Making policy public for all Central San Joaquin Valley residents.
Valley Air District
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District comprises eight counties in California’s Central Valley. The Valley Air District is governed by a 15-member board consisting of representatives from the Board of Supervisors of all eight counties, five Valley city representatives and one physician and Health and Science member appointed by the governor.
Board meetings usually occur at 9 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month. They are also webcast here.
Who is the Valley Air Governing Board:
Monte Reyes, Chair and Vice Mayor at City of Porterville
Vito Chiesa, Vice Chair and Supervisor at Stanislaus County
Craig Pedersen, Supervisor at Kings County
Lloyd Pareira, Vice Chair and Supervisor at Merced County
Drew Bessinger, City of Clovis Council Member
David Couch, Supervisor at Kern County
Christina Fugazi, City of Stockton Council Member
Buddy Mendes, Fresno County Supervisor
Tania Pacheco-Werner, Ph.D., appointed by Governor
Alvaro Preciado, Mayor Pro Tem at City of Avenal
Robert Rickman, San Joaquin County Supervisor
Alexander C. Sherriffs, M.D., Appointed by Governor
Valley Air Board approves ozone standard and accepts $6.1M for commercial landscaping equipment to wrap up a year fraught with resignations and mounting pressure for more oversight.
The board approved $71.5 million for the second phase of a zero-emission school bus program, $118.8 million for the replacement of agricultural equipment and adopted proposed amendments to help monitor the impact of petroleum refineries on neighboring communities.
The board approved contracts for PM 2.5 laboratory analysis, increased financial incentives for residents to replace existing wood burning devices with cleaner alternatives and learned that demand for the Ag Burn Alternatives program has nearly tripled since it was re-launched in September 2021.
The board approved Buddy Mendes as the interim board vice chair, project plans for Shafter and Stockton to utilize clean air resources available under AB 617 and heard concerns about the odor of the Avenal landfill.
Three members of the Valley Air Districts’ emission reduction credit public advisory workgroup resigned in protest, saying business interests were being prioritized over health.
The board heard from an EPA administrator who sought collaboration on the PM 2.5 plan and accepted $168 million for the agricultural equipment replacement program.