HomeMy WebLinkAboutResponse to Constituent Letter - Mail Packet - 09/24/2024 - Letter from Mayor Jeni Arndt to Air Quality Advisory Board and Natural Resources Advisory Board re: Urban Forest Strategic Plan: Rooted in Community
Mayor
City Hall
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2154
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
September 19, 2024
Air Quality Advisory Board
c/o Selina Lujan, Staff Liaison
Natural Resources Advisory Board
c/o Honore Depew
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Dear Chair Welsh, Chair Metcalf and Board Members,
On behalf of City Council, thank you for providing us with the September 16, 2024
memorandum regarding the Urban Forest Strategic Plan (UFSP): Rooted in Community.
We appreciate the joint sessions that the AQAB and NRAB held to evaluate the Plan based on
the mission of both boards. We understand your overall support for the UFSP and also note your
additional recommendations regarding electric vehicles, modeling of the overall climate and air
quality impacts, and an emphasis on native species.
Thank you for the expertise and perspectives that you bring to the Board and share with City
Council.
Best Regards,
Jeni Arndt
Mayor
/sek
cc: City Council Members
Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
City Clerk’s Office
300 LaPorte Avenue
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6515
970.221.6295 - fax
Boardsandcommissions@fcgov.com
MEMORANDUM
DATE: September 16, 2024
TO: Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Dan Welsh, Chair of the Air Quality Advisory Board
Dawson Metcalf, Chair of the Natural Resources Advisory Board
RE: Urban Forest Strategic Plan
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
On August 19, 2024, and September 16, 2024, the Air Quality Advisory Board (AQAB) and the
Natural Resources Advisory Board (NRAB) came together in two joint meetings to review City
considerations that relate to the missions of both Boards. The purpose of this joint statement is to
offer AQAB and NRAB’s support of and address additional suggestions regarding the Urban
Forest Strategic Plan: Rooted in Community.
AQAB and NRAB were engaged by the City’s Forestry Division through presentations to each
Board. AQAB and NRAB both support the overall direction of the Urban Forest Strategic Plan
(UFSP) and think that successful implementation aligns with The City’s Climate Goals, as well
as Council Priorities; specifically Priority 6: Reduce climate pollution and air pollution through
best practices, emphasizing electrification.
Along with general support for the UFSP, NRAB and AQAB wish to convey the following
recommendations, to be considered as this plan is implemented:
• Use of electric vehicles and equipment when possible, minimizing use of internal
combustion engines.
• Assessment/modeling of overall climate and air quality impacts of urban forest
management; considering benefits and drawbacks of UFSP implementation.
• Emphasis of native species within the urban forest, with priority placed on species
indigenous to Colorado/U.S./North America.
NRAB and AQAB thank you for your consideration and the opportunity to engage on this
matter.
Respectfully,
Dan Welsh, Air Quality Advisory Board Chair
Dawson Metcalf, Natural Resources Advisory Board Chair