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Ayes: Councilmembers Brown, Cook-Kallio, Pentin, Mayor Thorne Noes: None Absent: One Vacancy 11. Adoption of a resolution concerning participation in Alameda County Waste Management Authority's proposed Joint Exercise Powers Agreement for the Energy Council Assistant City Manager Bocian presented the staff report, stating that the resolution relates to a request from Stopwaste.org that the City consider joining a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) for a countywide energy council. The Alameda County Waste Management Authority, which is one facet of Stopwaste.org, has been analyzing opportunities to coordinate energy related matters on a countywide basis. The Authority has settled on a JPA model and requested all cities as well as the county itself to provide feedback indicating its position regarding the JPA. He reviewed the purpose of and opportunities provided by the JPA, which include: the creation of a clear structure to be used for a wide range of energy related activities and projects; securing large grants and other funding opportunities for which individual cities might not be qualified; and coordinated arrangement of technical expertise. The proposed JPA would serve as an independent legal entity with the ability to enter into contracts, exercise legal actions, prepare an annual budget, secure professional services, and implement various programs. The structure is defined to include a governing body comprised of each city's representative on stopwaste.org. All member agencies would have one representative and one vote, with exception of Oakland which would have one representative and three votes as well as Alameda County, Fremont and Hayward which would have one representative and two votes. Councilmember Pentin noted that if all agencies opted in, the four agencies with weighted votes would have the ability to split a vote regardless of what the other cities might do. Mr. Bocian stated that staff has analyzed the proposal and identified several issues. The first is that the JPA creates a new regional agency with broad powers that may determine the policy direction of energy matters throughout the county. Staff is also concerned about the City's pro rata share of funding, which is distributed consistent with the voting structure, the weighted voting structure that might minimize Tri-Valley needs and interests, Stopwaste.org's lack of expertise in the area of energy, and the potential for duplicating other agencies and efforts. He noted that, perhaps most importantly, the City is well equipped and experienced in carrying out its own energy policy and obtaining its own funding. Mr. Smith continued the staff report. He explained that he and the City's Energy Manager have been talking with other local cities about their plans regarding the JPA. He reported that the Dublin City Council is considering the item tonight and their staff is recommending the city not join the JPA at this time. He said they have also been discussing the potential for a smaller scale and more locally focused JPA amongst the three Tri-Valley cities. He agreed with Mr. Bocian's assessment of the city's existing energy policy and plans, which have been executed very successfully. As part of developing the Energy Efficiency Conservation Strategy required for ARA funds, staff produced a great report that identified a number of groundbreaking opportunities the city has already begun to implement. This strategy led to a memorandum of understanding with PG&E that is still unique throughout California and it is this partnership that has allowed the city to implement programs that are similar to but much more effective than those attempted by Stopwaste.org. He explained that because the City's own programs are much more locally focused, they have been able to make much more efficient usage of funds. As an example, the City allowed $25,000 in grant funds to join Stopwaste.org's green packages program. However, the program was fairly expensive, targeted more at demographics over the hill, arid resulted in only 7 installations. In contrast, the $250,000 that the Council allotted in solar and other efficiency City Council Minutes Page 9 of 11 April 2, 2013