Minutes
City Council/Public Financing Authority
City of Huntington Beach
Special Meeting
Monday, October 23, 2023
5:00 PM — Council Chambers
Civic Center, 2000 Main Street
Huntington Beach, California 92648
A video recording of this meeting
is on file in the Office of the City Clerk, and archived at www.surfcity-hb.org/government/agendas/
5:00 PM — COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CALLED TO ORDER SPECIAL MEETING — 5:00 PM
ROLL CALL
Present: Kalmick (arrived at 5:14 PM), Moser, Van Der Mark, Strickland, McKeon, and Burns
Absent: Bolton
Councilmember Bolton was granted permission to be absent pursuant to City Council Resolution No. 2001-54, and City Clerk Robin Estanislau was granted permission to be absent pursuant to City Charter Section 310 (a).
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — Led by Councilmember McKeon
ANNOUNCEMENT OF SUPPLEMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS (Received After Agenda Distribution)
Pursuant to the Brown "Open Meetings" Act, Assistant City Clerk Steven Aguilar announced supplemental communications that were received by his office following distribution of the Council Agenda packet, which were all uploaded to the City's website and Councilmember iPads:
Administrative Item #1 — Twenty-eight (28) email communications.
PUBLIC COMMENTS (3 Minute Time Limit) — 16 Speakers
The number [hh:mm:ss] following the speakers' comments indicates their approximate starting time in the archived video located at http://www.surfcity-hb.org/government/agendas.
Russell Neal, Orange County Power Authority Community Advisory Committee Chairman and Licensed Electrical and Nuclear Engineer with 40 years of experience in the power industry, was called to speak and stated his support for Administrative Item #1 to select the OCPA default energy product rate for existing Huntington Beach OCPA customers and effectuate the City’s withdrawal from the OCPA. (00:03:21)
Council/PFA Special Meeting
October 23, 2023
Unnamed Guest was called to speak and stated his opposition to Administrative Item #1 to select the OCPA default energy product rate for existing Huntington Beach OCPA customers and effectuate the City’s withdrawal from the OCPA. (00:06:20)
Paul Horgan was called to speak and stated his opposition to Administrative Item #1 to select the OCPA default energy product rate for existing Huntington Beach OCPA customers and effectuate the City’s withdrawal from the OCPA. (00:09:24)
Unnamed Guest, a 37-year resident, was called to speak and stated opposition to Administrative Item #1 to select the OCPA default energy product rate for existing Huntington Beach OCPA customers and effectuate the City’s withdrawal from the OCPA. (00:10:23)
Andrew Einhorn, Huntington Beach resident, was called to speak and stated his opposition to Administrative Item #1 to select the OCPA default energy product rate for existing Huntington Beach OCPA customers and effectuate the City’s withdrawal from the OCPA. (00:12:12)
Tony Daus, Huntington Beach resident, 40-year water and precipitation technician, was called to speak and stated his opposition to Administrative Item #1 to select the OCPA default energy product rate for existing Huntington Beach OCPA customers and effectuate the City’s withdrawal from the OCPA. (00:14:16)
Dennis, 41-year resident, was called to speak and stated his support for Administrative Item #1 to select the OCPA default energy product rate for existing Huntington Beach OCPA customers and effectuate the City’s withdrawal from the OCPA. (00:15:09)
David Rynerson, 25-year resident, was called to speak and stated his opposition to Administrative Item #1 to select the OCPA default energy product rate for existing Huntington Beach OCPA customers and effectuate the City’s withdrawal from the OCPA. (00:16:55)
Lisa Swanson, 14-year resident, was called to speak and stated opposition to Administrative Item #1 to select the OCPA default energy product rate for existing Huntington Beach OCPA customers and effectuate the City’s withdrawal from the OCPA. (00:18:34)
Michelle Ferry, a resident since 1968, was called to speak and stated opposition to Administrative Item #1 to select the OCPA default energy product rate for existing Huntington Beach OCPA customers and effectuate the City’s withdrawal from the OCPA. (00:20:51)
Charles Jackson, 22-year resident, was called to speak and stated opposition to Administrative Item #1 to select the OCPA default energy product rate for existing Huntington Beach OCPA customers and effectuate the City’s withdrawal from the OCPA. (00:22:45)
Tim Geddes, 40-year resident, was called to speak and asked that a representative selected by the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council be invited to present the November 7, 2023, City Council meeting Invocation in honor of the adoption of Resolution No. 2023-50 in support of Israel and condemning the attacks on Israel by Hamas and stated opposition to Administrative Item #1 to select the OCPA default energy product rate for existing Huntington Beach OCPA customers and effectuate the City’s withdrawal from the OCPA. (00:25:22)
Cathey Ryder, resident since 1985, was called to speak and stated opposition to Administrative Item #1 to select the OCPA default energy product rate for existing Huntington Beach OCPA customers and effectuate the City’s withdrawal from the OCPA. (00:28:08) Council/PFA Special Meeting
October 23, 2023
Laura Sire, long-time resident, was called to speak and stated opposition to Administrative Item #1 to select the OCPA default energy product rate for existing Huntington Beach OCPA customers and effectuate the City’s withdrawal from the OCPA. (00:30:08)
Jocyln Rabbit-Sire was called to speak and stated opposition to Administrative Item #1 to select the OCPA default energy product rate for existing Huntington Beach OCPA customers and effectuate the City’s withdrawal from the OCPA. (00:32:09)
Unnamed Guest was called to speak and stated opposition to Administrative Item #1 to select the OCPA default energy product rate for existing Huntington Beach OCPA customers and effectuate the City’s withdrawal from the OCPA. (00:34:40)
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
1. 23-929 Approved selection of Huntington Beach’s Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) Default Energy Product Rate for Existing Huntington Beach OCPA Customers
Assistant City Manager Travis Hopkins provided a verbal report covering the history of Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) and City Council actions related to energy choice for Huntington Beach.
