HomeMy WebLinkAboutWORK SESSION SUMMARY-06/12/2012-Work SessionCity Manager’s Office
PO Box 580
300 LaPorte Ave.
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6505
970.224.6107 - fax
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MEMORANDUM
Date: June 14, 2012
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Dan Weinheimer, Policy and Project Manager
Through: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Karen Cumbo, Planning, Development and Transportation Director
Re: Work Session Summary: June 12, 2012 re: Oil and Gas Extraction Regulation
and Mitigation within Fort Collins
Staff proposed a project outline and asked for City Council direction regarding focus and
identifying areas for concern. Staff will return to present a project update at the August 14th
Work Session but, prior to that meeting, will submit flow charts and project memos with
background information addressing several questions. Staff will provide Council a City of Fort
Collins map or maps that identify location of existing and abandoned wells and overlay setbacks
provided under state of Colorado law.
Councilmembers expressed a need for some baseline information such as:
What are the regulations set forth by the State of Colorado?
What options exist for local control?
What’s the role of the local governmental designee?
How do we interact with Larimer County in regards to activity in the urban growth area?
What is the current land use development process within the urban growth area?
What neighborhoods are most likely to be affected?
Council also expressed a desire to take a site visit meeting with representatives from the City of
Greeley. Staff will attempt to coordinate a site visit in Greeley prior to returning for the August
14th Work Session. The goal of this visit will be increasing Council and staff understanding of the
local impacts, regulations, and process for extracting resources.
A 2013-14 oil and gas budget offer of $40,000 per year was submitted to ensure resources are
available to implement final regulation. This offer was written broadly as a placeholder and so
may be amended to reflect final Council direction.
Areas of concern expressed included:
Setbacks, habitat protection and buffers
Include environmental community
Review process
Communication to stakeholders
The staff working group will meet to plan and initiate the public engagement program, develop
resource material, and begin working on understanding existing areas of concern. The project
plan will be aggressive and require a significant outlay of staff time to complete the development
of regulations along with the public engagement process within six months time.