HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-072-06/15/2004-APPROVING AND ADOPTING CHAPTER 3 - AIR QUALITY POLICY OF THE AIR QUALITY PLAN AS AN ELEMENT OF THE C RESOLUTION 2004-072
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROVING AND ADOPTING CHAPTER 3 —AIR QUALITY POLICY
OF THE AIR QUALITY PLAN
AS A POLICY ELEMENT OF THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
WHEREAS, a statistically significant survey in 2003 revealed that the citizens of Fort
Collins view the air quality program as being critical to the protection of their quality of life, and
WHEREAS; citizens of Fort Collins want local government to play an important role in
protecting air quality; and
WHEREAS,an Air Quality Policy Plan was originally adopted on February 22, 1993,by the
Planning and Zoning Board as an element of the Comprehensive Plan, and approved on March 16,
1993, by Fort Collins City Council, and
WHEREAS, all but the findings of the Air Quality Policy Plan (all the policies) were
readopted by City Council on February 18, 1997, with minor revisions as Section ENV-1 of City
Plan 'Principles and Policies", and
WHEREAS,in addition to the Air Quality Policy Plan,City staff has in the past worked with
the public, the Air Quality Advisory Board and other advisory boards and the City Council to
prepare and update every two to four years an Air Quality Action Plan to provide a framework for
implementation of the Air Quality Policy Plan; and
WHEREAS, beginning in 2003, City staff has worked with the public, the Air Quality
Advisory Board, and other Council advisory boards to evaluate those policies and recommend
updates to them as needed, and
WHEREAS,in order to streamline the planning process and provide for more frequent City
Council review of air quality policies,staff and the Air Quality Advisory Board have recommended
that the Air Quality Action Plan be merged together with the Air Quality Policy Plan into an Air
Quality Plan; and
WHEREAS, it is staff's recommendation that the policy portion of the Air Quality Plan be
presented to the City Council for regular review and update as part of the City's Comprehensive
Plan every five years; and
WHEREAS, on April 6, 2004, City Council adopted ten air quality principles and policies
that address transportation,land use,and greenhouse gases in Sections ENV-1,ENV-2, and ENV-3
of City Plan 'Principles and Policies", and
WHEREAS, Chapter 3 of the 2004 Air Quality Plan contains those ten ENV air quality
polices as well as twenty-three additional air quality policies (AQ) addressing broad approaches to
air quality protection,commercial and residential sources,health,and leadership,such that all of the
City's air quality policies (ENV and AQ) are contained in Chapter 3 of the 2004 Air Quality Plan,
and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Advisory Board considered Chapter 3 of the 2004 Air
Quality Plan on May 19, 2004, and voted to recommend approval of the transportation-related air
quality policies; and
WHEREAS, the Natural Resources Advisory Board considered Chapter 3 of the 2004 Air
Quality Plan on June 2, 2004, and voted to recommend its adoption; and
WHEREAS, the Air Quality Advisory Board considered Chapter 3 of the 2004 Air Quality
Plan on June 8, 2004, and voted to recommend its adoption; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that adoption of the air quality policies
contained in Chapter 3 of the 2004 Air Quality Plan is in the best interest of the citizens of Fort
Collins.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS, COLORADO as follows:
Section 1. The "Chapter 3 — Air Quality Policy" as shown on Exhibit "A" attached
hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, is hereby approved and shall supercede the 1993
Air Quality Policy Plan.
Section 2. The "Chapter 3 — Air Quality Policy" as shown on Exhibit "A" attached
hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, is hereby adopted as an element of the City's
Comprehensive Plan.
Section 3. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to administratively update and
modify implementation aspects of the Air Quality Plan, in the place of an Air Quality Action Plan,
provided that such implementation shall be consistent with the Air Quality Policy adopted by this
Resolution and with any applicable budget and appropriations.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins,Colorado
held this 15th day of June, A.D. 2004.
