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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAir Quality Advisory Board - Minutes - 01/29/2002OZ-a \- ` ?__ MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING 281 N. COLLEGE AVE. January 29, 2002 For Reference: Eric Levine, Chair 229-5225 Eric Hamrick, Council Liaison 226-4824 Lucinda Smith, Staff Liaison - 224-6085 Board Members Present Nancy York, Jim Dennison, Linda Stanley, Cassie Archuleta, Katie Walters, Conrad Van Dyke, Everett Bacon, Mandar Sunthankar Board Members Absent Eric Levine Staff Present Natural Resources Department: Brian Woodruff, Terry Klahn, Lucinda Smith, Michelle Pawar Guests Bill Bertschy, Councilmember Janna West Kowalski, Larimer County Polly Anderson, Poudre Health Services District Nancy Grove, Larimer County Gina Janett, citizen The meeting was called to order at 4:35. Introductions Four new members were appointed to the Board effective January 2002. Minutes The minutes of the November 27, 2001 meeting were unanimously approved as amended. The minutes of the December 18, 2001 meeting were unanimously approved as written. Review Council Six -Month Planning Calendar • February 12: Hydrogen Task Force Report —Nancy York hopes the AQAB has a recommendation. • February 12: Community Separators • February 19: Electric Bike Ordinance — Pawar explained this was an interdepartmental decision. Our position is that electric bikes will not be allowed in natural areas. Bill Bertchy said that there is accommodation for the disabled, wheel chairs are exempted. • February 26: Long Term Strategy for Transportation Funding — Stanley made a request that the AQAB receive the materials in advance. Smith said the materials could be included in the February packet. Smith said this is also on the April schedule, and the Transportation Funding Committee is not expecting to pull together a recommendation until this summer. Linda Stanley introduced Bill Bertchy, District 1 Councilmember, who asked to speak to the Board. - Bertschy: I have an interest in the indoor clean air issue, and the second hand smoke issue. I came to the Board about 3 years ago when the issue was being discussed. We've discussed the issue off and on, indirectly as Council. since I've been on, almost five years now. I feel pretty familiar with the issue, and do have a particular interest in seeing us move along on this issue. I did request recently, the drafting of an ordinance and did ask for Council support. Three other members of Council responded, Mayor Martinez, Councilmember Tharp, and Councilmember Hamrick. Because I knew this was coming up on your agenda, and because I know this is an issue the Air Quality Board has been working on, we were asked to see what's going on with you all, and that's one of my reasons for coming. Secondly, we need to decide if we are going to go ahead, one of my thoughts are if we were to go ahead and ask for an ordinance to be drafted we could go ahead and discuss that ordinance. It would naturally be coming back to you for your recommendations and advice. I do not know where you all are at with this. The other thing I'm looking for advice and information, I did ask on Monday at a Leadership meeting, to have the issue at least put on the "to do" list, on the Six Month Planning Calendar. Diane .Tones said they were looking at some possible study session times in the next six months. So, I just wanted to pass that along to you and thank you for your participation on the Board. We need your help; there are too many issues out there for us to try to figure it all out. We do appreciate all the work you do on your board. Thanks for the opportunity, are there any questions? • York: Did you say you do have an ordinance? • Bertschy: No, we're asking to have one drafted, to begin the process. • York: That's wonderful to hear that we have four votes, or four interests, in having an ordinance drafted. • Stanley: Where we're at right now, Board members who've been here for a while have heard this issue several times. I know there was some frustration in December, of let's just do something. Janna will be here tonight to give us a short presentation, and ask us what other information we need to make a recommendation, if we feel we'd like to make a recommendation. • Bertschy: If you all could let me know what you're thinking, and then I can follow up. • Stanley: OK, I can email you. • Sunthankar: When you say you've asked for it to be drafted, do you have any time line in mind? • Bertschy: Typically what happens is, we have to be reasonable, it's done by the City Attorney's staff, and they need a reasonable amount of time to do that. It sounds like we have enough interest; we don't want that to be a long time from now. I don't know. My intention is, I was pleased to hear there will be a study session in the next six months, so at least, we'll have something before that. And I would guess, we'll want to get it to you all within a reasonable amount of time prior to the study session. That's sounds pretty soon. Please understand I'm going to give direction as soon as I can. • York: I guess everybody knows we've been waiting for feedback from citizens and merchants before the next step. • Bertschy: I think it's time we at least go ahead and put