Female: The broadcast is now starting.
All attendees are in listen-only mode.
-: Good morning.
This meeting of the Texas Water Development Board
is now called to order.
The time is 9:32 a.m.
For the record, my name is Peter Lake.
With me today are Kathleen Jackson and Brooke Paup.
Mr. Harden, first item, please.
-: Mr. Chairman, the first item on the agenda today
is to approve by resolution
a request from the Cameron County Drainage District #1
for $491,400 in grant from the Flooded Infrastructure Fund,
planning, design, and construction
of a detention drainage improvement project.
Jessica Taylor is here
to present to the Board on this item today.
-: Good morning Chairman Lake, Director Jackson,
and Director Paup.
For the record, my name is Jessica Taylor
of the Executive Administrator's staff.
Cameron County Drainage District #1
is located near the US-Mexico border.
The drainage district service area
has a population of approximately 224,000
and covers approximately 150 square miles
within Cameron County.
Cameron County has a long history of flooding,
primarily due to the extremely flat topography.
The district's primary purpose
is to manage and implement drainage infrastructure.
The Ditch One Watershed is a major drainage system
within the district's jurisdiction
and a critical drainage pathway during major flood events.
The watershed drains a large portion
of the northern side of the City of Brownsville.
The district is requesting FIF funding for planning,
design, and construction of a drainage improvement project
that reduces flood risks along the Ditch One Watershed.
During the planning phase,
the district will evaluate existing infrastructure,
including earth and ponds, channels, and culvert crossings,
and conduct hydrologic and hydraulic modeling
to identify improvement alternatives to reduce flood risk.
The district will then design and construct
previously identified improvements
for nine existing detention ponds
with a combined area of approximately 109 acres.
These existing low lying open areas
currently do not have inlet or outlet structures
or work cohesively
and have been prioritized by the district.
The proposed project will benefit the district,
Cameron County, and the City of Brownsville.
The district has qualified
for a grant of 39% of the project cost,
which is equal to $491,400.
The remaining $768,600
will be contributed by the district
and local funding to complete the project.
The Executive Administrator recommends approval
of the request.
This concludes my presentation
and I'm happy to answer any questions.
Peter: Thank you, questions, comments?
-: Well, Jessica, thanks for working on this project
and that they're moving forward with something
that was previously identified.
I think they're going to go back in, I think,
and kind of touch base, reevaluate it,
and make sure that, again,
it's the right kind of path moving forward.
And then also do this broader study
which will include some modeling.
And I think one of the things that you shared with me
about this project that I thought was
extremely interesting and a great benefit
was that the features will allow some infiltration
into the shallow groundwater
because the bottoms will be earthen
and that they also may include some widening
and other nature-based improvements
to promote riparian restoration measures.
So, I guess a great example of moving forward
and doing a drainage project that incorporates
in some ways an additional water supply as well as
the planning for the broader,
the broader kind of path forward.
So a great project and really appreciate you working on it
and it's really good to see this coming
to the Brownsville and the Valley area.
Jessica: Thank you.
-: Yeah, Jessica, I'd like to echo everything
that Kathleen just said.
I love that they're trying to identify and incorporate
some nature-based elements into this planning process
with the channel improvements.
And also really like to compliment you.
You did such a lovely job laying this out last week
for the Board.
You did such a great job today, so, thank you very much.
Jessica: Thank you.
(notification ring)
-: Well done all around.
Is there a motion?
-: Chairman, I move we adopt the proposed resolution
from the Cameron County Drainage District #1
for $491,400 in grant from the Flood Infrastructure Fund
for planning, design, and construction
of a detention drainage improvement project
as recommended by our Executive Administrator.
-: Is there a second?
-: I second. -: All in favor, say aye.
-: Aye.
-: Motion passes.
Thank you very much.
Next item, please.
Good to see you, Jessica.
-: Mr. Chairman, the next item on the agenda
is approved by our resolution
a request from the City of Seguin,
for the financing from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund
for planning, acquisition, design, and construction
of a wastewater system expansion project.
Dain Larsen is here to present to the Board
on this item today,
and we also have Mr. Steve Parker, City Manager of Seguin,
here today.
He's filled out a visitor registration card
expressing an opinion for the item
and stated that he wishes to address the Board.
-: Good morning, Chairman Lake, Director Jackson,
Director Paup.
For the record, I'm Dain Larson
of the Executive Administrator's staff.
The City of Seguin is located 20 miles northeast
of San Antonio and is another rapidly growing community
in the growth corridor between San Antonio and Austin.
The City requests funding for its project to meet current
and future demand for wastewater treatment
by expanding its Geronimo Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
that has been at capacity for a few years,
demolish the centrally located
Walnut Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant
and divert its flow
to the newly expanded Geronimo Creek plant.
