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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/18/2024 - NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD - AGENDA - Regular Meeting Natural Resources Advisory Board REGULAR MEETING – Wednesday, December 18th, 2024 1. LOCATION: 222 LAPORTE AVE. AND VIA MS TEAMS <<LINK>> 6:00 CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL 1. AGENDA REVIEW 2. COMMUNITY MEMBER PARTICIPATION 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 4. NEW BUSINESS 6:10-6:20 Finalize Building Performance Standards (BPS) Memorandum At the November meeting, NRAB members voted unanimously to create a memo providing comments on and expressing support for Building Performance Standards. Board Member Barry Noon offered to draft a memo of support. (Action) 6:20-6:30 2024 Annual Report Kelly Stewart (NRAB Vice Chair) will review the draft 2024 Annual Report to comfirm content before submission. (Discussion) 6:30-6:45 2025 Work Plan Kelly Stewart (NRAB Vice Chair) will lead a discussion re viewing the draft 2025 NRAB work plan. The board will need to consider formal adoption of the 2025 work plan. (Action) 5. OTHER BUSINESS / UPDATES a. Board Member Reports b. Applications for open NRAB seats (2) due Jan. 10. 2025 https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/boards/ c. Six Month Calendar Review https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/planning-calendar.php d. 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 • Natural Resources Advisory Board webpage: https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/natural -resources.php • Our Climate Future: https://ourcity.fcgov.com/ourclimatefuture 6. ADJOURN 1 11/20/2024 - Minutes Natural Resources Advisory Board REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, November 20, 2024 – 6:00 PM 222 Laporte Avenue 1. CALL TO ORDER: 6:01 PM 2. ROLL CALL a. Board Members Present – • Dawson Metcalf (Chair) • Kelly Stewart (Vice Chair) • Matt Zoccali • Barry Noon • Lisa Andrews • Teagan Loew b. Board Members Absent – • Kelen Dowdy • Sara LoTemplio • Todd Simmons c. Staff Members Present – • Honore Depew, Staff Liaison • Katherine Bailey, Energy Services Project Manager • Dave Kemp, Trails Senior Planner d. Guest(s) – • Rob Cagen 3. AGENDA REVIEW The approval of minutes item was moved to the end of the meeting pending quorum. 4. COMMUNITY MEMBER PARTICIPATION Rob Cagen stated he was formerly Chair of the Parks and Recreation Board and has also served on the Air Quality Advisory Board. He stated he is seeking a new Board position with the City. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – OCTOBER 2024 Noon made a motion, seconded by Vice Chair Stewart, to approve the October 2024 regular meeting minutes as amended to correct a wording error. The motion was adopted unanimously. 2 11/20/2024 - Minutes 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Building Performance Standards (BPS) – Katherine Bailey, Energy Services Project Manager Katherine Bailey, Energy Services Project Manager, stated Building Performance Standards (BPS) is a proposed regulatory policy that would require existing commercial and multi-family buildings to meet performance or efficiency targets in Fort Collins. Bailey stated BPS not only benefits environmental goals, but also benefits health, safety, comfort, and resilience. Bailey noted some buildings are already meeting targets. Bailey stated two Council work sessions have occurred since she last came before the Board and another work session is scheduled for January, which is a bit of a delay from the original schedule. Bailey noted there has been some community trepidation around the policy, primarily revolving around associated costs. She stated environmental and economic goals can be seen as interwoven rather than conflicting. Bailey stated BPS as a policy has the potential to be the most impactful direct policy action the City can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 in alignment with Our Climate Future. She noted additional electrification will be needed to meet those goals as well. Bailey stated every year that goes by not adopting this policy equates to about one-half of a percentage point toward the 2030 emission goal. She also noted BPS would be impactful on reducing natural gas use, and would actually have more impact on reducing natural gas use than electrification when looking out to 2030. In terms of economic impacts, Bailey stated the total program cost associated with BPS is $290 million; however, administrative costs include programs that are already ongoing. The projected cost from the community side is $226 million, which would be the cost for updating local buildings, which is about $200,000 per building, which is about the same as the average cost of a tenant finish over the last ten years, or about 1% of the last purchase price of