HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 03/16/2016MINUTES
CITY OF FORT COLLINS
NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD
Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Location: 215 N. Mason Conference Room 1A
Time: 6:00–8:30pm
For Reference
Bob Overbeck, Council Liaison 970-988-9337
Katy Bigner, Staff Liaison 970-221-6317
Board Members Present Board Members Absent
John Bartholow, chair Katherine de Leon
Bob Mann Jay Adams
Luke Caldwell
Nancy DuTeau
Elizabeth Hudetz
Harry Edwards
Drew Derderian
Staff Present
Katy Bigner, Staff Liaison
Dianne Tjalkens, Admin/Board Support
Honore Depew, Environmental Planner, Environmental Services
Matt Parker, Crew Chief, Natural Areas
Travis Paige, Community Engagement Manager, Utilities
Susie Gordon, Senior Environmental Planner, Environmental Services
David Young, PR Coordinator, Community and Public Information Office
Guests:
None
Call meeting to order: John called the meeting to order at 6:02pm
Agenda Review: No changes
Staff Comment: None
Public Comments: None.
Approval of Minutes:
Harry moved and Nancy seconded a motion to approve the February minutes as amended.
Motion passed, 6-0-1. Bob abstained.
P3: 1st P, this tool… insert “construction or” before expansion
P3: 1st P, next sentence missing word “for”
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AGENDA ITEM 1—Sustainable Materials Management Framework
Honoré Depew, Environmental Planner, provided an overview of a newly emerging framework in the
field of waste reduction & recycling, Sustainable Materials Management (SMM).
Update on projects related to BFO offer for advanced waste stream optimization. Have aggressive
sustainability goals—connecting waste reduction and recycling to Climate Action Plan (CAP) goals.
Will be calculating pounds of overall waste per person in the community. Exploring new hierarchies
for waste disposal management. BFO offer contains three elements: evaluate waste materials, support
waste-to-energy, and address organics diversion. Regional collaborations for Road to Zero Waste
(RZW) goals. Trash knows no boundaries—“wasteshed” is new term to describe where waste flows.
Long range planning project that involves public input, technical advisory committee, and policy
advisory committee. For organics diversion (food scraps and yard waste) staff is exploring options
with haulers around residential, as well as alternatives to curbside collection. New biodigester in
Weld County is large piece of infrastructure. Also working with nonprofit and community
organizations to have neighborhood-level composting. Increasing focus on food recovery. EPA is
going to begin outreach campaign for reducing food waste. Analyzing city readiness for waste-to-
energy projects—looking at technology, options, what is appropriate for our community. One option
will be a biomass burner to manage Emerald Ash Borer-affected ash trees. (feasibility study moving
forward)—large wood stove with strict emissions controls to create heat and hot water. Many
technologies are expensive and feasible only at regional level—looking to service multiple areas.
Have had conversations with Starbucks and CSU to explore anaerobic digestion of waste from coffee
grounds. Drake Water Reclamation Facility is currently converting organics into biogas for the
facility. Expansion planned with input from food waste analysis conducted as part of this project.
Sustainable materials management challenges the way we calculate Greenhouse Gas Emissions
(GHG) metrics. May be able to calculate emissions related to consumption in Fort Collins. Discards
management approach impacts smallest piece of pie for GHG inventory—waste and recycling
account for less than 6%, so when get zero waste, still only reducing GHG a small portion.
Sustainable Materials Management groups emissions by systems: raw materials, manufacture,
transportation, use and disposal. Can promote local markets for things that would otherwise have
been discarded (circular economy). One tool successfully employed is lifecycle assessment—which
helps us understand how materials move through the community and what their impacts are.
Collaborating with CSU to analyze food system, which informs Co-Gen project at Drake facility.
Have found that households have largest out-flow of food waste, second is cafés and restaurants.
Next will look at portions that go to landfill, compost, anaerobic digestions, etc., and impacts.
