BOARD MEETING DATE: March 7, 2008
AGENDA NO. 25

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

 

Supervisor Roy Wilson, Vice Chair
Administrative Committee

Attendance: Present at AQMD were Jane Carney and Dennis Yates. Vice Chair Roy Wilson attended via videoconference. Chairman Burke was not present due to a conflict with the Coastal Commission meeting, and Mayor Loveridge was absent because of his attendance at the League of California Cities meeting in San Diego.

ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1. Board Members’ Concerns: None.

2. Chairman’s Report of Approved Travel: Dr. Wallerstein stated that Esther Hays, Maureen Kane, Dr. Joseph Lyou, Ronald Loveridge, and Tonia Reyes Uranga will be attending the Faster Freight Cleaner Air Conference scheduled on February 25-27, 2008; and Jane Carney, Dr. Joseph Lyou, Gary Ovitt, and Roy Wilson will be traveling to Washington, DC on February 26-28, 2008 to meet with U.S. legislators and their staff to further discuss AQMD’s legislative goals and priorities for 2008.

3. Approval of Compensation for Board Member Assistant(s)/Consultant(s): None.

4. Report of Approved Out-of-Country Travel: Dr. Wallerstein stated that Dr. Burke and he will be attending the Carbon Market Insights 2008 conference by PointCarbon scheduled on March 11-13 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The conference highlights are related to carbon trading issues, voluntary markets, market trends, climate change, demand for voluntary offsets, due diligence evaluation, and fair value pricing & accounting, with over 1,600 participants expected at this world-wide conference.

MARCH AGENDA ITEMS:

5. Appropriate Funds from Designation for Litigation and Enforcement and Authorize Amending/Initiating Contracts with Outside Counsel: Kurt Wiese, District Counsel, stated that staff is requesting an additional $350,000 to be added to a current contract for outside counsel for environmental liability matters to carry them through June 2008. Motion by Carney; seconded by Yates; and unanimously approved.

6. Issue Purchase Order for Ion Chromatograph System: Chung Liu, DEO/Technology Advancement Office, stated that this item is being postponed one month.

7. Execute Lease Contract for Offset Press with Computer-to-Plate System: Eudora Tharp, Asst. DEO/Administrative & Human Resources, Pointed out that this item was initially intended to be a five-year lease with a dollar buyout at the end of the lease period, but after review, it was found that $85,000 can be saved if the equipment is purchased outright. Since funding is available in the special designation set aside for equipment replacement, staff recommends purchasing the equipment from Heidelberg at a cost of $696,870, which includes five-year’s of maintenance. This equipment is expected to save AQMD $140,000 annually in outsourced printing and to enable shorter turnaround. Motion by Yates; seconded by Carney; and unanimously approved.

8. Report of RFPs and RFQs Scheduled for Release in March: Mr. Pearce stated that there are two standardized items for RFQ – (1) Purchase of Microsoft Windows Server 2008, and (2) Purchase CLASS System Production Server and Development Server last purchased in 1996. Motion by Yates; seconded by Carney; and unanimously approved.

9. Approve Ethnic Community Advisory Group Accomplishments for 2007 and Goals and Objectives for 2008: Pom Pom Ganguli, Asst. DEO/Public Affairs, stated that Dr. Joseph Lyou has been appointed as the new Chair and has reviewed the accomplishments for 2007 and goals and objectives for 2008 now being requested for approval.

Ms. Carney asked whether 1309.1 expenditure funds will be added to ECAG’s goals and objectives for 2008, and Dr. Ganguli responded that this will be done. Motion by Carney; seconded by Yates; and unanimously approved.

10. Local Government & Small Business Advisory Group Minutes of December 14, 2007 meeting: Attached for information are the Local Government & Small Business Advisory Group minutes for the December 14, 2007 meeting.

11. Review March 7, 2008 Governing Board Agenda: Dr. Wallerstein stated that there will be a number of retirement presentations at this March Board meeting. Ms. Tharp stated that there are approximately 15 employees retiring this March. Dr. Wallerstein continued that there are several public hearing items to be discussed, as follows: (1) Rules 1401 and 1472 were requested to be delayed by Supervisors Antonovich and Ovitt so that staff would discuss further options with hospitals regarding revised language to address their concerns. (2) Adopt the SOON Program, which is a major component of the 2007 AQMP. CARB has allowed local district boards to opt-in to a more aggressive cleanup of off-road engines with 85% being paid through Moyer funds. (3) Rule 461, which requires the gas station owners to submit a brief plan showing how they will come in compliance with enhanced vapor recovery. (4) Rule 445-Wood Burning Devices. (5) There are three annual reports to be approved – AB 2588, RECLAIM Audit Report for 2006, and the Technology Advancement Clean Fuels Program Annual Report and Plan Update.

Ms. Carney requested staff to provide the Board with the status of how the 1309.1 funds are being spent to reduce emissions. Dr. Wallerstein stated that an explanation will be included in this Board letter. Motion by Carney; seconded by Yates; and unanimously approved.

12. Other Business: Mayor Yates asked staff whether contractors conducting street sweeping are affected by the Fleet rule, and Henry Hogo, Asst. DEO/Technology Advancement, stated that they are subject to the rule when contracted through the city and the only exception for this rule are those without fueling stations within five miles.

13.  Public Comment: None.

Meeting adjourned at 9:27 a.m.

Attachment (doc 50kb)

Local Government & Small Business Assistance Advisory Group Minutes for December 14, 2007