HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - City Council - Meeting Date: 10/18/2011 *PLEASE NOTE: Since the Glendale City Council does not take formal action at the
Workshops,Workshop minutes are not approved by the City Council.
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GLENDr
MINUTES OF THE
GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION
Council Chambers—Workshop Room
5850 West Glendale Avenue
October 18, 2011
1:30 p.m.
PRESENT: Mayor Elaine M. Scruggs, Vice Mayor Steven E. Frate and
Councilmembers Joyce V. Clark, and Manuel D. Martinez,
ABSENT: Councilmember Norma S. Alvarez, H. Phillip Lieberman and Yvonne J.
Knaack
ALSO PRESENT: Ed Beasley, City Manager; Horatio Skeete, Assistant City Manager; Craig
Tindall, City Attorney; and Pamela Hanna, City Clerk
1. AIR QUALITY UPDATE
Presented by: Craig Johnson, P.E., Executive Director, Water Services and Michelle Wilson,
Environmental Program Manager
This is a request to provide City Council with an air quality update. Improving air quality
protects public health, enhances economic vitality, and prevents the loss of over $7 billion in
federal highway funds for the Phoenix metropolitan area, which might otherwise be at risk if
there are continued air quality violations.
This item addresses Council's goal of one community with high-quality of services for citizens
by improving air quality through regional planning and coordination.
Air quality in the Phoenix metropolitan area has improved considerably since first being
classified as a nonattainment area by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
for carbon monoxide, ozone, and particulate matter(dust) in the 1980s.
Over the years, regional planning efforts led by the Maricopa Association of Governments
(MAG), the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, and Maricopa County have resulted
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in the Phoenix metropolitan area meeting the federal ambient air quality standards for carbon
monoxide and ozone.
The Phoenix metropolitan area is now close to meeting the federal air quality standards for
particulate matter. In order to receive a clean data finding for particulate matter, the Phoenix
metropolitan area needs to demonstrate there were no violations for three consecutive years as
measured at the Maricopa County air quality monitors located across the valley. If the area
avoids future exceedances following a clean data finding, a request may be submitted to
reclassify the area as attainment.
The air quality data and analysis for particulate matter indicate there were no air quality
violations in calendar years 2009 and 2010. Moreover, despite the recent dust storms that have
caused numerous readings of high dust levels, it may be that no violations actually occurred in
2011. In determining whether an air quality standard has been exceeded and/or violated, the
EPA can take into consideration the cause of the high dust readings if requested by MAG and the
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, under the federal exceptional-events rule. High
dust readings caused by regional dust storms do not count as an air quality exceedance as long as
air quality controls are in place because natural events are beyond the area's control.
MAG and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality are currently in the process of
analyzing and documenting the cause of the high dust levels recorded in 2011. The findings and
supporting material will be submitted to the EPA for their consideration. MAG is hopeful the
EPA will concur that the cause of the high readings were due to exceptional-events.
Significant improvements to air quality have resulted from the actions and commitments made
by cities, towns, the county, industry associations, agriculture, and the general public. It will
take continued actions and commitments to keep improving air quality in the Phoenix
metropolitan area.
On August 11, 2011, staff finalized the City's Dust Mitigation Plan for High Wind Events and
Implementation of the Rapid Response Program (for the Maricopa County air quality monitor
located at Glendale Community College). On March 25, 2008, Council adopted Glendale's
Fugitive Dust Ordinance. On June 12, 2007, Council adopted a Resolution containing city
commitments for the MAG 2007 Five Percent Plan for PM-10. On September 14, 2004, Council
adopted a Resolution containing city commitments to implement targeted street sweeping using
PM-10 efficient street sweepers. Between 1987 and 2000, Council adopted Resolutions
containing city commitments for five MAG regional air quality plans that were submitted to the
EPA.
This is for Council information only. Staff is available to answer any questions regarding the
information provided.
Craig Johnson, P.E., Executive Director, Water Services, stated there has been lots of work done
to improve the regional air quality in the Phoenix area and would like to provide Council with an
update.
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He indicated it was once thought impossible to improve air quality for dust in the Phoenix desert
environment, but it may be indeed possible. Despite the recent regional dust storms that
blanketed the Phoenix area, we are within reach of complying with the federal air quality
standards for dust. The Environmental Protection Agency acknowledges that regional dust
storms are natural events and the high dust levels resulting from such storms should not be
counted as an excess of the air quality standard. He stated the state of Arizona and the Maricopa
Association of Governments is in the process of making its case to the EPA showing that dust
storms caused the high dust levels experienced this summer.
