Report:

Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee

Synopsis:

Set forth below is a summary of key issues addressed at the MSRC’s June 26, 1997 meeting. The next MSRC meeting is Thursday, July 24, 1997, at 1:00 p.m. in AQMD Conference Room CC8.

Recommended Action:

Receive and file the attached report.

Leonard Paulitz
AQMD Board Representative on MSRC

Minutes

The minutes of the May 22, 1997, monthly meeting were approved, as submitted. These minutes are provided for your information as Attachment 1.

Election of Chair and Vice-Chair to MSRC’s Technical Advisory Committee

The MSRC’s Operational Policies and Procedures stipulate that every May the MSRC and its Technical Advisory Committee (MSRC-TAC) shall elect its chair and vice-chair. The MSRC took such action in May, but the MSRC-TAC had continued the item until its June meeting. At its June 12, 1997 meeting, the MSRC-TAC unanimously re-elected its current officers. Annabel Cook, representing the Southern California Association of Governments, and Michelle Kirkhoff, representing the San Bernardino Associated Governments, will continue as MSRC-TAC chair and vice-chair, respectively, for another one-year term.

MSRC Outreach Efforts

In February of this year, an MSRC-TAC subcommittee provided the MSRC an evaluation of the report which the MSRC had received from an outside consultant regarding the "Analysis of Outreach and Provision of Technical Support To All Potential AB 2766 Proposers." The consultant’s report had been commissioned to assess concerns raised previously by Board Member Nell Soto regarding the MSRC’s outreach efforts in minority communities. In their evaluation of the consultant’s report, the MSRC-TAC subcommittee outlined outreach efforts conducted by the MSRC and concluded that they were effective and sufficient within the limitations of the 5% cap on administrative cost expenditures established within the statute. Also in response to Board Member Soto’s concerns, AQMD’s Intergovernmental Affairs staff began advising local government officials, at both elected and staff levels, about the MSRC’s Work Program opportunities.

Board Member Soto, in communication with MSRC Chair John Longville and Board Member Leonard Paulitz, requested that an item be placed on a future MSRC agenda for discussion regarding her ongoing concerns. Board Member Soto requested, in addition to herself, that the other members of the Governing Board’s Ad Hoc Affirmative Action Subcommittee and members of the AQMD Ethnic Community Advisory Group (ECAG) be invited to participate in the discussions. The MSRC appointed a joint subcommittee comprised of MSRC and MSRC-TAC members to meet with Board Member Soto and representatives of the committees at a special meeting, and directed staff to agendize a discussion among all interested individuals at a subsequent MSRC meeting. In April, the joint subcommittee met with Board Member Soto and a member of the ECAG to listen to, and to discuss, their concerns.

At the June 26, 1997 MSRC meeting, Board Member Soto presented additional comments and recommendations on behalf of herself, Board Member Bill Burke and members of the ECAG, to the MSRC for consideration. Following a review and discussion of the recommendations, MSRC Chair Longville concluded that the MSRC has been performing most of the outreach efforts outlined, and agreed to attend future ECAG meetings as his schedule permits.

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Legislative Activities

The MSRC discussed activities in the legislature relative to Smog Check II funding and the rumored efforts to seek as much as 50% of the statewide AB 2766 revenues for use in vehicle scrappage programs. The MSRC considered various strategies to protect the AB 2766 revenues, such as performing outreach to members of Senator Kopp’s "Smog Check" Conference Committee which is considering the funding issues, receiving the weekly legislative highlights report which is prepared by AQMD legislative staff for the AQMD Governing Board. MSRC Chair Longville appointed a subcommittee, consisting of both MSRC and MSRC-TAC members, to review its financial picture to ensure that all AB 2766 discretionary monies are being expended expeditiously towards reducing motor vehicle emissions.

FY 1997-99 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program

On May 9, 1997, the MSRC issued four RFPs for project areas within its FY 1997-99 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program. Thirty-one proposals were received by the 5 p.m. deadline on Tuesday, June 24, as follows:

RFP Name & Number No. of Proposals Received

Research & Development #9697-463

Smart Shuttles/Transit Systems #9697-4710

Market-Based Incentives #9697-492

Student Education Projects #9697-5016

A spreadsheet listing the proposals received, project titles, and funding requested is provided for your information (Attachment 2).

Formation of Evaluation Subcommittees and Retention of Educator for Student Education Programs and Proposal Evaluation Subcommittee

The MSRC formed evaluation subcommittees to review the proposals received in response to the four RFPs released in May 1996 (see above). One of the four RFPs was for student education projects to teach students about the link between transportation alternatives and clean air. Because student education is a unique discipline outside the MSRC-TAC’s expertise, the MSRC agreed to retain the services of an educator who can assist the evaluation subcommittee in determining what proposals have the best chance of success. Given the hours it is anticipated for this educator to assist the subcommittee in reviewing proposals and deliberation, it is unlikely that a volunteer educator can be identified. Therefore, although attempts will be made to identify a volunteer educator, the MSRC approved $2,500 to obtain services of an educational professional through a sole-source contract. If all dollars are not used on the contract during the evaluation phase, the educator will be used to assist in subsequent review of specific programs that are funded.

FY 1996-97 Third Quarter Staff and Technical Support and Contract Administration Costs on AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Program

In May 1996 the MSRC approved reimbursement of AQMD staff and technical support and contract administration costs for FY 1996-97 in an amount not to exceed $545,000. Every quarter staff prepares a report on actual costs for the MSRC’s receipt. For the third quarter of FY 1996-97 actual staff support totaled $30,591; technical support totaled $25,112; and contract administration, $54,173. Actual staff and technical support and contract administration costs for the first three quarters of FY 1996-97 are $307,179.

Final Reports Received and Approved

The MSRC received and approved four final reports. They are as follows:

1. Caltrans District 8 Contract #C94048, which provided $249,750 for CNG infrastructure;

2. West Hollywood TMO Contract #C95011, which provided $150,000 for a vanpool rail feeder shuttle demonstration project;

3. Southern California Association of Governments Contract #C95016, which provided $95,564 for development of new methodology for VMT monitoring; and

4. Arthur D. Little, Inc. Contract #C96021, which provided $149,943 for development and demonstration of a Tunable Infrared Laser Differential Absorption Spectroscopy remote sensing instrument.

All final reports for the AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Program are filed in the AQMD’s Library.

Contract Modification Requests

The MSRC took the following unanimous actions on requested contract modifications, as recommended by its Technical Advisory Committee:

1. Approval of a five and one-half month contractual term extension and a scope change allowing new participants and the option to purchase two CNG buses instead of one electric school bus for each participating school desirous of such, with approximately $726,000 to be returned to the AB 2766 Discretionary Fund, for A-Z Bus Sales Contract #C95022, which originally provided $2,885,603 for 20 electric and 10 CNG school buses; and

2. Approval of a one-year contractual term extension for A-Z Bus Sales Contract #C96011, which provided 1,994,801 for the purchase of 10 electric and 12 CNG school buses.

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 also attached for your information (Attachment 3).

Attachments

1 - Approved May 22, 1997, MSRC monthly minutes
2 - Proposal Response to Four FY 1997-99 Work Program RFPs
3 - Contract Administrator Report

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