Board Members present: Susie Smith, Dorothy Anderson, Peter Bartel, Sandra Bishop, and Mike Dyer.
Others present: Randy Berggren, General Manager; Tom Buckhouse, Sandra DeLuna, Dick Helgeson, Garry Kunkel, Roseanna McArthur, Jim Origliosso, and Krista Hince of the EWEB staff; Ken O'Brien, Consultant; and Daniel Lindstrom, Minutes Recorder.
Friday Evening Session
President Smith called the Planning Session of the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) to order at 6:35 p.m., following a dinner and social gathering at which no Board business was discussed.
General Manager Randy Berggren described the purpose of the two-day event - to consider a review of fitness evaluations of EWEB utilities and services. He said the reviews were developed by a group composed of the Executive Management Team and other management personnel. He also said a second purpose of the event was to assess draft financial initiatives developed to respond to previously identified financial stresses anticipated in the 2000 budget and beyond.
Mr. Berggren reminded Commissioners that the Session was the third of four intended to involve the Board in strategic planning. He introduced Ken O'Brien, a consultant with R.W. Beck, and said he had guided processes followed by the management group. He said the final Planning Session to be held in July would seek to translate discussions of the Board and management group into tactics to be applied to EWEB operations and budget.
Planning Method Review
Mr. Berggren said he believed the work with Mr. O'Brien and the Board Planning Sessions were team-building experiences for the Executive Management Team. He said it was having a positive effect on collaboration between management and Board.
Mr. O'Brien introduced himself and reviewed his experience as a consultant. He described elements of the strategic planning process used by the management group - developing Mission, Vision, Values, Market Environment, Objectives, Strategies, and Tactics statements. He said "fitness" was a term used to describe alignment of the elements.
Mr. O'Brien reviewed descriptive "Market State" concepts he said were helpful in understanding conditions of a business - Innovative, Stable, Declining.
Commissioners asked questions and made comments regarding the presentations of Mr. O'Brien.
Context Overview
Mr. Berggren reviewed drafts of EWEB Mission, Vision, and Values statements developed by management included in a document entitled "Discussion Document" distributed with the agenda of the Planning Session. He said the statements were typical, but was really intended to promote a dialogue inviting analysis and consideration by the Board. He explained that Directors would describe the fitness of each Division, based on the statements, starting with objectives.
President Smith stated that she felt analysis of the EWEB public/political environment was missing from the draft Mission, Vision, and Values statements. She said it was important to include its consideration as the context in which fitness was tested and determined.
Director of Corporate Services Roseanna McArthur suggested that it would be possible to include public/political environment considerations in the description of Market Environments attached to the draft statements. Mr. Berggren added that the concern of President Smith was also an element of the EWEB operating environment.
Mr. O'Brien observed that the comment of President Smith was "pivotal" for public utilities.
Commissioner Dyer said he was concerned that an unspoken assumption of the draft Mission, Vision, and Values statements was that EWEB would inevitably provide other utility services, such as natural gas. He said he did not favor such an expansion of services. Mr. Berggren replied that the statements were intended as "fodder" for consideration of a variety of options and that no assumption about the expansion of services was intended.
Commissioner Bishop said she did not believe the draft Values statements adequately referred to EWEB's essential, core services.
President Smith suggested that the use of the word "might" in the draft Mission statement needed to be clarified. She also suggested that a Vision statement should be vague enough to "be on the horizon" and specific enough to "be able to move toward," but that the draft was only vague. She said she was not prepared to "buy into" the statements until she was convinced they accurately reflected the current state of EWEB.
Mr. O'Brien suggested that a fundamental question to be asked was whether EWEB was "in the business of business" or in the business of providing electric, water, and other utility services.
President Smith said she believed EWEB was in the business of filling the utility needs of the citizens of Eugene. Mr. O'Brien added that public utilities were well positioned to address public needs not fully realized or articulated.
Commissioners took a ten-minute recess at 8:00 p.m.
