HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/13/2007 - 2008-2009 Budget - Air Quality Advisory BoardFort Collins
Air Quality Advisory Board
AIR QUALITY BOARD BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Fort Collins Air Quality Advisory Board
DATE: October 13, 2007
SUBJECT: City Budget
Dear Mayor and members of City Council:
The Air Quality Board has been reviewing the BFO proposals, and we are impressed by many of the
recommendations. However, our Board is also concerned that items of urgent importance have either not
been included, or have not been given the budget resources they need. (List on next page)
Last month, our City and region was designated non-compliance for ozone, an air pollutant linked to serious
health effects. One of the best ways of protecting our air quality is by reducing vehicle miles driven and
promoting alternatives to single vehicle travel.
The City’s program addressing climate change has been supported by every Council since 1999, yet our
shortfalls in meeting our modest commitments necessitated formation of a task force dedicated to getting us
back on track. Resources will undoubtedly be needed in this area. Resources will likely also be needed to
achieve our recycling goals, and possible ways of meeting them through a trash utility or district.
In closing, every member of our Board wishes to express our sincere appreciation to Council for
its commitment and hard work in making Fort Collins a great place to live, through protecting our
environmental quality, and to our City staff, for providing the resources to enable this.
Sincerely,
Eric Levine, AQAB Chair
Fort Collins
Air Quality Advisory Board
$300,000 for
Trash Utility/Districting: The board recommends we move forward with a Trash Utility. More effi cient trash
pickup and truck miles will improve our Air Quality, lower costs for street repair, reduce fuel and time costs,
reduce noise and street congestion, and help us meet our 50% waste diversion goal.
$275,000 for
Pedestrian Access Enhancement: Establish a pedestrian access program to increase the safety and ability of
traveling by foot in a well connected Fort Collins.
$60,000 for
Fort Collins Moves Performance Measurement: Develop and implement a program to measure and evaluate
the overall transportation system performance in Fort Collins.
$500,000 for full implementation of the
Fort Collins Bicycle Plan: The Mobility Management Best Practices Report notes that increases in alternative
transportation provides many benefi ts, including “Reduced air, noise, and water pollution”.
Contingency funds for the
Climate Task Force: Implementing the fi ndings of the Climate Task Force.
Contingency funds for the
Mobility Management Program: Begin implementation of some of the nine strategies offered in the 2006
report.