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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAir Quality Advisory Board - Minutes - 03/23/1999MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING 281 N. COLLEGE AVE. MARCH 23, 1999 For Reference: Eric Levine, Chair - 229-5225 Scott Mason, Council Liaison - 226-4824 Brian Woodruff, Staff Liaison - 221-6604 Board Members Present David Gallup, Mandar Sunthankar, Raymond Sons, Jim Dennison, and Harry Edwards Board Members Absent Steve Perich, John Scanlon, Eric Levine, and John Schroeer Staff Present Natural Resources Department Brian Woodruff, Sally Maggart, Sarah Fox, and Lucinda Smith Transportation Department Tom Frazier Guests Lisa Silva, Colorado Air Pollution Control Division Vice Chair Harry Edwards called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Agenda Change The Mobility Report Card agenda item was presented first. NEW BUSINESS Mobility Report Card, Tom Frazier, Multi -modal Transportation Group Leader Tom Frazier said that the first Mobility Report Card survey done in 1995 provided a base from which to measure transportation demand management (TDM) activities. He noted that the report card is scheduled every two years, with 1,000 households surveyed. Frazier said that the survey looks at vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and measures any change in modal shift from single occupancy vehicles to alternate transportation modes. Frazier reported that the latest survey shows a tremendous amount of VMT growth. Frazier said that VMT growth between 1995 and 1998 was higher than anticipated -- over 20 percent for the region and over 25 percent for Fort Collins. He noted that the largest population growth occurred in high -income households where individuals do not use alternate modes of transportation, have more cars, and live on fringe areas that require longer trips. Frazier said that the area of study is not limited to the Fort Collins City limits. He said that the air quality conformity area is larger than the urban growth area. Harry Edwards asked if it is fair to conclude, since employment is growing faster than population, that people are coming into the area from outlying communities to work here. Air Quality Advisory Board March 23, 1999 Page 2 Frazier responded, yes, that many people are coming because of regionalization and to work at new jobs. He added that very mobile groups are also moving here and commuting to other cities. Frazier noted that bicycle mode share is probably not dropping. Rather, it is believed that an error was made in the 1995 study regarding the bikeway program — data cannot be found from the report to validate the seven -percent figure. Frazier said that the correct figure for bicycle mode split should be three or four percent in 1995. Frazier noted that TDM programs in other cities were studied. He referred to a comparison report that shows more measurements and program information being shared in Colorado cities than in similar cities. Frazier added that the focus needs to be on how to maximize programs in order to change travel behavior. Frazier said that some recommendations for future TDM programs include acceleration and expansion of awareness, additional employer/employee participation, continuation of the TDM evaluation program, implementation of a carpool formation survey, and pursuit of a greater Front Range cooperative vanpool program. Frazier noted that it would be about five years before the impact of City Plan can be measured. He said that the report card survey would be done two more times before urban planners feel there will be significant trends. Frazier said that the next step is to update the Transportation Demand Management work plan including evaluate programs, work closely with employers to get a strong employee basis, and individually evaluate programs and activities to determine the best method for altering travel behavior. Gallup asked to what extend is benchmarking being used to find more about employer outreach. Frazier responded that a consultant has been hired to develop measurements for consistency in information obtained from other agencies. Jim Dennison asked if there are any regulatory recommendations. Frazier responded that the TDM work plan update for the next three years is to include regulatory recommendations. Review and approve minutes of February 23, 1999 With the following changes, the minutes of the February 23, 1999 Regular Meeting were approved as written: • On Page 5, strike "going into the air" and replace with "sources". • On Page 2, last sentence, second from bottom paragraph, change "budget" to "emissions". • On Page 3, sixth paragraph, clarify that modeling will be done "four different ways per legislature requirements". ' Air Quality Advisory Bo� • March 23, 1999 Page 3 • On Page 1, regarding the transportation sales tax, strike "there are too many items on the ballot". Review and update action list No items this month. Add: Check with Clerk's office about the different font used on some items in the Six -Month Planning Calendar. Six-month Planning Calendar • April 20: Council board liaisons will be appointed. • May 21: Council goal setting retreat. • June 8: Cities for Climate Protection study session. • July 20: Adoption of Local Action Plan for Cities for Climate Protection. Small discussion items The John Carver workshop on "Strengthening Board Effectiveness" will be held Friday, April 30, 1999, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Fort Collins High School. This is a City Manager initiative to reenergize the boards and commission process as related to City Council. CO Redesignation Committee A committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 13, from 3:30-5:00 p.m. in the Natural Resources Department conference room. Committee members are David Gallup, Harry Edwards, Steve Perich and Jim Dennison. Edwards said that he would like to have preparatory materials and an agenda prepared that specifies what is to come out of the meeting. Brian Woodruff said that the initial meeting would be to familiarize the committee with the issues. Lisa Silva said that she would be at the meeting. Memo on budget recommendations Woodruff said that the City's budget would be discussed at the April meeting. He noted that the City Manager has asked that boards make recommendations about what City services are needed. Harry Edwards noted that the Natural Resources Advisory Board strongly recommended the addition of a pollution prevention staff person. He said that he supports that recommendation and he asked if it is appropriate for the AQAB to make that recommendation. Woodruff responded yes. OLD BUSINESS VMT timeline Brian Woodruff said that because the Air Quality Plan no longer directs actions for VMT, board members expressed concern about losing the ability to make recommendations on City programs related to VMT growth. He explained that the timeline created to show programs by department is a tool to stay in the loop and strategize on when the AQAB should make recommendations. Air Quality Advisory Board March 23, 1999 Page 4 Harry Edwards asked Woodruff to pick out the highest priority items for Board input. Woodruff said that the Board should be involved in making recommendations on the Transportation Demand Management work plan, based on the new information in the Mobility Report Card. Raymond. Sons said that whatever the Board recommends is going to cost money and the discussion should be tied in with the budget next month. He added that something needs to change in view of the Mobility Report Card findings. Sons said that it is appalling that it will take three years to start doing something regulatory. He added that the programs in place are not sufficient to meet the objectives and other stronger programs are needed. Jim Dennison suggested that a memo be sent to Council from the AQAB expressing concern that, despite good efforts, there is a lack of progress. Gallup said that an expression of concern is not strong enough. Edwards suggested expressing alarm. Sons suggested presenting a recommendation for drastic action, along with rethinking strategy on controlling air pollution and traffic generally. He said that he would draft a memo for the Board to review next month. Woodruff referred to the Second Draft of "Reducing Traffic Growth through City Plan and Transportation Master Plan". He noted that the plans are mutually supportive of the idea to help the process of reducing VMT growth. AOAB role in development review This item was postponed to be considered at a future meeting. Agenda Plannine - April • Air quality analysis options: This is a continuation of the discussion on the Mountain Vista Subarea Plan and needs full board involvement. • Budget recommendations: This will take a significant block of time. • CO redesignation: This will be a short item with a report from the subcommittee. • City Plan Monitoring Project: May be redundant, since the Mobility Report Card information on VMT growth goes into the City Plan Monitoring Report. This could be scheduled in the next three to six months, after the final report comes out. • Visibility: The Board work plan will be addressed at the April or May meeting. Other Gallup asked for an update on the indoor air ordinance. Woodruff said that the Air Quality Action Plan, adopted by Council last week, directs staff to evaluate the ordinance and bring a recommendation to Council. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.