HomeMy WebLinkAboutAir Quality Advisory Board - Minutes - 11/17/2008AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
November 17, 2008
DATE: Monday, November 17, 2008
LOCATION: 215 N. Mason Conference room 1-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: Eric Levine, Dale Adamy, Nancy York, Dennis Georg, Dave
Dietrich, Kip Carrico, Katrina Winbom, Greg McMaster
Staff Present: Alexis Hmielak, Brian Woodruff
Eric Levine called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m..
Introduction of Guests:
Several CSU Natural Resources Students were present to monitor the meeting as a class
requirement: Bryn Lawrence, Zach Weakland, Tom Fitzgerald, Alex Brandts, Kristin Schultz
Public input
■ Colorado State Representative Randy Fischer addressed the AQAB to inform them of
proposed legislation in the 2009 legislative session that would address the ozone non-
compliance issue. He wanted to see if the AQAB thought this legislation would be supported
in the Fort Collins community. Randy has been approached by Colorado Department of
Health and Environment to run legislation that will expand the emissions testing program
currently being done in Denver up to northern Colorado. Another part of the legislation
would be to address emissions by collector cars.
- ■ As the legislation has not yet been drafted, Randy volunteered to come back at the December
AQAB meeting to talk about the specific components of the legislation. In the meantime, he
suggested the AQAB discuss this at their leisure to see if they had any suggestions or input.
The bill will not be introduced until January, 2009.
Discussion
• Eric Levine stated this is part of the SIP process and the AQAB is charged to review
anything in SIP process.
• Brian Woodruff will get the specific language of the legislation from Randy when available
and send to the AQAB.
• Dennis Georg stated the AQAB has already talked about bringing back emissions testing and
that he thought the only controversy in emissions testing was onboard diagnostics (OBD) vs.
tail pipe testing. It was his understanding the Denver area preferred tail pipe testing and that
other states are moving to OBD, particularly for newer model cars. Katrina Winborn
reminded the AQAB that they previously wrote a memo to the MPO stating the AQAB
advocated the OBD testing.
• Randy Fischer pointed out emissions testing will cost people and he hoped they could find a
way to offset the cost of this; maybe with a rebate for low income people. He was also
concerned about the impact of vehicle donation programs and how much it affects habitat
and is interested in a possible "cash for clunkers" program to get older vehicles off the road.
• Eric asked if there was an opportunity for a discussion of cut points. For example, the
IM240 emissions test can set cut points to get more bang for the buck for different year and
class of cars. He would like the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
(PDPHE) to work up cost benefits of setting those cut points. Randy Fischer agreed to ask
about this.
• Dave Dietrich asked if there were any statistics available on the effectiveness of the program
in Denver. Randy Fischer stated he got a report from CDPHE that he will send to Brian for
distribution to the group.
• In response to Katrina Winborn's question if this legislation ties into the SIP process and do
you still have to make a separate law, Brian stated yes, legislative laws are needed in order to
implement the SIP.
• Eric stated he has some concern regarding the "cash for clunkers" program and suggested
junkyard cars and other barely functioning vehicles be excluded from any such program.
North I - 25/392 Intersection 1601 project
Senior Transportation Planner, Denise Weston presented a report of findings stating the proposed
I-25/392 intersection project meets CDOT requirements regarding environment, physical design,
and funding. The report was done along with consulting firm, AECOM. Denise pointed out this
is the same presentation given to the City Council joint work session November 3, 2008. Denise
is working on the environmental component of the project and came to the AQAB for their input.
• This is a three-phase project
1. Justification for separate action (Has been completed)
2. CDOT 1601 process (currently being done)
• Traffic Analysis and Enhanced Preliminary Design
• NEPA clearance
• Funding Plan
3. Local and CDOT implementation (To come)
The cities of Fort Collins and Town of Windsor are doing this separate 1601 process because
the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) EIS will not be completed for awhile.
