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Home My WebLink AboutAir Quality Advisory Board - Minutes - 12/18/2001v i-1Z-v to MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING 281 N. COLLEGE AVE. December 18, 2001 For Reference: Eric Levine, Chair 229-5225 Eric Hamrick, Council Liaison 225-2343 Brian Woodruff, Staff Liaison 221-6604 Board Members Present John Schroeer, Eric Levine, Mandar Sunthankar, Linda Stanley, Harry Edwards, Jim Denison Board Members Absent Nancy York Staff Present Natural Resources Department Brian Woodruff, Terry Klahn, Sarah Fox, Lucinda Smith, and Michelle Pawar Utilities: Gary Schroeder Guests Poudre Health Services District Janna West Kowalski, Larimer County Health Department The meeting was called to order at 4:35 Report of the Hydrogen Task Force — Gary Schroeder Schroeder presented background and an overview of the work completed by the Hydrogen Task Force. He said the City of Fort Collins has unique attributes to attract hydrogen -related projects. Some of these attributes are: - Potential for regional partnerships with CSU and others - Development of the Mason Street Corridor - Attributes favorable to testing (high altitude, weather variations, mountains) - Regional suppliers of hydrogen - City policies supporting green house gas reduction The Hydrogen Task Force made the following formal recommendations: - Introduce hydrogen buses into the TransFort system - Public education - Obtain a fleet demo vehicle - Build hydrogen fueling stations - Establish partnerships and a demonstration project - Plan for the future It was recommended to obtain grant funding to hire a hydrogen program coordinator. The coordinator would identify outside funding for the program. The Board will continue this discussion in January. Stanley said it's important to make a recommendation that staff be directed to try to obtain grant funding for a hydrogen program coordinator. Other Business Brian Woodruff thanked Harry Edwards and John Schroeer for their service to the AQAB. Effective January 1, 2002, there will be four new members on the AQAB. Update on Carbon Monoxide Redesignation, Brian Woodruff Woodruff said he met with staff members of the state Health Department this week. They presented preliminary results of the modeling of tailpipe emissions. They were using Fort Collins as a case study of how things change from Mobile 5 to Mobile 6. The State would like to use 1992 as the base year. That was the first year that Fort Collins was in compliance with CO standards. Discussion • Levine: I was hoping they would let us pick a base year closer to the year 2000. • Woodruff: Until this week we assumed a base year of 1998. You can see why the state wants to use an earlier base year — it would allow the state to remove control programs, and it would allow for some future emissions growth without causing a violation of the standard. • Levine: It's literally removing air quality. It's in violation of all our policies. • Woodruff: It would allow air quality to get worse. We have quite a bit of discussion ahead regarding what to do. I need to talk it over with our director, Service Area Director, and the City Manager. • Levine: Let's put this on the agenda for January. Minutes Approval of the November 27, 2001 minutes was postponed to January. Review Action Loe The action log was not reviewed. Behind the Drywall Program Not discussed. Second -Hand Smoke, Janna West Kowalski, Larimer County Health Department Kowalski provided an update on what they've been working on. She said the evidence continues to accumulate that second-hand smoke is a huge health issue. The only business that loses when communities go smoke free is the tobacco companies. Discussion • Dennison: Are you considering the option of a smoking ban in all work places, or just restaurants? Our focus is increasing awareness and building community support. • Dennison: So a total work place ban is possible? Yes. • Sunthankar: How do the restaurant filtration systems work? They remove the odors, but don't remove the carcinogens. Honeywell has said they stand by their products as far as comfort and convenience, but they are not making claims they are health products. • Edwards: One way to strengthen the presentation is to have business owners consider the energy penalty. It's recommended that the fresh air intake for smoking establishments be 32 Air Quality Advisory Board December 18, 2001 Page 3 of 4 times that for non-smoking establishments. That carries with it an enormous energy penalty. In addition to attracting a larger number of non-smoking patrons, they should be concerned about their energy bill. • Dennison: It's a real danger to push technology that does a lot to reduce odor, and little to reduce carcinogenic matter. It's real dangerous. If they remove the ostensible concern, then people might be deceived into thinking they're in a clean restaurant. People rely on sensory information to tell them about risks. Kowalski provided the following statistics: 1. 59% of people surveyed agree that the City of Fort Collins should adopt a standard that would make all enclosed places smoke free. 2. 60% of people surveyed agree that smoking should not be allowed in restaurants. 3. 63% of people surveyed would favor a City imposed ban on smoking in public buildings and restaurants. • Sunthankar: What percent of public places is now smoke free? Less than 40% of the full service restaurants. When you look at delis and fast food that number goes to 60%. • Levine: How should we proceed with this issue? Council should hear some of this. What is the effectiveness of regulatory versus non -enforcement policies? The most effective is to pass a law. Education is great, but we need both. Education alone doesn't do it. • Edwards: This is one of my favorite issues. I congratulate Sarah on a program that builds community consensus. How will you know when you've done enough to build a consensus to go forward with an ordinance? • Sunthankar: If 90% of business are smoke free, I don't see the need for an ordinance. • Levine: What we need to do is look at whether the goal is achievable. • Stanley: A lot won't happen voluntarily. Many businesses are not going to do it unless the playing field is level. • Dennison: Maybe it should be done through initiative. It's not fair for Council members to have to go through that. It can paralyze the City. Is it hard to put on the ballot? It's very expensive, and the tobacco industry comes in with a ton of money. • Sunthankar: I rarely walk into place where I smell smoke. The public is making an influence, thanks to people like you. The real problem is indoor smoking in residences areas — spouses and children who have no rights at all. • Stanley: We should spend time at a future meeting strategizing. • Levine: This is in the work plan. We're going to be looking closely at regulatory issues. We'll continue this discussion. Agenda Planning Review Council six-month planning calendar Future Agendas • MPO regional funding study (unscheduled) • 2025 Regional Transportation Plan, executive summary (Jan packet) • Air Quality Survey results (Jan packet) Clear bike rack Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. ACTION LIST — from Ilarnmhnr inrn .: ACTION ITEM .) ✓ WHO L. {.Lllf BY... DONE I. Draft memo in support of "Behind -the- Eric and February Drywall" program for review at December Linda meeting. 2. Draft 2001 AQAB Annual Report Lucinda January