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MINUTES
CITY OF FORT COLLINS
NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD
Date: Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Location: Colorado River Room, 222 Laporte Ave.
Time: 6:00 pm
For Reference
Bob Overbeck, Council Liaison 970-988-9337
Katy McLaren, Staff Liaison 970-221-6317
Board Members Present Board Members Absent
Nancy DuTeau, Chair N/A
Bob Mann
Elizabeth Hudetz
John Bartholow
Drew Derderian
Luke Caldwell
Jay Adams
Ling Wang
Staff Present
Katy McLaren, Staff Liaison, Environmental Services
Jayne A. Smith, Minute Taker
Guests:
Cassie Archuleta, Staff Liaison
Gary Schroeder, Sr. Energy Services
Jackie Kozak Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer
Rebecca Everette, Sr. Environmental Planner
Kevin Crouse, Resident, public comment interest
Call meeting to order: 6:06 p.m. by Nancy DuTeau, Chair
Public Comments:
Kevin Crouse, a concerned citizen of Fort Collins, is an avid supporter of education and
community interests on such topics as oil and gas, new construction retrofit, the Night Sky
Initiative Goals, and the potential health issues that surround these topics. His hope is to get
fellow citizens interested and supportive of the work being done by the numerous Boards and
Commissions of Fort Collins.
Approval of the Minutes: Jay moved and Luke second the motion to approve the November
minutes with a correction made on the page to change “Blue plastic” to “Plastic Film” recycling.
Also a correction under “updates and announcements”, third down. Motion to approve the
November minutes with corrections was passed unanimously 9-0.
AGENDA ITEM 1: Overview of Sustainability Services Area 2017 Activities
Jackie Kozak Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer, will provide a summary of the Economic Health,
Social Sustainability and Environmental Services activities of the year and what lies ahead for
2018. (Information: 30 min.)
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Jackie Thiel presented the Triple Bottom Line approach for 2017 which focuses on Social
Sustainability, Environmental and Economic Services in the community of Fort Collins.
Social Sustainability of the service area is seen as a core and key area of focus. Affordable
housing, task force/land bank, equity and inclusion along with homelessness play important
roles in Social Sustainability.
The Environmental Services area has been outdoor air quality, healthy homes program, climate
action plan and the road to zero waste. The Healthy Homes program is continually being
evaluated for its’ success on the residents and businesses impacted. It is currently being
translated into Spanish.
Focal points for Economic Health included small/medium business support, workforce
development, climate economy/innovation, Firehouse Alley parking structure and the foothills
mall - both the underpass under College and residential development.
Jackie further expressed the goals towards maintaining a welcoming community, especially to
our immigrant community. Homelessness is a challenge with emergency short-term housing
and a safe place to rest a constant battle, especially during chilly and freezing nights.
Ambitious goals for 2018 include the Road to Zero Waste which encompasses regional
watershed discussions, food waste, Timberline Recycling Center and organics. A climate action
plan becomes a major part of the 2018 Objectives.
Discussion
John questioned whether Fort Collins has a rescue mission to put up kiosks to offer a needle
exchange drop off? Jackie: Yes they do.
Luke congratulated Jackie on all of the sustainability office does and suggested that the Land
Bank with its scattered parcels should consider focusing on more centralized properties,. closer
to the Max and employment opportunities. Jackie: Affordable housing looks at all angles, fees,
and the best practices for forward thinking about what the community needs.
Bob asked whether there were any specific issues that Jackie would like the Board to focus on
in 2018. Jackie: Engagement and education with the private sector would helpful.
AGENDA ITEM 2: Night Sky Protection and Outdoor Lighting Requirements.
Rebecca Everette, Sr. Environmental Planner and Gary Schroeder, Sr. Energy Services
Engineer will provide an update on the City’s ongoing night sky initiative including upcoming
Land Use Code changes, night sky monitoring, outreach, education and streetlight upgrades.;
code changes will be considered by City Council in early 2018 (Information/Discussion: 35 min.)
Rebecca Everette and Gary Schroeder reviewed the Night Sky Initiative Goals whose purpose
is to maintain safety and security, develop and implement best practices in outdoor lighting,
reduce light pollution and support human and ecological health.
Nature in the City Objective CP2- works across the board for a darker night sky. Goals include
maintaining safety and security, placing lights that meet best practices while reducing light
pollution through building code updates.
To help achieve this, representatives locally from the National Parks Dept., City departments,
individuals, and an astronomer are working together to compile data for land use and building
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code updates in an effort to better control light pollution.
One of the goals is to pursue International Dark Sky Certification for Soapstone National Area
which offers darker than natural conditions with outstanding views of the cosmos. Gary and
Cassie have been working on night sky monitoring to gain a baseline for the City of Fort Collins
to additionally be certified.
The aggregation of lights from neighboring cities creates a sky dome where the cosmos is
invisible to the naked eye. Among the nuisances of light are glare, Sky glow and light trespass.
Ideally, selecting minimum and energy efficient lighting to the areas needed for security, walking
and visibility will reduce light pollution.
Potential Land Use Code updates would set light limits on maximum pole height, position of light
mount as well as hours of operation, thus limiting backlight, up-light and glare (BUG ratings)
Discussion
How is Fort Collins addressing this lighting issue? Gary: Building code standards are in place
for all new developments within the City.
Luke likes the regulation proposed that 75% of light fixtures be efficiency lamps. Why not aim
for 95%. Gary: We would like to see target, an achievable goal in order to gage success.
John asks what the timeline is? Rebecca: A 2018 timeline is set with the code update being
presented to the Council in the Spring 2018.
Bob inquires whether there will be any door to door outreach encouragement for porch light
upgrades in 2018? Rebecca: This was on the table but did not take place.
