BOARD MEETING DATE: September 11, 2009
AGENDA NO. 21

REPORT:

Administrative Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Administrative Committee met on Friday, July 17, 2009. The Committee discussed various issues detailed in the Committee report. The next Administrative Committee meeting is scheduled for Friday, September 18, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. in Conference Room CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.
 

S. Roy Wilson, Vice Chair
Administrative Committee

Background

Attendance: Present at the July 17, 2009 meeting via videoconference was Vice Chair Wilson. Committee Members present at AQMD were Jane Carney and Dennis Yates. Chair William Burke and Member Ronald Loveridge were absent due to conflicts with their schedules.
 

ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1. Board Members’ Concerns: None.
    
2. Chairman’s Report of Approved Travel: Barry Wallerstein, Executive Officer, stated that Tonia Reyes Uranga and Dr. Joseph Lyou were participating at CCEEB’s Summer Issues Seminar on July 19-23 and July 21-22, 2009, respectively.
    
3. Approval of Compensation for Board Member Assistant(s)/Consultant(s): None.
    
4. Report of Approved Out-of-Country Travel: None.
    
5. Update on Major Conferences to be Hosted by AQMD during FY 2009-10: Dr. Wallerstein informed the Committee members that two events are scheduled: (1) the Community Health and Air Quality conference at USC on July 24 at the Davidson Center where Board Member Carney will be a moderator, and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass will hopefully be able to participate, and others as listed on the agenda. (2) the Green Tech Connect Forum & Expo at the Pasadena Convention Center on August 3-4. This conference is part of the Chairman’s Helping Hand Initiative that the Board approved earlier this year. The concept is to provide an event where green technology developers can connect with venture capital firms for clean air progress and to stimulate green jobs in Southern California. The venue is the Pasadena Convention Center with a projected audience of about 350, in addition to 56 technology developers and 37 investment venture capital partners. At the August 4 luncheon, Jack Kyser and Stephen Levy, who are two prominent economists in our state, will moderate the roundtable discussion, along with Dr. Lisa Grobar who is a prominent forecaster from Cal State Long Beach. The discussion will relate to the state’s economic challenges and the relationship of green jobs to the future of the California economy. This promises to be a very meaningful and well attended conference. Mrs. Carney asked how staff has been informing businesses in the basin about this conference, and Dr. Wallerstein answered every department at AQMD is doing outreach using a variety of methods.
   
   Dr. Wallerstein explained that a third conference was first conceived of as an international conference dealing with port transportation and health issues, but given the current recession and related financial restrictions for travel and participation, it was decided this would be difficult at this time. An alternative concept would build upon what occurred at CAPCOA’s conference last fall (where AQMD assisted and Mayor Yates was present), which involved students. It was a series of workshops, along with vehicle displays, transportation support, and educational material. It was a positive experience for the students. Dr. Wallerstein suggested the possibility of holding a conference on a large scale for students at a prominent venue, where major environmental speakers and technology displays would be provided so that the next generation is informed and can possibly make career choices based on experiences at this conference. He continued that, since the group will be high school students, it could be a good idea to have a band play 3-4 songs to entertain them. Mrs. Carney asked whether this conference would be planned on a weekend so that the students will not miss school and Dr. Wallerstein answered that school budgets are such that this event could be considered an educational field trip. Mayor Yates asked whether Ed Begley could be a speaker since he is a strong environmentalist. Vice Chair Wilson suggested that university-age students should also be invited. Barbara Baird, District Counsel, stated she attended an environmental conference while in high school which directed her choice of her current profession.
   
   Moved by Carney; seconded by Yates; unanimously approved.
   
   
   OCTOBER AGENDA ITEMS:
    
6. Issue RFP for Legislative Representation in Washington, DC: Anupom Ganguli, Asst. DEO/Legislative & Public Affairs, stated that this item was also discussed and approved at the Legislative Committee today and requires issuing an RFP for legislative consulting in Washington, D.C. The current contract expires on January 14, 2010, and the expenditure amount shall not exceed the current contract amount of $221,500 for a one-year period. Mayor Yates asked the name of the current contractor, and Dr. Ganguli answered Kadesh & Associates.
   
   Moved by Carney; seconded by Yates; unanimously approved.
    
7. Authorize Purchase of Telecommunication Services: Chris Marlia, Asst. DEO/Information Management, stated this item is to enter into contracts for telecommunications services (telephone and internet services, air monitoring telemetry, phone switch maintenance services, and wireless voice and data services). Mr. Marlia stated staff is requesting approval of these contracts.
   
   Moved by Yates; seconded by Carney; unanimously approved.
    
