BOARD MEETING DATE: April 3, 2009
AGENDA NO. 26

REPORT:

Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee

SYNOPSIS:

Below is a summary of key issues addressed at the MSRC’s regularly scheduled meeting on March 19, 2009. The MSRC will next conduct a special offsite meeting on Thursday, April 16, 2009, in lieu of their regularly scheduled meeting here at the AQMD.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.
 

Michael D. Antonovich
AQMD Representative on MSRC

Mountain Area CNG School Bus Demonstration Program

One element of the MSRC’s FY 2006-07 Work Program funded the demonstration of natural gas school buses in a mountain school district to demonstrate their viability in mountainous areas including steep grades and winter driving conditions. Bear Valley Unified School District is the participating school, and was provided with two CNG Thomas school buses leased from BusWest and a temporary alternative fuel refueling station provided by S-W Compressors. Multiple recurrent issues with the temporary alternative fuel refueling station resulted in the MSRC approving a substitute vendor Gas Equipment Systems Inc. (GESI) at a maximum cost of $30,000 at its December 18, 2008 meeting, and the AQMD Board subsequently approved the award.
 

The new contractor recommended the substitute temporary refueling station should be installed following similar guidelines and regulations as a permanent station for liability reasons. Consequently, at its March 19, 2009, meeting, the MSRC unanimously approved an additional $41,000 to the GESI as-yet-unexecuted contract (for a revised award of $71,000) to design, permit and install the substitute temporary refueling station similar to permanent stations. Additionally, the MSRC unanimously approved a contract modification with BusWest, the original leaser of the two CNG school buses, to extend the lease for one additional year, add an additional $90,928 to continue the lease at the same monthly rate as the first year, and to ensure the demonstration period would continue throughout the FY 2009-10 school year. Funding for both contract/award modifications is part of the FY 2008-09 Work Program. The AQMD Board will consider these two contract/award modifications at its May 1, 2009 meeting.
 

Also at its March 19, 2009 meeting, the MSRC received and filed the financial report ending February 28, 2009. Staff clarified that while the report shows an estimated carryover of minus $156,483, subsequent to preparation of the financial report, $52,500 was recognized in turnback funds from S-W Compressors, the original vendor who had installed the initial temporary refueling station at Bear Valley. In addition, another $1 million in turnback funds is anticipated in the next few weeks. And a $500,000 reserve is always retained.
 

The MSRC was also advised that AQMD staff plans to seek Governing Board approval to co-fund a portion of the project’s continuation, and directed staff to coordinate the most practical administrative approach for cost-sharing the project should such approval be granted.
 

Special Offsite Meeting on April 16, 2009

Last year the MSRC co-funded a CNG refueling station at Rossmoor Pastries in Signal Hill. The MSRC’s next meeting will be conducted at Rossmoor Pastries and will include a tour of the refueling facility and bakery. The special offsite meeting will be on Thursday, April 16, 2009.
 

MSRC’s Annual Retreat

Every year the MSRC holds an annual retreat to forge its next work program. This year the retreat is planned for Noon on Thursday, May 21, 2009, in Temecula. The MSRC Chair Ron Roberts, who is a Council Member for the City of Temecula, will be hosting the offsite retreat. Discussions will include how to leverage MSRC funding with AB 118 funding.