HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - March 27, 2023 - UB
CITY OF AZUSA
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD
MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2023– 6:30 P.M.
Chair person: Dennis Beckwith
Vice Chair person: Edward J. Alvarez
Board M ember: Robert Gonzales
Board M ember: Andrew N. Mendez
Board M ember: Jesse Avila, Jr.
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
Building 1st Floor Conference Room located at 729 N. Azusa Avenue, Azusa, California.
Chair person Dennis Beckwith 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 Chief Deputy City Clerk Adrian Garcia .
ALSO PRESENT
Elected Officials: Secretary Cornejo
City Attorney: Jeff Ferre
Staff Members: City Manager Sergio Gonzalez, General Manager Tikan Singh, Assistant General Manager of Electric
Operations Hien Vuong, Assistant General Manager of Resource Management Richard Torres, Assistant General
Manager of Water Operations Melissa Barbosa, Environmental Programs Manager Paul Reid, Utilities Administrative
and Finance Manager Danny Smith, Chief of Police Wenrick, Chief Deputy City Clerk Adrian Garcia.
A. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Kimberly Antol spoke as an Azusa resident and inquired if the utility company was able to separate residential water
usage by meter and if the electric company had the ability to individually meter electricity usage in conduit garages and
explained the process as she understood it and stated she would leave her email address for response.
General Manager Singh responded he would direct staff to look into her questions and provide a response.
B. GENERAL MANAGER COMMENTS
PAGE 2 – 3/27/23
General Manager Tikan Singh reported the parking lot repaving project is in progress. The ADA improvements will be
Phase I and they have begun soliciting quotes for Phase II, which will include resurfacing the lot once the ADA
improvements are complete. Azusa Light and Water has been designated “Gold” RP3 status which recognizes public
power utilities that demonstrate leading practices in reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement.
The designation is good from May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2026 and Azusa Light and Water will receive recognition at
the APPA’s Engineering and Operations Technical Conference on May 1, 2023. General Manager Tikan Singh showed a
short video about the recognition.
C. UTILITY BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
None
D. SCHEDULED ITEMS
None
E. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Minutes of the Utility Board Meeting on February 27, 2023 were approved.
2. Approve a purchase order of 135 disconnect switches for the Azusa Substation and issue a purchase order to
Siemens Industry, Inc. in the amount not to exceed $132,304.96 was approved.
Board Member Gonzales moved, seconded by Board Member Avila Jr., to approve Items 1-2 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. Results of the California Air Resources Board’s Auction of Greenhouse Gas Allowances from February 15, 2023
Assistant General Manager of Resource Management Richard Torres provided information regarding the California Air
Resources Board’s Auction of Greenhouse Gas Allowances and responded to Board member questions.
Each utility company is required to complete an annual audit of energy acquired from outside California, and Emissions
accounting, and report the information back to the State. The State then issues allowances based on the prior year’s results.
Azusa had a successful 2022 audit and received 71,000 allowances for 2023. Once staff allocates Azusa usage accordingly,
the remainder allowances can be allocated for auction. Azusa auctioned 49,838 allowances for a clearing price of $27.85
each, which resulted in a total of $1,387,988.
Item was received and filed.
G. VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
1. Power Supply Update
Assistant General Manager of Resource Management Richard Torres reported that renewable output through February
2023 was 2,535 MWh with wind generation at 7% that was close to double for this time in 2022. Solar output was 3,948
MWh totaling about 12% of usage. Solar output was down from 2022 end of February, due to the storms in January and
PAGE 3 – 3/27/23
February of this year. This was the 4th snowiest California winter on record. Focus is on replenishing the gas storage for
next winter. The Mesa Wind update included the turbines/rotor blade deliveries are still on schedule. The latest energized
expected operation date is September -October. SCE substation improvements are still being made. Mr. Torres indicated
that the Mesa site visit is still on schedule.
2. Water Supply Update
Assistant General Manager of Water Operations Melissa Barbosa reported 10.7” of rain fell in March for a total of 37.16
inches for the season. Local Ground Water Elevation at Key Well as of March 24, 2023 is 198.8 feet which was a 9 foot
rise from February which indicates they are capturing local ground water run-off. The water department participated in
the Magnolia Elementary School Read Across America Day and read to 5 th grade students and discussed the sources of
Azusa water, water conservation, water quality, and how Azusa Light and Water keeps their water supply safe. The State
has released information stating the State Water Project allocation is at 75% and a lot of the storage facilities are full. The
Colorado River at Lake Meade is still at critical level.
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: 6:51 P.M.
__________________________________________
CITY CLERK/SECRETARY