Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 09/19/1990MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS. NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD SUPPLEMENTAL MEETING 200 W. MOUNTAIN AVENUE - EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE ROOM SEPTEMBER 19, 1990 - 7:00 PM Board Members Present Harold Swope Christine Ferguson Tim Johnson Deni LaRue Board Members Absent Joyce Berry (excused) Staff Members Present Tom Shoemaker Susie Gordon Brian Woodruff Others Present Madonna Kukay old Business Chuck Davis Dave DuBois Bill Miller Will Smith Ward Luthi Bob Wilkinson Mike Davis Recycling: A final draft of the Board's recommendations to Council on the proposed recycling ordinance was distributed and reviewed. Smith explained that the Recycling Committee and Shoemaker met to evaluate and make minor changes to the ordinance. One substantive change that was suggested by the committee was the addition of an option on the part of the City Manager to change the frequency of collection on an annual basis. For instance, the frequency could be increased to bimonthly from monthly collection without requiring a change in the ordinance. Shoemaker stated that, after consultation with the City Attorney about this amendment, staff has decided not to support this recommendation due to the additional equipment requirements that it would create for the waste haulers. Ferguson pointed out that inflicting extra costs for these businesses may be an inevitable part of distributing the total costs between public and private concerns. Shoemaker responded that increases in the minimum monthly collection standard will be possible to prescribe, but that it will occur with opportunity for public review. He pointed out that increased collection causes greater traffic impacts, and road wear and that, according to surveying, many in Fort Collins prefer monthly service. Smith added that, given the free market conditions and requirements for "same day " recycling collection, some haulers are likely to provide more frequent service. He suggested that the subject of collection frequency be moved in the letter and identified as a "problem area". Johnson requested that editorial comments be submitted to Shoemaker in order to include them in the letter by tomorrow for distribution to Council. He emphasized that the importance of the letter lies in its recommendation for Council to adopt the recycling ordinance. Land Acquisition Fund: Ferguson related that the Land Use Committee met and made some changes in the draft recommendation to Council for the creation of an acquisition fund. One of these changes is to recommend the sum of $1,5000,000 for the fund, and another is to provide a list of suitable purchase sites. She asked Shoemaker whether the inventory conducted for sensitive areas could be used as a project list. The Board was reminded that the letter to Council would be public information. Shoemaker recommended against issuing a list of potential acquisitions because of the likelihood that it would inflate land prices for those locations. He suggested that choices should be made as part of an executive decision. Smith proposed that the problem could be solved by using the prices of recently acquired property as examples for Council. Shoemaker stated that he is confident that a list of suitable projects ranging from two to 250 acres, can be provided, and expressed the need to continue to work cooperatively with Parks and Recreation and Stormwater Departments on them. It was determined that the more general language referencing "a variety of projects that are available for acquisition, such as Harmony Corridor open spaces and Poudre River riparian habitat, which we would like to work with you on for selection" would be an acceptable approach to use in the letter to Council. Davis stated that Council will be very appreciative of the Board's recom- mendations, and suggested that it would be very good timing to include them in tomorrow's packets for consideration during Tuesday's work session. Miller described a field trip led by Stormwater that he attended last Friday. He told the Board that he had been very impressed with Stormwater Is efforts, especially in revegetating wetlands, and inquired whether part of the Land Acquisition Fund could be used for site improvement. Support was expressed for the idea, but the decision was made to address the subject of enhancement as a separate project. E i The Board discussed "metric standards", or ratio of park land per person, as a means of establishing a quota for natural areas that would be less abstract than setting a monetary standard. Davis described approximate figures that are used as being between 6 and 10 acres/person, depending on whether it is an active or passive recreational or passive land use. Concerns were expressed that using a formula approach might actually limit the fund's potential. Maintenance issues were discussed, and the idea of using "Adopt a Wild Area" for litter control was suggested. Shoemaker stated that the Natural Areas Plan will address the subject, but that a reference in the letter to Council about the need to deal with these concerns would be useful to include. Smith proposed sending a copy of the letter to Parks and Recreation and Stormwater Department boards and staff. Shoemaker agreed, noting that there has been good cooperation with Stormwater in particular and acknowledging Wilkinson's work in achieving that cooperation. Environmental Management Plan: A report was distributed describing the