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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-02-22 RCC MIN• MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION City of Chula Vista, Council Chambers 276 Fourth Avenue MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: By Chair Stillman at 4:03 p.m. ROLL CALL: MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Stillman, Vice Chair Gilgun, Commissioners Cory, Rahimzadeh, and Turbide MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioners Ulloa • • STAFF PRESENT: Conservation & Environmental Services Director Meacham, Environmental Resource Manager Reed, Sr. Secretary Fields OTHERS PRESENT: Assistant City Manager Scott Tulloch, Public Works Director Rick Hopkins, Building Project Manager Gordon Day, Apex Vice President David Jenkins, Southern Contracting Director of Business Development Jim Filanc, and representatives from Stellar Energy and Siliken Renewable Energy MOTION TO EXCUSE: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: INFORMATION ITEMS: February 22, 2010 Request for excused absence for Commissioner Turbide for the February 8, 2010 RCC meeting was approved. October 12, 2009; November 9, 2009, and December 14, 2009 minutes were approved. None 1. Presentation on the Upcoming Municipal Solar PV Installation Project Environmental Resource Manager Reed introduced Jim Filanc from Southern Contracting who gave the presentation on the municipal solar installation project. He began with a brief background on his company and the two other companies partnering with them on the project -Stellar Energy and Engineering Partners. He stated that the project was comprised of eleven sites across the city and that they planned to have construction completed by November. He also discussed funding for the project and then talked about the specifics of some of the sites. Director Meacham stated that they had reached out to local retail and wholesale service providers, some of which had attended previous meetings, and that they had also engaged RCC Minutes, 2/22/10, Page 1 of 3 • the Chamber of Commerce to take advantage of every opportunity to create retail sales jobs and the sales tax and economic development that goes with it. He added that they are continuing to meet with and work with Southwestern College about developing projects to make sure that this and other programs create an opportunity for quality jobs today and for future generations. He also spoke briefly about project funding. Mr. Filanc went on to talk about solar panel manufacturing and then responded to questions from the board. ACTION ITEMS: 1. Energy Infrastructure Update, i.e. South Bay Power Plant -Continued from the meeting of February 8, 2009 Director Meacham gave a summary of the project and discussed some of the specifics. He then introduced David Jenkins, Vice President from Apex, who gave the presentation. Mr. Jenkins began by asking if the board had questions about the project following their review of the packet materials. Before continuing, however, Director Meacham gave an update on the project for board members who had not been present for the initial discussion at the previous meeting. He added that the project was very important to Apex in that they had put down one of many deposits. Mr. Jenkins went on to say that the project would be fully funded by private funds - no federal, state, or local funding. • Director Meacham and Mr. Jenkins then responded to questions from the board including questions regarding City Council's position on the project, what Apex sees as the benefit to the city, location of the site in relation to habitat issues, and lighting at the facility at night. Mr. Jenkins also responded to a question about the staging area during construction, including access and parking, and Director Meacham responded to a question regarding scale and elevation of the plant. Mr. Jenkins also addressed a question regarding the planned operation of the facility and Director Meacham added additional comments. The board then had a discussion on the wording of the motion. ACTION: Chair Stillman made a motion that the Resource Conservation Commission approve the direction the staff's continuation of Energy Infrastructure Update, including the South Bay Power Plant Replacement Project and Energy Reliability Plan is taking. Commissioner Cory seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES COMMENTS None CHAIR COMMENTS None COMMISSIONER COMMENTS • Commissioner Rahimzadeh asked about the possibility of a field trip to the plant site. Mr. Jenkins and Director Meacham responded that that could be arranged. RCC Minutes, 2/22/10, Page 2 of 3 • Commissioner Turbide asked if the previous RCC meeting where the plant project was discussed had occurred prior to or after Council approved the resolution. Director Meacham responded that it was after Council approved the resolution. Commission Turbide stated that it was his understanding that typically the board would see these items before they go to Council, and he asked if there was a reason why that did not happen with this item. Director Meacham responded that they had been to the board a couple times before on the item regarding the site and location, giving them updates about the city's Request for Proposals, SDG&E's Request for Offers, and the last one on Apex being the final applicant. He went on to say that the issue before Council was specifically regarding a site and a project, as opposed to a policy direction on energy, so those previous times they had come to the board was about the policy decision or direction about options for a South Bay replacement plant. Commissioner Turbide commented that this was something they had obviously been working on for some time, perhaps prior to his involvement on the commission. Director Meacham responded affirmatively and Commissioner Turbide thanked him for the clarification. OTHER COMMENTS: Mr. Jenkins thanked the Chair and the board for the opportunity to come before them. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 6:05 p.m. to a regular meeting on Monday, March 8, 2010, at 4:00 pm in Council Chambers, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910. • Prepared by: Sheryl Field Sr. Secretary RCC Minutes, 2/22/10, Page 3 of 3