HomeMy WebLinkAbout#14 Phase 3 Climate Transformation Alliance AGENDA ITEM #14
Public Utility District m
MEETING DATE: January 17, 2024
TO: Board of Directors
FROM: Brian Wright, General Manager
SUBJECT: Consideration of Approval for the District's Partnership in Phase III of
the Climate Transformation Alliance.
APPROVED BY:
Brian C. Wright, General Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the General Manager to execute Phase III of the Climate Transformation
Alliance Memorandum of Understanding between the District, the Town of Truckee,
Truckee-Tahoe Airport District and Sierra Business Council in substantially the form
presented, contingent upon legal counsel review and minor administrative edits as
determined necessary.
BACKGROUND:
Environmental stewardship has been an integral part of the District's mission for many
years, as evident by our mission statement and in the continuous efforts by the Board
of Directors and staff to expand our investments in clean renewable energy resources
for our community. The District's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) has grown over
the past decade and is expected to expand further with the Red Mesa Solar project
coming online last spring.
On May 19, 2021 the TDPUD Board of Directors formally adopted the District's 2021-
2024 Strategic Plan. One of the five goals identified by the Board in the Strategic Plan
includes the pursuit of opportunities to further environmental stewardship.
Environmental Stewardship: Create a sustainable, resilient environment for all of our
communities.
One of the primary drivers and larger, long term goals of the District's efforts in
expanding renewable energy resources in our local power portfolio is the reduction of
greenhouse gas {}Page 2 of 2 (GHG) emissions and mitigating the net impact of energy
generation on the climate.
In 2021, elected representatives from the Town of Truckee (Town), Truckee-Tahoe
Airport District (TTAD) and the Truckee Donner Public Utility District (TDPUD)
collaborated with the Sierra Business Council (SBC) in an effort to explore opportunities
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for GHG reduction in the Tahoe-Truckee basin.
In August, 2021 the District entered into an MOU with the Town and TTAD to provide
initial funding and governance for a collaborative with the common goal of supporting
carbon neutrality goals in the region. The Town, TTAD and TDPUD were established as
governing partners with SBC serving as project manager and facilitator.
The collaborative evolved quickly into the Climate Transformation Alliance (CTA),
developing a formal charter and strategic plan in early 2022. The strategic plan has
identified the CTA's core mission and vision to facilitate innovative ideas and resources
in a regional collaboration to reduce GHG production and achieve carbon neutrality. In
2022, the CTA began hosting quarterly public meetings to engage with regional
partnerships, expand charter membership, identify opportunities and serve as a forum
for new innovative project ideas.
Phase I of the collaborative was primarily focused on establishing governance and
development of a strategic plan. For Phase II of the MOU, SBC expanded its scope of
work to include managing a communications plan, serve as facilitator of a "Project
Accelerator" program, and managing grant writing and fundraising programs.
CTA has significantly expanded its charter membership to sixteen founding members
and has recorded early successes in attracting major funding opportunities, including a
charitable grant in the amount of $500K to fund the Truckee Tahoe Building
Decarbonization Pilot Program.
ANALYSIS AND BODY:
Most recently, the County of Nevada, Town of Truckee, Nevada City Rancheria
Nisenan Tribe, Truckee Tahoe Airport District, Truckee Donner Public Utility District,
and Sierra Business Council were collectively awarded a $650,000 California Regional
Resilience Grant from the State of California's Governor's Office of Planning and
Research to build climate resilience in the Central Sierra Nevada region.
Building on previous climate planning work, this project will develop and enhance
regional climate collaboratives, including the already established Climate
Transformation Alliance, and create a Nevada County Climate Adaptation and
Resilience Plan that will identify priority projects to enhance regional readiness for
climate risks like wildfire and extreme weather events. The plan will incorporate
indigenous knowledge and prioritize climate-vulnerable populations.
$140,000 of the awarded grant will be dedicated to funding CTA programs and
operations for two years. Once funds are received, the financial contributions required
from each of the governing partners will be adjusted.
Sierra Business Council has submitted a proposal for Climate Transformation Alliance
Phase III Scope of Work (Attachment 1) with a FY2024 projected cost of $33,333.33
per governing partner.
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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.
3. Provide reliable and high quality water supply and distribution system to meet
current and future needs.
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
communities.
5. Developing an inclusive culture drives organizational integration and success.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Phase I MOU served as an initial "seed" funding for the collaborative with the
District's contribution not to exceed $17,000 (approx.1/3 share of$50,000). In Phase II
of the MOU, SBC expanded the scope of work as project manager with a "not to
exceed" budget of$150,000 (split equally between the three governing partners) for the
term of July 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023. The long term financial plan for CTA is to
leverage grant and program contributions to fund the alliance. The financial
commitment in FY2024 for the District, with approval from the Board to continue as a
governing partner, for Phase III of the MOU has a total cost of$100,000, to be split
equally between each governing partner, totaling $33,333.33 each. Sufficient funds
exist in the District's Board FY24 Budget for this item.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. CTA Phase III Steady State Scope of Work.docx (2)
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�2 SIERRA
Climate Transformation Alliance Steady State Proposal&Scope of Work BUSINESS COUNCIL
Climate Transformation Alliance
Phase III: Steady State
PROPOSAL & SCOPE OF WORK
Town of Truckee, Truckee Donner Public Utility District & Truckee
Tahoe Airport District
Program Overview
We are now in Phase III, a steady state phase of the Climate Transformation Alliance (CTA),which will
consist of Sierra Business Council (SBC) convening the Governing Partners (Town of Truckee,Truckee
Donner Public Utility District, and Truckee Tahoe Airport District) to follow the mission, goals, and
objectives developed in the strategic plan. Meetings will be convened on a monthly basis,virtually,for
the Governing Partners, as well as on a quarterly basis, in person, for the Governing Partners and the
full CTA membership. Deliverables from this phase of the program,aside from meeting facilitation,will
include, as needed, tracking funding opportunities, developing grant proposals to move collaborative
projects forward, assisting in the management of collaborative projects,supporting the recruitment of
new members,and facilitating in-person events and engagement.
