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Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS: 

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, January 28, 2000. Following is a summary of that meeting.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

S. Roy Wilson, Vice Chair
Mobile Source Committee

Attendance

The meeting started at 9:10 a.m. Present: Committee Vice Chair Roy Wilson (joined the meeting at 9:25 a.m. - participated for a portion of the meeting via videoteleconference), and Committee Member Jon Mikels. Absent: Committee Chair Cynthia Coad, and Committee Members Norma Glover, Mee Hae Lee, and Ron Loveridge. The attachment is an attendance roster.

ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1. Proposal for In-House Training of Rule 2202 Employee Transportation Coordinators
   Staff reported on the current status of the RFP process for a new contractor for the Rule 2202 Employee Transportation Coordinator training program. At the December meeting three options were put forward to the Committee for consideration, one of which was to provide the training in-house. Per directions from the Mobile Source Committee, staff conducted a cost analysis on the option of in-house training. Staff came up with two scenarios. Under Scenario 1 a registration fee of $50 would be charged, thus not entailing any direct expense for the AQMD. Under Scenario 2 no registration fee would be charged, thus entailing an expense of approximately $16,000 for the AQMD. Under both scenarios staff resources required would be approximately .75 FTE. Implementation of the training can start in March 2000 (if directed to internalize the training by the Committee today) and a six-month training schedule will be released. Staff also provided a comparison between training conducted in-house and training by an outside contractor. Total expenses for in-house training would be approximately $15,690/year without a registration fee, and for an outside contractor, approximately $43,560/year. The expense for the AQMD did not include any labor cost since existing staff resources will be used.
   
   Melinda Sue Norin of MSN & Associates addressed the Committee, and indicated her company’s desire to be considered for the award of the contract.
   
   Less than a quorum was present during the discussion of this item; Committee Member Jon Mikels communicated his recommendation to take this item to the Governing Board at its February meeting.
   
   Committee Member Jon Mikels also commented that labor cost should also be included in the estimate of expenses for the AQMD, in order to provide an accurate comparison with expenses for an outside contractor.
   
   
2. Discussion of Options for Rule 2202 – AQIP
   Proposal of Recommendations for Third Quarter/1999
   Staff advised the Committee that they are looking at the possibility of re-directing AQIP funds not yet awarded towards funding school bus infrastructures for fueling stations. In doing so, AQMD needs to partner with MSRC to obtain some emission reduction credits to make up for shortfalls resulting from implementation of Rule 2202. A discussion took place regarding this option. Committee Member Jon Mikels commented that he preferred for staff to look at the AQIP fund in the context of the overall Rule 1190 financing in order to determine what is the most effective way to spend the AQIP fund.

INFORMATION ITEMS:

3. Status Report by Councils of Governments on AB 2766 Subvention Fund Outreach
   Rick Bishop, representing the Orange County Council of Governments (COGs), presented to the Committee a status report on the AB 2766 outreach efforts for the period July 1999 – January 2000 by the following COGs: Orange County COG, South Bay Cities COG, San Bernardino Associated Governments, and Western Riverside COG. This was followed by a brief discussion on combining funding from different cities and joining projects among cities as more efficient ways of spending the local governments’ portion of the AB 2766 funds. The meeting also discussed the possibility of using portions of this fund towards Rule 1190 fueling infrastructure.
   
   
4. Update on AB 2766 Subvention Fund Audit Findings
   Staff reported that the biennial audit of the AB 2766 Program for FYs 1995-96 and 1996-97 has been concluded and the audit reports were transmitted to the Governing Board at its December 1999 meeting. Out of a total of 49 findings of noncompliance, only one remains unresolved at this time. This noncompliance finding was with the City of Duarte and related to $5,733 in expenditures for the operation and maintenance of methanol vehicles, which included the cost of methanol fuel purchases. Based on a detailed analysis of these expenditures the City of Duarte has now concurred with $3,534 of the total amount. However, they indicated that guidelines relating to fuel usage were unclear at the time they made the expenditures for methanol fuel. To resolve this audit finding, staff proposes to recommend to the Governing Board that the methanol fuel purchase expenditures (the remaining $2,198) for the audit year be allowed. Further, staff proposes to ask the Governing Board’s direction to develop guidance in consultation with the ARB for future years regarding the use of AB 2766 funds for alternative fuel purchases, as well as a determination on whether the full cost or only the incremental difference would be allowed.
   
   Further, staff reported that the City of Manhattan Beach had a similar finding and that City has voluntarily reimbursed the AB 2766 fund. Upon the Governing Board’s approval of staff’s recommendation for the City of Duarte, staff recommends that the City of Manhattan Beach be notified of the revised outcome for the audited year.
   
   
5. Status Report on Fleet Rule Development
   A status report on the fleet rule development was presented by staff. Two public workshops were conducted. The initial round of comments was closed on January 21 and over 100 comments letters were received. Comments received covered the following main issues: Cost of vehicles and infrastructure development; availability of alternative fuel engines for special applications; and clarification on contracted services and emergency vehicle exemptions. Commentors have suggested the following rule language changes: phase-in implementation; exemptions/extensions for unavailable compliant engines; ability to evaluate/test alternative fueled vehicles before actual purchase; and alternative compliance. Current efforts include: evaluating rule language revisions; preparing three companion documents on: funding mechanisms, infrastructure needs, and training and outreach; and completing environment and socioeconomic assessments. At this time staff is expecting to present the proposed rule to the Governing Board at its April 2000 meeting. However, staff would inform the Governing Board if there is a need to delay the rulemaking based on comments received.
   
   Committee Member Jon Mikels commented that he believed more time would be needed for staff to develop an implementable rule. He wished to communicate to the Governing Board the suggestion that the full rule be continued until July unless the Board acts to advance portions of the rule based upon recommendation from staff.
   
   
6. Status Report on Air Toxics Control Plan
   Due to lack of time, this item was continued to the Stationary Source Committee meeting which also had this item on its agenda.
   
   
7. Rule 2202 Activity Report
   Rule 2202 Summary Status Report submitted, no comments.
   
   
8. Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives
   Item #4 – CEQA Commenting:
   a. CEQA Document Commenting Update: Written report submitted, no comments.
   b. CEQA Handbook Revision: No meeting in January.
   
   
9. Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives
   Item #7 – Cleanup Incentives for Diesel: Written report submitted, no comments.
   
   
10. Other Business
    None
    
    
11. Public Comment
    None

The meeting adjourned at 10:40 a.m.

Attachment

Attendance Roster

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE

JANUARY 28, 2000

ATTENDANCE ROSTER

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