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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWORK SESSION SUMMARY-12/11/2012-Work SessionPage 1 of 3 Sustainability Services Area 300 LaPorte Avenue PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.416.2170 970.224.6107 - fax fcgov.com December 14, 2012 To: Mayor Weitkunat and City Councilmembers Thru: Darin Atteberry, City Manager From: Bruce Hendee, Chief Sustainability Officer Steve Catanach, Light and Power Operations Manager Katy Bigner, Project Coordinator Re: Work Session Summary for December 11, 2012 - Status Update on FortZED Councilmembers Present: Karen Weitkunat, Mayor Kelly Ohlson, Mayor Pro Tem Ben Manvel Lisa Poppaw Gerry Horak Work Session Participants: Bruce Hendee, Chief Sustainability Officer Steve Catanach, Light and Power Operations Manager Katy Bigner, Project Coordinator Judy Dorsey, Executive Director, Colorado Clean Energy Cluster, Principal, Brendle Group On December 11, 2012, City staff presented to City Council on the status of the FortZED (Zero Energy District). This presentation intended to present the concept, objectives, strategies to achieving a zero energy district within Fort Collins, and progress to date. As FortZED is transitioning from a specific grant project and grassroots initiative, the immediate objective is to move to a replicable model that is better defined, governed and measurable to assist in achieving City goals and strategies identified by the Climate Action Plan and Energy Policy, while benefiting the city’s economic health. Staff did not request direction or ask specific questions for this update. Summary Discussion and Questions Asked: Councilmembers had a wide range of questions and requested clarification from City staff related to better understanding what the objectives of the FortZED initiative is, how the regular citizen would benefit from the participating projects and the progress to date. Staff understands that there is a clear need to improve the communication and message of what FortZED is, its objectives and products, and provide Council, citizens and stakeholders with improved data and metrics. Page 2 of 3 The following questions were not answered by staff at the meeting and will be addressed in response to Council’s inquiry in the next sixty days. 1. How much money was spent on FortZED in both dollars and percentages and from what sources (2008-2012)? Staff will respond within sixty days and expenses will be broken down between the non- Renewable and Distributed Systems Integration (RDSI) project and other FortZED related expense. 2. What would a regular customer get from FortZED, provided in bulleted form? Staff will respond within sixty days. 3. To achieve a zero energy district, what do we need to offset the energy consumed in MWH? Response: • The description in the AIS on page 7 was not clear and inadvertently incorrect in describing that the three strategies listed of current projects and existing plans would achieve the net zero goal. These are not wholly definitive of what would be needed to attain a net zero energy district. The key message intended was if the City stays on a business as usual path, using the current and existing planned projects and programs, FortZED would achieve approximately 20 percent of the zero energy goal by 2030. 4. What is the 15% that’s been achieved toward zero comprised of? Response: Staff will respond within sixty days. 5. What is the percentage year by year toward the 15% since 2008? Staff will respond within sixty days. 6. Related to the provided attached diagram #4 (Illustrative Representation of Potential Timeline for Fort Collins Power Transition), what happens in 2024 related to coal? Response: • It is important to note that this is an illustrative chart built in real-time during a design workshop. This diagram doesn't represent the specific resource mix that Fort Collins should pursue or the optimal timing of resource investments. It is a back-of-the-envelope analysis that aims to show that it is possible for Fort Collins to move completely off of coal and large hydro toward efficiency and renewable energy sources, and do so by 2025 at reasonable, but accelerated adoption rates. • In this illustrative analysis, coal comes back into the resource mix only because of a quirk in this particular model. As a simplifying assumption, we calculate generation from coal by subtracting total demand in Fort Collins from the supply generated by all additional resources with the exception of coal (e.g., hydro, efficiency, solar PV, etc.). In 2022 and 2023, a large amount of hydro is taken out of the supply mix and the efficiency and renewable resource additions in those years are not sufficient to account for the loss in hydro supply. As a result, a Page 3 of 3 small amount of coal is used. This quirk in the model could easily be changed to fill any gaps in supply with any of the resources available to Fort Collins. 