all the buildings being covered. Depew asked if the administrative costs are annual or over the life of the program. Bailey showed a slide indicating when costs are expected to be happening and noted, because it is an efficiency program, there are savings that directly result from reducing energy use. She stated the policy would pay for itself by 2039 in terms of energy savings only, and by 2050, the benefit is $2.50 in energy savings for every $1 spent. Bailey noted some feedback has indicated this would be better if a regulatory pathway did not have to be used and incentives could be used instead; however, rebate and incentives have been in place since 2002, and those programs have accounted for a large portion of historic savings, but those programs have not been able to decrease overall community electric use. Additionally, there is declining opportunity in the rebate and incentive space. 3 11/20/2024 - Minutes Bailey commented on the fact that it is cheaper to save energy than to buy or produce more energy, and she discussed strategic electrification which involves efficiency first. Bailey provided additional information on the intersection of environmental and economic health, citing insurance and health costs specifically. Noon asked if the trend in climate change and warming has been included in the model projections. Bailey replied it has been to a degree, though the dramatic swings that are likely to occur moving forward are difficult to capture. Noon noted increases in efficiency may be offset to some degree by increases in demand for energy driven by climate change. Bailey noted savings revolves around electric of gas bills avoided, though rates will continue to increase. Bailey commented on the fact that buildings are a community asset and the community as a whole will benefit from improvements to those buildings; therefore, there is a need for a conversation about how many ratepayer dollars should be invested into local buildings to take some of the financial burden off building owners. Bailey again noted there will be a Council work session on BPS on January 13th and stated the request for stakeholders between now and then is to share an understanding of the costs and benefits of BPS, environmentally and economically, with the community. She also requested feedback on how to make the presentation more human-oriented and asked the Board members if they would like to provide input to Council. Vice Chair Stewart asked about the stakeholder pushback that has been received. Bailey replied that the principal pushback responsible for the delay relates to economic and cost concerns. Zoccali asked about whether there are incentives provided by the City to businesses to make the updates to buildings, and if so, are the funds federal and is there an anticipation that those funds will change given the incoming administration. Bailey replied the historic rebates and incentives have covered about 60% of project costs since the program launched in 2002. It is anticipated that there will still be Efficiency Works business funds and staff has also pitched to Council that additional dollars be made available to support under-resourced buildings and provide an early-adopter incentive. Additionally, she stated there is reason to be optimistic about the kind of Inflation Reduction Act dollars that would be supporting this type of program. There is also the potential for use of the 2050 tax dollars. Chair Metcalf noted most people will be considering the dollar amounts and suggested including a graph with information if nothing was done to help understand avoided cost savings. He suggested placing those two together might create a stronger picture for broader audiences. Bailey stated that would be a good inclusion and noted it is somewhat misleading to say ‘savings,’ when in reality it is avoided costs. Depew outlined the options the Board could take to provide feedback to Council. Vice Chair Stewart stated she would not like to see the program delayed and suggested 4 11/20/2024 - Minutes the last couple slides would be more impactful at the beginning of the presentation. Noon expressed support for the Board submitting a short memo to Council as it would allow for comments to be presented in a more clear and meaningful fashion. Other members concurred. Chair Metcalf asked Noon if he would be willing to do a first draft. Noon replied in the affirmative and stated he would need assistance from other members. Zoccali made a motion, seconded by Vice Chair Stewart, for the Natural Resources Advisory Board to create a memo providing comments on and expressing support for Building Performance Standards. The motion was adopted unanimously. b. Strategic Trails Plan – Dave Kemp, Trails Senior Planner Dave Kemp, Trails Senior Planner, noted the Strategic Trails Plan (STP) was previously the Paved Recreational Trails Master Plan and commented