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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/21/2024 - AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD - AGENDA - Regular Meeting Air Quality Advisory Board Monday, October 21, 2024 5:30 – 8:00 PM (dinner for Board members and presenters served at 5:15 pm) 222 Laporte Ave | Colorado River Room (first floor) Meeting link for hybrid access (requires internet access): https://fcgov.zoom.us/j/96692253468 Phone in option: +1 720-928-9299 (Meeting ID: 966 9225 3468) 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. AGENDA REVIEW 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 6. PREVIOUS BUSINESS 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Air Monitoring Assessment Presentation; 6:00-6:45 Helena Pliszka and Tim Dye, with TD Environmental, will present remotely on an air monitoring and communication needs assessment they conducted through various stakeholder interviews, sharing their findings and recommendations. The Board will be invited to discuss the results and provide feedback to be considered for updated air quality monitoring and communications strategies. (Discussion) b. 2025 Annual Work Plan; 6:45-7:30 Dan Welsh, AQAB Chair, will lead a discussion regarding the 2025 AQAB work plan. (Discussion) c. Public Outreach Update to Code; 7:30-7:45 The board will discuss their interest in updating current code to allow the conduct and participation in public outreach. (Discussion) 8. OTHER BUSINESS / UPDATES • Board Member Reports • Six Month Calendar Review https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/planning-calendar.php • Revisit action items from previous meetings & preview of next meeting City Websites with Updates: • Air Quality Advisory Board webpage: https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/boards/air-quality-advisory • Our Climate Future: https://ourcity.fcgov.com/ourclimatefuture 6. ADJOURN 1 09/16/2024 - Minutes Air Quality Advisory Board and Natural Resources Advisory Board JOINT MEETING Monday, September 16, 2024 – 5:30 PM 222 Laporte Avenue, Colorado River Room 1. CALL TO ORDER: 5:31 PM 2. ROLL CALL a. Board Members Present – • AQAB • Dan Welsh (Chair) • Mark Houdashelt (Vice Chair) • Maria Moore • Michael Cheeseman • Jeremiah Gorske • Adam Schmidt • NRAB • Dawson Metcalf (Chair) • Kelly Stewart (Vice Chair) • Kelen Dowdy • Lisa Andrews • Matt Zoccali • Sara LoTemplio • Teagan Loew b. Board Members Absent – • AQAB • Michael Johnson • Matt Ayres • Kaori Kyser • NRAB • Barry Noon • Todd Simmons c. Staff Members Present – • Selina Lujan de Albers, Staff Liaison • Honore Depew, Staff Liaison • Melinda Peterson, Lead Specialist • Grant Stump, Lead Specialist d. Guest(s) – • None 2 09/16/2024 - Minutes 3. AGENDA REVIEW No changes. 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION None. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Urban Forestry Strategic Plan: Finalize Joint Council Memo Depew noted the Board members had discussed the desire for the memo to include a note that budget offers for Urban Forestry should emphasize, wherever possible, electric vehicles and equipment. Andrews asked if there is a City policy related to leaving vehicles idling as she has seen many doing so. Depew replied there is an anti-idling policy for City vehicles, though there are exceptions for emergency vehicles and large, heavy equipment. Chair Welsh stated the three main points for the Urban Forestry Strategic Plan Memo were: minimization of internal combustion engines, quantification of the overall climate and air quality impacts of the urban forest, both positive and negative, and emphasizing and promoting native species when moving forward with plantings in the public urban forest. Additionally, Chair Welsh stated there were sentiments about general support for the Strategic Plan. Chair Welsh noted votes will occur once each Board moves into its own meeting following this joint meeting. b. Budgeting for Outcomes: Finalize Joint Council Memo Chair Welsh summarized the Budgeting for Outcomes memo. A member asked about the discussion around not supporting offers that had associated full-time employees. Members discussed the fact that some of those offers were indicated to be funded per the City Manager’s recommended budget at the last Council budget meeting. Members discussed whether the memo should indicate an acknowledgement of which items directly impact either air quality or natural resources. Chair Welsh suggested adding a brief sentence related to both Boards acknowledging that some offers fall more under the purview of one Board or the other, but expressing joint support for the offers. Vice Chair Houdashelt commented on the lawn and garden equipment offer noting the original request was for $100,000, not $50,000. He expressed general support for the memo, but suggested it may need to include a stronger sales pitch if the desire is to influence Council’s decision. 