HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - February 14, 2017 SMLODI CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017
A. Call to Order / Roll Call
The Special City Council meeting of February 14, 2017, was called to order by Mayor Pro
Tempore Nakanishi at 7:01 a.m., at the Lodi Public Library, 201 West Locust Street, Lodi.
Present: Council Member Chandler, Council Member Johnson, Council Member Mounce, and
Mayor Pro Tempore Nakanishi
Absent: Mayor Kuehne
Also Present: City Manager Schwabauer, and City Clerk Ferraiolo
NOTE: Council Member Chandler arrived at 7:03 a.m.
B. Regular Calendar
B-1 Provide Direction Regarding Residential Lottery Outcome for Annual Lodi Electric Utility
Solar Rebate Program (EU)
Business Development Manager Adam Brucker provided a presentation regarding the residential
lottery outcome for the annual Lodi Electric Utility Solar Rebate Program. He reported
that 52 residential and four commercial applications were received during the application period
of January 3-31 and staff received previous direction from Council on how to allocate
the $280,000 by applying $185,000 to residential applications and $95,000 split between three
commercial projects. Mr. Brucker stated that the City received more applications than available
funds, and staff proceeded with the lottery on February 8. He stated there were six to seven
people, mostly contractors, in attendance and there were no glitches with the lottery for
commercial applications. Roughly three quarters of the way through the residential lottery, it was
discovered that some of the tickets fell out of the lottery drum, which brought the integrity of the
process into question. The lottery was redone, and 11 of the projects selected initially were not
selected in the second lottery. To complicate matters, some of those in attendance who were
selected in the first lottery left the meeting once they were selected, and staff had no idea who the
representatives were to notify them of the re-do on the lottery. Staff is seeking Council direction
on the two options -- either stand with the second lottery draw or use public benefits funds that
are available in the energy efficiencies budget to cover all of the rebates.
In response to City Manager Schwabauer and Council Member Mounce, Mr. Brucker confirmed
that there were 52 applications, the allocated funding amount would only provide 37 rebates from
the solar surcharge dollars, 15 applications would not be funded, and 11 applications were
selected in the first draw but not the second.
Mr. Schwabauer explained that the staff recommendation is to fund all of the applications, which
would not burden the overall project and would maintain customer goodwill. He stated the excess
amount of $75,000 would be funded through the public benefits. Mr. Brucker confirmed there are
enough funds in the public benefits fund to absorb this cost.
In response to Council Member Chandler, Mr. Brucker stated that typically a waiting list is
established, all applicants move up one on the list when another applicant drops out, projects are
funded according to the waiting list order as funds become available, and the commercial list was
carried over from last year and those applicants received priority. Mr. Brucker reported this is the
last year of the solar surcharge program dollars; therefore, any remaining applicants will not carry
forward to another year. He further confirmed that the public benefits fund, from which the excess
amount will come, is typically used for energy efficiency projects, such as lighting and air
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conditioning rebates for both commercial and residential projects. He stated that staff does not
anticipate spending all of the funds on this line item and does not believe that this transfer will
prevent other projects from happening.
Council Member Mounce stated she believes the fairest option is to fund all of the projects.
Council Member Johnson stated he believes that mistakes happen and a specific amount was
allocated for the solar project. He suggested two other alternatives to address the quandary -- 1)
stick with the second drawing and move on, or 2) take the allocated pot of money and divide it
among all of the applications so that all of the applicants receive a rebate.
Council Member Mounce stated she prefers staff's recommendation, which would provide the full
rebate of $5,000 for each of the applicants.
Mayor Pro Tempore Nakanishi stated that it is good public relations to give each of the applicants
the full rebate.
C. Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at
7:12 a.m.
ATTEST:
Jennifer M. Ferraiolo
City Clerk
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