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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAir Quality Advisory Board - Minutes - 07/20/2020 AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR July 20, 2020 5:30 – 8:00 pm via Zoom 7/20/20 – MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER 5:30pm 2. ROLL CALL • List of Board Members Present - no quorum − Harry Edwards − Matt Tribby − Karen Artell − Jim Dennison • List of Board Members Absent – Excused or Unexcused; if no contact with Chair has been made − Jason Miller − Jakob Lindaas • List of Staff Members Present − Cassie Archuleta, Staff Liaison − Lucinda Smith, Director, Environmental Services Department − Travis Storin, Interim Chief Financial Officer • List of Guests − Dan Welch 3. AGENDA REVIEW a. AQAB membership changes a. Matt Tribby announced that Jacob Lindaas has left the board and Matt will act as interim chair until a full board is achieved b. Three new members are being interviewed with an orientation in August 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION • N/A 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES c. Because there was no quorum, the minutes were not voted upon AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 7/20/20 – MINUTES Page 2 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. none 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Travis Storin, Interim Chief Finance Officer, provided a high level update regarding the 2020 and 2021 budget projections and impacts − Travis recapped: − The City's budgeting BFO process and how it works − Current 2020-2021 Revenue Forecasts - Forecast uses multiple scenarios of projected revenue shortfalls − Recommended 2020 budget cuts - Response plan to close the revenue gap includes Federal/state funding, spending cuts, hiring freeze, facility furloughs, transit system reductions, CARES expenses, additional expense cuts and using some of the City's reserves. - The overall cuts amount to approximately 6-1/2% of the City's 2020 overall budget. - CARES Act COVID funds can be used for direct City response, residential support and business support − 2021 budget. - Anticipates $19 million shortfall, additional budget cuts, less in- person opportunities for community engagement on the budget, but more on line and virtual engagement opportunities such as an interactive ranking tool at https://ourcity.fcgov.com/2021budget. - Budget will be submitted to Council Sept 1 and adopted November 30. b. Board discussion − Regarding the 2021 environmental health budget allocation, the board wanted to know which programs that affect air quality might be cancelled. − Cassie presented a breakdown of 2020 air quality budget reductions of approximately $40,000, including AQAB meeting support, AQ campaigns and engagement, lawn and garden rebate program and City lawn and garden maintenance equipment purchase. AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 7/20/20 – MINUTES Page 3 − Lucinda explained the Climate Action Plan "Our Climate Future" program had minor reductions for general outreach, but will look for opportunities to connect with the public with free virtual media engagement in 2020 and prioritize other alternative actions. − Since the budget for air quality monitoring equipment maintenance has been cut, should the monitors need maintenance, staff will look for alternative funding instead of shutting them down. − The ongoing Environmental Services Area budget is approximately $455,000 and the total cuts were approximately 4.3% of that. − Because there are so many unknowns around COVID, it is unknown if it will prohibit any of the City's 2020 air quality goals from being achieved. However, the City is investigating ways to possibly change and maximize actions to do our best to achieve it and include them into the 2021 budget. − Matt asked if the City will continue to be able to effectively communicate with the public during pandemic restrictions. c. Follow up actions: − The board invited Travis to provide the AQAB board updates regarding the progress and content of the 2021 budget. − The board can submit input on the budget in a memo to Council between September 1 and October 6. The AQAB board will discuss the budget at their September meeting. 8. BOARD MEMBER AND STAFF REPORTS STAFF a. Because of the time gap between the last AQAB meeting and this one, Matt asked Cassie to catch the board up on what the board had been discussing, any air quality legislation and other air quality issues that have transpired during the interim. She listed the following: − climate plan update (Our Climate Future) − re-imagining boards and commissions − oil and gas council work session in November − wildfire preparedness update − radon update AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 7/20/20 – MINUTES Page 4 − West Nile update − RAQC meetings are now virtual b. Board discussion on RAQC deliberations on "Serious" SIP ozone non- attainment recommendations: − The RAQC is meeting virtually now and is accepting public comments on ozone non-compliance regulations until July 30. Unfortunately, the AQAB does not have time to give official board input, but individuals are free to comment on their own. The board can provide input to Fort Collins City Council and stay apprised of the issue. − Matt suggested the City should determine if the "non-attainment" rating will have future effect on the City and local businesses and if we will be able to keep pace with RAQC actions as regulations become more stringent? c. Staff follow up − Cassie will send the board more information about, and the results after, of a virtual Our Climate Future August workshop on climate action and air quality. It will have community-driven discussions, establish barriers to success and the City's role in the future of air quality. The AQAB board is invited to make suggestions regarding discussion topics or participate in an introductory video for the meeting. − Cassie will investigate how and from whom to make a high level summary presentation to the AQAB of what has been proposed by the RAQC and how it would affect Fort Collins. − Cassie will investigate if there are any opportunities for the board to weigh in to the RAQC after July 30. BOARD a. Roundtable discussion − The board would like more information on how the City is preparing for the air quality impact from wildfires. − Karen noted recent legislation, three bills signed in to law, regarding air quality protections and wondered if cutbacks will affect their effectiveness. − Matt was pleased to see that Dianna DeGette called for a carbon-neutral path at the federal level. − The board discussed if it would like to spend time understanding if the City has any input over the State and County rules around COVID protections? − The board would like an ozone update. AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 7/20/20 – MINUTES Page 5 b. Staff follow up − Cassie will arrange someone to address the board on this subject or the board can see the city's virtual presentation on the air quality impact on wildfires. − PRPA announced in June that the coal-fired boiler will be retired by 2030. − Cassie will keep the board apprised of the status of new member interviews and selection and a Zoom meeting to meet the current board. − Cassie could ask the County's Health Department to present on COVID. 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. 6-month Calendar review − The board discussed agenda items for the remainder of the year. b. Staff follow up − Cassie will send the board the Council's 6 month calendar − Cassie will arrange a high-level update on COVID 10. ADJOURNMENT − The meeting was adjourned at 8:09 pm.