HomeMy WebLinkAboutagenda.council.worksession.20230801AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
August 1, 2023
4:00 PM, City Council Chambers
427 Rio Grande Place, Aspen
I.Work Session
I.A Council Goal Work Plan: Protect the Environment
I.B Council Goal Work Plan: Mobility
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Protect the Environment_Worksession_Memo_8-1-23.docx
Goals Work Plan Protect the Environment.docx
Mobility_Worksession_Memo_8-1-23__.docx
Goals Work Plan Mobility.docx
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MEMORANDUM
TO:Mayor Torre and Aspen City Council
FROM:Matt Kuhn, Director of Parks and Open Space
Tessa Schreiner, Sustainability Manager
Phillip Supino, Director of Community Development
Austin Weiss, Director of Parks and Recreation
THROUGH:Sara Ott, City Manager
MEMO DATE:July 20, 2023
MEETING DATE:August 1, 2023
RE:Council Goal – Protect the Environment
REQUEST OF COUNCIL: Staff is requesting City Council feedback on the new Protect
the Environment workplan.
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
City Council adopted its 2023 to 2025 Goals in June 2023, including the Protect the
Environment Goal. This work plan details the milestones to be undertaken by staff to
support City Council in reaching its articulated goal.
Importantly, due to the scope and scale of the activities in this work plan, only some of
these items can be completed within a two-year timeframe; many will take much longer.
Much of the effort outlined in the attached work plan is both on-going initiatives that
demonstrates action around our organizational values and programs that staff believe
best meet Council’s goal.
DISCUSSION:
The attachment with this memo outlines the proposed work plan for the Protect the
Environment goal. For this work session, staff would like City Council to identify whether
the goal work plan for each objective has been interpreted correctly, and whether there
is any specific feedback about the proposed direction.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS: Protection of the environment is a lens to evaluate all of
the Council Goals, and climate policy and action work is explicit in each of the objectives
within the Protect the Environment goal. Leading land and natural resource stewardship,
climate policy and action work on multiple environmental fronts will have local impacts
related to our Aspen Sustainability Action Plan goals.
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FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPACTS: Each milestone in the Protect the Environment plan
includes discussion of resources required, including financial resources.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS:
EXHIBITS:
A. Council Goal Work Plan – Protect the Environment
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Protect our Environment: Take meaningful action and provide leadership
in protecting the natural environment, reducing Aspen’s greenhouse gas
emissions by the amount that is scientifically proven to limit global
temperature change, and supporting community resilience to climate
change and natural disasters.This will be accomplished through:
Goal Owner: Phillip and Pete
a.Maximizing efficiency and minimizing carbon emissions in all of Aspen’s
emissions inventory sectors: Energy Supply, Buildings, Vehicles and
Transportation, and Waste
Milestone: Align city operations with the Aspen Sustainability Action Plan (ASAP).
Project Description: Staff from the Climate Action team will work with each city
department to educate departmental staff and leadership, align department goals,
projects, and programs (where applicable and appropriate) with the Aspen
Sustainability Action Plan (ASAP) to ensure the city works collaboratively towards
climate goals.
Timeline: Q3 2023-Q3 2024 – Staff from the Climate Action team will begin meeting
with individual departments in Q3 2023 and work over the following year to work with
departments in developing a list of department-specific objectives and action items.
Resource Needs:Staff time with each department director and relevant staff to meet
with the Climate Action team to create a plan; potential financial resources will be
project-specific and brought to Council as needed.
Council Engagement: Departments will present any relevant updates or applicable
budget requests to Council as needed.
Milestone: Implement Council-supported “Options to Accelerate the Aspen
Sustainability Action Plan” as presented at the May 8, 2023 work session.Project Description: As supported by Council at the May 8, 2023 work session,
implement the five “options to accelerate the Aspen Sustainability Action Plan (ASAP):”
1. Building performance standards technical assistance
2. Energy audit of all city-owned buildings
3. Fleet and facilities analysis
4. Plastic / construction and demolition waste diversion program development
5. Strategic financial plan for the ASAP
Timeline: Q3 2023 - Q2 2025 – A number of these five options are already in motion,
such as beginning to develop diversion programs for plastics and construction and
demolition materials, and others will be developed in late 2023 and early 2024 as STR
funding for environmental initiatives becomes available.
