Unknown: good evening I will call to order the
SPEAKER_18: SMUD board of directors meeting of
SPEAKER_18: December 11th 2025 would you please
SPEAKER_18: stand and join me in the pledge to the
SPEAKER_18: flag
Unknown: and what I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America for which it
SPEAKER_14: stands one nation under God indivisible
SPEAKER_14: with liberty and justice for all.
SPEAKER_18: Let me first apologize for wearing a mask.
SPEAKER_18: I'm a little bit under the weather,
SPEAKER_18: but it's my last meeting as president of this board
SPEAKER_18: for the year, and I didn't want to miss it.
SPEAKER_18: This meeting of the SMUD Board of Directors
SPEAKER_18: is recorded with closed captioning.
SPEAKER_18: The recording will be cable cast on Metro Cable Channel 14,
SPEAKER_18: the local government affairs channel on the Comcast and Direct
SPEAKER_18: TV U-verse cable systems.
SPEAKER_18: The recording will also be video streamed at metro14live.saccounty.gov.
SPEAKER_18: Today's meeting replays on Sunday, December 14 at 6 p.m.
SPEAKER_18: and Wednesday, December 17 at 2 p.m. on Metro Cable Channel 14.
SPEAKER_18: Once posted, the recording of this meeting
SPEAKER_18: can also be viewed on demand at youtube.com slash Metro Cable 14.
SPEAKER_18: If you want to speak to the board,
SPEAKER_18: please remember to unmute your microphone when speaking
SPEAKER_18: in order that our virtual attendees can hear you.
SPEAKER_18: The microphone will display a green indicator light.
SPEAKER_18: When it is on, please put all electronic devices in the silent mode
SPEAKER_18: while in the auditorium.
SPEAKER_18: For members of the public attending in person
SPEAKER_18: who wish to speak at this meeting,
SPEAKER_18: please fill out a speaker's request form located on the table outside the room
SPEAKER_18: and hand it to SMUD security members of the public attending the meeting
SPEAKER_18: virtually who wish to provide verbal comments during the board,
SPEAKER_18: during the meeting may do so by using the raise hand feature in Zoom
SPEAKER_18: or pressing star nine while dialed into the telephone toll-free number
SPEAKER_18: at the time that public comment is called.
SPEAKER_18: Technical support staff will enable the audio for you
SPEAKER_18: when your name is announced during the public comment period.
SPEAKER_18: You may also submit written comments by emailing them to publiccommentatsmud.org.
SPEAKER_18: Written comments will be read, will not be read into the record
SPEAKER_18: but will be provided to the board electronically
SPEAKER_18: and placed into the record of the meeting
SPEAKER_18: if received within two hours after the meeting ends.
SPEAKER_18: Members may speak to items on the agenda
SPEAKER_18: on which the board will take action
SPEAKER_18: and may also address the board on other agenda items
SPEAKER_18: and items not on the agenda but within our jurisdiction
SPEAKER_18: during the general comment period.
SPEAKER_18: The auditorium is equipped with a safety alarm.
SPEAKER_18: If it should sound, please leave in an orderly manner
SPEAKER_18: via the exits to the lobby or behind the dais,
SPEAKER_18: assemble in front of the building
SPEAKER_18: and wait for the all clear announcement from security
SPEAKER_18: before coming back inside.
SPEAKER_18: Chief legal officer, would you please conduct a roll call?
SPEAKER_22: Director Rose.
Unknown: I'm here.
SPEAKER_22: Director Buie-Thompson.
Unknown: Present.
SPEAKER_22: Director Herber.
Unknown: Here.
Unknown: Director Kurth.
SPEAKER_22: Here.
SPEAKER_22: Vice President Tamayo.
Unknown: Here.
Unknown: Director Sanborn.
Unknown: Here.
SPEAKER_22: President Fishman.
Unknown: I am here.
SPEAKER_22: All directors are present.
Unknown: Thank you.
SPEAKER_18: Would Director Buie-Thompson, you have the climate action tip?
Unknown: I do.
SPEAKER_20: Thank you.
SPEAKER_20: Just let's see.
SPEAKER_20: Our climate action tip for December is that SMUD
SPEAKER_20: is committed to 100% zero carbon by 2030.
SPEAKER_20: There's lots of things you can do to join the charge
SPEAKER_20: and help us lead the global Clean Power City movement right
SPEAKER_20: here at home.
SPEAKER_20: During this holiday season, consider
SPEAKER_20: switching to LED holiday lights, which
SPEAKER_20: use up to 90% less energy and last much longer,
SPEAKER_20: helping you celebrate sustainably while using
SPEAKER_20: energy more efficiently.
SPEAKER_20: Let's get to zero carbon together
SPEAKER_20: and join the charge by visiting cleanpower.org.
Unknown: Thank you.
Unknown: If there are no corrections, changes, or additions,
SPEAKER_18: I'll entertain a motion to approve tonight's agenda.
Unknown: So moved.
Unknown: Second.
SPEAKER_18: Moved Director Herber.
SPEAKER_18: Second.
SPEAKER_18: Director Sanborn.
SPEAKER_18: Directors, please vote.
SPEAKER_18: Oh, are we roll call?
SPEAKER_22: Director Rose.
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: Director Buie-Thompson.
SPEAKER_22: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Director Herber.
SPEAKER_14: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Director Kurth.
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: Vice President Tamayo.
Unknown: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Director Sanborn.
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: President Fishman.
SPEAKER_18: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: The agenda is approved.
SPEAKER_18: Thank you.
SPEAKER_18: And agenda item number two, committee chair reports.
SPEAKER_18: We'll start off with Director Kurth, chair of the Finance
SPEAKER_18: and Audit Committee with a report from the December 9th
SPEAKER_18: meeting.
SPEAKER_03: Thank you.
SPEAKER_03: Finance and Audit Committee met on Tuesday, December 9th.
SPEAKER_03: There were four discussion items, three informational items.
SPEAKER_03: The first discussion item was to discuss approving a side letter
SPEAKER_03: agreement between SMUD and the Public Safety Officers
SPEAKER_03: Association for the California Public Employees Retirement
SPEAKER_03: System reporting of their holiday pay
SPEAKER_03: as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act
SPEAKER_03: and documenting the monetary value of the maintenance
SPEAKER_03: of required clothing.
SPEAKER_03: This is item number six on tonight's consent calendar.
Unknown: The second discussion item was to authorize the CEO and general
SPEAKER_03: manager or his designee to execute firm storage service
SPEAKER_03: contracts with Central Valley Gas Storage, LLC,
SPEAKER_03: for 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage
SPEAKER_03: service for April 1st, 2026 through March 31st, 2031.
SPEAKER_03: And natural gas injection service for March 1st,
SPEAKER_03: 2026 through April 1st, 2026.
SPEAKER_03: This is item number seven on tonight's consent calendar.
SPEAKER_03: The third discussion item was to authorize the CEO and general
SPEAKER_03: manager or his designee to negotiate an award or contract
SPEAKER_03: with Acuern Inspection, Inc., Alisto, Inc., Kleinfelder, Inc.,
SPEAKER_03: and Prime EPC to provide gas pipeline engineering services
SPEAKER_03: for a five-year period from January 2nd,
Unknown: 2026 to January 2nd, 2031 for no more than $5 million
SPEAKER_03: across all the contracts.
SPEAKER_03: This is item number eight on tonight's consent calendar.
SPEAKER_03: The fourth discussion item was to approve a $2.2 million
SPEAKER_03: increase to the contract for environmental compliance
SPEAKER_03: and program development services with AECOM Technical Services
SPEAKER_03: Inc., Kleinfelder, Inc., and Brown and Caldwell from $8.8
SPEAKER_03: million to $11 million across the contracts.
SPEAKER_03: This is item number nine on tonight's consent calendar.
SPEAKER_03: The first informational item was SMUD's 2025 financial statement,
SPEAKER_03: independent audit plan presented by Baker Tilly.
SPEAKER_03: The second information item was to provide the board
SPEAKER_03: with SMUD's financial results from January
SPEAKER_03: through October 31st, 2025, and a summary of SMUD's current power
SPEAKER_03: supply costs.
SPEAKER_03: The third and final information item
SPEAKER_03: was to provide board members with the opportunity
SPEAKER_03: to ask questions and or discuss recent reports
SPEAKER_03: by internal audit services, including the Rancho
SPEAKER_03: Seco Quality Assurance, joint poll processing,
SPEAKER_03: and customer assistance med rate.
SPEAKER_03: This concludes my report.
SPEAKER_18: Thank you.
SPEAKER_18: And we'll move on to Director Sanborn, who
SPEAKER_18: is chair of the policy committee, with a report from the December
SPEAKER_18: 10th meeting.
Unknown: Thank you, President Fischman.
SPEAKER_24: The policy committee met on Wednesday, December 10th.
SPEAKER_24: There were five discussion items and one informational item.
Unknown: The first discussion item was to discuss the monitoring report
SPEAKER_24: for Strategic Directive 7, which is environmental
SPEAKER_24: leadership as it applies to our 2024 activities.
SPEAKER_24: SMUD's focus on environmental leadership with our Clean Energy
SPEAKER_24: Vision and Zero Carbon Plan includes
SPEAKER_24: transparent reporting of greenhouse gas emissions,
SPEAKER_24: regional biodiversity efforts, a natural resource stewardship,
SPEAKER_24: equipment electrification progress,
SPEAKER_24: and a concerted approach to make all communities more
SPEAKER_24: sustainable.
SPEAKER_24: This is item number 10 on tonight's consent calendar.
Unknown: The second discussion item was to discuss the monitoring
SPEAKER_24: report for Strategic Directive 9, which is resource planning.
SPEAKER_24: In 2024, we met the state's RPS mandate of 44% retail sales
SPEAKER_24: by renewable energy resources and project
SPEAKER_24: to exceed future renewable milestones.
SPEAKER_24: We will continue exploring new GHG-free technology.
SPEAKER_24: Of note, we added 86 megawatts of new wind generation
SPEAKER_24: and more than 44 megawatts of customer solar and storage.
SPEAKER_24: We supported a 36% increase in all electric buildings
SPEAKER_24: and 34% increase in electric vehicles.
SPEAKER_24: We partnered with 45 community organizations
SPEAKER_24: to expand workforce development and completed more than 2,000
SPEAKER_24: electrification measures for income qualified customers.
SPEAKER_24: This is agenda item number 11 tonight on the consent calendar.
SPEAKER_24: The third discussion item was to discuss the monitoring report
SPEAKER_24: for Strategic Directive 11, Public Power Business Model.
SPEAKER_24: SMUD meets with key federal and state officials, both local,
SPEAKER_24: elected and appointed, with the purpose of educating them
SPEAKER_24: on the impact of new and existing policy.
SPEAKER_24: The report updated the board on our efforts
SPEAKER_24: to insulate SMUD from issues that may impact our local governance.
SPEAKER_24: This is item 12 on tonight's discussion calendar.
SPEAKER_24: And the fourth discussion item was to discuss the approval
SPEAKER_24: of SMUD's application to the California Department
SPEAKER_24: of Fish and Wildlife for the Rancho Seco Lake Invasive Muscle
SPEAKER_24: Prevention Grant.
SPEAKER_24: The grant would provide funding for the installation
SPEAKER_24: of a boat cleaning station to prevent the potential spread
SPEAKER_24: of golden mussels into Rancho Seco Lake.
SPEAKER_24: And this is item number 13 on tonight's discussion calendar.
SPEAKER_24: The last item was to discuss the board committee meeting
SPEAKER_24: memberships and chairs for 2026.
SPEAKER_24: And this was an informational item also
SPEAKER_24: to review our board's work plan.
SPEAKER_24: And that concludes my report.
SPEAKER_18: Thank you, Director Sanborn.
SPEAKER_18: At this point, we will take comments from the public
SPEAKER_18: on the consent calendar.
SPEAKER_18: I do not have any cards for the consent calendar.
SPEAKER_18: I do have a couple for later on this evening.
SPEAKER_18: Chief legal officer, do we have anybody
SPEAKER_18: online who wishes to speak on the consent calendar?
SPEAKER_22: We do have one hand raised.
SPEAKER_22: Marissa M, this is for the consent calendar.
SPEAKER_18: Yeah, we can hear you, I think.
SPEAKER_22: Looks like it's still metered on my end.
SPEAKER_22: Oh, there we go.
SPEAKER_10: I want to make a public comment.
SPEAKER_10: Good evening, President Fishman and Vice President Herber.
SPEAKER_10: My name is Marissa Mandel, and I'm a constituent from Ward 4.
SPEAKER_10: I'm speaking on behalf of the Save the Coyote Creek community
SPEAKER_10: movement.
SPEAKER_10: I see that item 13 on tonight's consent calendar
SPEAKER_10: uses state funds to protect Rancho Seco
SPEAKER_10: from invasive mussels.
