BOARD MEETING DATE: October 3, 2008
AGENDA NO. 10

PROPOSAL:

Amend Contract with Cordoba Corporation for Additional Air Quality Institute Briefings

SYNOPSIS:

The Board has previously approved contracting with Cordoba Corporation for Air Quality Institute (AQI) briefings. This action is to amend the contract with Cordoba Corporation to expand AQI policy briefings to include labor, health-care groups, elected officials and other group leaders at the local and national level. The focus will include federal and state emissions off-set requirements, federal transportation policies, and related air quality issues. This action will increase the previous contract funding by an amount not to exceed $68,000, in order to plan, organize, and hold at least four additional events.

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, September 12, 2008, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

1. Appropriate $68,000 from the Undesignated Fund Balance to the Public Affairs
   FY 2008-09 Professional and Special Services Account.
2. Authorize the Chairman to amend the contract with Cordoba Corporation to increase by an amount not to exceed $68,000 to hold at least four additional events with an expanded scope.
    

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The AQI program, first initiated in January 2006, informs and educates the public and first-tier policy makers, in particular, and others about relevant air quality issues. Such policy makers include, but are not limited to, elected and appointed officials, and business and community leaders. According to reviews received from former participants, the AQI is a program of value that provides a great forum to discuss and address current air quality issues.

Cordoba Corporation is currently under contract to execute eight AQI briefings during FY 2008-09. Under the existing contract, Cordoba Corporation will prepare a course curriculum that includes topics such as mobile source emissions, goods movement and port emissions, and other issues related to air quality, including information regarding the Southern California Climate Solutions Exchange. The eight AQI briefings are targeted to stakeholders and leaders in the goods movement industry, and medical, health, and faith based organizations. This proposal augments the existing program with the objective to add at least four additional AQI briefings involving labor organizations, health-care groups, elected officials and others at the national and local level.
 

Proposal

Staff recommends that the Board amend the contract with Cordoba Corporation by an amount not to exceed $68,000 in order to add at least four additional AQI briefings designed specifically to educate special interest groups at the local and national level about federal and state off-set programs, federal transportation policies and related air quality issues.
 

Resource Impacts

Sufficient funds are available in the Undesignated Fund Balance, and staff recommends that $68,000 be transferred from the Undesignated Fund Balance to the Public Affairs FY 2008-09 Budget. There is no other resource impact.