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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAir Quality Advisory Board - Minutes - 04/17/1995MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING 281 CONFERENCE ROOM - 281 N. COLLEGE AVE. APRIL 17, 1995 For Reference: AQAB Chair, John Fooks - 229-5225 Will Smith, Council Liaison - 223-0425 Brian Woodruff, Staff Liaison - 221-6604 Board Members Present Eric Levine, Pete Perkins, Harry Edwards, John Fooks, Susan Bilo, Rob Cagen and Lynne Baker (joined the meeting during the Committee Reports) Board Members Absent Bill Eckert, Tom Wyatt Staff Present Brian Woodruff, Sally Maggart, Linda Devocelle Guests Judy Heidersheidt, Larimer County Health Department and Alan Apt, Council Member (joined the meeting during the Committee Reports) The meeting was called to order at 4:35 p.m. Review and Approval of Minutes On a motion made by Pete Perkins and seconded by Eric Levine, the minutes of the March 20, 1994 meeting were unanimously approved with the following changes: On Page 2, Committee Reports, Item B: Eliminate the word "it". Committee Reports a. Transit Development Plan: Susan Bilo referred to the TDP newsletter that was included in the board packet; it reports the latest progress of the committee. She reported that at the last meeting the discussion focused on Transfort, with the concentration on increasing service, adding Loveland service, adding a regional fixed route service and increasing service to the transportation disadvantaged. The committee goals are to reduce the single occupancy vehicle total in the most congested areas, make transit a viable alternative, reduce vehicles per household, increase transit trips, double the number of persons van - pooling or carpooling, and look at the use of alternative fuels. John Fooks asked if the committee was looking at Transfort serving the whole county. Susan said it was a possibility as a vision for the future. Brian Woodruff thought it Air Quality Advisory Board April 17, 1995 Page 2 would not be possible under the current arrangement, but that could be changed by City Council. At this point, Rob Cagen suggested departing from the agenda sequence in order to discuss the work plan with Alan Apt. The board agreed to finish the committee reports and then proceed to the work plan. b. Air Quality Plan: Eric Levine reported that the committee had not yet met, but plans to meet before the next board meeting. Brian offered staff assistance on arranging meetings, if needed. Members: Eric, Lynne and Bill C. Advisory: Pete Perkins reported that the committee set priorities at its meeting last week. He noted that the committee will focus on the SIP (State Implementation Plan). He said that the committee decided to form a liaison with three key groups: the Fort Collins Technical Advisory Committee, the Joint Advisory Committee and the North Front Range Transportation and Air Quality Planning Council. Members: Pete, Harry and Susan General discussion followed on the extent of board member involvement with other boards and committees. Rod Cagen suggested that staff provide relevant excerpts from other boards' minutes. Alan noted that board members are not expected to attend other committee meetings; he said the idea is to make less work by eliminating duplication of effort and enhancing good communication. d. Ad -hoc: John reported that the committee met with Linda Devocelle. He said they moved some items around in the work plan and reset priorities. He noted that the committee will meet again May 3 at 4:00 p.m. in the 281 conference room to discuss visibility standards, the Clean Air Colorado Contract and indoor air quality. Members: John, Tom and Rob 1995 Work Plan John asked about the woodburning and health issue raised by a concerned citizen. Linda responded that most woodbun- ing concerns are a health issue and that woodburning and point -of - sale overlap and can be supportive of each other. John asked what kind of data there is on woodburning. Brian responded that an intern is preparing a report showing the pattern from 1985 to the present, which will be available soon. Brian recommended that the health and continuing education issues be put together and not be considered separate projects in the work Air Quality Advisory Board April 17, 1995 Page 3 plan. Rob suggested scheduling Bill Eckert's woodburning presentation this quarter. Eric said that both woodburning and point -of -sale should be given priority. At this point, Alan notified the board that council will be going on a retreat next month to plan their two-year agenda. He said that this is the time for the board to give their suggestions to council on priorities. He added that it takes about six months to get an item on the council's regular agenda. Rob suggested putting this on the agenda for next month. John suggested setting priorities in the work plan and giving it to the council. John asked the members if they approve the work plan as written. Lynne noted that the Advisory Committee needs to meet. John recommended postponing the action until then. Brian said he could attend the Advisory Committee meeting, add any changes to those made tonight and compile a final version for next month's meeting. Alan noted that the total work plan does not necessarily have to make it to the retreat meeting. He noted that a list of three to five most important things would be adequate. Rob asked if woodburning is talking about