SPEAKER_10: It proves that you know how to be good stewards when you want to.
SPEAKER_10: But items 10 and 11 contradict this.
SPEAKER_10: And your reports tonight claim that you
SPEAKER_10: enhance biodiversity and that you explicitly state
SPEAKER_10: that your goal is to, quote, minimize impacts
SPEAKER_10: on the land and the habitat.
SPEAKER_10: But to us, this feels like greenwashing.
SPEAKER_10: Director Kurz and Director Sanborn,
SPEAKER_10: you both attended the Sacramento Tree Foundation meeting
SPEAKER_10: just last week.
SPEAKER_10: Director Rose, you are at the Sierra Club Awards on Saturday.
SPEAKER_10: I don't see how you can attend those meetings in one week
SPEAKER_10: and then vote to clear cut 3,000 heritage oaks the next.
SPEAKER_10: Zero carbon should not mean zero habitat.
SPEAKER_10: If you sacrifice our local ecosystem
SPEAKER_10: to build infrastructure, you aren't saving the environment.
SPEAKER_10: You're just paving over it.
SPEAKER_10: This opposition to this project is overwhelming.
SPEAKER_10: We are organized.
SPEAKER_10: We are watching.
SPEAKER_10: And legal challenges are likely coming.
SPEAKER_10: I ask you as a business decision, is this worth it?
SPEAKER_10: Is destroying a local landmark worth the years of bad press
SPEAKER_10: and expensive lawsuits?
Unknown: Stop the greenwashing.
SPEAKER_10: Cancel the plans to destroy Coyote Creek
SPEAKER_10: and ensure that your actions match your promises.
SPEAKER_10: Thank you.
SPEAKER_18: Thank you for your comments.
SPEAKER_18: Anybody else on the consent calendar?
SPEAKER_22: We do have one additional hand raised.
SPEAKER_22: But I would remind the public comment is supposed
SPEAKER_22: to be on the consent calendar.
SPEAKER_22: Coyote Creek can be discussed during the public comment
SPEAKER_22: period.
SPEAKER_22: It looks like there's no other hand.
SPEAKER_22: So we'll wait.
SPEAKER_22: Thank you.
SPEAKER_18: We will make time towards the end of the meeting
SPEAKER_18: for public comment for items, not on the agenda,
SPEAKER_18: at which time people can speak for three minutes
SPEAKER_18: on whatever's on their mind as long as it pertains to SMUD.
SPEAKER_18: OK, so we'll move on to the consent calendar.
SPEAKER_18: Item number three is to approve board member compensation
SPEAKER_18: for service rendered at the request of the board
SPEAKER_18: for the period of November 16 through December 11, 2025.
SPEAKER_18: Item number four is approval of the minutes of the meeting
SPEAKER_18: of November 20, 2025.
SPEAKER_18: Item five was reviewed at the Finance and Audit Committee
SPEAKER_18: of November 18.
SPEAKER_18: This item requests the board approve SMUD's pay schedule
SPEAKER_18: and special compensation items for employees as required
SPEAKER_18: by PERS, the Public Employees Retirement System.
SPEAKER_18: The pay schedule and special compensation items
SPEAKER_18: that the board will approve include the salary schedules
SPEAKER_18: and special compensation policy for local agency executives.
SPEAKER_18: The salary schedule and special compensation policy
SPEAKER_18: for local agency executives, excluding the CEO,
SPEAKER_18: includes a maximum annual salary of $510,182
SPEAKER_18: to remain competitive with the market, and up to 25%
SPEAKER_18: incentive-based pay based on established metrics.
SPEAKER_18: The salary schedule for the CEO includes a maximum annual salary
SPEAKER_18: of $1.4 million to remain competitive with the market.
SPEAKER_18: Items number six through number nine
SPEAKER_18: were reviewed at the Finance and Audit Committee of December 9,
SPEAKER_18: 2025.
SPEAKER_18: And items 10 through 13 were reviewed at the Policy Committee
SPEAKER_18: of December 10.
SPEAKER_18: We just heard those committee reports.
SPEAKER_18: If there are no corrections, changes, or additions,
SPEAKER_18: I will entertain a motion to approve the consent calendar.
SPEAKER_16: So moved.
SPEAKER_22: Second.
SPEAKER_18: Move Director Tamayo.
SPEAKER_18: Second Director Bowie-Thompson.
SPEAKER_18: Conductor Roll, please.
SPEAKER_22: Director Rose.
Unknown: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: Director Bowie-Thompson.
SPEAKER_22: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Director Herber.
SPEAKER_22: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Director Kurth.
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: Vice President Tamayo.
SPEAKER_14: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Director Sanborn.
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: President Fischman.
SPEAKER_18: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: The consent calendar is approved.
Unknown: Thank you.
SPEAKER_18: Moving on to the discussion calendar and agenda
SPEAKER_18: items 14A and 15.
SPEAKER_18: Items 14A and 14B pertain to the 2026 budget.
SPEAKER_18: Item 14A is to adopt the 2026 budget, which,
SPEAKER_18: among other things, establishes an operations and maintenance
SPEAKER_18: budget of 1.434.5 million, including public goods charges
SPEAKER_18: of 104 million, a debt service budget of 216.3 million,
SPEAKER_18: a capital and reserve budget of 671.6 million,
SPEAKER_18: and authorized contingencies.
SPEAKER_18: Item 14B is a declaration of intent
SPEAKER_18: to issue debt to create $400 million
SPEAKER_18: of additional bonding authority to reimburse
SPEAKER_18: for qualifying capital expenditures
SPEAKER_18: and official intent to reimburse for 2026, 2025,
SPEAKER_18: and 2024 capital expenditures from bond proceeds,
SPEAKER_18: which is required to maintain tax-exempt financing
SPEAKER_18: capability.
SPEAKER_18: We do have a presentation from Scott Martin, our chief financial
SPEAKER_18: officer.
Unknown: Good evening, board members.
SPEAKER_04: Let's see if we can move to the presentation here.
SPEAKER_04: Just move down or are you guys going down?
SPEAKER_04: Thank you.
SPEAKER_04: So I am Scott Martin, the chief financial officer.
SPEAKER_04: Appreciate being here tonight.
SPEAKER_04: I'll be talking very briefly about an overview
SPEAKER_04: of the 2026 budget, as well as what
SPEAKER_04: you'll be voting on tonight to give you
SPEAKER_04: kind of a little bit more information about that.
SPEAKER_04: As background, we started this process back in October,
SPEAKER_04: where we came to the board in a committee meeting
SPEAKER_04: to present sort of the priorities for the 2026 budget
SPEAKER_04: and a sort of an overview of the different spending, where
SPEAKER_04: that spending would occur, the different programs would
SPEAKER_04: be funding, the important projects we would be pursuing,
SPEAKER_04: and how we're trying to meet our key and critical objectives
SPEAKER_04: spelled out in the strategic directive.
SPEAKER_04: So we gave that overview on October 14.
SPEAKER_04: We then paused and posted everything out on smud.org.
SPEAKER_04: And on November 18, we had one night
SPEAKER_04: of informational presentations.
SPEAKER_04: That was done by me.
SPEAKER_04: We walked through in detail all of the budget information,
SPEAKER_04: how we are spending all of our operations and maintenance
SPEAKER_04: dollars, how we are spending all of our capital dollars,
SPEAKER_04: how we are funding, as I mentioned,
SPEAKER_04: the key and critical projects that help us achieve
SPEAKER_04: our strategic direction for 2026.
SPEAKER_04: And we did that on November 18.
SPEAKER_04: And of course, tonight is the board
SPEAKER_04: vote to approve the smud 2026 budget.
SPEAKER_04: Let's go to the next slide.
SPEAKER_04: So again, overview of what the board is authorizing tonight.
SPEAKER_04: We are requesting $2.3 billion of spend in 2026.
SPEAKER_04: That breaks down to $216 million of debt service, $769 million
SPEAKER_04: of operation and maintenance, $593 million
SPEAKER_04: of commodity expenditures, which include all of our natural gas
SPEAKER_04: and electricity, renewables, things like that,
SPEAKER_04: that we need to serve customers' loads.
SPEAKER_04: We're spending $672 million in capital.
SPEAKER_04: And we have $73 million in public goods
SPEAKER_04: as part of that $2.3 billion spend.
SPEAKER_04: So what is the board really authorizing?
SPEAKER_04: That's over on the right-hand side in this slide.
SPEAKER_04: You're authorizing that $2.3 billion spend.
SPEAKER_04: You are also authorizing transfers
SPEAKER_04: in and out of what we call our rate stabilization fund.
SPEAKER_04: One example of a transfer in or out of that fund
SPEAKER_04: would be for our water year this year.
SPEAKER_04: We had some good rain coming into December,
SPEAKER_04: but December has been dry.
SPEAKER_04: We don't know yet what the water year will ultimately hold by March.
SPEAKER_04: But by the end of March, we will determine
SPEAKER_04: if it was a good water year or a poor water year.
SPEAKER_04: And based on that situation, we will
SPEAKER_04: need to make either deposits into the rate stabilization
SPEAKER_04: fund or out of the rate stabilization fund
SPEAKER_04: to help balance our budget, given whether or not
SPEAKER_04: we have enough water or not enough water.
SPEAKER_04: So that's just one example of some of the transfers that
SPEAKER_04: may come in or out of the rate stabilization
SPEAKER_04: fund in any given year.
SPEAKER_04: We also have provisions for adjusting budget authority.
SPEAKER_04: So for instance, if we have loads that are far exceed what
SPEAKER_04: our expected load is for next year,
SPEAKER_04: that would mean more energy sales and more commodity
SPEAKER_04: expenditures, for example.
SPEAKER_04: We would need to spend to meet those loads.
SPEAKER_04: And of course, your agreement tonight
SPEAKER_04: allows us to make those additional expenditures
SPEAKER_04: to meet those additional customer requirements
SPEAKER_04: if we needed to.
SPEAKER_04: Also, the staffing level, I will mention the staffing level
SPEAKER_04: has not changed from 2025 to 2026.
SPEAKER_04: You'll also be authorizing all of our debt management processes.
SPEAKER_04: We will be bringing back to the board
SPEAKER_04: any debt issuances that we plan to do in 2026 when we do them.
SPEAKER_04: You're authorizing up to $400 million
SPEAKER_04: of additional bonding authority.
SPEAKER_04: We don't anticipate spending $400 million,
SPEAKER_04: but we're asking for up to that, again, just in case.
SPEAKER_04: But we anticipate spending probably
SPEAKER_04: in the neighborhood of $200 to $300 million
SPEAKER_04: in terms of debt issuance.
SPEAKER_04: And of course, we will be reimbursing capital expenditures
SPEAKER_04: that we make in 2026 with any debt that we issue in 2026.
SPEAKER_04: So debt matches long-term assets, not short-term assets.
SPEAKER_04: And then you'll also be approving the 2026 employee pay
SPEAKER_04: schedule.
SPEAKER_04: So let's go to the next slide.
SPEAKER_04: So I'll just give you a quick overview,
SPEAKER_04: a very simplistic overview of our net income,
SPEAKER_04: or what we would call our income statement, which
SPEAKER_04: shows the net income that we plan for 2026.
SPEAKER_04: We plan to have about $1.9 billion in electric sales.
SPEAKER_04: Other revenues, about $74 million,
SPEAKER_04: to a total of about a little north of $2 billion in total revenue.
SPEAKER_04: You can see the various expenditures
SPEAKER_04: that we have there, of which include commodities and O&M,
SPEAKER_04: and of course, our other costs, which mainly are depreciation.
SPEAKER_04: And that produces a net income of about $226 million.
SPEAKER_04: Now, what do we do with that positive net income,
SPEAKER_04: and why do we plan to have net income?
SPEAKER_04: You can see some of the reasons off to the right.
SPEAKER_04: One really critical reason is we need
SPEAKER_04: to maintain minimum financial ratios.
SPEAKER_04: And I understand most people don't really know what these are,
SPEAKER_04: but they're important to making sure that we meet our minimum bond
SPEAKER_04: covenants when we issue debt.
SPEAKER_04: Those that buy our debt and want to be repaid
Unknown: need assurances that we will, in fact, repay them.
SPEAKER_04: And so we calculate financial ratios that show,
SPEAKER_04: yes, SMUD has the financial capacity
SPEAKER_04: to repay you when you buy our debt.
SPEAKER_04: That's very important for our credit rating, which is AA.
SPEAKER_04: And we want to keep it that way because it keeps our debt as
SPEAKER_04: inexpensive as possible.
SPEAKER_04: And that, of course, then helps us keep our rates
SPEAKER_04: as low as possible.
SPEAKER_04: So we meet our minimum financial metrics with our net income.
