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Home My WebLink AboutE-1.1. Minutes of the Regular Utility Board Meeting on October 28, 2019CITY OF AZUSA MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019 – 6:30 P.M. Chairman: Edward J. Alvarez Vice Chairman: Angel A. Carrillo Board Member: Joseph R. Rocha Board Member: Robert Gonzales Board Member: Uriel E. Macias Secretary: Jeffrey Lawrence Cornejo, Jr. The Utility Board/City Council of the City of Azusa met in regular session, at the above date and time, in the Azusa Light and Water (ALW) Conference Room, located at 729 North Azusa Avenue, Azusa, California. Chairman Alvarez called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. Pledge to the flag was led by Board Member Gonzales. ROLL CALL: Roll call was taken by Secretary Cornejo. PRESENT: BOARD MEMBERS: ALVAREZ, ROCHA, GONZALES ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: CARRILLO, MACIAS ALSO PRESENT Elected Officials: Secretary Cornejo City Attorney: Jeff Ferre Staff Members: City Manager Gonzalez, Utilities Director Robledo, Assistant Director of Water Operations Macias, Utilities Programs Specialist Reid, Senior Management Analyst Smith, Captain Grant, Chief Deputy City Clerk Garcia A.PUBLIC PARTICIPATION None B.UTILITIES DIRECTOR COMMENTS Utilities Director Robledo reported ALW has taken precautions to prevent downed power lines from causing wildfires on high -risk weather days. ALW has not interrupted and has no plans to interrupt electric service to customers on high-risk weather days because the facilities in the high fire zone area are primarily served from underground facilities not subject to severe weather conditions. Three thousand of 22,000 new water meters have been installed under the automated metering infrastructure (AMI) project. The project has been modified to require removal of soil from the meters prior to the contractor installing new meters. Software vendors have modified the billing system to accommodate AMI. Recruitments are going well. UB-1 Approved Utility Board 01/27/20 C. UTILITY BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS Board Member Rocha noted a small town north of Azusa has been without power for three days. Staff is invited to contribute to the City's care package for Azusa military personnel serving overseas. D.SCHEDULED ITEMS None. E.CONSENT CALENDAR Moved by Board Member Gonzales, seconded by Board Member Rocha, to approve the Consent Calendar by the following vote of the Board: AYES: BOARD MEMBERS: ALVAREZ, ROCHA, GONZALES NOES: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: CARRILLO, MACIAS ABSTAIN: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE 1.The minutes of the September 23, 2019 regular meeting of the Utility Board were approved. 2.An Agreement for Maintenance Services for fire hydrant painting services with OPARC, in an annual amount not-to-exceed $60,000 was approved; and the Mayor was authorized to execute the Agreement for Maintenance Services in a form acceptable to the City Attorney. 3.The competitive purchase requirements pursuant to Section 2-521(a), Article VII, Chapter 2 of the Azusa Municipal Code (Cooperative and Piggyback Purchasing) were waived; and a Purchase Order to Coastline Equipment, in an amount not to exceed $142,717.03 including sales tax and delivery charges, for a 2019 John Deere 310SL HL backhoe for the Water Division was approved. 4.The competitive purchase requirements pursuant to Section 2-521(a), Article VII, Chapter 2 of the Azusa Municipal Code (Cooperative and Piggyback Purchasing) were waived; and a Purchase Order to Coastline Equipment, in an amount not-to-exceed $27,525.10 including sales tax and delivery charges, for a 2019 Towmaster T-40LP trailer with bucket well option for the Water Division was approved. 5.Well 2 Rehabilitation Capital Improvement Project improvements outlined in Task Order 9 was accepted; the Notice of Completion for the Well 2 Rehabilitation Capital Improvement Project was approved; the Mayor was authorized to execute the Notice of Completion on behalf of the City; and the City Clerk was authorized to submit the Notice of Completion for recordation to the Office of the County Recorder of Los Angeles County within ten days of the Utility Board approval as required by Section 3093 of the California Civil Code. 6.A Communications Site Lease Agreement with the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System Authority and New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC was approved; and the Mayor was authorized to execute the Communications Site Lease Agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney on behalf of the City. 7.The cancellation of the regular Utility Board meetings scheduled for November 25, 2019 and December 23, 2019 was approved. F.STAFF REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS None UB-2 G. VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS 1. Power Supply Update Utilities Director Robledo advised that the amount of renewable power supply has increased to 40 percent due to the acquisition of hydroelectric power. The requirement for ALW is 31 percent. Staff continues to work on acquiring backup power capacity for 2020. With the increasing cost of backup electrical generation capacity, staff is exploring building generators powered by natural gas. The generators could be placed at the spreading ground property so as not to disturb residents. In response to Board Member questions, Utilities Director Robledo indicated the cost of generators could be as high as $23 million. Organic waste or biomass can be converted to gas and burned to generate electricity. The concept is good in that organic waste is eliminated, CO2 and contaminants are removed from the gas, and the energy is classified as renewable; however, the cost is approximately $12 per MMBtu when gas can be purchased on the market for approximately $4 per MMBth. Public transportation (buses) is a good use for the gas. An experiment in Idaho is underway to demonstrate the feasibility of small modular nuclear reactors to generate energy. If this new nuclear energy technology proves to be safe and feasible, it could make other technologies obsolete as nuclear energy does not emit CO2. 2. Water Supply Update Utilities Director Robledo reported the key well water level is within the operating range. Staff does not plan to alter conservation rules. Water purchased from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) continues to be released into the river so that it will recharge groundwater. ALW continues to receive its State Water Project allocation of 75 percent. The City of Pasadena is planning to repair the conduit that runs from the Morris Dam to the Pasadena generator. State reservoirs remain in good shape. 3. General Policy and Regulatory Updates Utilities Director Robledo related that some of the bills that ALW opposed in 2019 will return in the second of the two- year legislative cycle. Legislation regarding public safety power shutoffs, wildfire safety oversight, biomass to energy, central procurement of power resources, energy storage, and water quality is anticipated in 2020. In reply to Board Members' inquiries, Utilities Director Robledo explained that lighting for streets and businesses is not affected by Daylight Savings Time. Installing LED street lighting saves energy, and the expected lifespan for LED lights is approximately ten years. H. CLOSED SESSION None I. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by consensus of the Utility Board. TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 7:02 P.M. __________________________________________ CITY CLERK/SECRETARY UB-3