBERS

Juan Antonio Banales, Mayor/Chair

Jelani Killings, Vice-Mayor/Chair

Dionne Adams, Council/Agency Member

Angelica Lopez, Council/Agency Member

Shanelle Scales-Preston, Council/Agency Member

S.L. Floyd, Agency Member

Annie Hill Herring, Agency Member

APPOINTED OFFICIALS

Garrett Evans, City Manager/Executive Director

Donna Mooney, City Attorney/Legal Counsel

Alice E. Evenson, City Clerk/Agency Secretary (elected)

Nancy Parent, City Treasurer (elected)

Mayor Banales called the regular meeting to order at 7:02 P.M. in the Council Chamber

at City Hall, 65 Civic Avenue Pittsburg, CA after having convened at 6:04 P.M. for the following

Closed Session:

1\. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION

Initiation of litigation pursuant to Section 54956.9(d)(4):

Number of cases: One

City Attorney Mooney stated there were no reportable actions taken in Closed Session.

ROLL CALL

All Members were present.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mayor Banales led the Pledge of Allegiance.

PRESENTATIONS

2\. Presentation by Delta Diablo

Bruce Ohlson, Pittsburg, advocated for hazardous waste to be accepted by Delta Diablo

regardless of the method of transportation, e.g. vehicle or bicycle.