Accountabilities
SBC:
As the Program Administrator, SBC will continue to staff the CTA. SBC will work with the Governing
Partners on updated contracts and memorandums of understanding (MOUs), in addition to the
services listed below in the "Scope of Work, Timeline & Deliverables" section, including research,
stakeholder engagement, meeting facilitation, recording, and program administration functions. SBC
will also track funding opportunities, develop grant proposals for collaborative projects, assist in the
management of collaborative projects, recruit new members, and facilitate in-person events and
engagement. In addition,the program will be able to access guidance from SBC's experience in climate
and greenhouse gas emissions reduction planning and implementation, government affairs and
advocacy expertise regarding climate issues, as well as leverage SBC's statewide network of climate
adaptation and mitigation organizations and best practices.
Governing Partners:
The Governing Partners will continue to act as CTA's primary decision-making body. The Governing
Partners will participate in the development of CTA programs alongside SBC and will be responsible
for funding CTA. If outside funding is awarded, the funding commitment for the Governing Partners
will be adjusted accordingly.
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SIERRA
Climate Transformation Alliance Steady State Proposal&Scope of Work BUSINESS COUNCIL
Scope of Work,Timeline& Deliverables
Below is a scope of work broken down by program task. This proposal is for Phase III: Steady State,
which will begin in January 2024 and will be completed in December 2024. This scope of work and
budget are based on a one-year timeline and allow for extension or expansion. Extension or expansion
of the contract would trigger a budget amendment.
Task Detiverable
Develop meeting agendas, prepare presentation materials,
Program Administration& coordinate internally with governing partners and externally
Coordination with founding members and potential members,and
complete monthly invoicing and quarterly reporting.
Plan and facilitate quarterly meetings for CTA members,
Meeting Convening&Facilitation monthly meetings for the governing partners,and
subcommittee meetings when necessary.
Track local,state,and federal funding opportunities. Develop
Track Fundraising Opportunities& grant proposals for applicable projects or programs. Develop
Grant Writing a fundraising strategy and assist in the development of a
sliding scale fee structure.
Program Development& Aid in the development of collaborative CTA programs and
Management provide program management.
Greenhouse Gas Inventory Collect greenhouse gas emissions inventories from all
Collection members that have one to inform emissions reduction
efforts.
Member Recruitment Support the ongoing recruitment of new members in the
Truckee and North Tahoe regions.
Manage Communications Manage CTA communications,including the website,social
media,and other methods of outreach.
Plan,facilitate,and attend in-person events,including
In-Person Events&Engagement relevant conferences,to engage with the local community
and collaborate with others in the field.
Our Team
Program Manager: Meredith Anderson
Meeting Facilitator: Steve Frisch
SBC Accounting: Michelle Bassard &Angela Gleason
Other SBC staff who may assist include, but are not limited to, the following: Erica Backhus, Jill
Sanford,Sam Ruderman,Sherry Hao, Brittney Gutierrez,Tallulah Pellissier Lloyd,and David Jaeger.
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SIERRA
Climate Transformation Alliance Steady State Proposal&Scope of Work BUSINESS COUNCIL
Program Cost Structure
The following pricing estimates are based on previous work done for the CTA and account for SBC's
2024 hourly rates. This proposal is based on a not-to-exceed price and will be split evenly between the
three governing partners. In the event that another funding source becomes available, the governing
partners' invoices will be adjusted accordingly to reflect the alternative funding amount. If Phase II has
not yet been paid, its budget may be added to the Phase III:Steady State invoice.
SBC Staff 2024 Rate
President $257
Vice President $191
Director $174
Senior Program Manager $169
Program Manager II $145
Program Manager $136
Planning Technician $125
Analyst $120
CTA Budget Hours Cost
President Labor -60 $15,420
Vice President Labor -12 $2,292
Program Director Labor -88 $15,312
Project Manager Labor -365 $51,280
Planning Technician Labor -52 $6,500
Analyst Labor -35 $4,200
Meeting Supplies&Refreshments($75/quarterly meeting) N/A $300
Other Event&IT Expenses N/A $4,696
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Please note the following:
• Staff time devoted to the development of funding proposals under this agreement will be
capped at 25%of the total contract amount.
• If staff are promoted during the Phase III contract term,their rate will reflect this change.
• Any event and meeting supply expenses over the $4,696 cap will be charged to the Governing
Partners as external to this budget.
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SIERRA
Climate Transformation Alliance Steady State Proposal&Scope of Work BUSINESS COUNCIL
Billing Preference
SBC requests the following billing schedule upon execution of the contract:
• Monthly billing of time and materials, net 30 days
Thank you for allowing SBC to collaborate on this program,and we look forward to moving ahead with
Phase III of CTA.
11-28-2023
Steve Frisch, President Date
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