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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-08-16 Agenda Packet - Board 1 ( Public, Monthly Activity Report To: Board of Directors From: Peter L. Holzmeister Date: August 10, 2000 Donner Lake water issue: This issue is taking up most of my time right now. I receive three or four calls per day from Donner Lake residents who express a desire for us to serve water there. I receive a call each day from some newspaper or television station wanting to know what is going on. I talk to Jess Morehouse or Dennis DeCuir or Fred Curry each day. Each day I learn some new process or angle that must be considered in our plan. I talk every day with Ed Taylor and Neil Kaufman about Donner Lake. It is a complex picture that changes each day, and we are quickly getting our arms around it.We should be ready by September 6 to deal with the issue. Placer County Water Agency partnership: I am dealing with staff at Placer County Water Agency regarding establishment of a cooperative partnership for water delivery to the Placer County portion of Martis Valley. We are discussing the complete integration of the PCWA water system with the TDPUD system, including joint master planning and groundwater basin management. The plan is to have TDPUD take a lead role in facilities master planning and system operation. I believe this item will come before the Board in October for consideration. Broadband (telecommunications): Alan Harry and I have been working with Vedren (SigCorp)to complete their analysis of our business plan. I expect this to be ready for the September 6 Board meeting, and then for submission to LAFCo. Steele property: We have recorded acquisition of the Steele property. Acquiring property to meet our material storage needs was an element in our strategic plan, and we have now accomplished it. Strategic plan workshop: I am preparing for the September 20 strategic plan workshop with Bob Rauch. Some of the topics I would like the Board to discuss include the Districts financial picture, water system capital needs, electric system capital needs, District space needs, District owned land, Donner Lake water issue, PCWA relationship, broadband business unit, and governance in Truckee. I want to make sure that your concerns are dealt with. Please be thinking about your issues. Labor Management Steering Committee: I am meeting each month with the Labor Management Steering Committee. Mary Chapman, Steve Hollabaugh and I represent management. Mike Connell, Rosana Matlock, Patrick Waite and George Caballero. We have been discussing job descriptions, training and promotion procedures and future job trends at the District. 0 Page 1 Water supply to District: The water crew has been working long hours to monitor and manage the Districts water supply. They are doing a great job getting us through a long hot dry summer. They have implemented many system modifications to make sure we remain in water, and it is working. They are responding to system needs in real time, often without checking with me or with the Board for speck authority. But they are keeping us in water. At some point soon we will need to report to the Board on what we did,why, and how it worked. Budget preparation for 2001: It is August and we are beginning to get organized for preparation of the budget for 2000. We will begin to discuss this with the Board in September at the strategic plan workshop. s Page 2 Monthly Activity Report To: Board of Directors From: Stephen Hollabaugh-Power Supply Engineer Date: August 10, 2000 • UAMPS Membership, Pooling Agreement and Resource 2000: The majority of my time has been investigating the opportunities that the District may receive by being a member of UAMPS and possibly becoming a participant in Resource 2000. • Truckee Donner Public Utility District has received an allocation of Power from Western Area Power Administration 2004 Marketing Plan: These allocations start on January 1, 2005. Allocations are expressed as percentages of the Base Resource, (the Base resource can change depending on the amount of Hydro(water)available for the year), and the megawatt amount of each allocation assuming a Base Resource of 500 MW, 1000 MW, and 1500 MW are as follows: Truckee Donner PUD's allocation is proposed to be 0.220%of the base resources. If the Base Resource is 500MW,Truckee's allocation would be, 1.10 MW If the Base Resource is 1000MW,Truckee's allocation would be, 2.20 MW If the Base Resource is 1500MW,Truckee's allocation would be, 3.30 MW • Power Supply 2001 &2002: On April 20,the District fixed costs for the entire load for 2001 at a price equal to $35.17 + $2.25 MWH + $1.50 kWh of demand based on Truckee's actual take for the month. This was the price discussed at Board meeting. For the 2002 year, we fixed the price for 5MW yearly block of power at $33.50 + $2.25 MWH + $1.50 kWh of demand. This accounts for about 1/3 of the Districts actual power needs for 2002. Since April 20, the price for power in 2001 and 2002 has gone up about$10.00 to $20.00 per MWH. Therefore was a good time to fix our costs for 2001 and part of 2002. 