something on the table. It'll be discussed, I know that. • Dennison: How much direction do you give about the shape and form of the ordinance that you would like to see? Air Quality Advisory Board September 26, 2000 Page 3 • Bertschy: There are model ordinances that the Clean Air people have, there's also a couple of successful ordinances in Colorado. I guess those are all pretty good, some are better than others. • Dennison: So they're apt to come up with something fairly similar to what you've mentioned? If it's something that you feel isn't strong enough, do you just send it back? • Bertschy: Well, we can do it a couple ways. We can send it to you all, for your advice. I guess I'd really hate for it to be hung up in drafting. It may not be everything to everybody. I think it's time we have something on the table. • Bacon: It's been indicated the business community has been brought into the process. • Stanley: Let's wait on Janna, she'll be able to answer that question. • Woodruff: I'd like to add one word in honor of Dr. Harry Edwards who just recently left the Board, and who has a lona term interest in this issue. Since he's not here I'd like to make a comment on his behalf— YES! Hydrogen Task Force Lucinda Smith said when staff takes this issue to Council, the three most important things they will be asking are: - Do you support the six recommendations? - Do you support the concept of hiring a program coordinator? - Would you support the use of City resources to match grants? • York: Hydrogen is our future. I made a note that this board should recommend that Fort Collins hire a hydrogen program coordinator as a first step. I endorse all of the recommendations. The coordinator will kick it all off. We could couple hydrogen -fueled buses with the Mason Street Corridor, and beyond. We have so many resources that would facilitate that. We thought that Fort Collins would be a great test site, like the one in California. There are seventy vehicles operating out of Sacramento today. Because of our high altitude, and our variable weather, it's even better for us. I for sure want us to hire a coordinator who can begin the grant process. Hydrogen is so exciting. • Smith: Hydrogen has great potential as a future energy carrier. I was most struck by the exciting potential of regional partnerships. We in Fort Collins are in a unique position. I would, as a member of the task force, support their recommendations. They were reasonable, and not too far-fetched. • Dennison: Are we talking about a full time position? Would it detrimentally affect the other work the department is doing? • Smith: First Council would be asked if they support a City hydrogen program. That will require funding we don't have. We could proceed with seeking funds, even with our existing resources. I would like to see a program coordinator hired. • Sunthankar: We already have a group that is studying new measures of saving energy. Couldn't they continue and look at hydrogen? • Smith: One staff member from fleets was on the task force, that might be a logical place. • Smith: There is a timing issue. Passenger hydrogen vehicles will not be ready for a number of years. Even if we got a hydrogen fuel cell bus as a demonstration project, we're looking down the road to incorporate them. • Sunthankar: Sounds to me like it's too early to hire a coordinator. • Smith: That would be for the board to decide. The task force felt there was enough to do to warrant a person to work on it to advance the concept. • Archuleta: Once they get the grant, what is the time frame? • York: The time frames weren't outlined. It was coordinated with when the Mason Street Corridor would get their buses. • Smith: The Mason Street project plan calls for ordering the buses in about 2004, with the buses arriving in 2006. Prior to that, this year is the demo project opportunity. Gary in Utilities is in communication to see if Thunderpower could bring the hydrogen demo bus here. That would be a way to elevate hydrogen, and raise awareness. • Archuleta: Once the grant comes through do we take on the whole burden of funding the project? • Smith: That would be the kind of question Council would look at. • Bacon: During the demo period, how would you fuel the buses? • Smith: For the demo vehicle there's bottled gas. • Archuleta: Do things not get done if there's not one person dedicated to it? • Pawar: It depends on the issue itself, and the directive we receive from Council. • Smith: In our department we have distinct program areas. But within the program areas, each staff person works on a variety of different projects. The HFT recommendation is to obtain grant funding for the hydrogen program coordinator. • Dennison: That's a good thing to do. I'm supportive of the specific actions as well. Jim Dennison made the following motion: Move that we make a recommendation to City Council that they work toward the fulfillment of the recommendation of the Hydrogen Task Force, in terms of the six specific recommendations, and to look for funding to hire the Hydrogen Program Coordinator, using City resources as necessary. The motion was seconded by Katie Walters. • Bacon: My experience is this technology has a lot of promise. Some of these things are in the crawl state, and some are in the