1999R04- AIR QUALITY PLANNING POLICIES
RESOLUTION NO.
rJf-"e -1
BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS
ENDORSING THE REGIONAL AIR QUALITY PLANNING
POLICIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE AIR IMPROVEMENT
RESOURCES COMMITTEE.
WHEREAS, air quality issues have been identified as a major topic
requiring regional planning and policy formulation; and
WHEREAS, such planning and policy formulation represents an important
safeguard to the health of all citizens in the region; and
WHEREAS, the Air Improvement Resources (AIR) Committee has
identified projects and goals important to such formulation, and
WHEREAS, the AIR Executive Committee is composed of area
governmental leaders able to expedite implementation of measures to keep our
air quality in compliance with federal standards;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY OF SCHERTZ CITY
COUNCIL supports the Air Improvement Resources Committee in their goals of
assuring high air quality standards for all citizens in this region. Such support
includes recognition of the importance of providing healthful air in the region;
support in the development and supplementation of the regional air strategies
formulated by the AIR Committee; and assistance in identifying new measures
helpful in promoting clean air.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED the ~~<-"
Mayor, City of Schertz, Texas
ATTEST:
~~
City Secretary, City of Schertz
(SEAL OF CITY)
. RECEIVED APR 1 9 1999
olomo oreo counCil of governments ..
April 15, 1999
The Honorable Hal Baldwin
Mayor
City of Schertz
P.O. Drawer 1
Schertz, TX 78154
Dear Mayor Baldwin;
As you probably know, on April 1st the Ozone Season began in the San Antonio area,
and it will last until October 31st. Air quality monitoring equipment will record local ozone levels
throughout this period, and these records will provide a third consecutive year of ozone level
data. The Environmental Protection Agency will use this three-year record set to judge whether or
not our region's air meets federal standards deemed necessary to protect the health of our
citizenry .
Our area presently has a status of "near non-attainment." Current records indicate that
local ozone levels may well not attain federal standards when the three-year record set is
complete. With designation of "non-attainment" comes a set of federally mandated regulations.
These regulations affect private business and industry as well as federally funded work projects,
at a cost projected well into the hundreds of millions of dollars for our region alone. Such
estimations do not include the costs incurred from the impairment of human health.
Because maintaining and improving air quality is a challenge we all face, the solution
must be created regionally as well. The need for an organized, aggressive, and comprehensive
strategy, involving planning at every level of government, led to the creation of the Air
Improvement Resources (AIR) Committee, the AIR Executive Committee, and the advisory AIR
Technical Committee. These three groups are composed of governmental officials, leaders in
business, industry and the communities, and technical staff trained in air quality issues. They
were chosen to expedite planning and policy formulation as we move into this critical ozone
season.
The AIR Committee is reviewing the air quality protection efforts already begun by
individual member governments, and will continue to coordinate regional planning strategies to
assure the best use of group resources. A list of these current policies is included on the attached
page.
Your support and the support and cooperation of the local government you represent will
be key elements to the success of this regional planning effort. The AIR Committee asks you and
your staff to formally recognize our area-wide efforts by adopting the attached resolution
supporting the recommendations of the AIR Committee.
Sincerely,
H~1/4
Chairman, AACOO
118 broodNay, suite 400 0 S01 ant01io, texas 78205-1999 0 prone: (210) 362-5200 0 fax: (210) 225-5937 *
A RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE
REGIONAL AIR QUALITY PLANNING POLICIES UNDERTAKEN BY
THE AIR IMPROVEMENT RESOURCES COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, air quality issues have been identified as a major topic requiring
regional planning and policy formulation; and
WHEREAS, such planning and policy formulation represents an important
safeguard to the health of all citizens in the region; and
WHEREAS, the Air Improvement Resources (AIR) Committee has identified
projects and goals important to such formulation; and
WHEREAS, the AIR Executive Committee is composed of area governmental
leaders able to expedite implementation of measures to keep our
air quality in compliance with federal standards;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that (GOVERNMENT GROUP)
supports the Air Improvement Resources Committee in their goals
of assuring high air quality standards for all citizens in this region.
Such support includes recognition of the importance of providing
healthful air in the region; support in the development and
implementation of the regional air strategies formulated by the AI R
Committee; and assistance in identifying new measures helpful in
promoting clean air.
