HomeMy WebLinkAboutElectric Board - Minutes - 12/01/2010Fort Collins Utilities Electric Board Minutes
Wednesday, December 1 , 2010
Electric Board Chairperson City Council Liaison
John Morris, 377-8221 Lisa Poppaw, 223-4136
Electric Board Vice Chairperson Staff Liaison
Steve Yurash, 226-4248 Brian Janonis, 221-6702
Roll Call
Board Present Chaii-person John Morris, Board Members John Graham, John Harris, and
Steve Wolley
Board Absent Vice Chairperson Steve Yurash, Board Members Tom Barnish and Dan
Bihn
Staff Present Brian Janonis, Steve Catanach, Tom Rock, Robin Pierce, Carrie Daggett,
John Phelan, Kraig Bader, and Patty Bigner
Guests Rick Coen
Meeting Convened
Chairperson Morris called the meeting to order at 5:41 p.m.
Public Comment
None
Approval of November 15, 2010, Minutes
The minutes of the November 15, 2010, meeting were passed by unanimous approval of
the Board.
Recognition of John Morris’ Service to the Utility Boards
Chairperson Morris was presented with a plaque to recognize his 14 years of service to
the Stormwater, Water, and Electric Boards and thanked for his significant leadership
contributions.
Green Building Program Update
(Presentation available on request)
Energy Services Manager John Phelan provided a Green Building Program update.
Model green building codes have come to the forefront in the last couple of years, namely
the National Building Standard for residential code and National Green Construction
Code for commercial code. After reviewing these codes, staff opted to pursue a different
direction for a variety of reasons. The adoption of a code that essentially overlays
existing guidelines creates many potential complications. It was also felt the codes were
not ready for primary use at this time. Staff developed a plan to make use of the best
Electric Board Meeting Minutes
December 1, 2010
pieces from our existing City codes (Land Use code, Building code, etc.) and “green”
those codes.
The City also recently adopted the 2009 International Building Codes. Mr. Phelan
distributed a sample of a Green Building Practice Summary and can offer samples of any
of the thirty Green Building Practice SLimmary documents developed SC) far (available on
the web site) as requested. Mr. Phelan reviewed the five base residential greei
amendments related to mechanical systems performance, electricity, building en velope
performance, healthy indoor air, and other green building practices. There are many
parallels in the base commercial green amendments. Requirements currently exist in City
Code for radon mitigation.
Training materials and tip sheets for construction waste recycling resources are among
those materials to be developed.
Some costs and benefits are easily quantifiable, and others are more difficult to quantify.
Some builders are already using green building best practices and would not see a cost
increase, but builders who are not using any green building practices may see the high
end of the initial cost spectrum ($6,350 or 3 percent) and could pass through the costs to
home buyers. For a typical house, the increased cost would he between $3,000 and
$6,000 to builders.
Additional staffing will he needed to handle the additional time involved for plan review
and field inspection activities.
Staff will take this to Council Work Session on December 14 with adoption of clear
language set for March 2011. Boards and commissions will be asked for
recommendations prior to March.
Board members offered the ftllowing suggestions and questions.
• Provide better defluiition fr the terms, “low, medium, and high end” (variability
in pricing materials). Recommending raking “end” off o/the term and perhaps
use “estimate” instead.
• Suggestion to get statistics on the actual average home according to area real
estate statistics rather than a entry level home.
• Does Xcel Energy have any feedback since they supply the natural gas? Staff
have received no input from them.
• What about raw water s’stenzsfr lawn irrigation? Do new developments have a
raw water distribution system mandated?
Plan Fort Collins Draft Plan
Light and Power Operations Manager Steve Catanach called out the Principle and
supporting policy sections of the Plan most pertinent to the Electric Board’s consideration
and noted that an overarching sustainahility ethic applies to the Plan.
FortZED and the Lincoln Triangle development areas have been identiled as catalyst
projects within the Plan for their transportation, strong economic development (including
cross-consideration for potential development, and neighborhood livability components.
Electric Board Meeting Minutes
December 1, 2010
A series of action items (immediate, near-term, and long-range) are included; effort was
put into keeping these realistic. Metrics are yet to be developed.
Immediate action items are:
- Grid security improvements related to the Environmental section (smart grid project);
- Water Supply and I)emand Management Policy; and
- Continuing energy efficiency programs.
Council will move to formally adopt the Plan on February 15, 2011.
2010 Annual Report
Chairperson Morris has developed a draft Annual Report and will expand on the Green
Building Program details.
Routine Updates
PRPA (Vice Chairperson Yurash): No report was given.
Capitol News (Board Member Wolley): The legislature is discussing whether to increase
the minimum amount of renewable energy resources for utilities.
Green Building Program Advisory Committee (Board Member Graham): Some on the
GBPAC encouraged City staff to go farther with the initiative, while some from the
building community expressed concern in having additional requirements placed on them
during this time of economic downturn.
Staff Reports
None
Other Business
Request For Proposals for the Meter Data Management System and the Automated Meter
Infrastructure went out November 22 to vendors. These are both significant components
of the Smart Meter Fort Collins project.
Future Agenda Items
None
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Submitted by Robin Pierce, Utilities Administrative Services Supervisor (Board
Secretary)
Fort Collins Utilities
Approved by the Board on 5 , 2011
Signed
Board Secretary 1/7MO” Date
Electric Board Meeting Minutes 3
December 1, 2010