WEBVTT

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<v Female>The broadcast
is now starting.</v>

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All attendees are in listen-only mode.

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<v ->Good morning.</v>

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This meeting of the Texas
Water Development Board

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is now called to order.

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The time is 9:32 a.m.

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For the record, my name is Peter Lake.

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With me today are Kathleen
Jackson and Brooke Paup.

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Mr. Harden, first item, please.

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<v ->Mr. Chairman, the first
item on the agenda today</v>

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is to approve by resolution

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a request from the Cameron
County Drainage District #1

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for $491,400 in grant from
the Flooded Infrastructure Fund,

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planning, design, and construction

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of a detention drainage
improvement project.

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Jessica Taylor is here

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to present to the
Board on this item today.

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<v ->Good morning Chairman
Lake, Director Jackson,</v>

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and Director Paup.

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For the record, my
name is Jessica Taylor

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of the Executive Administrator's staff.

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Cameron County Drainage District #1

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is located near the US-Mexico border.

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The drainage district service area

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has a population of
approximately 224,000

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and covers approximately
150 square miles

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within Cameron County.

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Cameron County has a
long history of flooding,

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primarily due to the
extremely flat topography.

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The district's primary purpose

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is to manage and implement
drainage infrastructure.

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The Ditch One Watershed
is a major drainage system

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within the district's jurisdiction

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and a critical drainage pathway
during major flood events.

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The watershed drains a large portion

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of the northern side of
the City of Brownsville.

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The district is requesting
FIF funding for planning,

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design, and construction of a
drainage improvement project

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that reduces flood risks
along the Ditch One Watershed.

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During the planning phase,

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the district will evaluate
existing infrastructure,

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including earth and ponds,
channels, and culvert crossings,

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and conduct hydrologic
and hydraulic modeling

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to identify improvement
alternatives to reduce flood risk.

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The district will then
design and construct

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previously identified improvements

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for nine existing detention ponds

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with a combined area of
approximately 109 acres.

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These existing low lying open areas

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currently do not have
inlet or outlet structures

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or work cohesively

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and have been
prioritized by the district.

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The proposed project
will benefit the district,

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Cameron County, and
the City of Brownsville.

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The district has qualified

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for a grant of 39% of the project cost,

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which is equal to $491,400.

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The remaining $768,600

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will be contributed by the district

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and local funding to
complete the project.

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The Executive Administrator
recommends approval

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of the request.

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This concludes my presentation

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and I'm happy to answer any questions.

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<v Peter>Thank you,
questions, comments?</v>

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<v ->Well, Jessica, thanks
for working on this project</v>

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and that they're moving
forward with something

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that was previously identified.

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I think they're going
to go back in, I think,

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and kind of touch base, reevaluate it,

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and make sure that, again,

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it's the right kind of
path moving forward.

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And then also do this broader study

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which will include some modeling.

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And I think one of the things
that you shared with me

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about this project that I thought was

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extremely interesting
and a great benefit

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was that the features
will allow some infiltration

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into the shallow groundwater

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because the bottoms will be earthen

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and that they also may
include some widening

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and other nature-based improvements

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to promote riparian
restoration measures.

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So, I guess a great
example of moving forward

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and doing a drainage
project that incorporates

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in some ways an additional
water supply as well as

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the planning for the broader,

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the broader kind of path forward.

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So a great project and really
appreciate you working on it

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and it's really good to see this coming

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to the Brownsville and the Valley area.

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<v Jessica>Thank you.</v>

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<v ->Yeah, Jessica, I'd
like to echo everything</v>

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that Kathleen just said.

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I love that they're trying
to identify and incorporate

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some nature-based elements
into this planning process

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with the channel improvements.

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And also really like to compliment you.

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You did such a lovely job
laying this out last week

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for the Board.

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You did such a great job
today, so, thank you very much.

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<v Jessica>Thank you.</v>

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(notification ring)

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<v ->Well done all around.</v>

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Is there a motion?

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<v ->Chairman, I move we
adopt the proposed resolution</v>

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from the Cameron
County Drainage District #1

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for $491,400 in grant from
the Flood Infrastructure Fund

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for planning, design, and construction

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of a detention drainage
improvement project

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as recommended by our
Executive Administrator.

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<v ->Is there a second?</v>

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<v ->I second.</v>
<v ->All in favor, say aye.</v>

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<v ->Aye.</v>

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<v ->Motion passes.</v>

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Thank you very much.