walk and run state. Clearly, we're not ready for all of these, but I'm not opposed to the recommendation. • Van Dyke: For those of you more familiar with Council, would they swallow this pill better if this were billed as a pilot program? • York: My personal feeling is this is very exciting. This is the future, I'm convinced of it, even the auto industry is convinced. John Fischbach is very impressed with the report, and immediately sent it out to City Council members. I would like us to have a very enthusiastic embracing of this. We should recommend the grant funding to hire a coordinator, so the rest of the recommendations could be fulfilled. • Sunthankar: I tend to agree with Everett and Conrad. We may be putting the cart before the horse. Step number one is feasible without a coordinator. I don't know if we need a coordinator right away. • York: The vision of the task force is we want to become a testing facility. I think in order to fulfill that dream we need to have someone making the connections. We should endorse this whole-heartedly. Gary Schroeder facilitated this task force. He and Lucinda wrote the report. We need to get a coordinator. We're not conmiitting ourselves financially in any way. Air Quality Advisory Board September 26, 2000 Page 5 Walters: At this point it's completely recommendations. There are no timelines. Either we're interested or not, we're getting too much in to the details. There is a motion on the floor. • Stanley: What ever the funding match would be, it is pocket change to the City. Tlse motion passed unanimously. Smith will draft a memo. • Van Dyke: Say we did initiate a hydrogen program, where would we retire the diesel buses? 1 would suggest future consideration for making, a recommendation as to where the older diesel vehicles are being retired, since there can be negative health and enviromnental impacts from that too. • Pawar: The Board could also consider looking to the auto industry for support of the hydrogen program, as well as to universities, and even to ICLEI for funding opportunities. Carbon Monoxide Redesignation Woodruff distributed a time line of what the Board needs to do, and when. The AQAB needs to provide input at their February meeting for the March study session. Woodruff reviewed the Draft Fort Collins CO Maintenance Plan. He identified issues that need to be looked at during the process. 1. State and local air quality policy conflict. 2. The most accurate data and forecasts should be used to predict future air quality. 3. The City's AQAP should include strong local control to prevent CO emissions from rising. • Stanley: Why did the State pick 1992 as the base year for the plan? • Woodruff: It's the first year we met the standard. • Stanley: Our previous board member, John Schroeer, said if you get rid of the UM program, the first thing we'll see is people dismantling their emissions control equipment. • Bacon: What we saw in Dallas was that it took several years for the benefits to taper off after the UM program ended. • Woodruff: Even with the end of the oxy-fuels program we should see a lingering effect, because we get the same gasoline blend here as in Denver, where oxy-fuels continues to be mandated. We'd get the benefit without it being a requirement. • Bacon: I like the program. There are violations. • Sunthankar: This shows mobile source emissions going down; what is the thinking behind that? • Woodruff: The assumption is that VMT will grow at a rate that's projected in the regional transportation plan, and that emissions per mile will improve due to cleaner new cars. To the extent that emissions are going downward, the technological improvements are outpacing the VMT growth. I can't vouch for the numbers, however. • Woodruff: If we argue to delay the process, the only legitimate objective would be to gain time so we can use the arguably more realistic VMT growth numbers that will be available in another year. Another objective is to get the state legislature to lighten up on the requirement that control programs must be removed. We might try to persuade the Air Quality Commission to retain UM and oxy fuels as state -only programs, and take them out of the federal plan. I think the political climate is against that. • Bacon: Can you come up with a list of other control strategies to reduce CO emissions? Second Hand Smoke, Janna West Kowalski .canna West Kowalski presented a brief overview of the issue to ground the Boardmembers discussion. She is here to answer questions and provide additional information. • Stanley: What information do you need to feel comfortable making a recommendation? • Archuleta: When it says you can't smoke in bars, does that include places like Washington's? I think the distinction between bars and restaurants is based on the volume of business that comes from food. • Van Dyke: How does Fort Collins differentiate between bars and restaurants? That's a decision Council would make. • Woodruff: With respect to the role of the AQAB, it strikes me that what Councilman Bertschy told us earlier is very important. He says he and three other council members requested that an ordinance should be written to amend the second hand smoke ordinance. You don't need to urge that to be done, it's going to be done. • Bacon: Are they