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Resource Needs: As presented to Council at the May 8, 2023 work session, staff
solicited broad anticipated costs of these projects to range from the following:
1. Building performance standards technical assistance - $210K - $320K
2. Energy audit of all city-owned buildings - $66K - $396K
3. Fleet and facilities analysis - $10K - $105K
4. Plastic / construction and demolition waste diversion program development -
$60K-$200K worth of staff time (dependent on scope of construction and
demolition program)
5. Strategic financial plan for the ASAP - $130K - $160K
Staff anticipates the financial needs for these action items can be covered by the
portion of the Short Term Rental tax dollars that are allocated for environmental and
climate programs. Should the scope of this work change or if the STR funds are not
sufficient, staff will bring a budget request to Council in 2025.
Council Engagement: Several work sessions in 2024 and 2025; regular meeting in
2024 for plastics/construction waste diversion if staff proposes changes to the solid
waste ordinance.
b.Finalizing Building Performance Standards and adopting a funding plan to
support continued implementation of the Building IQ program
Milestone: Finalize Building Performance Standard stakeholder process and
summarize stakeholder group recommendations.
Project Description: Work with the Building Performance Standards (BPS)
stakeholder group, comprised of public and private representatives, to finalize the BPS
guidelines and group recommendations. These guidelines and recommendations will
include which buildings should be covered, the standard’s framework and metrics,
compliance pathways, recommended timeline for compliance, and
recommended/needed financial support from the stakeholder group to make the
program successful and sustainable.
Timeline: Q2 2024
Resource Needs:Staff time.
Council Engagement:In spring 2023, the BPS stakeholder committee asked the city
to gather more data on current building performance and cost projections for
improvements to meet a potential BPS, which staff is conducting in summer 2023.
These assessments will delay the original timeline (September 2023) of staff to provide
the committee’s final recommendations for the BPS guidelines to City Council, and staff
will come to Council in late summer to request an extension on this timeline per the
committee’s request. Staff will also present the committee’s progress to Council in a
work session in Q1/Q2 2024.
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Milestone: Bring Building Performance Standards (BPS) Guidelines to Council
for adoption.
Project Description: Bring the BPS Guidelines and stakeholder group
recommendations to Council for consideration and adoption. These guidelines and
recommendations will include which buildings should be covered, the standard’s
framework and metrics, compliance pathways, recommended timeline for compliance,
and recommended/needed financial support from the stakeholder group to make the
program successful and sustainable.
Timeline: Q3 2024 – The BPS stakeholder group is expected to finalize its
recommendations for the guidelines in spring 2024 and staff will present these to
Council in Q3 2024.
Resource Needs: Staff time.
Council Engagement: Regular meeting in Q3 2024 to adopt BPS Guidelines.
Milestone: Develop Building IQ implementation funding plan and bring to
Council for approval.
Project Description: Working from the BPS Guidelines and BPS stakeholder group
recommendations, staff will work with consultants and stakeholders to develop a
Building IQ implementation funding plan to use as a financial roadmap for reaching the
building performance standard. This funding plan will include cost estimates to achieve
the building performance standards, analysis of state and federal (and other) funds
available for qualifying energy efficiency work, and potential options for where and how
the City could financially support properties and buildings in energy efficiency and
electrification upgrades to meet the building performance standard. Once developed,
staff will bring the funding plan to Council for direction and approval.
Timeline: Q2/Q3 2024 – In conjunction with the BPS Guidelines, staff will bring
potential pathways for a funding plan to Council at a work session in Q2/Q3 2024
based on BPS stakeholder feedback, and then at a regular meeting in Q3/Q4 2024 for
direction and approval.
