Board Members present: Dorothy Anderson, Susie Smith, Jeff Osanka, Mike Dyer, and Sandra Bishop.
Others present: Garry Kunkel, Gale Banry, Ken Beeson, Mel Damewood, Marty Douglass, Paula Fleitell, Cathy Hamilton, Paul Harrison, Dick Helgeson, Everett Jordan, Dave Koski, Roseanna McArthur, Mat Northway, Jim Origliosso, Dick Varner, and Krista Hince of the EWEB staff; Pam Berrian, Les Moore, members of the public; and Kim Kunkel, minutes recorder.
President Anderson called the meeting to order.
MINUTES
The Commissioners reviewed the minutes of the October 21, 1997, Regular Board Meeting.
Referring to page 4 of the minutes, Commissioner Osanka requested that an additional paragraph be inserted between existing paragraphs 2 and 3. He requested that the new paragraph read "Commissioner Osanka said that he liked Commissioner Dyer's 'EWEB takes responsibility for the environmental consequences of our actions,' and proposed that this be added as the first sentence of the policy."
Referring to page 4 of the minutes, Vice President Smith requested that paragraph 5 be amended to read "Vice President Smith said it was important that EWEB approach the City and work toward establishing a partnership agreement that might include a waiver of the City's new right-of-way fees in exchange for both the financial capability EWEB brings to the project and the risk it assumes."
Referring to the final paragraph on page 6 of the minutes, President Smith requested that sentence 2 be amended to read "She predicted that the likelihood of meeting with the entire City Council was slight."
Vice President Smith moved, seconded by Commissioner Osanka, to approve the minutes of the October 21, 1997, Special Board Meeting, as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
CORRESPONDENCE
Acting in the absence of General Manager Randy Berggren, Electric Division Director Garry Kunkel reviewed the following information items that were distributed to the Board and included in the Board Meeting agenda packet:
With regard to EWEB's stated position that although Mrs. Frary continues to express dissatisfaction, EWEB and Arbor Tree Surgery have been responsive and met every commitment and agreement made to date, Commissioner Osanka said that although one owner of the property, Mr. Frary, may have been willing to agree to the mitigation offered, there is nothing in the record to suggest that the co-owner, Mrs. Frary, is satisfied. Commissioner Osanka said he did not support staff's proposed letter which stated that the Board was satisfied with the response to the letter in question.
Mr. Kunkel acknowledged Commissioner Osanka's position and said EWEB staff met with the Frary's and Arbor Tree Surgery and obtained signatures on the release of all claims. He said EWEB assumed the matter was resolved and did not expect to receive a letter from the co-owner, Mrs. Frary.
Commissioner Osanka inquired as to whether the signature of one owner on such a release was legally binding. Mr. Kunkel responded that EWEB has not inquired as to the legality of the release.
Commissioner Osanka and staff discussed the matter at length. Mr. Kunkel proposed that EWEB contact the property owners and inquire as to whether they want additional mitigation of the damage to their property. He said that, depending on the Frary's response, EWEB might offer to improve the substation landscaping screening. Commissioner Osanka said he was more comfortable with this approach.
Mr. Kunkel reviewed draft agendas for the December 2 Work Session and Board Meeting.
With regard to a memorandum from Eugene City Manager Vicki Elmer regarding the possibility that City Council will meet Tuesday evenings rather than Monday evenings, Commissioner Bishop said she was concerned because of the overlap with EWEB Board Meetings and would like the Board to express its concern to the City.
Commissioner Bishop moved, seconded by Commissioner Osanka, that the Board draft a letter requesting that the City Council not meet on Tuesday evenings; noting that EWEB changed its meeting to Tuesday evenings in order to avoid an overlap with Council meetings; and stating the Board's preference that City Council continue to meet on Monday evenings so that an EWEB representative may attend without missing a Board Meeting.
President Anderson said she would not support the wording of the above motion. She suggested amending the motion to note that EWEB changed its meeting date to Tuesday evenings, in part, to avoid the potential conflict for EWEB staff and Commissioners wishing to attend Monday City Council meetings.
Commissioner Bishop and Commissioner Osanka accepted the suggested amendment to the original motion. Commissioner Osanka suggested adding to the motion that continuing to meet on Monday evenings will allow City Councilors to attend EWEB Board Meetings.
Noting that he had requested that the Board meet on Tuesdays rather than Mondays due to his own schedule, Commissioner Dyer said he would oppose the motion.
Vice President Smith said she would vote in opposition to the motion because City Council has a greater challenge than the Board in terms of its work load. She said the schedule change proposed by Council should be accommodated.