The City's project will result in a net gain
of approximately five million gallons per day
in treatment capacity.
The Executive Administrator recommends approval
of the City's request.
My presentation is concluded
and I'm available for questions.
-: Thanks, Dain.
Let's do questions and comments
and then we'll hear from the City Manager.
-: I appreciate you working on this project.
I think you shared with me
that you talked about the growth that this area
is like the third largest metropolitan statistical area
in Texas.
And so very much need the expanded capacity
and I think the path that they're moving forward
is one that promotes efficiency,
shutting down one of the planets
and combining the capacity into one plant
will help them to promote efficiencies,
save energy, you know, get that new infrastructure in place
which brings with it added advantages,
kind of moving forward, in reliability
in terms of energy efficiency,
and this is a significant project.
It's doubling their capacity.
So, always good to see local leadership
take attention to wastewater treatment
because, of course, we know, theoretically,
there's not one more molecule in the water
in the world today than when God created the Earth
and so it's so important that we're good stewards
and return the water back so it can be used again and again.
So, thanks for this work on the project
and I think it's a great project moving forward
and a well thought out and, well,
hopefully, moving forward it will be well executed.
Dain Larsen: Thank you.
-: I love when KJ says that about the single,
not one more single molecule of water on the Earth.
It's, I don't know, it's just, it's very humbling
if you think about our mission.
I love this project.
I think I'd like to give a toast to Seguin
for being as proactive as possible
but not taking on too much debt early.
It's hard to strike that balance
and that's one that we always strive for at the Board.
So well done.
-: Yeah, fantastic project.
Is, well, we need to hear from Mr. Parker.
Steve: Can you hear me?
-: Yes, sir.
Steve: Yeah, thank you very much.
I just want to take a quick second to say thank you
to the Texas Water Development Board
concerning this item today.
We're extremely excited about the project, you know,
just all the issues we've had, the safety concerns
of having a treatment plant and chemicals stored
so close to our downtown, the revitalization
and the homes that are near there,
potential to, you know, have all that, you know,
just have a better quality of life for those residents
means a lot.
Given the synergies and the economic scale
of having one combined plant just makes a lot of sense
and I really do appreciate y'all considering this item.
And we have had nothing but support from the community
and our City Council moving forward with this.
And I want to thank our team of consultants,
our City staff, because they've just done a phenomenal job
of preparing this and making sure that y'all have
all the information you needed.
And I thank you for your consideration today.
-: Thank you, Mr. Parker.
Thank you for your leadership and thank you for being here.
None of this works without great partners
at the local level.
We work through you all.
So thank you for your, thank you again for your leadership.
Is there a motion?
-: Yes, Mr. Chairman.
I move we adopt the proposed resolution
from the City of Seguin for financing
from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund
for planning, acquisition, design, and construction
of a wastewater system expansion project
as recommended by our Executive Administrator.
-: Is there a second?
-: I second.
-: All in favor say aye.
All: Aye.
-: Motion passes.
Thank you, Dain.
-: Thank you.
-: Next item please, Mr. Harden.
-: Mr. Chairman, the next item on the agenda
is recognition of employees by our Executive Administrator,
Jeff Walker.
-: Thank you, (mumbles).
So there are two recognitions I would like to do today.
One is sad and one is happy.
Our beloved Phyllis David passed away on March 7th
after a long battle with cancer.
She retired in 2019 with 24 years of State service.
Phyllis's most recent role at the Board
was a receptionist serving as the first face
and first impression for many visitors to the agency.
To say she served as a Goodwill Ambassador
for the agency is an understatement.
She served happily and greeted her visitors and staff
with smiling, kind words.
Many of the employees
developed a lasting relationship with her
and kept in touch with her after retirement.
She loved travel, jazz music, and motorcycle trips
and loved to talk about them all.
She became a strong advocate for cancer screenings
due to her health history
and she was recognized for her efforts
by the Susan G. Komen Foundation
and that was one of her most proud moments.
We extend our sympathies to her family
and all those in the agency who knew and loved her.
The happy recognition is for Raphael Castro's step
into the next chapter in his life
after retirement from the State of Texas.
Raphael retires with 36 years of State service
and 34 years, 9 months, and 19 days
at the Water Development Board.
His most proudest achievement
is being Supervisor and Manager
of the Mesquite field office for 24 years.
He was appointed supervisor of this office back in 1991
by Sierra Merchant.
His first job was as an EPA Construction Grants
Project Inspector for the Mesquite field office.
He conducted project construction inspections,
EPA grants, and other agency construction projects
to determine if they're being constructed
in accordance with approved plans and specs.
