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HomeMy WebLinkAboutElectric Board - Minutes - 02/17/1993Minutes to be approved by the Board at the March 24, 1993 meeting. FORT COLLINS ELECTRIC BOARD MEETING MINUTES February 17, 1993, 5:00 - 6:30 P.M. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: John Allum, Dane Brandt, Mark Fidrych, William Orendorff, Barbara Rutstein, and Larry Walsh. BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Richard Smart. STAFF PRESENT: Ellen Alward, Don Botteron, Allen Boushee, Delynn Coldiron, John DeHaes, Ron King, Bob Kost, Bob Nastan, 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) Rules & Regulations -- Schedule and Scope of Project 3) EMF Guideline -- Council Action? 4) Staff Reports - Amendment 1 - Lighting follow up - Energy Policy Act 5) Other Business 6) Critique Meeting/Next Meeting's Agenda DISCUSSION TOPICS: 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A Motion was made by Board Member Allen to approve the Minutes. Board Member Orendorff seconded the Motion. The Motion carried unanimously and the Minutes from the January 20, 1993 meeting were approved. RULES & REGULATIONS -- SCHEDULE AND SCOPE OF PROJECT: Ellen Alward provided Board Members with background information on the Electric Service Rules & Regulations and the Electric Construction Policies, Practices and Procedures. The Utility is in the process of reviewing both of these documents in order to update them to reflect changes in the Utility's operations. Proposed changes or new issues which are being addressed include: addition of a section on life support system notification, addition of a section on special contract services (i.e., providing redundant dedicated power lines to a customer), assuring that both policies are in compliance with the American Disabilities Act, and reviewing existing language that deals with City liability related to voltage fluctuation. Board Members were given a proposed Time Schedule for the revision of both documents and a report on Cost of Development Study. The report was prepared for Council and gives an overview of all of the development fees that apply throughout the City. The sections of this report that relate to Light and Power will be discussed, in more detail, at next month's meeting. EMF GUIDELINE: Rich Shannon briefed Board Members on a meeting he had with Council Members Gerry Horak, Susan Kirkpatrick and Ann Azari regarding the EMF Guideline. Because of the uncertainty of the scientific community related to EMF, Council Members do not feel the need to adopt a Council policy on this issue at this time. Council Members were glad that the Electric Board has adopted a guideline and want the Electric Board to continue to advise them on this subject whenever new or different information is available. If or when, at some time in the future, the City is faced with a developing EMF issue that requires a Council policy, Council Members expect the Electric Board to get involved -- request work sessions, re- evaluate and refine the EMF Guideline, if necessary, etc. Council Members are satisfied to stay in a "wait and see" mode until further information develops. Board Members discussed this issue and are in agreement with Council that the EMF Guideline does not need adoption at this point. The intent of the current Guideline is to assure that the Utility is sharing with the public everything that is known about EMF, provide any materials that are available (video tape, meters), and help educate the public. Rich will send an HP Desk message to Council Members clarifying the Board's thinking on this issue. Board Members are impressed by the proactive efforts of the Utility related to EMF. Dennis reported that activity/customer inquiries on EMF have increased due to the various television programs and newspaper articles dealing with EMF. The Utility has a waiting list for the magnetic field meters and the EMF video has been checked out on a regular basis. Four additional copies of the EMF video have been given to the Public Library for checkout and a Utility display at the Library has been changed to highlight EMF. -2- Dennis provided Board Members with a report from Oak Ridge Associated Universities on the health effects of low -frequency electric and magnetic fields. He mentioned that the report takes an extreme position on the side of minimizing the potential risks of EMF and indicates that there is no convincing evidence that exposure to low frequency electric and magnetic fields are health hazards. It goes so far as to suggest further study on this issue is not the best use of resources available. STAFF REPORTS: A. Amendment I: Bob Kost reported that the proposed amendment to the City Charter that would establish the Council as a Board of Directors for the Utilities passed 6-0 on first reading and 6-1 on second reading. A member from the TABOR Committee was approached by a Board Member on this issue, and it is the feeling of the TABOR Committee that the Utility is exempt from Amendment 1. Board briefly discussed other pending actions related to Amendment 1 -- City of Longmont's stance, SB130 (Water enterprise bill - Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District) and Colorado Municipal League general enterprise bill. Don Botteron presented financial scenarios of the past five years had the Utility been under the constraints of Amendment 1. This showed that in the past five years, had the Utility been under the constraints of Amendment 1, the Utility would have been forced to go to the citizens for two elections to ask whether the Utility could keep the money that was generated in order to pay the bills or refund it (elections cost an estimated $40,000 to $50,000 each). Don also presented a scenario for the 1993 budget -- shows a $1.2 million overage if under Amendment 1 constraints. Lighting Follow Up: Dennis Sumner reported that the Energy Services staff is working on a report that will highlight some of the lessons learned from the new -tech lighting, i.e., economics, practical features, etc. This will be shared with the Board once it is finalized. The Board was pleased with this follow-up on what was learned with lighting in the recent remodel. Staff followed up on the Senior Center project. This project is at the construction document phase of their work and their representatives have indicated that they have chosen to rely on the architecture and design engineer for energy efficient design. In order to avoid further architectural and engineering review and change order charges, they will not request assistance from the Utility. -3- C. Energy Policy Act: Dennis Sumner discussed current activities relating to the Energy Policy Act. The Utility will be reviewing materials with legal counsel to find out how the Utility can comply with Sections 111 and 114. 5. OTHER BUSINESS: A. March Meeting Date: Board discussed whether or not to change the meeting date for March due to Spring Break. A decision was reached to change the meeting date to March 24. Staff will send notice of the meeting change to the City Clerk. 6. CRITIQUE MEETING/NEXT MEETING'S AGENDA: Cost of Development Staff Reports - Amendment 1 - Budget G1131197115III 1119 The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m. Delyn R. Coldiron, Board Secretary -4-