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. IT IS NOW 7:02. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER. ARE THERE ANY REPORTABLE ACTIONS THIS EVENING, MADAM ATTORNEY? >> CITY COUNCIL MET IN CLOSE SESSION FOR LITIGATION FOR INITIATION OF LITIGATION. COUNSEL PROVIDING DIRECTION TO STAFF. THERE WAS NO REPORTABLE ACTION. >> THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE? >> YES. COUNCIL MEMBER SCALES-PRESTON? >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER LOPEZ? >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS? >> RESIDENT. >> VICE MAYOR KILLINGS? >> DOESN'T. BUT MAYOR BANALES? >> PRESENT. >> YOU PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ONTO PRESENTATIONS. MR. CITY MANAGER? >> SORRY ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION TONIGHT BY DELTA DIABLO. I BELIEVE WE HAVE BRIAN THOMAS HERE. >> MAYOR BANALES, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, MY NAME IS DEAN ACKERSON. I'M A RESOURCE RECOVERY DIRECTOR WITH DELTA DIABLO. I AM HERE WITH BRIAN THOMAS, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR MANAGER. WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE AN INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION ON THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE CITY AND THE REST OF OUR SERVICE AREA. WE WILL ALSO TALK ABOUT SOME OF OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING AND CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING. SORRY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. WE TESTED IT. IT DID NOT WORK. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO, DELTA DIABLO IS YOU SAID ATTENDED DESERT FARM THAT LIES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA . WE ESTABLISHED AS A REGIONAL ENTITY SURVEYING PITTSBURG AND WEST PITTSBURG AT THE TIME THE RECEIVER SERVICE CONTRACT EXECUTED IN MAY OF 19 99. AS A SPECIAL DISTRICT, WE PROVIDE SPECIALIZED SERVICES FOR THE WASTEWATER CONVENIENCE AND TREATMENT. WE ALSO ARE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THE REGULATORY CHALLENGES , AND EVOLVE OUR FACILITIES TO KEEP UP WITH SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES. OUR GOVERNANCE IS PROVIDED BY A THREE-MEMBER BOARD. EACH MEMBER OF OUR BOARD REPRESENTS THE ENTITIES THAT WE SERVE. PITTSBURG, AND THE UNINCORPORATED PAPERWEIGHT. OUR FACILITY, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SIDE, WE HAVE AN AERIAL PHOTO. THE PHOTO SHOWS THE CENTRALIZED PROCESSING OF THE WASTEWATER THAT WE RECEIVE. I WILL TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE RECOVERY SERVICE OF THE FACILITY. ON THE SLIDE, YOU CAN ALSO SEE SOME OF THE GENERAL STATISTICS THAT ARE DESCRIBED OVER OUR AGENCY. WE SERVED OVER 200,000 RESIDENTS , AND RECEIVE ABOUT 7 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY OF WASTEWATER THROUGH A DEDICATED SYSTEM WHICH I WILL TALK ABOUT . THAT WASTEWATER THAT COMES IN, ABOUT HALF OF IT WE RECYCLE. WE RETREAT AND RECYCLE AND SENT BACK OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. THIS ALSO ALLOWS US TO GENERATE ON-SITE ELECTRICITY AS PART OF THE PROCESSING, WHICH PROVIDES ABOUT 50 TO 55% OF THE POWER NEEDS FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. THE BIOSOLIDS, THE SOLIDS ALSO PROVIDE BENEFICIAL REUSE THEIR APPLICATION. LAND APPLICATION OF FERTILIZER PRODUCTS. THE NEXT FOUR SLIDES WILL DESCRIBE THE SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY. THE FIRST I WANT TO FOCUS ON WITH THE WASTEWATER COLLECTION --THE WASTEWATER COLLECTION ESSENTIALLY REFERS TO THE WASTEWATER PIPELINES THAT CONNECT EACH INDIVIDUAL USER TO THE SYSTEM. THIS IS A SYSTEM THAT CONVEYS STRICT THE WASTEWATER BY ITSELF , AND THE STORMWATER THAT PROCEEDS INTO OUR FACILITY, AT LEAST INTENTIONALLY. THOSE CONNECTIONS WE HAVE, THERE ARE OVER 70 THAT 2000 CONNECTIONS. WHEN THEY WERE ESTABLISHED AS A SERVICE FACILITY THAT REQUIRED THE CREATION OF A CONVEYANCE SYSTEM , THE CONVEYANCE SYSTEM NOW BRINGS THE WASTEWATER TO A CENTRALIZED PROCESS FACILITY. THIS IS CONSISTED OF MAJOR PUMP STATIONS AND A LARGE DIAMETER FOR SPAM . IN THE PITTSBURG