ITEM 6A
Desert Community Energy Board
Meeting Minutes
January 8, 2024
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting of the DCE Board was called to order by Chair Lisa Middleton at 3:00 p.m. at Palm Springs City Hall, Large Conference Room, 300 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, 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
Donald Zeigler, resident of Palm Desert, addressed the Board regarding item 7A and his concern with the increased financial obligations the item could bring to the City of Palm Springs. Mr. Zeigler recommended the Board explore microgrid technology.
Resident Rosario Avila joined the meeting via Zoom, to inquire whether item 7A was reviewed at the Palm Springs City Council meeting.
5. BOARD MEMBER / DIRECTOR COMMENTS
DCE Program Manager David Freedman announced the DCE Board will not meet next month and will be rescheduling the April meeting date as Chair Middleton will be out of town on business.
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 November 20, 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 – January 8, 2024
B. Adopt Resolution 2024-01 to Authorize Investments in the California Treasurer’s Local Agency Investment Fund
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Councilmember Middleton Aye
Finance Director Chavez Aye
7. DISCUSSION / ACTION
A. Contract Amendments with The Energy Authority
Mr. Freedman presented the staff report.
Brief member discussion ensued with Mr. Freeman answering questions from the Board.
IT WAS MOVED BY FINANCE DIRECTOR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MIDDLETON TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AMENDMENTS TO THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT AND TASK ORDER 2 WITH THE ENERGY AUTHORITY, INC., EXTENDING THE TERM UNTIL JANUARY 22, 2027 AND REPLACING THE CREDIT
SOLUTION WITH A GUARANTY FROM THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
Councilmember Middleton Aye
Finance Director Chavez Aye
B. Update on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System Selection Contracts Analyst Allen McMillen presented the staff report and introduced Michele Riazzi, Senior Consultant with BerryDunn, who presented the timeline of the current procurement process.
Member discussion ensued with Ms. Riazzi answering questions from the Board.
No action was taken as this was an information item.
C. Carbon Free Business Recognition Program
Management Analyst Emily Langenbahn presented the staff report.
No action was taken as this was an information item.
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 October 31, 2023 Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes – January 8, 2024
C) January 2024 Rate Adjustment Summary
D) Solar Opportunities along Indian Canyon Drive
E) Pursuit of DCE’s Investment Grade Credit Rating
F) Renewable and Mid-Term Reliability 2023/2024 Request for Proposals G) Roll out of SCE’s Solar Billing Program
9. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Brad Anderson, resident of the City of Rancho Mirage, expressed his concerns regarding the size of the DCE Board.
10. ANNOUNCEMENTS
The February meeting is being cancelled. The next DCE meeting will be held March 18, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at the Large Conference Room at Palm Springs City Hall, 3200 E.
Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, 92262.
Chair Middleton requested staff compile a quick overview and evaluation of microgrids and provide it to Board at a future meeting date.
11. CLOSED SESSION
The Board adjourned to closed session at 3:27 p.m.
Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Name: CPUC Resource Adequacy Proceedings (K.23-05-017; Citation No. E-4195-0156; R.23-10-011)
The closed session concluded at 3:38 p.m.
In reporting out of closed session, Ryan Barron, DCE’s Legal Counsel, stated that on December 20, 2023, and January 3, 2024, DCE received citations from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in a total amount of $275,451.60 for certain resource adequate deficiencies related to August and September 2023 month ahead resource adequacies filings. The Board has unanimously to direct DCE staff and its legal counsel to appeal those citations with the CPUC Code Enforcement division.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Freedman adjourned the meeting at 3:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elysia Regalado
Management Analyst- Administration