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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-01-09 Min - Board SPECIAL MEETING January 9, 2008 In accordance with District Code Section 2.08.010, the TDPUD minutes are action only minutes. All Board meetings are recorded on audio tapes which are preserved perpetually and made available for listening to any interested party upon their request. The special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District was called to order at 6:00 PM in the TDPUD Board room by President Taylor. ROLL CALL: Directors Joe Aguera, Ron Hemig, Patricia Sutton, Tim Taylor and Bill Thomason were present. EMPLOYEES PRESENT: Bob Mescher, Ed Taylor, Mary Chapman, John Ulrich, Alan Harry, Steve Hollabaugh, Nancy Waters, Kathy Neus , Sanna Schlosser, Lauren Schaake, Neil Kaufman and Barbara Cahill CONSULTANTS PRESENT: Steve Gross OTHERS PRESENT: Frank and Juanita Schneider, Pat Davison, Howard Wright, Jill Vacchina, Jenny Goldsmith and 1 member of the public. PUBLIC INPUT Juanita Schneider gave a compliment to the PUD for getting the power back on during the latest storm and keeping it on. DIRECTOR UPDATE This item provides time for a Director to suggestirequest new or previous items for future agendas. There were no director requests. ACTION ITEMS CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF FINAL 2008 PIPELINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT CEQA— MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARAION. a. This item relates to the environmental review. Director Hemig moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board take the following action regarding the environmental review for the 2008 Pipeline Replacement Project: • Adopt the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration • Approve the project for purposes of CEQA • Approve the Mitigated Monitoring Plan • Authorize the filing of the Notice of Determination with the Office of the Nevada County Clerk and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research • Adopt the DeMinimus Impact Finding and authorize the filing of the Certificate of Fee Exemption with the Nevada County Clerk • Adopt a finding that the draft documents as circulated and the negative declaration reflect the District's independent judgment. ROLL CALL: All Directors, aye. SO MOVED. 1 Minutes: January 9, 2008 CONSIDERATION OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE 2008 PIPELINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT a. This item relates Water Department bid documents for Contract A, B and C. Director Thomason moved and Director Aguera seconded, a motion to approve the plans and specification for the following projects: District Pipeline Replacement-2008-Contract A, District Pipeline Replacement-2008-Contract B and District Pipeline Replacement-2008-Contract C; and authorize staff to being advertising for bids with a bid opening date of February 20, 2008. ROLL CALL: All Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION REQUESTING AN EXTENSION OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THE INTERIM GENERAL MANAGER POSITION. a. This item relates to a request for CalPERS to approve an extension for temporary employment of John L. Ulrich as Interim General Manager. Director Hemig moved and Director Aguera seconded, a motion to adopt the resolution requesting an extension by the CalPERS Board of Administration for the temporary employment of John L. Ulrich through June 30, 2008. ROLL CALL: All Directors, aye. SO MOVED. WORKSHOPS DISTRICT BROADBAND STATUS REPORT. a. This item relates to the status of the District proposed fiber to the home broadband system. Alan Harry provided the Board with a status report on the telecommunications: • August 2007, 180 Connect and North Sky Communications gave a presentation stating how they could provide services to the District Service area through a concept of design/build and lease-back broadband system. • The District has received a draft contract from 180 Connect, but the financial documents have not been received to date. • Discussions with other potential broadband service providers have not been productive. • Broadband assets will continue to have value as providers investigate opportunities in the Truckee market. • In the second quarter of 2008, the District should look at the telecommunication assets (poles, conduit and fiber from Sacramento to Reno) and what can be done to leverage this asset. Counsel Gross let the Board know that the approval by LAFCo for the TDPUD to provide telecommu- nications services continues until the end of 2008. This time period was affected by the ligitigation for three years. LAFCo has an agenda item for the Truckee Donner PUD Broadband at their January 17 meeting. TDPUD staff and legal counsel will attend and obtain a clear statement to extend the time period to provide service options. Board discussion: • Things looked dismal with significant changes • The credit market has fallen apart • Need to go forward • The new General Manager should look at all the information and give his ideas • The silver lining is in the possible revenue from the fiber/conduit-there are opportunities • Could go forward with any version of the fiber system: SCADA, time of use, ability to have out- reach to customers, • In favor of the 180 Connect format for the Broadband situation • This plan is different than the one that LAFCo approved- do we need to go through a whole legal process? 