BOARD MEETING DATE: July 7, 2006
AGENDA NO. 7

Recognize Revenue and Approve Expenditures for the International Asthma Conference and the International Clean Ports Conference

SYNOPSIS:

Feedback from attendees of the Asthma Conference held on February 17, 2006 indicated a strong desire to have a follow-up conference on an international scale to gather additional scientific information and engage in further policy discussions on this subject. The Chairman’s Clean Port Initiative calls for the AQMD to host an international conference to organize ports along the Pacific Rim in a joint effort to reduce emissions from ocean-going ships as well as in-port emissions. This action is to recognize revenues, approve a conference budget for the International Asthma conference not to exceed $200,000 from the General Fund, Undesignated Reserves and a budget for the International Clean Ports Conference not to exceed $150,000 from the Clean Fuels Conference Fund.  Sponsorship will be sought to replenish these funds.

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, June 9, 2006, Recommended for Approval

Recommended Action:

1. Appropriate $200,000 from the Undesignated Fund Balance  to the Public Affairs budget to cover the International Asthma Conference expenses and approve the proposed budget to cover planned expenditures as provided in Table 1.
2. Recognize revenues generated by the International Asthma Conference in the General Fund.
3. Approve the proposed budget to expend up to $150,000 from the Clean Fuels Conference Fund to cover planned expenditures as provided in Table 2.
4. Authorize the Executive Officer to approve conference expenditures from the Clean Fuels Conference Fund as detailed in Table 2.
5. Recognize revenues generated by the International  Clean Ports Conference in the Clean Fuels Conference Fund. The Clean Fuels Conference Fund will be augmented and replenished to the extent possible with revenues raised from conference sponsorships, exhibitor fees, and registration fees.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

On February 17, 2006, AQMD hosted a successful Asthma Conference which  brought together experts from health care, legislators, private industries, the public, and environmental and community-based organizations to explore solutions to our asthma and air pollution challenges. Feedback gathered from the conference attendees indicated a strong desire to have a follow-up conference on an international scale to gather additional scientific information and engage in further policy discussions on this subject.

At the January 6, 2006 Board Hearing, the Chairman of the Board presented the Clean Port Initiative Workplan which is intended to achieve more rapid reductions of port emissions. The Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are the largest emission sources in the South Coast basin with cumulative emissions from the marine vessels, harbor craft, cargo handling equipment, locomotives, and trucks operating to, from and within the ports. Action Item #6 of the workplan directs the AQMD to conduct an international conference between Southern California and Asian ports to discuss potential joint emission control strategies.

The Board established a Clean Fuels Conference Fund in May 2004 to be used for conferences promoting AQMD’s Clean Fuels Program objectives. This fund was last used for the Ultrafine Particles Conference held April 30 – May 2, 2006. After expenses, there will be approximately $225,000 remaining in the Clean Fuels Conference Fund.

Proposal

Staff requests that the Board approve appropriation of up to $200,000 from the General Fund, Undesignated Reserves to organize and conduct the  International Asthma Conference in the spring of 2007. Staff proposes  the budget for the conference as shown in the following table.

Table 1 -- Proposed International Asthma Conference Budget Expenditures

(Assuming 500 Attendees)

Account 67450, Professional and Special Services (Facility, Catering, and AV Equipment, Outside Printing)	$120,000
Account 68100, Postage	15,000
Account 69700 (Honoraria, Speaker Travel Expenses)	40,000
Account 68100, Office Expense	25,000
Total	$200,000

In addition, staff requests that the Board approve allocating up to $150,000 from the Clean Fuels Conference Fund to organize and conduct the  International Clean Ports Conference in early spring of 2007. Staff proposes  the budget for the conference as shown in the following table.

Table 2 -- Proposed Clean Ports Conference Budget Expenditures

(Assuming 200 Attendees)

Facility, Catering, and AV Equipment	$95,000
Conference Materials, Printing and Mailing	20,000
Honoraria, Speaker Travel Expenses, and Support	25,000
Contingencies	10,000
Total	$150,000

There will be approximately $225,000 after the Ultrafine Particles Conference expenses in the Clean Fuels Conference Fund.

Revenues received from sponsorships, exhibit fees and registration fees will be used to replenish the fund to the extent possible. Staff requests the Board to recognize revenues received from the International Asthma Conference and the International Clean Ports Conference in the Clean Fuels Conference Fund.

Benefits to AQMD

The 2006 Asthma Conference brought together health agencies, legislators, private industries, the public, and environmental and community-based organizations Southern California and across the nation as they discussed the health impacts of air pollution and asthma. The planned 2007 International Asthma Conference will increase international awareness of the adverse health effects of air pollution and the need to identify  mechanisms and controls to reduce the levels of pollutants that have adverse health impacts.

The International Clean Ports Conference will provide a focal point for ports along the Pacific Rim to work in a joint effort to reduce emissions from ocean-going ships as well as in-port emissions

Resource Impacts

Expenses for the International Asthma Conference (not to exceed a total of $200,000) will be drawn from the General Fund, Undesignated Reserves. All revenues from sponsorships, exhibits, and registration will go into the General Fund. Expenses for the International Clean Ports Conference will be drawn from the Clean Fuels Conference Fund. The Clean Fuels Conference Fund will be replenished to the extent possible with revenues received from sponsorships, registration fees and exhibitor fees from the International Clean Ports Conference.