The two cities wanted to more forward with this more expedient process to get final
environment clearance and permission from the Federal Highways Administration and the
Transportation Commission to construct the interchange, when the fimding is available.
o The city of Fort Collins and town board have agreed to use all the environmental
investigation results that have come out of the EIS, in addition to the design that was
proposed under the EIS. This just a re -documentation in a different package and we
have to strictly follow what has come out the EIS.
o The EIS is available on line and they are taking public comment. They are also
having a public hearing this week at the Lincoln Center. Denise encouraged members
of the AQAB if they have any comments they can make their comments known at
these two opportunities.
o Conceptual level design allows cost estimates to be prepared.
o The conceptual design and cost estimates will be included in a package that must be
approved by the CDOT Transportation Commission.
Outcomes:
o CDOT Transportation Commission approval
o NEPA Clearance
o IGAs in place between CDOT, the Town and City that will define preliminary and
final design steps
Design aspects
o The "Tight Diamond" design is consistent with I-25 EIS. We won't be building the
six lanes proposed in the EIS. This will be interim reconstruction of the interchange.
The proposal we're putting in won't preclude anything they are proposing such as
expansion of lanes or transit down the middle of the corridor.
o It minimizes environmental impacts while also providing safe and efficient traffic
operations.
Environmental aspects
o The environmental portion of the 1601 footprint is consistent with the North I-25
DEIS and the City's 2007 study of 392.
o Proposed alignment minimizes impacts to natural resources .
o NEPA clearance (Categorical Exclusion) is expected to be completed by December,
2008, with documentation included in the 1601 package and submitted to the CDOT
Transportation Commission in January.
o CDOT allowed a categorical exclusion for this 1601 documentation process to not
document the potential impacts because they have already evaluated the project on a
higher level for the following potential impacts.
■ Air / Noise
■ Wetlands/Water Quality
■ Wildlife / T & E Species
■ Vegetation / Noxious Weeds
■ Hazardous Materials
■ Cultural Resources
■ Social / Economic
o Mitigation Proposed
o Wetlands (A acre)
o Prairie Dogs (not significant because there is a large habitat)
o Potential Hazardous Materials (3 locations — RV park)
o Implement best management practices during construction
Questions
• In answer to a question from Dennis Georg, Denise stated they didn't do much measurement
of air quality because it is already on the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) for the North
Front Range MPO. So any air compliance that needs to be done will be done by the MPO in
coordination with the EPA. However, if there is a potential for the level of service to go
down, CDOT's requirements are to do hot spot analysis. These interchanges have been
tagged as an improvement of service so are therefore not subject to any hot spot analysis.
• In answer to a question by Eric Levine, Denise said the construction process for this project
is from 12 to 18 months duration. Eric was concerned about the EM10 levels next to
KinderCare Learning Center and suggested they do construction when school is not in
session.
• Nancy York wanted to know what the traffic volume was at this intersection. Denise did not
have that information. Nancy stated she read a study that children who live within 1500 feet
of heavy traffic have a six times greater chance of cancer.
• Nancy also asked if they considered adding transit to the mix before widening the
interchange. Denise said yes, the City of proposes transit at this interchange and that we're
making sure nothing we're proposing would preclude transit in the future.
• Nancy York pointed out a consultant did a best practices mobility management study for the
City and suggested "least cost" (transit) was one consideration. Denise pointed out the traffic
volume has been determined to be unsafe, not the bridge. The traffic volumes are backing up
into travel lanes and entrance ramps. CDOT is concerned and supports this project to
alleviate safety concerns.
• In answer to a question from Kip Carrico who asked if the best management practices will
address diesel emission restrictions, Denise Weston responded they are currently being
written and, yes, they will most likely require diesel vehicles to be parked in certain areas and
have restrictions how long they can be run.
• Eric Levine asked if, when considering the "tight diamond" over other conformations, it had
less cost and less environmental impact. Denise stated the entire process to determine what
type of interchange to construct was thoroughly investigated in the EIS process where they
compared cost, safety and environmental impact. Through this process it was determined the
"Tight Diamond" is less expensive and would improve the traffic flow of the interchange.
