EUGENE WATER & ELECTRIC BOARD
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
EWEB BOARD ROOM
MAY 2, 2000
7:30 P.M.

 

Board Members present: Mike Dyer, Sandra Bishop, Dorothy Anderson, and Peter Bartel. Commissioner Susie Smith was excused.

Others Present: Randy Berggren, JoAnn Andersen, Terry Bequette, Tom Buckhouse Ed Case, Marty Douglass, Mel Damewood, Dick Helgeson, Rich Lehigh, Garry Kunkel, Roseanna McArthur, Jim Origliosso, Dick Varner, Ron Wilson, Debra Wright, and Krista Hince of the EWEB staff; Kim Kunkel, minutes recorder, and Patrick Lanning, member of the public.

President Dyer called the Regular Board Meeting of the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) to order.

AGENDA CHECK

President Dyer determined that there was consensus to approve the agenda, as written.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR

President Dyer noted that items presented for approval on the Consent Calendar included the following:

  1. Minutes of the April 4, 2000, Work Session and Regular Board Meeting
  2. R.W. Beck -- Strategic Planning -- Human Resources -- Corporate Services, $15,000
  3. Jerry Brown Co. -- Shop -- Facilities Services, $135,000
  4. International Utility Structures, Inc. -- Carmen Smith 115 kV Upgrade -- Electric Operations -- Electric Division, $200,365

President Dyer requested that Consent Calendar item 2 be pulled, pending discussion.

Commissioner Bartel moved, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to approve the Consent Calendar, with the exception of Item 2. The motion passed unanimously.

ITEMS FROM BOARD MEMBERS

Commissioner Anderson announced that the McKenzie Watershed Council has established a subcommittee, the "Spring Chinook Working Group" to redraft the riparian ordinance.

Referring to a letter to the Board from Wanda Ballentine, copies of which were included in the meeting agenda packet, Commissioners requested that all Board members sign EWEB's response to Ms. Ballentine.

CORRESPONDENCE

Referring to items included in the meeting agenda packet, Mr. Berggren reviewed changes to the upcoming Board Meeting schedule, thanked Board members for their attendance at the previous evening's Telecommunications Forum, and reminded Commissioners of the May 9 public forum on EWEB's proposed Water Transmission Project.

Mr. Berggren reviewed draft agendas for the May 15 Work Session and Special Board Meeting.

PUBLIC INPUT

President Dyer determined that there were no members of the public present who wished to address the Board.

PURCHASING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Noting that this matter was discussed during the preceding Work Session, Mr. Case requested Board approval of the resolution.

Vice President Bishop disclosed that she represents a group that has been investigating public contracts for several years. She said EWEB holds one of the contracts being investigated and it appeared there were "irregularities" with that contract. She said she would support adoption of the proposed resolution.

Vice President Bishop moved, seconded by Commissioner Bartel, that the Board, in its role as EWEB's Local Contract Review Board, approve the resolution adopting the Attorney General Model Contracting Rules Divisions 30 and 40, and the EWEB Divisions 30, 65, 300, 310, and 330. The motion passed unanimously.

FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Referring to a memorandum entitled First Quarter Financial Results and Impacts, copies of which were included in the meeting agenda packet, EWEB Treasurer Jim Origliosso reported EWEB's First Quarter Financial Results, as follows:

Electric Utility

The Electric Utility results from the first quarter of the year were slightly better than budgeted. Retail sales were two percent higher than budget, primarily in residential sales. Wholesale sales, although activity was high, market conditions did not allow for quite the volume of activity that was budgeted for January. February and March were slightly better than budget with the quarter ending $250,000 short of projections. Purchased power and wheeling costs were lower than budgeted, resulting in an overall budget surplus for revenues and power costs of $188,000.

Water Utility

The Water Utility results from the first quarter of the year resulted in a net operating revenue loss of $286,000. This is similar to last year and not unexpected given the cyclical nature of the water business where the majority of the revenues are earned during the peak summer months.

Steam Utility

The Steam Utility results from the first quarter of the year were slightly better than budgeted.

Operating Revenue Budget: 35 percent of revenues
Operating expense Budget: 28 percent of costs

Mr. Origliosso responded to a number of clarifying questions from Board Members.

WATER TRANSMISSION PROJECT UPDATE

Referring to a memorandum entitled EWEB/Seneca 42" Water Transmission Main (Job#17810) -- Update of Events, copies of which were included in the meeting agenda packet, and a series of overhead projects, copies of which were distributed to Commissioners, EWEB Senior Engineer Ron Wilson presented a brief overview of

  1. the status of construction;
  2. construction schedule; and
  3. public information events.

With regard to the construction schedule, Mr. Wilson said important dates include:

May 8, 2000: Begin Boring Under Railroad
May 30, 2000: Begin Pipe Installation
July 19, 2000: 6th and Monroe Crossing
July 25, 2000: 7th and Monroe Crossing
October 27, 2000: Complete West 7th Place
October 23, 2000: Begin EWEB Site
December 1, 2000: Complete Construction

With regard to public information events, Mr. Wilson said the following events have been scheduled:

April 17, 2000: Letter to all property owners and customers along route.
May 9, 2000: Open House at EWEB on 42" Transmission Main project.
June-November: Door-hangers with project information ahead of construction.

On Request: Presentations about project.

Mr. Wilson said uncertainties related to the project include:

  1. hazardous wastes;
  2. preservation of historic objects; and
  3. unmarked utilities.

Mr. Wilson said the estimated total cost of the project was $5,489,204.

Mr. Wilson responded to a number of clarifying questions from Commissioners.

RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT UPDATE

Referring to a series of overhead displays, EWEB Power Management & Planning Manager Scott Spettel presented a brief status update on a number of renewable energy resource options and potential on-line dates, including

  1. Bonneville Power Administration's Foote Creek Phase 4 (9/2000);
  2. Elk Hill (4/2001);
  3. Stateline (4/2001);
  4. EWEB Foote Creek Rim Near-Term Expansion (3/2001); and
  5. EWEB Foote Creek Rim Longer-Term Expansion (date uncertain).

Mr. Spettel addressed a number of clarifying questions from Commissioners.

Mr. Spettel said staff would return to the Board during its next meeting with additional information and, possibly, a request for action.

ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR

With regard to Consent Calendar Item 2, R.W. Beck -- Strategic Planning -- Human Resources -- Corporate Services, Ms. McArthur explained that EWEB will have spent approximately $65,000 on retaining the services of Ken O'Brien. She clarified that the requested action was adding $15,000 to the existing contracted amount.

Vice President Bishop moved, seconded by President Dyer, that the Board reconsider the minutes of the April 4, 2000, Regular Board Meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

Referring to page 4 of the April 4, 2000, Regular Board Meeting minutes, Vice President Bishop requested that the final paragraph reflect her request to discuss EWEB's Universal Service Program during a June Board Meeting. Referring to page 4, Vice President Bishop requested that paragraph 2 be amended to read: "With regard to the proposed updates to fees and charges related to Customer Service, Vice President Bishop suggested that the Board adopt, as separate items,

  1. the proposed fee updates related to Electric Temporary Service Installation Charges and Water Charges;
  2. the proposed fee updates for After Hours Reconnects and Unhonored Checks; and
  3. the Tampering Fees."

Vice President Bishop moved, seconded by Commissioner Bartel to approve Consent Calendar Item 2. The motion passed unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

_____________ ______________________________________

Assistant Secretary President