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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-06 Min - BoardREGULAR MEETING MINUTES March 6, 2019 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting of the Board of Directors of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in the TDPUD Boardroom by President Ellis. 2. ROLL CALL Directors: Joe Aguera, Tony Laliotis, Christa Finn, Vice President Bender, and President Bob Ellis. EMPLOYEES PRESENT: Joe Horvath, Ian Fitzgerald, Steven Poncelet, Lisa Hall, Brian Wright, Regina Wise, C.J. Berry, Pano Valcanas, Michael Holley, and Shanna Kuhlemier. CONSULTANTS PRESENT — Steve Gross, District Counsel. OTHERS PRESENT — Pam Hobday, Pam Hurt Associates. 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Director Finn led the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA — General Manager Holley requested Item 18. Closed Ses- sion, be removed from the agenda. 5. PUBLIC INPUT President Ellis called for public comment. Molly Derkine, requested an opt -out option. Marley Valdez, Truckee Resident, requested opt -out option. Julie (no last name given), requested opt -out option. Stated that cell phones once deemed safe, are now dangerous. Furthermore, citizens want a choice on smart meters. Maria Gonzalez, Truckee resident, requests an opt -out option. Doesn't agree with the installa- tion of the AMI meters. Runs a day care business, stated, smart meters are not safe for chil- dren. Dennis Clark, • Requested the Town of Truckee for an opt -out. • Stated and read from the EMF Safety Network. org: o Provided information on analog meters to Smart meters. o AMR and AMI is the same smart meter. o Privacy issues. o Heath concerns. Juan Gonzalez, Truckee resident. Requested an opt -out option for the AMI meters. March 6, 2019 Rylan Cordova, requested an opt -out request. Adam Birdwell (sp?), supports an opt -out option. Michael Byan (sp?) requested an option to opt -out. Clia (sp?) Chavez, requested an opt -out option. Silva Goldmyeyer (sp?), requested an opt -out option. Jose Morales, stated: • When rights are respected, there is peace. • Requests an opt -out option. • The District website shows over 15,000 electrical connections, that amount of people will not fit in the room. • Provided Brown Act section 54950, and quoted from the law. • Provided information on medical issues associated with cell phones. • The California Constitution states that local government is responsible for protection of constituents. President Ellis closed public comment. 6. DIRECTOR UPDATE Director Finn, reported: • A meeting with Mr. Valdez since the February 6th Board meeting. o Asked the entire Board if there was a desire to visit an opt -out option. • Thanked staff for an incredible job through the month of February, with all the storms. Vice President Bender, reported: • Thanked staff for the reliable power. • Request staff conduct a workshop on AMI meters, including; o Educating the public on current meters, and the new meters. o Requested an April workshop. o Address PG&E's programs. Director Laliotis, requested: • The workshop item be as detailed as possible. o What the District had and why we chose the option we did. o Costs associated with an opt -out meter. President Ellis agreed with the April workshop. A question from the audience (no name given), asked what will happen to the customer who was given an option to either receive an opt -out or have power shut off. 2 March 6, 2019 General Manager Holley, stated the District would grant an extension until the public process was complete. PUBLIC HEARING 7. Hold a Public Hearing and Consider the Adoption of Ordinance 2019-01 Electric Utility Rate Increase for FY20 & FY21. Lisa Hall provided a presentation which is available upon request. President Ellis opened the public hearing, requesting any person(s) who wishes to speak in support or opposition to the proposed electric rate increase. Jose Morales, questioned • If the District does an inflationary adjustment, does that prepare for an economic down- turn? Lisa Hall responded, that our rate study is on the best information at the time. Furthermore, cash reserves address fluctuations in economy and wildfires and natural disasters can take out our system. Seeing none, President Ellis closed the public hearing. Board Comments: • Pointed out an administrative error in the ordinance, directed staff to correct the date. • Thanked Mr. Morales for his public participation for this item. • Questioned if the District is being too conservative, could a change be made down the road. The conversation confirmed a change if needed. • Reasonable change. • Our rates are still lower than neighboring utilities. Kudos to staff for keeping cost down. Director Aguera moved, and Director Laliotis seconded, that the Board adopted Ordinance 2019-01 with the correction. The motion passed unanimously (5-0), by a roll call vote. CONSENT CALENDAR 8. Consideration to Procure Business Intelligence Software. Authorize the General Manager to execute a contract with Tableau through Simplified Solutions for Tableau Server services and licensing for an amount not to exceed $29,153 plus tax. 9. Consideration of Adopting Resolution 2019-02, Amending District Code, Title 3.01 Cash Reserves and Title 3.01 Capital Reserve Goals. Adopt Resolution 2019-02, amending District Code, Title 3, Finance and Accounting. 10. Consideration of Amending the 2019 Board Meeting Schedule. Adjust the 2019 meeting schedule as indicated in the staff report. 