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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 2015-97 - CaliforniaFIRST ProgramCITY OF PALM DESERT DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF REPORT REQUEST: ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PALM DESERT TO JOIN CALIFORNIAFIRST PROGRAM, AUTHORIZING THE CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE COMMUNITIES DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FROM PROPERTY OWNERS, CONDUCT CONTRACTUAL ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS AND LEVY CONTRACTUAL ASSESSMENTS FOR ENERGY AND WATER CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENT; AND APPROVING, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING EXECUTION OF AN AMENDED AND RESTATED JOINT EXERCISE OF POWERS AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE COMMUNITIES DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SUBMITTED BY: Tony Bagato, Acting Director of Community Development DATE: December 10, 2015 CONTENTS: Resolution No. 2015-97 California Statewide Communities Development Authority JPA Informational Flyers Recommendation 1) By Minute Motion, authorize the City of Palm Desert to join the CaliforniaFIRST Program; 2) By Minute Motion, authorize the California Statewide Communities Development Authority to accept applications from property owners, conduct contractual assessment proceedings and levy contractual assessments for energy and water conservation improvement; 3) Waive further reading, and adopt Resolution No. 2015-97authorizing and directing execution of an Amended and Restated Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement relating to the California Statewide Communities Development Authority. Staff Report CaliforniaFIRST PACE Program Page 2 of 4 December 10, 2015 Citizens' Sustainability Committee Action On November 16, 2016, the Citizens' Sustainability Committee recommended that the City Council approve the CaliforniaFIRST Program as a third Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) provider within the City of Palm Desert. Executive Summary The CaliforniaFIRST Program provides a mechanism by which residential and commercial property owners can install permanently fixed renewable energy, energy and water efficiency improvements, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure on their properties through PACE financing. Participation in the program is 100 percent voluntary, and is similar to the Ygrene Energy Fund and HERO programs that have already been approved by the City of Palm Desert. Staff believes that the community members of Palm Desert are best served by having multiple PACE programs because it allows competition that could provide lower interest rates and different services. Background Assembly Bill (AB) 811 was signed into law on July 21, 2008, and AB 474, effective January 1, 2010, amended Chapter 29 of Part 3 of Division 7 of the Streets & Highways Code of the State of California ("Chapter 29",) and authorizes a legislative body to designate an area within which authorized public officials and free and willing property owners may enter into voluntary contractual assessments to finance the installation of distributed generation renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, and/or water conservation improvements that are permanently fixed to real property. The financing for these improvements has come to be known as PACE. In April 2013, the CVAG Executive Committee directed their staff to initiate a Regional PACE program for member agencies. At the time the decision to offer a PACE program was made, the Executive Committee directed their staff to explore the option of encouraging competition by offering PACE programs provided by both Ygrene Energy Fund and the HERO program. The CVAG Executive Committee established criteria for any PACE program, at that time, only Ygrene Energy Fund was able to meet the criteria. The Ygrene Energy Fund was approved by the City of Palm Desert shortly after CVAG selected them to be the first PACE program as part of the Clean Energy Coachella Valley upgrade program that was launched in December 2013. On December 1, 2014, the CVAG Executive Committee approved an agreement with the representatives of the HERO program, and on December 11, 2014, the City of Palm 2 Staff Report CaliforniaFIRST PACE Program Page 3 of 4 December 10, 2015 Desert approved a resolution for the HERO program to allow competition between the two (2) programs. Staff has now been approached by CaliforniaFIRST to provide another PACE program within the City of Palm Desert. If approved by the City Council, CaliforniaFIRST will be the third program in the City of Palm Desert, and will provide additional competition and financing options to the community. CaliforniaFIRST is now approved in 38 counties and 320 cities. The benefits associated with CaliforniaFIRST are detailed below: The benefits to the property owner include: • 100 percent voluntary. • Lower utility and water bills. • Does not affect the ability to borrow in the future and other flexible lending terms offered. • The property owner can choose to pay off the assessments at any time. • Additional PACE program in Palm Desert may produce lower borrowing cost. • Include the installation of common improvements such as solar panels, windows, HVAC and artificial turf. The benefits to the City include: • Increase local jobs. • An increase in property values (energy efficient homes and buildings are worth more money). • An increase in sales, payroll and property tax revenue • As in conventional assessment financing, the City is not obligated to repay the bonds or to pay any delinquent assessments levied on the participating properties. • All CaliforniaFIRST Program and assessment administration, bond issuance and bond administration functions are handled by CaliforniaFIRST. Little, if any, City staff time is needed to participate in the program. CaliforniaFIRST is a turnkey program that is administered by them. By leveraging the already successful CaliforniaFIRST Program, the City can make energy and water efficiency financing immediately available to property owners. Additional information about CaliforniaFIRST and their partnerships are provided as attachments to the staff report. Currently, the City if not a member of the California Statewide Communities Development Authority, which is a prerequisite