ITEM 4C
Desert Community Energy Board
Special Meeting Minutes
March 23, 2026
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 City Hall, Large Conference Room, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262.
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 There were no agenda modifications. The Board and audience members recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS
None
3. BOARD MEMBER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMENTS
Director of Energy & Sustainability Lisa McNeilly noted that there would not be an April meeting but staff anticipated a meeting in May.
Chair Bernstein requested that future agendas are released on the Wednesdays prior to the meeting in order to allow for more than the required 72-hour notice.
4. DISCUSSION / ACTION
A. Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Amendment & Fiscal Year 2026-27 Projection Director of Finance Claude Kilgore presented the staff report, detailing the factors impacting this year’s budget as well as next year’s budget forecast.
Extensive member discussion ensued, with Mr. Kilgore addressing questions about the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA, or exit fee), staffing and overhead costs, and resource adequacy. Mr. Kilgore noted that additional data would be available in May that would allow staff to better refine the budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27.
The audio file for this meeting can be found at: http://www.desertcommunityenergy.org Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Special Meeting Minutes – March 23, 2025
IT WAS MOVED BY VICE CHAIR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY CHAIR
BERNSTEIN TO APPROVE THE MID-YEAR BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2025-26
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Chair Jeffrey Bernstein Aye
Vice Chair Veronica Chavez Aye
B. Additional Authorizations for Pre-Pay Bond Financing Ms. McNeilly introduced the item and provided an overview of the pre-pay bond financing before handing the presentation to Mr. Kilgore to discuss additional details and next steps.
Member discussion ensued, with questions fielded by staff and Tyler Noble, Managing Director of MG Advisory Corp. who joined the meeting by Zoom.
IT WAS MOVED BY VICE CHAIR CHAVEZ AND SECONDED BY CHAIR
BERNSTEIN TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO TAKE
ADDITIONAL STEPS TO ESTABLISH PRE-PAYMENT BOND FINANCING INCLUDING: 1.) EXECUTE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH REDWOOD COAST
ENERGY AUTHORITY (RCEA), AN AGREEMENT WITH GOLDMAN SACHS TO
FULFILL THE ROLES OF COUNTERPARTY SUPPLIER AND INTERMEDIARY BANK; 2.) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2026-01, AUTHORIZING DCE TO JOIN
THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHOICE FINANCING AUTHORITY (CCCFA), AS THE BOND ISSUER, AT A COST OF $50,000 FOR THE MEMBERSHIP ENTRY FEE AND UP TO $20,000 TO COVER A TRANSACTION FEE FOR ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS; AND 3) SELECT AND NEGOTIATE AN
AGREEMENT WITH A TAX AND BOND COUNSEL AT A TOTAL, SHARED COST NOT TO EXCEED $350,000
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH 2 AYES.
Chair Jeffrey Bernstein Aye
Vice Chair Veronica Chavez Aye
C. DCE’s 2026 Integrated Resource Plan
Management Analyst Alvaro Valcarcel Jervis presented the staff report.
Member discussion ensued, including some questions about how data centers and electrification could factor into future planning. There was no action was taken on this informational item.
5. INFORMATION
The following items were included in the agenda packet for members’ information :
A) Attendance Record
Desert Community Energy Board of Directors
Special Meeting Minutes – March 23, 2025
B) Conflict of Interest Guidance
C) Summary of January 2026 Rate Adjustment
D) Community Advisory Committee Update
E) 2025 GO 156 Annual Supplier Diversity Report
F) Unaudited Year-to-Year Financial Report as of September 30, 2025 G) Unaudited Year-to-Year Financial Report as of December 31, 2025 H) DCE’s Quarterly Investment Report through September 30, 2025 I) DCE’s Quarterly Investment Report through December 31, 2025 J) Update on Calpine Community Energy’s Community Benefits Grant At the request of Vice Chair Chavez, Mr. Kilgore provided additional details on the investment reports (Items 5H-I). Chair Bernstein also sought some clarity about the timing of the community benefits grant as it pertains to Palm Springs’ programming (Item J).
6. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Donald Ziegler of Palm Desert asked some budgetary questions and also suggested there be regional collaboration with other agencies’ plans when it comes to preparing for energy reliability.
7. ANNOUNCEMENTS
It was noted that the April meeting was being canceled. The next DCE Board meeting will be held May 18, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at the Large Conference Room at Palm Springs City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, 92262.
8. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Chair Bernstein adjourned the meeting at 3:57 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Erica Felci
Deputy Executive Director