Back

PROPOSAL:

Recognize and Appropriate Funds to Office of Public Affairs and Transportation for the 1998 Clean Air Awards

SYNOPSIS:

AQMD received a total of $19,745 for the 1998 Clean Air Awards ceremony from both sponsors and attendees. The cost of the event, held October 28 at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, was $17,569, not including staff time. A base amount of $5,000 was allocated in the 1998-99 Budget to cover the costs of the awards and incidentals. This action is to recognize the $19,745 and appropriate $12,569 to Public Affairs to cover the total cost of the awards luncheon.

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, December 18, 1998, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

1. Recognize a total of $19,745 in revenues received from both sponsors of, and attendees to, the 1998 Clean Air Awards.

2. Appropriate $12,569 from Undesignated Fund Balance to Public Affairs and Transportation’s Services and Supplies Major Object, Rents and Leases Structures Account in the FY 1998-99 Budget.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

For ten years, the AQMD has honored public and private organizations and individuals who have made extraordinary contributions in the effort to reduce air pollution. The AQMD has presented these individuals and organizations with Clean Air Awards at an annual award ceremony. For a number of years, this ceremony was held in the evening at AQMD headquarters. Concerned about declining attendance and a lack of media coverage, staff decided to change the venue and time of the 1997 awards ceremony. The event was held as a luncheon at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Over 350 people attended, compared to 125 who attended the 1996 awards ceremony.

In order to ensure maximum participation at the 10^th Annual Clean Air Awards, the event was again planned as a luncheon at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. This was done with the understanding that ticket prices would be increased by five dollars and sponsors would be actively sought to cover the cost of the luncheon. If no sponsors were identified, staff would have held the event at AQMD headquarters.

This decision was made subsequent to the adoption of AQMD’s 1998-99 Budget, in which $5,000 was allocated to cover the costs of the awards and incidentals. The Clean Air Awards luncheon was very successful, with 350 attendees. The cost of the event was $17,569 not including staff time and the AQMD received $19,745 in revenue from sponsors and attendees.

Staff intends to continue seeking sponsors to offset costs for future events and will allocate the full amount required to cover the costs of the Clean Air Awards in future Public Affairs and Transportation budgets.

Proposal

1. Recognize a total of $19,745 in revenues received from both sponsors of, and attendees to, the 1998 Clean Air Awards.

2. Appropriate $12,569 from Undesignated Fund Balance to Public Affairs and Transportation’s Services and Supplies Major Object, Rents and Leases Structures Account in the FY1998-99 Budget.

Since the receipt of funds by the AQMD constitutes a budget supplement within the definition of Health and Safety Code Section 40720(j), public notice of this proposed supplement was published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal, Riverside Press Enterprise, Orange County Register, San Bernardino Sun, and the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.

/ / /