HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 06/02/1993MINUTES
CITY OF FORT COLLINS
NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
CIC ROOM - CITY HALL WEST, 300 W. LAPORTE
JUNE 21 1993
For Reference: Will Smith, NRAB Chair - 221-0425
Chris Kneeland, Council liaison - 221-2950
Tom Shoemaker, Staff liaison - 221-6263
Boardmembers Present
Tim Johnson, Bill Miller, Hal Swope, Craig McGee, Terri Knudsen, Deni
LaRue, Phil Friedman, Will Smith
Boardmembers Absent (excused)
Steve Erthal
Staff Present
Tom Shoemaker, Julie Bothwell
Guest Present
Ralph Ferrara, Chair, Natural Areas Subcommittee, Chamber of Commerce,
Bob and Bev Patterson, Brittany Knolls Homeowner's Association
)Approval of Minutes
It was moved, seconded, and unanimously approved that the Minutes of
the May 5, 1993 NRAB meeting be accepted as written with the following
amendment: Page 5, under Committee Reports regarding the Environmental
Action Award recipients being upset because there was no media attention;
Friedman would like the minutes to include his comment that it is not the
Board's fault or responsibility to deal with the lack of the media
attention and that he felt the complaints were "sour grapes" on the part of
the recipients.
Old Business
Natural Areas Acquisition Priorities
Shoemaker stated that he was looking for the Board's feedback and a
formal recommendation on the recommended priority areas. He explained that
with the priorities, staff is trying to identify areas that require
immediate action because of threat, or because certain things need to
happen to make plans fall into place. Shoemaker said he attended the Parks
and Recreation Board's last meeting and that Board felt that Staff was on
the right track and provided its endorsement.
Swope expressed that he had the idea that some of the preliminary work
on some of the areas was already done so staff could go ahead and act on
them e.g., Wren Pit and the additions to the Hahn/Seven Springs area.
Shoemaker stated that staff is pursuing these areas.
McGee asked if the areas that staff plan on buying are achievable for
1993. Shoemaker answered that he felt that not all of them are achievable,
some of them will hit dead ends, and some, (e.g., Cooper Slough and
Flatiron) require advanc6 dlanning and discussion to achieve.
Smith asked if Shoemaker was comfortable with staff resources.
Shoemaker responded yes that the acquisition team includes himself, Ron
Mills, Right -of -Way; Marty Heffernan, City Attorney's office; Randy Balok,
Parks and Recreation; Kari Henderson and Tom Peterson, Planning; and Bob
Smith, Stormwater.
Smith asked if there is an area that comes up because of "opportunity
to acquire", but the area is considered medium or low priority are the
resources there to make them happen. Shoemaker answered that if that need
did occur staff would find a way to make them happen.
Shoemaker stated that there is a separate staff team charged with
developing recommendations on general citywide management guidelines and
developing specific management plans. The team consists of Randy Balok and
Virgil Taylor, Parks and Recreation; Karen Manci, Natural Resources; Ralph
Zentz, Forestry; and Rodney Albers and Kevin McBride, Stormwater. As they
develop any recommendations on management plans, they will go out to
neighbors, interest groups, and others who will be involved in developing
those plans. The plans will then be presented to the NRAB and the Parks
and Recreation Board.
Patterson asked what is going on with the Bus Barn in regards to
natural areas. Shoemaker stated that staff is recommending that the
remainder of the service center site be left as natural area and managed as
natural area.
Ferrara stated that the Chamber of Commerce's Natural Areas
Subcommittee had the following concerns: "Will a natural area create a
real or logical obstacle to an otherwise healthy environment with business
in the community?" Smith recommended that the subcommittee flip the
question and go back to members of the business community and look at some
of the opportunities presented. For example, if there is a large parcel of
property and one portion has outstanding natural values and another portion
has few natural values, then the City would likely purchase the entire
portion and sell the area that lacks natural area values. This is an
opportunity for large businesses to buy the entire parcel and then do a
public/private partnership to maintain the portion with high values as
natural areas and locate their business on the portion with lower value.
Ferrara said, the other concern of the subcommittee was, "Does the
purchase of a parcel of land maximize the use of the tax payer's dollars
where the total purchase may not be best used as a natural area e.g.,
Harmony Gateway or the Wren Pit?" Shoemaker answered that the acquisition
program is one component of the overall natural areas conservation
strategies and partnerships with both homeowners associations and
businesses are equally important.
