HomeMy WebLinkAboutWORK SESSION SUMMARY-01/24/2023-Work SessionUtilities
electric · stormwater · wastewater · water
700 Wood Street
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6700
970.221.6619 – fax
970.224.6003 – TDD
utilities@fcgov.com
fcgov.com/utilities
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: January 27, 2022
TO: Mayor and City Councilmembers
THROUGH: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Kendall Minor, Utilities Executive Director
Jason Graham, Director of Water Utilities
FROM: Jen Dial, Water Resources Manager
Donnie Dustin, Water Resources Engineer II
RE: January 24, 2023 Work Session Summary – Water Resources Matters in the Fort
Collins Growth Management Area: Study Report Results
Utilities staff provided the results of the Water Resources Matters in the Fort Collins Growth
Management Area Study (“Study”). A presentation was given that provided background
information on the purpose, actions and outcomes of the Study which focused on issues that arise
from having multiple water providers within the Fort Collins Growth Management Area. Mayor
Jeni Arndt and all Councilmembers were in attendance including Susan Gutowsky, Julie Pignataro,
Tricia Canonico, Shirley Peel (virtual), Kelly Ohlson, and Emily Francis.
Staff was seeking input and questions about the Study as well as thoughts and direction on next
steps for improving interactions and alignment among those providers.
Several questions were asked including:
How Utilities (the only water provider directed by Council) currently interacts with the
other water providers?
What stakeholders were included in the Study and how was their input was used? Will
there be an effort to provide outreach and receive feedback from the public in the future?
Are there other conservation programs Utilities have that could be expanded to the other
water providers?
How does the Halligan Water Supply Project fit into the Study?
Why was the Study completed a year ago before being brought to Council?
How could water banking could work/what would it look like?
What are potential options for a regional water authority?
Does staff have a timeline on pursuing the recommended next steps?
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Most of these questions were addressed by staff during the work session. Council appreciated the
Study and gave general direction for staff to continue working with the other water providers on
the next steps suggested.
Next Steps
Staff will develop a work plan on pursuing the recommended actions and continue to meet with
the other water providers (particularly the East Larimer County and Fort Collins-Loveland Water
Districts), continue involvement with wider regional water efforts, develop handouts of the various
water requirements for the development review process, enhance water conservation efforts and
programs, improve data sharing, and coordinate drought outreach when needed.
Some of the next steps are a continuation of ongoing efforts to engage the other water providers in
the GMA and the need for reciprocal interest and coordination from the water providers is
necessary to successfully implement next steps. Staff will develop a work plan outlining how
Utilities staff plan to:
continue to meet with Districts and build relationships
continue involvement with StratOps, Larimer County water supply planning effort, District
boards meetings and other regional groups
develop handouts of development requirements/costs
continue discussions around joint conservation efforts and programs
improve sharing of data/water supply and demand modeling efforts
continue discussions around outreach around drought, particularly in water shortage
situations
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Forestry Division
Parks Department
413 S. Bryan Ave.
Fort Collins, CO 80521
970.221.6660
forestry@fcgov.com
fcgov.com/forestry
MEMORANDUM
Date: January 27, 2023
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Thru: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Tyler Marr, Deputy City Manager
Dean Klingner, Interim Community Services Director
Mike Calhoon, Parks Director
Rebecca Everette, City Planning Manager
From: Kendra Boot, City Forester
Re: January 24, 2023 Work Session Summary: Urban Forest Strategy and Land Use Code
Audit related to Forestry
Introduction
The purpose of this memo is to summarize and provide follow-up items from the January 24,
2023, work session around urban forest strategy and policy. Mayor Arndt and all
Councilmembers attended the discussion.
Discussion:
The feedback gathered from Council on both the urban forest strategy and the tree related
Land Use Code audit work sessions was supportive. The work sessions were a great opportunity
for staff to bring Council up to speed on topics such as:
Emerald ash borer management and the prohibited sale of ash trees.
Current operations and the current operating budget shortfall on tree replacement.
Proposed areas of focus for the urban forest strategic plan with a strong focus on
canopy cover goals, prioritizing vacant planting sites, and advancing canopy equity.
Concerns for large healthy tree removals and support for stronger code to incentivize
more tree preservation.
Acknowledge the benefits of having trees dedicated as important community
infrastructure.
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Next Steps:
As requested by Council:
Members of the Ad Hoc Committee assisting with the tree-related Land Use Code audit
included:
Shelley Lamastra (Landscape Architect, Russell Mills Studio)
Mollie Bradehoft (Landscape Architect, BHA Design)
Fred Haberecht (Retired Landscape Architect and Planner, Colorado State
University)
Elizabeth Judd (Urban Forestry Planner, City and County of Denver)
Daniel Burcham (Urban and Community Forestry and Arboriculture Professor,
Colorado State University)
Edith Silvas (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator, One Health Institute,
Colorado State University)
Dana Hornkohl (Civil Engineering Director, City of Fort Collins)
Marc Virata (Civil Engineer III, City of Fort Collins)
Kirk Longstein (Sr Environmental Planner, City of Fort Collins)
Freddie Haberecht (Forestry Specialist, City of Fort Collins)
Carrie Tomlinson (Forestry Specialist, City of Fort Collins)
Christine Holtz (Forestry Specialist, City of Fort Collins)
Ralph Zentz (Assistant City Forester, City of Fort Collins)
Kendra Boot (City Forester, City of Fort Collins)
Approximately 22-percent of the urban forest resides in commercial areas, 75-percent in
residential areas already developed, and 3-percent in open space (Community Tree
Assessment, April 2016).
American Forest’s Tree Equity Score link - https://treeequityscore.org/
The Urban Forest Strategic Plan will have a strong emphasis in setting canopy cover
goals as well as addressing canopy disparities community wide. The proposed schedule
for the plan is to kick-off in Spring of 2023 and wrap-up for Council adoption Spring of
2024.
Staff plans to continue internal and external stakeholder engagement for the following
themes to influence code amendment recommendations for adoption in Q3 of 2023:
Escrow for tree establishment
Improved mitigation standards to incentivize preservation
Increased penalties for healthy tree removal post construction
Heritage Tree Program – additional staffing resources would be required for this
program.
Further, Staff plans to explore the following code amendments during Phase 2 of the
LUC update.
Improved parking lot standards to address urban heat island
Tree preservation and protection for residential redevelopment
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