for participation in the CaliforniaFIRST PACE Program. Therefore, in order to participate in the CaliforniaFIRST Program, the City must adopt these aforementioned resolutions. W Staff Report CaliforniaFIRST PACE Program Page 4 of 4 December 10, 2015 Fiscal Impact No negative fiscal impact to the City's general fund will be incurred by consenting to the inclusion of properties within the city limits in the CaliforniaFIRST Program. All CaliforniaFIRST administrative costs are covered through an initial administrative fee included in the property owner's voluntary contractual assessment and an annual administrative fee, which is also collected on the property owner's tax bill. Submitted By: Tony Bagato, Acting Director of Community Development M. Wohlmuth, City Manager 11 RESOLUTION NO.2015-97 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING EXECUTION OF AN AMENDED AND RESTATED JOINT EXERCISE OF POWERS AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE COMMUNITIES DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WHEREAS, the City of Palm Desert, California (the "City"), has expressed an interest in participating in the economic development financing programs (the "Programs") in conjunction with the parties to that certain Amended and Restated Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement Relating to the California Statewide Communities Development Authority, dated as of June 1, 1988 (the "Agreement"); and WHEREAS, there is now before this City Council the form of the Agreement; and WHEREAS, the City proposes to participate in the Programs and desires that certain projects to be located within the City be financed pursuant to the Programs and it is in the public interest and for the public benefit that the City do so; and WHEREAS, the Agreement has been filed with the City Clerk, and the members of the City Council of the City, with the assistance of its staff, have reviewed said document; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The Agreement is hereby approved and the Mayor of the City is hereby authorized and directed to execute said document, with such changes, insertions and omissions as may be approved by said City Council, and the City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to affix the City's seal to said document and to attest thereto. Section 2. The Mayor of the City, the City Manager, the City Clerk and all other proper officers and officials of the City are hereby authorized and directed to execute such other agreements, documents and certificates, and to perform such other acts and deeds, as may be necessary or convenient to effect the purposes of this Resolution and the transactions herein authorized. Section 3. The City Clerk shall forward a certified copy of this Resolution and an originally executed Agreement to: Kathleen Jacobe Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP 400 Capital Mall, Suite 3000 Sacramento, California 95814 Section 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage. RESOLUTION NO. 2015-97 PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Palm Desert, California, at its regular meeting held on the day of 2015, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTEST: RACHELLE D. KLASSEN, CITY CLERK CITY OF PALM DESERT. CALIFORNIA Susan Marie Weber MAYOR 2 AMENDED AND RESTATED JOINT EXERCISE OF POWERS AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE COMMUNITIES DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of June 1, 1988, by and among the parties executing this Agreement (all such parties, except those which have withdrawn in accordance with Section 13 hereof, being herein referred to as the "Program Participants"): WITNESSETH WHEREAS, pursuant to Title 1, Division 7, Chapter 5 of the Government Code of the State of California (the "Joint Exercise of Powers Act"), two or more public agencies may by agreement jointly exercise any power common to the contracting parties; and WHEREAS, each of the Program Participants is a "public agency" as that term is defined in Section 6500 of the Government Code of the State of California, and WHEREAS, each of the Program Participants is empowered to promote economic development, including, without limitation, the promotion of opportunities for the creation or retention of employment, the stimulation of economic activity, and the increase of the tax base, within its boundaries; and WHEREAS, a public entity established pursuant to the Joint Exercise of Powers Act is empowered to issue industrial development bonds pursuant to the California Industrial Development Financing Act (Title 10 (commencing with Section 91500 of the Government Code of the State of California)) (the "Act") and to otherwise undertake financing programs under the Joint Exercise of Powers Act or other applicable provisions of law to promote economic development through the issuance of bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, or certificates of participation in leases or other agreements (all such instruments being herein collectively referred to as "Bonds"); and WHEREAS, in order to promote economic development within the State of California, the County Supervisors Association of California ("CSAC"), together with the California Manufacturers Association, has established the Bonds for Industry program (the "Program"). WHEREAS, in furtherance of the Program, certain California counties (collectively, the "Initial Participants") have entered into that certain Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement dated as of November 18, 1987 (the "Initial Agreement"), pursuant to which the California Counties Industrial Development Authority has been established as a separate entity under the Joint Exercise of Powers Act for the purposes and with the powers specified in the Initial Agreement; and WHEREAS, the League of California Cities ("LCC") has determined to join as a sponsor of the Program and to actively participate in the administration of the Authority; and WHEREAS, the Initial Participants have determined to specifically authorize the Authority to issue Bonds pursuant to Article 2 of the Joint Exercise of Powers Act ("Article 2") and Article 4 of the Joint Exercise of Powers Act ("Article 4"), as well as may be authorized by the Act or other applicable law; and WHEREAS, the Initial Participants desire to rename the California Counties Industrial Development Authority to better reflect