HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 - Air Quality Advisory Board - Annual ReportFort Collins
CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Hutchinson and City Council members
FROM: Eric Levine, Chair
DATE: January 30, 2009
RE: 2008 Air Quality Advisory Board Annual Report
In 2008, the Air quality Advisory Board held twelve regular meetings.
The Board took the following actions:
Recommended that the City Council adopt the proposed International Building Code
revision ordinance on first reading. In addition, the AQAB recommended more needs to
be done to improve the energy performance of new buildings and the City should
consider adopting stronger energy standards such as LEED criteria in the next code
change. The AQAB also recommended that multi -family residences have the same radon
requirements as single-family homes.
Encouraged Council to continue to prioritize new and existing programs and institutional
reforms that improve our community's mobility management and to develop a
comprehensive Climate Action Plan that incorporates key mobility management
strategies. The AQAB also encouraged Council to authorize, require and empower the
City Manager and staff to integrate mobility management best practices into all phases of
City planning and encouraged the City's partners to do likewise.
Recommended that there should be some form of mandatory vehicle inspection and
maintenance (IM) program in the Fort Collins area. The board also preferred that testing
dollars stay within the local community if possible and that the testing program should
reflect the rising cusp of technology as opposed to older, static technology.
During it's sixth -year review with the City Council, the AQAB recommended increased
Board -Council communications, in order to improve the Board's effectiveness and useful
to the Council. AQAB also recommended changing the City Code, which requires the
Board to coordinate its work with certain other boards, by incorporating parallel
requirements for those boards to coordinate their work with the AQAB.
Unanimously supported the West Nile Virus Technical Advisory Committee's Option C.
Additionally recommended that Council give consideration to those who would prefer to
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opt out of adulticide spraying and that Council reevaluate the West Nile Virus
Management Policy if major new information emerges, such as a confirmed treatment
method for West Nile virus in humans.
• Suggested City staff's recommendation of removing or greatly delaying four of the
sixteen recommendations by the Climate Task Force would result in a large shortfall of
the Climate Action Plan's goal and recommended Council evaluate and adopt
incremental and/or additional programs to close the gap. The AQAB also recommended
Council set strict timelines for every measure in the package.
• Recommended that City Council adopt the proposed Energy Policy revision and noted
that steps taken in the Energy Policy are in alignment with the Climate Action Plan,
which the AQAB also supports.
• Reaffirmed its support for the Draft Climate Action Plan, including the proposed
additional strategies and urged City Council to adopt them.
• Recommended that, in 2009/10, the Council should plan to study and develop further
incremental and alternative strategies to attain both near and longer -term goals, including
alternatives to purchasing carbon offsets and enhancements to transportation and energy
efficiency.
• Recommended that the Council direct the City Manager to provide resources and
direction to continue the process and pointed out that, although successful
implementation of the Climate Action Plan would meet its stated goal, the goal itself falls
short of the need for carbon emission reduction.
• Recommended the City of Fort Collins support the North I-25 DEIS, consistent with staff
comments. The AQAB also supported the proposal to create a good long-term
investment in developing and achieving a high -quality regional transit service that is
consistent with City goals and plans and recommended that the DEIS be updated to
reflect current air quality issues and standards (ozone, PM 2.5).
• Recommended that City Council adopt the proposed Energy Policy revision, noting that
steps taken in the energy policy are in alignment with the Climate Action Plan, which the
AQAB also supports.
• Began posting the Board's recommendation letters to City Council on the Board's web
page, http://www.fcgov.com/citvclerk/air-quality-advisoryphp
• Named a representative to the Bicycle advisory committee
In addition, the Board received information and updates and discussed thefollowing
programs and issues:
• Green Building Road Map
• Two special meetings with Council members Ben Manvel & David Roy
• Conversation with Planning Development & Transportation Director Jeff Scheick
• Mercury issue at proposed crematorium
• Board Periodic Review with City Council
• Mason Transportation Corridor
• Downtown parking structures
• North I-25/392 intersection 1601 project
• Draft Senate bill to implement a Front Range vehicle inspection maintenance program