ITEM 6A
Desert Community Energy Board
Meeting Minutes
November 20 , 2023
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting of the DCE Board was called to order by Chair Lisa Middleton at 3:03 p.m. at Palm Springs Police Department Training Center Conference Room, Classroom A, 200 S. Civic Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262.
2. ROLL CALL
Roll call was taken, and it was determined that a quorum was present.
Members Present Member Jurisdiction
Councilmember Lisa Middleton, Chair City of Palm Springs Finance Director Veronica Chavez, Vice Chair City of Palm Desert
3. AGENDA MODIFICATIONS (IF ANY)
None
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS
Brad Anderson, resident of Rancho Mirage, stated he is against the lobbying in item 7A and expressed that he is cautious about the selection process in item 7C.
5. BOARD MEMBER / DIRECTOR COMMENTS
DCE Program Manager David Freedman announced that CVAG has been recommended for a $50 million grant by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) for flooding and blowsand project along Indian Canyon, which will include a two-mile solar shade structure.
The award recommendation and vote is set to take place on December 6.
Mr. Freedman announced that there is no DCE board meeting in December as the Board is dark. The next meeting will be held on January 8 at City Hall in Palm Springs.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
IT WAS MOVED BY FINANCE DIRECTOR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MIDDLETON TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS:
A. Approve Minutes from the September 26, 2023 Board Meeting The audio file for this meeting can be found at: http://www.desertcommunityenergy.org Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes – November 20, 2023
B. Adopt DCE’s 2023-24 Legislative Platform, which adds energy affordability into the set of policies that is supported by DCE
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Councilmember Middleton Aye
Finance Director Chavez Aye
7. DISCUSSION / ACTION
A. Presentation: Statewide Legislative and Policy Efforts Impacting Community Choice Providers
Beth Vaughan, the Executive Director of California Community Choice Association (CalCCA) provided the presentation via zoom.
This item was an informational item with no action taken.
B. DCE’s Audit for Fiscal Year 2022/23 and Related Reports Finance Director Claude Kilgore introduced Shannon Ayala with Davis Farr, LLP who presented the 2022/2023 audit.
IT WAS MOVED BY FINANCE DIRECTOR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MIDDLETON TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2023, REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING, AND THE AUDITOR’S COMMUNICATION WITH THOSE CHARGED WITH GOVERNANCE.
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Councilmember Middleton Aye
Finance Director Chavez Aye
C. Contract for Marketing and Community Engagement Services Management Analyst Emily Langenbahn presented the staff report and recommendation.
Brief member discussion ensued. Finance Director Chavez requested that the wording of the proposed contracted be amended to include ”contingent on budget approval” Prior to execution.
IT WAS MOVED BY FINANCE DIRECTOR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MIDDLETON TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
EXECUTE A THREE-YEAR SERVICES CONTRACT WITH BURKE RIX FOR
MARKETING AND OUTREACH EFFORTS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $285,415 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2026, CONTINGENT ON BUDGET
APPROVAL
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Councilmember Middleton Aye
Finance Director Chavez Aye
Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes – November 20, 2023
D. Cost-free nuclear energy generation allocations from SCE an PG&E Mr. Freedman presented the staff report.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MIDDLETON AND SECONDED BY FINANCE
DIRECTOR CHAVEZ TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ELECT FOR
DCE TO RECEIVE ITS PRO RATA ALLOCATIONS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY
GENERATION FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON (SCE) AND PACIFIC GAS
AND ELECTRIC (PG&E), AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO DCE
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Councilmember Middleton Aye
Finance Director Chavez Aye
E. Guaranty of DCE’s Obligations to The Energy Authority Mr. Freedman presented the staff report.
Councilmember Middleton commented that the matter will go to the City of Palm Springs City Council for final approval.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MIDDLETON AND SECONDED BY FINANCE
DIRECTOR CHAVEZ TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO TAKE THE
NECESSARY STEPS TO SECURE FROM THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS A GUARANTY OF DCE’S POWER PROCUREMENT OBLIGATIONS TO THE ENERGY AUTHORITY, NOT TO EXCEED $25 MILLION
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Councilmember Middleton Aye
Finance Director Chavez Aye
8. INFORMATION
The following items were included in the agenda packet for members’ information :
A) Attendance Record
B) Unaudited Year-to-Year Financial Report as of September 30, 2023 C) DCE’s Unaudited Investment Report through September 30, 2023 D) DCE Financial Outlook
E) Future Updates to DCE Policy for Net Energy Metering Service F) October 2023 Rate Adjustment Summary
Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes – November 20, 2023
G) SCE Consolidated Metering and Billing Errors
9. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Brad Anderson, resident of the City of Rancho Mirage, expressed his concerns regarding public comment participation and the length of time allowed for comment, as well as the size of the DCE Board.
Resident Rosario Avila joined the meeting via Zoom to request DCE make meeting minutes more readily available on the website after every DCE meeting.
10. ANNOUNCEMENTS
The next DCE meeting will be held January 8, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. at the Large Conference Room at Palm Springs City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs 92262.
11. CLOSED SESSION
The Board adjourned to closed session at 3:53 p.m.
Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation
Initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) Name: CPUC Resource Adequacy Proceedings (K.23-05-017; R.23-10-011) The closed session concluded at 4:06 p.m.
Mr. Freedman announced that there was no reportable action taken.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Freedman adjourned the meeting at 4:07 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elysia Regalado
Management Analyst- Administration