HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 9/25/2018 - Memorandum From Cassie Archuleta Re: Outdoor Residential Burning - Project UpdateEnvironmental Services
222 Laporte Ave
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970-221-6600
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: September 19, 2018
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager
Lucinda Smith, Interim Chief Sustainability Officer
Lindsay Ex, Interim Environmental Services Director
FROM: Cassie Archuleta, Air Quality Program Manager
RE: Outdoor Residential Burning – Project Update
Bottom Line
The purpose of this memo is to provide an update on outreach regarding outdoor residential burning, in
advance of the October 23 Work Session. To date, the focus of work has been on public outreach and
policy research. At the October Work Session, staff will seek additional direction from Council on
whether staff should proceed with developing a recommendation.
Background
In May 2017, outdoor burning (specifically “bonfire pits”) was identified as a Council priority. At a
February 2018 Work Session, staff received direction to proceed with public policy deliberation and
outreach efforts intended to inform a recommendation regarding the need for additional policies or
programs. At a May 7 Leadership Planning Team (LPT) meeting, staff received additional direction to
move the next planned Work Session from the winter to the fall of 2018 (currently scheduled for
October 23), and to focus more on results of outreach and deliberation rather than a recommendation.
To date, the following outreach has been conducted:
Presentations to the Air Quality Advisory Board, Natural Resources Advisory Board, and a
SuperBoard meeting.
Discussion at the Spring Community Issues Forum, facilitated by CSU’s Center for Public
Deliberation, attended by more than 55 community members.
Deployment and promotion of the “Our City” e-forum interactive website
(ourcity.fcgov.com/outdoor-residential-burning). As of September 5, approximately 2,500 visits
to this page were recorded, with contributions (ideas or other feedback) from about 250 users.
Distribution of a public perception survey, which included invitations to 3,000 households to
participate in a statistically valid online survey, with options for printed mail-in surveys and/or
Spanish translations. 522 responses were received.
Additionally, the CSU Political Science department was engaged to review municipal codes from all
Colorado home rule municipalities.
Some key findings include:
There are clear competing values around the cultural and social value of recreation fires pits at
home, and the nuisance and/or health impacts of smoke crossing property lines, especially for
sensitive individuals.
In Colorado, there is considerable variation in rules related to regulating outdoor recreational
fires. Generally, programs in Colorado focus on safety concerns rather than air quality. Notable
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exceptions are the City and County of Denver and the City of Boulder, which have effectively
banned outdoor recreational fires since the early 1990’s in part due to air quality concerns.
While neighborhood nuisance and health concerns from recreational fires are generally the
cause for complaints received by City staff, outreach and Council feedback has indicated
additional broader interest in investigation of methods to address other sources of smoke (e.g.,
secondhand smoke and smoke from cooking) and more regional environmental concerns (e.g.,
impacts on high pollution days).
While a full ban on recreational wood burning would be an effective way to address health and
nuisance concerns, there is not broad public support for a ban (68% of survey respondents
disagree or strongly disagree). Additionally, effective implementation and enforcement of a ban
would require additional City resources.
A compromise (which addresses nuisance concerns, while also allowing fires that are safe and
considerate of neighbors), would be the most complex to implement. There is potential to
leverage existing program design (such as open burning permits and party registration), but
effectiveness would depend on resources available to implement and enforce any new
requirements.
Next Steps
The focus to date has been on better clarifying the problem, and exploring potential solutions. Staff will
bring the results of public engagement and policy research to Council for additional direction on
October 23, 2018. Options proposed could include:
Status Quo; continue to target outreach regarding potential health/nuisance impacts,
implement safety response if necessary, and promote neighborhood relations.
Seek a compromise solution; goal would be to develop policy to better address smoke from
fires that impact neighbors, while allowing fires that are safe and considerate.
Implement a total ban on recreational wood fires.
If Council wishes further development of option(s), an additional Work Session would be anticipated.
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