HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Water Resources Advisory Committee - 08/16/2018Page 1 of 1
Minutes of Water Resources Advisory Committee
held 11:30 a.m. Thursday, August 16, 2018
Water Utilities Building Choke Canyon Conference Room
2726 Holly Road Corpus Christi, Texas
Attended by:
Voting Members: Sally Gill, Landscaping Representative; Rocky Freund, Nueces River; Phil E. Hale, Apartment
Representative; Leah Tiner, Citizen-at-Large; Roberto Reece, Military Representative; and Brian Williams, Wholesale
Treated.
Ex-officio Members: Rudy Garza, Council Member District 5
Guest Speaker: John Metz
Staff: Gabriel Ramirez, Asst. Director of Water Quality and Treatment; Steve Ramos, Water Resources Manager;
Larijai Francis, Water Resources Project Manager; Bill Green, Engineer with Development Services; Gabriela Morrow,
PIO; Lori Bryant, Management Asst. for Water Utilities; Minutes taken by Lori Bryant and compiled by Steve Ramos.
ITEM 1: Call the Meeting to Order - Sally Gill, Chair, called the meeting to order at 11:30 am with six
members attending. Joelle Francois has an approved absence.
ITEM 2: Introductions - Committee members and staff introduced themselves
ITEM 3: Review and Approval of Minutes - Without a quorum, approval of minutes for the April 19, 2018
meeting was tabled until the next meeting. Corrections to minutes proposed: Barrett Fines, new member,
should be Industry Rep, not Port Rep.
ITEM 4: Water Resources Update – Steve Ramos & Larijai Francis – Seasonal evaporative losses
explained. Effects of rainfall location in watershed discussed. City Council given update in July of current
and projected customer demand, and planning for new sources. New Exxon plant due in 2025 will
dramatically increase demand; Mary Rhodes 2 will be able to meet that increase. Water loss from line
breaks and leaks pointed out. Expanding industrial and community use of Type 2 re-used water examined.
Desal and aquifer storage studies are ongoing. Questions regarding political decisions in site selections
were brought up, with reference to past controversy over Choke Canyon reservoir.
ITEM 5: Weather Conditions in our Area – John Metz, meteorologist with National Weather Service
Reviewed rainfall in our water shed over the last 10 years, compared to other areas in the state. Forecasts
up to 2 weeks more accurate than long-range climate models. A cooler, wetter winter is probable during El
Nino seasons; La Nina is opposite. Currently there is a 70% chance for El Nino conditions this winter and
spring. Hurricanes and flooding often accompanies those seasons. NOAA has new national river monitoring
system.
ITEM 6: Water Quality Report – Gabriel Ramirez - newly published annual report for 2017 passed out.
Everything meets and exceeds compliance. A variety of maintenance projects are underway at the
treatment plant. Adjusted chlorine levels and tank-cycling schedule adjustments were major changes in
2017. These improved cost-savings as well as quality.
ITEM 6: Water Conservation Plan Update – Steve Ramos - discussion was tabled due to lack of time. L.J.
asked members to examine section 5.6 prior to the next meeting.
ITEM 8: Set next meeting date - scheduled for 11:30 am on Thursday, December 6, 2018.
ITEM 9: Adjourn - Ms. Gill adjourned the meeting at 12:50 pm.
Note: Meeting audio is available upon request.