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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAir Quality Advisory Board - Minutes - 09/15/2008AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 15, 2008 DATE: Monday, September 15, 2008 LOCATION: 215 N. Mason Conference room I -A TIME: 5:30 -8:00 P.M. Dinner is served starting at 5:15 For Reference: Eric Levine, Chair - 493-6341 David Roy, Council Liaison - 407-7393 Brian Woodruff, Staff Liaison - 221-6604 Board Members Present: Kip Carrico, Dennis Georg, Dave Dietrich, Dale Adamy, Nancy York, Greg McMaster, Katrina Winborn Board Members absent: Eric Levine Staff Present: Alexis Hmielak, Brian Woodruff As Eric Levine was absent, Greg McMaster chaired the meeting. He called the meeting to order at 6:30. Public input - None Conversation with the PDT Director Jeff Scheick, Director of PDT Administration attended the meeting to give his perspective on questions the AQAB previously submitted to him about transportation issues. Jeff stated he came to the City of Fort Collins 8 months ago from Oregon where he was with the Oregon Department of Transportation for 11 years. Air quality and land use were also important topics there. Previous to that he was with the California Department of Transportation for 9 years. Planning, Development & Transportation is a new organization of about 300 people comprised of Streets, Traffic Operations, Advance Planning, Current Planning, Neighborhood Services and Transportation that was brought on board at the end of January. He gave the AQAB an organization chart and names and numbers of the department members for their reference. This unique group was put together because of the importance of having land use and transportation working together. He then played a 15 minute video about the organization and mission of his department. This video was also shown at the Transportation Board meeting and can be found on the fcgov.com website at: htip://atlas.fcgov.com/Makin Ig tH=en/msh htm . Jeff answered questions from the AQAB. • Greg McMaster asked if the PDT reorganization works with Natural Resources, air quality and Parks and Recreation. Jeff pointed out Natural Resources is under Marty Heffernan, who is one of Jeff's peers and they do work together. • Greg also asked if the reorganization has helped him work with Natural Resources. Jeff stated there are open communications between them. Dennis Georg asked about how Jeff Scheick sees the City Plan as it relates to planning for future impact on transportation and air quality. o Jeff stated he admires that the City Plan is really used in the community and is actually carried into action. He feels it is a great document because how it works with others regarding high land use and transportation and is one of the best documents he has seen in terms of a long-range comprehensive plan. Dennis asked if having a 20 year plan is realistic. Brian Woodruff stated the policy portions were updated in 2003. o Jeff stated the plan still reflects the general pulse of the community. It was a serious utilization of resources and shouldn't be updated every 2 years since a lot of it is long range and it takes awhile for things to occur. They are now seeing fruits of labor. It is not time for an update now. Katrina asked when and where the City Plan is in use. o Jeff explained the City Plan is the overarching document and covers a little bit of everything — external and internal. Using the River District as an example, the City Plan set parameters of what can be done and right now we're finding partners that want to make that happen. They'll use those plans when talking about sub districts in order to build this in compliance with this plan. When talking about the Transfort strategic plan, it is a template of things for staff to do when money comes available. Greg McMaster stated it is hard to see where stuff in the plan is going and wondered if Jeff had idea how to improve on it. o Jeff answered that some plans have a shorter shelf life such as environmental documents for projects. The Transportation plan is good for 3 years and needs to then be assed to bring it current. It can also change by requirements of law or situations. Dale Adamy asked about traffic flow and parking structures in the River District and if there is a bus stop designed to encourage less car traffic. Also, is PDT focusing more on car traffic than bus traffic? o Jeff replied the plan needs to be all -comprehensive, balance the needs and come up with solutions that meet with the minimum threshold of what people can live with. Can't have one plan that is perfect for everybody. The Transfort strategic plan did play a part in the River District plan in order to balance needs. 