BOARD MEETING DATE: November 7, 2008
AGENDA NO. 32

REPORT:

Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee

SYNOPSIS:

Below is a summary of key issues addressed at the MSRC’s October 16, 2008 meeting. However, the MSRC met as a committee of the whole due to lack of a quorum, so these actions must be ratified at its next meeting. The MSRC’s next meeting is Thursday, November 20, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. in Room CC8.

COMMITTEE:

Receive and file.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Receive and file.
 

Michael D. Antonovich
AQMD Representative on MSRC

Approved Minutes

Minutes from the August 21 and September 28, 2008 meetings were unanimously approved by a committee of the whole. They are attached for your information (Attachment 1).
 

Caltrans’ Participation in the “Showcase” Program

The MSRC’s Off-Road Diesel Equipment Retrofit “Showcase” Program, in partnership with CARB and the AQMD, is intended to demonstrate on-road retrofit devices on off-road construction vehicles across a variety of engine families. The MSRC previously awarded funds to Caltrans to demonstrate devices on 18 vehicles. Subsequent to the award, Caltrans informed the MSRC that it does not have the budgetary authority to accept reimbursement from the MSRC or to enter into purchase contracts for the devices and staff is considering alternative mechanisms to participate in the program, such as contracts directly with the device manufacturers. Additionally, since the award to Caltrans was based on an average cost, it was determined that additional funds were needed because some devices had higher costs than the average. The MSRC’s Technical Advisory Committee recommended an additional $50,475 to ensure all the Caltrans vehicles remained in the demonstration. Unfortunately, it was determined at the MSRC’s October 16 meeting that too many issues and questions remained unresolved and staff has not received a response from Caltrans to its request for additional information. Staff requested that the item be pulled from the agenda. The MSRC will consider the issue after additional research has been conducted and when a quorum is present.

Considering Additional Funds for Alternative Fuel School Bus Program

The MSRC’s Alternative Fuel School Bus Program is administered by two vendors, A-Z Bus Sales and BusWest. At its October 16, 2008 meeting, the MSRC considered requests from both vendors for additional funds, which would have to come from unallocated revenues since all program monies have been allocated. Additionally, the $1.2 million request from BusWest was for reimbursement of buses already delivered. The prior month the MSRC had denied a request from the other vendor A-Z Bus for buses invoiced five months after contract termination. A representative from A-Z Bus appeared at the October 16, 2008 MSRC meeting to request that this denial be reconsidered. Since this was not on the agenda, the MSRC would not consider. The representative was allowed to address the committee as public comment. Staff and legal will agendize a motion for reconsideration as requested by Vice-Chair Greg Winterbottom and potential reconsideration of the denial of A-Z’s request at the November 2008 MSRC meeting. The MSRC decided to postpone consideration of the A-Z and Bus West items on today’s agenda due to lack of a quorum and the need for additional deliberation on its overall remaining funding priorities, to be considered at its November 2008 meeting.
 

Contract Modification Requests

At its October 16, 2008 meeting, the MSRC considered three contract modification requests and took unanimous action to approve as a committee of the whole, subject to ratification, as follows:

1. For County of Orange Contract #ML04038, which provides $440,000 towards the purchase of four heavy-duty and one medium-duty CNG vehicles as well as installation of a CNG station, approval of vehicle substitutions, a reduction of scope, and a 15-month contractual term extension;
2. For County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, Contract #ML05012, which provides $349,000 for development of data links for exchange of traffic information with the Department of Transportation, approval of a one-year contractual term extension; and
3. For County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, Contract #ML05014, which provides $204,221 for a signal synchronization project, approval of a 43-month contractual term extension.
    

Contracts Administrator’s Report

The MSRC's AB 2766 Contracts Administrator provides a written status report on all open contracts from FY 2002-03 through the present. The Contracts Administrator’s Report for September is attached for your information.
 

Attachments (ZIP, 420k)

1) Approved Minutes for 8/21/08 & 09/18/08 Meetings

2) Contracts Administrator’s Report
Approved as committee of the whole, subject to ratification.