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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 04252006 - C.56 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Le 906 FROM: DENNIS M. BARRY, AIC P fi =F•; Contra COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Costa ;a County DATE: April 25, 2006 Ta °U SUBJECT: Report on the Stakeholders response to the Voluntary Clean Air Plan for North Central Contra Costa County SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS 1. ACCEPT report on the responses received from City Councils and School Districts on the Board's request that,they adopt the VoluntaryClean Air Plan for North Central Contra Costa County and support certain changes in the policies of regional agencies that will help implement Ithe plan; and 2. AUTHORIZE Supervisor Uilkema and Supervisor DeSaulnier to sign a letter to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) requesting a workshop on funding opportunities that will help implement the plan to be convened in May of 2006. FISCAL IMPACT None to the General Fund. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS On July 25, 2005 the Board of Supervisor's was given a presentation of the final version of the Voluntary Clean Air Plan for North Central Contra Costa County. The presentation provided an overview of the plan that was modeled after a Clean Air Plan for the Tri-Valley Area of Alameda County. The Board authorized Supervisors Uilkema and DeSaulnier to sign letters transmitting the final version of the plan to the stakeholder groups. The correspondence recognizes the stakeholder groups for their participation in the development of the final plan. Their comments helped to ensure that the pla, would be applicable to the study area and a useful tool in improving air quality in the region. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURELw _ RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _ RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COM ITTEE +APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURES ACTION OF BO R ON C-to APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED 4 OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE ], UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: Hillary Heard (925/335-12718) cc: Community Development Department (CDD) ATTESTED Transportation Planning Division JOHN CULLEN, CLERK OF Advance Planning Division THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Current Planning Division C COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Public Works Department General Service Department BY -, DEPUTY Measure J—San Ramon Valley School Bus Program April 4, 2006 Page 2 BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS (Continued) The letter made two requests. I I t asked the cities and the school districts, who make up the stakeholder group, if they would'adopt the plan. It also asks if they would support a request to our regional agencies to help implement the plan by making three changes in their policies with respect to the policies described below: 1. The Air District should revise its policy for the Transportation Fund for Clean Air(TFCA) Program to award additional points to projects proposed by agencies that have adopted a Voluntary Clean Air Plan.n 2. The Air District should dedicate additional funds to local agencies for implementing voluntary measures to reduce air pollution through its annual budget or its policy on Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs). 3. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission should revise its occupancy requirement for High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) bypass lanes at toll bridges to be consistent with the occupancy requirements for HOV lanes that feed into these bridges. To date, County staff has received only a few responses to the transmittal letter from the cities and the school districts to these requests (see Exhibit A). The responses seem to indicate a reticence from the cities and school districts to adopt the plan due to concerns associated with funding for activities in the plan.There is a level of concern that funds could potentially be shifted from existing funding sources, particularly those related to transportation,which could result in a funding shortfall in other project areas. As a result those agencies who have responded indicate they support the intent of the plan and would pursue other avenues to improve air quality but they would not agree to adopt or request these changes in policies implemented by the Air District and MTC. Correspondence has been drafted to the Air District and MTC requesting that they hold a workshop this summer that would advise the cities and the school districts on existing funding opportunities for voluntary clean air actions. This workshop could occur after the annual TFCA workshop series scheduled in May of 2006. Exhibit A: Letters in response to the Voluntary Clean Air Plan for North Central Contra Costa County The Board of Supervisors Contra John Sweeten County Administration Buildingn Costa Clerk of the Board C 651 Pine Street, Room 106 and Martinez, California 94553-1293 o my (925)335-1500 County Administrator John Gioia,1st District Gayle B.Uilkema,2nd District a%sea o\ Mary N.Piepho,3rd District _\ Mark DeSaulnier,4th District _ �) Federal D.Glover,5th District o aJl \' IOVNij� April 25, 2006 Mr. Jack Broadbent Executive Director Bay Area Air Quality Mai agement District 939 Ellis Street San Francisco, CA 94109 Dear Mr. Broadbent: As you are aware, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors approved the final release of the voluntary Clean Air Plan for North Central Contra Costa County in July of 2005. The Plan was transmitted with correspondence to the City Councils and School Districts who are stakeholders of the plan. Those agencies which have responded have indicated a reticence to adopt the plan due to concerns associated with funding the voluntary measures in the plan. There is concern that existing funding provided by the Air District and MTC through various pr ograms might be shifted to fund air quality measures in the plan, thereby leaving local agencies with existing commitments they would have difficultly finding. Prior to the release of the plan last year you and your staff had offered to assist the County by holding a workshop on funding opportunities that will help implement the plan. The County would like to request.that staff from the Air District facilitate this workshop after the annual TFCA workshops series this May. We would also request that staff from MTC attend, and present if appropriate, this workshop. i The workshop would provide an opportunity for the Air District and MTC to address questions the stakeholder groups have with regard to existing funding opportunities. Please contact Ms. Hillary Heard of our staff (335-1278, hhear@cd.cccounty.us) if you would like a representative from the County to assist the Air District with facilitating these workshops. Sincerely, Supervisor Gayle B. Uilkema District II Contra Costa County V . Supervisor Mark DeSaulmer District IV Contra Costa County /HH:mlk c: Ms.Jean Roggenkamp,BAAQMD Mr. Steve Heminger,MTC Councilmember Mike Sliimansky,Town of Danville Vice Mayor Mark Ross,City of Martinez Hillary Heard,Contra Costa County CDD The Board of Supervisors Contra John Sweeten County Administration Building Cierk of the Board Costa 651 Pine Street, Room 106 and Martinez,California 94553-1293County O n ty County Administrator (925)335-1900 John Gioia,1st District lv, Gayle B.Uilkema,2nd District js--X Mary N.Piepho,3rd District Mark DeSaulnier,4th District Federal D.Glover,5th District p iz April 25, 2006 Mr. Jack Broadbent Executive Director Bay Area Air Quality Mai agement District 939 Ellis Street San Francisco, CA 94109 Dear Mr. Broadbent: As you are aware, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors approved the final release of the Voluntary Clean Air Plan for North Central Contra Costa County in July of 2005. The Plan was transmitted with correspondence to the City Councils and School Districts who are stakeholders of the plan. Those agencies which ha ve responded have indicated a reticence to adopt the plan due to concerns associated with funding the voluntary measures in the plan. There is concern that existing funding provided by the Air District and MTC through various programs might be shifted to fund air quality measures in the plan, thereby leaving local agencies with existing commitments they would have difficultly fu ding. Prior to the release of the plan last year you and your staff had offered to assist the County by holding a workshop on funding opportunities that will help implement the plan The County would like to request that staff from the Air District facilitate thi's workshop after the annual TFCA workshops series this May. We would also request that staff from MTC attend, and present if appropriate, this workshop. J The workshop would provide an opportunity for the Air District and MTC to address questions the stakeholder groups have with regard to existing funding opportunities. Please contact Ms. Hillary Heard of our staff (335-1278, hhear@cd.cccounty.us) if you would like a representative from the County to assist the Air District with facilitating these workshops. Sincerely, Supervisor Gayle B. Uilkema District II Contra Costa County V *upeisorrZar DeSaulnier District IV Contra Costa County /HH:mlk c: Ms. Jean Roggenkamp,BAAQMD Mr. Steve Heminger,MTC Councilmember Mike Shimansky,Town of Danville Vice Mayor Mark Ross,City of Martinez Hillary Heard,Contra Costa County CDD