Redwood Coast Energy Authority
633 3rd Street, Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 269-1700 Toll-Free (800) 931-7232 Fax: (707) 269-1777 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.redwoodenergy.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
Jefferson Community Center Auditorium April 27, 2023
1000 B Street, Eureka, CA 95501 Thursday, 3:30 p.m.
Chair Sheri Woo called a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Redwood Coast Energy Authority to order on the above date at 3:34 p.m. Notice of this meeting was posted on April 22, 2023. PRESENT: Natalie Arroyo, Scott Bauer, Skip Jorgensen, Kris Mobley, Frankie Myers (by teleconference due to official Yurok Tribe business, a just cause, with no one 18 years of age or older present at this remote location), Elise Scafani, Vice Chair Sarah Schaefer, Jack Tuttle, Frank Wilson, Chair Sheri Woo. ABSENT: None. STAFF AND OTHERS PRESENT: General Counsel Nancy Diamond; Power Resources Director Richard Engel; The Energy Authority Client Services Manager Jaclyn Harr; Executive Director Matthew Marshall; Board Clerk Lori Taketa; Deputy Executive Director Eileen Verbeck.
REPORTS FROM MEMBER ENTITIES / ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were no Board director reports nor public comments on non-agenda items.
CONSENT CALENDAR
4.1 Approve Minutes of March 23, 2023, Board Meeting.
4.2 Approve Disbursements Report.
4.3 Accept Financial Reports.
4.4 Accept Quarterly Legislative Report.
4.5 Authorize the ad hoc Office Relocation Subcommittee to review new property listings with the Executive Director and staff and approve the Executive Director entering into negotiations and/or making an offer on any suitable property contingent on full Board approval.
4.6 Approve the Updated Terms and Conditions for the Community Choice Energy Program.
M/S: Arroyo, Bauer: Approve Consent Calendar items.
The motion passed with a unanimous vote. Ayes: Arroyo, Bauer, Jorgensen, Mobley, Myers, Scafani, Schaefer, Tuttle, Wilson, Woo. Noes: None. Absent: None. Abstain:
None.
NEW BUSINESS
7.1 Biennial Salary Survey Report
Deputy Executive Director Verbeck reported on the procedure staff used to compare RCEA salaries with Board-set industry benchmark agencies.
• RCEA midpoint salaries lag behind comparable agency midpoint salaries by 12%, aligning with Social Security Administration’s Cost of Living Adjustments. • Directors suggested querying staff on their priorities (salary, specific benefits, etc.).
RCEA April 27, 2023, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
• Local agency competition for finite local talent pool and the challenges of competing with other CCA’s remote-worker hiring were discussed.
• Staff retention and possible longevity pay, addition of Juneteenth holiday discussed.
Board directors expressed support for moving salaries closer to comparable agency salary midpoints to maintain competitiveness. (Director Myers briefly lost audio and video connection to the meeting from 3:40-3:43 and 3:49-3:54 p.m., prior to the vote.) M/S: Schaefer, Wilson: Accept 2023 Biennial Salary Survey Report.
The motion passed with a unanimous vote. Ayes: Arroyo, Bauer, Jorgensen, Mobley, Myers, Scafani, Schaefer, Tuttle, Wilson, Woo. Noes: None. Absent: None. Abstain:
None.
7.2 Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe’s Interest in Joining RCEA Executive Director Marshall reported on reaching out to area Tribes on their interest in joining RCEA and the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribal Council’s decision to request joint powers authority membership. Blue Lake Rancheria Tribal Councilmember and Tribal Administrator Jason Ramos introduced himself and described RCEA-Blue Lake Rancheria collaborative energy projects. The directors expressed support for the Blue Lake Rancheria’s membership and highlighted the ability to contribute to agency business without CCE business voting status.
M/S: Arroyo, Myers: Adopt Resolution 2023-6 Approving the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe as a Member Agency of the Redwood Coast Energy Authority.
The motion passed with a unanimous vote. Ayes: Arroyo, Bauer, Jorgensen, Mobley, Myers, Scafani, Schaefer, Tuttle, Wilson, Woo. Noes: None. Absent: None. Abstain:
None.
Chair Woo confirmed a quorum was present to conduct CCE business.
NEW CCE BUSINESS
9.1 Quarterly Energy Risk Management Report
The Energy Authority Client Services Manager Jaclyn Harr presented the current financial update, described shifting energy market conditions and current impacts of Board-mandated environmental resource procurement.
• Sandrini Solar project completion is potentially delayed another 6 months to April 2024.
• Sandrini delay impacts RCEA’s energy procurement, necessitating short-term purchases.
• Extremely high electricity costs; intense competition for renewable energy power purchase agreements and other required renewable energy products; and increase in renewable energy project developer power in price negotiations were described. • Inflation Reduction Act changes make non-private developer renewable energy power projects, including CA Community Power (the CCA joint-procurement entity of which RCEA is a member) project development, more competitive.
RCEA April 27, 2023, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
• Proposed Central Procurement Entity’s impact on long-term renewable energy project development, with potential vulnerability to private developer exploitation, were described.
M/S: Jorgensen, Bauer: Accept Energy Risk Management Quarterly Report.
The motion passed with a unanimous vote. Ayes: Arroyo, Bauer, Jorgensen, Mobley, Scafani, Schaefer, Tuttle, Wilson. Noes: None. Absent: None. Non-Voting: Myers, Woo.
9.2 Humboldt’s Electric Future Planning Process Preview (Information only) Power Resources Director Engel reported on the Integrated Resource Plan biennial technical plan filing process and an initiative to gather community input on energy procurement priorities during non-filing years.
• Public engagement schedule: June 5 in-person workshop, online workshop date TBD. • Project helps educate community on energy procurement requirements and process. • Community Advisory Committee engagement was described. • Different Board member levels of engagement were discussed. • “Humboldt’s Electric Future” document was introduced. Directors expressed appreciation for the document’s accessibility.
9.3 Biomass Technical Advisory Group Update (Information only) Power Resources Director Engel reported on the process of forming the Biomass Technical Advisory Group, a goal identified in the RePower Humboldt Strategic Plan 2019 update. • Current membership list was presented. Staff still seeks vulnerable community representation, including from local Tribes and Hispanic community. • BTAG’s advisory role was clarified. Initially, the group will review and provide feedback on the Humboldt Sawmill Company’s annual biomass sources, emissions, and energy production report, and possibly revise this year’s data inquiry. • Directors suggested and offered support for additional members from the County Administrative Office and the Yurok Tribe.
• Directors agreed that discussion of controversial topics such as biomass should be done at times specified on the agenda to support public participation.
Community Advisory Committee Chair Dennis Leonardi commented that the CAC and its Alternative Biomass Uses Subcommittee suggested the stakeholder groups represented on the BTAG to enable broad-reaching discussion.
STAFF REPORTS
10.1 Executive Director’s Report (Information only)
• Timing for Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget drafting and approval • Headwaters Fund and RCEA-supported grant for local contractors to receive electric vehicle charging equipment installation training
• RCEA’s 20th anniversary celebration at Mad River Brewery on April 28 at 3 p.m.
Chair Woo adjourned the meeting at 5:40 p.m.
Lori Taketa, Clerk of the Board