HomeMy WebLinkAboutWORK SESSION SUMMARY-10/11/2022-Work SessionEnvironmental Services
222 Laporte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6600
fcgov.com/environmental services
MEMORANDUM
Date: October 14, 2022
To: Mayor Arndt and City Councilmembers
Thru: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Our Climate Future Executive Team1
From: Our Climate Future Team Members2
Maren Bzdek, Historic Preservation Services Manager
Re: October 11, 2022 Work Session Summary: Our Climate Future Implementation
Attendees: All Councilmembers were present. Kendall Minor, Molly Saylor, Honore Depew, and John
Phelan provided the presentation. The meeting was conducted via the zoom platform and in person.
Purpose: Staff sought feedback on the content and timing of a proposed Council action roadmap to
achieve the 2030 waste, climate, and energy goals as part of Our Climate Future implementation, and
what interim greenhouse gas target to consider via Resolution at the October 25 Regular Meeting.
Discussion Summary:
x Councilmembers supported the Council roadmap, noting the following points:
o Appreciation for transparency on how far identified strategies go and where gaps exist.
o Curiosity if any of the actions could happen faster and accelerate mitigation outcomes.
o City Council plays impactful roles beyond the roadmap, especially in working with
community partners and at the State level.
o Interest in whether energy efficiency program funding levels are sufficient to help offset
community costs; need to balance moving quickly with not pricing people out. Rebates are
important and Councilmembers encouraged staff to bring options forward when
considering policy discussions for how costs could be offset in implementation.
o Interest in further discussion of ways to accelerate both (1) construction and demolition
infrastructure and policy, and (2) regional food scrap and yard trimmings composting.
Interest was also expressed in whether yard trimmings is the best terminology for
this type of composting.
o Roadmap would be a helpful onboarding tool for new Councilmembers and priority setting.
o Interest expressed in making the roadmap publicly available and updated on a regular
basis to respond and adapt to changing conditions locally, statewide, and beyond.
x Multiple Councilmembers expressed a preference for a 50% interim goal, with some
Councilmembers referencing preferences ranging from 43%-50%.
o Curiosity expressed around what additional efforts or mitigation strategies would be
required to increase mitigation target from 43% projected in 2026 to 50%.
o Support expressed for continuing to explore community partnerships and leadership at all
levels to work toward closing the gap.
x Councilmembers asked questions about specific waste, energy, and climate strategies, with
further requests to follow up, which are addressed below.
1 Our Climate Future (OCF) Executive Team includes Interim Deputy City Manager Tyler Marr; Utilities Executive Director
Kendall Minor; Planning, Development, & Transportation Director Caryn Champine, Equity Officer Claudia Menendez;
Community Services Director (vacant); & Environmental Services Director Lindsay Ex
2 OCF Team Members that contributed to this memo include Honore Depew, Climate Program Manager; John Phelan, Energy
Services Manager and Policy Advisor; Brian Tholl, Energy Services Supervisor; Molly Saylor, Lead Sustainability Specialist;
Caroline Mitchell, Waste Reduction and Recycling Manager; Adelle McDaniel, Senior Environmental Sustainability Specialist;
and Michael Authier, Sr. Energy Services Engineer.
2
Additional Information Available Now
Updates on the State’s circular economy legislation and ensuring the City is leveraging opportunities to
engage and influence State legislation:
x The State’s Waste Diversion and Circular Economy Development Center (HB22-1159) will be in
operation by 2023 and run by a third-party administrator. The first step will be a statewide, end-
market gap analysis by August 2024. Importantly, this act also removed the limitation that entities
could only apply for state funding for waste infrastructure once every five years, which creates
significant opportunities for the Regional Wasteshed partnership to advance its priorities as well.
x The Extended Producer Responsibility Program (HB22-1355) focuses on packaging materials
and paper products and will be operated by a nonprofit organization beginning in June 2023. The
first step will be an analysis of the collection and infrastructure needs to bring recycling to all
single unit and multi-unit households in Colorado. Producers will then fund recycling service and
infrastructure and are incentivized to utilize packaging that is locally recyclable. Additional
legislation may be considered in future years to expand this program to additional materials.
x Additional updates and opportunities will be discussed at the October 25 Legislative Review
Committee meeting from 3-4 pm at City Hall.
Historic Preservation current practice/requirements for historic windows:
x Replacement products are allowable per City code and consistent with the Secretary of the
Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation when original windows are lost or severely deteriorated, but
replacement products must meet quality and character standards that typically exclude vinyl
window products.
x To meet needs related to energy performance, historic preservation staff assist owners of
designated landmarks and of historic resources during development and building permit review.
Owners are first encouraged to order an energy audit to identify primary concerns. In energy
audits, the highest impact actions are often insulating attic and walls, as historic windows
(especially pre-World War II properties) are often as efficient as new windows
x This approach is consistent with national preservation guidelines, considers the contribution of
windows to overall energy performance and also places a value on embodied energy of existing
materials and prevention of C&D waste. It also fulfills our obligation to preserve owner access to
local, state, and federal financial incentives for preservation (grants, tax credits, and loans).
x To assist with improving performance of original historic windows, Historic Preservation staff can
provide small grant funds (Design Assistance Program) to conduct a window study that evaluates
condition and repairability, opportunities to address leaks between sash and frame, and other
additive, lower-costs retrofits such as new storm units and additional glazing.
Additional Information to Come:
x Staff will provide a memo with the details of how the Community Diversion Rate is calculated in
late October or November.
x Staff will provide a memo including if and how the City provides education and incentives for
durable building materials to avoid waste.
Next Steps:
x Council will consider a Resolution on October 25 to set an interim greenhouse gas target.
x Legislative Review Committee meeting on October 25 to discuss statewide legislation
opportunities with Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA).
x Council Finance Committee meeting on November 3 will continue the Sustainable Funding
conversations and will include topics on both transit and climate.
x Staff will finalize the Next Moves Plan for 2023/24, including actions from Council’s roadmap.
o Staff will incorporate a discussion on food scrap and construction and demolition material
diversion infrastructure to Council’s roadmap in 2023.