Mayor
AIWES
City Clerk
Attachment A
Fort Collins Air Ouality Plan- Chapter 3. Air Quality Policy Draft—May 26, 2004
3.0 AIR QUALITY POLICY
2.1 Organization
The City of Fort Collins Air Quality Plan is an element of City Plan, the City's
Comprehensive Plan, and as such provides the primary guidance for the City's air quality
protection efforts. A subset of air quality principles and polices that relate to land use
and transportation are contained in City Plan, and are reiterated in this Air Quality Plan.
Those policies are labeled"ENV", exactly as they appear in City Plan.
The Air Quality Plan also supplements City Plan by identifying additional air quality
policies that address commercial and residential sources, indoor air quality and health
protection. These air quality policies, not contained in City Plan, are labeled "AQ". The
relationship between air quality policies is illustrated in Figure 3.1
All air quality principles and policies are contained in this Air Quality Plan. City
Council adoption of this chapter constitutes Council adoption of all policies contained
herein.
Figure 3-1. Air Quality Plan is an element of City Plan
AQ
. Air Quality Plan
ENV
Policy Labels
ENV ENV= Environment
AQ =Air Quality
CITY PLAN
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Fort Collins Air Ouality Plan- Chapter 3. Air Quality Policy Draft—May 26 2004
3.2 AIR QUALITY VISION, GOALS,PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES
Section 3.2 of the Air Quality Plan states all the air quality visions, goals, principles, and
policies, including some repeated in City Plan (labeled ENV) and some only contained in
this Air Quality Plan (labeled AQ).
A note on definitions: As used in City Plan, a "goal" is both a beginning point for City
efforts and an end towards which effort will be directed. Goals guide the community's
decisions about investment, development, and redevelopment, and act as milestones as
progress is made towards the community vision. A "principle" is a general or
fundamental rule, doctrine, or assumption. A "policy" is a definite course or method of
action selected to guide and determine present and future decisions.
3.2.1 Air Quality Vision and Goals
Our community will continually improve air quality as the city grows by
applying strong, comprehensive policies and strategies to address air quality
issues.
The City will strive to reduce tailpipe emissions though clean technologies and by
reducing the rate of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by promoting a multi-modal
transportation system that offers choices. The City will continue to invest in
transit, walking, and cycling capacity and encourage residents to use alternative
travel modes, to help shift travel choices toward alternatives that reduce air
pollution and traffic congestion.
3.2.2 Air Quality Principles and Policies
A note on numbering: Some of the principles and policies below are also contained in
City Plan. These have an ENV- prefix and retain the numbering that they have in the
City Plan document. The remaining principles and policies have and AQ- prefix.
PRINCIPLE ENV-1: Continually improve Fort Collins' air quality as the city
grows.
Policy ENV-1.1 Air Quality Plan. The City will adopt and implement a
comprehensive Air Quality Plan that addresses the following issues:
• Emissions from vehicles
• Emissions from commerce and industry
• Wood burning
• Visual air quality
• Certain indoor air pollutants and greenhouse gases
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Fort Collins Air Ouality Plan- Chapter 3 Air Quality Policy Draft—May 26 2004
Policy ENV-1.2 City-Wide approach. The City's primary approach to
improving air pollution is to reduce total city-wide emissions over the long term.
The City's secondary approach is to assure that localized air pollution exposures
conform to adopted health standards.
Policy AQ-1.3 Pollution Prevention. The City will promote prevention of air
pollution at its source as the highest priority approach in reducing air pollution
emissions.
Policy AQ-1.4 Priority Pollutants. The City will focus its efforts on reducing
high priority air pollutants including ozone, fine particles, mobile source
hazardous air pollutants, and greenhouse gases, followed by efforts to reduce
medium priority pollutants including indoor air pollutants, nitrogen oxides, PM10,
industrial hazardous air pollutants, and carbon monoxide.
Policy AQ-1.5 Toolbox of Approaches. The City will seek to achieve local air
quality goals through education, incentives and price mechanisms, and regulation.
Policy AQ-1.6 Measurement. The City will measure, review, and report the
progress of key air quality indicators at least twice every five yews, prior to the
next update in advm=v of the Air Quality Plan update, to determine whether
action strategies are having the desired effect or need to be amended.
