PROPOSAL:
Amend Existing Contract with Oralia Michel Marketing and Public
Relations to develop and implement an Air Quality Institute
SYNPOSIS:
The Environmental Justice Enhancements approved by the Board last year
included the conceptual investigation of an Air Quality Institute. This
item sets forth a new task order, deliverables, and timelines for the
creation of the Air Quality Institute within one year of Board approval
for conducting educational outreach to officials, policymakers, and
business and community leaders. In addition, a contract amendment with
Oralia Michel Marketing & Public Relations (OMMPR) to increase the
contract amount by an amount not to exceed $135,000 is proposed. Further
details of the work, to be completed in FY 2005-2006, are provided in the
attached Task Order and Proposal.
COMMITTEE:
Administrative, November 10, 2005 and December 9, 2005, Recommended for
Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
- Approve the attached Task Order under the existing contract with OMMPR
and authorize staff to have the consultant and its subcontractor begin
work.
- Authorize the Chairman to execute an amendment to the existing
contract OMMPR to increase the current contract in an amount not to exceed
$135,000, bring the total contract funding to $635,000.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
In October 2004, the Board approved an Environmental Justice Work Plan
for FY 2004-2005, which included among its elements, initial steps toward
the creation of an Air Quality Institute to address the educational needs of
newly elected and appointed local and state officials, policymakers, and
business and community leaders within AQMD. Staff has conducted polling of
members of the Environmental Justice Advisory Group for recommendations on
implementation issues and identification of partnering organizations and/or
training sessions. The Air Quality Institute would disseminate information
on air quality, land use planning, economic considerations, and
environmental justice issues. The Air Quality Institute would offer half-day
courses on general air quality and economic and environmental justice
issues, as well as a one-day session of briefings in Sacramento on current
and relevant topics to legislators, business and community leaders, and
Administration and agency officials. Possible course topics would be health
impacts of pollution, air quality impacts upon different receptors, mobile
and stationary sources, future state/federal legislative actions and AQMD
regulations and policies, future strategies for attaining air quality
standards, economic considerations, and issues affecting impacted
communities. Possible topics for the one-day session of briefings in
Sacramento would be “hot button” issues, such as goods movement, alternative
fuel vehicle deployment, and funding initiatives, among others.
Proposal
Following Board approval, initial steps would involve formation of an
Advisory Panel, curriculum development for Courses and the one-day session
of briefings, identification of instructors, and outreach efforts to
officials and business and community leaders. Within the first calendar
year, eight courses within the four-county region (two per county, including
courses offered in disproportionately impacted areas) and a one-day session
of briefings in Sacramento, would be offered by the Air Quality Institute.
There would also be a debriefing of the initial offerings by the Institute
to determine further refinements and best practices. AQMD staff and the
consultant would be involved in ongoing oversight and implementation of the
remaining courses offered by Air Quality Institute in its first year.
Staff recommends that the Board approve the attached Task Order as part
of its set of ongoing community outreach, education, and environmental
justice programs to facilitate implementation of the Board’s clean air goals
and objectives. Staff also requests approval to modify the existing contract
with OMMPR and their subcontractor Cordoba Corporation to increase the
contractual amount to fully fund this Task Order.
OMMPR and Cordoba Corporation have access to personnel and resources with
experience in designing educational outreach programs and dealing with local
leaders. Staff recommends working with OMMPR and Cordoba Corporation, as
previous projects contracted to the group have been delivered on time,
within budget, and in a professional manner. The amendment to the existing
contract with OMMPR will increase the contract in an amount not to exceed
$135,000, bringing the total contract funding to $635,000.
Resource Impacts
Sufficient funds are available in the Public Affairs FY 2005-2006 Budget,
Professional and Specialized Services account.
Attachment(s) (EXE
111kb)
| Attachment 1 – |
Task Order |
| Attachment 2 – |
Proposal by OMMPR and Cordoba Corporation |
/ / /
|
