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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 02/01/1989E MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD FEBRUARY 1, 1989 Board Members Present: Suzanne Bassinger Denise LaRue Charles Davis Ari Michelsen Rich Fisher Susan Whitmer Tim Johnson Board Members Absent: (excused) Dave DuBois Bob Sanz Staff Present: Brian Woodruff Edith Felchle Bob Wilkinson Minutes Minutes of the January 1989 Natural Resources Advisory Board meeting were unanimously approved as submitted. Committee Reports Hazardous Materials Committee -- Davis reported that the committee reaffirms its support for Poudre Fire Authority's proposal and recommends formal endorsement, recognizing that more needs to be done by the Natural Resources Advisory Board to address long term clean-up. It was recommended that two items be added to the Fire Authority's proposal: 1) information obtained from site 1 or site 2 assessments is to be passed along to the Natural Resources Division and the Health Department, and 2) the public on or near the site of a petroleum spill should be notified about the nature of the spill and associated health risks. It was recommended that a statement be added to the second item stating that this is in accordance with the Right to Know Act of 1986. In discussion with Poudre Fire Authority representatives at the meeting, it was stated that if the State passes a bill currently under consideration, with a "no more stringent" clause, portions of the Fort Collins' ordinance could be invalidated. It was moved and seconded and passed unanimously to support Poudre Fire Authority's proposal. This support will be expressed to Council in writing as well as a statement made by a NRAB representative at the 2/7 Council meeting. Michelsen will plan to attend the 2/7 meeting to make the board's statement. Air Quality -- Better Air Campaign: Fisher brought attention to an article in the Coloradoan that did an overall report on the Better Air Campaign. He briefly reviewed discussion items from Better Air Campaign Steering Committee meetings, noting especially the discussions about efforts to secure state funding for the Fort Collins campaign. Part of the process to secure State funding includes adding the Better Air Campaign to Fort Collins' State Implementation Plan (SIP). As part of that process, a Scope of Work is being developed to address the campaign's goals, its public education and evaluation projects, and administration and coordination guidelines. NRAB will be involved in advising Council on • 0 needed actions to get the Better Air Campaign into the SIP. This could come to the board in March. Draft Downtown Development Plan Joe Frank from the City Planning Department presented an overview of the draft Downtown Development Plan emphasizing the fact that it is just a draft at this point. The Planning Department is starting to go to the public with the plan. In May, they plan to go to the Planning and Zoning Board for adoption. Of the seven basic issues addressed in the plan, the focus is on land use, design, traffic, and parking. He stated that it is an action oriented plan. One of the issues addressed was the natural environment. This is because of the large trees and the river in the downtown area. He distributed copies of the natural areas section of the plan. and asked that NRAB review the plan in the next month or so and then comment back to Planning on it. There is a focus on increasing the connection between downtown and the river and the possibility of enhancing the river as an amenity. This endeavor will be coordinated with the National Recreation Area study. He noted that some of the natural resources issues not covered in this plan are covered by the Poudre River Trust Plan. In April, the Planning and Zoning board will start going over comments that have been received on the plan. It was decided that NRAB's Land Use Committee will review the plan and come to the board with a recommendation. North Front Range Transportation and Air Quality Planning Council Woodruff briefed the board on plans for Fort Collins' carbon monoxide compliance plan (the SIP), saying that the first step in developing the plan was to designate a planning agency. He handed out and briefly reviewed plans for the SIP, noting that for the last three years, Fort Collins' violations have ranged from 9.7 to 13.8 ppm (9 is the standard). He stated that the plan's objective is to reduce carbon monoxide emissions inventory roughly 30% in order to attain the 8—hour standard of 9 ppm. Deadlines and requirements for these reductions are forthcoming from EPA and Congress. He handed out a draft of a proposed air quality planning lead agency structure, noting that two of the components, the North Front Range Transportation and Air Quality Planning Council and the Joint Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), are already in place. The new element would be a "Foothills Transportation and Air Quality Advisory Committee" made up of volunteers. NRAB is the first group to see this proposed structure. It will be presented to the TAC at its 2/9, 1:30 p.m. meeting. If they agree with the concept, it will be presented to the planning council. A question was raised about the proposed structure, saying that it still looks like a transportation group, not a group that can deal effectively with air quality matters. Woodruff said he thinks the structure is there to address non transportation issues but funding may not be there. Natural Gas Piping This item was tabled. Plan for Water Treatment Plant Number 1 Representatives from the State Parks Department and the Division of Wildlife presented aspects of the proposal to manage Water Treatment Plant Number 1 up the Poudre Canyon. Joe Maurier briefly reviewed what happened at Picnic Rock and then turned to the conceptual plan for the water treatment plant, saying that the primary interest is to solve safety problems with put -in. They are asking for a lease for a yet -to -be determined number of years. They want to limit development on the site as much as possible. In phase I they envision having an entrance station, ramps into the river, an automobile turn -around, a limited number of parking spaces, and picnic tables and grills throughout the area. In phase II they will go behind the main building and put in a self -guiding trail system. They also want to put in facilities in response to requests for handicapped fishing and places for kids to fish. They may also create educational displays. For the future they envision some catch and release fishing. As an educational aspect, they may stock different species in different ponds. They may also be able to raise fish on the property. They may do some Watchable Wildlife and Fishing is Fun projects including development of an aquarium in the old filter building. They showed slides of the Picnic Rock development and the existing facilities at the Water Treatment Plant site. Of the three houses on the site, one would be used as a live-in facility for security purposes, one would serve as an office/outdoor education building, and one for a yet -to -be determined purpose. Seventy parking spaces are planned in Phase I. They were asked about the potential for major flooding problems. Mike Smith from the Water Department said that if there was a major flood, the main threat would be behind the long pond. Michelsen said he is excited about having a safe put -in site and about the cooperation between entities on this project. The Water Board will take action on the plan at their March 17, meeting at 3:00 p.m. NRAB is invited to that meeting. It is hoped that NRAB and the Water Board will make a joint recommendation on this issue. The tour of the facility (originally planned for February) will be sometime in March. Michelsen said he feels that NRAB supports the proposed management plan for the site. Adjournment Because the meeting ran quite late, several members had to leave. At 10:20 p.m., a quorum was no longer present, and the meeting officially adjourned.