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Next item, please.

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Good to see you, Jessica.

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<v ->Mr. Chairman, the
next item on the agenda</v>

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is approved by our resolution

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a request from the City of Seguin,

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for the financing from the Clean
Water State Revolving Fund

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for planning, acquisition,
design, and construction

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of a wastewater system
expansion project.

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Dain Larsen is here
to present to the Board

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on this item today,

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and we also have Mr. Steve
Parker, City Manager of Seguin,

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here today.

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He's filled out a
visitor registration card

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expressing an opinion for the item

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and stated that he wishes
to address the Board.

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<v ->Good morning, Chairman
Lake, Director Jackson,</v>

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Director Paup.

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For the record, I'm Dain Larson

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of the Executive Administrator's staff.

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The City of Seguin is
located 20 miles northeast

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of San Antonio and is another
rapidly growing community

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in the growth corridor between
San Antonio and Austin.

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The City requests funding
for its project to meet current

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and future demand for
wastewater treatment

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by expanding its Geronimo
Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant

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that has been at
capacity for a few years,

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demolish the centrally located

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Walnut Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant

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and divert its flow

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to the newly expanded
Geronimo Creek plant.

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The City's project
will result in a net gain

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of approximately five
million gallons per day

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in treatment capacity.

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The Executive Administrator
recommends approval

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of the City's request.

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My presentation is concluded

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and I'm available for questions.

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<v ->Thanks, Dain.</v>

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Let's do questions and comments

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and then we'll hear
from the City Manager.

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<v ->I appreciate you
working on this project.</v>

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I think you shared with me

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that you talked about
the growth that this area

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is like the third largest
metropolitan statistical area

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in Texas.

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And so very much need
the expanded capacity

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and I think the path that
they're moving forward

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is one that promotes efficiency,

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shutting down one of the planets

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and combining the
capacity into one plant

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will help them to promote efficiencies,

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save energy, you know, get
that new infrastructure in place

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which brings with it added advantages,

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kind of moving forward, in reliability

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in terms of energy efficiency,

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and this is a significant project.

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It's doubling their capacity.

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So, always good to see local leadership

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take attention to wastewater treatment

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because, of course,
we know, theoretically,

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there's not one more
molecule in the water

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in the world today than
when God created the Earth

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and so it's so important
that we're good stewards

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and return the water back so
it can be used again and again.

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So, thanks for this work on the project

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and I think it's a great
project moving forward

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and a well thought out and, well,

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hopefully, moving forward
it will be well executed.

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<v Dain Larsen>Thank you.</v>

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<v ->I love when KJ says
that about the single,</v>

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not one more single
molecule of water on the Earth.

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It's, I don't know, it's
just, it's very humbling

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if you think about our mission.

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I love this project.

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I think I'd like to
give a toast to Seguin

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for being as proactive as possible

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but not taking on too much debt early.

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It's hard to strike that balance

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and that's one that we
always strive for at the Board.

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So well done.

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<v ->Yeah, fantastic project.</v>

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Is, well, we need to
hear from Mr. Parker.

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<v Steve>Can you hear me?</v>

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<v ->Yes, sir.</v>

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<v Steve>Yeah, thank you very much.</v>

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I just want to take a quick
second to say thank you

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to the Texas Water Development Board

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concerning this item today.

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We're extremely excited
about the project, you know,

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just all the issues we've
had, the safety concerns

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of having a treatment
plant and chemicals stored

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so close to our
downtown, the revitalization

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and the homes that are near there,

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potential to, you know,
have all that, you know,

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just have a better quality
of life for those residents

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means a lot.

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Given the synergies
and the economic scale

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of having one combined
plant just makes a lot of sense

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and I really do appreciate
y'all considering this item.

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And we have had nothing
but support from the community

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and our City Council
moving forward with this.

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And I want to thank
our team of consultants,

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our City staff, because they've
just done a phenomenal job

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of preparing this and
making sure that y'all have

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all the information you needed.

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And I thank you for
your consideration today.

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<v ->Thank you, Mr. Parker.</v>

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Thank you for your leadership
and thank you for being here.

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None of this works
without great partners

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at the local level.

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We work through you all.

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So thank you for your, thank
you again for your leadership.

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Is there a motion?

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<v ->Yes, Mr. Chairman.</v>

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I move we adopt the proposed resolution

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from the City of Seguin for financing

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from the Clean Water
State Revolving Fund

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for planning, acquisition,
design, and construction

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of a wastewater system expansion project

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as recommended by our
Executive Administrator.

