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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-02 Min - BoardREGULARMEETINGMINUTESSeptember2,2020I.CALLTOORDERThemeetingoftheBoardofDirectorsoftheTruckeeDonnerPublicUtilityDistrictwascalledtoorderat6:00p.m.intheTDPUDBoardroombyPresidentBender.Disclaimer:DuetotheCOVID-19situationandtheCaliforniaGovernor’sExecutiveOrders,thisBoardmeetingwasconductedwiththeBoardviavideo/teleconferencingmeasuresandlivestreamedontheDistrictwebsite.PubliccommentwasopenedusingemailandquestionsandanswersonZoom.2.ROLLCALLDirectors:TonyLaliotis,JoeAguera,BobEllis,VicePresidentCristaFinn,andPresidentJeffBender.Absent:EMPLOYEESPRESENT:RemScherzinger,BrianWright,JoeHorvath,ShannaKuhlemier,IanFitzgerald,StevenPoncelet,MikeSalmon,andSteveMoore.CONSULTANTSPRESENT—SteveGross,DistrictCounsel.PamHobday,PamelaHurtAs-sociates,ShawnKoorn,HDRInc.3.PLEDGEOFALLEGIANCE—defer.4.CHANGESTOTHEAGENDA-none.5.PUBLICINPUTPresidentBendercalledforpubliccomment.DistrictClerkKuhlemier—NonePresidentBenderclosedpubliccomment.6.DIRECTORUPDATEVicePresidentFinn:.Busyfewweeks,attendedUAMPSvirtualconference,SpecialDistrictsWestSeminar,MineralTourofTahoeTruckeeSanitationAgency.Consistentthemebetweeneachwastheimportanceofcommunicationbothinternallyandexternally.PresidentBender:0Metwithotheragencyheadsandhadexcellentcommunication,alongwithGeneralManagerScherzinger.Lookingforwardtocollaboratingwithotheragenciesandgrowingthoserelationships. GENERALMANAGERICEOUPDATE7.GeneralManager/CEORemScherzingergaveupdatesregarding:.TDPUDcustomercurrentenergyandwaterusage0TDPUDprovidedourcommunitywith71%renewableelectricityinJuly.Onthewatersidewateruseincreased701milliongallonscomparedtoAugust2019..TDPUDPowerOutageupdate:Weexperiencedanumberofoutageswithvaryingcauses(3wildliferelatedand1duetotransmissionsupplieroutage).Asaresultweareinvestigatingoursingleshotprocessandlookingtoimprovenotificationprocesses/.Customersurveyandresults..Financialupdateandpastdue.ProvidedupdatesonDistrictinitiativesincluding;CovidResponse,GroundwaterandEnergyCommittees,StrategicPlanning,RenewableEnergyandGreenhouseGas,Broadband,AB6,&CECRulemaking.Providedupdatesoncurrentprojectsincluding;CapitalImprovements,GraysCrossingCFDrefinancing,2021WaterRates,WaterMTUReplacements,TankSitePipingMod-ification,RedhillTank,NorthwoodsMainLineCircuitRebuild,PoleReplacements,Cur-rentLimitingFuseReplacement,TruckeeSubstationControlHouse,andfinallytheColdstreamDevelopment..TransmissionSupplierPlannedOutage—September8-12.DistrictstaffhassecuredpowersupplythroughCAISOtomaintainpowerduringthisplannedoutage.However,ifPG&EproceedswithaPSPStheDistrictwillbesubjecttothatPSPS.DistrictstaffisreachingouttoNVEtotryandpostponeworkuntilafterfireseasonCONSENTCALENDAR8.AppointTreasurerandAssistantTreasurerfortheDistrictBoardaffirmedMichaelSalmonasTreasurerandappointedMelanieRives,FinanceandAccountingManagerasAssistantTreasurer.9.CPSHumanResourcesConsultingContractAmendmentAuthorizetheGeneralManagertoexecuteacontractamendmentwithCPSHRCon-suItingtoincreasethecontractanadditional$30,000throughOctober31,2020,foranottoexceedamountof$92,000.1O.AnnualCommunityFacilitiesDistrictForeclosuresinGraysCrossingandOldGreenwoodI.AdoptforeclosureResolution2020-22authorizingstaffandspecialcounseltopro-ceedwiththeforeclosureprocessonallparcelswithdelinquentassessmentswithintheCFDsasrequiredbyBondcovenant;and2.AuthorizetheGeneralManagertoexecuteacontractforlegalserviceswithStradling,Yocca,Carlson,&Rauthfortheirworkrelatingtotheforeclosureondelinquentparcels.PresidentBendercalledforpubliccomment.Seeingnone,closedpubliccomment.DirectorEllismoved,andDirectorFinnseconded,thattheBoardapprovetheConsentCalendar.Themotionspassedunanimously(5-0),byarollcallvote.PresidentBenderrecusedfromitem10oftheconsentcalendarduetofinancialinterestin