OCPA Board Regular Meeting of July 19, 2023 Page 1
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ORANGE COUNTY POWER AUTHORITY
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Jung called to order the Regular Meeting of the Orange County Power Authority Board of Directors at 10:02 a.m. on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Director McKeon led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL
Present: Director Casey McKeon City of Huntington Beach Alt. Director Susan Sonne City of Buena Park Arrived at 10:08 a.m.
Director Tammy Kim City of Irvine Arrived at 10:59 a.m.
Vice Chair Kathleen Treseder City of Irvine
Chair Fred Jung City of Fullerton
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS
The following spoke in public comments regarding July 19, 2023, agenda items:
Ayn Craciun
Alt. Director Sonne arrived and took her seat at the dais at 10:08 a.m.
Linda Kraemer
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
None
6. DIRECTOR ANNOUNCEMENTS & REPORTS ON CONFERENCES/EVENTS
ATTENDED
Vice Chair Treseder requested an update on the status of the RFP for the CEO recruitment firm.
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Chair Jung stated that he had completed the rating and that the award of contract would be completed by the next Board meeting.
Director McKeon would like an item at the next Board meeting on the issue with the residents that opt out and are being opted back in.
THE CLOSED SESSION ITEM WAS TAKEN OUT OF ORDER AND DISCUSSED AFTER ITEM 10.4.
7. CLOSED SESSION
Director Kim addressed the residents and Board to explain her late arrival.
Recess to Closed Session
At 11:07 a.m., Chair Jung called on General Counsel Norvell to recess the Board to closed session. General Counsel Norvell announced the Board was recessing to closed session. The following Board Members were present: Sonne, Kim, McKeon, Treseder, and Jung. Also present was Board Counsel Norvell.
1. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT
Pursuant to Government Code Section § 54957(b)(1)
Titles: Chief Executive Officer
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED
LITIGATION
Initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section § 54956.9(d)(4): One (1) potential case
Reconvene
At 11:32 a.m., the Meeting of the Orange County Power Authority reconvened with the following present: Directors Sonne, Kim, McKeon, Treseder, and Jung.
General Counsel Norvell reported out of Closed Session that the Board met in Closed Session discussed Items 7.1 and 7.2 as listed on the agenda and there was no reportable action taken.
8. COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE
Chair Neal provided a report from their June 12, 2023, Committee Meeting.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
ACTION
OCPA Board Regular Meeting of July 19, 2023 Page 3
Vice Chair Treseder made the motion, seconded by Director McKeon to:
Approve consent calendar items 9.1 – 9.2.
The motion carried unanimously by the following 4-0 vote:
Ayes: Chair Jung, Vice Chair Treseder,
Alt. Director Sonne, Director McKeon,
Noes: None
Absent: Director Kim
Abstain: Alt. Director Sonne Abstained on Item 9.1 only.
1. MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING OF JUNE 21, 2023 AND SPECIAL MEETING OF JUNE 16, 2023
Action Taken:
Approved as submitted.
2. AUTHORIZE THE CEO TO EXECUTE A RATE STRATEGY AND
FINANCIAL PLANNING & ANALYSIS SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH
NEWGEN STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS, LLC FOR A TWO-YEAR
TERM WITH THE OPTION TO EXTEND FOR TWO ADDITIONAL ONE
YEAR TERMS AND A NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $495,750
Action Taken:
Authorized the CEO to execute a two-year Agreement with the option to extend for two additional one-year terms, from July 19, 2023 through June 30, 2027, with NewGen Strategies and Solutions, LLC for Rate Strategy and Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) services, in a Not-to-Exceed (NTE) amount of $495,750.
10. REGULAR CALENDAR
1. RATIFY RATES EFFECTIVE JUNE 10, 2023
CFO Law provided a brief summary of this item.
Chair Jung requested confirmation that SCE’s three updates were for rate increases.
CFO Law responded in the affirmative.
Vice Chair Treseder stated that the rate design was set last year in September by the previous Board Members and asked if staff was providing a workshop to discuss setting the new rates.
CFO Law responded in the affirmative.
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Chair Jung made the motion, seconded by Alt. Director Sonne to:
Ratify rates effective June 10, 2023.
The motion carried by the following 4-0 vote:
Ayes: Chair Jung, Vice Chair Treseder,
Alt. Director Sonne, and Director McKeon
Noes: None
Absent: Director Kim
2. DISCUSS AND APPROVE ORANGE COUNTY POWER AUTHORITY
STRATEGIC PLAN 2023-2026
Interim CEO Mosca provided a brief presentation on this item.
Alt. Director Sonne suggested a shorter 11-words or less mission statement as follows: Provide renewable energy and equitably reinvest to support sustainable communities.
