Entry No. 1
PIONEER COMMUNITY ENERGY
GOVERNING BOARD
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
January 18, 2024
Heard General Administration Functions, Part I.
Call to Order
Pioneer Community Energy Governing Board met in open session at 3: 00 PM on January 18, 2024. The Members convened in person and the meeting was accessible to the public at Pioneer Community Energy, 2510 Warren Drive, Suite B, Rocklin, California 95677; and was accessible for viewer participation on the Zoom platform at the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89967227073 ; and, was live streamed for viewing on the Pioneer website at: https://pioneercommunityenergy.orq/about-us/meetinqs-and -aqendas/ .
Roll Call
Present: City of Auburn (Dowdin Calvillo), City of Colfax (Lomen), County of El Dorado (H idahl), City of Grass Valley (Ivy), City of Lincoln (Andreatta), Town of Loomis (Ring), Nevada City (Petersen), County of Placer (Holmes), County of Placer (Jones), City of Placervi lle (Yarbrough), and City of Rocklin (Janda).
Absent: None.
Director Yarbrough arrived at 3:03 PM.
Director Holmes arrived at 3:08 PM.
Chair Dowd in Calvillo presided over the meeting.
Entry No. 2
Selection of Chair and Vice Chair of the Pioneer Governing Board for 2024 Elected Director Dowdin Calvillo to serve as Chair of the Pioneer Community Energy Governing Board for 2024, effective immediately.
MOTION: Hidahl. SECOND: Petersen. Vote: 10:0:1.
ROLL CALL: Andreatta, Dowdin Calvillo, Hidahl, Ivy, Janda, Jones, Lomen, Petersen, Ring, Yarbrough.
No/ Abstain: None.
Absent: Holmes.
Elected Director Ivy to serve as Vice Chair of the Pioneer Community Energy Governing Board for 2024, effective immediately.
MOTION: Dowdin Calvillo. SECOND: Hidahl. Vote: 10:0:1.
ROLL CALL: Andreatta, Dowdin Calvillo, Hidahl, Ivy, Janda, Jones, Lomen, Petersen, Ring, Yarbrough.
No/Abstain: None.
Absent: Holmes.
Agenda Review
Reviewed and made no revision to the meeting agenda for January 18, 2024.
Public Comment
There were no comments from members of the public on items not listed on this agenda.
January 18, 2024 - page 2
Entry No. 3
Acted on the Consent Agenda as follows:
Received Fiscal Year 2023-24 Draft Financial Reports through November 2023.
MOTION: Andreatta. SECOND: Jones. Vote: 10:0:1.
ROLL CALL: Andreatta, Dowdin Calvillo, Hidahl, Ivy, Janda, Jones, Lomen, Petersen, Ring, Yarbrough.
No/Abstain: None.
Absent: Holmes.
Entry No. 4
Receive Financial Audit Report from Pisenti & Brinker, LLP Received the Year-End Financial Statements and the Independent Auditor's Report for Fiscal Year 2022-23.
MOTION: Holmes. SECOND: Jones. Vote: 11:0:0.
ROLL CALL: Andreatta, Dowdin Calvillo, Hidahl, Holmes, Ivy, Janda, Jones, Lomen, Petersen, Ring, Yarbrough.
No/Abstain: None.
Absent: None.
Entry No. 5
Adopt Resolution Approving the Second Amended and Restated Joint Powers Agreement for Pioneer Community Energy with Any Changes Requested by the Governing Board Adopted Resolution 2024-1 approving the Second Amended and Restated Joint Powers Agreement for Pioneer Community Energy with any changes requested by the Governing Board.
MOTION: Hidahl. SECOND: Janda. Vote: 11:0:0.
ROLL CALL: Andreatta, Dowdin Calvillo, Hidahl, Holmes, Ivy, Janda, Jones, Lomen, Petersen, Ring, Yarbrough.
No/Abstain: None.
Absent: None.
Entry No. 6
Receive Update on Upcoming Programs
Received update on upcoming programs.
Entry No. 7
Adopt Resolution Approving the 2024 Governing Board Meeting Schedule Adopted Resolution 2024-2 approving the 2024 Governing Board Meeting Schedule.
