HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 07/21/2021
NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD
TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR
July 21, 2021 5:30 – 8:00 pm
Via Zoom
7/21/21 – MINUTES Page 1
1. CALL TO ORDER
5:30pm
2. ROLL CALL
List of Board Members Present -
Danielle Buttke - chair
Dawson Metcalf
Kevin Krause – vice-chair
Drew Derderian
Samantha Williams
Hillary Mizia
List of Board Members Absent – Excused or Unexcused; if no contact with Chair
has been made
Elizabeth Hudetz
Barry Noon
John Skogman
List of Staff Members Present
Lindsay Ex - Director, Environmental Services
Zoe Shark - Interim Natural Areas Director
Barb Brock - Natural Areas Financial Analyst
John Phelan - Sr. Energy Services Manager
Mike Calhoon - Director of Parks
Kendra Boot - City Forester
List of Guests
none
3. AGENDA REVIEW
4. COMMUNTY MEMBER PARTICIPATION
none
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5. APPROVAL OF JUNE MINUTES
Dawson moved and Drew seconded a motion to approve the June NRAB minutes as
presented - Motion passed unanimously 6-0-0
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. 2022 Budget - This agenda item is a part of an ongoing series throughout the summer
for NRAB members to review budget offers that align to NRAB's work plan
- Natural Areas 2022 Budget offers - Zoe Shark - Interim Natural Areas Director.
- Natural Areas funding is unique in the City because it comes from two
dedicated sales taxes: one at the City level and one at the County level. The
City tax goes 80% towards land conservation and restoration and 20%
towards operations and maintenance. The County tax does not have that
restriction.
- Danielle - Q - How are projects that touch on several disciplines like
Natural Areas and Parks funded? A - The mission of the Natural Areas is
land conservation and other ecological priorities such as plants and
wildlife. Providing recreational opportunities is secondary. Parks' main
mission is to provide recreational opportunities and is funded by the
General Fund. Cross-funded projects have several funding sources.
- Proposed 2022 Natural Areas Budget Enhancements of interest to the NRAB
are:
- Restore Land Conservation budget after removing it in 2021 for budget
savings
- Restoration and removal of hazardous materials at Bobcat Ridge and
Cottonwood Hollow natural areas after the Cameron Creek fire.
- Danielle - Q - Would the dump cleanup at Bobcat Ridge qualify for
federal money? A - FEMA has indicated it would not be eligible for
federal funding.
- Poudre River Diversion Structure to protect the City's water rights and to
maintain river flow during low water events - jointly funded with Utilities,
Natural Areas and the General Fund.
- Additional positions to keep pace with additional duties and Natural Areas
expansion activities: Facilities Operations Tech II, Trails & Visitor
Amenities Tech I, and also to discontinue six long-term seasonal hourly
positions, and convert them to classified positions.
- Water Resources Engineer - This would be a shared position among
Natural Areas, Parks, and Park Planning. Utilities is also budgeting for a
similar position.
- Danielle - Q - How does the City determine land conservation plans
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and budget? A - They are set in the Natural Areas master plan and
are an ongoing process. Local land conservation has highest priority
with possible secondary regional collaborations such as Soapstone.
- Utilities Department 2022 budget - John Phelan - Sr. Energy Services Manager
- Overview: The Utilities Department budget has dedicated funding from
Utilities Light & Power revenue. Offers are tailored to expected revenue, any
projected rate changes, and the availability of reserves.
- Offers related to energy conservation and renewable energy are:
- Power purchase agreements - purchase of electricity output from solar
systems.
- Energy services - core offer including staffing and efficiency and
conservation program funding.
- Demand Response Program - core programs for demand flexibility as
renewables are added.
- Renewable Customer Programs - expands funding for community
renewable programs in support of Fort Collins energy and climate goals,
solar rebates and battery systems.
- Demand response equipment technology replacement - year 2 of the
project to upgrade to 5G technologies.
- Epic loans Capital Accounting - has own funding source.
