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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransportation Board - Minutes - 07/15/20151 MINUTES of the CITY OF FORT COLLINS TRANSPORTATION BOARD July 15, 2015 6:00 p.m. Community Room 215 North Mason, Fort Collins, CO 80521 FOR REFERENCE: Chair: Olga Duvall Vice Chair: Eric Shenk Staff Liaison: Paul Sizemore 970.224.6140 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT: Olga Duvall, Chair Gary Thomas York Greg Oakes Sid Simonson ABSENT: Boardmember Tim Sutton Boardmember Annabelle Berklund Boardmember Pat Jordan Boardmember Eric Shenk Councilmember Ross Cunniff Paul Sizemore, FC Moves Program Manager Aaron Iverson, Senior Transportation Planner Beth Sowder, Social Sustainability Director Mark Jackson, PDT Deputy Director Travis Paige, Utilities PUBLIC PRESENT: John Slutsky, Susan Moore, Suzanne King, Greg Miller, Tom Griggs, Irisa Luft, Dale Atomie 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Duvall called the meeting to order at 6:05 pm with a quorum. 2. SPECIAL PRESENTATION – REGIONAL AIR QUALITY COUNCIL Gary Thomas stated he was appointed to the Regional Air Quality Council by the Governor this past year. He provided a brief history of the organization and introduced Amanda Brimmer. Ms. Brimmer discussed ozone and stated there have been more frequent ozone issues in the winter around oil and gas wells, making the ozone issue more of a year-round problem. She stated the Regional Air Quality Council is the lead planning agency for Denver and the North Front Range regarding air quality, particularly ozone. Its responsibilities include the state implementation plan, which is the clean air plan for the region, conducting public education and awareness programs, implementing public and private projects, and helping local governments in the planning process. Ms. Brimmer discussed the federal air quality standards and detailed the various levels of attainment our region has met. She went on to detail the 2008 ozone standard, which has 2 yet to be met in our region. Thomas asked how large a source needs to be to trigger a review. Ms.Brimmer replied a source producing 100 tons per year would be considered a major source, those would include oil and gas facilities and power plants. She went on to discuss approaches used by non-attainment areas. Ms. Brimmer stated the EPA is currently looking at a primary health-based standard and a secondary welfare-based standard regarding ozone for 2015. A Boardmember asked about the status of California. Ms. Brimmer replied they have additional years allotted to attain the goals due to the severity of their problem. York asked why population increases are not being presented. Ms. Brimmer replied population increases are considered in the MPO process modeling. She stated the RAQC has not discussed population control at all. (**Secretary’s Note: The Board took a brief recess at this point in the meeting.) 3. AGENDA REVIEW Sizemore stated the amended agenda stands as written. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT Dale Atomie discussed his recent purchase of an electric vehicle and asked if the City could make parking length limit exceptions for electric vehicles, thereby lowering local emissions. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Thomas made a motion, seconded by Oakes, to accept the June 2015 Board minutes as presented. The minutes were approved unanimously. 6. COUNCIL LIAISON Councilmember Cunniff was unable to attend. 7. BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT – Greg Oakes Oakes stated the committee went on a bicycle tour of bicycle route improvements throughout town. 8. DISCUSSION/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS • Larimer County Urban Area Street Standards – Aaron Iverson Iverson discussed the update to the Larimer County Urban Area Street Standards and detailed the inclusions in the Standards. Thomas asked about street oversizing fees. Iverson replied the street oversizing program is separate; however, he discussed the ways in which the two are intertwined. Thomas asked if fees are the same for constructing a road in the County versus the City. Mark Jackson, PDT Deputy Director, stated roadways constructed within the growth management area are required to be built to City standards. 3 Iverson stated the updated Standards will go before Council for adoption in the fall and discussed the proposed update areas, which include complete streets guidance, constrained arterial standards, recommendations from the Bicycle Plan, bus stop standards, and traffic impact studies. Iverson detailed the specific recommendations from the Bicycle Plan as well as Transfort’s efforts regarding bus stop standards and accessibility. Jackson asked if any access control standards will be updated. Iverson replied in the negative. Thomas asked if Larimer County Engineers believe the Board of County Commissioners will adopt the updates. Iverson replied the Commissioners are generally concerned about the affected cities going through their own processes and added the Commissioners have never opposed updates. • Social Sustainability Strategic Plan – Beth Sowder Sowder discussed the City’s definition of sustainability and stated the mission of her department is to support a diverse and equitable community that successfully meets the basic needs of all of the city’s residents. Sowder went on to detail the duties of the Social Sustainability Department and discussed the other community entities with which the department works. Sowder detailed the components and goals of each the four theme areas of the strategic plan which are: community wellness, diversity and inclusivity, community prosperity and housing. Specifically, she highlighted transportation issues including access to mass transit. Thomas asked if this plan speaks to the issue of chronic homelessness and its relationship to substance abuse and mental health issues. Sowder replied the issue of homelessness is addressed in housing, community wellness and community prosperity. She discussed the City’s partnership with Homeward 2020 in addressing homelessness issues. Chair Duvall suggested additional emphasis be placed on transportation access and opportunities. Sowder agreed and stated those inclusions would be examined. The Board held a brief discussion regarding the expansion of Transfort service. 8. ACTION ITEMS None. 9. REPORTS • Boardmember Reports York stated the Coalition for Infrastructure has been discussing recent deaths of bicyclists. Simonson reported on the Colorado Capital Conference. Chair Duvall reported on Ride Transfort Tuesdays. • Staff Report 4 Sizemore reported on construction throughout the city, including the Remington Greenway. He stated Laurie Kadrich, the new Planning, Development and Transportation Director, will be attending next month’s meeting, as will Lucinda Smith who will discussing the Environmental Services Strategic Plan. Mark Jackson reported on his attendance at the Boards and Commissions review by City Council. He stated Council urged other Boards to increase dialogue and communications with Council. Jackson suggested the Board reach out to Council at any time regardless of whether or not there is a staff recommendation. He stated the transportation-related items in the Climate Action Plan would present an opportunity for the Board to advance many of its transportation goals. Additionally, Jackson discussed the upcoming work on College Avenue and train issues throughout the city. 10. OTHER BUSINESS None. 11. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m. by unanimous consent.