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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 04/04/1990Board Members Present: Joyce Berry Charles Davis Dave DuBois Tim Johnson Board Members Absent: Ward Luthi Ari Michelsen Staff Members Present: Deni LaRue Bill Miller Will Smith Harold Swope (excused) Susan Whitmer (excused) Brian Woodruff Edith Felchle Bob Wilkinson Connie caddis Tan Shoemaker Minutes Minutes of the March 14, 1990 Natural Resources Advisory Board meeting were unanimously approved as submitted. A re -ordering of the agenda items for the evening was unanimously approved to allow Bob Smith to present his report first. water Monitori Bob Smith from the Water Department handed out a memo and an outline on the Stormwater Activities in the Fossil Creek - Mail Creek Area. In July 1992, Fort Collins will enter the EPA program (entry into the program is based on population). Runoff from agricultural land still will not be regulated, Smith and Dubois are on the state task force to help develop a plan for Colorado. Smith pointed out that Stormwater focuses on point -source rather than end -of -pipe. He reviewed the items on the table and stated that erosion control standards will be enacted in 1990 (item #2). He also said that they will be Purchasing wetland areas this year: Tinberline, north of Harmony on the west side; North Iemay, north of Greenbriar; and, Lemay and Mulberry. Stream Stability (#5) will include Mail Creek and will become part of design criteria. The Water Department will publish a brochure for residents who live along irrigation ditches. The purpose is to educate the residents to stop dumping waste into the ditches. Regarding the last page of the handout, Industrial Discharge Inspection, Smith said that they are not sure if it will be the responsibility of municipalities or the state. A water quality management plan is in the process of being developed. Mail Creek and Fossil Creek had an effect on that the plan. They will be looking at a smaller test with only 15 to 20 different constituents. Johnson asked about the weaning of the compounds down from 100 to 15 to 20 and if the USGS would be doing the analysis. Smith responded that USGS would be doing a gross analysis then go into a more detailed analysis if warranted. They will do monitoring over a season to get a good sample. Woodruff added that pollution can be conplex. We reed to look at what is there and then trace it back to the source. Dubois stated that the Storm Drainage Task Force is caught in a catch 22. Federal money is available to local communities. They will cover 60% of the project cost to solve non -point source pollution. However, a documented plan has to be submitted first, with data, before funds are released. But, if funds are not given to a project, the city can still be required to do the project. Committee Reports Land Use: The Natural Resources Division is involved with the Planning Department on the Harmony Corridor. Linda Ripley was available to present information that was at the Planning Department's open house. She had several displays set up illustrating the Planning Department goals and technical process regarding the Gateway area (east of Hewlitt Packard to Poudre River floodplain). The technical process involved: focus on planning effort maximize economic potential high visual standards environmental concerns Maps of existing conditions and long range plans (traffic, water, sewer, wetland, and wildlife) were also posted around the crown. The eight goals established are: be pro -active in attracting business don't deteriorate the quality of life preserve and enhance the Poudre River guide development to have landscape character establish well -planned, attractive gateway promote bike/recreation trailways preserve historical heritage coordinate long range planning The Planning Department staff has developed three alternatives regarding the Gateway area. There are: 1. Do nothing. 2. Alternative A - be more pro -active, extend boundary to get jurisdiction. Realize development but work with all involved. Include purchase options for segments of open space. 3. Alternative B - consider area sensitive and purchase it as open space for community. Rough estimate, 700 acres at $6 million. Staff recommends alternative A but realizes that it is not yet fine tuned. Will Smith asked if there had been any discussion with the Sand companies regarding the land? Ripley stated that, as of yet, there had not been any communication with property owners in the area. She also pointed 1 out that no timelines have been set, They are working to have the the jurisdiction. they have only scratched the surface. area all under the same government Wilkinson discussed the idea of developing the area into a National Recreation site, possibly sane form of a theme park. This would give the community a dream to shoot for when they begin looking for funding on it. Ripley stated that she is short on staff resources and needs the support of the NRAB to help form a dream for that area. Ripley stated that they are looking at accessing community values through open houses, meetings with property owners, and meeting with the Planning and Zoning Board (who said alternative B has no comity support) . Her timeframe for the plan has slowed down because of wanting more citizen input and it will precede the EMP. Johnson asked if, in preceeding the III, might it conflict with EMP goals? Wilkinson stated that the EMP will look at the issues of the Harmony Corridor and if it has excluded any issues that the EMP wants to address. He said that the NRAB should also look at the addressing of the issues. Ripley will provide a copy of the draft plan to the Board for review. Will Smith pointed out that the corridor should not only be looked at as a gateway, but also as an exit. It is now a support area for commuters to and from Deriver and can be considered to prolate the rideshare program. Ripley said that the plan promotes a mixed use area. This is being able to live, work, and play within a neighborhood. Education Mmmittee: LaRue discussed the Natural Resources Symposium and the table that will be presented by the NRAB which will be the Reduce/Reuse/Recycle booth. She asked for commitments from members to participate in the booth and to bring examples of items that can be reduced/reused/or recycled. The display will also be re -used at the CSU event over the weekend. Ton Shoemaker is being trained to present a slideshow on Reduce/Reuse/Recycle from a Denver organization. He will presenting the slideshow at the symposium and will also have it available for other events or training others to present the show. STAFF REPDRTS Recycling: Woodruff discussed Council's and staff's decisions regarding the curbside recycling program. It essentially has four parts which are: 1. Serve single-family, commercial, and industrial customers. 