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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 07/01/1987MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD JULY 1, 1987 7:00 p.m. Board Members Present: Suzanne Bassinger Ari Michelsen Bill Fischer Pat Reed Tim Johnson Bob Sanz Denise LaRue Board Members Absent: (unexcused) Gil Fechner Dave DuBois Staff Present: Roger Krempel Bob Wilkinson Brian Woodruff Edith Felchle Election of Officers It was moved, seconded, and unanimously passed, that election of officers be postponed until August, at which time the new board members should have been confirmed by Council. Approval of Minutes There was one change to the Minutes of the June meeting. Since it was a small change, LaRue directed that the change be noted in these July Minutes, but that the June Minutes not be physically revised and redistributed. The change appears in highlighted CAPS in the following paragraph: Legislative Review Committee report -- Fischer informed the board of proposed legislation which would REAFFIRM AN EXISTING LAW prohibitING cities from claiming in -stream flow rights. The June Minutes were unanimously approved as changed. Committee Reports Legislative Review - Fischer brought to the board's attention three articles which appeared recently in The Coloradoan: (1) an article on oxygenated fuel, (2) an article about Fort Collins' land use system being up for an award, and (3) an editorial by Allard on in -stream flow. Recycling - LaRue gave a brief report on the curb -side recycling program kick-off ceremony, saying it was an impressive ceremony. Air Quality - Recommendations on woodsmoke issue - Johnson handed out copies of recent articles dealing with air quality ("The Choice Dictionary," The Coloradoan, June 14, 1987, and "An Atmosphere of Uncertainty," National Geographic, April 1987). He briefly discussed these articles. He also handed out a draft of the Air Quality Committee's recommendations on the woodsmoke issue, briefly discussing each point. In addition to the material in the handout, he noted that the following C recommendations for future consideration would be included: (1) Point of Sale Regulation, (2) Property Tax Rebate, (3) Mandatory No -Burn Days (renamed "smokeless days"). It was discussed that "unpaved roads," "unclean streets," and "diesel emissions" should be added to the fugitive dust category. It was suggested that the easiest way for Council to compare staff recommendations to NRAB recommendations would be for staff recommendations to be rewritten, including NRAB recommendations in BOLD typeface. The following questions and comments were raised for the committee to consider in drawing up the final recommendations: 1) Should the rebate be for only conversion to gas or for closing a chimney or should it also include conversion to a Phase II stove? 2) Should the rebate be a percent of conversion cost or should there be a cap on the amount? 3) May need to add wording, "raw coal," to the coal burning ban (to deal with products such as "Coalbrick." 4) Provide hard data about the percentage of air pollution from residential woodburning. 5) Include a statement to the effect that NRAB recommends low impact actions be taken first. 6) Include a statement about the public forum which NRAB held. 7) Include a statement about the Quality of Life Survey. 8) In the Strategy section, item B3, clarify that the intent is to allow for future gas conversions. 9) Should the issue of all -electric homes be addressed? 10) When, and under what circumstances, should the three recommendations for future consideration be considered? 11) Review of the program should probably take place after monitoring has been in place for two heating seasons. It was moved, seconded, and unanimously approved that the board endorses the recommendations as discussed at this meeting, that Johnson is authorized to amend the Air Quality Committee recommendations per these discussions, and such recommendations shall go to Council as the recommendations of the board. Wetlands/Uplands Update Wilkinson handed out the draft executive summary and land classification listing for the Wetlands/Uplands Protection Program, briefly discussing the highlights. Board response was very positive, with comments that this program will take care of issues that have in the past fallen through the cracks. The Mitigation and Land Use committees will review the entire document as soon as Wilkinson has the draft ready, with the intent of writing a letter of support from the board relative to the aims of, and need for, the document. It was mentioned that the document will be reviewed by affected City boards and departments, and that it may be presented at one of the monthly Environmental Awareness and Habitat Protection sessions. 