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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWORK SESSION SUMMARY-11/27/2012-Work SessionEnvironmental Services 215 N. Mason PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221-6600 970.224-6177 - fax fcgov.com MEMO DATE: November 30, 2012 TO: Mayor Weitkunat and Councilmembers THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager Bruce Hendee, Chief Sustainability Officer Lucinda Smith, Environmental Services Director FROM: Susie Gordon, Sr. Environmental Planner RE: Follow-up from November 27 Council Worksession: Reducing Disposable Bags At the November 27 worksession, the City Council discussed options for reducing the amount of disposable bags that are consumed in Fort Collins. Staff understands that we are directed to: 1. Continue working to increase awareness through education and outreach among citizens about the practice of re-using shopping bags, including a comprehensive, user friendly website 2. Explore the ability of the City to apply a tax or fee on both plastic and paper shopping bags at grocery stores (using a specific definition for which stores are included), and 3. Look for ways to improve the availability of recycling for plastic “film” bags in Fort Collins. Progress on the issue of a possible fee or tax on disposable grocery bags will require further technical and financial analysis prior to preparation of an ordinance. It is estimated that the required analysis could be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2013, which would allow for further Council discussion after that time. Community Development & Neighborhood Services Long Range Planning 281 North College Avenue P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522.0580 970.221.6376 970.224.6111- fax MEMORANDUM Date: November 30, 2012 To: Mayor Weitkunat and City Councilmembers Thru: Darin A. Atteberry, City Manager Karen Cumbo, Planning, Development and Transportation Director From: Laurie Kadrich, Community Development and Neighborhood Services (CDNS) Director Sherry Albertson-Clark, Interim Planning Manager Pete Wray, Senior City Planner Re: November 27, 2012 Work Session Summary – Eastside and Westside Neighborhoods Character Study Councilmembers present: Mayor Weitkunat, and Councilmembers Manvel, Troxell, Poppaw, and Ohlson. Staff present: Karen Cumbo, Laurie Kadrich, Mark Jackson, Sherry Albertson-Clark, Pete Wray, Peter Barnes, Karen McWilliams. Consultants present: Nore Winter, Abe Barge. Staff presented an overview of Phase 2 activities that are summarized in the draft strategy report, and highlighted recommended strategy options for Council feedback. Specific questions considered by Council were: 1. What comments or feedback does Council have on the recommended strategy options, or any others not recommended? Main points of discussion: • Council acknowledged the information summarized in the Phase 2 Strategy Report and the level of work it represents. • Council noted that most neighbors expressed issues and concerns with large building size impacts and asked why the FAR strategy option was not recommended by staff. • Council provided feedback to staff to make sure what we are trying to solve is addressed in recommended options to ensure we fix the problem for the most recognized project examples that negatively affect compatibility. • Council directed staff to proceed with five recommended strategy options including 1-4, and 5c. • Council also directed staff to include strategy option 5a, and 5b in some form, other than what was originally suggested in 2011, to further address issues associated with building massing/scale, and solar access. 2. What comments or direction does Council have for staff on proceeding to implementation in the third phase of the study? • Council directed staff to proceed with Phase 3 of the study to implement recommended strategy options. • Council suggested staff coordinate future Council Hearing dates with the Leadership Team. Page 1 of 2 Environmental Services 215 N. Mason PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221-6600 970.224-6177 - fax fcgov.com MEMO DATE: November 29, 2012 TO: Mayor Weitkunat and Councilmembers THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager Bruce Hendee, Chief Sustainability Officer Lucinda Smith, Environmental Services Director FROM: Susie Gordon, Sr. Environmental Planner RE: Follow-up from November 27 Council Worksession: Increase Cardboard Recycling The City Council reviewed an initiative to increase the amount of cardboard that gets diverted from the waste stream and into the recycling system at their November 27 meeting. 1. Staff was directed to prepare an ordinance for the Council’s review that would prohibit the disposal of corrugated cardboard in the community’s waste stream (trash), including requiring trash haulers to refuse collection of trash bins or Dumpsters that on visual inspection are estimated to contain more than 25% corrugated cardboard, by volume. 2. Staff understands that current expectations for the program to enforce the new ordinance would generally be as follows: a. After an initial transition period of 12 months after Council’s adoption, Code Enforcement staff would primarily use warnings to enforce the prohibition. b. After 6 months of enforcement primarily by warning, Code Enforcement staff would focus efforts on enforcement against persons who have received warnings, and particularly those who have received multiple warnings. 3. The enforcement program would be accompanied by a robust education, outreach, and assistance program for trash customers to help them transition to a cardboard recycling program. Staff will explore opportunities to: a. Provide zero- or low-interest loans or grants to commercial customers to assist them in purchasing or leasing recycling equipment, and b. Purchase specialized equipment such as cardboard collection bins that the City could make available on loan to small businesses for up to 12 months. 4. Staff understands that it is important to recognize the role of the private trash/recycling businesses in Fort Collins in helping their customers achieve compliance with the City ordinance. The City would expect to support: a. Economic development opportunities for Larimer County and for private businesses that occur as a result of capturing more cardboard out of the waste stream, and 2 b. Outreach to businesses that deliver large items such as appliances and furniture to encourage them, after completing the delivery, to bring cardboard packing/boxes from these items back to the store for recycling. Staff will provide a draft ordinance for first reading at the first meeting in February for the Council’s further consideration.