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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/13/2018 - OUTDOOR RESIDENTIAL WOOD BURNINGDATE: STAFF: February 13, 2018 Cassie Archuleta, Senior Environmental Planner WORK SESSION ITEM City Council SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION Outdoor Residential Wood Burning. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to provide City Council with an overview of the objective, scope , and public engagement plan for public outreach and deliberation regarding outdoor residential wood burning and to receive feedback. City Council has identified outdoor burning as a City Council priority. GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED • Does City Council have feedback regarding the objective, scope and public engagement plan for Outdoor Residential Burning? BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION Air quality issues regarding outdoor burning, and more specifically bonfire pits, were identified as a Council priority at the May 2017 Council retreat. Periodically, the City and Poudre Fire Authority (PFA) are contacted regarding nuisance, health and safety concerns from these types of fires. A memo to Council regarding current policy and practices, and a complaint history is included as Attachment 1. Budget revision funds were allocated for this project for work in 2018, and staff has prepared a public engagement plan. Potential Impacts The smoke from wood burning is made up of a complex mixture of gases and fine particles. Both short- and long- term exposures to particle pollution from wood smoke have been linked to a variety of health effects, and particle concentrations are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) using air quality standards. On a regional level, Fort Collins does not violate EPA standards for particle pollution, but measured particulate levels are sometimes reported as “moderately unhealthy” (e.g., levels where people unusually sensitive to particle pollution may experience respiratory symptoms). Higher levels are generally measured in the wintertime, when temperature inversions can trap air and pollution near the surface on calm, cold days. During the winter, chimney smoke from indoor wood burning would be expected to contribute to regional particle pollution. During the summer, smoke impacts from outdoor recreational fires would generally be considered localized and short term (e.g., hours or days), rather than regional. At times, smoke and particles from a wood burning fire can cross a property line and impact a neighbor who is outdoors, has a window open, and/or a poor ventilation system in their home. Some people, especially the elderly, children, and people with respiratory issues, are more sensitive than others to impacts from wood smoke. Short term exposure may contribute to symptoms such as headaches, burning eyes, a runny nose, or aggravation of respiratory issues such as asthma. In recent years, the City has received more complaints related to summertime outdoor wood burning than wintertime indoor wood burning (e.g., 42 outdoor, and 4 indoor/chimney smoke complaints were received between 2015 and 2017). Project Objective and Scope The objective of this project is to develop recommendations regarding options to better protect human health and reduce nuisance from outdoor wood smoke. A 2018 budget revision offer was approved by Council to conduct February 13, 2018 Page 2 this work, and staff are currently preparing to lead a public policy deliberation and outreach effort in accordance with: • the 2011 City Plan, Principle ENV 8: Continually improve Fort Collins’ air quality, and • the 2015-16 Strategic Plan, Environmental Health, Objective 4.4, Implement indoor and outdoor air quality improvement initiatives. Work currently in progress includes a collaboration with CSU’s Political Science Department to compile information related to burning programs and regulations within Colorado jurisdictions. A report is expected to be finalized in February, and preliminary findings indicate that there are a wide range of policy and program tools used in the region (and elsewhere), including incentive programs, permitting programs, temporary limitations, and bans. Additional planned activities include: • A behavior and perceptions survey. A statistically valid survey will be used to collect data regarding the use of outdoor wood burning appliances and the perception of air quality impacts. • Public outreach and deliberation. A public engagement plan is included as Attachment 2. • Development of recommendations. Staff expects to bring a public input summary, and review of options and recommendations back to Council by the end of 2018. Proposed Next Steps February - May: Continue Research April - October: Public and Board and Commission Engagement Fall / Winter 2018: Council Consideration ATTACHMENTS 1. Memorandum re: Outdoor Residential Burning - Overview (PDF) 2. Public Engagement Plan (PDF) 3. Powerpoint Presentation (PDF) ATTACHMENT 1 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY 2/1/2018 PROJECT TITLE: OUTDOOR RESIDENTIAL WOOD BURNING OVERALL PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT LEVEL: Collaborate with key stakeholders to develop new program or policy recommendations based on community feedback. BOTTOM LINE QUESTION: What program or policy options does the community support to reduce air quality concerns and nuisance complaints related outdoor residential wood burning? KEY STAKEHOLDERS:  Residents who actively participate in residential wood burning activities  Residents living in close proximity to frequent or infrequent residential wood burning activity  Residents sensitive to air quality impacts (e.g., children, the elderly and people with respiratory issues)  Poudre