7. What would happen in the identified district without FortZED? Staff will respond within sixty days. 8. How do the 2013/2014 budget offers contribute to the net zero energy goal? Response: • The three FortZED budget offers (128.1, 128.2, 128.3) support the administration and development of FortZED strategies and projects, community engagement, fund development through collaborative grant acquisition and the development of a technical roadmap. These offers are steps to establish the City as leading the Fort ZED initiative, define the technical and economic paths to accomplish the district goals, seek additional outside funding resources and re-establish a customer engagement program. • Utilities programs which serve all customers will continue to be offered both within and outside the FortZED district. Additional engagement and outreach related to FortZED may result in higher participation rates within the FortZED district. Next Steps 1. Collect, prepare and respond to the data requested by City Council by February 4, 2013. 2. Further refine a clear and understandable description of FortZED and its tangible outcome for the Fort Collins community. 3. Establish criteria for 2013 requests for proposal for an efficiency and renewable energy potential study and for a community engagement program. Community Services 215 North Mason Street 3rd Floor PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.416.2265 970.221.6586 - fax fcgov.com DT: December 14, 2012 TO: Mayor and City Councilmembers TH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager Wendy Williams, Assistant City Manager FR: Marty Heffernan, Director Community Services RE: December 11, 2012 Work Session Summary – Trail Study All members of Council were present with the exception of Councilmember Kottwitz. Council was asked if they had any questions about the trail data and to identify particular issues, problems or concerns that should be addressed in the Trail Plan. Council supported the Trail Study and had the following requests: • Provide more information showing separate responses by bicyclist and pedestrians • Provide information on the removal schedule of the old asphalt section of Spring Creek Trail at Center Avenue. Darin will visit with Dr. Frank about this project. • Provide more information on why some trail users felt the trails were unsafe • Provide more information on bicycle speed • Provide information on the need to mow grasses next to the trails. Staff will provide this information in a follow-up memo. • Provide information on the number of runner and pedestrian responses • Include ideas in the draft Trail Plan that address pedestrian concerns regarding safety that may be keeping people, especially seniors, from using the trails • Provide information on the miles of trail that have an adjacent soft path • Provide more information about the number of youth using the trail and possible methods to encourage more youth users • Provide more information on the methodology used to collect the data Except as noted, the information requested will be included in the draft Trail Plan. Next steps include reviewing the trail data with City boards and commissions to gain their comments and insights. Staff will then draft the Trail Plan and review the Plan with the boards and commissions. Staff will then bring the Plan back to Council for possible adoption. - 1 - Memorandum Date: December 14, 2012 To: Mayor and City Councilmembers Thru: Darin Atteberry, City Manager Diane Jones, Deputy City Manager Karen Cumbo, Director of Planning, Development and Transportation From: Beth Sowder, Neighborhood Services Manager Laurie Kadrich, Director of Community Development & Neighborhood Services Re: December 11, 2012 Work Session Summary – Item No. 2: Student Housing Action Plan The Student Housing Action Plan project was presented to City Council by Beth Sowder, Neighborhood Services Manager. The Mayor and all City Councilmembers, except Aislinn Kottwitz, were present. Additional participants in the work session discussion included Jim Dolak, Colorado State University Director of Housing and Dining Services; Laurie Kadrich, Director of Community Development & Neighborhood Services; and Seth Lorson, City of Fort Collins Planner. Staff was seeking direction from Council regarding the proposed action items and timeline for moving forward. Council discussion focused on data that was provided and the need to gather more data on Front Range Community College students. There was also a desire to bring near term action items to Council in March 2013; including ensuring landscaping requirements are addressed; and there was general agreement with education and enforcement improvements. Suggestions included removing the word “adequate” from SHAP mission and utilizing a new/more dynamic model for the Advisory Committee. There was also a request to provide data regarding the above- or below-grade pedestrian/bicycle crossing at Shields & Elizabeth Streets. Council directed Staff to: • Bring the Student Housing Action Plan to City Council for formal consideration on February 19, 2013. • Move forward with the proposed action items identified for near and long term processes including Land Use Code changes improving compatibility, research and development of a Rental Licensing Program, development of an Advisory Committee, etc. (one Councilmember is opposed to Rental Licensing and one is opposed to forming an Advisory Committee). • Move forward with the proposed action items that do not need formal Council consideration (education and enforcement improvements). • Continue to work with stakeholders to identify ways to incentivize on-site management and a thorough Operations, Security, and Management Plan.