Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
February 20, 2024
A meeting of Commissioners of Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County was held at 1200 Fort Vancouver Way on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.
Present: President Jim Malinowski, Vice President Nancy Barnes, Secretary Jane Van Dyke Commissioners, CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Communications and Corporate Citizenship Erica Erland, Director of Engineering Cal Morris, Director of Employee Resources Nichole Reitzenstein, Director of Operations/Interim Director of Water Gene Morris, Director of Information Services Jeff Groff, Director of Energy Resources Dan Bedbury, General Counsel John Eldridge, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix, Senior Communications Manager Heather Allmain, Power Manager Steve Andersen, Engineering Manager – Water Russ Knutsen, Community Engagement Specialist Morgan Van Fleet, Materials and Purchasing Manager Cathy Wannamaker, Marketing and Events Specialist Maxie Mayer and Assistant to the CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson.
Staff via digital conference (phone or video): Energy Resource Manager Terry Toland and PIO/Media Specialist Dameon Pesanti.
Others present in person or via digital conference (phone or video): Don Steinke, Rick Marshall, Peter Harrison, James Oneil, Gordon Matthews, Sherry Erickson, Tom Gordon and Shane (no last name provided).
At 9:00 a.m., President Malinowski called the meeting to order for the transaction of formal business and the agenda was approved as presented (Materials B).
Public Comment
Don Steinke provided comment on the top polluter in Umatilla County and Exxon’s expected conservation efforts.
Full written comments if provided are available upon request please email [email protected] for a copy.
Commissioner Malinowski recessed the public meeting into an Executive Session at 9:05 a.m. for discussions with legal counsel regarding current or potential litigation in accordance with RCW 42.30.110(i) and noted the public meeting would reconvene at 9:35 a.m.
Commissioner Malinowski reconvened the public meeting at 9:35 a.m.
Consideration of the Minutes of February 6, 2024
The minutes were approved as presented.
Consideration of Accounts Payable
The board, by a unanimous vote, approved the following payment amounts as listed on the Letter of Transmittal dated February 20, 2024 from the District Auditor (Materials C):
Electric Revenue Fund – $35,112,092.44
Water Revenue Fund – $421,283.95
Generating System Fund – $80,259.98
For a total of $35,613,636.35
Consideration of Establishment of LUD Nos. 1459, 1468 and 1471
Director of Engineering Cal Morris addressed the board regarding the Establishment of Local Utility District Nos. 1459, 1468 and 1471.
Resolution No. 7833 – LUD No. 1459 – Felida Wood Short Plat
Resolution No. 7834 – LUD No. 1468 – Randall K Estates
Resolution No. 7835 – LUD No. 1471 – NE 50th Avenue Subdivision
After the presentation by Mr. Morris, Commissioner Malinowski opened the public hearing for comments. There being none, a motion was made by Commissioner Van Dyke, seconded by Commissioner Barnes and unanimously carried that Resolution Nos. 7833 – 7835 be adopted (Materials D).
Consideration of Bid Award No. 665 – NW 99th St. Water Transmission Main
Materials and Purchasing Manager Cathy Wannamaker reviewed the memo dated February 20, 2024 detailing the bid results (Materials E). Ms. Wannamaker outlined the bids results and the reasons behind determining Colf Construction as a nonresponsible and nonresponsive bidder and the reasons behind why it was also determined that Jefferies Construction is a nonresponsible bidder.
Commissioner Barnes moved to reject bids by Colf Construction and Jefferies Construction as nonresponsible bidders and/or providing nonresponsive bids on Bid No. 665 (99th St. Water Transmission Main Project) and award the bid to Rotschy, Inc. in the amount of $6,650,891 as the lowest responsive bidder. Commissioner Van Dyke seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Bid Award No. 668 – Fire Hydrants
Materials and Purchasing Manager Cathy Wannamaker reviewed the memo dated February 20, 2024 detailing the bid results (Materials F). Commissioner Barnes moved to recommend that Bid No. 668 be awarded to the low evaluated bidder Core & Main LP, for the three year estimated contract amount of $456,795.45 plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Van Dyke seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
December Financials
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny addressed the board (Materials G). Weather was wetter and warmer than normal, which resulted in electric revenues below budget and off system sales above budget. December residential sales were 91.2% of budget, commercial sales were 103.6% and industrial sales were 93.9% of budget. December ended with a net income of $1.7 million compared to a budgeted net income of $5.7 million. Year-to-date net income is $3.4 million compared to a budgeted net income of $19.9 million.
Ms. Ankeny provided year-to-date updates on Electric System Capital, Generating System Capital and Conservation spending for 2023.
The Water System ended December with 976 new customers, which is a growth rate of 2.4% year-to-date. December ended with a net income loss of $105,000 compared to a budgeted net income loss of $312,000. Year-to-date net income is $5.6 million compared to a budgeted net income of $1.4 million.
November Wholesale Operations
Power Manager Steve Andersen addressed the board (Materials H). Mr. Andersen provided an update on power supply noting that December Slice generation was 12 aMW below budget and loads in December were 40 aMW below budget.
Combine Hills II December generation of 13.7 aMW was 15% less than the budgeted 16.1 aMW, generation was 0 MW approximately 60% of all hours.
Mr. Andersen reviewed December market transactions by day, forward market pricing outlook and summer 2024 forward on-peak market prices.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioner Barnes reported on her attendance at the Community Leader Education Series, Public Power Council meetings and the Columbia Springs board meeting.
Commissioner Van Dyke provided a legislative update from the Washington PUD Association.
Commissioner Malinowski reported on his attendance at the Washington PUD Association meetings.
Staff Reports
Marketing and Event Specialist Maxie Mayer provided a recap on the Race for Warmth noting this race was the 10th for the utility and to date has raised $485,000 for Operation Warm Heart.
Other Business before the Board
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:52 a.m.