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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 06/07/1989MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD JUNE 7, 1989 Board Members Present: Suzanne Bassinger Tim Johnson Charles Davis Denise LaRue Dave DuBois Ari Michelsen Ward Luthi Bob Sanz Board Members Absent (excused): Rich Fisher Susan Whitmer Staff Present: Brian Woodruff Edith Felchle Bob Wilkinson Shirley Bruns Councilmembers present: Gerry Horak Minutes Minutes of the May 1989 Natural Resources Advisory Board meeting were unanimously approved as submitted. Erosion Control The agenda was rearranged, allowing erosion control to be handled first. Susan Hayes from the Stormwater utility gave an overview of the utility's erosion control program citing what is being done now and what will be done in the future. She said that construction site erosion and stream bank erosion are major sources of pollution and that the utility is working with construction site personnel to reduce this source of pollution. She outlined the objectives and guidelines of the Erosion Control Manual. She outlined measures for erosion control including educating consultants and contractors and encouraging voluntary use of erosion control on construction sites. She said that changes are slowly being made and that enforcement is not yet occurring. She said that on their own projects, the utility is practicing what they preach. The utility hopes to have the Erosion Control Manual ready by late '89. The utility has $15,000 in its '90 budget for water quality monitoring. Committee Reports Air Quality — LaRue said that her schedule is not permitting her to attend Better Air Campaign Steering Committee meetings. Johnson agreed to attend future meetings. Recycling — Bassinger reported that the Recycling Committee will do a final draft of the board's position paper referring to the resolution as a tool. Horak said it is good for Council to have board recommendations, but it is even better for Council to be given options. Woodruff handed out staff's issue paper on recycling and stated that the Council work session is scheduled for 7/25/89. He said that staff wants the board's comments on the issue paper. Bruns outlined the sections of the paper and the curbside options. She said that staff has met with Loveland officials to see if they would like to have a surcharge at the landfill to be distributed to the communities for use in recycling programs. A meeting is scheduled with Estes Park officials to discuss the possibility of the landfill surcharge. If the three cities agree, the County will consider a county —wide surcharge at the landfill. One trash hauler suggested that Fort Collins use its share of the fund to set up an incentive program based on the amount of recyclables brought in. Bassinger said she wants all NRAB members to read the paper and get any comments to her within two weeks. Woodruff said that the Health Department is establishing a task force to deal with the subject of recycling for the State. Fort Collins has suggested procurement policies, bringing in recycling companies, and stamping out subsidies for the use of virgin materials. It was asked if some research can be done regarding incentives to encourage businesses to reduce waste. It was stated that waste reduction education for individuals and grocery stores should be encouraged. Use of mitigation funds Wilkinson handed out information on the costs thus far at the Swanson Nature Area, and he reviewed what has been done at the area. He said that all City funds available for the nature area have been expended. He asked for $5,800 from Arbor Plaza mitigation funds to be spent on topsoil and hauling, erosion control, river rock, and plant materials. There was discussion about seeing a list of potential mitigation fund projects before committing any money. Wilkinson stated that some possible projects were Spring Creek Park, Overland Trail (where volunteers were available for planting if funds for plants was available), Poudre River projects, and Fossil Creek neighborhood near the Arbor Plaza impacts. It was moved, seconded, and unanimously passed to support the $5,800 expenditure on the Gustav Swanson Nature Area. (Board members Bassinger, Luthi, and LaRue were absent when the vote was taken.) Horak suggested that Stormwater may be a source of funding for obtaining wetlands if the EPA suggests wetlands be used for non —point source control. Global warming resolution Felchle said that the resolution is being taken to the Parks and Recreation Board as well as NRAB and that Parks and Rec staff participated in the draft. She said the resolution's purposes were to support State and federal legislation and to provide direction for local action. She said the resolution that had been mailed to the board was just a draft and invited board comments. She recognized that the board has a lot to deal with this year but invited their participation in developing a final resolution if they wanted to participate. She said that initial impetus for the resolution came from Pitkin County last year when they were urging all Colorado communities to adopt such a resolution to support Tim Wirth's proposed legislation. That legislation proposal died, but similar legislation has been introduced for 1989. She said the draft resolution identifies the seriousness and the components of the global warming problem, addresses possible effects of the problem, addresses possible steps toward alleviation, and resolves support for alleviation actions. Board members stated that they would like for the final resolution to go to Council from the Parks and Rec Board, NRAB, the Parks and Rec Department, and the Natural Resources Division. the resolution to specific local will serve on an ad hoc committee resolution. Woodruff offered to warming for the board, but it was too full for that at this time. There was interest in tying as much of action as possible. LaRue and Johnson to work with staff on drafting a final put together a presentation on global determined that the board's calendar is National Recreation Area Felchle handed out the CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER NATIONAL RECREATION AREA STUDY DRAFT REPORT and said that Kari VanMeter, project manager, would like to spend at least an hour with the board going over the draft report. Since regular meeting agendas are already quite full, it was decided to hold a special work session for this matter. The work session was scheduled for June 15 at 7:00 p.m. (Secretary's note -- because of scheduling problems, the meeting was later changed to June 20). Council liaison Horak stated that he was unable to stay for the rest of the meeting but he wanted board members to know that he would always be happy to answer any questions they had. He stated that his purpose in attending board meetings is not to tell the board what to do. He can, however, help to formulate questions. He said that the board's actions should be to advise Council but that the board should not individually issue advice to others. Annual picnic Michelsen asked what board members wanted to do about a picnic this year. It was decided to table this issue until the July meeting so new board members could be involved. Announcements Michelsen reminded board members to keep abreast of items on the board's annual agenda which need their committee's attention. Woodruff advised the board of the Council's goals process. He said the goals would become formal at the next Council meeting. The Environmental Management Plan will probably be a goal, and the plan may have many parts. Final Council goals will be sent to NRAB when they are available. As a related item, he reported that Ann Felty had recently completed work on a project researching natural resources policies within City government. An index to that work is now being developed. He said the project makes it possible to find out if a policy was adopted but never carried out, if action has been taken without policy, etc. Woodruff said that Council has asked the Natural Resources division to look into the issue of pesticide application. Sanz handed out material about the community greenhouse. A short presentation may be requested for August. Michelsen advised that he had been invited to give a presentation to the EPA regarding potential impacts of Two Forks approval/disapproval. The meeting adjourned at 9:30.