SPEAKER_04: We also manage all of our current risks
SPEAKER_04: that might occur during the year.
SPEAKER_04: I mentioned earlier the water that we
SPEAKER_04: may get within the Upper American River Project.
SPEAKER_04: HYDRA is one of our cheapest resources.
SPEAKER_04: If we have less water, that makes our expenses go up
SPEAKER_04: for serving our customers.
SPEAKER_04: Some other risks that we face would
SPEAKER_04: be interest rates during the year that can change relative
SPEAKER_04: to what our budget is.
SPEAKER_04: We can also have the economy change, inflation change.
SPEAKER_04: Our total sales to customers can change.
SPEAKER_04: There are many risks that we face during the year.
SPEAKER_04: And as those risks play out during the year,
SPEAKER_04: our net income can help balance any losses that we
SPEAKER_04: may incur according to those risks.
SPEAKER_04: In addition to that, it helps to offset our capital costs.
SPEAKER_04: That's really what the bottom line is for our net income.
SPEAKER_04: If it's not used to help us balance the budget
SPEAKER_04: within the year or to meet, we have extra
SPEAKER_04: after the meeting our minimum financial ratios,
SPEAKER_04: we use that net income to spend on our capital expenses.
SPEAKER_04: And those capital expenses are about $672 million next year.
SPEAKER_04: And as I mentioned, we anticipate
SPEAKER_04: that somewhere in the $200 to $300 million range
SPEAKER_04: for issuing debt.
SPEAKER_04: So that means $300, $400 million needs
SPEAKER_04: to be generated by our operations in order
SPEAKER_04: to pay for that capital of $672 million next year.
SPEAKER_04: So our net income is a key component
SPEAKER_04: of how we plan to reduce the need to borrow when
SPEAKER_04: we spend on capital projects.
SPEAKER_04: Next slide, please.
SPEAKER_04: So again, a couple of things that
SPEAKER_04: are attached for the board's decision tonight
SPEAKER_04: would be the 2026 budget resolution, which
SPEAKER_04: is kind of what I just went over on these slides,
SPEAKER_04: and the debt resolution, which gives us
SPEAKER_04: the authority to issue the debt and move forward
SPEAKER_04: with our capital plan.
SPEAKER_04: So I believe that's my last slide.
SPEAKER_04: Last slide.
SPEAKER_04: So thank you very much.
SPEAKER_18: Any questions for Scott or comments?
SPEAKER_18: Seeing none.
SPEAKER_18: Director Rose.
SPEAKER_13: Maybe watching her in the audience,
SPEAKER_13: we spent a very lengthy evening a month ago going
SPEAKER_13: through the budget.
SPEAKER_13: So if you don't see any board member questions,
SPEAKER_13: that's because we've gone through this with the fine
SPEAKER_13: tooth comb already.
SPEAKER_13: And the ballot budget is always a balancing act
SPEAKER_13: between bringing in revenue today
SPEAKER_13: and having these big capital projects and saying, OK,
SPEAKER_13: we're building a substation for $100 or $200 million.
SPEAKER_13: People in 10, 20, and 30 years can pay part of that as well.
SPEAKER_13: How do you balance that versus people paying rates today?
SPEAKER_13: So it's very interesting and a fine balancing point.
SPEAKER_13: I think the staff does a good job of preparing this every year.
SPEAKER_13: I want to thank them for all the hard work.
SPEAKER_13: Thank you.
Unknown: Thank you, Director Rose.
SPEAKER_18: Anybody else?
SPEAKER_18: No?
SPEAKER_18: OK.
SPEAKER_18: I do not have any cards from people
SPEAKER_18: to speak who are here in the audience on this item.
SPEAKER_18: Do we have anybody online?
SPEAKER_22: I do not see any hands on this item, no.
Unknown: All right.
SPEAKER_18: Then if there is no further discussion,
SPEAKER_18: I will entertain a motion to approve item 14A.
SPEAKER_22: So moved.
SPEAKER_18: Second.
SPEAKER_18: Move Director Tamayo.
SPEAKER_18: Seconded Director Rose.
SPEAKER_18: Call the roll, please.
SPEAKER_22: Director Rose.
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: Director Buie-Thompson.
SPEAKER_22: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Director Herber.
SPEAKER_22: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Director Kurth.
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: Vice President Tamayo.
SPEAKER_16: Yes.
Unknown: Director Sanborn.
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: President Fishman.
SPEAKER_18: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: The motion is approved.
SPEAKER_18: Thank you.
SPEAKER_18: And if there's no further discussion,
SPEAKER_18: I'll entertain a motion to also approve item number 14B.
SPEAKER_18: So moved.
SPEAKER_18: Second.
SPEAKER_18: Move Director Tamayo.
SPEAKER_18: Second.
SPEAKER_18: Director Herber.
SPEAKER_18: Please call the roll.
SPEAKER_22: Director Rose.
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: Director Buie-Thompson.
SPEAKER_22: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Director Herber.
SPEAKER_22: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Director Kurth.
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: Vice President Tamayo.
SPEAKER_22: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Director Sanborn.
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: President Fishman.
SPEAKER_18: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: Motion is approved.
SPEAKER_18: Okay.
SPEAKER_18: Item number 15 is to discuss possible merit increase to the chief executive officer and
SPEAKER_18: general manager's base salary and or performance bonus pursuant to the chief executive officer
SPEAKER_18: and general manager's employment contract.
SPEAKER_18: I do not have any cards to speak on this item either.
SPEAKER_18: Anybody online that wishes to speak on this item?
SPEAKER_22: There's nobody on the line.
SPEAKER_18: Okay.
SPEAKER_18: If there's any further, if there's no further discussion, the board met about a month ago
SPEAKER_18: to discuss Paul's performance and I think we all agree it's been stellar.
SPEAKER_18: We appreciate your acumen, your attention to detail, your standing in the community,
SPEAKER_18: your standing in the energy industry.
SPEAKER_18: Paul, I was lucky enough to travel with you recently with a group of other executives
SPEAKER_18: from different utilities around the country and they all, and there's some big dogs there
SPEAKER_18: too, but Paul Wolf's pretty loud in that group.
SPEAKER_18: So is there anybody else that would like to add anything?
SPEAKER_18: Director Sanborn.
Unknown: I was president of the board in 23 and we went to Dubai together and watching Paul talk
SPEAKER_24: to the leaders of the world in energy and to have the room basically so quiet you could
SPEAKER_24: defer to pin drop because they couldn't believe what we were doing at this utility.
SPEAKER_24: The whole world now knows about SMUD and there's every time we go into conventions,
SPEAKER_24: people look at my name tag and say, you're with SMUD.
SPEAKER_24: We have SMUD envy.
SPEAKER_24: So SMUD envy is a real thing and it's because we do a whole lot of things really well and
SPEAKER_24: it's not by accident.
SPEAKER_24: We have a really good team and an excellent CEO and that is why we're giving you the pay
SPEAKER_24: raise that I believe the PAAS staff is also getting as well.
SPEAKER_24: It's the same rate increase.
SPEAKER_24: So thank you so much for your great work.
SPEAKER_24: I'm so lucky to have you.
SPEAKER_14: Thank you.
SPEAKER_14: Well, I can attest to Paul's well known ability and loved by all the folks in the utility
SPEAKER_14: industry, but I want to speak to something that I think is even more important and that
SPEAKER_14: is Paul is really loved by the employees here.
SPEAKER_14: And that's not always an easy thing to do.
SPEAKER_14: He's fair.
SPEAKER_14: He's honest.
SPEAKER_14: And I think that's really important.
SPEAKER_14: Another thing is Paul is also well traveled in the community.
SPEAKER_14: People know who he is.
SPEAKER_14: He talks to leaders and puts together partnerships.
SPEAKER_14: He has us go out and talk about all of it, which is great.
SPEAKER_14: But just really want you to know that your activity here at SMUD with employees and your
SPEAKER_14: activity in the community here is a really valuable thing.
SPEAKER_14: Thank you.
Unknown: Okay.
Unknown: Oh, Director Tomayo?
SPEAKER_18: Yeah, thank you.
SPEAKER_16: I just wanted to just briefly say I really appreciate Paul's role in really maintaining
SPEAKER_16: a really strong culture here at SMUD.
SPEAKER_16: We're known in the community and around the country for being able to meet audacious goals
SPEAKER_16: and to really be a positive force in the community and in addressing greenhouse gas emissions.
SPEAKER_16: And Paul doesn't do it all by himself.
SPEAKER_16: And I think the real strength of his talent is being able to get the whole organization
SPEAKER_16: leaning forward to really make rapid progress to these very important goals and to contributing
SPEAKER_16: to the community.
SPEAKER_16: And I see it all over the place.
SPEAKER_16: So thank you very much.
SPEAKER_16: Director Buie Thompson?
Unknown: Thank you.
Unknown: I just wanted also to extend my thanks to Paul.
SPEAKER_20: It's an amazing story to start as an intern and 42 years later become CEO.
SPEAKER_20: And that's a testament to Paul and his hard work.
SPEAKER_20: And I know it's difficult when you see the numbers.
SPEAKER_20: They seem quite high, which they are.
SPEAKER_20: When you look at the industry, Paul is not just an average CEO.
SPEAKER_20: And we have been paying him either at or below the average for many years.
SPEAKER_20: And I really respect SMUD and what we do.
SPEAKER_20: And it always pained me that we didn't appropriately compensate our chief executive because I
SPEAKER_20: think Paul and the previous executives are the best in the business.
SPEAKER_20: And so I know it is a high number and especially in these very, very difficult times.
SPEAKER_20: But we need to also recognize that our bills are, depending where you are in the spectrum,
SPEAKER_20: 30 to 50% less than our neighbors.
SPEAKER_20: And our neighbors' paychecks are thousands of times, I feel, more than our CEO.
SPEAKER_20: But I just wanted to remind people that it's not just about the pay on the paper, but it's
SPEAKER_20: what that represents and what our salary represents is compensating someone who is at the top
SPEAKER_20: of the field.
SPEAKER_20: So I thank Paul for his over 42 years of work here at SMUD.
SPEAKER_20: And we wouldn't be, not just as you as being a CEO, but you have grown up within this organization
SPEAKER_20: and helped it become the organization it is today in the last 40 plus years of your career.
Unknown: Okay.
SPEAKER_18: If there is no further discussion, I'll entertain a motion to approve a merit increase of 3.5%
SPEAKER_18: for Paul effective, the first pay period of 2026.
SPEAKER_03: So moved.
SPEAKER_03: Who made the motion?
SPEAKER_18: Rob can do it.
SPEAKER_18: I move Director Kurth, seconded Director Buie-Thompson.
SPEAKER_18: Please call the roll.
Unknown: Director Rose?
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: Director Buie-Thompson?
SPEAKER_22: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Director Herber?
Unknown: Absolutely, yes.
SPEAKER_14: Director Kurth?
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: Vice President Tamayo?
SPEAKER_22: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Director Sanborn?
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: President Fishman?
Unknown: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: The motion passes.
Unknown: All right.
SPEAKER_18: And at this point we allow the public to comment on items not on the agenda but within our jurisdiction.
SPEAKER_18: And I do have four cards.
SPEAKER_18: First up, oh, five cards.
Unknown: Okay.
SPEAKER_18: We will start with Celeste Aguilar and then Sean Wirth is next.
SPEAKER_18: Ms. Aguilar, are you here?
Unknown: I'm Celeste.
SPEAKER_18: Okay.
SPEAKER_18: Welcome to the podium.
SPEAKER_18: Do not move the microphone as it's designed to pick up your voice at a distance.
SPEAKER_18: Please remember to direct your comments to the SMUD Board.
SPEAKER_18: If you have any written materials you wish to provide, please hand them to a SMUD security
SPEAKER_18: officer to distribute.
SPEAKER_18: And also since your matter has not been placed on the agenda, the Board may not engage in
SPEAKER_18: an active discussion of the matter and is limited to briefly responding to your statements,
SPEAKER_18: asking clarifying questions and directing staff to follow up on any matters.
SPEAKER_18: You have three minutes.
Unknown: Awesome.
SPEAKER_37: Thank you.
SPEAKER_37: Shouts out, Paul.
SPEAKER_37: Seems like you got a lot of love from the employees.
SPEAKER_37: So that's awesome.
SPEAKER_37: But I did, you know, the SMUD MV is very true.
SPEAKER_37: The community does love SMUD.
SPEAKER_37: As a young resident of the Sacramento County, I always flexed.
SPEAKER_37: And in terms of the youth, a flex means to brag, to hype SMUD.
SPEAKER_37: We were like, oh, we don't have PG&E.
SPEAKER_37: PG&E is so negligent.
SPEAKER_37: They let people get their houses burnt down, everything like that.
SPEAKER_37: But we got SMUD.
SPEAKER_37: Like, we like SMUD.
