Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutNATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD - MINUTES - 01/15/20251 1/15/2025 - Minutes Natural Resources Advisory Board REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, January 15, 2024 – 6:00 PM 222 Laporte Avenue 1. CALL TO ORDER: 6:05 PM 2. ROLL CALL a. Board Members Present – • Dawson Metcalf (Chair) • Kelly Stewart (Vice Chair) • Matt Zoccali • Lisa Andrews • Barry Noon • Teagan Loew • Sara LoTemplio b. Board Members Absent – • Kelen Dowdy c. Staff Members Present – • Honore Depew, Staff Liaison • Ginny Sawyer, CMO • Joe Wimmer, Utilities d. Guest(s) – • None 3. AGENDA REVIEW Chair Metcalf reviewed the agenda items. 4. COMMUNITY MEMBER PARTICIPATION None. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – DECEMBER 2024 Andrews made a motion, seconded by Stewart, to approve the November 2024 regular meeting minutes as presented. The motion was adopted unanimously. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Community Capital Improvement Program (CCIP) – Ginny Sawyer, Senior Policy and Project Manager, and Joe Wimmer, Utilities Finance Director 2 1/15/2025 - Minutes Ginny Sawyer, Senior Policy and Project Manager, noted the decision was made to separate the CCIP and street maintenance tax renewals, and the street maintenance tax renewal was passed on November’s ballot with a 20-year sunset. She provided an overview of the City’s dedicated taxes and summarized the proposal for the Community Capital Improvement Program tax measure which sunsets at the end of this year, and if approved, would continue for ten years beginning January 1, 2026. Sawyer provided a list of the previous items that have been funded by the tax and noted Council has an August deadline to refer the measure to the November ballot. Sawyer discussed the components of a successful project package for the tax, including asset management and master plans, council priorities, and community appeal. Joe Wimmer, Utilities Finance Director, stated the ¼ cent sales tax will generate about $11 million of revenue per year, in current numbers; therefore, over the ten years, there will be approximately $110 million available for projects, and the current list contains approximately $166 million in projects. Sawyer noted several transportation projects are included in the list as many are grant- matched. She provided a list of the proposed projects in the following categories: transportation/engineering, parks and recreation/culture, nature, river, and environment, and housing. Noon asked if there has been any conversation about adding an additional pool like the City Park Pool. Sawyer replied the ballot measure that approved the Southeast Community Center called for an outdoor leisure pool and that will be part of the design. Sawyer outlined possible names for the tax and requested feedback from the Board. Members discussed the importance of ensuring the word ‘community’ is in the title. Zoccali requested additional information on the small sliver of the pie chart showing public safety investments that was part of the project list. Wimmer replied that was a project that was in the early list for renovating the Police facility to include office space for the mental health team, which actually found other funding sources. Zoccali commented on the importance of critical infrastructure updates for community resiliency and asked where those capital improvements are being captured. Sawyer replied many of those investments will come directly from the enterprise funds and stated resiliency costs should likely be placed in the City’s ongoing budget. Sawyer noted the top issue that prioritizes transportation projects is safety. She stated staff has just started reaching out to Boards and Commissions for input; however, initial feedback has shown support for dog parks, pickleball facilities, an affordable housing fund, bike infrastructure, and swim lanes. Sawyer and Wimmer provided polls to the Board related to which of the capital projects would have the greatest and least community impact. Sawyer noted staff will be seeking input on the project list over the next five months. b. Our Climate Future 2025 Strategic Refresh – Honore Depew, Senior Environmental Manager 3 1/15/2025 - Minutes Honore Depew, Senior Environmental Manager, stated this will be a year of staff engagement and refreshing how the Our Climate Future (OCF) framework is implemented across the organization and community to be more accessible, inclusive, and effective. Depew discussed the 2050 Tax and intention to create an OCF Strategic Funding Plan that is instructive for the City’s budget process. Depew outlined the 2025 scope of work for the OCF refresh, including assembling a historic document archive and conducting an internal assessment and gaps analysis. Depew outlined the OCF refresh timeline and suggested the Board may want to have a conversation in the spring with the consultant who is conducting interviews. LoTemplio asked how OCF tracks progress toward meeting goals. Depew replied there are sophisticated greenhouse gas accounting systems and protocols for monitoring and reporting on both community-wide and municipal emissions, and increasingly, staff is working to expand the way that information is presented. He noted goals are set around emissions reductions, 100% renewable electricity, and zero waste in terms of resilience, equity, and mitigation, though it is harder to set tangible goals for resilience and equity. LoTemplio asked about the progress toward mitigation goals. Depew replied the 2020 goal of a reduction of 20% below the 2005 baseline was met as a community, and the City organization achieved 44% below the baseline over the same time period. Given current policies, programs, and renewable electricity plans, estimates show the reduction will be around 70% below the baseline by 2030 - if key policies and programs advance. Loew asked about the largest changes that reduced emissions. Depew replied the main change was the conversion of the energy grid through Platte River Power Authority. Additionally, building energy efficiency programs and some changes to transportation have made a difference. Chair Metcalf asked if there are examinations or reexaminations of other cities as part of the refresh review. Depew replied that is intended to be part of the refresh. Chair Metcalf commented on the Los Angeles fires and on the importance of resiliency and adaptation and framing the necessity for that in a way to get community buy-in prior to disasters occurring. 7. OTHER BUSINESS/UPDATES Zoccali noted the Loveland City Council had a study session and voted to turn down the proposal of new oil and gas rules within the municipality and remain with the standard Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) regulations. Zoccali stated the Council was concerned about potential lawsuits and noted the revenue from oil and gas activities is too good an opportunity to lose to neighboring areas that have more favorable oil and gas regulations. Depew stated twelve applications were received for the four vacant Board seats and interviews will be forthcoming, with the new members starting to serve in April. Depew noted the March meeting falls during spring break and asked members if they want to change that date. Members opted to move the meeting from March 19th to March 12th. 4 1/15/2025 - Minutes Depew outlined upcoming meeting topics, including One Water for February, and Natural Areas Strategic Framework, Council priorities, and other topics for March and later meetings. Noon suggested the Board read the recent Poudre River Report Card prior to the February presentation. 8. ADJOURNMENT • 7:45 pm Minutes approved by a vote of the Board on 2/19/2025.