BRECA Steering Committee Meeting Minutes 5-23-17

BUTTERFIELD-RIVIERA EAST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

DATE: May 23, 2017
PLACE:  Rancho Cordova Library, 9845 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, California
MEETING TYPE:  BRECA Steering Committee Meeting

STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT

Lori Christensen
Kelly Cohen
Bonnie Domeny
Jay Domeny
Rene Hamlin
Lynda Hammitt
Gay Jones
Jim Morgan

 STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER ABSENT

Andrea White

1. Call to Order by Chair Rene Hamlin
2. Guest Speakers from the Sacramento Municipal Utility District
   Representatives from the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) gave a presentation on upcoming proposals for rate changes.  Michael Corbett stated that the rate proposals will go before the SMUD board in June.  SMUD has a 7 member elected Board.  The Board member for this area is Nancy Tomson in Ward 2.  For 2018 the proposed rate changes are an increase of 1% for commercial and 1.5% for residential.  In 2019 an increase of 1% is proposed for commercial, with no increase for residential.  However, the default rate structure will be changed to a “Time Of Day” (TOD) rate.  This structure focuses on when energy is used instead of how much.  Under TOD, there would be different rates for October to May, with 9.69 cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh) off-peak and 13.38 c/kWh peak.  Peak for this period is weekdays between 5 and 8 pm.  Rates for June to September would be 11.66 c/kWh off-peak, 16.11 c/kWh mid-peak, and 28.35 c/kWh peak.  Mid-peak is weekdays between noon and 5 pm and between 8 pm and midnight, and peak is weekdays between 5 and 8 pm.  Also, there will be an alternative fixed rate that will be, on average, about 4% higher than the TOD rates.

   Mr. Corbett stated that they think that the TOD rates will end up being somewhat higher in June to September and somewhat lower the remainder of the year compared to current rates.  SMUD will make tools available to help manage electricity use such as free programmable thermostats.  Also, there will be a rate comparison tool on the website to see which rate (TOD or fixed) is better for the customer.

   The Energy Assistance Program Rate (EAPR) (low income customer assistance) will also be adjusted.  The maximum discount will be $50 in 2019, $60 in 2020, and $70 in 2021.  EAPR will be different for each customer.

   The final public hearing on the proposed rates will be on June 1, with a decision on June 15.  Additional information is available at smud.org/rateinfo.

   The SMUD representatives responded to questions from the floor.  Carmen Mitchell asked if the EAPR was monthly.  Mr. Corbett replied yes.  Another SMUD representative, Crystal Richardson, stated that you can also have the same level bill each month under “budget billing.”  Rene Hamlin asked whether it always costs more between 5 and 8 pm.  Mr. Corbett responded that is costs SMUD more, but not the customer.  Bonnie Domeny stated that they have solar power, and asked how the TOD proposal would affect solar installations.  Mr. Corbett responded that the credit you get back will be based on the rate at the time.  Gay Jones asked what the existing tiered rates are.  Mr. Corbett responded that they are 18.61 c/kWh over base off-summer, and 19.28 c/kWh over base summer.  Gay asked whether the Proposition 218 process, that requires an engineering study to show customer benefit from the proposed changes, had been followed.  Another SMUD representative, Mr. Robert Chang, responded that the applicable process is actually from Proposition 21, and that the statement is in the General Manager’s Report.  Jim Morgan asked whether the System Infrastructure Fixed Charge would be maintained.  Mr. Corbett responded that it would.  Jim also asked where one would go to find historic energy use.  Mr. Corbett responded that one would go to SMUD.org under “My Account.”

3. Minutes of March 28, 2017
   Minor amendments were proposed and accepted to the draft minutes from March 28, 2017.  Gay Jones made a motion to adopt the amended draft minutes.  Lori Christensen seconded the motion.  The motion was approved unanimously.

