BOARD MEETING DATE: May 6, 2005
AGENDA NO. 33

Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee

SYNOPSIS:

Below is a summary of key issues addressed at the MSRC’s April 28, 2005 meeting and annual retreat. The MSRC’s next meeting is May 26, 2005, at 1:30 p.m. in Room CC8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Michael D. Antonovich
AQMD Representative on the MSRC

Legislative Issues

The MSRC receives monthly legislative status updates. At the April 28 meeting, Supervisor Michael Antonovich asked about a bill by Nunez regarding sales tax. Staff indicated that they would brief the MSRC on the bill at the next meeting.

FY 2005-06 Conceptual Work Program

The MSRC’s Technical Advisory Committee (MSRC-TAC) reviewed possible strategies for the FY 2005-06 Conceptual Work Program, based on feedback from the MSRC at its annual retreat in March. They include: an expanded local government match program; fleet modernization; cargo transports/ports; private operator school buses; freeway service patrols; idling reduction strategies; complementing the Moyer Program, most notably infrastructure; and transportation control measures. The MSRC-TAC proposed to the MSRC that it implement a bifurcated work program over two phases. The first phase would call for solicitations to be released this summer and would include categories that do not compete with the Carl Moyer Program. The second phase would call for solicitations in winter 2006 and would include on-road and off-road emissions reduction strategies, CNG school bus incentives, funding to potentially augment the Moyer Program for categories that may be over-subscribed, and any new elements. The next step will be to form subcommittees to refine the categories and develop solicitation documents. The MSRC-TAC will return to the MSRC with specific recommendations this summer. Currently, it is estimated that there is $20 million available for future projects, comprising turnback funds and anticipated revenues. The MSRC will bring the FY 2005-06 Conceptual Work Program to the AQMD Board later this year once it is refined and solicitation documents are ready for release.

FY 2004-05 Work Program Backup Lists

The MSRC has two backup lists of unfunded projects from the FY 2004-05 Work Program. The off-road heavy-duty backup list includes unfunded projects requesting nearly $4 million; and the diesel exhaust after-treatment backup lists, nearly $7 million. The MSRC was informed that $6.3 million has become available from turnback funds, which could potentially be applied to the backup lists. The MSRC directed its Technical Advisory Committee to explore the viability of funding additional diesel exhaust after-treatment devices from the backup lists and return next month with recommendations. The MSRC decided against funding further off-road projects because engine standards have changed since the program was initiated, and some of the projects may have already been subsequently funded through the Carl Moyer Program. Any projects the MSRC decides to fund will be brought forward to the AQMD Board for approval.

Contract Award for Technical Advisor Services for FYs 2005-06 & 2006-07

The MSRC retains an independent contractor to provide technical assistance in support of the AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Program. Since the current Technical Advisor contract expires June 30, 2005, and no further options can be exercised, the MSRC unanimously approved release of an RFP, which the AQMD Governing Board subsequently approved for release on February 4, 2005, to solicit services for FYs 2005-06 & 2006-07. The RFP solicited proposals to provide technical assistance for a two-year period. The RFP also included language for future consideration of an option to provide technical assistance for another two-year term covering FYs 2007-08/2008-09. Although a few inquiries were made to the MSRC-TAC Chair, only one proposal was received when the RFP closed on March 8, 2005. The proposal was from Raymond Gorski, the MSRC’s current Technical Advisor, and it received a score of 96.6 points. At its April 28, 2005 meeting, the MSRC unanimously awarded a contract in the amount of $304,473.60 to Raymond Gorski for a two-year term for FYs 2005-06 and 2006-07. The contract will include an option clause for another two-year term for FYs 2007-08 and 2008-09 services, at the MSRC’s discretion, subject to funding approval by the AQMD Board at a later date. This award will be considered by the AQMD Board on May 6, 2005.

Additional Funds Awarded for CNG School Bus Incentive Buydown Program

The MSRC’s FY 2004-05 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program included a set aside of $1 million to implement a CNG School Bus Incentive Buydown Program as part of the FY 2004-05 Work Program. To implement the program, the MSRC awarded three sole-source contracts to A-Z Bus Sales, California Bus Sales, and BusWest. These vendors had previously qualified under a Request for Quotes process to implement a similar MSRC program in previous years. Initially each vendor was awarded $240,000, while the remaining $280,000 was retained to augment the vendor contracts based on sales performance, subject to review and approval by the MSRC. Subsequent to this action, the remaining funds plus $260,000 were committed to two of the three vendors implementing the program. A-Z Bus Sales requested additional funds to fulfill new school bus orders under the CNG School Bus Incentive Buydown Program as part of the FY 2004-05 Work Program. The current contract with A-Z Bus Sales is in the amount of $600,000 and all funds have been expended. On April 28, 2005, the MSRC unanimously awarded an additional $75,000 from turnback funds to A-Z Bus Sales to ensure the respective school districts could receive the full buydown per bus. These funds will be added to their existing contract as a modification. The AQMD Board will consider this contract modification at its May 6, 2005 meeting.

Pick-a-Day, Any Day Rideshare Campaign Results

As part of the FY 2004-05 Work Program, the MSRC allocated $1 million to implement a follow-on rideshare campaign, the theme of which is "Pick-A-Day, Any Day." The campaign consists of three flights, which entail 30-second spots on the radio for a three week period, in the winter and spring of 2005 (ongoing now) and the third in October 2005 during Rideshare Week. Surveys before and after each flight are to be conducted as part of the campaign. At its April 28, 2005 meeting, the MSRC received a report from its contractor, Johnson|Ukropina, summarizing the survey results from the first flight. The conclusion is that there is a direct correlation between the active campaign and public awareness in that when the program is active there is an increasing awareness of the strategies that promote relief of traffic congestion and the availability of alternate commute modes as well as their impact on air quality improvement. They also reported the first flight did not have the same level of awareness as the September 2003 campaign because at that time there were other factors involved such as the MTA strike. The campaign has resulted in a statistically increased awareness of the message in the campaign, and the research firm was very pleased with the results to date. Johnson|Ukropina also highlighted that given the increasing number of people who make their choices via the web, it is increasingly important to advertise CommuterSmart.info and less important to emphasis 1-800-COMMUTE.

Received and Approved Final Reports

The MSRC unanimously received and approved one final report for City of La Quinta Contract #MS03015, which provided $77,119 for soil stabilization efforts under the Coachella Valley PM10 Reduction Program. All final reports are filed in the AQMD's library and a two-page summary of each closed project can be viewed in the electronic library on the MSRC's website at http://www.msrc-cleanair.org.

Contract Modification Requests

The MSRC considered three contract modification requests and took unanimous action, as follows:

1. For Pacific Coast Sightseeing (Coach USA), Contract #AB00004, which provides $596,700 towards the purchase of 19 LPG transit buses, a no-cost, one-year contractual term extension;
    
2. For City of Culver City, Contract #MS03050, which provides $294,296 towards the purchase of eight CNG transit buses and fueling station modifications, a no-cost, twenty-two month contractual term extension; and
    
3. For City of Palm Springs, Contract #MS03026, which provides $44,529 for the purchase of a pickup truck and to perform soil stabilization and paving, a no-cost, one-year contractual term extension.

Contract Administrator Report

The MSRC's AB 2766 Contract Administrator provided a written status report on all open contracts from FY 1999-00 through the present. This Contract Administrator Report is attached for your information.

Attachment

Contract Administrator Report

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