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BOARD MEETING DATE: June 11, 1999 AGENDA NO. 18

REPORT:

Administrative Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Administrative Committee met Friday, May 21, 1999, and reviewed the proposed agenda for the June 11, 1999 Board meeting. The Committee also discussed various issues detailed in the Committee report. The next Administrative Committee meeting is Friday, June 18, 1999, at 9:30 a.m., in Conference Room CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Norma J. Glover, Chair
Administrative Committee

Attendance:
Present were Committee Chair Norma Glover and Committee Member Beatrice LaPisto-Kirtley. Committee Member Roy Wilson was also present via videoconference. Absent were Members Hal Bernson, Cynthia Coad and Mee Lee.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1. Chairman’s Report of Approved Travel: Referring to the Report on Board Member Travel Authorized by the Chairman, Executive Officer Dr. Barry Wallerstein commented that there may be a need for additional Board Member travel to Sacramento in support of SB98 and AB38, proposed legislation for the reauthorization of the clean fuels program. Moved (LaPisto-Kirtley), seconded (Glover), and unanimously recommended for approval. (See end of report for detail.)

2. Approval of Compensation for Board Member Assistant(s): The Committee considered and approved the proposals renewing six Board Member Assistant/Consultant contracts for Fiscal Year 1999-00 as follows:

BOARD MEMBER	NAME	CATEGORY
Jon D. Mikels	Daniela Fernandez Nancy Tracy	Consultant - employee Assistant - employee
S. Roy Wilson	Carolyn Syms Luna	Consultant - employee
Ronald Loveridge	Ruthanne Taylor Berger	Consultant - employee
Beatrice LaPisto-Kirtley	Douglas Kim	Consultant - independent contractor
Hal Bernson	Sandor "Sandy" Winger	Consultant - employee

Committee members commented on the high caliber of the assistants and consultants. Moved (Glover), seconded (LaPisto-Kirtley) and unanimously recommended for approval.

3. Out-of-Country Travel: None.

4. Status Report on Implementation of Inland Empire Initiatives: Dr. Wallerstein provided the Committee with a brief update on the progress of the implementation of the seven initiatives recommended by the Ad Hoc Inland Empire Committee:
• As reported previously, Board Members receive notification when Stage 1 advisories occur;
• The analysis of the 1998 Stage 1 episodes in the eastern basin, specifically the San Bernardino Mountain areas, has been completed and forwarded to Board Members;
• The pilot program using the pager system to transmit real-time air quality information has been implemented. Seventy-five pagers have been assigned and participants have provided positive feedback;
• The clean air fair initiative was completed through AQMD’s major sponsorship and showcase at the 13^th Annual Inland Empire Environmental Expo on April 24 at Cal Sate University, San Bernardino. The AQMD booth was very popular and 200 new "Smogbusters" signed up. LaRonda Bowen, Public Advisor, explained that the Smogbuster Program provides students with classroom and home air-quality related activities, and members receive a quarterly newsletter;
• The two schools selected for the field test of the catalyst system to reduce ambient ozone levels are Valley View Elementary School in Riverside County and Redwood Elementary School in Fontana. Paperwork with the school districts is being finalized and it is expected the catalyst systems will be operational and measurements occurring by July 1, 1999, as the smoggiest part of the year approaches;
• At its last meeting, the Governing Board approved using part of the funds for PAMS as a funding source to expand the upper air wind profiler system;
• Geographically based strategies and impacts are being evaluated as part of the ongoing year 2000 AQMP development.

With regard to the selection of the two schools for the demonstration of an air exchanger-bound catalyst, Ad Hoc Inland Empire Committee Chair Roy Wilson requested that staff consider the Jurupa Valley High School in the future. The school, which was the site of the March, 1998, Mira Loma/Jurupa Town Hall Meeting, is negatively impacted due to considerable industry and truck traffic in the area. Dr. Wallerstein will discuss future possibilities of a test program at the school site with Supervisor Wilson.

JUNE AGENDA ITEMS:

5. Environmental Justice Compact: LaRonda Bowen, Public Advisor, reported that the Compact identifies a number of values expressing ethical considerations and ideals related to Environmental Justice. After Board approval, it will be made available to organizations for their consideration, on a voluntary basis, to include as a policy of the organization. Moved (LaPisto-Kirtley), seconded (Glover) and unanimously recommended for approval.

6. FY 1998-99 Budget Transfer for Purchase of Videoconferencing Equipment: Chris Marlia, Acting Director of Information Management, advised the Committee that this item was continued from last month to provide staff time to investigate different options to expand current videoconferencing capabilities from two sites to four and to upgrade existing equipment.
   
   Mr. Marlia reported that he had contacted Byron Wagner, representative of Meta Wire Company, concerning bandwidth availability for videoconferencing, as suggested by Board Member Mee Lee at the previous Administrative Committee meeting. Mr. Wagner had been very informative and had identified alternative videoconferencing options; however, they would require significantly more funds than have been budgeted. He indicated that the videoconference implementation plan AQMD is pursuing is making good use of the available budgeted funds.
   
   Regarding the possibility of securing funds from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC), the language in its RFP states that the trips eliminated through videoconferencing must be non-discretionary; i.e., participants do not have the option of attending the meeting in person. The Committee discussed the interpretation of "non-discretionary," and Committee Chair Glover stated that the MSRC language is too restrictive for this purchase. The MSRC also has administrative funds available that can be used at its discretion; however, this option was not recommended since it would be difficult to meet the criteria.
   
   Regarding the suggestion of providing all Board Members with web-videoconference capability, Mr. Marlia reported that staff determined that the current technology is not yet mature enough, since the picture quality is not satisfactory and service is unreliable.
   
   Committee Chair Glover asked about charging a fee for the use of AQMD videoconference equipment for non-District related meetings. Mark Henninger, Technology Implementation Manager in Information Management, responded that other entities do charge for that service, and Dr. Wallerstein said that staff will investigate this possibility.
   
   Regarding the potential of a meeting where all members attended by videoconference and none attended in person at the meeting site, General Counsel Peter Greenwald advised that it would be legal as long as there was a quorum within the jurisdiction of the District.
   
   Moved (LaPisto-Kirtley ), seconded (Glover) and unanimously recommended for approval.

7. Report of RFPs and RFQs Scheduled for Release in June: Rick Pearce, Chief Financial Officer, reported that the handout that was distributed to Committee members included soliciting qualified law firms to advise and represent the Hearing Board, as well as the District Counsel’s office. District Counsel Barbara Baird explained that the District Counsel and the Hearing Board will utilize different firms to avoid conflicts of interest. Moved (LaPisto-Kirtley), seconded (Glover) and unanimously recommended for approval.

8. Review June 11, 1999 Governing Board Agenda: There were no changes to the draft agenda for the June 11 Governing Board meeting

9. Other Business: None.

10. Public Comment: None.

Committee Chair Glover adjourned the meeting at 10:30 a.m.

Report on Board Member Travel Authorized by the
Chairman (April 23 – May 21, 1999):

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