HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-01-21 City Council (15)TO:
FROM:
City of Palo Alto
C ty Manager’s Report
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
1.0
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: UTILITIES
DATE:January 21, 1997 CMR:115:97
SUBJECT:Bond Financing of the Termination Payment for the Washington Water
Power Contract
This is a request for CounCil approval ofPalo Alto’s participation in a short-term tax-exempt bond
financing agreement through the Northern California Power Agency (NCPA). The proceeds from
this financing will be used to fund the payment associated with termination of the Washington
Water Power (WWP) power purchase contract. Staff is also requesting Council approval of a
Budget Amendment Ordinance (BAO) to transfer funds from the power purchase account to the
debt service account and to return power savings to reserves.
Staff recommends that Council approve the attached Resolution for Financing Electric Capacity
with the Northern California Power Agency. Staff also recommends Council appro~ie the att~hed
BAO establishing the transfer of $170,000 from the power purchase account to the debt service
account and the transfer of $67,000 from the power purchase account to reserves.
There are no policy implications associated with this bond financing.
NCPA has executed an agreement to terminate the power supply contract with WW-P in order to
produce a net savings of $5.3 million ($670,000 for Palo Alto over five years with $67,000
occurring in FY 96-97). Termination of the power supply contract requires an upfront termination
payment of $17,369,020 to W-WP ($2,188,496 f~m Palo Alto). Palo Alto’s share of the
termination payment can be funded either with the proceeds from tax-exempt bonds issued by
NCPA or from Palo Alto’s reserves.
The majority of WWP participants at NCPA [92.6 % including City of Palo Alt0 Utilities (CPAU)]
are interested in using tax-exempt bonds to fund their share of the termination payment
CMR:115:96 Page I of 2
($16,083,713). Bond issuance fees ($363,023) plus additional proceeds (up to $653,264) and debt
service reserve ($1,900,000) raise the par amount to $19,000,000 (up to $2,585,330 for Palo Alto).
Participation in NCPA’s issuance of tax-exempt bonds to fund the termination payment, rather
than drawing from the utility reserve, allows the utility reserve to continue to earn .interest in
excess of the bond interest payments. The preserved interest earnings are expected to exceed the
bond interest payments by $50,000-$85,000 depending on short term U.S. Treasury interest rate
levels averaging between 5.5 percent and 6.3 percent respectively over the four year bond life.
EISCALIMPAC~
As a result of terminating the power supply contract with WWP, $67,000 in supply savings will
be returned to reserves in 1996-97. Staff is requesting to move $170,000 in budgeted dollars from
the power purchase account to the debt service account which has no fiscal impact. In addition,
Staff expects to preserve $50,000 to $85,000 in interest earnings over the four year life of the
bond issue.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ~
Financing contract termination costs and transfedng funds between accounts do not constitute a
project for the purpose of the California Environmental Quality Act.
ATTACHMENTS
* Debt Service Table
BAO for the transfer of $170,000 from power purchase account to debt service
account and for the transfer of $67,000 from power purchase account to reserves
Agreement for Financing Electric Capacity
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Approving and Authorizing
the Mayor to Execute the Agreement for Financing Electric Capacity with the
Northern California Power Agency.
PREPARED BY: Raveen Maan, Resource Planner
Tom Kabat, Senior Resource Planner
DEPARTMENT HEAD APPROVAL:
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
CMR:115:96 Page :2 of ?2
Total PA share
Due Date ’ Principle Interest Due (13.607%)
$$$$
1-Jun-97 1,000,000 248,570 1,248,570 169,893
1-Dec-97 354,855 354,855 48,285
1-Jun-98 31535,000 354,855 3,889,855 529,293
1-Dec-98 287,690 287,690 39,146
1-Jun-99 3,750,000 287,690 4,037,690 549,408
1-Dec-99 212,690 212,690 28,941
1-Jun-00 3,975,000 212,690 4,187,690 569,819
1-Dec-00 129,215 129,215 17,582
1-Jun-01 6,010,000 129,215 6,139,215 835,363
Total 18,270,000 2,217,470 20,487,470 2,787,730
ORDINANCE NO.
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AMENDING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1996-97 TO
RECOGNIZE AND IMPLEMENT BOND FINANCING OF THE TERMINATION
PAYMENT FOR THE WASHINGTON WATER POWER CONTRACT
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of Article
III of the Charter of the City of Palo Alto, theCouncil on June
24, 1996 did adopt a budget for fiscal year 1996-97; and
WHEREAS, the Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) has
executed an agreement to terminate the power supply contract with
Washington Water Power (WWP), an electric power supplier to NCPA
agencies including the City of Palo Alto; and
WHEREAS, the agreement to terminate the power supply contract
with WWP will result in savings to the City of Palo Alto of $670,000
over five years; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto is required to make a contract
termination payment to WWP through NCPA; and
WHEREAS, by using proceeds from tax exempt bonds instead of
using Electric Fund cash reserves, the City will preserve between
$50,000 to $85,000 in interest earnings; and
WHEREAS, City Council authorization is needed to transfer
budgeted funds from the utilities purchased for resale account; and
WHEREAS, City Council authorization is needed to amend the
1996-97 budget as hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does
ORDAIN as follows:
~. The sum of One Hundred Seventy Thousand Dollars
($170,000) is hereby transferred from the Utility Purchases account
to the General Expense account in the Functional Area Resource
Management of the Electric Fund.
The sum of $67,000 is hereby reduced from the
Electric Fund’s Utility Purchases~ account and the Rate Stabilization
Reserve is correspondingly increased.
~~h!__~. This transaction will increase
Stabilization Reserve from $15,876,000 to $15,943,000.
the Rate
~C~.~_~. As specified in Section 2.28.080(c) (i) of the Palo
Alto Municipal Code, a majority vote of the City Council is required
to adopt this ordinance.
SECTION 5. The Council of the City of Palo Alt0 hereby finds
that the enactment of this ordinance is not a project under the
California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no
environmental impact assessment is necessary.