SPEAKER_37: SMUD is cool.
SPEAKER_37: So I just wanted to let you guys know that the community does have a ton of love for
SPEAKER_37: SMUD.
SPEAKER_37: And you guys definitely earned that through, like, you know, consistency and thorough effort
SPEAKER_37: and work and, you know, putting the community first.
SPEAKER_37: I just want to give you guys those kudos for, like, building that foundation because that
SPEAKER_37: is hard, especially for, like, an energy utilities company to, like, do that.
SPEAKER_37: Because a lot of people can just go big.
SPEAKER_37: They can be negligent.
SPEAKER_37: They can be, like, PG&E.
SPEAKER_37: Maybe I shouldn't be saying that.
SPEAKER_37: But it's true.
SPEAKER_37: Like, that's what we say in the community.
SPEAKER_37: So shout out to that.
Unknown: Yeah, I am going to talk about Coyote Creek.
SPEAKER_37: It's not obvious by how I, you know, the outfit and stuff.
SPEAKER_37: I am going to talk about it.
SPEAKER_37: I just want to give you guys, like, a perspective from someone that has been doing community
SPEAKER_37: service work for, like, the past five years.
SPEAKER_37: I've worked in city services.
SPEAKER_37: I love working for the community.
SPEAKER_37: And I do plan to continue my community service work as I continue my career.
SPEAKER_37: I am only 25 years old.
SPEAKER_37: So as time continues, I continue on, you know, want to help out the community.
SPEAKER_37: I love the community.
SPEAKER_37: So I just want to encourage you guys to, you know, think about how we think about you guys
SPEAKER_37: now.
SPEAKER_37: Like, we really do appreciate SMUD.
SPEAKER_37: We honor your guys' thorough work.
SPEAKER_37: And Coyote Creek is, like, giving PG&E behavior.
SPEAKER_37: It's like the community is so opposed to it.
SPEAKER_37: We don't want it at all.
SPEAKER_37: Like I understand that you guys have a lot of pressure to meet these requirements, these
SPEAKER_37: deadlines.
SPEAKER_37: But a 900-year-old oak tree is a keystone species.
SPEAKER_37: If we lose an oak tree, we lose food and habitat for over 300 species of wildlife.
SPEAKER_37: And that's just one ancient oak tree.
SPEAKER_37: So the devastation that will occur after is inevitable.
SPEAKER_37: I'm sure you guys all live within this community.
SPEAKER_37: So if you all want fires and floods, then, you know, keep doing it.
SPEAKER_37: But I have faith.
SPEAKER_37: You guys can change your mind any day.
SPEAKER_37: And the community will back you guys.
SPEAKER_37: So.
Unknown: Thank you for your comments.
SPEAKER_18: Just real quickly, I understand we have some people in the overflow room, including at
SPEAKER_18: least one person who wants to speak.
SPEAKER_18: She's last on the list, Lisa Sanchez.
SPEAKER_18: We now have room in the main auditorium.
SPEAKER_18: So if anybody who is in the overflow room wants to now come into the main auditorium,
SPEAKER_18: there's plenty of seating available right now.
SPEAKER_18: Next up is Shawn Worth.
SPEAKER_18: And following Shawn will be Lavender Wilson.
SPEAKER_23: Good evening.
SPEAKER_23: I was at your meeting last night.
Unknown: And I was interested to hear your work in environmental leadership.
SPEAKER_23: And I went home and actually reread that strategic item 7A, which I was really impressed with,
SPEAKER_23: minimize environmental and cultural impacts, conserve resources, enhance biodiversity.
SPEAKER_23: So I got a project for you to consider, solar project.
SPEAKER_23: 400 acres.
Unknown: It's going to be good price.
SPEAKER_23: You're going to like the price, really good price.
SPEAKER_23: I'm only going to kill 4,000 native trees.
SPEAKER_23: Only 3,000 are native oaks.
SPEAKER_23: Only 1,700 of them are old growth.
SPEAKER_23: And only a few are 900 years old.
SPEAKER_23: It's kind of hilly.
SPEAKER_23: So I plan to bring in tons and tons of explosives and blast it and then move 1.4 million cubic
SPEAKER_23: yards of material to flatten it out.
SPEAKER_23: And to mitigate for the death of all these trees, I plan to take three acorns for each
SPEAKER_23: tree I kill and I'm going to plant them and water them for seven years.
SPEAKER_23: And then in terms of making up for this loss of habitat, I'm going to save a little narrow
SPEAKER_23: band that runs north and south that's so narrow that it's going to be edge effect along the
SPEAKER_23: entire distance.
SPEAKER_23: That should take care of the species.
SPEAKER_23: What do you think?
SPEAKER_23: Any problems that don't get handled with this project, I'm sure it will be made up for with
SPEAKER_23: our electric lawn mowers and our pollinator gardens.
SPEAKER_23: Thank you.
Unknown: Thank you, Mr. Worth.
SPEAKER_18: Lavender Wilson, up next, followed by Fatima Malik.
Unknown: Can we reset the clock, please?
SPEAKER_19: Oh, there we go.
SPEAKER_06: Thank you.
SPEAKER_06: So I'm Lavender's mom.
SPEAKER_06: My name is Fatima Malik.
SPEAKER_06: And I'm really here to tell you that my daughter deserves to save Coyote Creek.
SPEAKER_06: You should not be destroying habitat for future generations, okay?
SPEAKER_06: I don't understand why you think that's a good idea.
SPEAKER_06: You know, I remember four or five years ago when y'all sidestepped the state law to monopolize
SPEAKER_06: the solar energy market.
SPEAKER_06: And I've done some back of the napkin calculations.
SPEAKER_06: You don't have to destroy Coyote Creek.
SPEAKER_06: That's about 79,000 rooftops or parking lots or other places that you could actually utilize
SPEAKER_06: to produce the energy that you need.
SPEAKER_06: It is a big mistake.
SPEAKER_06: And I know you like to pat yourselves on the back all day long.
SPEAKER_06: You want to do it now?
SPEAKER_06: Go ahead.
SPEAKER_15: You ready?
SPEAKER_06: Go.
SPEAKER_06: Go for it.
Unknown: Go ahead.
SPEAKER_06: Say it.
Unknown: Say it now.
Unknown: Okay.
SPEAKER_06: She wants you to know you need to save Coyote Creek, okay?
Unknown: I don't know why you think it's a good idea.
SPEAKER_06: But again, I'm here to tell you on behalf of my daughter and the future generations
SPEAKER_06: that deserve a planet that is ‑‑ I don't understand.
SPEAKER_06: The planet is being destroyed and you're contributing to that.
SPEAKER_06: It's a big mistake.
Unknown: Again, I really think that you all need to go back to the drawing board and think about
SPEAKER_06: how you're all ridden with a lot of conflicts of interest and it's not okay to allow for
SPEAKER_06: Coyote Creek to be destroyed in the name of a solar farm.
SPEAKER_06: The tribe even came and said don't do it.
SPEAKER_06: And that's very disrespectful to not listen to the tribe when they tell you that this
SPEAKER_06: is not a good idea.
SPEAKER_06: Especially when we talk about native plants but we don't talk about native people, okay?
SPEAKER_06: And this land belongs to indigenous people and it would be out of respect that you preserve
SPEAKER_06: and protect the little bit of habitat that's left.
Unknown: Go ahead.
Unknown: Again, she said save Coyote Creek.
Unknown: I don't know how else to say it.
SPEAKER_06: I'll keep saying it.
SPEAKER_06: Talking about salaries, I don't know if you looked around but it is economic hard times
SPEAKER_06: for everybody.
SPEAKER_06: So yeah, you're cheaper than PG&E but that's not good enough.
Unknown: PG&E is like the devil.
SPEAKER_06: To compare yourself to being better than the devil is not good enough.
SPEAKER_06: I expect better.
SPEAKER_06: This is lackluster leadership.
SPEAKER_06: We need better leadership.
SPEAKER_06: Now is not the time to continue with business as usual.
SPEAKER_06: This antiquated utility model that you all think is okay is not.
SPEAKER_06: It is time to really think about the planet and how we save it for my daughter and the
SPEAKER_06: children that are not here yet.
Unknown: Ma'am, I know you were speaking for your daughter, Lavender.
SPEAKER_18: Can we get your first name, please?
SPEAKER_18: My name is Fatima Malik.
SPEAKER_06: My name is mom.
SPEAKER_06: Okay, thank you, Fatima.
Unknown: Okay, so we have a card for you as well but I think we've already done that one.
SPEAKER_18: So thank you.
SPEAKER_18: And then Lisa Sanchez, are you here?
SPEAKER_18: Lisa?
Unknown: I'm sorry, I'm here.
SPEAKER_18: And you're representing the River City Waterway Alliance?
Unknown: Yes.
SPEAKER_32: So my name is Lisa Sanchez and I am here on behalf of myself as well as River City Waterway
SPEAKER_32: Alliance.
SPEAKER_32: We are an all-volunteer group within Sacramento working to restore and protect the health
SPEAKER_32: and wellness of our waterways to include the neglected creeks within the city and the county.
SPEAKER_32: Knowing that, we are environmentalists and we have really become shocked at the idea
SPEAKER_32: of Coyote Creek, even though it's not within the heart of the city and the county.
SPEAKER_32: It has Coyote Creek running right through it, which is beautiful, along with the vernal
SPEAKER_32: pools that are there and the heritage oaks.
SPEAKER_32: We as a volunteer group also collaborate with a lot of the American River volunteer groups
SPEAKER_32: and nonprofits to push against the CASIS property as well as with ECOS to push against
SPEAKER_32: the airport projects that are over there.
SPEAKER_32: And it just as a cumulative really goes to show that there is a hard-pressed pushback
SPEAKER_32: for spaces around the Sacramento and Sacramento County that we are all trying to keep.
SPEAKER_32: There's a lot of infill.
SPEAKER_32: There's a lot of areas that we would be able to do a lot of these other projects.
SPEAKER_32: And the solar project is special because it is, as stated, removing a lot of trees that
SPEAKER_32: are heritage oak trees that we all fight so hard for.
SPEAKER_32: And to think of destroying those is a gut punch, especially with the Board of Supervisors
SPEAKER_32: as a 5-0 vote voting all for it, knowing that so many issues are with this project.
SPEAKER_32: So I am here to ask SMUD to really evaluate their partnership with this project.
SPEAKER_32: Hopefully there's a way you all can withdraw out of that without any litigation kind of
SPEAKER_32: becoming for this because I'm sure that's where it's going to go.
SPEAKER_32: The vernal pools will never get restored.
SPEAKER_32: People think mitigation is a one-for-one.
SPEAKER_32: It's not.
SPEAKER_32: Just like he said with the oaks, you know, you have this huge heritage oak tree and you're
SPEAKER_32: supposed to replace that with a baby oak, 90% of those don't make it.
Unknown: 90% of those do not survive.
SPEAKER_32: But the mitigation doesn't account for that lifelong.
SPEAKER_32: So there's a lot of problems with this.
SPEAKER_32: And we definitely hope that SMUD can continue to be a stellar pillar of the community.
SPEAKER_32: I have SMUD.
SPEAKER_32: I use SMUD.
SPEAKER_32: We love SMUD.
SPEAKER_32: I think highly of SMUD, especially with PG&E not being so highly thought of.
SPEAKER_32: We know you will make the right decision and we implore you to figure a way to not proceed
SPEAKER_32: with this big project.
SPEAKER_32: On a short note with that, with my 20 seconds left, I just want to remind everybody that
SPEAKER_32: this is a temporary project.
SPEAKER_32: It's only 35 years long.
SPEAKER_32: So we're going to cut these heritage oaks.
SPEAKER_32: We're going to graze and raise down all of the valleys and the hills and the vernal
SPEAKER_32: pools that are supposed to be there temporarily.
SPEAKER_32: That will never get replaced.
SPEAKER_32: Thank you.
Unknown: Thank you for your comments.
SPEAKER_18: That's all the cards I have for people to speak here in the audience.
SPEAKER_18: Chief Legal Officer, do we have any request to speak from people online?
SPEAKER_22: We do.
SPEAKER_22: The first one up is John.
Unknown: John, you're up.
Unknown: Can you hear me?
Unknown: Yes.
Unknown: All right.
SPEAKER_05: This is John Weber.
SPEAKER_05: Good evening, President and Board of Directors.
SPEAKER_05: I've got five shout outs for SMUD employees tonight.
Unknown: Josh Langdon and Ernie Miller.
SPEAKER_05: I met with them.
SPEAKER_05: We had good conversations, answered all my questions.
SPEAKER_05: Shout out to Joey Peniman and Zachary Lawrence for their excellent job they did on a workshop
SPEAKER_05: regarding SPAN equipment for houses that don't have a lot of amperage going to the houses.