status of the EMP project. Shoemaker discussed progress since Council's work session on August 28 and the Action Agenda was introduced and discussed. The Agenda is a response to Council's directions to outline new policies and programs and will be presented to them on November 6. Shoemaker requested the Board to provide him with an assessment of the Agenda, including format, changes in priorities, individual perspectives, and opinions by the October 3 meeting. October 15 will be the close of the comment period. The Action Agenda is made up of three tables concerning environmental resources, development review, and administrative steps. Shoemaker clarified that their ordering does not reflect that Tables 2 and 3 are less important; they are the over -arching procedural issues. Relative priorities are identified, but ongoing projects will not be halted regardless of their ratings. Item 2.1 in the third table was highlighted. Shoemaker commented that the recommendation for a "Guide" is made to alleviate the disparity between the public's perception and the actual, everyday level of City involvement in environmentally sensitive activities, of which they may not be aware. Davis inquired whether the activities of other agencies, such as the Army Corps of Engineers or the State, will be described in the "Guide". Shoemaker responded that the focus will be on Fort Collins, but that other jurisdictions' responsibilities should be described. Policy actions were differentiated as Council directives, while guidelines may come from a variety of sources. 3 Wilkinson reviewed the ranking system, which included health and safety considerations, that was used to set priorities in response to an observation that Natural Areas are ranked as a moderate priority. He acknowledged that a criterion that could have been used was "opportunities that exist that should be acted on." The observation was made that prioritization doesn't mean importance. In discussion of recommendations from the Board for re -prioritizing proposals for action, Wilkinson requested that explanations be provided along the lines of the ranking system that was used. Johnson recommended that Section 1.2.3 should be added under Sensitive Areas addressing the need for an acquisition program. The comment was made that start dates, including "tomorrow", should be included in the Agenda, because it would alleviate the community's anxiousness to begin on the EMP. Shoemaker pointed out that three months is equivalent to "tomorrow" in City government, and that the follow-up work plan will be very specific for timing and schedules. Smith observed that among high priorities listed in the first table, there are 30 different ordinances and policies recommended for Council's attention within the next 12-18 months, or approximately three items per Council session. He went on to commend the lay -out of the report for the ease it provides in determining concentrations and types of workloads. Shoemaker stated that not all of these activities will be Natural Resource Division responsibilities. The Agenda will be sent to key staff within the next few days and then to boards, commissions, and the public. He added that the NRAB will be providing the "big overview" and that there are many opportunities to add comments. The Board decided to assign Agenda review into sections for appropriate committees to provide comment. In the event that committee meetings are not held, individual members will supply their comments. Shoemaker assured the Board that he will make it clear, in the form of a letter, to other boards that they will be considered primary reviewers of sections of the Agenda that involve their area of expertise. In response to a request for identification of ongoing projects in the Agenda, Shoemaker agreed that highlighting those items in the tables would be helpful, and that he will send the revisions to the Board. Davis commented on the similarities between the Agenda and the NRAB's own list of goals. Smith added that the Agenda may provide a "reality check" to the Board, and Ferguson noted that other boards may also find the Agenda helpful in examining goals. 4 Johnson asked whether the Air Quality Task Force will be reviewing the Agenda, and Woodruff answered that they meet next week to examine the air quality issues in the Agenda, for which they are prepared to take primary responsibility. Smith inquired about the coordination of administrative items in Table 3, and whether the responsibility lay with Natural Resources to oversee these tasks. Davis replied that the Executive Team will be assigned these responsibilities following direction from Council. Committee Assignments: LaRue will continue on the Recycling and the Education Committees. Johnson is removed from the Education Committee and added to the Land Use Committee. Miller is also added to the Land Use Committee. The suggestion was made to create an Environmental Management Plan Committee. New Business and Announcements Shoemaker announced that the joint recycling grant application with Larimer County took first place in the urban recycling division for the state and was awarded an additional $10,000. Smith deferred discussion of the Environmental Action Award until the next meeting. A decision was made to precede the next meeting with a 5:00 pm dinner at the Armadillo Restaurant, 354 Walnut. The next meeting will be held at 7:00 pm, Wednesday, October 3, at 281 N. College - Development Services Conference Room. Adiournment Meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm. 5