JURISDICTION, THERE ARE TWO MAIN INTERSECTIONS. IS ONE SECTOR NEAR THE WEST PORTION OF YOUR JURISDICTION, AND THE PITTSBURG INTERCEPTOR ON THE EASTERN PORTION IN THE BLUE LINE THAT YOU CAN SEE EXTENDING TO THE SOUTH ON THIS DIAGRAM. THIS DIAGRAM DESCRIBES AND BASICALLY SHOWS THE MAJOR FACILITIES OF THE CONVEYANCE SYSTEM THAT PUMPS INTO THE PIPELINES THAT BRING IN WASTEWATER FOR CENTRALIZED TREATMENT. OUR SERVICE AREA, IN TOTAL, IS 54 SQUARE MILES. THERE ARE FOUR BRAIN PUMP STATION. THE PITTSBURG PUMP STATION IS THE MAIN FACILITY THAT SERVES OUR JURISDICTION. WE HAVE OVER 18 MILES OF THOSE FORCE MAINS, 14 MILES OF THE INTERCEPTORS FROM A LARGE DIAMETER PIPELINE , AND IN THE BAY POINT AREA, WE DIRECTLY SERVICE , OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN THE SMALL-DIAMETER PIPELINES THAT SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF BAY POINT. ABOUT 43 MILES. IN YOUR JURISDICTION IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURG, THE CITY OPERATES AND MAINTAINS THE SMALL-DIAMETER PIPELINES THAT CONNECT TO THE USERS , PROBABLY SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES OF THOSE PIPELINES . WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE CITY OF PITTSBURG AS YOU ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING SOME OF THE LATERAL CONNECTIONS. ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO , AS OUR SYSTEM EVOLVES, WE WANT TO MAINTAIN OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND RELIABILITY. WE CONSTRUCTED A SECOND PITTSBURG FORCE MAIN. WE HAVE REDUNDANCY FROM THE PITTSBURG STATION . THIS IS THE MAIN FACILITY THAT SERVES THE CITY. THAT PROVIDES BETTER OPERATIONAL RELIABILITY. YOU CAN TAKE THAT DOWN AND MAINTAIN THAT SEPARATE FORCE MAIN, WHICH IS OTHERWISE A CHALLENGE. SO, IT ALLOWS US TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING, WHICH I WILL TALK ABOUT AS WE CONTINUE. THE NECK SLIDE SHOWS THAT WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. THAT WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN IS ABOUT 42 YEARS OLD. IT BEGAN OPERATION IN MAY OF 1982. IN THIS TYPE OF FACILITY IS BUILT TO KEEPING IN MIND THAT IT NEEDS TO EXPAND OVER TIME. SO, WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OVER THE DECADES IN OUR SERVICE AREA. SO, WE BUILT THE CORE FACILITY, AND BUILT AND IN SUCH A WAY WERE WE COULD ADD CAPACITY OVER TIME WHEN IT IS NEEDED. SO, WE ESTABLISHED A FACILITY, IT HAS ENOUGH SUFFICIENT CAPACITY TO ALLOW FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT , THAT CAPACITY IS CONSUMED BY GROWTH OR DEVELOPMENT, OR INCREASING REGULATIONS. WE PLAN TO ELEMENT AN EXPANSION OF THE FACILITY. ORIGINALLY, IT SERVED --RICHARD ABOUT 7 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY IN 2022 WITH JUST UNDER 100,000 CONNECTIONS AND IN 2023, WE ARE TREATING 6 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY. OVERTIME, THE FLOW HAS INCREASED, BUT THE CONCENTRATION IN THE STRENGTH HAS CHANGED OVER TIME AS WELL. SO, YOU LOOK AT THE SERVICE AREA THAT YOU PLAN TO FACILITATE THAT IS PLAN TO TREAT THE TWO OTHER WAY STREAM , AND THEN OVER TIME, YOU MAY HAVE TO ADAPT FOR A CHANGE IN THAT RAY STREAM. SO, MAYBE THE INDUSTRY CHANGES IN THE AREA , OR THE RESIDENTIAL USES INCREASE. WE RECENTLY CREATED A MASTER PLAN THAT DETERMINES HOW WE HAVE HYDRAULIC CAPACITY , WE ARE NEARING THE LENGTH AND CAPACITY FOR THE FACILITY TO MANAGE THE STRENGTH OF THE WAY STREAM. SO, IN LIGHT OF THAT, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A 60 TO $89.00 PROJECT THAT WILL INCREASE THE SECONDARY CAPACITY ON THE BYLAW PROCESS. THE TREATMENT ITSELF IS A COMBINATION OF A MECHANICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROCESS . WE REMOVED THE GREAT, THE SAND, AND THE SOLIDS THAT WERE ALLOWED . WE BIOLOGICALLY TREAT THE BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN DEMAND , AND HAVE TOTALLY SUSPENDED SOLIDS TO CLEAN THE MORE. SO, THERE IS A BALANCE OF THOSE TWO TYPES OF PROCESSES. THIS PHOTO SHOWS THE PLAN . YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE CIRCULAR CLARIFIERS THAT ARE PART OF THAT PROCESS. AND YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE INVERSELY DEALING FOR THE MIDDLE THAT DIAGRAM. WE HAVE A MAIN ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, AND IN THE BACK IS OUR WASTEWATER FACILITY THAT I WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NEXT. SO, RECYCLED WATER WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL FACILITY. IT WAS ESTABLISHED INTO OPERATION IN EARLY 2001, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY A RESULT OF THE CALIFORNIA -- THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA BEING UNDERSERVED FOR ELECTRICAL GENERATION. SO, THERE IS A QUICK PUSH , A QUICK EFFORT TO FIND AND CO-LOCATE GAS TURBINE ENERGY ELECTRIC FACILITIES WERE THERE WOULD BE A REGULAR SUPPLY OF COOLING WATER. BUT RATHER THAN USE VALUABLE POTABLE WATER FOR COOLING, RECYCLED WATER IS A MUCH BETTER OPTION. SO, IN THE LATE 1990S AND THE EARLY 2000 , WE PARTNERED WITH A CORPORATION, THE RECYCLED WATER FACILITY, THE ENERGY FACILITIES CAME ONLINE, WHEN THAT PROJECT WAS COMPLETED, WE WERE THE ASSET OF THE RECYCLED WATER FACILITY THAT WAS TURNED OVER TO DELTA DIABLO TO MAINTAIN A 30 YEAR SERVICE AGREEMENT THAT WE ARE COMING UP TO THE END OF SOON. I WAS A VERY SUCCESS A PARTNERSHIP THAT PUT A LOT OF VALUE TO THE COMMITTEE. THE CITY OF PITTSBURG WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN SOME LINEAR PARTS AND SOME OTHER ASSETS FOR THE COMMUNITY. A GOOD COMPANY COMING IN TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA ON THE ELECTRICAL GRID. WE HAVE HAD A LONG SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH MAINTAINING THAT FACILITY, BUT WE HAVE ALSO LEVERAGED A SHOULDER CAPACITY OF THE FACILITY TO PROVIDE RECYCLED WATER FOR MANY OF THE CUSTOMERS . TO 28 OTHER USERS, SUCH AS ON-SITE IRRIGATION , AND JUST BRING A HIGHER VALUE TO THAT COMMUNITY. THE RECYCLED WATER FACILITY IS CURRENTLY THE SECOND LARGEST PRODUCTION FACILITY IN THE BAY AREA . AT THE TIME, WE WERE THE 12TH LARGEST IN CALIFORNIA , AND THE LARGEST INDUSTRIAL WATER FACILITY IN CALIFORNIA AT THAT TIME. IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THIS PROGRAM, WE ARE JUST UNDERTAKING RECYCLED WATER MASTER PLANS, BECAUSE WE BASICALLY FEEL THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL PROGRAM. HALF OF THE WASTEWATER YOU RECEIVE IS RECYCLED. WE HAVE A POTENTIAL WASTEWATER TO CONVERT TO RECYCLED WATER , AND CAN FIND OTHER PROPERTIES IS FOR THAT. SO, THAT IS WITH THE MASTER PLAN DID. OKAY, THIS SLIDE, THE LAST LIGHT I WILL HAVE IN OUR SERVICES TALKS ABOUT TWO OF THE POLLUTION PREVENTION SERVICES THAT WE SERVE IN THE COMMUNITY . THE DELTA HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITY WAS REGIONAL. THE SICILY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1996. PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF PITTSBURG AND OTHER CITIES IN OUR REGION. THE FACILITY IS OPERATED AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THREE DAYS A WEEK, AND OVERTIME , A COLLECTION HAS BASICALLY ADAPTED TO THE TYPE OF WAY STREAM THAT IS SUITABLE. SO, ORIGINALLY, WE ACCEPTED ALL TV IS, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT THOSE WERE A LOT OF THE SYSTEMS DOWN . IT WAS A BIG PUSH FOR A WHILE. NOW, IS A LOT OF ELECTRONICS AND THAT SORT OF THING. IT'S A VERY SUCCESSFUL FACILITY FOR DELTA DENTAL IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF A PROFICIENT WAY TO PROVIDE A MUCH-NEEDED SERVICE ON A COST-EFFECTIVE BASIS. SO, THE INDIVIDUAL JURISDICTIONS DON'T HAVE TO DUPLICATE THE TYPE OF SERVICE. STREET SWEEPING IS ANOTHER SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE THAT IS FOCUSED ON PREVENTION. THE SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE, WHICH IS COLLECTING MORE REVENUE AND FUNDING THE PROGRAM WAS STARTED IN 1989. AT THE TIME, THE CITY OF PITTSBURG , I THINK, WAS VERY PROGRESSIVE AND ACCEPTING , AND COMMITTED RESPONSIBILITY PROVIDING THE SERVICE. THIS IS A SPECIAL TYPE OF SWEEP THAT WAS MEANT TO COLLECT BE FINE POLLUTANTS, THE SMALLER PARTICLES , THE CONTAMINATED SERVICE WATER, AND THE WASTEWATER STREAM AS WELL. SO, AS A CERTAIN TYPE OF SWEEPER THAT