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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 10/03/19900 MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD CITY HALL WEST - CIC ROOM OCTOBER 3, 1990 Board Members Present Charles Davis Ward Luthi Dave DuBois Bill Miller Christine Ferguson Will Smith Tim Johnson Harold Swope Deni LaRue Board Members Absent (excused) Joyce Berry Staff Members Present Tom Shoemaker Edith Felchle Bob Wilkinson Joe Frank Minutes It was moved and seconded that the Minutes of the September 5, 1990 NRAB meeting be approved as mailed. It was stated that the Minutes should be changed to show that Joyce Berry's absence was excused. The amended Minutes were unanimously approved. Committee Reports Education Committee: Smith reported that the NRAB environ- mental award will be announced to the public in October. LaRue said she would like to add a media category to the award. It also was decided that the business/government category be divided into two separate categories, and the organization category be changed to group/organization. It was suggested that a copy of the announcement be sent to Poudre R-1. It was moved, seconded, and unanimously passed to adopt the environmental award program. Smith reported that Council passed the recycling ordinance on October 2. He said the Mayor wants a resolution outlining specific recycling goals for Fort Collins. Shoemaker said that the current ordinance includes a 25 percent reduction goal, but other, long range goals can be developed. Land Development Guidance System (LDGS) Joe Frank from the Planning Department was at the meeting to answer questions and receive comments. It was stated that the LDGS audit will go to Council November 6. Johnson asked if there had been discussion regarding underground storage tanks. Shoemaker referred to Poudre Fire Authority's (PFA) long-standing ordinance. He said PFA has been holding off on some implementation to see what the state will do. He said PFA is planning an extensive hazardous materials program that will address siting issues; design, con- struction, and operation standards; permitting; on -site emergency response planning; education; and business inspection. PFA will hire a full-time hazardous materials specialist within four to five months. Davis asked if there would be an orphan tank inventory. Frank said he didn't know. Smith, referring to land use issues on page 20, said the Front Range Council of Governments needs to be involved. He said the first sentence on the first paragraph referred to something that was proposed 11 years ago, and that Council has changed its think- ing since then. He said there needs to be more of a vision of what the city is or should be. This position was stressed by many board members. Frank said the vision is embodied in the Comprehensive Plan and is part of specific plans, e.g. the Transportation Plan. He said the LDGS audit recommends that the vision be brought into one document. Luthi said it is impossible to judge the LDGS, the EMP, or any other document unless there is a "big picture" against which to judge. Frank acknowledged this but said it is not an easy concept for citizens to grasp. Smith said many current environmental and energy criteria are so lenient they are ineffective. Frank said that all environmental criteria are absolute. He said there is a lot of information and technology out there, especially on energy conservation, and the community needs a process that brings it together into a consensus. Smith stressed that his concern is that environment and energy be looked at community -wide, not just site -by -site. Johnson asked if bonuses could be offered to developers who include positive environmental aspects in their developments. Frank said this idea was workable, but it was important not to just jump in and do it without adequate background information. Smith asked how often the point system is upgraded. Frank said the system was established in 181 and has had two audits and constant changes since that time. Ferguson said that Tom Peterson often says "vigilance is the price of democracy." She said we are paying a lot of people to advocate for citizens. She isn't con- vinced we have a comprehensive plan. It seems just site specific. She said a large part of the community is suspicious of the strategy. It was stated that the Planning staff should come up with good, forward -looking goals for Fort Collins. Ferguson said she wanted to include a citizen survey on the November 6 ballot. The survey would make environmental statements and ask voters to either agree or disagree. The answers would not necessarily be legally binding. It was stated that this would be difficult on the November ballot because that was not a City elec- tion. Johnson said maybe this could be investigated for the City election in the spring. LaRue suggested that the quality of life survey might be reinstated and updated. Johnson asked how the LDGS is looking at improving bicycle and pedestrian aspects. Frank said that will be done through the Transportation Plan, not the LDGS. Johnson asked how design pro- J blems are corrected after the fact. Frank said there is good enforcement on things that show up. He said zoning violations are one tool and that occupancy is not allowed until improvements are installed. Johnson said that land use seems too unpredictable. Miller said he assumes that no one knows where we are going. Ferguson moved to empower the Land Use Committee to tie together NRAB's comments on the LDGS and send a statement to Planning, the Planning and Zoning Board, and Council. Luthi seconded the motion. It carried unanimously. It was requested that board members send comments to Miller in writing. Environmental Management Plan Board members commented on specific sections of the draft EMP agenda. Item 7.0 should be moved from moderate priority to higher priority. Section 1.1, wetlands and wildlife habitat, should include provision for purchase, maintenance, and enhancement. Likewise, 1.2 needs a provision for acquisition of sensitive areas, depending on how "sensitive" is to be defined. 