BOARD MEETING DATE: November 7, 2003
AGENDA NO. 20
Administrative Committee
SYNOPSIS:
The Administrative Committee met Friday, October 10, 2003, and reviewed the proposed agenda for the November 7, 2003, Board meeting. The Committee also discussed various issues detailed in the Committee report. The next Administrative Committee meeting is Friday, November 14, 2003, at 9:00 a.m. in Conference Room CC-8.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive and file.
S. Roy Wilson, Vice Chair
Administrative Committee
Attendance: Present was Vice Chair and Committee Member Roy Wilson (via videoteleconference). Also present at AQMD were Committee Member Beatrice LaPisto-Kirtley, Ronald Loveridge and Leonard Paulitz. Absent was Chairman William A. Burke.
ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS:
- Board Members’ Concerns: None.
- Chairman’s Report of Approved Travel: Barry Wallerstein, Executive Officer, stated that Roy Wilson and Jane Carney met with CARB Board members regarding AQMD's AQMP in Sacramento, CA on September 16; Cynthia Verdugo Peralta and Dr. Wallerstein met with Governor Davis’ staff regarding CARB's mobile source commitments and AQMD's AQMP and SIP; and Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta is scheduled to attend the California Fuel Cell Partnership Steering Team meeting on October 21-22 in Sacramento, CA.
- Approval of Compensation for Board Member Assistant(s): None.
- Report of Approved Out-of-Country Travel: Dr. Wallerstein stated that Dr. Burke is scheduled to attend the 3rd International Conference on Renewable Energy, Energy Savings and Energy Reduction, to be held in Havana, Cuba on October 28-31; and, Chung Liu, DEO/Science & Technology Advancement, is scheduled to attend the Tokyo Motor Show to be held on October 24-28 in Tokyo, Japan, to gain further updates on hydrogen-powered vehicle technology and hydrogen fueling infrastructure.
NOVEMBER AGENDA ITEMS:
- Review and Recommendation Regarding Hearing Board Member Compensation: Dr. Wallerstein advised that this item is being delayed for one month so that staff may further research this matter. Dr. Wallerstein reported, though, that the Hearing Board had approached him regarding an adjustment to their compensation, which had not been adjusted in many years. Dr. Wallerstein advised that staff will do the normal fact-finding that they would do for any of the funded items at the agency, whereupon staff will report to the Committee in November with a recommendation.
- Execute Contract for Legislative Representative in Washington, DC: Oscar Abarca, Assistant DEO/Public Affairs, reported that the Legislative Committee by consensus recommends that the Governing Board award a new contract for legislative representation in Washington, D.C. to Copeland, Lowery, Jacquez, Denton & Shockey, LLC for one year, for an amount not to exceed $129,000/year, with an option to renew for up to two additional one-year terms.
- Execute Contract for Legislative Representative in Sacramento, CA: Mr. Abarca reported that the Legislative Committee by consensus recommends that the 2003-04 budget for legislative representation in Sacramento be increased to $274,000 (with an additional $137,000 from the Undesignated Fund Balance) and that contracts be authorized for Tres Es, LLC, Allan Lind & Associates, and an additional firm to be identified in the future ($40,000).
- Execute Contract for Operation of Diamond Bar Headquarters Cafeteria: Ron Portnoy, Human Resources Manager, representing Eudora Tharp, Assistant DEO/Administrative & Human Resources, reported that the current contract with Food Services, Inc., expires at the end of 2003. Food Services, Inc., has been the contractor for the last three contracts, since 1996. In April of this year the Board authorized the release of an RFP to solicit competitive proposals from firms wishing to provide cafeteria services. A seven-member panel was convened to evaluate the five proposals that were submitted and visit the respective cafeterias serviced by those firms. Mr. Portnoy reported that, as a result of that evaluation, staff recommends California Dining Services, the highest scored of the five proposals, be contracted beginning January 2004 for a term of three years. Moved by Loveridge, seconded LaPisto-Kirtley, and unanimously approved.
- Report of RFPs and RFQs Scheduled for Release in November: Rick Pearce, Chief Financial Officer, stated the following RFQ/Ps are being requested for approval – Workers' Compensation Claims Third-Party Administration. Upon inquiry by Mayor Loveridge on the rising costs of worker’s compensation insurance, Mr. Pearce noted that AQMD is self-insured and has done a good job of holding down its claims. Moved by Loveridge, seconded by Paulitz, and unanimously approved.
- Ethnic Community Advisory Group Minutes for August 13, 2003: Attached for information are the Ethnic Community Advisory Group minutes for the August 13, 2003, meeting. Upon Mayor Loveridge’s inquiry on whether there were any unusual or important issues from the August 13 ECAG meeting, Dr. Pom Pom Ganguli, Public Advisor, noted that the minutes represented general discussion and no unusual recommendation; however, he advised that both ECAG and LG&SBA Advisory Groups are looking at membership issues, for which recommendations will be brought before the Administrative Committee in the future. Dr. Ganguli advised that several memberships have expired and they are looking at re-composing the groups in accordance with Governing Board direction on geographic representation and by interest.