on the importance of trails in forming 15-minute cities while also serving a recreational purpose. He noted serving historically underserved neighborhoods, schools, and parks and natural areas are priorities. Kemp outlined the three phases of the project: vision and needs, proposed trails and policies, and the formation of a draft Strategic Trails Plan. He detailed the Our City interactive web page that has been utilized in the process. Kemp discussed a diagram outlining plan congruence in the 15-minute city spectrum. Loew asked about trails being placed along irrigation ditches. Kemp replied some ditch companies, such as New Mercer, have allowed for the inclusion of trails; however, other ditch companies do not want trails along their ditches. Noon commented on the need for a way to float the Poudre River through the city noting there are diversions that keep that from occurring. Depew asked how much interaction exists between the paved trail work and Natural Areas and Utilities around the river itself. Kemp replied the departments work together frequently and commented on a forthcoming document titled The Poudre River Reach Four analysis which takes into account the flow of the water and the diversions mentioned by Noon. Kemp discussed the new Poudre River Trail connection which will be completed this weekend. Vice Chair Stewart asked what entity is responsible for maintaining the rare outhouses along trails. Kemp replied they are typically maintained by Parks or Natural Areas. Zoccali asked how many of the proposed trail areas have the potential for encountering long-term groundwater dewatering issues. Kemp replied that is the next step in the process given the new state mandate to monitor water quality. He stated it is important to look at new ways to design underpasses so as not to encounter the need for 5 11/20/2024 - Minutes monitoring groundwater quality. c. Annual Work Plan Members discussed the former Work Plan. Loew suggested incorporating the Strategic Trails Plan and Building Performance Standards. Depew commented on various ways the Work Plan could be organized. Chair Metcalf noted some of the newer members are not present and suggested the possibility of sending out the document for review by all members and considering it in December. Zoccali supported Loew’s suggestion and the idea of a broad list with more specific items underneath. He noted the ECMC put a stop work order on the oil and gas operator in Fort Collins and is forcing them into the orphan well program. Depew noted members cannot make comments on a shared document; however, one member could take on revisions. Chair Metcalf tabled the action on the Work Plan until the December meeting and stated he would work with Depew to revise the document for review at that meeting. 7. OTHER BUSINESS/UPDATES Depew noted every member whose term is expiring does need to reapply. He discussed topics for upcoming meetings. Zoccali stated he is not particularly interested in hearing about the One Water approach specifically as his understanding is that it is more about how a utility organizes itself operationally and strategically around water. Depew noted the Board and City will be shifting from Zoom to Teams for all meetings and reviewed the topics discussed at the recent Super Issues meeting. 8. ADJOURNMENT • 8:14 pm Minutes approved by a vote of the Board on 12/XX/2024 MEMORANDUM NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD DATE:December 18,2024 TO:Mayor and City Council Members FROM:Dawson Metcalf on behalf of the Natural Resource Advisory Board SUBJECT:2024 NRAB Annual Report In 2024,the Natural Resources Advisory Board (NRAB)held twelve regular meetings during which 23 agenda items were addressed,resulting in two joint memorandum being sent to City Council.Input to the City Council was based on presentations by Staff and outside experts with discussion.Additional items of interest provided education for the Board,provided updates on current projects,and allowed us to be a sounding board for Staff. We would like to express our appreciation for the professionalism and dedication of Staff. The table below lists agenda items considered and formal actions taken by the NRAB during 2024.These agenda items fall within the priority areas addressed by the NRAB and reflect the Agenda Items scheduled for Council in 2024.Additional items were added when requested by Council or Staff.Priority areas for NRAB include Waste Reduction and Recycling;Water Resources;Our Climate Future;and Active Modes Plan. Thank you for the opportunity to serve.We hope that we have added value to Council’s and the City’s goals, objectives,and operations. Respectfully Submitted, Dawson Metcalf, Chair,Natural Resources Advisory Board 2024 Members:Dawson Metcalf (Chair),Kelly Stewart (Vice Chair),Lisa Andrews,Kelen Dowdy,Teagan Loew,Sara LoTemplio,Barry Noon,Todd Simmons,and