ORCAA Board of Directors
February, 2005 - MINUTES
OLYMPIC REGION CLEAN AIR AGENCY
2940 B LIMITED LANE NW
OLYMPIA WA 98502
February 9, 2005
Members present: Pat Hamilton, Pacific County (Chair)
Phil Johnson, Jefferson County
Mike Doherty, Clallam County
Mark Foutch City of Olympia
Ann Burgman, City of Lacey
Bob Beerbower, Grays Harbor County (Vice Chair)
Grant Munro, City of Port Angeles
Members absent: Tim Sheldon, Mason County
Bob Macleod, Thurston County
Legal Counsel: Fred Gentry, Bean & Gentry
Staff Present: Rich Stedman, Executive Director, Dan Nelson, Public Information Officer, Jimmy Werner, Senior Monitoring Technician, Robert Moody, Senior Air Quality Specialist, John Kelly, Engineer I, Mark Goodin, Professional Engineer, Gordon Lance, Engineer II, Jim Wilson, Emissions Data Specialist, Dean Nguyen, Air Quality Specialist I, Rebecca Hersha, Air Quality Specialist I, Mike Shults, Air Quality Specialist I, Lynn Harding, Accountant, and Debbie Moody, Recorder
The meeting was called to order at 10:02 a.m.
Hamilton wanted to welcome the new members to the Board. Senator Sheldon was absent, however, she did ask that the Board introduce themselves.
There were no additions or omissions to the Agenda. Burgman moved approval of the Agenda. Foutch seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. Foutch moved approval of the Consent Agenda. Doherty seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Personnel Update
Stedman introduced our newest employee, Mike Shults, Air Quality Specialist I. Stedman noted Shults comes to us with a background in environmental science. He had worked for the Shoalwater Tribe, as well as Thurston County Environmental Health and Pacific County. Stedman also announced that we are now fully staffed in the compliance section.
Stedman explained that we are still one staff member short in the engineering department, since Jenn DeMay left. DeMay was also our main IT person, Stedman stated. Stedman remarked that ORCAA will be looking at filling an engineer and an IT position in the upcoming months.
New Sources
We have a number of sources that have upcoming projects, Stedman noted. We are waiting on an application from Santa Maria Shipyard, which is located in Pacific County. Grays Harbor Paper has a turbine project which will not require a Notice of Construction, as it is a steam driven turbine. We also have Ocean Protein, which is located in Hoquiam, Stedman continued. The city of Hoquiam has decided they are the lead SEPA agency and will be taking on that role. There are concerns from area residents regarding potential odor problems from the source and it is looking like we will probably need to have a public hearing for their NOC.
Legislative Update
Stedman pointed out a couple of important bills coming up. Bill 1302 is in regards to the burn ban triggers. Stedman explained this sets the trigger for a first stage burn ban at 35 μg/m 3 for PM 2.5, the ultra-fine pollution with the greatest health impacts. Currently the law is based on PM 10 (less than 10 microns in diameter) standard, which is less health protective. We are hoping this goes forward, Stedman stated. House Bill 1361 is our bill, Stedman noted. This will allow the disbursement of air quality funds so that we will be able to do our own fiscal services. Stedman does not believe there will be any opposition to the bill. Stedman noted there are quite a few vehicle emissions standards that are being proposed and Stu Clark from Ecology was available to explain these.
Clark noted there is a companion bill to House Bill 1397; it is Senate Bill is 5397. He noted that the bill would do three primary things. One, Clark explained, is that the state will adopt the California vehicle standards. The second thing it does, Clark noted, is takes the diesel retrofit program and extends the funding from 2008 to 2020 and also allows the use of those funds to any publicly own vehicles, rather than just school buses. Clark stated the third piece of the bill doesn't affect this part of the state, but does affect the vehicle emissions testing program.
Some discussion followed. There was no action required of the Board.
New Vehicle Mileage Rates
Stedman noted the vehicle mileage rates have increased and the increase is shown on the current travel vouchers in the Board packets. The new rate is 40.5 cents per mile.