Electric Utility Review
Electric Division Director Garry Kunkel reviewed Electric Utility Objectives for its wholesale operations, as follows:
He discussed strategies employed to achieve the objectives. He presented "themes" evident in the objectives and strategies, as follows:
Mr. Kunkel identified current and future initiatives of wholesale operations, as follows:
Current
Future
Mr. Kunkel said retail services of the Electric Utility would potentially be the most impacted by electric power industry deregulation and restructuring. He reviewed Objectives for retail operations, as follows:
He discussed strategies employed to achieve the objectives. He presented "themes" evident in the objectives and strategies, as follows:
Mr. Kunkel identified current and future initiatives of retail operations, as follows:
Current
Future
President Smith said that her earlier concern about analysis of the EWEB public/political environment being missing was being addressed by fitness presentations. She said it was important for EWEB to be able to identify issues of concern to all Eugene citizens, not just its customers. She suggested that careful tree trimming, under-grounding of wires, and offering WindPower options were examples of such issues.
Commissioner Bartel said he believed the concerns raised by President Smith were "touchy-feely" and tangential to services provided by a utility. He said EWEB had certain products which it needed to deliver well and that determining community perceptions related to them was difficult to accomplish.
Commissioner Bishop suggested that bond elections were a way public utilities could measure community perceptions about services.
Commissioner Bartel said he believed it was possible for public agencies to over-react to public perceptions and that doing so could distract from accomplishing important purposes.
President Smith said she was having difficulty understanding the comments of Commissioner Bartel in relation to the proposed Mission, Vision, and Values statements, or the fitness analysis of the Electric Utility provided by Mr. Kunkel.
Commissioner Bartel said he was attempting to say that the values identified were important, but that implementation of them was a problem.
Commissioner Anderson said she agreed with Commissioner Bartel, but that she believed it was essential for EWEB to be sensitive to concerns of its customers.
Commissioner Bishop said she believed ways to accurately gauge customer satisfaction were missing in EWEB operations.
Vice President Dyer said he was not always confident EWEB knew what its customers wanted. He suggested that trying to appease small, vocal groups could lead to providing inadequate service to all customers.
Commissioners discussed issues related to competition in retail electric utility services.
Human Resources Manager Sandra DeLuna asked if Commissioners believed the process being followed in the Planning Session was appropriate.
President Smith said she was concerned that Commissioner Bartel was satisfied that issues he had raised were being given adequate consideration.
Commissioner Bartel stated that he was attempting to stimulate conversation to determine if EWEB was "on the right track."
Commissioners agreed that the scheduled presentation and discussion of the Steam Utility review would be postponed until the Saturday Morning Session.
The Friday Evening Session adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
Saturday Morning Session
President Smith called the Saturday Morning Session to order at 8:15 a.m.
Mr. O'Brien said he believed discussion by Commissioners had expressed agreement that there was a connection between EWEB's market environment and its mission, vision, and values. He said he had not heard unanimity about the importance of various elements of the mission, vision, and values.
Water & Steam Divisions Director Dick Helgeson suggested that additional consensus existed among Commissioners that the sustainability of EWEB was determined by its ability to meet environmental needs.
Mr. O'Brien suggested that it would be important for Commissioners to consider whether EWEB was a "tactical" organization - operating to accomplish a short-range purpose. He said another important consideration would be to whether it was possible to plan actions in the face of a determination that the market environment desires of customers were in error.
Commissioner Bartel said the suggestions of Mr. O'Brien related to his concerns that values of EWEB might need to change.
Steam Utility Review
Mr. Helgeson stated that the Steam Utility had acquired skills which could be applicable to other elements of EWEB - downsizing, cost containment, and working with customers who have choices. He reviewed the history of acquiring the Steam Utility to address community problems - disposing of wood wastes, improving air quality, and providing heat to downtown area buildings.
Mr. Helgeson reviewed Steam Utility Objectives, as follows:
He discussed strategies employed to achieve the objectives. He presented "themes" evident in the objectives and strategies, as follows:
Mr. Helgeson identified current and future initiatives of the Steam Utility, as follows:
Current
Future
Commissioner Bartel asked what negative effects could result from a merger of EWEB and University of Oregon steam utilities. Mr. Helgeson replied that such a merger would mean EWEB would lose control over the cost of steam and that the University might not maintain a commitment to providing service to the downtown area.
Treasurer Jim Origliosso said he believed the most likely steam utility scenario was that EWEB would become a wholesale customer of the University and continue to provide service to the downtown area.
Mr. Helgeson suggested that another alternative to be considered was that EWEB and the University develop steam co-generation capacity, following the model of EWEB and Weyerhauser Corporation in electric power generation.
