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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAir Quality Advisory Board - Minutes - 10/23/2007Community Planning and Environmental Services Natural Resources Department City of Fort Collins DATE: LOCATION: TIME: For Reference: MINUTES AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, October 23, 2007 200 West Mountain — Suite A — Conference room. 5:30 -8:00 P.M. Eric Levine, Chair - 493-6341 David Roy, Council Liaison - 407-7393 Brian Woodruff, Staff Liaison - 221-6604 Board Members Present: Eric Levine, Jeff Engell, Dale Adamy, Kip Carrico, Nancy York, Board Members Absent: Dennis Georg, Greg McMaster, Dave Dietrich Guests: Mike Silverstein, Katrina Windbom, Rick Price Staff Present Brian Woodruff, Alexis Hmielak Meeting was called to order at 5:30 APPROVE AGENDAS FROM AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER MEETINGS Dale Adamy moved to approve the August 2007, and September 2007 AQAB meeting minutes. Kip Carroco seconded and both minutes were unanimously approved OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Rick Price, president of the board of BikeFortCollins.org — handed out a pamphlet from his organization and addressed the Air Quality Board. He came to the meeting to speak on behalf of BikeFortCollins.org and stated the mission of his organization is to create a bike friendly culture and transportation system in Fort Collins through education, outreach and advocacy. Rick asked the board to: 1. Endorse the revised bike plan and send a recommendation to the Ft. Collins City Council to accept it. 2. Form a bicycle advisory subcommittee with one member from each board to advise the transportation board as outlined on the last `/2 page of the plan. 3. Ask that a task force be given a charge to complete a community bike plan by 2008 Rick Price also shared other recommendations the BikeFortCollins.org board made to the City Council. The Council in turn recommended each advisory board be made aware of these recommendations: 1. Continue to seek a partnership using UniverCity Connections to afford better bicycle transportation between and among CSU, downtown, the river district and the rest of the city. 200 West Mountain Avenue • P.O. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 • (970) 221-6600 2. Investigate potential for bicycle -related tourism and recreational economic development opportunities that are unique for this area and which may draw people to this area because of bicycling. 3. Consider expanding the current bike plan to be a community plan instead of just a transportation plan. 4. Go for a Platinum Level League of American Bicyclists Award. 5. Long-term school plan. 6. Create bicycle -friendly image for the city, including bicycle loan program for visitors to Fort Collins. 7. Create bicycling tour opportunities. 8. Build a downtown velodrome and outreach -learning center called LifeCycle Center. In summary, Rick asked the Board to recommend the creation of a community bike plan that is more comprehensive than the proposed bicycle transportation plan. Eric Levine pointed out that last month the AQAB recommended $500,000 be allocated immediately for full implementation of bike plan. The group discussed these recommendations, items that may be falling through the cracks such as bike path paving, collaboration and coalition building, and working on behalf of the citizens. OZONE: PLANNING HOW TO ATTAIN THE AIR QUALITY STANDARD Mike Silverstein, from Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Suzette Mallette, from North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization presented an in-depth description of the forthcoming effort to write a "State Implementation Plan" for ozone attainment. Ozone 101: 1. The ozone molecule has three oxygen atoms. It forms naturally in the stratosphere and at ground level as a result of human activities. 2. It's a good thing when high in atmosphere where it protects us from ultraviolet radiation, but not in the troposphere (summertime smog) where human activities create conditions that produce ozone. 3. Ozone likes to form and break down rapidly. It reacts with various pollutants and sunlight in a continuous process. 4. If we can reduce CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) the stratospheric ozone layer can rebuild over time, but it's a long process. 5. Ozone is a respiratory irritant and causes health issues and degradation of various materials such as rubber, paint, plants, crops and trees. There are two national ozone standards (1 hour and 8 hour). Exceeding these averages is unhealthy and causes the USEPA to designate Fort Collins as a non -attainment area. 1. The one -hour standard is 120 parts per billion, one hour average (older and is being phased out) 2. The eight -hour standard is 80 parts per billion, 8-hour average. Any value over 80 is a public health issue. Mike showed a map of the ozone non -attainment area, which includes Ft. Collins, some of Latimer and Weld counties and the Denver metro area down to Castle Rock and west to Rocky Flats. There are several monitoring sites within this area which recorded marginal ozone levels this past summer and one that violated the 8-hour standard. As a result, the EPA will again designate Northeastern Colorado in non -attainment for 2007. Fort Collins' monitoring sites are consistently higher than average for ozone levels. Monitoring results show that during