Policy AQ-1.7 Air Quality Information. The City will report available air
quality information to the public on a frequent and regular basis. The City will
assist citizens in finding existing air quality information that is of interest to them.
Policy AQ-1.8 Enforcement. The City will support the provision of adequate
responsibility, authority, and resources (funding and personnel) to agencies
charged with the enforcement of federal, state, county, and local air quality
regulations.
Policy AQ-1.9 Local Authority. The City will oppose any action of the State
Legislature that restricts local government authority to improve air quality beyond
minimum State requirements, even as the City recognizes and supports the vital
role of the State of Colorado in improving air quality.
PRINCIPLE ENV-2: The City will reduce total motor vehicle emissions of high
priority pollutants by focusing on both technology (tailpipe emissions) and behavior
(driving patterns).
E3ollins each day is r,owing,faster than population, tire eity,. long t
r enmin. to &eda" rate to tire population r,o vv th ,ate;
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Fort Collins Air uali Plan- r O tv Chapter 3. Air Quality Policy Draft—May 26, 2004
Policy ENV-2.1 Actions on Vehicle Miles Traveled. The City will slow the
growth of vehicle-miles of travel by employing strategies that reduce vehicle trip
rates, reduce vehicle trip length, and increase vehicle occupancy.
Policy ENV-2.3 Price Mechanisms. The City will use price mechanisms of the
free market to help shift citizen and business choices toward actions that reduce
vehicle miles traveled, including identifying and removing hidden cost subsidies
to motor vehicle users, employing economic incentives and disincentives, and
other market approaches.
PRINCIPLE AQ-12. The City will reduce tailpipe and evaporative emissions from
highway and non-road mobile sources.
Policy ENV-2.4 Actions on Tailpipe Emissions.The City will employ strategies
to reduce per-mile emissions such as promotion of car maintenance, mechanic
training, encouraging use of alternative fuels, purchasing clean vehicles, use of
clean lawn and garden equipment, prohibition of smoking vehicles, consideration
of a local emissions testing and repair program, and reducing traffic delays.
Policy AQ 12-1. Non-Road Emissions. The City will employ incentive
programs and other strategies to reduce emissions from lawn and garden
equipment, small and large construction equipment, and other non-road engines.
PRINCIPLE ENV-3. By 2010 the City will reduce greenhouse gas emission 30%
below predicted worst-case 2010 levels in order to reduce the impact of the Fort
Collins community on global warming.
Policy ENV-3.1. Local Action Plan. The City will adopt and implement a local
action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Policy ENV-3.2. Biennial Report. The City Manager will prepare a biennial
report outlining the City's progress on achieving its greenhouse gas reduction
goal and recommending future actions.
PRINCIPLE AQ-13. The City will reduce commercial and industrial emissions in
the Fort Collins 6 1 o w th Ninstagentent A,ca area, focusing on priority pollutants.
Policy AQ-13.1 Business Assistance. The City will offer programs and
assistance to local businesses interested in reducing their environmental impacts
such as the voluntary business Climate Wise program.
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Fort Collins Air Ouality Plan- Chapter 3, Air Quality Policy Draft May 26 2004
PRINCIPLE AQ-14. The City will reduce residential emissions of priority
pollutants in the Fort Collins 6,o vv th Managentent A,en area.
Policy AQ 14-1. Residential Wood Smoke. The City will reduce wood smoke
emissions and the number of non-certified wood stoves and fireplaces in the Fort
Collins GMA by, for example, insuring compliance with existing regulations,
promoting alternatives to wood burning, and helping to resolve neighborhood
wood smoke conflicts.
Policy AQ-14.2 Ozone Reduction. The City will reduce evaporative emissions
associated with residential activities (lawn mowing, fueling, paint selection and
storage)by, for example, educating citizens and providing incentives.
PRINCIPLE AQ-15. Recognizing the strong relationship between air quality and
human health, the City will, within the scope of its ability, strive to protect and
improve the air so it is healthy to breathe and free of levels of pollutants that harm
human health.