Organization wants to lead by example—hierarchy of waste, sustainable purchasing, etc.
Seeking feedback on presentation.
Discussion/Q & A:
• Sectors begin to address what happens in the pipeline? Looking at consequences at front end,
not just back end.
o Exactly. Measuring true impacts.
• Policy advisory committee at regional level—who is on it?
o Technical advisory is staff from Fort Collins, Larimer County, Loveland and Estes
Park. Have requested same municipalities to appoint an elected official. First meeting
end of March.
o Each community has a person like Honoré looking at these same issues?
Yes. Sometimes 2 or 3. Meeting twice a month. Secured funding from
CDPHE to have consultant do wasteshed study.
Would like more information on state leadership and opportunities, grants
that are available, etc. Some could impact the plan if change permitting for
composting facilities, business incentives for recyclable materials, etc. Could
be goals and support from state.
Regional wasteshed planning is in alignment with state priorities.
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• Some landfills are covered and gas is vented. Then still have land for hiking or other uses.
o Methane capture is important. Not currently being used to power anything, but being
flared off. In Ault there is no methane capture or flaring.
Methane is large contributor to GHG. Wouldn’t they want to capture it?
• They fall under threshold for being required to capture. Would be
good to revisit regulations for landfills.
• Can be more explicit in showing how goals align with CAP around
methane emissions.
• Concrete examples are helpful.
• Is there an economic component to studies?
o Have been looking at economic activity involved in recycling and repurposing.
Makers movement may develop uses for materials.
o Council may wonder at cost.
• Chamber has been commenting a lot. They are protective of current businesses. What is
impact on today’s business people?
o Can tie back to improved efficiencies and getting ahead of potential future increased
costs.
• Sustainable purchasing? Is that about packaging?
o Purchasing department is leader in state for adopting sustainability metrics when
contract with outside organization. Preferential purchasing policies for sustainable
products such as recycled copy paper. Could lead to department purchasing
guidelines and triple-bottom line criteria for vendor proposals and bids.
o The City already has central purchasing for orders over $5K.
• Comments on pie charts in packet: could use more description to understand differences.
Also, would discuss example like a specific item and show how you would look at it from a
materials-based versus systems-based perspective.
o Good feedback for finalizing graphic.
• Pie chart on left says 35% of GHG emissions are from electric generation in US; however,
locally it is 50% due to coal power generation.
o Will be more specific and local with information.
• Mentioned that organics diversion can reduce GHG emissions significantly. Suggest giving
Council very specific information on projects we really want to do.
o CAP Work Session last week highlighted community recycling ordinance as one of
top seven initiatives to reach 2020 goal.
o Half of what is going to landfill now is compostable/digestible.
• Scheduling field trip to Drake waste water treatment facility.
o Will be adding 2-4 new engines that could achieve over 700KW of total capacity,
which would be powered by anaerobic digestion. Jason is exploring potential
collaboration with Woodward to test various engines.
o Also ask to see pulped food material that is coming from CSU dining halls.
o Potential to add more food waste from large producers.
Looking at options and attendant cost of each, from curbside collection to use
of garbage disposals.
• In nature every waste is food for a new process. We are trying to better follow that system or
process.
AGENDA ITEM 2—West Nile Virus Program Update
Matt Parker, Crew Chief, and David Young, PR Coordinator, presented on the disease and current
education and communication plans. The team discussed what it is doing to educate people about
preventing the disease, and ask for feedback from the NRAB.
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Outreach to help people understand risks of mosquito-borne illnesses. West Nile came to areas in
2001. City lacked preventative measures. Staff effort has increased in last few years and City is
working closely with County’s public health department. County had adulticide application last year,
but was not as “hot” as had been anticipated. Staff is asking the board how to best present data to the
public. Have webpage with vector index which represents risk. Numerical value—threshold is 0.75.