SECTION 6. As provided in Section 2.04.350 of the Palo Alto
Municipal Code, this ordinance shall become effective upon adoption.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT :
ATTEST:APPROVED:
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:City Manager
Senior Asst. City Attorney Deputy City Manager,
Administrative Services
Department
Director of Utilities
¯RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE
AGREEMENT FOR FINANCING ELECTRIC CAPACITY WITH THE
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA POWER AGENCY
WHEREAS, the Northern California Power Agency ("NCPA") has
entered into that certain WWP-NCPA 20-Year Power Sale Agreement
("Power Sale Agreement") effective as of October I0, 1991, between
NCPA and The. Washington Water Power Company ("WWP") pursuant to
which NCPA has acquired, as agent for those members of NCPA
executing the Third Phase Agreement mentioned below 50 MW of firm
electric capacity and associated energy; and
WHEREAS, NCPA has entered .into that certain Northwest
Resource Third Phase Agreement (the "Third Phase Agreement"), dated
as of October ii, 1991, among NCPA and the City of Alameda, the~
City of Healdsburg, the City of Lodi, the City of Lompoc, the City
of Palo Alto (the ""City"), the City of Roseville ("Roseville"), the
Turlock Irrigation District and the City of Ukiah (collectively,
the "Project Beneficiaries"), pursuant to which NCPA has sold the
electric capacity and associated energy purchased under the Power
Sale Agreement to the Project Beneficiaries and each of the Project
Beneficiaries is obligated to pay its respective share of the costs
incurred by NCPA in connection with the Power Sale Agreement,
including the cost of capacity thereunder; and
WHEREAS, the City and Roseville have entered into that
certain agreement entitled "AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITIES OF PALO
ALTO AND ROSEVILLE FOR THE ASSIGNMENT OF CAPACITY IN THENORTH FORK
STANISLAUS RIVER HYDROELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND OTHER
ELECTRIC RESOURCES," dated June 14, 1991, to transfer a portion of
the City’s rightsland obligations with respect to the WWP purchase
and other resources to Roseville; and
WHEREAS, NCPAand the Project Beneficiaries have determined
¯ there are significant economic savings by paying WWP a one-time
payment equalto the present value of all unpaid fixed charges with
respect to the capacity purchased under the Power Sale Agreement to
June 30, 2001 (the "Capacity Payment") and to terminate the Power
Sale Agreement including the obligations thereunder with respect to
fixed charges for transmission under the Transmission Agreement (as
defined in the Power Sale Agreement); and
WHEREAS, the City has requested NCPA to issue its bonds for
the purpose of financing the City’s share of the Capacity Payment;
1970109 syn 0071108
WHEREAS, NCPA is to undertake the financing of the City’s
share of the Capacity Payment as provided in the Agreement for
Financing Electric Capacity between NCPA and the City of Palo Alto
(such agreement in the form presented to this meeting with such
changes, insertions and deletions as are made pursuant to this
resolution being referred to herein as the "Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, there has been prepared and submitted to this
meeting a form of the Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does
RESOLVE as follows:
SECTION I. The Agreement, in the form submitted to this
meeting and made a part hereof as though set forth in full herein,
be and the same is hereby approved. The Mayor is hereby authorized
and directed to execute and deliver the Agreement in the form
presented to this meeting w~ith such changes, insertions and
deletions, which deletions may include the proviso clause at the
end of Section 7(a) of the Agreement, as may be approved by the
Mayor, whose execution of the Agreement will be conclusive evidence
of such approval.
SECTION 2. The Council of the City of Palo Alto does
hereby find and determine that there are significant public
benefits in financing the City’s share of the Capacity Payment
through the issuance of bonds by NCPA as contemplated by the
Agreement in that there are demonstrable savings in effective
interest rate, bond preparation, bond underwriting and bond
issuance costs that can be achieved through such financing.
SECTION 3. The Mayor and ~any other proper officer of the
City, acting singly, be and each of them hereby is authorized and
directed to execute and deliver any and all documents or
instruments and to do and perform any and all acts and things ~
necessary or proper for carrying out the transactions contemplated
by the Agreementland by this Resolution.
SECTION 4. The approval of the Agreement does not
constitute a~project under the California Environmental Quality
Act, and no environmental assessment is necessary.
III
III
III
III
III
III
III
III
III
III
2
970109 ~n 0071108
SECTION 5. In accordance with Section 2.04.350(a) (6) of
the Palo Alto Municipal Code, this Resolution shall take effect
immediately upon its adoption.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:APPROVED:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Senior Asst. City Attorney
Mayor
City Manager
Director of Utilities
Deputy City Manager,
Administrative Services
3970109 syn 0071108
AGREEMENT FOR FINANCING
ELECTRIC CAPACITY
Dated as of January 1, 1997
By and Between
NOR~ CALIFORNIA POWER AGENCY
and
CITY OF PALO ALTO
LA1-158~5~.1
2.
3.
