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Home My WebLink AboutLand Conservation And Stewardship Board - Minutes - 04/28/2023 Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Board Retreat | 1745 Hoffman Mill Road April 28, 2023 Members: Ross Cunniff, Chair Holger Kley, Member Scott Mason, Vice Chair Elena Lopez, Member Denise Culver, Member Joe Piesman, Member Andrea Elson, Member 4 /2 8/2023 – MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER: Work session was called to order at 3:08 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL: Holger Kley, Ross Cunniff, Elena Lopez, Scott Mason, Joe Piesman Excused: Andrea Elson and Denise Culver NAD Staff: Julia Feder, Kristina Ostrowski, Mary Boyts 3. COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS: None 4. AGENDA REVIEW: No changes to the agenda 5. DISCUSSION Prioritize 2023 Work Plan Chair Cunniff asked members to review the LCSB 2023 Work Plan and identify three items each member would like to see prioritized. The LCSB engaged in a conversation of the five Work Plan items identified as priorities (attachment 1). Members clarified the differences and shared understanding about Work Plan items 3 and 4. Chair Cunniff recognized it might be helpful if the LCSB created a set of values to guide their Work Plan and to better understand the resulting priorities. Board members created and described value statements which may help focus agenda items for the remainder of 2023 (attachment 2). Several board members noted the connection of value statements to the Work Plan and would like to see the Work Plan edited and improved before January 2024. Status check on issues that LCSB has taken a position on: Hughes Julia Feder, Environmental Planning Manager, provided a brief update on the status of the Hughes site stating the City has a purchase and sale agreement, but nothing has changed since the April LCSB meeting. The City Manager’s Office is planning to facilitate conversations with interested community members later this fall. The board briefly discussed sending a memo to Council regarding the Hughes site and reiterated their desire to time the delivery of such recommendation strategically before City staff starts designing the next phase of public outreach. Several members restated their desire for Natural Areas funding to be used only on DocuSign Envelope ID: D7B8B092-15C8-4E1C-9126-5B42B8D2952B Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Board Retreat 4/28/2023 MINUTES Page 2 the portions of the site that are compatible with existing natural areas including low impact activities and protection of habitat. Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) Julia Feder reminded the LCSB that the Army Corps of Engineers released the Record of Decision (ROD) in January 2023. City staff has been engaged in a final review and analysis but noted there is no mechanism for responding to the ROD. The May 9, 2023, City Council Work Session will focus on City’s water supply. This is a potential opportunity for staff and Council to discuss the City’s future engagement with NISP. The 1041 Regulations potentially to be adopted by the City may or may not require additional permitting to complete project infrastructure on City-owned natural areas. Additionally, Northern Water will be required to apply for easements across natural areas for the infrastructure (diversion structure, pump house, and pipes). LCSB supports Council adopting the Draft 1041 Regulations but emphasized the regulations do not go far enough; there is room for additional protection of natural areas. The board discussed the potential for adoption of 1041 to be an iterative process for the City, with additional areas and activities of statewide interest added in the future. Additionally, the LCSB can take a more wholistic view of the NISP and comment on the larger impacts; they discussed sending a memo to Council. Chair Cunniff offered to attend the Council work session to reiterate the position of the LCSB regarding NISP. Oil and Gas There are no new updates on the City’s regulations on oil and gas extraction in NAs within city limits. LCSB discussion included an overview of proposed regulations and protection for Natural Areas. Julia Feder described the new Larimer County Natural Resources Zoning designation which may provide a layer of protection for NAs outside city limits. This zoning designation will be discussed further at the May 10, 2023, LCSB meeting. LCSB also discussed a potential conservation easement on Meadow Springs Ranch. Staff will update the LCSB on the department’s conservation easement plan later this year. Tracking Impact of Recommendations and Memos to City Council Chair Cunniff led the LCSB through a review of the 2022 Annual Report. Highlights included Memos to Council, staff presentations to the LCSB, and acres conserved through department land conservation efforts. Chair Cunniff asked if anyone had thoughts on the monthly LCSB meeting agendas and invited members to suggest topics at any time. DocuSign