David and CPIO are interested in presenting in a way that makes more sense to public. Addressing a
human health issue—not treating as a nuisance issue. Collaborating with County on outreach. The
sooner you affect the amplification the better.
West Nile is hosted in birds. Mosquitos bite non-human animals more than humans. When enough
birds are infected, then more mosquitos are infected and pass on to humans. Resources are mostly
spent on larvaciding and public awareness and protection. The last step is adulticide fogging.
Larvaciding is a targeted approach. Impacts some of lower black fly family, but not expansive
impact. Larvacide acreage varies year to year.
West Nile virus—80% of people who get it are asymptomatic. About 20% get fever, severe headache
and body ache, less than 1% get neuro-invasive symptoms which can be seriously debilitating and/or
fatal. Those over 70 are at much greater risk.
West Nile started on the east coast in the 1990s, and has moved across the country. Has remained in
middle band of country where there are more irrigated landscapes.
Plan, Do, Check, Act: look for improvements every year. Focusing on public outreach. Previously
have tried to get word out to everyone, but looking at enhancing outreach with targeted messaging to
susceptible groups: seniors, new residents, athletes, low income, etc. Will have kiosks at trail heads,
have a “skeeter meter” that shows risk level at top five hot spots (using data from prior years), will
distribute spray, increase PSAs on TV, partner with Jax and REI events, target senior centers, etc.
Considering developing a poll for before and after the season to gauge how familiar people are with
the virus and to determine which prevention methods people are using. Looking for change in
behavior.
Working on producing a GIS map with trap data. Would like to use visual “heat map” with trap
specific data available for outreach.
Discussion/Q & A:
• What does 0.75 vector number mean?
o Not a good story to tell behind that number. When West Nile is very low, number is
around 0.2. At 0.5 start seeing human cases. 0.5 used to be threshold for adulticiding,
but community was feeling that was too aggressive. Identified new threshold of 0.75.
o Also must have 2 human cases to consider adulticiding.
o Numerical value comes from local data?
Yes. Traps. Identify species that carry west Nile. They are tested at CSU for
the virus.
The problem with that from public health point of view is that index measures
how many are flying around with the virus. When wait for 2 human cases, by
that time, the number of mosquitos with viruses is much higher. Most people
are asymptomatic. Must have patients who seek medical care. By time
adulticide it is past the peak time to do it.
Addressing a human health issue, but there is a significant lag time
considering testing, notification, etc. About 1.5 to 2 weeks. City Manager
makes the decision to make the application. County health department also
has jurisdiction and may decide to make a pre-emptive application. City set
up this program to protect citizens in case the County does not apply.
• Note that larvaciding does not have human health impacts.
o Do applications affect bees and other insects?
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Larvacide impacts water borne black fly species. Fogging can affect bees, but
there are protective measures to take. Contractor informs bee keepers in
advance.
• Adulticiding can be done in sections?
o Geo spaced to target hot spots and make specific applications.
o Don’t cross into Weld County?
Treatment boundaries expand beyond GMA in some areas, but not into the
county. However, one species can fly up to five miles per night and lives in
irrigated areas.
• Compliment on age-related bar graph—dramatic. Suggest making numbers on vertical axis
clearer.
• Veterinary specialist on team? Is there anything we can do with our pets to reduce reservoir
of virus they may carry.
o Haven’t explored that. Will look into it.
• Outreach to HOAs? HOA received a letter last year that could spray whenever they wanted,
for nuisance not health.
o Also have problems with standing water in common areas.
o Need more than backyard inspections for HOAs. Suggest checking in with them
early.
Working with County to send letter that is more collaborative. Trying to get
timing right—HOAs are not thinking about West Nile yet, but have already
set annual budgets. Sending awareness and resource list letter. Will continue
to see improvements in how County and City work together.
• Do fogging alert systems use cell phones?
o Just started using LETA last year. Encourage people to sign up on LETA. Working
on system to text for get alerts.
