1 MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL - SPECIAL MEETING (WORKSHOP)
CITY OF BANNING, CALIFORNIA
May 12, 2026 Council Chambers
4:00 p.m. 99 E. Ramsey Street
In Chambers Banning, CA 92220
The following information comprises the minutes for the special meeting of the Banning City Council, a joint meeting of the City Council and Banning Utility Authority, and the Banning City Council sitting in its capacity as the Banning Successor Agency Board.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Pro Tem Cynthia Barrington Council Member Sheri Flynn
Council Member Leroy Miller
Mayor Richard Royce
Council Member Colleen Wallace
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Phaedra Norton, Assistant City Attorney Elizabeth Gibbs, City Manager
Arturo Vela, Director of Public Works
Vickie Sellers, City Clerk
Sandra Calderon, Deputy City Clerk
1. CALL TO ORDER – 4:17 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBER PRESENT ABSENT
Barrington, Cindy X
Flynn, Sheri X
Miller, Leroy X
Royce, Richard X
Wallace, Colleen X
2. WORKSHOP
2.1 Parks and Recreation Commission Interviews for Position 1 Recommendation: Conduct interviews to fill Parks and Recreation Commission vacancy for Position 1, term ending January 31, 2029.
Monette Hamilton and Cheryce Cobbs were interviewed by the Council on their knowledge of the Parks and Recreation Commission’s roles and responsibilities for City Services.
2.2 Discussion of the City of Banning Electric Utility's Electric System Master Plan Recommendation: Receive the presentation regarding the Electric System Master Plan Brandon Robinson, from Banning Electric Utility presented the 2026-2045 Electric System Master Plan. The plan aims to provide long-term goals for the electric distribution system, analyze load 2 growth, and guide system improvements with cost estimates. The last master plan was completed in 2004 and spanned until 2014. The current master plan involved a four-phase approach: system assessment, load forecast, system analysis, and drafting the plan document.
The master plan identified several key areas for improvement:
● System Infrastructure: Enhancements are needed to support expansion and load growth. ● Pole Inspection Program: A comprehensive inspection and replacement program for utility poles is crucial, as many are over 60-70 years old. ● Reliability and Efficiency: Improvements to the distribution system, such as replacing aging conductors and installing reclosers, are recommended. ● Regulatory Compliance: Consideration of wildfire mitigation, grid hardening, and electric vehicle infrastructure is necessary.
20-Year Outlook
● Development: Continued build-out of housing developments is projected to add over 8,500 new residential units.
● Peak Demand: Current peak demand is 55 megawatts, projected to reach 91 megawatts by 2045 under a conservative forecast.
● Infrastructure Upgrades: Negotiations for wholesale distribution access tariffs with Southern California Edison are ongoing, with the current agreement expiring in 2027. ● Sub-transmission and Distribution Systems: Improvements are planned for the 345 kV sub-transmission system to enhance protection, reliability, and redundancy. The 54-year-old Midway Substation requires replacement, which will increase the number of distribution circuits. A potential seventh substation is also being considered for the east end of Banning.
Cost Estimates
● The estimated Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget for these improvements over 20 years ranges from $59 to $71 million.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS - Agenda Items Only
Frank Connelly, commended the 144-page report and noted information has been forwarded to the primary investors, awaiting a response from a second investor regarding project costs and a planned 2029 timeline, referencing prior delays. He also requested clarification on conflicting reports regarding undergrounding percentages (64% vs. 55%-45%).
4. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Council Member Wallace to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Council Member Barrington.
Motion passed unanimously 5-0. Meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
Minutes prepared by:
Sandra B. Calderon
Deputy City Clerk
These minutes have been prepared as Summary Minutes in accordance with City Council Resolution 2025-22 and Government Code Sections 36814, 40801, and 54953(c)(2).
The entire discussion of this meeting may be viewed here:
https://banningca.granicus.com/player/clip/315?view_id=1&redirect=true