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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 12/02/1987MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD DECEMBER 2, 1987 7:00 p.m. Board Members Present: Suzanne Bassinger Sheryl Barr Dave DuBois Bill Fischer Rich Fisher Board Members Absent: (excused) Bob Sanz Staff Present: Roger Krempel Brian Woodruff Tim Johnson Denise LaRue Ari Michelsen Pat Reed Deborah Shimkus Bob Wilkinson Edith Felchle Approval of Minutes The Minutes of the November 4, 1987 meeting were unanimously approved as submitted. Committee Goals and Chair for 1988 Legislative Review — Chair: B. Fischer. Nothing new to report. Land Use — Chair: Shimkus. Committee will have goals structured by 12/11. Education — Chair: LaRue. Short-term goals were dealt with satisfactorily last year. New goals for '88 have been developed. They relate to communication with other City boards and promotion of natural resources education. New long-term goals are generally similar to those of last year. New short-term goals are more specific than last year's. Water — Chair: DuBois. Goals are still being finalized for 188. Basically, goals remain similar to last year's, with some modification to include other groups. Recycling — Committee will meet during the up -coming week to determine 188 goals. Air Quality — Chair: R. Fisher. Some '87 goals were accomplished. Some '88 goals will be similar to 187 goals. If the Air Quality Planning Council takes over, the NRAB Air Quality Committee may cease to exist. There was some discussion as to whether this would actually happen. It was stated that this is not a definitive statement, just a possibility that has been discussed. An ad hoc Goals Review Committee was set up to consolidate all NRAB 1988 goals. Committee members are Johnson, LaRue, and Bassinger. All committees are to have their goals in the DNR office by Friday, December 11. I — November Acti Land Use — Larimer County Land Use Plan. Bassinger reported that the committee reviewed the Larimer County Land Use Plan and sent letters to Council and to the Planning Board. The committee did not present recommendations at the County hearing. It was felt that the board was not to speak independently, but only through Council. Later, it was communicated to some committee members that the board could have spoken independently at the hearing. It was felt that confusion continues to exist relative to whether NRAB is to speak only to Council or may speak independently. (Later in the meeting, Krempel suggested clarification of this matter.) Wildlife Habitat Plan. Michelsen reported that the Wildlife Habitat Plan will be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning board at 5:00 p.m. on 12/3. NRAB has been encouraged by City staff, and welcomed by the Planning and Zoning Board chair, to attend. The Planning and Zoning Board is not expected to make a decision relative to official acceptance of the Plan at this meeting. Krempel advised that the Plan and map are mounted in the Council Conference Room. On another map, all private property that would in some way be affected by the Plan is indicated. He advised that NRAB should not look for adoption of the Plan right away. The Planning Department would like to use the Plan as an implementation guide with the Land Development Guidance System. The City will schedule meetings with land owners to acquaint them with the Plan. In explaining the process involved with Plan adoption, Krempel quoted Ruth Wright: "It is better to have something you can pass than to have something you cannot pass." It was asked if the Plan is still part of a larger environmental management plan (including erosion control) or if it now stands alone. Krempel replied that at this time the Plan stands on its own. In the future, it may become the corner stone of a larger environmental management plan. Air Quality -- Johnson reported on the committee's most recent review of the North Front Range Transportation and Air Quality Planning Council. Points for consideration include the following: • Air Quality problems are an on -going concern and broader based than just Fort Collins. • One goal should be to solve problems on a long-term basis. • The planning council must address transportation and non - transportation air quality related issues. • Financial support for each aspect of the problem must be addressed. • The overall charge of the planning council should be spelled out. • • Loveland and Larimer County have been approached by Rick Ensdorff regarding joining the umbrella organization, but have not been approached regarding the TAG part of the organization. • TAC size should not be large (suggested size - 10). NRAB should not ask for "review" of TAC operations; "review" has a negative connotation. Instead, NRAB should ask for an annual meeting with the planning council to assess where they are going and find out what is happening. • the TAC for air quality should include air quality experts. Outside consultants might be called in if necessary. Johnson summarized by saying that NRAB is being heard, and will continue to be heard. Krempel mentioned that the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce has developed a transportation committee that is analyzing the Chamber's air quality responsibilities. Krempel and Woodruff met with the Chamber's committee to let them know what the City is doing and to become familiar with what they are doing -- just an awareness meeting. Woodruff said he believes the Chamber committee is looking at technical solutions (i.e. big fans to blow the pollution away) rather than emission reduction solutions. Johnson said he would like for the NRAB Air Quality Committee, along with Krempel and Woodruff, to have a breakfast meeting with the Chamber committee. Krempel will arrange this meeting. R. Fisher has submitted to Johnson his thoughts on the NFRT/AQPC. Copies will be mailed to NRAB. R. Fisher may discuss these thoughts at the January NRAB meeting. Krempel reminded the board that we should all support the NFRT/AQPC proposal which the City submitted to the Governor. R. Fisher said he believes his thoughts do support this. Update on Hazardous Materials Transportation Ordinance Woodruff gave a brief review of activities related to the hazardous materials transportation ordinance since it became law. Initially, non -enforcement (community service) officers were enforcing the ordinance. However, problems have developed with this strategy. Many of the officers dropped out after the training, and no such officers were available during the summer. The new State law supersedes part of the Fort Collins ordinance, particularly the route designation portion. By July 188, the State will designate hazardous materials routes all over the state. The City will no longer be permitted to designate routes. The new State law also makes it impossible to use community service officers for enforcement. The law states that only level -one officers may enforce the ordinance. The Fort Collins Police Department expects to de-emphasize the hazardous materials routing portion of the Fort Collins ordinance. The Fort Collins ordinance will be amended to reflect the changes in State law. The City i f also has the right to press the State to designate routes we would like to see in Fort Collins. Woodruff also reported that enforcement activity on the Fort Collins ordinance has dealt mostly with safety. Hazardous materials were checked during 8% of the truck stops. Fourteen percent of the 8% were in violation and were issued summonses. Krempel stated that a recommendation has been made that trucks be inspected at the yards, not on the street, as a time conserving measure. He feels the City should push for this change. It was stated that if the State removes a route from approved truck routing, the State would have to enforce that route designation. County Hazardous Waste Study Krempel announced that the second Latimer County Hazardous Waste Study report has been issued. A summary will be mailed to NRAB. In referring back to the Land Use Committee report, Krempel mentioned that if NRAB still questions whether it can speak independently or must speak only to Council, it would be good for NRAB to go to Council for clarification. Michelsen will talk to Susan Kirkpatrick. Raptor Rehab Program This was a last-minute item that arose after the Agenda was prepared. Judy Scherpeltz, Director of the Fort Collins Regional Raptor Program, showed slides and gave a brief description of the program. She stated that birds of prey are often injured by interaction with humans. The Fort Collins Regional Raptor Program was developed to attend to raptor's medical needs. Various groups, including the City of Fort Collins, support the program. A budget of $78,000 exists to fund the director's salary for three years. They are looking for additional funding. They would like to have NRAB and DNR support the program, and would like acknowledgement from the community that the program is important. They feel the community should recognize its responsibility regarding raptor education and protection. They would like the support of City Council in fund raising efforts. Krempel said that, while City staff appreciates the program, it is difficult for City staff to approach Council for financial aid when there are so many priorities that go unfunded. He said the City will support the program any way possible, short of being able to provide funds from the City. It was moved and seconded that NRAB endorse the program and recommend that an NRAB committee seek a way to help them out, such as through education. The motion passed unanimously. It was mentioned that a press release relative to the board's endorsement might be appropriate. LaRue stated that her experience shows that such a release, unless occurring in conjunction with a related news item, tends to be ineffective. It was stated that, instead, the NRAB chair r; 1 should write a letter to Council and to the raptor program director expressing NRAB's support. A question was raised regarding future budget plans for the program. The reply was that they do not know where future funding will come from. They are looking at a future annual operating budget of $50,000-$60,000. Announcements Krempel introduced guests in the audience from Waste Management, the curbside recycling project contractor: Rich Morford, curbside recycling project manager, and Kate Treugle-Dunn, secretary. Krempel briefly explained the school recycling program, which operates in conjunction with the City's curbside recycling program, and announced that the winner of the school program for October was Putnam/Fullana. A question was raised about recommendations to be made when the current one-year pilot program is over. Krempel stated that staff will come to NRAB for involvement in those recommendations. Krempel announced that the Poudre River project committee will meet 12/3 at the University Park Holiday Inn. They will review the environmental, recreational, and social parts of the study. Krempel announced that the Poudre River Trust/Rocky Mountain Fly Caster Fishery group will meet 12/14. Someone from NRAB could be designated to be a possible member of the committee. DuBois stated that he will be meeting with the group in another capacity and is willing also to represent NRAB. Krempel announced that the Conservancy District Minutes of 10/9 show that, during discussion of the City's filing for in -stream flows through the city, the "Division of Wildlife investigated the Cache la Poudre River through Fort Collins and has found that there is no habitat to protect for a cold water fishery and no water available sufficient for that purpose." Krempel stated that the American Transportation Advisory Council is putting down ethanol as a gasoline additive because the Federal government subsidizes ethanol at $38 per barrel. Krempel announced that DNR'a Environmental Awareness Program has been nominated for a Take Pride in America award. Johnson mentioned current activities on Phantom Canyon, saying that he thought it was good to keep awareness alive. He quoted from a statement John Fremont made in 1843 regarding Phantom Canyon: "It was a mountain valley of the narrowest kind, almost a chasm. And the scenery was very wild and beautiful." Johnson stated that it looks very much the same today. Bassinger asked about future plans for the water treatment plant up the canyon. Krempel replied that it will be mothballed for the present time. Future operations may be discussed near the end of next year, but nothing before then. f Michelsen announced that NRAB will be turning in its annual report to Council in January. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.