BOARD MEETING DATE: November 14, 1997 AGENDA NO. 27
REPORT:
Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee
SYNOPSIS:
Set forth below is a summary of key issues addressed at the MSRC’s October 23, 1997 meeting. The next MSRC meeting is Thursday, November 20, 1997, at 1:30 p.m. in AQMD Conference Room CC8.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive and file this report.
Nell Soto
AQMD Board Representative on MSRC
Legislative Update
Catherine Witherspoon, AQMD’s Legislative Director, reported to the MSRC on the efforts regarding the reauthorization of Technology Advancement funds, the status of Smog Check II, the October 15, 1997, Senate interim hearing on the diesel control bill (AB 1368-Villaraigosa), and the Planning and Conservation League Initiative for the 1998 Ballot. Although raids on the AB 2766 funds have generally been part of funding discussions, no language to actually take away these funds has been included in any bill.
Minutes
The minutes of the September 25, 1997, monthly meeting were approved, as submitted, and are provided for your information as Attachment 1.
Backup List for FY 1997-99 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program
When the MSRC adopted the Research and Development (R&D) and TCM portion of its FY 1997-99 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program in September, it had included a backup list of eligible R&D projects to be considered if additional funding became available in the near future. Because of turn-back funds and higher interest income, an additional $1.5 million was identified by staff. Consequently, at its October 23, 1997 meeting, the MSRC reviewed the backup list projects and adopted two R&D projects
totaling $992,705 for funding within the FY 1997-99 Work Program. These two projects are intended to assist in the design, development, and certification of a low-emission LPG engine or conversion kit for medium- and/or heavy-duty fleet vehicles. The recommendation to approve these projects as part of the FY 1997-99 Work Program will be considered in a separate agenda item by the Governing Board at the November 14, 1997 Board meeting; thus I have included no supporting material on the backup projects recomended for funding.
Extension of $6 Million Local Government Subvention Fund Match Program
As part of its FY 1997-99 Work Program, the MSRC included a $6 million Local Government Subvention Fund Match Program to encourage the cities and counties in the AQMD’s jurisdiction receiving AB 2766 City Subvention Funds to reduce their balances. The MSRC would provide a 25% match to cities and counties for projects meeting certain criteria. Funds were to be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis and would be reimbursed to local governments after project completion. The six-month application process was established for May 15 through November 15, 1997, and all projects are to be completed no later than June 30, 1999.
Including those projects to be considered at the November 14, 1997, Governing Board meeting, only 18 projects totaling $535,276 have been funded to date. Another dozen projects are pending review and submittal to the Governing Board at the December 12, 1997 meeting. However, MSRC support staff advised the Committee that they have been receiving 40-50 telephone inquiries daily from local governments as the November 15 deadline for the program has approached. Consequently, the MSRC unanimously voted to extend the application deadline through March 3, 1998, but maintained the project completion deadline at June 30, 1999.
Adoption of Proposition 209 Compliance Policy
AQMD legal staff advised the MSRC that the AQMD Governing Board had adopted an Interim Policy on Proposition 209 following the August 28, 1997, court action which lifted the stay. AQMD legal staff prepared proposed language for inclusion in future MSRC funding solicitations which would allow preference points only for disabled veteran-owned business enterprises and local businesses. The MSRC unanimously adopted a Proposition 209 Compliance Policy based on staff’s recommendation and requested that their policy be consistent, to the extent possible, with AQMD policy, while recognizing that unlike the AQMD the MSRC does not receive any federal funding. This policy is attached for your information (Attachment 2).
Reimbursement of AB 2766 Discretionary Program Expenditures for FY 1996-97 Fourth Quarter as well as FY 1996-97 Fourth Quarter Staff and Technical Support and Contract Administration Costs
In May 1996 the MSRC approved the reimbursement of miscellaneous administrative and mailing costs for FY 1996-97 for an amount not to exceed $30,000. Every quarter staff prepares a report on actual costs for the MSRC’s receipt and filing. For the fourth quarter of FY 1996-97 miscellaneous costs in the amount of $15,127.07 were reimbursed to the AQMD, for a total of $29,319.99 for the entire FY 1996-97.
The MSRC also approved reimbursement of AQMD staff and contract administration and technical support for FY 1996-97 in the amount of $545,000. For the fourth quarter of FY 1996-97 these staff support costs were $123,023, for a total of $465,887 for the entire FY 1996-97.
Contract Modification Requests
The MSRC took the following unanimous actions on requested contract modifications, as recommended by its Technical Advisory Committee:
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 your information (Attachment 3). This Report includes a spreadsheet on the Local Government Subvention Match Program listing those projects that have met MSRC program requirements to date.
1 - Approved September 25, 1997, MSRC monthly minutes
2 - Proposition 209 Compliance Policy
3 - Contract Administrator Report
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