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Title:
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Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing Staff to Submit Applications Over a 12-month Period for Grant Funding Associated with the Purchase of Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Other Emission Control Technologies.
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City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing Transportation
Department staff to apply for grant funding associated with the purchase of
alternative fuel vehicles and other emission control technologies, namely, Clean
Transportation Funding from the MSRC (Mobile Source Reduction Committee) and
the Air Quality Management District (AQMD), to assist the City in complying with
clean air mandates in the South Coast Region of California.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Culver City, situated in the South Coast Region of California, is
mandated to comply with State and local clean air rules for municipal fleets, as
administered by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD).
Every year, the AQMD and the MSRC allocate discretionary funds for clean air
projects to assist local fleets in meeting these mandates. Proposals are solicited
from cities, counties, school districts and private businesses for grant funded
projects including, but not limited to: alternative-fuel refueling infrastructure; heavy-
duty alternative fuel vehicle purchases; alternative fuel refuse vehicle purchases;
diesel retrofit devices for off-road construction equipment; and transit bus purchases.
The City and the Transportation Department have committed to the use of
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as the alternative fuel of choice for our City fleet.
This solidifies our opportunity to apply for grant funding to assist in off-setting the
costs of CNG vehicles versus their diesel- and unleaded-fueled counterparts. The
Meeting Date: 04/07/08 Item Number: C-2
AGENDA ITEM: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing Staff to Submit
Applications Over a 12-month Period for Grant Funding Associated with the
Purchase of Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Other Emission Control Technologies
Contact Person/Dept.: Jane Leonard /
Transportation Department
Phone Number: (310) 253-6523
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification:
Master Notification List (04/02/08)
Department Approval:
Art Ida (03/26/08)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (04/01/08)
Fiscal Impact Review:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (04/01/08)
City Manager Approval:
Jerry B. Fulwood (04/02/08) City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
City’s receipt of AB2766 Subvention Funds also establishes our eligibility to
participate in Local Government Match Programs offered annually by the MSRC.
Transportation Department staff continues to monitor state and local clean air
legislation, and keeps informed about opportunities to obtain assistance with the
purchase of alternative fuel vehicles and other emission control technologies.
DISCUSSION
Over the past year, staff has applied for, and has been awarded, $381,265 in grant
funds from the AQMD and the MSRC for the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles
and retrofit devices in the form of four (4) separate grants. Recently, two additional
applications have been submitted, potentially totaling an additional $510,000 in grant
funding for transit bus projects. This amounts to six applications totaling $891,265 in
potential funding. An additional $100,000 in previously awarded MSRC funding will
be received for the CNG Station Expansion Project.
In the past, staff has applied for grant funds to reimburse the Equipment
Replacement Fund and the Transit Capital Improvement Fund for such purchases
and projects. Recently, the AQMD staff has held discussions with the City’s staff,
indicating that signatory authority on grant applications, and associated awarded
contracts, needs to be authorized by the City Council. In keeping with the City’s
administrative procedure for grant funding allocation, staff is bringing this item before
the Council to request authorization for all air quality project applications over the
next 12-month period. Rather than requesting authorization for grant applications
and adoption of a resolution each time these grant opportunities become available,
we believe that advance approval for pending applications is more efficient and
effective in reaching the goal of maximizing the potential for grant awards from the
AQMD and the MSRC.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
Awards for heavy-duty vehicle purchases generally amount to a maximum of
$32,000 per unit. Awards for Local Government Match projects equal $25,000 per
unit. Other clean air projects vary according to their intent. For example, contract
awards for emission control device applications depend on the cost of those devices,
and on how the MSRC and the AQMD choose to share the funding for those
projects.
The purchase of alternative fuel vehicles and equipment is authorized on an annual
basis by the Equipment Replacement Fund (ERF) Subcommittee through the budget City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
process. Funds awarded through air quality grants are reimbursed to the ERF to off-
set the costs for the alternative fuel vehicles. Purchases of new alternative fuel
vehicles which do not impact the general fund, such as transit buses that have
reached their useful life, are purchased using federal and local funds allocated in the
Transportation budget. Grant monies received for these purchases are reimbursed
back to Transportation.
No General Fund monies are necessary to implement the grant funding process.
It should also be noted that the authority requested from the City Council this
evening relates to grant opportunities which (1) require no matching funds, or (2)
matching funds have already been appropriated by the City Council for the purposes
of the grant. Should staff identify a grant where these two criteria are not met, then
a separate report which identifies and, if necessary, requests Council approval for
matching funds, will be presented to the City Council for approval.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Proposed Resolution
MOTION:
That the City Council:
1. Adopt a Resolution authorizing staff to submit grant applications for funding
made available by the AQMD and the MSRC until June 30, 2009 period for
alternative fuel vehicle purchases;
2. Authorize entering into grant funding contracts with the AQMD and/or the MSRC
in the amounts provided, if the grants are awarded to the City;
3. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents and
authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City
(including the contracts authorized in recommended Motion 2).