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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 04/05/2000• MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING 281 N. COLLEGE APRIL 5, 2000 For Reference: Randy Fischer, NRAB Chair - 226-5383 Bill Bertschy, Council Liaison - 484-0181 Tom Shoemaker, Staff Liaison - 221-6263 Board Members Present Phil Murphy, Nate Donovan, Jan Rastall, Bill Miller, Randy Fischer, Reagan Waskom, and Kelly Ohlson Board Members Absent Don Rodriguez and Rick Harness Staff Present Natural Resources Dent: Tom Shoemaker, Mark Sears and Sally Maggart Advance Planning: Timothy Wilder Utilities: Bob Smith The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Guests Bill Bertschy, City Councilmember (6:35 p.m.) Sally Craig, Planning & Zoning Board 16 CSU students Agenda Review Add New Business item to future agendas. Floodnlain Regulations Update, Bob Smith Chair Randy Fischer explained that a formal recommendation from the Board on floodplain regulations is needed for Council's Study Session on Tuesday, April 11. Bob Smith, Stormwater Utility Manager, reviewed regulation issues, flash flood facts, flood recovery costs, and recorded gage records from 1882-1999. He noted the addition of a new option, B-1, on Attachment D being considered for the 100-year floodplain regulations. Smith explained proposals to build berms as low cost drainageway improvements at Lemay Avenue and at the Oxbow property that would remove 160 acres and about 211 structures out of the floodplain. Phil Murphy asked if the berms would cause flood -related damage downstream. Natural Resources Advisory Board April 5, 2000 Page 2 Smith responded that the projects would be regulated by the Corps of Engineers and FEMA and that the potential effect downstream would need to be addressed in the final design to assure no adverse impact downstream due to increased velocity or flood elevation. Kelly Ohlson asked how much it would cost to build the berms. Smith responded that it would cost less than $1 million for both proposed berms. He said that they would be built with dirt and vegetation, not concrete or rip rap. Ohlson asked if the $1 million would come out of the storm drainage fund. Smith responded that, if adopted, it would be included with other storm drainage projects and funded from drainage fees. Ohlson said that it would not be appropriate to use natural area funds to purchase floodplain property unless the property is on the high priority list as a natural area. Councilmember Bertschy said that he and other councilmembers are committed to not using natural area funds for non -qualifying lands. He said that stormwater funds will be used to purchase non -qualifying natural area lands. Ohlson said that the floodplain regulations are not just about health and safety; they are also about economics and fairness and justice to the taxpayer. He added that there should be no obligation to maximize the financial return to property owners presently in the floodplain. Reagan Waskom asked if staff is supporting Option C. Smith responded that staff is recommending Option B-1. Waskom asked if there are any variances for B-1 or C. Smith responded that in B-1 there are no variances for the product corridor but there are for other items related to the floodplain. He added that new development will be allowed under the variances. Fischer asked who developed the recommendations. Smith responded that Options A, B and C were generated through the task force process and Option B-1 was introduced by city council at the March 14 Council Study Session. Smith said that he is now collecting comments through public outreach for discussion at the April 11 Council meeting. Fischer said that last August the Board unanimously endorsed staff's Option C recommendation, with a few items from Option B. He asked if Option B-1 is consistent with the previous staff recommendation. Smith responded that Option C was originally generated by staff to get comments and, as a result of feedback, Option B-1 is now the staff recommendation. Councilmember Bertschy showed a video on damage done in the 1997 flood. Fischer asked for a definition of "commercial development". Smith responded that everything outside of the residential category is commercial. Jan Rastall asked if a motel would be considered commercial. Smith said that it is a good question and he would need further discussion to determine where a motel fits. Natural Resources Advisory Ird April 5, 2000 Page 3 Bill Miller asked for clarification on whether Option B-1 is more restrictive in the residential/commercial development category on the matrix. Smith responded that it is less restrictive because commercial development is allowed outside of the product corridor. Nate Donovan asked if there are 100 acres outside of the product corridor in the floodplain. Councilmember Bertschy said that there is a difference of only 18 acres. Smith said that Table E in the packet shows the comparisons. Boardmembers authorized Fischer to write a memo to Council supporting the board's original recommendation of Option C. Following are some of the comments to be included in the memo: • Natural area monies should be used for floodplain purchases only if the property is a natural area priority. • Use of other monies for acquisitions and natural area funds for revegetation or restoration projects. • Define "commercial" in more detail. • Exclude public lodging from the floodplain. Poudre River Downtown Plan, Timothy Wilder Timothy Wilder, City Planner, noted that the Board has seen the formal presentation on the plan, and tonight he is seeking comments for Council's April 11 Study Session. The Board requested that he show a quick version of the presentation. After that, the following comments were made by boardmembers: • A map should have been in the packet as part of the vision plan. • The placement of the library is important. It does not show on the map. • Do not use natural area dollars to buy buffer zones if the City wants an amphitheater. • Follow the same rules as those for developers. • Concern expressed about the master drainage plan. Developable land should not be made out of what could not now be developed in the floodplain. • Construct a separate berm for the Buckingham area. • The impact of a 2,500 seat amphitheater would be horrendous. Consider a 200-300 seat facility with no lights or sound amplification other than p.a. system. • Support the purchase of Oxbow for preservation as a natural area. • Need to include O & M expenses in the proposal. • Be careful to not say "based on appraised value" for purchases; just reference purchases from willing sellers. • The