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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD - MINUTES - 04/15/20241 04/15/2024 - Minutes Air Quality Advisory Board REGULAR MEETING Monday, April 15, 2024 – 5:30 PM 300 Laporte Avenue, CIC Conference Room 1. CALL TO ORDER: 5:30 PM 2. ROLL CALL a. Board Members Present – • Mark Houdashelt (Chair) • Dan Welsh (Interim Vice Chair) • Adam Schmidt • Maria Moore • Matt Ayres • Michael Cheeseman • Michael Johnson • Jeremiah Gorske • Kaori Keyser b. Board Members Absent – • None c. Staff Members Present – • Selina Lujan de Albers, Staff Liaison • Heidi O’Mara, Air Quality Program Coordinator d. Guest(s) – • Councilmember Kelly Ohlson 3. AGENDA REVIEW There were no changes to the published agenda. 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION None. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (MARCH 2024) Chair Houdashelt outlined some areas of the minutes needing clarification. Lujan de Albers replied she would reach out to the staff member who was speaking for clarification and the minutes could be approved at the next meeting. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Chair Houdashelt asked if anyone is interested in being the interim Vice Chair until elections occur. Welsh expressed interest. 2 04/15/2024 - Minutes Moore made a motion, seconded by Ayres, to elect Welsh as interim Vice Chair. The motion was adopted unanimously. (**Secretary’s Note: The Board moved to Board Member Reports at this point in the meeting.) 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Introductions of New and Existing Members Cheeseman discussed his education and current employment as an air quality researcher with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . He expressed his interest in policy work at the local level. Gorske discussed his background and interest in environmental justic e in the most at-risk communities. Schmidt discussed his interest in air quality and community impacts, particularly wildfire smoke. Keyser discussed her study of air quality and current employment at CDOT as a hydraulics engineer. Moore discussed her education and ownership of a home inspection business which conducts indoor air quality testing. Chair Houdeshelt discussed his education and previous work for the Center for Clean Air Policy, volunteer work, and interest in climate. Welsh discussed his education in meteorology and atmospheric science, work as a teacher at Front Range Community College, and current position with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Ayres discussed his education in political science with a focus on environmental policy and his work with Clean Energy Action and service on the Colorado Renewable Energy Society Policy Committee. Johnson discussed his employment in the field of evaluations of household energy transitions in developing countries. Lujan de Albers discussed her role as a Manager in the Environmental Services Department focusing largely on the Healthy Homes and radon programs. Moore commended the packet assembled by Lujan de Albers. Heidi O’Mara, Environmental Services, stated her focus is indoor air quality and the Healthy Homes program. Councilmember Kelly Ohlson introduced himself and commented on the value 3 04/15/2024 - Minutes of Boards and Commissions in advising Council and staff. He noted Councilmembers do not frequently attend Board meetings so as to not influence the work of the Board, though he would be glad to attend at any time. Councilmember Ohlson discussed his political experience, involvement in open space and natural areas ballot measures, and service on the Natural Resources Advisory Board and Land Conservation and Stewardship Board. He commented on the new Code of Conduct which he opposed as he does not believe all tense conversations should be avoided. He encouraged the Board to get as much information to Council as possible, preferably in shorter memos, and prior to work sessions, not prior to meetings, as most work is completed at work sessions. He also encouraged the Board to not necessarily focus only on Council’s twelve priorities. Additionally, he encouraged the Board to take on climate issues and to resist being controlled by the City organization. Welsh asked if memos are the best or only way for the Board to communicate to Council. Councilmember Ohlson replied memos are valuable, particularly if they arrive prior to a work session. He also noted members can speak at Council meetings as individuals and can have meetings with Councilmembers. Chair Houdashelt noted timing is sometimes difficult as staff is often not ready to provide presentations to Boards prior to items going before Council due to scheduling. Councilmember Ohlson stated he has heard that issue before and will be discussing it with the City Manager and Council. Councilmember Ohlson encouraged the Board to involve itself in the budget process, particularly given the new 2050 tax. Chair Houdashelt asked about the best time for the Board to provide input on the budget. Councilmember Ohlson replied input should come to Council early in the process, often, and continuously. b. Board Operations and Work Plan Chair Houdashelt noted meetings occurred with new members regarding how the Board operates and its function. He noted the Board sets its agendas generally based on Council’s 6-month planning calendar, the Board Work Plan, and input from