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Home My WebLink AboutE-1.1. Utility Board Meeting Minutes 05-24-2021CITY OF AZUSA MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021– 6:30 P.M. Chairperson: Jesse Avila, Jr. Vice Chairperson: Andrew Mendez Board Member: Robert Gonzales Board Member: Edward J. Alvarez 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 Auditorium located at 313 East Foothill Boulevard, Azusa, California. Chairperson Avila called the meeting to order at 6:32 P.M. ROLL CALL: Roll call was taken by Secretary Cornejo. PRESENT: BOARD MEMBERS: ALVAREZ, GONZALES, MACIAS, MENDEZ, AVILA ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE Pledge to the flag was led by Secretary Cornejo. ALSO PRESENT Elected Officials: Secretary Cornejo City Attorney: Jeff Ferre Staff Members: City Manager Gonzalez, Deputy City Manager DeAnda-Scaia, Police Captain Grant, 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, Chief Deputy City Clerk Garcia A.PUBLIC PARTICIPATION None B.UTILITIES DIRECTOR COMMENTS Utilities Director Robledo reported the Motor Avenue line extension is complete; the rehabilitation of Well 7 is 90% complete' and the Cypress water transmission project, the triangle valve project, and the north tank coating project are underway. C. UTILITY BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS Vice Chairperson Mendez appreciated the return to in-person meetings. E-1Approved Utility Board 6/28/21 PAGE 2 – 05/24/2021 Board Member Macias requested staff repair the irrigation in the median of Azusa Avenue just south of the I-210 overpass. D. SCHEDULED ITEMS 1. Public Hearing and Adoption of the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan and 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan Utilities Director Robledo advised that Azusa Light & Water (ALW) is required to produce an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) every five years and a Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) periodically; the WSCP is a mitigation plan for any water interruption; staff and a consultant utilized the Department of Water Resources (DWR) 2020 UWMP Guidebook and production and usage data to prepare the UWMP; staff advertised the public hearing to encourage public participation; if adopted, the UWMP and WSCP will be submitted to the DWR by July 1, 2021; ALW water sources are groundwater pumped from the Main San Gabriel Basin, surface water diverted from the San Gabriel River, and imported water; water demand is down 30% since 2006; ALW exceeded the 2020 conservation target of 168 gallons per capita per day (GPCD), but consumption is currently at 147 GPCD; plans to manage drought and future growth include aggressive water conservation, rehabilitation of the Aspan well and treatment of the water with activated carbon, purchases from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) and the Carson regional water treatment plant, and mandatory water reduction and drought rates in severe situations; and the WSCP contains water supply reliability and drought management measures from the UWMP and a five-year drought risk assessment and requires an annual water supply and demand assessment. Chairperson Avila opened the public hearing. Assistant Director of Water Operations Macias responded to a question, stating there are no monetary penalties for exceeding the 168 GPCD target, but the State would deny funding and grants for ALW. Utilities Director Robledo responded to questions, stating ALW did not eliminate water conservation measures because the drought was not declared at an end for the San Gabriel Valley; a new communication plan has been developed to reinforce conservation. Moved by Board Member Gonzales, seconded by Board Member Vice Chairman Mendez, to close the public hearing by the following vote of the Board: AYES: BOARD MEMBERS: MACIAS, ALVAREZ, GONZALES, MENDEZ, AVILA NOES: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE ABSTAIN: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE Moved by Board Member Gonzales, seconded by Board Member Macias, to approve Resolution No. UB-2021-05 adopting the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan by the following vote of the Board: AYES: BOARD MEMBERS: MACIAS, ALVAREZ, GONZALES, MENDEZ, AVILA NOES: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE ABSTAIN: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE Moved by Board Member Gonzales, seconded by Vice Chairman Mendez, to approve Resolution No. UB-2021-06 adopting the 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan by the following vote of the Board: AYES: BOARD MEMBERS: MACIAS, ALVAREZ, GONZALES, MENDEZ, AVILA NOES: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE ABSTAIN: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE PAGE 3 – 05/24/2021 E. CONSENT CALENDAR Moved by Board Member Gonzales, seconded by Chairman Avila, to approve the Consent Calendar by the following vote of the Board: AYES: BOARD MEMBERS: MACIAS, ALVAREZ, GONZALES, MENDEZ, AVILA NOES: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE ABSTAIN: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE 1. The minutes of the April 26, 2021 meeting of the Utility Board were approved as written. 2. A Certificate of Acceptance of Grant of Permanent Easement for Electric Utility purposes from property owner for site address 734 N. Mckeever Avenue in the City of Azusa was approved; Resolution No. 2021-UB-07 was adopted; and the City Clerk was authorized to file said easement documents with the Office of the Los Angeles County Recorder. 3. Water rights lease agreements with the City of Monrovia and Valley County Water District were approved; and the Mayor was authorized to execute such water rights leases pursuant to Utility Board Resolution 09-C69. F. STAFF REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS 1. Fiscal Year 2020-21 Third Quarter Budget Reports for Water and Electric Funds Utilities Director Robledo indicated the Water Fund has positive cash flow; revenues, and expenses total 75% of budgeted amounts; retail sales have increased; cash reserves are greater than the minimum target; debt service is 1.73; the Electric Fund has positive cash flow; revenues total 75% of the budgeted amount; revenues will likely fall short of the budgeted amount for the fiscal year; expenses total 70% of the budgeted amount; retail sales have increased 0.2% over the prior year; cash reserves total $24.9 million; and debt service is 6.60. G. VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS 1. Power Supply Update Utilities Director Robledo related that renewable resources comprise 32.1% of the portfolio and should reach 35.8% by the end of 2021; hydroelectric resources have decreased due to drought conditions; the greenhouse gas compliance audit is complete; 73,000 greenhouse gas allowances will be sold at auction; electric demand is approximately 3% lower than the 2020 year-to-date amount; if the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) experiences extremely high demand, ALW is required to reduce its demand by a pro rata amount; staff has a communication plan should this occur; and the public responds to CAISO's flex alerts. 2. Water Supply Update Utilities Director Robledo reported the water level of the groundwater basin is falling; year-to-date rainfall is about 14 inches below the average rainfall; levels in local reservoirs are at the minimums; ALW's State Water Project allocation is 5%; staff plans to purchase 3,000 acre feet of water from the MWD in July and August; staff also plans to lease water rights to the Main Basin because the water is inaccessible, which hopefully will offset the cost of the water purchase; portable treatment for the Aspan well will provide access to the water in the Main Basin; and the water levels of reservoirs across the state are below average levels. H. CLOSED SESSION None PAGE 4 – 05/24/2021 I. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by consensus of the Utility Board. TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 7:01 P.M. __________________________________________ CITY CLERK/SECRETARY