2. Waste haulers will provide recycling as a condition of their business. 3. Start-up costs will be from the general fund (used for purchasing containers, mostly). 4. Council was silent on operation casts (expected losses). Waste haulers will recover these, most likely, by a fee structure. There are some ordinances that need to be written regarding licensing of the haulers to do recycling. No procedure has been set yet concerning service, accountability, etc. There will be meetings with the haulers on these issues. The NRAB needs to decide what factors should be looked at. Also, a funding appropriation ordinance needs to be developed. This will address how the general fund will be operated regarding start-up costs for recycling. They are looking at a possible timeframe of about two months for these issues. At the same time, the County will be looking at their proposed rear -end recycling program. The haulers will need a phase -in period which will depend on how quickly they can implement recycling. Effective dates of the ordinances can vary to accomiodate them. Concerning alternating pick-up service of recyclables - this will be something for the haulers to work out amongst themselves. City responsibility will be to make sure the service is being provided but not much beyond that. shoemaker stated that he is working on a written summary/procurement document within the city government. It is to expand the materials collecting and pickup within city offices and also to promote the purchase of recycled or recyclable goods within city departments. To adopt an administrative policy, they need to develop a database, educational outreach programs, look at specifications, and perform pilot investigations (test products). Then, review and monitor this information and present an annual report to Council and the City Manager. Shoemaker pointed out that the City of Fort Collins can already be proud of their efforts because there is a lot of recycling occurring right now in many different departments. EMP: Wilkinson spoke of the need to integrate the Environmental Management Plan with the Transportation Plan. Rick Ensdorff wants to present this idea to the Hoard. Although there has not been much integrating yet, Woodruff stated Natural Resources is aware of the transportation planning process. The EKP has many issues that deal with air quality and transportation. Members discussed possibly having a briefing from Ensdorff in June. Smith suggested that if Transportation has an open house, it might be more effective attending that than having it as an agenda item. Wilkinson will discuss the plan further at the May meeting and the Board will discuss the item more then. There is also the possibility that Ensdorff will release information to the Board without making a presentation. He made his presentation to the Air Quality Task Force who plan to work closely with the Transportation Department. LaRue agreed with Smith that attending the open house would be more effective than using meeting time for collecting information on the Transportation Plan. Wilkinson discussed briefly the EMP open house. He said that approximately 200 people attended which was less than they hoped for but they did receive many comments. Most of the comments were supportive and he feels they may not be hearing from the coammitY at large or from those with alternative views. He is looking for ways to reach to those groups. He is planning another open house at the Foothills Fashion Mall for the beginning of May. He has also met with the League of Women Voters and Citizen Planners. A OID BUSINESS Sy -laws change: The order of the agenda has been altered so that the items will be the same but the order can be flexible. This change was unanimously passed. Gustav Swanson Nature Area Workday: Will be April 21st from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Council was invited and the Board is encouraged to attend. Unanimously approved. Effective Meetings: Chairs of the committees are asked to submit information for the agenda to Edith Felchle 10 days prior to the scheduled meeting. They are asked to provide at least one item for the agenda and the approximate amount of time needed. LaRue stated that she liked having the guest speak first so that the time after that can be used for a more discussion oriented session. This relieves the pressure that someone is waiting to talk. It was stated that the people working on the transportation plan should be encouraged to use alternative modes of travel to commute to work to serve as a test. Mike Davis was asked to look into this and the Board has not heard anything about it yet. It was motioned that a letter to Council be drafted requesting that this be a condition of the transportation plan process to sensitize the individuals working on the plan to the issues. Motion was carried unanimously. The July and August NRAB meetings were rescheduled for July llth and August 8th due to the July 4th holiday. Regarding staff attendance at sub�ttee meetings - Woodruff stated that staff is expected to attend. The final management plan on the Cache la Kuudre is available from the Forest Service. This is the 5 to 50 year plan. Meeting adjourned at 9:20 pm.