20110607 Regular City Council Meeting - MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL -
LIGHT & POWER MEETING OF THE CITY OF VERNON
HELD JUNE 7, 2011, IN THE COUNCIL
CHAMBERS OF THE CITY HALL LOCATED AT
4305 SANTA FE AVENUE, VERNON, CALIFORNIA
MEMBERS PRESENT: Gonzales, Davis, Maisano, Newmire
MEMBERS ABSENT: McCormick
The meeting was called to order at 8:00 a.m. by Mayor Gonzales.
The City Clerk announced that there were no changes to the
agenda.
The City Clerk announced that this was the time allotted for
public comment. The Mayor inquired whether anyone in the
audience wished to address the City Council. No one responded.
It was moved by Davis and seconded by Maisano to approve the
Minutes of the Regular City Council - Light & Power Meeting held
November 15, 2010. Motion carried, 4-0.
It was moved by Maisano and seconded by Newmire to approve the
Minutes of the Regular City Council - Light & Power Meeting held
December 6, 2010. Motion carried, 4-0.
It was moved by Newmire and seconded by Davis to approve the
Minutes of the Regular City Council - Light & Power Meeting held
December 20, 2010. Motion carried, 3-0. Councilman Maisano
abstained from the vote.
It was moved by Davis and seconded by Maisano to approve the
Minutes of the Regular City Council - Light & Power Meeting held
January 3, 2011. Motion carried, 4-0.
It was moved by Newmire and seconded by Davis to approve the
Minutes of the Regular City Council - Light & Power Meeting held
February 1, 2011. Motion carried, 4-0.
It was moved by Davis and seconded by Newmire to approve the
Minutes of the Regular City Council - Light & Power Meeting held
May 3, 2011. Motion carried, 3-0. Councilman Maisano abstained
from the vote.
It was moved by Newmire and seconded by Maisano to approve the
Minutes of the Regular City Council - Light & Power Meeting held
May 17, 2011. Motion carried, 470.
It was moved by Davis and seconded by Newmire to approve the
Minutes of the Special City Council - Light & Power Meeting held
May 26, 2011. Motion carried, 4-0.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
It was moved by Maisano and seconded by Davis, that the matters
on the Consent Calendar be approved as recommended. Motion
carried, 4-0.
Regular City Council -
Light & Power Department Minutes
June 7, 2011
1. Approval of Light & Power Warrant Register No. 301,
totaling $6,152,727.54, which covers the period of May 10
through May 26, 2011, and consists of the following:
a. Ratification of wire transfers totaling $5,811,560.83;
b. Ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling
$186,267.54; and
c. Authorization to issue pending checks totaling
$154,899.17.
2. Approval of Gas Warrant Register No. 89, totaling
$1,008,121.40, which covers the period of May 10 through
May 26, 2011, and consists of the following:
a. Ratification of wire transfers totaling $969,877.76;
and
b. Ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling
$22,485.63; and
c. Authorization to issue pending checks totaling
$15,758.01.
3. Resolution No. 2011-88 - A Resolution of the City Council
of the City of Vernon Approving and Authorizing the
Execution of an Agreement By and Between the City of Vernon
and Crosspoint Network Solutions, Inc. for Telephone System
Maintenance and Repair Services
4. Resolution No. 2011-89 - A Resolution of the City Council
of the City of Vernon Approving and Authorizing the
Execution of Task Order No. 2011-3 to the Standard Master
Agreement, By and Between the City of Vernon and CH2MHil1
Engineers, Inc.
5. Resolution No. 2011-90 - A Resolution of the City Council
of the City of Vernon Approving and Authorizing the
Execution of a Services Agreement with Anemometry
Specialists, Inc. for the Installation of Eight
Meteorological Towers and Repealing Resolution No. 2011-47
6. February 2011 Resource Procurement Report, to be received
and filed.
7. March 2011 Resource Procurement Report, to be received and
filed.
ORAL REPORTS
Peter Hervish reported that Risk Management was able to approve
the insurance requirements for the helicopter survey in order to
map endangered species in the Tehachapi project. The
information collected will be used in developing the layout of
the wind turbines.
Hervish advised that he will be in Kern County on June loth with
CH2MHILL in order to address an issue whereby a local farmer
wanted to build his own road and filled a small culvert. This
is in violation of Federal law for blocking the flow of water.
Hervish reported that the issue will be addressed conservatively
with as little expense and exposure as possible.
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Regular City Council -
Light & Power Department Minutes
June 7, 2011
Hervish also reported that an aviary study and vegetation
mapping was required to determine bird migration flight patters,
and endangered flora, areas that could not be impacted by wind
turbines.
