City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes  
Climate and Environment Commission  
701 E Broadway  
Tuesday, May 23, 2023  
Regular  
City Council Chambers  
6:00 PM  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
Leanne Tippett Mosby called the meeting to order at 6:01 PM.  
Staff: Eric Hempel (Sustainability), Becca Elder (Sustainability), Brandon Renaud (City  
Utilities), Todd McVicker (City Utilities), John Simon (Building and Site Development)  
Members of the Public: Melinda Hemmelgarn  
10 -  
Present:  
Linda Godwin, Ryan Kaufmann, Matthew Ludden, Leanne Tippett Mosby, Annette  
Triplett, Dick Parker, Abra Spisso, Jessica Norris, David Adams and David Huhman  
5 -  
Excused:  
Joseph Barnett, Jacquelyn Sample, Roni Becherer, Emily Gustafson and Raymond  
Holland  
II. INTRODUCTIONS  
Members, staff, and guests introduced themselves around the room.  
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Eric Hempel suggested moving the Pesticide Drift Update agenda item to after special  
items.  
Motion to approve the agenda as amended: Dick Parker  
Second: Abra Spisso  
Motion carried.  
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
TMP-24488  
April 2023 CEC Meeting Minutes Draft  
Attachments: April 2023 CEC Minutes_Draft  
It was stated that Jessica Norris' name needed to be added to the motion text under the  
April agenda item "Alternative Electric Rate Proposal- Jim Windsor". The minutes were  
approved as amended.  
Motion to approve the minutes as amended: Leanne Tippett Mosby  
Second: Dick Parker  
Matthew Ludden and Abra Spisso abstained  
Motion carried.  
V. SPECIAL ITEMS  
TMP-24438  
Presentation of Renewable Energy Plan - Brandon Renaud, City Utilities  
Attachments: 2023-Renewable-Energy-Plan  
Brandon Renaud, the Utility Services Manager for the City of Columbia Utilities,  
discussed the 2023 Renewable Energy Plan. Renaud reported that the utility's renewable  
energy percentage for calendar year 2022 was 18.15%, surpassing the goal of 15%, with  
an increase in energy supplied from Truman Solar and Crystal Lake Wind Farm. Renaud  
discussed increased costs for renewable energy, renewable energy contracts, renewable  
energy infrastructure, and net metering.  
VI. OLD BUSINESS  
TMP-24441  
Pesticide Drift Update  
Eric Hempel reported that the pesticide drift topic was brought up at a City Development  
Group meeting, and that Parks & Recreation staff is compiling staff questions and a staff  
opinion by June 2nd as a first step. It was suggested that an interested Parks &  
Recreation staff member be invited to attend a CEC meeting. Melinda Hemmelgarn stated  
that Jay Feldman would be the new contact person for City Staff, and gave a recap of her  
previous presentation at the March CEC meeting.  
TMP-24439  
Climate and Environment Commission Annual Report (discuss any final  
clarifications or minor edits)  
Attachments: 5.17Draft - 2022 CAAP Report  
2023 CEC Priorities Matrix Draft  
CEC annual rep 2022  
It was identified that the CEC's adoption of the consensus statement should be added to  
the status for Housing, Building, and Development action 1.4.1 on the priority matrix.  
TMP-24440  
Ad Hoc IECC Committee Consensus Statement  
Attachments: BCCC-CEC ad hoc group consensus statement  
The consensus statement from the May 8, 2023 Ad Hoc IECC (International Energy  
Codes Commission) Committee meeting was shown. The statement was: "It is the  
consensus of this ad hoc committee to recommend to City Council forgoing adoption of  
the 2021 Energy code and focus instead on reviewing the 2024 Energy code in  
anticipation that the 2024 code would provide additional flexibility and more benefit for  
investments made".  
Leanne Tippett Mosby motioned that the commission adopt the statement- the statement  
could not be changed, so needed to be either approved or declined by the commission.  
The statement was discussed, and members stated reasons for their support and  
opposition. John Simon made a statement that the 2024 code's scope and intent was  
revised to better analyze cost and benefits, and to provide much more flexibility for  
builders to be creative and achieve goals without changing construction techniques as  
much as required by the 2021 IECC code.  
Tippett Mosby voiced support of reducing costly requirements that do not result in much  
benefit and instead providing opportunities for creativity and flexibility for builders.  