members, and there are generally two to three New Business items per month. He stated recommendations to Council are kept to short memos typically. Councilmember Ohlson noted additional information or background could be included for those who may want further detail. Moore asked how the Board sets its agenda. Chair Houdashelt replied he meets with Lujan de Albers on a monthly basis to determine what items are on the work plan and who may be available to speak to the Board. Lujan de 4 04/15/2024 - Minutes Albers noted the intention is that the Board w ould discuss agenda items at the end of each meeting. Chair Houdashelt noted the Board’s work plan is written with some flexibility. Councilmember Ohlson noted many ideas that became policies filtered up to Council from Boards and Commissions. Chair Houdashelt discussed the Board’s work plan items, including oil and gas operational standards which will be addressed after City staff has developed recommendations, Our Climate Future and associated greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, indoor and outdoor air quality items, transportation, budget, environmental justice, largely through Welsh’s participation on the Air Quality Monitoring Advisory Committee, and a potential new program for the City to pursue. Chair Houdashelt outlined rules of conduct, including the fact that no decisions can be made outside of a public meeting and no more than two Board members can discuss Board issues outside of a meeting. Members discussed the fact that special meetings can be held, and it was noted that any meeting must be noticed 24 hours in advance. Additionally, Lujan de Albers noted a quorum must be present for any vote to take place, although a meeting could still be held. Members discussed the various ways to communicate with Council and how to bolster memos from the Board with additional information. c. Discuss Joint Meeting with Natural Resources Advisory Board Chair Houdashelt stated a joint meeting with the Natural Resources Advisory Board (NRAB) has been suggested in order to provide Council with a joint recommendation. He stated he spoke with the Chair of the NRAB at the Super Issues meeting regarding areas of overlap based on Council priorities, including improving human and social health for vulnerable populations, specifically pollution caused by oil and gas wells, reducing climate and air pollution through best practices emphasizing electrification, waste reduction and recycling, urban forestry, and transportation planning. Chair Houdashelt noted the First Reading of the appropriation of the 2050 climate, parks, and transit tax is May 7th and a Second Reading has yet to be scheduled, though it would be May 21st if agreement is generally reached at First Reading; therefore, the Board’s input on those funds will be limited due to meeting scheduling. However, he stated the Board’s input on the next two - year regular budget will be critical and Council is having its budget preview on June 25th, therefore a meeting with the NRAB and associated recommendations could be beneficial prior to that time. Lujan de Albers suggested the process for how budget offers for the 2050 tax will be reviewed could be helpful for the Board to consider at its May meeting. 5 04/15/2024 - Minutes She also noted the information for the offers that are being put forth against the tax for 2024 is available and she could send that to members for review. Members concurred a joint meeting with the NRAB would be valuable. Chair Houdashelt expressed concern with waiting to hold the meeting until June as it would be difficult to formulate a memo quickly prior to Council’s June 25th budget preview. Lujan de Albers stated she would talk to the staff liaison for the NRAB to ensure the May meeting would still work and she outlined the potential content for the meeting, including a review of the budget (BFO) process and how things will work for the 2050 tax and another topic of alignment that could be communicated over email. Chair Houdashelt stated he would be sending a list of potential topics to the NRAB Chair so he could discuss it with his Board. Welsh made a motion, seconded by Keyser, to hold a joint meeting with the Natural Resources Advisory Board in May. The motion was adopted unanimously. Chair Houdashelt noted potential topics for the meeting will be a general description of the budgeting process, Our Climate Future, including the 2026 greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal, budget offers, and use of the 2050 tax dollars, urban forestry, municipal solid waste, oil and gas operations, transportation, or environmental justice. Members discussed the topics and Moore suggested the meeting should focus on the budget and reducing climate pollution . Chair Houdashelt stated he would discuss topics with the NRAB Chair. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Welsh noted Air Quality Awareness Week is the first week of May. Chair Houdashelt noted Volunteer Week is forthcoming as is Earth Day and Councilmember Ohlson will be having an associated listening session at Civic Center Park on April 20th. Welsh reported the AQMAC met last month Lujan de Albers noted the next Board Member training session will be on the 22nd in Council Chambers. 9. STAFF REPORTS • None 10. OTHER BUSINESS 6 04/15/2024 - Minutes • None 11. ADJOURNMENT • 8:00 pm Minutes approved by a vote of the Board on 05/20/2024