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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAir Quality Advisory Board - Minutes - 02/27/2001MINUTES City of Fort Collins Air Quality Advisory Board Regular Meeting 281 N. College Ave. February 27, 2001 For Reference: Eric Levine, Chair 229-5225 Scott Mason, Council Liaison 226-4824 Brian Woodruff, Staff Liaison 221-6604 Board Members Present Nancy York, John Schroeer, Eric Levine, Jim Dennison, Harry Edwards, Linda Stanley, Chris Kavanaugh Board Members Absent Mandar Sunthankar, Dan Voss Staff Present Natural Resources Department: Brian Woodruff, Sarah Fox, Lucinda Smith, Theresa Ramos - Garcia, Terry Klahn Guests Jana West Kowalski, Larimer County Health District Nancy Grove, Larimer County Health District Karen Spink, Poudre Health Services District The meeting was called to order at 4:35 Minutes The minutes of the January 23, 2001 meeting were unanimously approved as written. Review and Update Action List - Radon materials for Council study session - Criteria for radon program evaluation - Larimer County radon ordinances(s) Review Council six-month planning calendar • Linda Stanley said the I-25 Corridor Plan is scheduled for Council study session tonight. We should have made a recommendation. The Transportation Board has reviewed this plan. The NRAB has unanimously opposed the plan, for a lot of different reasons. • Eric Levine recommended to staff, as part of the LUTRAQ connective process, to try to connect the boards and commissions on the issues. If staff is looking at a presentation to their own board, also make a determination if it's appropriate for it to be sent to other boards and commissions. Woodruff said it might be possible for this board to hear the I-25 Corridor Plan at the March meeting. Air Quality Advisory Board February 27, 2001 Page 2 Agenda Planning • CO Redesignation... initial model results (March) • ClimateWise campaign results (March) • Education marketing overview, by Clean Air Team & SmartTrips (March) • 2025 Regional Transportation Plan conformity (Apr) • Radon Program Review (Apr) March agenda - CO Redesignation - I-25 Corridor - TransFort Strategic Plan (Put off the Education Overview) Second-hand Smoke — Public Comment Session, Sarah Fox Sarah Fox told the board that she would like for them to hear the presentation given to regular citizen groups, and to participate in a survey as regular citizens. Karen Spink, from Poudre Health Services District, spoke to the board regarding a comprehensive community based approach to tobacco prevention and cessation. Jana West Kowalski, Larimer County Health District, spoke about environmental tobacco smoke for non-smokers (2nd hand smoke). Fox verbally surveyed the board on their opinions regarding second hand smoke exposure, and asked them to complete a written community opinion survey. AQAB Mid -course Correction, Lucinda Smith Lucinda Smith said the staff recommendation would match the board's recommendation with one exception: the adoption of guidelines for cleaner construction equipment. There was concern on the part of the purchasing director about implementing this without evaluating it's feasibility. Staff will recommend an ordinance to adopt diesel emission standards. Staff also plans to include a general statement regarding wood smoke — considering alternatives for citizen protection from wood smoke. The NRAB unanimously supported this proposal. Discussion • Levine: Last month Holnam said they wouldn't pursue tire burning because it's not cost effective. Meanwhile, they have modified a bill in the House to increase the money they would be eligible for under the waste tire clean up fund. I have been trying to get the local government involved. That bill is in our legislative tracking system. • Levine: I would like the City to be proactive on this legislation instead of reactive. Air Quality Advisory Board February 27, 2001 Page 3 Radon Program — Evaluation Criteria Sarah Fox said that initially, when Council was told the radon program would be evaluated, we proposed finding the number of homes tested, the number of people who have mitigated, and the number of people who are aware radon is a problem. The issue came up, what is a good evaluation criterion. That's where we've struggled. We do know that since 1997, when the radon information ordinance was passed, more people are aware of radon dangers. We've had problems knowing about the number of tests being done. Generally, from testing data, we've found that since 1997 more testing has occurred. Edwards: There's an inconsistency on Table B. Aspen Construction indicated they've done 160 mitigations in each of the three years, and they're not in Table A. That's because they're not a testing company. A lot of the people doing testing are home inspectors. The data's not good. The realtors thought that our only goal was to increase awareness. That was the goal of the ordinance, but when we looked back at the AQAP it says we will increase the number of workplaces and residences who take action to reduce exposure to indoor air pollution. Dennison: You can't mitigate if you don't know you have a problem. If we increase the number of people who are aware, and the number of people conducting tests, it's worthwhile. What we want to come up with is how to evaluate the program in the future. Our real goal is to get people to take action. Dennison: Are realtors required to give information at initiation of a purchase contract? When we talk to the realtors they say the information is being provided. In the survey the response was that people are not getting the information. This can be interpreted indifferent ways. Levine: This is something the real estate community wants to shove under the rug. They see it as another obstacle between them and a sale. The realtors as a whole have come around and are giving the information out. The big companies require disclosure. The citizens have become interested. The recommendation is to look at how the information is given out. There was a suggestion about putting a postage paid mail -back form in the brochure. We're also looking at making the brochure flashier and prettier. Edwards: How about making testing a condition of the sale? When we bought our town house the Group provided the brochure. We wanted a radon test, and the realtor was cooperative and supportive, but the builder stonewalled us. Fox said they will be going to Council's Health & Safety Committee. We have an objective to encourage resident's awareness, and evaluate the radon program based on the number of people who are taking action. We're trying to determine the number of homes that need to be mitigated. We'd like a goal that every year the number of mitigations would increase until we reach the point where the entire housing stock is below four Pico -curies. Recommendations 1. Put something in the building code to require mitigation in new construction. 2. Require certification for radon mitigators, so they have to provide test data for existing homes. 3. Do some kind of pilot to offer incentives to test and mitigate. 4. Revise the brochure and change when it is required to be given out. Air Quality Advisory Board February 27, 2001 Page 4 5. Go into classrooms and talk with students. Give out test kits. Encourage families to take the next step and mitigate. 6. Conduct outreach to realtors, lenders and title companies. 7. Evaluate the number of new homes with an installed system, as well as the number of homes each year that are mitigating. • Dennison: If you can certify mitigators you can certify testers. Would it make sense to require a post test? All of the mitigators guarantee their work, and they do a post test. Some will come back in a couple of years and do a retest to make sure the system is still functioning. • Edwards: Add to your list of recommendations, that the City will continue to study the feasibility of requiring a point -of -sale radon test. • York: Even if it stirs the pot it will be a form of education. It's a good battle to wage. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m. ACTION LIST — from February 27 meetinu ACTION ITEM WHO BY... DONE 1. When the radon program is reviewed by City Sarah When Council, put a copy of their packet materials available in the Board's packet. 2. E-mail to AQAB members the membership Brian March of City Council's Legislative Affairs Committee.