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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWORK SESSION SUMMARY-02/22/2022-Work Session 1 Community Development & Neighborhood Services 281 North College Ave. P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 970.221.6750 970.224.6134 - fax fcgov.com/planning MEMORANDUM DATE: February 25, 2022 TO: Mayor and Councilmembers THRU: Kelly DiMartino, Interim City Manager Kyle Stannert, Deputy City Manager Jacqueline Kozak-Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer Lindsay Ex, Environmental Services Director FROM: Cassie Archuleta, Air Quality Program Manager SUBJECT: February 22, 2022 Work Session Summary: Air Quality Overview Attendees Jacqueline Kozak-Thiel and Cassie Archuleta presented an air quality program overview related to the Council priority to improve air quality. Mayor Pro Tem Francis was absent, and all other City Councilmembers were present. Discussion Summary Staff presented an overview regarding the City’s air quality programs, including measurements, source controls and resilience efforts. There was broad support for ongoing programs, pursuit of grant opportunities, and further exploration of programs that could drive additional improvements in air quality. Appreciation was also expressed for the Air Quality Advisory Board. Areas of interest and opportunity discussed:  There was a request to generate a reference document regarding current monitoring locations, agencies responsible, pollutants monitored, results and implications.  There was interest in revisiting anti-idling signs and campaigns and messaging around air quality impacts, with suggestions that included more impactful graphics, potential partnerships with schools, potential use of equivalencies that are relevant to people’s everyday experiences, e.g., cigarette smoke, and outreach to delivery drivers and grocery pick-up locations.  There was support for further investments that could get the City’s small equipment (such as mowers and weed trimmers) to be 100% electric.  There was interest in exploring how the City could support electric options for food trucks that could reduce reliance on gas generators.  There was some conversation about wood burning appliances (stoves and fireplaces) and opacity requirements applying to all chimney emissions. There was also interest in exploring how the City could support and/or accelerate electric conversions for gas cooking stoves.  There was interest in developing more explicit requirements in contracting policies to encourage additional sustainability practices such as use of electric equipment where possible.  There was some support for revisiting and strengthening outdoor burning restrictions. DocuSign Envelope ID: 0F0A7A21-7C48-48E4-98BF-1DB0BA6948E5 2 Additionally, some informational items were identified as needing follow-up, and responses are provided below:  Questions were posed about progress on addressing idling concerns at the Raising Canes location on S. College Avenue and long-term plans for Land Use Code allowances for new drive-thrus. Raising Canes will be opening a second drive-thru lane by March 1, 2022. This will slightly reduce wait times/idling and will significantly reduce vehicles queuing in the public street. Phase 2 of the Land Use Code update will assess policies pertaining to drive- thru uses and identify regulatory improvements for alignment (e.g., allowances, design).  There was a request to cite the sources of data utilized to assess local contributors to ozone formation in our region. Data were from a Denver Metro/Northern Front Range local source analysis study performed in 2017 for State and regional ozone planning purposes, and a data source was noted on the slide (views.cira.colostate.edu/tsdw/). To replicate this summary, data shown were from an “Apportionment” dataset, from the Fort Collins West monitor (Site ID 08-069-0011) showing an average for the top 10 ozone values, including only source contributions from within the Denver/North Front Range ozone non-attainment region (e.g., excluding out-of-state contributions and background ozone). Next Steps  Staff will return to Council to discuss oil and gas regulations on March 22, 2022.  Staff will prepare the requested reference document regarding air quality monitoring, including a map, and will provide that information to Council in a memo by the end of Q2.  Per the adopted budget, a new air quality education and outreach position will be hired in March or April. After initial onboarding and work with the community to support implementation of the BFO offer that supports air quality monitoring, this position will also support the refresh of approaches to anti-idling and Air Quality Index campaigns.  Staff will assess additional investments necessary to convert the City’s small engine equipment to be 100% electric.  Staff will consult with Poudre Fire Authority regarding further outdoor wood burning restrictions and prepare recommendations regarding potential options.  Staff will initiate discussions regarding food truck generators, including assessing infrastructure needs to provide electric power options at City parks and recreation areas.  Air quality has also been added as a topic of discussion for a City County and County Commissioners joint meeting scheduled for April 13. DocuSign Envelope ID: 0F0A7A21-7C48-48E4-98BF-1DB0BA6948E5