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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAir Quality Advisory Board - Minutes - 12/21/2020 AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR December 21, 2020 5:30 – 8:00 pm via Zoom 12/21/20 – MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER 5:30pm 2. ROLL CALL • List of Board Members Present − Matt Tribby -Chair − Harry Edwards − Gregory Clark − Wayne Chuang − Karen Artell − Jim Dennison • List of Board Members Absent – Excused or Unexcused; if no contact with Chair has been made − Emily Bitler − Nina Forsyth − Jason Miller • List of Staff Members Present − Cassie Archuleta, Staff Liaison − Jason Komes - Environmental Specialist, Air Quality − Michelle Finchum – Interim Climate Program Manager • List of Guests − Dan Welsh 3. AGENDA REVIEW • none 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION • none 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES • Harry moved and Karen seconded a motion to approve the minutes as amended. Motion approved 6-0-0 AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 12/21/20 – MINUTES Page 2 6. PREVIOUS BUSINESS • STAFF UPDATES - CASSIE ARCHULETA • The Regional Air Quality Council awarded the City their inaugural “Clean Air Champions” award for efforts related to electrification of the City’s municipal vehicles and lawn and garden equipment. • The Environmental Protection Agency awarded Lucinda Smith, Environmental Services Department Director, a “Clean Air Excellence” individual achievement award for her career in climate and air quality planning at the City. − Follow-up: The Board expressed interest in sharing information about these awards with Council. Cassie will provide additional information to Karen, who will draft a memo to share with Council. • The Air Quality Control Commission recently held hearings related to the Regional Haze Rule (RHR) and adoption of the Ozone State Implementation Plan (SIP). − Part of the RHR discussion included potential early closure of several coal- fired power plants, including Rawhide. The AQCC did not follow through on this proposal. − Part of the SIP discussion included possible expansion of the ozone nonattainment area. This was not approved, and the nonattainment area stayed as originally defined. • Jason Komes offered an update regarding several large developments, and how one development is receiving a first Notice of Violation (NOV) related to emissions of Fugitive Dust. − Follow-up: The Board requested that Jason return for a 5-10 minute discussion regarding the compliance process. 7. NEW BUSINESS • Our Climate Future–Michelle Finchum, Interim Climate Program Manager. • Michelle provided an update regarding the “Our Climate Future” planning process. • Background − New planning process includes updates to the climate action plan, energy plan and zero waste plan combined into one large process. Plan goals include: - Carbon neutral by 2050 (14% in 2018, 20% target by 2020) AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 12/21/20 – MINUTES Page 3 - Energy policy – 100% renewable energy by 2030, on track - Zero waste by 2030, 75% goal in 2020, only 55% attained (plan may re-evaluate this goal) − 2019 carbon inventory will be released in January. Methodology changed to include IPPU emissions for industries which meet an EPA reporting threshold − Planning process focuses on broader social impacts with efforts to include historically underrepresented groups. − One community priority identified was “Healthy Air Quality” − “Big Moves”, or large transformative outcomes, were identified. Further outreach (e.g., community workshops) explored “next moves”, or specific strategies and actions that lead to “big moves”. − “Big Moves” have also been categorized into buckets, including: “Breathe Better” − Next steps include evaluation of a subset of strategies and actions (next moves), and engagement of Boards to discuss implementation plans. − Super Board meeting will be on January 11, Council work session February 9, and Council adoption is anticipated in March. • Board Discussion • Q - Is there a rough idea of an end goal and how the plan will come together? A - It will be an iterative process with updates every 2-years to determine next moves, including City budget process considerations and assistance from community partners and others. • Q - Is the City working with consultants? This is a complicated process with a lot of moving parts. Are there different staff teams to look at different components? A - There is a bundled contract with the City with Metabolic as the main consultant, and Brendle Group and WestUrb assisting. Actions so far include outreach to the community to get their input and ideas. Next will be analysis by consultants, with some support from our Utilities department. • Q - How have the changes in the budget process changed the way the consultants will work with the City? A - The scope for the consultants was changed, allowing for