Board Members present: Dorothy Anderson, Susie Smith, Jeff Osanka, Mike Dyer and Sandra Bishop.
Others present: Randy Berggren, Manda Bednarczyk, Tom Buckhouse, Chuck Dalton, Marty Douglass, Dick Helgeson, Garry Kunkel, Roseanna McArthur, John Mitchell, Mark Oberle, Jim Origliosso, Dick Varner, and Krista Hince of the EWEB staff; and Kim Kunkel, minutes recorder.
President Anderson called the meeting to order.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Board agreed to defer consideration of the minutes until its next meeting.
CORRESPONDENCE
General Manager Randy Berggren thanked Board members for attending the recent major customer appreciation luncheon and reminded Commissioners of the December 5 EWEB Child Development Center Silent Auction.
Mr. Berggren reviewed the following information items included in the meeting agenda packet:
Commissioner Bishop expressed concern that because EWEB and the City are conducting small, non-public meetings regarding the proposed "hole tax," information is not being relayed to the public. She said that while she did not want to play into that dynamic, she would support the scheduling of additional small meetings if doing so does not slow down the process of arranging a larger meeting. Vice President Smith said she thinks it is unlikely that EWEB will meet with the full Council in the near future.
Mr. Berggren reviewed draft agendas for the December 16 Work Session and Regular Board Meeting.
Given the late hour and the complexity of the issue, Vice President Smith suggested deferring the scheduled surplus property review until the next meeting. Commissioners expressed support for this suggestion.
PUBLIC INPUT
There was no public input.
1998/1999 WORK PLAN AND BUDGET
Dick Varner, Fiscal Services Supervisory, presented a brief overview of the budget process, noting that the first public hearing of the budget was scheduled for that evening. He said a second public hearing, followed by Board action, was scheduled for December 16.
Referring to the 1998 Budget Proposal included in the meeting agenda packet, Mr. Varner presented a brief overview of the Electric, Water, Steam, and Labor & Benefits budgets and solicited comments and questions from the Board.
With regard to the decreases to the increases in the Public Affairs budget proposed by Vice President Smith and Commissioner Dyer during the last meeting of the Board, Commissioner Bishop said she was uncomfortable with the process and does not think the Board made any decision that warranted reflecting those cuts in the budget. Commissioner Bishop said she does not support singling out one department for the purpose of making budget reductions. She suggested that the Board choose a percentage of reduction and allocate it evenly among all departments.
President Anderson said she was also disturbed about the process used to make the reduction. She said it is a form of micro managing.
Commissioner Osanka echoed Commissioner Bishop's point that no Board action was taken with regard to the reduction. In addition, he said other areas of the budget present equal opportunities for reduction.
Commissioner Dyer said the Board received a list of all non-labor and A&E costs and the reductions made to the Public Affairs budget were selected because they are considered discretionary expenditures. He said he does not dispute the fact that cuts could be made in other areas.
Vice President Smith said that while she agrees with Commissioners Bishop and Dyer, she has often raised the issue concerning the lack of prioritization within the Public Affairs budget. She said she is pleased that the exercise raised the issue of prioritization; however, she is not proud of the process that was used during the last meeting.
Commissioner Dyer said he was satisfied with the original reductions proposed by staff during the last meeting and withdrew his proposal for additional reductions.
Vice President Smith said it was her understanding that the cost management process the Board will undertake next year will entail a review of all program areas both early and often in the budget process. Mr. Berggren said this was correct.
Commissioner Bishop said she would like the Board to begin anew with the original Public Affairs budget in order to keep the process "clean." She said the process engaged in during the last meeting may be a warning sign for the Board to establish a standard for the level of staff work Commissioners can trigger. She said that although no formal action was taken by the Board, the Public Affairs budget issue resulted in an investment of major staff time.
PUBLIC HEARING OF THE 1998/1999 BUDGET
There were no members of the public requesting to speak.
ENERGY SHARE PROGRAM
Referring to a memorandum included in the meeting agenda packet, Customer Relations Manager Chuck Dalton presented the 1997 Energy Share Report, noting that once again, the Energy Share fundraising campaign was a success. He said the amount of pledges and donations collected increased by more than $21,812 to total $117,746. Mr. Dalton said the goal for the 1997 campaign is $120,000.
Mr. Dalton said Energy Share is now more integrated with other local service providers, resulting in easier access. In addition, he said increased networking between Energy Share and the Latino community has proven to be a valuable improvement to the program. Mr. Dalton distributed Energy Share fliers published in both English and Spanish.
Mr. Dalton invited the Board to sign "thank-you" letters that will be distributed to EWEB's industrial and commercial customers as part of Energy Share's corporate campaign. He said the letters will be available for signing in about one week.
WHOLESALE CONTRIBUTIONS-IN-LIEU-OF TAXES AND MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CITY OF EUGENE
Referring to a memorandum included in the meeting agenda packet, Fiscal Services Supervisor Dick Varner requested approval of a resolution authorizing Mr. Berggren to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Eugene concerning EWEB's contributions in-lieu-of taxes on wholesale power sales. He said the Eugene City Council will be presented a similar proposition on December 8.
Vice President Smith moved, seconded by Commissioner Osanka, to approve the resolution authorizing the General Manager to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Eugene concerning EWEB's contributions in-lieu-of taxes. The motion passed unanimously.
ITEMS FROM BOARD MEMBERS
No items were presented.
The meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.