Matt Zoccali. cc: Kelly DiMartino,City Manager Jacob Castillo,Chief Sustainability Officer Honore Depew,Climate Program Manager Kelly Ohlson,City Council Liaison to the NRAB 1 City of Fort Collins Natural Resources Advisory Board 2024 Annual Report Date:Topic/Agenda Item Action Taken January Night Sky Update No Environmental Services Department Restructuring No February Sustainability Services Leadership No 2024 Proposed Our Climate Future Budget No March Building Performance Standards No Regional Wasteshed Update No April Welcome New Members and Review of 2024 Workplan No May FC Moves Update No Urban Forestry Strategic Plan No June Water Efficiency Plan Update No NRAB Board Elections Yes -Motion to Approve July Our Climate Future Background No Budgeting For Outcomes Overview No August Budgeting for Outcomes with AQAB (Joint Meeting)Yes -Joint Memo September Budgeting for Outcomes with AQAB (Joint Meeting)Yes -Joint Memo Urban Forestry Strategic Plan Yes -Joint Memo October Natural Areas Strategic Framework No November Building Performance Standards Policy Development Yes -Motion to Draft Memo Strategic Trails Plan No 2025 NRAB Work Plan No December Building Performance Standards Policy Development Yes -Memo (TBD) 2024 Annual Report No 2025 NRAB Work Plan Yes -Motion to Approve (TBD) 2 Environmental Services 215 N. Mason PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221-6600 970.224-6177 - fax fcgov.com MEMORANDUM FROM THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD DATE: December 18, 2024 TO: Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Dawson Metcalf on behalf of the Natural Resources Advisory Board SUBJECT: Natural Resources Advisory Board (NRAB) 2025 Annual Work Plan Subject to further Council guidance, the general topics we anticipate covering in 2025 include: ● Reviewing City policies and planning initiatives for consistency with the City’s environmental goals and values, supported by Our Climate Future, through the principles of sustainability, via regular and subcommittee meetings; ● Addressing specific policies, plans and regulations by participating in task forces and special committees, and providing feedback to Staff as a result of such participation; ● Developing recommendations to Council through Board discussion and consensus, followed by written memoranda and periodic attendance at Council meetings or hearings; ● Coordinating activities with other City Boards and Commissions as needed, such as the Air Quality, Energy, Economic, Water, Land Conservation and Stewardship, Parks and Recreation, Active Modes Advisory Board, and Transportation Boards. This work plan (attached) identifies issues that we anticipate will be considered by the NRAB during the year 2025. Of the Seven Key Outcome areas in the Fort Collins Strategic Plan, Environmental Health, Transportation and Mobility, as well as Neighborhood Livability and Social Health will largely shape our work. Other related issues will be addressed by the Board as they are brought before us by Council, Staff, or our own observations with the goal of providing timely input, using Council’s six- month calendar and Policy Agenda to help determine agenda items for our meetings. Finally, as appropriate, we will identify opportunities to promote sustainability in the face of natural resource management priorities. We look forward to a productive year of volunteer service to Council, the citizens of Fort Collins, and our environment. Within the constraints of an advisory board, we will employ our knowledge, talents, and passions to the best of our abilities. As always, please feel free to contact us with any comments or questions regarding our work plan for 2025. 2 Dawson Metcalf Chair, Natural Resources Advisory Board cc: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager Jacob Castillo, Chief Sustainability Officer Honore Depew, Climate Program Manager Kelly Ohlson, City Council Liaison to the NRAB 3 NRAB 2025 Work Plan The Natural Resources Advisory Board serves as an advisor to the Fort Collins City Council regarding sustainability policy and programs to achieve the goals and visionary "Big Moves" for Our Climate Future. This board advises on many aspects of community resilience and sustainability with a focus on water quality and availability for fish, wildlife and people, greenhouse gas mitigation, waste reduction and recycling, sustainable behavior change, and supporting the City's commitment to environmental justice. With an understanding that environmental processes (e.g., photosynthesis, the water cycle, etc.) are the building blocks of life and that human behaviors are leading to an expanding human footprint and accelerating climate change effects on our natural and social environments, the NRAB works to ensure the sustainability of the Fort Collins community. Utilizing the perspective that the natural environment provides life