Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 07/19/2021

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Chair Covart commented that cardboard recycling was popular and noted that there would seem to be a continued demand for that. City Planner Anderson commented that the Public Works Committee decided not to explore that opportunity at this time because of the opportunity ACE Solid Waste is offering at its facility. He noted that perhaps that conversation be revisited again in the future. 5.03: Environmental Policy Board Work Plan Update City Planner Anderson presented the staff report. He stated that the EPB has a draft Work Plan that was prepared as the City Council was initiating its strategic planning noting that the Strategic Plan was adopted by the Council on June 22, 2021. As was noted during the development of the draft Work Plan, once the Council adopted its Strategic Plan, the EPB would need to review that document and their Work Plan to make any necessary adjustments. Board Member Hiatt stated that he would not be opposed to this but asked what the EPB would be asked to do in order to make this happen. City Planner Anderson commented that this would be related to research on what other communities have done in terms of open space preservation and by using the natural resources inventory to identify properties that could be considered if there were willing sellers. He noted that this would simply explore mechanisms that could support that possibility. Board Member Hiatt stated that perhaps this is related to exploring the feasibility of whether there are areas worth protecting and that this would be more related to policy development than action. City Planner Anderson confirmed that although this is listed as an action item within the Strategic Plan it would be more policy related and information gathering. Board Member Hiatt stated that he would encourage and support looking into that concept. Chair Covart asked if this would be land that would be brought to the City or whether the City would be looking for land for this purpose. City Planner Anderson stated that it is his understanding that this would be to look for ways in which the City could fund acquisition of higher quality areas. He noted that could occur as part of development proposals that come forward or willing seller. He noted that some cities have been successful using a referendum to gather funds that the city then used to acquire properties for open space preservation. Chair Covart asked if these types of funding sources have already come to the attention of staff or whether that would be expanded. City Planner Anderson stated that staff has not yet begun to explore this concept but noted that some additional funding sources came to the attention of staff during the Riverstone South planning in order to preserve the wooded area. Environmental Policy Board / June 28, 2021 Page 5 of 9