THE CITY OF PITTSBURG HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE A VERY COST-EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT SERVICE . IN FACT, THE CURRENT COST PER MILE FOR THE SERVICE IS IN OUR AREA , SO, WE FUND THAT THERE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF PITTSBURG. AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO BRIAN. HE CAN TALK ABOUT SOME OF OUR LONGER-RANGE CHALLENGES, AND THEN WE WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. TAKE IT AWAY. >> THANK YOU, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I AM THE DEPUTY GENUINE MANNER. AS IT WAS NOTED, WE HAD A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE TO MANAGE AND MAINTAIN. SO, WITH THAT, AND 2021, WE DEVELOPED A STRATEGIC PLAN IN THE DISTRICT . THAT STRATEGIC PLAN WAS DEVELOPED OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS WITH HEAVY ENGAGEMENT ONLY WITH OUR DISTRICT BOARD, BUT ALSO WITH STAFF THROUGH ALL LEVELS OF OUR AGENCY. AND WITH THAT, WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A NEW MISSION VISION AND VALUE STATEMENTS . AND THEN, TO SUPPORT THOSE STATEMENTS, WE DEVELOPED A STRATEGIC ROLE , AND THERE ARE SEVEN OF THEM RELATED TO STRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND OWNERSHIP , PHYSICAL RESPONSE ABILITY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT , AND CUSTOMER SERVICES AND ENGAGEMENT. SO, THE STRATEGIC PLAN, IT IS ALSO A LIVE DOCUMENT THAT WE HAVE EACH YEAR. WE DEVELOP STRATEGIC INITIATIVES THAT IS AND REPORTED ON TO THE BOARD IN THE FISCAL YEAR, AND THEN WE GIVE NEW ONES TO SUPPORT OUR ONGOING PLAN THAT MODIFIES ITSELF OVER TIME. WITH THAT, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SEVERAL CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE. THE PRIMARY ONE IS RELATED TO MUTUAL MANAGEMENT. IN 2022 , THE BAY EXPERIENCED --THAT BLOOM WAS ATTRIBUTED PRIMARILY TO NUTRIENTS THAT ARE DISCHARGED THROUGH WASTEWATER AGENCIES IN THE AREA. NUTRIENTS ARE AMMONIA AND PHOSPHORUS JUST IN THE WAY STREAM. OUR CURRENT PLAN , AS IT EXISTS, IS NOT DESIGNED TO REMOVE OXYGEN FROM THE WAY STREAM , SO, WE ARE NOW FACED WITH REGULATORY CHALLENGES WHERE WE ARE GOING TO BE EXPECTED OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 10 YEARS TO INVEST IN OUR TREATMENT PLANT , AND BUILD AN INFRASTRUCTURE TO REMOVE THAT FUTURE FROM OUR WAY STREAM. WITH THIS COMES THE SUBSTANTIAL CHALLENGE. AS IT WAS NOTED EARLIER FOR OUR MASTER PLAN , JUST FOR CAPACITY ALONE, WE HAVE THE NEED TO INVEST $60-$80 MILLION ZERO JUST FOR THAT. WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING A LARGER PROJECT TO ALSO ADDRESS THE NUTRIENT REMOVAL NEEDS AS WELL. PARTICIPATING IN THAT WILL ADD ANOTHER $40,000,000.00. SO, THAT IS EARLY IN THE PLANNING PHASES, AND WE EXPECT TO WORK ON THIS CHALLENGE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 10 YEARS. IN ADDITION TO THAT REGULATORY CHALLENGE, AS DEAN ALSO NOTED, OUR PLAN IS 32 YEARS OLD. THIS STRUCTURE IS COMING TO AN AGE WHERE WE INVEST SIGNIFICANTLY . FIVE YEARS AGO, WE WERE AT ABOUT $85,000,000.00. SO, AS WE CONTINUE TO INVEST GATE , EXPLORE, LOOK INTO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FIND MORE AREAS WHERE WE NEED TO INVEST , WITH THAT, WE ARE HAVING TO DO A LOT OF WORK TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PRIORITIZING THOSE INVESTMENTS BASED ON RELATIVE RISK OF FAILURE, THE CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE, SO, WE HAVE A PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH EACH WORD HERE AS WE UPDATE AT 5%. WE ARE EXPECTING THAT BECAUSE THE BAY AREA AS A WHOLE IS GOING TO HAVE THIS NUTRIENT CHALLENGE THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF COMPETITION WITH RESOURCES , PARTICULARLY WITH CONSULTANTS AND CONTRACTORS. UNFORTUNATELY, WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE A BIT AHEAD OF THE GAME. WE DO FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A VERY STRONG CONSULTANT TEAM ON BOARD IN THE DESIGN PHASE, AND THEN WE ARE HOPING TO BE SUCCESSFUL FINDING A SOLID CONTRACTOR IN THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE. AND