BOARD MEETING DATE: February 3, 2006
AGENDA NO. 37

Receive Public Input on Executive Officer’s Proposed Program Goals/Objectives for FY 2006-07

SYNPOSIS:

A set of priority goals for the FY 2006-07 Budget has been developed. The Executive Officer wishes to receive public and Board Member input on these priority goals as they serve as the foundation of AQMD’s Work Program.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Set a Public Hearing June 3, 2006 to adopt the FY 2006-07 AQMD Budget.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Each year, as part of the budget process, staff brings forward to the Board and public the AQMD’s proposed Program Goals/Objectives for the new budget year. Staff believes it is important for as many interested parties as possible to have early input into the budget process. These goals, which may be modified as a result of public input and Board direction, will be used in developing next year’s work program and budget request.

A public workshop to present the AQMD’s Budget and Work Program request for FY 2006-07 has been tentatively planned for April 12, 2006. The draft Budget and Work Program is expected to be available for public review in early April.

Attachment
AQMD Goals/Objectives for FY 2006-07

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

GOALS/OBJECTIVES FOR FY 2006-07

MISSION STATEMENT

“The South Coast AQMD believes all residents have a right
to live and work in an environment of clean air
and is committed to undertaking all necessary steps to
protect public health from air pollution
with sensitivity to the impacts of its actions
on the community and businesses.”

GOALS

1. Ensure expeditious progress toward meeting clean air standards and protecting public health.
2. Ensure equitable treatment for all communities.
3. Operate efficiently and in a manner sensitive to businesses.

OBJECTIVES

1. ENSURE EXPEDITIOUS PROGRESS TOWARD MEETING CLEAN AIR STANDARDS AND PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH

1. Develop a comprehensive program to achieve emission reductions by:

1. implementing the 2003 revision to the Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) that seeks equitable and expeditious reduction of emissions from all sources to meet clean air targets and protect public health,
2. initiating the development of a new air quality management plan to attain the recently promulgated federal 8-hour ozone and fine particulate air quality standards
3. designing, adopting and implementing rules, programs, and policies to expeditiously meet federal and California Clean Air Act requirements,
4. protecting the economy of the AQMD by avoiding potential federal sanctions,
5. improving data and understanding of toxic emissions and its associated public health impacts and reducing emissions of toxic air contaminants to minimize localized and regional impacts of air pollution by implementing the Year 2000 Air Toxics Control Plan as amended in 2004, including the Year 2003 Cumulative Impacts Reduction Strategy, and the MATES III study, and
6. seeking legislative amendments to provide the necessary authority and funding to implement measures in the AQMP.

2. Ensure compliance through a program that includes:

1. monitoring air pollutants in the ambient air,
2. inventorying, monitoring and testing air pollutant emissions from stationary sources,
3. processing permit applications for stationary sources in a manner to:

1. expeditiously issue permits if equipment or process complies with all applicable requirements of air quality rules and regulations,
2. ensure all applicable requirements for public notification and public comments are met prior to issuances of the permits,
3. impose enforceable conditions on the permits to ensure continued compliance,
4. streamline the permitting process to expedite permitting and improve customer service for the businesses regulated by AQMD.

4. using community-based deployment of field personnel for:

1. timely compliance determinations and prompt remediation of non-compliance,
2. consistent and fair field enforcement practice, including customer service training for all field service personnel, and
3. prompt resolution of community air quality complaints,

5. implementing programs to educate the public and regulated sources on air quality and regulatory compliance, and
6. strategically using civil penalties to incentivize compliance and to deter non compliance.

3. Work with the United States Congress, California Legislature, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, California Air Resources Board, and other federal, state and local agencies and authorities, to obtain a proportionate fair share of funding for essential programs to reduce emissions.
4. Work with U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, California Air Resources Board, and other federal, state and local government to encourage and support efforts to reduce emissions from federal and state sources, such as ships, trains, planes and other off-road engines.
5. Ensure the successful implementation of the California laws enacted by 2003 Senate Bill 700 by working with the agriculture community in developing emission reduction program for agricultural sources that are feasible and cost-effective, and establishing procedures that provide a smooth and equitable transition of such sources into permitting and compliance with applicable regulations.
6. Continue to embrace and involve all stakeholders as partners in reducing air pollution by developing and implementing programs that are technologically advanced, cost-effective, and sensitive to business, environmental and community interests. Stakeholders include, but are not limited to, local, state and federal governments, small business owners/operators, other members of the regulated community, environmental and community leaders, and all residents.
7. Promote programs to reduce mobile source emissions by:

1. reducing emissions from traditional diesel-powered vehicles,
2. supporting the increased use of clean-fuel and other low-emission vehicles and engines,
3. assisting employers, local governments, including Clean Cities, and the private sector in reducing mobile source emissions,
4. incentivizing the purchase of less-polluting vehicles,
5. seeking to obtain additional legal authority over mobile sources only where necessary to reduce emission control burdens that will otherwise be placed on stationary sources, and
6. partnering with state and federal agencies in developing engine/vehicle retrofit regulations.

8. Facilitate development of new air quality-enhancing technology by:

1. encouraging public/private partnerships to develop new and innovative technologies,
2. reducing financial and technological barriers that limit the use of clean fuels and technologies,
3. supporting projects to reduce emissions from surface coatings and solvents, and
4. working with all stakeholders to accomplish advanced technology goals such as use of hydrogen fuel, fuel cells, and review existing regulatory requirements to minimize barriers to the development and commercialization of new lower-emitting technologies.

2. ENSURE EQUITABLE TREATMENT FOR ALL COMMUNITIES

1. Continue to implement AQMD's Environmental Justice policies and programs, and other initiatives directed at equitable treatment for all communities through:

1. individual endeavors and a series of town hall meetings throughout AQMD’s four-county region,
2. actively seeking to increase the public’s participation in, and understanding of, policies under development, including increased translation of materials into multiple languages,
3. working with community groups to build partnerships on air quality issues, and addressing community-level and resident concerns and issues,
4. distributing incentive funding in a manner that emphasizes communities most impacted by air pollution and low income communities, and
5. continuing to implement other Board-adopted Environmental Justice initiatives.

3. OPERATE EFFICIENTLY AND IN A MANNER SENSITIVE TO BUSINESSES

1. Administer an efficient and cost-effective organization to expeditiously clean the air while being sensitive to the economic needs of the AQMD's businesses by seeking innovative partnerships and programs to ensure compliance and minimize compliance costs.
2. Develop a sound budget, reduce fee complexity, adjust fee schedules to recover AQMD’s costs as appropriate, and target agency resources to environmental and economic priorities.
3. Continue to streamline agency functions.
4. Administer effective human resources and development programs that ensure an open and fair recruitment and selection system and, in accordance with existing law, continue AQMD's equal employment opportunity efforts to ensure diverse applicant pools for open positions.
5. Review the skills, management and deployment of current staff and continue to seek ways to increase efficiency and productivity.
6. Continue AQMD’s procurement processes to ensure that minority-, woman-, and disabled veteran-owned enterprises are fairly represented in accordance with existing law.
7. Recognize and enhance the special contributions, skills and creativity of the AQMD workforce.

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