Draft Minutes
Executive Committee Meeting
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
3:00 pm
In Person:
Conference Room 5
Ava Community Energy
1999 Harrison St., Suite 2300
Oakland, CA 94612
Or from the following locations:
Hayward City Hall, 777 B St, Hayward, CA 94541
City of Pleasanton, City Council Office, 123 Main St., Pleasanton, CA 94566 Via Zoom:
https://avaenergy-org.zoom.us/j/88267670367
Or join by phone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or 877 853 5257 (Toll Free) or 888 475 4499 (Toll Free) Webinar ID: 882 676 70367
Meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals who need special assistance or a disability-related modification or accommodation to participate in this meeting, or who have a disability and wish to request an alternative format for the meeting materials, should contact the Clerk of the Board at least 2 working days before the meeting at (510) 906- 0491 or [email protected].
If you have anything that you wish to be distributed to the Executive Committee, please email it to the clerk by 5:00 pm the day prior to the meeting.
1. Welcome & Roll Call
Present: Members: Members Marquez (Alameda County), Roche (Hayward), Balch (Pleasanton), Vice-Chair Gonzalez (San Leandro), and Chair Andersen (Piedmont) Not Present: Member Fugazi (Stockton)
2. Public Comment
This item is reserved for persons wishing to address the Executive Committee on any Ava Community Energy-related matters that are not otherwise on this meeting agenda. Public Ava Community Energy
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comments on matters listed on the agenda shall be heard at the time the matter is called.
As with all public comment, members of the public who wish to address the Committee are customarily limited to three minutes per speaker and must complete an electronic speaker slip. The Executive Committee Chair may increase or decrease the time allotted to each speaker.
There were no speakers for public comment.
3. Closed Session Public Comment
There were no speakers for closed session public comment.
4. (4:59) Closed Session
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION under California Government Code Section 54957: Performance Evaluation of Chief Executive Officer Howard Chang
5. (48:32) Report Out of Closed Session
There were no items to report out of closed session.
6. Approval of Minutes from March 7, 2025
Member Gonzalez motioned to approve the minutes. Member Roche seconded the motion which was approved 4/0/1/0/1 (yes/no/abstain/recuse/not present) Yes: Members: Marquez, Roche, Vice-Chair Gonzalez and Chair Andersen No: none
Abstain: Member Balch
Recuse: none
Not Present: Member Fugazi
7. (50:34) 2025-26 Draft Budget Review (Informational Item) Review first draft of the fiscal year 2025-26 budget
Howard Chang presented Ava’s draft budget for fiscal year 2025–26, outlining two scenarios: an “upside” case under current PCIA rules and a “PCIA reform” scenario, which could reduce revenue due to anticipated regulatory changes. He explained how these scenarios would affect staffing levels, local development funding, and customer rate structures, and outlined potential tools to manage a budget shortfall.
Selected topics discussed by the Executive Committee
• Member Gonzalez asked for explanations of the $187 million impact and the $780 million scenario.
• Member Roche requested that staff provide a weighted recommendation on which budget adjustment strategies are most effective and least disruptive. (1:08:58) Public Comment – Jim Lutz asked if the contracts underlaying the PCIA calculations for PG&E stranded costs had been audited.
Ava Community Energy
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8. (1:10:53) CMF Update (Informational Item)
Update on current status of the Critical Municipal Facilities Portfolio JP Ross gave an update on Ava’s Critical Municipal Facilities Program, explaining that the agency is now planning to own and operate the solar projects directly, instead of using a third-party power purchase model. He noted that the team is moving quickly to select a contractor due to an April 2026 deadline. JP also explained the financial risks involved, including possible cost increases and uncertainty around federal tax credits, and said staff are working to reduce those risks before bringing a final recommendation to the board.
(1:19:57) Public Comment – Kelly Furgusson of Engie spoke in support of Ava and stated that while Engie ultimately chose not to bid on the EPC Contractor RFP, they hope to work with Ava in the future.
9. San Joaquin County (SJC) 2026 Enrollment Update (Informational Item) Update regarding SJC enrollment timing and process
Alex DiGiorgio, Public Engagement Manager, provided an overview of Ava’s planned enrollment of unincorporated San Joaquin County for March 2026. A key issue involves the South San Joaquin Irrigation District, which is seeking to municipalize and serves a subset of overlapping customers in the unincorporated area. Due to potential legal and logistical conflicts, Alex recommended deferring service to these overlapping customers while Ava negotiates an agreement to avoid procurement risks and stranded costs. (1:28:51) Public Comment – Jim Lutz asked if and how Ava can support South San Joaquin Irrigation District’s municipalization process.
Selected topics discussed by the Executive Committee
• Member Balch recommended that staff seek guidance from the board with regards to Ava’s relationship to the South San Joachin Irrigation District’s municipalization process.
10.Committee Member and Staff Announcements including requests to place items on future Executive Committee Agendas
There were no Committee Member or Staff announcements.
11.Adjourned at 4:34pm.
The next Executive Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at 3pm.