R-1863-8-00RESOLUTION NO. 1863-8-00 (R)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALLEN, COLLIN
COUNTY, TEXAS, SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF THE TEXAS CLEAN AIR
WORKING GROUP (TCAWG) TO SEEK LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT IN REDUCING
MOBILE SOURCE EMISSIONS, CREATING INCENTIVES FOR COMMERCIAL.
EMISSIONS REDUCTION, AND EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION AND
ENFORCEMENT OF THE STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR THE NORTH
TEXAS NONATTAINMENT AREA.
WHEREAS, air quality impacts the public health as well as the economic health of our entire region and state;
and,
WHEREAS, the Texas Legislature has an important role to play assisting all areas of the State to attain and
maintain compliance with federal air quality standards while maintaining a strong economy; and,
WHEREAS, a successful air quality compliance strategy can be accomplished through a cooperative approach
in which all regions of the State — urban, suburban and rural — recognize their roles and stakes in the process;
and,
WHEREAS, the integrated nature of the Texas economy provides statewide benefits when an quality
compliance is achieved.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALLEN,
COLLIN COUNTY, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1: The City of Allen encourages efforts of the Texas Clean Air Winking Group (TCAWG) to
seek support and involvement of the 77th Texas Legislature for prudent and effective policies, strategies and
legislation, which will improve Texas air quality and meet the Federal Clean Air Act standards.
SECTION 2:
The TCAWG Interum Legislative Policy Statement (Exhibit "A") is hereby adopted to reflect
support of three
priority policy areas to:
(a)
Develop an integrated strategy to reduce mobile source emissions
(b)
Develop innovative financial incentives for commercial emissions reduction
(c)
Support the effective implementation and enforcement of the State Implementation Plan.
SECTION 3: Copies of this resolution should be communicated to members of the Texas Legislative
Delegation, the Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition (DRMC), the Texas Clean Air Working Group and other
appointed and elected officials for consideration during the 77th Texas Legislature.
DULY PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALLEN, COLLIN
COUNTY, TEXAS, ON THIS THE 17" DAY OF AUGUST, 2000.
APPROVED:
o
Set phe erreB, MAYOR
ATTEST:
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J y Mo on, CMGAAE, CITY SECRETARY
Exhibit "A"
TEXAS CLEAN AIR WORKING GROUP
Interim Legislative Policy Statement
The Texas Clean Air Working Group is a public and private sector alliance with participation
from organizations and elected officials from the state's federally designated air quality
nonattainment and near non -attainment areas. in addition to sharing information and
strategies, an objective of the Working Group is to elevate the issue of meeting the federal
standards to a statewide level of importance. A significant portion of the state is included
within the scope of these areas:
• thirty-seven counties;
• the cities of Austin, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Dallas, EI Paso, Fort Worth, Galveston,
Houston, Longview, Port Arthur, San Antonio and Tyler,
• 70% of the state's population;
' 76% of Texas jobs;
• 82% of personal Income; and
• 83% of gross state product.
The Texas Clean Air Working Group recognizes the following:
• air quality impacts the public health as well as the economic health of our entire
state;
• the Texas Legislature has an important role to play assisting all areas of the state to
attain and maintain compliance with federal air quality standards. while maintaining a
strong economy; and
• a successful air quality compliance strategy can be accomplished through a cooperative
approach in which all regions of the state — urban, suburban and rural— recognize their
roles and stakes in the process. Given the integrated nature of the Texas economy, all
parts of the state will benefit when air quality compliance is achieved.
As the State of Texas prepares for the convening of the 77th Legislature, the Texas Clean Air
Working Group is committed to serve as a resource and an advocate for prudent and effective
policies and strategies which will Improve Texas air quality.
We commend the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House for their leadership in
focusing state legislative attention on the issue through the assignment of interim charges. We
recognize the commitment of the chairs, members and staff of the Senate Committee on
Natural Resources, the House Committee on Environmental Regulation, the Senate
Committee on Finance, and the House Committee on Appropriations to explore all reasonable
policy options for Improving air quality.
The Texas Clean Air Working Group has identified three priority policy areas described below.
' It should be noted that the TNRCC has worked very closely with local governments, business
organizations, and public interest groups to develop the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for
Texas' four nonattainment areas. The working group's highest priority is to ensure that the SIP
remains intact, as it has been developed, We respectfully request the Senate and House
interim committees and ultimately the full Legislature to give all due consideration to the
following recommendations:
Exhibit "A"
1) Develop an Integrated strategy to reduce mobile source emissions
State law should be integrated with federal regulations that establish new vehicle emissions
and fuel standards and state regulations that provide for inspection and maintenance
programs, reduced speed limits and voluntary vehicle scrappage programs. We recommend
the following for consideration:
• revision to the Texas vehicle registration system eliminating the fee reduction for older
vehicles that tend to be higher emitting vehicles;
• targeted tax incentives for the purchase of low -emission passenger vehicles and the
conversion of conventionally fueled vehicles;
• an exemption from vehicle inspection requirements for newer vehiclee, providing for a
waiver fee to fund voluntary vehicle scrappage and maintenance programs;
• necessary resources for state agencies responsible for administering and enforcing
inspection and maintenance programs, scrappage programs, speed limit reductions and
public education programs;
• increased investment in mobility improvements designed to reduce traffic congestion and
mitigate motor vehicle emissions; and
• initiatives to reduce area and non -road mobile source emissions consistent with Federal
regulations.
2) Develop innovative financial incentives for commercial emissions reduction
Targeted incentives for emissions reductions in the commercial sector should be enacted. Ad
valorem tax incentives, sales/use tax exemptions and franchise tax incentives should be
considered individually or as a combined strategy to effectively target specific industry sectors.
' We recommend the following for consideration:
• Franchise tax credit for capital investment in research and development of innovative
technologies designed to reduce or remove air pollutants.
• Financial incentives to encourage participation in voluntary emission reduction programs.
pollution prevention programs and voluntary permitting.
• Provide financial incentives for the deployment of pollution control equipment based on
the provisions of the Property Redevelopment and Tax Abatement Act and the Clean Air
Financing Act.
• Targeted tax incentives for capital investment in low emission non -road equipment
including heavy construction equipment and airport ground support equipment.
• Financial incentives for discretionary Investment in Supplemental Environmental Projects
(SEP) in enforcement settlements.
3) Support the effective implementation and enforcement of the SIP emission reduction
measures
The clean air goals embodied in the State Implementation Plans in accordance with Federal
law will not be achieved if various emission reduction measures are not effectively enforced. In
fact. the EPA assessment of control measures' effectiveness is on the basis of compliance
levels. Adequate funds are necessary to provide clear authority to ensure effective
enforcement of the SIP control measures. Funds are also needed to provide stateof-tho-art
air quality research modeling tools and monitoring equipment. In addition, we recommend
consideration of a targeted public information campaign addressing public awareness of the
air quality issue, the benefits of compliance and the public's responsibilities relating to air
quality.
The Texas Clean Air Working Group recognizes that local, state, and Federal environmental
policies are evolving. The points itemized in this document provide a general framework of
' priority issues for legislative consideration. As these Issues are resolved, the Texas Clean Air
e.
Working Group will further develop and refine the legislative recommendations outlined abov