Regular Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
June 2, 2026
A meeting of the Commissioners of Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County was held at 1200 Fort Vancouver Way on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Present: President Jane Van Dyke, Vice President Sherry Erickson, Secretary Nancy Barnes Commissioners; CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Energy Resources Steve Andersen, Director of Engineering Ryan Kerr, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix, Director of Operations Gene Morris, Director of Water Tyler Clary, Director of Employee Resources Nichole Reitzenstein, Director of Information Services Jeff Groff, Corporate Communications Manager Dameon Pesanti, Construction Services Manager Dana Allen, Engineering Manager David Tetz, Water Quality Manager John Roth, Financial Analyst Shelly Peebles, Finance Executive Assistant Jacie Kimberling, and Assistant to the CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson.
Staff present via digital conference (phone or video): Engineering Executive Assistant Hosanna Shergill and Reliability Compliance Manager Zeecha Van Hoose.
Others present in person or via digital conference (phone or video): Russ Schneider, Rick Marshall, Tom Gordon, Carol Matthews, Petina Gee, Jim Malinowski, Michael Miller, Don Steinke, Alex (no last name), and Gordan Matthews.
At 9:00 a.m., President Van Dyke 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 Xcel Energy battery project that was approved by the Minnesota Utilities Commission.
Consideration of the Minutes of May 5, 2026
The minutes were approved as submitted.
Consideration of Accounts Payable
The board, by unanimous vote, approved the following payment amounts as listed on the Letter of Transmittal dated June 2, 2026 from the District Auditor (Materials C):
Electric Revenue Fund – $40,315,872.43
Water Revenue Fund – $1,322,367.92
Generating System Fund – $2,445,692.79
For a total of $44,083,933.14
Consideration of Resolutions of Intent to Establish LUD Nos. 1496 and 1514
Director of Engineering Ryan Kerr addressed the board regarding the Intent to Establish Local Utility District Nos. 1496 and 1514.
Resolution No. 7952 – LUD No. 1496 – Kunze Farms PH 2
Resolution No. 7953 – LUD No. 1514 – Cody Property PH 2 & 3
After the presentation by Mr. Kerr, Commissioner Van Dyke opened for public comment. There being no comment, a motion was made by Commissioner Erickson, seconded by Commissioner Barnes and unanimously carried that Resolution Nos. 7952 and 7953 be adopted and a public hearing was set for July 7, 2026 (Materials D).
Consideration of Resolutions of Establishment of LUD Nos. 1503, 1505, 1512 and 1513
Director of Engineering Ryan Kerr addressed the board regarding the Establishment of Local Utility District Nos. 1503, 1505, 1512 and 1513.
Resolution No.7954 – LUD No. 1503 – Ramble creek PUD PH 6
Resolution No. 7955 – LUD No. 1505 – Mountain Estates Cluster
Resolution No. 7956 – LUD No. 1512 – Mountain View Ridge PH 1
Resolution No. 7957 – LUD No. 1513 – Four Creeks South
After the presentation by Mr. Kerr, Commissioner Van Dyke opened for public comment. There being no comment, a motion was made by Commissioner Barnes, seconded by Commissioner Erickson and unanimously carried that Resolution Nos. 7954 – 7957 be adopted (Materials E).
Consideration of Interlocal Agreement: Overhead Electric Line Relocation – City of Vancouver E Mill Plain Blvd and MacArthur Blvd Improvement Project
Director of Engineering Ryan Kerr reviewed the memo dated May 13, 2026 outlining the details of the interlocal with the City of Vancouver (Materials F). The agreement memorializes the construction and payment responsibilities for the Utility’s work, project reimbursement estimates, and Build America, Buy America requirements.
Commissioner Barnes moved for approval of the Interlocal with the City of Vancouver for the E Mill Plain Blvd and MacArthur Blvd Improvement Project and authorizes the CEO/General Manager to sign the agreement. Commissioner Erickson second the motion and it unanimously passed.
Consideration of Interlocal Agreement: Overhead to Underground Electrical Conversion – Roper Road to Camp Hope
Director of Engineering Ryan Kerr reviewed the memo dated May 15, 2026 outlining the details of the interlocal with Clark County Public Works for the utility upgrade at Camp Hope (Materials G). Due to the age and condition of the system, staff is recommending converting the system to underground with partial reimbursement in the amount of $125,000 provided by Clark Couty Public Works.
Commissioner Barnes moved for approval of the Interlocal with Clark County Works for the utility upgrade at Camp Hope and authorizes the CEO/General Manager to sign the agreement. Commissioner Erickson seconded the motion and it unanimously passed.
Consideration of Line of Credit Renewals
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny reviewed the memo dated June 2, 2026, providing the background of the Lines of Credit (Materials H). The Utility uses the line of credit notes to balance temporary cash flow imbalances and provide financial tools to manage the liquidity risks the individual utility systems may face. Staff recommend authorizing the renewal, which includes revisions or replacements of the underlying credit agreements with Bank of America and the execution and delivery of necessary and related documents.
Commissioner Barnes moved to approve the resolutions authorizing the CEO/General Manager or Director of Finance/Treasurer to establish, execute and deliver the credit agreement for each utility system. Commissioner Erickson seconded the motion and it unanimously passed.
