Title
El Dorado County Air Quality Management District (AQMD) recommending the Board, acting as the AQMD Board of Directors, approve and authorize the Air Pollution Control Officer to sign Amendment 1 to Agreement 5648 (MOU 2021-00000024-A), with a five-year extension upon execution through June 30, 2029 with the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District to support the regional Spare The Air campaign, for a new total not-to-exceed amount of $41,821.92.
FUNDING: Motor Vehicle Registration Fees.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Sacramento region, including western El Dorado County, is designated as a severe non-attainment area for the federal 1997 and 2008 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) under the federal Clean Air Act. The Sacramento region, currently classified as serious for the 2015 ozone NAAQS, is forecasted by the California Air Resources Board's air quality modeling to not attain the standards by the August 2027 deadline. Consequently, regional air districts have requested reclassification to severe, pushing the attainment date to August 2033. The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to reclassify the region to severe in a forthcoming rule.To comply with the designation requirements, the region developed and implements a State Implementation Plan (SIP). The SIP is designed to ensure the region will attain an ozone NAAQS by the respective deadlines stipulated in the CAA. One of the SIP commitments is a coordinated, regional education and outreach effort known as the Spare the Air program.
The Spare the Air program reduces motor vehicle emissions vehicles through public education and the issuance of Air Alerts to promote behavior changes, such as driving reduction, when air quality is forecast to be unhealthy due to high ozone levels. The Spare the Air program, combined with the other ozone SIP measures, has contributed to the declining ozone trend in El Dorado County and the region.
Under California Health and Safety Code Section 44220 et.seq (AB 2766), on March 15, 1994, by Board Resolution #79-94, a $4 motor vehicle registration fee was imposed to fund El Dorado County’s responsibilities under the California Clean Air Act. These funds are for programs and projects that reduce motor vehicle emissions and related planning, monitoring, enforcement and technical studies. The other air districts in the region (Sacramento, Yolo/Solano, Feather River and Placer) also provide program support. The agreement extends the current three-year term that expires on June 30, 2024 to a new expiration date of June 30, 2029.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board may choose not to approve the agreement. This alternative would leave air districts in Sacramento, Yolo, Solano, Sutter, Yuba and Placer Counties to support the program without contribution from El Dorado County.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
On October 17, 2006, with Agenda item 06-1664, the Board approved agreement E2006015 with SMAQMD. This agreement provided $18,601 to support the Spare the Air Program in 2006 and 2007.
On September 16, 2008, with Agenda item 08-1237, the Board approved agreement E2008006 with SMAQMD. This agreement provided $11,920 to support the Spare the Air Program in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
On June 23, 2009, with Agenda item 09-0547, the Board approved agreement 003-DMV-09/10-BOS with the El Dorado County Transit Authority. This agreement provided $47,335 for free public transit on declared Spare the Air days during 2010. Under this agreement the AQMD contributed $3,381.07 per day, for each Spare the Air day. During 2010, six Spare the Air Days were declared.
On June 4, 2013, with Agenda Item 13-0548, the Board approved agreement E2012022 with SMAQMD. The agreement provided $7,000 to support the Spare the Air Program in 2014.
On November 17, 2014, with Agenda Item 14-1460, the Board approved agreement E20114014 with SMAQMD. The agreement provided $6,218 to support the Spare the Air Program in 2015.
On January 12, 2016, with Agenda Item 15-1449, the Board approved agreement E2015023 with SMAQMD. The agreement provided $15,683.22 to support the Spare the Air Program in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
On September 11, 2018, with Agenda Item 18-1274, the Board approved agreement E2018011 / Contract 3300 with SMAQMD. The agreement provided $15,683.22 to support the Spare the Air Program in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
On May 11, 2021, with Agenda Item 21-0623, the Board approved agreement 2021-00000024 / Contract 5648 with SMAQMD. The agreement provided $15,683.22 to support the Spare the Air Program in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
None
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
AQMD's Motor Vehicle Emission Reduction program is funded by motor vehicle registration fees. The proposed agreement with SMAQMD supports the program goals and has a total cost of $26,138.70. AQMD's proposed Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget will include sufficient funding for the first year of the five-year agreement extension. If the agreement is approved, future proposed budgets will include the remaining contributions. There is no net County cost.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk to obtain signed minute order and provide copy to AQMD.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Rania Serieh, Interim APCO