HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - January 24, 2022 - UBCITY OF AZUSA
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD
MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022– 6:30 P.M.
Chair person: Jesse Avila, Jr.
Vice Chair person: Andrew N. Mendez
Board Member: Robert Gonzales
Board M ember: Edward J. Alvarez
Board Member: Dennis Beckwith
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 213 East Foothill Boulevard, Azusa, California.
Chair person Avila called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.
ROLL CALL: R oll call was taken by Secretary Cornejo.
PRESENT: BOARD MEMBERS: BECKWITH, ALVAREZ, GONZALES, MENDEZ, AVILA Jr.
ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
Pledge to the flag was led by Mr. Zamora .
ALSO PRESENT
Elected Officials: Secretary Cornejo
City Attorney: Jeff Ferre
Staff Members: Interim Utilities Director Torres, Assistant Director of Water Operations Macias, Assistant Director
of Customer Service Holmes, Assistant Director of Electric Operations Vuong, Administration and Finance Manager
Smith, City Manager Gonzalez, Chief Bertelsen, Chief Deputy City Clerk Garcia
A. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None
B. UTILITIES DIRECTOR COMMENTS
Interim Utilities Director Torres reported that operations are going well, and the Athens service transition billing is on
schedule and is set to be transitioned on March 1, 2022. The North Tank Coding project is also on schedule with the
last phase set for the end of February. Next month’s meeting will include the Mid-Year Budget Review. There was
above average rainfall in December with local amounts of 11.3 inches compared to the average of 3-4 inches. There
were power outages due to the windstorm on January 22, 2022. Three circuits were affected, two were fixed within 4
hours, the Angelino circuit was out longer as it had a broken power line. There is a damaged Azusa substation. Edison
was called and the repairs are set to begin January 24, 2022. There will be an initial outage to isolate the damaged
section, there will be a longer outage for the replacement of the damaged equipment, notifications and updates have
been sent and there will be further updates to affected divisions as needed.
PAGE 2 – 1/24/2022
C. UTILITY BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
Board Member Gonzales appreciated the work Light & Water and Public Works put in over the weekend as the damage
from the windstorm was significant.
Chair person Avila thanked Light & Water, Public Works, and the Police Department for keeping the city safe during
and after the windstorm and welcomed Mr. Richard Torres as the Interim Utilities Director.
D. SCHEDULED ITEMS
None
E. CONSENT CALENDAR
Board Member Gonzales pulled Item E-1 from the consent calendar.
2. First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement for Inspection Services, adding $120,180 for
Construction Management and Inspection Services to MWH Constructors, for a total not to exceed amount $241,886 for
water project W-356 was approved, with authorization for the May or to execute the First Amendment, in a form
acceptable to the City Attorney, on behalf of the City.
Moved by Board Member Gonzales , seconded by Board Member Alvarez, to approve Item 2 of the Consent Calendar
by the following vote of the Board:
AYES: BOARD MEMBERS: BECKWITH, ALVAREZ, GONZALES, MENDEZ, AVILA Jr.
NOES: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
SPECIAL CALL ITEM
Board Member Gonzales requested clarification for the Minutes of the November 22, 2021 Utility Board under Item F1,
Paragraph 1, second sentence. The System Development Free is for the Vulcan project, not expansion. City Manager
Gonzalez agreed the word expansion should be replaced by project, and a correction with the attendees of the meeting.
1. The Revised Minutes of the Utility Board Meeting on November 22, 2021 were approved as corrected.
Moved by Board Member Gonzales , seconded by Board Member Beckwith, to approve Items 1 of the Consent Calendar
by the following vote of the Board:
AYES: BOARD MEMBERS: BECKWITH, ALVAREZ, GONZALES, MENDEZ, AVILA Jr.
NOES: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
F. STAFF REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS
None
PAGE 3 – 1/24/2022
G. VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
1. Power Supply Update
Interim Utilities Director Torres indicated that 2021 summer and fall drought conditions reduced overall local
hydroelectric generation. Fall 2021 El Paso & So Cal Gas natural gas transmission pipeline issues constrained gas flow
into southern California. Southern California power prices saw a 45% increase beginning June 2021. There was minimal
local hydro generation allocated to Azusa Light and Water (ALW). There will be a Mesa Wind resource commercial
operation delay to be collected in November of 2022, with a required capacity and energy purchases at higher market
prices. Staff will be assessing the budget status for sales and purchases and will be requesting a budget amendment in
February.
There is some market stability expected with the spring snowmelt and increased hydro generation, and lower heating
demands to aid in the near term.
The 2021 Azusa Light and Water generation composition renewable target was 35.8%, with an actual generation of
31.6% due to lack of rainwater. There was a lack of hydro output, 1000-2000 less MWh. ALW has sufficient banked
excess RPS credits from prior periods to meet the 2021 and 2022 targets.
2. Water Supply Update
Interim Utilities Director Torres related that the groundwater basin level is currently 182.3 feet, a decrease of 0.7 feet
from the prior month; the local reservoirs capturing storm water are at 17,599 feet as of January 1, 2022; there was
record rainfall between October -December. Drought severity levels have improved however, were not eliminated.
Overall, January has been dry. Staff will be watching and planning water resources conservatively for 2022. DWR
Announces 15% allocation for SWP vs. 2021’s 5%, SGVMWD was able to deliver 4,320-acre feet (AF ) during the
summer. Additional rain and snowfall may increase the allocation.
On January 4, 2022, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted a resolution for Water Conservation Emergency
Regulations effective for one year: there is a prohibition of turf irrigation on public medians, trees can continue to be
watered, the PW/ALW Division staff coordination will implement the conservation measure. This was implemented in
2016, so it is not new to the area.
H. CLOSED SESSION
None
I. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by consensus of the Utility Board.
TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 6:47 P.M.
__________________________________________
CITY CLERK/SECRETARY