4.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Definitions ......................................3
Purpose ........................................5
Financing of the City’s Share of the Capacity Payment ...........6
Sale of Capacity and Energy under Power Sale Agreement ........6
City Payments ....................................6
City Covenants ....................................7
NCPA Covenants ..................................8
Payments to Trustees for Bonds .........................8
Payments to NCPA ............................¯ .....~8
Events of Default ..................................9
Remedies .......................................9
City Direction ....................................10
Term ..........................................I0
Amendments .............~ .......................10
Bonds, Limited Obligations of NCPA .....................10
Indemnification ...................................10
Tax Covenant .. ; .................................12
Notices ........................................12
Third Phase Agreement ..............................12
Miscellaneous ........................... ..........12
APPENDIX A - Addresses for Notices
APPENDIX B - Form of Opinion of Counsel
APPENDIX C - Description of Project
LA1-15~53.1
AGREEMENT FOR FINANCING
ELECTRIC CAPACITY
This Agreement for Financing Electric Capacity, dated as of January 1, 1997, by
and between Northern California Power Agency, a joint powers agency of the State of California
("NCPA"), and the City of Palo Alto, California (the "City"), a municipal corporation duly
created, organized and existing under and pursuant to the laws of the State of California,
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the City is a party to the Joint Powers Agreement (capitalized terms
used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given such terms pursuant to
Section 1 hereof) pursuant to which NCPA has been duly established as a public agency in
accordance with the provisions relating to the joint exercise of powers found in the Joint Powers
Act; and
~S, NCPA as agent on behalf of the Project Beneficiaries, including the
City, has entered into the Power Sale Agreement with WWP pursuant to which NCPA has
acquired 50 MW of firm electric capacity, the energy associated with such capacity and certain
rights with respect to. the transmission of such electric power to the California-Oregon border
using the facilities of the BPA, in each case for a term of twenty years ending September 30,
2010; and
WHEREAS, the Project Beneficiaries have entered into the Third Phase
Agreement with NCPA pursuant to which NCPA has sold to each of the Project .Beneficiaries its
Participation Percentage (as defined in the Third Phase Agreement) of the capacity, and
associated energy acquired under the Power Sale Agreement, pursuant to which each of the
Project Beneficiaries is obligated to pay its respective share of the costs incurred by NCPA in
Connection with the Power Sale Agreement; and
WHEREAS, to provide transmission to the California-Oregon border of the
electric power purchased under the Power Sale Agreement,. WWP has entered into the
~smission Agreement with BPA pursuant to which WWP is obligated to make certain fixed
payments to BPA; and
WHEREAS, under the Power Sale Agreement, NCPA is obligated to make certain
fixed payments for the capacity purchased thereunder and to pay WWP an mount equal to the
fixed-transmission charges payable by WWP to BPA under the Transmission Agreement; and
, W!iEREAS, NCPA and the Project Beneficiaries have determined that significant
savings can be achieved by terminating NCPA’s obligations under the Power Sale Agreement
with respect to the fixed transmission charges payable to BPA under the Transmission
Agreement; and
LA1-158353.1
WHEREAS, the Transmission Agreement is subject to termination upon the
termination of the Power Sale Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Power Sale Agreement is subject m termination at the option of
either party thereto, upon the notice specified therein, on and after June 30, 2001; and
WHEREAS, WWP is willing to terminate the Power Sale Agreement prior to
June 30, 2001 upon the payment by NCPA to WWP of the present value of all unpaid fixed
charges with respect to the capacity purchased under the Power Sale Agreement to June 30,
2001 and, upon such termination of the Power Sale Agreement, to terminate the Transmission
Agreement with BPA; and
WHEREAS, by letter agreement dated October 21, 1996 NCPA and WWP have
agreed to terminate the Power Sale Agreement, effective upon the acceptance without change or
condition by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission of WWP’s termination filing and
NCPA has agreed to make a one-time payment to WWP, within fifteen days following the
termination of the Power Sale Agreement and no later than February 28, 1997, of the present
value of all unpaid fixed charges with respect to the capacity purchased under the Power Sale
Agreement to June 30, 2001, which amount is specified in said letter agreement as $17,369,020
ff paid in December 1996, $17,111,839 if paid in January 1997; and $16,853,158 if paid in
February 1997; and
WHEREAS, WWP on October 29, 1996 terminated the ~smission Agreement
with BPA; and
WHEREAS, each of the Project Beneficiaries is obligated to pay to NCPA its
Participation Percentage of the amount to be paid by NCPA to WWP with respect to the unpaid
fixed charges with respect to the capacity purcha~ under the Power Sale Agreement pursuant
to the terms of the aforementioned letter agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Project Participants have requested NCPA to fiance their
respective shares of the unpaid fixed charges with respect to the capacity purchased under the
Power Sale Agreement pursuant to the terms of the aforementioned letter agreement; and
WHEREAS, NCPA is authorized to issue its bonds to finance capacity rights
pursuant to Article 4 of the Joint Powers Act; and
~S, the City desires to finance its Share of the Capacity Payment with
NCPA Bonds on terms and conditions sufficient to provide funds to pay the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on such Bonds, as herein provided; and
WHEREAS, NCPA and the City now desire to enter into this Agreement to
provide for the financing of the City’s Share of the Capacity Payment and the security for the
Bonds to be issued by NCPA for such purpose;
LA1-158353.1 2
NOW ~ORE, the parties hereto do agree as follows:
1. DeFinitions. The following terms shall, for all purposes of this
Agreement, have the following meanings:
"Agreement" means this Agreement for the Financing of Electric System Capacity
by and between NCPA and the City, dated as of January 1, 1997, as modified or amended in
accordance with the terms hereof.
"Authorized City Representative" means each member of the City Council of the
City, the Mayor of the City and any other officer, employee or agent of the City designated in a
resolution adopted by the City Council of the City and delivered to NCPA and each Trustee,
which resolution shall be deemed to continue in full force and effect until a copy of any
amendment or rescission of such resolution has been delivered to NCPA and each Trustee.
"Bond Resolution" means an instrument providing for the issuance of Bonds and
the terms thereof and may be a resolution, indenture of trust, order, agreement, or other
instrument.
"Bonds" means bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of NCPA issued
or entered into at the request of the City pursuant to this Agreement to finance the City’s Share
of the Capacity Payment, and shall include that portion of an issue of NCPA bonds, notes or
other evidences of indebtedness issued to finance the Capacity Payment, which portion is
specifically identified as Bonds for purposes of this Agreement in the applicable Bond Resolution
(including, without limitation, contracts relating to letters of credit or other credit or liquidity
enhancement devices, interest rate swap and other agreements relating to interest rate or other
cash-flow exchanges such as those authorized by the Public Finance Contracts Law, and other
contracts which are characterized as debt by NCPA entered into at the request of the City in
connection with the Bonds or the City’s Share of the Capacity Payment), including refunding
bonds issued to refinance the City’s Share of the Capacity Payment, For purposes of this
Agreement, Bonds shall be considered outstanding as of any date if such Bonds have not been
paid, or if provision for the payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on such
Bonds has not been made in accordance with the Bond Resolution pursuant to which such Bonds
have been authorized.
