Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 07/19/2021

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Board Member Valentine commented that this seems like a significant task compared to the other items on the EPB Work Plan. He stated that he does not see a clear picture of how the EPB would fit into that task. City Planner Anderson stated that perhaps the discussion on this is tabled and he can gather additional information from staff members that were part of the strategic planning discussion with the Council in order to bring more information to the Board. Board Member Fetterley agreed that she would find more information helpful. She stated that she does not understand how this item got on the radar of the Council or why it became a goal. Councilmember Howell stated that the Riverstone South project initiated the discussion because of the need to find funding for that element. She stated that the information presented is a fairly accurate description as there was not a much broader discussion. Chair Covart stated that she would prefer to have additional information and asked if this is time sensitive or if it could be postponed. City Planner Anderson commented that this would simply be researching how the City could fund protection of open space and would not include identification of any certain parcels but how the activity could be funded. He noted that he would be more than happy to gather additional information for the July meeting for the Board to review. He noted that he would propose to carry over the language from the Strategic Plan to the EPB Work Plan. Board Member Moore commented that she would prefer to leave the language as generic and open as possible to provide flexibility for things that may come up. She stated that she is very interested in adding this to the Work Plan in some form and is also interested in any mechanism that would allow the City to preserve open space areas. Board Member Fetterley stated that she also supports protection of open spaces but is unsure if she could support the wording. She stated that it would seem that the funding is going to be considered by referendum and would prefer to leave it open to all potential funding mechanisms and not pigeonhole into that one source. City Planner Anderson stated that when the Work Plan moves forward to the City Council for review there would be an opportunity to expand the discussion with the Council. He confirmed that he would bring this back to the Board in July. 5.04: Review Tree Preservation Plan Request for Trott Brook North City Planner Anderson presented the staff report. He stated that the purpose of the case is to review a request from the Excelsior Group on the project generally known as Trott Brook North which is the area between Variolite Street and Nowthen Boulevard NW, north of Trott Brook. The application has requested a deviation from the City' s standard tree preservation plan. Board Member Little asked for input as to what would be considered a negative in allowing this plan to move forward. Environmental Policy Board / June 28, 2021 Page 6 of 9