Hervish advised that he will be overseeing the transfer of the
meteorological towers from Harness Energy to ASI. Hervish
reported that Harness Energy had to drop out due to the
unexpected death of their operations director. The City
revisited other bidders and ASI was selected to take over the
project.
Hervish advised that V-Bar has concluded an 8 month analysis of
the Tehachapi area. There is a positive correlation between the
City's data and Pedoma's data which spans 30 years. This data
indicated good wind property, and opined that others will not be
able to argue its wind capacity.
In response to Mayor Gonzales, Hervish advised that if the City
develops the property themselves, by December 2012, the
environmental impact reports will be complete, and the City can
move forward with the installation process and permits. The
construction of the roads and turbines will take approximately 3
years before it is in service.
In response to Mayor Pro Tem Davis, Hervish advised that the
operations director for Harness Energy was not on City property
or performing activities related to the City's agreement during
the time of the incident. This affected the company so greatly,
that they moved all of their operations back to Texas.'
Carlos Fandino, Director of Light & Power, reported that the
department is completing their gas leak detection survey.
Fandino reported that the IT Department is currently working on
integrating the phone systems with Crosspoint. The anticipated
monthly savings is $2,000.
Fandino reported that the Engineering Department is in phase 3
of the Leonis Substation relay. The project should be completed
by the end of July. The Department also conducted an arc -flash
study for Sara Lee in compliance with the National Electrical
Safety Code (NESC) .
Fandino presented several power outages that have occurred
during the months of April through June, including an incident
on April 11, 2011, when a bird got caught in a pot head and
caused a power outage.
In response to Mayor Pro Tem Davis, Ali Nour, Engineering
Manager, advised that a cage cannot be placed over the pot heads
because birds need to be able to get out. The City experiences
this about 1 to 2 times per year. The Department is working on
systematically removing these types of transformers, so that
there are no exposed wires.
Fandino advised that on May 11, 2011, a balloon got caught on a
power poles, but did not cause any damage. Crews were able to
respond before there was a power outage.
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Regular City Council -
Light & Power Department Minutes
June 7, 2011
In response to Mayor Gonzales, Fandino advised that he would
send a crew out to the area of 26th Street and Bonnie Beach, to
investigate possible remains of a balloon.
On June 2, 2011, at 8:30 p.m., there was a major power outage
that affected several customers. Lines were down in the area of
50th Street and Alcoa Avenue. A truck backed up and ripped out a
guy wire. Fandino reported that a nearby fence became
energized. The release of the guy wire shook the pole, and
caused phase to phase damage, burning underground cables.
Fandino advised that the conduit collapsed and will need to be
dug up and replaced in order to repair the underground cables.
Fandino reported that Ali Nour is working on rerouting the
lines.
In response to Mayor Pro Tem Davis, Fandino advised that a
portion is energized, but it's being picked up in the field by
other circuits.
Nour further explained that the conduits on Leonis are fragile,
and that the lines have misaligned due to the pulling of cables
in and out. Nour advised that a large portion may need to be
replaced. Nour recommended that a comprehensive project on
Fruitland Avenue, from Downey Road to Boyle Avenue take place.
This project has been presented in the past, and is very
expensive, and will interrupt traffic for months.
Fandino advised that this will be significant work that will
require digging, and trenching in order to repair many circuits
which currently sit too close together. Fandino warned that
these circuits can cause explosions. Nour added that the load
can be transferred to other feeders, and that the City is very
fortunate that there have not been any injuries.
Fandino advised that Overhill Farms has a lateral feed, which is
difficult to back -feed. They were affected by the June 2nd power
outage and are upset by the slow response time. Fandino is
scheduled to meet with Overhill Farms on June 8, 2011, and
considering the circumstances, there was an excellent response
time with everyone back up within 5.5 hours.
CLOSED SESSION
At 8:37 a.m., it was moved by Davis and seconded by Newmire,
that the City Council go into closed session to discuss the item
listed on the closed session agenda. Motion carried, 4-0.
I.PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
Government Code Section 54957(b)(1)
Title: Helpdesk Technician
The Interim City Attorney reported that the City Council
unanimously agreed to hire a Helpdesk Technician.
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Regular City Council -
Light & Power Department Minutes
June 7, 2011
At 8:43 a.m., it was moved by Davis and seconded by Maisano, to
adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
ATTEST:
Willard'G. Xayfta,'uc
City Clerk (�
Hilario Gonzales
Mayor
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