"BPA" m~s the Bonneville Power Administration~
"Capacity Payment" means the amount of the one-time payment to be made by
NCPA to WWP pursuant to that certain letter agreement dated O~tober 21,. 1996 relating to the
Power Sale Agreement representing thcpre~nt value of the unpaid fixed charges for the
capacity purchased by NCPA under the Power Sale Agreement to June 30~ 2001 which amount
shall be equal to $17,111,839 if paid in January 1997 and $16,853,158 ifpald in February 1997.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the appficable
regulations thereunder and sh~ include any successors to such statute and regulations.
LA1-158353.1
"Commission" means the Commission which is the governing body of NCPA
established pursuant to the Joint Powers Agreement.
"Debt Service" means, with respect to any period, the aggregate of the amounts
required by each Bond Resolution to be paid during said period into any fund or account created
by each such Bond Resolution for the sole purpose of paying or providing reserves for paying
the principal (including sinking fund installments) of and premium, if any, and interest on all the
Bonds from time to time outstanding and shall include any amounts payable under letters of
credit or other credit or liquidity enhancement devices, interest rate swap and other agreements
relating to interest rate or other cash-flow exchanges such as those authorized by the Public
Finance Contracts Law and other contracts which are characterized as debt by NCPA entered
into at the request of the City in connection with the Bonds or the City’s Share of the Capacity
Payment.
"Electric System" means, with respect to the City, all properties and assets, real
and personal, tangible and intangible, of the City now or hereafter existing, used or pertaining to
the generation, transmission, transformation, distribution and sale of electric capacity and
energy, including all additions, extensions, expansions, improvements and betterments thereto
and equipment thereof; provided, however, that to the extent the City is not the sole owner of an
asset or property or to the extent that an asset or property is used in part for the above described
electric purposes, only the City’s ownership interest in such asset or property or only the part of
the asset or property so used for electric purposes shall be considered to be part of its Electric
System.
"Fiscal Year" means the then current fiscal year of NCPA, .which on the date of
this Agreement is the period from July 1 to the next succeeding June 30.
"Interconnection Agreement" means the Interconnection Agreement among Pacific
Gas and Electric Company, NCPA, and certain members of NCPA, .as the same may be
amended and supplemented from time to time, and including any successor agreement.
"Joint POWerS Act" means Chapter 5, Division 7, Title 1 of the Government Code
of the State of California.
"Joint Powers Agreement" means the Northern California Power Agency Joint
Powers Agreement, dated as of July 19, 1968, as amended and supplemented.
"Power Sale Agreement" means the "WWP-NCPA 20-YEAR POWER SALE
AGREEMENT", effective as of October 10, 199.1 between WWP and NCPA.
"Project" means right to capacity purchased from WWP under the Power Sale
Agreement to June 30, 2001.
"Project Beneficiaries,’ means, collectively, the City of Palo Alto, the City of
Healdsburg, the City of Lodi, the City of Lompoc, the City of Palo Alto, the City of Roseville,
the Turlock Irrigation District and the City of Ukiah.
"Project Participants" means, collectively, the City of Palo Alto, the City of Lodi,
the City of Palo Alto, the City of Roseville, and the Turlock Irrigation District.
"Public Finance Contracts Law" means Chapter 12 of Division 6 of Title 1 of the
Government Code of the State of California, as the same may be amended and supplemented
from time to time and shall include any successors to such statute.
"Revenues’, means, withrespect tothe City, all income, rents, rates, fees,
charges, and other moneys derived by the City from the ownership or operation of its Electric
System, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) all income, rents, rates,
fees, charges or other moneys derived from the sale, furnishing, and supplying of electric
capacity and energy and other services, facilities, and commodities sold, furnished, or supplied
through the facilities of its Electric System, (ii) the earnings on and income derived from the
investment of such income, rents, rates, fees, charges or other moneys to the extent that the use
of such earnings and income is limited by or pursuant to law to its Electric System and (’fii) the
proceeds derived by the City directly or indirectly from the sale, lease or other disposition of all
or a part of the Electric System as permitted hereby, but the term "Revenues" shall not include
(y) customers’ deposits or any other deposits subject to refund until such deposits have become
the property of the City or (z) contributions from customers for the payment of costs of
construction of facilities to serve them.
"Share of the Capacity Payment,, means, with respect to the City of Palo.Alto, a
twelve and six tenths percent (12.60%) share of the Capacity Payment.
"Third Phase Agreement" means that certain Northwest Resource Third Phase
Agreement, dated as of October 11, 1991 by and among NCPA and the City of Palo Alto, the
City of Healdsburg, the City of Lodi, the City of Lompoc, the City of Palo Alto, the City of
Roseville, the Turlock Irrigation District and the City of Uldah.
"Transmission Agreement" means the Intertie and Network Transmission
Agreement between WWP and BPA referred to as the "Transmission Agreement" in the Power
Sale Agreement.
Resolution.
"Trustee" means the entity or entities, if any, acting as the trustee under any Bond
"WWP" means The Washington Water Power Company, a corporation organized
and existing under the laws of the State of Washington.
2. Purpose. The purpose of this Agreement is to set forth the terms and
conditions of (i) the financing of the City’s Share of the Capacity Payment; (ii) the undertaking
LAI-158353.1 ~
by NCPA to issue Bonds to make the proceeds thereof available to pay the City’s Share of the
Capacity Payment; and (fii) the undertaking of the City to make payments with respect to,
among other things,. Debt Service on the Bonds.