Commissioner Bishop said she believed it was EWEB's community responsibility to continue providing steam service to its customers. She said it would be acceptable to develop an exit strategy which involved short-term increases in revenues to cover stranded costs. She said re-development of the river front area should assume that the Steam Plant building would be preserved as an historic community resource.
Mr. Helgeson said marketing of steam service to new customers such as the planned City Library was being questioned in light of the potential that it would cease to exist.
Commissioners discussed the importance to EWEB of providing contingency plans for customers using the steam utility.
Water Utility Review
Mr. Helgeson reviewed Water Utility Objectives, as follows:
He discussed strategies employed to achieve the objectives. He presented "themes" evident in the objectives and strategies, as follows:
Mr. Helgeson identified current and future initiatives of the Water Utility, as follows:
Current
Future
Commissioner Anderson asked if it was possible that the City of Eugene would consider eliminating prohibitions on EWEB providing water service outside city limits if EWEB were to assume operation of water districts. Mr. Helgeson replied that the prohibition would likely be removed in such a scenario.
Commissioner Anderson asked whether a bill proposed in the 1999 Session of the Oregon State Legislature requiring municipal water systems to fluoridate water would be passed. Commissioner Bishop replied that the bill was generally considered a political tactic intended to influence the support of Governor Kitzhaber to reduce spending on the Oregon Health Plan, rather than an attempt to force fluoridation.
Commissioner Bishop said she believed EWEB needed to become a leader in water rights protection concerns. Mr. Berggren said he agreed and that actions required in connection with Endangered Species Act fish listings and the Willamette River Initiative would likely be a part of adaptive management planning techniques which would include such concerns. He suggested that premature action could confuse the issues.
President Smith said she believed EWEB should be prepared to deal with water system carrying capacity issues in the face of increasing concerns about community growth and growth management. Mr. Berggren said he agreed and suggested that the issues could also be raised in Endangered Species Act fish listing response planning.
Commissioner Bartel said he did not believe water conservation efforts would be successful if a program to emphasize it was given low priority. President Smith said she agreed and suggested that developing a conservation program be highlighted by stating it as a future water utility initiative.
Telecommunications Project Review
Facilities Services Director Tom Buckhouse reviewed Telecommunication Project Objectives, as follows:
He discussed strategies employed to achieve the objectives. He presented "themes" evident in the objectives and strategies, as follows:
Mr. Buckhouse identified initiatives of the Telecommunication Project, as follows:
Mr. Buckhouse explained that changing EWEB's ability to "light" installed fiber did not imply that consideration was being given to providing content services, but would greatly increase the number of potential service provider customers. Commissioner Bishop pointed out that there was a significant difference between providing the power to enable content delivery and having authority to deliver it. She suggested that Commissioners be called upon to emphasize the distinction with members of the City Council.
Commissioner Bartel said he believed there was strong support for development of the telecommunications project among members of the City Council
Commissioners took a ten-minute recess at 10:10 a.m.
EWEB Overall Review
Mr. Berggren reviewed overall objectives of EWEB, as follows:
He discussed strategies employed to achieve the objectives. He presented "themes" evident in the objectives and strategies, as follows:
Mr. Berggren identified current and future initiatives of EWEB, as follows:
Current
Future
Commissioner Bishop commented that it was difficult for Commissioners to keep current with developments occurring through the McKenzie Watershed Council and Willamette River Initiative.
President Smith suggested that it would be helpful to identify small initiatives such as improvements to the vehicle washing facility in environmental stewardship initiatives.
Vice President Dyer suggested that timeliness and agility in decision making were important elements of organizational effectiveness process improvements.
Commissioner Bartel said he believed the ability of the Board to make timely decisions was affected by an assumption that diversity and conflict needed to be resolved. He suggested that there would be times when the Board was not able to reach consensus and that it was possible to move forward without it. He said the "happiness factor" was not a measure of a good decision.
Mr. Berggren said that he shared the opinion of Commissioner Bartel because there were occasions when staff proposals became overly simplified to avoid nonconformity.
Ms. DeLuna suggested that it was important for the Board to make its decisions as clear as possible.
President Smith said she did not believe there was a need for consensus, but that there was a value in discussing diverse opinions in decision making. She said she believed unanimous support for a project gave it increased power.