Michelle Wilson, Environmental Program Manager, reviewed the three reasons why clean air is
important to everyone. The first reason is clean air protects public health. She stated that years
of exposure to bad air affects everyone, including normally healthy people. Poor air quality is
especially bad for the very young, the elderly, and people with health conditions. She explained
the second reason why air quality matters is economic vitality. She said people want to live in
an environment or city that has clean air. These places are popular, have growing markets and
related economic opportunities. The third reason is that federal funding of regional
transportation projects is linked to air quality compliance. She indicated that continuing to
violate the air quality standards puts at risk over $7 billion of federal highway funds that are used
to improve the regional transportation system.
Ms. Wilson continued one of the major challenges in air quality planning is communicating
effectively with the public. Each person, through their actions, can have a positive or negative
impact on air quality. Accordingly, the Maricopa Association of Governments has prepared a
seven minute video summarizing the air quality situation and efforts made by the state, cities,
businesses and industry. Most importantly, the video speaks to citizens and asks for their help
and actions in reducing dust pollution. She stated that as shown in this presentation, the
collective actions of all people are what will make their efforts to clean the air successful. She
played the video "Prevent Dust, Do Your Part" produced by the Maricopa County Association of
Governments and asked for any questions after the viewing.
Vice Mayor Frate asked if Glendale had an air monitoring station. Mr. Johnson replied yes and
added it was located between Glendale Community College and Sahuaro Ranch Park.
Councilmember Martinez inquired if there was only one in the city. Mr. Johnson stated he was
correct. Councilmember Martinez asked who enforced this and who should they call with a
violation. Ms. Wilson stated the public can call the Code Compliance Department.
Councilmember Martinez provided examples of everyday quality control issues around the city.
He asked what the fines were and how code enforces compliance. Ms. Wilson explained each
violation was assessed through code compliance they enforce the city code and may provide
educational brochures as appropriate.
Councilmember Clark asked what the city has done as a municipality in the effort to try to
control dust. Ms. Wilson explained the city has created a website for the public with information
on how to improve air quality and included the seven minute video. Additionally, channel 11 is
showing a 21 minute video that MAG produced to educate people on air quality. Brochures,
mailings, and reports on air quality information are distributed to the public through mailings
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and the City website. She noted that Glendale staff has been educated regarding what they can
do to reduce dust when they are out working within the city. The city has also paved and
stabilized all alleys, shoulders and roads within the city and is in the process of implementing a
Dust Mitigation Plan to address elevated readings in the city should they occur.
Councilmember Clark noted that in the video, Phoenix was contacting all owners of vacant lots.
She asked if Glendale had a similar program. Ms. Wilson stated the city has done its own
investigations near and around the monitoring station and determined the areas they need to
monitor closely. However, until they see additional elevated readings, staff is only monitoring
potential problem areas.
Councilmember Clark acknowledged that staff was trying to keep the air as clean as possible
around the monitor; however, her question was if they had a program in which the city contacts
vacant lot owners to work with them to stabilize their lots. Ms. Wilson indicated that Maricopa
County enforces the dust requirements for the monitors and they have the enforcement authority
and notify the property owners.
Mr. Johnson stated that in direct answer to Councilmember Clark's question, he will check to see
if the city has a process in which they notify owners of vacant lots. Councilmember Clark
remarked that it seemed in the video that Phoenix was starting their own proactive program and
are not waiting for Maricopa County to enforce problem areas.
Vice Mayor Frate indicated the city does go out at the beginning of the fire season to make sure
lots were mowed down and are not a fire hazard. He believes educating the public was vital to
this project's success. Ms. Wilson agreed.
Councilmember Martinez asked for clarification on the part Maricopa County plays in enforcing
air quality in the cities. Ms. Wilson noted that since air quality was a regional coordination
effort, Maricopa County enforces many air quality regulations regarding dust throughout the
region. Additionally, cities also have their own ordinances.
Mayor Scruggs commented that she had seen this video or a similar one at a MAG meeting. The
video showed water trucks being used on dust during road construction. A couple of days after
seeing the video, she was driving down the 101 through a road construction area and there were
no water trucks. She reported this to MAG and they contacted ADOT. A couple days later she
saw the same thing. She suggested if you're driving along and you see road construction and you
don't see that water truck in a reasonably close distance from where the activity is that you make
a call to MAG to report it. Mayor Scruggs said road construction was a big source of dust for
example from the big earth movers, etc. At one point, when she drove through the dust, she
really couldn't see where she was going. She reiterated call MAG or code compliance if it's in
the city and they will get you to the right place.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 2:05 p.m.
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