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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 04/05/1989y MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD APRIL 5, 1989 Board Members Present: Suzanne Bassinger Denise LaRue Charles Davis Ward Luthi Dave DuBois (arrived late — excused) Ari Michelsen Tim Johnson Susan Whitmer Board Members Absent (excused): Rich Fisher Bob Sanz Staff Present: Brian Woodruff Edith Felchle Bob Wilkinson Minutes Minutes of the March 1989 Natural Resources Advisory Board meeting were unanimously approved as submitted. Committee Reports Recycling Committee -- In lieu of a committee presentation, Woodruff advised the board of staff's recycling plans. He handed out a draft recycling policy analysis, the purpose of which was to let Council know of the recycling issues. It is perceived that Council assumes their action of last year will suffice. However, staff no longer thinks that relying on the free market for recycling will work. The City has several options: for example, it could fund curbside recycling from the general fund, add a fee to the utility bills, or require trash haulers to provide curbside recycling in order to do business in Fort Collins. Woodruff advised that landfill operators are uncertain of the dollar value of extending the life of the existing landfill, but it is estimated that operating costs of the landfill, and thus disposal costs, will double in the next few years. The landfill will probably only last about 8-10 more years. In a couple of years, the second half of the present landfill will have to be opened. When that occurs, it will have to be done under the new RCRA rules. Board members suggested that all of this should be communicated to Council. The budget policy analysis for curbside recycling states that trash haulers will be opposed to the City requiring them to provide curbside recycling by ordinance. Board members felt that this was not necessarily true of all trash haulers. The Chamber of Commerce' new air quality and hazardous materials committee may be able to work with trash haulers relative to recycling since the trash haulers are members of the Chamber. Another essential factor in the budget policy analysis discusses percentages of residents who favor curbside recycling. The board suggested that a statement be added reflecting the percentage of people who expressed willingness to pay for recycling. Board members suggested that maybe even if the City required trash haulers to provide curbside recycling pickup, the City might still be able to offer some subsidy, possibly subsidizing start-up costs. It was moved and seconded that the board support extension of the curbside recycling program and that a curbside recycling policy be included in the budget process. The motion passed unanimously. Woodruff stated that the board can communicate to Council their position on curbside recycling in a letter and/or recommend a course of action by sending a resolution for Council's adoption. Staff and the Recycling Committee can work together to draft a resolution. It was moved and seconded that the recycling committee be empowered to represent the board with regard to writing the resolution. The motion passed unanimously. Land Use Committee -- Downtown Plan -- Wilkinson reported that Sanz felt that natural resources issues were covered by the Poudre River Trust Plan. Bassinger had a problem with encouraging discount retail business in the Poudre River corridor. It was also questioned whether "urban linkages" with the river should be encouraged. Michelsen suggested the Land Use Committee meet and comment. woodrutt stated that pending legislation (the Fleming Bill -- HB1299) would create a State level underground storage tank regulatory program. The current bill has been amended and is now pending in the Senate Appropriations Committee. It has a major problem, however. It contains a "no more stringent" clause. The Colorado Municipal League is trying to get that clause removed or they will try to kill the bill. Industry groups, on the other hand, say they must have the clause or they will kill the bill. Mayor Winokur has written in support of the bill but against the "no more stringent" clause on behalf of the City and the Poudre Fire Authority Board. Better Air Campaign Woodruff reported that another legislative cliff-hanger is Better Air Campaign funding (the Long Bill) for '89-'90. The Joint Budget Committee approved the Health Department's proposed budget (which was $200,000 less than last year). The Senate Republican Caucus, however, decided to take another $100,000 from the budget and add a restriction to the Long Bill that would allow no Better Air Campaign money to be spent on education. It is assumed this would also eliminate forecasting of high pollution days. The House supported the Health Department's proposed budget. It is now back in committee for a final decision. Downtown Plan The downtown plan item was briefly reopened. Wilkinson reported that the plan will go to the Planning and Zoning Board on April 19. NRAB should have its comments to Planning staff five days before the 19th. Natural Resources budget Woodruff handed out an air quality planning policy analysis. He said that Roger Krempel's salary is still available but is not being used yet. 0 The division has work for another full time person