Fort Collins Air Quality Board 05/19/25
by Nanci Wendland
Main Topics
The minutes of the April 21 meeting were reviewed but not approved due to a question of attribution of a specific point at the last meeting. .
The board will hold elections at the June meeting for the Chair and Vice Chair positions.
Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Jacob Castillo said Larimer County is the second largest oil & gas producer in the state. He described that the topic of reducing air pollution led to city council policy discussions regarding the city’s energy codes and building standards.
CSO Castillo asked board members what they want to accomplish this year, and how they perceive working with the environmental staff and Council to make it happen.
Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Jacob Castillo gave the board a recap from the City Council meeting. Castillo said reducing air pollution led to some policy discussions regarding the city’s energy codes and building standards. Castillo said Larimer County is the second largest oil & gas producer in the state. He would like to spend more time with state regulators and review how state regulations affect Fort Collins and Larimer County.
CSO Castillo said the city and county will miss their 2026 and 2030 clean air goals, however, the environmental and air quality department will continue to track.
Castillo asked the board members what they want to accomplish this year, and how best to work with the environmental staff to make it happen. Below are some of the responses:
- Be more active. If the city council has ideas, should this board investigate their ideas?
- Help the city reach their climate goals and make an impact.
- Provide new insights into air quality.
One board member said she doesn’t see climate action or accountability. She asked why climate actions aren’t advancing and/or evolving? According to this member, the state has taken a lot of climate actions away from local cities and counties, and is doing a great job taking care of regulations. But, she asked, where is the city money going that’s been allocated for climate initiatives? She believes that citizens have a huge role to play. She also believes citizens want to be educated to help meet climate goals.
CSO Castillo asked the board members if they would be interested in discussing and investigating research & development, and strategic funding? He asked the board if they think they could wrestle with hard issues and work with council and staff on strategies. Chairman Welsh said yes, they could. Castillo then asked the board to prepare for next month’s meeting by coming up with some clean air initiatives, ways to partner with staff, and new ideas to bring to the city council.
Castillo reviewed organizational measures, analysis, and performance (OMAP). He asked the board to come back next month and discuss some of the following:
- What should the environmental department be tracking and how?
- Slide 5 of Castillo’s presentation (in the packet) shows strategic objectives. Are these the correct measures? What would be the impact?
- Could the board help with analysis of performance, and if so, what would be a meaningful yardstick?
- The board could also think about preparing an outline for an educational framework.
Miscellaneous reports from members
- The Platte River Rawhide Power Station has the highest Nitrous Oxide emissions in the Northern Colorado region. The station is forecasted to be the highest summer ozone contributor in a 9-county region through 2029.
- A group of scientists are meeting with Senator Hickenlooper to discuss potential effects of the Trump administration’s policies on climate change and initiatives.
- Colorado’s Front Range rail plan is continuing with ongoing discussions about where to put stations along the route.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Next Meeting: June 16, 2025, 5:30 p.m. online Zoom, or in-person at 222 Laporte Avenue, Colorado River Room, Fort Collins, Co
Members’ Present:
Chair Dan Welsh, Vice Chair Mark Houdashelt, and board members: Michael Cheeseman, Maria Moore, Matt Ayers, Christina Swope, Adam Schmidt, Michael Johnson. Board member Howard Gebhart was absent.
Others Present to Note:
Environmental Staff Liaison Selina Lujan and Emily Olivo, Chief Sustainability Officer Jacob Castillo.
Documents
From the Advisory Board website:
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 Energy Board, Transportation Board, Natural Resources Advisory Board, and the Planning and Zoning Board.
*Citizen Observers further the commitment of the League of Women Voters to its principle of Citizens Right to Know, however, we are not acting as journalists. Omissions and errors are possible. It is assumed that users of this information are responsible for their own fact-checking. This could include contacting a government clerk, conversing with an elected official or staff, and/or asking us to speak to the Observer who attended.