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The following report is a summary of the board meeting held on the morning of December 3, 2020 by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). The board considered several funding proposals for various towns and cities around Texas, as well as finalized financing options and their legislative report. TWDB approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of a $40,000,000 loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (Comal and Guadalupe counties). The Authority will use the assistance to finance planning, design, and construction costs associated with improvements to the Lake Dunlap dam. A recording of the meeting and a copy of the agenda can be found here.

The HillCo report below is a summary of remarks intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics discussed. This report is not a verbatim transcript; it 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.

 

Item 1: Consider approving applications for grant funding for Llano County and the City of Harlingen – request can be found here

Kathy Hopkins (TWDB Executive Staff) presenting

  • City of Harlingen applied for funding to meet local match requirement of federal grant program
  • Recommended for $1,365,368 under Texas FEMA Hazard program
  • TWDB staff recommend the board approve the funding for the matching program

Jackson: many localities get federal funding but can’t afford the match, very excited to see us approving these programs

Lake: extraordinary milestone and product of lots of work. This program will continue growing and evolving, this is not the end. Unmatched program anywhere in the world

 

Motion and second to approve the grant funding

Motion passes

 

Item 2: Consider approving a request from the City of Weslaco for financial assistance consisting of financing and grant funds for a federal grant award matching program – request can be found here

Kathy Hopkins (TWDB Executive Staff) presenting

  • City applied for financial assistance to meet the local match requirement of federal grant program
  • City was selected by Texas FEMA for $1,300,000 in funding
  • Up to 75% federal match for projects, with remainder covered locally
  • Recommends board approve $3,002,708 in financial assistance, with $1,051,000 in financing and $1,951,708 in grant funding

Jackson: similar to traditional flood mitigation projects by providing retention until system can accommodate it. City is getting partial grant and partial 0% financing, really great way to help communities afford flood projects

 

Motion and second to approve resolution for financing and grant funds

Motion passes

 

Item 3: Consider approving request for financing from City of Marble Falls consisting of financing and grant funding for the federal grant matching program

Kathy Hopkins (TWDB Executive Staff) presenting

  • City applied for financial assistance to meet the local match requirement of federal grant program
  • City was selected by Texas FEMA for $2,684,623 under hazard mitigation program for a new bridge
  • Up to 75% federal match for projects, with remainder covered locally
  • Recommends board approve $895,208 in financial assistance and $662,208 in grant funding

Jackson: project designed to provide improved emergency service access. Great example of the work TWDB can do to help communities

 

Motion and second to approve resolution for financing and grant funds

Motion passes

 

Item 4: Consider authorizing the Executive Administrator to negotiate and execute contracts for grant funding for flood early warning system projects – found here

Kathy Hopkins (TWDB Executive Staff) presenting

  • Amount shall not exceed $1,185,079
  • Various counties apply for grant funding for flood early warning system projects
  • These would be immediately protective projects to ensure safety of people and property
  • Projects can include: warning stations, rain and string gauges, monitoring cameras, warning software, and a communication tower
  • Recommends board support these projects

Jackson: important to people that there are projects that can be implemented quickly. There is and must continue to be cooperation between different entities involved in these projects.

Personal anecdote about friend who almost died in Onion Creek flood

 

Motion and second to approve resolution for providing Execuitve Administrator with the ability to authorize contracts relating to flood early warning systems

Motion passes

 

Item 5: Consider authorizing the Executive Administrator to execute contract amendments increasing contract totals not over $4,673,731 for AECOM and $4,916,528 with Halff Associates – found here

Saul Nuccitelli (Executive Administrator Staff) presenting

  • Requests permission to amend contracts with companies
  • TDWB has worked to create and maintain flood maps and preparedness
  • Two firms, AECOM and Halff Associates have been contracted to help with this project
  • Increasing contracts would increase the base-level engineering available to Texas, and would prepare us for the future

Jackson: Base level engineering very important moving forward, especially flood mapping. To be successful for planning and provide information to communities, its important we have the information on a statewide level, and It is continuously updated

 

Motion and second to approve the resolution to grant Executive Administrator power to amend contracts

Motion passes

 

Item 6: Consider authorizing the Executive Administrator to negotiate and execute a contract not to exceed $400,000 to calibrate computer models to improve National Weather Forecasting flood forecasting in Texas – found here