THEN SPEAKING OF THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE, LAST YEAR , WE WORKED WITH CUSTER COUNTY TO ALSO ENTER INTO A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT. THERE IS ALSO AN AGREEMENT THAT PITTSBURG HAD WITH THE TRADE COUNSEL AS WELL. YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN SOME BENEFITS OF THAT. THEY ARE ALREADY DOING A GREAT JOB OF HELPING US. WE HAVE PROJECTS WITH GETTING THAT AWARENESS OUT IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. WE ARE ALSO HOPING TO SEE THE BENEFITS OF APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS , AND HARD HAT PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALSO PART OF THAT AGREEMENT. SO, ALL OF THIS DOES COME WITH THE NEED FOR A STRENGTH AND FINANCIAL SOLUTION. AND THAT STARTS WITH THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH CURRENTLY. IN THAT, WE HAVE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OVER THE YEARS OF CONTROLLING OUR COSTS . WE DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE ARE DEVELOPING OUR BUDGETS, WE ARE PROVIDING REASONABLE ESTIMATES FOR A COST TO COLLECT SEWER SERVICE CHARGES . WE DO KNOW THOUGH THAT WITH THESE CURRENT CHARGES THAT ARE COMING UP AND THESE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS THAT WE WILL HAVE TO SEEK ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WITH OUR PARTNER GOALS IS TO ALWAYS CASH FUND IS MUCH AS OUR CAPITAL INVESTMENT AS POSSIBLE WITH THE STRUCTURE. WE REALIZE THAT , ESPECIALLY WITH THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW TO AVOID A POTENTIAL STEAK AND SEWER SERVICE CHARGES, WE'LL HAVE TO OBTAIN SOME FORM OF DEBT FOR SOME PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION COST. AND RIGHT NOW, WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT HAS A VERY ATTRACTIVE DEBT POLICY THAT WE THINK THE DISTRICT CAN UTILIZE. SO, WITH THAT, WE ARE STILL GOING THROUGH OUR PLANNING PROCESS. FOR THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT WE CAN ADDRESS TO ADJUST OUR RATES FOR CAPITAL OPERATING , AND SOME OF OUR DEBT NEEDS THAT WE START TO PLAN. AND THEN, WITH THAT ALSO COMES MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A SOLID WORKFORCE. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE STUFF THAT WE HAVE IN THE AGENCY. WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS COMPETITION FOR THAT STAFF. SO, WE DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO DEVELOP OUR WORKFORCE, KEEPING THEM ENGAGED, AND THEN TRYING TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN . SO, WE DO HAVE A STRONG FOCUS IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. AND WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN PROMOTING STAFF. IF YOU LOOK TO THE GRAPHIC ON THESE SCREEN, WE HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF CAREERS AT THE DISTRICT. THERE IS OUR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE STAFF , WHICH IS OUR MAJORITY STAFF. THEY ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER , AT THE 24 SEVEN OPERATION. THEY ARE ALWAYS WORKING TO KEEP OUR SYSTEM ALIVE AND FUNCTIONALLY OPERATIONAL. IN SUPPORT OF THAT, WE HAVE ENGINEERING STAFF , WE HAVE A LABORATORY THAT HAS TO DO REGULAR TESTING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IN PERMIT LIMITS, WE HAVE HUMAN RESOURCES, WE HAVE FINANCE, WE HAVE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, WE HAVE A SAFETY DEPARTMENT. THIS WHOLE TEAM IS WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR US BEING ABLE TO DELIVER THE SERVICES THAT WE NEED. WE HAVE 78 POSITIONS IN TOTAL. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED CHALLENGES THROUGH COVID THAT A LOT OF AGENCIES HAD WHERE THEY WORKFORCE TRANSITION. IT DID BECOME A BIT OF AN OPPORTUNITY. THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL KEEPING IT FROM OTHER AGENCIES. THOSE NEW IDEAS, WITH OUR CURRENT IDEAS THAT WE PUT TOGETHER . WE ALSO LOOK TO DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF WORKFORCE. SO, WE DO HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH WE WORK. ONE OF THE PRIMARY THINGS HE STARTED LAST YEAR WAS A STAFF INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. SO, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR OPERATIONS , YOU WOULD BRING THEM IN, THEY WOULD HAVE AN INTERNSHIP WITH US, AND THEN THEY WOULD HAVE ENOUGH HOURS AND GO ON TO PURSUE THEIR CAREER AND GET THEIR LICENSES. THIS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, WORSE WITH A LOT OF OTHER AGENCIES. WHAT IT ALLOWS OTHERS TO DO IS BE ON TOP OF IT FOR A LITTLE WHILE. AND THEN THEY WILL CUT THE COST, OR GOING TO WORK FOR ANOTHER AGENCY. SO, IT IS A WAY TO DEVELOP THAT WORKFORCE. IT'S JUST GOING TO GET MORE CHALLENGING WITH THE ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS FOR A WELL-TRAINED, SKILLED WORKFORCE. THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF PROGRAMS , A PROCESS TECHNICIAN, AND A ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN PROGRAM WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO DEVELOP THAT SKILL THAT WE REALLY TRULY NEED SOME PEOPLE . IT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET INTO A CAREER PATH IN THE WASTEWATER INDUSTRY, AND IT CAN BE VERY HELPFUL TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO JUST GET THAT EXPERIENCE. ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO GET THAT WORKFORCE, WE ARE TRYING. AND THEN, WITHIN THE STUFF THAT WE HAVE , WE DO ENCOURAGE OUR STAFF TO PARTICIPATE WITH LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL ORGANIZATIONS , AND THEIR VARIOUS LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS. WE RECEIVED REWARDS BECAUSE OF THOSE LEADERSHIPS . YOU CAN GO ON TO OUR WEBSITES, YOU CAN FIND OUR FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS, AND THEY RECEIVED RECOGNITION FOR THE GOVERNMENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN A ROW. AND THAT IS RELATED TO THE TRANSPARENCY THAT IS EASILY DIGESTIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO PICK UP OUR FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS , SEE WHICH DISTRICT THEY ARE IN, AND WE HAVE HOPEFULLY FOSTER THAT FOR THE FUTURE. SO, WITH THAT, WE HAVE ALSO RECENTLY --IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE, BUT WE HAVE ENGAGED MORE RECENTLY WITH THE PITTSBURG STAFF TO DEVELOP THE RELATIONSHIP . WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE AREA, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE AN OVERLAPPING CUSTOMER BASE. WE LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO COORDINATE WITH OUR STAFF ON VARIOUS RECYCLED WATER OPPORTUNITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AS WELL. SO, WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, BRIAN, AND THANK YOU, DEAN. I WANTED TO OPEN IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES, AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS? YES? COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS? >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE TYPES OF POLLUTANTS THAT YOU SAID WERE COMING TO THE SYSTEM. LIKE, WHAT IS THE LARGEST TYPE OF POLLUTANT THAT YOU SEE COMING IN THROUGH OUR SYSTEM? >> THAT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION. SO, IN GENERAL , THE BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF WASTEWATER JUST COME FROM HUMAN WASTE. FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE , IT'S SOLIDS AND WHAT WE CALL BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN. THAT IS WHAT WE PRIMARILY TREAT FOR AT THE AGENCY. THAT IS WHAT THE PERMIT IS RELATED TO. WE HAVE TO HAVE A REMOVAL THROUGH OUR TREATMENT PROCESS. NOW, THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PERMIT DOCUMENTS THAT OUR PLAN IS NOT DESIGNED FOR. ONE IS IN P.A. S, THOSE ARE PERMANENT CHEMICALS. WE ARE FIGURING OUT TO COME TO THE DISTRICT, AND WHAT REGULATIONS WILL BE RELATED TO HOW THAT MIGHT IMPACT OUR REQUIREMENTS FOR TREATMENT. WE SEE THE THROUGH THE BIOSOLIDS THAT WE GENERATE, THERE ARE CONCERNS AROUND THOSE BIOSOLIDS BEING LAND APPLIED. SO, THERE'S A LOT GOING INTO THINGS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE ARENA. >> OKAY. THAT IS