8. Audit Report of AB 2766 Fee Revenue Recipients for FYs Ending June 30, 2006 and 2007 and Set Public Hearing October 2, 2009 Regarding Final Resolution of Unresolved Audit Findings and Recommendations: Rick Pearce, Chief Financial Officer, stated AQMD is required every two years to have an audit performed on AB 2766 revenues from DMV. This is the 8^th bi-annual audit of this program. There are 3 segments to this audit: AQMD’s use of the money, local governments’ use of the funds, and the audit of MSRC’s use of the money. There were no findings for AQMD’s use of the money; 62 local governments were audited, 27 had no findings. The remaining agencies had a total of 48 findings; of those findings, two-thirds of them were for not submitting their financial reports as required; staff is working with them to resolve the issues. There were 16 monetary findings with all being resolved except for three, which were for two local governments. These findings were minor and staff is working with them to resolve the issues so that a public hearing on unresolved funding will not be necessary. One of the local governments exceeded the 5% administrative cap by $2,000, which is being repaid. The second one had two findings, one for $700 in unsupported indirect costs, which they will be reimbursing the fund; and a second one where they did not allocate interest to the fund, which will be converted. Also there were three Councils of Government audited because of their receipt of AB 2766 moneys. One had a finding for not establishing a special revenue fund, which has been resolved.
   
   MSRC completed 127 projects during this period and 8% of those were audited with no findings. Due to the outreach efforts of Transportation and Finance in conducting several meetings per year with respective cities, there has been a one-third reduction in the number of findings. Due to the constant change of personnel in local governments, it is essential to provide training as a requirement of this program.
   
   Mrs. Carney asked if there was any finding involved with a substantial amount of money, and Mr. Pearce answered that there were four findings representing a total of $36,000. These funds have been repaid after staff informed them that money was not used on acceptable projects.
   
   Moved by Carney; seconded by Yates; unanimously approved.
    
9. Report of RFPs and RFQs Scheduled for Release in September: Mr. Pearce stated that there is one RFP – Proposal for Health Insurance Brokerage Services – to hire an independent broker to negotiate AQMD’s employee health care services contracts.
    
10. Approval 2009 Goals & Objectives of the Environmental Justice Advisory Group: Dr. Ganguli stated this item is to approve the 2009 goals and objectives of the Environmental Justice Advisory Group. Mrs. Carney asked if other Committee members brought forth any of the listed items, and Dr. Ganguli answered affirmatively. Dr. Wallerstein added that Dr. Lyou reviewed the items, and then the Committee had an opportunity to review and approve them.
    
    Moved by Yates; seconded by Carney; unanimously approved.
     
11. Local Government & Small Business Advisory Group minutes for May 8, 2009 meeting: Attached for information only is the Local Government & Small Business Advisory Group minutes for the May 8, 2009 meeting.
     
12. Review September 11, 2009 Governing Board Agenda: Dr. Wallerstein stated that there are three public hearing items to be reviewed: (1) Amend Rule 1145 – Plastic, Rubber, Leather and Glass Coatings; (2) Amend Rule 102 – Definitions of Terms; and (3) Adopt Proposed Rule 317 – Clean Air Act Non-Attainment Fees, which been continued several times. Dr. Wallerstein commented that staff is waiting for U.S. EPA to provide their guidelines so that action may be taken by the Board on this item. He continued that Curt Coleman presented language related to vehicle license fees, and Dr. Lyou presented his thought as to how the fees should be calculated.
    
    Dr. Wallerstein informed the Committee members of the upcoming Special Board meeting scheduled for August 3 to approve the MOU between the ports related to the truck program. He stated that CARB requested AQMD to extend the filing period for applications by two weeks. By extending the deadline, AQMD would not be able to adhere to its strict deadline and get the trucks on the road by the end of this year, so CARB’s request was denied.
    
    Vice Chair Wilson requested a transcript of the discussion of PR 317 from the July 10, 2009 Board meeting.
    
    Dr. Wallerstein explained that Supervisor Campbell brought forth a motion to continue the hearing on PR 317, and requested the following: (1) a letter of request be sent to U.S. EPA to move the finalization of the new guidelines along to assist the Board Members in their decision and (2) to reflect in the RFP for legislative representation in Washington, DC potential advocacy related to PR 317 and U.S. EPA providing AQMD with flexibility. Supervisor Campbell suggested if U.S. EPA’s flexibility is inadequate and the Board determines the fee to be adopted is unfair but legally required, the Board pursue, as part of the federal legislative activities, the repeal of Section 185, which was adopted decades ago under different circumstances, and not to penalize stationary sources for circumstances that are mostly mobile source related.
     
13. Other Business: None.
     
14. Public Comment: None.

Meeting adjourned at 9:39 a.m.

Attachment (DOC, 55k)

Local Government & Small Business Assistance Advisory Group Minutes for May 8, 2009