1 will continue to monitor prices for 2002 and keep the Board informed. • GIS Strategic Plan Issue: (Geographical Information System): The District has hired Ian Rrtzgeraid as our GIS Coordinator. Ian started August 9, 2000. I believe Ian will be a great asset to staff. Union Negotiations: I have been working with Peter on the Union ongoing negotiations. Negotiations have been completed, as you now know. MWISA (Mountain West Independent System Administrator) & Northwest RTO (Regional Transmission Organization): The MWISA is currently wrestling with the issue of funding and start-up date with the PUCN. Sierra Pacific has recently joined a group of northwest utilities to discuss and form a Northwest RTO. These utilities have to file their plans to FERC by Oct. 15, 2000. If the Northwest RTO does become viable, it will replace the MWISA, as the MWISA is an interim organization designed to "bridge"the gap between now and when an RTO is formed. •Page 1 Public Utility District Monthly Activity Report To: Board of Directors From: Kathy Neus,Support Services Manager Date: August 11, 2000 Meter Readers The annual seal check is in full swing. It slows things down but the meter readers are still able to remain current in their work. There were 10,904 meters read, 251 service reports, 162 notices delivered and 22 low usage investigations for the month. Building and Grounds I have been working on various quotes for repairs throughout the building; striping all the parking areas, roof repairs, concrete walkway repairs and some file work in the lobby. Purchasing and Warehousing Sam and Sue remain busy. It seems like every day is different.Transformers,fire hydrants,every day brings a new delivery. Vehicle Maintenance All vehicles are now on a required maintenance schedule. •Page 1 . * oil Ity ublic Utility District I ,JTP!Ub D Staff Report To: Board of Directors From: Scott Terrell Date: August 2, 2000 Note: Since most of these projects are ongoing, Staff continues to report the basic information and highlights the activities that have occurred during the reporting month. When a project/activity is completed it is reported,then deleted from this report. Strategic Planning/District$Savings Key Accounts Program- Staff will be in touch with KA customers this year regarding their wants and needs and feelings (opinions) about TDPUD. Staff is waiting to contact KA customers until the outcome of TDPUD's plans regarding telecommunications is known. TDPUD Building GSHP Proposal- Staff would like to re-visit this project idea with the Board in the near future. This project is on-hold pending the District's Strategic Planning process outcome. Deregulation Education- I am attending various courses, seminars, workshops and meetings to help me keep up with deregulation and "competition" activities. ConservationlDSM/Economic Development/Public Benefits Public Benefits Program- TDPUD has received and processed about eighty Conservation Cash Rebate program applications. The School District Staff is looking into various funding mechanisms to implement EMI's cost-effective lighting recommendations. Staff is also working with EMI to survey the Truckee Fire Stations and TSD's facilities. The Airport energy projects are currently being installed and almost complete. The Solar PV system planned for Sierra High School has been installed. TDPUD staff is currently working with a few representatives of the Downtown Merchant's Association to look at incorporating energy-efficient decorative roofline lighting on the downtown Historic buildings. Staff is also working with several local non-profit "children-oriented" organizations to incorporate an energy-efficient heating system in the proposed Kidzone structure. Public Benefits money will be proposed as a possible option to partially fund both of these projects. Staff is currently developing a low-income energy-efficiency program for the Board's future consideration. Schools Energy &Water Conservation Education Program- This program is designed to teach both energy and water conservation education and includes actual energy and water conservation measures the children can install in their parent's homes. Sierra Mountain Middle School has begun implementing this program with assistance from Americorps and TDPUD staff. So far the Living Wise program has been received very well. Sue Mock, SMMS