HomeMy WebLinkAboutElectric Board - Minutes - 05/20/1992f 0 6
Minutes to be approved by the Board at the June 17, 1992 meeting.
FORT COLLINS ELECTRIC BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
May 20, 1992, 5:00 - 6:30 P.M.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
John Allum, Dane Brandt, William Orendorff, Barbara Rutstein, Richard Smart and
Larry Walsh.
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
Mark Fidrych.
STAFF PRESENT:
Don Botteron, Allen Boushee, Delynn Coldiron, John DeHaes, Ron King, Bob Kost,
Bob Nastan and Dennis Sumner.
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) By-laws
3) Appeals Procedure
4) Underground Report Update
5) 1993 Budget Impact Statements (Comments)
6) Other Business
7) Critique Meeting/Next Meeting's Agenda
DISCUSSION TOPICS:
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Board Member Allum mentioned that on page 6, paragraph five under Pending
legislation, PEAK should be PEEC (Partnership for an Energy Efficient
Colorado.)
A Motion was made by Board Member Smart to approve the Minutes as
corrected. Board Member Orendorff seconded the Motion. The Motion
carried unanimously and the Minutes from the April 15, 1992 meeting were
approved as corrected.
OI
2. BY-LAWS:
Board Members went through each section of the By-laws and several changes
were suggested. A Motion was made by Board Member Allum for adoption of
the By-laws as corrected. Board Member Smart seconded the Motion. The
Motion carried unanimously. The By-laws will be modified in accordance
with the suggested changes.
APPEALS PROCEDURE:
Board Members discussed possible scenarios that might be appealed to the
Board. Chairperson Rutstein mentioned that per City Code, the Board will
not be involved with financial/billing discussions, i.e., cancellation of
electric service, etc. Appeal possibilities include:
• Meter Reader inadvertently leaves gate open, customer's dog gets loose,
dog gets hurt.
• Landscape restoration doesn't meet customer's expectations.
• Establishment of line extension fees/policy. (Although this is of a
financial nature, this type of thing would probably be handled by Light
and Power rather than Finance.)
• Policy/guideline issues. Staff's interpretation of the policies/
guidelines.
Board Members discussed the draft appeal procedure documents and related
issues, i.e., whether or not the Board has the right to refuse to hear an
appeal; how the appeal should be handled -- formal hearing (judicial) or
otherwise, etc. Board Members seemed in agreement that City Council
intended the Board to serve as a hearing body to alleviate them from
having to hear these types of appeals, so the right of the Board to refuse
to hear an appeal is not an option. Board Members decided to plan on
hearing all appeals that are submitted and readdress this issue in the
future if this becomes a burden. Board Members also decided that the
Request for Hearing form will be authorized by Chairperson. Several
changes and additions were suggested to the appeal procedure documents.
These documents will be modified in accordance with the suggested changes.
UNDERGROUND REPORT UPDATE:
Al Boushee presented an addition to the Underground Report in response to
Council Member Horak's request that due consideration be given to safety
when priorities are selected. This additional page included the criteria
that will be reviewed when project areas are selected -- safety is a theme
throughout. Council Member Horak was concerned that safety be stressed in
residential areas and that this be given higher priority than commercial
areas -- children are less aware of the dangers of electric lines. Board
Members were in agreement with this.
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5. BUDGET IMPACT STATEMENTS:
Don Botteron mentioned to the Board that the budget process has been
modified to provide Council and staff the opportunity to address
significant issues prior to the budget being drafted. The Enterprise
Funds were asked to develop brief impact sta'tements on issues that impact
our five-year plan that were not addressed in the last budget cycle (or
changes from how they were presented in the last budget cycle.) The three
issues which Light and Power identified were: 1) Electric Rates/Revenues;
2) Electric Energy Efficiency Programs; and 3) Underground Conversion
Program (changes). Don mentioned that staff is using the Electric Board
as a sounding board to see if these impact statements are understandable
and to find out if Board Members had any suggestions, etc. Staff
addressed related Board Members' questions. No changes in the impact
statements were proposed.
OTHER BUSINESS:
A. Bright Ideas Lighting Seminar:
Chairperson Rutstein asked Dennis Sumner how the Bright Ideas Seminar
went. Dennis mentioned that we ended up with approximately 35-40 people
and had very good audience; speakers did an outstanding job; and his over-
all feeling was that the seminar was successful. Dennis noted that the
Utility has presented other programs targeted toward commercial customers
in the past. The two previous seminars covered power quality and energy
alternatives for commercial customers.
Purchase of Property:
Don Botteron mentioned to the Board that he has been negotiating to
purchase the piece of property just to the south of us (cement pipe plant
-- known as Concrete Products Co.), as a final addition to the Service
Center complex. The contract price of $190,000 for the 5.37 acres is
approximately equivalent to what we have paid for property additions to
the Service Center over the past six years. The purchase is being
presented to Council on June 2nd for final approval.
Old Power Plant:
Bob Nastan mentioned that the Utility has been negotiating with CSU for
the lease of the old power plant. The lease was delivered May 20 -- this
is a six month lease with two month extensions. This will be used by the
CSU's Mechanical Engineering Department for development of emission
controls on engines. The Utility intends to request proposals for other
uses for the power plant, with the idea that we will dispose of the
property.
D. CML Meeting:
Chairperson Rutstein mentioned that the CML conference is taking place in
Fort Collins June 16th-20th. CAMU is having a two hour session on EMF on
June 18th from 2:00-4:00. It will be held at the CSU Student Center.
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Bob Nastan mentioned that if anyone was interested in attending the
session on EMF, or any of the other sessions being offered at the CML
conference, they should contact Bob and he will take care of the
registrations.
E. Colorado Health Effects Communicators Meeting:
Bob Nastan mentioned that the Colorado Health Effects Communicators is
having a meeting on June 17th, from 9:00 - 4:00 in Northglenn at the
Holiday Inn at I-25 and 120th Avenue. They will be covering: proposed
rule making on EMF from the Public Utilities Commission, communicating
EMF, communicating uncertainty to the public, EMF and property values,
human health effects of EMF, and litigation update.
If any Board Members are interested in attending this meeting, they should
contact Bob and he will take care of registrations. Gerry Horak has
indicated that he would like to see a board member/members become
knowledgeable on EMF issues so that when these questions come up to
Council, they can be handed off to the Board.
7. CRITIQUE MEETING/NEXT MEETING'S AGENDA:
Board Members felt very good about the meeting. Chairperson Rutstein
mentioned that we will try to do a little better time -wise next month.
Board discussed items to be included on next month's Agenda:
- Bill Orendorff report on Colorado Utility Renewable Energy Forum
- Budget
- Appeals Procedure
TASKS:
Delynn will revise By-laws and appeal procedures documents in accordance with
suggested changes.
Bob Nastan will make necessary registrations for Board Members who want to attend
any of the referenced meetings/sessions.
Staff will prepare budget forms.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at /7:23 p.m.
Delyn Coldiron, Board Secretary
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