3 09/16/2024 - Minutes Members discussed whether they would send representatives to the first Council public hearing. Lujan de Albers noted the Council will not likely see the memo until after the Council hearing. No members indicated they were available to attend the Council hearing. Vice Chair Houdashelt commented on offer 74.1 noting it will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions; however, it is not part of the inventory, therefore it will not have any impact on the City’s goals. Members made wording changes to the item. Members continued to make wording edits to additional items in the memo, including the item related to lawn and garden equipment, the item related to Poudre River flows, and the Adaptive Program Specialist item. Chair Welsh expressed support for the general gist of the memo and its format. He noted no more editing will happen prior to the votes that will occur when the Boards go into their separate meetings. 6. ADJOURNMENT ● 7:01 pm Minutes approved by a vote of the Board on 10/XX/2024 1 09/16/2024 - Minutes Air Quality Advisory Board REGULAR MEETING Monday, September 16, 2024 – 7:00 PM 222 Laporte Avenue, Colorado River Room 1. CALL TO ORDER: 7:07 PM 2. ROLL CALL a. Board Members Present – • Dan Welsh (Chair) • Mark Houdashelt (Vice Chair) • Maria Moore • Michael Cheeseman • Jeremiah Gorske • Adam Schmidt b. Board Members Absent – • Michael Johnson • Matt Ayres • Kaori Keyser c. Staff Members Present – • Selina Lujan de Albers, Staff Liaison • Honore Depew, NRAB Staff Liaison d. Guest(s) – • None 3. AGENDA REVIEW No changes. 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION None. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Council Memos: Budgeting for Outcomes & Urban Forestry Strategic Plan Schmidt made a motion, seconded by Cheeseman, to approve the Urban Forestry Strategic Plan joint memo as presented. The motion was adopted unanimously. Cheeseman made a motion, seconded by Vice Chair Houdashelt, to approve the Budgeting for Outcomes joint memo as presented. The motion was adopted 2 09/16/2024 - Minutes unanimously. Lujan de Albers thanked Chair Welsh and Vice Chair Houdashelt for the coordination and effort put into both memos on behalf of staff. 6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – JULY 2024 Lujan de Albers recommended future minutes include more general language if it is unclear who was speaking, with the exception of motions, and noted both Chair Welsh and Vice Chair Houdashelt approved that change. Additionally, Lujan de Albers noted the July minutes are reflective of that change. Schmidt made a motion, seconded by Vice Chair Houdashelt, to approve the July 2024 meeting minutes as amended. The motion was adopted unanimously. Lujan de Albers noted the first joint meeting was not recorded; therefore, the minutes will be much more general for that meeting. 7. OTHER BUSINESS Chair Welsh noted the Work Plan needs to be reviewed at the October meeting to be completed and approved at the November meeting. Lujan de Albers discussed the Share Point drive that has been used in the past for Board Member collaboration on documents and stated some IT safety concerns have come up with that drive; therefore, there is no longer the ability to have access to the shared folder members were working within. She noted violations of the Open Meetings laws have technically not occurred as the minutes were typically only reviewed and edited by Vice Chair Houdashelt and Chair Welsh. Moving forward, Lujan de Albers stated minutes can still be shared to the full Board when they are available and one person could be designated to review them and provide edits, or all members can individually send edits to her. Vice Chair Houdashelt stated he is more concerned about being able to collaborate on documents such as the Work Plan and other memos. Lujan de Albers stated there is a third option via Google Docs; however, all changes and comments must be tracked, and members cannot converse with one another within the document or comments. Members concurred they would like to move forward with this option. Lujan de Albers noted the amended documents would be sent out with the agenda and all comments would need to cease after that. She stated she would clarify whether those documents need to include the tracked changes as the Open Meetings law is not particularly clear. Vice Chair Houdashelt asked if the minutes would also be in a Google Doc. Lujan de Albers replied in the affirmative. Lujan de Albers asked Depew how his Board handles track changes in Google Docs. Depew 3 09/16/2024 - Minutes replied the City Attorney’s advice is to not use any shared documents and the approach discussed by his Board was to have any comments or track changes kept in the shared document without back and forth exchanges or comments on the side, then the marked up shared document with the comments can be published with the agenda. Members concurred they would only use comments rather than track changes. