Community Input Committee (CIC)
Background:
In a resolution dated April 2024, the CPS Energy Board of Trustees voted to replace and combine CPS Energy’s Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) and Rate Advisory Committee (RAC) into what is now the Community Input Committee (CIC). The CIC intends to facilitate the bi-directional flow of ideas and concerns between the community and the CPS Energy Board of Trustees and Management. The CIC will represent and communicate the views of the community and provide input on strategic objectives, key initiatives, and other CPS Energy business activities to the CPS Energy Board of Trustees and Management.
The CIC is a volunteer advisory group. Committee members do not receive compensation for their participation. CIC members are appointed to ensure that the committee is representative of a cross-section of individuals with diverse backgrounds and interests in the CPS Energy service area.
The CIC consists of nineteen (19) members. Ten members are nominated by each of San Antonio’s 10 City Council members, while five (5) at-large members are selected from applicants through interviews by the CIC Executive Committee. In addition, four (4) members represent each quadrant of the CPS Energy service area and are nominated by each board member. All CIC members must be customers of CPS Energy, reside in the utility’s service area, and are approved by the CPS Energy Board of Trustees.
Contact Information:
- Email: [email protected]
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1771 (Mail Drop: RT0301), San Antonio, TX 78296-1771
Mission:
To assemble diverse perspectives representing our community to evaluate and advise CPS Energy in its mission to serve our community through reliable, competitively priced, and sustainable energy services in an equitable manner by serving as liaisons with the community and communicating bi-directional input on business activities.
Vision:
To represent a broad constituency of the community, devote the necessary time to learn about the utility business, engage with members of our community, be respectful of the comments and views of others, and provide thoughtful input on issues, representing our community, and not partisan values and concerns.
Terms:
Appointment terms do not exceed two years from the date of the appointment. A member cannot serve more than three complete consecutive terms on the CIC, for a maximum of six total years.
Membership:
The 19 members of the CIC are appointed to ensure that the committee is representative of a cross-section of individuals with diverse backgrounds and interests in the CPS Energy service area.
- 10 members are recommended by their respective San Antonio City Council Members and reside within the boundaries of their corresponding City Council districts.
- 5 at-large members are CPS Energy customers living in the CPS Energy service area and are selected by the CIC. (at least 2 reside inside the utility’s service territory but outside the City of San Antonio city limits).
- 4 members are customers residing in each of the four geographical quadrants and are selected by the CPS Energy Board of Trustees.
The CPS Energy Board of Trustees approves all appointments to the CIC.
Meetings:
CIC Meeting Dates:
- December 6, 2024 at 9:00am
- January 8, 2025 at 11:30am
Sub-Committee Dates:
- November 13, 2024 at 11:30am
Meetings of the full CIC are open to the public, live-streamed, and the recordings are posted to this website. We welcome and encourage community input and participation. If you would like to attend a full CIC meeting in person please visit the CIC meetings page for all posted meeting times, agendas, and locations. To provide public input at a meeting, registration is available starting 5 days before the meeting and can be completed by phone (210-353-4662), email ([email protected]), or by writing (Attn: CIC Public Input P.O. Box 1771 San Antonio, Texas 78296). Provide your name, the organization you represent (if applicable), and the item you want to comment on. Please note, each speaker is limited to two minutes. If you are unable to attend the meeting but want to provide public input, your comments may still be submitted by email, phone, or in writing at any time.
Meet Our Community Input Committee (CIC)
Richard Farias
District 1 Representative
Farias is the current chair of the CIC Customer Relations and Communications subcommittee and is the Director of Annual Giving at the Alamo Colleges District. In this role, he leads charitable giving efforts that benefit the students of all five colleges within the organization. Previously, he has served in faculty and administrative roles at San Antonio College. He is a lifelong resident of San Antonio and is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity efforts through professional and volunteer service.
Lawson Picasso
District 2 Representative
Picasso currently chairs the CIC Rates, Finance, and Business subcommittee and works as a Communications and Public Involvement Coordinator for WSP USA, based in San Antonio, TX. With over 10 years of experience, Lawson has a diverse background in strategic marketing, communications, and advertising. In addition to her professional work, Lawson has dedicated her time to her community through involvement in local non-profit organizations focused on addressing the current inequities faced by seniors and those experiencing chronic homelessness.
Diana Aguirre Martinez
District 3 Representative Chair
Aguirre Martinez is the current committee chair of the CIC and works as the Office Administrator for the Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence. She is a lifelong resident of District 3, and serves as the President of the Association of Women in Communication-San Antonio Chapter, a Posada Guadalupe Board member, and serves the community as a member of various non-profit organizations. Ms. Aguirre Martinez holds a master's degree in Communication Arts from the University of the Incarnate Word.
Frank Gonzalez
District 4 Representative
Gonzalez is the Area Manager for Alpha Environmental Management Company and is active in environmental conservation efforts in the San Antonio area and Texas. He also volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and Building A Purpose and serves as a mentor with Communities In Schools.
Dr. Julian Villarreal
District 5 Representative
Villarreal was born in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in 2007. His professional experience includes working as a scientific consultant. He has also worked as a lecturer in physics and a researcher at UTSA. Villarreal has been affiliated with the Bexar County Green Party and Climate Action SA.
Raquel Zapata
District 6 Representative
Zapata is the Director of Business Development and Compliance for Great Hearts Online. She has lived in San Antonio for 40+ years and is a member of the SAPD Civilian Advisory Review Board, among other community and civic organizations.
