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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
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Department of Parks
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DATE:
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May 7, 2007
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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May 22, 2007
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SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
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None
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VOTE REQUIRED:
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Majority
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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David G. Holland, Director, Department of Parks
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SUBJECT:
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Acceptance of a $260,305 Grant from the California Air Resources Board for the Purchase of Three Off-Road Diesel Vehicles for the Department of Parks’ Construction Equipment Fleet and Plug-In Diesel Particulate Filter Retrofit Equipment for These Three Vehicles
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RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a Resolution authorizing the acceptance of a $260,305 California Air Resources Board Low Emissions Equipment Construction Grant for the purchase of three off-road diesel vehicles and plug-in diesel particulate filter retrofit equipment for these three vehicles; and authorizing the Director of the Department of Parks or his designee to execute in the name of the County of San Mateo all necessary agreements, amendments and payment requests hereto for the purposes of implementing the purposes specified in the grant.
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VISION ALIGNMENT:
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Commitment: Preserve and provide people access to our natural environment.
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Goals 14 and 15: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship. Residents have access to green space, such as parks and recreational opportunities.
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These three off-road diesel vehicles will support a large number of park construction and maintenance projects while reducing air pollution.
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BACKGROUND:
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Through the Transportation and Air Quality Bond Act (Proposition 1B) that was passed by California voters on November 7, 2006, a one-time allocation of $25 million is being granted for the purchase of low-polluting construction equipment for public agency construction fleets. The Low Emissions Equipment Construction Grant Program funding is available for projects that will help fleets comply with the in-use off-road diesel vehicle rule for engines and equipment that are purchased and will remain in public agencies long-term. Due to legislative constraints, the funds must be allocated by June 30, 2007.
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DISCUSSION:
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Construction equipment emits significant quantities of toxic diesel particulate matter and nitrogen oxides that form smog and particles in the atmosphere. In 2007, the California Air Resources Board will be proposing legislation for in-use off-road equipment, which will apply to both public and private fleets. This grant funding assists public agencies in providing leadership in cleaning up their fleets in advance of the rule, while also providing early emission reductions and relieving some of the financial burden.
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The Department maintains a five-year list of road equipment that needs to be replaced. Based on the amount of funding available, equipment is replaced when it has reached the end of usable life. For this grant application, the Department of Parks selected three pieces of older road equipment that could not be retrofitted to current standards, were less efficient and emitted higher quantities of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. A requirement of the grant program is to decommission the old equipment following our regular surplus practices.
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The project will be fully implemented between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008. The Department will submit Annual Usage and Maintenance Report to the California Air Resources Board for four years ending with a report in June 2011.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
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There will be no impact on the County General Fund. When the funding is awarded, the funds will be deposited to and spent out of a non-general fund account. The funding for the project match will come from the Department of Parks’ Equipment Replacement Fund in lieu of other lower priority vehicle purchases.
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