• When tell HOAs that are welcome to spray, don’t know exactly what chemical people will be
spraying.
o HOAs typically get same company that City contracts with. CMC is most prevalent.
They are licensed applicator, understand City perspective, and are conscientious.
Have more concern about individual homeowner actions in their own backyards.
o Sprays they use—how long are toxins there? What is long term affect? Do they stay
in the plants?
One application one night, and another two nights later. There is no lingering
effect of the permethrin. Has to hit the mosquitos when they are air borne.
How long does permethrin last?
• Depends on rate at which applied. Will persist, but many factors in
break down, including rain fall. But doesn’t have lasting
bioaccumulation affect.
• What about other animals?
o Toxicology rates on larger animals—would have to be large
exposure to have impact.
• Suggest having map of where adulticide has been sprayed.
o Have been good at providing maps of where it will happen. Have not maintained
post-spray.
o As discuss susceptibility by age, could have density of mosquitos, density of people
and their ages.
Had a master student who overlaid this information with senior living
facilities.
What if included all mosquitos and overlaid the map of West Nile
prevalence?
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• Not doing surveillance for all mosquitos. A lot of nuisance mosquitos
are not found in same location as West Nile infected species.
• Once we get to point where people are accustomed to manipulating
maps and have a more solid understanding of West Nile, would be
interesting add-on. Ex: there was a season recently when mosquitos
along river were abundant and had lots of complaints, but West Nile
vectors were low.
• Comment on presenting data—could do study of how many people are doing long sleeves
versus spray before and after.
o That is direction David and CPIO are going.
AGENDA ITEM 3— Climate Action Plan (CAP) Update
Travis Paige, Community Engagement Manager, provided an update on the Climate Action Plan
development and the outcomes of the March 10th City Council Work Session.
Core team is cross-functional team working on CAP implementation. Since new goals were adopted
have built framework. Core team is developing implementation. Developed an in-house model to
quantify results. There has been significant public engagement. Last Thursday Lindsay Ex and
members of executive lead team presented to Council. Early 2016 got some midcycle offers funded.
One is public engagement offer.
Goals are very aggressive. Fort Collins is geared to be able to make these changes. Community
inventory is based on local activities. Data shows that population increase and emissions are not
completely connected.
Have project teams for various theme areas: energy efficiency, clean energy, multimodal, Road to
Zero Waste (RZW), water and land use, and preparation, adaptation and resilience. Support teams are
around financing, metrics, messaging and engagement, piloting and scaling, and climate economy
and partnerships.
Teams developed 68 initiatives. Sought public feedback, looked at market readiness, co-benefits, etc.
to prioritize. Narrowed down to 31 initiatives. Through cost-benefit analysis selected initiatives for
2020 strategic plan. To reach 2020 goal will need reduction of nearly 0.5M tons GHG. About ½ of
reduction can come from energy efficiencies, RZW 25%, clean energy 19% (source generation),
multimodal planning and development (transportation) 13%, water and land use 2%. Totals 109% of
goal. Pathways are broken into 3 categories: accelerated pathways, cost effective initiatives for 2020,
and cost effective initiatives for 2050 goal. Costs are generally upfront, while benefits are seen in
long term. Funding options—City cannot bear all of the cost. Looking at public-private partnerships
and how the public can get involved. Building on idea of economic benefit: increased jobs, changes
in processes, etc. Also looking at utility rates/debt and private debt and grants. Looking down to net
level cost-benefit. Net cost needs to be determined. Example: Utility on-bill financing. Doing a pilot
on consolidated pricing for packaged efficiency upgrades. Also evaluating costs to continue existing
programs and to expand them, as well as new initiatives/projects. Presented implementation
investment opportunities to Council with some specific initiatives. Council wanted to know cost to
rate payers and focus on net cost. Staff will go back to Council with study for Platte River Power
Authority (Platte River), a study for FTE needs, and funding for a project.
