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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 02/07/1990•� OO •OR. Qi �: . Board Members Present: Joyce Berry Charles Davis Dave DuBois Tim Johnson Deni LaRue Board Members Absent: Susan Wiitmer S Ward Iuthi Ari Michelson Bill Miller Will Smith Harold Swope Brian Woodruff Edith Felchle Bob Wilkinson Connie Caddis Minutes of the January 3, 1990 Natural Resources Advisory Board meeting were „nardm usly approved as submitted. Bill Miller was introduced as a new member of the Natural Resources Advisory Board. Mary Block was introduced as an observer of the meeting for the league of Warren Voters. Committee Reports Euhuoatiot C=Jttee — The Natural Resources Symposium has been scheduled for the evening of April 18th. It will be held at the Lincoln Center and the topic will be Conservation in Action. No keynote speaker has been set up yet but they are considering Tim Wirth and also will take suggestions. The symposium will be set up with tables of different envircmmntal topics. Persons at those tables will possibly give five minute presentations to participants and also engage in one-on-one interactions. Board members offered several suggestions for keynote Water O mmittee — The committee has not yet met to review the Erosion Control Manual. Dubois and Swope met briefly and learned that timing was not as critical as they thought. The criteria was fairly complete but the plan does not have much regarding enforcement procedure — what it has is riot strong. There also is not criteria for more than a ten-year storm. The manual states that not more than 15% erosion is allowed but does not indicate how that will be measured. When the construction above a base level is complete, there is no plan for monitoring or measuring whether the criteria has been met. Other concerns are: if construction is stopped, not enough money is set aside for returning the area back to it's original landscape. The gravel filter design does riot appear to be able to filter well enough. If a roadway is not gleaned completely and immediately (of silt and sand from construction) , what enforcement action is taken? It was moved and seconded that Dubois and Swope write up their concerns as presented and give them to the Storm Drainage Board. Recycling Oammittee — Will Smith reported on the City Council worksession on issues of curbside recycling. The letter of NRAB recommendations brought on a debate of semantics. The first half of session was not as productive as the second half. Several Co uncilme tiers were uncomfortable with the single contractor option. They felt the City should do something since there is not a private company that offers this service. They also want curbside offered to businesses as well as residents. Woodruff added that he believed there was consensus among the Council to go with a single contractor and to also that maximizing the volume of recyclables is their highest goal. Restrictions on "freedom of choice" (to pay) will not be taken lightly by Council. Staff recommends having everyone pay because that will produce the highest volume of recyclables. The limited options are: 1) serve all single family households by non -discretionary fuming or 2) offer a "subscription" service that will apply to more households. The risks of option 2 are that the cast per household could go higher if fewer subscribe to service. It was recommended that steel cans and plastic be included in the bidding option. Another suggestion was to have the Board reaffirm it's stand on curbside at the public worksession on February 20th. Harold Swope wanted to know if the City is bawd to it's current waste management system — relying on independent waste haulers. It was suggested that the Recycling Committee draft a letter to Council, including waste management options, to be presented at the public worksession. anmR REPORTS — Chuck Davis offered information regarding the Boulder Pesticide Application Ordinance. He stated that it was weak but sensitive to business interests. During the pre -application phase, the individual using the service is responsible to notify authorities. The program does riot apply to commercial businesses. It is the individual that will get sued not the company. A sign is to be posted in a spray area noting the chemical used. The ordinance relies on health issues and does not deal with the Federal Pesticide law. Davis believes the ordinance will pass. It is not as well developed as other programs because these laws are rare at local levels. LaRue suggested looking at the Loveland program as well. STAFF RSPOR3's Mitigation Funds F e*+�dtures Wilkinson presented a slideshow and information regarding i *g the spending of the $25,000 received to replace losses caused by the Arbor Plaza project. $5,800 is planned for the Gustav Swanson Nature Area. There are lots of opportunities for spending the funds. The slide show presented photos of different areas could use some of the mitigation funds. Score were proposed by residents, some by staff. Wilkinson discussed some of the pros and cons of allocating money to the different sites. He asked for some discussion but not any iamnnediate decision -making. There is very little money but a great deal of demand for it. The Board could take On the task of getting possibly more mitigation funds and then deciding where it should be spent and presenting that to Council. Wilkinson noted that there are five guidelines for spending the mitigation funds established by Council resolution. They are: 1. Purchase highly sensitive areas. • 0 2. Purchase conservation easements. 3. Enhance wildlife habitats. 4. Enhance existing wildlife areas. 5. Raiding assistance. The slides contained pictures of the different possible sites outlined in the handout "Pros and Cons of Possible Mitigation Fund Projects". The pros and cons of the sites listed below were briefly reviewed: 1. Slumstone Village PUD 2. Fairway Estates Pond 3. Spring Creek Park 4. Overland Trail Park 5. Fossil Creek Estates Bank Stabilization 6. Lamy Detention Pond 7. City Park Lake 8. Milne open Space (Riverbend Ponds Area) 9. Bank Stabilization along Poudre River 10. Larimer #2 Ditch 11. South Lamy Wetlands Michelsen proposed that the Board look into a mitigation fee for supporting projects and developments because any develepnent will have environmental impacts. Swope talked about the impacts at the Fairway Estates Fond and his involvement in that area's request for funds from the homeowner's perspective. He felt the neighborhood has had difficulty with the City getting their opinions heard and getting the area properly cleaned. He stated that it is a direct impact area and that the slides did not show the actual area of the impact. Michelsen stated that he felt public funds should be used on public areas but suggested that Swope pursue litigation against the constriction company. He also said that if the City approved the project in the beginning then they do have certain responsibilities. It was discussed that the Environmental Maragement Plan address on and off site impacts of developments. The Big Three Mike Davis made a presentation to the Board about the "Big Three" Comprehensive Plan projects that the Develcpnent Services Department is involved in. Davis handed out some material for the Board to review regarding the "Big Three" and