3. Financing of the City’s Share of the Capacity Payment. NCPA will use
its best efforts to cause or accomplish the financing of the City’s Share of the Capacity Payment,
including obtaining all necessary authority and rights therefor and performing all things
necessary or convenient in connection therewith.
In order to provide funds to pay the City’s Share of the Capacity Payment, NCPA
shall use its best efforts to sell, issue and deliver Bonds as soon as practicable after the execution
and delivery of this Agreement in an amount sufficient to pay the City’s Share of the Capacity
Payment and the costs of issuance of such Bonds, providing capitalized interest on such Bonds,
funding any debt service or other reserves required by the applicable Bond Resolution. NCPA
shall cause each applicable Bond Resolution to provide that the Bond proceeds, and any other
monies, held under such Bond Resolution for. such purpose, shall be made available to pay the
City’s Share of the Capacity Payment, upon appropriate requisitions by NCPA therefor,
submitted pursuant to the terms of such Bond Resolution; provided, however, that nothing herein
contained shall restrict the authority of any Trustee to apply funds held under a Bond Resolution
to the payment of Debt Service on Bonds or maintaining reserves therefor in accordance with the
terms of such Bond Resolution. Monies held under each Bond Resolution representing Bond
proceeds, payments by the City or interest on either thereof shall be invested, to the extent
permitted by the applicable Bond Resolution, at the direction of NCPA to the applicable Trustee,
in such investments as may be permitted under such Bond Resolution and, to the extent not
required to be rebated to the United States Treasury, interest or other investment earnings on
such monies shall be applied pursuant to such Bond Resolution to reduce payments that would
otherwise be required to be made by the City thereunder and hereunder.
4. Sale of Capacity and Energy under Power Sale Agreement. Pursuant to
the terms of the Third Phase Agreement, NCPA has heretofore sold and transferred the City’s
Participation Percentage (as defined in the Third Phase Agreement) of the capacity and energy
purchased by NCPA under the Power Sale Agreement.
5. City Payments. (a) In consideration of the financing of the City’s Share
of the Capacity Payment by NCPA, the City shall pay an amount equal to the Debt Service on
the Bonds, all other payments relating to the Bonds required to be made under the Bond
Resolutions and any other costs incurred by NCPA in connection with the City’s Share of the
Project and this Agreement, including amounts payable pursuant to Section 16 hereof.
(b) The obligation of the City to make any and all payments hereunder is a
special obligation of the City payable solely from Revenues, and does not constitute a debt of the
City or of the State of California or of any political subdivision thereof within the meaning of
any constitutional or statutory debt limitation or restriction, nor a pledge of the full faith and
credit and taxing power of the City or any other entity. Nothing herein shall be construed as
prohibiting the City from using any other funds and revenues for purposes of satisfying any
LA1-158353.1 6
provisions of this Agreement, or from entering into contracts or incurring other obligations
payable from Revenues on a parity with the City’s obligation to make payments hereunder.
(c) The obligations to make payments with respect to Debt Service and other
payments required to be made under the Bond Resolutions pursuant to subsection (a) of this
Section 5 are incurred by the City for the benefit of future owners of Bonds, and shall be
absolute and unconditional. The City shall make payments under this Agreement whether or not
any electric capacity or energy from the Project is made available or furnished to the City at all
times or at all, and notwithstanding the suspension, interruption, interference, reduction or
curtailment, in whole or in part, for any reason whatsoever of any facility from which Project
capacity is to be made available or the sale, assignment, Wansfer or other disposition of its
Participation Percentage of the capacity and energy purchased by NCPA under the Power Sale
Agreement by or on behalf of the City or the termination of the Power Sale Agreement. Such
payments shall be absolutely net, free of any deductions, and are not subject to any reduction,
whether by offset, recoupment, counterclaim or otherwise. The City shall make all such
payments notwithstanding the occurrence of any act or circumstances that may constitute failure
of consideration, destruction of or damage to any facility from which Project capacity is to be
made available, commercial frustration of purpose, any sale, assignment, transfer or other
disposition of its Participation Percentage of the capacity and energy purchased by NCPA under
the Power Sale Agreement by or on behalf of the City or the termination of the Power Sale
Agreement or any change in the tax or other laws of the United States of America or of the State
of California, or any political subdivision or either of these, or any failure of NCPA or a
Trustee to perform and observe any covenant, whether express or implied, or any duty, liability
or obligation arising out of or connected with this Agreement, a Bond Resolution or any other
agreement; provided, that nothing contained in this Section 5 shall constitute a waiver of the
City’s right to commence an action to enforce its rights under this Agreement.
(d) Any payments required .to be made by, or costs incurred by, NCPA or the
City pursuant to Section 9.5 of the Intercolmection Agreement shaft not be made under this
Agreement.
6. City Covenants. (a) The City covenants and agrees that it shall, at alltimes, operate the properties of the Electric System and the business in connection therewith in
an efficient and economical manner and at reasonable cost and shall maintain the Electric System
in good repair, working order and condition; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement
shall prevent the City, in its sole and exclusive, discretion, from permitting other parties to sell
electricity to retail customers within the area currently served by its Electric System. -
(b) The City covenants and agrees to estabfish and collect rates and charges for
the services and commodities provided by the Electric System sufficient to provide Revenues
adequate to meet its obligations under this Agreement and to pay all other amounts payable
from, and .all lawful charges against or liens upon, the Revenues; ~, that the obligation of
the Cityto make payments under this Agreement shaU not constitute a legal or equitable pledge,
lien or encumbrance upon any property of the City or upon any of its income, receipts or
revenues; and ~ ~, that neither the City nor the State of California or any agency or
political subdivision thereof shall ever be obligated or compelled to levy ad valorem taxes to
make the payments provided for in this Agreement,
7. NCPA Covenants. NCPA covenants and agrees to pledge and assign this
Agreement or all of its right, title and interest in, to and under this Agreement (excluding
NCPA’s right to indemnification payments pursuant to Section 16), including without limitation
NCPA’s rights to receive all orany portion of the payments hereunder from the City and to
enforce the City’s obligations hereunder, to secure the payment of Bonds, Such pledge and
assignment by NCPA shall be made effective for such time as shall be provided in the applicable
Bond Resolution, The City consents to such pledge and assignment.
