HomeMy WebLinkAboutResponse To Constituent Letter - Mail Packet - 10/4/2022 - Letter From Mayor Jeni Arndt To Natural Resources Advisory Board Re: Support For Draft Active Modes Plan With Modifications And Alignments
Mayor
City Hall
300 LaPorte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2154
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
September 29, 2022
Natural Resources Advisory Board
c/o Honore Depew, Staff Liaison, Senior Manager, Environmental Sustainability
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Dear Vice-Chair Krause and Board Members:
On behalf of City Council, thank you for providing us with the September 28, 2022
memorandum regarding “Support for Draft Active Modes Plan with Modifications and
Alignments” wherein you summarized the Board’s support for the draft Plan, with some
recommended modifications and alignments.
As you know, this topic is scheduled for Council review at the October 25 Work Session. We
encourage you to view the proceedings that night and remain engaged in the conversation.
Thank you for the expertise and perspectives that you bring to the Natural Resources
Advisory Board and sharing them with City Council.
Best Regards,
Jeni Arndt
Mayor
/sek
cc: City Council Members
Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Environmental Services
215 N. Mason
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221-6600
970.224-6177 - fax
fcgov.com
MEMORANDUM
NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD
DATE: September 28, 2022
TO: Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Natural Resources Advisory Board
SUBJECT: Support for Draft Active Modes Plan with Modifications and Alignments
Dear Mayor and Council-members,
The Natural Resources Advisory Board (NRAB) is expressing support for the draft Active Modes
Plan (AMP) as presented by staff at a regular meeting on August 17, 2022, with recommended
modifications and alignments.
The Board views the AMP as critical to the goals and outcomes outlined within Our Climate Future
(OCF), and believes that heavy investment in this area is beneficial to residents, especially with the
focus on eliminating serious injuries and fatalities. In order to support the environmental goal of
reducing 2030 greenhouse gas emissions by 80% below 2005 baseline levels, and being carbon
neutral by 2050, transportation emissions must be reduced significantly. The way residents get
around in our great City simply has to look and feel different than it does today.
As outlined in OCF, primary drivers of progress toward the carbon reduction goal include “Choices
by individuals to ride bikes, walk, or take the bus [...]” and ultimately, Big Move #4: Convenient
Transportation Choices: “It is safe, easy, fast and affordable to get around without a car.” As such, the
board believes the AMP should be calibrated to deliver 50% active mode share, and budgetary
support should be aligned with this goal.
NRAB believes Council must empower staff with a revised framework for the City’s broader
transportation budget, allowing for adequate funding of active modes and transit, considering vehicle
travel has historically been the primary focus for the City, based on dollars invested. The AMP has an
opportunity to make priorities clear as far as incentivizing behaviors and travel options. The plan
should be thoughtful but to the point on where to promote active modes and deprioritize single
occupant vehicle travel, through changes to parking, potential related fees, and areas where it makes
sense to limit access. Doing so will allow the plan to deliver on the aforementioned critical impact
areas, and clearly support equity, mitigation, and resilience.
Thank you for your consideration and the opportunity to engage on this matter.
Very Respectfully,
Kevin Krause
Vice-Chair, Natural Resources Advisory Board
cc: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Lindsay Ex, Environmental Services Director
Cortney Geary, Active Modes Manager
Honore Depew, NRAB Staff Liaison and Climate Program Manager
Julie Pignataro, City Council Liaison to the NRAB
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