Bob asks how does warm verses cool lighting affect us? Rebecca: Blue during the day and
red at night would be better for humans and wildlife, and there is still some research going on in
this regard.
Gary reminds the Board that LED is usually perceived as a brighter light. Rebecca: Education
is still needed in this area.
Nancy requested that safety be redefined to include access to buildings if there were ADA
guidelines or in general, e.g., having lighting to unlock a door, outside doorway access into the
building.
AGENDA ITEM 3: Update on Oil and Gas Regulations
Rebecca Everette, Sr. Environmental Planner and Cassie Archuleta, Environmental Program
Manager provided a presentation about Land Use Code requirements for buffering between oil
and gas operations and new land development. Code changes will be considered by City
Council in early 2018. (Information/Discussion: 40 min.).
One of the Board Members is recording the presentation.
The Planning Department’s focus is on the development and land use for current and existing
oil and gas development that may come into use in the future. There will be three code
changes going before the City Council. 1) Remove references to the 2013 hydraulic fracturing
(fracking) moratorium 2) Increase setback requirements for new development projects near
existing, active oil and gas operations from 350 ft. to 500 ft. 3) Reduce setback requirements for
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new development projects near plugged and abandoned oil and gas wells from 350 ft. to 150 ft.
Oil and gas is regulated by the State. Fort Collins does not regulate the permitting or regulating;
that is done by the State. Fort Collins may determine the zone districts such as new wells and
industrial districts which are only found in small parts of city. Mitigation requirements, fencing,
landscaping, and visual impact to properties are outlined by the City. All properties should be
notified, within 1000 ft. of active or abandoned wells, with disclosures whether they be plugged
and abandoned, may be both; prior to 1950’s, abandonment.
Reciprocal setback: Distance between new land development and existing oil and gas
operations. Current code is 350 ft. buffer for new development. Proposed code to increase to
500 ft. for new developments as the state standard is 500 ft. Fort Collins wants to be consistent
with the state standards. Code is measured in relation to circumference.
Discussion
Elizabeth: The Martinez Ruling states that there will be no more permits allows until it is safe for
humans and animals. The City should essentially be in a moratorium. Oil and Gas is not
following the law right now. Rebecca: I will look into that with the City Attorney Office.
Luke: Is the 500; buffer related to air quality impacts related to human health? Cassie: This is
the current State level. The air level goes down the further out we go.
Elizabeth: There is a new study, recently release, indicating the causal relationship between
health and wells in which the Hearthfire was an inevitable time bomb. Studies have shown that
within 10 miles does have a causal relationship on people’s health. Rebecca: Our production in
Fort Collins is very low.
John: In Weld County, what is the average distance in high production areas. Cassie: They
can locate multiple wells on one pad with up to 20 or 30 on one pad.
Nancy: Broomfield County is unique and one of the strictest in the state.
Luke: What is the designation of abandoned wells? Rebecca: It is a permanent thing.
Cassie: This includes abandoning the mineral rights.
Luke: I understand the financial incentive for reducing the buffer zone in abandoned and
plugged wells, and as long as there is continued monitoring, why not use as a community
green space after adequate testing is completed?
John: Concrete is not good in the long term. The wells still need monitoring. We need to make
individuals aware of the long term dangers associated with these abandoned wells.
Nancy: Broomfield developers were responsible for mapping all the old and abandoned wells.
John: In the areas that surround the abandoned sites, what landscaping would mitigate the
wells? Rebecca: The wells are tapped below ground. You would not see the well on the
surface. There would be landscaping or a marker as indicated.
Cassie: Water is pumped down to push dead oil out. With gas wells you may see some
coloration. These are different than the big wells in Weld County.
Jay: What is the enforcement for the plugging and the abandonment? Rebecca: State does the
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inspecting upon abandonment. Verify. Complaints, inspection is made by the State.
Carrie: The state has an orphan well program.
Elizabeth: There are fewer inspectors to number of wells.
Ling: What constitutes a new well for monitoring – what is the timeframe? Rebecca: Current,
now, current abandonment. We do not know how far back, 2013?
Jay: There are new housing developments going on near the wells outlined in the map, towards
the east of town. I am worried and not a believer. Rebecca: There is housing, much nearer the
well than 350 ft. previously. Remember that the 350 ft. was established in 2013.
Elizabeth: Frack hitting is going on. It is hitting old wells causing damage to the environment.
Toxicity, explosions, Greeley wells exploded. I emailed the Firestone video to the board.
John: What about the industrial zone? Rebecca: She will provide.
Luke: If new wells were to come in where would they be allowed? Rebecca: A lot of the
industrial zone is near Anheiser Bush area. Montavo area, east south.
Elizabeth: They drill where they feel it is best, not having consideration for the residents. It is
against the law to perform new fracking. We are on a moratorium.
Jay: Do you have an expanded map? Rebecca to send extended map.
Elizabeth: Does the city have emergency blast zone? Cassie: We have one operator in town
and we do have an emergency response team trained to manage this type of event.
Elizabeth has handed out two pages of questions. Questions are prepared by Shane Davis and
Wendall Bradley. Due to the time constraint of the meeting, Nancy DuTeau, Chair has asked
the presented to get back with the Board with their answers to these numerous questions.
There is an online survey available: http://gcgov.com/oilandgas. There are also drop-in times
to speak with city staff personally with any questions.
Updates and Announcements
• Thank you to John Bartholow for 8 years of service.
• Thank you to Katy McLaren for sharing her knowledge and experience.
• Update on E-bikes including trails and widening of trails.
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Meeting Adjourned: 8:43 p.m.
Next Meeting: January 17, 2018