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The Texas Water Development Board met on April 11 to discuss routine business such as general bond sale approval and the implementation of changes from the legislature from HB 1905 and SB 2452, as well as applications and future prioritization lists for the State Water Implementation Fund and the Economically Distressed Areas Plan. TWDB also approved $46.77 million in financial assistance for water, wastewater, and flood projects. A link to the meeting and agenda can be found here.

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.

 

Opening Comments

  • Chair Brooke Paup, TWDB – Appreciate feedback; always looking for way to be more efficient and improve
  • Agency does not get enough credit for the $37 billion committed to Texas water; $9.5 in the last seven years which is unheard of for other agencies

 

Item 1: Discussion regarding outreach efforts and activities by the Board.

  • Kathleen Jackson, TWDB – When we walk through the door it about the money, but it is also about the people
  • Doc Anderson pulled together a financial assistance workshop to talk about the resources of TWDB; also met with Rep. Kuempel and Rep. Bailes
  • Attended multiple forums, and conferences across the state, Fort Worth, San Antonio, West Texas, and the Pan Handle
  • Paup – Hosted a webinar, visited project in West Texas, learned about outreach to disadvantaged communities

 

Item 2: Consider authorizing the Executive Administrator, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel and Development Fund Manager to take all necessary actions for the issuance, sale, and delivery of State of Texas Water Financial Assistance Bonds, in one or more series; and approving the selection of financial advisor, bond counsel, and disclosure counsel. (David Duran)

  • Staff – Seeks approval to start process for a general bond sale to produce financial assistance for EDAP
  • If approved, we will follow through with a timeline and make sure guidelines are laid out; we recommend approval
  • Paup – Excited to see first EDAP issuance since 2019
  • Motion to approve, motion passes

 

Item 3: Consider approving by resolution: (a) the issuance, sale and delivery of Texas Water Development Board State Revolving Fund Revenue Bonds, in one or more series; (b) a Preliminary Official Statement; and (c) authorization for the Executive Administrator, Chief Financial Officer, Development Fund Manager, or any other authorized representative to act on behalf of the Texas Water Development Board in the sale and delivery of multiple series of such bonds. (David Duran)

  • Staff – Recommending approval of documents associated with state funds and the sale of revenue bonds; bonds are issued to Clean Water and Safe Water funds not to exceed $325 million
  • If approved, we will close bonds around end of June
  • Motion to approve, motion passes

 

Item 4: Consider adopting amendments to 31 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 357 relating to Regional Water Planning and 31 TAC Chapter 358 relating to State Water Planning Guidelines. (Ron Ellis)

  • Staff – Amendments associated with state and regional water planning
  • Reduce reporting requirement, clarify language, and HB 1905 implementation
  • HB 1905 requires the inclusion of water conservation and drought contingency plans; staff recommends approval
  • Motion to approve, motion passes

 

Item 5: Consider adopting and authorizing publication of additions, amendments, and repeals to 31 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 363, related to the Economically Distressed Areas Program (EDAP), the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT), and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas (SWIRFT). (Alyssa Azari)

  • Staff – Adoption and publication of rules around EDAP and SWIFT; amendments proposed in December with time for public comment
  • Amendments come from SB 2452, HB 1905 implementations
  • Motion to approve, motion passes

 

Item 6: Consider approving the Economically Distressed Areas Program Intended Use Plan. (Alyssa Azari)

  • Staff – EDAP IUP was published in December
  • After public comment two changes were made; reimbursement of eligible product costs and projects previously funded by TWDB do not qualify for assistance
  • Abridged applications are due in May; prioritization list will be given to board this summer
  • Recommend adoption of IUP; motion to approve
  • Motion passes

 

Item 7: Consider approving the 2022 State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) program prioritization list, amount of funds available by category, and terms of subsidy. (Alyssa Azari) 8.

