South Coast Air Quality Management District

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Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee

SYNOPSIS: 

Below is a summary of key issues addressed at the MSRC’s August 24, 2000, meeting. The next MSRC meeting is Thursday, September 28, 2000, at 1:30 p.m. in Room CC8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Norma J. Glover
AQMD Representative on MSRC

Approval of Minutes

Minutes from the July 27, 2000, MSRC meeting were unanimously approved, with clarification amendments. The minutes are attached for your information (Attachment 1).

FY 2000-01 Work Program

In May 2000, the MSRC unanimously approved the framework for a one-year, $14.5 million FY 2000-01 Work Program, and subsequently over the next two months approved six RFPs and one RFQ for various TCM and clean fuels programs. The MSRC's FY 2000-01 Work Program also includes a $2 million augmentation for light-duty vehicle buydown programs and a $1 million reserve for a school bus program, pending details of the state's $50 million school bus replacement program. In July the MSRC maintained its $3 million commitment towards an Alternative Fuels Subvention Fund Match Program, but deferred final approval for one month pending refinement of program details by the MSRC-TAC.

At its August 24, 2000 meeting, the MSRC reached consensus on details of the Match Program and unanimously approved the Program Announcement and Application for the Alternative Fuels Subvention Fund Match Program. The Match Program will provide a 50-75% match for cities receiving AB 2766 City Subvention Funds towards alternative fuels infrastructure and the purchase of medium-/heavy-duty alternative fuel vehicles. The original idea was to provide a 50% match with a 20% bonus match if at least two cities and/or counties joined together in an infrastructure project. The MSRC decided to increase the bonus match, providing up to 25%, five percent each for multi-jurisdictional station development, a station utilized by multiple fleets, and/or infrastructure "gap closure" and/or 10% for public accessibility (24 hours per day, 7 days per week). In addition to the 50% match, applicants may receive either an additional zero or five percent (10% for public accessibility) for each of these four criteria for a possible bonus match from 0-25%.

Consideration of the Alternative Fuels Subvention Fund Match Program will be considered by our Board as part of the September 15, 2000 consent calendar.

CARB ZEV Mandate Hearing

The CARB's ZEV mandate hearing is September 7-8, and the MSRC unanimously approved a travel allowance for its chair, Palm Springs Mayor Will Kleindienst, to attend the two-day hearing and speak on behalf of the MSRC in support of the ZEV mandate. The MSRC's programs have always supported the accelerated introduction of ZEVs into the marketplace, and the MSRC's light-duty buydown programs provide incentives for ZEVs ($5,000) as well as ULEVs ($3,000).

Standardization of Refueling Methods for Alternative-Fueled Vehicles

MSRC Chair Will Kleindienst, himself an owner of a CNG vehicle, asked that the MSRC-TAC research the issue of standardizing refueling payment methods for alternative fuel vehicles. Concern was expressed about the viability of different types of card readers and incompatibility of ZEV charging plugs. The MSRC emphasized that refueling stations, especially for CNG, need to be publicly accessible. The MSRC wants to explore this area with the hope that an element can be included in next year's work program to address the difficulties being experienced by alternative-fuel vehicle owners.

Contract Modification Requests

The MSRC took the following actions on seven contract modifications at its August 24 meeting:

1. For Omnitrans Contract #96037, which provides $1,315,524 for the purchase of 19 CNG transit buses, the MSRC unanimously authorized its staff to work with Omnitrans on amending its contract to use residual funds for three or four additional CNG transit buses and all or a portion of the sales tax on the original 19 buses.
   
   
2. For City of Los Angeles/Department of Water & Power Contracts #99037, #99038, #99039, #99052, #99053, #99054, #99055, and #99057, which provide $68,055 for directional signage installation for EV charging stations, the MSRC unanimously approved a six-month contractual term extension.
   
   
3. For Waste Management-Corona District Contract #00013, which provides $995,520 towards a portion of the incremental cost of 20 CNG refuse trucks, and Pickens Fuel Corporation Contract #00034, which provides $750,000 for three CNG refueling stations to support Waste Management's refuse trucks, the MSRC approved a change in fuel type from CNG to LNG and a change in the refueling station location (which remains in the Inland Empire). For the Waste Management contract, the MSRC also approved the use of residual funds for additional vehicle purchases.
   
   
4. For Stater Bros. Markets Contract #00015, which provides $600,000 for the purchase of 20 on-road LNG tractors equipped with the Caterpillar C-12 engine, the MSRC unanimously approved a six-month contractual term extension.
   
   
5. For City of Moreno Valley Contract #00026, which provides $13,000 for class III bicycle routes, the MSRC unanimously approved a one-year contractual term extension.
   
   
6. The MSRC also unanimously approved a six-month extension of the CNG School Bus Incentive Program through June 30, 2000, along with the two bus vendor contracts with A-Z Bus Sales, Inc. (Contract #SB001) and California Bus Sales (Contract #SB002).

Contract Administrator Report

The MSRC's AB 2766 Contract Administrator provided a written status report on all open contracts from FY 1994-95 through the present. This Contract Administrator Report is attached for your information (Attachment 2).

Attachments

1 - Approved July 27, 2000 Minutes
2 - Contract Administrator Report

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