Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
May 3, 2022
A meeting of Commissioners of Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County was held at Clark Public Utilities, 1200 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, Washington, on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.
Present: Assistant to CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson
Present via digital conference (phone or video): President Nancy Barnes, Vice President Jane Van Dyke and Secretary Jim Malinowski Commissioners, CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Energy Resources Dan Bedbury, Director of Communications Erica Erland, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix, Director of Employee Resources Nichole Reitzenstein, Director of Engineering Cal Morris, Director of Operations Gene Morris, Director of Water Doug Quinn, General Counsel John Eldridge, GIS/Joint Use Manager Ben Jarrell, Materials and Purchasing Manager Cathy Wannamaker, Construction Services Manager Dana Allen, Energy Services Manager Debbie DePetris, Key Accounts Manager Bill Hibbs, Program Coordinator Ashley King, Energy Services Program Manager Matt Babbitts, Community Engagement Specialist Morgan Van Fleet and Media Specialist Dameon Pesanti.
Press representatives: None
Others present via digital conference (phone or video): Don Steinke, Cathryn Chudy, Rick Marshall, Thomas Gordon, Diana Gordon, Marc Berg, Mike Lyons and Andy Tawker.
At 9:00 a.m., President Barnes called the meeting to order for the transaction of formal business. Commissioner Barnes noted a quorum was present and the agenda was approved as presented (Materials A).
Public Comment
The following represents a brief summary of comments made by members of the public in attendance:
Cathyrn Chudy reviewed Clark Public Utilities’ award history with J.D. Power and shared some comparisons with EPB of Chattanooga, Tennessee including both utilities being recognized as APPA’s Smart Energy Provider. Ms. Chudy encouraged the Utility to work with the City of Vancouver on its development of a Climate Action Plan.
Don Steinke shared thoughts about his advocacy of conservation, renewable energy and electric vehicle use. Mr. Steinke reviewed a payment company called Stripe that is similar to PayPal that has committed to investing $1.0 million annually on permanent carbon dioxide removal projects.
Rick Marshall shared that the Steigerwald Lake Wildlife Refuge had been reopened.
Thomas Gordon shared his support for more solar projects and his recent experience looking on our website for a contractor that proved to be difficult for him.
Members of the public Don Steinke and Cathryn Chudy provided 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 April 19, 2022
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 May 3, 2022 from the District Auditor (Materials B):
Electric Revenue Fund – $21,678,075.47
Water Revenue Fund – $292,833.56
Generating System Fund – $392,745.58
For a total of $22,363,654.61
Consideration of Establishment of LUD Nos. 1406, 1425 and 1435
Construction Services Manager Dana Allen addressed the board regarding the Establishment of Local Utility District Nos. 1406, 1425 and 1435
Resolution No. 7718 – LUD No. 1406 – Felida Village Cottages
Resolution No. 7719 – LUD No. 1425 – Legacy Village
Resolution No. 7720 – LUD No. 1435 – 21st Avenue Subdivision
After the presentation by Ms. Allen, Commissioner Barnes 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 Nos. 7718-7720 be adopted. (Materials C).
Consideration of Bid Award No. 630 – Water Main Replacement NW 16th Avenue
Materials and Purchasing Manager Cathy Wannamaker reviewed the memo dated May 3, 2021 detailing the bid results (Materials D). Commissioner Van Dyke moved to recommend that Bid No. 630 be awarded to the low evaluated bidder Halme Excavating, Inc., in the amount of $446,735.00 plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Malinowski seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Bid Award No. 631 – Acorn Post Top Luminaires
Materials and Purchasing Manager Cathy Wannamaker reviewed the memo dated May 3, 2021 detailing the bid results (Materials E). Commissioner Malinowski moved to recommend that Bid No. 631 be awarded to the low evaluated bidder General Pacific, Inc. in the full two-year contract amount of $557,384.00 plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Van Dyke seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Disposal of Surplus Vehicles & Equipment
Materials and Purchasing Manager Cathy Wannamaker reviewed the memo dated May 3, 2022 (Materials F) which detailed the vehicles and equipment to be deemed surplus. Staff is recommending that the vehicles and equipment outlined be declared as surplus for disposal through a public auction sale with JJ Kane Auctioneers and J Stout Auctions with dates of these auctions to be determined. Commissioner Van Dyke moved to surplus vehicles and equipment to be auctioned by JJ Kane Auctioneers and J Stout Auctions as presented. Commissioner Malinowski seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Small Cell Antenna Rate Schedule
GIS/Joint Use Manager Ben Jarrell reviewed the memo dated May 3, 2022 summarizing the proposed Small Cell Antenna Rate Schedule (Materials G). This will be an unmetered service and the rate schedule will be based on expected kWh use along with the size of the installation. Staff is recommending approval of Resolution 7721 setting the new rate schedule for small cell antennas.
Commissioner Van Dyke moved to approve Resolution 7721 adopting electric rates for small cell antennas as presented. Commissioner Malinowski seconded the motion it passed unanimously.
Limited Income Thermostat Program and Community Energy Efficiency Program Updates
Energy Services Manager Debbie DePetris provided the board with an update on the Limited Income Thermostat Program (Materials H) citing final spending was $641,953 and total kWh savings were 568,037. The remaining $1.3 million dollars from this program will be transferred to the Clean Energy Transformation Act Program Fund and remaining supplies will be distributed to the Vancouver Housing Authority and/or held for a future program.
Key Accounts Manager Bill Hibbs provided an update on the Community Energy Efficiency Program (CEEP). Mr. Hibbs explained the program’s focus on school district lighting and reviewed the projects that were funded by CEEP. He shared that for the current CEEP cycle there was a total kWh savings of 576,456. Included in this CEEP cycle was the energy efficiency kit program that ran December 2020 through May 2021. The program accounted for $46,864 in grant funds and the Utility distributed 2,243 kits during the period for a kWh savings of 195,554.
Program Coordinator Ashley King reviewed the six CEEP funding cycles in which Clark Public Utilities has received funding, which spanned 2010-2022. The Utility received nearly $3.8 million in grant funds and reported a total kWh savings of 6,769,066, equivalent to the 2020 annual consumption of 539 home in Clark County.
The board thanked staff for all their hard work creating, facilitating and managing the programs that allowed customers to benefit from the grant funds the Utility has received over the years.
Residential Conservation and Electric Vehicle Program Updates
Energy Services Program Manager Matt Babbitts presented the board with updates on residential conservation and the newly implemented electric vehicle program (Materials I).
Mr. Babbitts summarized the record setting rebates for several of our programs that totaled $2.9 million in rebates paid to customers and totaled a 3.2 aMW of energy savings, also noting that in October of 2022 heat pump promotional rebates will end and new rebate amounts have been established.
Mr. Babbitts reviewed the existing electric vehicle program, current rebate amounts, and program utilization numbers to date. He noted that there are new Level 3 chargers at the electric center that were partially funded by a Department of Ecology Grant.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioner Malinowski reported on his attendance at the Energy Northwest Meetings and shared that he was re-elected to the Executive Board of Directors.
Commissioners Barnes and Van Dyke reported on their attendance at the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce Legislative Review.
Staff Reports
There were no staff reports.
Public Comment
There were no additional public comments.
Other Business before the Board
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 11:43 a.m.