Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District Board of Directors Meeting – May 24, 2024

Note: The transcript indicates the meeting was held on May 23, 2024, but the provided metadata specifies the date as May 24, 2024. This summary uses the metadata date.

The board convened to approve the fiscal year 2024–2025 budget and fee schedule, celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Carl Moyer Program, hear updates on state and federal grant programs, and honor the late Charlene McGee. All items on the agenda were approved or received without opposition.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1 through 7 were approved unanimously via roll-call vote (motion by Director Desmond, second by Director Tao). No items were pulled for separate discussion.

Public Hearing: Fiscal Year 2024–2025 Proposed Budget and Fee Schedule

• Controller Patty Keppner presented a summary of the proposed budget. The general fund projects $26.9 million in revenue and $30.0 million in expenditures, with a $3.1 million use of fund balance largely due to an expanding AB 617 program. The building fund ($5.6 million fund balance) is break-even, and the special revenue fund (incentives) will use $5.5 million of fund balance, leaving $86.1 million. Total fund balance across all funds is projected at $116 million at year-end.
• The fee schedule includes a 4.17% CPI adjustment effective July 1, 2024.
• Chair Kennedy praised the budget as “amazing” given unfunded mandates.
• No public comments were received. The board voted unanimously to adopt the resolution approving the budget and fee schedule (motion by Director Frost, second by Director Desmond).

Discussion Item: Carl Moyer Program – 25th Anniversary & Current Solicitation

• Mike Neuenberg, program supervisor, provided a historical overview: Dr. Carl Moyer’s pilot program (1996) led to a statewide incentive program starting in 1999 with $25 million. Over 25 years, more than $1 billion has been invested statewide, with $117 million going to the Sacramento region. Over 2,800 pieces of equipment have been replaced, including agricultural, construction, and transportation equipment.
• Oliverio Barragán, air quality engineer, outlined the current $10 million solicitation for Sacramento County. Priority is given to disadvantaged communities. Eligible projects include on-road vehicles (40–70% funding), off-road equipment (up to 80% for zero-emission), and infrastructure (up to 60%). Applications are being accepted, with on-road and infrastructure categories opening in the next two to three weeks.
• Barragán announced the new Zero Emission Commercial Lawn and Garden Program, launched April 15, 2024. $1.2 million is allocated. Within the first week, $300,000 was allocated; over 80 vouchers have been issued, retiring 80 pieces of polluting equipment. The program is first-come, first-served, with a $50,000 per applicant limit.
• Barragán paid tribute to the late Charlene McGee, who served the district for 34 years and led the earlier “Mow Down” program (14,000 electric lawnmowers, 170 tons of emissions reduced). The board voted to rename the Commercial Lawn and Garden Program as the “Charlene McGee Memorial Lawn and Garden Program.”
• Board members expressed appreciation for the history and the tribute. Director Frost asked about site capacity evaluations (clarified as utility infrastructure requirements for charging stations). Director Hume asked about coverage of battery and charger costs for the lawn program (covered under voucher). Director Daniels praised the intern-to-engineer success story. Director Aquino asked whether Carl Moyer funds can count toward the Advanced Clean Fleets mandate (clarified: no, because funds are for surplus emissions reductions, not compliance).
• Public comment: Richard Falcon (United Latinos) expressed strong support for the district’s partnership and outreach, noting an upcoming information session on May 30, 2024, and highlighting the importance of helping small businesses access incentives.
• The item was received and filed.

Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) Report

• Albert Ayala reported five items:
  1. AB 617: Formal request submitted to transition the South Sacramento Florin community from ambient monitoring to an emission reduction plan (ERP) community. ARB hearing scheduled for July 25, 2024. Board members will be asked to testify.
  2. A bus tour of stationary sources in the South Sacramento community is planned for May 24 (the same day) to engage residents and connect them with incentive programs.
  3. Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG): Three projects totaling $93 million have been submitted to EPA. Decision expected in July. Projects include Green Means Go, mobility hubs, and Yolo County carbon farming.
  4. Anniversaries: Spare the Air (30 years) and Carl Moyer (25 years) will be celebrated with larger events.
  5. Power Hub: A $44 million state grant awarded to a public-private partnership (including Caterpillar, SMUD, and others) for a solar microgrid with battery storage to electrify off-road construction equipment. The project was conceived by the air district and Caterpillar.
• Director Daniels asked about energy generation: primarily solar with battery storage, with SMUD providing additional capacity; hydrogen may be considered in future phases.

Board Ideas, Comments, and AB 1234 Reports

• No board member comments were made.

Public Comment (Items Not on the Agenda)

• Richard Falcon (Teatro Nahual, executive/artistic director) urged the board to utilize artists and theater for creative messaging in environmental outreach.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar (Items 1–7): Approved unanimously.
• Item 8 (Budget and Fee Schedule): Resolution adopted unanimously. Fiscal year 2024–2025 budget effective July 1, 2024; fee schedule with 4.17% CPI increase also effective July 1, 2024.
• Item 9 (Carl Moyer Program Presentation): Received and filed. The Commercial Lawn and Garden Program was renamed the “Charlene McGee Memorial Lawn and Garden Program.”
• APCO Report: Received and filed. Board members will be asked to support the AB 617 ERP transition at the July 25 ARB hearing.
• Next Meeting: The June board meeting was cancelled; next meeting is scheduled for July.