City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes  
Water and Light Advisory Board  
701 E Broadway  
Wednesday, October 25, 2023  
6:00 PM  
Public Input  
Council Chambers  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
Mr. Gregg Coffin called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  
Staff: David Sorrell, Utilities Director; Sarah Talbert, Assistant Utilities Director;  
Shawn Carrico, Engineering Supervisor; Brandon Renaud, Utility Services Manager;  
Todd McVicker, Utility Services Supervisor; Ben Edes, Utility Services Supervisor;  
Erin Keys, Assistant Sewer & Storm Water Director; Matthew Nestor, Public  
Information Specialist; Christina Stock, Administrative Technician II  
Public: Mark Haim, Howard Fenster, McKenzie Ortiz, Jim Windsor, Mike Murphy,  
Betsy Peters, Jay Hasheider  
5 - Thomas Jensen, David Switzer, Gregg Coffin, Philip Fracica and Amanda Jacobs  
Present:  
II. INTRODUCTIONS  
Mr. Gregg Coffin did a round robin for introductions.  
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Mr. Thomas Jensen made a motion to approve the agenda as submitted with a  
second by Ms. Amanda Jacobs. Motion passed unanimously.  
IV. WLAB OVERVIEW - PURPOSE and AUTHORITY  
Mr. Gregg Coffin explains the role of the WLAB and that the purpose it to advise on  
utility operations. They are an advisory only and don’t make decisions on how utilities  
operate.  
V. CITY'S COMMUNITY SOLAR PRESENTATION  
Mr. Brandon Renaud provides a presentation with slides on the Community Solar  
program, which will make solar energy accessible to owner occupied and rental  
properties for residential electric customers. Customers will be able to sign up for 1  
block of solar from a combination of solar from the Truman and Bernadette Fields  
beginning January 1, 2024. For more information, please visit  
ColumbiaPowerPartners.com or call (573)874-CITY(2489).  
VI. UTILITY RATE AFFORDABILITY METRICS  
Mr. David Switzer discusses Utility Rate Affordability Metrics and is looking at  
different ways of measuring rate structures and what the best fits are for the  
community. He states that there will be a meeting in City Hall 1A & 1B tomorrow  
10/26/2023 at 1:00 p.m. to discuss metrics and different ways of affordability further.  
VII. ENERGY EFFICIENCY and DEMAND REDUCTION OPPORTUNITIES  
Mr. Thomas Jensen provides a presentation with slides on IRA (Inflation Reduction  
Act) tax credits that are available for home owners through 2032. Percentages vary  
for improvements ranging from heating & cooling to water heating and windows and  
door tax credits. These tax credits can be coupled with the City of Columbia’s Energy  
Efficiency rebate programs. For information on federal income tax credits and  
incentives for energy efficiency home improvements, please visit energystar.gov.  
Mr. Todd McVicker provides a presentation with slides on the City’s residential  
energy conservation programs. These include the Home Performance program with  
rebates of up to $1,200 and loans of up to $15,000 with interest rates as low as 1%  
for installing energy conservation measures. Rebates of up to $1,600 for qualifying air  
conditioner and heat pump replacements and rebates of up to $500 for qualifying  
electric vehicle chargers are available. Free residential energy assessments and income  
eligible energy conservation programs are available as well.  
Mr. Ben Edes provides a presentation with slides on the City’s commercial and  
industrial energy conservation programs. The highest participation is in the Lighting  
Incentive program, where participants replace inefficient lighting with LED lighting.  
These rebates are based on demand (kW) reduction. Rebates for qualifying air  
conditioner and heat pump replacements, motors and drives, and custom rebate  
programs are also available.  
Other rebate programs include both residential and commercial solar installations, and  
water conservations programs like WaterSense certified toilet replacements and  
irrigation controllers and rain sensors at homes and businesses. Utility staff are  
evaluating new energy conservation programs as well. For information on all available  
residential and commercial programs and rebates, please visit  
ColumbiaPowerPartners.com or call (573)874-CITY(2489).  
VIII. PUBLIC INPUT OPPORTUNITIES  
Regular Meetings - 2nd Wednesday of the month at 8:00 a.m.  
Email at wlabpublic@CoMo.gov  
IX. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF  
Mr. Gregg Coffin asks that comments be kept to 3 minutes. Mark Haim, Director of  
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Mid-Missouri Peaceworks, speaks on behalf of the organization, and says that he  
gets the sense that we’re in a handbasket and no one knows where we’re going with  
the climate emergency and that it’s rarely talked about. There is a need to cut  
greenhouse emissions with urgency in this decade, and the easiest way to reduce it is  
to go to 100% renewable energy. He urges people to please take it seriously and  
make a difference together. Mr. Jim Windsor states that if you want to encourage  
efficiency and climate change you need to do something significant. He thinks that  
loans and rebates are not a good idea, and thinks interest rates should change so that  
they decline. He is also concerned about electric vehicle chargers without AMI  
(advanced metering infrastructure) in place. Mr. Jay Hasheider states that when he  
was on the board, he had proposed that the utility put how much carbon dioxide is  
emitted on its bills, and that the mayor brought up the same idea. It was supposed to  
be looked at and brought into focus how much is emitted and nudged to do  
something. Mr. Thomas Jensen mentions that we use different fuel sources and that  
makes it harder to track carbon, though he thought it was a great idea to push  
forward.  
X. ADJOURNMENT  
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m on a motion by Mr. Thomas Jensen with a  
second by Mr. Philip Fracica. Motion passed unanimously.  
To submit questions or comments to the Water & Light Advisory Board, please email  
wlabpublic@como.gov. All media inquiries should be submitted to Matt Nestor at  
Matthew.Nestor@como.gov.  
Members of the public may attend any open meeting. For requests for accommodations related to  
disability, please call 573-874-CITY (573-874-2489) or email CITY@CoMo.gov. In order to assist staff in  
making the appropriate arrangements for your accommodation, please make your request as far in  
advance of the posted meeting date as possible.  
USB DRIVES PROHIBITED: Due to cybersecurity concerns, flash drives and other media devices  
are no longer permitted for delivering files or presentation materials. A speaker who desires to  
display a presentation must upload the presentation, in advance, to the city network using an  
upload portal. To upload your files and learn more, visit CoMo.gov/upload. (Effective Jan. 1,  
2023)