Dr. Mark Wentzel (Executive Administrator Staff) Presenting

  • National Weather Service provides flood forecasting modeling in specific areas
  • Communities and individuals have asked for additional areas to be covered
  • NWS does not have resources to carry about additional calibrations necessary
  • Recommends TWDB fund calibration to improve flood forecasting
  • Discusses past success with previous model calibrations and reducing flood damages and casualties
  • Study and calibrations completed by August 31, 2021, cover at least 60 additional locations
  • Board deems applicant for the contract competent due to their history of completing this kind of work for the NWS before

Jackson: NWS is very important in forecasting floods, really good that we will be expanding coverage and delivering a reliable project

Lake: models are very important and keep improving, and it’s also important to continue updating technology to incorporate physical results from string gauges and other forms of early warning systems

 

Motion and second to approve the ability of the Executive Administrator to negotiate the contract for updating computer models

Motion passes

 

Item 7: Consider posting anticipated interest rate subsidies and financing terms available through the SWIFT program for the 2021 cycle

Tom Entsminger (Executive Administrator staff) presenting

  • Application process begins today
  • Different issues this year: state water plan will be released mid-year
  • Regional plans will be relied upon for this years’ applications in order to prevent confusion
  • TWDB passed a resolution in June to make sure the fund is available and preserved for future use
  • The resolution specifies interest rate modifications to the SWIFT program
  • Application will likely function in the same way as in the past
  • Recommends approval of this item

Jackson: Board will continue making this funding available to make projects in the state water plan a reality. We will continually watch the perpetuity of the fund and ensure communities have resources to move forward

 

Motion and second to approve the changes to financing and SWIFT

Motion passes

 

Item 8: Consider approving the 87th Session Legislative Priorities Report – found here

Claire Boyer (Executive Administrator’s Staff) Presenting

  • Texas Water Code requires a biannual report concerning recommendations for legislation and a record of TWDB actions
  • Agency has been planning this item since January
  • Report includes a recap of agency activities, summaries of exceptional item requests, and 4 legislative recommendations
  • First recommendation is removal of outdated regional plans
  • Second recommendation is to clarify TWDB responsibilities in respect to interregional planning councils
  • Third recommendation is allowance for regional flood planning groups and other groups to hold virtual meetings
  • Fourth is to remove outdated or conflicting or redundant statute
  • Recommends approval of this item

Jackson: Appreciate pointing out the beginning of the work that went into this item. Developing major ideas and getting input from staff was well done

 

Motion and second to approve the 87th session legislative priorities report

Motion passes

 

Item 9: Consider approving material changes to contracts for goods and services for goods and services executed during Q4 of FY 2020 and the contract and performance report for the same time period – found here

Edna Jackson (Executive Administrator’s Staff) presenting

  • The material changes included extend the life of or postpone the completion of a contract for 6 months or more; or increase payment by at least 10%
  • Executive administrator recommends approval of this item

 

Motion and second to approve the material changes

Motion passes

 

Item 10: Consider approving a request from the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority for $40,000,000 in financing for planning, design and construction of the Lake Dunlap dam – found here

Dane Larsen (Executive Administrator’s Staff) presenting

  • Funding is requested to rehabilitate the Dunlap Dam
  • The dam had a catastrophic spill gate failure in 2019
  • District has entered into a long-term contract for project financing
  • Revenues will be pledged to debt services
  • Recommend approval of the request

Jackson: important project for the board, community, and Texas. The work has been collaborative and demonstrates that leadership in the community has taken thoughtful and deliberate action. There is a need to upgrade the infrastructure and ensure no repeat events

 

Statement from Douglas Harrison, President of Lake Dunlap Water Control Improvement District

  • Impressed by the efficiency of the board
  • Huge community effort to increase taxes on themselves for a state-owned asset, but I know we will get it back
  • The dam had catastrophic failure
  • Our new model will be a model other area can follow, and created contracts that have never been done before
  • Created contracts to sell hydro as well
  • Grateful for the loan, and promise to pay it back
  • Very grateful for the funding for the dam
  • We love both offers we’ve gotten from the board, would prefer the 0% financing (previous offer)
  • Am getting questions about why the offer changed, if there is a reason you can tell me

Lake: thank you for your leadership, we look forward to moving forward

 

Motion and second to approve the resolution for financing for the Dunlap Dam

Motion passes

 

No meeting in closed session, and no public comment

Meeting adjourned