Utilities Rate Advisory Commission Meeting - June 28, 2023: Work Plan Discussion and Approvals
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Utilities Rate Advisory Commission Meeting - June 28, 2023: Work Plan Discussion and Approvals
The Utilities Rate Advisory Commission (URAC) met on June 28, 2023, from 5:32 p.m. to 6:46 p.m. to approve minutes, review a work plan template, and select topics for the 2024 annual work plan. Commissioners present: Jill Zito, Lara Johnson, Melissa Lee, and Chair Megan Fidell. Commissioners absent: Thomas, Rae Vander Werf, and Connie Gutowsky.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Meeting Minutes (April 26, 2023): Passed unanimously via motion by Commissioner Lee, seconded by Commissioner Zito. (Yes: Zito, Johnson, Lee, Fidell; Absent: Thomas, Vander Werf, Gutowsky)
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were submitted either in chambers or online.
Discussion Items
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Annual Work Plan Template Discussion (Item 2): Chair Fidell introduced a template from the Ethics Commission as a starting point. Staff noted the process for annual work plans is still being refined by the Personnel and Public Employee Committee (PMPE), and the template may evolve. Commissioners discussed the timeline – the plan would cover calendar year 2024, with submission to PMPE possible by early 2024. Staff clarified that 2023 accomplishments would be reported in the first plan.
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Review and Select Annual Work Plan Topics for Calendar Year 2024 (Item 3): Ten potential topics were reviewed, each evaluated by Department of Utilities (DOU) staff and the Deputy City Attorney for feasibility and scope. Key discussions included:
- DOU 2020-2025 Strategic Plan Progress Report: DOU agreed to present an update within 2023.
- Sustainable Funding Mechanism Study: DOU is already engaging a consultant and the city auditor’s office; updates will be brought to URAC as work progresses (likely late 2024).
- Deferred Maintenance Progress Report: DOU will provide annual updates, though progress is limited due to lack of funding.
- Coordination with Rate Agencies on Increases: Staff will follow up with absent commissioners to clarify intent; a simple calendar of other agencies’ rate timelines may be provided within a month.
- Coordination of Development Impact Fees and Utility Rate Increases: Similar follow-up needed.
- Providing Water to Unhoused People: Deputy City Attorney noted it may be outside URAC’s core purview but could be addressed if focused on rate implications. DOU shared that Prop 218 limits free water; staff will provide an existing memo on options (e.g., nonprofit-owned tap service). Commissioner Zito expressed concern about commission authority.
- Climate Drivers Affecting Rates: DOU will present on climate action plan impacts, possibly split over multiple meetings.
- Low-Income Assistance Programs: DOU will report on industry research and monitoring; discussion can occur after upcoming conferences.
- Recycling & Solid Waste – Implementation Update (John Febbo, remote): Presentation planned for early 2024, covering program changes (food waste recycling, electric trucks).
- Recycling & Solid Waste – Rate Cost Drivers: DOU will combine this with the implementation update and provide deeper dive in a subsequent meeting.
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No formal vote was taken on the topics; staff will collect input from absent commissioners and refine the calendar.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar approved unanimously.
- No motions or votes on work plan items; the commission will finalize the 2024 work plan via correspondence and future meetings.
- DOU will email the existing memo on water for unhoused individuals to commissioners and coordinate with absent members on two unclear topic descriptions.
- The next steps include scheduling presentations for the remaining 2023 meetings (July, August, September, October) and developing a detailed meeting calendar for 2024.
Meeting Transcript
Chair staff is ready when you are muted. Okay. Good evening. Welcome to the Wednesday, June 28th, 2023, 5 30 p.m. Utilities Rate Advisory Commission meeting. This meeting is now called to order. Will the Kirk please call the role to establish a quorum? Thank you, Chair. Members, Commissioners, please unmute. Commissioner Zito. Yes, sir. Commissioner Thomas. Absent. Commissioner Johnson. Here. Commissioner Vanderworf. Absent. Commissioner Lee. Present. Vice Chair Gratsky. Absent. And Chair Fidel. Present. Thank you. We have a quorum. I would like to remind members of the public and chambers. Um that if you would like to speak on an agenda item, please turn in the speaker slip when the item begins. For members of the public who wish to join virtually, please refer to the agenda for the Zoom link. Once you have joined the meeting and wish to speak, raise your hand to provide public comment when the chair confirms the public comment public comment speaking period for your desired item. Do you want me to read about these? Yeah. Online, if you are online, click on raise hand on the bottom of your screen. Mobile app. In the mobile app, you can raise your hand by tapping the raise hand option in the more tab. Telephone. If you're calling in via telephone to raise your hand, dial not star nine. Then to unmute or mute, dial star six. Speakers will be called on by the last four digits of their telephone number. You'll have two minutes to speak once you are called on. After the first speaker, we will no longer accept speaker splips and the raise hand feature in the Zoom will be disabled. We will now proceed with today's agenda. Land acknowledgement. Everyone who's able, please rise. Please rise for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands to the original people of the land of this land, the Nissanan, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains Miwok, Patwinwinton peoples, and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the Native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous people's history, contribution, and lives. Thank you. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Chair. I have no speaker slips and no speakers with their hands raised on this item.
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