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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD - MINUTES - 05/15/2024 Page 1 5/15/2024 – MINUTES Natural Resources Advisory Board REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, May 15, 2024 – 6:15 PM 300 Laporte and Via Zoom 1. CALL TO ORDER: 6:20 PM 2. ROLL CALL a. Board Members Present – • Kelly Stewart (Vice Chair) • Teagan Loew • Todd Simmons • Matt Zoccali • Sara LoTemplio b. Board Members Absent – • Dawson Metcalf (Chair) • Lisa Andrews • Kelen Dowdy • Barry Noon c. Staff Members Present – • Honoré Depew, Staff Liaison • Cortney Geary • Dashiell Bubar-Hall • Kendra Boot • Christine Holtz • Renee Colton d. Guest(s) – • Xavier Pereira 3. AGENDA REVIEW Vice Chair Stewart reviewed the agenda. 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Pereira (guest) asked about the energy intensity unit measurement mentioned at the March meeting about Building Performance Standards. Depew replied he would provide contact information for the appropriate staff member. Page 2 5/15/2024 – MINUTES 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (April) Vice Chair Stewart made a motion, seconded by Zoccali, to approve the April meeting minutes. The motion was adopted 5-0. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. FC Moves – Updates and Connection to NRAB 2024 Work Plan Cortney Geary, Active Modes Manager, will provide background on the 15- minute city analysis and related City Council priorities, as well as progress implementing the Active Modes Plan since adoption in 2022. Dashiell Bubar- Hall, Transportation Planner, will seek feedback on an update to the Electric Vehicle Readiness Roadmap and the Shift Your Ride Travel Demand Management Plan. (Discussion) Cortney Geary, Active Modes Manager, discussed the 15-minute city analysis in Fort Collins, noting the goal of a 15-minute city is for every resident to be able to walk, bike, or roll to their daily destinations within 15 minutes of their home. Geary noted Council created two priorities around this topic, one focused on neighborhood centers and one focused on shifting to active modes transportation. Geary discussed the analysis which looked at how people are able to use low- stress biking and walking routes to access daily destinations, including places such as high-frequency bus stops, schools, parks, grocery stores, and other services. Geary noted strategies for improving the 15-minute city concept include increasing housing capacity in areas with strong connectivity, supporting mixed-use neighborhoods, and expanding the active transportation network. Additionally, supporting themes included expanding access to nature and parks, expanding access to transit services, increasing awareness through education and outreach, and improving safety conditions for vulnerable users. Loew asked about the methodology utilized by the consulting group. Geary replied there were certain destination types that were weighted more heavily than others with high-frequency transit stops and schools being ranked among the higher destinations. Geary stated approximately 15% of the city’s built-out area is meeting the 15-minute city goals. Geary discussed the adopted Active Modes Plan which has a vision that active transportation is an integral part of daily life and the local cultural experience and that Fort Collins is a place where walking, biking, and using other active modes are safe, accessible, convenient, joyful, and desired by people of all ages and abilities. The two main goals of the Plan are to achieve a 50% active modes share of all trips by 2052 and eliminate active modes fatalities and serious injuries by 2052, in support of Vision Zero. Geary Page 3 5/15/2024 – MINUTES outlined the Plan’s policy and program recommendations and discussed various program implementation techniques including the Shift Your Ride neighborhood programs, asphalts art program, and the City employee walking program. Geary stated updating street design standards and operationalizing active modes maintenance are some of the tactics for policy implementation. Additionally, the Plan recommends 144 miles of bike facilities and 165 spot improvements with a total cost estimate of just over $150 million. Geary outlined some of the needed infrastructure improvements. LoTemplio commented on winter bike lane conditions and asked if the benefits of separated bike lanes are worth the challenges of snow removal. Geary replied the bicycle network has been built out primarily on residential roadways with additional bike lanes on arterials up to this point. One of the key themes that arose during public engagement for the Active Modes Plan was that people desire more direct routes along arterials and don’t feel comfortable biking in traditional bike lanes. Separated bike lanes are needed for the City to achieve the Active Modes Plan goal of 50% active modes share of trips by 2032. Vice Chair Stewart asked how the Plan accounts for winter weather during which it is more difficult to utilize active modes. Geary replied maintenance is critical. Loew asked how the school consolidation plans will impact City Council’s 15- minute city priorities. Geary shared that City staff are reaching out to PSD to find out whether they’ve analyzed how each scenario will impact students’ ability to walk and bike to school. Zoccali commended the work of staff on the Active Modes Plan and discussed the difficulties of navigating Old Town for individuals in wheelchairs. Additionally, he commented on the need for additional education around the parking of SPIN scooters and bikes. Geary noted the Code was recently changed to allow the devices to be parked in the street. Geary outlined the budget offers related to strategies for advancing a 15- minute city by accelerating the shift to active modes. Dashiell Bubar-Hall, Transportation Planner, discussed the Electric Vehicle Readiness Roadmap (EVRR) which was developed in 2017 to help facilitate increased EV adoption. Bubar-Hall noted there are greenhouse gas emission reductions and sustainability goals associated with EVs. Additionally, there are long-term cost savings associated with EVs when they are implemented in a fleet such as the one owned by the City. Bubar-Hall discussed the update to the EVRR which focuses on equity and Page 4 5/15/2024 – MINUTES increased access to EVs. He outlined the strategies and recommendations which fall into short-, medium-, and