Ferrara stated that one of the Chamber's main goals is to figure out
what the partnerships can be and should be to get going on this. Shoemaker
stated that the Natural Areas Plan does not exist in isolation. It has
raised natural areas to a level of equal consideration to some other things
in the community, but not made them more important.
Miller stated that he hoped that the priority list will be modified to
include areas around Fossil Creek Reservoir as toe inventory takes place
and as the corridor concept is examined further by the County and both
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municipalities. Shoemaker said that is staff's intention.
area
Knudsen stated that she is mostly concerned with the Fossil Creek
Johnson agreed with Knudsen in marking the Fossil Creek area urgent.
Friedman strongly believes that staff should not allow the priority
list to be influenced by what the development community might think; that
would be changing the rules of the game in the middle. He expressed that
he does not care what the development community thinks.
Johnson commented that it is not changing the rules in the middle of
the game when looking at an area that has never been inventoried before.
That is the beginning of the game for that area.
Smith stated that most of the parcels are on the fringes of either the
City or the UGA. By the history that has occurred, there are going to be
situations where as the city grows and development occurs in the County
they are always going to be just at the margin of having inventoried that
property. Smith feels that what the acquisition team, the NRD, and the
operations team is doing is setting up a pattern for these kinds of things
to occur not just at the City level, but also with Loveland and the County.
All three bodies may use this as a model.
McGee moved and Johnson seconded that the NRAB adopt the priority
recommendations, understanding that modifications and additional changes
could be made.
Miller proposed the following amendment: "Added to or removed from
the list." McGee and Johnson accepted the amendment.
The motion was passed unanimously.
Recycling Program Review
Shoemaker distributed a draft report on the review of the recycling
program.
Shoemaker said that Council is working on their 1993-95 work program
and it includes several related items, so he is proposing to proceed
quickly and integrate the two work programs (previous Council and new
Council).
Council's work program includes improving the educational program so
residents know how to participate in the recycling program. Their work
program also says to look at ways to decrease the number of trucks on city
streets related to recycling and waste collection.
Shoemaker stated that the recycling report distributed tonight
overlaps reasonably well with Council's work program, but not completely.
Potentially, decreasing the number of trucks on city streets could take the
program in a different direction. There is more work to be done to make
these two things fit together. Shoemaker is proposing to get it all done
by October.
Shoemaker asked that Boardmembers be prepared at the July 7 NRAB
meeting to give feedback on the report. A revised public outreach program
will also be presented in July. There will be three additional items ready
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for review and recommendation at the August 4 meeting: (1) Goals and
Objectives -- a policy statement about what is trying to be achieved. (2)
An issue paper on the traffic related to waste collection -- what is the
problem, what can be done about it, etc. (3) Proposed revisions to the
existing curbside recycling program -- the ordinance itself.
Shoemaker stated that in September staff would, based on the Board's
comments, submit a final report to Council at one of their worksessions to
see if the work is on the right track, and then would schedule Council
action to adopt the Goals and Objectives and Ordinance revisions.
The Board felt comfortable with the proposed schedule.
Friedman stated that he would like to see a way to get some effort at
recycling becoming more prominent in resturant menus that provide service
to the public. He feels that there has got to be a way to get commercial
enterprises that are using throw -away -type containers to provide their
customers the opportunity to recycle.
Smith asked boardmembers to think about ways that these kinds of
issues can be addressed and keep in mind that one of the biggest efforts is
the communication effort and that is a tough component.
Shoemaker stated that he measures it in two ways: (1) Goals and
Objectives; what is trying to be achieved through these programs and how do
we measure whether we are getting there or not. (2) One of the key tools
is how can the City and others promote getting the message out.
Selection of Member and Alternate to Larimer County Environmental Advisory
Board
At the May 5 meeting there was discussion of a boardmember serving on
the Larimer County Environmental Advisory Board; one as a member and the
other as an alternate. Boardmembers interested in serving gave their names
to Council. Smith stated that Council asked that the Board recommend one
representative.