• Finance Update
o The finance package is part of the 1601 process.
■ Preliminary Cost Estimate: $ 22.7 Million"
■ Funding from CDOT: $1.9 Million
■ Funding GAP to Fill: $20.8 Million
** Based on CDOT data included in March 2008 IGA signed by the City, Town and the
developer. Amount is subject to change given inflationary trends for construction materials.
o In order to receive 1601 approval in January, CDOT is looking for viable financing
scenarios
o Elected officials simply need to review these scenarios to ensure they will meet the
range of future financing solutions.
o The financing package must be secured prior to construction which could be as early
as Spring of 2010.
• Three Funding Scenarios (Options are suggested, but unknown, and no decision is required
on them at this time)
o SIGNIFICANT RETAIL DEVELOPMENT - Based on the efforts of a single site
retail development plus a Metro District.
o PUBLIC ENTITY FUNDING - Based on a significant joint investment by both the
City of Fort Collins and the Town of Windsor plus a Metro District.
o MIX OF PUBLIC ENTITY/ DEVELOPMENT - Based on an equal mix of
investment by both the public sector (City & Town) plus all impacted property
owners, the funding is covered
• Schedule and timeline
o Construction could begin spring of 2010, if we can get through the 1601 and final
design process quickly.
• Next Steps
o Entire package goes to Council and Town Board December 17, 2008, for approval.
o Final approval by CDOT Commission in January 15, 2009.
o Final Design and discussion of when and how to construct project.
Discussion
• Brian Woodruff pointed out the Draft Environmental. Impact Statement is scheduled for
review by the AQAB at its December meeting. Council will be looking at it the following
day. The AQAB could make a recommendation either tonight or in December.
El
• Denise pointed out Council is also interested in knowing that she has made a presentation to
various advisory boards so they understand what's going on. Any support or
recommendation will be appreciated.
• In answer to a request by Katrina Winborn, Denise will send her a contact name and number
to report any construction violations to best management practices she may observe during
construction of this project.
• Eric Levine wondered if there was any agreement between Windsor and Fort Collins how to
put funding towards this or if they want to tax current or future development. Denise stated
there was not an agreement, currently. Both Fort Collins and Windsor have much to gain
from this project. Even though Loveland was approached and has stated it has no interest in
being a financial player, they are included in the project.
• Nancy York asked Denise to provide the AQAB a traffic count. Denise stated it is in the
EIS, but their group has expanded it out to 2035.
• In answer to a question from Dave Dietrich, Denise stated the consultant's contract cost was
just under $100,000 and was shared by Windsor, Fort Collins and the regional developer.
AQAB 2009 Work Plan
Final adoption of the work plan is needed at this meeting to meet the November 30, 2008,
deadline set by City Council. The AQAB reviewed the proposed work plan that had been
emailed to the group. Brian Woodruff pointed out the work plan had been reworded and the
group liked the new format.
Comments:
o Dennis suggested the new EPA standard setting process should be left on the list as a
medium priority.
o Dale suggested keeping public communication such as a newsletter but not obligate a
public meeting.
o Brian stated he could have someone address the board regarding understanding policy
and code change mechanisms in the City.
o Katrina suggested the AQAB send a representative to the Bicycle Advisory
Committee. Brian stated the AQAB is invited to send a representative to the Bicycle
Advisory Committee and the group could select a representative at the December
meeting.
o Dale suggested adding mobility management to the 2009 work plan so that the
AQAB can review city policies and recommend specific goals and objectives for
mobility management.
o Dennis and Dave recommended adding review monitoring strategies from data
collection from distant monitors and using those outcomes make recommendations.
Final 2009 Air Quality Advisory Board Work Plan
High priority
1. Climate and Sustainability
• Review progress of the City's implementation of the Climate Action Plan and make
recommendations for adjustments to meet the City's goals.