Vice President Dyer suggested that compromise could produce unity of support. Ms. DeLuna said that faster decision-making could result in less time being available to develop such unity. President Smith suggested that the General Manager needed to be a "bellwether," assessing the propensities of the Board and integrating it into the work of the organization. Mr. Berggren said it would be important for the Board to be clear in its decisions for such assessment to be possible.
Consulting Services and Other Markets Review
Mr. Berggren suggested that an objective for expanding EWEB Consulting Services would be to leverage existing capacity to bring higher value and revenue to stakeholders. He discussed strategies which could be employed to achieve the objective. He presented "themes" evident in the objectives and strategies, as follows:
Mr. Berggren identified potential future Consulting Services initiatives, as follows:
Mr. Berggren suggested that it might be possible for EWEB to consider a strategy to evaluate the appropriateness of entering the natural gas utility business. He said advantages of such a strategy could include business viability and community benefit.
Commissioners discussed the potential strategy, emphasizing the importance of avoiding negative business conflicts, assuming EWEB willingness to provide such a utility for Eugene citizens if Northwest Natural Gas would abandon its service, requesting analysis of the risks of such a strategy, and suggesting that investigation be made into the potential of preserving the possibility for such a strategy in contracts with the City.
Commissioners took a thirty-five minute recess at noon.
Saturday Afternoon Session
Financial Strategy Alternatives Review
Mr. Origliosso referred to a document entitled "Financial Strategy Alternatives Review" distributed with the agenda of the Planning Session. He explained that the alternatives were suggestions of ways to avoid projected "double-digit" rate increases. He said the proposals had been developed concurrently with the strategic planning fitness review process and were one of its Tactics elements. He reviewed information presented in a chart entitled "Tactical Work" in the document, which contained "risk adjusted impacts" for alternatives presented. He listed positive and negative implications of the alternatives and Commissioners discussed their value, as follows:
1. Account Processing Fee
Proposal: A $10.00 Move In/Move Out charge could annually recover $400,000 of costs related to time spent processing the unusually large number of new EWEB accounts each year.
Implications:
Positive: - Charges those creating the expense
Negative: - Primarily impacts those who change residences frequently (students/renters)
Discussion: Is it possible to deal with low-income impacts? (Bartel) Low-income concerns are not the same as concerns about students. (Anderson) The revenue from this strategy should be used in the Capital Improvement Plan. (Smith) The revenue from this strategy should be used for operating expenses. (Origliosso)
Outcome: Refine and consider at July Planning Session.
2. Price Surplus Water at Marginal Cost
Proposal: Developing a marginal price for water district wholesale water customers could annually produce $278,000 additional revenue.
Implications:
Positive: - Significant revenue potential
Negative: - Large impact on outside-the-city customers
Discussion: The proposal would equalize rates for water districts with other rates. (Origliosso) An unanswered question is whether the revenue should be placed in the System Development Charge fund or general operating funds. (Origliosso)
Outcome: Refine and consider at July Planning Session.
3. Telecommunications Project
Proposal: Leasing approximately one-quarter of the dark fiber capacity during Phase I of the Telecommunications Project could produce cash flow.
Implications:
Positive: - Reduces Phase I pressure on electric rates
Negative: - Commercial access would be made available prior to residential pilot
Outcome: Refine and consider at July Planning Session.
4. Administrative and General Cost Process Efficiencies
Proposal: Various options could hold Administrative and General costs to below current proforma for savings of up to $4.6 million over 4 years.
Implications:
Positive: - Limited immediate impact on services and customers
Negative: - Cultural issues around re-engineering processes
Discussion: Need to make some headway in this issue somewhere between "hold it flat" and 10 percent. (Smith)
Outcome: Refine and consider at July Planning Session.
5. Reduction in Force
Proposal: Reducing EWEB's work force by 10, 20, or 30 full time equivalent positions would produce annual savings of $775,000-$2.25 million.
Implications:
Positive: - Targets Administrative and General Cost performance gap
Negative: - Employee morale issue
Discussion: It is not possible to realize needed reduction levels through attrition and retirement, or to limit them to areas where reductions are needed/possible. (Helgeson) It is possible to do re-training and re-assignments and avoid lay-offs, at least in the first year. (Smith) I am "not ready to go there" and prefer emphasizing no new positions. (Anderson) I do not favor lay-offs, but believe the option should be kept on the table. (Berggren) Lay-offs can not be done hastily. (McArthur) Additional information is needed about specific areas where EWEB has exceptionally high Administrative and General costs. (Smith) I do not favor the option at this time. (Bartel) Additional work needs to be done to identify areas where there are positions which can be eliminated. (Berggren) The priorities of Work Plans need to inform lay-offs. (Smith) If there are positions which are not filling a critical function, no one benefits from them not being laid-off. (Dyer)
Outcome: Refine and consider at July Planning Session.
