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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAir Quality Advisory Board - Minutes - 02/23/1999• 0 CCU `,ts AMENDED MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING 281 N. COLLEGE AVE. FEBRUARY 23, 1999 For Reference: Eric Levine, Chair - 229-5225 Scott Mason, Council Liaison - 226-4824 Brian Woodruff, Staff Liaison - 221-6604 Board Members Present Harry Edwards, Jim Dennison, Mandar Sunthankar, Raymond Sons, David Gallup and Steve Perich (arrived at 7:20 p.m.) Board Members Absent Eric Levine, John Schroeer and John Scanlon Staff Present Natural Resources Department• Brian Woodruff, Sally Maggart, Sarah Fox, Lucinda Smith, and Aaron Fodge Guests Lisa Silva, Colorado Air Pollution Control Division The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. Review and approve December 16 1998 and January 26 1999 minutes The minutes of the December 16, 1998, and the January 26, 1999, meetings were approved as written. The following motions that were passed without a quorum at the January 26, 1999 meeting were passed unanimously (5-0): • Recommendation to Council to put the transportation sales tax on the April ballot. Discussion: David Gallup expressed concern about the funding for signalization improvement being linked to the larger component of a proposal designed to fund Transfort. Brian Woodruff explained that Council voted on February 16 to place the item on the ballot as proposed. He said that he is not sure it can be undone. Gallup asked what would happen if the item is defeated. Woodruff responded that the City would have to look at other ways to fund transit and upgrade the signal System. Recommendation to Council to initiate a review that would lead to a revision of the smoking ordinance. Air Quality Advisory Board' February 23, 1999 Page 2 Review and update action list The VMT timeline will be discussed at the March meeting. Six-month Planning Calendar • March 16: Adoption of AQAP (Boardmembers are invited to attend) • April 20: Assigning a Council liaison to the Board • May 11 and May 21: Council sets goals NEW BUSINESS Carbon Monoxide Redesismation — Lisa Silva, Air Pollution Control Division Lisa Silva, Planning Grants Specialist, said that she last met with the Board two years ago regarding the City's redesignation attainment status for CO. She said that because the 8- hour standard has not been exceeded since 1991, Fort Collins is eligible to redesignate. Silva explained what the redesignation plan would include: • Attainment demonstration - two years of monitored data. • Maintenance demonstration (projecting through 2015) indicating levels under 9 ppm. • Necessary control measures to stay at safe levels. • Contingency provisions to deal with violations and exceedances or a plan to trigger action prior to exceedance. Silva explained that local initiatives might have to be flagged as non -federally enforceable as part of the city's plan or the regional plan. Woodruff asked if federally mandated controls include specific things that are sufficient to show maintenance. Silva responded, yes, if shown as necessary. Silva explained that the mobile source CO emission budget is based on the difference between emissions projected for 2015 as compared to the base year. Jim Dennison asked if projections have to indicate that CO will not rise over the base year. Silva responded, yes, a dispersion model could be used if there are no simple projections. She added that if emissions look higher in an out year, a dispersion model might be needed to prove that the 9 ppm standard would be maintained through 2015. Silva said that an emission inventory considers all sources, but an emission budget would only have to be established for mobile sources. She added that if there is leeway between the level seen in the base year and the out year, it could be attributed to the mobile source emission budget. Dennison asked if the total emissions for the out year is not likely to exceed the base year. Silva responded that, in most cases, that is true. Gallup said that it sounds like a well defined process for evaluating the volume of CO and getting into conformance if a community wants to be redesignated. He said that he sees no value in redesignating. Woodruff explained that the Air Pollution Control Division has Air Quality Advisory Board• February 23, 1999 Page 3 direction from the state legislature to expeditiously redesignate any area that is eligible. He added that the direction from the City Manager's Office is to work alongside the state on the process and identify issues that are difficult for the City or the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Gallup said that his biggest concern is allowing less vigilance and getting lulled into a false sense of security. Silva distributed information on required activities if the City is redesignating this year. She said that the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) would need to approve the plan and submit it to the legislature by November 1. Silva noted that additional modeling to look at the trajectory would have to be done, an out year would have to be picked with a comparison done and a complete inventory with area and stationary as well as mobile sources would have to be done. She said that it could take a couple of months. Harry Edwards asked who would do the work. Silva said that the State would take the lead and work with the City, the MPO, North Front Range Air Quality Planning Council (NFRAQPC), Colorado Division of Transportation, Larimer County, and the EPA. Silva said that a local hearing would have to be planned before the AQCC looks at the plan. She added that once the plan is adopted, it goes to the state legislature, the governor and the EPA for approval. The EPA has two years in which to act. Edwards noted that this is an information item and no action is required by the Board tonight. Woodruff explained that the NFRAQPC are partners on this. He noted that the Board advises the NFRAQPC on the State Implementation Plan (SIP). Woodruff said that federal transportation funds will not flow to the project if it is not consistent with air quality goals, as determined in the maintenance plan. Woodruff pointed out that whenever a SIP is modified, the state legislature requires that any control measures in the plan be approved. Silva added that modeling would have to be done four different ways per legislature requirements. Woodruff said that the upshot is that the legislature is trying to prevent the federal government from enforcing strategies unless mandated. Dennison asked if the state legislature will pressure local communities to not do voluntary programs. Silva responded that she doubted it, especially regarding local initiatives. A subcommittee was formed to deal with the redesignation issue. Steve Perich, Jim Dennison, David Gallup and Harry Edwards volunteered to serve on the committee. Redesignation will be discussed at the March 23 meeting. Air Quality Advisory Board February 23, 1999 Page 4 OLD BUSINESS