South Coast Air Quality Management District
South Coast Air Quality Management District
BOARD MEETING DATE: November 1, 2002 AGENDA NO. 22
Legislative Committee
SYNOPSIS:
The Legislative Committee held its regular meeting on Friday, October 11, 2002. The next Legislative Committee meeting is scheduled for Friday, November 8, 2002, at 8:00 a.m., in Conference Room CC8.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive and file this report
Beatrice J.S. LaPisto-Kirtley, Chair
Legislative Committee
Attendance
The Legislative Committee met on October 11, 2002. Present were Committee Chair Beatrice LaPisto-Kirtley, Vice-Chair Jane Carney and Committee Members Michael Antonovich and Roy Wilson (by videoconference). Committee Member Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta was unable to attend. [Attachment 1]
Federal Update [Attachment 2]
Lynn Jacquez, Federal Legislative Representative, reported that the funding request to enhance the AQMD’s Laboratory Mobile Emergency Response Unit was approved for $1 million through the Department of Defense Appropriations bill. On behalf of the AQMD, Representatives Christopher Cox, David Dreier and Jerry Lewis sponsored the funding request.
The AQMD funding requests for the Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure Project and Natural Gas Engine Research, Demonstration and Deployment Project are still pending in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Appropriations bill. However, DOE asked the National Hydrogen Association for their opinion of the AQMD’s Hydrogen Infrastructure proposal. After review of the proposal and information provided by the AQMD, the Association endorsed the project. The final AQMD funding request for Transition Assistance for Dry Cleaning Operations is pending through the VA HUD Appropriations bill, which funds the U.S. EPA. Discussions on these and other Appropriations bills will continue when Congress returns after the November elections.
Sacramento Update [Attachment 3]
Jesse Ortega, Legislative Advocacy Group, reported on actions by the Governor on legislation of interest to the AQMD. The following bills supported by the AQMD were approved by the Governor:
AB 1173 (Keeley) directs CARB to report back to the Legislature on the potential adverse impacts of indoor air pollution.
AB 2127 (Matthews) would allow taxpayers to designate on their tax returns that a specified amount in excess of their tax liability may be transferred to the Asthma and Lung Disease Research Fund created by the bill.
AB 2312 (Chu) establishes an Environmental Justice Small Grant Program within CalEPA to provide financial assistance to eligible community groups. Implementation of the grant program is contingent upon available funds appropriated by the Legislature.
AB 2461 (Keeley) extends, until January 1, 2009, an exemption from the Vehicle License Fee Law for the incremental costs for alternative-fuel light-duty vehicles.
AB 2650 (Lowenthal) directs the AQMD to monitor and enforce a diesel emissions reduction program established by the bill for the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. The diesel emissions program requires port marine terminals to operate in a manner that limits truck idling to no more than 30 minutes outside of marine terminals. Violations of this idling standard would be enforced by the AQMD through the imposition of fines on marine terminals imposed at the rate of $250 per vehicle.
The Governor also vetoed two measures supported by the AQMD. These are:
AB 2774 (Pavley) which would have required the Secretary for CalEPA to appoint a task force to develop an ongoing public information and education campaign to encourage the use of advanced technology light-duty vehicles in California. In his veto message, the Governor stated that the bill was unnecessary and inappropriately assigned promotion responsibilities to state government.
SB 1988 (Polanco) would have created an Environmental Education Fund for the purpose of providing grants to public schools for environmental education and funding to non-profit organizations for training district attorneys and others on the enforcement of environmental laws and the advancement of environmental justice. The Governor cited already existing funding through the California Environmental License Plate Fund as a reason for his veto.
Extend Current Contracts for State and Federal Legislative Consulting Services
Chair LaPisto-Kirtley moved to extend, for a period of one year, the current contracts for Allan Lind and Associates for Legislative Consulting Services in Sacramento, and for Copeland, Lowery and Jacquez for Legislative Consulting Services in Washington. This will include a cost of living increase consistent with CPI (2.1%) for both.
Ms. Carney recommended releasing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for legislative representation in Sacramento since Allan Lind and Associates has consistently represented the AQMD since 1998 without a new RFP process. Oscar Abarca, Assistant DEO/Public Affairs, stated that the State Legislature convenes on December 2. Release of an RFP at this time may cause a gap in representation.
Chair LaPisto-Kirtley expressed appreciation for the representation of the AQMD over the past five years by Allan Lind and Associates. She added that Mr. Lind is very well respected and received in Sacramento. While the RFP process is a valuable one, at this time it would be in the best interest of the AQMD to continue with Mr. Lind for one more year.
Supervisor Wilson agreed with the comments on the RFP process, but added that Mr. Lind and his team have done an excellent job of representing the AQMD and were able to get positive results when previously the AQMD faced many negative experiences in Sacramento. Supervisor Wilson recommended extending the current contract for legislative consulting services in Sacramento for one year and proposed that staff initiate the RFP process for the Sacramento contract in 2003, allowing sufficient time to complete the process.
The Committee unanimously approved the motion to extend the current contracts for State and Federal Legislative Consulting services for a period of one year, with a cost of living adjustment to each, and directed staff to begin the RFP process in 2003 for Legislative Consulting Services in Sacramento, allowing sufficient time for the process. [Please see Agenda Items Nos. 10 & 11 for the November 1, 2002, Governing Board meeting for information on this item.]
Other Business/Public Comment
No other business/public comment.
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