Resource Needs: Financial resource needs TBD, to be approved by Council.
Council Engagement: Work session in Q2/Q3 2024; regular meeting in Q3/Q4 2024.
c.Developing a financial plan to quantify and anticipate future costs of adopted
climate action policies
Milestone: Research best practices and identify resources to inform project
scope.
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Project Description: Work with consultants, peer communities, and stakeholders to
gather data and information on best practices, existing and potential resources, and
community input to understand scope and needs of the financial plan. Staff anticipates
the scope will include a combination of financial impact projections of achieving the
City’s adopted climate goals and a matrix of potential funding options for the City to
consider.
Timeline: Q2 2024-Q4 2024 – Staff will begin working with a consultant in Q2 2024,
with a target completion date of Q4 2024.
Resource Needs: Staff time
Council Engagement: N/A
Milestone: Develop a financial plan and present to Council for approval.
Project Description: Finalize the scope of work for the financial plan development and
go through the RFP process to select a vendor (seek vendors who have a mix of
financial and climate experience). Working with consultants, develop the financial plan
to quantify and anticipate future costs of adopted climate action policies and present to
Council for approval. This plan will include key objectives and action items outlined in
the Aspen Sustainability Action Plan and various pathways for the City to consider in
reaching its established greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Timeline: Q2 2024 - Q2 2025
Resource Needs: Staff anticipates the financial needs for this financial plan can be
covered by the portion of the STR tax dollars that are allocated for environmental and
climate programs.
Council Engagement: Regular meeting for contract/vendor approval in Q3 2024, work
session in Q1 2025, and regular meeting in Q2 2025.
d.Investing in redundancy and climate change resilience for utility systems to
ensure dependable and reliable service delivery
Milestone: Conduct an inventory and gap analysis of internal and relevant
regional resilience plans.
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Project Description: Conduct an inventory of and compile existing City of Aspen and
any relevant regional plans (including existing/adopted plans and future capital plans)
and studies that address the topics of climate change resilience, electrification, and
redundancy. Identify any gap areas in data, information, or plans that are needed to
assess the vulnerability and resilience of utility systems, including potential pilot
projects and case studies. This could include, but is not limited to, studies or research
on the impact of community-wide electrification (building and vehicle electrification),
system vulnerabilities to climate change, exploration of utility scale renewables and/or
battery storage, and potential regional collaboration opportunities. Request Council
budget approval to perform the needed studies and/or to conduct pilot projects that
promote resilience and innovation.
Timeline: Q2/Q4 2024 – The inventory would be conducted in early 2024 by members
of the Climate Action, Building Department, and Utilities teams, and the gap analysis
would be completed by Q3/Q4 2024.
Resource Needs: Staff time. The type and cost of potential needed studies is
unknown and would be brought to Council for budget consideration and approval in
Q2/Q3 2025.
Council Engagement: Council Work Session in Q3/Q4 2024.
Milestone: Identify and conduct key projects within the Integrated Water
Resource Plan (IWRP) and Water Efficiency Plan that support resilience of the
water utility.
Project Description: The Integrated Water Resource Plan (IRP) and Water Efficiency
Plan’s contain the City’s long-term water supply goals, reviews the City’s water supply
portfolio, and determines the best management techniques for long-range planning.
Multiple management techniques have been identified by staff as key projects that
could move the needle on water conservation and stewardship in Aspen.
Timeline: Q1 2024-Q2 2025 – Staff would begin planning and prioritizing management
techniques and identify resource needs in Q1 2024, and identified projects would be
executed through Q4 2025.
Resource Needs: The cost of these projects is unknown and would be brought to
Council for budget consideration and approval in Q2/Q3 2024. Additional staffing
resources may be needed depending on the project.
Council Engagement: Council Regular Meeting - TBD
e.Expanding our commitment to wildlife conservation, wildfire mitigation, open
space stewardship, river health, and preservation of the urban forest.