• Track progress of the City s implementation plan to reduce the air quality impact of
residential and commercial diversion and trash hauling. Make recommendations for
adjustments.
2. Communication and Outreach
• Provide enhanced education of air quality issues (idling, wood smoke, ride -sharing,
renewable energy, energy conservation, indoor air quality).
• Review and promote a report to public on air quality issues (including metrics). Consider
holding a public meeting, writing a newsletter, creating a poster.
3. Air Quality
• Review the Air Quality Plan and recommend changes.
• Review the Transportation Master Plan with respect to air quality concerns and
recommend changes.
• Track implementation of the ozone compliance plan for the North Front Range
region.
• Review the City's response to West Nile Virus and make recommendations on the
funding and other elements of the WNV program.
• Review the air quality monitoring network & strategy and recommend changes.
4. Mobility Management
• Broaden communication and collaboration with the Transportation Board and other
organizations (PSD, CSU, etc.) to better understand barriers and opportunities to a
strong multi -modal transportation system.
• Review City policy with regard to mobility management and recommend goals and
objectives to guide implementation of the policy
• Participate in the Bicycle Advisory Committee by sending an AQAB representative.
Lower priority
• Understand policy and code changes mechanisms in the city and adopt a protocol for
the Board to use in affecting policy and code changes.
• Review the revised EPA standards on airborne lead and make recommendations to
City Council on required actions the City must take to be in compliance.
• Examine data on au pollution emissions from the City's vehicle fleet and recommend
goals for improvement, including reduction of diesel emissions.
• Consider methods to incorporate grade -separated pedestrian crossings into the
development process.
• Track the efforts to form a Regional Transportation Authority and recommend a platform
of principles that support air quality.
• Review and provide input to air quality marketing efforts (Track to Win, etc.).
Review and approve minutes of October 15, 2008, meeting.
Dale Adamy had a few minor edits to his suggestions on pages. 7 and 8 and submitted them to
Alexis to revise the minutes for the record.
Dale Adamy moved and Dave Dietrich seconded a motion to approve the minutes as
amended.
Motion passed unanimously
Draft Climate Action Plan
Lucinda Smith addressed the AQAB to see if they wanted to make any further comments or
recommendations. She stated there have been slight revisions made to the proposed additional
recommended strategies.
• Lucinda's items in the AQAB packet were:
o Draft Climate Action Plan
o Summary memo of 11/28/08 of City Council Work Session
o Proposed additional strategies to close the 2012 and 2020 gap
• Lucinda stated that at the Council work session the Council asked to see a plan that
would completely close the gap of 2012 and 2020 intent. She met with Utilities staff and
the City's waste reduction staff to look at additional ideas. As a result of these
ri
discussions they determined there is almost no way to completely close the 2012 gap.
Purchasing carbon offsets would be an addendum to the base plan.
o Staff reported they will be doing every thing they can to increase efficiencies.
o The community climate challenge goal is not completely defined, but it is to focus
on the residential sector and estimates carbon reduction at 2% per person. It is
proposed to be implemented as a pilot program next year.
■ Climate Wise is addressing the commercial sector.
■ Transportation and recycling will be part of the mix.
o Carbon benefit for community climate challenge is considered to be 90% double
counting because of overlap with other things in the plan.
o Dave Dietrich stated his opinion that if plug-in hybrid cars were more available
many cars would turn by 2020 and this would be a more viable alternative of
reducing carbon emissions than buying carbon offsets. He suggested a calculation
for this should be in the Plan.
o Dennis Georg agreed and suggested the AQAB should make 3 recommendations:
■ To reaffirm the AQAB's support for CAP
■ Support the addendum
■ Propose a plan to study and develop recommendations for further
incremental and alternative strategies based on longer term goals.
o Dave suggested the City can't do this by itself. The state and nation have to make
state and federal changes to make this happen.
■ Lucinda stated there could be recognition of that but didn't think Council
wanted to rely on that.