MOTION: Petersen. SECOND: Lomen. Vote: 11:0:0.
ROLL CALL: Andreatta, Dowdin Calvillo, Hidahl, Holmes, Ivy, Janda, Jones, Lomen, Petersen, Ring, Yarbrough.
No/Abstain: None.
Absent: None.
January 18, 2024 - page 3
Entry No. 8
Adopt Resolution to Approve and Authorize the Executive Director to Execute all Documents Deemed Necessary to Consummate the following Modifications to the Line of Credit and Letter of Credit Agreements with Umpqua Bank: (1) Increase Existing Line of Credit Limit from $20 Million up to $30 Million (2) Expand the Line of Credit Purpose to include Working Capital if a meaningful credit rating improvement can be realized
Adopted Resolution 2024-3 to approve and authorize the Executive Director to execute all documents deemed necessary to consummate the following modifications to the Line of Credit and Letter of Credit Agreements with Umpqua Bank: (1) Increase existing Line of Credit Limit from $20 Million up to $30 Million. (2) Expand the Line of Credit Purpose to include working capital if a meaningful credit rating improvement can be realized.
MOTION: Holmes. SECOND: Andreatta. Vote: 11:0:0.
ROLL CALL: Andreatta, Dowdin Calvillo, Hidahl, Holmes, Ivy, Janda, Jones, Lomen, Petersen, Ring, Yarbrough.
No/Abstain: None.
Absent: None.
Entry No. 9
Heard General Administration Functions, Part II.
Board Member Communications
Board Chair Dowdin Calvillo commended staff for an exemplary job with messaging for Grass Valley and Nevada City customers coming online January 1, 2024; and commented that there is a need for extra messaging because everyone will see a higher bill due to PG&E rate increase and colder weather, and not from joining Pioneer. And, suggested that Pioneer may also want to consider a later start date for future expansion territory, moving from January to April.
Chair Dowdin Calvillo also recommended it would be beneficial for Director Ivy (Grass Valley) and Director Peterson (Nevada City) to address this at their Council meetings, so that their constituency and customers hear directly from them that they still have a twelve percent rate reduction with Pioneer and eventhough they see the rate increase, it is not because of Pioneer.
Executive Director Eckert informed the Board that the focus this week has been more on getting the website updated with the new rates, then we will not only speak about the discount but also that it is still better with Pioneer and why bills may look higher. Then, looking for staff to attend each agency's board or council meetings in the coming weeks to provide public comment on this.
Clarifications were requested regarding the 99% participation rate and if customers are automatically opted in and then must opt out to not be a Pioneer customer; and to confirm that information on 'How to Read Your Bill' has been provided to the new customers.
Director Andreatta expressed her appreciation to Executive Director Eckert and staff for their kindness and care this past month and throughout the year; and informed the Board and staff that Alternate Director Karleskint will be returning to the Board as the primary member next month.
January 18, 2024 - page 4
Committee Chair Janda reported that The Audit & Finance Committee met on January 3, 2024, to consider the following items:
Received an audit report from Pisenti & Brinker, Pioneer's independent auditors. The auditor reported that the audit for years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 financial statements is complete and reported an unmodified ur 'clean' opinion that the financial statement presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Pioneer Community Energy as of June 30, 2023 and 2022.
The committee conducted their annual selection of officers and selected as Chair Greg Janda and as Vice Chair John Hidahl.
Executive Director Communications
Executive Director Eckert reported that new rates at a 10% discount for Placer County, a 12% discount for Grass Valley and Nevada City, and a 19% discount for El Dorado County and City of Placerville. As for expansion, most complaints are coming from residents that are disappointed to not be joining Pioneer due to being residents of unincorporated Nevada County.
Executive Director Eckert informed the Board that the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) tour has been scheduled for January 3pt with four Board Members confirmed; and requested for any other interested Members to contact staff.
Informational Items
Received the Glossary of Terms.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 3:56 PM.
ATTEST:
Minutes approved as presented by a majority vote of
the Governing Board on March 21, 2024.
Teresa Willock, Board Secretary