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Milestone: Wildlife:Leverage the proposed Wildlife Coordinator position to lead
Aspen area coordination with stakeholders, businesses, and community
members, to minimize negative wildlife interactions and provide a safe
environment for wildlife in our community.
Project Description:
The management of the City’s wildlife program has evolved over the years, and is
increasing in complexity with the additions new composting ordinances, the growth of
moose populations, and the potential arrival of wolves in the region. This project aims
to focus more time and resources on engaging with the community, stakeholders, and
the businesses in the downtown core through education campaigns, management
strategies, and enforcement.
The City has been actively participating in the management of wildlife issues, originally
focused on bears, in the City for many years. Historically, Aspen Police Department has
led both the coordination and management of the program, as well as the response to
wildlife calls. Over the last few years, the Parks and Open Space Ranger staff
increasingly participated in trash compliance patrols in the core. In the 2024 budget
proposal, a new position is requested to move the oversight and management of the
bear program, from the Police Department to the Parks and Open Space department.
This effort will provide resources that allow the city to better focus on preventative
management actions, as well as ensure proper enforcement. The Police Department
will continue to be the primary responders for calls that are public safety related,
however this position will lead inter-departmental strategy, code-revisions, and
community engagement.
Timeline: 12 months+
Resource Needs: Support of the supplemental position is needed to expand the staff
resources available to manage this project.
Council Engagement: Council will be provided an informational memo leading into
the summer 2024 season, as well as a report at the close of FY2024. Staff anticipate
proposing potential revisions to municipal code, however the timeline of that may
extend beyond the life of this goal.
Milestone: Urban Forest:Initiate annual inventory of certain zones in the
community forest that guide management actions on an annual basis, with the
goal of preserving and growing the benefits of the urban forest for climate
resilience.
Project Description:This project will initiate an annual inventory of certain zones in
the community forest that guide management actions on an annual basis. The goal of
this project is to preserve, and grow, the benefits of the urban forest for climate
resilience by utilizing more current data in preparing for annual maintenance tasks, as
well as identifying areas for increases in planting, or replacement planting of trees.
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Staff have divided the City’s urban forest in to six management units (zones), and
typically focus on one zone annually for preventative maintenance pruning, tree health
assessment, tree removal, and replanting of vacant planting spaces.
Timeline: 12 months
Resource Needs: The City Forester is equipped to manage this project, however
approximately $16,000 in annual appropriations would be added as an ongoing
expense the forestry program. This is in lieu of a larger capital project that would be
completed every 5-7 years.
Council Engagement: Forestry program informational memo to be provided in Q1
2024.
Milestone: Open Space Stewardship: Prioritize the completion of management
plans for each City of Aspen owned Open Spaces over the next five years, so
that our stewardship and management actions recognize the community benefits
of these spaces.
Project Description: Prioritize the completion of management plans for the most
significant Opens Spaces over the next five years so that our stewardship and
management actions recognize the community benefits of these spaces.
Timeline:5 years
Resource Needs: The addition of the Natural Resource Manager that is proposed in
the 2024 budget will provide the required staff resources to complete these
management plans.
Council Engagement: Most Open Space management plans will not require
significant council engagement, however the adoption of the plans will likely be
presented in a resolution. If certain management topics are identified throughout the
public engagement process, staff will seek Council recommendations as part of the
planning process through work sessions or other means.
Milestone: Wildfire: Expand participation and supplemental funding to the
Roaring Fork Wildfire Collaborative through the addition of the Natural Resource
manager position and implement mitigation projects on City owned open space
or land.
Project Description: Over the last five years, Parks and Open Space staff have
completed several mitigation projects. Due to complexity and staff resource availability,
these happen infrequently. With additional resources, this project will bolster the
planning and efforts to execute fuel mitigation projects on City open space, as well as
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participate more actively in regional planning efforts of the Roaring Fork Wildfire
Collaborative.