hot weather the highest concentrations are by the foothills where hot air rises against the foothills and stagnates. Monitoring efforts look at regional pollutants in order to get values that represent the region with regard to human exposure. Comparing 2006 and 2007 with 2003, which was the worst ozone year, the meteorology was similar with 42 — 49 ozone alerts. However, in 2006 and 2007 the concentrations were lower, probably due to control measures implemented in 2005, but that cannot be proven. Before 1984, there was a one -hour standard for monitoring ozone. Those results showed ozone levels were worse in the 1980's than today, mainly because of current more stringent standards. When you compare Colorado to other areas in the US, Denver isn't dramatically different than most areas. Elevated ozone is pervasive in metro areas. The Northern Colorado Front Range area did not go non -attainment in 2004 because in 2002 we entered into and Early Action Compact for Ozone. That meant we were going to implement measures to get cleaner air faster than under a Federal non -attainment designation. Even though the plan appears to have fallen short of the ultimate goal, numerous controls were implemented and emissions were reduced. The Compact will terminate because we marginally violated the required levels, and the EPA will officially designate our region as a non -attainment area. A new compliance plan is now required, which is currently being designed. Mike enumerated various ozone -related emission reductions of VOCs and NOx the EAC and other programs achieved in our area including: • VOC controls implemented in Denver Metro counties such as gas stations, paint shops, solvent usage, industrial process changes • EAC controls in place in 2005 achieved significant emission reductions sooner than traditional processes in gasoline, oil and gas condensate tank "flash" controls and dehydrators, gas plants and industrial engines • More stringent controls for oil and gas sources adopted in 2006 due to incredible growth in this industry o Statewide condensate tank, engine and dehydrator controls. They have to achieve a 75% reduction of emissions from their storage tanks. o Installed over 2000 control devices in the field Other ozone -related emission reduction programs in the Denver area included: o Outreach and awareness education o Diesel school bus retrofits o Federal alternative fuels programs o Federal/state tax credits for hybrids/alternative fuels o Rideshare/transit programs o Off -road & small engine standards o Xcel's voluntary emission reduction agreement VOC sources for the Front Range Ozone Area come from sources such as: on -road mobile, off -road, lawn and garden, flash (oil and gas), automotive after -market products, architectural coatings, household personal products, etc. The trend line for VOCs to 2012 estimate emission reductions because of state and national programs, including advanced emission control technology for cars. NOx sources mainly come from the combustion of fuel such as on -road and off -road mobile sources, point and area sources. Nitrogen oxides emissions trend to 2012 is also reducing, mainly be replacement of older vehicles with newer more efficient ones. EPA is reviewing the ozone standard and has proposed to make it more stringent. They recommend a primary standard at a level between .08 ppm and .06 ppm, maintained in an 8 hour averaging time over 3 years. CASAC recommends a secondary standard no greater than .07 ppb. USEPA expects to rule on the new standard in March 2008 and to designate non -attainment areas by 2010-2011. SIPs will be due 2013-2014 with attainment required by 2015-2021. Governor Ritter's directive recognizes we have an ozone issue here and has asked for proposals to reduce emissions in time for next summer's ozone season. A work plan to achieve this is underway. Meetings and modeling have begun. The plan will be drafted and proposed to the AQCC by Sept 2008. The plan will contain technical analyses, additional control measures, more oil and gas controls, area and mobile source controls, contingency measures, maintenance plans for redesignation, and transportation emission budgets, in order to attain the standard by 2010. Mike pointed out that ozone is a difficult pollutant to analyze because half of our ozone comes from natural sources. He also explained additional nonattainment implications such as the region's image, the region coordinating over next 30 yrs, general conformity of transportation plans and long term planning for 20-30 yrs. Also, new and modified major sources will be subject to more stringent new source review permitting requirements. The Board discussed the necessity of more stringent standards, the growing number of new sources of ozone pollution from industry, especially oil and gas wells, how to stay within attainment, EPA's recommendation of a new ozone standard of 70 — 75 ppb and how to allocate allowable emissions throughout the region. Mike stated that each transportation -planning region in the North Front Range would plan its activities around these numbers in order to stay within their emission budgets despite growth that may occur. Suzette Mallette pointed out that each sector would have to conform independently, and if any area does not conform, then the entire region would not pass the conformity requirement, which can result in federal funds being withheld. The Board also brainstormed ideas of programs that