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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010 - Natural Resources Advisory Board - Work Plan2010 Work Plan for Natural Resources Advisory Board City of Fort Collins TO: Mayor and Fort Collins City Council FROM: Liz Pruessner on behalf of the Natural Resources Advisory Board SUBJECT: Natural Resources Advisory Board 2010 Work Plan DATE: November 24, 2009 This memorandum presents the Natural Resources Advisory Board’s (NRAB’s) work plan for the year 2010. General actions that we anticipate will be taken by the NRAB in 2010 include the following: • Reviewing City policies and plans for consistency with the community’s environmental goals and values through regular meetings and subcommittee meetings; • Continue providing feedback to Staff by participating in task forces and special committees to address specific policies, plans or regulations; • Developing recommendations to Council through Board discussion and consensus; • Communicating our recommendations to Council through written memoranda and attendance at Council meetings, hearings, and study sessions; • Coordinating activities with other City Boards and Commissions as needed, such as the Air Quality, Electric, Water, Land Conservation and Stewardship and Transportation Advisory Boards, and with Larimer County’s Environmental Advisory Board; The work plan identifies items and issues that are scheduled or that we anticipate will be considered by the NRAB during the year 2010, either by the full Board or by Board committees. The NRAB closely monitors Council’s six-month planning calendar for upcoming topics on which to provide recommendations. Other relevant issues will be addressed by the Board as they are brought before us by Council or Staff. The work plan informs Council of the board’s future agenda items, and will be relied upon throughout the year by the NRAB for our own planning purposes. To the extent practicable, the timing of our consideration of these items will closely parallel Council’s schedule, as many of the items and issues identified in this work plan are also contained in City Council’s Policy Agenda. Our priority action items are outlined on the following page in the categories of Community Sustainability; Climate Action Plan; Solid Waste/Recycling; Hazardous Waste and Pollution Prevention; Energy Policy and Renewable Energy; Water Resources; Transportation Planning; City Plan update; and Other Natural Resource Issues. We look forward to a productive year of volunteer service to Council, the citizens of Fort Collins, and the environment. As always, please feel free to contact us with any comments or questions regarding our work plan for 2010. Sincerely, Liz Pruessner, Chair Natural Resources Advisory Board cc: Darin Atteberry, City Manager John Stokes, Director, Natural Resources Department David Roy, City Council Liaison to the NRAB The NRAB has identified the following issues to be of specific interest over the next year: 1) Community Sustainability Scorecard NRAB plans to develop a special project related to community sustainability. 2) Climate Action Plan NRAB will continue to urge progress on implementation of the Climate Action Plan and assist with current budgeted efforts such as the Community Climate Challenge, energy efficiency programs and Climate Wise enhancements. 3) Solid Waste Reduction /Recycling Work to assist the City in achieving the goal of reducing solid waste into the landfill by 50% by 2010, including the on-going efforts to significantly increase recycling. We will focus on enhanced commercial recycling opportunities (e.g., in bars, liquor stores, gas stations and apartment complexes) and residential yardwaste. 4) Hazardous Waste and Pollution Prevention Review and comment on: hazardous waste, toxic substances, pollution prevention, and remediation programs; community outreach and education, and brownfields projects. 5) Energy Policy/Renewable Energy NRAB will review and comment on renewable energy issues, use of green energy funds, green job growth, energy efficiency and conservation, and energy efficient development, etc. 6) Water Resources Continue to review and comment on policies affecting water quality protection; storm water runoff, impacts of development on runoff quality and raw water supplies, and monitoring and reporting of water quality in Fossil Creek, Spring Creek, and the Poudre River. NRAB will continue to monitor and coordinate with staff and other boards' review of water related projects and issues; e.g., NISP/Glade, City of Fort Collins Water Conservation Plan, Halligan/Seaman Reservoir Expansion/Improvements, Flaming Gorge Reservoir (Wyoming) to Colorado diversions, etc. NRAB also will provide comment and recommendations on the issue of emerging contaminants as well as minimum instream flows in the Cache la Poudre River. 7) Transportation Explore, review and comment on regional and local issues affecting transportation planning; efficient transportation modes such as bicycle, Transfort, and the Mason Street Corridor. Participate in public discussions regarding environmental impacts of regional transportation projects, including I-25, Carpenter Road/SH 392, the Transit Strategic Plan, and other transportation projects that arise. 8) Active participation in City Plan update NRAB seeks to maximize input into City Plan development, including – if possible membership on development team and / or Steering Committee. 9) Other natural resources issues • Wildlife / human conflict issues • Local agriculture • Resource depletion as it relates to Peak Oil, locally obtained food, transportation affordability and accessibility, water resources, and economic impacts • Community forum on Peak Oil