Timeline: 12+ months
Resource Needs: Support for the supplemental position of Natural Resource manager,
as well as continued funding for the Wildfire Mitigation line item 001.572.10030.52199
which is used for projects and financial support for wildfire detection cameras.
Council Engagement: Council memo in Q2/Q3 2024 to provide update on local and
regional efforts related to wildfire topics.
Milestone: Inventory and compile existing City plans, efforts, and studies that
address resource and land stewardship, conservation, and wildfire mitigation.
Project Description: Conduct an inter-departmental inventory of and compile existing
City of Aspen plans, efforts, and studies (including existing/adopted plans and future
capital plans) that address resource and land stewardship, conservation, and wildfire
mitigation. The purpose of this inventory is to see what exists in City plans, where and
how the City is currently working with outside agencies and local non-profits, and
where the gaps in action or collaboration may be.
Staff will identify opportunities for the City to expand current efforts to integrate
planning and resources and coordinate future actions internally and with outside
organizations to ensure ecological vitality and wildfire resilience. This will include where
the City’s leverage and action would be impactful and where supporting and
empowering other organizations or groups would be impactful.
If identified, staff will compile and present recommendations and opportunities to
Council to support the work of non-governmental organizations that are working on
ecological vitality and climate resilience.
Timeline: Q4 2023 – Q3 2024
Resource Needs: Staff time and potential
Council Engagement: Council work session in Q4 2024 and a regular meeting if
needed for budget approval.
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MEMORANDUM
TO:Mayor Torre and Aspen City Council
FROM:Scott Miller, Director Public Works
Pete Rice, P.E., Deputy City Engineer
Jenn Ooton, Senior Project Manager
Lynn Rumbaugh, Mobility Division Manager
THROUGH:Sara Ott, City Manager
MEMO DATE:July 20, 2023
MEETING DATE:August 1, 2023
RE:Council Goal – Mobility
REQUEST OF COUNCIL: Staff is requesting City Council feedback on the new Mobility
workplan.
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
City Council adopted its 2023 to 2025 Goals in June 2023, including the Mobility Goal.
This work plan details the milestones to be undertaken by staff to support City Council in
reaching its articulated goal.
Importantly, due to the scope and scale of the activities in this work plan, only some of
these items can be completed within a two-year timeframe; many will take much longer.
Several of the goals for mobility require collaboration with the Roaring Fork Transportation
Authority, which is represented in the milestone language. Staff anticipates that there will
be additional milestones to add over the course of the next two years, after initial
conversations regionally and with RFTA.
Much of the effort outlined in the attached work plan is both on-going initiatives that
demonstrates action around our organizational values and programs that staff believe
best meet Council’s goal.
DISCUSSION:
For this work session, staff would like City Council to identify whether the goal work plan
for each objective has been interpreted correctly, and whether there is any specific
feedback about the proposed direction.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS: Increased support of transit systems and exploration of
transit fleet electrification aligns with the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
protecting the environment.
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FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPACTS: Each milestone in the Mobility plan includes discussion
of resources required, including financial resources.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS:
EXHIBITS:
A. Council Goal Work Plan – Mobility
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2023-2025 Council Goal - Mobility
Mobility: Improve and expand our efficient, multi-modal and integrated
transportation system to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and air
pollution.This will be accomplished through:
Goal Owner: Scott Miller and Jenn Ooton
a. Exploring potential traffic congestion improvements from Brush Creek to Aspen
with the Elected Officials Transportation Committee and the Colorado
Department of Transportation including,
Completing a comprehensive traffic study
Milestone: Traffic Study Scoping
Project Description:Exploring potential traffic congestion improvements from Brush
Creek to Aspen and the Colorado Department of Transportation including, completing a
comprehensive traffic study and origin and destination study. Council opted not to
continue the proposed studies indicated in the scope of the New Castle Creek Bridge
Resolution. Staff proposes a work session during Q1 of 2024 for Council to provide
specifics on scoping needs for the study by Council.
Timeline:2024 through 2025 for study completion.
