Board Members present: Mike Dyer, Dorothy Anderson, and Peter Bartel. President Smith and Commissioner Bishop were absent and excused.
Others present: Randy Berggren, Terry Bequette, Cathy Bloom, Deborrah Brewer, Tom Buckhouse, Garilyn Crowley, Mel Damewood, Marty Douglass, Cathy Hamilton, Dick Helgeson, Libby Henry, Roseanna McArthur, Kris Middlewood, John Mitchell, Mat Northway, Jim Origliosso, Laurie Power, Dick Varner, John Yanov, and Krista Hince of the EWEB staff; Jim Whitty, EWEB Lobbyist; Ken Guzowski, Hugh Prichard, members of the public; and Daniel Lindstrom, Minutes Recorder.
Vice President Dyer called the Postponed Regular Meeting of the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) to order at 7:30 p.m.
AGENDA CHECK
Vice President Dyer noted that consideration of the items related to Wind Power options for General Service customers would be reversed from how they were presented on the agenda.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Vice President Dyer noted that the items presented for approval on the Consent Calendar included the following:
Commissioner Anderson requested that approval of the minutes of the June 15 Special Board Meeting be removed from the Consent Calendar.
Commissioner Bartel moved, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, that the July 20, 1999, Consent Calendar be approved, not including minutes of the June 15, 1999, Special Board Meeting. The motion was approved unanimously, 3:0.
ITEMS FROM BOARD MEMBERS
Vice President Dyer determined that Commissioners had no items to share.
CORRESPONDENCE
General Manager Randy Berggren announced that the annual EWEB Picnic would be held at 11:30 on July 24.
Mr. Berggren reported that Commissioners Anderson and Bartel had attended the dedication of the WindPower project. He said that approximately 500 persons were present, including the Governor of Wyoming and representatives of environmentalist groups.
Mr. Berggren reviewed items to be included on the agenda of the August 3 Regular Meeting of the Board.
Mr. Berggren referred to a memorandum from Water Division Director Dick Helgeson regarding a request for a donation from the Eugene Masonic Cemetery Association distributed with the agenda of the meeting. He noted that the fees and costs requested to be waived included in the memorandum were correct. He said that there was no EWEB policy to guide consideration of the request, and that staff recommended its approval.
PUBLIC INPUT
Ken Guzowski, 101 East Broadway, stated that he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Eugene Masonic Cemetery Association and staff of the Historic Preservation Program of the City of Eugene. He expressed appreciation for the cooperation of EWEB staff with his association. He said the association's request was that EWEB provide electric connection to the cemetery's mausoleum, install a water line to the edge of the property, and waive the Service Development Charge (SDC).
Mr. Guzowski reviewed collaborations of his association with the City of Eugene, Lane County Historical Society, private organizations, and the University of Oregon. He said the first burial plot/tombstone survey of a cemetery in Oregon had been completed, a restoration plan developed, security and clean up patrols established, and an endowment fund and newsletter created. He appealed to the Board to support the requested donation.
Hugh Prichard, 101 East Broadway, stated that he was president of the Board of Directors of the Eugene Masonic Cemetery Association, having become involved as a neighbor of the cemetery. He distributed copies of a document entitled "Eugene Masonic Cemetery Association 140 Year Plan - Spring 1999." He described the cemetery as a ten acre oasis for historic preservation and a community resource. He encouraged the Board to approve the contributions requested and to waive the SDC. He said that although the request was unprecedented, the opportunity of restoring and renewing the cemetery was also unprecedented.
Commissioner Bartel asked if there was an established limit on donations made by EWEB. Mr. Berggren replied that there was no experience with a request such as made by the cemetery association.
Commissioner Anderson said her only concern was that granting the request could set a precedent for other donations. She said she had no problem with waiving the SDC since those buried in the cemetery had paid full development fees during their lifetimes. She suggested that provisions be made for recouping installation costs, if the cemetery association should fail in the future.
Vice President Dyer said he was willing to deal with requests such as the one being considered in a case-by-case manner. He recounted his childhood experience with the cemetery and said he was thrilled by the successes of the project. He said he supported approving the requests because of the importance of the cemetery as a community asset.
Commissioner Bartel moved, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, that the requests of the Eugene Masonic Cemetery Association be approved. The motion was approved unanimously, 3:0.
WINDPOWER OPTIONS FOR GENERAL SERVICES CUSTOMERS - PUBLIC HEARING
Manager of Energy Management Services Mat Northway reviewed his memorandum dated June 9 regarding approval of new WindPower rate options for General Service customers distributed with the agenda of the meeting.
Vice President Dyer asked how many inquiries regarding WindPower had been received from General Service customers. Mr. Northway replied that 15 inquires had been received and that one-half had been regarding the possibility of purchasing more than the current limit.
Vice President Dyer determined that Commissioners had no further questions regarding the proposed rate options.