- Offer to restore funding several energy services programs for consulting
services, customer incentives, electrification, administration and marketing
of the program. This offer could use the NRAB's support
- Electric vehicle monitoring and management demonstration - This is a
behind-the-scenes software program to manage EV charging.
- Q - How does this relate to what PRPA did with their pilot? A - PRPA
did a pilot offering a discount on charging stations in exchange for the
ability to monitor them. The City has determined that the future of what
the City wants to do with EVs is not talking to the charger, but the car
itself through its electronics.
- Danielle - Q - Is the Demand Response for marketing and education?
A - There is also a software package to communicate with commercial
thermostats and hot water heaters to signal for reduction in demand
and other energy loads. Q - Are the devices covered under an
incentive program? A - This program has evolved over time and is a
combination of utility-owned assets such as water heaters, bring your
own devices like thermostats and some special communicators for
industrial and commercial use to manage demand.
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- Forestry Department 2022 budget offers - Mike Calhoon, Director of Parks and
Kendra Boot - City Forester
- The Forestry department offers are funded through the General Fund which is
generated from city sales tax. Their offers are:
- Provide an East Park District Maintenance Facility Operations facility as a
4th Parks maintenance facility in the City. There will also be a Forestry
crew at this facility.
- Support the Urban Forest Management program on City-owned property.
- Urban forest management tree replacement due to safety or poor health of
trees.
- Restore funding for Tree replacement reduction in the 2021 budget.
- Contractual pruning of large diameter trees - continuing enhancement
- Large diameter tree pruning - enhanced funding
- Emerald Ash Borer infestation management - continuing enhancement
- Converting one contractual Sr. Coordinator to classified position
- The Forestry Department is also putting forward an offer to provide a tree
subsidy for trees on private property to enhance canopy cover in the city.
- General Discussion
- Danielle - Q - Do the values placed on the City's trees include public health
benefits including air quality? Q - Is there also a program to have citizens
help support replacement of trees? A - The City participated in the
Mayor's Challenge to connect home health and air quality through tree
canopies. A - The City is considering tree subsidies in vulnerable
neighborhoods. There is already some cost-sharing with various HOAs to
replant trees on public property. New development is also providing
funding for new trees in their developments.
- Dawson - Q - What is the financial impact of the forest damage? A - We do
not have any hard numbers but there is research on where the return on
investment occurs in 3-4 years. A 5-year pruning rotation is important to
keep their value.
- Dawson - Q - Wanted more clarity on the General Fund funding for these
budget offers A - The General Fund does have more competing offers and
will have more offers "below the line" than those with dedicated funding.
Because of that, the NRAB needs to selectively focus on their top choices
to recommend for funding.
- The group went through the presented offers and highlighted ones they thought
should be supported. The NRAB will revisit this list in September and submit
suggestions and comments via email until then. Various comments at this
meeting were:
- Demand Response is an important component to electrification.
- Communications around renewable energy is important for behavior
change. Board would like more specifics around the type of
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marketing/outreach that is planned.
- Sustaining the Poudre River and urban canopy support is important.
- Not sure Emerald Ash Borer treatment is good long-term solution because
the chemicals are poisonous.
- Restoring land conservation fund is important to quality of life and air
quality.
- Supported keeping current personnel in Natural Areas.
- Concerned about over supporting all the offers
7. OTHER BUSINESS/UPDATES
a. Board member reports
b. Six Month Calendar Review
Lindsay announced that Fort Collins City Manager Darin Atteberry has resigned,
effective in August.
A future NRAB meeting might include discussion around 1041 Powers regarding
NISP.
c. Revisit action items from previous meetings and preview of next meetings
Danielle asked the board to review and comment on the memo Danielle crafted
to Council and give her feedback.
Lindsay announced that August 26 will be virtual interviews for the Climate
Program Manager. NRAB members are invited to join the interviews.
Lindsay shared a link to the new City Council's priorities.
d. Discussion of remote versus in-person meetings.
The group agreed that they will continue to meet virtually until the end of 2021.
8. ADJOURN
8:00pm