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Home My WebLink About11/19/2025 - NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD - AGENDA - Regular Meeting (2) DRA F T MEMORANDUM FROM THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD DATE : November 21 December 18 , 202 5 4 TO : Mayor and City Council Members FROM : Kelly Stewart Dawson Metcalf on behalf of the Natural Resources Advisory Board SUBJECT : Natural Resources Advisory Board (NRAB) 202 6 5 Annual Work Plan Subject to further Council guidance, the general topics we anticipate covering in 202 6 5 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 202 6 5 . 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 202 6 5 . 11/13/25, 8:33 AM 2026 NRAB Annual Work Plan - Google Docs https://docs.google.com/document/d/1irTYLC5dUAyKNQuuujQVKSoTisCumGEoMPuLYk1OYhU/edit?tab=t.0 1/4 DRA F T Kelly Stewart Dawson Metcalf Chair, Natural Resources Advisory Board cc: Davina Lau, Public Engagement Specialist - City Clerk’s Office Kelly DiMartino, City Manager Amy King, Environmental Services Department Head Jacob Castillo, Chief Sustainability Officer Honore Depew, NRAB Staff Liaison Kelly Ohlson, City Council Liaison to the NRAB 2 11/13/25, 8:33 AM 2026 NRAB Annual Work Plan - Google Docs https://docs.google.com/document/d/1irTYLC5dUAyKNQuuujQVKSoTisCumGEoMPuLYk1OYhU/edit?tab=t.0 2/4 DRA F T NRAB 202 6 5 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 202 6 5 , with an overall view of integrating the principles of sustainability in each target area: ● 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 ○ Land Use Code Updates - Phase 2 ● 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 ○ OCF Big Move: Local, Affordable and Healthy Food ○ Urban Agriculture Promotion ● Equity and Environmental Justice ○ Public Health ○ Oil and Gas / Well Abandonment and Remediation ○ Issues of Access 3 11/13/25, 8:33 AM 2026 NRAB Annual Work Plan - Google Docs https://docs.google.com/document/d/1irTYLC5dUAyKNQuuujQVKSoTisCumGEoMPuLYk1OYhU/edit?tab=t.0 3/4 DRA F T ● 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 ○ Regional Wasteshed Matters ● 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 ○ Monarch Butterfly Habitat Conservation ○ Impact of City Projects on Natural World ○ Noise Pollution 4 11/13/25, 8:33 AM 2026 NRAB Annual Work Plan - Google Docs https://docs.google.com/document/d/1irTYLC5dUAyKNQuuujQVKSoTisCumGEoMPuLYk1OYhU/edit?tab=t.0 4/4