GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. IT'S THURSDAY, JANUARY 8TH, UH, CALLING THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO ORDER. UH, AND IF ALVIN LAMB WOULD LIKE TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE. THANK YOU. AND DINA, MAY WE PLEASE, PLEASE HAVE ROLL CALL. PRESTON SCOTT, PRESENT VICE RESIDENT CORDERO. SECRETARY PARKIN. COMMISSIONER MCGUIRE HERE. COMMISSIONER AUSTIN. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A QUORUM. [1. 26-57320 Recommendation to approve December 10, 2025, and December 18, 2025 Board meeting minutes. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] THANK YOU. OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS CONSENT CALENDAR. MAY I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR? SECOND. SECOND. UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. [2. 26-57321 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute all documents necessary, including any Terms of Services, to amend Purchase Order No. 22602260 with ConvergeOne Inc., to provide temporary integrated, cloud-based telephony and collaboration services in support of the Department’s communication needs, to increase the contract amount by $60,000 and extend the term to October 26, 2026. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY, INCLUDING ANY TERMS OF SERVICES TO AMEND PURCHASE ORDER NUMBER 2 2 6 0 2 2 6 0 WITH CONVERGE ONE INC. TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY INTEGRATED CLOUD-BASED TELEPHONY AND COLLABORATION SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNICATION NEEDS TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $60,000 AND EXTEND THE TERM TO OCTOBER 26TH, 2026 IN ORDER TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION. MAY I PLEASE? SO A MOTION. THANK YOU. UH, ALVIN LAMB. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING BOARD. UH, SORRY ABOUT THAT. GOOD MORNING BOARD AND YOUR MANAGER, ATTORNEY AND STAFF. I'LL BE, UM, PRESENTING TO YOU TODAY THE CONVERGE ONE AGREEMENT, UH, EXTENSION. A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. UM, BACK IN MARCH, 2022, THE BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS, UH, ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH CONVERGE ONE, ALSO KNOWN AS C ONE FOR A THREE YEAR TERM FOR A HYBRID CLOUD TELEPHONE SYSTEM. C ONE PROVIDED MANAGED CLOUD-BASED TELEPHONY AND COLLABORATION SERVICE THAT SUPPORTED THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC UTILITY DEPARTMENT SERVICES INCLUDE, UH, WEBEX CONTACT CENTER, WEBEX, UNIFIED COMMUNICATION DESK PHONES 24 BY SEVEN, SERVICE DESK SUPPORT SYSTEM MIGRATION, UM, DEVICE SETUP, AND ONGOING SERVICE REQUESTS. AT THE TIME, THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC UTILITY DEPARTMENT CONTRACT WITH C ONE WAS NEARING EXPIRATION. WE ANTICIPATED TELEPHONE SERVICE WOULD TRANSITION AND MERGE WITH THE CITI'S NEW CLOUD-BASED PHONE SYSTEM. CITI RECENTLY DETERMINED IT DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCE OR THE CAPACITY TO INCLUDE THE UTILITY IN THIS CLOUD TELEPHONE, UH, ENVIRONMENT TO ENSURE UNINTERRUPTED PHONE SERVICE FOR LONG BEACH UTILITY DEPARTMENT STAFF IS REQUESTING FOR A ONE YEAR EXTENSION AGREEMENT TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME, UH, TO DEVELOP AND TO ISSUE A REQUEST FOR A PROPOSAL TO MAINTAIN THE UTILITIES CURRENT PHONE SYSTEM. THE EXTENSION WILL PROVIDE STAFF WITH THE SUFFICIENT TIME TO COORDINATE FUTURE MIGRATION AND ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S TELEPHONE SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT. AND EVENTUALLY A SYSTEM MERGE. STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY, INCLUDING TERMINAL SERVICE TO AMEND PURCHASE ORDER NUMBER 2 2 6 0 2 2 6 0 WITH CONVERGE