City of Columbia, Missouri

Meeting Minutes - Final

City Council

Conference Room

1A/1B

Monday, October 21, 2024

5:00 PM

Pre-Council

Columbia City Hall

701 E. Broadway

I. CALL TO ORDER

Buffalo called the meeting to order approximately 5:00 pm.

7 - Buffaloe, Foster, Lovelady, Waterman, Meyer, Peters, and Carroll

Present:

This item is open to the public: Electric Transmission Project

Discussion

Attachments: IERMP Task Force Report to the City Council

CWL Volume 1 - Integrated Resource Plan

CWL Volume 2 - Master Plan (redacted)

Substation Improvements & Transmission System Upgrade

Recommendations

Utilities Director, David Sorrell began his presentation over the electric transmission

system. The utilities department is asking Council if they wish to continue the

transmission change program.

Sorrell showed a map of the system in Columbia and also explained the color coding. He

also went over the timeline of the transmission update. A ballot initiative was approved in

2015 and an electric engineering firm was hired to carry out the work. He explained that a

task force was created to work on the master plan as well as the transmission system.

Sorrell went over the projects and transmissions that are about to be updated. Please

refer to the presentation to view the list.

The current system meets the current regulatory requirements. He explained that the

changes in regulations, populations, and electrification will need to have updates and

these updates will need to be able to sustain large load requests like data centers,

electrifications, and firm powers for the universities.

Sorrel explained the times the system would have to be shut down. These would include

hot days or accidents involving power lines.

Buffalo motioned to adjourn and go into closed session at 5:10 pm. Seconded by

Meyer. The motion approved unanimously.

The open portion of the meeting was called back into session at approximately 5:33 pm.

Sorrel provided information about the transmissions in need of the most updates and the

costs for each transmissions. Buffalo asked questions about the changes in

transmissions and the reasons for shutting down all four transmissions at the same time.

Sorrell said that they might consider building a new transmission line between the Perche

Creek and Grindstone transmissions but indicated it will be quite difficult to construct to

replace certain structures and add new structures as the work can only be done in the

spring and fall. Thus, this will take about 8 to 10 years.

The third alternative is to go to Perche Mill Creek to Grindstone. It would cost about $22

million dollars. This option would be easier and would not be as intrusive to other

people’s properties, however there is no anticipation for adding a new substation.

Waterman asked about the Siemens Report and the options presented.

Peters asked about the cost to have the transmission lines being placed underground.

Sorrel said that would cost about 6 to 10 times as much. It depends on the type of soil

and underground materials.

Meyer asked what the cost would be if nothing was done. Sorrell said that utilities meet

all federal requirements but it would be best to prepare for the future.

Foster asked about the changes in electrification. Sorrel stated it would be best for more

electrification if the city was more prepared. The university would like to use more

renewable energies and the city would need to be able to accommodate that. The city

had to turn down two data centers due to electricity shortcomings.

Sorrel then went over the grant funding and remaining bond authorization and grants they

are exploring.

Buffalo implored Utilities to continue analyzing the costs. Buffalo asked what would be

needed to get more information. Sorrell said he needed time to get costs and a timeline

prepared.

Foster urged action on the issue of transmissions to the rest of the council. Waterman

agreed that more information was needed before the council could proceed. Meyer said

she felt the community is concerned about utilities taking on big projects like the one

mentioned. Peters asked about privatizing portions of the electricity to MISO or Boone

Electric to cut costs.

Waterman noted the loss of economic benefit of not being able to accommodate certain

businesses.

Council and Staff had a brief discussion.

This item is open to the public: Motion for City Council to go into closed

session to discuss:

- Existing or proposed security systems and structural plans of real

property owned or leased by a public governmental body, and information

that is voluntarily submitted by a nonpublic entity owning or operating an

infrastructure to any public governmental body for use by that body to

devise plans for protection of that infrastructure, the public disclosure of

which would threaten public safety. The disclosure of such information

would impair the city's ability to protect the security or safety of persons or

real property and the public interest in nondisclosure outweighs the public

interest in disclosure of the information to be discussed pursuant to Section

610.021(19) RSMo.

At approximately 5:09 p.m., Mayor Buffaloe made a motion for the City Council of

the City of Columbia, Missouri, to immediately go into a closed meeting in

Conference Room 1A/1B of City Hall to discuss existing or proposed security

systems and structural plans of real property owned or leased by a public

governmental body, and information that is voluntarily submitted by a nonpublic

entity owning or operating an infrastructure to any public governmental body for

use by that body to devise plans for protection of that infrastructure, the public

disclosure of which would threaten public safety - the disclosure of such

information would impair the city's ability to protect the security or safety of

persons or real property and the public interest in nondisclosure outweighs the

public interest in disclosure of the information to be discussed - pursuant to

Section 610.021(19) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. The motion was seconded

by Council Member Meyer.

This item is closed to the public: Closed Meeting in Conference Room

1A/1B

At approximately 5:10 p.m., the City Council went into closed session in Conference

Room 1A/1B pursuant to RSMo Section 610.021(19).

The City Council adjourned the closed meeting and returned to the open portion of the

meeting at approximately 5:33 p.m.

II. OTHER ITEMS COUNCIL MAY WISH TO DISCUSS

None.

III. ADJOURNMENT

The Pre Council meeting adjourned at approximately 6:28 p.m.