BOARD MEETING DATE: November 4, 2005
AGENDA NO. 27

Legislative Committee

SYNPOSIS:

The Legislative Committee held its regular meeting on Friday, October 14, 2005. The next Legislative Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 10, 2005, at 8:00 a.m. in Conference Room CC8.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Receive and file this report.

Beatrice J.S. LaPisto-Kirtley, Chair
Legislative Committee

Attendance [Attachment 1]

The Legislative Committee met on October 14, 2005. Present by videoconference, were Committee Chair Bea LaPisto-Kirtley, and Committee Members Roy Wilson, Michael Antonovich, and Jan Perry.

Update on Proposal to Modify the Composition of the AQMD Governing Board.

Susan Seamans, Councilmember for the City of Rolling Hills Estates and the city’s representative on the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG), provided a report that SBCCOG has hired consultant Claudette Moody to review the composition of the AQMD Governing Board. SBCCOG believes additional members should be added to the AQMD Governing Board to increase representation for the South Bay and Western Sector cities of the Los Angeles County. She added that it would be preferable for newer cities, such as Malibu and Calabasas, currently considered within the Eastern Sector, to be realigned/incorporated into the Western Sector. SBCCOG would like to sponsor legislation to make these changes by next spring.

Claudette Moody reported that a number of task force meetings on this issue were held over the summer and several proposals were discussed. The task force has decided on a proposal to add eight additional members (two each from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties) to the AQMD Governing Board, which would result in a 20-member board. They feel that this approach would allow for better representation across all counties in AQMD’s jurisdiction. Councilmember Seamans said that they feel that a large Board is a reasonable proposal at this time due to California’s increasing population, which has increased since the AQMD Governing Board was originally established. This approach would not change the terms of office of the Board Members.

Ms. Moody said that she would continue her outreach to other cities and AQMD Governing Board Members (in addition to those in the Los Angeles County area), and that she would discuss with the task force whether those counties with higher levels of air pollution should have additional representation, as was mentioned in one of her previous presentations to this committee.

Chair LaPisto-Kirtley requested that this item be brought back for discussion by all Governing Board members at their December meeting. She also requested that staff review the proposals that the task force has discussed, including a proposal to add one Board Member so that the cities of Western Los Angeles County could elect someone not from the City of Los Angeles, and for staff to provide a population breakdown for each of these proposals, and to compare the population breakdown with previous figures when the AQMD Governing Board was originally established.

Extend Contract for Legislative Representation in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Ganguli reported that staff is recommending a one-year extension with the firm of Copeland, Lowery, Jacquez, Denton & White, LLC in an amount not to exceed $135,716. This firm has worked with the congressional delegation, staff, and AQMD Board Members on energy and transportation bills. Dr. Ganguli reported that this firm assisted in recently securing $2 million for this region in a transportation bill appropriation over a four-year period. In addition, AQMD has had success in defeating legislation that would have severely affected its authority regarding refinery and permitting issues.

The Legislative Committee agreed to recommend that the Governing Board extend the contract for legislative representation in Washington, D.C. for Copeland, Lowery, Jacquez, Denton & White, LLC for an additional year, in an amount not to exceed $135,716. [Refer to the November 4, 2005 Board Agenda Item #14 for additional information on this item.]

Extend Contract for Legislative Representation in Sacramento, California

Dr. Ganguli reported that staff is recommending a one-year extension to the contract for Allan Lind and Associates, and California Strategies and Advocacy, LLC for legislative representation in Sacramento, California. He said that staff is pleased with both of these firms’ services and cited the Governor’s recent signing of AB 1222 – Remote Sensing Pilot Program for Locomotive Emissions. The contract extension of Allan Lind and Associates is for an amount not to exceed $102,108; and for California Strategies and Advocacy, LLC in an amount not to exceed $186,480. Both of these amounts include CPI increases.

Dr. Wallerstein added that in staff’s view, the broader team, including California Strategies and Advocacy, LLC, has improved AQMD’s visibility, not only in the capitol and on both sides of the legislature, but also in the Governor’s office and throughout the various California agencies that interact with AQMD. Staff feels that we have a successful team and it is their desire to keep it together.

The Legislative Committee agreed to recommend that the Governing Board extend the contracts for legislative representation in Sacramento, California to Allan Lind and Associates for an amount not to exceed $102,108 and to California Strategies and Advocacy, LLC for an amount not to exceed $186,480 per year. [Refer to the November 4, 2005 Board Agenda Item #15 for additional information on this item.]

Federal Report/Update [Attachment 2]

Lynn Jacquez, AQMD federal legislative consultant, reported that her firm will continue to work with staff regarding the transportation bill and funding. She added that the hurricane disasters may have an adverse impact on the budget and that there have been suggestions that some projects and earmarks could possibly be cut across the board, and so they will be keeping an eye on this. They hope to have an end-of-the-year assessment within the next month.

Sacramento Report/Update

Sacramento legislative consultant, Richard Polanco, reported that it was a successful year with AB 1222 being signed. He said that there are two outstanding AQMD-sponsored measures that will go back in January (AB 888 and SB 459). He commended the AQMD staff for their working relationship with the legislative consultants and acknowledged the support and success of the community in having their voices heard.

Allan Lind also reported successful efforts this legislative year with nine bills supported by the AQMD being signed into law, the state’s subvention funding for AQMD sustained another year, and $25 million added to the budget for the retrofit and replacement of older diesel school buses.

Discussion on Possible Policy Clarification on Legislative Positions Required To Be Taken Prior to Next Meeting of the Governing Board or Its Legislative Committee.

This item was deferred to the November 10, 2005 Legislative Committee meeting.

Other Business

None

Public Comments

None

Attachments (EXE 56 KB)

/ / /