ONE, AND TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY INTEGRATED CLOUD-BASED TELEPHONE AND COLLABORATION SERVICE IN SUPPORT, UH, OF THE DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION NEEDS, AND TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT BASE AMOUNT, 60,000 AND EXTENDED TERMS OF SERVICE TO OCTOBER 26TH, 2026. WITH THAT, UH, I CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION. I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. ALVIN. UH, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. YEAH. UM, SO WHAT IS THE CITY'S PLAN TO UPGRADE? I MEAN, THEY OBVIOUSLY HAD A GOAL THAT THEY DIDN'T REACH. IS THAT TRUE? THE CITY IS IN THE PROCESS OF UPGRADING. THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING IT NOW. THEY'RE MIGRATING VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TO THE CLOUD. UM, BUT THEY'RE SWAMPED IN THERE OUTER RESOURCE TO REALLY ACCOMMODATE THE UTILITY AT THIS TIME.
THEY HAVE MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT THEY NEED TO UPGRADE BEFORE. SO BY RESOURCE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE? NOT, NOT LIKE THE, THAT WAS NOT CONVEYED TO ME. I WAS JUST TOLD THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCE OR THE CAPACITY TO ASSIST US NOW. UM, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S IT'S IT'S FUNDING OR IT'S, UH, MANPOWER. I DO NOT HAVE THE FULL DETAIL OR CAPACITY FOR THE SYSTEM THEY'VE ALREADY BOUGHT. I BELIEVE THIS CAPACITY SHOULD BE ALL ADDRESSED OUR NEEDS BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE UP IN THE CLOUD, SO IT'S SCALABLE. OKAY. THAT'S, THAT'S GREAT. IS THIS ENOUGH TIME? OCTOBER 26TH? IT'S NOT A YEAR. NO. THIS, THIS WILL ONLY ALLOW US TO EXTEND OUR SUPPORT WITH OUR CURRENT SURPR, UH, PROVIDER, WHICH IS CONVERGE ONE OR C ONE. UH, IN THE MEANTIME, WE WILL BE DOING AN RFP TO FIND OR QUALIFIED VENDOR THAT WOULD CARRY US FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS UNTIL THE CITY'S READY FOR A MERGE. SO YOU'RE SAYING NEXT WHAT, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, WE'RE GONNA RECEIVE ANOTHER PROPOSAL FOR ANOTHER VENDOR? MUCH SOONER THAN THAT? MUCH SOONER THAN THAT, YES. OKAY. BECAUSE WE NEED AT LEAST MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS, IF NOT MORE, TO, TO MIGRATE OFF OF C ONE TO WHOEVER THE MID WINNER WOULD BE FOR OUR OWN SYSTEM. AND HOW, HOW IS THIS IN THE BUDGET ALREADY? IT, IT'S, THE FINAL PARAGRAPH SAYS THAT THE $60,000 ARE INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT BUDGET. THE $60,000 IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN PAYING C ONE YEAR AFTER YEAR FOR THEIR SUPPORT. AND SO THIS IS TO EXTEND THAT SUPPORT TILL THE END OF, UH, OCTOBER. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER? YES, SIR. SO WHEN WE'RE DOING THE RFP FOR THIS SERVICE, ARE WE LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVES SO THAT WE WOULD NEVER JOIN THE CITY SYSTEM, OR IF THE ALTERNATIVE IS CHEAPER THAN THE CITY SYSTEM, WE WOULD STAY WITH A THIRD PARTY, WHEREAS THE GOAL ALWAYS TO GET TO WHERE WE'RE PART OF THE CITY SYSTEM. I, I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY SYSTEM'S THE BEST OR NOT THE BEST. I DON'T, YOU WOULD HAVE TO TELL US, BUT WHEN WE DO THE RFP, WE GET A GREAT DEAL FROM A THIRD PARTY. WE WOULD JUST STAY WITH THAT THIRD PARTY, IN MY OPINION. UH, YES, SIR. I THINK AT THE TIME WE WOULD DEFINITELY RUN IT THROUGH THE, THE, THE MANAGEMENT TO, TO DECIDE. UM, I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION IS DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION OR IS THAT DETERMINATION ALREADY BEEN MADE? I MEAN, THERE'S A CITY'S COUNTING ON US JOINING THEM, OR IT'S A OP IT'S AN OPTION AT THIS POINT. IT'S AN OPTION. I WAS TOLD THAT OUR INTENTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO MERGE WITH THE CITY. UM, BUT WITH THE NEWER TECHNOLOGY, WE PRETTY MUCH CAN STAND ON OUR OWN AND STILL INTEGRATE WITH THE CITIES SO THAT THE, THE FOUR DIGIT OR FIVE DIGIT DIALING WOULD BE MORE SEAMLESS. THE CHALLENGE CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW IS THAT STAFF ON THEIR PHONE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE THE DIRECTORY TO SEE THE REST OF THE CITY AND VICE VERSA. AND SO THAT IS THE, THE BROKEN LINK. AND THUS THE, THE INTENTION TO MERGE WITH THE CITY IS TO HAVE THAT ONE UNIFIED PHONE DIRECTORY. BUT WITH NEWER TECHNOLOGY. NOW AS WE ARE MOVING TO THE WEBEX CLOUD AND THE CITY IS ALSO MOVING TO THE WEBEX CLOUD, UH, THE MULTITENANT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE, WITH CISCO WEBEX, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT DIRECTORY SYNC. AND WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REALLY, REALLY TECHNICALLY BE WITH THE CITY. WE COULD BE ON OUR OWN, HAVE OUR OWN CONTRACT AND ALL THAT, BUT YET WE ARE STILL ABLE TO SYNC THE DIRECTORY SO WE COULD SEE EACH OTHER'S PHONE NUMBERS IS THE INTENTION. THANK YOU. SO IN, IN YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ABOUT THE SYSTEM, I WANT TO NOTE THAT ORIGINALLY WE HAD A VERY ANTIQUATED PHONE SYSTEM. UH, IT HAD FALLEN WAY BEHIND IN MAINTENANCE. UM, NOT REALLY COOL TO DISCLOSE, BUT WE WERE LOOKING AT SPARE PARTS ON EBAY, TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE SYSTEM. IT'S A UTILITY SYSTEM. I, I GREW UP WITH THAT SYSTEM IN THE MID NINETIES WHEN I WAS AT METROPOLITAN. UM, AT THE TIME, THE PHYSICAL SYSTEM THAT THE CITY WAS USING, UH, DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY FOR US TO JOIN THEM. AND SO AT THE TIME THAT IT CAME FOR US TO MAKE THE DECISION AND SAY, LISTEN, WE HAVE TO GET OFF OF THIS IMMEDIATELY AND JOIN YOU. THE CITY SAID YOU CAN'T. UM, SO PUSH COME TO SHOVE, I GUESS IN A WAY, WE JUMPED THE GUN AND WE WENT TO THE CLOUD, UH, SOONER THAN THE CITY. IT ALLOWED US TO GET A SYSTEM ON BOARD FASTER. IT ALLOWED US TO CONTINUE THIS INTEGRATED APPROACH, WHICH I THINK, TO YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER PARKIN IS, IS PART OF THIS ASPECT OF INTEGRATION AND SYSTEM DESIGN, IS THAT WE WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT INTEGRATED ASPECT WITH THE CITY AND EXTERNALLY SO THAT THE COMMUNITY
REACTS TO US WITH PHONE EXTENSIONS AND PHONE NUMBERS CONSISTENT ACROSS THE PAGE, WHETHER IT'S ANY CITY DEPARTMENT OR US, IT'S SEAMLESS IN THAT REGARD. OUTCOMES, THE NEXT STEP, WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE CITY NOW IS FOLLOWING A LEAD THAT WE SET UP EARLIER AND THEY'RE GOING TO THE CLOUD. UM, I DON'T KNOW MUCH MORE BEYOND THAT, UH, OTHER THAN TO KNOW THAT THIS ASPECT OF SYSTEM DESIGN CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF EMPHASIS ON HOW WE PROJECT TO THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WE INTERACT WITH OUR VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS. THE FIVE DIGIT EXTENSION AND ALL OF THOSE IS THE DESIRE FOR THE SYSTEM TO OPERATE IN ONE INTEGRATED FASHION AMONGST ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS. THAT'S, THAT'S THE GOAL. SO WE'RE BUYING TIME IN TERMS OF THE MAINTENANCE SUPPORT CONTRACT. WE WILL GO OUT TO FIND YET ANOTHER, UM, EXTENSION, IF YOU WILL, THROUGH A NEW VENDOR. AND THAT'S SUCH TIME THAT WE CAN LINE UP AND SYNC UP WITH THE CITY EXACTLY WHETHER BY VENDOR OR BRANDED SYSTEM DESIGN. WE WILL BE THERE. IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE GONNA STAY COMMITTED TO THIS ASPECT THAT THE SYSTEM ITSELF, IN TERMS OF TELEPHONY IS SEAMLESS AND AGNOSTIC TO ANYBODY CALLING IN FROM THE OUTSIDE TO THEIR MIND. IT'S THEN YET ANOTHER CITY EXTENSION, YET