HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - November 23, 2020 - UBCITY OF AZUSA
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020– 6:30 P.M.
Chairman: Uriel E. Macias
Vice Chairman: Jesse Avila
Board Member: Robert Gonzales
Board Member: Edward J. Alvarez
Board Member: Andrew Mendez
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 via Zoom virtual
meeting in accordance with Executive Order N-29-20.
Chairman Alvarez called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.
ROLL CALL: Roll call was taken by Secretary Cornejo.
PRESENT: BOARD MEMBERS: MACIAS, AVILA, GONZALES, ALVAREZ, MENDEZ
ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
ALSO PRESENT
Elected Officials: Secretary Cornejo
City Attorney: Jeff Ferre
Staff Members: Utilities Director Robledo, Assistant Director of Electric Operations Vuong, Assistant Director of
Water Operations Macias, Assistant Director of Customer Care & Solutions Holmes, Assistant Director of Resource
Management Torres, Senior Management Analyst Smith, City Manager Gonzalez, Deputy City Manager DeAnda-Scaia,
Captain Grant, Chief Deputy City Clerk Garcia
A. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None
B. UTILITIES DIRECTOR COMMENTS
Utilities Director Robledo reported the virtual meeting is being recorded; the video will be uploaded to the City website
for public viewing; the public may participate via telephone only; and this format will continue until in-person meetings
are allowed. Water and Power operations are steady with crews working in the office and the field and office and
engineering staff working from home if possible; health protocols are in place and being followed; and staff is accepting
in-person payments at the drive-thru window. The automated metering infrastructure (AMI) project is 95% complete;
AMI data is being used for billing; and the final phase in which customers can review their hourly usage online should be
deployed early next year. The purchase of resource adequacy capacity on the Consent Calendar serves as backup capacity
for the wind facility and fulfills environmental and reliability goals.
PAGE 2 – 11/23/2020
C. UTILITY BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
Board Member Mendez announced a turkey giveaway is scheduled for November 24, 2020 at the Azusa Adult Education
Center.
Board Member Avila and Chairman Macias appreciated the tour of Azusa Light & Power.
D. SCHEDULED ITEMS
None.
E. CONSENT CALENDAR
Moved by Board Member Gonzales, seconded by Chairman Macias, to approve the Consent Calendar by the following
vote of the Board:
AYES: BOARD MEMBERS: MENDEZ, ALVAREZ, GONZALES, AVILA, MACIAS
NOES: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
1. The minutes of the October 19, 2020 special meeting of the Utility Board were approved as written.
2. Cancellation of the December 2020 Utilities Board meeting was approved.
3. A Maintenance Services Agreement was awarded to Utility Asset Management Inc. for the inspection of 3,300
utility power poles in an amount not to exceed $46,200; and the City Mayor was authorized to execute the
Contract in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
4. A Contract for Capital Improvement Project W-354 for Construction of the Triangle Flow Control Structure was
awarded to Fraijo Brothers, Inc., of Covina, California, in an amount not to exceed $242,407; and the Mayor was
authorized to execute the Contract in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
5. A Procurement Contract for Project LD2020-SL-250W was awarded to Leotek Electronics USA, LLC for
Furnishing 550 Commercial LED Streetlight Fixtures in an amount not to exceed $97,020; and the City Manager
was authorized to execute the Contract in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
6. The purchase of 15 megawatts of resource adequacy power generation capacity from NRG Power Marketing LLC
for a period of five (5) years at a price of $112,500 per month was approved; and the Director of Utilities was
authorized to execute the Contract in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
F. STAFF REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS
1. Fiscal Year 2020-21 First Quarter Budget Reports for Electric and Water Funds.
Utilities Director Robledo advised that the Water Fund had positive cash flow of $1.2 million; revenues are at 26% of
budget; operating expenses are at 24% of budget; retail sales increased slightly over the prior year; cash reserves have
increased slightly; and debt service coverage is good. The Electric Fund had a positive cash flow of $1.1 million;
revenues are at 29% of budget; operating expenses are at 26% of budget; retail sales decreased slightly over the prior year
likely due to COVID-19 closures; cash reserves total $17.4 million; and debt service coverage is very good.
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Moved by Board Member Mendez, seconded by Board Member Gonzales, to receive and file the fiscal year 2020-21 first
quarter budget reports by the following vote of the Board:
AYES: BOARD MEMBERS: MENDEZ, ALVAREZ, GONZALES, AVILA, MACIAS
NOES: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
G. VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
1. Power Supply Update
Utilities Director Robledo indicated power supply is steady; renewable energy comprises 31.3% of resources and is on
track to fulfill State regulations; natural gas supply is good; energy markets are stable at approximately $40 per megawatt
hour (MWh); construction of the new wind facility is on schedule with power generation expected in January 2022; the
audit of greenhouse gas emissions is complete; ALW has received its 2021 allowances; and excess allowances will be
auctioned.
2. Water Supply Update
Utilities Director Robledo reported rainfall of 0.5 inch for November; the water level in the monitoring well is at the
bottom of the operating range; the Watermaster has purchased water to inject into the spreading grounds; ALW has
received its State water project allocation for 2020; the Canyon Reservoir contains about 16,000 acre feet of water; the
water level of the natural key well is at the bottom of the operating range; and State reservoir levels are at the middle of
the operating range.
He responded to questions posed by the Board, stating that the red line on the State reservoir graphic represents the
historical average level; Governor Brown declared the drought was over prior to his leaving office, but the drought was
not declared over for the San Gabriel Basin; water levels at the beginning of 2020 were below average; ALW continues to
encourage conservation; and not having to purchase water to meet demand means water rates are low.
H. CLOSED SESSION
None.
I. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by consensus of the Utility Board.
TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 6:55 P.M.
__________________________________________
CITY CLERK/SECRETARY