The Texas Water Development Board met on March 3, 2016 to discuss action items regarding funding requests and the publication of the 2017 State Water Plan draft.
Consider a revision of the not-to-exceed aggregate principal amount established at the January 19, 2016 board meeting to $50,000,000 due to changes in the plan of finance, and approve by resolution the following: (a) the issuance, sale and delivery of State of Texas, General Obligation Water Financial Assistance Bonds, Series 2016A (Economically Distressed Areas Program) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000; (b) a Preliminary Official Statement; and (c) authorization for the Executive Administrator and Development Fund Manager to act on behalf of the Texas Water Development Board in the sale and delivery of such bonds.
- Staff received more information from one of significant borrowers that they are looking to delay their closing
- Costs are in line with market and historical approvals by the board
- Hope to close on April 19
- Motion to adopt passes
Consider approving by resolution a request from the Town of Vinton (El Paso County) for financial assistance in the amount of $2,709,070 consisting of a $825,000 loan and $1,884,070 in loan forgiveness from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance the planning, acquisition, and design of a new centralized wastewater collection system. Board Agenda #03 Document
- Northwest corner of El Paso County
- Application for project was submitted online at the TML conference
- New centralized waste water system will serve 540 connections within the town
- A larger focus for the project was discussed but after working with staff it was determine to finance planning, acquisition and design
- 72% savings was achieved
- Motion to adopt passes
Consider approving by resolution a request from the City of Stamford (Jones and Haskell Counties) for financial assistance in the amount of $19,765,708, consisting of a $9,530,000 loan and $10,235,708 in loan forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to finance the planning, acquisition, design, and construction phases for water system improvements. Board Agenda #04 Document
- Stamford has population of about 3,000
- City needs to make improvements to maintain compliance with water safety standards
- Based on disadvantaged community criteria, they qualify for 50% loan forgiveness
- Also loan forgiveness for green components of project – 81% of the cost of the project were green components
- Alan Plumlee, City Manager of Stamford
- Thanks board for the project, the dated infrastructure in place causes tremendous water loss so this will help the city now and in the future
- Motion to adopt passes
Consider approving by resolution a request from the City of Beeville (Bee County) for a $3,300,000 loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to finance water system improvements. Board Agenda #05 Document
- Expand and upgrade water treatment plant
- Project will improve water quality and true output from plant
- Jack Hamlett, City Manager of Beeville
- Thanks staff, this is a big step for Beeville community
- Motion to adopt passes
Consider approving by resolution a request from Dario V. Guerra, III, doing business as Derby, Ing., (Frio County) for $140,000 in loan forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to finance construction costs associated with upgrades to the existing water system; and approval of a waiver related to the entity’s Water Audit, requiring the entity to complete and file a Water Audit prior to release of construction funds. Board Agenda #06 Document
- Continued efforts into construction phase for improvements necessary for compliance
- Utility has not yet submitted 2015 water use survey, and will not be eligible until doing so – executive administrator recommends moving item to next meeting
- Motion to continue motion at a future board meeting passes
Consider authorizing the Executive Administrator to negotiate and execute a Fiscal Year 2016 contract and renewal option for Fiscal Year 2017 for groundwater quality analysis services in an amount not to exceed $196,000 for each fiscal year, comprised of $100,000 from General Revenue and $96,000 from the Research and Planning Fund; and transfer $96,000 from the Water Assistance Fund to the Research and Planning Fund. Board Agenda #07 Document
- Look for arsenic, high nitrates, radionuclides, fluoride in aquifers
- Recommended to continue contract
- Motion passes
Consider approving by resolution material changes to contracts for goods and services awarded under Chapter 2155 of the Texas Government Code executed during the first quarter of fiscal year 2016. Board Agenda #08 Document
- Includes changes that postpone contract for at least 6 months or increase funding by at least 10%
- Chair Bruun says they received a straight forward quarterly report
- Motion passes
Consider authorizing publication of the Draft 2017 State Water Plan for public comment and posting notice of public hearing, public comment period, and intent to adopt the 2017 State Water Plan. Board Agenda #09 Document
- State water plan purpose
- Provide for development, management, and conservation of water resources
- Prepare for and respond to drought conditions
- Make sufficient water available at a reasonable cost
- Draught planning is paramount to addressing water supplies
- There are 16 regions and each develop a water plan every five years
- Process of planning
- Project future population and water demand
- Quantify existing water supplies
- Identify surpluses and needs (potential shortages)
- Evaluate and recommend water management strategies
- Make policy recommendations
- Adopt plan and prioritize recommended projects
- Population is growing quickly and will grow by 21 million in next five years
- Over half of growth is in DFW and Houston area
- Existing supply is below the projected demand, and is trending downward even though demand will increase
- Municipal areas are projected to have the largest increases in demand
- Conservation makes up 28% of total 2070 strategies volume
- 811,000 AF/Year in municipal conservation
- 1.3 million AF/year in irrigation conservation
- 203,000 AF/year other conservation
- Over $3 billion in capital costs associated with conservation savings
- Every region besides region P had some needs they cannot meet
- If we do not implement any of the plan, by 2070, a third of the population would have only 30% of the municipal water supply they need
- Would lose 424,000 jobs in 2020 and 1.3 million jobs in 2070
- Capital cost of plan is 62.6 billion with 2,400 recommended projects
- Policy Recommendations
- Based on planning groups’ recommendations
- Designate Alamito Creek, Black Cypress Bayou, Black Cypress Creek, Pecan Bayou, and Terlingua Creek as unique stream segments
- 11 reservoir sites to be designated as unique
- Sync up joint ground water planning and regional water planning processes
- Interactive website will allow people to see data for their regions and area and see what needs to happen moving forward
- Board approves publication of draft
No Public Comment is given
Meeting Adjourned