Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
July 6, 2021
A meeting of Commissioners of Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County was held at the Electric Center, 1200 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, Washington, on Tuesday, July 6, 2021.
Present: Executive Assistant – Information Services Colleen Mulligan.
Present via digital conference (phone or video): President Jim Malinowski, Vice President Nancy Barnes, Secretary Jane Van Dyke Commissioners, CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Information Services Jeff Groff, Director of Engineering Cal Morris, Director of Water Doug Quinn, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix, Director of Operation Gene Morris, General Counsel John Eldridge, Manager of Energy Planning and Operations Tom Haymaker, Customer Experience Manager Cameron Daline, Engineering Manager – Water Russ Knutson and Media Specialist Dameon Pesanti.
Press representatives: None
Others present via digital conference (phone or video): Don Steinke, Cathryn Chudy, Monica Zazueta, Randal Friedman, Jean Avery, Rick Marshall, Debbi Haskins and Roy Koegen.
At 9:00 a.m., President Malinowski called the meeting to order for the transaction of formal business. Commissioner Malinowski noted a quorum was present and the agenda was approved as presented (Materials A).
Public Comment
Member of the public Don Steinke shared his thoughts on Clark Public Utilities moving to clean energy and fuel switching.
Member of the public Randal Friedman shared his appreciation for heat pumps and a concern that a customer was apparently told that a heat pump is no better than gas and that he does not want gas to be considered clean energy.
Member of the public Cathryn Chudy shared she would like Clark Public Utilities to discontinue the use of River Road Generating Plant and start to recognize climate change.
Member of the public Rick Marshall shared his observations from the latest heatwave.
Member of the public Monica Zazueta would like us to discontinue the use of River Road Generating Plant.
If members of the public have provided the utility with written comments, copies of these comments in their entirety may be obtained by contacting Margaret Anderson at [email protected] or 360-992-3378.
Consideration of the Minutes of June 15, 2021
There were no changes.
Consideration of Accounts Payable
The board, by a unanimous vote, approved the following payment amounts as listed on the Letter of Transmittal dated July 6, 2021 from the District Auditor (Materials B):
Electric Revenue Fund – $26,097,615.27
Water Revenue Fund – $3,322,325.32
Generating System Fund – $3,031,206.74
For a total of $32,451,147.33
Consideration of Resolution of Establishment of LUD No. 1405
Director of Engineering Cal Morris addressed the board regarding the Establishment of Local Utility District No. 1404, 1407 and 1413.
Resolution No. 7663 – LUD No. 1404 – Dogwood Estates
Resolution No. 7664 – LUD No. 1407 – Townhomes at Hidden Crest
Resolution No. 7665 – LUD No. 1413 – Yorkshire Estates
After the presentation by Mr. Morris, Commissioner Malinowski opened for public comment. There being no comment, a motion was made by Commissioner Van Dyke, seconded by Commissioner Barnes and unanimously carried that Resolution No. 7663 – 7665 be adopted (Materials C).
Consideration of Bid Award No. 612 – OH & UG Line Work: NE 99th Street
Director of Operations Gene Morris reviewed the memo dated July 6, 2021 detailing the bid results (Materials D). Commissioner Barnes moved to recommend that Bid No. 612 be awarded to the low responsive and responsible bidder DJ’s Electrical, Inc. in the amount of $378,400.00 plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Van Dyke seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Bid Award No. 613 – Residential Water Meters
Director of Operations Gene Morris reviewed the memo dated July 6, 2021 detailing the bid results (Materials E). Commissioner Van Dyke moved to recommend that Bid No. 613 be awarded to the low responsive and responsible bidder Mountain States Pipe & Supply Co., for the purchase of 14,500 meters over a one-year contract period, in the amount of $1,449,275.00 plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Barnes seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Water System Revenue Refunding Bond Sale Series 2021
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny provided the board with an overview of the upcoming Water System Revenue and Refunding Bond sale (Materials F). Following the review, Ms. Ankeny asked the board to adopt Resolutions 7660 authorizing the sale of the bonds and delegating authority to the General Manager and Director of Finance/Treasurer to sign the bond purchase agreement.
Commissioner Van Dyke moved to approve Resolution 7660 authorizing the sale of bonds for the Water System Revenue and Refunding Bond sale and delegating authority to the General Manager and Director of Finance/Treasurer to sign the bond purchase agreement. Commissioner Barnes seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
May Financials
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny addressed the board (Materials G). May weather was warmer than normal and drier than normal. This resulted in electric revenues and off system sales coming in above budget. May residential sales were 104.4% of budget, commercial sales were 96.8% and industrial sales were 104.5% of budget. May ended with a net income of $1.7 million compared to a budgeted net income loss of $712,000. Year-to-date net income is $24.4 million compared to a budgeted net income of $14.6 million.
Ms. Ankeny provided a year-to-date summary of conservation spending.
The Water System ended May with 489 new customers year-to-date, which is a growth rate of 3.06%. May ended with a net income of $400,000 compared to a budgeted net income loss of $233,000. Year-to-date the net income is $1.3 million compared to a budgeted net income loss of $275,000.
May Wholesale Operations
Manager of Energy Planning and Operations Tom Haymaker addressed the board (Materials H). Mr. Haymaker updated the board on power supply noting that Slice performed below prompt month by 8 aMW and below budget forecast by 57 aMW. The monthly load was right in line with the budgeted forecast for the second month in a row. Mr. Haymaker reported that gas prices and loads where close to budget expectations which kept power prices fairly consistent in May.
Combine Hills II was curtailed for transmission maintenance for most of May.
River Road Generating Plant was back online as of June 1 without any issues.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioners Barnes and Malinowski reported on their attendance at Pacific Northwest Wholesale Power Markets Conference.
Staff Reports
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny provided an update on accounts receivables during COVID.
Manager of Energy Planning and Operations Tom Haymaker, Director of Engineering Cal Morris and Director of Operations Gene Morris provided a recap of events from each of their perspective areas of responsibility surrounding the recent heatwave.
Public Comment
There were no public comments.
Other Business before the Board
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 11:27 a.m.