the goals from City Council that apply to the Development Services Department. The three projects are 1) Environmental Plan, 2) Transportation Plan and 3) IDGS Update. These projects stood out as being very important to the city because they will set the tone for the future of Fort Collins. Davis indicated that help, input, and support is needed from the Board in regards to the following: 1) Environmental Management Plan — framework 2) Multi -model Transportation Plan — 5-year plan 3) LDGS — updates, improvements, better coordinate policies and plans that feed into the IDGS (this is most elusive of the three projects) Davis stated that the three projects should be looked at as one big project made up of three components. In reviewing each couponent, ask what they mean to the future of Fort Collins in regards to growth and growth policies and how should we develop? In the next 12 to 18 months, Develcpment Services will be looking to get very elaborate citizen input using the SDIC (Strategic Development of Informed Consent) method. Everything will be put on the table for citizens and all PAI's (Potentially Affected Interests) to review. The Hoards and Commissions are one way of reaching all the citizens and PAI's. Each of these components has issues that are loaded with emotions because they deal with has people want to live and work in this environment. one way of reaching citizens is to tap into other citizen organizations. Also, have the Planning and Transportation staff meet with the NRAB to see how they may impact natural resources and how the NRAB may impact them. Davis is asking for input and support from the MM and for the Board to actively get involved in guiding the staff in a way the NRAB considers satisfactory. Davis said the big question to ask the NRAB is, "How can we, Development Services, help NRAB do their job better?" He stated that the Natural Resources Division was moved to Development Services to help emphasize natural resource issues and that natural resources issues would then be accepted as part of the development process. Davis stated that the "family of Development Services needs to work closer together in order to avoid negative consequences of development. In response to Davis' question, Tim Johnson expressed concern about the size of staff and the workload in the Natural Resources office. Davis indicated that they need to identify areas that employees have environmental responsibilities in other departments and then look to Woodruff and Natural Resources staff to provide expertise. Woodruff stated that the Air Quality Planner position will work closely with Transportation staff (that department will pay half of that position). Also, many planners do have training in some areas of natural resources. Davis said that the Storm Drainage department also did some work in the Mail Creek area, looking at runoff. He wants to avoid building a hierarchy by weaving departments together in a matrix system. Michelsen asked if Davis supported staff additions and if he saw a need. Davis indicated that he supported additions provided he sees needs that are justified. He wants to see what will occur after the addition of the two new positions of Resource Associate and Air Quality Planner. He also said that he needs to weigh the needs of one department against another and that staff additions are a sensitive issue with Council. Taxpayers want more work but not more money going to City staff. Midelsen stated that he has a perception that Planning and Natural Resources staff are not working as closely together as possible — that there is more input publicly than internally. There is a perception that "Planning staff prarotes development." Will the City be liable for projects that create negative impacts? Davis suggested the Board work with the Planning and Zoning Hoard because they affect a lot of planning decisions. Perhaps the Chairs of both Boards could meet or have a "big round table" of the boards and ccmaissions involved with planning, air quality, natural resources, and transportation. The boards and oc missions can control many of the decisions about the City. Davis stated that the Transportation Plan is now at a point where staff can simulate future traffic scenarios. The other plans are close to starting the planning processs. Michelsen suggested incorporating the Transportation Plan into the LAGS. He also suggested that city staff actually take a full week holiday from using auto transportation and use other transportation modes instead. He asked if Davis would support and help promote this among his staff because it could have a great inpact on the transportation study. Iuthi asked if the Board could approach other departments and staff for further research and resources. Woodruff responded that all staff is available and any requests from the Board can be passed on to the right person. Davis stated that everyone has to work to keep the lines of commmication open and indicated he woould go forward with the "round table" idea. Environmental Manaaement Plan ilodate Wilkinson meted that the EMP is now looking at having a list of issues and an outline of affected departments ready by May. From that stage, it will go to prioritization with August as a target date. August nay be pushing it because it then allows very short turn around times in commmicatinng with others in the prioritization process. There will be an open house during the second weekend in March at the Library. He is also looking into having one at the mall two weeks later. Annual Report Johnson wants feedback on the annual report and also wants to form an ad -hoc co mittee to help finalize the report. He wants the Chairs of the various sub-cou ittees to also give feedback. NAP BUS32MW Recycling of White Goods (maior aonliarnces) U thi has been interested in the recycling of white goods and offered some information to the Board. He stated that appliances have not been recycled because some have PCB's in them. The EPA says not to salvage them because of the capacitor which holds the PCBs. Luthi wants to look at shredding appliances into pieces of metal as a way to save landfill space. Dump fees could be raised on appliances to promote this. He encourages further research into this idea. Johnson asked to have the Recycling Committee look into this idea and decide what to do. other Business Same concern was expressed aver the cutting of trees along ditches in Fbrt Collins. It was questioned how much the trees do inhibit stream flow and how much cottonwoods absorb water. Board members asked to see available documentation that supports removing trees. Luthi had contacted an attorney for one of the ditch companies who was not cooperative. He said that he didn't care what the public thinks about the trees being cut down. Michelsen stated that cottonwoods suck up all the water they can from the ditch and the trees are "free ground" for cutting down. Woodruff stated that city staff is also concerned about this issue and a team has been formed to look into all aspects of city interactions with the ditch canpanies. It is riot an easy issue but the city tries to intercede to save trees when it Can. Wilkinson said that the ditch companies say the trees are more an obstruction problem than a water loss problem. He suggests taking it up with the land Use Committee. Meeting adjourned at 9:55 pm.