14 Regarding a Climate Task Force issue such as carbon emissions, Dale asked if the PDT is doing its best to make decisions to help air quality and if anyone on staff is looking out for air quality. o Jeff stated there is no singular champion for air quality, just dedicated hardworking staff who are trying to optimize those interests. Air quality is one of many things we have to be conscientious of. Much of it is how do we balance the resources we have to do what we need to do. o Jeff also stated we also have limitations in our resources as well. Transfort is in phase 2 of 4 and doesn't have enough funding to take it to the next level. They have seen a 16% increase in ridership in 2008. However, it has not increased funding of the program because there have also been changes in the economy and cost of fuel. o Jeff stated they are beginning a dialogue with Council about the price of government because pulling from the general fund is not a net gain or win -win situation — it's a priority conversation where to put current and potential new resources. Focusing on the AQAB questions, Greg McMasters stated the AQAB is interested about a paradigm shift in what will happen in the future. As Jeff is a director of the PDT he plays a large role in providing direction and Greg wanted to know in what direction Jeff wanted to push the department. Nancy York also asked Jeff if he had read the Mobility Management report the AQAB sent him, and she expressed concern about plans for new parking garages which encourage more vehicle traffic. o Jeff pointed out parking garages are funded by bonds, not City resources. If people are willing to see an increase in the transit program and pay it back we should look at that. That's part of price of government. Jeff stated they are putting stakeholders together to see how to fund a transit program. o Jeff also stated he likes the commitment of Fort Collins to have a transit program and bike and pedestrian program. If the community backs an increase in transit program, he sees it as a great strategic plan and would try to make it regional system with Loveland and Poudre schools. CSU is not a business partner. They're a customer and haven't put resources toward a transit program. o Land use and transportation is Jeff s background and it takes a lot of work with the community to come up with informed consent decisions to have their minimum needs met and then to go forward. We look to revitalizing or extending downtown so people will want to shop and eat and live there. We also want to help neighborhoods change their character or upgrade. o Jeff stated he is not into massive street expansion. We need a healthy street system, but it can't be all about streets. It has to be part of the portfolio from an economic and safety viewpoint. • Dave Dietrich asked how Jeff looks ahead to the changed paradigms. o Jeff stated he reads a lot, relies on his talented city staff and we all try to stay up on trends. We also have to have strong relationship with and advise elected officials who make policy and the ultimate decisions. • Greg McMaster asked if Jeff is following trends and sees where it's going. Also how does he propose to promote that vision to the public? o Jeff responded that the vision is in the plan with a good foundation that reflects where we're going to be in 20 years. Even so, it's still a plan and a best formulated guess what the future will be • Regarding CSU, Dave Dietrich wondered if the City has done any outreach to them to encourage them to embrace the transit plan and contribute money to it. o Jeff pointed out CSU is a partner on the Mason Corridor. It goes right throughcampus and benefits the campus. He hopes to see they would want to participate financially. PDT will be discussing itwiththem. • Dennis asked where the biggest gap is right now that is where the City has the most opportunity. o Jeff responded that, at a policy level, we have challenges in front of us as to what we want to be. The City Plan is good framework but doesn't answer all the questions. There are other areas that are hard topics, like the I-25 corridor. He sees Council and staff wanting to enhance downtown. Outside of downtown, we're still working on that identity. • Dave Dietrich stated he felt areas like the Harmony corridor seems to be a big box store area like many other cities and does not make any attempt to accommodate walking or biking. He wondered if there was a plan to do that. Dennis agreed and stated the City needed to expand their focus from downtown to other areas and create a bigger view of Fort Collins. Dale Adamy wondered how land use is being incorporated on Mulberry. o Jeff explained in the overall transportation system you need corridors that can carry a large amount of traffic like a Harmony Road. Fort Collins is a regional player and needs to able to allow large numbers of people to get in and out. Mulberry needs a lot of work and there is a plan underway that tries to balance those needs • Katrina Winborn stated she is concerned the Harmony Corridor is sprawling the city. She understands the regional traffic needs, but noticed a lot of businesses on College Avenue are moving to Harmony Road and out of range for her to shop by bike. This gives her the impression there is not much cooperation going on as plans are being put together. o Jeff agreed vacated stores on College is a detriment, but the City doesn't have an answer to stop it since businesses have the right of free enterprise and the City cannot restrict that. The City is also working to redevelop those areas, including the Fashion Mall. There is a national firm on contract to redevelop it, but they can't get businesses to move in. ■ Dennis Georg pointed out what was once a popular fashion mall in the `70's doesn't match the current shopping fashion trend and he doesn't ever see it being redeveloped, even if the economy swings