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<v ->Is there a second?</v>

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<v ->I second.</v>

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<v ->All in favor say aye.</v>

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<v All>Aye.</v>

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<v ->Motion passes.</v>

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Thank you, Dain.

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<v ->Thank you.</v>

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<v ->Next item please, Mr. Harden.</v>

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<v ->Mr. Chairman, the
next item on the agenda</v>

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is recognition of employees
by our Executive Administrator,

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Jeff Walker.

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<v ->Thank you, (mumbles).</v>

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So there are two recognitions
I would like to do today.

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One is sad and one is happy.

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Our beloved Phyllis David
passed away on March 7th

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after a long battle with cancer.

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She retired in 2019 with
24 years of State service.

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Phyllis's most recent role at the Board

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was a receptionist
serving as the first face

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and first impression for
many visitors to the agency.

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To say she served as
a Goodwill Ambassador

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for the agency is an understatement.

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She served happily and
greeted her visitors and staff

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with smiling, kind words.

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Many of the employees

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developed a lasting
relationship with her

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and kept in touch with
her after retirement.

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She loved travel, jazz
music, and motorcycle trips

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and loved to talk about them all.

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She became a strong
advocate for cancer screenings

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due to her health history

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and she was recognized for her efforts

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by the Susan G. Komen Foundation

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and that was one of
her most proud moments.

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We extend our sympathies to her family

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and all those in the agency
who knew and loved her.

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The happy recognition is
for Raphael Castro's step

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into the next chapter in his life

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after retirement from
the State of Texas.

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Raphael retires with
36 years of State service

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and 34 years, 9 months, and 19 days

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at the Water Development Board.

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His most proudest achievement

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is being Supervisor and Manager

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of the Mesquite field
office for 24 years.

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He was appointed supervisor
of this office back in 1991

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by Sierra Merchant.

00:12:42.140 --> 00:12:44.460
His first job was as an
EPA Construction Grants

00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:46.780
Project Inspector for
the Mesquite field office.

00:12:46.780 --> 00:12:48.956
He conducted project
construction inspections,

00:12:48.956 --> 00:12:51.510
EPA grants, and other
agency construction projects

00:12:51.510 --> 00:12:53.550
to determine if they're
being constructed

00:12:53.550 --> 00:12:55.750
in accordance with
approved plans and specs.

00:12:56.620 --> 00:12:58.680
His plans for retirement
are to take a good rest

00:12:58.680 --> 00:13:00.540
and do some traveling with his family.

00:13:00.540 --> 00:13:02.687
He said, "Then when he
gets tired of rest and traveling,

00:13:02.687 --> 00:13:04.430
"he'll think of something new to do."

00:13:04.430 --> 00:13:06.580
He would like to do some volunteer work.

00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:07.413
When he started,

00:13:07.413 --> 00:13:09.470
he actually worked for the
Water Development Board's

00:13:09.470 --> 00:13:12.240
predecessor agency, the Texas
Department of Water Resources.

00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:16.017
Then in 1985 was split
into what is now the TWDB

00:13:16.017 --> 00:13:17.750
and the TCEQ.

00:13:17.750 --> 00:13:19.560
We're going to miss his
institutional knowledge

00:13:19.560 --> 00:13:20.530
and smiling face.

00:13:20.530 --> 00:13:22.520
He was always happy and
willing to do what was needed

00:13:22.520 --> 00:13:23.970
and we wish him all the best.

00:13:29.760 --> 00:13:30.693
<v ->Thank you, Jeff.</v>

00:13:34.150 --> 00:13:36.550
Comments from Kathleen and Brooke?

00:13:38.520 --> 00:13:42.653
<v ->Well, I really appreciated
Jeff recognizing Phyllis.</v>

00:13:43.510 --> 00:13:46.630
She was a great friend and
a great member of the family.

00:13:46.630 --> 00:13:47.463
I guess

00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:52.080
my remembrance of her was she always had

00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:55.523
these beautiful outfits and.

00:13:55.523 --> 00:13:58.090
But she would walk back
and forth from the garage

00:13:58.090 --> 00:13:59.100
wearing her tennis shoes.