and proposes hiring a generalist, not a specialist. This will be proposed to the City Manager in April. It is possible to have someone on board within three months. Woodruff handed out a budget issue paper dealing with capital funds for purchase of wetlands and wildlife habitat areas, explaining that this requested money would be used to purchase some wetlands and wildlife habitats to protect from development and remove conflicts that often occur between developers and the City. It would give a more proactive stance than we have now. Woodruff handed out a budget issue paper dealing with stream restoration. Instead of buying land, this issue paper proposes restoring habitats on City property. We can be much more effective if we have money for demonstration of the quality that hopefully will become expected of developments within Fort Collins. Woodruff stated that the air quality planning position is a full—time, two—year position to develop air quality analysis for development review, support the air quality planning process for carbon monoxide, and be involved in the long range planning process for land use and transportation. It was suggested that decision makers be made aware that development of a new State Implementation Plan, which the person in this position would be involved in, is a federal requirement. Woodruff advised the board of the budget activity time line: Budget policy issues -- April 11 Budget guidelines -- April 14 Department submittal -- May 26—June 9 Meet with City Manager -- May 30—June 16 City Manager's issues memo to Council -- June 9 Council worksession (with City Manager only) — Late June Final recommendation -- July 11 Work sessions -- September Recommendation regarding 1998 Olympics in Colorado Felchle reported that the board no longer needs to make a recommendation on this issue. The request had been made because a committee seeking state—wide support for the Olympics in Colorado had written to the Mayor asking for a letter of support from Fort Collins. The Mayor wanted input from several entities, including NRAB, before writing such a letter. The Convention and Visitors Bureau decided to write a letter of support. Therefore, no letter will be written from the Mayor, thus no input is needed from NRAB. Felchle said she had talked to a member of the environmental review committee for the Olympics, made up of representatives of major environmental groups including the Environmental Defense Fund, the Nature Conservancy, and Trout unlimited. They reviewed all submittals thoroughly for environmental impacts and felt that environmental needs were satisfied. The impacts mentioned dealt with impacts on wildlife and on wildlife habitat, such things as habitat destruction or reduction and wildlife migration interruption. Report from Development Services board chairs' meeting Michelsen said he took a lot of issues to the meeting and a lot of 0 time was spent on those issues. This was not just a meeting of board chairs, but staff was also there. Michelsen raised the issue of the Land Development Guidance System (LDGS) in the Pace deliberations and asked where it went wrong. Tom Peterson and Mike Davis agreed there were problems and there needs to be some work. One need is to develop an environmental management plan including standards for the LDGS and review of the nibbling effects of incremental development. NRAB needs to watch how developments are approached in the city. Michelsen also raised the issue of minority views when staff positions are brought to Council. Mike Davis said he had never heard that minority views were not allowed to be expressed. NRAB will want to clarify this with other boards and staff since this is not what the board was told on an issue last year. Announcements Michelsen briefly went over two items board members received in the mail. The long term agenda was prepared to give an idea of the board's work load year -in and year -out regardless of what the goals are. The second schedule of agenda items is based on NRAB goals. COMMITTEE CHAIRS SHOULD PARTICULARLY PAY ATTENTION TO THIS SCHEDULE TO MAKE SURE THE BOARD STAYS ON SCHEDULE. (Emphasis added by Chair). Water Board meeting regarding recommendation on the Water Treatment Plant -- the Water Board and NRAB are jointly recommending to Council that the property be leased for five years to State Parks. The Water Utility will have approval on any future development of the area. Gravel mining resolution -- Kenneth Ashley of the Latimer County Parks Board is proposing a resolution on gravel mining. He asked NRAB to give them support. Michelsen asked the Land Use Committee to review the resolution and report at the May NRAB meeting. Luthi stated that he would like to serve on the Land Use and Recycling committees. It was announced that Council Member Horak is the new Council liaison to NRAB. Felchle told the board that Council Member Kirkpatrick said she had very much enjoyed working with NRAB during the time she was the board's Council liaison. The '88-'89 Better Air Campaign Report was distributed. The board was briefed on the annual natural resources symposium that will be held April 20, with Governor Romer as keynote speaker. The NRAB Education Committee (Whitmer and Johnson) are serving on the symposium planning committee. The meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.