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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 08/20/1997MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING 405 CANYON AVE. AUGUST 20,1997 For Reference: Phil Murphy, NRAB Chair - 491-6303 Bill Bertschy, Council Liaison - 484-0181 Susie Gordon, Staff Liaison - 221-6265 Board Members Present Phil Murphy, Ed Secor, Randy Fischer, Phil Friedman, Kelly Ohlson, Jan Behunek and Bill Miller (after Election of Officers) Board Members Absent Craig McGee and Don Rodriguez Staff Present Natural Resources Dept: Susie Gordon and Sally Maggart The meeting was called to order at 7:09 p.m. Guests Sonja Bisbee, Coloradoan, and Sally Craig, Planning & Zoning Board Review and Approval of Minutes With the following changes, the minutes of the July 16, 1997 meeting were approved as written: Kelly Ohlson clarified that the second bullet under Discussion on Page 2 should read "The big issue at Heatheridge is taking out trees and the habitat." He said that the third bullet should read "the main issues are wildlife, wildlife habitat and aesthetics", and the fifth bullet should be changed from "five years " to "one year". Agenda Review Ed Secor said that he would like the Fiscal and Environmental Impact Model as a future agenda item. Announcements Kelly Ohlson said that he attended the preliminary meeting on the Fiscal and Environmental Impact Model. He noted that the Coloradoan did a good job of reporting it. Phil Friedman said that he attended Kevin Cook's presentation on prairie dogs. He noted that a tape of the presentation is available at the library. Natural Resources Advisory Board August 20, 1997 Page 2 Ohlson announced that water metering passed on the first reading at the City Council meeting last night. Ohlson complimented Sonja Bisbee of the Coloradoan for her coverage of environmental issues. Election of Officers/Committee Structure & Assignments Kelly Ohlson made the motion to elect Phil Murphy as Chair and Phil Friedman as Vice Chair. Ed Secor seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (6-0). Committee Assignments Education Phil Friedman, Phil Murphy and Bill Miller Growth Management (an ad hoc committee with set membership) Kelly Ohlson and Jan Behunek Natural Areas Randy Fischer, Ed Secor, Bill Miller and Kelly Ohlson Solid Waste Reduction Bill Miller, Ed Secor, Phil Friedman and Phil Murphy Budeet Kelly Ohlson, Bill Miller, Phil Murphy and Phil Friedman Futures Ed Secor, Phil Murphy and Kelly Ohlson Prairie Doe (ad hoc) Phil Friedman, Phil Murphy, Bill Miller and Randy Fischer Chair Murphy will contact absent boardmembers Craig McGee and Don Rodriguez to determine their committee choices. Regular meeting dates and times will be set up at the next meeting. Ohlson said that he wants the board to replug in on air quality issues and review the Air Quality Advisory Board's items before they go to Council. Phil Friedman agreed and said that he felt removed and out of synch with the air quality issues. Update on Composting, Roger Hageman Susie Gordon introduced Roger Hageman, owner of Hageman's Earth Cycle, and explained that his composting business on East Prospect provides a viable alternative to landfilling for disposal of yard wastes. Natural Resources Advisory Board August 20, 1997 Page 3 Roger Hageman provided the following information: ► Hageman's Earth Cycle presently takes in 15-20,000 yards per year of materials including leaves, grass, tree limbs, straw and some manure. The business may have the capability of taking all of the yard waste items that currently go to the landfill. ► Construction wood waste is not accepted; cabinets are okay. ► Bulk compost is sold. The compost is certified for organic gardening. ► The drop-off price for yard waste is $2.50/cu yd. This is $1.00 cheaper than the landfill. ► There is a new non toxic dye process for landscape material. DISCUSSION The City should be as proactive as possible to assist composting businesses. The Board requested a joint field trip with the Larimer County Environmental Advisory Board to Earth Cycle. Update on Status of the Districting Project, Recycling Committee Susie Gordon reported that she submitted a draft work plan on districting to the City Manager, and the Council packet tomorrow will have a memo in it addressing legal questions. Gordon added that the Recycling Committee met last Thursday to talk about the Board's role and the next steps. DISCUSSION ► The Board is committed to the issue and has to decide how to proceed. ► Ohlson distributed copies of his input to Council. ► This is a complex issue, and more work involving polling and marketing research will have to be done. ► The recommendation to the City Manager is that this issue should be handled by solid waste experts. ► The draft work plan has a six month time frame. ► The public needs to know about cost vs. savings. The Solid Waste Reduction Committee will work on this. DECISION ► Staff will prepare a draft memo to Council for the Chair's approval regarding the Boards's support of districting. Council Policy Agenda and Board's Annual Work Plan, Susie Gordon Susie Gordon referred to the packet memo from John Fischbach requesting information about board and commission support for Council's Policy Agenda. Kelly Ohlson said that he has a different opinion on the role of boards. He said that boards are not appointed to only support the Council agenda, but also to bring issues to Councils' attention. Ohlson suggested forming an ad hoc committee to answer the request and clarify the role of the board. Natural Resources Advisory Board August 20, 1997 Page 4 Phil Friedman agreed that this would be a good approach. He said that there might be things on Council's agenda that the Board does not want to support. DECISION ► Formation of a Council Policy Agenda ad hoc committee with the following members: Phil Murphy, Kelly Ohlson, Jan Behunek and Phil Friedman. Meeting date and time will be set up after the meeting. ► The committee will bring a draft response back to the Board. ROLE OF BOARD Phil Murphy explained that boardmembers can have personal contact with councilmembers advocating the Board's adopted positions. He noted that the majority of the Board support the concept of districting but in light of the fact that there are two new members, it would be appropriate to have another motion to establish the Board's position. Phil Friedman made the motion that the Natural Resources Advisory Board strongly recommends that Council put on their agenda a vote to implement a trash districting program early enough to be included in the budget cycle for 1998 and 1999. Bill Miller seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (7-0). Action Log Review/Upcoming Agenda Items Action Log Discussed and revised. Upcoming agenda items ► Fiscal and Environmental Impact Model ► Review the sanctuary designation proposal - Natural Areas Committee. ► Fossil Creek Reservoir Plan ► Poudre River Corridor Land Use Plan ► River Management Plan ► Information on water quality monitoring reporting in waterways ► Environmental Learning Center - CSU plan for convention center ► Discuss Board's role in naming of natural areas ► Dog behavior, leash laws, dog waste in natural areas ► Rangers (job description to be sent to boardmembers) ► Development in the 100-year floodplain ► Pollution of Horsetooth Reservoir from streams flowing into it ► Natural area monies funding and Parks Dept. managing open spaces Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m.