San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (6/15/23)

June 15, 2023 — San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Board

Documented by Esteban Solis Loya

 Here’s what you need to know

• The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Board accepted and appropriated additional grant funds of $30.4 million for the district’s Drive Clean in the San Joaquin Vehicle Replacement and Repair Programs. The funding will be used to support existing vehicle replacement applications, as well as new applications, which the district will begin accepting in late summer. Repair program events are planned throughout the Valley starting at the Stockton Fairgrounds on July 22. 
• According to Jonathan Klassen, director of Air Quality Science, “The efforts of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, along with the California Air Resources Board, represent the nation’s toughest emissions control program and have reduced more than 90% of stationary source ozone-forming NOx emissions.”
• The 2023-2024 recommended budget has been approved and adopted. 

Follow-up questions

• Will the adopted budget expand upon e-bike access and replace automobile incentives with e-bike incentives?
• What is the district’s stance and commitment to funding expansions of transit lines and frequencies to low-income and disadvantaged communities?

Names of Officials and Attendance

• Chair Vito Chiesa: Present
• Vice Chair Deborah Lewis: Present
• Board member Drew M. Bessinger: Present
• Board member David Couch: Present
• Board member Rosa Escutia-Braaton: Present
• Board member Robert Macaulay: Present
• Board member Buddy Mendes: Present
• Board member Tania Pacheco-Werner, PhD.: Present
• Board member Lloyd Pareira: Present
• Board member Alvaro Preciado: Present
• Board member Gilberto Reyna: Present
• Board member Robert Rickman: Present
• Board member Rusty Robinson: Absent
• Board member Alexander C. Sheriffs, M.D.: Present
• Board member Amy Shuklian: Present
• Executive Director Samir Sheikh: Present

The Scene

The SJVAPCD Governing Board meeting was held on June 15, 2023. The meeting began at 9:03 a.m. and was adjourned at 11:45 a.m. for a closed session. The meeting was made available to the public to provide comments via Zoom. The meeting was also made available to the public for observation and live streaming via webcast.

Chiesa called the meeting to order and Bessinger led the board and members of the public in the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda was unanimously approved.

Actions

• Accepted and appropriated $30.4 million in state vehicle replacement funding and approved the continued implementation of the district’s Drive Clean in the San Joaquin Vehicle Replacement and Repair Programs
  • In 2014, the board authorized a first-of-its-kind clean vehicle replacement pilot program in conjunction with the “Tune In Tune Up” emissions repair program.
    • This program serves as a model for the state’s Clean Cars 4 All program
  • Since 2015, the District has received over $57 million in state funding to operate the Clean Cars 4 All Program
    • Historically, incentives ranged from $2,500-$9,500 based on income level, disadvantaged community status and replacement vehicle.
    • Over 4,600 high-polluting vehicles have been replaced with cleaner electric, plug-in electric and hybrid-electric models to date.
    • In September 2021, the board approved changes to increase model year eligibility to 2006 and older models while removing the previous emission failure requirement.
      • This resulted in significant demand for program funds by Valley residents.
  • Reducing mobile source emissions is a key strategy to reduce emissions 
  • Tune In Tune Up Vehicle Repair Program
  • In response to COVID-19, the district and VALLEY CAN worked collaboratively to develop a new program model to continue the vehicle repair program.
  • Weekend “Tune In Tune Up” events resumed in June 2021 with an added focus on small, rural communities throughout the Valley.
  • Outreach efforts continue through disadvantaged communities in the Valley, including rural communities.
    • Events resulted in more than 2,600 vehicle repairs completed to date.
    • District participation resulted in over 14,000 vehicle repairs completed to date.
    • Weekend events continue to provide opportunities to engage with residents about the district’s vehicle replacement program as well as other available incentive programs, including the Clean Green Yard Machines (CGYM) and Burn Cleaner programs.
  • Cleaner vehicles deployed in communities from fiscal year 2022-23 to date:
    • Battery electric: 80 vehicles
    • Hybrid electric: 370 vehicles
    • Hybrid: 300 vehicles
    • Total: 750 vehicles

