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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-16 Min - Board SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES December 16, 2020 Ilk 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting of the Board of Directors of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District was called to order at 4:01 p.m. by President Bender. Disclaimer: Due to the COVID-19 situation and the California Governor's Executive Orders, this Board meeting was conducted with the Board via video/teleconferencing measures and live streamed on the District website. Public comment was opened using email and questions and answers on Zoom. 2. ROLL CALL Directors: Aguera, Laliotis, Harris, Vice President Finn, and President Bender. EMPLOYEES PRESENT: Brian Wright, Ian Fitzgerald, Steven Poncelet, Mike Salmon, Joe Horvath, and Shanna Kuhlemier. CONSULTANTS PRESENT — Steve Gross, District Counsel, Pam Hobday, Pamela Hurt As- sociates, Adam Probolsky, Probolsky Research. 3. PLEDGE — defer. 4. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA— Move workshop Item 11 to after Item 6. 5. Public Comment —This is time set aside for the public to address the Board on any matter 4111 not on the agenda. Testimony related to any agendized matter should be addressed at the time that that item is considered. (The public may comment on any subject that is not on the agenda. Each speaker will be limited to three minutes, but speaker time may be reduced at the discretion of the Board President if there are a large number of speakers on any given subject.) President Bender called for public comment, seeing none. 5.1 Director Updates — Director Harris: • Thanked Director Ellis for eight years of service. o Acknowledged and appreciated his challenging times. • Congratulations to President Bender and Director Aguera • Thanked all community members who voted. • Attended UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center presentation. • Attended a presentation on the new Truckee Library. • Appreciative and supportive of the District employees. o Talked about the 2017-2018 winter storms and challenges associated with that time. • Discussed team environments and pressures. • • Announced the last few years well liked and competent people have left the district and the uncertainty that leaves employees feeling. • Stated with the right leadership the District will thrive. • Talked about core values and safety being number one, that is more than just body, it is • a safe and supportive environment without hidden agendas. • Commitment to District transparency. • Invite current and past employees to Board meeting to discuss items. • Encouraged all employees to share topics with Interim General Manager Wright. • Excited to work with the Board. Director Aguera welcome Director Harris to the Board. Director Laliotis welcomed Director Harris and expresses excitement to work together. Director Finn: • Welcome Director Harris to the Board. • Announced attendance at a Brown Act Training and High Performing Board Training with Dis- trict Counsel Gross, Pam Hobday, and Interim General Manager Wright. • Thanked everyone for the work,participation and encouragement to make better Board members. • Provided the following statement: I am a reader. A few years ago I read a book called "Lincoln in the Bardo". It was well worth reading in and of itself, but also because it introduced me to the Buddhist concept of the Bardo, which of course led me to more reading and to the writing of thinker Joanna Macy, who I am going to paraphrase here: The Bardo is a between state. Not earth, not heaven, but an intermediate place, a trans- formative state. When you enter the Bardo, you are met by a Buddha holding a mirror, a mirror • that reflects the world just as it is.A truth mirror. It demands your attention and your acceptance. The very helpful/hopeful concept here is that in the Bardo, the future is not in front of you, it is within you. To me, that was an incredibly powerful idea because...I think we are in the Bardo right now. Covid 19 is the Buddha holding the mirror and in it we can see how our systems are failing us. Inequality, extraction, racism, environmental destruction and climate change are showing us how dependent we are on each other. We are all being given the opportunity to discover what it feels like when you can't breath. We can't breathe when smoke from wildfire is chocking the air. We can't breath when we are filled with anger and resentment or are the targets of such. We can't breathe when our home is underwater, either metaphorically in the economic sense or literally in the hurricane sense. We can't breathe when a virus is clogging our lungs or when a knee is on our necks. We can't breathe without trees. Now that we can see our present, we have an opportunity to create a future, a future that is inside of us. We, the board and the employees that serve here at the District are the people who have been entrusted to care for the foundations of our community. Water. Electricity. Information (maybe). We have the power, both flowing through our transmission lines and pipes, and of our human will. Let us strive to be open to new ideas, to sharing our visions and dreams, and to new ways to serve. Let's create systems of resilience and a life sustaining community. Let's plan for that future. Let's plan to protect and nourish all of the things that we love. • Thank you. President Bender: • • Wished everyone a very happy holiday season. • Stated his desire to put 2020 in a box and bury it. • Thanked Pam Hobday for her expert guidance. SPECIAL BUSINESS 6. Consideration of 2021 Election of Board Officers. This item involves the nomination and election of a President and Vice President