HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 - Natural Resources Advisory Board - Work Plan1
MEMORANDUM
FROM THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD
DATE: December 11, 2014
TO: Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Joseph Piesman on behalf of the Natural Resources Advisory Board
SUBJECT: Natural Resources Advisory Board 2015 Annual Work Plan
This memorandum presents the Natural Resources Advisory Board’s (NRAB’s) work plan for the year 2015,
and identifies items and issues that are scheduled or that we anticipate will be considered by the NRAB during
the year 2015. General actions that we anticipate will be taken by the NRAB in 2015 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, including the Bicycle Advisory Board (a subcommittee of the
Transportation Board), Nature in the City Advisory Committee, Citizen Advisory Committee on the Climate
Action Plan, and the West Nile Virus Technical Advisory Committee.
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, Energy,
Water, Land Conservation and Stewardship, and Transportation Advisory Boards, and with Larimer
County’s Environmental Advisory Board.
Key Outcome Area Alignment
The NRAB is aware of the Seven Key Outcome areas in the Fort Collins Strategic Plan and will focus activities
in the Key Area of Environmental Health, with secondary areas of focus for Culture and Recreation, as well as
Transportation. The NRAB will keep these outcome areas in mind when planning its agenda.
Significant Strategic Objectives that are linked to the NRAB’s work plan include:
4.1. Improve and protect wildlife habitat and the ecosystems of the Poudre River and other urban
streams.
4.2. Achieve environmental goals using the Sustainability Assessment framework.
4.3. Implement indoor and outdoor air quality improvement initiatives.
4.4. Reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by creating a built environment focused on green
building and mobile emission reductions.
4.5. Demonstrate progress toward achieving net zero energy within the community and the City
organization using a systems approach.
4.6. Engage citizens in ways to educate and change behavior toward more sustainable living practices.
4.7. Increase the community’s resiliency and preparedness for changes in climate, weather and resource
availability.
4.8. Protect and monitor water quality, and implement appropriate conservation efforts and long-term
water storage capability.
4.9. Meet or exceed all environmental regulations.
4.10. Conserve and restore biodiversity and habitat.
4.11. Demonstrate progress toward achieving zero waste within the community and the City
organization.
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2.3. Develop effective Operation and Maintenance (O&M) funding alternatives for City subsidized
facilities and programs.
2.4. Maintain and enhance the current culture, recreation and parks systems.
2.5. Plan, design and implement citywide park, recreation and trail improvements.
2.7. Promote a healthy community and responsible access to nature.
6.6. Support efforts to achieve climate action goals by reducing mobile emissions and supporting
multiple modes of transportation.
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. We appreciate any specific input from
Council where appropriate.
Our priority action items are outlined on the following pages in the categories of: Poudre River Health; Water
Resources; Community Sustainability; Energy Policy and Renewable Energy; Waste Reduction and Recycling;
Hazardous Waste; Greenhouse Gas Goals; Master Trails Plan; Transportation Planning; Nature in the City;
Local Agriculture, and Oil and Gas.
An emerging issue that the NRAB will be paying attention to during 2015 is the possibility that Colorado State
University may decide to demolish Hughes Stadium and sell the property in order to help fund the new
stadium. The NRAB could also offer some ideas about mitigating impacts of the new on-campus stadium.
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 2015.
Sincerely,
Joseph Piesman, Chair
Natural Resources Advisory Board
cc: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Susan Gordon, Sr. Environmental Planner
Bob Overbeck, City Council Liaison to the NRAB
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The NRAB has identified the following issues to be of specific interest over the next year:
1) Health of Poudre River
In the wake of the High Park fire and the massive high-water in 2013, the recovery of the river and the
watershed presents an ongoing challenge for the City. We will continue to review and comment on policies and
funding affecting the health of the Poudre River ecology as well as the entire river ecosystem.
- Poudre River restoration projects
- Health of fisheries
- Downtown River Master Plan
- Poudre River modeling and status projects
2) Water Resources
The NRAB will also focus on other water resources issues including: 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 including Conserve to Enhance or similar strategies, and Halligan/Seaman Reservoir Expansion. The
NRAB will also review and monitor fire and flooding impacts on water supply and storm and waste water
discharge.
3) Community Sustainability
NRAB will maintain a focus on community sustainability and monitor progress on the sustainability indicators
included in Plan Fort Collins and the progress of the Office of Sustainability.
4) Energy Policy/Renewable Energy
NRAB will review and comment on renewable energy issues. The NRAB will work with the Energy Board to
provide input on the revised city Energy policy. Specific areas of input include:
- FortZed
- Commercial feed-in tariff
- Use of Smart Grid data
- Energy efficient development
- Transitioning Platte River Power Authority from coal to natural gas and renewable energy
sources
- Residential and small-scale commercial solar rebate program
- Ongoing conservation and efficiency programs
- Community solar gardens
5) Waste Reduction and Recycling
The NRAB is excited to provide input and leadership on the Road to Zero Waste plan. Areas for reducing our
solid waste discards and increasing recycling include:
- Community Recycling Center
- Increasing availability of yard trimmings collections
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- Collection of food waste for commercial composting
- Education campaigns to increase residential and commercial recycling
- Mandatory recycling of construction debris
- Expansion of multi-family recycling
- Expansion of commercial recycling
6) Hazardous Wastes
Review and comment on: hazardous waste, toxic substances, pollution prevention and remediation programs;
and community outreach and education.
7) Greenhouse Gas Goals
The NRAB will work together with the Air Quality Board, Energy Board, and Transportation Board to provide
input on the 5 year revision of the Greenhouse Gas emission Goals for the City and the City’s Climate Action
Plan. The possibility of setting ambitious goals (long term and interim) for Greenhouse Gas emission reductions
integrated with a detailed plan to reduce emission will be a main focus of the NRAB in 2015.
8) Master Trails Plan
The NRAB will work to accelerate the implementation of the Master Trails Plan. Identification of funding to
support the plan is a major concern of the NRAB.
9) Transportation Planning
Explore, review and comment on regional and local issues affecting transportation planning in cooperation with
the Transportation Board.
- Monitor coordination of Mason Street Corridor into existing transit system.
- Vehicle miles of travel
- Need for safe pedestrian design and function at major intersections in both existing and new
construction.
- Implementation of Bicycle Master Plan
10) Nature in the City
The NRAB is excited about the new Nature in the City program. The NRAB will look for opportunities to
explore public-private partnerships to enhance natural areas available to city residents.
11) Local Agriculture
Explore issues and ideas in the local agriculture movement
12) Oil and Gas
Monitor environmental issues related to oil and gas development in Fort Collins