Vice Chair Treseder was excited with the presented items and supported Alt.
Director Sonne’s shorter version for the mission statement.
Chair Jung would like to add “at competitive rates” to the proposed mission statement.
Alt. Director Sonne made the motion, seconded by Vice Chair Treseder to:
Approve Orange County Power Authority Strategic Plan 2023-2026 with the amended mission statement.
The motion carried by the following 4-0 vote:
Ayes: Chair Jung, Vice Chair Treseder,
Alt. Director Sonne, and Director McKeon
Noes: None
Absent: Director Kim
3. WEBSITE REFRESH UPDATE
Interim CEO Mosca introduced the presentation on this item.
John Cheresh and Rachel Orchard, Goldencomm representatives and Brenda Springer and Brenda Deely, Reveille representatives presented this item.
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Chair Jung requested clarification on the disabilities and impaired options. The presenting staff informed him that the website was ADA complaint.
Alt. Director Sonne requested a link to the updated website to review and provide further recommendations and feedback.
Vice Chair Treseder appreciated the website update and requested that the lead character in the explainer video be representative of the demographics of the customer base and female.
Action Taken:
Received and filed.
Director Kim arrived and took her seat at the dais at 10:59 a.m.
4. APPROVE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT
General Counsel Norvell provided a brief summary of this item.
Alt. Director Sonne requested clarification of the weighted voting process if the item did not pass, and the weighted vote remained in place.
General Council Norvell explained the existing weighted vote process.
Director McKeon asked if Irvine’s seed money had been repaid. He was informed that it had not been repaid.
Vice Chair Treseder provided background information on why she had to vote against removing the weighted vote. She noted that her no vote was under protest.
Director Kim also provided background information on how she would vote on this item.
Chair Jung made the motion, seconded by Alt. Director Sonne to:
Approve Fourth Amendment to Joint Powers Agreement.
The motion failed by the following 3-2 vote:
Ayes: Chair Jung, Alt. Director Sonne, and Director Kim Noes: Vice Chair Treseder and Director McKeon
Absent: None
THE BOARD RECESSED AT 11:07 A.M. TO CLOSED SESSION AND RECONVENED AT 11:32 A.M.
OCPA Board Regular Meeting of July 19, 2023 Page 6
5. UPDATE ON WITHDRAWAL OF COUNTY OF ORANGE AND
ASSESSMENT OF COSTS AND LIABILITIES CAUSED BY
WITHDRAWAL
General Counsel Norvell provided a brief summary of this item.
Chair Jung asked the audience to forgive the erroneous comments by the public.
These hard costs were incurred, and the Agency and their customers should not be burdened.
Action Taken:
Received update on withdrawal of County and current amounts due to OCPA as a result of withdrawal; provided direction to move forward as presented.
6. UPDATE SALARY SCHEDULE FOR DIRECTOR OF POWER
RESOURCES
Interim CEO Mosca provided a brief summary on this item.
Chair Jung stated his concerns with the potential salary compaction from this elevation; however, the upcoming compensation and class salary study should alleviate said concerns.
Vice Chair Treseder stated her support of this item.
Alt. Director Sonne made the motion, seconded by Vice Chair Treseder to:
Approve updated salary schedule for Director of Power Resources.
The motion carried by the following 5-0 vote:
Ayes: Chair Jung, Vice Chair Treseder, Director Kim
Alt. Director Sonne, and Director McKeon
Noes: None
Absent: None
7. CONSIDERATION OF OPTIONS ON MARKETING,
COMMUNICATIONS, STRATEGY, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, DIGITAL
AND GRAPHIC DESIGN CONTRACT
Interim CEO Mosca provided a brief summary on this item.
Alt. Director Sonne made the motion, seconded by Chair Jung to:
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Confirm award of the contract to Reveille based on the results of the prior RFP process and direct staff to place an amendment of the contract on a September agenda.
The motion carried by the following 5-0 vote:
Ayes: Chair Jung, Vice Chair Treseder, Director Kim
Alt. Director Sonne, and Director McKeon
Noes: None
Absent: None
8. DISCUSSION OF SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING DATE
Interim CEO Mosca provided a brief summary on this item.
Director Kim made the motion, seconded by Vice Chair Treseder to:
1. Cancel the September 20, 2023 Regular Board Meeting and schedule a Regular Board Meeting on September 13, 2023.
2. Adopt Resolution No. 2023-06, amending the Board’s 2023 regular meeting schedule to reschedule the September regular Board meeting.
11. STAFF REPORT
Interim CEO Mosca provided several highlights from his agenda staff report.
12. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Board, Chair Jung adjourned the July 19, 2023, Orange County Power Authority Board Regular meeting at 11:51 a.m.
Submitted by:
Pat Jacquez-Nares, Authority Secretary