Suggestions to the Fort Collins Air Quality Advisory Board May 24, 2005

Presented by Rick Price, Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Contact Rick Price at 484-8489; Rick@ExperiencePlus.com

My original purpose in coming this evening was to ask how you normally seek input from the bicycling and walking public on air quality issues. I'm still going to ask that question but when I learned that your agenda included an item to "undertake a brainstorming discussion on strategies to raise public awareness of air quality issues," I decided to bring you some suggestions on that topic as well.

First, may I ask what the board's current process is for seeking input from bicyclists and pedestrians on air quality issues, policies and programs in Fort Collins?

Suggestions for your brainstorming session:

Suggestion #1: Recommend that the city unfreeze and fill the position of Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator in the upcoming budget round.

It doesn't really matter where this position is placed within the City. It could stay in Smart Trips, pass to Transportation Services or Traffic Planning, or even be housed in the City Police Department. But you should think about the following as you consider this.

Suggestion #2: Recommend that the City create a citizen's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board.

This board could be a sub-committee of a standing board (the Transportation Board comes to mind) or it could be a separate board. Its role would be to advise existing boards (including this one) and city offices on policy issues relative to bicycling and pedestrian policies and programs. Agencies that would benefit include: Smart Trips; Transportation Services, Traffic Planning, City Police, the Air Quality Board, Parks and Recreation, the Senior Center, Poudre R-1 school district, CSU, businesses with Commuter Bicycle Coaches, the Neighborhood Resource Office, the Youth Activities Office and others.

A citizens Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board would represent recreational groups, business groups, bicycle commuters, motorists, different age constituents (students - both K-12 and CSU or Front Range), retirees, and others. Such an advisory board would help to gather input from the community, help with outreach and education in the community, and assist city boards and departments in setting policy and creating programs.

Suggestion #3: I ask that you recommend that both the Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator and the Advisory board be charged to help improve air quality in Fort Collins by building on existing programs for alternative transportation, by building a communications network to assure there is adequate citizen input in the planning and policy development process, and to link existing boards and city agencies together in this network to create valuable synergy among all constituent groups.

I believe that such a new and simple structure (involving little expenditure of new funds, just reinstating the Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator) will spur innovative thinking that will take what city staff and citizens have built and imagined over the last 30 years to an even higher level over the next 30 years. That includes not just maintaining but improving the quality of life in Fort Collins at a time when resources are becoming scarce, population pressures are increasing, traffic congestion is getting worse, and the population ages.

Thank you.

Purpose and Objectives of the Air Quality Advisory Board

The Air Quality Advisory Board advises the City Council regarding policies, plans, and programs to improve and maintain the city's air quality. The Board may, without limitation, biennially review air quality indicators and recommend adjustments to the Air Quality Action Plan, review and recommend revisions of the Air Quality Policy Plan, and advise the Governor-designated lead agency for air quality planning on matters pertaining to the Fort Collins element of the State Implementation Plan. The Board may also convene ad hoc citizen task groups to provide additional technical expertise to the Board. The Board coordinates its work with the Transportation Board, Natural Resources Advisory Board, and the Planning and Zoning Board.