sustaining services, which is not exclusive to human life, the NRAB prioritizes sustaining ecosystem health and function, as well as building social resilience, to maximize positive systems-level impacts in our approaches and recommendations. The NRAB is particularly interested in and supportive of programs and initiatives that recognize: ● the interconnectedness of social and ecological systems and taking bold action to prioritize environmental health, ● the importance of identifying community vulnerabilities and implementing approaches to increase the capacity to adapt to change, ● and that inequity acts as a driver of climate change. To address these priorities, the NRAB will also collaborate with other boards by actively engaging in joint board initiatives to encourage the goals of high functioning government and high impact civic engagement as they pertain to the natural resource management challenges and opportunities faced by the community. Regarding those challenges and opportunities, NRAB has identified the following areas of specific interest in 2025, with an overall view of integrating the principles of sustainability in each target area: ● Our Climate Future ● Waste Reduction and Recycling ● Water Resources ● Transportation Planning, including the implementation of the Active Modes Plan ● Circular Economy ● 15-Minute City Concept Priority ● Nature in the City ● Local Agriculture ● Oil and Gas ● Night Sky Protection and Outdoor Lighting Requirements ● Equity and Environmental Justice ● Rights of Nature for Cache la Poudre River ● Resilient Urban Forest ● Building Performance Standards Commented [1]: Possibly: alignment with City Council Priorities and Our Climate Future Big Moves: Commented [2]: Question at hand is a rearticulation of this section. 4 Alteration of list for consideration based off email comments by board members: ● Agricultural and Energy Land Management ○ Urban Agriculture Promotion ○ Oil and Gas / Well Abandonment and Remediation ● City Planning ○ 15-Minute City Concept ○ Active Modes Plan and other Transportation Planning ○ Nature in the City ● Climate Change and Sustainability ○ Our Climate Future ○ Building Performance Standards ● Equity and Environmental Justice ○ Public Health ○ Issues of Access ● Waste Reduction and Recycling ○ Circular Economy ● Water Resources and Quality ○ Health of Cache la Poudre River ○ Northern Integrated Supply Project ○ Halligan Reservoir ○ River Health Assessment ○ Water Efficiency Plan ● Wildlife and Forestry ○ Resilient Urban Forest ○ Night Sky Protection and Outdoor Lighting Requirements Rearticulation to consider based off of council priorities and OCF Big Moves: ● City Council Priority #5: Accelerate zero waste infrastructure and policies ● City Council Priority #6: Reduce climate pollution and air pollution through best practices, emphasizing electrification ● City Council Priority #7: Protect community water systems in an integrated way to ensure resilient water resources and healthy watersheds ● City Council Priority #8: Advance a 15-minute city by accelerating our shift to active modes ● OCF Big Move: Climate Resilient Community ● OCF Big Move: Healthy Natural Spaces ● OCF Big Move: Zero Waste Neighborhoods ● OCF Big Move: Zero Waste Economy ● OCF Big Move: Live, Work and Play Nearby ● OCF Big Move: Efficient, Emissions Free Buildings ● OCF Big Move: 100% Renewable Electricity ● OCF Big Move: Electric Cars and Fleets ● OCF Big Move: Local, Affordable and Healthy Food 5 Consideration based off infusing priorities, OCF, and comments: ● Agricultural and Energy Land Management ○ OCF Big Move: Local, Affordable and Healthy Food ○ Urban Agriculture Promotion ○ Oil and Gas / Well Abandonment and Remediation ● City Planning ○ City Council Priority #8: Advance a 15-minute city by accelerating our shift to active modes ○ OCF Big Move: Live, Work and Play Nearby ○ Nature in the City ● Climate Change and Sustainability ○ City Council Priority #6: Reduce climate pollution and air pollution through best practices, emphasizing electrification ○ OCF Big Move: Climate Resilient Community ○ OCF Big Move: Electric Cars and Fleets ○ OCF Big Move: Efficient, Emissions Free Buildings ○ OCF Big Move: 100% Renewable Electricity ● Equity and Environmental Justice ○ Public Health ○ Issues of Access ● Waste Reduction and Recycling ○ City Council Priority #5: Accelerate zero waste infrastructure and policies ○ OCF Big Move: Zero Waste Economy ○ OCF Big Move: Zero Waste Neighborhoods ○ Circular Economy ● Water Resources and Quality ○ City Council Priority #7: Protect community water systems in an integrated way to ensure resilient water resources and healthy watersheds ○ Halligan Reservoir ○ River Health Assessment ○ Water Efficiency Plan ● Wildlife and Forestry ○ OCF Big Move: Healthy Natural Spaces ○ Resilient Urban Forest ○ Night Sky Protection and Outdoor Lighting Requirements