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2. Unless I missed it, the staff report does not explain why $1,300,000 from the Water Utility Production & Supply, Miscellaneous Operating Expenses account and $1,550,000 from the Water Meter Services, Contract Services – Professional account, for a total of $2,850,000, needs to be transferred to the Acquisition & Construction, Water Utility Capital Projects, Water Capital Project expenditure account. In November 2020, the City entered into an agreement with Aqua– Metric Sales Company for the installation of meter data management and meter infrastructure as part of the (AMI) project. This was the beginning of a 5 year-long project with an estimated cost of $30.4 million. Since then, the AMI project has been progressing despite challenges posed by the pandemic and supply chain issues. The completion of the alpha, beta, and the installation of over 13,000 water meters to date, marks significant milestones toward the modernization of our water meter services system. As for funding for the project, we have secured $5.5 million in grants, and $10.1 million in a low-cost interest loan from the California State Water Resources Control Board (CSWRCB) to support this project. The rest is a combination of water funds. This action item in front of you is to add additional funds of $4.5 million previously appropriated to keep the project on schedule and to take advantage of the improved supply chain for materials and supplies. While taking advantage of the supply chain improvements, we understand our expenditure plan will be exhausted at a faster rate but, it will be critical to keep the project moving along and on schedule. In November 2019 the City Council adopted a comprehensive water, recycled water, and sewer rate study as part of the water resources long-term financial plan. In this study, a water debt financing option was factored in to ensure fund resources for this AMI project. As of now, we are actively exploring the water debt financing option outlined in the comprehensive rate study. We anticipate in the upcoming months coming in front of you with action items for this water debt financing for your consideration. This financing strategy aligns with the long-term financial planning for the AMI project and will complement the funding secured through grants, loans, and water resources funds. Agenda Item No. 16 - This is a purchase of GIS data service subscription. A Councilmember had submitted the following question; 1. Does Lightbox Parent, L. P.’s GovClarity, have anything to do with the Planning Division’s Property Information Search system? Nabil Saba provided the following response. Yes. The program is available to every City Agency to use. It is managed by IT. Agenda Item No. 23 - Adding a Deputy City Manager. A Councilmember had submitted the following questions. 1. “How will the 17 new full-time professional positions help our residents and businesses receive quicker and more effective police services? By hiring Forensic Specialists, Police Investigative Specialists, and a Forensic Services Supervisor, we are investing in specialized expertise that will enhance our investigative capabilities. These professional staff positions will bring advanced skills and techniques to the table, aiding in resolving cases more swiftly and accurately. The addition of Police Service Officers and Dispatchers will help increase the capacity of our department to respond to emergencies and incidents promptly. With more personnel available to handle calls and administrative tasks, we can ensure that resources are deployed efficiently, reducing response times and improving overall service delivery. With additional professional staff dedicated to forensic services, investigations, and dispatch, we can streamline processes within the department. This means quicker processing of evidence, more thorough investigations, and improved coordination in dispatching resources where they are most needed. 2