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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06032008 - C.94 4 t' TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ,a AL °F Contra FROM: DENNIS M. BARRY, AICP,,INTERIM DIRECTOR - ` DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT � Costa � a County DATE: June 3, 2008 STa you SUBJECT: Authorize County Participation in the Spare the Air Program 11 SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS AUTHORIZE County participation in the 2008 Spare the Air Program and REQU T that each County department participate in the program. FISCAL IMPACT None to the General Fund. Participation involves each department posting Spare the Air notices at the entrances;to each County work site. BACKGROUND/REASONSI'FOR RECOMMENDATIONS 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. The current Spare the Air season is already underway and will typically last through mid-October. The BAAQMD has already declared two Spare the Air Days this year— Thursday, May 15 and. Friday, May 16. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE: A _ RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COM MI TEE ✓APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE -(S). ACTION OF BO ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED 04, ER V TE 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: Mike Iswalt (925/3, 35-1278), � � �/ L CC. Department of Conservation and Development(DCD) ATTESTED Department Heads JOHN CULLEN, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BYy -, DEPUTY GATransportation\Employee TDM\Spare,.the Air\SA_BO 060308.doc SPARE I`HE AIR PROGRAM 2008 June 3, 2008 'Page 2 BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS(CONTINUED) When smog conditions are expected: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 all departments using; the contact list attached as Exhibit A. Each of these representatives will notify his/her departmental employees to refrain from 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 B is an example of a notice that could be posted at the entrances to each,County worksite during a Spare the Air alert. The BAAQMD advisories are . also posted on their website (http://www.sparetheair.org), recorded on the 1-800-HELPAIR forecast phone line, announced in local newspapers, and broadcasted on local TV and radio stations. The BAAQMD promotes participation in the Spare the Air Program as part of employers' Transportation Demand'' Management (TDM) 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. It should be noted that,,for this year's Program, the'BAAQMD and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) are sponsoring one PLANNED free transit day on Thursday, June 19, 2008 only. No free transit service will be offered on Spare the Air Days this year.