9.0 does not iden- tify ahead of time gravel pits along the river corridor. The City may want to interact with gravel companies to seek deeding of spent pits to the City. Generally, throughout the agenda, "guidelines" should become "requirements." It was suggested that mitigation is undesirable, even impossible. Prevention was a preferred approach. It was suggested that human habitat also is a sensitive area, and then sections dealing with human aspects, e.g. light and noise pol- lution, become sensitive areas. It was suggested that pesticides should be moved to the water section. Some felt that stormwater should not have such high priority. Wilkinson explained that the criteria indicated that stormwater should be rated high; it has wetland, safety, federal regulations, and other issues. Section 3.1.4 should be careful not to create yuppie river banks. 4.1 should implement a local process. Section 4.1.22 needs environmental impact statements and enforcement. Transportation should be in the air areas so the EMP can enforce the Transporta- tion Plan. In the mineral resources area, pollution control should be established. Section 10.2 should require water conservation. Section 11.11 should monitor the effects on the landfill. Electro magnetic should be included in visual impacts. Section 16.0 is a terrific idea; it should be city residents, not staff. Staff said it is helpful to hear the board's opinions, espe- cially in the area of whether the agenda is strong enough. It also was stated that, when requiring enforcement, it is important to have enforcement capability." We have to be realistic in this area. Luthi asked if it would make sense for the board to take several areas and educate people in order to get broad support for environmental issues. Johnson said it did make sense and he cited recycling as a good example. That issue remained a high visibility education issue at symposia and through other educational efforts, and the result has been very positive. Smith said it is important to look at aspects of all plans and then cross check with those plans. It was stated that, on table 3, the education section, there is a gap in the public involvement aspect. The public involvement should occur in conjunction with the guide. Leadership is not as important as public education, and this should be reflected in the agenda. There should be stronger requirement for business to provide information about hazardous materials generated. This could be coordinated with emergency communication process. The emergency people currently have a process to communicate hazardous materials information, but they have no funds to put the information on the computer. Wastewater treatment should be added to the agenda. The idea of a vision was again brought up. It was asked if the EMP calls for a vision. Shoemaker said that the vision is missing from the agenda but it will be brought out in public involvement. He said the tension staff works under is that some want the vision first, others just want current policies enforced. Luthi stated that the Planning Department is working toward a popu- lation of 150,000, and he asked if the EMP is working toward the same goal. He said the population issue needs to be addressed. Shoemaker said that, in general, policy is looked at first, then change is made if necessary. Smith noted that the EMP includes nothing about boundary areas into which Fort Collins will grow. Staff suggested that NRAB make its comments officially to Council. General, overall statements, e.g. population concerns, would be helpful. It was suggested that the board comment on such issues as whether the agenda has the right priority issues, whether the agenda is strong enough, whether recommendations for next 12- 15 months are appropriate, whether additional resources should be allocated in order to accomplish all that should be done. Shoemaker handed out updated EMP action agenda information. The following board members will meet Thursday, 1/11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Natural Resources office to put together the board's list of EMP comments. After the draft of the comments is circu- lated, if any board member has major problems with it, call the Natural Resources office. Announcements DuBois reported that Council approved purchase of property for the sludge farm, but that they did not approve immediate use of the property for sludge. They want further environmental study. Council appropriated $200,000 for a natural areas fund. Felchle handed out Clean Air Fair flyers. The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.