Resource Needs:2024 Spring Supplemental for funding.
Council Engagement:Council work session in Q1 of 2024
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a.Exploring regional zero fare for bus trips that originate or end in Aspen;
Milestone: Explore No Fare and Ridership Incentive Opportunities
Project Description:Staff will engage with RFTA and partner jurisdictions in
conversations about the opportunities and challenges associated with free fare service
with a focus on the following:
Implications of a fare-free system beyond existing fare free zones for staffing,
fleet, service quality and equity.
Resource needs such as housing, additional staff and fare replacement.
Incremental options including off-peak fare reductions, City funded pass
discounts and similar.
Timeline:An initial outline and project timeline will be developed in first quarter 2024.
Resource Needs:To be determined.
Council Engagement:Council to engage via staff updates, potential work session and
regional updates via RFTA Board of Directors.
b.Developing community consensus for critical infrastructure improvements for
entering and exiting the city including physical modifications.
Milestone:Castle Creek Bridge Evaluation
Project Description:Based on direction during the May 15, 2023, Work Session, staff
will bring back a contract award for consultant services for investigations around
replacement of the existing Castle Creek Bridge in place and information about a pre-
National Environmental Policy Act process to consider new alternatives for an
alignment. The scope will include evaluating the condition of the existing bridge and
estimates for process, schedule and cost to replace the existing bridge.
Timeline:Q3 2023 contract consideration before Council through resolution.
Resource Needs:Budget is allocated and Council approval through resolution will be
presented in August.
Council Engagement:The contract would include presentations to the City Council
and the Elected Transportation Officials Committee. A timeline for these meetings will
be identified once the contractor has received the notice to proceed.
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c.Increasing electrification of city and regional transit fleet.
Milestone:Advancing Electrification for Transit
Project Description:
Transportation staff are partnering with RFTA on the installation of an overhead bus
charging facilities at Rubey Park this fall. Secondly, RFTA will conduct a Zero Emission
Vehicle Study that will include city staff representation to assess future vehicles and
technology in the fleet.
For the future, the city will require as assessment for electric utility infrastructure to
serve the needs for electrification within the city.
Timeline:The project is in the bid phase, with RFTA leading the procurement process.
Upon selection of a contract vendor, the City will serve as the Project Manager for
construction.
Resource Needs:Additional funding may be requested dependent upon the results of
the bid process.
Council Engagement:Staff will provide Council with updates on bids, construction
and completion. A council tour of the new infrastructure will be scheduled upon
completion.
d.Researching funding options for affordable housing to support transit expansion
and sustainable service delivery;
Milestone: Review Housing Needs with RFTA
Project Description:
City staff will participate in RFTA’s Housing Assessment study, scheduled for 2023-24,
with an eye on opportunities for City/RFTA partnerships.
Timeline:Quarter 2, 2024
Resource Needs:To be determined.
Council Engagement:Council will engage through staff updates, via the RFTA Board
and work sessions.
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e.Completing a Comprehensive Transportation and Parking plan process,
including
Reviewing the Integrated Mobility System in collaboration with the Aspen
Institute which could include ride sharing and congestion toll implementation
Exploring expansion of Aspen city bus routes, and
Researching possible TDM and first and last mile improvements
Reviewing parking programs and technology
Milestone: Transportation & Parking Plan Adoption
Project Description:An important planning effort will provide actionable master plan
for both Transportation and Parking to improve programming and reduce vehicle miles
traveled (VMT) over the next 5 to 10 years. Examples of the scope include the
following:
Review the Integrated Mobility system in collaboration with the Aspen Institute
which could lead to ride sharing and congestion toll implementation.
Explore improvements to Aspen city bus routes.
Researching Transportation Demand Management and first/last mile
improvements.
Review all parking programs and services.
Review technology practices for parking to increase compliance.
Timeline:The project is in the RFP process and should commence in the fall of 2023.
Resource Needs:To be determined..
Council Engagement:Council will review, provide feedback and approve the final
plan.
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