Oxbow area has natural resource value and the Triangle area does not. • No problem with natural area funds contributing to restoration efforts. • Do not purchase the N. College and Vine Dr. area for a natural area. • Do not try to change a plains river into a mountain river with channel enhancements. • A kayak park is not needed when there is world class kayaking 15 minutes up the canyon. Take this off the priority list or put it lower than #1. • Without adequate time to analyze the implementation matrix with dollar figures, do not assume that the Board agrees with the funding source and matrix. Natural Resources Advisory Boam April 5, 2000 Page 4 The next generation of "choices" funding source could cause confusion with existing Building Community Choices. Do not stimulate growth of the Poudre River corridor with taxpayer dollars. Randy Fischer will draft a memo to Council stating the Board's concerns. Approval of Minutes With the following changes and comments, the minutes of the February 2, 2000 Regular Meeting were approved: • Page 4, Public Improvements: "Make parking lots adequate" does not mean too large. • Page 5, Education/Interpretation: Make sure the Education Committee has a discussion on the Master Naturalist Program. • Page 6, The Board needs to discuss the Environmental Newsletter, signs, City News, etc. • Page 6, Enforcement: "No tolerance" refers to dogs off leash. With the following changes, the minutes of the March 1, 2000 Regular Meeting were approved: • Page 5: Reagan's name is misspelled. • Page 5: Kelly Ohlson has not yet received follow-up information on the Pollution Prevention presentation given at the February 16, 2000 meeting. • Page 2: Change .... temporary land easements have been "shattered" by the legislature to have been "proposed". Ohlson said that he was speaking in opposition to temporary land easements. • Page 3: Preface the 1" paragraph with: "The discussion next turned to identifying valuable ag lands for purchase of development rights." • Page 3: Preface the 2nd paragraph with: "The discussion changed to high value crops and a feasibility study for a processing plant for high value ag crops" • Page 4, lst bullet, tad sentence: Delete "that" from "I would also ask ....." • Page 4, Natural Easements Updates, next to last bullet: Change "that" to "the" in the sentence: "To that district's credit ....". Committee Renorts Natural Areas & Trails: The committee met with 10 equestrians who presented a proposal for a separate horse trail through Cathy Fromme Prairie. Committee members and staff oppose the proposal. No formal action is needed, just an awareness that the equestrians might go to the full Board or to Council to override staff's recommendation. The management policy allows horses in the 10 feet area on both sides of the trail. Jan Rastall noted that the signage is not clear. Bill Miller said that education is needed about the right-of-way for horses, mountain bikes and pedestrians. Mark Sears, Environmental Program Manager, said that a newsletter was sent to the neighbors in a t/2 mile radius of the Cathy Fromme neighborhood that highlighted the horse trail issue. Ohlson requested that any similar newsletters sent out by staff be included in the Board's packet. Natural Resources Advisory Od • April 5, 2000 Page 5 Tom Shoemaker announced that staff is in the process of closing inappropriate trails at Pineridge. A press release has been sent out. Solid Waste - April: The construction and demolition project and the Holnam issue related to the landfill were discussed. Latimer County will be implementing a C&D diversion program and will use the material for daily cover at the landfill whether or not Holnam is involved. The yearly hauler's report has been updated and the committee had questions about the accuracy and reliability of the numbers reported by the haulers. Ohlson asked to schedule it for full board review and comment before sending it to Council. Murphy noted that it is a yearly report but there are no hard and fast deadlines. Solid Waste — May: The committee discussed the following: 1) Fall leaf program and Christmas tree recycling program; 2) staff will research hauler rates for homeowner's associations to determine if they are violating the pay -as -you -throw ordinance; 3) staff is working on a new dropoff recycling site near the new horticulture site; and, 4) the recycling directory has been updated Lee Martinez Committee Three volunteers are needed to help staff and Parks & Recreation Board work through the management plan for Lee Martinez Park. This would involve a field trip in late April or early May. Randy Fischer and Jan Rastall volunteered. Bill Miller said that he is interested but would be a backup if Don Rodriguez is interested. Fischer will call Rodriguez to determine his interest. Follow ui) on George Wallace's Presentation Randy Fischer Randy Fischer said that there is discussion about presenting a policy to have long -tern leases for water available to farmers who implement conservation easements on their farms. This will be scheduled for a Board work session and Fischer will do a memo in advance. Tom Shoemaker reported that George Wallace met with the CPES Growth Management Lead Team. He said that it was a good discussion and a representative will be sent to the Ag Board meetings. Shoemaker said that Ron Phillips, Transportation Services Director, pointed out that the whole process on the northeast truck bypass will start anew and suggested that the Ag Board be involved. Kelly Ohlson's List 1. Holnam: Bill Miller reported that Commissioner Disney did not think the County Commissioners would weigh in. 2. Water tank easement at Coyote Ridge: Ohlson said that it is inappropriate for us to enable them to go across the natural area and an acceptable solution is for the tanks to go further north. Mark Sears said that they are proposing to run a water line across Coyote Ridge and the land we own between Shields Ave. and Taft Hill Road. Ohlson said that the Board might have a different view. Sears said that the next step may be to invite them to a meeting with the Natural Areas Committee. Natural Resources Advisory Boare April 5, 2000 Page 6 3. Pollution Prevention: Ohlson does not want this lost. 4. Pink rip ran: Ohlson expressed concern about the rip rap located on the Poudre River between College Ave. and Shields St. Sears said that it will be buried with dirt. He noted that the State used pink rip rap at the end of culverts at the Harmony and I-25 Transfer Center. It was suggested that the City should replace the pink rip rap. Adiournment The meeting adjourned at 10:20 p.m. to go into executive session.