CEC member Ryan Kauffman, who took part in the ad hoc committee, voiced support of  
the statement. Kauffmann stated that while not approving the 2021 IECC may not be  
aligned with the CAAP (Climate Action and Adaptation Plan), changes since the writing  
of the CAAP four years ago, such as supply chain issues, result in his support of the  
proposed statement and the 2024 code ultimately having more potential for success.  
CEC member Dick Parker, who also took part in the ad hoc IECC committee, but was  
not present at the May 8th, 2023 meeting where the statement was developed, voiced  
disapproval of the ad hoc statement, as it is his belief that the CEC's responsibility is to  
stand up for reducing greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible. John Simon  
clarified that the 2024 IECC code will likely be complete by the end of 2023.  
John Simon stated hopes of moving the process forward faster in the future via strong  
collaboration. Leanne Tippett Mosby stated a preference for collaboration throughout the  
process of code adoption rather than a reactive collaboration.  
A question was asked about the potential use of Inflation Reduction Act funds to assist in  
a stronger code implementation. Staff responded that rebates are available currently, that  
funds are available for communities who have adopted the 2021 code or higher, and that  
the funding has broad opportunity, and that funds could go to cities for implementation or  
to builders.  
Dick Parker read his proposal to the commission: "I propose that the City adopt the  
energy efficiency portion of the international building code for 2021."  
Motion to adopt the consensus statement from the May 8th, 2023 Ad Hoc IECC  
Committee Meeting " “It is the consensus of this ad hoc committee to recommend  
to City Council forgoing adoption of the 2021 Energy code and focus instead on  
reviewing the 2024 Energy code in anticipation that the 2024 code would provide  
additional flexibility and more benefit for investments made.” : Leanne Tippett  
Mosby  
Second: Brent Adams  
In favor: Leanne Tippett Mosby, Annette Triplett, Matthew Ludden, Brent Adams,  
Linda Godwin, Abra Spisso, Ryan Kaufmann, Jessica Norris  
Opposed: Dick Parker and David Huhman  
Motion carried.  
TMP-24442  
MRF Tour  
Members discussed planning details for an upcoming tour of the MRF.  
VII. NEW BUSINESS  
TMP-24443  
CAAP Community Engagement Event  
Members discussed planning a community engagement event for the fall.  
VIII. TASK UPDATES  
Leanne Tippett Mosby stated that the letter that the CEC adopted to send to the Tree  
Board at the January CEC meeting was recently sent.  
Jessica Norris suggested a task to to review Columbia's policy as it relates to water  
management (natural resource water) for opportunities to reach better alignment with the  
CAAP by the August 2023 CEC meeting. Jessica Norris volunteered to lead this task.  
IX. STAFF REPORT  
Eric Hempel shared drafts of the the Annual CAAP Report and the GHG Inventory Report  
with the commission. Other updates included:  
2022 benchmarking data will be uploaded soon to the como.gov website.  
Eric Hempel gave a presentation to the Mid-Missouri Green Building Chapter  
presentation. This group is interested in working together with the City and other  
commissions like the CEC on sustainability issues such as energy efficiency. The library  
also has their own sustainability group.  
A commercial energy efficiency training was held in May at the library, and a residential  
energy efficiency training focused on code compliance options will be held the last week  
of May.  
The first community resilience forum was held on May 23rd by the Office of Sustainability  
and was facilitated by the Community Resilience Organizer, Corrina McClee.  
TMP-24494  
2022 GHG Inventory Report- Rough Draft  
Attachments: 2022 Greenhouse Gas Inventory DRAFT  
X. CHAIR REPORT  
Leanne Tippett Mosby shared that she had received an email from Jordan Bales, a senior  
planner at the City of Columbia, requesting up to two CEC members to serve on a focus  
group assessing how the built environment affects human health. Matthew Ludden and  
Linda Godwin expressed interest.  
XI. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF  
Dick Parker stated that he had forwarded a copy of the first quarter's renewable energy  
report from the Water and Light Advisory Board for the commissioners to see, which  
shows an increase in renewable energy.  
XII. NEXT MEETING DATE  
TMP-24444  
June 27th, 2023  
XIII. ADJOURNMENT  
The meeting was adjourned at 7:43 PM.  
Motion to adjourn: Matthew Ludden  
Second: Abra Spisso  
Motion passed unanimously.  
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)