BOARD MEETING DATE: March 5, 2004
AGENDA NO. 12

Execute Contract for Coachella Valley PM₁₀ Clean Streets Management Program

SYNOPSIS:

Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) has been overseeing a PM₁₀ Clean Streets Management Program as part of the Coachella Valley PM₁₀ SIP. CVAG indicated that in order to continue the program, they would need additional funding assistance over the next three years. CVAG is in the process of seeking additional funding that would sustain the program. Meanwhile, CVAG is requesting funding assistance in the short-term. Staff recommends executing a contract with CVAG for funding the Coachella Valley Clean Streets Management Program at a cost not to exceed $258,075 for a three-year period from the Rule 1309.1 Priority Reserve Fund.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, February 27, 2004, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments in a total amount not to exceed $258,075 (not to exceed $86,025 per year) from the Rule 1309.1 Priority Reserve Fund to support the Coachella Valley Sub-Regional Street Sweeping Program.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Entrained road dust emissions are one of the larger source categories that contribute to the PM₁₀ air quality in the Coachella Valley. Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) developed and implemented a Coachella Valley Regional Street Sweeping Program as a part of its Clean Streets Management Program in 1997. Such measures are an integral part of the Coachella Valley PM₁₀ SIP recently adopted by the Board to mitigate blow sand and its resultant PM₁₀ through routine and post event street sweeping. As a result of implementing such measures, Coachella Valley has been recognized as a model for other PM10 nonattainment areas to follow.

Since the inception of the Clean Streets Management Program in 1997, CVAG’s Sub-Regional Street Sweeping Program has grown from its original fleet of seven CNG fueled regenerative air sweepers servicing approximately 40,000 curb miles to its existing fleet of 13 CNG fueled regenerative sweepers and other CNG fueled support equipment servicing over 52,000 curb miles.

The cost to fund the Coachella Valley Clean Streets Management Program is estimated at approximately $1,500,000 per year. CVAG has committed the use of the Coachella Valley’s share of federal CMAQ funds to provide 88.53 percent of the estimated costs. CVAG has also committed prior-year carryover AB2766 funds received by the local cities to provide the required 11.47 percent local match. However, after June 2004 the carryover funds will be exhausted and current AB2766 funds from the cities are insufficient to meet the local match requirement.

The AB2766 funds from the local cities in the Coachella Valley to CVAG are provided under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU provides that 33 percent of the AB2766 funds that go to the local cities be used to support the CVAG Sub-Regional Street Sweeping Program. If other funding sources are not found, CVAG will be unable to continue the Coachella Valley Sub-Regional Street Sweeping Program at its current level. CVAG will be in discussions with the local cities to perhaps amend the MOU to provide additional funding. However, given the budgetary resources available to local cities, it is uncertain at this time what level of additional funding could be made available. As such, CVAG is requesting AQMD’s assistance to ensure that this valuable service and effective component to their local air quality plan is continued.

Due to the need to continue the program, staff believes that funding assistance could be provided over the three-year period until CVAG can identify other sources of funding.

Proposal

Staff believes that the Sub-Regional Street Sweeping Program is a vital program for the Coachella Valley to attain and maintain the federal annual PM10 ambient air quality standard. As such, staff is proposing that Rule 1309.1 – Priority Reserve funds be allocated to assist in the continuation of CVAG’s Regional Street Sweeping Program in an amount not to exceed $258,075 ($86,025 per year) for a period of three years. CVAG indicated that with AQMD’s assistance and the AB2766 funds matching from the local cities, the region can meet the 11.47 percent local match requirement. CVAG will work with its member cities to amend the MOU to provide sufficient AB2766 funds beyond its current 33 percent level to match the AQMD staff proposed funding.

The annual emission reductions from the program are listed in Table 1. Assistance at this time would enable CVAG to meet its fund matching requirement and ensure continuation of the program in future years.
 

Table 1

Estimated annual Emission Reductions (lbs/year) associated with the use of
21 CNG vehicles by Coachella Valley Association of Governments
 

Air Quality Benefits

Providing funding assistance to CVAG’s Regional Street Sweeping Program at this time will enable the continued operation of the 21 CNG vehicles beyond the June 2004 date and provide overall air quality benefits to the region. If funding is not provided CVAG’s street sweeping operations could be adversely effected. Staff estimates that the operation of the 21 CNG vehicles with this funding assistance will result in emission reductions of 206,960 pounds of PM₁₀ and 7,979 pounds of NOx per year. In addition there will be some reductions in VOC and CO emissions with use of natural gas street sweepers.

Resource Impact

Total funding for this project shall not exceed $258,075 ($86,025 per year) from the AQMD Rule 1309.1 Priority Reserve Fund. AQMD’s Rule 1309.1 – Priority Reserve contains adequate funding for this and other projects.

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