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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAir Quality Advisory Board - Minutes - 06/17/19960 t MINUTES 96-06-07 CITY OF FORT COLLINS AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING 281 CONFERENCE ROOM - 281 N. COLLEGE AVE. JUNE 17,1996 For Reference: John Fooks, AQAB Chair - 229-5225 Will Smith, Council Liaison - 223-0425 Brian Woodruff, Staff Liaison - 221-6604 Board Members Present John Fooks, Eric Levine, Lynne Baker, John Scanlon Board Members Absent Susan Bilo, Bill Eckert. Pete Perkins, Harry Edwards, Nancy York Staff Present Natural Resources Department: Sally Maggart, Brian Woodruff, Linda Devocelle Transportation Services: Eric Bracke, Ruth Clear Community Planning and Environmental Services: Tom Vosburg Guests None The meeting was called to order at 4:55 p.m. after a farewell party for Lynne Baker. Approval of Minutes Because of the lack of a quorum, approval of the minutes of the May 20, 1996 meeting was deferred. CO Augmentation Woodruff explained that this is an item in the Board's workplan. He distributed and reviewed an update of Objective #3 in the Air Quality Action Plan, regarding motor vehicle emissions (see packet item 96-07-08). He pointed out that, if the city reduces VMT growth to the population growth rate as planned, and if emissions per mile goes down according to USEPA's Mobile 5a model, then the objective of preventing an upward turn in CO emissions is met through 2009. Woodruff noted the City's emissions objective (60 metric tons/day) is 25% lower than that required by the federal government (80 metric tons/day). These projections could be changed due to the following: 1. If implementation of the City's land use and transportation plans is as effective as predicted, then VMT will reduce even further than projected, down to 3 million miles per day in 2015. 2. New car standards are tightening up due to address CO emissions during cold starts, and to address a more -realistic driving cycle. The effect of these changes will be reflected in USEPA's Mobile 6 model, to be available in 1997, and these projections will be updated again at that time. 3. If the amount of oxygen in gasoline is increased, CO emissions will be reduced. Denver gasoline is required to have 3.1% oxygen, while Fort Collins gasoline must have only 2.8%. Because Fort Collins gasoline comes mostly from Denver, however, we have close to 3.1 % oxygen already. 4. Alternative fuel vehicles will have an impact, as the Clean Cities program encourages fleet managers and individuals to switch to methane, propane, electricity, etc. The impact on CO is expected to be less than 1% reduction through 2001, but may grow to a significant reduction by 2015. 5. If the City implements enhancements to the state's inspection and maintenance (IM) program, CO will be reduced further. The Air Quality Action Plan calls for development of IM enhancements for Council review in 1996 and 1997. Woodruff noted that another element of the Air Quality Action Plan is to decide in 1997 whether to seek redesignation as an attainment area for CO. The redesignation process requires a commitment from the City ONLY to keep CO emissions below 80 metric tons/day for ten years, while the City's objective is to keep them below 60 metric tons/day. Fooks asked that this matter be placed on the July meeting agenda, to decide (with a quorum present) whether further actions should be recommended to augment CO reduction. Old Business City Structure Plan Tom Vosburg, Policy Analyst, said that he understood that Clark Mapes, City Planner, had presented the Structure Plan and provided the Board with an overview and status of the plan at a previous meeting. He heard that the Board was positive about the plan but had questions about the air quality implications. Brian Woodruff, Environmental Planner, asked for an update on the changes to the preferred alternative. Vosburg explained that through public process and review by a citizen advisory group, the preferred alternative strongly resembles Alternative C, the high density scenario. He noted the refinement to the concept of the activity center in the northeast and the adjustment to how the Poudre River corridor is conceptualized. The concept of the Urban Reserve is still evolving. The citizens advisory committee (CPAC) and staff recommended higher density and growth to the northeast after the 2015 planning period. CPAC favored the adoption of phasing property to allow the market to determine the rate of build -out with orderly logical phasing policies. Eric Levine asked how density would affect transportation and air quality. Vosburg replied that the Congestion Management Plan outlined the strategy of mixed use activity centers to provide the opportunity to live close to jobs and services and get a higher mode shift. Since land use assumptions are critical to the Master Street Plan and the modeling effort, staff is asking for a _y Board recommendation regarding land use distribution that supports travel behavior to obtain air quality goals. The Plan goes to Council on July 2. Woodruff asked what the City Council will vote on. Vosburg said that they will adopt the Master Street Plan by ordinance and the Structure Plan by resolution. It may end up with modifications if adjustments need to be made to implement the regulations, but it would still be consistent with the concepts. Master Streets Plan Eric Bracke, Traffic Engineer, noted that this is also scheduled for Council adoption on July 2. He distributed and explained information on the Assumptions and Results