HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - November 28, 2022 - UBCITY OF AZUSA
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2022– 6:30 P.M.
Chair person: Andrew Mendez
Vice Chair person: Dennis Beckwith
Board M ember: Robert Gonzales
Board M ember: Edward J. Alvarez
Board M ember: Jesse Avila, Jr.
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
& Water 1st Floor Conference Room located at 729 N. Azusa Avenue, Azusa, California.
Chair person Andrew N. Mendez called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.
ROLL CALL: Roll call was taken by Secretary Cornejo.
PRESENT: BOARD MEMBERS: AVILA Jr., ALVAREZ, GONZALES, BECKWITH (arrived at 6:31), MENDEZ
ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
Pledge to the flag was led by Deputy City Clerk II Brenda Hernandez.
ALSO PRESENT
Elected Officials: Secretary Cornejo
City Attorney: Jeff Ferre
Staff Members: City Manager Sergio Gonzalez, General Manager Tikan Singh, Assistant General Manager Power
Resources Richard Torres, Assistant General Manager of Customer Service Alicia Holmes, Assistant General Manager
of Electric Operations Hien Vuong, Administrative and Finance Manager Danny Smith, Chief of Police Rock y Wenrick,
Deputy City Clerk II Brenda Hernandez, Environmental Program Specialist Liza Sagan, Interim Assistant General
Manager Melissa Barbosa
A. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None
B. GENERAL MANAGER COMMENTS
General Manager Singh reported the Household hazardous and electronic waste event was held was a success, and the
festival of lights will be December 10th, during which Azusa Light and Water will be sponsoring an LED exchange event
from 4:30 to 7 in the City Hall lot.
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C. UTILITY BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
Board M ember Avila Jr. had no comments
Board M ember Alvarez requested and received information on the LED exchange event.
Board M ember Gonzales had no comments.
Board M ember Beckwith requested and received information on the Hazardous Waste event and disposing of household
batteries.
Board Chairperson Mendez had no comments.
D. SCHEDULED ITEMS
1. Accept or Reject a Recommendation from the California Underground Safety Board Regarding Actions by
Azusa Light & Water During a Dig Alert Incident
1) Under Government Code Section 4216.6(c) and (d), the Utility Board accept the recommendation of the Safety
Board and require the appropriate ALW representative to take the Safety Board’s online education course; or
2) Under Government Code Section 4216(c) and (d), the Utility Board reject the recommendation of the Safety Board
based on the following findings:
(a) ALW has already communicated with Dig Alert to provide separate shape files for the different service areas of Public
Works, Water Division, and Electric Division since each department responds and manages notifications separately;
(b) A firm has been retained to create a Positive Response Platform to manage incoming Dig Alert Tickets; and
(c) Since the omission was not due to a lack of knowledge or experience with Dig Alert Tickets, requiring an ALW
representative to devote time and resources to take the Safety Board’s online education course would not be useful.
Staff provided information regarding the options of accepting or rejecting a recommendation from the California
Underground Safety Board as a result of the actions taken during a dig alert incident , and responded to board member
questions.
Board Member Alvarez provided comments and requested and received information regarding the cost of taking the safety
class.
Board M ember Gonzales requested and received information regarding future requirement certifications.
Board M ember Avila Jr. requested and received information regarding staff responsibility of alert notifications.
Board M ember Gonzales requested and received information about potential risks of not taking the safety class.
Board M ember Beckwith requested and received information regarding water, light, and gas notifications and if they are
different considered separate.
Board Chair Mendez provided comments and requested and received information regarding the actual incident, the
damage that occurred and the response from Azusa Light & Water.
Board M ember Alvarez Jr. moved, seconded by Board Member Avila Jr., to approve Item D1 Recommendation from the
California Underground Safety Board Regarding Actions by Azusa Light & Water During a Dig Alert Incident , passed
4-1.
AYES: BOARD MEMBERS: AVILA Jr., ALVAREZ, GONZALES, BECKWITH
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NOES: BOARD MEMBERS: MENDEZ
ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
E. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Minutes of the Utility Board Meeting on October 24 , 2022 were approved.
2. The cancellation of the scheduled December 27, 2022 Regular Utility Board meeting was approved.
3. Award Professional Engineering Services Agreement for design, contract documents, and construction management
services for the Aspan Well Rehabilitation and Ground Water Treatment Facility Project W-288 to Stetson Engineers Inc;
and 2) Authorize the issuance of a Purchase Order for a not-to-exceed price of $1,665,840 in accordance with Azusa
Municipal Code Sec 2-518 – Contracts was approved.
4. The proposal by UFS to prepare a cost -of-service study for the Water Utility in the amount of $36,300.00 (includes
a 10% contingency); and 2) A Purchase Order to UFS in the amount of $36,300.00 was approved.
Board Member Gonzales moved, Board member Avila Jr. seconded by, to approve Items 1-4 of the Consent Calendar:
Unanimously passed 5-0.
AYES: BOARD MEMBERS: AVILA Jr., ALVAREZ, GONZALES, BECKWITH, MENDEZ
NOES: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
F. STAFF REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS
1. Fiscal Year 2021-22 Fourth Quarter Budget Reports for Water and Electric Funds
Finance Manager Danny Smith provided information regarding the fourth quarter budget reports for water and electric
division funds and responded to Board Member questions.
Board M ember Beckwith inquired about the lower income levels on electric funds.
G. VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
1. Power Supply Update
Assistant Director Power Resources Richard Torres reported through October ALW was at 33% renewable, bleak hydro-
based generation altered 2022 renewable objective and Azusa will likely apply it’s “banked” credits to meet 38.5% annual
target. The Mesa Wind target operation date is July 2023, with a foundations target completion date of Thanksgiving.
Turbine deliveries are expected on 12/12/22, main power transformer is stored in Laredo Texas, a site visit is proposed in
February 2023. Noteworthy issues include hydrology at the Colorado River is affecting many sectors, “Dead pool” level
for the Hoover Dam is 895 feet, current level as of October 2022 is 1046 feet. Natural gas prices are at a fourteen-year
high.
2. Water Supply Update
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Interim Assistant General Manager Melissa Barbosa reported October rain was .61 inches, November rain was 2.87
inches. We need rain! SGVMWD pipeline is delivering 5% SWP allocation which will end on December 7, 2022. The
local ground water elevation of Key Well as of November 18 th is at 179.7 feet. On October 14th it was at 176.9 feet. June
17, 2022, it was at 185.7 feet. The historic low was in 2018 at 169.4 feet. The RDA Recharge program is helping make
up for decreased local recharge. Most reservoirs are running low throughout the state.
Azusa Light & Water staff answered Board Member questions.
H. CLOSED SESSION
None
I. ADJOURNMENT
The Regular meeting of the Utility Board was adjourned by consensus of the Utility Board.
TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 7:11 P.M.
__________________________________________
CITY CLERK/SECRETARY