8. Payments to Trustees for Bonds, To the extent required byany Bond
Resolution, the City shall make all payments due hereunder with respect to Debt Service and
other payments required to be made under such Bond Resolution directly to the Trustee under
the applicable Bond Resolution at such times as shall be specified in such Bond Resolution,
which payments to the Trustee shall satisfy, ~discharge and release the City’s obligations
hereunder to the extent of such payments.
9. Payments to NCPA~ A billing statement prepared by NCPA will be sent
to the City not later than the fifteenth (15th) day of each calendar month showing the amount
payable to NCPA by.the City: (i) to the extent not required to be paid to a Trustee.pursuant to
Section 8, for amounts due under this Agreement with respect to Debt Service and other
payments required to be made under the Bond Resolutions in the next succeeding calendar
month; and (ii) for amounts due under this Agreement, other than payments relating to Debt
Service.or other payments required to be made under.the Bond Resolutions, for the preceding
calendar month, and the amount of any credits or debits as a result of any appropriate
adjustments; ~, however, that the failure of NCPA to so bill for amounts due with
respect to Debt Service or other payments required to be made under the Bond Resolutions, or
any errors in such billings, shall not relieve the City of its obligations to make such payments at
the times and in the amounts required by the Bond Resolutions. Amounts shown on the billing
statement are due and payable thirty (30) days after the date of the billing statement, except that
any invoice coming due on a Friday, holiday or weekend shall be adjusted by NCPA to come
due on the closest following workday, as appficable.
Any amount due and payable but not paid by the CiW wi~ ~ (30) days
following the date of the billing statement shall bear interest at the Reference .Rate publicly
announced from time to time by the Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association,
then in effect, plus two percent per annum, computed on a daily basis until paid. Such
computation shall be made on a simple basis without compounding.
NCPA shall mail all billing statements within 24 hours of the billing statement
date thereon. The postmark date on the envelope containing payment by check shall be used to
determine timeliness of payment, except that payments received later than seven days after the
due date shall be declared late without regard to postmark date.
LA1-158353.1 8
Payment via wire transfer is the preferred method of making payments to NCPA.
For wire transfers, the transaction date shall be used to determine the timeliness of payments.
If the City questions or disputes the correctness of any bilfing statement by
NCPA, it shall pay NCPA the mount claimed when due and shall within thirty (30) days of the
receipt of such billing statement request an explanation from NCPA. Upon the request and at
the expense of the City, NCPA shall make available for inspection and copying by the City or its
duly authorized representative, during normal business hours and subject to such security and
safety provisions as NCPA shall reasonably determine, allof its books and records pertaining to
the Project, the Bonds, this Agreement, and amounts billed by NCPA pursuant to this
Agreement.
If the bill is determined to be incorrect, NCPA will issue a corrected bill and
refund any amount which may be due the City, which refund shall bear interest from the date
NCPA received the excess payment from the City until the date of the refund. The rate of
interest shall be the Reference Rate publicly announced from time to time by.the Bank of
America National Trust and Savings Association, computed on a simple basis without
compounding, for the period the excess is outstanding. If NCPA and the City fail to agree on
the correcmess of a bill within thirty (30) days after the City has requested an explanation, the
parties shall promptly submit the dispute to arbitration under section 1280 et ~, of the
California Code of Civil Procedure.
10. Events of Default. The following shall constitute events of default under
this Agreement: (a) the failure of the City to make any payment with respect to Debt Service or
other payments required to be made under a Bond Resolution in full when due as required by
this Agreement; and (b) the failure of either party to perform any of its other obligations
hereunder, which failure is not remedied within sixty (60) days from the date of defivery of
written notice of such failure to the defaulting .party by the other party, a Trustee or, to the
extent provided in a Bond Resolution, Bondowners; ~, however, ff any such failure,
(other than a failure of the City described in clause (a), or to otherwise pay any amounts when
due under this Agreement), is not remedied within such sixty (60) day period but the defaulting
party shall have instituted remedial action within such period and is diligently pursuing
correction, then no event of default shall be deemed to exist for so long as such defaulting party
is continuing to diligently take reasonable steps to effect such remedy.
11. Remedies, Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, a non-defaulting
~ may pro~t and enforce its rights hereunder by suit or suits in equity or at law, whether
for the specific performance of any covenant herein or for damages or in aid of the execution of
any power granted herein or any other remedy available under any provision of applicable law.
No remedy by the terms of this Agreement conferred upon or reserved to the non-defaulting
party is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, but each and every such remedy shall be
cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given under this Agreement or at law
¯ or in equity or by statute whether now in existence or established after the effective date of this
Agreement.
~2. City Direction. In order to provide funds to finance the City’s Sh~ of
the Capacity Payment, NCPA, as soon as practicable after the execution of this Agreement, shall
use its best effort to issue Bonds to finance the City’s Share of the Capacity Payment and, if
requested by the City, to issue refunding Bonds as provided in this Agreement; provided,
~, that NCPA shall not adopt or enter into a Bond Resolution or a contract for the sale of
Bonds without the prior written approval of the City. NCPA agrees to follow all lawful
directions of the City with respect to the purchase or redemption of Bonds and any other action
under the terms of the applicable Bond Resolution within the.control of NCPA. Any request,
approval, authorization, direction or consent of the City for purposes of this Agreement shall be
deemed properly made or given ff such request, approval, authorization, direction or consent is
contained in a writing signed by an Authorized Representative of the City.
