STAFF REPORT
DATE:
May 1, 2015
TO:
City Council
FROM:
Mike Webb, Community Development and Sustainability Department Director
Mitch Sears, Sustainability Manager
SUBJECT:
Community Choice Energy non-binding letter of intent – Marin Clean Energy
Recommendations
Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the City Manager to send a non-binding letter of intent
to Marin Clean Energy expressing the City’s interest in exploring possible membership.
Council Goals
The action is consistent with the Council Goal of pursuing environmental sustainability and,
specifically, the objective to explore Community Choice Energy programs.
Fiscal Impact
No fiscal impacts associated with the recommended action.
Background and analysis
The City Council adopted an objective to explore Community Choice Energy (CCE) programs as
part of its 2015/16 goals and formed the Community Choice Energy Advisory Committee
(CCEAC) in February 2015. The Council tasked the Advisory Committee and staff with
exploring whether CCE is a good fit for Davis and if so, what type of CCE should the City
pursue? The Advisory Committee and staff have worked over the last several months to gather
background information and engage the public in the exploration of these two basic questions.
The Advisory Committee is scheduled to make its recommendations at the end of May.
As part of its research, staff learned that one potential CCE option, joining the existing Marin
Clean Energy (MCE) program, may be constrained in the future due to the level of interest MCE
is receiving from other jurisdictions. MCE has placed a hold on considering new memberships
until Fall of 2015 to focus on incorporating recently added communities into its program. While
MCE is not taking up new membership applications at this time, they have indicated that
communities that have submitted a formal letter of intent will be given priority when they
resume consideration of new memberships later this year; in essence, a formal expression of
interest will secure the City’s place in the queue.
Both staff and the Advisory Committee believe it would be prudent for the City to submit a letter
of intent to maintain options should the City ultimately choose to pursue a CCE program.
However, it should be noted that the Advisory Committee clearly expressed that its support of
this procedural action should not be interpreted as a recommendation at this time on either CCE
in general or of this particular option. Staff concurs with this position.
Attachment
1. Resolution
05-05-15 City Council Meeting
05C - 1
RESOLUTION NO. ______ , SERIES 2015
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO SEND A
NON-BINDING LETTER OF INTENT TO MARIN CLEAN ENERGY EXPRESSING THE
CITY’S INTEREST IN EXPLORING POSSIBLE MEMBERSHIP
WHEREAS, the Davis General Plan establishes visions, goals and policies that guide the
community toward sustainability, including the development and use of advanced energy
technology; and
WHEREAS, the City adopted the Davis Climate Action and Adaptation Plan in 2010 that
includes specific objectives to increase the local use of renewable energy and increase energy
efficiency; and
WHEREAS, the Davis community has historically engaged on energy conservation and
renewable energy issues and has supported local and statewide initiatives related to increasing
local decision making on energy related issues; and
WHEREAS, the City received an energy feasibility report in December 2013 that examined
Community Choice as one possible method to accomplish City Council goals related to the
provision of electrical energy services to the community; and
WHEREAS, the City Council formed the Community Choice Energy Advisory Committee in
February 2015 to explore the possible establishment of a Community Choice Energy program in
Davis; and
WHEREAS, one possible option for implementing a CCE program in Davis, joining the existing
Marin Clean Energy (MCE) program, may be constrained in the future due to high levels of
interest in the program; and
WHEREAS, by formally expressing an interest in possible membership to MCE, the City can
maintain this approach to implementing CCE in Davis as an option as it finalizes its community
benefits/costs analysis of CCE.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Davis City Council does authorize the City
Manager or his designee to send a non-binding letter of intent to Marin Clean Energy expressing
the City’s interest in exploring possible membership
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Davis this 5rd day of May 2015, by
the following votes:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Daniel M. Wolk
Mayor
ATTEST:
Zoe Mirable, City Clerk
05-05-15 City Council Meeting
05C - 2