2 Minutes: January 9, 2008 • Spend time with new General Manager Michael Holley and get his direction • Does the Board need an amended Broadband plan? • Want longer report to detail current business plan as may want to change- include dark fiber aspect. • Report to Board regarding the conduit sold and acquisition of four dark fiber. • How can the District be repaid? • What is the cost of Broadband to date? • Report back to Board with ideas of revenue from the fiber. • In favor of 180 Connect approach, continue. • Seems like the District is back at square 1 • Have asset of fiber from Sacramento to Reno- how can we leverage this and get income? • Board all seems to feel the same way to continue talking with 180 Connect and look into revenue aspect of the fiber to recoup some costs. DISCUSSION OF A VOLUNTARY GREEN RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDITS PROGRAM. a. This item relates to Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), "Green Tags". Kathy Neus explained that "Green Tags" are a way for the ratepayer to come to the District to buy Renewable Energy Credits (REC). This is a way to put dollars back into the economy to develop renewable resources. Bonneville Foundation helps small public utilities to purchase REC's. Board discussion: • All for this- zero cost to the District as long as we do our own marketing. • Does the customer get a deductible on taxes? • Is there green hydro? • Sign up for a certain dollar amount per month or add onto the kw rate? • Is it possible Rye Patch geothermal could be a REC source? • Outreach is critical • Could charge over the tag cost to defray District expenses to market REC's and staff time. • Could public benefit money be used to defer cost of staff? • Thought the customer could just write the dollars on their bill for a REC. • REC certificates are authenticated as to where the energy is going. DISCUSSION OF AMENDING VARIOUS FEE SCHEDULES, WITH POSSIBLE DIRECTION OR ACTION BY THE BOARD. a. This item involves updating current water fee schedule. Ed Taylor the water connection fee needs to increase $40 for both the 5/8x3/4" and the 3/4' meters due to material increases. b. This item involves updating current electric fee schedule. Steve Hollabaugh suggested a 3% increase to both the electric connection fee and facilities fees due to material costs. Board discussion • When were fees last raised? • Is the calculation method different than in the past? • The increase is mainly due to materials. --- • Would there be an increase of electric facilities fees for development already approved? • Electric connection fee is the same for overhead or underground. • Existing facilities fees funds need to be spent in 5 years- are there any residuals. 3 Minutes: January 9, 2008 c. This item involves amending the miscellaneous fee schedule. Bob Mescher went over the miscellaneous service fee schedule, pointing out the changes and the reason behind some of the fee increases Board discussion: • This is an effort to set an amount so do not do analysis on a case by case basis • Set costs to streamline • Are there many broken meters and how do they get broken? • What about the reconnect/disconnect for seasonal residents? • It is odd to have fees less than the actual cost- most places would attempt to get close to actual cost. • Involve customer service personnel; are some fees necessary to charge? • Has the PUD been undercharging? • Good to look at the fees- charge what things cost to perform. • Some jumps in charges are huge- maybe it would be better to slowly ramp them up over a few years. • Lineman should not have to collect any fees for after-hours work charges. • All methodology needs to be the true cost. • Rare circumstances impact staff to collect the fee. • Do not make all customers subsidize the fees for a few. • Notify public- public outreach is important so they understand the schedules • Step increase or actual cost Pat Davison of Contractors Association Truckee Tahoe (GATT) thanked John Ulrich for the phone call and said CATT is not opposed to inflationary increases. She added: • Feedback- now is no the time to raise fees-the District should reduce overhead. • How is the fee structure compared to other providers- Southwest Gas hookup is free. • Water connection fees-want water meters • CATT would like to be involved with the electric master plan update- time frame is good at 6 years. • How is the District going to inform the public? The Board asked for one more workshop with additional detail on miscellaneous fees and how staff would do public outreach. d. This item involves setting a public hearing date. No public hearing date was set. The Board asked staff to come back with another workshop, especially for the miscellaneous fee schedule. DISCUSSION OF THE DISTRICT CODE AND POLICY ISSUES a. This item relates to setting up a schedule to review and revise policy issues contained in the District Code John Ulrich stated the District Code needs a comprehensive review. There are many minor changes also. The review can be divided up into the various Code titles. The Board needs to provide feedback, expectations and areas of concern. Board discussion: • Not sure if this is the right time with the new General Manager Michael Holley • Concerned how to agendize- take on at regular meetings- or handle separately. • Seems good for the Michael Holley to be in on discussion and changes 4 Minutes: January 9, 2008 Handle one title per meeting- how deep should discussion be? • Finish this project by June 30 while IGM John Ulrich is still engaged • Establish a schedule with Michael Holley • Bring Michael Holley in to learn, discuss and contribute • Focus on the critical areas of the code • Review the District Code every few years • Start the process with the list Board has mentioned an interest in • Have staff make a list of policies they use, problem areas, gaps • What does staff see as the best, most efficient process for the District Code review? • The District Code is a living document and there is a value in this process • Spend varying time on each title. ROUTINE BUSINESS CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES FOR DECEMBER 59 19 AND 319 2007. Director Thomason moved, and Director Sutton seconded, that the Board approve the minutes of December 5, 19 and 31, 2007. ROLL CALL: All Directors aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:40 PM TRUCKEE DONNER PU LIC UTILITY DISTRICT 4 t11, Tim F. Taylor, Preiklek Prepared by �)w 4 co u 46-40 Barbara Cahil , Deputy District Clerk bhc 5 Minutes: January 9, 2008