BOARD MEETING DATE: February 5, 2010
AGENDA NO. 3

PROPOSAL:

Authorize Funding for High School Students’ Conference

SYNOPSIS:

This action is to seek approval and to recognize participated sponsors funding and to expeditiously implement a conference for high school students in May 2010. The conference will serve to foster awareness and increased understanding of air quality and climate change issues and will include well-known environmental speakers, information on career training, colleges and volunteer opportunities in the environmental arena as well as technology and transportation exhibits. Students from throughout our four-county region will be invited to attend the conference. Staff recommends that the Board approve allocating up to $300,000 from the Clean Fuels Conference Fund (Fund 26) to organize and host the conference, approve a conference budget and authorize the Executive Officer to approve conference expenditures not to exceed $570,000. The balance of $270,000 is anticipated to come from co-sponsorship and exhibitors.

COMMITTEE:

This action is to seek approval and to recognize participated sponsors funding and to expeditiously implement a conference for high school students in May 2010. The conference will serve to foster awareness and increased understanding of air quality and climate change issues and will include well-known environmental speakers, information on career training, colleges and volunteer opportunities in the environmental arena as well as technology and transportation exhibits. Students from throughout our four-county region will be invited to attend the conference. Staff recommends that the Board approve allocating up to $300,000 from the Clean Fuels Conference Fund (Fund 26) to organize and host the conference, approve a conference budget and authorize the Executive Officer to approve conference expenditures not to exceed $570,000. The balance of $270,000 is anticipated to come from co-sponsorship and exhibitors.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

1. Recognize revenue upon receipt from cosponsors and exhibitors of the high school conference into the Clean Fuels Conference Special Revenue Fund (Fund 26); and

2. Authorize the Executive Officer to approve expenditures up to a not-to-exceed amount of $570,000 from existing funds up to $300,000 from the Clean Fuels Conference Fund (Fund 26) and $270,000 from the anticipated sponsor and exhibitor revenue.

 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

In September 2008, the AQMD assisted in the planning of The Future is Green Conference and Expo hosted by CAPCOA. One element of the conference was an educational component for teachers and students which drew over 1,600 attendees. The student field trip included presentations on air quality, climate change, renewable energy and new technologies. This educational component was very well received by local high school science and environmental studies teachers and was a positive experience for the students.

Proposal

Staff is proposing to host a conference on air quality and climate change that will be open to all high schools within AQMD’s four-county jurisdiction. Science and environmental studies teachers will be invited to bring their students to the conference, which will include well-known environmental speakers, information on career and job-training programs in green jobs and technology and clean air vehicle displays. Students will have an opportunity to view the various conference components while also hearing from high-school age speakers who will highlight environmental programs and activities initiated by students in their respective communities.

Revenues

Revenue will be received into the Clean Fuels Conference Fund (Fund 26), which has a balance of $369,500. Total high school conference expenses have been projected based on 5,000 and 10,000 attendees (Table 1) and include the following: facility rental, tradeshow services, audiovisual, catering, outreach and reimbursement to schools for transportation and stipends for substitute teachers. The Clean Fuels Conference Fund will provide $300,000 in funding for event expenses and the remaining balance will be funded by co-sponsorships and exhibitor fees. 

Benefits to AQMD

This event will make local high school students more aware of clean air technologies and what each person can do to help clean the air and impact global climate change. An event of this caliber can showcase career opportunities in green jobs and also serve to motivate students to take action to help our region achieve mandated federal and state clean air standards. Students will also leave with a better understanding of local air quality impacts and how they can work to minimize their carbon footprint.  

Resource Impacts

Currently there are sufficient funds in the Clean Fuels Conference Fund, Fund 26, to cover AQMD’s share of the High School Students’ Conference. Sufficient funds to cover estimated expenditures will be available upon receipt of co-sponsorship and exhibitor revenue.

Attachment (DOC, 40k)

Table 1 - Proposed High School Conference Event Budget