the additional sponsorship of the Program; and WHEREAS, each of the Initial Participants has determined that it is in the public interest of the citizens within its boundaries, and to the benefit of such Initial Participant and the area and persons served by such Initial Participant, to amend and restate in its entirety the Initial Agreement in order to implement the provisions set forth above; and WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Program Participants to use a public entity established pursuant to the Joint Exercise of Powers Act to undertake projects within their respective jurisdictions that may be financed with Bonds issued pursuant to the Act, Article 2, Article 4, or other applicable provisions of law; and WHEREAS, the projects undertaken will result in significant public benefits, including those public benefits set forth in Section 91502.1 of the Act, an increased level of economic activity, or an increased tax base, and will therefore serve and be of benefit to the inhabitants of the jurisdictions of the Program Participants; NOW, THEREFORE, the Program Participants, for and in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements herein contained, do agree to restate and amend the Initial Agreement in its entirety to provide as follows: 2 Section 1. Purpose. This Agreement is made pursuant to the provisions of the Joint Exercise of Powers Act, relating to the joint exercise of powers common to public agencies, in this case being the Program Participants. The Program Participants each possess the powers referred to in the recitals hereof. The purpose of this Agreement is to establish an agency for, and with the purpose of, issuing Bonds to finance projects within the territorial limits of the Program Participants pursuant to the Act, Article 2, Article 4, or other appliable provisions of law; provided, however that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as a limitation on the rights of the Program Participants to pursue economic development outside of this Agreement, including the rights to issue Bonds through industrial development authorities under the Act, or as otherwise permitted by law. Within the various jurisdictions of the Program Participants such purpose will be accomplished and said powers exercised in the manner hereinafter set forth. Section 2. Term. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date hereof and shall continue in full force and effect for a period of forty (40) years from the date hereof, or until such time as it is terminated in writing by all the Program Participants; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not terminate or be terminated until the date on which all Bonds or other indebtedness issued or caused to be issued by the Authority shall have been retired, or full provision shall have been made for their retirement, including interest until their retirement date. Section 3. Authority. A. CREATION AND POWERS OF AUTHORITY. (1 ) Pursuant to the Joint Exercise of Powers Act, there is hereby created a public entity to be known as the "California Statewide Communities Development Authority" (the "Authority"), and said Authority shall be a public entity separate and apart from the Program Participants. Its debts, liabilities and obligations do not constitute debts, liabilities or obligations of any party to this Agreement. B. COMMISSION. The Authority shall be administered by a Commission (the "Commission") which shall consist of seven members, each 3 serving in his or her individual capacity as a member of the Commission. The Commission shall be the administering agency of this Agreement, and, as such, shall be vested with the powers set forth herein, and shall execute and administer this Agreement in accordance with the purposes and functions provided herein. Four members of the Commission shall be appointed by the governing body of CSAC and three members of the Commission shall be appointed by the governing body of LCC. Initial members of the Commission shall serve a term ending June 1, 1991. Successors to such members shall be selected in the manner in which the respective initial member was selected and shall serve a term of three years. Any appointment to fill an unexpired term, however, shall be for such unexpired term. The term of office specified above shall be applicable unless the term of office of the respective member is terminated as hereinafter provided, and provided that the term of any member shall not expire until a successor thereto has been appointed as provided herein. Each of CSAC and LCC may appoint an alternate member of the Commission for each member of the Commission which it appoints. Such alternate member may act as a member of the Commission in place of and during the absence or disability of such regularly appointed member. All references in this Agreement to any member of the Commission shall be deemed to refer to and include the applicable alternate member when so acting in place of a regularly appointed member. Each member or alternate member of the Commission may be removed and replaced at any time by the governing body by which such member was appointed. Any individual, including any member of the governing body or staff of CSAC or LCC, shall be eligible to serve as a member or alternate member of the Commission. Members and alternate members of the Commission shall not receive any compensation for serving as such but shall be entitled to reimbursement for any expenses actually incurred in connection with serving as a member or alternate member, if the Commission shall determine that such expenses shall be reimbursed and there are unencumbered funds available for such purpose. C. OFFICERS; DUTIES; OFFICIAL BONDS. The Commission shall elect a Chair, a Vice -Chair, and a Secretary of the Authority from among its members to serve for such term as shall be determined by the Commission. The Commission shall appoint one or more of its officers or 4 employees to serve as treasurer, auditor, and controller of the Authority (the "Treasurer") pursuant to Section 6505.6 of the Joint Exercise of Powers Act to serve for such term as shall be determined by the Commission. Subject to the applicable provisions of any resolution, indenture or other instrument or proceeding authorizing or securing Bonds (each such resolution, indenture, instrument and proceeding being herein referred to as an "Indenture") providing