ANOTHER CITY PHONE NUMBER. I HOPE THAT HELPS WITH THE, THE DIALOGUE THAT YOU WERE HAVING. IT IT DOES, BUT I GUESS, AND I, I, I SUPPORT THIS. SO I THINK THAT IT GIVES US A GOOD BAROMETER ON NEGOTIATING WITH THE CITY ON IF THEY WANT US TO BE PART OF THE CITY SYSTEM. WE ALREADY KNOW FROM A THIRD PARTY VENDOR WHAT OUR RATES, OUR RATE SHOULD BE OR WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR THIS. AND SO WE MAINTAIN, WE'RE COMPETITIVE, AND YET WE CAN ALL BE PART OF THE CITY SYSTEM IF IT MAKES FINANCIAL SENSE. IF NOT, WE CAN MEET THOSE SAME GOALS BEING INDEPENDENT, BUT BOTH, BOTH OF US ON THE CLOUD, RIGHT? WE'LL ALWAYS BE IN A POSITION GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE WENT TO THE CLOUD. WE'RE ALWAYS IN A POSITION TO INFORM THE CITY'S PROCESSES AND PROVIDE THEM INFORMATION AND SUPPORT SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO USE IT. WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY, THAT THEY AT LEAST HEAR FROM US. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? [3. 26-57322 Recommendation to authorize the General Manager to execute the National Mutual Assistance Agreement (NMAA) developed by the American Gas Association (“AGA”), the American Public Gas Association (“APGA”), the Northeast Gas Association (“NGA”), the Southern Gas Association (“SGA”), the Midwest Energy Association (“MEA”), and Western Energy Institute (“WEI”) to provide and request emergency assistance to and from participating members of the associations for the period of January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2030. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU. MOTION PASSES. ITEM NUMBER THREE, AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE NATIONAL MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT, NMAA, DEVELOPED BY THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION, A GA, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC GAS ASSOCIATION, A PGA, THE NORTHEAST GAS ASSOCIATION, NGA, THE SOUTHERN GAS ASSOCIATION, SGA, THE MIDWEST ENERGY ASSOCIATION, MEA AND WESTERN ENERGY INSTITUTE, WEI, TO PROVIDE AND REQUEST EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO AND FROM PARTICIPATING MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATIONS FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1ST, 2026 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2030. IN ORDER TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION, MAY I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION MOVE? THANK YOU. AND A SECOND. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, CALL ON KEVIN . MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MORNING. YOU PRETTY MUCH JUST PRESENTED EVERYTHING. I WAS GONNA SAY, . SO, UM, WE ARE MEMBERS OF OTHER MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENTS. UM, SOME OF THOSE ARE FOCUSED ON WATER, OR SOME OF THEM ARE COMPANIES THAT ARE PROVIDING ELECTRICAL SERVICES. I SEE A LOT OF THE, THE REQUESTS I SEE COMING THROUGH, UH, ARE USUALLY FOR THINGS THAT WE CAN'T ASSIST ON. IT'S LIKE POWER LINE OR POWER ISSUES. UH, THIS ONE IS SPECIFICALLY AN ASK FOR RENEWING A AGREEMENT WE HAVE OF MUTUAL ASSISTANCE SPECIFICALLY FOR GAS EMERGENCIES, WHICH FORTUNATELY DON'T HAPPEN AS OFTEN AS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. SO THE NATIONAL ASSISTANCE, A NATIONAL MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT IS MADE UP OF MEMBERS OF, AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, AMERICAN PUBLIC GAS ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION, AND SOME REGIONAL GAS ASSOCIATIONS. AND THE WESTERN ENERGY INSTITUTE. THESE ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR WHEN WE HAVE A GAS EMERGENCY OR A GAS OUTAGE. UH, A LOT OF TIMES THE, THE