Entry No. 1
PIONEER COMMUNITY ENERGY
GOVERNING BOARD
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
April 25, 2024
Heard General Administration Functions, Part I.
Call to Order
Pioneer Community Energy Governing Board met in open session at 2:45 PM on April 25, 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; was accessible for viewer participation on the Zoom platform at the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/i/89020017279 ; and, was live streamed for viewing on the Pioneer website at: https://pioneercommunityenergy.org/about-us/meetings-and-agendas/.
Roll Call
Present: City of Auburn (Dowdin Calvillo), City of Colfax (Lomen), County of El Dorado (Hidahl), City of Grass Valley (Ivy), City of Lincoln (Karleskint), Town of Loomis (Ring), Nevada City (Petersen), County of Placer (Holmes), County of Placer (Jones), City of Placerville (Yarbrough), and City of Rocklin (Janda).
Absent: None.
Presentation
Recognized and commended former Board Member Amanda Cortez (Town of Loomis) for her dedication and outstanding service in directing Pioneer Community Energy.
Closed Session
Adjourned to Closed Session at 2:50 PM with expected time of 3:00 PM to reconvene Regular Session.
Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) of GC §54956.9 (1 case)
Reconvened in Regular Session at 3:00 PM.
Chair Dowdin Calvillo presided over the meeting.
Public Report of Closed Session
In the matter of Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) of GC §54956.9 (1 case), no reportable action was taken.
Agenda Review
Reviewed and made no revision to the meeting agenda for April 25, 2024.
Public Comment
There were no comments from members of the public on items not listed on this agenda.
April 25, 2024 - page 2
Entry No. 2
Acted on the Consent Agenda as follows:
Approved the minutes of the March 21, 2024, regular meeting.
Received Fiscal Yar 2023-24 Draft Financial Reports through February 2024.
Adopted Resolution 2024-10 establishing an ad hoc committee for Employee Health and Welfare considerations.
Adopted Resolution 2024-11 authorizing the Chief Executive Officer to execute an agreement with Colantuono Highsmith Whatley, PC for an amount not to exceed $150,000.
MOTION: Holmes/Jones. Vote: 11:0:0.
ROLL CALL: Dowdin Calvillo, Hidahl, Holmes, Ivy, Janda, Jones, Karleskint, Lomen, Petersen, Ring, Yarbrough.
No/ Abstain: None.
Absent: None.
Entry No. 3
2024 Pioneer Legislative Policy and Platform
Received and approved the 2024 Pioneer Legislative Policy and Platform that includes the following recommendations: Adopt an oppose unless amended position on AB 1533 (Utilities and Energy Committee), and support positions on AB 2787 (Joe Patterson), AB 2902 (Wood), and SB 537 (Becker).
The Board approved the 2024 Pioneer Legislative Policy and Platform with the following updates:
1) Changed the priority of SB 1062 from "medium" to "high". 2) Removed the phrase "puts undue economic burden on them" from the last sentence of AB 2787 support justification (page 18 of the document).
MOTION: Holmes/Karleskint. Vote: 11:0:0.
ROLL CALL: Dowdin Calvillo, Hidahl, Holmes, Ivy, Janda, Jones, Karleskint, Lomen, Petersen, Ring, Yarbrough.
No/Abstain: None.
Absent: None.
Entry No. 4
Update of Solar Billing Plan
Received an update on Solar Billing Plan and related activity to inform customers of final policy implementation.
The Board suggested staff continue to inform customers that Pioneer pays $.005 (1/2 cent) per kWh more than PG&E for any over-production sold back to the grid as the Net Surplus Compensation Rate (NSC); and to provide a link from the Pioneer website to the PG&E website page which shows their current NSC rate.
Entry No. 5
Board Member Recognition
Adopted Resolution 2024-12 commending Director Cortez and Resolution 2024-13 commending Director Andreatta for their dedication and outstanding service in directing Pioneer Community Energy.
MOTION: Janda/Petersen. Vote: 11:0:0.
ROLL CALL: Dowdin Calvillo, Hidahl, Holmes, Ivy, Janda, Jones, Karleskint, Lomen, Petersen, Ring, Yarbrough.
No/Abstain: None.
Absent: None.
April 25, 2024 - page 3
Entry No. 6
Priorities for the Fiscal Vear 2024-2027 Strategic Plan Provided direction on the priorities for Pioneer as part of the development of Pioneer Community Energy's Fiscal Year 2024-2027 Strategic Plan .
Entry No. 7
Heard General Administration Functions, Part II.
Board Member Communications
Chair Dowd in Calvillo provided a summary of Cap-to-Cap activities serving on the Wildfire and Forest Health team in relation to Biomass and forest health resiliency; reported having conversations with other jurisdictions, not yet members of Pioneer, and the importance of Pioneer having a seat at the table for opportunity and discussion.
Director Petersen commented that Tulare had reached out to him and asked if any other Board Members had heard from them .as well. It was determined for Chair Dowdin Calvillo would first respond, then Chief Executive Officer Eckert to make further contact with them.
Director Ivy informed the Board of City of Grass Valley has been working with Pioneer on the City's Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Biomass Facility and encouraged the other Member Agencies to consider Pioneer as a resource in navigating through similar processes. Chief Operating Officer Kang confirmed that the RFP should be ready to release next week; that they are developing a good roster of potential responders; and are looking for successful AB 1383 facilities if the Biomass facility doesn't work out.
Chief Executive Officer Communications
Chief Executive Officer Eckert expressed congratulations to Director Petersen for Nevada City being the third Member Agency moving to GreenlO0; and expressed appreciation for Board Chair Dowdin Calvillo for her participation in meeting with Sutter County for discussion regarding expanding Pioneer and the value of doing that, and her communications with Plumas, Tulare, Tuolumne, Sutter, and Nevada counties.
Informational Items
Received the Glossary of Terms.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 4:35 PM.
ATTEST:
Minutes approved as presented by a majority vote
of the Governing Board on May 16, 2024 . . r
Teresa Willock, Board Secretary