Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority
Board of Directors Meeting
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
7:00 pm
Cupertino Community Hall
10350 Torre Avenue
Cupertino, CA
Royal Lahaina Resort and Bungalows
2780 Kekaa Dr.
Lahaina, HI 96761
Administrative Conference Room, Gilroy City Hall
7351 Rosanna St.
Gilroy, CA
MEETING MINUTES
Call to Order:
Chair Walia called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
Chair Walia provided opening comments by wishing Board members and Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) staff a Happy New Year, and, welcomed two new members to the SVCE Board of Directors (Board): Director Garry Barbadillo, City of Milpitas, and Director J.R. Fruen, City of Cupertino.
Prior to Roll Call, Chair Walia welcomed and acknowledged Director Meadows for her in-person attendance at the meeting.
Roll Call
Present:
Tina Walia (Chair), Saratoga
George Tyson (Vice Chair), Los Altos Hills (participated remotely) Elliot Scozzola, Campbell
J.R. Fruen, Cupertino
Zach Hilton, Gilroy (participated remotely)
Sally Meadows, Los Altos
Maria Ristow, Los Gatos
Garry Barbadillo, Milpitas
Burton Craig, Monte Sereno
Yvonne Martinez Beltran, Morgan Hill
Pat Showalter, Mountain View
Larry Klein, Sunnyvale
Absent:
Otto Lee, Santa Clara County
Public Comment on Matters Not Listed on the Agenda
No speakers.
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Adopt Resolution Commending Director Chua for Her Dedicated Service to SVCE Chair Walia presented Evelyn Chua with a plaque and resolution on behalf of the Board of Directors and thanked her for her contributions while serving on the SVCE Board.
Chair Walia opened public comment.
No speakers.
Chair Walia closed public comment.
MOTION: Director Martinez Beltran moved and Director Klein seconded the motion to adopt Resolution 2025-01 Commending Director Evelyn Chua for her promotion of Community Clean Energy in Santa Clara County and her dedicated service on the Board of Directors on behalf of the City of Milpitas.
The motion carried unanimously by verbal roll call vote with Director Lee absent.
Adopt Resolution Commending Chair Walia for Her Dedicated Service as Chair of the Board of Directors in 2024
Monica Padilla, CEO, presented Chair Walia with a plaque and resolution on behalf of the Board of Directors and thanked her for her leadership as Chair in 2024. CEO Padilla shared a video presentation of the Victory Pass ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Chair Walia.
Vice Chair Tyson and the Board of Directors thanked Chair Walia for her service as Chair.
Chair Walia acknowledged Board member contributions in 2024, which included: ensuring a smooth CEO transition; executing contracts to deliver carbon-free nuclear power, 2025 through 2027; executing a local power purchase agreement near Gilroy; launching key SVCE programs focused on affordability; and recent negotiations relating to the purchase of an SVCE building in Sunnyvale.
Board Clerk Andrea Pizano acknowledged Evelyn Chua for public comment.
Evelyn Chua shared her thanks to the Board of Directors for their support during her tenure on the Board, including Chair Walia and Vice Chair Tyson.
There were no other public speakers.
MOTION: Vice Chair Tyson moved and Director Meadows seconded the motion to adopt Resolution 2025-02 Commending Chair Walia for her dedicated service as Chair of the SVCE Board of Directors in 2024.
The motion carried unanimously by verbal roll call vote with Director Lee absent.
Consent Calendar
There were no questions or comments from the Board; there were no requests from the public to speak on any matter on the Consent Calendar.
1a) Approve Minutes of the January 8, 2025, Board of Directors Meeting 1b) Approve Minutes of the December 20 2024, Board of Directors Special Meeting 1c) Receive November 2024 Treasurer Report
1d) Appoint SVCE Treasurer/Auditor and Board Secretary for 2025 1e) Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to Finalize and Execute Agreement with Ascend Analytics for Three Years with a Not to Exceed Amount of $1,600,000 for Portfolio Management, Procurement and Resource Planning SaaS and Consulting Services 1f) Receive Committee Reports
1g) Receive California Community Power Report
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MOTION: Director Klein moved and Director Martinez Beltran seconded the motion to approve the Consent Calendar, Items 1a through 1g.
The motion carried unanimously by verbal roll call vote with Director Lee absent.