00:13:59.100 --> 00:14:03.040
So she'd have the heels
that matched all of her outfits

00:14:03.040 --> 00:14:04.090
but then at the end of the day

00:14:04.090 --> 00:14:07.210
she put on pink tennis
shoes and like jog out the door

00:14:07.210 --> 00:14:09.700
to go to her car and
do things with her family.

00:14:09.700 --> 00:14:11.710
So, we're really going to miss Phyllis.

00:14:11.710 --> 00:14:15.210
And for me personally,
it was always great

00:14:15.210 --> 00:14:18.220
to kind of see her smiling
and that hello recognition

00:14:18.220 --> 00:14:19.633
kind of walking in the door.

00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:23.550
And I did want to say
congratulations to Raphael.

00:14:23.550 --> 00:14:26.770
If you think about, you
know, all of the review,

00:14:26.770 --> 00:14:30.496
all of the attention to
projects over the years,

00:14:30.496 --> 00:14:35.100
the, maybe, thousands of
designs and plans and specs

00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:37.840
that he went in and that
kind of like watchful eye

00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:41.030
that the Board has,
that second set of eyes

00:14:41.030 --> 00:14:43.130
to help communities as they move forward

00:14:43.130 --> 00:14:46.950
with these important
water infrastructure projects

00:14:46.950 --> 00:14:49.220
and all of the things
that he did over the years

00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:51.610
to help those communities.

00:14:51.610 --> 00:14:54.720
And just kind of being
there answering the phone,

00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:56.070
answering those questions,

00:14:56.070 --> 00:14:59.310
and making sure that those
projects moved forward.

00:14:59.310 --> 00:15:02.358
Really appreciate his professionalism,

00:15:02.358 --> 00:15:07.120
his attention to detail,
and his kind of integration

00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:11.030
with the folks throughout the agency.

00:15:11.030 --> 00:15:14.180
I think he's one of the
longest tenured, I guess,

00:15:14.180 --> 00:15:16.260
members of the Water Development Board,

00:15:16.260 --> 00:15:18.610
30 years that is a long time!

00:15:18.610 --> 00:15:21.610
But, I just would say thank you so much

00:15:21.610 --> 00:15:25.530
for investing your career
with us and, you know,

00:15:25.530 --> 00:15:28.690
that's what we hope for is that someone

00:15:28.690 --> 00:15:31.190
will come work at the Board

00:15:31.190 --> 00:15:33.840
and kind of see that as
you did as your mission

00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:36.580
and something that kind
of fulfills you moving forward

00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:41.370
and that you stay and
participate and share your talent

00:15:41.370 --> 00:15:42.990
and your leadership and your expertise.

00:15:42.990 --> 00:15:46.470
So thank you so much
for doing that for 30 years

00:15:46.470 --> 00:15:47.890
and just wish you the best.

00:15:47.890 --> 00:15:50.272
And, you know, don't forget about us!

00:15:50.272 --> 00:15:52.870
You're always part of the family.

00:15:55.433 --> 00:15:57.233
<v ->(Mumbles) first.</v>

00:15:58.230 --> 00:15:59.910
Just congratulations to Raphael

00:15:59.910 --> 00:16:03.600
for such an amazing career
and I only hope and pray

00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:07.660
that I have the type career,
longevity, and respect

00:16:07.660 --> 00:16:10.520
that you have earned in your 30 years

00:16:10.520 --> 00:16:11.903
at this incredible agency.

00:16:12.916 --> 00:16:16.090
It's really amazing to see.

00:16:16.090 --> 00:16:17.570
And I am jealous of all the traveling

00:16:17.570 --> 00:16:19.263
that you will be doing soon.

00:16:21.090 --> 00:16:23.263
The sad is, I mean,

00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:26.550
we're an agency that
celebrates our people

00:16:26.550 --> 00:16:31.423
and to lose someone
like Phyllis is just so sad.

00:16:33.010 --> 00:16:36.550
I met, originally, a
handful of people early on

00:16:36.550 --> 00:16:38.360
when I was being
introduced to the agency.

00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:40.060
You know, as a new appointee, you're,

00:16:40.060 --> 00:16:42.100
you kind of sneak into the building

00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:43.250
to kind of see everything,

00:16:43.250 --> 00:16:46.820
and she is one of the
first people at TWDB

00:16:46.820 --> 00:16:48.910
I met with a big smile.

00:16:48.910 --> 00:16:53.180
And I remember when
I was finally confirmed

00:16:53.180 --> 00:16:55.800
and we came back and my
wonderful board members

00:16:55.800 --> 00:16:58.061
and Executive Director cheered
and it was such a big deal

00:16:58.061 --> 00:17:00.170
and Phyllis cried.

