ITEM 6A
Desert Community Energy Board
Meeting Minutes
December 9, 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, 3200 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)
Noting this would be her final meeting on the Board, Chair Middleton asked if Item 5 (Board member/ staff comments) could be addressed at the end of the meeting.
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS
None.
Per the modification, Item 5 was taken at the end of the agenda.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
IT WAS MOVED BY VICE CHAIR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY CHAIR MIDDLETON TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS:
A. Approve the minutes of the October 21, 2024, Board meeting B. Adopt DCE’s Legislative Platform for the next two-year cycle to allow for effective and efficient engagement on key policies of importance to DCE and its customers
C. Adopt Resolution 2024-03, approving the interim 2023 Power Source Disclosure Annual Reports and associated 2023 Power Content Label and authorizing the Executive Director to complete all actions necessary for submittal to the California Energy Commission, including approving the final 2023 Power Source Disclosure Annual Reports and associated 2023 Power Content Label for Desert Saver and Carbon Free products, and attesting to their veracity The audio file for this meeting can be found at: http://www.desertcommunityenergy.org Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes – December 9, 2024
D. Appoint Bernard Rottner of Palm Springs and Donald Zeigler of Palm Desert to the Community Advisory Committee through 2026
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Chair Lisa Middleton Aye
Vice Chair Veronica Chavez Aye
6.1 ITEMS HELD OVER FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
None
7. DISCUSSION / ACTION
A. DCE’s Audit for Fiscal Year 2023/24 and Related Reports Director of Finance Claude Kilgore introduced the item and then Shannon Ayala, Partner with Davis Farr, provided details on the audit. Board discussion ensued.
Chair Middleton acknowledged the audit as being received and filed. No additional action was taken.
B. Update to DCE’s Amended Financial Reserve Policy 18-10 Mr. Kilgore presented the staff report and detailed the approach of special reserves.
Board member discussion ensued, with Mr. Kilgore answering questions. Board members requested that future updates to the Board address how the reserve fund types would be prioritized and help address a fluctuating market by providing reserve projections as a range instead of a singular number.
IT WAS MOVED BY VICE CHAIR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY CHAIR MIDDLETON TO APPROVE ADDITIONAL UPDATES TO DCE POLICY NO. 18- 10 AMENDED FINANCIAL RESERVE POLICY.
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Chair Lisa Middleton Aye
Vice Chair Veronica Chavez Aye
C. DCE Mid-term Reliability Procurement: Terra-Gen Wind Energy Projects and Other Long-Term Procurement Initiatives
Program Manager David Freedman presented the staff report. Member discussion ensued. Chair Middleton noted the importance of the agreement and encouraged staff to schedule a public celebration.
Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes – December 9, 2024
IT WAS MOVED BY VICE CHAIR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY CHAIR MIDDLETON TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-04, APPROVING A LONG-TERM POWER PURCHASE
AGREEMENT WITH SAN GORGONIO WESTWIND II, LLC FOR ITS NORTH PALM
SPRINGS WIND PROJECT, AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO EXISTING POWER
PURCHASE AGREEMENTS WITH SAN GORGONIO WESTWIND II, LLC, AND
COACHELLA WIND HOLDINGS, LLC, AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AND/OR LEGAL COUNSEL TO MAKE MINOR MODIFICATIONS BEFORE EXECUTION OF THE AGREEMENTS.
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Chair Lisa Middleton Aye
Vice Chair Veronica Chavez Aye
D. ACCESS Indian Canyon Renewable Energy Assessment
Management Analyst Emily Langenbahn presented the staff report.
IT WAS MOVED BY VICE CHAIR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY CHAIR MIDDLETON
TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH MUGRID ANALYTICS LLC FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $53,110 FOR PHASE I
OF THE ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE, EMERGENCIES AND SAND STORMS (ACCESS) INDIAN CANYON RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSESSMENT SERVICES.
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Chair Lisa Middleton Aye
Vice Chair Veronica 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, 2024 C) DCE’s Quarterly Investment Report through September 30, 2024 D) Palm Springs Home Energy Efficiency Reach Code
9. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
None
5. BOARD MEMBER / DIRECTOR COMMENTS
Chair Middleton reflected on her time on the DCE Board and described a bittersweet farewell. She lauded residents and businesses for paying more to invest in clean energy and a sustainable future, expressed disappointment with the California Public Utilities Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes – December 9, 2024
Commission and thanked staff and her fellow Council members. She acknowledged Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein, who will become the DCE Board member.
Mr. Kilgore praised her leadership and announced plans to acknowledge her with a plaque at the windmill project in early 2025. Mr. Kilgore also acknowledged Mr. Freedman, who is retiring. Chief Operating Officer Erica Felci provided the Board with an update on staffing and the transition after Mr. Freedman’s retirement.
10. ANNOUNCEMENTS
The January meeting has been canceled. The next DCE Board meeting will be held February 10, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at the Large Conference Room at Palm Springs City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, 92262.
11. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Chair Middleton adjourned the meeting at 3:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Erica Felci
Chief Operating Officer