BOARD MEETING DATE: March 7, 2008
AGENDA NO. 23

PROPOSAL:

Review of AQMD Interaction and Support of the Clean Cities
Coalitions in the Basin

SYNOPSIS:

At the April 6, 2007 Board meeting, a receive and file report contained recommendations from the Mobile Source Committee on how the AQMD could leverage its support of the Clean Cities program. This report presents a series of actions requested by the local Coalitions to further their goals with respect to air quality.

COMMITTEE:

Mobile Source, February 15, 2008, Reviewed

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Receive and file.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The AQMD has been supporting the Clean Cities program and the local coalitions for the past several years and has been reporting semi-annually to the Board on the efforts of the local coalitions. At their April 6, 2007 meeting, the Board received a report directing staff to continue our support of the Clean Cities Coalitions (CCCs), continue sponsorship of the national conference, continue support of the program through technical, financial and in-kind assistance, and to hold an annual coordination meeting with the CCCs to discuss the goals and program activities for the following year. Additionally, a request was made to the CCCs to submit a one-page document to discuss their organizational structures and goals. Those summaries are attached.

In response to the Board’s direction, staff met with the local CC coordinators and the West Coast regional coordinator over a series of three conference calls. As a result, a series of goals, leveraging opportunities, and assistance requests were developed.

Issues and Goals

Issue: The Coachella Valley, one of the most active coalitions, has been without a coordinator for some time. As a result the coalition has lost $10,000 in funding that comes directly from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), since the 2006 annual survey was not completed. Beyond losing the funding, the coalition runs the risk of being terminated if it remains inactive for one year. The West Coast coordinator stated that DOE would be willing to extend the time for an additional six months if there is interest in keeping this coalition active. As a group, the local CC coordinators have been attempting to find an agency or individual that would be willing to take on this coalition.

Goal: Find an agency and coordinator to take on this coalition and keep the Coachella Valley as a designated Clean City Coalition.

Issue: The CC Coordinators suggested ways that the AQMD could help advertise the programs and successes of the coalitions, and to leverage funding by sharing costs. The following recommendations were made: sharing booth space at conferences where possible; establish a kiosk advertising coalition activities and containing outreach materials in the AQMD lobby; allowing for space or articles in the AQMD Advisor; and providing web visibility on the AQMD home page through banners or links. All materials and content would be developed by the coalitions and be subject to AQMD review prior to displaying in the lobby or linking to the web-page.

Goal: Further outreach and information opportunities at the least cost possible.

Issue: The CC Coordinators are in need of financial and political support. The Coordinators stated that they were happy with the AQMD support. They would like other local agencies such as transit agencies, and subregional councils of governments (COGs) as well as others to support their activities. To this end, a request was made that the AQMD Board members carry this message to outside agencies.

Goal: Cultivate and realize financial and political support from additional public sources.

Issue: Identify and pursue additional funding for outreach coordinators. Over the past few years federal support for the Clean Cities Program has waned. The coalitions are interested in finding opportunities to fund outreach coordinators’ salaries. Actively pursuing grants and assistance for non-profit sources was discussed. Some funding programs were identified for the CC Coordinators to look into. AQMD staff is in a position to receive solicitations for grant programs and will as appropriate forward the information to the CCCs to pursue.

Goal: Identify at least one additional source of funding. Apply for and receive funding for outreach coordinator positions.

AQMD Future Participation

The CC Coordinator conference calls will continue during the year to move forward on the identified issues and to develop goals for 2009. Staff will report back to the Board early each year on the resulting issues and goals as well as AQMD efforts to leverage the CCCs’ effectiveness.

Attachments (doc 2913kb)

Clean Cities Overview