going for the gold standard, or a lesser standard? • Woodruff: This is a milestone, when three members of Council say it's ok to talk about ordinance language. We haven't been to that point for two years. • Stanley: Last time we expressed a desire to make a recommendation to Council to get going. It appears we no longer need to do that. We might be able to have some say so. • Dennison: City Council will try to have as much public input as possible. • Walters: My concern is that bars are not included. It does cover bars, it loops confusing, but it says it's banned in all public places. • Walters: I'm concerned that for Council to step in is overstepping their bounds in regard to public input. I feel like a vote to the public would be better. • Stanley: One of the things that will happen is the tobacco industry will step in. This is Council's job. They've had the public input. Sometimes it takes courage to step up. • Walters: I'm afraid a lot of people will be really freaked out. • Stanley: The surveys show a lot of people want increased protection. There's a lot of noise from a small group. It won't hurt businesses — it usually helps. • Bacon: If you go to a vote, it's yes or no. It seems that Council would have a mechanism for compromise. If they can't go for the gold, maybe they can back off and still get something passed. • Van Dyke: I advocate a smoke free work place, and smoke free recreation, and that it's everyone's right to abstain. But, one of the side effects is hiring bias. It does concern me these communities don't involve the actual people they're attempting to protect. There are instances where employees have been told they can't smoke on their non -paid breaks. We haven't had any conversations about that. • Walters: Something else that hasn't been mentioned is smoking at parks and playgrounds. Is that something that needs to be mentioned? We haven't gone after parks and playgrounds, as that's an outdoor air issue. There isn't the science to back it up right now. We're making a scientific plea. But there are communities who are going after outdoor areas. • Stanley: Would you address Conrad's concerns? In October we had a big event for restaurants and bars. No one showed up. Focus groups have met with restaurant employees and asked them why they just don't change jobs. They'll say they like what they do, they're friends with their co-workers, and they like the fast money. • York: I'm looking forward to making a recommendation to Council, I'm sorry we can't do it right now. Air Quality Advisory Board September 26, 2000 Paee 7 Nancy York made the following motion: We recommend to the City Council that they upgrade the smoking ordinance, and that we prefer the 100% smoke free model ordinance, and we thank Council for'their consideration of the draft ordinance. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:20. ACTION LIST — from January 200') meetinv ACTION ITEM WHO BY... DONE 1. Draft memo on the HTF recommendations Lucinda February 7 and send out for comment. 2. Draft memo on the Secondhand Smoke Lucinda February recommendation and send out for comment. 3. Draft memo in support of "Behind -the- Eric and February Drywall" program for review at February Linda meeting. 4. E-mail Board members with actual Outdoor Lucinda February 4 AQ survey, and seek e-mail comments. 5. Include Transportation Funding Strategy AIS Lucinda February in Board packet. I 1 19 pZ - C)\—CO \ AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD DATE: Tuesday, January 29, 2002 LOCATION: 281 North College Avenue, Conference Room A TIME: 4:30 - 7:00 P.M. :15 INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS The AQAB welcomes four new members and one re -appointed member. Each member will take a few minutes to introduce themselves and discuss their background and interests. :30 HYDROGEN TASK FORCE REPORT Continue discussion of the Hydrogen Task Force recommendations presented to the Board at its December meeting. ACTION: Recommendation to Council prior to their February 12 study session. 30 CARBON MONOXIDE REDESIGNATION Brian Woodruff will update the Board on status of efforts to redesignate to attainment for carbon monoxide. This on -going discussion is to help the Board prepare for making a recommendation to Council at the Board's February meeting. ACTION: Information only. :15 DINNER BREAK REVIEW MINUTES & ACTION LIST OF NOVEMBER 27, 2001 MEETING REVIEW MINUTES & ACTION LIST OF DECEMBER 18, 2001 MEETING 10: SHORT DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. Board members review the "Behind the Drywall" memo to Council 2. Board feedback (if any) on the 1999-2000 AQAP Status Report 12/01 separate mailing) 3. Staff will ask Board members to look at the Air Quality survey results and provide any comments by e-mail to staff. These comments will be included in the February Board packet. :40 SECOND-HAND SMOKE The Board will continue their discussion on the second-hand smoke issue, focusing on their specific role in the issue over the next several months. Janna West-Kowlaski from Larimer County will be on hand to answer questions or provide more information. ACTION: For planning purposes only. :10 AGENDA PLANNING Review Council six-month planning calendar Future agendas (Feb — Wood Smoke) Clear bike rack