for the next twelve months. Shanna Kuhlemier provided a presentation (available upon request). President Bender called for public comment, seeing none. Director Aguera moved, and President Bender seconded, that the Board approve the nomina- tion of Christa Finn for President and Tony Laliotis for Vice President. The motion passed unanimously (5-0), by a roll call vote. WORKSHOP ITEM 11. Strategic Planning Retreat District's strategic planning process Pam Hobday, Pamela Hurt Associates and Adam Probolsky, Probolsky Research provided a • presentation on the strategic planning process and community survey results. President Finn called for a recess at 6:22 p.m. The Board reconvened at 6:30 p.m. ACTION ITEM(S) 7. Consideration to Approve a 5-Year Market Power Purchase Agreement with UAMPS. Authorize the Interim General Manager to execute the Confirmation to Lock-In Transaction Confirmation for the Firm Power Supply Project with Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS), and all necessary documents, for the pur- chase of market power, priced at approximately $35 per MWh on average, for a 5-year period starting in April, 2022 and ending in March, 2027. Joe Horvath provided a presentation (available upon request). President Finn called for public comment, seeing none. Board Comments: • Discussion on transmission agreement with NV Energy • All necessary documents are included as a measure to ensure the transaction can be completed. • This is an estimated goal depending on the variability of renewables in the portfolio. • Director Aguera moved, and Vice President Laliotis seconded, that the Board approve the staff recommendation. The motion passed unanimously (5-0), by a roll call vote. • 8. Selection of a General Manager Succession Ad Hoc Committee. Establish the General Manager Succession Ad Hoc Committee and appoint two Board of Directors to serve the duration of the Ad Hoc Committee. President Finn called for public comment, seeing none. Board Comments: • Vice President Laliotis and President Finn spent a lot of time with the first ad-hoc corn- mittee. • The base work had been completed. • A fresh set of eyes would improve the process. Director Harris questioned the minimum qualification for the interim general manager position. Stating other staff are qualified and would like the opportunity. Furthermore, the hiring of a new General Manager was a platform for running in the election. President Finn stated the interim general manager position is not up for discussion the Board unanimously appoint Brian Wright to serve the duration. Director Harris moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board approve the nomination of Director Harris and Vice President Laliotis to serve on the Ad-Hoc Committee. The motion • passed unanimously (4-1), by a roll call vote. Director Bender voted no. 9. Consideration of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Town of Truckee for the Use of the Town's Fueling Facilities and Funding of a new Fuel Tank. Authorize the Interim General Manager to execute the Memorandum of Under- standing, establishing terms for the District's use of the Town of Truckee's fueling station in the pilot project and new fuel tank project, in substantially the form pre- sented with such changes as are acceptable to the Interim General Manager and District Counsel including, but not limited to, revision to the indemnity, insurance, and termination provisions. Joe Horvath provided a presentation (available upon request). President Finn called for public comment, seeing none. District Counsel Gross: • Announced his professional affiliation with Truckee Fire Protection District. This is not a conflict but wanted transparency. o The Fire District approved this contract at their Board meeting (the prior night). • TDPUD staff has changed the recommendation to include a termination clause with prorated funds. This has not been discussed with the Town or the Fire District. • If this recommendation is pursued, advised staff to pull the item to negoti- • ate the contract again. 1 • Announced the guidance provided to Director Harris. While Director Harris does not • have a conflict she must disclose her employment with the Town for this item. Interim General Manager Wright stated the recommendation in the staff report is what is on the table and requested. Director Harris announced employment at the Town of Truckee. As part of the Human Re- source Department which is part of the Administrative Services Division, is a separate depart- ment than Public Works with different department heads. Both department heads report to the Town Manager. Board Comments: • This is a collaborative effort that is a great opportunity. • Local fuel and partnerships are great. Director Bender moved, and Vice President Laliotis seconded, that the Board approve the staff recommendation. The motion passed unanimously (5-0), by a roll call vote. ROUTINE BUSINESS 10.Approve the Minutes of Regular Meeting November 4, 2020, Special Meetings of November 13, 2020, November 17, 2020, and November 18, 2020. • President Finn called for public comment, seeing none. Director Harris announced her abstention due to not being seated at the time of the meetings. Director Bender moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board approve the minutes. The motion passed unanimously (4-1), by a roll call vote. Director Harris abstained. ADJOURNMENT - 7:42 p.m. There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned to the next reg- ularly scheduled meeting of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District on January 6, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT Christa Finn, President Respectfully Submittedz '4 •' 1 I t/� 4A Shanna D. Kuhlemier, CMC, s �(trict Clerk /((u/ /t4 ) •