HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-09-02 Utilities Advisory Commission Draft Action Minutes
Utilities Advisory Commission Draft Action Minutes – September 2, 2026 Page 1 of 3
UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Mauter called the meeting of the Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC) to order at 6:00 p.m.
Present: Chair Mauter, Vice Chair Phillips, Commissioners Croft, Metz, Tucher, Scharff and
Gupta
Absent:
AGENDA REVIEW AND REVISIONS
IN PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
ITEM 1: ACTION: Approval of the Minutes of the Utilities Advisory Commission Meeting Held on
August 5, 2026
MOTION: Vice Chair Phillips moved, seconded by Commissioner Scharff, to approve the
minutes of the August 5, 2026 meeting with the following amendment:
1. On Packet Page 14, replace, “Commissioner Croft liked the 4 nines” with “Commissioner
Croft recommended setting a goal slightly better than 4 nine since we already meet that
metric.”
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Utilities Advisory Commission Draft Action Minutes – September 2, 2026 Page 2 of 3
UTILITIES DIRECTOR REPORT
Alan Kurotori, Utilities Director
NEW BUSINESS
ITEM 2: DISCUSSION: Special Presentation and Discussion on Partnering Norms for Staff and
Commissioners Effectiveness. CEQA – Not a Project
NO ACTION TAKEN
ITEM 3: ACTION: Discussion of Baker Tilly Reserves Advisory Report and Recommendation to
the City Council of Proposed Policy Updates to the Utilities Reserve Management Policies
MOTION: Chair Mauter moved, seconded by Commissioner Scharff, to recommend the City
Council (via the Finance Committee) adopt the following:
1. Revisions to the Utilities Reserve Management Practices based on staff’s proposed
policies for the reserve targets:
a. Replace the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Reserve minimum and
maximum guidelines with a reserve target based on the Average Annual CIP
Budget.
b. Add a Rate Stabilization Reserve (RSR) target based on 10% of operating
expenses and define rules for when reserve balance is above or below target;
and
2. Proposed 5-year timeline for achieving revised RSR policy targets; and
3. Proposed timelines for achieving revised CIP Reserve policy targets: 5 years for the Gas
and Water Utilities and 10 years for the Electric Utility; and
4. Proposed FY 2027 workflow for revising and approving the Utilities Reserve
Management Practices
5. Recommend that staff return with the pros and cons of the Rate Stabilization Reserve
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER
MOTION PASSED: 5-2, Gupta, Tucher no
ITEM 4: DISCUSSION: Update on Electric System Long Duration Resiliency; CEQA Status – Not a
Project
Utilities Advisory Commission Draft Action Minutes – September 2, 2026 Page 3 of 3
MOTION: Vice Chair Phillips moved, seconded by Commissioner Scharff, to recommend the
following:
1. Staff continue monitoring and provide updated estimates for local utility scale battery
storage and update the UAC with the next Integrated Resource Plan
2. Recommend staff review and propose reasonable hazard mitigations with
recommended capital improvement projects
3. Recommend that the focus of future efforts should be what CPAU should do for long
term resilience
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
ITEM 5: ACTION: City of Palo Alto Utilities Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) 2026 Update: CEQA –
Not a Project
MOTION: Vice Chair Phillips moved, seconded by Chair Mauter to recommend the City of Palo
Alto Utilities submit the 2026 Wildfire Mitigation Plan to the California Wildfire Safety Advisory
Board (WSAB) in accordance with Public Utilities Code Section 8387.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND REPORTS FROM MEETINGS/EVENTS
VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT
ADJOURNMENT
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:49 p.m.