4th World Wilderness Congress Due to lack of video equipment, the tape could not be shown. Felchle briefly reviewed the tape's contents, stating that the Congress appears to be a very in—depth study of conservation and natural resource issues. She advised that there will be a local reception, to which NRAB members will be invited. Since the video could not be shown, it was agreed that various board members could have the tape to review, but staff would like to have it back within a couple of weeks for possible public broadcasting. Mayor/Board Chairs Breakfast Meeting LaRue reported on a meeting the Mayor held in June for chairpersons of all City boards, the purpose of which was to increase communication between Council and boards. At the meeting, it was explained that the reason the Council's current goal dealing with monitoring of natural resources had received a "moderate" priority rating was that these issues are already being taken care of. Issues on which work needs to be initiated receive a "high" priority rating. LaRue mentioned that on the issue of improving communications, Council is looking for suggestions from the boards. NRAB comments reflected a feeling that NRAB is quite well focused (referring to the board's established goals), would like to see some type of bulletin or newsletter, and even though boards should not have control over vacancy appointments, they would like to provide input regarding needs to provide balance. The Council's goals and budget timetable were handed out at the breakfast meeting; copies will be mailed to NRAB. Miscellaneous It was decided that Johnson will attend the 7/14 Council worksession to present NRAB woodsmoke recommendations. Sanz brought up the question of a Picnic Rock update. Everyone was interested in an August "event" to see what has been done. Sanz will plan the event. The meeting adjourned at 9:15. Recommendation of the Air Quality Committee of the Natural Resources Board. Subject: The reduction of smoke from solid fuel burning in Fort Collins neighborhoods. Introduction We recognize that the citizens of Fort Collins have the right to clean air. We acknowledge that polluted air in Fort Collins has two main components, carbon monoxide and particulate matter. These pollutants are in the air because of the activity of our citizenry be it carbon monoxide emissions from vehicles or particulate emissions which arise from solid fuel burning as well as other factors such as fugitive dust from disturbing land. Therefore, achieving better air quality requires individual responsibility and action as well as community wide action implemented by local, state, and federal governments. This recommendation focuses on the emissions of small particulate matter from smoke emissions. While other sources of pollution are not focused upon here, it does not mean that we have wished the problems away or that we think they are without remedy. Different sources will require different solutions. Background on control of smoke emissions Just as sewage treatment places a substantial barrier between disease causing organisms and human population generating them so controlling air pollution emissions minimizes the hazards of atmospheric chemistry to the population which must breathe the emissions. Air pollutio solid fuel burning has long been recognized as a serious community hazard. In 12 co 1 burning was banned in London. An industrialist was beheaded in 6 30 or tr ssing this law. / Fort Co has some history in this area as well. Backyard incinerators were commonly used a generation ago. As the community grew, neighbors began to object to emissions from burnin t�f ,�ir�a�g� to Incinerator burning was banned. No neighbors were behea d.. ersuaston add community action worked. Anheuser-Busch revised a coal burning to a primarily gas burning plant in response to community concern just a few years ago. At the present time we recognize that, in winter, many residents heat their homes by burning solid fuel. Others enjoy fires in their fireplaces. Because of atmospheric inversions, Fort Collins has a brown cloud of its own making. It is not imported from Denver. In residential neighborhoods the haze may be almost entirely due to smoke from solid fuel combustion. Overall, the longer the inversion, the worse the brown cloud becomes. While adverse atmospheric conditions happen frequently for short periods of time generally at night, the conditions can persist for 24 hours or longer. The long periods are limited to perhaps less than 10 days per year. We also recogn" me residents are seriously affected by smoke and are aware that even th r hot�ke not provide a refuge from the smoke. One asthmatic resident reported th ?,she trted o use her unheated basement as a refuge. Finally, we also co ' that there are many steps which can be taken on a voluntary, individual basis and on a community wide basis to minimize the contributions of smoke emissions to our brown cloud. Goals 1) Stop the increase of smoke emissions. 2) Effect a real decrease in future smoke emissions. • Strategy We endorse the general strategy of education, technology, and regulation as outlined by Mr. Brian Woodruff of the Natural Resources staff as a means to secure the first goal. Some changes are outlined to strengthen the 3 part strategy. These changes are noted below. A. Education 1. Generate a specific plan and budget which includes media education. 2. Change to read "with exemptions for natural gas burning units and Colorado Phase II stoves." B. Technology 1. Do some monitoring in the neighborhoods in addition to fixed site monitioring. 2. Change to read "to low pollution technology (gas burning units or Colorado Phase II stoves). Also note that using the ZILCH program with a $50,000 loan fund cap, it is expected that 50 old solid fuel burning units will be turned over with $500 loans for 2 years. 3. Change to read "to low pollution technology (gas burning units of Colorado Phase II stoves)" Also include gas line to firebox in new construction. C. Regulation No change. Expectations We expect that this strategy has a good ch a to inimize the increase in smoke emissions or o cap them. Because of city gr#wt and an expected increase in fuel burning units t is unlikely that there woul significant overall decrease in smoke emissions. l# nitoring smoke emissions will be especially important to determine how the strategy is working and to provide a database for future planning.