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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 10/07/1987 (2)MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD OCTOBER 7, 1987 7:00 p.m. Board Members Present: Suzanne Bassinger Dave DuBois Bill Fischer Tim Johnson Denise LaRue Board Members Absent: Sheryl Barr (excused) Council Members Present: Susan Kirkpatrick Visitors Present: Dan MacArthur (Triangle Review) Ari Michelsen Pat Reed Bob Sanz Deborah Shimkus Rich Fisher (unexcused) Agenda Change The meeting opened with a motion to change the agenda to allow recent air quality matters to be discussed first, then to proceed with the remainder of the agenda. The motion passed unanimously. Discussion of Air Quality Activities of Recent Weeks Michelsen handed out a "Chronology of Air Quality Meetings and Events" outlining activities from August 11 through September 23 dealing with an LPO/MPO agreement being developed by the transportation department. It was stated that the relationship between NRAB and staff needs clarification. Boards and staff each have the responsibility. of informing Council, but sometimes the two are at cross purposes. Kirkpatrick stated that she does not believe there has been closure on the air quality issues of recent weeks. The Resolution adopted by Council on 9/l/87, establishing the North Front Range Transportation Planning Council, does allow exploration of other options for an air quality advisory board. She stated that NRAB can proceed to discuss the item in a longer time frame. She stressed that Council feels it is very important that advice coming to Council from staff be a consensus. Advice to Council from boards, however, need not be a consensus, even though the City Manager would like for boards to be in consensus with staff. Woodruff advised that the City Manager has stated that he wants the air quality lead agency process to proceed through the Governor's office before the City looks at any alternatives. LaRue asked Kirkpatrick if the Council actually gets only one view when they are making decisions. Kirkpatrick responded that, in a sense, that is true. She stated that it would be paralyzing for Council to be presented with all options. Fischer expressed concern that, relative to recent actions, staff was actually telling the board what they could and could not look at. Kirkpatrick responded that there is a built-in tension between boards and staff. Fischer asked whether or not boards have independence. Also, what support is available from staff. Kirkpatrick answered that there is support with real strings attached. She stated that advice to Council from boards can be more political than advice from staff. She said that Council needs good technical advice from staff. From boards, Council needs both technical and political advice. Sanz asked why staff canceled the board's September worksession, rather than contacting the board chair to see if the chair wanted to cancel the meeting. He also asked if the board was supposed to be reactive or proactive. Kirkpatrick stated that staff's canceling of the meeting could have been handled much differently. She has communicated this to the City Manager. Shimkus stated that the cancelation of the September worksession made her feel cheated out of the necessary time to get all of the information needed on the issue of an air quality lead agency. She felt this information should have been presented, whether or not the board made a recommendation to Council at that time. She asked if NRAB would be allowed to meet for an information session before the December meeting. Michelsen stated that he thought the board could meet before the December meeting, but that the City Manager prefers that there be nothing which could appear as though there is any division on this issue. LaRue stated that the Air Quality Committee is reviewing the adopted transportation air quality organization structure and possible appointees. Johnson said he would like for the entire board to know what the committee is looking at. He would like to reschedule the cancelled meeting to discuss the adopted organization. Kirkpatrick stated that looking at the issue (of appointments) before the December meeting would be okay, and probably helpful. Fischer cited some of the history of the City's Water Board and asked if the responsibility of boards has changed since the early '601s. He asked if boards can go out and identify issues and make suggestions to Council. He stated that if staff determines what boards can review, boards are then just rubber stamps. Wilkinson stated that the Natural Resources Division's charge from Council includes looking at the possibility of making changes. Reed stated that he felt it was healthy to have a diversity of opinions, that he felt all options needed to be looked at when making decisions. Sanz asked why looking at options would jeopardize funding (this had been the reason the board was not to look at options at this time). Woodruff stated that staff is not in consensus on this matter. Kirkpatrick stated that if staff disagrees, Council needs to know what kinds of differences there are, i.e. are they political or technical. Approval of Minutes The Minutes of the September 2 NRAB meeting were unanimously approved as submitted. Committee Re orts EDUCATION INFORMATION: LaRue reported that the committee met with staff the last week of September to review the plans for communication with the public this winter regarding pollution warnings. They also discussed publicity for the Fort Collins Better Air Campaign. Shimkus stated that NRAB needs to remember to include other environmental groups when disseminating information. LAND USE: The committee has been reviewing the combined issues of development on Benson Reservoir and adoption of the Wildlife Management Plan. It was reported that several board members have contacted Council members regarding the Wildlife Management Plan. Wilkinson stated that, at the Conceptual Review stage, he had advised that the DNR wetlands map showed the Benson Reservoir area as an area of high concern and he advised the developer to contact the Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps decided not to take jurisdiction of this area. Wilkinson stated that he had concerns about some of the things he saw on the master plan and felt the City needed to make sure that the developer can be required to do needed studies to determine the development's impacts. He stated that neighborhood meetings will be held regarding the Benson development. He also stated that he has asked that adequate notes be placed on the master plan to insure protection. It was stated that Planning staff had initially recommended approval of the master plan. Wilkinson recommended working within the administrative processes and not trying to push past that right now to get the Wildlife Management Plan approved. It now looks like the Planning and Zoning Board may adopt the wetlands map; that action would insure implementation. There was feeling among board members that if the Wildlife Management Plan had already been adopted, it would have taken care of the Benson problem. There was discussion about whether or not NRAB should go ahead with a letter to Council regarding the Plan. Suggestions included: (1) the matter should go to committee, (2) nothing should be done, (3) a message should be sent to the Planning and Zoning Board and to Council stating that NRAB feels the Wildlife Management Plan should be adopted into City planning expediently. It was moved and seconded to have the Land Use Committee compose a letter to City Council and the Planning and Zoning Board emphasizing NRAB interest in pursuing the Wildlife Management Plan, and call attention to the Benson issue and how the Plan could impact such issues. The motion passed 8 - 1. Fischer voted against, saying he felt what is being done is enough, Wilkinson has the situation in control. It was announced that Wilkinson will speak to the Sierra Club on October 22, presenting a slide show on the Wildlife Management Plan. Air Quality Lead Agency Appointees Michelsen briefly outlined the structure of the Transportation/Air Quality Council, mentioning possible groups for which NRAB could recommend appointees in order to help build an effective organization. Because of the lateness of the hour, there was not time to adequately pursue this matter. January Symposium Felchle mentioned that DNR is doing some early planning for an environmental awareness symposium for January 1988, similar to the one held in January 1987. She stated that input from NRAB members would be welcome, particularly if there was anything from last year they thought should be repeated, or anything they would like to see changed. Specific discussion was tabled until the November meeting. Announcements The report of the City's curbside recycling project was handed out. The question was raised about recent development proposals at the CSU Bull Farm. Wilkinson will discuss this individually with interested NRAB members. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.