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BOARD MEETING DATE: December 21, 2001 AGENDA NO. 27




REPORT: 

Administrative Committee

SYNOPSIS: 

The Administrative Committee met Friday, November 16, 2001, and reviewed the proposed agenda for the December 21, 2001, Board meeting. The Committee also discussed various issues detailed in the Committee report. The next Administrative Committee meeting is Friday, December 14, 2001, 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 Members Ronald Loveridge and Roy Wilson (via videoteleconference). Absent were Committee Vice Chair Hal Bernson and Members Burke and Bea LaPisto-Kirtley.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

  1. Board Members’ Concerns: None.

  2. Chairman’s Report of Approved Travel: Dr. Burke approved travel requests for Board Members Leonard Paulitz and Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta to attend the EVAA Electric Transportation Industry Conference to be held in Sacramento on December 11-13.

  3. Approval of Compensation for Board Member Assistant(s): None.

  4. Out-of-Country Travel: None.

  5. Discussion Regarding Revised AQMD Mission Statement, Significant Goals, Objectives, and Accomplishments Achieved: Dr. Wallerstein proposed that this item be postponed to the December 14 Administrative Committee meeting.

  6. Status Report on Outreach Program: Dr. Wallerstein explained that the Board previously allocated funding for enhanced public outreach for three ethnic communities (Asian, African-American, and Hispanic). The Administrative Committee had suggested that AQMD conduct a baseline poll of Southern California to gather information, knowledge, and understanding from the general public regarding how they perceive air pollution status to be in the Basin and how effective AQMD’s programs have been.

    Mayor Loveridge arrived at 9:40 a.m.

    Richard Maullin, Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates, presented the results of the survey, which includes responses from 991 individuals in the four counties categorized by county, race/ethnicity, and Districtwide using a 28-minute telephone survey from October 30 to November 6. The poll concluded that:
  1. Respondents felt that a lot of work was needed to clean the air, especially in the eastern region. Mrs. Glover mentioned that the perception of extremely dirty air could be attributed to the individuals that have recently moved to the area, who had not experienced the air pollution of earlier years.

  2. The respondents who stated the air was cleaner cited emission controls on automobiles and better guidelines or regulations as helping clean the air. The respondents who answered the air was dirtier cited the following reasons for air pollution not improving: there were more vehicles on the road, more public transportation was needed, the area is overpopulated, and people’s indifference to impacts on the environment.

    Regarding the opinion of how air pollution will be in 2010, respondents cited the air could become cleaner due to increased regulations, reduced pollution by producing hybrid and electric vehicles, and individuals being more aware of harmful effects. People cited more vehicles and people in the region, lack of pollution controls, and industries not held responsible as the reasons cleaner air cannot be obtained.

  3. Based on the social issues Southern Californians deal with, air pollution was ranked seventh against traffic congestion, crime, quality of public schools, etc.

  4. Based on the majority of responses, the most prominent response regarding the ill effects of air pollution is that it creates additional health problems for people with asthma or heart conditions, for senior citizens and young children who have not reached their full growth, and increases the risk of cancer.

  5. A large percentage of respondents stated TV, media programs, and daily newspapers provided their sources of information related to smog’s effects on health.

  6. The perception of the respondents is that auto emissions, oil/chemical refineries, and truck/bus diesel emissions are the biggest contributors of smog. Dr. Wallerstein commented that the survey results indicate most individuals are not aware of the most serious air pollution problem, which is particulate matter; PM10 and PM2.5 awareness will require additional public education because it is not yet a familiar element of air pollution among the general population. Mrs. Glover asked what results could be obtained if the Smog Check Program in the Basin became more stringent, and Dr. Wallerstein answered it would clearly produce significant emission reductions but was a challenging effort in the political arena.

  7. The majority of respondents strongly approve AQMD requiring operating permits for businesses and government agencies.

  8. Three quarters of the respondents were unaware of AQMD’s
    1-800-CUTSMOG number. Dr. Wallerstein commented that billboards and media spots have been previously utilized to advertise the 800 number, but both the survey and town hall meetings indicated more outreach venues were needed.

Mr. Maullin concluded that the main purpose of the survey was to assist AQMD design more efficient outreach efforts to communicate facts regarding smog and suggest behaviors to improve air quality.