back. • Dennis asked how the AQAB could work better with the Transportation Board. o Jeff stated the chairs of both boards should open dialogues for mutual interest. ■ Greg pointed out the AQAB has already begun that and gone to the Transportation Board meetings but have not had much reciprocation. o Jeff has observed the Transportation Board being passionate about transportation and thinking multi -modal. They are also big advocates for transit, bike and pedestrian. He suggested the AQAB leadership and Transportation Board leadership find common ground. • Dennis stated 1 /3 of the AQAB issues are connected to transportation and the impact on air quality, whatever the mobility. Land use planning and transportation are big drivers of air quality and that is why the AQAB is asking these questions. • Dennis asked Jeff what policy changes he'd like to see. o As he is still relatively new to the City, Jeff's current focus is to bring the organization together and make sure parties are working well together. • Dennis stated the City is missing an opportunity to best utilize its talented employees, because they are not charged to develop policy changes. • Nancy York asked Jeff how he sees the issue of VMT reduction. o Jeff stated that the City has seen a 3%-5% reduction this year, but is not sure why. One possible reason is we're experiencing slow down in growth and population. It's hard to know but important to keep working all the fronts. There is also a lot of opportunities along Mason corridor to promote the usage of it without urban sprawl. o In terms of VMT reduction = strong transit program, good bike/ped program and look at what we can do from land use aspect such as Mason Corridor. • Nancy York asked Jeff to state his department's priorities or any driving passions in planning and transportation. o Jeff stated he wanted to engage groups like the AQAB and talk about what it does take to make that kind of VMT reduction happen. He also wants to create a world class transit and bike/ped program, the right investment in a street system and what it takes to get it there. Jeff also believes we need some resource mechanism to make that happen. • Greg McMaster asked what sense of urgency and importance is climate change in Jeff's thinking and prioritizing the future. c Jeff stated the PDT has been working with the Climate Task Force, including on VMT reduction. Part of that would include building 5 roundabouts, if that plan is approved by Council and resources are available. He also felt the recycle program has a vast opportunity here. • Brian Woodruff stated the AQAB has been studying how they can work more effectively with City Council regarding air quality, and he asked Jeff what does the Council need to hear 4 from the AQAB and how can the Board help move forward on issues like transit and land use integration. o Jeff suggested the AQAB track with the Council 6 month calendar and give endorsements during Council meetings. Jeff also suggested the AQAB find some common ground and compromise with the Transportation Board. As a parting thought, Jeff Scheick stated the Mason Corridor is a good investment for the City. They have closed the EIS process and are now in full stage project development and waiting for federal money. Trash Services Study Kip Carrico had prepared and distributed a document based on the Board's conversations at the previous two meetings. Dave Dietrich had submitted several minor comments prior to the meeting. • For the Board's information, Brian read the recommendation of the Natural Resources Advisory Board to City Council regarding trash districting. Kip Carrico moved and Greg McMaster seconded a motion to approve the AQAB's recommendation regarding trash hauling with minor changes made by Dave Dietrich. Motion approved unanimously. • Brian Woodruff will forward the final document on to City Council. Greg McMaster asked if the AQAB also wanted to weigh in on commercial recycling. o Dennis reported he attended a community outreach event on trash districting recently conducted by Arm Turnquist and Susie Gordon. There were only about 20 attendees but many spoke in favor of trash districting. Dennis felt there should be more than the 3 trash districts recommended by staff, so it would not harm the smaller trash haulers. Brian Woodruff gave the AQAB a memo he compiled explaining the Colorado state law that limits local government regulation of commercial trash haulers. The statute does not limit the ability of the City to require recycling and along with waste disposal services from commercial accounts as somg trash haulers would like the City to believe. Greg McMaster made a friendly amendment to the previous motion that, "in addition, the AQAB encourages Council to adopt a parallel strategy that is parallel to the residential program to promote recycling and reduce the solid waste stream from commercial trash." Nancy York seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously Dennis Geog pointed out this issue is scheduled to go to the Council work session very soon - September 23, 2008. Greg suggested they could make some phone calls to Council with the AQAB's recommendation. He also suggested Brian's memo regarding the state regulations of trash haulers be attached to the above AQAB recommendation as background