CALL ISN'T FOR WORKING ON PIPELINES, BUT IT'S TO RESTORE SERVICES. SO WHEN YOU NEED TO RESTORE SERVICE, IF THERE IS AN OUTAGE, A MASS OUTAGE, AND HOMES DO NO LONGER HAVE GAS, UH, YOU HAVE TO SEND A FIELD SERVICE REP TO GO INTO THE HOME BEFORE YOU TURN ON OR KNOW THAT YOU'VE TURNED ON SAFELY. AND, UH, YOU HAVE TO MAKE, DO AN APPLIANCE CHECK TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS WORKING PROPERLY BEFORE YOU CAN LEAVE THAT HOME AND SAY IT'S ON. UM, THAT COULD TAKE, UH, MAYBE ONE PERSON COULD KNOCK OUT 10 HOMES A DAY. SO IF WE HAVE A MASS OUTAGE OR IF SOCAL GAS WERE TO HAVE A LARGE OUTAGE, THEY SOMETIMES WILL ASK FOR ASSISTANCE. UH, I BELIEVE THE LAST TIME THAT OUR DEPARTMENT WAS INVOLVED WAS THE NORTH RIDGE EARTHQUAKE
WHERE WE, UH, WE SENT CREWS TO HELP. AND IT WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR TURNOFFS. SOME OF THE KEY TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT IS, UH, WE WE'RE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO, TO HELP. SO IF SOMEONE DOES REQUEST ASSISTANCE, UH, IF, IF WE ARE ABLE TO HELP, WE CAN, BUT THERE'S NO OBLIGATION THAT WE HAVE TO. AND IF WE DO, UH, SEND HELP AND WE HAVE OUR OWN EMERGENCY AND WE NEED THOSE, THOSE STAFF FOR THAT EQUIPMENT FOR OUR, FOR OUR NEEDS, WE CAN RECALL THEM AT ANY TIME. AND THEN, UH, IF WE ARE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO ANOTHER AGENCY, THAT AGENCY WILL PROVIDE, THEY WILL REFUND US FOR OUR STAFF TIME, FOR ANY EQUIPMENT THAT WE SEND. AND THEN, UH, THE TERM FOR THIS AGREEMENT IS, UH, IT'S A RENEWAL FOR STARTING JANUARY OF THIS YEAR AND GOING THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2030. UH, THIS AGREEMENT ALSO FITS INTO OUR, OUR BUSINESS PLAN GOALS RELATED TO OPERATIONAL RESILIENCE, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AND CONTINUITY OF SERVICE, ENABLING OUR DEPARTMENT TO RESPOND PROMPTLY AND EFFECTIVELY DURING EMERGENCIES OR ANY UNFORESEEN CONDITIONS THAT POSE A RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY OR, UH, CONTINUITY OF GAS SERVICES FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. UH, FISCAL IMPACT, AS I MENTIONED, IF, IF WE'RE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE THAT IS ALL REIMBURSED, SO THERE'S NO FISCAL IMPACT THERE. AND IF WE EVER HAVE TO MAKE THE CALL, WE HAVE, UH, OUR OWN FUND BALANCE, OUR FINANCE TEAM WILL FIND A WAY TO PAY FOR IT, UH, IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY. SO THAT'S ALL I HAD. IF, UH, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I GUESS I HAVE TO READ. SO THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE, UH, THE NATIONAL MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT DEVELOPED BY THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC GAS ASSOCIATION, THE NORTHEAST GAS ASSOCIATION, SOUTHERN GAS ASSOCIATION, MIDWESTERN, UH, MIDWEST ENERGY ASSOCIATION, AND THE WESTERN ENERGY INSTITUTE TO PROVIDE AND REQUEST EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO AND FROM PARTICIPATING MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATIONS FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1ST, 2026 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2030. THAT DOES CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, KEVIN. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? UH, SO I'LL, I'LL JUST SAY COMING FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BACKGROUND, UM, I'M KEENLY INTERESTED IN, IN ITEMS LIKE THIS. I THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE OUR DUCKS IN A ROW BEFORE THE ACTUAL EMERGENCY HAPPEN. UH, SO I'M, I'M PLEASED TO SEE THIS. UM, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION ABOUT, UH, THE FOLKS THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE ASKED TO RESPOND, UH, OUT OF OUR CITY. UM, HAVE WE MET AND CONFERRED WITH THE, WITH THE LABOR GROUPS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WILL HAVE EMPLOYEE SUPPORT OF THIS? I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. WELL, SO THIS, UH, BEING SENT OUT OF THE CITY, UH, ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS LIKE THIS WOULD BE, UH, QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THEIR NORMAL WORK ROUTINE, THEIR NORMAL WORK, UH, EXPECTATIONS. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS IF, IF THE, THE UNIONS HAVE GIVEN US A VERBAL BUY-OFF, I BELIEVE THEY HAVE, THAT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY THE FACT THAT THERE WOULD BE A CONSULTATION, UH, TAKING PLACE SORT OF ON THE FLY AS WE WERE ENGAGED WITH THAT. THE DETAILS OF WHAT IS THE SERVICE THAT I'M MINDFUL OF, THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAD, UH, BACK WITH THE FIRES, UH, IN EARLY 2025, THERE WAS CONSULTATION AND DIALOGUE WITH THE UNION. THEY WERE IN SUPPORT OF IT. UM, THEIR INTENTIONS AND THEIR GOAL WAS TO FACILITATE IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TERMS [4. 26-57399 Recommendation to receive and file the December 18, 2025 Infrastructure Committee Report. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AND CONDITIONS NOTWITHSTANDING. SUPER. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. UH, OKAY. SO WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? EXCELLENT. THANK YOU, KEVIN. UH, ITEM NUMBER FOUR, RECEIVE AND FILE THE DECEMBER 18TH, 2025 INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE REPORT. UH, IN ORDER TO HEAR THE REPORT, MAY I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE. THANK YOU. AND A SECOND. I SECOND. THANK YOU. UH, CALL ON, UH, COMMITTEE CHAIR AND COMMISSIONER . THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME? SO THIS, UH, WE HAD OUR INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE COMMITTEE LAST YEAR ON, UH, DECEMBER 18TH. UH, WE HEARD THREE ITEMS. ONE WAS A, UM, REPORT ON THE NON-OPERATIONAL PROPERTIES, WHICH WAS, UH, VERY INTERESTING. UM, AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD THAT ARE FACING THIS DEPARTMENT AND THIS COMMISSION IN TERMS OF, UH, USE
OF, UH, LAND AND, UH, PROPERTIES THAT ARE, UH, CURRENTLY, UH, UNDER THE OWNERSHIP OF, UH, LONG BEACH UTILITIES. UH, THEY INCLUDE AIRPORT PROPERTIES, UM, DIFFERENT VARIATIONS. AND FORGIVE ME FOR NOT GOING INTO DETAILS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MY NOTES FROM LAST YEAR. , UH, A LOT OF CONTENT HAS, UH, HAPPENED SINCE THEN, INCLUDING THE HOLIDAYS. UM, AND SO, UH, YES, WE, THERE ARE A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF CHANGES HAPPENING, INCLUDING BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN POSSIBLE FOR, FOR GAS, UM, AND PROPERTIES ON SPRING STREET, INCLUDING THIS ONE HERE, UM, TO DETERMINE WHERE WE WE GO IN THE FUTURE. AND SO, HEARD A DETAILED REPORT ON THAT. UH, WE ALSO RECEIVED A, A VERY INTERESTING REPORT ON FIRE HYDRANT INSPECTION PROGRAM. UH, I WAS, UH, ENLIGHTENED TO, TO FIND OUT THAT LONG BEACH UTILITIES IS ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. UH, AFTER LIFE THOUGHT IT WAS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT WAS, DID THAT, THAT WORK SOLELY. AND SO, UM, IT'S A, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT, UM, FUNCTION. UH, PARTICULARLY WE, WE KNOW ABOUT HOW FIRE HYDRANT, UH, FUNCTIONALITY WAS CAME TO LIGHT DURING THIS YEAR TIME LAST YEAR IN LOS ANGELES DURING THE WILDFIRES. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT OUR, OUR FIRE HYDRANTS ARE BEING WELL MAINTAINED, UH, INSPECTED THROUGHOUT THE CITY. UM, AND SO, UH, THAT, THAT REPORT WAS, WAS, UH, WELL RECEIVED. AND THEN, UH, FINALLY, WE DID RECEIVE A, A ANOTHER VERY DETAILED AND INFORMATIVE, UH, REPORT ON THE SEWER SMOKE TEST, UM, OF THE NAPLES ISLAND. UM, UNDERSTANDING HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS AND FUNCTIONALITIES OF OUR, OUR SEWER SYSTEMS AND HOW WE TEST THE, THE, UH, EFFECTIVENESS WAS A VERY, VERY EYEOPENING FOR, FOR, UH, BOTH COMMISSIONER PARKIN AND MYSELF. UH, I WANNA THANK THE STAFF FOR, FOR THEIR DETAILED, UM, EXPERTISE ON ALL OF THESE AREAS. UM, WE, WE, WE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF, UH, THE WORK BEING CONDUCTED BY LONG BEACH UTILITIES. SO WITH THAT, THAT, THAT WILL [PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Utilities Commission on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Board.] END MY REPORT AND TAKE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSION NOR PUBLIC. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER AUSTIN. UH, ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENT? EXCELLENT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE. AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY, AYE. AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? THANK YOU. UH, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A NON-AGENDA ITEM? UH, SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. UH, MOVING INTO ANNOUNCEMENTS, UH, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO OUR GENERAL MANAGER, I'VE JUST, UH, GOT A BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENT, UH, OR COMMENT BOTH. UH, SO I'M JUST GONNA READ AS WE CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THE ROLE OF OUR COMMITTEES. UH, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SINCERELY THANK OUR UTILITIES DEPARTMENT STAFF, EXECUTIVE TEAM, AND GENERAL MANAGER FOR THE ADDITIONAL EFFORT AND PROFESSIONALISM THEY'VE DEMONSTRATED IN SUPPORTING THE COMMITTEE REALIGNMENT, THE EXPANDED MEETING SCHEDULE, UH, AND THE RELATED, UH, UH, EXPANDED PRESENTATIONS THAT COME WITH THIS. UH, THIS WORK REQUIRES REAL TIME PREPARATION COORDINATION, AND IT HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED. UH, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HEIGHTENED, UH, LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT FROM MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS. THE QUALITY OF DISCUSSION, THE THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS BEING RAISED, AND THE FOCUS ON LONG-TERM STRATEGY ARE EXACTLY WHAT WE ENVISIONED, UH, WHEN WE ELEVATED THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE. UH, NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN OUR FEET WET, IT'S TIME TO ADVANCE TO THE NEXT STAGE. EXCUSE ME. IN THE COMING WEEKS, I'LL BE ASKING OUR COMMITTEE CHAIRS TO BEGIN WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THEIR EXECUTIVE LEAD TO IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP TOPICS FOR FUTURE COMMITTEE AGENDAS. UH, THIS COLLABORATION WILL ENSURE THAT COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS ARE PURPOSEFUL FORWARD-LOOKING AND ALIGNED WITH THE COMMISSION'S PRIORITIES WHILE CONTINUING TO RESPECT STAFF WORKLOAD AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS. SO THE WAY THIS WILL, UH, BE, BE STRUCTURALLY HANDLED, UH, SO THE EXECUTIVE LEAD, UH, WILL WORK WITH COMMITTEE CHAIRS TO DEVELOP ITEMS FOR COMMITTEE AGENDAS, UH, THE BOARD PRESIDENT, MYSELF AND FUTURE PRESIDENTS, UH, AS, AND THE GENERAL MANAGER WILL REVIEW THE COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEMS TO FINALIZE AGENDAS. AND THEN FINALLY, THE EXECUTIVE LEADS WILL JOIN THE COMMITTEE AT THE DEAS TO RUN THE COMMITTEE MEETING MEETING. SO JUST SOME, SOME SLIGHT CHANGES IN STRUCTURE, BUT MOSTLY, UH, AN INCREASE IN THE LEVEL OF COR COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE COMMITTEES AND THE LEADS. ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? UM, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT
BECAUSE I, I THINK, UM, THAT'S A GOOD STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I THINK IT'S, WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER AND WE'RE CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH WHAT ALL OF YOU ARE DOING. UH, IT JUST MAKES US STRONGER ON OUR END. SO I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. UH, AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO AN THANK YOU PRESIDENT. SCOTT. I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE A WRITTEN REPORT TODAY. JUST A COUPLE OF VERBAL COMMENTS ON TWO DIFFERENT ASPECTS. ONE AT THE STATE LEVEL, I'LL BE BRINGING BACK TO YOU WITH A FORMAL GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT. UM, SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SUMMARY DISCUSSION ON THE LEGAL, UH, ACTIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE WITH REGARDS TO BOND FUNDING OF THE DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT. I'LL HAVE MORE DETAIL FOR YOU ON THAT. COMING ALSO AT THE STATE LEVEL, I KNOW THAT, UH, WE HAD A GUEST SPEAKER HERE, RANDALL ECK FROM METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT. HIS INTENTION WAS TO GIVE YOU A SERIES OF THREE PRESENTATIONS I'M TARGETING NOW, UH, EARLY MARCH FOR HIS NEXT PRESENTATION. UM, I DON'T SEE ANY PRESSING, UH, NEED IN TERMS OF TIMELINE. THE DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT HAS A VERY LONG TIMELINE. SO IN A MEASURED SENSE, I BELIEVE MARCH IS OKAY FOR YOU TO GET THE SECOND PRESENTATION. AGAIN, IT'S THREE PRESENTATIONS TO BUILD YOU A SENSE OF WHAT THIS PROJECT IS AND WHAT THE NEEDS ARE. I THINK THE GENERAL MANAGERS REPORT WILL HAVE THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU THAT SUPPLEMENTS THAT IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES, THE COLORADO RIVER NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE ON, UM, IN VARIOUS DISCUSSION GROUPS WITH MY COLLEAGUES. THOSE, UH, DEADLINES CONTINUE TO BE SET AND CONTINUE TO BE MISSED. UH, MISSED IN THE SENSE THAT THE PARTIES ARE ENTRENCHED IN THEIR POSITIONS. UH, NO SIDE IS WILLING TO GIVE, UH, FOR FEAR OF LOSS. SO IT IS WHAT IT IS. UM, I THINK IN THE COMING WEEKS THERE WILL BE MORE INFORMATION COMING FORWARD ON WHAT THE STATUS OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS ARE, AND THEN WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PLACES ITSELF, BECAUSE AS THE MANAGER OF CONTRACTS ON THE RIVER, IT HAS OBLIGATIONS THAT ALLOW IT TO ENFORCE CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF OPERATIONS WITH THE STATES THAT MIGHT HAVE A WAY OF AFFECTING THEIR NEGOTIATIONS. SUFFICE IT TO SAY IS THAT AS INFORMATION COMES OUT FROM THAT, AND AS I I GATHER MORE INFORMATION, I'LL BE PREPARING THAT IN THE GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT. YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE SECOND MEETING IN FEBRUARY. I'LL BRING THAT INFORMATION TO YOU. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ 26-57324 Pursuant to Paragraph (b) (1) of Section 54957 of the California Government Code regarding Public Employee Performance Evaluation: General Manager ] UH, SO WE WILL NOW BE MOVING INTO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH B ONE, SECTION 5 4 9 5 7 OF THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE REGARDING PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, GENERAL MANAGER, UH, ANY COMMENTS, PUBLIC COMMENTS? UH, SO WE WILL NOW BE IN RECESS FOR CLOSED SESSION. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE ARE BACK FROM CLOSED SESSION. THE BOARD IS RECONVENE, CLOSED SESSION. THERE IS NO REPORTABLE ACTION. AND THIS MEETING.