Regular Calendar
2) CEO Report (Discussion)
CEO Monica Padilla addressed the following in her report:
1) An announcement SVCE and the City of San Jose were named as recipients of a $12M Charging Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) grant, noting 50 percent of the grant proceeds are slated for distribution among the following participating jurisdictions: Morgan Hill, Saratoga, Milpitas, unincorporated Santa Clara County, Gilroy, Cupertino, and Mountain View. CEO Padilla further stated that SVCE will contribute an additional $1.5M towards the grant, and commented on the potential risk that the incoming new administration may not release the funding to grantees; 2) An update regarding the SVCE office purchase; and
3) An introduction to new SVCE programs:
Leanna Huynh, Senior Programs Specialist, provided information regarding the Full-Service Home Upgrades Program, which included support for whole home electrification and emergency water heater replacement.
Shawn Orgel-Olsen, Programs Marketing Manager, provided information regarding the improved eHub Program, which included a new webpage for home upgrades, customer rebates location tool, and an improved UX connecting customers to educational resources with incentives and services.
Director Klein requested additional information regarding the CFI grant prior to his attendance at an upcoming Mayors Conference.
Chair Walia opened Public Comment.
No speakers.
Chair Walia closed Public Comment.
3) Elect a Chair and Vice Chair of the SVCE Board of Directors for 2025 (Action) Senior Executive Assistant and Board Clerk Andrea Pizano introduced the item and noted interest was received for Chair and Vice Chair of the Board from the following board members:
Chair – Director George Tyson
Vice Chair – Director Bryan Mekechuk, Director Yvonne Martinez Beltran, and Director Larry Klein Alternate Director Craig stated that he would provide a written statement from Director Mekechuk during the election process.
Chair Walia opened the floor for additional nominations for the role of Chair; there were none.
Director Tyson provided brief comments on his interest in serving as Chair.
Chair Walia opened Public Comment.
No speakers.
Chair Walia closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Chair Walia moved and Director Showalter seconded the motion to appoint Director George Tyson as Chair of the 2025 SVCE Board of Directors.
Directors provided supportive comments regarding the election of Director Tyson as the Chair of the 2025 SVCE Board of Directors.
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The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote with Director Lee absent.
Director Tyson requested former Chair Walia preside over the remainder of the meeting given his remote participation; former Chair Walia accepted the request.
Presiding Chair Walia opened the floor for additional nominations for the role of Vice Chair; there were none.
Presiding Chair Walia requested Alternate Director Craig provide the statement from Director Mekechuk to the Board; Alternate Director Craig read from a written statement that Director Mekechuk would be withdrawing his letter of intent for Vice Chair, but was still interested in participating in the Executive Committee.
Presiding Chair Walia requested Director Martinez Beltran and Director Klein speak briefly to their interest in the role of Vice Chair; the Directors provided comments on their interest.
Presiding Chair Walia opened the floor for questions or comments from the Board.
Director Showalter stated the importance of balancing leadership from agencies that represent small and large cities.
Chair Walia summarized the process for selection of the Vice Chair:
A roll call vote would be taken on the two Directors who expressed interest in Vice Chair; Board members would vote for their selection of Vice Chair by name; In the event a majority vote of seven was not reached, the two individuals with the highest votes would proceed to an additional round of votes until seven votes were received for one person.
Board Clerk Pizano noted members would be called on in alphabetical order by member agency.
VOTE FOR THE POSITION OF VICE CHAIR (1st):
Director Scozzola: Martinez Beltran
Director Fruen: Martinez Beltran
Director Hilton: Klein
Director Meadows: Martinez Beltran
Director Tyson: Klein
Director Ristow: Klein
Director Barbadillo: Martinez Beltran
Director Craig: Klein
Director Martinez Beltran: Martinez Beltran
Director Showalter: Klein
Director Walia: Martinez Beltran
Director Klein: Klein
Prior to casting the vote for Director Martinez Beltran, presiding Chair Walia requested that Director Martinez Beltran reconsider her interest in the Vice Chair role. Director Martinez Beltran re-stated her interest in serving as Vice Chair on the SVCE 2025 Board of Directors.
Director Barbadillo provided a brief statement regarding the candidacy of both Directors for Vice Chair and made supportive comments relating to the voting process.
Board Clerk Pizano reported six votes for Director Martinez Beltran, and six votes for Director Klein.
Since a majority vote of seven was not reached, the group proceeded with a second round of votes with Director Martinez Beltran and Director Klein.
