HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 7148
City of Palo Alto (ID # 7148)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Special Orders of the Day Meeting Date: 8/29/2016
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Resolutions for Steve Eglash, Jonathan Foster and Garth Hall
Title: Adoption of Resolutions Expressing Appreciation to Steve Eglash,
Jonathan Foster and Garth Hall Upon Completion of Their Terms as Utilities
Advisory Commissioners
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Utilities
Attachments:
Attachment A: Resolution of Appreciation - Steve Eglash (PDF)
Attachment B: Resolution of Appreciation - Jonathan Foster (PDF)
Attachment C: Resolution of Appreciation - Garth Hall (PDF)
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO
ALTO EXPRESSING APPRECIATION TO STEVE EGLASH,
UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSIONER
WHEREAS, Steve Eglash has served as a Commissioner on the Utilities Advisory Commission from July 2009
through May 2016; and
WHEREAS, Steve Eglash has provided dedicated service to the residents and businesses of this community through
his carefully reasoned evaluation and balanced assessment of utilities budgets and rates, rate structure design, capital
projects and many other utilities policies and practices, employing his extensive knowledge of the utilities industry; and
WHEREAS, Steve Eglash provided guidance and insights as the Utilities Department engaged in the development
of their 10-year Energy Efficiency Goals, Renewable Portfolio Standard, Utilities Strategic Plan, Long-term Electric
Acquisition Plan, Gas Utility Long-term Plan, the 2010 and 2015 Urban Water Management Plan, Local Solar Plan,
Carbon Neutral Plan, Utilities Strategic Plan, Utilities Legislative Policy Guidelines and utilities rates for the Electric,
Fiber Optics, Natural Gas, Water and Wastewater Collection Utilities; and
WHEREAS, Steve Eglash paid particular attention to the policies that dealt with the Utilities Long-term Financial
Plans, rates and rate design. He asked penetrating questions about fairness for ratepayers, advocated for effective
communication of rate changes and recommended that changes to policies underlying rate design be discussed in advance
of the completion of Cost of Service Analyses; and
WHEREAS, Steve Eglash provided thorough review of all proposed programs and plans, he requested staff be
knowledgeable and well prepared and he provided thoughtful, comprehensive comments and suggestions that were
extremely valuable to staff as new programs and plans were developed; and
WHEREAS, Steve Eglash’s deep understanding of the utility sector as it underwent significant changes, and his
interest in emerging technologies, led to a strengthening of the connection between the City and Stanford University as he
introduced staff to professors and different types of research that expanded exposure and understanding of new
technologies and trends; and
WHEREAS, Steve Eglash willingly engaged the community on many levels, including working directly with
Council Members and academics to help shape recommendations for the future of Utilities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Palo Alto desires to recognize the meritorious service
of Steve Eglash by commending his outstanding public service and records appreciation as well as the appreciation of the
citizens of this community for the services and contributions rendered.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: August 29, 2016
ATTEST: APPROVED:
_________________________________ ________________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________________ ________________________________
City Attorney City Manager
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO
ALTO EXPRESSING APPRECIATION TO
JONATHAN FOSTER, UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSIONER
WHEREAS, Jonathan Foster served as a Utilities Advisory Commissioner from July 2009 through May 2016,
serving as Vice Chair for two years and Chair for two years; and
WHEREAS, Jonathan Foster provided guidance and insight as the Utilities Department engaged in the
development of projects such as their 10-year Energy Efficiency Goals, Renewable Portfolio Standard, Utilities
Strategic Plan, Long-term Electric Acquisition Plan, Gas Utility Long-term Plan, the 2010 and 2015 Urban Water
Management Plans, Local Solar Plan, Carbon Neutral Plan, Utilities Strategic Plan, Utilities Legislative Policy
Guidelines and utilities rates for the Electric, Fiber Optics, Natural Gas, Water and Wastewater Collection
Utilities; and
WHEREAS, Jonathan Foster is known for his dedicated service to the residents and businesses of this
community through his enthusiasm, his out-of-the-box thinking and his entrepreneurial approach; and
WHEREAS, Jonathan Foster’s passion for sustainability and concern for greenhouse gas emissions is
manifested by his advocacy for carbon neutral electric supplies, including the city’s long-term contracts for
landfill-gas-to-energy and solar projects, the development of the PaloAltoGreen Gas program and the Palo Alto
Clean Local Energy Accessible Now (CLEAN) Program; and
WHEREAS, Jonathan Foster supported testing and employing new technology, and he championed the
utilities program for emerging technologies to provide a test bed for incoming technologies, bringing to bear his
extensive knowledge of both the utilities industry and green technologies. He also expressed early support for the
development of the Utilities Smart Grid Road Map; and
WHEREAS, Jonathan Foster served on an ad-hoc subcommittee of the Utilities Advisory Commission to
review Smart Grid Recommendations and he supported the development of Smart Grid Pilot Programs, including
CustomerConnect, the Residential Advanced Meter Pilot Program and the Commercial Demand Response
Program; and
WHEREAS, Jonathan Foster actively engaged the community on many levels, he worked with Council
Members to help shape recommendations for utilities, respectfully considered concerns raised by the public, and
was always willing to listen to different points of view.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Palo Alto desires to recognize the meritorious
service of Jonathan Foster by commending his outstanding public service, as well as the appreciation of the
citizens of this community for the services and contributions rendered.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: August 29, 2016
ATTEST: APPROVED:
__________________________________ __________________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________________ __________________________________
City Attorney City Manager
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALO ALTO EXPRESSING APPRECIATION TO
GARTH HALL, UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSIONER
WHEREAS, Garth Hall served as a Utilities Advisory Commissioner from April 2012 through
May 2016 and contributed to the Utilities Advisory Commission through the use of his experience as a
staff person for public agencies, having a thorough understanding of the role of an advisory board and
by displaying a respectful attitude toward staff; and
WHEREAS, Garth Hall provided dedicated service to the residents and businesses of this
community by means of a thorough review of utilities budgets and rates, rate structure design, capital
projects and many other utilities policies and practices, all the while employing his extensive knowledge
of financial analysis, business strategy and experience of public agencies; and
WHEREAS, Garth Hall provided guidance and insight in the development of the Carbon Neutral
Plan, the Local Solar Plan, the redesign of the PaloAltoGreen Program, the Utilities Legislative Policy
Guidelines and utilities rates for Electric, Natural Gas, Water and Wastewater Collection Utilities; and
WHEREAS, Garth Hall volunteered for extra assignments as a Commissioner by participating on
ad-hoc subcommittees charged with establishing a new program to test emerging technologies,
examining how to speed up the undergrounding of electric distribution lines and evaluating a second
electric transmission pathway to improve reliability; and
WHEREAS, Garth Hall applied his extensive expertise in water resource planning and evaluation
as a Utilities Advisory Commissioner; and
WHEREAS, Garth Hall’s consideration of concerns raised by the public and his willingness to
listen to different points of view made by staff and the Commission often resulted in the Commission’s
joint recommendation, which resulted in decisions adopted by the City Council.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Palo Alto desires to recognize the
meritorious service of Garth Hall by commending his outstanding public service, as well as the
appreciation of the citizens of this community for the services and contributions rendered throughout his
position on the Utilities Advisory Commission.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: August 29, 2016
ATTEST: APPROVED:
________________________________ ________________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
________________________________ ________________________________
City Attorney City Manager