Board Members present: Susie Smith, Mike Dyer, Sandra Bishop, Dorothy Anderson, and Peter Bartel.
Others present: Cathy Hamilton, Dick Helgeson, Garry Kunkel, Roseanna McArthur, Dick Varner, and Krista Hince of the EWEB staff; and Daniel Lindstrom, Minutes Recorder.
President Smith called the Work Session of the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) to order at 5:40 p.m.
Director of Corporate Services Roseanna McArthur stated that the Work Session would consider the 2000 Work Plan and Budget for the Electric, Water, and Steam Divisions. She said a previously scheduled presentation by Fiscal Services Manager Dick Varner would be made as an introduction to a Public Hearing to be held during a Special Meeting to follow the Work Session.
ELECTRIC DIVISION
Electric Division Director Garry Kunkel distributed copies of an organizational chart and reviewed departments and sub-units of the Electric Division, their management, and the number of full time equivalence (FTE) employee positions in 1999 and projected for 2000 in each. He pointed out that there were no major changes planned in the organization or personnel of the division except for the already-announced transfer of Energy Management Services department to the new Customer Service Division, which is timed to coincide with the hiring and arrival of the Customer Service Director.
Commissioner Bishop said she was impressed that the Electric Division continued to serve an increasing number of customers with no additional employees. She asked if similar trends were being observed in other utilities. Mr. Kunkel distributed charts portraying ten-years of EWEB employee and customer counts and replied that EWEB levels of efficiency result primarily from our ability to be flexible with work rules, and a willingness to experiment with new ways of getting the work done. He distributed a second chart illustrating lost production savings accomplished at Leaburg and Walterville in 1999.
Mr. Kunkel compared Electric Division budgets for 1999 and 2000. He noted that the total division budget was approximately $2.25 million lower, the Operations and Management (O&M) portion of the budget nearly $6 million higher, and the Capital portion of the budget approximately $9.5 million lower. He distributed copies of a document entitled "Budget Changes: 1999-2000." He reviewed information contained in it, regarding the following:
Mr. Kunkel discussed potential "risk areas" in the 2000 Electric Division Budget, as follows:
Commissioners discussed the Electric Division Budget.
WATER DIVISION
Water & Steam Divisions Director Dick Helgeson distributed copies of an organizational chart and reviewed departments and sub-units of the Water Division, their management, and their number of FTE employee positions. He said the only change in number of employees in the division was the addition of a .5 FTE in Water Management Services.
Mr. Helgeson reviewed charts identifying the Water Division O&M 2000 Budget by function, major resource, project area; and the Capital Budget by major resource.
Mr. Helgeson reviewed major O&M 2000 Budget changes, as follows:
$ 362,000 Increase
Mr. Helgeson reviewed major Water Division capital projects for 2000 - Transmission Line Construction ($6.7 million), and Hayden Bridget Expansion Phase I ($1.0 million). He identified Water Supply Plan initiatives and Administration and General cost allocations as financial strategy links to the budget. He discussed potential "risk areas" in the 2000 Water Division Budget, as follows:
Mr. Helgeson distributed a document containing the Water Division 2000 Budget and reviewed elements of its various programs - Planning and Engineering, Water Supply and Treatment, Transmission Pumping and Storage, Water and Construction Services, Water Distribution Operations, Water Management Services, and Water Facilities Additions.
Commissioners discussed the Water Division Budget.
STEAM DIVISION
Steam Division Director Dick Helgeson distributed copies of an organizational chart and reviewed the components of the Steam Operations Department, its management, and number of FTE employee positions.
Mr. Helgeson reviewed charts identifying the Steam Division O&M 2000 Budget by function, and major resource. He reviewed major O&M 2000 Budget changes, as follows:
$ 234,500 Increase
Mr. Helgeson said no major Steam Division projects were planned for 2000. He identified Future Contingency Planning, and Steam Services Program as financial strategy links to the budget. He discussed potential "risk areas" in the 2000 Steam Division Budget, as follows:
Commissioners discussed the Steam Division Budget.
The Work Session adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
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Assistant Secretary President