information. Brian will check with Susie Gordon and Ann Turnquist if this can be brought before Council without a problem. o Dale also suggested the AQAB could also make the recommendation to the City Council by email. Climate Action Plan Greg McMaster stated Eric Levine was disappointed in the discussion of the Climate Action Plan at a City Council work session in August because he felt there was some obfuscation of issues with some erroneous graphs and there was no correction to these errors brought up at the meeting. Greg suggested if there is misinformation being put out, it needs to be addressed and wondered the best way to give rebuttal for the misinformation. The AQAB members agreed to go to the fcgov.com website and watch this work session again. o Dennis stated the City Manager said the "details will be fleshed out", and asked what details are missing. ■ Brian Woodruff stated he is not sure. One thing might be that the Utilities staff is taking a careful look at strategies to make sure they are do -able, quantifiable, and cost-effective. This has lengthened the time frame. o Greg stated that if there's misinformation there should be a technical response by someone. He wondered who would do that and how would that be done. He also wondered if the AQAB wanted to weigh in on this. o Dale Adamy stated the Climate Task Force would be the appropriate ones to reply, however, the group has finished its work. In that case, he wondered if Lucinda Smith would do the rebuttal. o In summary, Greg McMaster suggested the AQAB could review the Council video and have rough comments to be discussed at the October 20, AQAB meeting. He will ask Eric to prepare some thoughts or recommendations that AQAB might want to discuss at the October 20, meeting ■ Dennis, Nancy and Greg stated the group should pay attention to any wording or date changes in the Council video that are misleading regarding the Climate Action Plan. He also felt, since the Climate Task Force has been disbanded, the AQAB should take up and advocate the air quality part of the Climate Task Force plan. ■ Dale asked Brian to ask Lucinda if there is anything the AQAB can do. Review and approve minutes of August meeting • Dale Adamy and Dennis Georg had a few typographical corrections to the minutes. Greg McMaster moved and Dale Adamy seconded a motion to approve the August 18, 2008, minutes as amended. Motion approved unanimously Brief updates Ozone: MPO recommendation & next steps • Brian reported the MPO has made two specific suggestions regarding the SIP. I . Regarding the regulation of gas wells, the MPO decided to recommend what the industry had recommended, which is 90% reduction. 2. Regarding the inspection and maintenance program, the MPO agreed to start with an IM240 test and transition later to an on -board diagnostic test. This was reflected in the SIP document as a comment. It is also in the plan for the Air Quality Commission to read at the end of this month at a meeting where they will set the December public hearing. Dennis pointed out the Weld County commissioners were against the 90% controls as being too stringent. However, the Air Quality Control Commission will be the ultimate decision - maker. Katrina pointed out those meetings are heavily attended by industry. o Brian stated the public is entitled to speak at this meeting as well as those with "party status", which gives presenters more legal rights and allows them to introduce an alternative proposal. Brian will ask Lucinda whether the City intends to be a party to the hearing. o It is also an opportunity for the AQAB to comment directly at the AQCC. New Business • Dale Adamy stated he was glad to see the AQAB recommendation letters to City Council are now posted on the AQAB website and thanked Brian for doing that. • Dennis wondered who wrote the on-line Women's Commission newsletter and the AQAB might consider doing one also. o Brian explained the Women's Commission board members create the newsletter themselves — recruit the articles, compile it and get it published to the web. • Katrina informed the group that the upcoming Electric Board meeting will discuss feedback from boards on the energy policy and asked if the AQAB formally did anything after meeting with the chair and utility staff. Greg stated the Board had provided feedback only during the meeting. Brian stated the AQAB could write them a note to summarize. o Dennis stated Boulder published their Smart Meter plan for'/4 of residences. It's expensive but they think there is a pay back there. • Dale stated the Transportation Board has trash districting on their September agenda and pointed out this might bean opportunity to have a joint recommendation? Eric would need to pursue it. Brian was asked to forward the NRAB and AQAB recommendations to their staff liaison and chair. • Greg recapped that this was the best year ever for West Nile Virus and the City did not have to spray because of the low number of culex mosquitoes. The City has a process set up now so next year we'll be ready. Dennis Georg moved and Greg McMaster seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. Approved unanimously. Meeting was adjourned at 8:04 Submitted by Alexis Hmielak Administrative Secretary I/� Approved by the Board on i 2008 Signed Administrative Secretary I Date 7