Envelope ID: D7B8B092-15C8-4E1C-9126-5B42B8D2952B Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Board Retreat 4/28/2023 MINUTES Page 3 Moving forward, the LCSB will notate Council actions related to their recommendations and memos during regular monthly meetings. The LCSB recognized Council outcomes are not necessarily a measure of the LCSB effectiveness, but tracking can serve as a scorecard. They also noted some items before Council are ongoing or take years to work through before adoption. How to be an effective advisory board for City Council Members discussed strategies to support their role as advisors to Council, including to submit memos prior to work sessions, attend Council meetings and/or work sessions, and authorize the LCSB Chair to request meetings with Council members. The LCSB also discussed inviting Council to field trips to sites impacted by Council decisions. Council members have previously joined field trips (Kestrel Fields, Hageman). Members favored this approach and discussed a future field trip to the former Hughes site and invite Council. Members emphasized the value of being on site, experiencing the wildlife and habitat, and seeing proximity to proposed uses at the Hughes site. This will be discussed further during the May 10, 2023, regular meeting, and during agenda setting for upcoming LCSB meetings. 6. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 5:24 p.m. Ross Cunniff, Chair Date DocuSign Envelope ID: D7B8B092-15C8-4E1C-9126-5B42B8D2952B 6/20/2023 Adopted by LCSB November 9, 2022 Natural Areas Department 1745 Hoffman Mill Road PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.416.2815 970.416.2211 - fax fcgov.com/naturalareas Land Conservation & Stewardship Board Key Initiatives/Work Items for 2023 1.Advocate for accelerated Land Conservation, through partnerships, land acquisitions and conservation easements. 2.Advocate for funding mechanisms that make possible land conservation at a faster pace than can be supported by current funding, in recognition of future land unavailability and higher price. 3.Advise Natural Area Department staff and City Council regarding Natural Area Department land conservation opportunities, priorities, and future direction. 4.Advise Natural Areas Department staff and City Council on matters affecting Natural Areas Department land, water and other real property interests. 5.Review City and Growth Management Area plans for Natural Area opportunities and impacts. 6.Advise Natural Area Department staff on Natural Area Department strategic plans, management plans, and other management initiatives. 7.Review the Natural Areas Department’s budget re-appropriation requests. Provide recommendations to City Council as needed. 8.Advise on proposed projects that may potentially impact Natural Area conserved properties, for example NISP and oil and gas development. Advise on policies to protect these properties and other City-owned lands that have conservation value. 9.Advise Natural Areas Department, other City Departments, and City Council on long-term strategies for conserving Meadow Springs Ranch. 10. Advise Natural Areas Department on planning for and mitigating against the effects of climate change; educate Council on the role of natural areas… 11. Elevate the voices of underserved voice and community members when considering advice and when making decisions ATTACHMENT 1 LCSB Retreat 4/28/2023 DocuSign Envelope ID: D7B8B092-15C8-4E1C-9126-5B42B8D2952B DocuSign Envelope ID: D7B8B092-15C8-4E1C-9126-5B42B8D2952B ATTACHMENT 2 LCSB RETREAT 4/28/2023 VALUES ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH Advocating for the value of natural areas ADD ETHICS AND ETIQUETTE TO OUR MISSION AND OUTREACH EQUITY (DEI) Advocate/educate policy makers on impacts of possible decisions (minimize “policy damage”, maximize “policy benefit”) LAND CONSERVATION Seeking permanent protection for natural areas EXPANDING # OF ACRES OF CONSERVED LAND (LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY) (EASEMENTS) Land purchase Accelerate Land Conservation as opportunities continue to disappear. PROTECT EXISTING ASSETS Protecting natural areas from infrastructure encroachment Minimize human-caused damage to NA & wildlife PRIORITIZE WILDLIFE HABITAT & LAND CONSERVATION OVER HUMAN ACCESS & IMPACT Holding back overdevelopment Focus on impacts from NISP and oil & gas regulations in the near term Maximize conserved habitat in perpetuity RESTORATION & REHAB. LAND REHABILITIATON & RESTORATION Restoration Poudre River ecological “health” CONNECTIVITY Habitat corridors, establishing and preserving them Promote continuity and compatibility of adjoining uses to maintain habitat value FUNDING Establishing and expanding the regional context IDENTIFYING ADDITIONAL FUNDING MECHANISMS SO WE ARE COMPETITIVE IN OFFERS & FORT AQUISTION, O&M Look for and/or advocated for a permanent funding source for NAs DocuSign Envelope ID: D7B8B092-15C8-4E1C-9126-5B42B8D2952B DocuSign Envelope ID: D7B8B092-15C8-4E1C-9126-5B42B8D2952B