  • Staff – SWIFT was created in 2013 by legislature; today the board has committed $9.2 million to SWIFT
  • 17 applications are eligible of which 3 of these are longer existing project: $2 million dollars for this funding
  • Recommended approval of the prioritization list, fund categories and terms of subsidy; motion to approve
  • Paup – Legislature was smart to draft HB 4; no project is too big or too small for SWIFT
  • Motion to approve, motion passes

 

Item 8: Amend by resolution, previously adopted Texas Water Development Board Resolution No. 21-124 to modify the Meeker Municipal Water District Drinking Water State Revolving Fund commitment to correct a clerical error. (Annette Mass)

  • Staff – Meeker resolution was passed in December; amendment to correct the wrongfully written amount and change to $6 million
  • Motion to approve, motion passes

 

Item 9: Approve by resolution a request from the Tom Green County Fresh Water Supply District No. 2 (Tom Green County) for $300,000 in principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for planning, design, and construction of water system improvements; and a waiver from the requirement to include funds to mitigate water loss as a part of this project. (Jesse Milonovich)

  • Staff – Tom Green provides water to 250 residents; yield from these wells that they rely on has depleted
  • District plans to replace pumps, clear soil and blockages and install a control center with a backup generator to ensure better water supply
  • Recommend approval; motion to approve, motion passes

 

Item 10: Approve by resolution a request from the Harris County Flood Control District (Harris County) for $2,208,906 in grant from the Flood Infrastructure Fund for construction of a flood mitigation project. (Nancy Richards)

  • Staff – Harris County has requested $2 million; district will use funding for a northern basin for storm water storage
  • Jackson- This was a project between National Recourse Conservation Series; community and district stepping forward with $20 million
  • Motion to approve, motion passes

 

Item 11: Amend by resolution, the previously adopted Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) Resolution Nos. 19-039, 20-043, and 21-057 to combine the two outstanding loan series and extend the expiration for the City of Dripping Springs. (Dain Larsen)

  • Staff – Dripping Springs is requesting to combine their 2 remaining loans balancing under $20 million; also requesting 4 additional months to provide payment
  • City anticipates the wastewater treatment plant by the end of the year; staff recommends approval
  • Motion to approve, motion passes

 

Item 12: Amend by resolution, previously adopted Texas Water Development Board Resolution No. 21-028 to modify the City of Pflugerville’s (Travis County) Clean Water State Revolving Fund multi-year commitment. (Dain Larsen)

  • Staff – Pflugerville is requesting modification of commitment funds; currently have $165 million of TWDB funding
  • Want to move forward some 2023 funds to 2022 plans; staff recommends approval
  • Motion to approve, motion passes

 

Item 13: Approve by resolution a request from the City of Pflugerville (Travis County) for $24,000,000 in financial assistance from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for construction of water system improvements. (Dain Larsen)

  • Staff – Pflugerville requesting a commitment from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to expand from 17.7 gallon to 30 million gallons a day; project will be over $160 million and are requesting $24 from TWDB
  • Staff recommends approval; motion to approve
  • Motion passes

 

Item 14: Approve by resolution a request from the North Alamo Water Supply Corporation (Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy Counties) for $15,340,000 in financial assistance consisting of $11,090,000 in financing and $4,250,000 in principal forgiveness from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for planning, acquisition, design, and construction of a first-time sewer project. (Mireya Loewe)

  • Staff – North Alamo Water Supply serves over 100,820,000 people and services 7 water treatment plants
  • This project will supply sewer service to 9 low-income communities; currently use septic systems that overflow when it floods
  • Would also like to expand the water supply program from half a million gallons of water a day to a little under a million a day
  • Recommends approval of funding request; motion to approve
  • Motion passes

 

Stephen Sanchez, General Manger from North Alamo Water Supply Corporation

  • Project will help protect families and cities from wastewater
  • We have 51,000 connections to clean water and only 7,000 connections to waste water
  • We are grateful for your support

 

Item 15: Approve by resolution a request from the City of Raymondville (Cameron County) for $4,925,486 in financial assistance consisting of $2,491,000 in financing and $2,434,486 in principal forgiveness from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for planning, design, and construction of a wastewater system improvements project. (Mireya Loewe)

  • Staff – Raymondville has a population of 11,000; town has experienced sewage water contamination due to clogged clay pipes
  • Project will help counteract these issues; recommend approval
  • Motion to approve, motion passes

 

Item 16: Public Comment

Danielle Goshen, Policy Specialists for National Wildlife Federation

  • Speaking on item 6 and SB 2452 prioritization
  • EDAP is fundamentally equitable; we believe the IUP rules do not address the communities most in need
  • AMHI is used as a tiebreaker which does not produce the most equitable results; need to implement a new prioritization scheme