City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes  
Climate and Environment Commission  
701 E Broadway  
Wednesday, March 29, 2023  
Regular  
City Council Chambers  
6:00 PM  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
Leanne Tippett Mosby called the meeting to order at 6:05 PM.  
Staff: Eric Hempel (Sustainability), Becca Elder (Sustainability); John Simon  
(Community Development), Todd McVicker (Utilities)  
Members of the public: Rick Shanker, Nikki, Melinda Hemmelgarn, Dan Hemmelgarn  
II. INTRODUCTIONS  
Present:  
Members, staff, and guests introduced themselves around the room.  
11 -  
Linda Godwin, Ryan Kaufmann, Matthew Ludden, Leanne Tippett Mosby, Dick  
Parker, Abra Spisso, Roni Becherer, Jessica Norris, Emily Gustafson, David Adams  
and David Huhman  
4 - Annette Triplett, Joseph Barnett, Jacquelyn Sample and Raymond Holland  
Excused:  
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Motion to approve the agenda: Dick Parker  
Second: Matthew Ludden  
Motion passed unanimously.  
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
Motion to approve the minutes: Emily Gustafson  
Second: Linda Godwin  
Abra Spisso abstained; motion carried.  
TMP-23889  
February 2023 CEC Meeting Minutes Draft  
Pesticide Drift- Melinda Hemmelgarn  
Attachments: February 2023 CEC Minutes_Draft  
V. SPECIAL ITEMS  
TMP-23890  
Attachments: Commission on climate and environment - pesticides - Hemmelgarn  
Pesticides, Climate, Environment Resource List.docx  
Organic Land Management _ActionPlan.2023_Columbia MO  
(002).docx  
Planning a Garden - for Westmount Neighbors - 2  
Melinda Hemmelgarn presented on the risks of pesticides on babies and children,  
pregnant women, and pollinators. Hemmelgarn spoke about Beyond Pesticides as a  
potential solution to pesticide use in the Columbia community. The potential benefits of  
organic land management were discussed. Hemmelgarn spoke about the chemicals used  
by the City of Columbia and suggested that the CEC recommend that the City  
Council/Mayor sign up for a free pilot program with Beyond Pesticides that would provide  
an 8 hour training to City staff. Hemmelgarn's presentation is attached as "Commission  
on climate and environment - pesticides - Hemmelgarn." Additional information provided  
by Hemmelgarn is also attached.  
Chair Leanne Tippett Mosby thanked Hemmelgarn for presenting and said that the  
commission members should review the materials shared and be prepared to discuss  
this at the April CEC meeting if there is room on the April agenda.  
Members and staff discussed asking City staff for input on the subject. Staff member Eric  
Hempel volunteered to reach out to other City staff about this.  
TMP-23891  
Building Construction Codes Commission (BCCC) Action on 2021  
International Energy Codes Commission codes- Richard Shanker  
Rick Shanker was speaking as a resident of Columbia rather than as a representative of  
the Building Construction Codes Commission (BCCC). Shanker described the process of  
reviewing and updating codes in the City of Columbia and spoke about modifying the  
electrical code due to supply chain problems and affordability.  
Climate and Environment Commissions (CEC) members asked questions about supply  
chain issues and changes.  
City staff member John Simon spoke about recent supply issues in Columbia, and stated  
that the 2024 code review could start next year. It was stated that the International  
Energy Conservation Code made some changes to the scope of the code to be less cost  
intensive.  
Leanne Tippett Mosby spoke about the ad hoc committee on the 2021 EICC. She said  
there were concerns about the cost versus benefit of some of the items in the code,  
including the extra insulation requirements. Therefore, she said her recommendation at  
this time is to move to reviewing the 2024 code now instead of moving forward with the  
2021 code at this point.  
Members discussed a review of John Simon's report and the 2024 IECC code.  
VI. OLD BUSINESS  
TMP-23892  
Vice Chair Elections  
Jessica Norris was elected as the Vice Chair of the Climate and Environment  
Commission.  
Motion to nominate Jessica Norris to serve as Vice Chair of the Climate and  
Environment Commission: Leanne Tippett Mosby  
Second: Ryan Kaufmann  
Motion passed unanimously.  