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Schmidt stated he and Moore have been working to set up a meeting regarding getting public outreach to fall under the purview of the Board. Lujan de Albers stated she would work to get a meeting set up. Chair Welsh commented on attending a conference recently and connecting with a representative from the Education Outreach Department of the Harvard Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory which has a great deal of funding available for education and outreach for things like ozone gardens and community events. A member stated he still has access to the EGU micro-grants program through his membership with Voice for Science. Vice Chair Houdashelt reported on the recent Super Issues Board meeting on housing and the What Wheels Go Where program and online survey. He noted members discussed ensuring the rules around behavior are also more consistent. Additionally, he reported on attending the recent Open Streets event on Shields. Vice Chair Houdashelt noted he is still the Interim Vice Chair and encouraged members to let Chair Welsh or Lujan de Albers know if they are interested in the position. Chair Welsh suggested scheduling a social event for the members and NRAB. 9. ADJOURNMENT • 7:42 pm Minutes approved by a vote of the Board on 10/XX/2024 City of Fort Collins Air Monitoring Needs Assessment Helena Pliszka, Tim Dye 1 About TD Enviro TD Enviro specializes in collecting and analyzing data using new technologies to provide insights about the air we breathe. Our focus on innovative solutions helps you effectively address air quality challenges. We provide comprehensive and cost-effective services grounded in decades of experience, sound science, and using new technologies to meet your environmental needs. 2 Needs Assessment 3 Goal: The city is undertaking a planning process to refine their role in air monitoring to be responsive to and prioritize the needs of stakeholders, while not duplicating efforts. Focus: Air monitoring operations, webpage data displays, and web-based communication Approach: Interviewed 10 city-identified individuals across local community-based organizations, academia, planning agencies, and government. Interview Q’s for Assessing Stakeholders Needs 4 1.Do you have a need to access air quality data? a.What types of data do you access or collect? b.How frequently, and for what purpose (e.g., daily notifications, alerts, sources emissions, regulatory assessments, research?) 2.Where do you get your air quality information? a.Do you use the city’s website to access air quality data? 3.What are some of your air monitoring and air quality data needs? a.How could the city help meet these needs? b.How can the city leverage resources that are already available? 4.What does the city do well in terms of air monitoring, displays, and communication? Where can they improve? Findings & recommendations are grouped across: 5 ●Monitoring & Data ●Website ●Communication ●Collaboration Findings 6 Monitoring & Data 7Findings ●Strong emphasis on city developing their local AQ communication strategies and partnerships, rather than investing in new and sometimes complex monitoring projects and operations. ●Questioned why the city wasn’t monitoring in certain areas/for specific pollutants. ●Want to know how city monitoring will be used for interventions, regulations, and policy. Website 8Findings ●The city website is not easily navigable and it’s hard to access and find information, leading to frustration and a decrease in website usage, as people often go elsewhere for their local AQ information. ●Many interviewees seeking more information on website than available ●Website content is missing fundamental AQ supporting information (e.g., AQI context) and local context (e.g., sources, historical trend data) Communication 9Findings ●Some interviewed local residents expressed that the city’s communication during local wildfire smoke events seemed reactive, and also lacked in widespread messaging. ●City staff are attentive and knowledgeable, but city role in AQ is not clearly described/transparent, which leads to confusion around what the city can address. Collaboration 10Findings ●The city holds substantial AQ expertise that state and county agencies noted would support their work across the Front Range. ●The state wants to garner more trust with residents, and is interested in being included in more local conversations to develop stronger community ties. Recommendations 11 Monitoring & Data (1/2) 12Recommendations 1.Create a plan for air monitoring within the city that describes what’s being measured and why. Include discussion of: a.Monitoring AQ rationale and bigger picture themes (e.g., persistent ozone problem, wildfire smoke) b.City’s roles in monitoring. c.Ensure any new air monitoring is tightly coupled to current (or future) policies. 