11. Consideration to Procure a Wire Reel Trailer. 3 March 6, 2019 1. Declare the existing reel trailer (Unit 81) surplus and authorize the General Manager to dispose of Unit 81 at public auction, applying sale funds to the Electric Vehicle Re- serve Fund. 2. Authorize the General Manager to execute a contract with Felling Trailers, Inc. of Sauk Centre, MD for the purchase of a Felling FT-24 Three Reel Turrett Trailer in an amount of $46,128, plus a 10% change order authorization for a total not to exceed contract amount of $50,740, plus tax and fees. 12. Consideration to Adopt Resolution 2019-05 to Close -Out the Paving 2018 Project. Adopt Resolution 2019-05 accepting the Paving 2018 Project as complete and author- ize the filing of the Notice of Completion. President Ellis called for public comment, there were none. Vice President Bender moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board approve the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously (5-0), by a roll call vote. ACTION 13. Consideration of the Mid -Cycle and End -of -Year Financial Results and Associated Transfers Regina Wise provided a presentation which is available upon request. President Ellis called for public comment, there were none. Board Comments: • The adjusted balance and proposed transfers true up the budget. • The conservation fund was lower due to a decline in programs. • Water reserve goals are smaller than electric. • The District has accelerated pipeline projects, this spends more money but helps on water loss. • The District will start a water rate study this year. • Staff does not have a forecasted number for water reserves. • Discussion of water rates, request staff to include how to meet goals. • Staff has done a great job with pipeline projects. • Part of master plan include the benefits to the community for pipeline projects. Director Laliotis moved, and President Ellis seconded, that the Board approve staff recommen- dation. The motion passed unanimously (5-0), by a roll call vote. WORKSHOP 14. Wildfire Mitigation Overview. 4 March 6, 2019 This item involves current State law and the District's prevention strategies and practices to mitigate wildfire. Joe Horvath and C.J. Berry provided a presentation which is available upon request. President Ellis called for public comment, there were none. Board Comments: • Adoption of a plan and third party review is required prior to January 2020. • Vegetation management is defined in General Order (GO) 165. • Tree attachments are mostly residential, the secondary drop to house. These are lower voltage lines to the residential structure. • A large public outreach will be instrumental in the process. • Would like to look at biomass with the waste. • The southwest winds are the largest danger to fire in Truckee. • Budgeting for this required increase. • Budgeting for the increase in costs will be fundamental. 15. Discussion of 2018 Purchase Power Load, Resources, Peaks, and Comparison to FY18 Budget Forecast. This item involves the annual review of actual versus budgeted purchase power infor- mation for 2018. Joe Horvath provided a presentation which is available upon request. President Ellis called for public comment, there were none. Board Comments: • Discussion on renewable portfolio percentages, including deducting the District's own usage. • Heat recovery project is not part of the "renewable resource", recs are purchased for environmental attributes. This includes large hydro. • Horse Butte project was an expensive project due to purchase date, at the time of re- newables being implemented into the portfolio. • The portfolio will come before the Board during the budget cycle. • Consistency of definitions of renewable, carbon free, and green should be explored for common • Loyalton Biomass was in the $90-$100 per megawatt price. It is very expensive and out of our price range, further, it is currently fully contracted. • Discussion on un-specified products. ROUTINE BUSINESS 16. Treasurers Report: February 2019. a) Approval of the Treasurer's report of fund balances as of December 31, 2018 and January 31, 2019. President Ellis called for public comment, there were none. 5 March 6, 2019 Director Laliotis moved, and President Ellis seconded, that the Board approve staff recommen- dation. The motion passed unanimously (5-0), by a roll call vote. b) Approval of disbursements for February 2019. President Ellis called for public comment, there were none. Director Aguera moved, and Director Bender seconded, that the Board approve staff recom- mendation. The motion passed unanimously (5-0), by a roll call vote. 17. Approval of Minutes February 6, 2019 and February 13, 2019. President Ellis called for public comment, there were none. Director Finn moved, and President Ellis seconded, that the Board approve the minutes with the correction of spelling of a name. The motion passed unanimously (5-0), by a roll call vote. ADJOURNMENT - 9:17 p.m. Director Aguera moved, and Vice President Bender seconded, that the Board adjourn the meet- ing at 9:17 p.m. The motion passed unanimously (5-0), by a roll call vote. There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:17 p.m. to the next scheduled special meeting of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District on March 19, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. and the regularly scheduled meeting April 3, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT Q� Bob Ellis, President Respectfully Submitte Shanna D. Kuhlemier C, District Clerk 6 March 6, 2019