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Home My WebLink AboutF-1.1. 4-28-25 Utility Board Minutes FINALCONSENT ITEM F-1 CITY OF AZUSA MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2025 – 6:30 P.M. Chairperson: Edward J. Alvarez Vice Chairperson: Jesse Avila, Jr. Board Member: Robert Gonzales Board Member: Andrew N. Mendez Board Member: Sabrina Bow, Ed.D Secretary: Jeffrey Lawrence Cornejo, Jr. The Utility Board of the City of Azusa met in regular session, at the above date and time, in the Azusa Light & Water First Floor Conference Room located at 729 N. Azusa Avenue, Azusa, California. CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Edward Alvarez called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. ROLL CALL: Roll call was taken by Secretary Cornejo. PRESENT: BOARD MEMBERS: BOW, MENDEZ, GONZALES, AVILA, JR., ALVAREZ ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE The pledge of allegiance was led by Chairperson Alvarez. ALSO PRESENT Elected Officials: Secretary Cornejo Staff Members: General Manager Tikan Singh, Assistant General Manager Power Resources Richard Torres, Assistant General Manager Electric Operations Hien Vuong, Assistant General Manager Water Operations Melissa Barbosa, Assistant General Manager Customer Care Alicia Approved Utility Board 5/27/2025 Utility Board Minutes April 28, 2025 Page | 2 2 Holmes, Environmental Services Manager Paul Reid, Senior Management Analyst Yesenia Paez, Deputy City Clerk Krystal Avila, City Attorney Jeff Ferre, City Manager Sergio Gonzalez A. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION None. B. CLOSED SESSION None. C. GENERAL MANAGER COMMENTS Assistant General Manager Electric Operations Vuong provided a report on the electric outage that took place on April 27th,failure was attributed to Edison tripping the transformer, approximately 5,849 customers were affected; and Staff will be coordinating with Edison to make repairs on Wednesday, April 30th, early in the morning and it will take all day, customers will not be affected. Assistant General Manager Water Operations Barbosa updated the board on the Aspan Well Project, stating that there are efforts to acquire a 0.45-acre parcel with the school district and developer; VOCs and nitrates will be treated using granulated activated carbon and ion exchange; the project includes a new well, motor, casing, and pump, and noted that brine, a byproduct of ion exchange, will be transported to a county facility at Irwindale and Gladstone; must work with the State on compliance, with testing and approval potentially taking a few years, and a stormwater pipeline is required; Staff received approval to connect to the storm drain at Zacatecas Park, saving 1,000 feet of pipeline; Measure W funding is being explored for the remaining 1,700 feet of 24- inch pipe from the Aspan site. The Board inquired whether the brine line might lead to corrosion of the sewer line; She explained that it flows through an approved L.A. County sewer facility, which is equipped to properly treat and break it down. General Manager Singh reported on the Clean and Green events that were held in April, including the Compost and Mulch giveaway; noted the Eco-fair was another successful event and Staff sponsored two water bars with some Cal Recycled grants; 225 households participated in the Shred – A - Thon, resulting in 10,620 pounds of paper shredded; and the Household Hazardous Waste and E-Waste event had 138 households that participated, and the next one will be in November. Assistant General Manager Customer Care Holmes provided a brief report regarding the electrical outage that took place on April 27th; mentioned that residents couldn’t get through due to the high call volume; shared the billing statement with the outage phone number and said that in May bills will highlight calling Azusa Light and Water at 5225 instead of 9-1-1. Ms. Holmes responded to questions about whether outage reporting could be added to the Azusa 24/7 app. She said the I.T. Director would be the one to ask but noted a new app that will be released in July Utility Board Minutes April 28, 2025 Page | 3 3 allowing customers to do so. Ms. Holmes informed the Board about a new Welcome Email series for new customers. She explained how customer contact info was collected. The emails, sent in the first month of service, will include portal access, contact details, payment and billing options, and available assistance programs. D. UTILITY BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS None. E. SCHEDULED ITEMS None. F. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Minutes of the Utility Board Meeting on March 24, 2025 were approved as written. 2. The results of the California Air Resources Board’s February 2025 Auction of Greenhouse Gas Allowances were received and filed. 3. Pulled for question. 4. An Amendment of Blanket Purchase Order 042034, issued to Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Inc., from $50,000 To $75,000 was approved. 5. The acceptance of a grant of permanent easement for the electric facilities installed on private property from property owner for site address 479 E. Gladstone St, Azusa, CA 91702; Resolution No.2025-UB-03 was adopted; and the City Clerk was authorized to file said easement documents with the Office of the Los Angeles County Recorder. Moved by Vice Chair Avila to approve, seconded by Member Mendez and carried by the following roll call vote to approve Items 1,2,4, and 5 on the Consent Calendar. AYES: BOW, MENDEZ, GONZALES, AVILA, JR., ALVAREZ NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE SPECIAL CALL 3. Award A Professional Services Agreement to Civiltec Engineering Inc. For Inspection Services Related to South Reservoir Construction Capital Improvement Project WF-221 Utility Board Minutes April 28, 2025 Page | 4 4 Chairman Alvarez read the section regarding attorney’s fees in the contract and asked the City Attorney who decides what “reasonable” attorney’s fees are. The City Attorney responded that the Court does and explained the process. Further discussion on what the average amount of reasonable attorney fees took place. Moved by Chairman Alvarez, seconded by Vice-Chair Avila and carried by the following roll call vote to 1)Approve the Professional Services Agreement to Civiltec Engineering Inc. for construction inspection services for South Reservoir Construction Capital Improvement Project WF-221, in an amount not-to-exceed $600,320.00 and 2) Authorize the issuance of a Purchase Order to Civiltec Engineering Inc. in the amount not to exceed $600,320.00; and 3) Authorize the Mayor to execute the Contract in a form acceptable to the City Attorney. AYES: BOW, MENDEZ, GONZALES, AVILA, JR., ALVAREZ NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE G. STAFF REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS 1. ANNUAL SB 1037 REPORT The report was received and filed by the Board without any action taken. H. VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS 1. Power Supply Update Assistant General Manager of Power Resources, Torres, gave a brief first-quarter update. Power generation is strong and 79% green, with over 30,000 from wind and nearly 9,000 from solar. While the annual target is 47%, projections suggest it may reach around 60% due to seasonal changes. He mentioned outages at Lodi Energy Center for maintenance and at Palo Verde Unit 1, expected back by May 3rd. He also noted a warm May and summer ahead, with new battery and solar installations coming online this summer. 2. Water Supply Update Ms. Barbosa shared that on Earth Day, the department hosted events and treatment plant tours. MWD met with the Governor about the State Water Project, which faces a threat from the invasive Golden Mussel. Staff is working on a mitigation plan with local agencies. Azusa will join the Upper District’s Water Fest on May 3 in Arcadia. On May 22, the San Gabriel Water Association will host a PFAS/PFOA discussion in Pomona. She noted half an inch of rain, a healthy Key Well at 243 feet, ongoing water transfers, and a planned sediment cleanout by LA County. The State Water Project allocation is 40%. Utility Board Minutes April 28, 2025 Page | 5 5 I. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 7:04 pm. ______________________________________________________ CITY CLERK/SECRETARY