for a trustee or other fiscal agent, the Treasurer is designated as the depositary of the Authority to have custody of all money of the Authority, from whatever source derived. The Treasurer of the Authority shall have the powers, duties and responsibilities specified in Section 6505.5 of the Joint Exercise of Powers Act. The Treasurer of the Authority is designated as the public officer or person who has charge of, handles, or has access to any property of the Authority, and such officer shall file an official bond with the Secretary of the Authority in the amount specified by resolution of the Commission but in no event less than $1,000. If and to the extent permitted by law, any such officer may satisfy this requirement by filing an official bond in at least said amount obtained in connection with another public office. The Commission shall have the power to appoint such other officers and employees as it may deem necessary and to retain independent counsel, consultants and accountants. The Commission shall have the power, by resolution, to the extent permitted by the Joint Exercise of Powers Act or any other applicable law, to delegate any of its functions to one or more of the members of the Commission or officers or agents of the Authority and to cause any of said members, officers or agents to take any actions and execute .any documents or instruments for and in the name and on behalf of the Commission or the Authority. D. MEETINGS OF THE COMMISSION. (1 ) Regular Meetings. The Commission shall provide for its regular meetings; provided, however, it shall hold at least one regular meeting each year. The date, hour and place of the holding of the regular meetings shall be fixed by resolution of the Commission and a copy of such resolution shall be filed with each party hereto. 5 (2) Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Commission may be called in accordance with the provisions of Section 54956 of the Government Code of the State of California. (3) Raloh M. Brown Act. All meetings of the Commission, including, without limitation, regular, adjourned regular, special, and adjourned special meetings shall be called, noticed, held and conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (commencing with Section 54950 of the Government Code of the State of California). (4) Minutes. The Secretary of kept minutes of the regular, adjourned special meetings soon as possible after each minutes to be forwarded to (5) Quorum. the Authority shall cause to be adjourned regular, special, and of the Commission and shall, as meeting, cause a copy of the each member of the Commission. A majority of the members of the Commission which includes at least one member appointed by the governing body of each of CSAC and LCC shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. No action may betaken by the Commission except upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Commission which includes at least one member appointed by the governing body of each of CSAC and LCC, except that less than a quorum may adjourn a meeting to another time and place. E. RULES AND REGULATIONS. The Authority may adopt, from time to time, by resolution of the Commission such rules and regulations for the conduct of its meetings and affairs as may be required. Section 4. Powers. The Authority shall have any and all powers relating to economic development authorized by law to each of the parties hereto and separately to the public entity herein created, including, without limitation, the promotion of opportunities for the creation and retention of employment, the stimulation of economic activity, and the increase of the tax base, within the jurisdictions of such parties. Such powers shall include the common powers specified in this s Agreement and may be exercised in the manner and according to the method provided in this Agreement. All such powers common to the parties are specified as powers of the Authority. The Authority is hereby authorized to do all acts necessary for the exercise of such powers, including, but not limited to, any or all of the following: to make and enter into contracts; to employ agents and employees; to acquire, construct, provide for maintenance and operation of, or maintain and operate, any buildings, works or improvements; to acquire, hold or dispose of property wherever located; to incur debts, liabilities or obligations; to receive gifts, contributions and donations of property, funds, services and other forms of assistance from persons, firms, corporations and any governmental entity; to sue and be sued in its own name; and generally to do any and all things necessary or convenient to the promotion of economic development, including without limitation the promotion of opportunities for the creation or retention of employment, the stimulation of economic activity, and the increase of the tax base, all as herein contemplated. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Authority may issue or cause to be issued bonded and other indebtedness, and pledge any property or revenues as security to the extent permitted under the Joint Exercise of Powers Act, including Article 2 and Article 4, the Act or any other applicable provision of law. The manner in which the Authority shall exercise its powers and perform its duties is and shall be subject to the restrictions upon the manner in which a California county could exercise such powers and perform such duties until a California general law city shall become a Program Participant, at which time it shall be subject to the restrictions upon the manner in which a California general law city could exercise such powers and perform such duties. The manner in which the Authority shall exercise its powers and perform its duties shall not be subject to any restrictions applicable to the manner in which any other public agency could exercise such powers or perform such duties, whether such agency is a party to this Agreement or not. Section 5. Fiscal Year. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "Fiscal Year" shall mean the fiscal year as established from time to time by the Authority, being, at the date of this Agreement, the period from July 1 to and including the following June 30, except for the first Fiscal Year which shall be the period from the date of this Agreement to June 30, 1988. Section 6. Disposition of Assets. At the end of the term hereof or upon the earlier termination of this Agreement as set forth in Section 2 hereof, after payment of all expenses and liabilities of the Authority, all property of the Authority both real and personal shall automatically vest in the Program Participants and shall thereafter remain the sole property of the Program Participants; provided, however, that any surplus money on hand shall be returned in proportion to the contributions made by the Program Participants. Section 7. Bonds. The Authority shall issue Bonds for the purpose of exercising its powers and raising the funds necessary to carry out its purposes under this Agreement. Said Bonds may, at the discretion of Authority, be issued in series. The services of bond counsel, financing consultants and other consultants and advisors working on the projects and/or their financing shall be used by the Authority. The fees and expenses of such counsel, consultants, advisors, and the expenses of CSAC, LCC, and the Commission shall be paid from the proceeds of the Bonds or any other unencumbered funds of the Authority available for such purpose. Section 9. Local Approval. A copy of the application for financing of a project shall be filed by the Authority with the Program Participant in whose jurisdiction the project is to be located. The Authority shall not issue Bonds with respect to any project unless the governing body of the Program Participant in whose jurisdiction the project is to be located, or its duly authorized designee, shall approve, conditionally or unconditionally, the project, including the issuance of Bonds therefor. Action to approve or disapprove a project shall be taken within 45 days of the filing with the Program Participant. Certification of approval or disapproval shall be made by the clerk of the governing body of the Program Participant, or by such other officer as may be designated by the applicable Program Participant, to the Authority. Section 8. Bonds Only Limited and Special Obligations of Authority. The Bonds, together with the interest and premium, if any, thereon, shall not be deemed to constitute a debt of any Program Participant, CSAC, or LCC or pledge of the faith and credit of the Program Participants, CSAC, LCC, or the Authority. The Bonds shall be only special obligations of the Authority, and the Authority shall under no circumstances be obligated to pay the Bonds or the respective project costs except from revenues and other funds pledged therefor. Neither the Program Participants, CSAC, LCC, nor the Authority shall be obligated to pay the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Bonds, or other costs incidental thereto, except from the revenues and funds pledged therefor, and neither the faith and credit nor the taxing power of the Program Participants nor the faith and credit of CSAC, LCC, or the Authority shall be pledged to the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Bonds nor shall the Program Participants, CSAC, LCC, or the Authority in any manner be obligated to make any appropriation for such payment. No covenant or agreement contained in any Bond or Indenture shall be deemed to be a covenant or agreement of any member of the Commission, or any officer, agent or employee of the Authority in his individual capacity and neither the Commission of the Authority nor any officer thereof executing the Bonds shall be liable personally on any Bond or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance of any Bonds. Section 10. Accounts and Reports. All funds of the Authority shall be strictly accounted for. The Authority shall establish and maintain such funds and accounts as may be required by good accounting practice and by any provision of any Indenture (to the extent such duties are not assigned to a trustee of Bonds). The books and records of the Authority shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times by each Program Participant. The Treasurer of the Authority shall cause an independent audit to be made of the books of accounts and financial records of the Agency by a certified public accountant or public accountant in compliance with the provisions of Section 6505 of the Joint Exercise of Powers Act. In each case the minimum requirements of the audit shall be those prescribed by the State Controller for special districts under Section 26909 of the Government Code of the State of California and shall conform to generally accepted auditing standards. When such an audit of accounts and records is made by a certified public accountant or public accountant, a report thereof shall be filed as public records with each Program Participant and also with the county auditor of each county in which a Program Participant is located. Such report shall be filed within 12 months of the end of the Fiscal Year or Years under examination. 9 Any costs of the audit, including contracts with, or employment of, certified public accountants or public accountants in making an audit pursuant to this Section, shall be borne by the Authority and shall be a charge against any unencumbered funds of the Authority available for that purpose. In any Fiscal Year the Commission may, by resolution adopted by unanimous vote, replace the annual special audit with an audit covering a two-year period. The Treasurer of the Authority, within 120 days after the close of each Fiscal Year, shall give a complete written report of all financial activities for such Fiscal Year to each of the Program Participants to the extent such activities are not covered by the reports of the trustees for the Bonds. The trustee appointed under each Indenture shall establish suitable funds, furnish financial reports and provide suitable accounting procedures to carry out the provisions of said Indenture. Said trustee may be given such duties in said Indenture as may be desirable to carry out this Agreement. Section 11. Funds. Subject to the applicable provisions of each Indenture, which may provide for a trustee to receive, have custody of and disburse Authority funds, the Treasurer of the Authority shall receive, have the custody of and disburse Authority funds pursuant to the accounting procedures developed under Section 10 hereof, and shall make the disbursements required by this Agreement or otherwise necessary to carry out any of the provisions or purposes of this Agreement. Section 12. Notices. Notices and other communications hereunder to the Program Participants shall be sufficient if delivered to the clerk of the governing body of each Program Participant. Section 13. Withdrawal and Addition of Parties. A Program Participant may withdraw from this Agreement upon written notice to the Commission; provided, however, that no such withdrawal shall result in the dissolution of the Authority so long as any Bonds remain outstanding under an Indenture. Any such withdrawal shall be effective only upon receipt of the notice of withdrawal by the Commission which shall acknowledge receipt of such notice of withdrawal in writing and shall file such notice as an amendment to this Agreement effective upon such filing. 