13. Term. This Agreement shall take effect upon the execution hereof by the
authorized representatives of the parties hereto, and shall remain in full force and effect until the
date on which no Bonds remain outstanding; ~, however, that in no event shall the term
of this Agreement with NCPA as a party extend beyond the date of termination of NCPA. This
Agreement shall notbe subject to termination by any party under any circumstances prior to the
term specified in this Section 13, whether based upon the default of the other party under this
Agreement or for any other cause whatsoever so long as any Bonds are outstanding under a
Bond Resolution.
14. Amendments. So long as any Bonds are outstanding, this Agreement shall
not be amended, modified or otherwise changed or rescinded by agreement of the parties without
the consent of each Trustee for Bonds whose consent is required under the applicable Bond
Resolution.
15. Bonds, Limited Obligations of NCPA. NCPA shall not be obligated to
pay the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Bonds, except from amounts paid by
the City pursuant to this Agreement or other moneys, ff any, otherwi~ available for such
payment pursuant to the applicable Bond Resolution. The City hereby acknowledges that
NCPA’s sole source of moneys to repay the Bonds will be provided by the payments made by
the City pursuant to this Agreement, together with other moneys, if any, held by the Trustee
under the applicable Bond Resolution, and hereby agrees that if the payments to be made
hereunder shall ever prove-insufficient to pay all principal of, and premium, if any, and interest
on the Bonds as the same shall become due (whether by maturity, redemption, acceleration or
otherwise), then upon notice from the applicable Trustee, the City shall pay such amounts as are
required from time to time to prevent any deficiency or default in the payment of such principal,
premium or interest, including, but not limited to, any deficiency caused by acts, omissions,
nonfeasance or malfeasance on the part of the Trustee, the City, NCPA or any third party.
16. Iudenmification, The City releases NCPA from arid agrees arid covenants
that NCPA shall not be liable for, and covenants and ~ to indemnify and hold harmless
NCPA and its officers, employ~ and agents and each other member of NCPA (collectively, the
"Indemnified P.arties") from and against, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses, of every conceivable kind, character and nature whatsoever arising out of, resulting
from, or in any way connected with (1) the Power Sale Agreement; (2) the Capacity Payment;
O) the issuance of any Bonds or any certifications or representations made in connection
therewith (in each case other than statements made in or omissions from offering documents
relating to the Bonds, which shall be governed exclusively by clause (4) below) and the carrying
out of any of the transactions contemplated by the Bonds, any Bond Resolution, or this
Agreement; or (4) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact relating
to the City or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relating to the City necessary
.... to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, in any official statement or other offering circular approved in writing by the City
utilized by any underwriter or placement agent in connection with the sale of any Bonds except
that the City shall notbe liable for any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense that results
from the willful misconduct on the part of the Indemnified Party seeking such indemnity. The
City further covenants and agrees to pay or to reimburse each Indemnified Party for any and all
costs, reasonable attorneys fees, liabilities or expenses incurred in connection investigating,
defending against or otherwise in connection with any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities,
expenses or actions, except to the extent that.the same arise out of the willful misconduct of the
Indemnified Party claiming such payment or reimbursement. This indemnity agreement shall not
be construed as a limitation on any other liability which the City may otherwise have to any
Indemnified Party; provided, that in no event shall the City be obligated for double
indemnification.
An Indemnified Party shall, promptly after the receipt of notice of any action
against such Indemnified Party in respect of which indemnification may be sought against the
City, notify the City in writing, but the omission to notify the City of any such action shall not
relieve the City from any liability which it may have to such Indemnified Party under the
indemnity agreement contained herein except to the extent that the City is prejudiced thereby. In
case any action shall be brought against an Indemnified Party and such Indemnified Party shall
notify the City of the commencement thereof, the City may, or if so requested by such
Indemnified Party shall, participate therein or assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party, and after notice from the City to such Indemnified Party
of an election soto assume the defense thereof, the City will not be liableto such Indemnified
Party under this Section 16 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such
Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than the costs of reasonable
investigation. If the City shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of any
such action or if an Indemnified Party shall have reasonably concluded that there maybe
defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to the
City (in which case the City shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on
behalf of such Indemnified Party), such Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain legal
counsel of its own choosing and reasonable legal and other expenses incurred by such
Indemnified Party shall be borne by the City; ~, that in no event shall the City be
obligated to pay more than one firm of lawyers with respect to the defense of any Indemnified
Party.
The City shall not be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without
its consent by any Indemnified Party, but ff settled with the consent of the City or ff by a final
judgment for the plaintiff in any such action against the City or any Indemnified Party, with or
without the consent of the City, the City agrees m indemnify and hold harmless such
Indemnified Party to the extent provided herein.
The provisions of this Section 16 shall survive the retirement oftbe Bonds and the
termination of this Agreement.
17 ....Tax Covenant. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
neither NCPA nor the City shall transfer, assign, sell or exchange any portion of the Project or
any other interest in the Project, directly or indirectly, in any manner, or shall take, otto the
extent it can control the same permit to be taken, any other action or actions, which would
adversely affect the exclusion of the interest on any of the Bonds from gross income for federal
income tax purposes under Section 103 of the Code, including without limitation, by reason of
the classification of any Bond as a "private activity bond" within the mea_~-~ing of said Code.
18. Notices. Any notice or demand to NCPA under this Agreement shall be
deemed properly given, if delivered by.hand, sent by certified or registered marl postage prepaid
and return receipt requested, or sent via facsimile or other electronic media and confirmed by
telephone or in writing within twenty-four (24) hours, addressed to the General Manager of
NCPA at the address shown in Appendix A. Any notice or demand to the City under this
Agreement shail be deemed properly given ff sent by certified or registered mail postage prepaid
and return receipt requested, or sent via facsimile or other electronic media and confirmed by
telephone or in writing within twenty-four (24) hours, addressed to the initial signatory for the
City shown on the signature pages hereof at the address shown in Appendix A. The designation
of the name, the address and any of the telephone or telecopier numbers to which any such
notice or demand to any party is to be directed may be changed at any time and from time to
time by any party to this Agreement by such party’s giving notice of change to the other party
hereto as above provided in this Section 18 and to each Trustee under the Bond Resolutions at
the addresses set forth in such Bond Resolutions~ In computing any period of time from such
notice, such period shall commence on the date received or, if sent via facsimile or other
electronic media, on the date sent.