• Lucinda summarized that the AQAB is suggesting an acknowledgement in the Plan of the
importance of the role other things outside of Fort Collins, especially in the transportation
sector. Also that some of those things should be looked at more carefully over the next
several years in preparation of what we do in 2011.
• Katrina asked what is in the Plan for monitoring the progress of the Climate Action Plan.
o Lucinda stated there would be an annual emissions inventory and report that
quantifies the reductions. Every other year will be a more careful look at what we
do in the next budget cycle. That's where the additional strategies from new
technologies and opportunities will come forward.
• Greg McMaster stated if our current goals for 2020 aren't adequate it seems like the Plan
has to be more proactive by shooting for more than just meeting the goals. He is hopeful
that the new administration will have more incentives that will make it easier to reduce
carbon.
• Nancy York suggested public communication be increased so the community will be
more educated about energy efficiencies.
• In answer to a question by Dale Adamy, Lucinda stated the Climate Action Plan doesn't
go into the level of detail regarding better trash collection data by installing scales at the
landfill.
• Eric Levine stated he has rethought some priorities and made the following suggestions.
o He wished the Climate Task Force had added action items for citizens to do
directly that adds value to the community such as creating jobs and adding
efficiency to the infrastructure.
o Some CTF recommendations to Council were not the best we can do to meet the
2012 intent. Regarding the updated proposal, the AQAB, the Climate Task Force
and staff recommend we be bold in approaching carbon reduction. However, Eric
stated this plan is too whittled down and not bold enough.
o Rather than buying RECs , the City should fund a conservation program that
would involve energy audits, revolving loads for weatherization, heating and
cooling and possibly homes below a certain standard would qualify for financial
help for efficiency.
o Spending over $1 million a year to purchase offsets to meet the goal does not go
into our city.
o The VMT reduction of 28,000 by 2020 is extremely low. Without addressing
efficiency and the order of travel we will never meet the goals. They have to be
addressed ASAP.
Dennis agreed that it would be better to, spend the $1 million in the community, but
having the $1 million to spend is not a guaranteed thing.
o Greg suggested long term investment in things to keep spending local
Nancy suggested any new development should have very high standards in order to get
public money. Lucinda stated it is already in the Plan and the Roadmap to Green
Building. Nancy added she didn't think it was a high priority with Council for these
things since they approved the North College Market Place that will have a large impact
on air quality and VMTs.
Lucinda stated she will talk to Transportation staff to get their support to include a long-
term strategy to Lower VMT b 2020".
Greg McMaster moved and Dennis Georg seconded the following motion:
The Air Quality Advisory Board reaffirms its support for the Draft Climate Action Plan,
including the proposed additional strategies, and we urge City Council to adopt them. Secondly,
we recommend that, in 2009/2010, the Council plan to study and develop further incremental and
alternative strategies to attain both near and longer -term goals, including alternatives to
purchasing carbon offsets and enhancements to transportation and energy efficiency. Thirdly, we
recommend that the Council direct the City Manager to provide resources and direction to
continue the process. And finally, we point out that, although successful implementation of the
Climate Action Plan would meet its stated goal, the goal itself falls short of the need for carbon
emission reduction.
Motion passed unanimously.
Energy Policy
John Phelan addressed the board regarding the Energy policy and handed out latest version of it.
He stated there are some relatively minor changes since the last time he presented to the AQAB.
The Energy Policy will go to Council the same night as the Climate Action Plan; December 2,
2008.
• John reported there was an open house for the public this afternoon to discuss the Energy
Policy and general information about light and power. Over 100 people attended.
• Changes made to the policy were mostly editorial with some more -readable graphics:
o Under 2050 Vision — "affordable" was added.
o A fourth goal was added -
• Maintain Fort Collins Utilities collaborative relationship with Platte River Power
Authority.
Discussion
Dennis asked what are the biggest things the Energy Policy could do to help the city meet the
2012 goal.
o John Phelan answered highlighting efficiency and conservation are key. The Energy
Policy proposes a verifiable efficiency energy reduction of 1 % per year per person.
