Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 04/16/2003MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD SPECIAL MEETING 281 N. COLLEGE April 16, 2003 For Reference: Randy Fischer, NRAB Chair - 226-5383 Ray Martinez, Council Liaison - 416-2154 Michelle Pawar, Staff Liaison - 221-6263 Board Members Present Kelly Ohlson, Nate Donovan, Sam Otero, Linda Knowlton, Randy Fischer Board Members Absent Arvind Panjabi, Steve Ryder, Don Rodriguez, Phil Murphy Staff Present Natural Resources Dept: Mark Sears, Michelle Pawar, Terry Klahn, Bobby Brannock CPES: Tom Vosburg Guests Ben Washburn, CSU student Agenda Review Randy Fischer said that I-25 Subarea Plan presentation will be postponed. Ken Waido will be here to present the plan in May, and the Board will still have time to weigh in on the plan. The whole schedule for the plan has been postponed. Kelly Ohlson has a few items he'd like to discuss. Community Separators Study (Board Action) Tom Vosburg & Michelle Pawar Tom Vosburg said he'd like to explain some of the revisions and talk about some of the changes in the document. He said an executive summary has been added that sums up three key points of the plan. 1. The Larimer County regulations aren't significant and it's going to take money to purchase land and easements. 2. Fort Collins will be the lead for much of this, especially in the northern separators. 3. Time is of the essence. Another change was made on page 3-4 under Utilize Appropriate Regulatory Tools, the original wording was weak and raised concerns. Natural Resources Advisory Board April 16, 2003 Page 2 of 3 The remaining edits are mostly stylistic. I know this doesn't have the strength or teeth this could if politics were different, but I hope that when considering your recommendation that you take into account the regional environment. • Knowlton: There's still one reference to the GOCO grant on page 3-11 • Donovan: I have several suggestions for changes, minor grammatical edits. • Donovan: When you were here last time and we talked with Don Rodriguez about the I-25 Corridor Open Space Task Force I didn't get the impression they did much. What about the sentence about them formulating a recommendation. • Fischer: The report was just finalized and handed out. • Donovan: In talking about gravel mining and what happens when gravel mining is done, developments around gravel pits are some of the ugliest I've ever seen. I would hope it's not part of the separator vision. • Vosburg: Everyone agrees the best case would be to buy the gravel and not mine it at all. But gravel companies don't want to part with it, even if they're paid market value. • Fischer: I suggested it be mentioned somewhere in the document it wouldn't be a bad idea to buy the lands before they were mined, so we'd have control over the reclamation. • Vosburg: There are a variety of conservation strategies. It's not clear that this document needs to be that inventoried. Staff is empowered to cut the deal. • Fischer: What kind of recommendation do we want to make? What's the board's position on this document. • Ohlson: Timnath and Windsor being partners won't have any economic impact on this. That needs to be clear. We can try to make some of those comments in our memo. Linda Knowlton made the following motion: Move that the Natural Resources Advisory Board recommend to Council acceptance of the study and the implementation of the separator plan. Ohlson: I'm willing to support the motion if in our memo we emphasize the following points: 1) Stress the meaning of full implementation, the purchase of property, and that we can't rely on the Larimer County Land Use Plan. 2) There will be significant purchase of property with Timnath, because Larimer County isn't interested at all. 3) If we're serious about this, because of increasing development pressure, we need to do this now. • Ohlson: We can make our memo a little stronger and clearer. • Knowlton: I think it's worthwhile to highlight these to Council. The motion passed unanimously. Natural Resources Advisory Board April 16, 2003 Page 3 of 3 Council Policy Agenda (Board Action) Nate Donovan Nate Donovan put together a draft memo. Kelly Ohlson said this is an important memo to Council. The board discussed possible changes to the memo. Nate Donovan will edit the document, including suggestions from the board. Donovan will distribute the document via email for board approval. Randy Fischer will call the City Manager's Office and ask for a deadline extension for submittal of the memo. Action Item Fischer said it was requested that there be a board resolution formally thanking Michelle Pawar for her direction and leadership of the Natural Resources Department. Resolution of Appreciation — The NRAB expresses its deep appreciation for the diligent and highly professional work performed on behalf of the City's environment and open space by Michelle Pawar during her tenure as director of Forth Collins' Natural Resources Department. The Board further wishes to call Council's attention to Michelle's exemplary management of the NRD so that the Fort Collins community will recognize and appreciate her outstanding work on their behalf. During her tenure as director, Michelle made significant improvements in the NRD's management, as well as spearheading several important initiatives that will benefit Fort Collins' citizens, environment, and open spaces from today forward. Kelly Ohlson made a motion to accept to resolution. The motion was seconded by Nate Donovan and unanimously approved. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.