SPEAKER_05: And the fifth shout out is to Tony Stelling.
SPEAKER_05: And she's done an excellent job communicating with me regarding written comments.
SPEAKER_05: And that's it for tonight.
SPEAKER_05: Have a good evening.
SPEAKER_05: Thank you.
SPEAKER_18: Thank you, Mr. Weber.
Unknown: Next.
SPEAKER_22: Next up is Betty Chu.
Unknown: Hi.
Unknown: Can you hear me?
Unknown: Yes.
Unknown: Awesome.
SPEAKER_11: I am also calling tonight on behalf of saving Coyote Crete.
SPEAKER_11: I'm not going to repeat a lot of the wonderful talking points that have already been brought
SPEAKER_11: up.
SPEAKER_11: And frankly, I really doubt that any of you on the board right now are not aware of the
SPEAKER_11: reasons why you should not destroy Coyote Crete.
SPEAKER_11: As a resident of California, even though I don't live in Sacramento, I consider Coyote
SPEAKER_11: Crete to be part of the state's heritage.
SPEAKER_11: And as such, I will try to put it in terms that might resonate better with the board,
SPEAKER_11: which is that I will very happily contribute as much money as I possibly can for any legal
SPEAKER_11: defense funds.
SPEAKER_11: So be prepared to be mired in lawsuits.
SPEAKER_11: And I'm part of many mycological organizations across the state.
SPEAKER_11: As you should know, mycologists care very deeply about conservation and the environment.
SPEAKER_11: And so we have a pretty good community and network of people who would also be willing
SPEAKER_11: to contribute to any legal defense funds.
SPEAKER_11: And so I hope it doesn't come down to that.
SPEAKER_11: But be prepared to see us in court if you insist on continuing with this horrific plan
SPEAKER_11: to destroy pretty much everybody's heritage.
SPEAKER_11: I mean, these are old-world redwoods.
SPEAKER_11: Not redwoods oaks, but I don't know why you think that planting new trees is really going
SPEAKER_11: to make up for destroying trees that are hundreds of thousands of years old.
SPEAKER_11: And seriously, reconsider your plans.
SPEAKER_11: Thank you.
Unknown: Thank you.
SPEAKER_19: Thank you.
SPEAKER_22: The next step is Jade Olonski, followed by Chris Bennett.
SPEAKER_25: Hello.
SPEAKER_25: I am calling in to express my disapproval of the Coyote Creek project.
SPEAKER_25: It really doesn't make sense to me to implement a solar plan that will only last 35 years
SPEAKER_25: and through at the expense of centuries-old oak trees and the wildlife associated with
SPEAKER_25: that.
SPEAKER_25: You know, everybody's talking about trees, and I care about the trees very much, but
SPEAKER_25: I can also put it into terms that maybe might resonate more with the board members today,
SPEAKER_25: which is this is really all about people, too.
SPEAKER_25: We can talk about vernal pools.
SPEAKER_25: We can talk about the animals.
SPEAKER_25: But really, it comes down to, do you want to have our children and grandchildren and,
SPEAKER_25: frankly, ourselves wake up and have no birds digging outside?
SPEAKER_25: Because that's what's going to happen when you eliminate these entire ecosystems, not
SPEAKER_25: to mention the fire risk that occurs when you eliminate native plants that have been
SPEAKER_25: here for thousands of years that can handle the harsh conditions of fire.
SPEAKER_25: An ever-present problem in California, and some people mention PG&E.
SPEAKER_25: We do not want to be like PG&E.
SPEAKER_25: And today, you granted your executive a pay raise for his excellence because he serves
SPEAKER_25: the community well.
SPEAKER_25: I encourage your executive and the SMUD board to serve the community in this issue, too.
SPEAKER_25: Coyote Creek is not popular, and it's not popular for a reason.
SPEAKER_19: Thank you.
Unknown: Thank you.
SPEAKER_19: The next person up is Robert Cesar-Bovera-Spina.
SPEAKER_22: But just, there were some other people on the line and a bunch of hands dropped off,
SPEAKER_22: so I don't know if that's our technical issue on our side, but let's go ahead with Robert
SPEAKER_22: first.
SPEAKER_19: Robert?
SPEAKER_22: Let's go with Elaine Cabash.
SPEAKER_01: Hello.
Unknown: Oh, sorry.
SPEAKER_01: I'm trying to figure this out.
SPEAKER_01: Okay, this is Robert.
SPEAKER_22: We got you, Robert.
SPEAKER_01: Yes, thank you.
SPEAKER_01: Hi, my name is Robert Bovera-Spina.
SPEAKER_01: I'm a certified arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture, and I specialize
SPEAKER_01: in tree risk assessment, environmental impacts, and long-term land stewardship throughout
SPEAKER_01: California.
SPEAKER_01: I'm here tonight to address the proposed removal of blue oaks at Coyote Creek site and how
SPEAKER_01: that decision intersects with SMUD's stated commitment to clean energy, public trust,
SPEAKER_01: and responsible infrastructure planning.
SPEAKER_01: Blue oaks are one of California's slowest growing native oak species.
SPEAKER_01: Many of the trees proposed for removal represent many decades and in some cases centuries of
SPEAKER_01: growth.
SPEAKER_01: From a biological and arboricultural standpoint, these trees cannot be meaningfully replaced
SPEAKER_01: through mitigation planting.
SPEAKER_01: A young oak does not provide the same level of carbon storage, soil stabilization, hydrologic
SPEAKER_01: regulation, or wildlife habitat as a mature blue oak.
SPEAKER_01: Once removed, the ecological services that these trees provide are lost for generations.
SPEAKER_01: From a technical perspective, large-scale oak removal permanently alters site conditions.
SPEAKER_01: Canopy loss changes soil moisture and temperature.
SPEAKER_01: Root loss increases erosion and destabilizes slopes.
SPEAKER_01: These are not temporary construction impacts.
SPEAKER_01: They are long-term irreversible changes to the landscape.
SPEAKER_01: I want to be clear.
SPEAKER_01: This is not an argument against renewable energy.
SPEAKER_01: Clean energy is essential, but how and where we develop these projects matter.
SPEAKER_01: Renewable energy should not come at the expense of irreplaceable native ecosystems, especially
SPEAKER_01: when alternative sites and design approaches exist.
SPEAKER_01: As a certified arborist, I am trained to evaluate long-term outcomes, not just short-term construction
SPEAKER_01: feasibility.
SPEAKER_01: In my professional opinion, the removal of these blue oaks represents a permanent loss
SPEAKER_01: that cannot be offset by planting ratios, landscaping plants, or future restoration
SPEAKER_01: promises.
SPEAKER_01: There is also a public trust component to consider.
SPEAKER_01: SMUD is a publicly owned utility.
SPEAKER_01: Decisions made today will be evaluated not just on megawatts produced, but on whether
SPEAKER_01: they reflect responsible stewardship of the shared natural resources.
SPEAKER_01: Protecting these blue oaks offers SMUD an opportunity to demonstrate leadership to show
SPEAKER_01: that climate solutions and ecological protection are not mutually exclusive.
SPEAKER_01: Once these trees are gone, they are gone for generations.
SPEAKER_01: I respectfully urge SMUD to pause, reassess, and pursue alternatives that preserve these
SPEAKER_01: high-value native oaks while they are still advancing clean energy goals.
SPEAKER_01: Thank you for your time and consideration.
SPEAKER_19: Thank you.
SPEAKER_22: Next up is Elaine Cavash.
SPEAKER_19: Elaine?
Unknown: Elaine, are you still with us?
Unknown: Yes, I'm here.
SPEAKER_18: You have three minutes, Elaine.
SPEAKER_28: Thank you.
Unknown: I am a resident of the Sacramento area for almost a decade now.
SPEAKER_28: The Coyote Creek Solar Project is permanently and irreversibly destructive to the land,
SPEAKER_28: species including endangered vernal pools and sacred tribal resources.
SPEAKER_28: Last night, I attended a board meeting where SMUD shared their extensive work in environmental
SPEAKER_28: and zero carbon goals for 2030, which includes supporting biodiversity, reducing carbon impact,
SPEAKER_28: impact on species in the land, and their continued work to provide affordable power to low-income
SPEAKER_28: communities and support the underserved community.
SPEAKER_28: The Coyote Creek Project is not aligned with the goals and values that SMUD has set for
SPEAKER_28: itself and actually backtracks, destroying 400-plus-year-old oaks and priceless vernal
SPEAKER_28: pools which are a haven for biodiversity, borders state park lands, and threatens one
SPEAKER_28: of the locally accessible spaces for disabled individuals.
SPEAKER_28: It was not properly researched and was pushed through without proper comment or approval
SPEAKER_28: from the local tribes.
SPEAKER_28: This does not sound like a company that can or will sustainably meet its goals, especially
SPEAKER_28: because this project has only set to last about 30 years.
Unknown: I don't think anyone in this room can truly comprehend the true effects of removing and
SPEAKER_28: destroying hundreds of years of trees and species and sacred tribal land for something
SPEAKER_28: that will be irrelevant by the time I retire.
SPEAKER_28: Research shows that mitigation efforts will be wholly insufficient.
SPEAKER_28: This land will be permanently destroyed for generations, taken from us, from our children,
SPEAKER_28: from our children's children, and so on.
SPEAKER_28: Having lived in the Bay Area in the wake of the San Bruno disaster, I know once trust
SPEAKER_28: is lost in the utility companies, that trust is never regained.
SPEAKER_28: One thing that has stuck out to me is the trust, care, and appreciation that the community
SPEAKER_28: has for SMUD.
SPEAKER_28: You have the community watching and aware.
SPEAKER_28: Once those irreplaceable resources are lost, that trust in SMUD goes right along with it.
SPEAKER_28: There are so many other things that Sacramento residents have to fight against.
SPEAKER_28: Our neighbors are losing food and health care, our neighbors are on the streets, our neighbors
SPEAKER_28: are being kidnapped, and now our neighbors are losing their accessible spaces.
SPEAKER_28: Please do anything that you can to make sure this project is not pushed through.
SPEAKER_28: Thank you.
SPEAKER_19: Thank you.
SPEAKER_22: Next up is Amanda Bartel.
Unknown: Hello, can you hear me?
SPEAKER_18: Yes.
Unknown: Can we reset the clock, please?
SPEAKER_18: Thank you.
SPEAKER_18: Thanks, Amanda.
Unknown: Hi, my name is Amanda Bartel.
SPEAKER_36: I am an environmental scientist represented by CAPS UAW 1115.
SPEAKER_36: I went to speak at the County Board of Supervisors meeting a couple weeks back, and since then
SPEAKER_36: I have seen a lot of resentment building among the community.
SPEAKER_36: There is obviously a lot of discussion about how much everybody loves SMUD and how you
SPEAKER_36: are very valued in the community, but it has absolutely caused a lot of public distrust
SPEAKER_36: since that point in time, particularly because there was no SMUD representative available
SPEAKER_36: to speak at that County Board meeting, despite the fact that this is being projected as a
SPEAKER_36: project that is going to be necessary for you to move forward and meet your goals.
SPEAKER_36: I want to attest to that, that it was really disappointing to a lot of us to not be able
SPEAKER_36: to hear from SMUD at that point in time.
SPEAKER_36: During that meeting, I learned a lot.
SPEAKER_36: I heard testimony about how this was permitted in false and inaccurate ways to begin with.
SPEAKER_36: I know that you are aware of all of that.
SPEAKER_36: I just want to really attest to the fact that this is already causing public distrust.
SPEAKER_36: I don't think that it really should be addressed immediately to the public based on your track
SPEAKER_36: record and how valued you are in the community, what some of these discrepancies have been.
SPEAKER_36: I would also like to really point out that, again, this is a 30, 35-year project, something
SPEAKER_36: like that.
SPEAKER_36: I am listening to climate scientists come out of COP30 and global climate summits predicting
Unknown: mass famines in 2050 at two degrees of warming.
SPEAKER_36: Prior to working in environmental science, I worked in pharmaceutical production.
SPEAKER_36: We were drilled into us to be very efficient and do everything the right way.
SPEAKER_36: I read this book at the time.
SPEAKER_36: It was called The Toyota Way.
SPEAKER_36: There is a concept called right first time.
SPEAKER_36: It is how Toyota has become extremely efficient in car manufacturing.
SPEAKER_36: Right first time is exactly what it means.
SPEAKER_36: Do it right the first time.
SPEAKER_36: Don't build a project that only has a 30, 35-year lifespan when we have significant climate
SPEAKER_36: catastrophe on the horizon and even less time than that.
SPEAKER_36: Do it right the first time.
SPEAKER_36: The community is really begging you to do so.
SPEAKER_36: Thank you.
SPEAKER_19: Thank you, Amanda.
SPEAKER_22: I do not see any other hands.
