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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAir Quality Advisory Board - Minutes - 11/23/1999MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING 281 N. COLLEGE AVE. November 23, 1999 For Reference: Eric Levine, Chair - 229-5225 Scott Mason, Council Liaison 226-4824 Brian Woodruff, Staff Liaison - 221-6604 Board Members Present: Eric Levine, Harry Edwards, Chris Kavanaugh, Raymond Sons, John Schroeer, Jim Dennison (7:10 p.m.) and Nancy York (7:20 p.m.) Board Members Absent: Mandar Sunthankar Guests: Ken Moore, Nelsen's Auto The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. . Minutes: With the following changes, the October 26, 1999 minutes were approved as amended: • On page 4, the "s" was omitted from "Edwards". Review and Update Action List 1. This will be discussed at the December meeting. 2. Done. Council's study session has been rescheduled to January 25. 3. Done. a. Did not get done. There will be another opportunity at mid cycle of the budget in 2001. The Natural Resources Advisory Board did weigh in on the monitoring budget request. 5. Staff will try to do this. 6. Done. 7. Done. Review Council Six -Month Planning Calendar • February 8: Mason Street Corridor Conceptual Design Study Session • February 15: Mason Street Corridor Conceptual Design Adoption • March 28: City's Role in Redevelopment Agenda Planning . December: Land Use Code Air Quality Criteria and 2000 Air Quality Marketing Campaign Air Quality Advisory Board November 23, 1999 Page 2 New Business Smart Trips: Linda Dowlen and Meg Corwin Meg Corwin, Regional TDM Manager, gave a brief overview of the Transportation Demand Management Program. She said that it is an alternative transportation program that offers special services using federal transportation dollars. Linda Dowlen, City of Fort Collins TDM Marketing Director, explained that the North Front Range Transportation and Air Quality (NFRTRAQ) Planning Council set up the TDM structure with a target of a 10 percent modal shift based on a four percent population growth. She said that the City of Fort Collins wanted to be more aggressive and has set a 14 percent modal shift target. Dowlen noted that the actual eight percent increase in population doubles the projection and creates a challenge to meet the 14 percent modal shift. Dowlen said that the regional group did the marketing until the local SMARTTrips office opened in 1998. SMARTTrips is involved in marketing and education and outreach but has no jurisdiction on the amount of bike lanes, pedestrian access, land use policies, the offering of free parking and funding for transit improvements. Dowlen explained some of the local program highlights. She said that business breakfasts are held in different districts of the city to discuss issues and concerns revolving around transportation. It is an opportunity to talk about the TDM programs and the incentives to encourage employees to use different modes. Another program is Freewheels that allows checking out a bike at the library. There is also a business bike loaner program, a Strap and Snap bike helmet program, bicycle education (BEEP), Transfort employee passes with a Guaranteed Ride Home, School Pool that encourages carpooling, riding bikes and walking, and the summer reading program at the library that encourages using alternative modes of travel. Dowlen said that the local group works with the regional group on Bike Month, Guaranteed Ride Home and with special incentive programs that track alternate modes of transportation. She added that funding is from federal pass -through and general fund dollars. The 1999 budget is $710,000. The Mobility Report Card is used to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Dowlen noted that some businesses offer incentives to employees to use alternative modes, but there are no consequences for employers that do not want to participate. A solid TDM program is needed and the LUTRAQ (Land Use, Transportation and Air Quality) Committee is reforming and can make recommendations to Council. Air Quality Advisory Board November 23, 1999 Page 3 Smart Trios - Work Plan, Meg Corwin Meg Corwin explained that every three years an assessment and overview of regional program activities has to be done. She said that Phase I involves focus groups, interviews with managers, and data gathering. Phase 2 will have a modeling analysis similar to what was done for the original plan. It will look at strategies and activities put in out -years to determine if there should be more mandatory stringent regulatory activities. Phase 3 will have a three year work plan outlining staffing, funding, and reviewing land use policies, development codes and parking policies. Eric Levine noted that VMT (vehicle miles traveled) is presented in terms of percentage, not the total. He asked how the modal shift will cut into it if VMT is three times what is projected. Corwin said that wording of the goal was changed to facilitate a mode shift out of single occupancy vehicles into any kind of alternative mode. Nancy York said that enforcing bicyclists is a negative. Linda Dowlen responded that the program is trying to change habits and get people out of cars into bikes, Transfort, and walking. Levine noted that a lot of expense is being concentrated on the business breakfasts. Corwin said that there were numerous public forums for the original plan. Levine said there are a lot of criticisms and a reevaluation of what we are doing is needed. He added that if the goal in modal shift is growing 2 '/2 times faster, the goal should change. Brian Woodruff said that a possible recommendation might be to reevaluate the single occupancy vehicle reduction goals and strengthen them. Corwin said that she agrees with the concerns. She said that the sense is to shift further from the funding modes and put more into the roadway system. It would be helpful for boards and commissions to send recommendations to the NFRTAQ Planning Council. Corwin explained that they are getting ready for a new twenty-year plan and communities are being asked to put in their wish lists. She explained that criteria are ranked and scored by voting members of the Technical Advisory Committee and the consultant team determines top projects and send a recommended list to the regional council. Raymond Sons said that the TDM presentations have reemphasized the main points expressed to Council about the importance of LUTRAQ. He said he is hearing that marketing is being used until 2006 to accomplish goals and then something stronger will be done. Sons said that action is needed from LUTRAQ. Woodruff said that the support that TDM would like to have is support for the SMARTTrips program York said that health benefits need to be marketed and strong advertising is needed. She . said that it is a planetary health issued and people need to understand the consequences of fossil fuel use. Air Quality Advisory Board November 23, 1999 Page 4 Corwin said that focus groups were held in Greeley, Loveland and Fort Collins and attendance was very disappointing Corwin invited boardmembers to attend two stakeholder meetings to be held in December and January. The consultant will present an overview of the Plan and seek input. The Plan will be done in February. Nancy York and Chris Kavanaugh will represent the Board. Land Use Code Air Ouality Criteria - Brian Woodruff Brian Woodruff will write a white paper for the next Board packet. Boardmembers can comment to Brian. AOAB 2000 Work Plan This will be on next month's agenda. The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m. ACTION LIST — from November 23. 1999_ meeting ACTION ITEM WHO BY... DONE 1. Research other communities' use of air quality Brian Open criteria in development review 2. Send via e-mail, information regarding content Brian January 20 of the 25 January study session on Boards and Commissions. 3. Draw up a "wish list" of non -marketing and Brian, January policy support for transportation demand Linda management I Dowlen