• Adopt 2023 Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request for the revoked one-hour ozone standard
  • Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request requirements
    • Attainment delivery
    • Maintenance demonstration
    • Air-monitoring network
    • Verification of continued attainment
    • Contingency plan
  • According to Jonathan Klassen, director of Air Quality Science, “the district’s ongoing efforts to reduce ozone levels have largely been successful.”
    • The district adopted extreme attainment plans in 2004 and 2013, which were approved by the EPA in 2016
    • Historic progress is only possible through clean air investment by Valley stakeholders
    • 82% of days during the May to October ozone season now meet that latest ozone standard, with the vast majority of days meeting the 1997 and 2008 ozone standards
    • Implementation strategies within Valley ozone attainment programs led to significant improvements in regional air quality
      • Nearly a 100% reduction in days over one-hour standards of 124 ppb
      • Over a 92% reduction in days over eight-hour standards of 84 ppb
      • More than  a 73% reduction in days over eight-hour standard of 75 ppb
      • Over a 61% reduction in days over eight-hour standard of 70 ppb
  • The importance of reducing ozone levels:
    • Ozone is formed through a reaction of NOx and VOCs in the presence of heat and sunlight.
    • The Valley experiences high ozone in the summer with peaks in the middle of the day.
    • Ozone impacts health, particularly those with asthma, children, older adults and outdoor workers.
  • The district proposed a One-Hour Ozone Maintenance Plan to meet CAA requirements.
  • Court rulings have defined Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for areas that have met revoked one-hour ozone standards, such as the San Joaquin Valley, from “nonattainment” to “attainment area requirements by satisfying required elements under CAA Section 107(d)(3)(E).”
  • The board unanimously approved the request.

• Approved allocation of up to $1 million in additional funding for Valley-wide Clean Air Rooms Residential Air Filtration Incentive Program for the Valley’s disadvantaged and low-income communities
  • Jessica Olsen, director of Community Strategies and Resources, presented progress and insights from this program.
  • HEPA air filtration devices can reduce particulate matter in various indoor environments by more than 90%
    • Devices come in various makes and models, with price specifications varying based on room size and capacity.
    • CARB maintains a list of HEPA devices approved for sale in the state
    • The district has increasingly encouraged the use of air filtration devices during wildfires to ensure that the home has dedicated space with safe indoor air quality during smoke events.
  • Recommendations for the board to approve:
    • Approve additional funding for the Valley-wide Clean Air Rooms Residential Filtration incentive Program to provide residential air filtration units to residents living in disadvantaged and low-income communities throughout the San Joaquin Valley for up to $1 million.
    • Authorize the executive director/APCO to enter into any necessary agreements with equipment vendors, retail partners and/or subcontractors and to make administrative changes to the program as necessary to ensure the successful implementation of the program.
  • The board unanimously approved the request.

• Approve contract for advertising and marketing agency representation for comprehensive multilingual public education and outreach
  • Jamie Holt, chief communications officer for the district, presented  information regarding the district’s contract with Archer and Hound.
    • This firm was selected through competitive requests for proposals in 2021 to administer advertising and marketing support services for the district’s public education and outreach efforts.
      • The firm was deemed to provide the best value/quality and was authorized for up to a five-year period with annual renewals.
    • Archer and Hound assists with overall strategy and creative concepts, the production of media, commercials and outreach pieces, and designs the approach for multiple target groups in multiple languages in three media markets. It also secures free media for key district projects.
    • 5% discount off industry standard commission rate of 15% for media purchases. That 5% ($35,736) was reinvested into outreach purposes.
    • Donated $9,750 in agency hours to the district.
    • Successful multi-platform outreach included online streaming services, native content, social media and traditional media.
    • Targeted and effective media buying via creative alternatives to cable TV, TV placements during prime shows on key channels and placing billboards in desirable locations.
  • Recommendation for the board to approve:
    • Approve and authorize the chair to execute an agreement with Archer and Hound to implement comprehensive public education and outreach campaigns for key district programs.
  • The board unanimously approved the request.

• Adopt proposed amendments to district leak-detection and repair rules 4401, 4409, 4455, 4623 and 4624
  • Valley air quality improvement efforts to date:
    • The governing board has adopted numerous attainment plans and air quality control strategies to address federal standards
    • The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has adopted numerous mobile source control strategies.
    • District/CARB combined efforts represent the nation’s toughest emissions control program
    • The two organizations have created strong incentive programs with $5 billion in public/private investment
  • The board unanimously approved the request.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at fresnodocs@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.