ITEM 4B
Desert Community Energy Board
Special Meeting Minutes
November 20, 2025
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting of the DCE Board was called to order by Chair Jeffrey Bernstein at 3 p.m. at Palm Springs Police Department, Training Center- Classroom C, 200 S. Civic Drive, 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 Jeffrey Bernstein, 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
None
5. BOARD MEMBER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMENTS
Director of Energy & Sustainability Lisa McNeilly updated the Board on the advice letter submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission requesting funding to establish an energy efficiency program for customers, noting that it was filed last week, and staff does not expect a response until the second quarter of 2026.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 6B was pulled from the consent calendar.
IT WAS MOVED BY VICE CHAIR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY CHAIR BERNSTEIN TO APPROVE ITEM 6A ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. Approve Adopt DCE Policy No. 25-01 for minor updates to DCE’s Wholesale Energy Procurement Risk Management Policy
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
The audio file for this meeting can be found at: http://www.desertcommunityenergy.org Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Special Meeting Minutes – November 20, 2025
Chair Bernstein Aye
Vice Chair Veronica Chavez Aye
6.1 ITEMS HELD OVER FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 6B was pulled for comment by Chair Bernstein requesting for rate updates from staff before proceeding with a vote.
IT WAS MOVED BY VICE CHAIR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY CHAIR BERNSTEIN TO APPROVE ITEM 6B ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR:
B. Adopt DCE Resolution 2025-07 approving revised Rate Stabilization Schedule’s Exhibit A Rate Adjustment Guidelines effective November 17, 2025 THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Chair Bernstein Aye
Vice Chair Veronica Chavez Aye
7. DISCUSSION / ACTION
A. DCE’s Audited Financial Statements for Fiscal Year 2024-25 and Related Reports Director of Finance Claude Kilgore presented the staff report and introduced Joyce Amankwah, Systems Manager with DavisFarr, who provided the Board with an update on the unmodified audit opinion received by DCE.
IT WAS MOVED BY VICE CHAIR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY CHAIR
BERNSTEIN TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING, AND THE AUDITOR’S COMMUNICATION
WITH THOSE CHARGED WITH GOVERNANCE
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Chair Jeffrey Bernstein Aye
Vice Chair Veronica Chavez Aye
B. Phase II of the ACCESS Indian Canyon Renewable Energy Assessment Services Management Analyst Alvaro Valcarcel Jervis presented the staff report.
Brief member discussion ensued with Mr. Jervis answering questions from the Board regarding procurement process and finalists.
IT WAS MOVED BY VICE CHAIR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY CHAIR
BERNSTEIN TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A
CONTRACT WITH CIERCO INC IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HOT PURPLE ENERGY (C&H) FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $87,520 THROUGH APRIL Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Special Meeting Minutes – November 20, 2025
2026 TO COMPLETE PHASE II OF THE RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSESSMENT
OF THE ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE, EMERGENCIES AND SAND
STORMS (ACCESS) ALONG INDIAN CANYON PROJECT
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Chair Jeffrey Bernstein Aye
Vice Chair Veronica Chavez Aye
C. Pre-Pay Bond Financing Overview and Selection of Advisory Initial Services Director Kilgore presented the staff report and an overview of pre-pay bond financing.
Member discussion ensued with Mr. Kilgore and Municipal Capital Market Groups’ Managing Director Tyler Noble, who joined the meeting via Zoom, answering questions from the Board regarding collateral amounts and industry’s best practices.
IT WAS MOVED BY VICE CHAIR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY CHAIR
BERNSTEIN TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO TAKE THE
NECESSARY STEPS TO ESTABLISH PRE-PAYMENT BOND FINANCING INCLUDING 1.) EXECUTING, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH REDWOOD COAST
ENERGY AUTHORITY (RCEA), AGREEMENTS WITH MUNICIPAL CAPITAL MARKET GROUPS, INC. MANAGING DIRECTORS JOHN NORMAN AND TYLER
NOBLE TO PROVIDE PREPAYMENT ADVISORY AND RELATED SERVICES FOR A TOTAL, SHARED COST NOT TO EXCEED $350,000 AND 2.) SELECT
AND NEGOTIATE AGREEMENTS WITH PROJECT PARTICIPANT LEGAL COUNSEL AT A TOTAL, SHARED COST NOT TO EXCEED $300,000 AND 3)
WORK WITH RCEA TO APPORTION COSTS OF THE PRE-PAY EQUITABLY THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Chair Jeffrey Bernstein Aye
Vice Chair Veronica Chavez Aye
D. Update on Factors Impacting DCE’s Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Ms. McNeilly introduced the staff report and turned the presentation to The Energy Authority’s Jacqueline Hart and Chris Weber, who joined the meeting via Zoom, to provide an update on key factors impacting the budget.
No action was taken as this was an informational only item.
8. INFORMATION
The following items were included in the agenda packet for members’ information :
A) Attendance Record
B) 2024 Power Content Label
C) Update on Establishing DCE’s Energy Efficiency Program Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Special Meeting Minutes – November 20, 2025
D) Summary of October and November 2025 Rate Adjustments
9. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
None
10. ANNOUNCEMENTS
The next DCE Board meeting is scheduled for January 12, 2026, 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 Bernstein adjourned the meeting at 4:11 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ely Regalado
Deputy Clerk