Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 01/03/20010 0 MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING 281 N. COLLEGE January 3, 2001 For Reference: Randy Fischer, NRAB Chair - 491-6303 Bill Bertschy, Council Liaison - 484-0181 Tom Shoemaker, Staff Liaison - 221-6263 Board Members Present Kelly Ohlson, Nate Donovan, Linda Knowlton, Don Rodriguez, Randy Fischer, Bonnie Pierce, Steve Ryder Board Members Absent Phil Murphy, Reagan Waskom Staff Present Natural Resources Dept: Tom Shoemaker, Mark Sears, Terry Klahn Agenda Review • Kelly Ohlson will have a number of items under new business. • Randy Fischer requested the time allotment for "New Business" be increased to at least 15 minutes on future agendas. • Tom Shoemaker will provide a quick update on Taft Hill Road Project under announcements. New Board Members Randy Fischer welcomed the two newly appointed board members, Bonnie Pierce and Steve Ryder. Pierce has lived in Fort Collins for eleven years. She earned a masters degree in ecology, and a PHD in soil ecology, from Colorado State University. Pierce is employed by the National Parks Conservation Association. Ryder is a native Coloradoan and is currently employed by Larimer County as the TDU Administrator. Steve also earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Politics and Policy at Colorado State University. Finalize Canal Importation Recommendation, Randy Fischer The board reviewed the draft memo to Council. Fischer will incorporate suggested comments into a final version and send via email to all board members for final approval and distribution to Council. Natural Resources Advisor, and January 3, 2001 Page 2 Motion: Nate Donovan made a motion to approve the memo as edited by Fischer for distribution to Council. The motion was seconded by Kelly Ohlson and unanimously approved. Finalize I-25 Corridor Recommendation, Randy Fischer The board reviewed the draft memo. Fischer will email the next version for board review and comments. Linda Knowlton made the following motion: Move the Natural Resources Advisory Board send a memo to Council regarding the I-25 subarea plan that incorporates the comments made at tonight's meeting and empowers the Chair to edit according to his judgement. The motion was seconded by Bonnie Pierce and unanimously approved. Finalize Agricultural Land Recommendation, Randy Fischer The board unanimously approved the memo, with minor changes to be made by Randy Fischer, for distribution to Council. Finalize DDA Revenue Recommendation, Randy Fischer Tom Shoemaker will incorporate the board's suggestions into the memo and forward it to Randy Fischer for final approval. Natural Area Easement Policy Update, Tom Shoemaker Shoemaker said there is really nothing new to report. Discussion continues on the policy language. Currently there is no reason to believe that it's going any direction other than where we've been. Discussion ■ Donovan: Do you anticipate the board will have an opportunity for input? Will the City see an easement application on the Coyote Ridge easement before the policy is passed? I'm amazed we haven't seen something at this point. • Fischer: My concern is that when a good staff recommendation gets floated out there and it gets mired down or delayed, it's usually not a good sign. Especially when the City attorney gets a hold of it. I've not had a good experience with that, I hope your assessment is right. The City attorney's office only major concern with the policy is thatfolks not misunderstand the impact of the policy. It's a 'policy ", it doesn't change existing state law. • Ohlson: I would suggest that since we've weighed in on this a number of times we give direction to Tom that the majority of the board says it's ok if this doesn't come back for formal approval before this goes to Council. ■ Fischer: Yes, unless it changes radically. That's probably a good point. I would be surprised if a circumstance arose that didn't allow it to come back to the board. • Ohlson: We need to get this done. I'd vote that unless there are substantive changes it doesn't need to comeback. I never like for you to vote on something that you don't have in front ofyou. My sense is I've got enough substantive and supportive comments that if for some reason this gets rushed to Council the board is supportive. If this gets rushed we'll email the board and poll you. Natural Resources Advisor 3oard January 3, 2001 Page 3 Review of Minutes The minutes of the December 6, 2000 meeting were unanimously approved. Committee Reports Trails Committee: Walked from Lee Martinez to the Hale Bender property and discussed a proposal to resurface that portion of the trail. One suggestion was that instead of working on this in three separate chunks, do all of it at the same time. Our goal is to get as far away from the river as possible. Fischer said the natural area value of that property is being lost due to a lack of management along that stretch of the river corridor. Nothing is signed, people go where they want. Rip -rap has been dumped into the river. Shoemaker said there needs to be agreement on a management plan for that park. Fischer suggested revisiting the issues that are holding up the management plan. There will be a Trails Committee meeting on January 9`h at noon. Natural Areas Committee: Link Mueller and Kevin McBride attended to go over the Locust Street outfall project. Ohlson said the real message is that what they did was inappropriate by not coming to us. They know it should have been brought to us. Fischer said they're using part of the Springer area as a treatment system. They should treat the water before it goes to the riparian area. I have concerns about what it will do to that area. Solid Waste Committee: Nate Donovan attended the Construction Debris pilot project luncheon. Susie Gordon will review the report and results of the pilot at the January 8 Solid Waste committee meting. Bonnie Pierce volunteered to serve as chair of the Education Committee. Announcements Shoemaker: Taft Hill Road Update: Checked with Engineering and ROW. The design continues to proceed in the direction given by Council. Negotiations for the acquisition of right of ways is also continuing. They're still working on the trail placement. Construction is planned to begin in July. An open house is scheduled for Thursday, Jan 25, 2001 to review the preliminary design. Shoemaker: GOCO has hired a new executive director, and they are advertising for a deputy director. Council Six Month Planning Calendar No comments. Review Action Log No comments. Natural Resources Advisor) and January 3, 2001 Page 4 Review Future Agenda Items February 7, 2000: Briefing on Air Quality Outreach Program New Business • Ohlson: Appreciate the call from Henry Jeanes regarding the construction debris program. Have concerns that everyone receives the same recognition even with varying degrees of participation. There should be awards and acknowledgement based on participation. It should be fair and equitable. • Ohlson: How is the %2 time person on the Brownfields project being funded? Will there be cleanup on new areas for private development with public money? Shoemaker said the position is two '/z positions in one person. Half is education in the Air Quality program, an existing %2 FTE that hadn't been filled. The other half is funded from the Brownfield grant from the US EPA. That is for education and outreach and administrative tasks on the Brownfields project in the downtown river corridor. The grant does not fund any clean up. Shoemaker proposed a briefing on the Brownfield pilot at the January 17 meeting. NRAB 2000 Annual Report to Council Randy Fischer suggested adding that Bill Miller left the board due to term limitations after serving for eleven years. Shoemaker will make the change and send to Fischer for final approval. Adjournment The meeting adjourned to executive session at 9:30.