Board Members Present: Dorothy Anderson, Peter Bartel, Patrick Lanning, and Sandra Bishop. Commissioner Susie Smith was excused.
Others present: Randy Berggren, JoAnn Andersen, Tom Buckhouse, Mel Damewood, Marty Douglass, Dick Helgeson, Roseanna McArthur, Jim Origliosso, Lance Robertson, Stephen West, Jim Wiley, Dick Varner, and Krista Hince of the EWEB staff; Scott Maben, representing the Register-Guard, members of the public, and Joe Sams, City of Eugene Minutes Recorder.
President Anderson called the Special Session of the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) order at 8:00 p.m.
AGENDA CHECK
General Manager Randy Berggren noted that Item 9 on the agenda would require no action that evening.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approval of July 23 Board Planning Session, the August 14, 2001 Work Session and Postponed Regular Board Meeting Minutes
Resolutions
2. Bonding Resolution - 2001 Pension Bonds - Financial Services - $30 million
3. Resolution - Line of Credit - Financial Services - $60 million
Contract Award
4. High Volume Printing - Information Services - Corporate Services - $72,000 for five years
5. Utility Locating Services - Water Department - $200,000
Business Service Agreements
6. Cable Huston Benedict Haagensen & Lloyd - Leaburg/Walterville Relicensing - Electric Division - $11,000
7. Cable Huston Benedict Haagensen & Lloyd - ESA Consultation - Electric Division - $16,000
8. ABB and Central Moloney - Single Phase Distribution Transformers - Electric Division - $8,652 and $296,455 respectively
Budget Amendment
9. Budget Amendment No. 7 - To reallocate funds between Electric capital projects
Vice President Bartel, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, moved to approve the items on the Consent Calendar.
President Anderson pulled the August 14 Postponed Regular Board Meeting minutes.
Commissioner Bishop pulled the July 23 Board Planning Session minutes.
The remaining items on the Consent Calendar passed unanimously.
ITEMS FROM BOARD MEMBERS
Vice President Bartel said he had attended a blessing ceremony in Pendelton. He remarked that it was a very pleasant experience and expressed his pleasure at seeing so many young people attend.
President Anderson said that she and Commissioner Bishop had also attended the ceremony, and that she and Commissioner also attended a meeting of the Northwest Energy Coalition which dealt with its strategic planning process. She said that three studies were being undertaken for that process:
1. Environmental and Economic Impacts of Various Energy Futures
2. Remaining Renewable Resources and Conservation Strategies
3. Specific Policy Recommendations for the Northwest, Bonneville Power Administration and Congress
Commissioner Bishop added that there was a new coalition forming around climate changes.
Commissioner Lanning reported that he would be in The Peoples Republic of China from November 9 - November 20, 2001 and that he will miss the Regular Board Meeting scheduled for November 6 and the Board Governance meeting scheduled for November 13. He said he wasn't sure if he would be back for the November 20 meeting.
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Berggren reminded the Board of its Planning Session to be held on the upcoming Saturday (October 20).
Mr. Berggren noted that E-Source Magazine had picked EWEB as one of the top energy providers in the nation. He said that the magazine would profile EWEB at its annual conference.
Mr. Berggren noted that there had been no comments about tiered rates at the Home Show recently held.
PUBLIC INPUT
There were no members of the public wishing to speak.
WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
Mel Damewood, Water Engineering Manager and Stephen West, Water Management Services Supervisor, provided a presentation on the Water Supply Contingency Plan. The presentation included:
1. The Need for the Plan
2. Project Scope
3. Water Supply Shortage Scenarios
4. Trigger Points for the Stages of a Shortage
A. Normal Operations
B. Advisory
C. Alert
D. Emergency
E. System Shutdown
In response to a question from Vice President Bartel regarding how EWEB would respond to a threat to the City's water supply, Mr. West noted there was a response plan in existence but added that staff were continually working to make the system more secure.
In response to a question from Vice President Bartel regarding the possible response to a threat to one of its reservoirs, Mr. Damewood noted that all of the reservoirs were covered with locked hatches equipped with alarms. He said that if an alarm were sounded then the reservoir would be filled and no water would be allowed into the system.
Mr. Berggren said that the utility was in the process of re-evaluating a number of response scenarios after the events of September 11th. He said that it would be an ongoing process.
Dick Helgeson, Director of Water & Steam Division, added that surveillance had been increased at facilities and water intake points. He added that there were other measures being taken as well. He stressed that the treatment process was effective in dealing with contaminants of concern and noted that many contaminants were not designed to be water borne. He went on to say that the system was enclosed with 24 hour surveillance on the alarms with procedures to immediately deploy.
In response to a question from Vice President Bartel regarding the procedure of public notification for planned outages, Mr. Damewood said that customers would receive written notices with the date and time of planned outages in those areas. He said that this could take the form of door hangers or mailings. He noted that crews also went around and knocked on doors occasionally.
Mr. Damewood presented proposed policy language to the Board and asked for Board approval of the overall plan.
PUBLIC HEARING ON WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
President Anderson opened the public hearing. Seeing no one wishing to speak she closed the public hearing and called for Board comments or questions.
WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN - ACTION
Vice President Bartel, seconded by Commissioner Lanning, moved to approve the Water Supply Shortage Contingency Plan as presented by staff. The motion passed unanimously.
2001 ELECTRIC REVENUE BOND AND POWER CONTINGENCY FUND
Jim Origliosso, Treasurer, provided a presentation on EWEB's bond rating. He said that EWEB had been confirmed in its AA bond rating as well as a Moody's bond rating of A-1.
In response to a question from Commissioner Bishop regarding what the highest rating was, Mr. Origliosso said that the highest rating was AAA.
Mr. Origliosso stressed that it was a major accomplishment for the utility to maintain its bond rating after the recent power crisis and drought. He noted that maintaining that bond rating had committed the utility to paying back its debt in 18-24 months.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR
Commissioner Bishop offered a clarification to page the July 23, 2001, she said that EWEB's attorney's had been working on the issue for months.
Commissioner Lanning offered a correction to page 4 of the August 14, 2001 minutes. In the second paragraph he said "endorsement" should be changed to "need for education."
On page 6 of the same minutes President Anderson commented that "dwellings" should read "rented dwellings."
Vice President Bartel, seconded by Commissioner Lanning, moved to approve the July 23, and August 14, 2001 minutes as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
_____________ ______________________________________
Assistant Secretary President