teacher, has asked TDPUD to provide them with 175 more kits beginning this Fall. TDPUD Programs & Services- Staff is currently collecting information and ideas about some possible future programs and services for TDPUD customers. Staff is researching whole-house surge protection and "fiber-optic" building security systems for the benefit of our customers. Alan and Scott met with a representative from Energy Solutions Network to discuss a $5M grant to research some broadband/internet applications with substantial potential benefit to users. Ground Source Heat Pump Bulk Purchase & Installation Program- Staff is currently looking into new ideas on how to educate and promote this technology to our customers. Staff is currently planning to offer a few GSHP seminars to provide customers with information to help them begin planning their GSHP installations. Staff has been contacted by several developers, architects and building engineers, etc. due to their interest in possibly pursuing GSHPs for projects they will be building. The TDPUD Board has approved TDPUD's participation in cooperation with SMUD in a grant for $200,000 from the California Energy Commission to do some additional GSHP monitoring. Business & Energy Efficiency Partnership- The Truckee Donner PUD/Sierra College Partnership project is designed to encourage local groups, clubs and individuals to tour the energy and water- efficient Sierra College facility.TDPUD uses the grounds as a demonstration of low-water using plant types and water conserving irrigation systems. TDPUD Staff is available for guided tours. The TTUSD School District is planning to use this facility in conjunction with the Living Wise kits. Energy Surveys/High Bill Assistance- Staff completed 0 commercial and 2 residential energy- use analyses and/or energy survey(s)this month. Staff also responded on-site to 2 residential "high" bill complaint(s). There are currently no survey requests pending. Solar Home Tour- A tour of 6-7 sites with solar, geothermal heat pump, energy conservation and water-efficient landscaping applications are planned for Truckee October 14. A bill stuffier or a newsletter article is planned to promote this event. Communications/Public Relations/Education Newsletter-The Summer 2000 newsletter is currently being worked on. This issue will include articles on broadband,TDPUD's water system, Solar Home Tour,Water-efficient landscaping, Donner Party Hike, etc. Staff was on-hold publishing a newsletter due to delays in pursuing broadband and an overwhelming surge of requests from community organizations in using our bills to market community activities. An August-September newsletter release is being planned. Marketing & Media- Our current marketing efforts focus on community conservation cash rebate programs, low electric rates & high power reliability and TDPUD's efforts in promoting environmental- clean air, high water quality and the local economy. Community Event Marketing- TDPUD has provided marketing support for the following activities this year: Small Business Development Center workshops, Town Census, Truckee Spring 2000 Home Show,Chamber of Commerce Windows on History event,Truckee-Donner Historical Society SociaVPresentation, Sierra Nevada Children's Museum Circus benefit/fundraiser, Truckee-Tahoe Airport Air Affair, School District promotion of Student Excellence in Education, Nevada County Fair Truckee Donner Day, Kidzone project, Railroad Days and the Truckee Town Portrait. Power Content Label- State law requires that all California public and private utilities supply their customers with a Power Content Label quarterly. The next quarterly label will go out September-October. Water Bottle- The new TDPUD water bottle is getting a lot of attention. There have been requests for bottles to take to meetings and other events. If you have a meeting or event you would like to take water bottles to give me a call. Kidzone Project- Staff has been working with a group of organizations in Town to develop the Kidzone project. This is a 3,500 square-foot facility planned to be used as a play and educational center for young children. It will also be the new home for the Sierra Nevada Children's Museum. This new facility is planned to be located next to the Recreation District's Activity Center. Kidzone participants would like to partner with TDPUD to heat the structure with a ground source heat pump hydronic heating system. Community Garden Brochure- Staff has agreed to participate in the development of a brochure that describes Truckee's garden projects that are available to the community. The brochure will include the garden at the SBDC building created to showcase low water using plants and water-efficient irrigation systems. Other