less analysis and vetting of options. • Q - The previous climate plan had a clear carbon goal, with many co-benefits. Our Climate Future (OCF) seems to have broader goals, and I wonder how carbon emissions will fit in to it. It seems like a lot to accomplish for one program, and it may be challenging to see tangible results. And because AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 12/21/20 – MINUTES Page 4 OCF also has an equity lens, is it appropriate to lump affordable housing under an environmental program that does not have any measurable carbon reductions? A - In 2021, the City will be hiring a Housing Manager to address housing equity issues. And, because housing and climate are connected, by addressing affordable housing we are also addressing the larger climate issues with a societal solution. • Q -The AQAB Board is ready to help however we can, especially in providing expertise on air quality aspects of the plan. However, I am concerned the plan's scope may be larger than can be accomplished in the time frame and might not achieve the desired measurable outcomes. A - The Climate Action Goals still stand. Our Climate Future will be building on those goals in a broader way and looking specifically at the next decade. • Cassie: - To date, the Our Climate Action efforts have primarily been outreach to the community and not to boards. However, the AQAB board's expertise will be valuable in evaluating implementation of the plan going forward. The Board requested frequent updates on this topic. • Q - Why has the City's zero waste plan not kept pace with its goals? A - A complicated Regional Wasteshed Plan is being developed, but a lack of state support and funding has delayed progress. Oil and Gas Regulations • Cassie reported that staff is going before Council in January with some preliminary land use questions regarding how the City would regulate oil and gas including: should oil and gas be limited to only industrial zones; and what would be the appropriate setbacks. This will be a phased discussion starting with setbacks and zoning. Subsequent discussions will include what will the approval process look like, and discussion about the 2 existing oil and gas wells in Fort Collins. • Discussion − The state of Colorado Oil and Gas Commission has finalized its new oil and gas policies, including setbacks of 2,000 ft. from residences and high occupancy buildings. Boulder County has adopted greater setbacks of 2,500 feet. − In order to determine if the AQAB wants to write a memo of recommendation to Council, chair Matt Tribby asked the group to weigh in on two questions: − 1) Does the AQAB support the City adopting a zoning policy that new oil and gas development can only be in industrially-zoned areas? − 2) Does the AQAB support the City adopting the same setback rule of AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 12/21/20 – MINUTES Page 5 2,000 feet, as adopted by the state of Colorado, or another numerical value? - The Board discussed options and formalized recommendations. − Board Action: - Matt made a motion that the Air Quality Advisory Board recommends to City Council that, as part of part of the City's formal policy regulating new oil and gas production within the City of Fort Collins, that zoning requirements be established so oil and gas production can only take place in industrially-zoned areas. Motion passed unanimously 6-0-0 - Matt made a motion that the Air Quality Advisory Board recommends to City Council that, as part of part of the City's formal policy regulating new oil and gas production within the City of Fort Collins, that setback requirements be established of no less than 2,000 feet (some support for 2,500 feet). Motion passed unanimously 6-0-0 • Follow-up - Matt will discuss the board's recommendations to Council with the AQAB Council liaison including: restrictions on oil and gas production in the growth management area, how setbacks would affect trails, trailheads and waterways, and potential of horizontal drilling in residential and natural areas. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS • As this was Harry Edwards' last meeting, he was thanked for his service and he complimented the AQAB on their important work. 9. OTHER BUSINESS • 6-month calendar review − Upcoming Q1 issues to be reviewed by Council include an evaluation of the outdoor burning program, a radon update and revised outdoor lighting code. • Agenda planning − Action Item - as the AQAB's annual report is due to Council by January 31, 2021, the group will craft the 2020 AQAB Annual Report via OneDrive. − Action Item - Cassie will share her Air Quality team's 2021 Work Plan with the AQAB in case they want to weigh in and give feedback. − Action Item - Cassie will report back on the effectiveness of the outdoor burning ban during the fire season. AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 12/21/20 – MINUTES Page 6 10. ADJOURNMENT -The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm.