02-13-2023 BPU RPT 09 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Public Comment for February 13, 2023 Board of Public Utilities Meeting Prepared by the City Clerk's Office at 5:50 p.m. on February 13, 2023 Item ad Name Neighborhood Position Comments I understand there has been a lawsuit filed involving the issuance of bonds. If Straddling was bond council, it should be conflicted out of defending the litigation because it would have a vested interest in defending its work as opposed to what might be best for the city. Moreover, it is conceivable that a lawyer at Straddling could be called as a witness in the case which ordinarily conflicts out a law firm from serving as defense counsel. I'm not 4. Recommend City Council approve legal budget for law firm of qualified to judge the merits of the suit and the Straddling firm is well regarded. However, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth for not -to -exceed $109,050 from Malissa if the allegations are true, then the question is whether this Commission should have Public Utilities Account to defend Cit in case entitled Pon s v. Cit of City g y Mckeith Oppose pp approved a bond based on future increased water rates that had et to be approved as is pp y pp Riverside, a reverse validation lawsuit challenging validity of City- constitutionally required. I even seem to recall questioning whether that was legitimate as issued municipal bonds a matter of common sense. Increased bond obligations are then relied upon in the cost of service analysis to justify higher rates because they are deemed fixed costs. That's rather circular to say the least. Finally, the City was put on notice in October of the potential for litigation. If you lose, will we be paying back investors not unlike having to repay the public on the GFT? I'm tired for paying for outside lawyers to lose. Let's get some independent advice before moving forward. Please consider agonizing: 1. Workshop on the 2040 electrification to discuss need for competitive bidding of Alliance study now that it is 100 percent clear that the Alliance is NOT a government agency - one of the representations in the 10/24/23 Board Agenda item. 9. Items for future Board of Public Utilities consideration as requested Malissa 2. workshop on the expenditure of public benefit dollars: what's currently available to by members of Board of Public Utilities Mckeith encourage climate adaptation and what could the money be spent on. We have tens of millions of ratepayer dollars at issue and the ratepayers should have more of a voice. 3. Developing a more targeted tree program that includes a measurement of how much water is need and at what costs to expand and maintain existing tree canopies. The 2020 urban water management plan committed to such an analysis and little has been commplished to date. Time flies ... This Commission needs to have more substantive training on water and electricity issues so that you can get input from a broader range of perspectives than simply staff. This is routinely done in Congress and the state legislature so that there can be a panel of experts to provide input and answer questions without a three limit time restraint or being paralyzed by the Brown Act which frequently is used to prevent actual engagement. This is more 14. Customer Engagement Program updates - December 2022 Malissa Neutral than a subcommittee meeting at 9:00 on zoom. It's a thoughtful program lasting two or Mckeith three hours so that the Commission and public can hear real input. The City need a culture change when it comes to the community interacting with commissions or council where staff vets complicated issues early and gets DIRECTION from you rather than serving up ideas when they are virtually final and usually on some deadline. I have raised this issue for a long time. I appreciate that it takes time, work and more accountability but we would be a stronger city for doing so. Thanks. And welcome Brian.