HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - January 23, 2023 - UB
CITY OF AZUSA
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD
MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023– 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 Building 1st Floor Conference Room located at 729 N. Azusa Avenue, Azusa, California.
Chairperson 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, MENDEZ
ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE
The pledge to the flag was led by Captain Rob Landeros.
ALSO PRESENT
Elected Officials: Secretary Cornejo
City Attorney: Jeff Ferre
Staff Members: General Manager Tikan Singh, Assistant General Manager Resource Management Richard Torres,
Assistant General Manager of Customer Service Alicia Holmes, Assistant General Manager of Water Operations Melissa
Barbosa , Assistant General Manager of Electric Operations Hien Vuong, Environmental Programs Manager Paul Reid,
Utilities Administrative and Finance Manager Danny Smith, City Manager Sergio Gonzalez, Captain Robert Landeros,
Chief Deputy City Clerk Adrian Garcia.
A. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None
B. GENERAL MANAGER COMMENTS
General Manager Singh welcomed Assistant General Manager of Water Operations Melissa Barbosa and gave a brief
history of her experience and history in the industry.
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C. UTILITY BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
Board M ember Avila Jr. had no comments.
Board M ember Alvarez talked about the news announcement of the water run-off that specifically mentioned Azusa for
capturing and filtering the water and requested more information.
General Manager Singh explained any water not captured goes into the ocean. Ms. Barbosa further explained that Azusa
is collecting the run-off water, the water is not wasted. Local Runoff water is being spread, from the dams there is an
inflow released, and is going into the spreading ground facilities throughout LA County. The Pure Water Carson Project
is currently piloting to capture all water, and filter it, to share with the Region including San Gabriel Valley Municipal
Water District and at the Weymouth Plant.
Board Member Gonzales Water Quality announced that LA County Flood Control will be releasing water to the spreading
grounds.
Board Member Beckwith had no comments.
Board Chairperson Mendez had no comments.
D. SCHEDULED ITEMS
None
E. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Minutes of the Utility Board Meeting on November 28, 2022 were approved.
2. Award Professional Service Agreement to Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) Engineering Services, Inc.
for Project LD-2022RC in the amount not -to-exceed $61,192.00; and 2) Authorize the Mayor to execute the Professional
Service Agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney was approved.
3. Amendment to Blanket Purchase Order 037178 issued to MJ Star-Lite Inc. from $50,000 to $200,000 for installation
of underground conduit was approved.
4. The plan and specifications for project LD2023 -01 – Installing of Underground Substructures and Venting Pipes;
and 2) Authorize the advertisement to solicit formal bids for the construction of LD2023-01 was approved.
5. The amended SCPPA Task Order for the Small Business Audit and Retrofit Program Richard Heath and Associates,
Inc. at a program cost not to exceed $756,761.54 through a SCPPA joint purchase agreement pursuant to AMC Sections
2-520(b) “sole source” and 2-521(a) “cooperative and piggyback purchases”; and 2) Authorize the General Manager to
execute the SCPPA Task Order in a form acceptable to the City Attorney was approved
Board Member Gonzales moved, Board Member Avila Jr. seconded by, to approve Items 1-5 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
PAGE 3 – 1/23/23
F. STAFF REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS
1. Fiscal Year 2022-23 First Quarter Budget Reports for Water and Electric Funds
Utilities Admin & Finance Manager Danny Smith provided information regarding the first quarter budget reports for
water and electric division funds and responded to Board Member questions.
G. VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
1. Power Supply Update
Assistant General Manager Resource Management Richard Torres reported actual renewable fleet generation in 2022
served 28.2% of retail load which was shy of the targeted 38.5% by 10.3%. Utilizing the 12% RECs credit for what Mesa
replaced puts them aligned with the target. The unused credits can be saved for use in future years. Mesa substation is
expected to be online in July of 2023.
2. Water Supply Update
Assistant General Manager Melissa Barbosa reported 19.6” inches total of rainfall for December and January. Both San
Gabriel and Morris Dam have water behind them, but the water is muddy and dirty, the turbidity is high. Currently the
treatment plant is offline due to the high turbidity. The spreading grounds are gaining almost a foot per day, they are still
about 45 feet below where they s hould be. We still need rain, and the recent rains were a big help. The state reservoirs are
about half full, the State plans to release allocation updates in February. Congress Representative Napolitano was able to
secure $2.5 million for Fiscal 2023 under the Omnibus Appropriations Bill which President Biden signed into law on
December 29, 2022.
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: 6:46 P.M.
__________________________________________
CITY CLERK/SECRETARY