Unknown: Okay.
SPEAKER_18: Just because we have had a little bit of technical – I'm going to give 20 seconds for anybody
SPEAKER_18: else who is online to raise their hand if you haven't spoken.
SPEAKER_18: Anybody else online want to raise their hand at this point?
SPEAKER_22: It looks like Diane Osorio.
SPEAKER_22: I'm not seeing that one, but it's up there.
SPEAKER_22: So let's go – is it Diane?
SPEAKER_19: I can't read it.
SPEAKER_22: Yeah.
SPEAKER_22: It looks like Diane Osorio.
SPEAKER_19: Diane?
Unknown: Let's go with Kathleen Cervantes.
SPEAKER_22: I can see that one now here.
Unknown: Hello.
Unknown: Can you hear me?
Unknown: Yes.
Unknown: Hi.
Unknown: I'm Kathleen Cervantes.
Unknown: I am a resident and SMUD customer here in Sacramento.
Unknown: I am just speaking for Save Coyote Creek.
Unknown: I have a few folks letting me know that their hands are also being raised right now.
SPEAKER_30: Chris Bennett and some other folks.
SPEAKER_30: So just letting you all know that as well, that I know there's people trained to raise
SPEAKER_30: their hands and they're not being called.
SPEAKER_30: But backtracking to what I was saying around Save Coyote Creek, so many folks have shared
SPEAKER_30: so much.
SPEAKER_30: I've been just admiring everyone's shares and very inspired.
SPEAKER_30: But as a community member, I very much would ask SMUD to really rethink about how they
SPEAKER_30: have chosen to move.
SPEAKER_30: It's been very disappointing.
SPEAKER_30: I'm very disappointed in.
SPEAKER_30: And as a mother, I think of my son and my community's descendants because we're all
SPEAKER_30: tied together.
Unknown: I would just ask SMUD to really think about more than these next 30 to 35 years and think
SPEAKER_30: bigger and what other folks have already said is we want sustainable infrastructure.
SPEAKER_30: And this project is not rooted in sustainability.
SPEAKER_30: And you are losing my trust and you have lost it.
SPEAKER_30: I'll say that.
SPEAKER_30: You have lost my trust as someone that pays every month my bill.
SPEAKER_30: I'm very disappointed.
SPEAKER_30: And a lot of my community members here, my neighbors were very disappointed.
SPEAKER_30: And you're choosing to not have a sustainable infrastructure and choosing to move these
Unknown: ways.
Unknown: I have some more time.
SPEAKER_30: So I will just say that there are still people waiting to share their thoughts and their
SPEAKER_30: disappointment in SMUD.
SPEAKER_30: And I'm just getting blown up right now on my phone.
SPEAKER_30: But people are waiting to also speak.
SPEAKER_30: So I would give more than 20 seconds for people to make sure that they are being heard and
SPEAKER_30: make sure that you have your systems in place so you give those folks that opportunity to
SPEAKER_30: speak as well.
SPEAKER_30: But I'll end here.
SPEAKER_30: Thank you.
Unknown: The next step is Chris Bennett followed by Liz Bramley.
SPEAKER_33: Can you hear me okay?
SPEAKER_33: Yes.
Unknown: Okay.
SPEAKER_33: My name is Chris Bennett.
SPEAKER_33: I'm a SMUD customer in Ward 5 and I'm here to talk about the Coyote Creek project.
SPEAKER_33: I've had PG&E before and I've had SMUD for the last five years.
SPEAKER_33: I genuinely like SMUD but I can't support this project which seems to have been a mistake
SPEAKER_33: at best or corruption at worst and which is now undermining public trust in SMUD which
SPEAKER_33: has done great work to become so beloved by the community over the years.
SPEAKER_33: This project appears corrupt on its face which undermines the public trust.
SPEAKER_33: Specifically the mitigation plan uses the sack tree foundation to plant a single acorn
SPEAKER_33: for each old growth oak that is cut down and these saplings are then only going to
SPEAKER_33: be monitored for seven years when it takes 40 plus years for an oak tree to reach maturity
SPEAKER_33: once it's planted.
SPEAKER_33: The reason why I say it's corrupt is because the president of the Sacramento tree foundation
SPEAKER_33: is also the political consultant that has been pushing for the Coyote Creek project
SPEAKER_33: which is a blatant conflict of interest.
SPEAKER_33: Now at the policy committee meeting yesterday they talked about all of the ways that SMUD
SPEAKER_33: is trying to fight climate change and a lot of the talk was genuinely impressive.
SPEAKER_33: But I have to say that destroying natural carbon sinks and bulldozing some of our last
SPEAKER_33: remaining vernal pools and old growth oak groves which support dozens of critical species
SPEAKER_33: in our environment is not fighting climate change and truly undermines all of the other
SPEAKER_33: great work that SMUD has been doing to achieve a renewable future.
SPEAKER_33: So please make the right decision and send the Coyote Creek Agro-Voltaic Ranch project
SPEAKER_33: back to the drawing board.
SPEAKER_33: You'll save a lot of people a ton of time and money and you'll reinforce our love of
SPEAKER_33: SMUD so we can go back to saying how great SMUD is instead of having to talk about how
SPEAKER_33: SMUD is allowing an out of state greenwashing company to bulldoze natural California for
SPEAKER_33: a project that will only be around for 35 years which is how old I am right now.
SPEAKER_33: That's all I have to say.
SPEAKER_33: Thank you.
Unknown: I had Liz Brantley as being next.
Unknown: Laura, the name is Liz?
SPEAKER_19: Liz, are you there?
SPEAKER_21: Yeah.
SPEAKER_21: Sorry.
SPEAKER_21: Yes.
SPEAKER_21: Just to give you guys a heads up, when you call on someone it takes them a while to get
SPEAKER_21: the unmute button up.
SPEAKER_21: So that's just a heads up for the people coming up.
SPEAKER_21: Hi, my name is Liz Brantley.
SPEAKER_21: I don't actually live in Sacramento.
SPEAKER_21: I live in San Francisco.
SPEAKER_21: This news has reached San Francisco.
SPEAKER_21: A lot of people have been notified about it and are upset by it.
SPEAKER_21: I think just because you hear old growth blue oak being killed is just, I mean, it's
SPEAKER_21: like unimaginable.
SPEAKER_21: I don't know if just the due diligence wasn't done or what, but I just don't see how you
SPEAKER_21: guys didn't think that people would be upset about this.
SPEAKER_21: And Vernal Pools, once they're gone, they're gone.
SPEAKER_21: I mean, I understand overlooking certain things in a rush.
SPEAKER_21: You know, I get maybe, I don't know if you guys signed something and aren't able to walk
SPEAKER_21: it back or what the deal is, but, you know, hearing old growth oak trees are going to
SPEAKER_21: be destroyed.
SPEAKER_21: Hearing Vernal Pools are going to be destroyed.
SPEAKER_21: Hearing that you're going to break up continuous woodlands, which we just know is bad.
SPEAKER_21: It's shown over and over again by environmental science.
SPEAKER_21: You shouldn't break it up.
SPEAKER_21: And then to get on here, and I'm not familiar with SMUD, but I know of it and I've heard
SPEAKER_21: great things.
Unknown: And hearing you guys talk about your CEO.
SPEAKER_21: I mean, I'm a lawyer.
SPEAKER_21: I sit in a lot of board meetings and people don't talk about their CEOs like that.
SPEAKER_21: So I know you guys are good people that mean well.
SPEAKER_21: People don't speak like that about their bosses.
SPEAKER_21: And I know of SMUD and I know you guys do great work and people talk about you.
SPEAKER_21: I have a lot of friends from Sacramento whose parents live in Sacramento.
SPEAKER_21: Like I've heard of SMUD and I work in corporate law.
SPEAKER_21: So I've heard about it in the energy area as well.
SPEAKER_21: But getting on and then hearing that part of your goal is biodiversity hotspots and
SPEAKER_21: then literally destroying a biodiversity hotspot that can't be rebuilt is really shocking.
SPEAKER_21: So I, as the others implore you to give this one a think over if possible and try to undo
SPEAKER_21: the damage.
Unknown: But yeah, that's it.
SPEAKER_21: Thank you.
SPEAKER_18: Thank you.
SPEAKER_18: Laura, just to get a sense of timing, how many more people do we have online?
SPEAKER_22: Looks like we have four more.
SPEAKER_22: Okay.
SPEAKER_22: Starting with Brianna.
Unknown: Thank you.
Unknown: Hi, can you hear me?
SPEAKER_19: Yes.
Unknown: Hi, my name is Brianna.
SPEAKER_35: I'm 29 years old and I'm a proud resident of Sacramento.
SPEAKER_35: Today I stand in strong opposition to the Coyote Creek Project.
SPEAKER_35: This project will destroy 1400 acres of some of the last remaining intake rental poles
SPEAKER_35: and oak woodlands in the Central Valley.
SPEAKER_35: It will kill over 3000 blue oaks.
SPEAKER_35: Many blue oaks in the Coyote Creek area are hundreds of years old and up to 67 inches
SPEAKER_35: in diameter.
SPEAKER_35: Blue oaks are the keystone species to Sacramento.
SPEAKER_35: Just one blue oak can support well over 2000 species in its lifetime.
SPEAKER_35: One oak can support 2000 species.
SPEAKER_35: One to one mitigation does not add up and it's your responsibility to fix your mistakes.
SPEAKER_35: Blue oaks take decades to produce acorns.
SPEAKER_35: Restoring such diverse habitats will take hundreds of years.
SPEAKER_35: The amount of food these trees produce will be a devastating loss.
SPEAKER_35: Your project will endanger a list of federal and state threatened species like the tricolored
SPEAKER_35: blackbird, burrowing owls, swansan hawk, bald eagle, ringtails, vernal pole fairy shrimp,
SPEAKER_35: American badger and you'll be getting rid of one of the biggest carbon sinks in the
SPEAKER_35: valley.
SPEAKER_35: This unique environment must be preserved for both current and the future generations.
SPEAKER_35: You cannot promise the protection of these ecosystems beyond our lifetime.
SPEAKER_35: SMUD talks about environmental leadership and biodiversity but this project will do
SPEAKER_35: irreversible damage to our ecosystems.
SPEAKER_35: Local biodiversity and natural resources.
SPEAKER_35: You say everyone around the world knows about SMUD now.
SPEAKER_35: This is the time to set a standard for green energy.
SPEAKER_35: As someone who values the preservation of Sacramento, I urge you to consider a less
SPEAKER_35: destructive alternative.
SPEAKER_35: If SMUD cannot harness solar energy without sacrificing our old growth ecosystems, what
SPEAKER_35: does that say about the future of green energy and SMUD's commitment to upcoming generations?
SPEAKER_35: I urge you to seek sustainable solutions that prioritize the preservation of our forest.
SPEAKER_35: We must advocate for a future where renewable energy and nature can coexist.
SPEAKER_35: You have failed to listen to the scientists, environmentalists, conservationists, community
SPEAKER_35: and tribes when we point out the irreversible damage it will do to our community and our
SPEAKER_35: ecosystems.
SPEAKER_35: If this is a mistake, you still have time to stop it.
SPEAKER_35: Coyote Creek also has accessible trails for my disabled friends, which means this
SPEAKER_35: is a space where everyone can experience the natural beauty of Sacramento.
SPEAKER_35: Protecting Coyote Creek is essential not only for its ecological significance but also
SPEAKER_35: to ensure all members get to see this space.
SPEAKER_35: Also 38,000 people visit this annually.
SPEAKER_35: That alone stimulates our economy.
SPEAKER_35: Stop the deforestation in Sacramento.
SPEAKER_35: Please.
Unknown: Thank you.
SPEAKER_19: Paul Ladera is up next.
Unknown: Paul.
Unknown: Hi.
Unknown: Hello.
Unknown: Yeah, we can hear you.
SPEAKER_34: Okay.
Unknown: My name is Paul Ladera.
Unknown: I live in Yuba County, just north of Sacramento.
SPEAKER_34: I work in watershed restoration with a group of colleagues around the world through a community
SPEAKER_34: called Water Stories.
Unknown: I just would like to speak to the fact that much of the work that we do is through restoration
SPEAKER_34: of creeks and vernal pools and that looking up the history as I went back, learning more
SPEAKER_34: about this issue that SMUD was actually created by the voters in the 40s.
SPEAKER_34: The voters wanted it.
SPEAKER_34: And so it seems that the issue here is that the community is speaking to you, your voters,
SPEAKER_34: telling you they do not want this.
SPEAKER_34: We've run into this often in the Rights of Nature movement that I've been a part of in
SPEAKER_34: several places around the globe.
SPEAKER_34: And we've found solutions through community and through governments, sometimes through
SPEAKER_34: legal action and sometimes not, sometimes through community action.
