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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 05/07/19970 CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING FORT COLLINS SENIOR CENTER 1200 RAINTREE MAY 7,1997 For Reference: Phil Murphy, NRAB Chair - 491-6303 Bill Bertschy, Council Liaison - 484-0181 Tom Shoemaker, Staff Liaison - 221-6263 Board Members Present Bill Miller, Phil Murphy, Linda Kirkpatrick, Ed Secor, Katy Mason (7:15 p.m.) and Phil Friedman (8:15 p.m.) Board Members Absent Kelly Ohlson, Jan Behunek and Craig McGee Staff Present Natural Resources DW: Tom Shoemaker and Sally Maggart; Cultural Library and Recreational Services: Mike Powers The meeting was called to order at 7:15 p.m. Guests Benson Reservoir area residents: Dick Bernhardt, Ann Watson, Lucinda M. Dykstra, John Watson, Kent Payton, Karin Lang, Mark Lang, Anita Bell Graese, Sally Craig, Carmen D. Urc, Joanne Schendel, Linda Hobbs, Mike Rauch Consultants: Stephen Johnson, Brad Anderson City of Greeley: John Gauthiere and Randy Gustafson. Review and Approval of Minutes With the following changes, the minutes of the April 2, 1997 meeting were approved as written: Bill Miller noted that on Page 3, under Announcementthe last name is Kostmayer, not Coxmire. Ed Secor asked for clarification on the name of the dam mentioned on Page 3. It is Seaman Reservoir. Agenda Review • Ed Secor asked for five minutes for a discussion of the Wind Power Project. • It was decided to discuss the draft memos on Districting and Pay -As -You -Throw during the Solid Waste Update. Announcements Bill Miller said that he had provided copies of the packet information to the Latimer County Environmental Advisory Board because they have the same sense of urgency about reconstituting Natural Resources Advisory Board May 7, 1997 Page 2 the task force to look at the county involvement with the landfill. Phil Murphy said that on Thursday, May 15, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., there will be a meeting of the Poudre River Gravel Implementation Study Advisory Committee that he will not be able to attend. Phil Friedman said that he might be able to attend. Robert Benson Reservoir Decision ISSUE There are three alternatives: 1) Repair the existing dam and leave as jurisdictional; 2) Make the reservoir smaller; and 3) Breach the reservoir. Final report costs and benefits did not change from the draft. Boardmembers had an opportunity to meet on -site May 5 to discuss alternatives. DISCUSSION • Alternative 1 would be the most beneficial. It provides more water, deeper pool for fish, and better water quality. • Staff sees a strong programmatic benefit to having water augmentation available to help overall in the natural areas program. • Habitat enhancement was not factored into the costs. Costs would be the same regardless of which alternative was selected. • The timeframe is to complete the design by the end of 1997 and begin construction during 1998. An extension would be needed from the state engineer. • The City would work with the DOW on fishery management. This is also done at Pineridge and City Park Lake. ACTION Bill Miller made the motion that the Natural Resources Advisory Board make a recommendation to City Council that the natural areas program pursue rebuilding Benson Reservoir Dam to a jurisdictional dam status. Ed Secor seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (5-0). Gateway Park Presentation, John Gauthiere, Greeley Water Department ISSUE John Gauthiere, Greeley Water Department, and Randy Gustafson, Seaman Dam Water Supply Supervisor, explained that the City of Greeley is concerned about the impact of Gateway Park on their future water supply. They added that the city had contracted with EDAW for an alternative plan on an 80-acre site at the canyon entrance that addresses the traffic problem and provides a managed system for public access. This plan would provide a good visitor site and protect the water interests. The next phase is to present the proposal to the broader community, hear the pros and cons and address conflicts. The City of Greeley proposes to restore the site to a natural condition. The. buildings might be left but would not be open to the public. Natural Resources Advisory Board May 7, 1997 Page 3 It would be twenty years before a new dam would be built. DISCUSSION • Need to be cautious about financial issues. • Improvements could be inundated in 50-100 years with a mainstem dam. • This needs to be discussed on a level of resources and recreational potential. • The name Canyon Gateway Park is causing a problem. • Landowners will have to see the benefit of a trail through their property. • Mandated flow requirements would enhance the lower part of the river. • The idea of keeping traffic out of the canyon is good ,but not sure a parking lot at the mouth of the canyon is good. • If done right, Gateway Park should not jeopardize Greeley's ability to expand Seaman Dam. • More information is needed on the role of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. • Water supply depends on subsidies that encourage growth. Have growth pay the price. • ISTEA funds are available for road widening. • GOCO does not want grant money used to build roads. Solid Waste/Recycling Update, Susie Gordon Tom Shoemaker said that staff is interested in what a pay -as -you -throw audit would look like. He noted that more time for this will be scheduled at