of the VMT simulation of the Master Streets Plan (part of Master Transportation Plan) and maps of the present Master Street Plan and the Revised Master Street Plan. Bracke said the qualitative assessment is that this will meet the City's air quality goals; as soon as he receives the current CO data from Susan Caplan in the Natural Resources Department, he will get the information to Brian Woodruff, Environmental Planner. Bracke noted that the Master Street Plan was approved in 1980 and was last revised in 1991. The proposed changes included in the Revised Master Street Plan are: Overland Trail will not be a six lane arterial; College Avenue from downtown to the bypass will be four lanes instead of six; Timberline will be planned for six lanes beyond 2015; there will be a new roadway to connect the activity center in the northeast; and County Road 32 will not be a six lane arterial. There is the possibility of adding an interchange at Vine to create a four lane arterial to divert trucks from downtown. There is also discussion of a multi -modal corridor that follows the Burlington tracks from the southern activity center to downtown. Bracke said that the budget has not yet been determined. Tom Vosburg, Policy Analyst, reported that City departments are prioritizing capital projects to identify funding mechanisms. Woodruff asked what would happen if the VMT projected goals are not met. Vosburg explained that when the Structure Plan is adopted, minimum density and street standards will change. Streets will become narrower and the physical form of the community will change. The TDM program will continue to be funded and continue to affect travel behavior. He noted that transit change is a small piece of the pie because it is the most expensive. The increase in the walk/bike mode shift will help meet the goals. Vosburg explained that a monitoring program will be set up to determine progress in meeting goals. The program will monitor travel behavior, land consumption, mixed use, etc. Woodruff asked about the use of trigger mechanisms. Bracke explained that the Goals and Visions document has specific statements relating to the monitoring system and triggers to be set if population growth rate exceeds planning. Lynne Baker said that multi -modal transportation is important and more effort needs to be focused on transit. She asked if a bus lane on the Timberline expansion has been considered. Bracke said that a bus lane is not necessary without origins and destinations on either end. Baker noted that this is a golden opportunity to do something good with transportation John Scanlon asked if there were any examples of similar changes in the SOV. Vosburg replied that there are no examples in the United States because nobody has had the 20 years experience. There have been examples of changes in travel behavior caused by bad storms, major construction and earthquakes. Vosburg said that these are ambitious goals but they could be met; this will put us on the cutting edge in the country. He added that the air quality model does not assume a breakthrough in technology. John Fooks asked about political change and the adeptness of the plans. Vosburg explained that these are legislatively adopted and could be revised, terminated or changed with a vote of Council. If there is any dramatic change, it would need to be done with an understanding of street and air quality implications. Fooks asked if air pollution from stationary sources were evaluated in the industrial and employment sites. Vosburg responded that it was not one of the parameters. The Congestion Management Plan has been the model for evaluating land use. Woodruff asked if the industrial activity centers were located properly. Fooks said that the industrial activity centers seem centralized in the urban area. Vosburg responded that they are adjacent to existing industrial use areas. Eric Levine said that monitoring every year would be appropriate and the development review process needs to be monitored. Vosburg said there is ongoing tracking of building permits and densities and the key thing is if land use is consistent with the map in 2015, it will be consistent with meeting the goals. Levine emphasized the need to measure success, include triggering mechanisms and provide a real transit system. He asked how much the Master Street Plan accommodates growth and how much it does to create_ growth. Vosburg explained that the land use pattern was drawn in terms of density and activity centers, without the roads, then added to the Streets Plan as needed to make the system work. Lynne Baker moved to recommend the City Structure Plan and the Master Street Plan to City Council. John Scanlon seconded the motion. Fooks suggested stressing transit opportunities and allocation of funds for transit to cut down the load on streets. He agreed with Baker that this is a visionary plan and a good opportunity to work in the direction of air quality and the congestion management point of view. The vote was 3-1 in support of the motion. The dissenting vote, Levine, said that he supports the plan but wants the caveats mentioned above communicated to City Council as well. It was decided that the minutes will reflect the concerns and Fooks will send a letter to Council explaining the board's action. Woodruff noted that since a quorum was not present, the rest of the board will need to act on the motion in orderfor it to become official. NEW BUSINESS VMT and Land Development Guidance System Ruth Clear, Transportation Planner, will present at the July meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.