would be helpful to reduce ozone emissions such as a vehicle inspection program, bus lanes, light rail, reduction of driving in Fort Collins, technological innovations and how to fold it into a community improvement plan. They also discussed ways for the Board and city to weigh in on the process. Mike and Suzette suggested the Board could participate in stakeholder meetings and North Front Range MPO Council meetings and/or provide written comments to the Colorado Air Quality Commission when the plan is proposed next year. BICYCLE PLAN UPDATE David (DK) Kemp, the FC Bikes Coordinator for the city, and Transportation Planner Denise Weston gave a presentation on the proposed update of the Fort Collins Bicycle Plan. In 1995 there was a bike plan developed by the Council based on the four E's — Engineering, Education, Encouragement, and Enforcement. The plan was based on the following recommendations: • Hire bicycle coordinator on city staff • Expand city bike law enforcement program • Adopt/amend city standards • Adopt/amend city policies and plans • Coordinate efforts on maintenance, signalization and parking Over the past 11 years the following was implemented: • Hired a bike coordinator • Expanded city bike law enforcement including respectful bicycling education and "be seen" riding at night with lights program. • Adopted the Larimer County Urban Streets Standards • Adopted city policies recognizing it's a viable form of transportation • $53.3 million in bike related projects • Coordinated efforts on maintenance signalization and parking upgrade, but there are still bike - parking issues, especially at the Lincoln center. • Maintenance of bikeways trails and maintenance standards, includes method of making complaints and reporting hazards in bike lanes at fcbike.com • "Adopt a bikeway program" — Good citizen involvement to report problems on bikeways. 2007 Recommendations • Engineering to link bikeways with activity centers, standards for high -quality facility, hot list for implementation and coordination among city departments. • Education/encouragement with a full-time bicycle coordinator focusing on youth, adults and motorists • Continuation of education campaigns and encouragement events. • Enforcement to include expanding relationships between bicycle program and Police Services, creation of "self-govemed" enforcement concept using marketing to encourage peer influence on "scoff laws." • Bicycle and transit relationship including bicycle parking at transit stops and destination locations, transporting bikes on busses and indoor long-term bike parking. - Explore creation of bike advisory committee that embodies the community as a whole. - Promotion of Bicycle -related tourism and conferences. - UniverCity Connections exploring innovative programs. - Bike lending — bicycle library. - Tourism and conferences — how to draw people to town who ride bikes. Fort Collins is the next big bike town. The city has a "Hot List" of high -priority projects such as adding bike lanes, shared lanes, light actuation or signals, and grade separation in specific areas in town. These are not all funded, however, there may be something to do in the interim to make things safer. Suggestions that have been heard so far: - Interim low cost bicycle connectors to allow bicyclists to navigate when there is street work - Pursue platinum level bicycle friendly community status with League of American Bicyclists - Create an image and campaign for a bike -friendly place to work, live, and visit - Build a downtown FC velodrome combined with a life-long learning center. DK asked the Board how can the bike plan support the AQAB mission and would the board have an interest in participating in a bicycle advisory committee to promote the objectives of the bike plan. The Board discussed how riding a bike downtown is now part of the experience of going downtown and local businesses should be aware of that, free bike parking in parking structures, more bike racks on street, how Transfort is not a complete product or transportation solution, bike path connectivity issues and how the north Fort Collins bike routes need to be improved. AQAB board agreed to discuss possible participation in a bike advisory committee at the next meeting LEGISLATIVE AGENDA UPDATE Brian Woodruff handed out the sections of the City Council Legislative Agenda that pertain to air quality and climate protection. The changes in red have been accepted so far by the by the Legislative Review Committee. He asked the Board to review them and mark any ideas they might have about upcoming legislation that might affect air quality. The Board requested Brian send the entire document to the AQAB board. Brian pointed out there are a lot of changes in the transportation section. The group discussed that water quality might play into it regarding the potential in -situ uranium mining issue, the deterioriation of the Poudre river and mercury as an air pollutant. BRIEF UPDATES None The Board discussed who might serve on the Bike Advisory Committee. Dale Adamy was suggested with Kip Carroco as backup. Regarding the Mobility Management Subcommittee, Dale Adamy asked someone to take his place. Nancy York moved to adjourn. Dale Adamy seconded and the meeting was adjourned. Meeting adjourned 8:32 PM Submitted by Alexis Hmielak Administrative Secretary I Approved by the Board on �1 �7�Y1��/1 v� % 2007 Signed Date // ,c 7 O 7 Administrative Secretary I Extension: 6600