Title
Air Quality Management District (AQMD) recommending the Board, acting as the AQMD Board of Directors, consider the following:
1) Award the eligible AB 2766 calendar year 2018 and 2019 motor vehicle emission reduction projects in response to a Request for Proposals issued by AQMD in November 2017;
2) Authorize the Air Pollution Control Officer to execute project agreements, and any amendments that do not increase awarded amounts, with the applicants for the amounts requested (up to $498,355), pending approval of County Counsel and Risk Management; and
3) Direct AQMD to conduct another Request for Proposals solicitation for projects with the remaining funds not awarded to eligible projects (minimum of $101,645).
FUNDING: California Department of Motor Vehicles AB 2766 Subvention Funds.
Body
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Air Quality Management District (AQMD) recommending the Board, acting as the AQMD Board of Directors, consider the following:
1) Award the eligible AB 2766 calendar year 2018 & 2019 motor vehicle emission reduction projects in response to a Request for Proposals issued by AQMD in November 2017; and
2) Authorize the Air Pollution Control Officer to execute project agreements, and any amendments that do not increase awarded amounts, with the applicants for the amounts requested (up to $498,355), pending approval of County Counsel and Risk Management.
3) Direct AQMD to conduct another Request for Proposals solicitation for projects with the remaining funds not awarded to eligible projects (minimum of $101,645).
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
El Dorado County is nonattainment for the federal ozone standard. Motor vehicle emissions are the primary contributor to ozone. In 1990, AB 2766 authorized air districts to assess motor vehicle registration fees to reduce motor vehicle emissions and implement the California Clean Air Act. On December 11, 1990, the Board of Directors adopted Resolution #90-488 that set the motor vehicle registration fee at $2.00 per registered vehicle. On June 14, 2001, the Board of Directors adopted Resolution #01-21 increasing the fee from $2.00 to $4.00 per vehicle. To date these funds have been awarded for the implementation of 79 motor vehicle emission reduction projects in the County.
On 11/8/17, AQMD released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for projects to be implemented during 2018 and 2019. Five (5) proposals were submitted. The proposals were evaluated for eligibility, cost effectiveness and preferred project type in accordance with the ranking criteria established by the Board. Four of the five proposals were determined to be eligible. Eligible projects, with applicants and amounts requested (in ranked order) are:
1) El Dorado Trail Extension - EDC Department of Transportation - $215,960
2) Coloma Shuttle - South Fork Arts & Recreation (SoFAR) - $210,596
3) Cameron Park Summer Spectacular Shuttle - Cameron Park Community Services District (CSD) - $2,452
4) County Fair Shuttle - EDC Transit Authority - $69,347
The fifth proposal was submitted by LimeBike for bike share program in the Placerville area. LimeBike requested $50,000 for a one year pilot program. The bikes would be available for use by County staff free of charge. Residents would pay a fee of $1 per 30 minutes of use for a 1 to 8 speed bike and $1 per 10 minutes of use for an electric assist bike. Because the proposal did not include motor vehicle emission reduction benefits/cost effectiveness estimates for nitrogen oxides (NOx), reactive organic gasses (ROG) and particulate matter (PM-10), as required by the RFP, it was determined to be ineligible.
The proposed El Dorado County Department of Transportation (DOT) project on the El Dorado Trail is a non-motorized bicycle and pedestrian facility that would reduce vehicle emissions by providing a safe non-motorized transportation alternative. This Class 1 facility will be physically separated from motor vehicle traffic and provide a safer route for residents to commute to work/school and reach essential services such as medical facilities on Missouri Flat Road and in Placerville. The DOT has previously been awarded $1,231,238 of AB 2766 funding for 10 projects.
The proposed SoFAR Coloma Shuttle project will utilize three vans and two trailers provided by AQMD allowing for 240 days of service for river corridor recreation and the local community on the South Fork of the American River from the Ice House put-in to the Skunk-Hollow take-out, and the Ice House and Slab Creek sections of Silver Creek. Shuttle operation can reduce the number of vehicles required by private users of the river and trails. This shuttle will operate year-round in 2018 & 2019 and will continue to develop additional shuttles for other activities on the regional trail systems along the river corridor including mountain biking and hiking. The seven previous awards to shuttle projects operating along the American River total $747,572.
The proposed Cameron Park CSD Summer Spectacular Shuttle project would provide two contracted school buses to shuttle guests of the annual Summer Spectacular from four satellite locations to Cameron Park Lake. In 2016, Cameron Park CSD was awarded $2,763 for a similar project.
The proposed EDC Transit Authority County Fair Shuttle project would transport attendees from parking areas on Missouri Flat Road and the County Government Center on Fair Lane to the Fairgrounds. The nine previous awards for the Fair shuttle total $301,539.
AQMD has received inquiries regarding a subsequent RFP. Additional emission reductions could be realized by awarding additional eligible projects.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board can decide not to award some or all of the proposed projects. This alternative would allow the AB 2766 funds to be utilized for other motor vehicle emission reduction activities.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The total amount of AB 2766 funds requested for the four eligible projects is $498,355. If approved as proposed, there are sufficient funds appropriated in the fiscal year 2017/18 approved budget. Funds anticipated to be expended in Fiscal Year 2018/19 have been included in AQMD's proposed FY 2018/19 budget for AB 2766 funds. Any amount anticipated to be expended in the following fiscal year will be included in future proposed budgets.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Forward one (1) signed copy of Minute Order to AQMD.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Dave Johnston, Air Pollution Control Officer