2.Create a resource that discusses how the city can support other organizations that want to conduct monitoring programs in the city. Include description of: a.Logistical support that the city could provide b.How monitoring results would be used Monitoring & Data (2/2) 13Recommendations 3.Leverage other monitoring programs. Don’t take on new, more complicated AQ monitoring. Instead, leverage university, state, and federal air monitoring programs, making sure to publicize these efforts locally. a.Consider lower cost and highly leveraged approaches where other organizations bear the cost for equipment, operations, data management. b.We recommend that very little of annual budget be allocated on monitoring equipment, and majority be used for convening with local and state partners. 4.Review and revise the city’s 2019 Air Quality Plan Website 14Recommendations 1.Website redesign. Consult a user experience expert and conduct surveys with residents/partners to inform a website redesign that emphasizes user experience and improvements in layout, indexing, searching, and prominence on the city’s main website. 2.Describe local AQ data in context, providing information on local sources (e.g. oil and gas, transportation), associated actions, seasonality, and local historical trends. 3.Connect AQ to other important intersectional issues (e.g. climate change, heat) in website messaging. 4.Other minor website changes related to data visuals (e.g., include explanation for gaps in data time series) Communication (1/2) 15Recommendations 1.Create a wildfire smoke communication plan that provides local messaging and supports a timely response during wildfires. a.Collaborate with local planning agencies (Regional Air Quality Council) to sync wildfire smoke messaging for general alerts and comm and connect with their existing systems to support a timely response. b.Examine and inventory the different ways in which the city communicates about wildfire smoke. Evaluate if there are missing communication methods. c.Assess methods for AQ communication across different stakeholder groups (e.g. elderly vs. youth) and consider findings from CSU wildfire smoke communication study. d.Disseminate information on AQ shelters, if available. Communication (2/2) 16 1.Create (or augment) a public information campaign to share the city’s previous and ongoing AQ efforts. a.Explore different avenues to support building local AQ awareness - thinking more holistically about communications. b.Consider creating AQ messaging to help spread awareness to the local community on how their AQ can be affected by large local events (e.g. CSU football games, Fort Collins Food Truck Rally) with possible health actions to take. 2.Create a resource that describes the city’s role in AQ, creating a flow path that directs people to relevant pages and agencies based on their concerns and needs, enabling community participation. Collaboration 17Recommendations 1.Maintain alignment with the state on important AQ decisions and actions through consistent communication and input seeking. 2.Include the state in trust-building conversations as an important actor that can speak to issues outside the city’s purview, such as regulation/permitting and data use. 3.Explore ways the city can work with the county to be more vocal together on important issues. Questions? Helena Pliszka helena.pliszka@tdenviro.com Tim Dye tim@tdenviro.com 18 Work Plan City of Fort Collins Air Quality Advisory Board 2024 Work Plan The Air Quality Advisory Board’s (AQAB’s) primary purpose is to advise the Fort Collins City Council on policies, plans, programs, and ordinances that impact the City’s air quality. The AQAB by-laws, including a more detailed statement of the Board’s purpose and function, are available at https://records.fcgov.com/BoardsCommissions/Browse.aspx?id=3521565&dbid=0&repo =FortCollins. The AQAB may also coordinate with and advise other City boards, City staff, and regional authorities on air quality issues. When appropriate, the AQAB will advise City Council on any opportunities that may arise for the City to participate in and influence air-quality- related decisions affecting Fort Collins but falling under the jurisdiction of county, regional, state or national air quality authorities. Regional issues of particular importance include: ● Ozone mitigation ● Air quality monitoring (e.g., ozone precursors, methane, air toxics, particulate matter) ● Climate change mitigation and adaptation Expected AQAB Work Plan Tasks for 2024: ● Provide recommendations to City Council on regulations related to oil and gas operational standards after these are developed by City staff. ● Provide input to City staff and advise City Council on policies and programs related to the Our Climate Future plan's goals and implementation, including