Fire Authority (currently respond to safety concerns related to indoor and outdoor fires)  CDNS staff (currently provide neighborhood outreach regarding residential wood burning concerns)  Environmental Services staff (currently support air quality improvement initiatives)  Larimer County Health Department  Home builders (who install built‐in outdoor wood burning fireplaces)  Businesses that sell outdoor wood burning appliances and/or firewood  General public WORKING GROUP:  Lucinda Smith, Environmental Services, Director  Cassie Archuleta, Environmental Services, Air Quality Program Manager  Jenna Channel, Environmental Services, Associate Environmental Planner  Eric Keselburg, Neighborhood Services, Compliance Supervisor  Jonathan Nagel, Neighborhood Services, Environmental Compliance Inspector  Justin Moinester, Assistant Fire Marshal – Investigative Services TIMELINE: Phase 1: Data Collection and Research Timeframe: January – May 2018 Key Messages: What is the extent and frequency of the problem, and what type of program and policies options are available to address the problem? Tools and Techniques:  Assemble information and data related to current policies and programs, and complaint history.  Collaboration with CSU Political Science Department to assemble a suite of policies, programs and motivations from other communities.  Statistically valid survey to characterize behaviors and perceptions around wood burning. ATTACHMENT 2 PHASE 2: Public Engagement and Policy Deliberations Timeframe: April – August 2018 Key Messages: What program and policy options are supported by the impacted sensitive population, and the broader community? Tools and Techniques:  Working group meetings (quarterly)  Expert Panel (e.g., air quality, health, social science and policy experts); filmed for Cable 14  Community Issues Forum, in collaboration with CSU’s Center for Public Deliberation  Boards and Commissions meetings (Air Quality Advisory Board, Natural Resources Advisory Board, Larimer County Environmental and Science Advisory Board, and SuperBoard meeting)  “Our City” online electronic forum  Meetings conducted by “Neighborhood Connections” neighborhood facilitators  Website updates (www.fcgov.com/airquality/wood-smoke.php)  Social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor)  Utility bill mailer (City News)  Press releases PHASE 3: Develop Recommendations Timeframe: August – December 2018 Key Messages: What policies and programs are recommended for Council consideration? Tools and Techniques:  Working group meetings (quarterly)  Triple Bottom Line screening analysis  Boards and Commissions meetings (Air Quality Advisory Board, Natural Resources Advisory Board)  Council work session 1 Public Engagement Plan – Outdoor Residential Burning Cassie Archuleta 2-13-2018 ATTACHMENT 3 Direction Sought Does City Council have feedback regarding the objective, scope and public engagement plan for Outdoor Residential Burning? 2 STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT Environmental Health • 4.4 Air Quality BUDGET • ESD 2017-18 Ongoing Offer • 2018 revision: $20K Outdoor Residential Burning 3 COUNCIL PRIORITY Air Quality • Outdoor Burning (Bonfire Pits) Project Overview 4 • Develop recommendations regarding options to better protect human health and reduce nuisance from outdoor wood smoke. Objective • Research existing policies and programs • Behavior and perceptions survey • Public outreach and deliberation • Develop recommendations Scope • Summary and recommendations to Council Deliverable Why is Smoke an Air Quality Concern? • Smoke is a mix of particles and gases • Particle pollution has health impacts • Short term (hours or days) • Chronic (months or years) • Sensitive populations at greatest risk • Elderly, children, people with heart or lung disease • Other Impacts • Odor • Visibility/Brown Cloud • Safety 5 Residential Sources of Smoke • Focus Area • Outdoor Residential Wood Burning • Current Specifications: • Size limits: 3’ wide by 2’ high • Fuel limits: Clean, dry wood • Structure limits: Above ground containment • Location: 15’ from combustible structure (e.g., home or fence) • Must be attended at all times 6 Residential Sources of Smoke • May have implications (not primary focus): • Indoor wood burning (chimney or stack) • Non-commercial cooking fires • Secondhand smoke 7 Illustrative Spectrum of Options Incentives/ Outreach Status Quo • PFA provides safety response • City provides outreach and offers mediation Additional • Voluntary programs • Incentives Permitting Program • Education/initial inspection • Neighbor notifications/ permissions Temporary Limits • High Pollution Advisory Days • Seasonal/limited days • Nuisance limits/enforcement discretion Permanent Limits/Bans • Limited areas • Limited fuels • Smoke/opacity limit 8 Less Restrictive More Restrictive Public Engagement Key Stakeholder Engagement • Working group • Boards and Commissions • Neighborhood Connections Events and Surveys • Behaviors and perceptions survey • Expert panel • Community Issues Forum Electronic Forum and Social Media • “Our City” Online Platform • Facebook • Twitter • Nextdoor General Outreach • Fcgov.com • Cable 14 • Project email list • Press releases • Utility bill mailer 9 2018 Project Timeline 10 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC RESEARCH Policies Behaviors PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT Deliberation and Outreach BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS Super- Board DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS COUNCIL WORK SESSION ? Also will include: - Quarterly Working Group Meetings - Quarterly Memo Updates to Council Direction Sought Does City Council have feedback regarding the objective, scope and public engagement plan for Outdoor Residential Burning? 11