HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-06-18 Min - Board • REGULAR MEETING
June 18, 1997
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 pgmetua
and made available for listening to any interested party upon their request.
The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District was
called to order at T 11 PM in the TDPUD Board Room by President Hemig.
ROLL CALL: Directors Aguera, Jones, Maass and Hemig were present; Director Sutton was
absent but expected.
EMPLOYEES PRESENT.- Mary Chapman, Susan Craig, Steve Hollabaugh, Peter Holzmeister and
Bob Quinn.
CONSULTANTS PRESENT:Attorneys Christina Bark, Engineering Consultant Keith Sauers.
OTHERS PRESENT: Phil Schacht, Don Wendin and Tom Green.
PUBLIC INPUT
There was no public input at this time.
• CONSIDERATION OF CONTINUING THE EMERGENCYACTION RELATING TO REPAIR OF
THE TAHOE DONNER SUBSTATION TRANSFORMER
At the last meeting, the Board adopted a resolution dispensing with bidding to repair a transformer
at the Tahoe Donner substation. California Government Code allows the dispensation of bidding
in emergency situations, but requires the District, at each subsequent meeting until the emergency
is terminated, to review the action declaring the emergency and determining that the action must
be continued.
Director Maass moved, and Director Jones seconded, that the Board determine that there is a need
to continue the emergency action taken at the June 4, 1997 meeting relating to repair of the Tahoe
Donner substation transformer. ROLL CALL: Sutton, absent; all other Directors, aye. SO MOVED.
CONSIDERATION OF ENTERING INTO A WHOLESALE POWER SALES CONTRACT
CONTINGENT ON THE AVAILABILITY OF TRANSMISSION SERVICE AND ANY OTHER
ACTION FACILITATING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONTRACT
The Manager and Electrical Engineer reviewed the agreement for the sale and purchase of firm
capacity and energy between Idaho Power Company and the District and graphs illustrating
savings the District will realize as a result of signing the contract.
Sierra Pacific has not yet agreed to provide the transmission services required to bring power to
the District; however, the District must have a signed agreement in hand in order to go before
FERC. Counsel McDiarmid's staff has advised that by showing a magnitude of damage, the
District should be able to recover the difference in SPPCo and Idaho Power cost.
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Director Maass moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board amend the agenda to
include discussion with legal counsel in closed session pursuant to Government Code Section
54956.9, potential litigation, TDPUD versus Sierra Pacific before the FERC. it was noted that the
need for this item arose subsequent to when the agenda was posted. Director Sutton disqualified
herself from voting stating that it was her understanding that the Board would be considering a
power offer, not strategy and the possible threat of litigation by Sierra Pacific. ROLL CALL: all
Directors, aye, with the exception of Director Sutton who abstained.
CLOSED SESSION
The Board adjourned to closed session at approximately 7:20 PM.
RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION
The Board returned to public session at 8:28 PM.
Director Maass moved to adopt the contract between Idaho Power and TDPUD and authorized the
President to sign such agreement excluding the reference to contingency and subject to review and
affirmation that everything is in order by Counsel McDiarmid. The motion was seconded by Director
Aguera. Director Sutton disqualified herself from voting since she felt the vote would impact Sierra
Pacific. ROLL CALL: all Directors, aye, with the exception of Director Sutton abstained. SO
MOVED.
PUBLIC INPUT
• Dan Wendin of the west end of Donner Lake stated that he thought the PUD should investigate
serving water to Donner Lake water customers before money is spent unnecessarily by Del Oro
Water Company for building a treatment plant. The Manager indicated he would call the owner to
see if the company is willing to consider other options.
WORKSHOP ITEMS
Discussion of issues relating to the unbundling of the District's retail electric bill and the
potential opening of the District's service area to retail energy competition
General Manager Peter Holzmeister made a presentation to the Board. He described the meaning
of the term "unbundling," the level of unbundling that is likely to occur and the difficulty in moving
quickly into an unbundled billing system. The main problem is that the billing and accounting
system to handle unbundling does not yet exist. It is being created and will cost approximately one
million dollars to purchase. This will require several smaller agencies to enter into joint action to
implement. Until the billing system and joint action arrangements are established, the District is
moving slowly. This, in turn, means that opening of our service area to retail competition must
move forward slowly.
Discussion of issues relating to a possible policy authorizing and regulating the installation
of wireless communications facilities on District property
. The General Manager presented to the Board a draft policy which would, if adopted by the Board,
allow for the installation of wireless communications facilities on District property. After a brief
discussion regarding policy issues, Directors expressed the opinion that the District is spending too
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much time on what is a fairly low level matter, that the Manager should place the draft policy on the
next agenda for consideration by the Board and that after the policy is adopted, District staff should
administer future requests of this kind.
Discussion of the MAPF sponsored initiative to amend the Town of Truckee's land use plan
Board President Ron Hemig described his interest in having a discussion regarding the MAPF
initiative. He expressed concern over the consequences in the community of having land use
planning by initiative. Community Development Director Tony Lashbrook made a presentation
regarding the exact process and content of the initiative. Directors expressed the opinion that the
TDPLID could not take a stand regarding the initiative, but Directors, as individuals, could become
actively involved in the issue. Ron Hemig disclosed that he is participating in a group that opposes
the passage of the initiative and he is doing so as an individual, not as a Director of this District.
Discussion of monthly staff reports
The staff reports were briefly reviewed by the Directors.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by consensus.
TRUCKEE DONN PUBLIC TI ITY DISTRICT
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J. Rio ig, President
Susan M. Craig, Deputy District Clerk
smc
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