HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - October 28, 2019 - UBCITY 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.
PAGE 2 – 10/28/2019
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
PAGE 3 – 10/28/2019
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