GBRA To Discuss Construction Management Reports: SM & Kyle FM 110

 

In accordance with the provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA), whose principal office is in the City of Seguin, Guadalupe County, Texas, hereby gives notice of a meeting of its BOARD OF DIRECTORS to be held at the GBRA River Annex, 905 Nolan, Seguin, Guadalupe County, Texas, at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, May 20, 2015.

 

Subjects to be considered for discussion at such meeting include:

 

CALL TO ORDER

Chair’s consideration of posted notices.  Pledge of Allegiance.  Welcome guests.  Comments from public.  Recognition of GBRA employee(s).  Presentation of 2015 annual GBRA Scholarships.

CHAIR ITEMS

1.   Consideration of and possible action approving a Resolution honoring Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority 2015 retiree Michael E. Gerdes.

2.   Consideration of and possible action authorizing the expenditure of funds for Directors and staff to attend the Texas Water Conservation Association 2015 Mid-Year Conference June 17-19, 2015, at Moody Gardens Hotel, Galveston, Texas.

 

CONSENT ITEMS

3.   Consideration of and possible action approving the minutes of the April 15, 2015, Board meeting.

4.   Consideration of and possible action approving the monthly financial report for April 2015.

5.   Consideration of and possible action approving the monthly operations report for April 2015.

6.   Consideration of and possible action approving Directors’ expense vouchers.

 

GENERAL MANAGER ITEMS

7.   Discussion of the executive report addressing various matters relating to water resources planning including reports on Regional L Water Planning group activities, State funding issues, water reuse issues, GBRA’s Mid-Basin Project (Groundwater and Surface Water components), Integrated Water Power Project, Lower Basin Storage Project and related regional planning issues, Lower Basin Appropriation (new) Project, Hydropower Regulatory Act issues, water resources operation including engineering issues and related meetings, regional planning, consultations with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, construction management reports relating to GBRA projects and to the FM 110 Bypass in San Marcos, FM 150 near Kyle, U.S. 183 near Lockhart, CR-266 in Caldwell County, safety issues, utility operations; Water Quality Division and Regional Laboratory reports, reports on the activities of GBRA’s Regional Laboratory, sampling and other water quality-related activities, economic and community development reports including the River Heritage Tour Project, reports on various community meetings, community outreach activities in the Guadalupe Basin, public meetings and issues related to log jams and meetings scheduled in Victoria and Calhoun County to inform the public about GBRA projects, Texas Water Safari planning, project development reports relating to Johnson Ranch, Bulverde, Park Village and 4-S Ranch, Dunlap Area Utilities, Point Comfort, Port Lavaca, water and wastewater agreements and services provided in various communities throughout the Guadalupe Basin, property management reports, water supply studies in the Basin, Western Canyon reports, water supply studies in the middle Guadalupe Basin, resource protection issues, lake management, Zebra Mussels, flood management, island lots on H-5 Lake, reports from the Canyon Lake/Sattler office and the Gorge Preservation Society, public affairs reports including media reports, public outreach and social media, education reports, reports on the activities of the Environmental Learning Center, publications, Geographic Information Systems projects, special projects including support for Earth Day events, outreach to various schools and presentation to students, planning for newly acquired property at Coleto Creek, reports on marketing efforts, GBRA publications, grants, Board relations and public events, administrative reports, information technology reports, Human Resource reports, accounting, and finance reports, water supply and wastewater treatment contract activities.

 

ACTION ITEMS

8.   Consideration of and possible action authorizing the General Manager to continue the engagement of Specialized Public Finance as GBRA’s Financial Advisory firm.

9.   Consideration of and possible action authorizing the General Manager to continue the engagement of McCall, Parkhurst and Horton as GBRA’s Bond Counsel firm.

10. Consideration of and possible action authorizing the General Manager to negotiate and execute a purchase of Guadalupe River water rights and a release of contract water rights, both located in Guadalupe County, Texas, from Gary Dittmar and action amending the 2015 Fiscal Year Work Plan and Budget to fund the transaction.

11. Consideration of and possible action authorizing the General Manager to negotiate and execute a purchase of Guadalupe River water rights and a release of contract water rights, both located in Guadalupe County, Texas, from Ray E. Dittmar and Ruth V. Dittmar and action amending the 2015 Fiscal Year Work Plan and Budget to fund the transaction. 

 

12. Quarterly status report on grant activities.

13. Presentation on GBRA’s 2015 “Our Day to Shine” project.

14. Discussion regarding the vehicle accident at Canyon Dam.

15. Discussion regarding the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) application with the Texas Water Development Board.

16. Discussion regarding the log jam(s) on the Guadalupe and San Antonio Rivers.

17. Discussion regarding the activities and transactions of the Edwards Aquifer Authority, South Central Texas Water Advisory Committee, and the Guadalupe Basin Coalition.

18. Discussion regarding the activities and transactions of the Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust, the San Antonio Bay Foundation, the Gorge Preservation Society, and the Guadalupe River Foundation. 

19. Discussion regarding Base Flow Report, Water Quality Index, and condition of the Guadalupe Basin.

20. Discussion regarding local and State water planning and water resource issues. 

21. Discussion regarding national water planning and water resource issues. 

 

ITEMS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION

22. The Board may meet in Executive Session as authorized by the listed sections of Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, to discuss the following matters: 

 

a.   seek advice from legal counsel about pending or contemplated litigation including, without limitation, the following matters:  The Aransas Project v. Shaw (Whooping Crane litigation), Civil Action No. C-10-75 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division, on appeal No. 13-40317 in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; LULAC v. Edwards Aquifer Authority Civil Action No. 5:12-CV-00620 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division; Ex Parte Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, No. D-1-GN-14-001198 in the District Court of Travis County, Texas, 261st Judicial District, on appeal Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority v. Texas Attorney General, et al, No. 03-14-00393-CV in the 3rd Court of Appeals, Austin, Texas; and pending administrative proceedings that may impact GBRA’s Lower Basin Storage Project and/or the bonds issued for the Project; relationship and impact of pending or contemplated legal proceedings and litigation strategies on GBRA projects and proposed projects, matters relating to the regulation of withdrawals of water from the Edwards Aquifer for protection of historic uses, endangered species, and springflow to the Comal, San Marcos, and Guadalupe Rivers, including proposals for the supply of water from alternative sources; matters related to the supply of water from Canyon Reservoir and other water sources available to the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, including the acquisition of groundwater rights relating to GBRA’s Mid-Basin Project; matters relating to existing and/or proposed water rights and/or amendments of water rights (including without limitation, applications relating to GBRA’s Mid-Basin Project and Lower Basin Project) and agreements relating to water rights; matters relating to charges for water and wastewater services by GBRA; matters relating to water re-use impacting the Guadalupe River Basin (including without limitation, San Antonio Water System’s application for bed and banks authorization); matters relating to real property within GBRA’s statutory district; matters relating to the solicitation, receipt, opening, and/or evaluation of bids, including without limitation bids for the construction of any facilities and/or the performance of any work or service, and relating to the actions taken or supposed to be taken by GBRA on such bids; and possible settlement of all such matters; Section 551.071, Texas Government Code;

 

b.   consult with legal counsel on matters within Section 551.071(2), Texas Government Code;

 

c.   discuss or deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property including surface and groundwater rights, including, without limitation the acquisition of groundwater rights for GBRA’s Mid-Basin Project and the purchase of surface water rights in the Guadalupe River, Section 551.072, Texas Government Code;

 

d.   discuss or deliberate regarding commercial or financial information, Section 551.087, Texas Government Code;

 

 

The Board may take final action on any of the before mentioned matters while convened in open session pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code.