long-term categories, and include things such as clarifying the City policy regarding EV charging, revising the Building Code to require EV infrastructure, and upgrading the electricity distribution infrastructure, respectively. He further detailed the City’s vehicle fleet noting there is a plan for Transfort to become a fully electric bus fleet over the next 15 to 20 years. Bubar-Hall discussed the workplan for the EVRR update and stated the draft plan will be available in August or September and will include the focus areas of mobility, equity, environmental, utility/infrastructure, housing, and policy. Depew asked if the EVRR will be adopted by Council and if part of the workplan engages City leadership. Bubar-Hall replied it is not a Council adopted plan; therefore, formal recommendations are not required. However, staff is planning to visit with Boards and Commissions as more analysis and recommendations come forward. He noted there is a possibility Council will look at the plan given Council priorities. Zoccali asked if the plan addresses the wave of vehicles that come into the city each morning in terms of offering charging infrastructure for people coming in from outside the community. Bubar-Hall replied providing charging along some of the regional commuting corridors will be examined and noted the County is also considering those types of investments. Additionally, Bubar-Hall commented on mobility hubs that will facilitate transit and potentially include charging infrastructure. (**Secretary’s Note: The Board opted to postpone the travel demand management discussion to a later date.) b. Urban Forestry Strategic Plan (UFSP) Kendra Boot, City Forester, will provide an overview of a draft UFSP – Rooted in Community – to seek Board feedback and support for Plan adoption. (Action) Kendra Boot, City Forester, defined the urban forest as all trees within the built environment and stated the Urban Forestry Strategic Plan (UFSP) looks at all trees within the Fort Collins Growth Management Area. Boot stated the UFSP will create a 20-year vision for trees in Fort Collins and she outlined the canopy percent by block data and noted about 85% of trees in the community are on private property. She noted the Forestry Department maintains about 60,000 trees on public property in the built environment throughout the community. Boot outlined the community engagement process for the Plan which included an online survey, three public meetings, and focus groups. She noted there is mixed public opinion around regulation of trees on private property. Boot discussed the vision for more equitable distribution of the tree canopy Page 5 5/15/2024 – MINUTES and acknowledged the challenges related to insects and disease, climate change, the relatively young public urban forest, and development and redevelopment. Boot outlined the eight recommended strategies that fall into two categories: foundational initiatives and transformational initiatives. Vice Chair Stewart asked if there is a goal of tree canopy coverage that is being sought. Boot replied staff has not set a specific goal; however, the belief is that the canopy will increase with the Plan recommendations and existing policies. Loew asked if there is a focus on native species. Boot replied the context is important when considering what species of tree to plant and there is a goal for the urban canopy to be as diverse as possible. She noted the City no longer plants ash trees and discussed the ash borer treatment plan for the existing ash trees. Vice Chair Stewart asked if the City is or has partnered with CSU to help provide resources. Boot replied in the affirmative stating the City works with many CSU extension employees. Vice Chair Stewart offered general support for the Plan and stated it dovetails nicely with the Active Modes Plan as there is research that shows pedestrian safety and traffic calming. Boot provided slides depicting the tree canopy at bus stops and along bike lanes throughout the city. Vice Chair Stewart echoed support for equity as a key consideration. Boot discussed the priority planting map which includes social variables and health and environmental considerations. Depew noted the Board has the option to take a formal action for a recommendation on the Plan. Boot further discussed the diversity of the urban canopy and the use of high drought-tolerant species. Depew pointed out the climate vulnerability section of the Plan. Vice Chair Stewart shared general support and that the Board would work to figure out how best to support staff working towards plan adoption either via approval of meeting minutes or via a memo. Boot outlined the timeframe for consideration of the Plan. Zoccali expressed support for the general direction of the Plan but wanted the time to do additional review of the plan and follow up in June meeting to get consensus from the board. Depew outlined the proper protocol for the Board to consider drafting a memo Page 6 5/15/2024 – MINUTES or conducting a vote regarding the Plan. 7. OTHER BUSINESS • Board Member Reports  Simmons expressed disappointment that Larimer County approved the Thornton pipeline project. • 2024 Super Issues Meetings of Fort Collins Boards and Commissions will be held at the Lincoln Center. The dates are as follows:  Monday, June 10 (Founder’s Room) – Topics: Tax Program, Strategic Trails Plan, and Natural Areas Strategic Framework  Monday, September 9 (Founder’s Room) • Six Month Calendar Review https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/planning-calendar.php  Legislative review  Traffic safety  Housing and urban development  Land Use Code, phase 2  Building Performance Standards  Hughes Property  Budgeting for Outcomes  Halligan  Platte River Power Authority community report  Transit initiatives • Revisit action items from previous meetings & preview of next meeting  Thornton pipeline/1041 regulations  Poudre River Health Assessment  Board elections  Water Efficiency Plan  Council priorities  Move June meeting back a week  July – joint meeting with Air Quality Advisory Board  Budgeting for Outcomes  2050 tax revenue  Natural Areas Strategic Plan City Websites with Updates: • Natural Resources Advisory Board webpage: https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/natural- resources.php • Our Climate Future: https://ourcity.fcgov.com/ourclimatefuture 8. ADJOURNMENT a. 8:15 pm Minutes approved by a vote of the Board on 06/26/2024.