Item 3
1 VALLEY CLEAN ENERGY ALLIANCE
Staff Report – Item 3
TO: Board of Directors
FROM: Alisa Lembke, Board Clerk / Administrative Analyst SUBJECT: Approval of Minutes of April 10, 2025 meeting
DATE: June 12, 2025
RECOMMENDATION
Receive, review and approve the attached April 10, 2025 meeting Minutes.
Attachment: April 10, 2025 meeting Minutes
VCEA Minutes April 10, 2025 Board Meeting Page 1 of 3
MINUTES OF THE VALLEY CLEAN ENERGY ALLIANCE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR MEETING
THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025
The Board of Directors of the Valley Clean Energy Alliance duly noticed their regular meeting for Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. to be held at City of Davis Community Chambers located at 23 Russell Boulevard, Davis, California 95616. Chair Bapu Vaitla established that there was a quorum present and began the meeting at 5:30 p.m.
Board Members Present: Bapu Vaitla (Chair), Jesse Loren (Vice Chair), Lucas Frerichs, Tania Garcia-Cadena, Donna Neville, Richard Casavecchia, Angel Barajas (Alternate – Yolo County)
Members Absent: Tom Stallard, Sheila Allen
Welcome,
Approval of the
Agenda, Oaths of
Office
Motion made by Director Frerichs to approve the April 10, 2025 regular meeting Agenda, seconded by Vice Chair Loren. Motion passed with Directors Tom Stallard and Sheila Allen absent.
Public Comment –
General and
Consent Items
Chair Vaitla opened up public comment on general and consent items.
Bill Julian provided written and verbal public comments on Item 6 – Legislative update. Instead of reading his written public comment dated April 9, 2025, which had been provided to the VCE Board of Directors via email, Mr. Julian provided verbal public comment on Item 6 – Legislative update, specifically on Senate Bill 540 of which he opposes. He also provided handouts to each Board Member present and to the Board Clerk and reviewed those slides.
Approval of
Consent Agenda /
Resolution 2025-
005 through 2025-
006
Motion made by Director Barajas (Alt.) to approve the consent agenda items, seconded by Vice Chair Loren. Motion passed with Directors Stallard and Allen absent. The following items were:
3. approved February 13, 2025 Board meeting Minutes;
4. received 2025 long range calendar;
5. received Treasurer’s reports: a) January 31, 20925 and b) February 28, 2025;
6. received legislative update provided by Pacific Policy Group;
7. received March 2025 regulatory update dated April 2, 2025 provided by Keyes & Fox;
VCEA Minutes April 10, 2025 Board Meeting Page 2 of 3
8. received Community Advisory Committee February 27, 2025 and March 27, 2025 meeting summaries;
9. received customer participation update (1
st Quarter 2025);
10. received VCE Grant activity update;
11. received Enterprise Risk Management Report (Bi-Annual);
12. reviewed and approved the updated VCE Load Management Standards Plan;
13. ratified Consultant Agreement with NewGen Strategies and Solutions for energy advisory services as Resolution 2025-005; and,
14. approved Third Amendment to Polaris (AgFIT Program) increasing the not to exceed amount as Resolution 2025-006.
Item 15: Receive
and accept
Calendar Year 2024
Audited Financial
Statements.
VCE Chief Executive Officer Mitch Sears introduced this item and Mr.
James Marta of James Marta & Company. Mr. Marta provided highlights of the 2024 financial audit findings. The Board, Mr. Marta and Staff discussed: recommendations, leases, collections, accounting practices, net position, and capital. There were no written or verbal public comments.
Item 16: Receive
financial update.
(Information)
VCE Chief Financial Officer Staff Edward Burnham provided a financial update highlighting the “prepay” bond issuance, investment grade credit rating and timeline, bond savings, process, S & P reserve guidelines, and rating expectations.
Verbal Public Comment: Christine Shewmaker complimented VCE for moving towards achieving one of VCE’s goals of an investment grade credit rating. She had a few questions on the uses of an investment grade credit rating and how it fits within VCE’s Strategic Plan.
VCE Staff answered Ms. Shewmaker’s questions.
There were no written public comments.
Item 17: Power
Charge Indifference
Adjustment (PCIA) /
Rates workshop.
(Information)
Mr. Sears introduced this item by providing an overview of the PCIA and Rates Workshop. Mr. Burnham reviewed the 2025 Operating Budget, Customer rates, including VCE’s cost-based rate policy, forecasting and financial models.
Mr. Burnham introduced Brian Dickman of NewGen Strategies and Solutions, who reviewed VCE’s rate structure and provided information VCEA Minutes April 10, 2025 Board Meeting Page 3 of 3
on how, why and who determines PCIA, its effects on Customer rates, cost of service, and the current and future CCA landscape.
The Board and Staff discussed: portfolio cost and value, forecasting, PCIA policy proceedings, rates, net margin allocation, and next steps.
There were no written or verbal public comments.
Item 18: Board
Member and Staff
Announcements
There were no Board announcements. Director Frerichs asked that Staff provide an update at a future meeting on 1) VCE’s programs and on 2) how expansion is going locally and with other CCAs.
Mr. Sears reminded those present that the CalCCA 2025 Annual Conference is coming up at the end of April.
Announcement /
Adjournment
Chair Vaitla announced that the Board’s next scheduled meeting is on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at the City of Woodland Council Chambers located at 300 First Street, Woodland, California 95695. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
Alisa M. Lembke
VCEA Board Secretary