Consideration of Bid Award No. 719 – Generator Circuit Breaker Overhaul Kit
Director of Operations Gene Morris reviewed the memo dated June 2, 2026, detailing the bid results (Materials I). Commissioner Erickson moved to recommend that Bid No. 719 be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, Anixter, Inc., for the purchase of an ABB/Hitachi HEC-4 Mechanism, in the amount of $616,745, plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Barnes seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Bid Award No. 721 – Overhead to Underground Conversion – NE Livingston RD & NE Hancock RD
Director of Operations Gene Morris reviewed the memo dated June 2, 2026, detailing the bid results (Materials J). Commissioner Erickson moved to recommend that Bid No. 721 be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, Black & McDonald, in the amount of $315,000, plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Barnes seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Bid Award No. 722 – Ellsworth Substation Expansion
Director of Operations Gene Morris reviewed the memo dated June 2, 2026, detailing the bid results (Materials K). Commissioner Erickson moved to recommend that Bid No. 722 be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, DJ’s Electrical, Inc., in the amount of $770,320 plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Barnes seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Public Hearing for and Consideration of Resolutions Updating Electric and Water System Development Charges
Engineering Manager David Tetz and Director of Water Tyler Clary reviewed staff’s System Development Charge (SDC) implementation proposal (Materials L). Implementation of the multi-year phase-in to reduce first-year impacts and provides predictability going forward. Staff recommended a January 1, 2027 start date for the first increase and January 1 for each year going forward.
Director Russ Schneider with consulting firm GDS reviewed with the board things to consider regarding a phase-in approach to updating the Utility’s SDCs.
The analysis considered two phase-in options, a three-year and a five-year phase-in approach for the Electric System and the Water System, both effective January 1, 2027. Water System fees for new builds, other new services and hydrant meter fees will also increase on January 1, 2027 (Materials M).
Commissioner Van Dyke opened the public hearing at 10:40 a.m. There being no comment, the public hearing was closed at 10:42 a.m.
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny provided a summary of the Electric and Water systems SDC updates which included a proposed effective date, the inflationary adjustment based on Producer Price Index and the clarifying language that access to customer property is a condition of utility service (Material N).
Commissioner Erickson shared that she is in support of SDC being a function of capacity cost and net capital and confirmed the importance of implementing the cost-of-service findings to avoid a cost shift to existing ratepayers. The Utility’s current rate structure did not include the proposed SDC rate increase; therefore, Commissioner Erickson shared support for the phase-in approach and recommended the five-year phase-in option.
Commissioner Barnes also supported a phased approach stating that growth pays for growth and the cost should not shift to existing customers, as it has for many years. Commissioner Barnes recommended the three-year phase-in option.
Commissioner Van Dyke stated that she is also recommended the three-year phase-in option for the same cost-shift concerns shared by Commissioners Barnes and Erickson. In addition, Commissioner Van Dyke shared that the board must be involved in future SDC discussions.
Member of the public Gordon Matthews shared his support for the three-year phase-in option.
Commissioner Barnes moved to adopt Resolution No. 7950 to increase the Electric System’s System Development Charges, phased in over a three-year period and effective January 1, 2027, as presented. Commissioner Erickson seconded the motion. The motion passed with Commissioners Barnes and Van Dyke voting in favor and Commissioner Erickson voting in opposition.
Commissioner Barnes moved to adopt Resolution No. 7951 to increase the Water System’s System Development Charges, phased in over a three-year period, and increase other fees, effective January 1, 2027, as presented. Commissioner Erickson seconded the motion. The motion passed with Commissioners Barnes and Van Dyke voting in favor and Commissioner Erickson voting in opposition.
April Financials
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny addressed the board (Materials O). The weather was warmer and drier than normal, which resulted in electric sales revenue and off-system sales being below forecast. April residential sales were 94.0% of budget, commercial sales were 97.5% and industrial sales were 97.6% of budget. April ended the month with a net income loss of $1.1 million compared to a budgeted net income loss of $4.4 million for a year-to-date net income of $15.0 million compared to $8.3 million budgeted.
The Water System finished April with 244 new customers year-to-date, which is a growth rate of 1.73%. April ended with a net income loss of $111,000 compared to a budgeted net income loss of $260,000 for a year-to-date net income loss of $571,000 compared to a $1.2 million net income budgeted loss.
April Wholesale Power Operations
Director of Energy Resources Steve Andersen addressed the board (Materials P). Mr. Andersen provided an update on power supply noting that April average daily load was 506 aMW, which was 22 aMW below budget.
Combine Hills I generation was 5.4 aMW, which was 50% less than the budgeted 10.9 aMW. Generation was 0 MW approximately 57% of all hours. Combine Hills II generation was 20.9 aMW, 6% less than the budgeted 22.3 aMW. Generation was 0 MW approximately 30% of all hours.
Box Canyon generation output was an average of 74 MW, 17 MW above the budget of 57 MW.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioners Barnes, Erickson and Van Dyke all reported on their attendance at the Public Power Council meetings and the Box Canyon tour.
Commissioners Barnes and Erickson reported on their attendance at the Northwest Public Power Association annual meeting and the Washington Public Agency Group meeting.
Commissioner Erickson reported on her attendance at the Columbia River Economic Development Council meeting and the Columbia Springs fishing derby. Commissioner Erickson also asked to replace Commissioner Van Dyke on the Policy Committee at the CREDC. Commissioner Van Dyke agreed to have Commissioner Erickson take on the responsibility.
Commissioner Van Dyke shared condolences to the family of former CEO/General Manager Bruce Bosch who recently passed away.
Staff Reports
Director of Water Tyler Clary shared that Water Quality Manager John Roth was recently awarded the George Fuller Award, this is the highest award given out by the American Water Works Association. The award is presented to selected members for their distinguished service to the water supply field.
Executive Session
The meeting was recessed into executive session at 11:45 a.m. in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act. RCW 42.30.110 (1)(g) – to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment or to review the performance of a public employee. Commissioner Barnes stated the executive session would end at 12:10 p.m.
Due to technical issues with the Zoom link, Commissioner Van Dyke reconvened the public meeting at 12:14 p.m.
Final Board Comments
There were no additional comments and the meeting was adjourned at 12:14 p.m.