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PROPOSAL:

Appropriate Funds from the Undesignated Fund Balance to Stationary Source Compliance to Reinstate the Amount Temporarily Reallocated to Fund Permit Streamlining Study

SYNOPSIS:

On August 14, 1998, the Board approved the execution of a contract to AVES, an affiliate of ATC Associates, Inc. (formerly AeroVironment Environmental Services Inc.) to conduct a comprehensive permit streamlining study. This study is intended to identify areas where improvements are needed and recommend specific steps to reduce the time necessary for issuing permits. The project cost of $145,806 was not included in the 1998-99 Budget. Due to the expedited Permit Streamlining initiative time schedule, reallocation of this amount from the Stationary Source Compliance budget was required. This action is to appropriate $145,806 back to the Stationary Source Compliance Budget from the Undesignated Fund Balance.

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, August 21, 1998, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Appropriate $145,806 from the Undesignated Fund Balance to the Stationary Source Compliance budget for line item Permit Processing/Engineering Services.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Acting Executive Officer

Background

One of the top priorities of AQMD is a new initiative to improve efficiency and customer service to businesses seeking permits to establish or expand operation in the South Coast area. In order to provide assistance in this matter, AQMD has formed the Permit Streamlining Task Force and, in addition, Mohsen Nazemi, an AQMD Senior Manager, has been appointed to the position of Ombudsman to work with the Task Force in implementing this initiative. As part of this new initiative a contractor has also been selected to independently review permitting at AQMD as well as other agencies and organizations in order to recommend specific steps to improve and streamline permitting.

Proposal

On August 14, the Board approved the execution of a contract with AVES, an affiliate of ATC Associates, Inc. (formerly AeroVironment Environmental Services Inc.), for $145,806 to conduct a comprehensive permit streamlining study. However, the project cost was not included in the FY 1998-99 budget and due to the expedited permit streamlining initiative time schedule and the need to coordinate the timing of this study with another study to evaluate the AQMD’s fee system, the awarding of this contract could not be further delayed to complete the 30-day public notice requirement for budget supplement. Therefore, a temporary reallocation of funds from the Stationary Source Compliance FY 1998-99 budget designated for Permit Processing/Engineering Services was requested at the August 14, 1998 Board meeting. Today’s action is to appropriate the reallocated funds back to the Stationary Source Compliance FY 1998-99 Permit Processing/Engineering Services line item from the Undesignated Fund Balance.

Resource Impacts

This action is to appropriate $145,806 from the Undesignated Fund Balance to the Stationary Source Compliance FY 1998-99 budget designated for Permit Processing/Engineering Services. This constitutes a supplement to the FY 1998-99 Budget and was previously contemplated as an appropriate use of funds from the sale of AQMD’s El Monte facility. Therefore, the required 30-day public notice of a proposed supplement to the FY 1998-99 Budget was published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal, San Bernardino Sun Telegram, Riverside Press Enterprise, Santa Ana Register, and Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.

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