PUBLIC HEARING ON WINDPOWER GENERAL SERVICES RATES
Vice President Dyer opened the Public Hearing for WindPower options for General Service customers. He determined there was no one present wishing to testify. He closed the Public Hearing.
WINDPOWER GENERAL SERVICES RATES
Commissioner Bartel moved, seconded by Commissioner Anderson that the proposed rate options for WindPower for General Service customers be approved. The motion was adopted unanimously, 3:0.
MASTER PLAN SITE REVIEW
Strategic Planning Manager Deborrah Brewer referred to her memorandum regarding the EWEB Master Plan Site Review dated July 15 distributed with the agenda of the meeting. She stated that the necessity of building a new shed to store tires not allowed inside current facilities was a new issue not included in the memorandum. She pointed out that an advantage to engaging in a review of the Master Plan was that the City of Eugene had begun an update of the Riverfront Urban Renewal District which adjoined the headquarters building site. She reviewed objectives of long- and short-term elements of the site plan reexamination included in her memorandum.
Commissioner Anderson asked if consideration of joint ownership of property with other government or private organizations would be included in the planned review. Ms. Brewer replied that such considerations would be made after the needs of EWEB were fully determined. She said all options would be considered.
Vice President Dyer asked if seeking to have Midgley's Building property re-zoned to allow it to be utilized to its fullest capacity would be an element of the planned review. Ms. Brewer replied that such a consideration was a short-term issue and would be included. She explained that all current uses of the building were in compliance with existing zoning limitations. Facilities Services Director Tom Buckhouse added that one potential renter of the Midgley's Building would not have been able to carry out its businessunder the existing zoning. The current potential renter does meet the existing zoning requirements.
LAND TRUST DONATION
Environmental Manager Laurie Power referred to her July 15 memorandum regarding an EWEB land trust donation distributed with the agenda of the meeting. She noted that a Scope Document regarding development of an implementation plan for the donation was attached to the memorandum. She said it was not normal for the Board to approve such documents, but that the donation was of such significance that she was presenting it for approval.
Ms. Power reviewed the purpose, objectives, process, risks, and time line of the proposed land trust donation presented in the attachment to her memorandum.
Commissioner Bartel asked if the proposed process would include the Board's relationship to the land trust selected to manage the donation. Commissioner Anderson replied that such considerations would be included in the "structure" to be developed. Ms. Power added that a number of options regarding the Board's relationship to the land trust were possible and that all would be considered.
Commissioner Bartel moved, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, that the Land Trust Donation Scope Document dated July 15, 1999, be approved. The motion was adopted unanimously, 3:0.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Legislative Representative Libby Henry stated that, from the EWEB perspective, the 1999 Oregon Legislative Session had been positive.
State Lobbyist Jim Whitty reviewed legislative actions, as follows:
Ms. Henry distributed copies of a document entitled "SB 1149A - House Commerce Committee Changes to Senate Passed Bill - June 11, 1999" and copies of Senate bill 1149 currently under consideration. She reviewed elements of the bill - schools and energy efficiency, housing, low-income bill assistance, and non-severability.
Ms. Henry discussed what she described as "troubling" politics of the Legislative Session. She said traditional compromise and issue support had been missing and that little moderation was evident in Republican and Democratic positions. She recommended that efforts with the coalition of utility interests formed during the session be continued, that a one-on-one approach to delegates be made between sessions, that a "score card" of the votes of legislators be created, and that Commissioners involve themselves in legislative election campaigns. She proposed that she return to a fall meeting of the Board for a final report on the session.
SECOND QUARTER FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Assistant Treasurer Cathy Bloom referred to her memorandum dated July 14 regarding Second Quarter Financial Results and Impacts distributed with the agenda of the meeting. She said the results were similar to those presented in June 1998. She reviewed the results, as follows:
Electric Utility
Water Utility
Steam Utility
Vice President Dyer and Ms. Bloom discussed accounting procedures for SDCs. Ms. Bloom described how EWEB reported their use as revenue, cash, and capitalization.
Commissioner Anderson noted that overtime expenses were higher than was budgeted. Ms. Bloom replied that some projects required the unexpected work. Mr. Berggren added that most such projects were customer service related.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
Commissioner Anderson requested that sentence two of paragraph four on page one of the minutes of the June 15, 1999, Special Board Meeting be changed, as follows:
She explained that EWEB had helped
supported a fourth and fifth grade
study unit about the McKenzie River watershed in the school through
an Educational Grant and from funds formerly given as
Contributions in Lieu of Taxes (CILT).
Vice President Dyer determined there was no objection to the request of Commissioner Anderson and stated that the minutes were amended.
Commissioner Bartel moved, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, that the minutes of the June 15, 1999, meeting of the Board be approved, as amended. The motion was adopted unanimously 3:0.
The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
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Assistant Secretary President