BOARD MEETING DATE: November 13, 1998 AGENDA NO. 18
REPORT:
Administrative Committee
SYNOPSIS:
The Administrative Committee met Friday, October 23, 1998, and reviewed the
proposed agenda for the November 13, 1998 Board meeting. The Committee also discussed
various issues detailed in the Committee report. The next Administrative Committee meeting
is Friday, November 20, 1998, at 9:30 a.m., in Conference Room CC-8.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive and file this report.
Norma J. Glover, Chairman
Administrative Committee
Attendance:
Present were Committee Chair Norma Glover, Vice Chairman James Silva, Committee Members
Richard Alarcón, Mee Hae Lee, Nell Soto, and Roy Wilson (attending via teleconference
from Larson Justice Center, 46200 Oasis Street, Suite 318 - Conference Room, Indio, CA
92201, a facility which is available to the public and at which location a copy of the
agenda had previously been posted, in accordance with the Brown Act).
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
Local Government & Small Business Assistance (LG&SBA) Advisory Group
Report
: Lupe Valdez, Deputy Executive Officer of Public Affairs and Local Government
Assistance, updated the Committee on the activities of the LG&SBA Group, including:
Submittal of supplemental comments to EPA regarding its Interim Guidance for
Investigating Title VI Administrative Complaints Challenging Permits (reviewed by the
Board at its October 9, 1998 meeting);
Preparation of a proposal, with particular emphasis toward small business, to
review the cost-effectiveness issues that impact small businesses differently than larger
businesses;
Discussions regarding AB2766 subvention funds; and
Establishing LG&SBA goals and objectives; for example, milestones for the
upcoming year.
When Ms. Valdez next reports on the Advisory Group’s activities, she will provide
the Committee with a completed report on LG&SBA goals and objectives.
Clean Air Awards
: Public Advisor LaRonda Bowen reported on the Clean Air
Award Ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, October 28. The event’s expenses have been
fully recovered.
Procedures Regarding Advisory Group Comments
: Dr. Barry Wallerstein, Acting
Executive Officer, advised the Committee that this proposal is to clarify the process to
be followed to convey Advisory Groups’ opinions and recommendations to the Board. The
respective Group’s Board Committee, upon concurrence with Advisory Group commentary,
will provide the Advisory Group input to the full Board for its consideration. The full
Board then can establish the agency’s position, either directly or through the
Executive Officer. Moved (Lee), seconded (Soto) and unanimously recommended for approval.
Chairman’s Report of Approved Travel
: In addition to the travel in the
report, Committee Chair Glover advised that Councilmember Alarcón may travel to
Washington, D.C. on behalf of the District. Moved (Lee), seconded (Silva) and unanimously
recommended for approval. (See end of report for detail.)
Dr. Wallerstein provided a brief report on his recent trip to Washington D.C. The two-fold
purpose of the trip was to meet with the EPA regarding action on the 1997 AQMP, and also
to attend meetings with White House staff, including Vice President Gore, regarding
economic development and AQMD technology advancement efforts relative to creating jobs and
low-emission technologies in Southern California.
Approval of Compensation for Board Member Assistant(s):
Dr. Wallerstein
advised the Committee that Supervisor Jon Mikels requested an amendment to the FY 1998-99
contract providing him with Board Member Assistant/Consultant services by changing the
status of Daniela Fernandez from Board Assistant to Board Consultant. No change in
compensation was requested. Moved (Lee), seconded (Wilson) and unanimously recommended for
approval.
Out-of-Country Travel
: There was no out-of-country travel to report.
NOVEMBER AGENDA ITEMS:
Report of Six-Month Trial Program to Use Tele- or Videoconferencing for Committee
Meetings
: Dr. Wallerstein summarized the six-month follow-up report on the pilot
program utilizing teleconferencing or videoconferencing for Board committee meetings.
Overall, the pilot program has been very successful and staff recommends continuing this
practice. In addition to the time-saving aspect, Supervisor Wilson reminded the Committee
of the emissions savings by eliminating the considerable amount of driving involved when
members attend committee meetings in person. Moved (Alarcón), seconded (Soto) and
unanimously recommended for approval.