Mountain Vista Sub -Area Plan — Pete Wrav Brian Woodruff, Senior Environmental Planner, said that Pete Wray, City Planner, would explain changes that have occurred in the Mountain Vista Sub -Area Plan since his last presentation. Woodruff explained that staff is struggling with the Board's request for an air quality analysis that would speak to the benefits of the plan and is exploring how to do it properly. He suggested that boardmembers form a subcommittee to work on the issue of future preparation of air quality information. Wray said that since his last presentation, the final framework plan and the transportation network for the northeast part of the City has been developed. He explained that the City's Structure Plan is the basis for the effort. Wray identified the major activity centers and said that the existing Transportation Plan identified a need to look at existing street patterns and determine how to integrate it into future planning for a more connected system that incorporates all modes of travel and links destinations. He noted that this is the first time that transportation and land use have been considered from the ground up. Wray said that this is a 20-year plan that, at full buildout, will have a higher density than the rest of the city. Wray said that one change incorporates a more centrally located primary activity center surrounded by residential. He identified trail connections, future industrial use areas, future employment areas, high school and elementary school sites. Wray noted that there will be a community park and three or four neighborhood parks. Wray explained the future transportation network and the proposal for amending the Master Street Plan. He said that the intent is to better connect existing development. Wray said that no other part of the City compares to this area. He noted that the proposal achieves the policies of City Plan established for a more compact urban pattern and provision for a better connected transportation network incorporated into 3,100 acres and with a projected population of 12-15,000. David Gallup asked why there is no high density designation. Wray explained that City Plan allows some flexibility by not placing a cap on medium density. Harry Edwards asked if City Plan is providing for an increased acquisition of buses to serve the area. Wray responded that additional transportation funding will be requested in the proposed April tax ballot, but this area is not included because there is no development yet, per se. Edwards said that, with regard to an air quality analysis, a simple box model could be constructed that addresses the question of whether or not expansion would have an impact on air quality. Woodruff asked what question would the box model answer. Edwards responded that it would measure whether expansion makes air quality better or worse and Air Quality Advisory Board• February 23, 1999 Page 5 does it satisfy the mission of striving for continual improvement of air quality in the community. Woodruff said that there will be more pollution at Mountain Vista than there is now. Edwards said that with the bigger box the real issue is not the absolute amount, but the density of pollution going into the air. Wray said that with the increase in traffic over the next 20 years, emissions will increase. He said that if City Plan's goals of better links, enhanced transit and alternative modes are met, the goal to reduce single -occupant -vehicle trips by 10 percent in the next 20 years will take a big financial commitment. David Gallup asked why an elementary school is planned along the proposed truck bypass. Wray explained that two development projects, Waterglen and Water -field, were approved before there was a discussion of a truck route. He noted that the location could be changed. Edwards asked when the Vine Drive and I-25 interchange will be developed. Wray said that it will probably be 10-15 years from now. Gallup asked if there is any chance of integrating a pedestrian mall or is everything designed around cars. Wray said that there has been some discussion that supports a pedestrian system with public plazas and mini park areas. Raymond Sons made the motion to recommend to Council adoption of the Mountain l'ista Sub -Area Plan. Mandar Sunthankar seconded the motion. After the following discussion, the motion passed unanimously (6-0). Mandar Sunthankar said that if the area is going to be developed, this seems to be one of the better plans. Raymond Sons said that this plan is basic to City Plan, and the Board approved City Plan. He added that this is the first large scale implementation of City Plan in a large area. Steve Perich suggested that the whole board be involved in future discussions concerning appropriate air quality analysis. Air Quality Action Plan for 2000-2003 — Brian Woodruff Brian Woodruff, Senior Environmental Planner, explained that this is the Board's opportunity to make a final recommendation to Council on the Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP). He noted the comments received from Councilmembers at the recent study session which represent no recommended changes to the AQAP. Woodruff noted that changes made since the Board's last review were in response to public comments. Steve Perich asked what kind of citizen comments were received. Woodruff responded that there were quite a number of comments, most dealing with traffic congestion, received from the web site and presentations to civic groups and boards. Perich asked if there were many comments about secondhand smoke. Woodruff responded there were a few comments, but no major outpouring of concern. Air Quality Advisory Board February 23, 1999 Page 6 Woodruff noted the letter sent to Council from the Natural Resources Advisory Board (NRAB) regarding the AQAP. He said that when the AQAP was presented to the NRAB, some members commented that the clean air program is off track and not doing enough on air pollution. Woodruff added that the NRAB recommended more monitoring. He noted that the NRAB also commented that the wrong vehicle miles traveled (vmt) numbers are being used, pollution prevention is being soft pedaled, and more staffing is needed for pollution prevention for the next budget cycle. The NRAB is concerned that radon education methods are not strong enough. Woodruff suggested that the AQAB might want to set up some dialogue with the NRAB to discuss the matter. He added that the NRAB did make positive suggestions. Mandar Sunthankar made the motion to approve the Air Quality Action Plan, as amended. Steve Perich seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (6-0). David Gallup made the motion to extend the meeting time five minutes. Steve Perich seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (5-0). It was noted that John Schroeer will not be able to attend the Tuesday night meetings until a class he is attending is over. It was decided not to move the meeting time again, but to excuse Schroeer's absence. Adj aurnment: The meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.