BOARD MEETING DATE: September 7, 2007
AGENDA NO. 9
PROPOSAL:
Transfer Funds from Carl Moyer Program Fund SB 1107 Account to FY 2007-08 Budget of Science & Technology Advancement
SYNOPSIS:
To support AQMD’s outreach and administrative activities directly related to the Carl Moyer Program, it is necessary to transfer funds from the administrative portion of the Carl Moyer Program Fund SB 1107 Account to the General Fund. This action is to transfer $300,000 from the Carl Moyer Program Fund SB 1107 Account to the FY 2007-08 Budget of Science & Technology Advancement, Services and Supplies Major Object, Professional and Special Services Account to support Carl Moyer Program outreach and administrative activities.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, July 27, 2007, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Authorize the transfer of $300,000 from the administrative portion of the Carl Moyer Program Fund SB 1107 Account to the FY 2007-08 Budget of Science & Technology Advancement, Services and Supplies Major Object, Professional and Special Services Account to provide public outreach and technical conference sponsorship, technical assistance, and expert consultations.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
Achieving federal and state clean air standards in Southern California will require emission reductions from mobile sources beyond those required by foreseen rules and regulations. To achieve this goal the State Legislature authorized availability of continuous funding for the Carl Moyer Program with the passage of SB 1107 and AB 923. The Carl Moyer Program provides incentive funding for the purchase of lower-emitting technologies to reduce emissions from heavy-duty mobile sources. AQMD’s annual share of funds is $34 million from SB 1107 allocated by CARB, and approximately $24 million from AB 923, transferred to AQMD from the DMV on a monthly basis. The AQMD has provided funding for more than 1,100 lower-emitting diesel and alternative fuel heavy-duty engines and equipment and 133 CNG school buses replacing pre-1987 diesel buses from SB 1107 and AB 923 funds.
The AQMD has been directing revenues from the state-mandated Carl Moyer Program to its established Carl Moyer Program Fund rather than to an account within the AQMD’s General Fund budget. This is done to clearly delineate the Carl Moyer Program revenues, which have statutory constraints imposed on their use from the AQMD’s other revenues and its general budget. Both SB 1107 and AB 923 allow up to five percent of the revenues to be used for administrative and outreach activities for the proper end timely implementation of the program. In order to support these administrative and outreach activities directly related to the Carl Moyer Program, it is necessary to transfer some of the administrative funds from the Carl Moyer Program Fund SB 1107 Account to the General Fund. This will allow management flexibility and expediency in addressing program implementation issues related to the Carl Moyer Program.
Proposal
The proposed action is to transfer $300,000 from the Carl Moyer Program Fund SB 1107 Account to the FY 2007-08 Science & Technology Advancement Budget, Services and Supplies Major Object, Professional and Special Services Account. The proposed use of those funds is to facilitate support for various activities related to the implementation of the Carl Moyer Program. These activities are expected to include:
Public Outreach & Conference Sponsorship
During each funding cycle, the AQMD conducts several equipment-specific and general workshops. AQMD staff participates in conferences, and does extensive outreach activities to enhance public awareness for the Carl Moyer Program. It helps potential applicants to take advantage of funding opportunities in all eligible equipment categories. AQMD also participates in conferences to communicate its incentive funding programs to broad audiences and to inform the public about these opportunities. Public outreach also plays an important role in accelerating commercialization of new technologies.
Technical Assistance
Technical assistance is needed for evaluation of different types of mobile source vehicles and equipment to determine their eligibility and the amount of incentive funding that can be provided in compliance with the requirements of the Carl Moyer Program guidelines and the applicable rules and regulations.
Expert Consultation
Consultants provide expertise on availability of new and emerging technologies, and commercialization potential of lower-emitting vehicles and related infrastructure. Assignments for these consultants are expected to be short term and time sensitive.
Administrative Costs
Funding is also required to support the operation of the Carl Moyer Program. These costs include postage and public notice advertisements for RFPs, Program Announcements, and other project-related mailings.
In order to maintain the level of support to the Carl Moyer Program, especially with respect to expert consultations and technical assistance, it is necessary to transfer the Carl Moyer Program SB 1107 Account funds to the FY 2007-08 Budget as early as possible in the new fiscal year.
Resource Impacts
The proposed action is to transfer $300,000 from the Carl Moyer Program Fund SB 1107 Account to the FY 2007-08 Budget of Science & Technology Advancement, Services and Supplies Major Object, Professional and Special Services Account to support Carl Moyer Program activities. Sufficient funds are available from the Carl Moyer Program Fund SB 1107 Account.