10 Qualifying public agencies may be added as parties to this Agreement and become Program Participants upon: (i) the filing by such public agency of an executed counterpart of this Agreement, together with a certified copy of the resolution of the governing body of such public agency approving this Agreement and the execution and delivery hereof; and ( i i ) adoption of a resolution of the Commission approving the addition of such public agency as a Program Participant. Upon satisfaction of such conditions, the Commission shall file such executed counterpart of this Agreement as an amendment hereto, effective upon such filing. Section 14. Indemnification. To the full extent permitted by law, the Commission may authorize indemnification by the Authority of any person who is or was a member or alternate member of the Commission, or an officer, employee or other agent of the Authority, and who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was such a member or alternate member of the Commission, or an officer, employee or other agent of the Authority, against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such proceeding, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Authority and, in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct of such person was unlawful and, in the case of an action by or in the right of the Authority, acted with such care, including reasonable inquiry, as an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances. Section 15. Contributions and Advances. Contributions or advances of public funds and of the use of personnel, equipment or property may be made to the Authority by the parties hereto for any of the purposes of this Agreement. Payment of public funds may be made to defray the cost of any such contribution. Any such advance may be made subject to repayment, and in such case shall be repaid, in the manner agreed upon by the Authority and the party making such advance at the time of such advance. Section 16. Immunities. All of the privileges and immunities from liabilities, exemptions from laws, ordinances and rules, all pension, relief, disability, workers' compensation, and other benefits which apply to the activity of officers, agents or employees of Program Participants when performing their OR respective functions within the territorial limits of their respective public agencies, shall apply to them to the same degree and extent while engaged as members of the Commission or otherwise as an officer, agent or other representative of the Authority or while engaged in the performance of any of their functions or duties extraterritorially under the provisions of this Agreement. Section 17. Amendments. Except as provided in Section 13 above, this Agreement shall not be amended, modified, or altered except by a written instrument duly executed by each of the Program Participants. Section 18. Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective and be in full force and effect and a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of the Program Participants at 9:00 a.m., California time, on the date that the Commission shall have received from each of the Initial Participants an executed counterpart of this Agreement, together with a certified copy of a resolution of the governing body of each such Initial Participant approving this Agreement and the execution and delivery hereof. Section 19. Partial Invalidity. If anyone or more of the terms, provisions, promises, covenants or conditions of this Agreement shall to any extent be adjudged invalid, unenforceable, void or voidable for any reason whatsoever by a court of competent jurisdiction, each and all of the remaining terms, provisions, promises, covenants and conditions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Section 20. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the successors of the parties hereto. Except to the extent expressly provided herein, no party may assign any right or obligation hereunder without the consent of the other parties. Section 21. Miscellaneous. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument. 12 The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not to be construed as modifying or governing the language in the section referred to. Wherever in this Agreement any consent or approval is required, the same shall not be unreasonably withheld. This Agreement is made in the State of California, under the Constitution and laws of such state and is to be so construed. This Agreement is the complete and exclusive statement of the agreement among the parties hereto, which supercedes and merges all prior proposals, understandings, and other agreements, including, without limitation, the Initial Agreement, whether oral, written, or implied in conduct, between and among the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed and attested by their proper officers thereunto duly authorized, and their official seals to be hereto affixed, as of the day and year first above written. [SEAL] ATTEST: By Name: Title: Program Participant: By Name: Title: 13 Verengo Solar Announces Partnership with CaliforniaFIRST Expands affordable home solar financing to 40% more the number of Southern California residents currently eligible Torrance, Ca. OCT. 8th — Verengo"' Solar, Southern California's leading residential rooftop solar installer, today announced a partnership with CaliforniaFl RST that will increase by 40% the number of Southern California residents eligible for financing for home solar systems. Ca I iforniaF I RST is a public/ private PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing program administered by Renew Financial that offers homeowners affordable financing for renewable energy programs that they then repay on