6. Non-Labor Cost Management
Proposal: Administrative and General costs include about $6.9 million in non-labor expenditures. Process improvements for other than software maintenance, retiree insurance, and school grant payments could produce $440,000 in savings per year.
Implications:
Positive: - Targeted to Administrative and General cost performance gap
Negative: - Resistance to eliminating work
Discussion: The only way to achieve the projected amount is to set targets. (Helgeson) The improvements need to be outcomes of other actions. (DeLuna)
Outcome: Refine and consider at July Planning Session.
7. Software Maintenance
Proposal: Analyzing on a case-by-case basis which software maintenance agreements could be curtailed could realize a $38,000 savings.
Implications:
Positive: - Eliminates duplicate coverage for mainframe and client servers
Negative: - Savings potentially not large
Outcome: Refine and consider at July Planning Session.
8. Retiree Insurance
Proposal: Opportunities to shift cost of medical insurance to retirees through increased premiums could produce a $500,000 expenditure reduction, plus a reduction in actuarial liability.
Implications:
Positive: - Reduces duplicate payments for similar coverage (PERS and EWEB)
Negative: - Retiree/employee concerns
Outcome: Refine and consider at July Planning Session.
9. Education Grants
Proposal: Reductions in voluntary contributions to local school districts could produce savings of $100,000 in 2001 and another $100,000 in 2003.
Implications:
Positive: - Payments are voluntary and can be reduced at any time
Negative: - Grants have high public relations value
Discussion: School grants are an important element of EWEB work. (Smith) The program needs to be cut. (Anderson and Bartel) I could agree to cuts in the School Grants program as part of cuts throughout EWEB. (Smith) A 10 percent reduction could achieve the needed savings. (Berggren) A deeper cut should be considered. (Dyer)
Outcome: Refine and consider at July Planning Session.
Commissioners took a ten-minute recess at 2:05 p.m.
10. Outsourcing
Proposal: Process improvements can include contracting with other parties who can perform work more efficiently or effectively than can be done with in-house staff.
Implications:
Positive: - Targeted to Administrative and General cost performance gap
Negative: - Potential employee morale issues
Discussion: Exploring outsourcing should be done constantly. (Smith) Outsourcing is threatening to employees, could lead to union organizing, and should be carried out in prioritized fashion. (Bartel)
Outcome: Refine and consider at July Planning Session.
11. Natural Gas
Proposal: If EWEB were to become the gas utility for Eugene, $3.4 million could be generated.
Implications:
Positive: - Mitigates exposure to on-site generation and new technologies
Negative: - Time required for process
12. PERS Financing
Proposal: Financing EWEB unfunded PERS liability could reduce employer rates from 22.75 percent to9.75 percent.
Implications:
Positive: - Significant funding of pension obligation
Negative: - Depletion of reserves
Discussion: Should not be embarked on until court cases are settled. (Origliosso)
Outcome: Refine and consider at July Planning Session.
13. Mitigate Cost of Load Regulation and Control Area Reserves
Proposal: Participating with BPA in providing regional load regulation could decrease assessed load regulation costs up to $750,000 per year.
Implications:
Positive: - Realize greater value from Carmen Smith
Negative: - None noted
Discussion: A no brainer. (Origliosso)
Outcome: Refine and consider at July Planning Session.
14. OURCA - Trading Floor Spinoff
Proposal: Gradual ramp-up in charging trading floor and risk management costs to the OURCA 190 entity could produce savings of up to $280,000 per year.
Implications:
Positive: - Sharing of power trading and risk management costs
Negative: - Contingent on OURCA members
Discussion:
Outcome: Refine and consider at July Planning Session.
15. Water Elevation Charges
Proposal: Allocating additional costs of serving water customers at five distinct elevations higher than the system base could increase revenue by $671,000 annually.
Implications:
Positive: - Better matching of revenue with service costs
Negative: - Resistance from impacted customers
Discussion: If this is done, other incremental costs should also be created for all customer classes. (Dyer) This proposal is discrimination against a specific group who are supposed to be able to pay higher rates. (Dyer)
Outcome: Refine and consider at July Planning Session. (Vice President Dyer did not agree with the outcome.)