TMP-23893  
Climate and Environment Commission Annual Report  
Attachments: CEC 2022 annual report draft materials  
Edits on 2022 CEC Priorities Final  
CAAP 2021 Annual Report  
Leanne Tippett Mosby presented draft materials for the CEC’s annual report on 2022,  
attached as "CEC 2022 annual report draft materials." Commission members were asked  
to look at the draft thoroughly and send comments to Leanne Tippett Mosby so that a  
polished draft can be completed at the April meeting.  
Commission members went through the priorities table that was in the attached 2021  
CAAP (Climate Action & Adaptation Plan) Annual Report beginning on page 19. The table  
with the markups (action steps highlighted in yellow and removals in red) is attached as  
"Edits on 2022 CEC Priorities Final." The priorities for the 2022 annual report will be  
refined at the April 2023 CEC meeting.  
The commission discussed adding new priorities for 2023, specifically for transportation  
strategies T-1.2 and T-1.5.  
VII. NEW BUSINESS  
TMP-23894  
Climate and Environment Commission Field Trips Discussion (e.g. energy  
production facilities)  
Commission members discussed potential locations for the commission to visit.  
Members expressed the most interest in seeing the Material Recovery Facility first. The  
commission also discussed touring City Hall, the University, and the bioreactor.  
TMP-23895  
Natural Gas Rebate Proposal  
Attachments: GHG rebate proposal.docx  
RATIONALE for GHG REBATE FY14.docx  
Markup_The Climate and Environment Commission Rebate  
Dick Parker read the statement on the “GHG rebate proposal.docx” attachment, which  
was a suggested statement for the CEC to pass. Parker explained the proposal and the  
need for natural gas rebates, which is also detailed in “RATIONALE for GHG REBATE  
FY14.” Parker estimated that this approach would add $400-$500 to the rebates.  
Members discussed the statement. Staff member Todd McVicker provided context on  
natural gas rebate revisions and stated that the City of Columbia Utility and the Water  
and Light Advisory Board will be reviewing the incentive programs.  
CEC members edited the proposed statement and voted to approve the edited statement.  
The version with the markups is attached as "Markup_The Climate and Environment  
Commission Rebate".  
Motion that the Climate and Environment Commission adopt the statement in the  
document titled "GHG rebate proposal.docx": Dick Parker  
Second: Ryan Kaufmann  
Motion was withdrawn.  
Motion that The Climate and Environment Commission recommends that, among  
the incentives for energy reduction, Columbia Water & Light consider a rebate  
based upon the quantity of GHG reduction that will be achieved by replacing  
natural gas using equipment with electricity using equipment: Dick Parker  
Second: Ryan Kaufmann  
Motion passed unanimously.  
TMP-23896  
Earth Day  
Members discussed the upcoming Earth Day event and logistics related to the  
commissions' booth at the event, including printing materials and members volunteering  
to work the booth.  
VIII. TASK UPDATES  
IX. STAFF REPORT  
There were no task updates.  
Eric Hempel's staff report included the following:  
Staff are preparing a rental energy efficiency engagement report to City Council.  
The Office of Sustainability has hired a Community Resilience Organizer to continue next  
steps of Show Me the Heat.  
There is an opening in the Office of Sustainability for a full time Environmental Programs  
Coordinator.  
The Community Conservationist, Danielle Fox, is finalizing a story map for the Show Me  
the Heat Campaign.  
Staff are reviewing grant opportunities.  
Commission members are asked to share electronic copies of any materials they would  
like shared at meetings so that virtual attendees can view them and so they can easily be  
added to the minutes.  
X. CHAIR REPORT  
Leanne Tippett Mosby told the commission about an upcoming webinar that would be  
sent out.  
XI. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF  
A local plant sale was announced.  
It was clarified that the natural gas statement the commission had voted to approve  
should be sent to the Water & Light Advisory Board and Columbia Water & Light.  
XII. NEXT MEETING DATE  
April 25th, 2023 at 6 PM in City Council Chambers.  
XIII. ADJOURNMENT  
The meeting was adjourned at 8:46 PM.  
Motion to adjourn: Matthew Ludden  
Second: Jessica Norris  
Motion passed unanimously.  
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disability, please call 573-874-CITY (573-874-2489) or email CITY@CoMo.gov. In order to assist staff in  
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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)