Smith reviewed the names from the May 5 meeting -- Erthal, Johnson,
Smith, Swope, and Miller volunteered to serve on the Board and Friedman and
McGee volunteered to serve as alternates.
Swope stated that he only had one year left to serve on the Board, so
he withdrew his name. Johnson also withdrew his name.
The Board decided to vote and the member with the most votes would be
the Board's recommendation with the runner up being the alternate. Smith
received the most votes with Miller being the runner up.
Presentation to Deni LaRue
LaRue's term expired and this was her last meeting. The Board
presented her with a certificate of appreciation and Smith's "special
cookies."
Update on Greenstone PUD/Fossil Creek
Boardmembers received in their packets a copy of the draft letter that
was sent to Council liaison Kneeland from the Board regarding Greenstone
PUD and Fossil creek Reservoir Area. ,
Smith stated that there were some minor changes in the letter and they
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were as follows: The At paragraph reads, "Membe s of the Natural
Resources Advisory Board are concerned about the proposed Greenstone PUD.
This development is in conflict with outstanding natural areas and their
values. The development is located in the vicinity of Fossil Creek
Reservoir in and adjacent to the Urban Growth Area boundary in southeast
Fort Collins." The first sentence in the second paragraph reads,
"Development activity in this vicinity is increasing and potentially
threatens some very significant natural area values."
The Board approved the changes and the letter will be presented to
Council.
Swope recommended the following change in the third paragraph, last
sentence, "In addition, as we are now reviewing recommended natural area
acquisition priorities, we have toured the area and asked that a more
detailed evaluation and inventory be completed as soon as feasible." The
Board agreed.
Shoemaker distributed a summary of the status of the Greenstone
project as it stands at the present time. Attached were versions of the
plans that are in place. He stated that the overall development plan, is
approved. He explained that an overall development plan is a bubble
diagram that says overall this is how we would anticipate developing this
parcel of ground. It generally shows phases that often are modified and
requires additional reviews and approvals before any particular phase goes
ahead.
Shoemaker stated that staff has raised issues related to habitat
questions in that process and specifically included in the staff report on
the ODP, comments that say, "do not assume you are going to get approvals
on the areas east of the railroad tracks because there are some significant
issues."
Shoemaker stated that what happens after an ODP is approved is that
the various phases of projects are developed as the developer wants to
proceed. Two phases, one and two which are on the west side of the
property, of seven overall anticipated phases have received final approval
from Planning and Zoning Board. Shoemaker commented that we probably would
not expect to see any submittals on the higher density future phases until
1994.
Location and time for June 16 worksession
Shoemaker stated that Greg Byrne, Community Planning and Environmental
Services will not be able to make the worksession on June 16 to discuss the
Cost of Development Phase II. The Board decided to ask Byrne if June 9 at
6:00 would work.
Announouents
Shoemaker stated that he spoke with Council liaison Kneeland and she
is very much in tune with the Board and does read the Minutes. She wanted
the Board to know that WTP1 is on the draft Council Policy Agenda. She
does plan on attending a meeting soon, but has been busy interviewing
candidates for positions on Boards and Commissions.
Shoemaker handed out a copy for the Board to read of a letter that
Mayor Azari received from the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District
with their comments regarding the Water Treatment Plant 1.
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LaRue gave her kudos --co the Natural Resources Division. She stated
that she is constantly impressed by the scope of the issues that the
division deals with.
Smith handed out a letter from Mayor Azari thanking the Board for
their input on the 1994 budget.
Smith handed out an announcement from Carol Tunner, Planning regarding
an Historic Preservation event.
Johnson announced that on June 5, the Friends of the Poudre is having
a festival at Picnic Rock starting at 10:00 a.m.
Smith announced that on June 18 there is a seminar on how to assess or
identify wetlands. Staff will mail the information.
Friedman handed out two articles from the Rocky Mountain News for the
Board to read. One was about growth in Fort Collins and Loveland and the
other one was about Public Service offering cheaper rates for consumers who
buy energy efficient appliances.
Johnson announced that there are openings for the Electric Board.
Smith stated that Council asked how Boardmembers felt about expanding
the NRAB from a nine member Board to an eleven member Board. Boardmembers
agreed the Board functions well as a nine member Board.
Miller announced that the Environmental Clearinghouse is proceeding.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
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