HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 7/30/2019 - Memorandum From Jason Komes And Cassie Archuleta Re: Q2 2019 Quarterly Status Update - Outdoor Residential BurningEnvironmental Services
222 Laporte Ave
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970-221-6600
fcgov.com
MEMORANDUM
DATE: July 24, 2019
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager
Jackie Kozak Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer
Lucinda Smith, Environmental Services Director
FROM: Jason Komes, Air Quality Specialist
Cassie Archuleta, Air Quality Program Manager
RE: Q2 2019 Quarterly Status Update—Outdoor Residential Burning
The purpose of this memorandum is to update Council on the progress of implementation and
enforcement of Air Pollution Nuisance Code changes effective March 29, 2019, specifically regarding
Outdoor Residential Burning (ORB), for the period of April 1 through June 30, 2019.
UBottom-Line
Since the adoption of changes to Air Pollution Nuisance Code (Ordinance 042, 2019) and appropriation
of additional resources on March 29, 2019 by Council, Environmental Services Department (ESD) staff
has coordinated with key stakeholders to develop and implement support for voluntary compliance with
new rules. During this first reporting period, ESD staff received 29 complaints and Poudre Fire Authority
(PFA) responded to 12 calls. No notices of violation or citations were issued during this reporting period.
UBackground
Air quality and health related impacts from outdoor wood fire smoke in residential neighborhoods were
identified as a Council priority in May 2017, and on March 19, 2019, Council unanimously adopted the
following changes to the Air Pollution Nuisance Code (Chapter 20-1) for ORB:
• Prohibiting outdoor burning of solid fuels between 10:00PM and 7:00AM;
• A 15-foot property line setback requirement for wood burning appliances in addition to the existing
fire code setback from combustible surfaces; and,
• Decriminalizing violations of the Air Pollution Nuisance Code.
At the time of adoption, Council also appropriated funds to support adding 0.25 Full Time Equivalent
(FTE) to an existing 0.75 FTE in ESD to assist with coordination, outreach/education, voluntary
compliance and enforcement of the new code.
UImplementation
Following adoption of the new code and additional resources, ESD staff completed the following:
• Coordination between Poudre Fire Authority (PFA) and Community Development and
Neighborhood Services (CDNS) to align and define roles, responsibilities, and data sharing;
• Transition of primary complaint response ownership from CDNS Code Compliance to ESD staff;
• Development of a communications plan and outreach materials (a PDF of the informational rack
card and magnet are attached for reference);
DocuSign Envelope ID: F61AE626-9E59-483F-8AA8-D45846BFA2F8
2
• Development of a case management system focused on data collection and organization; and,
• Initial preparation of a Draft Implementation and Enforcement Plan documenting roles and
responsibilities of staff involved in enforcement of the new ORB requirements.
UResponse and Enforcement
During this reporting period (April 1 through June 30), ESD staff received 29 complaints and PFA
responded to 12 calls. The received complaints resulted in the following responses:
• 16 location specific educational letters;
• 1 neighborhood-wide mailing consisting of 236 educational letters;
• 14 verbal interactions; and
• 12 PFA investigation mobilizations.
The following table is a summary of the number of types of complaints received and associated
responses.
Total
Complaints
Q2 2019
Primary Nature of Complaint Response Type
Time of
Day
Nuisance
Smoke Odor Distance Health
Fire
Code Letter Verbal
No Action
Required*
ESD 29 14 7 0 2 0 6 252 2 11
PFA 12 1 1 1 0 0 9 0 12 1
* “No Action Required” refers to complaints received that had insufficient information to respond, were
deemed invalid/unfounded, or a specific request that no action be taken.
UNext Steps
Next steps for ESD staff include the following:
• Continued outreach through neighborhood engagement events such as Neighborhood Night
Out and Sustainable Neighborhoods;
• Increased outreach regarding high pollution advisory days, and impacts from wood burning;
• Coordination with Colorado State University to provide outreach to off-campus residents as they
arrive in the Fall;
• Finalization of the Implementation and Enforcement Plan; and,
• Streamlining the mass mailing process which is used as outreach to specific neighborhoods
with persistent or pervasive complaints.
ESD staff will prepare a Q3 2019 Quarterly Status Update, for submittal by mid-October, summarizing
activities from July 1 through September 30, 2019.
PDF Attachments:
Rack Card—“Your Burning Questions Answered”
Magnet—“Fired Up About Wood Smoke?”
DocuSign Envelope ID: F61AE626-9E59-483F-8AA8-D45846BFA2F8
Smoke and odor from wood
burning fires contain toxins
and particles that can irritate
lungs and aggravate respiratory
problems. Here are some tips
for having an outdoor fire and
managing nuisance smoke.
Your Burning Questions
Answered
Smoke and odor from wood burning fires
contain toxins and particles that can irritate
lungs and aggravate respiratory problems.
Here are some tips for having an outdoor
fire and managing nuisance smoke.
If you want to have a fire...
• Talk to your neighbors prior to having a fire. If your
neighbors have concerns, consider a compromise
(e.g. if, when or where you have your fire).
• Place fire pits at least 15 feet from any combustible
surface or structure and at least 15 feet from any
property line.
• Burn only clean, dry, seasoned wood.
• The total fuel size (wood pile) must be 3 feet or
less in diameter, 2 feet or less in height.
• Have sufficient airflow to allow for
efficient burning.
• Never leave your fire unattended.
• Fully extinguish the fire with water
by 10:00 p.m.
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fcgov.com/woodsmoke
Auxiliary aids and services are available for persons with disabilities
Esta información puede ser traducida, sin costo para usted. 19-21235
If someone’s fire is negatively impacting you...
For nuisance related issues (excessive smoke or odor,
time of day of the burn, distance to property line):
• If you feel comfortable doing so, talk to your
neighbor about your concerns.
• If you’re unable to resolve the issues through
dialogue, make a formal complaint online through
Access Fort Collins or call the Nuisance Hotline at
(970) 416-2200. An actionable complaint should
include as many details as possible.
For non-emergency health or safety related issues
(distance to combustible surface, type of materials
being burned, size of fuel source), call the City of Fort
Collins non-emergency dispatch line at (970) 221-6540.
For Emergencies, call 9-1-1.
For more information visit fcgov.com/woodsmoke
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For nuisance smoke complaints, call
Fort Collins Nuisance Hotline
(970) 416-2200
fcgov.com/woodsmoke
DocuSign Envelope ID: F61AE626-9E59-483F