00:17:00.170 --> 00:17:03.700
And, I mean, she just cried
and cried, and I'm a crier

00:17:03.700 --> 00:17:04.980
so that made me cry.

00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:09.160
And she was just such
a lovely human being.

00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:12.872
And I will tell you, on a personal note,

00:17:12.872 --> 00:17:15.930
I got my mammogram done yesterday

00:17:15.930 --> 00:17:18.440
because I know she was such a proponent

00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:21.500
of breast cancer awareness,
and I almost skipped it

00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:24.420
because there's so much
going on this session,

00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:26.910
but I have friends that
are fighting breast cancer

00:17:26.910 --> 00:17:28.440
and I know Phyllis dealt with it.

00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:32.180
And I thought she would be so mad at me

00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:35.070
if I didn't make time for this.

00:17:35.070 --> 00:17:39.180
So she's done so much good as our friend

00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:42.333
and as our colleague and
she will be dearly missed.

00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:46.430
<v ->Indeed, lost a
beautiful soul in Phyllis.</v>

00:17:46.430 --> 00:17:47.380
I remember her,

00:17:47.380 --> 00:17:51.280
how her participation in
the Susan G. Komen event,

00:17:51.280 --> 00:17:52.673
it was something like Jeff said,

00:17:52.673 --> 00:17:55.320
she was tremendously excited about.

00:17:55.320 --> 00:17:56.930
But her spirit was so contagious

00:17:56.930 --> 00:17:59.310
that it became like a
three-week long event

00:17:59.310 --> 00:18:02.533
for everybody in the
agency, kind of ramping up.

00:18:03.930 --> 00:18:05.823
That was, that was a special time.

00:18:06.870 --> 00:18:08.720
I will certainly miss Phyllis.

00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:09.840
Congratulations, Raphael!

00:18:09.840 --> 00:18:12.860
I hate not being able to travel and see,

00:18:12.860 --> 00:18:15.150
see our folks out in the wider world,

00:18:15.150 --> 00:18:18.930
but congratulations and thank
you for everything you've done

00:18:18.930 --> 00:18:21.000
for the agency and for the State.

00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:22.150
And wherever,

00:18:22.150 --> 00:18:25.350
wherever you end up next,
whether it's a volunteer role

00:18:25.350 --> 00:18:29.260
or another professional endeavor, I can,

00:18:29.260 --> 00:18:31.012
all I can say to
whoever you join up with

00:18:31.012 --> 00:18:33.066
is good luck and they better hold on.

00:18:33.066 --> 00:18:35.254
(Board members chuckling)

00:18:35.254 --> 00:18:37.520
Because you'll come in at full speed

00:18:37.520 --> 00:18:39.170
and they'll be lucky to have you.

00:18:40.090 --> 00:18:41.640
Thank you for all your service.

00:18:42.950 --> 00:18:45.563
And Jeff, thank you
for these recognitions.

00:18:46.760 --> 00:18:51.200
There is no formal action
required on this item.

00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:53.200
Next item please, Mr. Harden.

00:18:54.760 --> 00:18:56.460
<v ->Mr. Chairman, the
next item on the agenda</v>

00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:57.513
is public comment.

00:18:59.300 --> 00:19:00.560
<v ->If any member of the public</v>

00:19:00.560 --> 00:19:02.610
would like to address
the Board, now is the time.

00:19:02.610 --> 00:19:04.830
Please indicate your
desire to do so digitally

00:19:04.830 --> 00:19:08.543
and our IT team will accommodate you.

00:19:09.450 --> 00:19:10.283
In the meantime,

00:19:10.283 --> 00:19:13.083
the Board will not meet
in closed session today.

00:19:14.520 --> 00:19:17.773
So unless we have somebody
from the public, Mr. Jolly?

00:19:19.360 --> 00:19:20.410
<v Jonathan>No, sir.</v>

00:19:21.916 --> 00:19:23.144
<v ->All right.</v>

00:19:23.144 --> 00:19:25.610
In that case, there
being no further business

00:19:25.610 --> 00:19:27.220
before the Texas Water
Development Board,

00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:29.360
this meeting is hereby adjourned.

00:19:29.360 --> 00:19:31.618
The time is 9:51 a.m.

00:19:31.618 --> 00:19:34.285
(gavel tapping)