gardens to be featured include: Sierra Herb garden, TTHS and Regional Park's native vegetation gardens, project Mana's food for the hungry garden and the proposed Historical Society victorian garden. Community/Statewide Involvement Community Involvement- There are many community-related activities staff is involved with as described throughout this entire report. Staff has concentrated more on helping with and participating in activities than serving on committees. Committees are often time-consuming and involve members in many activities unrelated to their expertise and ability to contribute efficiently. Truckee Town Portrait- Staff has agreed to assist a group headed by Maia Schneider in the organization of the September 17 Truckee Town Portrait event. This event involves trying to get all Truckee residents to participate in a group photo at the Mill site. There will be live bands, other entertainment, vendors, etc. at the site that day. Truckee River Watershed Coordinated Resource Management & Planning- Staff is currently serving on this committee to see how TDPUD fits into their overall effort. There are opportunities to work cooperatively with this group that may be mutually beneficial to both organizations. This is not the group that coordinates Truckee River Day, but is associated with that group.TDPUD is a supporter of Truckee River Day. California Municipal Utilities Association Energy Services and Marketing Committee- The Committee is working on projects and programs to help CMUA member utilities prepare for deregulation. Staff has been participating in Legislative Committee conference call meetings. Association for Efficient Environmental Energy Systems- Staff participates in quarterly meetings of the California Utility & GEA GSHP Collaborative. The California Collaborative was formed to oversee the development and promotion of the GSHP industry in California. TDPUD sponsored a meeting July 14 in Truckee. Utility Energy Forum Planning Committee- The next Conference is scheduled for May, 2001 in Gran- libakken, Lake Tahoe area. 1 attended a post-conference meeting July 26 at Plumas-Siena REC. ---f 11 TDPUD STAFF REPORT Date: August 10, 2000 To: Board of Directors _ From: Mary Chapman, Administrative Services Manager Subject, July-August, 2000 Staff Report AGENDA # CUSTOMER SERVICE: The customer service staff continues to be very busy. They are still receiving a couple of calls each day from someone regarding the water problem at Donner Lake. We started a new Equal Payment Plan year in May, 2000. We now have 1,340 customers on the program. This represents close to 13% of our customers. We have 1,110 customers on the Electronic Funds Transfer program. This represents approximately 11% of our customers. NEW CONSTRUCTION: New construction continues to be busy. To date, we have received 131 applications for new electric and water service. This count includes only those customers who have paid their connection fees. BILLING: Billing is current. ACCOUNTING: Accounts payable and payroll are current. We are currently working on July financial reports. The Accounting Clerk position has been filled. We originally had twelve applicants; seven applicants came for the first tests; 3 of those applicants were given the second series of tests; we finally interviewed two applicants. The applicant that was chosen was Nancy Waters, For those of you who don't know, Nancy is Bob Jones'daughter. Nancy worked for the District from approximately 1977 to the beginning of 1991 and was the Billing Supervisor when she left. Nancy left the District to take a part-time job with TTSA, so she could spend more time with her two young boys. Nancy will start full-time on August 28, 2000. We are very glad to have her back and she seems excited about coming back to work for the District. WRiTE OFFS: Attached is a list of the accounts that have been closed more than six months and are still unpaid as of 613012000. The total amount written off was $4,234.36. We have received subsequent payments on prior write-offs in the amount of$1,109.31. The total amount written off does not exceed the 116tb of 1% of total billings threshold set by the Board, which would require specific Board action. 