Remove Various Fixed Assets for Trade-In and Disposal from Monitoring and
Analysis Inventory
: Mel Zeldin, Director of Monitoring & Analysis, reported that
the annual fixed asset inventory in Monitoring & Analysis was recently conducted. Due
to the equipment replacement program, and modernization of the air monitoring network, a
significant number of items had been identified for surplus. Staff is recommending
declaring as surplus the equipment determined to be obsolete or broken and not worth
repairing, some of which may be used for trade-in credit toward the purchase of approved
fixed assets. Moved (Lee), seconded (Silva) and unanimously recommended for approval.
Review November 13, 1998 Governing Board Agenda
: A revised Agenda was
distributed to Committee Members, and Dr. Wallerstein explained the following changes:
CONTINUE Item 1726: Set Public Hearing December 11, 1998 to Amend Rule
1158-Storage, Handling, and Transport of Coke, Coal and Sulfur. The hearing will be
set within the next two months rather than at the November Board meeting.
DELETE: Item1670 - Execute Contract for Technical Assistance for Local
Jurisdictions Utilizing AB 2766 Subvention Funds: The Mobile Source Committee has
requested that staff examine internalizing the function of providing technical assistance
to local jurisdictions in support of the AB 2766 Subvention Fund.
ADD: Item 1751 – Petition for Regulation XII Hearing on Catalina
Furniture Company’s Applications for Permits to Construct Eleven Spray Booths and
Three Dip Tanks: The petition is to request that the Board conduct a Regulation XII
Hearing regarding permitting for Catalina Furniture Company.
During the general review of the Agenda, Councilmember Soto requested elaboration on
Item 1737 – Execute Contract to Cost-Share Demonstration of Dynamic
Recalculation/Fluidized Bed Solvent Recovery from Spray Coating Operations. Dr. Chung
Liu, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer of Technology Advancement, explained that AQMD
will be working with the ARB on this project at the Steelcase Company demonstration site
relative to controlling VOC emissions from the facility with an innovative recirculation
system. Dr. Wallerstein added that this coordination effort is to determine how the system
can be optimized so it will become more cost-effective for other companies. To alleviate
concerns regarding possible increased costs to furniture manufacturers and other affected
businesses, staff was directed to emphasize in the Board letter that the optimization of
the system would reduce costs as well as increase the amount of emission control.
Other Business
: Dr. Wallerstein mentioned that Board Member Paul Woodruff
had submitted his first expense claim and requested reimbursement for a Board Committee
meeting he attended at which he had not been an appointed member. AQMD Administrative Code
Policy regarding Board Members’ expenses references compensation for each meeting of
a Board Committee to which the member is appointed. However, there is a provision in State
law that provides compensation for attendance at Committee meetings, whether or not the
member is appointed. General Counsel Peter Greenwald recommended that this matter be
placed on the November Administrative Committee agenda when the Committee could consider
amending the AQMD Administrative Code and, if approved, make a recommendation to the full
Board. Rather than go through the process of amending the code, Ms. Lee made a motion to
retroactively appoint Mr. Woodruff to the Committee, and Supervisor Silva seconded the
motion. Mr. Greenwald stated it is the prerogative of the Chair, Vice Chair, or Committee
Chair to appoint an ad hoc Committee member; Ms. Glover indicated that Mr. Woodruff should
be deemed to have been appointed at that meeting. Committee Chair Glover also recommended
sending a memo to the full Board reminding them of the policy in the AQMD Administrative
Code.
Ms. Soto referred the Committee back to the Board Agenda, referencing Item 1741 – Amend
Rule 1610-Old Vehicle Scrapping, and expressed her concerns regarding the impact on
low-income individuals because the parts destruction element in the rule may prohibit them
from being able to obtain used parts to repair their vehicles. Dr. Elaine Chang, Director
of Planning and Policy, responded that staff examined the previous records which indicated
that the number of vehicles retired under Rule 1610 represented about 2% of total vehicles
retired for the same period of time. As such, there should be sufficient vehicle
components available for reuse that the proposed amended Rule 1610 is not expected to
affect the market price or the availability of old vehicle components.
Public Comment
: None
Committee Chair Glover adjourned the meeting at 10:07 a.m.
Report on Board Member Travel Authorized by the
Chairman (September 18 – October 23, 1998):
