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
Wharfinger Building, downstairs Bay Room December 21, 2023 1 Marina Way, 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 3:30 p.m. Notice of this meeting was posted on December 15, 2023.
PRESENT: Natalie Arroyo, Scott Bauer, Alt. Dir. Jana Ganion, Skip Jorgensen (left at 4:59 p.m.), Kris Mobley, Alt. Dir. Sherri Provolt, Elise Scafani, Vice Chair Sarah Schaefer, Jack Tuttle (remote, just cause illness, left at 6:02 p.m.), Frank Wilson, Chair Sheri Woo. ABSENT:
Frankie Myers, Jason Ramos.
STAFF AND OTHERS PRESENT: Senior Project Manager Mike Avcollie, Director of Infrastructure Planning and Operations Dana Boudreau, Finance Specialist Ronnie Chausse, General Counsel Nancy Diamond, Demand Side Management Director Stephen Kullmann, Account Services Manager Sally Regli, HR manager Kristy Siino, Board Clerk Lori Taketa (remote), Deputy Executive Director Eileen Verbeck.
REPORTS FROM MEMBER ENTITIES
Chair Woo reported that the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District hydropower plant is back online, and HBMWD is holding a workshop on January 24 on instream flow dedication.
Director Provolt reported that the Yurok Tribe is hosting a Tribal Offshore Wind Summit in Eureka. The public is invited to both workshops.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
No member of the public submitted statements or asked to speak at the Chair’s invitation.
Chair Woo closed the non-agenda item public comment period.
CONSENT CALENDAR
4.1 Approve Minutes of November 16, 2023, Board Meeting.
4.2 Approve Disbursements Report.
4.3 Accept Financial Reports.
4.4 Authorize an Increase in the Executive Director’s Spending Limit to $30,000 for Labor and Employment Matter Legal Services for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
4.5 Authorize the Executive Director to Execute Amendment No. 1 to Legal Services Agreement with PefferLegal for RuralREN Regulatory Support and Legal Services Through December 2026 for a Not to Exceed Value of $100,000 per Year, Subject to Sufficient Budgetary Allocations.
4.6 Authorize the Executive Director to Execute the $20,000 E-Bike Voucher Funding Agreement with the City of Arcata.
Deputy Executive Director Verbeck requested item 4.4 be pulled from the Consent Calendar.
RCEA December 21, 2023, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Director Ganion was not present for the November 16, 2023, meeting. There was neither public nor Board comment.
M/S: Mobley, Schaefer: Approve all Consent Calendar items except 4.4.
The motion passed with the following roll call vote. Ayes: Arroyo, Bauer, Ganion, Jorgensen, Mobley, Provolt, Scafani, Schaefer, Tuttle, Wilson, Woo. Noes: None.
Absent: None. Abstain: Ganion on 4.1.
ITEM REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
Deputy Director Verbeck corrected the spending limit in item 4.4 from $30,000 to $40,000 to reflect the confirmed estimate received after agenda posting. No member of the public commented on this item.
M/S: Schaefer, Bauer: Approve Consent Calendar item 4.4 as corrected.
The motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote. Ayes: Arroyo, Bauer, Ganion, Jorgensen, Mobley, Provolt, Scafani, Schaefer, Tuttle, Wilson, Woo. Noes: None.
Absent: None. Abstain: None
NEW BUSINESS
7.1 Presentation on January 2024 PG&E Rate Change (Information only) Account Services Manager Sally Regli explained the process to change electricity rates and the January 2024 PG&E rate change which will increase the average residential electricity bill by 18.2%. Most of the increase will cover transmission and distribution work, including undergrounding power lines to reduce wildfire risk. Manager Regli described opportunities for the public to comment at the CPUC’s affordability hearings, and RCEA’s rate setting process.
RCEA will support PG&E’s phone message campaign to let businesses know how they can save between $500 to $5,000.
Board and staff discussed how RCEA’s net revenue will not increase after the PG&E rate increase, the benefits of RCEA-owned energy generation, and how the Board can comment and participate in advocacy on PG&E rate increases. A request was made for a future staff report on CPUC Commissioner employment history. There was no public comment on this item.
7.2 Presentation on Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Readiness Blueprint (Information only)
Program Manager Mike Avcollie presented milestones and actions needed to transition Humboldt, Del Norte and Trinity Counties’ medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fleets to zero emission vehicles by the state goal date of 2045. A California Energy Commission grant funded development of this blueprint to help plan the transition.
The Board and staff discussed the need to refine and coordinate rebate requirements, Humboldt Transit Authority’s work to develop hydrogen fueling infrastructure, and state level work to expedite permitting processes for charging and zero emission fuel infrastructure. A request was made to quantify increased power demands from building and fleet electrification RCEA December 21, 2023, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
to inform statewide transmission grid upgrades. No member of the public commented on this item.
STAFF REPORTS
8.1 Deputy Executive Director’s Report on Upcoming Community Advisory Committee Appointments and Other Topics as Needed
The group discussed CAC appointments, the committee’s original outreach function, and inclusion of non-energy focused members to reflect community diversity.
Deputy Executive Director Verbeck announced a grant award to RCEA for the Regional Resilience Program from the State of California. Director of Infrastructure Planning and Operations Dana Boudreau provided information about the grant to help keep high-risk area fire stations running during emergencies.
There was no public comment on this item.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
The directors requested information on customer and agency implications of increasing the RCEA rate discount, and how the Sandrini Project start date may inform this decision.
CLOSED SESSION
10.1 Conference with Legal Counsel: Anticipated litigation, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2).
10.2 Conference with Legal Counsel: Existing Litigation, CPUC 22-02-005, Petition for Modification of D. 23-06-055, pursuant to Government Code 54956.9(d)(1).
10.3 Public Employee Performance Evaluation, pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1): Executive Director.
There was no public comment regarding the closed session items. The Board adjourned to closed session at 5:05 p.m. and reconvened in open session at 6 p.m. Chair Woo stated there were no closed session reports and adjourned the meeting at 6:02 p.m.
Ronnie Chaussé
Finance Specialist