HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - July 16, 2003 E-16AGENDA TITLE: Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to allocate Public Benefit
Program, funds to extend the Lodi Solar Education Outreach Project for fiscal
year 2003-2004 ($50,000}
MEETING PATE: July 16, 2003
RECOMMENDED ACTION', That the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing. the City Manager to
allocate $50,000 in P.ubIJG Betiefit Prooitrn forift to extend thel-odi Solar
Education Outreach Project for the'fiscal year
BACKGROUND INF R AT1O : This innovative program was launched in the summer of 2002.: The Lodi
Solar Education Outreach Project is designed to provide (tooth private and
public school students and educators with hands -goon solar educational
materials, technology kits and experiments (the targeted student grave levels for 20M -N04 Q04 will be d through 9"'
grade). The technology kits contain various solar experiments and tests, allowing students and teachers to am first-
hand how the sura serves as a renewable energy resource.
In addition to the technology kits (most of which were delivered to various school sites throughout the community in
2002), the Lodi Solar Education Outreach Project provides individual mini -grants to teachers Wishing to develop their.
own specific and unique solar -related experiment or project (in the previous fiscal year, several. teach r (private
schools received mini -grants for such things as solar car construction, and the development of a mini -village powered
by solar technology). The mini -grants, with a maximum grant amount of $1,500, are provided on a first- m , first-
served basis.
Lastly, in conjunction with the Rahus Institute, additional teacher training opportunities will be made. available to local
school instructors throughout the current fiscal year. These training venues. allow teachers to became better.
acquainted with. polar techholpgy, before applying that technology into the classroom. The Rahus Institute is. a non-
profit organization based in Walnut geek, California, focusing attehti n on renewable energy resources. This
organization, which was an invaluable partner with the City of Lodi Electric Utility in 2002-2003 fiscal year, devotes the
majority of its time to fostering relationships between local electric utlIity providers throughout the state, and: ed ucators
FUNDING: Public BenefitsFund- 164608 (New & Emerging Technologies)
a
Vic lc " Alam N. Vallow
Finance Director Electric Utility Director
PREPARED BY. Rob Lochner, Manager of Customer Service & Programs, EUD
ANV/RtJmdw
C: City Attorney
Finance Director
RESOLUTION NO. 2003-130
A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF
$50,000.00 TO FUND THE PUBLIC BENEFITS PROGRAM GRANT —
LODI SOLAR EDUCATION OUTREACH PILOT PROJECT FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2003-04
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WHEREAS, the state has mandated that beginning January 1, 1998, the City of Lodi is
obligated to fund various programs through a Public Benefits Charge (PBC) based on an
historical electric revenue requirement; and
WHEREAS, the requirement amounts to approximately $1 million per year that must be
dedicated to qualifying programs such as energy efficiency. A further stipulation is that these
efforts must be done on the customer's side of the meter in order to qualify; and
WHEREAS, the City of Lodi's Public Benefits Program is comprised of four segments or
customer groups: commercial/industrial, residential, community/non-profit, and municipal; and
WHEREAS, this pilot project is designed to provide hands-on solar educational materials
and technology kits to both private and public school students in Lodi, grade levels 2"d through
9"' grade. These technology kits will contain various solar experiments, allowing students and
teachers to learn first-hand how the sun may serve as a renewable energy resource; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the technology kits (most of which were delivered to various
school sites throughout the community in 2002), the Lodi Solar Education Outreach Project
provides individual mini -grants to teachers wishing to develop their own specific and unique
solar -related experiment or project (in the previous fiscal year, several teachers/private schools
received mini -grants for such things as solar car construction, and the development of a mini -
village powered by solar technology). The mini -grants, with a maximum grant amount of
$1,500, are provided on a first-come, first-served basis; and
WHEREAS, lastly, in conjunction with the Rahus Institute, additional teacher training
opportunities will be made available to local school instructors throughout the current fiscal year.
These training venues allow teachers to become better acquainted with solar technology, before
applying that technology into the classroom. The Rahus Institute is a non-profit organization
based in Walnut Creek, California, focusing attention on renewable energy resources. This
organization, which was an invaluable partner with the City of Lodi Electric Utility in 2002-03
fiscal year, devotes the majority of its time to fostering relationships between local electric utility
providers throughout the state, and educators; and
WHEREAS, the Lodi Solar Education Outreach Project has been warmly received by
Lodi Unified School District personnel, as well as private school principals and educators. The
City of Lodi Electric Utility staff recommends approval of this project as a qualifying component
of the City of Lodi Public Benefits Program, under the category of Renewable Energy
Resources & Technologies, otherwise referred to as New & Emerging Technologies; and
WHEREAS, the Rahus Institute based in Walnut Creek, California, is a non-profit
organization focusing attention on renewable energy resources. The organization devotes the
majority of its time to creating partnerships between local electric utility providers and educators,
promoting solar energy technology; and
WHEREAS, after receiving enthusiastic support from private school principals and
representatives from Lodi Unified School District, the City of Lodi Electric Utility recommends
approval of this pilot project. As identified by the California Energy Commission, this pilot
project is a qualifying component of the City of Lodi Public Benefits Program, under the category
of Renewable Energy Resources & Technologies.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Lodi City Council hereby authorizes the
City Manager to provide Public Benefits Program grant funding in the amount of $50,000.00 to
fund the Lodi Solar Education Outreach Pilot Project.
Dated: July 16, 2003
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I hereby certify that Resolution No. 2003-130 was passed and adopted by the Lodi City
Council in a regular meeting held July 16, 2003, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Beckman, Hansen, Howard, and Land
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Mayor Hitchcock
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
SUSAN J. BLACKSTON
City Clerk
2003-130