Assistant City Manager Hopkins stated that regardless of whether or not Resolution 2023-55, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach authorizing the City Manager to withdraw from the Orange County Power Authority is approved, all Huntington Beach residents and business owners currently will still have access to the three OCPA options, as well as to stay with Southern California Edison.
Assistant City Manager Hopkins introduced Attorneys Nora Sheriff and Gwen O'Hara, from Buchalter, the business law firm hired by the City Attorney's Office who were available on-line to answer any Councilmember questions.
Councilmember McKeon thanked Assistant City Manager Hopkins for summarizing the opportunity that will allow the City to mitigate substantial costs when leaving the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) as approved by Councilmembers on May 16, 2023.
Mayor Strickland confirmed that anyone can still opt into the OCPA plan of their choice. He noted he is in full support of renewable energy and believes Huntington Beach will best be served by Southern California Edison experts.
Councilmember Kalmick clarified a statement just made that until June 2024 residents will be able to select their plan of choice with OCPA. He added he is attending this meeting to represent those people who want to remain with OCPA. He described some of the benefits he believes are provided by OCPA and addressed some of the misinformation from his perspective that is being shared about climate change.
Councilmember Moser stated her support for Councilmember Kalmick's comments, and support for remaining a member of the OCPA so that residents, businesses and the City would continue to have power choice.
Councilmember Moser and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Sunny Han discussed actual City costs with OCPA and expected increase when returning to Southern California Edison.
Council/PFA Special Meeting
October 23, 2023
Councilmember Moser shared her concern the actual cost to walk away from OCPA is not known, even though this action item is supposedly mitigating the costs. She stated she will not participate in this action.
Councilmember McKeon, Chief Financial Officer Han and Assistant City Manager Hopkins briefly discussed the savings for the City when the decision was made to move from OCPA 100% renewable down to the Basic Choice at the beginning of this year.
A motion was made by McKeon, second Strickland to adopt Resolution 2023-55, "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Authorizing the City Manager to Withdraw from the Orange County Power Authority," which shall: approve and authorize switching the City of Huntington Beach OCPA customers currently enrolled in the OCPA 100% Renewable Choice Plan to the OCPA Basic Choice Plan (at least 38% Renewable); and authorize the appointed Huntington Beach OCPA Board Member, Councilmember McKeon or his alternate, to request on the City's behalf that OCPA expedite the requested default rate change for existing customers; and authorize the City Manager to effectuate the City's withdrawal from the Orange County Power Authority; and authorize the City Manager to notify OCPA of the City Council's decision and work with OCPA to give notice to all affected OCPA customers.
The motion carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Van Der Mark, Strickland, McKeon, and Burns
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: Kalmick, and Moser
ABSENT: Bolton
ADJOURNMENT — At 5:55 PM a motion was made by Van Der Mark, second by McKeon, to adjourn to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council/Public Financing Authority on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, in the Civic Center Council Chambers, 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, California.
INTERNET ACCESS TO CITY COUNCIL/PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY AGENDA AND
STAFF REPORT MATERIAL IS AVAILABLE PRIOR TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AT http://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov
_______________________________________
City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council
of the City of Huntington Beach and Secretary of
the Public Financing Authority of the City of
Huntington Beach, California
ATTEST:
______________________________________
City Clerk-Secretary
______________________________________
Mayor-Chair