SPEAKER_34: I would hope that community action would take precedent here given the history of SMUD.
SPEAKER_34: And also, I think if you have any doubt why you are seeing so much resistance here, it's
SPEAKER_34: clear to me that the people that are speaking on behalf of the land are people that feel
SPEAKER_34: kinship with this land.
SPEAKER_34: They are connected to it in a way that I think perhaps none of you maybe really understand.
SPEAKER_34: And the passion and the fear comes through their words.
SPEAKER_34: I've seen this before and it galvanizes people.
SPEAKER_34: And it's galvanizing this community in a way that I think is very powerful.
SPEAKER_34: And I hope you'll hear it because that kinship and that relationship is what people want
SPEAKER_34: to maintain and what they want for their children and their grandchildren.
SPEAKER_34: Thank you.
SPEAKER_19: Thank you.
SPEAKER_22: Next up is Sheila Whitney.
Unknown: Hello.
SPEAKER_19: My name is Sheila Whitney.
SPEAKER_29: I have been a resident in Northern California for more than 50 years.
SPEAKER_29: So I've seen the changes that occurred through development and I want to express my concern
SPEAKER_29: for the Coyote Creek project.
SPEAKER_29: And one of the things I want to put before the SMUD Board, since this project only has
SPEAKER_29: a 30 to 35 year lifespan or productive span, I am extremely concerned about the proliferation
SPEAKER_29: of data centers across the United States.
SPEAKER_29: And oftentimes solar farms can be a front for a potential data center coming into the
SPEAKER_29: community.
SPEAKER_29: And so I want to make sure that SMUD is committed to fighting any data center type developments
SPEAKER_29: that would increase electrical rates to an alarming degree and also suck up water resources
SPEAKER_29: and poison our environment.
SPEAKER_29: I think it's premature to approve this project.
SPEAKER_29: And I am concerned that this developer is committing so many resources to destroying
SPEAKER_29: the environment, removing trees, using dynamite to blast out vernal pools, and moving hundreds
SPEAKER_29: of cubic feet of dirt for a relatively short term project that could be accommodated elsewhere
SPEAKER_29: in our community that I'm really suspect about the potential for harming our area with further
SPEAKER_29: development down the line.
SPEAKER_29: So please consider that and protect the community.
SPEAKER_29: Thank you.
SPEAKER_22: Next up is Diane Osorio.
Unknown: Hi, my name is Diane Osorio.
SPEAKER_27: I'm a longtime green energy customer now for over a decade, who strongly supports clean
SPEAKER_27: and renewable energy.
SPEAKER_27: I want to start by saying clearly that I'm not against green energy.
SPEAKER_27: I'm against unnecessary destruction in the name of green energy.
SPEAKER_27: Coyote Creek is a vital natural area, a living corridor of heritage trees and wildlife
SPEAKER_27: habitat.
SPEAKER_27: It's also a third of the blue oaks in Sacramento County.
SPEAKER_27: Once these heritage trees are gone, they are gone forever.
SPEAKER_27: You cannot mitigate 150 year old oak trees.
SPEAKER_27: You cannot replace the functioning riparian habitat with a landscape plan.
SPEAKER_27: I urge to consider what many of us already know and also to act responsibly to protect
SPEAKER_27: our natural resources, plan responsibly and transparently, choose sites that minimize
SPEAKER_27: ecological damage, honor the community's trust.
SPEAKER_27: The idea that we need to bomb or bulldoze heritage trees to meet our clean energy goals
SPEAKER_27: is a false choice.
SPEAKER_27: We live in a Sacramento Valley that has areas with large, expansive or flat and brown areas
SPEAKER_27: already that are more suitable for this project.
SPEAKER_27: And we urge the board to please take this seriously and stop this project and move it
SPEAKER_27: to a place that actually makes sense, that is already ready just to install.
SPEAKER_27: Thank you.
SPEAKER_19: Thank you.
SPEAKER_22: Next up is Wendy Nielsen.
Unknown: Hi, my name is Wendy Nielsen.
SPEAKER_31: I am a SMUD customer.
SPEAKER_31: I don't have a comment.
SPEAKER_31: I have questions for you.
SPEAKER_31: How do you sleep at night?
SPEAKER_31: How do you face yourself in the mirror?
SPEAKER_31: Is this the legacy you want to leave?
SPEAKER_31: Are you listening?
SPEAKER_31: Are you short-sighted?
SPEAKER_31: Are you a hypocrite?
SPEAKER_31: Are you giving lip service to things you've written on paper?
SPEAKER_31: Have you visited Coyote Creek?
SPEAKER_31: Have you taken your children?
SPEAKER_31: Have you taken your grandchildren?
SPEAKER_31: Can you think autonomously?
SPEAKER_31: Are you suffering from groupthink?
SPEAKER_31: Are you afraid to be bold when the other five members may not support your decision?
SPEAKER_31: Are you willing to take responsibility for your actions?
Unknown: I'll let you ponder those.
SPEAKER_31: And I can repeat those questions if you need me to because I have remaining time.
Unknown: Ms. Nielsen, if you're asking us to answer the questions, I would just let you know that
SPEAKER_18: because this item is not actually on our agenda, we're prohibited from having any real meaningful
SPEAKER_18: discussion on it.
SPEAKER_18: We appreciate your comments.
SPEAKER_18: You've made that very apparent that you're not having meaningful discussion.
SPEAKER_31: Thank you for your honesty.
SPEAKER_31: But no, in the quietness of your own heart and mind, I would just ask you each to reconsider
SPEAKER_31: and ask yourselves, how do you sleep at night?
SPEAKER_31: How are you going to face yourself in the mirror?
SPEAKER_31: How is this the legacy you're going to tell your children and your children's children
SPEAKER_31: that you contributed to our community and our state?
SPEAKER_31: How are you going to tell indigenous people that, oh, we will read a land grant you statement
SPEAKER_31: at the beginning and opening of our meetings with a saw in our hand, with a knife in your
SPEAKER_31: back?
SPEAKER_31: I'm not sure how that happens.
SPEAKER_31: So short-sighted.
SPEAKER_19: Thank you.
SPEAKER_31: You are welcome.
SPEAKER_22: Next up is Hazel Farrell.
Unknown: Hello.
SPEAKER_09: Can you hear me?
Unknown: Yes.
Unknown: Hi.
SPEAKER_09: I'm a SMUD customer, award four.
SPEAKER_09: Also wanted to come in here and speak out in opposition of the Coyote Creek solar development.
Unknown: I'm an environmental restoration worker.
SPEAKER_09: Many people have made many points as to why this project has been incredibly short-sighted,
SPEAKER_09: and I won't reiterate all of that too much.
SPEAKER_09: But I will talk to you as well about the fact that what many other people have said tonight
SPEAKER_09: about the trust that has been built in the community with SMUD over the years.
SPEAKER_09: And that is something that I share with a lot of people out here in the community.
SPEAKER_09: We do love SMUD, and you do have a great reputation, which is why I don't believe that you guys
SPEAKER_09: are coming at this from a malicious angle with this project.
SPEAKER_09: I understand why it's incredibly appealing when you are presented with such a high amount
SPEAKER_09: of power that could be output from renewable resources.
SPEAKER_09: I think it's okay to admit that you've been sold a bill of goods by this development,
SPEAKER_09: a solar development company.
SPEAKER_09: They've been incredibly behind on their promises for when they would be able to start outputting
SPEAKER_09: and generating power.
SPEAKER_09: And you do not hold an obligation to keep on extending your power purchase agreement
SPEAKER_09: with them.
SPEAKER_09: After finding out from how opposed the community is and how much they have not done their due
SPEAKER_09: diligence in properly representing the environmental destruction that will occur.
SPEAKER_09: I also want to speak to, since you talked about hearing you talk earlier about the expansive
SPEAKER_09: reputation that SMUD has globally and across the nation, how well we are envied by people
SPEAKER_09: that I've been reached out to from friends who actually work with prominent environmental
SPEAKER_09: law organizations all the way out on the east coast asking me what's going on about this
SPEAKER_09: Coyote Creek project.
SPEAKER_09: They have not heard of SMUD, but this is their first introduction to you.
SPEAKER_09: It's crazy to me that we're having that kind of reach out here because of how bad this
SPEAKER_09: project is.
SPEAKER_09: If you care about your reputation globally and if you're not willing to just listen
SPEAKER_09: to the community here at home, this is how people are hearing about you and understanding
SPEAKER_09: you going into the future.
SPEAKER_09: Thank you very much.
SPEAKER_19: Thank you.
Unknown: I do not see any more hands.
Unknown: Okay.
SPEAKER_18: Then we will move on.
SPEAKER_18: To agenda item number 17, at this point we provide directors an opportunity to report
SPEAKER_18: on SMUD activity.
SPEAKER_18: We'll begin with a report.
SPEAKER_18: Director Tamayo, Vice President Tamayo.
SPEAKER_16: Yeah, thank you very much.
SPEAKER_16: Keeping in mind a number of the comments, and I'm not going to respond directly to any
SPEAKER_16: of those, but I would actually really appreciate a briefing from staff about what our options
SPEAKER_16: are both under our contractual obligations but also legally for rethinking this.
SPEAKER_16: I understand that we do have a contract that we voted on before, but I don't fully understand
SPEAKER_16: what our options are regarding this particular issue, and I'd really like to get a briefing
SPEAKER_16: on that.
SPEAKER_16: To the extent possible, it would be great to be able to have, if we can, I'd like to
SPEAKER_16: see some sort of public discussion of this, not just necessarily private briefings about
SPEAKER_16: what our options are.
Unknown: Anybody else?
SPEAKER_18: Thank you.
SPEAKER_18: I would just, for reminding me, Vice President Tamayo, I wanted to reiterate my comments from
SPEAKER_18: last night that in an era where political discourse can often devolve into yelling and
SPEAKER_18: shouting, tonight's comments were generally respectful, well-reasoned, and we appreciate
SPEAKER_18: that.
SPEAKER_18: So now we will move on.
SPEAKER_18: Are you looking at me as to whether we wanted to weigh in on what David or Director Tamayo
SPEAKER_24: said?
SPEAKER_18: If you'd like to weigh in, please do.
SPEAKER_24: Only because I feel, one, I agree, and two, I think the public needs to understand the
SPEAKER_24: process that we've gone through that's been public, but they weren't here four years ago
SPEAKER_24: when this was presented and how it was presented.
SPEAKER_24: And I just think there's a history there that would be very helpful to the public to know.
SPEAKER_24: And it'd be something, I would just ask that we could put that out because a lot of folks
SPEAKER_24: don't know that.
SPEAKER_24: It might just be informative.
Unknown: Anyway.
Unknown: And I would echo that, too.
SPEAKER_14: I do think it's important to engage around the process that's going on here.
SPEAKER_18: Okay.
SPEAKER_18: Now we will move on.
SPEAKER_18: We provide directors an opportunity to report on SMUD activity.
SPEAKER_18: We'll start with Director Rose in Award 1 and work forward from there in order with
SPEAKER_18: my report coming last.
SPEAKER_18: And I would remind you that we also still have the JPA meetings to follow after we adjourn
SPEAKER_18: the main board meeting.
SPEAKER_18: So I would ask you to please keep your comments brief.
SPEAKER_18: Director Rose.
Unknown: I don't feel like making a report tonight.
Unknown: All right.
SPEAKER_18: Then we'll move on to Director Buie Thompson in Award 2.
SPEAKER_20: None of the items are pertinent for discussion in the public.
SPEAKER_20: It's published.
SPEAKER_20: So I will pass also.
SPEAKER_20: All right.
SPEAKER_18: Thank you for being brief.
SPEAKER_18: Director Herber in Award 4.
Unknown: Well, I am going to say a few little things.
SPEAKER_14: I want to I just want to thank staff and also the folks in the Pocket Neighborhood Association.
SPEAKER_14: I went and spoke at the gala where we light the canal and, you know, we get to see Santa.
SPEAKER_14: So every year Councilmember Rick Jennings puts this on along with Gil Canaday, Joe Flores,
SPEAKER_14: and Devin LaValle.
SPEAKER_14: And it was great.
SPEAKER_14: There were so many people out there.
SPEAKER_14: And Santa came early, so I didn't get to speak.
SPEAKER_14: That was not a problem.
SPEAKER_14: So I want to say thank you to my neighbors in Curtis Park for the tree planting that
SPEAKER_14: took place about a week and a half ago.
SPEAKER_14: We had about 20 people who came out.
SPEAKER_14: SMUD was involved.
SPEAKER_14: The Tree Foundation was involved.
SPEAKER_14: And it's just something that I think really brings the neighborhood together.
SPEAKER_14: So that was a fun event.
SPEAKER_14: And then I also had the pleasure of going to the Big Cheese Holiday presentation and
SPEAKER_14: the Salute to Labor just in support of our folks in the labor unions.
SPEAKER_14: And that's it.
SPEAKER_17: Thank you.
SPEAKER_17: Director Kurz in Award 5.
SPEAKER_03: Just a couple quick things that I'd love to point out.
SPEAKER_03: This is of course tree lighting season.
SPEAKER_03: Joined the Norsack Chamber and the Natomas Chamber for their annual tree lighting events.
SPEAKER_03: Got to spend the annual event with the Indus Valley American Chamber of Commerce, which
SPEAKER_03: is always a great annual event hosted in Elk Grove this time.
SPEAKER_03: I guess the last thing to point out really quickly would of course be the Central Labor
SPEAKER_03: Council and the Plumbers events that we look forward to every year.
SPEAKER_03: With that, thank you.
SPEAKER_16: Thank you.
SPEAKER_16: And Vice President Tomoyo in Award 6.
SPEAKER_16: Thank you.
SPEAKER_16: Just a couple of quick shout outs to Cameron Lott, the Carlson Center for Innovation and
SPEAKER_16: Entrepreneurship for having a great session last month on the Sacramento Entrepreneurial
SPEAKER_16: State of the Union.
SPEAKER_16: It was very informative.
SPEAKER_16: And then also I wanted to also mention the Arab Community Center for Integration Services.
SPEAKER_16: I went to their event.
SPEAKER_16: I had not heard of this group before, but they provide services to recent refugees primarily
SPEAKER_16: from Arab speaking countries that really need help in figuring out how to get along here.
SPEAKER_16: And they help us reach them with some of the programs that can help them.
SPEAKER_16: So I really just wanted to call attention to that organization that exists and is doing
SPEAKER_16: a great job out there.
SPEAKER_16: Thank you.
SPEAKER_16: Director Sanborn, Award 7.
Unknown: Just a couple things.
SPEAKER_24: I was pleased to meet with a company in my ward named Velara.
SPEAKER_24: They are a homegrown Sacramento-based family-owned business that's out at McClellan.
SPEAKER_24: And they make HVAC systems.
SPEAKER_24: And they have done an amazing job growing the company.
SPEAKER_24: They have a very large fleet.
SPEAKER_24: And they want to work with us.
SPEAKER_24: And I was very happy to tour the facility with Dr. Webster of our team and some other
SPEAKER_24: staff.
SPEAKER_24: And we're going to be partnering with them.
SPEAKER_24: But they have actually developed a new type of motor that reduces the amount of energy
SPEAKER_24: up to like 40% on HVAC systems.
SPEAKER_24: And it's just really impressive what this company is doing.
SPEAKER_24: So a shout out to Velara and thank you for the staff for partnering with them and continuing
SPEAKER_24: to hopefully we're going to work with them on electrification of their fleet as well.
Unknown: I did have a meeting, a friend of mine who's a county supervisor in Tuolumne asked to meet
SPEAKER_24: with our staff about they have a lot of biomass in Tuolumne County, fire risk.
SPEAKER_24: And they have a lot of flat land and unusable or very, very low quality farmland.
SPEAKER_24: That is treeless almost.
SPEAKER_24: And they were looking at doing some solar projects that could possibly help us produce
SPEAKER_24: hydrogen.
SPEAKER_24: And so the staff are meeting with them, have met with them.
SPEAKER_24: We did have the meeting this week.
SPEAKER_24: And it was very productive.
SPEAKER_24: And hopefully that's something can come of that as a regional solution.
SPEAKER_24: And we did have Director Kurtz and I did do the quarterly meeting with the tree foundation.
SPEAKER_24: Just to remind everybody, we did approve the contract this year so that we are adding shrubs,
SPEAKER_24: native shrubs to the tree foundation and fruit trees to the program.
SPEAKER_24: So hopefully people will see those coming soon.
SPEAKER_24: And with that, I will turn it over to you.
SPEAKER_24: Thank you.
SPEAKER_18: Thank you.
SPEAKER_18: I'm just going to do one item real quickly.
SPEAKER_18: And that was I was able to attend on the 4th of December, the California Energy Commission
SPEAKER_18: Clean Energy Champion Awards.
SPEAKER_18: And they recognized several people from all over the state for their efforts to provide
SPEAKER_18: clean energy, cleaner air, and often working with disadvantaged communities or communities
SPEAKER_18: that are suffering from the adverse effects of industrial processes with air pollution.
SPEAKER_18: And the main reason I went was because one of the awardees was Jaime Lemus from the Sacramento
SPEAKER_18: Metro Air Quality Management District.
SPEAKER_18: And his work that he does to improve our community and the air quality here, they heavily mentioned
SPEAKER_18: his work with the Lowrider, the electric Lowrider project that we're involved in,
SPEAKER_18: as a way to bring young people into thinking about electric vehicles, cleaner air, and doing that with a Lowrider.
SPEAKER_18: The project is still underway.
SPEAKER_18: It's not quite done yet, but they're getting closer, and it was just a really nice event.
SPEAKER_18: And congratulations to Jaime for being recognized for the amazing work that he does in our community.
SPEAKER_18: And I will turn it over to Paul Lau for the CEO report.
Unknown: Thank you so much, President Fishman.
SPEAKER_12: I'd first like to extend one wish for the holiday season to everyone.
SPEAKER_12: And I thank the board enough for your leadership this year and for being so active in the community.
SPEAKER_12: In 2025, the board delivered 124 speeches and presentations.
SPEAKER_12: And a special shout out to President Fishman for all your leadership in serving as board president this year.
SPEAKER_12: It's been a pleasure.
SPEAKER_12: You've all been a front, and we appreciate everything you do for Smut, our customers, and our community.
SPEAKER_12: Now, this holiday spirit around Smut has been extraordinary this year.
SPEAKER_12: Team Smut was out in force at a 32nd annual run to Feed the Hungry on Thanksgiving.
SPEAKER_12: This is the largest fundraiser for the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services.
SPEAKER_12: The event sold out this year with over 34,000 runners, including many of our employees.
SPEAKER_12: So thank you, President Fishman, Vice President Tamayo, and Directors Anborn, and Rose for joining us.
SPEAKER_12: The next Smut's annual gift from the hard drives in partnership with Sacramento County
SPEAKER_12: is helping brighten the lives of local families and individuals in need.
SPEAKER_12: Now, Smut employees gave 175 gifts to help make the holidays a little brighter this season.
SPEAKER_12: Smut's care is also collecting non-perishable food items to benefit local food
SPEAKER_12: pantries to make sure no one goes hungry during the holidays.
SPEAKER_12: And finally, our Military Employee Resource Group is rounding up items for homeless veterans and for the Sacramento VA Hospital.
SPEAKER_12: I'm proud of everyone pitching in to make sure folks in our region are cared for during the holidays and all year.
SPEAKER_12: Now, a few weeks ago, we teamed up with Merkin River College to host What's Cooking,
SPEAKER_12: a high energy hands-on culinary experience to introduce high school students to the benefit of induction cooking in an all-electric kitchen.
Unknown: The successful event provided students with practical skills, environmental awareness, and a creative opportunity to learn about electric cooking.
Unknown: Early next year, the student will come back for a cooking contest to put their new culinary and clean energy skills to the work.
SPEAKER_12: And now finally, for tonight's video, we're giving a behind the scene look at the great work we've been doing in partnership with the U.S. Forestry Service
Unknown: to improve recreational opportunities in our Upper Merkin River Project.
SPEAKER_12: Now, as part of our 50-year license with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to operate our Upper Merkin River Project Hydro System,
SPEAKER_12: we've been making recreational enhancements and improvements throughout the area.
SPEAKER_12: They have been significant work over the last few years, and the team has been tracking progress with video footage this year.
SPEAKER_12: Now, the videos showcase boating flows on the Merkin River, our investment in campgrounds,
SPEAKER_12: around our reservoirs, and pavement dirt bike trails improvement.
SPEAKER_12: Now, let's take a look.
SPEAKER_08: It's an extremely high-quality piece of whitewater.
SPEAKER_08: In terms of quality of rapids, number of rapids, length, it's just kind of perfect.
SPEAKER_00: It's remote, beautiful, scenic, out in the woods, you're on an adventure.
SPEAKER_00: We just have continuous rapids all the way down.
Unknown: It's a difficult river that is certainly not for beginners.
SPEAKER_07: The scenery is unsurpassed, and to be able to go just at the beginning there and paddle right up to that waterfall that's coming in the river is just really, really special.
Unknown: Runs of this caliber that has this quality of whitewater are pretty rare, actually.
SPEAKER_07: When we have these releases, we really should try to take advantage of them.
SPEAKER_07: We should definitely get on it as much as we can.
Unknown: And this concludes my report, President Fishman.
SPEAKER_12: I think this is one of the most beautiful places in the U.S. to work.
SPEAKER_26: I absolutely love working up here.
SPEAKER_26: It is incredibly beautiful.
SPEAKER_26: And working with the Forest Service.
Unknown: We have the most modern, updated campgrounds in the Crystal Basin.
SPEAKER_02: They are such a treat for people to come and visit with bear boxes and consideration to tent pad placement.
SPEAKER_02: I'm very proud of the work that we do up here.
Unknown: I'm very proud of the work that we do up here.
Unknown: That concludes my report, President Fishman.
Unknown: So I believe we have completed our agenda and seeing no further business, the board meeting is adjourned.
Unknown: And we will immediately reconvene as the Northern California Energy Authority and the Northern California Gas Authority.
SPEAKER_18: We are officially open for joint special meetings of the governing boards of the Northern California Energy Authority and Northern California Gas Authority Number One.
SPEAKER_18: Chief Legal Officer, please read the description of the specified JPAs.
SPEAKER_22: The
SPEAKER_22: find the public that the commissioners are not receiving additional compensation as a result of this Commission meeting.
Unknown: Thank you, and would you know also please conduct a roll call.
Unknown: Commissioner Rose.
SPEAKER_22: Commissioner Buettomson.
SPEAKER_22: Present.
Unknown: Commissioner Herber.
SPEAKER_22: Here.
SPEAKER_22: Commissioner Kurtz.
SPEAKER_22: Here.
SPEAKER_22: Vice President Tamayo.
SPEAKER_22: Here.
SPEAKER_22: Commissioner Sanborn.
SPEAKER_22: Here.
SPEAKER_22: President Fishman.
SPEAKER_22: Here.
SPEAKER_22: If you have a quorum.
SPEAKER_18: If there are no corrections, changes or additions,
SPEAKER_18: I'll entertain a motion to approve the joint agenda for the Northern California Energy Authority and Northern California Gas Authority number one.
SPEAKER_18: So moved.
SPEAKER_24: I'll second.
Unknown: Move Director Tamayo, seconded.
SPEAKER_18: Director Sanborn, please call the roll.
SPEAKER_18: Commissioner Rose.
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: Commissioner Buettomson.
SPEAKER_22: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Commissioner Herber.
SPEAKER_22: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Commissioner Kurtz.
Unknown: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: Vice President Tamayo.
SPEAKER_16: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Commissioner Sanborn.
Unknown: Aye.
Unknown: President Fishman.
Unknown: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: The agenda is approved.
Unknown: At this time, we give our customers an opportunity to speak on matters that are on the agenda.
SPEAKER_18: I do not have any cards for that.
SPEAKER_18: Do we have anybody online who wanted to speak?
Unknown: I have not seen any hands on this item.
SPEAKER_18: All right.
SPEAKER_18: Then we'll move on to the consent calendar.
SPEAKER_18: Items number 2A and 2B were reviewed at the Finance and Audit Committee meeting of November 18, 2025.
SPEAKER_18: They pertain to the approval of the 2026 proposed budgets for NCEA and NCGA 1.
SPEAKER_18: If there are no corrections, changes, or additions, I'll entertain a motion to approve the consent calendar.
SPEAKER_22: So moved.
Unknown: Seconded.
Unknown: Move Director Herber, seconded.
SPEAKER_18: Director Sanborn, please call the roll.
Unknown: Commissioner Rose.
Unknown: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: Commissioner Buettomson.
SPEAKER_22: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Commissioner Herber.
SPEAKER_22: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Commissioner Kurtz.
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: Vice President Tamayo.
SPEAKER_22: Yes.
SPEAKER_22: Commissioner Sanborn.
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_22: President Fishman.
SPEAKER_22: Aye.
SPEAKER_18: The calendar is approved.
SPEAKER_18: And at this time, we allow the public to comment on items not on the agenda, but within our jurisdiction.
SPEAKER_18: I do not have any cards for that.
SPEAKER_18: Either.
SPEAKER_18: Do we have anybody online?
SPEAKER_18: No, we do not.
SPEAKER_22: Do we have any summary of commission direction?
Unknown: No, we do not.
SPEAKER_18: Having completed the agenda and seeing no further business, this meeting is also adjourned.