- Local Government & Small Business Assistance Advisory Group Minutes for July 18, 2003: Attached for information are the Local Government & Small Business Assistance Advisory Group minutes for July 18, 2003. Upon introduction of this item, Councilman Paulitz commented on representation on the LG&SBA Advisory Group (LG&SBA) by local government. Dr. Ganguli reported there are three members representing local government: Margaret Clark, Rosemead; Jeff Comerchero, Temecula; and, Art Brown, Buena Park. Mr. Abarca noted that the charter creating the LG&SBA was very specific on the numbers of representatives from local government and small business, thus the composition of the Advisory Group is prescribed in the charter; however, the Board can revisit this.
- Review November 7, 2003, Governing Board Agenda: Dr. Wallerstein began a review of the November 7 Governing Board agenda by noting that the hearing on proposed Rule 1105.1 will involve significant refinery opposition to staff’s proposal; however, staff has long been working on this rule and are ready to present the rule for the Board’s consideration. Dr. Wallerstein advised that the agenda also includes a significant VOC rule, amendments to Rule 1171, which is important to staff’s efforts relative to ozone reduction. Finally, he noted a hearing item which follows the Board’s direction to bring the power plants back into the RECLAIM Program.
- Other Business: None.
- Public Comment: None.
Mayor Loveridge inquired whether the Legislative Committee conducted an annual review of the performance goals for the Washington and Sacramento representatives and a scorecard for their achievement. Dr. Wallerstein advised that this is done within the Legislative Committee in the November/December timeframe, and it goes to the full Board as part of the related Board package. Mayor Loveridge requested copies of such reports for the last two years. There was discussion related to the format of the summary regarding the legislative goals. Supervisor Wilson moved the Legislative Committee recommendations; the motion was duly seconded and passed without objection.
Board Member LaPisto-Kirtley indicated her concern that the ECAG’s caucusing by ethnic groups may not take into consideration the socio-economically disadvantaged areas which are also impacted by poor air quality, whereupon discussion followed on the policy direction of previous Boards relative to seeking the participation of different ethnic communities in the development of air quality policies and projects related to environmental justice, and increasing the flow of information on air quality across the Basin and among various ethnic groups. Dr. Ganguli then noted that, upon review of maps depicting socio-economic status, environmental justice impacts, and cancer risk, a degree of correlation has been found between socio-economic and ethnic status and environmental justice impacted areas.
Board Member LaPisto-Kirtley re-emphasized that it is the people of lower socio-economic status who do not have a voice and who need to be protected, and that this transcends all ethnicities. Mayor Loveridge advised that the Board had previously considered that position, and had established the current ethnicity-based outreach programs based on the historical levels of non-participation by different ethnic groups. Mr. Abarca advised that the Board had come to the conclusion that the ethnic communities needed to be engaged in a more proactive fashion, thus the ECAG was created for that purpose.
Discussion followed relative to the name and membership of the LG&SBA, as well as its composition, charter and emphasis. Mr. Abarca reported that one of the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Panel reviewing the advisory groups was the separation of the groups, creating one advisory group for small business and another for local government. Councilman Paulitz concurred that local government representatives need a better forum at AQMD. John Billheimer noted that the current membership includes four small business representatives, four local government representatives, and four public members; he commented that those four public members tend to be interested and involved in local government, ostensibly making the membership four/eight for small business and local government.
Dr. Ganguli noted that the LG&SBA is conducting a self-evaluation, whereupon the group’s recommendations will come back to the Administrative Committee and the full Board for approval. Mayor Pro Tem LaPisto-Kirtley asked that it be communicated to Ms. Carney that the group’s membership should be changed to better reflect elected officials or small business representatives. Mayor Loveridge advised that the questions need to continually be asked, "what does it represent, is it effective?" He further advised that this is taking place now in the LG&SBA. Mayor Loveridge inquired whether there needs to be a separation of this group into two committees. Mayor Pro Tem LaPisto-Kirtley further suggested that the membership include representatives selected by the League of Cities for the respective counties.
Supervisor Wilson moved that staff be directed to have this discussion with the Chairman of LG&SBA to determine how the committee sees itself, and how they want to redefine themselves. There being no further discussion and no objection, the motion carried.
Dr. Wallerstein also advised that two items were being added to the agenda: one to issue an RFP for the mitigation fees received for AQMD Rule 1121 pertaining to water heaters; and, a second to issue a program announcement for projects under the state emissions mitigation fee program. Councilman Paulitz inquired whether staff was fully prepared to respond to the refiners’ comments on Rule 1105.1, whereupon Laki Tisopulos, Assistant DEO/Planning, Rule Development, Area Sources & Transportation, assured the Committee of staff’s readiness.
Meeting adjourned at 10:33 a.m.
Ethnic Community Advisory Group Minutes for August 13, 2003
Local Government & Small Business Advisory Group Minutes for July 18, 2003
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