Discussion/Q & A:
• Sounds like there are many opportunities for team work, but a lot of teams. Is this working?
o This project has fundamentally changed how the organization works together. Seeing
ways to capitalize on crossover and co-benefits. Team members are from departments
across the City. At the beginning it was challenging, but internal modelling has
created focus.
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o Getting better at strategic planning. Challenge for those on the teams is that
employees were not always prepared for the additional work load. One team was
scaled back. Great learning opportunity for staff as well.
• In 1990s were looking at 24/7 high speed rail along I25, but was too expensive. Is this back
in the game plan?
o Not right now. Focused around city boundaries. Emissions from I25 do come here,
but we are focused on what we can impact in our community. Not to say wouldn’t be
involved in partnerships with other communities. Work with Loveland all the time. If
we prove that can be economically beneficial, will start to see more in the region.
• Are we considering huge population growth that is expected?
o Numbers are based on build out. Have seen that can de-couple GHG from population
growth.
• Preceding study had chart on where GHG comes from. 50% comes from burning coal for
electricity. 24% comes from transportation. So, 74% from those two categories. Haven’t
heard anything specific about Platte River. Unless they stop burning coal there is no way to
achieve the goals.
o Absolutely correct. Fort Collins is co-owner of Platte River. They have significant
plans on cleaning their power. Retiring Craig 1 and 2 units and replacing with
renewables.
o This presentation focuses on 2020 goals. Platte River has most of planning in place
up to 2020. Adding 30MW solar at Rawhide. A lot could happen between 2020 and
2050.
Some of this revolves around Clean Power Plan, but Platte River is moving
forward with what the owner cities want. Fort Collins wants more renewables
in our mix than other cities.
o Familiar with what happened in Boulder? They got tired of waiting and Xcel refused
to convert to natural gas, which would reduce emissions by half, so Boulder took
over Arapahoe plant and had it converted. That plant will eventually be shut down,
but right now being run by a contractor. Fort Collins and other three cities own Platte
River. Is the City being aggressive enough with Platte River to make progress?
There is a board with reps from the cities that makes decisions for Platte
River. Hard to make change if other cities refuse, but can request different
source for our city with different rate structure. Platte River is very focused
on partnership.
• Would be better partner if stopped burning coal.
• Natural gas options for peak demand load.
• Coal pollutes air more, but natural gas from fracking is more destructive overall with
earthquakes, water pollution, etc. Can that step be skipped?
o Have timing issue with many renewables—can’t run with demand, so have issue of
storage.
o Norway has gone completely to renewables, and uses efficient batteries.
All based on prioritization. Ex: If replace Rawhide with all renewables, could
have days with no electricity. Many things that need to happen across the
system to have storage. Need to take a systems approach. Steps enable each
other. Have strong reliability indices. Must balance.
Also, we like our cheap electricity.
• Have hydro and wind in generation mix. The Rawhide Power Plant is
one of cleanest coal plants. Balance.
• Timeline included business workshop—is that to create the partnerships?
o Critical points: Need citizenry to know what CAP is. Workshop is to engage
businesses. Have ClimateWise partners—how to get others engaged?
• Because of aggressive goals, will this attract businesses?
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o Yes. Technology hub will be attractive to businesses, as well as replicability.
AGENDA ITEM 4—Other Business
Open Board Discussion
• Member of another board said there had been a liaison-ship between the boards and
wondered if it would continue with membership change. Want to make sure following
through on commitments.
o Nancy and John will meet and discuss.
o AQAB and Energy Board would be logical fits.
• CDPHE wasteshed regional meeting—Nancy can report via email
• John provided a map of potential drill sites in Fort Collins.
o Katy will find updated version of map and email to group.
• Moratorium until 2018.
o Map is where drilling could occur if took away all legally required setbacks.
ACTION ITEMS: Katy will find updated version of drill sites map and email to group.
Meeting Adjourned: 8:40pm
Next Meeting: April 20
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