We know the current technological opportunities but the question is how do we drive
customers to make the right decisions. There are lots of opportunities here. Need to
explore more on behavioral techniques.
o Another possibility is to change the strategy of the program to have more aggressive
goals.
o Regarding efficiency, there are math challenges around substituting carbon offsets
with efficiency in residential homes. The calculations are not elastic enough to
predict concrete answers.
Dennis asked if there are there some lower hanging fruit than the smart grid technology that
could be beneficial in the next five years.
o John stated there are two benefits from smartness down to the home level
• It enables rate structures with price incentives we don't have now.
• It provides a feedback mechanism. John mentioned the preliminary results of
a study by a utility in Las Vegas regarding smart meters showed energy
reductions only averaged 5%. He felt this small of a reduction could be
achieved in other efficiency efforts without investing in smart metering
equipment.
• Dennis asked if there are more opportunities for Smart Meters in commercial.
o John Phelan stated about half of commercial customers already have that feedback
available. Some use it more than others.
o Smaller commercial customers are a harder market to track efficiencies. There are
too many variables.
• John Phelan stated there has been discussion at Council on the City's mix for renewable
energy and RECs. One thought is to divert money from the purchase of RECs to purchasing
other things. Platte River Power Authority is planning to replace RECs with delivered wind
energy with plant capacity, which will actually cost more than RECs.
o One of the more advanced pieces of our policy is to have an overall carbon
framework with additional renewable energy to reach the carbon goal.
• John also stated another thing Utilities is doing is shifting to an inventory -based measure of
success. This is a much more definable goal because they know exactly what the 2005
emissions were, how many megawatt hours were sold and the exact resource mix that
provided those. It is a fixed number. We'll try to estimate savings from the various
programs. However, the proof will be in fluctuation of inventory levels and whether overall
emissions went down, or not.
o John mentioned another element that has changed is focus on "affordable bills" rather
than "rates"
Discussion
• In answer to a question by Eric Levine who asked if there was something in the Energy Plan
that forbade direct cooperative efforts to supply a city block or less with renewables, John
stated it is in the City code. You cannot be a suppler net meter yourself: Eric stated he could
see small-scale direct energy with renewables could be feasible in the future and, therefore,
did not want to see the door closed to those future efforts.
o John Phelan said Utilities' pricing and rates are built around paying for infrastructure
based on energy. If rates really reflected the fixed costs of providing energy,
customers' fixed costs would be higher and energy costs would be lower per month.
Having various small distributed systems around town would make it difficult for
Utilities to allocate the fixed cost of providing energy.
Dennis stated he read somewhere there is potential for more cost effective renewables and
the potential of reaching scale in the US power grid. John replied renewables are a trivial
amount of energy today and the metering and pricing structure across the country aren't
ready now. However, in the next few years, if they focused on the efficiency side and getting
grid improvements to dynamically manage supply and demand, things could change.
Dennis Georg moved and Dave Dietrich seconded the following motion:
The Air Quality Advisory Board recommends adoption of the revised Energy Policy. We note
that steps taken in the Energy Policy are in alignment with the Climate Action Plan which we
also support.
Motion passed unanimously
New business
• Greg McMaster stated that Mary Smith recognized the Air Quality Advisory
Committee's support of the trash issue and asked that the members of the AQAB
comment on the trash issue at the public comment period of the December 2, 2008,
Council meeting.
• Nancy York stated the group should also support the Climate Action Plan.
• Katrina Winbom announced public comment period on I-25EIS is out. They are
accepting written and on-line comments and encouraged the group to comment. The
proposal is to add lanes to I-25 and bus rapid transit. Light rail is not an option because
not enough people take the light rail.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Submitted by Alexis Hmielak
Administrative Secretary I
Approved by the Board on. &Zew,& , 2008
Signed '
A s a4creDate
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