The amended motion passed, 3:2; with Vice President Smith and Commissioner Dyer opposed.
PUBLIC INPUT
Les Moore, Director of Computer and Information Services for Eugene School District 4-J, spoke in support of EWEB's participation in the Fiber Optics Group Telecommunications Project. He said the project would be beneficial to many agencies, particularly the school district which currently has 43 agencies that are tied together for telecommunication purposes at considerable expense. Noting that school district telecommunications utilize a copper-based infrastructure, Moore said fiber optics would enable video conferencing between International High School classes and therefore decrease the amount of shuffling by instructors. Additionally, Mr. Moore said fiber optics is much more reliable than the school district's copper-based system.
Commissioner Osanka inquired as to the type of telecommunications pilot project that would be of most value to the school district. Mr. Moore responded that a pilot project connecting the district's high schools would be valuable.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOND AUTHORITY RESOLUTION
Energy Resource Projects Manager Ken Beeson distributed copies of a signed Memorandum of Understanding between EWEB and the City of Eugene, authorizing EWEB to design, develop, finance, construct, own, operate and maintain a telecommunications system(s), within or outside the City of Eugene.
Referring to a November 13 memorandum and attachment included in the Board Meeting agenda packet, Mr. Beeson reviewed and requested Board approval of a resolution authorizing, via the Uniform Revenue Bond Act (URBA), bonding authority in the amount of $15,000,000 for installation of Phase I of the EWEB electric utility telecommunications system. Mr. Beeson presented brief overview of both the URBA process and time line and results of a survey recently conducted by EWEB concerning customers' views regarding EWEB developing a telecommunications system in Eugene.
(The Commissioners took a short break)
Vice President Smith moved, seconded by Commissioner Osanka, to approve the resolution requesting the City of Eugene to authorize the issuance and sale of revenue bonds in an amount not to exceed $15,000,000 to finance Phase I of the Eugene Water & Electric Board's Electric System Fiber Optic Telecommunications System; providing for certain details of the bond authorization; authorizing and approving the publication of notice of revenue bond authorization; authorizing certain other acts in connection with the bonds.
Commissioner Bishop clarified that the Board was approving the revised version of the resolution.
The motion passed unanimously.
GREEN PRICING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
Referring to a series of overhead displays, Energy Resource Projects Manager Ken Beeson presented an update on EWEB's Green Pricing Program development. With regard to the program's work plan, Mr. Beeson stated that by mid-1998, EWEB will be ready to subscribe its product and said the utility will use the interim period to conduct a public process. He said the public process work will include soliciting ideas from citizens and the Board regarding green power policy development and how EWEB might package green power.
Referring to the stated purpose of the Green Pricing Program, Vice President Smith said she expressed concern regarding the phrase "minimal environment impact." Noting that it is unlikely the program will be opposed by no environmental interests, Vice President Smith said she did not want to make a statement that EWEB cannot live up to. Mr. Beeson said he would "flag" the phrase for possible modification. He said staff's intent was to research the positions of environmental interest groups relative to EWEB projects.
Mr. Beeson solicited Board direction with regard to moving forward with the proposed work plan.
With regard to the subscription process, Vice President Smith inquired as to the possibility of creating hybrid green power purchasing options appropriate to specific market sectors. She suggested, for example, that while corporations may want to participate in the program as sponsors, residential customers may want to participate in another manner. Mr. Beeson said he thought creating such hybrid options would be possible. He said that in advance of making the product available, EWEB must communicate with customers regarding their interests in order to ensure the appropriate internal systems are set up. Mr. Beeson said he thinks EWEB will create pricing packages designed to meet the needs of residential and commercial customers respectively.
Commissioner Bishop stressed her opposition to EWEB negotiating with industrial customers who purchase green power in exchange for pollution credit or to lessen environmental standards in any way.
ITEMS FROM BOARD MEMBERS
Commissioner Bishop reported that she attended a recent water law conference. She distributed notes taken at the conference and an article concerning the issue of hydroelectric reauthorization. Commissioner Bishop said that due to the fees involved, EWEB should take an interest in the issue of the State regulating hydroelectric reauthorization. Additionally, Commissioner Bishop reported that she attended the annual PNUC meeting with Electric Division Director Garry Kunkel and the value of EWEB's membership in the organization was evident.
Commissioner Osanka reported that he attended the recent Sustainable Business Conference and described it as immensely successful. He said the event's organizer expressed appreciation for EWEB's support of the conference.
President Anderson reported that she participated in the McKenzie Watershed Quality Forum conference, noting that an edited videotape of the event will likely be made available.
The meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.