ITEM 6A
Desert Community Energy Board
Meeting Minutes
February 6, 2022
Held via Zoom videoconference
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting of the DCE Board was called to order by Assistant Executive Director Erica Felci at 3:00 p.m. via Zoom videoconferencing, pursuant to Assembly Bill 361.
2. CLOSED SESSION
A. Public Comment for Closed Session Items Only:
None
B. Closed Session
Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4) Number of potential cases: 1
The DCE Board of Directors entered the closed session at 3:00 p.m. and adjourned the closed session at 3:15 p.m.
3. RECONVENE TO REGULAR SESSION & ROLL CALL
A. Report on Action from Closed Session
Executive Director Tom Kirk stated there was no reportable action from the closed session.
B. Member Roster
Roll call was taken, and it was determined that a quorum was present.
Members Present Member Jurisdiction
Councilmember Lisa Middleton City of Palm Springs
Veronica Chavez City of Palm Desert
4. AGENDA MODIFICATIONS (IF ANY)
Mr. Kirk announced that Agenda Item 8E would be continued to a future Board meeting.
The audio file for this meeting can be found at: http://www.desertcommunityenergy.org Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes – February 6, 2022
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS
None
6. BOARD MEMBER / DIRECTOR COMMENTS
Mr. Kirk welcomed the new Board
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mr. Kirk noted the new Board members did not have to attend the previous meeting to approve the minutes and noted they were compiled by staff as they always have been.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MIDDLETON AND SECONDED BY FINANCE DIRECTOR CHAVEZ TO:
A. Approve Minutes from the November 18, 2022 Board Meeting
B. Reaffirm that findings still exist, pursuant to Assembly Bill 361, and authorize continuation of remote teleconference/virtual meetings of Desert Community Energy
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Councilmember Middleton Aye
Finance Director Chavez Aye
.
8. DISCUSSION / ACTION
A. Election of DCE Officers – Tom Kirk
Mr. Kirk opened the floor for nominations. Members made one nomination for each officer role.
IT WAS MOVED BY FINANCE DIRECTOR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MIDDLETON TO ELECT PALM SPRINGS COUNCILMEMBER LISA MIDDLETON AS CHAIR OF THE DCE BOARD.
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Councilmember Middleton Aye
Finance Director Chavez Aye
Chair Middleton took over running the remainder of the meeting agenda.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MIDDLETON AND SECONDED BY
FINANCE DIRECTOR CHAVEZ TO ELECT PALM DESERT FINANCE DIRECTOR VERONICA CHAVEZ AS VICE CHAIR OF THE DCE BOARD.
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Councilmember Middleton Aye
Finance Director Chavez Aye
Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes – February 6, 2022
B. DCE 2023 Legislative Platform – Peter Carlstrom
Management Analyst Peter Carlstrom provided the staff report. Member discussion ensued.
IT WAS MOVED BY FINANCE DIRECTOR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MIDDLETON TO ADOPT DCE’S 2023 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM TO EXPAND DCE’S ADVOCACY EFFORTS AND SUPPORT INITIATIVES THAT ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH DCE’S MISSION
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Councilmember Middleton Aye
Finance Director Chavez Aye
C. Contract Amendments with Deer Creek Solar I, LLC for Deer Creek Solar +Storage Project – David Freedman
Program Manager David Freedman presented the staff report. Member discussion ensued with staff addressing questions on the amendment.
IT WAS MOVED BY FINANCE DIRECTOR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MIDDLETON TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AMENDMENTS TO THE RENEWABLE POWER
PURCHASE AGREEMENT AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PURCHASE AND SALE
AGREEMENT WITH DEER CREEK SOLAR I
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Councilmember Middleton Aye
Finance Director Chavez Aye
D. DCE Financial Outlook – Jaclyn Harr
Jaclyn Harr of The Energy Authority provided an update on DCE’s financials and a preview of the upcoming year. Member discussion ensued.
No vote was taken as this was an informational item.
E. Carbon Free Commercial Customer Recognition Program – Burke Rix Communications
This item was postponed to a future Board meeting.
F. Schedule of DCE Board Meetings – Erica Felci
Ms. Felci sought Board feedback on a meeting schedule. The Board concurred that the next meeting would be at 3 p.m. on March 20 via Zoom webinar.
9. INFORMATION
The following items were included in the agenda packet for members’ information :
Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes – February 6, 2022
A. Attendance Record
B. CPUC Net Energy Metering 3.0 / Net Billing Tariff Decision C. Unaudited Year-to-Year Financial Report as of December 31, 2022 D. Mid-Term Reliability 2023 Request for Offers
E. January 2023 Rate Adjustment Summary
10. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
None.
11. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Based on Board guidance on Agenda Item 8F, the next DCE meeting will be held at 3 p.m. on March 20 via Zoom webinar.
12. ADJOURNMENT –
Chair Middleton adjourned the meeting at 3:44 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Erica Felci, Assistant Executive Director