16. Billing Charge for Water Districts
Proposal: Revising the monthly billing charge for EWEB services supplied to Glenwood, River Road, and Santa Clara Water Districts by 3 percent per year since the last change in 1993 would add approximately $44,000 in annual revenue.
Implications:
Positive: - Billing charges have not been updated for six years
Negative: - Resistance by water districts
Outcome: Refine and consider at July Planning Session.
17. Overtime and Premium Pay Adjustments
Proposal: Changing current overtime and premium pay practices which are in excess of legal requirements or not consistent with compensation practices of other organizations could reduce expenses by as much as $400,000 annually.
Outcome: Commissioners will study material provided and give feedback via e-mail.
18. Benefits Restructure
Proposal: Current EWEB benefits combined with the PERS plan exceed the market norm. Depending on options chosen, restructuring benefits packets could produce savings of as much as $600,000 a year.
Outcome: Commissioners will study material provided and give feedback via e-mail.
19. Interrupt Conservation Fund Carry Over
Proposal: If unspent budget for conservation measures were not carried forward and added to the next years' budget, but were placed in the capital reserve fund, varying additional amounts of money could be available to cover one-time expenditures.
Discussion: The amount established for conservation measures should be changed to meet targets. (Smith) I do not support the roll over of funds. (Dyer) The kilowatt hour goal for the conservation program, not the percentage goal, is regularly met. (Kunkel)
Outcome: Refine and consider at July Planning Session.
20. Reduce Market Position
Proposal: Reducing the target market position for EWEB employees from the 55th/60th percentile to the 50th percentile could increase revenue as much as $2.1 million between 2000 and 2003.
Outcome: Commissioners will study the material provided and give feedback via e-mail.
21. Reduce Pay of Over-Market Employees
Proposal: Reducing the pay of over-market employees to align them with the market in one or a series of reductions until the chosen market position is achieved could increase revenue up to $2.3 million, depending on the market position chosen.
Outcome: Commissioners will study the material provided and give feedback via e-mail.
22. Rate Increases
Proposal: A 10 or 11 percent rate increase could produce up to $12.4 million between 2000 and 2003.
Implications:
Positive: - High impact on revenue
Negative: - Customer/constituent acceptance (if increase is too large)
Discussion: Prefer 5 percent a year increases. (Smith) Need to decide on rate increases after decisions about all other revenue increase and expenditure cut proposals have been made. (Dyer) I agree with Commissioner Dyer and prefer Option 1 to Option 2 provided in the background material. (Anderson and Bartel) It will be important to see how increases would affect the comparison of EWEB's rates with those of the peer group of utilities.
Outcome: Need to consider all other options before considering rate increases. Bring back options to the July Planning Session with details of all implications provided.
Process Check
Ms. DeLuna asked Commissioners to discuss whether the process followed in the Planning Session had meet their previously expressed needs for give-and-take substantiative discussion.
Commissioner Anderson said she had hoped the Board would have been able to complete all of the work provided for it at the Planning Session, but was disappointed.
Mr. Berggren said it would be possible to have more substantiative discussion during the Planning Session scheduled for July.
President Smith expressed a hope that the process to be used in July would allow Commissioners to deal with procedures in work programs.
Commissioner Bishop said she continued to have difficulty being on time for meetings which were scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m..
President Smith said she appreciated the format of presentations made during the Session and how they were interwoven with opportunities for Commissioners to discuss and interact with them.
Vice President Dyer said he believed the Session was the most productive yet. He said he appreciated the presence and contributions of Mr. O'Brien.
President Smith said she believed the work of staff was appropriate - not overly prepared and allowing free discussion.
Commissioner Bishop said she appreciated staff's willingness to take increased risks with Commissioners.
Ms. DeLuna said the staff appreciated the Board's willingness to give clear signals regarding financial strategies.
Commissioner Bartel said he believed it was helpful to the Board when information was presented in a way that showed clear, desired outcomes.
Mr. Berggren announced that the next Board Planning Session would be held July 9-10 in the Hilton Hotel. He said the short lead-time available might inhibit the ability of staff to provide background material for Commissioners in a timely manner.
The Planning Session adjourned at 3:45 p.m.
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Assistant Secretary President