Ad Hoc Infrastructure Committee

Wednesday, 9:00 a.m., May 30, 2001

Commission Hearing Room
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744
Item
No.
Subject Public Hearing
Agenda Item No.
  Approval of the Committee Minutes from the previous meeting.  
  Summary of Minutes  
1. Chairman's Charges (Oral Presentation) Committee Only
2. Projects Update
Staff: Scott Boruff
Committee Only
3. Lone Star Legacy Projects Update
Staff: Scott Boruff
Committee Only
4. Other Business  

Summary of Minutes
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
Ad Hoc Infrastructure Committee
January 24, 2001 and November 8, 2000

BE IT REMEMBERED that heretofore on the 24th day of January 2001, there came on to be heard matters under the regulatory authority of the Parks and Wildlife Commission of Texas, in the Commission Hearing Room of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Headquarters complex, Austin, Travis County, Texas beginning at 10:30 a.m., to wit:

I. COMMISSION ATTENDANCE:

Lee M. Bass, Chair
Carol E. Dinkins
Ernest Angelo, Jr.
John Avila, Jr.
Dick Heath
Alvin L. Henry
Katharine Armstrong Idsal
Nolan Ryan (absent)
Mark E. Watson, Jr.

II. OPENING STATEMENT: Commissioner Avila called the meeting to order. The opening statement was read into the record by Executive Director Andrew Sansom.

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes from the November 08, 2000 meeting were not included for review and as a result were not approved.

IV. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE PRESENTED TO THE COMMITTEE:

1. BRIEFING – Chairman Charges

Presenter: Mr. Andrew Sansom

Andrew Sansom, Executive Director reminded the Commission that $75 million was originally identified for critical infrastructure repair backlog. With the past Legislature’s help, $60 million in bonds were allocated to address those needs. An additional $15 million is being requested from the current Legislature and would complete the original needs identified. Governor Perry has included the additional funds in his budget message.

2. BRIEFING – Capital Program Update

Presenter: Mr. Scott Boruff

Scott Boruff, Director of the Infrastructure Division, briefed the Commission on the status of the Bond and Total Capital Program.

He began with the FY 98 Bond Issue. In March 1998, $12 million of bond revenue was issued for expenditure and is now complete. Out of the $12 million, a total of $11.8 million was expended. All 87 projects are complete. Next, he briefed the Commission on the status of the FY 99 Bond Program. In January 1999, $18 million of bond revenue was issued for expenditure. A total of $10.33 million has been expended to date. Out of 132 projects, 47 are complete, 45 are in the construction phase, 22 are in the design phase, and 18 projects are currently in the bidding phase.

FY 2000 Bond Program is the third issue of approved bonds and includes 118 projects with a bond revenue totaling $20 million. The issue was made available February 15, 2000. Twenty-two projects are in the construction phase, 6 are in the bidding phase, 10 are scheduled, and 78 are in the design phase. A total of $1.70 million has been expended to date.

The last issuance of the $60 million bond revenue is scheduled for release in February 2001. The final issue totals $13.5 million, which are the remaining $10 million plus three and a half million dollars in earned interest. The proposed distribution is 66% for water/wastewater, 21% for facility repair and 11% for ADA.

Mr. Boruff moved on to explain the status of the Total Capital Program. Currently, the program totals 552 active projects budgeted at over $92 million. The expenditure goal is to spend $22 million this fiscal year. He commented that we are right on target expending $6.9 million to date.

Commissioner Avila asked if there were any new wastewater plants. Mr. Boruff responded that there are no new wastewater plants. The bulk of wastewater projects are projects that were identified in the Infrastructure Task Force Report in 1997 as critical repairs.

Commissioner Bass asked how accurate was the estimated of $75 million that was identified in the Infrastructure Task Force Report. Mr. Sansom answered the question by replying that if we are successful in receiving the requested $15 million, and if we are successful in receiving an additional $8 million annually from the Legislature for maintenance, we should be able to address all of the critical needs backlog. Mr. Boruff added that the original estimate of $75 million was fairly accurate. Some projects that were on the original report were dropped off the list while others that were not originally identified as a critical need were added to the list.

Mr. Sansom commented that he is immensely proud of the work that the Infrastructure staff has accomplished and he believes the project management system that is now in place is the best project management system in the state government. Commissioner Avila added that Infrastructure has done a good job on reducing the critical needs backlog with the funds that were made available and that Infrastructure has worked not only as construction managers, but as contractors as well.

V. OTHER BUSINESS: None

VI. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Commissioner Bass adjourned the January 24, 2001 meeting of the Ad Hoc Infrastructure Committee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Note: A full transcript of this meeting is on file and available for your review. It is located at our web site: www.tpwd.state.tx.us, click on About TPW

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
AD HOC INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE

NOVEMBER 8, 2000

BE IT REMEMBERED that heretofore on the 8th day of November 2000, there came on to be heard matters under the regulatory authority of the Parks and Wildlife Commission of Texas, in the Commission Hearing Room of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Headquarters complex, Austin, Travis County, Texas beginning at 3:30 p.m., to wit:

I. COMMISSION ATTENDANCE:

Lee M. Bass, Chair
Carol E. Dinkins
Ernest Angelo, Jr.
John Avila, Jr.
Dick Heath (absent)
Alvin L. Henry
Katharine Armstrong Idsal
Nolan Ryan (absent)
Mark E. Watson, Jr. (absent)

V. OPENING STATEMENT: Commissioner Bass called the meeting to order. The opening statement was read into the record by Executive Director Andrew Sansom.

VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Bass asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the April 5, 2000 meeting. The motion was moved by Commissioner Henry, was seconded by Commissioner Idsal and carried. The motion passed unanimously.

VII. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE PRESENTED TO THE COMMITTEE:

3. BRIEFING – Chairman Charges

Presenter: Mr. Andrew Sansom

4. BRIEFING – Capital Program Update

Presenter: Mr. Scott Boruff

Scott Boruff, Director of the Infrastructure Division, briefed the Commission on the status of the Bond and Total Capital Program. He began with reminding the Commission that in 1996, the agency chartered an Infrastructure Task Force Committee to review the critical backlog repair condition of the agency’s aging infrastructure. The Committee identified $75 million in critical repairs: $50 million for water/wastewater, $20 million for facility repair and $5 million for ADA. With this information, the Agency requested funding from the Legislature. The 75th Legislature provided $60 million in revenue bonds to address those needs. Out of $60 million, $40 million was identified for water/wastewater, $16 million for facility repair, and $4 million for ADA.

He further reminded the Commission that it was decided to distribute the $60 million revenue bond into four different issues. The first one was issued in March of 1998 and totaled $12 million. The second one was issued in February of 1999 totaling $18 million. The third one was issued in February 2000 and totaled $20 million. The remaining issue includes $3.5 million in interest earned bringing the total issue to $13.5 million. The last bond issue is anticipated for issuance in February 2001. He then explained to the Commission that we are managing three different revenue bonds at all times. Each bond issue will not have been fully expended before the next bond issue is distributed.

Next, Mr. Boruff explained the process of implementing a revenue bond project. From the time authority is received from the Legislature to the time of project construction and closeout, the process takes two-to-two-and-a-half years to complete. The majority of the expenditures are expended towards the completion of the project, resulting in a higher spending curve very late in the issuance.

He then moved on to explain the status of each issue of the Bond Program. He began with the FY 98 Bond Issue. Out of $12 million, a total of $11.5 million has been expended to date. Out of 87 projects, 92% are complete and the remaining is in the construction phase.

Out of the $18 million authorized from the FY 99 Bond Issue, a total of $9.36 million has been expended to date. Out of 132 projects, 28% are complete, 38% are in the construction phase, 29% are in the design phase, and the remaining 5% is currently in the bidding phase.

The third issue of approved bonds includes 125 projects with bond revenue totaling $20M. The issue was made available February 2000. A total of $1.1 million has been expended to date with $3.42 million encumbered. Only one percent is complete, however, 69% are in the design phase, 14% are in the construction phase, 11% are scheduled and 5% is in the bidding phase.

The last issuance of the $60 million bond revenue is scheduled for release in February 2001. The final issue totals $13.5 million. The proposed distribution is 68% for water/wastewater, 21% for facility repair and 11% for ADA.

Mr. Boruff commented to the Commission that Infrastructure not only manages bond dollars, but also manages non-bond capital dollars as well. He illustrated in a graph that in the last three years more dollars have been spent on non-bond projects than bond projects.

Mr. Boruff moved on to explain the status of the Total Capital Program. Currently, the program totals 552 active projects budgeted at over $93 million. He commented that we are already $700,000 ahead of our projected expenditure goal for this time period.

He then referenced our productivity increase. Over the last three years we have increased our expenditures from $14 million to over $24 million per fiscal year. This is partly due to our expanded contracting authority, which was authorized by the 76th Legislature. Another reason for the productivity increase is credited to the new automated Project Management Information System that assists with planning, scheduling, and tracking projects. The upcoming Facility Management System is anticipated to also aid in increasing productivity by affording the ability to predict future capital needs.

In summary, he showed a slide depicting a critical repair needs strategy. He explained to the Commission that in order to recover from our backlog and prevent another backlog situation, an additional $15 million is still needed. In addition, $12 million - $15 million is needed annually for anticipated scheduled repair and another $3 million - $6 million is needed for ongoing maintenance and minor repair.

Chairman Bass then commented that a project list divided by each legislative district and by critical need category is needed for the upcoming legislative session. Mr. Boruff was appreciated of his comment and assured the Commission we would have the information readily available.

VII. OTHER BUSINESS: None

VIII. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Commissioner Bass adjourned the November 8, 2000 meeting of the Ad Hoc Infrastructure Committee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.


Committee Agenda Item No. 1
Presenter: Andrew Sansom

Ad Hoc Infrastructure Committee
Briefing
Chairman's Charges
May 2001

(This item will be an oral presentation.)


Committee Agenda Item No. 2
Presenter: Scott Boruff

Ad Hoc Infrastructure Committee
Briefing
Projects Update
May 2001

I. Discussion: The Commission will be given a presentation on projects. The presentation will provide visual highlights on several current projects.


Committee Agenda Item No. 3
Presenter: Scott Boruff

Ad Hoc Infrastructure Committee
Briefing
Lone Star Legacy Projects Update
May 2001

I. Discussion: The Commission will be briefed on the status of the Lone Star Legacy projects. The briefing will cover the World Birding Center, Government Canyon, Texas Rivers Center, Austin Woods, and the Bison Center.