Mayor Loveridge stated the perception of air pollution is a serious problem as identified in the survey. He commented that it is discouraging to find out that individuals perceive the air as dirtier since so much progress has been achieved since he has been on the Board. He would like additional detailed information from the survey provided regarding the respondents’ age, length of residence in the Basin, and educational level to determine if the information would be affected. Mrs. Glover stated more focused messages may need to be initiated in order to communicate to the public how AQMD is cleaning up the air. Mayor Loveridge asked what three chief messages should be related to the public, and Dr. Wallerstein answered that AQMD has made a significant difference in improving air quality, that clean air can be achieved, but that the assistance of the public is needed in order to make a difference.

Supervisor Wilson stated he would like to see demographic details as related to the Inland Empire regarding a higher recognition of PM10 and suggested the 1-800-CUTSMOG billboard campaign be re-initiated.

DECEMBER AGENDA ITEMS:

  1. Establish Board Meeting Schedule for Calendar Year 2002: Dr. Wallerstein stated it was necessary to poll the Governing Board members to inquire which day of the month in 2002 would be most convenient to schedule the Board meeting. It was determined that the first Friday of the month is available to most, except for January, July, and September, where the Board meeting will be held on the second Friday due to conflicts with the holiday schedule. The Administrative Committee meetings will be scheduled on the second Friday, except for those three months where it will be held on the third Friday, and Mobile Source/Stationary Source/Technology Committee meetings will be held on the fourth Friday. This item was recommended for approval by the Administrative Committee.

  2. Appropriate $100,000 from Undesignated Fund Balance for Legal Representation in Liability Matters: Kurt Wiese, Sr. Deputy District Counsel, stated that $100,000 is necessary to be transferred from the Undesignated Fund Balance to cover unanticipated costs for liability matters. Mayor Loveridge inquired if there was a pattern of litigation involved, i.e., use of cell phones while driving and Mr. Wiese responded no. Moved by Glover, seconded by Loveridge, and unanimously recommended for approval.

  3. Establish List of Pre-qualified Legal Counsel to Represent AQMD in General Liability Matters: Mr. Wiese stated that a list of attorneys needs to be re-established for a three-year period not to exceed $250,000. Moved by Glover, seconded by Loveridge, and unanimously recommended for approval.

  4. Recognize Funding from EPA and Appropriate Funds for the Clean Air Technologies 2001 Conference on Urban Air Pollution Held in November: Chung Liu, DEO/Science & Technology Advancement, stated this item is to receive and allocate $20,000 from EPA for the International Conference. Moved by Loveridge, seconded by Wilson, and unanimously recommended for approval.

  5. Strategic Plan for Information Management: Dr. Wallerstein requested this item be postponed to the December 14 Administrative Committee meeting to allow the Committee members sufficient time to review the plan. Mrs. Glover requested Chris Marlia, Asst. DEO/Information Management, specifically ensure system designs being approved by AQMD are also acceptable to EPA.

  6. Execute Contract for Classification & Compensation Services: Eudora Tharp, Asst. DEO/Administrative & Human Resources, stated that in December 1999 the Governing Board approved a contract for Koff & Associates to initiate classification and compensation services. This item is to approve a three-year contract not to exceed $100,000. Moved by Wilson, seconded by Glover, and unanimously recommended for approval.

  7. Ethnic Community Advisory Group Minutes for July and August: Attached for information are the Ethnic Community Advisory Group minutes for the July 11 and August 8, 2001, meetings.

  8. Local Government and Small Business Advisory Group Minutes: Attached for information is the Local Government and Small Business Advisory Group minutes for the October 5, 2001, meeting.

  9. Review December 21, 2001, Governing Board Agenda: Dr. Wallerstein stated that agenda item 3213--Adopt Proposed Rule 2016 – RECLAIM Backstop Measures--will not proceed at this time. Mayor Loveridge asked the status of the composting rule, and Dr. Wallerstein replied that the prehearing is scheduled for February. This item was recommended for approval by the Administrative Committee.

  10. Other Business: None.

  11. Public Comment: None.

  12. Closed Session: Closed session was cancelled.

Meeting adjourned at 11:08 a.m.

Attachments

Ethnic Community Advisory Group Minutes for July and August, 2001
Local Government and Small Business Advisory Group Minutes for October, 2001

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This page updated: July 14, 2010
URL: http://www.aqmd.gov/hb/2001/011227a.html