19. Third Phase Agreement. Upon the first issuance of Bonds, the Third
Phase Agreement shall be terminated and of no force and effect and shall be super~ed and
replaced in its entirety by this Agreement.
¯
20. Miscellaneous, The headings of the sections hereof are inserted for
~nvenience only and shatl not be deemed a part of this Agreement. This Agreement may be
amended, changed, waived or modified only by written agreement executed by the City and
NCPA.
The City shall, if requested by NCPA in connection with the issuance of any
Bonds, cause an opinion or opinions in substantially the form attached hereto as Appendix B to
be delivered by an attorney or firm of attorneys ~acting as counsel for the City.
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
California. If any one or more of the covenants or agreements provided in this Agreement to be
performed should be determined to be invalid or contrary to law, such covenant or agreement
shall be deemed and construed to be severable from the remaining covenants and agreements
herein contained and shall in no way affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this
Agreement. Whenever the Agreement requires the payment of interest and the interest rate
specified herein is in excess of the amount of interest that may legally be charged in the
circumstances, then such interest rate shall be changed to the maximum interest rate permitted by
law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that (a)
NCPA’s willingness to enter into this Agreement and make proceeds of Bonds available to the
City was induced upon the City’s purchase of the Project pursuant to the Third Phase Agreement
as confirmed in this Agreement and (b) the City’s obligations to make payments with respect to
Debt Service or otherwise required under a Bond Resolution or this Agreement shall be absolute
and unconditional as provided in this Agreement.
This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, all or any of which shall
be regarded for all purposes as one original and shall constitute and be but one and the same
instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, NCPA has executed this Agreement with the approval
of its Commission, and the City has executed this Agreement in accordance with the
authorization of its City Council, as of the date first above written.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA POWER AGENCY
By
And
CITY OF PALO ALTO
APPROVED AS TO FORM By
Mayor
City Attorney Attest:
City Clerk
APPENDIX A
ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES
Northern California Power Agency
180 Cirby Way
Roseville, California 95678
Attention: General Manager
Telephone No: (916) 781-3636
Telecopier No: (916) 783-7693
City of Palo Alto
717 Garland Drive
Palo Alto, California 94303
Attention: Electric Utility Director
Telephone No:
Telecopier No:
L&1-158353.1 A-1
FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL
Northern California Power Agency
180 Cirby Way
Roseville, California 95678
Dear Sirs:
I am acting as counsel to the City of Palo Alto ("the City")under the Agreement
for Financing of Electric Capacity, dated as of January 1, 1997 (the "Agreement~) between the
City and the Northern California Power Agency (the "Agency"), and I have acted as counsel to
the City in connection with the matters referred to herein. As such counsel I have examined and
am familiar with (i) those documents relating to the existence, organization and ope~tion of the
City, (ii) all necessary documentation of the City relating to the authorization, execution and
delivery of the Agreement, and (fii) an executed counterpart of the Agreement. (Capitalized
terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the~ respective meanings as set forth in
the Agreement.)
Based upon the foregoing and an examination of law and such other information,
papers and documents as I deem necessary or advisable to enable me to render this opinion,
including the Constitution and laws of the State of California, together with the governing
charter instruments, ordinances, resolutions and public proceedings of the City, I am of the
opinion that:
1. The City is a municipal corporation, duly created, organized and existing
under the laws of the State of California and duly qualified to furnish electric service as
~ currently being conducted.
2. The City has full legal right, power and authority to enter into the
Agreement and to carry out and consummate all transactions contemplated thereby, and
the City has complied with the provisions of applicable law in all matters relating to such
transactions required to be complied with as of the date hereof.
3. The Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
City, is in full force and effect as to the City in accordance with its terms and, assuming
that the Agency has all the requisite power and authority, and has duly executed and
delivered such Agreement, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the City
enforceable in accordance with its terms.
4. Payments by the City under the Agreement will constitute an operating
expense of the City and are to be made solely from the Revenues of its Electric System,
as provided in Section 5(b) of the Agreement.
5. Except for the authorization by the City’s Council therefor, no approval,
consent or authorization of any governmental or public agency, authority or person is
required forthe execution and delivery by the City of the Agreement, or the performance
by the City of its obligations thereunder.
6. The authorization, execution and delivery of the Agreement and
compliance with the provisions thereof will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or
default under, any instrument relating to the organization, existence or operation of the
City, or any commitment, agreement or other instrument known to me after reasonable
investigation to which the City is a party or by which it or its property is bound or
affected, or any ruling, regulation, ordinance, judgment, order or decree to which the
City (or any of its officers in their respective capacities as such) is subject or any
provision of the laws of the State of California relating to the City or its affairs.
7. To the best of my knowledge after reasonable investigation, there is no
action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation at law or in equity, or before any court,
public board or body, pending or threatened against or affecting the City or any entity
affifiated with the City or any of its officers in their respective capacities as such, nor is
there any basis therefor, which questions the powers of the City referred to in paragraph
2 above or the validity of the proceedings taken by the City in connection with the
authorization, execution or defivery of the Agreement, or wherein any unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding would materially adversely affect the transactions contemplated
by the Agreement, or which, in any way, would adversely affect the validity or
enforceability of the Agreement.
The opinion expressed in paragraph 3 above is qualified to the extent that the
enforceability of the Agreement may be limited by any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, debt
adjustment, moratorium, reorganization, or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally or as to the availability of any particular remedy.
This opinion is rendered only with respect to the laws of the State of California
and the United States of America, and is addressed only to the Agency. No other person is
entitled to rely on this opinion, nor may you rely on it in connection with any transactions other
than those described herein.
Very truly yours,