its greenhouse gas mitigation, zero waste and renewable energy goals for 2026, 2030 and 2050, and its environmental justice and climate resiliency initiatives. ● Support City staff and develop recommendations to improve indoor air quality, especially through enhancements to the City's Healthy Homes Program. This could include: o better testing and mitigation for radon and mold; o reducing the use of natural gas for heating, hot water, and cooking; and o eliminating exposure to emissions of harmful chemicals commonly found in household products. ● Support the City’s ongoing efforts to improve outdoor air quality through programs related to, for example: o improving air quality monitoring; o reducing ozone levels; o investigating regulatory approaches to promote the electrification of lawn and garden equipment used by community members, commercial service providers, and City employees and contractors; o mitigating the effects of wildfire smoke through safety and preparedness planning, public outreach, and community education; and o protecting, managing, and enhancing the City's urban forest. ● Support City staff and advise City Council on ways to improve the City’s transportation system through, for example: o development of a safe, year-round pedestrian, bicycle, micro-mobility and assistive devices mobility network within the City and regionally; o development of an expanded, reliable transit system that will increase ridership; o wider adoption of electric vehicles by both the City's operations and its residents and workforce; o reduction in idling and traffic congestion; and o promotion of other alternative modes of transportation. ● Examine ways for the City to improve public outreach and education to better inform citizens about air quality conditions and their health impacts, grow public support for air quality improvement programs and incentivize behavior change that improves indoor and outdoor air quality and public health. ● Examine the need for the City to perform a study or develop a new program on an air quality topic of particular interest or importance to the AQAB. ● ● Promote environmental justice in the City’s air quality programs and initiatives through active participation in its Air Quality Monitoring Advisory Committee. ● Address unanticipated air quality issues and respond to requests from City Council for advice on any air quality relevant topics. Work Plan Topics (potential), Dan Welsh 10/7/24 -PRPA update on current and future operations and AQ impacts -RAQC Ozone update, SIP status, emphasis on Fort Collins trends and operations -Outreach considerations What do outreach activities look like? Our own, cooperative, tabling at other events? Coordination with AQ- MAC? Other entities? -Review Air Quality Action Plan and Air Quality Policy Plan (duties stated in Bylaws, not performed recently)* *referenced in AQAB bylaws The Air Quality Advisory Board seeks to engage and participate in public outreach and educational activities; with the possibility of leading or cooperatively planning and organizing events. Currently, no activities or structure for participation in such have been identified by the Board. However this type of engagement by the Board will support City Council priorities 2, 6, and 10. The expected outcomes from this type of Board activity are: promoting public awareness and understanding of the most common air pollutants that affect Fort Collins (outdoors: ozone and fine particulate matter- including wildfire smoke; indoors: radon and carbon monoxide; fine particulates); increasing visibility of the Board and the City’s commitment to addressing air quality issues and improving conditions for its citizens and visitors; providing opportunities for the public to learn about air quality sources, potential health impacts, regulation, and opportunities for engagement; and advocating for support and participation in individual and governmental actions that help to improve air quality. It may be possible to engage, leverage, or partner with existing or current City public outreach initiatives without changing City code, however at this time the Board believes that additional effort is needed to reach as many members of the public as possible, especially for disproportionately impacted and underserved communities within the City. Broader application of the expertise, experience, and enthusiasm of the Board and its members will invigorate public outreach opportunities led by the City, as well as those initiated by County, State, or partner agencies/organizations and maximize benefit to the public through increased engagement opportunity and accessibility. The Board will continue to define and conceptualize its intended approach to outreach and educational activities and will communicate this intent with the City, As the Board pursues this goal, the Board respectfully requests additional latitude in its ability to do so.