His plans for retirement are to take a good rest
and do some traveling with his family.
He said, "Then when he gets tired of rest and traveling,
"he'll think of something new to do."
He would like to do some volunteer work.
When he started,
he actually worked for the Water Development Board's
predecessor agency, the Texas Department of Water Resources.
Then in 1985 was split into what is now the TWDB
and the TCEQ.
We're going to miss his institutional knowledge
and smiling face.
He was always happy and willing to do what was needed
and we wish him all the best.
-: Thank you, Jeff.
Comments from Kathleen and Brooke?
-: Well, I really appreciated Jeff recognizing Phyllis.
She was a great friend and a great member of the family.
I guess
my remembrance of her was she always had
these beautiful outfits and.
But she would walk back and forth from the garage
wearing her tennis shoes.
So she'd have the heels that matched all of her outfits
but then at the end of the day
she put on pink tennis shoes and like jog out the door
to go to her car and do things with her family.
So, we're really going to miss Phyllis.
And for me personally, it was always great
to kind of see her smiling and that hello recognition
kind of walking in the door.
And I did want to say congratulations to Raphael.
If you think about, you know, all of the review,
all of the attention to projects over the years,
the, maybe, thousands of designs and plans and specs
that he went in and that kind of like watchful eye
that the Board has, that second set of eyes
to help communities as they move forward
with these important water infrastructure projects
and all of the things that he did over the years
to help those communities.
And just kind of being there answering the phone,
answering those questions,
and making sure that those projects moved forward.
Really appreciate his professionalism,
his attention to detail, and his kind of integration
with the folks throughout the agency.
I think he's one of the longest tenured, I guess,
members of the Water Development Board,
30 years that is a long time!
But, I just would say thank you so much
for investing your career with us and, you know,
that's what we hope for is that someone
will come work at the Board
and kind of see that as you did as your mission
and something that kind of fulfills you moving forward
and that you stay and participate and share your talent
and your leadership and your expertise.
So thank you so much for doing that for 30 years
and just wish you the best.
And, you know, don't forget about us!
You're always part of the family.
-: (Mumbles) first.
Just congratulations to Raphael
for such an amazing career and I only hope and pray
that I have the type career, longevity, and respect
that you have earned in your 30 years
at this incredible agency.
It's really amazing to see.
And I am jealous of all the traveling
that you will be doing soon.
The sad is, I mean,
we're an agency that celebrates our people
and to lose someone like Phyllis is just so sad.
I met, originally, a handful of people early on
when I was being introduced to the agency.
You know, as a new appointee, you're,
you kind of sneak into the building
to kind of see everything,
and she is one of the first people at TWDB
I met with a big smile.
And I remember when I was finally confirmed
and we came back and my wonderful board members
and Executive Director cheered and it was such a big deal
and Phyllis cried.
And, I mean, she just cried and cried, and I'm a crier
so that made me cry.
And she was just such a lovely human being.
And I will tell you, on a personal note,
I got my mammogram done yesterday
because I know she was such a proponent
of breast cancer awareness, and I almost skipped it
because there's so much going on this session,
but I have friends that are fighting breast cancer
and I know Phyllis dealt with it.
And I thought she would be so mad at me
if I didn't make time for this.
So she's done so much good as our friend
and as our colleague and she will be dearly missed.
-: Indeed, lost a beautiful soul in Phyllis.
I remember her,
how her participation in the Susan G. Komen event,
it was something like Jeff said,
she was tremendously excited about.
But her spirit was so contagious
that it became like a three-week long event
for everybody in the agency, kind of ramping up.
That was, that was a special time.
I will certainly miss Phyllis.
Congratulations, Raphael!
I hate not being able to travel and see,
see our folks out in the wider world,
but congratulations and thank you for everything you've done
for the agency and for the State.
And wherever,
wherever you end up next, whether it's a volunteer role
or another professional endeavor, I can,
all I can say to whoever you join up with
is good luck and they better hold on.
(Board members chuckling)
Because you'll come in at full speed
and they'll be lucky to have you.
Thank you for all your service.
And Jeff, thank you for these recognitions.
There is no formal action required on this item.
Next item please, Mr. Harden.
-: Mr. Chairman, the next item on the agenda
is public comment.
-: If any member of the public
would like to address the Board, now is the time.
Please indicate your desire to do so digitally
and our IT team will accommodate you.
In the meantime,
the Board will not meet in closed session today.
So unless we have somebody from the public, Mr. Jolly?
Jonathan: No, sir.
-: All right.
In that case, there being no further business
before the Texas Water Development Board,
this meeting is hereby adjourned.
The time is 9:51 a.m.
(gavel tapping)