Gray’sCrossing.ACTIONITEM(S)II.ApprovalofReallocationofelectricitypurchasefunds:AmendmenttotheTreeTrimmingContractwithWrightTreeServiceI.AuthorizetheGeneralManagertoexecuteanamendment,andallnecessarydocuments,totheTreeTrimmingContractwithWrightTreeServiceasfollows:2.Transferanadditional$500ktoelectriccapitalreserves.TheabovewillincreasethecontractamountforFY20from$1,000,000toanamountnottoexceed$1,500,000.JoeHorvathprovidedapresentation(availableuponrequest).BoardComments:.Welloverdue,excitedthatwe’reinthefinancialpositiontomakethisworkwithoutimpactingrates..Requestedwe:0Considerandweighthecostofundergroundingofelectricityversustheincreasingpriceoftreetrimming.0DetermineifthereareFederalFundstohelpuscoverthecostofundergroundingpower.GeneralManagerScherzingerstated:.AgreedwiththeBoard,weneedtoconsiderundergroundingofelectriclineswhiledo-ingotherprojectswherewecanrealizesomeeconomyofscale.PresidentBendercalledforpubliccomment.Seeingnone,closedpubliccomment.DirectorLaliotismoved,andDirectorEllisseconded,thattheBoardapprovethestaffrecommendation.Themotionpassedunanimously(5-0),byarollcallvote.12.ApproveanAmendmenttothe2020TrafficControlServicesContractwithTrafficManage-montInc.AuthorizetheGeneralManagertoexecuteanamendment,andallnecessarydocuments,withTrafficManagementInc.increasingthecontractamountforFY20from$225,000to$425,000.SteveMooreprovidedapresentation(availableuponrequest).BoardComments:.Confirmedwithstaffthatthisisanestimatedneed,thereisachancethefinalcostcouldbeless.StatedthisisanecessitytoensurecrewsafetyPresidentBendercalledforpubliccomment. Seeingnone,closedpubliccomment.DirectorLaliotismoved,andVicePresidentFinnseconded,thattheBoardapprovethestaffrecommendation.Themotionpassedunanimously(5-0),byarollcallvote.I3.RevisingDistrictValuesTheBoardofDirector’sAdoptResolution2020-21,revisingtheDistrict’svalues.ShannaKuhlemierprovidedapresentation(availableuponrequest).BoardComments:.Verythoughtfulandwellpresented..AppreciationforRemandPamgettingstaffinputandengagementintheprocess..Confirmedwewillreplacesignsinadditiontoupdatingtheresolution.GeneralManagerScherzingerstated:.Pointedouttheneedtoamendtheverbiageunder“Integrity”toreadbe“...honestyandethicsasoutbaseprinciples”..SharedhisappreciationofstaffbringingtherequesttoamendDistrictValuestohisat-tention.Isgladthatweareabletotakeactionsoquickly.Applaudsstaffforbringingthistopictothetable.PresidentBendercalledforpubliccomment.Seeingnone,closedpubliccomment.VicePresidentFinnmoved,andDirectorAgueraseconded,thattheBoardapprovethestaffrecommendationincludinganamendmentunder“Integrity”toreadbe“...honestyandethicsasoutbaseprinciples”.Themotionpassedunanimously(5-0),byarollcallvote.14.PamelaHurtAssociatesContractforStrategicPlanningAuthorizetheGeneralManagertoexecuteacontract,andallnecessarydocuments,withPamelaHurtAssociatesforstrategicplanning.PamHobdayandRemScherzingerprovidedapresentation(availableuponrequest).BoardComments:.Gladtoseeweareworkingonstrategicplans,statedweareheadingintherightdirection..Alsoexpressedtheyweregladtoseewearefocusedoncommunityinvolvement..ConcernsoveranypotentialoverlapwiththeworkthatTownofTruckeeandotheragenciesare,orshouldbe,doing.Askedthatwebemindfuloftheirworkandnotsteppinginto,orspendingfundson,thingsthatareinotheragenciesareaofexpertise.GeneralManagerScherzingerstated:.Agreedweneedtofindsynergieswithotheragenciesinourstrategicplanning.Weneedtosupportandworkwithotheragenciestofindmutualbenefitsinourrolesandactivities. PresidentBendercalledforpubliccomment.PublicCommentreceivedviaemail,DistrictClerkreadittotheBoard:Thisstrategicplanisexcessiveincostat$127,000.PerMs.Hobday,theDistrictspentweeksandweeksoncultureandherfeeswereupwardsof$265,000.Withthiscontract,itisaatotalof$392,000forMs.Hobday’sconsultingservicesinthepast2years.ThestaffhasseveralMBAsonstaff,usetheexpertisewealreadyhaveonstaff.Theprioragendaitemchangedthepriorityoftheculturebecausetheydidnotlistentotheemployeefirst.Whyarewepayingsomuchmoneyforittobechangedsinceitwasn’tdonecorrectlyinthefirstplace.ItisasimpleprocessthatisbeingmadecomplicatedinordertogothroughtheprocesstocomerightbacktotheMissionStatement.Keepitsimple,keeptheDistrictsmallandbecarefulaboutspendingtoomuchmoneyonaprocessthatshouldbeafractionofthecost.Respectfullysubmitted,KimHarrisBoardDiscussioninregardtopubliccomment:.MultipleBoardofDirectorsstatedtheyreceivedasimilarphonecallfromcommunitymemberBeckyMazzer.Concludedthattherearerealdollarsthatcanbeattributedtothesavingswehavealreadyrealizedinthe7weekssinceGeneralManagerScherzingerhire.Thiscontractisasmallcostincomparisontothesavingswewillrealizefromastrategicplan.Wecannotforgettoweighthecost/benefitratio..RemindedeveryonethatitisimportantkeepinmindourlastcontractwithPamelaHurtAssociatescameinontimeandunderbudget,meetingallgoalsandobjectives..TheBoardagreedtheDistrictdoeshaveprofessionalsonstaffandtheycouldthrowtogetheraplanandsaywedidit,butthatisnotwhattheBoardwantsandisnotwhatthecommunityneeds.TheBoarddesiredtheDistricttobethebest,weneedtostrivetobethebestincompletingthisstrategicplan.Weneedtoallowourstafftofocusontheirjobsofrunningtheutilityandtheservicesthecommunityneeds..PamelaHurtAssociatesistheexpertinthisfield.VicePresidentFinnmoved,andPresidentBenderseconded,thattheBoardapprovethestaffrecommendation.Themotionpassedunanimously(5-0),byarollcallvote.WORKSHOP(S)J5.Mid-YearFinancialUpdate-2020Receiveandfilethe2020mid-yearfinancialupdate. MikeSalmonprovidedaworkshoppresentation(availableuponrequest).PresidentBendercalledforpubliccomment.Seeingnone,closedpubliccommentBoardComments:.Goodreport,gladtohavethedataandinformation..Excellentsummary,appreciatethehardwork.16.WaterUtilityRateStudy-2020Providedirectiononthewaterratestudy.BrianWrightprovidedaworkshoppresentation(availableuponrequest).PresidentBendercalledforpubliccomment.Seeingnone,closedpubliccomment.BoardComments:.TheBoardisinagreementthatscenarioIisnotanacceptableapproach.Consensusisthatweneedtobesomewherebetweenscenario2and3..RequestedthatstaffbringbackalternateoptionsthatwillallowtheDistricttoaddressmoreofthecapitalimprovementplanswithoutthesteepincreasesthatscenario3presents..Pointedoutthatthe1styearincreaseinscenario3isroughly$10permonth.IncomparisontootherwaterprovidersintheareatheDistrictissubstantiallylowerincost.GeneralManagerScherzingerstated:.Believesthatitwouldbeproblematictoimplementdoubledigitincreases,wouldliketoseeifwecanfrontloadtheincreaseandthencarrymomentintoyears3-5..InnextmeetingstaffwillbringastaffrecommendationtotheBoard.ROUTINEBUSINESS17.Treasurer’sReport:August2020a)ApprovaloftheTreasurer’sreportoffundbalancesfortheMonthEndedJune30,2020.b)ApprovalofdisbursementsforJuly31,2020.PresidentBendercalledforpubliccomment,seeingnone.DirectorLaliotismoved,andDirectorEllisseconded,thattheBoardapprovethestaffrecommendation.Themotionpassedunanimously(5-0),byarollcallvote.18.ApprovaloftheMinutesofAugust5,2020.PresidentBendercalledforpubliccomment,seeingnone. DirectorEllismoved,andVicePresidentFinnseconded,thattheBoardapprovethestaffrecommendation.Themotionpassedunanimously(5-0),byarollcallvote.ADJOURNMENT-9:59p.m.TherebeingnofurtherbusinessbeforetheBoard,themeetingwasadjournedtothenextregularlyscheduledmeetingoftheTruckeeDonnerPublicUtilityDistrictonOctober7,2020at6:00p.m.TRUCKEEDONNERPUBLICUTILITYDISTRICTRespectfullyShannaD.KuhIemierflM,DistrictClerkPresidentBend