San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Board
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According to its website, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) comprises eight counties in California’s Central Valley: San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin portion of Kern.
The Valley Air District Board includes a fifteen-member governing board of representatives from the Board of Supervisors of all eight counties, one health and science member appointed by the Governor, one physician appointed by the Governor, and five Valley city representatives.
The District held a meeting on Thursday, September. 15, 2022, at 9 am. Vice-Chair Chiesa and Clovis Mayor Drew Bessinger were in the SJVAPCD building at 1990 E Gettysburg Ave, Fresno, CA 93726. Other members were available online.
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Fresno - CA Documenters Team
$71.5M for zero-emission school busses + $118.8M for ag equipment replacement + petroleum refinery amendments
$71.5M for zero-emission school busses + $118.8M for ag equipment replacement + petroleum refinery amendments
Good morning🌞 San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Board is meeting this morning at 9! I’ll be live-tweeting this meeting for @FresnoLand. My 2nd favorite city in CA (Bakersfield) is joining the party! 😎
Agenda/Cast/Info: https://www.valleyair.org/Board_meetings/GB/governing_board_schedules.htm https://t.co/Dqk2VijyLP
10:41 AM Oct 20, 2022 CDT
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Zoom info to participate - https://us06web.zoom.us/s/81140009682
Webinar ID: 811 4000 9682
Password: 479061 https://t.co/G17qZAmgEq
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Stream went down, but should be live again shortly. Here’s more information about the Governing Board for SJ Valley Air Pollution Control District. https://t.co/Up9dGUUDPn
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9:03 and we’re live!
http://www.valleyair.org/webstreaming/webcast-meetings.htm https://t.co/3YfpEFkEJZ
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Roll call taken and pledge of allegiance complete. First public comment from the web. 3 minute limit. https://t.co/wzm7qFXZRV
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First speaker, Janet, says that board needs to focus on climate change. Says that first step is stopping and then reversing.
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Second speaker, Connie, says board is doing great work for climate change and thanks them.
No more public comments from web or cities.
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Item 6: Report on District Citizens Advisory Committee activities.
Item 7: STAR recognition. (Service, teamwork, attitude, respect). https://t.co/tQaz9y6oVA
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Item 8: Samir Sheikh holds up award for Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies’ Best Practice Award. https://t.co/EwU0SrS0Bi
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Item 9 for the $71.5 million in Volkswagen mitigation trust funding for the 2nd phase of statewide incentive program. https://t.co/6cG7CX82Hl
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Todd details past program activity before moving on to decisions regarding second phase of state funding. https://t.co/0BLEPK4MtD
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In response to busses in rural areas, Todd says current electric bus has 100 mile range and each iteration is increasing in range. https://t.co/oWKELTvwzA
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Samir says there will be more state and federal funding coming. He adds that they’ve been considering challenges with rural areas and range issues. https://t.co/p4xMlwBPtQ
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Supervisor Wheeler says Madera could use funding, but doesn’t think he can compete for funding with districts state-wide. https://t.co/dXT90s4JGt
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Two public comments from Fresno.
1: Money shouldn’t go to private schools. Urges oversight on fund use.
2: Resident from mountains says it’s a great program.
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Moving on to Item 10
ACCEPT AND APPROPRIATE $118,800,000 IN STATE FARMER PROGRAM FUNDING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT AND AUTHORIZE NECESSARY RESOURCE ENHANCEMENTS https://t.co/p1vOdPWXPY
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Todd says equipment costs have been rising as they learned in the electric bus discussion. https://t.co/ZhreOsBs0V
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Item 10: Motion passes unanimously.
Moving to Item 11. https://t.co/lZn6jeKGBe
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Presentation on Central Valley refineries before proposing amendments. https://t.co/FxshpZ36Kt
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To conclude presentation, amendments are proposed and there is an explanation as to how public feedback was obtained.
2 recommendations are made. https://t.co/W5VqNpZrNu
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After brief questioning from board, moving to public comments. https://t.co/I0dRdCJoE4
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Web speaker Cynthia says health effects of living near refineries are hurting low-income residents and people of color. Says regulations helps protect public from emissions. Urges district to ensure requirements of warning community and taking action to protect their health. https://t.co/ph59k1FXi1
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Motion passes for Item 11.
Moving to item 12 to appoint AD HOC Governing Board Subcommittee to nominate candidates for the 2023 governing board chair and vice-chair. https://t.co/bWp0VaoUmW
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Committee members are appointed. Mendes, Bessinger, Lewis, Pareira, and Shuklian.
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For Item 13: Incentive Program for small raisin farmers. https://t.co/yTcSiCRylD
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Mendes says this program is needed and he has received emails about it. https://t.co/6sZxAQVKt0
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Public comment in Fresno. Says this program to reduce burning is heartwarming. https://t.co/YbHlRZsG9t
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Item 13/14 passed.
Executive director makes brief comments. Moving to last item - governing board member comments.
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Some members said they had trouble hearing audio on web comments. https://t.co/o4o805tmuc
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Mayor Preciado thanks public participation for efforts in reducing pollution. https://t.co/KrOOyXVLPf
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Meeting moves to closed session and that’s it for this week. Thanks for following along🙂