their property taxes. The partnership will extend financing for home solar systems to homeowners based on home equity, rather than credit scores, noted Verengo CEO Anders Dahl. "The Verengo Solar/Ca liforniaFl RST PACE financing options allow Southern California homeowners without stellar credit scores to immediately start saving on their electricity bills by installing rooftop solar without making up front payments;' Dahl said. "Our customers will own their solar system and be able to look forward to not only an increased home value, but also a day when their system is fully paid off and generating'free' power!" The new partnership allows homeowners to take control of their energy cost by going solar through low, fixed payments, even if they have bad credit. "The fact that more than 300 cities and counties across California, including Los Angeles and San Diego, have voted to join CaliforniaFl RST is a testimony to the popularity and simplicity of the PACE energy efficiency financing solutions," said Renew Financial CEO Cisco DeVries. "Verengo has been an industry leader in California rooftop solar since its founding in 2008 and we are delighted to be associated with Anders and his team." To qualify, a home's total mortgage liens cannot exceed 90% of the property value (i.e. the homeowner must have 10%+ home equity). In addition, the homeowner must have paid property taxes on time for the past year, with no more than one late payment in the last three years. Homeowners are also required to have paid their mortgage on time for past 12 months, and have had no bankruptcies in the last two years. "The convenience of PACE loans gives our customers the ability to lock in lower utility rates and increase the value of their home with no out of pocket costs," added Verengo Director of Marketing Chris Haynie. About Verengo Verengo began installing Solar Panel Systems in 2008. Today, it is the largest Southern California -based solar provider, with over 15,000 Photo -voltaic systems sold, designed, and installed. Verengo offers smarter, cleaner energy alternatives to power your home or business, and consistently maintains an A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. For more information on Verengo, please visit us online at www.verengosolar.com About Renew Financial Renew Financial was founded in 2008 by Cisco DeVries, who originated the idea of the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing model. Endorsed by President Obama and named by Scientific American as one of the top 20 ideas that can change the world, PACE enables property owners to finance the entire cost of energy and water efficiency and renewable energy upgrades to their homes and businesses, and then repay those costs on their property tax bill. Renew Financial has a partnership with SolarCity targeted at small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) utilizing PACE, and PACE is also a central component of a major White House clean energy initiative unveiled in August 2015. Renew Financial's other financing products include the Warehouse for Energy Efficiency Loans (WHEEL), which opens the residential energy efficiency finance market to large institutional investors. Additional information may be found at renewfinancial.com I @RenewFinancial I Linkedln I Facebook Blog Media contact: David Thoreau Verengo I nc. Public Relations Manager Director Government Affairs 949-439-8032 dthoreauPverengosolar.com Bill Douglass Sparkpr for Renew Financial 646-504-0890 bdouglass0sparkpr.com Help bring lower -cost power to small and rnediUrn businesses. SolarCity Local businesses can get lowe"cost, clean energy with no capital expense required. SclarCH, and CallfornAFIRST have joined togetOr to empwer sme and medurn bus inesses (Stvl EBs) to gc,, soar without the hign upfi o nt cost. Uti l n „the RACE or c,,g6 rn bl.jsineases e,"tar' !ease a system Tat produc-esclean solar power at a lower cost than powersouned from the ghd. UtIty rates can Me Unpredictaby. but now SMBs call. secure pred ictabie electricity rates with solar and sue on energy cost Nom day one. Cult omew don't pay for hei"war e:gig oment. riesign or installation only the power generated frorr� their nevv soar system. What is PACE? P,A,0E (Property ,"messed Man Ereqy) 4 aninnoli've w" for commabi pmpuq ownem to may for on -she renewaNe energy and ensly-eMciency qojct& Private sources of capital provide funding for PACE, and is repaid with an assessment on a property's tax KH over a term of up to 20 years. PACE 0 enabled by state law, However i he law requies that for a property owner to be are to take advantage of a PACE program, the local government in which the property is located must opt into he program. Adopt the PACE program for your community. Sohr orojects for SMBs hme been dHcA to finanne became Went a gap ir troldtonal credit evaluation SMA general, don't have the formal InvestmerVIrade credit ratings of large corporations, nor the cornmerciai equivalent to the FiCO scores 59 a m ofKn he bmis A co nsu me r fi na r, cir.& RAO F -, noin g, 'wit h j n..Jerw�.,rlt focused on the property as opposed to the cash position of the business, over.,cornes the credit rating challenge for SKI.Bs and allows thern to tan advantage A solar savings. Solar leasing at a glance. 7ero ur)frort investment. Irrinnedate saYngs on energy Vs. Low, predictable rates. Rnalwing Med as tax assess rents vvith property. Anessment transfers with the property. No price escalation over tr�.e fe or we contract. 20,mr eoqy yodu0non guaronVe, Without SolarCity With SolarCity *Iflu'c-'njfi'1e eAamn[e, no-'�7clluo� ""Ivirfs How it works for the customer. > > I he pmr,ef ty _wrier�,Oka. ,Ciy custorr desipris. Through the. PACE So.ai Ci'.V monitors the A�ier 2u years.. he oviner signs a Solaf Lease, ir-k—alls and connect, 'he p, ogran-, the owner pays a sys4eni to ensure can siFn P ne,,,,, lease of have scila! power system to tre fixed assessment along with Pei formance v,,hi'e he The system rermwe-! . utility grid, property taxe.,, over the owner saves on energy costs next 23 How much can businesses save w'th solar? �av:r'Es can vary gr.