REPORT:

Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee

SYNOPSIS:

Set forth below is a summary of key issues addressed at the MSRC’s November 20, 1997 meeting. The next MSRC meeting is Thursday, January 29, 1998, at 1:30 p.m. in AQMD Conference Room CC8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file this report.

Nell Soto
AQMD Board Representative on MSRC

Cancellation of December 1997 MSRC Meeting

The MSRC unanimously voted to cancel its December 17, 1997 meeting in light of the holiday season. (The MSRC’s Technical Advisory Committee also canceled its December 3, 1997 meeting.) The next MSRC meeting is scheduled for the fifth Thursday in January (January 29, 1998) at 1:30 p.m.

Minutes

The minutes of the October 23, 1997, monthly meeting were approved, as submitted, and are provided for information purposes as Attachment 1.

RFPs for FY 1998-99 Funding as Part of the FY 1997-99 AB 2766
Discretionary Fund Work Program

The two-year, $26 million FY 1997-99 Discretionary Fund Work Program included funding solicitations in FYs 1997-98 and 1998-99. At this time the MSRC is recommending the issuance of seven RFPs as part of its Work Program for funding in FY 1998-99. The elements for FY 1998-99 include:

• Heavy-Duty Alternative Fuels Program ($9.45 million), including three RFPs for:

• CNG school bus buydown;

• Alternative fuel transit bus funding; and

• On-road and off-road heavy-duty diesel pollution reduction funding.

• Transportation Control Measure Program ($1.5 million), including three RFPs for:

• Bicycle projects;

• Videoconferencing projects; and

• Transit-oriented development land-use strategies projects.

• High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lane Demonstrations ($500,000) Program, with one RFP providing a maximum funding of $250,000 for each project.

The MSRC unanimously approved these RFPs for release, and they have been included on the December 12, 1997, Governing Board agenda for consideration. The MSRC also approved a brochure announcing release of the RFPs which has been mailed to over 1,800 individuals on the MSRC’s mailing list and will be placed on the Internet at the AQMD’s web site. To assist potential bidders, a Bidders’ Conference has been scheduled Wednesday, January 14, 1998, and technical workshops scheduled January 27 and 29, 1998.

Electric Vehicle "Quick Charge" Program

The MSRC’s FY 1995-97 Work Program included a ZEV "Quick Charge" Program and the FY 1997-99 Work Program continued this effort with a ZEV/ULEV Program. At its November 20, 1997 meeting, the MSRC voted to extend the EV "Quick Charge" Manufacturers $5,000 Buydown through June 30, 1999. To date approximately 200 vehicles have been subsidized at a total of about $1 million. Since the market is only beginning to offer a choice of electric vehicles beyond GM’s EV-1, including family sedans and trucks, the MSRC believes the buydown should be extended an additional 18 months. Sufficient monies have already been allocated in the FY 1995-97 and FY 1997-99 Work Programs to fund any buydowns anticipated during these additional 18 months.

Contract Modification Requests

The MSRC took the following unanimous actions on requested contract modifications:

1. Approval of a six-month contractual term extension, with the condition that no more extensions will be granted, for City of Santa Clarita Contract #C95020, with provides $30,000 for installation of bus stop information displays;

2. Approval of a one-year contractual term extension for Tred Foundation Contract #C95026, which provides $1,098,000 for the differential cost toward the purchase of heavy-duty LNG vehicles;

3. Approval of a 2-year and 10-day contractual term extension, establishing milestones for major events upon which the contract will be terminated if not met, for Los Angeles County/Department of Transportation Contract #95030, which provides $504,000 for the purchase of four electric vehicles;

4. Termination of Acurex Environmental Contract #96030, which provided $489,000 for the purchase of five LNG trucks. The MSRC voted to terminate because, among other factors, the fleet host for the site demonstration withdrew and the contractor could not identify a replacement host site;

5. Approval of a cost reallocation to adjust labor hours and skills mix for Thermo Power Corporation/Tecogen Division Contract #97004, which provides $241,314 to improve fuel efficiency for natural gas engines;

6. Denial of a cost reallocation from other direct costs to direct labor for Countess and Cohen Contract #C97015, which provides $200,000 for an advanced remote sensing demonstration. The MSRC voted to deny this cost reallocation because, among other factors, it was the fourth in a series of such adjustments previously made;

7. Approval of a scope change to adjust participants and a cost reallocation to allow vehicle conversions rather than repowerings for Battelle Memorial Institute Contract #97016, which provides $1,368,735 for an Alternative Fuel Fleet Program;

8. Approval of a six-month contractual term extension for Ecotek Contract #96007, which provides $166,150 for development and demonstration of information kiosks; and

9. Approval of a one-year contractual term extension for Southern California Association of Governments Contract #96027, which provides $304,000 for goods movement modeling.

The MSRC also received and filed a report on "Scope Changes Handled Administratively by the AQMD Contract Administrator" for the month of November 1997, which included two minor modifications. They are as follows: 1) two-month contractual term extension for Michael R. Kodama Planning Consultants Contract #C96008, which provides $197,820 for implementation of a Parking Cash-Out Program; and 2) minor scope change for Southeast Community Development Corporation Contract #C96033, which provides $43,720 for a peak hour rail feeder service.

Contract Administrator Report

The MSRC's AB 2766 Contract Administrator provided a written status report on all fiscal year contracts. This Contract Administrator Report is attached for information purposes (Attachment 2). This Report includes a spreadsheet on the Local Government Subvention Match Program listing those projects that have met MSRC program requirements to date.

Attachments

1 - Approved October 23, 1997, MSRC monthly minutes

2 - Contract Administrator Report

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