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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 - Natural Resources Advisory Board - Work PlanMEMORANDUM FROM THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD DATE: Nov 24, 2013 TO: Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Joseph Piesman on behalf of the Natural Resources Advisory Board SUBJECT: Natural Resources Advisory Board 2014 Annual Work Plan This memorandum presents the Natural Resources Advisory Board’s (NRAB’s) work plan for the year 2014. General actions that we anticipate will be taken by the NRAB in 2014 include the following:  Reviewing City policies and plans for consistency with the community’s environmental goals and values through regular meetings and subcommittee meetings;  Continue providing feedback to Staff by participating in task forces and special committees to address specific policies, plans or regulations, including the Bicycle Advisory Board (a subcommittee of the Transportation Board) and the West Nile Virus Advisory Panel;  Developing recommendations to Council through Board discussion and consensus;  Communicating our recommendations to Council through written memoranda and attendance at Council meetings, hearings, and study sessions;  Coordinating activities with other City Boards and Commissions as needed, such as the Air Quality, Electric, Water, Land Conservation and Stewardship and Transportation Advisory Boards, and with Larimer County’s Environmental Advisory Board; The work plan identifies items and issues that are scheduled or that we anticipate will be considered by the NRAB during the year 2014. The NRAB closely monitors Council’s six- month planning calendar for upcoming topics on which to provide recommendations. Other relevant issues will be addressed by the Board as they are brought before us by Council or Staff. The work plan informs Council of the board’s future agenda items, and will be relied upon throughout the year by the NRAB for our own planning purposes. To the extent practicable, the timing of our consideration of these items will closely parallel Council’s schedule, as many of the items and issues identified in this work plan are also contained in City Council’s Policy Agenda. We appreciate any specific input from Council where appropriate. Our priority action items are outlined on the following pages in the categories of Poudre River Health; Water Resources; Community Sustainability; Energy Policy and Renewable Energy; Solid Waste; Hazardous Waste; Greenhouse Gas Goals; Master Trails Plan; Transportation Planning; Nature in the City; and Local Agriculture. We look forward to a productive year of volunteer service to Council, the citizens of Fort Collins, and the environment. As always, please feel free to contact us with any comments or questions regarding our work plan for 2014. Sincerely, Joseph Piesman, Chair Natural Resources Advisory Board cc: Darin Atteberry, City Manager Susan Gordon, Sr. Environmental Planner Bob Overbeck, City Council Liaison to the NRAB The NRAB has identified the following issues to be of specific interest over the next year: 1) Health of Poudre River In the wake of the High Park fire and the massive flooding last summer, the recovery of the river and the watershed presents an ongoing challenge for the City. We will continue to review and comment on policies affecting the health of the Poudre River ecology as well as the entire river ecosystem. - Poudre River restoration projects - Health of fisheries - Whitewater Park project - Poudre River modeling project 2) Water Resources The NRAB will also focus on other water resources issues including: storm water runoff, impacts of development on runoff quality and raw water supplies, and monitoring and reporting of water quality in Fossil Creek, Spring Creek, and the Poudre River. NRAB will continue to monitor and coordinate with staff and other boards' review of water related projects and issues; e.g., NISP/Glade, City of Fort Collins Water Conservation Plan including Conserve to Enhance or similar strategies, and Halligan/Seaman Reservoir Expansion/Improvements. The NRAB will also review and monitor fire and flooding impacts on water supply and storm and waste water discharge. 3) Community Sustainability NRAB will maintain a focus on community sustainability and monitor progress on the sustainability indicators included in Plan Ft. Collins and the progress of the new Office of Sustainability. 4) Energy Policy/Renewable Energy NRAB will review and comment on renewable energy issues. The NRAB will work with the Energy Board to provide input on the revised city Energy policy. Specific areas of input include: - FortZed - Commercial feed-in tariff - Use of newly available Smart Grid data - Energy efficient development - Transitioning PRPA power facilities from coal to natural gas and renewable energy sources - Residential and small-scale commercial solar rebate program - Ongoing conservation and efficiency programs - Community solar gardens 5) Waste Reduction and Recycling The NRAB is excited to provide input and leadership on the new initiative “Road to Zero Waste”. Areas for reducing our solid waste discards and increasing recycling include: - Integrated Recycling Facility - Increasing availability of yard trimmings collections - Collection of food waste for commercial composting - Education campaigns to increase residential and commercial recycling - Mandatory recycling of construction debris - Expansion of multi-family recycling - Expansion of commercial recycling 6) Hazardous Wastes Review and comment on: hazardous waste, toxic substances, pollution prevention and remediation programs; and community outreach and education. 7) Greenhouse Gas Goals The NRAB will work together with the Air Quality Board, Energy Board, and Transportation Board to provide input on the 5 year revision of the Greenhouse Gas emission Goals for the City and the City’s Climate Action Plan. The possibility of setting ambitious goals (long term and interim) for Greenhouse Gas emission reductions integrated with a detailed plan to reduce emission will be a main focus of the NRAB in 2014. 8) Master Trails Plan The NRAB will work to accelerate the implementation of the Master Trails Plan. Identification of funding to support the plan is a major concern of the NRAB. 9) Transportation Planning Explore, review and comment on regional and local issues affecting transportation planning in cooperation with the Transportation Board. - Monitor progress of Mason Street Corridor and its implementation and coordination into existing transit system. - Vehicle miles of travel - Need for safe pedestrian design and function at major intersections in both existing and new construction. 10) Nature in the City The NRAB is excited about the new Nature in the City program. The NRAB will look for opportunities to explore public-private partnerships to enhance natural areas available to city residents. 11) Local Agriculture Explore issues and ideas in the local agriculture movement