visible smoke. John said it is visible and toxic emissions. Rob suggested changing the wording from "woodburning" to ""visible emissions" in order to include wood smoke, restaurant and automobile emissions. He suggested calling it a "Visible Emissions Ordinance". Linda reported that the visible emissions from automobiles was adopted into the city code last year. Brian noted that it is not a high priority with the police department. Rob suggested that the council appropriate funds for a phone line to report violations. He added that an enforcement officer is also needed. John asked that the board not be so specific now. Pete recommended taking a pass at the action plan, submitting it to council for the retreat and giving advice on the priorities as a later date. Alan asked about the status of implementation of the Air Quality Plan. Eric suggested that a matrix based on the most important questions would help. John gave the charge to the committees to do a matrix listing the priorities and the time line. John deferred action on the 1995 work plan to the next meeting. Brian said he would like the opportunity to attend all of the committee meetings. Harry noted that the board had just spent one hour and 20 minutes discussing priorities and he would like to see more focus on specific measures that deal with air quality problems. He said he is frustrated and would like to see specific problems dealt with. Eric agreed and suggested picking three to five priority issues for the council retreat, as suggested by Alan. Air Quality Advisory Board April 17, 1995 Page 4 Alan said that he has met with John several times on the action plan, and the timing is right to let the council know what the board wants done. He thanked the board members for their effort and left the meeting. Rob Cagen made a motion to approve the work plan, subject to any minor changes. Harry Edwards seconded the motion. John asked for further discussion. Eric said he would like to move the radon point -of -sale ordinance to the action bin. Brian said it would be appropriate for the Air Quality Plan committee to decide whether to take up the radon issue. Eric said information is needed about radon point -of -sale ordinances in other states. Lynne Baker moved to table the motion and have it brought back after Judy Heidersheidt's presentation on Pollution Prevention. Rob and Harry, the first and second on the motion, agreed on the postponement. NEW BUSINESS Pollution Prevention Brian introduced Judy Heidersheidt from the Larimer County Health Department. Judy explained that her position is funded through a block grant. She said the mission is to protect the environment by eliminating pollution at the source. She said she is presently working on a pilot project with wood furniture manufacturers and seeking development of a long-range, non -regulatory pollution prevention plan and the final report will be sent to organizations and agencies in October. Judy noted that the four counties in Colorado that have pollution prevention programs are being studied. She explained that a formal recognition of small to medium size businesses that are willing to try pollution prevention measures is planned. She said the program is called Business Partners for a Clean Environment. Judy said she is hoping to get the board interested in the wood furniture manufacturing activities and she will send a final report asking for recommendations by the end of August. Brian noted that one item in the work plan for the fourth quarter is to make a recommendation to council for a pollution prevention plan. The board thanked Judy for her presentation. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (coot.) 1995 Work Plan John Fooks took the motion to approve the work plan, subject to any minor changes, off the table. Pete noted that the revisions could be more than "minor". Rob changed his motion to read "any revisions". There being no further discussion, John called for a vote on the motion and it passed unanimously (7-0). Air Quality Advisory Board April 17, 1995 Page 5 AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING The following agenda items were set for the next meeting, May 22: 1) A point -of -sale presentation along with a tour and background information on wood stoves and emissions - Bill Eckert. 2) Report on joint chair meeting being held on Friday, April 21, 1995 - John Fooks. 3) Rob requested that staff finds out about the restaurant emission ordinances in Aspen and Vail - Brian Woodruff. 4) John asked each committee to pick the most salient issues in their purview and the board will determine a final list of priority items to send to council. Staff Reports - Postponed until next meeting. a. Clean Air Team b. Alternative Fuels Conference Recap C. VMT growth vs SOV mode -shift Other Rob suggested that the board run closer on the time limits. He emphasized the need to vest authority in the chair to complete the agenda and enforce the rules better. He also requested that staff include all the meeting information in the packet. MORE UNFINISHED BUSINESS Procedures to Amend the Air Quality Action Plan Pete handed out copies of the AQAB Project/Work Screening and Prioritization Process and asked the board to review it and be prepared to vote on it at the next meeting. Adjournment John asked if the board wanted to extend the meeting. The members agreed not to extend the meeting and the meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.