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7. MATTERS INITIATED BY COMMISSION MEMBERS Consideration of (1) whether to recommend that the City establish an energy Dolicv/stratenv for the City: (2) whether to reouest that a ioint work. shoo be held with the City Council to consider the issue described in (1) above: and (3) whether to recommend a moratorium on orocessint any oower plant applications pendiu~ completion of such a policy/strategy Chairperson Sullivan advised that Patrick Stoner, who is an energy program director from the Local Government Commission is present and will be making a presentation. .Mr. Swift noted that the three items before the Commission this evening are an outgrowth of the Planning Conunission's action at its last meeting following the workshop on the UAE/Enron application. Mr. Swift reported that representatives from Enron and P.O. & E, have indicated that they would be more than willing to work with the City to develop an energy policy/strategy and to have their applications wait pending completion of that work. He noted that the staff report focuses on the issue of whether to proceed with a study and how this matter can be relayed to the City Council, and not the scope of the study. He noted staff has identified the legal requisites for establishing a moratorium in the report. He advised that staff does not believe a moratorium is really necessary at this point, as the applicant of the one project that has progressed the farthest along in the approval process has indicated that they are willing to walt until the City develops a policy/strategy. He also advised that the second application is deemed incomplete until the applicant responds to the items which staffhas identified following its initial review of the proposal. Mr. Swift stated that another step could be to require an Environmental Impact Report on any such project, which would have the effect of slowing the process for the applications considerably and at considerable costs, as well. He advised that the advantage of using the EIR process is that the evaluation of altarnatives and options to the project would be identified, but that this is probably not as good a method as preparing a comprehensive policy strategy. He noted that staff is recommending that if the Planning Commission wishes to proceed with the development ora policy/strategy, that this recommendation be made to the City Council. He further noted that staffis not recommending that a joint workshop be held, as it is not anticipated that a workshop could be scheduled in the near term. Mr. Swift advised that with respect to the moratorium, staff is recommending that the Planning Commission postpone recommending a moratorium at this time, noting that this recommendation could be made at a later time if deemed necessary. In response to an inquiry from Commissioner Arkin, Mr. Swift advised that a moratorium could be implemented after an application starts through the approval process. Commissioner Arkin questioned thc feasibility of portable power generation equipment. Mr. Swift advised that these types of generators are used all around town, however, the use of diesel is extremely dirty and inefficient as compared to natural gas. Commissioner Arkin stated that he does not want to allow permanent power plants until a study is completed and that he feels it is prudent to allow the temporary facilities while the study is being conducted. PLANNING COMlvlISSION MINUTES November 28, 2000 Page 6