0700MOLY.RPT 1999 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE WRITE-OFFS ACCOUNTS SIX MONTHS OLD AS OF 06/30/00 32858-3 Anderson, Heather $67,51 30528-4 Ayala, Felix 113.42 20414-8 Barkely, Raphael 50.72 31906-1 Bishop, Jeni &John 9722 31551-5 Carroll, Patricia R 73.84 31020-1 Clyma, Janice 128.07 23965-7 Deschner, Frank 64,78 31670-3 Griffin, Aldred L 111.21 28482-8 Hubbard, Lynn 67.85 30358-6 Hutchings, Erik 75.03 30776-9 Jukes, Nicole R 94.20 29747-3 Kamin, Andrew 13.70 33271-8 Kenneson, Michelle 49.68 22113-5 Labia, John 46.67 33106-6 Luciani, Gary J 59.98 32617-3 Murrell, Mike 49.78 20088-1 The Passage 2,655.39 4298-6 Perrotta/Zarvos 27.95 31873-3 Phillips, Estate of 12.72 30599-5 Robinson, Staci 74.79 32112-5 Sanchez, Victor 67.21 17703-0 Stevens, Estate of Dan 9722 24942-5 Sanchez, Ricardo 135A2 TOTAL $4,234.36 TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT Write-Off Analysis 1989-1999 Accounts closed in: 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 Write-off amount: $ 3,125 3,873 (65) (465) (49) (169) $ 4,079 4,601 (56) (110) (230) (64) (62) $ 3,611 3,752 (64) (37) (40) $ 4,931 5,102 (116) (55) $ 5,380 5,750 (59) (69) (213) (29) $ 7,338 7,946 (317) (24) (173) (84) $ 3,816 4,080 (171) (61) (32) $ 7,542 8,113 (420) (17) (22) (97) (15) $ 3,036 3,711 (660) See Note $17,592 18,279 (353) (150) (161) (22) $ 1,622 1,806 (45) (139) $ 3,867 3,766 304 (79) (72) (47) (4) $ 4,127 4,495 (121) (113) $ 6,089 6,209 196 (33) $ 2,041 2,132 (20) $ 8,944 5,704 2,878 $ 6,266 6,567 (90) (117) $ 1,401 1,951 (346) $ 4,317 4,659 (155) $ 2,294 2,423 5,207 $ 4,901 $ 1,742 $22,321 Write-offs by year $8,474 $8,734 $12,941 $11,501 $21,033 54 207 _,$10,590 v $7,263 $9,203 $6,440 $7,008 Billings(in millions) $12.337 $12.010 $12.271 $12.104 $11.449 $10.868 $10,491 $9.605 $8.991 $8.552 $8.649 sea Nate 0.07% 0.07% 0.11% 0.10% 0.18% j 0.040/6 0.10% _ 0.08% 0.10% 0,08% 0.08% Note: This write-off amount includes$9,733,37 for the Senior Citizens Center. The owner of the project declared bankruptcy. The write-off percentage would have been.11%(.0011)without these accounts. Recap: 1999 Write-offs for period $4,2 44.36 Less recoveries (1,109.31) Net Bad Debts $3,125.05 (0002 Write Off Spreadsheet.xis) ' . • Public Monthly Activity Report To: Board of Directors From: Alan Harry, Director of Telecommunication Services Date: August 9, 2000 During the month of July'00 I focused my attention on seven related areas: 1. Nevada Courdy LAFCo 2. Broadband Technology education 3. Pole Ownership 4. Revised"Pole Contact License Agreement' 5. Communication with SIGCORP Communications, Inc.(SCS) 6. MOU between District&Town of Truckee 7. Litigation:TDPUD vs. USA Media Group,LLC; USA Media Group,LLC vs.TDPUD Discussions are ongoing with LAFCo Staff regarding the Districts application. Recent discussions with Nevada LAFCds Executive Director, SR Jones, have focused on the evaluation of the Districts Telecommunications Business Case. Following numerous discussions it was agreed that the District would enter into an agreement with SIGCORP Communication Services, now Vecren Communication Services, to conduct a validation study of the Business Case. This evaluation will be submitted to LAFCo in early September. As of this writing,we believe that the District's Application will be heard by the Commission in September. he Districts proposed telecomm/broadband plan are put t Again,t ordero reeststinn ensure that misconceptions regard a timely fashion, staff continues to speak t k to District customers, local businesses&service groups regarding the concept of providing broadban ittelecommunication services within the Truckee Community. I have and with Pac Bell staff regarding the ownership of poles within the District's service area. Initial talks regarding the District obtaining ownership of all poles were positive. Additional mee ings will occur in late August to finalize discussions on ownership, and open discussion regarding the preparation of a new"Pole Contact License Agreement'. •Page t is r, the sed "Pole t icensFollowing Agreement' was�finaiized d shipped oI USA Mediar a conference Mediaa Group for reviews o' date we have tnnot received a response, however will be in contact with USA Media Group staff within the month to open discussions. .., As previously stated, the District has entered into and agreement with SIGCORP Communications of the strids Telecommunicationson study ices, tyVec r s�rCss i mun�on evaluation val ation will be completed prServices, to conduct a ior the end of August,�d a will - This be submitted to the Board at your September e regular meeting. To insure that the Town of Truckee will not be harmed by the District's entrance into the Broadband services business I have submitted a dra a Wright forinrev'rewing o the and districts prod provision of nt Broadband Services, to Town Manager formalizes, I will Cuing it to the Board during a scheduled workshop. d USA Media. JoeHorvath, Susan Craig and ncehP 9atMhetred Litigation continues between the District a coul together information pertaining to information requested by USA Media Groups legal "discovery" request. District Counsel has reviewed � document, d we will soon have USA's document copy service arriving to duplicate approximately 0 Page 2