BOARD MEETING DATE: January 4, 2008
AGENDA NO. 6

PROPOSAL:

Amend Contract for Consultant Assistance with Development of 2007 SIP White Paper

SYNOPSIS:

In November 2007, the Executive Officer executed a $50,000 contract with Polakovic & Partners, Inc. to assist with the development of a three-agency (AQMD, CARB & SCAG) discussion paper called for during the adoption of the 2007 SIP. This “White Paper” will explore potential strategies for identifying the additional reductions needed to meet the current and future ambient air quality standards in a document designed to be accessible to the public and elected officials. This action is to amend the contract with Polakovic & Partners in an amount not to exceed $33,000, including $30,000 for preparation of the final formatted layout version of the document with graphics and up to $3,000 in related approved travel and other expenses. In addition, this action recognizes revenue and appropriates, upon receipt, $45,000 in total funds from CARB and SCAG for this joint effort into the Planning FY 2007-08 Budget.

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, December 14, 2007, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

1. Authorize the Executive Officer to amend the existing contract with Polakovic & Partners, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $33,000, including $30,000 to produce a draft final 2007 SIP Enhanced Implementation White Paper document and up to $3,000 in travel and other related expenses, bringing the total contract cost to $83,000.
2. Upon receipt, recognize revenue in the amounts of $25,000 from Southern California Association of Governments and $20,000 from California Air Resources Board into the General Fund. Upon receipt of funding, appropriate from the undesignated fund balance $45,000 into the Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources FY 2007-08 budget, Professional and Special Services account.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

To have any reasonable expectation of attaining current and potentially more-stringent federal clean air standards, the South Coast Basin will need to secure significant additional emission reductions from all sources, but especially mobile sources. Moreover, substantial public and private funding will be needed to achieve these gains. Because of the huge challenge and investment involved, it is important to pursue informed regional planning decisions over the next decade. The '2007 SIP White Paper,' to be prepared relative to this contract, will be an abbreviated communications tool to spur greater public discussion of our region's long-term air quality challenges, potential overlapping public policy directions, and possible next steps.

A 'first look' at future ambient air quality standards was presented for informational purposes as part of the 2007 AQMP approved by the AQMD Governing Board on June 1, 2007 (Chapter 10, "Looking Beyond Current Requirements"). Subsequently, as part of the September 27, 2007 adoption of the State Strategy for California's State Implementation Plan (SIP), the CARB Board approved the following directives for preparation of a three-agency white paper:

"The three agencies (i.e., CARB, SCAG, and SCAQMD) are committed to work together to develop a discussion paper within four months from the date of adoption of the 2007 SIP. The discussion paper will explore potential strategies for the black box and future ambient air quality standards." [09/27/07 CARB Agenda Item #07-7-7, Attachment, page 3, "Further Development of Section 182 (e)(5) Strategies"]

"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board directs the Executive Officer to work with the South Coast Air District and SCAG staff to develop a discussion paper that explores potential strategies for identifying the additional reductions needed to meet the 8-hour ozone standard and future ambient air quality standards, including a consideration of new or transformative strategies such as state-of-technology zero- and near-zero transportation systems, other mechanisms such as fee-based incentives, and the role and availability of public funding assistance program(s). [Reso. 07-28, p. 7]

The four-month timeline was intended to coincide with development of SCAG's 2008 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). A 2007 SIP White Paper Working Group was formed to provide input from respective agency staffs and community stakeholders. The eventual output is foreseen as a graphically attractive publication, designed for a layperson audience and intended to spur discussion among the public and policymaking officials about: (1) a "vision" of regional scenarios offering opportunities to better integrate planning agendas as related to four policy areas (Land Use, Transportation Systems including goods movement & mobility, Climate Change, and Technology Advancement); and (2) a discussion of potential strategic policy directions and related implementation mechanisms, including funding mechanisms, legal authority, and accountability & decision-making parameters.

In November 2007, the Executive Officer executed a sole-source contract for $50,000 with Polakovic & Partners to assist with the preparation and development of the Draft 2007 SIP White Paper. The three tasks funded include: (1) development of an annotated outline; (2) preparation of a draft text-only version of the White Paper aggregating inputs from the 2007 SIP White Paper Working Group and the three agencies; and (3) preparation of a revised draft White Paper with basic layout and initial graphics for further review. This action will add funds in the amount of $30,000 to complete Task 4, the preparation of a Draft Final 2007 SIP White Paper with full layout and graphics, ready for publishing. In addition, funds in an amount not to exceed $3,000 will be added to cover travel and other expenses needed for the development of this document. CARB staff has committed $20,000 and SCAG staff has committed $25,000 to reimburse a portion of the Planning funds used for this contract effort that will have a total cost of $83,000.

Proposal

Staff recommends amending the existing sole-source contract with Polakovic & Partners to fund the additional task for preparation of the Draft Final 2007 SIP White Paper, as well as travel and other expenses related to the contract effort. The $33,000 in this amendment will bring the total contract cost to $83,000.

Resource Impacts

Funds in the amount of $33,000 for this contract amendment, for a contract total of $83,000 are available from the Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources (PRA) FY 2007-08 Budget, Professional and Special Services account. Upon receipt, funds in the amount of $25,000 from SCAG and $20,000 from CARB will replenish a portion of the PRA budget funds.