HomeMy WebLinkAboutWORK SESSION SUMMARY-02/22/2022-Work Session (2)
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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.
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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.
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