4. Agenda Items from the Community
   There were no agenda items from the community.

5. Reports
   1. Finance
      There was no financial report.
   2. CORPAC
      Carmen Mitchell stated that there was a meeting of the Cordova Community Planning and Advisory Council (CORPAC) this month.  CORPAC considered the West Jackson Highway Master Plan (WJHMP).  Two representatives from Mather wanted better bike trails and additional crossings.  There were no objections.  Gay Jones commented that CORPAC submitted comments on the Notice of Preparation of a draft Environmental Impact Report.  The comments included the need to study cumulative traffic impacts, bike trails, park land dedication, mass transit, water, and mixed use.
   3. American River Parkway Coalition
      Gay Jones reported that 25 out of 26 Regional Parks ranger positions have been filled.  Parks rangers should be at full “full time equivalents” soon.  According to Chief Ranger Mike Doane, the rangers are taking less action, but having a better impact.  They have formed a Park Resource Team to work on illegal camping.  They need more help from Sacramento City Police.  Gay suggested writing a letter or e-mail in support of the Park Resource Team.  Bonnie Domeny made a motion that BRECA write a letter in support of the Regional Parks Resource Team, agreeing with present policies and procedures, and encouraging support from other law enforcement agencies.  Gay Jones seconded the motion.  The motion was approved unanimously.  Bonnie Domeny and Lynda Hammitt are to work on the letter.
   4. Outreach Committee
      Lynda Hammitt reported that there had not been a meeting of the Outreach Committee.  She stated that she would like to reach out to businesses in the BRECA area.  She was concerned that there may be certain businesses we may not want to include.  Rene Hamlin stated that there should be no exceptions, and that reaching out to businesses is a good idea.

6. Old Business
   1. Annual Meeting
      There was general agreement that we had a good Annual Meeting.  Melissa Schuler stated that there was a problem that not enough of what BRECA does was presented.  That would get people more interested in becoming members.  Jim Morgan handed out a summary of attendance at the Annual Meeting.  There were a total of 77 people there, including BRECA members, non-members, and presenters.  There were 3 new memberships.
   2. From the Floor
      Gay Jones stated that fire camp openings are still available, and suggested putting this on the BRECA Web site.

      Gay Jones and Carmen Mitchell are working on getting a plaque for the tree round outside the library that came from a large tree on the American River Parkway.

      Gay Jones reported that there was a settlement meeting with California American Water representatives over the proposed rate increases.  No response has been received to BRECA questions.

      Gay Jones reported that about 30 people showed up for the May 6 American River Clean Up at Gristmill.

7. New Business
   1. Ranger Olveda E-mail
      There was discussion about the e-mail from Regional Parks Ranger Olveda in response to a question at the Annual Meeting, and a subsequent e-mail from James Adams.  The e-mail from Ranger Olveda has been forwarded to the BRECA membership.  Jim Morgan distributed a handout from the 2008 American River Parkway Plan concerning the designation of the trail in the Gristmill area.  In particular Jim Morgan pointed out that there is only one trail recognized in the Parkway Plan, and that is an equestrian/hiking trail that runs from the Gristmill entrance to the footbridge over the Mayhew Drain and then on to Howe Ave.

      There was discussion about procedure for forwarding e-mails to the membership.  In particular, Jim Morgan and Kelly Cohen had expressed concerns that the significance of some comments in the Olveda e-mail are unclear unless one is aware of the trail designation in the Parkway Plan, and had suggested including a forward comment clarifying the question.  Bonnie Domeny suggested that we could put together a follow-up comment and send it to the membership.  Jim Morgan stated that since the Olveda e-mail is already out, we should wait and see if anybody has concerns about the e-mail, and respond if there are any.

   2. Steering Committee Election
      Jim Morgan read the results of the 2017 Steering Committee Election.  The people elected were (in the same order as on the ballot): Kelly Cohen, Bonnie Domeny, Lynda Hammitt, James Morgan, Andrea White, Rene Hamlin, James Adams, Gay Jones, and Lori Christensen.
   3. From the Floor
      There was no new business from the floor

8. Meeting adjourned.

The next meeting will be a Steering Committee Meeting on Tuesday, June 27, 2017, at the Rancho Cordova Library.