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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 10/04/1989MINUTES CPIY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD OCDDBER 4, 1989 Board Members Present: Joyce Berry Ward Luthi Charles Davis Ari Michelsen Dave Dubois Will Smith Tim Johnson Harold Swope Denise LaRue Susan Whitmer STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Brian Woodruff Edith Felchle Bob Wilkinson Minutes Minutes of the September 6, 1989 Natural Resources Advisory Board meeting were unanimously approved as submitted. Envirormental Management Plan (EMP) Johnson asked what the board wanted to do with the EMP matter. Discussion included the suggestion of going with the EMP on the track that Wilkinson and Woodruff started and also the need to stay on course. Luthi said he met with Mike Davis and Linda Ripley of the Planning department and they seemed to be in favor of putting together a comprehensive plan for the Harmony Corridor. Luthi stated that some development has already been granted, however, so corridor development is being planned with the site specific T . Iuthi said the EMP will suffer some downfalls because no one can get an overall picture of what will or should happen. He pointed out that it would be a mistake to accept the EMP as a saving grace. It needs to be backed up with a planning tool. It was also suggested that EMP planning proceed but that implementation and cost estimates be put up front to see if we really have commitment. Implementation, including such big ticket items as data for air, water, and noise quality was also stressed. Woodruff said the county and state are following state and federal guidelines on data collection. He also said there is no data on air toxics. It was pointed out that Environmental Health in the Microbiology department at CSU does c==ity projects and maybe we could use them. Woodruff stated that we need to determine what data is needed and then match resources with needs. Michelsen wanted to know where the EMP is in the planning process and whether the plan is set in concrete with Mike Davis. Woodruff said staff is following the schedule that was promised to Council, and that the process is in the "audit of issues, values, and expectations" phase right now. Michelsen stated that the first phase is mandatory. He also asked if the EMP will redo the entire planning document or just ccaponents of the comprehensive plan. Woodruff said staff is discussing the same question. Charles Davis asked if we will work with Transportation on their plan in order to look at impacts. Woodruff said the plans will progress simultaneously, working to build interconnections. Michelsen asked if there was any idea of the scope of cost for the EMP. Woodruff stated there was no idea and that the framework for the EMP will be a major decision point for Council in the spring. Michelsen asked how long the information development phase will go on. Wilkinson responded that it will be done conponent by component with prioritization based on urgency. Woodruff added that the intent of Council was not to rewrite the comprehensive plan but write the EMP as a new plan. luthi asked how a moratorium on growth would affect the EMP, to which Woodruff replied it wouldn't. Iuthi asked if there is any effort to increase educational output as the EMP is developed rather than waiting for the final output. He suggested an educational blitz on Earth Day. Wilkinson stated that we are looking at what other communities are doing. Woodruff added that, as far as education is concerned, we will keep the issues in front of the public throughout the plan. Iuthi added that the "Choice City" should be a model city. He suggested holding a conference in Fort Collins and having higher environmental people cane and tell us what would be an optimal plan for Fort Collins. Johnson expressed cautious optimism that if the board can be a catalyst and put together a strong case, there is a good chance it will go. He called for a motion. It was moved and seconded to support the direction being taken, that is, to keep the EMP on the track that Woodruff and Wilkinson started and to have strong NRAB input. Discussion: in response to an input and involvement question, Wilkinson said staff is looking into forming a steering committee to function thraxghout the framework setting phase. He wants to have the citizen outreach done by the end of January. Woodruff asked if NRAB wanted to assist with the public input, citing NRAB's public meeting on the woodburning issue as an example. He said Council liked what the board did on the woodburning issue. When asked about a broad -based survey, Woodruff replied that staff is not contemplating one. Wilkinson stated that if the objective is to get what the survey gives, then a survey might be done, but if the objective is to get input, then maybe a survey isn't necessary. LaRue suggested a focus group approach. luthi said he was uncomfortable throwing this out to a community that may only be concerned with lowering their taxes. Michelsen pointed out that a lack of focus in the survey may do more harm than good and does not feel a survey is appropriate at this time. The motion carried unanimously. Old business Smith wanted to discuss HR1300 to find out what the bill allows us to do. Woodruff said in his opinion, it is a Trojan Horse bill. It pro rotes recycling of plastics but preempts local goverrmients from requiring or prohibiting specific plastics. He feels this restriction, not prompting recycling, is the intent of the Bill. It was suggested that maybe labeling can be accelerated. Also, we might be able to augment sane of the good things in the Bill. Committee/board goals discussion Johnson stated that board work plans are due November 30th, so by the next meeting, all committees should have met and drafted their goals. He suggested setting achievable goals and addressing the on -going goals. LaRue felt that the on -going goals might more appropriately be developed into a board policy statement. Johnson briefly reviewed the on -going goals: Goal 1 — Carmunicating with other City boards: This has been done and should continue. Goal 2 — Promote an effective Natural Resources staff of adequate size: NRAB has been questioning this one and will come back to it. Goal 3 — Hazardous materials control and management: Completed for the short term. Will probably revisit. Goal 4 — Education: This is an on -going goal. Goal 5 — Support for protection, maintenance, and enhancement of surface and ground water: This one is open and will continue. Goal 6 — Recycling: This is a major success for the board and for the whole city. Goal 7 — Natural resources consideration incorporated into land use and economic development decisions: Can't cross this one off but there has been major progress in the form of the wetlands/wildlife map. Goal 8 — Air Quality program: NRAB will not be looking at air quality because another group will now be taking care of air quality. There was discussion as to whether the Education Committee should be retained or education should be incorporated into other committees. It was decided that any committee that feels it is no longer needed can bring that up at the November meeting. It was suggested that instead of doing away with the Air Quality Committee, it simply be put on inactive status until further notice. Previous committee chairs were asked to set committee meetings for this month, since new chairs have not been decided. Discussion of interaction with other boards (This was discussed during the goals discussion.) Alternative Transportation Day There was a request for ideas in conjunction with the Better Air Campaign, i.e. free bus day, bicycling day, publishing information from 188 and 189 bike days, information on how to dress for winter bicycling. Felchle said that NRAB Air Quality Commmittee personnel have been representing NRAB on the Better Air Campaign Steering Ccu mittee. Since the Air Quality Committee is inactive during the life of the Air Quality Task Force, she asked if NRAB still wanted a representative on this steering committee. Several felt it would be good to have a representative on the steering committee, but no one was sure they had the time. Johnson will let Felchle know if he has time to serve as the representative. clarification on the wording of the Air Quality Task Force document was requested, including task force functions. It was asked if NRAB can or should continue to do air quality education. Copies of the resolution establishing the task force will be mailed to NRAB to clarify this. ANNCIUNCL3+�]'LS Berry announced the Global Change conference set for October 13 and 14. Smith announced that October. 20th will be the Wilderness Coalition and that they are looking for 20,000 signatures for Wirth's Wilderness Bill. Whitmer mentioned that a recent issue of NATIONAL WILDLIFE carried a quote from Wilkinson regarding Fort Collins wildlife habitat work. Luthi mentioned the Harmony corridor issue and the developTent incentives issues. He said individuals may want to comment to Council on this issue. Staff handed out items of interest: a recycling article, DARK CLOUDS CARRY SILVER LINIW-S; the FaU ODLLINS ENVIRONMEn M RECORD; and the new composting brochure. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 pin.