a future meeting. ISSUE The Natural Resources Advisory Board has expressed concern that trash haulers are not following rules and the board has requested an in-depth investigation. Staff is not clear on the methodology. DISCUSSION • The system as it now stands will never work because the people picking up the trash do not have the tools to count trash cans. • A sticker system or some such equivalent is needed to force haulers to charge for what is picked up. • The ordinance could be revised. • The Recycling Committee needs to meet and discuss the merits and problems of each system. • The pay -as -you -throw concept is working generally; there are exceptions that need to be corrected. • Staff needs help on how to do the audit. The City cannot legally audit the trash hauler's bookkeeping. • Success needs to be defined. • The draft memo to City Council on the audit was approved. ISSUE The draft memo to City Council on districting. Natural Resources Advisory Board May 7, 1997 Page 4 DECISION • Change "at the least" to "at a minimum". • In the last paragraph, change "advisory staff' to "advisor". • Eliminate the statement starting with "while" and ending with "needed". • Change the wording to "while there are two years of planning work and a sizeable investment needed..." DISCUSSION • Staff has concluded that districting will work and pay for itself but a substantial up front investment up front. • Additional studies to design the system are needed. • It is a significant budget issue to be worked through by Council to identify funding. • It will have to go to a public initiative. The City might have to collect the revenue through an Enterprise Fund and pay the haulers. • Voter approval giving permission for collecting additional revenue or setting up an authority for collection would be needed. • The issue could get on the County ballot in the fall of 1997 or 1998. • It is difficult to predict how citizens will respond because they will not have a choice of haulers. • It is likely that small businesses could go out with the bidding process. ISSUE Susie Gordon noted that strides are being made in the right direction. She added that while there is not as radical an increase as in the first six months, there is still good progress. Gordon said that it is still a problem quantifying how much waste reduction is actually happening. She noted that commercial and residential recycling data are lumped together because two haulers could not separate out the commercial from the residential recyclables. • Page 4, top table should be 11.27% total decrease instead of 13%, and -10.6% instead of .02% due to a reporting error. • Figures represent the amount of waste trash haulers collect, but do not distinguish between the County and the Ault landfills. • There is concern about what trash haulers do with stuff in the recycling containers that are not recyclable. • The public needs continuous education on what is recyclable. It is confusing, especially plastics, as to what is accepted. ISSUE Landfill Replacement Bill Miller reported that the Larimer County Environmental Advisory Board is concerned about the lack of progress at the county level. Natural Resources Advisory Board May 7, 1997 Page 5 DISCUSSION Susie Gordon said that the County Commissioners directed the County's Natural Resources Department to put together a 25-member task force. Miller added that it has been difficult to get participants. Boardmembers agreed to send a memo to Council asking them to encourage Larimer County to pursue the issue. The memo should express concern that if Larimer County does not permit a new landfill prior to the expiration or closure of the current landfill, there are concerns that Latimer County and the City will be faced with a monopoly situation, with no competition. DECISION Bill Miller made the motion to send a strongly worded memo to Council expressing the Board's concern. Katy Mason seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (5-0). Other Business Ed Secor said that the wildlife impact of the wind power program is being addressed by site location and lower turning turbines. He added that Steve VanderMeer expressed to him that he would be glad to give a presentation on this to the board. Katy Mason suggested allowing one half hour for this on the agenda in the next few months. Phil Friedman suggested complementing the presentation with Jerry Craig from the Division of Wildlife. Tom Shoemaker noted that it is difficult to book Jerry this time of the year. There will be a Fort Collins Audubon meeting tomorrow night about raptor electrocution. It will take place at the Lincoln Center, Ludlow Room, at 7:30 p.m. Set Special Meeting Date Tom Shoemaker suggested that the board set a special meeting date for this month to cover additional items like rip rap, transferable development rights, and the expansion of Southridge Golf Course. He said that he will check about the Council's Fossil Creek Reservoir Area Plan Study Session. It was decided to hold a special meeting on May 21 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting place will be decided. Shoemaker said that Craig Foreman has staked the second segment on the Cathy Fromme Prairie Trail. He asked if boardmembers would like a field trip over the lunch hour to walk the staked trail. Boardmembers present agreed. Staff will make the arrangements. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 10:35 p.m.