Signed:
Chairman (GOVERNMENT GROUP)
P. Bella PC # 47; C:\My Documents\A.I.R\Resolution_Apr8_99.doc
Current Air Quality Improvement Projects
Lower Vapor Pressure Gasoline: Starting May 1, 1999, Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corp., Koch
Petroleum Group LP and Citgo Petroleum Corp. will offer only low-vapor pressure gasoline with
less sulfur and benzene than found in fuels sold in most other cities. Use of low-vapor pressure
gasoline with less benzene will reduce the production of "ozone precursor" gases, which react
chemically with sunlight to produce ozone. Sulfur in gasoline bums to produce sulfur compounds.
Among them, sulfur dioxide is a gas deemed by the EPA to be one of six "critical pollutants."
Sulfur compounds are contaminants that lower the effectiveness of catalytic converters found on
automobiles, and so decrease the effectiveness of these converters. This offer resulted from a
request by several area leaders, including Mayor Howard Peak, in cooperation with the Texas
Natural Resource Conservation Commission.
Community Covenant for Clean Air: developed by the City of San Antonio, the CCCA tailors
specific program sets to individual organizations, to be implemented by their employees or their
community as a whole.
Lawn Cash Voucher Program: the City Public Service offers cash vouchers to CPS customers for
electric lawn mower purchases.
Voluntary Control Strategies have been enacted by City Public Service at their Power Plant near
Calaveras Lake
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission's (TNRCC) Regional Clean Air Strategy: On
January 27, 1998 the TNRCC announced a new "Texas Clean Air Strategy" made up of five
potential elements for reducing air pollution in Texas. Public input is welcome as this plan is fine
tuned. For complete information, open TNRCC's Texas Clean Air Strategy website, at
http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.usloprd/forumlcleanair/index.html
Ozone Action Days: An alert is provided by TNRCC when they predict that the following day will
be one of excessive ozone levels. This alert is put on the National Weather Service wire and
distributed through the area in which the high ozone levels are predicted. Locally, AACOG
receives the alert and is responsible for passing the alert on to local entities including TxDOTs
TransGuide system and the local news media. In turn, they publish the alert as part of their daily
operations, on that following day. Local governments may add a contact name to the list of those
alerted by AACOG. The goal is to promote awareness of the alert and to request citizens to
voluntarily adopt measures which are known to lower the production rate ozone-fonning gases.
Trip Reduction Programs:
Rideshare Program - links together citizens who want to carpool. This program is easily extended
to employees working in the same company who which to carpool. The Rideshare program is
promoted by AACOG. The technology is in place to extend this project throughout the 12-county
AACOG area.
School Pool - essentially the same program as the Rideshare program, but targeting schools as
the destination. An AACOG program which may be extended throughout the AACOG region.
Ozone Action Day VIA Passes - with purchase of a $10 pass, the passholder rides any VIA bus at
no further expense during Ozone Action Days. A joint VIA / AACOG program.
P. Bella PC # 47; C:\My Documents\A.I.R\Resolution_Apr8_99.doc
The AIR Executive Committee members are:
The Honorable James Sagebiel
The Honorable John C. Kight
The Honorable Raymond Ramirez
The Honorable Marvin Quinney
The Honorable Howard Peak
The Honorable Mark Stautzenberger
The Honorable Patrick Heath
The Honorable Jeff Webster
The Honorable Tim Bannwolf
The Honorable Cyndi Taylor Krier
The Honorable Marcy Merffert
The Honorable Jan Kennady
The Honorable Danny Scheel
The Honorable Jay Millikin
Guadalupe County Judge
Kendall County Commissioner
Mayor, City of Floresville
Wilson County Judge
Mayor, City of San Antonio
Mayor, City of Seguin
Chairman, AACOG Board of Directors
Chairman, MPO Board of Directors
Chairman-elect, MPO Board of Directors
(Alternate for Councilman Webster)
Bexar County Judge
Mayor, Leon Valley
Mayor, City of New Braunfels
Comal County Judge
Comal County Commissioner (Alternate for Judge
Scheel)
Bexar Suburban Cities Representative (Vacant)
P Bella PC # 47; C:\My Documents\A.I.R\Resolution_Apr8_99.doc