Objectives/Work Plan Quarterly Update
Stedman noted he had an updated Strategic Plan in the packets. The plan is complete, Stedman noted, we are just waiting to finalize it.
Risk Assessment of Toxics Emissions
Stedman stated we had received a grant from EPA a couple of years ago. With that grant we did a risk assessment from the sources in our jurisdiction. Stedman noted that this item is informational and there is a sheet in your packet that summarizes the project. Stedman noted this will be coming back before the Board prior to making it public. Stedman added we will be working with specific facilities to let them know the results prior to making the information public as well.
Foutch suggested when we do go public with this we have a comparison table that shows other regions. My feeling, Foutch stated, is that we have pretty healthy air in this region.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Committee Member Assignments
Stedman explained the Business Rules state we elect committee members in February of each year. Stedman noted that we have not been following the Business Rules when it comes to selecting committee members in the past, so we thought we should bring that to the Boards' attention.
Hamilton appointed Foutch as Chair of the finance committee and selected Munro and Beerbower as the additional committee members.
The employee-employer committee is to be made up of the Board Chair (Hamilton), the Vice Chair (Beerbower) and the Chair of the Finance Committee (Foutch), along with an employee representative (Robert Moody). Hamilton stated that Burgman would continue serving on this committee as well.
School Bus Retrofit Program Update
Stedman noted we received information from Ecology. Our award for this program was based on estimated title transfers and now we have firm numbers, Stedman explained, so now we will be receiving approximately $10,000 more than estimated for this fiscal year. Stedman stated Dan Nelson, PIO, would give a full report.
Nelson noted there is an executive summary of the report that was presented to the Legislature.
Nelson stated things are proceeding and there is legislation that expands and revises the program. One issue we are working on, Nelson explained, is producing agreements with bus contractors (i.e. Laidlaw) that bus kids in our jurisdiction.
Separation from Thurston County Financial Services: Update on Legislative change
Stedman noted we did receive support from most of the other Air Pollution Control Agencies in the state for this bill. Stedman noted we would watch the bill and keep the Board up-to-date.
Comments on Draft Strategic Plan
Stedman stated he had received Foutch's comments on the Plan, however, other than that we have had very little response. Stedman noted the staff did give comment and we are ready to finalize the Plan. Stedman explained he would like to finalize the Plan at the next Board meeting. Stedman hoped we could use the Plan as a foundation from which to build our budget this year.
Doherty asked if all of the Board members have had a chance to read the Plan. He pointed out that the Plan suggests that ORCAA needs 5-6 more employees, and in our county, Doherty continued, we have been cutting employees for the past four years. If there is an endorsement of a 1/3 increase in employees for ORCAA, I am not sure how they can come to our county and ask for an increase in assessments. This is a very serious discussion, Doherty stated. Stedman thanked him for his comments. This has been a struggle Stedman noted. We have a large area to work with and being based out of Thurston County it is sometimes difficult to respond quickly to issues in other counties. We have been contemplating working from satellite offices maybe located at county or city facilities, so that we might respond to complaints and inspections more efficiently.
Stedman noted we are open to any suggestions from the Board. Foutch asked for a deadline on comments. Stedman stated he would like to be able to give the Board a draft final at the next Board meeting.
Burgman stated the per capita fees are a very touchy subject. Stedman stated that is the kind of feedback he is looking for. Burgman noted that discussion should be taken out of the Plan. Stedman noted that, compared to other local air agencies, we have one of the lowest assessment rates. Stedman noted that he is going to be looking into an alternative way to collect the per capita fees. There was further discussion. Stedman stated we are working on other sources of money; we are sensitive to this issue. There was no action required of the Board. Hamilton noted that this does alert the Board to the issues and hopefully pushes us to get our comments into staff.
Policy and Procedures
Stedman noted that our agency is covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act, however, our employees are not. Basically, Stedman explained, under the policy all public agencies are covered by the act, however, if you have fewer than 50 employees within a 75-mile radius, they are not eligible. Because of this, Stedman stated, we have to have the policy in our manual; we just have to tell staff they are ineligible.
