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Home My WebLink About8 2023-13 Resolution AGENDA ITEM #8 Public Utility District m MEETING DATE: September 20, 2023 TO: Board of Directors FROM: Shanna Kuhlemier, District Clerk SUBJECT: Consideration of Resolution 2023-13, celebrating the service of Joe Horvath. APPROVED BY: Brian C. Wright, General Manager RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution 2023-13, memorializing the comendation of Joe Horvath for his years of service with the District. BACKGROUND: Joe Horvath started his career in electrical engineering after graduating from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, then earning his Professional Electric Engineer designation. Accepting a job with R.W. Beck Consultants in Seattle, Joe started working with many electric utilities, including the Truckee Donner Public Utility District (District). Joe quickly established a strong working relationship with the District as a consulting engineer. Recognizing the value Joe brought to the District, Steve Hollobaugh (Former Electric Utility Director and Assistant General Manager) offered Joe a full-time job in Truckee at the District. Recently married, Joe growing up in Montana and Konni in the Bay Area, Truckee was a natural fit, settling into Aspen Apartments (1 block from the District). It has been said that they moved the day before Thanksgiving wearing shorts and woke up in the morning in two feet of snow. The Horvath's made Truckee their home for the next 23 years, raising their four children. ANALYSIS AND BODY: Over the course of his 26-year career with the District, Joe has been instrumental in the District's ability to provide safe, reliable electric utility services to the community of Truckee. Joe's commitment to engineering excellence has established robust engineering standards, enhanced distribution system reliability, incorporation of new circuit protection technologies, enhanced wildfire mitigation policies, and power procurement strategies. Joe's commitment to the District's mission is evident in our American Public Power Association's (APPA's) Platinum RP3 Award. This prestigious award shows our commitment to safety, reliability, workforce development, and system improvements as a top public power utility in the United States. Moreover, Joe's leadership has been instrumental in collaborative partnerships and leadership in the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) and Northern California Power Page 1 of 3 Page 6 of 28 Associated (NCPA) as a Board Member and Commissioner, respectfully. Examples of the many accomplishments under Joe's leadership include: APPA RP3 Platinum designation, development of the District's electric SCADA system, the District's SCADA Reliability and Fiber Communication Project, establishing enhanced electric distribution system construction standards to meet local weather conditions, multiple substation construction and rehabilitation projects, design and implementation of the District's AMI electric metering systems, development and implementation of the upgraded outage management system (OMS), managing infrastructure development projects with the Town of Truckee and other public partners, electric rates development projects, energy procurement contracts, as well as overseeing electric utility operations and maintenance, which includes 135 miles of overhead distribution lines, 85 underground, approximately 5490 utility poles and four substations. Joe also was integral to the District's participation in clean energy projects such as Horse Butte Wind, Pleasant Valley Wind, Vejo Heat Recovery, Truckee-Carson Irrigation District Hydro, City of Murray Landfill Gas, Stampede Hydro, and this year's Red Mesa Solar project. The Red Mesa Solar Project exemplifies Joe's commitment to the District and our community as, through UAMPS, the District was able to partner with the Navajo Nation to build a power plant that benefited both the Navajo Nation people and the Truckee community. Joe's tenure with the District is coming to a conclusion as he and his family embrace the next phase of life with excitement and anticipation for all their plans in retirement. . The legacy Joe leaves behind is his commitment to excellence, his compassion for others and his passion for safe, reliable and affordable public power, as is evident in everything he has accomplished for the District, beginning as a consultant, continuing as Electric System Engineer, Engineering Manager, Electric Utility Director and Assistant General Manager.. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: District Code 1.05.020 Objectives: 1. Responsibly serve the public. 2. Provide a healthy and safe work environment for all District employees. 4. Provide reliable and high quality electric supply and distribution system to meet current and future needs. 5. Manage the District in an environmentally sound manner. 6. Manage the District in an effective, efficient and fiscally responsible manner. District Code 1.05.030 Goals: 1. Manage for Financial Stability and Resiliency 2. Environmental Stewardship: Create a sustainable resilient environment for all our communities. 3. Engage with our customers and communities in a welcoming and transparent way to identify opportunities. 4. Take the best of private sector thinking to modernize the utility and add value to our Page 2 of 3 Page 7 of 28 communities. 5. Developing an inclusive culture drives organizational integration and success. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. ATTACHMENTS: 1. r2023-13 Joe Horvath Retirement Page 3 of 3 Page 8 of 28 DONNER Resolution No. 2023 - 13 Public Utility District A Commending Stephen Hollabaugh for His Service WHEREAS, Joe Horvath has been an employee of the District since November 1997; and WHEREAS, during his tenure of employment at the District, Joe has been an invaluable asset to the District, its customers, and the community; and WHEREAS Joe's responsibilities have included development of Truckee's power supply, distribution system infrastructure, operations and management of the District's distribution facilities; a system which includes 135 miles of overhead Distribution lines, 85 miles of underground, approximately 5490 utility poles and four substations; and WHEREAS, Joe has successfully held the position of Electric System Engineer, Electric Engineering Manager, Electric Utility Director, and Assistant General Manager; and WHEREAS, Joe's commitment to the electric utility field has contributed to the District's success; and WHEREAS, Joe has been a trusted member of the Executive Team at the District and his knowledge and leadership has been valued by staff; and WHEREAS, Joe's collaborations and partnerships were fueled by being an integral and trusted leader in in Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) and Northern California Power Associated (NCPA) as a Board member and Commissioner, respectfully; and WHEREAS, Joe has earned the respect, admiration, and loyalty of District employees and his peers in the industry by his superior knowledge and passion for the value of public power facilitating the District's participation in clean energy projects such as Horse Butte Wind, Pleasant Valley Wind, Vejo Heat Recovery, Truckee-Carson Irrigation District Hydro, Landfill Gas, Stampede Hydro, and Red Mesa Solar; and WHEREAS, Joe's Commitment to the District mission is memorialized as a top public power utility across the United States, after earning the highest designation for reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvements with the Platinum RP3 Award; and WHEREAS, the Board of Directors wishes to express its appreciation and gratitude for the performance of Joe Horvath for his many years of service to the District and its customers. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT THAT: • Joe Horvath be commended for his exemplary contribution to the success of the Truckee Donner PUD, and exceptional service to the public power industry. • The best wishes for a successful and happy retirement. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors at a meeting duly called and held within the District on the twentieth day of September 2023 by the following roll call vote: AYES: Directors: Aguera, Bender, Ellis, Vice President Warmerdam, and President Laliotis. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT Jeff Bender, President ATTEST: Shanna D. Kuhlemier, CMC, District Clerk Page 9 of 28