Dr. Adelita Cantu
District 7 Representative
Cantu, PhD, RN, FAAN is an Associate Professor at the School of Nursing, UT Health San Antonio. Dr. Cantu is a board member of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments and is Chair of the Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility.
John Kelly
District 8 Representative
Past Chair
Kelly, retired, currently serves as the President of Crownridge of Texas Owners Association. Prior to retirement, he was a 34-year employee with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), having served as the San Antonio region’s District Engineer for ten years. Following his TxDOT retirement, Kelly consulted for AECOM & CH2M engineering companies. Today he enjoys spoiling his grandchildren and traveling.
Tom Corser
District 9 Representative
Corser is retired from a career in the technology industry, most recently working with Juniper Networks based in Sunnyvale California where he led a transformation from hardware to software/cloud based offerings. He has lived in San Antonio for 4 years, prior to relocating from New Jersey where he was active in many civic and township boards and commissions.
Vanessa Alvarado
District 10 Representative
Alvarado is a native San Antonian and attended UTSA where she studied business administration. Alvarado serves as a Board Member for the Bexar County Election Integrity Board as well as a member of the 2022 State Delegation SD25, Nomination Committee. She is active in her community serving on various neighborhood association and school board committees.
Christopher Fullerton
Quadrant 1 Representative
Fullerton is an independent researcher and advisor, Attorney at law (Georgia and Massachusetts), with experience in trust/estate matters, land use regulations, ag/irrigation/conservation, and international and historic preservation. He holds a BA in Art History from Yale University, a JD from the University of Georgia, School of Law, an MA in historic preservation from the University of Georgia, a certificate in water policy from the University of Arizona, and studied Theology at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. He has sat on numerous boards and commissions, including the CPS Energy Rate Advisory Committee
Sara Villarreal
Quadrant 2 Representative
Villareal is a San Antonio native and seasoned international business executive with a passion for driving positive change. Having lived in multiple countries, Sara has developed a deep understanding of global markets and cultural nuances. With a bachelor’s degree in economics and accounting from Claremont McKenna College and an executive education certificate through Columbia Business School and Berkeley Haas School of Business, she has honed her skills in strategy and innovation. Committed to making a difference, she is a strong advocate of equitable access to high-quality education and actively gives back to her community through mentorship, philanthropy and nonprofit board work.
Frank Dunn
Quadrant 3 Representative
Dunn, a local business owner, and former CPS Energy employee has been actively involved in the San Antonio community for over 30 years and served as a board member of the Ella Austin Community Center, mentored youth through the David Robinson mentorship program, served as president of 100 Black Men San Antonio and volunteers with the San Antonio chapter of the NAACP.
Peter Onofre
Quadrant 4 Representative
Onofre, a lifelong resident of San Antonio, is a retired City of San Antonio employee, with over 20 years of service. He is very active in the community and is a past chair of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce International Business Committee, facilitated the design and construction of the San Antonio 9/11 memorial, served on numerous boards and committees including the Bexar County Blue Ribbon Child Abuse Prevention Task Force, the CPS Energy Rate Advisory Committee, and the COSA Housing Bond Committee.
Members at Large:
Andra Clapsaddle
Member at Large
Clapsaddle is a retired Air Force Colonel having served in the engineering field for 28 years. She is the sole proprietor of Clapsaddle Consulting, providing strategic planning and programming expertise to the federal government, architectural-engineering firms, and non-profit agencies. She is a recent graduate of the Master’s Leadership Program San Antonio, and is now dedicating herself to serving on non-profit boards.
Bob Zapata
Member at Large
Zapata is a retired chemical engineer with over 30 years in the oil and gas industry. He has extensive project management experience having held leadership and support roles on various major projects. Additionally, Zapata is experienced in cyber security and process control and improvement. He has resided in San Antonio for 8 years and is active in the community.
Aaron Stein
Member at Large
Stein is a Project Manager with Pacific Northwest National Lab, focused on energy and climate resiliency initiatives. His previous professional roles include Director of Energy & Sustainability at the San Antonio Independent School District, Market Outreach Specialist at CLEAResult, and the Sr. Energy Analyst at the City of San Antonio. Stein has a Master of Public Administration and BA in Anthropology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and is a Certified Energy Manager through the Association of Energy Engineers.
Steve Bonnette
Member at Large
Bonnette is the current chair of the CIC power and technology subcommittee and is a retired Civil Engineer with over 40 years in the consulting industry in Texas and Louisiana, most recently with Pape-Dawson Engineers in San Antonio. He has resided in San Antonio for 24 years and is active in regional, state and local boards and committees.
Maria Nelson
Member at Large
Nelson is a professional Urban Planner and active community advocate who has participated in the Mayors Housing Policy Task Force, the Office of Urban Redevelopment SA, Leadership San Antonio, and the Alexander Briseno Leadership Development Program. She sits on the SMPS San Antonio Board, and the Urban Land Institute Board and is certified by the Texas Department of Transportation in Socio-Economic and Environmental Justice Analyses. She holds a BS in Architecture from Texas Tech University and an MS in Urban and Regional Planning from The University of Texas at San Antonio and studied abroad at the College of Architecture, Berlin, Germany, the Classical & Modern Languages & Literatures Seville, Spain and the College of Architecture, Paris, France.