Stedman noted there had been concern with our proposed Gifted Leave Policy at the last meeting. The Board did adopt the policy in December, Stedman stated, however it was asked that we amend it and bring it back for review. Stedman noted the changes were with regards to capping the amount of time a staff member can give away and also, caps how much an employee can receive each year.
Hamilton noted the staff donation limit did not specify a time line. Stedman noted that would be per year.
Burgman thanked Stedman for being very responsive to the Board's input into the policy at the last meeting.
Foutch moved approval, as amended, of the policy. The motion was seconded by Beerbower and carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
Air Quality Monitoring Presentation
Stedman stated Jimmy Werner, Senior Monitoring Technician, would be making a presentation.
Werner gave a brief overview of the monitoring efforts in our jurisdiction.
The Board thanked Werner for the presentation.
Prior to moving on, Stedman wanted to make a presentation to Werner. Werner has been awarded the Washington state's Monitoring Operator of the Year. Werner was presented with a check in the amount of $200.00 and a "trophy" made from an Impactor (air monitoring equipment, filters out PM2.5). Stedman noted that Werner had been nominated for this award in previous years. Werner has been recognized throughout the state for his knowledge and understanding of monitoring and meteorology. Stu Clark added Ecology's thanks for all his hard work and knowledge. Clark added that Werner has always had a motto "everyone is entitled to clean air" and that goes a long way towards how Werner operates. According to Clark, Werner has been a great resource for Ecology as far as providing technical assistance to the state, the EPA, other local governments and tribal organizations.
The Board congratulated Werner.
Prior to staff recognition Foutch noted he would like to address the Board.
Foutch noted there is a meeting this afternoon regarding the upcoming legislation. Foutch asked Clark if there would be any utility for having this Board endorse the legislation, or if he knew of any other agencies that have endorsed it?
Clark stated the PSCAA Board has endorsed the Clean Car legislation and the other local APCAs are considering it. Clark noted it would be helpful, but it is clearly a Board choice.
Foutch noted that he will be endorsing the legislation on behalf of the city of Olympia and could very well sign again for the Board, if that was their pleasure.
Hamilton asked what the pleasure of the Board was. Munro stated that from what he has heard, he would support it, however, he would like to hear the other side. Clark noted the automotive manufacturing industry have concerns with regards to the increase in cost. They have also suggested that we don't need this in Washington State.
Burgman stated that she wasn't sure that we should just follow California for the sake of following. Munro stated he was inclined to support it. Doherty agreed. Hamilton called for the question. Foutch moved the ORCAA Board go on record in support of the legislation (HB1597 and SB 5397). Doherty seconded the motion. The motion carried on a majority of the votes (6 in favor, 1 against).
Recognition of Employees for 10+ Years of Service
Stedman wanted to recognize 4 employees who have 10+ years of service with the agency. The employees are Debbie Moody, who has been here since May 1991; Robert Moody who has been with the agency since April 1992; Mark Goodin since May 1992; and John Kelly who came on in January of 1994.
The Board thanked staff for their years of service. Hamilton asked if there was anything else to come before the Board.
Munro asked if there is any word on the shake and shingle mills with regards to the new EPA standards. Stedman stated we have been skirting around the issue and it looks like it will happen in July 2005 and we have yet to see any movement from the shake mills. Stedman explained that we have not been able to secure any grants, as we have no proposal in place to accomplish that. Doherty noted a study that staff might want to take a look at that was done by the Columbia Pacific Resource and Conservation Development. Some discussion followed. There was no action required of the Board.
Prior to adjournment, John Kelly, Engineer I, asked to speak. Kelly wanted to express to the Board, staff and management of the agency, his heartfelt appreciations and thanks for helping him and his family get through a difficult time in his life. He noted he was faced with not knowing whether or not he was going to be alive this month, and to see everyone rally around and support him has been a real blessing. Kelly stated this is a very good place to work and he felt it was important that it be recognized.
The meeting adjourned at 11:13 am.
PRESENTED BY:
Richard A. Stedman, Executive Director
APPROVED BY:
The Majority of the Board
APPROVED and SIGNED this 9th day of March 2005