BOARD MEETING DATE: September 3, 2004
AGENDA NO. 26

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Technology Committee met on August 27, 2004. Major topics included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the September Board meeting and one action item. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on September, 24, 2004 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Roy Wilson, Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance: Chairman Roy Wilson participated by video-teleconference. Committee Vice Chair Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta and Committee member Dennis Yates were in attendance at District headquarters.

SEPTEMBER BOARD AGENDA ITEMS

1. Issue Program Announcement & Application for New CNG School Buses with Funding from State’s Proposition 40, EPA and Chairman’s Modified School Bus Initiative and Installation of Oxidation Catalysts with Funding from U.S. EPA - This action is to approve issuance of a new program announcement (PA 2005-01) with funding of $9,725,000, consisting of (a) up to $2,030,000 in Proposition 40 funds, (b) up to $7,200,000 from AQMD Chairman’s Initiative Program, (c) up to $245,000 in U.S. EPA funds to replace pre-1987 school buses; and (d) up to $250,000 from U.S. EPA funds to retrofit school buses with diesel oxidation catalysts.
   Moved (Yates), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
2. Approve Grants to Retrofit Diesel School Buses with Particulate Traps, Purchase Cleaning Equipment Systems, Install Insulation Blankets and Issue New Program Announcement and Application for Retrofit of School Buses with Particulate Traps and Insulation Blankets - On February 6, 2004, the Board released a Program Announcement to retrofit existing diesel school buses with particulate filter traps. The retrofit program was oversubscribed (beyond the $4.8 million budget). In addition, school bus operators indicated the desire for AQMD to fund PM trap cleaning equipment and insulation blankets. Staff recommends the following awards: 1) approve awards to four school districts to retrofit 48 buses with PM traps and insulation blankets not to exceed $348,000; 2) approve a purchase of up to 21 PM trap cleaning equipment systems not exceeding $168,000; and 3) approve the purchase/installation of 1,272 thermal blankets at $250 each for buses retrofitted with prior AQMD grants in an amount not to exceed $318,000. With remaining funds in the Chairman’s School Bus Initiative for PM traps, totaling $3,966,000, staff is presenting two options for Board’s consideration: 1) to fully fund 76.2% of all requests of PM traps with insulation blankets as applied for by five private operators; or 2) to re-issue the Program Announcement with additional conditions, including cost sharing which potentially can provide additional PM traps.
    
   Rick Benfield, of Tumbleweed, suggested an additional option for the Committee to consider, specifically transferring funds in the Chairman’s Initiative Implementation Procedures of the Lower-Emission School Bus Programs from the School Bus Replacement Component to the School Bus Retrofit Program. After much Committee discussion, it was determined to forward this item to the Board along with all suggested options. Committee member Yates indicated that such a transfer of funds would necessitate a modification to the existing Board policy, and staff should so note in the Board letter.
    
   Committee member Verdugo-Peralta indicated staff should provide a comparison of the benefits for each option.
    
   Moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval, along with a recommendation that staff forward the third option proposed to the full Board for consideration.
     
3. Approve Expenditures for Activities and Projects Selected by the California Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership During FYs 2004-05 and 2005-06, and Recognize Funding from Participating Members - On April 5, 2002, the Board approved the establishment of a Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership Fund and authorized the Executive Officer to approve expenditures in FY 2002-03 for projects selected by the Partnership up to $50,000 for individual expenditures, for a total amount not to exceed $200,000. On April 4, 2004, the Board authorized the Executive Officer to approve expenditures in FY 2003-04. The participating members pay two-year membership fees to fund program administration, specific projects, and activities to achieve the goals of the partnership. This action is to: (1) recognize funding from participating members of the Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership; (2) transfer $25,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund as AQMD’s contribution; (3) authorize the Executive Officer to approve up to $50,000 for individual expenditures selected by the Partnership in FY 2004-05 and 2005-06, for a total amount not to exceed $275,000 for each fiscal year; and (4) authorize the Executive Officer to approve modification to CALSTART contract #04066 in the amount of $16,300.
   Moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
4. Authorize Final Payments on Completed Contracts with Closed Accounts - The AQMD’s Clean Fuels Program sponsors the development and demonstration of clean-fuel vehicles and technologies. At any given time, Technology Advancement has about 85 contracts active. At times, the final reports and final invoices are delayed for various reasons, and these contracts expire. As determined by the Chief Financial Officer, such contracts now require Governing Board approval of payment for their completed work.
   Moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
5. Issue RFP for Technical Assistance for Advanced, Low- and Zero-Emission Mobile and Stationary Source Pollution Control Technologies - The RFP will solicit statements of qualifications from individuals and organizations potentially capable of providing expert technical consultation in a variety of specialized areas to support AQMD technology advancement activities. It is anticipated that multiple awards for level-of-effort contracts will be made from this solicitation. Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Fund to support this work in an amount not to exceed $300,000.
   Moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
6. Support for CALSTART’s Funding Request for Hydrogen Bus R&D from the Federal Transportation Reauthorization Bill
   Moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   Along with their support, the Committee requested further information on CALSTART’s research in this area.

Other Business - There was no other business.

Public Comment Period - Public comment is noted following the agenda item addressed.

The meeting was adjourned.

Attachment A - Attendance

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