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VOTE FOR THE POSITION OF VICE CHAIR (2nd):
Director Scozzola: Martinez Beltran
Director Fruen: Martinez Beltran
Director Hilton: Klein
Director Meadows: Klein
Chair Tyson: Klein
Director Ristow: Klein
Director Barbadillo: Martinez Beltran
Director Craig: Klein
Director Martinez Beltran: Martinez Beltran
Director Showalter: Klein
Director Walia: Klein
Director Klein: Klein
Board Clerk Pizano reported eight votes for Director Klein, and four votes for Director Martinez Beltran.
Director Klein acknowledged Director Martinez Beltran for her contributions to the SVCE Board of Directors.
MOTION: Presiding Chair Walia moved and Director Fruen seconded the motion to appoint Director Klein as Vice Chair of the SVCE Board of Directors for 2025.
The motion carried by verbal roll call vote with Director Martinez Beltran voting no and Director Lee absent.
4) Appoint Directors to the 2025 SVCE Executive Committee (Action) Board Clerk Pizano reported seven Directors expressed interest in joining the 2025 Executive Committee:
Director Elliot Scozzola,
Director Sally Meadows,
Chair George Tyson,
Director Bryan Mekechuk,
Director Yvonne Martinez Beltran,
Director Tina Walia,
Vice Chair Larry Klein.
Presiding Chair Walia opened the floor for additional nominations to the Executive Committee; there were none.
Presiding Chair Walia opened Public Comment.
No speakers.
Presiding Chair Walia closed Public Comment.
Presiding Chair Walia requested Directors interested in serving on the Executive Committee to speak briefly to their interest in the role; the Directors provided comments on their interest, with Alternate Director Craig providing a statement of interest from Director Mekechuk. Presiding Chair Walia stated her interest in continuing on the Executive Committee.
The Board discussed the potential makeup of the Executive Committee, including having the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board as members. CEO Padilla conferred with Michael Callahan, General Counsel, and confirmed there is no existing requirement in SVCE’s Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) or Operating Rules and Regulations (ORR) that the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors receive automatic appointments to the Executive Committee.
Following discussion, Alternate Director Ristow stated she would make a motion to appoint the Board Chair and Board Vice Chair to the 2025 Executive Committee.
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MOTION: Alternate Director Ristow moved and Director Showalter seconded the motion to appoint Chair Tyson and Vice Chair Klein to the 2025 Executive Committee.
The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote with Director Lee absent.
The Board discussed potential membership of the remaining four seats on the Executive Committee, and provided comments on integrating new committee members, board member tenure, and support of members who were interested in participating in the Executive Committee.
MOTION: Director Scozzola moved and Director Showalter seconded the motion to appoint the following additional directors to the 2025 SVCE Executive Committee: Director Yvonne Martinez Beltran, Director Sally Meadows, Director Tina Walia and Director Elliot Scozzola.
The motion carried by verbal roll call vote with Alternate Director Craig voting no and Director Lee absent.
5) SVCE Community Grants Update (Informational)
Jessica Cornejo, Senior Programs Specialist, provided an update relating to SVCE grant projects awarded to member agencies, including the 2020 Community Resilience Grant Program, 2022 Decarbonization Engagement and Demonstration Grant, and the 2024 Round of Grants, which resulted in SVCE funding 27 projects supporting the following:
9 battery storage projects that provide clean back-up power 6 building electrification retrofits to remove gas appliances 6 community engagement projects that educate the public in innovative ways 5 off-grid EV chargers that provide clean mobile charging and four fleet Ford F-150 Lightings
1 cool pavement pilot that reduces surface temperature Directors provided supportive comments to SVCE staff for their work on the grant projects.
Presiding Chair Walia opened public comment.
No speakers.
Presiding Chair Walia closed public comment.
Board Member Announcements and Future Agenda Items
Presiding Chair Walia announced that the Board of Directors would convene to closed session.
Public Comment on Closed Session
Presiding Chair Walia opened public comment.
No speakers.
Presiding Chair Walia closed public comment.
Closed Session
The Board convened to Closed Session at 8:41 p.m.
Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: (one potential case) The Board returned from Closed Session at 9:25 p.m.
Report from Closed Session
Chair Walia announced that the Board met in Closed Session and there was nothing to report.
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Adjourn
Chair Walia adjourned the meeting at 9:25 p.m.
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Andrea Pizano, Board Secretary
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