HELPFUL. I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THE NORTH COAST REGION, WARY OF HAD, YOU KNOW, CHEMICALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I WAS WONDERING WHAT OURS LOOKS LIKE. SO, IF SOMETHING IS ON THE HORIZON, AND YOU ARE LOOKING ANOTHER WAY TO BE PROACTIVE ABOUT TREATING IT? >> WE ARE. AND AS WE GO THROUGH OUR PERMIT UPDATES, THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE DO WITH THE REGION. WE LOOK AT CHEMICALS OF CONCERN, AND THAT WE IDENTIFY IF ANY OF THOSE ARE APPLICABLE OR IF WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO TREAT THEM , OR TO HAVE THE PREVENTION TREATMENT PROGRAM , AND MAKE SURE THEY DON'T EVER ENTER INTO OUR SYSTEM. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? VICE MAYOR KILLINGS? >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND MAKING THE PRESENTATION. I REALLY APPRECIATE OBVIOUSLY THE WORK THAT YOU WILL DO, BEING ABLE TO BRING THIS INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. IT WAS TOUCHED ON JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COMING RATE INCREASE. CAN YOU SHARE WITH US WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, OR WHAT RESIDENTS WILL BE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF THE PERCENTAGE, AND WHEN THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT? >> WE ARE STILL DEVELOPING ARENA. SUPPLEMENTARY APPLICATIONS IS SOMEWHERE IN THE 4 1/2 MONTH RANGE? I WILL DO NO MORE UP ABOUT THAT WHEN WE ARE PRESENTING TO THE BOARD AT THE APRIL MEETING. AND THEN, IF THE BOARD CHOOSES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT , THAT WOULD TRANSITION EIGHT TO 18 NOTICE IN MID APRIL. AND THEN, IF THE RATES BECOME EFFECTIVE, IT WOULD BE AT THE START OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS JANUARY. >> THANK YOU. AS YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE PROJECTS, IS THERE A NEED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, OR JUST THE NEED IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THE EVER STRUCTURE NEEDS ? IS THERE ADVOCACY IN TERMS OF STATE FUNDING OR STATE DOLLARS THAT ARE PROVIDED IN TERMS OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT? I KNOW YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FINANCING WITH THE FEDERAL PROGRAM . IS THERE ADVOCACY AT THE STATE LEVEL IN TERMS OF WHAT I IMAGINE A LOT OF WASTE MANAGEMENT , YOU KNOW, ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN STATEWIDE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING OUT , ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE BAY AREA, THESE REGULATIONS? ARE YOU SEEING NOT ONLY ADVOCACY ON THAT, BUT AS FAR AS AN OPEN EAR FOR THE NEED FOR ADDRESSING THESE INFO STRUCTURE NEEDS? >> YES. SO, THERE IS A CHALLENGE WITH THE STATE BUDGET BEING THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW. WE DO HAVE AN INDUSTRY ORGANIZATION, THE CALIFORNIA ORGANIZATION OF SANITATION, THEY DO HAVE A LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY GROUP . SO, WE ARE ENGAGED WITH THE STATE LEGISLATION. I AM NOT SEEING MUCH IN THE WAY OF FUNDING DEDICATED TO WASTEWATER AGENCIES RIGHT NOW. THERE IS THE STATE CLEAN WATER REVOLVING FUND. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THAT IT WAS REALLY OVERSUBSCRIBED AT THIS POINT IN TIME. SO, THAT IS WHY FUNDING IS BEEN MERRILY EXPECTED TO PURSUE JUST BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE THAT IS GOING TO BE THE MOST READILY AVAILABLE FUNDING TO USE AT THIS POINT. >> I DEFTLY UNDERSTAND THAT. ONE THING I WANT TO ADD IS AS FAR AS OUR CITY LENDING OUR VOICE, BECAUSE WHEN I ASSUME WHEN WE COME TO EVER STRUCTURE, WE TALK ABOUT OUR INTERSECTION NEEDS ALL THE TIME. BUT TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS SO PIVOTAL THAT HAS ULTIMATELY PASSED ON TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND RATEPAYERS, IF WE CAN LEND OUR VOICE AND ADVOCACY FOR THE NEEDS OF THE TREATMENT PLANT, I WOULD DEFINITELY LOVE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AS WELL. BECAUSE INFO STRUCTURE IS SOMETHING THAT I FEEL OLD TOO MUCH GOES NEGLECTED, AND HAS A VE