Policy AQ-15.1 Health Partnerships. The City will solicit the cooperation and
active participation of a diverse range of knowledgeable health professionals and
members of the environmental health community to guide the development of
policies so that they reflect priority health issues.
Policy AQ-15.2. Seek Solutions. The City will work to protect air quality by
seeking solutions to high priority health-related air quality issues using already
adopted health standards.
Policy AQ-15.3 Air Toxics Coordination. The City will work with County,
State and Federal health officials to reduce the health risks posed by toxic air
pollutants.
Policy AQ-15.4 Indoor Air Quality. Because a majority of indoor air pollution
can be a serious issue door a, the City will educate and
encourage its residents to reduce their exposure to indoor air pollution.
PRINCIPLE AQ-16. The City will lead by example in efforts to improve local air
quality.
Policy AQ-16.1 Lead by Example. The City will make efforts to reduce and
mitigate its own air pollution emissions before asking or requiring others to
reduceand mitigate their emissions.
Policy ENV-2.2 Actions on VMT. To reduce VMT, the City will encourage its
customers to use telephone, Internet, or other methods to register for City
offerings and purchase tickets. The City will also minimize the need for driving
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Fort Collins Air Quality Plan- Chapter 3. Air Quality Policy Draft Ma-y 26 2004
by organizing offerings with a neighborhood focus, so participants don't have to
travel long distances.
Policy AQ-16.2. Cooperation. The City will initiate and cooperate with other
efforts to improve air quality, while avoiding unproductive duplication of effort.
Others include government entities (other City departments, county, regional,
state, national, global), the non-profit sector, businesses, and educational
institutions.
Policy AQ-16.3 Innovations. The City will consider adoption of successful air
quality improvement strategies in effect elsewhere, including municipal practices,
public information campaigns, incentives and price mechanisms, and regulations.
3.3 RELATED VISION, GOALS,PRINCIPLES,AND POLICIES
This section restates other City Plan visions, goals, principles, and policies that, while not
considered specific "air quality" policies, do support air quality improvement.
3.3.1 Related Vision and Goals
Because most air pollution comes from motor vehicles, City Plan recognizes the
importance of land use and transportation policies in helping to address air pollution from
motor vehicles. These supporting policies are summarized in the following excerpt from
the City Plan Community Vision:
Fort Collins will confront and mitigate the negative impact of cars on our
lives.
The vision recognizes the importance of the automobile as a means of
transportation, but begins to shift the balance towards a future in which different
modes of transportation are also used. Our community will have an overall
transportation systems and urban form the supports a wide choice and efficient
ways to travel, thereby reducing the rate of growth of total daily vehicle miles of
travel (VMT). Our Master Street Plan and Capital Improvement Program will
support the land use goals of the City. New development and redevelopment will
be organized and woven into a compact pattern that is conducive to pedestrian,
bicycle, and public transit travel. All modes of travel will be safe and efficient.
And, the importance of our community's air quality, transportation, and land use
goals will be balanced.
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Fort Collins Air Ouality Plan- Chapter 3. Air Quality Policy Draft—May 26, 2004
Air quality is also listed among other issues in the City's overall vision for the
environment:
Our community will be a responsible steward of the natural environment,
such as improving air quality, water quality, conserving resources, and
reducing solid waste.
2.2.2 Related Principles and Policies
PRINCIPLE LU-1: Growth within the City will promote a compact development
pattern within a well-defined boundary.
Policy LU-1.1 Compact Urban Form. The desired urban form will be achieved
by directing future development into mixed-use neighborhoods and districts while
reducing the potential for dispersed growth not conducive to pedestrian and
transit use and cohesive community development.
PRINCIPLE LU-3: The City Structure Plan will be used to provide a geographic
depiction of how these City Plan Principles and Policies are applied throughout the
City.
