HomeMy WebLinkAboutElectric Board - Minutes - 03/24/1993C7
Minutes to be approved by the Board at the April 21, 1993 meeting.
FORT COLLINS ELECTRIC BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
March 24, 1993, 5:00 - 6:30 P.M.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
John Allum, Dane Brandt, and Barbara Rutstein.
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
Mark Fidrych, William Orendorff, Richard Smart and Larry Walsh.
STAFF PRESENT:
Ellen Alward, Don Botteron, Allen Boushee, Delynn Coldiron, John DeHaes, Bob
Hover, Ron King, Bob Kost, Bob Nastan, Tim Sagen, Rich Shannon, and Dennis
Sumner.
OTHERS PRESENT:
None.
BOARD LIAISONS:
Council Liaison Gerry Horak
Staff Liaison - Don Botteron
CALL TO ORDER:
Barbara Rutstein called the meeting to order.
AGENDA:
1) Approval of Minutes
2) Charter Amendment 1 Discussion
3) Rules & Regulations -- Line Extension Policy
4) Staff Reports
- Budget Information
5) Other Business
6) Critique Meeting/Next Meeting's Agenda
DISCUSSION TOPICS:
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Board Member Allum's name was spelled incorrectly in the paragraph under
Approval of Minutes. This correction was noted and the Minutes from the
February 17, 1993 meeting were approved as corrected.
CHARTER AMENDMENT 1 DISCUSSION:
Board Members discussed Charter Amendment 1. Board Members had differing
feelings on the difficulties surrounding passage of this Amendment and
shared some of the comments they had received from citizens. No formal
action was taken.
3. Because of the number of Board Members absent from the March meeting, the
remaining Board Members decided to postpone discussion/presentations on
the Line Extension Policy and Budget portions of the March Agenda. An
overview of the Capital budget (postponed from the March meeting) and an
overview of the Operations & Maintenance budget will be presented at the
April meeting. Presentation of the draft revisions to the Rules and
Regulations has been postponed until the May meeting. Board Member Allum
requested that Board Members be provided with a two or three year history
on ongoing budget programs. Staff will provide Board Members with a five
year history on significant budget items, together with pertinent
information for budget items which dramatically increase/ decrease.
4. OTHER BUSINESS:
Public Service Company Program:
Dennis Sumner mentioned that Public Service Company, as part of their
demand side management efforts, received approval from the P.U.C. to enter
into an arrangement with the Colorado Department of Housing where Public
Service will add 2'/: million dollars additional funding to a pool of 5
million dollars of funding which the Colorado Department of Housing
currently has, which funding will be used to expand the weatherization
work done in low income homes. This program has been approved by the
P.U.C. as a gas demand side management activity to reduce Public Service's
gas peak demand. One part of this program includes providing, on the
average, five compact fluorescents to each home participating in the
program. Public Service has contacted the Utility since they do not
provide electricity to Ft. Collins residents, and offered to make the
lights available to the Utility at cost. Staff will be doing an analysis
to see if there is a demand side management justified basis for incurring
this expense.
fNWdT
Public interest and concern has remained high. Board Member Orendorff
pointed out a copy of a new book entitled "Warning: The Electricity
Around You May be Hazardous to Your Health," by Ellen Sugarman. This book
develops the idea that there is a conspiracy between the electric utility
industry and Federal Government to cover up EMF health risks. Dennis
mentioned that he sees this distrust of the utility industry and the
Federal Government increasing on issues relating to EMF.
Bill Sharps, who chairs an Energy & Power Subcommittee in Indiana, will
begin holding hearings on EMF on April 1.
ABC TV's World News Tonight plans to broadcast a two-part story on EMF
sometime within the next two weeks. ABC's Prime Time Live is planning to
air an EMF piece on April 15.
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There was an EMF seminar in Washington D.C. sponsored by T&D Magazine and
discussions emerged that scientists are coming to the conclusion that
there are detectable physiological effects from EMF but there is still not
conclusion if there are health related concerns. People who were involved
with the Swedish study were also in attendance and a couple of things
about the Swedish study were noted: 1) They did not take into account
smoking, age, etc. 2) The findings that indicated that there were risks
related to EMF were based on 12 individuals out of a study group of
140,000.
A notable litigation issue has developed. A San Diego case involves a
person with a claim against San Diego Gas & Electric -- The judge is
permitting the Plaintiff to introduce into evidence, and to jury
consideration, arguments related to the Plaintiff's reaction to
information on EMF presented in the public media as contrasted to
scientific information.
6. CRITIQUE MEETING/NEXT MEETING'S AGENDA:
Rules & Regulations -- Line Extension Policy
Staff Reports
- Follow up on Charter Amendment 1
- Budget
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.
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