-at'w d-n-nd i--1. on a bUs', ess' eiiergy 'cad, curs ert o S t c f povv e., and roof ava"able for olar. So:arf,-,ty offer bL'S:neSSeS a free analvsIs of :'.el ii le� energy bills o estirylate t e annownt of potentM ial sav',rgs a, d! to determire viv,� et� o. a i s an ec,-)ne,.,micallv v:aole option for tne, in i What type of businesses are suitable "or solar? Sr)larCO h.as enl-tfied bl'.awith f�ai s--ia-e n -e range ol- 5, 0l.i0 50,000 square feet as t: e target market for this opoortur'tv. Rooftoos of size can hold from. 30 Uo-,t,,atts o 5C-i 0 (i:ovvafts of solar oan What if the property is being leased? A Solar Lease requi:--es an agreenne!l' from the lDroperty ruvvneF. NAlost Droperty o-,,,vners, hovvever, real'7e t,e va:ue a izo:ar system ca- add �o ei, P,o-oe,lv Busi,-esse, 'n Me"', Can save or! leased pro i,,et -,'esshoj.ldtalk totl�e'ir 'andlard and let them know 4. t.-.eir ener2v bl:l vvii h no capital co— c H What it the owner decides to sell the property during the contract? No problem. Sf,.-,I-,3r leases are 11, e Itenned as dan assessi-nent or t h e P i o P e - t y Tax bill. o ul I el a �,.usiness choose to sell the'r bUilding. they may prepay the assessni.e.nt o., the assesSmem. vv":1 trans e' to the ne,,,v cvmer. ! CaLifornialFIRST SL--)-IarCT-Y SM EFFICIENCY FINANCING About Solar'Clitv Am1 solar energ\y O. de -on-pany ha,, dsrupted t::- certL,ry old energy Industry by pq,ov'd';,i,o relnevvabile eiectric"y d'rectiv to horneor -qers. lb:.as inesses a;,d rove r,r ,e,A o? oanizaticns for less than their spend o:rI Ultj it,,,; o.I.S Solar(C',ty &,�ves customers comrol o4 thei, energy roses to pfctert then fromrisingrates. The cornNany make solar energy eas,,/ by taking care of evervtri.ire from design and per,-nittir-12 a,,,d mainte-ance, About Californiai`;RST (Calhforria!F,RST is e of the ar�est :ACE fin-n6no- —:Dv:,der- :n at,,,rr wuse fcunder carve Lip the PAIt- F r and v,-s fi[ st it Feiner a P CL om,arri ir he United S"a'e5. Alameda • Alameda • Albany • Berkeley • Dublin • Emeryville • Fremont • Hayward • Livermore • Newark • Oakland • Piedmont • Pleasanton • San Leandro • Union City • Unincorporated County Butte • Chico • Unincorporated County Contra Costa • Antioch • Brentwood • Clayton • Concord • Danville • El Cerrito • Lafayette • Martinez • Oakley • Pinole • Pittsburg • Pleasant Hill • Richmond • San Pablo • San Ramon • Walnut Creek El Dorado • Placerville • South Lake Tahoe • Unincorporated County Fresno • Clovis • Firebaugh • Fowler • Fresno • Huron • Kerman • Kingsburg • Orange Cove • Reedley • San Joaquin • Sanger • Selma • Unincorporated County PARTICIPATING COUNTIES AND CITIES Humboldt • Arcata • Eureka • Unincorporated County Imperial • Unincorporated County Kern • Arvin • Bakersfield • Ridgecrest • Shafter • Taft • Wasco • Unincorporated County Kings • Hanford Los Angeles See page 2 for the list of eligible areas in LA County Madera • Unincorporated County Marin • Belvedere • Corte Madera • Fairfax • Larkspur • Mill Valley • Novato • Ross • San Anselmo • San Rafael • Tiburon • Unincorporated County Mendocino • Fort Bragg • Point Arena • Unincorporated County Merced • Unincorporated County Monterey • Carmel -By -The -Sea • Del Rey Oaks • Gonzales • Greenfield • King City • Marina • Monterey • Pacific Grove • Salinas • Sand City • Seaside • Soledad • Unincorporated County Napa • American Canyon • Calistoga • Napa • St. Helena • Yountville • Unincorporated County Nevada • Nevada City Orange • Aliso Viejo • Anaheim • Brea • Costa Mesa • Fountain Valley • La Habra • Laguna Beach • Lake Forest • Mission Viejo • Newport Beach • San Clemente • Santa Ana • Westminster Riverside • Beaumont Sacramento • Citrus Heights • Elk Grove • Galt • Rancho Cordova • Unincorporated County San Benito • Hollister • San Juan Bautista • Unincorp. County San Bernardino • Chino • Colton • Montclair • Rialto San Diego • Carlsbad • Chula Vista • Coronado • Del Mar • El Cajon • Encinitas • Escondido • Imperial Beach • La Mesa • Lemon Grove • National City • Oceanside • Poway • San Diego • San Marcos • Santee • Solana Beach • Vista • Unincorp. County San Francisco • San Francisco San Joaquin • Lodi • Manteca • Stockton • Tracy San Luis Obispo • Arroyo Grande • Atascadero • El Paso De Robles • Grover Beach • Morro Bay • San Luis Obispo • Unincorporated County San Mateo • Atherton • Belmont • Brisbane • Burlingame • Colma • Daly City • East Palo Alto • Foster City • Half Moon Bay • Hillsborough • Menlo Park • Millbrae • Pacifica • Portola Valley • Redwood City • San Bruno • San Carlos • San Mateo • South San Francisco • Woodside • Unincorporated County Santa Clara • Campbell • Cupertino • Gilroy • Los Altos • Los Altos Hills • Los Gatos • Milpitas • Monte Sereno • Morgan Hill • Mountain View • Palo Alto • San Jose • Santa Clara • Saratoga • Sunnyvale • Unincorporated County Santa Cruz • Capitola • Santa Cruz • Scotts Valley • Watsonville • Unincorp. County Shasta • Anderson • Unincorporated County Solano • Benicia • Dixon • Fairfield • Suisun City • Vacaville • Vallejo • Unincorporated County Sonoma • Cloverdale • Healdsburg • Petaluma • Rohnert Park • Sebastopol • Sonoma • Windsor • Unincorporated County Stanislaus • Modesto • Turlock • Waterford Sutter • Live Oak • Yuba City Tulare • Porterville • Visalia • Unincorporated County Ventura • Camarillo • Fillmore • Moorpark • Ojai • Oxnard • Port Hueneme • San Buenaventura • Santa Paula • Simi Valley • Thousand Oaks • Unincorporated County Yolo • Davis • West Sacramento • Winters • Woodland • Unincorporated County * Coming Soon CaLiforniaFIRST INEFFICIENCY FINANCING PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES WITH LOS ANGELES COUNTY • Agoura Hills Duarte Los Angeles Santa Fe Springs • Alhambra El Monte Lynwood Santa Monica • Arcadia ElSegundo Malibu Sierra Madre • Artesia Gardena Manhattan Beach Signal Hill • Avalon Glendale Monrovia South El Monte • Azusa Glendora Montebello South Gate • Baldwin Park Hawaiian Gardens Monterey Park South Pasadena • Bell Hawthorne Norwalk Temple City • Bell Gardens Hermosa Beach Palmdale Torrance • Bellflower Hidden Hills Palos Verdes Estates Walnut • Beverly Hills Huntington Park Paramount West Covina • Bradbury Industry Pasadena West Hollywood • Burbank Inglewood Pico Rivera Westlake Village • Calabasas Irwindale Pomona Whittier • Carson La Canada-Flintridge Rancho Palos Verdes Unincorporated County • Cerritos La Habra Heights Redondo Beach • Claremont La Mirada Rolling Hills • Commerce La Verne Rolling Hills Estates • Compton La Puente Rosemead • Covina Lakewood San Dimas • Cudahy Lancaster San Fernando • Culver City Lawndale San Gabriel • Diamond Bar Lomita San Marino • Downey Long Beach Santa Clarita * Coming Soon