Note: The Structure Plan focuses on the physical form and development pattern
of the city. It calls for a compact development pattern, directing urban
development into well-defined areas at higher densities. An expanded transit
system is incorporated in the Structure Plan, designed to provide high-frequency
transit services along major travel corridors, with feeder transit lines providing
connections from all major districts within the city. It establishes new activity
centers in transit-served areas that serve as focal points and centers of activity,
including Downtown and other mixed-use areas. The Structure Plan facilitates
multiple means of travel: pedestrians, bicycles, and transit as well as cars and
trucks. Street standards and site planning requirements will ensure that
neighborhoods and districts throughout the city will be connected and accessible
by all travel modes.
PRINCIPLE CAD-1: Each addition to the street system will be designed with
consideration to the visual character and the experience of the citizens who will use
the street system and the adjacent property. Together, the layout of the street
network and the streets themselves will contribute to the character, form, and scale
of the city.
PRINCIPLE CAD-2: Public spaces, such as plazas, civic buildings, outdoor spaces,
parks, and gateway landscapes should be designed to be functional, accessible,
attractive, safe, and comfortable.
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Fort Collins Air Oualitv Plan- Chapter 3 Air Oualitv Policy Draft May 26 2004
PRINCIPLE T-1: The physical organization of the City will be supported by a
framework of transportation alternatives that balances access, mobility, safety, and
emergency response throughout the City, while working towards reducing the rate
of growth of vehicle miles traveled and dependence on the private automobile.
Policy T-1.1 Land Use Patterns. The City will implement land use patterns,
parking policies, and demand management plans that support effective transit, an
efficient street system, and alternative modes. Appropriate residential densities
and non-residential uses should be within walking distance of transit stops,
permitting public transit to become a viable alternative to the automobile.
Policy T-1.2 Multi-Modal Streets. Street corridors will provide for safe,
convenient, and efficient use of all modes of travel, including motor vehicles,
transit, bicycles, and pedestrians.
Policy T-1.6 Level of Service Standards. The City will prepare and adopt level
of service standards for automobiles, bicycles, pedestrians, and transit.
PRINCIPLE T-2. Mass transit will be an integral part of the city's overall
transportation system.
PRINCIPLE T-3. City transportation programs shall address themselves to reduce
vehicle miles of travel through strategies that reduce trip generation, reduce trip
length, and increase vehicle occupancy.
Policy T-3.1 Demand Management. The City will promote travel demand
reduction measures that reduce automobile trips and promote alternative travel
modes in which results can be measured — such as telecommuting and in-home
businesses, electronic communications, variable work weeks, flextime, transit
access, bicycle and pedestrian amenities, parking management, and trip reduction
programs for large employers.
PRINCIPLE T-4. Bicycling will serve as a practical alternative to automobile use
for all trip purposes.
PRINCIPLE T-5. The City will acknowledge pedestrian travel as a practical
transportation mode and elevate it in importance to be in balance with all other
modes. Direct pedestrian connections will be provided from places of residence to
transit, schools, activity centers, work and public facilities.
PRINCIPLE T-9. Private automobiles will continue to be an important means of
transportation.
Policy T 9.1 Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT): The City will continually strive to
reduce the growth rate in VMT by implementing a VMT reduction program that
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Fort Collins Air Ouality Plan- Chapter 3. Air Quality Policy Draft—May 26 2004
strives to meet or exceed the performance of similar programs in comparable
cities.
PRINCIPLE T-10. The City will participate in a coordinated, regional approach to
transportation planning.
PRINCIPLE ENV-5. Energy efficiency and use of renewable energy resources will
be encouraged, facilitated, and regulated in both the public and private sector
through information and educational services, incentive programs, requirements,
and enforcement of regulations such as the Energy Code.
PRINCIPLE ENV 9. The City will continue to develop and implement sustainability
practices that address long-term social, environmental, and economic considerations
of the Fort Collins community.
PRINCIPLE ENV-10: The City will apply cost-effective pollution prevention and
zero-waste strategies that will help protect all environmental resources, including
air, soil, and water and accelerate the community's ability to meet the City's
adopted goal of diverting 50% of the waste stream from disposal in landfills by
2010.
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