HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07082014 - C.122RECOMMENDATION(S):
AUTHORIZE County participation in the 2014 Spare the Air Program, and REQUEST each County department to
participate in the program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None to the General Fund. Participation involves email notifications and each department posting Spare the Air
notices at the entrances to each County work site.
BACKGROUND:
The Spare the Air Program is a voluntary program organized by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District
(BAAQMD) to encourage the public to take steps to protect air quality on days when ozone (smog) levels are
expected to exceed the state and federal air quality standards. In the Bay Area, the summer Spare the Air season
generally runs from May and will typically last through mid-October when clear skies, hot temperatures, lighter than
usual winds, and strong temperature inversions combine to create smoggy conditions. Spare the Air alerts are
declared for days forecast to have ozone concentrations high enough to exceed federal health-based standards. Since
1991, the number of Spare the Air notices during a season has varied from 1 to 25. Last year, 6 Spare the Air notices
were issued for the Bay Area. In 2012, 10 notices were issued
(http://www.sparetheair.org/Stay-Informed/Ozone/Ozone-Box-Scores.aspx).
Once the Board authorizes participation, DCD staff will prepare notices for the County Administrator's Office (CAO)
to distribute when Spare the Air alerts are transmitted by the BAAQMD. When smog conditions are expected
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 07/08/2014 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Jamar Stamps,
925-674-7832
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: July 8, 2014
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: Stephanie L. Mello, Deputy
cc:
C.122
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Catherine Kutsuris, Conservation and Development Director
Date:July 8, 2014
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Authorize County Participation in Spare the Air Day Program
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
to exceed standards, the BAAQMD will issue a Spare the Air alert to the County's Department of Conservation
and Development, which in turn will alert the CAO to disseminate the notice to all departments via e-mail
broadcast. Each department and employee with access to e-mail will be instantly notified to refrain from
unnecessary activities that contribute to air pollution. These activities include driving, refueling vehicles during the
day, using gasoline-powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers, using lighter fluid when barbecuing, and using
aerosol products and oil-based paints. Exhibit A is an example of a notice that could be posted at the entrances to
each County work site during a Spare the Air alert.
The BAAQMD advisories are also posted on their website (http://www.sparetheair.org), recorded on the
1-800-HELP-AIR (1-800-435-7247) forecast phone line, announced in local newspapers, and broadcast on local
TV and radio stations. Information regarding Spare the Air day is also available through social networking internet
sites such as Facebook and Twitter. The BAAQMD promotes participation in the Spare the Air Program as part of
employers' Transportation Demand Management programs, since many of the Program's actions are also
trip-reduction measures. Employees are encouraged to carpool, take public transit, bicycle, or walk to work. If
feasible, employees could also telecommute provided that arrangements have been made with their supervisors.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The Department of Conservation and Development will not be able to distribute Spare the Air alerts to County
departments.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit 'A'
Tuesday, July 8th is a SPARE THE AIR DAY
Spare the Air Friday
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) has forecasted that tomorrow will
be a Spare the Air Day in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Mañana es "Spare the Air" día. Por favor, conduce su coche lo menos posible el mañana.
Clear skies, hot temperatures, a strong temperature inversion trapping pollutants near the ground,
and light winds will combine to produce poor air quality for the Bay Area.
What you can do
Drive less, bike or walk to your destination.
Ride transit, visit 511 Bay Area website to plan your trip: http://511.org.
Walk to lunch or bring your lunch to work to avoid mid-day driving.
Put off all nonessential trips and activities that require engines until the air is better.
If you must refuel, do it after dark and don’t top off the tank.
To monitor current air quality conditions and see the five day forecast, visit
www.sparetheair.org.
Thank you for helping to Spare the Air!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jamar I. Stamps
Transportation Planning Section
Contra Costa County
Community Development Division
Phone: 925-674-7832 Fax: 925-674-7258
jamar.stamps@dcd.cccounty.us